Recent comments in /f/baltimore

okdiluted t1_iy6dii1 wrote

Reply to What's a decent U-Lock for an electric kick scooter? by Linkums

the kryptonite new york series is pretty high-end, and a chain/U-lock combo is the gold standard for cyclists. if you're going to be locking up at one set location then weight shouldn't be an issue and you can double up like that.

if you really want to go nuts, the hiplok D1000 is considered "angle grinder proof" because it'll wear down a cutting disc before you being able to cut all the way through it. really though, you don't need the best lock around--you just need a better lock than the person next to you.

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FeverishNewt t1_iy6d883 wrote

Reply to comment by BeyondRecovery1 in As someone new to the area and wanting to get into hiking, any recommendations on where to start and what trails to pursue (with car park)? Also shoe recommendations would be great. Woman with a bit of flat feet here. by BeyondRecovery1

Sure. Just for context, I grew up and completed the Scouting program as a teen. So I've been consistently hiking and backpacking since I was 13 years old. I'm a bit of an outlier compared to most adults when they are introduced to hiking. My wife started hiking as an adult.

Firstly I like hiking cause it has all kinds of opportunities to meet many types of people. It's probably the easiest of any outdoor activities with a pretty low overhead cost. Basic equipment (boats, socks, jackets, etc.) may be initially expensive but with basic care equipment can last for years. Hiking can be done all year, you can go with a group or you can go alone (hopefully with plenty of experience and safety in mind). You can get familiar with one type of trail and as you're experience grows you'll learn to read maps, follow hiking markers on trees, how to pace yourself crossing rough terrain. Your confidence will grow learning new skills and trying out different places. It's also great exercise with minimal recovery time. When the time comes and you feel ready to you can challenge yourself against longer trails, steeper hills and more rugged terrain. And those kinds of hard but memorable hikes are in the Mid-Atlantic region like Section A of the Billy Goat trail off the C&O canal, Old Rag Mountain in VA, or the Falls trail at Ricketts Glen State Park PA just to name a few. Or you can do weird trails like the Abandoned Highway in PA (my wife is to scared to try this one). Hiking can take you all kinds of places and learn from new challenges.

Two books my wife read when she was starting to get another women's perspective on hiking was: Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail, by Jennifer Pharr Davis, and Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail, by Ben Montgomery

These days I mostly hike trails based on what time permits for and what my wife is capable of doing. When we don't have a lot of time we just walk a 3 mile circuit through our neighborhood that has one decent hill. We complete that in about a little over an hour. When we're both home during the weekend we'll do longer hikes that last for a few hours and vary between 5 to 7 miles. I try to get most of my hiking done in the morning so there's enough time for sunlight while we're out. It's good idea to avoid hiking in the evening to prevent getting lost, loosing situational awareness, or having to rush a hike to get it done before the sun sets. To keep hikes interesting once and a while we'll do something different that's less about hiking and more about nature. For example we'll go on a bird hike with the Baltimore Bird Club, attend a state park nature program hosted by the rangers, go walking around ArtScape or some weird Baltimore festival. All kinds of stuff to do, just have to pick a theme your interested in and sneak in a couple of miles while attending it.

There's a ton of contextual stuff you'll come across getting started. Drop me a message if you have any questions regarding you're journey with hiking. Good luck!

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[deleted] t1_iy6bjxn wrote

Reply to comment by mickeyflinn in Elon Musk’s Boring Company Ghosts Cities Across America by bmore

I think the thing is that the bureaucratic process for individuals to access basic, regular, necessary services (MVA, basic home improvement building permits, etc) is so overburdened, underfunded, and intentionally arduous that big business and the media uses that to reduce necessary bureaucratic regulation of large businesses.

And they never find or improve the shit most people deal with like the MVA as that would make people understand bureaucracy doesn’t have to be a bad word.

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addctd2badideas t1_iy6acpz wrote

Reply to comment by Kmic14 in Elon Musk’s Boring Company Ghosts Cities Across America by bmore

So one must agree with every single thing a band says in their lyrics to be a fan? Are you for real?

I made the mistake once of reading Jack's blog and he basically said he doesn't vote. I find that to be an abhorrent view. It's anti-democratic. But he's an "anarchist" (whatever that means) so I decided to just simply find beauty in their music.One needs not be an ideologue to do so.

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