Rant!

Today's rant includes random people at stores telling you what to do, bogus uses ofKatrina/Rita relief debit cards, and a small Philly cheese steak house that's causing uber controversy.

First, the random person. Yesterday, I was working at a Target at 10 in the morning. I had finished what I was there to do, paid for a few items I needed to purchase (binders, father's day card, etc), and proceededto the Guest Service desk to sign myself out. I had all my stuff in my cart, my pullbag for work in the cart itself, my purse and purchase in the seat.

I parked my cart right behind me, so as to not get in the way of others there (though the only ones there at the time were two Target associates behind GS, two in the photo lab [in front of which my cart was parked], and one wandering employee waiting for me to walk to the counter and back to say something.)

I do my thing, sign out, start to walk back to the cart, and the wandering employee says to me, "You know, you shouldn't leave your purse like that, stupid!" (she didn't say stupid, but the way she spoke, she might as well have!)

Stunned and a bit annoyed, I simply responded with, "I was right there..." kinda nonchanantly, hoping that would pacify her. She quipped back, "Doesn't matter," while shaking her head.

For those of you who know me understand that I don't like being told what to do, especially by some stranger in a Target. I probably would have had more patience for her had she changed her tone from that of something condescending, to that of a gentle, caring scold, maybe a, "Oh honey, watch your purse, you wouldn't want something to happen to it."

However, since she didn't, I getting a bit irked by standing there. Feeling the blood rise to my head, I quickly said, "Okay, thank you!" as sweetly as I could manage, while still being a bit sarcastic, and quickly walked out.

I guess my annoyance with these types of folks stems from the fact that IT WAS NONE OF HER FREAKING BUSINESS! Go be someone else's mother, I've got one of my own already, thank you very much. I fear people like this when I have kids... Everyone's got an opinion of how things should be done, such as how to hold a bottle, how to burp, how to change a diaper, and I'll be darned if I'm gonna take advice from some random stranger in a Target, or Wal-Mart or wherever! Unless someone is in danger, like the kid is leaning kinda far outta the cart or something, and I didn't notice, LEAVE ME ALONE AND KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF! (Keep in mind, I'm only referring to the random people I don't know, not those I do know who give their comments with love and care behind them.)

/rant#1

Rant #2

This article caught my eye as I was surfing this morning. FEMA funds spent on divorce, sex change. Apparently, federal investigators are estimating some $16 million, up to $1.4 billion wash spent on bogus stuff, like NFL season tickets, all-inclusive vacations, adult erotica, Dom Perignon champagne, etc.

What I don't understand is why there weren't restrictions placed on these cards, that would limit them to being used only for food, clothing, and housing needs (though those are being abused as well)?! I mean, when I won a Vendor of the Month contest while working at Tyson's Corner, I received an $800 AMEX card that only worked at restaurants--it worked in the food court, but not at the Smoothie King. I doubt it was terribly difficult for them to set that up. SO WHY ISN'T FEMA DOING IT WITH THESE AID CARDS?! I mean, last I heard, food stamps still only worked at certain places, and could only be used for certain items. Really, how difficult can this be??

I do understand, though, that FEMA wasn't quite as prepared as we all would have liked them to be for the disasters nearly a year ago, and they did the best they could, and there are honest people out there using their cards for the purposes intended, but c'mon... They sent 13 checks to one address because someone applied for aid using 13 different ssn's. And they sent checks to inmates IN PRISON!

Oh well... what can you do.

/rant#2

#3! Philadelphia "English-Only" Eatery faces probe

I'm behind this guy 100%. I believe this is simply another case of "Enough if enough!" Before ya harp on me, let me explain.

This guy, Joseph Vento, runs a cheesesteak place in Philly, and 6 mos ago put up a sign that says, "This is America--When ordering, speak English." Now, I agree the wording may sound a bit harsh, but I understand his frustrations.

When I worked in retail, it was difficult and frustrating not only for me, but for the customers themselves who came in and couldn't speak english. I couldn't figure out what they were looking for, how to help them find it, couldn't sell them anything extra, like warranties, or controllers, etc. And it was frustrating for them, because they couldn't communicate to me what it is they were looking for, so they usually left empty handed.

Occasionly, there'd be another customer in the store who would help translate, or sometimes I'd be lucky enough to have someone on staff who could help them. But it is kinda difficult to operate business when you have a language barrier like that.

That being said, when you sell only one thing, like Cheesesteaks, I can see how you could use that to encourage people who have difficulting speaking english a chance to practice or learn something helpful to them. And it's not like they're discriminating against those who can't speak it! They work with the customer, and help them order, and then give them their food--no one was turned away, or refused business. No one was discriminated against.

I like Vento's quote in the article--he nails it on the head when he says, "If you don't speak English, the sign means nothing." EXACTLY! It's not like they can understand it anyways! And when they get up to order, they're walked through the ordering process in English, and then move on! Not that big of a deal!

It's amazing what people get bent outta shape over. I mean, seriously, find a fight worth fighting. If he were turning away non-english speaking customers, I could understand the outrage. But for this? Grow up people!

/RANT#3