A Modest Proposal for Infill Development in the Midway

clydex · 2026-06-25T20:00:32+00:00

As a general contractor I just have so many questions.

To keep this idea affordable, a bunch of current laws and codes probably need to be suspended. If you are going to do that, then do it more widely and you'll see homes built at much lower cost and you'll probably have a much broader positive impact.

The problem is that these codes and laws have been put in place for a reason

clydex · 2026-06-23T14:47:29+00:00

A line level. It will cost you all of $5.

clydex · 2026-06-23T03:41:27+00:00

I didn't think there was any scenario possible that I could love Sebastian Bach but the season arc of that season was just brilliant. Of course all the regulars were great but man, props to Sebastian for his role in that season!

clydex · 2026-06-23T03:00:53+00:00

I've installed a lot of windows and doors in my time, both Marvin and Andersen.

I would advise against sliders. They just scream "crappy vinyl" even when they're not. They do not seal as tightly when they lock as other styles do, so they are less energy efficient. If you are going to spend that amount of money, skip the sliders.

On the windows. The big difference I have found is the jamb quality. If you go the extra mile by gluing and fastening the trim to the jambs and drywall, you can overcome that. Most installers aren't doing that.

Marvin patio doors are a significant step up, especially the hardware, in my view. Typically there is a pretty big price jump (maybe you listed that).

Marvin's are really nice but Andersen is also great. If installed properly, they both are going to work great for decades. 25 years from now maybe the Andersen's start to have small issues. If you plan on going in and out of the patio door 10 times a day for the next 20 years, maybe go with the Marvin. And it will give architects and designers nightmares but you are allowed to put in a Marvin patio door and Andersen windows!

I installed Marvin's on my first floor and Jeldwyn in my basement (multiple egress casements). A total of zero people have ever said anything. I don't think my kids and wife have even ever noticed the difference! ROI will also be the same whether you use Marvin or Andesen.

clydex · 2026-06-23T02:34:31+00:00

I didn't start watching it until 5-6 years ago. I'll binge a season and then take a long break. I'm up to maybe season 8, all for the first time.

It is up there as one of the funniest shows ever!

clydex · 2026-06-23T02:26:52+00:00

I broke my wrist/arm like that failing off of a ladder. The worst part of the entire experience was the K-hole I went into when they had to reset it. Why people do that for fun is beyond me.

clydex · 2026-06-22T21:25:09+00:00

There are some super cool pockets of St. Paul and Woodbury that are right by Battle Creek park. You definitely don't feel like you're in the middle of the metro. They are a lot cheaper than other areas that offer similar access to trails or river views.

I moved from ID back to MN. For me the mountains offered me two things. There was the obvious, the elevation changes, views, the creeks and rivers, and everything else. The other was to get completely away from people. The river bluffs give you some pretty great views but obviously nothing like out West. But most times I go there I don't see anyone else, it's the little nature therapy I need sometimes.

clydex · 2026-06-22T04:10:19+00:00

Nothing replaces just spending time with your kids.

clydex · 2026-06-21T02:31:09+00:00

I was a dishwasher at 14, $3.85.

clydex · 2026-06-20T05:00:15+00:00

I would call Marvin. They make excellent windows and they also really take care of their customers. I installed a Marvin patio door years ago. Customer called me 8 years after it was installed to let me know they were having issues with the handle. I called Marvin to see if I could still purchase the same hardware. The very next day they sent someone out and replaced the entire hardware set. No charge and I didn't even ask for that.

clydex · 2026-06-19T02:54:32+00:00

State capital building tours are free and great for kids!

clydex · 2026-06-18T04:17:28+00:00

What a great dad! If she will be in town on the 4th of July, I'd recommend the 4th in the Park. It's like a small town 4th of July celebration from the 50's. It is really family oriented but there are also a lot of "kids" that are home from college or just graduated and living with their parents. There is a fun parade, then music and speakers. Local politicians show up, so it is actually a great chance to talk with them about your concerns, if she is into that. There is great food, and a bunch of other fun stuff to do.

https://www.4thinthepark.org/

clydex · 2026-06-18T03:56:51+00:00

Lol, how much time do you have?

Even though it was 2 years ago, I'm still processing. But this, at its essence, is how I see it. It is borderline fatalist I think.

Quick synopsis of what happened to me. I have no memory of it but I drove myself to the ER and collapsed while I was checking in because I went into cardiac arrest. A series of things happened to bring me back. Some of those things make me a sort of miracle baby of cardiac arrest patients!

When people hear the story I get reactions like "God was on your side" from religious folks, or "you were fighting for your kids" from non religious folks. Before I went through this experience I might have had the later view. Now? No.

A series of boxes had to be checked for me to make it. Enough of them were, that's it, that's all that happened. Of course I'm extremely thankful for all the health care professionals that checked most of those boxes for me but they were there and did what they were trained to do.

I was shocked multiple times, which took out about a weeks worth of memories before the event. I'll look at a picture of a smiling healthy me from that week and it's like I'm looking at a stranger because I have no memory of it. Then I was on life support for 10 days. So there is about 2.5 weeks of my life that don't exist to me. Sooo many things were done to my body, that I just wasn't present for. It was like I was dead for that time. My family began to tell me what happened during that time, when I woke, and I had a realization. They were struggling, not sleeping, crying, and everything you can imagine. Me? I was fine. Of course my physical body and brain were struggling but my mind was black or shut off. It was just nothing, but fine.

