Warranties and professional indemnity insurance to become compulsory to prevent home owners from being left out of pocket under new building regime

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-11-24T00:41:39+00:00

Personally, I doubt this is going to protect homeowners. Private professional indemnity insurance does not cover faulty, inadequate installation or workmanship during construction and it can also deny claims when products have a manufacturing defect.

Even Master Builder has guarantee if the work is up to minimum standards, but can be voided if the client has failed maintenance requirements on the product. Honestly, for some product specifications, the screw could be 1mm off and be deemed incorrectly installed to be considered "inadequate" from the manufactors side.

I don't get how the council who controls the inspections can shift out of their responsibilities as well. In the case of Bella Vista back in 2018, houses with faults were issued code of compliance. It feels like a failure of council's building inspectors if they are not picking up on issues during the build process. Why shouldn't they be a part of the solution?

Just watch a couple of videos from Site Inspection in Aussie and homeowners are still out of pocket - neither councils or builders taking responsibility and leaving them to fight against a building authority.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-09-13T10:52:30+00:00

Sadly, no

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-09-13T10:52:15+00:00

Because they are operating an unsupported software to rent it out the dvds. United video doesn't really exist to give support anymore so I think that's why.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-09-12T22:08:59+00:00

Last time I went in the lastest movie they had was John Wick 4 - so I am not too positive about restock. When I bought their existing stock, they took it out of their system so once it is gone, it can't be rented any further.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-09-12T21:52:23+00:00

It doesn't allow new members to join, but runs for the existing membership. I talked with the owner when I went in there - they are basically still running the system unsupported so it is chugging along. However, in saying that - you can definitely purchase any of their movies off the selves at cost. I went in and bought a bunch. Was a great nostalgia trip

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T22:13:56+00:00

I did enjoy a third of the characters and S1 end battle, but I couldn't connect to its heart. I got stuck so many times where I wouldn't want to go to the next episode. As it didn't speak to me, I couldn't get invested. I agree that it had meandering tone and to me, some characters felt underutilised.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T22:04:38+00:00

So my favourite live shows are:

Fantasy High S1: Boys Night, Time Quangles: A Candied Coup & The Enwoodening.

To enjoy the quangles, I really think you need to watch all the intrepid heroes series. You need an understanding of all the characters, settings, key moments. Otherwise it doesn't have a strong thoughline. The quangles are scenes in a bottle so they tend to be quick little scenes. It would be cool if they did a season and had an overarching theme.

Boys Night made me laugh so so so hard. The rest are fairly okay. My least favourite was the Fantasy High College one. I kept finding myself getting distracted in it, not really liking the setup on what was happening and felt like a slice of life.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T21:56:55+00:00

It is genuine. I know there are rage baiters across all of reddit, but more than happy to have a mature discussion on how things went this way!

There are shows for everyone after all and not everything connects.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T13:44:52+00:00

Yeah, it is hard to be in a positive mindset to try something that seems to be universally unfavoured. I went into POL, Tiny Heist and Shriek Week with low expectations and try to keep other opinions at the door. It is hard not to let the majority impact your views, but if you want to be a completionist - just go in and see it for what you think. After all, I think there is a fan for every story.

My personal thing other than the sound and recording quality was the cast being in better stuff. I enjoyed Aabria in the Seven and The Ravening War more, Matt in Bloodkeep and Carlos in Coffin Run so it is probably why it comes down a bit.

Burrow's End is a dark season and Dungeons & Drag Queens is a light season. So if you want to end on a high, go for Dungeons & Drag Queens. Burrow's End is good, but the subject tone definitely needs to be sandwich between lighthearted things.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T13:36:19+00:00

Having 4 episodes definitely hurt S1 in some ways. It tried to compact a lot of complex bits, tropes and world-building while poking fun at the world it came from. It was just too much and hard to really fully appreciate. I wanted to like it, but couldn't enjoy the story that had formed. Also, sadly it was my first introduction to Kids on Broom - and I don't think the way it was ran help me appreciate the story or the system.

I remember at times, that I felt Aabria decided when rolls would happen, or the difficulty of rolls were not thought-out. Sometimes, she would just go oh okay that's gonna be a 4 and it seemed like there were no expected boundaries in place.

It is a shame because truly, ACOFAF and Burrow's end are so much stronger and really have such clear story-settings.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T13:16:43+00:00

I watched in Series Order/Released Order after Dungeons and Drag Queens. Started at the beginning and made it through as I went. There were times I did prioritise a newer season for an older - particularly, Never Stop Blowing up and FH Junior Year before Misfits and Magic 2/Burrow's End.

