A waste of bits and bandwidth

Road Rage on the streets of Toronto; goes something like this:

Motorist throws food out of window. Courier, disliking littering, picks up food and throws food back in car. Motorist dumps coffee on courier. Courier scratches car with key. Road rage ensues.

Idiots.

Off to the, uh… voting place before work this morning to vote in the Canadian federal election. It took three people to process me and yet not one asked for any identification. I could have found my voting card in the mail room and gone to vote a few times. Idiots…

I grabbed a picture of my ballot before I made my choice.

Subject: France Elevates its Security Level

As many are aware, the French government recently announced a raise in its terror alert level from “Run” to “Hide”. The normal level is “General Arrogance”.

The only two higher levels in France are “Surrender” and “Collaborate”. The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France’s white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country’s military capability.

As you can see, it’s slow in the office now that Spanky has stopped coming to work. Carry on then…

Well this has been a fantastic day. If fantastic can be described as being thwarted at every turn. I start out by attempting to open an account with a credit union. Should be simple enough; I’ve done my research but I have a few questions.

I call in at my local branch and don’t really learn anything that I didn’t know before arriving there. Me: “Hmmm… this hasn’t been very helpful but OK.” Her: “Would you you like to open an account?” Me: “Um, I guess…” Her: “Here’s my card, call back later to see if we can set up and appointment for you.” Me: *blank stare* “I need an appointment? Is this really involved or something? I already know what I want” Her: “Saturday is really busy, Monday would be better.” Better for who?

Not what I expected from an organization that freely promotes tree-hugging, the benfits of tofu and granola as well as generally sticking it to the man. I leave, noting that my jaw is slightly tight.

Next stop, the mental deficients of a well known electronics retailer. I saw there was a sale on RAM and thought what the hell… OS X loves RAM why not grab another stick? Now my plan is to go in, hopefully grab the RAM and slip away to the main checkout, unnoticed. The last time I was there I was told that “You’re not allowed to wander around the store with unpurchased merchandise.” “I’ll take my chances…”

Having fallen victim to said mental deficients at this well known electronics retailer, I was careful to check the website to ensure that they actually had the RAM in stock. Yep, we’re go for liftoff. Great. Arriving there I can’t find the RAM in the rack. “Shit, I’m going to have to engage one of these idiots”

I tell Buddy what I’m looking for and he procedes to look through the same display that I had just combed over. Me: “The website said you had this in stock” Him: “The website isn’t always that accurate” Me: “Apparently” Him: “I’ll check in the back” Me: *jaw tightening*

He returns and says that there’s nothing in the back but decides to check his inventory… Him: “That’s funny, it shows I have 2 in stock…” Me: *jaw fully locked* “Yeah that’s really *#^%@ funny, particularly when I went out of my way to come here after checking that you had it in stock (a bald face lie but really, who cares?).”

At this point he started to well-up a little and I realized that I shouldn’t be taking out past, poor experiences on a mentally deficient retail clerk. I offered him a tissue and requested a rain check.

Defeated, I stopped off at an office supply store for, well, office supplies. That went reasonably well. The only negative was a middle aged security guard that was obviously suspicious of me. I could understand that; I was just wandering around and maybe it seemed that I was up to something. The problem was his BO. Which followed him and therefore me, everywhere.

On my way out I decide that some lunch might be in order. After placing my order, I stand there waiting for my beverage. The girl looks at me like this is my first time ordering lunch and tells me that I pick it up at the end of the counter.

I think it odd that everyone else got their beverage but that mine will be delivered with my meal. Sure enough, no beverage. I return to the clerk and point out the error of her ways and she gives me the once over. “Yeah, I already drank it but it makes me feel better about myself if I can screw you out of 79 cents…”

Well, that’s my Saturday. How’s yours?

Working downtown is always fun. Lots of things to see and do and all right outside your office door.

So today I was out for my usual afternoon Spanky break, when I came across an actual take down. Two cops came screaming down Granville and onto Nelson. They turned off their sirens as they made the turn making me think they were simply avoiding traffic.

The light turns green at Howe and they put their lights on but they don’t move and neither do any of the other cars. “Hmmm… maybe something’s afoot” The light goes red and they lurch across the intersection, nearly running over some guy. He seemed very determined to cross the intersection now that the little white man was flashing despite the fact there was a Crown Victoria bearing down on him.

Having blocked a car, they hop out and draw their guns “Let me see your hands! Don’t move!” which must be an interesting statement to hear from someone pointing a gun at you. All I was thinking was ‘Ooh, how cool; an actual take down and me without my camera’. A crowd quickly gathered and we talked amongst ourselves while buddy cuffed and frisked.

He didn’t look like a skid; I imagine he fancied himself something of a player given how he was dressed but whatever. No matter what he did, you know he’s walking the streets tonight…