AJ Sadauskas @aus.social Australian urban planning, public transport, politics, retrocomputing, and tech nerd. Recovering journo. Cat parent. Part-time miserable grump.
Cities for people, not cars! Tech for people, not investors!
Vale Tito Jackson.
Vale Tito Jackson.
Really sad news about a talented musician who was far too often overlooked in favour of his more famous siblings: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kddp5x5zno
Here's a performance by Tito from earlier this year, with Austin Brown and BLVK CVSTLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBobSF68Tdk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65eEHAMZMSo
\#TitoJackson #music #Pop #PopMusic #MichaelJackson #JanetJackson #Jackson5 @music
Up! Up! Coles' annual profits are up to $1.1 billion.
Up! Up! Coles' annual profits are up to $1.1 billion.
And to think the Reserve Bank still acts as though inflation and the cost of living crisis is due to wages (below the rate of inflation) or consumer spending, rather than corporate profiteering.
@australia #news #politics #finance #business #auspol #coles #woolworths #capitalism #auspol
@CEOofmyhouse56 @PeelerSheila Reminds me of a few years ago, when I had to go along to a friend's kids' birthday party.
I really didn't know what to get as a prezzie. I ended up picking a stuffed pink unicorn toy that cost maybe $10.
Fast forward to the party.
The kids parents and grandparents absolutely spoiled this kid.
I'm talking hundreds of dollars worth of toys. It was just obscene!
The living room of their house ended up filled with them. A Barbie doll house that was taller than this kid. A ride-on toy car. Half a dozen battery-powered things that made annoying noises.
Anyway. Eventually the kid opened my present.
Hrr eyes lit up. She grabbed it, cuddled that unicorn, and left all the other toys on the ground.
Her grandma and grandpa were visibly miffed.
So yeah. Sometimes a cheap, fun toy trumps hundreds of dollars of overpriced plastic crap. 🧸🦄🎁
@Duenan @Bottom_racer And people wonder why I'm scared of ladders!
@melbaboutown @Seagoon_ I've definitely noticed a decline in their quality, especially with their elastics, stitching, and fabric quality.
Also, any "lace" trims will begin to fray in a wash or two, even if you handle it carefully.
It's very frustrating.
@underwatermagpies @Seagoon_ The only thing about Uniqlo is that their sizes all tend to run a *lot* smaller than most other stores.
Normally wear a medium?
Okay, at Uniqlo you'll want to try a large and an extra large.
@RustyRaven @dumblederp @Baku There's a whole thread about these guys over on the Choice website: https://choice.community/t/online-websites-that-appear-australian-but-are-not/29603/9
The short answer is that NineLife is not owned by or affiliated with Channel Nine, or its TV channels 9Life or 9Now.
NineLife looks like it's based overseas, possibly in the UK or the US.
@Seagoon_ Let's get the ball rolling...
Much on over the weekend for everyone?
At my end, some of it will be spent planning last minute anniversary surprises for wifey. It's on the 12th of August, so I've really left it to the last minute 😔
Suggestions welcome...
@LowExperience2368 No wukkas, hope thd lessons go well 😊🎹🎸
@Duenan Leave for the snowfields?
Just 16,246 showed up for their game last week against the Giants.
So safe to say most have already been hitting Mt Hotham and Falls Creek for a few weeks already...
@Duenan A few years ago all their players wanted to return to the southern states.
Well, they fixed that problem.
Unfortunately, now none of their players want to play footy outside Queensland 😁
@LowExperience2368 @Seagoon_ If rock songs on piano are your thing, you might want to check out VKGoesWild on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@vkgoeswildofficial?si=k5IGWqsX27rU_AKE
She's a classically-trained pianist from Ukraine who's built a career doing cover of rock songs.
Here's her doing Bohemian Rhapsody. Seriously talented: https://youtu.be/rptV6K7nqu0?si=pRIGbSF5j8dwOoz8
@CEOofmyhouse56 Haha You've got great taste 👍😁
A couple to add:
Theme song to the film Boronia Boys: https://youtu.be/yRebOoCvBAg?si=BppkmDhO9Hci0XXC
And worth checking out if you like '80s-style Aussie rock: My bestie's partner's band Kandy Kobras: https://youtu.be/OMmA_j_9cwA?si=bzoRMWC7IdaaiK2C
@CEOofmyhouse56 @Seagoon_ Barnzy and Tina: https://youtu.be/crAgnI9BF6M?si=3hYFC5FPECPrMq-H
Barnzy and Farnzy: https://youtu.be/AU_bCchDWF4?si=QH_nwvz2o7Hd20-Y
Barnzy and Hutchence: https://youtu.be/OqSrEhuWrgY?si=Hcofpl9WmEsXUdEq
Barnzy and The Living End: https://youtu.be/HO5shojBCQ8?si=v-Tt8AN8_nE849AU
@CEOofmyhouse56 @Seagoon_ Farnzy, circa 1990 or so, doing You're the Voice, live: https://youtu.be/1em08fq8of0?si=vkiMK90cEQUj0B8M
@CEOofmyhouse56 @Seagoon_ Is there a theme, or just Aussie anx Kiwi rock?