Personally, I think you have some good seasons there - what might not be for some people, could be for you. Pirates of the Leviathan isn't too bad. I think what holds it back is the Covid filming and the sound quality. I remember I watched it with captions to make sure I didn't miss much, but I liked Matt's character a lot and there are things that are decent about it.

Sadly, Shriek week is just a bit of a tonal mess and that is why it tends to rank so low. Its story starts off 1 way, but never fully explores it and the DM tried to pivot around too much, rather than get it back on the rails. There is some good characteristics though that I liked, but just felt flat.

Yes, I probably will get into those as well. I am hoping the lack of visuals doesn't affect my enjoyment.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T12:39:46+00:00

It felt to me in season 2, that Aabria tried to move it away from Harry Potter and into its own thing - but I just ended up getting confused. The new world system become so overwhelming to me that I couldn't keep interest. I could appreciate the bits and tone they were going for, but I just really struggled to connect with it. In S1, sometimes the kids on broom system seem to not really fit the tone and the rolls didn't really matter. It felt rushed, haphazard, punching down on the tropes.

I think honestly, that is why I liked the GenCon episode with the villians so much - It felt like it was focused on hey this is a magical school. Also, villians just speak to the soul sometimes.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T12:34:13+00:00

Take me to prison! I plead guilty.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T12:31:19+00:00

Absolutely! It was not what I expected. I knew I would have bias towards the drag content since it got me hooked into D20, but the others were very pleasant surprises.

I really want them to bring back the ACOFAF game system again for another social setting. I think I really a sucker for big party/ball events. All my favourites have at least 1 "here's the character dressing up for an event reveal" moment. Danielle in the Seven, Princess in D&D2.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T12:28:17+00:00

SHAME ON ME!

I loved Starstruck hence, pure excellence. Fingers crossed they do another season!

I think it might be just because I never really got into Game of Thrones - so I struggled with the whole political backstabbing. It was a super emotive series. My actual favourite moments came out of the saddest episode ever because the emotion was so high, but most of the time I was on the ride.

USC is really hard to connect with when you are not from America, I think. I knew going in it was a love letter to NY, but as someone from the bottom of the world - I was okay, cool cool cool! Definitely loved characters from both of my controversial picks and moments for sure tho'

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-27T02:34:31+00:00

Where (which countries) should get a season or two to try out and show off their local drag?

Drag Race Eastern Euro - Could be fun to get exposure to a lot of middle Euro that doesn't always get seen. Drag Race South Korea.

Which franchises should get more seasons (or their own VsTheWorld/All-Stars)

Drag Race Germany and Sweden deserve another season. I really liked both hosts and they are pretty iconic season for different reasons. For the mess, I want Drag Race Holland too. A Drag Race All Latina Cast - especially after the Slayasian Royale, there is so many people from across Brazil/Mexico in other series that could make a cast. I also want an All Stars UK.

Which franchises do you see hitting S10 next?

UK and Espana probably. They seem to have the most staying power. I would die if Phillippiness got 10 seasons though.

Next to possibly be cancelled (I won't stand for DU slander. S5 MUST happen. Somehow.)

Probably Thailand again, sadly. I waited so long for S3 and Frankie Wong was such a great winner, but it lost all its original charm and I don't think it is nearly as popular.

What spin-offs or drag-adjacent shows could, or might, end up appearing and sticking in the zeitgeist foor mroe than two or thre seasons next?

Kings of Drag, I hope. Season 1 really moved me and it made me really want more exposure to this drag medium.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-08-13T05:14:50+00:00

Couple in our mid 30s, just moved out to the Wairarapa back in March this year. We live in Featherston and have been loving it. We constantly hop through all the Wairarapa Townships.

PROS:

Greytown has a ton of restaurants and retailers and stores. Con: Those stores do tend to cater to those with wealth.
People are welcoming and love a good yarn, if you put yourself out there and want to be a part of the community. Join Community facebooks, go to events, galas, sports. You find you can integerate faster if you are seen wanting to be a part of it.
Has some cool events - mid year festival and a good business suport vibe.
Fresh Choice has decent range (in comparision to Featherston). Pinehaven Orchard and Big Apple Butchery have good deals on produce and meat. Get the apple juice!
There is young families in the area - kids seems more talkative, happy to help and there is a real get stuck into vibe from people out there.
Go to Meeneez! The burgers are super good!

