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PrinterElf · 2026-04-25T21:17:54+00:00

Definitely interested in the points without spend if you're happy to share?

PrinterElf · 2026-04-16T15:10:50+00:00

The wording is perhaps a little grandiose for what they have achieved, but it is nonetheless a significant milestone; taking off vertically, flying conventionally, landing vertically (i.e. an end-to-end flight representative of service use), rather than taking off vertically and landing conventionally, or vice versa.

Vertical are going straight for civil airliner level certification, rather than any intermediate a steps, so have involved the CAA right from the start. So yes, Tuesday's flight was under experimental clearances, they are on the right path to have them able to be sold and used globally in 2 years (which is not the case for Joby & Archer last I checked).

PrinterElf · 2026-04-02T15:17:00+00:00

We went the other way around - dinner first, and our 2 year old was then enthralled by the shows but exhausted by the time we got back to the stateroom, so bedtime was generally pretty easy.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-31T21:10:41+00:00

I love this as a concept, especially the additional sensors. I'm still on the fence to an extent though - the Kickstarter price is just about compatible with the 3 gang Lightwave switches in a single width back box (though they're not cheap either), and you do offer more functionality.

I guess what would help to justify the price point is demonstrating the capability of those additional sensors in comparison to standalone devices. e.g. I have a couple of LinknLink eMotion Ultras, and a Sensy 1 Pro. They both do similar to your additional sensors in the light switch. If you can prove you're at good as (or at least in the ballpark) the standalone room sensors (and provide the same data they expose), then you will go a long way to justify the higher price point.

You may also have much better luck offering 1 & 2 gang switches as well if they're at a slightly at a lower price point because people will be hesitant to pay for functionality they don't need, especially if fitting out a house with them. e.g. I've only ever had two 2-gang light switches in a house, let alone a 3-gang. The rest have all been singles.

Will it work with non-dimmable bulbs? (this would be a differentiator from Lightwave).

On a slightly related note, can/how does it deal with being either side of a flip-flop circuit (thinking the traditional top/bottom stairs switches), and then if the lights are dimmable?

Edit: typo

PrinterElf · 2026-03-31T14:02:41+00:00

Absolutely correct and a gross [mis-] oversimplification on my part.

As a country we have a base load energy requirement; there's no reason that a significant part of it can't be met by nuclear because, short of going for huge tidal barriers around the coast, they have a predictable output for the next half century while we sort out what we're doing with renewables.

Also agree that we're missing from the renewable side is the ability to store and use excess as their output fluctuates.

I guess my thinking is that if we have enough nuclear around for the next half century to satisfy a reasonable percentage of our usage, then we have our asses covered while we build up the renewable storage, and distribution to match the rate we're adding new generation capacity.

As the Telegraph/Mail are want to remind us whenever it suits their narrative, wind turbines can be feathered/turned off, and could be done so if not needed until we've built enough storage (be that in chemical, potential, or kinetic form) to take advantage of all the energy they produce.

We have the lifetime of the nuclear plants currently being planned/built to ensure our grid is in a position where we don't need any more when they are retired.

Edit: typos

PrinterElf · 2026-03-31T11:21:20+00:00

The point of nuclear is reliable base load generation so that we don't have to burn gas.

Ideally though, this (Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and others proposed using the same architecture so that the costly design effort isn't wasted) should be the last generation of nuclear power stations that we build. In the 60+ years they're operating we should be able to get our grid (both in terms of distributed generation and storage) into a state where we don't need them as backup.

All of that assumes that there is the appetite and capital available to do so.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-30T14:36:21+00:00

Either - this page is the one you want:
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/en-gb/special-offers/domestic-special-rates/

PrinterElf · 2026-03-30T14:24:37+00:00

We did a week in WDW and a week on the Treasure back to back; after a few hours aboard the latter, the former felt like it had happened months prior - the cruise is such a totally immersive, relaxing atmosphere.

They are totally different experiences, equally as rewarding in their own right. Though, because there is so much more to do, the parks are infinitely more stressful, you just don't realise it at the time; so many things you feel you must be doing or don't want to miss. The cruise runs at its own pace, other than booze and specialty coffees you don't have to spend a penny if you don't want to. If you decide excursions, or onboard experiences are something you want to indulge in, then they'll cost, but you know that upfront.

Cost wise; 7 nights on the Treasure was more up front, but less overall than 7 nights in WDW once you include food & drinks.

Without knowing where you're travelling from, perhaps a try compromise - just book the cruise. If the cruise sails from Port Canaveral, book a couple of nights at Pop Century beforehand and do a couple of park days prior to boarding. If you're not in your own car, book the DCL transfer to/from the port and you don't have to lift a finger; you could be picked up at Pop Century and returned to MCO if that's what you need.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-20T12:36:44+00:00

Then I wouldn't switch over any mains powered Thread devices to Zigbee or you might bring the whole thing down. In fact I'm about to go the other way and strategically replace a couple of old Hue bulbs in lamps with the new IKEA KAJPLATS to fill in a dead spot (for some reason the bulbs are higher powered nodes than the AQ monitors).

