Miscellaneous, distracted, various, and inimitable

[heironymouspasparagus]

Not always.  Go to Depot and they have one lane open with one checker and a whole line of people, and 4 self-checkouts with one customer and 4 employees attempting to help that customer figure out why his item won't scan.

Jason's Deli recently put in a self-service kiosk that requires an employee and a manager to help customers figure out how to use.

Until we get RFID tags on everything, there will always be the need for people to pass things over a laser, and push the "credit" button for you.

I hate the self serves at all those places - Home Depot used to be my only "go to" place...the last time I was there was over a year ago - for just that reason!!

I also don't do drive thru's unless literally forced into it!  Makes the family crazy, but 90% of the time we are in and out faster!!  And I point that out to them when they say something to complain about it!

[rebound]

Jason's Deli recently put in a self-service kiosk that requires an employee and a manager to help customers figure out how to use.
Until we get RFID tags on everything, there will always be the need for people to pass things over a laser, and push the "credit" button for you.

I don't understand why people have so much trouble with the self-checkouts.  I love them, and both of my kids now use them with no trouble.  Sure, every now and then a code won't scan, but then you just do a manual entry and key in the SKU ID off the barcode.  I use the self-checkout anytime it is offered.

As for RFID,  I wouldn't hold your breath.  The price of the tag is still far too high to allow putting one on each small item, and it is those small/cheap items that are the predominant number of items purchased.  The tag providers and industrial printer mfgs are working on direct-printing the tags on the labels using metalic ink, which is pretty cool and should get the cost down, but even then there are numerous form-factor and environment issues to overcome.  And then of course the stores would have to upgrade all the current machines with RFID readers.   It will be double-digit years before (if) RFID is the mainstream product ID at an item level.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I don't understand why people have so much trouble with the self-checkouts.  I love them, and both of my kids now use them with no trouble.  Sure, every now and then a code won't scan, but then you just do a manual entry and key in the SKU ID off the barcode.  I use the self-checkout anytime it is offered.

As for RFID,  I wouldn't hold your breath.  The price of the tag is still far too high to allow putting one on each small item, and it is those small/cheap items that are the predominant number of items purchased.  The tag providers and industrial printer mfgs are working on direct-printing the tags on the labels using metalic ink, which is pretty cool and should get the cost down, but even then there are numerous form-factor and environment issues to overcome.  And then of course the stores would have to upgrade all the current machines with RFID readers.   It will be double-digit years before (if) RFID is the mainstream product ID at an item level.

Puts someone out of a job.  And if anyone thinks that "savings" is gonna hit the price one pays, well, I got some really good swamp land for sale....

[rebound]

Puts someone out of a job.  And if anyone thinks that "savings" is gonna hit the price one pays, well, I got some really good swamp land for sale....

Well, I was referring more to why people have so much trouble with the actual operational process, not the greater societal implications.  But fair enough that point. 

I'd suggest though, that same argument ("puts someone out of a job") could be made for just about any/all business improvement enhancements.   I don't always buy lowest-cost, because I put a lot of weight on other criteria such as location, local-owned, style, etc.  But from a business side, I can't fault the low-cost operators for continuing to try to cut more expenses from their supply chain. 

[heironymouspasparagus]

Well, I was referring more to why people have so much trouble with the actual operational process, not the greater societal implications.  But fair enough that point. 

I'd suggest though, that same argument ("puts someone out of a job") could be made for just about any/all business improvement enhancements.   I don't always buy lowest-cost, because I put a lot of weight on other criteria such as location, local-owned, style, etc.  But from a business side, I can't fault the low-cost operators for continuing to try to cut more expenses from their supply chain. 

Larger philosophical point that I feel goes to the general ineptitude of management as taught by "Harvard School of Business" (HSB MBA) approach.  Starting at a fixed point in time, say today, and I have 1000 people employed by my company, and I have ongoing productivity improvements to the tune of 2.5 to 3% per year.... does that mean I can/should/desire (to) cut the extra 25 or so people that now exist in the place?  The HSB MBA approach would say yes; cut costs!!  As in no forward thinking at all.  I would propose to use some actual management skill (reference Peter Drucker) and use those people to make the enterprise MORE successful.  Do things better.  Do more things with the same head count.  Invent new things to do/sell/manufacture.   In other words - Thimk!!


Related to the whole minimum wage discussion - if one cannot justify a project/chore/work process to be worth at least $12.00 per hour, one has insufficient imagination and management skills, and the job should actually not be done at all, at least in the fashion currently performed.  At the most basic level, someone hired to sweep the shop floor (my first job) - if that is not worth the money, then a bigger broom is needed, so the job takes less time.  Then keeping the coffee-maker full can be added to the job, causing a dramatic increase of productivity, depending on the shop!  When maximum productivity is achieved there, as in larger coffee machine, perhaps, add another chore - shoveling out the barn where the boss boarded his daughter's horses.  Making donut runs for the shop in the new 1968 Corvette the boss bought the daughter for 16the birthday, but drove to work himself quite a bit.  Add other chores such as; sheet metal work, welding, painting, electrical, as time permits after the basic tasks complete.

