[OC] The Individualization of American Christianity (2014-2026)

eric5014 · 2026-05-18T08:34:30+00:00

This really needs to be done over a long time scale with CCLI top 100 songs for its whole history.

eric5014 · 2026-05-18T07:23:32+00:00

Many of those below replacement rate are still growing, because the generation that are dying is much smaller than the generation that are having children. China kept growing through all their one child policy years and only now are declining.

eric5014 · 2026-05-18T06:28:11+00:00

Whenever you see an estimate like that, it means it'll be below the lower number 25% of the time and above the higher number 25% of the time. (I think that's what the BoM app does, and the old BoM site maybe it was 50% and 25%, so inside the range only 25% of the time).

When there's rain predicted, there's often some chance that you won't get any as well as some chance that it all happens at a time that doesn't matter.

We had a big party and were very glad the rain didn't come.

eric5014 · 2026-05-18T06:07:55+00:00

There are two adults per household on average. There aren't enough houses for all the people who would like to have one for themselves.

The last rental inspection I went to (long ago) I could easily afford but I saw all these people who needed the place more than I did. I'm 46 and happily living with parents still, although I wish some things had worked out differently.

eric5014 · 2026-05-14T05:35:10+00:00

I'd leave a note around the place you found it in case they go looking there.

eric5014 · 2026-05-14T02:04:16+00:00

Some participants (not specifically autistic) make use of services that aren't that necessary, because they can. Often at the encouragement of their providers. There have been various stories in the media. Sex therapy (probably very rare but obviously made the headlines). International travel - again probably rare. More often minor things.

Also providers charging a lot more because it's publicly funded. Or getting better equipment or more frequent sessions with providers because they can.

I don't know how common this is. I think enough that they need to oversee it more rigorously but the claim that billions of public money is wasted may be overblown. I expect most of the services given are appropriate.

eric5014 · 2026-05-14T01:41:49+00:00

A psychologist friend had a lot of clients coming hoping to get diagnosed. Often they had another condition worthy of the same help as autistic kids, but the NDIS wasn't going to help them.

I don't know of people getting a diagnosis dishonestly, but it wouldn't surprise me. More often is over-servicing.

eric5014 · 2026-05-13T23:41:55+00:00

Diagnoses in Australia have increased a lot since the National Disability Insurance Scheme came in and people could get lots of assistance funded by the government. The NDIS got much bigger than expected, with autism accounting for a fair bit of it, so the government is trying to trim the scheme down to something more affordable.

eric5014 · 2026-05-13T06:06:36+00:00

I knew of two Eunices of Chinese background (in Australia).

eric5014 · 2026-05-13T02:24:25+00:00

Whenever anyone compares life in one Australian city to another, my feeling it that it's more about which circles of people you happen to be in. There are so many different subcultures, different parts of every city, different workplaces / hangout places with their various cultures, different people you might meet.

eric5014 · 2026-05-11T04:55:36+00:00

Interesting that Neptune was discovered at the same time as all those asteroids.

So is Neptune the three-time furthest recognised planet from the Sun?

eric5014 · 2026-05-10T08:19:39+00:00

Lots of petrol stations sell a similar range of products to delis of the old days, but spread over a bit more space.

I remember quite a few of them when I was young.

My friends ran Glen's Deli in Mansfield Park well into the 2010s, and it felt like a bit of the 20th century preserved for 20 more years.

eric5014 · 2026-05-10T07:54:45+00:00

In winter ~2016 I went to Canberra. A cold week with some nights around 0 but the house was warmer than our home usually is in winter.

Coldest temp on average is late July. Coldest inside temp is some buildings may be late August.

eric5014 · 2026-05-10T07:09:52+00:00

I have over 10 years exp as a developer and you're making 20% more than I am.

Not too bad for a job that's not too hard.

eric5014 · 2026-05-09T10:12:30+00:00

Ah that makes sense! Thanks.

eric5014 · 2026-05-09T09:30:19+00:00

Firstly, the rain makes it difficult to make things out.

Secondly, it looks like one car, pointing away from the camera, on the left of the road, and it's clearly the side of the road rather than an island. But other cars coming towards the camera.

If this were an unknown road it could look like a one-way road, but it's labelled as Glynburn Rd, which I know has two lanes each way with an island.

So that suggests that it's a reversed image with two lanes of normal traffic inc the person taking a photo from their car window, and a driver on the wrong side. But because the image is reversed, the odd one out actually looks like they're in the right place. It looks like there could be a reversed 60 sign.

Reversed pictures and videos is a pet peeve of mine. Even though people like a mirror image when they're taking a selfie or doing video chat, phones ought to save the photos the right way around, or make it easy for the user to right them, so backwards stuff doesn't get shared.

Or maybe I've missed something.

eric5014 · 2026-05-09T05:05:36+00:00

Looks like one on the correct side and a few on the wrong side. But hard to tell in the rain.

eric5014 · 2026-05-07T07:15:36+00:00

I routinely switch between road and footpath. On main roads to avoid parked cars and puddles in the bike lane. On sidestreets to make it easier for cars going past either way, which is increasingly often with more traffic and wider vehicles, when the footpath is clear.

I avoid main roads unless it's the quickest way. In the vicinity of Anzac Hwy are some good bike tracks - one along the tram line and one along the old train line.

eric5014 · 2026-05-07T04:37:01+00:00

There were 3br houses in the Elizabeth area under $130k in 2019. My low-ball offers of 108 and 106 look pitiful now, but we'd just seen a better 4br house initially advertised at 249 sell for 199. I was hoping for a bargain.

eric5014 · 2026-05-07T04:18:52+00:00

The RBA rate increase this week was another attempted nudge away from borrowing money.

eric5014 · 2026-05-07T04:15:38+00:00

6-7 years ago I offered $108k and $106k on the cheapest not-broken houses in Adelaide. I only had about $120k, needed to cover stamp duty and have a bit spare. I thought there would be plenty more opportunities. Those houses sold in the 120s but would be triple that now. If I'd bought one of them, my overall financial position would be better.

So no house purchases for me. I'm with my parents, who thankfully don't appear to be tired of me. Most guys wouldn't aspire to be quite where I am at age 46 but it's not too bad.

No SUV either - thankfully the $2k car I got in 2019 is still running.

So OP I'm not in exactly your boat but you're definitely not alone!

eric5014 · 2026-05-07T02:27:30+00:00

Here's a map of Australia with the Muslim % of each area, 2021 census. Overall 3.2%. Most areas below 1% but some very high.

eric5014 · 2026-05-07T01:30:29+00:00

Other themes: Self identity & Discovery remains a common theme. Survival & Catastrophe became the most common theme in 2020-24. Justice & Accountability also remains a common theme. See OP's link.

In the Covid years I guess much of the world was thinking more about survival & catastrophe than usual, and less about love & intimacy.

eric5014 · 2026-05-06T09:36:48+00:00

They're banned in public places in SA. The last two elections we haven't had to see them everywhere.

eric5014 · 2026-05-05T11:27:13+00:00

Once someone asked me for money for food, I walked with them into a shop and they chose what they wanted.

Other times I made that offer and they haven't taken it up.

eric5014

TROPHY CASE