What Do You Think Today?

[Avatar]

For what it's worth, (Sorus), the taste of Pilsner Urquell is less noticeable when it's cold because that's what cold does...it suppresses the strength of the taste of whatever you're drinking. The way it tastes when warm is actually what it really tastes like. (Hence British ales for example not being chilled, in order to bring the flavour to the fore.)

I too drink my beer cold, but it's barbaric really...we're drinking something that we actually wouldn't like the taste of if it wasn't masked by the cold.

--A

[Kizza]

Av, I reckon warm ales are still hard to drink when they are cold.
I agree that the lowest beer tastes better colder and when the day is hot and the sweat is up from work any type of cold beer can mostly taste just fine..

SD, points taken.. I may have been drifting off to Transylvania. It sounded too cool as well. Cabin fever is not overcome by cold beer sadly.

Peter, Australia and New Zealand are exploring a travel bubble... This may be progress.

[Avatar]

Well, "warm" is strictly a misnomer...they should be room temperature.

--A

[Skyweir]

We have some awesome craft ales

And yes Pete might be on to something there lol



Stubby holders are common must haves here

[Sorus]

I too drink my beer cold, but it's barbaric really...we're drinking something that we actually wouldn't like the taste of if it wasn't masked by the cold.

My current favorite (Spaten, a German lager) is good either way - better cold because that's what hits the spot after a long day, but no aftertaste if it's room temp. It's a pretty basic lager, just really crisp and refreshing. Unfortunately the only place I've seen it for sale (Trader Joe's) is a place I'm avoiding because of the long lines right now.

[peter]

This is barely believable but I assure you is gospel.

Yesterday I worked with a guy, twenty four years old, who I haven't worked with before and who has been taken on temporarily during the Covid crisis. I asked him what he did while he wasn't doing this and he told me he was a university student studying to become a teacher. I enquired what he would be teaching and he said as it was at primary level (5 to 11 year olds) he would be essentially taking all subjects. I asked what his A levels had been in, and he said that he had not taken any; neither had he done any kind of Access course, he had simply been accepted on interview alone. I asked him what his favourite subjects were and he said "sport".

Later in the shift - I was despatatly trying to find some point of contact with the fellow (not sports related because I have no interest in it whatsoever), something we could 'bond' just a little over - I asked what he liked to do.....did he read for example. No - he wasn't interested in books he told me, so I asked about films? Not really, he said, "I prefer documentaries."

At last! Something I could fix onto. "What sort of documentaries do you like? War? History? That sort of thing?"

"I like stuff on crime. Serial killers - the Yorkshire Ripper and whatnot"

My stomach sank. I gave up the effort as a waste of time - me and this fellow had nothing in common whatever - there was simply no point in it.

But the bigger point of telling this tale is this. At what point - ever - did it occur to the guys conducting his interview, that this moron with no educational qualifications, whose only interests in life were sports and serial killers, was a good candidate to set upon our children at the most impressionable point in their lives, taking responsibility for their education and direction at this, the first stage of their education? What the fuck! If I'd been conducting the interview he'd have been out of the room in thirty seconds! I can only assume that there is one reason and one reason alone that he was given a place - the money, both Government provided and student loan payment, that he would bring to an otherwise undersubscribed course!

[Sorus]

I wonder if he has hidden qualities, or if he lied through his teeth during the interview. We had to hire a new manager recently - I think he starts next week - and we scored someone who has a PhD. In what, I do not know, but it's still fairly impressive. Unlikely to translate into anything relevant to the job, but it's still interesting. I have worked with so many functionally illiterate managers in this job. One thing I miss about Borders. People knew how to write an email. They knew how to communicate.

I think I messed up. I filed for underemployment at the start of all this, but the first two weeks I tried to certify were rejected because apparently I was making too much money. I was going to try again after I used up all my sick hours, and since I worked full shifts the last two weeks because I was working at two locations, I didn't sign in to certify those weeks. And apparently since I didn't report any hours, they think I didn't work any hours, and have issued payment for those weeks. Which I can't accept, of course, that would be fraud, but how badly is this going to mess things up if I need it in the future? Talking to an actual person there is impossible right now, of course, they're overwhelmed. I know I can't accept the check (which really sucks because it's for more than I made working full time in a warehouse with no AC), but how do I get the funds put back into my potential future pool? I'm just rambling at this point; I don't expect anyone to know the answer, but it helps to write stuff out sometimes.