This is literally a history of my first job - it was a magical wonderland compared to the fast food stuff all my friends got to do!!  That is how productivity is leveraged.  He did NOT let me go or reduce hours when we changed from a 24" push broom to a 48" sweep, allowing me to complete in about 20 minutes what previously would take about 2+ hours (it was a big shop!).  Oiled sawdust was added as well as the wider sweep, giving a much more effective sweep and dust control, dramatically reducing the times the broom had to be pushed over a certain area.  The additional items were then able to be performed, dramatically raising my value as an employee, PLUS I got the benefit of getting to drive that 1968 Corvette several times a week!!   Plus a half gallon of Jack Daniels as "Christmas Bonus" every year!!  A massive WIN-WIN for both of us!!




Anyone/everyone catch that little thing I left up in there??  First time through?  I know you have all seen the sign!!  Or hope so....

[heironymouspasparagus]

Am wondering if anyone - in particular our Owasso or Collinsville area friends - have had occasion to use the services of Thomason Air Conditioning in Collinsville.  Small company that seems to be under the radar of the big review facilities.  Thanks ahead of time!

[patric]

...'cause I have no clue where to categorize this:

Law enforcement officials in Prince William County, Va. have come up with a truly creative way to combat the dissemination of child pornography: create more child pornography for comparison! Their first subject could be 17-year-old Manassas City resident Trey Simms, who faces two felony charges for allegedly sexting his 15-year-old girlfriend. Prosecutors intend to prove Simms's guilt by forcing him to provide police with photos of his erect penis, for which a judge actually granted a search warrant.
http://www.salon.com/2014/07/09/virginia_police_have_a_warrant_to_take_photos_of_a_teenage_boys_erect_penis/

[heironymouspasparagus]

...'cause I have no clue where to categorize this:

Law enforcement officials in Prince William County, Va. have come up with a truly creative way to combat the dissemination of child pornography: create more child pornography for comparison! Their first subject could be 17-year-old Manassas City resident Trey Simms, who faces two felony charges for allegedly sexting his 15-year-old girlfriend. Prosecutors intend to prove Simms's guilt by forcing him to provide police with photos of his erect penis, for which a judge actually granted a search warrant.
http://www.salon.com/2014/07/09/virginia_police_have_a_warrant_to_take_photos_of_a_teenage_boys_erect_penis/

Definitely not what I had in mind when starting this topic, but certainly falls into the category.... all of them, actually.


Geez, just when you start to think the weird can't get any weirder....we jump straight to bizarre!!

[Conan71]

...'cause I have no clue where to categorize this:

Law enforcement officials in Prince William County, Va. have come up with a truly creative way to combat the dissemination of child pornography: create more child pornography for comparison! Their first subject could be 17-year-old Manassas City resident Trey Simms, who faces two felony charges for allegedly sexting his 15-year-old girlfriend. Prosecutors intend to prove Simms's guilt by forcing him to provide police with photos of his erect penis, for which a judge actually granted a search warrant.
http://www.salon.com/2014/07/09/virginia_police_have_a_warrant_to_take_photos_of_a_teenage_boys_erect_penis/

But, couldn't you claim that the prosecutors are now soliciting teen porn from the 17 year old boy?

[Townsend]

But, couldn't you claim that the prosecutors are now soliciting teen porn from the 17 year old boy?

Creepy perverts.

"Post it to NAMBLA, boys!"

[heironymouspasparagus]

But, couldn't you claim that the prosecutors are now soliciting teen porn from the 17 year old boy?

That pretty much is exactly what is happening.   Philosophical question - is breaking the law ok to do to stop someone breaking the law?


Is it ok for the police to shoot someone to stop him from committing suicide?

[rebound]

Sorry,  Porky's Flashback...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9wSOyyKHQU0

[patric]

Creepy perverts.
"Post it to NAMBLA, boys!"

The PD just backed down from the warrant due to criticism (those pesky armchair quarterbacks) and conceded the teen penis photos police got during the takedown are sufficient.

Maybe there's going to be some sort of lineup, like a Chat Roulette Dragnet?

[Hoss]

The PD just backed down from the warrant due to criticism (those pesky armchair quarterbacks) and conceded the teen penis photos police got during the takedown are sufficient.

Maybe there's going to be some sort of lineup, like a Chat Roulette Dragnet?

First time I saw this story I couldn't help but think of the movie "Porky's".

[heironymouspasparagus]

Random thoughts morning.....more often than not....


http://kitchentabledevotions.com/when-a-nurse-says-goodbye/


Have had as many as many as 5 nurses in the immediate family, and all were this kind of person.