Things That Piss Me Off:
The phrase 'we are currently experiencing a higher than normal call volume"
No you're not. Why not just come clean and admit, we're too cheap to hire enough operators.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Saturday, September 01, 2007
You know, some people are just assholes.
I was at Midtown Plaza today. If you'll see yesterday's post you'll discover that I have learned that you can buy a U of S Huskie football jersey. I didn't have $100 cash on me at the game yesterday so I thought I'd try the Huskie store in the mall.
They didn't have any. But I digress . . .
I'm parked underground and I'm trying to get out. The underground parking at Midtown is a bit of a pain but I get turned around and head towards the exit. To do so I have to drive past the underground entrance into the mall. Thus begins our problem.
Some idiot woman is crossing in front of me to go into the mall. She has, in tow, her two daughters. If I were guessing I'd say they were 8 and 12. This is important because this retarded woman appeared to be chastising the two girls. I have NO idea why because the two girls appeared to be behaving admirably for having such a heinous bitch for a mother.
But I digress . . .
It is a relatively easy task to enter a mall. You cross the aisle-way left for cars to drive into and out of the mall, and then you enter through the doors. You don't even have to turn a knob because they have automatic doors. Seems simple.
This jackass couldn't complete the task.
So intent was she on castigating her children for some percieved and I would suggest spurious reason that the relatively simple task of walking in a straight line was beyond her. I don't know if she didn't notice me basically parked there, or didn't care, because she stepped right out in front of my truck. Because I'm not a complete asshole, I chose not to run her down. That may have been a mistake. So she walks out right in front of me BUT does not continue straight ahead to get out of my way. She kind of meanders around directly in front of me, while applying un-due pressure to the neck of her 12 year old daughter. Then, when it looks like she will finally get out of my way, she yanks the girls neck and pulls the whole troupe back, square in front of me again.
I seriously considered giving her the horn. It was that, or get out and beat the piss out of her. Either way it was probably better than she deserved. However, I did nothing, except write this blog post, and forever cast her into my group of inveterate assholes.
I was at Midtown Plaza today. If you'll see yesterday's post you'll discover that I have learned that you can buy a U of S Huskie football jersey. I didn't have $100 cash on me at the game yesterday so I thought I'd try the Huskie store in the mall.
They didn't have any. But I digress . . .
I'm parked underground and I'm trying to get out. The underground parking at Midtown is a bit of a pain but I get turned around and head towards the exit. To do so I have to drive past the underground entrance into the mall. Thus begins our problem.
Some idiot woman is crossing in front of me to go into the mall. She has, in tow, her two daughters. If I were guessing I'd say they were 8 and 12. This is important because this retarded woman appeared to be chastising the two girls. I have NO idea why because the two girls appeared to be behaving admirably for having such a heinous bitch for a mother.
But I digress . . .
It is a relatively easy task to enter a mall. You cross the aisle-way left for cars to drive into and out of the mall, and then you enter through the doors. You don't even have to turn a knob because they have automatic doors. Seems simple.
This jackass couldn't complete the task.
So intent was she on castigating her children for some percieved and I would suggest spurious reason that the relatively simple task of walking in a straight line was beyond her. I don't know if she didn't notice me basically parked there, or didn't care, because she stepped right out in front of my truck. Because I'm not a complete asshole, I chose not to run her down. That may have been a mistake. So she walks out right in front of me BUT does not continue straight ahead to get out of my way. She kind of meanders around directly in front of me, while applying un-due pressure to the neck of her 12 year old daughter. Then, when it looks like she will finally get out of my way, she yanks the girls neck and pulls the whole troupe back, square in front of me again.
I seriously considered giving her the horn. It was that, or get out and beat the piss out of her. Either way it was probably better than she deserved. However, I did nothing, except write this blog post, and forever cast her into my group of inveterate assholes.
Friday, August 31, 2007
I did something unique this evening. I went to a U of S Huskies football game!
Things have changed a lot since I went to university. The stadium is at least 10X better than what it was when I was at the U of S. Its actually a nice place to go now. It looks inviting. Plus, with the big parkade as you walk in, the place looks like it knows what its doing. I have new respect for the program.
The game was great. The Huskies creamed the Golden Bears and its always fun to watch a game where your team dominates from front to back. We were in the east stands so the sun was in our eyes for the first half an hour of the game but that was only a minor inconvenience.
The experience was not without some disappointments however. First of all, and I can't overlook this, who was the idiot at Shaw Cable that was in charge of placing the scissor lift for the camera in the south end zone? That was beyond stupid. It was right in front of the scoreboard! How could you think that was a good idea!?!
They now sell Huskie football jerseys. That is a very welcome update. However, I have a problem. How can you charge $100 for an item and then only accept cash? Who walks around with $100 in their pocket!?!
College football referees suck. It was brutal. They couldn't get anything right. They must have called 40 penalties, and some of them were plain retarded. Among the biggest mistakes I noticed were:
- they couldn't remember where the guy landed and they changed the spot of the ball by three yards about three times before finally setting it down
- called the U of A offside when the Huskie quarterback pulled out from center without the ball
And finally, the public address announcer was a bit of a tool. He wasn't on his game either. On two occasions he called it a first down when it clearly wasn't. I think he needs more practice.
Despite the problems I had a good time. If you get a chance, go check out a game at Griffiths Stadium. Its worth the trip.
Things have changed a lot since I went to university. The stadium is at least 10X better than what it was when I was at the U of S. Its actually a nice place to go now. It looks inviting. Plus, with the big parkade as you walk in, the place looks like it knows what its doing. I have new respect for the program.
The game was great. The Huskies creamed the Golden Bears and its always fun to watch a game where your team dominates from front to back. We were in the east stands so the sun was in our eyes for the first half an hour of the game but that was only a minor inconvenience.
The experience was not without some disappointments however. First of all, and I can't overlook this, who was the idiot at Shaw Cable that was in charge of placing the scissor lift for the camera in the south end zone? That was beyond stupid. It was right in front of the scoreboard! How could you think that was a good idea!?!
They now sell Huskie football jerseys. That is a very welcome update. However, I have a problem. How can you charge $100 for an item and then only accept cash? Who walks around with $100 in their pocket!?!
College football referees suck. It was brutal. They couldn't get anything right. They must have called 40 penalties, and some of them were plain retarded. Among the biggest mistakes I noticed were:
- they couldn't remember where the guy landed and they changed the spot of the ball by three yards about three times before finally setting it down
- called the U of A offside when the Huskie quarterback pulled out from center without the ball
And finally, the public address announcer was a bit of a tool. He wasn't on his game either. On two occasions he called it a first down when it clearly wasn't. I think he needs more practice.
Despite the problems I had a good time. If you get a chance, go check out a game at Griffiths Stadium. Its worth the trip.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Blog Question Of The Day:
I went for my daily bike ride today. I finally remembered everything. I had my sweater. I got my stop watch out. Everything was going to be perfect.
I rode out from my house, past the wastewater treatment plant, along the Meewasin Trail to the park house at the end of Whiteswan. It was a fairly uneventful drive. There were only a handful of people out on the trail. I can't decide if it was the time of day or the general lack of warmth that kept the population down.
I was about halfway back when I noticed that the back end of my bike didn't feel right. It was like I was dragging along. I stopped and checked. My bike tire was going flat. This really sucked because it was still a long way from home. I started walking and the bike got even more odd in sensation. The tire was completely flat.
So I had a 30 minute (or so) walk home to consider my options. Its getting late in the season now. Is it work it to fix my bike tire or should I leave it for the spring?
I went for my daily bike ride today. I finally remembered everything. I had my sweater. I got my stop watch out. Everything was going to be perfect.
I rode out from my house, past the wastewater treatment plant, along the Meewasin Trail to the park house at the end of Whiteswan. It was a fairly uneventful drive. There were only a handful of people out on the trail. I can't decide if it was the time of day or the general lack of warmth that kept the population down.
I was about halfway back when I noticed that the back end of my bike didn't feel right. It was like I was dragging along. I stopped and checked. My bike tire was going flat. This really sucked because it was still a long way from home. I started walking and the bike got even more odd in sensation. The tire was completely flat.
So I had a 30 minute (or so) walk home to consider my options. Its getting late in the season now. Is it work it to fix my bike tire or should I leave it for the spring?
Monday, August 27, 2007
Blog Song Of The Day:
Nickelback - Rockstar
NOTE:
Today's BSOTD was not chosen because its a great song. Actually, its kind of a mediocre song. You'll like it, but it'll get old really quickly. Today's BSOTD was chosen because it has an interesting video. Not interesting as in, really well produced and artistic. Interesting because it'll make you watch it more than once.
Its fascinating, in a way that it a little on the indulgent side. They had a whole bunch of people sing then song, and then its patched together as a series of very quick clips. The result is, a rapidly changing montage of different people going across the screen. That, alone, would not make it interesting. What makes it interesting is, about half the people are celebrities, and half are not. So you're constantly checking out, is this someone I should know? And if you have time to determine, yes this is a personality, then you have to, in the span of about a second and a half, figure out who it is. Its a very intriguing puzzle.
So there, go download the video and play the game I was playing today. Its fun in a way you're kind of embarassed to admit.
Nickelback - Rockstar
NOTE:
Today's BSOTD was not chosen because its a great song. Actually, its kind of a mediocre song. You'll like it, but it'll get old really quickly. Today's BSOTD was chosen because it has an interesting video. Not interesting as in, really well produced and artistic. Interesting because it'll make you watch it more than once.
