One of the very first Blogs I ever wrote was about my pet peeves about traffic. Nothing has really changed since then. It still pisses me off and I need to bitch again.
My job moved to a new warehouse almost a year and a half ago. The commute has gotten a lot worse since then. It is actually shorter then where we used to work, but it was easier to get to and quicker. This new commute puts me smack dab on 695 with every other car in the world heading to either downtown Batltimore, or Washington DC. So on a commute that during weekends takes about 30 minutes, the sheer amount of traffic on the highways has pushed my average drive time to about 44 minutes. OK, 14 minutes more is not too bad. However that is the average. Yes I did an experiment. For a year I kept track of how long it took me to get to work, every day I was at work. I did not count days I was sick, or vacation days, or holidays we were closed. I did include the few Saturday days I had to work. Then I averaged what it was for the whole month. Then at the end of the year I took the average of all those times per month to get my 44 minutes. During the summer my commute is not bad, mostly due to schools being closed or people on vacation, but then I would get the really bad days. Like the hour long commutes, or the 90 minute commutes. To put that into perspective. I could drive to visit my sister in Woodbridge, Virginia, in 90 minutes. I could drive to Virginia which is far away in the time it sometimes takes me to go 25 miles to work. Why? Accidents. Weather. Just lots of cars leaving at the same time. Your choice. And now for the past 4 months, at least one day a month I have a 90 minute commute. The majority of time it is in the 40-50 minute range. It should not be this long. But it is. People are to busy talking on their cell phones, or they do not know what Yield is, or they do not feel getting into the turn lane,or get out of the lane that we will be losing soon and expect everyone to let you over because you are superior. NO you are just trying to get ahead of everyone who is paying attention to driving, and if you get a little to ornery accidents occur. But mostly it is people not paying attention. In some cases yeah it could be weather, icy roads, fog, heavy rain or snow. But drive safer in those type of conditions. I can all ready predict tomorrow's commute will be at least an hour since it will be raining in the morning. But that is not all that I want to bitch about.
SHARE THE ROAD WITH MOTORCYCLES. I would love to, and to be fair there are some really good motorcyclists out there. But the pure assholes on motorcycles outweigh the good ones. They have no respect for other drivers, so why should I share the road with them. Just because your vehicle is smaller then mine, does not allow you the right to break the laws of the road. Let's see, they speed, moreso then some of the asshats who go 20 + over the speed limit. Some of these motorcyclists go in the 80s-90s. They weave in between cars, hey asshole what if you misjudge and hit my car with my kids in it, you damage my car, we have an accident and you may die. Today, we were all stuck in traffic all the same. What did one motorcycle guy do? Drive 80 MPH on the shoulder, which is illegal. They sometimes drive on the lines between cars, they do tricks while driving. Really guys? You want me to share the road with people who break the law so obviously? No I don't think so. This is not an indictment about the many motorcyclists who obey the laws of the road, I have no problem sharing the road with them. But these little shits who think they are better than every once else, that they are above the law. Buddy, you are dangerous and I really don't want to be on the same road as you.
Enough bitching. Just wanted to get it off my chest. Back to work. Please pay attention to the road, to the laws of the road, drive carefully, because you are all causing me insane cases of Road Rage and one day You better watch out. I may not be so friendly.
Showing posts with label Dylan's Bitching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dylan's Bitching. Show all posts
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
UPDATE: MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Just a real quick follow up to the blog I wrote on Monday. Discovered yesterday that White Marsh has opened a second theater for the Mighty Marvel Marathon. And who got a ticket? This guy! So one of my opportunities has opened up and now I have put my money where my mouth is. Can't wait.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Missed Opportunities
Before I get into today's blog. Let me say that I do not like the new blogspot set up. It's cluttered, too much going on, needs to be simpler. I am not a professional blogger who has time to take a look at all the nuances it offers. I just want to write down my damn thoughts. Ok enough bitching.
Today was another in a few missed opportunities that while not life changing would have been fun. I missed out on getting tickets for the Mighty Marvel Movie Marathon. Now I am a huge comic book fan and it has been fun recently with all the comic book movies out there. And you have to give Marvel credit their movies seem to be far better then DC's. They have created a whole universe that reminds you of their comic universe and it is very cool. So far 5 movies have been released in the Marvel Universe with the 6th The Avengers opening up on May 4th, 2012.
