Saturday, December 28, 2002

It’s pretty geeky to post

It’s pretty geeky to post about stuff I heard on the radio, especially when it’s NPR, but I did think that this morning’s story about automated checkout at some grocery stores deserved repetition - or at least, one line of it did, one of those lines that, for me, will define my generation: the store in the story (those words are almost identical aren’t they) was in the south, so the automated voice of the automated checkout equipment had a slight twang as it politely, firmly, gracefully instructed patrons to weigh their vegetables, to scan their groceries, to type in produce codes, and to “Move your sweet onions to the belt.” Move them, indeed.  It sounded so euphemistic, the way it came out.  I can’t be responsible for my immaturity when NPR broadcasts such glaringly provocative material.  You’re just daring me to giggle chocolate milk out my nose.