Dangerous Readers!

So as this is a relatively new thing for me I have, throughout the weeks I have done this blog, check the statistics. A little while ago I was browsing through all the great data that Google gives you. An interesting service, I thought, was the one that shows the sites that have been sending readers to the blog. So I see a web domain that isn't Google or another search site. I click on it.....Trojan Horse infection...fuck offf!

So, I guess this might explain my strange popularity and daily visits from Russia. Is some Russian fucker trying to give me a virus everyday by visiting my blog? I don't know.

All I do know that it is fucking ridiculous that someone is out there visiting blogs from some fake site in order to spread viruses. How stupid and...just vile. Do these assholes cheer ambulances as they go by? Do they throw rocks at cars as they go by? What other vile things to they do all day? Get a fucking life.

Anyway, I got the trojan off of my computer and I will never again be so inquisitive about where blog visitors are coming from.

Just ridiculous.

Sidewalk Gift

Hey dog owner, thanks. I appreciated your gift this morning on my walk to work. There really is no better way to start off your day that to almost step into some dog shit on the sidewalk. I must say it was an impressive log. Your dog must have some special breeding. It was perfectly rounded on both sides and uniform. A better piece of shit I cannot recall. All that being said, I would rather not have to deal with it.

So anyway, fucking asshole, would you mind picking up after your fucking dog? I know you don't think anyone outside of yourself and your dog is important. Perhaps you might consider shaking your head and opening your eyes to reality. You are a self obsessed fuckhole. If you want a dog, deal with it, get your fingers around its shit.

Ridiculous!

A Child for Every Woman

Ran across this item today regarding Antonio Cromartie. Dude has 10 kids with 8 different women. I thought Shawn Kemp was bad. The 'ridiculous' possibilities are endless. Where to begin? I think this deserves a...let me count the ridiculous ways.

1.Dude can't find the condom that many times

2.Child support payments...ouch

3.Geographic coverage, from the west to the east to the south...no love for the north? He's still got time.

4.He has a wife that doesn't think he's going to cheat on him?

5. Even after a long NFL career this guys is going to the poor house with that many kids.

Antonio might just be going for the record held by Travis Henry. This list is a bit old but AC would be close to the top.

Exercise?

It has been relatively nice outside over the past few days. With the nice weather brings an increase in the number of walkers, runners, and other people just enjoying the parks and seawall in Vancouver. With this weather I have been struck, once again, by truly bizarre behaviour. This particular behaviour seems to be most prevalent with middle aged asian women. Though I have seen similar behaviour from middle aged asian men, it just doesn't seem as prevalent.

So there will be these middle aged asian women out walking or jogging. Which I think, by the way, is awesome. Exercise is for anyone is a great choice. However, for some reason something takes over them after a little while...they begin to flail their arms back and forth like wild person. It is the strangest looking thing. It is like they lose control of all good sense in them.

It has been suggested to me that these people seem to think that this is burning more calories which is why they do it. Well, that would be like me voluntarily convulsing  to 'get some exercise'. If that is really the reason the they fail around, I have only one word in response...ridiculous.

Suburb Hell

Was in the suburbs today...fuck...where to begin.

I don't know what the deal is out there but it feels like I've been in a time warp. Why is it that simple things that take seconds in the city take minutes in the burbs. Even getting coffee is...like...a whole morning event. I don't want to spend my morning in there I just want my cup of coffee. Yet everyone else seems to want to spend the day there. This is an event that is an after thought in my daily activities but in the burbs it seems like its the focus of their morning.

I had to go into a grocery store too. Again, you get to the check out an its like a cocktail reception. Lets hang out and all chat and get to know each other. Uhhh, no. Ring my shit through, tell me the price, bag it and let me the fuck out of there. Are you all that bored out there? Actually, now that I think about it...I would be.

Still...ridiculous.

Transit Anxiety

I am not an every day transit user however, on occasion, I will take the train for work or shopping. Etiquitte in the train can be interesting. The amount of people looking down you would think that there are gold coins hidden in the floor. I get it, its like a big elevator. Don't make eye contact. Whatever.

What I am continually awestruck by are the people who will push their way to the door while the train is running. Then there are those who try to get on the train before they let people off. Do these people really think the doors are going to close on them? Have this many people never taken transit before?

I have taken to openly chuckling about these RIDICULOUS people as they push their way to the towards the door minutes before we reach the next stop...just so stupid.

