The totally off-topic thread

[JohnK]

For anyone born before the late 1970s:

Name something - except for any electronic computer - that you knew how to use, but your parents did not.

Analogue pinball machine.

I really miss those days....

 

[Bindibuys]

For anyone born before the late 1970s:

Name something - except for any electronic computer - that you knew how to use, but your parents did not.

Sylvester Switchboard.

 

[Pushka]

Electronic typewriter.

 

[OATEK]

Sylvester Switchboard.

We had a very old PABX when I first went to work. Parents couldn't believe me when I said I could track down stuck relays, and work out what outside numbers were being called as they were dialled.

And our switch operators had Sylvester sub-boards.

 

[clazman]

Sinclair Zx80

 

[penegal]

i very carefully put the ipad on the family room table and then the washing and the iphone in the washing machine. It bounced all right - for half an hour as it went up and down. (We have a front loader, so none of that gentle swishing around....).

Oh no - Definitely an oops

Did you try putting it in rice as a natural desiccant? Although I suspect the damage would have been too great.

 

[penegal]

For anyone born before the late 1970s:

Name something - except for any electronic computer - that you knew how to use, but your parents did not.

Depends how savvy one's [grand]parents are - There are plenty of tech savvy people in their 70s, 80s and 90s now. I know plenty of 80 year olds with computers, and the internet.

That said they tend to be very cautious with money, so no internet shopping and no internet banking. I think one actually paid cash (e.g. currency) for their PC.

 

[RooFlyer]

For anyone born before the late 1970s:

Name something - except for any electronic computer - that you knew how to use, but your parents did not.

In my case - the lawn mower; I'll probably think of others.

Edit: I should say this was a reflection of mechanical aptitude, not a lack of willingness on dad's part.

 

[coco50]

God this traffic is awful. Moving along at ~40km/hr the past couple of hours. This is depressing. I want to get out and walk.

And the stupid people in power in Sydney think it's a marvellous idea to continue building high density housing without improvements to infrastructure. Brilliant.

I thought you could have been talking about the traffic I was in at Byron Bay this morning on my way to a doctor's appointment. Byron is a disaster of a town. It has been loved to near death and is terminal. It is only good east of the high water mark.

 

[penegal]

I thought you could have been talking about the traffic I was in at Byron Bay this morning on my way to a doctor's appointment. Byron is a disaster of a town. It has been loved to near death and is terminal. It is only good east of the high water mark.

haha - You're obviously joking. You haven't been able to fish at Julian Rocks for maybe 10 years now? Last time I went surfing I copped a surfboard to the head - ouch!!


There are quiet moments at Watego's when it can feel like the Byron of old, but then you look left and there are crowds and crowds.

I have fond memories of that part of the world, but like everything the cogs of change come along.

 

[JohnK]

Had a few Bacardi Breezers last night. Feels like I had a bag of lollies. How do people drink that stuff?

 

[penegal]

Had a few Bacardi Breezers last night. Feels like I had a bag of lollies. How do people drink that stuff?

Popular with young people, especially girls.

I would probably go into some kind of hyperglycaemia if I had too many of them.

 

[coco50]

haha - You're obviously joking. You haven't been able to fish at Julian Rocks for maybe 10 years now? Last time I went surfing I copped a surfboard to the head - ouch!!


There are quiet moments at Watego's when it can feel like the Byron of old, but then you look left and there are crowds and crowds.

I have fond memories of that part of the world, but like everything the cogs of change come along.

Byron is now dirty, crowded and extremely unpleasant. To get to Byron you have to negotiate some of the worst roads in Australia, with potholes that are so big they have their own postcode. When you get to Byron you have to pay $3 an hour to park. In the three months that parking meters have been installed, Byron Shire Council has raised $500 000 in parking fees. Lennox Head is a much better proposition.

 

[penegal]

Byron is now dirty, crowded and extremely unpleasant. To get to Byron you have to negotiate some of the worst roads in Australia, with potholes that are so big they have their own postcode. When you get to Byron you have to pay $3 an hour to park. In the three months that parking meters have been installed, Byron Shire Council has raised $500 000 in parking fees. Lennox Head is a much better proposition.

WOW, that is sad

It is so "pleasing" to see that our taxes are being used on "contracts for mates" and not road renewal... :evil::evil:

 

[medhead]

Interesting test for everyone's memory (and do not post their names):

• How many different domestic Australian Airlines, that you've flown on, can you name and what years did they operate?

I was surprised just how many there were through the late 80s to 2000 - one stash of boarding passes not discovered during previous clean-outs.

13 for me, but counting significant name changes for what may be considered the same airlines. Not counting regional wholely owned subsidaries.

The T&Cs of any QF ticket for starters:

The AFP enforce contract law these days?

Unless there is cause to think a crime has been or is about to be committed.

If an officer of power does not have the power to demand something of you by specific letter of the law, but they ask for it anyway, are you within your rights to refuse and reasonably expect your continuing your current activity without impediment?

I can see officers just bringing up any old excuse (e.g. identity theft check, possible suspicion of person of interest) to coerce you into complying. One may find refusal is not worth the effort of reaffirming your rights in such a case, especially if you're genuinely not a criminal.

There was the classic case of the Border Farce blanket check of ID day in Melbourne. They ended up cancelling that operation because they had no power to check ID without a reasonable suspicion. Either they've learnt from that and updated powers or they just overstepped again.

Are left-hand drive motor vehicles for private use allowed to be used in Australia?

Pretty sure they are. The Australian Army has a whole heap of left hand drive vehicles.

I think kpc went to school with Christopher Pyne. So does that mean kpc is in that special group?

I have regular correspondence with Mr Pyne, when SWMBO doesn't throw his letters out first to deny me that chance to reply.

 

[JohnK]

Food poisoning twice in 5 days?

Have only had rice soup for a day and half since first food poisoning then had some fried squid in executive lounge last night along with vegetable nibbles and stick bread. Then 2 poached eggs this morning with some bacon, smoked salmon, cheese and crackers. The smoked salmon looked a little too oily.

Hmmm.

 

[love_the_life]

Oh dear JohnK. You will be slim when this is finished :shock:

 

[JohnK]

Oh dear JohnK. You will be slim when this is finished :shock:

If that were the end result then that'd be good.

 

[Foreigner]

What to do with the plastic packaging in which Ferrero chocs are sold? There are tiny symbols on the underside. Any good for storing dry foodstuff or in the fridge?

 

[JessicaTam]

For anyone born before the late 1970s:

Name something - except for any electronic computer - that you knew how to use, but your parents did not.

Driving a 4wd with traction control and no locking diff
Driving a car with ABS