Okay, I am one of those born again health enthusiasts who has managed to lose 136 pounds and go from high cholesterol to perfect cholesterol. I am firmly aware that over a third of our kids are overweight, obese or even morbidly obese. I am 100% behind healthier lunches in school and banning sugary based vending machines from schools, but I think at least one school might be going way to far.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110411/us_yblog_thelookout/chicago-school-bans-homemade-lunches-the-latest-in-national-food-fight tells us that one school has outright banned home made lunches from being brought to and eaten in school. Instead, kids must purchase the school lunches even if their parents can't afford it. "The students can either eat the cafeteria food--or go hungry." is a direct quote from the school.
Now as pointed out in the article, the vast majority of the kids in the school's district live at or below the poverty line. This means that most of their parents can't afford the $2.25 meals and a large number of them probably can't even afford the reduced cost meals that some might qualify for. So what is the school saying, "Hey Sucks to be poor, but those are the breaks?"
I know from many years of personal experience that it is much cheaper to fix lunches at home than eat out. For the $10.00+ they are talking about a week, I could easily fix sandwiches for a month. Parents will be forced to either let their kids go hungry at lunch and try to make up for it at home or try to scrounge together enough money for them to eat at school and maybe short everyone at home. Not very good choices.
Of course the real knee slapper here is that up until a short time ago, school lunches were probably as much to blame for unhealthy kids as everything else. They were filled with greasy, sugar filled foods that were prepared as cheaply as possible. Hells, some schools still use Lard as a cooking ingredient instead of healthier oils.
Suddenly some of these institutions have "seen the light" and are trying to do better and this is good, but unlike many converts they are leaning way to far to the other side. The schools need to realize that in this imperfect world that their ideal solutions are not going to be one size fits all. Poorer people do the best they can and that is all they can do.
Should ever kid in America have access to healthy meals that provide them with just the right amount of protein, veggies and other good things. Hells yes, but unless those meals are going to be free of charge there is always going to be a large (Getting larger) section of the country that can't afford that.
"The students can either eat the cafeteria food--or go hungry." should never be an option for anyone who gives a damn about kids.
Rambles and Rants about pretty much everything ranging from Bad Service to Political Correctness. Being offensive and making people go "Hmmm" for the better part of two decades.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Soldiers deserve more
Okay last rant for the day, I promise. I have pretty much said everything that I need to say and prolly a few that I didn't but I decided to hit the dying topic one more time cause I am really miffed at one aspect of a potential shut down.
Forgetting for a second all of the government employees who will suffer during this time, forgetting all of the businesses that will suffer during this time and forgetting all of the other BS that is going on one thing does not need to be forgotten. During this shutdown, no matter how long it lasts (One day, three days, a week, a month) our armed forces will receive no pay. What kind of bull hockey is that?
Sure, when the government does restart they will get back pay but during the shutdown, they will be out there risking their lives and not getting paid for it. Their families will not be supported, hells survivor benefits won't be paid. Is this the way we say thank you to the people who serve in our Armed Forces? Is this the way we say, "We respect you and support you?"
The President still gets paid, Congress still gets paid and the Senate still gets paid. All the lazy and contentious assholes that are causing this problem in the first place will not go without their salaries, but the people who risk their lives everyday in support of our country must do without. That is the absolutely saddest, most pathetic thing I have ever imagined.
Now some people will point out that a shut down, if it happens, will probably not run long enough to truly effect (affect never could keep those two straight) the Military and they are probably right. The point they seem to be missing is that if these idiots in Washington don't get their act together and do their jobs then it could last long enough. Hells how long have they been fighting over this crap? Weeks of argument and inability on both sides to bend even a little does not bode well for a quick resolution if a shut down occurs.
So like I said, its bad enough that a shut down will put HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS out of work with no clear picture when they can go back. Its bad enough that Reboobicans are suggesting that these out of work people will not receive back pay when they return even though they will be unable to collect unemployment unless the shut down lasts way to long. On top of all that idiocy, we have to tell our Soldiers that "Hey sorry, no money for you but we still need you to go risk your lives." If that doesn't piss you off then nothing will.
Forgetting for a second all of the government employees who will suffer during this time, forgetting all of the businesses that will suffer during this time and forgetting all of the other BS that is going on one thing does not need to be forgotten. During this shutdown, no matter how long it lasts (One day, three days, a week, a month) our armed forces will receive no pay. What kind of bull hockey is that?
