Conversation with Minimally Successful Retail Chain store clerk: Hi, yes I found everything just fine, thanks. What? No, I do not want your store credit card. No, really, I don’t want it. Seriously. QUIT ASKING. Yes I want to save 15%—see what I’m buying? It’s from the SALE rack. But I don’t want another credit card when I have one, and only one, that works just fine. What’s that? Sure, I want to save 15% on top of what I’m already saving by shopping frugally. Just give me the 15% ...

Dear Blockbuster video franchise, How do I hate you? Let me count the ways. I hate the way your movies cost $4.10, whether it's a new release or an old release for five nights. I hate the way you gave me a scratched DVD last time I was at my parents' place and my dad and I decided to have some Bond-ing time, if you know what I mean. I hate the way you gave me $1 credit when I explained to you how we could not watch the Bond DVD. I hate the way you put the movie we returned to y...

Fiance and I went out to eat yesterday evening. It was a bad day and we went to his favorite place, where we usually get great service from our usual waiter. The price is a little over $12 each, plus drinks, so it's middle of the road. I don't know what kind of management changes they'd had but our waitress and host were definitely new. Our waitress was horrible. It took her 10 minutes to take our order, which is pretty bad since we go there all the time and pretty much know what we want befo...