Daily Discussion Thread: Sun 19 Nov 2023

Day 19 of The Diet round 2. So far I have lost -2kg. It looks like I'm going to have to take drastic measures. I think I might have to actually eat less food. Apparently just saying I am on a diet and committing to losing weight is not enough to manifest that result into reality. Disapointing.

Smaller plates and/or bowls. So what looks like a full meal is actually less food, but still has all the nutrients in proper balance.
- Meal portioning in my hilariously broke uni days definitely left me unintentionally losing a lot of weight. I made it work by telling myself that's all there is in the portion and if I wanted any more I'd be ruining tomorrow's lunch, which I couldn't afford to do, so there.
- Volume eating is what helps me get into gear. Same sized plate as always, but a smaller, more reasonable portion of the actual food, served on a gigantic bed of lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, shiritake noodles, etc.
  I'm feeling full immediately because of the volume, I stay full because the meal itself was an appropriate portion of something nutritious, and after a few weeks of eating like this I find I'm naturally gravitating towards smaller portions of more veggie-heavy meals, recognising when I'm full, and no longer eating with my eyes. I no longer need the bed of cabbage to satisfy my hunger.
  Perhaps it has something to do with the gut microbiome and the fibre in the cabbage that just re-wires my stomach to be happy with a diet.
Alas, buying a smaller frock or a set of weights that sit in the cupboard doesn’t work either. This manifesting stuff is nonsense.
- yeah, I have an impressive set of weights, and a cupboard stuffed full of clothes too small for me. I even have a fit ball, what more does the universe want from me?!
-2 kg in 19 days is pretty good. Don't eat less. What you need to do is strength or resistance training 2 or 3 times a week so when you are resting you continue to burn calories.
- no, I've not lost 2kg, I've lost -2. A negative and a negative = a positive. I've gained 2kg 🤣
I think you're doing well. I find there's either 2 scenarios which occur. In the first, the initial few kilos are hard to budge and then it starts really happening, then frustratingly it plateaus. In the second, the first few kilos melt off and then it's a bastard to lose the next few, and then it frustratingly plateaus 😆. I've learnt that I'm good all year but then my birthday happens in mid October and I turn into a bear preparing for hibernation from then until after Xmas. I don't know whether to embrace or fight it.
- I've found it to be very hormonal for me - I normally go through about a week where I am really hungry all the time and put on weight quickly (presumably mostly water) and then a week where I'm not really hungry at all and the weight all just vanishes again. I've learned to just go with that and not stress about it. The problem I'm having at the moment is peri-menopause has put a spanner in the works, and keeps just leaving me in the PMT "hungry" phase for ages.
  I'm not pushing to lose weight quickly, but I would like to lose maybe another 20kg over the next few years to get down to a healthy range. My body is really fighting me on it though.
2kgs is great progress! Not a dietician but I have heard that you don't need to eat less food if you're on top of the macros and exercise.
- I've gained 2kg, not lost it.
  "macros" are food. You can't both be "on top of" your macros and not eat less if the appropriate amount to eat to lose weight is less than what you are currently eating.

Bill and Ted relaxing

Bill Cat's not impressed that Ted Cat let one off the chain.

Does anybody else get weirdly offended when Americans call pizza a pie?

Yes. It's not a fkn pie; it's a pizza! A pie is a pastry, pizza is L I F E
- there is no pastry, only pie crust
- is pastry not life? 😨
parmas on spaghetti does my head in.
It'd end up sliding around.
- I've had this multiple times and honestly I kinda dig it. It doesn't slide like you'd imagine.
- They call them "parmis" here, and I just can't get used to that.
I get more confused than offended by marshmallows in ‘salad’ and pumpkin pie being a sweet rather than an onion & cheese extravaganza
And burgers being called sandwiches. It’s confusing.
- Only 'burgers' which are chicken. Chicken isn't hamburger so I get that one.. I think we're wrong there.
And biscuits with gravy
- Yes, those are fucking scones
- And the gravy looks like custard with meat in it. I've never eaten it, but it looks repulsive.
- Though they are a quick bread like scones made with self raising flour biscuits are more like Yorkshire puddings or dumplings, they have much more butter than scones and aren't sweet.
Until recently I used to get all anxious about Americanisms. Then I saw a classification of various English dialects somewhere and American was described as Simplified English! And it is, Webster simplified usage and spelling to help create a new American identity and to democratise the language. Now I just see American as Simplified and the rest of us are using Traditional.
They are still wrong though. 😉 ( not really, American is just different )

What I like about the warmer weather. Using the clothes line more, BBL, Christmas pudding, mince pies, BBQs, eating icecream for dinner.

