Post 63: Customer isn't always right.

"The customer is always right", a saying that often floats around the service industry. Talking to some of my friends in the customer service field, I don't think everyone truly understands what it means. It doesn't mean that the customer is literally always right. Rather that you should treat them as if they were always right, by not correcting them and also by treating them with respect.

So, if they are eating steak and they say that is rare, instead of medium or medium rare, it would be rude to try and argue or contradict them. You can offer to take it back and cook it more, but arguing will only cause drama. While the person complaining may just be trying to cause trouble or get a free meal, arguing back will only cause more problems. And if that person doesn't come back, there is no real loss if they are only a troublemaker. But, the problem doesn't lie with them, it lies with the people around them. 

Diners around the table that is complaining won't know the whole story, all they will see is someone saying that their food isn't the way they want it to be and the attitude from the staff as confrontational. 

If someone comes into a clothing store, tries on a size 6 and says it is too small for them, so it must be sized wrong. Don't argue with them. If you tell them that they are not actually a size six, they are going to take it as you're saying that they are heavier than they think they are. If they are already so concerned that they automatically assumed they couldn't be a higher size, then they are already on the defensive. I'd say the best thing to do, would be to offer to get them a higher size and say that some of the styles run small. Which is true for a lot of brands and stores, so it won't be a lie but it will not cause an issue.

Anyway, this will be a short post. I just wanted to point out what this saying means, at least as far as I understand it. Maybe it depends on whether it is food, fashion, or general service based. 

But the key thing, whether I'm right about the meaning or not, is respect. But that is really something that should be universal no matter what you do or who you are.

That is all you are going to get out of me tonight. Will try and write something for easter tomorrow. 

Best wishes. 

Post 62: On the Road to Grandmother's House

So, late last night 2/3 of the Step-Babbler family, my mother, and I all headed out to cross the border into the States on the way to Grandmother's house.We got in pretty late, but not as late as I usually stay up. Right now I am writing this on my phone as we are on the road again.

We have four people, a dog, and lots of suitcases all crammed into the car. It isn't a lot of room, but it isn't that bad. It is still more room than you are given on an airplane. Unless you are in first-class. 

By the way, has anyone ever seen the new first-class rooms that some airline has developed? They have a door that closes and a little bed and a tv. It is practically like a mini-hotel room. It has to be a really long flight for it and an expensive ticket, but it still looks pretty awesome. 

Anyway, here we are rolling along on the way to Grandmother's house. And if you are, at this point, conjuring up the image of a short, elderly woman, heavy set with white hair and an apron on, clear that image out of your head this instant! 

That is not what my grandmother looks like, or is like. She isn't much a fan of cooking, but she has recently gotten into blogging (it's a family thing now). She doesn't have white hair, she isn't heavy set, and she is probably about 5'10. She also goes on walks and hikes fairly regularly. So, take that stereotypes! 

We are heading down for the Easter weekend. Since I am between finals and everyone else is on vacation. 

Forecast says, it will be a lot of fun! I will get to see my grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, and cousins. And I will also get a chance to study on a nice outdoor swing in the sun, as opposed to my room in the basement listening to rain hit my window. 

I still have one final left. I already did three, though. They were quite literally back to back. (12pm -3pm, 3:30pm -6:30pm, then 8:30am -11:30am the very next day). But I am feeling good about them, a little nervous, but good. I also got my term paper back, A-. Which I am pretty happy about. So, the only thing that didn't feel good at the end of all that was my hand. I wrote like 5 short answer (1 paragraph), 4 medium length (2 -3 paragraph), and 4 long essays (4+ paragraphs) in two days. My hand started to cramp like crazy. Writing the last essay was actually painful.

But my last final doesn't have any essay questions. Just a few short answer and multiple choice. It is also not cumulative so it is only on 4 chapters and I have a lot of time to study. So, if I take a chapter a day I will still have time to have a few review days. 

We are still like 4 hours away as I write this, and we are going to stop for lunch at some point so this will probably be posted like 6 hours after I've finished writing it, because I don't have internet at the moment. 

Going to end it here, with a Happy Easter wishes! And good luck to anyone else in finals weeks.

Post 61: Be nice, it is the golden rule.

So, today I overheard a conversation on the bus and heard a great line from the person behind me, before I post it, I 'd like to point out that there are some curse words:

"If you think I am a B**ch, then I probably think you are an a**h**e."

