The totally off-topic thread

[Pushka]

One of the differences is that in US cities, drivers tend to take care to avoid pedestrians while in Australia either the drivers aren't watching or aim for prey.

Well pedestrians in the main in Adelaide are much better behaved. Drivers - not so much. In Melbourne it's just dumb to argue the right to cross with those quiet trains. I'm not sure the pedestrian has such rights in SA. It seems stupid if a pedestrian decides to stand in a traffic lane with the traffic on the green that in the eyes of the law they are in the right. But if so then the law is an cough. But we already know that I guess.

Just remembering. Jay walking in SA is illegal and if the police are on a campaign you will be fined for not crossing at the lights if there is a set within 200 meters (or something) or you ignore the red signal. So compared with Melbourne pedestrians just behave better.

 

[penegal]

J-walking in the U.K. and USA is basically a national sport. You expect it. Tourists are obvious as they wait for the signal.

However you come to Germany, and people will wait for the green man (or Ampelmann, lol).

Speaking of which it's amazing how that has become a cult trademark.

 

[Pushka]

J-walking in the U.K. and USA is basically a national sport. You expect it. Tourists are obvious as they wait for the signal.

However you come to Germany, and people will wait for the green man (or Ampelmann, lol).

Speaking of which it's amazing how that has become a cult trademark.

That little green man is important in Adelaide too. Maybe it's our German settlement. The rest of you lot are of convict origins so used to disregarding the law (running for cover).

 

[serfty]

...
The guy that took our bags from the car to the hotel is not the same guy that took out bags from the hotel to our room.

I try to not let anyone take may bag other than the "shuttle" driver.

Alleviates the issue somewhat.

 

[RooFlyer]

J-walking in the U.K. and USA is basically a national sport. You expect it. Tourists are obvious as they wait for the signal.

<snip>.

Compare and contrast to Canada. If I cross at lights other than when the green guy appears, there may be an audible gasp from the others waiting. I've frequently been part of a group of locals huddling by the lights, waiting for green crossing signal when its minus 20 below, blowing a gale and zero traffic in either direction for a block or more. Common sense seems to dictate that you get out of the cold and simply cross, completely safely (which is what I do) ... but the locals stay put, seemingly (or possibly, actually) frozen to the spot.

On the other hand, if you cross away from lights, except in very thick traffic, drivers will likely slow down to let you walk across.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Decided I would give Qantas Epicure a try out; purchase a few things and then go to the payment stage and get told that one of the items I have selected is sold out but doesn't tell me which one.

I check the bank this morning and notice a Pending charge against my credit card.

Lucky I am not near the limit or it would be frustrating.

I decided to try and call them on Saturday, the call gets sent through a bunch of options but nothing that will assist with an order.

 

[Denali]

I need to move to Atlanta, the food here is amazing.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Does anyone have a case or fool proof method for remembering to bring their pills and other drugs when they go away on holidays, and how best to store them.

Last time it was the power lead and mouse for the laptop that was forgotten, only a short trip so it wasn't that bad, this time it was the medicine.

Obviously it wasn't me who forgot these items but I had to organize to get the medicine to North Queensland and relying on Australia post is never the best for stress levels.

 

[TheRealTMA]

London is amazing- pedestrians take no notice of traffic signals

You can tell the Queenslanders in London. They are the ones waiting patiently for the lights to change!

 

[Katie]

My condolences, penegal.

 

[Katie]

I'm coming in late I know but this might be helpful....

https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/ilve-80cm-dual-fuel-upright-cooker-pw80mpi

A quick search showed The Goody Guys have five different 80cm gas/gas ovens.

Thanks for your help, suze2000. We have been looking at that Ilve :shock:. Though we realised on the weekend, even though it's gas-gas, it has an electric grill. We do not have an oven circuit in our house, so now incorporating that into our considerations ...

 

[Katie]

However you come to Germany, and people will wait for the green man (or Ampelmann, lol).