Now I had heard about this marathon about a month or so ago. Movie theaters starting at 11:30am on Thursday May 3rd will be showing all 5 movies leading up to the midnight showing of The Avengers. All of it was 40 dollars. Course you would be sitting in a movie theater from 1130am-230am. And that was one of the things that had me hemming and hawing about if I should do this or not. That is close to 14 hours in a movie theater. I did not know how they would do food their, if they would let us bring things in or were we at their mercy. Plus I could not really take two days off in a row from work, so I would get home around 3-315am and have to get up at 530am and help get the kids ready for school and then go to work for 8 hours with very little sleep. In the end I think a once in a lifetime feel came to me and decided to get the tickets. So I sign up today, all sold out. And it is only at this one theater near me and only one theater is doing this marathon. So no new showings will open up and there are really no other theaters it appears that will be doing this in the area. So I missed out because I hemmed and hawed to much. This is not the first time something like this has happened to me, though it is a little different secnario.
As you may or may not know I am a huge REM fan. They broke up last year and I was Ok with it. They had been around since the early 80s, their later stuff was good, but no where as good as their early stuff. I guess about 3-4 years ago they went on tour to promote Accelerate, which was their next to last album. But it turned out to be their last concert tour. They were going to play at Merriweather Post Pavillion which is in Columbia, Maryland which is near me. Their concert was also going to be in June, about two weeks before my birthday, unfortunately it was also going to be on a Wednesday or Thursday night. I told my wife I would kind of like to go for my birthday present, but I guess I did not push it enough because I did not end up going. REM had a blog I read and they gave the playlist of their concert and I was so pissed at myself because it was an awesome playlist. But at the time I did not know it was going to be their final concert. I was hoping that in a few years they would tour again and this time I would make sure to go. To late.
Is my life any worse for the wear? No, but still I think it would have been two events that would make great stories, or at least good blog entries.
Today was another in a few missed opportunities that while not life changing would have been fun. I missed out on getting tickets for the Mighty Marvel Movie Marathon. Now I am a huge comic book fan and it has been fun recently with all the comic book movies out there. And you have to give Marvel credit their movies seem to be far better then DC's. They have created a whole universe that reminds you of their comic universe and it is very cool. So far 5 movies have been released in the Marvel Universe with the 6th The Avengers opening up on May 4th, 2012.
Now I had heard about this marathon about a month or so ago. Movie theaters starting at 11:30am on Thursday May 3rd will be showing all 5 movies leading up to the midnight showing of The Avengers. All of it was 40 dollars. Course you would be sitting in a movie theater from 1130am-230am. And that was one of the things that had me hemming and hawing about if I should do this or not. That is close to 14 hours in a movie theater. I did not know how they would do food their, if they would let us bring things in or were we at their mercy. Plus I could not really take two days off in a row from work, so I would get home around 3-315am and have to get up at 530am and help get the kids ready for school and then go to work for 8 hours with very little sleep. In the end I think a once in a lifetime feel came to me and decided to get the tickets. So I sign up today, all sold out. And it is only at this one theater near me and only one theater is doing this marathon. So no new showings will open up and there are really no other theaters it appears that will be doing this in the area. So I missed out because I hemmed and hawed to much. This is not the first time something like this has happened to me, though it is a little different secnario.
As you may or may not know I am a huge REM fan. They broke up last year and I was Ok with it. They had been around since the early 80s, their later stuff was good, but no where as good as their early stuff. I guess about 3-4 years ago they went on tour to promote Accelerate, which was their next to last album. But it turned out to be their last concert tour. They were going to play at Merriweather Post Pavillion which is in Columbia, Maryland which is near me. Their concert was also going to be in June, about two weeks before my birthday, unfortunately it was also going to be on a Wednesday or Thursday night. I told my wife I would kind of like to go for my birthday present, but I guess I did not push it enough because I did not end up going. REM had a blog I read and they gave the playlist of their concert and I was so pissed at myself because it was an awesome playlist. But at the time I did not know it was going to be their final concert. I was hoping that in a few years they would tour again and this time I would make sure to go. To late.