[peter]

Tricky one Sorus but you answered it for yourself a moment ago; communicate the crap out of it. Email, telephone, written letter - and every one recorded and documented. These systems are box ticking 'algorithms' and you need to demonstrate that any failure to do the correct thing is on their part not yours, Start by asking what you should do with the cheque.

It'll be okay - it's a pain is all.

[Avatar]

Urg, sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare in the making.

This is barely believable but I assure you is gospel...

Horrifying, innit?

--A

[Skyweir]

takes all kinds to make a world lol

Well if we are venting ... please bare patiently with my vent lol so it all started with the bushfires down under, hot, hot, hot ...

So I was not alone in seeing the growing devastation and feeling a great driving inner force to do something to help in any way I feasibly could.

So I started setting up wildlife feed stations, and then went to help a rescue group in the Snowies... so helped them sort out there wildlife search and rescue program and help them with their comms strategy and partnering with similar stakeholders.

It was fun and it gave me exactly what I needed .. to help. I was amazed and impressed at the potential bringing myriad connected resources together could achieve.

We had vets, vet nurses, DARTERs, pathologists, ecologists, euthanisers, arborists, spotters, snakers, builders, carers etc.

Pretty phenomenal...

Between setting up things for the Snowy Group .. I ran supplies to sanctuaries and carers to feed their animals with,

Then the SAR team offered to come do SAR here in my area. Awesome methinks. The local rescue group agrees to accept these rare and unique resources here in this area. This is key cuz Vets Beyond Borders cannot supply vets to support this process without the prescribed rescue groups support.

Awesome and we are cooking with gas. I source thermal drone operators and we start identifying koalas that NO ONE thought survived. We brought in only 7 and were SHUT DOWN.

Shut down by the rescue group, particularly by the actions of one person ... who inexplicably contrived to shut us down. Logic dictates that this one individual must have had some reason for the things they did but I cannot for the life of me fathom it.

The president of rescue group of which I was a member and the ONLY member on the ground doing anything at all ... working 10-12hr days, building, coordinating efforts, conducting SAR in rugged climes... day in, day out, loving it all ... supported this individual to shut us down. And this dude was constantly distracted by political BS, and complaining about people he saw as threats.

Such a pity as we had animals in care .. 7 koalas and 5 roos ... and the president accused me of usurping his authority ... so I explained I had zero interest in his role and to prove it I resigned.

And we know without a shadow of doubt there are more koalas out there needing veterinary assessment and support.

Feels good to be free from all his autocratic BS ... but to this day, although I organised the clinic, wildlife SAR program here and was his go to member on the ground ... he never extended the courtesy of advising me he withdrew his rescue license from the program. I found out from Vets Beyond Borders when they rang to tell me he had called them closing the clinic.

And the landholder whos property I accommodated the vets and veterinary nurses on .. and also set up the clinic on and all the enclosures needed .. has been treated abominably by this guy.

The usual practice is where a shining container is needed to store medical supplies etc .. as an inducement to the property owners they are offered it as a thank you for their support.

This landholder went above and beyond helping us with building enclosures, there was no one from the rescue group volunteering to help at any of our working bees. When we ran out of steel sheeting for roofing the koala enclosures he removed the roofing from his carport so we could cut it to roof the enclosures ... who does that???

He went above and beyond in so many ways ... now this asshole President is creating a shit fight to get the shipping container we used to store medical equipment in.

Like WTAF dude????

Soooo embarrassing and sooo shameful ... and his group was a significant recipient of post bushfire wildlife recovery funds in the form of very generous public donations ... but getting him to fund post bushfire recovery work was like pulling hens teeth ... most of the assets we received were from other organisations not his.

