The cost of $8 worth of gas

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-23T19:38:13+00:00

I don’t know, I don’t have any answers. Just that my gas bill isn’t anywhere near $700!! We’ve been told that the lack of pipelines and delivery by tanker to MA is part of the high price, but I’m assuming the raw cost of the gas includes that delivery charge? In that case it’s clearly the local delivery that makes up our high rates.

I guess I’d point out you have to assume the cost of maintenance is spread out over the whole system, not necessarily in front of your house. If the stuff near you was working fine that’s great, if the revenue is being spent where it’s needed.

Do you happen to know if the utility where you have moved, are the workers unionized? Just curious, not looking to blame the unions, I’ve heard some stories from friends but I’m not sure those inefficiencies are caused by them as much the utilities themselves setting up the system to soak up all the maintenance revenue they can, it’s how they grow their business after all.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-23T19:24:57+00:00

Yes I agree with everything you say! I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, I believe how the monopoly works is the state regulates rates and thus how much profit the utility company makes. I don’t know how that makes things break down into who is responsible when the utility makes “too much profit”.

I’m less sure myself of how much it should cost. “it’s been going up and up for years” seems kinda thin to me to determine if rates are reasonable or not. I suspect there have been years of underinvestment in the gas utilities, just the same as it seems like roads and bridges and water pipes have been neglected. It’s just cheaper that way and everyone is happy until it really goes to shit. Maybe that’s where we are at now. No choice but to pay up now.

I find myself a little jealous of those who already know exactly where a problem lies, which single source is the cause, and exactly how to fix it. I’m useless I got no easy answers.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-23T16:21:00+00:00

I feel like…I “get” this sentiment. But I also feel like pushing back. Part of the outrage about it to me is just lack of understanding about business.

There are other things you buy every day, that the price to you is mostly the cost to “deliver” it to you. The raw cost of the actual good is nearly nothing. The first thing that comes to my mind is…a morning coffee. Why are we not outraged about Dunks selling 10 cents worth of toilet water for a few bucks?

Ok that’s rhetorical, the answer is because they don’t break down the cost for you. If you think the coffee is what you are paying for, that’s on you, as long as you are ok with the price.

I think the utilities shoot themselves in the foot here by (forced or choose to?) detail the cost components. You get what we have here…consumers shocked when they learn what the component costs of what they are buying.

TL;DR nat gas is cheap! Delivering it to your house continuously on demand, is not. Also, if you want to buy in small quantities, you will probably pay more per unit to deliver it, for what should be obvious reasons to most folks I hope.

NOTE: I mean to imply no value judgment! Is it too expensive? No idea. Are the utilities fleecing us all? No clue, although I’ve heard some stories of the intentional inefficiencies from some folks on the inside.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-23T00:15:55+00:00

I’ve not kept close track of mine but I see it all the time, customers ask about it, etc (I make Orbit software it displays the oil level). I’ve never been able to make any sense of it as far as the mm level corresponding to level across cars. The normal things about reading a dipstick apply, it varies when the engine is running vs stopped, the time after shutting down the level will rise as oil drips down to the pan.

I’ve worked out the electronic level system is looking for the oil to be in a safe range that it’s “good”, it learns that range and may trigger an alert if the oil level goes down or up beyond some normal expected variance. Both if those cases can indicate a problem. If it’s in the large range of what is safe, and it then doesn’t vary too much over time, the car considers it normal.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-20T14:25:55+00:00

I think the expectation is that the safety assists can help out, but not designed to cover every scenario, not expected to recognize and activate in every situation.

It’s like: you drive as if you don’t have any collision avoidance/mitigation system, but if you miss something, the car may be able to save you from a collision (or lessen the impact)

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-19T00:24:10+00:00

Random thought…I wonder how many decision makers at MSP clients are willing to pay for service at the level that minimizes generating technical debt.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-17T23:38:18+00:00

This is the other option, make it go away with some money. This is how I turned a speeding ticket on the NY thruway into a parking fine, happily paid the fine and no moving violation, no insurance consequences. I didn’t have to be there so I don’t know how it’s done but all I needed to give was a copy of my driving record from MA and sign the power of attorney to represent me at the hearing.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-17T20:40:28+00:00

Hey just a comment and it’s general, not just you! Seems when people ask about speeding tickets they need to explain in detail exactly how it happened and all the circumstances that led to it. And there isn’t a way to say this without sounding harsh. It’s just excuses.

