simple etiquette

There’s a simple rule of etiquette that people in my building don’t always follow, here it is:

Do not get on an elevator if you did not see it’s doors open.

Why do so many people have such a hard time following that?

If you are waiting for an elevator, it arrives, and you watch the doors open, you may ride that elevator.

If you are walking towards the elevators and arrive just in time to see the elevator doors open, you may ride that elevator.

However, if you reach the elevators and notice that the doors to one of them is already wide open, then you should allow the doors to close, press the call button, and wait for the next elevator to arrive.

It’s really that simple.

Guns

Cindy and I were talking about gun control on Friday, and neither of us could decide where we stood on the issue.

(She sent me this article, to show me why she thinks the 2^nd Amendment lobby has such a bad name.) According to Ted Nugent, this week’s tragedy in Virginia could have been averted had the students in the classrooms been armed and able to defend themselves. (insert joke here)

Although I sometimes agree with the argument that it’s our God given right to be free and own guns, I don’t think that's an argument that everyone can use. It’s my God given right to distill alcohol and sell it on Sundays, but the State of Indiana doesn't agree with me.

I just don’t want to hear people say that our government should step up the war on drugs, ban abortion, allow domestic wire tapping, give police more discretion in searches and seizures, ban gay marriage, and then say that they’ve got the God given right to own a gun.

(I guess I think that way because I’m not a “good versus evil” guy.)

Anyway, there’s a part of me that thinks if people were walking around with guns all day, there'd probably be an increase in gun related crime. Think of all the bar fights that happen in this country every night. Imagine how many more people would get shot if all of those brawlers happened to be carrying guns.

But I don’t necessarily buy the argument that we should ban guns. Would tighter gun control laws have kept the Virginia shooter from being able to get one? If a man is prepared to kill 32 innocent people, do you think he'd reconsider committing the crime because he's afraid to break gun possession laws? I seem to think that if someone has decided to commit a pre-meditated murder, the fact that they’d have to purchase a gun on a street corner instead of a Walmart probably wouldn’t change their minds about the crime.

What about the fact that some people just like to hunt, or shoot skeet, or target practice. And some people feel safer with a gun in the house.

I guess I could do some research and read a bunch of articles and opinions about gun control, but I worked six days this week, and the last thing I want to do is spend my Sunday morning reading scholarly articles. So I’d like to try something knew. I’d like to hear like to hear your thoughts on gun control since I am having a difficult time organizing my own. How do you guys feel about the issue?

change

I changed jobs last week.

A new office building opened up in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, not too far from where I used to work. It's a beautiful building with a big marble lobby, plants everywhere, and all of the latest technology. So naturally, it charges more rent per square foot than any other building in the city.

I was walking by it on my way to lunch a couple of days ago and noticed that the building management company had posted a "help wanted" sign outside. I went in and asked the man at the front desk what position they were looking to fill. He told me that they were looking for people to work in "security, maintenance, cleaning, and hospitality."

To make a long story short; I'm sure you're all familiar with revolving doors. The revolving doors in this building are divided into fifths. My job is to stand inside one of those fifths, and push the door while people walk in and out of the building so that they don't have to push the door themselves. (some people don't like to push, some people don't like to touch the door at all) I also offer to carry their bags through the door.

It's a good gig. I used to get dizzy after working for a few hours. But now I get dizzy anytime I'm not working.

shocking

This article on was the front page of CNN.com today, it's about how Don Imus referred to Rutgers women's basketball players as "nappy headed ho's", and how he's being taken off the air for it. Shocking stuff.

The most shocking part was learning that people still listen to Don Imus.

screens

I just want to quickly say that I’m a fan of the little TV screens in elevators nowadays. It’s better than nothing.

Yesterday morning the screen showed a survey question, “If you won the lottery today, what would you do?”

The first answer came up:

“I’d quit my job, move to Florida and teach scuba lessons, it’s always been my dream.” (Dan, Chicago)

Why not just quit your job and do it now?

I'm not saying that my answer wouldn't resemble Dan's, but I think I'm going to change my philosophy. Maybe now when I start thinking about what I want to do, I will assume that I've just won the lottery.

(also, if anyone's got any music that they really like, and would like to tell me about, please let me know, I've got a lot of time to listen to music these days)

this is great

There are probably hundreds of billboards in the Chicagoland area that advertise the services of personal injury attorneys. But when it comes to billboards, one firm stands head and shoulders above the rest.

The billboard simply lists the firm's name (Briskman & Briskman), a slogan ("we're on your side" or something like that), their contact information, and this picture from their website. (the big one)