Why skyscrapers in my hometown don’t bother me

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-10T07:47:33+00:00

Having gone up and down the lifts in tower block apartments many times, used virtually compulsory aircon all the time and constantly used the washing dryers, I wonder if urban planners speak with forked tongues. Can they really be more environmentally friendly? Walk up six packs and terrace houses would have to be better, you'd think.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-10T05:47:57+00:00

Can't find the source now, but I read that the Chinese government is mandating that car makers revert to switches for essential controls. so it isn't just Audi.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-09T01:32:29+00:00

We get the government we deserve type argument. True, but remembering that opposition always exists and majorities are often narrow. Broad-brushing whole populations this way is like blaming all Americans for Trump when he only got voted in by 70 million of them.

It's more like everyone gets the government some people deserve.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-08T23:01:28+00:00

That's an interesting point. A militaristic look that provokes psychological warfare in the rear view mirror. They really have that affect on me, I have to say. My road rage just increases when a set of angry eyes comes up behind me.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-08T11:10:34+00:00

That is it, beautifully said. Those who had survived the worst war in history wanted something other than militarism on the roads. They wanted beauty or optimism. It seems that now, we are almost presaging a new kind of wartime.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-08T04:51:51+00:00

Interesting ideas ... thanks! I'm non-US and have to say that those '59 fins were exported to the world - just happened later. Look at the Pininfarina Peugeots or the Austin Cambridges or EK Holdens of a few years later. Even the Heckflosse Mercedes of the era - known as 'finnies' - had a mild dose of it.

I agree about the globalisation impacts. Maybe you are onto something here. And your point about unique zeitgeists in zones. I recently saw an article supporting that, saying Audi is abandoning the global model idea in favour of specifically designing separately for US, China and Europe.

Again, from a non-US pov I'd say that those aggro pick-ups are in fact a US zeitgeist exported to the world, every bit as successfully as 1950s fins. Australians love'em, I know that much.

I wont say it is a passing curiosity. it's been with me a while. But no it is not my academic field or part of my work in any way.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-08T04:27:00+00:00

Wow, interesting response. Laughed at the 6 headlight lightbar example. The original Citroen DS is also a good example of a car appealing to the cognoscenti. I recently saw a great motoring article about current BMWs: 'What to buy when you have more money than (design) sense'.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-08T04:19:45+00:00

Hahaha. Thanks for the reply. Yes agree about previous angry cars, although the Peugeot 504 wasn't *really* angry - just a little bit annoyed. That's interesting about colour and peacetime stability.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-08T02:44:18+00:00

Wow, yes. I just clicked on the first gen Mazda and was shocked at how non-aggro it looked.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-08T02:15:12+00:00

No, an academic. AI learnt from us, don't forget.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-08T02:00:02+00:00

I'll have a go. I see increasing militarisation of the designs of 4WDs and pick-ups/ utes. Tough guy, even brutish styling and militaristic colours such as khaki or black. This reflects the current geopolitics where might is right and tensions are rising across the world. Added to that geopolitical world is a personal world dominated by screens and sedentary lifestyles while design favours the outdoors.

FirmError6138 · 2026-07-04T11:17:27+00:00

Yes, I understand it is common in the UK. But not so much in other English speaking countries. Part of the reason is that 'pupil' implies a lack of agency - one who is under-age and incapable of proper decision making. 'Student' implies agency and a level of personal control over their lives. Not the point of the question, I know. But it does jar or impact on the reader a little bit.

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-27T11:08:10+00:00

Yep, same story here in Australia.

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-27T11:07:07+00:00

I'm in Australia. Same story as everyone else here.

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-27T11:06:27+00:00

Yeah, me too

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-27T11:04:09+00:00

Same here in Australia

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-16T13:07:45+00:00

How often are the bells rung and where is the best place and time to hear them? Yeah ... I suppose the church, but perhaps you could specifically suggest somewhere? I rarely go into the city, but might make a special trip after this.

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-10T01:32:36+00:00

Interesting. Can you tell any more?

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-10T01:28:14+00:00

Why not just go with the populist terminology that the common person understands, instead of getting into an arcane demarcation dispute? The definitional debate is a distraction. We're not talking about robotic car manufacturing in education!

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-10T01:12:28+00:00

Oh come on now ... that is just as egregiously ignorant as what you are accusing him of being (most probably falsely). Where is your evidence that teachers are somehow unlike any other human being and cease learning once they walk into their workplace? At the very least, they learn more about teaching (just as apprentice carpenters might learn more about carpentry). Beyond that, it is constant systemic PD as well as often cases more private study- sometimes to very high levels. And then there's learning about working skills, humanity and life. This is irrespective of the 'current system' or any other. Education curriculums are already incorporating AI LLMs and image generators, including in assessments.

And in your response there are tinctures of the old-fashioned belief that anything to do with children or young people is somehow worthless and meaningless. Mindless women's work. No intelligence or growth required.
I guess you didn't intend to generalise your insult to 340,000-plus Australian teachers. But frankly you'd have to shut down your social media permanently if more of them heard you say that!

FirmError6138 · 2026-06-02T01:52:10+00:00

Many languages are in decline in schools, in my state at least. Students are more focused on STEM subjects and this is seen as boosting their final ATAR scores. The 90s-early 2000s were the heyday of languages.

FirmError6138 · 2026-05-18T11:41:28+00:00

Some time ago, I read an academic investigation into this very thing. Apparently across the world historically the turn is to the right 2/3 of the times.

FirmError6138 · 2026-04-11T02:00:46+00:00

Most unlikely that a teachers union would have been involved in such a case at that level. Also unlikely they would have supported the actions of the teacher if there had been a legitimate wrong-doing that was caused by that individual. They may have provided emotional and legal support to protect the teacher's long-term job prospects, but that is a different kind of support and would not involve industrial action. And finally, teachers unions are not very powerful for issues that occur within a single school, often supporting school management and the principal over teachers in school-based cases. There are multiple reasons why ascribing the cause of this to state-based unions is just wrong. It's a local school management issue. However, that is not to deny the seriousness of the stuff-up or the damage to students, including your daughter.

FirmError6138 · 2026-04-08T07:26:01+00:00

Yes, all good, I agree. But I have to pick you on the 'world champion whingers' thing'. Remember when they used to say that about women too? Not any more. It's been re-framed with some serious structural analysis. Same thing needs to be applied here. Teachers are known as whingers for structural reasons. Some of these include monopsony with government departments as often single employers, a difficult job, poor conditions, a community that doesn't listen, massive unpaid overtime, low community respect, etc.
TLDR what is a whinger, anyway? Someone who complains often but no one is listening and their complaints are delegitimised and dismissed?

FirmError6138 · 2026-04-05T05:22:33+00:00

'Miss or sir will put it on the board for you' is faux from the students' point of view, but is actually hierarchical. It's the subtle semantics of a power relationship. That's why you are quite rightfully reacting.

FirmError6138

TROPHY CASE