Food Truck Groupies

There has been something of a revolution in North America, a food truck revolution. In cities across Canada and the United States there are street side food carts. There is even television programs that have been developed. Now with anything new there is a transition period as the public learns how to deal with an act in regards to this revolution. Over time social norms are developed.



One such norm that I would think is obvious hasn't quite been set. There seems to be some people that are clearly excited about this new phenomenon. Some that feel as though the experience of just ordering from the truck just isn't enough. Some that feel that they need to remain very close to the truck for as long as they can.

So today I am waiting for my food and I notice this guy. Who just feels a need to keep standing in front of the truck while he is eating and after he is eating. What the fuck is that? If you want to work there drop off a resume. If you want to fuck one of the women in the truck drop her your number and start by asking her out for coffee. Why these people are so enamored with the food truck that they feel they need to stay within a foot of the truck prior to eating, while eating, and after eating is beyond me.

I can simple suggest they are RIDICULOUS.

West Coast Etiquette

In a west coast city with more than its fair share of rain you would think people in Vancouver would know some basic etiquette. I am talking about umbrella etiquette. The basic rules that are in play when one crosses another person on a sidewalk and you are carrying or holding an umbrella.

Unfortunately, this is compounded by the fact that Vancouver is a multicultural city. The variance in height of the residents of this fair city make this issue all the worse. But really, is it too much to ask that you not take my eye out for the sake of preventing a raindrop from touching your precious head?

Ridiculous. It is just water.

Has the Cold War Returned

I don't follow baseball anymore. The season is too freaking long and the amount of baseball minutia is out of control. However, I stumbled on a story today that blew me away. I feel like I have been transported back in time to the 1980's with this story.

A baseball manager suspended for 5 games for an off hand comment about admiring Fidel Castro? Is it 1982? Are we still worried about communism entering the gates of North America? Professional athletes have done much worse and continue to play their sport and get paid. They have beat their wives, avoided child support payments, and on and on...and continue to play. Here, a manager makes a stupid comment, albeit in a community of Cuban exiles, and he is suspended?

Who cares what he thinks? Isn't America supposed to be the land of the free anyway? This is the society that calls themselves tolerant. Tolerant if you conform to the masses! So what if he admires Castro, its not like he is Obama's foreign relations advisor. 

Now of course, he has apologized profusely to no impact. Still suspended and some out there are even calling for further action. This crazy ridiculous. In this day and age, to see someone suspended from their job for a political comment. 

Strange and Ridiculous.

Holy Rollers

In North America, I am one of a fortunate few though city planners are trying to increase in number those like me. I live within walking distance to where I work and shop. So in a typical week I spend much more time walking than sitting in my car. Now this isn't a rant against cars. It is not to say that I have it in for those who choose to drive everywhere or cars in general. 

Here's my issue. Why the fuck, when I am walking through a cross walk some fucker in a car...already stopped by the way... feels the need to roll up into the crosswalk. What the fuck is the purpose of that? To get a 'holy shit' comment out of me? Are you planning to slowly run the fucking red light? Your stopped at a light, I am crossing the road. Keep your fucking car where it is until the light turns green, asshole.

Ridiculous.

Insecurity

Insecurity...insecurities, we all have them. Even the most confident of us has an area of life or things in life that they are insecure about. Don't believe what some people tell you. In our heart of hearts we all have them. Thing is, in essence, they are all ridiculous.

What are we afraid or insecure about? Is what others think that important, in the overall scheme of things. It is not they that have to live in our skin. It is not they that know our experiences and how they have shaped us. It is not they that must reconcile what we do and the consequences of the actions. It is not they that have to lay down and night and rest in ourselves. So why do we care so much about what they think. Why do 'they' (note my first usage of quotes in this post) play any role in our decisions?

And if you consider the impact insecurities have on our relatively short life, why do we allow them to have any role in our life. Freedom, I think, is the opposite of insecurity. In freedom, we can become whoever it is we wish to become. In freedom, we don't exclude ourselves from experiences we want to behold. In freedom, we don't limit the depths of our relationships. In freedom we can be. That is not to say we shouldn't freely limit our freedom to those desires that don't result in negative impacts to others. Obviously, we should consider both ourselves and others. The point is that only in freedom can we truly experience the life we have been given.

How many of us live in freedom?  I suspect not many and that is, if you really think about it, ridiculous.

Habits

It is said that it takes 14 days to establish a new habit.

So it is with this blog, a rough week lead to a struggle to push out posts on the 13th and 14th day. It felt good to make it past this milestone. Then on the 15th day I forgot to make a post. So here I am the next morning trying to make it up, in disbelief that I could have forgotten. The only word that comes to mind when thinking about it is the name of this blog...ridiculous.

