13 Confessions Of A Waiter [Confessions]

Except for those who actually work in the food service industry, the general public is largely unaware of restaurants' inner-workings, and after you read the following article you may concede that ignorance is bliss. Reader's Digest has complied a list of 13 confessions of a waiter which are excerpts from a book called "Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip—Confessions of a Cynical Waiter" by an author who simply goes by "The Waiter." See some of our favorites, inside...

2. There are almost never any sick days in the restaurant business. A busboy with a kid to support isn't going to stay home and miss out on $100 because he's got strep throat. And these are the people handling your food.

3. When customers' dissatisfaction devolves into personal attacks, adulterating food or drink is a convenient way for servers to exact covert vengeance. Waiters can and do spit in people's food.

4. Never say "I'm friends with the owner." Restaurant owners don't have friends. This marks you as a clueless poseur the moment you walk in the door.

13. Never, ever come in 15 minutes before closing time. The cooks are tired and will cook your dinner right away. So while you're chitchatting over salads, your entrées will be languishing under the heat lamp while the dishwasher is spraying industrial-strength, carcinogenic cleaning solvents in their immediate vicinity.

Check out Readers Digest's article for the full list.

We can think of no better time to abide by the Golden Rule then when eating at a restaurant. On two occasions, I actually exited the restaurant before the food was served because I felt that I had displeased the staff and feared their retribution. After reading these confessions, I think my instincts were dead-on.

Netflix Says "I Do" To Microsoft's Xbox Live [Unholy Union]

During their press briefing at E3, Microsoft announced that they have entered a partnership with Netflix, according to MSNBC. The (unholy) union means that starting this fall, Xbox users will be able to watch streaming videos from Netflix's collection, however, they may only select from the 10,000 movies and shows which are available online and not the complete DVD library which includes some 100,000 titles. Microsoft has been touting this new service as free, unfortunately, that's not completely true. Details, inside...

In order to use the new service, users will need to be an Xbox Gold-level member which costs $50 a year. Naturally, they will also need a Netflix membership, but it has to be above the base $4.99 membership level.

The article says,

Confirming another pervasive rumor, the software upgrade will let users create avatars (which look a heck of a lot like Miis on the Nintendo Wii) and invite their friends to a “Live Party.” The Netflix partnership means that users can also invite their friends to watch movies with them too — something that has a few attendees here pretty excited.

“I like the idea of being able to be in a game, talking with friends and someone will say something like ‘I’ve never seen Office Space.’ And thinking that I could go, stop the game and make that person watch ‘Office Space’ with me,” says Edie Sellers, contributor to podcast site GameHounds.

Netflix has been like a pure virginal daughter to us at The Consumerist. We feel as if Microsoft, the biggest slimeball in town, is whisking away our daughter for a wild trip to Vegas where we know she will ultimately be deflowered. Their union fills us with worry and a sense of dread which emanates from the pit of our stomach. Don't you hurt our daughter, Microsoft, or we'll f'ng kill you.

Microsoft partners with Netflix on Xbox Live [MSNBC]
(Photo: Getty )

If you worked at Fry's Electronics between ... [Frys]

If you worked at Fry's Electronics between March '02 and July '07, you can participate in a newly announced class action settlement. You should be contacted directly, but you can also download the settlement and claim form from here. [ FrysForum ] (Thank to Luis!)

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