Thermometer Checks On Foreheads at Airports, Malls, Pools, Gyms: What Is It recording? C to F

Thermometer check for forehead. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

At Changi airport visitors arriving from overseas will pass a large monitor which records your temperature. 

To enter a shopping mall, public building, Community Club, or to swim in a Condominium, you sign in with your name, address, contact phone number, time or arrival, signature, and then have your temperature taken and recorded.

The thermometer is designed with different settings for babies, toddlers and adults. The reading is in centigrade. 

I usually ask them to tell me my temperature. This time I had the bright idea of asking if I could record it on my phone. Apparently your temperature can vary slightly during the day. It will be interesting to see how much, if at all, my temperature varies.

This time I was entering a swimming pool area. Masks are required everywhere except when excercising.

Taking the photo of my temperature enabled me to get a picture of the device used. I suspect that if I had asked to take a photo of the thermometer the official might have worried that I had some underhand motive, such as stealing it, complaining about it. Without knowing what I might be up to, he might have decided to err on the side of caution and declined permission. 

Generally, if somebody is smiling and happy they will say yes to a request. If they are unsmiling and look worried or cross, they are more likely to say no.

Anyway, I was lucky, and achieved my objective. I found out my temperature and interesting detials about the device. So if I want to order one online, I can see whether it has features I want, or don't need. Even if I don't bother to order one, I feel in control of my environment and I am happy.

35.6 C converts to 

96.08 F 

using rapid tables

35.6°C×9/5+32

= 96.08°F

This was taken after swimming because the desk was not manned on arrival.

You have the conversion chart.

If you take a photo or write down your temperature two or three days running you will know what is your normal temperature.

So, now you know, too.

Happy swimming, shopping, travelling.

In Singapore you can say thank you and goodbye in English. However, the other four official languages are Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, and Tamil, which you will hear in anouncements on the underground called the MRT. You might like to learn a little of the languages commonly used in coutnries you hope to visit this year or next year, at very least to recognize hello, thank you and goodbye.

Useful Websites On Thermometer Temperature Conversion

https://www.almanac.com/content/temperature-conversion

https://www.mathsisfun.com/temperature-conversion.html

https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/temperature/celsius-to-fahrenheit.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_swimming

Author

Angela Lansbury

https://www.facebook.com/angela.lansbury.121

https://www.facebook.com/groups/polygotcommunity/

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogs

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/04/how-to-say-thank-you-in-several.html

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/05/introducing-yourself-in-english-spanish.html

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2020/01/second-set-of-portuguese-words.html Please share links to your favourite posts

https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club

translate.google.com

duolingo.com

How Do I Photograph Groups And Individuals At Clubs and Events and Add Captions

Problem
Pictures come out blurred or with unwanted people and funny faces.

Answer
If you take pictures unobtrusively from the back of the room at night with just a mobile phone, even an iphone, you are likely to end up with blurred pictures. So get in closer. (Or buy a better camera with more pixels.)

Close-ups and Timing
Take a few close-ups. Do this at the end of the meeting with a self-captioning photo, a certificate with the person's name and event, a sign showing the club or business logo, the venue or restaurant name. Better still, photograph at the meeting start, because people may want to rush off, and so do you. You may now find you are too far away and need to take an empty seat further forward, take the place of somebody who leaves the room, or stand in the aisle (against the wall so as not to block the fire exit - or you might get asked to move).

Don't Wave
Once the meeting starts, you can take photos surreptitiously of the audience and president or person introducing the meeting. Turn off sound so your shutter click does not annoy the person being photographed nor disturb those alongside you.

To get a person who is pacing the stage, walking up and down and walking side-to-side, you can either keep taking several photos, or try to get them as they walk away. Why? Because you find a delay in taking the photo. If you try to take them facing you, they have turned away by the time you log in with your password. So try to take them when they are facing away then agains as they turn and you should get one.

Smile, Please!
I have tried waving at the audience to get their attention, when somebody else is talking on stage so I can't shout, 'Look this way', or 'Cheese!' Last time I tried, waving worked with the group on the right of the room. However, the group on the left followed a person in the front row who waved back. That meant a lot of blurred hands. Win some, lose some.

Signs Needed
I need a set of cards with the words:

Smile for photo.

Keep still.

Unfold your arms.

Move bags under chairs.

I used to take a lot of photos to be sure of getting one perfect shot. I would take up to twenty of each speaker. Then my phone memory on both my mobile and my laptop got too full.

