Random Stuff

I love it when this pops up from time to time to draw out the xenophobes...

Over on facebook, someone posted up the comment that "British schools should be forced to teach children Arabic Numerals", and quite a few people were quite opposed to the idea, while quite a few people were quite amused at that opposition.


For those who don't know, our numbers (1,2,3,4,5,etc) are actually called "Arabic numbers". But it is always fun to see the angry comments from (presumably white) people who are not keen on the thought of having anything foreign, especially anything sounding Islamic, introduced into their western communities or schools, so their opposition to having "Arabic Numerals" taught in schools is actually opposing the teaching of basic maths in schools.
Or simply put, stupid people opposing basic education. :p

I just ordered the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G. Not because I particularly want a new phone, but rather because my old phone is nearing the end of its life of getting monthly security updates.

It's really terrible that these companies stop providing security updates after a couple of years for these devices that hold so much personal information.

Im on a samsung s5. My last update was march 2017. Its dying with a flicking screen and the screen not coming back from black screen when in rest mode.

Not sure what to get

Do a search for the Oneplus 7T Pro on youtube and watch the reviews - not available in Australia but I got one imported and its a damn good phone. So good that I'm tempted to update to their latest one which is a true flagship.

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Originally Posted by Autocon

Im on a samsung s5. My last update was march 2017. Its dying with a flicking screen and the screen not coming back from black screen when in rest mode.

Not sure what to get

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I just got a new phone yesterday, as my galaxy s4 was no longer able to work certain apps anymore. Instagram wouldn't post photos, twitter wouldn't tweet anything, the qantas in-flight entertainment app wouldn't access their system, and the web browser wasn't able to access a growing number of websites.
I bought the s4 back in 2013, for my trip to Japan... and other than a new battery for it about 3 years ago, it was still working fine (the current battery was down to about 2 days of charge now).
I don't like throwing out (replacing) items that still work, but it was just getting too difficult to use.
Even though the s4 was the new fancy galaxy phone in 2013, I decided against doing that again this time (the s20), and got a much cheaper galaxy a71 instead... which still has more than enough of what I need, and is 5G compatible, if it shows up in my area while I still have this phone.

And after finally convincing myself to take the step of replacing my (trusty) old phone with a new (expensive) one, my car breaks down the same day while I'm at the shops... $400 later, and there goes my toy spending money for the month.

Have 10k for car! But its hard finding a good car that will last 20 years. People have stopped selling atm.

Getting car! Also have new phone on telstra. Much faster response than optus for internet. Not sure if that's cos the phone is old or just optud :p

Finally found out what species Razorbeast is ?

Last week on Gruen (tv show about advertising), they mentioned about the affect social media apps can have on sales of obscure things... like a recent video on tiktoc of a skater drinking cranberry juice while singing to a song by Fleetwood Mac (from the late 70s), inspiring so many other people copying it, that the cranberry juice company has seen a massive surge of sales (they sent the person who did the original video, cases of the juice and a truck).
And then on the weekend, during Rage's music video weekly chart (on Saturday), the Fleetwood Mac song suddenly shows up at about number 5... which shows how much of an influence a single video can be, bringing a 40+ year old song back into the music charts for no other reason but because it has been used on tiktok (a number of more contemporary songs are stuck in the music charts because of tiktok videos, but this is one of the oldest songs it has sent back into the charts).

Meanwhile, it has saddened me to see SBS advertising the screening of the final season of Anthony Bourdain's travel show... which broadcast in America after he died (in 2018). The sad thing was, the final episode to screen while he was alive was a visit to Hong Kong, and while I was watching it along with his other recent ones (like the one tonight featuring New York), he just seemed like he was re-visiting his favourite places for one last time, as he just looked so old and worn out now... and sad... like he knew that he was just getting too old to enjoy this anymore.

So hey, question for Goki and/or any other Latin fans here...

How would I say 'You disgust me you filthy/worthless peasants' in Latin? I've started a course on computing basics (being something of a technophobe and needing to learn a few neglected skill areas) and one of the assessment tasks is to do up a flier in Word for 'Dazza's Woodfired Pizza'. Since they won't let me change the sample text and so I can't make the Worst Flier for the Worst Pizza Restaurant Ever (my slogan was going to be 'Now Food Act 2003 Compliant!') I've decided that going uber-fancy with the prescribed text will still be pretty funny, but for that I need a suitable Latin motto for the restaurant.
I've run a few options through Google Translate and so far am quite fond of "Et displicis, nequam rusticorum", but I wanted to check with people who actually know a bit about the language. :)

I've decided that - since the original plan for a hinted-at backstory involving a legal dispute with the Health Department, the local cat shelter, and Dazza's Woodfired Pizzas is no longer an option - Dazza is now Lord Quincy Farthing Dazzington IV, who was disowned from the family estate back in Mother England and exiled to NW Tasmania after an unfortunate fox-hunting accident at the local croquet club, where he has been reduced to running a local pizza restaurant for the local hordes of hungry bogans. Whom he despises, hence the slogan.

We used to be able to do a search on this forum and see results as Threads or Posts. But now we can only see Threads. Is this right? Am I missing something?

(I'm trying to find a post I made and it's proving more difficult than it should!)

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

We used to be able to do a search on this forum and see results as Threads or Posts. But now we can only see Threads. Is this right? Am I missing something?

(I'm trying to find a post I made and it's proving more difficult than it should!)

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On the Advanced Search page, there are two search tabs that show up under the "new sales and toys" header box (this is since the upgrade last year... I don't know why, as it annoys me when I use the wrong one, and seems unnecessary).

By default, you first end up on the "Search Multiple Content types" tab, which is the right-side tab. This doesn't give you a results option.

Click on the left tab "Search Single Content type" tab. This one gives you the option at the bottom to select Threads or Posts as your results.

Thanks. Yes that other tab is what I was looking for in advanced. Didn’t notice the tabs at all.

This will make finding things on this forum so much easier. Thanks!

I haven't seen the hot cross buns yet (they usually are in Coles and Woolies within 3 days of Christmas), but they have both already been rolling out the Easter eggs as of yesterday...

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/f711.jpg

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/f710.jpg

I've checked out several stores in the last 3 days, and I've noticed that this year there was a LOT less unsold christmas items (decorations & foods) this year (in my area - it could be different in places like Sydney). Some stores I went to had almost nothing christmas related on clearance.
It wouldn't be a sign of people buying more this year compared to other years, but would be because the retailers were cutting back on their orders back around June, when it looked like the economy was going to be stalled in lockdown for the next year or so. But then as Australia did better with the virus than anyone had predicted, we saw the re-opening of states and wound back restrictions, allowing a lot more people to get back to work and spend more (and most states to be able to have a normal christmas). As such, it was too late for retailers to readjust their stock orders, because of how much stuff is made in China and produced around 6 months in advance.

At work, we had Easter Eggs on sale before Christmas day. I'm sure that's a sin in church-goers eyes. lol

Are they left overs from last Easter? Already ordered and have to sell

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Originally Posted by DELTAprime

At work, we had Easter Eggs on sale before Christmas day. I'm sure that's a sin in church-goers eyes. lol

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Eggs and bunnies are pagan so its all fiiine

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Originally Posted by griffin

I haven't seen the hot cross buns yet (they usually are in Coles and Woolies within 3 days of Christmas), but they have both already been rolling out the Easter eggs as of yesterday...

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One of my local Safeways had Hot Cross Buns out but no eggs.

I'm excited though coz I love those Apple/Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns and they make a really good Bread and Butter pudding.

Right on cue, the Coles near me had a heap of hot cross buns out today, with today being the "baked on" date.

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Originally Posted by Golden Phoenix

One of my local Safeways had Hot Cross Buns out but no eggs.