P.S. I actually wrote this more than 24 hrs ago and forgot to submit it. The habit police again were working to defeat me.

NFL Bounties - Gregg Williams Tape

I have, until today, avoided discussing the bounty investigation and penalties laid against the New Orleans Saints. Today, a documentary film maker release audio of a pre game speech delivered to his team by the Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams. Who has been banned from the NFL indefinitely. At the time of announcing the original penalties it was stated that this penalty would be reviewed in a year. Fat chance of that after this came out.

Also, consider the backdrop...the league has changed rules of the game and fined players substantial amounts of money for hits to the head. There is a group of former NFL players suing the league in regard to their handling of concussions. Then here is Williams...'kill the head'. NICE. That's going to go over well...not so much.

In the audio Williams gives much more than the typical ra ra speech. In my short time playing football I heard a number of speeches where coaches talked about getting the other team or whatever but nothing like is on this tape. I think a certain amount of knock them cold, or on their ass, or pound them into tomorrow is par for the course. What is not is hey #10 has an outer ACL issue. Comments like 'kill the head and the body will die'. Imploring the players to take head shots during or after a play?  All of this is way out of line. Sure plenty of players current and former will say they want to hit a guy as hard as they can or lay them out but to have a coach, coaching up players to aim for the head and debriefing on injuries to target players is way over the line.

It is RIDICULOUS.

Good People

I have had the good fortune recently to be reaquainted with some really good people.

I don't know how many have experienced some truly good people. I'm not talking about a monk, or priest, or pastor. It has nothing to do with centeredness or religion. There are just some people who, when you interact with them , just seem so nice, and good and...I don't know. The kind of people that you just couldn't see ever wishing anything but good things for.

It is, I suppose, a shame that this occurence isn't more frequent. That we don't see such goodness in people often. To the point where when we do see it we are struck by it.

Ridiculous.

Tripadvisor not Tellmewhatyoudidadvisor

I am one of many, I am sure, that lean on http://www.tripadvisor.com/ when looking at vacation options.

Overall, it is great. You can get listings of potential hotels in an area, real live experiences from travellers, even by type of traveller or type of trip taken. I think it is a great site.

One of the features of tripadvisor that I like the most is the travellers pictures. This is where you can see what a place actually looks like. Instead of relying on the uber manipulated photos that hotels have on their websites.  You can photoshop any hotel and make it look good.

What is ridiculous about tripadvisor is the people who post photos that aren't of the hotel. I don't understand is why people post photos of themselves away from their hotel on vacation. Do they really think I give shit where they took a hike? I don't want to see a photo of little Jimmy at the entrance to SeaWorld or Uncle Max in the Teacups at Disneyland. I don't care if you saw a gecko on the side of the road. None of these things have anything to do with the hotel.

What are they thinking? Ridiculous.

What a Sandwich

OK, about time for a positive post.

For those of you who work downtown, you likely are already aware of Meat and Bread. For those of you Vancouverites who don't or for those of you outside of Vancouver, allow me to introduce you.

A simple concept eatery, a huge communal table, and simple, good sandwiches. 

The star of the show, by far, is the Porchetta.  Slow roasted pork in between a bun, crunchy on the outside, soft on the middle.  That's right nothing more than meat and bread.  Oh, but its not just the meat, its the fat, the crackling...and the side of mustard. Soo good it is hard to return and return and order anything else on the menu.

If your lucky when you get there, they will just pull a hot roast out of the oven. Try it and you will believe.

Salty, crunchy, fatty, it is so good it is RIDICULOUS.

What Are These Women Thinking

So today I am walking down the street and I am confronted with the most annoying of cliches. Expensive sport scar, black of course, parks near me. Out of the car comes this ultra thin woman dressed ridiculously with boobs that not humanly possible given her frame. The guy, again cliche, tall douche bag. The topic of the rant...not the cliche...not the douche...not the car...the woman.

Like theses two...drawing attention yes but for me only for the sheer ridiculousness of them. What on earth possesses a woman to stick such masses of silicon onto their chest. Its not attractive it is bizarre looking. That's not where it stops either they get the lips done and the eyes and whatever else until they don't even look real anymore. The saddest thing about them is that you can still see that at some point earlier in their life they were attractive.

Do they realize how bizarre they look? Are they that starved for attention? Is money that important to them? I guess it beats a job. I don't know.

Some might think they look good but...in reality, unfortunately, they just look RIDICULOUS.

