Our little band of travelers have been hanging out in the Ozarks again. If you haven't been to Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Missouri,.... it is truly a beautiful resort.)
BUT...For today...It's time for a few of the odd stories that appeared in the media this week.
I will be giving awards out again this week as some people just deserve to be recognized.
Third Place Award .....Worst Driving Test Fail
A video of a South Korean woman failing her driving test has become an on-line hit. In a mere SEVEN seconds, a woman manages to overturn her car while the examiner is screaming in Korean at her. (I have to think that there are some four letter equivalents in there but can't say for sure.)According to the You Tube users that speak Korean, supposedly the driver is asking, "What do I do? What do I do?" The driving instructor (allegedly) says "Goddamn it! I said press the brakes. What are you doing not even knowing which pedal you are pressing? I am going to go crazy. Get out of this car!".
Can anyone out there speak Korean and tell us what is being said? That is surely worth more than just one bad word.
Second Place Award for the Worst (or maybe co-worst or maybe tri-worst) Candidate in New York City Political Race
Just when you thought the race for public offices in NYC couldn't get any more tainted, ...it did.
In the latest twist to the scandal ridden campaign season in New York, Kristen Davis has tossed her hat into the ring. (that would be the ring as in a 'three-ring circus'.)
Kristen, who is running for the office of comptroller against the former NY governor, Eliot Spitzer.
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| Surely, there are a couple of reasons people might vote for this comptroller. |
Talk about irony...Spitzer resigned as governor amidst a scandal involving prostitutes and Kristen Davis used to be a Manhattan madam. (as in managing aforementioned prostitutes). Obviously, they have a few things in common.
It's not the fact, that Kristen is an ex-madam that is the presenting a problem. Her current woes are she has been indicted with four counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance. She currently has been released on $100,000 bond. She has said she plans to plead not guilty.
Gauging the quality of the candidates, this may or may not hurt her chances to get elected.
First Place Award....The most idiotic mistake made by a builder
This mistake has taken an OOPSIE to a staggering new level. That level would be about 47 floors off the ground.
The Intempo skyscraper in Denidorm, Spain, was built to be a striking symbol of hope and prosperity. It was a testament to Denidorm showing the world that the city was coming out of financial crisis.
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| biggest piece of exercise equipment ever |
Also, there was the problem that the original plan was for the building to be 20 floors high but the developers decided to raise it to 47 stories so they could place 269 units in. More floors, more units equals more profit...right??? Not so fast.
As it happened, the design was never reworked to include an elevator past the 20th floor.
Yeah...no elevator. Nor did they allow any room large enough to house the mechanicals that would be needed to install an elevator of the type that could run up and down 47 floors of a building.
I'm not sure how Caixa Galicia got the reputation for being the "bad bank" but I bet the missing elevator gets the Intempo's builder the "bad builder" nod. Nothing as inviting as a 47 floor walk-up.
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So people have to get off the elevator at the twentieth floor and then start climbing stairs? Hard to believe.
There's only one possible response to all of these stories: d'oh!
Yes, as crazy as it is, they haven't figured out how to fix it yet. How much would you be willing to pay for a 47th floor walk-up. It technically would be considered a penthouse if that helps.
These do leave one somewhat speechless...although, I suspect that a few people might have some colorful adjectives for the ex-madam turned politician.
prostitution, drug dealing, - hey the woman knows how to handle money.
bad construction projects - check out the empty hole in the ground in Chicago. There were grand plans to have spire type of building but only the big hole was dug. I understand the Government of Ireland owns the hole now. Maybe I'll do a post (hole) on that one soon.
We have eaten the big brunch they have at the Big Cedar Lodge. Walked around the grounds a little. Table Rock lake is a good lake for vacations.
When both Weiner and Davis win their respective offices, I fully expect to move to NYC to get first dibs on the legalization of prostitution. I'm gettin' in on the ground floor baby 'cause business is gonna be boomin'!!!!! Come on New Yawkers, vote these two fine upstanding citizens into office for the future of the Big Apple.
Lisleman, it's getting scary how we think alike. I thought the exact same thing...the chick knows how to handle money.
What??? There is an Irish owned hole in Chicago? I will have to find out about that. By all means do a post and fill us in. With all my Illinois kin, I am surprised no one has mentioned this.
It was so pretty down there until the rain descended on us. We got out of town in the knick of time. 13 inches in 2 hours or so.
Hahaha...you might be on the verge of a monumental business empire. You could buddy up to Davis and get advice on the do's and don'ts of the call girl biz.
Every once in awhile you hear about a "colorful" (crooked) politician but to have three candidates in the same race that have had up close and personal relationships with their constituents... now that is just creative campaigning. When someone said "politics makes for strange bedfellows"
they really, really, really meant STRANGE and BED fellows.
Now that you mentioned the rain, I do remember hearing about some flooding in Missouri. I'm amazed on how much those dam-controlled lakes rise and fall. I was reminded of the hole when we had some Irish visitors. I'm thinking about what to write. The project goes back about 10 years. Just search for Chicago Spire.
I am laughing my ass off about that building! Seven seconds...I suppose I shouldn't worry so much about my little brother learning to drive now.
Isn't that building the craziest thing EVVVAHHHH? I bet the units on the top floor aren't selling very quickly.
I wouldn't worry too much about your little bro? He has had driver's ed, right???? He isn't driving your car, right??? You aren't in the car yelling "Push the brakes, Push the brakes, right????
I couldn't help myself and had to go read about the Spire before replying. Now that is one ginormous finacial disaster.
The artichetural drawings are really cool, though and according to the article it may still be resurrected at some point. Maybe if they actually get around to building it, they could save some money by leaving out the elevators.
