The totally off-topic thread

[anat0l]

Japan is creating a bit of an impression with my youngest son. He has had his wallet stolen together with his I Phone (which incidentally does not reset onto the Japanese system). The MasterCards only worked at the airport.
I think he may need to wash dishes to get by this week. This is a really good test for a twenty one year old.

I hope for his case, he had his iPhone backed up and had set up Find My iPhone correctly so he could find it when it was turned on, let alone do a remote wipe.

It'd be interesting to see how he had both stolen. Japan is a fairly safe society, much more than many Western societies. Not to say theft can't happen - foolish thing to conclude - though suffice to say it's not usually petty theft (i.e. someone will hold you up). Of course, with economic pressures and what not, things may have dramatically changed.

I still carry my wallet in my front pocket in Japan, but only because you bump into so many people. (I only carry it in my back pocket in Australia and New Zealand, or until pickpocketing in either country becomes commonplace...)

"Stolen" is also a codeword (used by both young and old, typically by men) for "I was a dumb*** and I misplaced it".

It's quite normal in the very cash-centric Japanese society for international credit cards to work on only some ATMs, of which the airport is one of the only sure-fire places where there would be such an ATM. Always a good idea to draw your yen either before you arrive in Japan or at least before you leave the airport (and for now, the price is right).

I am reminded of the episode where the Simpsons went to Tokyo and did not have enough money to get home, cove. Perhaps your son could take a leaf out of their book and work in a fish market!

Or, win his tickets to freedom on the Happy Smile Super Family Challenge Wish Show :mrgreen:

 

[cove]

So many questions and no answers for a few days. I catch up with them next week in MEL so I will do a sniff a thon to see if he had to do a Homer.

 

[Flashback]

On a serious note, I am surprised to hear of the theft - I always regarded Japan as a very safe country. I guess these things happen everywhere, you just have to be unlucky to be the victim.

It was probably by another Aussie, rather than a local!

Hope they've got it sorted now cove and continue to enjoy what is one of my favourite destinations in the world.

 

[Blinky]

Two of my boys work for Melbourne AFL club and are naturally doing it hard. I just heard Football Department Manager (and ex premiership coach) Neil Craig tell the milling media that if they want to know about the coaching situation they were to talk to the Media Manager, my 26 year old boy. Too much pressure for the lad, but I'm very proud of the way he's coping.

And in case anyone thinks he's a high-flying media graduate, he started at the Demons as an 18 year old trainee, and has worked extremely hard to get where he is, the youngest AFL Media Manager by over a decade. The younger one is a Football Analyst, and had the job of keeping the media away from the coach.

 

[whatmeworry]

Just watched the latest game of thrones episode... wow

 

[Pushka]

I've got to start watching that show. Son is downloading from the beginning.

 

[whatmeworry]

I've got to start watching that show. Son is downloading from the beginning.

Yeah it is a fantastic show. I wont say too much but just watch a episode or 2 and you will be hooked!

 

[Princess Fiona]

I went to see The Great Gatsby today.
I've only ever seen one Baz Luhrmann film ( Romeo and Juliet). Already had the soundtrack and an unabashed fan of the novel. I was really looking forward to this and I wasn't disappointed.
It's spectacular, a real treat to watch. Great cast, fantastic sets and once the parties have died down in the second half it's a poignant portrayal of the destruction of a dream.
And Leo is stunningly good looking in a tux

 

[whatmeworry]

I went to see The Great Gatsby today.
I've only ever seen one Baz Luhrmann film ( Romeo and Juliet). Already had the soundtrack and an unabashed fan of the novel. I was really looking forward to this and I wasn't disappointed.
It's spectacular, a real treat to watch. Great cast, fantastic sets and once the parties have died down in the second half it's a poignant portrayal of the destruction of a dream.
And Leo is stunningly good looking in a tux

Never liked the Great Gatsby either in novel or movie (Robert Redford) form.

I can understand why Yanks think it might be so great (Blah blah roaring 20's, prohibition, great depression etc), yet I feel such as a disconnect from the chief character. I remember most of my classmates in high school disliked the story and I even questioned my English teacher how this made to the VCE list in Victoria? He actually agreed!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Never liked the Great Gatsby either in novel or movie (Robert Redford) form.

I can understand why Yanks think it might be so great (Blah blah roaring 20's, prohibition, great depression etc), yet I feel such as a disconnect from the chief character. I remember most of my classmates in high school disliked the story and I even questioned my English teacher how this made to the VCE list in Victoria? He actually agreed!

