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The book, "The Rantings of a 33-Year-Old Father of Two," looks at irresponsible behavior and the 'Age of Entitlement' in which we live. Here is an excerpt:

Smokers who stand right outside of the entrance to a building.

I want to go into the local store and there you are, weight shifted to one leg, puffing away outside the entrance to the store. Now, I have to take a deep breath and hold it until I am beyond the "smoke zone." What's worse is when the smoker is an employee. The old motto of "kill the customer with kindness" doesn't stop at "kill the customer." It is "kill the customer... with kindness." I guess during the training you stepped out for a smoke break before the "with kindness" part.

People who take smoke breaks.

Now, if your company gives you two 15-minute breaks, I don't care what you do during that time. I once worked at a place where the general manager took several smoke breaks a day with several staff. Finally, I had enough. One day while they were outside smoking, I went out and stood with them just outside of the "smoke zone." The general manager asked me what I was doing. "I'm taking a second-hand smoke break," I replied. I didn't need to say anymore. I made my point.

Drivers who tailgate.

The fact that you are 2 feet or less from my bumper driving 45 mph in a 45mph speed zone does not make me feel obligated to speed up. In fact, it makes me feel obligated to slow down for every animal crossing the road. It makes me feel obligated to slow down at yellow lights, just in case it changes quickly. It makes me want to let many others merge into traffic. It makes me want to slam on my brakes in the hopes that you will rear end me. Then, I can sue you because you drove like a moron. Back off! I'm driving 45mph! If you aren't at least 4 cars lengths behind (yes, that's one car length for every 10 miles per hour), you will be forced to enjoy watching me slow down, whenever I can, letting people merge into traffic in front of me, and oh yes, slow down and stop until the fluffy squirrel gets out of the middle of the road. Flip me off if it makes you feel better. But, if you want to act like a moron, go do it in someone else's trunk.

People who burn leaves in the middle of town.

I understand that this is legal if you follow the city regulations. Most of you don't. It's a beautiful spring or fall day and you have the urge to start a fire to burn the leaves that the city will take away anyway it doesn't make sense. Now, because I have a family member with breathing difficulties, I have to live like a prisoner in my own home while you take your little match and light your pile of leaves, sending smoke billowing throughout the neighborhood. And, on days with no wind, this settles into my house and frankly, I don't want my house to smell like burning leaves. I think you are an idiot since the city will take the leaves away. But, you feel the urge to trample on the rights of others. Go to the store, purchase a yard waste bag and put the leaves in there. It's a little more work, but at least people won't think of you as the moron you are.

Learn more about this author, Adam Woodworth.
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