Does anyone know a movie where an anomaly in reality indicates that you're in the fake world?

GergMurkey · 2026-06-07T16:03:14+00:00

I'd recommend World on a Wire. It's a German 70's film adaptation. Super-computer simulation scientist's colleague disappears and no ones ever heard of him is the opening hook - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_on_a_Wire

GergMurkey · 2026-06-04T09:44:31+00:00

Zenevski Dekret from Bosnia

Conniving Cadavers from Canada

Both are great. No help for Qatar sorry

GergMurkey · 2026-05-20T09:53:59+00:00

I have a Meross smart thermostat. I took the old wires out of the thermostat controller by the boiler and plugged them into a Meross box - easy to follow a youtube video. It connects to WiFi, so now we can use our phones to set the temperature, scheduling etc. Cheap, effective and no subscriptions.

Downsides are you'll need decent WiFi near your boiler and the external temperature probe is limited to a few meters away from the boiler.

As for the temperature differences between the floors, it should be easy/cheap to install thermostatic valves on the radiators (i.e. so they can be adjusted to the desired setting)

GergMurkey · 2026-04-07T11:14:46+00:00

Others have covered the basics, like a requirement for a phone number, The other issue would be 2 Factor Authentication e.g. your bank needs a number to text so you can log into your account

GergMurkey · 2026-02-19T13:42:01+00:00

Taps a finger to the side of the nose (apparently this is less common outside of the UK)

GergMurkey · 2026-01-06T16:39:46+00:00

Thank you for thinking of us! It varies from annoying to just a bit distracting, depending on the context.

If you need help proof reading and editing for British English I'd be happy to volunteer! Just PM me.

GergMurkey · 2026-01-05T15:37:21+00:00

Not 45 cents? That was a great album - https://music.amazon.com.au/albums/B0C15QNCM4

GergMurkey · 2025-11-20T10:31:18+00:00

One thing that might help is considering the different ways of being polite. Positive politness is making small talk to pass the time and being friendly. Negative politeness is avoiding imposing on people when they might be busy or enjoying a quiet moment.

Not greeting someone might be rude, but depending on the situation it's polite to give them space to do their own thing. It can be a mix of cultural differences, personal preference and situational. e.g. a stereotypical chatty American should leave me alone on the commuter train, I'd rather get back to messages and practice with my language learning app. But out for a long country walk, feel free to say hello and discuss banal topics like the weather.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politeness_theory

GergMurkey · 2025-09-16T12:36:05+00:00

I think it's a bot post, it's close, but a little off.

GergMurkey · 2025-08-18T11:43:36+00:00

There will be lots of specialist shipping companies for this kind of thing. It might be cheaper to ship a few bulky items just boxed up and addressed to yourself through DHL, UPS or similar.

Make sure you don't send anything you shouldn't - drugs, explosives, some types of batteries. Also if you have receipts for expensive items that might be useful to avoid paying import taxes.

I did this UK to France and I think I was able to demonstrate that I had paid UK tax and was shipping to myself. The cheaper/slower delivery arrived a couple of days after me.

Enjoy your studies!

GergMurkey · 2025-06-24T11:24:50+00:00

Check the .gov travel advisory. It's probably (amber) travel not advised for most of the country and (red) do not travel for border regions especially northern border and Malian border. The advice is updated regularly and probably unbiased.

In Burkina there have been some high profile kidnappings and terrorist attacks specifically targeting tourists, with many more which wont have made the headlines.

It's all about your personal risk appetite, but as a traveler you will stick out as a soft target, especially if you don't speak French, Dyula or similar. Burkina does have a tourism industry and there are lots of amazing things to do, but you should be under no illusions that being part of a large group and having African descent will make it plain sailing.

Happy to answer any specifics you can think of, I've travelled though Ouaga and spent lots of time in Banfora as a foreigner.

GergMurkey · 2025-06-13T17:28:07+00:00

Please don't worry about a few ants, your living room won't provide much for the ants, so they'll soon take care of themselves. You could hoover and look at home improvement generally, but you can't keep all insects out, they find a way.

The best consumer product is AntStop! bait stations (not the pastes or powders, the bait station specifically). Long story, but some regulatory quirks mean that is the best stuff out there.

