From 2011 to 2012

So here we are closing out 2011 and entering 2012.

My plans for 2012 include much, much ... much more blogging action so stay tuned for that, if you care to.

But for now I'm just going to leave you with this thought (even though I try not to make new years resolutions myself), which I'm borrowing from the very funny Jim Gaffigan

"My new years resolution? I will be less laz"

Have a happy and prosperous beginning to 2012 all :)

Sham on ... shame on me

Forgive me followers, for I have sinned. It's been over 3 months since my last confession. But now my conscience is clear and my mind is full of thoughts, opinions and stories to share. So even if the only people who read this thing are me and my dear mother, I'm getting back on the blog horse! 
... Join me for a ride?

Transcript of the Twin Toddlers Talk

Watch this video

So these two guys were having an intense conversation over something apparently quite important. Awfully cute!

But wouldn’t you just love to know what they are saying to each other ... what the world was going on inside their little brains? Lucky for all of you I can understand ‘baby’ – although I can’t speak it very well – and can translate the rambling conversation for you right now. I have even included the video timeline so you can more easily associate the actions with the dialogue.  

0:02 Baby 1 (B1) Hey man, what’s going on?

0:05 Baby 2 (B2) Nothing bro I’m just fooling around doing some stretches before I have a brew.

0:07 Oh that reminds me, I was in the locker room at the gym the other day and you know Greg Pritchell that really fat white guys who thinks he’s gonna be a sumo wrestler or whatever?

0:14 B2 He he, yeah

0:16 B1 Yeah, well he was in there trying to show us all his moves like stomping his feet and waving his arms around and yelling ‘war cries’ like a retarded Caucasian Kung-Fu Panda.

0:20 B2 Ha ha ... wait wait was it like this *mimics actions*

0:23 B1 Yeah exactly! So anyway I tell him, “listen man that’s kinda racist you need to show some respect for those professional athletes and stop mocking them” … you know, just yanking his chain a little.

0:28 B2 he he yeah

0:29 B1 And HE goes “how dare you accuse me of mocking my Sumo, I would never disrespect my Japanese Sumo heritage”

0:33 B2 *hold up hand* wait what?? Pritchell said “MY sumo Japanese Sumo heritage?”

0:36 B1 Yeah, he thinks he actually IS a Sum from Japan or something so I’m like whoa, whoa, whoa whaaaaaaat the face?

0:40 B2 No, no no this is crazy talk!

0:43 B1 I know tell me about it man ... unbelievable hey!

0:47 B2 he he he

0:48 At this point they seem to pause for a moment and kind of let that crazy concept sink in – possibly thinking about all the fun they could have at this guy’s expense.

0:50 B1 So what do you think we should do, start calling him “Pritchellson”?

0:53 B2 Yeah and when we see him be like “Wax on” *waving arm*

0:55 B1 … *also waving arm* and “Wax off” and “catch that fly in your chop sticks Pritchellson”

0:58 B2 he he he

Then suddenly B2 just says …

1:01 B2 maybe we should just karate his arse! *does karate chop motion*

1:05 B2 … You down with that?

1:07 B1 Do you mean for real … *moves closer to B2* … like just jump him and beat him up to teach him a lesson?

1:14 B2 he he

1:15 B1 Your really serious about this?

1:17 B2 Ha no, no, no I was only playing, Prtichell’s alright

1:19 B1 Oh man, thank goodness! You had me going there for a moment. I was thinking, why the heck would we risk our University scholarships with that?

1:27 B2 No, no! I’d never risk my Cal Berkeley Rugby scholarship.

1:29 B1 Yeah man! Because we’re gonna be USA Rugby superstars *turns to the camera for some reason* we’re gonna be making plays and scoring trys …

1:32 B2 … “and breaking necks” *B2 says in the background as he makes a stomping motion*

1:34 *B1 turns back to B2* Well there you go getting all violent again bro. You gotta keep a lid on that. What’s the deal?   

