turmacar's recent activity
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Comment on I built another damn To-do app in ~comp
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Comment on 2,871 abandoned and little-known US airfields in ~transport
turmacar Link ParentI know there's at least one larger one in Florida(?) that gets a lot of time on social media for having things like low Stop signs so wings will clear them. There's a handful of much smaller...I know there's at least one larger one in Florida(?) that gets a lot of time on social media for having things like low Stop signs so wings will clear them.
There's a handful of much smaller developments I know of still in the Pacific NorthWest. Tend to be a 1.5k-3k' paved or grass strip and ~5+ houses with hangars in addition to garages. You probably have a better chance of winning the lottery than buying one of those houses unless you're a family friend though.
The site above has at least one in my town that got swallowed by the nearby city and the main remnant is the long diagonal layout of a few parallel streets that were where the taxiway/runway was. Others were just completely plowed under.
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Comment on 2,871 abandoned and little-known US airfields in ~transport
turmacar LinkI love this site. Came across it a few years ago when I heard that a local theme park used to have/be an airport. Turns out, absolutely true The maintainer does a great job in gathering whatever...I love this site. Came across it a few years ago when I heard that a local theme park used to have/be an airport. Turns out, absolutely true The maintainer does a great job in gathering whatever information they can.
The US is still one of the best places from General Aviation from what I've heard. Fairly lenient on when/where you're not allowed to go places and, except for larger airports, most services are free to the user.
The boom in the 50s from all the WWII aviators and the explosion of the middle class lead to a large flying culture that's still hanging on even as, like everything else, it gets ever more prohibitively expensive. In the 50s-70s you could get a new small plane for roughly the price of a new nice car. Now they're 3x or more that, starting in the $300+k range. There's a thriving used market and "kit planes" that are cheaper. But nothing approaching the heyday.
A lot of little towns still have wee municipal airports all over the country. You can fly into the little one near the Grand Coulee Dam for example and there's an old police cruiser as a 'courtesy car' that is first-come-first-served and you're just asked to fill with gas on your way back. Vaguely hoping the up-and-coming electric planes and newer engines that use car gas and other revamps with the FAA will push for GA growth again. People have been trying for a long time, but the general economic trajectory and wealth concentration aren't exactly helping.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - Have you started A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers? in ~books
turmacar Link ParentOne of the best things about Wayfarers is I think everyone I've talked to about them has ranked them differently. 3 was my favorite because aspects of it reminded me of the best parts of Speaker...One of the best things about Wayfarers is I think everyone I've talked to about them has ranked them differently. 3 was my favorite because aspects of it reminded me of the best parts of Speaker for the Dead.
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Comment on Stellantis to sell small Fiat Topolino electric vehicle for $13,995 in US in ~transport
turmacar Link ParentWA has a category for vehicles not allowed on highways, kei trucks tend to have one of those plates. Admittedly they can at least get up to ~55 mph. Central Seattle/Portland I could maybe see this...A low-speed vehicle conversion kit can boost the top speed to 25 mph to make it street legal on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, according to the trans-Atlantic automaker.
WA has a category for vehicles not allowed on highways, kei trucks tend to have one of those plates. Admittedly they can at least get up to ~55 mph. Central Seattle/Portland I could maybe see this as a little grocery-getter / mobility aid? Hopefully it has the torque to maintain speed up hills. Would think something like a Gator utility vehicle would be a better form factor.
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Comment on Jamie Hyneman on MythBusters fame and why he and Adam Savage never socialized in ~tv
turmacar LinkIt was a bit of a disappointment as a kid learning they weren't "Best Friends", but I think it's also an important example of a great professional relationship. Even if you get along great with...It was a bit of a disappointment as a kid learning they weren't "Best Friends", but I think it's also an important example of a great professional relationship. Even if you get along great with coworkers work can just be work.
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Comment on Slate Truck preorder starts at $24,950 in ~transport
turmacar Link ParentMine said Jan-Mar 2027 so I was willing to go ahead with that. Really no idea how they're doing the timing. Curious if there will be any telescoping as people with reservations drop out. Very...Mine said Jan-Mar 2027 so I was willing to go ahead with that. Really no idea how they're doing the timing. Curious if there will be any telescoping as people with reservations drop out.
Very cautiously optimistic. This is coming along at a good time in my vehicle cycle and every other EV I've looked at there's at least one deal breaker. Between the price, how barebones their 'stock' configuration is, and the amount of options it seems like a silver bullet for my needs. Really hoping nothing changes that.
