Daily Dose of Weird - April 14, 2014 - KFC's New Chicken Corsage

Today's Daily Dose of Weird is brought to you by KFC and their new fried (or grilled) chicken corsage. It is running Americans $20 and has made my highlight reel on this ridiculous Monday.

I had a great time at prom. My date was/is a stellar guy, I had an awesome dress and I had some fast food. I opted for a trip to McDonaldland over the dirty bird, out of habit KFC closes super early in rural Nova Scotia and when you are under-age and have nothing to do on a Saturday night a trip to the McDonald’s in the next town over is the main source of fun (other than cards).  It is my belief that too many fast-food restaurants close too early in Nova Scotia. That is not the point of this blog and a very narrow discussion point so I think I will end my rant on that here.

I love unique prom arrangements. From duct tape dresses to landing a helicopter in the soccer field instead of arriving in a limo, I look at prom as a great source of entertainment because people can get so ridiculous about it. I am one of those people. My mom complained about having to buy me a $100 stick-on bra for my strapless-dress (but had no problem forking out $800 for the dress), she would have moved heaven and earth to get the town’s Zamboni for our arrival and I was 100% okay with all of it. I’m not much of a limo girl myself, I wanted the Zamboni to symbolize my dedication to ice hockey (my sport of choice)… my dad was on the rink commission and was in no way going to allow us to break the insurance policy by driving it 500 feet away to my school for my prom entrance. Dad 1, Mom -$900.

Anyways, I am generally a big fan of outrageous prom stunts. But, not this time KFC. The KFC corsage is too much. I don’t care how much you love KFC this is just not a class move. I have had a lot of fun talking about this today, but overall I think it is just dumb. You should stop reading here, I am about to go way too in-depth on this subject.

It sparks the following questions in my curious brain. First off, who just wants one piece of chicken?  Second, do you eat it while it is still warm? Third, what if you get grease on your dress? Fourth, where do you store the gravy (everybody knows KFC is nothing without the amazing gravy)? Fifth, is it protocol to share with your date? What if he wants to eat the skin and all you want is the skin?

As you can see, I have thought WAY too much about this today. In fact it was at the top of my mind while I did my cardio at the gym. It came down to this one thought. Nova Scotian kids (sorry everyone else) who want KFC on prom night should just get a bucket and pop it in the oven after a night full of fun--- don’t let KFC closing relatively early ruin your night. Oven heat the chicken for the authentic taste and microwave the gravy… you’ve got to get the gravy! Buy and wear a normal corsage for the night so that your mother can keep it at the back of your freezer until you get married (think of how gross that chicken would be in 10 years)… and so you don’t ruin that dress you will never wear again.

Started specific, ended very specific. Now I want to go to prom… and eat KFC. 

*This is like 50% joke.... I think this is a brilliant promotion for KFC, it made me think this much about fried chicken so they are clearly doing something right!

Kate's Pet Peeves: Social Media Whiners

I hate reading people whine on social media.

It is one of my pet peeves. It seems like people no longer understand how to cope with basic problems in daily life. It is like the new ‘go-to’ response to things is to complain about things online. The only thing worse than the initial complaint or rant about an issue is how offended people get by their ‘followers’ or friends respond unfavorably.

I love using social media, my friends and family are spread across Canada and it is the perfect way to keep in touch on a daily basis. But, do I care that they are angry that people are criticizing their choice to switch their baby’s formula to whatever they can get on sale that week (yes, that is a very specific and real example)? Nope, not even enough to comment about it (except in this rant-like blog).

I really hope schools start teaching children how to use the web properly, because all of us growing up with it kind of suck at it. Okay, that’s not true; all of us radio hosts are Internet-gurus who do not complain and can find you the most adorable animals online.

I am just kidding, kind of. I really do find web-whiners annoying, but recently I have benefitted from a little strategic Twitter complaining. While I do not condone bitching about the onions on your Big Mac, when you are having a problem witch a large corporation and a lot of your money is on the line (to me a lot of money is over $100), than go for it… but only once (per issue).

I have complained via Twitter twice, both times I have received timely appropriate responses on large-scale problems. Why? Because some companies do have people on staff waiting to search you out and ensure that you are one happy customer. And, I used firm language and did not abuse my right to voice my concerns.

My first complaint came nine months ago after a major electronics company lost my iPad they had been repairing (under insurance) two months after they told me it was repaired. My second complaint was last week (August 2013) after waiting nearly a month to hear back from my car insurance company after an accident. In both cases, both companies responded to my indirect tweets (I did not @ message them) within minutes and the situations began to be worked out in a timely manor. Had I have not sent out my tweets than I would have continued to be on their backburners, which would have continued to waste my time and money.

Both of my issues were worked out in amazing fashion once I used a gentle but firm tweet to get my problem out in the Twitterverse. Before I tweeted, people recommended the good-ole angry phone call, but I honestly hate phone calls and I am too busy to sit on hold for an hour. A little firm input online will usually result in a message or email that will get a polite phone call at your earliest convenience (no waits, less angst). Everybody wins!

I have problems all the time, being minorly addicted to fast food I had two imperfect orders at two fast food restaurants within 10 minutes last week (UUUURRRRGGGG!!!!). Like everyone else I am human and wanted to tell the world by picketing outside both restaurants with a sign explaining my slight. But, I only have a half-hour for lunch and need a job to pay off my student loans. Every time I fight the urge to open up my Twitter app and complain, why don’t I? Because I value my followers and would hate from them to think I do not value my place on their news feed. Seriously, 30 cents worth of onions is not as valuable to me as those people’s interactions on a semi-regular basis.

I guess my message in this rant of a blog is that social media is not a time machine that can take you back in time to fix an imperfect situation when you press the post button. Unless you think some specific individuals out there can make the situation better and you don’t mind potentially losing followers because of the post, than keep your complaints to yourself. Especially the age-old complaint, “I’m SOOOOOOO tired”. Being tired is part of being an average adult, have a coffee (like the rest of us) and get over it.  

Okay, maybe I have complained over a smaller issue too… I did once tweet to KFC Canada asking when the Zinger Double-Down would be back; it was August 2012 and as of Spring 2013 the Zinger Double-Down is back in KFC Canada restaurants. Triple-win Kate.