UnleashYourAnger.com

From Time, Mark Halperin:

 3. The national press will be obsessed with the story for days and days to come, with no downside for Obama; the local press coverage when Kennedy travels for Obama will be ginormous.

Yes, that's right.  He actually used the word "ginormous."  For real.  It's right there, in print, in an internationally recognized news publication.

Let's just be blunt here: he sounds like a fifth grader saying that.  And because of it, I can't take anything else he says in that article seriously.

I don't really follow his column.  I just happened upon it because there was a link to it on the front page of CNN (!).  Maybe it's technically a blog, I don't really care.  Whatever format he's writing in, how can he expect people to respect his opinion when he has to resort to using made-up words to get his opinion across?  Is it some sort of effort to appeal to the youth?  Is he trying to be COOL? 

Get real, Mark.  Act like a professional.  Write like you like, graduated from like, the fifth grade.

I live in Sturbridge and commute on Mass Pike.  Have you guys noticed those humongous cell phone towers that are meant to look like trees?

I think the intention is good, but I think those things are very ugly.  I mean…did they think they could fake people by painting these trees brown and with fake leaves?  It’s not like the fact that the “tree” is 200 feet and 4 times as tall as the one next to isn’t a big give away.

I’d like to unleash my anger on drivers who brake even though no one else is braking.  I hate driving behind these people who can’t control their speeds.  The brake lights constantly going on and off…why do they do that?

Isn’t it quite simple?  Just keep the speed maintained with the flow of traffic.  Everyone else is, so why can’t you?  Don’t go faster than the car in front of you.  You will never be magically transported to the front.   (For that matter, don’t go slower than the car in front of you and leave room, but that’s for another rant.) 

Keep this rule of thumb…you should NOT have to brake unless the car in front of you is braking.  Please, please, remember this!  If you don’t know what I am talking about, please self-reflect for a moment, and think if you are doing this.  It might just be you, but you just never noticed.

You are wasting gas.  You are wasting your brake pads.  You are angering people behind you!  Stop!!!!

To Mr. I-Drive-Like-An-Old-Man Taurus Driver:

That red sign with eight sides and STOP on it means you have to stop.  Yes, even if you are waiting in line behind another guy.

It does not mean "STOP: then go whenever you feel like it". 

It does not mean "STOP: unless your mom told you you're special". 

It means "STOP WHEN YOU REACH THIS SIGN".

What does that mean?  well, when the guy in front of you's turn comes to go, he gets to go.  Then guess what?  You have to stop again when you pull up to the intersection.  yes, at the STOP sign, that's where you have to stop.  Then, it's my turn, because I got there before you.  There is a pecking order.  See how that works?

Furthermore, you not only blatantly ran a stop sign, you also failed to follow protocol when I flipped you off and leaned on the horn.  Any boston driver worth his salt would at LEAST return the favor.  Preferably with a slamming of the brakes and some choice profanities yelled out the window.  That Bambi in headlights look you gave me did not suffice.  So, naturally I had to take drastic measures and give you another Honk 'n' Flip when you turned off the road later.  I'm sure you understand.

Why, please someone tell me, do businesses, retail establishments and the like insist on only unlocking one door of a double door entry/exit?!?  This is the fabulous US of A.  We walk and drive on the right.  Few things annoy me like walking along with friends or colleagues toward an exit, putting my hand out to push open the right door of a double door and being stopped in my tracks!  Is it that hard to unlock both?  Technically it's a fire violation to keep one side locked.  What gives?!  Not only are buildings legally responsible for opening both doors, it make sense for their patrons.  If a group of people is coming in while I'm exiting, I want to be able to proceed past them through my own side, not wait awkwardly for them to get through the door ("you go", "no, you go", "no, I insist") so I can leave. 

And I won't even start on the people who wait for the opposite door before going even though there is a second, UNLOCKED door available (just push, people). 

I don't mind when people leave out leftover food in the break room for the world to take at work, but there are some things that need to be left off-limits. 

Cold cut sandwiches don't make the cut.  I'm sorry.  But they stink up the room, no one knows exactly how long they've been there, and I'm left with a sick feeling in my stomach just thinking of the botulism crawling around on that plate every time I go in there for a coffee.  

Pasta salad takes on a life of it's own once it's been left out for a couple hours.  Let's avoid that one.

Regular green-type salad is borderline.  I guess it's ok, although once its been out for half an hour it's warm and nasty.  And if it's pre-dressed, forget about it.  Unless your dressing is 100-proof, that thing is just asking for a bacterial party.

Pizza is acceptable.  Any sort of dessert, pie, cake, whatever, bring it on.  Cookies, hells ya.  hmm, let me reiterate that one: COOKIES, HELLS YA!!!  

