Transportation safety 2

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Profile James Sotherden
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Message 1601589 - Posted: 16 Nov 2014, 1:52:26 UTC - in response to Message 1601487.  

Gary has the symptom, but the cause remains the pursuit of money, regardless of other results. It is easy to count money, and therefore easy to compare your financial results and efforts to others, so too many people focus on those numbers only. History will tell if we missed some other important results along the way.

I agree. Its profit at all costs for the major shareholders. They cant seem to think that a sustainable profital company is good enough. They want more no matter that it might kill said company by sleazy acts.
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Profile Gary Charpentier Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
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Message 1601727 - Posted: 16 Nov 2014, 6:20:17 UTC - in response to Message 1601589.  

Gary has the symptom, but the cause remains the pursuit of money, regardless of other results. It is easy to count money, and therefore easy to compare your financial results and efforts to others, so too many people focus on those numbers only. History will tell if we missed some other important results along the way.

I agree. Its profit at all costs for the major shareholders. They cant seem to think that a sustainable profital company is good enough. They want more no matter that it might kill said company by sleazy acts.

It is really a reflection of society, not per say a shareholder issue, society has a very short memory and very short time frames. Just look at a TV program and tell me what is the longest they go without a cut to something else?
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Profile Gary Charpentier Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
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Message 1601738 - Posted: 16 Nov 2014, 6:45:24 UTC

First, for those of you in Snowville, this is Southern California, November 15, Today! We get out the 1969CADY, convertible Carpool De Ville, and go for a swim on the freeway!


Not sure how safe this ride is

The Worlds Fastest Hot Tub


No seat belts.


Hot tub power in the trunk.


Yes, it is a car and drives on the street!
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David S
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Message 1601956 - Posted: 18 Nov 2014, 3:09:22 UTC - in response to Message 1601375.  

The bean counter didn't make that decision, the CEO made that decision after he asked a bean counter how much to fix and how much will not fix cost and then asked a lawyer how much hot water not fix would make. Bean counters provide information on how many beans there are. Other jerks, fools and idiots make decisions based on them.

That trial took place in the county my father was from. It was a BIG thing in the local news when we went for a visit at the time.

A RESPONSIBLE bean counter has three interlinked roles. Firstly to accurately report the financial situation, secondly to propose various ways forward, thirdly to give considered advice on the best way. In the case of the Pinto tanks, they should have warned (and maybe did) that a decision to not fix might save money in the short term but would be seen as immoral, and might cost more in the long term. Then it was down to the CEO to make a decision and take the hit if it went wrong.

I was in business for 40 years and my experience was that corporate accountants, were always biased towards the short term. If the next 1/4's results were due and the figures were poor, they would suggest cutting stationery budgets by 75% for example. Then a year later when people couldn't even get a packet of paper clips, they realised that it was a false economy. By then of course the accountant(s) had moved on elsewhere. Certainly in my company they never stayed in a post more than about 1 year.

A typical example was when my company was having a major cost reduction drive and they banned ordering coffee and biscuits at Team meetings. That decision caused a lot of resentment and bad feeling within the company, and some managers held their meetings in the local cafe, and other staff left because of it. It cost the company far more long term in money and goodwill, than they ever saved short term.

But it is important to draw a distinction between Corporate bean counters who have a fiduciary duty to maximise profits to shareholders, and accountants, tax specialists and book keepers. Whether you run an ethical company or not is up to the management and owners. I'll stop here else this will get shifted into politics!!

Amtrak suffers from bean counteritis. They lose money on on-board food service. The costs are just too high, and certain Congresscritters constantly pound them for it, saying they should eliminate those losses by cutting the food service. The thing is, without it riders would pretty much disappear.
David
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Message 1602157 - Posted: 18 Nov 2014, 14:18:41 UTC

Profit first, caring about others second, maybe a factor, why I am seriously thinking about leaving the longest job I ever had.
Pluto will always be a planet to me.

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Profile Gary Charpentier Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
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Message 1602258 - Posted: 18 Nov 2014, 22:25:23 UTC - in response to Message 1602205.  

It is the way of the world in the 21C Uli, I don't like it any more than you do, but in recessionary times, it is the way it is to survive.

New recession forecast

Psywall.
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Message 1602275 - Posted: 18 Nov 2014, 22:47:33 UTC

Definitely a Darwin Award...

Pedestrian collides with lorry
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Profile Bernie Vine
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Message 1602278 - Posted: 18 Nov 2014, 22:53:07 UTC - in response to Message 1602275.  

Definitely a Darwin Award...

Pedestrian collides with lorry

Why
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Message 1602293 - Posted: 18 Nov 2014, 23:18:58 UTC - in response to Message 1602278.  

Definitely a Darwin Award...

Pedestrian collides with lorry

Why

Stop & think!
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David S
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Message 1602372 - Posted: 19 Nov 2014, 3:25:46 UTC - in response to Message 1602093.  

Amtrak suffers from bean counteritis. They lose money on on-board food service. The costs are just too high, and certain Congresscritters constantly pound them for it, saying they should eliminate those losses by cutting the food service. The thing is, without it riders would pretty much disappear.

