The totally off-topic thread

[Pushka]

Actually reading what was written:


It looks to me like they are taunting the sharks and frankly deserve whatever happens to them. IMHO it is cruel to the shark.

Agree. In the name of tourism.
They do keep asking if someone is in the cage, they say no, then someone emerges.

 

[drron]

And I will be in Port Lincoln in 3 weeks.Think I might give up the idea of a shark dive.

 

[Pushka]

And I will be in Port Lincoln in 3 weeks.Think I might give up the idea of a shark dive.

Funny you should say that. I just texted the YouTube link to older son who was keen to do this but then the sharks disappeared. Hopefully his partner (a Pommie Dr) will talk him out of it.

But I did give them both a Helicopter tour of the Barossa Valley as a combined birthday/Christmas present last week.

 

[cove]

Sharks must think we taste like chicken and fibreglass.

 

[RooFlyer]

Filming off the cruiser in the Galapagos. The guy on the right was one of our guides, filming the fish under the water - they were being corralled by a sea lion against the side of the ship.



The guide said "Tell me if you see a shark!" So, on cue:

 

[Pushka]

I am hating the way the Phillip Hughes Inquest has proceeded. It was an awful accident and his parents and family must still be shocked at what happened and grieving the loss of their son in his prime. But I do not think that their anger has the need to be expressed in the manner in which they are trying to lay blame on individuals comments and behaviour. There is not one cricketer who would wish such harm on any other player but the family are behaving as though they want some kind of prosecution or blame. I dont think Phillip would have wanted that. I get that they are still very angry but there is no one to blame here.

 

[GarrettM]

I am hating the way the Phillip Hughes Inquest has proceeded. It was an awful accident and his parents and family must still be shocked at what happened and grieving the loss of their son in his prime. But I do not think that their anger has the need to be expressed in the manner in which they are trying to lay blame on individuals comments and behaviour. There is not one cricketer who would wish such harm on any other player but the family are behaving as though they want some kind of prosecution or blame. I dont think Phillip would have wanted that. I get that they are still very angry but there is no one to blame here.

It's a strange one. You can argue a lot of things went into that incident. For instance I still believe Hughes should not even have been in that game. He should have been with the Australian squad that day preparing for the looming Indian series. But then again his difficulty dealing with the short ball contributed as well. But it was just a freak accident that couldn't have been foreseen by anyone.

Of far more interest to me is everything that happened AFTER he was struck. The delays in getting help on the ground and getting Hughes to hospital. But even then his fate was determined when he was struck.

I don't recall seeing too many coronial inquests where the cause of death is already so widely known. It will be curious to see what if any recommendations arise from this one.

 

[Pushka]

I think the only recommendation can be for improved headgear (which may have prevented the extent of the injury) and a better response to injury as in treatment on the ground and emergency response. But in this case it was a catastrophic injury from the start.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sorry for the family. I feel they can't get past their grief which is being fuelled by allegations of improper conduct.
Its turned into a witch hunt. There will be no winners. And i doubt the family will ever accept that this was just a tragic accident.
There is always someone to point the finger at. And the coroner will be hard pressed to be at least seen to act to salve the family's anguish.

 

[love_the_life]

Agree. In the name of tourism.
They do keep asking if someone is in the cage, they say no, then someone emerges.

But somehow it looks like it is staged and a set up. JMHO.

 

[Moindardt]

I am hating the way the Phillip Hughes Inquest has proceeded. It was an awful accident and his parents and family must still be shocked at what happened and grieving the loss of their son in his prime. But I do not think that their anger has the need to be expressed in the manner in which they are trying to lay blame on individuals comments and behaviour. There is not one cricketer who would wish such harm on any other player but the family are behaving as though they want some kind of prosecution or blame. I dont think Phillip would have wanted that. I get that they are still very angry but there is no one to blame here.

So perfectly said. I have been shocked by the reaction of the parents and their insinuations that these players lied. He would never have wanted that.