Sure, when the government does restart they will get back pay but during the shutdown, they will be out there risking their lives and not getting paid for it. Their families will not be supported, hells survivor benefits won't be paid. Is this the way we say thank you to the people who serve in our Armed Forces? Is this the way we say, "We respect you and support you?"
The President still gets paid, Congress still gets paid and the Senate still gets paid. All the lazy and contentious assholes that are causing this problem in the first place will not go without their salaries, but the people who risk their lives everyday in support of our country must do without. That is the absolutely saddest, most pathetic thing I have ever imagined.
Now some people will point out that a shut down, if it happens, will probably not run long enough to truly effect (affect never could keep those two straight) the Military and they are probably right. The point they seem to be missing is that if these idiots in Washington don't get their act together and do their jobs then it could last long enough. Hells how long have they been fighting over this crap? Weeks of argument and inability on both sides to bend even a little does not bode well for a quick resolution if a shut down occurs.
So like I said, its bad enough that a shut down will put HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS out of work with no clear picture when they can go back. Its bad enough that Reboobicans are suggesting that these out of work people will not receive back pay when they return even though they will be unable to collect unemployment unless the shut down lasts way to long. On top of all that idiocy, we have to tell our Soldiers that "Hey sorry, no money for you but we still need you to go risk your lives." If that doesn't piss you off then nothing will.
Compromising means everyone loses
One of my best friends, brother in every way but blood and colleague actually had some objections to the last Blog. (Imagine that?) Since he is one of the few people I consider to be an intellectual and professional equal (actually when it comes to serious, factual writing, I consider him head and shoulders above me since he actually does this sort of thing for a living and I piddle with it at best. My style of writing is more along the lines of "Hmm wonder what the elves are doing today?)
He took umbrage (Wait can you take umbrage and not be British? Questions questions) at the idea of the different parties compromising instead of one side or the other pushing their idea through. He quoted one of my favorite songs when he said, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything" and believe it or not, I agree him completely. Almost all of the problems facing the world (Not just the US) are because people compromised. They gave up their voices and let other people make the decisions for them. We all need to stop giving in and fighting for what we believe in.
Now, that said, unless you are talking about an armed rebellion against the US (Which I am not, I am severely allergic to bullets. I break out in blood every time one hits me.) or changing our style of government (Which I am not against if someone has a better idea. Any suggestions sent my way will be gleefully exposed in the next blog.) compromise is the only way we are ever going to get things done.
Here's the problem we have right now. (D) says they are right and (R) says that they are right and (B) just wants to save the world right now. (For the record (B) stands for the Tea Party members whom I have nothing against even if they call themselves Tea Baggers) Each set has their own view of how that should be done and steadfastly refuses to even admit that the other side might have some good ideas. The only problem with this attitude is that neither side is 100% right and neither side is 100% wrong. Both sides have some very good points although I do have to admit that (R) seems to have more good points right now than (D). However this doesn't mean that (D)s ideas should be completely ignored.
There is no reason why the government should shut down tonight. In my humble (yeah right) opinion, if it does close and put hundreds of thousands of people out of work, it is because both sides are simply grand standing. Fingers point on both sides to accuse the other of causing it, but it takes two sides to make an argument and two sides to reach an agreement. Lets push past this and use the remaining 6 months to resolve the other disputes.
What it boils down to is this, Congress, the Senate and the President can pull this crap because they won't be hurt by the shut down. You can bet that the Respected Senators and Honored Congressmen (People?) won't feel the sting and wonder how they will pay their bills. Oh yes, the brave men and women who defend our country and the men and women who work to keep it running might suffer, but politics will rage on and on. Come on, peoples. Can't we all just get along.
He took umbrage (Wait can you take umbrage and not be British? Questions questions) at the idea of the different parties compromising instead of one side or the other pushing their idea through. He quoted one of my favorite songs when he said, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything" and believe it or not, I agree him completely. Almost all of the problems facing the world (Not just the US) are because people compromised. They gave up their voices and let other people make the decisions for them. We all need to stop giving in and fighting for what we believe in.
Now, that said, unless you are talking about an armed rebellion against the US (Which I am not, I am severely allergic to bullets. I break out in blood every time one hits me.) or changing our style of government (Which I am not against if someone has a better idea. Any suggestions sent my way will be gleefully exposed in the next blog.) compromise is the only way we are ever going to get things done.