Correct David, known in the retail trade as a "loss leader". In accountant speak I believe they call it a Fringe Benefit Cost, or Payroll Burden. But of course you also have the captive audience syndrome, where if you're on a train for 3 or 4 hours, and you want a snack and a drink, then you pay what the prices are, go without, or bring your own. In the UK most on-board catering is by licenced franchisees, that can pretty much charge what they think they can get away with. I don't know about Amtrak.

Of course 1st Class passengers get additional complimentary services, and considering the difference between 1st Class and Standard Class prices, they can well afford to provide them! In any case nearly all 1st Class travel is for business purposes, which are written off by companies as expenses and tax allowable costs.

Amtrak runs its own food service, but has some of the dining car entrees prepared by local caterers and delivered to certain stations along the line. Yes, they charge astronomical prices. When I was on the train on Saturday, I paid $6.50 for a turkey sandwich, 3.25 for a small package of donut holes, and 2.25 for a bottle of water. The dining car steward announced the dinner selections and their prices. The steak was $24.something. The cheapest item was over $12.

Sleeping car passengers get all meals in the diner for free. (I think the accounting is handled so it doesn't show up as a food service loss.) Business class passengers on corridor trains also get free food service, at their seat, again accounted to not be a food loss. When I took the train to New Orleans last winter, I used my Guest Rewards points to pay for my train fare, including the economy sleeper, and I got the free meals with it, so the whole trip cost me nothing. (That's why I pay for everything I buy with my Guest Rewards Master Card.)
David
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Message 1602526 - Posted: 19 Nov 2014, 13:37:04 UTC

Food on trains - today I benefited from a ****up by the catering team. The train I was travelling on wasn't scheduled for at-seat (or any other) catering. A few minutes into the journey along trots the male trolley dolly. I asked was this a new service, or what? Red faced reply "I'm on the wrong train, but don't tell anyone". True enough, someone I know was on the train where the trolley should have been, and was ranting about the lack of it. (I think I'll keep it quiet from him about me having his Danish pastry...)
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Message 1602573 - Posted: 19 Nov 2014, 16:33:37 UTC - in response to Message 1602508.  

@Bernie - I also wonder about that comment, a bit uncharitable considering, but I have found this

Witnesses at the scene described how the man was fatally injured as he leaned out to check the road.

You've stated publicly that you would love to go out in an Eddie Stobbart truck. The only difference between theirs & mine is the lettering on the side. Some time previous to your comment, I made you an offer which you did not accept.

Uncharitable? you know my history so your comment was uncharitable! Leaning out to check the road? Confirmation the Darwin Award was earned!
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Message 1602581 - Posted: 19 Nov 2014, 16:44:51 UTC - in response to Message 1602293.  

Definitely a Darwin Award...

Pedestrian collides with lorry

Why

Stop & think!


Having had a pedestrian run into the side of my Land Rover while stopped at a set of traffic lights I can quite see how a pedestrian could collide with a lorry.
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Message 1602584 - Posted: 19 Nov 2014, 16:49:27 UTC - in response to Message 1602581.  

Definitely a Darwin Award...

Pedestrian collides with lorry

Why

Stop & think!


Having had a pedestrian run into the side of my Land Rover while stopped at a set of traffic lights I can quite see how a pedestrian could collide with a lorry.

But your vehicle was stopped. For serious head injuries as reported, the lorry must have been travelling at a fair speed.
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Message 1603100 - Posted: 20 Nov 2014, 13:59:51 UTC
Last modified: 20 Nov 2014, 14:06:03 UTC

I knew Goose Crackatoa would come in useful someday...

Goose Crackatoa in action

Now for some laughs...

BBC Cyclist pulled for speeding
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Message 1603214 - Posted: 20 Nov 2014, 18:28:43 UTC

What was he hanging about for - when I were lad, going to a single sex school, and with a three mile journey to the single sex girls school we used to get "pulled" for speeding fairly regularly. The Police didn't like us overtaking cars in the 30 limit on push bikes
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Message 1603585 - Posted: 21 Nov 2014, 12:50:06 UTC - in response to Message 1603100.  
Last modified: 21 Nov 2014, 12:52:32 UTC

I knew Goose Crackatoa would come in useful someday...

Goose Crackatoa in action

Now for some laughs...

BBC Cyclist pulled for speeding

Isn't Hyde Park a Royal Park. If so there are no speed limits for Bicycles.

The only speed limits for cycles in the UK are under local bye laws.
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Message 1603648 - Posted: 21 Nov 2014, 16:33:40 UTC

Makes one wonder how some people manage to get a driving license...

Tram v Mini

...guess who won!
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Message 1605074 - Posted: 25 Nov 2014, 1:30:44 UTC

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Message 1605087 - Posted: 25 Nov 2014, 1:57:06 UTC - in response to Message 1605074.  

No working video, Wiggo. :o(
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Message boards : Cafe SETI : Transportation safety 2


 
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