Microsoft *#!@&*
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV Cycle C
I don't want to use profane language in these pages, so I am going to resort to euphemism.
It is now common, especially for young people, to express their dislike, hatred, or antagonism toward someone, something, by saying "It stinks." Only instead of saying, "stinks" they use a word that, according to one dictionary means "to draw into the mouth by using the lips, cheeks, and tongue."
So when I use the word "stinks," I really mean the word denoted by the definition cited above.
The word "stinks" gets used a lot, especially when it comes to an evaluation of customer service. No doubt you've been in stores where there seem to be a gezillion clerks standing around behind the counter -- totally ignoring you. The service, quite frankly, stinks.
That's why there are websites devoted to almost every major corporation to complain about its customer service. As an experiment, try typing www dot.[name of company]stinks.com and you'll be amazed at the hits.
MicrosoftStinks.com. IntelStinks.com. KmartStinks.com. BestbuyStinks.com. CorporateAmericaStinks.com. On these sites, you'll read the complaints of those who have been affected by abominable customer service. The most frequent complaint is that, while they are waiting to make a purchase, clerks are just standing around -- doing nothing.
For example, here's how one writer explained his frustration: "I entered the store to purchase a digital camcorder to complement the $2,700 computer I bought in February. I was on my way to work, so I did not look like some street person: I was in a sports jacket and tie. One of the three attendants who was actually doing something in Video was helping another customer. The other two were [chatting] with each other in the back near the televisions. After helping the one guest, the attendant walked away. I didn't say anything since I wanted to see just how long it would take someone to approach me -- in that I was very actively looking at the more expensive selection of cameras. After five minutes, another customer approached who was then asked if he needed assistance. I asked the attendant if he did not see me standing there. I received a dumb look and I left infuriated."
I was reminded of this kind of experience when I read the words of the white-robed men in today's text who spoke to the disciples: "Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?" They're like: "Don't you have something to do?"
That's when the disciples -- startled out of their revelry -- returned to Jerusalem to get back to work.
It's the second time an angelic presence had to intervene to jump-start the disciples, and both times the message was essentially the same: He is not here. The first occurrence was after the resurrection. He is not here, now go ... The second time occurs at the Ascension. He is not here, now go ... stop gazing idly into the heavens. Quit standing around. Get moving before someone sees you and says, "What's happening? This stinks!"
It is now common, especially for young people, to express their dislike, hatred, or antagonism toward someone, something, by saying "It stinks." Only instead of saying, "stinks" they use a word that, according to one dictionary means "to draw into the mouth by using the lips, cheeks, and tongue."
So when I use the word "stinks," I really mean the word denoted by the definition cited above.
The word "stinks" gets used a lot, especially when it comes to an evaluation of customer service. No doubt you've been in stores where there seem to be a gezillion clerks standing around behind the counter -- totally ignoring you. The service, quite frankly, stinks.
That's why there are websites devoted to almost every major corporation to complain about its customer service. As an experiment, try typing www dot.[name of company]stinks.com and you'll be amazed at the hits.
MicrosoftStinks.com. IntelStinks.com. KmartStinks.com. BestbuyStinks.com. CorporateAmericaStinks.com. On these sites, you'll read the complaints of those who have been affected by abominable customer service. The most frequent complaint is that, while they are waiting to make a purchase, clerks are just standing around -- doing nothing.
For example, here's how one writer explained his frustration: "I entered the store to purchase a digital camcorder to complement the $2,700 computer I bought in February. I was on my way to work, so I did not look like some street person: I was in a sports jacket and tie. One of the three attendants who was actually doing something in Video was helping another customer. The other two were [chatting] with each other in the back near the televisions. After helping the one guest, the attendant walked away. I didn't say anything since I wanted to see just how long it would take someone to approach me -- in that I was very actively looking at the more expensive selection of cameras. After five minutes, another customer approached who was then asked if he needed assistance. I asked the attendant if he did not see me standing there. I received a dumb look and I left infuriated."
I was reminded of this kind of experience when I read the words of the white-robed men in today's text who spoke to the disciples: "Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?" They're like: "Don't you have something to do?"
That's when the disciples -- startled out of their revelry -- returned to Jerusalem to get back to work.
It's the second time an angelic presence had to intervene to jump-start the disciples, and both times the message was essentially the same: He is not here. The first occurrence was after the resurrection. He is not here, now go ... The second time occurs at the Ascension. He is not here, now go ... stop gazing idly into the heavens. Quit standing around. Get moving before someone sees you and says, "What's happening? This stinks!"