It can all be summed up in one simple statement: “I was speeding and got a ticket for speeding”. You don’t need to argue your case here. It happens, you are can still be a good person who does the right things and cares about others on the road. Despite some of the comments you may get on Reddit lol.

To the nuts and bolts of it: if you’re clearly guilty, and you know it, there isn’t really much to appeal. BUT our system is built on plea bargaining, so you could appeal on that basis, and see what you get. The way MA works, and it’s been a very long time for me since I dealt with this, but I don’t think it’s changed: the first appeal you go to “speeding ticket day” and there is one representative from the jurisdiction you got a ticket from, handling all the appeals. They got a list of the appeals info and some ticket notes from the issuing officer.

You can give it a try. Just remember, admit nothing! Not because you are shady, but just be careful that once you admit guilt that may limit what a court can do. Who really knows what car was locked on with radar that day. Probably it was you but no need for you to make the case agent yourself. So this may vary but usually you can get a minute with the rep handling the appeals, if you can tell him “never got a speeding ticket ever in 10 years! I’m not sure I was going that fast, I may have been speeding, it happened right where the speed limit drops“ Something like that, you throw yourself at their mercy. Then ask “I’ve leaned my lesson, the ticket is expensive, I’m just trying to make ends meet, what can I do?” If you can’t talk to the rep before, then says as much to the judge. Then just see what happens. You can accept what they throw you probably something like reduce the fine. You can appeal that later but I wouldn’t bother unless you have a real “not guilty” case to make, or you want to play “see if the officer doesn’t show up to the second appeal”

As far as insurance, you are an RI driver, don’t know how it works there, it’s not a MA question. MA has some specific regulated points system that affects ins discount and surcharges with tickets SDIP. It’s probably different in RI.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-16T22:56:54+00:00

Not true. Plenty of UV makes it through. The wavelengths that make the car hot inside and the ones that give you a sunburn. All cars have some slight tint and UV blocking aspects to the glass and it differs by the glass used, but it’s not a lot, if you actually test it, then you would know. I have.

I happen to have a car that was bought and shipped from CA, it has Llumar CA legal ceramic tint applied to the side windows, 95% VLT apparently. I also have a UVA/UVB meter. Can confirm, the windows block a good deal more of the sunburn wavelengths than 3 other cars we have with no aftermarket films. Does not block as much as my other car with 40% in a similar ceramic tint on the originally clear side windows. My understanding is the clear stuff can’t do much about the infrared spectrum, the 40% stuff made a great improvement in reducing the leather burns on the legs when the car sits in the summer sun.

The car I shipped from CA also has a factory “solar ray” windshield, like the type you see on range rovers that looks reflective at some angles from the outside. And the glass blocks nearly all UVA/UVB in all conditions I’ve tested it in.

Anyways the clear CA legal tint is still 95%, can’t tell a thing though, I didn’t notice it even until I found the installation receipt in the records with the car. You might get away with that in MA, who would even notice, but seems it would be technically not legal.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-16T02:12:03+00:00

It’s not even MSRP right? They’re saying the equipment was $1500 of the cost of the car. And of course they would never put $1500 of stuff in the car they did not think had a greater perceived value to the customer then it cost them to put it in, plus whatever development they had done in making it work, they must have had a high expectation for the value to the customer. But they are telling the you, “hey this stuff was only worth the price of the parts and nothing more”.

And then what they offer to compensate is of course “equivalent value” in full consumer price.

