The totally off-topic thread

[anat0l]

That's not the only good thing that was sent from WA to London :mrgreen:

Let me guess...... your wife tells you this all the time?

 

[blackcat20]

After 10+ years of catching public transport to work (just over an hour each way), I love now having a job 10-15 minutes drive from home.

 

[Simo]

After 10+ years of catching public transport to work (just over an hour each way), I love now having a job 10-15 minutes drive from home.

20 minutes for me no traffic lights and only 4 round about and 3 of them are to get out of the estate I live in. Currently a stop go man as well but only because of road works

 

[JessicaTam]

20 minutes for me no traffic lights and only 4 round about and 3 of them are to get out of the estate I live in. Currently a stop go man as well but only because of road works

I do like being a three minute walk away from work - if I have to wait for traffic to cross the road, that is.

 

[Simo]

I do like being a three minute walk away from work - if I have to wait for traffic to cross the road, that is.

SWMBO would not like that as it would be to easy for me to go back to work when it is busy and too close for customers to come and annoy me when they need something.

 

[blackcat20]

Word is I have a job to come back to next week, just waiting on the paperwork.

 

[Hvr]

Word is I have a job to come back to next week, just waiting on the paperwork.

Great news. Hopefully I'll get one next year as well.

 

[Hvr]

How sad:

Australia's highest court has struck down a landmark law that allowed the country's first gay marriages.

Dozens have wed in the nation's capital, but those marriages will be annulled in light of Thursday's ruling, which found that the country's parliament - not state and territorial authorities - has the final say.


"The Marriage Act does not now provide for the formation or recognition of marriage between same-sex couples," the court said.


"That Act is a comprehensive and exhaustive statement of the law of marriage," it added. "Under the constitution and federal law as it now stands, whether same-sex marriage should be provided for by law is a matter for the federal parliament."

Surely it is time the government of the day just realised it is a basic human right to be able to marry the person of your choice.

Marriage legislation should say that only two consenting adults can get married. Once those criterion are met then go for it.

 

[Buzzard]

Word is I have a job to come back to next week, just waiting on the paperwork.

Great news!
Hopefully it's longer than just next week.

 

[erkpod]

Oops.

Paramedics in NYC treated an intoxicated female but they didn't know who she was. She went to hospital & got treated.

On the paperwork, they wrote "Unknown" for the first name & "Asian" in the surname field.

The bill was sent to Unknown Asian.

 

[penegal]

How sad:


Surely it is time the government of the day just realised it is a basic human right to be able to marry the person of your choice.

Marriage legislation should say that only two consenting adults can get married. Once those criterion are met then go for it.

Today's result is hardly surprising... The matter before the high court today had little contention.


The Facts:

The only issue which this Court can decide is a legal issue. Is the Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013, enacted by the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory, inconsistent with either or both of two Acts of the federal Parliament: the Marriage Act 1961 and the Family Law Act 1975? That question must be answered "Yes"

(Link)

Marriage legislation is quite clearly a federal responsibility in Australia, and if the court had little choice, but to reinforce this fact.


I do feel sorry for the ~27 couples who have been through the emotional and financial roller-coaster of getting married, only to have it annulled, but IMHO that was a forgone conclusion (as certain as any legal matter can be). Some of the marriage equality lobby groups (and the press) have been quite irresponsible with their advice to same-sex couples, and reporting of this issue in the public domain.

The real "issue" is that Australia has had numerous successive governments (Liberal, Labour and Minority), all of which were against same-sex marriage. Whether you agree or disagree, the only way to change the marriage law in Australis is through Federal Parliament.

 

[anat0l]

Surely it is time the government of the day just realised it is a basic human right to be able to marry the person of your choice.

Is it a basic human right? If it is, under the UN charter, Australia would have an obligation to allow same sex marriages.

Not against same sex marriage, but if it can be proven to be a human right by convention, that is a far stronger case.

(Yes I'm well aware that not all UN signatories necessarily observe the tenets expressed in the charter of human rights).

Not to sound flippant or irreverent, but at least there's still New Zealand....

 

[erkpod]

I do feel sorry for the ~27 couples who have been through the emotional and financial roller-coaster of getting married, only to have it annulled, but IMHO that was a forgone conclusion (as certain as any legal matter can be)

To paraphrase Airplane, they knew the risks when they brought their tickets.

They must have known it was a risk.


If 2 consenting adults want to get married, let them. Let's do what needs to be done.


As a country, we have massive issues to sort through that affect the entire population. Let's work on them!

 

[erkpod]

I was expecting a simple day on standby (or what the airline types call airport appreciatation time but within 45 minutes, I'd signed on, had a drug test (pee in a cup) & on a train.

 

[Pushka]

I can understand why the couples chose to marry. It might be the only time in Australia that they may be able to do so, unfortunately.

I think it is a basic human right to marry the one you choose. (Providing they choose you too of course )

 

[JohnK]

I am saying with vast experience that many people do not behave because it is public transport. Some do, however, expect the convenience of their own transport without providing it themselves.

Another of the drawbacks of a lenient society. We are not strict enough. Misbehave and your punishment is find a different form of transportation.

In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & (probably) Perth, we've reached the point that in the peak hours, you should not expect a seat in the peak direction. However, many people expect it & act accordingly. When you buy a ticket on a commuter railway, you are not reserving a seat like some people expect.

I only have 1 expectation and that is not to be kept waiting. And this does not happen that often to worry about it.

 

[rogerkambah]

snip

I only have 1 expectation and that is not to be kept waiting. And this does not happen that often to worry about it.

You must be lucky most of the time.

I arrange my own (private) transportation whenever I feel it will quicker and more convenient, which is all the time in Canberra.

 

[JohnK]

You must be lucky most of the time.

The trains and buses are generally OK.

It is the planes that worry me but I have no choice.

 

[rogerkambah]

The trains and buses are generally OK.

It is the planes that worry me but I have no choice.

Ok, well I don't travel anywhere near as much as you. I've only flown JASA, but of the 20 sectors I've taken this year with QF only one has been delayed ( by around 30 mins). So I just spent more time in the QP. Just enough to get me to WP.

 

[JohnK]

Ok, well I don't travel anywhere near as much as you. I've only flown JASA, but of the 20 sectors I've taken this year with QF only one has been delayed ( by around 30 mins). So I just spent more time in the QP. Just enough to get me to WP.

LOL! If only 30 minutes delay then that is a normal day for me.

And if there is no delay then start worrying that the sky is about to fall in. :mrgreen: