When is a retail store sale not a sale?

The retail sector has been complaining for months that sales are not what they expected, not as good as what they should be, people aren’t spending money like they used to.

Retailers are complaining that people are shopping online, rather than going to bricks and mortar stores.

Of course people aren’t. They are sick of being lied to, they are sick of being treated like idiots, they are sick of just being seen as a cash cow.

I had the displeasure of going into a shopping centre Wednesday the 29th December 2010, looking for nothing in particular, just to pick up some essentials and get the hell out of there.

The two retails stores I did have the displeasure of entering, both had misleading advertising, one far worse than the other, You tell me, which you think is more misleading:-

Store Number 1 – Signs on window indicate 40% off ALL stock (small print, excluding items already marked down)
Turns out 90% of items were already marked down, so no savings to be had there, and the stuff that was on special was not to my liking, nor I bet the majority of shoppers who visited the store.
Thanks Colorado – I mean 40% is meant to be 40% of majority not minority.

Store number 2 – when is 32 inches only 31.5 inches? - when you are JB Hi-Fi
Check it out



I’m sorry – but I have this ‘thing’ about honesty, integrity and truthfulness in advertising. And these two examples just prove that I’m only a cash cow and nothing more in retailers eyes.

Learn from the masses, we don’t want lies, we don’t want to be treated like idiots, we just want what is right, what is truthful and honest. We want the best price without having to haggle, we want service, we want to be acknowledged when we enter anything other than a large department store.

Make the advertising real and employ more staff, you might find we will spend more money

My Favourite photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment

I couldn;t resist the colours and waves actions in these photos, all of the exact same spot, yet so totally different
Beachport breakwater (20100924)






Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

Please visit Redbubble, perhaps there is something there you would like to purchase. Refer the photos below!

My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment


Broadbeach Jetty (20100925)

Broadbeach Jetty (20100925)

Beachport - view over the Salmon Ponds (20100923)


Sorry - I have a 'thing' for bees - enjoy (20101010)

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

Please visit Redbubble, perhaps there is something there you would like to purchase. Refer the photos below!

MY CHRISTMAS CARD (To You)

Special thanks to you all - hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and an exciting, prosperous 2011

THIS IS MY CHRISTMAS CARD AND WISHES TO YOU.

As we approach the beginning of another year - I want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am now totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

I no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, or have the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels.

I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed..hmmmm

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one's nose.

Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.

I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

I MUST ALSO SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about rat crap in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's Novena has granted my every wish.

I can't have a drink in a bar because I'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone.

I can't eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers.

I can't use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer buy petrol without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer doesn't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Fanta since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.

THANKS TO YOU I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can't ever pick up a cent dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab me as I bend over.

I no longer drive my car because buying gas from some companies supports Al Qaeda, and buying gas from all the others supports South American dictators.

I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off.

Oh, by the way..... A German scientist from Argentina , after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.

Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

PS: I now keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by e-mail that water splashes over 6 ft. out of the toilet.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year I think. Just joking keep sending them they are a joy to read.

100 Year Old Photos - Australia, The Grampians

These photos as part of this collection, they have been block mounted on card, they are speckled with age - but for 100year old photos - I suppose that is to be expected.

The above photo is of "The Wonderland Peak" 2250ft above sea level, within the National Park.

This photo is of "The Pinnacle" which is 2250ft above sea level. I believe both photos to have been taken by someone by the name of Roger, connected somehow to the James Family. Who's photo albums these belong to. If you would like to see the other photos in the collection, please follow this link. Photos from all over the world, the sub-continent, Europe between the wars. Some photos unidentified. So any help appreciated and you would be attributed with having identified the relevant photos. Australia Europe Hong Kong Unidentified Aboard the SS Otranto Enjoy

My Favourite photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment



Bees in flight (20101010)


Bees in flight (20101010)


I can't seem to resist bees! - Here is another bee - busy collecting Pollen for the hive in the back paddock.

Sunrise over Apollo Bay and the after effects of a King Tide
Taken with a Nikon D3000 (20100918)

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

Please visit Redbubble, perhaps there is something there you would like to purchase. Refer the photos below!

Telstra HTC Mozart Review 20101210 (Final Report)

My final report of the HTC Mozart

I know you’re all asking, will I continue to use the phone after the social review is over?

It’s an easy question for me to answer, but I’m going to make you do some reading first.

I went into this review with no prior knowledge of the HTC Mozart, hell I couldn’t even get the phone out of the box!

The HTC has many features that other phones don’t, I’m not sure if these could be called features or tools.

You have to remember that I do use my phone and use it well, I use it for work and little play. My phone although never far from my person is not something I have to wave around to show people that I have it.

