The totally off-topic thread

[TheRealTMA]

Ancestry is a scam IMO

DNA is not defined by current national borders having being around a lot longer than countries

There is no “Scottish”, “Polish” etc DNA

You really want to tell people you have Scottish ancestry, Jimmah?

Besides, probably DNA doesn’t differentiate sufficiently to define Scottish since there are prior migrations, Norse, Celts, Romans etc.

 

[Quickstatus]

I’m off to Nepal in October for a 14 day trek to Anapurna Base Camp. At 67, it will be demanding. A few weeks ago in Bali (at a swim up bar in Sofitel Nusa Dua) i was talking to a Pom who happened to do the same trek. Like me, he has run marathons, but he was quite a bit younger. I asked him about the day where we have to navigate 5000 steps. “Nearly killed me” he responded.

I’ve got a lot of fitness work ahead of me.

How long are u going to acclimatise?

 

[Quickstatus]

You really want to tell people you have Scottish ancestry, Jimmah?

Haha that’s why I put the “Scottish” in the comment. Somehow just mentioning “Scottish” ancestry seem to always draw an immediate comment. The Scots believe they go way way back

 

[RooFlyer]

Regarding Ancestry and DNA - as a family historian of 20+ years and published a couple of books ....

Ancestry's 'core business' is its subscription database of records that, used with discretion and intelligence is very valuable in tracing your ancestors and their lives. But the golden rule of family history still applies - look at the primary records yourself, not transcriptions. Ancestry is getting more and more primary records on-line. I share a subscription with another researcher and its fantastic for sitting at your desk and being able to make real progress, rather than relying on and waiting for bi-annual trips overseas, which is what I used to do!

I do NOT post my 'tree' on it, as too often people's hard-done research is just harvested by some-one else and used without acknowledgement. Good luck to those that do - I've contacted some of them and gotten some good leads off them, but others again, are just posting some-one else's work.

So "Ancestry is a scam" is a bit of a wild shot.

I haven't done the DNA thing, and won't. If I was just starting out, I might have done it, but given my innate conservatism, and objection to some multinational company having my DNA 'fingerprints' and my not being able to control what happens to it, its not on. (BTW, in court etc when they say a DNA match is 99.99% .. that's a mathematical match of sample A to sample B. What they don't tell you is the probability that the samples have been tampered with, or swapped, or contaminated! ).

That said, friends of mine have had good matches to unknown cousins etc. You get alerted when another Ancestry DNA subscriber has a match of certain degrees, you can get in touch wit each other or not. So they have advanced their family tree and are pleased with the results.

I don't know anyone who takes any notice of the 'deep' ancestry of regions etc. Its pointless for me to know that ancestors way back came from Iceland, for example, if I don't have a pathway to trace my ancestors there directly.

 

[RooFlyer]

You really want to tell people you have Scottish ancestry, Jimmah?

'Scots' ancestry, surely?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Mont in Fyshwick is also a good place to check out, they are a long established Canberra business manufacturing under their own label, you may even meet the inspirational Michael Milton who works there occasionally. Michael Milton

I remember Michael Milton of course. Thanks I will check it out as well

 

[Cossie]

I’m off to Nepal in October for a 14 day trek to Anapurna Base Camp. At 67, it will be demanding. A few weeks ago in Bali (at a swim up bar in Sofitel Nusa Dua) i was talking to a Pom who happened to do the same trek. Like me, he has run marathons, but he was quite a bit younger. I asked him about the day where we have to navigate 5000 steps. “Nearly killed me” he responded.

I’ve got a lot of fitness work ahead of me.

Did that when I was reasonably fit and in my early to mid twenties. Couldn't do it now, even thinking about it makes me tired. The time up in the sanctuary was spectacular, I often lament that I haven't always had a camera with me on all my travels, but my memories of those days in the sanctuary are unforgettable.

I'm sure you will be ok and if you are on a guided tour, you will be looked after. Post pictures!

 

[rogerkambah]

they are pretty miserable .

