Things that make you go What the F**k?

Started by The Real Laoislad, November 19, 2007, 05:54:25 PM

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DrinkingHarp

Australia: No residency for boy with Down syndrome
     

Associated Press Writer Tanalee Smith, Associated Press Writer – 19 mins ago AP – German doctor Bernhard Moeller, right, with his wife Isabella and son Lukas, 13, are pictured at their ... SYDNEY, Australia – A German doctor hoping to gain permanent residency in Australia said Friday he will fight an immigration department decision denying his application because his son has Down syndrome. Bernhard Moeller came to Australia with his family two years ago to help fill a doctor shortage in a rural area of Victoria state.

His temporary work visa is valid until 2010, but his application for permanent residency was rejected this week. The immigration department said Moeller's 13-year-old son, Lukas, "did not meet the health requirement."

"A medical officer of the Commonwealth assessed that his son's existing medical condition was likely to result in a significant and ongoing cost to the Australian community," a departmental spokesman said in a statement issued Thursday by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

"This is not discrimination. A disability in itself is not grounds for failing the health requirement — it is a question of the cost implications to the community," the statement said.

Moeller said he would appeal the decision.

"We like to live here, we have settled in well, we are welcomed by the community here and we don't want to give up just because the federal government doesn't welcome my son," he told reporters.

Moeller has powerful supporters. Victorian Premier John Brumby has pledged to support the family's appeal, and federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon said Friday she would speak to the immigration minister about the case.

Roxon said the case must go through proper channels — an appeal to the Migration Review Tribunal and then the immigration minister — but that "there is a valid reason for this doctor and his family to be eligible to stay here in Australia."

"As a government, we understand the importance of having doctors working in our rural and regional communities and we support them in many ways and continue to do this," Roxon said.

Don McRae, director of clinical services at Wimmera Health Care Group, said the hospital had invested a lot of time and energy in recruiting the German specialist to Horsham, about 100 miles northwest of Melbourne.

"We were very surprised by the decision," he said of the immigration department's rejection. "It's distressing for Dr. Moeller's family and distressing for the community who have welcomed him and relied on his medical services."

Immigration Minister Chris Evans has no power to intervene in the case until the review tribunal or a court upholds the department's decision.

David Tolleson, executive director of the Atlanta-based National Down Syndrome Congress, said he was disappointed by the decision.

"What is the cost implication to the community of a doctor shortage?" Tolleson asked. "I assume the son had the same costs for the last two years and they were happy to have the family and use the dad as a doctor."

Down syndrome, caused by an extra chromosome, is characterized by mental retardation of varying degrees. Those with Down syndrome also can have other problems: Nearly half will have a heart defect, some serious enough to require surgery soon after birth.

Tolleson said that people with Down syndrome have a spectrum of abilities.

"Some need more support, some go on to graduate from college with a four-year degree, and most are somewhere in between," he said.

The immigration department said it appreciates Moeller's contribution to the community but said it must follow the relevant laws in considering residency applications.

"If we did not have a health requirement, the costs to the community and health system would not be sustainable," the statement said.

More than 150,000 migrants settled in Australia in 2007-08, the department said.

Shortages of medical practitioners in rural parts of Australia have led a number of recent government initiatives to boost the numbers of doctors and nurses nationwide.

Gaaboard Predict The World Cup Champion 2014

ziggysego

E-mail error ends up on road sign


The English is clear enough to lorry drivers - but the Welsh reads "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated."

When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed.

Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated".

So that was what went up under the English version which barred lorries from a road near a supermarket.

"When they're proofing signs, they should really use someone who speaks Welsh," said journalist Dylan Iorwerth.

Swansea Council became lost in translation when it was looking to halt heavy goods vehicles using a road near an Asda store in the Morriston area

All official road signs in Wales are bilingual, so the local authority e-mailed its in-house translation service for the Welsh version of: "No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only".

The reply duly came back and officials set the wheels in motion to create the large sign in both languages.

