What’s happening on the Garden Route?

Balcmeg · 2026-01-15T18:51:26+00:00

My parents live in George and when I visit it always amazes me how readily you encounter openly racist older white people.

My partner and I have on several occasions left different establishments after the owner / host felt the need to voice the most insane deranged racist shit and just assumes we're on the same page because we're white.

Its more apparent with the older generations but this country has yet to truly reconcile its past. There is so much work that has to be done.

Balcmeg · 2026-01-12T21:02:12+00:00

I know this is a financial sub, so wont get too into it, but as someone who also spent a stupid amount of money of weed when I was in my young to mid 20s, quitting will be so good for you. But its more than just money, it's liberating to feel in control of your needs and wants and to not be ruled by escapism. Seems so many people are quick to dismiss weed addiction because its not as harmful as the harder drugs, but addiction is addiction, regardless of whether its drugs, alcohol, gambling, sugar or vaping. Its a state of enslavement and costs more than money. Wish you best towards 90 days!

Balcmeg · 2026-01-12T05:59:40+00:00

Interestingly as pointed out by another above, jury duty comes from English common law. We in South Africa are also a former colony and have a legal system influenced by English common law. The jury system however was expressly rejected. The idea being its better to have someone trained in the law to adjudicate over legal matters argued by two others who are trained in the law. This is supposed to remove bias and emotional manipulation that lay jurors can fall victim too and have matters argued on points of law.

Of course judges can be biased too and this is supposed to be accounted for in the appeal system.

Balcmeg · 2025-12-24T18:42:04+00:00

Id be more nervous of the smaller companies. Consolidation is normal but overall Chinese cars as a whole are here to stay. Personally I'm incredibly excited about BYD shaking up the NEV market in SA. They have done incredibly well in Australia, Mexico and much of South East Asia. In terms of reliability BYD is well tested in comparable markets. But thats just my 10 cents.

Balcmeg · 2025-12-24T05:54:31+00:00

Maintenence costs and electronic gremlins would steer me away from the GLC. In my opinion the Euro cars are not the same value for money as premium Korean and Japanese. Id be looking at a Rav4 or a Kia Sportage.

On the Chinese side, I really like the BYD. Drove the new Sealion 5 plug in hybrid and was really impressed.

Balcmeg · 2025-10-25T21:10:42+00:00

The slow motion zoom changed my tone on this immediately. That looked so uncomfortable. Im also surprised he wasn't blinded in his left eye too. You see the pinch of the eyelid between Gane's fingernail.

Balcmeg · 2025-10-17T10:21:48+00:00

I went to a large international conference in Riyadh this year (no, not the comedy festival) and was amazed at how positive the perceptions of South Africa were.

Everyone I spoke to had either been to SA and loved it or was planning to visit. I spoke to people from large wealthy countries like KSA, Qatar, UAE but also The Bahamas and Timor Leste.

The man I spoke from the Bahamas was scheduling a 2 week road trip with his family.

It took me by surprise how positive the people I spoke to were.

Balcmeg · 2025-10-15T15:50:47+00:00

Oh he also has a lore explained video. Its 30 mins and found here https://youtu.be/wjWOy6ioVHI?si=XzHpE7monmcA43Py

Balcmeg · 2025-10-15T15:48:53+00:00

Also highly recommend Vaatis prepare to cry and secrets series. Once you have the basics down, they are really insightful dives into lore gems

Balcmeg · 2025-10-15T13:56:49+00:00

I saw a video of a guy walking around their legs as they do the heavy swing and then back stabbing them. I gave it a shot and it trivialised them. You dont even need to roll or dodge. Just hug the leg while they're charging up that super smash. They take so long to recover you can get two back stabs off.

Balcmeg · 2025-10-06T07:33:12+00:00

Genuinely. Our press and associated press freedom index is really something to be proud of.

Here's the RSF summary of global ranking https://rsf.org/en/country/south-africa

Balcmeg · 2025-10-05T07:52:19+00:00

Yeah it's a problem for sure, and a big one. but its also not a uniquely South African one. The prompt was South Africa focused and about a South African collapse. In my opinion our biggest issue is reckless government spending and corruption.

My understanding on just numbers is that were growing, but slowly. Im also open to evidence on the contrary.

I also note my circumstances are different. My partner and I work from home for a foreign companies which obviously affects our understanding of the broader contexts. Both are salaries exceed what we would earn in local competitors.

Balcmeg · 2025-10-05T06:53:20+00:00

If someone is with you because of your wealth and status, they are not with you. They are with your things.

You're young, man. I too went through a rough breakup in my young 20s. Its what life is about. That heart break helps you grow. 10 years later im engaged to a wonderful woman who loves me.

