Ever heard the yarn, Why is one guy filling up holes following right behind another guy digging them?
This is an old USSR joke you might know; the pair are making their way along the street, one digging holes in dirt, and his colleague filling them up as fast as they are dug. Why so, wonders a bystander? They explain that there should be third guy planting saplings into each of the holes, but he called in sick.
Today an eyewitness told me something vaguely related actually happened just last summer in ex-USSR: A tram full of passengers was rolling at midday along the tracks from the outskirts of a regional city straight into the downtown. Right as the car turned into the central downtown area, it halted in a commotion, and the driver of the bright red tram emerged from the cab and after a bit announced that the tram would run no further.
Why, the disturbed passengers protested?! Well, hurried (?) workmen had been sloppy (to be
very polite!) and in the few minutes between passing trams had managed to (i) bury one
of the rails under a heavy quantity of fresh asphalt, (ii) quickly steamroll their
creation, and (iii) leave the scene entirely.
My friend was on board, and she walked off in hysterics upon
understanding
what had happened (with the passengers alternately shouting and
marveling at it all).
(I know this sounds fanciful, but the lass in question is not the sort to tell tales -- this happened! LOL!)
Only in Russia...
June 22, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
One so hates to suggest this, but alcohol consumption 24/7 might play some small role!
June 22, 2009 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink