The totally off-topic thread

[JessicaTam]

The (impressive) car pics have been placed in the car thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/playground/so-what-car-do-you-28360-18.html

 

[GarrettM]

Good idea. I once rang a (landline) number on the back of a van that drove dangerously through a shopping centre carpark. The owner/manager was very keen to hear what I had to say.

I reckon the staff member will get a serve, even if it is just to stop the owner getting phone calls.

I considered doing that once a while ago when I saw a bloke driving a National Fire Solutions Home | National Fire Solutions vehicle, flick a lit cigarette butt out of his ute into the median strip.

Staggering.

 

[medhead]

PokeMEH!!

I'm old school - Ingress for me. Walked about 1800 km playing that. Anyone want a referral? PM your email.

Another 7 years till I reach my fathers age when I was born. Virtually no chance of my father being alive if I reach his age when my mine is half his. Would have to be a world record if he does make it.

The Pokemon go craze is getting a bit out of hand. Reading reports of some park in Sydney where people are hanging out all night playing. Plus the museum at Auschwitz has pokestops in the museum. Might have been photoshopped but allegedly someone found a gas pokemon at Auschwitz. :shock:

What is it people using Disabled parking when they don't have a permit? I and another car that had Disabled permits couldn't park in a Disabled spot because some bloody tradie was parked getting his lunch.

Don't know about disabled parks - I thought they were unenforceable. I know mum always parks in the parents with child parking spots - don't worry that the children are both >30 and no longer live in the same state or country.

I caught my first pokemon today. Can see why it is addictive. And being school holidays there are packs of giggling teenagers everywhere hunting them down.
There will be tears.

The one good thing about pokemon go - you actually need to walk in order to play it. So it gets people off the couch.

There are definitely some benefits (increased movement - walking, etc).

I do worry about [young] people wandering around with little to no situational awareness. That is dangerous on several fronts.


Also, it is my understanding that you are sharing a heap of data with the game maker which may have privacy implications, as well as chewing mobile data.

There are already reports players are complaining about sore legs because of Pokemon go.

People Are Whining About Sore Legs From Playing ‘Pokemon GO’ Because That’s What Happens When You Don’t Move, Ever

I considered doing that once a while ago when I saw a bloke driving a National Fire Solutions Home | National Fire Solutions vehicle, flick a lit cigarette butt out of his ute into the median strip.

Staggering.

I called a driving instructor who was speeding in a school zone (my kids school). Mobile number on car - he answered the phone while driving.:shock:

 

[medhead]

From swmbo

 

[blackcat20]

Don't know about disabled parks - I thought they were unenforceable. I know mum always parks in the parents with child parking spots - don't worry that the children are both >30 and no longer live in the same state or country.

Disabled spots are a legal requirement and are enforceable; parents with kids spots are not and anyone can legally park in them.

 

[Pushka]

Parents parking - I avoid parking in them to be nice but have maybe once or twice used them. I think that some militant parents now feel they have some legislative power in enforcing who uses them according to some parenting forums. How on earth us oldie parents ever managed with no consideration to such spaces.

Re Legislated Disability parking. I hope that people do not judge the appearance of the occupant who might use such spaces. My heavily pregnant niece who had an authorised disability permit due to an unrelated health issue (lupus) was totally abused by someone for using a disability park. Her permit was on display. He abused her loudly in public saying pregnancy was not a reason to use a disability park. She got so distressed by the abuse that she was in tears when she went into the nearest shop to escape him and needed medical attention as a result.

 

[anat0l]

Good idea. I once rang a (landline) number on the back of a van that drove dangerously through a shopping centre carpark. The owner/manager was very keen to hear what I had to say.

I reckon the staff member will get a serve, even if it is just to stop the owner getting phone calls.

A "serve" could just be, "Mate, don't bl**dy do that again," and that's it.

It could even be lighter than that. I just read an article about the staff of some recruitment company busting up a ski lodge over the weekend, including abusing the care takers. Now I know there are always two sides to every story, but it's a bit hard to imagine why the owners would make up a fib like that, although the police did come over and they said things were rather calm (or they could have just been lazy / "paid off"). Although the company appeared contrite on the media article, I'm sure internally nothing was done except maybe a little word of "don't do that again"; not even some sort of offer (monetary or in-kind) to the lodge owners.

How on earth us oldie parents ever managed with no consideration to such spaces.

Advocacy wasn't as strong then as it is now (an older attitude of "just put up with it"), plus everyone - including those with families (or especially?) - are driving bigger vehicles now. The kit and kaboodle to take your kids around is also getting bigger - you seen the size of some prams these days? Also the size of the average shop is bigger now, too.

