I need to vent!

[Trent]

I just got made redundant today. I had this job for over 14 years.

I had to search old USB sticks around the house looking for a copy of my resume as I had no hope of remembering the dates of my other jobs.

That's not cool.

Hope you land on your feet.

[Thurmus]

I was a Project Engineer at Metro Trains.

I worked on the control systems for the signals and overhead amongst things.

Worked on network and system designs with vendors or re-engineered systems after they were in to fix redundancy or configuration issues.

Also worked with our maintenance guys on helping them move into the digital age. Lots of doco and drawings to help simplify things for them and developing and delivering training.

My concern is I haven't had a certification in about 8 years. I am not an expert on anything but I am quite good on a lot of things. I don't know how I can get that across on paper. I know in 5 minutes I can prove my worth but how to get that opportunity I am not sure.

Thankfully they have put me in touch with a mob who will help me with my resume and interview techniques and alike.

[UltraMarginal]

I was a Project Engineer at Metro Trains.

I worked on the control systems for the signals and overhead amongst things.

Worked on network and system designs with vendors or re-engineered systems after they were in to fix redundancy or configuration issues.

Also worked with our maintenance guys on helping them move into the digital age. Lots of doco and drawings to help simplify things for them and developing and delivering training.

My concern is I haven't had a certification in about 8 years. I am not an expert on anything but I am quite good on a lot of things. I don't know how I can get that across on paper. I know in 5 minutes I can prove my worth but how to get that opportunity I am not sure.

Thankfully they have put me in touch with a mob who will help me with my resume and interview techniques and alike.

that last paragraph will help immensely, as long as you can make your cover letter and resume interesting enough to get to interview you should be able to sell yourself well enough at an interview.

[jazzcomp]

Very specific job market and skills, hopefully you find something similar.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Doh! I ran a charity fundraising event at the school last term and one of the local papers reporters was here. I paid them no mind as was too busy organising/running the day.

Anyway apparently there was a big picture of me in the paper and a small article about the event and I never saw it! And I can't bring myself to call the paper for a copy as it feels just too narcesistic. :o

[Thurmus]

Doh! I ran a charity fundraising event at the school last term and one of the local papers reporters was here. I paid them no mind as was too busy organising/running the day.

Anyway apparently there was a big picture of me in the paper and a small article about the event and I never saw it! And I can't bring myself to call the paper for a copy as it feels just too narcesistic. :o

Ring them up with an assumed name or say you are your brother.

[Trent]

Doh! I ran a charity fundraising event at the school last term and one of the local papers reporters was here. I paid them no mind as was too busy organising/running the day.

Anyway apparently there was a big picture of me in the paper and a small article about the event and I never saw it! And I can't bring myself to call the paper for a copy as it feels just too narcesistic. :o

Get your wife to do it.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Ring them up with an assumed name or say you are your brother.


Get your wife to do it.

It's more justifying it to myself - feels a bit of a vain thing to do :o

I suppose I should as it's a good showcase of what I have done for the school and the community if I buck for a promotion in the next few years

[snaketales]

I work in papers and when I was a reporter I got calls like that all the time. Your paper should be used to requests like yours and think nothing of it.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I work in papers and when I was a reporter I got calls like that all the time. Your paper should be used to requests like yours and think nothing of it.

Well it turned out pretty easy. The paper turned up again today to do a story on a mini-play I am directing and while there I asked the reporter for a copy of the old story - she emailed me a PDF this arvo :)

[Akky82]

Finally got around to organising fixing a few things up on my car. I had a car last year, wasnt happy with the trade value i was offered so sold it private, and in the mean time my sister in law lent us her old car while we searched for a new one. She ended up after a couple of weeks saying we could just have it, there's no stamp duty for gifting to blood relative or something.

So after getting it serviced and the air con checked out i was looking at around 1200$ worth of fixer uppin' but I wasnt happy. Looking around got my air con resealing etc price shaved in half but the other stuff i wasnt sure, so i just got a rim from the wreckers (one was dented, tyre kept going flat) with a brand new tyre (lucky!) and just left the rest. Bit of oil leakage out the top of the engine, pulls to the left a bit, and the right shock squeaks on cold-moderate days over every tiny bump.

Fast-forward 10 months and I see the front right tyre has worn much faster than the left, and after a bit of research am told its probably the bad shock absorber. So i went to change the half bald to the spare, and find the spare rim is actually cracked. Oh well, a trip to the wreckers for another rim and nice tyre, and decided stuff it, i'll get a front strut, rocker cover, and grab a rocker gasket cover on the way home and fix it all myself. After the wreckers told me the price of everything it all added up to under $200 (crapload cheaper than midas quoted).

Get home, all geared up, jack the car up, loosen one wheel nut, second wheel nut, third wheel nut, fourth wheel nut ... snap... sheared it off... crap crap crap whats the time ? Can I go get one somewhere? 5:31 pm d'oh

[Trent]

Finally got around to organising fixing a few things up on my car. I had a car last year, wasnt happy with the trade value i was offered so sold it private, and in the mean time my sister in law lent us her old car while we searched for a new one. She ended up after a couple of weeks saying we could just have it, there's no stamp duty for gifting to blood relative or something.

So after getting it serviced and the air con checked out i was looking at around 1200$ worth of fixer uppin' but I wasnt happy. Looking around got my air con resealing etc price shaved in half but the other stuff i wasnt sure, so i just got a rim from the wreckers (one was dented, tyre kept going flat) with a brand new tyre (lucky!) and just left the rest. Bit of oil leakage out the top of the engine, pulls to the left a bit, and the right shock squeaks on cold-moderate days over every tiny bump.

Fast-forward 10 months and I see the front right tyre has worn much faster than the left, and after a bit of research am told its probably the bad shock absorber. So i went to change the half bald to the spare, and find the spare rim is actually cracked. Oh well, a trip to the wreckers for another rim and nice tyre, and decided stuff it, i'll get a front strut, rocker cover, and grab a rocker gasket cover on the way home and fix it all myself. After the wreckers told me the price of everything it all added up to under $200 (crapload cheaper than midas quoted).

Get home, all geared up, jack the car up, loosen one wheel nut, second wheel nut, third wheel nut, fourth wheel nut ... snap... sheared it off... crap crap crap whats the time ? Can I go get one somewhere? 5:31 pm d'oh

It pulling to one side coupled with uneven tyre wear points to needing a wheel alignment dude. And before you get one done ask to see the last calibration report.

[Akky82]

It pulling to one side coupled with uneven tyre wear points to needing a wheel alignment dude. And before you get one done ask to see the last calibration report.

Yeah as soon as i replace the stud, and the strut, and put the good rim on I'm taking it straight for an alignment.

[Handsprime]

One of my Classmates thought it would be a good idea to make fun out of my interests (Mostly Transformers and Drum & Bass) and I lost my cool in front of my mates. Man I seriously hate people who think they are so cool by making fun out of people who are different to them :mad:

[AJ_Prime]

One of my Classmates thought it would be a good idea to make fun out of my interests (Mostly Transformers and Drum & Bass) and I lost my cool in front of my mates. Man I seriously hate people who think they are so cool by making fun out of people who are different to them :mad:

That person sounds like a tool. Be the bigger person dude. If you own it, then they can't make you feel bad, and they end up looking like the bigger loser.

I used to get embarrassed about my interests too, but now once I start talking about it to people or putting it into perspective for them, they tend to actually seem slightly interested or at least stop taking digs.

[SMHFConvoy]

I've been in my new job for almost a year and over a week it's quickly become an untenable situation. Have had to defer elective surgery twice because of work trips and now an event. Will be seeing my GP to discuss the issue.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I've been in my new job for almost a year and over a week it's quickly become an untenable situation. Have had to defer elective surgery twice because of work trips and now an event. Will be seeing my GP to discuss the issue.

Damn that sucks. I'd be forcing the issue a bit that work gets a bit flexible to meet your needs. After all, can't be doing your job 100% if you're crook.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Bah - first time my birthday is falling on a Saturday in nearly 10 years and we've been invited to a wedding on the other side of the state :rolleyes:

Was planning a big bonfire and everything - ah well

[Trent]

Bah - first time my birthday is falling on a Saturday in nearly 10 years and we've been invited to a wedding on the other side of the state :rolleyes:

Was planning a big bonfire and everything - ah well

At least you'll get a free feed on your birthday :)

[UltraMarginal]

if they were really thoughtful, your bit of cake would have a candle in it. :D

[UltimateGalvatron]

One of my Classmates thought it would be a good idea to make fun out of my interests (Mostly Transformers and Drum & Bass) and I lost my cool in front of my mates. Man I seriously hate people who think they are so cool by making fun out of people who are different to them :mad:

A-hole.*

Some people in my class made fun of me for buying a titan class Metroplex instead of getting 'in' and getting a PS4, then continue to insult me about my hobby. It sucks :mad:

EDIT: *The classmate, not you.

[UltraMarginal]

the world is always going to be full of small minded assholes.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

A-hole.*

Some people in my class made fun of me for buying a titan class Metroplex instead of getting 'in' and getting a PS4, then continue to insult me about my hobby. It sucks :mad:

EDIT: *The classmate, not you.
They're just jealous as they have PS4s, but nothing to play on it.

Meanwhile you have an awesome friggin big robot to play with!
Enjoy your Titan Metroplex as you'll be having more fun with that than they will be with their PS4s

[Akky82]

A-hole.*

Some people in my class made fun of me for buying a titan class Metroplex instead of getting 'in' and getting a PS4, then continue to insult me about my hobby. It sucks :mad:

EDIT: *The classmate, not you.

I remember the same experience it late high school, one town over a friend saw me in the toy section looking at... must of been the RoD cars (prowl, sodeburn, x-brawn) and mocked me heavily, and told everyone in our year. Not many people gave a crap but a couple made me hide a lot of my hobby choices. Wasnt until second year of uni/traineeship I found a few people i worked/studied with were also into magic the gathering, and I've been lucky since (though working in IT you're more likely to find people interesting inthese things. My family and wife's family are all cool about me having a room half full of toys and a few model kits too. Was a bit worried working in a factory nowadays that when I got a gundam kit sent to work from japan and people wanted to see I thought oh here we go (since most of them are more interested in alcohol, rugby, partying...) but they thought it was pretty cool, and a couple even said they'd seen stuff like that at supanova, which was a surprise they even knew about that.

Some people are closer, some people are jealous, some people slare stupid... just dont go callingb yourself a 'transfan' around the weong people cos that'll open a whole different can of worms ;-)

[Handsprime]

When you play a song towards a few people because you thought that was everyone who was gonna show up, then a bunch more people come in only a few minutes afterwards :rolleyes:

[griffin]

While Channel surfing tonight I came across Man Finds Food, and it was an episode about Milwaukee hidden & recommended eats... and I totally missed it on my list of the places he visited during the series. I looked up the Chicago locations before I left and saw that they were all out of the way, but three of the four Milwaukee locations he visits were within walking distance of my Hotel (including one that was only available on the night I was there).
I missed so much on my trip to Milwaukee (the bus tour, the museum featured in the TF4 movie, and these food places), and would have rated the city a lot higher, all because my eyes just didn't see those things when I was searching before I left, or to specifically think to look for them.
:(

(they are repeating this series on wednesdays... and tonight had two of the three cities I visited during my BotCon trip this year, which would have been a useful pairing just before I left)

[UltraMarginal]

you'll just have to go back now, there's no other solution to your problem:D

[gamblor916]

Disney are enforcing their region only contracts. (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1108625) No Bandai TFA kits or figures if you're outside Japan. HLJ have already removed lots of stuff :mad:

[Golden Phoenix]

Disney are enforcing their region only contracts. (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1108625) No Bandai TFA kits or figures if you're outside Japan. HLJ have already removed lots of stuff :mad:

Everyone knows Disney are evil.

[griffin]

Especially on South Park...

[UltraMarginal]

Disney are enforcing their region only contracts. (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1108625) No Bandai TFA kits or figures if you're outside Japan. HLJ have already removed lots of stuff :mad:

if there's a company in the world that knows how to merchandise better than Lucasfilm, it's Disney.

[Akky82]

Disney are enforcing their region only contracts. (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1108625) No Bandai TFA kits or figures if you're outside Japan. HLJ have already removed lots of stuff :mad:

Damn that figuarts looks good. I wish it werent so expensive to get the rest of the kamen rider kabuto ones :-(

[GoktimusPrime]

One of my Classmates thought it would be a good idea to make fun out of my interests (Mostly Transformers and Drum & Bass) and I lost my cool in front of my mates. Man I seriously hate people who think they are so cool by making fun out of people who are different to them :mad:

A-hole.*

Some people in my class made fun of me for buying a titan class Metroplex instead of getting 'in' and getting a PS4, then continue to insult me about my hobby. It sucks :mad:

EDIT: *The classmate, not you.
Here's what I don't get --- things like smoking, drinking and abusive language/behaviour seems to be relatively more socially acceptable than playing with toys. Even playing video games seems to have reached widespread social acceptance, but not toy playing. :confused: Toy playing requires far more use of one's imagination than playing games. Okay, games do present puzzle solving challenges, fine, but toy playing also presents a different type of mental stimulation (re: creativity).

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/meme_lifestylechoices_zpslb8c1nse.jpg

[BruiseLee]

Here's what I don't get --- things like smoking, drinking and abusive language/behaviour seems to be relatively more socially acceptable than playing with toys. Even playing video games seems to have reached widespread social acceptance, but not toy playing. :confused: Toy playing requires far more use of one's imagination than playing games. Okay, games do present puzzle solving challenges, fine, but toy playing also presents a different type of mental stimulation (re: creativity).

True, video games used to be nerdy and arcades were stereotyped for delinquents (this part may be kinda true as I've seen quite a number of "deals" go down whilst playing Street Fighter in some Melb city arcades in the past) but things have turned around in a short period of time. Toys, especially those with nostalgic value are slowing gaining social acceptance as quite a number of people I know who aren't into toys still do have some old ones on display somewhere in their home. Even art toys (designer artist toys like in this lonely thread http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=21354 ;) ) have edged towards social acceptance and part of pop culture. Maybe someday we'll see toy collecting/playing at the same level.

As we grow older we tend not to give a flying fig about what others may think of our hobby. I'm getting closer to be an official card carrying member of the old man rants club now.

[theshape]

I hate when people comment on me buying an expensive figure. I may only buy a few toys per year. I dont spend $100 a week on alcohol which = $5200 per year which is equal to a shit tonne of transformers!

[UltraMarginal]

True, video games used to be nerdy and arcades were stereotyped for delinquents (this part may be kinda true as I've seen quite a number of "deals" go down whilst playing Street Fighter in some Melb city arcades in the past) but things have turned around in a short period of time. Toys, especially those with nostalgic value are slowing gaining social acceptance as quite a number of people I know who aren't into toys still do have some old ones on display somewhere in their home. Even art toys (designer artist toys like in this lonely thread http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=21354 ;) ) have edged towards social acceptance and part of pop culture. Maybe someday we'll see toy collecting/playing at the same level.

