[Toshi]

@Sandwich

Score a sporty new Fiat 500e at more than 30% off MSRP

It's no Ferrari, but owning a sporty little Fiat 500e is about as close to putting a Ferrari in the garage as most of us will ever get.

electrek.co

that could make for a cheap lease. get $1k or $2k off MSRP on top, $10,500 in lease cash + MA credit, and given a $35k MSRP even a 50% residual for a 24/12 lease or the like would still be cheap. if they're aggressive and do something more like 75% on the residual...

 

[Sandwich]

@Sandwich

Score a sporty new Fiat 500e at more than 30% off MSRP

It's no Ferrari, but owning a sporty little Fiat 500e is about as close to putting a Ferrari in the garage as most of us will ever get.

electrek.co

that could make for a cheap lease. get $1k or $2k off MSRP on top, $10,500 in lease cash + MA credit, and given a $35k MSRP even a 50% residual for a 24/12 lease or the like would still be cheap. if they're aggressive and do something more like 75% on the residual...

I'm all for cheap crap, but jeez the 500e ticks like none of my boxes. It sounds like the mini se was at least fun to drive.

Honestly I'm going to try and tough it out with the behemoth genesis or swap to a used polestar or keep my eyes peeled for a nice lease in the winter time. Seems like used car values go up in the early winter here and new car value goes down. If I can get over my deep hatred for elmo, model 3s now qualify for both rebates and have low finance rates too. Lease costs look low on a short range car as well.

 

[Toshi]

deep hatred for elmo

relevant

Ukraine discovers Starlink on downed Russian Shahed drone: Report

Iranian-designed Shahed-136 and the smaller versions of the attack drones have been a key tool in Moscow's arsenal.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Toshi]

I definitely think adding the hot tub has helped occupancy rates for the mountain house. Still waiting for someone to book it for spring break (while we'll be in Taos).

(the Nov 15-17 ostensibly owner block is one that a co-worker is taking for the price of the cleaning fee.)

 

[Toshi]

The moonlighting cash/available hours is going to dry up as we get more fully staffed (in September—two more come next July), but for now I’m partaking heavily. Busiest month yet. $30k in moonlighting alone this month, and I paced it out so as to not feel any more burnt out than my baseline.

so the moonlighting hours didn't dry up in September. no word on October hours availability yet.

I thus partook as much as I had tolerance for, and ended up a few hundred shy of $30k in moonlighting once again for this month, which will be paid out at the end of October in turn. definitely had a few nights these past few weeks where I had the time for it but didn't want to. so I didn't.

add the prime rate following the Fed target rate down by 0.5% (with the HELOCs tied to the prime rate at -0.76% and +1.3%, respectively) and my student loan payments wrapping up after either 2 or 3 more payments (not entirely certain am I, hmm) and everything's coming up Milhouse. except for me sacrificing much free time to this pursuit. hmph


edit: forgot I did a 5-10 shift as well. so I broke the record after all. $31.5k in moonlighting. I should work less eh but for the debts to service


edit 2: October hours released. I'll probably do about 1/3-1/2 of the hours that I pulled this month. which is probably healthier.

 

[Sandwich]

I definitely think adding the hot tub has helped occupancy rates for the mountain house. Still waiting for someone to book it for spring break (while we'll be in Taos).

View attachment 219319

View attachment 219318

View attachment 219317

(the Nov 15-17 ostensibly owner block is one that a co-worker is taking for the price of the cleaning fee.)

You got the link? I wouldn’t mind finding a nice place to stay over the winter or spring. We don’t ski but we like stuff to do

 

[Toshi]

You got the link? I wouldn’t mind finding a nice place to stay over the winter or spring. We don’t ski but we like stuff to do

Sakura House - Tabernash, CO

Gorgeous mountain home with deck, pool table, fast WiFi & fireplace - near town

www.vacasa.com

 

[Toshi]

I wonder what this will go for

2016 BMW R1200RT Motorcycle

2016 BMW R1200RT Motorcycle VIN WB10A1303GZ194377 Mileage Actual Odometer Reads 41,462 Color White Engine 1170cc Fuel Type Gasoline Transmission Manual Noted Issues Horn Inoperable

bid.rollerauction.com

edit: $4,875! Fair but not a crazy bargain by any means.

 

[Toshi]

leafs: peeped. past peak at Golden Gate now

green shirt is my buddy Todd. he is masters Enduro top 5 types of fast.

 

[Toshi]

it’s not super confidence inspiring when one’s question to the gifted and talented coordinator for why one’s kid didn’t get pulled out for math as expected results in this absolute word salad heap of verbal diarrhea

 

[6thElement]

"Greetings and salutations".

 

[Toshi]

actually doing some research-y stuff today for a change instead of just moonlighting all the time (making sure results of this AI tool are actually at the right level and have the proper segmentation.

we're looking at how body composition affects outcomes with a particular kind of cancer + chemotherapy.)

