Shopping in Calgary or How to Surf the Orgy of Carnage:

Recently posted to the Calgarians Livejournal group was "even_fl0w's Calgary Survival guide for the holidays." Chris wisely brings up some points regarding the Christmas shopping season. He has "OFFICIALLY smashed the panic button," given the following conditions:

• Lack of manpower in the retail and service industry.
• Calgary's booming economy has resulted in a population/traffic increase.
• City Construction/Roads.
• General Holiday insanity.

This is quite the recipe for disaster, but with some common sense and general considerations, we can all get though this together.

A sample:

... if you accept the fact the service/retail industry is severely understaffed, you will not stress yourself over it. Stress is caused by the feeling of lack of control over a situation, so remove it completely. Being polite, calm and cool with clerks and store staff really does wonders. People are worked hard over the holidays and the last thing they need is an irate customer tearing into them. Back off, avoid the brain aneriusm[sic]and chill. Negative energy is a virus that doesn't help anyone.

It is this kind of rational cool-headedness that we shouldn't have to be reminded to maintain, but it seems we still have to.

[Link]