Which, I feel is so true about me, at least in a sense. The only people who I am not polite to are people that have offended my friends or family. I mean, I am nice to pretty much everyone. There are, of course, exceptions when I am in an unpleasant mood and it effects my attitude, but for the most part I try to be nice or, at least, polite. My 'not nice', really just means I avoid the person and secretly wish they would get lice.  (For those who don't know me, lice is a fear of mine. I hate lice. I hate the idea of getting lice. I am paranoid about lice and dandruff.)

But, the only people who don't think I am nice are people who have hurt the people I care about.

The first person that comes to mind is the person one of my close friends is in a relationship with, she is emotionally abusive and manipulative. She doesn't really care about him and she is probably the only person I genuinely told to shut up.

If there was a zombie apocalypse, I would probably trip her first.

Anyway, it just sounded like such a good one-liner. And she said it in such a wonderfully sassy way.

But aside from applying it to myself, it made me think some about how people treat each other. There are so many one-liners about treating people nicely (treat others as you want to be treated) and yet there are still so many people who don't listen.

Bullying seems to be more common these days (at least, the media seems to portray it as such).

I have never really been bullied. All the moving around has taught me how to befriend anyone. So, I had friends in every group and never made enemies.

One person who was really nice to me was, apparently, really rude to others. I stopped talking to her after that, but I was really surprised to find that out.

I don't think it is really as dramatic as it is portrayed in shows (people being shoved into lockers, people having their clothes stolen after gym class, etc.). At least, I sincerely hope it isn't that bad.

But I think what seems most common is hasslers. You know, the people who just make snotty or rude comments as people walk by. It just amazes me that people can be so rude to each other.

I mean, what good comes from acting like a jerk to someone you don't even know?

It just seems pointless for the person doing it and so harmful to the people they are doing it to.

So, my advice "be nice to everyone". Even the jerks, because either they will eventually stop being mean or it will just confuse them. Kill them with kindness, as the saying goes.

If they really push you, well...then just make sure you have an alibi. (I am totally kidding. Seriously, don't do anything drastic.)

I think I want to talk more about the golden rule in a later post, after all do onto others what you would have them do onto you? What if you are like...a sadist? Or they are a masochist?

Also, I think I will talk more about bullying, but I think this is something I will have to do a little bit of research on first.

So, to conclude, kill them with kindness, but only metaphorically.

Have you ever been bullied?

What is the best, sassiest one-liner you've heard on a bus?

Or in general.

Post 60: D-D-D-Drama-Llama

So, check it out! Post 60! I've hit my first milestone. And I have to say, I am pretty dang proud of myself. Not because I thought I would give up, but because I thought I would run out of things to say. But, I haven't.

I don't think that 60 is traditionally the milestone that people celebrate, 50 or 100 seem more common. But, I think that it is about time I celebrate. I am coming up on 20 sonnets, I have posted a review a month for 7 months (going to be 8 once I post for this month), and I have managed to keep up with NaPoWriMo (just not on the blog, darn internet, always foiling my plans)!

For this post, I am hedging about what it is I want to talk about and whether I should talk about it. 

You see, what I want to talk about is some drama that the Babbler family has run into on all sides and in all directions. I've tried to keep this blog personal, but not that kind of person. 

Yet, it seems to be preoccupying my mind at the moment. Which is funny in some ways. 

One thing that is upsetting me is that I won't be able to visit my dad this month. Our schedules are clashing and packed full of stuff, so it will be awhile before I can visit. Which is sad. I mean, there are other ways we can keep in touch, but it isn't really the same. 

But the funny thing is, though not really "ha ha" funny, I am really worried about the Step-Babbler family. More so than I probably would have guessed I would be. 

Not that it is uncommon to bond with the your step-siblings or step-parent, but it is for me. I mean, I bonded with my first step-dad. But I was younger then, I actually lived there full-time. And he was home when I got home. We talked, he drove me to school, and took care of me when I got sick.

I can do most of that stuff for myself now. I mean, when I got bronchitis I found a way to the doctor. When I thought I might need medical care for a burn, I took a bus to the E.R. I am used to taking care of myself like that. My mom raised me to be independent and to take care of myself, which I do for the most part. I mean, now that I live at home again this semester I am doing it less, but I could do it all myself if I needed to.

Anyway, I lived on campus for like the first year after they got married. I rarely see my step-siblings and almost never really talk to them, besides the standard, casual small-talk and chit-chat. 

