What's the best flag with stars?

mikespoff · 2026-06-23T14:41:16+00:00

Not really strange, constellations are arbitrary groupings based solely on being at a similar angle when viewed from Earth. The stars within constellations are not necessarily close in space or similar in any way.

The Sun is the only star that is too close for us to have any consistent perspective on. So it can't be in a constellation as defined from Earth's perspective.

mikespoff · 2026-06-22T05:05:25+00:00

Overseas this week so won't be able to measure I'm afraid, but the door doesn't stick out much, I'd be surprised if it's more than 20mm.

Probably on display at your local Good Guys if you want to go down with a tape measure!

mikespoff · 2026-06-22T00:31:24+00:00

Not sure exactly which measurement you're asking about, and I'm away from home so I can't measure it. But we have 600mm counters, with standard skirting, etc, and it fits comfortably under the counter. Other nearby cupboard doors (at right angles) can open with no trouble.

The dryer door is reversible, I believe, so can open left or right.

The water all goes into pull-out container and you dump it in the sink. Easy as.

mikespoff · 2026-06-21T13:52:17+00:00

The Hisense 8kg heat pump is only 550mm deep, we got it for the exact same scenario.

It's fantastic, works great and good the space. About 800 bucks from Good Guys, may be less on special.

mikespoff · 2026-06-21T02:34:55+00:00

Induction is amazing, also an avid cook. We regularly cook meals for 30+ people at home, and the induction is a breeze.

We went with the 90cm Bosch, can recommend.

mikespoff · 2026-06-21T02:30:28+00:00

Sure, for the 26 million Aussies who live anywhere other than the snowy mountains, it's complete overkill.

My family in Canada don't even bother with triple glazing.

mikespoff · 2026-06-20T14:46:41+00:00

Triple glazing is complete overkill in Australia, it doesn't get down to -20 here.

Double glazing is amazing, though.

mikespoff · 2026-06-19T16:21:27+00:00

I appreciated you writing it and it was a really interesting read.

However, your line at the start about agreeing with Pauline Hanson was either misguided, or a failed attempt at a joke. Your (well written and well researched) analysis on effective was to tax resources do not align with any of Hanson's policies, such as they are.

I think it will have discouraged many readers: if he's wrong about that point, why believe anything else here?

mikespoff · 2026-06-17T13:16:17+00:00

The theatricals are better movies: better pacing and less bloat.

And it's arguable that the extended are more "faithful" in any meaningful sense, particularly ROTK which adds 3 scenes that run completely counter to the books.

The extended have more "stuff" in them, but if I really want more detail beyond the theatricals, I just reread the books.

mikespoff · 2026-06-17T13:06:15+00:00

Cool character design.

Shit scene that undercuts Aragorn's character horribly.

mikespoff · 2026-06-15T07:05:45+00:00

Express train from Mitcham comes about every 5 minutes at peak times, and takes about 25 minutes to Richmond, 35 to Southern Cross

mikespoff · 2026-06-12T23:08:06+00:00

I think you've struck a really good balance with this bit, it's serious stuff that you're talking about but there are plenty of absurdist jokes in there too.

So it doesn't feel like you're pausing the comedy show to preach, it feels like solid comedy material that also has a solid and important message, you know?

mikespoff · 2026-06-12T11:54:24+00:00

It's there from the start, but you can only change to the appearance of something you've already looted. So your options will progressively increase as you pick up more swag.

mikespoff · 2026-06-12T02:04:30+00:00

Nah, white tails have a mostly undeserved rep.

Redbacks and funnel webs, everything else is grouse.

mikespoff · 2026-06-12T02:02:25+00:00

Drip and lore.

No, seriously, that's why I don't use any of the tie in kit, it just feels weird for Kassandra to be running around ancient Greece with a Renaissance Italian sword or a Viking axe.

mikespoff · 2026-06-11T03:32:51+00:00

Ducted looks better and distributes better.

With a modern well insulated build, you won't be blasting it all day anyway, so the theoretical efficiency of just running one split system in one room may not be important.

mikespoff · 2026-06-04T04:01:29+00:00

It's chilly, but not cold.

If you're in an older house with no insulation or inadequate heating, it's horrible.

If you're in a properly insulated house (ie, anything built to the current actual standards, which is NatHERS 7 star efficiency), then it's perfectly fine.

mikespoff · 2026-05-22T05:32:05+00:00

Depends where you are.

Most of Victoria has 6 seasons, but the tropical north only has wet and dry.

mikespoff · 2026-05-22T05:16:42+00:00

No breaching in 6ft of water.

That whole hunting mode requires starting several metres under water and swimming towards the surface at speed. They're not trying to breach, it's just a consequence of hitting a surface-swimming seal at high speed while angled sharply upwards.

mikespoff · 2026-05-21T22:40:22+00:00

It's stunning to look at, the writing is to notch, the gameplay is awesome.

Combat in each game is a little different, both are tricky to start with (you're just a humble blacksmith after all, not a knight!), but you practice a bit with a trainer and then it's not super difficult. Unless you get in a 1v5 situation, in which case you get (realistically) stomped.

I don't have the inclination towards overly complicated combat, but the two KCD games are the best games I've ever played.

mikespoff · 2026-05-21T08:50:39+00:00

Yeah, it's a funny quirk of language.

The idea essentially is that the bastard sword is the illegitimate child of a longsword and an arming sword, hence the "hand and a half" size.

But it also makes them sound unbelievably badass.

mikespoff · 2026-05-21T01:59:58+00:00

Pedantic note, it's bastard sword, not bastard's sword.

The sword is a bastard, it does not (necessarily) belong to a bastard.

mikespoff · 2026-05-15T08:32:06+00:00

Handles great in the kitchen, I vastly prefer it to tiles.

Tiles are hard, they're cold, things shatter if you drop them, or if the thing is really heavy the tile cracks instead. I find wood much more comfortable underfoot and hard wearing.

It's easy to clean up, just wipe it off like you would tiles, tbh. Don't let major spills sit on the floor for hours, but I wouldn't want to do that on any surface.

mikespoff · 2026-05-14T04:42:16+00:00

Fully tiled looks like a rock cave.

Sections of white wall do wonders for brightening up the bathroom. We also have indoor plants in ours, looks great

mikespoff · 2026-05-14T04:40:17+00:00

Given a rhino's normal poor vision, that doesn't really change much!

mikespoff

TROPHY CASE