The freaks come out at night and other observations...

I just got home from my Friday night restaurant job and let me tell you that the freaks were out in abundance this evening. The bartenders had been complaining about a creepy guy sitting at the bar. Apparently he was refilling his Zippo lighter at the bar and spilling his fluid everywhere while all the while being a creepy asshole. There was a wait for tables but there were at least 4 barstools empty because no one wanted to sit near him. Eventually he started screaming "Excuse me! Where's my drink?" at the top of his lungs. The band even stopped playing. He was escorted out by a manager with the chef and one of the line-cooks in tow. He threatened to come back and kick the line-cook's ass at midnight. The cops showed up before he could do anything else. We also had a dine-and-dash this evening. The poor waitress, who is one of my favorite people on the planet, had to pay out of her own pocket. It's a damn shame.

Here's another one from this evening...
A customer ordered the 16oz. Veal Porterhouse special this evening. It was very clearly marked on the "Special Sheet". He ate over half of it and then told the waitress that he didn't know that it would be veal. He assumed it would be "red meat"...a beef porterhouse. Veal is baby red meat. He said that he'd like a filet mignon instead. The waitress explained this to one of the managers and although the guy was clearly in the wrong he okayed the filet to be fired (cooked). The manager proceeded to the table to simply and politely tell the patron that they would cook the filet for him even though he ate over half of his veal porterhouse. The patron went insane and told the manager to "Go to hell! I only ate two bites! I don't want the f'in filet!". I saw the remainder of the veal porterhouse...there was barely anything left except the damn bone. Later in the evening the manager had discovered that the same patron left a nasty note on his bill. What an asshole! This sort of behavior isn't acceptable anywhere...not even the Olive Garden or PJ McFucknuggets Fun Tyme Grille & Sportsatorium. People think that it's socially acceptable to be an asshole in a restaurant. They're f'in wrong! Remember to tip your waitperson/bartender generously...

Just a few other things in the news today...

I hope they find the guy in Atlanta that killed the judge, court reporter, and deputy sheriff and hang him by the balls with chicken wire. I've always thought that I believed in capital punishment although I'm fairly liberal, but I think capital punishment may be the "easy way out". I think people should have to suffer for their crimes. I'm not whole-heartedly endorsing torture, but it has its merits. Death by injection is painless and death by electric chair is moderately quick. I don't think that convicted murderers, rapists, child molestors, etc. should have this option, because "death" isn't enough. Let them live a long, tortured life full of suffering. Don't give them an easy way out.

Michael Jackson showed up in court in pajamas. WTF?!?!? I don't know if there's any illegality in this, but I think the nutjob should be arrested for contempt of court. Turns out his accuser said that Michael would pour wine into a Coke can and call it "Jesus Juice" and make him drink it. Jesus! Arrest this guy already...

Speaking of court...
The very same building (Frank Murphy Hall of Justice) where I reported for jury duty on Monday was evacuated on Tuesday for a false anthrax scare. The Coleman Young building was evacuated today for the same reason. The only white powder I'd associate with Coleman Young would be cocaine.

I heard on WDET today that the famed CBGB & Omfug in the Bowery (Manhattan's Lower East Side) may close for not being able to pay the rent. The district is getting trendy and the rents are going up. I've been to the CBGB and it's a disgusting armpit...but it's cool as hell. Bands such as the Ramones, Blondie, Television, the Talking Heads, and Richard Hell and the Voidoids got their start there. It would be really sad to see it go. It'll probably be replaced by a Starbuck's. They say the owner made over $2 million dollars in T-shirt sales last year. Where in the hell is he putting his money. It's certainly not in beautification or maintenance. Did you know that "CBGB & Omfug" stands for "Country, Blue Grass, Blues & Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandize"? I just can't believe that they interviewed Richard Hell for the piece and that he's lived in the same walk-up apartment near the CBGB for 30+ years. Hopefully it'll be able to stay open for a long, long time. The only reason CBGB should ever close is if they ever allow Ashlee Simpson to perform there. It is the American breeding ground for "punk", you know.

Cheers,
Jason