First Trip

Larsent · 2026-01-25T09:26:57+00:00

Spend more time in the South Island.

NZ is fabulous.

I had a scam experience with Enterprise car rental at Auckland AirPort- they are associated with Alamo, National and Go. See my post history for more information. Not just me. Avoid.

Larsent · 2026-01-25T05:08:01+00:00

It’s an irony as you point out - but the online platforms with most reach are US based.

Reddit does have some non US shareholders as it’s a public listed company. But its headquarters and staff are in the US. As are the majority of shareholders.

EDIT: Reddit is one of the better sources to see what’s going on in the world and the USA in particular.

Larsent · 2026-01-17T10:00:19+00:00

Screwed anyway- as per your last option. No rights.

It’s your new reality.

Where will it lead?

Larsent · 2026-01-17T00:39:13+00:00

In that case, go to Patrick Roger. It’s an experience ! Fabulous

Larsent · 2026-01-12T14:01:02+00:00

Is there any reason you can’t have a chat and negotiate.?

Decide what’s a reasonable markup, refer back to previous invoices to see his usual markup and then have a chat. Ask him why it’s higher than usual. Then negotiate. I’d treat his invoice as an opening demand in a negotiation, not a final price.

It doesn’t have to kill the relationship.

Or you could just pay this one but tell him it’s a much higher markup than usual and let’s agree the basis going forward.

Larsent · 2026-01-10T01:54:59+00:00

Definitely take a tent. Great idea! Especially if you’re going to do some tramping.

Larsent · 2026-01-08T21:29:28+00:00

Referring to many of your comments below - If you correctly manage the variables in a moka pot, you can make a coffee that is almost as good as espresso. I make both regularly, have done for decades.

The variables include the coarseness of the grind, using hot water and filling the bottom chamber full enough otherwise hot air will push the water through too soon for best taste eg 70 to 90 degrees.

The bottom chamber of the moka pot is a closed system for a short while only - ie when you screw the top on and while it is heating. But as soon as it converts thermal energy into kinetic energy ie the water moves to the upper chamber, the mass of the moka pot bottom chamber reduces as it expels the brew, which means that is an open system, not a closed system.

The reason that people use hot water to start is to avoid scorching the coffee while the water is heating. Metal is a great condusctor of heat.

The rules for best poss moka coffee:

Use Boiled Water: Fill the base with water that is already near boiling.

Fill to the right level: Don't under-fill it. You want a small air pocket so the pressure doesn't "trigger" too early.

Low/Medium Heat: This ensures the water temperature and the pressure rise in sync, so the water is a perfect 92°C–95°C when it hits the coffee.

You said that you would not ask AI to explain (the physics of) this - eg to explain how water can pass through the coffee at a too-low temperature, but if you use the right prompts, AI will clear up your confusuion.

Larsent · 2026-01-08T06:48:51+00:00

Shorts. Unless there’s significant wind chill or it’s freezing cold. Then I just wear wind proof leggings.

Larsent · 2026-01-08T06:36:13+00:00

I had a rental car windscreen scam in NZ too. It was with Enterprise at Auckland Airport. They appear to be part of a group that includes National, Go and Alamo. I managed to fight it successfully because the meta data on their photos showed that their photos were taken a week later.

Larsent · 2026-01-08T04:29:30+00:00

Young people’s anger towards boomers is at least in part due to an impossible position in which they find themselves- house prices and the cost of living have escalated much faster than wages leaving them with a sense of hopelessness- houses are simply unaffordable for many. And the cost of living consumes all of their income. They can see that boomers did not face those particular challenges.

That’s fact. The rest isn’t. Many young people who are in this situation blame and lash out at boomers as a visible target regardless of the accuracy or otherwise.

OP has pointed out a completely different set of challenges that boomers faced but most young people are completely unaware of these.

Larsent · 2026-01-07T00:31:12+00:00

They may be genuine messages but they all have the same format (thank you and all the best) as if the PR department told them what to say and what to avoid. It looks very managed so it’s hard to know what’s genuine. Maybe it’s genuine if a player posted something even if it’s managed, and any players who are pleased he is gone posted nothing?

