The totally off-topic thread

[Foreigner]

He played rugby league, when did venue, event, time of day, company etc... ever matter?

Is he licensed to thrill? I've just read Nine has dumped him from Finals commentary team:

Channel Nine dumps Andrew Johns from grand final day broadcast following drunken airport incident

 

[DaveB]

There are quite a few reports here on the Placebo response.Hay Fever and Asthma have very high levels of a placebo response ie a drug or procedure having the same response as a sugar pill or sham procedure.
Many is the time though that I wished it was ethically responsible to use a placebo.If a placebo works I am happy for that response even though I know it wasn't scientifically right.
By the way my one research year was in Asthma research.

My wife has now had four knee replacements, probably needing a further two and is yet to reach her 54th birthday.
Call the chiro what you will but I know where she gets her only meaningful relief from and it doesn't involve any kickbacks to drug or prosthetic companies.

 

[Hvr]

My wife has now had four knee replacements, probably needing a further two and is yet to reach her 54th birthday.
<snip>

Wow, how many legs does she have?

 

[blackcat20]

I';m in my 60s and we were taught proper joined up writing; I recall being horrifed at my kids' handwriting which didn't become bad - it started that way with, I assume, no correction by teachers. We used to get marked on handwriting or 'penmanship' in primary school (pause while us old fogeys nod) I worked with three men of my vintage who all had the most beautiful clear handwriting & whose work was a pleasure to read.

We had to get a gold star on ten pieces of work (neat writing) before we were allowed to graduate to a pen.

I do but not well. I put that down to being left-handed and being forced, when the class graduated from pencil to ink in, IIRC, grade 5, to learn writing using a post office pen with the inkwell on the 'wrong' side of the desk.

One thing I did master, however, was holding a pencil (and later, pen) properly. To me there's nothing says 'badly educated' like a modern kid (or even adult) holding a pen like they're stabbing the paper. Regrettably anything goes seems to be the norm these days. Doesn't make it any less ugly.

I dont hold my pen properly due to mis-shaped fingers (the growth plates overshot during puberty). I actually have two different grips that produce two very different styles of writing. A handwriting analysis would be interesting as I often swap grip/style mid-piece.

 

[whatmeworry]

Interesting bike ride today. Felt a whack to the back of my head... Thought someone had given me a backhander when I realised it was a magpie. Then further down Kororoit Creek a small bushfire had broken out. Last 200 metres from Home I see 3 black cats in a row.

You ever get the sense the Universe is sending you a sign?

 

[amaroo]

Sudden Death - what a game!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Sudden Death - what a game!

Was Rugby League the winner? (again..)

 

[CaptJCool]

The Green Cowboys win! Bronco is tamed at the last gasp - rodeo anyone ?

 

[amaroo]

Was Rugby League the winner? (again..)

Haha I think the punters that got to enjoy a game longer than 1/4 time were the winners

 

[Princess Fiona]

Anyone struggle a lot with finding birthday presents for others?

Yes I do but worse for some folks than others

 

[JohnM]

My elder son and I reciprocally buy very indulgent lunches. Hit the wine list hard. Works a treat .

Looking forward to him paying for me at the end of October.

 

[Bindibuys]

anat01 my go-to present is a magazine subscription (I think I use mags online) but there are a number of sites. Benefits - the gift arrives every month so you get 12 month's worth of praise! Very easy and quick to do online, and cheaper than the cover price, generally. You can test this by going through the online site or direct to the magazine publisher. Pretty wide choice of titles too

I try the abstract (and little storage) like buying a Highlands Title (a 1 foot piece of land in Scotland) Highland Titles | Laird, Lord or Lady of Glencoe

 

[RAM]

And very soon you will adapt to the size and not notice the difference

How's the eyesight going?

Pet theory - deterioration in general population's eyesight is matching increased screen sizes.

Proportion of people needing glassed has near trebled for under 40s since the early 80s.

 

[Pushka]

One of our clients based their optical marketing business on the majority of people needing reading glasses by average age of 43.

 

[Hvr]

One of our clients based their optical marketing business on the majority of people needing reading glasses by average age of 43.

Good to see they focused on the right market.

 

[Bindibuys]

One of our clients based their optical marketing business on the majority of people needing reading glasses by average age of 43.

I now need reading glasses over the top of my contacts

 

[Major]

One of our clients based their optical marketing business on the majority of people needing reading glasses by average age of 43.

I started wearing reading glasses in my mid forties and in 10 years I was wearing glasses permanently

 

[Foreigner]

Discovered new English word:

Polymath

 

[Cynicor]

JohnM, is it time for another PER catchup or are you away for a bit?

 

[JohnK]

Not good to forget the wifes birthday? It's not that I'd forgotten but just did't remember it early enough in the day. Luckily she already had the card and present last month.

Still it's going to cost me a pizza next trip.