The totally off-topic thread

[JohnK]

Three bedroom semi in Randwick 370sqm land = $82,000 Dec 1986 - two friends dating (18yr & 19 yr old both working) bought it. No it was not in a bad way, they moved in on the Thursday and housewarming on Friday night.

Didn't take long to get a 20% deposit on those amounts anyway.

Now same semi sold for $1.1mn with new kitchen and bathroom only difference. Fast forward to today and 20% deposit = $220,000 - no way 18 yr and 19 yr could (legally have that amount of savings).

Progress.

The key was to buy in right area. The top end of the market and the better areas have appreciated greatly.

e.g I bought a unit for $113,000 in 1989. At best that is worth $400,000 now.

 

[medhead]

Sydney siege: backtrack over post that inspired #illridewithyou

• Brighette Ryan
• The Australian
• December 18, 2014 1:06PM

GAPS have appeared in the story that inspired the #illridewithyou Twitter phenomenon.
University lecturer Rachael Jacobs had originally posted a status on Facebook, explaining how she offered to protect a woman who felt uncomfortable wearing her hijab.
According to her story, Ms Jacobs had seen the woman beginning to remove her scarf, and ran after her, saying “Put it back on. I’ll walk with you.”
However Rachael Jacobs has admitted that she “editorialised’’ parts of her story.
“Confession time. In my Facebook status, I editorialised. She wasn’t sitting next to me. She was a bit away, towards the other end of the carriage,” she wrote.
Ms Jacobs now says she wondered if she even needed to help.“She might not even be Muslim or she could have just been warm!,” she wrote.

Read that a couple of days ago.

 

[QF WP]

Did you eat the plate and leave what was on it :shock:.

No, the plate was too tough and dry

Thank goodness you used a knife. There is something tacky about seeing teethmarks in foodie pix.

They didn't offer me cutlery . Had to use my fingers

 

[erkpod]

Distressing news coming in from Cairns - 7 children in the one house dead, woman "assisting police with their enquiries."

 

[Pushka]

Distressing news coming in from Cairns - 7 children in the one house dead, woman "assisting police with their enquiries."

yes, I heard that too.

I wonder if we are too much inundated with bad news because of modern technology and "instant" reporting. I'm not sure its a healthy thing for us to know every bad thing that happens in the world. Of course, this is Australia but sometimes I just think theres too much reporting of it.

In WW2 my mother was one of the people who monitored the news feed in The News. Under the Murdoch family in Adelaide. She had to sign the Official Secrets Act and knew of things as soon as they could be fed to the media. Not all of that information was made general knowledge particularly in relation to Darwin. And she was all of 18 at the time.

 

[NM]

Looks like my golf lessons and 3 new clubs are working. 90 off the stick on Nudgee South Course today.

And did you do any better on the back nine?

 

[suze2000]

On a serious note I am surprised that you're required to do your own laundry for work clothes that have the possibility of blood borne contaminants. Surely these uniforms should be laundered by work in a safe environment and returned to you already ironed?

This was my immediate thought at well. When I worked in a hospital that supplied us with uniforms (god I miss that - it was so easy to show up in tracky dacks and put on a nurse's uniform and sneakers and just work), they also laundered them for us and returned them to our lockers, ready for wear.

 

[suze2000]

Interesting question. There is no work laundry option for anyone. Only theatre scrubs are laundered and these are not worn to or from the hospital.
My work does provide gowns and aprons which you wear on top of scrubs for messy jobs.

So if you soil your scrubs, who launders them? You don't take them home do you? :shock:

 

[medhead]

Mining was good for clothes as well. Fresh overalls each morning, shower after work, wear tomorrow's clean jocks and socks home ready for the next day.

 

[Flashback]

I certainly hope so although there is still time for fantastic news to make up for the ordinary year.

2014 has been a very difficult year on many levels, but this last week we are seeing some clear air. And it is a beautiful thing.

I'm in 2 minds on that one, every time a bit of sunshine appears the cloud quickly comes back in front of it :shock:

 

[Pushka]

I'm in 2 minds on that one, every time a bit of sunshine appears the cloud quickly comes back in front of it :shock:

Yeah. Two steps forward one step back. Sometimes two. Occasionally three or four back.

 

[amaroo]

yes, I heard that too.

I wonder if we are too much inundated with bad news because of modern technology and "instant" reporting. I'm not sure its a healthy thing for us to know every bad thing that happens in the world. Of course, this is Australia but sometimes I just think theres too much reporting of it.

TBH I felt that way with the recent coverage of the passing of the cricketer .... OTT, overdone, inundated - take your pick.

 

[JessicaTam]

I would like to think I have taken a couple of steps forward this year. And I am going to keep telling myself that, too!

 

[Flashback]

Honestly, what is wrong with the world right now?

First Australia, then Pakistan, then Australia again........ now this alleged North Korea hoohar: Hollywood outraged over blows to freedom with cancellation of The Interview | Film | The Guardian

For me this year it's been 2 forward, 3 back........ 5 forward over a long time, 4 back quickly. Feel about back at baseline. Maybe next year will see only a few back and mostly forward. We'll see :shock:

 

[Princess Fiona]

So if you soil your scrubs, who launders them? You don't take them home do you? :shock:

Yes, that's what I would have to do.
Fortunately that's not happened to me. If something was beyond redemption or too yuck to bag and bring home I could bin it and claim a new uniform for "wear and tear".

 

[whatmeworry]

TBH I felt that way with the recent coverage of the passing of the cricketer .... OTT, overdone, inundated - take your pick.

I recently watched the film Nightcrawlers and it seems News networks are actively seeking bad news.

 

[whatmeworry]

This person on Facebook used supeglue instead of getting stitches.

 

[JohnK]

I wonder if we are too much inundated with bad news because of modern technology and "instant" reporting. I'm not sure its a healthy thing for us to know every bad thing that happens in the world. Of course, this is Australia but sometimes I just think theres too much reporting of it.

I try to shield myself from news. Good or bad. There is way too much reporting.

 

[erkpod]

I recently watched the film Nightcrawlers and it seems News networks are actively seeking bad news.

I've said more than once - and probably on this thread - that if you got upset about every issue you're supposed to get upset about online or in the news, you'd never leave the house.

 

[anat0l]

Anyone here cooked seared scallops before?

About to attempt it for the first time tomorrow. I've read so far:

• Olive oil or butter - 50/50 preference here. Heat at full bore until smoking or foaming butter.
• Pat dry scallops and season before searing.
• 30-60 seconds per side. Some say "until just opaque", which I interpret to mean that the flesh colour just turned white.
• Don't put too many in the pan otherwise they will boil each other.

Sounds about right?