idk, I kinda expected a bot to be machine like, regular, predictable and couldn't be stopped and would go on forever.

You know, like the Terminator.

But sydbot hasn't posted anything for 2 months.

Not sure it matters, but I'd like to know that sydbot is safe and happy.

It's absolutely pissing down here right now, and I noticed this little fella sitting on a ledge outside a window trying to get out of the rain.

I've never seen any bird try and shelter there before, but am doing my best to not disturb him.

Hope the eaves and ledge give him some protection and he can stay safe.

Update: The rain has stopped, and my little friendly shadow has gone. All the birds are going mental! The cockies sound furious!

Victoria is already in a state of disaster, and today looks like being a really bad day for fires in Sydney, so thought I would link a couple of key sites I use:

• RFS Fires Near Me. A list of all the fires being tracked by RFS.
• Fire Danger Ratings and Fire Bans. Today for all of Sydney region it is Extreme and a total fire ban.
• BOM also has warnings on the top of the page.
• Bushfire survivial plan. You should have one already, but if you don't, get one.

Stay safe!

Enjoy listening to some classic Aussie analysis of the Ashes series.

Warning/NSFW: The language may be inappropriate for some environments.

Hope everyone stays safe and cool. Remember: have a plan, leave early if you can. Catastrophic is not a recommendation. GTFO.

Anyways, anytime I start talking weather with someone, I can't help but have certain songs run through my head. The Heatwave Mix is an open zone for song recommendations that have at least one line that talk about weather/temperature. Please post the line and a link to the song.

I'll kick off the hotness with a line that always gets stuck in my head : I walk about in the summertime saying "How about this heat!".

Now, once we hear that, the next recommended song says I should get my funk on and "Keep my cool!"

Australia have already won The Ashes series after winning the first 3 Tests. The English won the 4th Test to make the series 3-1, with just this last game remaining.

Australia hasn’t been able to field their top team all series, and are without captain Cummins and top spinner Lyons again. Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement, and this will be his last match in front of his home crowd.

England can find redemption with another win, and arguably claim they could have won the series. Will Bazball continue to live, after seeming dead after the Aussies went up 3-0?

10am-12:30pm AEDT will be compulsory viewing for cricket nuts. Who wins the toss and whether the bowling team can break through in that first session may determine the result.

But a Test is 5 days, even though we seem to normally get 2 day Test Matches in this series.

Australia have already won The Ashes series after winning the first 3 Tests.

The Boxing Day Melbourne Cricket Ground Test is an annual event where legendary heroes and villains are born.

Australia hasn't been able to field their top team all series, and are without captain Cummins and top spinner Lyons. Batting changes are also expected with the return of Steve Smith.

England may make desperate changes to try and win.

10am-12:30pm AEDT will be compulsory viewing for cricket nuts. Who wins the toss and whether the bowling team can break through in that first session may determine the result.

But a Test is 5 days, and so far England has shown to be incapable of winning a Test in 2 days, 4 days or 5 days.

All the best to you and yours.

More than a third of the nation's 11,000 citizens applied for the new climate visa — a deal forged between the two countries to preserve Tuvaluan culture as the atolls disappear.

The intake is capped at 280 visas annually to prevent a brain drain from the tiny island nation.

With the ban going into effect, I thought it might be helpful to allow people to share their experiences about the Australian teen social media ban and how it has affected them.

Note: For the Aussie Zone lemmy requirements, see here. Please use that thread for an Aussie Zone specific discussions or questions.

Good luck, everyone!

OK, this is not actually from rage, but it is Ozmusic. I was going down a rabbit hole that took me eventually to the Choirboys, generally known as a classic 80s rock/pub band.

They had several bangers, including what was the unofficial Queenslanders anthem, at least in Surfers.

But what made me double take was how few views/listens.were on their official Choirboys channel.

Some personal faves:

• You're with the big boys now - Carrie. What a top song. And that's how you end a song!
• 'The smell of beer and perfume'. That may be the greatest pub band lyric ever.
• Talk big.Great to hum to the boss you don't like. "Tell me something I don't know!"
• Bullshit. Great to hum to the boss you don't like. "It's all just bullshit to me!"

Happy listening! Bust out that air guitar!