As we grow older we tend not to give a flying fig about what others may think of our hobby. I'm getting closer to be an official card carrying member of the old man rants club now.

I think it's happening quicker than we realise, the new pop culture stores that EB have opened across Sydney are always busy, I keep forgetting what they're called, zing or something.

[1AZRAEL1]

I think it's happening quicker than we realise, the new pop culture stores that EB have opened across Sydney are always busy, I keep forgetting what they're called, zing or something.

Zing it is. Now it has become the "in thing" to be nerdy about this kinda stuff

[Megatran]

I hate when people comment on me buying an expensive figure. I may only buy a few toys per year. I dont spend $100 a week on alcohol which = $5200 per year which is equal to a shit tonne of transformers!
Pay no attention to them. By the way, you're overdue for another posting on the Vintage G1 toy thread! :D

[theshape]

Pay no attention to them. By the way, you're overdue for another posting on the Vintage G1 toy thread! :D

Hehe, Been quiet on the western front here. Pretty much done with the japanese g1 now, so my wallet has been able to recover a little bit :o

[Sinnertwin]

Here's what I don't get --- things like smoking, drinking and abusive language/behaviour seems to be relatively more socially acceptable than playing with toys. Even playing video games seems to have reached widespread social acceptance, but not toy playing. :confused: Toy playing requires far more use of one's imagination than playing games. Okay, games do present puzzle solving challenges, fine, but toy playing also presents a different type of mental stimulation (re: creativity).

Probably because society still considers playing with toys a children's past time? :confused:

[Starscream77]

One of my Classmates thought it would be a good idea to make fun out of my interests (Mostly Transformers and Drum & Bass) and I lost my cool in front of my mates. Man I seriously hate people who think they are so cool by making fun out of people who are different to them :mad:

Reminds me of an occurrence I had a couple of weeks ago, I was in Target checking out the toy section and there was a high school kid in the aisle (I'm guessing 16 or 17). A bunch of other school kids walked past the aisle and saw said kid and came in the aisle and seriously started verbally bullying the kid for being in the toy section... Now those that know me know I detest bullying :mad: and am not the smallest bloke around. One of the group looked over and said adults should only buy toys for their kids insinuating that's what I was there for to which I ever so politely (:p) told them to leave the kid alone and that I was buying for myself and again ever so politely (:p) asked if they had issue with that.
They promptly left which was rather rude as they didn't complete the conversation ha ha
The poor kid looked at me with a large smile and said thanks, I told him always be proud of who you are.. and then left with my toys

[M-bot]

Reminds me of an occurrence I had a couple of weeks ago, I was in Target checking out the toy section and there was a high school kid in the aisle (I'm guessing 16 or 17). A bunch of other school kids walked past the aisle and saw said kid and came in the aisle and seriously started verbally bullying the kid for being in the toy section... Now those that know me know I detest bullying :mad: and am not the smallest bloke around. One of the group looked over and said adults should only buy toys for their kids insinuating that's what I was there for to which I ever so politely (:p) told them to leave the kid alone and that I was buying for myself and again ever so politely (:p) asked if they had issue with that.
They promptly left which was rather rude as they didn't complete the conversation ha ha
The poor kid looked at me with a large smile and said thanks, I told him always be proud of who you are.. and then left with my toys

Good on you. Great story :)

[UltraMarginal]

Reminds me of an occurrence I had a couple of weeks ago, I was in Target checking out the toy section and there was a high school kid in the aisle (I'm guessing 16 or 17). A bunch of other school kids walked past the aisle and saw said kid and came in the aisle and seriously started verbally bullying the kid for being in the toy section... Now those that know me know I detest bullying :mad: and am not the smallest bloke around. One of the group looked over and said adults should only buy toys for their kids insinuating that's what I was there for to which I ever so politely (:p) told them to leave the kid alone and that I was buying for myself and again ever so politely (:p) asked if they had issue with that.
They promptly left which was rather rude as they didn't complete the conversation ha ha
The poor kid looked at me with a large smile and said thanks, I told him always be proud of who you are.. and then left with my toys


Good on you. Great story :)
What he said.
internet High Five

[Handsprime]

Reminds me of an occurrence I had a couple of weeks ago, I was in Target checking out the toy section and there was a high school kid in the aisle (I'm guessing 16 or 17). A bunch of other school kids walked past the aisle and saw said kid and came in the aisle and seriously started verbally bullying the kid for being in the toy section... Now those that know me know I detest bullying :mad: and am not the smallest bloke around. One of the group looked over and said adults should only buy toys for their kids insinuating that's what I was there for to which I ever so politely (:p) told them to leave the kid alone and that I was buying for myself and again ever so politely (:p) asked if they had issue with that.
They promptly left which was rather rude as they didn't complete the conversation ha ha
The poor kid looked at me with a large smile and said thanks, I told him always be proud of who you are.. and then left with my toys

It's people like you who give me hope in humanity

[jazzcomp]

Good on you. Great story :)
Where's the like button? :D

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Reminds me of an occurrence I had a couple of weeks ago, I was in Target checking out the toy section and there was a high school kid in the aisle (I'm guessing 16 or 17). A bunch of other school kids walked past the aisle and saw said kid and came in the aisle and seriously started verbally bullying the kid for being in the toy section... Now those that know me know I detest bullying :mad: and am not the smallest bloke around. One of the group looked over and said adults should only buy toys for their kids insinuating that's what I was there for to which I ever so politely (:p) told them to leave the kid alone and that I was buying for myself and again ever so politely (:p) asked if they had issue with that.
They promptly left which was rather rude as they didn't complete the conversation ha ha
The poor kid looked at me with a large smile and said thanks, I told him always be proud of who you are.. and then left with my toys
Ha ha ha ha! That's awesome!

Where's the like button? :D
Totally this.

Although I dislike the like button.

Would that be an oxymoron/ironic or something? Comeon, it's gotta be a something!

[Tober]

Disney are enforcing their region only contracts. (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1108625) No Bandai TFA kits or figures if you're outside Japan. HLJ have already removed lots of stuff :mad:

HLJ are having a sale now to remove their remaining stock.

What about HK sellers? I assume the same thing...

[UltimateGalvatron]

Reminds me of an occurrence I had a couple of weeks ago, I was in Target checking out the toy section and there was a high school kid in the aisle (I'm guessing 16 or 17). A bunch of other school kids walked past the aisle and saw said kid and came in the aisle and seriously started verbally bullying the kid for being in the toy section... Now those that know me know I detest bullying :mad: and am not the smallest bloke around. One of the group looked over and said adults should only buy toys for their kids insinuating that's what I was there for to which I ever so politely (:p) told them to leave the kid alone and that I was buying for myself and again ever so politely (:p) asked if they had issue with that.
They promptly left which was rather rude as they didn't complete the conversation ha ha
The poor kid looked at me with a large smile and said thanks, I told him always be proud of who you are.. and then left with my toys

There is a hope for us all. That was a great thing to do. :D

[gamblor916]

HLJ are having a sale now to remove their remaining stock.

What about HK sellers? I assume the same thing...

Well I went on a spending spree to get stuff I was 50/50 on. There's always going to be way around the restrictions.

[1AZRAEL1]

There is hope for humanity when there are people around like Screamer. I detest bullying so very much too after copping the brunt of alot during high school due to my long hair. Never have a problem standing up for someone else who can't find a voice. I may be a small bloke, but it's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog ;)

[MV75]

I remember the same experience it late high school, one town over a friend saw me in the toy section looking at... must of been the RoD cars (prowl, sodeburn, x-brawn) and mocked me heavily, and told everyone in our year. Not many people gave a crap but a couple made me hide a lot of my hobby choices. Wasnt until second year of uni/traineeship I found a few people i worked/studied with were also into magic the gathering, and I've been lucky since (though working in IT you're more likely to find people interesting inthese things. My family and wife's family are all cool about me having a room half full of toys and a few model kits too. Was a bit worried working in a factory nowadays that when I got a gundam kit sent to work from japan and people wanted to see I thought oh here we go (since most of them are more interested in alcohol, rugby, partying...) but they thought it was pretty cool, and a couple even said they'd seen stuff like that at supanova, which was a surprise they even knew about that.

Some people are closer, some people are jealous, some people slare stupid... just dont go callingb yourself a 'transfan' around the weong people cos that'll open a whole different can of worms ;-)

I've got probably the reverse problem. I tend to work on the hoon car most weekends and there is only like one person that has any idea what I'm talking about when I talk about what I did on the weekend, mostly because he's got a sik skyline and works on his car too. The kicker is I work at a car dealership. l o l. There is like, no one there to discuss tuning with, (I tune my own car and actually did do another boost / fuelling tweak this morning), and what mods I do. Also have to explain a million times what the goal of my current flex fuel project actually does. Just waiting for those 1000cc injectors... that's another rant. So most of the time I don't say anything until I'm asked what I did last weekend, and prepare for the huh? what does that do? Follow up questions.

But when I talk about lego, model kits or RC cars, that's another story, everyone knows about those and are happy to chat about it. :)

[Trent]

I've got probably the reverse problem. I tend to work on the hoon car most weekends and there is only like one person that has any idea what I'm talking about when I talk about what I did on the weekend, mostly because he's got a sik skyline and works on his car too. The kicker is I work at a car dealership. l o l. There is like, no one there to discuss tuning with, (I tune my own car and actually did do another boost / fuelling tweak this morning), and what mods I do. Also have to explain a million times what the goal of my current flex fuel project actually does. Just waiting for those 1000cc injectors... that's another rant. So most of the time I don't say anything until I'm asked what I did last weekend, and prepare for the huh? what does that do? Follow up questions.

But when I talk about lego, model kits or RC cars, that's another story, everyone knows about those and are happy to chat about it. :)

Tuning your own car huh? You're brave! What car you got? I had a go at tuning my B4 but didn't have the patience. I just paid someone to do it :)

I remember the days of sinking huge sums of money into cars. It is fun but now I just look back and shake my head. I should have taken the wife traveling instead. Never again will I sink more money into a car than absolutely necessary.

Unless I win lotto. Then I will have a 400Kw SS for the street and a 250Kw version 6 STi for the track (if the wife ever lets me near one again) :D

[MV75]

Tuning your own car huh? You're brave! What car you got? I had a go at tuning my B4 but didn't have the patience. I just paid someone to do it :)

I remember the days of sinking huge sums of money into cars. It is fun but now I just look back and shake my head. I should have taken the wife traveling instead. Never again will I sink more money into a car than absolutely necessary.

Unless I win lotto. Then I will have a 400Kw SS for the street and a 250Kw version 6 STi for the track (if the wife ever lets me near one again) :D

Got a 2000 gc8. This is my days of car fun now. :) Probably be the last ICE vehicle I own. But man, the new wrx is so good, I'm this close || to just buying one. But will power is holding. Just. I think the future thoughts of buying a place to live is also helping to keep my cash in the bank.

My lotto car is a v12 Lambo. :) Or a Tesla D. Both are stupid fast cars depending on how much you win. Why can't I win? :(

What else to rant about? I suppose stupid jury duty. I got work to write the exception letter and they still summon me. Retards. I did dodge last week though, but I have a feeling I'll get called this week, (two weeks serve period), as the jurors for Monday are real close to my number. And because of all of this I've had to put appointments off and basically put everything on hold, had to put up with tooth pain all week too because I couldn't get to a dentist before this morning. :( Have to call after 5:30pm every day to see if you need to go in the next day, so it's just like existence day to day. Stupid courts.

[Trent]

Got a 2000 gc8. This is my days of car fun now. :) Probably be the last ICE vehicle I own. But man, the new wrx is so good, I'm this close || to just buying one. But will power is holding. Just. I think the future thoughts of buying a place to live is also helping to keep my cash in the bank.

My lotto car is a v12 Lambo. :) Or a Tesla D. Both are stupid fast cars depending on how much you win. Why can't I win? :(

Hmm. I regret my days of "car fun". Could have been money better spent. GC8s are good value. Cheap to mod with plenty of parts available. Not the most crash friendly chassis though. Subaru engineers refer to them as "watermelons" because of how they break apart in a crash. My WRX was a GDB. "Weapon" is the most accurate word I can think of to describe it.


What else to rant about? I suppose stupid jury duty. I got work to write the exception letter and they still summon me. Retards. I did dodge last week though, but I have a feeling I'll get called this week, (two weeks serve period), as the jurors for Monday are real close to my number. And because of all of this I've had to put appointments off and basically put everything on hold, had to put up with tooth pain all week too because I couldn't get to a dentist before this morning. :( Have to call after 5:30pm every day to see if you need to go in the next day, so it's just like existence day to day. Stupid courts.


http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc88/Wrxus/63b00bd73be7b28e439bf0ab2cd391d5.jpg

;)

[MV75]

Hmm. I regret my days of "car fun". Could have been money better spent. GC8s are good value. Cheap to mod with plenty of parts available. Not the most crash friendly chassis though. Subaru engineers refer to them as "watermelons" because of how they break apart in a crash. My WRX was a GDB. "Weapon" is the most accurate word I can think of to describe it.

Good thing I don't plan on crashing it. :)

I think if I added up what I've spent so far I'd probably regret it and think of a different approach to the same thing, but meh, I do most of the work myself on it and only send it to the shop when I need things on it that I can't do like press wheel bearings and weld hangers and bungs on the exhaust, mostly things that are because I don't have a welder and I don't have a press. And other money savers are like when I did the timing belt a couple of months ago I spent on just parts only, full Subaru kit with water pump for only ~$670 instead of paying the shop to fit it for $1200. Saved me money and I know how to change the belt now. :) Plus it was the bug bear of my maintenance on it, got it out of the way.

