I bought a pretty cool one for cheap on Amazon that holds so much stuff it is k8nd of insane!
SHRRADOO Extra Large 52L Travel Laptop Backpack with USB Charging Port Fit 17 Inch Laptops for Men Women (Black) https://a.co/d/hF8SuKq
It has a dedicated area that can hold a 15" laptop with room to spare. I can use that as my only bag for a 4 day trip with multiple electronics, multiple pairs of shoes and so on.
I bought a pretty cool one for cheap on Amazon that holds so much stuff it is k8nd of insane!
SHRRADOO Extra Large 52L Travel Laptop Backpack with USB Charging Port Fit 17 Inch Laptops for Men Women (Black) https://a.co/d/hF8SuKq
It has a dedicated area that can hold a 15" laptop with room to spare. I can use that as my only bag for a 4 day trip with multiple electronics, multiple pairs of shoes and so on.
You have to love some of the names of brands on Amazon. "Shrradoo"
Thanks ge and streaky. I'm looking into both as well as the Surge and will likely make a decision shortly. My laptop is only 15" so I have some flexibility on size.
[edit] just saw Chill's post now - guess I'm doing a bit more research. ?
Chill - how do you like the function that says you can easily unzhip the laptop compartment for TSA check thereby avoiding having to fully remove the device at checkpoints? From the photos at your link that does look like a nice feature.
I have the Surge and its great. I don't have a reason to remove my laptop for TSA, but if I did it's not a big deal to unzip the laptop pocket and slide the laptop out. No reason to remove the whole compartment. It might actually be a bigger PITA to have to zip it back on.
My former laptop backpack was Swissgear and I threw it away despite being in great shape due to the fact that the fabric that was against my back poked through my shirt as if I had slivers. It was extremely uncomfortable. I tried everything to get rid of that and nothing worked. Maybe I had a freak issue. I can't imagine they'd sell so many backpacks if they all had this problem.
The Northface surge has very comfortable materials though.
For the laptop removal it looks all it is that the compartment for the laptop can be fully opened by a zipper but it doesn't detach - it folds open thereby making the laptop visible to the screeners. Flying around here I have to remove my laptop every time I go through security so it's at least a feature I am considering.
I just had a landscaper remove rock from a garden. They did an excellent job. Cleaned up every last rock, swept the sidewalk, and were careful not to damage my lawn with their equipment.
I took two bids for the job, the other company was triple the cost because they didn't want to deal with a small job.
If you need landscaping in the north metro, look up Nick's Landscaping.
Anyone have a good arborist/tree services group they like?
I am having a hard time weeding out outfits that just want cut your tree down and don’t actually know anything about trees. They are massive and provide a ton of shade when healthy, but one of them is looking sickly this year. Would love to not cut them down if they can be saved.
We’ve used Rainbow Treecare for decades. They’ve faithfully trimmed arborvitae along our alley and trimmed maple in the front. They have trained arborists on staff. If your tree can be saved they will make the effort.
Note: Due to inflation dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.
We’ve used Rainbow Treecare for decades. They’ve faithfully trimmed arborvitae along our alley and trimmed maple in the front. They have trained arborists on staff. If your tree can be saved they will make the effort.
Pretty sure my neighbors use them as well. Carryover from the previous owner who used them exclusively.
Anyone have a good arborist/tree services group they like?
I am having a hard time weeding out outfits that just want cut your tree down and don’t actually know anything about trees. They are massive and provide a ton of shade when healthy, but one of them is looking sickly this year. Would love to not cut them down if they can be saved.
I've also used Rainbow in the past. They are relatively expensive, but they really know their stuff. I had some huge ash and oak trees and a neighbor of mine had a standing dead tree lost to Oak Wilt. They provided some advice to keep disease at bay and we hired them to trim a giant ash.
