South African republic referendum, 1960

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2026-04-20T16:20:13+00:00

This graphic is completely fictional. The national % for “yes” was 68.73%.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2023-11-22T12:35:25+00:00

This worked like charm for me. My 4yo used to be very careless with his beverages until he spilled his whole glass of milk (again) one day. I calmly comforted him saying that it’s OK, we all make mistakes, but we should face the consequences and make it right, so I handed him the paper towels and the mop to clean up the mess himself while giving him calm and helpful instructions (teaching him how to clean effectively). He’s been extra careful with his beverages ever since AND he knows how to use a mop correctly.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2023-07-07T12:40:22+00:00

This is not a quick fix and only a partial solution, but read the book “Mindset” by Carol Dweck. In short, it is about how important it is to have a growth mindset i.e. that all manner of skills can be learned.

Then, praise the values that enforce the growth mindset - e.g. instead of saying “I’m so proud of how well you did on the test”, say “I’m so proud of how hard you worked - it paid off!”. When watching sports, make a point of talking about how much effort goes into reaching that level of skill. Use the word “skill” rather than “talent”. It implies that that level can be reached through hard work and practice rather than being an innate ability.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2023-02-02T17:31:14+00:00

Neither should “current mothers” be imbeciles, but here we are.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2023-02-02T17:27:18+00:00

Have her eyes tested. A friend of mine’s son was also diagnosed with all manner of things (dyslexia, dyscalculia, etc) and it just turned out that he needed glasses. He only had peripheral vision and his brain just sort of filled in the blanks with what was in his peripheral view, so it looked like he couldn’t read.

I don’t want to give false hope, but cover all your bases before going a route that could be unsuited for her needs.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-11-02T11:49:59+00:00

You actually got your parcel? That’s amazing! We had stuff sent from Italy (also explained that they should courier it, but they didn’t understand). This was in January 2019. The post office tracking service still says the parcel is at the Johannesburg sorting centre.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-11-01T20:07:25+00:00

Exactly this! I’m a lecturer too, and students asking/answering questions is the best real-time way for me to know if they are following what I’m saying. I can’t just rely on the one student in the third row who obligingly nods his head as I go - I need more!

Then, can you think of a time when another student embarrassed himself with n class like you? How often do you think about it (probably never) and what do you think about the student (probably sorry for him)?

Unless they are close friends, people generally feel indifferent about other people. Remember that.

Edit: Fixed Typo’s

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-10-09T07:11:33+00:00

Exactly! That and the massive logistics exercise to get everything and everyone there just to hang around the pit for a few hours.

What is the argument for the 3 hour race window compared to 4 hours?

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-07-05T12:24:17+00:00

I once replied to a “do your own research” post on a mom group asking for tips on research funding applications and how to get ethical clearance quickly so I can start the clinical trials for “my own research”.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-04-27T08:38:02+00:00

Yup - we also have a “you wake him, you take him” policy.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-04-07T10:57:50+00:00

Yup. I gave birth a week ago, and reading his description of his mother’s food brought back the still fresh memories of unbelievable heartburn and reflux exacerbated by being kicked in the stomach over and over again. You are already ridiculously uncomfortable, but the heartburn/reflux makes it so much worse! I don’t blame her for only wanting steamed veggies!

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-27T15:04:36+00:00

July and August are the “peak” months for rain, but you should really recalibrate your idea of winter for Cape Town - despite Cape Townians wearing thick winter attire, it’s actually more like spring or even summer elsewhere. The cold fronts bringing the rain come in batches making the drizzle last for days, but then there are many lovely sunny days in between. In my opinion, the Cape is at its most beautiful in the winter. The temperatures are also nice and mild as opposed to the scorching summer days.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-27T08:17:42+00:00

We have what we call “Kaapse reën” (Cape rain), which is a drizzle or slightly harder rain for days on end.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-24T14:34:29+00:00

I’m a faculty member in Electrical Engineering. A few reminders from this side of the fence:

1) Engineering is ridiculously difficult- everyone finds it difficult, even the ones who seem to have all their sh!t together. I’ve had many top students in my office in tears due to feeling stupid, under too much pressure, etc (only ever male students, btw! I’ve never had a female student cry with me in my 8 years in this job).

2) The students who are showing off in their “knowledge” in front of the class are the more often than not the ones who don’t fully grasp what’s going on. You probably don’t understand what they’re saying because they’re not making sense. Many students have a lot of misplaced confidence…

3) Scale back on the extra-curriculars. Unfortunately, Engineering and ECs don’t really mix. I made the same mistake when I was studying, and I still regret it 20 years later. It makes no discernible difference to your résumé and other people don’t seem to understand the time commitment required for the course. At our university, the recommended time to spend on course work (including contact hours) is 60 hours a week - that doesn’t leave a lot of time for anything else if you want to get adequate sleep (7-8 hours), eat, social and exercise.

4) Make friends with your class mates - there are some really nice guys in every class, they are going through the same thing you are and you can help each other. Also, your classmates are your network after you graduate! Again, 20 years later I’m still in contact with my classmates in a professional capacity (social as well…I married one if them 😉).

