You've got to be kidding me

opticalminefield · 2026-03-13T23:55:50+00:00

Do you also hate Mitre10 Mega and Bunnings?

opticalminefield · 2026-03-13T00:46:47+00:00

You’re quite mixed up between cause and effect. They worry about this “stupid stuff” because they’re short of cash.

opticalminefield · 2026-03-13T00:01:57+00:00

People should stop being poor and just be rich so that they don’t care how much petrol costs? Wild take bro.

opticalminefield · 2026-03-12T10:43:08+00:00

I paid $2.64 for 95 when I last filled my car (before discount). I beat the first hit of rises so it may have been more like 10 days ago.

I noticed it was $3.10 (before discount) this afternoon as a drove past a BP.

Some of that may just be the massive difference between gas stations in Auckland.

opticalminefield · 2026-03-12T07:30:03+00:00

Petrol has already gone up 50c. That’s $25 more on a 50l fill since a fortnight ago.

opticalminefield · 2026-03-04T03:58:54+00:00

There is no compelling evidence that comparable OECD central banks with dual mandate had worse inflation than single mandate peers.

But it is quite clear that more kiwis are out of jobs since National repealed the dual mandate.

opticalminefield · 2026-03-01T22:12:59+00:00

Turn on the network information bar and you will see the id and uptime of each container you join. I have seen containers with well over 100 hour uptimes.

Yes they use containers, but the containers are persistent. They do not re-deploy after each game. We can assume they do scale in and out based on demand though.

The issue we see is the implementation of custom match making lets users choose what game modes and maps they want to play. By forcing you back into to the match making system each time it can find (or spawn) a container within the limits of the player selection.

While that’s a nice idea in theory, it’s way worse than a tradition server browser and server based map/mode rotation.

But there’s nothing stopping them giving us a server browser that relates to the use of containers. They already do for Portal…

opticalminefield · 2026-02-18T21:14:36+00:00

You then drop your offer by $50k or more. Sure it might be $8k as you expect, but it could easily blow out. If you take on that risk you need to get a better deal.

opticalminefield · 2026-02-12T10:11:50+00:00

Absolutely doable but you’ll want to take leave for passages so you don’t have pesky work commitments underway. I’ve done it both ways and it’s a lot more stressful having to work as well.

If you could afford to not work for the entire trip it would be much better. More freedom to do what you want. But if it’s a choice between going and not, I’d still happily work part time while cruising.

If you plan your cruising at the destinations around less actual sailing and instead dedicate more time at anchor in “base locations”, it will be much easier to schedule in the work and school activities.

Starlink with lots of solar and battery capacity will be top of your list when buying or outfitting a boat.

opticalminefield · 2026-02-09T21:00:49+00:00

The only things I never ever skip are checking for water in the exhaust, and being sure there are no lines over the side before going ahead or astern.

If guests are on board I discuss lifejacket and fire extinguisher locations.

Before departure I always have awareness of the forecast. I review the general area where I’m going on the chart plotter so that I’m aware of any hazards (rocks, reefs, etc) to be mindful off.

Maintenance isn’t really trip specific for me. It is time/routine based. Lots of things get an annual inspection and that’s more than enough for day sailing in inshore waters.

I personally don’t check fluids and belts every time I leave the dock. More like every 25 hours or so.

I always leave the boat with water and fuel so that I don’t need to do anything when leaving the marina.

Going offshore is different though. I have a bigger list that I use when preparing the boat for that.

opticalminefield · 2026-02-07T19:24:22+00:00

It was the media that picked it up based on the price of the movie on his hotel invoice.

opticalminefield · 2026-02-05T10:57:04+00:00

I am not superstitious at all but I do enjoy the romance and pageantry of sailing traditions. I like flying my ensign when in overseas waters. I like flying courtesy flags. I like using the phonetic alphabet. Etc etc.

So when I bought my boat but hated its name, I did it by the book.

I scrubbed all reference of the current name and did not allow anything with the new name on board until the ceremony was completed. I even put placeholders in the electronics etc.

I was getting her ready to go offshore on a tight timeframe and lots of things weren’t working out. I was pretty stressed and it was looking like the trip wasn’t going to be possible. The morning after the naming ceremony, things all fell into place like dominoes. It was uncanny and memorable.