Its fascinating, in a way that it a little on the indulgent side. They had a whole bunch of people sing then song, and then its patched together as a series of very quick clips. The result is, a rapidly changing montage of different people going across the screen. That, alone, would not make it interesting. What makes it interesting is, about half the people are celebrities, and half are not. So you're constantly checking out, is this someone I should know? And if you have time to determine, yes this is a personality, then you have to, in the span of about a second and a half, figure out who it is. Its a very intriguing puzzle.
So there, go download the video and play the game I was playing today. Its fun in a way you're kind of embarassed to admit.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Okay, we've got to talk about something. This kind of ridiculous behaviour has gone on for too long and we really need to put a stop to it.
Bike Idiots. Get off the road.
I get it. You think you're hip, and cool and all ecological because you're riding your high class bicycle to work. We're monsters because we motor along in our SUVs, sucking down precious gasoline and sucking down greasy McDonald's food while you peddle for your health. I get it. I totally do.
But here's something you need to understand. And I'll say it loud so you don't misunderstand. YOU ARE NOT A VEHICLE!!!
Get off the road you idiot! Fine, if you wanna ride on the street when you're in a residential section of the city I have no problem with it. In fact, its probably courteous because you won't get in the way of any pedestrians. But when you take your peddle-pushing ass out onto a major arterial roadway during rush-hour, I get my panties in a bunch. Get off the road you moron!
I'm trying to get to work on time in the morning and some jack-ass on his expensive mountain bike is riding right up the center of the lane on 51st Street. You jack-ass! Nor can I go around him, because like I said its rush-hour, so the street is jammed (as far as that goes in Saskatoon). Neither can the six cars behind me, for the exact same reason. So we're all brought to a snail's crawl because Captain Fantastic is going to save the world, one bike ride at a time.
Idiot.
Bike Idiots. Get off the road.
I get it. You think you're hip, and cool and all ecological because you're riding your high class bicycle to work. We're monsters because we motor along in our SUVs, sucking down precious gasoline and sucking down greasy McDonald's food while you peddle for your health. I get it. I totally do.
But here's something you need to understand. And I'll say it loud so you don't misunderstand. YOU ARE NOT A VEHICLE!!!
Get off the road you idiot! Fine, if you wanna ride on the street when you're in a residential section of the city I have no problem with it. In fact, its probably courteous because you won't get in the way of any pedestrians. But when you take your peddle-pushing ass out onto a major arterial roadway during rush-hour, I get my panties in a bunch. Get off the road you moron!
I'm trying to get to work on time in the morning and some jack-ass on his expensive mountain bike is riding right up the center of the lane on 51st Street. You jack-ass! Nor can I go around him, because like I said its rush-hour, so the street is jammed (as far as that goes in Saskatoon). Neither can the six cars behind me, for the exact same reason. So we're all brought to a snail's crawl because Captain Fantastic is going to save the world, one bike ride at a time.
Idiot.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Things That Piss Me Off:
I hate when I'm drinking from a frosty mug, and the cup gets just a little bit of frost on the bottom. It doesn't do anything to the drink, but its just clingy enough than when you set in on a terrycloth towel (designed to soak up the condensation) it grabs the cup every time you go to pick it up.
I hate when I'm drinking from a frosty mug, and the cup gets just a little bit of frost on the bottom. It doesn't do anything to the drink, but its just clingy enough than when you set in on a terrycloth towel (designed to soak up the condensation) it grabs the cup every time you go to pick it up.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Can someone explain this to me? Because I swear to Christ I need to understand this because it irritates me so much.
How is it that a woman can take her family to the air show. Its rained all night; the grounds are a wet, muddy disaster. Not to mention it's cool with a wind that can cut through you. The woman does the sensible thing and makes sure her young daughter is wearing good, sturdy shoes. Something comfortable, and warm, that will not result in sore, or wet feet after tromping around for hours in the mush that is the Saskatoon airport.
BUT, on her own feet, she wears a pair of what appears to be three year old, beat to hell, plastic corkboard, god damn FLIP FLOPS!!!!
How is it that a woman can take her family to the air show. Its rained all night; the grounds are a wet, muddy disaster. Not to mention it's cool with a wind that can cut through you. The woman does the sensible thing and makes sure her young daughter is wearing good, sturdy shoes. Something comfortable, and warm, that will not result in sore, or wet feet after tromping around for hours in the mush that is the Saskatoon airport.
BUT, on her own feet, she wears a pair of what appears to be three year old, beat to hell, plastic corkboard, god damn FLIP FLOPS!!!!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Okay, I know what I want.
They played 'Can't Hardly Wait' on MuchMusic. I had to watch it because frankly, its one of the best movies ever. But I digress.
At the end of the movie, Amanda rushes to the train station to see Preston before he gets on the train to go to a workshop with Kurt Vonnegut. (Kurt Vonnegut!?!) But I digress.
They say their thing. Amanda has read the letter and Preston has finally gotten to speak his mind about the girl he wants. But he's leaving, and its awkward. She walks away and he steps to leave. Then he stops, thinks about it and runs for her.
Preston jumps in front of her, and tells Amanda he can catch a later train.
That's it, right there! The smile on Jennifer Love Hewitt's face when he says that. That, right there, is the moment I want. When someone smiles brightly enough to light up a room, just because I'll stay. That's the moment I want.
They played 'Can't Hardly Wait' on MuchMusic. I had to watch it because frankly, its one of the best movies ever. But I digress.
At the end of the movie, Amanda rushes to the train station to see Preston before he gets on the train to go to a workshop with Kurt Vonnegut. (Kurt Vonnegut!?!) But I digress.
They say their thing. Amanda has read the letter and Preston has finally gotten to speak his mind about the girl he wants. But he's leaving, and its awkward. She walks away and he steps to leave. Then he stops, thinks about it and runs for her.
Preston jumps in front of her, and tells Amanda he can catch a later train.
That's it, right there! The smile on Jennifer Love Hewitt's face when he says that. That, right there, is the moment I want. When someone smiles brightly enough to light up a room, just because I'll stay. That's the moment I want.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Things That Piss Me Off:
Do you know what pisses me off? What really gets me wound up to the point where I can’t even think straight I’m so agitated?
Microsoft Word
This piece of crap drives me to distraction. It wants so much to help me out with every single action I want to complete and yet at every turn it completely screws things up and does nothing right. For a program that tries so hard you’d think they’d get at least SOMETHING right.
I have two Word documents. They are proposals. One is an old one, and one is a new one. The new one is being created by changing another, different proposal that was about reverse osmosis. The new one is going to be about ultra-filtration. So I want to copy text from a really old proposal we did about ultra-filtration, into this new one.
I copy text FROM a Word document, into another Word document. Seems easy, right? Just Ctrl-C in one document and Ctrl-V into the second one. It should be identical, because it’s just one document to another. BUT NOOOOO!!!! Word, in its infinite %&$#ing wisdom decides that I couldn’t possibly want the same tabs and indentations that I had originally. Even though, the tabs and indentations of the document I am pasting INTO are exactly the same as the one I’m pasting FROM. Same to same, that makes no sense. So it pastes the selected text with no indentation, and tabbing that has its first one at the center of the page.
AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
Why!?! Why is it so stupid? They say that insanity is repeating the same action, again and again, expecting a different result. Then I guess Word has made me insane. I get mad and I just keep deleting and retrying, over and over again. Somehow, in my fit of anger and rage I believe that somehow a wire has been crossed and Word couldn’t possibly be making this mistake on purpose. If I just try it again it will do what all logic and reason says that it should.
BUT NOOOOO!!!! At every turn it defies me, until I’m a screaming and ranting maniac in my office. I tear at my hair and look for something to pummel. This aggravates and annoys me to such an extent that I’m apoplectic. I need a cathartic release I am so enraged. So I write you an email, in hopes that I can calm down to a point of ration that makes it possible to work on this proposal more.
If you need me, I’ll be installing OpenOffice.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Have you ever watched a movie with Scarlett Johansson? I'm watching 'The Black Dahlia' and I'm noticing something that seems reflective of all of her movies. They photograph this girl in such a way that you get so wrapped up in how she looks that you really seem to forget that she's supposed to be playing a character. Thus you end up with this odd sensation of liking Scarlett Johansson but really having no recollection of what she contributed to the story.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
I need someone to explain something to me. I've recently come upon some news and frankly it troubles me. Its the type of preposterous thing that seems to defy logic.
It has come to my attention, from an informed source, that the midway show for the Saskatoon Exhibition is being provided, in large part, by West Coast Amusements. You might be asking yourself, so? Let's put this in the proper context.
Saskatoon is a city of a quarter million people. Not on par with the New York's and Chicago's of the world but within the context of Canada, we're starting to get up there. We are in excess of the population of Regina, which also gets their amusement services provided from the same company. A few years ago a strategic decision was made to move the Saskatoon Ex to August so that we could get on the 'A' circuit, and have the good rides, and premium amusement services.
Everyone who's anyone gets their amusement services from a company called North American Midway. Getting a North American Midway show is to be on the premium circuit. Edmonton's fair has North American Midway. Regina's show is with North American Midway. The Toronto fair is a huge deal for North American Midway. Obviously Saskatoon wants to be at that tier.
My sources have discovered that North American Midway has sub-contracted the amusement services for the Saskatoon Ex to West Coast Amusements. We get our show from West Coast, with a few morsels thrown our way just to call it a North American show. In my opinion, and granted I'm nothing but a Joe Average, but this just seems wrong.