Mind you my next door neighbour has a very sick child - genetic problems and mal formed heart - that child has had a huge number of operations and interventions and he’s not 3 yet. One of the ops he had seizures and brain damage and left him with a range of problems. She has a sticker that allows her to park in disabled parks at the hospital as she is often rushing in with him to get treatment for seizures ( medication not controlling all that well). One day there was a truck that was part of the construction that is going on there parked across the disabled spots. When she came back 3 hours later it was still parked there, so she took a photo and put a message up on the Canberra message board basically asking people not to do this and explaining the impact on people like her who had very sick children. There were some awful responses, including telling her not to be so lazy....

A lot of tradies are disabled - they can't read and comprehend - or if they can, then they just don't give a s@#t.

 

[rogerkambah]

Isn't most of our fruit in Australia frozen? Buy a pear that looks great today and tomorrow it's bruised all over the place.

I dunno where you buy your pears but we buy from coles and woolies and never have this problem. Mostly they are under-ripe and take some time to ripen at home.

If you leave them on the bench in a plastic bag they will ripen very quickly. Unlike most other fruit they ripen from the inside out, so by the time they are ripe on the outside they are over-ripe internally. If you are looking for a ripe one check the neck to see if it 'gives'.

 

[JohnK]

Hepatitis A is extremely serious.
I’ve seen people die from all sorts of viruses.
If flu virus can kill so can Hep and the rest
No specific treatment to make it go away. If your liver fails/does you need a liver transplant ASAP...if they can find one in time..

When your number is up? I had the Hepatitis A vaccine in 2003 but when tested a few years later no signs of having been vaccinated.

Should start thinking about possible vaccines and act.

 

[JessicaTam]

Should start thinking about possible vaccines and act.

There, fixed that for you.

 

[JohnK]

I dunno where you buy your pears but we buy from coles and woolies and never have this problem. Mostly they are under-ripe and take some time to ripen at home.

Mainly Coles and Woolworths.

 

[Pushka]

I ordered a dna kit a few weeks ago.....will be interesting to see if it identifies what I already know.

 

[TomVexille]

Of course - bring A$ and leave it all behind, in exchange for fresh raspberries & cream, honey etc.

Throw some wine in and you have a deal

 

[Pushka]

Cops here in Paris do not mess around. Suspect they’ve been given Carte Blanche and are backed up by the Courts. Are you listening Australia?

The police themselves are like Israeli soldiers and that’s just the women! And dressed in combat rig.

In our mall just now, 9pm but daylight we heard the usual police sirens but they turned and came fast into the mall and in the direction of the police station. Veering so much I ducked into a cafe to get out of the way in case they slid.

Came to a halt and all three dashed out of the car. Within seconds they were dragging out a black African who was yelling. I suspect they have cameras everywhere. Pushed him into the station and he came out a few minutes later handcuffed. They made no attempt to conceal what was happening. It’s a very busy local cafe street. Got him into the van and off they went. I’m guessing no Police Bail.

Paris has so many issues right now.

 

[Denali]

Kate Spade is dead. Only 55.

RUOK? Please see your doctor or phone a help line if you're struggling.

 

[Pushka]

Kate Spade is dead. Only 55.

RUOK? Please see your doctor or phone a help line if you're struggling.

Just saw this too.

 

[Cossie]

Same here, know nothing about her, but I'm always very saddened when ever I hear of somebody doing this, 'no suspicious circumstances' is the usual phrase isn't it?

 

[Denali]

Meanwhile,
Family’s blistering obit for dead mum

“She will not be missed by Gina and Jay, and they understand that this world is a better place without her.”

 

[Denali]

PSA for winter bed sheets, using Jenny Mclean for flannelette for the first time and very happy with the warmth and feel of the fabric.

Went with Abrazo Mega King (check measurements for your bed) for my king size bed with 50cm deep, will buy another set after winter (when on sale).

Edit: Oh and "warm, gentle machine wash". Yeah, nah. Cold wash and tossed in dryer just out of the packet.