chicago cabbies are whining

taking my daily romp around the news links, i found this article in the chi-trib. in case you dont feel like getting infuriated yourself, i'll summarize: chicago cabbies are getting stiffed for tips and consequently are working more hours each day. they are attempting to organize themselves to prevent 14 hour work days and promote better tips.

i'm all for organizing. especially if it creates a flock of cabbies that actually care for their customers. it might be just me, but 7 of the 8 last times i've been in cabs, i've: 1. feared for my life 2. almost puked from motion sickness 3. been treated rudely by the driver. my desire to tip after these experiences is greatly lacking.

there have been articles out there on why tipping is good, and why tipping is bad. the socialist part of me thinks service would be altogether better if tipping were banned completely. the capitalist part of me clings for dear life to $5 from the tip bowl after kowtowing to richie rich for 30 min. but please note that last part of the sentence: kowtowing. i may not respect mr. rich for his compensation-sports-vehicle or his derogatory comments about "those less fortunate", but i do believe in providing quality service.

mr. rich may or may not leave me a tip, but i know that i've smiled and helped him to the best of my ability. of course i grumble when i give out $10 of free samples and receive nada in return (or worse yet - no sale). but this job is satisfactory to me because i know i do a good job. does this work ethic not transfer to other cultures? is being a good cabbie really that unrewarding that you wish to provide the shittiest service possible to all humans, no matter how nice they are to you?

i know cabs are notorious for poor service, but this article really did me in. i have a hard time feeling sorry for kahlid's 14 hour day when it's probably a fair assumption that in that 14 hour day, he scared 10 clients shitless. perhaps we're the ones that should unite? i can see the picket signs now: "scared shitless = shitty fare!!", "drive fair, get fare!!"

somehow though... i dont think it'll work...

happy 4th!

it was a week filled with "fridays" (today being one of them). it was a week of relaxation. and the 4th was a low-key day filled with plenty of lounging, munchies and fruity beverages. we played a little wii, a little poker, read some, watched scrubs and about 9pm, went up to the rooftop. i have to say, i've never seen fireworks from that angle before, and it was fabulous!

i had been hearing fireworks outside since suppertime (why?? you cant see them in the daylight??!), and about 9pm, i got restless and dragged chairs and my friends upstairs to see the action. i was not let down. we were treated to a panoramic view of chicagoland at it's best. every neighborhood, from the far north, to the skyline, to cellular field and all the way into the western suburbs, people were purging their wares en masse.

in the farthest distances, little puffs of color floated as lacey edges. three blocks away, every twenty minutes or so, a mini-finale would explode above our heads and the neighbors would erupt in cheers. and the show surrounding us was relentless, so that at any second, you could turn your head and see a series of rings, or screaming sprays of green, or j-u-ust miss a few white puffs and only hear the BOOM.

this year's display definitley ranks in my top favorite firework moments, and for once, i'm glad that our rental company has shoddy views on things like door locks and building security... happy birthday america.