GeekSugar

Website of the Day: (The Customer Is) Not Always Right

GeekSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:31:02 PDT

How many of you have had (or still do) have a job in the service industry? Since I'm sure there are plenty of you out there (including yours truly), I'm beyond pleased to present today's site of the day selection. Taking a cue from Overheard in New York, but this time sharing the antics of crazy customers, stupid questions, and totally out-there situations, NotAlwaysRight is a hilarious collection of stories from those poor souls working in the service industry - the ones who have to smile and serve, but now have a place to vent their frustrations. Plus, we all get to laugh at it!

I know I have my own stories about those memorable customers that really got under my skin while serving the ranks of customer service, and it would have been totally therapeutic to share with other peeps who were in the same boat. Or just to tell my story of those few customers who seemed to be from another planet! To hear one of my faves from Not Always Right, just

read more. Mission: Impossible Key Shop - Chicago, IL Customer: “I just locked my key in my car in front of the shop.” Me: (I pick up some stuff) “Not a problem, I’ll pop it open for $5.00.” Customer: “What are you going to do with that stuff?” Me: “Open your car.” Customer: “It’s a brand new Mercedes. I just drove it here from the dealer - you can’t touch it!” Me: “Then how do I open it?” Customer: “That’s your problem.” Me: “Actually it’s not; I didn’t lock the key in your car.” Customer: “You have to open it.” Me: “Watch me not open it.” Customer: “OK then, but if you make any scratch or mark at all then you will have to pay Mercedes to repaint the whole car. That will cost thousands.” Me: “So If I’m successful I get $5.00, but if I make the smallest error it will cost me thousands of dollars?” Customer: “Yes.” Me: “Your car might just be there forever.” Hilarity! Just be warned, once you go to NotAlwaysRight, you may not get any work done for a few hours. Seriously. Source

Cool Idea: Put a Modern Spin on Grocery-Store Roses

Angela Swinderman Elias — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:18:41 PST

We've all received the readily available red roses and baby's breath bouquet at some point in our lives. While the romantic gesture of gifting flowers is always appreciated, the slightly dated look of this combination is often not. The divide and conquer strategy applies perfectly to this situation. With a little snipping and the right vessel, this tired arrangement can actually look chic and surprisingly modern.

To achieve the look, snip the stems off of the roses and cluster them tightly together in a cylinder-shaped, clear glass vase. For even more drama, add a votive candle so that light bounces off of the glass and water. The effect is undeniably sexy and completely unexpected.

Kristen Stewart Talks Badass Fairy Tales, Bella Swan, and Her New Leading Man on Snow White Set Visit

Molly Goodson — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:01:00 PST

Last October, we were so excited to pay a visit to the set of Snow White and the Huntsman outside London. We got a sneak peek into the amazing world Kristen Stewart and her costars, including Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Charlize Theron, and more, inhabited while shooting the action-packed fairy-tale movie. We have tons to come from our day poking around the remarkable set and learning about everything from the costumes to the fight scenes. While we were there, we even got to see the aftermath of Kristen accidentally actually punching Chris Hemsworth in the face filming a scene. Check out our chat with Kristen and stay tuned for lots from the set:

Is there something you admire about Snow White?

Yes. It’s strange playing a character that you actually could never truly embody. Her spirit affects people. . . I can’t have Snow White’s effect on people. I can’t actually be completely selfless because nobody is. You can only really play a character like that in a fairy tale and play it with an awful load of integrity. She’s very fully formed, but very farfetched-from-the-reality-that-we-live-in type of person. She also is strong in a very different way than you’d expect. Strength, yeah, but also gusto. I mean, she’s strong. She can kick ass. It hurts very much to do so and so it’s not like you’re watching her go take down a kingdom. You’re not watching going, "Yeah! Kill him!" Really it’s more like you’re watching someone having to do something that doesn’t just go against your sensibilities or that you agree with. It’s gutting. It’s physically gutting, literally. A million reasons, but she’s special.

Do you like that she’s not like your prissy fairy tale?