Speaking of which it's amazing how that has become a cult trademark.

Only the (former) East German one. I remember my trip about 20 years ago when they were still fervently trying to save him. I would never have thought there would be so many Ampelmann goods to buy now!!!

 

[whatmeworry]

Well pedestrians in the main in Adelaide are much better behaved. Drivers - not so much. In Melbourne it's just dumb to argue the right to cross with those quiet trains. I'm not sure the pedestrian has such rights in SA. It seems stupid if a pedestrian decides to stand in a traffic lane with the traffic on the green that in the eyes of the law they are in the right. But if so then the law is an cough. But we already know that I guess.

Just remembering. Jay walking in SA is illegal and if the police are on a campaign you will be fined for not crossing at the lights if there is a set within 200 meters (or something) or you ignore the red signal. So compared with Melbourne pedestrians just behave better.

Every couple months or so, new recruits are dispatched to the CBD to catch jay walkers. It is regularly reported in media but people keep jay walking.

 

[JohnK]

I once spent 10-15 minutes waiting to cross a road in Rome. Pedestrian crossing with traffic lights but motorbikes continue to ignore the traffic signals. Eventually gave up waiting and took a risk to cross the road.

 

[blackcat20]

I once spent 10-15 minutes waiting to cross a road in Rome. Pedestrian crossing with traffic lights but motorbikes continue to ignore the traffic signals. Eventually gave up waiting and took a risk to cross the road.

In Italy I found you just need to confidently stride onto the road, and traffic will stop. If you hesitate, cars keep on coming and youll be waiting for hours. I became the designated road crossing leader in my group

 

[TheRealTMA]

In Italy I found you just need to confidently stride onto the road, and traffic will stop. If you hesitate, cars keep on coming and youll be waiting for hours. I became the designated road crossing leader in my group

Exactly. The only way to cross and drive in Italy is with absolute confidence. Italians generally do not stop if there's nothing in front of them, including stop signs and traffic lights. More law abiding in the north but central and south, nope. Naples they rarely stop for traffic lights.

Can you imagine the paperwork and bureaucracy involved if you run over a tourist!

Friends stopped at a stop sign and car behind ran into them. He could not understand why they had unexpectedly stopped.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well pedestrians in the main in Adelaide are much better behaved. Drivers - not so much. In Melbourne it's just dumb to argue the right to cross with those quiet trains. I'm not sure the pedestrian has such rights in SA. It seems stupid if a pedestrian decides to stand in a traffic lane with the traffic on the green that in the eyes of the law they are in the right. But if so then the law is an cough. But we already know that I guess.

Just remembering. Jay walking in SA is illegal and if the police are on a campaign you will be fined for not crossing at the lights if there is a set within 200 meters (or something) or you ignore the red signal. So compared with Melbourne pedestrians just behave better.

Dun matter if jaywalking is illegal or not... drivers don't have the right to run down a pedestrian. So in the case you describe it's a moot point whether the pedestrian or driver is in the right (or not).

in Melbourne jaywalking = within 20 metres of a crossing. The police also have blitzes here every so often.

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone have a case or fool proof method for remembering to bring their pills and other drugs when they go away on holidays, and how best to store them.

I always forget things including medicine.

I now have a see through yellow case where I put all my medicine required for trip inside the case. The case is always in my luggage so check the medicine required before each trip.

 

[Pushka]

Try walking across the road in Vietnam. Walk straight ahead. Do not hesitate. Do not deviate. And the motorcycles part to let you through.

 

[blackcat20]

Dun matter if jaywalking is illegal or not... drivers don't have the right to run down a pedestrian. So in the case you describe it's a moot point whether the pedestrian or driver is in the right (or not).

in Melbourne jaywalking = within 20 metres of a crossing. The police also have blitzes here every so often.

If I'm driving down a road at the prescribed speed and a pedestrian steps out in front of me, and I hit them, that's not my fault. I don't have "the right" to hit them, but I certainly wouldnt be found at fault.