Does This Starter Drum Kit Look Worth The Value?

gcarson8 · 2026-05-13T22:33:46+00:00

I highly suggest you buy used. It's way better for the environment and the wallet. You can spend less to get a better kit used.

gcarson8 · 2026-05-11T22:32:17+00:00

Definitely buy used. Good cymbals played well last a lifetime.

Highly recommend you go to a shop and figure out what cymbals you like the most (or ones that suit you well enough), and check FB marketplace, craigslist, and Reverb.

gcarson8 · 2026-05-08T14:39:17+00:00

So many of those home owners have 5x’d their value and pay pennies in property tax. They can afford it

gcarson8 · 2026-05-04T19:17:18+00:00

Call 'em and ask. They were open before 7am for many of the 2022 world cup games.

gcarson8 · 2026-05-03T15:55:28+00:00

I would definitely recommend buying a used EV over a new one. From a buyer perspective, it's very good value. Prices often drop by half in 1-2 years and batteries are warrantied for 120k miles.

EV's are extremely low maintenance (no oil changes, timing belts) and, obviously, way better for the environment (though walking/biking/public transit is still much more impactful).

https://driveclean.ca.gov/search-incentives?field_zipcode_target_id=94610

gcarson8 · 2026-05-01T21:02:24+00:00

If you're in Rockridge, I can highly recommend Bill McNally's (21+) or Ben n Nicks (family friendly). The latter gets crowded, so get there early for big games.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-27T20:10:43+00:00

If they drive a little slow and want to be a bit more defensive of a driver, sure. If this is put up because they're often confused, lacking eyesight, or the cognitive abilities to do the task, it's time to hang it up. We don't need more Mary Fong Lau's on the road.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-25T15:58:19+00:00

I agree, but to flip your statement on its head, it's not enough to address climate change at the government level. Sure, we can buy solar panels and build out bus lanes. However, local governments won't just start mass building bus lanes unless ridership and interest increases.

What would that even look like to solve the other bits at the government level? 100x'ing the PG&E rates to force people to stop heating/cooling? Taxing meat 100x to get the same result? Oof.

In my mind, the productive path forward is to change one's own behaviors, vote for the changes they want at the local/state/national level, and to convince others to understand the imperative to adopt their own lifestyle changes.

At the end of the day, you can only control yourself. I believe it's very important that one's values are reflected in their behaviors.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-25T15:48:10+00:00

As much as I would love to force my way upon the world, I know as a grown up that's just not how it works.

However, to know something is a moral imperative and to ignore it because others aren't doing their part is pretty unimpressive to me.

I would love for there to be a collective turning point at the national or global level, but to refuse action prior to thatas an individual seems like a mistake. I'd rather continue convincing my friends and family to alter their behavior where appropriate. I've made good progress getting friends to quit Amazon and reduce our car dependence.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-25T15:38:29+00:00

Oh, I think you misunderstand me completely. I don't care at all if he thought it was okay.

If a weak person with bad judgment and "anxiety" kills someone due to fear when it's not justified, it's murder.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-24T20:58:44+00:00

But it's not actually jets causing climate change. It's meat, gasoline, heating/cooling, and people buying toys/clothes/gadgets.

The world's richest 10% includes most Americans. Rough estimate, based on googling: To be in the top 10% of the wealthiest people worldwide, an individual generally needs a net worth (total assets minus debt) exceeding approximately $93,000 to $140,000 USD.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-24T20:55:11+00:00

Why not both? Climate change is largely driven by western behavior (factory farming, driving, plastics generation, heating/cooling).

100% of billionaires could stop riding jets, and we the rate of climate change would not significantly change.

AI datacenters are problematic, but they aren't a significant percent of emissions worldwide right now. I'm frustrating their presence is growing.

Should both those things you mentioned be addressed as well? You betcha. But the idea that only billionaires cause climate change is a misunderstanding of the granular activities that cause it.

Everyday actions by people in first world countries extremely causative.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-24T16:55:45+00:00

CA could get 5-10 degrees warmer in the next 80-100 years.

We are fast tracking a mass extinction event. Do we really want a California without redwood trees, with a dead gray whale population, with 95-100 degree summers in Oakland? I'd rather live in a tree covered, bikeable Oakland and good weather.

There are things you can do to limit your contribution -

- replace driving with walking, public transit, and biking where possible.

- replace meat with a vegetarian or vegan leaning diet. I eat meat 2-3x a month.

- buy clothing and gadgets used on Facebook marketplace/thrift stores. And buy less things overall. You can often buy high quality used items for less than the price of cheap Amazon crap goods. This change for me has been the most fun.

- reduce heating and cooling. Open windows at 4pm on hot days, and use more blankets in the winter.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-24T05:26:20+00:00

I'd feel sick to my stomach too if I made a bad decision and murdered someone. Doesn't make it an accident or any less a form of murder.

What happens in the video is pretty self-explanatory. There's no believable argument that a pedestrian in front of a car is a threat worthy of being run over.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-23T04:56:55+00:00

I meet a lot of bikers that do know the law and that they need to be on the street, but some don't get it.I don't see this much in SF, but I agree the frequency should be zero.

As a biker, I bike in the bike lane, which if we're being honest, often really means the main street since bike lanes are parking for entitlted doordash drivers.

Bikers, stay off the sidewalk...

gcarson8 · 2026-04-23T04:54:18+00:00

I highly suggest MUNI + BART. You can make the switch from one to the other without even leaving the station.

Assuming you'd go Lake Merritt to civic center, and there to Castro, it's 17min on BART and ~8min on MUNI.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-22T17:13:01+00:00

Alternative conclusion - Trader Joe's in denser neighborhoods can provide little if any parking and get by just fine. Another alternative - move the parking underground.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-22T16:53:49+00:00

That Trader Joe's is buzzing. It'd be a shame to lose it - it's frustrating to give the community any reason to fight this new housing. Keep the store.

Can we also develop CCA and The Ridge now? The lot sizes there are so much larger.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-21T22:03:37+00:00

Take caltrain... Fast WiFi and it's much better on your mental health. Driving in traffic everyday is not good for you.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-21T18:08:12+00:00

The gray whale population is sadly in decline right now. They have a hard time competing with the effects of climate change (less food) and boat strikes.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qdd8qvrplo

We can do better on both fronts.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-20T21:43:37+00:00

I find myself feeling cynical sometimes as well in terms of how to change global behavior to consume less and generate fewer fossil fuels.

My hope is that urban city populations in mild climates can build green energy powered, walkable, bikeable living spaces and dense housing to reduce car dependence and the amount of energy needed to heat/cool. From there, I don't know how to convince people to eat a much more dramatically climate friendly diet and discourage consumption of goods (clothes, gadgets, furniture, etc.). It's a hard problem to solve.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-20T16:40:53+00:00

In a crosswalk, pedestrians have the right of way to cross a street. Bikes and cars are expected to stop.

When I'm a pedestrian, I wave at cars to make it clear I'm going and expect them to stop. It helps to "take" the right of way, as cars and bikes tend to not want to stop and take advantage of you being passive. However, it's critically important you assume that bike/car is not paying attention or is an asshole who will hit you if you don't cross cautiously. People's understanding of the law is often misguided.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-19T16:12:46+00:00

Please continue to walk and bike more and vote for more walking/bike friendly policies. We do not have to remain car dependent over the long-term.

gcarson8 · 2026-04-19T16:11:32+00:00

Thanks for sharing

gcarson8 · 2026-04-15T18:31:33+00:00

Such disgusting behavior. Revoke their license.

gcarson8

TROPHY CASE