The totally off-topic thread

[Pushka]

One way of raising money which greatly annoys me is the requirement to purchase a raffle ticket of say $20 rather than give a gold coin if it's a charity I might want to support. It's either the ticket or nothing according to the collectors. In which case, it's always nothing.

I really dislike charity people collecting at places I visit during the day. The supermarkets and especially places like Dan Murphy's. It used to be just on Fridays in which case I'd always buy a badge regardless of the charities. But now it's open slather.

 

[mannej]

The charity collectors with iPads bug me. I may be happy to donate on a once off basis to a cold caller or a collector at the shops, but I think it plain greedy to only allow for ongoing payments.

Bitter pill and probably doing more harm than good towards their cause.

 

[anat0l]

The charity collectors with iPads bug me. I may be happy to donate on a once off basis to a cold caller or a collector at the shops, but I think it plain greedy to only allow for ongoing payments.

Bitter pill and probably doing more harm than good towards their cause.

Although many other kinds of people use the exact same tactics, it sounds odd when they start making a point like, "It's only $1 per day," or, "That's a cup of coffee each week."

 

[QF WP]

I'm a late comer to Game of Thrones and am working my way through the series. I have to avoid the internet in general for that.

I have the first 3 series on my laptop, if you need any of them . I haven't started watching Series 4 yet. But I have been articles discussing it and avoided them.

 

[QF WP]

What I find most annoying is that charities use their exemption to call at meal times. Multiple calls from the same organisation in a week, asking if I can help them are also annoying.

I'm not sure as to how I would be able to help them, as I'm not going to give out my cc details to anyone via the phone, whose bona fides can't establish.

Have a similar problem too with some companies I deal with who call me, ask if I'm me, and then want me to give my details so they can establish I'm me. The call ends when I say I can't establish who they are, so can't give out my details. Maybe I'm being paranoid.

I'm with you there 100%. I say the same thing to anybody who rings up. Lucky I don't get a lot as we have an unlisted home number and both of us are on the DNC Register.

 

[medhead]

I have the first 3 series on my laptop, if you need any of them . I haven't started watching Series 4 yet. But I have been articles discussing it and avoided them.

I also have series 2 available in Adelaide for transfer into a USB if required.

 

[penegal]

Although many other kinds of people use the exact same tactics, it sounds odd when they start making a point like, "It's only $1 per day," or, "That's a cup of coffee each week."

It's just marketing.

Quite famously I lent my services to an academic study by a prominent European University in the mid 2000's to identify where the money from the popular EUR15 and EUR20 per month child sponsorships went. Needless to say a fraction of that sum was directly traceable to a single child (between EUR5 and EUR10 depending on organisation and geography).

What was interesting was where the rest of the money went. The argument of "indirect benefit" certainly carries some weight. Charities tend to work within a village or community and do projects which benefit the community as a whole (e.g. health clinics, water wells, etc). The funding for these projects is difficult to trace to a single source.

Finally a large chunk of money was best identified as being "consumed" in the abyss of administration, and marketing. Did you know many charities pay market rates for advertising.

 

[Pushka]

I have the first 3 series on my laptop, if you need any of them . I haven't started watching Series 4 yet. But I have been articles discussing it and avoided them.

It's one programme I do not watch with my 24 year old son. Oh my! I am also reading the books too - way behind on those. But the TV series is very closely aligned with the books, without the um, details.

We are going to Dubrovnik next month which is where Kingsland is filmed. There are GOT tours available.

 

[markis10]

A ha, solved the problem with those pesky Motel Formula 1 style wine glasses in the J lounge at SYD, pinched one from the Epiqure machine for my lounge quaffing, much better, and no one will know .

Damn things are spreading, bad enough finding them in motels and holiday inns, maybe they should be painted orange.

 

[serfty]

...

We are going to Dubrovnik next month which is where Kingsland is filmed. There are GOT tours available.

I only started watching about six weeks ago after capturing series 1, 2 & 3.

I have seen upto #14 (series 2 ep. 4) but - "Kingsland"?

[Edit]

After typing and reading that post I realise you mean "King's Landing"?

... And having been to Dubrovnik I understand why parts have been recorded there ...

[/EDIT]

 

[markis10]

I had to get one of things for a comparison, now I have to drink that one as well :mrgreen:. Talk about chalk and cheese.

 

[whatmeworry]

It's one programme I do not watch with my 24 year old son. Oh my! I am also reading the books too - way behind on those. But the TV series is very closely aligned with the books, without the um, details.

