The totally off-topic thread

[samh004]

UQ recently instituted that all our passwords need to be stronger. Hence everyone has been forced to change passwords, and the password change portal will reject your password if it doesn't meet the appropriate strength test.

I remember when I was still at USQ and they made me change my password every few months, with a recent list of 10 that wouldn’t allow me to re-use. Really pissed me off. I think I just ended up not logging in anymore

Another improvement on campus: all the parking machines (or at least the ones in the areas I parked today) now accept credit cards (Visa or MC only, obviously). Whilst it's a bit longer to get your $3.00 debited from the card compared to just paying in cash, at least I don't have to worry about lugging shrapnel around with me anymore.

Sweet… I’ll have an easier time the next time I go for Autism studies up there… though I rather like using my AMEX for parking!

...and that extra day for the year is a Monday (53 Mondays this year)

I thought the 29th was a Wednesday?

 

[serfty]

Now for today's totally useless fact-
Today's date is a palindrome. 21 02 2012.
Aren't you glad you know that :!::mrgreen:.
Cheers
N'oz

I already knew that - FWIW the abbreviated date is a palindrome as well: 21-2-12 ...

 

[Nigelinoz]

Another improvement on campus: all the parking machines (or at least the ones in the areas I parked today) now accept credit cards (Visa or MC only, obviously). Whilst it's a bit longer to get your $3.00 debited from the card compared to just paying in cash, at least I don't have to worry about lugging shrapnel around with me anymore.

Why don't they introduce a stored value card that you could top up online using a credit or debit card?
Cheers
N'oz

 

[anat0l]

Why don't they introduce a stored value card that you could top up online using a credit or debit card?

'Cause we ain't that smart?


I think people could use with less stored value cards, and certainly not one dedicated to UQ Parking. *shudder* If our ID cards could be used then that would be a boon, though ID cards themselves - except for students - are a non-trivial process in itself.

They are Smart Enabled so absolutely no reason why you couldn't have a touch-and-pay system. In saying that, they'd have to have credit card details on file and/or somewhere to keep your balance; whether that outweighs the administrative effort of simply having a pay-for-park system, no idea.

I like that we have a credit card payment system now. It is much better than the old coins-only pay system, which of course didn't give you any change, and the change machines provided in parking zones were frequently out of order.


Of course, driving to UQ is rare, especially starting next week when all the munchkins will be on campus. Parking usually fills up at uni from 0830h; even the pay-per-hour parking gets full!

 

[samh004]

Why don't they introduce a stored value card that you could top up online using a credit or debit card?
Cheers
N'oz

In Hong Kong the Octopus Card can be used for all sorts of payments, including in 7-11’s and vending machines. Would it really be that hard for the Go Card here to be expanded to include parking machines and vending machines? Might make it a little more popular too!

 

[Nigelinoz]

In Hong Kong the Octopus Card can be used for all sorts of payments, including in 7-11’s and vending machines. Would it really be that hard for the Go Card here to be expanded to include parking machines and vending machines? Might make it a little more popular too!

Melbourne has a card called Myki which I believe is based on the same software as Octopus and London's Oyster card but the Myki card is only useful as a transport
ticket ,at least in London you can get a Barclays Bank credit card with an Oyster card built in.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Nigelinoz]

Anyone wanting more chocolate recipes (I'm looking at you markis10 :mrgreen I will be posting a recipe for Double Mocha Ice Cream on my blog sometime
this evening.
And more recipes,chocolate and others over the next week or so.
Cheers
N'oz
Edited to add:Recipe up now-
http://nigelinozfoodblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/double-mocha-ice-cream.html

 

[markis10]

Anyone wanting more chocolate recipes (I'm looking at you markis10 :mrgreen I will be posting a recipe for Double Mocha Ice Cream on my blog sometime
this evening.

Very cool, I am walking home again to night and can report no chocolate today !