What I dislike. Wildlife in the house, hordes of people shopping for Armageddon, sweaty crotches, burning skin, salads, hot car.

Yes! Love how the warmer weather lets us show off our BBLs. 💅
- Gotta shake it so the world knows 🍑
I like the perfect days when you want neither heating or aircon. Open the windows and let fresh air in. And being outdoors more, the mood lift that comes from seeing sun and blue sky, gardens in bloom, and mangoes and stone fruits. Things I don’t like are the car parks at shopping centres, bake your skin off 40C days, and flies.
- Days like today where you can rip the door open for some fresh air are the best.
I prefer fuel injection, it makes for better throttle response and fuel efficiency

I've set up a budget friendly meals post in !foodaustralia@aussie.zone. If you could contribute that would be great. Thanks.

Did they ever show Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman here in Australia? I stumbled across a reference to it and am bathed in nostalgic memories of watching it after school as a young kid in the early to mid 90s. I forgot most of it except Sully, and that the doctor and him were in love and had their own baby in the end.

Yes they did. It was on Saturdays.

Bats took up residence in the huge eucalyptus out the back a few weeks ago. Now there are hundreds of them every night, making that creepy chattering sound and flying around in circles doing their bat thing. The dog does not like them.

and neither will any close by fruit trees or vegie patches
They'll be snacking on flowers, and should move on once the tree stops flowering.
- I think you’re onto something there. Parrots all day long, bats all night long. At least the parrots are pleasant to look at and listen to.

Was a nice day to get out fam…

Big game on tonight guys. India vs Australia for the Cricket World Cup.

Oh my mate is in the crowd for this one! You might be able to spot him, he's in a blue shirt.
- Hahaha. Well he'll be shitting his pants about now.
Oh thank you. Waiting for a mild headache to go away but don't want to sleep. Cricket's perfect.

Slabs smashed, holes backfilled and we also got His Lordship's hammock frame back together in a grove under the apple trees so there goes getting him to do anything for the rest of the summer

This cat is so funny. She was doing her jumping up on a wardrobe door thing to get my attention, and led me to what she wanted... the sun only starts to slant into the house at around 3pm and it was a few handwidths from coming in. She wanted me to bring the sun to her faster.

Sitting at a winery out in Myrniong sipping a CC & Dry listening to some old bloke singing with his acoustic guitar on this sunny Sunday. It's very much not crowded at all, it's pretty quiet actually. This is comfortable as fuuuuck. Let's cull like 65% of the population so we can have nice things like this all over the place!

Edit: look out he's got his harmonica out! This just got excellent.

ooof smashing up the last of that concrete in this sun is some real prison labour shit.

Day 36/70: First day of week 6 weigh-in.
Down 1.0kg. Well, I'm finally half-way and still dropping weight despite not riding one day and having fast food for dinner last night. I haven't expected to maintain the 1kg/week this long. Expecting the plateau any week now.

Well I've put on about 6 kg since my birthday. As I said in another comment, I'm good all year until my birthday to Xmas. Those 2½ months become a gorgefest of gluttony. I don't know whether to fight it or embrace it. Maybe I'm banking all my treat days 😆

I've been pretty busy tho. Work's been pretty physical and also this weekend I've been tearing the flat apart and rearranging and deep cleaning it while I look for a library book the Elder received a notice from school about, which we're both sure he returned. If we don't find it they say they won't let him graduate. From primary school 🤨 Last time this happened he was a prep, and they refused to let him borrow for weeks. They sent home 3 letters about it, I turned the flat upside down, and they found it sitting on the library shelf, where it had presumably been the whole time! Good excuse to deep clean the flat, throw out a couch (was lighter than I expected 💪) and arrange things more suitably. Mr P can't really do these things anymore, too much strain on the back.

Does the school principal have a history of working at Centrelink with the robodebt scheme? Threatening an excessive punishment against someone you hold a great deal of power over, for a minor transgression you allege with no real proof or path of appeal, sounds very familiar.
- Lol that's simultaneously funny and sad.. I think she's one of those career education department people. Not that there's anything wrong with that..
it’s their secret plot to get you to deep clean and rearrange the school library
Winter for me. Eating as heating.
- For me it's eating as celebration.. guess my birthday goes until New Year's! Woo!
Buy a replacement book and give it to them?

Haven't been awesome. One of my kitties has had some health issues (they suspected skin infection but after shaving and testing they're not sure...) so she's home and pissed off, and my other cat doesn't recognize her because she was bathed and shampooed so she's being hissy....

But in general a bit off. I'm kinda burnt out with work, and a little burnt out relationship-wise*. It's been a long week.

*Would prefer to talk 1:1 vs. publicly about it

so many hugs

I just watched “The Creator” by Gareth Edwards. Top shelf sci-fi. Fucking mint. 4.5/5

Some things I am grateful for today:

antihistamines
sunshine
Sundays
no plans
salt
avocado
jif

Stuck in this weird limbo where I'm really not sure if my arm is fractured or not, some of my symptoms match those of a fracture but the swelling and the bruising aren't there yet. I'd also be naturally relieved if there wasn't a fracture but because I've been taking care of my arm, the idea that it's not there makes me feel like I've been dramatic. It doesn't make sense but it's just me trying to process it all. I also realise if it isn't fractured I still would have to miss some work and that's frustrating, might as well just be fractured to justify the time off. lol.

maybe it’s bone bruise? though even that involves swelling
- Yeah, there's a small amount of swelling but nothing to write home about, the pain is there.
Kinda had that with one of my ankles. It’s been cracked but not officially broken twice. Loads of weird aches and twinges but no diagnostic specific Thing

How is it already Sunday!!

I'm having that "how is it Sunday/November/almost 2024" more often lately.

I'll be sad that a lot of people died.

Assuming I wasn't already hit before Melbourne. Perth has a Naval base, an Air Force base and SAS barracks. It's a legit military target.

Edit: just realised I didn't reply to the question. Oops! No wonder people were confused.

Nath are you talking about our hypothetical hydrogen bomb scenario or do you know something that we don't?
- Yep, mini-freak out here w/ no context.
- Well the question was about what I'd do if Myer in Melbourne CBD were hit by a nuke. I'm 3,000km away, that wouldn't affect me.
  On the other hand, Perth has half the population, and a bunch of military assets. It'll probably be targeted before Melbourne. The first targets won't be the biggest population centres, it takes a round or two for people to justify just killing civilians.
i should move to perth
- It's a good week for it. Summer has just started, mid to high 30's all this week.
Alice Springs/Pine Gap is a big strategic military target

Just shaved Boyo’s hawk back in for him. Pretty sure any professional would be horrified, but he’s happy…

Took the kids on the train to [Perth's Frankston] this afternoon. The oldest kid is the biggest train nerd, and they're shutting down the line at midnight to do a level crossing removal/track elevation thing for a couple of years. Armadale is dead: walking through its shopping center during trading hours, and without a lie, 90% of the stores were closed. It was surreal. Now it is about to lose its train line.

A nuclear bomb strikes at CBD Myer area. Chaos ensues. You have minutes to evacuate. What are you doing, where are you going?

Example of a 240kt bomb
Big North Korean bomb centred on Myer
Eh, probably just die quietly in a park. Too much effort fighting Melbourne traffic.
I'd go to the underwear section.
What, am I inside Myer? If so I'd be filling up my pockets on the way to the door.
- What pockets? What door? lol
- You're at home
I'd vape. As in I'd instantly vaporise because that's only about 1km away and it wouldn't smell like bubblegum fairy floss.
I'd move closer to the epicentre. Ain't no way I'm dying from sloughing skin and radiation in a now post-apocalyptic Melbs; let me go out instantly lol
I will have died instantly due to proximity, I will likely not be doing much or going anywhere.
- One of the lucky ones
So this sent me to look up what is the instant death radius of a nuclear bomb. It depends on the size of the bomb of course, but within 3km, very likely to be dead, up to 8km, 50% chance of dead. Survival is possible if you are in some kind of bunker or heavily sheltered concrete building. But I don’t know if those numbers include death from chunk of concrete falling on head or just radiation. Beyond 8km will be some death dependant on exposure. So being past the 8kms and in a basic brick veneer house, I would likely die a slow death with my skin peeling off. Would probably eat and drink the nicest things I could find try for the first few days before symptoms set in properly, drive to a lovely location in nature, and then find a way to exit before it became unbearable.
- yeah nah, this house was built in the 60's. The power of lead paint protects me
- I'm 500 meters away. I am very possibly dead
  ( your car's electronics will be cooked, you won't be driving anywhere.
I'm probably far enough away my concerns would be the social breakdown and chaos of the afermath rather than radiation. I guess I'd try to contact my family if communications are still up, then set the pets up with lots of dry food as a precaution and go to work (in emergency services).
Judging by Calhoons response to this question I'm outside any blast radius. Damn, and I was hoping the family would be blissfully vaporised together. Now we'll have to hit the road in a futile attempt to find a way to eke out a living among the fleeing hordes. We'll probably get as far as Crazyburn and then run out of petrol lol.
If I’m at work - Parliament station - run very fast as far Underground as I could get. Has vending machines for food and drink.
At home - eat a tub of ice cream with my cat. Make some type of mattress fort to block radiation. Collect water and food.
Depending on range I hold Melbcat tight and we kiss both our butts goodbye, or we load her food and meds into her pram and scram.

