Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Forced to Party

Why is there so much pressure around what we do to celebrate the New Year coming in? Sometimes I feel compelled to party for the sake of it when really, it's just like any other Friday or Saturday night. You either have plans or you don't and you shouldn't panic if you don't.

The options you have in Sydney are quite limited. It's a choice of;
a) Fireworks
b) Attend the Opera at the Opera House and come out in time to see the Fireworks
c) Fireworks
d) Pay top $$ to get in somewhere where the music is so loud and doesn't include drinks
e) Fireworks with a picnic
f) Fireworks with a house party.
g) Going to sleep, I'm at Field Day tomorrow.

I dread being in Sydney every year ... what will you do for NYE? ... Fireworks. How much money do they spend on this? Its all taxpayer money. I don't want fireworks I want something different! I started a trend and not many people know about it. I stay at home!! I have the house to myself, I watch movies and call/receive calls/sms's. I know a few others who also do this, enjoy the evening at home with their families.

Last year I was in Vienna. They put on a show! They know what to do. The city caters for everyone in precincts. Different activities for different people. There were open air squares for waltzing, squares with retro music and squares with current top 30 hits. There were food stalls dotted all over the city complimented by beer and wine stalls. Huge chandeliers where hung up over the walkways or huge lit orbs or other lit up objects. There were also fireworks and firecrackers. Everyone is happy and enjoying themselves.

Transport runs all night efficiently and at 3am its all over red rover and the massive clean up begins. If all this can happen in a snow covered city we can make things much better here! No more sore necks from staring at the sky, no more waayyyy overcrowded trains at 12:20am, no doing nothing for hours on end relying on the radio someone brought along 100m away.

I guess it could be worse, we could be in NYC watching 1 random disco ball fall 20m and hope to be kissed by who ever is standing behind us.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Writing as therapy or to prevent anxiety?

I don't know why I keep having a need to write and document. I see one thing, a few thoughts then tumble out of my mind and then inevitbly a thought about compling a book or starting a new blog comes to mind.

For a number of years, if I have heard some good advice or read something interesting ... I HAVE to write it down. It seems that the world will collapse if I have not taken note of that advice and written it down. (Ok well that was a slight exaggeration!)

So .. I put my case forward.

1. Went to my friends Xmas party at her house. Instead of a normal Xmas tree, there was an interesting display or dried and faux sticks and twigs with all the ornaments hanging down. I thought it was a great idea and then immediately thought, someone (namley I) should come up with a coffee table book about the alternatives to the traditional Christmas Tree.

2. I'm going through yet another phase of reading as much of HBR (Harvard Business Review) Magazine. There is so much gold in there, i want to write down some of the great ideas and phrases that motivate me. Part of me is saying, yes, write it all down but then the other part is ... why? There is so much info there, are you really going to re-read all this?

3. I love ads and ever since my lecturer in uni made us watch and analyse ad after ad, I like to comment and remark on them. I was now thinking ... maybe i should start a new blog on what i like and dont like about ads. Yes, there are hudreds of them but there are key ones that move me, make me happy, outrage me etc. These are the ones I want to comment on.

4. I also love Sydney. I want to start another blog about what I like, don't like, what is 'So Sydney' etc.

Oh geez ... I need help!!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Ads - Nespresso

I'm a sucker for good marketing and especially when it outrages me and then I realise, hang-on, its done its job to a T!!

(Side note ... I love Sydney when there are great ads all over the bus stands and huge bill boards that make me happy. I will write again next time it happens but its generally the classy watch and perfume ads that do it to me.)

The joy was short lived when I was out and about in Sydney's CBD when I saw huge posters of George Clooney with his face half covered!!! Outrageous and its a crime against my retinas!! The new Nespresso ads put a cup of coffee right over 1/3'rd of his beautiful face, including 1 eye! That coffee better bloody be good!!

This shock and outrage had done its job. Kudos to the designers of the ad. I still like the brand of Nespresso and I still love George.

Ofcourse, if I had it my way, I would have put the coffee cup somewhere else on the page and keep his face looking whole. But, then again, would the ad be staying in my head driving me insane? Doubt it.

Modern Twist of an Timeless Classic

I LOVE Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I love anything connected to it and I aim to read it every year and watch the BBC or any other version multiple times in the year!!

I came across this and realised that P&P really is a story that is trans generational and now Gen YĆ©rs really can enjoy it ... as long as you have read the original classic.

