@__josh@mastodon.social
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__josh

@__josh@mastodon.social

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ai6yr, to california

Interesting, California has a pilot program on an effort to charge drivers by the number of miles you drive, instead of through gas taxes. (to make up for lost revenues to EVs, which do not need gasoline). They are paying $400 in gift cards -- and a gas tax or EV registration fee credit -- for taking part in the pilot. #California #driving #autos #taxes https://caroadcharge.com/media/zehd2y5s/ca-sb-339_public-fact-sheet_final_remediated.pdf

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr Thanks for posting! I went ahead and signed up; this is inevitable as we switch to EVs. If they select me, I’ll report back.

ai6yr, to random

Southern Florida once again has "EXTREME" Heat Risk today 5/18/24.

Extreme - This level of rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts likely in most health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure.

https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/

__josh,
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@amyedge @ai6yr Any outages should be reported here: https://www.fplmaps.com/home

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@amyedge @ai6yr Also, EIA has a site that is supposed to give historical demand data, but I can’t make it work on mobile. Maybe you’ll have better luck: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/gridmonitor/dashboard/electric_overview/regional/REG-FLA

ai6yr, to random

Random media commentary: It doesn't count as an "exodus" when the people no longer counted as population are STILL IN CALIFORNIA (just interred). COVID-19 deaths, folks. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-14/california-exodus-left-a-gaping-population-hole

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@Catawu @portcitystudios @ai6yr Not a joke or exaggeration. https://www.kqed.org/news/11217187/from-his-home-in-russia-calexit-leader-plots-california-secession

ai6yr, to random

Decluttering activity of the evening: threw all the philosophy books I had in the book donation pile. Why do I have a giant pile of philosophy books? Because of ONE philosophy class in college, which I hated... eons and eons ago. Have I moved them at least 4 times? Yes. The last time I read one of them? COLLEGE. (also, you can get them all free on Project Gutenberg now, I am pretty sure).

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr A while back I had access to high speed copier scanner, so I bought one of these, cut the spines off of all my old textbooks, and scanned them to pdf. If you want to be liberated from their physical burden but can’t bear the thought of getting rid of your books, Inhighly recommend.

TechConnectify, to random
@TechConnectify@mas.to avatar

A thought stirred by a jaded commenter:

One of the many half-truths that gets perpetuated is that new cars have many more issues than old cars and that they're only designed to make it past the warranty period before they crumble apart.

The average age of cars on the road keeps going up. That could not be possible if recently-made cars were in fact less reliable or repairable.

I would submit that the actual problem here? It's mechanics who don't keep up with the times.

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@TechConnectify @ChrisWere I think it was @SwiftOnSecurity who pointed out that the Toyota Corolla could be the greatest feat of human engineering. The complexity of design, the longevity, the rate of production, and the low cost is arguably unmatched in human history.

__josh, to random
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr Some screen grabs from the KTLA helicopter feed of the landslide in Sherman Oaks this morning. Thankfully no injuries. Here’s hoping their insurance is current!

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__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr @__josh @ai6yr No way to know, could be all, some, or none. My bet is a combination of changes to the slope stability due to the construction of the house above the slide, combined with water infiltration from some source. Only time (and probably a lot of litigation) will tell. Right now I’m just worried about these news crews and firefighters getting too close to the edge. That patio is no longer supported!

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr @__josh @ai6yr Just a small act of firefighter heroism lol. The news crew is safe for the moment.

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ai6yr, to random

Checked the earthquake location in Malibu today, nothing out of the ordinary (per USGS). Most of the shaking is near Leo Carrillo State Beach, pictured below:

Same view of people with raft, dealing with pesky, RV-sized lizards

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr Don’t worry about the monsters. We sent our best teens down there to take care of them.

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ai6yr, to cooking

One week induction stove assessment:

  1. Absolutely stellar performance for my use cases, which are
    A. hash browns
    B. boiling water
    C. eggs

  2. Biggest issue:
    A. cookware compatibility

  3. Biggest benefit (aside from energy/no gas burning emissions):
    A. extremely controllable temperature

Note: Getting other folks to try the induction stove did not go well; I am a technology early adopter and willing to experiment, no one else here is. They are comfortable with using what they have used, even if there are issues (lousy burner design here, for one).

End result: Likely will switch at home, might have an interim step with a portable cooktop.

