Are you f'ing kidding me?

After a few beers and another Tampa Bay Bucs loss, I am known to shout a few choice words at random inanimate objects, mainly because I believe that they are the root of all problems for my team.

However, after a few short hours when I am thinking clearly, I have already begun to voice my regret to my friends and inanimate objects.

The thing about cursing is that it is so fun when you aren’t thinking straight, at least to me. I fell like my statements have more validity and emphasis.

However, this really couldn’t be further from the truth.

When people curse in public places it really brings them to another level, one that is far below that of everyone else. Cursing just makes those around the curser feel awkward and loathsome toward that person.

Steve Mertz, at the blog Sales Presentation Training, gave this tip for public speaking: Curse in public! His argument is that cursing gives the presenter a feeling that he has made it. It is important to note he says that cursing is more often done by males, and that his tip is more for a speaking engagement and less for everyday use.

Steve isn’t really thinking clearly here. I can understand his point about the felling of empowerment, although I think it is a little lame. However, to recognize cursing as a good public speaking tool is awful advice and should not be heeded.

Making the passing grade

As I said in my last post, I understand that most people who are not bikers do not hold bikers in high respect. However, what always boggles me is that other bikers seem not to respect of think of other bikers safety.

When I ride my bike to class in the morning, I take my sweet time. I have hyper-active sweat glands that begin to moisten at the thought of temperatures over 60 degrees.

Yet when I ride, I stay as far to the left as possible. Some bikers who choose to leave late and ride fast then proceed to side swipe me, yell, honk and shoot at me. OK, the last two are made up.

I think common courtesy would call for you to just call out that you are approaching on the left. That is all it takes.

These simple guidelines for passing by the International Mountain Biking Association show you just how easy it is to pass effectively.

I promise I will steady my bike and stay to the left and let you zip by. Please, just don’t make my leisurely ride any more stressful or embarrassing on my German-manufactured, squeaky bike.

Stop, look and listen, before you cross that street!

As a cyclist, I am reminded everyday that I am at the bottom of the totem poll in regards too pedestrians. People could care less about a person on a bike. Bicyclists even rate lower than mopeds, which is just embarrassing.

But why do people feel that people on bikes viewed as less of a threat. I go well over 20 m.p.h. on my bike, which is more than the speed limit on campus at UF. So I can do as much damage.

I think most of us have forgotten to “Stop, look and listen,” before we cross the street. Everyone’s safety is in danger when you don’t. I have seen countless pedestrians crossing at the bottom of the hill that is between the Florida Gym and Weimer Hall. I know that there is a pedestrian cross walk, and that pedestrians have the right of way. But at least take a peak to see if someone is barreling down the hill.

Also, take a peak to see which of these basic rules of pedestrian safety you don’t follow daily. It helps all of us.

Shave and a Hair Cut? No Thanks.

I never thought I would have to make this post, but what I witnessed today was an outrage to all mankind.

I entered a public restroom today on campus. Now, I know that it is a public restroom, and I know that I shouldn’t have high expectations. But this restroom is just outside of the food court. Upon entering, there was a man in the bathroom shaving. Perhaps shaving is the correct word; I think trimming would be better. He was trimming his beard in the bathroom.

I did not ask him why he felt the need to do it there, because I did not care to. As it was a public restroom, he could do whatever he wanted. So I did my business, and meanwhile, the mystery shaver left. When I walked to this sink, his trimmed hair was all over the sink and floor. It looked like someone shaved Big Foot in there.

How one could cut his facial hair in a public restroom and walk out without an attempt at cleaning it is beyond me.

I found this blogger in India who finds public shaving equally gross. I propose that we adopt the same law that India has, where it is prohibited to shave in a public steam room. In fact, I propose we spread this beyond a steam room. Unless it is a communal bathroom (i.e. dorms), I believe we should abolish public shaving. It’s just gross.

Also, while searching for a blog about shaving in public, I came across this guy’s blog, devoted entirely to shaving. I just thought I should note this.