Re Legislated Disability parking. I hope that people do not judge the appearance of the occupant who might use such spaces. My heavily pregnant niece who had an authorised disability permit due to an unrelated health issue (lupus) was totally abused by someone for using a disability park. Her permit was on display. He abused her loudly in public saying pregnancy was not a reason to use a disability park. She got so distressed by the abuse that she was in tears when she went into the nearest shop to escape him and needed medical attention as a result.

I suppose she never got a word in to say she has lupus? Or, it was shouted off as a "don't lie to me" retort?

Personally I don't care much as long as you have the permit there. I don't know if many people would try and "scam" or "fake" a permit just so they can use those parking spaces (unlike some other attempts at social equity / security fraud). If you don't have one, then that's just poor form, or someone better be dying / in immediate need of medical attention...

 

[Pushka]

Advocacy wasn't as strong then as it is now (an older attitude of "just put up with it"), plus everyone - including those with families (or especially?) - are driving bigger vehicles now. The kit and kaboodle to take your kids around is also getting bigger - you seen the size of some prams these days? Also the size of the average shop is bigger now, too.



I suppose she never got a word in to say she has lupus? Or, it was shouted off as a "don't lie to me" retort?

Personally I don't care much as long as you have the permit there. I don't know if many people would try and "scam" or "fake" a permit just so they can use those parking spaces (unlike some other attempts at social equity / security fraud). If you don't have one, then that's just poor form, or someone better be dying / in immediate need of medical attention...

You know those moments when you are so shocked you just can't vocalise?

Agree re the advocacy. But I wonder where the current trend is going. Slippery slope. Not everyone can be accommodated but suspect everyone expects to be.

 

[anat0l]

You know those moments when you are so shocked you just can't vocalise?

Yeah, fair enough.

Agree re the advocacy. But I wonder where the current trend is going. Slippery slope. Not everyone can be accommodated but suspect everyone expects to be.

Well I guess it comes down to why they created those parents spots in the first place. I mean, they are slightly wider spots located closer to the entrance (but disabled spots trump them). And, as said, they aren't actually in legislation (you don't have to have them); consequently, people do not legally have to respect them (it would be considered poor form but it's not something you can get someone in the legal wazoo on).

So what kind of new crowd should we create spaces for? If so, why? And if we do, and they are not legally enforceable, what would be the value?

At Westfield Chermside (Brisbane), there are normal parking bays, and then there are disabled, valet, parents, 90 minute limit, and car wash (and staff) parking. I don't care too much but I wish they would make sure the bay counters worked.

 

[Pushka]

So I tried watching Offspring when it started. The iphone ring call plus the general silliness turned me off. I like my Doctors to be resembling normality. At work. A couple of seasons later and all the popularity I tried again tonight. Mmmm nope. What am I missing here?

 

[drron]

Actually people do try and scam disability permits.Before I retired people would try it on to get me to.They are pretty specific but less than they used to be.This is QLD-

unable to walk and always require the use of a wheelchair
ability to walk is severely restricted by a permanent medical condition or ability to walk is severely restricted by a temporary medical condition or disability that you will have for 6 months or more as certified by your doctor or occupational therapist.
Applicants with intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive or sensory impairment alone do not meet the eligibility criteria unless the applicant also has a mobility impairment that impacts on their ability to walk.

Also the permit is not for a family member unless the permit holder is a passenger in the car.
But here on the Sunshine Coast there are also seniors car parks.Remarkable how some people never seem to visibly age.

 

[Pushka]

Goodness. Seniors parks. That would take out most Queensland car parks. And our local one. Not sure but today our shopping centre was full of pokemon teenager hordes and the elderly. Maybe no one shopped yesterday due to awful weather.

 

[rogerkambah]

Learning new words takes me a bit of time.
First we had deplane which when I first heard it on a Delta flight in the US was a bit of a giggle. I thought that one had come from Fantasy Island where the height impaired actor ran around yelling De Plane, De Plane!
Now of course the opposite is enplane which we will all have to start using to its fullest.
OK have you got these words into your vocabulary?

I guess it really depends on one's employment or interest in a topic as to how one's vocabulary develops. I first became aware of en-plane and de-plane when I worked in DCA's/DoA's? Air Safety Investigation Branch many years ago.

IT terminology however is not my forte.

 

[Pushka]

How are you doing RogerK?

 

[whatmeworry]

A "serve" could just be, "Mate, don't bl**dy do that again," and that's it.

It could even be lighter than that. I just read an article about the staff of some recruitment company busting up a ski lodge over the weekend, including abusing the care takers. Now I know there are always two sides to every story, but it's a bit hard to imagine why the owners would make up a fib like that, although the police did come over and they said things were rather calm (or they could have just been lazy / "paid off"). Although the company appeared contrite on the media article, I'm sure internally nothing was done except maybe a little word of "don't do that again"; not even some sort of offer (monetary or in-kind) to the lodge owners.



