...What the...?

A couple of random thoughts for the week...

1.) What drives squirrels to commit the act of jisatsu (trans: suicide) by throwing themselves upon transformers in the midst of winter? Desperation? Depression, caused by an inability to locate his hidden winter stash of nuts and various foodstuffs? The stress of being chased by dogs, cat, and small human children wearing enough clothing that even falling down two flights of stairs would leave them completely uninjured and unbruised?

Limited brainpower?

Oh woe, the sufferings and hardships that the poor, benighted squirrel must have suffered in squirrely silence. How long did he struggle to contain his squirrely anguish. All in vain, for as the pain grew and grew, the banality of his existance became at long last overwhelming, until at last, in an desperate act of self-negation, he flung his little rodent body down upon the crackling mass of flowing electrons.

And thus, for nearly 2 hours, power for a major business area was cut off.

In death, the lowly squirrel makes a momentary impact upon the greater world. And manages to annoy workers and business owners. Heh.

2.) It's cold. It's windy. It's dark. Outside, 6 - 10 people wait, bundled up against the frigid conditions, gathered near each other for relative shelter from the chilly breeze. Waiting for the doors of the bus to open, and welcome them, shelter them from the cold. Inside the air is warmed by the still-running engine. They can almost feel the warmth blowing through the vents, blowing behind the metal and glass doors.

But they are all denied entry. Denied by the driver, who himself stands in comfort, munching contentedly on his hot dog snack and sipping his bottled soda. He stands there, almost smugly watching the shivering throng, shedding his heavy jacket and thick gloves to bask in the warmth in his short-sleeved shirt. As we, helpless captives of this display of callous cruelty, are forced to watch. And wait. In the cold.

...jerk...