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The Boot
18 Apr 2003 by Matthew Linderman
It occurred to me the other day that the “Boot” they give to over-parkers is a pretty innovative idea. What do you do with a car that keeps parking for too long? Make it stay there even longer! Rather brilliant in a Sun Tzu/Bruce Lee/Jujitsu “cripple your enemy by turning his strength into a weakness” kinda way.
Here are some nifty judo quotes.
The fact, however, to which I want to call attention is that the master of Judo never relies upon his own strength. He scarcely uses his own strength in the greatest emergency. Then what does he use? Simply the strength of his antagonist. The force of the enemy is the only means by which that enemy is overcome.
24 comments so far (Post a Comment)
18 Apr 2003 | buddy said...
I wish someone could read those to me while I smoked a joint.
18 Apr 2003 | Steve said...
Well, of course, they come by and tow the car after booting it.
"Best" application I ever saw of the boot was when I was living in Chicago. I was driving down Irving Park, heading out to O'Hare, when I noticed that a semi, complete with trailer, had been booted. The thing looked like a toy on that big wheel, since they used a car-sized one (I'm guessing they don't make tractor-trailer boots). I'm guessing the truck could have driven away without too much difficulty with the thing on until it broke apart a few blocks later.
18 Apr 2003 | scottmt said...
hate the boot. one time I parked in a lot that was half empty for I swear, no more than 4 minutes, to run into a store. I came out to a parking nazi (the same one who had booted me the previous week, in my own parking lot, because I forgot to put up the hang tag - it was sitting on the freaking seat) grinning like a school girl.
18 Apr 2003 | kev said...
the 'denver boot' as it's called sometimes, originated in denver, where i happen to live. it was a major issue last christmas in the cherry creek neighboorhood... people parking in a giant safeway parking lot next to a mall because the mall parking lot was literally completely full.. and coming out to a $75, cash-only-to-get-rid-of boot on their car. The safeway parking lot never uses more than the first 2 rows of spots, but they were nazis about the other 400.
18 Apr 2003 | scottmt said...
right on kev. I'm in Boulder. We lovingly refer to the parking services people as
"parking nazis" (hope i'm not offending anyone). They are an independent entity, but have a deal with the university. They are funded by .. revenue from tickets, boots / tows. needless to say they are ruthless :-/
18 Apr 2003 | Darrel said...
The towing/booting industry can go to hell.
18 Apr 2003 | MrAnonymous said...
I'm getting an image of Homer Simpson in New York City. Driving with the "boot" on...tearing up his car because he missed the parking nazi. Very funny.
18 Apr 2003 | scottmt said...
oh man I had forgotten about that Simpsons! Homer is the man.
18 Apr 2003 | kev said...
you.. had.. forgotten... about.. the.. simpsons... ?! I hope you just mean about that episode, which I have in realmedia format for my ever-lasting viewing pleasure.
20 Apr 2003 | anders said...
Judo lost any mysticism to me when my friend the Judoka shared that the main objective is to pound someone into the floor hard enough that, if the floor were pavement, then then person would die from massive trauma.
That is not very Mister Miyagi, Daniel-san.
21 Apr 2003 | marius said...
Here in Amsterdam we have tv-shows about the work of the parking-nazi's, showing people going crazy when they discover their car has been booted.
21 Apr 2003 | Don Schenck said...
Glad they don't have them here. I came out of my nephew's five-hour memorial service last Thursday (1,000 people) and found a parking ticket! ARGH!
(There was NO parking available, and I was not going to "Oh, I appreciate your sympathy, now please excuse me while I compose myself and pump some more quarters into the mayor's pockets.")
21 Apr 2003 | Darrel said...
Uhh...yea...patrolling a memorial service to hand out parking tickets...that's pretty low.
21 Apr 2003 | Don Schenck said...
Darrel -- turns out they didn't know about the service (yeah, right) and they have offered to "excuse" my ticket IF I visit their office. Yeah, like I have time.
*sigh* It's been one ROUGH week.
21 Apr 2003 | MrBlank said...
Don - I hope your week gets better!
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