What exactly does the off topic discussion mean to you....tell us why you like this ability to have the once a week ability to discuss anything and everything....
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What exactly does the off topic discussion mean to you....tell us why you like this ability to have the once a week ability to discuss anything and everything....
Means to me? just a little brake from the peoples computer
problems.
Once a week ability....... interesting at times. At times it kinds of
rounds the VDr. Forum out.
I thank you for having it.
Take Care your Friend DELTREE
"A song and dance will not pay the rent.":D
Hi, I like the opportunity to broaden our understanding of each other. We are a diverse lot, and seem to be able to discuss issues without getting too heated. We have had religion so why not politics? In Aus we will have a federal election later this year, the incumbent is a strong supporter of GW Bush and the opposition thinks he is the worst President in your history. What is the mood in the US is Bush going to get another term or will the democratic candidate roll him?
BTW maybe Usil's thread on this subject should be rolled into this one, I couldn't respond properly to that thread (didn't meet the qualifications):D
Too funny Jen......I asked this question this week to get a feeling of what you all get out of it.....in my mind..I personally think off topic chat is the root of all evil at a tech support forum....but we the mods and admins of this forum know the members like it....and we have it for that reason....as long as it does not turn ugly.....I just thought you all could give me some insight into why it is so popular....I for one do not get it.
jenae, most people I know can't wait till November to vote Bush out. He is-by far-the worst president in US history.
What do I get out of OT's. Hummmmm, the opportunity to express my political opinions?? (see answer above)
Quote:
Originally posted by Sarrkazztic
What exactly does the off topic discussion mean to you....tell us why you like this ability to have the once a week ability to discuss anything and everything....
This question reminds me of one those "female questions" like "Why do you love me?" or "What are you getting out of this relationship?" Considering I was never able to come up with a satisfactory answer to either of those (like one really exists) I find it quite surprising I ever got married. :)
Apart from the 'break of other people's problems' and getting to know one another a little better it's an opportunity to share my sense of humour with people who although they may not appreciate it but at least they might recognise it the next time out.
Bush isn't t too popular up here either but when it comes to public scorn he doesn't hold a candle to our home grown politicians. Am I sensing the start of a trend? Is anyone happy with their national leader these days?
:D :D :DQuote:
This question reminds me of one those "female questions" like "Why do you love me?" or "What are you getting out of this relationship?" Considering I was never able to come up with a satisfactory answer to either of those (like one really exists) I find it quite surprising I ever got married.
And I thought it was only me!
What do I get out of OT? It allows me to get to know the people on a more personal basis. Also lets you unwind after all those hours spent answering and learning about computers :)
I guess i feel the same.
The reason for an OT is to take a seat and relax for the weekend with a good topic either by discussing or by reading it.
and then your ready for another week of hard Doctoring:)
It allows me to understand the feelings of others and being able to get to know other members on a more personal basis. I feel that the OT creates a happy and much closer community and brings a little humour to the forum.Quote:
Originally posted by Sarrkazztic
What exactly does the off topic discussion mean to you....tell us why you like this ability to have the once a week ability to discuss anything and everything....
It also allows you to get something off your chest e.g.:
Two small things in my life that really wind me up:
1) People using mobile phones when driving and
2) HGV’s hugging the centre lane of a motorway whilst overtaking another HGV travelling a couple of mph slower.
Yes, totally agree, but its when a third HGV is trying to overtake the second, so what you have is all three lanes blocked for about 10 seconds, as happend to me a couple of days ago:mad:Quote:
Originally posted by TJolly
HGV’s hugging the centre lane of a motorway whilst overtaking another HGV travelling a couple of mph slower.
From what I can remember of studying traffic law some 34yrs ago it was an offence for a HGV to use the fast lane on a motorway othe than in an emergency or as directed by a Police Officer or lawfully placed traffic sign.Quote:
Originally posted by P3-450
Yes, totally agree, but its when a third HGV is trying to overtake the second, so what you have is all three lanes blocked for about 10 seconds, as happend to me a couple of days ago:mad:
Ill keep that in mind the next time i see one.
