2007-03-28 Waiting Room Blues

Another day has ended and for the first time I wish I had a lot of readers. Usually I don't like talking about politics and social stuff, but tonight I'll make an exception. It's been a tense day on the Philippines, where a man called Jun Ducat had taken a school bus hostage to draw the worlds attention to the current political situation in the country. Not that I really know what I'm talking about, but in his way, the man has earned my respect. Please don't get me wrong! Taking hostages and waving guns around is no way to change the world. Threatening ten year old kids does not make their life any better. And making parents worry for their offspring is something you just don't do. But (and now comes my personal opinion!) he made a stand. He didn't hurt anybody. He didn't ask anything for himself. He wanted to help these children. He got his wishes granted. These kids will have a good education. I've read statements of parents saying that they trust he won't hurt anybody and that they're not really worried.
I don't subscribe to this weird "the end justifies the means" slogan. In fact, I'm quite convinced of the opposite. But today's events made me think.
That's why I would like to have a lot more readers... to collect opinions around the globe. Given the chance, would you have stopped him before he could do it?

***

But now for something completely different: This morning I went to the doctor. I had an appointment at 8.15 AM and arrived there in time. Nevertheless, I had to wait until 9 o'clock. What is it with doctors and their waiting rooms? Maybe I'm being picky here, but when I make an appointment I don't make it to wait for almost one hour. I make it to plan my day. In this waiting room there were at least four other people having an appointment at the same time with that same doctor. I don't get it. If I invited people (not to mention paying customers) and made them wait, I wouldn't be surprised if they complained and called me rude. But if I were a doctor, all would be different. Why is that? It's not like he saved my life or so. He just did his job and kept me from doing mine.

Yeah, I'm doing it again, I know. I'm bitching about things I cannot change. After all, the doctor himself was a nice person and parking was cheap. See, I can be positive, too. If only he wouldn't have made me wait for almost an hour. *sigh*

While I'm at it, I am going to call myself a pushover, because I skipped today's diving training. I was working longer (could blame the doctor if I really wanted to) and got home too late for training. Second lesson and I missed it. Jerk.

***

However, there is always a way to make the day end good. Today's choice is going to bed early and read for at least one hour. That might sound sarcastic but I actually mean it. That's one of the few advantages in a bachelors life, and tonight I'm going to exploit it.