We have relatives coming in today from the Chicago area and both are retired Illinois government employees. I count on them to keep me in the know regarding Illinois screw ups. Seems they let me down. They are going to hear about it.
I'd buy a unit on the 20th floor and finance it by renting out my services of carrying groceries and things to the higher floors. And I'd be in awesome shape as well.
Very enterprising of you, Dexter. I will buy the penthouse (assuming, of course, that they are desperate to sell it because of it's obvious drawbacks) and I will have you run up my groceries, dry cleaning and walk my dog) You better start resting up now because I think you are going to be worn out with the 27 flights (each way) that your little enterprise is going to entail. I am assuming your rates for this service are competitive.
My wife works for the DMV here in Arizona. She had 2 road test customers on Friday. Failed them both. People come in to take the drivers test smelling of alcohol and marijuana. I guess they need to "relax" before taking the test. She won't even get in the car with them.
I would be worse. I would fail any kid who comes up with hat on sideways or backwards and anyone with pants on the ground exposing undies. Facial piercings & excessive tattoos might be an automatic fail with me also.
The first story reminds me of my sister-in-law. She's from the Philippines and took her driver's license test. She was given a permit and drove back to their home from taking the test. She pulled up into the driveway and kept on going... through the garage doors! My brother was yelling, "Hit the breaks!" She swears she couldn't remember which was which and she was laughing, thought it was actually funny. OMG.
NYC, has some serious character issues in politicians.... cripes.. what a hot mess!
We have a building being built in our parish (for theater performances).... been in the works since Katrina. Yes, that long.. seems that the original contractor didn't build up to specs on safety of the structure. Seriously? After Katrina?!
Your poor wife to have to put up with that. I hope AZ has a good pension plan for her that might make up for having to put up with idiots. I can't even imagine the thinking (or not) that someone feels that getting drunk or high would help them with their driver's test.
I agree with your aversion to today's sloppy trends especially the hanging pants thing. Some of those where they have to walk funny to keep them up become comical in a tragic sort of way. I think anything done to an extreme makes it "not a good idea."
Aleta, that is seriously funny. Your brother might not think so but...really that is super funny that she went through the garage door the very day she got a license. Did she ever get to use the car again?
NYC politicians...hot mess for sure.
Crazy about these projects that just stall. You would think that somewhere between 2005 and now that the developer could get it corrected. Here in Kansas City we don't even have the excuse of a natural disaster and some of the developments that tanked in 2007-2008 are still just sitting half finished because the builders went bankrupt....of course, there are others that weren't caught up in the down turn at all and are thriving.
Firstly that video is hilarious, whatever they are saying.
As for the 47 floor building with all it's shortfalls. I'm not that surprised considering the country it's in.
Can you imagine how shaken that testing agent was after that? I am not sure that I would of shown up for work the next day.
Are people in Spain idiots? (no offense intended to Spaniards, just curious) I have no knowledge of Spain at all. Maybe they better import some building engineers from somewhere else to figure out how to get elevators in that building.
They are a bit behind the rest of us in some areas.
I went on holiday there in the early 70's and they had trains going in both directions, on the one piece of track. Needless to say, while we were there, one train ended up inside another, coming from the other direction. I was there for a fortnight and the wreck was still there when I left, blocking the track and effectively closing down the whole route. Anywhere else, the wreckage would have been removed immediately and the track repaired. My sister lives in Spain and they are only just having gas routed to the homes in her area and she doesn't live in a remote part. Far from it, but they only had electricity until a couple of weeks ago. Worst of all, they are not an animal loving country, in general :(
OMG...There should be laws in Spain not allowing them to touch anything mechanical. Trains on the same track...just now getting utilities???? BUT the real reason I couldn't live there is...I couldn't live in a place that doesn't love animals.
Any country that specialises in the art (I use that word loosely) of taunting and slowly killing a bull in an arena, while thousands cheer them on, has no respect for animals.
I couldn't agree with you more...that is barbaric.
Lol. No, in fact it's three years later and she still doesn't drive! My brother tries to explain it this way, "You have to remember that she (his wife) didn't grow up with toy cars that you get into and steer, so she doesn't know about breaks and going in reverse." My thoughts.... well, she's an adult know and she's been in enough vehicles over her life to have at least witnessed that you STOP when approaching a garage. Lol.
I agree with you...she needs to push herself. There is a freedom and independence that goes with having a license unless she lives in an urban area that supplies plenty of public transportation such as NYC. Even then, there is a huge freedom that goes with the ability to drive a car.
I don't know what to say about that building who forgets the lift....................what the hell, next the video was bloody funny what would be more funny though if she got her licence after that...........
Crazy that a builder would forget something as important as an elevator in a high-rise.
I think it's a safe bet that the driver didn't get her license that day but let's hope she never gets one.
I like taking the stairs because I want to. Not because I have to. That just sucks the fun out of everything.
Also, I've seen that Korean video before but never knew the context of it until now. A driving test? Ouch. Shouldn't you have at least been in a car one time prior to taking a test?
I have managed to convince myself that taking stairs will extend my life...so I continue to live in a house that has 3 floors, when the rest of my age group wants a ranch style home. I just don't think I want to hike up 27 floors of stairs while carrying my groceries. (assuming, of course that I took the elevator up to the 20th floor before resorting to the stairway) That would pretty keep me from reaching my next birthday. The good news would be that my hubby would get some life insurance money to help him move to a ranch style home.
That chick isn't doing much to improve the stereotype for women drivers. How can it be that the media recently has had a few news reports of small children taking off with their parents cars but an adult rolls it in less than 7 seconds.
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