tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post4090109006213302034..comments2024-01-11T18:39:50.665+00:00Comments on Painting With Shadows: Queuing QuandaryKim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-23918562861477642552009-03-23T17:58:00.000+00:002009-03-23T17:58:00.000+00:00LegalMist - that's definitely one to factor into t...<B>LegalMist</B> - that's definitely one to factor into the equations :)Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-78368482881793168702009-03-23T17:51:00.000+00:002009-03-23T17:51:00.000+00:00Ooh, Kim, I love your theory -- I'll have to try i...Ooh, Kim, I love your theory -- I'll have to try it!<BR/><BR/>To date, the most effective one I've found I got from "The Simpsons." Apu was explaining the theory to Marge -- don't get in the express lane, there's an old man up front; "He is starved for attention; he'll talk the cashier's head off!" Instead, look for the line with the most "pathetic single men," even if it's the longest line, because that means "Only cash, no chitchat!"LegalMisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00197525109022776598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-47502571911475319412009-03-22T15:08:00.000+00:002009-03-22T15:08:00.000+00:00Conan - you could be right - how many of us have w...Conan - you could be right - how many of us have wished we could travel faster than light so we could be back with the shopping before we left?<BR/><BR/>Oh. Just me?<BR/><BR/>*cough*Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-65198886259702870622009-03-21T16:32:00.000+00:002009-03-21T16:32:00.000+00:00I expect Einstein had his first musings on relativ...I expect Einstein had his first musings on relativity in a shopping queue.Conan Drummhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12377667084973491628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-49038455265633293802009-03-21T10:04:00.000+00:002009-03-21T10:04:00.000+00:00Brave Astronaut - you sound like exactly the kind ...<B>Brave Astronaut</B> - you sound like exactly the kind of person I should be in the other queue from...<BR/><BR/><B>Sini</B> - :)<BR/><BR/><B>FLG</B> - there is so much more to learn, young padawan<BR/><BR/><B>Carole</B> - it's a much a part of the human condition as procrastination, or feeling everyone else knows what they're doing and we're the only one who's clueless.<BR/><BR/><B>Kanani</B> - And then there's the Pollaczek–Khintchine formula...<BR/><BR/><B>Pat</B> - <I>Option Paralysis</I> is one common side effect of queuing decisions<BR/><BR/><B>Jimmy</B> - ah yes, doing foward rolls behind the special offer pyramids, and commando crawls along the freezer aisles.<BR/><BR/><B>Charlie</B> - I could cope with magazines- it's the sweets/candy they put next to the checkouts that's the real distraction problem<BR/><BR/><B>Sarah</B> - welcome to my ramblings and thank you for taking the time to comment. And if you ever want to contribute to the Storyteller's blog, do let me know and I'll give you access to upload your tales :)<BR/><BR/><B>Mary</B> - maybe I should be marketing this idea - "Fed up with always being in the slower queue? We have the solution for $9.99!" - Insert pic of happy shopper leaving the checkout, with grumpy shopper behind her...<BR/><BR/><B>Andraste</B> - time to get servants<BR/><BR/><B>Sarah</B> - an unfortunately side effect will probably be we lose a bit of our soul every time we do it...<BR/><BR/><B>Savannah</B> - woohoo! you're back :)Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-65669081015984316112009-03-20T21:20:00.000+00:002009-03-20T21:20:00.000+00:00i use the time in line to stare at people (from be...i use the time in line to stare at people (from behind dark glasses, of course) and dutifully load my groceries on the the conveyor, hand over my reusable bags and pay by debit card...i am an automaton in the grocery store1 i do like your method... xoxox<BR/><BR/>(i'm back, sugar!)savannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310843901371718758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-19974444685828845662009-03-20T20:37:00.001+00:002009-03-20T20:37:00.001+00:00empathy used in a cruel mannor.(haha)sometimes the...empathy used in a cruel mannor.<BR/><BR/>(haha)<BR/><BR/>sometimes the best things in life are free and being a jerk.. feels so good.sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668939110660039602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-88137116794766242032009-03-20T20:37:00.000+00:002009-03-20T20:37:00.000+00:00Even something as simple as groceries turns into c...Even something as simple as groceries turns into calculus.<BR/><BR/>I've started using the self-check out too, though those machines can be tricky and uncooperative too. <BR/><BR/>Christ I hate shopping.Andrastehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17995089221441792487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-11342147139523018532009-03-20T19:07:00.000+00:002009-03-20T19:07:00.000+00:00What a novel idea, Kim! I am absolutely going to ...What a novel idea, Kim! I am absolutely going to try this the next time we go shopping, because I invariably pick the slowest line in the store. Like Pat's husband, I often dither and move from line to line in an attempt to find the best deal. But with your new method, no longer will I have to resort to this!Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-55762212890526680962009-03-20T18:25:00.000+00:002009-03-20T18:25:00.000+00:00Hi Kim, First time visitor here to your blog, it's...Hi Kim, <BR/><BR/>First time visitor here to your blog, it's great. I found it through Gimme A Minute.<BR/><BR/>Checked out your storytellers blog, I love it, what a fab idea. Keep it up.<BR/><BR/>Cheerio,<BR/><BR/>Sarah GostrangelySarah Gostrangelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15031984196987721992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-75647709947103952932009-03-20T17:03:00.000+00:002009-03-20T17:03:00.000+00:00I'll take the grocery anytime over the bank or the...I'll take the grocery anytime over the bank or the post office.<BR/><BR/>At the bank, a lady wants $500 in travelers checks in $10 increments.<BR/><BR/>At the post office, a fellow is looking for a registered letter the clerk cannot find.<BR/><BR/>At least there's magazines in the grocery check-out.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722567671925063706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-83515277722817919682009-03-20T16:50:00.000+00:002009-03-20T16:50:00.000+00:00I've been known to leap over small children to gai...I've been known to leap over small children to gain just <I>one</I> space in the queue in my local supermarket.<BR/><BR/>Men begin to plot their strategy from the moment they enter the pet food aisle.<BR/><BR/>It's a bit like taking part in a huge Wii game, but with more cunning.Barlinniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07555629852012324360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-37647829387897910442009-03-20T16:23:00.000+00:002009-03-20T16:23:00.000+00:00On the rare occasions we shop together we have thi...On the rare occasions we shop together we have this dilemma and I plunge in with a 'what does it matter' recklessness which MTL always s challenges and then it's ditherering and tearing from one queue to the other which really irks me. Queueing time is thinking time.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-86467129630749826972009-03-20T15:21:00.000+00:002009-03-20T15:21:00.000+00:00They've installed these self check kiosks, which a...They've installed these self check kiosks, which are very good for small items, but invariably you get someone technically challenged going through. <BR/><BR/>But yes, I think the formula is universal --trolly contents, length of line, whether or not the person looks like a coupon clipper, the whole gamut.Kananihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317494343177263398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-19665196239485450202009-03-20T15:02:00.000+00:002009-03-20T15:02:00.000+00:00Aha, John thinks this is a conspiracy against him....Aha, John thinks this is a conspiracy against him. Now I have proof that it happens to others also.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03828426520214270655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-72270779400320077702009-03-20T14:54:00.000+00:002009-03-20T14:54:00.000+00:00My calculations only go so far as how many people ...My calculations only go so far as how many people are in line, mainly because I don't want to be the person furthest from the checkout :DApex Zombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04831580250709824079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-50687453015002043202009-03-20T14:38:00.000+00:002009-03-20T14:38:00.000+00:00so wonderfully evil.. ;)so wonderfully evil.. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-89154907668001564012009-03-20T13:57:00.000+00:002009-03-20T13:57:00.000+00:00I prefer to use the self-checkout lanes. It lesse...I prefer to use the self-checkout lanes. It lessens the number of people that are involved in your transaction. However, too often, people will get in that line and not know how to use the scanner.<BR/><BR/>And don't get me started on the express lanes that get clogged by people with more items than they are supposed to have.Brave Astronauthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13893671129001583065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-48654288712351934792009-03-20T13:33:00.000+00:002009-03-20T13:33:00.000+00:00This is what always screws up the calculations - y...This is what always screws up the calculations - you can never factor in who's got an item where the bar code won't scan properly. Although usually it will be either someone who is permanently looking at their watch, or has 4 kids picking stuff out the trolley and throwing it at each otherKim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-30736118207954497832009-03-20T13:19:00.000+00:002009-03-20T13:19:00.000+00:00My sister worked as a grocery checker and she figu...My sister worked as a grocery checker and she figured this out for me. Part of the problem with your calculation is taking into consideration how much stuff people have. One overflowing cart will take less time than several small orders. It's because it takes very little time to scan but the same amount of time for people to pay. Now this was back in the day before widespread use of debit cards, so that may have changed. But I've always found I'm better off behind just one person with a full cart than behind a few people with just a few things. Until, of course, the full-cart person's yogurt falls on the floor and opens and needs to be replaced. ;)Anna van Schurmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09545037218589039870noreply@blogger.com