Wow. I can’t believe how incredibly sick people are to do crap like this: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/02/01/drug.pups/index.html?section=cnn_topstories

Tonight, someone was supposed to come by and look at the Harley to buy it. “I’ll be there at nine.” So, yet again I had a feeling that wasn’t happening and right I was… Sometimes I feel like calling the people back and yelling at them. But then, what’s the point. I firmly believe what goes around comes around, and usually worse than you dish it out, so they’ll get it back anyway.

Still, these flaky loosers are frustrating. Just man up and call. Okay, so your wife told you there was NO WAY you’re buying a Harley and you’re too much of a wuss to admit it to me. Fine, just tell me you stubbed your toe and won’t be able to change gears on the bike so you’ll have to pass. But at least have the balls to call.

I haven’t seen this flick in a long while, but it’s airing on TBS right now. Much better than the State of the Union that was on earlier.

No, I’m not yet another Bush-Hater like the rest of P-town. Just look at my blog - It’s Blue Collar Republican, baby! Okay, maybe that’s not it either but if I cause enough controversy will I become the next Howard Stearn or Lars Larsen?

Seriously, I hated the State of the Union. It sucks with any President. “The union is doing well.” Launched this “initiative” and want to start that “comittee” for somethingarother. Blah!

Okay, some of it’s probably worth doing, but when I look at how incredibly inefficient our country/government is, I can’t in my right mind be excited about any new comittee or initiative. First, start by timing the traffic lights more efficiently and then we’ll talk. Seriously, PDX traffic control needs some major help in the efficiency department. I’d be happy to VOLUNTEER my time as a City Efficiency Auditor as long as something actually gets done and fixed!

Okay, it’s not just limited to Americans but since this is where I live, those are the people I see around me.

Lately it seems just about every time I’m out somewhere - especially at a food/drink establishment - I hear people having very little manners. It seems people just demand things, without having much thought on how their wording comes across. Here’s an example:

Taco Del Mar off Otty Rd & 82nd Ave. - Jan 17/05 about 5pm:
Server: Hi, welcome to Taco Del Mar. How can I help you?
RudeDude: Give me a super burrito. Extra meat.

Most of the time I hear phrases similar to the above. Bring me this. Let’s have some of that. I want those. Etc.

What happened to nice things such as “please” or “may I” or “can I” or even “I would like” instead of demands?

Yeah, I’ll go hide under my rock now because someone is probably blogging about how rude drivers are. And I’m guilty of that but only VERY seldom…

How many trees are killed every year to print receipts long enough to use for toilet paper? I count Home Depot, Best Buy, Safeway and now Albertsons as the worst offenders.

Just look at this 16-inch long Albertsons receipt. Best part about it, it was for only 2 items total.

I am so effin irritated with all this copyright protection crap on downloaded music! I bought (yes, legally) a song on iTunes a week ago, only to find out it gets downloaded in some weird Apple Proprietary format. So, screw them. I’m going back to Musicmatch which interface I like better anyway. Bad thing is, Musicmatch won’t work with my iPod so I still have to have iTunes installed. Fine, I can live with that.

So today I download a song from Musicmatch and it’s in WMA. I’ll just convert it to MP3 beacuse iTunes has to have it in MP3 to send to the iPod. Wait a minute, if iTunes has to have it in MP3, why do you download in their weird Apple format? Anyway… I can’t convert it because it’s “Protected” WMA. So now my only alternative (I’ve tried like 4 converters on this thing) is to burn it to audio CD and then rip it back to MP3.

ARGH! Yet another example of how some rules hurt just us honest people. Anyone have a hack program that will ignore the protection?

Not too long ago I was talking with Keener and Chris ab out a gas station that I drive by occasionally on my way to work and how people will line up around the block because it’s consistently about the cheapest price of gas in town by around 10 cents. We figured, on most cars that saves you around $1.50 per fill up. But it has to take like 15 minutes AT LEAST when there are 10 other cars in line before you. Not worth it in my opinion!

Well, yesterday I witnessed something even better! On 82nd & Johnson Creek Blvd, there is a Fred Meyer gas station. Regular was 2.66/gal. If you sign up for their stupid “rewards” card you save 3 cents per gallon. Rewards card is free, just sign up once so you can get marketed to via junk mail. Here’s a thought; use fake address…. Anyway, the net = 2.63/gal. No waiting lines, nothing.

After I fill up, and leave I see the gas station across the street. It’s a 76 and I know they only accept cash “to keep prices lower” - I love my airmiles so needless to say I never get gas there. There are 4-5 islands with about 5 cars in line. Thinking it must be super cheap, I glance at the price. $2.62/gal for regular. Nice. You will wait how long to save 1 cent per gallon? I love people…

Okay, so a few of the new minivans and SUV’s have options for TV screens and DVD players for the passengers. Yes, this is a great way to entertain your eastern-block quantity of kids for people who don’t believe in birth control, but let’s keep it in check!

Yesterday I saw a Kia/Hyundai/Suzuki/Whatever (cheap car) with 2 large screens hanging (the portable kind maybe?) from each front seat backrest. Yes, the kids are in the back. The beauty of it is that one child is probably not even talking yet, maybe toddling. The other child was about 2. I concur; why pay attention to your kids when TV can do it for you? Excellent.

Now I may be a bit biased not having TV when I grew up, but I think it helped me be more independent and actually entertain myself with things like twigs and rocks and crap. Okay, maybe I had some luxuries like radio control cars but at least they were interactive.

On my way in today, the crew from Z100 was talking about the recent club-related (or club vicinity) shootings and this article from WWeek. (I’m not going to dive into the article itself, because that is just way too much to discuss on its own. But that’s what spawned the thoughts.)

Well, the callers and the hosts got into their usual banter about who’s fault it is, etc. that kids turn out like this. Seems like everyone wants to blame something/someone all the time. The parents, the media, the school teachers, and so on. Ultimatley, why do we care who is to BLAME. A lot of good that does in blaming someone. I do think that “the media” needs to become a bit more socially responsible but that’s sure not going to happen. Yes, parents should monitor their children’s activities, but who can be everywhere all the time? Being overbearing doesn’t teach anything anyway, it just pushes people the other way.

What can we do? I think we need to collectively change our own attitudes. What can WE do to fix problems - not who’s fault is it. Not what parents need to do, or the media needs to do. What can I do? I don’t have the answer. I keep trying to change my attitude the minute I realize that I’m looking down on someone (yeah, it happens sometimes) I look at myself and see how good I have it. How can I help everyone else have it better?

I think it ultimately comes down to respect. I feel like a geezer when I think thoughts like “children now days have no respect” but it’s being more and more true!

So how do you teach respect? You don’t. I think respect is something you show, and demand. You can’t teach it, but you can discuss and teach the principles of respect. Then you have to show it and LIVE it every day. And yes, it starts at home because ultimately parents have a huge influence in their children’s fate.

Yeah, it was a bit of a ramble. But here’s the main point: It pisses me off when everyone blames someone, takes no accountability, and doesn’t do anything about things themselves. Do something about it, or keep your yap shut but don’t blame someone else who’s not doing anything about it either. Do something and say something. Don’t do anything and don’t say anything. Pick one.