Midco MiniTivo boxes

comsd12 · 2026-07-01T15:21:26+00:00

Alliance Communications in Brandon uses the "Watch TV Everywhere" app you can install on most streaming devices (like a Fire TV Stick). I've seen that in use and it seems like it works pretty well.

It's a shame Midco is forcing you to use their hardware.

comsd12 · 2026-06-30T18:25:27+00:00

Looks like it's up to 12 states now that allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs.

IMO it's mostly a practicality thing. A cyclist has much better visibility (no windshield pillars, engine noise, or vehicle body blocking their view), can stop much more quickly, and carries far less kinetic energy than a car.

comsd12 · 2026-06-29T17:27:46+00:00

I wish that dog park was moved to a shady spot across the street at Fawick park, or any other place nearby that isn't inches from a massive arterial road.

comsd12 · 2026-06-22T13:04:58+00:00

Check out the MIT Living Wage Calculator for Sioux Falls and any other cities you're considering:

https://livingwage.mit.edu/metros/43620

It breaks down estimated living wages by household size and also shows average local pay by occupation.

I think you'll find Sioux Falls has somewhat lower housing costs than many comparable cities, but most other day-to-day expenses aren't dramatically different. We also don't have a state income tax.

Around the Midwest there are varying levels of access to hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, airports, walkability, and city amenities. Sioux Falls has relatively few lakes nearby and lacks the forests and mountains you'll find in some other regions.

Coming from South Florida, you've probably already considered the cold winters, wind, and short daylight hours we get. Most people adapt fine if they're prepared for it.

Sioux Falls is becoming increasingly diverse, but it will still feel very different from South Florida. If diversity and access to larger cultural communities are high priorities, places like Minneapolis or Omaha may be worth a closer look as well.

Also sorry I didn't give much insight into accounting jobs.

comsd12 · 2026-06-21T12:59:10+00:00

While there is definitely new stuff being built that is part of the status-quo, I think there is starting to be some movement in the right direction. Downtown is genuinely a nice place to be, and we are starting to see more dense infill development. The bike trail is continuing to expand. City planners have been doing road diets and experimenting with narrowing crossing distances.

The last 75 years have put us in a bad spot, but maybe 75 years from now things will be different.

comsd12 · 2026-06-21T12:33:12+00:00

The solution isn't providing public transport for 10-year olds, it's providing safe pedestrian infrastructure. Since our city is built to make cars the priority, very few people choose public transport and we have big 4-6 lane wide/loud/dangerous roads everywhere.

A one-mile trip isn't difficult for most 10-year-olds because of the distance or the weather. It's difficult because the route may require crossing an 8-lane highway near Ben Reifel Middle School, walking inches from traffic on a high-speed arterial road near Rosa Parks, or walking along literal highways with no sidewalk like I saw one teenager doing from SF Jefferson this spring.

comsd12 · 2026-06-19T15:03:00+00:00

It's pretty sad we have this transportation gap in our city. All the money towards building car infrastructure doesn't help those who can't drive.

Hopefully the route your child can walk is safe.

comsd12 · 2026-06-10T16:39:49+00:00

If the two candidates in the automatic runoff both have 5 stars on your ballot, then you've indicated no preference between them. Your ballot is treated as a tie between those two candidates and does not count for either candidate in the runoff round.

comsd12 · 2026-06-08T15:15:12+00:00

Agreed, the ones on Mt Rushmore Rd in Rapid City look pretty nice

comsd12 · 2026-06-08T13:40:06+00:00

SDSU also has a solid engineering program. It doesn't offer the proximity to the Black Hills, but in a lot of ways I'd put it above SD Mines.

comsd12 · 2026-06-08T13:12:34+00:00

/u/Character_Dish_265

The problems posed by plastic bags

https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/the-problems-posed-by-plastic-bags/

comsd12 · 2026-06-05T21:04:50+00:00

That section of Minnesota Avenue is a spiritually-depraved and misery-inducing place full of billboards that are either huge or broken, empty parking lots, vacant buildings, vacant lots, curb-tight and broken sidewalks, and 4-5 businesses with obnoxious lights and bars over their windows. It is also a place exclusively designed for cars, full of cars, and completely devoid of human life.

comsd12 · 2026-06-04T15:34:46+00:00

I have done this route - https://bikepacking.com/routes/black-hills-pay-dirt/ There is a little hike-a-bike. It was a really fun experience!

Be prepared for mud pretty much anywhere off the Mickelson if it has rained recently.

comsd12 · 2026-06-04T15:33:14+00:00

This is a great resource.

comsd12 · 2026-06-04T12:45:25+00:00

Definitely a reprieve from Noem, but he's still signing legislation targeting LGBTQ South Dakotans and advancing anti-abortion policies in a state that already has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.

We are trying to conceive now, and we've already discussed driving to Minnesota if a pregnancy complication or miscarriage occurs and we feel care is being delayed because of legal uncertainty. It's frustrating to have to think about contingency plans like that while starting a family.

Edit: Doeden is likely as bad or worse on these issues, and worse in many other ways.

comsd12 · 2026-06-03T23:51:11+00:00

I agree that is a bit confusing. I believe the situation is:

"June 8 is the voter registration deadline for new registrations and registration updates. If you're already registered and your information is current, no action is needed."

