The totally off-topic thread

[Princess Fiona]

For the first time I have done a charge back on my credit card.

In August I a purchased a timed arrival ticket for the Washington Monument, AUD$5.91. Just before I was due to actually visit the Monument I received an email to say that the elevator had broken down and that it was closed.

I contacted the US National Park Service and was advised there were no refunds.

My bank (Westpac) received the request for charge back last week, sent a request for more information on Friday to which I responded within the hour, and advised me today that I was successful.

I wouldn't spend any of my time chasing up $5.91. I suppose a lot of people are like me and that's why NPS does this.
Good to know it can be done however.

 

[Abdul_A350]

I wouldn't spend any of my time chasing up $5.91.

When I was younger (but after I had some money) I was very much like this. Now I view every cent as a vote, and I do not want to direct votes to people who do the wrong thing.

I actually wish there was a way to short-sell the things I see that annoy me the most. Like most of what passes for "sushi" in Australia.

But I digress.

 

[Pushka]

Sometimes its the little things that rankle.

I bought tickets for Petronas Towers next January. Cost around $45. As I was purchasing online it then flicked me to Visa verify. I entered details correctly but it said it had failed so I presumed no purchase as I didn't receive the tickets by email. Then a week later I saw the charge on my card so I contacted the bank. I received the refund.

 

[Cossie]

Anyone know what this vegetable is?

 

[Hvr]

I wouldn't spend any of my time chasing up $5.91. I suppose a lot of people are like me and that's why NPS does this.
Good to know it can be done however.

I agree there is a time/value argument here but fortunately the charge back process was done online which meant that total time including response was 10 minutes.

It was a real principle thing. I really wanted to go to the top and understand that mechanical issues happen. However, to refuse to consider a refund or even engage appropriately made me mad.

 

[blackcat20]

Anyone know what this vegetable is?

View attachment 83869

Isnt it some variety of cauliflower?

 

[Abdul_A350]

Anyone know what this vegetable is?

View attachment 83869

It looks like Romanesco broccoli.

 

[Denali]

According to my on site horticulturalist, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesco_broccoli

Aka, Roman Cauliflower. By the leaves, I thought it was a cauliflower

 

[Cossie]

Yes, you are all correct. The gardener in the family is now on a quest to find some here, the above photo was taken in Llangollen, Wales. Next to them, but cut from the above photo were cauliflowers. They also had broccoli still on the stalk.

One of the things I enjoy about travelling is finding cute shops like this one.

 

[samh004]

So I just booked a best flight guarantee on Jetstar and got it $60 cheaper than last year!
Matched Tiger sale fare
So much for no longer cheaper airfares!
Very good customer service "Tango, Romeo, Charlie, Whiskey" to clear spelling up!
Now to get into the lounge before the flight via WP...6th Dec Mel anyone

Wouldn't that be more of a price match than a best flight guarantee? Or was the price changed after booking?

You can see visitor messages on other profiles? Hmmm.

Not that you'd know if you don't use Facebook, but visitor messages are akin to writing on a users wall and can be seen by all. They are not the same as private messages, which are private.

 

[get me outta here]

That looks look very exotic. Here are the seeds. I buy quite a few seeds from ebay and have had great success. $1 ROMANESCO 200 seeds Cauliflower x Broccoli. RARE | eBay

Yes, you are all correct. The gardener in the family is now on a quest to find some here, the above photo was taken in Llangollen, Wales. Next to them, but cut from the above photo were cauliflowers. They also had broccoli still on the stalk.

One of the things I enjoy about travelling is finding cute shops like this one.

View attachment 83870

 

[Mal]

You can see visitor messages on other profiles? Hmmm.

Well you can switch it off : www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/profile.php?do=editoptions

 

[JohnK]

Not that you'd know if you don't use Facebook, but visitor messages are akin to writing on a users wall and can be seen by all. They are not the same as private messages, which are private.

I leave Facebook to the wife. One nut in the family is more than enough....

 

[Cossie]

That looks look very exotic. Here are the seeds. I buy quite a few seeds from ebay and have had great success. $1 ROMANESCO 200 seeds Cauliflower x Broccoli. RARE | eBay

Thankyou very much, I've just ordered some, the boss will be very happy.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Anyone know what this vegetable is?

View attachment 83869

Italian cauliflower. Was very popular when we were in Lombardia recently.
From Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesco_broccoli

"Romanesco broccoli, also known as Roman cauliflower, Broccolo Romanesco, Romanesque cauliflower or simply Romanesco, is an edible flower bud of the species Brassica oleracea. First documented in Italy, it is chartreuse in color. Romanesco has a striking appearance because its form is a natural approximation of a fractal. When compared to a traditional cauliflower, its texture as a vegetable is far more crunchy, and its flavor is not as assertive, being delicate and nutty.

It has been grown in Italy since the 16th Century."

 

[Denali]

I can't link it but did anyone else see the Jordanian Air ad to "See the US while you're still allowed to".

 

[RooFlyer]

Got the proof of the book today. Nervous time checking it, seeing how many errors got through. ... So far, so good; only two layout inconsistencies and one minor typo. I reckon no-one will notice.

 

[anat0l]

Got the proof of the book today. Nervous time checking it, seeing how many errors got through. ... So far, so good; only two layout inconsistencies and one minor typo. I reckon no-one will notice.

I'm a chapter author... I've had the most work of any other chapter in having to organise copyright licences and the associated paperwork.

I also had the most references in my chapter compared to the others, which was insane because our book team would not agree on a referencing system. Therefore, all citations and bibliographic entries had to be entered and checked manually. With close to 200 references, that was insane.

 

[Pushka]

Got the proof of the book today. Nervous time checking it, seeing how many errors got through. ... So far, so good; only two layout inconsistencies and one minor typo. I reckon no-one will notice.

You'd be surprised at the typos that get through.

When MrP gets his proofread it is usually a case of lots of red ink. Being business books there are usually lots of layout issues.

 

[RooFlyer]

You'd be surprised at the typos that get through.

When MrP gets his proofread it is usually a case of lots of red ink. Being business books there are usually lots of layout issues.

Writing 25%; layout, formatting, proofing etc ... 75%

Its the first one I've had printed digitally (ie toner rather than ink) .. for cost reasons (comes out at about 10c/page; double that for ink), as B&W text only. Could get it cheaper in Asia, but I wanted them before Christmas; choosing prezzies for the family this year will be very easy.