Larry? Seriously?

No one has ever called me Larry ... until last weekend. Guess where it happened? Yup, you are right, at a Starbucks. My good friend Steve and I made a trip down to Long Beach to run the Long Beach half marathon. On our way back we stopped to get some Diesel (we did not get it at the Starbucks) and some coffee. I go in and order myself an iced coffee and instead of just dumping some ice in the cup and filling it with coffee right away, the Starbucks Barista grabs a Sharpie and asks me for my name. So, I say my name like any German would say it. What does he do? He scribbles something on there, asks me whether I want my coffee sweetened or unsweetened and finally says:

Thank you, Larry

I thought about protesting but realized there is no point in making him understand and spell my name. So I pay and wait for my unsweetened iced coffee, and wait, ... and wait until I finally get my sweetened iced coffee. WTF!!!
Ayway, I return the coffee and finally get the right beverage. Now, why can't they just fill a damn cup of ice with some coffee? That's faster than scribbling a name on a cup. I guess they want me to stare at their merchandise long enough that I actually buy something but that won't happen ... because I go there for a cup of coffee and not to get my Christmas shopping done.

Presidential Elections and VPs

I don't even know where to start. I can't vote because I am not a US citizen but I am very much interested in what this country does and how it behaves in the world because it is my home now. It's pretty safe to say that for the past two elections, Americans have truly screwed this up by electing a moron to lead the country. I hope they don't do it again. Why would anyone in their right mind vote for John "Maverick" McCan't and Sarah Palin (who can see Russia from her house)?

I watched the debate last night and analysts said she won because she didn't fuck up. Are you kidding me? That's the standard by which you measure the qualification or chances of a campaign now? She did not answer any questions, all her statements just stated what we need. And please, Sarah, get Tina Fey glasses, they look better than your rimless glasses. And what's with the constant maverick talk. Who gives a shit? And with all due respect, why does the fact that John McCan't was a POW in Vietnam make him qualified for handling economy or health care issues? Please, it's admirable what he has done as a POW and I am not ridiculing that but by no means can that be a reason for being qualified to become president. If so, then why was George W. Bush even allowed near the White House?

So, America, get this right and make a black man the next president. I have no illusions that Obama will be perfect and get everything right but this country needs someone else than a shooting-from-the-hip cowboy, or maverick if you like. If anyone (besides the maybe 10 regulars who care for my ramblings) reads this and hasn't made up his mind and doesn't live in California. Please go out and do not vote for McCan't and his absolutely, terrifically, astonishingly unqualified VP candidate.

But whatever you do, I can't wait for Saturday's SNL to see what Tina Fey will make out of Sarah Palin's VP debate performance.