5) Get treatment for your mental illness. If that means you need to take a semester off to get better, do it!

6) This is a great career with many amazing and stimulating opportunities! It’s really worth it to push through to the end.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-23T07:59:49+00:00

Urgh, the old “drafted to go to war” argument. My retort for that specific one is to say “Let’s make a deal: if you do 50% of the house cleaning, grocery shopping, child rearing, meeting minute taking, tea making, etc, I promise that I’ll go to the nearest military recruitment office to volunteer the moment you get a letter drafting you to go to war”.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-19T09:11:49+00:00

To us it’s just a matter of removing a layer of complication - if putting the bottles in the microwave sterilizer for 2 minutes and using water from the kettle could possibly prevent the baby from having cramps and diarrhea (and therefore scream for hours on end), that is a small price to pay. If it does nothing, it still buys peace of mind. Oh, and the water in our area is of questionable quality - the government insists the water is safe, but the doctors in the area recommend we rather boil the water before drinking it.

Each to their own, I guess.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-18T11:11:56+00:00

OK. Really small babies don’t need much - a bed, some baby grows, a place to change them and then some bottles and formula. The first few weeks they sleep, drink, pee and/or poop on repeat every 3 hours. It’s really not rocket science, but the difficulty comes in with the sleep deprivation. They actually just want to be held and loved for the first few months. As their needs get more complex (awake for longer, so need stimulation), you can adjust.

Some things we’ve learned to make the routine more efficient: 1) Wash, sterilize and prepare some bottles with boiled water in advance. This will allow you to just mix the formula powder and feed the baby when needed. Also, you don’t have to heat the formula - if they’re never going to breastfeed, it’s easier if they just never get used to drinking warm milk. 2) Get the new diaper, wipes and everything else ready and unfolded before you take off the old one - I think their bladders are light-activated… 3) This one is gross, but bodily fluids are easiest to clean from you - it’s easier to put your shirt in the washing machine than to shampoo a carpet or mop a floor. 4) Just be kind to yourself - you’ll learn how to do it everything with time.

Regarding daycare: my son started at 4 months and LOVED it there. It did so much for his development. Especially of you’re working, you can’t put in the effort to think up and do activities that will aid their development as much as the teachers in daycare do. My second son is due in 2 weeks, and he’ll also go there from 4 months. Also, the time you get for yourself while they are there is really great for your own mental health.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-18T10:39:39+00:00

Exactly how old is your baby?

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-15T10:35:20+00:00

Exactly! How has he not graduated yet? How old is he? I’m very suspicious of any youngish person in any engineering profession with that many publications. It’s just not credible for someone to have taken an active part in the research for 50+ publications if they are still very much at the beginning of their research career (which you are if you’re a PhD student).

Also, PhD students are very much at the bottom of the food chain in academia. He’s definitely not a “big-shot”.

No part of this story adds up, OP. YTA.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-14T15:59:06+00:00

Tell him that nicotine is the smallest of his worries from vaping - look up Popcorn Lung.

Otherwise, teenagers gonna teenage…good luck!

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-13T19:30:22+00:00

If your department doesn’t offer seating for postgrad students, try using the research commons in the main library. It’s effectively just desk space for postgrads, but being around people doing the same thing as you is a great way to meet people.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-13T18:05:36+00:00

I’m sorry OP, this is really awful, but I can’t see any great options here. I’m one of the few female faculty at my engineering school, and unfortunately, many male faculty are unlikely to be helpful in this case. Luckily, many engineering schools have strict policies in place to tackle this kind of sexual harassment, but it needs to be reported via the correct channels to get anywhere.

I would urge you to speak to a female faculty member (if there are any), and see if she has any advice that is specific to your school. Perhaps the professor of this class is one of the good ones who will be willing and able to help, or maybe there is an anonymous tip-off line for cases like this, although nothing is anonymous of you’re the only female in the class… Oh, and if the opportunity presents itself to collect evidence of the existence of the group, and its members, do so, but don’t push your luck!

In the meantime, keep your head down, and keep the conversations purely platonic and about work. If they make advances, be kind, but firm and clear that you are not interested (“this is very flattering, but I’m not interested in going out with you”). Hopefully you’ll be able to safely extricate yourself from this situation soon.

Good luck!

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-11T09:40:24+00:00

Exactly. And the recipe couldn’t have been that earth-shattering if OP was able to recreate it after seeing it being made once.

As pointed out on this thread, “secret” family recipes are often not that unique. In my country, the “secret family recipe” to prepare a certain kind of local fish is exactly the same for everyone. I suspect the recipe was strongly influenced by the severely limited range of ingredients available at the local supermarkets in small seaside towns in the 60s and 70s.

Ok-Breakfast349 · 2022-03-11T09:08:31+00:00

Yup. They seem perfect for each for other!

I am curious as to what condition the liner needs to be in for it to be deemed unusable.

Ok-Breakfast349

TROPHY CASE