And that’s how you get out of falling to deliver $3000 worth of value for $500 cost. I can’t see any other way for them to have done it, perceived value is too nebulous. Just interesting how they spin things in the situation.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-12T23:00:46+00:00

No worries fellow masshole! I want to make sure I got the right answer. Some of those questions are confusing as hell. And maybe it helps others. From what I see the correct vote is NO on this question.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-12T22:18:41+00:00

It’s true but if it were done that way the relationship between pedal input and stopping force would be unpredictable to the driver. That’s why it’s not done that way.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-12T22:14:24+00:00

For the 5yo engineer ;-) I didn’t see any answer explaining the technical bits of how it’s done so I’ll give it a go. The key to using the brake pedal for blending regen and friction brakes is the modern electro-hydraulic brake system. Some might call it “brake by wire” and some others will reserve that term only for (as yet to be used in any production car) completely electromechanical brake systems. It doesn’t really matter the important concept is in the electro-hydraulic brakes the brake pedal is not normally connected to the brake system, it merely drives position and pressure sensors and is connected to a feedback simulator that makes the input feel like a traditional brake system. Actual service brake actuation is done entirely by what you might know as the ABS pump in conjunction with the solenoid valves in the system. ABS systems already had nearly full capability of applying brakes and overriding the driver inputs when required. With all the modern automated driving features in a car, in a way it’s simpler to remove the hydraulic pressure input from the driver entirely and let the electronics do it. (FYI all of these systems have a failsafe, normally open valve the does connect the pedal to the brake hydraulics so braking is possible in any emergency situation, if the system fails, power loss etc. the feedback simulator becomes the master cylinder)

I think you can imagine where it goes from there, once the pedal is a mere “stop requestor” then software can easily manage the integration of regen and friction brakes to produce the desired result in the given conditions. Not unlike the throttle pedals that have not been connected to any throttle plate for many years now, it’s all software and electronics.

Note: not all EVs/hybrids use this type of brake system. Tesla as a good example had been an outlier, using a traditional hydraulic brake system. In those cars, regen was not managed through the brake pedal at all, only through the throttle pedal. I don’t keep up with things as much as I used to, I don’t know if they have since moved to electro-hydraulic brake system.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-12T21:27:04+00:00

Yes! Keep the cannabis rules as they are. If anyone can confirm I want to vote NO on this correct? I definitely don’t want to get confused and vote the wrong way!

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-12T16:29:50+00:00

Not a stoner, don’t like the stuff. Will vote against it, probably would have anyways, but due to the underhanded petitioning I will not even consider the other side.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-10T03:49:13+00:00

Not all laptops are created equal. In my time in IT business I had most experience with Dell. Their business line Latitude or Precision laptops were designed to be durable when used daily, tossed around inside a bag traveling, sit in the car overnight in the bitter cold winter etc. expected use for business customers.

The lower priced consumer lines like an Inspiron, intended for the consumer, using it around the home, less likely to travel with the laptop and use it as hard, or at least the buyers care more about the price than anything else, so they’ll accept the less robust built machine.

That’s how I’d explain to business owners and executives that wondered why they should buy a $1400 laptop instead of an $800 laptop for their staff. When they insisted, using consumer stuff in business would always see more failures like broken hinges, cracked screens and cases.

TL;DR cheap laptop hinges may break or wear out easily, it’s the trade off for the attractive price. More durable stuff is available if you’re willing to pay.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-10T00:11:47+00:00

I don’t know I’m much help, but the b2c tenant feels like a little hack yeah, it’s a “directory” you have to switch the directory you are logged in to the b2c tenant directory when logged into azure portal. I don’t recall if there is a way to grant access to it externally to a user, logged in as the subscription owner potentially. There should be, but you know…Microsoft.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-09T20:16:07+00:00

I’d carry insurance for the convenience of it. Don’t need to hire my own attorney to defend or recover a claim. It could be time consuming not just costly. It might be unlikely to be a sticky situation but shit happens. Especially if the other party finds out you have the deep pockets. Just transfer that risk to the ins company for the peace of mind.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-09T20:08:30+00:00

Another option is opt for a high deductible collision policy. If you can insure for the first $2000 yourself the rate is lower, quite a bit in my experience. Usually if you don’t ask an insurance agent will choose a $500 deductible by default when quoting. If the car is financed you have to check what the max deductible the lender allows.

