Tag: Rants

No…not a computer you gits. A server…a waitress…the method by which we communicate our wonts to a kitchen full of chefs, by which we expect oft poor or demure attitudes, not what we ordered, and even the occasional sneezer.

I will not give any information on where the restaurant is, only that I was there today, with many friends. These same friends earlier in the day let me know they finally found a server that can keep up and doesnt take an crap from Brenden, our token social miscarriage of wit with a huge fetish for the game “escalation.” Let me say first that this group is a very hard sale. We tip quite well (30%-60% depending on how much the server measures up), however we are one hell of a high maintenance table, and most of us come off with a not-so-congenial first impression. The whole group has a knack for very abrasive humor, and some even still find it fun to peg each other in the head with whatever throwing weapons are available (SweetnLow, straw wrappers, even butter scoops when we are REALLY being stupid.) Individually, we would never behave like that in public (well most of us), however as a group, we are a nightmare in a restaurant. Separate checks, people are finicky about lemon being in the water before served, some of the guys even try to run the server around in the first moments of greeting the table just to see if he or she will drop the ball on us for the rest of the evening.

Like I said…a nightmare “big-top” (restaurant slang for large party).

As stated previously, the friends in question really talked up this new server they had wait on them last week and apparently, the server was an all out hit with the group (I wasn’t there for the after-fighting dinner gathering). And apparently, they were under the impression they were getting hooked up if they go in there again so thats where we were going this weekend as well. I was dubious, honestly! I spent years training service personnel, and honestly those prize servers/wait staff that really pull in customers repeatedly are very rare. Most talk the talk and walk the walk, but few are genuinely entertaining and make a living from a static clientèle. Boy, I was in for a big surprise!

Not only did she get all the food right., she showed unfeigned concern that the other staff members were going to screw it up for her and she was all over them (watching) when they approached our table without her. All the drinks were correct, and refilled in very short order when drained. Appetizers were out first, along with a very hefty portion of bread (we like their bread…a lot). This isn’t what I would put the server on a pedestal for. I am a phenomenal tipper even with shitty service…too many years in the industry, but when someone is so good that you literally applaud them? That just doesn’t happen…not in TonyTown…well…not until today 😉

Not only did she tolerate a few of the guys ending all their requests in “or else” for twenty minutes. Not only did she tolerate B unceasingly playing a game of escalation with her to see where she would lose her composure, she put up with separate checks requested at the last minute, she put with half the guys at the table trying to talk her into dating Rob, shrugged off the everyone grinning at her waiting to see when she would screw up…all of it. The session of grueling service lasted over an hour…and she made it through with nigh a scratch, and more importantly, she earned the respect of the entire crew, as she conveniently spilled water all over B, who totally had it coming after an hour of non-stop baiting and witty yet edgy comments to the waitress…she didn’t snap…she got him to stop for a little while so she could have a break.

The bottom line, said waitress kicked some serious ass with us and we’re going to visit her weekly until she gets tired of getting 60% tips from us 😉

Okay, so you have a software product (CMS) who’s target demographic must be willing to pay $199 for their software. Organizations that cant afford direct development but need support are often on the lookout for this kind of product so that their online presence is looking good and hassle free.

So…Telligent, the developer of Graffiti, a self-anointed powerhouse CMS, purchases the Google AdWord “WordPressPodCast” and places the following as an ad just above your inbox in GMail:

WordPress is not a CMS – graffiticms.com/wordpress Need more than a Blog? Web 2.0 Content Management

Tell me this isn’t silly. A fee based developer reaches out to the strongest open-source (ie – free) publication demographic and tells them what they are using isn’t good enough. This isn’t legitimate advertising, this is simply poor taste. The developer base for WordPress is HUGE. Support for WordPress is easy and very informational as long as you’re capable of posting to a forum, and there is that little part about it being FREE FOR EVERYONE!!!!

Jeez…you would think some companies would find better things to spend their money on.

Word of advice, Telligent. If your strongest competitor is offering the same service you provide FREE, with relatively little difference in support and functionality, you’re product is toast. Spending money in propaganda against the competitor that has only to make one update to announce your poor taste in advertisement seem like a drop in the ocean of searchable content and advertisement is not only antithetical to your goal, but quite simply…well…no big words on this…stupid.

Please visit this post on the issue for more details…
http://charlesstricklin.com/2008/01/03/graffitti-disses-wordpress/

All done!!!

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa080108_lj_hair.13a48a8.html

At least four Kerens High School students were suspended Tuesday for three days after ignoring a mandate to cut their hair upon returning to school after Christmas break, according to one of the youths. Matthew Lopez-Widish said that after he and three other long-haired friends entered school Tuesday morning, the principal and assistant principal were waiting and called the students into their office. The students were handed suspension papers, and Matthew said Principal David Tyson told them, “We warned you, and you knew this was going to happen.”

“All I’m going to say is that we took action today,” Mr. Tyson told The Dallas Morning News. “It was basically a violation.” Mr. Tyson would not confirm the number of students suspended. “If the students get haircuts within the next three days, they will be allowed to return,” Matthew said. “I don’t plan on it,” said Matthew, whose hair hasn’t been cut in four years. “I’m not going to change.”

Another friend who was suspended, Andy Coronado, cut his hair during the break to come into compliance, but his hair still reached over his ears and was deemed unacceptable, Matthew said.

The controversy in Kerens, about 15 miles east of Corsicana, erupted a few days before Christmas break. The students were told that they must cut their hair or they’d face alternative schools, be removed from extracurricular activities and perhaps jeopardize graduation. Administrators said the new mandate stemmed from students repeatedly ignoring hair code policies.

The policy for male students at Kerens High says hair may not go past the collar, below the eyebrows or a half-inch over the ears. Ponytails can be no longer than a half-inch. If the students don’t comply within the next three days, a hearing will be set up to discuss alternative school.

“We are hoping that the situation will be rectified, and we don’t have to go that far,” Mr. Tyson said.

A straight-A senior, Matthew said he doesn’t want to attend alternative school and is willing to look into transferring.
The students still plan to take their cause to the next school board meeting on Monday.

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Two words…UTTER BULLSHIT!
The school systems waste time with what is worn, and hair and piercings and freedom of expression in the most basic manners, and this is what we get. We get administrations abusing authority that seek to impress their own individual consensus on values on other individuals. Students are not in schools to learn some antiquated lesson on conformity, they are there to grow as people. Depriving students of an education based on how they look is biased, prejudicial, and a complete antithesis to our freedom of expression. I sincerely hope this instigates litigation on behalf of those students being railroaded.