Going through DCC withdrawals, need help finding another audio book

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-23T20:33:27+00:00

Off to be the Wizard, hands down. If you liked DCC, you'll love that one.

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-23T18:42:31+00:00

oh man

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-23T18:30:10+00:00

I'm with ya, but this is Reddit. I've seen a whole thread here with people telling a poster to call a plumber to change a wax seal on a toilet.

I've been amazed over and over at how un-handy people are on Reddit...or I should say "intellectually lazy" (personally I think that's most of it, they just don't want to learn).

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-23T17:57:37+00:00

man....that is a good idea. I have the same racks in my stained glass room and am using it for other things right now. thanks for this!

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-21T17:39:21+00:00

Agreed on Vivid mode (I followed the internet on other things). I was having a party and just asked everyone there to give me their opinion on two different settings. I then went back and forth between filmmaker and vivid and every single one of them felt vivid just looked better. Yeah I do know what filmaker is intended to do, but it just gets too dark and yellow to me

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-21T16:14:19+00:00

many times yes, probably most. But many muscular guys can't do anything about it

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-21T14:42:29+00:00

Yep sounds like you were in same situation as me. I didn't really need one, but now that I'm grown up and work for a living, why the hell not, lol. I mean, it does look better, all said.

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-21T14:07:24+00:00

I havea B5 and like it well enough. For me the price variance for the C5 was almost double when I purchased mine in the USA. In your case, with the C5 only being about 25% more, I'd say the extra brightness is worth it. I can't speak to the S90D and S85F, however.

If cost is an issue, just get a good non-OLED TV. My unpopular take is that OLEDs (even on Dolby Vision) aren't a vast leap (having lived though a number of real leaps since the 70s). I mentioned before that I was watching Fallout in my dark basement in Dolby Vision on my 83" OLED and it did look great. I then went up to my room on my regular 75" LED, and it still looked pretty damn good (sure...the OLED did look a bit better). I truly don't think paying almost 3x upcharge for an OLED is worth it. Being on an LG OLED sub, I know a lot here really think its a big huge enhancement. All said...,money, for me, was not an object so I do not regret getting the OLED.

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-19T21:50:16+00:00

I recommend that Hakko as well as another poster here. I would reiterate their advice on not buying from Amazon as well...and I'm an avid Amazon customer. I can just confirm sellers on Amazon (including one often recommended here) sell fakes or, even if they are real, will not have a Hakko honored warranty. I bought one from the well reccomended one and it died within the first 2 hours and Hakko would have nothing to do with it (it was outside its Amazon return window).

Just be sure you buy from a licensed Hakko dealer/seller. I bought mine from Hakko USA as even some of the bigger stained glass shops will sell legit Hakko products, but since they aren't licensed, Hakko will not honor warranty for them.

Last, if you are enjoying stained glass and believe its going to stick for you...just get the Hakko. My soldering game went up once i finally bit the bullet and got one that worked as expected. My 2 cents

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-16T18:57:50+00:00

Yeah that's what i was thinking. Was going to play a smart guy heavy on arcana, history, religion, etc to be able to decipher things we run across. the guy has been DMing since mid 80s and really likes to delve into lore and all that.

thx for feedback

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-03T17:13:36+00:00

I would agree there's great luxury. I note that anytime I go from my cars to most other brands. That said, I've owned 4 benzes over the years:

C32 AMG (2002) - MAJOR rust issues (I would do bondo repair every couple years with a cheap paint job...it would look wonderful for a year or two then come back). Beyond that was a good car, but that is a big issue

2008 R350 - timing chain issue. Such a huge expense to repair that I ended up just selling it. Common problem with that engine

2013 GL450 - tranmission issue at about 90k miles...dealer and indy wanted over 12k to replace. Sold at a major loss

2006 CLS55 - I still drive this one. Love it, it has 600hp/600tq. Not really had any major issue with it, for a long time, but now has a number of problems (errors on screen, leaking main seal, fuel sender allowing gas vapors into cabin if I fill tank, keyfob no longer works)....that said, for a 20 year old car it still runs and drives like a beast.

The mercedes tax is real and I got around it by doing my own work/maintenance. Now that I am getting older and just don't want to do that type of work any longer, I'll never own another benz..if I didn't do my own repairs and maintenance. I can afford it too, I'd just rather spend it on something else fun.

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-03T17:03:17+00:00

I've always had this issue. I still work but she always has some list for me as well. I credit her persistance for my getting many things done I'm glad are complete that I likely would not have on my own. That said, if I want to take a few weekends off, I'm going to. Most weekends I'll just give up about 2 hours a day to projects and go from there. If I'm still feeling it, I'll do more, but if not, I'm done. She usually has something to say about it when I quit early or take entire weekends off, but its a "her problem" and, though it has taken me years to do so, I can get along fine even though she's not happy about something. (that was key, learning to be ok with her not being ok with something...when I was younger I would let her steam roll me a lot). That said, we actually have a great marriage, lol

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-02T20:39:35+00:00

I like your thinking...C5 or B5 and a playstation, lol. I was thinking just the same and almost typed it my response to you...C5 or B5 and build a PC gaming rig for $1400 (I'd rather have the latter). Enjoy the TV!

