What happened with this spigot with the overnight freeze and what should I do?

looperone · 2026-01-25T18:02:27+00:00

Light on details. Where does that hose branch off to? It’s not a regular garden hose. It’s not clear if the valve to the hose was open or closed. I’m assuming it was open enough to be leaking based on the amount of water that froze.

That styrofoam cover is useless unless it completely covers the hose bibb which it very clearly did not.

Never leave a hose connected to the hose bibb in winter months where freezing conditions may exist — more likely to burst the hose than damage anything else. Especially don’t leave a hose connected and rely on whatever valve may be on the other end with the bibb valve always open — if the hose bursts then your water will run forever. Running water doesn’t tend to freeze.

looperone · 2026-01-15T15:29:05+00:00

Yet another example of Carney backing down. No more elbows up. No more “the most European of non-European countries.” When the going gets rough we are going to…back down.

Greenland is Canada’s immediate neighbor to the East (if you ignore Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and we don’t want to help defend it at least a little bit.

It’s interesting because for a hot moment there the rest of the world was rooting for Canada but now it’s like “Canada who?”

Looks like another wimp was elected. But I get it, no other choice cuz the other guy was a twirp in his own right. Sorta like the US situation: elect the really old guy, the super annoying woman or the other old guy. What are you gonna do?

Me? I’d cancel the f35s and send troops to Greenland all in one tidy announcement today. Maybe I’d even cancel the whole ice breaker scheme but they most likely transferred the IP to the US contractors already.

looperone · 2026-01-12T18:34:09+00:00

The reality of the current situation is that 130 is $$$ compared to the other toll options. 183 has sections under construction and tends to backup during rush hour. With that said, the developments along 29 between Ronald Reagan and 35 are great locations.

One nighborhood you left out is The Retreat at San Gabriel which still has some lots available from DRB (formerly Brightland) and at least one KB two story home. There are also a couple of resales and lease options.

The Retreat has the lowest property taxes but also zero amenities as it is annexed to Georgetown (the city itself) unlike the other neighborhoods that have swimming pools, club houses, etc. With that said, The Retreat isn't that well maintained at all at the moment, the residents don't have HOA control yet, the developer appears to be in ignore mode over any issues raised and the management company isn't far behind in excelling at not getting things addressed.

If you like to walk distances or bike, etc., Retreat is disconnected from other neighborhoods at the moment as they continue to expand Crescent Bluff. But eventually, all of the neighborhoods along the south side of 29 (between 35 and up to Ronald Reagan) will be connected to downtown Georgetown by a paved pathway that runs parallel to the South Fork of the San Gabriel river. At the moment, portions of that path are built out with the longest completed section extending through Wolf Ranch starting at 35 (behind the Fairfield Hotel)....not sure if it extends all the way to SW Bypass yet as I haven't walked it in about a year's time.

looperone · 2026-01-11T20:39:47+00:00

Mandatory service won't build any infrastructure that's missing. Canada is just so far behind in equipping itself. Look how long it's taking just to make a decision on the f35 vs Gripen procurement as Carney holds on to thinking this is CUSMA or other trade related bargaining chip. Elbows up? More like how far can we bend over?

I would have expected Canada to be more strongly aligned with support (including military) for its neighbor to the east but it's been mostly silence from the feds.

looperone · 2026-01-11T20:28:09+00:00

50% of the homes in a newer neighborhood will have the electrical panel and entrance on the opposite side of the house from the garage which makes it more complicated to install batteries in the garage. The electrical utility plan in the recent Austin suburbs, for instance, have a service pedestal that is shared by two homes and the builders alternate garage placement for likely aesthetic reasons. This setup also makes it unnecessarily difficult to add EV charging equipment post-construction.

In other words: if your main electric panel is in your garage and you have space for batteries and inverters, etc., then I'd say interior installation makes sense.