We also had a sickly maple and they were able to determine it was planted incorrectly many years prior which led to the roots girdling the tree. While it was relatively young and had only lost leaves in the upper 5%, the tree was a goner. Luckily it was a boulevard tree so they told me how to get the city to remove it and plant a new tree in it's place.
I’ve got a feeling this beast of a maple is a goner, but I definitely want an expert’s opinion before ripping it down. Thanks, everyone.
You might be able to get someone to cut that down for free (or even pay your) if you find the right person. Depending on the species of maple, it can be very valuable to cabinet makers.
It’s a silver maple, so I doubt its worth for furniture making.
The reason I think it’s a goner is the sheer size of the trunk. This thing is easily 50 years old, and silver maples aren’t known to last terribly long.
Anyone ever put in a French drain using the prefab pipe wrapped in a sock and filled with the plastic peanut type stuff? Is the ease worth the cost versus traditional fabric and rock?
If you watch the video the glaring lack of preparation becomes less surprising.
I’ll admit that video is the first I’ve seen of the sub. JFC, does circus music play as it enters the water? That is some serious amateur McGiver shit. How on Earth was that legal?
Note: Due to inflation dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.
I think there is very little chance... If they lost power, the water temps down there are below freezing. Exposure may get to them before the lack of oxygen. Or they use more oxygen moving around trying to stay warm. This is not likely to end well.
Do not like how this board is run? Get your own board! ♃
The likelihood of finding them before they suffocate it extremely slim. If they aren’t found I honestly hope it imploded, as that would have been very quick.
The likelihood of finding them before they suffocate it extremely slim. If they aren’t found I honestly hope it imploded, as that would have been very quick.
Now they're saying underwater noises were detected in search area for the sub. But those noises were detected by a Canadian search aircraft..... OK, that's crazy an airplane can detect them knocking the side of their sub from 2 miles deep. Think of the noise and aircraft makes. Then think about the sound of clanking on a sub 2 miles deep, which then has to jump from water to air as a plane flies by at 150 miles per hour.... How in the hell do they do this?
That said, these people are gonners, unfortunately.
My question would be why isn't there a safety device inside the sub that would allow the operator to get back to the surface?
There were seven different means of returning the sub to the surface. Each with a different failure mode as I understand it, including one that wouldn't need any human intervention (galvanic corrosion of ballast connections).
The story indicates it was a Canadian P-3, which is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. I were a betting man, I would lay money down that the plane dropped an array of sonobuoys, one of the buoys detected the sound and transmitted the detection to the aircrew.
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
The likelihood of finding them before they suffocate it extremely slim. If they aren’t found I honestly hope it imploded, as that would have been very quick.
Now they're saying underwater noises were detected in search area for the sub. But those noises were detected by a Canadian search aircraft..... OK, that's crazy an airplane can detect them knocking the side of their sub from 2 miles deep. Think of the noise and aircraft makes. Then think about the sound of clanking on a sub 2 miles deep, which then has to jump from water to air as a plane flies by at 150 miles per hour.... How in the hell do they do this?
That said, these people are gonners, unfortunately.
It's a sonobuoy. They've been around for quite a while. I remember using them playing Jane's Fleet Command way back in the day. They are basically relay devices that pick up sounds from the ocean and relay them to the plane via radio frequencies.
The first use for them I've seen is tracking subs. The P-8s deploying these are typically sub hunters (I believe they replaced the Orions).
The story indicates it was a Canadian P-3, which is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. I were a betting man, I would lay money down that the plane dropped an array of sonobuoys, one of the buoys detected the sound and transmitted the detection to the aircrew.
The story indicates it was a Canadian P-3, which is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. I were a betting man, I would lay money down that the plane dropped an array of sonobuoys, one of the buoys detected the sound and transmitted the detection to the aircrew.