Here's the problem we have right now. (D) says they are right and (R) says that they are right and (B) just wants to save the world right now. (For the record (B) stands for the Tea Party members whom I have nothing against even if they call themselves Tea Baggers) Each set has their own view of how that should be done and steadfastly refuses to even admit that the other side might have some good ideas. The only problem with this attitude is that neither side is 100% right and neither side is 100% wrong. Both sides have some very good points although I do have to admit that (R) seems to have more good points right now than (D). However this doesn't mean that (D)s ideas should be completely ignored.
There is no reason why the government should shut down tonight. In my humble (yeah right) opinion, if it does close and put hundreds of thousands of people out of work, it is because both sides are simply grand standing. Fingers point on both sides to accuse the other of causing it, but it takes two sides to make an argument and two sides to reach an agreement. Lets push past this and use the remaining 6 months to resolve the other disputes.
What it boils down to is this, Congress, the Senate and the President can pull this crap because they won't be hurt by the shut down. You can bet that the Respected Senators and Honored Congressmen (People?) won't feel the sting and wonder how they will pay their bills. Oh yes, the brave men and women who defend our country and the men and women who work to keep it running might suffer, but politics will rage on and on. Come on, peoples. Can't we all just get along.
Shut Down Will Save Us Money (Got a bridge in Brooklyn I will see you too)
Okay so its beginning to look like we may have the government shut down after all since the idiots DC can't decide what to do. Damnocrats don't want to make any more cuts and Reboobicans don't want funding for EPA and Planned Parenthood so we have an impasse. Admittedly we still have a little over 12 hours to go so there might be a miracle, but I am not holding my breath.
So everyone is thinking about how we can shut it all down and save us a big chunk of change. I mean if everything is shut down than we aren't spending any money right? Well, unfortunately it doesn't work that way. A really excellent article, http://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-price-of-a-government-cnnm-3294374261.html covers all of the financial reasons why a government shut down actually costs us money.
So if the shut down won't save any money for the US and will make everyone affected by it work three times as hard when they come back why can't we simply agree to disagree in the short run and pass a budget. If having another unneeded shutdown will cause us all to suffer and damage our Cool Points level with the rest of the world then why are we doing it? I can sum up the reasons in one word. (also name that tune in one note but that's not important.) That word is Ego.
We have always been a nation of compromise. Our founding fathers realized very early on that there was no way such a diverse and strong willed people would be able to agree 100% on anything so they set up our government so that compromise would always be the rule of the day with, usually, majority rule determining our paths. Somewhere along the line, we have lost that message. Instead of compromise and majority rule, our government is rapidly turning into "My way or the highway" style of government.
Once again I am not singling out one side or the other. I'm not picking on Elephants or Donkeys and I am certainly not picking on Baggers. Every single group is at fault here because no one wants to compromise. No one wants to give any more than they have to. Sure, all sides have made concessions in the current budget fight, but no one really has given up much of anything. Damnocrats want things their way and Reboobicans want things their way and the Baggers...Well they really need a new party name lets just leave it at that.
For the record, lets look at the current sticking points. (D) don't want to cut any more spending from the budget because they argue such cuts would further damage our fragile economy. (R) want funding for Planned Parenthood and new powers given to the EPA stricken from the budget plus even more spending cuts. Now I am no economist (Can't even balance my own check book) so lets skip the first and last bits here and focus on the middle two.
(R) argue that PP is one of the biggest boosters of Abortion in the world and that Federal dollars should not go towards that. I actually agree with this. I do not believe in Abortion except in cases where the mother's life is threatened or in cases of incest. However, as much as I am against it, this should not be a sticking point that shuts down the government. Work it out later guys when you have six months of free time in between flying on the taxpayers money or tweeting from your seats.
(R) also are against granting the EPA the funding and powers it needs to regulate the horrendous amounts of greenhouse gas and other pollutants that get pumped into the air every day. I am about as Green as you can get and still live in a city and I agree that the gases need to be more strongly regulated and that the EPA should have the power to regulate and fine. Again, I do not feel that this is something that should be used to shut down the government. Work it out later.
Despite the fact that the above two paragraphs focus on Reboobicans, I am not choosing sides here. Like I said in the beginning, if there is a shut down than it is both sides fault. Since my wife works for the government and my brother proudly serves in the Military (Over 40 years now!) my life is directly affected by the shut down and so are the lives of dozens of my closest friends.
