Take a good look at this cab. I wish I had the daring to have photographed the driver himself, because he is an ASSHOLE. Notice his position in relation to the double-yellow line. This photo was taken on Avenue A. Traffic was a little backed up approaching Houston, and business had just drastically slowed down, so this asshole decided that it was important to drive like, well, an asshole. He tried to pass me on the left, using the oncoming traffic lane as a passing lane, and came within, literally, an inch of hitting me. And the stupidest part of it was that he was gaining zero advantage from doing this as there were about five other empty cabs ahead of us further up the block. This is the worst part of slow business. Cab drivers get desperate, and this makes them vicious and irrational. Perhaps this is why everyone thinks cabs drive like maniacs. Because sometimes they do.
I would like to point out, though, that, contrary to popular belief, cab drivers are actually in the minority when it comes to assholic driving. This guy, for instance, felt that closely cutting me off wasn't enough. No, he had to give me the finger as well. Then, when he saw me taking pictures of his macho truck (and his wimp-ass Florida license plate), he decided to get out and yell at me. Mind you, a cab driver would never do that.
Meanwhile, this sign has always puzzled me.* It's posted in the US Airways taxi lot bathroom (which is unisex, sort of) at Laguardia. I have no idea what the writer was trying to say. Don't get on the toilet? Please sit in the toilet? I'm never quite sure what to do when using this bathroom because, apparently, the rules are different here.
*(Sorry about the blur. I was in a hurry.)
14 comments:
My theory on the toilet sign: it is supposed to mean don't pee into the toilet while standing up.
Ha! Clearly there are a lot of languages being spoken in that bathroom...XO RD
Love your blog!
Do not get on in toile (please do not pee/poop on toilet) Favor sit in toile (do us a favor and sit on the toilet)
??
lmao.. maybe you should post a picture like this instead.
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/
6415/dontpeeonfloorwarningsign4bz.jpg
-Brandon
I think he's saying "Don't put paper towels in the toilet."
it could be 'do not get it ON in toilet' as well
The smaller appended sign is a fractured attempt to instruct people from certain asian cultures to sit down on the toilet seat instead of standing on it. We've had problems in my facility with vietnamese workers squatting on the seat to take dumps, which makes a huge mess if they miss or their bowels are loose.
I think he's actually addressing to men: please seat while peeing... you, a female lost in a unisex toilet, can probably tell us: are male cab drivers pigs while peeing?
Second Jeff's comment above -- here's a picture of one possible Indian-style toilet -- http://tinyurl.com/8vv3z. (Sorry, I had to tinyurl it because it's a Google Image site). Scroll down to East or West, halfway down the page. You can see why there might be something lost in the cultural translation.
Very cool blog, by the way. I came here via Metafilter, and live in Brooklyn. It would be fun to ride with you some day, although I'm too poor to take cabs often. :)
hi :)
i've just discovered your blog and i love it!
i live in athens (greece) and the note is very common here.. they just forgot a word... it read 'please do not THROW paper in toilet'. bad plumbing, narrow drains, etc clog some pisspots up.
keep it up. you're funny, insightful and you've got balls.
*raises hand* I'll translate this for ya, since I'm fluent in understanding my mother's half-broken English and heavy accent.
First sign says "Please do not paper in toilette. Use the trash can. Thank You. Basically don't throw paper in the toilet, just toss it in the trash so that the toilet doesn't get clogged up.
Second sign "Do not get on in toilet favor sit in toilet thank you"
Don't stand on the toilet seat, sit on the seat provided. Eastern cultures will squat on the toilet bowls and they are saying not to do so.
Any questions? And yes I know this is such an old post.
I think t means to SIT on the toilet and NOT SQUAT on it. Yes, there are people from certain ethnic groups that squat while relieving themselves.
The bottom sign means simply do not bathe in the toilet...it is not a bathtub.
Squatting over a toilet is not a cultural thing. It's a health-conscious act that has been forgotten in the global west.
more info on....
http://www.rogerwendell.com/toilet.html
http://www.poopreport.com/Techniques/Content/Nature/squatty.html
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