D'oh, were they P-3s? either way. Yeah, that's how they're deployed. Look at the black grid on the bottom:
I seem to remember a cousin's husband (retired as a Commander in the sub world & a wicked cool dude) talking about some cat/mouse games he played with those types of gizmos and wish I could have spent more time talking with him about his Navy days before he passed away.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting back to the home improvement side of things. My wife and I have been knocking out home improvement projects this week. Finished our "native-adjacent" garden, finished our front garden, installed a drip irrigation system in the front garden, and last night we replaced the kitchen faucet.
I really wanted to go with a Moen but we ended up going with a Delta. The Delta has a magnetic attachment point and Moen just doesn't offer it as an option. Plus the Delta finish is supposed to be the most durable available. I thought the ShieldSpray was going to be a stupid gimmick. It actually works pretty good. The pressure of the jet is pretty surprising.
We also accidentally matched it to the RO water faucet. A happy accident.
For those of you who have built a custom home is there any suggestions or advise you can give? Anything you learned you wish you had known earlier?
We have been working with an architect the past several months are are about to begin meeting with builders she recommends so it's going to get real in a hurry. Since the lot is lakefront and has some interesting topography there was a lot of due diligence required related to setbacks, (possible) bluffs, septic design, etc. A teardown is part of the process.
The architect has done a fantastic job addressing requirements and working with the township/county throughout the process so we are confident the permit process will go smoothly. However.....there will be a ton of decisions to make in the coming months and curious what others learned during the process.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting back to the home improvement side of things. My wife and I have been knocking out home improvement projects this week. Finished our "native-adjacent" garden, finished our front garden, installed a drip irrigation system in the front garden, and last night we replaced the kitchen faucet.
I really wanted to go with a Moen but we ended up going with a Delta. The Delta has a magnetic attachment point and Moen just doesn't offer it as an option. Plus the Delta finish is supposed to be the most durable available. I thought the ShieldSpray was going to be a stupid gimmick. It actually works pretty good. The pressure of the jet is pretty surprising.
We also accidentally matched it to the RO water faucet. A happy accident.
I agree on the shield spray. It is pretty cool. We’ve had ours for a year and it’s much better than I thought it would be.
'29, '40, '74, '76, '79, '02, & '03
GPL's Resident Cabin Enthusiast & Cadets Hockey Fan
The likelihood of finding them before they suffocate it extremely slim. If they aren’t found I honestly hope it imploded, as that would have been very quick.
Now they're saying underwater noises were detected in search area for the sub. But those noises were detected by a Canadian search aircraft..... OK, that's crazy an airplane can detect them knocking the side of their sub from 2 miles deep. Think of the noise and aircraft makes. Then think about the sound of clanking on a sub 2 miles deep, which then has to jump from water to air as a plane flies by at 150 miles per hour.... How in the hell do they do this?
That said, these people are gonners, unfortunately.
Let’s say they do find this thing - does technology exist to actually get that thing off the ocean floor at all, much less before they run out of air?
DX, what is it you always say about questionable decisions…..play stupid games…
I hope they give that controller a terrible review on Amazon. ?
For those of you who have built a custom home is there any suggestions or advise you can give? Anything you learned you wish you had known earlier?
We have been working with an architect the past several months are are about to begin meeting with builders she recommends so it's going to get real in a hurry. Since the lot is lakefront and has some interesting topography there was a lot of due diligence required related to setbacks, (possible) bluffs, septic design, etc. A teardown is part of the process.
The architect has done a fantastic job addressing requirements and working with the township/county throughout the process so we are confident the permit process will go smoothly. However.....there will be a ton of decisions to make in the coming months and curious what others learned during the process.
Weve never built a custom home, but I was a therapist for a friend who did?
She said spend more money on things you touch all the time; light fixtures, faucets, handles. And less on things that will change styles; carpet, tile, paint.
Note: Due to inflation dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.
For those of you who have built a custom home is there any suggestions or advise you can give? Anything you learned you wish you had known earlier?
We have been working with an architect the past several months are are about to begin meeting with builders she recommends so it's going to get real in a hurry. Since the lot is lakefront and has some interesting topography there was a lot of due diligence required related to setbacks, (possible) bluffs, septic design, etc. A teardown is part of the process.