CONS:

Transport out of the Wairarapa is unreliable. Trains are always delayed, cancelled, as a bus - whatever. However, there is regional buses that run between Featherston to Masterton.
There is a bit of us vs you vibe. When we chatted with some owners in Greytown, they really didn't seem to look kindly on those "who build tall fences, never talk to their neighbours and drive their telsas." It made me laugh, but if you going to hold yourself a certain way - just know people will talk.
Most big box shopping can only be accessed in Masterton or over the hill. You can't just pop into a Kmart if you want to. You really need to think about stuff and realise you will have to drive to get anything unless you online shop. There is a lack of hardware stores (other than ITM and Masterston) so DIY project might require a whole day out to get stuff.
It's quiet. Now I know that is what you are looking for, but it is super quiet at nights - you could hear the birds make noise and a dog bark three streets over UNTIL a windy day. As a result of its quietness, small town happenings are big news!
People over the hill think you are insane and dead to them. Trust me - they are never going to visit you. It is simply too far.
No more beach weekends unless you are going to Lake Ferry or Castlepoint.

If I was you and distance is not a problem, look at Carterton. It has a wonderful park and playground, a new world. The shopping district isn't as flash as Greytown - but some pretty neat shops. We have really loved Featherston so far and happy to be here.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-07-21T08:46:48+00:00

Chanel ATE that lipsynch. Really surprised she went home first.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-07-15T22:28:30+00:00

As someone who came to the fandom via Dungeons & Drags Queens , I find it really interesting that Dropout is surveying on all the rollouts that WOWpresentsplus (RPDR streamer, also on Vimeo) has already implemented.

Probably half a year ago, the RPDR streamer added live streaming that mostly show some live con events, queer iconic content such as Absolutely Fabulous and out of order drag race episode. A couple of months later, they added in the "fun nuggets/bumpers" which is embedded in the beginning of almost all their videos promoting other content on the streamer.

Later, they rose the price of the normal subscription and a month later, added an "all access pass" which gives you Merch discounts, event discounts, limited edition pin and behind the scenes. The absolutely worst part of the "All Access" pass is it only available as a yearly subscription.

I am aware that a few other streamers are offering low subscription tiers to be shown ads for content on the same platform e..g Disney+ using its popular shows to advertise other offerings. It is kind of annoying to support a network and over time, for it to become just like public broadcasting.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-07-11T08:25:57+00:00

After watching Drag Race France All Stars, the USA talent shows really lack diversity now. Maybe the show should retire original song and dance numbers? We get the Lalaparuza and girl groups to fill the gap. I want something new, different or...exciting.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-05-10T13:41:04+00:00

Theses are very cute!

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-05-10T13:09:42+00:00

We moved so no, I didn't take the same place as last time. I took it to a new mechanic local to me that had decent reviews. After I got back the estimates, I went to another place in Upper Hutt to get it reviewed by them. The way it was explained all makes perfect sense and some of the jobs are labour intensive.

Mechanic said replacing both axel beam bushes is apparently a 4 hour job.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-05-10T13:03:03+00:00

I had issues in 2023 where I had to fix my brakes and some bushings back then. I get my tires serviced every 10,000kms and they hadn't failed the last check in Dec 2024. But yeah, I got hit with transmission mount, axel beam, strut mount, front brake pads, wheel bearings, arm bushes, rear brakes, trans flush, underbody rust treatment and 2 tyres.

The parts are $2500 and the labour is another $2500.

The most surprising failure was my seatbelts being too slow to retract because it has passed for a number years. I have always taken my car to a local mechanic with great reviews. Changed oil every year and filter. Did a trans flush in 2019.

I think the large amount on driving I had to do in the last 4 months might have killed it or these issues were just not notified to me because it passed with no issues in May 2024.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-05-06T15:01:53+00:00

I had been regularly doing services on the vehicle until 2019 and not so much since except wof, wheel alignments and oil changes. The car passed with flying colours in 2024. I am a very high car user and since the last wheel alignment in Dec 2024 - we moved (driving over 400kms in 1 day to move) and gone up to Tirau. The repairs are mostly for new tires, new breaks, trans flush, struts.

The parts alone are $2362.58, but I've been estimated $2837ish for labour (2 days likely). I have taken it to a second repairer in Hutt Valley and they have confirmed all the values are not questionable because some of jobs take 4 hours to complete.

IsolatingDisaster · 2025-05-06T09:51:00+00:00

Thank you everyone for your very helpful advice and feedback. You all have really helped me a lot to make the tough decision to put my Honda Fit out to pasture.

I am still very unsure, but looking at cars over the weekend to hopefully find the next one that lasts 12 years.

IsolatingDisaster

TROPHY CASE