Renovations : Illegal Additions, Permits & Sales Disclosures

A few years ago I was in the market looking for a new home in the Kennesaw / Marietta Georgia area. A dangerous trend became obvious indicating that a considerable number of DIY homeowners and jackleg contractors are making the mistake of not permitting renovations when doing additions; converting porches, decks and garages into liveable space.

If you are in the market to purchase a home, it doesn't take much effort to figure out if renovations were actually permitted and inspected, IF you (or better - your real estate agent) ask the right questions.

The selling agent got frustrated when I pointed out that bricking over the garage exterior and converting it into livable space is actually illegal and should be disclosed. This is serious because safety issues, electrical / mechanical demand and load calculations, taxes, etc. are all affected. I was asked to "make a reasonable offer", so I said "80k less than the listing price still might not be safe".  Of course they thought I was a jerk. My agent and I discussed this several times in the weeks that followed, we both noticed the home continued to stay on the market a lot longer than average. She was equally upset that the other agent couldn't understand what a legal liability and risk was being presented.  If the deal goes down and the new buyer, tax assessor, fire marshal (or even a disgruntled neighbor) calls the buiding authority - the original owner, realtor, closing attorney and contractor would all likely be named in the lawsuit to follow. 

The problem in situtations like this is: someone WILL buy the home eventually. If they don't have a solid inspection before closing, they could expose their families to a whirlwind of potential hazards and financial damage.

https://constructiongods.com

How Accurate Is Your Treadmill Display Distance? + Calibrating Your Running Watch To Your Treadmill

 XTERRA TR150 Treadmill vs Garmin Instinct

I'm providing a backstory first, read on or skip to the end if you want to know how to determine the accuracy of your treadmill...

3 months ago I purchased my treadmill. Like many others, my decision was based on the effects of covid-19 and having no safe access to my normal gym during 2020. I knew I needed another option as the cold, rain and snow moves into my region and I would still need to run. I must say that I have been very happy with this purchase, I did research and looked at an economically priced, highly rated treadmill that would support my 6’ stride and 215lb weight. There weren’t many options, but this one definitely hasn’t disappointed.  

The TR150 is a basic model that is easily folded and weighs around 110lbs assembled. It has a top speed rating of 10mph (a lot faster than I will ever be able to run personally), and it is rated for heavier runners up to 250lbs and boasts a 50” running deck. For taller folks, or those with a longer gate, this is a great choice for a lower class treadmill in my opinion. Other models like Nautilus, Sole, Nordic, etc can easily accommodate my needs, but also cost 3x-4x more.  I only intend to run on a treadmill if I cannot run outside (weather or time management), so I didn’t want to shell out a lot of cash for something that will likely not be used year round.  My setup is at a 2 degree incline, just enough to give me a pretty good cardio workout when running at a 10m/pace.  I tend to push myself a little harder on the treadmill because it is a lot easier with a fan, bottle of electrolytes and a towel within constant reach. My normal route is pretty hilly, but my intention is to simulate, “as closely as possible”, what my pace would be running outdoors on a relatively flat route.  

The first few runs on the treadmill I took were horrific, I thought I was going to die keeping up with a 10m/m pace. This was very uncharacteristic for how my outdoor runs were trending at the time, so I suspected that something was very wrong with the speed of the motor vs. what was registering on the digital display. I contacted support about a separate issue with the display and discovered that the rpm sensor was not even installed at the factory (seriously)!  Support was very helpful and they quickly sent a brand new console with the missing sensor, I had both new parts installed within an hour and proceeded to run a quick 5k as a check.  My Garmin Instinct recorded a 5k run of 8:18/m avg, I had been running 5k’s in October around 9:30/m avg and chalked it up to the treadmill "doesn’t have hills" and it’s far easier to run with the help of a motor.

 The problem, I quickly realized, was that the display on my treadmill showed I only ran 2.4 miles!  At the cadence and time for the run, I knew the treadmill display was still inaccurate. But by how much?

So now the conundrum of what machinery do I trust? Obviously the Garmin Instinct is deadly accurate on outdoor runs. I’ve ran it through several separate tests over measured 1 mile tracks and it is within what I would call extremely accurate GPS data collection, but that does not necessarily mean that it is really reflecting what is happening on the treadmill.  My Garmin watch has a nifty “treadmill calibration” feature that you can use after you run 1 mile and match the watch data to the treadmill display. After several attempts, I realized this was an exercise in futility and decided to see just how accurate my treadmill really is.

I’m sorry for the above 4-5 paragraphs, but feel the backstory is necessary to establish “why” it is good to benchmark a treadmill you plan to use (if accuracy is important to your training).

