vault backup: 2026-04-18 19:02:34

collards.md

@@ -2,7 +2,57 @@
 id:
 aliases: []
 title: Collards
-up: "[[recipes]]"
 tags: []
+up: "[[recipes]]"
 ---
 # Collards
+
+## Ingredients
+
+* 2 tablespoons bacon fat, lard, or vegetable oil
+* 1 medium onion, sliced from root to tip
+* 2 ham hocks
+* 2 cloves garlic, minced
+* 4 cups chicken stock
+* 1--2 cups water
+* 2 pounds fresh collards, washed
+* ? tsp. salt
+
+## Instructions
+
+1. Tear or cut the collard greens from the stems.
+    Set aside the greens.
+    Chop the stems into half inch pieces.
+
+2. Heat the **fat** in a large pot over medium-high heat.
+    Add the **onion** and chopped collard stems.
+    Sauté, stirring often, until the edges begin to brown (about 5 minutes).
+
+3. Add the **ham hocks**, **garlic**, **stock**, and **water**.
+    Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 1 hour.
+    While cooking, slice the collard greens
+    into half inch wide ribbons. 
+
+4. Add the collard greens.
+    Continue to cook, partially covered,
+    until they are tender (45--60 minutes).
+
+5. Remove the ham hocks.
+    Remove the meat from the bones.
+    Chop the meat and add back to the greens.
+
+6. Add the **salt** and more to taste.
+    Optionally serve with vinegar and hot sauce.
+
+## Notes
+
+* Pair with [[cornbread]] to soak up the potlikker.
+
+> Only a culinarily-illiterate damnyankee (one word)
+> who can't tell the difference between beans and greens
+> would call the liquid left in the pot after cooking greens
+> "pot liquor" (two words) instead of "potlikker" (one word)...[^1]
+
+[^1]: Zell Miller, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia,
+    in "POT LIQUOR OR POTLIKKER?,"
+    _New York Times_, Section A, Page 18, February 23, 1982.