But, I find myself really worrying about them all. Their drama and successes actually have an affect on me and not in the way I would have imagined. It isn't like I am some bystander who just happens to notice or that I care how it effects my mom, I actually care about...them. 

I don't think I should post what is going on. There is so much that could be posted, but it wouldn't really benefit anyone to have it in writing. 

We don't really get along. I don't really talk to them. So, I really have no idea what I could say. But, I do worry. As weird is that seems to me, I do. 

Thinking about all this, I feel like I have started spiraling down into a dark place that is not where the celebratory milestone post should be. 

So, let me end on a happier note. Spring has finally reached us here in the far North, aka Southern B.C. The tulips are in bloom, the sun is shining, and the faint smell of lilacs floats in the breeze. 

It gives me such great hope that as the weather improves so will things in the personal lives of the Babbler family. My fingers are crossed, at least, that this will come to be. 

Any one out there have step-family they are close to?

Or not close to, but still care about?

Post 59: Which watch should I watch?

I don't know why, but I feel slightly uninspired at the moment. Yet, I feel a strong desire to write. So, this post will be shorter than the average and it will be about watches.

I own two standard watches and one of those necklace watches that has recently become popular. Yet, I don't know if they are really useful. If I want to know the time, I look at my phone or I look for a clock in the room before I look to my watch. I mean, I will go digging around in my bag for my phone for several minutes, rather than casually glance at the watch on my wrist.

It seems kind of ridiculous. But, I think in some ways it does make sense. You have to set a watch yourself, for instance. So, there is always room for human error. You might turn in it a minute or so early, which could cause inconveniences in your life.

Meanwhile, a phone always has the right time. It gets the time from satellites directly and it even corrects for daylight savings time.

But, I think that is only part of the reason. Mainly, I think it is because if my phone is out already, it is more acceptable to check for email or texts.

So, in the grand scheme of things, while watches might be practical, I still go with the less practical phone check.

And that is it. That is the end of my blog. Told you that it would be short today.

Do you where a watch? Do you use it?

Post 56: All Good Things Must Come to an End

"All good things must come to an end." - Chaucer

It seemed only fitting to quote Chaucer for this post, it fits so well with what I'm going to discuss and I will be taking a class all about him and his works next semester. (Yes, summer classes. Will talk more about that at another time.)

I don't know how Chaucer would have felt about my using his quote in a post about TV shows and other series. But, hey, maybe after I've taken the class I will be able to get back to you about that.

Anyway, all good things must end, before they go bad. I mean, one way or the other good things end but it is better to end them before things start to go sour. While this could be applied to relationships, jobs, and other things I feel that this applies most truthfully to series. 

For example, X-Files. I feel like over the years X-Files kind of lost its footing. It was once a really interesting show, but at some point the repetitive nature just became tiresome. And once Mulder and Scully had, essentially, abdicated their place as the main characters it lost me. And it didn't really need so many movies. 

Bewitched was the same way. Now I don't want to talk too much about Bewitched because I plan on writing a review on it, but I want to talk about it a little bit.

As a show, it had its faults but also had some really interesting deeper messages. After all, Samantha was the one with power and Samantha was the one that always saved the day in the end. So, even though the show might seem to advocate women as a housewife, subordinate types lets not forget who was saving who at the end of every episode.

But after they replaced Darrin and Mrs. Kravitz and time went on the show lost some of the message. Darrin seemed more condescending and Mrs. Kravitz was just annoying. Also, Samantha saving the day every time, but Darrin still lecturing her about using magic seemed annoying. Tabitha, also having powers, was also a cause for trouble. She was being told not to use her powers, as well, but not actually given the choice to give them up like Samantha had.

It really should not have gone on so long. And the remake (which won't be discussed in the TV review) was horrible! And it totally lost the feminist message of the original. In so many ways. One major way was that even though Kidman's character was the main character (after all she played Samantha and was the witch) Ferrell's character got more screen time. He gets a long scene about his mourning their breakup where he is alone on screen then when he is crying over the little witches on Halloween, but in her scene, HE shows up on every channel. He is still in HER mourning scene. 

Maybe this wouldn't have bugged me so much before, but now that I've taken classes in analyzing films, I notice these things so much more. I also have now written an essay about Bewitched and the feminism behind it.