1:38 B2 No, no I was just kidding again. Man you’re too easy to rile up

1:41 *B2 reaches out a hand in supportive reassurance*

1:42 *B1 extends a hand back* … I know, but you’re always provoking me. Why do you do that so much?

1:47 B2 Maybe I should just karate chop you (*more karate chopping motions*) for being such a pansy, he he.

1:50 B1 Well maybe I’ll just pick up the TV (*acting out his threat*) and drop it on your head!

1:53 B2 No way champ! I’ll climb up on the fridge and … and … *stops climbing* (to apparently taste the fridge handle)

1:57 B1 what the hell are you doing bro?! You know you’re scared of heights and probably just get dizzy half way up and fall and hurt yourself.

2:01 B2 No, no I got this

2:03 B1 You’ll be splattered all over the kitchen floor and make a big mess I’ll have to clean up and I’m not going to let that …

Unfortunately the video cuts off right there. But as you can see they were just taking their animated argument into a potentially even more expressive and funnier realm.

If only there were more videos and written tales of these ostentatious twin brothers available.

But wait what’s this? … A link! http://www.twinmamarama.com/

Thanks for sharing Randall family J

I Think I Got a Lemon

Ok, so some of you would have seen this already, but for those of you who haven’t check out the video below. It goes for a while but I’m sure you’ll get the gist of it after just a few moments.

Yes this is … was a real US$250,000+, 2008-ish Lamborghini Gallardo and no it was not just some big corporation publicity stunt … sort of.

Apparently this successful Chinese entrepreneur was fed up with repeatedly having to attempt to fix, the mechanically problematic engine and was so disappointed with the service he received from an authorized Lambo dealer – the car was returned to him with bumps and scratches and with the engine running worse than before – that he hired a team of hard-hat wearing, Smurf-blue jump suited minions to take to the body of the Italian supercar he paid closer to £300,000 with sledge hammers (made in China I bet). The owner himself, one Han Nan (bravo Mr. and Mrs. Nan … took your time coming up with that name didn’t you?) even vented his frustration with a few swings of the hammer, much to the both shock and delight of the crowd.

The philosophy behind this decision revolved around making a statement to Lamborghini and the authorized dealer on ‘World Consumer Rights Day’ (who knew that existed?!?). Whether it would garner any sort of positive outcome for Mr. Nan remains to be seen.

My thoughts you ask? Well my first reaction was “Noooooooooooo!”

My second set of thoughts focused on the belief that there HAD to be a less destructive way to display your customer service dissatisfaction. Here are a few I thought in the time it took for the Smurf minion to reduce that supercar’s body into scrap metal:

• Write an angry letter to Audi AG and the Volkswagen Group – who actually own Lamborghini now
• Post a contemptuous but comical song video about Lamborghini on Youtube
• Blog about it on your personal blogspot.com site
• Telephone a customer service rep and call them a douche bag if they won’t personally send you a new Gallardo
• Go back to the dealer and get all Kung-Fu Panda on their ass until they get it right
• Stalk then kidnap Stephan Winkelmann (CEO of Lamborghini) and demand a new Gallardo as ransom
• Go trade your Lambo in for a Chery A1 (Google it)
• Just Don’t ... repeat DON’T do anything to the car!

But you want to know the real message Mr. Nan sent to the world? That Chinese business people and entrepreneurs are getting so rich on the back of a strengthening and soon-to-be-overtaking-US economy that they can treat US$250,000 supercars like a microwave that stopped heating properly after 4 months that Walmart wouldn’t allow Bobby-Ray to return.

So while I hate to see such a thing of beauty destroyed in the name of public spectacle, Kudos to you Han Nan for trying to stand up to “the Man” … even if all you get out of it is 5 minutes of fame and a slap in the face to the Western Economy.   

The "Impossible" miss? ... noooooooot quite

It’s been a busy at work so far this week so I’ve not had time to construct a decent rant about – though I do have several anecdotes ready to go when time permits. But here is something I saw this morning that I couldn’t help but share as a follow up to my Soccer-bashing session the other day.