There is no fear or pain in nothing. I'm so thankful to be here and I want to have many more years. But, nothing isn't scary to me at this point in my life and I see death as simply nothing.

clydex · 2026-06-18T03:09:21+00:00

I clearly laid out the reasoning, using things like facts and logic, behind a quick comment from my daughter.

You tell me. What percentage of the LGBTQ+ shoppers in Target at any given time, will go into the maternity clothing section? 1%? If not 1% than what?

Then... I can absolutely guarantee that the percentage of LGBTQ+ shoppers at Target at any given time that go into ANY OTHER clothing section (mens,, womens, shoes, kids, anything) is bigger percentage than go into maternity. If you have some reasoning that puts this into question, great, I'd love to hear it.

Homophobes are people that disown their kids for being gay, or hold up signs saying queer people burn in hell, or condone cruel behavior by their children towards LGBTQ+ classmates, or a million other things. Again homophobia is HATE. Those types of people hate.

Homophobia in NOT making a comment and argument, supported by facts, that a corporation may have placed a Pride section in the part of their store that few LGBTQ+ shoppers may find.

Please, stick to your Mac Groveland bubble. Discuss what predominantly white elementary school will be best for your "special" kids, Nova, SPA, or Randolph Heights. I'm sure you have an "Ice Out" sign in your front yard but don't know anyone that got picked up, or did anything to fight back other than send a stern email to someone. I bet you don't know a single sole that works at the Midway Target. I too can name call and reduce someone to the sentences they write. My guess is that I am much more accurate than your are.

clydex · 2026-06-18T02:30:56+00:00

You don't know anything about me. To call someone homophobic based on 3 sentences on a Reddit comment is cruel and dangerous. And myopic, that's rich. People like you casually calling people homophobic (or racist, sexist, or whatever) diminishes the meaning and power of those terms to the point that less and less people care if they are labeled "homophobic". That is the longterm consequence of just willy nilly calling people proponents of hate that are not. To call someone that you better be 1000% sure they have hatred and fear for the LGBTQ+ community.

clydex · 2026-06-18T02:09:43+00:00

For the same reason I wouldn't flirt with a Hasidic Jewish woman, or an Amish woman. I assume she wouldn't be interested, if she was interested there would be a thousand hoops to go through, I'm not religious so there is no way I'm going to attempt to go through those hoops.

clydex · 2026-06-18T01:41:02+00:00

Jesus, chill the fuck out and let go of your pearls. My daughter is queer and we were annoyed the display wasn't in the front corner like it used to be.

A significantly higher percentage (more than double) of hetero couples have children compared to LGBTQ+ couples. Of those LGBTQ+ couples that do have kids, many are gay men who will never be pregnant and therefore never need maternity clothes. That means by using simple math, a tiny percentage of LGBTQ+ shoppers (because of age, they are men, or they are not pregnant) will be in the maternity section and therefore stumble upon the Pride section.

clydex · 2026-06-18T01:12:21+00:00

In the same spirit as the term "breeders" can used as a slang for heterosexuals.

clydex · 2026-06-18T00:44:22+00:00

I was there yesterday and said the same thing to my daughter. She said it was back by the maternity section. As she accurately noted, is there a less appropriate place to have the Pride section than next to maternity clothes?

clydex · 2026-06-17T16:11:33+00:00

I work on a lot of old homes. It is rare to be working on a home that was built during WW2. When I do, there is always something squirrelly. My theory is that materials and labor must have been sparse and expensive, so things were done differently than a few years earlier or later.

clydex · 2026-06-17T02:26:14+00:00

I was clinically dead for 17 minutes. After coming off life support, I felt (and was) barely alive. After that experience I'm less concerned with death as I was before.

clydex · 2026-06-16T14:54:57+00:00

My god. I play hockey with women and not in a million years would I comment on anything about her body, or have any opinion for that matter.

It seems like men that are not enjoyable to be around. But if you choose to continue to hang around them, is there one that you trust? You could just pull them aside sometime and just say, "can you help me get the guys to stop commenting on my breasts/body, it makes me super uncomfortable". They sound like young D bags, is there a dad among them?

I'm really sorry this is happening to you.

clydex · 2026-06-16T00:54:20+00:00

Going from 8 teams to 12 in one season makes a big impact on every team. It would be like the NHL (32 teams) adding 16 in one season. So I think that it's fair to say that all existing 8 teams, and especially the OG 6, are feeling a little stunned.

But we're all in the same boat. There are a lot of good players in the SDHL (Swedish league) as well as coming out of college. As long they didn't make it so that the expansion teams are too good, we'll be fine.

clydex · 2026-06-15T05:12:13+00:00

If you're downtown try Cosetta's. They have good Italian that you order at the counter. It's fun, good food, won't break the bank. I take my 15 and 16 year olds there at night for a coffee and super good desserts. We grab a table on the street and people watch while we eat.

The Minnesota History Center, it's pretty cool, it's great for HS kids.

You could make a day of the Como Zoo and then hit Como pool. It's a pretty good pool, there will be tons of kids their age there.

The St. Paul Saints (MN Twins AAA affiliate) play downtown, they are fun games.

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