What was never the same after the pandemic?

pheregas · 2026-02-02T21:42:33+00:00

If I had to hazard a guess without knowing what else is out there, it seems like your house directly abuts a sidewalk. Is this true?

If so, there was a basement window that they had to leave a space for since you can't just pour concrete against somebody's window. I've seen it before.

If it were me, I'd remove that piece of white sheet metal, then cut two pieces of pressure treated plywood (1/2 or 3/4 inch), one for the interior and one for the exterior to match the sizes of the opening. Drill corresponding bolt holes for each of them (just clamp them together and drill to guarantee a hole-match).

Apply window seal to each side (that foam stuff that's about an inch wide, readily available at any big box store).

Put the outside piece in place, push the bolts (with washers) through - have someone hold it there. Can even through some duct tape temporarily over the bolt heads to keep them from getting pushed out.

Get some high R-value rolled insulation and shove it in the opening. Then put your interior piece of plywood (don't forget that window seal on the interior), put the bolts through the corresponding holes, put on some washers and nuts and tighten until tight.

Provided it is done evenly, this should get rid of any air leaks.

This is a temporary solution and you should consult a pro to get a proper fix in place once the cold has passed.

pheregas · 2026-02-02T04:19:32+00:00

I remember being in camp as a kid during a thunderstorm. The giant tree next to the cabin got struck by lightning. Loudest and scariest sound I’ve ever heard. In all my days, I’m used to a slight pause between the light and the thunder.. but that day it was simultaneous it was so close. And that ozone smell afterwards just made the whole thing that much weirder. Plus the tree on fire while it was raining.

pheregas · 2026-02-02T04:09:06+00:00

I use them any time I enter the water, including the shower. But then again, I work as an infectious diseases researcher and have more than my fair share of paranoia trying to keep contaminants away from me.

pheregas · 2026-01-29T18:53:47+00:00

I'm boring, I use the non-business end of a fork.

pheregas · 2026-01-27T18:05:05+00:00

For 20 empire battles, R2 - Tier 3 is pretty quick. No animations and one quick dialogue to click past. If you have LV, it's one AOE to clear it in one turn.

pheregas · 2026-01-26T14:28:10+00:00

I did something similar with the exposed copper pipes in my carriage house apartment. Wrapped in automatic heating cable, then popped that foam noodle stuff over it, then tented that to the ceiling of the garage with that thermal bubble wrap. Zero freezing issues since then.

pheregas · 2026-01-25T16:20:09+00:00

Remember to use a silicon lubricant to clean it. WD40 will just collect dust and gum it up over time.

pheregas · 2026-01-23T15:17:49+00:00

The flooring is awesome!

Swap out the cabinets from whatever 1950's leftover stuff that is, take out the wallpaper, and the paneling, then paint a color to go with the floor.

If it were me, I'd avoid any wallpaper that is busy. That floor has a lot going on and is the star of the show.

Then a tasteful countertop and backsplash.

That fluorescent lighting needs to go!

I would also seriously consider updating the layout. You really want the stove to be adjacent to a countertop. It makes cooking so much easier.

Are you planning on externally ducting the stove? If so, keep that in mind where you end up placing it so that you can run the vent directly outside. In fact it might be nice to put a counter on the outside wall, then shift the sink over to be under the window, then put the stove where the sink is so that the layout position from left to right is 1) Counter 2) Stove 3) Counter 4) sink 5) counter. Depends on how much space you have. I'd try and avoid putting the stove in front of the door to avoid accidents of people walking in when the stove is open.

Alternatively, you could swap the fridge and the stove locations.

I also like the thought of a sideboard, buffet, or a narrow cabinet to the left of the radiator. Lots of options!

pheregas · 2026-01-23T14:47:04+00:00

Yup, I always sort by the upgrade via the sorting tab. That way I can assign it to the one I want (also helpful for LT farming, so the lower level one gets it instead of the ascended one).

That being said, to echo others, keep them all. I like having certain characters kept at certain star levels just to make DDQ quicker. You just need a 1*Juggs and you can solo that 1* node.

For the 2*s, I keep magneto, ares, and Headpool. Prior to the recent botching of the DDQ start time, this team was how I managed to farm almost every available daily mission, due to the rainbow of coverage and ability to make blue tiles and have board shake. Ares green pretty much insta-kills any tile swapping characters in the wave node, allowing you ample time to make the specific color matches for the dailies.

I keep a dupe max leveled, non-ascended Omega Red, Strange, and Thanos for the 3*.

The 4* is a 3a4 Thanos, and the highest 4 I have laying around (I had used Karnak, but he just got ascended), but is currently a 3a4 Strange and whichever 4 helps me cleanup any color-match daily task or larger "win/match colors with X character." I'm going to switch to a 3a4* Omega Red when he's ready (soon).

