Enough with the fun

Corporate fun is some of the most depressing stuff around.

Some of the worst offenders: Coldstone Creamery, where the miserable staff breaks into mandatory song every time a customer is foolish enough to leave a tip. That's right -- a disincentive to reward the help.

Southwest Airlines, where flight attendants crack wise about missed connections, bumpy landings, and drunken pilots. Hilarious!

And TGIF, where every birthday is an occasion for public humiliation:

Note (a) the mortification of the "honoree", (b) the fleeing of the staff once their forced frivolity is finished, and (c) the waitress who counsels the customer with "Show some emotion, I know it sucks."

Where credit is overdue

We assumed the current financial mess would slow the tide of credit card solicitations we receive every day.

We, as usual, forgot the U.S. financial system is not predicated on logic.

Can Zoe in Accounting please tell Ian in Marketing to hold off on the irect-day ail-may until Citibank figures out what to do about all the efaults-day?