 

[Toshi]

Out with the old

In with the new (auto lock with a timer, remote lock/unlock, fingerprints, multiple users… and firmware updates)

 

[Toshi]

North Tabled. And kitties, because kitteh

 

[Toshi]

Can haz pls

Loading…

www.caranddriver.com

 

[Toshi]

Drove up with the Very Long Box. Beat the 9 am start of rock scaling. Installed new window coverings. Only got delayed 11 min by rock scaling traffic hold on the way back—ducking out to the frontage road on the far side of Idaho Springs was the right call. Was backed up the other way from Idaho Springs to past the top of Floyd Hill.

then Costco-ed. Unashamedly returned the vertical blinds that I’d custom ordered via Bali from them in 2021. They really did suck. Got the essentials. We were out of butter as of this morning!

 

[Toshi]

Out with the old

View attachment 219638

View attachment 219639

In with the new (auto lock with a timer, remote lock/unlock, fingerprints, multiple users… and firmware updates)

View attachment 219640View attachment 219641View attachment 219642

Turns out this won’t lock if your kid doesn’t latch the door all the way to start. Gah. (I was home and caught it. But if I wasn’t a wind gust could have opened the door and let all 3 cats escape or allowed random people inside.)

 

[Toshi]

Saw no bears

made sure to not get sun deficient once home

now time to work a bit. Just a bit

 

[Toshi]

so I've bitched here before how my wife has an education degree and a masters yet has been working as a teacher's aide in the younger kids' preschool, and how this job seems to sap all excess energy from her (and then some).

well, she laid the groundwork for going to work as a legit full-blown teacher over this summer by taking the Praxis exams. apparently that's all she needed to do, 4 of them, all passed on the first try after some weeks of studying from books. but she said that for logistics and familiarity with this school she wouldn't want to work anywhere but at the kids' elementary.

turns out one of the 1st grade teachers, new this year, hasn't had a great time with it. said 1st grade teacher is thus quitting mid year, effective next month. the principal of the school, aware of my wife's desire to teach elementary there, has reached out to her as their first, internal choice. thus my wife shall be doing a long term sub gig in the 1st grade classroom until winter break, at which time she'll make up her own mind of whether this is something she wants to segue into as the official classroom teacher and all.

this is a positive thing, finally working with the benefit of her actual degrees (which are unrelated to early education in particular but count in the tally), and finally to make more money than the 401(k)/403(b) annual employee contribution limit. which she hasn't been to this point.


update: she decided to jump in with both feet come Nov and just accept it outright. might as well get paid for the real job if the real job is what she's going to do.

 

[Toshi]

Ready to go play tomorrow. But not too early. Getting cold

 

[Toshi]

rox are rox

 

[Toshi]

ordered up a new chainring. already have an extra chain and cassette (actually 2 of each iirc) in the workbench. shall give the ol' Pivot Shuttle some nice fresh parts

(and I desperately need a new rear tire. but I'm holding out for the Schwalbe radial Shredda to be available.)

 

[Toshi]

who knew 3rd party (aero this time!) crossbars for the Busy Forks had such powers

 

[Toshi]

@Pesqueeb

 

[Pesqueeb]

@Pesqueeb

View attachment 220285

 

[Toshi]

Grabbed some footage off my dash cam

1) a motorcyclist doing basically everything incorrectly. Attn @stoney and @Pesqueeb

Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads

Anyone who has taken the Advanced Rider Course will attest that this motorcycle rider is doing basically everything wrong besides crossing the centerline: Foot position, lower body lack of mobility, upper body going the entire wrong direction, even 50 pence turning a bit here and there… The...

www.threads.net

2) some dude in a Charger nearly hitting a cyclist crossing the intersection on a multiuse patb

Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads

Witnessed a near-miss where some schmoe in a Charger almost hit a biker in a neighborhood crosswalk. (This crosswalk is for a ~10’ multiuse path, so the biker being there is totally legit.) ((Second video without biker included to show what the angle of my camera looks like with me coming to a...

www.threads.net

 

[stoney]

Grabbed some footage off my dash cam

1) a motorcyclist doing basically everything incorrectly. Attn @stoney and @Pesqueeb

Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads

Anyone who has taken the Advanced Rider Course will attest that this motorcycle rider is doing basically everything wrong besides crossing the centerline: Foot position, lower body lack of mobility, upper body going the entire wrong direction, even 50 pence turning a bit here and there… The...

www.threads.net

2) some dude in a Charger nearly hitting a cyclist crossing the intersection on a multiuse patb

Toshi Clark (@toshi.clark) on Threads

Witnessed a near-miss where some schmoe in a Charger almost hit a biker in a neighborhood crosswalk. (This crosswalk is for a ~10’ multiuse path, so the biker being there is totally legit.) ((Second video without biker included to show what the angle of my camera looks like with me coming to a...

www.threads.net

Not sure I agree. He's riding cautiously for sure. But he's not leaving over the yellow and he's tending to stay I one tire path. He needs to turn in a bit later, as he's having to double turn on some, but overall, he's riding well but cautiously for a new rider.