West Coast Amusements is the company that comes to the city and does a mini- midway in the mall parking lot. West Coast Amusements does the show in places like Estevan, Melfort, Nipawin or Yorkton. That's what you have to compare it to. Regina gets the 'A' circuit. Saskatoon gets the Yorkton circuit. Who in the HELL thinks that's justice.
My sources have inquired with the powers that be, to get a reason for this apparent travesty of justice. What follows is a snippet of their correspondence:
"We have to travel 1732 miles to Toronto after Saskatoon and open on Friday - therefore we have to present rides that move fast. Saskatoon is just in the wrong time period."
Oh nice. That's how important we are to you. Thanks for the contract to provide amusement services at your fair Saskatoon. We'll take your money but we're sending our good equipment to Toronto, completely bypassing you. Too bad, so sad, get used to West Coast Amusements.
I feel like organizing a boycott or something. Thus just seems wrong. We move our fair to August to fit into the 'A' circuit schedule, and we're repaid for our efforts with the same crap-ass show that we were trying to get away from in the first place. Is this what Saskatoon must come to accept? We're a permanent stop on the Yorkton circuit?
Comments, as always, are welcomed. Frankly I don't know what to think so anyone that can provide clarity, I would appreciate it.
--- Dedicated to Kevin Hills ---
It has come to my attention, from an informed source, that the midway show for the Saskatoon Exhibition is being provided, in large part, by West Coast Amusements. You might be asking yourself, so? Let's put this in the proper context.
Saskatoon is a city of a quarter million people. Not on par with the New York's and Chicago's of the world but within the context of Canada, we're starting to get up there. We are in excess of the population of Regina, which also gets their amusement services provided from the same company. A few years ago a strategic decision was made to move the Saskatoon Ex to August so that we could get on the 'A' circuit, and have the good rides, and premium amusement services.
Everyone who's anyone gets their amusement services from a company called North American Midway. Getting a North American Midway show is to be on the premium circuit. Edmonton's fair has North American Midway. Regina's show is with North American Midway. The Toronto fair is a huge deal for North American Midway. Obviously Saskatoon wants to be at that tier.
My sources have discovered that North American Midway has sub-contracted the amusement services for the Saskatoon Ex to West Coast Amusements. We get our show from West Coast, with a few morsels thrown our way just to call it a North American show. In my opinion, and granted I'm nothing but a Joe Average, but this just seems wrong.
West Coast Amusements is the company that comes to the city and does a mini- midway in the mall parking lot. West Coast Amusements does the show in places like Estevan, Melfort, Nipawin or Yorkton. That's what you have to compare it to. Regina gets the 'A' circuit. Saskatoon gets the Yorkton circuit. Who in the HELL thinks that's justice.
My sources have inquired with the powers that be, to get a reason for this apparent travesty of justice. What follows is a snippet of their correspondence:
"We have to travel 1732 miles to Toronto after Saskatoon and open on Friday - therefore we have to present rides that move fast. Saskatoon is just in the wrong time period."
Oh nice. That's how important we are to you. Thanks for the contract to provide amusement services at your fair Saskatoon. We'll take your money but we're sending our good equipment to Toronto, completely bypassing you. Too bad, so sad, get used to West Coast Amusements.
I feel like organizing a boycott or something. Thus just seems wrong. We move our fair to August to fit into the 'A' circuit schedule, and we're repaid for our efforts with the same crap-ass show that we were trying to get away from in the first place. Is this what Saskatoon must come to accept? We're a permanent stop on the Yorkton circuit?
Comments, as always, are welcomed. Frankly I don't know what to think so anyone that can provide clarity, I would appreciate it.
--- Dedicated to Kevin Hills ---
I just witnessed a historic event. I was watching live when Barry Bonds hit his 756 career home run.
When he hit it, there was no doubt. I don't think anyone doubted it, the second it left his bat. You could just tell that one was gone.
Bonds knew it. He dropped his bat, raised his arms, and that was the record. As much as we may not like Barry Bonds, as much as we may think he cheated, there was no mistaking the magic of that moment.
When he hit it, there was no doubt. I don't think anyone doubted it, the second it left his bat. You could just tell that one was gone.
Bonds knew it. He dropped his bat, raised his arms, and that was the record. As much as we may not like Barry Bonds, as much as we may think he cheated, there was no mistaking the magic of that moment.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Friday, August 03, 2007
Things That Piss Me Off:
What's the deal with idiots that can't pick a speed on the highway? That just pisses me off.
I'm driving to Regina this afternoon and I come up on this white sedan. This is important to remember. I came UP on it. Which clearly indicates that they were going slower than me. I say this because I set the cruise control at Grasswoods Esso and didn't deviate from that until I reached Chamberlain.
I come up on this white sedan. I don't alter my cruise for even a second and just move out and pass them. There is also a large 18-wheel truck that I pass at the same time, never breaking my cruise.
A few minutes later this same, stupid white sedan passes me. This I could really care less about because, I'm just cruising. I'm barely awake I'm so mesmerized by the monotony of my travel. Whatever. They pull in ahead of me and life goes on.
Then 10 minutes later, I've caught up to this retard again. So I pull out and pass. I no sooner get past them and here they go passing me again!
Make up your mind. Go fast or go slow. Stop screwing around with passing and falling behind someone. Its a long drive. Set your cruise, sit back and just drive. Stop pissing around!!
What's the deal with idiots that can't pick a speed on the highway? That just pisses me off.
I'm driving to Regina this afternoon and I come up on this white sedan. This is important to remember. I came UP on it. Which clearly indicates that they were going slower than me. I say this because I set the cruise control at Grasswoods Esso and didn't deviate from that until I reached Chamberlain.
I come up on this white sedan. I don't alter my cruise for even a second and just move out and pass them. There is also a large 18-wheel truck that I pass at the same time, never breaking my cruise.
A few minutes later this same, stupid white sedan passes me. This I could really care less about because, I'm just cruising. I'm barely awake I'm so mesmerized by the monotony of my travel. Whatever. They pull in ahead of me and life goes on.
Then 10 minutes later, I've caught up to this retard again. So I pull out and pass. I no sooner get past them and here they go passing me again!
Make up your mind. Go fast or go slow. Stop screwing around with passing and falling behind someone. Its a long drive. Set your cruise, sit back and just drive. Stop pissing around!!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
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Today's lunch consisted of one of these noodle bowls from Extra Foods.
It was AWESOME!!
First of all, there was lots of food in the bowl, so I wasn't hungry after eating. Well, I was, but only because it tasted good and I wanted more.
Of course, as I've said twice so far, it tasted great. I expected it to be hot, since it was called Thai chicken, but I surprised it was not. Just a good flavor that went well with my orange drink.
And there was a decent amount of chicken in the bowl. I've bought these pre-packaged meals before and a bowl like this might have three chunks of chicken in it. This had a healthy portion. It wasn't overflowing with chicken but I could have a morsel of meat with nearly every mouthful.
In conclusion, I recommend to all of you that you pick up some of these at Extra Foods or some other Westfair food derivative. They are DA BOMB!!!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
I went to the Fringe Festival. In Winnipeg. How's that for expanding your horizons!?
I had a good time. It was entertaining and I came in out of the heat feeling like I'd spent my evening in a more socially worthwhile way than sitting in a hotel room, watching the same stupid crap on cable.
However, that being said, as I was riding through some unrecognized part of Winnipeg (thank god they didn't kick me out of the car because I'd have surely gotten shanked) I couldn't get the following thought out of my brain.
"The Fringe is a lot like the SJHL. They'll still let you play, you might even look good, but you're never making it to 'The Show'."
I had a good time. It was entertaining and I came in out of the heat feeling like I'd spent my evening in a more socially worthwhile way than sitting in a hotel room, watching the same stupid crap on cable.
However, that being said, as I was riding through some unrecognized part of Winnipeg (thank god they didn't kick me out of the car because I'd have surely gotten shanked) I couldn't get the following thought out of my brain.
"The Fringe is a lot like the SJHL. They'll still let you play, you might even look good, but you're never making it to 'The Show'."
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Can we stop with the 'Hairspray' commercials already? We get it already. You, the collective PR machine, think we should go see this acclaimed movie. Its clear that what we actually want doesn't matter. You're going to club us over the head until its the number one movie in the land.
But guess what? We don't want to see 'Hairspray'! John Travolta in a dress does not appeal to us! This has been done, better, the first time around when the original director released this movie. And it was not such a classic story that it needed a re-telling this soon.
So knock it off already. You want us to see 'Hairspray'. We're going to make up our minds on our own. I don't need to see two commercials for it, every time there's a break in the action of ANY TV show I might be watching.
But guess what? We don't want to see 'Hairspray'! John Travolta in a dress does not appeal to us! This has been done, better, the first time around when the original director released this movie. And it was not such a classic story that it needed a re-telling this soon.
So knock it off already. You want us to see 'Hairspray'. We're going to make up our minds on our own. I don't need to see two commercials for it, every time there's a break in the action of ANY TV show I might be watching.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
I want to make a Rogers wireless commercial. I see the stupid ads whenever I watch sports. Its aggravating the hell out of me.
A beautiful woman is sitting on a bench, waiting for her ride. Offscreen on the right a dorky looking guy in glasses, an untucked shirt with a ruppled sweater over it, and a ratty backpack on his back sits down. The Dork looks left at the woman. She acknowledges his gaze but goes back to her Blackberry. He keeps sneaking glances at her. She ignores them.
