Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing.
New Year’s Eve – the big carnival
As I write this I can hear the din from a few neighbourhood day before New Year’s Eve parties in full swing. New Years is as close as we get to a carnival day here in New Zealand. It’s the time for parties, get togethers, concerts, gigs, soirees, or quiet nights in with a few drinks and a movie.
I’m of an age now where those big parties are of no interest and I’m looking forward to a night with my family playing Trivial Pursuit with a few wines – as well as the obligatory whines that come from family board game time.
Still, I know that all over the country people will be letting their hair down, drinking (sometimes too much) and dancing and singing into the small hours of a new year. I’m sure their will be fireworks to scare the dogs as well.
Whatever you’re doing – have a blast and stay safe.
5 stars – a night where the whole country parties, each in their own way. Good fun.
Hot snacks affect worker’s health
The United Workers Union (UWU) across the ditch has lodged a complaint with workplace health and safety regulators after a number of workers at Smith’s Snackfood Company factory in Adelaide raised concerns about dealing with a number of spicy food snacks.
I’ve occasionally eaten Doritos and once tried Cheetos – I like spicy but these were far too hot for me. So it comes as no surprise that those working to make the crunchy, flaming chips may have a few issues.
“In its complaint to SafeWork SA, the UWU said: ‘After interviewing 13 workers from the afternoon shift, 11 reported various effects, including sneezing, coughing, eye and skin irritation, runny nose, sore throat, chest discomfort, and difficulty breathing.”
“The UWU said the seasoning machine is used for the hot product ‘every couple of weeks’, with the ingredient “dispersing across the production area”. (Source: “‘Flamin’ Hot’ Doritos and Cheetos seasoning sparks workplace safety complaint in Australia,” by Jenness Mitchell, 29 December, www.news.sky.com).
Pepisco, the company that owns the brands in question, has said it will work with the union to find solutions to further safeguard employees’ health – a few more extractor fans and mandatory mask wearing.
5 stars – great to see a company responding to genuine issues.
How hard is it to read the seat number on a ticket?
It does my head in whenever I’m at the movies, on a plane, or anywhere else there’s allocated seating, and someone is sat in my seat. So far, I’ve had no trouble with it and people will generally move when alerted to their mistake.
However, I read a story this week concerning a couple who were at a concert at Spark Arena in Auckland where the ending was far from satisfactory.
Noting that two blokes were in their seats, they asked them politely to move and were refused. They sought the assistance from venue security, who moved the two men on. So far so good, right? Nope.
The couple were approached by another band of security helpers who informed them they were being ejected from the venue for supposedly assaulting one of the seat highjackers.
So, instead of enjoying a gig they had looked forward to for months, they were marched outside despite their protestations.
You can read the story here.
Now the circumstances are dissimilar but I still get annoyed when I think on an experience I had at Spark Arena over ten years ago when a friend bought front row seats to see Bob Dylan. As soon as Dylan came on stage a horde of concert goers from the back rushed in front of where we were seated, blocking our view and ruining whatever benefit the front row seats afforded. Spark security refused to move them and couldn’t explain to us why front row seats cost more when their was no advantage in them.
0 stars – sit in your allocated seat and if asked to move, do it. It’s not that hard.
