Denver ranks 10th-best in the nation when it comes to the brevity of waiting in line. Time spent queuing up at places across 10 industries, including fast-food restaurants, drug and grocery stores, banks and department stores averaged 3 minutes, 54 seconds, according to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association’s Wait Time Study.
Nationwide, “quick service” restaurants had the shortest wait time at 3 minutes, 1 second, compared with wireless communications stores at 7 minutes, 41 seconds. Missouri is the fastest state in the nation, according to the study, with an average wait time of 2 minutes, 54 seconds.
Denver’s 2007 average wait time was a 6-second improvement over 2006. However, last week’s wait to get World Series tickets wasn’t factored in.
Not all “decafs” really are. Caffeine-phobes, beware: A recent Consumer Reports unscientific experiment near its headquarters in Yonkers, N.Y., found that while most of the local coffee-serving chains’ decaffeinated offerings were practically caffeine-free, others racked up significant amounts of the stimulant.
One Dunkin’ Donuts outlet’s small cup of decaffeinated coffee delivered 32 milligrams of the energizer. That means three small servings had almost as much caffeine as a normal cup of coffee, which usually has 100 milligrams, according to Consumer Reports. McDonald’s, on the other hand, did best at keeping decaf caffeine-light, at under 5 milligrams per small-sized cup.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists a 12-ounce serving of decaf as having 4 milligrams of caffeine.
Excuses, excuses. Feel like playing hooky, but nervous about getting caught? The Excused Absence Network has got your back.
For about $25, students and employees can buy excuse notes that appear to come from doctors or hospitals. Other options include a fake jury summons or an authentic-looking funeral program complete with comforting poems and a list of pallbearers.