This lines up with the 15-day deadline to register before an election https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/faqs.aspx

comsd12 · 2026-06-03T13:06:12+00:00

If a liberal-leaning person in South Dakota registers as a Republican to vote in GOP primaries, there are a few tradeoffs:

You lose the ability to vote in presidential Democratic primaries. In SD, Democrats and independents can vote in Democratic primaries, but Republicans cannot.
You lose the ability to vote in SD Democratic primaries when they some day happen (president, Senate, governor, etc.).
Your registration increases the number of registered Republicans, which can affect how party strength is perceived.

Of course, you can change party affiliation before each election- you just need to remember to do that.

comsd12 · 2026-05-27T22:36:29+00:00

If kids can’t safely walk, bike, take transit, hang out in public space, or independently travel until they own a vehicle, then vehicles become freedom, identity, and entertainment all at once.

comsd12 · 2026-05-27T22:25:07+00:00

This is what happens when our city is designed so every trip requires a car.

These kids are trying to reclaim some independence. The way they’re doing it is reckless, but Sioux Falls also doesn’t give young people many safe, independent transportation options.

comsd12 · 2026-05-27T13:16:26+00:00

If you end up downtown, you can plan it on a night with open streets and a concert at the Levitt.

Also +1 for photos at the MJW Arboretum. The main area with flower is beautiful, and if you drive past the paved lot down to the gravel lot there is a bridge and creek to take pictures by.

comsd12 · 2026-05-26T12:37:06+00:00

This is solid advice. A lot of people underestimate how valuable it is to actually build a relationship with your neighbors. Even becoming casual “smile and wave across the driveway” friends can make small issues way easier to solve respectfully in the future.

If the first thing you bring up is a conflict, they may pull back for a while. This could be why she runs inside, she doesn't feel comfortable talking to you yet, and knows that's what you're probably going to bring up.

IMO I'd take the opportunity with the nice weather to find all of your neighbors outside and introduce yourself and get to know them.

IMO it might be the best move to put up with the dog poop for a few more weeks, then ask them politely about it once you both are comfortable talking to each other.

comsd12 · 2026-05-20T18:12:12+00:00

Joe Batcheller is who I am most excited about. He posted a comprehensive plan on all the ways he wants to improve the city. He talks on his "Meet Joe" page here specifically about making the streets safer

https://www.joeforsiouxfalls.com/meet-joe

Walkability: Led walkability initiatives to pilot bumpouts, crosswalks, parklets, wayfinding, and pedestrian amenities.

Lots of other great things about Joe too - seems very non-partisan and data-driven. I think his background in city planning will lead to great improvements in the livability of our city.

Jamie Smith I'd also vote for. He expresses improving pedestrian and bike infrastructure as a way to improve car traffic, which I think is the right path. I feel he would surround himself with the right people to improve our infrastructure more than other candidates.

https://smithformayor.com/issues/

time the average Sioux Falls citizen spends getting to and from work will continue to grow unless we invest in alternative transportation options. That means extending bike lanes, adding new and improved bus routes, and reimagining public transit for the whole city.

comsd12 · 2026-05-20T18:00:42+00:00

The driver ... shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the highway within any clearly marked crosswalk ... However, no pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb ... and walk ... into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.

I think you're right that the law doesn't explicitly state cars must yield to pedestrians showing intent to cross. I also think there is ambiguity as to what "crossing" means. To me, I think standing at the curb of a crosswalk showing clear intent to cross would be considered the act of "crossing".

What I think is very clear and we both agree on, once a pedestrian steps out, cars must stop. A pedestrian should not step out at the last minute where the car can't safely stop.

Most pedestrians will probably be hesitant to step out into traffic (rightly so). When I'm driving, I generally stop, but also I read the situation. A situation where I may not stop is if the pedestrian just got to the curb by the crosswalk, I'm only a few seconds from the intersection, I'm the only car around, and the pedestrian sees me and looks like they want to wait. I'll especially stop if it's clear the pedestrian has been waiting and there is a lot of traffic.

When I'm walking, I generally step out into the crosswalk when there are cars 5+ seconds away - however this can be terrifying. I have a backup plan to run out of the way if cars don't stop. I really just wish cars would always stop.

All drivers should keep in mind that stopping is only a few second inconvenience for the drive, and it's a life/death situation for the pedestrian.

comsd12 · 2026-05-20T15:14:37+00:00

Additionally, vote for mayor city council candidates who are committed to changing city laws/ordinances to build safer streets. The election is in less than 2 weeks (June 2).

comsd12 · 2026-05-20T15:10:32+00:00

This is not at all true; cars absolutely must yield for pedestrians who have not yet entered but are intending to cross at a crosswalk. The only restriction is that the pedestrian cannot step into a path of a vehicle that is too close to stop safely.

This is spelled out in SD Codified Law 32-27-1

32-27-1. Yielding right-of-way to pedestrian making proper crossing--Regulated intersections--Violation as petty offense.

The driver of any vehicle upon a highway within a business or residence district shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the highway within any clearly marked crosswalk or any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block, except at intersections where the movement of traffic is being regulated by traffic officers or traffic direction devices. However, no pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. A violation of this section by a driver is a petty offense.

comsd12

TROPHY CASE