Are Girls Safe At Brisbane City Backpackers?

Guest Post by: Darrell

While hosteling in Brisbane a rather disturbing event took place involving an employee at Brisbane City Backpackers and the safety of one of their female guests. A hostel roomate and I had met a few girls in a local bar one evening. Later that night I was returning from a neighbouring hostel where a female friend wanted to borrow my computer and noticed a girl passed out on the ground in the pathway to City Backpackers. I recognised her as one of the girls I had met earlier that evening. There was a guy learing over her and intantly I knew something was not right. I saw my hostel roomate next door at the bar and asked if he knew the guy. We went outside and confronted the him. We asked if he knew her and he said he did but got her name wrong. Then he said he worked with her but we knew what she did for work (in a different city) and also knew that it was her first night in Brisbane. Next he said this was not the girl we knew and it was sombody else (her face was obscured by her arm). At that point my hostel roomate said to the guy, "Are you telling me if I call my friend on my phone... and this girls phone rings... then this is still not my friend?" At which point he made the call and the girls purse began to ring. The guy, sensing he was busted and and was about to get the snot kicked out of him buggered off. During this time I was gesturing to the hostel reception for assistance but the individual in the office was just watching. I walked into the reception area and knocked on the door. An employee opened it and I told him there is a girl out front who is a guest of this hostel (I even told him which building she was staying) and she is passed out and needs help. There are guys approaching her and it is not safe. I asked if he could have somebody bring her into the hostel, even if it is just in the reception area. His response was quick and rather dispicable - "Just leave her there." Again, I mentioned that that was not safe and that she would be better off inside. The prick then said "Are you even a guest at this hostel?, It's not your problem, we have cameras, just leave her there". Nice to know that this sicko is okay with a girl getting assulted as long as it is captured on closed circut video. At that point it was clear that this idiot was getting angry with me for attemping to help out and I got the sense he was wanting me to leave the premises, either by force or by the police... I actually thought that if he called the cops that would be GREAT, then at least the police would make sure the girl got inside.

I went back outside where my roomate was trying to talk to his friend and convince her to go to her room... but she was not coherent. At this point two different hostel employees came out of City Backpackers. There were wearing walkie talkies and did the right thing (an English guy and American guy). They asked who she was and we gave them all her information, including when she checked in and the names of the two other girls in her room. They confirmed her as a guest and had one of the other girls in the room come out and get her. Once we knew she was okay and the two good employees said that she was fine my roomate and I left immediately.

The next day I was invited to the Brisbane City Backpackers hostel bar for a drink by the girls that I lent my computer to. When I walked in I saw the girl that was passed out from the previous night and she came over to give me a hug and thank me, her friends did the same. I found out that she did not in fact know the guy I saw learing over her and he was in fact attemping to sexually assault her. Moments later I was approached by the same prick (I was told his name was Kym) who, the night before told me to "Just leave her." Still angry withy me for interveining, the hot headed imbecile said, "I recognnise you from last night... when you are done your drink I want you to leave this bar and get off the property."

And there you have it, I was kicked out of a bar for trying to help one of their guests.

To a-hole (Kym Morris), of Brisbane Backpackers... If you are not willing to give any assistence you should not be in any position of authority at Brisbane City Backpackers or be a wannabe manager of a bar. Leaving a guest of your hostel to be assulted on the street is discracefull, to mention she's fine because you have video cameras and still do nothing is seriously sick and your employer should re-evaluate if they want people like you representing their hostel - but just a personal message from me to you - SCREW YOU, you weak and pittiful excuse for a human being.

'No God' Ads, Soon To Appear On TTC Vehicles, Spark Heated Debate

"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

It's certainly not everyone's opinion, and it may or may not be yours - but if you're a transit user in this city you'll soon be seeing that message frequently.

It's part of a controversial ad campaign by the Toronto-based Freethought Association of Canada that has been approved by the TTC to appear on buses and inside subway cars.

SOURCE: CITYNEWS.CA
H/T: DARRELL F.

I must say, I am pleasantly surprised by the reactions to this advertising. I was expecting the response to be more vehement in the vein of

You are wrong Mayor Miller

It's Official: All Plastic Bags In T.O. Stores Will Cost You 5 Cents Starting Next June

If your favourite grocery store is No Frills, Food Basics or Price Shopper, this won't really be anything new.

But if you shop at one of the other big chains in Toronto, like Metro or Loblaws, get ready for a change. And that change will be 5 cents.

City Council has passed a law making it mandatory for all stores in Toronto to charge you a nickel for every plastic bag you use.

The idea, which passed Tuesday night, is to get you to reduce the number of bags that inevitably wind up in a landfill and either use up the ones you have now or buy one of those reusable types that are earth friendly.

Mayor David Miller has complained that the carry-alls aren't biodegradable and can last for years and years at garbage dumps. "I'm very proud that Toronto is leading the way," he agrees. "It's the right thing to do."

Source: CityNews (Complete Article)
H/T DARRELL

This story comes via Darrell at NhiCAPS' entry regarding Roger's e-billing.

Although this is a step in the right direction, discouraging the use of Earth unfriendly products, I object to Mr. Mayor's affirmation that "Toronto is leading the way". Toronto is not leading the way, all it is doing is passing a superficial law that will in all likelihood have little affect on consumer behaviour.