holt_2023_estimating.md

@@ -5,12 +5,424 @@ title: "Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Electrical Estimating"
 tags:
   - authorship/other
   - exclude-from-word-count
+dg-publish: false
 authors:
   - Mike C. Holt
-dg-publish: false
 pages: 234
 publisher: Mike Holt Enterprises
 type: book
 year: 2023
 ---
 # Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Electrical Estimating
+
+## Chapter 1---Introduction
+
+### Introduction
+
+### 1.1 Estimating versus Bidding
+
+### 1.2 A Good Estimating System
+
+### 1.3 Objectives and Purpose of an Electrical Contractor
+
+### 1.4 Why So Many Electrical Contractors Are Unsuccessful
+
+### 1.5 Project Management
+
+### 1.6 Can I Be Competitive?
+
+### 1.7 The Electrical Market
+
+### 1.8 Negotiated Work
+
+### 1.9 Best Value
+
+### Summary
+
+### Conclusion
+
+### Essay Questions
+
+### Multiple-Choice Questions
+
+## Chapter 2---About Estimating
+
+### Introduction
+
+### 2.1 Qualities of a Good Estimator
+
+### 2.2 Duties and Responsibilities of the Estimator
+
+### 2.3 The Estimating Workspace and Tools
+
+### 2.4 Types Of Bids
+
+### 2.5 What an Accurate Estimate Must Include
+
+### 2.6 Improper Estimating Methods
+
+### 2.7 The Detailed Estimating Method
+
+### 2.8 How Accurate Can an Estimate Be?
+
+### 2.9 Manual Estimate, Estimating Software, or an Estimating Service?
+
+### Summary
+
+### Conclusion
+
+### Essay Questions
+
+### Multiple-Choice Questions
+
+## Chapter 3---Understanding Labor Units
+
+### Introduction
+
+### 3.1 What is a Labor Unit?
+
+### 3.2 How Labor Units Are Expressed
+
+### 3.3 Using Work Experience
+
+### 3.4 What Is Included in the Labor Unit?
+
+### 3.5 Labor Units Do Nolinciuae
+
+### 3.6 Labor-Unit Manuals
+
+### 3.7 How to Develop Your Own Labor Units
+
+### 3.8 Your Labor Units as Compared to Your Competitors
+
+### 3.9 Knowing Your Competitors' Labor Units
+
+### 3.10 Variables That Affect Labor Units
+
+### 3.11 Are You for Real?
+
+### Summary
+
+### Conclusion
+
+### Essay Questions
+
+### Multiple-Choice Questions
+
+## Chapter 4---The Estimating Process
+
+### Introduction
+
+### 4.1 Job Selection
+
+### 4.2 Understanding the Scope Of Work
+
+### 4.3 Preparing for the Estimate
+
+### 4.4 Plans and Specifications Review
+
+### 4.5 Estimate and Bid Notes
+
+### 4.6 Estimating Forms and Worksheets
+
+### 4.7 The Take-Off
+
+### 4.8 Determining the Bill-of-Material (Manual Estimate)
+
+### 4.9 Pricing and Laboring
+
+### 4.10 Extensions An Totals
+
+### Summary
+
+### Conclusion
+
+### Essay Questions
+
+### Multiple-Choice Questions
+
+## Chapter 5---Determining Break-Even Cost
+
+### Introduction
+
+### 5.1 Labor Houis (Step A)
+
+### 5.2 Labor Cost (Step B)
+
+### 5.3 Labor Rate Per Man-Hour
+
+### 5.4 Labor Burden
+
+### 5.5 Total Material Cost (Step C)
+
+### 5.6 Direct Job Expenses (Step D)
+
+### 5.7 Estimated Prime Cost (Step E)
+
+### 5.8 Overhead (Step F)
+
+### 5.9 Overhead Calculation Methods
+
+### 5.10 Break-Even Cost (Estimated Cost) (Step G)
+
+### Summary
+
+### Conclusion
+
+### Essay Questions
+
+### Multiple-Choice Questions
+
+## Chapter 6---The Bid Process
+
+### Introduction
+
+### 6.1 Profit (It s Not a Dirty Word)
+
+### 5.2 Profit to Prime Cost
+
+### 6.3 Other Bid Cost Considerations
+
+### 5.4 Bid Accuracy
+
+### 5.5 Bid Analysis
+
+### 6.6 Bid Proposal
+
+### Summary
+
+### Conclusion
+
+### Essay Questions
+
+### Multiple-Choice Questions
+
+## Chapter 7---Unit Pricing
+
+### Introduction
+
+Now that you have learned the detailed estimating method and bid process,
+we are going to show you an alternative estimating method.
+It is called "unit pricing," and using it will save you time.
+You can safely use unit pricing on renovations, office build-outs,
+change orders, and other simple or small-scope jobs.
+
+### 7.1 What Is Unit Pricing?
+
+Unit pricing consists of developing an average price
+to install a given electrical component,
+such as a duplex receptacle, a 2 x 4 fluorescent fixture, or a switch.
+This price includes the outlet box, an average number of wire connectors,
+mounting hardware, and the typical number of raceway or cable box connectors.
+The "unit price" is then multiplied by the number of units on the drawings
+to arrive at a total bid price for the installation.
+
+### 7.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Unit Pricing
+
+You still do a take-off to determine the number of luminaries,
+switches, receptacles, and so forth.
+However, you just do not separately count the boxes, fittings,
+and other parts included in the unit pricing components.
+Often you do not measure the wiring runs for every opening,
+but use an average length per installed outlet as part of the "unit."
+
+Homeruns to panelboards, communications cabinets, and so on,
+must still be measured in the usual manner.
+
+#### Advantages
+
+Unit pricing is faster and easier than the detailed estimating method
+described earlier in Chapters 4, 5, and 6.
+It takes less time and therefore costs your company less money
+to determine the selling price for a job.
+Unit pricing is relatively accurate on repetitive jobs
+where many identical items of electrical equipment
+will be installed under the same (or fairly similar) conditions.
+
+#### Disadvantages
+
+Unit pricing is not suitable for jobs
+where outlets are not located at standard intervals.
