Archives

All posts for the month March, 2010

I saw a UFO too

Posted by A Blog About Nothing...Much on March 31, 2010
Posted in: Comedy. Tagged: , , . 3 comments

It seems Australia might be getting a lot more UFO sightings than usual if the recent sighting in Sydney is anything to go by.  On March 24, Sydney resident, Fiona Hartigan witnessed and took this photo of a UFO hovering overhead.

At the time I thought poppy cock, that is a spec of dirt on her windscreen or lens but after my own experience just 2 days later, well now I am not so sure.

A “UFO” tracked me all the way from the Sunshine Coast to my home last week.  I am not sure why it didn’t deviate or go off course but the evidence of the “UFO” is overwhelming as it flew almost parallel to my car for almost an hour.  I am convinced that this alien ship wanted to communicate to me some how but when I pulled into my garage and went outside, it was gone.

As you can see the “UFO” is blurred in the photo due to the incredible speed it must have been travelling at and it is obviously travelling in my direction due to the tail of the ship being at the back of it.

Disappointed the “UFO” had disappeared, I quickly raced inside and called SETI and the Airforce and neither organisation could back up my story.  Obviously their radars must have been malfunctioning, possibly by the “UFO” cloaking itself or jamming their signal.

I await the arrival now of our alien neighbours and hope they bring back Elvis and Harold Holt.

Did you see this strange looking “UFO” flying over northern Brisbane on March 26 or at any other time?  Have you witnessed any strange flying objects before?  Let us all know and we can form a club!

When is a child a child?

Posted by A Blog About Nothing...Much on March 28, 2010
Posted in: General. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

When you turn 18 you are considered an adult.  Therefore, below the age of 18 you must be classified as a child.  Right?  Wrong!  At least not in the eyes of some of Australia’s largest companies who will charge adult rates for children with some starting this pricing structure at the tender age of 12.  Twelve and they aren’t even considered a teenager yet.

Check out this list of companies and the age that they classify when children start paying adult prices:

  • Qantas – 12
  • Virgin-Blue – 12
  • Event Cinemas – 16
  • Dreamworld – 14
  • Seaworld – 14
  • Movieworld – 14
  • Sizzler Restaurants – 13
  • P&O Cruises – 14
  • QLD Travel Trains – 16

.

So once children reach the above ages they are expected to pay the same price as an adult yet they legally cannot drink, drive, vote or join the army or police force.  They pay the same price as an adult yet don’t receive the same privileges as an adult.

When it comes to companies that are selling a seat to a person like Qantas and Event Cinema’s, nothing has changed in regards to the occupancy of that seat.  What I mean is that it doesn’t matter if the person sitting in the seat is 8 or 80, the cost is the same.  So why shouldn’t a child be afforded the child price right up until the age of 17?  Once they turn 18, they start paying the full adult fare.  From a different perspective, why give a discount for children at all?  If the service doesn’t cost any more or less irrelevant of age, then why offer a discount?  It shouldn’t matter who is occupying the chair, it’s being used.  Companies offer the discount to encourage families to use their services.  The counter argument is that if companies have to provide a discounted price to children up to the age of 17, then you would see a spike in the cost of the adult prices to cover the new discounts.

I would like to see the Australian Government have a minimum standard when it comes to child fares and pricing based on a minimum age.  Keep it consistent amongst all companies and legalise it.  This will avoid a lot of confusion for families who are never quite sure if their child is really a child when using that companies services.

What other companies are out there that start charging adult prices below the age of 18?  What is the lowest age you have seen when a child is classified as an adult?

The Engagement Present

Posted by A Blog About Nothing...Much on March 27, 2010
Posted in: General. Tagged: , , , . 2 comments

Recently I attended an engagement party.  On the invite it asked for money instead of a gift via the form of a poem.  Now I understand that in today’s day and age, weddings are expensive and generally the bride’s parents don’t always pay for the ceremony and reception as has happened in years gone by.  What I want to know is. Why do you reward a couple with an engagement present and then again with the wedding present?

Shouldn’t they get the wedding present only as a reward for actually making it to the marriage ceremony?  How many engagements get called off before getting anywhere near the altar?  How many toasters, woks and irons have never been used in the intended marital home only to be argued over and sometimes used as weapons when the engagement ends badly?

Have a think about it.  How many people do you know who have gotten engaged only to cancel their engagement?  I can think of a few who fall into this category.  What happens in this case?  Do they return the gifts given to them at the engagement party?  Don’t you only give an engagement present on the presumption that the wedding will 100% take place eventually down the track?  Should you expect the present back?

To me, the engagement present is over rated.  Sure, have an engagement party.  The couple who are getting married should have the attitude of – Come along and celebrate as it is a very big deal for us but don’t pay for the privilege (unless paying for your own meal and drinks which is ok).  Just being there for our engagement should be enough.  But when (if) we have the wedding, we will really appreciate your gift whether it be physical or financial.

Let me be clear that I am not saying this to be cheap.  It has nothing to do with the value of the supposed engagement present.  My issue is that a couple should only get rewarded with a gift for actually getting married.  That is when the real reward should be given.

What do you think?  Is it acceptable to ask for a money gift for an engagement present?  Should an engagement present be given at all?  Have you gone to an engagement party and not given a present? Keen to hear your thoughts.

My Recurring Dream

Posted by A Blog About Nothing...Much on March 26, 2010
Posted in: Jack in Real Life, Music. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

I generally dream a bit but I never have a recurring dream except for one and John Farnham is the star of it.

John Farnham

It’s never the same dream but it does follow a similar pattern.  Farnham is on stage, always at an outside venue similar to the Under the Stars concerts usually performed at the Wineries.  I am always off to the side, back stage and in the dreams, Farnham and I are friends.  Often he gets me out on stage and sing with him and the song is normally “That’s Freedom”.

After the concert is finished, we leave the venue and he and I and the entire band and crew go back to Farnham’s ranch or estate and we party.

What changes is the venue each time. It’s never looked the same in each dream.  Also, Farnham’s estate changes. Once, now that I remember, the after concert get together was held in a small town’s coffee shop.

I always feel welcome in the dream and part of the Farnham Team.

Now for some facts:

I am a HUGE John Farnham fan.  I have been ever since he released Whispering Jack in 1986.

I have been to approx 10 Farnham concerts since then.

I own every Farnham album released since 1986 and some older albums as well except his 50th Birthday album.

I’ve seen Farnham perform twice outdoors.  In 1989 on the Gold Coast at the old Seagulls Stadium with Darryl Braithwaite supporting and the second time was 2004 at Barossa Under the Stars.

“That’s Freedom” is one of my favourite Farnham songs and one of the songs I want played at my funeral.

I can’t sing.  Not even a little bit.  I sound bloody awful and there is no way that Farnham would ever have me on stage.

I don’t have any aspirations to sing in front of a crowd.  Actually that is a mistruth.  If I had to, the one song I could see myself rocking out to is “Eve of Destruction” by the Screaming Jets.  It’s a great rock and roll song.  So why aren’t I dreaming about The Screaming Jets?

I’ve had this dream approx 5 times over the past 12 months.  I can’t explain it or work out what it means.  If there are any dream analysers out there I would be keen to hear what you have to say.

Have you had any recurring dreams?  Wanna share with us?  Ever had a dream come true?