Noticing Driver's Behavior

Having recently acquired my permit (yes, I ‘only’ have my permit) I may be judged premature in offering my two-fifths of a nickel’s market value, however I have noticed patterns in my own and others’ driving behaviors. Being a product of a schola aptly named ‘Defensive Driving school’ people may become peeved with my well intentioned, and frankly safer than their own, driving habits. I absolutely positively do NOT engage in any maneuvers I am uncomfortable with. Some may be annoyed with it, but as the great Thomas Nolan once said, “don’t ever hurry somewhere like I am now. Unsafely, we hurry to nowhere. And one day, like most good Americans, we’ll die hurrying to nowhere…”
Unfortunately, not all good Americans seem to realize the dangers of the stereotypes made of American driving (having only driven in America, I feel it prudent to discuss only American driving styles). Going too fast or too slow are the norms, in the lovely county of Ocean. “Speed limit? What the hell’s a spee…. Oh god! I have crashed into another car while wondering what those signs posted on the side of the road mean, and have promptly been made dead!” That may not have actually been a real quote, but there is not a doubt in my mind that similar scenes have played out here, far too often for my liking. Is it any wonder that Ocean County has the highest teen death rate due to car accidents every year in the entire freaking nation! (whoo! First place!)
This takes no mention of illegal intoxicants consumed by the people whom drive around me. Or the absolute incompetence to exercise control of self some people show. And the inability of some to grasp that a cell phone is not an MVC approved driving aid. Or any of a thousand other things I could generalize about. These people aren’t necessarily bad drivers, but they have bad habits that endanger their safety and my own. And if you haven’t picked up on it yet, That makes me severely unhappy…
And speaking of feelings, let’s discuss personality (no that wasn’t supposed to make sense). Peoples’ personalities are undoubtedly changed when they get behind the wheel of a car. Any ordinary civilian can get in the driver’s seat and change. It’s no hard feat to become a raging bumper-car pilot when you think that the four feet of car around you is keeping you safe (it isn’t). But that’s not the full extent of the problem. There is an inherent need to rush in our culture, at the most basic level of society, ingrained into our subconscious (which I alluded to previously) that well and truly puts everyone on the path to nowhere when they share the roads with the stupid…

About that hobby of mine...

I know I haven't posted anything about my most procrastinative of hobbies, warhammer, recently, but that doesn't mean I haven't made any progress in painting. Life, however, tends to force me to do other, less enjoyable things than paint little men or post pictures of them. Anywho I know that not many people will see these entries ( and even less will care), but I find them useful in keeping me painting at a steady rate, almost like a public vow... So in the far (or near) future be ready for more, because there is only war...

Changing the way things run

Need to get better at posting these blogs on time...

Changing the way things run

I don't know if the world will change much when I 'grow up', and as to what will scare me, I think that is the scariest prospect to face in and of itself *rant warning*. Some people worry about how our schools will fare in the future. Whether they will receive funding, how good they'll be, what kind of physical condition they will be in, and whether or not they will live up to America's 'exacting' standards. What they don't seem to be worrying about is the fact that these problems exist in the present... And they aren't changing. Heck, my school hasn't had a proposed budget passed in 9 years! And they've been hamstringing themselves in an effort to keep every single program and extracurricular activity running for those 9 years. They're only conceeding that some things have to be cut now... What kind of standards can a school like this live up to, ignored and with no prospect of aid? And we're one of the more fortunate districts...

Others worry about homlessness, poverty, violence, prisons, even public transportation! These are things which, to some extent, always have and always will exist. We can work to minimize (or maximize, in the last case) their pervasiveness within society, but will never eliminate them. At any rate, worrying about things without working to change them is a lesson in futility. That is where I fall on the spectrum between worry warts and uncaring n'er-do-wells. I cannot concern myself with worrying, because at this point I can't do much to change it. You may think its an excuse, but it's true. I am however, against my better nature, hopeful for the future, as the people in power ( several current prime ministers and presidents come to mind) may just finally be the people who deserve it... And whatever was done in the past, the future is finally looking good...

Relationship with the phone

My phone was once not a very big part of my life. I didn't have one for a very long time, and the first one I finally did have was simple, but useful. My current phone is an essential tool in my day to day survival, and this isn't even as much of an exaggeration as it used to be. My parents wouldn't dream of taking my phone from me (this may be because I'm not a reliant on it as my sisters are theirs...) and indeed, become angry when I don't have it with me. It's my only reliable way to contact my friends (I'm not much of a hometown boy), and it helps me with pretty much everything else I do (including remembering to do them).

However (despite my previous example of hyperbole) I would not actually die without it. I think that waiting as long as I did to get one (not until the summer before my sophomore year) has kept me from being a slave to the whims of that particular technology. That is to say, if I lost use of my phone, I wouldn't mind to the point of insanity. I'd still be rather unhappy with being unable to contact any of my friends, but I tend other to have ways of getting pertinent news and information from them (like talking)... So there you go. My two cents on my phone and our relationship.

Arguments vs. Discourse

It's beek almost exactly a week since my last update, and that makes this article almost exactly a week overdue. Without further ado...

Arguments vs. Discourse

The ancient Greeks used to stand in public areas in the middle of cities and argue about things all day—just for fun. Then they would shake hands and go home. Next day, same thing.

(Mannion, Arguments vs. Discourse)

People argue far too much for my liking, and I must admit that (being a member of the human race) I do this as well. Arguing doesn't mean that the people arguing dislike each other, simply that they disagree (though to hear my friends and I argue is an experience of singular interest in the lengths we go to prove our points, and before you ask, I lose...every time). I think people can disagree without being enemies. In fact, it could be said that the greatest of friends often disaree with each other on several points in life, and use these disagreements to learn more about it and each other.

That said people who argue often seem to get angry at each other after walking away from an argument. In some cases, they are actually angry. Perhaps because they dislike their co-arguee. Perhaps because they feel so strongly about a subject that admitting they are wrong would invalidate thier entire lives.(just a suggestion...) Anyway, in most cases, I'd like to think that people use arguments as an opportunity to learn more about the viewpoints of others, and the people they interact with.

Now I'm probably not the best person to talk about the technicalities of arguing, having been considered a pretentious know-it-all by almost everyone I've met at one point or another. (but at least I'll admit it...) But maybe there should be some rules about arguing, foremost among them being that some things just shouldn't be argued (the rules of Math for example). As well, those participating in the argument should remain civil. Other than that, not much can be done to regulate arguments. Fights, battles, and wars over differing veiwpoints will probably continue until the end of time, and there's not much we can do to stop close mindedness from resulting in these things. That's no reason to sweat the little stuff though...