I was mugged?!?!

[Irving]

Did you tell him to try the internet? Or is that too much of a conflict of interest?

[iamhunter]

Sorry, hard to calm down when I get to deal with idiots all day. No, not on this site. I'm talking about work. I work in a mapping/blueprinting division of the utilities department... here's a conversation that took place less than an hour ago:

Me: Hello Sir, what can I do for you today.
Them: I need a map.
Me: (Well duh) Well, you came to the right place. What sort of map and what of?
Them: I need an ariel of such and such intersection.
Me: An ariel? Ok, do you need a topographic, contour, or actual satellite pciture?
Them: Uhh... anyway you can just send up a plane to take the picture? I think a satellite would be too far away.
Me:... (Really? Dude....) Yes sir, we can get as close as you need. As a matter of fact, I can read the date off a dime in your palm from 200 miles out.
Them: ... I don't know, that might a little too close.
Me: ... (wow)... Ok Sir, let me pull some images up and we can go from there. What TYPE of map do you need?
Them: A ariel, one from the sky.
Me: Yes Sir, I understand that but... what information do you need on the map, scape heights, road names, dirt composites, utility mains, etc?
Them: Umm... I don't know, let me call my boss. Can I use your phone?
Me: ... (I see the cell in your coveralls chest pocket friend...) Yes Sir.

Wow.

I don't know if I would get mad or just feel sorry for him.

[BigBear]

Did you tell him to try the internet? Or is that too much of a conflict of interest?

No, cause the regional office won't accept a google printout or whatever, they are specific on what maps to use to issue permits (how else will they get their money?) lol. I'm part of the evil machine! I could've skipped the whole conversation by just asking what he needed it for and figured it out from there. Building a deck on a house is one map, building a development site is another, etc and so forth.

Know what really bugs my butt? Say you have a cement foundation for a deck on a house you own. All you want to do is replace the woodwork on that deck, not change/move the foundation. To be "legal" in colorado springs, you still have to get a $x permit, $x diagram map, and $x inspection agent!! Talk about over regulation!!

[Irving]

Anytime you do light house work like that, you should always compare the price and time of obtaining all the permits to the price of just paying the fine on the off chance someone shows up to ask about your permits. Well, I guess that is more for if you live in an HOA and don't want to ask them permission to restain your deck or something.

[theGinsue]

Say you have a cement foundation for a deck on a house you own. All you want to do is replace the woodwork on that deck, not change/move the foundation. To be "legal" in colorado springs, you still have to get a $x permit, $x diagram map, and $x inspection agent!! Talk about over regulation!!

And while they (the city/county) is able to generate a certain amount of revenue from the fees for these items, the manpower and overhead required to process all of that costs money not to mention the inconvenience to the homeowner.

Is it any wonder why the city and county are so far from meeting their budgets?

[BigBear]

Even if you do just go with teh fine, they will often tell you to "correct" it and still need to go get a permit and yadda yadda yadda.... Quite horrible in my opinion! lol.

[Zundfolge]

Sorry, hard to calm down when I get to deal with idiots all day. No, not on this site. I'm talking about work. I work in a mapping/blueprinting division of the utilities department

Say no more.

I work for MacVan (I'm the creative director) ... I think we deal with the same idiots that pester you.

One of my favorites is when they ask for a map of the entire city, at full detail ... on an 8.5x11 sheet.

Had a guy come in and ask for "a globe of the US"
Recently had someone ask for a life size map of the city (girl that works in our retail store didn't miss a beat, she pointed out the front window and said "its out there, and its FREE")

Also live through to many of these on a daily basis.

[BigBear]

HAHAHAHA!!!! Life size map?! HAHA. Haven't had that one yet! Wow, thanks for just making my day! My boss is staring at me now. HAHA.

[rondog]

I'm proud of ya, Big Bear! Proud of your wife too! My wife wouldn't have even known anything was going on until the cops started pounding on the door. If she DID see something going down, she sure as hell wouldn't go for any kind of gun to back me up, even if one were available to her. She has no interest in guns or self defense, she's a total sheep, although one with a very large mean streak. She probably wouldn't even have the sense to pick up the phone either.

[KevDen2005]

You put it perfectly BigBear.

As for the 3v1 thing... It's always, awlays bad.

I saw a video once from a cop's dash camera.

The cop was a seriously large dude. Probably 6'6", well built, and fully geared.

He stopped a car for stolen plates and got out with out calling in backup. Three mexicans got out of the car. Each of them easily half his size or less.

Anyways, business proceeded as usual, until one of the guys tackled him at the legs, another at the torso, and the third pulled out a small revolver and proceeded to empty all six rounds into the cop.

He laid there dead until the station figured out something was wrong.

Just goes to show you that no matter how big, or strong, or how well trained you are, being outnumbered is NEVER a good situation to be in.

I know exactly what video you are talking about, I wasn't there so I am not going to criticize too much, but that officer was a long time veteran, was very complacent about letting three people out of a stopped vehicle, and missed the warning signs he was about to be in a fight.

I wanna make sure everyone realizes I said Big Bear did the right thing. I also can only imagine what that must have been like.