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Comment on Ruins of the web: Hello Internet in ~tech
turmacar Link Parento/ Really liked that Grey and Brady were both nerdy in different ways. Cortex is/was interesting but Grey and Mike could form quite the echo chamber.o/
Really liked that Grey and Brady were both nerdy in different ways. Cortex is/was interesting but Grey and Mike could form quite the echo chamber.
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Comment on Final Fantasy Resonance | Trailer in ~games
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Comment on The US Supreme Court's Republican appointees end civil rights redistricting protections in ~society
turmacar Link ParentThe GOP never brought the nominations to a vote. At one point Obama nominated Merrick Garland, who had been suggested as a good compromise option by the republicans. But they explicitly said they...The GOP never brought the nominations to a vote. At one point Obama nominated Merrick Garland, who had been suggested as a good compromise option by the republicans. But they explicitly said they would not bring any nominations to a vote until the next president was elected.
I have no idea if there's some congressional procedure to force a vote, especially by the minority party.
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Comment on Corporations can vote in some Delaware elections, judge says in ~society
turmacar LinkThis is from the reddit discussion, but the philosophical argument the judge references in the decision's introduction is this one which is a write-in submission to a magazine. The author is...This is from the reddit discussion, but the philosophical argument the judge references in the decision's introduction is this one which is a write-in submission to a magazine.
The author is barely a published philosopher, much less a well known or respected one. Not trying to disrespect Diogo Joao Baptista Gomes, but I can't imagine he wrote 3 paragraphs for a magazine contest question in 2022 expecting it to be the basis of a legal decision saying corporations can vote in the US.
It very much seems like the Judge went to the nth google page or asked an AI for a supporting argument for "What is a Person?" and got this.
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Comment on Battery costs just plunged 70% — this changes everything in ~enviro
turmacar Link ParentThat's what I was told to expect, ended up being ~$4k but I'm not sure how much of that was them having to bring part of the main panel up to code for the permit. This was just for the sub-panel,...That's what I was told to expect, ended up being ~$4k but I'm not sure how much of that was them having to bring part of the main panel up to code for the permit. This was just for the sub-panel, they didn't install the solar or batteries really, that's all plug-n-play to the sub-panel / "Smart Transfer switch".
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Comment on Battery costs just plunged 70% — this changes everything in ~enviro
turmacar Link ParentThey're these. Folded up each one is about 3x2 feet and maybe 4 inches thick and about 25 lbs. Pretty manageable, and they came with a bag. It's not the smallest setup, probably more intended for...They're these.
Folded up each one is about 3x2 feet and maybe 4 inches thick and about 25 lbs. Pretty manageable, and they came with a bag. It's not the smallest setup, probably more intended for RVing but they could be packed relatively easy in a car if there's space. Probably wouldn't want to put too much weight on top of them.
Each panel has it's own connector that daisy-chains to the next so you could only take a few if you wanted, but that would mostly save on weight.
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Comment on Battery costs just plunged 70% — this changes everything in ~enviro
turmacar Link ParentJust to give some anecdotal numbers. I got ~10kWh of batteries with ~1kW of solar panels installed last September in WA. (Jackery) It hasn't been quite a year but I've been keeping running stats....Just to give some anecdotal numbers.
I got ~10kWh of batteries with ~1kW of solar panels installed last September in WA. (Jackery)
It hasn't been quite a year but I've been keeping running stats.
The solar panels (~$1k) generate ~$200/yr, they'll pay for themselves after ~5 years. It's a very small set, they're mostly geared towards taking the solar/battery set camping where they'd keep whatever you wanted charged the whole time.
The batteries (~$6k) charging during non-peak ($0.09/kWh) and running most of the house during peak hours ($0.22/kWh), save ~$400/yr. That's a significantly longer ~15 year payoff. But they've already been really nice during the occasional power outage.
Installation price I'm not counting because it makes me feel better :) but ~$2k is apparently average. Cheaper/more batteries would be nice to factor in less wear on the batteries, and upgrades don't need a professional/permitted installer. I also have a gas furnace so they weren't stressed much in winter.
For pure money saving/generation I'd prioritize solar and target batteries as a backup solution unless your electrical price has bigger swings. Electrical companies will give you bill credit for electricity that goes back into the grid.
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Comment on Google Search as you know it is over in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentI'm sure the PR response is to ask it to check / fix it's work. In practice with the current models I've messed with that only works so well unless you know the right questions to ask. Google...I'm sure the PR response is to ask it to check / fix it's work. In practice with the current models I've messed with that only works so well unless you know the right questions to ask. Google seems to be claiming they've fixed that and 'lil timmy can make an OS from scratch just by asking for it, but I guess we'll see.