Also it doesn't seem like I've spent too much as this is now coming to be a two year old project, I just buy stuff along the way instead of just all at once. Going to be getting some gd sti seats for it next weekend. The flex fuel upgrade is just waiting for the injectors to arrive, then I can run either 98 or e85 sugar juice. Then probably get the process west intercooler before years end as the stock one has become a massive restriction. A quick add up of just those three things right now would be roughly $650 + $850 + $980. That's just parts, my labour is of love, which is free and leaves me with dirty hands. :D Yea, spread it out and don't think too much about it. I am having fun and learning constantly, so yea, no regrets in the long run. Some small ones along the way, but overall it's a good time. Better than making the bottle shop richer.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Reminds me of an occurrence I had a couple of weeks ago, I was in Target checking out the toy section and there was a high school kid in the aisle (I'm guessing 16 or 17). A bunch of other school kids walked past the aisle and saw said kid and came in the aisle and seriously started verbally bullying the kid for being in the toy section... Now those that know me know I detest bullying :mad: and am not the smallest bloke around. One of the group looked over and said adults should only buy toys for their kids insinuating that's what I was there for to which I ever so politely (:p) told them to leave the kid alone and that I was buying for myself and again ever so politely (:p) asked if they had issue with that.
They promptly left which was rather rude as they didn't complete the conversation ha ha
The poor kid looked at me with a large smile and said thanks, I told him always be proud of who you are.. and then left with my toys

You are a dead set champion mate - good on ya :):D

[GoktimusPrime]

re: Starscream77's story

They were willing to insult that kid for buying toys for himself, but when an adult confronts them saying that he's doing the same thing (and what of it), they back off. So what does this tell us?
1. Bullies are cowards who pick on others to compensate for their really small self-esteem.
2. Starscream77 is a man of integrity. :) :cool:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been avoiding Star Wars Ep 7 spoilers; all I know is from the trailer and TV ads, and peripheral images of toys. But today I walked into Big W and was faced with a massive spoiler in the form of a big end cap standee. :( It was an image of Finn holding a light sabre. :mad: Up till now, I've known almost nothing about this character, other than that we see him wearing Stormtrooper armour in the trailer. :rolleyes:

Was it really necessarily to show that image, on a standee no less?!? Cannot unsee. :(

[Handsprime]

And like Game Of Thrones, I have completely ignored any spoilers whatsoever because I don't pay attention :)

[Sinnertwin]

re: Starscream77's story

They were willing to insult that kid for buying toys for himself, but when an adult confronts them saying that he's doing the same thing (and what of it), they back off. So what does this tell us?
1. Bullies are cowards who pick on others to compensate for their really small self-esteem.
2. Starscream77 is a man of integrity. :) :cool:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been avoiding Star Wars Ep 7 spoilers; all I know is from the trailer and TV ads, and peripheral images of toys. But today I walked into Big W and was faced with a massive spoiler in the form of a big end cap standee. :( It was an image of Finn holding a light sabre. :mad: Up till now, I've known almost nothing about this character, other than that we see him wearing Stormtrooper armour in the trailer. :rolleyes:

Was it really necessarily to show that image, on a standee no less?!? Cannot unsee. :(

A. Starscream is a champ.
B. Lock yourself down in a bunker. It's only going to get worse. :p

And speaking of spoilers, did you know that Captain Phasma is really *I'm just kidding*

[Paulbot]

Gok, I had the same reaction to exact same thing, knowing only what I'd seen in the teaser trailer about that character until I walked into Big W. Seems a bit early to have the merchandise out anyway in my opinion.

[griffin]

It was revealed in the third official trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfePC_WGLX4).

Besides, Luke Skywalker was in stormtrooper gear in Ep4 and holding a lightsaber later.

[UltraMarginal]

Was it really necessarily to show that image, on a standee no less?!? Cannot unsee. :(



B. Lock yourself down in a bunker. It's only going to get worse. :p



and turn off all your internets. :(


Gok, I had the same reaction to exact same thing, knowing only what I'd seen in the teaser trailer about that character until I walked into Big W. Seems a bit early to have the merchandise out anyway in my opinion.

ditto, except the Chullora Big W had it standing out the front of the store, hard to avoid even not actually going in to Big W. I've only really seen the teaser trailer and the first actual trailer.

It's a bit frustrating, of all the movies released this year, Star Wars is probably the one that needs the least amount of hype, it will hype itself. I hope they save some surprises for the film.
Just like Episode 1, a friend of mine had seen no trailers, he was the only one at the midnight screening that let out a phwoaarr when Darth Maul lit up his double ended lightsabre for the first time.

[morg176]

My key fob button is broken, dammit, I can still use the key but if I use a pair of nail clippers I can still remote lock it :eek:

Are the key remotes covered buy warrantee?

$90 at mr minit and they have to destroy the old one to do it.

[Trent]

My key fob button is broken, dammit, I can still use the key but if I use a pair of nail clippers I can still remote lock it :eek:

Are the key remotes covered buy warrantee?

$90 at mr minit and they have to destroy the old one to do it.

Generally not. Key fob failure I think you'll find is general wear and tear. Unless the car is only like 6 months old.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I've got a sorta similar problem, the little plastic handle part you put a keyring through for my electronic key for my car has broken, so I can't attach it to my keyring :mad:

Any suggestions how I can fix it?

[Krayt]

%#^{%]*}*{^]^]!!!!

Bloody hell....

Just did my tax.... Owe 3k! Stupid "perks":(

[Jaxius._]

I got beaten up for liking transformers

[Handsprime]

I got beaten up for liking transformers

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d4/f4/13/d4f4132b12b7bbd4e679446811254d33.jpg

[Handsprime]

Seriously though. The fact that someone beat you up because you like Transformers is a total no go. I remember I got made fun out of by liking Transformers from people who liked Pokemon! I called them hypocrites but they are like "Nah mate Pokemon is for adults, Transformers is for children" (btw im not making this up people like that DO exist)

[UltimateGalvatron]

I got beaten up for liking transformers
Sorry to hear that. Some people are d$&@s

[UltimateGalvatron]

ATM I'm getting really pissed at people at school. I am a huge dinosaur fan, and have read many books and probably know more then môst people I meet.
You may not know, but Pteradactly is actually called Pteradactlyus and is a Pterosaur, not a dinosaur. So these idiots think it is funny to work me up by saying thins like 'Pteradactly is my favourite dinosaur' and also things like 'Dragons are a better then dinosaurs' 'Dragons are real Dinosaurs aren't' and s&$@ like that. I know it's really nothing but it has been going on all term. Glad that it is the holidays.

[GoktimusPrime]

ATM I'm getting really pissed at people at school. I am a huge dinosaur fan, and have read many books and probably know more then most people I meet.
You may not know, but Pteradactly is actually called Pteradactlyus and is a Pterosaur, not a dinosaur. So these idiots think it is funny to work me up by saying thins like 'Pteradactly is my favourite dinosaur' and also things like 'Dragons are a better then dinosaurs' 'Dragons are real Dinosaurs aren't' and s&$@ like that. I know it's really nothing but it has been going on all term. Glad that it is the holidays.
"Pterodactyl." :)

Don't react to those bullies, but you should absolutely tell a teacher. I recommend telling your Year Adviser or school's Welfare Officer. They are deliberately targeting you and emotionally taunting you in a sustained manner. I assume that you have also told your parents. But definitely do NOT respond to them. Remember that they are saying these things to do to provoke a reaction. Don't give them that satisfaction, because every time you react, you are giving them exactly what they want.

Note that I'm not saying "ignore" them either. When you walk away from them, do not immediately turn your back. Maintain eye contact and make a few slow steps backwards, then carefully turn around before walking (not running) away. This will allow you to more safely create some distance between you and the bullies before turning around, that way if they start to pursue you, you can hear the first footsteps and immediately take flight to the nearest available teacher. Make sure that you are never out of bounds, as these areas are unsupervised (which is why students aren't meant to be there). So long as you are always somewhere where you're supposed to be, there will be a teacher nearby that you can go to.

Important notes about your body language while backing away from them:
* Maintain a 'poker face.' Do not show any trace of emotion.
* Keep your hands down.

[Raider]

Bloody sharks... every time they get my hopes up that it could be their year they play like they did tonight... ffs... so depressing being a sharks fan...

[MV75]

My key fob button is broken, dammit, I can still use the key but if I use a pair of nail clippers I can still remote lock it :eek:

Are the key remotes covered buy warrantee?

$90 at mr minit and they have to destroy the old one to do it.

What key / car? Are there not any replacement cases on ebay? Also $90 isn't that bad.


I've got a sorta similar problem, the little plastic handle part you put a keyring through for my electronic key for my car has broken, so I can't attach it to my keyring :mad:

Any suggestions how I can fix it?

Still have the bits, then jb weld it.

[MV75]

It was revealed in the third official trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfePC_WGLX4).

Besides, Luke Skywalker was in stormtrooper gear in Ep4 and holding a lightsaber later.

That was like one of the first trailers I saw AGES ago. :) I'm not really following this movie much at all though, as knowing Disney it'll be nothing more than some teen drama with a bunch of edgy stereotypes.

Who's Finn anyway? And Luke was only in disguise, not an actual trooper.

[griffin]

Bloody sharks... every time they get my hopes up that it could be their year they play like they did tonight... ffs... so depressing being a sharks fan...

At least they got into the second week of the finals, a year after the wooden spoon... that's a pretty good turnaround in just one season, and not something people could have imagined this time last year.

[Raider]

At least they got into the second week of the finals, a year after the wooden spoon... that's a pretty good turnaround in just one season, and not something people could have imagined this time last year.

No doubt the turnaround is fantastic and I won't knock their overall performance throughout the year. The vent is more regarding last night's game. They just never showed up. They have beaten the Cowboys twice this year and also managed to beat all the other top teams. How did they lose 39 - 0...

[Jaxius._]

ATM I'm getting really pissed at people at school. I am a huge dinosaur fan, and have read many books and probably know more then môst people I meet.
You may not know, but Pteradactly is actually called Pteradactlyus and is a Pterosaur, not a dinosaur. So these idiots think it is funny to work me up by saying thins like 'Pteradactly is my favourite dinosaur' and also things like 'Dragons are a better then dinosaurs' 'Dragons are real Dinosaurs aren't' and s&$@ like that. I know it's really nothing but it has been going on all term. Glad that it is the holidays.

'Dragons are real'

Idiots

[GoktimusPrime]

'Dragons are real'

Idiots
Science cannot conclusively disprove the existence of dragons. ;)

[Sinnertwin]

Just get five of your mates and gutter stomp them when nobody is around.
Problem solved.

[griffin]

Just get five of your mates and gutter stomp them when nobody is around.
Problem solved.

Uh, no...

It's better to not waste time on them, and just ignore or avoid them. :cool:

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

t they are like "Nah mate Pokemon is for adults, Transformers is for children" (btw im not making this up people like that DO exist)
The facepalmage is high fro some people...

[Jaxius._]

When you ask out a girl and you are serious but they think you are joking

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

When you ask out a girl and you are serious but they think you are joking

Friend zone. It sucks

[Jaxius._]

Just get five of your mates and gutter stomp them when nobody is around.
Problem solved.

:D:p



Science cannot conclusively disprove the existence of dragons. ;)

We all know dinosaurs and dragons aren't real it was the aligned continuity predacons :P

[UltimateGalvatron]

^ LOL :D

[UltraMarginal]

I got beaten up for liking transformers

dude, that sucks, there are many selfish aholes in the world.
Are you OK, no permanent damage I hope.

[kup]

dude, that sucks, there are many selfish aholes in the world.
Are you OK, no permanent damage I hope.

I always felt that school was more like prison rules. If they see you as someone they could get away with by making fun of you with no consequences, they will no matter what they are trying to get you on.

[morg176]

In the last week both my remote key fob for my car lost a button, and they cut my net off because they did not send me a bill... eeerrg

Fixed the net thing
But looking for somewhere to churn to that is unlimited for $40/month

The key fob, $90 to replace third party, its only three years old damit

[Jaxius._]

I attempted cooking chicken last night it did not turn out well :(

[Trent]

I attempted cooking chicken last night it did not turn out well :(

Kept trying to jump out of the frypan? :p

[UltraMarginal]

I attempted cooking chicken last night it did not turn out well :(


Kept trying to jump out of the frypan? :p

How does cooking chicken not go well except for Trent's scenario?

[GoktimusPrime]

Under cooked?

[UltraMarginal]

Under cooked?

oooohhhhh:(

[Jaxius._]

Food poisoning :D

[UltimateGalvatron]

^The last time my family had roast pork the pig turned out to have a tumor (despite my dad's protests 'it's not a tumor' lol) good thing we threw it out before we are it. KFC was better anyway lol

[Trent]

Food poisoning :D

Look at it this way: you'll never be expected to cook ever again ;)

[Jaxius._]

Look at it this way: you'll never be expected to cook ever again ;)

Trust me I don't plan to

[GoktimusPrime]

Trust me I don't plan to
Or you could keep trying until you get gooder (like my English). ;)

"Failure is success in progress."
- Albert Einstein

[1AZRAEL1]

Or cook on the bbq. No man can stuff up cooking on a bbq, it's in our blood :p

[GoktimusPrime]

Unless you burn the meat to a crisp. :p I knew a guy who stuffed up cooking instant noodles, I kid you not.

[5FDP]

Or cook on the bbq. No man can stuff up cooking on a bbq, it's in our blood :p

Dead animal and fire *grunt*

[1AZRAEL1]

Dead animal and fire *grunt*

Not if you're cooking tofu :p

[5FDP]

Not if you're cooking tofu :p

Ahhhh... that's not very 'manly'. Remind me never to go to one of your BBQ's... oh, wait.

[BruiseLee]

Not if you're cooking tofu :p

Dead soy product and fire *grunt*

[Sinnertwin]

Trust me I don't plan to

You should.
Women love guys that can cook.

[UltraMarginal]

I just enjoy cooking, and then the eating, I really like the eating as well.

Don't tell anyone, but I reckon I'm a better cook than Mrs UltraMarginal. :D

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I just enjoy cooking, and then the eating, I really like the eating as well.

Don't tell anyone, but I reckon I'm a better cook than Mrs UltraMarginal. :D

I bet Mrs UltraMarginal tells her friends that SHE'S better than Mr UltraMarginal! ;):D

[Jaxius._]

Ok im the unluckiest guy on the planet but I tripped on a stair in the cinema and fell on a little kid :(

[5FDP]

Ok im the unluckiest guy on the planet but I tripped on a stair in the cinema and fell on a little kid :(

That's pretty lucky if you ask me... he broke your fall ;) :p

[UltraMarginal]

I bet Mrs UltraMarginal tells her friends that SHE'S better than Mr UltraMarginal! ;):D

you might be surprised:D


Ok im the unluckiest guy on the planet but I tripped on a stair in the cinema and fell on a little kid :(

how is the kid? I hope your both OK.

[Trent]

That's pretty lucky if you ask me... he broke your fall ;) :p

Lol. I thought the same thing :cool:

[Handsprime]

I am actually really bored right now because I'm on holidays and all my friends are either doing other stuff, or are really lazy and won't respond to my calls of "hey lets hang out" :(

[GoktimusPrime]

I am actually really bored right now because I'm on holidays and all my friends are either doing other stuff, or are really lazy and won't respond to my calls of "hey lets hang out" :(
Your toys. Go play with them! :)

[TAAUBlaster]

I am actually really bored right now because I'm on holidays and all my friends are either doing other stuff, or are really lazy and won't respond to my calls of "hey lets hang out" :(

Grab a broom and sweep the floor :p
That's what my grandmother used to say to my brother and I when we were "bored" on our holidays :p

[Handsprime]

This image basically describes my life (without the Transformers obviously)
http://r-loops.com/img/blog/The-life-of-a-music-producer-8796523.jpg

Gotta make that Downfall bootleg sound amazing

[tinyJazz]

Fractured a bone in my foot and now I can't walk on it or drive for the next 2-3 weeks. :/ I feel a bit pathetic going about on crutches because of one tiny little break.

[Trent]

Fractured a bone in my foot and now I can't walk on it or drive for the next 2-3 weeks. :/ I feel a bit pathetic going about on crutches because of one tiny little break.

