Grocery Store Pet Peeves
I work for a fairly large chain of supermarkets here in the southeast. Which one, I'm not going to say here. I've worked this type of job on and off for awhile now, during which time I've noticed some annoying habits by customers. And I've been bored enough to compile them and type them up. So here they are, in no particluar order:

1.please finish your shopping before you get inline and I start ringing up your order.
2.please have your method of payment on hand (don't leave it in the car, etc.)
3.if you are anywhere close to looking young please have your ID on you and don't act all surprised when I ask you for it.
4.please don't write your check all slowly, people are waiting in line.
5. Store discount cards- nobody likes a liar, unless you're the president. I've heard every excuse in the book, but it all leads up to "Can I use yours?" Look, either you have one, or you don't. And it is real easy to get one too. Seriously, I'm tired of getting lied to.
6. Cell phones are impolite no matter what, but it does bother me when people go through the line with their cell phone on.
7. Please don't split up your order and pay for them both separately (unless absolutely necessary), it slows down the line and the arithmetic really can't be that hard can it.
8. One of the advantages of checks is that you can make it for the exact amount, or for an amount exactly a few dollars over. Use it.
9. If you give me a large bill for a much smaller order, please don't act all impatient while I count out all your change. If I hurry, I might get it wrong, and then there is a real problem.
10. Please don't complain to me about how expensive the prices are, I don't set them. (This goes for "in general" complaints, if something should be on special and isn't, then that is something that I should know about.)

And remember, none of these things are really that big of a deal, but avoiding them can help the transaction go smoother and help keep the line moving. Feel free to post your work pet peeves in the comments section.

It's official
Hilton Head is the whitest place on Earth

Raise a glass for the greatest system ever
The NES, (Nintendo Entertainment System), stole a lot of hours from all our childhoods. But with great titles such as Contra, Mario, Zelda, Bionic Commando, Blaster Master, Punch-Out!!, etc. etc. backed by some of the best kid marketing ever, I would say that those were happy hours indeed. And now, on the 20th anniversary of its original release in Japan, Gamespy is putting together a nice feature about the console, I suggest that you all go check it out.

Click Here

And remember- Now you're playing.... with Power!!

Frustrating Mostly
I'd like to take the chance on my soapbox here to voice my displeasure with the Charlotte radio scene. Now, normally, I just crank up my 10 cd changer and that's good enough, but you can only listen to "Californication" so many times. So, for a little bit of variety, I turn on the radio. Big mistake.

In Charlotte, as it is with most large markets, the radio stations are all owned my large media conglomerates, such as Clear Channel or Radio One. And these large corporations have set limits and playlists, and the stations have to follow. For example, you'll never hear Rage Against the Machine on 106.5 (maybe the policy has changed, let me know.)

Anywho, this results in a terrbile and dull homogenization of the airwaves. Several times in the past week, Hot 92.7 and Power 98 have been playing the same song, and at the exact same time no less. And keep in mind these are terrbile songs as well, most likely featuring Busta Rhymes in some way or another. *Shudders*. And now, 106.5 The End, Charlotte's "New Rock" station, feels that 7 and 8 year old songs by Bush and Sublime, along with a disturbing reoccurence of the 12 year old "Enter Sandman" from Metallica, are new enough to fit the "new" rock lable, if by "new" you mean "released back when the time I was excited about that new Game Gear game at Wal-mart". Songs that would fare much better on the classic rock station 99.7 "The Fox", and I'm sure that they play those same songs overlapping as well. So, I'm a little angry and let down at the Charlotte radio scene right now.

However, there's one ray of hope- Independently owned and operated 95.7 "The Ride". It's not for everyone's taste, especially people my age who are content to listen to Busta Rhymes and Sean Paul pollute the airwaves, but it's a fresh mix of Hippie Greens with a fresh bed of 70's rock lettuce. So please, give it a try.

Amazing
130 pound Kobayashi wins Hot Dog crown Again!!! But I tell ya, if you want to see some craziness, check this web page out.

Click here

Remember kids, don't try this at home.

Terminator 3 Review is up
One of the summer's most anticipated and also best action movies is out, and my lengthy and high quality review is up on the movies page. You know you want it you dirty hoe.

Also, hope that everyone had a "blast" on the Fourth of July. Ha ha ha.

Rivalry reloaded
Amazing. The Colorado Avalanche have signed Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, two of the most dynamic hockey players of the last decade, to contracts on the same day. In one fell swoop, the team is upped to 1980 Edmonton Oilers levels of offensive intensity.

http://msn.espn.go.com/nhl/news/2003/0703/1576273.html

And the Red Wings signed Derian Hatcher to a contract today as well. This rivalry just gets more and more interesting.

Terminator 3 review will be up tomorrow, I swear. And happy Fourth to everyone.

Getting exciting now
My sister just wrote back with impressions from here screening of Bad Boys 2 with her new best Friend Will Smith, go to the movies page to check it out. Also T3 is out tomorrow, very exciting. Review coming soon!

Miami joins ACC... 12th team needed.
Of course everyone has heard by now that Miami has chosen to leave the Big East Conference and join the ranks of the ACC. That, along with Virginia Tech, leaves the ACC with 11 teams total. In order for a big Tournament Championship Game, the league needs to have 12 teams. And my suggestion for the 12th team? Of course, It's UNC Charlotte/aka "Just" Charlotte.

Look at the advantages. It's close by. It has a decent basketball program. In a large TV market. UNCC would need a football team, but now that Bonnie Cone has died, and with several generous donations from Pepsi, who knows, maybe this will be the year. Then, all the teams could dick on them comically in football. But it would still be a blast. So, I think that it's a potentially great fit. Better than that sh-t hole in Eastern Carolina, that's for sure.

Good News
Optimus Prime is back from Iraq

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=7555