Hotel Bill

Next time you think your hotel bill is too high you might want to
consider this...

A husband and wife are travelling by car from Brisbane to Melbourne

After almost ten hours on the road, they're too tired to continue and
they decide to stop for a rest. They stop at a nice hotel and take a
room, but they only plan to sleep for four hours and then get back on
the road.

When they check out four hours later, the desk clerk; hands them a
bill for $450.00.

The man explodes and demands to know why the charge is so high. He
tells the clerk although it's a nice hotel; the rooms certainly aren't
worth $450.00..

When the clerk tells him $450.00 is the standard rate, the man insists
on speaking to the Manager.

The Manager appears, listens to the man, and then explains that the
hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference centre that were
available for the husband and wife to use.

'But we didn't use them,' the man complains

'Well, they are here, and you could have,' explains the Manager. He
goes on to explain they could have taken in one of the shows for which
the hotel is famous. 'The best entertainers from New York , Hollywood
, and Las Vegas perform here,' the Manager says.

'But we didn't go to any of those shows, 'complains the man again.

'Well, we have them, and you could have,' the Manager replies.

No matter what amenity the Manager mentions! the man replies, 'But we
didn't use it!'

The Manager is unmoved, and eventually the man gives up and agrees to
pay. He writes a cheque and gives it to the Manager.

The Manager is surprised when he looks at the cheque. 'But sir,' he
says, 'this cheque is only made out for $50.00.'

'That's correct,' says the man. 'I charged you $400 for sleeping with my wife.'

'But I didn't!' exclaims the Manager.

'Well, too bad,' the man replies. 'She was here and you could have!'

Comment is Free

The Guardian web site has a section entitled "Comment is Free". Exercising this 'right' is Jack Straw who insists that Britain is NOT becoming a police state (because it already is???). At the bottom of his article (and I have noted this also on likewise 'controversial' articles) is this little piece of text:







For me, the real issue is not so much that of a 'police state', it is more of the enforced secrecy or lack of clear definition (e.g., the 'Do not photograph policemen').

However eloquent Mr. Straw may be with regard to this matter there is clearly a groundswell of opinion regarding the surveillance (CCTV and other) of members of the public, the poor definition and enforcement of laws. If not, why then does he have to turn around and write the article?

From Hummer to Bummer

Here.

Word of the day

Femtosecond.

This is quite a small unit of time. A femtosecond is one billionth of one millionth, or one quadrillionth of a second. For context, a femtosecond is to a second, what a second is to about 32 million years, also it can be explained much easier ( one femtosecond can be considered as the diameter of human hair piece, so one femtosecond compared to one second is like the diameter of hair piece to the space between earth and moon.

Now you know.

Some excellent photos

Inside waves. Here.

More fun than a kebab shop...

... at pub closing time. Here.

Excellent online comic

Subnormality from Virus Comix ... here and here. Two of my favourites.

Great Photograph

I do not know who the AP photographer was but I think this has to be the best Obama shot I have seen.

Strap yourself in...

Here.

A Man After My Own Heart

This is partially voeristic and there is a strange glee at his suffering... here.

Work this one out yourselves

Here.

Now is the summer of our discontent

The Guardian on-line has an interesting juxtaposition of articles.

First there is the announcement that the band 'The Specials' are reforming ... here. Minus Jerry Dammers...

Second is the announcement that, due to the global economic meltdown, there is likely to be a "summer of discontent".

Back in the 80's, the Specials had a number one hit with 'Ghost Town'. The lyrics to this were right on the button at the time with regard to how people were feeling about the whole situation in the UK. There were riots in cities and towns across the UK.

1. A coincidence perhaps.

2. A reason for increased 'security' in the UK (as if there is not enough already...).