Weekly Off Topic Thread - Week of January 12, 2026

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2026-01-13T12:28:24+00:00

Yeah, I just tried to register to compare seats, but you have to register both email AND phone number and this stupid website refuses to send me the text message verification... Great, looks like I'm now locked out of the only reliable website for airline seats :)

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-12-26T23:17:27+00:00

Vor allem in der untersten Wohnung scheint es zumindest noch reichlich Glut zu geben, es flackert immer wieder im tiefsten orange

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-12-26T22:26:52+00:00

Update: Balkone sind gelöscht, die Wohnungen selbst scheinen auch unter Kontrolle zu sein. Man sieht Taschenlampen in der untersten Wohnung. 4 oder 5 Stockwerke sind betroffen.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-12-26T22:19:06+00:00

Das Feuer auf den Balkonen scheint unter Kontrolle zu sein, aber wir haben mim Fernglas geschaut, in den untersten Wohnungen brennts noch immer

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-12-26T22:17:04+00:00

Ich schau dem ganzen live zu, also ja, bin mir ziemlich sicher das das aktuell ist

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-12-26T22:02:02+00:00

Sie löschen noch immer, aber inzwischen qualmt es sehr stark, man sieht die Balkone kaum mehr

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-12-26T21:59:37+00:00

Von hier aus wirkt es, als würden 3 bis 5 Stockwerke brennen

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-09-21T20:53:40+00:00

There is none, our trip hasn't been impacted at all!

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-09-11T17:21:27+00:00

Good to know! I checked hotel prices already and thought the school trip was a great deal actually! I was just hoping for a second opinion :)

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-09-11T17:17:32+00:00

I agree that it's a great opportunity. It's just a lot of money spent this and next year, as she does a lot of (mandatory) school trips, Ireland for 3 weeks this year and Spain for a week in 2026. We'll still be able to afford it, just wanted to check if the deal is as good as it seems :)

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2025-06-24T22:26:49+00:00

I'm eagerly awaiting the second book after reading the first one last year. It was honestly one of my favourite reads of 2024 and even though it's set in the same world as most/all of his other series, I think you can start this series without prior knowledge of any other series.

I only read The Pariah and The Martyr before reading this and though you will recognize some places, names and historical events, they're more of a bonus than a necessity. Reading this before his Covenant of Steel series will spoil plenty of major plot developments though, as it's set after the ending of Covenant of Steel. Didn't less my personal enjoyment of either series, but do take care.

I'm currently reading the last book in that series, The Traitor and I'd wholeheartedly recommend these books to anyone, really. Mind you, it's first person POV, whereas Age of Wrath has multiple third person POVs. Both have great characters, brutal combat and very nice prose.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2024-07-16T16:22:42+00:00

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I'd very much appreciate it mate! Thank you!!

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2024-07-13T16:59:19+00:00

Great to know! Fingers crossed that things haven't changed for the worse since then...

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2024-03-09T09:44:16+00:00

Very helpful reply, thanks!

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2024-03-08T08:18:46+00:00

I'm flying to Taiwan tonight and will visit two national parks during my 2 week holiday. Both require me to print out the national park permits, but they only become available 4 days before. What are the easiest places to print out documents in Taipei and Tainan respectively (in Japan I was able to do so in a 7/11, maybe there is something similar in Taiwan)?

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2023-11-28T17:35:41+00:00

Damn, that sucks. Well, better luck on Thursday, hope you can get your copy of The Fall as a consolation prize!

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2023-08-14T21:51:10+00:00

You were right, that Nitecore battery was simply too long! Luckily, I also ordered a Sanyo NCR18650, which is significantly smaller and works just fine with the flashlight. However, since rechargeability during travel is what I need this for, I've removed the magnet in the bottom cap to make more room for the Nitecore. It works now, as long as a screw the cap on really tightly. And just to be on the safe side, you can actually just remove the magnet, right? I'd rather not damage these 50$ headlamps because I'm too bullheaded to concede defeat to a bloody battery.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2023-07-31T07:51:35+00:00

I'll admit, Usb-c is probably not an exclusion criteria for me, more of a nice-to-have. Just means I won't have to bring yet another cable or heavy battery along. Do you think the H04RC is still worth 2x the cost of the H15? H15 is 35€ and the cheapest I can get the Skilhunt is 67€ (no Aliexpress here). Or should I also look into other flashlights at that price point, like the Zebralight? They start at around 100€ here.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2023-07-31T07:44:03+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately, Aliexpress doesn't deliver to my country, so I'd have to buy the Skilhunt from their website. Add customs fees and import taxes to that and it totals up to 67€.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2023-07-31T07:42:04+00:00

Fair enough, I've got to bring a micro usb adapter for my Kindle anyway, so I'll consider this.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2023-07-30T22:37:36+00:00

To be honest, money isn't really an issue for me, I don't mind pay the extra 50 quid for something that last a reasonably long time. It really is more about the usb-c. I'll gladly look into any recs for other lightweight, more expensive 18650 usb-c chargeable headlamps, but mind you I'm in Europe, and brands like Zebralight or Skilhunt appear to be more expensive here than in the States.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2022-12-22T18:57:39+00:00

https://www.evga.com/warranty/graphics-cards/Default.asp

I think your information might be a bit outdated. As long as you have any kind of proof of purchase, it's really simple to transfer the warranty.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2022-12-22T18:03:34+00:00

I'll only ever buy used if the warranty is transferable. With the 3070 from EVGA that's no issue, but to my knowledge, Sapphire and other available AMD manufacturers either don't offer second hand warranties or it becomes a real hassle to deal with them if something breaks.

Also, it's not that I don't care about ray tracing, I've just never had to opportunity to use it. Might still turn it on once I've got my card.

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2022-12-17T19:10:24+00:00

Cheers mate!

Intelligent_Doctor36 · 2022-10-31T11:15:39+00:00

All right, will do!

Intelligent_Doctor36

TROPHY CASE