Now I take fewer photos. If somebody is sitting looking bad, I can cut them out of a group photo, or send it. I had one Club President who kept demanding that I delete pictures if she shut her eyes or did not look good. She wanted me to take and send videos which I could not upload. Eventually, I ran out of time and patience. I took just one or two photos, not twenty. I took no video, except with her camera.

I often spend up to three hours trying to send the photos out immediately, the same day or evening or the morning after. After that, if they complain, I shall say, 'I only take a photo. It's up to you to make sure you always look good.'

At the next meeting, I shall ask to make a one-minute announcement. If they object that they don't have time, I shall tell the organizer, 'It's a legal requirment because of data protection.'

I shall tell the audience whether the photos are likely to go on the club's own website or on Facebook. I shall ask them to raise their hands if they don't want to be included. If anybody replies (rare) I ask them to sit at the right hand side so they can be cut out of the photo. They can also hold the agenda in front of their face, when I raise my hand silently to show I am taking a photo. I then count to three with my fingers, three fingers, two fingers, one thumbs up.

I can demonstrate my mime signals by miming:
smile (big grin); lift corners of mouth with right-hand finger
Don't frown (draw finger across right eyebrow
unfold arms (demo)
Keep still (I move ten freeze).

Editing
If I have two photos I send out only the best one. The club President or person in the front row or centre of the row should be smiling.

If somebody is looking bad, I can rectify this with a serious or funny caption.

Too Serious?
Sometimes every looks glum. For example, my only photo of the Area Director shows her with her hand covering her mouth. Behind her, the President is sitting frowning. A shy guest is cowering at the back. Another photo has a club VIP at the back because he was meeter and greeter - and he complained he couldn't hear. With some diplomacy and euphermismsI can label those photos with euphemisms and praise, using one or more of the following captions:

Area director, S ..., in pensive mood.

President M ... , listening intently to the debate.
President M, a local school governor, sits at the back to better observe proceedings.
P, a Past President, sits at the back, checking and advising on voice projection.

Guest, hiding, looks like he is trying not to be picked on!

The audience taking the proceedings seriously.

Er - You Can't Be Serious
On other occasions at a Christmas party I have grins, everybody leaning at odd angles, wearing silly hats, looking drunk and disorderly. I am looking for a photo to show we are a professional club, aiming at excellence, so what can I do?

I have to give some thought to a suitable caption. Maybe I should stick to the truth. For example:

1 After weeks of hard work and winning Area contests, the group enjoy a Christmas party.
2 After the evening's serious speeches, we gather for food and drink and a 'fun shot!'

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Member of Harrovians and HOD Speakers' clubs in London, England, and previously Bradell Heights Advanced Club, Singapore and other Singapore clubs when moving from one area to another to live.

Light Relief - writing poems whilst travelling

Problem
How to pass the time during a delay? How to see the funny side? How to make good use of your time? I write comic poetry and when I remember and feel inspired I write poems about problems. I met a Singapore Airlines pilot at a toastmasters International meeting and said I would give him a poem, but our paths did not cross again. He was always away flying. However, for your entertainment, here's a new reproduction of my poem.

Answer
To be performed wearing a cap with gold buttons.

The Pilot Speaking
by Angela Lansbury

"This is your co-pilot speaking
I promise we're leaving on time
I know you feel like you're dying
Just breathe deeply, and you'll be fine ..."

"This is your co-pilot speaking
I'm sorry about the delay
If you look out of the windows
You'll see goat herds on the runway

"We don't usually tell you
When we see a snake on the plane
I lift my feet in the cockpit
Calmly sigh, 'Oh no - not again!'

"Whilst I am waiting for the vet
I announce, 'We're waiting for parts ...'
I send for vets - and two doctors
Mine quickly checks my waltzing heart!

"We know you've paid lots of money
We pretend complaints don't cause stress
Altitude makes food taste funny
Crew clean toilets, they do their best

"I have you enjoy a pleasant flight
A safe journey, a lovely day
Remember whilst you have a holiday
We're working, driving, smiling, all day."

Copyright Angela Lansbury
April 21 2017

Quick facts
Single animals or whole herds can get onto fenced or unfenced runways, especially in Africa.
Snakes on the plane have happened several times - either in passenger area or cockpit. Planes from some destinations are checked for stowaways - local wildlife which slithers in. Animals and reptiles and pets can also escape when carried officially or unofficially in luggage, or hidden under the passenger's clothes.

Snakes on a plane
Wikipedia:
The (movie) story is credited to David Dalessandro, a University of Pittsburgh administrator and first-time Hollywood writer. He developed the concept in 1992 after reading a nature magazine article about Indonesian brown tree snakes climbing onto planes in cargo during World War II.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker, entertainer.