Countries & their stupid ways

Ok so in Ireland you have to pay a tv license if you have one. Until recently people were put in jail or were fined a big penalty if they were found to have a TV without the license. They even have people calling into your home to 'check'. All this goes to one TV station here in Ireland. I could see if the station didn't have any ads, but they are also making revenue from the ads. Now they want to increase this stupid hike. I don't have a TV myself as I find them very obtrusive, noisy & just plain annoying in my home. This is just another reason I don't. I don't mind them in other people's, and I do watch it then but I just have sensitive ears.

Oh & Dubai (or UAE), you can't even travel through their airport (it's a major hub between Asia and Europe for many flights) if you have a stamp on your passport from Israel.

Don't get me wrong, there are many good things about Ireland & the UAE but still!!!

So anyone else want to vent about any other countries or cities?

Original Post by wasalisa:

Come to MO.  Intoxication in state parks is a regular event.

 It's pretty common in other states as well, but that doesn't mean it's legal to have alcohol there.

Original Post by steffsheff:

In Ontario, perhaps throughout Canada I'm not sure, you cannot drink alcohol outside of designated areas such as bars, restaurants or beer tents. That means you can't even have a bottle of wine while on a picnic unless you hide it and risk the fine!

New Zealand is the same, but it's only really enforced in town... I'm sure a picnic would be fine!

My country specific vents? When I was living in Tamil Nadu (south India), a law was enacted where men riding motorbikes had to wear helmets, but women didn't. Talk about a way of announcing the relative value of life.

I'm now living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Every day there are motorcades consisting of up to 20 traffic police on motorbikes, 4 security cars, dummy cars in the convoy and then finally the car containing some C-grade local politician. All traffic is diverted, roads are closed, there's one heck of a commotion... all so some Associate Minister of Finance can avoid the rush hour?? Meanwhile, ambulances and fire engines actually have to wait in the traffic jams like everyone else. Nobody even voluntarily moves aside. Let's hope their house is never burning down!

And while I can't vent from personal experience, having never actually been to the country, I see Afghanistan recently enacted a law giving husbands permission to have sex with their wives at least every four days, regardless of the wife's opinion on the matter. How awful... All that said, travel is the best thing in the world and despite the frustrations, it's the best form of education you can get.

Original Post by moonikins:

Original Post by wasalisa:

Come to MO.  Intoxication in state parks is a regular event.

 It's pretty common in other states as well, but that doesn't mean it's legal to have alcohol there.

Well, in Stl, public intoxication is either perfectly legal, there are some permits being issued for it, or the cops on site don't care: Soulard Mardis Gras and Octoberfest, Muddy Waters Blues Festival, the VP Fair, any sporting event (trying having a Cardinals game with no beer available), or heck , even the Muny.

@ #3 ---  I totally agree.

That drink thing is the same in Scotland and the TV licence, it sucks because you then have to pay extra on top of that if you want some decent channels, i think you should be-able to block the BBC so you don't have to pay.

I prefer the TV license over the zillions of commericals that are played here in the US. Watching TV in the UK, you'd get like 1 set of commericals for a half hour show. You get like 4 sets over here. >_>

Original Post by cptbunny:

I prefer the TV license over the zillions of commericals that are played here in the US. Watching TV in the UK, you'd get like 1 set of commericals for a half hour show. You get like 4 sets over here. >_>

yeah uk is ok, much better than rte in ireland tho, ireland better than states. rte started having their shows available online now, hmmm, makes me wonder what they are up to. probably trying to get license money for everyone having a computer.

Original Post by gi-jane:

And on TV licences... I'm rather partial to the many BBC services (similar system to Ireland), especially BBC Radio 4 (go Archers!!) and would rather hand over £142.50 a year for some quality programming rather than swell the Murdoch coffers any more than they are already. 

 But if I find the same programming to be absolute crap (in addition to the rest of the crap) and don't ever watch it, why should I have to pay for it?

Original Post by octo-luv:

yeah uk is ok, much better than rte in ireland tho

I wish I had the option to pay to get RTE. 

Original Post by cellulitedelight:

We pay taxes for trash pick-up.  We don't have dumpsters available to dispose of our trash whenever we want and driving it to the land fill once every few weeks would leave our tiny Honda stinkin' to high, high heaven.  To make life so much easier on us, we pay taxes so the city will collect our trash once a week provided we lug it out to the curb

In England it's similar, you have to pay Council Tax which covers rubbish collections, amongst other things. The 'rules' differ between the councils. In ours, it used to be collected once a week, you'd put your bags out in the street, they'd come with their rubbish truck and they would take it away.

A few years ago the government gave a big push to recycling. We were issued with a wheeley bin for 'household' rubbish and a little green box for glass. Red bags are for paper, green for food tins/drinks cans and plastic bottles (and ONLY bottles, any other plastic is a no no). Everything else goes in the wheeley bin in black bags.

