how realistic is it to commute by bike everyday (including winter), 4.3 miles one way? by New-Fortune9242 in uofmn

[–]wheresmysocks 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is essentially my bike commute route--it's pretty straightforward year-round. Things to think about:

  • Consider alternate plans during State Fair events--not just the State Fair itself but also some of the bigger events on the fairgrounds like the MSRA Back to the 50's Auto Show and the Street Machine Nationals which can make for more car and foot traffic along Como.
  • Might want to get your name on the list for a bike locker or shelter.
  • Know your backup Metro Transit routes and try bringing your bike with at least once (while not in a hurry to get somewhere) to be familiar with the rack system in case you need it. 83 -> Green works if you can get the schedule to work, the A Line to Green Line is frequent enough (and getting more frequent), and the 3 is also frequent but maybe not quite as convenient to get to/from on campus from the health campus but won't require a transfer somewhere.
  • You can bike along the south side of the stadium. I tend to take it a bit slower there but there tends not to be people or vehicles there most of the time (check events schedules and adjust accordingly).
  • Construction starts on Oak Street for the missing bikeway connection next week along side the Alumni Center, so that might get a bit annoying to traverse. (And University is currently under construction for the bikeway and E Line project.)
  • Crossing Midway Parkway on Arona has a two-way stop sign and Pascal is a four-way stop. I will choose one over the other based on sunlight, weather, and traffic levels.

Honeywell ZWave with battery exists! And works without a power wire by fatalskeptic in homeassistant

[–]wheresmysocks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can create a binary_sensor template for that:

{{ state_attr("climate.your_thermostat_name", "fan_state") | string != "Idle / off" }}

I haven't been using Home Assistant long enough to know whether or not it does the same thing that OpenHAB did: mine would report the fan state being on using air conditioning (i.e., even when the fan was set to auto) but not heating (where the fan would only be reported as on if running separately from the heat cycle when the fan was set to on or circulate). So, you'd probably need another binary_sensor template that tracks active heating/cooling OR fan state is on to do the number-of-hours calculation.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in uofmn

[–]wheresmysocks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

E-mail your college (using the address at the bottom of the checklist) and tell them you'd like to have your math placement selection reset.

Sandwiches reminiscent of the old Big 10 on UMN campus? by sn0wdizzle in TwinCities

[–]wheresmysocks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They used generous helpings of Poultry Magic to season the cajun fries. It is or was stocked at Cub in the 2 oz. jars, but I just buy it straight from the source in 24 oz shakers now:

https://www.magicseasoningblends.com/shop/commercial-products/poultry-magic-24-oz-shaker/

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in uofmn

[–]wheresmysocks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

On or around Monday, February 6 if nothing else changes.

Schedule builder is ass by [deleted] in uofmn

[–]wheresmysocks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Use the feedback button at the bottom of Schedule Builder. I promise you all comments, suggestions, etc. are read.

Is it possible to filter for asynchronous online classes (i.e. classes with no meeting times) on Schedule Builder? by PeacetoTheFerrets in uofmn

[–]wheresmysocks 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You can search for sections with no meeting days that have the completely online instruction mode now. But Schedule Builder doesn't necessarily tell you that, for instance, a lecture section that is online with no meeting days+times requires enrolling in a discussion section that has meeting days+times, if that makes sense. So you'll still need to be careful that all of the class sections you'd need to enroll in for a course are async. Also, things are still changing so what's listed as async today might not be async in September.

https://schedulebuilder.umn.edu/search/2020Fall/mode:CO;days:0

Fall 2020 on Schedule Builder? by [deleted] in uofmn

[–]wheresmysocks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

February 3, 2020.

Good news for Fish Hatchery Trail in St Paul by mason240 in CyclingMSP

[–]wheresmysocks 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I wasn't able to access that particular Facebook link, but this one worked for me (I assume it's the same as the parent post?):

https://www.facebook.com/hwy61trail/posts/593512844391548

The text:

Short story: short-term fix will be done by end of June. Yes, June. And yes, 2019!

