IGNORANCE

First, the stupid thing I did. I went to a dollar store and purchased ear buds. Unfortunately, I wasn't paying enough attention and only got a single bud, meant for a cell phone. I realized this just outside the store and immediately went back to turn it in for a pair.

Now, the cell phone buds cost 1.99 before tax. The stereo buds cost 1.25, before tax. The cashier entered those numbers with the tax added (2.15 and 1.35) and got the result "0.8" and handed me back 8 cents. I told her that it was 80 cents and did the calculation myself on her calculator using just cents (215 and 135) but she was unconvinced. I then pointed to the price stickers and noted that the difference in price without the tax would be 74 cents. She was still unconvinced and so was the manager who was now standing there. Fortunately, another customer who spoke Spanish was there and cleared up the problem but for a second I was stunned by the ignorance of the cashier and the manager. How do they manage to avoid running the place into the ground?

Similarly, tonight I heard an elderly caller to Sludge talk about a new book that supposedly debunks evolution. The caller claimed that both evolution and global warming were based on junk science. Now, who will play the role of the helpful customer?