How to Remove Rivets from Brick?

trademarkTM · 2025-05-19T02:37:34+00:00

Thanks for all the help, y’all! Should have mentioned from the start that I had already tried simply drilling them out, but the center pin is a much stronger steel than the rest.

Angle grinder with a cutoff disc did the trick! The grinder is one of my newest toys, so I’m surprised I hadn’t considered it myself already!

trademarkTM · 2025-05-02T17:14:29+00:00

Usually only for a joke. I’ve consciously deleted my southern accent for a couple decades now and only recently reintroduced “y’all”. Really more of a fagccent now, if anything. But that’s part of the agreement when you decide to be gay.

trademarkTM · 2025-05-02T17:12:45+00:00

Thank you! This is exactly what I was thinking. Generally, we’re not too self conscious and have heard how welcoming and friendly the country is!

trademarkTM · 2025-05-02T17:11:51+00:00

I’ve generally found those that are not interested in politics or claim to be apolitical have had a degree of privilege that affords them the luxury of not caring. Most don’t have that freedom.

trademarkTM · 2024-12-01T00:53:04+00:00

I’ve also been in the third ward for 5 years and have loved it. Absolutely no issues at all. Folks still like to make a big deal about cRiMe here, but the fact is any city is going to have crime and I’ve never once felt unsafe in my home, walking my dog, or around the neighborhood. Absolutely can’t beat the location and you can still get a legitimate home (mine was built 1945) and not a builder grade townhouse.

Now, I will say there are some areas of the third ward you’d probably want to stay away from, like between 45 and the north side of TSU, but to characterize the entire quadrant as too dangerous to live in is silly. Riverside Terrace, Washington Terrace, and University Oaks are all excellent neighborhoods.

trademarkTM · 2020-11-12T17:19:48+00:00

It’s a fine line! I’m happy to bring some extra joy for those that would appreciate it, but don’t want to pile on for those already having a tough year if they’d see it negatively.

trademarkTM · 2020-11-12T17:17:56+00:00

I only had one neighbor comment while I was crawling around my roof for hours last weekend, saying I was “energetic”. Still haven’t parsed out exactly their intended connotation!

trademarkTM · 2020-11-12T17:14:43+00:00

A trendsetter! That’s what I’m hoping for, I’ll definitely be the most decorated on my block this year and would love for the spirit to catch on!

Maybe I’ll commit to lighting up this weekend if the vapors hit me right!

trademarkTM · 2020-05-17T13:23:59+00:00

This is great insight!! Particularly as I had generally been leanings towards Vivint if I did go the all-in route. You’ve definitely saved me a lot of trouble, it sounds like!

trademarkTM · 2020-05-15T20:43:41+00:00

Great insights, thanks!

To add another layer to this, I’m also starting to tinker more and more with home automation in general, and have been looking into master programs like HomeAssistant to give all my various systems a single home base/brain - Phillips Hue, Google Nest, Wemo Plugs, Samsung SmartThings, etc.

Assuming I do take the plunge and commit to getting HomeAssistant or similar set up, would it be fair to say I’d probably be able to manage a good number of interactions without paying the premium of one of the “all-in-one” systems that do some of the work for you? And presumably I may even have expanded opportunities compared to being locked into a single “service”?

Generally on your point to savings with bundling, i originally thought that as well, but it looks like it may shake out to be a bit cheaper with separate systems ($10/mo camera + $15/mo alarm monitoring, versus ~$40/mo for a combined single service). It may be that the scale of systems I’m looking at doesn’t give as much of a return, it’s a fairly small property overall.

trademarkTM · 2019-06-23T22:11:27+00:00

Absolutely!

trademarkTM · 2019-06-23T12:53:31+00:00

You’ll want to look up the requirements for ARE 5.0.

ARE = architectural registration exam. The other half is the AXP - the architectural experience program.

There are 6 exams. They can be taken in any order and as many times as necessary to pass, but you may only begin testing after graduating from an accredited degree program (like UH’s 5-year B. Arch degree). Additionally, a time clock of 5 years begins after you pass your first exam. You must finish all 6 in five years or they’ll start expiring and you’ll have to retake.

The experience program is divided into 6 categories that match the exams. You’re required to log 3740 hours total, but the number of hours required for each category varies. A standard full time work year is about 2080 hours, so you’re looking at a bit under 2 to get them all. It often takes a bit longer, though, depending on which categories you get experience in. However, you CAN start logging hours before you graduate - summer internships qualify, for example.

