Self-service 

Posted by bender

New rules for using the ‘Self Checkout’ system at my Albertsons:

1) You must have an IQ above the minimum level of “Genetically Enhanced Turnip” to use the self-checkout lanes.

I watched a girl stand there, holding the item she just scanned, dumbfounded while the machine told her to place the item in the bagging area. Yes, Virginia, they weigh everything so they can have a small level of trust that what you scanned is what you’re buying.

Then, after figuring it out and putting her Rock Star drink in the bagging area, she stared at the payment screen for a good two minutes trying to decide how she would pay.

2) No beer or cigarettes should be allowed to be purchased in the self-service area.

If you scan beer it locks up the machine until a manager came come over, look at the idiot’s ID to verify age and enter the special manager code into the machine so the idiot can procede. My idiot last night then decided he needed cigarettes also and I had the joy of watching the entire process repeat itself. With the joyous addition of watching said manager walk all the way over to the customer service bar where they keep the cigarettes now, look for the idiot’s brand, and walk back.

You people are so lucky I’m not omnipotent or Emperor of Earth or something.

My new baby. 

Posted by bender

I’ve gone and done it.

I made the switch.

I bought a 15-inch Powerbook G4. It’s a sweet little machine. Ostensibly it’s for recording some music that’s bouncing around in my head but the more I use the Powerbook the more I’m thinking this will be my main machine. I can do just about everything I could do on my PC plus it seems to be pretty idiot proof.

From an aesthetics view, it’s six nines towards perfect. Aluminum all around. Very austere shell with the simple Apple logo on top and a tiny FCC logo on the bottom. All connectors (and it’s got a ton) are on the sides and the back is a flat piece of aluminum.

Connector-wise it’s a veritable kitchen sink. Firewire 400 and 800, USB2, S-Video, and a DVI connector.

A freakin’ DVI output.

On a sadder note, I just smashed the sweet merciful crap out of my thumb and it’s already turning black. It’s becoming difficult to type.