How do people do it?
How do people drive with a headlight burnt out and NOT use turn signals?I had to take my wife's car to the garage today because it was having all kinds of electrical problems. Starting with the turn signals not working. And the radio and interior lights acting weird. Then when I was driving it this morning, I noticed 1 of the headlights was out.How do people drive with a headlight burnt out and NOT use turn signals?I was constantly paranoid on the drive over to the garage I was going to get in an accident because people didn't know I intended to shift lanes or to turn. And since it was early, I felt like I was driving blind with 1 headlight out. It made driving very uncomfortable this morning. And yet there are plenty of people who don't use turn signals. In fact if they come on in their car it's because the turn signal stalk got bumped...The garage was able to fix the loose ground wire. So my wife's car is up & running properly again.Labels: Cars, Darwin award candidate, inconsiderate people, Random things.., Rant, riddle me this, stupid people, things I don't understand
HC has her concerns
I'm really liking the idea of taking some driving courses and doing the Autocross thing. I don't have to take courses to participate. But I think the courses will explain to me some of the strategies and techniques.
HC's concern? She's not as worried about me getting hurt as much as me being even more vocal/angry/aggressive when we're on the road and stupid drivers do stupid things.
I'm going to have to think about what she said before I move ahead with Autocross:
- The driving courses will teach me skills that mostly won't apply to driving on the street.
- Buuuttt I can see them elevating my confidence and as a result making me more annoyed when stupid people do stupid/inconsiderate things behind the wheel.
Why do/would I get annoyed? This harkens back to 1 of my major pet peeves: Stupid/inconsiderate/self-centered people. My annoyance with Stupid/inconsiderate/self-centered people is magnified while driving because they are moving around several thousand pounds of metal AND being Stupid/inconsiderate/self-centered at the same time. It adds to the danger factor. Not only can they harm themselves, but now they have the opportunity to hurt someone else. Not good. not good at all.
I know I should let it go because I have no control over them and their ways but it just really gets under my skin when these people do as they please with no regard for others.
Labels: Autocross, clueless, frustrations, Random things.., riddle me this, stupid people, stupidity
Concert, Movie, Show ettiquete 101
I've been witness to some behaviour the past couple of concerts I've attended that has motivated me to write this post:- Turn off your cellphone/pager/PDA. If you need to be in contact that much, maybe you don't have time for a concert, movie, show. Maybe you are just too damn important. (I doubt it) It's simply rude, ignorant, and inconsiderate. If you DO need to have it on, set it to silent or vibrate. And when it goes off, take it outside. The rest of us who paid good money want to enjoy the show NOT hear you on the phone. Last night I saw a couple of people text messaging during the concert. Give me a break. Again, if you need to be in that constant a level of contact, you don't have time for the show. Might I suggest you stay home? No they weren't talking so it wasn't as distracting or rude as talking but still very pathetic that they couldn't enjoy the concert for what it was and needed additional activities/stimulus. I sometimes wonder if they remember what life was like without all these extra encumberances.
- No talking please. I don't mean the occasional comment or chuckle. I mean the constant conversation. If you need to talk, get up and step out of the venue. It's one thing to laugh about something on the screen or something the entertainer said. But for you to sit there and go on and on. That's plain rude, ignorant, and inconsiderate. Some of us actually want to hear what's going on.
- No eating please. It's OK at the movies or at a club. It' OK if you're discreet about it. BUT please DO NOT sit next to me and crinkle the plastic wrap on your box of goobers or whatever you're trying to contend with for 5 minutes!!!! If you don't know how to work the packaging, maybe you don't need it bad enough. Last night this moron was messing around with his box of candy for the first 5 minutes of the show. I stared at him twice. (The good long searing stare.) He was too stupid and/or clueless to get the hint. I was about to say something to him when he finally defeating the packaging. WTF?!? In this country most of us could skip a meal or 2. There's a reason we're the most obese country in the world!! It's not like he would have died if he didn't have his chocolate snack.
- Show up on time. It's rude, ignorant, and inconsiderate to interrupt the performers and audience that bothered to be there at the appointed time. The time is clearly printed on the tickets. Most vehicles have clocks in them. Use them!!! Maybe it's just in Pittsburgh that you will be admitted when you arrive late. I know for the symphony you have to wait until they're done with a movement or a piece. I know in New York they don't let you in until a break when a show has started. Here in Pittsburgh, no problem show up whenever you like. We'll open the door and let you in. 15 minutes late, 30 minutes late, not a problem.
So what are some of your pet peeves?
Labels: clueless, inconsiderate people, Rant, stupid people
What NOT to do
Winter driving can be tricky but here are a few things I can tell you NOT to do:
Speeding. Not to get all scientific but…the faster you’re going, the more momentum you have, the harder it is for you to STOP or maneuver. (A body in motion tends to stay in motion) With limited traction and varying road conditions you’re never quite sure what you’re going to encounter. It doesn’t matter if you have 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive. Once the tires loose adhesion to the road the adventure begins! Speeding is the easiest way to gob up your vehicle in bad weather.
Sudden maneuvers. Going straight isn’t usually the problem. It’s changing directions that’s the challenge! Again physics says a body in motion tends to stay in motion. A body in motion also wants to keep going in the direction it’s going. This isn’t as noticeable on dry roads but when you decrease the friction between the tires and the road (rain, ice, snow) it’ll become obvious.
Driving over the piles of snow/ice the plows have left on the road. Don’t drive over the mounds of snow & ice the plows have created in the process of clearing the road. There’s very little traction to be found, it’s uneven, and you’re never sure about what other debris is in the pile along with the ice & snow.
Where am I going with this?
Last night on the way to a concert I saw a woman break these rules and almost gob her car up really well/kill herself. She was flying along. (I’m all for speeding but NOT when the weather is bad.) She cut across 3 lanes of traffic, over the pile of snow/ice the plows left behind. And then her car began to spin. She did at least a 360 and nearly hit the Jersey barriers on both sides of the exit. She was the luckiest woman in Pittsburgh last night. It was after rush hour so there weren’t as many cars on the road so there was no reason for her to be speeding or to cut over 3 lanes of traffic or to drive over the ice/snow. She was being and idiot and a lucky 1 at that!
I don’t know how she managed not to hit anything. It was amazing. It was like the stunts you see in the movies.
I’m sure an underwear change was required when she got home.Labels: Darwin award candidate, stupid people, stupidity