[Kizza]

Well done Sky.
You know some people just cannot climb over their own ego.
I will talk about the fires another time. It was a hard time for sure.

[Sorus]

Tricky one Sorus but you answered it for yourself a moment ago; communicate the crap out of it. Email, telephone, written letter - and every one recorded and documented. These systems are box ticking 'algorithms' and you need to demonstrate that any failure to do the correct thing is on their part not yours, Start by asking what you should do with the cheque.

It'll be okay - it's a pain is all.

Unfortunately phone is the only option, and of course the number of people answering the phones is insufficient for the number of callers. You can be on hold for HOURS and not get anyone.

Which isn't to say I won't be trying, but I'm basically working two jobs right now, plus an extra 3 hours a day of commute because most of the buses aren't running, and I'm TIRED. And now I'm demoralized because I've been killing myself trying to survive this whole mess, and I could be making more on unemployment. Which is only true because there's an extra $600/week right now, which is a temporary thing, and once it's over it will be better to be employed. But it still sucks.

I'm just worried that I'll be stuck paying taxes on this even if I don't deposit it. Not to mention that it's draining my available bank of funds if I do need it in the future. As far as I can tell, I didn't actually screw up - everything says that if I don't certify a time period they will assume I'm working. It doesn't say ANYWHERE that they will automatically do it for me.

[peter]

Maybe in this case just bank it, and if it goes pear-shaped plead innocence and throw yourself on the mercy of the court! Surprising how far a bit of feigned obtuseness will carry one in time of need. If the situation is that complex, chances are that the people who are dealing with it (if it even flags above the radar) will not know either and will, for the sake of an easy life, leave well alone. Remember, you didn't take the money from them - they gave it to you. As long as you haven't lied to them and have kept them abreast of the facts the worst they can do is ask for the money back. Beyond that it's safest in your bank account.

[peter]

It was smug Private Eye editor Ian Hislop who first alerted me to it, and now I hear it everywhere. The use of the phrase "the new normal" by our movers and shakers as give their commentary and input on the emerging situation we find ourselves in in a post Covid world.

Well I'd like to protest. The sheer banality of the phrase grinds on me; it presents as quite usual, as something we should just accept with no more than a curious glance, the entire undermining of our social fabric, of the lives that each and every one of us have fought and struggled to create over decades. I for one don't want a new normal; I reject it. I want the old normal back!

[Avatar]

Agree with Pete for what it's worth...bank it and let them deal with the screw-up if there is one and if they ever notice.

--A

[peter]

And what's the betting that the new normal will turn out to be the old normal anyway; those at the top of the pile will continue to enjoy the life of Riley while those at the bottom continue to bear the cost.

[Skyweir]

Well done Sky.
You know some people just cannot climb over their own ego.
I will talk about the fires another time. It was a hard time for sure.

Cheers dude.

Its been quite an eye opener.

Look forward to a beer and hearing about your journey.

[Sorus]

Maybe in this case just bank it, and if it goes pear-shaped plead innocence and throw yourself on the mercy of the court! Surprising how far a bit of feigned obtuseness will carry one in time of need. If the situation is that complex, chances are that the people who are dealing with it (if it even flags above the radar) will not know either and will, for the sake of an easy life, leave well alone. Remember, you didn't take the money from them - they gave it to you. As long as you haven't lied to them and have kept them abreast of the facts the worst they can do is ask for the money back. Beyond that it's safest in your bank account.

The worst they can do is make me pay a penalty or even legal issues - though I doubt it would come to that (I can't be the only one dealing with this) - it's the IRS and they will notice even if it takes them a while. I don't mess with the IRS. And I don't want potential consequences hanging over my head; I want this dealt with. I know it's a small thing in the grand scheme of problems in the world, but I have quite enough stress right now already.

[Avatar]

And what's the betting that the new normal will turn out to be the old normal anyway; those at the top of the pile will continue to enjoy the life of Riley while those at the bottom continue to bear the cost.

Pretty much goes without saying.

--A

[peter]

Don't take it too heavy Sorus - it will all out okay in the end.