Storypost | 2021.05.26

Remnant From the Ashes swamp village screenshot
Backyard


The backyard terraces need fencing. Since there are two terraces, it almost made sense to connect the two and create a verdana/gazebo/pergola/palapa over the middle terrace.

Construction materials murder room cinder blocks concrete

Rather than pick and haul 24 4x6es, 10 2x6es, etc., I did flat rate delivery and figured I might as well cache the materials required for the remainder of the murder room upgrade.

1. Paint and prep


Things are always easier when you paint before assembly. The name of the game - for me - is sun and termite defense. So pressure treated posts and stained using a paint sprayer. This still leaves the ends susceptible to termite infestation, so I was sure to stain after every cut.

Veranda construction renovation hardware bolts anchors footers hangars galvinized

I had zinc hardware mixed with galv stuff, I just took the "cold galvanizing" rattle can to all of it.

2. Measure and place anchors

Veranda construction Simpson strong tie anchor retrofit 4x6
Not the actual bolt.

The anchoring job was much the same as the deck fix from years ago.
  1. Hammer drill a hole
  2. Brush it out
  3. Fill with epoxy (the nozzle approximates the anchor)
  4. Place the footer and anchor
  5. Cure
  6. Tighten the anchor with a socket
Bosch hammer drill 11241EVS

Dad and I dusted off the hammer drill and put anchor holes at 8' spacing.

Simpson Strong Tie Set XP epoxy cure times

... then waited.

3. First posts

Veranda construction supports 4x6

The first few posts required the most measuring, cutting, and leveling.

Veranda construction support top structure 4x6 strong tie

Since the 4x6 top beams were 8' on center, the post caps weren't ideal due to the single retaining bolt. We mitigated this with nailing plates over the top seams.

4. Turning the corner

Veranda construction 4x6 top supports

The center bolt location was good for the corners as we could put a lag bolt into the center of the cross piece. Being 8' on center, that left a gap to place a nonstructural end piece (not shown).

5. Connecting the frames

Veranda construction 2x6 hanger support structure bamboo

We spaced the 2x6 hangers at 4' on center. So each 'wall' is 4x6s vertically and horizontally at 8', they're connected by 2x6s at 4'.

Veranda construction hanger post cap overlap

The 4- and 8-foot spacing meant there'd be some overlapping post tops at a predictable cadence.

6. Finishing the frame

Veranda construction supports 4x6 2x6 scaffolding

The 2x6es dropped in, measured to maintain square.

Veranda construction 4x6 Veranda construction 4x6 strong ties Veranda construction

Hammer drill just drilling

One thing I learned about my hammer drill: even with rare use, I'm going to need to look up maintenance on the oil reservoir(?). When we started drilling the anchor holes, the hammer drill didn't do any hammering. It'd been so long since I used it, we kind of just powered through for awhile. Eventually the hammering started and it worked just fine for the rest of the day.

When I returned to drill one more hole, I again had no hammering motion. The service light was not illuminated, but a quick lookup told me that the hammering mechanism is reliant on oil that needs to be changed. I had just one more hole to drill, so on a stroke of genius I left the drill bit-down for ten minutes (it was already warm, if that matters) and voila it started hammering again. This was just a temp fix, future me will have to youtube how to change the oil.
Current/recent events

Colonial pipeline gas shortage Wawa plastic container

An oil pipe got cybered and the east coast briefly returned to covid hoarding mode. Just thought I'd write that one down.

Reuters headline do not fill plastic bags with gasoline Colonial pipeline
This is why Always Sunny should be required watching.

Q Shaman defense attorney statement TPM

The legal consequences of the Boomerkrieg seem to have hit some harder than others.
Marketplace

The dip

Finviz May market red energy

The market dipped a bit. I'm still holding out hope that energy will survive even if last week was the catalyst of the big slide.