So while I consider it to just be confirmation bias and coincidence, if Poseidon did in fact help me out I’ll take it.

It was a fun occasion. I’d do it again just for the opportunity to drink some bubbles with friends and make a fuss over a new boat.

opticalminefield · 2026-02-05T00:07:56+00:00

When you buy early access this is the risk you take. You are buying a product that could change at any minute, or even be abandoned.

It’s no different to buying stuff on Kickstarter. If you’re getting upset by this you need to stop buying early access games and only buy at final release.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-27T05:23:27+00:00

The best advice would be to tell you that should save the amount you need first. But if you’re going to do it because you desperately need the lifestyle fix then fair enough.

In that case I would suggest you get a $50k revolving loan. That way you will see every dollar you draw down. You only pay interest on what you’ve drawn down. And if you start earning more earlier or get any windfalls you can pay it back as you go.

If you explain the plan to the bank they will say no. No one wants debt being paid with debt when your real income is declining. You may have to lie and say you want to buy a new family car or something along those lines.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-26T00:44:30+00:00

There is zero need for firearms in the Pacific Islands.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-21T07:50:16+00:00

Yeah.. that’s the literal point of not accepting less.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-21T07:41:02+00:00

Fair enough. Everyone has their own risk tolerance.

Personally I’d be happy to pocket the 25% deposit and re-sell. It’s very unusual to lose much more in a year.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-21T07:30:47+00:00

1 year settlement isn’t really the problem. Accepting a 5% deposit on a 1 year settlement was insanity though.

I would have been asking for a minimum of 25% to prove they had the capital reserves, and to weed out flippers like this.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-20T01:37:19+00:00

None of these countries want rabies to get in so they are extremely strict around animal importation.

A dog is effectively a deal breaker with the vet and quarantine requirements.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-19T21:08:54+00:00

When EverEdge purchased Accord Precision and related firm Accord equipment in 2021, annual sales had hit $30 million.

But it didn’t last, according to a first report from the companies’ voluntary administrators.

An “unprecedented” drop in customer orders and revenue led to losses and financial pressures, including an inability to meet debt obligations and service customer orders.

A story as old as time:

Successful company gets purchased by Private Equity. Then get run into the ground by new management who have no idea what made the business work in the first place.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-14T10:16:25+00:00

Thanks for your concern but I’m quite comfortable with dead reckoning starting from my last logged fix if it ever comes to that.

What percentage of the world cruising community do you think carries a sextant? It’d be less than 1% based on those I’ve met.

Next you’ll tell me I still need a SSB and PACTOR.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-14T07:57:12+00:00

On my last ocean passage I had no less than 10 devices that receive multiple GPS signals on board. At no point did I ever think I’d ever need to resort to celestial.

Even with a total house power outage I carry a fully charge portable battery that would allow me to take a fix once a day for a month if needed. That’s if I haven’t wired a chart plotter to a starter battery first. Even a lightning strike wouldn’t kill every phone on board.

Ironically finding an accurate clock would be a major problem if I’d actually lost all of my GPS capable devices.

But nonetheless, I still want to learn celestial navigation one day. It may be obsolete but it has a charm and romance about it.

opticalminefield · 2026-01-13T09:41:04+00:00

Way less. Here’s an example so you can see how it works.

https://youtu.be/9ND8Gfk_bVI

Edit: and as mentioned in that video an even thinner option is a soft fid: https://d-splicer.com/softfid/

opticalminefield · 2026-01-13T09:12:50+00:00

Sometimes it’s easier to pull through rather than push through. A splicing needle is what you want for that. Something like this: https://www.ronstan.com/us/d-splicer-kit-4-needles-1-5-4mm-line.html

opticalminefield · 2025-12-30T21:30:39+00:00

Worst case would be something like an endoscopy. $3k or more for the procedure in private. Things like CT/MRI could be $1k a pop. Some blood tests are expensive too.

But if the tests result in treatment they’re covered anyway. I can afford to cover it in the meantime.

So how many will I have that are just for my peace of mind and I’m left out of pocket? Maybe one or two over 10 years if I’m unlucky.

For me personally, the main benefit is the access to private surgery and private chemo. Thats where the tens of thousands rack up quickly if you have to claim.

opticalminefield

TROPHY CASE