 

[anat0l]

In Hong Kong the Octopus Card can be used for all sorts of payments, including in 7-11’s and vending machines. Would it really be that hard for the Go Card here to be expanded to include parking machines and vending machines? Might make it a little more popular too!

I have doubts that Translink (or whoever administers go cards) will be willing to invest infrastructure to support such transactions / merchants, and potential merchants will equally be unwilling to pay a fee or a cut in order to accommodate go cards.

Bad enough as it is trying to improve acceptance of credit cards around the place, especially without surcharging!

 

[Mal]

I have doubts that Translink (or whoever administers go cards) will be willing to invest infrastructure to support such transactions / merchants, and potential merchants will equally be unwilling to pay a fee or a cut in order to accommodate go cards.

Bad enough as it is trying to improve acceptance of credit cards around the place, especially without surcharging!

Tl are trialing integrated student+go cards at scuc. so you never know.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[anat0l]

Tl are trialing integrated student+go cards at scuc. so you never know.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

Admirable that the two are being integrated, but that does little to address the point at hand, which is a diversification of the utility of the go card viz. Octopus, Suica etc.



----------
Aust Freq Fly app: bringing this anat0l content to your mobile.

 

[Mal]

Admirable that the two are being integrated, but that does little to address the point at hand, which is a diversification of the utility of the go card viz. Octopus, Suica etc.

You never know what might be in the works ... I don't have anything to do with Translink though. In other strange trials, years ago Telstra was trialling a student card that could be used for various payments on campus (It was a Telstra phonecard IIRC)

 

[medhead]

Ok I'm p'ed, I forgot to put out the do not disturb sign and my room has been turned over by a well meaning, but misguided, cleaner. Time for bed?

 

[markis10]

Ok I'm p'ed, I forgot to put out the do not disturb sign and my room has been turned over by a well meaning, but misguided, cleaner......

Who is probably now at home talking to their partner about a certain room they had to clean today LOL, know where you are coming from, on multi night stays the room cleaners rarely see my room, must save them a fortune!

 

[medhead]

Who is probably now at home talking to their partner about a certain room they had to clean today LOL, know where you are coming from, on multi night stays the room cleaners rarely see my room, must save them a fortune!

lol! At least I remembered to cover the "smalls" pile that I left on the floor. I've forgotten that in the past, still wondering how to feel about the smalls being gather up off the floor and placed neatly on top of my luggage.

 

[Storyteller]

lol! At least I remembered to cover the "smalls" pile that I left on the floor. I've forgotten that in the past, still wondering how to feel about the smalls being gather up off the floor and placed neatly on top of my luggage.

Imagine how that maid feels about gathering up your smalls off the floor to place neatly (?folded) on top of your luggage?!

 

[medhead]

Imagine how that maid feels about gathering up your smalls off the floor to place neatly (?folded) on top of your luggage?!

I still fear they used my toothbrush to gather the smalls up....

 

[Mal]

I still fear they used my toothbrush to gather the smalls up....

Maybe. Also wondering why the toilet is so sparkling?

In the "staying at hotels - your gripes" thread, I've got a few more items to add. One day I'll get back to it!

 

[Katie]

I remember when I was still at USQ and they made me change my password every few months, with a recent list of 10 that wouldn’t allow me to re-use. Really pissed me off. I think I just ended up not logging in anymore

At work, we have a history of the last 20. Due to security, we have to have at least one number. I've fiund it easier to have one or two numbers, and just increment one of them each cycle that I have to update the passwd.

 

[Storyteller]

Maybe. Also wondering why the toilet is so sparkling?

In the "staying at hotels - your gripes" thread, I've got a few more items to add. One day I'll get back to it!

LOL! Sister lived in the Pacific for a few years. Still turns pale when she recounts her much valued home help one day beamingly extolling the virtues of ability to clean the crevices in the basin drain & other difficult to reach places, with the kids' toothbrushes. Better size than adult toothbrushes, which she apparently found were just great for larger kitchen & bathroom spots...