+For example, if you have 200 identical fluorescent luminaries to install
+in a building where the ceiling heights vary from 8 ft to 15 ft in different areas,
+unit prices will need to be adjusted to an average luminaire height,
+or different unit prices will need to be applied for the different ceiling heights.
+
+### 7.3 Unit Price Example
+
+It is easier to demonstrate this concept with an example
+rather than trying to explain it in words.
+
+Determine the unit price for a duplex receptacle based on the following factors:
+
+* Labor Hour Adjustment---10%
+* Labor Burden---included in overhead
+* Labor Rate---$18 per man-hour
+* Material Cost Adjustment---15% (waste, theft, miscellaneous)
+* Sales Tax---7%
+* Overhead---$18 per man-hour
+* Profit---15% of Selling Price
+
+%% TABLE OMITTED %%
+
+### Summary
+
+#### Introduction
+
+An alternative estimating method is called "unit pricing,"
+and using it will save you time.
+You can safely use unit pricing on renovations, office build-outs,
+change orders, and other simple or small-scope jobs.
+
+#### 7.1 What is Unit Pricing?
+
+Unit pricing consists of developing an average price
+to install a given electrical component.
+This price includes the outlet box, an average number of wire connectors,
+mounting hardware, and the typical number of raceway or cable box connectors.
+The "unit price" is then multiplied by the number of units on the drawings
+to arrive at a total bid price for the installation.
+
+#### 7.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Unit Pricing
+
+You still do a take-off to determine the number of luminaries,
+switches, receptacles, and so forth.
+However, you just do not separately count the boxes, fittings,
+and other parts included in the unit pricing components.
+Often you do not measure the wiring runs for every opening,
+but use an average length per installed outlet as part of the "unit."
+
+Homeruns to panelboards, communications cabinets, and so on,
+must still be measured in the usual manner.
+
+**Advantages.** Unit pricing is faster and easier than the detailed estimating method.
+It takes less time and therefore costs your company less money
+to determine the selling price for a job.
+
+Unit pricing is relatively accurate on repetitive jobs
+where many identical items of electrical equipment
+will be installed under the same (or fairly similar) conditions.
+
+**Disadvantages.** Unit pricing is not suitable for jobs
+where outlets are not located at standard intervals.
+
+### Conclusion
+
+From the example,
+you can see that the unit pricing method can be a real time saver.
+Do not let this lull you into trading time
+for the accuracy required for estimating projects that are not small or simple.
+Even minor variations in the work environment
+can call for adjustments to the unit pricing method.
+
+Your company can use other costing and pricing methods as well.
+All of these have limited applications.
+Going outside the limits of these methods, or of unit pricing,
+can result in large financial losses.
+
+As you practice the unit pricing method
+and the more rigorous detailed estimating method you learned earlier,
+you will become more adept at each.
+The first few times you use the unit pricing method,
+you may also want to use the more rigorous detailed method
+and compare the results.
+
+### Essay Questions
+
+1. What is an alternative estimating method called that will save you time,
+    and on what types of jobs can it be safely used?
+
+2. What does the average unit price include?
+
+3. When using unit pricing, what must still be measured in the usual manner?
+
+4. What are the advantages of using unit pricing?
+
+5. What are the disadvantages of using unit pricing?
+
+### Multiple-Choice Questions
+
+#### Introduction
+
+1. An alternative to the detailed estimating method and bid process
+    is called the "\_\_\_" method.
+
+* (a) square foot
+* (b) unit pricing
+* (c) shot-in-the-dark
+* (d) none of these
+
+#### 7.1 What Is Unit Pricing?
+
+2. Unit pricing consists of developing a(n) \_\_\_ price
+    to install a given electrical component.
+
+* (a) set
+* (b) estimated
+* (c) average
+* (d) flexible
+
+3. The "unit price" is by the number of units on the drawings
+    to arrive at a total bid price for the installation.
+
+* (a) added
+* (b) subtracted
+* (c) multiplied
+* (d) divided
+
+#### 7.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Unit Pricing
+
+4. The biggest advantage when using unit pricing
+    is that you do not need to complete a take-off
+    to determine the number of luminaries, switches, receptacles, and so forth.
+
+* (a) True
+* (b) False
+
+## Chapter 8---Software-Based Estimating
+
+### Introduction
+
+### 8.1 Computer Estimating System Functions
+
+### 8.2 Advantages and Benefits
+
+### 8.3 Pre-Purchase Considerations
+
+### 8.4 Hardware Considerations
+
+### 8.5 Cost Of Software
+
+### 8.6 Technical Support
+
+### 8.7 Can I Afford it?
+
+### 8.8 Software Vendors
+
+### 8.9 Training and Support
+
+### 8.10 Pricing Services
+
+### 8.11 Frequently Asked Questions
+
+### Summary
+
+### Conclusion
+
+### Essay Questions
+
+### Multiple-Choice Questions
+
+## Chapter 9---The Bid Process Review
+
+### Introduction
+
+### 9.1 Pre-Estimate
+
+### 9.2 Estimate Process
+
+### 9.3 Determining Break-Even Cost
+
+### 9.4 The Bid Process
+
+## Final Exam

