The totally off-topic thread

[anat0l]

How's everyone going these days for currency conversion (in cash at money exchange, using credit card)?

I used to use a rule of thumb (from street experience) in Brisbane that at a good money exchanger, most merchants were making 4% against the mid-market exchange rate (e.g. checking xe.com, oanda.com). These days, it seems that margin has crept up to 5-8% against mid-market, with 9-12% against for the less common currencies (not esoteric, but just not as regularly traded).

As for credit card exchange rates, they seem to have upped a bit on the exchange margin too, unless it's just me. I know that users of the 28 Degrees Mastercard regularly reported that they often seemed to draw at very close to mid-market, versus other credit cards (without taking into account the currency conversion fee on other cards).

 

[cove]

Our latest London trip has had us using Citi Select for dining out and 28 degrees mostly for cash out of fee free ATMs.
With Citi it basically costs 1 cent per point seeing you earn a net 3.33 points for a fee of 3.3%.

 

[Shelf]

I can't believe all the press this pending birth is receiving.

 

[Pushka]

I can't believe all the press this pending birth is receiving.

It makes a wonderful change from all the doom and gloom stuff. Plus Wills and Kate make a wonderful couple and Princess Di's boys were always a crowd favourite. I "get" it and I'm a Republican.

 

[bass_ke]

Tidying up some photo's from our last trip, and this one got me thinking



6 years ago when we first ventured to Laos it took us 3 days, a bus, a songthaew and 2 boats to get from CNX - LPQ. 3 months ago it took 50 minutes, I'm so torn between my love of aviation and that of overland travel!

 

[JohnK]

Might pop over later and congratulate the dutchess once she has had the child. I wonder if she took on my suggestion of naming him (if a boy) Mal.

King Malcolm?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

what's with all this name calling lately? 'idiot' tram drivers, 'morons' at US airways, a post - liked by red roo - that some jetstar passengers are 'idiots'.

are you alleging the tram driver deliberately or recklessly applied the brakes to cause injury? if it's true, that should be followed up with the police.

 

[Mal]

King Malcolm?

Shakespeare would be proud!

 

[JohnK]

what's with all this name calling lately? 'idiot' tram drivers, 'morons' at US airways, a post - liked by red roo - that some jetstar passengers are 'idiots'.

What is it with the lack of communication about cancelled flights? System glitch?

'Morons' is the right term.

 

[Flashback]

What is it with the lack of communication about cancelled flights? System glitch?

'Morons' is the right term.

How about 'morons' at QF who cancelled my flight once, the day before I was to fly out, because there was another PAX with the same name (although different DOB & middle name) booked on the same flight, so thought it had been booked twice by the same person.

 

[JohnK]

How about 'morons' at QF who cancelled my flight once, the day before I was to fly out, because there was another PAX with the same name (although different DOB & middle name) booked on the same flight, so thought it had been booked twice by the same person.

I agree with you. That should not have happened. They should have checked and double checked all details before cancellation your reservation.

I had a similar thing with MH recently. I had booked BKK-KUL-SIN and return. I missed the KUL-SIN flight as I was in the wrong terminal and there was no boarding announcement so I was eventually put on next flight KUL-SIN. A couple of months later when I was in SIN trying to check-in for return SIN-KUL-BKK I was told I had no reservation as I had skipped the KUL-SIN leg. Rubbish as I was put on next flight back then but apparently computer auto cancelled my itinerary without being advised.

Sorry but that is just not good enough from any airline.

 

[Mal]

New royal baby is a boy. Now to see if she decided to go with my naming suggestion...

 

[Mal]

And the prize for the funniest headline goes to the Montreal gazette..

" Kate Middleton in labour (with video)"

http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/royals/Kate+Middleton+labour/8688864/story.html

Edit... Aww, they changed the headline!

 

[medhead]

Overheard in adl qp - "Williams's son is a boy"

 

[Mal]

Overheard in adl qp - "Williams's son is a boy"

Well der! Of course a son is a boy. Lmao.

 

[jukebox333]

So I guess that's the whole "girl being an heir to the throne" controversy averted for another generation!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Now, onto the Royal baby's, Royal baby. Hurry up already.

 

[Pushka]

A big baby for such a petite frame. And she barely looked pregnant.

Yes, the heir issue has most likely been averted for 60 years or so.

 

[medhead]

Well der! Of course a son is a boy. Lmao.

The funny thing, I put that up as a status on Facebook. I got one comment that 'it wouldn't really work if his son was a girl'. Then a comment from someone who is ESL that just said "sexist!"

Now i'm confused and really don't know if I'm sexist, or if I'm getting caught up in the life of Brian having to defend Reg's right to be called Loretta and to have a baby if she wishes.

 

[Hvr]

A big baby for such a petite frame. And she barely looked pregnant.

Yes, the heir issue has most likely been averted for 60 years or so.

And yet the hair issue will probably continue for another generation.