Advocacy wasn't as strong then as it is now (an older attitude of "just put up with it"), plus everyone - including those with families (or especially?) - are driving bigger vehicles now. The kit and kaboodle to take your kids around is also getting bigger - you seen the size of some prams these days? Also the size of the average shop is bigger now, too.



I suppose she never got a word in to say she has lupus? Or, it was shouted off as a "don't lie to me" retort?

Personally I don't care much as long as you have the permit there. I don't know if many people would try and "scam" or "fake" a permit just so they can use those parking spaces (unlike some other attempts at social equity / security fraud). If you don't have one, then that's just poor form, or someone better be dying / in immediate need of medical attention...

The First parking with children spots were devised by coles in combination with their baby club as a marketing ploy which was copied others.

If your the driver with a disabled parking permit, their are situations where you be might picking up/dropping off someone with a disability, so when arrive or leave the person with a disability. Their was a case in Melbourne of a mother dropping off her daughter with MS getting a abusive letter left on her car.

I also actually parked in a "children" spot because it was actually closer to the entry, their were more of them then the disabled spots which their were fewer of.

 

[medhead]

Any recommendations for obtaining public liability insurance for an organisation?

I have no idea. Just looking for a starting point, and/or good experiences with insurers.

 

[Pushka]

that people pretend they don't care? Trouble is that elections have serious consequences for us, unlike State of Origin.

Celebrating a pyrrhic victory.

Any recommendations for obtaining public liability insurance for an organisation?

I have no idea. Just looking for a starting point, and/or good experiences with insurers.

Try a broker. Thats what we ended up doing. They do the leg work of getting multiple quotes.

 

[blackcat20]

Well I guess it comes down to why they created those parents spots in the first place. I mean, they are slightly wider spots located closer to the entrance (but disabled spots trump them).

In a lot of cases they are just standard sized spots, but closer to the entrance. At Chadstone they turned some 80% of one of the carparks into parent spots by painting over the white lines with pink. Same spot, same size.

 

[OATEK]

Actually people do try and scam disability permits.Before I retired people would try it on to get me to.They are pretty specific but less than they used to be.This is QLD-

Also the permit is not for a family member unless the permit holder is a passenger in the car.
But here on the Sunshine Coast there are also seniors car parks. Remarkable how some people never seem to visibly age.

Talking about yourself here Doc?

I have a child seat in the car because we have the granddaughter at least one day a week. That seems to get you out of trouble if you feel you need to use a parent/child space as being in our 60s younger people do look askance at times when they cannot see the child and think we are too old to have one.

My late Mum had both hips replaced and used a walking frame, and qualified for a Disabled permit. The trouble was in most busy shopping centres she struggled to find a space, so finished up identifying out of the way places for a lot of her shopping needs. Anyone taking a disabled spot when not authorised is just making life harder for people that are already struggling.

I see little policing of the disabled spaces in larger centres like a Westfields or Stockland centre, but where we come across them such offenders should be dobbed-in.

 

[medhead]

Talking about yourself here Doc?

I have a child seat in the car because we have the granddaughter at least one day a week. That seems to get you out of trouble if you feel you need to use a parent/child space as being in our 60s younger people do look askance at times when they cannot see the child and think we are too old to have one.

My late Mum had both hips replaced and used a walking frame, and qualified for a Disabled permit. The trouble was in most busy shopping centres she struggled to find a space, so finished up identifying out of the way places for a lot of her shopping needs. Anyone taking a disabled spot when not authorised is just making life harder for people that are already struggling.

I see little policing of the disabled spaces in larger centres like a Westfields or Stockland centre, but where we come across them such offenders should be dobbed-in.

The interesting bit is the terminology used. If the parking is "Parents with children" then mum is fine to use the spot. She has children. But if it's "parents with prams" it is less clear as she doesn't have a pram and doesn't need to use a pram. But I do own a pram, so perhaps I could use Parents with prams spots, even if my kids are well beyond pram age.

Actually people do try and scam disability permits.Before I retired people would try it on to get me to.They are pretty specific but less than they used to be.This is QLD-

Also the permit is not for a family member unless the permit holder is a passenger in the car.
But here on the Sunshine Coast there are also seniors car parks.Remarkable how some people never seem to visibly age.

thanks for that. SWMBO often tells me to get a permit as I have Thomsen's Disease. But that results in a variable restriction to ability to walk, not a constant restriction. I can finally tell her that I'm not eligible, based on medical advice.