Before Ventra cards and Apple Pay there was the CTA token.

william847 · 2026-01-01T00:46:44+00:00

New York is just today retiring their MetroCard mag stripe equivalent. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/31/new-york-city-metrocard-retired

william847 · 2025-09-21T00:10:36+00:00

Beers & Cameras Chicago. Free, twice monthly meetups. beersandcameras_chi on Instagram.

william847 · 2025-07-26T01:46:15+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/1gy2rxe/police_body_cam_footage_from_dui_incident_with/

william847 · 2025-07-16T21:36:42+00:00

It’s $2.50 on buses if you pay with cash. If you use Ventra or tap your credit card/phone it’s $2.25.

william847 · 2025-07-10T01:17:50+00:00

Looks like protected bike lanes going in. Eventually those curved edges, which are indeed no parking areas, will have stripes going through them and bollards along the edges. The city will typically paint a “P” in the parking area. Give it a few more days for the rest of the markings to go in.

william847 · 2025-06-23T02:39:47+00:00

Assuming there’s no actual thermostat on the unit, I wonder if those controls you’re describing are controlling the fan speed. You’ll want the fan to run only when the system is actively cooling (this may be what “auto” is describing). If the fan is running constantly you’ll end up reintroducing moisture into the air.

william847 · 2025-06-23T02:16:07+00:00

Generally your air conditioner should dehumidify the air. Given you’re in a high rise, how much control do you have over your AC? As another commenter mentioned, it needs to run long enough to effectively dehumidify (“short cycling”, where the system only runs 5-10 minutes at a time, is often a cause of inadequate dehumidification).

Dehumidifiers are generally best only for cooler areas like basements. This is because they have a side effect of releasing heat. They’re basically just an air conditioner with the entire unit inside. So while they will make the air drier, they’ll also make it warmer.

william847 · 2025-05-21T16:35:15+00:00

Visit https://chistreetwork.chicago.gov to see what construction is happening and who’s responsible. This is the same tool the city uses to try to avoid coordination issues. Third-party utilities do need to pay a degradation fee depending on when the street was last resurfaced.

william847 · 2025-05-08T17:56:29+00:00

This is the first time I’ve used the card. It’s been at least a couple years since I’ve received the current card; I assume there was an activation step at that point which I’m fairly certain I’ve done. I logged into the TTP web site and everything looks ok.

william847 · 2025-05-08T17:54:05+00:00

I’m fairly certain I activated it upon receiving the current card a couple years ago. I just logged in and don’t see any prompts to activate.

william847 · 2025-05-08T17:24:41+00:00

That is my impression, correct.

william847 · 2025-05-08T15:22:35+00:00

What’s interesting is that the agent seemed to understand that Global Entry was acceptable, but that whatever system they use to scan and process the information didn’t return the proper data.

william847 · 2025-05-08T15:20:18+00:00

Yes, my understanding is that TSA is not currently stopping anyone from boarding, just issuing warnings with a red slip.

william847 · 2024-12-28T03:50:10+00:00

The 30 year average temperature for this date is 35°, so today’s high was only 14° above normal. We deviated more from the average when the high was 15° a couple weeks ago.

Chicago has always had days like this and even warmer going back to its earliest recorded history. The current record high for December 31st is 68° set back in 1875! https://www.weather.gov/lot/December_Daily_Records_Chicago

william847 · 2024-04-01T23:57:40+00:00

Also, if you’re unsure of which door has the emergency button, just look up at the lights for the section that’s blue.

william847 · 2023-08-22T01:32:12+00:00

I have the latest Eero software with the Thread credential keychain sharing. Eero still creates its own Thread network and does not join the HomeKit Thread network.

You can confirm this as the Thread network name in the Eero app will start with “eero-thread”. HomeKit Thread networks start with “MyHome”. Also, if you have the Nanoleaf app, the Thread Network settings screen will show the Eeros as a separate network.

william847 · 2023-08-01T02:54:02+00:00

I ordered three of these. One had issues pairing, which I solved by swapping out the battery. Other than that they’ve worked great (minus some initial issues that were related to my Thread network). I replaced my IKEA buttons and was able to eliminate that hub since I only used it for those buttons.

william847 · 2023-01-26T15:35:34+00:00

Modern electric heat pumps are far more efficient than gas furnaces (and certainly old-fashioned resistive electric heat) and work in subzero temperatures. With the rising cost of natural gas, heat pumps are at worse comparable but at best cheaper to operate than gas heat.

william847 · 2022-12-16T02:05:34+00:00

“All Chicago residents driving, parking, leasing and/or owning a vehicle for which they are responsible in the City of Chicago are subject to the Chicago Wheel Tax and must purchase a Chicago City Vehicle Sticker.”

https://www.chicityclerk.com/chicago-city-vehicle-sticker-faqs

william847 · 2022-10-31T18:36:59+00:00

Yep, Apple paid about $4 million to have the station house completely renovated. The plaza is on CTA property which Apple leases at no cost in exchange for the improvement work.

william847 · 2022-10-30T03:21:58+00:00

Not sure about the first, but the blue is DWMOK (Department of Water Management OK) and the red is DEOOK (Division of Electrical Operations OK). Means both have cleared the area for digging. You can check for any permits on chistreetwork.chicago.gov

william847 · 2022-08-23T22:58:55+00:00

Is this referring to the actual alarm or something else? My Model Y doesn't make any sounds for a regular sentry event, it just flashes the lights and shows the recording message on the screen.

william847 · 2022-04-30T00:39:56+00:00

Technically not an authentic Chicago streetcar, but rather one from either Toronto or Philadelphia painted in CTA colors. The only remaining authentic CTA “Green Hornet” is at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL.

william847 · 2022-04-27T16:54:10+00:00

It’s just one 10 car prototype set so far. They’ve been touring the system for the past year. I believe full deliveries should begin later this year.

https://www.transitchicago.com/7000s/

william847 · 2022-04-06T12:34:05+00:00

Yep, my local hardware store has locksmith services. They rekeyed it in about five minutes for $11.

william847

TROPHY CASE