Businesses with great customer service but crummy back office

Best Things Are NOT Free

Contrary to the song ("The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a duet between singers Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson) there are things that are simply amazing, and most certainly are not free.  Just thinking how some of the things I cannot live without, and of course like most people (unless you got your Obama phone, that was free) they had to pay for these things.

1. Cellphone - These are just that, amazing.  They have been the killer to the home phone and now will continue to dominate the internet experience as well.  A must have for everyone person, can't live without one.
2. At home printer
3. Laptop
4. Washer and dryer
5. Cheese

Why do people clean bathrooms at 5pm?

Left Lane Drivers

Did you know that by speeding while driving you really only shave off a handful of seconds to minutes on an average trip?  So why get mad at the left lane drivers.  Really they are saving you from a potential hundred dollar ticket (Most states it's more I believe).  I wouldn't call my self a slow driver, but I do enjoy programming my cruise control to the speed limit and just leaving it there.  BUT, weather I end up in the car pool lane or the far left lane ( on accident I tell you) OT seems like someone is always trying to tailgate me.  What's a matter with going the speed limit?

It's so interesting that we have so many drivers that think the speed limit is the lowest speed they should go.  Why can't we understand in an age of so much wasted time with TV's, smart phones, FACEBOOK, and so much more, saving an extra 2 minutes won't get us 100 more friends on Facebook.  But maybe it will allow us to watch that local professionally done auto ad more more time (I'd rather barf, no offense to those auto dealer ad creators, I love those ads).

All I'm getting at is in a world of "get there now and smash the car pool clogger," is it all worth it to drive like Jeff Gordan and arrive to the Thanksgiving Dinner a whole 6 minutes and 45 seconds ahead of your In-laws.  Something to think about this wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  Be safe out there.

Limited Edition

How many times do you see everyday products we use being sold as "Limited Edition?"  Honestly, who cares?  Just cause my dish soap is "now" limited edition doesn't mean I'll buy more or save the container. I mean come on give me a break, who gives a rats behind if it's limited or not?  We buy it because of the service it provides, or what it does for us, not because this once in a lifetime container that looks like a snowman.  Let's be real.

Stall waiters

So while going to the bathroom recently at work I couldn't help but notice a guy( a guy right how weird to see in a men's bathroom??) just waiting 2 feet outside one of the closed stalls. 

 I mean, so he looked like a janitorial type guy, so he needed to refill the TP or something, but I don't think the person inside the stall is appreciating that he was so close. Is it going to make the stall mate go any faster?? I'm not sure, but it seems weird to me. I guess some people like bathroom smells and will hang out in there as long as it takes.

Isn't this just a liability waiting to happen?

Over at one of our outdoor malls they have this "splash pad" (WARNING:  do not be fooled, there is nothing padded about it).  So it's basically concrete with water that shoots on top of it, that's it.

Was it just me or do they still not let the little kiddos run along the side of the pool?  Humm, wonder why.  Here they can do all the running their little hearts desire, only it's the same surface, just more wet. 

 I'm just saying, am I the only cruel parent that doesn't let their kids run on the concrete slip n slid?  Just saying.

Any way to make a buck.

Is being a High School TA slave labor?

So recently a friend of mine that is still in high school was telling me that she was a TA (teachers assistant) for the high school in her town.  And I remember back a few years that being a TA in high school was a cool thing.  In fact I had a few opportunities to do it, but ended up doing some other classes instead.  The bottom line is..Is it worth it for students to be TA's? 

Some of the other "cool classes" to take in high school seemed to be: study hall, weight lifting and other PE classes.  I would also put being a TA in the same category with these other classes, and basically they are mostly not a great choice for students to prepare them for life after high school

My friend even told me that there was times the teacher would have her do ridiculous things, stuff not even related to schoolwork or education.  Things like:  making the teachers lunch, organizing her music or movie lists, or even cleaning the locker bathrooms.  All things that would fall under either personal responsibilities or teacher work responsibilities, NOT something the student should be doing. 

Seems to me it's a little like slave labor.  These tasks are crazy and it just simply goes to show how lazy some teachers can be.  All said in done, I wouldn't think that being a TA in our high schools would be a very productive thing, as students are preparing to apply for college.

TV's at the Dentists office, pure genius.

So on a recent trip the dentist, we found that they had implemented a system to working with children in their office...TV's.  Pure genius!!  Kids will lay down on the table, sit still (this used to be when they would start the squirming that eventually lead to the kicking and gnashing of teeth) and just watch a cartoon while the "used to be hated" dentist will do his usual poking and prodding in their mouth.  Why have we not done this sooner??  Kids watch a TV screen on the ceiling, have headphones to hear the movie and not even notice that they are even in a dentist office.  Thank heavens to child dentists that have helped keep parents sane for these past few years.  The is a great accomplishment and is keeping any kind of remotely good relationship for kids towards these offices for years to come.