It’s Against the Law
While I was in Atlanta for Dragon*Con 2011, I found myself using their metro system on a fairly regular basis. Over there, they call it the MARTA, which stands for “Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority” – it happens to be the 9th largest metro system in the United States. Unlike Montreal, their trains use a combination of underground and outdoor rails, the latter made possible by the subtropical climate.
On one particular day, I found myself waiting for a lift at a MARTA station. Since I had nothing else to do, I began reading a sign that described some of the rules and regulations behind the MARTA. I was particularly curious about whether they allowed eating or drinking on the trains – it clarified this, by saying it was “against the law” to do so. It also went on to list additional items that were against the law, and in general, they were informative.
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But… wait a second, what’s that in the bottom right corner?
It against the law to: Assault MARTA Employees
Upon reading that, I realized my plan to punch a MARTA employee could never be brought to fruition. Way to ruin my plans, MARTA.
In all seriousness, though, I always enjoy seeing unnecessary warnings in the United States – they just seem so silly to me. Don’t get me wrong – I’m a fan of the States, but here in Canada, law suits are fairly rare. As a result, warnings are usually present when they are not immediately obvious. In the States, this is usually not the case – it’s like they want to cover all their bases, regardless of how self-evident the warnings may be. For the sake of humanity, I would hope that they didn’t have to add that particular entry after someone assaulted a MARTA employee, and tried to argue that it was a legal to do so.
Understanding the Balloon
Every now and then, I find myself watching videos on YouTube. Usually, my intentions are very clear-cut – I want to watch a specific video, or check for new releases from one of my subscriptions. However, because of the way the site is designed, I sometimes find myself wandering from video to video, occasionally ending up pretty far from my origin. Today, I’d like to share one video I just-so-happened to stumble upon. The video features a cat named Nashville who is trying to understand a balloon, and was uploaded by a user named Myystical1.
The video itself is cute, but aside from that, is fairly ordinary considering everything else that exists on YouTube. That is, until you read the description:
Basically, this is a video of my cat (Nashville, or Nash for short) I filmed some years ago. In the opening sequence, Nashville is on my carpet playing with a yellow balloon. As the suspense heightens, it becomes clear to the viewer that something is going to transpire between the cat and the balloon. POP! The balloon pops, most likely due to puncture via a tooth, although one cannot rule out a claw as the culprit. As the video draws to a close, Nashville tries desperately to understand what has happened to his precious yellow balloon. The video ends on a note of uncertainty and despair, as Nashville comes to realize the consequences of his actions – he has destroyed something beautiful, and there is nothing he can do to bring it back. I am most proud of this video because of the profound character development in both Nashville and the balloon.
The author took what was a fairly simple video, and described the events as if they were part of an epic storyline, leading to a significant lesson in the life of his cat. I had a really good laugh reading that description, and thought some of you might enjoy it as well. I always appreciate seeing something simple explained in a very detailed, professional manner – it’s a special brand of comedy.
How to Make Binoculars With a Paper Towel Roll
You will need:
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Step 1
Using the ruler, measure the length of the paper towel roll. In my case, it turned out to be 11 inches long. Remember this number – it will help you make additional binoculars in the future, without requiring that you measure each time.
Step 2
Using the calculator, divide the length of the paper towel roll by two (2). In my case, 11 divided by 2 resulted in 5.5, which is exactly half the length of the roll. Using the pen (or pencil), make a marking on the roll at this measurement.
Step 3
With the scissors, carefully cut the roll in half using the marking we created in Step 2. In my case, I decided to use scissors that barely worked. This had the effect of making the cuts look rugged, and thus, more manly.
Step 4
Now that we have two separate rolls, place them next to each other on a flat surface, as they would look if they were binoculars. Once they are lined up properly, tape them together at the middle, all the way around.
Success!
Congratulations, you have successfully made binoculars out of a paper towel roll!
Resistible Savings
Here’s an amusing post I encountered over at Amazon.ca, while looking for a cheap headset. At first glance, I was glad to see it was selling for less than the list price, but then I noticed exactly how much was being saved.
I’m not sure whether this is a mistake, now that I think about it. I can see why it would be beneficial to show that all their items have savings applied, regardless of the amount. After all, it made me react positively, that is, until I noticed the amount saved. Either way, it appears the Americans get a better deal… blame Canada?