McDonalds Had To Close?

Well not all of them but the one I went to this morning did. This morning I realized that our dependence on technology may be out of control.

On my way into the office, I decided to make a stop at my local McD's and grab a sausage biscuit, minus egg of course due to my allergy to eggs (but that's a different story). Anyway, I sat in the drive through waiting for someone to speak to me from the little brown post but no one ever came. I waited, what I considered a significant amount of time (about a minute) and decided to drive up to the window to see what the highly trained McStaff was engaged in. They were all huddled together behind the counter looking at the register with a "what do we do" look on their faces.

Just then, they all raised their heads in relief and noticed that I was parked outside the magic food window staring in at them. One of the employees came and opened the window. I said "no one would talk to me at the post." She replied, "yes I know, we have been closed for the last couple of hours. Our computers went down."

Me (in astonishment) - "Your computers went down so you had to cease business operation until you could restart them?

Her (indignant) - "Yup"

Fortunately I was able to place my order as the system had just been returned to normal working condition. But Seriously, how did people order a burger, fries and a Coke before computers. It must not have been possible right? This was the message I gleaned from the McKids today.

Instead of serving customers and WRITING down the order and either giving the paper to the cooks OR just hollering at the meat jockeys, cafe style, they chose to shut the entire place down. Maybe there is some kind of McPolicy that I don't know about or some protocol that dictates that they shut down. God forbid you have to add the total of the check with out the use of a calculator or a cash register. There are plenty of restaurants that still use the paper, handwritten checks out there. Granted, not many, but they do exist.

I am not to sure what to make of all this. Today I witnessed 2 things. Dependence on technology and the younger generation's inability to adapt to anything other outside the strict confines of their current skill set.

Where are we headed in the future? Are we doomed? Your thoughts?

 

It's Official. Google IS Coming to Iowa!

The announcement was just made! On the Des Moines Register's Site they are reporting that it is official. Google is locating their next server farm in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The new data center is already under construction on a 55 acre site.

"The $600 million project will include two facilities spread over 1,185 acres and will include 200 workers with average salaries of between $50,000 and $130,000...creating an annual payroll of about $10 million.

Google Inc. will pay an estimated $65 million in property taxes over the next 15 years, according to a press release from the governor's office. The company made a concentrated effort to use as many local vendors and suppliers as possible..."

This is an exciting prospect for the State of Iowa. Operations are scheduled to begin in the spring of 09.

 

Google Coming to Iowa?

The DesMoines Register reported that Gov. Chet Culver plans to announce a "major economic development project" on Tuesday.

"An economic development official who asked not to be identified, but who is familiar with the project, said Friday that Google has told the state that it will build its next server farm in Council Bluffs."

The proposed data center that would house the big G has an estimated construction cost of $600 million. This is a huge break for the Tall Corn State with an estimated 100 jobs created that would pay between $50k and $130k annually.

We will find out tomorrow for sure. Keep your fingers crossed Council Bluffs.