The totally off-topic thread

[suze2000]

On a more non serious note... Staying in Lake Tekapo in New Zealand and never thought I would so love a heated bathroom floor... It is currently cold... See attached

I'm more distressed by your low battery level. :shock:

 

[suze2000]

We also got a card for the gas metre this week...do these people not realise they are being paid to actually do the job?

Ours is behind the fence. Got card. Rang up and told them where it was. Rinse and repeat, only this time hubby (who has the account in his name) is away for work. For months. So livid that I was told that I could not "operate" the account because I was not him. If I'd been a bloke, they wouldn't have even noticed. And all I wanted to do was tell them there's a bloody hole cut in the fence so they can read the meter. I did not want to "operate" the account. I was SO ANGRY about it. Then I rang the next day, got the same line, but was informed that I could try the distributor (who knew there were two layers of privatisation - I cannot believe this is cheaper or more efficient than having it as a govt owned entity) and see if they'd let me do it. Lo and behold, the distributor doesn't give a rat's about whose name the account is in. Problem solved.

I hope. The meter is due to be read any day now. If I have to phone AGAIN I will be complaining to the ombudsman. (there's an ombudsman for utilities, isn't there?)

 

[TomVexille]

Ours is behind the fence. Got card. Rang up and told them where it was. Rinse and repeat, only this time hubby (who has the account in his name) is away for work. For months. So livid that I was told that I could not "operate" the account because I was not him. If I'd been a bloke, they wouldn't have even noticed. And all I wanted to do was tell them there's a bloody hole cut in the fence so they can read the meter. I did not want to "operate" the account. I was SO ANGRY about it. Then I rang the next day, got the same line, but was informed that I could try the distributor (who knew there were two layers of privatisation - I cannot believe this is cheaper or more efficient than having it as a govt owned entity) and see if they'd let me do it. Lo and behold, the distributor doesn't give a rat's about whose name the account is in. Problem solved.

I hope. The meter is due to be read any day now. If I have to phone AGAIN I will be complaining to the ombudsman. (there's an ombudsman for utilities, isn't there?)

That's why I made sure the account is in both of our names.

If they estimate our usage again for the next bill I will be complaining.

 

[Hvr]

<snip> If I have to phone AGAIN I will be complaining to the ombudsman. (there's an ombudsman for utilities, isn't there?)

There certainly is, they're state based so just google; energy ombudsman (your state).

My gas and water meter are nearly side by side, maybe a metre apart. Never a problem with the gas man but the water meter reader can never get in. Apparently my (non-existent) dog is the problem according to the card.

 

[anat0l]

I'd say those that are supposed to be reading meters don't care much as they're just punching out a pay packet with the realisation (or naive realisation?) that their actions won't principally be back to bite them!

It could also be a system thing, where they could be forced to read too many meters a day and thus "cut corners" (similar to the argument that hotel maids are overworked in terms of how many rooms they are expected to be servicing in a given timeframe which seems way too short to actually do a very good job).

Some might see the "dog" alert and immediately high tail it ("I don't have time to test this **** out")


See some of us actually care about integrity in our jobs. Unfortunately, although many don't acknowledge that aspect of their jobs, but there are many bosses who equally do not care when they should.

 

[drron]

Re:

Just imagining if Tony Abbot was still the Liberal Leader what the result would have been. :shock:

Well the coalition campaign would have been much different.mediscare would have been replied to,the findings of the TURC would have been front and centre.EG a bit like the Nationals campaign who despite the CSG and the opinion of the twitteratti increased their vote.

Also look at QLD-The seat of Petrie should have been the first to fall to the ALP with a swing of 0.3% needed but the sitting member ran his own campaign and increased his vote.Next door in Longman the swing required was 6.8% but the sitting member was one of Turnbull's plotters,ran with the national campaign and lost.
Similiarly in the west in the electorate of Canning the local member ran his own campaign and also increased his vote-
Hastie takes aim at ‘disconnected’Â*Coalition campaign | Mandurah Mail

I have no doubt the TA campaign would have been more like the Petrie and Canning campaigns and then we would be hearing from you how we were robbed by the negative campaigning of TA.