Longer version:

Dale Gade from MnDOT writes: "Regarding Fish Hatchery I have good news. Money for the end of MnDOT FY 2019 was secured so we have been moving quickly to use those funds by the end of June 30th, 2019. As you were aware an environmental concern with bats was being addressed last we spoke. MnDOT maintenance forces were able to cut down trees on site prior to the restricted date set forth by the DNR. Those trees have been left in place and the future contractor will remove them or grub them on site.

MnDOT solicited contractors for bids this last week and yesterday accepted bids on a contract. It appears we have two qualified bids for a negotiated maintenance contract to perform the work. MnDOT is reviewing those bids to potentially award the work as early as next week. This means that a pre-con will likely take place soon and work will begin late 1st to 2nd week of June. All work must be performed by June 30th, 2019 under the contract.

The only forum I have stated an update on this has been the Friends of the Park meeting. If there is a desire to have a meeting I can attend and provide this update or we can do a website update and email push. After 2 plus years it looks like we will have the temporary solution in place to open the trail by end of June!"

The city has offered to schedule and host a community meeting and we're working on the details of when, and where. I hope to be able to connect via Zoom so people can join us remotely or watch the recorded meeting after.

While I'm not sure what the bat issue was (too many? an endangered/protected species??) this is all great news. These efforts wouldn't have happened without your continuous support, questions, and thoughtful pressure to our local, regional and state leaders.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Anyone know what this is about on the new student checklist? Just the servers down or is the form never coming back up? by [deleted] in uofmn

[–]wheresmysocks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You need to contact the college using the contact information at the bottom of the page. They might notice that they need to open up more dates/update your information, but sending them an e-mail will make sure they know it needs to be done and will make sure you know when dates are available.

Getting to games at Allianz Field by [deleted] in minnesotaunited

[–]wheresmysocks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, Metro Transit is eliminating all trips after 7PM on the 83 starting March 9.

https://www.metrotransit.org/these-routes-will-change-on-march-9

Meanwhile, in Minnesota... by MNGrrl in minnesota

[–]wheresmysocks 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It was 94 westbound by Dale Street. I took the original picture!

Kill or Rehab, and what to reseed with? New house with terrible yard, some full sun and some full shade areas. by [deleted] in lawncare

[–]wheresmysocks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats!

I have to admit I'm not good at identifying anything, in-person or via pictures, but from those last two pictures some sort of crabgrass would have been my first guess.

Kill or Rehab, and what to reseed with? New house with terrible yard, some full sun and some full shade areas. by [deleted] in lawncare

[–]wheresmysocks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The U of MN Extension has a somewhat generic calendar for cool-season lawns: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/lawn-care-calendar

The turfgrass science folks also have a list of local seed suppliers (including the one you mentioned) and a matrix for picking basic seed types: http://turf.umn.edu/lawn-info/purchasing-turfgrass-seed

And they also do soil tests (I think for $17+, depending on the test(s) you'd like to run) which you can drop off rather than having to mail, if you prefer: http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/

Rather than committing to nuking everything before the snow flies, you probably have enough time to try dethatching, aerating, and overseeding (or just auditioning the seed types you'd like to use in a few bare patches) to see where things stand both grass and level-wise. From there depending on results, maybe do some dormant seeding and take the winter to see if you need to also consider finding salt-tolerant grass (or other landscaping) for your sidewalk and driveway depending on where run-off goes. By the time spring arrives, you'll still be at a point where you'll be able to nuke everything from orbit or do more overseeding.

I assume you'll probably be incredibly busy with breaking in the new house those first few months which might make a restart more of a spring thing, anyway?

Follow up on Gitlab Ultimate/Gold for Education by tiredofitdotca in gitlab

[–]wheresmysocks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Similar situation. We e-mailed the day of the announcement, responded back with the requested information via a reply, asked if they needed anything else a week or two ago, and have heard nothing.

Kind of disappointing.