That sucks :(

[Facepunches]

Sorry to hear that TJ. Just make sure you stay off it and don't get ahead of yourself. It will heal in time yo!

[GoktimusPrime]

Some moron came up to me this morning and told me a MAJOR Star Wars Ep 7 spoiler. :mad: :o :rolleyes: I'm manning Hasbro's booth... my daughter's there... so I just grin and bear it. SON OF A GLITCH!!! :rolleyes:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/nooooooo_luke_skywalker_zps7mkvjoqw.gif

[UltimateGalvatron]

Some moron came up to me this morning and told me a MAJOR Star Wars Ep 7 spoiler. :mad: :o :rolleyes: I'm manning Hasbro's booth... my daughter's there... so I just grin and bear it. SON OF A GLITCH!!! :rolleyes:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/nooooooo_luke_skywalker_zps7mkvjoqw.gif

I hate that!!!!

[Sinnertwin]

Some moron came up to me this morning and told me a MAJOR Star Wars Ep 7 spoiler. :mad: :o :rolleyes: I'm manning Hasbro's booth... my daughter's there... so I just grin and bear it. SON OF A GLITCH!!! :rolleyes:

I'm curious now, off to the Google machine!

[griffin]

Is it a spoiler if it is in an official trailer or official advertising?

Like with the 4th Transformers movie, advertising is going to be everywhere leading up to this movie in December. And like the Dinobots, there will be things that will be common knowledge before seeing the movie because it was heavily advertised.
To be realistic, for a movie like this, unless you avoid all TV, internet and people for the next 3 months, a spoiler is something only people who have seen the movie would know, like Luke's father in Ep5.

[Sinnertwin]

I could only find one "major" spoiler posted online recently, but it seemed more like a fans wish list then anything else.

[Megatran]

Some moron came up to me this morning and told me a MAJOR Star Wars Ep 7 spoiler. :mad: :o :rolleyes: I'm manning Hasbro's booth... my daughter's there... so I just grin and bear it. SON OF A GLITCH!!! :rolleyes:

I would have happily paid to see how you would have responded if your little one was not there. :D

[GoktimusPrime]

Is it a spoiler if it is in an official trailer or official advertising?
It's the equivalent of walking up to someone in 1980 who hasn't seen The Empire Strikes Back and telling them that Vader is Luke's father (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neuMyI8M5fc). Yes, it's THAT significant. I'm just hoping that it's fake, but I'm going to be even more irritated if it turns out to be accurate. :mad:

That's all I can say without resorting to coarse language.

[Krayt]

Hmmmm.... I've been following TFA news rumours and leaks something shocking..... Nothing spoiler is out there to this extent yet.... And that's AFTER I've tried the sound chips on all the toys in the Disney store here in Italy as well...

[UltimateGalvatron]

It's the equivalent of walking up to someone in 1980 who hasn't seen The Empire Strikes Back and telling them that Vader is Luke's father (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neuMyI8M5fc). Yes, it's THAT significant. I'm just hoping that it's fake, but I'm going to be even more irritated if it turns out to be accurate. :mad:

That's all I can say without resorting to coarse language.

I haven't seen Empire Strikes Back!!!

You spoiler!









;)

[BigTransformerTrev]

What the frag happened to Spring?!?! :mad::confused::mad:

Seems like is was still winter half way through September, then we got a couple of weeks of spring and now it's summer! We've had temps of 38 & 39 with high winds here this week, now the forecast for my area is in the mid 30's for the next 7 days!

I got all my young tree's planted as well as my watermelon and pumpkin seedlings done mid Sept so that they would have time to establish themselves before the hot weather hit in a few months. Now with all these high temps and strong winds I'm watering every single friggin day just to keep everything alive! :mad:

The only good thing I can say is that my potato and strawberry plants are loving it. At the rate they are growing I'm going to have to hire a shipping container to store them all in :p

[Trent]

What the frag happened to Spring?!?! :mad::confused::mad:

Seems like is was still winter half way through September, then we got a couple of weeks of spring and now it's summer! We've had temps of 38 & 39 with high winds here this week, now the forecast for my area is in the mid 30's for the next 7 days!

I got all my young tree's planted as well as my watermelon and pumpkin seedlings done mid Sept so that they would have time to establish themselves before the hot weather hit in a few months. Now with all these high temps and strong winds I'm watering every single friggin day just to keep everything alive! :mad:

The only good thing I can say is that my potato and strawberry plants are loving it. At the rate they are growing I'm going to have to hire a shipping container to store them all in :p

Welcome to climate change.

[kup]

I am actually really bored right now because I'm on holidays and all my friends are either doing other stuff, or are really lazy and won't respond to my calls of "hey lets hang out" :(

Get a hobby...wait you have one! :p

Seriously, just develop your own self if you are on holidays with nothing to do. Time alone should not be time for being lonely but an opportunity to expand and develop your thoughts and interests.

[1AZRAEL1]

Fractured a bone in my foot and now I can't walk on it or drive for the next 2-3 weeks. :/ I feel a bit pathetic going about on crutches because of one tiny little break.

Know how ya feel. I've done something to my foot too, not quite sure what, and it has partially ruined my holidays already. Also may mean I can't do my fighting for rest of the year. Will have to get checked out when I get back from Bathurst. Can't even walk the damn track this year coz of it :(

[Trent]

Know how ya feel. I've done something to my foot too, not quite sure what, and it has partially ruined my holidays already. Also may mean I can't do my fighting for rest of the year. Will have to get checked out when I get back from Bathurst. Can't even walk the damn track this year coz of it :(

Have fun at Bathurst. Don't set any lounges on fire. They frown upon that these days :p

[BigTransformerTrev]

It never friggin stops! Spent thousands over the school holidays on accountants, dentists, hairdressers, mechanics, services for the chainsaw and mowers, vets etc etc.

Then the back window on our other car wont go up. Book it in today to get serviced and the window repaired and then when I go to start it up it wont turn over! Don't know if its the battery or not since the lights still work but its prob gonna cost me even more once I get the RACV out to repair it enough to get to the mechanics in town :mad:

At this rate I'll be able to afford a Mini-Con for myself for Xmas :rolleyes:



Know how ya feel. I've done something to my foot too, not quite sure what, and it has partially ruined my holidays already. Also may mean I can't do my fighting for rest of the year. Will have to get checked out when I get back from Bathurst. Can't even walk the damn track this year coz of it :(

If you go each year my sister-in-law lives 4 minutes from the track and next year they are thinking of renting out rooms for people going to the race. Remind me in a year and I'll hit her up for ya

[1AZRAEL1]

Have fun at Bathurst. Don't set any lounges on fire. They frown upon that these days :p

What, and ruin all my fun? ;) :p


If you go each year my sister-in-law lives 4 minutes from the track and next year they are thinking of renting out rooms for people going to the race. Remind me in a year and I'll hit her up for ya

Thanks for the thought, but we camp up on the mountain every year :)

[griffin]

I read today (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-go/foxtel-snaps-up-marvels-agents-of-shield-as-more-freetoair-tv-locked-away-20150923-gjt3dq.html) that the third season of Marvel's Agents of Shield will be screening on Foxtel instead of Channel 7... so even if it does show up on Free-TV later, it will probably be years later. :(

Channel 7 did well for the first two seasons by screening most episodes within a week or two of America, so the episodes related to Marvel Movies were close enough to the Movie release to be watched while the Movie was in theatres. (like with Avengers 2, the original Helicarrier's sudden appearance was explained in the TV show)

Yet another show that Foxtel have poached that will force thousands of people to downloading it from pirate sites.

If Foxtel ever poach Dr Who for their BBC channel, I will be severely peeved.

[Megatran]

Free to air is a proving ground for Foxtel to poach successful shows.

I think BBC has some sort of arrangement with the ABC, but don't take that as gospel. I can't stand that young girl assistant to the Who.

[Paulbot]

I tried to watch Agents of Shield on free to air but gave up with the random night and time slot changes. A with a potentially lower audience that a genre show can get you can expect if it's not an instant hit for it to get pushed back later and later and likely just disappear.

And worse if it's a rating hit you get something like Big Bang Theory. Not a fave but I liked to watch and had to give up because who knew when a new episode would actually air. That got so bad when they'd have two hours of the show with one new episode show at some point in that block.

Foxtel doesn't pull any of that rubbish. A show starts, keeps it time slot and day and a bunch of stuff if fast tracked.

It sucks a bit to have to use Foxtel but at least they provide a consistent service free to air channels don't.

I watch primarily Foxtel, ABC and SBS2 these days and barely any other free to air except occasional background noise while I'm online.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Hmmmm.... I've been following TFA news rumours and leaks something shocking....
Theres Transformers Animated news and rumours?:eek:


Oh hang on a minute....:(

I tried to watch Agents of Shield on free to air but gave up with the random night and time slot changes. A with a potentially lower audience that a genre show can get you can expect if it's not an instant hit for it to get pushed back later and later and likely just disappear.
I had that very same issue when Supernatural was on Channel 10. Happily watching one week, then it's off for two weeks, back for one episode, gone for 6 months....

But I think FOxtel's subscriotion bizzo is taking the piss a little bit on the prices. I too ended up watching SBS and ABC most of the time too. Old manage

[griffin]

And worse if it's a rating hit you get something like Big Bang Theory. Not a fave but I liked to watch and had to give up because who knew when a new episode would actually air. That got so bad when they'd have two hours of the show with one new episode show at some point in that block.

Or worse, if you aren't a fan and episodes are showing on two rival stations, who are trying to outdo the other with the amount of episodes they can play each week and the amount of advertising they are doing.
(although, that's a side effect of the new broadcast deal Network 7 has with Warner Brothers, after the 9 Network surrendered their exclusive rights to WB programs in September to free up cash to keep the Rugby League rights - which is why TMZ disappeared in September after several years of filling up 3 hours a day on Channel 99... while 7 appears to have higher standards to not want to play it)

[Trent]

You people watch too much TV.

[griffin]

You people watch too much TV.

That's why I'd never get Foxtel... it's just way too many channels.

[UltraMarginal]

I read today (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-go/foxtel-snaps-up-marvels-agents-of-shield-as-more-freetoair-tv-locked-away-20150923-gjt3dq.html) that the third season of Marvel's Agents of Shield will be screening on Foxtel instead of Channel 7... so even if it does show up on Free-TV later, it will probably be years later. :(

Channel 7 did well for the first two seasons by screening most episodes within a week or two of America, so the episodes related to Marvel Movies were close enough to the Movie release to be watched while the Movie was in theatres. (like with Avengers 2, the original Helicarrier's sudden appearance was explained in the TV show)

Yet another show that Foxtel have poached that will force thousands of people to downloading it from pirate sites.

If Foxtel ever poach Dr Who for their BBC channel, I will be severely peeved.

I heard this a couple weeks ago through Twitter. I will be watching Season 3 of Agents of shield somehow but not on Foxtel. I refuse to pay for tv that is supposed to be add free but isn't.

[GoktimusPrime]

I had Foxtel when I was still living w/ my parents as a youngin', and I remember the endless hours of channel surfing through 50 channels... only to find nothing interesting to watch. :rolleyes: Sometimes I see Pay TV ads and think, "Oooh, that sounds cool," but then I remember what it was actually like having it. :p

[Handsprime]

Accidentally started a flame war with some people over how the DnB community is failing to give a chance to some of the newcomer djs :/

[UltraMarginal]

Accidentally started a flame war with some people over how the DnB community is failing to give a chance to some of the newcomer she :/

you pyromaniac you:p

[1AZRAEL1]

Talking about Big Bang Theory, what was pissing me off was when they were showing the same episodes twice in the same week. How stupid is that? This, along with most of the other garbage they put on, has stopped me from watching free to air tv. I watch my dvds and tv series and random stuff I have downloaded instead. Free to air tv just sucks for the most part.

[griffin]

Talking about Big Bang Theory, what was pissing me off was when they were showing the same episodes twice in the same week. How stupid is that? This, along with most of the other garbage they put on, has stopped me from watching free to air tv. I watch my dvds and tv series and random stuff I have downloaded instead. Free to air tv just sucks for the most part.

You think that's bad... the final 2 episodes of 2 and a half men were advertised as premiering on ch 9 on Tuesday and then commercials were advertising the same 2 episodes as premiering on ch99.... part of the same network!

[Megatran]

I must reiterate this statement. :D


You people watch too much TV.

[M-bot]

I had Foxtel when I was still living w/ my parents as a youngin', and I remember the endless hours of channel surfing through 50 channels... only to find nothing interesting to watch. :rolleyes: Sometimes I see Pay TV ads and think, "Oooh, that sounds cool," but then I remember what it was actually like having it. :p

This. FOXTEL isn't better TV... it's just more TV.


You people watch too much TV.

There's a bit of that. I went a couple of years without TV during my 20's, after a couple of months, I didn't even miss it. Now, I quite like the Netflix model, I can watch when I want rather than when they choose to schedule it. If I don't have time or there's other things I want to do, I don't have to miss out.

[CHILENO20]

I read today (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-go/foxtel-snaps-up-marvels-agents-of-shield-as-more-freetoair-tv-locked-away-20150923-gjt3dq.html) that the third season of Marvel's Agents of Shield will be screening on Foxtel instead of Channel 7... so even if it does show up on Free-TV later, it will probably be years later. :(

Channel 7 did well for the first two seasons by screening most episodes within a week or two of America, so the episodes related to Marvel Movies were close enough to the Movie release to be watched while the Movie was in theatres. (like with Avengers 2, the original Helicarrier's sudden appearance was explained in the TV show)

Yet another show that Foxtel have poached that will force thousands of people to downloading it from pirate sites.

If Foxtel ever poach Dr Who for their BBC channel, I will be severely peeved.

Dr Who already appears on Foxtel on UK TV and SyFy channels. It's way too popular to dissapear from Free To Air so I wouldn't worry.


Free to air is a proving ground for Foxtel to poach successful shows.

I think BBC has some sort of arrangement with the ABC, but don't take that as gospel. I can't stand that young girl assistant to the Who.

Dude! How can you not like Clara???? That being said, I always prefered Rose myself :D

[Handsprime]

When you realise that you got a package today but wasn't aware of it despite the fact you were home at 4pm when it came and you learned about it at 5pm :rolleyes:

[DaptoDog]

When you realise that you got a package today but wasn't aware of it despite the fact you were home at 4pm when it came and you learned about it at 5pm :rolleyes:

I had the opposite experience the last few days. The DHL delivery driver made two stops in one day to make sure my wife got her package last week. Then today he left another package with our Neighbour who then passed it to my wife when she got home.:)

[BigTransformerTrev]

My wife and I spent a wonderful week in Paris when we were younger. The city was beautiful, the food exquisite, the people friendly, the art and culture inspiring - for these attacks to happen is in my opinion an attack on the beauty that humanity is capable of.