If so:
Killing Heidi: https://youtu.be/01aq2JWk3d0?si=Y82AAlD4bjpBLfl2
Silverchair: https://youtu.be/8KHwuOtcALQ?si=kIzHfNTdoz5fC9wR
More Silverchair: https://youtu.be/ShiShrR_nh8?si=uJ_noi5P2AhF4xkO
Easybeats: https://youtu.be/rBJLoYd8xak?si=Kf4bOFeXuvPypmgf
Norman Rowe: https://youtu.be/rBJLoYd8xak?si=Kf4bOFeXuvPypmgf
@CEOofmyhouse56 Haha I like your thinking!
Any ideas on what I should say? I'm open to suggestions 😊
@Seagoon_ My boss (this is not the "manager") insists on having a team meeting every Friday afternoon.
She insists on having another one first thing Monday morning.
Are these meetings happening so we can talk about what we're working on?
Well, not really. That's what the Wednesday meeting is for.
No, I'm now 99% sure the whole point of the Friday meeting is so she can tell everyone how much fun she will have skiing or bushwalking this weekend.
And the Monday one? That's to force people to listen to how much fun she had skiing or bushwalking this weekend.
@Duenan @CEOofmyhouse56 Parsley and fish definitely can work together 😊
Do you have any lemons?
Any neighbours with a lemon tree in the front yard?
If so, you might want to try a lemon parsley butter with your fish: https://www.recipetineats.com/lemon-butter-sauce-fish/
@LowExperience2368 @Seagoon_ Female friendships are the best ☺️
(The only catch for me is I tend to be someone people come to with problems. So there's been days when my bestie has come to me with troubles, and then my other bestie, and then mum, and then wifey 😫.)
Anyways. Grateful thoughts.
One of the ways wifey and I split jobs is that I do the dishes at night and she, in theory, puts them away every morning.
In practice, most days I end up doing it.
Well...
A couple of days ago, I waited to see how long it would take for her to do it.
6pm — nope. 7pm. 8pm.
Are you going to put them away? "In a minute!"
9pm. 10pm.
Eventually it gets to midnight. Still not put away and she's fast asleep.
So I put them away. At midnight. I might have made a bit more noise than usual in the process.
She wakes up: "Why are you doing that now? It's midnight!"
Oh sorry, it got to midnight and the dishes still weren't put away from this morning, so I'm doing it...
Anyways.
I woke up this morning, and the dishes were all in the drawers.
Grateful ☺️
And another one bites the dust — this time it's Rex.
And another one bites the dust — this time it's Rex.
It's a real shame, because (at least from my experience) their staff were far friendlier and more accommodating. And their prices were reasonable.
(They also never seemed to sell all their business class seats, so a seat up the front could be yours for $50 extra if you wanted it.)
I wonder whether Qantas or Virgin will pick up the regional routes?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-30/rex-airlines-enters-voluntary-administration/104155898
\#airlines #Rex @australia #business #auspol #airline #bankrupt
The new Alessia Cara single "Dead Man" is finally out today, and it officially slaps!
The new Alessia Cara single "Dead Man" is finally out today, and it officially slaps!
Also, I'm all for the return of a good brass solo breakdown in popular music!
https://youtu.be/IXjYdcYX7qk?si=xjXwAqJY\_0BCZFUe
Full links to the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming apps here: https://alessiacara.lnk.to/DeadMan
\#music #Top40 #pop #PopMusic #MusicVideo #NewRelease #news #Alessia #AlessiaCara #Spotify @popheads #musica #MusicSocial #NewMusic #Song
Adam Neely makes a really insightful point about the limitations of "generative AIs"/LLMs and music.
Adam Neely makes a really insightful point about the limitations of "generative AIs"/LLMs and music.
LLMs can mimic the output of music, but they can't handle the process of making music.
I think his insight applies to many other creative fields as well. LLMs mimic the output, but not the process:
https://youtu.be/N8NyEjB\_XeA?si=sUgCV6aeITBqas5E
@music #LLM #music #GenAI #generativeAI #tech #technology #chatGPT
It's time to call a spade a spade. ChatGPT isn't just hallucinating. It's a bullshit machine.
It's time to call a spade a spade. ChatGPT isn't just hallucinating. It's a bullshit machine.
From TFA (thanks @mxtiffanyleigh for sharing):
"Bullshit is 'any utterance produced where a speaker has indifference towards the truth of the utterance'. That explanation, in turn, is divided into two "species": hard bullshit, which occurs when there is an agenda to mislead, or soft bullshit, which is uttered without agenda.