Luckily i wasnt the car behind it, although it did cause slow down.
Now here are some trucks not those little toys you have in England. :D
By the way, you should see a bobtail [trucks without the trailers] race. Them folks really move.
The various thoughts folks have that are posted here in OT at times I find interesting. So, I keep coming back to see what has been posted.
1 meter = 3.28 feet :D
The trucks around here are limited to 104,500 pounds [divide by 2.2 to get kilograms]
Hey Train
We've got bigger trucks than that.
What's an HGV?
Huge Great Vehicle?
Homer's Grand Vacuum?
Horrible Gargantuan Van?
Hungry Guy Venting?
A SUV?
UHHH train it's 2.2 pound to 1 kilogram.
Why I said to divide by. ;)
Or Use this link to do it :D
47,500Kg
Heavy Goods VehicleQuote:
Originally posted by Calpitor
What's an HGV?
:o OOOPS! another brain fart. :eek:
When you were married, what did you and the wife talk about? Did y'all ever discuss her interests or just yours?Quote:
Originally posted by Sarrkazztic
..I asked this question this week to get a feeling of what you all get out of it.....in my mind..I personally think off topic chat is the root of all evil at a tech support forum....but we the mods and admins of this forum know the members like it....and we have it for that reason....as long as it does not turn ugly.....I just thought you all could give me some insight into why it is so popular....I for one do not get it.
After a while only one topic discussion (computers) can and will get old. It is as some here in this thread already said, to relax and learn of each others thoughts and interests.
What did we talk about hmmmm....her incessant griping and gambling problem....and my ever increasing desire to hide behind a computer because at that time real life sucked.....viva the love of a good woman and a life that no longer sucks....after being divorced almost 2 years.
Forgive me if I sound ugly, but that was funny. :D I got spit all on the monitor.
I mean no offense by it...
Q. Do you know how you know that you have a good woman (wife) ?
A. Because she puts-up with you.
Take Care:p
https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
" THE GOOD WIFE DANCE"
Trucks Trucks!! We have whats called ROAD TRAINS in Aus they can be well over 100 metres long. Now try passing that on a blind bend.
That's got me curious, what do those Road Train drivers do when they get to a town or city? Over here the truck drivers have some fun and games just getting a plain articulated truck round some corners - I can't imagine what one of those road trains would be like.
And when it comes to reversing...?
These things are used on outback highways and roads, the towns they come to have suitable facilities, you should appreciate that there are not too many vehicles on outback roads, and with typical Aussie ingenuity these things are modular so they can be broken down to trailer size and moved that way. We also have the heaviest Rail system on earth in nth west Aus. More on roadtrains:-
http://www.inselfdefense.net/outbacktowing/
Ah yes that makes sense. Thanks jenae :)
Wow i just saw the video from that site, those are some monsters.
Its like its a train....on the road:D:D
See'ins as how I spent wayyy too many years as an OTR(over the road) driver here in the States and occasionaly up North twillin' around on Canuck roads. There are some fond(and some 'not so fond') memories floatin' around in the ol' noggin' here.:p
there are some states that allow 'triples' and some that do not. A 'triple' being a tractor hooked to 3 trailers. A good example is the west coast. Unless they've changed the law in the last few years,Washington does 'not' allow. Oregon 'does' allow. California does 'not' allow. you would be amazed at the size and congestion and confusion at the 'swap' yards at the borders of these states! As far as backing one of these up? You don't! Until you unhook all but one trailer. You and/or your traffic mgr. decide the route to the letter so you don't wind-up on a (G*d forbid) dead-end street with one of these. :eek:
The combo that sticks in 'my' mind from my experiences was the job I had(temporary thank heavens),of hauling triple oil tankers. The sloppin' and sloshin' around of this stuff is enough to give you brain tumors just thinkin' about it! Add to that the fact that this 'oil' was liquid asphault and pumped into the tanks at around 275° F. and you begin to wonder why in blazes you ever got into this business. Especially when when your destination is forest service roads out in the boonies that are to be paved.
