Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Is the bird alive?

The young man was at the end of his training, soon he would go on to be a teacher. Like all good pupils, he needed to challenge his teacher and to develop his own way of thinking.

He caught a bird, placed it in one hand and went to see his teacher.

'Teacher, is this bird alive or dead?'

His plan was the following: if his teacher said 'dead', he would open his hand and the bird would fly away. If the answer was 'alive', he would crush the bird between his fingers; that way the teacher would be wrong whichever answer he gave.

'Teacher, is the bird alive or dead?' he asked again.

'My dear student, that depends on you,' was the teacher's reply.

Source: Paulo Coelho Warrior of Light

Wotif insults good customers.. crazy stuff


Melbourne Bay View Hotel Tuesday April 21st...

I have prepaid on http://www.wotif.com/ which until now has been my favourite accommodation website, and I am standing at the Reception Counter and the clerk is asking to "photocopy my drivers licence" to keep on file in case my credit card payment to wotif is reversed.

I have been a customer of wotif for 4 or 5 years and have spent $10k's on accommodation without problem.

But looking deeper - would you give someone a copy of your drivers licence, for a payment made to someone else, when they have just swiped your card for "incidentals" ??? THEY HAVE TO BE CRAZY and you are CRAZIER if you would do it.

I demanded that they ring wotif and they checked their records - yes I have used them MANY MANY TIMES without problem... yes, I can get to sleep without leaving my credit card and drivers licence details to get a room I have PREPAID for!!

Bloody crazy... how to piss off a good customer.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Maybe I didn’t work hard enough at my last job but


I can work. I like to work. Maybe I didn’t work hard enough at my last job but I have learned. I skated and shouldn’t of. I know that now. My rent is due.

My gf says if I don’t get a job fast, she’ll throw my ass out. She will too, she’s like that. So, please. I can’t live with my parents again. I hate that look they give me. They try to be nice, but CripesSake, gimme a break.

Last job, my boss was hard to take. Full of himself, you know the type. I just couldn’t put up with his BS. I must be growing up, I could take it now better. I am getting tired of Oprah, that man-hating beotach, there I said it. I need a job.

I am not picky. I will work hard, I promise. I’ve changed. You can count on me. I will use all my skills, not just the ones I want you to see. I won’t complain as much. I will drink the koolaid as long as it isn’t sugar free. Do you have free coffee? I need a job.

My degree is in, oh, nevermind, it doesn’t fit anyway. I learned to think for myself. God, that was the best lie, like ever, I always knew how to think. I needed more and I didn’t get it, I realize. My parents got screwed out of some serious college money, I think they know. They must. I need a job.

My boss told me exactly what I needed to do to keep my job. I knew better. My way was going to work better than his, what did he know? He’s worked for the same company for, what, 15 years? I am young, new, I have great ideas, I can make mine work, I will show him just how good and brilliant I really am. I need a job.

But then when my ideas don’t work, he blames me, can you believe it? I thought there were no bad ideas, evidently I proved otherwise. I still think those can work for you if you give me a chance. I will try your ideas first this time. You can count on me. I need a job.

What’s up with this insistence on starting exactly at 8:30? I am a morning person, always have been, I think better at night. With coffee, I can make it work for you. I need a job.

I will try to be a nice guy in the office. Just so you know, being surly is sort of my personality, you know. I like being the brooding guy, gives me a rep, you know. Chicks like it. My gf did, at first, now I think she just wants me to get a job. We don’t go to Starbucks as much any more, and I get the small dark roast, and ask for refills. She gets the latte, but if I ask for one, she says “you paying?” Those who have the money make the rules, even in the coffee shop. I will be coolest guy in the office, if that is worth anything these days.

What time is the interview? Can you make it a bit later in the day? What shall I bring? How do I find your office? Will I be meeting the person I will work for? Do you want all of this application filled out? Shall I bring my resume, I think I sent it to you? What is it, exactly, that I will be doing? What do you do there, again?

I need a job.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Business Travellers Desert Qantas maybe here is a reason


I booked a Qantas flight for one of our speakers who for one reason or another, didn't make the flight... and the very obliging Qantas lady issued a new ticket, and gained me a credit less some reissue fees and cancellation fees [nearly $80] to be used on the next flight.

So today I try to use that credit but the rules say that it must be the person who didn't make the flight, even though the ticket was purchased on a company credit card, and that person flew on a later plane which we paid in full for.

Is it any wonder why premium paying business customers [like me!] are deserting Qantas when petty rules are being enforced against what is obviously a loyal but more and more frustrated client.. a GOLD Frequent flyer [previously a Platinum Card] who publically supports Qantas.

How hard would it be the allow the credit against a ticket for the same company which will cost more, and maybe the reason why the Qantas loyally factor is maintained...

New CEO Alan Joyce, whenreporting 1750 job losses last week, said that Business and Premium travel had collapsed in last few months... with this attitude is it any wonder.

[Flt QF513 Booking 3RJI7N March 31st, 2009 Brisbane - Sydney ]

Success Is [fill in the blank] twitter responses


This morning I posed the question on Twitter:

Success is __________________ [fill in the blank] and there was an avalanche of responses. Here are just a few -

Success is being happy with what you have! 

 "Success is ___ The best revenge___" probably not the answer you're looking for - but a good one nonetheless!!!

enjoying the journey, not the destination.

Being happy with what you have doesnt stop you from wanting to be better and having more just happy with the journey

Success can never replace happiness. If your happiness is related to Success then you will be sad when you fail....

Cause life is not having what you want, but wanting what you have! 

IF YOUR HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IT MEANS YOUR SUCCESSFUL AT BEING CONTENT

Success is when people can clear up misunderstandings

Cause life is not having what you want, but wanting what you have! 

Success is defined by the person who achieves it, we all have different goals

Cause life is not having what you want, but wanting what you have! 

people are never happy with what they have they always want more its human nature.

Success is a journey. You may have been successful but unless you continue the journey you are no longer successful.

"I coulda been somebody. I coulda been a teabagger..."

Success is defined by the person who acheives it, we all have diffrerent goals ....

 Success is reaching your goals without losing your morals

 I guess you get what I was getting at. The journey is the destination. The race is the prize.

and many more....

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Heaven or Hell - Forwarding Jokes is GOOD

Joanne sent me this email, knowing that I am not that fussed by the endless stream of jokes people send but this is an exceptional story:

This explains why I forward jokes.

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.


He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading thr ough a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump.'

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

W hen they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'

'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

Soooo... Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word. Maybe this will explain.

When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes.

When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes.

When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes.

Also to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get?

A forwarded joke.

So, next time if you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile.

You are all welcome @ my water bowl anytime!