-
Enjoying a nice late afternoon in the park, writing my manuscript and people-watching.
Enjoying a nice late afternoon in the park, writing my manuscript and people-watching.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
-
And the home gym grows.
It ain't the latest thing or fancy sleek
but now it's mine
'cause I carted it home from the street.
And the home gym grows.
It ain't the latest thing or fancy sleek
but now it's mine
'cause I carted it home from the street.
(click here to see my other home gym equipment)
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
-
If those rouges in "Clockwork Orange" ever fancied reading books over the mayhem of fighting and raping, then methinks the decor of new Stuttgart Stadtbibliotek (library) would suit them just fine. It's so creepily milky and ominously futuristic save for the elevators which I think are operated by hamsters running on a wheel. You can get a haircut in the time it takes the machines to reach you. The design of the building is impressively modern save for one essential feature: bathrooms.
As far as I can tell - and I've been inside about half a dozen times - there are only two or four (boy and girl) bathrooms in the entire eight story structure! Two of them are definitely on the top floor near the cafe. I hope the other ones, if they exist, are equipped with more than one toilet. What the fuck were the architects thinking?!
I'm glad I found the Landbibliotek (just down the road and across from the opera house). I prefer it. It's older but cozier with wood and carpeting and, more convenient to the human bladder, has accessible bathrooms which can accommodate more than one patron at a time.
Next time install more lieus, you wanker!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
-
My commitment to every-day fitness continues. This morning I strode to the park and tried out a new exercise drill that I found posted on Twitter. According to the tweet one should execute it as quickly as possible - sounds like crossfit! - but I don't drink that kool-aid. And most certainly wasn't going to race through it on the very first trial...that would simply be setting myself up to fail OR, more likely, fall back on excuses; a thing easy to do when you're by yourself (It was my first try ... I didn't drink enough water beforehand ... should've warmed up more ... blah, blah, blah).
I did the routine without pause and completed it in 14mins -- without wishing, "Man, I wish this was over already!" Not bad. My heart rate was up and some sweat was evident (but, then, I sweat easily). Definitely a good way to break through the morning - if you exercise in the mornings - or as a warm-up for a work-out. Progressive resistance is key to continued improvement so, maybe, in a week or so I'll up the ante (incrementally!) and challenge myself.
I aim to stay as close to this:
My commitment to every-day fitness continues. This morning I strode to the park and tried out a new exercise drill that I found posted on Twitter. According to the tweet one should execute it as quickly as possible - sounds like crossfit! - but I don't drink that kool-aid. And most certainly wasn't going to race through it on the very first trial...that would simply be setting myself up to fail OR, more likely, fall back on excuses; a thing easy to do when you're by yourself (It was my first try ... I didn't drink enough water beforehand ... should've warmed up more ... blah, blah, blah).
I did the routine without pause and completed it in 14mins -- without wishing, "Man, I wish this was over already!" Not bad. My heart rate was up and some sweat was evident (but, then, I sweat easily). Definitely a good way to break through the morning - if you exercise in the mornings - or as a warm-up for a work-out. Progressive resistance is key to continued improvement so, maybe, in a week or so I'll up the ante (incrementally!) and challenge myself.
I aim to stay as close to this:
hard ass
and as FAR away from this:lard ass (click on his stomachs)
Sunday, September 1, 2013
-
This summer I flew on Air France and had a distasteful experience with its airport personnel in Los Angeles. Specifically? The manager ripped up my ticket and told me to fly elsewhere. I wanted to tell the cunt where she could fly! Instead I submitted a letter of complaint - twice - and still haven't heard back from the company. You can bet if it concerned a passenger no-show (money!), they'd try to get in contact with me.
post scriptum: I would like to note that I've received amazingly attentive responses from the Twitter arm of Air France (@airfrance) concerning questions about my ticket and only deal with them now; but the company's Customer Care department still has ignored me on the matter above.
This summer I flew on Air France and had a distasteful experience with its airport personnel in Los Angeles. Specifically? The manager ripped up my ticket and told me to fly elsewhere. I wanted to tell the cunt where she could fly! Instead I submitted a letter of complaint - twice - and still haven't heard back from the company. You can bet if it concerned a passenger no-show (money!), they'd try to get in contact with me.
(similar slow customer service at AeroMexico)Well. Since the airline thought nothing of my communique, I publish said letter here for your reading amusement. Enjoy:
July 15, 2013
Dear Air France Customer Service:
On July 6th my travels with Air France and its Sky Team got off to a rough start which has left a bad taste in my mouth. I flew out of LAX. Firstly, Delta “cancelled” my paid reservation – a thing of which I was unaware until I went to check-in ! – and it took the counter person close to half an hour (waiting on hold) to sort out the wrong and re-validate my reservation. Then TSA operated at its usual slow, cumbersome pace. All of this resulted in me missing the 9am departure through no fault of my own – unless you regard getting to the airport three hours ahead of schedule, instead of five or seven, reckless.
From here I was rebooked on a later flight with Air France (AF). It is worth noting that I made the original booking with AF and was assigned to Delta. After two and a half hours when AF came on duty I was relieved to know the rebooking was, indeed, intact and that, within a further four hours (!) I would finally be in the sky. When I asked AF for a meal voucher – just as I asked Delta – I was flatly dismissed on policy; namely that you have rules to follow and it is not in the rules to exhibit a little token of customer gratitude – because that’s not in the “interest” of your bottom line. Rules? I followed the rules – early arrival to LAX, luggage under allotted weight, no “terrorist” liquids, proper documentation, stripping down for the cattle call “security” check – and what did I get for it? It’s not our fault and We don’t give meal vouchers.
But the most ridiculous aspect of this mess was when AF’s gaggle of women managers threatened to revoke my ticket if I insisted on complaining AND one of those managers actually ripped up my ticket in my face. Pardon moi?! If your managers cannot take the heat, then they need to get out of the kitchen and stop pretending to be managers. I know my rights as a traveler and one of them includes having the right to complain without fear of reprisal. Your French personnel need to remember this, USA, is not socialist France or a fascist country, and that I do not have to hold my tongue about a company irrespective of whether I am purchasing the goods or service. Outside of saying this Sky Team lacked customer service I never once got personal; but I did – and do – take issue with your stingy policy. That your managers felt personally offended demonstrates their impressive training in conflict resolution. This woman’s stunt of ripping apart my ticket was as weak and stupid as it was pathetic. I prompted demanded a new one – without her condition that I like your rules – and got it.
None of you airlines ever take responsibility for customer dissatisfaction. You give plenty of lip service to the notion but that counts for squat when one is hungry and waiting for another flight or having his boarding pass torn in his face! And then you wonder why customer resentment grows for the airline industry. There was a time when the industry had class and also stood up to the US government’s security meddling. Now, like your all-female managerial staff, you lack balls.
post scriptum: I would like to note that I've received amazingly attentive responses from the Twitter arm of Air France (@airfrance) concerning questions about my ticket and only deal with them now; but the company's Customer Care department still has ignored me on the matter above.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