The notice went up and all seemed well - until Welsh speakers began pointing out the embarrassing error.

Welsh-language magazine Golwg was promptly sent photographs of the offending sign by a number of its readers.

Managing editor Mr Iorwerth said: "We've been running a series of these pictures over the past months.

"They're circulating among Welsh speakers because, unfortunately, it's all too common that things are not just badly translated, but are put together by people who have no idea about the language.

"It's good to see people trying to translate, but they should really ask for expert help.

"Everything these days seems to be written first in English and then translated.

"Ideally, they should be written separately in both languages."

A council spokeswoman said: "Our attention was drawn to the mistranslation of a sign at the junction of Clase Road and Pant-y-Blawd Road.

Other confusing signs

"We took it down as soon as we were made aware of it and a correct sign will be re-instated as soon as possible."

The blunder is not the only time Welsh has been translated incorrectly or put in the wrong place:

• Cyclists between Cardiff and Penarth in 2006 were left confused by a bilingual road sign telling them they had problems with an "inflamed bladder".

• In the same year, a sign for pedestrians in Cardiff reading 'Look Right' in English read 'Look Left' in Welsh.

• In 2006, a shared-faith school in Wrexham removed a sign which translated the Welsh for staff as "wooden stave".

• Football fans at a FA Cup tie between Oldham and Chasetown - two English teams - in 2005 were left scratching their heads after a Welsh-language hoarding was put up along the pitch. It should have gone to a match in Merthyr Tydfil.

• People living near an Aberdeenshire building site in 2006 were mystified when a sign apologising for the inconvenience was written in Welsh as well as English.
Testing Accessibility

pintsofguinness

Just seen an advertisement for "Warner Hotels" and when they said "exclusively for adults" I thought I was hearing things but a quick google search and I found this:
QuoteWarner Leisure Hotels are the UK's leading hotel company which is exclusively for adults. You are guaranteed not to disturbed by children as no-one less than 18 years old is allowed into the resorts.

http://www.promotionalcodes.org.uk/promo-codes/warner-leisure-hotels-offer/

But a further search and I discover these places are quite common?  Why have I never been told about this?
Which one of you bitches wants to dance?

ziggysego

Testing Accessibility

Handy

Quote from: pintsofguinness on November 02, 2008, 02:06:17 PM
Just seen an advertisement for "Warner Hotels" and when they said "exclusively for adults" I thought I was hearing things but a quick google search and I found this:
QuoteWarner Leisure Hotels are the UK's leading hotel company which is exclusively for adults. You are guaranteed not to disturbed by children as no-one less than 18 years old is allowed into the resorts.

http://www.promotionalcodes.org.uk/promo-codes/warner-leisure-hotels-offer/

But a further search and I discover these places are quite common?  Why have I never been told about this?

Maybe you could live there and give the children a break from your bigotry!

pintsofguinness

Quote from: ziggysego on November 02, 2008, 02:22:34 PM
Planning your next holiday? ;)
I dont normally like holiday's ziggy but I think I might enjoy the next one!


QuoteMaybe you could live there and give the children a break from your bigotry!
I'd love to live there!

Do they have supermarkets in these resorts?
Which one of you bitches wants to dance?

Stalin

A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic

ExiledGael


Stalin

Quote from: ExiledGael on November 02, 2008, 07:05:16 PM
Teemu Glock, something stinks.

thats what i thought, but tbf i dont have a clue about F1
A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic

Tony Baloney

I would say Ferrari will be wanting to investigate that final lap. I would say Ron Dennis has laid on some entertainment for Mr. Glock tonight. Fishy as f**k!

Hereiam

With out a doubt Mr Glock was told to slow down. F1 is a farce.

Minder

"When it's too tough for them, it's just right for us"


ziggysego

Heard all Carmen women are like that...
Testing Accessibility

pintsofguinness

Someone told me today he reported me to "Watchdog" (yes, the TV programme)  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/




It's a pity I can't report the **** to someone.
Which one of you bitches wants to dance?