Jean-Baptiste

Rear Detail
Originally uploaded by jojobeanz

Ripped off

I just got two tickets for the Ratatat show at the Starlight Ballroom Oct. 1st. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the venue has an independent website, so I had to get the tickets through Ticketmaster. I hate buying stuff through Ticketmaster because it's such a ridiculous ripoff every single time.

Seriously. A Ratatat ticket is $17. Ticketmaster charges a $3 service fee. That's almost 18%. When I was getting tickets for another show a few weeks ago, the service fee was $6 per $24 ticket (the venue that time was the Troc). That's 25%! I ended up just getting the tickets at the Troc instead. I understand that Ticketmaster needs to make money somehow, but $3 or $6 per ticket? Personally, it just makes me hop on my bike and get the tickets elsewhere.

Jerk

I'm riding down Walnut St. I've just passed Schuylkill Ave. and I'm just about to fly through the intersection between Walnut and S 30th St. when a car parked on the corner drives out in the bike lane to cross over to the right lane of Walnut. But it doesn't; the driver drives slowly in front of me and comes to a halt, forcing me to stop behind him.

I'm warm, I'm grouchy and my legs are still sore from a 20 mile ride last weekend. My irritation is growing. I start passing the car with a dirty look on my face when suddenly an arm without a hand comes out through the driver's window. It's followed by a gray head and a sincere, faint 'I'm sorry'.

I give him a smile as I ride past him. I feel like such a jerk.