individual-ability.md

@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ It's not only a question of experience or exposure,
 familiarity requires maintenance.
 
 > [!example]
-> As of 2025-11-05 the original content of [[this-notebook]]
+> As of [[2025-11-05]],
+> the original content of [[this-notebook]]
 > would take almost two hours to read,
 > and though I try to make it otherwise,
 > it likely doesn't contain an eighth of my professional knowledge.

mike-holts-illustrated-guide-to-electrical-estimating.md

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ The bones of a great estimating textbook are present,
 it has a compelling topic organization and progression,
 however the content does not deliver on the promise.
 
-The text treats estimating like an invariable set of procedures:
+The text treats [[construction-estimating]] like a strict procedure:
 (1) get the documents
 (2) do the takeoff
 (3) do the closeout
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ The reality of the industry is far messier than Holt would have you believe.
 What do you do when RFI's go unanswered?
 Drop the job?
 
-In fact, the text suggests that _all_ assumptions ==are bad==
+In fact, the text suggests that _all_ assumptions ==are bad==.
 
 I was compelled by my employer to purchase this book
 along with several others of Holt's
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ Many topics are grossly oversimplified,
 or omitted entirely (subcontractor RFQ process)
 
 This book is far too large in scope to lack the detail it does.
+If it was only supposed to be a primer that would be expected,
+but 
 
 It feels designed for those unlikely to need or understand its topics,
 except it is far too long for a layman's introduction.
@@ -65,3 +67,16 @@ I don't think Holt would be the one to write it.
 The group's content is very "teach to the book"
 which is exactly what you want for contractor exams,
 but not practical for estimating methodology.
+
+> [!quote] [[holt_2023_estimating#7.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Unit Pricing]]
+> #### Disadvantages
+> 
+> Unit pricing is not suitable for jobs
+> where outlets are not located at standard intervals.
+> For example, if you have 200 identical fluorescent luminaries to install
+> in a building where the ceiling heights vary from 8 ft to 15 ft in different areas,
+> unit prices will need to be adjusted to an average luminaire height,
+> or different unit prices will need to be applied for the different ceiling heights.
+
+This is not a disadvantage
+it's just how you use the method.

my-resoluute-banjo.md

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ dg-publish: true
 ---
 # My Resoluute Banjo
 
-This note concerns my first banjo.
+This note concerns my first [[banjo]].
 It is a dirt cheap, Chinese-import
 5-string resonator banjo.
 

software-based-estimating.md

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ dg-publish: true
 ## Software Based Estimating vs Estimating Software
 
 This document describes the philosophy of software based estimating as a concept,
-independent of any specific example of [[construction-estimating-software]]
+independent of any specific example of [[construction-estimating-software]].
 
 ## Software Based Estimating vs Manual
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Most estimating manuals treat "software based estimating" as an afterthought,
 when in practice there's no meaningful difference in practice from manual.
 
