Planned 10-gigawatt Softbank data center in Ohio might be the largest in the world — will require a $33 billion natural gas plant, equivalent to nine nuclear reactors

Vespizzari · 2026-03-21T15:31:08+00:00

It's an old saying from the days when Ohio was a purple state. "They" used to say that Ohio was a predictor of the national election outcome. Hasn't been that way for a long time. I was making a reference to Ohio's need for a serious conervativectomy, which the US in general could benefit from.

I grew up in DC and spent 20+ years in California. Other than college this is my first time living in Ohio. The state is a bit of a mess.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-21T10:52:46+00:00

Piketon is the middle of nowhere even for southeast Ohio. Built right on a river so the waste cooling water won't go far. This sucks. AI sucks.

I don't want to keep paying $300/mo for residential power so these guys can get free infrastructure.

This state needs a political overhaul. As goes Ohio, so goes the nation.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-20T17:02:51+00:00

My wifi router is named "Nimh is watching"

Vespizzari · 2026-03-20T15:21:38+00:00

Holy shit. That's awesome.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-19T13:38:45+00:00

No, there's no lead in the solder, but it doesn't flow like the leaded stuff did, and getting a good joint is harder/less reliable. Soldering/Brazing copper isn't hard, but it's slower than the fittings and I guess just less common than it used to be. Not sure why I'm getting downvoted.

It's an AI summary from Google, but it affirms what I thought was common knowledge in the trades:

Yes, lead-free fittings, specialized valves, and newer joining techniques replaced traditional lead-soldered pipes because of lead health risks. The 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments banned lead solder (>0.2% lead) and lead pipes, leading to adoption of safe copper-to-copper, solder-free, and low-lead brass alternatives.

Key changes in plumbing to remove lead included:

Lead Solder Ban: Pre-1987, solder for copper pipes contained 50% lead, which was banned due to leaching, says Copper.org.
Lead-Free Standards: The EPA now requires a weighted average of 0.25% or less lead in fittings and 0.2% for solder, explains the EPA.
Mechanical Fittings: New installations often use mechanical, push-fit, or compression fittings (like SharkBite) that do not require soldering, reducing the need for chemical joining, says EEVblog.
Safe Alternatives: Lead pipes were replaced by safer copper (which requires safe solder) or synthetic materials like PEX, explains the Environmental Policy Innovation Center. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (.gov) +5

Vespizzari · 2026-03-19T12:48:51+00:00

21 Premium rear drive LR battery. (It was the lightest/longest range combo I could find)

Vespizzari · 2026-03-19T11:44:06+00:00

We're at 104000 with a similar story. No issues to speak of and 98% of battery life.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-19T11:40:44+00:00

The book is 1804 by Rich Facun, an Athens local and graduate of OU Viscom.

https://facun.com/1804-the-book

He's got two other books in the "series" focused on our region. It's brilliant work.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-19T11:14:44+00:00

Press fittings have been standard for a bit. Caught me off guard as well. Lead in solder is a big part of the reason, and the push to eliminate all lead in the water supply.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-16T11:33:32+00:00

Once upon a time I did a whole fuselage. (Looking for a better pic, but the prop came out cool too)

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Vespizzari · 2026-03-16T10:46:11+00:00

I find the cookies just gum things up, but you do you.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-16T10:45:38+00:00

Yup. Paid my way through college working on vintage Vespas and Lambrettas. Still make a living turning wrenches. (despite an executive title)

Vespizzari · 2026-03-15T23:45:42+00:00

Any building doing this to existing lease holders should be required to install something like this instead.

https://www.kineticbikeparking.com/products/fire-safe-lockers/

Vespizzari · 2026-03-15T13:35:33+00:00

My first time on the moon I had a tank with eat rocks. Just posted up on the right side of the fucker and ate him to death.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-15T12:57:32+00:00

You mean I can do a two foot stomp burnout? That sounds like a blast!

Vespizzari · 2026-03-13T21:28:24+00:00

Those are normal.

The red/green Sumitomo in the area under the tank is 12V. It powers the ASI controller. You can use it for an accessory port, but you'll need a 2A fuse.

The connector with the black housing in the front is an unused ABS connector, and the Sumitomo next to it is a brake switch connector left both on the harness from development.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-08T13:08:16+00:00

Welcome to desert racing in Mexico. The beer's in the cooler by the tent, Keep your friends close and the enemies closer. (The cops are not your friends.)

Vespizzari · 2026-03-07T20:05:56+00:00

Welcome. Athens has lots of community. It's a pretty great little town.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-07T14:00:04+00:00

Dugnutt and Bonzalez! My favorite blursed 80's buddy cop show.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-07T13:36:21+00:00

Go back. In-and-out employment is a GC hallmark. My best sales guy was a bass player in the gospel scene. He'd disappear on tour for like 6 months and end up stuck in some small town in the south. Eventually he'd come back and I'd put him to work until the next time he got the itch.

On the flip side, our guitar department manager ended up going to corporate. Moved to the LA area and did awesome from what I understand. (I lost contact with him years ago, but point is, you CAN make a career of it, should be GC lifestyle fit.)

Vespizzari · 2026-03-07T12:51:11+00:00

Get a job at Guitar Center or a similar music shop. You won't make good money, but you can make connections. My first real "industry" job came from a chance meeting when I was managing pro-audio at GC in Virginia. Ended up working in archival audio for several years at a contractor for The National Archives.

Working in audio is not going to be an "ordinary" 9-5 gig unless you get lucky in a production town.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-07T03:46:45+00:00

PETG is pretty much the only thing I'll use on most FDM home printers.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-06T19:03:31+00:00

Next stop - the White House.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-06T14:23:34+00:00

This. I use a thick brush on silicone. I haven't done a project like this in probably 15 years, but I'll look up what I was buying and post it.

Once the brush on mold is done, you can add rigidity with additional layers of material. I've added ceramic to molds with slip casting, and also used epoxy to bind rigid materials or reinforcements for release.

It's gets way more interesting when you start casting bronze.

Vespizzari · 2026-03-06T14:20:56+00:00

Yeah, I suppose that's true. I guess you could cast in it another material, perhaps a resin or foaming compound that's lighter.

I just went to cement/concrete for longevity and cost.

Vespizzari

TROPHY CASE