Mexican.

So I need to blow off some steam.
We have a new Utility Worker (pusher of carts) at Meijer.
He’s Mexican.
He speaks no English.
Work is suddenly complicated.

He’s normally a fairly hard worker.
Except when he disappeared today for around 45 minutes.
Leaving the lot a wreck. With me to clean it. By myself. (Fragmented sentences are fun.)

Cause I can’t find him anywhere, my lunch was late by almost an hour.
So he finally shows up, and I take my lunch.
Then, as I’m about to leave, I go out onto the lot and notice it’s a wreck.
And he’s nowhere to be found.
I just say screw it at this point cause it’s no longer my problem, and I clock out.

I want to know how the heck he was able to get this job without knowing ANY English.
That just seems like a good rule of thumb for working IN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY.
DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC.

BOY THESE DAYS.

You Can Tell I’m a Windows Guy

Branding is the image that a company or individual is identified by. A brand consists of a logo, a web site, business card, illustrations, and possibly more. It is quite common for people to buy things based on the look of a brand, rather than functionality. Take for example Apple, and its glossy, beautiful brand, and it’s mediocre performance compared to other software companies. Why is it that people prefer form over functionality? Because we’re easily wowed, and big companies know how to exploit that.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve used a Macbook for close to three years now. It’s had its ups and its downs, that’s for sure. It just isn’t quite as powerful as a Dell, or a Toshiba. I remember being a kid of 14/15 and going into Best Buy looking for a laptop, and laying eyes on the glossy white Macbook sitting on display. I was drawn to it at once. Now, several years later, I wish I could go slap my younger self in the head, and point him in the direction of a real computer. Apple is crafty. Apple software couldn’t compare with Windows (and even Linux in some aspects), so it has to make itself more visually appealing to the unwashed masses. With the smooth cases, and glossy designs, it’s easy to see how someone could be drawn in to a brand hook, line, and sinker. This, however, comes at a price. You see, Apple has made SURE that its operating system will only run on Apple hardware. Windows computers are usually cheaper, because it is not limited to one hardware company. Why would Apple go this route? Money.

Windows sure is trying to fight back with its new operating system Windows 7. I have to agree that it is impressive, but I don’t think it’s quite enough to kill the Apple monster. So long as they keep making shiny new computers, there will always be some dumb shmuck ready to pony up a few grand for that computer that looks better than it functions. Hopefully someday people will wake up out of their gloss-induced trance and by a computer that’s worth something.