I'm excited though coz I love those Apple/Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns and they make a really good Bread and Butter pudding.

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You can't drop that and not leave details.

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Originally Posted by gamblor916

You can't drop that and not leave details.

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I basically copied this recipe but used apple cinnamon hot cross buns.
When I buttered the buns I also spread a layer of apple sauce on top of the butter. Then when making the custard I added some cinnamon into that (I wanna say a tea-spoon but I just dusted it into the bowl until it looked like enough).

Pro-tip: works best with stale buns (or bread if you want a regular one), but because you probably don't want to wait for that just toast them a bit in the oven so they are dry. The drier the better since they absorb the custard real good.

Very nice! Though it looks like a "have once in a while" recipe.

Bought an one of those circular inflatable chair pad things for my work chair. It is similar to sitting on a balance ball.

I had no idea that bouncing around all day on my chair could be so confortable.

15 months after bushfires tore through much of the NSW coastal areas, now a lot of the coastal areas are suffering through record floods.
I hope everyone on here that lives in those affected areas wasn't too badly affected.

They keep developing in the flood plains ?
And the corruption with the Dam process to avoid 2.8billion on damages.

Seeing Thurmus' question "Good Cheap Online Hobby Store" made me think of the old graphic design joke. When it comes to stores you can only pick two:

Good and online but not cheap
Good and cheap but not online
Cheap and online but not good

Murphy?s Law of Collecting: no matter what bargain you scored, a better quality toy at a better price will appear a few days later.

Here's a video released today on some of the most dangerous toys of the modern age, and yes a Hasbro toy is on the list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm_JVqpxDHU

Anyone who has watched British comedy game shows on SBS or ABC in the last 10-15 years, would probably know who Sean Lock is... well, he has died of cancer at age 58.
I thought he was one of the funniest British comedians for his dry humour, and was best known for his appearances on "Cats does Countdown" and QI.

I got my astro zucchini shot today. I can't stop shivering. I guess the 5g nano bugs are fusing to my skeleton.

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Originally Posted by griffin

Anyone who has watched British comedy game shows on SBS or ABC in the last 10-15 years, would probably know who Sean Lock is... well, he has died of cancer at age 58.
I thought he was one of the funniest British comedians for his dry humour, and was best known for his appearances on "Cats does Countdown" and QI.

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I thought he was an amazing comedian with such a sharp wit.
He will be missed.

Oh I watched him on cats countdown, funny guy

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Originally Posted by DELTAprime

When you said Optimus spoke to the guy I didn't expect it to actually sound like Optimus.

Also, ads? What ads? Just use UBlock Origin and the ads are gone.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...dnhcphjbkeiagm

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I don't go on youtube much lately, but yesterday was checking out some trailers and breakdowns of trailers, and everything I was clicking on was now held up by advertising of up to 3 minutes. It's gotten so bad that they don't even give you the option to skip the advertisement or fast-forward it.
Obviously my version of adblocker doesn't block youtube commercials (and they probably re-work their coding to block those add-ons, who then have to update their coding to get around the youtube updates - kinda like a video capture program I use, which keeps needing to update itself when youtube finds a way to block it).... however, I think I stumbled on a way around the compulsory commercials at the beginning of the youtube videos - click on the next video tab at the bottom left of the video screen, and then click your browser's back button, and youtube thinks you already watched the commercial, and starts playing the actual video.

I hate those YouTube ads. Especially when you get multiple ads pop up whilst watching the same video. Or even music videos. All to try force people to pay for their premium service

I managed to hit a youtube advert that was 15 minutes in length! Needless to say, that video did not get a view until; adblock was installed.

Did anyone in Melbourne feel the earthquake today?
The news programs quoted 5.6 to 5.9, a couple hundred kms north east of Melbourne cbd, which was strong enough to damage at least one (brick) building in the city.

For those of us who don't live in earthquake zones (like NZ, Japan and LA), it is a unique experience if it isn't too big... up to about magnitude 6, which is a rumble like living on a major road and had a big heavy truck rumble past, shaking the house.

