What are /r/Somerville's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

1. Ways/places to meet new people?
   - The best way to meet people is by joining some sort of community, whether thats volunteering, joining a run group (Runfellow, November project) or organized sports group (social boston sports), or through a meetup.com group

2. Budget-friendly ways to beat the blues
   - Living in the Davis Sq area, my favorite walk is along the Somerville Community Bike Path and occasionally walk even further up the Minuteman bikeway If you are into biking, the Minuteman path goes all the way to Bedford.
   - If you're up to traveling out to Jamaica Plain, the Arnold Arboretum is also a great spot to just walk around.
   - If you're looking for something that's slightly more strenuous, I enjoy hiking in the Middlesex Fells.

3. Looking for an activity partner
   - Meeetup.com
   - Consider posting to subs like r/bostonsocialclub, r/bostonr4r

I got the slides from the meeting--but do know that these were a very preliminary proposal, open to community input, and you can see the ideas and concepts but I wouldn't hold the specific building look too close at this point.

https://www.slideshare.net/mem_somerville/former-star-market-site-somerville-ma-preliminary-discussion

Here's something I learned about the smoke as I just moved here from California:

Air filters inside work. Like, really well. We had an air quality measuring device that was reading around ~300 (for reference we were seeing about ~150 here lately) but inside a house running an air filter brought it down to ~4!

So when you woke up this morning, was your mouth dry? Did you have a weird taste? That progresses to nasty phlegm and headaches. Get yourself an air filter, because this will probably happen again.

(Here's the one we use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VGIGVY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_3NE3JK5QTMB31P3ARRQX)

The cat was lost. She belonged to the neighbor across the street. Another neighbor saw my post on Nextdoor.com and told them and they went outside and got her. She's not an outdoor cat.

I didn't take her in.

If a cat has a number on her collar, I would assume the owner wants you to call it if you find the cat...

Oh, god, I've been complaining about that stop for years. I know exactly the one you need--but I don't know if it has a sign anymore.

It's almost across the street from the little blocked off street that is next to the Mystic housing--at the bottom of what would be Mt. Vernon St on this google map image. https://www.screencast.com/t/SFusKpU8

So there was a sign, but I don't know if it's gone for some reason. I hate this stop, though--you can't cross the street anywhere and I've seen families with bags have to cross 4 speeding lanes of traffic to get over to the other side.

I get that, but I’d arguing learning to sharpen those tools is part of learning to use them. You won’t fuck them up by attempting sharpening. Use the Paul Sellers method or get one of these. It’s easier than you think, and you’ll need them sharpened (or at least honed) a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C9X3F98/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_mafcGb34FHK3P

I use the one with the long handle. It's hard to get into the angled and narrow area.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XHGRP6T/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_CilaGb3J9C4TW

I like this one because it stores the blades up in the handle too.

Big turnout. The cafeteria was full. I haven't seen any writeups on it. I missed the presentation part, but I got a copy of the slides and chatted with my neighbors.

https://www.slideshare.net/mem_somerville/former-star-market-site-somerville-ma-preliminary-discussion

It is considered a preliminary design, open to community input. All of the usual questions were raised: traffic, parking, shadows, height, stores, affordable housing, green space, union workers, community benefits agreement, etc.

There will certainly be more meetings, probably soon.

Some people thought it looked like someone was going to drop Assembly Row in the lot. Others seemed to think it was a good start.

My apartment is built like a goddamn funhouse. This cheap one off Amazon has been great.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MIUM20/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's plenty flexible enough to account for the slant of your bedroom. Add a bed skirt & a decent headboard and you can have a stable frame & look like a full-blown adult for less than $250. Also makes moving much easier without a box spring or bulky frame.

My 2 cents.

> aren't good enough (read: rich and "trendy" enough) to live there anymore.

Again, show me where the homeowners are in this lawsuit. Look at what properties Somerville is attempting to buy. You won't see much residential.

On a side note, where was all this outrage when Somerville took a bunch of Union Square property in 2013?

There's another Fairey pasting on The Garage in Harvard Square. And there are a few Stikman (http://hubpages.com/hub/Stikman-a-Look-at-Mysterious-Stickman-Street-Art) pieces around town. I think there used to be an apparent Banksy stencil in Chinatown, but it disappeared a year or two ago.

All due respect dude, but no one wants a used mattress. Especially when new ones can be ordered on Amazon for less.

Not everyone with a license actually carries. Legally, you need a license to possess even a single loose bullet or brass case.

Which means, strictly speaking, having one of those shot glasses with a bullet in it without a license is illegal.

