It’s definitely a lot lower than I would want if someone decided they could walk in when I was asleep.

Another thing to try for windows is to make a second layer for the window frame out of flyscreen moulding and some clear plastic. It’s a more expensive method than bubble wrap but looks better and has the benefit of being able to see through it easily. I haven’t really quantified how much of an effect this makes but with the windows I did this for there was a noticeable decrease in condensation on the glass so there is definitely some reduction in thermal transfer.

You can buy the aluminium profile, corner joiners, and matching rubber stripping used for making flyscreens in a hardware shop, as well as clear plastic in rolls (or lengths thereof). With this you make a frame that snugly fits into the window surround - ideally placing the plastic within a cm or so of the glass. You’ll need a hacksaw or something else to cut the aluminium, ideally a combination square to help with marking 45 degree angles, and I did find the little roller tool sold to help insert the stripping was useful.

I don’t really care about the cafe, shop, or cultural displays but it’d be good to have the observation deck again (ideally free this time, but I don’t like my chances).

Yes, it’s amusing to think of him going to what have been a fair effort to catch a lyrebird all to find it probably went straight back down the hole after it’d been lugged up to the top.

It is indeed a surprisingly big hole, worth the short walk if you’re in the area with some time for sightseeing.

I’d be thinking something like 30mm hardwood tri quad to create a sloping transition (ideally something reasonably close in colour to the floor). Leaving a vertical edge on the inside seems too likely to end up with stubbed toes at some point.

It’s one of these things that logically you know must happen occasionally (and I’ve even seen pictures of it) but still doesn’t seem right.

I am impressed the shark got it out again and didn’t end up with a permanent internal echidna spine collection.

The American inspired variety of sovereign citizen is enough, I don’t think we really need our own special version of the idea.

It is a bit of an odd name really. I suspect it’s due to a combination of their size, many having some orange colouring, and their habit of making off with your fruit come night time.

It does seem to get consistent usage - I think it’d make a lot of sense for the commute if you lived along the route and worked normal hours in the city. The increase in development was also noticeable - Flemington Rd has a lot of housing built along it now which would have been at least helped along by the presence of the light rail (I expect a lot would have been built regardless, but maybe not as quickly).

Sounds a pretty good use case for an electric truck; low speeds with constant stop/start driving is well suited to electric vehicles and a known route means range is much less of an issue (just spec it with enough to cope with expected decline over its service life and you’re set). The harder part will be making sure there’s enough charging capacity in the depots to cope with a fleet of trucks, I would expect upgrades will be necessary for that.

Yes, I would think Finland would be more around the top of the Snowies/Vic Alps, particularly as you approach the treeline. England seems a better fit for the ACT (though you might need to ignore summer for that).

n this scenario because the road is not multi-laned it doesn’t seem permitted.

That list should have ‘or’ separating the options, only one of them has to be true to qualify as an exception instead of all of them. I swear NSW likes to make things more confusing in what is supposed to be clear language explanations of the rules - the actual road rules are often easier to understand (as they are in this case).

I was concerned these recent stabbings would start a push towards screwing over people like me who regularly carry pocket knives, and unsurprisingly it’s started. It’s rather disappointing how many people go straight to pearl clutching at the mention of a knife even though I and many others have had them on hand as useful tools for decades without feeling the need to stab anyone.

Didn’t even notice until now, but yes it is an unfortunate choice of words in that title…

Fernwood, a women only gym, is allowed to exist.

Because there are sections of the law which allow exemption from the gender discrimination section for various reasons, and they have successfully argued that there are benefits to having a women only gym which are important enough to deserve an exemption (to provide substantive equality). They also only allow women patrons, so men are not charged for a service that is not equally provided.

I don’t really see it as problematic for a discriminated class to seek to foster a space free from those who perpetuate that discrimination

Neither do many other people, which is why such examples as Fernwood have received exemptions from the law and why there is a specific exemption for both female and male only clubs.

I don’t think it sets a precedent for protected classes to be discriminated against as “art” because men aren’t a class that needs protecting

Allowing discrimination based on gender without substantiating the businesses eligibility for an exemption under the law absolutely would set a precedent for the courts. While you may agree with this particular case of discrimination it is not a good idea to open an opportunity for more discrimination in the future - keep in mind it may not always be the type you agree with.

Good. I think the other option - setting a precedent allowing businesses to skirt discrimination laws by claiming their behaviour was art - would have been a rather poor decision.

Common sense (surprisingly) appears. Hopefully stuff like that is actually legal in NSW, because even if it isn’t I’m keeping on doing it myself - calling a plumber in for something that can be done by anyone with a couple of brain cells to rub together seems a waste of both their time and my money.

Are you sure it doesn’t have a S or P bend under there? Since floor drains often only get water down them once in a blue moon there is a possibility there is a trap but it’s dried out to the point it lets smells waft back up the pipe.

If it really doesn’t have a trap and you aren’t interested in installing one yourself the least effort option is to tape over the drain outlet until you get it fixed.