Family Guy, as well, mostly because the show's characters seem to lose intelligence and get more annoying as the show goes on. I mean, Brian's character started off as intelligent with legitimate views, but slowly turned into a sheep that blindly followed the liberal party without actually doing anything. (Something that was established in an episode of the show when Quagmire points it out to him that he claims to be against big business, pro-cannabis, and anti-homelessness but how he does nothing active besides shoving his views down other people's throats.) His character is also an atheist, which would be fine, but seems ridiculous considering that both God and Jesus are characters that turn up regularly on the show. He has even met them both but still does not recognize them as real.

Lois also seems to get dumber as the show goes on. And at some point her attitude towards Peter gets annoying. I mean, Peter isn't a saint. His character is flawed from the ground up. However, since the first episode, she keeps getting mad at him for behaving like himself. He is an idiot, plain and simple. So, he will do stupid things when left unattended. Which he does, then she gets mad. It is like X-Files. The "he does something that anyone, literally anyone, could have told you he would do, she gets mad at him but doesn't leave" plot has gotten old.  

This applies to book series and movies that go on past the point where they should, and mostly people just keep going because they are fans already. Like Confessions of a Shopaholic. I kept going until Shopaholic and Baby, but her character is no longer loveably flawed. She is just kind of annoying, spoiled, and selfish, as I have already gone through all the sympathy I have for her character. 

And movies, has anyone heard there is going to be a Pirates of the Carribean 5? The fourth one lost two main characters, changed Jack's character, and was not nearly as adventure-based as the first three. I went because of Depp and because I liked the first three, but I never watched it again. And as much as I like the original and Depp, I probably won't go see the 5th.

Just let the series die already. Don't ruin it any more than it has already been ruined. Leave on a high note. Seriously...just STOP.

Anyway, it is getting tedious writing this on my phone. So, that is all for now!

Any series you think it is time to put out to pasture?

Any series you never want to end?

Post 55: Interviews and Nerves

While my résumé certainly isn't blank, I have not had many interviews. In fact, I've only had two. Wow. When I write that out I am truly aware of how shocking that is. I mean, two. That is so few. (Haha, that rhymed.)

Right now, I am waiting for more my third interview to start and I am very nervous. I mean, I've only had two interviews. And one was more a formality than anything else, I technically already had the job. So, the butterflies are aflutter. 

My first interview, I was really nervous as well. But it was really easy. It was to be a cashier at Wild Rivers over the summer. It was a mass interview process. Basically, hundreds of people who wanted to interview were given a time. They check-in in a massive group and then that group slowly is moved from place to place. I think three hours passed between the time arrived and the time I actually interviewed. Lots of time to build up stress,  but quite a bit of time to just reign it back in as well.

The interview itself went well, I am blessed with a natural talent in getting people to talk about themselves. So, I think he said just as much about himself as I said. We even had a chance to talk about his kids and how he moved to California. 

