Mardi Gras and Katrina

According to this BBC report, some rescuers in New Orleans apparently think Mardi Gras isn't quite over yet:

". . . at one point a group of girls was standing on the roof of the hotel lobby and called to passing rescuers for help.

They [the authorities] said to them 'well show us what you've got' - doing signs for them to lift their t-shirts up. The girls said no, and they said 'well fine', and motored off down the road in their motorboat."

What has this world come to? I am disgusted.

Friggin' Fry's Electronics

I always hate shopping in Fry's Electronics. The weird check-out lines (C'mon, what other retailer needs to hire a person just to tell you which check-out line to use?), no easy refunds (be prepared to answer 20 questions on why you want your money back, including insulting ones like: "It didn't work? You sure you know how to work it?"), and they seem to be always re-stocking while I do my shopping.

But I still shop in Fry's. It's the closest big electronic store to my house and it usually beats the price at Best Buy and other chains. So over the years, I learned to put up with Fry's.

But Fry's has stepped to a new low today, even for Fry's.

I needed some new DVD+R discs and noticed TDK's 16x 50 pack was selling for $19.99. "Pretty good," I thought. So I got one. Only to be told at the register that the price is $34.99.

"You have to pay $34.99," said the cashier.
"But the price label says $19.99," I replied. The cashier, without saying anything, started trying to peel off the label for about two minutes.
"I didn't put that label on myself," I was getting angry.
"You meant there were other ones with the same price label?" asked the cashier.
"YES! A whole lot of them!"
"If you want to pay $19.99, you will have to wait while I get someone to check the floor."

What kind of BS was that? First, they insinuated that I cheated the price by putting on the lower-price label myself, then they tried to make me pay the higher price by being intimidating. As I said, it's low even for Fry's

"Fine, I will wait."

Several minutes passed. Nothing happened.

"Can't you just key in $19.99?" I asked impatiently.
"I can't override the computer," replied the cashier.

ARGH!

"You know, many retailers give away the first item free in the event of an overcharge. I am being nice not asking for that."
"Never heard of that," replied the cashier.
"Well, ask a manager about it," I said.
"I will call someone," replied the cashier.

She went on the phone for several minutes then informed me the only way she could sell the merchandise to me at $19.99 is by charging me $34.99 first and then having the return/exchange department credit me the $15 difference. What a huge load of crap.

"But I will get the credit right away?" I asked.
"Yes," she assured me.
"Fine," I really didn't want to spend any more time there.

So she charged me $34.99 and took me to the return counter. The person who worked at the return counter didn't have the authorization to issue the credit. He had to get his supervisor. More waiting time. Great.

The supervisor showed up. I advised her again that many retailers give away the first item free in the event of an overcharge.

"Never heard of that," the supervisor replied.
"Ask your store manager about it," I suggested.

Then she just walked away; without saying anything.

Whatever. So it took Fry's forever to honor their printed price. But that was not the worst part--the worst part was that the cashier actually thought I cheated the price!

Forget Fry's. I think they've done it. I am not going to shop there again.

Bush's Sound Advice

First of all, my sympathy goes to all victims of Katrina.

Having said that, I have to go on with some Bush bashing.

President Bush made a remark on Thursday about conserving gas, "Don't buy gas if you don't need it".

Wait a minute now. Does any of you out there buy gas when you don't need it? What kind of stupid advice is that? This is coming from the President of United States, an Ivy League-educated man.

Does he think people buy gas as a hobby? Just for fun? Perhaps a few ultra rich individuals and families (perhaps his own?) buy petroleum as an investment. But the rest 99.99% of the people? We only buy gas because we need it. Duh. Anyone out there buys gasoline so he can have a strategic reserve? Anyone?

This reminds me of a Chinese emperor, Jing Hui Di (290-306). There was a wide spread famine in China at the time. After learning how dire the situation was, the emperor said, "People have no rice to eat? Why don't they just eat meat?" Duh, if they had meat to eat, there wouldn't be a famine.

And Mr. President, we wouldn't be buying gasoline if we don't need it.

So there you have it. In late second century China, people have Jing Hui Di. Today, we have George W. Bush.

When will people in high positions understand the hardship of the regular people, if ever?

Again, my sympathy goes out to the victims of Katrina.