I think my washing machine is a bit stinky. Might try one of those washing mashing cleaners. I’ve done vinegar washes before that have some success, but maybe the proper stuff might be more thorough? I always leave the door open after washing so it dries out, but for some reason it still get musty over time.

Is it a front loader because usually it's the seals that get manky.
- Good idea will try a seal cleaning.

Got a bit wasted last night at a gig (well, before the gig pints were $15) was out the front and bummed a rollie off someone. Some dude saw me rolling, came up and tried to sell me a 25g pouch of champion ruby $25. His opening line was 'I just went through duty free and have quit' and proceeds to pull out 5 pouches. Obviously stolen goods.

I only smoke occasionally but damn that was a good deal. only had a $50, dude had change. And thought even if it's counterfeit currency I'm still $17 ahead.

Got sucked into a black Friday sale, have new wool socks and some better hiking boots though.

Breakfast 🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍈🫐🍓🍇🍉🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥥🥦🥑🫛🍆🍅🥝🥬🥒🌽🥕🥐🍠🫚🥔🧅🥯🍞🥖🥨🧀🧇🥞🧈🍳🥚🥓🥩🍗🍖🫓🍕🍟🍔🌭🥙🧆🌮🌯🥗🍲🍜🍝🥘🍛🍣🍱🥟🦪🍥🍘🍚🍙🐠🍤🪼🦀🐙 🍗🥮🍢🍡🍧🍰🧁🥧🍦🍨🎂🍮🍭🍬🍫🥜🌰🍪🍿🍯🥛☕️🍵🍺🍶🥤🧋🧃🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🧉🔋

mmmmmm truffle eggs

I rate the Vitapet kitty litter as being great for stinky control but very low in other aspects. It's heavy and muddy, it tracks and is hard to clean up.

back to crystal litter

In an uber pool and this dude next to me is watching some American dude interview some Spanish politician about Spanish politics. Bro, get some earphones or something I'm not interested 😂

Nobody expects the spanish inquisition.
- I wouldn't mind the Comfy Chair myself.

Anyone know where I can get an old postie bicycle? The red BMX sized ones.

Have you checked the Yarra?

I just painted my nails. I am now unbearably itchy in many places.

Of course you are. Silly TRex hands while you dry. Maybe play Thriller..

I'm going though Tubi trying to find 'so bad it's good' material or stuff to have on in the background. Watching Pastacolypse... it's weirdly 2010's seeming, zombie themed, trying to be funny in a parody/'ironic' sort of way. It's not great, just fine. I guess I'll finish it.

Edit: Going through the 'Cult' section. They've got Plan 9 From Outer Space but I've attempted to watch that many years ago, it may have cult status but I really didn't enjoy it. A lot of Elvira. What looks like the original black and white Little Shop Of Horrors. Night Of The Living Dead (acting sucks). House On Haunted Hill.

They have The Tingler but I've seen it. Seen Reanimator. No Friday the 13th, Camp Sleepaway, Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street... They have the Hills Have Eyes but I skipped through a bit and wasn't really grabbed by it

There's a bunch of other stuff that might be ok but you really have to sift.

Google Play Games Review:

So I like to play mobile games, I use Google Play, have an account whatever. I moved up to Silver (because I try the free games and don't pay mtx, it took me a while from bronze to silver).

