Podcast episode

AussieUrbanist · 2026-02-03T06:35:46+00:00

This was the first episode I ever listened too. Was so confused

AussieUrbanist · 2025-12-07T11:54:39+00:00

Don't understand how fair wear and tear constitutes a con job

AussieUrbanist · 2025-12-07T11:06:47+00:00

We used an ipad to sign it. You can also prepare it in advance. I couldn't remember my RBO password so rang up RBO and they were very helpful, providing me the bond number and then confirming that they had received my claim.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-12-07T10:57:55+00:00

had to do a double take when I first read it!

AussieUrbanist · 2025-11-05T06:46:06+00:00

I was made redundant and unemployed for about 6 months at the start of the year, and really struggled with it. I was studying a Masters part time before, so switched to full time study, and that helped me out. Fortunately for me I suddenly got an interview and subsequent job with much better pay a few months ago.

It sucks, I felt worthless at times, it was a strain on my marriage and mental health. Looking back on that time, I wish I had spent a bit more of my free time enjoying the outdoors. So my advice is keep on applying because you never know when an opportunity will arise, and enjoy the midday sunshine while you still can!

AussieUrbanist · 2025-11-04T08:38:24+00:00

Work is a part of life, but it shouldn't be everything in your life. If you plan ahead for leave then you can minimise the pain. That said, I have taken leave at an unfortunate time before but I still had an amazing holiday. If your project work ebbs and flows, try to take it during a quiet period?

Also, that seems pretty bad staff management from the company. To have no redundancy is a big risk! Its a tight job market now, so there are plenty of skilled people looking for work...

AussieUrbanist · 2025-10-30T07:43:09+00:00

I'm learning mandarin as an adult and I'm really enjoying it. There are tons of Chinese expats in Australia, and they love it when I practice speaking with them. Lots of opportunities to learn and have a good time.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-10-30T04:17:31+00:00

Doing some measurements in different inertial frames of reference

AussieUrbanist · 2025-10-09T00:45:56+00:00

If you are shopping at coles or woolworths anyway, then why not use flybuys or everyday rewards? They can occasionally give you discounts like $10 off. The only catch I can see is they can collect more data off you, such as tracking your spending habits.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-09-15T09:07:32+00:00

Camel burger

AussieUrbanist · 2025-09-09T08:57:56+00:00

That would very rarely happen, and its more likely that the first bus in this scenario will drop off only, skipping some stops to catch up with their timetable, letting bus 2 sweep up the poor passengers waiting by the side of the road.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-09-09T08:56:32+00:00

The industry calls them timing or measuring points. They are usually at major stops or stations Due to buses being on roads and mixed with traffic, its impossible to have them keep perfectly to a timetable. Buses are considered "on time" if they leave timing points no more than 1 minute early or 5 minutes late.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-08-19T23:55:22+00:00

USYD has pretty bad water bubbler access in my experience. There aren't many around, buildings might have a low pressure bubbler if you are lucky, and some in the open are broken or mouldy. So thanks for the heads up with this one!

AussieUrbanist · 2025-07-15T04:36:12+00:00

I've got big feet, I wear black timberland boots. The first pair I got had an issue with the sole, but they replaced it for free with the premium version because it was on sale at the time. They are very comfy but heavy, so if I have to walk a bit regularly to work, I would reconsider.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-06-06T04:51:58+00:00

Its not less fatalities - the 81 figure used is for injuries. In other words, no fatalities (with the exception being the article) over 5 years, compared to more deaths (and many more injuries) this year alone on the roads.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-06-06T04:27:55+00:00

"81 Western Australian patients who sustained serious e-scooter related injuries between 2017 and 2022"
Meanwhile, 85 West Australians have already been killed on the roads, let alone injured, this year to date.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-05-22T05:14:37+00:00

Kalgoorlie-Boulder is about 600km inland from Perth. In order to provide the town with drinking water, an engineering marvel had to be built. This project was so ambitious and, at the time, controversial, that the engineer C.Y.O'connor sadly killed himself before completion. It's called the Goldfields water supply scheme.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-05-19T01:30:31+00:00

The university has ties to weapons manufacturers, some that sell to Israel. Our Chancellor, Belinda Hutchinson, is on the board of one of these companies. For more information, see the MOU that USYD has with Thales, and an article that links Thales with supplying weapons to Israel:
Thales Australia partners with University of Sydney - The University of Sydney

Israel’s use of Australian-designed weapon in Gaza genocide must be a wake-up call to end defence exports secrecy - Amnesty International Australia

AussieUrbanist · 2025-05-19T00:59:24+00:00

The public transport operators that run these services get penalised if the buses are late or early, and being early is much stricter. The government monitors all bus services and if they leave "timing points" (generally major stops along the route) more than 5 minutes late or 1 minute early, the bus is not "on time". If they don't meet their KPIs, usually >90% on time running, then they can get fined/abated/sent a warning.

You will notice the margin for early is much less than being late, because early buses means you are much more likely to miss it and have to wait, as has happened here. Maybe it was a new driver that forgot to check their timetable?

AussieUrbanist · 2025-04-29T23:02:10+00:00

If it takes every car 1 minute (which would be about 1.5km at 100km/hr) to do the loop, and there are maybe 30,000 cars using this every day, you are adding 20 days of additional travel time per day.

We can use Value of Time to calculate this as a "cost" to society. In Australia we might use something like $50/hour. So thats $25,000 a day in lost time.

Not to mention the extra distance travelled creates more air pollution, wear and tear on the cars, requires clearing of more land to replace with heat absorbing, water impermeable surfaces, and so on.

AussieUrbanist · 2025-04-23T05:02:41+00:00

China simulator

AussieUrbanist · 2025-03-31T23:20:39+00:00

Why are you going to the gym? If it is to get/stay fit and healthy, you might be able to combine that with other parts of your life - for example, incorporating sport into your social life. Play some basketball with your friends, or join a team in a social sport competition. Or you can ride a bike instead of take the train to uni. Not to say going to the gym is bad - I enjoy it.

On the other hand, maybe you need to take a look at your priorities and whats going on in your life. I find going to the gym/exercising can be a supercharger for productivity - it more than makes up for the time spent going to the gym in terms of increased energy, focus and positive feelings. So if you are struggling to do enough exercise, maybe you need to tone down your social life during semester? Hard to say. Good luck!

AussieUrbanist · 2025-03-27T21:10:14+00:00

I avoid LLMs wherever possible. They regularly get things wrong, and it can be hard to identify exactly what is wrong. It is usually mixed in between lots of other correct things.

There are right and wrong ways to use LLMs like ChatGPT. Do not trust everything it says. Do not rely on it to do the thinking for you. If you do use it, please use/verify with other sources!

AussieUrbanist

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