u/UncommonBlackbird

I sometimes have issues streaming internet radio, but since 26.6 my HomePod mini has become virtually unusable.

Constant drop outs and AirPlay becomes unusable too. Anyone else? I tried a factory reset.

Update 9 Aug: It has surprisingly been working well since this post. Will update again if it plays up again.

I often wonder what my child self would’ve thought, seeing what we have today. A phone with an incredible camera that’s powerful enough to do anything, electric self driving cars, massive televisions that cost relatively little.

Yet we are more isolated than ever, and social media has polarised the world. Is there a point in time we could’ve/should’ve stopped? Do you think we will ever stop staring into our palms and take back control of our lives?

I was standing near the bin in the cemetery, finishing off the last of some KFC chicken wings, when some magpies landed on a grave nearby.

They stared at me, then a few seconds later went straight for the wing in my hand! I threw it a few metres away and they all fought on the ground like football players going for a tackle.

It all happened so quickly and they flew away not knowing about the rest of the chicken wings. Does this happen frequently anywhere else, or are these a particularly desperate gang?

After using ChatGPT, Perplexity and Grok to discuss my issues for the past year, I decided to see a psychologist as my doctor recommended it.

It was worth trying and they gave some helpful advice, but after spending so long discussing things with chatbots, I realised I had nothing really to discuss with a real person.

I seem to have worked through things that have troubled me for years, plus I didn’t have any barriers raising things with a real person due to embarrassment or stigma.

I understand this may not be the case for everyone, especially with more complex issues, but after five sessions I don’t see myself seeing a psychologist again.

I understand if it’s a complex matter, but people who call you when you send a simple email or a text are very annoying. They often don’t leave a message or attempt to follow up in writing either. Or they leave a message telling you… TO CALL THEM BACK!!!

With a petrol station sandwich now costing $5+, and some places charging $30+ for lunch, at what price would you consider a meal to be affordable these days?

I pay for ChatGPT Go and the thinking mode has disappeared on iOS, and there’s now a clunky interface for changing models. The only option available is instant. It better not have gone for good or I’ll cancel my subscription.

I tend to use ChatGPT and Perplexity to discuss my issues in the format of journal entries. I usually use the thinking mode in ChatGPT, but if the conversation continues I usually don’t keep selecting it.

Do you use or find thinking modes more useful for advice? I’ve wanted to try Claude Opus but can’t justify the price. I didn’t find Sonnet any better or worse than ChatGPT or Perplexity.

The Aussie Bird Count found the magpie the most spotted bird. Very interesting article. They even recognise our voices!

I lost my last job because I took two weeks of mental health leave while on probation. It was a toxic workplace, so in some ways it was a blessing.

I’m starting to look for part time work and I’m struggling to find much that even remotely lines up with my experience.

I have a masters degree from a well regarded uni which I’ve never used, and may never be used. It’s in an industry where employers value experience and connections over education.

I have never rejected an interview or a job offer, and have been grateful for the temporary jobs I have had after 50-100 applications each time. And that’s now considered a low number of applications before getting a job!

My parents and their generation told us to study hard and you’ll get a job. Then they pulled the rug from under us.

Education is not valued anymore, and I suspect with the continuing rise of AI it’ll be worth even less. Work is casualised/temporary and many employers will look for any reason to get rid of you.

I have a lot of respect for those of you who are putting in hundreds of applications and getting nowhere. The world we grew up, where a job was considered a right, does not exist anymore, and it’s not going to get better.

I’ve had bad experiences with providers in the past. Payments unfairly suspended, harassed for payslips etc but MatchWorks have been surprisingly good so far.

I started with them in DES last year, and had a friendly and understanding consultant. They didn’t pressure me to apply for unsuitable jobs, dropped my job search requirement on a few occasions, held voluntary workshops occasionally and had a counsellor available.

They even connected me with a reputable recruiter in my industry who I kept in touch with until my mental health declined.

I was on medical certificates for a while and now have a new consultant. They said there’s no rush to start applying for jobs again and my fortnightly appointments are by phone.

Perhaps if anything they should be pushing me? I don’t know, I’m just surprised I haven’t needed a medical certificate since last year.

Am I just lucky or is IEA more lenient now? They said I don’t have any formal number of jobs I have to apply for. I do want to work, but there’s not much in my industry at the moment that’s part time.

I know the magpie gets a reputation for being aggressive, and many are afraid of them. But I would suggest the rainbow lorikeet is also a contender.

They fly past you like bullets with no regard for personal space. It’s surprising I’ve never been hit by one! They’re very pretty, but if you’re not paying attention to your surroundings they will certainly wake you up.

I noticed the Parkville campus no longer has any banks or ATMs anymore. A decade ago when I was studying there were two banks, several ATMs, and a post office.

Does anyone or any places still use cash or has anything gone contactless?