Kind of torn, because if nothing else there are some abandonware apps ( Minuum keyboard ) that I miss that would be nice to have working recreations of. Who knows how much it would cost or if it could make stable versions that I could trust though.
All this is also an existential threat to the Internet as a whole. If Google isn't driving traffic to websites but just 'doing it for you' a lot of places that rely on ad revenue are going to die off. That has pros and cons but it's definitely a change they're forcing on everyone.
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Comment on Is solar about to get way better? (I did the math) in ~enviro
turmacar LinkI've not pulled the trigger on getting a full solar install yet, I was quoted ~$40k for a rooftop system. Absolutely agree on getting as much installed as soon as you can though. There will always...I've not pulled the trigger on getting a full solar install yet, I was quoted ~$40k for a rooftop system. Absolutely agree on getting as much installed as soon as you can though. There will always be something newer / cheaper on the horizon.
I ended up getting a battery system that allows me to run my house on non-peak electricity. It came with two 500W solar panels, mostly meant for using the battery for camping. Having just that 1kW of solar on top of an arbor for the last year they've generated ~$200, which is a month's electric bill in spring or fall. The solar panel part of the system will pay for itself in 5 years. I'm probably going to buy another set.
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Comment on What do folks carry in their hiking/backpacking/camping first aid kits these days? in ~hobbies
turmacar Link ParentAdmittedly having to remember to reactivate the subscription for inReach when going far out of normal service is one extra thing to remember, but I think everyone should be using travel checklists...Admittedly having to remember to reactivate the subscription for inReach when going far out of normal service is one extra thing to remember, but I think everyone should be using travel checklists anyway. Especially if you're doing that kind of off-the-grid trip.
I know this is just me whinging, and I know I'm not exactly up-to-date on all Apple capabilities, but why is it still so much a thing that "iPhone can do it!"? It seems to pop up again and again even when other manufacturers did something first and iPhone is coming to the standard late. I swear I've had relatives surprised that I can send pictures to people using an android phone...
All the recent android flagships also have satellite backup/sos messaging service. The important hardware isn't anything dramatic on the phone, it's a large enough population of LEO satellites to provide the service. The cellular radio in a modern phone is more than capable of sending a signal 100 miles straight up if it's short.
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Comment on Railway solar project turns unused track space into energy in ~enviro
turmacar Link ParentI mean, a train going 100-300 km/h dragging something would already be "very bad" for the track infrastructure. The difference between this an solar roads would be that the wheels aren't in...I mean, a train going 100-300 km/h dragging something would already be "very bad" for the track infrastructure.
The difference between this an solar roads would be that the wheels aren't in contact with the solar surface. Yes there's flex between ties, but they're panels, there's going to be flex between them. I'd wonder a bit about dust / debris settling on them, but on any busy track a fast train going by is a fair bit of air pressure to dislodge stuff.
I'm sure SNCF owns some parking garages..... but why not try this too? Acres of surface lots aren't as much of a thing in France as they are in the US.
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Comment on Valve has released CAD files for the Steam Controller in ~games
turmacar Link Parent30%, at least in the 2000s, was a significantly smaller cut than brick and mortar stores and dealing with physical inventory, which is why it's also what Apple / patreon / most other online...30%, at least in the 2000s, was a significantly smaller cut than brick and mortar stores and dealing with physical inventory, which is why it's also what Apple / patreon / most other online retailers take by default.
It could definitely be revisited but "shelf space" on Steam is a legitimate asset, if only because of the download/patching/cloudsave infrastructure they provide, much less everything else in the platform. ( I have a weird love of the useless trading cards ) I feel like more of the complaints come from want-to-be competitors like Epic than developers.
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Comment on Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars in ~transport
turmacar Link ParentThere's a story, possibly apocryphal, about one of the old electrified train routes out of Chicago making more electricity than it used in one direction. I know Rio Tinto has some all-electric...There's a story, possibly apocryphal, about one of the old electrified train routes out of Chicago making more electricity than it used in one direction. I know Rio Tinto has some all-electric dump trucks that net generate electricity because they're hauling ore down from a mountain and are significantly lighter traveling back up.
There's a lot of weird cool stuff that fully electrifying vehicle fleets would let us do that we kind of sidestepped because oil was so cheap/plentiful/transportable and batteries sucked comparatively for so long.
I'm pretty firmly in the camp of there is a functionally infinite market for to-do apps because everyone's brain and organization style works slightly differently.
Finding the right app is unfortunately also a huge problem. This seems neat.