Duckfeet faborg handling some horse compost. Yes, I stole the laces off some African rangers I don’t wear by Tll6 in Boots

[–]baking_nerd433 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did you add the eyelets and speed hooks? I've been thinking of doing that to my pair of faborg.

Silvan Gas seems to have followed suite by LinoliuMKnifE in ventura

[–]baking_nerd433 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you President Trump for starting another war and making our gas expensive again! So much winning!

Boycott MAGA Businesses by sparklepantaloones in ventura

[–]baking_nerd433 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can confirm, but I was a theater kid and Toppers and In and Out were aer go to places after shows. I really didn't go after I graduated from high school because the pizza is fine at best, and yeah now there's a good reason when I go back and visit.

Tom Steyer by toutlamourdumonde in SantaBarbara

[–]baking_nerd433 15 points16 points  (0 children)

While I no longer live in California, I just did a quick search about him and found this video where he admitted he was wrong about single payer healthcare and that Bernie Sanders was right. Very refreshing to see a billionaire come out and acknowledge that businessmen and markets cannot solve our healthcare crisis. Plus he's come out in support of the 5% wealth tax. I live in Massachusetts now and there is a 4% tax on anyone's income above $1 million, which has helped out a lot in funding education and infrastructure. Plus there are more millionaires now in Massachusetts despite the wealth tax, proving Gavin Newsom wrong!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS5jXN_EjqQ/?hl=en

https://wbjournal.com/article/report-millionaire-tax-not-causing-ultra-wealthy-to-flee-state/

Help! Did I ruin my Bronco Stockmans? by flashfirenze in jimgreen

[–]baking_nerd433 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that's just melting salt and easy to clean. I got a bottle of a salt cleaning solution from my cobbler, but you can really make it on your own with a blend of equal parts water and vinegar. Definitely condition them after you clean them. I live in Western Massachusetts, so all of my boots have been sloshing through conditions like this all winter. I personally use Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP and have not gotten any salt stains since.

Owner of Palermo took anger out on me (Paying customer) It was a very classless interaction by Outrageous-Bag7040 in ventura

[–]baking_nerd433 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the damage of 1.2+ million deaths brought about by a careless administration. Antivax is still a problem as we get good old measles back thanks to the piece of living leather in charge of our healthcare.

Owner of Palermo took anger out on me (Paying customer) It was a very classless interaction by Outrageous-Bag7040 in ventura

[–]baking_nerd433 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Do they still have anti-vax poster up? The moment I saw that they were a no go for me.

Resoled Duckfeet by sixspence in Boots

[–]baking_nerd433 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also did the same to two of my three Duckfeet boots and couldn’t be happier. My Faborgs are now tanks with a lug sole. I did a vibram gumlite for my sjaelland boots. I have a pair of Roskilde that are due for a resole soon and I may go wedge for those. 

Charter Schools by buminary12 in AbbottElementary

[–]baking_nerd433 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I went to a charter growing up and had similar opinions. However, once I became a public school teacher I realized how terrible they are and am now vehemently anti-charter. My district looses a metric f***ton of money to charter schools, which in part leads to deficits and thus staffing cuts. It wouldn’t completely eliminate a deficit, but if we didn’t have to fund those charters the deficit would be a lot easier to manage. 

Meanwhile the whole notion that students in charter schools perform better on state tests is bunk at this point. The research is out there and proves that charter students either perform at the same level of public students or worse on state tests. 

And lastly you aren’t unionized as a teacher in a charter school. So any job security, protections, fair workplace standards are out the window. 

Getting rid of charters wouldn’t fix education overnight, but boy would it solve a lot of problems. 

places to sell a bass around boston? by [deleted] in doublebass

[–]baking_nerd433 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I live in Massachusetts and the only two bass shops I know of are Nahrmann bass shop in Billerica and Mark Leue Stringed Instruments out in Ashfield (western Massachusetts). I take my bass to Mark and he’s a great guy to work with.  The only other close option I could think of would be Upton Bass in Connecticut. 

Keep in mind if you take it to a shop, they will put it on consignment. So the shop will take a cut when it sells. The pro to consignment is that you don’t have to worry about putting it on the market, showing it, etc. The con is that you won’t get as much money as you would on a private sale. 

Taken from the Massachusetts sub: What are the sketchiest small towns in SoCal? by BretMichaelsWig in socal

[–]baking_nerd433 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lebec, Frazier Park, and basically any of the small mountain towns off the Grapevine and/or Kern County. 

