The totally off-topic thread

[Katie]

Tripit tells me it's 10 days until my next trip!!!!

can't wait!!!!!!

 

[BadgerBoi]

Also gets annoying on shared bike paths with Pedestrians sticking to the right, drifting from left to right or not moving to the left after ringing a bell.

Having seen more than one pedestrian bowled over by cyclists on paths (shared and not) the minute I hear a bike bell behind me I just assume there's a lunatic coming up and I walk straight ahead, not going to vary the side of the footpath I'm walking on.

 

[Flashback]

Hope you had an omelette for brekkie? Best I have ever had anywhere.

I had the eggs bennie, wife had the pancakes with berries inside... most enjoyable. Best breakfast I've had at a Hilton by far, that includes the buffet selection. The bacon was constantly piping hot and the sausages were delicious.

 

[Shelf]

My kids both went to schoolies. One was 18 and one 17. Adelaides schoolies go to Victor Harbor. Glad they don't seem to gravitate to the Gold Coast.

I went to schoolies at Victor in '96. Although I don't recall any formal activities. It was a nice way to spend a week with school mates.

 

[Pushka]

I went to schoolies at Victor in '96. Although I don't recall any formal activities. It was a nice way to spend a week with school mates.

That makes you one of the first schoolies groups then.

 

[anat0l]

News seems to show that there was a stuff up on a senior high school mathematics exam in SA. There was a typo on the exam which wasn't picked up before it was administered; the typo resulted in confusion and/or the question being incorrectly answered.

No word yet on what is going to happen. It was worth 5 out of 150 marks on the exam. What would be the fair thing to do?

• Disregard the question (i.e. so now the exam is out of 145)?
• Give everyone 5 marks (i.e. everyone gets 5 marks for that question, regardless of attempt)?
• Other action?

Having been in a situation similar to this before (not my exam or question, but the subject which I tutored), the lecturer just gave everyone the marks for the question.


There's also news that a university engineering exam was branded a debacle after the formula sheets needed for a good part of the exam were not included in the papers. The issue was "clumsily" resolved by allowing all students to use notes (i.e. a closed book exam became an open book one), but of course if you knew the exam was closed book, what might be the propensity that you would bring in your notes?

The resolution so far appears to be that all students will be able to take the exam again. Obviously not the exact same exam and not ideal for those who had other things to do with their time rather than study for the resit.

I remember in first year engineering we had a maths exam where the invigilators were told we were allowed 2 hours for working, then at the 55 minute mark informed us that this was wrong and we were actually only allowed 1 hour. Of course, a lot of us seemed to be told earlier in the week that the exam was only 1 hour long, but the instructions on the script indicated 2 hours. Whilst I finished the exam, many had not, having budgeted 2 hours. They were told to finish up at the 1 hour mark, then the entire class was offered a resit opportunity, with the caveat that the resit mark would replace the original one, irrespective if it were better or worse.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

I remember a few years ago I attended a conference at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast right in the middle of schoolies... it was not like anything I'd seen before! I think the conference organisers have since decided to take the timing of schoolies into account. I do feel sorry for any tourists that don't realise that it's on and try to go there... its crazy!

 

[Pushka]

It's a shame when the examiners can't get the exam right! No word yet on the outcome.

When our eldest was doing Year 12 there was a fire in their classroom and lockers about six weeks before the exam. Kids lost their years work. My son lost all his text books. Pretty awful all round. They were given an extra concession during the exam and the kids whose work was lost were given an average year score.

 

[RAM]

Not sure which hotel, but $9 for a litre of Evian seems excessive.

Vs USD8 for 300ml bottle in hotel bar fridge?

Do not ever look at the price for water at the SCG/SSG/MCG then. The bottles may only cost 40 cents in a supermarket are sold from $3.50 upwards.

 

[RAM]

The last time I consumed something from a mini bar and paid for it, I had "company" and it was her idea...

So should that have been described as 'succumbing to PEERing' pressure?

 

[QF WP]

We love a sidewalk clean up. We get rid of stuff that has seen better days, or we don't need any more, or is missing some part (which may or may not render it unworkable). We only put stuff out on the Saturday morning (6 days before collection, which is usually Fridays). The number of utes, or utes with trailers (and the high end ones with cages) that come rumbling down our street over the weekend, slowly inching past each pile, as they look for "opportunities". Then they stop, pull something from a pile and load it. People watching, I just love it...

Here's a sociogeographic question. How many people put out goods on the verge in front of their homes - not rubbish, but no longer required household items? It seems I am the only one in my office who doesn't do this, and I am told its "the thing to do" in Bondi. I've always thought it was kind of, hmm, trashy!

 

[blackcat20]

We love a sidewalk clean up. We get rid of stuff that has seen better days, or we don't need any more, or is missing some part (which may or may not render it unworkable). We only put stuff out on the Saturday morning (6 days before collection, which is usually Fridays). The number of utes, or utes with trailers (and the high end ones with cages) that come rumbling down our street over the weekend, slowly inching past each pile, as they look for "opportunities". Then they stop, pull something from a pile and load it. People watching, I just love it...

Not so pleasant when you catch someone dumping junk on your lawn. Asked them to desist and was threatened, including them taking photographs of us.

 

[QF WP]

Eeek, we have much better people in our neighbourhood. I trust you took a photo of them and their junk to even things up.

Mrs QF WP and I guess which item will go first...

 

[blackcat20]

Eeek, we have much better people in our neighbourhood. I trust you took a photo of them and their junk to even things up.

Mrs QF WP and I guess which item will go first...

We did, and spoke to police but they weren't so interested.

 

[TomVexille]

Eeek, we have much better people in our neighbourhood. I trust you took a photo of them and their junk to even things up.

Mrs QF WP and I guess which item will go first...

They obviously weren't from the area.

 

[JohnK]

Obviously I've never been in the position of being a parental unit (even though I feel like one now but in reverse roles) & I can't imagine what human being thinks that it is a good idea to put a new born baby in a drain. It's 2014 - there are many places where the baby could have been safely left other than down a drain.

Someone with severe depression?

And yes I know people use that excuse to try and get out trouble.

 

[BadgerBoi]

Someone with severe depression?

And yes I know people use that excuse to try and get out trouble.

There has to be something seriously wrong with a person who could do such a thing.

I'm not making excuses, and IMHO it's a criminal act (not a lawyer), but it's way beyond the behaviour of a normal person to do such a thing. I'm guessing that severe depression could have driven her to do this.

I wonder how it's going to affect the baby when he grows up and finds out what happened to him? This is an incredibly sad story for everyone involved.

 

[whatmeworry]

Phil Hughes knocked out by a bouncer at the SCG.
Phil Hughes in critical condition after being knocked out by bouncer at SCG

 

[JohnK]

There has to be something seriously wrong with a person who could do such a thing.

I agree but then depression is not really understood.

People suffering from mild depression have been known to make decisions that make no sense. Who knows what can happen with severe depression? Do we ever understand why people take their own lives? Is that any different to leaving a newborn baby in a drain?

It is not easy to live with chronic depression. Some people cope better than others.

 

[Pushka]

Phil Hughes knocked out by a bouncer at the SCG.
Phil Hughes in critical condition after being knocked out by bouncer at SCG

This is dreadful - received CPR twice and according to our local, is in a serious condition and fighting for life. They are concerned with bleeding on the brain and there is grave concern.