Anyway, once a week (iirc) I get a prize and usually it's just more points to push me up silver. But last month I actually won 3 free months of Google Play Pass! So I've been able to try the better games that I'd otherwise have to pay $5-$15 for.

It's actually amazing how far mobile gaming has come now that I can try the proper games!

•Raspberry Mash is one of my favs so far, a little rogue-lite with a girl protag smashing demons in hell. Actually rad af, and indie too. 10/10, the story continues through the difficulties one unlocks, bigger than I thought!

•Pocket City is fun as well, though it does make me want to buy Pocket City 2 which I will refrain from until I actually have disposable income. 7/10 as there are some QoL changes that ought to be made, that I am sure they have done in 2.

•SPACE PLAN is like Cookie Clicker but with potatoes, and an amazing gripping story. 8/10 (bc it's too short lol).

•Game Dev Tycoon (I know I'm late to this one lol) works extremely well as a mobile game, and I'm hooked. 9/10.

•Death Road to Canada is awesome, you make custom characters that randomly appear in a run, alongside NPC/premade characters, and you try to survive a 15 day roadtrip to Canada during a Zombie apocalypse. There's weapons to equip when you get to a town to raid for supplies, and random events when you're driving. Defo recommend. 9/10.

That's just my little review of Android gaming for now. There's a few RPGs and rogue-lites/likes that I still want to try as well. So I'll make sure to post again after I've worn these out haha

Here's me still just casually playing Jetpack Joyride when I have a few minutes to kill. I've played several games over the years, but if I have enough time for a real gaming session, I'll fire up the computer.

@nath@aussie.zone

I gave that deleted scenes album from Caro Emerald a go and I didn't mind most of it. It's not entirely my cup of tea, but I liked 2 of them a fair bit (That Man and Dr. Wanna Do). Spotify thinks I'm "classy" now

Hahah my favourite track from that album is 'on a night like this', but I'm a huge sucker for upbeat piano and I love it's lick.
The big hit in Europe from the album was 'back it up'.
Try a capital N for Nath
- I don't think it mattered, I got the notification.
- @Nath@aussie.zone this work?

Ooof. I am watching that Orgasm Inc. doco…

Manipulative isn’t even the word. I’m actually lost for words… I can’t believe they’re even still interviewing this woman in 2023 given there is footage of her speaking that demonstrates how unhinged she is.

Turns out dogs can’t entertain themselves even with many acres to play on. He stole my shoes and chewed them up. Yesterday he got the insect spray that my husband left at the door and chewed off the nozzle.

Dog doesn’t want to be outside but doesn’t want to be inside in his playpen either. Sigh. He also trashed every bed I’ve bought him.

I need some storage ideas for this empty space - someone pls hlep meee

I have my shoes in the equivalent spot. You can see the start of my wife's area - she has a rack as well, but her shoes don't all fit in it, so she has a few dozen in shoe boxes.
We have those old school stackable drawer units there in ours. Festival gear, slobby outdoor work gear, concerts, etc. If you don't have cats, shelves for pants also work.
Shoe rack? Or one of those wire draw thingos?
- What's the wire draw thing?
  I think I need more shelves for my other clothes 🤔

After enjoying the style of Mr Inbetween I decided to check out Normal Things, I really enjoy how realistic the conversation and characters feel, even though those kids are SO annoying I almost want to give them a slap...

E: halfway through I'm glad to see some other reviewers commenting on how bratty those kids are. But episode 5 goes to show the depth of characterisation. It's a nice show to just slip in and out of like you're dropping on a friend.

Does anyone know how to download a book from amazon to my kindle desktop, where that book is not available in Australia? I don't have a VPN.

Are you able to create an Amazon US account and buy the book? Then you could just use Calibre and break the DRM and load it onto your Kindle
- Thanks heaps!
Your kindle account will have an email address @kindle.com. you can email the epub to it and then from your library, you can send it to specific devices.
- Good idea. Will give this a try. I'm sick of having 1 volume in a series available on Amazon Australia, but all the other volumes are USA only.

It sounds like a lot of whipper snipping going on next door. Fingers crossed the blackberries are being cleared out.

Edit: sadly the blackberries are still there. Most of the other overgrown stuff is chopped, but the blackberries remain. Regular border patrols for encroaching canes will need to continue.

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