How I determined the accuracy of my treadmill display (or inaccuracy):

I created a benchmark on the frame of the treadmill and another corresponding double line on the belt. Then I marked 12” spaced evenly along the belt back to the benchmark point. My treadmill belt is exactly 102” long (or 8.5 feet).

Now the math (I hate this part too…)

1 mile = 5,280 feet

How many rotations will my treadmill belt make in 1 mile?

5,280/8.5 = 621 full rotations per mile

To scale down to 1/10th mile: 621/10=62.1

Now to put the treadmill on a very low setting and start counting (the boring part). When the belt reached 60, I set it to the lowest possible speed and hit stop right at rotation mark number 62.  My display still didn’t read 0.10 like it should (no shocker). So next I "un paused" and continued counting the rotations until it reached the correct distance. It took another 10 full turns!  

So I know what you are thinking at this point… “10 more turns, what’s the big deal Ike?”. 

Let’s put this into perspective: In 1 mile, it rotates 100 additional times. 

100x8.5=850 additional feet per mile. Or 0.16 (nearly 2 tenths of a mile).  This is a HUGE discrepancy vs. the display distance!  If I run a 5k using only the treadmill display, instead of running 3.1 miles I would in fact be running 3.6 and not getting the street cred I’ve worked hard to acquire.  I would run an additional FULL MILE on a 10k, but the time it took would only reflect 6.2 miles (reality would be 7.2 miles).

So now to tune my Garmin Instinct running watch:

I (1) ran a mile, (2) saved the run, then (3) selected “treadmill calibration” and (4) entered “1.16” as the actual distance covered, and (5) saved the new data to my profile. The Garmin stored the data and all future runs on this treadmill will give me back the 0.16 tenths of a mile the treadmill steals.

Will this calibration and knowledge mean that my treadmill is an exact replica of my performance on an actual outdoor run? Not hardly, too many real-life variables like crosswalks, weather, hills, cars, phone calls, etc. that make outdoor runs "real". But at least it's a good indication of current level of fitness during the treadmill run.

If you don’t have a running GPS smartwatch that can perform this calibration, I would still advise that you take the steps I’ve outlined should you suspect something is “off” on your treadmill runs vs. outdoors.  If you are in the market to purchase a running watch, I can only advise that Garmin outperforms all others that I've previously owned. (And there have been several throughout the years).

Additional data you can actually use with your treadmill conversion (I've highlighted my setup as described earlier in the chart below):

Keep on running STRAVA family.  PEACE & Good Health to you!

Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com

Not a "Gaming" computer - NASA & the CIA called after it was done though ;)

 

Fried out my motherboard recently and fully rebuilt "The Tank". It's a full ATX tower with 3 HDs, AM5 Ryzen 6 Core CPU, MSI Pro Motherboard, 32MB DDR4 Memory, 5 Case Fans, Liquid Core Cooler w/ 2 additional blowers & 750W Power Supply. BEAST MODE Unleashed! 😎

I know, I know... I'm a geek ;)

#computers #Ubuntu #Android

+++ Ike's Best of 2020 Bourbon List +++

For everything that went wrong with double 20, there was a lot to be said for bourbon & whiskey. Here is my "best of" list for the year. If you like bourbon and haven't had these, try to snag one quick ;)

My rating considers 3 primary factors: 1) flavor 2) availability 3) top fair price IMO

Best overall bourbon:
Eagle Rare 10 year (90 proof - very heavy grape, chocolate, oak, leather & carmel - smooth medium finish - difficult to find, 1 per customer, not impossible) $45

Best Flavor:
Jack Daniels Single barrel, Barrel proof whiskey - Gold label (132.8 proof, barrel #20-05578 and 130.2 proof, barrel #18-8302 - burnt marshmallow, rich fudge, toffee, cocoa, dark cherry, oak, leather & anise - superior oily long finish, extremely complex - difficult to find, not impossible) $60

Best value:
Buffalo Trace (90 proof - carmel, oak, aged leather, cherry, raisin, brown sugar, honey, vanilla & toffee - smooth, sweet medium finish - usually 1 per customer, pretty easy to find) $30

Best Rye:
Michters Single Barrel (84.8 proof - Rye, oak, toffee, vanilla, cherry, leather & clove - smooth long peppery finish - readily available) $50

Best Wheated:
Weller Special Reserve (90 proof - Cherry pie, vanilla wafer, leather, cinnamon, baking spices, warm buttered bread - medium finish - limited availability) $35

Best Barrel Proof:
1792 Full Proof (125 proof - fudge, carmel, marshmallow, anise, chocolate, cherry, clove, vanilla - oily long finish - harder to find) $55

