"rude? Exactly what did Mike do that was rude?".

Even that (as phrased)could be interpreted as challenging. I'd got with even more vague "Oh? Why don't we go discuss this [where ever that is not within earshot of everyone]?" and go from there. It presumes nothing, labels no one.

Amazing what a little backlighting can do...

I had a collections guy calling us all the time for the previous resident of our house. It took a lot of calls before he believed that we were indeed not the people he was looking for.

Except I think that was a wrong response. At the very least the owner could have asked:

"rude? Exactly what did Mike do that was rude?". It probably is not smart to dismiss a customer complain without at least hearing the specifics.

To combine the two would be best, but I do think she should know that for whatever reason most people don't respond to Mike as being rude.

I have a huge Mama Bear feeling about most bartenders, waiters and waitresses, as they get an almost daily amount of abuse and disrespect. Be nice to one table and they complain that you bothered them during their business meeting, try to stay out of their way and you weren't attentive enough. Some people want a serious waitperson, others want one who will have a little fun with them. Anything and everything in that business is their fault, from the wait time to the food.

So in general, I think if a waiter or waitress has no complaints and one person gets her hackles up, she's probably wrong. It's an assumption, sure, but there you go.

Bartenders...well they have slightly different rules.

Did they threaten you with paycheck garnishment? Bad credit rating? Repossesion of your head?

I cut him off before he could get more than snippy. I felt like a playschool teacher.

Now I'm on the line with UCLA Practice Plan, where I just had a woman who's not the one I spoke to last month read me the notes taken by the woman I did speak to. Well, that was exciting. After the previouslies, it seems music is next. Soft jazz it is, while she goes over to the chick's desk to find the fax I sent three weeks ago.

Someone needs a content management system, or at least electronic fax management. I wonder if they'll hire me for much money.

The other collections experience was being told right off the bat they were taking me to court over my unpaid cell phone bill. Only thing was at that time I had never had a cell phone. That took a very long phone call to resolve.

Worst collections guy I ever had to deal with was one of the many who have been chasing after my student loan over the years.

This guy, though, whew! Comes on to me all hostile, which...fine. I offer to start a payment plan and he's all "I'll get back to you."

Then he calls my mother and presents himself as an "officer of the State of Michigan" in some fictitious student loan department. (Government loan, kids...federal, not state) and informs my mother that he "can and will take your house away" if this approximately $3000.00 loan is not paid immediately.

So she calls me, we compare notes and discover that John Asswipe from Asswipe Collections is the same John Asswipe "Officer of the State of Michigan" that harassed my mom.

So my mom calls the Michigan State Attorney General.

John Asswipe no longer works for Asswipe Collections.

The funnest collection call I ever got was when I was behind on one of my student loans. As my roommate gave me the phone, he did and/or said something really funny. As the collections lady was going through her spiel, I burst out laughing. She immediately got angry and said, "THIS ISN'T FUNNY!"

I saw this headline at the WashPost Chimps Seen Making Weapons and my first thought, I'm not kidding, was that they have nukes like Iran and North Korea!

It may be time to go home. Since I lose the network in 11 minutes, I think I shall.

Heh. They just had a story on NPR where they basically said the problem with hybrid cars is that they need more cowbell.

I t heart my Prius more than I can say. I commute 60 miles round trip every work day...but I only spend about $80 a month on gas and get to use the HOV lane.

(And though I certainly wouldn't want to hit a blind person, I have to say that it's really fun to sneak up on irritating pedestrians or people wandering around parking lots. It is also possible that I start humming the Jaws theme every time I do so.)