Subway +600
Posted: Thu 29 January, 2009 Filed under: Cynicism, Thoughts Leave a comment »Is it just me that finds it slightly depressing to read that Subway plan to open up 600 new shops in the next two years? That’s something like 6 new shops a week, just under one a day. (5.75 per week, 0.82 per day, to be accurate)
Yet another franchise model comes over from the US a la Macdonalds, Starbucks and the rest.
Admittedly, I’d rather have something from a Subway than from a Macdonalds when it comes to “fast food”, and I don’t object (too much) to their food, but still, I’d rather not be seeing them on every sodding high-street, which seems to be the goal.
Kebabs != Healthy
Posted: Tue 27 January, 2009 Filed under: 1BEM, Advertising, Cynicism, Health, Thoughts 1 Comment »Now, hands up, who on this planet ever thought a kebab might be a healthy food?
No-one? Thought so.
So how the hell does this qualify as news anywhere on the planet, let alone on the BBC?
On a tangent, however, I do find it quite interesting/surprising that (to quote from the story) :
Six kebabs were found to include pork when it had not been declared as an ingredient. Two of the six were described as Halal – food or drink permitted for Muslims, which must not contain pork.
New Tyre – How Much?
Posted: Tue 27 January, 2009 Filed under: Customer Services, Cynicism, Driving 2 Comments »Well, much to Gordon‘s amazement, I’m not going to whinge or complain at all about the cost of the new tyre for the car.
When I replaced both front tyres back in May ’08, I paid out an extra £18 for something that ATS call “MasterService“. That (very roughly) 10% extra on my bill at the time of replacing the tyres just saved me £80odd.
You see, the tyre itself (well, from the remnants of it that were still anywhere near the wheel) still had very little wear at all- as you’d expect on a tyre that’s less than 9 months old- so I got the full 100% discount on a new tyre.
To me, that’s £18 well spent…
Admitting Defeat
Posted: Mon 26 January, 2009 Filed under: Cynicism, Domestic, Health 1 Comment »After the multiple posts I’ve made about this fecking cold/cough/snotfest, I finally admitted defeat on Friday, and Herself rang up the doctors to make an appointment for me while she was working from home.
So at 5.10 today, I’m going to the bloody doctors.
I fully expect them to say some variant of “It’s a cold/virus, there’s eff all we can do, now on yer bike”. (I don’t have much regard for GPs, as may have been noticeable in the past) But at least I’ll be going, and getting the answer officially…
Slack Selling
Posted: Sun 25 January, 2009 Filed under: Customer Services, Cynicism, Thoughts 1 Comment »Two weeks ago now, one of our neighbours put his house on the market – or at least that’s when we knew about it, when the sale board went up outside. However, one assumes that it’s been with them for a few days before that, while they get the board organised etc.
Now, I’m a bit of a nosy bugger, so I’ve been wondering how much the place is going for. After all, we know what we paid for this place, so it’s interesting to see what the place next door is up for, and all that.
But in that two weeks since the board went up, there’s been no mention of the place on either RightMove or the estate agent’s own site.
It does make you wonder how they expect to sell the damn place, particularly in these times of credit crunch, recession and so on, if they can’t even be bothered to advertise the fucker, doesn’t it?
How Not To Do It
Posted: Wed 21 January, 2009 Filed under: 1BEM, Cynicism Leave a comment »A couple of weeks ago, an American financial advisor attempted to fake his own death. (And failed, in epic fashion)
It’s since been revealed that he had also left a bullet-point list of what needed to be said in his mayday radio call.
Ooops. Not the smartest of plans.
Inauguration
Posted: Tue 20 January, 2009 Filed under: Cynicism, Security, Thoughts 2 Comments »So, today is the day when Barack Obama is inaugurated as President of the USA.
I just wonder how long it’ll be before there’s an undeniable assassination attempt now. By that I mean one that’s not just a redneck in a pickup heading towards Washington DC, but shots fired, Secret Service running around etc.
Because I’m an über-cynic, I suspect that it won’t be long…