"ChatGPT is at minimum a soft bullshitter or a bullshit machine, because if it is not an agent then it can neither hold any attitudes towards truth nor towards deceiving hearers about its (or, perhaps more properly, its users') agenda."
https://futurism.com/the-byte/researchers-ai-chatgpt-hallucinations-terminology
Time for an ICQ for the Fediverse?
Time for an ICQ for the Fediverse?
Looks like ICQ is finally shutting down, just as interest in retro internet tools is growing.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/25/24164579/icq-shut-down-june
A vital step forward for Parramatta as Sydney's second CBD.
A vital step forward for Parramatta as Sydney's second CBD.
The old Riverside Theatre is frankly starting to show its age.
Having a modern venue for theatre, concerts, and live music in Western Sydney is an important investment for the arts.
@sydney #Parramatta #Art #concerts #theatre #nsw #nswpol #sydney
Want to be an AFL media personality? It's easy — just follow the four-step Kane Cornes plan.
Want to be an AFL media personality? It's easy — just follow the four-step Kane Cornes plan.
-
Look up which teams that lost on the weekend.
-
For each of the teams, come up with a reason why either:
a) It's the players' fault. They're too lazy. Don't train hard enough. Don't put in enough effort! b) It's the players' fault. They're not skilled enough! c) It's the coach's fault. Bad tactics. Bad strategy. He's allowing those players to be lazy! d) It's the recruiter's fault. They picked/traded for the wrong players!
-
Get your producers to find a passage of play, interview, or press conference you can say backs up your claim.
-
Go on TV or radio and say what you think confidently, as if you're really pissed off about it.
Yeah, the older Richmond players didn't show enough effort. You really don't care — you used to play for Port Adelaide after all.
But you pretend you do on TV and the radio, because it makes great content.
That's really all it takes, folks!
\#AFL #footy @afl #Nine #KaneCornes #Adelaide #Melbourne #SouthAustralia #Victoria
I'm thinking seriously about getting Google out of my life, and trying NextCloud.
I'm thinking seriously about getting Google out of my life, and trying NextCloud.
Looking to get a personal account through a managed provider.
Does anyone have any experience with it?
How does it compare to ownCloud?
Any hosts I should look at or avoid?
Any apps I should get for it, or avoid?
Any issues I should be aware of before I switch?
A huge congratulations to @philipthalis on his well-deserved award.
A huge congratulations to @philipthalis on his well-deserved award.
Philip is undeniably both one of Australia's most respected architects and a tireless advocate for good urban design.
More importantly, he's not afraid to speak up publicly against bad state government planning decisions, as he did with Barangaroo, even when there's a personal cost.
@urbanism #Planning #UrbanPlanning #Cities #Urbanism #Buildings #Architecture #Transport #Architect #Walking #Walkability
So despite climate change, Australia's federal government has just committed an extra $3.25 billion into building a toll road and a 20-lane freeway widening.
So despite climate change, Australia's federal government has just committed an extra $3.25 billion into building a toll road and a 20-lane freeway widening.
For those who wonder why Aussies think toll roads are a scam (https://aus.social/@[email protected]/112405373613706682), here's a great example of why.
"Pouring an extra $3.25 billion worth of federal funds into Melbourne’s North East Link is a good use of taxpayer money, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has insisted, despite the project’s cost doubling just a few months ago.
...
"The North East Link – which includes 6½ kilometres of tunnels – will stretch from Bulleen to Greensborough. It will widen the Eastern Freeway by up to 20 lanes.
"Allan revealed in December that the 10-kilometre toll road had more than doubled in cost since it was first announced.
"The toll road was initially budgeted at $10 billion and reassessed in 2019 at $15 billion. But the government revealed last year that the updated cost estimate was $26 billion."
@fuck\_cars #Urbanism #Auspol #Vicpol #roads #UrbanPlanning #transport #cities #Melbourne #Naarm #Victoria #Australia
Hornsby is the fifth best place to live in Australia, apparently.
Hornsby is the fifth best place to live in Australia, apparently.
At least, according to a study SGS Economics and Planning:
"Sydney's Northern beaches ranks as the highest in the nation for wellbeing, with only one Queensland city making it to the top 10, the annual index revealed today.
"The Australian Capital Territory came in second due to its low gender wage gaps, climate change risks and the division of wealth."
The study assessed 518 local council areas on seven indicators:
\* economy \* income and wealth \* employment, knowledge and skills \* housing \* health \* equality, community and work-life balance \* environment
The top 10 local government areas are:
-
Northern Beaches (Greater Sydney)
-
Australian Capital Territory
-
North Sydney (Greater Sydney)
-
Ku-ring-gai (Greater Sydney)
-
Hornsby (Greater Sydney)
-
Lane Cove (Greater Sydney)
-
Mosman (Greater Sydney)
-
Sutherland (Greater Sydney)
-
Sydney (Greater Sydney)
-
Brisbane (Greater Brisbane)
The toll road scam: A government-made monopoly you pay for.