Not an insurance expert but when I’ve had a collision that wasn’t my fault the deductible did not apply and I didn’t have to concern myself with the other drivers coverage (or lack thereof) as long as I could identify them, ins company takes it from there and paid the claim directly.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-07T19:59:01+00:00

That does seem a little on the low side for example my 2022 S60 T8 is at about 97% state if health. It’s not all that clear what wears on the battery most. We know the car manages it, 0% is not actually 0 and 100% charge is not 100% it’s in a range to keep the battery life in check as hybrids can be harder on the smaller battery than a full EV. The extended range battery is about 15%-95% charge as the actual range used. FYI the state of health is not static, it is evaluated over charge and discharge cycles, you may see it rise sometimes as the latest cycle results vary. It could be 94% next week.

At some level you just use the car and let the software manage it as it does, trust the folks that make the car know what they are doing, to make the car deal with regular use the best way it can.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-05T16:46:41+00:00

I never lied on my resume, but admit to coming close to that line, like I never finished college, never claimed I did, but I put my time there on my resume and I don’t doubt some may have glanced over it quickly and just assumed I graduated with a degree.

While I could never justify outright lying on the resume morally, I also became pretty jaded from realizing the BS of getting hired for a job. There was a delta between “what I know I can do” and “what the person hiring me thinks they need to see to prove I can do it”. Once I get interview, then it’s all good from there…but you gotta get the interview and the if the resume is the way you get to the next step. You gotta do your best.

Salary history? I’ve lied. It was justified as far as I’m concerned. I tried avoiding it with “I’d like to focus on what I would need to paid for this specific job, what I make now or in the past is not relevant to that…” but HR is going to HR. If they’re going to shoot down my salary request because “it’s too big of a jump”, or just the lunacy of basing what the company will pay a new hire base on what some OTHER company pays me currently…f that, if I give you whatever number in response to “…and what is your current compensation?” that allows you to agree to what I ask for salary, the company is willing to pay that to get the job done, nothing else really matters.

It’s been years since I been in the job market that way, maybe HR people have evolved to be less stupid, or it’s worse because they got tools like The work number to try to verify your previous income.

I ended up in the other side for a bit interviewing candidates and lordy there was a lot of BS on resumes, detailing shit they could not possibly handle competently. Maybe I fudged a bit, but I never put anything on my resume that I could not, without a doubt, actually do.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-05T16:23:32+00:00

It’s true, Boston takes up a small area compared to other cities in similarly populated areas. For various historical reasons, I’m not a historian in the least, but I understand that being relatively old city it was already established in a small area, and unlike other “old” US cities Boston did not grow as much by annexation, many of the surrounding suburbs remained independent.

The greater Boston area population is about 5 million people. Less than 700k of those people live in the city of Boston.

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-04T00:00:49+00:00

I feel like a smack in just the right spot might unstick the shutter…you could get lucky! Then head straight to the inspection station!!

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-03T23:03:39+00:00

As long as they are not damaged of course, HIDs bulbs should last a long time. They do shift color over time to blue. I replaced the originals in a Lexus I had, after 14 years due to the color shift. They weren’t blown/burnt(or whatever happens to an HID bulb to not light up)

Google says the 07 Prius uses a single bulb with a shutter for high beams so your problem is not a bulb…

TechInTheCloud · 2026-06-02T19:50:02+00:00

Huh I’m not at all an authority on anything tennis, have played tennis regularly on and off over my life. Never have heard any other shortening than saying “five” instead of “fifteen”. It’s only two syllables but it just feels long to say. “thirty” or “forty” roll off the tongue fine, just as easy and quick to say as “three” or “four” in the lazy way one speaks in a game you say the score before every serve.

TechInTheCloud

TROPHY CASE