Calm Down

To Preface, I voted for Obama and I think he has the potential to be a very good if not great president. I understand the social, historical and racial significance of the election of Barack Obama. That being said, people really got to calm down.
I am hearing and reading that people are naming their children after him. There is a Caribbean island that plans to name a mountain after him. This is going a *bit* too far. I am excited about an Obama presidency and change in the way this government does things and the priorities for what gets done. But, people, he is not the 2nd coming. Before we start chiseling his face into Mt Rushmore, maybe we should inaugurate him.
Maybe we should let this guy be president for a little while and see what he actually does before we declare him the best president ever. The ideas that he put forth in the campaign are very good ideas but there is no magic wand. we are not going to wake up the day after inauguration and the DOW up 5000, the economic crisis over, the troops home and the Iranian president having tea parties in the White House. Our country is in a serious, serious situation and electing Barack Obama, as wonderful as it is for race relations and hope and change, he has to get stuff done before we can start celebrating. And we as the electorate have to make him do it.
Instead of exalting him as the answer to all our prayers, why don't we get on his case and the case of all our elected officials to actually do something. and then when they do do something, we can get on their case to do some more. and if they continue to do things right, we may just re-elect them.
Rant Over.
-Ben

My Blog of the Day

I am sick Joe the Plumber. This guy does not speak for me. I resent the implication that this guy speaks for independants.

Register to Vote! For God's sake!

Today, I had the mind numbing experience of pumping gas. As all Tuesdays, I decided to do something to make my day go by more interestingly. I decided this morning that I was going to ask every customer today if they were registered to vote. I did this for two reasons. One, I was curious to see how many people were registered to vote in this highly charged election season. Two, I wanted to inform those who were not, that today was the last day to register in NJ.

The rules to my survey:
1. Ask if they are registered to vote. Don't press it. If they didn't want to tell me, that is fine.
2. I did not once ask somebody if they were planning to vote for a particular candidate.
3. If they asked me who I was supporting, I answered them honestly that I was supporting Barack Obama.
In some situations, this brought about a 2-3 minute conversation while the gas was pumping as to why I was supporting Obama. Some agreed, some disagreed but I only went there if they asked me. I was not trying to change any one's mind. I was just curious if they were paying attention to this election and if they were registered to vote.

In my unofficial survey, about 90% of the people that responded said that YES they were registered to vote already. For statistical purposes, I am going to assume that for whatever their reason, 10% lied. So let's say that realistically, 75%-80% of the people I asked were actually registered to vote. I was encouraged by people's interest in what I consider the most important part of being a citizen of the United States.

The 10% is what I would like to talk about. Most of the 10% were either ineligible to vote because of citizenship status or let's say "past legal trouble". But there were a few responses that peaked my interest. Two specific people told me "No" but they were planning to that day. And when I encouraged that concept, they volunteered that they were Republicans. Again, my interest was aroused! So when, confronted with I felt obliged to ask "What about the Republican party speaks to you?" Let me preface, I am a registered Independent. I believe firmly in voting for a person not a party.

The first response from the self-proclaimed Republican was from somebody who after our brief conversation, I give a lot of respect. I asked him why he considered himself a Republican and what about the party he agrees with. He had substantive answers to back up his views which mainly consisted of the fact that he likes the idea of small and fiscally responsible government. I was heartened to hear that although he proclaimed himself to be a Republican with real Republican values, he was planning to vote for Barack Obama. I wasn't just happy to hear that he was voting for the person I was supporting, what made me happier was that he decided to form his own opinion and not follow a party line.

The second of the self-proclaimed Republicans to respond made me fear for the future of our world. This person who volunteered that he is a Republican, answered my question of why with "Because my parents are Republicans." At that point, I contemplated suicide or a relocation to Canada. But who am I to tell him what he should think. People vote for various reasons and that is the beauty of our system. For myself, I would prefer to have an informed and engaged voting public.

More than one person said to me, "I am not gonna bother because Barack Obama already won this state." This seriously disturbed me. The concept that this brought to mind was "American Idol". Nobody cares about anything else but who is going to win. NJ is a very Democratic state. And the chances of John McCain getting an upset in this state are about as good as me winning Miss America. But what bothered me about this statement is that not that he had conceded an Obama win in this state, but that he never once thought there are other people to vote for in this election. The House of Representatives is up for re-election. There are many national, state and local officials that need to be elected. There are multiple ballot questions this year. Even if this person had decided to leave the presidential ballot blank but had chosen to answer one ballot question, his vote would have made a difference.

The Presidential Election is very exciting. Its historic. And honestly it's probably one of the most important elections in determining the future of our country in many, many years. But please, people, remember elections are about how we want our government run at ALL levels. The President is an important part of that, perhaps the most important in the direction our country goes but make no mistake, your mayor, your state legislators, your national congressmen and senators ALL influence our lives. Don't forget we need to hold these people accountable too.

Pump Attendant Rant

On Tuesdays, I get to pump gas. In NJ, gas stations are all full service. Don't ask me why. Most likely to create jobs. This is a mind numbing, never ending part of my job.

Now for some insights into the mind of the pump attendant:

Some things that Tick the Gas Station Guys (or girls) off!

1. Buying $5 of gas at any price is a waste of everybody's time-especially if you are using a credit card. In fact, anything less than a full tank of gas on a credit card (which you are paying for next month) is ridiculous. (you are going to use the gas, might as well do it in one trip!)

