If you haven’t tried ChatGPT, then you must. I asked the question: how to stop Russia war in Ukraine? Response As an AI language model, I cannot provide a definitive solution to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as it is a complex political and military issue with historical roots and multiple stakeholders involved. […]
KIVA: Make A Difference
Make a difference in the world by lending on Kiva. Kiva uses crowdfunded microloans as a force for good, creating a space where people can have one-to-one impact, and together, expand financial access for all. Since 2009, I have been a KIVA lender. Largely, the same principal $money donated is lent, paid back and then […]
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a small nonprofit that invests our resources into making kindness the norm. We are rooted in the belief that all people can connect through kindness and that kindness can be taught. We follow a simple framework for everything we do. Inspire -> Empower -> Act -> Reflect -> […]
I am now a RAKtivist
What is a RAKtivist I hear you ask.. ‘RAKtivist’ is short for ‘Random Acts of Kindness activist’. They’re the people that end up brightening what otherwise would’ve been ‘just a normal day’. You know the sort. The clerk at the store who tells you to ‘have a great day’…and really means it. The person on […]
Amber: Solar Power System Management
October 2022 and we’re now AMBER-fied! What does the average householder know (or understand) about electricity rates, solar, batteries, feed-in tariffs.. electricty power management? I suggest “very little”! That is not a criticism but a reflection of a complicated, ever changing market. Amber is the future! Amber is the only energy provider that gives you […]
Useage: Electric Power Comparison (grid -v- solar)- Melbourne Australia
I was really hoping I could show a simple “before and after” solar comparison for all to see. I remembering looking for this kind of data to see “how much saving” there was going to be with a solar system. It’s turned out harder than I thought. Firstly, I changed retailers (Momentum to Amber), then […]
Solar Does NOT Work During Blackouts
Did you know if there is a power outage, then solar power does not nessesarily work! Battery or not, your’re in the black. A solar system must be configured to work during a blackout or they power off during blackouts. I am still working through this (February 2023) but after our power went of during […]
Journey: new solar power system – Melbourne Australia
I’ve decided to document our experience with a solar panels installation, aimed at helping people make decisions. Installation – July 2022 Largely, installation very smoothly with a couple of anomolies. The first team arrived, unpacked the solar panels and brackets. They fitted the brackets to the roof and then left, leaving the 18 panels in […]
Solar System: Sunport Panels + Alpha-ESS Battery
The Solar System was installed by Allstar Energy Solutions Pty Ltd (since amalgamated with Advantage Solar) System size: 6.66 kW (dc) (STC) 18 x 370W Sunport Classic Series (1772mm x 1016mm) solar panels. Inverter: Sungrow Power SG5K-D – 5000W | 1 Phase Battery (storage): 13.3KW Alpha-ESS SMILE-BAT-13.3P | 13.34kWh – Lithium-Ion Solar panes facing NORTH […]
Solar: Panels & Battery – Melbourne Victoria Australia
I am excited! It’s 3rd July 2022 and we’re now solar powered. A long journey ahead, but the aim is to be 100% self sufficient and good for the environment. Selling back to the grid will be a bonus if it happens. I plan to detail our experience from research, products, installation and statistics. I’m […]
Solar made simple – a handy guide
Thinking about switching to solar but not sure where to start? Download the Solar Victoria guide to learn everything you need to know before adding solar to your home. What’s included? How solar works: the basics Saving with solar: costs and benefits Solar Panels: owning your power Solar Batteries: storing what’s yours Solar Hot Water: […]
Social Media: Time For Change – End Bad Users
I’ve long said that social media giants have the power to make platforms safe but CHOOSE not to. I believe social media knows every single user but chooses not to ban/block/deny users for fear of losing $$$. It shocks me that social media puts the minority of anonymous, bad users before good, honest users. Forget […]
AusPost: 11 Spam Messages
I am going to call out AusPost for SPAM. I ordered an item online on eBay.com.au for delivery from Sydney to Melbourne. It took 4 days from the order date to when the item arrived. In that time I received 14 messages: 3 emails from the supplier (2) and eBay (1) and 11 (yes, eleven) […]
Dumb Australians: Dodgy Medical Advice
How stupid are Australian’s when it comes to health? We’ll believe an unregistered quack, non scientific data found on the internet but question the science of trained registered medical professionals! To the nay-sayers, anti-vaxxers, non-believers.. you are risking your lives and the lives of your friends and family. Vaccines are one of the safest and […]
Lockdowns after reaching 80% vaccination rate
Will we be saying “we were LIED to” when the Government (state and Federal) announce lockdowns AFTER we reach a 80% vaccination rate? I am PRO vaccination but Government rhetoric that lockdowns will end once we are all vaccinated is very concerning. It’s concerning that local Government will blame Federal Government who will blame effectiveness. […]
Allegedly
I cannot stand reading or hearing the word “Allegedly” in media news. Allegedly, media must use the word to cover its ass in case a statement turns out to be incorrect. There are times when it is factually incorrect to use Allegedly. Take the case of the Jewish engagement party in Melbourne. The HeraldSun says: POLICE […]
eBay Email Nightmare
My new pet hate.. the number of emails I receive after buying an item on eBay. I understand confirmation and freight emails but the sheer number has got to ridiculous proportions. Emails eBay sends them Receipts Seller sends them Transport company sends If there is a delay for any reason, then be prepared, you’re about […]
Coles & Woolworths Sourdough Bread is FAKE
Don’t I feel justified right now… I’ve been banging on about sourdough bread sold by Coles and Woolworths is simply not what it is labelled. It is NOT sourdough bread As far back as 2013, alarms have been raised by Australian media, publishers, health groups and retail organisations (Choice). How is it possible that retailers […]
Fake Sourdough Bread | Coles
Here we go again! Coles is now doing the same thing as Woolworths.. selling bread labelled sourdough when it isn’t. What that means for me.. 2 days of feeling unwell. It has other consequences as well.. loss of productivity, mood swings, worry and concern. Having had a stroke, everytime I feel unwell my concerns return […]
Worried About Your Memory?