We cannot afford to let hubris get the best of common sense. The government needs to get off their collective buttocks and move forward. If they don't then they all need to be given the boot. We here at the SIOTBAA Society (Who wants a tee-shirt?) are asking the government to do the right thing and if they don't we are asking the people of the US to protest. Write letters (Mail will still be delivered), take out ads or hells hire a skywriter, but let these idiots know how you feel. What have you got to lose? Let your voices be heard and maybe it will shake them up a little.
God speed all!
So everyone is thinking about how we can shut it all down and save us a big chunk of change. I mean if everything is shut down than we aren't spending any money right? Well, unfortunately it doesn't work that way. A really excellent article, http://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-price-of-a-government-cnnm-3294374261.html covers all of the financial reasons why a government shut down actually costs us money.
So if the shut down won't save any money for the US and will make everyone affected by it work three times as hard when they come back why can't we simply agree to disagree in the short run and pass a budget. If having another unneeded shutdown will cause us all to suffer and damage our Cool Points level with the rest of the world then why are we doing it? I can sum up the reasons in one word. (also name that tune in one note but that's not important.) That word is Ego.
We have always been a nation of compromise. Our founding fathers realized very early on that there was no way such a diverse and strong willed people would be able to agree 100% on anything so they set up our government so that compromise would always be the rule of the day with, usually, majority rule determining our paths. Somewhere along the line, we have lost that message. Instead of compromise and majority rule, our government is rapidly turning into "My way or the highway" style of government.
Once again I am not singling out one side or the other. I'm not picking on Elephants or Donkeys and I am certainly not picking on Baggers. Every single group is at fault here because no one wants to compromise. No one wants to give any more than they have to. Sure, all sides have made concessions in the current budget fight, but no one really has given up much of anything. Damnocrats want things their way and Reboobicans want things their way and the Baggers...Well they really need a new party name lets just leave it at that.
For the record, lets look at the current sticking points. (D) don't want to cut any more spending from the budget because they argue such cuts would further damage our fragile economy. (R) want funding for Planned Parenthood and new powers given to the EPA stricken from the budget plus even more spending cuts. Now I am no economist (Can't even balance my own check book) so lets skip the first and last bits here and focus on the middle two.
(R) argue that PP is one of the biggest boosters of Abortion in the world and that Federal dollars should not go towards that. I actually agree with this. I do not believe in Abortion except in cases where the mother's life is threatened or in cases of incest. However, as much as I am against it, this should not be a sticking point that shuts down the government. Work it out later guys when you have six months of free time in between flying on the taxpayers money or tweeting from your seats.
(R) also are against granting the EPA the funding and powers it needs to regulate the horrendous amounts of greenhouse gas and other pollutants that get pumped into the air every day. I am about as Green as you can get and still live in a city and I agree that the gases need to be more strongly regulated and that the EPA should have the power to regulate and fine. Again, I do not feel that this is something that should be used to shut down the government. Work it out later.
Despite the fact that the above two paragraphs focus on Reboobicans, I am not choosing sides here. Like I said in the beginning, if there is a shut down than it is both sides fault. Since my wife works for the government and my brother proudly serves in the Military (Over 40 years now!) my life is directly affected by the shut down and so are the lives of dozens of my closest friends.
We cannot afford to let hubris get the best of common sense. The government needs to get off their collective buttocks and move forward. If they don't then they all need to be given the boot. We here at the SIOTBAA Society (Who wants a tee-shirt?) are asking the government to do the right thing and if they don't we are asking the people of the US to protest. Write letters (Mail will still be delivered), take out ads or hells hire a skywriter, but let these idiots know how you feel. What have you got to lose? Let your voices be heard and maybe it will shake them up a little.
God speed all!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The reverse side of the coin
One of the hardest things about being a member of the SIOTBAA Society (Remember folks, I'm not just a member, I am the Founder and President for life) is that you have to stop and admit that there are two sides to a coin. I constantly gripe and whinge here about people/places and things that I feel should be commented on, but to be fair (and I like to think I am) I feel the need to comment when people act in a civilized and courteous manner. Whelp, today is one of them days.
My wife asked me to mail a fairly important document when I went out on my daily run. (Won't say what it was but given what time of the year it is, you can imagine.) Now the Post Office is about a mile from our house and is a fairly easy run for me plus I had to go the grocery store which is on the same street further down so I said "sure" This morning, I donned my jogging gear picked up my wallet and keys, stuck the envelope in my pocket and took off. When I got to the door of the PO, I found that the envelope had worked its way out of my pocket and had vanished.
