Jim Morrison

Cool vid. When I saw the topic I figured you were just going to post a selfie.

I'm not so sure. I hate insurance with the heat of 1000 suns and go without it whenever possible. I didn't carry E&O as a home inspector for years until my license required it. But once I had kids, health insurance was no longer optional. Good thing, too. When my son was born 15 years ago, he was very sick. It took months of specialists and a couple of weeklong stays at Mass General Hospital before they figured out what was wrong with him, and two operations to fix him up. He's 100% healthy today, but if I had to pay for all that out of pocket, I'd still be paying for it.

As is so often the case, Katen's post on this thread is what is referred to in MMA circles as, "a finishing move."

Don't take contract advice from anyone who isn't admitted to your state's bar. A bulletproof Mass. contract might get you into trouble in another state.

Happy Solstice ye pack of bastids!

That happens all the time, even on newer houses with prescriptive venting. I suspect that the air in the attics has never looked at the diagrams, which show how it's supposed to move. Attic venting is a chaotic system. I agree. I'd go on to say that it (proper attic venting) doesn't matter a whole hell of a lot, either.

If you want a decent article written about home inspectors for your local paper, you're going to have to do it yourself and almost certainly for free. Very few people get what HI's do, and far fewer care. Timing it for early March or whenever the spring market starts heating up where you live would increase your chance of getting it published.

Bill, Surely you will recall that: Ulster is, and was at the time you refer to, not in Ireland, but in Great Britain. (Don't feel badly, you weren't too far off.) Many residents of Ulster -today and then- trace their roots and religion to Scotland. Yes, it most definitely does have to do with Scottish lineage. Also, most primary documents concerning slavery use a different word for black folks than is considered acceptable today. Is that really your argument? Or is it actually mine? Jim

Bill, I have no desire to try address your undefeatable need to be correct in all things, nor your unfailing need to get the last word. We could trade links to usages of both all day long, but I'm sure your will is stronger than mine on this issue, so I'll pass. I guess I am also Scots-Irish, though I consider myself an American. In any case, that's irrelevant. Neither gives me (or you) any real credibility on the subject. Do some looking around. It may give you a new perspective. If you find that it opens your mind to valuable points of view that differ from your own. The Associated Press Stylebook says: "The people are the Scots, not the Scotch." Better yet, find yourself a Scot and ask him if he's "scotch."

I'm reading similar arguments from Redskins fans. There's a certain logic to it, I suppose, but ultimately, its the losing argument. Language and attitudes are fluid and adapt to changing times. Scotch-Irish isn't awful, but it isn't correct, and Scots-Irish is preferred.

Scotch is a drink. The people are Scots-Irish.

Kurt's not afraid and he's not gone. I'll speak for him this one time only because he's got some more important, unforecasted things to attend to. Rest assured, he'll be back in a bit. Check back in a week or so.

Anyone who hasn't done so already, really ought to take Mark Cramer's reporting writing class if he's still teaching it. It's a real eye-opener.

Seems like at least once a week I read something like this that I wish to hell I'd written myself. And it REALLY puts my knickers in a twist when it's Kurt that wrote it.

Steam works best at atmospheric pressure: zero psi.

My dad used the same tool in the same way, Erby. I don't think I ever saw him turn a screw with it. When asked what it was, he always said with a straight face, "Broker repellent."

I'm no cicada expert, but I dig this stuff and the maps I looked at when I first heard about this year's cicada orgy had the northernmost border of the event south of MA. In any event, since the lawnholes are already evident and the cicadas ain't, I'm thinking we're talking about something else.

My family lived in Malden for about 100 years before I was born in the next town over, Melrose. I can say with authority there are no armadillos thereabouts. Cicadas either, from what I've read, they're a little further south. The very best pest exterminator company I know of is www.YankeePestControl.com is located on Main St. in Malden. Give them a call and tell 'em Jimmy sent ya. They'll treat you right.

What you're hearing now is the sound of me gnashing my teeth that Katen posted it before I did.

Most every house in Uxbridge has a septic tank, as I recall. I can't imagine moving that much (even cold) water through a septic system during the winter we just had with no noticeable effects outside. Did you notice any unusual melting in the are of your septic system during that time?

I would not have carried E&O insurance if I wasn't required to and I did not purchase tail coverage after leaving the gig in December. It's a numbers game, and by my calculation the numbers favor the insurance companies.

I would love the opportunity to sit down with this Douglas Hansen kid. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders and I think that -with the right kind of influence- he could make a meaningful contribution to the home inspection profession. Anyone know if he's for real? Or just an urban legend?

I've never seen anyone perform an inspection while picking his nose either, but I guess I feel comfortable rendering an opinion about that method as well. I carried a 24' and a 40' extension ladder with a brace to every inspection for over 20 years. Every extension ladder I ever bought came with a rope. When the rope wore out, I replaced it. Every truck I ever bought came with tires and when they wore out, I replaced them too. I'm going to disagree with you and still call that maintenance I wouldn't try to change your mind, but I don't think ladder-bouncin' would cut it in the Boston market and probably a lot of others. Shoot, I caught enough flak just going on a roof without slam-dancin' my way up and down. Cheers, Jimmy Above all, you should follow your Muse.

And a whole lot less professional. I've never seen anyone bounce a ladder and I never considered replacing the ropes on mine every year or two a hardship. What home inspector doesn't have time to maintain their equipment in January?

He's picking fly shit out of black pepper and not doing his clients any favors.