After several seconds, and several furtive glances, the Dork speaks. He says 'I was thinking about getting one of those."
The Hot Woman looks up from her Blackberry, sizes the guy up for half a second and says "I wouldn't. You're too much of a loser."
Immediate cut to the Rogers wireless logo screen.
A beautiful woman is sitting on a bench, waiting for her ride. Offscreen on the right a dorky looking guy in glasses, an untucked shirt with a ruppled sweater over it, and a ratty backpack on his back sits down. The Dork looks left at the woman. She acknowledges his gaze but goes back to her Blackberry. He keeps sneaking glances at her. She ignores them.
After several seconds, and several furtive glances, the Dork speaks. He says 'I was thinking about getting one of those."
The Hot Woman looks up from her Blackberry, sizes the guy up for half a second and says "I wouldn't. You're too much of a loser."
Immediate cut to the Rogers wireless logo screen.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Who is listening to this crap!?!
I'm watching Punch Much again. (Okay, I know. I'm the cause of my own misery by doing this. But I checked every other channel and there was nothing worth watching anywhere. This was the least of evils.) I just suffered through one of the most excruciating 3.5 minutes of my life. It was called Young Folks by Bjorn and his Bum Buddies, or something equally vapid and puerile. Who voted for this dreck? I mean, gawd! It was awful. Claws on a chalkboard couldn't be more excruciating than this pathetic excuse for music. And PunchMuch is the channel where you have to vote a song into getting played. Someone voted for this? More than one person voted for this? Granted, I have documented proof that they manipulate the rankings to play certain songs. Still, I can't for the life of me understand why they'd go out of their way to get this turd into rotation.
Young Folks: Peter Bjorn & John - avoid it at all costs
I'm watching Punch Much again. (Okay, I know. I'm the cause of my own misery by doing this. But I checked every other channel and there was nothing worth watching anywhere. This was the least of evils.) I just suffered through one of the most excruciating 3.5 minutes of my life. It was called Young Folks by Bjorn and his Bum Buddies, or something equally vapid and puerile. Who voted for this dreck? I mean, gawd! It was awful. Claws on a chalkboard couldn't be more excruciating than this pathetic excuse for music. And PunchMuch is the channel where you have to vote a song into getting played. Someone voted for this? More than one person voted for this? Granted, I have documented proof that they manipulate the rankings to play certain songs. Still, I can't for the life of me understand why they'd go out of their way to get this turd into rotation.
Young Folks: Peter Bjorn & John - avoid it at all costs
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
I went to the Transformers movie last night. Good show, if you're asking for my opinion. Lots of action and very entertaining. Probably a little too heavy on GM product placement but I'll forgive that because the Camaro looked cool.
But what's the deal with Galaxy theatres? They have 12 theatres playing all the summer blockbusters, including the Transformers and Harry Potter. They have 12 theatres but 4 concession staff. How does that add up?
The whole staff minimalization thing is grossly apparent at that theatre. It starts when you walk through the door and there are more self serve kiosks for securing your movie ticket than there are live humans that can sell you admittance. That's pretty weak, if you're asking my opinion.
But what really frosts my tomatoes is the food service problem they have at that facility. I would like to throttle the architect that designed the concave counter design for the food service aisles. Not unpredictably you get all the lines converging at the center of a circle to the point that no one knows which line to get into because the whole thing is a giant cluster-bomb.
That really is the least of your worries though. You might as well just take a seat at very quaint arcade games in the corner and reconcile yourself with the fact that you're gonna miss the opening of your movie. There is no way those 4 sixteen year old are going to be able to process even a minor factor of the sum of people milling about in general confusion in the circle design in the floor.
Greg and I had nothing left to do last night so, failing a better plan we just went to the theatre early. We got out tickets at 6:15 for a 6:45 show. The path through the ticket line was quick and painless. See the above to explain why the rest wasn't. When we finally got to the front of the line, and got our very modest wares (two Cokes, a popcorn and some twizzlers) we had just enough time to walk to the theatre, and walk in during the opening previews. How bloody pathetic is it that 30 minutes is not enough time to get your damn snacks?
But what's the deal with Galaxy theatres? They have 12 theatres playing all the summer blockbusters, including the Transformers and Harry Potter. They have 12 theatres but 4 concession staff. How does that add up?
The whole staff minimalization thing is grossly apparent at that theatre. It starts when you walk through the door and there are more self serve kiosks for securing your movie ticket than there are live humans that can sell you admittance. That's pretty weak, if you're asking my opinion.
But what really frosts my tomatoes is the food service problem they have at that facility. I would like to throttle the architect that designed the concave counter design for the food service aisles. Not unpredictably you get all the lines converging at the center of a circle to the point that no one knows which line to get into because the whole thing is a giant cluster-bomb.
That really is the least of your worries though. You might as well just take a seat at very quaint arcade games in the corner and reconcile yourself with the fact that you're gonna miss the opening of your movie. There is no way those 4 sixteen year old are going to be able to process even a minor factor of the sum of people milling about in general confusion in the circle design in the floor.
Greg and I had nothing left to do last night so, failing a better plan we just went to the theatre early. We got out tickets at 6:15 for a 6:45 show. The path through the ticket line was quick and painless. See the above to explain why the rest wasn't. When we finally got to the front of the line, and got our very modest wares (two Cokes, a popcorn and some twizzlers) we had just enough time to walk to the theatre, and walk in during the opening previews. How bloody pathetic is it that 30 minutes is not enough time to get your damn snacks?
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Dear TSN:
Please do not assign Rod Black to CFL football games. He doesn't just suck at the job of play-by-play announcement. His lack of skill transcends the description of sucking. Rod Black's ineptitude in this function approaches epic status.
Milt Stegall is one touchdown away from setting a new record for touchdowns scored in a career. Okay, we get it. So shut up already!! Having to listen to it, over and over again, just drives me into a rage that can only be described as psychotic. I want to kill something, anything just to make the constant phrase 'Milt Stegall' disappear from my brain. Its this incessant, pounding refrain of 'Milt Stegall, Milt Stegall, Milt Stegall'. The repetition assualts your senses with deliberate maliciousness until you are tearing at your scalp trying to make the voices stop.
So please, if you have any concern for the fans of the CFL that are watching your telecast, you will not assign Rod Black to the game. Because once Milt reaches his record, and he will reach it eventually, Rod will find some other inane statistic in the game on which to obsess. Which will bring back the voices to reverberate in our minds. And well adjusted or not, we will be turned into slobbering, monotonous oafs, constantly shouting 'Milt Stegall' or some other short, easily remembered catch phrase.
In closing I would like to again ask you, the brain-trust of TSN, to please not assign Rod Black to any more football games. Me, my fragile psyche, and the hundreds of thousands of other afflicted CFL fans would thank you.
Regards,
CFL Fan #11105
Please do not assign Rod Black to CFL football games. He doesn't just suck at the job of play-by-play announcement. His lack of skill transcends the description of sucking. Rod Black's ineptitude in this function approaches epic status.
Milt Stegall is one touchdown away from setting a new record for touchdowns scored in a career. Okay, we get it. So shut up already!! Having to listen to it, over and over again, just drives me into a rage that can only be described as psychotic. I want to kill something, anything just to make the constant phrase 'Milt Stegall' disappear from my brain. Its this incessant, pounding refrain of 'Milt Stegall, Milt Stegall, Milt Stegall'. The repetition assualts your senses with deliberate maliciousness until you are tearing at your scalp trying to make the voices stop.
So please, if you have any concern for the fans of the CFL that are watching your telecast, you will not assign Rod Black to the game. Because once Milt reaches his record, and he will reach it eventually, Rod will find some other inane statistic in the game on which to obsess. Which will bring back the voices to reverberate in our minds. And well adjusted or not, we will be turned into slobbering, monotonous oafs, constantly shouting 'Milt Stegall' or some other short, easily remembered catch phrase.
In closing I would like to again ask you, the brain-trust of TSN, to please not assign Rod Black to any more football games. Me, my fragile psyche, and the hundreds of thousands of other afflicted CFL fans would thank you.
Regards,
CFL Fan #11105
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
I have just finished watching my third CFL game of the season. The Riders beat Montreal 16-7. It was a largely boring game but the outcome was nice. I would like to make an observation about one of the new rules in the CFL.
There needs to be a concept of discretion in the application of any rule that's in the book. Because there was a situation that was absolutely ridiculous in tonight's game. A Saskatchewan Roughrider struggled through the line and ended up on the ground at the Montreal quarterback's feet. Calvillo proceeded to trip over the Rider. This was considered, tackling below the knees, and amounted to a 15 yard roughing the pass penalty.
Come on! This is just stupid. I agree, we should protect the quarterback. And if someone submarines the passer when he's trying to throw, that should be a penalty. But when a guy is lying on the ground and grabs the quarterback's foot, that's not a penalty. Football is a rough game, and sometimes people get hurt. Quarterback's are exposed, and I agree that they need protection. But no defensive guy is going to catastrophically injure a quarterback by trying to bring him down while lying on his belly.
That's my three nickels worth of opinion.
There needs to be a concept of discretion in the application of any rule that's in the book. Because there was a situation that was absolutely ridiculous in tonight's game. A Saskatchewan Roughrider struggled through the line and ended up on the ground at the Montreal quarterback's feet. Calvillo proceeded to trip over the Rider. This was considered, tackling below the knees, and amounted to a 15 yard roughing the pass penalty.
