I have an old rangehood that needs to be removed and replaced.  I would like some recommendations for this work if anyone can suggest a person or company please do.

What's going well and not so well?

The roses are in full swing - Birthday Present finished and Blossomtime is past its first flush. Climbing masquerade, Jeanne la Joie and Dublin Bay now at their best.  Others are budded up and coming out and a few that don't have colour yet but will soon. Lilies are up and the first buds about to open. The first cosmos is out (from punnets) and I have seeds coming along for later in the season (it attracts goldfinches so we get a good patch going). The geranium is nearly finished but still has a few left. There are several more plants (all self-seeded) but it looks like they will be next year.

The first water irises are out. Lotuses are leafing up well but a way off flowering yet (last week of December at the earliest). Next week's fortnightly feed will go to weekly after that. The white water lily has had a few flowers.

Dwarf beans are up. The first lot got dug up by the blackbirds just as they were germinating so I planted the next lot very close. The first lot recovered after all so now I have too many plants too close together. DH says thin them but I might just feed them well and see what happens. The beans freeze very well so there's no danger of having too many. And in a couple of weeks I'll plant the next row with a bit of space.

Lettuces are going well. Spinach (popeye and No7) is bolting but that's to be expected. I have started some seeds of Sprinter which is supposed to be heat tolerant so it will be interesting to see what it does. Leeks have also bolted. Broccoli is doing better than it was and is starting to head up after a slow start. One lot didn't get enough sun and for the other the soil became too acidic. With a better angle of sun for one and some lime for the other both are now looking good. The garlic is mixed, with some growing well and some struggling so I gave it some more lime and time will tell whether it was too late. Corn and potatoes are all looking good.

We have strawberries fruiting and the blueberries have heaps of berries. Two different varieties. One has few leaves and had heaps of flowers followed by a lot of small fruit forming which may or may not be big at maturity. The other has a lot of leaf and had a good number of flowers that have grown into fruit that are much larger so far, but still well off maturity.

And this morning I found my best secateurs that I lost two weeks ago. I had been racking my brain over where I last had them, as you do, and this morning spied them when I was checking the lotuses for aphids. They were tucked on the edge of a container and were hidden by the large leaves. So that was great. They are 25+ years old and still going strong, including the never-ending lose-find cycle (the worst one was being buried in the compost a few years ago and only found when I dug it over). A clean and oil and they are fine again until next time.

My main PC is in an Antec P280 case. This is a case I wish to keep. The Power On switch is sticking and causing annoyance. It is hard to get to and to try and remedy. If I was to reverse the connections between the Power On and the Reset connections to the motherboard, could that be a suitable work around?

They are so bloody expensive now I'm surprised so many people have bought them.
Last 2 nights have been pretty loud on my street.
I ended up getting a bunch myself on the 5th when a local retailer had to clear out the remaining stock at a heavily discounted price.

The fire department is sorry, but there is an unfortunate delay into the report on the unfortunate delay in the response to a fire . . .
Glad they're getting that sorted out, but naturally one can only sympathise with the unfortunate officials who have these blasted fires interfering with their well established routine.  Unfortunately . . .

Hmm, humanoid robots to do all the work. What could possibly go wrong...


https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301137.shtml


"China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a guidance opinion on Thursday to promote the nation's innovative development of humanoid robots, setting key goals to be achieved by 2025 and 2027.

By 2025, China aims to establish an initial humanoid robot innovation system, achieving breakthroughs in crucial components such as "brains, cerebellum, and limbs," while ensuring a safe and efficient supply of core components. The production level for these robots is expected to reach an advanced international standard, with mass production occurring. These robots are anticipated to demonstrate their effectiveness across various fields, from manufacturing to livelihood services.


The 2025 goal also includes the cultivation of two to three globally influential ecological enterprises, along with several specialized small and medium-sized enterprises.


By 2027, the technological innovation capability of humanoid robots is slated to significantly improve, forming a safe and reliable industry supply chain with globally leading comprehensive strength and internationally competitive ecology. The industry will expedite large-scale development with a wider array of application scenarios, with related products deeply integrated into the real economy, becoming an essential new engine of economic growth.


The guidance outlines five key tasks aimed at industrial development, including achieving critical technological breakthroughs, nurturing important products, expanding application scenarios, creating industrial ecology, and bolstering support capacity.

The innovative potential of humanoid robots is poised to further stimulate economic development. With support from the nation's technology and policy efforts, humanoid robots can find applications in industries like healthcare, family services, and more. It's projected that by 2030, China's market scale for humanoid robots will reach 870 billion yuan, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency."

I was looking up the Carrington Event, but a lot of the search results were worthy of a Suzanne Paul commercial
This was lurking under a rock, although it may have clobbered the narrator about the region where actual people keep their little grey cells.
A fairly interesting subject,  but alas totally trashed by the sort of person that has a clickbait title that is neither relevant nor mentioned in the video. It is really better suited to being seen on TV, or at ACT conferences. (If "better" can logically co-exist with "ACT" in the same sentence.)
If the next drastic solar event does whack the internet like a curious mole, the absence of content like this twerp dribbles out may actually soften the blow.

For those of us who recall BloodyRogerBloodyDouglas & all that he & his mates did, this makes deeply scary reading. May the radicals NOT prevail.


https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/30100154...cal-change

ttps://www.newsroom.co.nz/an-ode-for
Bard Billot on the first meeting of the Baron, the Toad and the Vamp 

ThreeÔÇÖs Company

Baron Luxon,

King In Waiting,

Former Air Marshal of the National Hot Air Balloon Fleet,

Moisturiser in Chief to the Gangs of the Realm,

Shines his cuff links,

Slaps on some brisk aftershave,

And checks his toupee.

His suit is impeccable.

His blue suede shoes cut a dash.

Nothing has been left to chance.

The Baron rattles across town

In his peasant subsidised Tesla jalopy,

Carefully avoiding the giant potholes

And battalions of road cones.

He is armed with a bottle of champagne

And a dozen velvety red roses

He arrives at his destination.

He sweeps up the front path.

He rings the bell confidently.

He does not feel confident.

The moment of truth!

The door slowly swings open.

There, in a slinky black gown,

Cigarette in long holder,

Stands Winnie the Vamp,

Femme Fatale, Siren, Enchantress,

Heart breaker of a thousand coalitions.

The nervous suitor standing on the doorstep

Is granted an appraising glance.

But WinnieÔÇÖs roving eye stops on a magenta toad,

With a rose held between its flubbery lips,

Perched on the BaronÔÇÖs right shoulder.

ÔÇ£WhatÔÇÖs with the gooseberry?ÔÇØ snaps Winnie.

ÔÇ£DaveÔÇÖs the name,ÔÇØ replies the beady eyed amphibian,

with an impertinent nod towards the mute Baron.

ÔÇ£And I do the talking for both of us.ÔÇØ


Victor Billot has previously felt moved to write Odes for such luminaries as David Seymour, Nicola Willis, Chris Hipkins and Mike Hosking.

What about cruise liner captains?   Surely they are a bigger threat than a few stray Skodas?