The totally off-topic thread

[Intra]

Sadly, my travels have me stuck between BNE/OOL/SYD this weekend :?

I don't get to go overseas (AKL) til September - and even then, some here wouldn't count it

In other news, heading back to Brisbane now to get sworn in as an Australian Citizen Born in New Zealand, lived here now 12 years, most my life! Maybe I'll take part in my first election & vote for the person who isn't going to totally stuff things up.... Here's a hope

 

[drron]

Is there anyone in AFF actually in Australia right now?

Me - London.

hvr - New York.

JohnM - on safari.

I think there's more oot & aboot too.

2 of us in the Lakes district slumming it.
RB was in Spain a couple of days ago.

 

[JessicaTam]

Is there anyone in AFF actually in Australia right now?

...

I am. Well, for the next two hours, that is.

 

[blackcat20]

I'm in Melbourne, but I did drop past the airport yesterday so I don't feel left out...

 

[Pushka]

And I collected from the airport last night and printed off our Emirates ticket - Dubai - Venice - Santorini - Istanbul jaunt which starts in 4 weeks time so I don't feel too poorly.

 

[markis10]

Cancer is a prick...a completely unfair and unwelcome cell

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/24177870/mums-goodbye-to-perfect-boy/

Have I told you all how much I hate cancer ...

Another battle lost, albeit a long one at 15 years with racecaller Wayne Wilson passing away on the even of one of Queensland's bigger races

No Cookies | Herald Sun

 

[QF WP]

Wow, thanks markis10. I remember Wayne Wilson and Vince Curry - both from radio calling and being at the odd race watching the fillies in the Grandstand.

Now he'll have plenty of races to call again.

Amazing long term battle - he fought it gallantly.

 

[serfty]

Interesting view from my hotel window this evening:





I have a guided tour booked for tomorrow ...

 

[Hvr]

I can confirm that no Earl's were harmed at the lounge.

So nobody Duked it out?

 

[TheEmu]

So nobody Duked it out?

Welcome back to the Prince of Puns!

 

[straitman]

Is there anyone in AFF actually in Australia right now?

Me - London.

hvr - New York.

JohnM - on safari.

I think there's more oot & aboot too.

I'm in Thailand.

 

[straitman]

I don't know. Cancer talk saddens me. Makes me remember dad, which is probably a good thing but sad nonetheless.

Then again I also have an internal fire at people who think trivial amounts of radiation of radiation will give them cancer.

Interesting comment medhead,
The Doctors at the Alfred Hospital radiation clinic go out of their way to explain that the treatment can cause cancer. Probability, extremely low, (1:1000) but non the less it is a possibility.

Good odds when compared to the other options but non the less possible.

 

[drron]

Interesting comment medhead,
The Doctors at the Alfred Hospital radiation clinic go out of their way to explain that the treatment can cause cancer. Probability, extremely low, (1:1000) but non the less it is a possibility.

Good odds when compared to the other options but non the less possible.

Because that is not a small and certainly not a trivial dose.Usual radiotherapy doses are ~20-80Gy.An Xray of the abdomen is 0.8mGY.A really big difference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_(unit)

There is also a theory that low dose radiation is not necessarily harmful.Some of the hysteria around Chernobyl and Fukushima has absolutely nothing to do with facts.If you watched Helen Caldicott earlier this year on 60 minutes you witnessed the reasons why medhead gets upset.There were no correct facts given by her.When she said it was criminal to give the Olympics to Tokyo in 2020 she really hit rock bottom.The background level of radiation now in Tokyo is lower than Melbourne.

For a view on low radiation doses-
Ionizing Radiation | Radiation Hormesis | Low Dose Radiation
dence

 

[rogerkambah]

2 of us in the Lakes district slumming it.
RB was in Spain a couple of days ago.

So how are you going with the security screening following the recent prothesis?

 

[rogerkambah]

And I collected from the airport last night and printed off our Emirates ticket - Dubai - Venice - Santorini - Istanbul jaunt which starts in 4 weeks time so I don't feel too poorly.

Santorini is brilliant for a few days R & R in a long trip.

Thought Venice a bit over-rated. Glad we stayed in Mestre, after seeing tourists pulling cases over the cobblestones and little bridges. However, overall did enjoy the experience. Picked up some nice leather handbags for pressies, that we didn't get in Florence.

 

[erkpod]

Anyone know any way to get a replacement key for a TSA lock built into a suitcase? I had one but it snapped in the lock.

 

[medhead]

Interesting comment medhead,
The Doctors at the Alfred Hospital radiation clinic go out of their way to explain that the treatment can cause cancer. Probability, extremely low, (1:1000) but non the less it is a possibility.

Good odds when compared to the other options but non the less possible.

Trying not to get on my high horse too much. but the 1 in 1000 risk is pretty much theoretical. That is about a 20 mSv dose (which is a pretty high dose for australia anyway), yet there are no observed effects below 100 mSv. The current guidance says that it is inappropriate to make risk comparisons for anyone exposed to radiation to treat cancer - therapy as opposed to diagnostic x-ray exposure. This is because therapy is supposed to kill cells, cancer cells, whereas risk benefit for radiation exposure is supposed to be about avoiding changes to cells. Besides if one has cancer now, should the risk of developing cancer some time in the next 30 to 50 years be a concern.

In any case, 1 in 1000 versus 1 in 3 who will die from cancer. Fatalistic maybe but for mine I don't care about such radiation exposure.

Yes, sorry, I'll get off my high horse.

 

[JohnK]

Yes. To me it seems to be the new normal is to be selfish/inconsiderate/ungrateful and then complain to others how hard done by they are. (thinking of specific people/events but it does seem to be a trend to me)

And what is worse (or better depending on how you look at it) is we have it great in Australia.

 

[Flashback]

You have your earl grey with clotted cream? Whoa - hardcore! I think full cream milk is good enough.

Of course, I hope you're not referring to Mal (ouch, bad mental image....)

Wish I could be there to catch up - the antipodal members of AFF, so near yet so far.

You'll be one soon enough!

 

[Cossie]

Is there anyone in AFF actually in Australia right now?

Me - London.

hvr - New York.

JohnM - on safari.

I think there's more oot & aboot too.

I'm in Alghero in Sardinia where it is bleedin' hot, however there is nice food and wine and very friendly locals, plus some spectacular rally action.

This guy's luck has completely evaporated of late.

WRC Italy: Mikko Hirvonen blaze cause may remain a mystery - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com