My introduction to it was different. I've never seen the Robert Redford movie or studied the novel. At school I was an avid reader for pleasure and first read Gatsby in Year 7 equivalent (as a 12 year old). I've always been fascinated by that era and by Fitzgerald. I remember being fascinated that there was a famous writer who was known by his middle name (as I am)

 

[Blinky]

Just watched the latest game of thrones episode... wow

Did you know what was coming? Because I did, and it didn't make it easier to cope with. An incredibly emotional TV show. I was glad I had my (very un-wolflike) dog close at hand to cuddle.

And more shocks are to come before this season is over. The best series ever IMO.

 

[whatmeworry]

Did you know what was coming? Because I did, and it didn't make it easier to cope with. An incredibly emotional TV show. I was glad I had my (very un-wolflike) dog close at hand to cuddle.

And more shocks are to come before this season is over. The best series ever IMO.

No I didn't know what was coming. I am still sooking but I am watching the latest episode again because it was so good. I didn't read the books, so I am trying to avoid the books, wiki etc.

It is funny, characters I initially despised I now like.

 

[Blinky]

No I didn't know what was coming. I am still sooking but I am watching the latest episode again because it was so good. I didn't read the books, so I am trying to avoid the books, wiki etc.

It is funny, characters I initially despised I now like.

Keep watching.

What's interesting is that my kids thought me hopelessly nerdy when i started watching the show. Now they are annoyed that they missed some of the earlier episodes.....

 

[docjames]

Two of my boys work for Melbourne AFL club and are naturally doing it hard. I just heard Football Department Manager (and ex premiership coach) Neil Craig tell the milling media that if they want to know about the coaching situation they were to talk to the Media Manager, my 26 year old boy. Too much pressure for the lad, but I'm very proud of the way he's coping.

And in case anyone thinks he's a high-flying media graduate, he started at the Demons as an 18 year old trainee, and has worked extremely hard to get where he is, the youngest AFL Media Manager by over a decade. The younger one is a Football Analyst, and had the job of keeping the media away from the coach.

Congrats to your boy.

As a demons supporter, the current situation has been pretty hard to take.

Everyone has their own opinion on how to "fix" things but IMO there needs to be fairly wholesale changes across every level of administration / coaching / development.

 

[docjames]

Congrats to your boy.

As a demons supporter, the current situation has been pretty hard to take.

Everyone has their own opinion on how to "fix" things but IMO there needs to be fairly wholesale changes across every level of administration / coaching / development.

Reading that back just want to clarify I think there is no issue in the club's media dept! (Sorry blinky - hope I didn't give that impression!)

 

[JohnK]

Especially JohnKs stapler. And his chair. From previous discussions on this thread.

Are you trying to stir trouble again? Or you think I should simply play the sharing game?

What a total waste of time to be given all those stationary supplies when you first join the company.

Why do I need my own when I just "borrow" everyone else's all the time? Why bother going to reception to re-stock supplies when I can just "borrow" everyone else's? Can I only "borrow" from desks out in the open or is it OK to enter someone's office and "borrow" from them as well?

Leave other people's things alone. Very simple....

 

[medhead]

Are you trying to stir trouble again? Or you think I should simply play the sharing game?

What a total waste of time to be given all those stationary supplies when you first join the company.

Why do I need my own when I just "borrow" everyone else's all the time? Why bother going to reception to re-stock supplies when I can just "borrow" everyone else's? Can I only "borrow" from desks out in the open or is it OK to enter someone's office and "borrow" from them as well?

Leave other people's things alone. Very simple....

You are Gareth aren't you?

 

[medhead]

Oh and that's enough GoT talk people. I won't get to watch until the weekend.

 

[Pushka]

Are you trying to stir trouble again? Or you think I should simply play the sharing game?

What a total waste of time to be given all those stationary supplies when you first join the company.

Why do I need my own when I just "borrow" everyone else's all the time? Why bother going to reception to re-stock supplies when I can just "borrow" everyone else's? Can I only "borrow" from desks out in the open or is it OK to enter someone's office and "borrow" from them as well?

Leave other people's things alone. Very simple....

Like I said before JK, our office is built around sharing. The business owns the stationery. Although for convenience everyone has their own laptop.

 

[Princess Fiona]

You are Gareth aren't you?

Or Keith ?