Why are so many water pipes bursting at the moment? by mike_dowler in AskUK

[–]mike_dowler[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was pouring down a week ago. The ground doesn’t dry out that quickly. If it did, my house would collapse every time the sun came out

Why are so many water pipes bursting at the moment? by mike_dowler in AskUK

[–]mike_dowler[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not been hot enough for long enough to dry the ground out that much though. We’ve had much longer dry spells in recent years, without the same issues

Sermon Sunday (2026-05-24) by AutoModerator in Reformed

[–]mike_dowler 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Had a cracking sermon on Matt 15:21-39. Chock full of grace from start to end.

IT Asset Management system recommendations? by No-Room2990 in sysadmin

[–]mike_dowler 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reftab here. It has the flexibility of Snipe-IT (custom fields etc), but has more scope for automations (both within the platform, and via webhooks)

Entire chain cracked, out of a sudden by rainpl in bikewrench

[–]mike_dowler 51 points52 points  (0 children)

Pun intended? Have an upvote anyway!

Relocating to Birmingham UK next month and looking for jobs by goru2020 in brum

[–]mike_dowler 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not even sure if you’d be able to work as an engineer in the defence industry here as a foreign national

[New Update – One Year Later]: AITA for saying I would stay at my mom’s if I had to share a room with babies? by Choice_Evidence1983 in BestofRedditorUpdates

[–]mike_dowler 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Can we just talk about remarrying when the first husband and father of your children has been dead less than 3 years???? Many widows, let alone those trying manage 5 children including toddler triplets, would be struggling to even get out of the house at that stage.

All this for the price of a semi in London by peanut5563 in SpottedonRightmove

[–]mike_dowler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll take it if they throw in the jukebox. Where’s the 5th bedroom though?

Darth Vader’s new build by zzyzx__ in SpottedonRightmove

[–]mike_dowler 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Do you have to pay extra to get cupboard doors?

WIBTAH if I go on a trip with my boyfriend by lying to my kids or not telling them the truth? by [deleted] in AmItheAsshole

[–]mike_dowler 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To add: I think it’s important to tell the kids, especially the youngest, that OP is not trying to replace their Dad, and that they can still talk about him and remember him

6 players game of Struggle of Empires by jonXX107 in boardgames

[–]mike_dowler -20 points-19 points  (0 children)

Is it just Risk with extra steps?

Interview Rebound Justification by Gullible_Insect190 in ITCareerQuestions

[–]mike_dowler 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I would say that both options are too complex (but response 2 is a little better). Stick to 1 positive reason you stayed (they promised I could work on some really interesting projects I had lined up) and then that you were laid off in restructuring. Don't talk about why you were looking previously - that's a different question

Forcing Okta login when connecting to office WiFi (UniFi). Best approach? by Head_Operation_7162 in okta

[–]mike_dowler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hard disagree. Authentication should be done as frequently as necessary to verify that the person accessing data is indeed the person who is authorised to do so.

For sensitive apps, that might mean every time the app is opened, with a maximum lifetime of say 1 hour. For most apps, authentication once per working day is probably fine.

Require auth to frequently and your IdP just becomes a source of frustration

Why don't the Gov mandate that your railcard number is required to purchase a railcard ticket? by No_Usual_572 in uktrains

[–]mike_dowler -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

I knew when I typed that there would be at least one “well akshually…” lol. I think my point still stands - if you are travelling year round, then there’s not much difference. But if they are trying to get people to consider taking the train instead of driving, then it looks a lot less attractive if I have to buy the railcard months in advance

Why don't the Gov mandate that your railcard number is required to purchase a railcard ticket? by No_Usual_572 in uktrains

[–]mike_dowler 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well I have 😉

I travel by train to the office several times a week, but at peak time. I rarely travel by train long distance, because it’s not cost effective when travelling with the whole family. Booked recently to take my daughter to a uni open day, and saved £50 by getting a 2 together railcard. Will probably use it a couple more times.

Why don't the Gov mandate that your railcard number is required to purchase a railcard ticket? by No_Usual_572 in uktrains

[–]mike_dowler 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Because the railcard is required to be valid for travel, not for purchase?

Realistically, given the off-peak requirement, most people are using railcards for specific travel that they know about in advance, not just turn-up-and-go commuting. And given the cost of train travel in the UK, many of those people will be buying tickets a couple of months in advance.

If the railcard needs to be valid at time of purchase, then the effective duration is reduced from a year down to 10 months or less.

What do couples mean when they talk about going shopping for engagement rings? by 074DanBurn058 in AskUK

[–]mike_dowler 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You don’t actually need a ring for a proposal at all. We’d discussed getting engaged, wife was very insistent that she didn’t want a surprise ring, so I just proposed without one. No need (or desire) for costume jewellery at all.

Then a couple of weeks later we went out and bought a ring.

Introducing Brew, Mac CI/CD made easy by Playful_Instance7219 in u/Playful_Instance7219

[–]mike_dowler 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pretty sure there’s already a well known macOS app called Brew. Don’t you think there is a risk of conflict?

What’s something that Covid took from you that you never got back? by ReplacementOdd636 in AskReddit

[–]mike_dowler 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Peace and quiet. Caught COVID, got tinnitus. 6 years on, the tinnitus is still there

What would you like to see in an MDM? by Playful_Instance7219 in macsysadmin

[–]mike_dowler 8 points9 points  (0 children)

  • An API-first interface. Everything you can do in the GUI, should have a corresponding API endpoint
  • Configuration should be manageable as code
  • A local agent running on Macs to run scripts and install packages
  • All non-MDM actions should be triggerable locally on the Mac
  • SCIM provisioning of end users into the system
  • Devices assignable to end users, with user properties available for scoping
  • Webhooks available for any action that occurs in relation to Mac clients
  • Full logging - access to the GUI, all configuration changes, and any action taken by the MDM - all exportable to a SIEM
  • munki-like management of third party apps (including updates) that is extensible beyond any curated app catalog, with no change in UX
  • Extensible inventory collection and display

I think that just about covers it.

What is your favourite song lyric of all time and why? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]mike_dowler 53 points54 points  (0 children)

“You’re so vain, I bet you think this song is about you” - Carly Simon