I'd like everyone to meet Emmanuel. Emmanuel lives in the impoverished community of Kwa Thema and Emmanuel has a concern. His concern is theft of building materials from the brick yard he passes by on his daily walk from the strip mall adjacent to this brick yard to his residence. He has identified a blind spot in the security surveillance cameras where, at least three suspects have been observed reaching over the secure perimeter fence to take bricks, lumber assortment and wooden stack palettes. Emmanuel believes increasing the security measures will deter such criminal activity in his community. Emmanuel also believes increased military policing will further deter the criminal elements at large in the Kwa Thema community. He carries himself as a man of steadfast character, honest and law-abiding by which he believes appropriate intervention undertaken by the neighbouring community of Tskane can restore law and order back in his community. I listened to Emmanuel, I admit my initial dismissive impression was of a man begging for alms but I realized the sincerity in his voice came through from a man wanting to make the world a better place and upon seeing me determined by good character judgement I was able to facilitate at the very least the informative suggestion to the relevant people to make the changes suggested. I took the time to listen to Emmanuel, understanding his reasoning of an ordinary man concerned with the welfare of his community seeing a man dressed in company branded wortk attire not from the community as someone with mutual interest for community uplifting benefit. I shall forward Emmanuel's suggestion on through the accessible channels. I believe in the value of virtues. I believe there is purpose to life not everyone can comprehend but everyone wants to live a positive and prosperous life. I've dealt with a lot of negativity and uncertainty, most of these experiences filtered over to digital platforms for record and recollection. It's difficult to remain positive, exhausting. Perhaps I'm being tasked or tested, perhaps this is random chance, perhaps it's good people versus bad people. Perhaps people are just plain bad. Self preservation, self promotion is at its highest, people show zero consideration or goodwill above their own personal priorities. I want not from this life anything more than what is enough. I can do no more and no less, what others do with what they have, what they are given and what they desire to take is not within my control. Let us find compromise between peace and war. As for Emmanuel, I wish him well.
There is a common thread here I shall tug upon. Lets go back in time about a week, please be seated. When someone tells you to "take a seat" prepare yourself for participation in a sitting marathon. The clock hanging precariously off centre against the wall neared the 60 minute mark and my glutius extremely tired of sitting maximus started to tug at my middle-aged pain receptors. I hadn't moved. There I was sitting in a waiting area with a handful of stamped, signed, verified, authorized, notarized official paperwork required for renewal. The gradual decline of speed efficiency whittled away my coffee reserves by 10h30. As I sat there waiting I concluded people are most productive the first ten minutes at the start of their work day, thereafter may the odds forever be in your favour. Also government office, everyone nodded in agreement. It's Understandable the modern lifestyle doesn't facilitate many opportunities for us weary mortals to take time off to take a break from eternal servitude to the evil algorithms but every tale has a passive aggressive hero doing good deeds with ulterior motives that don't impact the character arc of the main protagonist but suggest a subplot is developing. Welcome to Recharge Day, time off work to dedicate an entire day accomplishing tasks that were used to take up a lunch hour. Times they are a different, life remains the eternal constant. Get there early, get it done. When?
Constant social overwhelm is contributing to increasing mental illness. The digital world is hate laden and toxic. When do we disconnect from social media?
People are unhappy, there is a spectrum for human happiness as there is for breeds of dogs and cats. People are avoiding life. When do we stop doing and start being again?
It isn't worth it anymore. I'm tired. Sign posted in the window, Gone Fishing. I'm not a fisherman, not my thing. I'm not opposed to it either, sans the last time I went fishing resulted in the cops showing up to arrest us. In my line of work a different style of fishing is required. It requires patience, the right opportunity, knowing your fish and baiting with the right worm. I went fishing for a bad fish, the troublesome little minnow reluctant to swim a strong current, hides in the showl to snap up the food first. The real stickler in the mud that takes hours to draw out. Some days I feel like Robert Hansen from Date Line, it's frightening how similar To Catch A Predator is to recreational angling. I threw a line, I got a nibble but the worm was no good. I threw another line, the line snapped tight so the worm was good but alas, snap. The line broke, the monkey choked and we all went to heaven in a tiny row boat. Another tall tale about that one that always gets away, getting bigger with every telling, but not this one. I land this bottom feeder hook, line and sinker by their own admission. Business keeps anonymity for internal disputes, it's certainly not a mutiny where everyone gets to point fingers and name names as that would be bad for business however leave the would be troublemaker lingering in the background like a shadow isn't too wise either. I'm not suggesting human sacrifice, disclosure is a consensual decision but try not advertise your guilt. Specific behaviors rose suspicions, suspicions warrant inquiry. Patience is a virtue. I waited for the opportunity to present itself, I cast in and bagged the sucker by their own huberous and arrogance, now I have a name. I've never really understood why people willingly self sabotage within a group dynamic. I speak for myself, I shall always speak for myself and I don't speak for anybody. I decisions either advance or inhibit my individual progress because it's downright stupid to take the team with you should you decide to jump off the cliff. This particular individual embodies self sabotage. They constantly prompt negative commentary across the group, they see the working environment as unfavorable and they believe the employment tier is actively oppressing them. Ladies and gentlemen allow me to introduce Black Ken. I've prattled on previously about Black Karen and by golly everything went on the ark in twos. This time around the complaint is about opinion, my opinion. Freedom of speech is a basic human right everyone has so have your say, I'll agree or I'll disagree but I certainly won't tell you to keep it to yourself or assume you are trying to speak for the collective, I'm not a communist. I shall, in response, tell you what I think of your commentary when you tell me to "speak for myself" and not to "speak for everyone". Once again I spent precious moments of my life trying to explain common sense to Neanderthals with the same expectation of my explaining to my pets how to use the toilet when they pee on my carpeting. My understand me better. Can I get that in writing?