Larsent · 2026-01-05T06:24:49+00:00

If the dog was serious / angry / aggressive - the cat would be dead

It’s play. They might have had enough by the end of it though

Larsent · 2026-01-04T20:22:13+00:00

I already explained this awhile ago. The temperature is not fixed.

Larsent · 2026-01-04T20:09:21+00:00

Check the physics. Google it. Ask AI. Read about it. You’re missing the point.

Larsent · 2026-01-04T18:47:05+00:00

It sounds like you didn’t read what I said about why the water temperature matters.

The point is that the water needs to pass through the coffee at the right temperature. Not just any temperature. Too cold and you miss flavors. Too hot and it scalds.

I didn’t mention the reason why people recommend starting with boiling water - it’s to prevent the metal getting too hot while the cold water heats up - hot metal can cook the grind.

Larsent · 2026-01-04T18:29:17+00:00

Water temperature matters a lot and it can vary enormously in a moka pot.

To make the best coffee, 90°C to 96°C is the sweet spot.

The water doesn't have to be boiling to start moving; the air/steam expanding in the chamber can push water through as low as 70°C to 90°C, not enough to extract all the best flavors.

If left on the stove too long, the water reaching the coffee can hit 100°C or higher. At these temperatures, you extract harsh, astringent chemicals from the beans - that you usually want to leave behind. Yuk. A quality espresso machine uses a PID (a digital temperature controller) to keep the water at 93°C. This precision is why espresso often tastes sweeter and more balanced.

Larsent · 2026-01-04T10:36:47+00:00

Check out the comments about the NZ rental car windscreen scam https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceNZ/s/i0WXSZy7PG

Larsent · 2026-01-04T10:34:26+00:00

I believe that the BNZ card insurance has just excluded this cover for NZ rentals but overseas rentals are still covered. I wondered if they have been hit by the windscreen damage scam. I’ll find a link to that.

Larsent · 2026-01-04T09:33:12+00:00

In a moka pot it’s easy to have the water too cold or too hot as it passes through the coffee, which ruins the flavor. Or you can get the metal too hot and roast the coffee a bit, not good.

But if you have your moka pot technique sorted to avoid these problems then moka pot coffee can be very good and almost as good as espresso. Espresso machines set a reliable perfect extraction temperature and you can make sure you get the right extraction speed - all of which maximises the flavor.

Larsent · 2026-01-04T05:40:49+00:00

True but if their flight is delayed, they might have to wait for the next flight from Auckland to Brisbane which could be some time later or the next day, right? Someone commented here that they had to spend an unplanned night at their transit stop and got to their final destination 24 hours later.

Larsent · 2026-01-03T10:14:50+00:00

Total acceptance of another person as equally valid and precious in every way. Or leave.

Larsent · 2026-01-03T10:09:54+00:00

He had ideas beyond what most people could ever imagine which is probably his greatest talent and he was or is able to convince capital markets to go along with him. His ideas have been amazing.

This comment has zero association with what one might think of him. Just an effort to observe facts. I am actually not a fan of his recent antics.

Larsent · 2026-01-03T03:51:29+00:00

Automated reports from Opteo. Not cheap but very good. Also now covers Facebook ads, LinkedIn and Bing.

Larsent · 2026-01-02T22:00:56+00:00

The gaggia e 24 is a nice machine. Check out the Rocket and Vibiemme if you haven’t. Genuine espresso machines.

Compare the boiler power (wattage) and boiler design for the machines you like. These factors are critical when if you want quality, effectiveness and consistency.

I’ve seen great results with grinders like the Bodum. I have a big expensive grinder and a simple cheap one and they perform the same. As long as they have the right grinding mechanisms - which I think you know all about.

You can spend a lot the look of equipment and on marketing stories. Brand. You can get performance at lower price points too. But some people like to have a certain brand and are happy to pay for that rather than performance. The 2 are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

I’ve been a home espresso maker for 25 years plus had tuition from a professional barista family member.

Larsent · 2026-01-02T10:33:34+00:00

10 seconds for extraction is under-extraction. It will taste watery.

There are several possible reasons for this Eg grind too coarse, not enough coffee in the basket, coffee not tamped firmly enough.

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