Good one, Business Week

So I was reading Business Week's 'The Best and Worst of Everything in 2008', when I came across this gem:

Worst Meat Trend
Spam

First introduced in 1937, Spam, a processed, canned meat made from pork and ham, is making a comeback as Americans face rising food prices during the current economic slowdown. ... But while a tin of Spam might be friendly on the wallet ... the meat is not friendly on the arteries or waistline. A single serving provides 1/3 of a day’s worth of sodium and saturated fat, according to
the FDA nutrition label for Spam.

So, if we eat 3 times a day, and 1 serving provides 1/3 of a day's worth of sodium and saturated fat ...

Way to go, Business Week.

I'll kiss you to deaf

From Reuters: The kiss of deaf - Chinese man ruptures girlfriend's eardrum:

BEIJING (Reuters) - A young woman in southern China has partially lost her hearing after her boyfriend ruptured her eardrum during an excessively passionate kiss, local media reported Monday.

The 20-something girl from Zhuhai, in southern Guangdong province, went to hospital completely deaf in her left ear, the China Daily said, citing a report in a local newspaper.

"The kiss reduced pressure in the mouth, pulled the eardrum out and caused the breakdown of the ear," the paper quoted a doctor surnamed Li from the hospital as saying.

The woman's hearing would likely return to normal after about two months, Li said.

"While kissing is normally very safe, doctors advise people to proceed with caution," the paper said.

Now that's a hell of a kiss. 

Whut?

From The Star: PAS Youth wants I-Dance banned:

GEORGE TOWN: The state PAS Youth wants the I-Dance street dancing competition to be cancelled, claiming it will promote social problems among youngsters.

Its chief Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to scrap the event in line with the latter’s administrative slogan ofAmar Ma’ruf Nahi Mungkar (enjoining good and preventing wrongdoing).

The event, supported by the state youth and sports committee, will be held at the New World Park on Dec 20 and at Queensbay Mall on Dec 27.

Among others, it would include shuffle dancing.

The event is promoted as a healthy way for teenagers to spend their free time.

An official of the state Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee said government officials would meet the PAS Youth leaders next week.

“We will listen to their perspective to understand the issue. However, the event will go ahead as planned,” he said.

I swear, if PAS comes into power, I'm leaving town.

Customer Service Review: Wok Hei Cafe

Business: Food & beverage services
Location: Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas
Website: N/A

The Situation:

As per the usual modus operandi, I went off for lunch with a couple of people from work to our usual haunt: Plaza Damas. I thought we'd go to Wok Hei Cafe, the one outside (not inside) so that I could have my favorite yee mee.

Round 1: I ordered the sizzling chicken and mushroom yee mee. (Sorry, ma'am, we don't have mushrooms today).

Round 2: I ordered the sizzling roast chicken yee mee. (Sorry, ma'am, we don't have roast chicken today).

Round 3: I ordered the usual sizzling prawns with yee mee. (Ok!) . Success.

So off I go to wonder around in a nearby shop and then come back and sit down and chit chat. Suddenly I realised that everybody had their food and were halfway through while the space in front of me was woefully empty.

Excuse me, can you check on my order please? (Sure ma'am).

15 minutes later: Excuse me, can you check on my order please? (Sure ma'am).

10 minutes later: Lemon chicken with yee mee? Er, no, I ordered the prawn.

5 minutes later: Sorry ma'am, we mixed up your order with the other table. That's not my problem. Bring my food in 5 minutes or I'm not paying for my drink.

10 minutes later: We decide to pay the bill. Sorry about that ma'am, we got the order mixed up with the other table.

Apparently they decided that since they were too late in bringing the food, that there wouldn't be much point bringing the food now. Apparently they decided that they were going to get it anyway so why bother?

The Verdict:

I've never seen such incompetence in customer service. What the hell was that? You mixed up my order so just don't bring it? I had to go pack a mee rebus (which, incidently, took all of 3 minutes) for lunch instead. It's ridiculous.

That being said, this is just 1 out of like 5 times I've been to Wok Hei and other times the service has been credible and not out of the ordinary. This, however, takes the cake.

Homework

One of the blogs that I read every once in a while is Back in Skinny Jeans, which is a blog by an average woman about meeting the extraordinary expectations of today's world. Last week, she put up an entry citing 7 Ways to Help You Make It Through the Thanksgiving Insanity, and while we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, I thought she had a couple of pearls of wisdom that were very relevant to anyone. Just replace "Thanksgiving" with [Insert your holiday here]:

Thanksgiving is basically one big homework assignment. You said you wanted to become more patient, understanding, forgiving, and loving. Well, this is your biggest chance of the year, and even better, you can get some two for ones in there. Remember in Evan Almighty? God doesn't give people patience, he gives them opportunities to become a patient person. You only become by practicing, so remember that when the irritants begin.

Don't give your fears & insecurities more power than your happiness & joy. Who's really in charge? It's you! And why spend your day miserable? What will you gain? Wouldn't you rather experience joy even if it's just a small dose over nothing. Again, everything is perspective, and you have the power to look at your family and this Thanksgiving day with a whole new set of lenses.

The day can turn instantly just based on one decision you make to look at it and everyone involved differently. Remember last week when Nathan talked about how one day you can look into a mirror and see a superstar, and the next day see a haggard. It's the same face looking in the same mirror, so what's the difference? Perspective. That's it. You choose how you look at things.

Amen.