My heart goes out to those in Paris, a city that has a special place in my heart, and the French people and I join them in both their vow to not let their spirits be quashed and no mercy for the group responsible :mad:

[Trent]

My wife and I spent a wonderful week in Paris when we were younger. The city was beautiful, the food exquisite, the people friendly, the art and culture inspiring - for these attacks to happen is in my opinion an attack on the beauty that humanity is capable of.

My heart goes out to those in Paris, a city that has a special place in my heart, and the French people and I join them in both their vow to not let their spirits be quashed and no mercy for the group responsible :mad:

It is a fantastic city. Was there in January a few years ago and they had 1 metre of snow in 2 days, more then they had had in the previous decade. It was magic. Walking around such an awesome city when everything was coated in snow :)

It's terrible what happened but I'm not sure swift vengeance is the answer. I think the world needs to calm down a bit before any action is taken.

[GoktimusPrime]

It's terrible what happened but I'm not sure swift vengeance is the answer. I think the world needs to calm down a bit before any action is taken.
^This

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

[BigTransformerTrev]

It's terrible what happened but I'm not sure swift vengeance is the answer. I think the world needs to calm down a bit before any action is taken.

You have more level head than I good sir. If I had the chance to be in a room with the guys that orchestrated this atorisity I'd go all DJD on their arses

[Trent]

The American government used the white hot rage the world felt after 9/11 to justify the Afghanistan/Iraq invasion and by telling us that Iraq had WMDs. The lessons we have learned from that (for those that choose to learn them) are that action needs to be taken with careful, well thought out planning, not anger. Especially when we are dealing with countries. All that will happen now is some politician will use the people's emotion to push an agenda that in normal times would most likely be viewed with scepticism and caution.

Keep in mind, for those of you who do not fully understand what ISIL/ISIS is, is that it is the result of the USA/western worlds incredibly, and I mean INCREDIBLY bad planning and agenda pushing.

[griffin]

To be fair, Afghanistan was the base of operations of exported terrorists during that time and needed to be dealt with... and Bush's advisors told him that, but he wanted revenge on Iraq (first) over the unfinished business his father Bush Senior did during his time in office.
And Hussein needed to go, like Assad, but faking the reason for pulling the trigger on an invasion was unnecessary when there was already enough on Hussein to indict him on war crimes (against his own people and Kuwait).
It was simply abuse of power by Bush Junior that resulted in the Iraq invasion after September 11... instead of going to Afghanistan where the son of the Bush's family friends (the Bin Ladens) was located.

And it seems that America's politicians & military just don't learn. They rush in because they think they are the most powerful nation, but don't pre-plan what to do later.
Vietnam - invaded and pulled out leaving a vacuum of power for the Communist Regime to move in and slaughter western supporters.
Cuba - attempted invasion resulting in cementing a dictator... then blockading the country for their own mistake.
Iran - backed Iraq to go to war with Iran, resulting in the creation of an extreme religious state.
Iraq - Bush faked the WMD and used America's military to fight daddies unfinished war, creating a vacuum of power that was filled by extremists.
Palestine - The heavily religious America support the creation of a Jewish state in 1948, oppressing the native Arab/Muslim people and generate hostilities with neighbouring countries, creating a regional environment of hatred over the West.
Libya - Supported opposition groups and protected them with no-fly zones, to oust the Gadaffi regime without making sure that a stable government could fill the void.
Afghanistan - Removed the main threat and installed a puppet regime, but didn't reinforce the security of the country, creating power vacuums in the tribal areas of the country.
Syria - Supported opposition groups in an attempt to oust Assad, but creating large parts of the country without stable government, creating a safehaven for terrorist groups.

It's impossible to say that America deserves retaliation because the citizens and soldiers are the ones who suffer... instead of the egotistical politicians who order military operations from the comfort of their oval office, without caring about the consequences of their actions.

And on really rare occasions, there are good outcomes from politicians using public grief to push through an agenda - like the Port Arthur massacre. We'd never have gun reform with our current political parties, but there have been no mass shootings since.

[BigTransformerTrev]

The American government used the white hot rage the world felt after 9/11 to justify the Afghanistan/Iraq invasion and by telling us that Iraq had WMDs. The lessons we have learned from that (for those that choose to learn them) are that action needs to be taken with careful, well thought out planning, not anger. Especially when we are dealing with countries. All that will happen now is some politician will use the people's emotion to push an agenda that in normal times would most likely be viewed with scepticism and caution.

Keep in mind, for those of you who do not fully understand what ISIL/ISIS is, is that it is the result of the USA/western worlds incredibly, and I mean INCREDIBLY bad planning and agenda pushing.


To be fair, Afghanistan was the base of operations of exported terrorists during that time and needed to be dealt with... and Bush's advisors told him that, but he wanted revenge on Iraq (first) over the unfinished business his father Bush Senior did during his time in office.
And Hussein needed to go, like Assad, but faking the reason for pulling the trigger on an invasion was unnecessary when there was already enough on Hussein to indict him on war crimes (against his own people and Kuwait).
It was simply abuse of power by Bush Junior that resulted in the Iraq invasion after September 11... instead of going to Afghanistan where the son of the Bush's family friends (the Bin Ladens) was located.

And it seems that America's politicians & military just don't learn. They rush in because they think they are the most powerful nation, but don't pre-plan what to do later.
Vietnam - invaded and pulled out leaving a vacuum of power for the Communist Regime to move in and slaughter western supporters.
Cuba - attempted invasion resulting in cementing a dictator... then blockading the country for their own mistake.
Iran - backed Iraq to go to war with Iran, resulting in the creation of an extreme religious state.
Iraq - Bush faked the WMD and used America's military to fight daddies unfinished war, creating a vacuum of power that was filled by extremists.
Palestine - The heavily religious America support the creation of a Jewish state in 1948, oppressing the native Arab/Muslim people and generate hostilities with neighbouring countries, creating a regional environment of hatred over the West.
Libya - Supported opposition groups and protected them with no-fly zones, to oust the Gadaffi regime without making sure that a stable government could fill the void.
Syria - Supported opposition groups in an attempt to oust Assad, but creating large parts of the country without stable government, creating a safehaven for terrorist groups.

Not even remotely going to try to defend the many stupid actions of the western nations, however while they may explain the actions of IS, it doesn't excuse them



It's impossible to say that America deserves retaliation because the citizens and soldiers are the ones who suffer... instead of the egotistical politicians who order military operations from the comfort of their oval office, without caring about the consequences of their actions.

Exactly

[Trent]

Not even remotely going to try to defend the many stupid actions of the western nations, however while they may explain the actions of IS, it doesn't excuse them

Could you please clarify what part of my discussion gives you the impression that I am excusing these actions?

[GoktimusPrime]

Guh... there's a meme floating around now claiming that the same girl who was at the Sandy Hooks shooting was also at other shootings like the Boston Marathon bombing and now the Paris attacks. If you happen to see this crop up on your social media feed, please don't like/share it because it's a freakin' hoax (http://www.snopes.com/same-girl-crying-now-oregon/). :rolleyes:

[BigTransformerTrev]

Could you please clarify what part of my discussion gives you the impression that I am excusing these actions?

Didn't say you were mate, I was making a point, not a counter argument. Sorry if I gave an impression otherwise big fella, I know you wouldn't excuse this kinda stuff :)

[UltimateGalvatron]

Guh... there's a meme floating around now claiming that the same girl who was at the Sandy Hooks shooting was also at other shootings like the Boston Marathon bombing and now the Paris attacks. If you happen to see this crop up on your social media feed, please don't like/share it because it's a freakin' hoax (http://www.snopes.com/same-girl-crying-now-oregon/). :rolleyes:
I have posted on my Facebook and Instagram about this, warning them they are fakes etc.
Thank you :)

[Trent]

Didn't say you were mate, I was making a point, not a counter argument. Sorry if I gave an impression otherwise big fella, I know you wouldn't excuse this kinda stuff :)

All good. I was in a mood yesterday :)

And it seems like I was right. I have only caught snippets of news in the last few days but I heard that France has already begun "retaliation strikes" against IS targets with more promised. What that is is the French President trying to keep voters happy and be "seen" to be doing something rather than taking a calm, measured approach.

I mean, America bombed the crap out of Afghanistan after 9/11 and that worked? Right? :rolleyes:

[jazzcomp]

I guess I have to ask, what is the alternative?

[griffin]

Some advocate diplomacy (talking), but that only works with rational leaders of an established nation.
When you have a rogue nation or a group of people who are not fighting for a recognised country (like IS, Al Qaeda, separatist groups fighting to overthrow a government, etc), there is no rationality, compromise or element of trust.
IS/Daish has the primary goal of eradicating all non-believers in the entire world, either by converting them to Islam or killing anyone who won't convert, because that's their misguided interpretation of Islam. (800 years ago some Christian leaders had the same misguided interpretation of their own religion, believing it was their duty to wipe out the inhabitants of the middle east to create their own holy land, and hold inquisitions to make sure the people were dedicated to the faith... but that was a different time, called the Dark Ages for a reason, and the mainstream Christian religions are not like that anymore - they now focus more on preaching love and forgiveness over fear and punishment)

Others advocate staying out of the conflict because it is not in our part of the world, but as we've seen already, people from all over the world are being indoctrinated to either fly there to fight or carry out acts of aggression in their home country. And it will get a lot worse if IS are left to establish a safehaven area or are given their own lands (country) to act as their base of operations to carry out their primary objective - to eradicate all non-believers.

War is never a good thing, but anti-war advocates and protest crowds need to differentiate between an opponent that can be reasoned with to prevent conflict (like the cold war preventing a nuclear war), from an opponent who is willing to die before they compromise, surrender or cease hostilities (like these state-less groups).

[BigTransformerTrev]

Some advocate diplomacy (talking), but that only works with rational leaders of an established nation.
When you have a rogue nation or a group of people who are not fighting for a recognised country (like IS, Al Qaeda, separatist groups fighting to overthrow a government, etc), there is no rationality, compromise or element of trust.
IS/Daish has the primary goal of eradicating all non-believers in the entire world, either by converting them to Islam or killing anyone who won't convert, because that's their misguided interpretation of Islam. (800 years ago some Christian leaders had the same misguided interpretation of their own religion, believing it was their duty to wipe out the inhabitants of the middle east to create their own holy land, and hold inquisitions to make sure the people were dedicated to the faith... but that was a different time, called the Dark Ages for a reason, and the mainstream Christian religions are not like that anymore - they now focus more on preaching love and forgiveness over fear and punishment)

Others advocate staying out of the conflict because it is not in our part of the world, but as we've seen already, people from all over the world are being indoctrinated to either fly there to fight or carry out acts of aggression in their home country. And it will get a lot worse if IS are left to establish a safehaven area or are given their own lands (country) to act as their base of operations to carry out their primary objective - to eradicate all non-believers.

War is never a good thing, but anti-war advocates and protest crowds need to differentiate between an opponent that can be reasoned with to prevent conflict (like the cold war preventing a nuclear war), from an opponent who is willing to die before they compromise, surrender or cease hostilities (like these state-less groups).

We discussed all this as a class this morning and I had one student who could just not get it. When I likened IS to ther Joker in 'The Dark Night' - as in someone with their own agenda who can't be reasoned with, bullied, bought or bribed - the light of understanding went on in his eyes.

[DaptoDog]

Last year's Lindt cafe tragedy came back to me when the Paris terrorist attacks happened. I work in the city quite close to Lindt. A person in my team learned about the possibility of other bombs across the city so we got the hell out of there quick smart. I now am a lot more aware when walking around the city of others, it is amazing how many people have their headphones on or are fixated on their mobile phones and so are oblivious to what is happening around them.

Also, the thought of children losing their parents or dying themselves as a result of these senseless actions is truly heartbreaking.

[Trent]

I guess I have to ask, what is the alternative?

I never said that military action wasn't a reasonable course of action. It may well be. I'm not a blind flower loving hippy, sometimes violence is the only answer sadly. But dropping bombs on another country 2 days after you have had a terrorist attack in your own, when you don't even have all the details of who/why/how is a little premature and unwise. I suppose at least they are so far limiting it to dropping bombs from afar and not (overly) putting people's lives unnecessarily at risk.



Last year's Lindt cafe tragedy came back to me when the Paris terrorist attacks happened. I work in the city quite close to Lindt. A person in my team learned about the possibility of other bombs across the city so we got the hell out of there quick smart. I now am a lot more aware when walking around the city of others, it is amazing how many people have their headphones on or are fixated on their mobile phones and so are oblivious to what is happening around them.

Also, the thought of children losing their parents or dying themselves as a result of these senseless actions is truly heartbreaking.

I don't get into the city much but wifey and I were near there today. She suggested having coffee there until I reminded her what happened there, then she didn't want to go near the place. I must admit I had some small amount of morbid curiosity about going in there, but we found somewhere else to have a sit.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I never said that military action wasn't a reasonable course of action. It may well be. I'm not a blind flower loving hippy, sometimes violence is the only answer sadly. But dropping bombs on another country 2 days after you have had a terrorist attack in your own, when you don't even have all the details of who/why/how is a little premature and unwise. I suppose at least they are so far limiting it to dropping bombs from afar and not (overly) putting people's lives at risk.

My wife was filling me in on the days news I missed while at work and she pretty much echoed your sentiments. You both would make better world leaders than I - I'm very anti-war but after something like this if I was the French leader id be finding the best, most valid target of the enemy with the least civilian casualties (preferably none) and be bombing the living $h!t out of it! I wouldn't stop until the area was a giant smoking crater and then say 'This is what you f**king get when you mess with us!' And then I'd do it again.

I may be a little too much attached to Paris :o

[kup]

^This

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

- History has proven otherwise but nevertheless, that quote oversimplifies the issue so much it makes it look silly.

- What if the others don't want to evolve? We just let them kill us while we hold hands circling a tree?

They only respect ONE THING and that thing is what they should get.

[DaptoDog]

I don't get into the city much but wifey and I were near there today. She suggested having coffee there until I reminded her what happened there, then she didn't want to go near the place. I must admit I had some small amount of morbid curiosity about going in there, but we found somewhere else to have a sit.

That's a shame that it's come to that but I don't fault you for giving it a miss. A few years ago I used to go sometimes to Lindt with my boss but haven't been there since. But after that day it was amazing to see all the flowers throughout Martin Place, it was a powerful message about the people we want to be.

[GoktimusPrime]

- History has proven otherwise but nevertheless, that quote oversimplifies the issue so much it makes it look silly.

- What if the others don't want to evolve? We just let them kill us while we hold hands circling a tree?

They only respect ONE THING and that thing is what they should get.
But how did people get to being that way? Okay, once a person has been radicalised to the point that they're willing to blow themselves up and kill others, it's likely that it may be too late to save them; and if someone is itching to kill people, then the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. But how did they become radicalised in the first place? I don't think that it's a normal part of the human condition for most people.

Prevention is better than "cure," and I think that it would be useful if we looked at more pro-active measures in preventing or minimising the risk of people becoming radicalised in the first place. A few suggestions include:

* Investing more in education.

* Better parenting. Both schools and parents play an important role in raising children correctly and teaching them how to think, not what to think.