 

[prozac]

Ours is behind the fence. Got card. Rang up and told them where it was. Rinse and repeat, only this time hubby (who has the account in his name) is away for work. For months. So livid that I was told that I could not "operate" the account because I was not him. If I'd been a bloke, they wouldn't have even noticed. And all I wanted to do was tell them there's a bloody hole cut in the fence so they can read the meter. I did not want to "operate" the account. I was SO ANGRY about it. Then I rang the next day, got the same line, but was informed that I could try the distributor (who knew there were two layers of privatisation - I cannot believe this is cheaper or more efficient than having it as a govt owned entity) and see if they'd let me do it. Lo and behold, the distributor doesn't give a rat's about whose name the account is in. Problem solved.
...

Get a male friend/relative to call. I worked away most of my working life. Nail your other half down and get all the necessary authorisations that you need before you let him up for a drink.

 

[blackcat20]

I'd say those that are supposed to be reading meters don't care much as they're just punching out a pay packet with the realisation (or naive realisation?) that their actions won't principally be back to bite them!

It could also be a system thing, where they could be forced to read too many meters a day and thus "cut corners" (similar to the argument that hotel maids are overworked in terms of how many rooms they are expected to be servicing in a given timeframe which seems way too short to actually do a very good job).

Some might see the "dog" alert and immediately high tail it ("I don't have time to test this **** out")


See some of us actually care about integrity in our jobs. Unfortunately, although many don't acknowledge that aspect of their jobs, but there are many bosses who equally do not care when they should.

Our dog doesnt have access to the yard with the gas metre so not really an issue. I think theyve just got lazy; the metre hasnt moved in the 28 years Ive been living here and theyve managed to read it until now.

 

[TomVexille]

Our dog doesnt have access to the yard with the gas metre so not really an issue. I think theyve just got lazy; the metre hasnt moved in the 28 years Ive been living here and theyve managed to read it until now.

And they managed to read it when we changed billers recently

 

[medhead]

Re:

So we had chaos with the cross benches with last term and the Queenslanders elected for more chaos?

A nice mixed cross bench is perfect for consensus government to achieve the best for Australia. No more ideology like work choices.

Well the coalition campaign would have been much different.mediscare would have been replied to,the findings of the TURC would have been front and centre.

The TURC = We wasted a lot of money and found nothing, prosecuted no one. Yep that would've been a great message. can't wait to hear how you believe the born to rules are allowed to waste tax payer money on nonsense like TURCs and plebiscites.

As for that guy in Canning - what a disgrace.

The ALP presented a plan to fix the current problems. The LNP have spend 3 years fiddling while rome burned.

 

[TheRealTMA]

John Howard looks particularly orange today.

After involving us in a completely illegal and silly US war, it's surprising he's not a greater shade of red.

Why has this dweeb been promoted to some kind of elder statesman? Always was a!nd remains a dweeb, as Red Simons said in the Rocky Horror show commentary in '96.

 

[drron]

Sorry if you believe the union movement is squeaky clean.others don't-
Nocookies | The Australian

100 officials facing over 1000 indictments.

A judge doesn't agree with you-
Judge blasts CFMEU record as an 'embarrassment to unions'

And after the TURC 2 officials of the CFMEU are charged with blackmail.

And Hastie is a disgrace-even Bill Shorten said those trying to insult his army record are a disgrace.

Anyway I know you are going to take this as a personal attack-it isn't. Have your say but just as I cant change your mind you will never change mine.
goodbye.

 

[whatmeworry]

Re:

A nice mixed cross bench is perfect for consensus government to achieve the best for Australia. No more ideology like work choices.



The TURC = We wasted a lot of money and found nothing, prosecuted no one. Yep that would've been a great message. can't wait to hear how you believe the born to rules are allowed to waste tax payer money on nonsense like TURCs and plebiscites.

As for that guy in Canning - what a disgrace.

The ALP presented a plan to fix the current problems. The LNP have spend 3 years fiddling while rome burned.

