If I may...

...I hate to bring politics into this...but I will.

I am totally convinced that the Democrats will win the majority, not because Americans love Democrats, but because they hate republicans.

People are tired of being lied too, and right now thanks to recent develpments (Haggard), the Republicans are getting the brunt of the hatred, and come November 7th, it will show.

Currently Reading Phone Tactics for Instant Influence By John Truitt see related

Phone Ethics

Ok, so here's the deal...I'm huge about proper phone ethics.  Be rude to me in person and I probably won't care, but be rude on the phone and it drives me nuts.  Here are some things I think about phone\cell phone use.  Take it for what it's worth.

1. Identify Yourself

I can't tell you how angry I get when someone calls and says,

 "Hey do you know who this is?" 

"No, please tell me."

"Ah, c'mon you remember me."

"no i don't, please identify yourself."

"I'll give you a hint, we used to work together!"

"I still  don't know, please tell me who you are, I don't like playing the guessing game"

"Come on, just take a guess"

'click'

Seriously, it's not a game to waste someone's time by calling there phone on their minutes and then making them play a guessing game as to who's calling.  Just tell them who you are, you're not clever, and you're not funny.

2. Acknowledge Whoever Answers

Never, ever, ever ignore the person who answers, if they aren't who you called to talk to.  Don't immediately say, "Is so and so there?"  At least say "Hi" "How are you?".  Actually listen to their response, and then respond appropriately.  For example, don't do this....

You call someone.

"Hello" (someone answers who you didn't call to talk to)

"Is so and so there?" (you're a complete jerk if you do this)

don't do this either

"Hello" (someone answers who you didn't call to talk to)

"Hi, how are you?"

"Good, I went to the mall today."

"Is so and so there?" (You are a jerk!  At least say, "Oh the mall sounds nice" or something!)

3. Don't hang up on someone.

I am firm believer in NOT hanging up on someone just because you are about to go through the checkout in a store.  You can still smile politely to the cashier at say, "Have a nice day" even when on the phone.  The person on the other line will far more appreciate the slight interuption, as opposed to a rude "I'll have to call you back"  WHAT!  YOU WOULD CALL SOMEONE JUST TO TELL THEM, "I'll have to call you back."  LEARN SOME PHONE ETHICS!

4. Ask if it's a "Bad Time"

If you're calling to chat for more than 3 minutes, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ask if it's a bad time.  What if you just called someone and they had to go to the bathroom REALLY BAD.  And while you're waxing eloquent about absolutely NOTHING they are hoping up and down waiting to relieve themselves.  Seriously, for their sake, ask if it's a "Bad Time"

Comments?  Suggestions?

FACT: If you're a human, and you've ever said, "Hey guess who's calling!?", you're a LOSER!

Quote of the Day: She says she doesn't want you here when she gets back because you've been ruining everybody's lives and eating all her steak.

Currently Reading Sailing Alone Around the World By Joshua Slocum see related

And then I said...

Ok, I've had it up to here with customers.  Which is somewhat of a problem seeing as how I work retail.  Ok, here's the problem, when a customer comes through the checkout with fruit, I have to type in the 4 digit code specific to that particular fruit.  For example, bananas (in ohio and iowa) are 4011, green peppers (in ohio and iowa) are 4065, green grapes 4022, red grapes 4023, lemons 4053, etc.    Well for some reason customers think EVERY SINGLE STINKING TIME that I am typing in the price of the fruit.  So when it's a fruit that I don't know the code for, and I have to look it up they try to help by telling me the price.  I politely tell them, "I'm sorry sir\ma'am but I need the code, I can't just type in a price."  But they ALWAYS respond with a, "Oh, but it's two for a dollar." or "Oh you don't know the price....it must be free!  ha ha ha."  At this point I just smile and nod, but inside I'm thinking, "YOU MORON, do you really think I memorize every single price for every single week!   PRICES CHANGE NUMBSKULL, I DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THE PRICE, and besides, I NEED THE STINKING CODE!"  To make matters worse, once I finally do find the code, and type it into the computer, the customer thinks that I listened to them and actually typed in the price that they were babbling on about.  And then, when the price pops up on the display screen as '2 for 1.00" or whatever, they give me this smug smile, like they just saved the day.  I get really bitter about things like this.  Hey, you try spending 40 hours a week in a store and not start to get REALLY ANNOYED by the smallest things. 

On a lighter note, a customer today actually asked me to babysit his two kids while he went to the restroom.  No joke.  He said, "Can you babysit my two kids for five minutes." 

FACT: If you're a guy, and you've ever said, "Oh if you don't know the price, it must be free!", you're a loser!

Quote of the Day: Do you guys sell air spray?  (this was after he asked if we sold aerosol.  In case you don't know, aerosol is not a product, it is a adjective.  Lysol comes in an aerosol spray can.)

I'm serious...

John Mark Karr.

It seems so bizarre to me that we let John Mark Karr go so quickly. JonBenét Ramsey's case was essentially cold, and suddenly here comes this creepy character claiming, "I loved JonBenét," and ""I was with JonBenét when she died; she died accidentally." It seems to me like maybe we shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, (although it's kind of hard not to when you've got the creepiest looking person ever to walk earth claiming he did it) or else, the District Attorney's office shouldn't have decided to drop charges so quickly based on DNA evidence. Don't get me wrong, I (like everyone else) think that Karr is probably just trying to get attention, (there are, by the way, lots of better ways to get attention if you really wanted it that badly) but still, it seems that this guy may be the only lead in a long time, let's at least pursue him for a bit longer. Especially in light of his previous charges in 2001. (Fear the Roo, what do you think?)

Warren Steed Jeffs

I tip my hat to the officer who spotted Jeffs suspicious conduct during a routine traffic stop. Pray that Jeffs will not be able to continue his dictatorship of FLDS from prison. (he dominated the lives of his followers while he was on the run, he can surely do it from prison) Pray also that the potential leadership vacuum will not be filled, and that FLDS will disband.

Currently Reading Cry No More By Linda Howard see related

So I'm thinking...

Ok so today at work I was talking with a coworker of mine who is a supervisor at UPS.  And he said that he has caused a man, yes a man, to cry just by yelling at him.   I don't know about you, but I was impressed.  That's talent. 

FACT: If you're a guy, and you've caused a man to cry just by yelling at him, you've got talent.

Quote of the day: "I've caused a man to cry, just by yelling at him."