* Investing more in health, including facilities for and access to mental health.

* Pro-active attitudes and actions from the community. We all know that theses extremists don't represent the majority of Muslims, but the Muslim community can help by ensuring that everyone knows that views of intolerance towards are not acceptable. I think that it means a lot more when members of one's own demographic speak up, because when others do it, then it can be seen as condescending. A good example of this was when Waleed Aly shut down Zaky Mallah (http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-projects-waleed-aly-dresses-down-zaky-mallah-over-irresponsible-qa-outburst-20150624-ghvux0.html). Mallah has previously made controversial public statements, and when other non-Muslim Australians have tried to argue with Mallah, he's simple ignored them. But when Aly, a fellow Muslim Australian, effectively told him - on live television - that his views were dangerous and irresponsible, Mallah was publicly owned. When White people tell off Arabs, then they're seen as being racist, even if they're not. People like Mallah will play the Race Card and thus ignore any rational claims from non-Arabs. But when a fellow Arab comes forth and publicly shoots him down, then Mallah just has no come back. He cannot play the Race Card. Here you have a fellow Aussie Muslim, of Arab (Egyptian) heritage, telling Mallah to kindly shut the hell up. We need more people like Aly in the Muslim community who are willing to speak up against fellow Muslims if they're going to make stupid comments.

Waleed Aly, you bloody legend!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/waleed_cropped.jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

- History has proven otherwise but nevertheless, that quote oversimplifies the issue so much it makes it look silly.

- What if the others don't want to evolve? We just let them kill us while we hold hands circling a tree?

They only respect ONE THING and that thing is what they should get.
But how did people get to being that way? Okay, once a person has been radicalised to the point that they're willing to blow themselves up and kill others, it's likely that it may be too late to save them; and if someone is itching to kill people, then the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. But how did they become radicalised in the first place? I don't think that it's a normal part of the human condition for most people.

Prevention is better than "cure," and I think that it would be useful if we looked at more pro-active measures in preventing or minimising the risk of people becoming radicalised in the first place. A few suggestions include:

* Investing more in education.

* Better parenting. Both schools and parents play an important role in raising children correctly and teaching them how to think, not what to think.

* Investing more in health, including facilities for and access to mental health.

* Pro-active attitudes and actions from the community. We all know that theses extremists don't represent the majority of Muslims, but the Muslim community can help by ensuring that everyone knows that views of intolerance towards are not acceptable. I think that it means a lot more when members of one's own demographic speak up, because when others do it, then it can be seen as condescending. A good example of this was when Waleed Aly shut down Zaky Mallah (http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-projects-waleed-aly-dresses-down-zaky-mallah-over-irresponsible-qa-outburst-20150624-ghvux0.html). Mallah has previously made controversial public statements, and when other non-Muslim Australians have tried to argue with Mallah, he's simple ignored them. But when Aly, a fellow Muslim Australian, effectively told him - on live television - that his views were dangerous and irresponsible, Mallah was publicly owned. When White people tell off Arabs, then they're seen as being racist, even if they're not. People like Mallah will play the Race Card (http://commdiginews.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/racecard-627x462.jpg) and thus ignore any rational claims from non-Arabs. But when a fellow Arab comes forth and publicly shoots him down, then Mallah just has no come back. He cannot play the Race Card (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SBoPOIuFJHQ/U5osOc1cmdI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/ZEkp2grug0g/s1600/20131101e.jpg). Here you have a fellow Aussie Muslim, of Arab (Egyptian) heritage, telling Mallah to kindly shut the hell up. We need more people like Aly in the Muslim community who are willing to speak up against fellow Muslims if they're going to make stupid comments.

Waleed Aly, you bloody legend!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/waleed_cropped.jpg

P.S.: Waleed Aly has recently released this impassioned statement; ISIL is Weak (http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/waleed-aly-hits-out-at-isis-over-paris-attacks-calls-them-weak/story-fn948wjf-1227611388541). It talks about how every time someone does or says anything which divides Muslims and Non-Muslims, we're actually helping ISIL. The greatest weapon we can have against them atm is for Muslims and Non-Muslims to remain united. As clichéd as it sounds, united we stand, divided we fall.

[Handsprime]

P.S.: Waleed Aly has recently released this impassioned statement; ISIL is Weak (http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/waleed-aly-hits-out-at-isis-over-paris-attacks-calls-them-weak/story-fn948wjf-1227611388541). It talks about how every time someone does or says anything which divides Muslims and Non-Muslims, we're actually helping ISIL. The greatest weapon we can have against them atm is for Muslims and Non-Muslims to remain united. As clichéd as it sounds, united we stand, divided we fall.

I was just about to share that! That video needs to go viral. It also helps to know that being an anti-muslim bigot is actually what helps fuel the fire for ISIL.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I was just about to share that! That video needs to go viral. It also helps to know that being an anti-muslim bigot is actually what helps fuel the fire for ISIL.

A helluva lot of Muslims hate IS. They've been killing a lot of other Muslims that don't share their particular ideology and fanning the flames of hatred amongst biggots who take it out on perfectly innocent Muslim communities.

I think you can hate IS without hating Muslims as a whole.

[GoktimusPrime]

It's what sociology refers to as the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-fulfilling_prophecy). If you keep telling people that they're dangerous outcasts who don't belong in our society, then eventually they're going to believe it. :(

This is one reason why I personally refuse to use the words "Aussie" or "Australian" as synonyms for White Australians, because it helps to reinforce this divisive notion that being White is the 'default' for being Aussie. It sustains this "us and them" social attitude. If I want to explicitly talk about White Australians, then I'll just say "White Australians." But if I say the word "Australian" or "Aussie," then I mean any kind of Aussie -- white, black, yellow, brown, purple, straight, gay, male, female... don't care. And people often do this without knowing it. I recently saw an online post that started off by saying, "An Asian, and Indian and an Aussie walk into a bar..." or something like that. So I responded with this...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/meme_aussies_zps1bn5fcit.jpg :p
The intention was to tear down stereotypes. The 'Asian' there is a person of Middle Eastern appearance, because the Middle East is part of Asia. A lot of people say "Asian" when they just mean East Asians (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos etc.), but the fact is that the Middle East is part of Asia too. Anyone who's ever followed sports like the Asian World Cup would already know this. ;) The 'Aussie' is an image of an alien, because the word "Aussie" on its own doesn't specify ethnicity. I once had a white student try to argue with me that Aborigines aren't "Aussie." :eek: :rolleyes:

[jazzcomp]

I never said that military action wasn't a reasonable course of action. It may well be. I'm not a blind flower loving hippy, sometimes violence is the only answer sadly. But dropping bombs on another country 2 days after you have had a terrorist attack in your own, when you don't even have all the details of who/why/how is a little premature and unwise. I suppose at least they are so far limiting it to dropping bombs from afar and not (overly) putting people's lives unnecessarily at risk.

I'm not saying you are. These leaders were elected to represent them. If the French agree to this action, let them deal with it.

[kup]

I am in agreement with what Waleed Aly has said, specially in that ISIS is weak video. It is balance and intelligent and shows exactly what is happening.

A lot of what I have been hearing from the left and right is either over simplifications that border on (or is) fantasy to suit their own agendas. There is only one enemy here and it is Islamic State and it needs to be dealt with in a unified manner.

Since Paris, all I hear are extreme splits between left and right all saying all kinds of unrealistic BS. The world is not black and white, it's gray. Sometimes we do need to defend ourselves with violence and other times we do have to point the finger and call things for what they are and act accordingly.

If there are those who wish to stand up against what ISIL stands for, I want to hear them do so and I don't care if they are Muslim or Christian, I would stand with them side by side against those murdering assholes. What I don't want to see is fucked up BS like "Nobody cried when Lebanon got hit so you guys are hipocrists" divisive bullshit.

France got attacked because they value freedom as a way of life, that means all of us who believe in that got attacked too. We should all be outraged at ISIS and extremists who share in their ideology not make stupid ass Right winged or left winged accusations against one another.

[BigTransformerTrev]

There is a rather good debate about this whole issue on Q&A right now. I'm finding the former UN guy in particular to be very intelligent and insightful

[griffin]

One thing I hate seeing is people protesting against military intervention by the West, instead of protesting against the people who are actually slaughtering civilians, starting conflicts, or even committing genocide. Do they not realise that by protesting against military intervention they are actually showing support for the aggressors to continue killing people freely.... because they aren't going to stop killing before they are finished.

It's not like the western military are picking fights with random peaceful countries and go in to murder the women and children... they are often being sent in to respond to the people who are actually doing the killing of women and children.
And then the weaker political leaders who are facing elections or bad poll numbers decide to pull out before the threat is eradicated or that other country is able to fend for itself.

There are now calls for troops to be sent into Syria because the airstrikes aren't doing enough, but after the mess that was left in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, Libya and Cuba, it's no wonder western powers are hesitant with sending in anyone... and who of us would have any faith in it actually improving things.
Since the second world war, the West hasn't had much luck with improving warzone situations that they have been involved in.

[kup]

One thing I hate seeing is people protesting against military intervention by the West, instead of protesting against the people who are actually slaughtering civilians, starting conflicts, or even committing genocide. Do they not realise that by protesting against military intervention they are actually showing support for the aggressors to continue killing people freely.... because they aren't going to stop killing before they are finished.

It's not like the western military are picking fights with random peaceful countries and go in to murder the women and children... they are often being sent in to respond to the people who are actually doing the killing of women and children.
And then the weaker political leaders who are facing elections or bad poll numbers decide to pull out before the threat is eradicated or that other country is able to fend for itself.

There are now calls for troops to be sent into Syria because the airstrikes aren't doing enough, but after the mess that was left in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, Libya and Cuba, it's no wonder western powers are hesitant with sending in anyone... and who of us would have any faith in it actually improving things.
Since the second world war, the West hasn't had much luck with improving warzone situations that they have been involved in.

Yes, totally agree. All those wars that you mentioned are more political or ideological and even economically driven. They gradually started causing messes that following generations have to put up with. The last war that was about our survival for our culture, our nation and way of life was World War II. Unfortunately, we are in a situation again where those values are threatened but the previous failed wars and the cultural shifts and ideology that has risen from them have divided and blinded us.

[griffin]

For the issue of Iraq and how politicians treat war from the safety of their home or office, I cannot recommend the Fahrenheit 9/11 movie by Michael Moore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_9/11) enough.
It might be ten years old and focuses on a previous presidential administration, but it is a great reminder of what presidential self-interests can negatively affect the rest of the world, a bit like a dictatorship.
It detailed that Bush didn't want to invade Afghanistan to go after Osama... but eventually agreed to it on the condition that he was able to get America to invade Iraq after it.
It also noted that of the 500+ members of congress (the federal politicians) only one had a child serving in Iraq at the time he was filming the movie (2004)... suggesting that politicians wouldn't have been as eager to commit to Bush's war if people they were related to or even knew were the ones dying or being maimed.

Bush Senior did a half-assed job by leaving Hussein in charge of Iraq after liberating Kuwait, prompting Bush Junior to use his "personal army" (as commander in chief) to go in later, but also did a half-assed job by focussing on hunting down Hussein instead of regime change for the oppressed people of Iraq with a strategy of a stable transition.
(plus there was the added bonus of Bush using the taxpayer funded military to destroy much of Iraq's infrastructure and military, and then have construction, oil and private security companies that the Bush Family and their business friends owned, get exclusive government contracts that were forced on the new Iraqi regime)

[kup]

Yeah I have seen Fahrenheit 9/11. To put it simply, the mess we have now can be directly atributed to that administration. In a rational world, they would all be on trial for war crimes and corruption.

Nevertheless, we can't cry over spilled milk and simply face the consequences and clean it up even if we didn't spill it ourselves. Otherwise we have to pay the consequences as we are now. The problem that I see is that every time ISIS does anything, people don't get angry at ISIS for their atrocities but instead goes into an idiotic right vs left bitch fight so essentially people fight amongs themselves while ISIS gets free promo.

Why can't all of them just focus their anger on the murderers causing this and those who support them?

[BigTransformerTrev]

The problem that I see is that every time ISIS does anything, people don't get angry at ISIS for their atrocities but instead goes into an idiotic right vs left bitch fight so essentially people fight amongs themselves while ISIS gets free promo.



That's a good point and commentators both sides have said it helps the terrorists propaganda machine by doing so

[ampoldj]

When you realise that you got a package today but wasn't aware of it despite the fact you were home at 4pm when it came and you learned about it at 5pm :rolleyes:

I had a same experience but because I really did not know that my item already has been shipped! I am relaxed that it may just be delayed or on queue patiently waiting for shipping notification but then checked and logged on my account on the site before i sleep and saw my order "fulfilled" 4 days ago without them sending me any notification. My wife said "ah yeah you got missed parcel notice in our mail today" and made me look like i did not declare that item to her. The good part is that it was sent by Aus post otherwise its gonna be a pain to get the parcel :(

[shockNwave]

That's a good point and commentators both sides have said it helps the terrorists propaganda machine by doing so

To get angry towards ISIL means that sooner or later one needs to get angry towards the koran and the hadith. These books are the heart & soul, the fuel of ISIL.
So therefore criticism of the koran and hadith will be treated as islamophobia, racism or an attack on moderate muslims when it's really an attack on paedophilia, forced marriage/sexual slavery and enemies of human rights.:mad:

[BigTransformerTrev]

To get angry towards ISIL means that sooner or later one needs to get angry towards the koran and the hadith. These books are the heart & soul, the fuel of ISIL.
So therefore criticism of the koran and hadith will be treated as islamophobia, racism or an attack on moderate muslims when it's really an attack on paedophilia, forced marriage/sexual slavery and enemies of human rights.:mad:

Same could be said of the bible and it's relation to the atrocities committed during the Spanish Inquisition, especially when you read the Old Testament.

Can't lump everyone of a certain religious faith together. I've been given more generous Xmas gifts by the families of Muslim kids I've taught than the Christian ones. It's down to individuality and how one chooses to express their faith. Save hatred for the Terrorists - not your everyday Muslim on the street

[Trent]

For the issue of Iraq and how politicians treat war from the safety of their home or office, I cannot recommend the Fahrenheit 9/11 movie by Michael Moore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_9/11) enough.
It might be ten years old and focuses on a previous presidential administration, but it is a great reminder of what presidential self-interests can negatively affect the rest of the world, a bit like a dictatorship.
It detailed that Bush didn't want to invade Afghanistan to go after Osama... but eventually agreed to it on the condition that he was able to get America to invade Iraq after it.
It also noted that of the 500+ members of congress (the federal politicians) only one had a child serving in Iraq at the time he was filming the movie (2004)... suggesting that politicians wouldn't have been as eager to commit to Bush's war if people they were related to or even knew were the ones dying or being maimed.

