LatinosUSA

PERSONAL PEEVE ♾️+ 5: I HAVE BEEN DISOWNED

Used to get TV broadcast listings printed
In the local daily newspaper and would
Mark which baseball, football, or basketball
Games I wanted to view, then I could even
Watch one while recording another. Times
Have sure changed for the worse.

For the most part, these games are no
Longer transmitted over the public airwaves
So instead there now exist a plethora of
Proprietary ownerships, each demanding
Monetary compensation for the privilege of
Viewing these games, which leaves me out

It is most upsetting to see that these professional
Sports clubs, whose owners and players are
Already rewarded with obscenely high salaries
For holding these events, now get an additional
Stream of revenue from fans who want to watch
The games as was common to do in the past

Sometimes these teams have momentously bad
Games, and I would be ashamed to tell my friends
And family that I actually invested extra to be able
To share that awful game on my TV. So I refuse to
Pay and I won’t come back until it is on MY terms!
None of their merch will adorn my house, car, or body

~~

PERSONAL PEEVE ♾️+ 6: TOUCHLESS CHECKOUT

At many places where I shop
Their checkout system is enabled
To read your credit or debit card
With just a tap on the screen, but
Too many times the customer is
Prompted to also enter a PIN code

And that leads the customer to use their
Bare fingers to enter that code on a
public keypad that has been touched
By countless other bare fingers, possibly
Bearing germs or other communicable
diseases. This is definitely NOT touchless

~~

PERSONAL PEEVE ♾️+ 7: SCHOOL FLAG SALUTE

At the beginning of each school day
We direct children, some of whom are
Not yet old enough to handle the
Responsibility of crossing the street
By themselves, to place their hands
Over their hearts and pledge allegiance

To the flag. This whole practice of flags
And colors has its roots in Medieval
Times and we have swallowed it whole
Without improving it in any meaningful
Way, assigning our little children the
Role of obedient sheep, waiting in line

To be slaughtered. There are several
Things these kids are still not old enough
To do, but we nonetheless hold them
Accountable to recite the words of a
Pledge they may not fully understand
Till decades later, if at all.