Yeah, because that’s just a very surface, though she is prissy sometimes. That’s the other thing. It takes her the whole movie basically to become who I’m talking about now. I’m really sort of talking in retrospect. It’s strange. It’s a total identity movie. It’s all about not finding yourself, but actually just being OK with who you always have been and not being ashamed of being the only one who sees the light. It’s an enormous burden and she’s so stunted. She was put away when she was 7 years old and your mother and your father were killed basically right in front of you. We’re not doing the version of a fairy tale that wouldn’t deal with all of those things, where you just sort of skim over all those things, and it's like all of these things are actually really important to the characters. She literally bleeds for her land and her people, and that’s just such a cool concept for me because it’s other people caring about people. It’s very simple, but it’s so common. Every day all the time you see people not caring about each other, and this is just about that.

She learns to be a leader or she’s born a leader inside, do you think?

She’s definitely a born leader. I mean, it’s literally pumping through those veins, but it’s been taken from her. She’s been so stolen from.

To read the rest of the interview, including her thoughts on Bella vs. Snow White and what it was like to punch Chris just

read more. Is it helping you get into the character's mindset to wear those cool costumes? Absolutely. If you look down and something doesn’t feel like you would definitely be wearing it, or if you go to grab your knife and it flops around or - basically [Colleen Atwood] thinks about every detail. It’s so wearable. I also have puffy sleeves. Somehow she manages to make puffy sleeves look butch. I was always expecting to personally wind up in a - basically what I’m wearing underneath it, like that little blue dress, which is just thin and wispy. I was really happy that she’s got something heavy on - a bit of armor before she actually finds her own armor. How did you feel the first time you put on the armor? Did you feel more badass? Yeah. That’s the first thing you want to [pound your chest]. Also, my armor doesn’t have a huge top on it. All the guys, unfortunately, they [raise their arms] and they hit themselves in the head. I can run around in mine. Somehow the armor on the men - unless they’re on horseback and they look amazing, but there’s also something kind of dainty about it, too, like pointy toes. It fits a woman’s body better, I feel. I don’t know, the guys running around suddenly look like little toys - slightly feminine little toys. Both Snow White and Bella had traumatizing experiences in the woods - being led out to die or have her heart broken - compare those two experiences? Well, it’s funny. I think [Snow White] genuinely lacks that innate fear of death that we all have. She’s got a serious, fierce survival - not skills, but insights. But she isn’t afraid of anything. What’s harder is to have dreams and hopes that you lived your whole life sort of be just shattered in front of you. So I think probably it’s totally impossible to compare the two. And I know that doesn’t make sense, but I kind of can’t compare. Can you compare the movies in general? Are there similarities at all? Bella and Snow White both come to find that they’re leaders. I mean, that’s definitely a similarity. They’re different. They’re very, very, very, different people. Also, I guess in a very sort of righteous way as well it’s all very like - everyone’s telling them “no” and both of them I guess see the light. Both of them are sort of a little more intuitive and spiritually, for whatever reason, connected and their gut is always sort of dead right. What about working with Chris surprised you? Did you have any preconceptions of him? Before I met him, I was like, "gosh, so charming." You know what I mean? Like he’s so ridiculously, seemingly nice. Movie-star caliber nice. But he really actually just is. But then again, it’s strange working - cause I mean it’s not a secret. It was completely different part before. It was totally like a rethought. So when he came in it was like "Wow! This is f*cking interesting!" I mean, it was like they really elevated it. Chris is an amazing, nice guy and also [has] great instincts and he can roll with everything on set. He’s really relaxed, whereas I’m always like, "oh my god!" I use my anxiety to do this and he’s always sort of like - he’s a good energy for me. I really like working with him. You actually punched Chris filming a scene and gave him a black eye? It’s actually a very confidence building experience. I don’t like punching anyone. So, you know, when you dream and your hand just slides right down their face, it doesn’t do that in real life. It really works. God, that really made me feel horrible, though. I mean, like instantly hot tears and I was like "oops!" We were watching it. It looks - it’ll be in the movie. Favorite fairy tale as a kid? I honestly don’t - somebody asked this the other day. I wasn’t here til the end of fairy tales. I really liked The Jungle Book. I was obsessed with The Jungle Book. Chris said Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. He is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and he was always like humming Enya as we were trudging up the mountain. I was saying basically, "You should make a remake of Lord of the Rings. Why are you doing this? . . . We’re doing Snow White and the Huntsman, Chris!" Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

Snacking Good: Natchitoches Meat Pies

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:07:39 PST

We've always wanted to take a stab at rolling out a few Natchitoches meat pies. Thanks to an easy recipe from Food Orleans, this might be a dream realized sooner rather than later.