Yeah … just to put this “epic fail”, as they called it, into perspective – this guy is paid Millions (most probably) of dollars to do the exact OPPOSITE of what we just witnessed … twice in a row!

Soccer = the world league of overpaid, fo-talented, over acting, whining, pre-Madonnas!

Ok ... I'll leave the poor guys alone now ;) 

Matthew 24:7-8 & 21

It’s Saturday afternoon and I’ve just returned from walking the kids (you know what I mean). That means its prime blogging time – the perfect time to put into words, or video, an interesting, humorous or annoying observation from this past week. But for some reason it doesn’t seem appropriate the piss and moan about sports results, or discuss the circumstances surrounding the very likely possibility of a 2011-2012 NFL lockout, or share with you my brief but amusing encounter with a quintessentially ‘Las Vegas’ drunken reveler in the lobby of the Treasure Island (hotel) at 6:30am Friday morning – not with everything that is going on in the world.

It might be better to leave all those things for another time and instead just reserve some time to reflect on the current state of things and to pray. Pray for those who are trying to survive ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Libya, and cope with recent disaster in Queensland, in Christchurch, in Japan, in New York (crazy bus accident just today), and all around the World. Pray for those closer to us on a personal level – our friends and family members – who are dealing with financial or health or relationship concerns. And of course pray that we ourselves will recognize these things as a chance to gain perspective on what is really important … or perhaps realize what should be most important … in our earthly lives.

Every generation of Seventh-Day Adventism since the denomination began probably had many who felt that the 2^nd coming would happen during their lifetime – based on apocalyptic world events such these. At this moment I don’t think I’m in that segment of my generation, but one thing I’m certain of ... God doesn’t want to see everything He created suffering from these things beyond they can bear and He WILL come back to put an end to it one day!

Revelation 21:4

Don't Deport the Messenger

Please do yourself a favor and watch this Youtube video. I’m sure some of you have already seen it before, but I was reminded of it today and thought it would be prudent to take it in again. Hopefully it will serve a duel purpose in lifting our spirits through laughter, but also increasing our trepidation for the future of the world through a realization that these people and their perspectives are startlingly real.

I like living in America and wish to remain here as a resident so I’ll leave my opinion it at that.

Just watch and form your own judgment. Oh, and although it may seem absurd in the early stages be ready for when the interviewer brings out the map. From there on through to the end it manages to reach another gear of ridicularity (another made-up word I’ll claim) and awesomeness:  

I’ll leave you with one final observation – my favorite line:

Bloke “I have no intelligent guess”. Interviewer’s response “Ok, what about a stupid guess?” J

This Guy ...also Funny with a Capital U

Greetings all,

It takes a real man to admit when he’s not actually the funniest person around. But because I’m not enough of a man to do that I’m just going to introduce this fellow blogger as ‘another funny fellow’.

Click on the link below to enjoy this particular (obviously sarcastic) blog of Mr. Rob Delaney regarding potential baby names for his first child. It’s best to imagine having to call the name out into the backyard, or a public place like a shopping center to get the attention of the (unlucky) tyke:

http://robdelaney.tumblr.com/post/3346553845/help-me-name-my-baby-xoxo

Some of my favorites on the list were Fnigginz, Pocean, Clap Clap, Shith, Goat Boat and of course Sortof.

What were some of yours?

The Game Played in Heaven ... and the one they'll be stuck playing 'Down South' (if you know what I mean)

The Super Rugby season is upon us to much my immense delight. The days of watching millionaire football players wearing helmets, pads, cups, towels, play books, ear pieces and black eyeliner move for a few seconds before a 1/2 minute break have given way to evenings watching real men protected only by uniforms, mouth guards and a smattering of sports tape smash each other for 80 full minutes under the guise of an organized ball game, all the while being paid a sum that proves they participate more for love than money.

I have such respect for the game and its players that I’d choose to watch a game of Rugby over any other sport save for Australian Rules Football which is basically in the same class of masculinity and dedication. And speaking of respect for a game and its players – I have almost none for most levels of Soccer (baring International during World Cup time, and even then my interest is tested) and here is a prime example of why:

Yes you indeed just saw a (presumably highly) paid professional athlete act like a 7 year old play fighting with his 8 year old brother in the back seat of the family sedan. Childish, petty, and as we’ll soon remember ‘Loco’ behavior unfit for a professional sporting arena – or so we’d like to believe.

