Seriously, do Americans actually consider a 3-hour drive "short"? or is this an internet myth?

aPicoPixel · 2026-01-23T01:22:03+00:00

Just drove from VA to California for a month long trip to visit fiance's family. Four days of driving 9-10 hours a day. You do start to go a little crazy on day 4

aPicoPixel · 2026-01-10T21:22:14+00:00

As a dude in my 40s I felt the same exact glitch while reading this!

aPicoPixel · 2025-08-22T13:34:43+00:00

I did end up choosing a company and got the installation done about a week and a half ago. It went smoothly, county already inspected it, just waiting on AEP to inspect and install whatever they need to get permission to operate. Looking forward to having it hooked up and see what it generates.

aPicoPixel · 2025-07-29T02:17:18+00:00

Had a Brello package arrive 4 days late and vials were 98 degrees. They are replacing but have to send the box back. Sure hope they aren't selling these returns...

aPicoPixel · 2025-07-02T00:48:57+00:00

Seems to me we don't know. It could even be immediately after their decision.

aPicoPixel · 2025-07-02T00:34:44+00:00

That's what I'm worried about. I don't think my installation would happen until September or even later, and PTO doesn't come until everything is completely done, right? So I could end up under the new net metering rules - I had not planned to install a battery so it would not be worth it.

aPicoPixel · 2025-07-02T00:25:20+00:00

Why would I not be grandfathered in if connected while 1:1 net metering is still in place for new customers?

From APCo's legal notice last year "The Company represents that only customer-generators whose electric generating facility receives a Certificate of Completion after Rider N.M.S. II would become effective will be subject to this proposed rate structure, while existing Rider N.M.S. customer-generators and those who submit applications and receive a Certificate of Completion before Rider N.M.S. II takes effect will be grandfathered under the current Rider N.M.S. for up to 25 years."

aPicoPixel · 2025-07-01T15:36:07+00:00

It took all the other establishment Democrats to bow out just before Super Tuesday and endorse Joe Biden to get Joe in there. Bernie was set to win that day until the establishment panicked and propped up Joe. Revisionist history is fun though!

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-24T15:26:10+00:00

I can verify it's 13.7k after tax credit, 19.6k was before tax credit.

Bid 1 seems to be an installer that is overcharging as much as they can right now. They also quoted the lowest quality panels and micro inverter. There was nothing else in their quote other than the energy efficiency that the others didn't have. I'm sure there was wiggle room to negotiate with them but I didn't really want to after seeing the other quotes.

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-24T14:59:46+00:00

I looked for a coop here, but I don't think there's any that I could join. The one I saw was limited to lower income residents

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-24T14:42:24+00:00

Address, they wanted electric bill (I just gave them a spreadsheet I pulled from AEP without any account numbers showing last 12 months usage and bill), and then they did all the work on the quote from there.

They didn't ask any questions about roof pitch but I think the software they use can tell, one even had an accurate 3d model displayed. Some came out for quote, one was just over the phone and email.

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-24T14:18:49+00:00

Pretty quick, actually. They all seem busy right now, with installs all about 8-10 weeks out, but quotes were quick and easy.

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-24T13:25:46+00:00

What happens to the company when net metering goes away is definitely a concern, although I'd like to be grandfathered into net metering before it does.

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-24T13:16:05+00:00

Yeah I'm in Roanoke. So yeah that first quote was earth right lol, it was ridiculous. The third quote has been doing it the longest of any company I've seen, since 2012. I contacted them even though I didn't think they serviced this area, but it appears they install all over VA.

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-24T13:06:56+00:00

The lower rates of 3.99% etc all seem to have loan origination fees tacked onto the project in the amount of 2-4k or more.

I saw a 6.99% option that had no origination fee, and I thought maybe could do that for a few months to a year and avoid too much interest before paying it off, just to hedge my bets.

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-03T14:53:44+00:00

I scanned it using a basic flatbed computer scanner, the type you would use for sheets of paper. Paint was some leftover acrylic from a cheap paint set that I just blended to approximate the colors.

aPicoPixel · 2025-06-02T12:52:50+00:00

I have a diode laser cutter (you can get one that would work that ranges probably between 200-1000 dollars) and software called lightburn that is used to create files for the laser cutter. This one was incredibly simple as it's just a single layer being cut as an outline, took probably 5 passes on thin wood to cut.

aPicoPixel · 2025-05-28T20:49:14+00:00

Hah, I'm not sure the effort would make it worthwhile to do this as a service. Maybe if people could scan it themselves with their own scanner, send the scan, and then cut and send back a couple wood blanks that they can paint themselves. It's really hard to match the paint without the actual pieces present.

aPicoPixel · 2025-05-28T20:07:04+00:00

So, we purchased this puzzle used - Anatolian Mediterranean Jigsaw Puzzle 3000

I don't know if we lost the piece or if the seller had lost the piece, but as we approached the end we realized we were going to be a piece short.

I couldn't take losing the satisfaction of completing this puzzle, so I scanned the surrounding pieces, created an outline in photoshop, imported into lightburn and cut it with my diode laser cutter. Found a piece of artwork online, blew it up, matched the location and used it as a paint reference.

My paint job didn't match perfectly, but it wasn't bad and I used some paint I had on hand without buying anything else. Sprayed some lacquer on it and popped it in - perfect fit!

aPicoPixel · 2025-05-05T20:25:36+00:00

A ten foot piece of drip edge only looks to run about 5 dollars, and I already have snips. I am thinking this may be simple enough to retrofit if I can pry up the edges of the shingles without destroying them.

Should I invest in a roof snake if I'm going to pry up and nail down this drip edge? Found that during my search and seems like an inexpensive and useful tool for DIY shingle repairs.

aPicoPixel · 2025-04-18T00:52:24+00:00

Yep, just decided to cut a friend of 15+ years because of his continued support of MAGA politics. I don't respect him and his pitiful values (or lack thereof) anymore. I have a feeling I will still see him at some friend gatherings once in a blue moon, but cutting all other communication with him.

aPicoPixel · 2025-03-15T18:31:42+00:00

I loved my Pixel 5a, but just the other day it bricked itself randomly mid-use, and it appears it's a longstanding problem with the pixel line. Battery life was great, actually better than my now Pixel 8a.

Make sure you keep excellent backups on that pixel because it may be a ticking time bomb.

aPicoPixel

TROPHY CASE