The architect has done a fantastic job addressing requirements and working with the township/county throughout the process so we are confident the permit process will go smoothly. However.....there will be a ton of decisions to make in the coming months and curious what others learned during the process.
Weve never built a custom home, but I was a therapist for a friend who did?
She said spend more money on things you touch all the time; light fixtures, faucets, handles. And less on things that will change styles; carpet, tile, paint.
Carpet padding....I hate the former owner who allowed builder grade carpet padding be used.
The likelihood of finding them before they suffocate it extremely slim. If they aren’t found I honestly hope it imploded, as that would have been very quick.
Now they're saying underwater noises were detected in search area for the sub. But those noises were detected by a Canadian search aircraft..... OK, that's crazy an airplane can detect them knocking the side of their sub from 2 miles deep. Think of the noise and aircraft makes. Then think about the sound of clanking on a sub 2 miles deep, which then has to jump from water to air as a plane flies by at 150 miles per hour.... How in the hell do they do this?
That said, these people are gonners, unfortunately.
Let’s say they do find this thing - does technology exist to actually get that thing off the ocean floor at all, much less before they run out of air?
DX, what is it you always say about questionable decisions…..play stupid games…
I hope they give that controller a terrible review on Amazon. ?
Yes and potentially yes
Yes. I think if I'm getting in a vehicle that stretches the limits of human exploration, I'd do my due diligence. Especially if you're rich enough to afford shit like this. Pay someone $5k to dig up all the bad shit they can on the company and their record. Apparently it wasn't very hard to find on this company and they were publicly rebuffed by a number of deepwater exploration companies in the last year. They were basically begged to not keep using this craft. So anyways, yeah, there was obviously not a lot of due diligence paid.
When building a house the builders prefer that you're on site as much as possible offering up critiques and advice on their progress, point out how they're using wrong materials and double check their work with your own tape-measure. This will build rapport and ensure they go the extra mile to make everything perfect.
For those of you who have built a custom home is there any suggestions or advise you can give? Anything you learned you wish you had known earlier?
We have been working with an architect the past several months are are about to begin meeting with builders she recommends so it's going to get real in a hurry. Since the lot is lakefront and has some interesting topography there was a lot of due diligence required related to setbacks, (possible) bluffs, septic design, etc. A teardown is part of the process.
The architect has done a fantastic job addressing requirements and working with the township/county throughout the process so we are confident the permit process will go smoothly. However.....there will be a ton of decisions to make in the coming months and curious what others learned during the process.
No advice on the process. But some of the things I always see overlooked:
Put your sump pump somewhere accessible. ?
Consider adding 1-2 PVC or rigid metal conduits along a central backbone if you plan on having all levels fully finished. Easier fishing for additional communication wiring (cable, for example), power, etc. Cost is relatively small now. Could be huge savings down the line when you want to add something.
Make sure the design as the indoor HVAC and utility equipment near whichever exterior wall you plan on having their outdoor counterparts. If you or any future owner have to have them serviced or replaced, it's a lifesaver.
All boils down to the one thing I'll always take away from my job: Maintenance is almost always overlooked.
When building a house the builders prefer that you're on site as much as possible offering up critiques and advice on their progress, point out how they're using wrong materials and double check their work with your own tape-measure. This will build rapport and ensure they go the extra mile to make everything perfect.
Yes. I think if I'm getting in a vehicle that stretches the limits of human exploration, I'd do my due diligence. Especially if you're rich enough to afford shit like this. Pay someone $5k to dig up all the bad shit they can on the company and their record. Apparently it wasn't very hard to find on this company and they were publicly rebuffed by a number of deepwater exploration companies in the last year. They were basically begged to not keep using this craft. So anyways, yeah, there was obviously not a lot of due diligence paid.
Too soon?
(yes I have empathy and yes I hope they are safely returned to the surface....)
