My view of the world

Devices Enforce Cellular Silence, Sweet but Illegal

This is just a little something I read in the NYT. The link above will take you to the full article.
It’s about justice; Vigilante justice, admittedly, but justice none the less.

cell phone jammers:
The jamming technology works by sending out a radio signal so powerful that phones are overwhelmed and cannot communicate with cell towers. The range varies from several feet to several yards, and the devices cost from $50 to several hundred dollars. Larger models can be left on to create a no-call zone.

There are devices, the size of a pack of cigarettes, that will block the signal from and to cellphones for about a thirty foot radius.
These are illegal in this country. But you can buy them online and have them shipped to you.

Since the frequencies used by cellular devices are protected, using one of these would be a felony. —–But only if you get caught.

Most folks are well mannered, but there are always a few losers.

I almost never go to the theater, but the last couple of times I did go, —I’ll give you three guesses.

How many times have you gone to a restaurant and had to listen to some loud mouthed, knuckle-dragger, yelling into his cell about nothing in particular?
In a quiet restaurant any conversation carries, and I really and truly don’t give a shit about what happened at your job today.

How about the putz in line ahead of you at the post office or grocery store who wait until they are almost at the check out before they call someone to find out what else they need.
All the while, holding up the line as they discuss and debate.
I will guarantee that if you try to get ahead of this moron he will push his cart, or step, in front of you. —Without ever coming up for air.

How many times have you been somewhere quiet and had to listen to that special ring people assign to a received text message?

Or how many times have you been all but ignored by someone who was supposed to be waiting on you, but was busy chit-chatting on their cell?

Every day the problem worsens; And while I don’t advocate the breaking of laws I can understand why a person might be pushed to do it.

The world has always been full of inconsiderate assholes, but now there’s a way to fight back. At least in a small way.

I went out by myself last night. Mostly to avoid a party I was invited to and so I wouldn’t have to be bothered with trick or treaters.

About 8:30 or 9 I decided I needed something to eat.
Since I was at the bar in the Sam’s Town atrium, I chose Fellini’s.
When I asked the young lady at the door how long the wait was, I was seated immediately.

So far so good.
I should have been warned when I was seated about as far from the other customers as was possible, without actually moving me out the back door.
The next warning was the look of surprise on the bus person’s face when he saw me.
I got my menus, coffee, bread, and water, and I waited.
At thirty minutes I was annoyed and I told myself that they were shorthanded and that I would wait until the busboy came back and ask what the problem was.
After a bit, I decided that this waiting in the darkest reaches of this restaurant for the privilege of being even more thoroughly ignored was silly, and I would wait until forty five minutes had passed and then I was leaving.

At forty five minutes on the nose, my busboy wandered past, not to check on me, but on his way to somewhere else.
He once again looked slightly surprised, I guess even he forgot about me.
He then asked if anyone had taken my order. My response was “of course not.”
The busboy then rushed off to find someone, but my time limit, as well as the limit of my patients had been reached.

I got up, left, and went to Billy Bob’s where I was seated, and waited on in a manner that suggested that they actually wanted my business.

I fully understand human error, but if you are going to bill yourself as an upscale restaurant, shouldn’t you have upscale training?
And if you are going to seat a customer out of sight of everyone else, shouldn’t you have the courtesy to mention it to someone, or better yet, write it on a seating chart, while it’s still fresh in your mind?