But this is a group interview, so I don't even know how this will work. My step-sister went to a group interview but I suspect this will be different.

~~~___~~~___~~~___~~~___~~~___~~~___~~~___~~~___~~~___~~~___~~~

So, my interview is over now! 

I didn't get to finish this beforehand because I had to finish filling some things out and then I got to talking to this really nice girl who was also there for the interview. Her name is Natasha, she seems really cool. She is going to be Psych major with a Phil minor. 

So, hope I got the job. Hope she got the job as well, it would be cool to work with her. There was another girl who sat on my right, whose name I wish I could remember (I should have written it down) who it would be interesting to work with her. She started a club called the "Sushine club" because there is a rumour that my Univ. has a high number of student suicides and she and the friend she started it with want to help make people happy to try and dispel the rumour.

It isn't true, by the way. There aren't more suicides or anything. It is okay. It is just an urban legend. There are quite a few floating around about my University.

Anyway, the interview...I think it went well. I think I answered the questions well, I feel like I connected with the interviewer, I got some laughs, and I think I came off as smart, capable, and interested in the opportunity.

Time will tell, but I really hope I got it, 

Fingers crossed! 

What are your interview experiences?

Post 54: Everts and Kirby

This post I am going to dedicate to two past teachers of mine. Like a combined RateMyTeacher review, except longer and more detailed- and I haven't been in their classes in a while. Oh! And as for my RateMyTeacher and RateMyProf, they both might come up but I will do a whole post about them at a later date.

(I don't remember either of their marital statuses, so Ms. for both.)

So first, I want to take a moment to talk about Ms. Everts. (Patti Everts - Ensign Intermediate). I had Ms. Everts in 8th grade for English. At this time I was just starting to get into the real writing kick. I mean, I had dabbled in it before, but it wasn't such a big deal. When I brought her a story, she was so enthusiastic and encouraged me to continue writing, and so I did. I loved getting positive feedback and just hearing that someone had enjoyed something I'd worked to make. I don't think I really would have gotten to writing as much as I have if it weren't for her.

I liked English beforehand, I liked writing but I never really thought about it as something to do more actively. She gave me the courage to pursue creative writing and stories.

Now to talk about Ms. Kirby. I loved Ms. Kirby (Sue Kirby - Heritage Woods Secondary School), she was my English teacher in both grade 11 and grade 12. She was funny and she really tried hard to make the class fun and entertaining for everyone.

I've always been seen as a little strange, for a variety of reasons, but one reason was that I always loved English. Loved it like bees love flowers, ants like sugar, and cats love yarn. I mean, it has always been my favorite class, and before it was an individual class it was my favorite subject. The point is that I am one of those people who naturally enjoys English.

But not everyone does, and Ms. Kirby tried to make it enjoyable for everyone and a lot of the time she did. There is always those stick in the mud types that refuse to get with the program because being cynical and unimpressed is more "cool", but there was a lot of laughter in her classroom.

While Ms. Everts inspired me to write more stories, when I had gotten to 11th grade I had started branching out more into poetry. Poetry for me ranges from fun and light, to very personal. And Ms. Kirby encouraged me to write more and I got the same enjoyment out of writing poetry as I had with writing stories. Except in poetry, I could express more of my self if I choose to.

I mean, no matter what you write, your own personality is bound to rub off some, but poetry really lets you speak from your heart and soul (metaphorically speaking).

Anyway, if I had not had the privilege of studying under these two teachers I don't know where I would be. Stories and poetry have given me a release, an outlet to vent and express joys and frustrations. I honestly cannot imagine what kind of person I would be without writing, and without these great teachers.

 Have you had any teachers that left a lasting impression?
(Either good or bad.)

Post 53: Get off your laptop!

Guess what! This is going to be a rant post. A rant post specifically and whole-heartedly for those people who sit in class and play games or go on Faecbook. Yes, I see you. I see that you are playing a video game, not taking notes. I know you are commenting on that person's status, not paying attention to the lecture, and you know what? That isn't cool. It is a distraction to the people around you and it is rude to the professor.

You might think, oh, they don't know! But, you know what, I'm pretty sure they can guess. It isn't hard to tell when someone isn't paying attention if your eyes are locked on your screen or you are writing when he is going between slides.

Now, I wouldn't have found this so annoying if I hadn't been in class when someone sitting infront of me opened up their laptop and started watching porn. Yes, in class and in front of me (as well as several people around me). I was shocked. One of the people next to me, recovered quicker and said something to them, but really?! There is a time and place for that. There is a time and place for playing video games and there is a time and place for checking Facebook. The classroom is not this place, class time is not this time.

Even before this...event happened, I've always found it kind of distracting. I have always had some issues with my mind wandering, when I should be focusing and when people are around me are not paying attention either I find I am more likely to lose the classroom mindset.

But, mostly, I just don't understand. Why even go to class if you are not going to pay attention? Why not just stay in your dorm room? Most University lectures don't take attendance, it is just assumed you are responsible enough to make your own decisions about your education. However, if they are in class playing games, maybe they aren't.

It is like they don't realize that people can see their screens. It is like when people talk, they don't realize people around them can hear them. It doesn't matter that they aren't actually involved in the conversation, they are in a close proximity so they can hear them.