Oh, and another thing: if you're gonna leave something like that in there, at least do your duty and remove it after it's been out for an afternoon!  DON'T just go home and forget about it.  SOMEONE has to clean up your mess (yes, after 6 hours on the countertop, it's officially a "mess") later.  I sure as heck ain't gonna do it.

We all know that the fashion is constantly changing and “created” by few people in the world.  Influential designers, models, or celebrities can all create “fashion” by simply introducing them to the world and claiming (“defining”) that is the new fashion. 

This is commonsense…I know…but there are certain things out there that just look like they are made into fashion as a “dare”, “just to prove a point”, or even a “mistake.”  Think these examples:

Dolce to Gabbana: “Dude, look at what I found in my parents’ garage.  My pants from when I was 7 years old.  I dare you if we put this in our next show, women all over the world will wear them even though they are too short and small.  Let’s call them ‘Capri’, so it sounds hip.”

What about Brad Pitt getting to a hotel before a black-tie dinner and saying: “Dang it.  I forgot to pack my socks.  I guess I will wear my suit without socks.  I am sure no one will notice.”

This is a fun exercise.  I am sure you can come up with something for those gigantic sunglasses, bell bottoms, shaving the head thing, low-cut jeans, those women’s dresses that look like maternity clothes (flare out under the breasts), pilot goggles, indoor sunglasses, “grills”, etc.

I am actually surprised that someone hasn’t ranted about this topic already.  Is it too obvious?

Suffolk County Jail is the one on Nashua Street near TD Bank North Garden.  It’s a beautiful brick building facing the Charles River, a new park, Zakim Bridge, and the Boston Harbor.  It is a stunning building on a prime real estate with an amazing view.

Guess what!  It’s a prison!   Who came up with the brilliant idea of giving such luxury to the prisoners?!  I hear they have single rooms in there, and…did I mention the views?  Geez…free meal, time to read books, with an amazing view of the river and park…can I join you guys?  (I am bitter, because my apartment is in the basement and the pipes burst two days ago.)  Our prisoners already are costing enough of taxpayers money, but we are willing to spend gazzilions more on this stunning condo.  How did the city justify this expense (or the loss of property tax of the waterfront property)?

I digress a little, but whenever I walk by there, there are sketchy people outside hanging out.  I assume they are visitors of the prisoners, but they certainly make me uncomfortable.  I have seen those people waving at prisoners and communicating through hand signals and paper.  Those prisoners on the basketball courts on the side?  They cackle and hoot at the passerby. Yuck!

Lastly, did you guys know that this jail is a public humiliation of Boston?  My parents, when they visited Boston and did the Duck Tour, were taken to this prison and heard about the luxury of this establishment.  I am embarrassed to see that this has been made into one of the tourist destinations.  Is this what we want visitors to think of Boston? That we treat our prisoners better than we treat our residents?!  :)

Big Dig is embarrassing enough, right?

I have always wondered.  Why is it a big deal for the waiter to recite the specials from memory?  It is “the thing”, right?   It is a custom?  Is it expected of them to?

Are waiters in general expected to do that?  (I don't expect them to.) Are the restaurants requiring them to do that?  (I'm thinking yes.)  Am I supposed to be impressed with that?  (If so, I want to be impressed by good service and good meal.)  I just don’t get “why” they do that, because…well, I just don’t see why it’s a big deal.

I think I’d rather skip the uncomfortable silences when the wait staff messes up or forgets the specials.  I’d rather have the special read to me in the correct manner.  I am allergic to some stuff, and I’d rather know with accuracy what the specials are.

Don’t let me get started on memorizing the order they take…

PS. One time, this waitress read this very long specials list from memory, in perfect manner, and in one breath, and we all cheered and clapped.  That was impressive and fun, but I am still not sure if this is expected of the waiters.  Anyone know?

I don’t get it.  Why don’t people waiting for the baggage just step back from the conveyor belt?  If we did, we can all see our luggage, and there won’t be pushing and shoving when people are grabbing their bags.

Can’t we all just stand back and approach the belt when the bag comes?  It’d be so much easier. 

Why must people insist on having the front row seat?  This ain’t a concert or a sporting event.  You won’t see the glistening sweat off the singer.  You won’t see “the play develop”. You won’t catch the drum stick or the guitar pick.  The bags won’t approach you to give you a five, lock eyes and smile at you, and certainly won’t take you backstage.

Please.  You just have to be able to identify your own darn bag.  We are all tired from the long plane ride.  I know we are anxious but let’s all step back and relax.  The bags come in a certain order no matter how close you are to the belt.