Asberry.org

Author: aron

  • Bauer Vs Ryobi

    While I still feel that DeWalt is the de-facto standard when it comes to cordless tools, I’ve always had a soft spot for Ryobi. They’re less expensive and for what I do, they’ve always been perfect. But the one thing that’s always bothered me is the cost of the ‘real’ batteries. Like $90 apiece and you can’t really trust the aftermarket ones or I haven’t figured out where to source those from.

    Now I spend a good amount of time in Harbor Freight and they have the comparable 20v Bauer tools and they’re inexpensive when compared to Ryobi even if completely incompatible with the Ryobi 18v. Also, when I bought most of my Ryobi tools, the concept of a brush-less motor hadn’t set in the way it has today so not only does it have 10% more voltage but I’d be getting brush-less motor tools.

    They have a deal getting a 5 AH battery with charger and a free tool for $90. I’d get the circular saw since it’s the most expensive and then buy the ones I don’t have a Ryobi counterpart of…

  • Contract Opportunities

    So it seems that Oracle has changed the amount of time your data is available after contract end for Taleo. Prior to September it was 60 days, after the change in fiscal year it’s now 30 days. This (of course) has thrown a wrench into a lot of works and seems to be facilitating a surge in the need of TCC integration folks. Think of it as the last rays of sun before it sets behind the front range of Colorado, it’ll be dark soon.

    What this means for me is that I get to dust of Sarondy LLC and do a bit of contract work, maybe. I still have yet to see the SOW I’d be contracting under so we’ll see how that all shakes out. This would be a new one for me and I do understand the pitfalls of being responsible for taxes. I’m hoping to set it up so the company bills and receives payment and then pays me for the work. I get paid and the company makes money. I could technically end the year with a profitable company!

  • Oil Change Complete

    It’s been 9300 miles and even though the truck said I still have 23% on the oil I changed it. I think 8k is the sweet spot. The oil was extremely black but then again it was last time too. This time there were only a couple drops spilled. That was from the removal of the plug. The oil filter plug was a game changer on the filter change. Not a drop spilled with that. I still have to install the FASS fuel filter when the heat breaks.

    I interviewed today for a position as a contractor doing TCC stuff. I’m happy I have the LLC (Sarondy) because it’s a 1099 position but I’d have to get insurance which is something like $50 a month for 1 million. I’m still thinking about it.

  • Storage Racks

    I’m sort of in the process of spring cleaning as we’re coming into fall. My thought is that if I start now I stand a chance of maybe having spring cleaning done by spring. Also starting a workout regime to have a summer body but that’s another post. But the premise is that I took everything out of the closet in the office and have replaced it with a storage rack which fits 27 gallon storage totes mostly. The rack has 4 shelves with 3 bins per rack or 12 bins (324 gallons) of storage. I’ve put most of the stuff that was in the closet back in using 4 bins maybe 5 when it’s all said and done with. So it effectively doubles the storage capacity. It looks a little odd but I’m not complaining.

  • Gap Year At An End

    Today is one year and a day since I left ThinkTalent. It’s time to get back at it and find a company I can run with for the next 10 years. I’m going to do the Azure for data analytics & administration and devops.

    I’m working on putting the racks together for a storage solution and I thought that the Member’s Mark storage totes were the same as the two HDX totes I had, they weren’t and didn’t fit in the rack properly. So I went to Home Depot and got the HDX and they still didn’t fit properly. But it’s close enough and works for me.

  • Uneventful Sunday

    Did a pedestrian 10 mile bike ride this morning. We were going to go to Dallas and do the Katy trail but some research showed that eBikes were to be turned off for the ride and that didn’t seem like much fun so it was just around the mall and hood.

    Also got the knobs for the tub and the project is now done done. Well there’s probably the caulking that needs to be done but the plumbing is done.

    I did get the storage rack put together and in the closet of the office. It looks like I can fit 12 27 gallon storage totes in there, I’m off to Sam’s club tomorrow to get the totes. This is exciting because it should allow for indoor storage of pretty much everything I’ve got. That means things will be clean enough to get started and finish the things I wanted to get done.

  • Plumbing Issue Resolved

    After purchasing a three handle replacement faucet, then getting the wrong single handled one, then getting the right one with a plate to hide the extra holes in the tile and finding out it didn’t fit. We ordered replacement stems and we seem to have fixed the issue. All we should need now are a couple of replacement knobs and I’ll call it a success and that should allow us to start with the master bathroom remod.

    Also got the rack for the office closet but I’ve run out of steam to do anything with it. I got the garage organized and put away the tools from the last trip. Pulled out the blower and cleaned up the alley and back & front porch. Plumbing done. Filled up the Xterra and did tires and checked oil. Got milk and bagels. Watered the front plants. I feel there should have been more done considering I’m at 12k steps, 145 minutes and 684 calories. But I’ll take the progress and be thankful for the day and be hopeful I get another chance tomorrow.

  • Follow-up On Voter Suppression Issue

    So I did want to report that the thing I was bitching about a couple of days ago actually worked itself out positivity. As stated, the republican Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare wanted to axe early voting sites on college campuses that are prone to vote bluer while leaving conservative strongholds with early voting. It seems the others on the commission disagreed with the jackass and left the same polling locations from last election intact.

  • Plumbing on the Horizon

    The household maintenance task that I abhor the most is plumbing. There’s just nothing easy when it comes to plumbing. Case in point: Today, I set out to fix the leaky faucet in the main bathroom. First thing to do is take off the faucet knobs, well the one that needed to come off would not come off. To the point I went out and got a puller from Harbor Freight and the brass broke off in the knob. Then we got the 3 handle new faucet only to find out they are out of code. Don’t want people scalding themselves when the toilet is flushed. So we’ve got one of those ready for pickup and will return the other. There’s a plate that covers the other holes and we’re up to code if we need to make it a rental.

    The issue with the racoon is ongoing. I resolved yesterday to trap him and pulled out some beef stew as bait and sure enough he got trapped. But his huge ass just basically walked right out of it. We’ve got it on video. Going to need a bigger trap for that one.

    Got the tires on the truck rotated today. I don’t think that I’ve ever done that on a regular basis but we hit 7k or so miles since we put on the new shoes so it was time.

  • Somberly Thrilled

    I think we all know where we were 23 years ago today. It’s somber to think back on that day and how it made us feel and what’s happened in the passing years.

    I’m thrilled about some progress being made also. I got the generator off the RV and pulled the mounts so we can traverse the side alley.

    It rained today, outer bands from a hurricane hitting the gulf coast. Now we’re in for a heatwave for the foreseeable future. Oh well it can’t last forever.

    Also it was nice to hear the box scores from the debate last night. Although we’re seeing some serious cheating from the republicans down here. Tarrant county is shutting down polling places on select college classes that accounted for 17k votes last cycle. Here is the story for your review.