Needless to say, I freaked out a little. It was kind of windy and the envelope didn't weigh much so I had visions of it flying all around the city. Still, I turned on my heels and started running back the way I had came in the vain hope that I would find it. I hadn't gotten more than 100 feet or so when this battered old car pulled up beside me and honked its horn. The car's owner smiled at me and waved the lost envelope.
She told me that she had seen the envelope fall out of my pocket back where I had turned onto the main street and had gotten out of the car, picked it up and followed me as quickly as she could in afternoon traffic to give it back to me. I was profuse in my thanks, but the lovely lady simply waved off my thanks and wished me a "Blessed Day" and drove off. I don't even know her name.
Now, most folks would have ignored the dropped envelope. More than a few would have picked it up, ripped it open to see if there was anything worth while inside. A smaller percentage might have either mailed it back to me or dropped it in the box themselves. The fact that this woman took the time to rescue a fairly important document than chase me down through heavy traffic to return it to me is amazing. If there were more people like her maybe the SIOTBAA Society might not need to exist. I am grateful for what she did and will try to pay that kindness ahead.
Whelp there you have it. You usually get the Ass side of the coin, but today you get the backside. Hope you enjoy it.
My wife asked me to mail a fairly important document when I went out on my daily run. (Won't say what it was but given what time of the year it is, you can imagine.) Now the Post Office is about a mile from our house and is a fairly easy run for me plus I had to go the grocery store which is on the same street further down so I said "sure" This morning, I donned my jogging gear picked up my wallet and keys, stuck the envelope in my pocket and took off. When I got to the door of the PO, I found that the envelope had worked its way out of my pocket and had vanished.
Needless to say, I freaked out a little. It was kind of windy and the envelope didn't weigh much so I had visions of it flying all around the city. Still, I turned on my heels and started running back the way I had came in the vain hope that I would find it. I hadn't gotten more than 100 feet or so when this battered old car pulled up beside me and honked its horn. The car's owner smiled at me and waved the lost envelope.
She told me that she had seen the envelope fall out of my pocket back where I had turned onto the main street and had gotten out of the car, picked it up and followed me as quickly as she could in afternoon traffic to give it back to me. I was profuse in my thanks, but the lovely lady simply waved off my thanks and wished me a "Blessed Day" and drove off. I don't even know her name.
Now, most folks would have ignored the dropped envelope. More than a few would have picked it up, ripped it open to see if there was anything worth while inside. A smaller percentage might have either mailed it back to me or dropped it in the box themselves. The fact that this woman took the time to rescue a fairly important document than chase me down through heavy traffic to return it to me is amazing. If there were more people like her maybe the SIOTBAA Society might not need to exist. I am grateful for what she did and will try to pay that kindness ahead.
Whelp there you have it. You usually get the Ass side of the coin, but today you get the backside. Hope you enjoy it.
Government Blame Game
Okay I will be the first to admit that this is not a new game. As long as more than one person has lived alongside of someone else there has always been "His fault/No it's His fault" arguments going on. Governments just take it to a much grander scale. One side blames the other of being "intractable" or "unwilling to compromise" will doing the same damned thing. To borrow the words of my brother, Damnocraps and Reboobicans are showing us the perfect example of the Blame Game right now. In fact his most excellent blog also covers that. http://porkbrainsandmilkgravy.blogspot.com/2011/04/shut-it-down.html
(Let me insert an Author's note here that whereas my wife does work for the government and a shut down would put some financial pressure on us, my wife and both support Benjy's attitude of "Shut it down." Hells, if it stays shut down long enough maybe people will learn something about compromise. Doubt it, but hey I still believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny.)
Both sides are dancing around compromise demanding that the other side give a little or everything shuts down. Of course, each side is also saying that it will be the other side's fault if there is a shut down. (R) claims that (D) are unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices to move the talks forward and (D) claims that (R) are catering to the Tea Party "Extremists." (Actual quote there folks) I say, "Horse hockey" to both sides.
I am all for cuts to the budget. Hells, I am for more cuts in places where most people deem sacred. I want our deficit down and for someone to steer us away from the same fate as Ireland and Greece. Anyone that doesn't see that we are heading to the exact same end as these countries is either blind, not so bright or both. For way to long we have been spending money we don't have. We elected the most popular people because they promised us that we could have it all and not have to pay for it. Now we are paying the price and it's not going to get better until we start cutting out expenses.