Bush Senior did a half-assed job by leaving Hussein in charge of Iraq after liberating Kuwait, prompting Bush Junior to use his "personal army" (as commander in chief) to go in later, but also did a half-assed job by focussing on hunting down Hussein instead of regime change for the oppressed people of Iraq with a strategy of a stable transition.
(plus there was the added bonus of Bush using the taxpayer funded military to destroy much of Iraq's infrastructure and military, and then have construction, oil and private security companies that the Bush Family and their business friends owned, get exclusive government contracts that were forced on the new Iraqi regime)

There's a podcast called "The Dollop" that a member here put me onto previously. They recently did an episode on the Iraq War and how the US screwed it up. All I can say is :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I recommend that episode if nothing else. Although the Fenian Raids is a great one too :p

[GoktimusPrime]

Just wanted to point out that atrocities and acts of terrorism carried out in the name of Christianity and other religions still happen today, such as the Lord's Resistance Army (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord%27s_Resistance_Army). Extreme religious stupidity isn't something that remains unique to Islam. And ISIL is about as representative of Muslims as the LRA is representative of Christians.

[shockNwave]

Same could be said of the bible and it's relation to the atrocities committed during the Spanish Inquisition, especially when you read the Old Testament.

Can't lump everyone of a certain religious faith together. I've been given more generous Xmas gifts by the families of Muslim kids I've taught than the Christian ones. It's down to individuality and how one chooses to express their faith. Save hatred for the Terrorists - not your everyday Muslim on the street

I'm glad you mentioned individuality because individualist religion poses a threat to the iron fisted tyranny that can be found within organised religion. Sadly, ISIL is very good at practicing iron fisted tyranny and thus stamping out individuality.:(

As for the bible, the old testament has been followed up by the new testament.
Can the same be said for the koran and the hadith?

[shockNwave]

Just wanted to point out that atrocities and acts of terrorism carried out in the name of Christianity and other religions still happen today, such as the Lord's Resistance Army (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord%27s_Resistance_Army). Extreme religious stupidity isn't something that remains unique to Islam. And ISIL is about as representative of Muslims as the LRA is representative of Christians.

Talk of atrocities and acts of terrorism can be viewed in the following contexts; quality and quantity.
Quality can mean level of barbarism (e.g. beheading, bombings).
Quantity can mean amount of atrocities/acts as well as amount of deaths.
I doubt Christianity and those other religions can compete with what Islam is committing these days.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Just remember the the description of this section mate:

Non-toy Stuff
For everything else that is NOT toy related. Unresolveable topics like religion, politics, social ideologies, etc, are discouraged. Other boards cater for that.

While I don't think anyone here is worried about offending terrorists, we may have Muslim members who would not wish to have their religion insulted or put under the microscope and we all have to respect that.

I inadvertently insulted the faith of a Christian member when I was a Newbie here and I ended up apologising as I realised this wasn't the forum to question their beliefs. If we are all going to discuss this topic, let's keep it about what happened in France like Griffin, Trent and Kup have been doing and not let it stray to the wider topic of comparative religion.

[BigTransformerTrev]

BTW, I'm not having a go at you ShocknWave, just don't want you to fall into the same trap I did. Personally as an athiest I'd be more than happy if all religion came to an end and people just accepted what science has proved in a myriad of ways over and over again. But I've met too many cool people of all different denominations over the course of my life to have a particular anger against any one group and have come to realise that even if I don't agree with how they live their lives it's not my place to tell them how they should be living, especially on a Transformers Fansite. Anyway, I'm gonna try and limit my discussions back to the topic of what happened in France and it's prob a good idea to do the same so you don't get in trouble with the Moderators :)

Terrorists however - b*stards to a man and I think the Mods wont mind if we slag them off to our hearts content eh ;)

[Tober]

As for the bible, the old testament has been followed up by the new testament.
Can the same be said for the koran and the hadith?

The Koran was written well after the New Testament and is basically a follow up to it.

The Koran being much the same up to the death of the Christ. From an atheist's point of view anyway.

Regardless, as said, religious discussion is generally not allowed on these boards. Please refrain from it. :)

[kup]

To get angry towards ISIL means that sooner or later one needs to get angry towards the koran and the hadith. These books are the heart & soul, the fuel of ISIL.
So therefore criticism of the koran and hadith will be treated as islamophobia, racism or an attack on moderate muslims when it's really an attack on paedophilia, forced marriage/sexual slavery and enemies of human rights.:mad:

I hate the terrorists, I wanted them exterminated. However that doesn't mean I am going to go and support people killing every Muslim they see on the streets.

Trev has it right, the bible is also filled with vile crap that got acted upon during Inquisition times and much of the middle ages. We all know how progressive that age was that it is now historically known as the 'dark ages'.

Ironically enough during this time the Arabs were much more progressive Socially, in Science and mathematics and this helped Europe restore much of what was lost after Rome fell and put us back into a progressive path. If Christians are not presently killing other non-christians or those not of their exact faith then they can only be called moderate Christians because if they were 'extremists' they would also be killing in the name of the Bible/Christ as it has happened in the past.

However one has to acknowledge that the hippy left wing angle is also grossly silly - Simply the other extreme of the same stupidity. Clearly there is a problem with extremism in modern Muslim culture and this needs to be acknowledged if we are to remove it. I can say with some measure of certainly that a lot of Muslims around the Lakemba area would not be the types that I woud call 'moderate'. The reason why their kids are more likely to act is because they hear the idiology tom the parents (eg, Son, just look at how those women dress, this country is rotten and needs Sharia law) They may not be blowing themselves up but I am sure they wish to have what IS want to achieve through violence and neither end goal is good for humanity.

[GoktimusPrime]

As for the bible, the old testament has been followed up by the new testament.
Can the same be said for the koran and the hadith?
Yes. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_revelation#Islam)

I doubt Christianity and those other religions can compete with what Islam is committing these days.
Again, just looking at contemporary atrocities committed by Christian terrorist organisations like the LRA... the LRA does things like:
* Abducting people; nearly half of which are children aged 15 or under.
* Abductees are then introduced to drugs, making them more mentally/psychologically unstable and easier to manipulate. Children are also trained as child soldiers. In 2006, the UN found over 5000 child soldiers (http://www.irinnews.org/report/59296/uganda-interview-with-radhika-coomaraswamy-special-representative-for-children-and-armed-conflict)! :eek: Yeah, the LRA actually sends children to do their fighting! :eek:
* As initiation, children are made to kill their own parents.
LRA leaders have been charged by the International Criminal Court for war crimes (http://web.archive.org/web/20070630001748/http://www.icc-cpi.int/cases/UGD.html), including murder, rape and sexual slavery.

The Ugandan Ministry of Health estimates that the LRA killed 28,283 people within a 7 month period (http://www.irinnews.org/report/56063/uganda-1-000-displaced-die-every-week-in-war-torn-north-report). That's 208 times more than the number of people killed in the Paris attacks! :eek: 28,283 deaths in 7 months means that they're killing about 4040 people a month, or roughly 48,480 people a year. It's equivalent to killing the entire population of Gladstone QLD (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladstone,_Queensland) every year. The LRA have been in operation since 1987, so they may have killed as many as over a million people! :eek:

"...we are fighting in the name of God... we are fighting for the Ten Commandments of God... because the Ten Commandments of God is the constitution that God has given the people of the world."
- Vincent Otti (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Otti)

[kup]

Yes. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_revelation#Islam)

Again, just looking at contemporary atrocities committed by Christian terrorist organisations like the LRA... the LRA does things like:
* Abducting people; nearly half of which are children aged 15 or under.
* Abductees are then introduced to drugs, making them more mentally/psychologically unstable and easier to manipulate. Children are also trained as child soldiers. In 2006, the UN found over 5000 child soldiers (http://www.irinnews.org/report/59296/uganda-interview-with-radhika-coomaraswamy-special-representative-for-children-and-armed-conflict)! :eek: Yeah, the LRA actually sends children to do their fighting! :eek:
* As initiation, children are made to kill their own parents.
LRA leaders have been charged by the International Criminal Court for war crimes (http://web.archive.org/web/20070630001748/http://www.icc-cpi.int/cases/UGD.html), including murder, rape and sexual slavery.

The Ugandan Ministry of Health estimates that the LRA killed 28,283 people within a 7 month period (http://www.irinnews.org/report/56063/uganda-1-000-displaced-die-every-week-in-war-torn-north-report). That's 208 times more than the number of people killed in the Paris attacks! :eek: 28,283 deaths in 7 months means that they're killing about 4040 people a month, or roughly 48,480 people a year. It's equivalent to killing the entire population of Gladstone QLD (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladstone,_Queensland) every year. The LRA have been in operation since 1987, so they may have killed as many as over a million people! :eek:

"...we are fighting in the name of God... we are fighting for the Ten Commandments of God... because the Ten Commandments of God is the constitution that God has given the people of the world."
- Vincent Otti (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Otti)

Who gives a shit what Christians do or don't in relations to what ISIS has done/doing. Because one group did it or does it doesn't excuse the other. This is the sort of BS that ends up causing division - Right now we have one enemy we are focusing on and that's ISIS and the extremist Muslim ideology that fuels them.

[Handsprime]

Oh jeez this sure is controversial

[Trent]

Who gives a shit what Christians do or don't in relations to what ISIS has done/doing. Because one group did it or does it doesn't excuse the other. This is the sort of BS that ends up causing division - Right now we have one enemy we are focusing on and that's ISIS and the extremist Muslim ideology that fuels them.

Calm down. He was replying directly to a question posed previously. It was very relevant to their conversation. In no way is he excusing anyone's actions. Just merely pointing out that you can't condemn a whole religion based on the action of a small amount of followers, and giving an example relating to Christianity.

We, Us, on this board are not focussed on an enemy. We are having a discussion.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Oh jeez this sure is controversial

Yeah I didn't think when I originally said:


My wife and I spent a wonderful week in Paris when we were younger. The city was beautiful, the food exquisite, the people friendly, the art and culture inspiring - for these attacks to happen is in my opinion an attack on the beauty that humanity is capable of.

My heart goes out to those in Paris, a city that has a special place in my heart, and the French people and I join them in both their vow to not let their spirits be quashed and no mercy for the group responsible :mad:

That it would go down this path, but maybe I should have foreseen it. I'm sorry if I've caused trouble by bringing it up :o I just felt really bad and angry for what the people in Paris went through :(

[griffin]

That it would go down this path, but maybe I should have foreseen it. I'm sorry if I've caused trouble by bringing it up :o I just felt really bad and angry for what the people in Paris went through :(

Your initial posting may have been the first to refer to a topic that led to religious matter, but you were justified to comment on the Paris situation as it had related to you personally, or just in general as a sign of sympathy to the situation and people involved.
Others including myself started focusing on the causes behind it, which included opinions and speculations, that generated discussion, taking the topic away from speaking directly about Paris.

The topic has been open long enough after the Paris event for people to post their sympathies, so I've temporarily closed the topic for 5 days, to let the emotion of recent events to die down a bit so that it reduces the desire to discuss or respond to the elements behind it (like religion, which has been proven to be an unresolvable topic... and it isn't fair to prohibit followers from promoting positive elements of their faith, but allow for us to talk about the negative elements).

[drifand]

Ugh, got a guy who ask me to buy mps but not paying me a cent when I asked, and even when goods arrive. Just left me hanging. < wont communicate, wont even answer calls.

I guess I will end up selling his stuff here. I gave up on him.

[UltimateGalvatron]

Ugh, got a guy who ask me to buy mps but not paying me a cent when I asked, and even when goods arrive. Just left me hanging. < wont communicate, wont even answer calls.

I guess I will end up selling his stuff here. I gave up on him.

Yeah, I had a guy recently like that. :mad: I was selling him my G1 stuff, but then after the 'I'll transfer money next week' email, he never replied again, and the money never went in. I tried to email him multiple times, but he ignored them.

[griffin]

Hope they weren't members here.
If they are, the saleyard feedback section is where you can warn others of them.

[DaptoDog]

Playstation network always crashing around public holidays. This time it's down at US Thanksgiving:(

[Handsprime]

Playstation network always crashing around public holidays. This time it's down at US Thanksgiving:(

I heard its Lizard Squard up to now good


Also because its getting hotter, my Laptop is now more likely to overheat, and because of that it gets slow, and when it gets slow it means I can't get stuff done since nowadays everything is Digital :mad:

[GoktimusPrime]

Playstation network always crashing around public holidays. This time it's down at US Thanksgiving:(
One great thing about playing with toys -- never have network or lag issues. :D

[drifand]

Hope they weren't members here.
If they are, the saleyard feedback section is where you can warn others of them.

And here's the thing, some of the newer members here who I don't know well have deposit money into my bank account. It just shows that is so unpredictable.

I have fork out over 1K worth of toys to help distribute to some locals here in WA. All I asked them to do was to pay me when the item arrives. This guy really over step the line as I should have stick to my guns and insisted a deposit in my account or nothing happens.

I do not know if he is a member here, and I doubt so, but if he is and I know what username, I will put in the feedback. I had another person telling me his sad story about family issues, but to me, all I asked was they communicate to say "hey buddy, something happened within my family and I am sorry I can't pay you now etc...." That surely cant be hard? Instead I have to ring him up after no replies. It is just disappointing.

[1AZRAEL1]

And here's the thing, some of the newer members here who I don't know well have deposit money into my bank account. It just shows that is so unpredictable.

I have fork out over 1K worth of toys to help distribute to some locals here in WA. All I asked them to do was to pay me when the item arrives. This guy really over step the line as I should have stick to my guns and insisted a deposit in my account or nothing happens.

I do not know if he is a member here, and I doubt so, but if he is and I know what username, I will put in the feedback. I had another person telling me his sad story about family issues, but to me, all I asked was they communicate to say "hey buddy, something happened within my family and I am sorry I can't pay you now etc...." That surely cant be hard? Instead I have to ring him up after no replies. It is just disappointing.

If you've dealt with them before, sometimes trust goes well. Nexus has got it down great. Sadly I had to pull out of a sale right at the wrong time with someone because of financial hardship and left him in the lurch. I feel like a slack prick for it but can't be helped sometimes

[UltimateGalvatron]

The person I was dealing with was a newer member.

http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=500580#post500580

I made a feedback thread, I don't think he has been on in a while anyway, but don't deal with him, please.

[DaptoDog]

And here's the thing, some of the newer members here who I don't know well have deposit money into my bank account. It just shows that is so unpredictable.

I have fork out over 1K worth of toys to help distribute to some locals here in WA. All I asked them to do was to pay me when the item arrives. This guy really over step the line as I should have stick to my guns and insisted a deposit in my account or nothing happens.

I do not know if he is a member here, and I doubt so, but if he is and I know what username, I will put in the feedback. I had another person telling me his sad story about family issues, but to me, all I asked was they communicate to say "hey buddy, something happened within my family and I am sorry I can't pay you now etc...." That surely cant be hard? Instead I have to ring him up after no replies. It is just disappointing.

Yep 20% deposit is probably enough skin in the game to ensure they follow through with the full payment. If not then at least you have some compensation and can resell at a lower price to be made whole. It shouldn't come to that but sadly these things happen.