This came up when I was on the bus the other day, I was sitting in the back and two girls got on and even though they were sitting like four rows ahead of me they were talking so loud I could hear them. They were really rude. They were on their way to school (at 3pm) and they were complaining about how annoying one of their mom's was because she insisted on picking them up. They were saying things like "it is a violation of my privacy", "she doesn't trust me", "she is such a control freak", and "she is just so nosey". I wasn't either of their mothers, but I felt pretty offended having to hear. And it was funny talking about trust when they were on their way back to the school, desperately trying to get back by the time school ends so it wouldn't seem like they had ditched.

Anyway, it comes up other times as well, but this annoyed me the most.

So, that is the end of the rant. At least, for now.

Anyone been in a class or a meeting when someone was on their computer slacking off?

The Butterfly Project (Idea)

This is not the type of thing I normally have reviewed, not that I have done many, but it is something that I want to talk about and it is something that means alot to me. 

The Butterfly Project is something that was created and thought up by somene online. I don't know who, but whoever they are I thank them. 

The Butterfly Project is kind of a social idea for people who cut themselves. 

I do not, but I do know who people who do. In fact, I know more that one person who does, or has in the past. It is surpising. I mean, even people who do not feel that depressed but did it for one reason or another. 

The idea behind the Butterfly Project was that if someone felt like cutting, they draw a butterfly on themself in the area instead. They give the butterfly a name, and  then if they still cut it 'kills' the butterflly. It is basically meant to be a preventive thing. 

Here are the specific rules from the site: 

1. When you feel like cutting, take a marker or pen and draw a butterfly wherever the self-harm occurs.
2. Name the butterfly after a loved one, or someone that really wants you to get better. (Doesn't have to be a person you know, I think it just needs a name.)
3. No scrubbing or washing the butterfly off.
4. If you cut before the butterfly is fades away, it dies. If you don't cut, it lives.

5*. Someone else may draw them on you. These butterflies are extra special. Take good care of them.

6**. Even if you don’t cut, feel free to draw a yourself a butterfly to show your support.

I found this after I found one of my closest friends was involved in self-harm. I sent her the link and talked her into trying it as best I could. She has talked about it since, and I think she has stayed with it too. 

I think this is a good idea. It may not actually stop people from cutting, but it does seem like it would help lessen the chance that they would. Not just because they have to draw and name a butterfly, but because it gives them time where they are focused on something aside from what is upseting them. 

This is not the most widely known thing, but I do hope that it becomes more well-known and more utilized. 

Here is the link to a site that explains more about it and has real people telling their stories and showing their support: 

(So if you cut or know someone who cuts, you should check it out.)

butterfly-project.tumblr.com

Post 52: Inspiration, thy name is Sleep.

I know that all-nighters are not something uncommonly associated with University students. But, they are not as common as people think. Why? They are unpleasant! Not in the moment, usually. It usually doesn't hit you until the next day. The last all-nighter I pulled was to re-do and finish some assignments for class.

Of course, it is not unheard for people to stay without an academic reason. A few years ago I not only pulled an all-night, but a 74-hour stint without sleep. Of course, it ended in laughter. By that I mean, a long bout of hysteria leading to hyperventilation and ending with falling asleep on the floor under a conference table. It actually wasn't unpleasant at all then. I had enough caffeine and sugar to feel totally normal, or at least the facsimile of normal. However, when I woke about two hours later, without the caffeine, sugar, or adrenaline coursing through my veins and the sourness resulting from my sleeping location, I felt like death-warmed over, then dragged behind a car and flung onto my doorstep. It was bad.

Anyway, my more recent one nighter did not go on as long. It only went on for about 40 hours, and then I began to experience auditory hallucinations and decided that meant bedtime. It wasn't like I started to hear voices. I just heard a beeping, a very distinct beeping every few minutes. It started shortly before I got home, continued as I ate dinner, and then followed me as I went down to my room. It sounded like the beep of our dryer. Except, when I first heard it I was outside and the last few times I heard it before going to bed I was in my room and I can't hear the dryer from there.

It was a little unnerving. At first, I thought it might be my phone, but it wasn't.

So, this post is a warning to people that no sleep is no good. I can understand why on occasion it might be considered neccesary. However, it is not something that should be done without a good reason, and sleep should be sought ASAP.

On a side note, I felt so much better the next day, like 200% better. It was probably the deepest sleep I have experienced in a long time. (I actually fell asleep on my iPad and used it like a pillow.)

This sleep after such exhaustion, led me to come up with several potential story ideas. No, I will not share them all. But I will share one.

Someone who loses the ability to sleep and doesn't seem to need it is taken by a government medical group to discover why this person hoping that it can be used to create soldiers that don't need sleep, as well as thinking of potential commercial possibilities. Members of the group start to lose the ability to sleep as well after having contact with the person. It is deemed a disease/illness and the facility is shut down for quartine as they try and figure out the possible side-effects.

I won't say what the side-effects are, but they are not pleasant. It will be interesting to see where this could go further, as well.

Have you ever pulled an all-nighter?

How long have you gone without sleep?