surfarthur

I am flying Qantas in 2 weeks time for work. Lets hope that the experience is a good one. I guess the one thing I can count on is that my flight won't be disrupted by industrial disputes.

I would like to believe that too MB, but sadly the reality is that many employers, from small business owners to multinational corporations would love to pay their employees next to nothing for working an 80 hour week. We do need the unions, we certainly can't trust the government to get it right. However, the unions could definitely do with having their wings clipped at the moment. They have too much power over employers at the moment and that needs to change. However every worker should continue to have the right to representation. Not everyone is good at negotiating fair pay and terms

I completely disagree that unions are not needed in Australia. I will concede that they can be greedy and use "blackmailing" tactics, but employers are very good at this too. Not all unions are greedy, just like not all employers are greedy. If the unions disappeared from Australia, I think that it would quickly become difficult for employees across the country to get a fair go. On the flipside, I do believe that in Australia, the unions currently have too much power over employers, making it difficult to sack people even when they are grossly negligent in their duties as an employee

So long as they are NOT the EST bindings they should be fine, but you will need an adapter plate (I think they are called 4x4 plates) the to get the holes to line up right, it would replace the original Burton circular plate that comes with the standard Burton bindings. You should be able to get them online for cheap, I would expect no more than $30 + shipping.

Thanks for sharing this BM. Signed the petition, I find it hard to beleive that snowboarding is not in the special olympics. I hope that changes soon. Those athletes are an inspiration, I like to think that if i ever lost a leg, i would be able to continue snowboarding, and these guys prove that it is possible.

I am booked on Cathay Pacific after being let down by Qantas!

There seems to be a lot of this booking a Qantas flight and ending up on a Jetstar flight. Do you still get the benefits of the "premium carrier" or do you get stuck with all the "budget carrier" no frills?

The thing that I would take out of all of this, is that the board is actually the least important bit of kit (don't jump down my throat yet, keep reading and if you don't agree you can attack me then), but the one that everyone is most concerned with. I find it the most exciting item to look for (I mean gloves just don't do it for me if you know what I mean). Getting good fitting boots is probably number 1 priority. If your boots don't fit well it wont matter if you are riding a 142 or a 180 or anywhere inbetween, you won't be having fun. Gloves, good dual lens goggles, socks and good qualit

Mainpeak Osborne park have their annual sale on saturday, 50% off lots of stuff, tables in the carpark etc. Get along early, it gets very busy.

Great photos Muikabochi, always enjoy your photos

I think that the unions are trying to stop jobs going offshore, not so much "jobs for life". I would be pretty upset if the company I work for decided to make me redundant, then have someone offshore employed to do the same job. I guess one important thing to note is that if the Australian public truly want Qantas to remain an Australian airline staffed by Australian workers, they will need to be prepared to pay a premium. It does not appear that the general public here are prepared to do this. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too.

I am also a big Led Zep Fan, Rock on Mick

Apparently the Japanese Govt have printed trillions of yen, in order to lower the yen against the dollar, hope it works as i still haven't bought any yen.

My understanding is that after the 42 day negotiation period, if no agreement is reached, then the fair work Australia umpire will decide what the agreement will look like, and this will be legally binding for both parties. Not 100% sure on that though, but it would seem that if that is the case, then no more disruptions to Qantas flights from industrial action.

All industrial action by both sides has been terminated by fair work Australia. Planes should be back in the air this afternoon.

Those blue lights are everywhere in Perth, nearly every publick toilet, petrol station toilets etc. Also needle disposal bins in most public toilets too.

Hey Onji, I will be in Rusutsu 19th -26th Jan if you are around then I would be keen for to catch up for a few runs/beers.

Would you rather Australia's national carrier be dismantled and moved to Singapore?

Apparently Jetstar will continue as normal

probably will be, the unions have been talking about industrial action possibly until the middle of next year, so I guess the negotiations going on tonight will be very interesting. Don't count on it being over quickly, neither side seems willing to give any ground.

So glad we are flying Cathay Pacific this year

I have felt the same when I have been shopping in Tokyo and been barged out of the way, elbowed in the ribs and been queue jumped. I would like to think that kind of behavior is only due to a small minority if ill-behaved people, as much as like Brits in Spain act. Generally well behaved but a spoil minority give the rest a bad name. Or Aussies in Niseko

Here is my pick for the most unlistenable album of all time. http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11worst Enjoy!

Lets talk about the family... where were they while there 2 year old walked out onto a road by herself, where were they while she lay there fatally injured? The family are seeking legal action? They should be facing legal action for criminal negligence instead.

That looks like a sweet pow surfer