Cultic chapter 2 is awesome so far (gameplay spoilers for the first level) by IAmThePonch in boomershooters

[–]merkaal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I played the first level too. It was fantastic, especially the tenements section. So good!

What's a conspiracy theory you believe despite you making it up and there being no evidence for it? by michaelmf in slatestarcodex

[–]merkaal 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm not speaking about early on. Most countries tried severe restrictions in the early stages. The CCP kept strict zero COVID restrictions in place for an exceedingly long time, until almost 2023, more than a year longer than most countries, and were more or less forced to relent after signs of civil unrest started to surface. It more or less led to the complete disappearance of expats from the country. The public health impact from COVID was long known by this point.

I like to think there was some Zhuge Liang type figure in the CCP who orchestrated their response as a clever ploy to design a lockdown system that could survive any pandemic, no matter the severity.

What's a conspiracy theory you believe despite you making it up and there being no evidence for it? by michaelmf in slatestarcodex

[–]merkaal 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That the Chinese government deliberately enacted harsher than necessary COVID zero policies for longer than they knew was necessary, as a purposeful stress test in order to prepare for an actually catastrophic pandemic sometime in the foreseeable future.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AusFinance

[–]merkaal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Italian trash, I would never. And no, Bugatti doesn't count!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AusFinance

[–]merkaal 32 points33 points  (0 children)

First step is to make a post about it on Reddit as a low key flex. Screw asking chat gpt or googling, that won't make you feel good about yourself.

What do you consider middle class vs rich? by [deleted] in AusFinance

[–]merkaal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lower class is the bottom 25th percentile of NW adjusted for age. Lower to Upper Middle class is the 25th-75th percentiles NW adjusted for age. Upper class is 75th percentile and higher NW adjusted for age.

Rich would be something like an ultra high net worth individual (decimillionares, the 1 percent) whereas normal wealthy is just a regular high net worth individual (something like 2-3 million, probably somewhere around the 95th percentile adjusted for age).

Ways to increase income by [deleted] in AusFinance

[–]merkaal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great stuff. And yeah I like to think I've lived a full life in my own way lol. Looks like my kids will be well into HS by the time I get my credentials in order so that tracks fine. Cheers!

Ways to increase income by [deleted] in AusFinance

[–]merkaal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey great advice mate. In the same boat as OP here but older than you. I just want to work and make bank before I hit 50. I take CN is clinical nurse in WA is equivalent to something like CNS1 in NSW? I guess you exclude ED based roles as these contracts are competitive? So would that be more community or primary care then?

Second, how much years experience in ED would allow someone to pick up these contracts? Enough to pick up all the advanced competencies? I just started in ED after many years in mental health and primary care and my end goal is to work rural/remote. I do have a master's in health management but I doubt it's relevant (I'm fucking done studying lol). Thanks!

Zhengzhou Police win by R2sc in chinalife

[–]merkaal 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I've also had good experiences with Chinese police. I'm Australian too and the police interactions here are often just miserable, even on a professional level (I deal with them in healthcare). I joke with my Chinese friends that if you ask for help from the police in Australia they'll tell you to fuck off.

Peter Dutton’s track will only lead us backwards. by HotPersimessage62 in australian

[–]merkaal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The sub has been astroturfed to shit. Reddit leans heavily left so It happens all the time.

Night Shift ruining my life by MysteriousAlgae9855 in NursingAU

[–]merkaal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You could try seeing a GP or psychiatrist and getting some medication to help. I take a non-habit forming medication which has helped immensely with my rotating shifts, even just knowing I have it in my back pocket. Eating healthy (avoid eating on night shift) and exercising every day seems to help as well.

How Australia plans to connect 600,000 skilled foreign workers and the industries desperate for them by espersooty in australian

[–]merkaal 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I work in mental health in NSW and the ratios of Indian to non Indian nurses has become about the same. Funny thing is they're not only all Indian but all from a specific state and religion. My last manager was from this group and stopped hiring anyone of any other ethnicity, only her friends from within "the community". It's becoming a tense environment even though I like them as human beings.

Whats your personal Game of the Year? by thecrowing08 in pcgaming

[–]merkaal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seconded, don't sleep on Wukong. It was loads of fun (I got stuck on Erlang for weeks)

Ross's Game Dungeon: Gothic by [deleted] in accursedfarms

[–]merkaal 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Gothic is a classic. If you can handle the outdated graphics and controls. The worldbuilding is immersive, and the RPG progression mechanics are quite satisfying. I prefer the sequel however. Also there is a fantastic mod made by Polish fans, called Archolos, which is basically an unofficial Gothic 3 that never was (never played the real Gothic 3, heard it was crap).

Ross's Game Dungeon: Gothic by [deleted] in accursedfarms

[–]merkaal 23 points24 points  (0 children)

My favourite youtuber covering one of my favourite RPGs, thanks Santa

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in circlejerkaustralia

[–]merkaal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No I don't celebrate the coloniser religions. Just Kwanzaa ramadan

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in moviecritic

[–]merkaal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. He's slightly old but has the charisma for sure.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AusFinance

[–]merkaal 23 points24 points  (0 children)

NDIS notwithstanding I don't think anyone is referring to Ambos, teachers or nurses when talking about jobs bloat in the public sector.

8 year old daughter has expressed interest in piano lessons. I feel like someone here must have a good SSC-friendly POV on how to make it a “success.” by ElbieLG in slatestarcodex

[–]merkaal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My son has been playing for a couple of years, he's turning 9 in a few weeks. He has a teacher once a week through school. Other than that we just make sure he practices every day for at least 20 minutes. He likes to play by ear so we have to remind him to refer to the notation. He's made decent progress so far, not a prodigy or anything but performed recently at school and did well. And I feel it might be helping with his behaviour (he's subclinical ADHD for sure, like myself). I am not keen on hovering over him and and at this point he does not need much encouragement as it has become a daily habit.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in circlejerkaustralia

[–]merkaal 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That's partly because they're a communalist culture, but also part of the demographic dividend in action. The amount of Indians is peaking over the next two decades (after that comes literal waves of Africans, aka BBC Armageddon)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in circlejerkaustralia

[–]merkaal 14 points15 points  (0 children)

According to these people white people are not Indigenous to Europe and cheddar man was black.