Poor Russian Hackers, or the John Rocker Manifesto. I hear the average Russian makes about the equivalent of $150 a month. [cut] Homeless & Panhandlers are very abundant in Russia and it can be a little despairing at times to see this (mostly in the Metro). It is up to your discretion what you give if any, be warned there are professional panhandlers who are too lazy to work and find it easier to take money from tourists, or some other bleeding heart. You will see the one's who are in real need, the war veteran's with no legs, the very old who get no pensions etc., etc. Remember, if you give something the majority head to the nearest liquor Kiosk and spend it on cheap Vodka. [cut] Well, I don't blame them for buying the Vodka, cause it's cold as hell in Russia. The states is no different. I road a bus from Atlanta to Jersey, then from Camden to Salt Lake; it went something like this... It was 75* in Camden, by the time I arrived in Chicago for a 4 hour layover it was below freezing but I could stand it. I managed to avoid all the trash except an old man with a long white beard which I had a long interesting conversation with and offered to buy him some breakfast. All he wanted was orange juice, so I suppose he already had the Vodka. About the time of my departure while we waited in line, I managed to find the correct terminal even though the Information desk had not clue. After getting back on the bus in Chicago, we had obtained some new passengers. One guy bald, with a nose ring and tatoos on his head and face was accompanied by what appeared to be a 14 or 15 year old girl. First I was like the rest of my companions and thought what a terrible thing; where's her parents? But after speaking to him and finding out that he's was an ok guy and they were on their way to Southern California to live with her Aunt, I thought to myself...he probably is saving her from that shit hole, Chicago. Oh, I for got to tell you about the fight that broke out in D.C. on our way to Camden. That's another story. By the time we entered Nebraska, it was well below zero and ice sickles were hanging from the fenders of passing cars. Stepping out into a 30 mile an hour wind didn't help either. We also stopped at a McDonalds just off i80; the prices were about 45% higher than in GA. Actually, everything in GA is cheaper than anywhere else, excluding Atlanta of course. I almost got into a fight in Omaha because some guy standing outside was harassing a young girl (one of the passengers). He may have killed me but I managed to scare him away with a little help from that bald guy with the tatoos and nose ring standing behind me. A crazy old man got off in Cheyenne WY and refuse to get back on when the driver called out, so we left his ass. He had a small jacket; it was at least 15 below with a wind chill of 28 below with 2 foot of snow on the ground. I arrived 2 1/2 days later at my destination in Salt Lake City. My future employer set us up for the night in the company facility. We went to bed around 2am. The phone rang just before 7am and I proceeded to the main desk to get further instructions. Afterwards, the receptionist sent me to personnel. I waited another hour or so then she told me I was supposed to be in San Diego CA. I explained the trip from GA to Camden and then to SLC, but she had no mercy. She handed me a bus ticket to SD. I thanked her, but said no thanks...called a cab and purchased myself a one way ticket to Atlanta via Dallas / Fort Worth. In Dallas everyone was friendly. I met some really nice people in the terminal while I waited. After what I had been through, it was like stepping into another world. If I EVER leave GA, it's going to take more than $10,000 a month to suit me. Money isn't everything. When it comes right down to it your safety is most important. Chain of events: I saw a burned out high-rise in Chicago and people were still living in it! In Philadelphia a roofer could make a fortune, because all the houses are run down and have tin roofs with rocks and old boards holding the tin down. Downtown has bars on all the windows and rundown shops. I paid $1.39 + tax for a canned coke in SLC. Oh yeah, a guy in DC (one block from the capital building) tried to sell me some acid (whatever the hell that is). A friend said it's rat poison or some type of blood thinner that junkies use to get high. Decon? A guy with his wife and 3 year old were on the bus with us headed to SLC. She cried the whole trip; no, not the 3 year -- his wife! Apparently he had convinced her to leave their home town for greener pastures. I got news for him, he better think about his family and get some help. Seems they had no money or plans for the future. Perhaps he was fired or something, I don't known. So the next time you here a sob story about those poor Russian hackers who use ol' 386 burned out computers and make $150 a month, now you know that this country nor the people in it aren't any better off. In fact, 99% of this country is toast. When John Rocker got flagged for being a racist and making racist comments about NY City which eventually cost him his job, I could understand his point of view. All the big cities are shit holes. This country has gone to hell in-a-hand-basket! jay ---- post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] url: http://theMezz.com/informant forum: http://theMezz.com/bbs subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] notDigest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A http://www.topica.com/t/17 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
