The Simple Things

[Rich]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

And since we are harping over language, it's actually "fewer" than 2 outs. Not "less" than two outs.

I know the difference and could care less (yes, I did that on purpose).

(Do you tell grocery store managers that their express lanes should say "10 items or fewer"? )

[Manny A]

A little off-topic, but somewhat related:

To date, pro baseball rules still state, "If a lefthanded or righthanded pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second base on a pick-off play."

I've always wondered why they just don't remove the words I underlined. I mean, why bother?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Manny A

A little off-topic, but somewhat related:

To date, pro baseball rules still state, "If a lefthanded or righthanded pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second base on a pick-off play."

I've always wondered why they just don't remove the words I underlined. I mean, why bother?

Personally, I think the entire rule is crap. Why not just force the pitcher to tell the runner where the ball is going.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Rich

(Do you tell grocery store managers that their express lanes should say "10 items or fewer"? )

I have and also that 15 is not 10 or fewer.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

I have and also that 15 is not 10 or fewer.

That is another story...

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

I have and also that 15 is not 10 or fewer.

Now, if they can't count to make change, how do you expect them to know that 15 is more than 10?

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

It's not just softball - you should see the NCAA volleyball rule book (NYS hs volleyball uses the NCAA ruleset) not to mention our test

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Now, if they can't count to make change, how do you expect them to know that 15 is more than 10?

Since we're kind of into derailment land, I was getting something to eat the other day and after thinking about paying with my card, I instead reached for some cash in my wallet and handed it to the cashier. She got the most panic stricken face I've ever seen which I'm guessing was a result of having to make change instead of just swiping the card.

Is it me or are people losing the ability to make change? Is basic math really becoming that difficult?

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Is it me or are people losing the ability to make change? Is basic math really becoming that difficult?

Seems to me that basic math skills are lost since it's become too easy to carry a device everywhere people go that can do everything by app.

My daughter, who is 25, cannot calculate tips when we go to dinner. She can't even understand that figuring out 20% of $35 using her phone's calculator is done by the key strokes "35 x 0.2 =" Rather, she uses an app where she can type in "35", then push a button that has "20%" on it.

It's sad.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Manny A

It's sad.

ditto!

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Seems to me that basic math skills are lost since it's become too easy to carry a device everywhere people go that can do everything by app.

My daughter, who is 25, cannot calculate tips when we go to dinner. She can't even understand that figuring out 20% of $35 using her phone's calculator is done by the key strokes "35 x 0.2 =" Rather, she uses an app where she can type in "35", then push a button that has "20%" on it.

It's sad.

My wife and I were at a top shelf restaurant in San Francisco this past weekend.

The bill comes, I look down and printed on the bottom of the receipt, in great detail, is how much 15%, 20%, and 25%, of the total is for tipping purposes.

The upscale clientele that they cater to must also have basic math issues.

P.S. I'm not upscale-my wife is.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

The bill comes, I look down and printed on the bottom of the receipt, in great detail, is how much 15%, 20%, and 25%, of the total is for tipping purposes.

I've seen this on checks before. And it was wrong (closer to 18-23-28%).

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Since we're kind of into derailment land, I was getting something to eat the other day and after thinking about paying with my card, I instead reached for some cash in my wallet and handed it to the cashier. She got the most panic stricken face I've ever seen which I'm guessing was a result of having to make change instead of just swiping the card.

Is it me or are people losing the ability to make change? Is basic math really becoming that difficult?

I predicted this in the mid 70's when the calculator began invading the schools. BEFORE ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT'S USES, I have no problem with using the technological advances of the past 75 years or so to help expedite and effect an efficient process, but I do have a problem with using technology in lieu of developing one's brain and knowledge.

rant

When I worked for Southland, I kept a 7-Eleven open during a power outage and no one could figure out how I could do such a thing without power to operate the cash register. People were having a hard time comprehending my ability to do simple math without a machine and that is simply pitiful.

I have run into dozens of situations from a college grad WORKING IN THE SPORTS ARENA TICKET OFFICE who could not figure out the change from a $100 bill for a $77 purchase WITH an adding machine to a banker not being able to make change at his daughter's girl scout cookie table at a fair.

Everyone wants to blame cheap slave labor abroad for the USA's employment issues when in many cases it is simply the lack of qualified people willing to actually work for a living. It is a sad state when the most common answer from our young people of the simplest questions is "Uh?"

/rant

[Manny A]

+1