Thanks to Lyndale Press for making my day!!

http://lyndalepress.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/pride-and-prejudice-facebook-style/

Charles Bingley is buying a house!
Mrs. Bennet became a fan of Charles Bingley.
Kitty Bennet can’t stop coughing!!!
Charles Bingley is now friends with Mr. Bennet and Sir William Lucas.
11 of your friends are attending Assembly at Meryton.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is dreading this evening.
Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet are now friends.
Elizabeth Bennet is not handsome enough to tempt a certain gentleman. Ha!
Mrs. Bennet had a most delightful evening!
Mr. Bennet wishes that Mr. Bingley had sprained his ankle in the first dance.
Elizabeth Bennet promises never to dance with Mr. Darcy.
Fitzwilliam Darcy became a fan of Fine Eyes.
Caroline Bingley is all astonishment.
Lydia Bennet became a fan of Officers.
Kitty Bennet became a fan of Officers.
Caroline Bingley tagged Jane Bennet in her note Visit us at Netherfield.
Jane Bennet finds herself very unwell. :(
Elizabeth Bennet is going to stay at Netherfield with Jane.
Louisa Hurst saw Elizabeth Bennet’s petticoat and is absolutely certain it was six inches deep in mud.
Elizabeth Bennet is improving her mind by extensive reading.
Charles Bingley created an event: Ball at Netherfield.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is writing to Georgiana.
Caroline Bingley has suggestions for Mr. Darcy’s domestic felicity.
Elizabeth Bennet and Caroline Bingley are attending the event Take a Turn about the Room.
Fitzwilliam Darcy feels the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.
Elizabeth Bennet is back at home. Thank goodness!
William Collins tagged 7 of your friends in his note I Propose Myself the Satisfaction of Waiting on You and Your Family.
Lydia Bennet does NOT feel like listening to Fordyce’s Sermons.
William Collins is paying his attentions to Jane Bennet.
William Collins is paying his attentions to Elizabeth Bennet.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is not pleased to see Wickham in town.
Elizabeth Bennet and George Wickham are now friends.
George Wickham told Elizabeth Bennet about Mr. Darcy’s evil deeds. ;-)
15 of your friends are attending Ball at Netherfield.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is dancing with Elizabeth Bennet.
Elizabeth Bennet is trying to make out Mr. Darcy’s character and does not get on at all.
William Collins has been “rejected” by an elegant female.
Mrs. Bennet is all in an uproar.
Caroline Bingley tagged Jane Bennet in her note We’re Leaving.
Jane Bennet is in London.
Mrs. Gardiner is visiting Hertfordshire with her husband.
Charlotte Lucas and William Collins are now married.
Elizabeth Bennet is at Hunsford visiting Mr. & Mrs. Collins.
Elizabeth Bennet thought that the pigs were got into the garden, but it was only Lady Catherine and her daughter.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh thinks that Miss Elizabeth Bennet gives her opinion very decidedly for so young a person.
Elizabeth Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam are now friends.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is not afraid of Elizabeth Bennet. Well, maybe a little.
Elizabeth Bennet does not perform to strangers.
Charlotte Collins thinks she knows why Mr. Darcy visits so often.
Colonel Fitzwilliam wishes he weren’t a younger son.
Elizabeth Bennet is furious at Mr. Darcy for separating Bingley and her sister.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is proposing to Elizabeth Bennet. It is not going well. :-/
Elizabeth Bennet is ??!!
Fitzwilliam Darcy tagged Elizabeth Bennet in his note My Character Requires This to be Written and Read.
Elizabeth Bennet realizes that she never knew herself until this moment.
Elizabeth Bennet has much to conceal when she goes home.
Lydia Bennet is glad that Wickham isn’t going to marry Mary King, that nasty freckled thing.
Lydia Bennet and Kitty Bennet joined the group 1,000,000 Strong Against the Officers Leaving Meryton!
Lydia Bennet is going to Brighton with Colonel & Mrs. Forster!!!!1!
Elizabeth Bennet, Edward Gardiner, and Mrs. Gardiner are attending Trip to Derbyshire.
Elizabeth Bennet became a fan of Pemberley.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is surprised and hopeful.
Elizabeth Bennet and Georgiana Darcy are now friends.
Lydia Bennet and George Wickham are in a relationship.
Jane Bennet tagged Elizabeth Bennet in her note Bad News About Lydia.
Elizabeth Bennet is rushing home.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is determined to find Wickham.
Mrs. Bennet joined the group Widows of Men Killed in Duels.
Mary Bennet is consoling herself with moral extractions from the evil before her.
Mr. Bennet is back home and feeling guilty… but it will pass away soon enough.
Mrs. Bennet left the group Widows of Men Killed in Duels.
Edward Gardiner tagged Mr. Bennet in his note They’re not Married, but They Will Be.
Mrs. Bennet is in raptures!
Lydia Bennet and George Wickham are now married.
Mrs. Gardiner tagged Elizabeth Bennet in her note Yes, Mr. Darcy Arranged Everything (and I think he likes you).
Charles Bingley is back in Hertfordshire with Darcy.
Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley are now engaged.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is in Hertfordshire.
Elizabeth Bennet has been insulted in every possible method.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is most seriously displeased.
William Collins tagged Mr. Bennet in his note Lady Catherine is Most Seriously Displeased.
Elizabeth Bennet is excessively diverted.
Fitzwilliam Darcy never thought to be made happy by a talk with his aunt!
Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are now engaged.
Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are now married.
Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley are now married.
Fitzwilliam Darcy rather enjoys being the object of open pleasantry.
Mrs. Bennet KNEW that single men with good fortunes would want wives


http://lyndalepress.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/pride-and-prejudice-facebook-style/