Checks
After yakking about the (lack of) power play in the NHL the
other day, I eventually wound up watching the Flyers play the Penguins, which got
me to thinking again. As a young
engineer I aspired to becoming a “professional engineer”, emblematic of the
pinnacle of the profession. I normally
associate the word with reaching the highest level of any particular field. A professional dancer or opera singer is
usually regarded as at the highest performance level.
I am not sure anymore that it applies to sports. Those of us who have or are coaching kids in
(you name it) hockey, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, teach them the
skills, sportsmanship, concepts of team play and so forth and what do most of
them dream of?: becoming a “pro”. I look around now at those who play sports
professionally, and I would ask myself, do I want my child to turn out like
that? I guess when you join a
professional team, you give away your ethics and get paid to injure people,
cross check from behind, slam dunk a basketball and then “in your face” your
opponent. People will not sign contracts
because despite millions, it is a couple less than somebody else, and hence is not
acceptable. I don’t ever remember Bart
Starr holding out for more money. I
suppose it is reflective of the “me” society, the heck with a team, it’s all
about me and my ego. Finish
college? How stupid – show me the
money!!
Cheques
Yesterday I sat down to write a check/cheque to pay the piper in the form of credit
card bills, and noticed on the statement my “account number” was listed as:
xxxx-xxxx-xxxx- plus the last four of the card number. It was in there more than one place. That’s nice I thought, they’re trying to
protect my secrecy. So as I finished
writing the check (and sobbing), I looked at the back of the envelope with all
the little tips like don’t send cash, one of which is “write your account
number on the check”. Hmm, I thought, I wonder.. So since I was feeling a little frisky (and
caffeinated) I dialed up the good folks at Visa. After deciding I wanted to continue in English,
the next recorded message was “please enter your 16 digit account number so we
can be of more assistance”. “Agent!” I shouted
into the phone. Silence. “okay, if you would like your account
balance, please enter the 16 digit account number so we can proceed”. After about 5 more “agent!” screams I was
warned my call might be monitored or recorded, and it actually rung and a human
answered. I won’t go into any cultural differences;
we’ve all had that experience. “how may
I help you?”. Well, I just have a
general question: since your statement
shows my account as (x’s), is that what you want on the check?.... Pause…
“Do you need to know your account number sir? I can help you with that”. No, I am asking if you want me to write the
account number on my check exactly as shown on your statement? “I can show you how to find your account
number”. No….. and after a couple more
tortured attempts, I think the bulb finally lit, and he began to comprehend what I was
really asking.. “Oh no, sir you have to
write the complete 16 digit account number on the check”. Well, for security purposes you don’t put it
on your statement. “that is correct sir”. But you want me to divulge the complete
number on my check?.... Pause…. “yes sir”.
Do you see any inconsistency in that?.
Silence. (about ten minutes
now), “I can see your concern, but you
must write the number. I can pass your
comment to my supervisor”. Sensing defeat,
I said fine, please do that. “is there
anything more I can help you with today Mr. Moody?” No, I don’t thinks so. “Have a nice day and thank you for using Visa!”. I tell you it is the little things that add
up to that aneurism.
Food quickie
Since I was asked today as I entered Coffee Quarter for yet
another community related meeting, just a couple of sentences. Lately I have found the place to be improving
and generally more populated than it has been before. I also think the staff has less piercings and
(visible) body art, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Speaking of coffee places…. another quick thought. Have you been to our local Starbuck’s after
the “renovation” was completed? IMHO a
complete disaster. The counter side of
things is probably better, but they sliced up the “seating area” with a monstrous
floor to ceiling “shelf" that cleaves the area in two. Plus
if you don’t watch yourself coming in the door, you might bust your nose. And remember those soft leather chairs? Gone. Hard
seating only, with a (for lack of a better term) community table seating
six. Mostly it is occupied with people
staring at screens, but I would feel funny sitting down there. On the other wall is a bench from end to
end. The proprietor claims there is more
seating but it’s hard to believe. It
used to be kind of welcoming and inviting, but now it’s just kind of cold and
hard. One would hope it was not done
intentionally to make it so uncomfortable that you don’t want to stay. Turn those tables!! Sigh.
DFC
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