We are going to Dubrovnik next month which is where Kingsland is filmed. There are GOT tours available.

King's Landing in season 1, was filmed somewhere in Malta. Season 2,3 and 4 in Dubrovnik.

They usually start in September. Some surrounding area's around Dubrovnik are used for non King's Landing scene's.

 

[Pushka]

I only started watching about six weeks ago after capturing series 1, 2 & 3.

I have seen upto #14 (series 2 ep. 4) but - "Kingsland"?

[Edit]

After typing and reading that post I realise you mean "King's Landing"?

... And having been to Dubrovnik I understand why parts have been recorded there ...

[/EDIT]

yep, Kings Landing. I actually typed that first then changed it. Have a dreadful memory for names.

I think we are up to the same episode - lots of battles. Love Tyrion. Last time I saw the actor he was on Nip/Tuck in a love triangle. That was a really weird series. Kind of like Game of Thrones with scalpels.

King's Landing in season 1, was filmed somewhere in Malta. Season 2,3 and 4 in Dubrovnik.

They usually start in September. Some surrounding area's around Dubrovnik are used for non King's Landing scene's.

That makes sense because I didnt see much familiarity in the first series but now into series 2 I am seeing scenes that remind me of the research I am doing. I think they also used another place in Croatia. The Wall is shot in Iceland. Except it probably isn't called the wall, is it.

 

[Pushka]

Speaking of Malta. I heard some awful news yesterday. A friend at the gym had just returned from Malta for a business conference. Her husband returned feeling slightly unwell and after a couple of days his wife convinced him to go to the Drs. He was admitted to Hospital immediately but a day or so later he had died! This is the second person I have heard who died less than a week after returning overseas in the last 6 months. And they were both 57.

 

[get me outta here]

That's terrible, do they know what it was ... a friend of mine who acquired DVT after returning from HNL, told me that the first symptoms were of feeling like she had the flu. She's fine now but had to cancel all flights fro 6 months I think it is.

Speaking of Malta. I heard some awful news yesterday. A friend at the gym had just returned from Malta for a business conference. Her husband returned feeling slightly unwell and after a couple of days his wife convinced him to go to the Drs. He was admitted to Hospital immediately but a day or so later he had died! This is the second person I have heard who died less than a week after returning overseas in the last 6 months. And they were both 57.

 

[Pushka]

Someone mentioned septicaemia but I'm thinking it sounds like meningococcal? But I think one can be the complication of the other anyway.

 

[whatmeworry]

That makes sense because I didnt see much familiarity in the first series but now into series 2 I am seeing scenes that remind me of the research I am doing. I think they also used another place in Croatia. The Wall is shot in Iceland. Except it probably isn't called the wall, is it.

I thought some of the outdoor scenes looked familiar. They filmed in and around Split. At Diocletian's palace and Roman Ruins north of Split. The hills above Split they used Klis fortress.

Take A 'Game Of Thrones'-Inspired Trip Around Croatia | Business Insider

 

[Austman]

3 beers for $1.74 in a restaurant/bar after 10:30pm.

 

[rogerkambah]

I'm with you there 100%. I say the same thing to anybody who rings up. Lucky I don't get a lot as we have an unlisted home number and both of us are on the DNC Register.

Being on the DNC register doesn't stop 'charities', as they are exempt from the regs? on annoying people.

I usually give to door to door collectors who appear to have the appropriate ID (Salvos, Vinnies,Smith Family). Our house has 39 steps (I engineered it this way) from the road to the front door. I give charity workers who make it to the door either a red or a gold note, depending on their charity. I'm surprised at the very appreciative gratitude they express on receiving the note. Those to whom I have proffered the gold note often ask whether I want change. (err no)

Often I give them a glass of water too.

 

[burmans]

Quite famously I lent my services to an academic study by a prominent European University in the mid 2000's to identify where the money from the popular EUR15 and EUR20 per month child sponsorships went. Needless to say a fraction of that sum was directly traceable to a single child (between EUR5 and EUR10 depending on organisation and geography).

What was interesting was where the rest of the money went. The argument of "indirect benefit" certainly carries some weight. Charities tend to work within a village or community and do projects which benefit the community as a whole (e.g. health clinics, water wells, etc). The funding for these projects is difficult to trace to a single source.

I choose charities myself on the basis of those I think maximise the effectiveness of the donation. As a general rule this is unlikely to be those who spend considerable money on marketing and generally hassling people.