red750

Now, that's BIG

It has been coming for some time, but it has taken a huge jump forward.

The ANZ Bank has announced it will no longer handle cash over the counter. All cash transactions, withdrawals and deposits, will now be done via ATM's. The use of cash has certainly dimished drastically, but some people still rely on it, particularly for small purchases. Also, elderly or disabled people who are unable to come to grips with the technology.

But there is a darker side. Our privacy is being attacked surruptitiously. There have been lots of ways to track us, by our mobile phone, internet, social media, etc., but now, every time we make a purchase using tap-&-go, we are being tracked.

Buy a Maccas or Hungry's - we are being tracked. Buy a paper - we are being tracked.

Sure, this has been the case for some time, but we have had the option of using cash. Are we now being forced to use tap-&-go every time? EFTPOS cards to start with, now mobile phone apps.

I'm a bit of a luddite when it comes to phone apps. I don't have any on my phone. I don't even have the internet turned on, uses up the battery too quickly. However, now you seem to need an app for everything - the Macccas app to order a burger, the Dominos app to order a pizza, the Woolies app to buy groceries etc., and so on. And we are being tracked every step of the way. 

Has the genie been irrevokably released from the bottle? 

Westpac and the NAB have said they are not planning this  -  yet. CBA has not stated its position. How many will close their ANZ accounts?

Oh! And don't forget all the processing charges added to our purchases, filling the coffers of the banks.

Triple M Sydney star from the breakfast show of the 80's, "Uncle" Doug Mulray, has passed away aged 71. Cause of death not specified, but he had been ill for a number of months. Famous for being sacked on-air by Kerry Packer over an X rated video program he once aired.

That coffee can be deadly at Starbucks.

Australian hospitals and other buildings are covered by Australian Standard 4083 (1997) and many are in the process of changing to those standards.

Code Black: Personal threat
Code Black Alpha: missing or abducted infant or child
Code Black Beta: active shooter
Code Black J: self-harm
Code Blue: medical emergency
Code Brown: external emergency (disaster, mass casualties etc.)
Code CBR: chemical, biological or radiological contamination
Code Orange: evacuation
Code Purple: bomb threat
Code Red: fire
Code Yellow: internal emergency
Code Grey: combative person without a weapon

Source: Wikipedia.

A rift in the Earth's surface is causing a large section of Africa to split away.

Details here.

The oscar goes to the last one.

A Snart is a fart created when you sneeze. Release both ends.

Did you see that photo on Facebook too, Gareth.

Here he is today.

What is a "Snart?"

John Cleese's name rhymes with cheese, not grease, because the family name WAS originally Cheese.

Somewhere between 1955 and 2023  things went terribly wrong…

even though he's on the bike backwards.

Forensic investigator.

THIS is last year's Christmas card from Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles, a Republican who represents the district that Covenant School is in in Nashville.

Willie, I deleted your duplicated post for you.

I guess you could say I'm lucky. My son, aged 49, and my 43 year old daughter live with me, always have, and with the afforesaid GP's letter, my daughter is my carer and collects the carer's pension, although at times I think I am the carer.

13 minutes ago, willedoo said:

I assumed they'd had a dry spell for a while

Last flag in 2010.