And the worst part is - he got away with it!    (Bad parenting Mr. referee)

Though we can’t fully understand what the commentators are saying – if any of you can I’m interested to know all that was said between them – we can make out their surprised laughter at the absolute silliness of the circumstances. At one point one of the commentators says “Loco” (I at least know that means crazy). Agreed my South American friend, that is absolute bat s**t crazy right there!

But wait ... did I also catch an “E Spectatullllllor” from the other fellow? Perhaps he has mucho restecp (thanks Ali-G) for such an ingenious form of free kicking milkery (another word to add to my new dictionary). Because let’s face it, that is pretty much what 40% of Soccer is now days … a contest to see who can be awarded the most penalties via swan-like dives, arms upraised with heads thrown back and enough over acting to earn a gold statue. Otherwise known as deceit and cheating!

At least as the vide fades out a sting of “por favors” (I know that means please), can be heard indicating at least one of the commentators is asking for some form of sanity to be re introduced to proceedings.

But this is such a supreme case of petty deceit and cheating it leaves me flabbergasted. Flabbergasted AND at the same time glad this sport of soccer is a distant 10^th in the line of competitive team sports one can spend time watching in the coming months.

Thank goodness for a real man’s sport like Rugby (check out the top video in the sidebar to the right for an easy to understand illustration of soccer and its players vs Rugby) where and act like that would be laughed off as the silliness that it is. Well … unless your name is Bakkies Botha (Russ Fox knows what I mean) He just got an idea ;)

It’s Raining its Pouring the Old Man is … about to Run the Gauntlet Home

It’s raining in So Cal and that means trying to drive home on So Cal freeways filled with So Cal drivers who are scared of the rain and have NO IDEA how to drive in it! An explanation of that statement to follow at a later moment.

If I make it home safely and in one piece I’ll tell you the tale of my harrowing journey

Wish me luck!

Fate foretold by my Galactic Horoscope, Randomly Fortuitous, or an Act of God?

This morning I was late to work.

To be more specific I was late to work because I left later than usual, because I woke up later than planned, because my alarm didn’t go off, because my mobile phone was powered down, because the battery had died, because stuff like that can sometimes happens, right. But why?

Lately my phone battery life has been getting shorter and shorter. But last night when I went to sleep it had at least 25-30% battery life remaining (just switched over to battery code level ‘orange’) – which is actually a pretty typical night-time scenario. It has often proven to be able to stay powered all night when left alone at 20-30% battery life. So why then did it fail me last night/this morning?  

This is where the mind starts getting all big picture and “what’s it all mean” on your arse.  

Is that just a lucky/unlucky random event?

Was I Supposed to be late for work?

Or more specifically was I supposed to be driving to work later than usual?

Is this the handiwork of God and if so is he protecting me from something?

Would I have gotten into an automobile accident had I left at the ‘usual’ time?

And why is my head hurting now? J

Do any of you ever think in such a way when something unscheduled or slightly out of the ordinary happens?

Do you put it down to random chance, or are you more likely to thank God for interfering with your life, even though the positive outcome is not often blatantly apparent?  

I'm curious to know

P.S. while your thinking about it - check out the top video in the YouTube videobar to the right :)

Driving Thought for the Day

Why is it when someone is walking down the aisle handling a shopping trolley or a pram and someone else gets in the way it’s a usually polite “excuse me” (with the except of my friend the Wal-Mart lady), whereas putting the same person behind the wheel of a car and moving the scenario to the roadway suddenly turns into “F*** you!”?

Seriously, how much does getting behind the wheel of a car change a person’s attitude or demeanor?   

