5% discount, my arse.

I have just renewed my annual season ticket between Edinburgh and Dalmeny (guess where I work then?) this morning.

It costed me 623.20. This includes a 5% discount for shite service over the past year.
My ticket last year costed 600.40 including the 5% discount for shit service.

Can you see a trend already?

Each year, I suffer crap service from First? Scotrail, and each year they charge me more, even with the discount for them being shite.

And people wonder why more people are buying cars and not using public transport?

At least the train was on time this morning, and the banter with Kenneth on the barriers at Waverley was amusing.

Parents are idiots, lawnmower manufacturer found liable

Here's a story about someone who didn't watch their child closely enough whilst operating a ride on mower, and mowed them down (heh), then sued and won. Only in America. (http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/69605)

The jury wanted to send a message with that verdict to the makers of the lawn mower that killed 4-year-old Justin Simmons in 2004.

"We're just hoping that we make a difference," said juror Theresa Reed. "We just want the industry to see that there's a problem that needs to be fixed."

So, let me get this right. Guy has small kid running about the garden when he's moving with a big-ass ride on mower, and he's not paying attention - the kid gets behind him, the mower rolls back, and mows the kid down. Clearly it's the lawnmower manufacturers' fault... WTF? Where do these people come from? When I were a lad, I wandered round a farm at age 4 - I survived. Why? Because my parents and grandparents looked after me, and I knew not to get infront of, or behind of farm machinery. It's not rocket science!

They all said they had kids, and they all agreed that, just as cars with safety problems are recalled, lawn mowers with safety problems should be recalled.

So, the jury, since they were all cry-baby soccer-mom Americans who take no responsibility for them or theirs wanted to absolve the parents of this accident by apportioning blame to the mower manufacturer. Hoo-fucking-ray.

During closing arguments Monday, Fitzpatrick argued that the company should not be held responsible for the Reedys' poor judgment. Orvil Reedy didn't try to get an owner's manual for the 1988 model mower or heed any of the warnings printed on the machine, he said. Roberta Reedy left Justin unattended outside while her husband was mowing.

I find myself agreeing with the company lawyers here... (Which I don't really like to do). Some people are too stupid to have kids. Please report to your nearest Equilibrium centre for immediate sterilisation.

Airport Hell

Well, I am writing this from the comfort of the President's Club lounge in Austin Bergstrom International Airport... So what? Well, I was on holiday - so I am not quite as angry as normal... However, I have a couple of peeves with air travel...

A few trips ago, I had purchased an upgrade with my blood, sweat and tears (air miles) and missed the flight - I had a lovely United First Class (The only way to travel) seat from Austin to O'Hare, but the flight was delayed and delayed... I got to O'Hare with my boarding pass in hand, and ran to the gate. The aircraft was sitting there, but they wouldn't let me board. Thankfully they got me out on the American Airlines flight, so I arrived back in Britain on close enough to being on schedule I got my original flight out of Birmingham or Manchester... Whichever one it was...

So, here I am in Austin, on my way home again, looking forwared to several hours of being cooped up on a small aircraft. They were good enough to give me First Class to O'Hare, but haven't sorted the connecting flight yet... I will have to haggle with BMI, who are operating the transatlantic leg of my journey, and see if they will do the business. I am not getting my hopes up, since BMI can be a bit flaky.

Delta, however, are truly shite. My friend, and travelling companion, Stuart, is flying Delta. Or not. He should have left yesterday, since I drove him to this fine airport, and fully expected him to be back in blighty by now... Instead, Delta delayed and delayed, making him miss his connection, and failed to re-route him appropriately. So here he is, sitting in the lounge with me, waiting for another Delta flight - he has managed to get an earlier connection to Atlanta (what the hell is in Atlanta?) and amusingly enough, the flight he was supposed to be getting is showing a delay!

My other peeve with air travel, is who the hell is the average person they use for seat design? I am 6'8" and approx 300lbs - I do not fit in an economy seat in any direction! The boringly average sized people are the ones who ask for extra leg room on flights, when they are usually not needing or deserving of it! Who the hell are these people? I have only flown on one flight where I was not the tallest person on board - and that was because some basketballers were on the flight!

Anyway, here's to a few hours of hellish cramp, not being allowed to walk around as much in case I might be a terrorist, or try to go outside for a walk at 30,000 ft - as if! Who the hell makes up these rules? And remember, if you argue - you're grounded!