DeliciouslyUnaware
/u/DeliciouslyUnaware
This isn't the bottom, we just stopped to let a few billionaires off the elevator.
RUatrollorRUserious
/u/RUatrollorRUserious
I'm bearish, but seeing the reaction to a 1% drop is only encouraging me.
SapientSausage
/u/SapientSausage
It's 2008 wall street chaos after any 1% drop lol

HolderofFourHolderofFour The funniest part of all this was a billionaire dressed up as fuckin Wario before it all came crashing down. Lmao

I like Bear Gang's sense of humor more than Bull Gang's.

The dump

CNBC article China bans crypto transactions

Eclipsing the NASDAQ correction was the 30% value collapse of Bitcoin (similar amongst all cyptocurrencies) in the space of a day.

Reddit cryptocurrency sub

I ventured outside WSB to see how the crypto sub was handling it. I guess the second largest economy in the world doesn't even make the list.

Reddit cryptocurrency discussion galaxy brains

The first mention of China in the comments received some upvotes, but the conversation quickly deteriorated.

Chat crypto China ban investments poop emoji

I much prefer Connie's take.


"Bag hodler", amazing.

Elon Musk Tweet Dogecoin crypto SpaceX aged like milk
So much for this one.

GME rides yet again

Manofindie
/u/Manofindie
Damn but I can't see mine GME unless they give mea a billion, I got a family to feed ;(
alexparker70
/u/alexparker70
my family only eats caviar and foie gras
TCV24
/u/TCV24
My gf wants a cyber truck or she's leaving me
Tendynasty
/u/Tendynasty
If you get it for her BF, then you can be a cyber cuck

And GME and AMC are back into squeeze mode. Fun.

The space race

Virgin Galactic Unity flight

With Virgin Galactic tanking after the last flight cancellation, it's not exactly a novel perspective that their recent successful flight might pump the share price (note, I began writing this on the 21st but took a while to complete). Present volatility aside, I'm thinking SPCE could be a long term hold, and so maybe this is/was a good buying opportunity.
Then again, buy the hype, sell the news, maybe there'll be an even bigger dip between now and when they send Sir Richard up to the stars. I guess the other concern is profitability, what was Branson's quote about the easiest way to become a millionaire...

Investment chat inverse self
Maybe I should just let Connie manage my funds, she seems to have Kobayashi Marued the market.

Lordstown motors and WSB, part II

Con artists Elizabeth Holmes Theranos Billy McFarland Fyre Trevel Milton Nikola

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Elizabeth Holmes, Billy McFarland, and Trevor Milton. Last month I dipped into the astroturfing (marketers pretending to be real people) that WSB was seeing from electric startup Lordstown motors. So what's new? I guess the Lordstown baja truck retired after the first leg of the race and more recently had a somewhat dire (pre-)earnings call.

Reddit suspension DawgPound98 Lordstown motors

Also, Reddit banned the totally legit dude from my last post. Not to worry, others have stepped up to carry the banner. The bot comments are hilariously repetitive, translations provided in italics:
Speaking of the Lordstown sub, the bots seem to not know if it's a fan sub or a place for the propagandists to share tips...

WallStSister WallStSister In wallst bets conversation, this is what one of the reply said. Can you help me give them counter argument?

Who says the in-wheel motor is better tech? There is a good chance it is not a viable candidate for a reliable economical vehicle. It is a very unproven tech. The SF250 had them going 40 miles (versus 60 mile range they projected between charges) at 20 mph (when competitors averaged 50-70 mph over that stretch, based on publicly available GPS data).

Practically the parts saved by in-wheel motors vs mounted motors and it making it "simpler" is a pretty large overstatement. Getting rid of a transmission, engine, and all the complex parts there is a huge deal, which is already accomplished. The main parts the in-wheel motor eliminates is the halfshafts and differential. I am very skeptical that it makes more sense to build multiple in-wheel motors vs one mounted one that connects to a diff which connects to the halfshafts which drive the wheels.