Super Bowl Sunday Spectacular ... and that

Well the Super-hyper-awesome-turbo-max-world-Bowl is done and dusted for another year and it must be said it was an interesting game with the deserving team crowned World Champions (that’s right somehow the winner of the “National” Football League in somehow henceforth known as the ‘World’ champion’) but enough about the game – how good were the Superbowl Ads this year!!

Big thumbs up for the creative and funny Ads from Pepsi Max, Snickers, Volkswagen, and – in my opinion – the Super Bowl Ad World Champions … Doritos. In case you missed any of them (or happen to live in another country where such Ads are not broadcast) here are some of the best:

Volkswagen 'The Force':

Snickers 'You're not you when your hungry':

 

Pepsi Max 'First Date':

Bridgestone 'Reply All':

Doritos 'House Sitting':

And the Winner of Super bowl 2011 Advertising (in my opinion) is Doritos 'Office':

This last Ad may not have been as funny and clever as what you just saw, but it does feature something I am personally quite familiar with which makes it one of the “oh man I know that place, I’ve been there” TV situations. It was filmed at the local Rotolo Chevrolet here in Fontana only a few blocks from work and where I get my Commodore dressed in Pontiac’s clothing serviced. Note the stunning snow capped mountains in the background. That’s real So Cal snow people.

So well done to the Green Bay Packers and their star quarterback and my fantasy football hero Aaron Rogers and congratulations to Doritos, the un disputed Super Ad World Champions J

Bonza Australia Day!

G’day. This Wensdy Arvo this is what you gotta do:

Be a Weet-Bix Kid and have some Vegemite (preferably Marmite) on toast for Brekkie, go hang your Daks and Trakkies out on the Hills Hoist, throw on your Bonds Undies, Yakka navy blue Stubby Shorts, Ugg Boots, Akubra (hat), Sunnies and some Rid to keep the Mozzies and the Blowys away. Yell ‘Come on Aussie’, and ‘Aussie-Aussie-Aussie' to ya neighbours (spelled proppa with a ‘u’!) and expect the 'Oi-Oi-Oi’ in return then tell ‘em they’re True Blue. Go to the Esky and crack open a Tinny or a Stubby – VB, XXXX, Carlton, Tooheys, or Bundy Ginger Beer for the Sevys, Chuck another Shrimp, Snag and Rack ‘a Lamb on the Barbie (or slice of Nutmeat for those Wuss Vego Sevs), have another Lamington and Arnotts Bikki and some more Pavlova. Go see your red-head Mate Bluey, and that Bogan Brickie Bloke you know from the Bush past Brizzie - way out Woop Woop. If you find a Pommy tell him he’s a Wanker and to ‘Rack Off’. Blokes give your Sheilas a cuddle but don’t be a Sook and try not to Crack a Fat. Sheilas give your Bloke a Pash and tell him Goon Oya for being Heaps Ocker – today that will mean a lot J Play some Akka Dakka and John Williamson (watch the top clip on the video bar to the right and try to keep a dry-eye if You're OZ I dare ya) while you have a kick of the Footy … and just be a Fair Dinkum Bludger and think No Worries all day, cause you're an OZ and Bloody proud of it!

Do it for your Cobber Grant.

Bloody Oath!

Fountain Lady Fail

Watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOBZmNVgOz0

Now, assuming you’re not still laughing hysterically or muttering all sorts of “what-the-hey-is-going-on-there-are-so-many-things-wrong-with-this-situation” rhetorical questions under your breath like I was when I first watched it, please observe my observations on why this whole thing is both hilarious and scary.

Let us revisit some of the classic moments in this interview and break down what in the world wide web is really going on here.

Note that she is comically referred to as “Tumbling Texter” in the lower graphic/banner thingy around the 1:23 mark. Someone at ABC deserves a raise for that witty wordplay.

Fountain Lady (FL): “I fell, I fell … in the fountain, I fell in the fountain” (she said to a “kind lady”, local store manager she says). Let this statement and the event associated with it be known henceforth as Exhibit A.

Cleverly and subtly mocking ABC News Interviewer (CI): “What was so important about this text”? I think we can all agree this is a very valid question.