If you’re over 50 and worried about memory loss or becoming forgetful, then read a new book: Adventures in Memory — the Science and Secrets of Remembering and Forgetting by Hilde and Ylva Ostby. In short, our fears relate to quite natural ageing in the 21st century. The Herald Sun Digital Edition: GOOD TO FORGET […]
The Best (and Worst) of People
Elections bring out the best (and worst) of people. Standing, waiting in line to vote you see.. The impatient voter, obviously with something very important they have to do next. Looking around, mumbling and grumbling to anyone that will listen (or not) The access voter who can’t wait in line with everyone else. The seat […]
McUnHappy Day
Don’t get me wrong, McHappy Day is a good thing but, flawed in its delivery. McHappy Day raises funds for the charity, which helps keep families together while their seriously ill child undergoes treatment. We (public) are digging deep but what is McDonald’s and it’s franchises contributing to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) ? We contribute […]
Fake Sourdough Bread | Woolworths
For a bread to be labelled and sold as “sourdough”, the dough must be fermented over a period of 12 – 48 hours. Woolworths sourdough breads contain less than 15% fermented dough. My Story Whether related to my stroke or not, I’ve become intolerant of wheat-based products like bread. I’ve been tested for coeliac disease […]
HeraldSun Clippings Stopped Working
We do enjoy reading our daily dose of the HeraldSun. Out of the blue, the 3 right side links (features) have stopped working (dead as a doornail). Clippings | Page Thumbnails | Sections <– News Stand | Search and Layout are still working I have two iPads and the links don’t work on either? The […]
Free Television | Rights (and wrongs)
It surprises me how many people believe they have a right to watch free television, that is without advertising. Whenever I read people saying.. TV is more about revenue than viewers pleasure it begs the question: In your line of work, how much was unpaid work performed purely for your customers’ enjoyment? Example Comment OK Channel […]
Don’t just assume it only happens to Minh
One reads some interesting articles, but “Don’t just assume that I’m Chinese” by Minh Giang in TheAge says more about Minh and a need to travel than anything. She complains that she is mistaken for being Chinese as if she is the only person in the world that it happens to. Sorry Minh, it happens “everywhere”, […]
My Stroke
The great stroke of 2012. Surprisingly, until now (2018) I have never written about my stroke. I write about most things, but not about the most significant event in my life. I write this 6 years after my stroke in 2018 as National Stroke Week commences. I must begin with my “symptoms” because I dismissed the warning […]
After the stroke
I was extremely lucky, if one can say ‘lucky’ after having a stroke. My wonderful partner called 000 and an ambulance rushed me to a local hospital within minutes of the stroke commencing. I experienced many of the after-effects of a stroke which included poor speech, numbness, tiredness, naps, hiccups, but other than that I […]
VicRoads + Government = $0
Well, here I go again… VicRoads + Government = money down the gurgler! Last week (August 2018), there were two major press releases regarding roads: Road and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan said ALL revenue from traffic cameras and on-the-spot speeding fines would be used to fix suburban and country roads, under a new state […]
My Man Cave
I am lucky enough to have a fabulous man cave. It was fortuitous the space was suitable plus an understanding partner. The cave is situated on a lower level (basement) of our home in a warm comfortable area. Man Cave Priorities Space – seating, television, speakers, coffee table Furniture – seating (chair / couch), coffee table, […]
Melbourne: Worst Drivers In The World
Who is to blame for Melbourne having the worst drivers in the world? VicRoads is to blame! I have absolutely no doubt the cause of Victoria’s atrocious drivers and a system close to gridlock is the organisation responsible for it. VicRoads and it’s nanny-state attitude is the cause. Don’t be fooled into believing VicRoads (Government) […]
Making A-League special again
SOCCER is dying a slow death in Australia with memberships at an all-time low, falling spectators and general apathy from the Australian public. Its governing body is out of touch with what Australians want from a sport in 2018. Player antics.. faking injury, staging for frees, unacceptable behaviour where the players are seen as primadonna’s not […]
Snopes.com
I love finding interesting new websites, this month goes to Snopes.com Urban Legends The Snopes.com website was founded by David Mikkelson, a project begun in 1994 as an expression of his interest in researching urban legends that has since grown into the oldest and largest fact-checking site on the Internet, one widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, […]
TigerTime: Best Day in 37 Years
As Toyota would say, oh what a feeling. Now, this post is not me gloating (although I’d love to Adrian), it’s about how it feels as a supporter of a premiership team. Damn good, real good, amazing is how it feels. I have been on an emotional high since Saturday 30th September 2017 at around […]