The Banking Standard, my adventure from fiscal frustration to financial infuriation from the world of modern banking. Daily withdrawal limit exceeded. The message blinked on screen, the ATM patiently awaiting my response. Is it response?
Of course not I'm standing in front of a machine so input, yes it's waiting for my input. Cancel transaction, remove card, step away from ATM. Well that's a minor inconvenience, I thought en route to the exit. Wait a minute, the thought came to me, let's ask that person at the enquiry desk.
'Certainly sir you can increase your daily drawing limit using our banking app or using the ATM'.
The banking app for this account and I currently stand at an impass; it doesn't work for me and I barely use it, trying to reinstall it is rather moot.
'I'll use the ATM thank',
'great, I'll show you how to do it'.
Her enthusiasm was almost robotic, so was her voice.
'Insert your card, enter your pin, press more options, select card options, select card pin, set your new daily withdrawal limit...'
oh no the loading circle is slowly illuminating her eyes, 'this function requires the OTP sent to your mobile number linked to this account. Do you have your mobile device with you?'
As a matter of fact, I didn't. I canceled the transaction, removed my card and graciously thanked her for her assistance before the pending firmware updates started downloading directly to her consciousness. Ever determined I went to my car to fetch my phone, the mobile device supporting the mobile number from whence I require an OTP. Finding the bank's free wifi connection while standing in line for the ATM in order to receive the sacred OTP from the algorithm gods I mentally recite the process as I near the machine. Insert my card, nothing happens, wait a minute, nothing happens. I press the cancel button, nothing happens, the ATM stares at me with a mechanical equivalent of a vacant expression. The machine has frozen and swallowed my bank card.
'Excuse me,' addressing the lady standing in line behind me, 'could you please call the enquiry desk person,' ashamed to admit I said "person" as I gestured to the counter behind us.
'How can I assist?'
'The machine froze,' I pointed at the screen like a caveman; nothing happen, machine eat card, me want card back.
'Did you press the cancelation button?'
I don't think I appreciate her tone of questioning, I'm not dumb, only in a hurry. 'Yes,' I hear my pitiful response, 'that's fine, please go inside to the first teller counter, they'll retrieve your card.'
Ok, my 5 year old scolded child brain overpowering my caveman brain into compliance. I shuffled inside and up to the teller.
'How can I help you sir?'
Exactly like a child standing before an authoritative adult, my head tilted to a Dutch angle, my eyes looking away to one side, my feet nervously shuffling.
'The ATM swallowed my card,' I say, 'which one?'
Preempting my childlike response which would have been 'that one,' with me pointing at the soild concrete wall dividing the inside of the bank from the outside of the bank her follow-up was 'was it the first or the second machine?'
'The first one.' My timid reply triggered a lightning response of this resident bank ninja collecting her keys, sliding out from her chair, darting out of sight towards the ATM deposit door and returning to her counter within three words of her ongoing conversation with the other bank ninja seated behind the teller counter beaide her, with two bank cards in hand. Time to figure out two card monty.
'Do you have identification with you?'
'No. I don't carry it with me.'
'Do you have a driver's license?'
'Yes I do, oh wait that's in my car.'
Ladies and gentlemen there is a Neanderthal in the bank, proceed with caution he appears agitated and may bite anyone within reach. Additional requests would've resulted in bank security using pepper spray to subdue angry caveman but professionalism prevailed, questions to ask 5 year olds resumed.
'Please may I have your ID number.'
Caveman know ID number, awkwardly reciting them to her. The drop shuts snaps open. 'There you are sir, your card is returned to you, please sign the book provided.' I scribble down my signature with contempt and indignant indifference because my caveman brain and 5 year old brain were having it out with each other, time to exit the bank, I pause momentarily to consider returning to the ATM to try again but my caveman brain and 5 year old brain unanimously object so the foolish exercise and demand I leave, also they were hungry and wanted snacks. I returned to my car, placing my mobile device supporting the mobile number linked to this account from whence I require an OTP to complete the ATM request of adjusting my daily drawing limit pinged. New message: Thank you using our in branch banking services. You have received a notification of your card retrieved from our branch (listed in bracket). Should you require any assistance please make use of our mobile app. Link attached below. Somewhere painted on a cave wall is an image depicting the death of the first caveman who mastered the use of the wheel, blugeond to death by the other cavemen. Recorded so that many milenia later humans could see the infuriated, frustrated and angered response of ordinary folk the overly complicated system of needless technological advancement causes for the species to continue.
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