FL:  “She was just asking me for my birth date and my husband’s birth date. I just said let me text her back, quickly … quickly was that … I was in the fountain.” Gold! Pure, albeit accidental on her part, comedic gold. By this stage I’m laughing and shaking my head and can tell this is going to be a great interview and definitely deserves to be shared the world over.

FL: “Well I’m hoping nobody saw me”. Thank all things humorous that you were gravely mistaken about that hey Mrs. Tumbling Texter.

Soon after we find out she called mall security to let them know she was a mall employee – right after her nephew alerted her to the fact this vide had gone ‘Viral’. So we can fairly assume this secret Mensa member must have known full well that the fountain was there – and had probably been there for some time, but also that it posed a minor encumbrance to pedestrians. I mean, would it be wrong to assume she had probably successfully navigated a path past or around it dozens or more times before this fateful day?!?

FL: “I didn’t get an apology over the phone neither. That wasn’t nice what your people did.” Yeah mall, how dare you build a stationary fountain and expect people to walk around it instead of into it! No, but seriously she is actually referring to the security personnel who a) laughed at the footage when they watched it over and over again and b) thought it was funny enough that it should be shared with the rest of the world – and to them I say thanks mall security for being generous with the amusement, you made our day J

Mall Representative as quoted by the Tumbling Texter: “We’ll try to take drastic measures.” To what, erect excessive signage alerting shoppers to the fact there is an obvious and immovable fountain present!? Educate pedestrians on the perilous dangers associated with unsuccessfully navigating huge static objects by distributing flyers and setting up video monitors all around the mall?! Initiate a massive PR campaign to create public awareness for the barely any many victims of mall fountain falling in the United States annually. Or maybe they just mean they will hire security personnel who have absolutely no sense of humor and without desire to share laughter in the future.

Enter the stereotypical smooth-talking, slick looking, ‘in-all-seriousness’ Lawyer (Tool): “Certainly we intend to hold all responsible parties accountable … certainly requesting an explanation as to how this happened, why it happened …” Umm, I think I can solve this open and shut case for you right now buddy. Firstly see Exhibit A. Then look to your right. Do you see that poor bewildered lady sitting next to you? Ask HER how this happened, why it happened!!

Ok, I do understand he means how and why the footage was leaked to the public. But once again – see Exhibit A, it’s funny stuff and people like to see funny stuff! He continues his boring rant.

Tool: “We suspect that an official within the security office at the mall, uh, viewed the footage and allowed the footage to be videotaped onto a cell phone and it was that cell phone video that ended up being posted on YouTube.” Blah blah blah. Let me tell you what he left out. How much the official probably laughed his arse off when he saw the video for the first time, how many of his mates he showed this to prior to and after “allowing the footage to be blah blah”, and how many thousands of views the YouTube video and all these stupid talk show interviews are going to get – to really drive the embarrassment further.  

CI: “But meanwhile the whole world is watching this on YouTube and television stations, our show.” At least it looks like the supreme irony of showing the footage again and again and asking her questions like “when did you realize you had had a terrible fall” and “what was so important about this text” is not lost on this guy. Yes it is a silly, humorous situation being blown terribly out of proportion and yes, even your show is portraying this way – albeit more subtly than most others.

But this is news not because a poor shopper helplessly fell into a shoddy fountain and sustained an otherwise avoidable injury. This is news because a distracted and incompetent mall pedestrian fell into a fountain, got busted doing so on security footage which was ‘allowed’ to get to the general public (this public ‘leak’ is the focus of the legal BS) and has now experienced – what do they call it – ‘emotional distress/trauma’ from the embarrassment of half the population of the western world seeing how it happened. Embarrassment that will only be viewed by more and more people each time she parades it through a television interview!  

What’s the bet she was going to let it lie after the phone call to mall security until a lawyer with publicity and dollar signs in their eyes approaching her and convinced her to sue?  She was told what an injustice she suffered and what a terrible thing those people who shared the video did and quickly coached on how to emote and what to say during interviews.  

