u/traineethrowaway123

Beginner, weight fluctuating between 85-95kg depending on whether I let myself go (currently around 90), twintip 141x41.5, quiver including 7, 9 and 12m kites, England, taken lessons. I’m still trying to understand the relationship between wind speed and kite size - what are the optimal ranges for each of my kites and how to work it out in practice?

Thoughts on the MLB Funds group? They seem to have a steady stream of formation work from a few bigger clients plus a fair amount of lead investor side secondaries, but I would welcome thoughts from someone closer to the practice, particularly on how they compare to say Fried Frank or Proskauer.

5 years in, my shoulder is subluxed, a nerve in my arm is trapped and can’t heal properly causing daily pain for 2 years now, I have an ugly discoloured patch on my back from a particularly stubborn rngwrm, and now some idiot gave me stph (reddit blocks these words to rightfully stop people from seeking medical advice). Every single one of which could have been avoided if people had a single molecule of brain or decency - don’t force shit, don’t show up with skin infections, don’t do acrobatics in a light spar with a casual hobbyist.

This sport is fun but requires too much trust placed in other people - I can no longer justify ruining my body in my thirties to pursue a hobby and I just know that a life changing knee injury is coming sooner or later given I mostly do nogi.

It has been a good ride and I have no idea what other sport I can even pick up. Maybe lifting is a good start.

Any other disgruntled old farts who decided to call it?

Edit: Just signed up for a kitesurfing course so now if I break my spine at least it’s my own stupidity.

I’m a beginner who is currently taking basics lessons with an instructor, but wanted to get myself some equipment to start practising independently afterwards. Two of what seem to be beginner friendly brands are currently offering good package deals: Airush Lithium and RRD Passion/Poison. Both include 12m kites (I’m in the UK south coast), the twin tips I’m looking at are respectively 141/42 for Airush and 138/42 or 140/43 for RRD. I’m 6’1 87kg/192lbs.

I would appreciate any recommendations, including if either choice would be less than ideal.

Having had enough time to contemplate after finishing the main 10, as much as I loved the overall ending, Icarium was a massive let down.

I really loved the concept of Icarium from the get go, as his story was unique and creative. There was also so much suspense around him and the moment he finally went on a rampage at the end of TBH was incredible.

Then so much time was spent in books 7 and 9 further developing this character, just to have his story go nowhere. Yes, he saved the KCCM, but that wasn’t even his arc - it felt a bit like Arya killing the Night King.

His arc was being a force of nature, a nuke this close to being launched, then suddenly it got Pung ex Machina’d and that’s it, with the additional bitter taste from how Mappo’s story ended. I’ve read many a comment about subverting expectations, Chekhov’s guns, themes over action etc, and they just sound like excuses. I’m not sure what happened there - perhaps he didn’t fit to where Erikson decided to bring the story, who ended up not knowing what to do with such a powerhouse; perhaps he will be revisited in the future. Unfortunately, as things stand, the books would have been better off without him.

I’m not going to lie, this is pretty terrifying. Surely if this works even nearly as well as presented, it means massive layoffs in their funds group?

I’m 80% through NoK and I really want to like it, but it’s a rough read. I enjoyed Temper’s flashbacks, but otherwise I’m struggling to stay focussed - I don’t mind the lack of philosophising and more focus on action, but something constantly feels off. I’ve heard RotCG is even worse and then ICE finds his feet from Stonewielder onwards - but is the difference noticeable?

I’m thinking of taking a break and reading the Farseer Trilogy but I’m worried I will forget a lot of MBotF details by the time I get back to NotME and will miss out on references.

I still don’t understand wtf happened to Run’Thurvian. Why and how did he melt down into golden goo?

Do we ever get clarity as to what was in the amphorae full of “dark blood” Shurq found on an Edur ship in RG? Was that kelyk?

In no particular order:

1. Without DoD there is no tCG.
2. Cool, funny entry and the best deck reading in MBotF.
3. “Draconus.”
4. Most emotional battle in the entire series, particularly given how unexpected it is and how op the shorttalis are to a human army - I was on the edge of my seat the entire time; a cool cliffhanger at the end.
5. A reasonable amount of Tehol, Bugg and Brys; lots of Bonehunters.
6. The middle section is literally no slower than DG which is a fan favourite - yes, there is a lot of walking, but isn’t that the case for most of these books?
7. Gives so much colour to the K’Chain; recontextualises the whole Redmask story which is pointless without it.
8. Lots of Elder Gods’ scheming.

Yes, the Barghast, Shake and Icarium stuff may be hit or miss but even despite that, this book has so much to offer I struggle to understand what seems to be a consensus that it’s shit. I don’t even necessarily agree it’s “half a book” which Erikson himself seems to suggest - it is of course a setup for tCG but also works perfectly fine as a standalone Malazan entry sans the cliffhanger.

Last night I turned the final page of tCG, and I understood, then, what Kaminsod must have felt in the moment before the Jade Strangers took him - release. After eons of torment, the anguish simply ceased. The Winds of Winter may never come, and I find I no longer grieve it. This series has claimed the throne, and its ending granted me what Gurm will never dare: sweet, merciful oblivion.

Do you guys think SE has an “oh shit” moment midway through the series and retconned Rake to Dragnipurake just because it fits in so nicely? He was Anomandaris Irake in HoC but then we got Purake in one of the later books.

We know that Icarium had absorbed the memories of the people in Letheras incinerated by the white fire, such as Rautos and Taxilian. We also know that Breath is FW.

However, FW had been killed by the Errant prior to the white fire explosion - so how did Icarium end up absorbing her memories and, more importantly, how did he get hold of the eye?

I’m looking to get a portable AC unit as installing a proper one or a split unit is currently not an option. I’ve done some research and unfortunately it appears dual hose units are impossible to find in the UK and I’ll have to rely on an inefficient single hose one. I’m looking specifically at DeLonghi Pinguino AP98 but would appreciate any recommendations for a reasonably quiet and reliable model as far as single hose units go.

Bonus month is here and I felt an urge to move up from my Nespresso pods. Having spent 2 hours trying to research whether sage barista express is a more reasonable choice than the pro version, I decided I’d had enough and ordered a La Marzocco Linea Micra machine. The problem is, it will probably get wasted on me as I am very much a novice in the coffee world, at least on the making rather than drinking side.

So presumably I need a decent grinder, scales and a bunch of other stuff. I don’t think I’m at the stage where I need to source artisanal water from Svalbard, but for a headache-free start as a total newb, I would appreciate any advice as to what accessories to get, what tutorials to watch/read and generally where to start.

Edit: thanks all - got a niche zero grinder and a set of timemore black mirror mini scales. Looking into other accessories now.

I’m only halfway through so please no spoilers, but is it just me or does anyone have similar feelings? The PoVs just have an odd feeling I can only describe as dreamlike, particularly when we follow a ghost tailing a bunch of people at least two of whom are supposed to be dead scavenging dragon statue cities, a woman talking to her troupe of dinosaurs, or the errant hanging with some attack on titan characters underwater. I’m sure it’s all on purpose but the vibe of this book feels distinct.