so i'm eating supper in a kentucky fried chicken and this crazy old woman who looks like a disheveled version of minnie pearl taps me on the shoulder and asks, "can you buy me some chicken?" i of course say "what?" because this does not seem like an appropriate question. she asks again, "can you buy me some chicken?" this time i flatly say no. then she changes her query and asks, "can i have a dollar to buy me some chicken?" i again decline, and she skulks away, exiting the establishment and camping out in front of the kfc sign on the sidewalk.
    ten minutes later, i finish the last nibble of my buttermilk biscuit, all the while watching this old woman through the window. she continues to unsuccessfully panhandle. as i leave the restaurant and begin walking home, i pass this woman and she stops me again. "can you buy me some chicken?" she asks. again i say "what?" she proceeds to repeat her question, and- upon my silence- asks if she can instead have a dollar to buy some chicken for herself.
    to me, this just seems like a poor business philosophy. i realize street people dont really provide a "service", per se, but if you had to quantify what they do contribute into some kind of discernible social role- the most flattering description might be that they make us feel like we're part of a civilization. they are part of the urban landscape, they are reminders of how life is wicked and they are profiles in courage.
    or atleast they could be profiles in courage, if they werent so god-damn inconsiderate. how can you not remember talking to me, old woman? its not like you're haunted by career responsibilities and bombarded by stimuli; in the past ten minutes, you've merely asked random strangers for free chicken. is recalling that i've already declined to give you my charity too much to ask? must you treat me like a complete stranger? as members of the same civilization, can i not expect the courtesy of a knowing glance when you beg for chicken a second time?
    thats the problem with homeless people: to them, we're all just a number.

klosterman

LA Trip

universal studios- city walk

tony loves the water

mood

toast

k-clubbing at velvet room

hodori (after kclubbing)

getty museum

korean bbq

garden of eden

ready

huntington beach