Now, that said, I understand that this is not going to happen overnight. There is no way in hell (despite what Tea Party members and a huge section of the US seem to think) that we can move back to a happily balanced budget in a few years. It took us decades of wasteful spending to get to where we are with admirable efforts by both (R) and (D) members to bankrupt us. It will probably take just as long to fix things. So for the time being, we have to compromise a little. Any budget we create has to be a mixture of "Okay where are we going" and "What do we do right now." Neither side is going to have it all, I'm sorry but that's the way it is.
So, (R)&(D) peeples, quit blaming each other for the problems, stop pushing us towards the brink and compromise a little. It makes you look good, keeps things rosy for your re-elections and moves us forward. Isn't that good enough for now?
(Note: Okay Benjy, I added a link to your blog again. Hows about doing the same for me?)
(Let me insert an Author's note here that whereas my wife does work for the government and a shut down would put some financial pressure on us, my wife and both support Benjy's attitude of "Shut it down." Hells, if it stays shut down long enough maybe people will learn something about compromise. Doubt it, but hey I still believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny.)
Both sides are dancing around compromise demanding that the other side give a little or everything shuts down. Of course, each side is also saying that it will be the other side's fault if there is a shut down. (R) claims that (D) are unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices to move the talks forward and (D) claims that (R) are catering to the Tea Party "Extremists." (Actual quote there folks) I say, "Horse hockey" to both sides.
I am all for cuts to the budget. Hells, I am for more cuts in places where most people deem sacred. I want our deficit down and for someone to steer us away from the same fate as Ireland and Greece. Anyone that doesn't see that we are heading to the exact same end as these countries is either blind, not so bright or both. For way to long we have been spending money we don't have. We elected the most popular people because they promised us that we could have it all and not have to pay for it. Now we are paying the price and it's not going to get better until we start cutting out expenses.
Now, that said, I understand that this is not going to happen overnight. There is no way in hell (despite what Tea Party members and a huge section of the US seem to think) that we can move back to a happily balanced budget in a few years. It took us decades of wasteful spending to get to where we are with admirable efforts by both (R) and (D) members to bankrupt us. It will probably take just as long to fix things. So for the time being, we have to compromise a little. Any budget we create has to be a mixture of "Okay where are we going" and "What do we do right now." Neither side is going to have it all, I'm sorry but that's the way it is.
So, (R)&(D) peeples, quit blaming each other for the problems, stop pushing us towards the brink and compromise a little. It makes you look good, keeps things rosy for your re-elections and moves us forward. Isn't that good enough for now?
(Note: Okay Benjy, I added a link to your blog again. Hows about doing the same for me?)
Friday, April 1, 2011
Edumacation for Dummies
Well, once again while out riding my bike, I just witnessed decisive proof that our education process is severely lacking in its approach to one particular group of individuals. These poor folk suffer daily because they had not received the special training that they need to overcome the severe disability of having somewhat less than a full deck of mental cards.
You know the poor souls I am talking about. We see them all the time. We see them in the grocery store standing in the 15 items or less lane with two buggies full of stuff. We see them on the interstate when, after its been announced for 20 miles that the left lane is closed ahead, they are waiting right where the lane ends for someone to let them over. Hell we ever see these poor schmucks sitting on railroad tracks at intersections waiting for the lights to change.
Now before I received enlightenment over the suffering of these poor souls, I was much like everyone else and grew angry with them for their inability to read signs or comprehend simple ideas like "Choo Choo Train smash little car." Now I simply accept that these mentally challenged morons need help and guidance and pray to the good Lord for the day to come where someone "Cough" (2x4) "Cough" helps them see the error of their ways. Pray with me for that one Brothers and Sisters.
Now the wise among you (You too Benjy) are probably wondering what started today's sermon. Well (Since that is kind of the whole purpose of this blog) I will tell you. I was out riding my bike to work off some calories and drop my blood sugar down some and was making my last loop through the neighborhood. I had just pulled onto Oliver and was approaching Windsor (Yah I know this doesn't mean anything to most of you, but the Devil is in the details.) Now Oliver/Windsor is a one way stop with the stop sign being on Windsor. Which means that all traffic on Windsor must stop until traffic on Oliver is clear. (For the record Bikes do count as traffic despite what a lot of nuts on the road seem to think)
I was still maybe two blocks away when three cars pulled up. The first two made rolling stops which bugs me but not to much. The third car, little white model being driven by a little old white woman, rolls up to the stop sign just as I get to the intersection. Instead of stopping to let me pass, the lady rolls right out into the street then slightly across since she is trying to turn left into the right hand lane.