Disasters in Holding a Door

I’m sure everyone has had the same thought process going through their head as they have approached any random door and their is a person a head of you. Will they hold the door for me? If they do, will it be awkwardly long? Should I speed up? Slow down?

Well I’m not sure if there is a rule regarding it, but we can lay down some guidelines. If you are within a distance where you could ask them to hold the door, and you could do so in a normal voice, then they should hold the door. If you are in, say a noisy city, if they wouldn’t be able to hear you, then no deal.

Over at halfbakery.com, they propose a standardized door holding distance, which is basically what I am calling for. But a distance does no good. We all know people walk at different speeds, so the audible distance makes it a lot easier.

A minor in physical thereapy

Did you know that when you sit for an extended period of time, lets say for 50 minutes, that your spinal chord begins to constrict? Also, your hamstrings and quadriceps begin to tighten and get cold.

Well I didn’t really know that, I actually just made that up. But it sounds right, right? But judging from all the people that have been shoving their extremities in my face recently, I figured they took me for some type of physical guru.

I’m sure you have been put in the same odd position where you are sitting, minding your own business, and then all of a sudden, awkwardness. The person in front of you begins to stretch, and not discreetly. I’m talking more of the hands-in-your-face variety. Perhaps this person feels the need to actually turn 180 degrees to face you while they crack you back.

Does anyone have respect for personal space anymore? Whether I’m trying to focus my attention on a lecture or just sitting on the bus, I really would appreciate an absence of your hands, feet or hair from my personal space.

Obviously people need to learn to respect the “personal bubble” more.

Wait a minute, isn't shopping supposed to be a pleasure?

There comes a time in every young person’s life when they must venture to the local grocer on their own. It’s a day that I’m sure parents both dream of and dread, as their babies are no longer under their wing. Parent’s minds are filled with many thoughts two of which I am sure are did I teach them to no leave their cart unattended in the aisle, and they know that the express lane is for express customers, right?

These are just a few rules that we can abide by to make shopping more of a pleasure. When you are sitting in the aisle, try to keep your cart in front of you. Try to stay on the right side of the row, that way those traveling in the opposite direction can pass, and those trying to pass you while you study the 18 different varieties of Kraft macaroni can pass you.

Finally, as you finish your shopping, maybe you just needed some basic necessities to keep you happy, perhaps some sandwich items, a few beverages, whatever. But if you are thinking about using the express line, think twice. What does that tiny, hard to read sign say? Ten items or less huh? Sure, maybe you have 18 items like this woman does, but what if they are the SAME items, but more than one of them. Do five yogurts count as one item?

No, of course not. Let’s keep 10 to 10. Maybe we can stretch to 11 if you are in a hurry, but let’s face it, if you have items reaching into the double digit; you probably are in no hurry. The express line is for those that need express care, more for people with FEWER items than 10.

What's black and white and left all over?

As a journalism major at the University of Florida, I sometimes feel uncertain about the future of journalism. It seems that there are less and less people reading actual print newspapers and more and more reading online publications.

But what is even more concerning to me is that, of this dwindling number of people reading print papers, a greater number of those readers are more comfortable with strewing them about the community when they are finished. Is this their way of spreading the great word of print journalism? I’m not sure, but I think that if it is, they are going about it in the wrong way.

Today while I was walking through the Reitz Union Food Court, I overheard a custodian cursing a scattered Independent Florida Alligator that she was picking up from a table. I felt sad for two reasons. The first, this poor woman shouldn’t have to pick up someone else’s discarded newspaper because they are lazy. And second, someone should not harbor ill will towards a paper simply because someone felt like they did not need to dispose of the paper in the proper receptacle.

I know that this post is a stretch. I also know newspapers are not the only thing casually tossed to the ground. But, how about we just start small? Also, take a peak at this article from the University of Oregon, where George Weyrens, a custodian, contributed a significant amount of money to the school’s scholarship fund.