Come on! This is just stupid. I agree, we should protect the quarterback. And if someone submarines the passer when he's trying to throw, that should be a penalty. But when a guy is lying on the ground and grabs the quarterback's foot, that's not a penalty. Football is a rough game, and sometimes people get hurt. Quarterback's are exposed, and I agree that they need protection. But no defensive guy is going to catastrophically injure a quarterback by trying to bring him down while lying on his belly.
That's my three nickels worth of opinion.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Blog Observation Of The Day #1:
I am spending too much time thinking about the iPhone.
Its not available anywhere yet. At least not officially. Some insiders have managed to snag one but I won't repeat those stories. Officially it doesn't release until June 29. And that's only in the U.S. A release date in Canada has not been confirmed. And its not even going to be available on my carrier! You have to have Rogers Wireless, and that's pretty much the crappiest service there ever was.
So, given all the things between me and ever having an iPhone, why am I spending so much time thinking about it?
I am spending too much time thinking about the iPhone.
Its not available anywhere yet. At least not officially. Some insiders have managed to snag one but I won't repeat those stories. Officially it doesn't release until June 29. And that's only in the U.S. A release date in Canada has not been confirmed. And its not even going to be available on my carrier! You have to have Rogers Wireless, and that's pretty much the crappiest service there ever was.
So, given all the things between me and ever having an iPhone, why am I spending so much time thinking about it?
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Things That Don't Make Sense:
You are hosting a concert that will fill the building to its capacity of 13,000+ people. Before the concert begins, you intentionally block of 1/4 of the pre-defined parking spots. Thus, first arrivals are already resigned to parking half a mile from the building.
WHY!?!?!?!
You are hosting a concert that will fill the building to its capacity of 13,000+ people. Before the concert begins, you intentionally block of 1/4 of the pre-defined parking spots. Thus, first arrivals are already resigned to parking half a mile from the building.
WHY!?!?!?!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Things That Don't Make Sense:
People and wearing shorts. Today is not a nice day. This weather would be more common in Bangladesh than here. Its raining, HARD. Plus its not especially warm. The truck said 13 C. I go into KFC, almost sprinting to get in out of the driving rain. What do I find? Two idiots in T-shirts and board shorts, eating their chicken.
People and wearing shorts. Today is not a nice day. This weather would be more common in Bangladesh than here. Its raining, HARD. Plus its not especially warm. The truck said 13 C. I go into KFC, almost sprinting to get in out of the driving rain. What do I find? Two idiots in T-shirts and board shorts, eating their chicken.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
I watched 'The Dukes of Hazzard' tonight. There was nothing else to do and it was on the movie channel. I have a few comments.
Why is the smart Duke boy the guy from Jackass?
How do you turn the original Uncle Jesse, and turn him into a reefer fiend?
Are Jessica Simpson's breasts real? They really don't look real in a lot of those outfits.
Speaking of Jessica Simpson, how could they have her play a smart Daisy Duke, as a stupid bimbo? And how do you do a bad job of being a blonde bimbo when you are, in fact, a blonde bimbo?
All in all, I was disappointed in the movie. They made phony caricatures of all the main players from the original show. They added components that didn't make any sense, and generally wasted what could have been a good premise. The movie could have done with better direction and a much tighter focus. I give it a C.
Why is the smart Duke boy the guy from Jackass?
How do you turn the original Uncle Jesse, and turn him into a reefer fiend?
Are Jessica Simpson's breasts real? They really don't look real in a lot of those outfits.
Speaking of Jessica Simpson, how could they have her play a smart Daisy Duke, as a stupid bimbo? And how do you do a bad job of being a blonde bimbo when you are, in fact, a blonde bimbo?
All in all, I was disappointed in the movie. They made phony caricatures of all the main players from the original show. They added components that didn't make any sense, and generally wasted what could have been a good premise. The movie could have done with better direction and a much tighter focus. I give it a C.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
Thursday, June 07, 2007
I really can't believe I have to get upset about this. In a world with a myriad of problems, from wars to famine to disease, why is THIS at the head of the news world.
Paris Hilton is out of jail after 5 days.
In an ordinary world, someone beating a drunk driving rap probably wouldn't be that big a deal. I'll be this kind of thing happens. Its a petty, minor crime so they sweep the person out of the way to make room for bigger problems.
The trouble is, Paris Hilton is a bigger problem.
You can NOT just sweep this girl aside to make room for harsher criminals. As this has proven, the whole world is going to hear about justice as it pertains to this spoiled debutante. And in the spirit of justice you HAVE to make her serve the whole sentence. And not even the pansy-ass 23 days reduced sentence. She needs to go back to jail for the FULL 45 days.
Why do I care about this? Why does anyone care about this? Because it is about justice. If you let her have electronic monitoring at home, or just wash the slate clean with her sentence, she gets away with it. And everyone gets to see that the law doesn't necessary apply. That can't happen. Maybe its 'unfair' that she gets singled out for punishment. But her place in society makes it so. Everyone sees her. So the letter of the law has to apply to her.
Celebrity is a double edged sword. It makes you famous and you're opened up to a world of privilege that the rest of the world will never see. But it also holds you to a standard. Because everyone is watching, you have to play by the rules. If you choose not to play by the rules, then the punishment can, and should, come down on your neck like the blade of a guillotine. If you KNOW that everyone is watching, why would you think you could get away with it?
Paris Hilton is out of jail after 5 days.
In an ordinary world, someone beating a drunk driving rap probably wouldn't be that big a deal. I'll be this kind of thing happens. Its a petty, minor crime so they sweep the person out of the way to make room for bigger problems.
The trouble is, Paris Hilton is a bigger problem.
You can NOT just sweep this girl aside to make room for harsher criminals. As this has proven, the whole world is going to hear about justice as it pertains to this spoiled debutante. And in the spirit of justice you HAVE to make her serve the whole sentence. And not even the pansy-ass 23 days reduced sentence. She needs to go back to jail for the FULL 45 days.
Why do I care about this? Why does anyone care about this? Because it is about justice. If you let her have electronic monitoring at home, or just wash the slate clean with her sentence, she gets away with it. And everyone gets to see that the law doesn't necessary apply. That can't happen. Maybe its 'unfair' that she gets singled out for punishment. But her place in society makes it so. Everyone sees her. So the letter of the law has to apply to her.
Celebrity is a double edged sword. It makes you famous and you're opened up to a world of privilege that the rest of the world will never see. But it also holds you to a standard. Because everyone is watching, you have to play by the rules. If you choose not to play by the rules, then the punishment can, and should, come down on your neck like the blade of a guillotine. If you KNOW that everyone is watching, why would you think you could get away with it?
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
I don't even know if I can finish watching this game. The Stanley Cup on the line, because its gone if they lose, Ottawa came out and laid a big fat egg.
They needed a herculean effort, and they played like a bunch of weiners.
There are two moments, both from the third period, that really stand out for me as examples of why the Ottawa Senators lost this series.
The first was Anaheim's fifth goal. By my count that came on their 14th shot of the game. That's FIVE goals on 14 shots. You know, Stanley Cup or not, I think I could do almost that good. And nobody's paying me. I'd be doing it for pride.
Now I don't mean to say that Emery had a bad series. That couldn't be farther from the truth. For the most part I thought he played great. But its an example of how the TEAM played. When the chips were down and they had to play the best hockey of their lives, they mailed it in. They played like they ate huge bowls of oatmeal right before the game. Emery, who'd done all but stand on his head the whole series, plays like a slaughtered lamb and lets in 5 goals. That's not his game. But this was the BIG ONE and like the rest of his team-mates, he tanked it. That's why they didn't win. They had to be their absolute best, and they weren't even in their top 10 performances of the playoffs.
And the other example was the penalty shot. If there was a reason why Ottawa had no chance to win this playoff series, that penalty shot provides the example. What happened when he came down the ice? He juked three times, threw in a head fake, and tried to put the puck in on his backhand. But the puck squirted away harmlessly and the penalty shot was useless.
SHOOT THE BLOODY PUCK!!! You can't score if you don't shoot. And Ottawa didn't shoot. Time and again it was three passes, most around behind the net, and then flick it harmlessly off a blocking defenceman. Over and over again it was the same drill. Pass, pass, pass, turnover. And when they did shoot it was some useless shot from the point. Never in front, never banging away at the goalie, never with an open net to shoot at. Giguere had it easy because everyone else on the ice got hit with more rubber than he did. If you want to win, just blast away at the net 30 times. The law of averages says you'll score a few.
Defencemen shouldn't have the lead in shots on net. And that's what Ottawa tried to do. They got out shot, out skated, out hit, and out played. They lost because they were second best.
BOOOO!!!!!!!
They needed a herculean effort, and they played like a bunch of weiners.
There are two moments, both from the third period, that really stand out for me as examples of why the Ottawa Senators lost this series.
The first was Anaheim's fifth goal. By my count that came on their 14th shot of the game. That's FIVE goals on 14 shots. You know, Stanley Cup or not, I think I could do almost that good. And nobody's paying me. I'd be doing it for pride.
Now I don't mean to say that Emery had a bad series. That couldn't be farther from the truth. For the most part I thought he played great. But its an example of how the TEAM played. When the chips were down and they had to play the best hockey of their lives, they mailed it in. They played like they ate huge bowls of oatmeal right before the game. Emery, who'd done all but stand on his head the whole series, plays like a slaughtered lamb and lets in 5 goals. That's not his game. But this was the BIG ONE and like the rest of his team-mates, he tanked it. That's why they didn't win. They had to be their absolute best, and they weren't even in their top 10 performances of the playoffs.
