» I don't understand the attraction

X-Bloody-Factor
Why do so many people waste Saturday and Sunday nights watching this drivel?

Lets try to find a person who fits the mould of who we want to win this year? As much as they say its fair, its scripted. Its a waste of time

If you really want to support new music, go to a local pub or gig venue, spend a £5 on a ticket and see 2-3 local bands who are trying to do it by themselves! Don't support Simon Cowell in his quest to get even more money and ripping off these innocent people.
(Sun 18th Oct 2009, 20:38, More)

» School Projects

Industry Days
Back when I was in year 10 (around 1998/99), the buzz around Secondary schools were Industry days. These consisted of Business people from the local area, giving up a day to sit with a pile of 14 and 15 year olds who really, didn't want to be there and to try to coach us in working as a team to develop something out of Boxes and sellotape to revolutionise the world we live in today.

Generally, everything which was designed was stupid, rubbish and came from the idea of 14 and 15 year olds being bored and coming up with stupid ideas. There would always be one team who'd take it seriously (and would win a voucher for £20 for Wickes or Halfords....somewhere which didn't exactly have much relevance for teenager)and there idea would still be crap but they'd just present it well.

Generally, you'd see all sorts of Cardboard Robots, Cardboard, Androids, Cardboard Hoovers.......imagine it, someone probably made it out of cardboard, stuck some more cardboard to it and suddenly it was a Robot which would re-stock toilet paper in 3 seconds while being next door.

The one oustanding memory I have from these days was a team spent the entire day, discussing what their cardboard robot could do. This team was the serious team but had one of the jokers from the year as an assistance and he did come into his own when it came to the presentations at the end of the day.

Teams managed to design, made and present these robots/androids on a regular basis with a small ripple of applause. Looking over to this team on a regular basis, it could be noted that things weren't going well. Apart from the one guy, stressed faces were the common theme.

As it came around to their time to present, nobody wanted to go up to present their idea. It was obvious things hadn't gone to plan.

The joker, who we shall now call Daniel (as that was his name) grabbed their project for the day, confidently stormed up onto the stage and simply stated

"This is our box"

At this point, he held a box, very similar to this (http://bubbalulu.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/boxbin2.jpg)
above his head.

No other words were muttered before he put the box on the stage and walked back to his team.

This is the only time that a standing ovation has been given in an industry day. The students were in adoration. The teachers and local business people....not so much.

Unfortunately, that team lost and the winners developed something along the lines of a robot (as normal) and industry days since then have been far more monitored.
(Fri 14th Aug 2009, 21:52, More)

» Best Films Ever

Samir Naga... Naga... Naga... Not gonna work here anymore, anyway
Office Space, done.

And I said, I don't care if they lay me off either, because I told, I told Bill that if they move my desk one more time, then, then I'm quitting, I'm going to quit. And, and I told Don too, because they've moved my desk four times already this year, and I used to be over by the window, and I could see the squirrels, and they were married... But then, they switched from the Swingline to the Boston stapler, but I kept my Swingline stapler because it didn't bind up as much, and I kept the staples for the Swingline stapler and it's not okay because if they take my stapler then I'll, I'll, I'll set the building on fire...
(Fri 18th Jul 2008, 19:24, More)

» Sacked

How I haven't been sacked, ill never know
Generally, in Retail (In a Fashion Sports Chain), the overall enviroment of work is very relaxed. The only people who I've known been sacked have been for stealing stock and from the till.

Personally, I've sworn at customers, hung-up on area managers, dealing with customers I've told them "We ain't doing this refund or exange, you may as well fuck off", telling little kids they can get those crappy livestrong bands in United Colours of Benetton and they have loads of other colours too as well as various other things

I did walk out of the previous store with a nice, loud "I will not work in this shit-hole again" before a massive wheelspin out of the car park. All this came after running the entire footwear department alone for around a year (without complaints) and complaining another member of staff was a bully. His hours suddenly rose to 40 hours a week, mine were cut to 8. We both had 24 previously)

Had a phone call next day from the Area Manager asking if I wanted to work in another store for the previous manager (Who was safe as fuck might I add)?
The manager of that day was sacked recently for running another store into the groud

Took that straight away. Still there to this day in a part-time role . By the way, Richard Govier, your a pervert. Owen Tebb, brush your fucking teeth
(Tue 28th Feb 2006, 10:25, More)

» The Dirty Secrets of Your Trade

I work in Retail, the secrets aren't so dirty.
There's not many secrets really, just little things we do to you if you piss us off.

A favourite is when a customer will ask for a fresh pair of their size in shoes after being rude to us. There's no chance you'll get a fresh pair, hell you might even get an odd pair. I'll make sure the pair you have is from display and maybe even discoloured.

If you're on the phone while at the till, you might wanna expect a bug on your clothing. Some don't work in our branch but will work in other stores in town. Hell, you aren't paying attention to what we're asking you so have that.

Length, about as long as your phone call.
(Sat 29th Sep 2007, 15:02, More)