 

[Toshi]

Not sure I agree. He's riding cautiously for sure. But he's not leaving over the yellow and he's tending to stay I one tire path. He needs to turn in a bit later, as he's having to double turn on some, but overall, he's riding well but cautiously for a new rider.

His path is fine. But upper body position is backwards from what it should be on the road (or on a kids horse toy in a playground as per your ancient photo), his toes are hanging out to prevent even any inkling of lean angle, his butt was entirely rigid relative to the seat, and on the longer turns he was making “50 pence turns” with many squared off little turns.

many more unsafe riders exist. But he’s basically doing it all wrong from the standpoint of Lee Parks.

 

[Toshi]

the insurance claim payment allotted for $8,121.31 to pressure wash and "re-stain" the siding and trim, and $1,068.38 to do the same for the fence

got a company out now to get their own quote, independent of the insurer's method of estimating value. guesses on what they'll come back at?

2,3xx above ground sq ft, 2 stories with high pitched roof, attached garage so a fair amount of surface area to cover with said paint. or "stain" as they call it.

 

[Toshi]

$7,880 for house paint with single coat 4-5 mil paint, 6 year warranty
$9,142 for single coat 6 mil paint, 9 year warranty
$11,382 for two coats of the 4-5 mil paint, 14 year warranty

$1,232.50 for the fence

so not bad. I'd go for the single coat thick option at that price differential. I emailed Certapro as well, but unless they can get a quote out super quick will probably go with this and eat the $1,200 or so in extra costs re insurance payout.

edit: Certapro coming by tomorrow afternoon for their estimate. nice and quick indeed. (and I'm wfh that day anyway.)

 

[Pesqueeb]

Not sure I agree. He's riding cautiously for sure. But he's not leaving over the yellow and he's tending to stay I one tire path. He needs to turn in a bit later, as he's having to double turn on some, but overall, he's riding well but cautiously for a new rider.

Though, this assumes "new rider". Mannequin vibes for sure. That said, I'm all for "riding within your limits" which this person seems to be taking to heart. Good for them I guess? Better than overshooting a corner.

 

[Toshi]

I agree totally with the being sane and staying within the paint aspect.

With that body position he has very limited ability and physical clearance to tighten up the line if he misjudged, or if there's a road in the line, or whatever.

 

[Toshi]

from my local dealership contact re the VW ID.Buzz:

"We have our dealership training on the ID.Buzz at the beginning of next month. This will be my first time getting hands on with the ID. Buzz! [...] We should get the programs any week now. I will let you know how my training goes, I’m super excited!"

 

[Pesqueeb]

I agree totally with the being sane and staying within the paint aspect.

With that body position he has very limited ability and physical clearance to tighten up the line if he misjudged, or if there's a road in the line, or whatever.

It is certainly the riding style of someone with little time on a bike.

 

[Toshi]

Babykins approves of the Aptera

the hatch opens! I knew of the doors.

 

[Toshi]

Worked on my bike instead of going riding today. Had to cut away a fair portion of my right crank arm to extract a very stubborn stripped pinch bolt. Lots of sparks but didn’t light anything on fire (and I wore eye protection as is prudent). Replacement crank arm en route now but it’ll probably hold up for a ride with the one remaining bolt. Maybe?

The ol’ bike got a fresh chainring (inadvertently went up 2 teeth but should be ok), chain, and cassette. While I had the rear wheel off I noticed a decent gouge in one chainstay. I’ll see what Pivot has to say about that.

 

[SkaredShtles]

<snip>
The ol’ bike got a fresh chainring (inadvertently went up 2 teeth but should be ok)

Yeah... 'cause it's a moped.

View attachment 220666View attachment 220667View attachment 220668

Dear bike industry,

Carbon rear triangles are a shit idea.

Sincerely,

-All mt bike riders-

 

[Toshi]

To be fair I have gone through a front triangle on this bike as well as a rear triangle (plus whatever comes of this)

I might have to use Boost Mode a bit more

will ruin the purity of my Trail Mode rides

 

[Toshi]

PV all off the roof in anticipation of the latter getting replaced imminently

(the “feet” to the brackets will be pulled off with the old shingles by the roofers and then new ones installed at the flip side of this.)

 

[Toshi]

This is pretty nifty:

Product - Harvest Smart Thermal Pod

Learn how the Harvest Pod came to be, and how it reduces carbon emissions by 50% compared to mini-split heat pumps via load shifting and smart heat retention

www.harvest-thermal.com

- smart heat pump that draws upon the grid at peak solar hours (would have to adjust it to not draw during peak rate hours for me but that’s surely in their software)
- water tank that serves both as a reservoir for domestic hot water (and hydronic radiant floors if you have ‘em) but also is topped off as a “battery”, a source of stored energy as heat
- an air handler which transfers this heat energy in the water to air for distribution via existing ducts

(and AC, too!)