3 Choices with Steam Rice

Why why why do we tolerate paying more for "2 choices with steam rice"?

When you're making your selection from the bain-marie bounty, you're not buying a service - you're buying a product.

OK - there is a tiny amount of extra work involved in slopping out the 2nd or 3rd option (situated centimetres away) but never-the-less, what you are really paying for is quantity - and you ain't getting any more of that just because there's 3 different flavours. 

Sure, in an a la carte situation, this practice is valid.

But every dish forming its tantalising skin in front of you was prepared in advance - there's been no special preparation required and so no reason to justify charging up to 50% more for exactly the same amount of food.

Is this being all hard on those poor, struggling mall caterers trying to make an honest buck? 

Clearly, I think not. 

And the first establishment that promotes as many variations as you want to squeeze into one container for the one price - is going to be popular.

Elevator pitch

Why why why try to enter an elevator before letting others exit?

You know, one sees - daily - instances of actions performed that suggest that those performing them are doing so for the very first time in their lives.

What else could explain the complete ignorance (utter lack of consideration?) of the consequences of something so fundamental as... trying to get on to an elevator at the same time as others are attempting to get off? (Say...)

Time and time and time again, I'll be the position of egressor (is that a word?) - the one getting off - and someone else  waiting on that floor to get on... WILL NOT WAIT until I complete my obviously intended manoeuvre. 

They'd rather barge in, against the current as it were, then - here's the niggly part - then react as if the resultant clash has never occurred anytime previously in their entire existence. 

Ha? Wha? 

There's no answer, I know - but it doesn't stop me wondering how the HELL they can't see that simply allowing those who wish to, the space to get off, THEN stepping in - unimpeded - is the way to go.

And yet - despite the fact that that clash MUST have happened to them in the past - the practice persists.

Sigh - there is no rest for the rational.

Toilet Paper - the wrong way

Why why why put toilet paper on its holder the wrong way?

There’s a wrong way? Oh, yes.

Installing the roll with the flow towards the wall (under) is just plain inefficient - it’s harder to reach the end and trickier to tear when you do. 

Have you ever walked into a hotel bathroom and seen it that way? No.

(And you know what group commits this malpractice the most often? Well, you'll see this entry has a 'Sexism' tag)

(You know what else? If I find it 'wrong' - I make it right - that's how strongly I feel about it)

Away from the wall (over) makes all the sense. End of story.

(But stay tuned for the toilet seat myth - it's a doozy)

Women and jumpers

Why why why do women remove their jumpers inside-out?

I’m not going to generalise and say all women do it all the time (you can’t really generalise about anything), I’m just saying it’s definitely frequent enough to warrant comment...

For me, though, it typifies a 'general frequency' of the female reluctance to adopt a practise - EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS SUPERIOR - (there's trouble, right there...)

See, if you take jumpers off right-way-out to begin with, you don’t have to revert them - every... single... time. 

The funny thing is, once you figure out how to do that (not difficult in itself) - I think it's actually easier than doing it, well, 'wrong'.

How is it done? Simple! Don’t pull from the bottom - grip the top by the collar and when you’ve got that bit past your head, remove from arms by grabbing the cuffs. Voila!

Kitchen Cupboards

Why why why place cups and glasses upside down in your kitchen cupboard?

I'll bet everyone who does this is pretty sure there's a rational reason for this practise - but will have difficulty convincingly verbalising it.

(Don't I sound cantankerous?)

But why shouldn't you? You may ask...

Well, consider - there would not be a kitchen in the world that does not have little unhygienic beasties skittering about in the cupboards. Show me an Aussie kitchen without cockies.

And dust. No matter how thorough you are, there is a fresh (or stale) film building even moments after you last wiped.

OK - so that's the state of the surfaces in your cupboards.

Which brings us back to our upended cups etc. The rims of which now resting on the distinctly undesirable residue.

And what is the part of the cup that we press to our lips as we take a drink?

Personally, I'm glad my drinking edge has been up out of reach of the nasties.

Undercover Umbrellas

Why why why keep an umbrella up where it isn’t raining?

If you’re walking ‘round town and it’s bucketing down, you’ll naturally find the most congested areas are under shop awnings. This, obviously, is because rain does not fall there. 

Yet, despite this, there is always a contingent that persist in barging through the crowds, brollies aloft at full spread.

Apart from just looking silly, this is a display of supreme ignorance and/or carelessness as to the physical well-being of their fellow pedestrians when they present a circle of spikes at a dangerous coincidence to eye height (mine in particular). 

Dishwashing suds

Why why why is the power of a dishwashing detergent measured by its suds?

Contrary to popular opinion, suds in no way contribute to cleaning power. It's all in how much detergent you use. Here's a radical behaviour shift - try putting it in your water after filling the sink... Who does that? Nobody, right? But I assure you, it’s just as effective at shifting grease

...and you don’t get all that bloody froth.