The Off Topic Topic

[mongers]

Commuter train crashed into Hoboken New Jersey station.  100 injured, 1 dead.

It happened hours ago, surprised there wasn't a thread.

All Languishite accounted for?

DG??

[Josquius]

Recall reading an article a few weeks ago on the struggles in trying to improve the commuter train network in the ne us.
This won't help

[garbon]

Recall reading an article a few weeks ago on the struggles in trying to improve the commuter train network in the ne us.
This won't help

[CountDeMoney]

Recall reading an article a few weeks ago on the struggles in trying to improve the commuter train network in the ne us.
This won't help

He probably means his ability to recall the article.

[Savonarola]

Recall reading an article a few weeks ago on the struggles in trying to improve the commuter train network in the ne us.
This won't help

Au contraire mon frère, this is the best possible advertising for Alstom's product.  It makes the case for Positive Train Control system better than we possibly could.  Even CNN's article on the tragedy noted that the train didn't have PTC.

[Josquius]

That's good then.
The article was about reopening service in.... pawtucket?
Some town with a famous name.
Just hope the "omg dangerous trains" argument doesn't help keep people in even more dangerous cars.

[Liep]

Recall reading an article a few weeks ago on the struggles in trying to improve the commuter train network in the ne us.
This won't help

Au contraire mon frère, this is the best possible advertising for Alstom's product.  It makes the case for Positive Train Control system better than we possibly could.  Even CNN's article on the tragedy noted that the train didn't have PTC.

The commuters can hope they won't choose Siemens' though, they were 2 years late here and it still works like shit. No crashes though, but then we haven't tried it in fall/winter conditions yet.

[Duque de Bragança]

Recall reading an article a few weeks ago on the struggles in trying to improve the commuter train network in the ne us.
This won't help

Au contraire mon frère, this is the best possible advertising for Alstom's product.  It makes the case for Positive Train Control system better than we possibly could.  Even CNN's article on the tragedy noted that the train didn't have PTC.

The commuters can hope they won't choose Siemens' though, they were 2 years late here and it still works like shit. No crashes though, but then we haven't tried it in fall/winter conditions yet.

So it is not just Siemens ICE trains (non Bombardier joint venture kind) that suck compared to Alsthom TGVs? The ICE between Paris and Frankfurt used to be in trouble whenever winter or summer came.

[Liep]

We're leasing a few ICEs from DB, word has it they still have more than 50% down time. But I was talking about the train control system Siemens is installing in Denmark.

[Liep]

My company send me a link to a site where I can choose my christmas gift. So, should I pick

1) Bed linen
2) Trolley, picnic blanket and a cooler
3) Bat chair (fancy folding chair)
4) Gift basket that doubles as a step chair
5) Steak knife, fork and plate
6) Bluetooth speakers and a credit card holder
7) Sports bag and a water bottle
8) Mystery gift

I'm leaning towards 8 even though I'm thinking it's just going to be whatever is left. I'm likely just re-gifting it to my Aunt as I usually do.

[Monoriu]

My company send me a link to a site where I can choose my christmas gift. So, should I pick

1) Bed linen
2) Trolley, picnic blanket and a cooler
3) Bat chair (fancy folding chair)
4) Gift basket that doubles as a step chair
5) Steak knife, fork and plate
6) Bluetooth speakers and a credit card holder
7) Sports bag and a water bottle
8) Mystery gift

I'm leaning towards 8 even though I'm thinking it's just going to be whatever is left. I'm likely just re-gifting it to my Aunt as I usually do.

Hmm.  I will never pick 8.  I always demand that I know precisely what I am getting.  If not, I assume the worst. 

Bed linen is probably the most practical and useful.  But then, judging from the rest of the list, this probably will be cheap bed linen, and bad quality bed linen is a definite no-no in my book.  There is also the issue that they may not be the right size for your bed (e.g. your bed is king size and this is a queen set). 

The second most useful thing on that list should be 5.  But I require my forks, plates and knives to be identical.  Adding a set of different fork and knife to your existing ones could be problematic.  If you don't have this requirement, then I think this is what you should pick. 

2, 3 and 4 probably take up too much space, particularly 2.  6 and 7 sound not very useful.  Personally I'll pick 6 though.   

[Syt]

My company send me a link to a site where I can choose my christmas gift. So, should I pick

1) Bed linen
2) Trolley, picnic blanket and a cooler
3) Bat chair (fancy folding chair)
4) Gift basket that doubles as a step chair
5) Steak knife, fork and plate
6) Bluetooth speakers and a credit card holder
7) Sports bag and a water bottle
8) Mystery gift

I'm leaning towards 8 even though I'm thinking it's just going to be whatever is left. I'm likely just re-gifting it to my Aunt as I usually do.

That's kinda sad. And I imagine being the person in charge of coming up with the offering is a bit soul crushing. "We want to offer our employees something nice, but it has to be something generic and inoffensive to cover as many employees as possible, in the value of not more then €15." And then you have to wrap it into a pretend-excited email to the employees, lying about how much you appreciate their contribution over the past year.

They should offer an Amazon voucher of equivalent value.

[Syt]

[Razgovory]

Sigh.

[garbon]

I ruined one of the buds on my headphones today when I accidentally dunked it in my tea.