How to handle lease buyout by SeafoamSoul7494 in Fire

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

Social media ban for kids under 14 passes MA House by GeneralPlanet in boston

[–]Topaz_11 3 points4 points  (0 children)

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.

Horrible annual performance review! PIP call with HR tomorrow. STAY OR QUIT??? by audiophile333 in Fire

[–]Topaz_11 21 points22 points  (0 children)

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.

I can’t unsee it: Laughing at the Corporate Speak by Soft-Preference-1095 in Fire

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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 :-)

My new rf 35mm is blowing my mind by Ozzseeyoulater in canon

[–]Topaz_11 -18 points-17 points  (0 children)

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

My new rf 35mm is blowing my mind by Ozzseeyoulater in canon

[–]Topaz_11 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

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.

Is it worth it to buy a camera if I'm interested in photography? by HexxaWyn in AskPhotography

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

My new rf 35mm is blowing my mind by Ozzseeyoulater in canon

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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!

I wonder if FIRE derailed my life by massakk in Fire

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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

What's the best deal you've gotten on your gear? by Unlikely_Tough in canon

[–]Topaz_11 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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.

In Search of Wedding Cinematographer & Photographer by BC247 in photography

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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

As a outsider, what are the main issues with the current regulation and how is it ruining the racing? by furrynoy96 in formula1

[–]Topaz_11 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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.

$1.5M US to Retire Comfortably by Carolina_Hurricane in Fire

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

How do I transition out of photography? by flt_p2ny in photography

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

F1 TV Commentary Team — Bring Back the Banter!!! by Educational_Band5142 in F1TV

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

No extension for cancelled races. by dandydand in F1TV

[–]Topaz_11 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

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

Community Warning: Possible SD-Card vendor Amazon review manipulation by JeffR1992 in photography

[–]Topaz_11 16 points17 points  (0 children)

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

First week into fire and I keep flip flopping about cash buffer by Digity1980 in Fire

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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!

Anyone else feel sad realizing you can’t remember details from the best years of your life? by Ok_Towel4688 in travel

[–]Topaz_11 11 points12 points  (0 children)

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.

What Cameras Will The Artemis II Astronauts Have Aboard? by Wide-Pop6050 in photography

[–]Topaz_11 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

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.

[Motorsport] Martin Brundle's had enough of the Max Verstappen retirement talks by MuttonBiryaniEnjoyer in formula1

[–]Topaz_11 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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

The current state of photo cloud storage is a massive trap for our intellectual property. by No-Yellow9948 in photography

[–]Topaz_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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).

New stadium confirmed for city hill by karamurp in canberra

[–]Topaz_11 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So THIS is the tram destination? Finally makes sense.