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You'll never catch me going on deep water expedition or on a space expedition.
I also heard even if they are bobbing out on the ocean surface somewhere, they still have limited air supply. Cause they can't open the capsule from the inside and it's air tight.
When building a house the builders prefer that you're on site as much as possible offering up critiques and advice on their progress, point out how they're using wrong materials and double check their work with your own tape-measure. This will build rapport and ensure they go the extra mile to make everything perfect.
You forgot checking the walls with a black light. My neighbor is a plaster/mudder/taper and among the best in the twin cities. He's often the person contractors bring in when others could not meet expectations. A homeowner did break out a black light to inspect his work at the end of a day so neighbor told said homeowner he was his final option and if didn't back off with the black light it would end up in a blackhole and the job would not get done. ?
@dxmnkd316 - Architect included a good sized HVAC chase into a very strategic portion of the house so I presume this will help with any future needs. Thanks for the sump pump tip.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you who have built a custom home is there any suggestions or advise you can give? Anything you learned you wish you had known earlier?
As someone who grew up in the construction business I can honestly say that you did the first thing right was hire an architect. Finding an architect you trust will help answer questions and give you honest answers, some of which you may not like but you need to hear. You will know that what is being built is up to code and will be structurally sound. Architects will tell you though that not ALL things are possible but as my dad used to tell some of his customers, "Anything is possible depending on how much you're willing to spend".
Kidding aside from the others, be present/accessible during the process. Homeowners can slow down a build just as much as suppliers can if they aren't accessible to make decisions on some issues that may arise. Leave the critiquing to the general contractor on the build, but speak up if you see something or want something...don't wait until it's too late because change orders are the death of a budget on a build.
Overall, have your sight plan 95-99% nailed down by the time you break ground and the contractors 100% decided upon. Other than that, be friendly with the builders on site. Maybe bring some lunch or refreshments once in a while and they will put that much more effort into building your home. Congrats on your house GE!
I am theofficial Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
For those of you who have built a custom home is there any suggestions or advise you can give? Anything you learned you wish you had known earlier?
We have been working with an architect the past several months are are about to begin meeting with builders she recommends so it's going to get real in a hurry. Since the lot is lakefront and has some interesting topography there was a lot of due diligence required related to setbacks, (possible) bluffs, septic design, etc. A teardown is part of the process.
The architect has done a fantastic job addressing requirements and working with the township/county throughout the process so we are confident the permit process will go smoothly. However.....there will be a ton of decisions to make in the coming months and curious what others learned during the process.
We built our house in 2018. As others have said, make sure the area's you use the most and enjoy the most are heavily invested in. In our house, the basement is dedicated fun spot. That area is the most used, as it is our family room, and Gopher bar area. We have a custom bar and all of our cabinets were made by a local guy out of his shop. They are perfect and actually cost less than the "big box" stores. Our second most used area is our patio. Because you are on a lake, the bigger the better. I would also suggest to make sure you have PLENTY of outlets on the outside of your house. We ended up adding a few more this summer. Also, make sure you have enough water hookups outside. Because we live out in the sticks, we tried to stay local with all of our people we hired, which sometimes meant they didn't have the urgency that I would have liked, but they got done 3 days before we moved in. Good luck and enjoy the process.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Run both gas and electric to where your range is located. Birth don't have to be connected on the supply side but having the pipe or wire run now is good
When building a house the builders prefer that you're on site as much as possible offering up critiques and advice on their progress, point out how they're using wrong materials and double check their work with your own tape-measure. This will build rapport and ensure they go the extra mile to make everything perfect.
You forgot checking the walls with a black light. My neighbor is a plaster/mudder/taper and among the best in the twin cities. He's often the person contractors bring in when others could not meet expectations. A homeowner did break out a black light to inspect his work at the end of a day so neighbor told said homeowner he was his final option and if didn't back off with the black light it would end up in a blackhole and the job would not get done. ?
