What's bugging you? -- 2026 --

[Samurai Bucky]

Software engineer here.  So the answer is, "Use AI!"

Just kidding.  For some reason, I was wondering if some type of small piece of screen could be placed near where the water hits.  The screen would disburse the water and, hopefully, remove the noise.  I like the suggestion by @CheezWizHed because the aesthetics would be much better.

[GAME05]

What about some kind of sponge to deaden the sound? Or would placing anything at a 45 degree angle to where the drip hits also deaden the sound?

[AKCheesehead]

I still think a string, if it's possible.  Water will follow it down, I've seen folks out here use the technique to guide roof runoff into their rain barrels.  

[GreatNWwi]

I have seen decorative chains used for this purpose.  Same idea as the strings.  See Rain Chains on amazon.

 

[GAME05]

Aren't rain chains found mainly in Spain?

[Brian]

I hope the food truck owners win there lawsuit against Milwaukee. 

Milwaukee just put a 10 pm curfew on food trucks blaming food trucks for violent crime.  Small business owners aren’t the problem, criminals are.  Politicians are just making more excuses for the existence of high Milwaukee crime and that is not a reason to interfere with legitimate food truck owners right to earn a living.  That's like blaming street lights for night time speeding. 

[CheezWizHed]

On 5/6/2026 at 3:10 PM, Samurai Bucky said:

Software engineer here.  So the answer is, "Use AI!"

Just kidding.  For some reason, I was wondering if some type of small piece of screen could be placed near where the water hits.  The screen would disburse the water and, hopefully, remove the noise.  I like the suggestion by @CheezWizHed because the aesthetics would be much better.

Also a SW engineer here...and I did! 😉

[LouisEly]

On 5/6/2026 at 10:19 AM, CheezWizHed said:

You really do need an engineer (which I am). 😉

Use landscape fabric to keep the soil in the pot and let the water drain through. Honestly, skipping the soil and using rocks will probably work too.  The sound hitting the rocks at the top will need to transfer through multiple interfaces (rock to rock, rock to pot, pot to roof) that will insulate the sound sufficiently. 

 

@CheezWizHed for the win!

Rubber door mat: $5

Recycled plastic planter tub: $20

30# bag of pebble mix: $7

Tapping sound: gone

(Didn't notice that you have to punch out the drainage holes...)

 

[hawing]

Teamwork, makin' the dream work! 🏆

[NeedMoreFans]

We haven't been camping since Labor Day 2024.  We have a trip planned this weekend, and my back decided to give out Sunday night.  It usually takes at least a week for it to start feeling better, which means after we're done camping.  I do not know how I'm going to pack and set up our camper Friday, but I do not want to cancel the trip because it's been too long since we've gone. 

[nate82]

Raisins in coleslaw.  They don’t belong in coleslaw.

[TURBO]

3 hours ago, nate82 said:

Raisins in coleslaw.  They don’t belong in coleslaw.

Oh man, I've never heard of that, and you are correct, that just sounds disgusting.

[GAME05]

I wouldn't eat it, but I can see it. Cranberries in sauerkraut is kind of a Russian thing, so raisins in coleslaw seems like a natural transition. 

But people put fruit in regular salad, which seems like basically the same thing and equally off-putting.

[nate82]

4 minutes ago, GAME05 said:

I wouldn't eat it, but I can see it. Cranberries in sauerkraut is kind of a Russian thing, so raisins in coleslaw seems like a natural transition. 

But people put fruit in regular salad, which seems like basically the same thing and equally off-putting.

Fruit in salads I can understand and can work with the right fruits.  For example raspberries work really well with lettuce or spinach.  Though you need to add some nuts so the salad isn’t so sweet tasting.  

[Samurai Bucky]

On 6/21/2026 at 8:30 AM, nate82 said:

Fruit in salads I can understand and can work with the right fruits.  For example raspberries work really well with lettuce or spinach.  Though you need to add some nuts so the salad isn’t so sweet tasting.  

Sorry... I had to do it...

[hawing]

You guys! This fruit-in-salad conversational turn has taken me back to the relish tray days.  You have to be an OG brewerfan-dot-netter to remember. 💙

[TURBO]

The fact that you have to have AppletTV to watch the Miz tonight.

MLB sucks.

[CheezWizHed]

On 6/21/2026 at 8:30 AM, nate82 said:

Fruit in salads I can understand and can work with the right fruits.  For example raspberries work really well with lettuce or spinach.  Though you need to add some nuts so the salad isn’t so sweet tasting.  

I've done dried cranberries in a lettuce salad and love it.  Hard to keep them mixed in well, but the sweet/sour flavor profile gives a nice tweak to a savory salad. 

Not sure about the mayo/raisen combo though... I would try it once at least. 

[hawing]

UW-Madison experienced a large chilled water line break in mid-June, which significantly reduced its ability to keep campus buildings cool and less humid.  Campus is understandably prioritizing health care facilities and labs with living subjects.  UW-Madison has also closed (and stopped cooling) a bunch of buildings which were not being used between semesters or whose functions can be performed elsewhere. (List at https://news.wisc.edu/campus-cooling-issues/#building-closures)

Among the buildings caught in limbo are the libraries, including mine.  We have some chilling, plus extra fans and dehumidifiers (ServPro is gonna make bank off this situation).  Other campus buildings have temporary chillers set up outside.  These rented HVAC units are the size of a railroad car.  Memorial Library, the main campus library and my building's neighbor, has half a dozen of these rented units between their building and mine and I can hear the low roar from the equipment all the time.  They're reportedly fueled with propane, which of course adds more heat to the immediate area. 

Last week, when an excessive heat warning was in place, the extra equipment was struggling to keep up.  From last Friday through Tuesday, it was more reasonable outside and the extra equipment managed much better.  Today (Wednesday), I can feel the extra humidity coming back in parts of my building.  

Campus says to expect these conditions for a month, and the scuttlebutt is one month is the most optimistic scenario.  It's just very low-key miserable in the meantime.  It bugs me. 

  

[NeedMoreFans]

I went into my buiding on Monday and my office wasn't actually that bad, but the elevator and hallway were brutal.  One of my coworkers said his office got to 100 degrees during the heat warning, which I believe.

My wife's building is another that has had reduced cooling, but it's not closed.  It has been hovering around 80 most of the past couple of weeks, not condusive to much getting done.  She is not allowed to be remote 100% of the time like I am due to my building being closed.