BCTF vs. Anyone

Recently the head of the BCTF called on members and supporters to unseat the current government.  Essentially because the government of the day hasn't succumbed to the demands of the BCTF. Never mind that the BCTF hasn't negotiated a contract for 20 years, that spans governments left and right of centre.The colour of the party makes no difference. This 'Federation' cannot negotiate with anyone. They aren't interested in negotiating, they are only interested in getting what they want. Getting what they want for TEACHERS not the students. The TEACHERS are their members and it is them and only them they fight for.

No you say, its all about the kids. That 15% pay raise - about the kids, the efforts to avoid any efforts that evaluate teachers - about the kids, calls to get a new government - obviously about the kids. What a fucking joke!  This union acts like a petulant child. If they don't get what they want then they will hold their breath until they get it. If that doesn't work kick up a fuss until your parents are so embarrassed of you that they give in.

The BCTF is simply and profoundly RIDICULOUS.

Freedom Cyclists

So over the past few years the Mayor of the fair city of Vancouver has been pushing a cycling agenda. Closing lanes on the Burrard bridge, creating new bike lanes on Dunsmuir and Hornby all in an effort to increase cycling. He also has participated in cycling protest movements slowing down auto traffic during rush hour.

With all of this, what more could you expect? Why wouldn't the cyclists in this city feel like they have the freedom to cycle anywhere? Why would 'rules' apply to cyclists? Of course, they are the chosen mode of transportation. Like God chose the Jews, Roberston chose the cyclists. They are free to do whatever they like!

Stop the fucking madness!! No, you can't fucking run a red light just because your on a bike! No, you can't ride your fucking bike on the sidewalk! No, you can't turn whatever fucking direction you like whenever you like! You fuckers are RIDICULOUS!

Wrong Place to Cut

Today was the day that the federal government delivered its budget for the coming year. I am one of those dorks in the country that looks forward to these days. So this years budget includes a number of cuts backs to federal government departments.

I would like to focus on one area. The 10% cut to the CBC and the minuscule cuts made to the CRTC.

The CRTC is a dinosaur that needs to be reduced to a fossil only seen in a museum. So much of what it does is ridiculous. It monitors what I watch and listen to. To protect Canadian artists and Canadian culture? How 1962 is that?  I can watch or listen to whatever I want from whatever country I want, with my computer or my phone. To think that a federal agency exists that wastes time regulating TV and radio to ensure that there is sufficient 'Canadian' content is ridiculous.

The concept of supporting Canadian art, artists and culture is NOT ridiculous. It is for this reason I think the government got it wrong. Slash the CRTC to the bone and continue to support the CBC. Supporting the CBC is Canada's contribution to supporting Canadian culture and the arts. Fund the CBC to achieve the goals that the CRTC is trying to achieve through regulation.

The continued existence of the CRTC in its current form is simply RIDICULOUS.

Its a dog!

What the fuck has come over people in this town. Today I saw a dog on the train in a small rolling luggage cart. Since when do dog owners feel that their dogs cannot actually walk. I also see dog strollers. It is not your child it is a fucking dog. A dog bread to...I don't know...use its legs. Since when dog owners decided that they need to reduce the physical activity of their dogs I don't know. Perhaps they want to make them as fat as themselves. I'm not sure.

What am as sure of is that these people are RIDICULOUS.

Not Optional Equipment

Cars now are sold with standard equipment and optional equipment. Some equipment everyone gets some you have to pay more for. These are usually additional features for safety or convenience. Some people purchase cars loaded with all the optional equipment some purchase cars with a few optional features and some people purchase cars with just standard equipment.

It doesn't matter which a person chooses, all the cars will come with turn signals. IT IS NOT OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT. Why? This is because it is a basic safety feature to advise pedestrians and other drivers your intentions. To turn left, to go straight, or to turn right. So why THE FUCK is it so hard for FUCKING drivers in Vancouver to use them.

Do they think it is optional equipment? Do they think its my birthday and they want to surprise me? Are they not sure where they are going until the last minute? No they are simply Ridiculous.

Hurry Up and Wait

Thanks Asshole! This was my call when I was almost hit by a car as I walked through a crosswalk. An incident that I find happens far too often to all pedestrians. Not just to me but everyone who takes their life into their hands and walks across a street. I understand we are all busy and sometimes in a rush drivers are a bit careless. Not that they should be but I get it.