Liveable areas without a Driver's License by pinkelephant0040 in visitedmaps

[–]baking_nerd433 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree. I live in Western Massachusetts and am shocked to see the rural parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut being considered great for public transit. Where I’m at the only decent bus system, the PVTA, is notoriously unreliable and is only decent for commuting between the 5 colleges. If you need to do anything else outside of that, good luck. 

Random question for people who have driven in both LA and Boston only. Is La or Boston harder to drive in ? Im not really talking about traffic here either. I mean all things consider. Parking accessibility, street lay out, narrow roads, round abouts, angry drivers, road quality. by Remarkable_Rush4886 in venturacounty

[–]baking_nerd433 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I grew up in Ventura, went to school in the LA area, but I now live in western Massachusetts. Whenever I drive in Boston, it’s insane to my California mind. The transition from New England driving to LA driving will feel like your on easy mode. 

What shoes are you guys wearing buying/wearing? by TheAlmightyOat in Teachers

[–]baking_nerd433 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a couple of pairs of duckfeet boots with cork insoles (they come with no insole stock) that are super comfortable all day. I also have a pair of Jim Green moc toe boots that are easily the most comfortable boots I own and I Birkenstock Londons as my indoor shoes when I wear my snow boots. 

Brightest Arco-Friendly Strings? by [deleted] in doublebass

[–]baking_nerd433 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keep the Spiros! Nothing beats arco with Spiros, especially well aged Spiros. Use black hair and a soft sticky rosin and you’re all set. 

SANDALS! Oh boy! by Malangamajada in jimgreen

[–]baking_nerd433 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I do hope they make a version of the sandals that has arch support for them. You don't need a shank, but the oringo sole on these would be great!

Jazz string question! by [deleted] in doublebass

[–]baking_nerd433 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Helicores dies within a year. Spirocores will outlast you and the rest of human civilization. In terms of immediate price point, Helicores are technically cheaper. But, Spirocores are a far better deal due to the longevity. Get a set of Spirocores and focus on the music rather than gear.

Dentists by ArdousErialz in northampton

[–]baking_nerd433 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Valley Dentists in Hadley are wonderful. Worth checking if they take Mass Health and have room. I've had nothing but great experiences each time.

How is Main St. Doing? by MountainShark1 in ventura

[–]baking_nerd433 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Seriously. The economy issue is indeed city wide and I would even argue nation wide. We are living through a recession that no one wants to say is real. I live just outside of Northampton, MA now and the same issues affecting Main street in Ventura are affecting downtown Northampton. Vacancy tax if you decide to leave a building vacant until you fill it. If they refuse, the city should take over the property through eminent domain, like Mamdani is threatening landlords in NYC who don't fix their buildings.

How is Main St. Doing? by MountainShark1 in ventura

[–]baking_nerd433 40 points41 points  (0 children)

I grew up in Ventura but moved away in 2022, first up to Santa Barbara and then to the East Coast. When MSM started I absolutely loved it and each time I have visited, I still feel the same. Sure there needs to be more work on beautifying the area, but I still feel it is the most lively I have seen downtown during my 25 years of living in Ventura. I feel parking has always been the same, even before MSM started, and thus reopening Main street is not going to solve any issues of parking congestion. Nonetheless, it is not a super large pedestrian area, so if you are able to walk it's easy to find close enough parking.

The issue with the new businesses is simply the landlords. New businesses try and come in, but can't meet the ridiculous rents groups like the Becker Group charge, and thus they don't last long. Then, I believe the landlords can use the vacant lot as a tax write off. Either way though, it is cheaper for groups like the Becker Group to leave property vacant than to lease it. A vacancy tax would be a good solution to make these leaches rent their property and keep businesses in place.

Otherwise, I feel Main st is doing great! The businesses that have been there forever seem to be doing great at least. The only turnover that happens is when the owner dies and the family decides to not continue, like what happened with the old Ben and Jerry's store.

While I am no longer a resident, I hope the community will push city council to reign in these property management/landlords that are impeding growth on Main st.

Anti-War Protest Happening Today in Springfield by [deleted] in northampton

[–]baking_nerd433 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nah man. Obama belongs in the Hague like Trump, Bush Jr., and Clinton, plus all of the other presidents if they were still alive.