The Man 2 : Rappy 1

Phone call placed to the person at the Ministry of the Environment responsible for recycling in Tel Aviv:

rappy: Hello, I was told you were in charge of recycling for Tel Aviv.
woman: Well, sort of. How can I help you?
rappy: I have large quantities of fine paper for recycling. Where can I recycle it?
woman: You can't.
rappy: I can't? Why not?
woman: There isn't any paper recycling in Tel Aviv.
rappy: Why not?
woman: Well, it isn't really my responsibility. The sanitation department is in charge of it, but paper recycling is only being rolled out right now.
rappy: Ok, rolled out where?
woman: In the north part of the city. It's only available in a few buildings that have their own garbage disposal room. You'd have to know which buildings have them and then you'd have to go into their garbage room, which is private property. Which neighborhood do you live in?
rappy: Sheinkin.
woman: Yeah, it isn't available there.
rappy: Are you aware that we're in the year 2007? The technology exists. Why isn't it available?
woman: It just isn't.
rappy: So I have to throw all these papers in the garbage?
woman: Yes.
rappy: *Sigh.*

While standing at bus terminal for 15 minutes, a bus driver pulls up and leaves his (double-parked) bus idling for a full 10 minutes. Another driver opens the door to this driver's bus but doesn't get on. I ask him to turn off the ignition because it's bad for the environment, but he says it isn't his bus, so he can't. Turns out he's the driver of the line for which I was waiting. Our exchange:

Driver: It's a hot day, he needs to leave it on for the air-conditioning.
rappy: I don't really care. It's horrible for the environment and he should turn it off.
Driver: Don't you worry about that kind of stuff. Worry about your own problems.
rappy: The environment is my problem. It's yours, too.
Driver: Nonsense. No one ever died from an idling bus.
rappy: Actually, 600 people died last year from pollution-related illnesses.
Driver: That's a load of crap.
rappy: No, it really isn't.
Driver: Well, what difference does it make if he turns off the engine? It's only one bus.
rappy: Right, and if all the buses didn't idle for ridiculous lengths of time, we'd all be better off.
Driver: You need to stop worrying about other people. This is a country of assholes. Only assholes get ahead here, not the people who care.
rappy: Perhaps if everyone in this country didn't operate on that assumption, we'd get somewhere.
Driver: Forget it, we're all assholes and that's that.
rappy: That's a refreshing position to take. I happen to not be an asshole.
Driver: You're full of crap, and it's a good thing you commented about the engine to me and not to the other driver, he would have kicked your ass.
rappy: *Sigh.*

Call placed to Dan Bus Company:

woman: Dan Bus Company, how may I help?
rappy: Hello, have I reached the customer complaint line?
woman: Yes you have.
rappy: I'd like to find out if drivers are required to turn off their engines if they leave their bus.
woman: Of course they are.
rappy: Well then I'd like to file a complaint.
woman: Can you give me the details?
rappy: Bus number XX at station YY was idling for at least 10 minutes while the driver was busy having a coffee in the office.
woman: Ok, I've recorded the details.
rappy: And what happens next?
woman: The driver will be brought in front of a disciplinary committee.
rappy: Thank you very much!
woman: Have a nice day.
rappy: *Kick my ass, did he say? Mwahahahaha!*

Posted by raptorgirl at June 5, 2007 01:11 AM