He came into the store while I was paying my bill, and I called him on it. He gave me one of the stupidest looks I've ever seen. It was obvious that he had no clue why I was chastising him.

Happened to me a few months ago. He was using the pump on the other side of mine. As I was getting into my car after filling my tank, I thought to myself, "Gee, that guy's engine is making a funny noise." Then I realized he was in the process of pumping gas while I was hearing his engine. I drove away quickly, stopping to tell the attendant about it.

I leave my car on all the time while getting gas. I am sure the attendant just ignored you. Do you also worry abotu using your cell phone while getting gas? Neither of these are gonna cause a fire. The smoking thing is stupid though.

Yes I am sure somewhere, sometime, a guy with a plugged catalytic converter caused a fire.

While technically possible, it's pretty difficult to light gasoline with a cigarette especially the higher octane you go. High octane, diesel, and airplane fuel are damn near impossible...you could throw a lighted match in JP-5 and it's very unlikely to combust.

are much more combustible (and explosive) than gasoline itself.

You need to get fuel, air and ignition source in the right combination to burn.

I was watching drag racing. He said you could throw a lit match into a drum of it and it would go out. But if you had a drop the size of a nickel on the pavement and you hit it with a hammer it would blow your arm off.

Solicit donations for a dog's operation while spending hundreds to go to a football game.

That was just last week.

On Saturday night (Sunday morning)I stopped by Taco Bell (don't judge me) and the bill came to $4.76. I gave the girl $5 and after she rung it up, dove into my pocket for another cent thinking it would make change easier. She took it, looking confused, and then reached across the register for a handheld calculator, entered it in, and looked even more confused. Eventually she asked ... "Do I just give you back a quarter?"

Contrast this to my recent trip to Germany where the waitress brought a check, took my cash and calculated the change in a fraction of a second in her head and I weep for this country's future.

Maybe it wasn't Taco Bell's "A" team at 0200 on a Sunday morning.

My order came to $4.15.

I gave her a $5 bill.

She rang it up, and then I dug 15 cents out of my pocket and said, "I have the exact change."

I handed her the nickel and dime.

She said, "But I already rang it up."

I said, "$5.15 less $4.15 equals $1. Aren't you a student here?"

"I'm an architecture major. I don't need to know math."

until one works one's first cash register.

Of course she knew the math.

SHE COULD NOT GIVE UP CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.

She'll make a fine architect.

you do need math.

plenty of math.

Remind me not to work in any of her buildings.

My guess is she was hunting for silver coins. Probably running quarters, dimes, and even nickels through the machine. Coinstar doesn't recognize them and spits them out.

Also, Coinstar now lets you pick up fee-free payment with gift cards to places like Amazon. If you're planning a larger purchase anyway, it could be a no cost way to cull through coins looking for those more valuable ones.

Most banks won't talk to you unless you have an account.

I'm guessing the grocery store itself may also have changed her.

If you choose a gift certificate somewhere. Only if you get actual cash do they charge you.

That's what I've heard at least.