[drifand]

If you've dealt with them before, sometimes trust goes well. Nexus has got it down great. Sadly I had to pull out of a sale right at the wrong time with someone because of financial hardship and left him in the lurch. I feel like a slack prick for it but can't be helped sometimes

Trust for me goes well if communicated. I actually don't mind people with bad habit and not pay me on time. The minimum I ask was to keep me in the loop.
Are you still wanting it? Can I pay you later at this date? Reply when the seller ask, not just keep quiet and leave them wondering what to do. Some just give the I pay you next pay day and you need to ask"when is that?" Is a lot of unnecessary questions that the seller doesn't need, just give him the date instead.

Financial hardship can strike anytime that is acceptable, you just need to communicate. As the seller has to deal with his accounts as well.

My mistake was I should have known as he pulled one before and claimed it was communication error. He pisses me off is he said he will get back but no follow up the next entire week. Surely if your employer decides not to pay you on your salary day you be jumping .

Anyway I decided to let him go as much as he is a customer it wasn't worth the hassle .

[Handsprime]

I hate summer.
Ever since it got hot my laptop is having problems working properly which means I can't play games on it anymore, and watching videos has been proven to be tricky. It only works alright when it is cold.
And making music is very difficult, which is a worry because I have stuff to do, but if Ableton doesn't work, then I can't get stuff done :(

[5FDP]

I hate summer.

^ This times a billion!

[drifand]

I tend to hate the days that go above 38 degrees.

Another vent, my recycling service did not do their runs last week and an entire street is missed. Was told off that I have to complain within 48hours or tough luck. But they are happy to increase rubbish collection prices at 50% more.

This is the kind of bs I hate.

[GoktimusPrime]

I've been enjoying the unseasonably cool weather (mid 20s) we've had in Sydney lately. I know it won't last, but might as well enjoy it while it does. :o Some people actually complained that it was "too cold"... I don't miss the sweltering heat at all.

[DaptoDog]

I've been enjoying the unseasonably cool weather (mid 20s) we've had in Sydney lately. I know it won't last, but might as well enjoy it while it does. :o Some people actually complained that it was "too cold"... I don't miss the sweltering heat at all.

I need to vent about people that like cool weather in Summer. You got your cold weather in winter, leave our summer alone. Just joking, each to their own:)

[Handsprime]

I got a free trial for Google Play music but cancelled it straight away. At least I though untill I got billed for a subscription. I cancelled it immediately and asked for a refund since I did not ask for one :mad:
Why couldn't most things that have a free trial end with it not working unless you chose to pay for it? It's that easy and won't make me mad

[Thurmus]

I hate summer.
Ever since it got hot my laptop is having problems working properly which means I can't play games on it anymore, and watching videos has been proven to be tricky. It only works alright when it is cold.
And making music is very difficult, which is a worry because I have stuff to do, but if Ableton doesn't work, then I can't get stuff done :(

Try one of those laptop cooling stable table things. I have one from Dick Smith and it is great.

[GoktimusPrime]

When I was watching Star Wars, I had a lady sitting to my left who would occasionally feel the need to tell her friend sitting on her left what she was thinking at certain times of the movie. She also felt the need to occasionally react aloud to certain points of the movie, like "Oooh, did you see that?!" or "WHOA! <describes.what.just.happened>!" Yeah, thanks lady. We all saw and heard that too. We don't need a running commentary from you! :rolleyes: At one point of the movie, she also decided to use her phone, and I used my hand to shield my eyes from the back glow of her phone in a very obvious manner that she couldn't have not noticed. But she didn't care. And I shot her lots of dirty stares when she was talking, but that didn't stop her either. She also placed her feet on the chair in front of her and when the movie ended, I noticed that she had spilt popcorn all over the floor in front of her like a freakin' pig. :rolleyes:

Compared to a most other talkers I've encountered she wasn't that bad. Her commentaries were fairly intermittent, unlike some other talkers who chat throughout the movie in a more sustained manner. But it was still really annoying. The other stupid thing is that before the movie started, we could see/hear some young kids sitting a few rows in front of us, and this lady groaned, "Oh great, I hate it when that happens," -- and yeah, those kids did predictably talk a few times during the film. But what a massive hypocrite for preemptively complaining about kids talking only to go ahead and do exactly that! :rolleyes:

Some people just shouldn't be out in public.

[Megatran]

At one point of the movie, she also decided to use her phone, and I used my hand to shield my eyes from the back glow of her phone in a very obvious manner that she couldn't have not noticed.
Perhaps she was demonstrating the back glow effect of the light saber. :p

[Sinnertwin]

I haven't been to a regular cinema session in a few years [Ted, 2012] for the exact same reason.

[Handsprime]

When I saw Star Wars I did get a bit annoyed (which is probably why my reaction to the movie was lower) because everyone was cheering when someone from the old movies showed up, and everyone laughed at the jokes even though this wasn't a sitcom :mad:

[GoktimusPrime]

Although I didn't do either of those things, I think that's quite a different thing from having conversations or making commentaries or using your phone during a movie. Cheering and laughing are more like the crowd reacting as a crowd to what is happening on the screen. Even if I'm not personally cheering or laughing at the time, I can fully understand why others would. It's a shared experience -- the audience is laughing and cheering together.

But the lady next to me kept on having private conversations with her friend on the other side. Her outbursts were often done as an individual. Having a whole cinema react to something is one thing, having just ONE person react loudly to something is different. She isn't sharing the experience with anyone, she's just being rude and selfish.

[UltimateGalvatron]

While I saw Force Awakens two teenagers were waving around light up lightsabers for about the first quarter of the movie. I feel your pain. :mad:

[Jaxius._]

Some people just shouldn't be out in public.

Sad but true

[GoktimusPrime]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH BOLLOCKS!

I tried to book a movie ticket online using a complimentary coupon, but the system tells me that the coupon has "insufficient funds," and I've received no ticket through my email. :mad: So now I'm going to have to go into the cinema tomorrow to try and purchase the ticket and just hope that the good seats aren't booked out. :mad:

[drifand]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH BOLLOCKS!

I tried to book a movie ticket online using a complimentary coupon, but the system tells me that the coupon has "insufficient funds," and I've received no ticket through my email. :mad: So now I'm going to have to go into the cinema tomorrow to try and purchase the ticket and just hope that the good seats aren't booked out. :mad:

You hope you don't meet that silly women again. Man I thought only kids will do that now as they don't understand the concept of watching the movie as they are young. but reading this its a shame that the friend doesn't tell her to pipe down as well.


Well.....EMS post for thundercracker got status Tokyo outward exchange for a past week, my UW devy which was one day earlier arrived last week. This suck not knowing is lost or entered Australia at all.

[Starscream77]

and everyone laughed at the jokes even though this wasn't a sitcom :mad:

People had the audacity to laugh at jokes :eek:
How dare they! I would demand a full refund as we all know you are supposed to frown at jokes

Insert sarcasm brackets :rolleyes:

[Sinnertwin]

I was mildly irritated by the studio laughter and badoom-tish after each gag, but I still enjoyed thr movie :)

[GoktimusPrime]

There are some real champions on the road, even during the double-demerit period.
Last week I was driving along a highway in the rain, and a cyclist decided to ride on the wrong side of the highway heading right towards me. I slowed down and beeped my horn at him, and naturally he flipped me the bird. Yes. How dare I drive on the left side of the road. What was I thinking? :rolleyes:

Earlier today I was driving at 70km/h in a 70km/h zone, and there's a car tailgating me. As I approached a red light, he quickly swerves around me and cuts me off at the red light, forcing me to hit my brakes. I also repeatedly flashed my high beams at him. I later drove past him and shot him a dirty look, but he just completely ignored me -- driving along as if nothing had happened. Right. Must be my fault for sticking to the posted speed limit and slowing down as I approached a red light. What was I thinking? :rolleyes:

[Megatran]

^ You Sydney drivers are crazy. How did you manage to drive past him. :confused:

[Sinnertwin]

^ You Sydney drivers are crazy. How did you manage to drive past him. :confused:

I'll give credit to the Melbournites through. How they manage to pedal their retro bikes while balancing a skim-soy-organically-certified-free-trade-frappe-mocha-chai-tim-tam-latte in pipe cleaner jeans and neck beards is beyond me :) :p

[Trent]

I'll give credit to the Melbournites through. How they manage to pedal their retro bikes while balancing a skim-soy-organically-certified-free-trade-frappe-mocha-chai-tim-tam-latte in pipe cleaner jeans and neck beards is beyond me :) :p

True story.

[Megatran]

Livin' the dream. Though traded in the retro push bike for a hoverboard, sitting in the lotus position & sipping an all natural, no additive number, extra antioxidants, low calorie, no added whale Japanese green tea. And dropped the skinny jeans for the CK trunks. :cool:

[kup]

I haven't been to a regular cinema session in a few years [Ted, 2012] for the exact same reason.


It's where you go and the price point. If you want to see a serious movie without interruptions, you need Gold Class - Not because of the 'classy experience' (that's a con) but because it prices the idiots out.

Another tactic if you are willing to wait, is to give it a couple of weeks or so after release. That way a lot of the idiots would have already seen the movie or lost interest but it is still a risk.

I remember when I went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes and this idiot decided to bring toddlers into the cinema. All you could hear is crying and screaming from the kids through the film because they were clearly frightened by the movie but the idiot just sat there and didn't think of taking the kids out.

[Jaxius._]

All I can smell is turpentine

[GoktimusPrime]

A neighbour moved out a few months ago and left their cat behind. And even for a good year before the left, they'd been neglecting this cat for a long, long time. Along with our next door neighbours, we've been tag-team caring for this cat. This morning this cat defecated on our door mat because it was of the crazy downpour, it was taking shelter in the only dry place it felt safe. I'm sure this cat would've pooped somewhere else (a common lawn area across from our place to be exact is where it normally poops; our next door neighbour's been scooping it). So it pooped in the only place that it could, which sucked for our doormat.

I then decided that enough was enough; we've been caring for this cat that isn't even ours. It was time to take it to the shelter. I called both the shelter and RSPCA, but nobody answered the phones. I got a cardboard box and put the cat inside it for transport, but it hated it and jumped straight out. I tried again, and the cat scratched me, drawing blood. I then picked the cat up and put it in my car and the cat went PSYCHO. This may seem obvious in hind sight, but until today, the only cat that I've ever transported in a car was my late former pet cat. Which of course happily rode in my car because she was my pet. This is an abandoned pet, so it did NOT want to be in my car.

I'm done. Tomorrow I'm going to call the Council and ask them to get a Council Ranger to come and capture this cat. I don't blame this cat at all, but I am just furious at its owner for willfully abandoning it like that. If you're not prepared to care for a pet for the duration of its life, then don't get a pet in the first place. :mad: Or if something happens in your life where you can't keep that pet anymore, then give it to someone else, or bring the animal to the shelter yourself.

Anyway, I bought some cheap cat litter. I'm going to cut the box to make it about the height of litter tray, line it up with some newspaper and fill it with litter so that at least the cat has somewhere nice and dry to use, as the inclement weather in Sydney doesn't look like it's going to let up any time soon.

[UltimateGalvatron]

I would recommend a Cat Rescue rather then the council, as they have a better chance of getting a new home rather then getting put down. :(

What nerf-herders to leave that poor cat. :mad:

[drifand]

After a long wait since December 15 for my thundercracker mp, it arrived only to find the tail fin pointer broken and missing from the box.

I don't even have a chance to repair it. This sucks big time for a new year!

[janda the red]

I would recommend a Cat Rescue rather then the council, as they have a better chance of getting a new home rather then getting put down. :(

^this...
Or why don't you just adopt the cat yourself Gok?

[GoktimusPrime]

Because I don't want to own a cat. I don't want to see this stray cat suffer either.

[janda the red]

Because I don't want to own a cat. I don't want to see this stray cat suffer either.

I've adopted a couple of stray cats over my lifetime, not because I wanted too, but because they needed a home. They were amazing animals, it's almost as if they know you've helped them out and love you that little bit more.
We've also gotten out dogs from shelters too.

Fair enough if you don't want too, but it sets a great example for your little one... and you might find you get a lot out of it.

Try and find it a home though instead of just dumping it at a shelter or calling the ranger.... otherwise there's a high chance it'll just get put down.

Just my 2 cents

:)

[Jaxius._]

RSPCA maybe

[Handsprime]

I hate it when a package arrives, but instead of leaving it at the door or seeing if anyone's home, they leave a latter telling you to pick it up tomorrow. And most of the time I'm actually home! Argh I hate how this happens! I've had packages that arrived when I wasnt near the front of the house, when most of the day I was!

[philby]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH BOLLOCKS!

I tried to book a movie ticket online using a complimentary coupon, but the system tells me that the coupon has "insufficient funds," and I've received no ticket through my email. :mad: So now I'm going to have to go into the cinema tomorrow to try and purchase the ticket and just hope that the good seats aren't booked out. :mad:

i saw someone say they tried to book movie tickets with a voucher but they had to $5 to $10 or something in fees! wtf. it's supposed to be a free ticket lol.

[philby]

A neighbour moved out a few months ago and left their cat behind. And even for a good year before the left, they'd been neglecting this cat for a long, long time. Along with our next door neighbours, we've been tag-team caring for this cat. This morning this cat defecated on our door mat because it was of the crazy downpour, it was taking shelter in the only dry place it felt safe. I'm sure this cat would've pooped somewhere else (a common lawn area across from our place to be exact is where it normally poops; our next door neighbour's been scooping it). So it pooped in the only place that it could, which sucked for our doormat.

I then decided that enough was enough; we've been caring for this cat that isn't even ours. It was time to take it to the shelter. I called both the shelter and RSPCA, but nobody answered the phones. I got a cardboard box and put the cat inside it for transport, but it hated it and jumped straight out. I tried again, and the cat scratched me, drawing blood. I then picked the cat up and put it in my car and the cat went PSYCHO. This may seem obvious in hind sight, but until today, the only cat that I've ever transported in a car was my late former pet cat. Which of course happily rode in my car because she was my pet. This is an abandoned pet, so it did NOT want to be in my car.

I'm done. Tomorrow I'm going to call the Council and ask them to get a Council Ranger to come and capture this cat. I don't blame this cat at all, but I am just furious at its owner for willfully abandoning it like that. If you're not prepared to care for a pet for the duration of its life, then don't get a pet in the first place. :mad: Or if something happens in your life where you can't keep that pet anymore, then give it to someone else, or bring the animal to the shelter yourself.

Anyway, I bought some cheap cat litter. I'm going to cut the box to make it about the height of litter tray, line it up with some newspaper and fill it with litter so that at least the cat has somewhere nice and dry to use, as the inclement weather in Sydney doesn't look like it's going to let up any time soon.

maybe you could advertise it and someone might want it? do you have any details for where these people moved to? or if you had their names you might be able to tell the council that and they could get a fine or something for their actions.

[Ploughmans Lunch]

Someone stole my bike. I liked that bike. Bye, bike. :(