And the other example was the penalty shot. If there was a reason why Ottawa had no chance to win this playoff series, that penalty shot provides the example. What happened when he came down the ice? He juked three times, threw in a head fake, and tried to put the puck in on his backhand. But the puck squirted away harmlessly and the penalty shot was useless.
SHOOT THE BLOODY PUCK!!! You can't score if you don't shoot. And Ottawa didn't shoot. Time and again it was three passes, most around behind the net, and then flick it harmlessly off a blocking defenceman. Over and over again it was the same drill. Pass, pass, pass, turnover. And when they did shoot it was some useless shot from the point. Never in front, never banging away at the goalie, never with an open net to shoot at. Giguere had it easy because everyone else on the ice got hit with more rubber than he did. If you want to win, just blast away at the net 30 times. The law of averages says you'll score a few.
Defencemen shouldn't have the lead in shots on net. And that's what Ottawa tried to do. They got out shot, out skated, out hit, and out played. They lost because they were second best.
BOOOO!!!!!!!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
I have a few comments about air travel.
Air Canada sucks. They suck! I can't believe how bad the quality is on an Air Canada service.
- They are almost always delayed. A perfect example is yesterday. Why are you booking a crew from an international flight as the next crew on a domestic flight? They have to clear customs. Idiots.
- The flights are uncomfortable. I couldn't believe how cramped the plane was to Calgary from Saskatoon. It was absurd. Then we fly a Dash 8 from Toronto to Milwaukee, a flight that became almost two hours long because of the reduced speed. Horrible.
- How can they allow for planes to leave from that shanty town that housed their regional flights from Toronto? That was pathetic. You're at the Toronto airport and the flights leave out of what looks like second-rate construction trailers. They should be ashamed of themselves.
- The pee cups you get for a 'complimentary' beverage are also embarassing. Its uncomfortable in there, with 100 people and recycled air, and all you offer me is a urine sample size of Coke?
About the only thing I felt Air Canada did right on their flights was the complimentary snack. They have upgraded to Oreo's. That was appreciated.
I have a question. I sat in the Toronto airport yesterday and watched three flights exit from my gate before it was my turn. How do they set flight numbers? Some have three digits, some have four. It all seems random. Is there a system? Do the numbers mean something?
You're in an airport. You're not at the beach. Wear some real shoes. Those god-damn flip-flops look ridiculous.
Why is it that, when faced with the prospect of boarding a plane, that people lose the ability to follow directions? They announce boarding by row. Only board according to row! This is not a hard concept! The whole POINT of it is to minimized the pissing around that happens on a plane when people board. People have to hydraulically lift their steamer trunk sized carry-on luggage into the overheard compartment. And every god damn person has to do this. If you follow the god-damn directions, then the people that are supposed to be at the back, can get to the back, and only piss off their fellow travellers at the back. When you don't follow directions, some ASSHOLE in row 5 gets on, and has to lever his freezer box carry-on into the overhead compartment. Meanwhile every other passenger on the plane is stuck behind this jack-ass, who's inevitably senile, or demented and can't figure out why it won't go into the compartment. So they fruitlessly jam on it while everyone behind him steams enough to melt the windows on the plane.
Back to Air Canada for a minute, although I suspect this is true for any large airline. Why can't you book your crew assignments so that its quick and convenient for the crew to make their departure? We, as travellers, are told to arrive 1 hour ahead of our flight time. And the crew jets in from Boston with 15 minutes to spare before they are supposed to get on the plane to Calgary. What the hell is that all about? The least you could do is make sure the flight is arriving into the same terminal they are supposed to depart from.
Why aren't there more clocks in the airport? I don't understand this at all. The whole place runs on an incredibly complex and tight schedule, and if your watch dies, you have no idea what the hell is going on. Or, and this is more common, you get off a long flight, in which you slept for part or all of it, and you're completely disoriented. You stumble out into the terminal and you need to know how long you have until you make your connecting flight. And there's no damn clock anywhere! I hate that. And this is even worse, you find a clock and its clearly the wrong time. I found that in Toronto. It was mid-afternoon and the clock said 10:45. Note to airports - get more clocks.
I have another complaint about the shanty town out at the back end of the Toronto airport. I thought it was called Terminal 1 but then yesterday the REAL terminal I was in was calling itself Terminal 1 so really I have no idea what that embarassment out in the weeds is really called. It doesn't matter, other than to again say that they should be ashamed of themselves. Moreso when you discover what they do to you.
I come off a regular flight from Calgary that disembarks into the real terminal. I follow all the signs, do the customs thing, including that STUPID pick up your bag to drop off your bag thing. My path through the airport ends at a sliding glass door that says that some 20 odd gates are outside. This makes no sense. The helpful union employee sitting in a chair by the door says you get on the bus. So I get on the bus. I thought nothing of that because I knew there was more than one terminal to the Toronto airport. What dismayed me was being taken out to the back end of NOWHERE to be dropped off at the shanty town of trailers that was the regional departure points for flights into, mostly, the US than Air Canada doesn't really care about. This might not be such a big deal EXCEPT that once you get out there, there is no services. There is ONE food stand and one news stand. And the price of a rather unappealing sandwich is NINE dollars!!!
This is more more of an observation than a comment but why is it that none of the border services people appear to be native born Canadians? I suppose its kind of ugly to notice. I passed through Canada Border Services (its not Customs anymore) a number of times in the past few days and there weren't any blonde haired/blue eyed people waving wands at me. Is there something about that particular wing of government service that doesn't appeal to average Canadians? Usually your ordinary citizen will step on his mother to work for the government.
And finally, leave it to the Saskatoon Airport to be the ONLY airport in my considerable travels where I had to wait for my checked luggage. Good job guys. Nice to see you really earning that union wage.
Air Canada sucks. They suck! I can't believe how bad the quality is on an Air Canada service.
- They are almost always delayed. A perfect example is yesterday. Why are you booking a crew from an international flight as the next crew on a domestic flight? They have to clear customs. Idiots.
- The flights are uncomfortable. I couldn't believe how cramped the plane was to Calgary from Saskatoon. It was absurd. Then we fly a Dash 8 from Toronto to Milwaukee, a flight that became almost two hours long because of the reduced speed. Horrible.
- How can they allow for planes to leave from that shanty town that housed their regional flights from Toronto? That was pathetic. You're at the Toronto airport and the flights leave out of what looks like second-rate construction trailers. They should be ashamed of themselves.
- The pee cups you get for a 'complimentary' beverage are also embarassing. Its uncomfortable in there, with 100 people and recycled air, and all you offer me is a urine sample size of Coke?
About the only thing I felt Air Canada did right on their flights was the complimentary snack. They have upgraded to Oreo's. That was appreciated.
I have a question. I sat in the Toronto airport yesterday and watched three flights exit from my gate before it was my turn. How do they set flight numbers? Some have three digits, some have four. It all seems random. Is there a system? Do the numbers mean something?
You're in an airport. You're not at the beach. Wear some real shoes. Those god-damn flip-flops look ridiculous.
Why is it that, when faced with the prospect of boarding a plane, that people lose the ability to follow directions? They announce boarding by row. Only board according to row! This is not a hard concept! The whole POINT of it is to minimized the pissing around that happens on a plane when people board. People have to hydraulically lift their steamer trunk sized carry-on luggage into the overheard compartment. And every god damn person has to do this. If you follow the god-damn directions, then the people that are supposed to be at the back, can get to the back, and only piss off their fellow travellers at the back. When you don't follow directions, some ASSHOLE in row 5 gets on, and has to lever his freezer box carry-on into the overhead compartment. Meanwhile every other passenger on the plane is stuck behind this jack-ass, who's inevitably senile, or demented and can't figure out why it won't go into the compartment. So they fruitlessly jam on it while everyone behind him steams enough to melt the windows on the plane.
Back to Air Canada for a minute, although I suspect this is true for any large airline. Why can't you book your crew assignments so that its quick and convenient for the crew to make their departure? We, as travellers, are told to arrive 1 hour ahead of our flight time. And the crew jets in from Boston with 15 minutes to spare before they are supposed to get on the plane to Calgary. What the hell is that all about? The least you could do is make sure the flight is arriving into the same terminal they are supposed to depart from.
Why aren't there more clocks in the airport? I don't understand this at all. The whole place runs on an incredibly complex and tight schedule, and if your watch dies, you have no idea what the hell is going on. Or, and this is more common, you get off a long flight, in which you slept for part or all of it, and you're completely disoriented. You stumble out into the terminal and you need to know how long you have until you make your connecting flight. And there's no damn clock anywhere! I hate that. And this is even worse, you find a clock and its clearly the wrong time. I found that in Toronto. It was mid-afternoon and the clock said 10:45. Note to airports - get more clocks.
I have another complaint about the shanty town out at the back end of the Toronto airport. I thought it was called Terminal 1 but then yesterday the REAL terminal I was in was calling itself Terminal 1 so really I have no idea what that embarassment out in the weeds is really called. It doesn't matter, other than to again say that they should be ashamed of themselves. Moreso when you discover what they do to you.
