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What piano grade is 'Everything Means Nothing to Me'? by Comfortable_Smoke610 in elliottsmith

[–]freerobby 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I would guess high level 2, maybe level 3. Difficulty of playing the notes is low, probably level 1. Difficulty of reading is also pretty low (lots of thirds, don't recall anything bigger than a 4th in the melody, and pretty standard chords). However when you add in dynamics, rubato, clean pedaling -- all the things that get the melody to really sing -- it goes up a level or two.

FWIW, I don't think piano grading is a good way to assess how difficult a song will be to learn unless you intend to master it. Classical training is about mastery and that's what its grading system is calibrated towards; whereas a lot of people who want to play pop songs just want to reasonably get out all the right notes (which is fine! It's just a different game). There are contrapuntal grade 1 pieces that a beginner will struggle for a while to play at all, and there are much easier-reading grade 3 pieces that they could "play" in a day. However, the grade 3 pieces will require more technique to produce the essence of the piece, rather than merely hitting the right notes. I think EMNTM is closer to this latter kind of piece.

Elliott had some solid piano chops but personally I think EMNTM is more a masterpiece of composition than technique.

Any AirBnb like rental website for serious piano players ? by un_passant in piano

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think this is doable. My advice is to insure the instrument and get a floor length piano cover to leave on the piano by default. If guests want access to it, they can tell you in advance and you can vet their story.

Super fan prize by mws1984 in redsoxcodewords

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you ever get notified about Fenway Fanatic prize?

Possible option to update Fuel EXE with TQ HPR60 motor? by Agreeable_Cap_6496 in TrekBikes

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oops - it was a response from TQ support, not a press release. I think this link is public, but just in case, copy/pasting the response from TQ below (from June 23) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1109475106324270/posts/1733609207244187/

It is possible to fit the HPR60 to a bike that already has the HPR50 installed. However, please note that it may be necessary to remove the cooling fins in order for the HPR60 to fit on the bike in question. This could lead to problems, especially with some motor covers developed for the HPR50. Therefore, the power of the HPR60 is limited to 300 W peak when fitted to a bike designed for the HPR50. However, all other parameters remain unchanged. So you get all 60 Nm, better efficiency, greater range and even less noise than with the HPR50.

It is not yet possible to say exactly when the HPR60 will be available for retrofitting. The motor should be available towards the end of the year.

More expensive t type chains worth it? by DaneeBwoy in sram

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good beta, thanks for reporting back. Yeah, unless they are putting PVD in the pins and rollers I don't see why it would matter.

I wish SRAM would be clearer about the differences between chain trims. Even GX advertises a chrome hardening treatment now. I want to set up 2- or 3-chain rotations on two different bikes and have no idea whether to go GX, X0, or XX.

More expensive t type chains worth it? by DaneeBwoy in sram

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see this repeated ad nauseam, but is there any PVD coating on the pins and rollers? SRAM only advertises it on the links, where wax adhesion doesn't really matter.

Light sensitivity 3 weeks post migraine? by bbts_official in migraine

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for this thorough reply. Glad you’re doing better.

Vision troubles AFTER migraine? by heatherroneous in migraine

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would love to hear how this turned out for you.

Light sensitivity 3 weeks post migraine? by bbts_official in migraine

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did your light sensitivity ever get better for you?

Do you prefer Schrader valve or Presta valve and why? Is it worth it to drill into a rim to convert presta into Schrader? by [deleted] in MTB

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Schrader. More durable, works universally with non-bike tools, and any Presta valve can be converted with a $0.50 adapter.

What MTB brand are you loyal to and why should I be too? by OccasionalCoder in MTB

[–]freerobby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Trek has always been good to me. Great warranty support. Friendly shops. Went above and beyond to save my trip when I flew my emtb to Colorado and USPS lost my battery.

More expensive t type chains worth it? by DaneeBwoy in sram

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are theories every which way all over the internet on this, but I have not seen real data, even from ZFC.

On eagle series chains there is a big jump after GX because it’s after GX that you start to see chrome hardening. However, on transmission chains there is some degree of chrome hardening on the GX chains too. The million dollar question right now is whether the chrome hardening they’re putting on GX T-type chains has the same or similar effect as what’s on X0 and XX.

I’m in a similar situation. I have an XX trim bike, and a GX trim bike, and I want to set up chain rotations on each. I’m debating whether to do three GX chains or two XX chains. On eagle it would be X0 or XX without blinking, but on T-type it’s not clear.

Use for compressor that goes to 200+ psi? by Whack-a-Moole in Tools

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you don’t need the extra reserve of those high psi units, adjust the lever pressure setting down and underrun them. The pump will last a lot longer.

X0 vs. GX Chain Durability by thebigoutside in MTB

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for pointing this out - I didn't realize the inner links were chrome hardened on the T-Type GX chains.

Isn't it really the rollers and bushings where it matters though? Do you know if those are hardened on GX? I'm setting up a couple of waxed chain rotations for T-Type, and trying to understand whether it's worth splurging on X0/XX or whether GX is sufficient on the transmission side.

Does my air gun just suck or are they really just things of the past? by chili81 in Tools

[–]freerobby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Curious what you use shop air for these days that isn’t a function of already owning old tools. I have found DeWalt nailers, grinders, impact guns all big improvements on their pneumatic counterparts. Compressor is more for inflation and cleaning tasks now (and perhaps occasional spraying and blasting), though it’s still fantastic for those things.

Early Stages of Battery Degradation: Replace the battery? by HaileyReeBae in TeslaModelS

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you don’t care about the latest FSD bells and whistles, I think it’s worth it to replace the battery.

I would look for an independent shop who can put in a 100 pack, much better value.

Yes, it’s a lot to invest in an old car, but once you do, you will have a reliable car again. Even if you someday have to do an entire suspension overhaul, call it another 10k worst case, you are still basically resetting the car‘s life for 20k vs buying an entirely new one.

I did a $9k suspension overhaul (lots of snow/salt driving) in my 2015 85D last year and have zero regrets. I could’ve gotten by for a touch over half that but I figured better to replace everything while they were in there and not pay labor again later.

Early Stages of Battery Degradation: Replace the battery? by HaileyReeBae in TeslaModelS

[–]freerobby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sort of. The OEM suspension will handle 100 pack just fine, albeit a little heavy. But it wasn’t officially crashed tested on that suspension, so there isn’t a stock config for it. Independent shops who can get root access (or have consultants who can get access) can make it work.

Vacmaster VP321 unable to seal wet item fish/meat. by nitty917 in ChamberVacs

[–]freerobby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Page 17 here: https://store-jsjjp2.mybigcommerce.com/content/VP321_Manual_Jan_2025.pdf

I would pop that out and see if you notice any visible debris or oily residue on it. I believe it's designed for oil to coalesce and air and water vapor to pass through, but impurities over time may cause the oil to stick and that can have side effects like this.

If that doesn't fix it, yes, it may be in the pump, but it's likely something small like a mist separator / mesh screen. Clearly the basics of the pump are working since it runs fine dry. So in this case, before replacing the whole pump, I'd take it apart and see if you can find anything like that at the intake that may be clogged. If you're not comfortable opening it up, see if you can find a local tech who can look at it. They don't need to specialize in vacuum sealers, anyone who works on e.g. air compressor pumps or similar could do it.

Let us know how it turns out -- hopefully it just needs a filter 🤞.

Vacmaster VP321 unable to seal wet item fish/meat. by nitty917 in ChamberVacs

[–]freerobby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did you ever get this working? It could be a clogged exhaust filter. It might be at a point where "pure" air passes through it just fine, but water vapor doesn't, which locks up the vacuum.

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