The totally off-topic thread

[anat0l]

Second explosion at 2.37 pm today. No longer believed to be any survivors.

I'm not going to even ponder the amount of politics, anger and associated discontent (kind word) that is going to result from the fallout and investigation of this incident, to say the least that the global mining industry fatality figures for 2010 has now just sharply risen a shameful 29 persons.

This is even more stark considering that I'm sure that NZ is not exactly a country who would or should tolerate weak governance. I'll be most interested to see how the safety investigation and fault analysis goes for this incident (although I'm certain these aspects will not be covered well or at all by the "popular" media).

Whilst the report only says "no longer believed to be survivors", if they are dead, then may they rest in peace.

 

[JohnK]

Sad to hear the news about the trapped miners. Let's hope they have somehow managed to survive.

 

[MissBurrill]

Quick question for the people who know Brisbane. If I'm in Eatons Hill am I anywhere near Mt Gravatt or Everton Park?

 

[Flashback]

Quick question for the people who know Brisbane. If I'm in Eatons Hill am I anywhere near Mt Gravatt or Everton Park?

Google Maps ; plugging in all 3 points shows they're within 30km of each other.

 

[MissBurrill]

Google Maps ; plugging in all 3 points shows they're within 30km of each other.

Thank you. I should have taken up the offer of a car for the day.

Looks like cricket on the tv with beer and left over pizza. Or do I venture out somewhere on public transport??? :shock:

 

[Flashback]

Thank you. I should have taken up the offer of a car for the day.

Looks like cricket on the tv with beer and left over pizza. Or do I venture out somewhere on public transport??? :shock:

I know which option I'd choose ... hint: it's not the unhealthy one.

 

[anat0l]

I know which option I'd choose ... hint: it's not the unhealthy one.

Well, I know which option I'm choosing.


Hey, some of us still gotta go to work/uni today. Plus there ain't no pizza or decent beer in this house anyway.

 

[serfty]

Quick question for the people who know Brisbane. If I'm in Eatons Hill am I anywhere near Mt Gravatt or Everton Park?

Since you have internet:

Google Maps

Click Get directions
Eatons Hill
Mt. Gravatt
"Add destination"
Everton Park

[EDIT]
I have done it for you.
Eatons Hill QLD, Australia to Everton Park QLD, Australia - Google Maps
[/edit]

 

[MissBurrill]

I know which option I'd choose ... hint: it's not the unhealthy one.

The bus to the city appears to cost $6 and takes 45 minutes to get to Roma Street (do I want to go to Roma Street?). Maybe I can buy a bus pass (go card) in town?

Well, I know which option I'm choosing.


Hey, some of us still gotta go to work/uni today. Plus there ain't no pizza or decent beer in this house anyway.

I was greeted at the airport with an esky of beer in the car. Mmm, beer. Maybe I should go have a beer in the city? Beats playing cafe world.

 

[MissBurrill]

I have done it for you.

Thank you. That means a job in Everton Park would be good but not Mount Gravatt.

I will have my car up here in a few weeks.

 

[docjames]

The bus to the city appears to cost $6 and takes 45 minutes to get to Roma Street (do I want to go to Roma Street?). Maybe I can buy a bus pass (go card) in town?



I was greeted at the airport with an esky of beer in the car. Mmm, beer. Maybe I should go have a beer in the city? Beats playing cafe world.

The Valley?

 

[NM]

Thank you. That means a job in Everton Park would be good but not Mount Gravatt.

I will have my car up here in a few weeks.

The commute from Eatons Hill to Mt Gravatt would not be easy or quick by any means of transport.

 

[MissBurrill]

The commute from Eatons Hill to Mt Gravatt would not be easy or quick by any means of transport.

Thank you for the advice.

I gotta get applying for jobs and need to work out where.

Maybe I should put that teaching degree to use.....?

 

[JohnK]

I gotta get applying for jobs and need to work out where.

The easiest way is to do what I did a couple of years ago.

Live in the city within easy walk from Central or Roma St Stations (and easy to get to the airport) and work close to the city (3 stops from Roma St). Then you do not need to know anything about Brisbane....

 

[samh004]

Maybe I should put that teaching degree to use.....?

I believe it’s not so easy, they did have a shortage of teachers, but don’t anymore. Plus you’d need to get a QLD Blue Card (police check) and they take time to get anyway. And it’s the end of the school year, haha.

 

[markis10]

I believe it’s not so easy, they did have a shortage of teachers, but don’t anymore. Plus you’d need to get a QLD Blue Card (police check) and they take time to get anyway. And it’s the end of the school year, haha.

You dont need a blue card to teach in QLD, you do however need to be a registered teacher with QCT.

 

[medhead]

I'm not going to even ponder the amount of politics, anger and associated discontent (kind word) that is going to result from the fallout and investigation of this incident, to say the least that the global mining industry fatality figures for 2010 has now just sharply risen a shameful 29 persons.

This is even more stark considering that I'm sure that NZ is not exactly a country who would or should tolerate weak governance. I'll be most interested to see how the safety investigation and fault analysis goes for this incident (although I'm certain these aspects will not be covered well or at all by the "popular" media).

The thing is mining is dangerous and coal mining especially so. This is a terrible tragedy and is very large for NZ and Australian mining.

But it is hardly a blip on global fatalities. China kills thousands every year in mines. South Africa kills hundreds. But even given that people die in Australian mines mostly by bad luck and sometimes bad management. The thing is that methane in a coal mine is a constant danger that can strike anytime even with all the safety systems and equipment. That there has been a second explosion has me wondering about the ignition source. It certainly suggests that there may have been some natural cause that set off the first explosion that is not controllable.

 

[JohnK]

Lenovo did not accept my request for the 15% discount on the laptop I ordered.

I then sent a return email stating that I have an email from them offering unconditional 15% discount, a printout of their website offering the 15% discount (and fine print excluding the discount) and also mentioned ACCC.

Not sure whether it is all related but not long after I received another email from Lenovo offering the 15% discount as a refund to my credit card after the original purchase has been charged.

I hope that I don't get a lemon instead....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Someone's going to have a sore head this morning. A young guy who was travelling DRW/BNE on DJ on the red eye thought it would be cool to have a tequila shot competition with his boss before boarding the aircraft.

I wondered why 4 AFP guys with blue rubber gloves were heading over towards the boarding gate for that flight. He'd tried to stop being ill by putting his hand over his mouth but was unsuccessful so headed over to the closest rubbish bin.

End result was boss boarded the flight and one sick puppy got himself offloaded before going home in the back of a divvy van. Home last night being the Darwin Watch House. :shock:

 

[JohnK]

AFF has been extremely slow to load any page in the last couple of days?

Anyone else? I do not have internet access at home and only have internet available at work....