It's a Good Thing I Live in Manhattan...or is it?

I seem to be getting the shaft lately, and not in that good way:) Right now, I'm parked on my hardwood floor, next to the objects of my frustration: my wireless router and my cable modem. One of them is mad at my computer, but neither of them is mad enough to work without a little therapy via the Ethernet cable. ::sigh::

So, for all of you that live in the outside world known as Not-New-York-City, did you know that our mass transit association is thinking about striking at 12:01am on Friday? Apparently, this happens every few years. The MTA workers get pissy, they make sure that their contracts expire around Christmas time, then threaten to strike until the city gives them more money.

Ah...the strike. Putting aside the numerous ways this strike is a pain in my ass, as well as a real boil for people who have to actually be places and do important things (as much as I'd like to flatter myself and think that making it up to Best Buy on 23rd or to Junior's in Brooklyn is important...;) ), strikes are just a terrible thing. Really, can't we be a bit more mature than having a hissy fit, throwing your megaphone up in the air, and saying "But I don't wanna go to work for that little?" Don't strike. Don't do awful things that put over *7 million people* a day. I understand that you're unhappy with your jobs. I understand you want to make more money and get more time off. But isn't there a better way to go about it? Do you realize that in your little ploy to try and get what you and your card-carrying friends want, you're hurting a lot of innocent people? Hello, aren't you the same people bitching about what we're doing in Iraq? I believe that people shouldn't harm other people to get what they want...and that holds for George Bush cowboying his way into Iraq, as much as it does for the underpaid MTA worker.

If you hate the job, get another one. One that pays better or that you love more or that is more convenient or whatever. If you want to complain go to the media. Or to City Hall. Or advertisers. Surely there is a market solution to at least make things a little better. I may sound naive, but I'm certain that there is a better way to get what you want. Striking and unionizing only make the rift between employer and employee broader. And now, you're working against a state statute and a court ordered injunction.

This strike does not make sense to me, no matter how much I try to put myself in the pissed off union workers' shoes. It seems like a dangerous short term solution to a long term problem for many people. Obviously, if this striking thing comes up every few years, it's not really effective.

Random Thoughts for the Day:

• A couch is much comfier than a hardwood floor.
• Today's temperatures were all lower than my age. Not a good thing.
• I feel completely cut off from the world when my Internet doesn't work.
• Can Monica really die of too much sugar?
• Why is it that when I say I'm going to go to bed early, I stay up until 2am?

Also-great news Gator Nation! Urban has snagged the top QB recruit in the nation! Wohoo! Apparently he's very Alex Smith-esque. I love Chris Leak, but I think he's just not suited to this offense. Apparently, Mr. Tebow is perfect for Urban's spread-option package. Nice. Check it out: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/ncaa/12/13/tebow.florida.ap/index.html

And notice, Spurrier drafted a dude named Smelley for South Carolina! Oh, I can see the signs now!:)