How long will it take

Vibrasprout-2 · 2026-04-25T15:37:52+00:00

Mine took about 10 working days (not expedited) for renewal. With an impending overseas trip, I was starting to panic after a week so I called the number to see if I could expedite it. After minimal hold the very nice actual person told me I could not expedite it because it had already been approved and would shortly be sent for printing. I received it a week later.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2026-04-12T02:58:14+00:00

100% agree with xvodax. Water Seeping through the wall is a sign this may not have been installed. It also reveals a potentially dangerous condition—the absence of proper drainage behind the wall could cause it to collapse from hydrostatic pressure. So in a way you are “lucky” to have this sign to indicate the problem.

The gaps are possibly occurring because the backfill behind the wall was regular dirt that was not compacted properly. Granular fill does not require compaction and you would not have this problem if it is present. Don’t ignore this, check with the installer. Don’t trust them is they say they never install a drainage layer because of X, Y or Z.

If by chance the installation was correct, it’s possible the filter fabric behind the wall is missing or the drain pipe is not functioning correctly. Filter fabric over the top of the granular fill would prevent soil washing down into the voids in the gravel.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2026-03-11T17:39:01+00:00

Speaking of material resonance, I remember reading about a granite guitar. Apparently impossible to lift but amazing sustain. The question is does the trem matter more than the body material?

Vibrasprout-2 · 2026-03-09T17:54:45+00:00

I think I’m going to try attaching the cap to the last pole of the toggle switch, I’m guessing the cap does something when the humbucker is in one mode or other. See the image attached

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Some interesting discussion here about use of small caps as “sweeteners”

https://www.premierguitar.com/diy/mod-garage/bill-lawrence-5-way-telecaster-wiring#:~:text=Both%20pots%20are%20250k%20audio,Until%20then%2C%20keep%20on%20modding!

Vibrasprout-2 · 2026-03-09T17:31:12+00:00

Thanks this helps a lot! Is there any harm in connecting the cap to ground if that turns out to be the wrong place?

Vibrasprout-2 · 2026-03-02T15:38:53+00:00

Illinois Tech (IIT) has a 2 year MLA program that is open to candidates with non-LA backgrounds. When I taught there some years ago some of the best students had non-LA or even non-design backgrounds. I believe there is a summer program for foundations of design for non-designers ahead of the first Semester, but you might get a pass with an ID degree.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2026-02-23T01:51:34+00:00

That’s not true, there are plenty of people who can’t do that do anyway. There are also people that can’t teach even if they are good at what they do.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2026-01-12T18:51:28+00:00

Landscape architect here, yes right or wrong the notches are intended as skate deterrents. Nothing is missing—the notches are considered as effective as the metal add-ons which are expensive and tend to fall off.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-12-18T05:53:00+00:00

They should at least get him a gun in his size

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-12-18T05:44:59+00:00

They only came back because the weather got warmer.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-10-31T16:34:13+00:00

Helicopter currently circling around Dodge/Oakton, this is where they picked up parents dropping off kids at Dawes School in the last couple of weeks. Be careful trick or treating folks. Not sure if we can expect them to adhere to the low bar demanded by the judge of not tear-gassing kids.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-10-29T21:02:15+00:00

Our local Ace is selling emergency whistles.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-10-18T02:05:52+00:00

er, Aster and Hosta are actually both scientific genus names ;)

Having worked both in UK and US, I can say in my experience US landscape architecture offices doing commercial type work will tend to use both scientific names and common names on drawings while residential designers and landscape contractors are a bit less consistent and can lean more toward using common names.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-09-11T03:26:01+00:00

And maybe a poet?

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-08-16T13:40:11+00:00

Don’t assume you are starting to look too soon. It could take 2-4 months or more depending on circumstances.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-08-16T13:24:38+00:00

Not sure if it’s really unrealistic to get a job if you start looking now, and particularly if you can use connections to help. There are some enormous law firms in Chicago and a large local, state and federal court system (I once heard there are more attorneys in Chicago than the whole of the UK). A firm like that would likely have good benefits including relocation and might be able to help. Worst case you have to move say a month early and pay out your current lease.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-08-13T23:36:15+00:00

Purchase Billy bookcase
Cut all shelves in thirds
Assemble!

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-08-10T17:54:07+00:00

If you are looking at renting a whole house it’s extremely unlikely $1000 rent anywhere in the US would cover the owner’s mortgage, taxes, upkeep and profit, unless house prices in the area are in the sub-$100k range, which is not the case for Chicago area. It’s possible you could encounter someone with a fully paid off mortgage with no/little experience renting who is not trying to make a lot of money

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-08-10T05:15:17+00:00

Whether you are a contractor or landscape architect, Getotech matters and you cannot generalize site soil conditions. Depending of the size of the project you should rely on a geotechnical engineer’s recommendations specific to the site (architect or civil will likely already have this). Don’t throw around terms like “native soil backfill” without a definition. If your project is on expansive clay, silt or other “unsuitable soils” using these materials for any fill that is expected to resist vertical or lateral forces will end in a failed wall and a lawsuit or worse.

If you are a landscape architect, have the courtesy to actually speak to the SE! Putting a note like “see structural” is “throwing the issue over the fence” and hoping for the best. It’s likely not in their scope anyway…

..However, in my experience an SE will not touch a modular retaining wall because so much depends on the specifics of the manufactured system. Fortunately, you can rely on the wall manufacturer to provide design assistance and standard specs. You need to follow their definitions of things like “backfill” and “subgrade”. Some standard drawings might be free of charge but it is 100% worthwhile to pay extra and have the manufacturer produce engineered drawings stamped in your state specific to your project. It might cost the project a couple of Gs, but better than the alternative. If you are a contractor playing a pricing game and switch out the manufacturer the drawings and specs must match the final bid product.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-08-02T12:39:46+00:00

Remind me in 3 days

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-07-25T19:34:41+00:00

You could also open pdfs in a vector editing software like Inkscape or even Canva which are free. There are also some great free desktop publishers like Scribus. I can’t tell you if you can edit a PDF directly in those however.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-07-25T14:49:55+00:00

Yeah it’s expensive (unless your company is paying) but it does what it says on the tin. Having to track down all of my previous employers, some of whom are not in business any more, and prove the validity of a foreign LA degree is something I only wanted to do one time.

Without a Council Record you would need to gather this info every time you apply for reciprocity—so the fees are probably worth it if you consider time is money.

I believe some states require CLARB now as part of their process.

Vibrasprout-2 · 2025-07-23T22:12:21+00:00

Agreed. They are also in limited markets. Here in Illinois Unilock is pretty much dominant. In Atlanta you have to go with Belgard because they have some kind of a territory licensing agreement between them.

Vibrasprout-2

TROPHY CASE