WANT
This would definitely make me better at taking my vitamins. http://www.uncrate.com/men/body/health-fitness/one-a-day-vitacraves/
black&red
miles away from here
Old meme, but still hilarious
Times Skimmer by The New York Times
via nytimes.com
I really love this idea. Quick and easy to skim. You can blow up articles or go back and just skim the headlines. Can you do this on the regular site? Yeah. But putting it in a special format encourages people to do so.
And anything that gets people reading more news is good, as far as I'm concerned.
A Photo: In Transition
I love this app, and I love seeing things in transition. I must remember to take a picture from this spot in a year or so when the building is done.
Julia Roy • Beautiful representation of what love feels like ...
I really like this picture. It has more layers than I initially realized. And the sepia doesn't hurt either.
"5 Star Wars Status Updates" by Brian Murphy on CollegeHumor
via collegehumor.com
There's more of these. Kiiiiiind of makes me want to try and make my own. Maybe Firefly status updates? Go more obscure?
6 Ways to Get The Best Service Possible
I started off writing this as one thing, and it turned into another. Isn't it fun when blog posts do that? This started off as just what the title suggests, ways to get the best service possible. But really these are good things in general to think about. Many people are in such a rush these days that I think these simple niceties, basic pleasantries, get forgotten. And once or twice is okay. But the average retail worker will get these many times a day. Hell, the average person will. So here are a few things that I think everyone should know to get the best service at the store, or in life. 1. Say hello, or excuse me, or pardon me. I think this one is an honest mistake, but a lot of people will just launch into whatever concern or question they may have. It's kind of jarring when heard a few times a day. It's nice when you can preface it with something to open up a conversation. This can be especially tough when the person you're trying to address is not actually facing you and isn't sure if you're talking to them or not.
2. Ask. Asking for things, instead of demanding things, can get you a lot more. People are much more likely to see what they can do for you if you ask politely, especially if what you're asking for is a bit outside standard operating procedure.
3. Get things ready beforehand. I've noticed people have a tendency to come in with multiple returns or exchanges and don't have things organized. It's a huge help to the cashier, and greatly appreciated by the people in line behind you, if you can have your receipts matched up to the items you're looking to return beforehand. Similarly, if you want to exchange an item, it's a big time-saver if you can try and find that item on the sales floor first. This saves the cashier from having to run off and find it, and possibly get caught up on the sales floor. We get busy though, and sometimes these things aren't possible, and any cashier should be happy to help you match things up or find a particular item, but an attempt to do any of this beforehand can go a long way. Oh, Pro Tip: most bills will print the SKU of the item on the receipt, so you can match things up that way if the description isn't clear.
4. Offer the benefit of the doubt. While there are certainly many unpleasant and unhappy retail workers, there are also a lot who work hard and really care about giving the best service possible. If a situation looks bleak, try to give the workers the benefit of the doubt, and try not to be accusatory.
5. Realize it's probably not that person's fault. When something goes wrong it's tempting to take it out on a poor salesperson, cashier or manager. But with the exception of small stores, none of these people may not have had anything to do with your issue. Not a single one of them had any say in policy decisions or had any sort of hand in making the item you've had a problem with. If you can make it clear that you're aware that this person has no personal fault, this is a big help.
6. Don't interrupt. Many stores have lines their people must say. Others simply require their people to ask certain questions. You may know exactly where they're going and what they're getting to, but try not to interrupt them. No one likes being interrupted. It is rude by any definition. If you really are in that much of a rush, make the person politely aware of it, they'll rush through things as quickly as they can for you.
2. Ask. Asking for things, instead of demanding things, can get you a lot more. People are much more likely to see what they can do for you if you ask politely, especially if what you're asking for is a bit outside standard operating procedure.
3. Get things ready beforehand. I've noticed people have a tendency to come in with multiple returns or exchanges and don't have things organized. It's a huge help to the cashier, and greatly appreciated by the people in line behind you, if you can have your receipts matched up to the items you're looking to return beforehand. Similarly, if you want to exchange an item, it's a big time-saver if you can try and find that item on the sales floor first. This saves the cashier from having to run off and find it, and possibly get caught up on the sales floor. We get busy though, and sometimes these things aren't possible, and any cashier should be happy to help you match things up or find a particular item, but an attempt to do any of this beforehand can go a long way. Oh, Pro Tip: most bills will print the SKU of the item on the receipt, so you can match things up that way if the description isn't clear.
4. Offer the benefit of the doubt. While there are certainly many unpleasant and unhappy retail workers, there are also a lot who work hard and really care about giving the best service possible. If a situation looks bleak, try to give the workers the benefit of the doubt, and try not to be accusatory.
5. Realize it's probably not that person's fault. When something goes wrong it's tempting to take it out on a poor salesperson, cashier or manager. But with the exception of small stores, none of these people may not have had anything to do with your issue. Not a single one of them had any say in policy decisions or had any sort of hand in making the item you've had a problem with. If you can make it clear that you're aware that this person has no personal fault, this is a big help.
6. Don't interrupt. Many stores have lines their people must say. Others simply require their people to ask certain questions. You may know exactly where they're going and what they're getting to, but try not to interrupt them. No one likes being interrupted. It is rude by any definition. If you really are in that much of a rush, make the person politely aware of it, they'll rush through things as quickly as they can for you.
Trip Update: Notes from the Plane
@tomfromhr But I will be back. In ways Iceland felt like home. Next time I'll go back in the winter, I think. Reyk would be incredibly beautiful.
- 08/06 10:56 PM Descending into Halifax now. It's just setting in that I won't see Iceland again now for at least a year or so. Makes me very sad, honestly.
- 08/06 10:55 PM Touchscreen on my inflight entertainment thingy doesn't work. Flight attendant reset, still doesn't. Losing marks, IcelandAir.
- 08/06 9:54 PM Note to self: never download part 1 of a 2 parter tv show. Just watched 2nd last ep of Kings, no way to get last! Gah!
- 08/06 9:18 PM Wow, much nicer plane this time around. 4:15 minute flight. Aisle seat, empty seat beside me. Crying baby in front, however.
- 08/06 6:48 PM
- 08/06 10:56 PM Descending into Halifax now. It's just setting in that I won't see Iceland again now for at least a year or so. Makes me very sad, honestly.
- 08/06 10:55 PM Touchscreen on my inflight entertainment thingy doesn't work. Flight attendant reset, still doesn't. Losing marks, IcelandAir.
- 08/06 9:54 PM Note to self: never download part 1 of a 2 parter tv show. Just watched 2nd last ep of Kings, no way to get last! Gah!
- 08/06 9:18 PM Wow, much nicer plane this time around. 4:15 minute flight. Aisle seat, empty seat beside me. Crying baby in front, however.
- 08/06 6:48 PM
Trip Update: Video: I Climbed A Bloody Glacier
(download)