[Baked or fried? You decide.]

Natchitoches meat pies are one of those special little treats with a name as fun to say as they are to scarf down. Nackadish - that's how you say it - is a small town we drive through on our way north to visit Alexandria or Oklahoma, and it's where Steel Magnolias was filmed, and it's famous for these little pies. It's a beautiful little place, with a picturesque riverfront lined with shops and restaurants that have their own sort of French Quarter-ish wrought iron balconies (remember the Easter scene where Jackson slapped Ouiser? That's the riverfront!). But you don't have to go into the actual town to get yourself some meat pies; just stop at any gas station right off I-10. They all fry them up and they're all pretty wonderful.

For her recipe, continue reading.

NYFW Celeb Style: Olivia Palermo Channels Eclectic Glamour

Hannah Weil — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:20:42 PST

Olivia Palermo kicked off Fashion Week right with a styled appearance at last night's QVC runway show. The fashion pro outfitted an eclectic-chic evening ensemble, opting for her standout printed Tibi pants and a gorgeous pair of Manolo Blahnik heels to amp up the glamour. As always, it's Olivia's way of pulling together a variety of pieces that captured our attention; she succeeded in a cool mix and match of textures, like fur and leather layers, and a blend of color with a megawatt clutch in hand and moody blue hues to tie it all together. Looking for a similar style? Shop our key pieces to channel Olivia's perfect front row-ready style.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Buckle-Front Faux-Fur Vest - $195.00	Jack By BB Dakota Hyde Faux Leather Jacket - $98.00
Vince Metallic Knit Sweater - Sold Out	Manolo Blahnik Something Blue Satin Pump - $945.00
Lytton Small Leather Convertible Clutch - $295.00	Silk CDC Pant - $378.00
Tibi Cobweb Lace Print Pants - $337.00	Tuleste Market "Always Tuleste" Gold and Tiger Double Egg Ring, Size 7 - $105.00

What to Expect When You're Expecting Set Visit: Elizabeth Banks on Her Fake Bump and Personal Baby Joy

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:05:11 PST

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood will share the big screen in the upcoming comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting, which follows different mothers-to-be as they prepare for the arrivals of their bundles of joy. Cameron Diaz, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, and Elizabeth Banks are among the famous ladies who strapped on fake baby bumps to portray different kinds of pregnant women, and Banks's character, Wendy, doesn't exactly have an easy time of it.

I visited the Atlanta set of the film last year, where Banks was shooting a climactic scene in which her character addresses all the woes of pregnancy - in an auditorium with a rather large audience. The hilarious meltdown, which you can see in the opening of the trailer for What to Expect When You're Expecting, includes harsh truths like "I'm calling it: pregnancy sucks." It was great fun to see Banks film the passionate speech again and again, especially since the funny lady mixed up her one-liners from one take to another. What was even more interesting was seeing all of the extras who played the audience members, since the group of women was a mix of actual pregnant women and women rocking fake baby bumps.

I chatted with Banks about her own experience filming the movie, and she revealed that she actually felt like she was in her own little movie, since she doesn't have much screen time with her costars. Banks was refreshingly honest about not having any parenting tips and also admitted that though welcoming her son, Felix, has brought her a great deal of joy, it hasn't changed her stance on how she feels about kids in general. Here's more of what Banks had to say about pregnancy and motherhood:

What inspired you to take this role?
Elizabeth Banks: I cried when I read the script. It has a really great ending: at the end of the movie, everybody has a baby! It really is just a very relatable story for everyone: anybody who is a parent, has considered being a parent, has a baby, whatever. It's just very universal, what happens in the film. We really explore so many great storylines and different paths to getting a child. I had a unique path to getting my son, so I understand how everybody's path to their child is different.

How does it feel to wear the bump?
EB: It's sweaty! [Laughs] I think it's probably a decent approximation; it weighs a good 10 lbs. The boobs weigh about 6 lbs. They are really unbelievable. It's fun. It definitely makes you sit and walk in a totally different way. As an actor, it's a great prop.

