QOTD

Do you ever get p'd that Blockbuster closed? I do. We have a DVD player, and entertainment is pretty limited out here (according to me). We used to go to B.B., then ColdStone IceCream next door, and then look in the window of the Chinese Food place to see if the common housefly was still stuck to the window. Now - just stand in front of a RedBox like a zombie. WHERE DID THE SOUL OF AMERICA GO, MAN.

QOTD

“Bureaucracy destroys initiative. There is little that bureaucrats hate more than innovation, especially innovation that produces better results than the old routines. Improvements always make those at the top of the heap look inept. Who enjoys appearing inept?”

-Frank Herbert (author of Dune)

Pizza ethics

  At issue is poor customer service in a pizza restaurant.  I was weaned from pizza; I have always enjoyed it, even through the great sledgehammer incident of the early 1980s when I saw my precious smashed before my very eyes.  I rank my restaurants; I'm active in rating them online, and I duly realize the predilection of folks to opine on the negatives more frequently than dishing out a, "Hey, good job."  I am neither too quick to become defensive nor overcritical, realizing some battles aren't worth the effort.

  On New Year's Day a pal and I feasted on sumptuous hangover pizza. Mine had prosciutto (yes, prosciutto), peppers, and gouda cheese reminiscent of the great Provel of St. Louis. Leftovers packed, we left. The waitress was friendly enough, but when we got home, they had packed us the wrong pizza (the overpowering Greek one with entire cloves of roasted garlic and mounds of feta aboard - yick).

  I have a slightly different opinion on this than she in that as a hybrid Christian-Buddhist, I feel we should be humble and excuse the oversight; she believes we should have made a stink about it. Other peoples' germs, etc. etc.  The compelling argument of hers was that, "It should be a core competency of servicepeople to not screw that up, it is not too much to ask."  Something clicked inside me that set my pizza-rage aflame:  I was reminded of the expectant hamburger gourmand Wimpy, set to feast on a delicious burger of lettuce, onion, pickle, kumquat, and not getting his prized slider that fateful day, he entered "Hamburger Heaven." Due to his habitual nonpayment ("I shall gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!"), he was ultimately denied by the irascible burger chef and fell apopleptic.  I was in Pizza Heaven.

  Demanding satisfaction in this instance was not my style, but I at least wanted to call this to the attention of management because it *was* disappointing and I want to test the Buddhist way.  I have about 30% confidence that we will be treated to a replacement.

 
The moral of this story:  Pie-p up when you don't get your hot-za, or forever hold your piece.

Not sure how exactly I went from Space Shuttle to Delta Force

I almost, almost applied to the shuttle program on a dare once. At least it'd have been a good story for kids someday. Anyway, I grew up in the heart of the era, watching Space Camp and all that other '80s goodness, proud of our nation. However, watching the Atlantis landing yesterday, I am a bit PISSED that the mission control guy kept trying to one-up the pilot, a.k.a. mission commander with final remarks! If I could find the script, I'd love to show you exactly. Instead, I'll simulate.

"Welcome home, Atantis."
"Thanks, Mission Control. The shuttle has taken the hope and inspiration of mankind to the stars and back."

"Atlantis, the staff here was watching you all the way like a loving parent cradling her child as the guiding light of the stars nestled you in her soft bosom."


"I constitute a part of Cagey's unique
experience with the shuttle program."



"Mission control, this is Atlantis. After thirty years of the shuttle program, we're just glad you helped us home safely one more time. That's a wrap."



"Atlantis, this is Mission Control, thanks for your remarks. On behalf of a grateful nation, we are also glad you are home, glad as the father to the Prodigal Son, we welcome you with open arms, forever shall we cherish you and forever shall we remain guardians of the tranquil majesty of the night, the sea of dreams, the hearkening nocturne of which the celestial magnificence chants, we are but a lonely mission control who dared to dream that we could perform this mission, and here on the ground we had an absolute professional team that was utterly satisifed in driving the adventure."

"Mission Control: Atlantis. Yeah, thanks or something."

So to try to replace my remembrances of Mission Control's speech with something else patriotic, I started thinking about Delta Force instead.


Delta Force, Chuck Norris

Anytime I hear this theme by Alan Silvestri I go wild. I get patriotic and I want to ride a motorcycle with missles on it and shoot at 711 stores and muslim churches called mosques while eating a bacon cheeseburger! Come join my Delta Force. Kill them all let Allah sort them out! Allah loves bacon. I'm the Baconator! ~'Bigdanny77'

Today's rant

As I sit hacking away here at the keyboard, I am comforted in knowing that LT Poopers is busy with her new rawhide bone. Both of us are trying to work in earnest.




Greetings Sir or Ma’am:

 My phone rep was very pleasant, but after about 3 loyal years with you, I’m switching companies. I seek a cell to land line program for two numbers I dial frequently.

 I was told I could get some “everything” option or other (“option overload” – I am confused). I only want simple web browsing, ~450 or fewer “anytime” minutes, and unlimited daytime calling to my two desired “friends & family” numbers.

 This is why I have to switch services. I don’t need everything-web-everything-call-everything-text-everything-everything-unlimited-+300minutes-to-landline-versus-300-to cellular-onlytime minutes, I just wanted a so-called “friends & family” plan to call what few friends & family I have left.

 Regards,
 Cagey