Tales From The South Side...
We finally saw some plow trucks (yes, that is plural) swing down the streets yesterday evening.
Now forgive me for being just a bit naive here, but I didn't know the city plowed residential streets ALPHABETICALLY, and that the letter *M* had been moved to the end OF that alphabet (our intersection consists of TWO streets that begin with *M*). I'm just not getting all my memos!
Actually, for a while, I didn't think they were plowing the side streets AT ALL.
Glad to be proven incorrect on THAT one.
I was glad I stuck to my regimen and shoveled the sidewalks (that will go unused as the locals prefer the streets) every four hours. When the snowfall finally stopped, all I had to do was sit and watch some reflective melting, courtesy of our sun.
Needless to say, by sunset, we had a perfectly DRY sidewalk and steps, while everyone else is going to be struggling to clear their walkways. Oh, wait...I forgot, they NEVER DO THAT anyway (to close to something we call WORK)...never mind, then.
Now, while all this was going on, this moron that has been coming by a neighbor's "crib" pulls up to the house the next block up. And he leaves the vehicle at the curb, blasting that god-awful (c)rap music, as he chats up his latest piece of tail.
You have to remember, the young woman at the house ALSO does NOT work, BUT has THREE kids (that I know of so far), and LOTS of different "men" over at all hours, so what could you possibly conclude from THAT, hmm?
(lotsa "uncles" for the kids?)
Perhaps the oldest profession is helping to finance this rental?
Wouldn't be the first time, would it?
And down here, it sure won't be the last.
So, when "Mr. Loudass" gets back to his POS minivan, I beam him with my green laser. It's not against ANY law in this city, folks. And this guy sure isn't a LEO, city employee or city official, so he's "fair game" for the laser law we do have in place.
Seems this mook doesn't like being annoyed with a bright light in his face...who knew?
I know I don't like BEING ANNOYED by loudass "music" that's shaking my damn house either.
So, since I can't just shoot the bastard outright (too many questions, too much paperwork, and some bleeding heart liberal organization will ride to HIS rescue), I employ what I call the "tit for tat" imperative.
I display like behavior, only a lot LESS noisy...and HE goes and gets bugged because he's being treated the way he treats everyone else. Amazing.
Think of what I did as an ancillary form of The Golden Rule (do unto others AS they do unto you).
He pulls up in front of the house, opens the door, and begins to "flap his yap" shouting "git yo punk-ass out here and we'll settle it".
Now, I don't have a "punk" ass...just a nicely functioning one.
You know, does what is expected of it, hold the pants up where they belong, keeps the torso from fraying...yeah, that kinda stuff.
And it's not rented, but PAID FOR...in FULL! So there!
I just stand at the door, giving him the middle finger salute, to which he fishtails off into the snow-covered distance.
You have to admire the level of bellicose behavior this moron gravitated to is such a short time (must be some bad cut dope he's been smokin), but behavior such as this is indicative of the species, as it were.
Look at most any newspaper across the nation, and when you see sudden violent behavior break out, it's invariably a product of a small part of our society, and mostly found within the ethnic communities.
That's not to say we don't have our share of white trash...we certainly do, but they're busy making METH in a bottle in the back seat of their car when they pull up alongside you at that traffic light, so the violence is purely chemically-produced, instead of hormonally, or electro-chemically.
Suffice it to say, I've already notified the police that I took this moron's demeanor to be less than friendly, and that I perceived it as a threat. I also gave a full vehicle description and tag number (you can run, but can't hide from this clever semi-old codger).
I'm also now tracking his "visits" to that house, to see if there is a pattern of arrivals (TOD) so perhaps the police can remove this person with more "blacktitude" than brains from my "personal space".
It's a damn shame that our society has become so complacent when it comes to noise.
Sure, we bitch and moan about it, how it infiltrates our lives and houses, but what are WE really doing to stop it (or at least turn it the hell down), hmm?
I know what exposure to loud noise can do...I suffer from tinnitus (NOT caused by music, which impairs hearing at an even faster rate than other loud noise), and that sort of ruins whatever "quiet" I happen to steal for myself. It's not fun to constantly hear a high pitched whine in your ears all the time, but as long as there is ample background noise, it lessens the impact.
I sleep with the radio on (classical music), and the police scanner, even when I'm watching TV or reading.
And I always wear hearing protection if I'm shooting, or even using the leaf blower or lawn mower (and they're both electric).
I mean, you don't want to go and make a bad thing worse, right?
But, nonetheless, our society has become TOO tolerant of the wrong things...loud music from houses or cars being one of them.
Not enough is being done to make the people aware of the problems incurred when exposing oneself to loud noise, especially music.
You sure don't see air force personnel on the ground moving jet planes without ear protection, do you?
ANY noise over 80 decibels is enough to cause short-term hearing loss..that's been proven.
So WHY would anyone play music in EXCESS of 120 decibels?
It's an ENDORPHIN thing...like a false high from the thumping bass and frequency resonance.
Think of it as being akin to "liquid courage". Makes a wuss into a "man", and a more prone-to-violence kind of man.
That sums up the "alpha" male chest-thumpers in my neighborhood nicely. All show, and no go.
I like to say the BIGGER the stereo, the SMALLER the "jewels".
I like listening to music...lots of types of music, but I also like to hear ALL that's being played or sung, especially if it's a symphonic orchestra. The singular thumping these "people" enjoy is no more musical than tribal drums in the Congo, calling the folks together for a war council against a rival faction.
But, it's not all bad news...
I am getting used to being disrespected and annoyed by these creatures that infest my area.
It does make meeting decent, normal people THAT much more enjoyable.
The sad part is that too many feel that the behaviors exhibited by those that live in my neighborhood is perfectly fine...it must be a cultural "thang", as I like to call it.
Well, the last time I checked, EVERY person has RIGHTS, and they are not to be summarily taken away by anyone for frivolous reasons...mine happen to end where everyone else's begins. And that applies to everyone...equally. Conversely, YOUR rights end where MINE begin.
Now, it doesn't get more FAIR than that, does it?
And if more people PRACTICED that, we'd have a LOT more civility as a people, don'cha think?
Therein lies the solution...education. Who'da thunk it?
Teach people HOW to be civil to one another (once again), because there are a lot of folks out there that haven't "gotten it" yet...and need to.
Just like our moron in that gold minivan.
That idiot needs to know what it is to be CIVIL.
This is just one page from the South side, and for every person, there is at least one story.
Makes for interesting "reading"...that's for sure.
Take it easy digging out from the snow.
Keep warm, don't over exert yourselves, and, as always...
Stay safe out there, America.