stamps and inefficiency
I went to the post office to get $.02 stamps today, since I still have a bunch of $.37 stamps, as it takes me about 2 years to go through a book of stamps. The machine only sold them in lots of 40, however, and it was not worth $.70 or so to wait in line and get them from a person, so now I have waaaaaaay more $.02 stamps than I can reasonably use. So if you need any, let me know - I'll give you some.
My taxes are done now - getting over $700 back, which is nice. I have to rant, however, about CA state stupidity for a second. To file online in CA, you need a CSN, which is just another random identifying number. If you filed in CA the previous year, you can just get this online, but if not, you have to call in and get it. Here's how that went:
Me: *dials*
Voice: blah blah please hold
Me: *holds for 25 minutes*
Actual Person: Hi, how can I help you?
Me: I just moved to CA this year, so I need a CSN.
AP: Ok, SSN please?
Me: *says ssn*
AP: Do you have a CA driver's liscence?
Me: Yes
AP: Number on that please?
Me: *gives number*
AP: Name and address on the liscence?
Me: *gives name and address*
AP: Ok, your CSN is (#). Have a nice day.
Me: Thanks, bye.
WHY is this not automated?!?!?! Not that this was terribly painful or difficult or anything, but what a waste of time for everyone. Having this done by a human instead of a machine is both slower and more error-prone. The only reason to have this be done by an actual person is to create more unskilled government jobs. I know that in general this does not affect any one person very much but inefficiency REALLY bothers me (in case you hadn't noticed) and this is just one of many common situations in which its rampant.
I will welcome our future robot overlords, but I'll probably be ticked at them for not coming sooner.
My taxes are done now - getting over $700 back, which is nice. I have to rant, however, about CA state stupidity for a second. To file online in CA, you need a CSN, which is just another random identifying number. If you filed in CA the previous year, you can just get this online, but if not, you have to call in and get it. Here's how that went:
Me: *dials*
Voice: blah blah please hold
Me: *holds for 25 minutes*
Actual Person: Hi, how can I help you?
Me: I just moved to CA this year, so I need a CSN.
AP: Ok, SSN please?
Me: *says ssn*
AP: Do you have a CA driver's liscence?
Me: Yes
AP: Number on that please?
Me: *gives number*
AP: Name and address on the liscence?
Me: *gives name and address*
AP: Ok, your CSN is (#). Have a nice day.
Me: Thanks, bye.
WHY is this not automated?!?!?! Not that this was terribly painful or difficult or anything, but what a waste of time for everyone. Having this done by a human instead of a machine is both slower and more error-prone. The only reason to have this be done by an actual person is to create more unskilled government jobs. I know that in general this does not affect any one person very much but inefficiency REALLY bothers me (in case you hadn't noticed) and this is just one of many common situations in which its rampant.
I will welcome our future robot overlords, but I'll probably be ticked at them for not coming sooner.