I can't believe Work Choices is touted by some as a panacea for the economy. We already have the ridiculous situation where professional and skilled labour have to compete with overseas labour coming in on a multitude of suspect visas despite a lack of jobs in most fields and no real wage growth in the last decade.

 

[straitman]

Re:

.....no real wage growth in the last decade.

A time frame that encompasses both sides of politics in government.

 

[cove]

Well the future is not so rosy either. Don't dream someone owes you a pay rise. The world is going to get much more competitive over the next 10 years.

 

[whatmeworry]

Well the future is not so rosy either. Don't dream someone owes you a pay rise. The world is going to get much more competitive over the next 10 years.

Well we do have to pay for the subsides of one particular generation but hey let's on top of that give foreign multinational a huge tax cut on top of all the other generous concessions we give out like candy.

 

[cove]

That deficit won't be a problem they said....... Well that's quite true because those politicians who said that are long gone leaving a smaller group of taxpayers to pay subsidies to 50% of the Australian population.
It is a bit cute that most Australians don't think the national debt has anything to do with them and they seem to dream that they can get more out of the government.
All around me I have post war baby boomers dropping out of being large taxpayers to become zero taxpayers as they retire.
Sure the lame attempt to put the GST up from 10% to !5% and widen it instead of 12.5% on the existing items seemed crazy.
The Ken Henry tax review did not get anywhere so basically Australia is running on a creaking tax system and the international companies are messing with the ATO because they can.
We have the NDIS and Gonski education proposals that are not funded. Medicare costs are exploding and funding this and growing pensioners needs are a huge problem.

 

[Foreigner]

After involving us in a completely illegal and silly US war, it's surprising he's not a greater shade of red.

Why has this dweeb been promoted to some kind of elder statesman? Always was a!nd remains a dweeb, as Red Simons said in the Rocky Horror show commentary in '96.

Find me a politician without an unctuous personality, and I’ll pay you a million bucks!

 

[cove]

Let's face it Foreigner we have picked quite a few dud politicians so your millions are looking secure at the moment.
I do think Australia is facing the next decade with virtually zero pay rises after allowing for inflation. Alternatively we could have our currency fall to about half where it is now and our wage levels will look ok.

 

[RAM]

It is incredible that in the space of a little over 50 years that Australia has gone from being the world's richest nation (per capita) to one of the most rapidly deteriorating ones.

Australia is the only country on this planet that contains every mineral/element required for modern commerce/life.

Yet politicians of all colours (red, green or blue) have predominantly put their own best interest ahead of the nation's.

We have been fed a diet of inaccurate, sometimes bordering on the criminally misleading, spin dressed as facts by the parties at Fed, State & Local Govt levels.

Quick quiz:

1. Does the US or Australia have greater traffic congestion (measured as median travelling time NOT average) during morning and afternoon peaks?
2. Does Australia or Germany have the higher proportion of high rise apartment blocks per 1,000,000 population?
3. Does an Australian have the right to purchases (outright) land in China? Agricultural land? Residential? Commercial? Industrial?
4. Why do privately owned T-shirt factories overseas measure annual output in 100,000s per worker vs Australia in 1,000s per worker?
5. Are major property developers and construction companies 'legally' allowed to donate more than $5,000 to political parties in Germany, France, England?
6. Before the GFC hit which was more expensive - a similar quality house 10 km from New York or Sydney?
7. Post the GFC could you purchase housing in the "Golden Triangle" in Florida for 4 months mortgage repayments on a similarly located and similar constructed house in Sydney on 1/4 the land size?

BTW "Golden triangle" = draw three lines joining Orlando, Daytona Beach and Cape Canerval - traditionally had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the US regardless of deep recession or boom, not impacted (severely) by hurricanes/bad weather, good school districts etc etc. Have you ever heard of Disneyworld shut due to a hurricane? Walt Disney was such a smart guy.

Before I got busy, I looked at a 2002 built brick & tile 3 brm, 2 bth, 3 car internal garage, 1/4 acre (just over 1,000 sqm) & other side of the road was a National park - price (including sales costs AUD 22,300). At the time it was rented out for equiv of AUD 700/month (reduced from 900). So annoying when life gets in the way of opportunity.