Best Small Batch:
Col. E H Taylor (100 proof - Heavy Butterscotch, nutmeg, almond, cherry, vanilla wafer, baking spice, leather, buttered toast - dry medium finish - rare find, almost impossible) $55

Best Craft:
Chattanooga Barrel Proof (111 proof - charred oak, vanilla, burnt marshmallow, toffee - short finish - readily available) $35

MY Favorite Bourbon of 2020:
Stagg Jr. (130.2 proof - toasted marshmallow, toffee, dark chocolate, anise, rich leather, tobacco, burnt buttered toast - Long oily finish. This is "Wisdom" in a glass. The smell on the nose will remind you of a very old library with century old leather bound books & chairs - Fantastic IF you can EVER find a bottle - impossible to find) $100

Honorable Mentions ( * denotes secondary / local over priced IMO ):
Bulliet Barrel Strength
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Whistlepig 10yr Rye ***
EH Taylor Straight Rye **
Oregon Spirits Wheated *
Knob Creek Single Barrel **
Blade & Bow

Most Disappointing (I don't recommend ever purchasing):
Heaven's Door
Angels Envy - Sherry Cask Finish

Tips & Tricks:
Some of the bourbons I have listed are difficult, or nearly impossible to find. You have to ask if these are kept in the back. Many stores keep the really good stuff hidden and out of public view, you have to ask for them specifically by name. Stagg Jr., EH Taylor, Blanton's, Eagle Rare - specifically are all in this category.

Be sure to check out www.WhiskeyGifter.com for unique hand finished repurposed whiskey and bourbon bottle gift sets. Bottles are cut, polished and finished filled with candy and other goodies for bourbon, whiskey, mezcal, tequila, vodka enthusiasts.

Additional information and photo galleries of the gifts can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/whiskeygifter

https://www.instagram.com/whiskeygifter/

Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com

Garmin Instinct's amazing smartwatch data even while in flight!

I am currently on software version 12.0 of the Garmin  build. It is amazing how much data you can get with a smartwatch and paired phone these days. I remember flying shortly after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. At that time I owned a chunky old blue handheld backpacking Garmin GPS unit that drained batteries faster than it could really be useful. I loved what it could do, but because of its limited battery I never could completely throw out my map and compass. 

Security was extremely tight and I had to check the GPS unit with my luggage because (as explained by the security agent) it could be used to track the course of the plane while in the sky. That was a big no-no for years after 9-11.

Today I use my Garmin watch for everything outdoors. The data from this smartwatch is incredible compared to 20 years ago. Now I can see the speed of the plane, elevation, color scaled map, temps, barometrics, my own heart rate, steps I've taken, and the list seems to go on forever.

Traveling today made me think about those scary sad days after 9-11 and reflect on the status of our world currently combating covid-19. Maybe in the next 20 years our electronics will automatically dispense medications, feed us, create aromas, analyze our personal air quality and sync with our mind telepathically to read and record thoughts so we never forget again.

The point of this rant is: I think society may be entering a time where we finally admit the dangers of too much technology, tracking, privacy loss and declining social skills. It's not that the tech itself is dangerous, but can you name any form of it that hasn't been used for bad or to hurt others? The geek side of me thinks all this data is really cool, but did it make me smarter or just give me more than I probably can really ever use?  And why do I even need it? I still keep a USA Eastern States map marked with magnetic North declination and a compass in my go bag. I say that because the more I use my watch, the more I value those old orienteering and survival skills. Would I ever have developed those skills  if I would have owned this watch first? Probably not. Do most individuals who own a watch like this really understand what all of the functions do, or how to utilize them if they are in an emergency? Again, most likely not. I think most people buy it for basic functions and admire the color or rugged asthetics of it. It's like using a paper ledger to balance a checking account today, why do it? Do you trust that the bank record online could never fail? Would it be good to understand how to reconcile your accounts yourself?

Honestly, simple may not  be better - but there is something to be said for it. For me, simple keeps me happier, grounded and more secure personally I think. 🤔

Alyssa Clark breaks record for consecutive days running marathons - 26.2 BEAST MODE

Had to shout out to Alyssa Clark as she breaks the record for consecutive days running a Marathon. 

26.2 miles for 61 straight days is incredible, she is going for 100. 

Read her story today in Men's Health and follow her on Strava! 

Her Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/20593742

Men's Health Article

https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a32971307/marathon-run-streak-alyssa-clark/

COVID-19

When covid19 started locking down portions of the economy and social activities I created this badge / sticker for my construction hard hat & STRAVA club.