What pisses me off is the fuckers that are plowing through the crosswalk...to wait at the red light 300 feet away. You fucking assholes, what is your fucking hurry. You have to put my life in danger so you can sit in your fucking car at a red light 300 feet away. FUCK YOU. What are you assholes thinking? Are you that dense? Are you that self involved? Are you that careless? Are you that ignorant? Are you that stupid?

Ridiculous.

Bad Decisions made by a Few

As I did yesterday, I feel the need to qualify this rant. Here it is. I generally am supportive of funding for arts, culture, and sports. This being said the following is a daily reminder for me of what happens when a few make decisions for many.

Think about it...this is the best it will ever look. The thing looks like it is still under construction. It will only get worn weathered and dirty from this day on. A roof for a stadium in a city that doesn't need a 50k seat stadium. To think our neighbours to the south built a stadium (CenturyLink Field in Seattle) bigger and better for $450M. Yes, the whole stadium, not just the roof and some Stacey Travis designed seats. What a colossal waste of taxpayer funds. Shame on you David Podmore and the BC Pavilion Corporation. Shame on you Gordon Campbell for allowing it to happen. A $500+M monstrosity of a roof.

The thing that amazes me is that it was done with no debate...just a 1/2 billion dollar announcement or pronouncement. No debate, no discussion, no riots, no pickets...just apathy. All this at a time when a private individual offer $200M of his own money to build a waterfront soccer stadium. Effectively, all the levels of government said no thanks to the $200M investment in public facilities and instead decided to spend over $500M of their own on the roof for BC Place. That's a swing that exceeds $700M!!!!

A decision made by a few that will haunt Vancouverites and British Columbians for decades.

Ridiculous.

The Tragically Overplayed

Let me start by saying that this is not a rant about not liking the "Tragically Hip". That would be a shitty post just to rant about music you don't like. I actually like some of their stuff. That being said...can someone tell me why almost every radio station in Vancouver, regardless of supposed 'format', plays a Tragically Hip song at least once every single day? When is the last time they have had a hit? 10 years ago? I get it that they have made CD's since and continue to sell. I get it that all radio stations have to play a certain percentage Canadian content.

There have been decades of great Canadian music and there are a number of good up and coming Canadian artists. I'm not sure it the same in other Canadian cities but in Vancouver, regardless if your listening to a top40, adult contemporary, rock, country, or easy listening station you will hear the Tragically Hip.

Again, its not that I don't like the band I just don't want to hear them on EVERY FUCKING STATION, EVERY FUCKING DAY.

Lazy...

Ridiculous.

A Highrise Built of Wood?

Today's rant is on yesterday's news in Vancouver. Here is the plan. Plans for a wood constructed high rise building. What the fuck are people thinking. The designer of the Hindenburg would be proud. This is typical of British Columbia policy makers and government types. Sell more wood by proposing skyscrapers or log homes in China. What a fucking joke.

Why the fuck can't we use wood to make products people actually use? Instead we have to transform the way people think and build to sell BC wood. The only way we can do anything other than sell raw logs is to radically transform ideas? REALLY?

First we tell everyone in China to change the way they live and build fucking log homes like they are living 30 miles east of Prince George. Now we are going to build a fucking wood high rise in P.G. Why? What is the goal here? To show the world what they could do with BC softwood. What is expected out of this? Are the Japanese going to rebuild cities pummeled by the tsunami with wooden high rises? FUCK OFF. What the fuck are these people thinking.

This is so bizarre I almost feel bad flaming on it. Pardon the pun.

Ridiculous.

First Rant - FCUK

OK, where to start. My brain is buzzing with options. For today, the maiden rant on this blog is about FCUK. This has been one of my primary annoyances for I don't know how long. Actually, I do...from the time those stupid t-shirts started appearing on people's backs. What the FUCK is FCUK? I know French Connection UK. Fine, whatever, its your acronym. To all you dorks out there who think it is cool to wear a shirt that ALMOST says FUCK...FUCK OFF!

If you want to wear a shirt that says FUCK then go ahead. I don't give a shit. But don't wear something that almost says it. That is dumbest clothing decision you can make. Who the hell looks in the mirror and gets off on a shirt that almost says FUCK. FUCK OFF! Are you giggling like a little school girl in spring as you walk down the street. You think your getting attention by almost wearing an inappropriate shirt? Your not. You are, or at least should be, viewed as a misguided dork.

FCUK is not interesting, provocative or clever. It is pure stupidity. The fact that these shirts even sell is evidence of our decline as a human race.

This one pissing me off so much I am reserving the right to rant on this again in the near future.

That's today.