I come off a regular flight from Calgary that disembarks into the real terminal. I follow all the signs, do the customs thing, including that STUPID pick up your bag to drop off your bag thing. My path through the airport ends at a sliding glass door that says that some 20 odd gates are outside. This makes no sense. The helpful union employee sitting in a chair by the door says you get on the bus. So I get on the bus. I thought nothing of that because I knew there was more than one terminal to the Toronto airport. What dismayed me was being taken out to the back end of NOWHERE to be dropped off at the shanty town of trailers that was the regional departure points for flights into, mostly, the US than Air Canada doesn't really care about. This might not be such a big deal EXCEPT that once you get out there, there is no services. There is ONE food stand and one news stand. And the price of a rather unappealing sandwich is NINE dollars!!!
This is more more of an observation than a comment but why is it that none of the border services people appear to be native born Canadians? I suppose its kind of ugly to notice. I passed through Canada Border Services (its not Customs anymore) a number of times in the past few days and there weren't any blonde haired/blue eyed people waving wands at me. Is there something about that particular wing of government service that doesn't appeal to average Canadians? Usually your ordinary citizen will step on his mother to work for the government.
And finally, leave it to the Saskatoon Airport to be the ONLY airport in my considerable travels where I had to wait for my checked luggage. Good job guys. Nice to see you really earning that union wage.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
I went to the bank today. I'm going to Wisconsin for a plant tour this week and I figured I should have some American money. In case I want to get a sandwich or need to pay for a cab. So I went to my bank for a withdrawal.
I go to the teller and first of all, the scanner machine didn't like my card. Why the hell do I have to use a scanner at the god damn teller? I'm standing right there! But no, we have to fuss with the stupid scanning machine for like 5 minutes, even though it clearly doesn't want to work.
It finally worked.
Anyway. . . I ask for $100 in American money. It seemed like a nice, round number. She goes and fetches the American money. She looks through it and says to me 'we only have $100 bills'.
WHAT in THEE hell is up with that!?!
Can someone explain to me why a bank would even KEEP $100 American bills? What practical purpose could this serve? People come into the bank and need $5's and $10's. Not hundreds! This is functionally useless. And yet, its all they had. So I had to take the stupid $100 bill, go to another bank, and change it into more usable denominations.
Sometimes the insanity of the world makes me want to smack my head.
I go to the teller and first of all, the scanner machine didn't like my card. Why the hell do I have to use a scanner at the god damn teller? I'm standing right there! But no, we have to fuss with the stupid scanning machine for like 5 minutes, even though it clearly doesn't want to work.
It finally worked.
Anyway. . . I ask for $100 in American money. It seemed like a nice, round number. She goes and fetches the American money. She looks through it and says to me 'we only have $100 bills'.
WHAT in THEE hell is up with that!?!
Can someone explain to me why a bank would even KEEP $100 American bills? What practical purpose could this serve? People come into the bank and need $5's and $10's. Not hundreds! This is functionally useless. And yet, its all they had. So I had to take the stupid $100 bill, go to another bank, and change it into more usable denominations.
Sometimes the insanity of the world makes me want to smack my head.
Monday, May 28, 2007
What's the deal with every website wanting to install a toolbar in my browser!?!
The first, and most egregious, of these things is the Google toolbar. Now I will grant, Google is the best thing to happen to internet search since, well, forever. But I don't need a god damn toolbar in my browser, screwing everything up, just so I can save one click.
Who doesn't have Google in their bookmarks? Anyone? Does having a TOOLBAR actually save us any real work? You click in the Google toolbar or you click your bookmark. Its about the same thing.
And no matter what site I go to, email, shopping, messaging, they all want to install a toolbar. Screw off with your toolbars!!! All they do is slow up performance and clog up the arteries of my computer with useless crap I'll never use. Toolbars are the Twinkies of the internet. Strangely appealing but likely to lead to a premature heart attack (or hard drive replacement)
Down with toolbars!!!
The first, and most egregious, of these things is the Google toolbar. Now I will grant, Google is the best thing to happen to internet search since, well, forever. But I don't need a god damn toolbar in my browser, screwing everything up, just so I can save one click.
Who doesn't have Google in their bookmarks? Anyone? Does having a TOOLBAR actually save us any real work? You click in the Google toolbar or you click your bookmark. Its about the same thing.
And no matter what site I go to, email, shopping, messaging, they all want to install a toolbar. Screw off with your toolbars!!! All they do is slow up performance and clog up the arteries of my computer with useless crap I'll never use. Toolbars are the Twinkies of the internet. Strangely appealing but likely to lead to a premature heart attack (or hard drive replacement)
Down with toolbars!!!
Well that pisses me off.
Ottawa has lost the first game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. For two periods it didn't look like they would. There were some lapses but overall they had Anaheim under control.
Then they tanked the third period.
What the hell was that about? I swear, the effort in that third period looked like the pick-up teams we have on Friday afternoon hockey in the winter. It was terrible. I thought I could advance the puck farther up the ice than Ottawa did. I think they spent most of the first 15 minutes of that period in their own end. Did they even have a shot on net? It was retarded.
Which is only compounded by the fact that they poured it on after going down a goal. Obviously they were playing like idiots for some kind of reason. They could have won if they'd played all period like they did in the last 2 minutes.
I wish I understood how professional athletes can tank it so badly in a championship game.
Ottawa has lost the first game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. For two periods it didn't look like they would. There were some lapses but overall they had Anaheim under control.
Then they tanked the third period.
What the hell was that about? I swear, the effort in that third period looked like the pick-up teams we have on Friday afternoon hockey in the winter. It was terrible. I thought I could advance the puck farther up the ice than Ottawa did. I think they spent most of the first 15 minutes of that period in their own end. Did they even have a shot on net? It was retarded.
Which is only compounded by the fact that they poured it on after going down a goal. Obviously they were playing like idiots for some kind of reason. They could have won if they'd played all period like they did in the last 2 minutes.
I wish I understood how professional athletes can tank it so badly in a championship game.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Things That Piss Me Off:
I went into Quizno's the other day. I was in a bit of a hurry because I was on my way to an event and I was late leaving because I'd forgotten to tend to my cat. That's a long story I won't go into.
Anyway, I'm in Quizno's and in a hurry. Usually its pretty quick. Pick your sandwich, they make it, and meet the food at the register. That's what usually happens. Not this day.
What the hell is wrong with people? I get to the order desk and here's this family of morons, clogging up the aisle. They're standing square in front of the order window and not a single one of them can figure out what they want. Except the kid, who knows what he wants, but his mother is telling him that he can't have it. Then there's the old woman who absolutely insists that she'll pay for her own sandwich. This is even though you don't PAY at the order desk!
I'm standing there fuming and this band of bumbling idiots are practically reading the entire Quizno's menu board. Which, I have noted at previous instances is not all that voluminious. Nevertheless, when three idiots are all reading it, in something akin to the 'round' we used to do in third grade music, the list gets pretty damn wrong.
These Captain Wizards finally manage to get their food ordered, but that's just where the fun starts. Now we re-visit the old woman's insistence that she pay for her own meal. Oh, we also have to add salads to our meal now. Christ only knows why because when they get the bill for these collections we have to get the stupid price itemized. And we have to argue, parent to child, about the relative merit of milk versus Coca-Cola. The whole fiasco seems neverending.
Rules:
1. Know what you want to order
2. If you don't know, get the hell out of the way of people that do.
3. Don't complain about the price
4. Don't change your order after she rings it up
5. And most important of all, if you're going to be an ASS in the sub store, don't make it such a cluster-bomb that no one else gets their sub delivered right either
I went into Quizno's the other day. I was in a bit of a hurry because I was on my way to an event and I was late leaving because I'd forgotten to tend to my cat. That's a long story I won't go into.
Anyway, I'm in Quizno's and in a hurry. Usually its pretty quick. Pick your sandwich, they make it, and meet the food at the register. That's what usually happens. Not this day.
What the hell is wrong with people? I get to the order desk and here's this family of morons, clogging up the aisle. They're standing square in front of the order window and not a single one of them can figure out what they want. Except the kid, who knows what he wants, but his mother is telling him that he can't have it. Then there's the old woman who absolutely insists that she'll pay for her own sandwich. This is even though you don't PAY at the order desk!
I'm standing there fuming and this band of bumbling idiots are practically reading the entire Quizno's menu board. Which, I have noted at previous instances is not all that voluminious. Nevertheless, when three idiots are all reading it, in something akin to the 'round' we used to do in third grade music, the list gets pretty damn wrong.
These Captain Wizards finally manage to get their food ordered, but that's just where the fun starts. Now we re-visit the old woman's insistence that she pay for her own meal. Oh, we also have to add salads to our meal now. Christ only knows why because when they get the bill for these collections we have to get the stupid price itemized. And we have to argue, parent to child, about the relative merit of milk versus Coca-Cola. The whole fiasco seems neverending.
Rules:
1. Know what you want to order
2. If you don't know, get the hell out of the way of people that do.
3. Don't complain about the price
4. Don't change your order after she rings it up
5. And most important of all, if you're going to be an ASS in the sub store, don't make it such a cluster-bomb that no one else gets their sub delivered right either
Friday, May 11, 2007
I did something stupid today. I drove into the gas station, parked it and got out. Only then did I discover that I was parked with my gas door on the wrong side.
Why is it that the location of the gas door not a standard feature on automobiles? Or, at the very least, that it can always be found on the same side? This is just stupid. I had a Chevrolet Trailblazer and it was on the driver's side. Now I have a Chevrolet Equinox and its on the passenger side.
This doesn't seem like it should be rocket surgery. Gas door is always on the left. Or the right. I don't care where they decide to put it. I just care that it should always be on the same side. I shouldn't have to think about this. The location of the gas door should be so predictable that its mere instinct to drive up to the pumps. It should be just like it was today. Drive up, park it, get out and start pumping. There shouldn't be that sheepish, oh crap moment when you have to back up and pull in to the other side.
