Believe it or not I actually like those irritating people who talk on their cell phones really loudly in cramped public areas like the train, bus or long queue. I especially like the incredibly arrogant 30 somethings who love to talk about how well their stocks are doing, or how fabulous this new restaurant is they just discovered (although those ones aren’t found on trains or buses, more like Starbucks and flash gyms).
This guy on the Cal-Train the other day was the absolute worst. I just couldn’t imagine who would be on the other end of a conversation like I was hearing. He kept going on and on about how great everyone at work thought he was and how surprised he was by this, because I think in his words “I was just doing my job”. Don’t get me wrong genuine excitement in a compliment or reward is great, but it’s when they try to disguise it with un-natural humility that they loose my respect.
Tonight on the train however, I find myself sitting across from a Russian who I can’t understand a damn word of. Now that’s when it annoys me. If you’re going to talk loudly on a cell phone, and btw he’s actually yelling into a headset, at least do it in English so the rest of the people around you can garner some entertainment out if it, otherwise it’s just well… irritating. Although in this case the Jerry Seinfeld outfit is amusing enough to make up for it.
I love the design category "clean/minimalist" of which I've chosen my current design from. Lately I've been accused of being a minimalist by friends and coworkers. I'm actually quite proud of that description, I hope it means that I'm environmentally conscious and haven't fallen victim to mass marketing and advertising.
On the Cal-Train the other day the conductor was talking about how people leave umbrellas, wallets, phones, jackets etc.. everyday on the train and almost none of them come to collect them. I guess it's too much work to check with lost and found at a few places and easier to just buy a new one.
Rune made a great observation today, as we were buying a $4.50 rice cooker at Target's black Friday sale, that people have become accustom to buying cheap stuff that doesn't last long with the intention of throwing it out and replacing it with more cheap stuff in the near future.
I've noticed a lot of my clothes falling apart lately after only a few short weeks. Thank goodness so many stores in America have a great return policy for this very reason.
But I ask, where is all this cheap stuff going? And when will we stop buying it just b/c we can?
btw we still bought the rice cooker
