Ode to Perforations

Oh perforations... how I hate thee, let me count the ways.... R-R-R-I-I-I-P-P-P...

Badly torn box.

For those wondering what I do outside of blogging (which had a brief hiatus as I was coming up with things to write about), I work at Walmart.  Part of my job responsibilities is to stock shelves.  A lot of our boxes are what is referred to as PDQs (Product Display Quantity or Pretty Darn Quick).  Basically, rip the box along the perforation, and it becomes a product display to put on the shelf.  In theory, this is supposed to help make the product more presentable for customers, and much easier for shelf stockers to get items on the shelf quickly.

In theory....

However, the bane of my existence when dealing with PDQs is perforations.  A perforation (for those REALLY not in the know) are pre-cut slots in the boxes.  They exist on important tax documents, credit card offers, PDQs (as already mentioned), and on other things.

Now, I don't know if I'm an idiot, but I HATE PERFORATIONS!!!!

If I try to rip anything along one of these perforations, I end up ripping beyond the perforation.  I find myself frustrated enough that end up just taking my little box cutter knife, on blade setting 1, and cutting the perforation just to open it.  My question is:  how is these any faster?

It definitely isn't neater if the perforation rips beyond the line is it supposed to rip upon.  It just looks shoddy.  Ripping checks out of check books have resulted in damaged checks (luckily not in half yet), but there are occasionally chunks missing out of the top.  It's not MY fault, blame the perforation!!!

I swear, there is a conspiracy by the people who invented perforations to piss me off.  They are succeeding....

More than once, I find myself punching a PDQ in order to rip the perforation without taking my knife to it.  Most of the time, that works, other times, still have to break out the knife.

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??  Seriously, if the perforations were designed to just look neat, then kudos.  But if they were meant to be functional... someone needs to be fired.  I am better off just getting a line on the box that says, "Cut here."  I guarantee my knife cuts will look neater.

But no.   These perforations will continue to laugh at me.  To mock me.  To make me look like a fool.  Other people will rip these perforations neatly.  It isn't the fact that they are better than me.  It is the fact that the perforations have it out for me.  I don't know if I made fun of their mother, but they enjoy my torment.

Screw you, perforations.

You may have won this round.  But I will have my revenge!!!

Do any of you have issues with perforations?  Feel free to comment.  If this post brightened your day, then feel free to share it.  Thanks for reading.

Political Attack

Now normally, I do not post political ramblings.  There is enough of that on Facebook to make me want to rip the remaining hairs out of my head.  However, an event happened that made me change my mind (at least this week).

On June 14th, 2017, a gunman opened fire on several Republican members of Congress as they were practicing for a charity baseball game against Democrats.  4 people (5 counting the gunman) were shot during the practice.  2 people were listed in critical condition, 2 people were treated and released, and the gunman was killed.

The gunman was a contractor who had his business shut down because he caused more damage to the properties he was supposed to be inspecting.  He had been living out of his van in the Alexandria, VA, area for months before he opened fire that fateful day.

He had a bitter dislike towards the Republicans.

Now, the tough part of this.  I am not looking to get into a political debate because people like what they like, and they believe what they believe.  I'm not looking to try to "prove anyone wrong" because ultimately it is a waste of time, and a cause of lost friendships for no reason, whatsoever.

But one thing CAN be agreed on.  Violence is not the answer.  If you believe that violence is going to solve the problems in Washington, than maybe YOU need to be investigated, just in case, you plan on committing acts like this yourself.

Mr. Hodgkinson had a list of Congressmen he wanted to target.  His motive was unclear at this moment.  If he wanted to get the "old-timers" out of Congress, he didn't succeed.  If he did it as a Democratic loyalist, he failed that too, because all he did there was make Democrats look worse.

The thing that needs to be remembered is that he acted on his own accord.  He didn't meet with a bunch of Democrats and plan an assassination.  This was a mentally disturbed individual who committed these crimes.  And Democrats and Republicans participated in unity afterwards.  The shooter didn't accomplish anything.

For people who want to get the old-timers out of Congress, you have that power.  It is called elections.  While people do not vote for the President directly, they DO vote for the members of Congress at every election.  If you want a change in Congress, then vote for that change.  Otherwise, you are just the minority.  Killing people is not the answer.

And IF you are one of the sad, pathetic people who believes that murdering senior members of Congress is the answer, then newsflash.  It isn't.  The repercussions are far worse than what you think.  Because senior members of Congress were attacked, there will now be more motivation for gun control legislation.  This now hits home for Congress.  They are going to be more determined than ever.  And in the end, Congress isn't really more unified.  A lot of those Congressmen have been there a while, and are good friends, despite their disagreements.  People need to practice the same level of friendship.  That while we may differ on things, politically, we can still be friends, and we can still get along.

Any one who believes that someone needs to die because of their beliefs is part of the problem in this country right now.  If questioned about my political beliefs, I will share them.  You can tell me yours, and I'll respect yours, even if I don't agree.  That is part of what makes freedom so great.  But believing that violence is the answer is what is going to tear this country apart.  VIOLENCE NEEDS TO END!!!  That is one thing that NEEDS to be agreed on.  Republicans and Democrats alike don't want violence.  So, knock it off.  Act your age.  People are acting like babies throwing temper tantrums, and using weapons instead of words.

Post your opinions.  What do you think?  Do you think violence needs to end?  Will you be part of the solution?  Share this post if you agree.  Spread the word.  Love your neighbor, even if you don't agree with him/her.  You don't have to agree, but you have the freedom not to.  Do not eliminate your freedom by trying to eliminate someone else's.

Thanks for reading.