Have They Tried Turning It Off?

January 28, 2014

I just read that McDonald’s is having problems with people buying a small purchase, such as a cup of coffee, and then camping out for hours with laptops to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi. These cost-conscious loungers take up the space that might be used by people actually buying real meals, and are cutting into business profits.

What to do, what to do? How do you balance the concept of “The customer is always right” with the need to actually make money?

Has anybody thought of the obvious solution?

That’s An Old Saying That I Just Made Up

January 25, 2014

An inversion is when weather in the valley is colder and dimmer than the weather at the top of the mountain. We’re in Day 14 of an inversion here in the Treasure Valley, and I’m noticing the following phenomena, for which I’ve coined these terms:

Inversion Baking: Baking lots of goodies to warm the house and fill it with good smells to counteract the perpetual gloom.

Inversion Pounds: What you gain from Inversion Baking.

Inversion Dandruff: Those occasional tiny white flakes that fall from the sky, that aren’t good for

anything but to remind you of how lousy the air quality is.

If Teachers Worked 9 to 5

January 20, 2014

If teachers worked 9 to 5 every day....

HA HA HA HA HA! Only kidding!

If teachers worked 9 to 5 every day, how much would the school systems suffer?

I was talking to a teacher the other day who was mentioning—not complaining, mind you, just mentioning—the days she stayed late or went in early to get things done that she didn’t have time for during the day; and also the work she brought home with her. It was stunning.

I wasn’t stunned by the amount of time she spent—I already knew that—but that she’s been teaching for so many years and still keeps doing it (as do all the teachers I know).

Most of my 12 readers are or have been teachers at some time or other. Write down what you do for the job before or after 9 to 5 (or the 8 hours of your choice) and see what it totals. Ask your friends, too. Once you’ve all worked it out, maybe then, instead of going on full-blown strike, all the teachers in your district can simply—work 9 to 5; and see how the schools like it.

Just a thought.

Update on a Previous Post

January 14, 2014

In April 2010 I said that Gary Trudeau shouldn't be so worried about Starbucks allowing open carry, but that movie theater owners might want to discourage the practice in case somebody got tired of the person behind him yakking incessantly.

On January 13, 2014 a man in a movie theater in Florida shot and killed a man sitting behind him, and wounded the man's wife, in a dispute over texting.

Permits, Please

November 6, 2013

Anti-panhandling ordinances are under fire in Boise and elsewhere. When you consider that many of the people in question admit that they pull in $30-$40 grand a year, I don’t think that stopping them from making public nuisances of themselves is really a bad thing.

If they can make a living at it, more power to them; but other people who set up shop on the street—food vendors, knockoff-purse sellers, etc.—need permits, and can’t do it just any old where.

I’m picturing booths at street corners with Panhandler Permits prominently displayed.