Drivers That Cannot Change Lanes
Here is an interesting driving observation that many drivers might not have noticed, until now. There are drivers out there that can only manage one lane (usually middle) and rarely change lanes, even when a car in front of them is in their way. There have always been drivers who only drive in the centre […]
Junners
I heard a beauty of radio this morning. Ross asks John, do you know what a JUNNER is? No Ross, what is a JUNNER? A JUNNER is urban slang for a person wearing JEANS with RUNNERS. Melbourne Dad* says: I don’t understand it. I’ve worn runners (trainers) with jeans for many year. Why? They are comfortable. […]
Twitter | Password Recovery + Email
I’ll start this post with saying, I am actually a huge fan of TWITTER, but I am not a fan of Twitter’s password recovery process. In simple terms, if you have lost your password and cannot access your email address there is NO OTHER OPTION to gain access to your account. It does not matter […]
Its My CHOICE
I have been a member of CHOICE for over 30 years. I liked it as a printed publication, but love it as an online resource. I find myself having to pry myself away from reading and reading. In short, you would be mad not seeing what CHOICE thinks ‘before’ buying anything. CHOICE will have already […]
Laugh With a Bang | Big Bang Theory
When it comes to favourite TV shows, I lean towards the funny side of the shows. I want to be entertained and made to laugh, not sit there trying to work out ‘who done it’ specially when the all-important clue is some miniscule detail that is only revealed in the final minutes of the show. […]
Versing!
I couldn’t count the number of times that young players in our team have asked me before a game, who are we “versing”? Versing I yell back, what sort of word is versing? 10 push-ups and never say it again. They could say.. playing, competing against, up against, which are all acceptable terms but there […]
The Other Side of Julia
The other side of Julia.. not, oops I mean’t knit! The headline read: Julia Gillard: Knitting shows another side of me Well, it certainly does but I am afraid it isn’t the side she may have been hoping for? For the non-believers, the photo is a very bad case of staged photography. My mother-in-law said: […]
Bicycles Online Dream Takes Off
I was reading an article in TheAge the other day about two clever young guys who were making their mark selling bicycles online when I read something that really annoyed me.. “none of the big brands would allow their bikes to be sold online” Isn’t that restrictive trade. You can sell our bicycles from a […]
UrbanBuzz
UrbanBuzz is Australia’s own social network for LOCALS on your smartphone! Born from the frustration of not knowing what is happening locally, UrbanBuzz connects locals instantly so that everyone can get the best out of where they live. Individuals, businesses and organisations can now instantly connect with each other. Know all the chatter, sales and […]
Local Car Industry Lost!
I spent a few years of my early working life in the motor industry here in Melbourne Australia. I remember back in the 80’s when the government of the day introduced changes which at the time appeared tough, but now in 2013 I can see why, the measures were aimed at protecting our local automotive […]
Hacked WordPress | What Next?
If you haven’t heard, hackers are once again targetting WordPress web sites but they have a new way in. This time round, they are trying to get in via your WordPress Admin area. In millions of cases, hackers already know two key elements about your login: where to login (ie www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin) your username (admin)* * […]
Australia Post | Ripped-Off!
We’re being ripped off by Australia Post, with the approval of the Australian Government. While on one hand the Government says that Telstra cannot have a monopoly because it would be unfair for Australians, on the other hand it allows Australia Post to operate in a complete monopoly, a law unto itself. Australia Post decides […]
Australia Needs A Car Industry!
Australia needs and deserves a car industry.. not an industry only propped up by Government dollars, but a fully protected industry that encourages manufacturing here in Australia, along with dealerships that service the industry. A thriving car industry provides thousands of jobs, not just in the manufacture of the vehicle but the many hundreds of associated industries […]
Love Myki
And I thought it was only me that loved MYKI! For the past couple of years I have had a Myki card in my pocket and used it quite a few times without a single problem. I do not commute to work, so I don’t use it on a regular or daily basis, but when […]
Password | Security Tips
Here he goes again, Mr Doom and Gloom! Well, not quite but read on if you use passwords. Yes, I said passwords! We all do. We use them all day every day. After reading an article by Memphis Barker, in which he asks whether you think your password is safe, then think again, I quickly […]
V/Line meets Metro
In a case of dumb meets dumber, an investigation has found that communication between V/Line trains and Metrol [Metro’s train control centre] will take four years to upgrade. Four years, 48 months, 1,460 days = are they serious? In the meantime, whenever there is an issue where one operator needs to talk to the driver […]