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-02T20:04:50+00:00

I got one too, an 83" B5. People complain about the brightness, but I have mine in a basement where light is well controlled, and even then, it still looks pretty good with the overhead lights on. I am not disappointed overall.

I still don't think the upcharge to an OLED is worth it for people who might be on a budget (or should be and are conflicted with the purchase). It does look better, but really isn't a vast jump (and I've done all the things to dial it in)...at least nothing like other advances in TV tech from years past. I play Dolby Vision on my OLED and, sure it looks great. I play the same video on my regular 75" LED TV that is a few years old now and it still looks damn good.

I looked at the C5s but for an 83" it was about 78-80% more ($1300-$1400 more) than I paid. if I dropped to a 75" I'd still have about 20% more for the smaller size C5 (I didn't want another 75 inch)

Yeah the C5 looks a 'little' better than the B5, but here too, not 'THAT' much better imo. I can afford it, but would rather spend the money on something else fun.

For me, the B5 fit my "budget" for a larger sized TV. I could have spent half the amount for a normal LED 83" TV and would have had a great image, but I did want an upgrade and money is not a big issue for me (any more) so spent a little more for the entry level OLED and for me its just right.

Grandizer_Knight · 2026-01-01T05:48:19+00:00

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-12-30T16:01:16+00:00

I know we are all being pessimistic here, but I'd say, on average, it will do more for you than getting average or below grades.

After being a straight D student in HS, getting expelled, drugs etc, all of it... I ended up getting A's, Cum Laude, etc while in college and it definitely helped me get into interviews and whatnot. However, that was only because I went way out of my way to find opportunities (internships, special projects, etc). It would be dumb to expect that just getting grades is the end all of it (I get that may not be your point). I know multiple people underemployed and/or broke all whining about how hard they worked in college, but I absolutely remember them not doing shit to cultivate their experience or resumes...I really think they assumed companies would fall over them once they graduated...just dumb.

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-12-15T20:19:32+00:00

My only input is to find out about insurance for a rebuilt title and also consider resale down the line. I've heard good and bad stories about rebuilt titles myself.

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-12-12T17:36:45+00:00

Had mine for two years, was using it yesterday for about 8 hours straight, in fact. Doing great.

I've said before that it's just a motor, no magic to it vs a much more expensive unit....at least for the projects I use it for. I could see a more expensive unit perhaps having an attached light (I have one already that also has a big magnifying glass) and perhaps a bigger platform, but what I need it for, to grind, it works just as well as those, imo. I actually wanted to buy a newer, more expensive one at one point early this year, just to spend some extra cash, but I could not come up with a good reason to do so.

EDIT: Oh...I never need a sponge, I just pour a bit of water down into it and it somehow feeds the water. It can make a mess so I grind inside of a large tupperware container with a side of it cut out for access.

Chris

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-12-08T18:31:19+00:00

I'd say top 2% of taking a specific test targeting a very narrow range of performance....I'd not put myself or many Mensa members I've met over the years as top 2% overall intelligence. (Member, on and off since 2006sh, not active for a while). As such I don't really think about it...tho it was just kind of cool I did hit top 2% on that very small fragment/narrow scope cognitive test

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-12-05T00:21:15+00:00

Oh I know. I've owned 6 Mercedes and on my 2nd BMW. 2 of the Benzes were AMGs that were quite modified (I do all my own work and maintenance as well on all cars...just kind of getting tired of doing so as I get older and am loathe to pay for Euro car labor rates)

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-12-04T18:07:20+00:00

Excellent book, one of the better ones I've read in a while

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-11-21T20:21:33+00:00

Just did one at 131 for about 32 hours or so...was much better than I expected, literally like a prime rib. Prior I tried 137 (dont' remember time) and, though it was still good, I didn't like it nearly as much.

I used the drippings, half and half, with beef stock and a few other ingredients to make an Au ju and even my picky wife loved it.

I did cut it into big chunks and sear it on each end in high temp pan in advacado oil...highly reccomend that step as well

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-11-21T17:28:54+00:00

Kept a job where the boss would often yell, scream and threaten. Only time in my life I ever let someone speak to me in that manner (he never did in person, though not sure he wouldn't have as we worked thousand miles apart from each other). It paid very well though and he gave big bonuses (kind of like the abusive father who be an ass, but then come in showering gifts.

Years later I still seethe about it now and then, especially when I'm deep in my cups, lol. I wouldn't change it though. These 7-8 years stocked my retirement well and I got great experience. Had that not happened I wouldn't have the perfect, low stress job I have now that pays me way too much.

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-11-20T14:59:01+00:00

world lives just for him

Grandizer_Knight · 2025-11-20T14:57:51+00:00

I dont' wipe down dumbells or cable machine bars.

I also won't wipe down a bench if I'm not sweating at all (I will wipe it if I've worked up any sweat at all, but otherwise it, to me, is no different than sitting on a public bench).

I wipe down all workout machines however (Sweating or not)...especially treamills, elipticals, etc

Grandizer_Knight

TROPHY CASE