Your honor let the record show I am only making an assumption here and in no way insinuating that any lawyers or legal professionals put her up to it or that they ever act in any way like that at any time ever. Phew, had to put that disclaimer in there in case I get sued for having an individual thought or opinion.

Where was I? Oh yeah, I wish this event were captured on someone’s personal cell phone camera in the first place, then no one could be chasing after the mall or mall employees for any wrongdoing in sharing such a delightful act of stupidity misfortune.

But you know what the mall should do? They should counter-sue her for “misuse and potentially damaging treatment of mall property (a.k.a. the fountain) and for defamation to the reputation of the mall and for trying to sue them over an act of such clumsy stupidity in the first place!

CI: “You did learn a big lesson huh?”

FL: “absolutely, absolutely … um, Do NOT text and walk … especially to the younger generation…” Wow! I had no idea there were apparently millions of teenagers and young adults who are at risk of being unable to adequately operate a cell phone while moving and staying upright. I should think twice next time I glance down at my phone to reply to a text while I’m walking, lest a static object leap out in front of me. Oh wait, I’m 30 now ... never mind L

Here is another take on the situation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0RA9Pw6Z2o

Note the very apt title of this video “Texting Fountain Lady, So Embarrassed that she goes on National TV for her 15 minutes of fame”.

FL: “When I went to work and saw how they laughed and the comments that they made I didn’t think it was funny”. WRONG lady it is hilarious!!! J

CNN Announcer (toward the end of the video): “There was no reason for that video to get out” … umm yes there was … Exhibit A ... and the fact that its HILARIOUS!!!

And here is one final observation. Go back and watch the video again. Notice how many people are visible in close proximity (within “splash” earshot) to the fountain and our friend the Tumbling Texter at the moment of splashdown. By my count there are 5 ... 7 including the custodian in the foreground and the shopper who ambles into view toward the end of the ‘side view’ camera. Now – how many people do you observe even notice anything happened? What does this say about our individualistic and ‘I’m too busy minding my own business’ society.

Nah just kidding … let’s not get all philosophical … it’s just a shame they missed out on witnessing such an amusing moment! ;)

AWOL?

G'day folks. My apologies for not holding up my end of the bargain and blogging as much as we'd all like to see. Rest assured however that my tiny little brain has been storing up all sorts of stories, scenarios and situations that happened recently of which I'm going to share with you ... soon.

Stay tuned for more ... please :)
And in the mean time look to the right and click on the YouTube links to view scenes from my favrotie movie of 2010: Scott Pilgrim vs the World, starring our hilarious anti-macho-man friend Michael Cera.

Alpha Bravo Charlie ... those Delta guys are actually alright

So a few weeks ago I went off on a bit of a rant about how frustrating our experience with Delta and their customer service was during holiday travel. While I’m not usually almost always one to rant prematurely on this occasion I feel I should print a retraction.

We got caught up in the moment. We were tired and a little frustrated at the time, having just “deplaned” as they call it now, from a tiresome red eye flight from California to Atlanta. As my previous entry states we only just missed our connection – although I must admit I observed a notice during our return flight indicating that passengers must be at the gate 10 mins prior to take off … we were there maybe 4 mins prior so technically we were too late to make the plane – and were delayed 1.5 hours. But you know what … that short delay was the worst thing that happened all weekend and if THAT’s the worst thing that happened during our travels for the entire weekend we should be thankful – especially considering the hundreds of people whose flights were severely delayed or even cancelled. We got there safely and only a few hours late at no additional cost and we arrived home only 30 mins late at no additional cost. And with all the bad weather and heavy traveler traffic that’s a pretty good effort by the airline.

And to top it all off I received a letter in the snail mail a couple of days ago from a senior Delta representative expressing Delta’s sorrow … ok more like regret … at the inconvenience we experienced on “December 21^st on flight DL 1714” as they put it, along with a gift of 1,000 bonus frequent flyer miles as a token of their deep sadness … ok regret.

So Delta … thank you for keeping us safe during our travels and for acknowledging the frustration we felt that day. That was very ‘relational’ of you. You guys are alright! J