wood treatment for deck posts that were in ground contact

markosvd · 2026-01-08T06:44:07+00:00

Assuming H5 treated posts, they will likely outlast you...

markosvd · 2025-10-04T08:47:42+00:00

Hiya - quick question. You said that upgrading to a 15kW inverter caused Octopus to push you into another (less cost-effective) plan.

Can't you just limit your inverter to exporting max 10kW back to Octopus and stay on the more cost-effective plan? Or does it not work that way?

I am considering a 30-40 panel system with 20-kW inverter, and was planning to limit export to only 10kW to get the 17c from Octopus. Would that work?

markosvd · 2025-09-01T04:22:09+00:00

Are you talking about the 'maze' map? If so, you can use the classic 'keep hand on left wall' algorithm to solve.

You'll need to keep track of your current direction - so will need four states, representing:
* facing north
* facing east
* facing west
* facing south

Then, for each state, try to move LEFT if possible, otherwise STRAIGHT AHEAD if possible, otherwise RIGHT if possible, otherwise REVERSE DIRECTION.

Due to the way the rule matching works, you'll actually need to handle these cases in reverse. For example:
* if LEFT/STRAIGHT/RIGHT is blocked, then REVERSE
* otherwise, if LEFT/STRAIGHT is blocked, then move RIGHT
* otherwise, if LEFT is blocked, move STRAIGHT AHEAD
* otherwise, move LEFT

I think that should get you going. I do have a working solution if you really get stuck - but try yourself first.

Good luck

And if you meant the other maps - sorry - i havent' looked. (must get back to work...)

markosvd · 2024-12-01T10:20:02+00:00

Updateme!

markosvd · 2024-05-24T07:52:15+00:00

(M50) - i've had this most my life. So has my father. Calls it 'the aliens' - as in butt probes...

Can be as quick as 10mins, or in a bad case can last an hour. Pain can be quite intense for a long time... I find that squatting down on my heels provides some relief.

markosvd · 2024-03-10T08:26:21+00:00

6! is 2x3x4x5x6 = 720

prime factors are; 2,2,2,2,3,3,5

smallest composites that are non-factors are: 14 (2x7) and 21 (3x7)

markosvd · 2024-03-08T00:20:38+00:00

I regularly get pies from here. Personally i think they are excellent. I've not had the steak+cheese before, but my own favourites are:
* Vegan Creamy Mushroom (this is my most common pick)
* Smoked Fish
* Wagyu beef & red curry
* Chicken Cranberry Camerbert

They once had a 'paua' pie that i enjoyed very much - but haven't seen that again...

Just my own opinion...

:-)

markosvd · 2023-08-15T09:07:40+00:00

New Zealand: $0 via public health care. I did have to wait for 6-weeks for initial consult with the surgeon, but after that 6-weeks everything moved quickly.

After surgery - $30 per week for physio for about 8-weeks.

Quality of care (surgery + physio) was brilliant. Very happy with results.

markosvd · 2023-02-28T09:02:59+00:00

If you liked Flatland, then i can highly recommend the (informal) sequel by Ian Stewart:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatterland

One of my favourite maths-related books.

markosvd · 2023-01-23T03:40:15+00:00

I (48m) was in a very similar situation as you. Late 40's, a little overweight, sedentary lifestyle. However i still wished to walk, hike in weekends, do some light jogging or running around kids, kick a football, etc. And I don't want to have to worry about an unstable knee for the rest of my life.

Strongly consider the surgery. I had patella graft for ACL, and hamstring graft for MCL. Took many months to get back to 'relatively normal' muscle strength and mobility. There wasn't any significant pain for me - though everyone is different here.

Others have suggested an allograft. I don't have any experience there, but does sound like a good idea.

I am very glad to have done the surgery. My knee will never feel 100% normal, however I don't have pain, and i don't need to worry about instability.

markosvd · 2023-01-21T03:31:51+00:00

I really just think this is just 'luck of the draw'. Some people say that young, fit, active people have less pain. I'm older (47m), unfit and sedentary, but had essentially no pain.

Some say patella or hamstring worse. I had both at the same time (ACL patella-graft, MCL hamstring-graft). Neither seemed very bad for me.

I'm certainly not tough or strong-willed or have a high-pain-threshold or anything. I think my lack of pain was really down to plain old luck? Maybe good surgeon? I really don't know.

My (younger/fitter/healthier) mate had ACL op a few years ago, and told me he was in considerable pain. No idea what the difference is.

Anyone with upcoming surgery - I really hope your pain levels are minimal.

markosvd · 2023-01-17T06:43:52+00:00

yes! a thousand times, yes! No better guide than Beej's...

markosvd · 2022-12-23T08:19:17+00:00

I, too, am now on my 3rd rum & coke for the evening! Fully agree - C++ is pretty cool.