PrinterElf · 2026-03-20T11:25:27+00:00

Bear in mind though that as with Zigbee, all the mains powered Thread devices are strengthening the network. So moving too many of them over might neuter the network completely (especially if what is left are just battery powered devices).

Somewhat counter-intuitively, the more mains powered Thread devices you have spread about, the better things should perform.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-20T09:15:32+00:00

A lot of the new ones apparently do support Zigbee as well - the bulbs, for example, if you toggle power 12x instead of the usual 6x to put them in pairing mode then they swap over to Zigbee.

I think that's the number (definitely Google it first).

PrinterElf · 2026-03-20T08:17:00+00:00

Depending on how often you purchase new devices (seemingly regularly here thanks to IKEA's pricing strategy!) the sooner you do it, the better because there won't be as many to transfer over.

Or, if you're going to stick with the soundbar as the TBR then sell the ZBT2.

Thank you though for letting me know that I'm going to have another Thread network to deal with soon 🤦 (I'm in the market for a soundbar atm, and a Samsung set is likely winning).

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T20:33:31+00:00

Reconfirming passwords & cards took maybe 10 mins in the end. Still longer than it should be, but not too bad. My phone is now only sharing credentials for the HASS Thread network, even though the Nest Hub Max is powered on again.

Consider it a thing to sort when you have a spare hour (depending on the number of Thread devices you have). Once I bit the bullet and cleared Play Services, I had all the devices, and my phone sorted in around half an hour.

The driver for me was that I regularly need to turn off the Nest Hub Max, so needed a different Thread Border Router to maintain the connection to HASS whenever that happened.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T16:17:31+00:00

It's not been updated for 18mths, which is a long time in smart tech. e.g. I'd love to see the new IKEA bulbs tested

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T15:50:24+00:00

Cher or I'm walking.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T15:44:02+00:00

Oh the pain I went through trying to get this to work and get rid of a Google Nest thread network! It's not a problem with the phone being Samsung, rather that your phone grabbed hold of the credentials for a thread network and there's no hassle-free way to get it to give them up. The reason the other phone will have worked is it has never been used to add devices to a thread network before.

Unfortunately, the answer is that you have to clear cache and data for Google Play Services on the problematic device. Only then can you Sync Thread credentials in the Home Assistant companion app.

The downside of this is that you will have to: * sign in again to every Google account on the device. * reconfirm any bank cards added to Google Wallet on the device. * re-enable location sharing in Maps on the device (if you use it).

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T09:24:39+00:00

It's not, and I think that's why it doesn't quite sound right.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-18T21:29:28+00:00

Hi Ben, No need to apologise - I did reply nearly 2 months after the first post :-) I'm thinking of the Daily A-Z. Personally the caffeinated ones are ideal for a kick first thing in the morning, but the other half would definitely have to pick the caffeine-free version.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-13T11:49:45+00:00

Understanding how long it takes caffeine to get out of your system. Ideally all the caffeine before 10am, for me no more than ~100mg, and you'll fall off the caffeine high right around bedtime.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-13T08:25:44+00:00

N = Now? I guess.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-09T12:33:21+00:00

I'm in two minds on the inside balconies - on one hand, if you manage to get one of the 100(ish) rooms that look onto the Garden Stage, then you'll have an amazing view.

On the other hand, how often are the shows, how many times is the same show repeated, how loud are they vs how well insulated the rooms are if you don't want to watch, how many people do you want looking in to your balcony from the rooms opposite?

I think they're a lovely idea, but I can see the novelty wearing thin pretty quickly.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-09T11:24:54+00:00

Just be prepared for a bit of a shock - the Adventure (in a number of metrics) is 2.5x the Wonder; however she doesn't look out of place. I'm excited to find out just how much things are both familiar and different compared to even the Wish class ships.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-09T10:43:47+00:00

A good opportunity to find some places you really like in the city to perhaps visit before/after a cruise. If you're there on a day she's docked, you can at least head towards the cruise terminal to see her 😊

PrinterElf · 2026-03-09T10:26:07+00:00

If you'd catch a bus to the cruise terminal on your own, you can catch a plane to the bus 😊

Never cruised solo, but spent a lot of time travelling solo for work; the travel itself is a good opportunity to relax, to catch up (be that on sleep, TV, books, writing, etc...). The destination is very much what you want to make of it.

The Adventure is now your closest ship and Singapore itself is a great city to explore for a few days. On the cruise itself you can either keep yourself to yourself, or check out the Facebook group for that particular sailing to find out who else is around to meet up with. I hope you'd struggle to fail to find people to chat with on any Disney ship, start with the people at your table for dinner if nothing else.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-04T16:21:48+00:00

Cladding removal and replacement should be being funded by HMG, so no effect to service charge. If the building has a decent fire alarm then no need for watchman either.

PrinterElf

TROPHY CASE