The toll road scam: A government-made monopoly you pay for.
Here's a funny-because-it's-true take on Transurban and the poor tax it imposes, from Punter's Politics:
https://youtu.be/FlKBakPAtiw?si=G39\_0GcJzSB0SSA8
\#cars #roads #fuckcars @fuck\_cars #tolls #tollroads #memes #funny #urbanism #UrbanPlanning #auspol #vicpol #nswpol
Looks like Sydney Trains is going to drop the jargon from its PA announcements.
Looks like Sydney Trains is going to drop the jargon from its PA announcements.
From the SMH:
"Commuters will soon be told to “get off” the train, rather than “alight”, after Sydney Trains resolved to overhaul its station announcements to favour colloquial language.
"The phrase “this train terminates here” is also being retired, due to concerns the word “terminates” is difficult to understand."
@sydneytrains #trains #sydney #nsw #transit #planning #train #UrbanPlanning
So the RTA's own modelling showed the Rozelle Interchange would be a traffic disaster—but generating more toll road trips for Transurban was more important.
So the RTA's own modelling showed the Rozelle Interchange would be a traffic disaster—but generating more toll road trips for Transurban was more important.
"The [NSW Roads and Traffic Authority] finalised the first business case for the WestConnex tunnel project in June 2013, with the help of road designers from around the world.
"[Paul Forward, a former CEO of the RTA] said the initial concept did not include the Rozelle Interchange.
...
"In 2014, an expert review group was formed to assess these plans.
"Mr Forward said it was at this point that TfNSW bureaucrats began to question the connectivity provided by the design.
"The RTA's former director of traffic Chris Ford told the inquiry that 15 alternative designs were modelled.
"Mr Ford said the modelling found that another motorway leading to the Anzac Bridge would cause congestion.
"'The issues that we see today were very clearly established in the modelling in 2014,' he said.
"In November 2015, after Mr Forward and Mr Ford were dismissed, TfNSW updated the WestConnex business case to include the tunnel to the Anzac Bridge, despite the congestion concerns raised by the modelling.
"In 2016, Transport for NSW updated the business case a second time ... creating a tunnel linking the Iron Cove Bridge to the Anzac Bridge."
...
"In 2018, the NSW government sold its 51 per cent stake in the Sydney Motorway Corporation, the body responsible for operating WestConnex, to Transurban for $9 billion.
"Mr Forward said the final design would generate a larger number of toll trips than previous options."
@fuck\_cars #roads #cars #urbanism #nswpol #sydney #WestConnex #UrbanPlanning #transport
"It's going to be a bloody disaster": Tell me again about how the second road tunnel under Sydney Harbour won't make congestion worse?
"It's going to be a bloody disaster": Tell me again about how the second road tunnel under Sydney Harbour won't make congestion worse?
"Civil engineer Les Wielinga, a former CEO at the now-defunct Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), made the fiery comments at a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the bungled Rozelle Interchange.
"The Western Harbour Tunnel, which is under construction, will allow drivers travelling between the inner west and the North Shore to bypass the CBD.
"Entries and exits to the tunnel will lie at the Ernest Street interchange in Cammeray and near the Falcon Street interchange at North Sydney.
"'It's going to be a bloody disaster,' Mr Wielinga told the upper house committee on Friday.
"Paul Forward, another former CEO of the RTA, told the inquiry he was concerned about the project's design.
"'You've now got three motorways coming out into this short area, and whilst I would recognise there are some exit points, some off-ramps, those motorways are now all going into the Lane Cove Tunnel,' he said.
"'A large number of lanes are going into two lanes at the Lane Cove Tunnel. Sounds familiar?'"
Where to now for North?
Where to now for North?
Smashed by a fairly ordinary Hawthorn side, with some big injuries including Day, Lewis, Jiath, Wingard, and Breust.
The big question: Is the issue North's list? Or has the game gone past Clarko as a coach?
"Meanwhile, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson concedes his side is still a long way off the pace after forecasting the match would be an indicator of where his rebuilding outfit sits in its development.
"He was left in no doubt and North has now lost 26 of 27 games since success in Clarkson's first two outings at the helm early last year."
How to remove a freeway...
How to remove a freeway...
The decision to build freeways instead of rail in the post-war years, along with the low-rise single-zoned suburbs it promoted, has been an absolute planning disaster.
But the mistake can be fixed, and freeways can be removed.
City Beautiful's Dave Amos @citybeautiful has an interesting look at some of America's endangered freeways, and how communities can get them removed: