Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Go Forth (Solo) and Conquer


August 26, 2015

I just saw a segment on The Today Show about how dining alone at restaurants is on the rise, and whether or not that’s good for you. What fascinates me is that dining alone is even news-worthy. Do people really deny themselves good food because they don’t have anybody to go to a restaurant with? Wow!

(I admit that this is less of a social statement on my part as it is my pure oblivion to social norms. I honestly never knew that there was a stigma associated with dining alone. It’s not rebellion, it’s common sense: If you want to go out to eat, go out to eat.)

It reminds me of all the times people have said, “I wanted to go to (whatever), but couldn’t get my spouse (or anybody) to go with me.” Again—Wow! I’ve said that sometimes, about things that involve driving—I’m a driving wimp; but I’ve never not gone to the ballet, or a movie, or a folk festival, or bowling because nobody would go with me. I’d be missing a heck of a lot.

So, do people not go because they don’t want to be lonely (as opposed to staying home alone—what’s the dif?), or because they think that they “should” have somebody with them? Is it societal expectations that keep them home?

It’s downright distressing to think that so many people may be denying themselves so much fun because other people have made them think that it’s weird to go places alone.

Can it be lonely? Ohhh, yeah. Worse than staying home, or worse than dragging along somebody who’s going to gripe the whole time because they don’t want to be there? Hell, no!

So Go Forth (Solo) and Conquer!


(Readers: If  you’ve ever done something solo, either just once or whenever you have to, let me know how you liked it. Would  you rather have been there or stayed home? And if you don’t go to events because you don’t want to go alone, let me know how that’s working out for you. Or at least reconsider.)


Tuesday, August 25, 2015

You CAN Be Too Careful


August 25, 2015

I keep seeing items in the news mentioning “the alleged suspect.” I’m assuming that the news outlets don’t want to be sued for defamation. (But you’d think that NBC news, at least, would have people who know what’s what.)

Folks, if he’s on trial, or in jail, or even out on bail, he’s not an “alleged” suspect. He’s a suspect. He is an alleged rapist, thief, murderer or what-have-you—but he’s a genuine suspect.

Don’t be afraid to say it. He already knows.





Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Reality Bites



August 19, 2015

I keep telling myself that eating chocolate chip cookie dough doesn't have all the calories that eating the baked cookies does.

Unfortunately, my hips disagree.


Friday, August 14, 2015

Customer Dissatisfaction

August 14, 2015

Is it a bad sign when the automated survey of one your service providers cuts you off before you’ve finished telling it what bugs you about the system?





Maybe They're Getting The Hang of It

August 12, 2015


A few weeks ago I posted about employers who want good employees, but don’t want to pay good wages for them. (“Turn Around That Turnover”  July 2, 2015)

Today there’s an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about how employers are bemoaning the lack of workers with the skills they need. They are dissatisfied with applicants’ work ethic, communication skills, interpersonal skills and problem-solving skills.

According to the article, only 44 percent are actually raising wages to attract good hires.

But since that percentage is higher than the 35% who did it two years ago, maybe they’re learning something after all.




Family Friendly?


August 7, 2015

I saw a preview for a show called, “Kevin (from Work)” the other day. The thing that puzzled me was that it’s going to be shown on ABC Family.


I always assumed that a network called ABC Family would show programs suitable for all ages. But apparently the network and I have different ideas on the definition of “suitable”. If anybody sees the preview (I saw it at the movies), let me know if I’m just a hopeless stick-in-the-mud, or if you also think it’s weird that this program would be on a station that’s supposed to be family-friendly.



December 24, 2015

Update: Earlier this month I heard that ABC Family is changing its name to Freeform so that it will no longer be perceived as a family channel. Good move.



Monday, August 10, 2015

Maybe They're Familiar with Beer Pong

July 31, 2015

I went to a store to get a deck of cards the other day. After a fruitless search in the game aisle, I asked the clerk, who asked somebody else, who said that the cards were located in the liquor aisle.

Sure enough, there they were in the liquor aisle, along with such other accoutrements to vice as dice and—ping-pong balls???





Categorize the Facebook Info

August 10, 2015

I wish Facebook had a button that would distinguish "Cute/Political Stuff I'm Forwarding" posts from "Things that actually update people on my life" posts. It would save me a lot of time when I get on to see how my friends are doing.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Safety Feature

August 7, 2015

When I was at the movie the other day they showed us “safety information” on what to do in case of emergency. With all the theater shootings lately, I wonder how long it will be before they just start putting trap doors in the floor of every row.


Now I just have to figure out how a bunch of people can slide down a chute without landing on one another. Details, details.





Monday, August 3, 2015

Getting Into the Spirit of Things



August 2, 2015


I have determined that there is a cosmic conspiracy to keep me out of church. If there isn’t an egotistical pastor preaching long past the point where people are paying attention, there’s a choir/band that feels that it is the prime focus of the service, or an organist who makes listening to the music hell because s/he tries to get fancy with the key changes mid-verse. (The key-change thing is kind of like listening to somebody crashing the gears in the car and expecting you to think they’re a great driver.)

Of course, I could just go and listen to the Gospel and be spiritual; but it’s hard when the people in charge of making you feel spiritual are so wrapped up in showing off that they forget why people go to church in the first place.

Coupon Solution




August 1, 2015


It used to drive me crazy that I’d go shopping on Saturday, and then on Sunday the coupons I needed for Saturday’s shopping would be in the paper.

I don’t know if they do it with that in mind, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has solved that problem for me. They very kindly deliver the part of Sunday’s paper with the coupons and flyers in it on Saturday. Maybe somebody there was having the same problem.

Not a Good Career Move




July 30, 2015

I keep watching TV shows where a person can find out anything about anybody on the Internet just by logging on and hitting a few keys. Decided I’d like to be able to do that, and looked on the web for a how-to site. (Yes, they’re there.)

On one site, one person was very helpful with what you’d need to learn in order to be a good hacker; another one said, “You can get 30 years in jail. Don’t do it!” Spoilsport!


I still think it would be cool.