@dxmnkd316 - Architect included a good sized HVAC chase into a very strategic portion of the house so I presume this will help with any future needs. Thanks for the sump pump tip.
I'm guessing not. Almost always against code to run cable in a duct or air plenum now. The only reason is if there is something in a duct that must be wired. Even then it needs to be within some short distance. Plenum-rated wire won't cut it.
As it turns out, female to female compression couplings need to be significantly tighter than you think. Huh.
Reconnected the RO system today after playing whackamole with fittings at Menards. Under sink is almost done. Just need to install the hammer arrester for the dishwasher that I've been putting off.
I built about 6 years ago and here are the things I can remember thinking about and having some regrets about because I did not think of them. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about anything in more depth. Congrats and try to enjoy it!
Run gas to the deck/patio for a grill hookup and to the garage for heater hookup.
Run Ethernet (CAT5e or greater) to most/all rooms in the house. Run multiple lines for redundancy when necessary. I had 4 going to our office.
Get multiple zones for the HVAC if it is a 2 story.
Garage drain for slush in the winter and to dry the garage floor in the winter.
In floor heat in the basement or garage
If the soil is crap (heavy clay or pure sand) as the landscaper to put 6+ inches of good topsoil down before the sod.
Have irrigation put in?
Run smart tubes from a media equipment location (receiver, amp, streambox...) to where you plan on mounting TVs so you can pull wire, etc. Make sure they leave you a pull string to start with!
Put multiple or extra outlets in the necessary spots...behind TVs, in the office, in the media equipment location
If you plan on a deck and the builder doesn't do decks- ask if they will add just the header.
Outlets for Christmas lights on the roof soffits?
Add an outlet for the radon fan where it might need to be installed in the future
Ask for 20A circuits in rooms where you will be connecting many things. Garage, basement living area, utility room, etc.
Special power hookups in the garage for future (or current) car charging,
Do under cabinet lighting now. I hear it is really expensive afterwards.
Know how your living room will be arranged? Add in floor outlets to hide future cords.
Need an underground dog fence? Have them bury a PVC pipe with a pull line under the driveway.
Plan for outdoor lighting by having outlets near and PVC buried under sidewalks if necessary.
Going to have security cameras? Make sure to run Ethernet and power to those locations if necessary.
I really like my automated shades we installed but they run on battery. Think of running power to the windows if you think that might be in your future.
Ceiling fan boxes were an upgrade. Plan if you are going to want them.
Need a sink in the garage?
Need an access door in the garage? One for the ceiling. One normal door to the outside so you don't have to open the garage door.
I had a garage door installed on the back of the house so I could back right through the garage. Might not work for a lakefront home...
Depending on layout plan for a door or small access from the garage to the kitchen pantry. Making unloading groceries easier?
If there is space in the basement and it's a walkout plan a shed/garage storage area back there. I've been to two houses with them and it seemed really convenient to store a riding lawnmower in there. Again, maybe not something suitable for a lakefront build.
Make sure ceiling heights are what you want. We were allowed 9' ceilings in the basement but the rest of the house were the standard 8' I think.
8' garage doors instead of the standard 7'
Plan for easy hookup to a generator
If you know where you are going to hang TVs think about extra support there. I found out the hard way that my studs were not 16" OC.
Put an outlet and smart tube in the ceiling for mounting a projector.
Run speaker wire in the walls.
Some general ideas/suggestions:
Visit often (at least once per week if possible) and take pictures.
Get a home inspector in before the drywall is up. Have it inspected again before you move in.
Find out about the warranty process. Search for the "Builders Association of Minnesota Performance Guidelines" to get a feel for how the warranty process works if your contractor adheres to those particular guidelines.
We had a great time building for the most part. Things did get a little stressful once we started the warranty process. I could have a post just as long as this on the warranty subjects I brought up.
I think it's industry standard to have a walk through after 1 year to correct things like nail pops, etc. Start making a list!