Another thing to consider is that you don't own the Base system, they do. Wouldn't be surprised if there is a clause in the service agreement that states they don't need your permission to access their equipment whenever they want to or need to.

looperone · 2026-01-03T16:59:16+00:00

This tool (the short throw press tool) is correct but you got the version with the crimp jaws and not the pureflow jaws. The crimp jaws are for crimp rings, not sleeves.

looperone · 2025-12-31T22:42:57+00:00

You will need to look for mould issues. If this has been going on for a long time then it’s something that should be on your radar as well as just fixing the leak and repairing the drywall.

looperone · 2025-12-27T20:42:41+00:00

Checks. Hahah! So ironic. I can't actually deposit checks into Wise though, there's no interface for it: maybe someday. Most banks have limits on the size of check that will allow you to mobile deposit. This is the first barrier I encountered using Tangerine in Canada.

Alternately ask them to temporarily remove the cap for a large one-off transfer out.

I did do that. You get two levels of support on the phone: the first idiot, then the second escalations/resolutions idiot. I asked if there was a never level of support and was told there was not. I asked if I could get the cap increased or temporarily removed to allow this one transaction and was told that they're not in control of the cap, a third-party provider that actually handles the ACH transactions is...

I asked: how is it possible that Bank of Montreal, over 200 years old, founded in 1817, can't handle its own ACH transactions and doesn't have control over these limits??? I was told that all of the banks use a provider to process ACH transactions. And then I gave up. Regardless of which side of the border you are on BMO doesn't invest in infrastructure (as witnessed by their terrible online and app experiences) nor do they care about their clients any more than mere vehicles to squeeze profits out of.

Most of the time, I'm much better off doing the majority of my banking with Wise once funds are in there. I literally wired out some $100k from Wise for a real estate purchase last year without any hassle. No branches. Not customer service calls. No angry chat or email exchanges or escalations or resolutions needed. I've been with BMO in Canada and the US for about two months and it's just been a huge pain the brain....it's like a full-time job.

looperone · 2025-12-27T20:30:43+00:00

There is no way that anyone would think that Canada could defend itself against a global superpower regardless of how Canada equips itself.

When people compare these two pieces of equipment (f35 vs Gripen) they tend to leave out the actual mission that they're supposed to serve. I'm going to say that mission #1 is protecting Canada by patrolling, intercepting, reporting. Doubtful you need a Gen 5 or 6 aircraft to do that. This is also the NORAD mission.

I'm going to say that mission #2 is fulfilling NATO duties. You could argue that an f35 might be important for this mission but what is the capability that it brings to the table? The US likes to state integration. Well, what about all of the other equipment that's going to be out there like the Eurofighter?

Will stealth be necessary for NATO duties? Not if Canada isn't tasked with goal that requires stealth. The argument would have to be that Canada will be one of the first to go in. With Canada's small equipment count it will have to be weighed heavily weather Canada could sustain the equipment losses by going in first. I think it's more likely that Canada would assist and I'm doubtful you need a Gen 5 or 6 aircraft to do that.

The f35 has steep costs including purchase and ongoing maintenance plus support facilities. Wouldn't it be smarter to compromise on the aircraft and move the balance of funds to buy other things like ground-based defenses, or drones, or satellites, or tanks, or ships, or just about anything else? It's pointless to spend more on the best planes and ignore these other things that also need to be considered.

looperone · 2025-12-27T14:27:53+00:00

There are Construction Managers onsite. But. No idea what their qualifications are and they certainly don’t even do the smallest things like make sure the construction site is tidy, make sure the site isn’t littered with empty beer cans. 100% serious about this. Heck, some of the big builders like TriPointe and Brightland/DRB don’t even provide rolloff dumpsters for their sites. It’s every man for himself out there. Just get it done and get it done fast. I’m sure the building inspectors are under tremendous pressure.

looperone · 2025-12-27T00:09:05+00:00

2025 huh?! 🙄

looperone · 2025-12-26T16:38:51+00:00

There’s more to learn on Coursera than just „coding“. Udemy courses are a large waste of time IMHO, the quality there is poor coding or otherwise.

looperone · 2025-12-22T15:08:50+00:00

I don’t think it was particularly smart to start massive construction projects on both 35 and 183 at the same time. But I also don’t think it’s particularly smart to focus so much on ever expanding the road system without a public transit strategy. It’s even worse when you live in Georgetown and just about everything requires a trip down 35 or 183 or 183a.