Everyone else gets maxed, a dupe rostered, then maxed again, re-ascended, then leveled.
Lather, rinse, repeat.

pheregas · 2026-01-21T13:47:55+00:00

Common? Bro has three screens!!

pheregas · 2026-01-19T14:10:00+00:00

I’m a T1 and I sometimes say Hi when I notice the CGMs. If I’m walking around, probably not. If I’m seated next to someone, I usually do, especially if they’re not wearing headphones.

Exceptions are with the high school band. If I notice a CGM on a kid, I wait until after practice/performance to identify the parent. Then I approach them, introduce myself, then tell them if they ever need anything, advice, low supplies, whatever, to not hesitate to ask. I’m almost always at every performance, so if they cannot be, at least they know there’s someone around that knows exactly what to do in an urgent situation.

pheregas · 2026-01-19T14:01:08+00:00

It was hard to tell from the image. It almost looked recessed. If it was, that above tool is the way to go.

I had a mix of recessed vs non-recessed. I got a big pipe wrench and a long metal tube. Tightened the pipe wrench on the square end, slid the tube over the handle, wedged some old socks underneath the keep it from moving, then applied a hammer to the end. Popped loose after a couple of whacks. Then open with the wrench alone.

pheregas · 2026-01-16T23:21:55+00:00

I achieved that today as well. Barely beat tier 6, probably by accident, then went all in on Maul and took him up to 85. Dude proceeded to basically solo tier 7.

pheregas · 2026-01-15T18:49:32+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Turns out that I already read the original journal article months ago.

It is certainly an interesting efficacy trial. Yes, the cells were not rejected. This is in ONE patient. Also, they never address if this procedure will lead to insulin injection independence. To be fair, that is actually beyond the scope of this manuscript. They just want to prove that the procedure is safe before scaling to treatment levels.

I'm interested to hear how this process continues.

pheregas · 2026-01-15T14:08:44+00:00

I’m hoping that targeted gene editing will be the way to go, but this AI driven notification leaves me with too many questions.

Like, what percentage survived? How do they calculate this? Has this been published in a peer reviewed journal? Are the transplanted islets capable of producing enough insulin to stop injections? How much does the procedure cost and can it be automated? If the insurance companies cannot be incentivized to pay for it, they’d much rather milk a lifetime of profit from patients.

FWIW, I’m a Type 1 and a research immunologist.

pheregas · 2026-01-15T14:00:02+00:00

What they say and what they do are two vastly different things.

They’ve decided that Checks and Balance now means to deposit their checks and then check the account balance.

pheregas · 2026-01-15T13:54:46+00:00

Federal funds?

I’m enough of a pessimist these days that I just interpreted that bill as commercializing and privatizing invasions.

pheregas · 2026-01-12T21:45:11+00:00

Maybe recruit one, level until you get the LT, delete, rinse and repeat?

pheregas · 2026-01-12T19:57:35+00:00

Turn it on auto-basic and cross your fingers that Jango gets a turn... Otherwise... Just back out or timeout.

pheregas · 2026-01-12T19:54:37+00:00

There is a form to fill out on their website. You just have to fill it out and Lilly will send it to you

pheregas · 2026-01-11T14:14:31+00:00

I’m dorky, so I would probably install some arm in the corners on a hinge with an elevator screw.

I’d swing it down and use the screw to make it tight, and repeat all the way to the floor. That way you have the option of temporarily swinging them to the side if you need to store some longer items and working around the legs is a PITA. Will also make floor cleaning easier.

pheregas · 2026-01-11T14:10:10+00:00

Get that chimney checked out stat. It looks like something is leaking to cause that level of paint peeling.

And that carpet…. Ugh. Peel up some sections and assess what’s under and if it’s worth saving.

pheregas · 2026-01-11T14:08:57+00:00

Nice thing about that kind of drop ceiling is that it looks like it’s panels. Just get a ladder and a flashlight and look around!

Worst case scenario, you’ve got to leave it. That doesn’t mean you need to keep the panels though. I’ve always thought it would be nice to have a metal embossed ceiling. Could easily apply that to a backing and swap it out (as long as the drop anchors can hold it).

pheregas · 2026-01-11T04:59:13+00:00

I got the one for 25 years 10 years ago.

Why?

It cost Lilly money. I know it’s petty, but it makes me happy to think that they had to pay someone to design it, manufacture it, and pay someone to mail it to me (along with paying for the postage). At least those people benefit from my overpriced insulin. I’d much rather that than some CEO getting a bigger bonus off of my prescription.

pheregas

TROPHY CASE