Ah. I thought your kit included some kind of mirror setup, but now I understand. Just a regular two mirrors. I was thinking of something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/360%C2%B0-Mirror-Cutting-Adjustable-Telescoping/dp/B0813WWWDT

Another easy way: just remove your lights. I ride with one of these most of the time. I just throw it in my backpack if I enter a store so I won't come back missing a $60 light.

Yea, and here is the keyboard for $17. Yea, I am just going to do it.

I used BostonBusMap in the past. Still have it, but since WFH I haven't needed it. Showed estimated bus times at stops or the actual bus locations. Never used with T or commuter rail so I can't comment on that aspect. Still appears to be getting periodic updates.

This might help to stop a thief from stealing the bike as it emits a loud alarm when the bike is moved.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0734QN8KR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Also consider hiding an Apple Airtag in the frame. It won't stop a thief but it'll help track down the bike.

I'm a landlord (for exactly one apartment) and for anything non standard I tell tenants to just let me know and I'll take care of it.

There's a particularly annoying fixture I have that has a standard thread but is too narrow to fit a standard LED bulb. These have been life savers: https://www.amazon.com/GE-Bright-Equivalent-Medium-Non-Dimmable/dp/B01LWNF5S6/ref=pd_aw_fbt_img_sccl_1/131-5159876-1674217

Please don’t waste your money.

Buy this:

https://www.amazon.com/D-Line-Quarter-Self-Adhesive-Baseboard-Alternative/dp/B07WW22733

Do it yourself. If you’re door frames are too low hire a carpenter and pay them for an hour of time to cut off half inch from all of them.

You’re welcome.

Look at getting MoCA adapters (ethernet over coax). Simply plug the adapter into a coax outlet on your wall, then run an ethernet cable from the adapter to your device. Depending on your ISP you may need to enable MoCA on your router. With Fios it's plug-and-play. I'm using this adapter to stream large 4K movies over my network. It works flawlessly.

Maybe not here, but on Amazon

Sticker Shield - Windshield... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01466E24S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I'd bought this a few years ago and it's worked like a charm. No fuss, each sticker can be used for two years worth of Somerville permits.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034

Maybe consider the tactics outlined in this book to sway folks towards your opinion on cars as opposed to taking the entitled, judgmental and insufferable cunt approach

Most mechanics that do monthly inspections can help with removal, sometimes for a very small fee. I know for fact that Aris Auto on Somerville Ave will do this, if you ask nicely. It looks like a closed gas station, but they still do service work and are very reasonable.

You can also do it yourself with this: TANWUU Razor Blade Scraper, 3 pack Scraper Tool with 18 Plastic Razor Blades and16 Metal, Decal Labels Adhesive Paint Sticker Remover Scraper tool for Tint Vinyl Glue Window Glass Car Floor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091GWC5C3/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_K0V0V9S8RW1V77DHKZ16

I also recommend this for new stickers. It eliminates the need to scrape off stickers entirely: Sticker Shield - Windshield Sticker Applicator for Easy Application, Removal and Re-Application from Car to Car - 4 inch x 6 inch Sheets (Pack of 2 Sheets) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01466E0GS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_CCJ1J6AFXNPFY7BV0CDB

That is correct. They gained access to accounts by combining leaked emails against leaked passwords. There wasn’t a Dunkins breach.

If you see your password listed here: https://haveibeenpwned.com/ you are at risk.

That being said, changing it will never hurt anything and isn’t a bad idea.

Great question! I believe there are several spots around that are especially prone to flooding. This would be very important to know and map. If the city can designate high risk areas they could change codes to require things like having new appliances to be installed higher. I would imagine homes with air sourced heat pumps in the outside of the house would fare better than old gas and oil burners down in basements. Having these risks analyzed and published would be a huge service to homeowners. And, designating these areas would probably help with receiving any climate emergency federal money or assistance for homeowners and the City…. There was discussion about recent flooding here: videos and pictures included. https://nextdoor.com/p/HPhsRLhc3ZDh?utm_source=share&extras=MTg3OTI2MTE%3D

I have tried to find the slides from the meeting on the city websites, but I haven't located them yet. I've put a copy that I got from a city councilor here:

https://www.slideshare.net/mem_somerville/2019-12-09-winter-hill-in-motion-public-hearing

Everything /u/FallsDownMountains said is true! New apartments will keep popping up all the way until Sept 1.

Something that was helpful in my search was setting up an IFTTT.com alert! You'll get an email anytime something new comes up on craigslist. I was frequently the first to email back which is a huge advantage. Even more advantageous is being the first to see the apartment! Have a flexible schedule and be ready to commit right away.

