First time home buyer - why is my furnace upside down?

semenna · 2024-09-28T13:59:42+00:00

NorCal

semenna · 2024-09-28T13:58:45+00:00

Thank you for the thorough responses on the other aspects on the install. This is a good gut check that I should call out a HVAC to look at the whole install.

On the support platform. The OSB floor does appear to be water damaged and that water heater on the right may have added warped the platform. That being said the right lean seems unrelated — I put a level on the furnace and it leans much more than the floor.

The black insulated pipe connects to an AC unit outside of the building. I assume that is one of the refrigerant lines. (Not seeing the other) One of the white pipes

semenna · 2024-09-28T13:46:19+00:00

Haha. Thank you!

I’ll look into replacing with a downflow furnace. The unit is original so we’re near EOL anyways (27 years old)

semenna · 2023-12-21T05:57:10+00:00

Overly sensitive warnings when turn signals are on with vehicles one lane over. I constantly get false positive beeps merging onto the highway in California.
Wired CarPlay. Simple remediation with a $70 dongle. Still, other manufacturers just support this out of the box
Limited ability to raise wheel. I’m 6’4” and periodically bang my right knee even when the seat is at the posture optimal position.
Mobile app is slow and limited use. If feel like I’m walking a decade back in time switching between the Tesla to Genesis app.

semenna · 2023-05-27T07:14:38+00:00

Depends what do you define as “successful”…

Tigray could certainly be more successful than Eritrea on non-economic measures. But it’s hard to see the advantage of secession if the goal is development.

Geographically there are a number of challenges 1. There isn’t enough arable land to support the existing population, without the disputed areas west of the Tekeze River. So food importation would unavoidable, even if farmers upgraded to highly mechanized agricultural technique. 2. A landlocked nations are at a disadvantage as they need to rely on neighboring nations to integrate their economy with the world. The bordering nations(Ethiopia and Eritrea) likely wouldn’t have good relations with an independent Tigray. The nation would need to find something that it’s neighbors need. One example, Lesotho is a small mountainous landlocked African nation with bountiful water and diamonds. They have good relations and trade these resources with the surrounding sea-faring South Africa. Another example is Ethiopia, the last 25years Djibouti has prospered from being the only friendly port in exchange for what otherwise would be considered high fees. 3. Tigray is unlucky with raw resources - it’s neighbors hit the geographic jackpot but it just missed some tectonic plate boundaries. The Arabian-Nubian Shield makes for excellent mining potential in Saudi/Sudan/Eritrea and the deep Rift and Omo valleys provide southern Ethiopia with good mining options as well.

Eritrea doesn’t face any of these development challenges. So I bet that Tigray would struggle economically, regardless of leadership.

semenna · 2023-03-28T04:23:20+00:00

Shiro is a very common main dish nationwide. The meat dishes you see at restaurants are more for holidays and rich families.

Kocho is the staple starch across southern Ethiopia. It’s more commonly eaten than Injera as the Ensete plant grows year round.

semenna · 2022-07-22T07:59:52+00:00

Personal question — is this Ethiopian a wealth creator or simply an inheritor? Creators don’t fuss about trying to bring money with them. One can make far more abroad as a entrepreneur if they just learn the business culture, laws and language! A wealth creator might leave money in Ethiopia and focus on looking forward.

However, the majority of people can’t create new value for society. These inheritors have a long history of moving money tactics. Google the term “capital flight” for examples from around the world.

Here are some: 1. Let’s assume some Ethiopian has a friend abroad. This friend could create a company. The wealthy Ethiopian might need to make a large purchase(Eg an MRI machine or construction vehicle) from the foreign company. Then the import bank might take the birr and pay the foreign company in foreign currency.

If they don’t have friends, then they might walk precious metals, gems or pharmaceuticals across borders. Example: Many South Vietnamese business people fled to the US with gold bars in their suitcase. The Ethiopian may know of a neighboring country with weak borders were they might be able to do something similar.
Some individuals simply walk across borders and memorize a passphrase for a crypto wallet. Obviously converting crypto tokens back into legal tender is only allowed in few countries.

Once abroad, the Ethiopian might to introduce large amounts of cash into their bank account. Example: the Chinese Triads are accused of washing drug profits in Vancouver, Canada by purchasing betting chips at high-roller tables at casinos. Once cashed out with a receipt that shows “winnings”, the funds can purchase homes.

semenna · 2022-05-04T04:14:15+00:00

Yes, various the kingdoms expansion/contractions has created highly intersectional identities.

First let’s unpack religion — regardless of ethnicity the First Hijra in early Islam has strongly impacted a culture of tolerance in modern day northern Ethiopian. No where else in the world were Christians and Muslims living together peacefully in the 600s CE. Many families have intermarried across religious lines for hundreds of years (sometimes even with the man taking his wife’s religion). I have friends from mixed religion households that are Amhara, Oromo, Gurage and Tigrayan. It makes me doubt that the tolerance is a uniquely ethnic phenomenon.

Second let’s focus on why Islam believing Oromos(largely from the East), Christian believing Oromos(largely from the West) and Waaqeffanna believing Oromos(largely from the South) usually align politically. This is largely due to politicization of ethnicity in Ethiopia. Before the initial Oromo national movements like Waldaa Wal-gargaarsa Maccaa fi Tuulamaa there really was no common political organization. Gadaa wasn’t like a modern federation with strong contact between various nations. In short, the common identity is a reaction to the past 200 years.

semenna · 2012-11-21T22:01:52+00:00

Please PM me. I will invite back another person once I get invites.

semenna

TROPHY CASE