There are tons of articles out there about this - how the architecture of big cities is increasingly designed to discourage homelessness. Think of those "ornamental" triangular bumps that top windowsills, flat areas, or the dividers they put on benches.

But this - in front of a church, no less, this has to take the cake:

Now, I mean, really. If Jesus really did come back as a homeless person he's definitely not crashing on this bench, in front of this church. So I guess they'll be missing out. 

It would be impossible to conceive a bigger irony, which I suspect is entirely lost upon them. 

Oh, yeah - looking at the photos underlines the fact that I need a new phone/camera. Soon, but not today.

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Category: Rants

Or, why I'm so fucking poor. Because this mother-fucking-getting-rich. 

Link: Roddy Rich

Weird I never heard of him before. Great name though.

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Category: People

Found myself listening to a lot of him lately. 

He's well reasoned, reassuring, the recordings of him on YouTube vary greatly - from his younger self to older, he speaks simply and eloquently on the greater mysteries of life.

In the absence of intelligent company there's always the internet...

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Category: Audio & Podcasts

You knew this was coming. I did as well. 

Try as I might, study the menu, work faster, smarter, or slower, more cautious, it wasn't working. There was no way it could work.

The week before, turning, my back twists, lower back. Sunday, barely unable to get out of bed. Monday, very slightly recovered.

The job, nothing but stress and anxiety, you see it in the mannerisms of those who've somehow managed to fit in, the swish, swagger, effeminate manners - even affected by the straight lads, the "stoop" - shoulders hunched - the physical symptoms of having being "broken", the "Knowing" of the menu - that this morsel has 3 bites, this tid-bit has 4, the continual reprimands - about offenses you see everyone around you committing - wine glass - filled too high - not high enough - the constant querying of the Chef, because under no circumstances do you promise anything to the customer that he has not approved - and - when not reprimanding you he reprimands others in your presence - for filling your shot glass too full, for answering a question...

It's feudal - this - the managers, Chef, eat at a common table, many courses, dirty plates left for the servers to clean, to see how "the other half" eats.

Contrast this with your overcooked pasta in oil, and the same bloody salad day after day. 

So, after another intolerably long night of perpetual reprimands and bitchy behaviors I'm done. Chef agrees. 

He's a short man, who - through a triumph of will has realized his every ambition, but - this with everyone that has served being squashed underfoot. It's feudalism, he will accept you as a subject - but you must accept him as your Lord, these are not human relationships, or like none that I am familiar with.

I have never hated a job so much in my life, or been so relieved to escape. 

But now, what next?

We will see.

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Category: Blog
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