Oh well,,life gives us many experiences,,some good and some,,welll,,,not so good.
Just please keep in mind,there are truckers out there that are very experienced and have a good attitude towards 'four wheelers'. then there are others that have been hired by large companies just to keep the freight moving without concern for other drivers. These, however don't last very long in the industry...
man, I wonder what kinda gas mileage those things get... About 20.4 gallons per mile. :rolleyes:
Actually,the 'fuel' mileage(diesel) in the days when it was cheap, on the average,an 18 wheeler would run about 3 to 5 miles per gallon.
With the higher prices and the concern with the bottom line(which is dollars made now) have caused them to work a' bit harder to get better mileage and it's up around 8 to 12 mpg. Speaking in 'Colonist' terms of course.:)
As said by others,I also feel the OT threads are a way to get to know the good folks here on a' slightly more personal side. Which I,for one,consider to be a good thing. Kind'a brings people together a lil' closer. Which,imho,is a 'very' good thing...
If they are real good with the rig, they might get 6.8 miles per gallon of fuel. 14 liter engine at that. Then it goes down hill from there. That is why they have such big fuel tanks. :D
Can remember getting 2 gallons to the mile with one rig. Seems I hit the scales at 194,000 ponds. OK so I had the special permits to haul it. ;)
Boy was that rough to get stopped. Top speed 45 mph. Louisville, Ky to Kansas city, Mo. :mad:
SGV. Sounds like what we in the U.S. call a semi truck. A cab with a trailer. Or a tractor-trailer.
Funny story about a semi that happened near me. This new expressway just up the road had a ramp with a severe curve and though trucks were warned going in, they had a tendency still to speed up the ramp while coming from the adjoining expressway at top speed. Numerous trucks tipped over for several years on this ramp. Eventually the transportation people got together with the trucker people and the township people to straighten/smooth out the ramp, but before they did, a really awful but really humorous accident took place on the ramp.
It started when a guy hijacked a semi full of toilet paper (don't know if he knew or just had an urge to steal something he hoped to fence or whatever) from the Philadelphia port in South Philly, about oh, 20 miles from me, and proceeded out the adjoining expressway with it, cops in pursuit. He tries to exit to the new expressway via this steep, curvy ramp, and proceeds to tip his rig, spilling toilet paper all over the road.
Well, you never saw such a mess. A couple hours later I left for work, which requires me to take the older expressway eastbound. By this time, due to fears about gasoline spills, injury of the driver, etc. etc., the state police and other bright lights had blocked off the expressway westbound (coming from Philadelphia out toward my house). As I drove in 16 miles eastbound, I looked to the other side and saw, to my horror, traffic backed up all the way into Philadelphia. I simply flew down to work, which like never ever happens. There was absolutely no one driving east because everyone was on the westbound side.
And this traffic jam continued for 11 hours. After it was all sorted out, the state and local authorities started scratching their heads and saying, oh gosh, d'ya suppose we ought to have more exits along the way???? Should we get cops out to back people off the ramps??? Philadelphia-area authorities are the most unbelievably dense about moving traffic around, and don't seem to think they have any responsibility at all for helping people get the hell out of a jam. They just kind of stand around and hope everyone has a cell phone. (I personally don't, but luckily, this time it was not me stuck.)
Another true incident. On my way down into the city, speeding along eastbound, I saw a Domino's Pizza truck parked on the shoulder. The guy hopped out with a pizza box, dashed across a couple of lanes and over the barrier, and proceeded to deliver pizza to some car stuck in this 16-mile backup!!! I swear I am not making this up and of course, since I work for a newspaper, I duly reported this and it was in the paper the next day. I presume the person ordering the pizza just told the Domino's guy what milepost to go to . . . wonder if he got there in 30 minutes the way they guarantee.
Cheers
Wendy
:rolleyes: :cool: :D