 * Manual estimation is best done in terms of [[assembly-philosophy#Assemblies|assemblies]] anyway.
-* On-screen takeoff just eliminates a single manual process.
+* On-screen takeoff only eliminates a single manual process.
 * Any estimator trained on Accubid could do the same by hand, the methodology is quite transparent.
 * At what point in Excel automation does manual estimation become software based?
 
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ even to teach the basics of the trade.
 * Spreadsheet software is older than personal computers (LANPAR, 1969; VisiCalc, 1979)
 * Dedicated estimating software has been available longer than most estimators have been in the field. (McCormick, 1979?)
 
+Manual estimation invites inaccuracy and inconsistency,
+and prohibits collaboration and flexibility.
+
 I don't generally accept that dedicated estimating software
 is strictly superior to spreadsheets (see [[estimating-philosophy]]),
 but it usually is for less technical estimators.
-
-Manual estimation invites inaccuracy and inconsistency,
-and prohibits collaboration and flexibility.

tags.md

@@ -145,21 +145,6 @@ in the wider industry.
 
 ## #type
 
-### #type/idea
-
-> [!danger] Deprecated Tag
-> Use of this tag has been deprecated in favor of [[periodic-notes]].
-
-Items of `#type/idea` are recommendation
-that I do something in the future,
-possibly including some details of how to go about it,
-or some specific insight.
-
-They have the minimum amount of information
-necessary to allow me to return to them.
-
-They are always? of [[tags#destiny/fleeting]].
-
 ### #type/task
 
 %% TODO %%

templates/default.md

@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ const title = tp.file.title
 if (tp.file.content !== "") {
     // if file already had content, do nothing
 }
+else if (/^20\d\d-[01]\d-[0-3]\d_\d\d-\d\d-\d\d$/.test(title)) {
+    const file = tp.file.find_tfile(tp.file.path(true));
+    await tp.app.vault.delete(file);
+    await tp.file.create_new(tp.file.find_tfile("timestamped"), title, true, "timestamped");
+}
 else if (/^20\d\d-[01]\d-[0-3]\d$/.test(title)) {
     const file = tp.file.find_tfile(tp.file.path(true));
     await tp.app.vault.delete(file);

timestamped/2025-07-18_00-00-00.md

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ title: 2025-07-18 ??:??:??
 tags:
   - topic/construction
   - topic/estimating
-  - type/anecdote
 dg-publish: true
 daily: "[[2025-07-18]]"
 ---

timestamped/2026-04-18_00-37-27.md

@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
----
-id: 2026-04-18_00-37-27
-aliases: []
-title: 2026-04-18_00-37-27
-tags: []
-dg-publish: true
-daily: "[[2026-04-18]]"
----
-# 2026-04-18_00-37-27
-

timestamped/2026-04-18_15-40-55.md

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+id: 2026-04-18_15-40-55
+aliases: []
+title: 2026-04-18_15-40-55
+tags: []
+dg-publish: true
+daily: "[[2026-04-18]]"
+---
+# 2026-04-18_15-40-55
+
+Follow-up to [[2026-04-15_19-28-06#"Obsidian for Learning Part II: Process"]]:
+
+While I have nothing else positive to say about the video,
+I do like, and have implemented, the `up` property.
+
+Recently I've been less certain that [[tags]] serve a useful function.
+`up` appeals to me because it is intuitive but versatile.
+I'm using it now for implementations of templates
+like [[recipes]] and [[conest-projects]].

timestamped/2026-04-18_18-44-11.md

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+---
+id: 2026-04-18_18-44-11
+aliases: []
+title: 2026-04-18_18-44-11
+tags: []
+dg-publish: true
+daily: "[[2026-04-18]]"
+---
+# 2026-04-18_18-44-11
+
+I don't see many anymore
+on account of my change in workplace,
+but I think often of [[construction-estimating|estimators]]
+like I once knew well,
+who somehow managed to be in the industry for decades
+while believing that it is poor estimating
+to accept any risk in a bid,
+that all uncertainty must be clarified.
+
+Of course,
+they didn't believe that with their actions,
+only their words.
+Suppose though we take them at those words,
+like you do when you're a new estimator
+who barely knows what the word means,
+you're just happy to be out of the field
+where it's hot and no one is ever happy.
+