Disqus - Latest Comments for philwells

Re: Telegram app feeds taxi need - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:59:24 -0000

The group is called “Type For A Taxi Group”. You can use the link

t [dot] me [forward slash] +9Uxda_6j6XwwMzNh

This doesn’t seem like a great solution for individuals though, compared to an app like Hitch (though maybe it’s more effective). It’s just one giant chat, all requests are all mixed up together and it doesn’t seem like the solution would scale well if lots of people started using it. It’s hard to discover the group exists - for locals and tourists. And I wonder how effective it is in practice: right now it’s telling me there are 533 members but only 4 online - if that includes the drivers that’s not a very big pool for me to find a taxi from.

Only in Bermuda would this be seen as a good solution. We are small enough that there should be one app for the entire island, and the Government should mandate every driver be available on it. This should not be a difficult problem to solve.

Re: Tipping – reward or requirement? - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 09:40:10 -0000

“I don’t tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I’ll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it’s for the birds. As far as I’m concerned, they’re just doing their job.”

Re: Island to honour King Charles III with official birthday parade - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:56:12 -0000

Anyone know what the road restrictions are?

Re: Ice detention a global wake-up call - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:35:02 -0000

Sure. But no-one actually believes that "an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States" is really happening. The Act was intended as a wartime authority and has only ever been invoked three times: during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II (and their immediate aftermath).

Likewise, Rubio's use of the Immigration and Nationality Act to revoke the visas of Khalil, Ozturk and hundreds of others, on the grounds that their presence or activities have "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences", is clearly a gross abuse of power. What serious adverse foreign policy consequences could Ozturk's joint op-ed have caused?

Re: Live: election candidates attend nomination day - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:26:28 -0000

If the OBA win they should totally make Sophia Cannonier minister of Health. I hear she once dumped a dead bear in Queen Elizabeth Park too.

Re: Richardson: OBA would bring absentee voting within a year - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 11:45:59 -0000

The OBA failed to introduce absentee voting last time they were in Government. Why should we believe this time would be any different?

Re: Parliament dissolved ahead of General Election - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:09:09 -0000

Does Bermuda not have postal or proxy voting still?

Re: Kacey Scotland beats thousands to land BBC apprenticeship - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 07:52:52 -0000

Congratulations! I worked as a software developer at BBC television centre between 1997 and 2000, and they were some of the best years of my life.

Re: Peace Collective organises Palestine solidarity event - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 08:38:19 -0000

What’s happening in Gaza is awful. But did I miss the International Day of Solidarity with the Jewish people after October 7 last year?

Re: Premier warns of “new combined Opposition” - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 06:52:45 -0000

“And family, do you know how they maintained that power? Through division.”

Oh, the irony.

Re: X-ray machine breakdown halts posting of overseas mail - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:20:24 -0000

We should start compiling a list and call it "Broken In Bermuda".

- X-Ray machine at the airport
- Traffic lights near Saltus
- Bridge on Canal Road
- Potholes
- Flood-prone roads
- Bridge over Flatt's inlet on Railway Trail
- Bridge over Bailey's Bay on Railway Trail

Any more?

Re: Call for abortion rethink for ‘woman’s right to choose’ - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 11:56:10 -0000

In the UK, my understanding is that you can legally get an abortion up to 23 weeks without needing to get anyone's permission. Based on the article ("Termination of a pregnancy is legal in Bermuda but permission is only granted under circumstances such as a health threat, incest or sexual assault"), it doesn't sound like the same is possible here?

Re: Government urged to resolve international driving impasse - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:35:58 -0000

What does the Government get out of not addressing this?

Re: Government urged to resolve international driving impasse - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:35:28 -0000

This seems pretty uncontroversial stuff. Any idea why the Government's dragging its feet, and won't even respond to questions? Surely the impact on the taxi industry would be minimal? (And why should they influence policy on something as important as this anyway?!)

Re: Forecasters warn of ‘parade of storms’ - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 08:46:09 -0000

Really? Have you looked at the data? At all? I know the prospect of more, and more dangerous storms in the years to come is scary, but why are you in denial about this?

Re: Threat of $500 fine proves no deterrent for handheld offenders - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:40:39 -0000

Can someone clarify what “use” means please?

In the linked article it says, “Chief Justice Ian Kawaley [found] that in order to be using a hand-held device one must be listening to music, playing games, making or receiving phone calls or carrying out some other form of interactive communication involving the transmission or reception of data.”

Does this mean it is illegal to listen to music streamed via Bluetooth from your phone to your car’s entertainment system, or just playing on your phone, even if you’re not holding the phone? How would this be more distracting than just listening to the radio?

Does this also mean you can’t make hands-free calls on your phone?

If not, that would make Bermuda’s legislation significantly more restrictive than that in the UK, which does permit hands-free use.

Re: Roadblock for Bermuda drivers reported in more countries - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:41:43 -0000

Nevermind, I answered my own question: yes it is.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

Re: Roadblock for Bermuda drivers reported in more countries - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:35:35 -0000

Is a Bermuda licence valid for driving in the UK?

Re: Roads closed and travellers taken off flight in ‘emergency’ - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Mon, 06 May 2024 11:44:20 -0000

I don't know, 60 minutes to get stairs to the plane seems excessive to me, and it sounded like the pilot thought it was excessive too. Hope the airport will at least review the incident and see if there are any lessons that can be learned.

Re: Roads closed and travellers taken off flight in ‘emergency’ - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Mon, 06 May 2024 07:07:45 -0000

Three bomb threats were also made against two Turks And Caicos airports in the last week.

There was also a bomb threat against the main airport in the British Virgin Islands yesterday.

Re: Roads closed and travellers taken off flight in ‘emergency’ - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Mon, 06 May 2024 06:51:09 -0000

Yes there are. These are real-time recordings and the pilot and tower aren't always talking to each other. If you click the three dots at the right side of the player you can change the playback speed.

Re: Roads closed and travellers taken off flight in ‘emergency’ - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Sun, 05 May 2024 23:06:56 -0000

Approximately 30 minutes later, after the plane keeps inquiring when the steps and ground assistance will turn up, tower informs them that a separate bomb threat has been made against the terminal building (9m 40s into log below):

https://archive.liveatc.net/txkf/TXKF2-Local-May-06-2024-0030Z.mp3

It's uncomfortable to hear how long it seemingly takes to evacuate a plane in these circumstances.

19:20 - The pilot is clearly unhappy too - 40 minutes after the initial threat, after being told it will still be another 20 minutes until the steps show up, he points out that fire engines should already be surrounding the aircraft and "if this goes on much longer we will have to evacuate via the slides". Tower then tells him that fire dept protocol is to keep as far away from the plane as possible until it is cleared by the police bomb crew.

24:40 - Pilot declares mayday and informs tower that they will now need ambulances too (presumably because he is now expecting to have to use slides).

Re: Roads closed and travellers taken off flight in ‘emergency’ - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Sun, 05 May 2024 22:29:48 -0000

According to communication between the plane and the tower, which can be heard at the Live ATC audio archives (at 10m 25s into the link below), the airport received an email saying there was a bomb on board the flight.

https://archive.liveatc.net/txkf/TXKF2-Local-May-06-2024-0000Z.mp3

Re: E-mail reporting system targets abandoned vehicles - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 09:16:47 -0000

I reported a bike by the Crawl post office weeks ago and it’s still there.

Re: Speed cameras not yet in use on Bermuda’s roads - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Phil — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 22:18:21 -0000

50kph, the same speed limit now monitored by the police. Easy.