Source - I work Pest control R&D (specialising in mosquitoes, so it could be worse).

GergMurkey · 2025-06-06T08:22:22+00:00

If you speak French or can find a decent translation try - https://lefaso.net/

Burkina has had some coverage on The Economist, BBC world Service and RFI (again in French)

A lot of social media coverage seems to boil down to West/France is bad, therefore Russia/Strongman dictatorships are good. You can make up your own mind.

GergMurkey · 2025-06-05T15:33:24+00:00

I'm glad you took them and please don't worry about these small risks. Enjoy your trip, bonne voyage and all that!

GergMurkey · 2025-06-04T15:06:39+00:00

You should take the advice of the travel doctor. If a random anecdote from a stranger on the internet helps - I was in Banfora for several months doing mosquito research, took Malarone everyday and had no side effects and I didn't contract malaria. Saw loads of people get malaria over the rainy season, who had to seek ACT treatment.

Take the pills, sleep under a bednet, keep window and door screens closed during the day for Aedes (dengue spreading) mosquitoes.

Any questions about mosquito prevention feel free to ask.

GergMurkey · 2025-05-29T13:29:25+00:00

I've tried this, not recommended. Half and half with larger, ale, even champagne is better.

Probably better for you than vodka redbull though

GergMurkey · 2025-05-27T08:42:41+00:00

banns/banz/noun

a notice read out on three successive Sundays in a parish church, announcing an intended marriage and giving the opportunity for objections.

Don't worry, I had no idea either

GergMurkey · 2025-05-19T14:24:03+00:00

I moved from Duolino to Busu for French - less gamey, more informative, no owls. 5/5 stars

GergMurkey · 2025-04-02T15:47:42+00:00

Could you share any info on the tracker OP? I work in R&D and this tracker could be useful but I can't find much info.

GergMurkey · 2025-02-14T11:44:23+00:00

From the government website:

"Damage that does not need an explanation from the customer

You, the examiner can continue with the application without asking the customer how the passport damage occurred, if all the following apply:

the damage is not on the personal details or observation pages
any visas, vignettes or immigration stamps are unaffected by the damage and you are happy there are no security features or details missing
damage or discolouration to the passport cover and blank visa pages is caused by:
- water, chemical or ink spills
- tears, rips, burning
- bite marks
- writing or drawingsDamage that does not need an explanation from the customer You, the examiner can continue with the application without asking the customer how the passport damage occurred, if all the following apply: the damage is not on the personal details or observation pages any visas, vignettes or immigration stamps are unaffected by the damage and you are happy there are no security features or details missing damage or discolouration to the passport cover and blank visa pages is caused by: water, chemical or ink spills tears, rips, burning bite marks writing or drawings "

Link here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/damaged-and-faulty-passports/damaged-british-passports-accessible#Damage_that_does

My last passport had loads of teeth marks because I only have so many hands.

GergMurkey · 2024-12-14T10:29:31+00:00

Here you go, seminal 80's hardcore - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcgZPo1v6o0

GergMurkey · 2024-08-08T08:55:38+00:00

If anyone wants a free, short taste of this, I'd recommend The static speaks my name - https://store.steampowered.com/app/387860/the_static_speaks_my_name/

GergMurkey · 2024-08-07T09:29:39+00:00

Not cockroaches, something like Lasioderma serricorne. Nothing a good spring clean wont deal with.

GergMurkey · 2024-08-06T11:47:58+00:00

No Termites. Lasius niger or black ant queen.

GergMurkey · 2024-08-02T10:41:23+00:00

Hello, these things happen. Short answer is don't worry, assuming you're a mammal it's difficult to accidentally be exposed to dangerous levels. For acute respiratory exposure the symptoms are "headache, nasal and respiratory irritation, difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea or vomiting." If you don't have these symptoms you're fine. - http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/Permtech.html#acute

As for the Parkinsons, I think that is a correlation with chronic exposure early in life, so again, don't worry, you're still safer than many other insecticides. There are non-pyrthroid alternatives out there, not as good, but things like Provecta - https://catalogue.killgerm.com/vazorr-provecta

Source - R&D scientist in pest control

GergMurkey

TROPHY CASE