Tonight I was looking up the time I was in Japan in November 2013 and had a small quake of about 5.4 while I was 8 floors up, which made it more noticeable... and came across another one that I had forgotten about, from July 2015 in Brisbane, which was a 5.3 quake a couple hundred kms north.

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Originally Posted by griffin

I only found out about this a few hours ago because I didn't catch the news last night... yesterday morning (Thursday) at around 9.41am, there was a 5.3 earthquake off the coast of Fraser Island... and it made sense of something from yesterday morning.

I was on the north side of Brisbane doing a First Aid course on the fourth floor of a building, and I remember feeling a vibration during our first session between 9am to 10am - the sort of vibration you get when a heavy dual-trailer gravel truck drives past you or your house... and I dismissed it as something like that, but looking back, we were too far away from a major road, so after hearing tonight about the earthquake, I recalled what I felt in the Earthquake in Japan in November 2013, and it was the same sort of feeling (just more intense)... and it now made sense.

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And what I posted about the Japanese one...

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At about 8.50pm here (that's about 9.50pm in Brisbane... 10.50pm if you aren't lucky enough to live north of the border :p ) there was a slight vibration, and then the room shook with a rumble, like a heavy truck driving across the room above.
I'm on the 8th floor of an 11 storey hotel too, so there would have been extra movement.
It was scary not knowing if it was just the start of something bigger, because I'd be screwed up this high if the building collapsed.
I grabbed my important stuff (passport, phone, wallet, money) and headed down to reception to check if that was indeed an earthquake. (I've lived on major roads, so that sort of rumbling and shaking is not new to me... but since this hasn't happened so far in my 3 days here, I didn't think it was a passing truck or train)
They said that they get those small tremors about twice a month, so I guess I'm lucky. (I was always wanting to have one happen in LA, but with all my time there, it never did)

Now to hope that this wasn't just the warm up for something bigger later tonight.

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And about 4 hours later when I felt an aftershock...

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After feeling a small aftershock about 20 minutes ago, I looked it up.

Looks like it wasn't just a small tremor after all. It was apparently a 5.4 magnitude and was just on the outskirts of northern Tokyo (I'm on the south where the cluster of whitish dots are to the left of the bay), with about 5 aftershocks (so far) reaching up to 4.2.
(the map is of the Tokyo bay area, with the city on the western side. Each dot is a measuring station, and the ones near me registered 4... the aftershock registered a 2 near me, so that means I can feel a 2 and know what difference a 4 feels like).

Apparently this is the third mid-to-large one to hit Japan in the last three weeks, so I'm lucky it wasn't as intense as the one three weeks ago (which was a 7.1 earthquake).
If that had hit here where this one did, I think I'd be in a bit of trouble, as this 5.4 didn't do any damage, but did suspend high-speed trains (hopefully not for long) to check the tracks. A 7 earthquake is 100 times more powerful than a 5... and that would have done a lot of damage all across the city.

Going back over previous earthquake reports (from the first two links and this link), it looks like a number of 4 to 5 magnitude earthquakes had occurred in the last 36 hours, along the fault-line from the north of Japan.

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Well, I found it all fascinating... :p

Yep. Shook my house, a few things fell. Long, loud and unexpected.

Basically everyone in Melbourne felt it. Was a nice break from talking about the protests.

We have had a few earthquakes up here in Central Queensland in my life. I have never actually felt any of them because by a random coincidence they all happen in the middle of the night while I'm asleep. But we did have a meteor go directly overhead a few years back and I felt that one.

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

Yep. Shook my house, a few things fell. Long, loud and unexpected.

Basically everyone in Melbourne felt it. Was a nice break from talking about the protests.

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Did see a joke floating around saying the earthquake was caused by all the drunk bogans marching.

Don't think I've ever felt am earthquake, missus did when she was over in San Fran 2 years ago though