Merry Xmas to the fern clan. We got a baby girl for Xmas (2 days before) so this might be my last post for... how many years!!? Probably should be posting gibberish at some ridic hour of the morning!

Man, I dodged this thread near the end of last year. Wasn't in a great space and took a while for that to become apparent, where I couldn't fool myself about being extra stressed or it being a temporary thing. A holiday break helped but any hols with young kids is just a different type of busy lol. Still a great change from work and the daily grind.
Plans on the go at work to move some stuff around - but the usual lack of competent folks (who aren't already overworked) to delegate to will make that hard to manage. Kids are great, aside from Mr 2 being weaned against his will (I mean, who turns down boobs!), and the wife and I are good.
We've got some medium sized reno's planned but I keep looking at new jobs or wondering about a break then re-entering the job market. But I think that's more to help me focus on what I like about my current mahi. On a good day I'd be a fool to leave and on a bad day I just feel crushed under the pressure. Luckily I have far more good days than bad ones

That quote from @antipodean really resonated with me. What the fuck are we doing if we can't find some pleasure in the here and now. Easier to say than do, but I'm going to try and focus on that through 2022. But my short term goal is to get my thicc self back the gym. Exercise = happier Paekakboyz. No question.

How good is that pic!

@catogrande I feel that's not the first time you've trotted that scenario out...

@JC Bro!! I've just got my 23andMe results back and we are totally related! I mean, what are the chances!?

Now I've been thinking about going electric...

@MiketheSnow such a pity she's passed away... next week.

@Hooroo said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@Baron-Silas-Greenback said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@Crucial said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@Baron-Silas-Greenback said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@Crucial said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@Baron-Silas-Greenback said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@Godder said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

Media took a 30% hit to advertising revenue after the GFC (because spending didn't rebound after), and that's the fear again. We can hate them all we like, but that's an industry at risk, unless we just want state-owned news sources.

or news sources that actually provide what people want and not just left wing propaganda outlets. Stuff is great example. iT has a ludicrous left wing slant, especially around climate change, and yet wants a handout, perhaps if they were not so shite they would have more advertsising.

Sadly they do try and provide what people want.
Often however, it just isn't what we as individuals want to read. You, because you dislike any view to the left of your political position. Me, because Mark Reason.

The fact that we both know that they provide thing that we don't like shows that their usual metheods work to a degree.

I do admit that when they started asking for donations to continue quality journalism I thought that maybe they shoud look at starting first.

They are incredibly left wing. They dont try to provide what people want, they try to provide what a sub section wants. They even try to justify to not allow any views arguing against climate change action can be allowed on their platform. That is not journalism, that is activism.

and you know this how? because you read it there? target achieved.

Readership is not always people who agree with the message.

If we are solely talking about advertising revenue then that is based on reach not quality.

If we are talking quality, then I agree with you ion some aspects.

No because I used to read there quite abit, now I hardly ever go there. Maybe once every few weeks instead of once a day. So no.. target most certainly not achieved.

So you used to read it when National were in power and didn't mind it but now Labour are in power you dislike it?

@Higgins don't worry, England will still do a few victory laps 😁

A slight tangent on this seeing (some) parents try to gatekeep what education should look like, and that folks without kids should have less (or no!) say. It's like get the fuck out of here brah, education and those kids are going to contribute to what NZ looks like in the future so everyone has a vested interest, kids or not.

@Mokey and @JC big !!

I am increasingly concerned that the fern is the most nuanced and empathetic space for conversation in my life at the moment... actually I've just upgraded from concerned to terrified lol

@chimoaus kia kaha to you and your partner. That is super hard stuff and not something I have much personal experience with. I guess you've been looking into support networks and other places you might be able to tap into support or technology to help get you out and about?

In the most general terms it'll be important for you both to hold onto your sense of self, as best you can. Loss of agency and autonomy mess with our heads, and I hope you can get support (as appropriate) for caring for your partner. You need to look after yourself alongside looking after your partner.

All the best mate and sing out or msg if you need a yarn or a vent or whatever.

@Crucial while it sucks he had to give it up that is definitely the best call for his longer term health. Worrying about an injury or being concerned about another head knock doesn't work on the field aye. In fact you are more likely to get in a situation if you aren't going full noise imo. I only had a couple of head knocks and still miss the props life... amble, smash, push, lift, then take home all the wahines

Edit, I forget lean, always take time to lean on the ruck. Gotta get that O2 in somehow!

A mate at College was a menace openside and playing 1st 15 in 3rd form. Pretty sure he stopped play rugby at college. He was/is a super talented surfer and he had to wear a helmet while surfing due to all the head knocks he had in rugby. It would have been beyond shit if he had to give them both up.

@booboo Rheineck!! I remember a bunch of us savaged a pallet of it during college. A nice change from Lion Brown and cheap as. Well before the Flame years lol.

Well, a couple of months have gone by and my work situation has improved a bit. Still updating my JD but given they'll get it benchmarked once it's finalised that's working in my favour

Work-life balance is still pretty out of whack. Had 2 weeks leave lined up for July then one of my team had a family emergency and is heading home to see family. I'll still manage some leave but not what I'd hoped for.

We did get the latest set of plans back from our architect and the reno is looking good. Bank lending is sorted also which is great. So we are pretty excited with having things one step closer to starting. Anyone got a stash of gib? asking for a friend

It is 100% built to pump us for money. The veneer of not 'having' to pay for 'core' stuff is sooo bullshit. I like games like Path of Exile who only have cosmetic stuff you can pay for. If you don't care about that stuff you aren't penalised in the game at all.

One of the major devs for Diablo Immoral came out hot about misinformation etc. Then had to dance on the head of a pin about how the pay to win stuff is linked to the non-pay to win. The sad thing is everyone seems to think the game is legit good. Get this, some of the stuff you buy can actually get downgraded (or lost) if you aren't logging in frequently enough... and by enough I think it was something like needing daily logins.

Still wasting hours on Vampire Survivor but the latest hoopla is Diablo Immortal, currently known as Diablo Immoral. Blizzard have cranked the tits off the Pay to Win model. 'Cunningly' you don't directly pay for your gear in the main 12 slots. But there is a parallel economy for levelling up gems, which are a big deal. Estimates range up to 110k USD to fully level your character up!!

If the last meme phrase was "don't you guys have phones?" this one is "Don't you guys have credit cards?". PTW has been in mobile gaming for ages, but Blizzard can't see how it's the overlap with the Diablo franchise, and the absolute cynicism to try and say the in-game purchase elements don't impact the experience.

Really hoping we see more countries following Belgium and the Netherlands. They've outlawed loot boxes/gambling in games.

@NZbloke it does feel like it'll come down to who can put together 1-2 partnerships. Or everything flips on its head and the second innings is a runs fest. Unlikely but cricket gonna cricket lol

WTF! Very pleased to see we ran through England in a similar fashion. Hopefully we can knock them off without a lead.

How much were those tickets again!

Hope there is some spice left when we get a bowl.