I use the Calender as a reminder from when to get up in the morning, to when to put the bins out and who to see and when. All timed perfectly to go off, so it is impossible to forget.

Twitter the official app, does nothing for me – will try and get Snaptu downloaded as my personal preference.

The phone itself is perfect to use, perfectly weighted, a joy to interact with.

So the BIG question would I USE the HTC as my normal phone?

NO – and that is purely because of the tethering issues – without tethering I have to carry another piece of technology and life is complicated enough

Even if I did share ALL my personal information with Windows Live (thus Microsoft) I still couldn’t use the HTC because of the tethering issues.

Thanks for listening to the rant! – I hope the whole experience allowed you to see inside my mind and thus the HTC Mozart

Telstra Exchange

“I have been given a HTC Mozart with Windows 7 Phone by Telstra free of charge to review. The comments expressed by me reflect my own user experience and personal opinion and are not made on behalf of Telstra.”

This should be my last post on the HTC Moazrt - if I do switch I'll let you know - but doubtful.

Telstra HTC Mozart Review 20101208 (13th Day)

A recap of everything the good and bad points of the HTC Mozart handset with Telstra.

25th November – I was announced as a handset reviewer, couldn’t believe my luck.

26th November – my first software crash and reset and embarrassment at not bing able to get the handset out of the box! Learn that the phone has a very short battery life.

27th November – Map function is cool and I felt like a movie star (Tom Cruise in Minority Report) with the ‘pinch zoom’ Kids don’t need instructions manuals!

28th November – My handset now has a name “IT”

29th November – The handset is quite well balanced and well designed. Learning I can’t tether to my netbook.

30th November – Photo Enhancer (which comes standard) with the phone is cool

1st December – The screen is very tactile and pleasant to use and the graphics for deleting emails is pretty (don’t look at me – I can’t help it if I’m female!)

2nd December – More definitive likes and dislikes list

3rd December – Possibly swayed to using the HTC Mozart as my every-day phone

4th December to 7th December - reviewing different tools within the handset and my likes and dislikes

and Friday at 7.30am - you get my final decision, as to if I continue to use the handset as my normal everyday handset.

For now I'm going to hold you in suspense - I've posted every day and I hope you've enjoyed my hates, like, dislikes, my fame (Tom Cruise moment)

Would love you comments - I know there's been plenty of people reading and for that I say thank-you!

Until Friday......................... (7.30am)

Telstra Exchange

14th and Final Review for the HTC Mozart

“I have been given a HTC Mozart with Windows 7 Phone by Telstra free of charge to review. The comments expressed by me reflect my own user experience and personal opinion and are not made on behalf of Telstra.”

Telstra HTC Mozart Review 20101207 (12th Day)

Software –
I have had some ‘stuttering’ in the tiles, which appears to have gone away, maybe a problem with an update that has now been fixed?
Like all new ‘toys’ you would get used to the HTC Mozart, I find sometimes that until I’ve got some down time, I don’t fiddle and fiddling is where you learn.
Overall I haven’t had too many software crashes, although I did promise that if anyone could crash it – it would be me. I may have been the first, but I wasn’t the most prolific.
Another issue when playing games (Bejewelled) that if you put the phone to sleep, and then wake it up - it loads back to Bejewelled - not an issue, BUT if you want to make a call, you have to attempt to go back to the menu TWICE, to complete the task. Bejewelled tries to force a continuance!
Crashes - when I first got the phone, I had several problems with software crashing, but seems to be okay now. So not sure if issues will continue.

Reception –
Pretty much the same as Optus, no matter where, 40km from CBD no voice or data on Telstra, but voice and data with Optus. Always intermittent with both services.
In the middle of the Toolangi State Forest, no Telstra reception in some areas, but Optus worked and allowed data to be sent.
In the middle of Marysville, no Telstra reception, but had Optus (which is the same as the day after the fires) Only phone not destroyed and working was a Nokia N70.
So for me reception is pretty important, and the quality of the reception for Telstra wasn’t as good as I thought it would be, although would appear to be more stable than Optus, coverage with Optus was better in more places for where I live and travel. Optus being better in that having SMS capability in an emergency is sometimes all you can get.
As I’m writing this, I can only make emergency calls (40km from Melb CBD)

Hardware
The volume button is so big that you constantly find yourself pressing it inadvertently
The off/on/sleep button gets in my way constantly, simply I think due to the fact I am left-handed.
The phone itself, feels lovely in the hand, not cheap and it is well balanced. Which is always a consideration when I’m choosing a new handset.
I do worry about scratching the screen and if I was that way inclined I’d get a case for it, but that is just another piece of stuff getting in my way.
The screen is fantastic, the Nokia (when I’ve had to use it) is clunky and feels old-fashioned
The battery life (or lack of it) is another HUGE issue for me, if I can’t last 12-18
hours on one battery, then the phone won’t work me.