I live in a 2-unit house, and I’ve got a Netgear R6400 in a closet in the basement (where our bedrooms are) at the front of our unit. The 5GHz signal is strong & fast until you get towards the back of the ground floor (our living space).

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The 2.4GHz network has had some troubles lately, and it might be interference from our new neighbors upstairs, or some other thing I have yet to pin down.

If your building is older, and has interior walls with steel, iron, or brick, those will dampen or block Wi-Fi signals pretty badly. And if you run a microwave, it’ll interfere with Wi-Fi like whoa.

I picked up this Netgear a few years ago, and use it with a Motorola SURFboard cable modem on RCN’s gigabit service, and get excellent speeds (~200 Mbps on Wi-Fi according to Fast.com), so it’s possible to fix this!

Not sure if you're still looking for a modem, but we have one to offload since we can't get RCN in our new place. It's a NETGEAR Nighthawk CM1200 DOCSIS 3.1 -- just over 3 years old but still worked great until we disconnected it, especially if you're opting for Gigabit speeds. If you're interested, let me know!

Wang's Chinese Cuisine is cheap and filling. The general Gao's Tofu is great with a side of rice

There is a commonly used tool for marking road closures in bulk. I believe it is being misapplied here since the roads are not closed to local traffic.

From the Waze site:

https://www.waze.com/ccp

From the FAQs:

What are the resources available to partners?

Partners have access to an exclusive tool for inputting road closures and surfacing major traffic events or emergencies. Partners are also invited to join a partner-only online forum that serves as a hub of collaboration and a space to discuss both strategic and operational issues.

Yeah, I was musing on this, and wondering if we should set up a common meter instead. But then I realized the downside. If that happened, then the Z-form recipients have to pay all the distribution/transition/revenue horsehockey which would be way more than the benefit in pennies. I think.

Here's what our second unit pays that I don't pay: https://www.screencast.com/t/gxdNkCDmeYX

Do you pay those fees on your bill? They don't exist on mine, as the primary net meter unit. I pay only a $7 "customer charge".

Still musing, may run the numbers.

Mmmmm....data. Thanks!

My system doesn't have a public page, but I wonder if they offer that? I'd share. I'll look into that.

Our systems are similar. Here's 4 years of production, 9.1 kW.

https://www.screencast.com/t/2ugrfXQxgIxO

Home Depot and probably every local bike shop (a bunch around Davis like Ace Wheelworks and I've used JRA in Medford before) sell some really long cables that you can secure to a good ulock like one of these bad boys.

If the OP is storing their bike outside too and in one spot, say outside their apt, go ham. Ulock the frame + front wheel (it's the easiest to steal) to a solid surface that can't easily be cut or broken. Cable lock the seat post, rear wheel and front wheel to the ulock. Then chain lock the bike too for good measure since those are apparently a bitch to cut.

Even better - try and store the bike inside if possible. At Davis you can lock your bike inside that secure bike area next to the T stop. Find places like that if possible, it makes it slightly harder to steal a bike. Inside your apartment or friends place is probably the best though.

Why do we need apps today for stuff a website can do? Stop with unnecessary apps!

Also, the app is unfortunately bad, 1.0 star rating. I challenge anyone to get it to work on their phone:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gopetie

I'd get yourself a cover for your bikes-- ya can't steal what ya can't see.

I parked a motorcycle on the street for a few years and this was always the advice I saw to prevent theft. I've always felt wayyy better with my MC being out of view.

Look into one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Anti-Theft-Vibration-Motorcycle-Waterproof/dp/B0734QN8KR/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=bicycle+alarm&qid=1599678767&sr=8-3

I use something like that on my motorcycle when traveling and when traveling internationally (works as a door alarm and a bag alarm)

I suppose it's what you're used to, and I do have ~35 years of cycling in traffic behind me, but I find Beacon St pretty much fine when it's not constricted by snow, or full of potholes as it is now, because it's so wide.

It'll all be changed before too long though. I'm not sure when the reconstruction is supposed to be finished. Then we get to find out whether their design really has produced a safe cycle track, in spite of all the side-streets it has to cross. I'm skeptical, but we'll see.

I also heartily recommend a mirror - for on-bike, a Mirrycle, or for the helmet, I like the Third eye helmet mirror. It makes it much easier to be fully aware of traffic approaching from behind - to know when, or how much, it's safe to pull out around obstacles etc.. Cuts the stress by an order of magnitude.