How many workers…?

At our place in the country, a low-hanging power line would have been dangerous for anyone trying to pass to the back of the property with a machine. After months — years? — UTE, the state electric company, got around to responding to the work order(s) to raise it

UTE worker overkill, Uruguay

I wasn’t there yesterday, but apparently the task involved four trucks and about ten workers, only one of whom was actually doing anything. The power pole was for the next street, so why other trucks came up our street so nine workers could watch one work — ? Ahh, the mysteries….

Maximizing inefficiency in Uruguay

Well, not long ago I praised the “hipermercado” Géant which I had previously skewered for their thoughtless shopping cart arrangement. Turns out I was overly optimistic. Next time we went, I thought I‘d grab a cart from the front of the queue.

Maximizing inefficiency in Uruguay

Wrong: they want the same carts used over and over, every customer having to back one out.

At least their other store, our local Disco supermarket, had a pull-through arrangement. At least until very recently.

Maximizing inefficiency in Uruguay

Now they have actually installed a barrier to prevent convenient retrieval of shopping carts. Customers now have to back their cart out into the crowded area in front of the exterior door, then jockey through the one-at-a-time entry.

Unbelievable. Almost. Because Uruguay.