I have a few notes about various things on which I want to comment. Very few of them actually merit their on full-blown blog entry, so I am going to put them here in a group. They are a few things from headlines, news, links, and just general things – and almost none of them belong together in fashion. I am thinking about making this some of regular feature here on Mephistos, as I often have such little one or two-line things that I would like to at least share the link about and give my two cents of opinion about the subject. Read through this one and let me know if you think it is a good idea or not – and for the record, I will assume no comment to be a silent affirmative.
- Unfriend is dictionary’s word of the year for 2009. Apparently this is something that has become a regular feature near the end of year, an announcement of all the new words, what is the word of the year. I take a little bit of issue with this one being a new word though, as friending someone is seen in written in several 16th and 17th century writings, meaning the very to friend already existing 300 years ago. Adding un as a prefix is not a new word per say, but an extension of the old – granted with a different meaning.
- Hypermiling was the word of the year for 2008. It refers to those that make every effort to save a bit of fuel, like coasting through stop signs, turning the engine off at traffic lights, and drafting behind larger vehicles. Not one you hear much in 2009, but better than some runners-up in 2009, like sexting, at least that is what I think.
- After some silly tweets by some apparently not so smart politicians, some other politicians want to ban twittering by public officials. This is in Canada, but I can see the same happening here. It was suggested to keep officials from looking dumb. I contend, as the writer of this blog did, that in most cases they do that just fine with or without twitter. It is important to realize the tools can be used to great gain or great loss, just depends on your own stupidity.
- Recently, up in Philly a couple were busted for not leaving a tip. I think the headline is a bit misleading, but in general it is the truth. Facts are the couple, along with a group got rather very crappy service, including but not limited to a long wait to be seated, having to get their own utensils, own drink refills, and so forth. When they got the bill, a set percentage was added to the bill automatically for gratuity. I personally look on such practices with disdain, as every time I have been at a place that does that (some only for parties of a certain number) it seems to be an excuse for the waiter/waitress to not care if service is sub-par. Unfortunately, if it was stated as part of the bill up front the couple has a weak point to argue. However, the owner the restaurant supposedly offered to comp the meals but then had them arrested over not paying the tip? That does not add up at all. Hopefully the BAD publicity will make the restaurant rethink their position before this actually goes to court.
- Metadata is a term that really means data about the data. Usually it is in some way classification or the schema of the data (explaining what means what). Common examples are in computer data, metadata describes the lay of the data that follows. Another would be the card/online catalog describing books in a libraries holdings. And yeah, I know that is a wiki link, but it is a good page – at least today (I have not been over there mucking around with that page, yet).
- Over 900 greyhounds in need of rescue immediately in Wisconsin. Well, actually that is the headline from another discussion. In actual fact it is more like 300-500 and they are already work with a lot of rescue groups to find homes and such for them. I am sure that this closing is putting a strain on groups and resources though and appreciate sharing. Apparently the track is only adopting out to relatively local folks outside of the rescues though. Also keep in mind nearly 200 people are also loosing jobs out of this as well.
I like little one or two line blurbs and think it works well;)
I like the random little thoughts. It gives us an interesting look into some of the random wanderings of your mind that happen every day but aren’t of enough note to warrant their own post. Though I think if I tried to keep up with my own rambling thoughts that I’d constantly be posting! Hence why I don’t journal anymore, I could never keep up with the posts.
I agree about the words. Then again, I think almost anything is better than sexting. I also agree that politicans do a perfectly good job of making themselves look like idiots even without additional technilogical assistance.
I think that adding the tip to a bill is a bad idea, too. In my case, the waiter/waitress usually ends up losing out since if left to tip on my own I will usually tip over the normal amount if the service was good. I do think that the restaurant went overboard and, like you, hope that the bad publicity will change their tune.
Interesting thoughts, thanks for sharing!
The busted with out leaving a tip, that one just makes me shake my head and wonder at what the world is coming to. Where I do tip, I hate it that the waitress or waiter is so underpaid that they have to expect a tip. Tipping use to be a way to show someone they did a good job, not an added part of a bill. And often when they do add a tip, up here in good ole MI it is for less then I would have tipped anyway so there for they loss a better tip.
Anyway I enjoyed your blog and your little Word lesson.