Quality Control

I would like to make a formal request for a little quality control to the makers of Peanut M&Ms.  I sat quietly by as you added blue to the color scheme, even though it had zero appeal to my taste buds.  I do have to draw the line when I bite into my beloved Peanut M&Ms and find the main selling point (that would be a peanut) missing!  I could almost live with a single peanut missing in a bag of those tasty morsels.  However, I'm finding multiple disappoints per bag!  There is nothing worse than getting ready for the hard shell crunch, the second layer of soft chewy chocolate only to bite down to the empty experience of no "peanut in the middle" payoff.  Certainly there is a way to check for missing peanuts before they make store shelves.  How about a high powered, whole candy scanner?  I read where the TSA has decommissioned a bunch of them at airports.  I'll bet you can purchase them on the cheap.   This customer would greatly appreciate your efforts on my behalf.

Time changed...I didn't!

Is it me or have the time keepers been moving the official "time change calculator" a bit.  It seems like DST arrived earlier this year.  No worries...it wouldn't matter where it landed, I'm NEVER prepared nor does my body respond well to it.  All week it feels like I'm running to catch up to father time.  My chickadee rhythm (or whatever its called) is totally fried.  I'm waking up every hour through the night.  REM sleep??? Not in this man's regimen!  Why can't the time freaks leave time alone!!!  If you like daylight savings so much, leave it there.   Please stop the EST/DST insanity.  Whomever had the original idea, should have his/her eyelids pinned open.  Never mind... I'm sure the originator is long gone...dead...from lack of sleep!

2013 First

Welcome to 2013!  My posts should be more regular this year. (I've had complaints...)  Anyway, first things first.  Anyone need a parachute, never used?  I had purchased one when I thought we were all going over the fiscal cliff.  I didn't really understand what that meant or even who decided to coin that phrase.  I just figured if we were going off a cliff, I'd be prepared with a safe way down.  Of course, now I know it was just political theatrics and there was really no need to worry.

On second thought, I'm going to keep the parachute.  When my wife finds out how much money I spent for MY Christmas toys, I may be pushed off a much higher location!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Blazing Tasers

Am I the only one that sees this coming a mile away?  The Governor, of a not to be mentioned state, recently signed into law a bill that allows everyday citizens to strap on a taser.  (One must have proper training and permits) Now granted this will be a consumer strength taser with less juice than law enforcement packs.  But, you know it's only a matter of time before some entrepreneur will be selling conversion kits for these bad boys. Illegally, of course.  So, don't be surprised if the next time some rouge cops start beating up on a presumed innocent citizen, that from out of the darkness comes an avenger packing a taser with a Tim from Tool Time type power pack to level the playing field. (I'm ordering mine with the sub-station charger.)

Then there will be lawyers & lawsuits and "told-you-so's" all around. Am I the only one that sees this coming?

Customer Service...NOT!

Now I realize that the economy is sluggish and grocery stores have thin margins and adjust employee hours to maximize profits.  However, at what cost to the business?  Here's the example that has me ranting today. 

My favorite grocery store has around 24 checkout lanes, six of which are self-checkout.  I spend my Friday afternoon strolling each aisle picking my carb filled grub for the week.  Now comes the part I find increasingly difficult to go through, wheeling my $175 basket worth of "staples" to the nearest checkout.  Of the 18 remaining registers available, one is 12 items or less and eleven are closed.  Well, I'm down to six viable choices. All have at least three customers, in varying forms of duress, trying to get home before the ice cream melts.  I can see a PIC (person in charge) walking up and down the rows of mostly silent registers watching customer flow.  I don't put much faith in his/her abilities since somehow only the slowest cashiers have been kept scanning, while the faster ones have, sadly,  been sent home. The next time I see a store manager walking the aisles, I can only assume to avoid the mess of humanity at the registers, I'm going to suggest that they change their slogan to "Lower prices, Longer lines, Get over it!"   Oh and designate one lane for people who pay by check and haven't filled it out yet or those who need to split the order because they are paying by two different methods.  While you are at it, assign your slowest cashier to that lane.  No one will know the difference anyway.