Who does these things?

I generally consider myself an optimist and I tend to look fondly on this human race of ours. But every once in a while, something makes me certain there's no hope for us at all. Acts of such irrational, fruitless stupidity that I can't help but wonder if things have gone truly sideways and that doom is inevitable. Now this is a very pedestrian case compared to more prominent examples (such as those provided daily by our friend curious George to the south), but it's still enough to make me shake my head.

Haleigh came out of work on Tuesday to find a flat tire. A pain in the ass, but par for the car owner's course. The 2 1/2 hour response time from GM's wonderful road side assistance made it worse, but that's another rant. I brought the car in this morning to get the tire repaired and have them check the others to make sure they were in good shape. Came down to a Starbucks and began my daily caffeine injection. As I'm happily bobbing my head to corporately chosen jazz and soaking up the "Starbucks Experience", I get a call from the shop. Apparently a large nail has found it's way into each of the 4 tires on our car.

Who they hell does something like that? And why? I want to understand. Is this revenge for some unrecognized slight? I could respect that, but what's the victory if you don't take credit for it? Or just a prank by some young hoodlums, driving nails into cars and charging gleefully into the night? At least someone would have gotten something from it. Or is it just some weird amensalism of our urban ecology?

Anyway, I'm at a loss to explain it without resorting to some heavy enmity for the world. I guess I'll just bury it and move on. Like water off a duck's back …