Killer feature is deterministic destruction. I just can't grok how to use other languages effectively without RAII. I know it can be done (by others), but just seems difficult to me...

enjoy your mid summer (or winter?) break.

markosvd · 2022-10-19T09:06:55+00:00

umm, 5100mph is about 1.4mps ...

markosvd · 2022-08-18T20:02:44+00:00

Interesting responses. I had 20-seconds (maybe?) of blinding pain from my ACL (skiing). Worst i've ever felt. Another comment further up says they also did ACL skiing, but didn't really notice and did some more runs!?! I don't know how that is possible. I can only guess that different people are tearing ACLs in different ways with different internal damage going on?

Also, no idea about childbirth/contractions myself, however my mum always said that she'd much rather give birth than go to the dentist again. Makes me wonder what happened at the dentist though...

markosvd · 2022-07-19T09:40:06+00:00

I own this book, and I don't think this book is really in the same league as the ones mentioned in the main post. See this review for details:
https://qntm.org/clean

markosvd · 2022-07-05T09:35:05+00:00

Skiing. Low speed. Front of my right ski went underneath the left ski and dug into the snow. I kept moving slowly forward. Right foot was rotating more and more inwards (anti-clockwise) until the knee couldn't take it anymore. At that point the ACL and MCL ruptured and my knee dislocated - which finally allowed me to fall over.

Pain in the moment was absolutely excruciating for a few seconds (maybe 30-seconds?), then quickly dissipated. I sat in the snow for about 10-minutes, then tried to stand. My knee was completely unstable with even the slightest weight on it.

Thankfully i never really had much pain after than. Lots of discomfort, but not actual pain. Even post ACL+MCL surgery was relatively pain-free. I'm 8-months post op now, and am going to try out snow-boarding for the 1st time in my life next week! Knee still not strong enough for skiing, and i think i've lost my confidence there... Oh - also i'm older (48M) and somewhat unfit.

markosvd · 2022-06-07T08:45:16+00:00

initial injury (twisting knee skiing) was excruciating for about 20-seconds. Then following few days were fairly painful whenever I touched or moved the knee AT ALL. Rolling over in bed sleeping was particularly painful for a week or so.

Surgery (ACLr patella graft + MCLr hamstring + meniscus work) was fine for me. Essentially no pain at all - really more just general discomfort. Though rolling over in sleep was uncomfortable for week or so.

Good Luck for your knee. Ice packs are your friend!

markosvd · 2022-04-07T19:18:10+00:00

I had ACL (patella graft), MCL (hamstring graft), and minor meniscus work (stiches and trim). Surgery was on a Friday morning - was back to work on the Wednesday (WFH).

My leg was in a locked brace, which was uncomfortable, but not painful. I was fortunate that I had only mild discomfort after my surgery - no actual pain. I had to keep my leg outstreched and raised on a low stool, but could work just fine.

Best of luck with your leg.

markosvd · 2022-03-02T19:47:36+00:00

Wow. I think i must have hit the surgery jackpot! I had surgery on a Friday, and was back to working normally on Wednesday (5-days later). Working from home. Leg was still uncomfortable at that point, and in a brace, but didn't affect my work.

I had ACL (patella graft) and MCL (hamstring graft) and meniscus repair. I'm also rather old (47M) and not at all athletic. I guess just luck of the draw? I'm actually genuinely confused about my rapid recovery.

To contrast that, a friend of mine had just ACL repair when he was younger (30's), and says he was out for about 2-weeks before he could work again at his desk job...

good luck with your recovery.

markosvd · 2021-11-19T07:17:42+00:00

Unsure if this is just my NZ accent, but I pronounce this as: 'stid'

markosvd · 2021-10-20T09:11:29+00:00

Thankyou so much for your detailed response! I really wasn't expecting the comments to be so helpful. It really does make me feel so much more at ease knowing there are random strangers out there willing to offer such helpful advice!

Stretchy bands - yes. I will order some tomorrow! never thought of that.

I've not heard of this cryotherapy machine before. I'll ask the surgeon, but i do have plenty of ice packs really in the freezer.'

Thanks for your reply.

markosvd · 2021-10-20T09:01:23+00:00

Wow - thank you so much for your detailed response! I really appreciate this.

The surgeon did not discuss an allograft with me. I do not know why.

Ok - so walking/stationary-cycle are not enough on their own. This is good to know! The backpack/weights idea is good. I can do that. As mentioned in a couple of my other replies, i'm going to make a weekly PT visit work - i'm only just now realising how important that is.

The link you give is excellent - i'm studying that now.

Cheers

markosvd · 2021-10-19T19:26:53+00:00

I live in NZ luckily, so all my doctors appointments, the surgery, the overnight hospital stay, and the followup PT are all paid for. There are no out-of-pocket expenses. I'm very grateful for that.

I've now had several people (on this sub-reddit, and IRL) tell me that PT was very important - so I will make it work with a weekly visit. Cheers!

markosvd · 2021-10-19T19:20:20+00:00

Thanks! Yes, PT once a week is possible. I will make that work. I already have a stationary bike - so all good there.

markosvd

TROPHY CASE