To keep from slamming into her after she runs the stop sign, I have to slam onto my hand brakes so hard I almost do a forward wheelie. I am still moving so fast that I actually have to push off her front bumper with my foot to keep from going over her hood. I managed to get around her and roll to a stop a few yards away.
Now keep in mind that this woman was in the wrong and I could have been seriously hurt despite my safety gear. Still, I was pretty much willing to ignore it, file it away with hundreds of stupid people stories when she pulls up alongside of me and rolls down her window. She gives me this fierce, sour look and says, "You'd better not have dented my bumper or hood or you'll have to pay for it." She then drove off way to fast for the neighborhood and I finished my riding.
So you see, this poor unfortunate soul not only suffers from extreme stupidity in her inability to read simple signs and comprehend their meanings, but she also suffers from the terrible affliction of complete lack of common sense. Instead of being grateful that her actions didn't cause me serious harm which would have reflected badly on her, she gripes at me about maybe scuffing her paint job. A truly tragic soul indeed.
So please, take pity on these poor people and try to educate them on the error of their ways "Cough" (Pepper Spray) "Cough" Sorry about that, maybe I am coming down with a cold. Always remember that the next life you save may be your own.
You know the poor souls I am talking about. We see them all the time. We see them in the grocery store standing in the 15 items or less lane with two buggies full of stuff. We see them on the interstate when, after its been announced for 20 miles that the left lane is closed ahead, they are waiting right where the lane ends for someone to let them over. Hell we ever see these poor schmucks sitting on railroad tracks at intersections waiting for the lights to change.
Now before I received enlightenment over the suffering of these poor souls, I was much like everyone else and grew angry with them for their inability to read signs or comprehend simple ideas like "Choo Choo Train smash little car." Now I simply accept that these mentally challenged morons need help and guidance and pray to the good Lord for the day to come where someone "Cough" (2x4) "Cough" helps them see the error of their ways. Pray with me for that one Brothers and Sisters.
Now the wise among you (You too Benjy) are probably wondering what started today's sermon. Well (Since that is kind of the whole purpose of this blog) I will tell you. I was out riding my bike to work off some calories and drop my blood sugar down some and was making my last loop through the neighborhood. I had just pulled onto Oliver and was approaching Windsor (Yah I know this doesn't mean anything to most of you, but the Devil is in the details.) Now Oliver/Windsor is a one way stop with the stop sign being on Windsor. Which means that all traffic on Windsor must stop until traffic on Oliver is clear. (For the record Bikes do count as traffic despite what a lot of nuts on the road seem to think)
I was still maybe two blocks away when three cars pulled up. The first two made rolling stops which bugs me but not to much. The third car, little white model being driven by a little old white woman, rolls up to the stop sign just as I get to the intersection. Instead of stopping to let me pass, the lady rolls right out into the street then slightly across since she is trying to turn left into the right hand lane.
To keep from slamming into her after she runs the stop sign, I have to slam onto my hand brakes so hard I almost do a forward wheelie. I am still moving so fast that I actually have to push off her front bumper with my foot to keep from going over her hood. I managed to get around her and roll to a stop a few yards away.
Now keep in mind that this woman was in the wrong and I could have been seriously hurt despite my safety gear. Still, I was pretty much willing to ignore it, file it away with hundreds of stupid people stories when she pulls up alongside of me and rolls down her window. She gives me this fierce, sour look and says, "You'd better not have dented my bumper or hood or you'll have to pay for it." She then drove off way to fast for the neighborhood and I finished my riding.
So you see, this poor unfortunate soul not only suffers from extreme stupidity in her inability to read simple signs and comprehend their meanings, but she also suffers from the terrible affliction of complete lack of common sense. Instead of being grateful that her actions didn't cause me serious harm which would have reflected badly on her, she gripes at me about maybe scuffing her paint job. A truly tragic soul indeed.
So please, take pity on these poor people and try to educate them on the error of their ways "Cough" (Pepper Spray) "Cough" Sorry about that, maybe I am coming down with a cold. Always remember that the next life you save may be your own.
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