@shop-teacher usually differential ground settlement wouldn’t cause a full, unpredictable collapse. Plus there’s a good chance the building is on piles (note: I don’t know this, but right on the water line the shoe fits). This looks like a flat plate concrete building, it’s right on the ocean, rusting of rebar has to be a concern (which could happen to an old building) or questionable construction (which could happen to a new building). I would immediately suspect either a column blow-out or what’s called a two-way or “punching shear” failure. Basically the slab is overloaded, rips a hole and slides right down one of the columns. Like if you have a piece of jello on a toothpick, if the piece of jello is big enough, eventually the friction between the jello and toothpick will give way.

Those sorts of failures are super dangerous in concrete buildings because the slab typically falls onto the one below it, which is then overloaded, which falls on the one below it, etc. it’s called pancaking. They happen extremely rapidly and with very little warning. How often do you think the put holes in the ceilings to inspect the slab-column joints at every column and every floor? Would “never” be a good guess? It only takes one bad spot. Everyone knows this so the connections are typically very over designed, but with that sea air... like I said it only takes one.

@mastermario from the headline I figured you were talking about Oppo, which is a question I find myself asking all the time

I have no idea why I made this


[Binghamton, NY]

A freggin SENNA!! In a tunnel!! He liked the acoustics. I went past the guy like he was standing still, mainly because he actually was. Like a true genius he would randomly stop for a good 15 seconds then romp on it for 300 feet. Sounded quite good, but not top echelon.

Then I got my J&J and fortunately as someone with a good deal of anxiety over shots, I’m done.

@dogisbadob upvote this post to downvote smh

@italianjobr53 they are very affordable to maintain when you sell them and buy something else

@chariotoflove they jacked it up because you were interested. Case closed. That is exactly what they did, because lots of places do it. If I’m expecting to look at a serious contender I always make a PDF before I go. Worst case I delete it when I get home

“I left my wallet, checking account, and retirement savings in El Segundo”

After my A3 got totaled by either a driver blowing a red light or me cutting her off while turning left through a yellow depending on who you ask, decided to upgrade. Took me nearly 3 weeks from when I committed to buy it to drive it home thanks largely to problems with Connecticut’s emissions testing program and lack of a place to store an unregistered car due to aforesaid emissions problems. But it is here, and it is mine.

Impressions:

1. it fixes two major shortcomings of the A3, the lackluster seats (especially compared to BMW), and the engine noise (especially compared to BMW).
2. it’s fast, but it’s not life changing fast. Stomping on it from a roll is definitely a thrill, but...
3. Especially in passing situations, it definitely takes a second or two to realize what you’re trying to do, DSG to downshift, turbo to spool, and then you’re off and going 120 before you look down again. The DSG is great, don’t get me wrong, but if you want a real blast-off moment you sort of have to plan ahead for a second, or it feels just like the A3.
4. haven’t had many opportunities to push the handling, but it’s a much firmer ride than the A3, without what the corresponding increase I would have expected for lateral grip. It’s changes directions more confidently, but with the short wheelbase, the stiffer ride doesn’t magically turn it into a skidpad hero.
5. having said that, the short wheelbase was a blast to drive on the A3 because you can push the limits a little more readily than a BMW and wag the tail a little here or there without worrying you’re gonna end up in trouble. But when I had an extended 330 rental, I was worried if i hit a small pothole and it let go I would fly off the road. The S3 carries on the fun factor.

Overall when I hear people complain about how big and floppy luxury sedans have gotten I always wonder why no one looks into the A3/S3, which is a tight little package, and a boatload of fun. Glad to have one again.

@jminer I was pretty happy with scrubbing my upholstery with 50/50 P21s all purpose cleaner and water, but the stains weren’t truly out and eventually became visible again. I’m not sure if some sort of spray on top might have diminished their reappearance but it really felt like the P21s got them 99% of the way out

@dr-zoidberg this is a thing

@cash-rewards the car was in jersey and I’m also a former New Yorker!

@cash-rewards lol this is way more dramatic than how it actually went down:
“Why are you selling?”
“Had a 3rd surprise kid and I can’t get 3 child seats in it anymore”
“Ok I’ll take it”
“Cool, if you think of a fun weekend car that comfortably sits 3 child seats HMU”
“You should get a R63 AMG”
“Word, I’ll check that out”
“...or yo momma should”

@snakesm13 the guy I bought my S3 from had to sell it because he had an unexpected 3rd kid. I told him he should buy one.

@wbizarre I think blasphemy is a good word for it. I think the LFA might sound better though.

@dtg11 if it was in there you should probably try to cook more often

@forsweden this is about as strong an endorsement as one can give for a chair that costs about as much as a car. Thanks.

@forsweden said in I bought a refurbished office chair:

I still have my work-from-home Aeron from my office at home.

Don't tell anyone.

I’ve been considering a “treat myself” sort of thing since selling my house on Wednesday, and when I saw the headline I wondered if finally pulling the trigger on an Aeron would be the move. As someone who has one, what are your thoughts on it

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold they’re just thick and beefy and only used for MS3’s. Much like my old SVT focus they didn’t sell enough cars for it to be worth it to make model specific aftermarket stuff to OE standards. And whenever OEM’s have to gear up and do tooling and inventory make something like that where they sell maybe a dozen a year... yeah it’s like ordering parts for a Ferrari at that point