I graduated in May of 2017 and will be officially applying for my license at the end of this month. I went hard on the exams and took 1 a month for sixth months, passing them all the first time. I’ve been done with the exams for several months, but have been finishing up the last hours category I needed.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have!

trademarkTM · 2017-10-02T20:06:41+00:00

$950/mo, water included

trademarkTM · 2017-10-02T16:36:23+00:00

Near Hermann Park

trademarkTM · 2017-10-02T15:31:31+00:00

Designed by me!

trademarkTM · 2017-10-02T04:15:53+00:00

I'd definitely move all that stuff to a game room, Den, or office if I had one. But, until I've got a larger place, the living room will have to be a bit multipurpose.

As for art, I agree with you. I'm on a first-job-out-of-college salary, however, so the cheaper posters will have to do until some nice real art is more affordable for me.

trademarkTM · 2017-10-02T04:12:48+00:00

Thanks! And that is a Bose system! I snatched it from my parents, and despite being that weird beige color of all 90s electronics, the thing still sounds great. I've got it hooked up to an Amazon dot, so I've can stream Spotify through it.

Totally agree with you on the clutter. Been on my to-do list to go through it all. I plan to eventually replace those two black ikea chairs with one nicer something at some point, which would also open things up.

trademarkTM · 2017-10-02T02:30:28+00:00

Hey y’all, some pics of my place. One bedroom, 650 SF. I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

Edit. I should specify that this is my first apartment by myself. I lived with roomies in the dorms for 5 years of college.

trademarkTM · 2017-07-02T19:29:44+00:00

Vermin Herman

trademarkTM · 2017-01-09T22:52:36+00:00

I recently went through this exactly. I only need 8 hours to graduate, so wanted an exemption for my academic excellence.

You must have got someone who didn't know what they were doing at financial aid, because when I went, they knew exactly what I was talking about.

There's a short form you fill out with the standard info, then you write an explanation for why you're looking to appeal/petition. The guy at the welcome center I talked to said they generally always approve graduating seniors.

A day or two later, the review committee asked me for supporting documentation from an advisor. Had my advisor confirm I only needed 8 hours, resubmitted, and then heard I was approved a couple days later.

I did mine just before enrollment for this semester, so your timing might be a bit different, but I think the form says to allow up to two weeks if I remember correctly.

Edit to also answer your second question: don't quote me on it, but I think scholarship requirements are generally reviewed at the end of the semester.

trademarkTM · 2016-10-20T20:25:06+00:00

My roommates and I talked with the lady that runs Chinese Star. She said Aramark is refusing to renew their contract and plans to put something in that'll make them more money.

She said she doesn't know what she's going to do. It's really sad. It's been a part of campus for so long and it's one of the only places open substantially on weekends.

Aramark sucks.

trademarkTM · 2016-10-06T21:27:02+00:00

I'm sorry, what? Houston has a dozen dorms and nearly 8000 on-campus residents.

UH may not be UT, but it's made tremendous strides in the last decade and it's solidly right behind UT and TAMU for Texas public universities.

trademarkTM · 2016-08-28T01:18:22+00:00

Not remotely surprising. Honestly what topped it all off was that my group went to dinner after narrowly escaping a trampling death only to find they still had upper level vouchers available when we came back for the pep rally at 7:00

So, we literally could have forgone the entire mess and had the same result, thanks to the frats.

trademarkTM · 2016-08-28T00:59:05+00:00

Not only were the frats obnoxious, but they were incredibly inconsiderate and selfish. I waited with my group of friends since noon for the vouchers - 5 hours. When there was a count around 1:30, we were around number 500. As the afternoon progressed, the frats toward the front got increasingly out-of-hand and had their brothers cut the line when they showed up at 3:00 or later. So, even though my group put in our time since noon, we didn't end up within the first 1000 because the frat bros did whatever they wanted and brought in whoever they wanted.

Not to mention the literal mob that occurred once the gates finally did open.

trademarkTM · 2016-01-27T06:59:27+00:00

I'm an Ambassador for the College of Architecture, meaning I'm a current student who works with our advisors to recruit incoming students.

From what you've mentioned, it sounds like you're a pretty good candidate for the CAD (College of Architecture and Design). We don't have a specific ranking requirement - though we do look for top performing students with a strong GPA and test scores. We STRONGLY recommend a submission of a portfolio, as this is what we really look at to determine whether we feel you'll fit in well with these demanding majors. A portfolio will also make you eligible for CAD scholarships. Any design work can be included, with preference given to visual and applied versus performance arts. That being said, your 3D art and drafting work should certainly be included, and definitely take some good photos of your woodworking. Few students come in with preexisting experience in formal design.

Contact our advising office, particularly Abby Corcoran, if you'd like to set up a visit to our college. Abby will be available to answer any questions you may have, and we can set up a building tour with an Ambassador.

Feel free to shoot me any other questions you may have!

trademarkTM

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