2. Shopping for gas....if you are talking about a price difference of anything less than $0.10 gallon, is it really worth your time to drive out of your way to save a buck? (plus you are just using more gas to find the cheaper place!) The average tank holds 15 gallons, you are saving yourself at most $1.50 for a place that is a full $0.10 cheaper-anything less than that is a waste of your time.Some people shop for a station that is $0.02 which will only save you $0.30-$0.50 cents! I know people that wouldn't even bend down to pick that off the street!

3. Don't tell the gas attendant/worker about the gas prices...he buys it too!

4. Don't tell the gas attendant/worker about the weather. "yes, its hot enough for me.", "yes its cold enough for me." "yes, I will try to stay dry in the rain." You don't need to tell them, they are standing in it.

5. When I come to your window to get the money, don't wait til then to reach into your purse or back pocket for your wallet.

6. I have no problem doing windows or checking under the hood, but please ask when I come to your window the first time, not when the gas is done.

7. When ordering, the correct way is "amount, type, cash or credit" not 1 or 2 of the three-all info is needed.

8. If I greet you with a hello, please say it back. Not just "fill, regular, cash". It is not an appropriate greeting.

9. The reason we "top off the tank" after the pump clicks off...is to get it to a point where making change is easier and faster. Most tanks will take to the next dollar without overflowing and going to the next quarter at least makes making change easier (Yes-we REALLY are putting more gas in your tank-its not just running to the ground!)

10. "The Exact Change Monster"-give me the money. Unless you have the exact change ready-don't bother. I have plenty of change, I make change faster than anyone you have met. I give you faced, organized money so now is not the time to hunt through your car for two quarters (I have plenty in my pocket!) Its faster if you let me make the change.

11. DON'T HELP!! I understand that you are capable of pumping your own gasoline but there is no reason for you to get out of the car in NJ. Its like walking through the kitchen of a restaurant. You have no reason to be there and sooner or later you will be in the way.

12. In the Winter, do not clear the snow off the car on the pump island. This should be done before you drive the car. I need to keep the pump island shoveled and clear ALL DAY LONG! Once I do it once, I should not have to clear off what you left on my pump island!!

13. Smoking: Smoking at a gas station's pumps is ridiculous. Getting out of the car with a lite cigarette and taking it somewhere else is just as ridiculous. light it somewhere else. Please don't ash out the window, please don't use this time to light a cigarette. (One gallon of gas is roughly equal to 2 sticks of dynamite. At the gas station, we can hold roughly up to 30,000 gallons of gas. you do the math!)

14. Cell Phones: Do not wave the cell phone finger at me. Either finish your conversation or come back when you are done. I am not talking on the cell phone when I am helping you- I expect the same courtesy.

15. Roll down your window, I can't hear you through the glass! Even in bad weather. I am standing in the rain. The least you can do is roll your window down long enough for me to hear you.

16. Speak clearly. "Full" and "Four" sound similar. In the end if you get full but you wanted four-you are paying for full b/c you still got the gas. We can't take it back out.

17. Patience is a virtue. Honking your horn to get my attention or honking your horn to tell me the pump clicked off will not speed up your service. In fact, it may double or triple my reaction time. Its very rude.

18. We don't loan anything! We don't loan jumper cables, or gas cans or anything.Don't even bother to ask.

19. It is against the law for me to fill your bleach bottle, milk bottle, any bottle that is NOT an approved red gas tank! Don't even ask.

20. At 9am in the morning....don't tell me it sucks because you have to go to work. I am already there. I have already been there for 3 hours, and I will be there when you are on your way home!

Rules for Asking for Directions at a gas station:

Failure to comply with these directions rules may result in my giving you incorrect directions on purpose!

1. I am happy to give directions. I give very good directions. I am even HAPPIER to give directions when you are buying something!

2. If you aren't buying something and you want directions, that is fine too BUT if you are not buying something, DO NOT pull onto the pump island. Pull out of the way, get out of your car and ask someone for directions. ESPECIALLY in the rain. Don't wave me over in the rain.

3. It is my job to help the paying customers first. Be patient. I will get to you as soon as I can.

4. If you get out of your car with a map or printed out directions, I know you are lost. You don't need to tell me.

5. Don't tell me where you have been....just tell me where you want to GO.

6. Don't show me your printed out directions. If they were any good, you wouldn't be at the gas station asking for directions. Tell me where you want to go.

7. If I give you directions, wait until I am done before you drive away.

8. While I am giving you directions, pay attention or write it down. Too many people ask for directions and stop paying attention after the first turn.

9. Don't ask for a pen after I have finished giving the directions. I should only have to give you directions once (unless its Very complicated!)

10. When I have given you directions, don't tell me I am wrong. "no, we were down there." (I know where I am!)

11. When I have finished giving directions, "Thank You" is appropriate.

12. Addresses are important. In order for me to help you get where you are going, you need to know where you want to be. Too many times someone will come to me and ask where a business is. Granted, in the town that I work in I know many of the businesses but I do not know them all. You need to at least know what street its on. This sounds very obvious but at least once or twice a day someone asks me where something is and they don't even know what street its on.

Thus, ended the lesson.

Who this nobody is...

Who am I? I am Ben. An average middle class mechanic in no wheresville NJ. I am married to Colleen. I am pretty boring guy but I pay attention to the world around me. Politics, the economy, everyday people and honestly I have too many opinions and views to just tell my wife. Many of the things you will see in this blog are rants, some are opinion and some are questions. Feel free to answer ALL of them.

Disclaimer: This ALL in my brain. If any of it offends you, tough! I don't speak for anyone else, not even my wife. Most of this is just my observations on the world around me.