Giving a dark, new meaning to Black Friday

This is the first – and hopefully last – post that could be easily have been named a “Makes-Me-Sick Moment”.

An employee was trampled to death by a stampede of shoppers in a NY-suburb Wal-Mart.  The bargain hunters, who were eager to take advantage of early-morning Black Friday sales, literally broke down the store’s doors before its official opening at 5 am (!).  None of the customers paid any attention to the poor employee, who was lying helplessly while co-workers attempted unsuccessfully to come to his aid.

Several others at the store were also injured, including a pregnant woman.

Hey, I appreciate a good deal, but I hope I wouldn’t have reacted in the same way as the shoppers this morning.  I understand that people can get caught up in the moment, but really, would it kill to have thought with one’s head instead of one’s wallet?  Because those shoppers killed by opting for the latter.

So who gets the chair for this one?  Wal-Mart officials, for having been unprepared for the onslaught of deal-hungry customers?  Or the customers, for trampling the employee to death?  Surely, someone has to be held responsible. 

One would think that the shoppers would have noticed they were stepping on a human being, but alas, they did not.  Never underestimate the new lows to which mankind will inevitably plummet.

Just a thought for the shoppers: how much money did you save on your Christmas shopping by killing the Wal-Mart employee?  I’m glad you’ll save money on wrapping too, since your shiny, new, discount purchases are already covered in festive, red blood.

If you weren’t already disgusted by what’s become of society…

Makes-Me-Happy-Moment #10

It certainly doesn’t make me happy when TDH must travel for business, but it sure makes me happy when he comes back!

Last week, I ventured to the airport on an otherwise gloomy Vancouver evening to rescue him from a grueling week of field work.  There, we noticed a woman who had collapsed by the baggage carousels.  Luckily, she was being attended to by paramedics.  

I realized that I would be useless in such a situation, without any formal first aid or CPR training.  TDH commented with a great deal of certainty, “At least she had her husband with her.”

Fair enough.  But I hadn’t noticed her husband specifically, so I asked him how he knew.  I wondered how I hadn’t picked up on that.

“Oh, I’m not sure, but they looked alike so I assumed.”

Lots to look forward to… Makes me happy!

Makes-Me-Happy Moment #9

Discovering on Facebook this photograph taken by a friend of mine, the all-knowing, ever-sarcastic Ken Watts.

Ken assured me that the photograph has not been doctored in any way; in fact, you can check it out for yourself at the Cambie and Broadway branch of CANADIAN IRE in Vancouver.

I really hope someone meant to do this… kudos, my friend.

And to all my non-Canadian readers: consider yourselves warned!

HOTD.amn, Rogers!

Let it hereby be decreed that the Headscratcher of the Day be henceforth addressed as HOTD.amn!

Get it?? 

Moving on now…

Today’s HOT-Damn regards my enduring struggle against the behemoth that be Rogers Wireless, which claims to have 24-hour customer service.

I’m convinced this means that it takes at least 24 hours on hold before reaching a customer service agent.

I’m impressed that someone beat me to this domain name.

Tell me, when are they not “currently experiencing a higher than normal volume of calls”?  Is this really so unexpected given that they have probably one monkey – er, customer service agent – for all of Canada at any given time?

How is it possible that the customer service representative (extremely useless and arrogant to boot) can’t communicate with the customer relations representative (extremely useful and rightfully arrogant – but catch ‘em and hang on to dear life if you are so lucky) to have the latter call me when they are available?  How is that not possible?  Do you not work for the same company?  I’m sure they’re sitting right next to each other -sharing a desk, even – and mocking me.  I can just feel it.

Granted, when the customer service representative warned me that there would be “at least a 30 minute wait” to speak to a customer relations representative – though she assured me that I would be “placed in a priority sequence” – she at least offered to wait with me.  How thoughtful and unnecessary.  Good intentions, maybe, but really – would that create more time in my day?  And would that really be the best way to treat other customers in the “priority sequence” behind me?  I really didn’t care to make friends at that point.

And I also have a slight, nagging hunch that every representative I talk to looks something like this:

This is only the tip of my beef-with-Rogers iceberg… Don’t worry; this isn’t the end of this HOT-Damn, I’ll tell you that much.

Introducing the Headscratcher of the Day!

As you’ve probably noticed, my gigantic head (and that which resides within, I’d assume) endeavours to make itself useful with useless queries about the world.  Hey, at least something’s happening in there…

So, without further ado, I present to you the *drumroll please*

Headscratcher of the Day!

a fascinating observation supported by advanced, intellectual thought and loaded with excessive wit and charm (like me!).  It’ll have you wondering, “Good point!  She’s right!  Why didn’t I think of that?”

…Or, “What is she on?”

Or at least, “Why is she allowed to insult me so?” 

The answer to that, my dear friends, is freedom of speech – brought to you by the Internet!  

Lovely, no?

And I beg implore beseech thee to post your most humorous response post haste.  Let’s be honest; you could easily outwit me if you tried.