What kind of person throws a candy wrapper in a urinal? What sentient adult thinks it’s a good idea to litter where not even a good semaritan dare venture to clean up after him?

How much must chaos appeal to such a soul? How much must the world burn?

I bet Hitler threw candy wrappers in the urinal.

WLRN.org has been down all morning. I can only assume it’s from all the people throwing money at their screens for the ongoing pledge drive. Best Fundraising Ever!

“2 things”

The above utterance is one I often use in retorts whether I have one point to make or twenty. It’s something I picked up along my multi-year

jeans at the beach. add it to the list.

journey to Cynic City that I just haven’t been able to shake. With good reason though; I was hardly aware that I used it. It wasn’t until today when I overheard a favorite comedic pundit of mine use it to segue into his rant that I kinda jumped to attention thinking that I was hearing myself. I can’t really account for the response, but that’s not the point.

The point is my sudden awareness of this now entrenched idiosyncrasy and my new found interest in figuring out just how long my list of imperceivable habits is. The sooner I know this the sooner I can start completing my profile on Facebook. I’ll probably have to send out a survey to my 1000 closest friends (again, Facebook), so hopefully they’ve been paying attention.

I really hope I’m not an arm puncher.

If you’re thinking that I only put these videos up because it makes it easy to find them years from now, you’d be right.

I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore! Hmm? What’s that? Sit down and shut up? Can do.

If you run up to someone you think you know, and they say you’ve got the wrong guy, just turn and walk away, even if you’re completely sure who it is.

You never know who’s in a Witness Protection program or being watched by the Mob.

Customer Retention people are my newest best friends. These folks have the power to throw sweet deals at you if you ever try to cancel a service or return a product. Whether it’s with a 50% discount or 3 months free service, their only purpose is to keep your credit card on file. If you think you’re getting a bad deal on anything (and most of us are), take 10 minutes out of your day and call that 1-800* number on the back of the box.

*1-880 if you’re calling from Jamaica. You’re welcome.

Post Script:

The XM Radio call center is based in Jamaica. Portmore no less. I used up valuable international minutes (as much time spent holding as talking to someone) while calling across the street. I should have just jogged over there or asked for the dude’s cell number.

It is my hope that I make at least some sense. My rants are never clear:

We have an inherent flaw in our human make up of persistently asking the wrong questions, and then being genuinely surprised and bewildered when we get useless answers.

It’s worsened when we’re unable to discern that we have gotten useless answers and proceed to act on them.

Whether it be an inability to comprehend, or an inability to communicate, we are often times incapable of getting the facts we need to make informed decisions.

Blessed are the few who have the presence of mind to achieve a vague realisation of this. Far too often the problem is compounded by a veil of ignorance that prevents the uninformed from realising their own disadvantageous position.

This blindness to the truth is perpetrated by the deep rooted narcissism that bubbles in our loins. A self centred view of the world where everyone sees and interprets things the way we do; we, who are the keepers of knowledge and dispensers of wisdom.

The problem is hard to identify but easy to solve. We need to be seekers of truth and not its agents. Let an acknowledgement of, and a drive to dispel ignorance be our purpose. Strive for humility. If our first thought is “I don’t know” half the battle is won. Approach situations as a neophyte. Accept, even before it is proven, that what you know may be flawed or at the very least incomplete. Be open to new ideas and be explicit in sharing. Don’t force, but rather be taken in by the wave of collaboration.

Knowledge isn’t something we own, it’s something we partake in.

Buy this album. BUY IT!!!