Shoppers who buy their groceries at premium supermarkets will most probably not be swayed by the cost of five shopping bags on an eighty dollar shopping trip. As Darrell quite rightly points out, profits garnered from this five cent levy should at the very least be shared with Toronto's recycling facilities. If the Mayor's motivation is indeed our planet, why let the corporations keep 100% of the cash flow generated by this new charge? Why aren't said funds being allocated to improving Toronto's recycling facilities? Or being used to help clean up the city? Or a dozen other things?

Getting back to "Toronto is leading the way" - they are not sir. As of July 21st, 2004, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer here is a list of cities and countries who, over four and a half years ago began banning or cracking-down on plastic bag usage.

• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Ireland
• Italy
• South Africa
• Taiwan
• Mumbai, India

Leaf Rapids, Manitoba banned plastics bags in April of 2007 and later that year Nigeria and Kenya began spearheading banning plastic bags in Africa. So Toronto is hardly a leader, at least not in this respect.

I do not mean to harp on Toronto. I am proud that she is taking steps to at least try to help clean up the world in which we live, but if Toronto truly wanted to lead she would not stop at half measures that in my opinion reek of nothing more that public relations and photo op shenanigans.

Why Are Cab Fares Still So High?

Early this past summer gasoline prices in Toronto were at about $1.25 per litre. At about the same time, taxi companies increased their cab fares by 17% and the cost simply sitting in a taxi went up from $3.00 to $4.00 citing the increasing value of oil. That was in early June of 2008.

Today the price at the pump is anywhere from $0.69 to $0.75. In six odd months the cost of filling up a vehicle has fallen almost fifty percent, but when I needed to take cab ride last week, as soon I as got in to the car, the fare started at $4.00.

Why is it that the when the price of oil rises, it is reflected at the pumps and all related enterprises almost immediately, but when the opposite happens, everyone is found staring at the grounding whistling and unable to make eye contact?

This is just another example of Canadian consumers either not connecting the dots, or simply being okay with getting robbed blind.

Kevin Smith is Coming to Town

For those of you who are unaware, Apart from directing, acting, writing and producing films, he is also one hell of story teller. In the days of olde, he would have been considered an outstanding bard. He has already done this three times:

1. An Evening With Kevin Smith
2. An Evening with Kevin Smith: Evening Harder
3. Sold Out: A Theevening with Kevin Smith

And now for his fourth appearance he come to The Roy Thompson Hall! Get your tickets now!

Here`s a sample from An Evening with Kevin Smith: Evening Harder

Free Source of Hidden Electricity

Watch Source of Free Electricity in Game Videos  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

I want to try this!

John Safran V The Mormons

Oh the irony!

Mad World - Gary Jules

Love this song, love this video. The whole thing is one continuous shot.

Video Manipulation Like Never Before

I can see a lot of room for abuse with this technology. Nevertheless, very cool stuff.


Interactive Video Object Manipulation from Dan Goldman on Vimeo.

Heart Attack Grill

H/T: Ronnie B.

The Heart Attack Grill`s menu includes such items as the single, double, triple and quadruple bypass burgers, flatliner fries - fried in pure lard, Jolt Cola and no filtre cigarettes. On Sundays they have an event called Sponge Bath Sunday, but refuse to divulge details. And as a final irony, the web-site is called Heart Attack Grill Diet Center.

Ann Coulter's jaw wired shut!

Page Six is reporting that right-wing agitator and controversy-seeker Ann Coulter's jaw is wired tightly shut.

I know, I know. If the report is true, It's almost as if our prayers have been answered.

Apparently it was broken, but by whom, no one seems to be sure. We could hazard a guess, but why throw roses yet.

The blogosphere is already aquiver over the idea of a forced Coulter Moment of Silence.

SOURCE: The Envelope (Complete Article)

H/T Michael B.

If you listen very carefully you can actually hear the planet's Bullshit-O-Metre dropping.

Steady Chicken Head

H/T: Darrell F.

Quoting... Richard Jeni

I'm a Catholic, the same way a cow born in a tree is a bird.
- Richard Jeni

Sign Win

see more pwn and owned pictures

Quantum of Bonds

Bond v. Bond

"Star Wars" - an a cappella tribute to John Williams

This is, simply put, brilliant!

Carl Sagan reads from Pale Blue Dot - Galileo

This further illustrates my point here

Quoting... Jean Kerr

I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?
- Jean Kerr

Cutting Through the Bull - Sarah Palin

I saw Campbell Brown on The Daily Show recently - If what she said on TDS and this short clip above is an accurate cross-section of her new show, No Bias, No Bull; expect to see more clips from her.

A Quick Thought on Evolution v. Creationism

In many parts of The United States of America schools have ceased teaching The Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Evolution in favour of Creationism and Intelligent Design because the The Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Evolution dispute The Bible.

The Bible says:

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day(the sun), and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night: he made the stars also. [Genesis 1:16]

SOURCE: Bible Gateway (King James Version)

So are those same school districts going to stop teaching the fact that there are not two sources of light in the sky, but one? The lesser light is merely a reflection of the greater light. This is not a theory but an observable fact.

And while we're on the subject of Theory, there is a vast difference in the everyday definition of "Theory" and the scientific definition of "Theory" as this video so eloquently explains:

Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven