• calhoon2005@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    Got the telescope out. Got very satisfying woah’s from the kids.

    Edit. Slight edit adding some sharpness as it seems the eyepiece was a little smudged. But otherwise straight through the eyepiece with my phone. Running with my recent Android Auto Wireless dongle AliExpress win, I’ve ordered what I hope to be a mount for my phone so I can do some proper long exposures using the tracking unit…

      • StudSpud The Starchy@aussie.zone
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        16 days ago

        This, I think, is the Moon’s terminator. The boundary of what’s lit up by sunlight and what’s not in the sunlight. So this is just all Moon, with no night sky visible.

        To take pictures of the stars, you would need a camera on a really long exposure, at the very least. They’re so very faint; even then they wouldn’t look too different to how we see them with our eyes.

        It’s hard enough trying to take a picture of planets past Saturn/Uranus. They’re so distant. You’d need what astronomers use to see any details. So far away, and so faint.

  • melbourne_wanderer@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    so far, COVID symptoms rather mild, but appear to have lost my sense of taste. As one who loves to cook, this is distressing. Hope it returns quickly.

    • Pilk@aussie.zone
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      16 days ago

      I post this for everyone, but super strong distinctive scents might still active your sense of smell. Quick, sharp inhales of things like orange peel, strong curry and essential oils can work. Also, the combo of sour and sweet in things like freshly cut oranges still activates your taste buds kinda like you’re getting the full experience. I found all these really comforting while waiting for smell to return.

      • AJ Sadauskas@aus.social
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        16 days ago

        @Pilk @melbourne_wanderer Wifey had COVID about a month ago. It was really bad for a week, including intense migraines, but then cleared up.

        About a week after most of her symptoms cleared, she began regaining her sense of taste.

        A couple of weeks after that, we were in a queue outdoors and she complained: “Ugh I can’t stand the smell of cigarettes. Wait — I can smell the smokers! This is amazing! I CAN SMELL THE SMOKERS!”

        Your mileage may vary, but for her it was mostly back within a month.

  • Baku@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    So over the last few months, I’ve been looking at more options for school and was considering home schooling. When I started speaking with an education specialist outside of my school, she said that because of my raw English scores, I should just go straight into the TAFE course I wanted to study (Cert III in Community Services).

    I remember being told basic TAFE course entry requirements are generally BKSB or equivalent (ACSF/LLN) scores of 3 or higher. At last test, I scored a 4 in english and 2 in math, but they suggested that regardless it’s worth having a crack and seeing if they’ll accept me. Today I did a retest and have progressed to a level 5 in english, but am still a level 2 in math. But I’m 93% of the way to level 3, so I decided to apply for the course anyway.

    (BKSB/ACSF scores are out of 5, and my school ties them to the years of high school. So the target is to meet a BKSB of 5 by the time you finish year 12, with a 1 being the goal by the end of year 8, so on. So since I’m still in year 10, I am above where I should be in english (which is a big surprise to me, because I’ve always struggled with things like essay style writing), and a 2 in math is where I should be.)

    I don’t have high hopes, I feel like on paper I must look like a really, really bad student, and they don’t take scores into account in the initial application at all. Still, even if they knock me back, that is better than where I stand now, since it’ll tell me exactly what the problem is. Right now I don’t know whether it’s being 17, not having finished year 10, not being great in math, or any number of other things that will be an issue. The course doesn’t list any entry requirements, though, so fingers crossed I guess 🤞

    • imoldgreeeg@aussie.zone
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      16 days ago

      Is there any contact at the tafe you could talk to? All these requirements are based on “normal” circumstances - Talking it through with a course or enrollment coordinator might help you identify any fast track option or other thing you can do?

      • Baku@aussie.zone
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        16 days ago

        Possibly (probably). I decided to just enrol for the course and see what happens. They need a signature from child protection before my application will progress to a human, but I assume once it does they’ll call me if they have questions, or if they plan on rejecting me

    • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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      16 days ago

      Mate, and I believe most people here would back me on this, but based on your writing over the years, you’d be a better candidate for heading into uni than most kids your age. Your capacity for research, ability to write, and emotional maturity is way beyond that of many adults I know…

      But yeah, I get that in your situation you might be happier by getting out of the school system asap.

  • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    Today calls for a treat, I’m getting a coffee at a cafe. Knuckling down on all the shit I need to get done, which, looking at the weather over the next few days, appears to include ALL the washing done and dry by the end of today.

    • Seagoon_@aussie.zoneOP
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      16 days ago

      😭 I really really relly want to do so much work and stuff but I have to rest my back. drives me crazy to do nothing

  • tone212_@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    Seriously hate paper straws. They always break on me and then I can’t enjoy my beverage with a straw as I would like.

  • Force_majeure123@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    Home from second social occasion in as many nights. Extremely rare for me. Had fun both nights. Had two drinks night one, three drinks tonight and called it early rather than carry on as I could’ve. To continue would mean I needed to get quite drunk indeed because my social energy was so low and I was bored. I’m glad I made the sensible choice

  • melbaboutown@aussie.zone
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    17 days ago

    I’ve covered the electric heating pad with a fleecy blanket in my bed - Miss Moo is sleeping on top of both with the doona over her. It says it has a temperature limit and it is intended for pets so hopefully that’s safe.

    Fun headache and nausea. Not sure if it’s because I was focusing my eyes on close work for almost an hour with the glare of a lamp, have been sleeping poorly, or the flu shot from 2-3 days ago has caught up with me.

  • Rusty Raven @aussie.zoneM
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    16 days ago

    I’ve just put fresh sheets on the bed (with Mr Woof’s “help”) and am looking forward to bedtime. I’ve got my favourite jungle print doona cover on and also have my leopard print flannelette pjs out ready.

  • Gibsonisafluffybutt@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    2 hours of video equals 5ish hours of study. I’m done for the evening thank fuck. My hand hurts from taking notes lol

    Also for your amusement:

    At least the fresh roll isn’t going to waste.

  • bull⚡@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    I’ve got a $100 Dan Murphy’s gift card I’ve had since Christmas itching to be spent and a desire to get outside myself today. Trying to think of something special to buy myself.

    Maybe it’s a fancy whisky day. I already have fancy gin, fancy vodka and fancy tequila here which I’ve had for ages. Hmm.

    Edit: further proof Gboard (Google’s keyboard on android phones) is tracking everything we type… I’m now seeing whisky ads in the Reddit app and this post is literally the only whisky related thing I’ve entered into my phone. I only just had the idea as I was writing it.

  • StudSpud The Starchy@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    The cat is… A cat. I usually get up at 6am on the weekdays and help my partner get up and ready for work. I tend to give the cat some food around the same time.

    Well, he was pawing and scratching at the closet and my face at 6am. So I get up and put some food out, but he wasn’t hungry apparently. So I laid down on the couch and he just jumped up and fell asleep between my legs.

    Asshole. Smart, dumb asshole.

    • Baku@aussie.zone
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      16 days ago

      You could have said nothing more after that first sentence and I think we’d somehow all know exactly what happened. Bloody cats!

  • Cendana@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    Was hoping to keep our car scratch free for years to come. Bought it new less than a year ago.

    Today while waiting for my wife to finish work, a ute backed into it. Other guy was nice though.

    • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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      16 days ago

      If you have comprehensive insurance then you’ll be right. These things happen. It’s much more painful to your heart and wallet when it’s you causing the damage to your own car…

      • Cendana@aussie.zone
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        16 days ago

        Yep that’s true. We’re comprehensively insured - but I’ve raised it as other party at fault. Got their details, license etc.

        • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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          16 days ago

          Then it’s all pretty easy from there. Hopefully your policy also provides for a replacement car while yours is in for repair - it’s very handy to have.

          I had someone’s towbar back into my rear driver side door while I was out on a job still using my own car. They thankfully left details and all, but it was in the shop for 10 days. (after driving around with a badly dented car for weeks as the incident happened two weeks before Xmas - I was very lucky; 2cm more and it would’ve hit the B pillar and been a write off). The replacement car was a godsend

          • Cendana@aussie.zone
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            14 days ago

            I didn’t initially select it, but was pleasantly surprised when I got a text message saying a hire car was booked for me.

            How is your car search coming along?

    • Taleya@aussie.zone
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      16 days ago

      Hubs literally hit our fencepost immediately after signing the papers on our car, so you’re over the bar at least

  • Mittens_meow@aussie.zone
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    16 days ago

    Need to go buy another dog crate for my car. Don’t feel safe after the Rowville kidnapping incident. The police station is maybe 50m away from where it happened. I shop there sometimes, always thought it was safe and well lit etc. Gonna take the dog out with me where possible. I read some news article a few weeks ago where a woman who had her German shepherd in the car was not targeted by the offender.

    • StudSpud The Starchy@aussie.zone
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      16 days ago

      Actually terrifying how brazen it was - your idea is a good one!! I reckon they would be deterred by a dog in the car, so a crate is deffo a good idea!

      I hope they catch the perp soon; gives me the heebie jeebies.

    • SituationCake@aussie.zone
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      16 days ago

      Please don’t leave your dog in the car for extended periods of time. And absolutely never ever in summer, they can die. I think it was a rare one off, in all my life in Melbourne this is the only time I’ve heard of something like this. I suspect she was a target because the baby could be a hostage. Best bet is to park in highly visible areas, like near entrance or other busy area.

      • Mittens_meow@aussie.zone
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        15 days ago

        I don’t shop long - like 15-20 min max and I have a tesla with dog mode (temperature controlled). Pup will be fine.