They still come every week, except now they only empty the wheeley bins once a fortnight and only the recycling once a fortnight, on alternative weeks. Recycling, you can put out as much as you want as far as I can tell, so long as it is in the right bag/box. Household is another story; if the wheeley bin is too full and the lid wont fully close, it doesn't get taken. If the bags are on the ground and not in the wheeley, it doesn't get taken. If the bin isn't positioned right on the boundary of your property, it doesn't get taken. If you put it out too late, it doesn't get taken. Not a problem, until you realise that you then have to somehow fit another two weeks worth of rubbish into the bin.

And to top it off, they regularly 'forget' to collect it. So then you have to call the council, explain it all, then they check their list to make sure that you weren't reported for any of the reasons why they wouldn't collect, and then they tell you to leave the bin in the street for someone to collect in the next working 48hours - which stretches to Tuesday as our collection day is Friday.

It's all ok though, because at Christmas you are allowed one extra household rubbish bag which can be tied neatly and placed next to the wheeley. That's the Christmas Spirit!!

Original Post by santonacci:

Well, in Stl, public intoxication is either perfectly legal, there are some permits being issued for it, or the cops on site don't care: Soulard Mardis Gras and Octoberfest, Muddy Waters Blues Festival, the VP Fair, any sporting event (trying having a Cardinals game with no beer available), or heck , even the Muny.

 But now you're talking about private property.  They'd have to have a permit just like any bar or restaurant.

Original Post by flonklar:

Original Post by santonacci:

Well, in Stl, public intoxication is either perfectly legal, there are some permits being issued for it, or the cops on site don't care: Soulard Mardis Gras and Octoberfest, Muddy Waters Blues Festival, the VP Fair, any sporting event (trying having a Cardinals game with no beer available), or heck , even the Muny.

 But now you're talking about private property.  They'd have to have a permit just like any bar or restaurant.

I believe I mentioned that permits may be involved.  

As for private vs. public:  Soulard Mardis Gras and Octoberfest-  Restaurants hold events, to be sure, but liquor is sold and consumed right there on a public street.  Same thing with the Muddy Waters Blues Festival, only located on the Landing.

I know - I was one of the publicly intoxicated people wandering around the blues festival last year from the margaritas being sold next to a main stage, and the streets of Soulard are just a mass of drunkards, hurricanes in hand, partying and flashing for beads.

VP Fair - right on the Arch Grounds, which is a Federal Park.  One year I sat at the base of the Arch drinking mojitos with hubby and some friends, being sold only a few yards away on Arch grounds.

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by octo-luv:

yeah uk is ok, much better than rte in ireland tho

I wish I had the option to pay to get RTE. 

uhhhh, ok. you you're into fair city and all that?

Original Post by steffsheff:

In Ontario, perhaps throughout Canada I'm not sure, you cannot drink alcohol outside of designated areas such as bars, restaurants or beer tents. That means you can't even have a bottle of wine while on a picnic unless you hide it and risk the fine!

 I don't think that this is weird. 

I used to work at a liqour store in Ontario, and I got no end of crap from Americans who thought it was ass-backwards to segregate liqour from candy and milk....why would I want my kids buying candy in the same place that the local breakfast club is getting shmammed outback on 40s of Black Ice??  No offense against alcoholics, but adult only things (like liqour, smokes and porn) and family things (like bread and milk) should be separated.

thermal - they usually are. you can't even buy liquor in the grocery store (except BJs - but its still separate from the main store) - beer and wine in the grocery, but also separate aisles.

Cigarettes you have to ask for at the counter.

If you're already IN a liquor store, then nothing should be separate because.. its a liquor store.

I think I'm confused.

Original Post by thermal:

 I don't think that this is weird. 

I used to work at a liqour store in Ontario, and I got no end of crap from Americans who thought it was ass-backwards to segregate liqour from candy and milk....

Okay...that reaction is kind of weird.  Apart from the adult things for adults - did these Americans actually think it made logistical sense to place bottles of rum and vodka on the same self as M&M's or milk?  

Side note:  While the store we commonly use does have a separate aisle for the liquor, on special occasions, it's placed right out front as you walk in the door hoping for a "reminder sale."  Right around Superbowl, a nice stacked beer display.  Cinco de Mayo - front of store displays with chips, salsa, tequila, and margarita mix.

In small towns in Ontario booze if often sold at the general store/convenience store.  There are no LCBOs or Beer Stores around. 

I've seen it with me own eyes.  Brought back memories of my homeland.  *Sniffle*

ETA: Oh no no no no, you have to go to a special store to buy alcohol here most of the time.  I think that's where the confusion is coming from.  Not that the Vodka isn't next to the skittles and cheddar cheese it's just you have to make a special trip to The Beer Store for a 6 pack.

Original Post by octo-luv:

uhhhh, ok. you you're into fair city and all that?

 I don't know what fair city is, but I have to pay $20 to get into a bar to watch football over here.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Not that the Vodka isn't next to the skittles and cheddar cheese it's just you have to make a special trip to The Beer Store for a 6 pack.

Oh, okay.  I can see how that could be viewed as strange, but really - they can just make another stop for their booze.

They ought to try getting a drink in Salt Lake City (although I understand the rules change on July 1st).

In California they have the booze in the grocery stores.  Weirded me out to no end when I lived there ... grew up in Washington where the State owns and runs all of the liquor stores.