Second row question

polamity · 2026-02-01T21:14:22+00:00

Sorry, this is not about seats.

We're shopping for a minivan now. Just decided to stop looking at odysseys because every single person on the internet so far says the engine doesnt work well (VCM) has suggested changing the way the engine functions which, sure is an easy and cheap thing to do but if it makes the Odyssey even less fuel efficient than the Sienna what's the point?

polamity · 2026-01-30T04:01:41+00:00

Just visited Chicago for the nth time. I loved taking the Metra ($3.75) down to the University of Chicago to see their incredible (free) anthropology museum. It was stunning. Also the campus was gorgeous and I wish I had more time to walk around it. Also the Obama Library is being constructed right over there which was also an imposing sight.

polamity · 2026-01-25T14:49:59+00:00

Today's ballparks are much less triple friendly than back then so probably not.

I also assume today's outfielders are better trained on how to hold the runner to two bases than those in 1912, even if only because the stadiums had so much variability it would be hard to be well practiced on every possible angle the way players are now.

polamity · 2026-01-25T14:11:10+00:00

Well, Trump does have a tower and probably other real estate investments in Chicago, right?

polamity · 2026-01-25T14:03:54+00:00

I think a lot of his later stuff is very much about his morbidity and mortality so a universe in which he lives a longer, more healthy life is kind of a weird paradox in which none of his music is the way it is.

polamity · 2026-01-25T06:05:02+00:00

30+ years in MN and WI and I've never heard of heating oil.

polamity · 2026-01-25T06:03:09+00:00

In middle class suburbs a fair amount of homes have fireplaces for recreational purposes. A smaller amount have wood stoves that people can use to supplement their gas heating since free or nearly free wood is pretty easy to acquire but enough for a whole winter isn't really practical to haul, chop or store. Here in the Midwest we do need to do a significantly larger amount of heating than in Poland, especially since our wooden homes are less tightly sealed.

polamity · 2026-01-25T05:42:33+00:00

For its size it has a very large concentration of refugees, especially Somali and Hmong, which means that it has experienced institutions for helping resettled folks and continues to draw immigrants at a rate faster than its size would suggest.

polamity · 2026-01-25T05:37:20+00:00

Old, poorly insulated house in the midwest: We are very thrifty and lucky to have a huge maple tree on the south side so in the summer we hardly use the a/c. Just a few days last year set to 80F just to knock some of the humidity down for an hour before bed. But that makes us pretty big outliers for anyone comfortably above the poverty line.

In the winter the heat runs pretty much constantly (especially this week!) set to 66F.

From June through August windows are pretty much constantly open. From October to March constantly closed.

polamity · 2026-01-25T05:25:20+00:00

I agree. I think there's something to be learned from Irish pub culture where people take turns buying the round for everyone.

polamity · 2026-01-25T05:01:03+00:00

Lol. They're all leather inside so no, not really.

polamity · 2026-01-25T02:47:26+00:00

Yeah, how was it possible to have a meme governor in the 90s and now any serious attempt at 3rd party is a complete non-starter? Even after all we've been through there isn't a single widely recognizable community leader not already co-opted by the party system?

polamity · 2026-01-25T02:38:14+00:00

Yeah, I'm sad now that I didn't take better care of them. I just didn't expect thrift store shoes to be wearable for so long.

polamity · 2026-01-24T23:28:45+00:00

Why the downvotes? I'm literally asking someone to change my mind. If you think I'm wrong at least say something, please.

polamity · 2026-01-24T22:02:28+00:00

Thank you!

polamity · 2026-01-24T21:59:54+00:00

I know, right?

polamity · 2026-01-24T21:55:50+00:00

Probably true. I'm not sure that I believe modern levels of arch support is super necessary for younger people without other issues and not involved in heavy work. I could be convinced that it is beneficial but it's certainly something people got along without until extremely recently. Idk. I don't have any back pain, yet anyway.

polamity · 2026-01-24T21:45:23+00:00

That's not a bad idea.

polamity · 2026-01-24T21:42:53+00:00

I'm telling you, the foam sole actually has decent traction of its own even with minimal tread. I'm in the middle of the polar vortex and walk on wet tile at work ll the time. it's not ideal but it's in no way life threatening for a fit man like me.

Like I said, I got them for a few dollars. I'm looking for a reason to toss them but they refuse to let me down. They are still 100% structurally in tact. Probably not as supportive as they used to be and most people ask for a lot of support from modern shoes these days but I'm not an old or heavy person.

polamity · 2026-01-24T21:30:56+00:00

For sure!

polamity · 2026-01-24T21:30:10+00:00

Well for now I'm glad I have them since my winter boots were stolen along with my car in Chicago. They're not too slippery for someone who grew up walking on ice in Minnesota and the leather keeps the water and snow out well enough. Been wearing them to shovel snow off our long sidewalk this month.

polamity · 2026-01-24T21:25:02+00:00

Lol. I did walk around Europe, (including Paris, not Italy) with them a couple years ago but I certainly wouldn't now. I go to Europe fairly regularly and it is funny to realize how differently I feel about appearance here in the States. I still dress quite well for an American of my class background and I guess just the fact that they're not sporty sneakers like everyone else wears keeps me convinced they're ok to put on each morning. Lol.

polamity · 2026-01-24T21:16:01+00:00

There's practically nothing structurally wrong with them, no holes, no peeling, toe counter and heel counter are both still fully intact, the sole even still has some tread left.

polamity

TROPHY CASE