RIP Hostess, goodbye Twinkie the Kid

So Hostess will be closing after being around since 1930.  It is a sad time for this American staple.  I grew up with many a Hostess snack product either in my lunch or as an after school snack.
I am sad at the loss of jobs for all persons involved with the creation and delivery of these products.

My take: While I believe America should, in general, move towards healthier lifestyles, especially for kids, there is nothing wrong with a sugary snack as a "treat", in my opinion.  Let me emphasize "treat" here (an every once in a while non-healthy snack) - a fruit pie is not a substitute for a severing of fruit and bread.

If it looks like it _____, then it must be ...

You can't judge a book by its cover.
What sage advice.  Except most people who are book shopping rely on the cover, and the blurb on the back cover or inside flap to determine whether or not he or she may purchase a book.

My take: Guess what?  People do make snap decisions.  Ever heard any cliches about making first impressions?  We are in an internet age where people are judging you based on your Facebook and Instagram pictures, as well as you expressing yourself in 140 characters or less a few times a day.
It isn't "fair", and it isn't logical.

I prefer to come in 3rd place : reality TV

Say what you want about reality TV, but for the time being, it is here to stay.

I will never understand why on competition reality TV shows - cooking, athletics, singing, dancing, etc... the producers and editors actually will put clips of the contestants verbally stating (in some variation) "I'm here to win this"; "I want to win"; or "I deserve to win". 

Obviously the contestants want to win, there is usually money or some valued prize involved in the contest.  Does anyone buy a lottery ticket to donate money to the state?  I personally find it insulting to see those clips inserted into the program.

My take:  I would have much more respect for the contestant(s) who admitted their competition was likely greater than they were, and that he/she was "just happy to be there".

Take the test: Hopefully you're not an ass-hat

1. When you hear other people talking about you, the word ‘ass’ is usually followed by ‘hat’.

2. You do an internet search on “ass hat” and your picture is there.

3. You won “ass hat of the week” award at work.

4. You wear a hat on your rump.

5. You face looks like two butt-cheeks, and you often wear a hat.

6. Your behaviors are often described as “very ass-hat-like”.

7. Your significant other owns and wears an “I’m with the ass hat” t-shirt.

8. You are the current commissioner of the NHL and your initials are G.B.

9. You took the test and answered "yes" to any of the above questions.

10. You took the test, seriously.

Yes, I'm sweating profusely, but I look great

Clear this up for me: why would you buy and wear a leather jacket living in Southern California or Florida?

My take:  I suppose much like buying shoes that don't fit right, some people think it is better to "look good" than "feel good"?  Meanwhile you will sweat and stink up your jacket when it is 80 degrees outside and then be stuck having to carry it around if you take it off.  If you see me, I will be the one laughing at you.

Wow. I wonder your bathroom must look like.

When one "has to" use a restroom at a truck stop, there is often little expectation of good cleanliness, in fact, it usually a matter of how tolerable the conditions are. 

You would like to think in professional place of business that the employees there would have enough courtesy to not treat the bathroom as if it was a truck stop, but it seems that is sometimes not the case.

Mess on the seat (whether splash-back, or errant stream), toilet paper on the floor, and sometimes an un-flushed mess left in the bowl.  Seriously?

My take:  Anyone who has that little regard for his or her co-workers should be publicly humiliated via posters on the wall, and a massive posting on social network.  Manners clearly were never learned, so maybe the message will sink in with the Scarlet Letter treatment.

If the shoe fits... or doesn't?

Ok, so why would anyone buy shoes that do not fit properly, especially sandals?
In the hot days of summer I understand wearing sandals, especially for people who like to show off their feet (which is a whole other discussion), but do you not feel your feet scraping the ground, or notice your feet slipping almost completely out of the sandal as you walk?  It kind of kills the point to show off your feet if they are all crudded up from scraping the ground.
My take:  This often seems like case of buying shoes/sandals that "look cute" as opposed to buying footware that fits well or for being functional.  Depending on the site you read, anywhere from 50 to 90 percent of people in the world wear wrong fitting shoes at some point in their lives.  The best part of wearing wrong fitting shoes?  Jacking up your feet (for diabetics this could mean amputation), messing up your joints (i.e. ankles, knees, hips) for having to shift your walking, and possibly crippling yourself.

Loyalty? She left for greener pastures...‏

Remember the idea of a person getting a job, and working at that same business through their retirement? Through the thick and thin? Commitment by the employee and the employer to a mutual partnership for 25-30 years for the betterment of both? So what the funk happened?
- Within the past working generation, employees would often seem to be on the lookout for something bigger, better, and more lucrative, (meaning usually outside of their current company) to the detriment of the company that invested the time and resources training and providing said employee’s compensation and benefits. Although I will note in the past 2-3 years, with it being seemingly more difficult to get a new job, employees seem to be dug in if his/her pay is even close to acceptable.
- Companies, in cost cutting moves, will lay-off or dump their longer term workers to save themselves from the higher pay scale and benefits package. Why not bring in the younger, lower priced talent right? This may also relieve a company of a higher pension/retirement payout than by waiting a few more years.
- Off-shoring (you knew this was coming, right?)– why, in general, would a company pay a lazy, rude American 12.50 an hour plus benefits, who is going to show up only 4 out 5 days a week, average, and give his supervisor, as well as the clients an attitude problem, when you could get a nice person from India who will work 7 days a week for the equivalent of 3.50 an hour and not get one ounce of the static? Makes long term financial sense for a “bottom line”, right?

 My take: So what it will ultimately take to end this mutual “animosity” (for lack of a better term)? A company wants a committed employee and the employee wants a secure position that isn't going to be pulled out from under him/her at the worst possible moment. Outside of maintaining signed guaranteed contracts to protect both parties, I am not sure there is a simple answer.

Cynicism and Apathy - 2 friends stopped by‏

Believe it or not cynicism was not always negative. Originally it was a school of Greek philosophy which the belief was that a person should live a simple life, free from possessions, and to keep a healthy mind and body as nature intended. In doing these things, a person could be “happy”.
The problems of the world were hence created by the incorrect desire for wealth and what different societies placed value on, in general.
In modern times the cynic has lack of faith and or trust in societal values, institutions, and authorities. The cynic may be (or feel) disillusioned, frustrated, betrayed, or even hopeless, and may express this by pointing out or exposing the gap between a supposed ideal versus its appearance in the “real world”.
It’s this last part that many might point to me as being cynical, where I think of myself as realistic.

Apathy, on the other hand is just plain “not caring”, for any number of various reasons.

These two “cousins” in the world interact, probably daily, and really create part of the “mess” that I mourn for here.

Ok, just walk, the building isn't on fire

I hate people who "fake run" through their office, pretending to be in a hurry, especially when the distance is less than 15 feet.

My take: You look completely stupid and are only trying to draw attention to yourself.  If you are truly in a hurry you walk quickly with long strides, head up, with determined tunnel vision so no one casually stops you.  When you are 2 cubicles over, just walk and take the theatrics to the community theater. 

Too hot, too cold? Too bad...

Why would someone constantly complain about the weather, as if it being over 100 outside is really desirable for others?  And the same goes for anyone who lives the Northeast or the Rockies and wants to complain about snowfall during the winter months.  My thought: move away, please, I'll pitch in a few bucks for you. 
The biggest loser is the person who is always one extreme, no matter what the ambient tempature is.  My thought: see a therapist because the problem isn't the weather.