__josh,
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@ai6yr There are some lower priced options, but I’m not sure how they compare. There seems to be a wide… range… in prices. 😁

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr IKEA FTW.

ai6yr, to Energy

I already have a heat pump water heater... however, if I did not, I'd seriously look at what the rebates are on them right now in Ventura and Santa Barbara County... $3,100 - $7,300 per unit - Residential Unitary, Single Family Heat Pump Water Heater rebates. (that should cover both the unit and installation). #energy #EnergyEfficiency #power #grid https://incentives.switchison.org/rebate-profile/tech-clean-california-residential-unitary-single-family-hpwh

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@1nd33d @militant_matt @ai6yr @VirginiaHolloway Here’s a link to a previous discussion we had on these. Also, FWIW, all the 120v models are heat pump only. You can also set the hybrid Rheems to “eco mode” which will disable the heating elements. https://mstdn.social/

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@VirginiaHolloway @1nd33d @militant_matt @ai6yr Incoming water temperature will have two impacts on your HPWH performance that I can see: longer heating times (ambient air temperature will be a big factor as well), and how much extra capacity you achieve with the thermostatic mixing valve (since you're mixing with cold water.) You definitely are an extreme case for sure, and it looks like Rheem doesn't recommend the 120v version in your climate zone: https://rmc-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/media/uploads/iat/sites/36/2023/09/RH-PHP_Rev2_ProTerra_Plugin_PlumberBrochure_0810.pdf

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@VirginiaHolloway @1nd33d @militant_matt @ai6yr That being said, you could consider a hybrid model that includes heating elements for the more challenging ambient conditions. If you already have a resistive electric water heater, you will still use way less power over the course of a year.

ai6yr, to australia

"Cocaine washes up on beaches across Sydney as police warn of growing drug trade " (paywall) https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/cocaine-washes-up-on-beaches-across-sydney-as-police-warn-of-growing-drug-trade

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr Tale as old as time. https://youtu.be/z7eD2PFBhlE

ai6yr, to LosAngeles

118 in Porter Ranch shut down due to police activity. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/118-freeway-shut-down-due-to-police-activity/

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr “🎶It’s a long night, driving near Reseda. There’s a freeway, but they had to shut it down.🎶”

ai6yr, to ai

Ah, RIP Chevrolet of Watsonville Chat Team
(Powered by ChatGPT). They appear to have pulled the plug.

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr It was good while it lasted. I had it write a python script that calculated the asking price for a used car, and it gave me one that took 0.25/mile off original MSRP. Unfortunately, it couldn't explain why the used Bolt it was trying to sell me was priced much higher than that...

exador23, to random
@exador23@m.ai6yr.org avatar

CNN: 2 people are dead & at least 99 have become ill in a outbreak tied to contaminated cantaloupes & cut fruit, the CDC said Friday.

Salmonella cases have now been reported in 32 states & 45 people have been hospitalized. The 2 deaths were reported by health authorities in Minnesota.

The number of brands involved in a related fruit has also expanded to include Rudy brand whole cantaloupes & Freshness Guaranteed brand & RaceTrac brand pre-cut cantaloupe, in addition to some Vinyard & Aldi fruit products.

Recalled cantaloupes may have a sticker that says “Rudy” or “Malichita” with the number 4050 & “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.”

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@exador23 Shel Silverstein was right.

ai6yr, to random

Some kind of incident reported at the Rainbow Bridge / Niagara Falls. Live camera shows no traffic (or anything else, however) https://www.nittec.org/cameras/?cid=688

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr From the Other Site. They’re calling it an explosion, but it could just have been a high-speed crash.

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mattblaze, to photography
@mattblaze@federate.social avatar

AT&T Long Lines Oak Hill Tower, San Jose, CA 2021.

This unusual Brutalist tower was part of the former AT&T terrestrial microwave network that once carried the bulk of US long distance telephone traffic. The (long since disconnected) horn antennas are too big and heavy to remove.

Too many pixels at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/51261791084

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@mattblaze Here's a time lapse of the horn removal from the Sacramento AT&T building back in 2012. It was quite an effort.

video/mp4

ai6yr, to NewOrleans

Near zero visibility in parts of New Orleans due to a combo of smoke and fog. https://www.nola.com/news/traffic/causeway-closed-and-visibility-low-due-to-fog-and-smoke/article_2213aa6c-719d-11ee-b303-5f7cb43e77a2.html#tncms-source=featured-top

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr Some good old fashioned “smog”.

ai6yr, to random

People keep telling me to watch "Twister", but it's never on TV or free streaming. But, I'm too cheap to "rent" it on Amazon Prime for $3.79. However, it was $2.99 at the local Goodwill. 🤔

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@ai6yr Debris!?

__josh, to random
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

Looks like Space Shuttle Endeavour is getting some company over at Exposition Park. cc @ai6yr

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@darkuncle @ai6yr Installation coming along nicely.

__josh,
@__josh@mastodon.social avatar

@darkuncle @ai6yr Some more views from this morning. Endeavor is out of storage but still under wraps.

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