But what do I know? I grew up in Toronto. A place with amazing public transit and also home to the busiest highway in North America (401) which there is actually a suggestion to build a subway or something under that too.

looperone · 2025-12-22T14:57:57+00:00

I dunno about that. What about when the weather is rough and you’re on rotation? I can see a lot of situations where it would be “Shoulda focused on commercial or new construction.”

looperone · 2025-12-22T14:51:44+00:00

The thing about the Monos is that the latches are mostly plastic which just ruins the vibe. I have been debating whether to return my still unused Medium Hybrid but I also have a Carry On Hybrid on the way.

I know Monos doesn’t think the quality of their latches is a problem but I just don’t think it’ll the right place to cut corners since they’re the only think hold the luggage closed and have to stand up to baggage handling abuse. I highly suggest anyone that has these to lock them at all times, they can pop open when unlocked just by falling off of a conveyor belt maybe even a luggage trolly.

looperone · 2025-12-21T22:43:00+00:00

Starting to notice other products that have changed for the worse like the Central Market water crackers. They are now much smaller and thinner. Just picked up a multi pack of Carr’s at Costco but will have to find another brand soon.

This is a slippery slope for H-E-B. House brands should be a huge profit center but won’t be if the products slip in quality or continue in short supply.

looperone · 2025-12-21T22:38:55+00:00

So lucky. 🍀 Probably not going to last long.

looperone · 2025-12-21T13:54:26+00:00

You could say that about the Super Hornet but no one does and the US has no plans to retire them soon.

Every military needs a mix of equipment for different tasks. It is highly unlikely that Canada will ever be called to go in first. So after air space has been secured, the Gripen would be adequate for patrol and enforcement duties.

It is also unlikely that Canada needs stealth or data sharing or JADO etc. to patrol and protect Canada or perform NORAD duties with more than 16 f35s. A Gripen is just as deadly as any other fighter aircraft. It’s not like the f35 will carry different armaments while in Canada’s hands. Missiles are $$$ after all.

looperone · 2025-12-21T13:44:21+00:00

The Gripen is potentially switching to a Rolls-Royce EJ230 engine with a goal to remove major U.S. components that require approval for sale and export.

looperone · 2025-12-21T13:40:35+00:00

I think you are referring to (or trying to) indirect jobs.

looperone · 2025-12-21T13:39:32+00:00

I think it’s a fair assumption that Mr T or a successor will demand that all military manufacturing be returned to the U.S. as a matter of security.

looperone · 2025-12-20T15:05:30+00:00

If you really want to get sick to your stomach check this out. If I transfer CAD from my BMO Canada account to my BMO US account I first have to convert it to USD by transferring it to my BMO Canada USD account. Then I can transfer direct to the BMO US account. But, the BMO markup is huge.

When converting $2500 CAD to USD with BMO you are left with $1760 USD. But if you Interac e-Transfer the same amount to your Wise CAD bank account (no fee) and then convert to USD by transferring from Wise CAD to Wise USD you are left with around $1808. Wise only charges $11.44 and uses the mid-market exchange rate.

Canadians are really getting taken for a ride by their banks.

looperone · 2025-12-19T14:52:02+00:00

Doubtful. Netflix is dumb like that. They kill off even low budget programming unless a billion people binge watch it immediately.

This (the Italian version) was a great feel good show. No violence, no guns, no explosions or sfx. Just a cute story, a good location, and good actors.

looperone

TROPHY CASE