Apparently there are some kids in Florida who thought it would be a good idea to jump from one six story parking garage to another. Of course one of them fell, and now his parents are suing the city of Orlando and the garage.

I don’t know, maybe they should learn to TAKE SOME RESPONISIBILITY FOR THIER OWN DAMN ACTIONS!

Asshats like this really need to be slapped until they wise up.

On the other hand, the poll results somewhat restore my faith in humanity.

In preperation for our trip to Japan, we have to get Tylor his passport. Since we don’t deal with them every day, it is easy to forget the unparalelled incompetence and incapacity for individual thought which the typical governmental functionary possesses. Let’s follow along as I step through what happened:

1. Tylor is born and we receive an official birth certificate.
2. Sue goes to the post office to apply for Tylor’s passport and is told that his birth certificate is not valid and we have to obtain a new one (our valid officially issued birth certificate is no longer valid… I later find a reference to someone being busted for corruption in the office that handles birth certificates. Connected?)
3. We call the phone number we are given and are informed that we have to send in an application for a new birth certificate. They will send us the application in the mail (We had to call to get this form, they couldn’t just give it to us at the post office)
4. We recevie the application and fill it in according to the instructions. We also include the processing fee (we are being charged to replace the form that they fucked up on to begin with).
5. We receive the application back with a letter stating that the address we specified for the new birth certificate to be mailed to did not match the address on Sue’s id. (nowhere did it say that these addresses had to match).
6. We correct this and send in the application for the second time.
7. We receive the application back stating that the line labeled “child’s name at time of birth” should contain a name, and not the time of birth (ok, this one was our fault, English is not Sue’s native language and she filled in the form, I can see the confustion. HOWEVER since the first form was also filled in this way, why did they not point out this the first time they rejected the application?).
8. I correct this and send in the application for the third time.
9. We finally receive three copies of Tylor’s new birth certificate in the mail.
10. I fill in a form stating that under pentalty of law I consent to Tylor receiving a passport in my absence (Sue wisely noted that BOTH parents have to either be there in person or one must complete said form).
11. Sue goes to the post office and is told that the form I filed out must be noterized (no mention of noterization was made prior to this).
12 .We both go to the post office at 9:30 in the morning (note that I usualy arrive at work before 9).
13. I attempt to pay for the $30 processing fee and the $40 application fee with one check. No go, the post office needs the $30 and they send the physical $40 check to the State Department (christ, even the newstand kiosks are tied into a network that let’s the route payments between entities).
14. We hand over the application (to a different agent, btw) and produce our identification. Sue’s state issued ID is rejected since it is not a drivers licence and she heads home to get ther work permit.
15. While I am waiting I note that the list which was quoted as the only accepted documents of identification is actually a list of suggested documents and the only requirement is that we “establish our identity to the satisfaction of the agent”, clearly this was written in a time long ago when people took personal responsibility for their job (this list also includes such items as news articles where you are mentioned).
16 .We finally hand in all of our paper work and now have to wait approx. 6 weeks for the passport.

The number one reason given to justify this? “Things are more strict since we were attacked” OMG terror!!!

Sigh

We bought a new toaster, or should I say my wife bought a new toaster. It’s the Pooh & Pals “Rise ‘n Shine” Toaster. This thing features:

- A cute picture of Pooh and Tigger on the side
- A bublebee handle
- It plays music when the toast is done
- It toasts the images of Pooh on one slice and Tigger on the other.

None of these are features a really desire in a toaster and the last is more of a problem. By “toasting an image” on a slice they really mean, “keep a section of the toast untoasted”. When I want toast, I want a slice of toast, fully toasted. Not mostly toasted and partially untoasted.

Sigh, it’s cute though so I guess we’re keeping it. I haven’t opened the box containing the Pooh & Tigger Waffler