How did you change when you became a mom?
EB: I get drunk much faster and easier, and it's a big problem, so I can't go out very much. I find that I underestimated the amount of joy. I'm really learning about my capacity for joy through my son.

To see what Banks had to say about baby fever and her parenting tips, just keep reading.

11 Quotes From Rick Santorum That Are Worrisome For Women

Annie Scudder — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:26:41 PST

Last week's Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle was a high-profile example of how women's health can fall prey to politics. Considering this is an election year, we can expect reproductive rights rhetoric to heat up on both sides. President Obama recently hit a sensitive spot when his administration announced that all employers, including Catholic universities and institutions, will have to provide insurance plans that cover contraception for their employees.

Republican social conservatives have already jumped on Obama's policy as a campaign issue. And for Rick Santorum, controversial sexual politics have always been at the heart of his platform. The Republican candidate, who opposes abortion in all cases and says rape victims should "make the best out of a bad situation," won three contests last night, caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota, and the primary in Missouri. Since his chances of winning the nomination, or at least having a greater influence in national politics, is rising, let's look at some of his more worrisome quotes and positions on women's issues.

The Bourne Legacy Teaser: Jeremy Renner Takes Over For Matt Damon

Shannon Vestal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:41:40 PST

Matt Damon may have exited the Bourne franchise, but his successor, Jeremy Renner, is primed and ready to go. In this brief teaser for The Bourne Legacy, we meet his character, Aaron Cross, an operative being prepped for Treadstone, the CIA program that turned Bourne into an elite government assassin. We shouldn't be surprised that there are more agents like Bourne, apparently, because as Edward Norton's character intones, "Jason Bourne was the tip of the iceberg."

As we see Cross being groomed, and then using his jaw-dropping skills in the field, I let go of my wistfulness for Damon, because Renner's new incarnation is such a badass. Plus, the fact that there are mainstays from the Bourne series here, like director Tony Gilroy and supporting cast members Joan Allen and David Strathairn, gives the new film some consistency, even if Damon isn't there. Though he'll always be the original, I can't wait to see what Renner brings to the table, because from the looks of the trailer, he's the right choice to play Damon's successor. To judge for yourself, just keep reading.

Tips For Building an Effective Online Dating Profile

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:02:33 PST

In this digital age, men and women aren't just hitting bars and coffee shops to snag a date. More and more, they're heading to the Internet. In fact, 50 percent of men have met a woman online according to a recent survey. It's obvious that online dating has become the norm, and for good reason - the Internet gives you more options because you can cover a wider area of partner possibilities (as in, the entire globe). And while your chances are better of finding a compatible mate on the worldwide web than, say, your small town of 13,000 people, the Internet can't help you if you don't give off the right signals. First impressions are everything - even virtual ones. Beef up your online dating profile with these tips, and snag yourself one of those "many fish" your mother is always talking about.

Make sure you're fishing in the right pool -You wouldn't go to Craigslist's Casual Encounters to look for a serious relationship, so don't go to Match.com if you're just looking for a little fun on a Friday night. Sites like eHarmony and Chemistry have had a lot of success by getting scientific about the dating process (taking your likes and dislikes and matching you up with someone who's compatible), so make sure you're ready to commit before diving in!
Lose the negativity - No one wants to meet up with a Debbie Downer, so if your online dating profile is riddled with sarcasm, negativity, and pessimism, you can be sure that you won't be getting many date requests any time soon. This doesn't mean you have to be fake, just keep the "I'm too cool for school" attitude to a minimum.

See a few more tips, including some important dos and don'ts for your profile photos, when you read more

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "If/Then"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:20:41 PST

Last year we had the Grey's Anatomy musical episode, and this season it's the alternate-reality episode. That's right: as Meredith ponders on the veracity of the phrase "meant to be," we get to see what could have been - or in this case, what was always destined to be. Though this is a filler episode if I ever saw one, it's still pretty fun to see the characters go down different paths (well, except for Jackson, who pretty much stays the same).

What we're treated to is a preppy-pink Meredith, a geeky Karev, and an even edgier Yang just to name a few. There are also plenty of shout-outs to characters from past seasons, like Izzie, George, and Burke. Ready to break down all of the differences? Just