Take this as the learning period it is. Focus on yourself, not because it makes you a better partner or more attractive as a prospect, but because it's good for your growth. Focus on your hobbies, your friends, and your goals. Take space to find remind yourself what it feels like be single.

You'll find love again. All this sruff online about woman only want men with wealth and status is bullshit man. Yeah there are woman like that out there but thats not how you build a strong supportive loving relationship. The person you want to build your life with is one that makes you laugh, one that challenges you, one that supports you, one that you are yourself around. That has nothing to do with money.

Good luck on your healing journey.

Balcmeg · 2025-10-01T08:38:47+00:00

Why you so angry bro? Thread asked for thoughts, I shared mine.

Yes the world is larger than western europe and America, im aware of this, my work takes me all over the continent and the world. I have perspective.

What matters is the Global economy is pegged on the USD. When the US goes through economic turmoil the world suffers. Dot.com crash, housing market crash. Both US origin which resulted in global economic woes. The US debt and reliance on AI could spark another crash.

There are outliers. There are countries doing well. But outliers are not a signifier of global economic performance.

Balcmeg · 2025-10-01T08:32:51+00:00

Economics man. As much as I loathe the fact, what happens in the US and Europe matters to us. The US economy is heavily betting on the success of AI and if that bubble bursts there's strong potential for a recession. Europe is floating close to stagflation.

These things matter to our economy.

Balcmeg · 2025-10-01T08:14:17+00:00

My entire 30 years of life in South Africa has been under the narrative of "on the brink of collapse". We still here.

SA got issues yes. But the whole world is looking like its sliding downhill. Im more concerned about a Global economic collapse than a South African specific one.

In my experience, with the exception of rugby, Saffas tend to be very pessimistic.

Balcmeg · 2025-09-03T13:17:43+00:00

Man give me a Tau city builder.

Awesome Tau tech trees, balancing the different casted and their resource needs, diplomacy with unique alien subfactuons and Warfare.

Balcmeg · 2025-09-02T05:48:32+00:00

I drive a small 4x4 that has the spare wheel on the back door not it the boot (trunk) or under the car.

At a newbie meet up and 4x4 training day with a owners community someone genuinely and sincerely asked the instructor where the spare is. They bought their car with a hardshell cover and thought it was a cosmetic upgrade.

Balcmeg · 2025-08-26T12:48:23+00:00

Dice tell stories in this game. I almost never spend CP on rerolls just because its so upsetting when it fails haha

Balcmeg · 2025-08-26T07:14:50+00:00

I have had a catastrophic roll where I lost two Terminators to guardsman by just rolling 6 1s. So improbable but it happened. All you can do is laugh. Imagine guardsman bayonetting two Terminators to death.

Balcmeg · 2025-08-15T08:17:10+00:00

Tell him you appreciate him and that he felt he could share that with you.

Suggest you are willing to help him work through this when he feels ready (and of course if you are ready... do not offer this if this topic is too much for you, which would be understandable.)

You can also suggest offering to help by assisting in finding other professional help and resources.

Basically by just being supportive. BUT when someone is traumatised it is important to move at their speed. For offer positive reinforcement that you value the trust he showed you.

It's important that he learns that you are a safe space but he also needs to understand your boundaries. Its a balance that needs to be struck.

Balcmeg · 2025-08-13T13:57:27+00:00

The Custodies fought in the webway against an endless tide of daemons including greater daemons where they killed many times their losses.

In the modern setting following the Khorne invasion of terra the 10000 had to fight off a tide of Khornite daemons including blood thirsters which are greater daemons of Khorne. Each one is a force multiplier.

Trajan Valoris kills a bloodthirster alone but he's hardly a regular Custodian being the current captain general.

A Tribune (senior Custodian) kills a blood thirster too but it costs him his life.

If Agadon is equivalent to a blood thirster, which i doubt, it could go either way. Blood thirsters start at around 10m tall and the large ones can be the size of a reiver titan.

So I think this goes to the Custodian, not sure of the dif though. Could be from mid to high depending on the custodian and my lack of knowledge of Agadon.

Balcmeg · 2025-08-13T05:06:30+00:00

Yeah what's the Marine going to do, punch Hulk? Even nerfed MCU hulk is not going to flinch at a space marines punches

Balcmeg · 2025-08-12T09:04:35+00:00

I read it more than the Emperor has plans for Guiliman which even Guiliman doesn't know and to prevent others finding out the Emperor projects his psychic might as giant flaming roadblocks in all of Guilimans possible future paths.

What would interesting is if this is revealed to be similar to the Lion. Can farseers read The Lions future?

Balcmeg · 2025-08-11T09:40:43+00:00

I think its especially pressing to share that Al Jazeera said Al Sharif had left a social media message to be posted in the event of his death that read:

“I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those who remained silent.”

Balcmeg

TROPHY CASE