I am totally amazed at all the delays and stuff ups. I don't recall ever hearing about them.

Other than how the post-incident went, there shouldn't be any changes. Helmets have saved hundreds of people but many greats have chosen not to wear them because they are so restrictive. Many people have claimed the only reason they needed protection from the bouncer is that the helmet makes it to hard to see. You just need to look at how many still don't wear helmets.

A terrible tragedy that was totally unpredictable and probably will never happen again, just like the Steve Irwin death. Hopefully common sense prevails.

 

[Pushka]

But somehow it looks like it is staged and a set up. JMHO.

I wonder! Good comment.

 

[Cossie]

Looks like they are quickly learning from the system in place in the US.

Woman mauled by tiger at Beijing wildlife park to take legal action - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Personal responsibility, anyone?

 

[Pushka]

Bob Dylan. He is the only live artist we have ever walked out on in mid performance - around the '90's. Just stood on the stage, head bowed, sang a few songs - no attempt to engage the audience and his singing no longer up to scratch. We were not the first to do so - I'd say 1/3 left before us.

 

[GarrettM]

Looks like they are quickly learning from the system in place in the US.

Woman mauled by tiger at Beijing wildlife park to take legal action - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Personal responsibility, anyone?

Harsh. How was she to know those tigers views each and every car they saw as a mobile food van, and were just waiting for one of the morsels to get out and walk.

In all seriousness, if you can't understand that getting out of a car in the middle of a tiger park is probably not a good idea, you deserve to get eaten. The sad part is it was her mum who was.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looks like they are quickly learning from the system in place in the US.

Woman mauled by tiger at Beijing wildlife park to take legal action - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Personal responsibility, anyone?

It's the same system we have in place in Australia.

 

[Flashback]

Looks like they are quickly learning from the system in place in the US.

Woman mauled by tiger at Beijing wildlife park to take legal action - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Personal responsibility, anyone?

Harsh. How was she to know those tigers views each and every car they saw as a mobile food van, and were just waiting for one of the morsels to get out and walk.

In all seriousness, if you can't understand that getting out of a car in the middle of a tiger park is probably not a good idea, you deserve to get eaten. The sad part is it was her mum who was.

Meanwhile at London Zoo yesterday a gorilla escaped from it's cage, apparently ...

 

[JohnK]

3K?
Can you give us a trip report : "6 delayed flights in a row"

The CSM on landing apologised for the late arrival. Does that make it 7 delayed flights in a row?

3K experience! What a pleasant surprise. Seat comfortable including pitch. Flight less than 50% load. Paid for 8C but had 2 people next to me so moved to 5D after takeoff. Could have had 5ABC but I wasted precious seconds trying to get 1C. No way unless you pay.

Downside is food and beverage expensive in my opinion. So being the cheapskate that I am purchased a Coke Zero for SGD4 and had a scotch and coke with my 50mL Glenfiddich I kept from earlier Emirates flight. Slept for the remainder of flight.

I will use 3K again but only with QF/EK connections. Will be interesting next week with a 3K flight first in itinerary followed by QF-QF connections. Should still get the QF baggage allowance?

 

[love_the_life]

Bob Dylan. He is the only live artist we have ever walked out on in mid performance - around the '90's. Just stood on the stage, head bowed, sang a few songs - no attempt to engage the audience and his singing no longer up to scratch. We were not the first to do so - I'd say 1/3 left before us.

I think that was a low time all round for him. His Australian tour was pretty much panned by everyone from what I can remember and many people left early or demanded refunds. We didn't go to any of his concerts then though we did see him in Melbourne a few years ago. Not a great concert, but it was an experience. His work though has been amazing over the years.
In terms of concerts, Leonard Cohen has been consistently superb and in some ways I think has improved with age.

 

[JohnK]

I just fell off my chair.

Sitting in BKK Bangkok Airways lounge charging phone and minding my own business and the announcement was for a delay. Yes you guessed it.

That is now 8 flights in a row. You could not script this if you tried. Just as well I bought an extra beer.