Things that gave me that oh-ah feeling
The Tom Cruise moment from Minority Report, where I discovered the pinched zoom WOW
Screensaver and picking the bit you want shown, rather than Nokia that just squishes the photo

Telstra Exchange

13th Day Review

“I have been given a HTC Mozart with Windows 7 Phone by Telstra free of charge to review. The comments expressed by me reflect my own user experience and personal opinion and are not made on behalf of Telstra.”

Telstra HTC Mozart Review 20101206 (11th Day)

Marketplace
Which is where you purchase all the app’s you are wanting to use. I didn’t have a problem using, but I have heard that some people disliked the layout etc, maybe this is not an issue for me, because I’m not a gamer nor wish to show off the number of app I have in my possession.

Photos – storage – both from the phone and also from my PC
I don’t think the memory is big enough. I have external memory cards in my phones for exactly that reason – that’s not possible with the HTC Mozart

Photos – Camera – seems to work well – I have some photos which I’ll load to give you an idea
I love the photo enhancer program – although basic, just changes the tone/colour of the entire photo, I like it
I dislike the fact I’ve had to change the default photo preview program, as it was changed when I downloaded Zunes. I’ve had to change it back to Windows Photo Viewer, which is the program I PREFER.

Zoom

No Zoom

Calculator – when my brain is too tired to work
Seems okay – I just use it for +/- nothing to spectacular

Maps
The mapping feature is great, but there are a couple of draw backs, one is the battery gets extremely hot. The battery charge is shortened when mapping is in use AND the requirement to touch the screen all the time to top the sleep mode. (Yes, you could change it, but this would be inconvenient every time you had to change it back.

Telstra Exchange

12th Day Review

“I have been given a HTC Mozart with Windows 7 Phone by Telstra free of charge to review. The comments expressed by me reflect my own user experience and personal opinion and are not made on behalf of Telstra.”

Telstra HTC Mozart Review 20101205 (10th Day)

Calendar – I live by it, with it and can’t survive without it
Still no joy – but I think this is because I use the Nokia as the main calendar and not Google Calenders or similar
If I was to put everything into Google calendars then I wouldn’t have a problem. My biggest issue with this (was thinking about it today) was privacy – I’m not sure I want everything ‘out there’ somewhere for others to hack/locate if they should choose.

Contacts – a must have
Still no joy - Again because I use the Nokia as the main contacts list and not Google, I think that is where I’m having the problems.
Same as above, (Calendar) I need to import from Outlook into Google and then I don’t think I will have a problem, but again – I don’t like things sitting online, ‘in case of’ I wouldn’t like to be hacked and I do my utmost to ensure it doesn’t and IF it did occur, there would be limited damage.

Internet
Very easy to use – you can see numerous windows that are open, at the press of a button. You can favourite sites and have them as tiles on the ‘front’ page. Altogether a good experience.
The ability to zoom in and out by ‘pinching’ your fingers means even blind people (me) should be able to see the screen and the details without locating their glasses.

Speed dial – I don’t use voice commands
I’ve been referring to the call history to pull up the numbers I need, my brain still hasn’t got used to the contacts list, probably because it/I knows it’s not complete

Social Media
Twitter App - Bulky, slow and I prefer Snaptu, which auto-refreshs
The ‘ME” button seems like a great idea, offering social media updates, literally at the push of a button. Although I’m not a big Facebook – is easy to use on HTC, far easier than the Nokia (But I don’t use facebook often to worry about it)

TelstraOne
Which is a tile on the ‘front’ page, the layout is great, access to many thing from news to account details etc
I’m surprised that many screens don’t offer the pinch zoom and this is one screen that doesn’t.
As this is all provided within the Telstra account data allowances a great idea

HTC Hub
Which is another tile on the front page, the graphics are great, the weather application is great and the fact that it automatically locates the nearest relevant weather is fantastic, but it does make you wonder how much data is actually being collected (PS you can turn this off if you choose)
The Hub is supposed to be the central location for all your apps to be easier found – I found it easier just to swipe the ‘front’ page to the right and access areas that way.

To be continued....................

Telstra Exchange

11th Day Review

“I have been given a HTC Mozart with Windows 7 Phone by Telstra free of charge to review. The comments expressed by me reflect my own user experience and personal opinion and are not made on behalf of Telstra.”

Fighting Kangaroos - the view from my doorstep

The Dance of dominance, two male kangaroos fighting over the rights to run the herd.

Notice how on several occassions, the roos only use their tails to stay upright as they attempt to harm the competitor. Amazing

these were the clearest photos I could get, being dusk and the light was fading fast.

Taken from my back porch