Auto-makers - get on it!
Why is it that the location of the gas door not a standard feature on automobiles? Or, at the very least, that it can always be found on the same side? This is just stupid. I had a Chevrolet Trailblazer and it was on the driver's side. Now I have a Chevrolet Equinox and its on the passenger side.
This doesn't seem like it should be rocket surgery. Gas door is always on the left. Or the right. I don't care where they decide to put it. I just care that it should always be on the same side. I shouldn't have to think about this. The location of the gas door should be so predictable that its mere instinct to drive up to the pumps. It should be just like it was today. Drive up, park it, get out and start pumping. There shouldn't be that sheepish, oh crap moment when you have to back up and pull in to the other side.
Auto-makers - get on it!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
I wish I could tell you I haven't blogged because I was doing something. I wish I could do that but I can't. I was doing something boring.
I was drafting.
I spent the week creating an intricately detailed 3D AutoCAD model of a unit we're going to construct for an upcoming project. It took me three full days. I did nothing but draft and sleep.
But now its donee. And oddly I feel a little hollow.
If you need me, I'll be here.
I was drafting.
I spent the week creating an intricately detailed 3D AutoCAD model of a unit we're going to construct for an upcoming project. It took me three full days. I did nothing but draft and sleep.
But now its donee. And oddly I feel a little hollow.
If you need me, I'll be here.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
This is f$%king weak!
I'm listening to Americans call the hockey game tonight; Ottawa versus New Jersey. I'm watching the CBC and I'm listening to a really weak effort in sports commentating by a couple of Americans on a channel that probably 0.01% of the the US population is watching.
Meanwhile, CBC is probably getting some of their highest viewership of the entire year.
How much do we really ask of the CBC? Nobody watches the stupid channel anymore. They've populated the schedule with unwatchable dreck that nobody likes. Its all culture crap that doesn't really speak to our culture. Somehow they're missing the boat.
But they have hockey.
Every spring the CBC gets huge ratings because they show hockey. Its the one Canadian cultural event that they get right. But tonight they aren't getting right.
I want a tax rebate for this. Why do we subsidize the CBC if they screw up the ONLY thing we ask of them every year!?! This is not acceptable. We can't let this go unpunished. The Parliament can get up in arms about a 17 month old hockey issue. Here's one that's fresh and new and truly offensive to every Canadian.
We want OUR hockey! Not the stupid, pathetic crap they peddle on backwater channels in the US. Get it right. Do it now. Make it true and free and Canadian.
Signed,
one pissed off Canadian
I'm listening to Americans call the hockey game tonight; Ottawa versus New Jersey. I'm watching the CBC and I'm listening to a really weak effort in sports commentating by a couple of Americans on a channel that probably 0.01% of the the US population is watching.
Meanwhile, CBC is probably getting some of their highest viewership of the entire year.
How much do we really ask of the CBC? Nobody watches the stupid channel anymore. They've populated the schedule with unwatchable dreck that nobody likes. Its all culture crap that doesn't really speak to our culture. Somehow they're missing the boat.
But they have hockey.
Every spring the CBC gets huge ratings because they show hockey. Its the one Canadian cultural event that they get right. But tonight they aren't getting right.
I want a tax rebate for this. Why do we subsidize the CBC if they screw up the ONLY thing we ask of them every year!?! This is not acceptable. We can't let this go unpunished. The Parliament can get up in arms about a 17 month old hockey issue. Here's one that's fresh and new and truly offensive to every Canadian.
We want OUR hockey! Not the stupid, pathetic crap they peddle on backwater channels in the US. Get it right. Do it now. Make it true and free and Canadian.
Signed,
one pissed off Canadian
Thursday, May 03, 2007
I was out for dinner in a restaurant with other people tonight. I made some observations.
First of all, this kid in town that works all these jobs, really needs to consider dropping his service career. He absolutely sucks at it. He can't remember anything. Keeps making mistakes, and ends up bringing the wrong stuff, and almost in the wrong order. I got my soup and then the Coke. What the hell is up with that?
People that are full tend to take smaller and smaller bites, the more full they get. Its as if you'll somehow magically be able to eat more, if each individual portion of it that you take is incrementally smaller.
When you're full of food you seem to want to drink more.
First of all, this kid in town that works all these jobs, really needs to consider dropping his service career. He absolutely sucks at it. He can't remember anything. Keeps making mistakes, and ends up bringing the wrong stuff, and almost in the wrong order. I got my soup and then the Coke. What the hell is up with that?
People that are full tend to take smaller and smaller bites, the more full they get. Its as if you'll somehow magically be able to eat more, if each individual portion of it that you take is incrementally smaller.
When you're full of food you seem to want to drink more.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Things That Piss Me Off:
What's the deal with these cell phone text message plans? I'm watching videos and they are just raining down the commercials like hellfire and damnation. Its annoying.
"Get the best Yo Mama jokes"
Who falls for this? I mean, come on! You can't honestly think they'll send this to you for free. Especially with that disclaimer at the bottom of the commerical, that is supposed to be unreadable. But I can read it and I was appalled at what it said.
$2.00 per message and a message a day. Do the math on that. Its gonna add up in a huge way. And I suppose someone is stupid enough to sign up for it, otherwise they wouldn't advertise.
Do yourself a favor, if you've been duped by this scheme. Cancel your account and get a new one with a different carrier. I suspect that's the only way to stop the string of 'You Mama' jokes that seemed like a good idea at the time.
What's the deal with these cell phone text message plans? I'm watching videos and they are just raining down the commercials like hellfire and damnation. Its annoying.
"Get the best Yo Mama jokes"
Who falls for this? I mean, come on! You can't honestly think they'll send this to you for free. Especially with that disclaimer at the bottom of the commerical, that is supposed to be unreadable. But I can read it and I was appalled at what it said.
$2.00 per message and a message a day. Do the math on that. Its gonna add up in a huge way. And I suppose someone is stupid enough to sign up for it, otherwise they wouldn't advertise.
Do yourself a favor, if you've been duped by this scheme. Cancel your account and get a new one with a different carrier. I suspect that's the only way to stop the string of 'You Mama' jokes that seemed like a good idea at the time.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Vancouver - 4
Dallas - 1
That ended exactly the way I wanted it to. And it would have been a shame for it to have ended any other way because Vancouver really did outplay Dallas through the middle to end of the game.
Now we rally together for round two. As patriotic Canadians we have two teams left to cheer for: Vancouver and Ottawa. Let's go!!!
Dallas - 1
That ended exactly the way I wanted it to. And it would have been a shame for it to have ended any other way because Vancouver really did outplay Dallas through the middle to end of the game.
Now we rally together for round two. As patriotic Canadians we have two teams left to cheer for: Vancouver and Ottawa. Let's go!!!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
What in the HELL is an IED?
I ask this because they are forever mentioning that soldiers are being killed in Afghanistan by IED's. I wondered to myself, what the hell is an IED? I read the term, IED, all the time when I read reports of our efforts over there in that country. Soldiers are killed in their tank because they hit an IED. So what the hell is it?
Dictionary.com defines IED as:
WordNet - Cite This Source
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Oh, so its a bomb.
So why in the HELL can't you just say BOMB!?!?!
When did it become inappropriate to call a bomb a bomb? It doesn't even take as many syllables to say bomb as it does to say I-E-D. So what the hell is the advantage of calling a bomb and IED!?!
The only possible explanation would be that you want to convey that its a crappy, homemade bomb. So just call it a homemade bomb. There's nothing gained by trying to say its an 'improvised explosive device'. That's just dressing up the obvious. Some guy wrapped up some nails and sharp rocks in a glass jar full of gas and fertilizer. Its not a good bomb, just some lethal junk put together and buried in the road. And all of that gets the fancy title of 'improvised explosive device'.
Its not an Improvised Explosive Device!!! Its a homemade bomb! Christ, just call it what it is. You make up a fancy description for something that's actually crude and ugly. Why polish a turd? A bomb is a bomb. A crappy bomb is a crappy bomb.
Just call it a bomb!!!
I ask this because they are forever mentioning that soldiers are being killed in Afghanistan by IED's. I wondered to myself, what the hell is an IED? I read the term, IED, all the time when I read reports of our efforts over there in that country. Soldiers are killed in their tank because they hit an IED. So what the hell is it?
Dictionary.com defines IED as:
WordNet - Cite This Source
| ied | |
noun | |
| an explosive device that is improvised [syn: improvised explosive device] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Oh, so its a bomb.
So why in the HELL can't you just say BOMB!?!?!
When did it become inappropriate to call a bomb a bomb? It doesn't even take as many syllables to say bomb as it does to say I-E-D. So what the hell is the advantage of calling a bomb and IED!?!
The only possible explanation would be that you want to convey that its a crappy, homemade bomb. So just call it a homemade bomb. There's nothing gained by trying to say its an 'improvised explosive device'. That's just dressing up the obvious. Some guy wrapped up some nails and sharp rocks in a glass jar full of gas and fertilizer. Its not a good bomb, just some lethal junk put together and buried in the road. And all of that gets the fancy title of 'improvised explosive device'.
Its not an Improvised Explosive Device!!! Its a homemade bomb! Christ, just call it what it is. You make up a fancy description for something that's actually crude and ugly. Why polish a turd? A bomb is a bomb. A crappy bomb is a crappy bomb.
Just call it a bomb!!!