As you might imagine, that totally legit Redditor then used the responses to praise the wonders of in-wheel motors.

Movie poster HBO The Inventor Theranos Elizabeth Holmes

Anyway, hilarious stuff. Reminds me of the Theranos and Fyre documentaries and of Nikola's WSB presence last year. As Abraham Lincoln said: "Fake it til you exit and leave the shareholders with with the bag."
Fire Emblem

Fire Emblem Three Houses Petra pegasus victory

The Dimitri run continues.

Fire Emblem Three Houses Hapi battle traffic kiting

The Hapi paralogue had a tenuous start but ended with a fun traffic jam around my currently-tanky protagonist and house leader.

Fire Emblem combat Petra pegasus Edelgard Fire Emblem Lysithea level up Fire Emblem Petra
Renmant From the Ashes

Remnant From the Ashes screenshot desert eclipse

Me and J finished our first and second playthroughs of Remnant, we're nearing the end of the DLC. Some thoughts...

Remnant From the Ashes screenshot dreamer boss in bed

The end battle is pretty good. It, like some of the other bosses, has a critical mechanic that we kind of caught on to but decided to look up anyway. So mission accomplished; we won the right to row a boat!

Remnant From the Ashes screenshot end rowboat

No, seriously.

Remnant From the Ashes screenshot DLC snow map

I said previously that Remnant most stands out for its interesting and detailed environments, that statement holds for the duration of the game and DLC.

Remnant From the Ashes screenshot radioactive skull load screen

Other than neat maps and fun shooter mechanics, the game's longevity comes from unlocking new mods and, to a lesser extent, weapons and traits. This is good for a couple playthroughs, but probably not more than that. I also didn't see much sense in respeccing out of my one-shot damage build and into, say, bleed or elemental. We found ourselves kind of wishing we could minmax a bit more.

Remnant From the Ashes screenshot DLC farm night moon

The DLC has a few areas that are each visually quite different, but with a similar feel to the main game. The DLC does introduce an area with a puzzle mechanic, though if I'm honest I'd rather have it be straight gunplay instead.

Bosses

Remnant From the Ashes screenshot Undying King in bath

Among the procedurally-generated things that get rerolled with each playthrough are the bosses. There aren't, like, a zillion of them, but we saw a handful of new enemies on our second lap. While tough (especially on hard), vanquishing bosses is rewarding and offers a unique weapon/mod that can open or focus your build.

After dreading facing Ixillis on hard - and then validating that dread - we were happy to find you can just blast the Undying King and bypass that battle.

thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes Harrow thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes nightmare thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes nightmare knocked down
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes canker tentacle
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes dream eater thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes nightmare ads thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes totem father
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes dreamer thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes tian assassin thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes rat
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes rat with claws thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes ent tree thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes scope unclean one thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes vargr
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes unclean one combat

Gallery

More imagery. Well done, Gunfire Games, in some ways this experience feels like the first Borderlands.

thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes dimensional portal thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes city ruins desert thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes obelisk stairs
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes statue
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes obelisk thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes undying king chamber bath thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes swamp
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes obelisk door thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes undying king request thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes swamp radiation
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes swamp moth lady thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes traits
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes root horror
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes fire and radiation thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes charger thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes checkpoint
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes flamethrower thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes fire damage thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes ravager eyes thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes dreamer escape thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes rowboat ending
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes ravager combat
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes unground stone thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes swamp tentacle thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes xray vision
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes completion trophy Dark Awakening thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes stone thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes giant hand
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes beam rifle thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes arena dead rats thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes rat boss thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes portal
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes colossus guy
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes portal thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes plague doctor mask thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes spores thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes sniper scope blue swamp guy thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes turrets
thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes radiation rifle thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes obelisk thumbnail Remnant from the Ashes undying king battle prep
Getting some fresh air


Cause it's May and lovely outside.

Hungry caterpillar hungry baby



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