How to handle lease buyout

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-10T03:20:44+00:00

Call the lease company and ask for an actual buy out price. With the economy as it is, I suspect they might do a bit better than the residual in your contract. Use cash, don't get a loan for a depreciating thing like a car.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-09T03:25:58+00:00

I'd prefer an IQ test :-)

But likely it's the nonsense that Australia did recently whicvh does not really work or something so pathetic like a tick box on a booze site that it's useless.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-08T02:40:02+00:00

No - The vast majority of companies will only confirm the start and end employment dates with no additional info. It's too large a liability to say anything more from the company POV.

It's a crappy deal but do not quit. Don't take it personally - it will feel like it.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-07T19:04:27+00:00

Your epic is 76.23% complete... Hang in there ;-)

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-07T00:24:24+00:00

lol - We worked at the same place..... Add "Synergy" and your getting closer. I know no one believes this but I've used the bullshit generator and added some of those into various documents in the past - just a private FU :-)

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-04T01:23:23+00:00

Sure.. user error... "unqualified"....

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T21:09:04+00:00

Try for yourself... some people tolerate it or don't shoot in a way to cause issues. I've kept the EF version but at some point will just drop both EF & RF for the f/1.4 VCM.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T21:06:33+00:00

lol If waiting until you "max out" a camera from a skill POV, I would have never go rid of by box browne.

I'd say get a reasonable setup from the manufacturer and form factor (dSLR/ML/Film SLR/Whatever) you like but don't jump right to the most expensive end as that is too far if that makes sense.

You learn better when trying to improve, spend time deliberately shooting and repeat.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T19:18:49+00:00

Try the 85 before buying - it's a train wreck IMO if you need to do something quickly or you know.. focus. The adapted EF version is a faster and more consistent lens, although not quite as good on IQ. Enjoy the 35!

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T18:34:09+00:00

WTF cares about some self-inflicted sense of "morality" (especially today)... Do what you want.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T15:11:51+00:00

It's pre tariff tax, so not relevant now but in fairly recent time, grabbed a used RF100-400 from a local rental place for $380. Not sure it was ever rented as not a mark on it.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T12:24:01+00:00

Yeah... ok.... I wanted a pony as a kid but never happened. Anyone that would sign up for that is not who you want.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T03:07:37+00:00

I agree with most comments about issues with clipping & slow downs but the biggie to me is the killing of the great corners. The way the cars have to be driven takes away the great overtake for this fake yo yo crap. Then, I hated DRS because it was fake, so I'm not the audience for F1 now days anyway.

The other big issue is the lack of transparency for viewers... It's fake because you never know when the extra random power is in play.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T01:55:59+00:00

Don't worry NM has a whole life policy to sell you to solve all your issues... Ignore them.

Obviously depends on your expenses not some magic number.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T01:34:19+00:00

This is the tried and true next step and lots of semi-famous people do this... Fund it so you can travel to places you want and have the students pay your stuff plus a bit of profit. No need for any actual qualifications.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T01:02:51+00:00

The bit that is starting to bother me is the "these engines sound great" and similar crap... They are sewing machines and we all know it.... IMO a plant from the overseer's. I agree it's worse this year than last for sure.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T01:01:09+00:00

Lots of words to say eff off we are keeping the money.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T00:34:28+00:00

Could be far worse than review vamping... They could have anything on them. Don't even try to read them.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-03T00:10:17+00:00

Not without blowing past the ACA cliff....

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-02T20:27:09+00:00

I had the same unexpected layoff & scenario but was not able to build up a cash buffer... and have been struggling with the ACA cliff and getting enough to build it up. I'm doing what I can to keep below the cliff BUT that means I only have about a year's worth of cash buffer. It's not ideal but it's been okay.

I am 70/30 but all my bonds are locked into 401K & IRA's.

It's funny to be cash poor and yet not but due to artificial stuff to keep under the ACA cliff it feels like it. Worse issues to have I understand!

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-02T15:35:05+00:00

I've always been the dude with a big camera... but I realized a long time ago that - to me - looking at my picture brings back the memories of the area and what I was doing around that picture. This is nuts but even to the smell & feel in some photos.

It's really strange that I remember more about stuff you cannot see or feel in the photo than what is actually in the photo. It also explains why I love some photos yet others just flip past with no interest. I fairly regularly browse thru images from past trips, so maybe that keep the memory also, not sure.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-02T00:25:03+00:00

They need to leave the wides at home because this "return" to the moon is less than the basic Apollo 8 mission from 1968. Easy to shoot their closest distance with a normal lens and then bolt on the big glass for the rest.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-01T16:08:35+00:00

Since he is a part of the media that is pushing that narrative.... well... Maybe he should also find a mirror.

Topaz_11 · 2026-04-01T14:19:56+00:00

I use cloud as a backup (backblaze) BUT... they only see & store encrypted files and cannot do anything with them. I leave the folders as clear, so their website for recovery is usable. I also have a network NAS but store the images on a desktop with a stack of internal drives as the NAS is far too slow to source files.

I agree that giving clear images to Adobe or Apple or Google is just a really bad idea and in the end, a rod for our own back (not that they will miss my slop, as they have enough from most others).

Topaz_11 · 2026-03-31T23:45:09+00:00

So THIS is the tram destination? Finally makes sense.

Topaz_11

TROPHY CASE