Family Enterprise

Yesterday I met a young couple from Atherton in Far North Queensland who have taken about 18 months to design and research the production of modern cloth nappies.  I took my hat off to the enterprise of this couple.  They've produced a fantastic cloth nappy that is made partly from bamboo and lasts from newborn to toilet trained.  The nappies also come in a range of fabrics to suit just about everybody and have additional liners for night time use.  Using these nappies would save so much money in the long run as they cost $15 each and last for years and years.  See their web site or find them at Yungaburra Markets and probably other markets in the future in Far North Queensland.

Has forfeit changed its meaning?

Tom rang Jetstar today to cancel a booking made for several weeks ahead and now no longer required.  Their staff member said that if he cancelled he would lose his money because there is no refund ... now wait for the response to the question "what is the alternative as I don't wish to make the journey" ... and she said ... just don't turn up and your money will be forfeited.

Now I'm wondering how many people are out there unemployed but very worthy of this post and are twiddling their thumbs instead?  How do some of these employed people ever get employed?

Legless

On booking a flight with Brindabella Airlines to replace the flight I cancelled with jetstar I decided to read the terms and conditions.  In the section that listed what was permitted on board was this

"A pair of crutches and/or other prosthetic device for the passenger's use provided that the passenger is dependant upon such device. The device may be used for boarding but will be stowed in the aircraft hold;" The vision of artificial arms and legs being removed at the top of the aircraft steps was quite cartoonish.

There was no mention that prosthetic devices didn't include false legs or arms so I instantly had visions of flight attendants assisting one legged people to the toilet and then perhaps if they were one armed ... well, we won't even go there!

Master of Ceremonies

In a local paper recently I came across the word "emceed" used regarding a celebratory function in an outback village.  Before writing on an expletive to that paper I thought I'd perhaps better Google the offending word just to make sure I didn't come out with egg on my face.

To my absolute horror that word "emceed" is the acceptable version of M.C.'d, meaning conducted by a Master of Ceremonies. 

I accept that language changes and I'm happy to comply with those changes but surely there has to be a bottom limit to the acceptable standards.  I'm now going to check on the word in both the Macquarie and Oxford dictionaries.  No wonder we lose the meaning of words of generations.