Is my life any worse for the wear? No, but still I think it would have been two events that would make great stories, or at least good blog entries.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
All Hail Skynet!!!
In the movie The Terminator. James Cameron told us about a dystopian future where one day computers became sentient and declare war on the human race. Could that be coming true sooner then later?
I have my issues with technology. I really don't know how to use it to much and maybe this is where all this is coming from, but to me it feels as if in the name of progress we are becoming too dependent upon technology. Phones are no longer just phones but mini computers, GPS, cameras both video and still, TVs, everything you could want in the world. Cars have computers in them that help them run, you can read books on handheld devices, you no longer need to go to a bookstore or library. Movies come streaming direct to your house or through your cable or satellite provider. All movies are becoming digital, no more "Film" is used for them. Newspapers are becoming dinosaurs since you can get all your info up to the second on the internet, why wait a full day when you can get the news now. The post office is going under because hardly anyone uses the mail anymore. There are those who still write letters or send cards, but you can send E-Cards now, and you have email or texting to stay in touch with family and friends. People pay bills on line, people can read magazines on line now as well. Everything is wired.
What set me off this time is that Maryland may get rid of regular toll booths soon and just do electronic tolls. Look I am only 38 (soon to be 39), I'm not a young man but I am also not a grumpy old man. Technology and progress are great. But our dependence upon it is a little disturbing. As is the fact that one of the multitude of reasons we have high unemployment is that a lot of jobs have been replaced electronically sending those workers out of a job. A pop culture look at this appeared in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where Charlie Bucket's dad lost his job to a robotic arm. So now he is out of a job and his family is poor. But he adapted and they rehired him to take care of the machines. However not everything in this world has the happy ending that Hollywood does.
Dependence on the technology is a little scary because there are people out there who do not know what life was like before all this technology reared it's head. Kids in their teens and twenties have always known the internet and used cell phones. They only know about all things that are wired. Also everything appears to be run by machines or computers now. Businesses thrive on their computers and servers and rely heavily on it.
But what if...What if a terrorist decides to cripple the United States. All they need to do is drop an electro magnetic pulse on big cities and all the computers and phones and tolls will be fried, done, gone. Now what? Some people who have been around for a while will be able to survive, but a lot of people will find it hard to survive. Our phones and pads are a huge part of our lives now and people, even old fogeys like me are dependent on these things if we want to be or not. Frankly it is an idea that scares the hell out of me.
But technology is good. it makes things easier for everyone. It saves time so we can get more done and spend more time with family, friends, or ourselves. it's conveinent and we don't have to work as hard or as long as we used to. I'm all for technology but the dependence on it by everyone scares me a little bit and I don't know what to do or say about it because everything is much simpler. There is a lot of upside but there is also some downside that people may not be aware of. I want people to realize there is downside to it.
One last note before I head off. Yesterday while at the playground with my family I saw something that I found amazing and technology was the reason. A teenager, who apparently may be deaf since he really can't talk to well or only responds with grunts or noises was surrounded by 4 or 5 kids, who I believe were his friends and they were all having a blast by having a conversation on the deaf boy's IPAD. He was communicating with them and they were responding and hanging out with him. In the cynical past I noticed kids like that were either teased or taunted by bullies and may have had friends but they were not visible at school. Here he was one of the gang. Thanks to technology.
But please beware of becoming to over dependent on it. Just my 2 cents.
I have my issues with technology. I really don't know how to use it to much and maybe this is where all this is coming from, but to me it feels as if in the name of progress we are becoming too dependent upon technology. Phones are no longer just phones but mini computers, GPS, cameras both video and still, TVs, everything you could want in the world. Cars have computers in them that help them run, you can read books on handheld devices, you no longer need to go to a bookstore or library. Movies come streaming direct to your house or through your cable or satellite provider. All movies are becoming digital, no more "Film" is used for them. Newspapers are becoming dinosaurs since you can get all your info up to the second on the internet, why wait a full day when you can get the news now. The post office is going under because hardly anyone uses the mail anymore. There are those who still write letters or send cards, but you can send E-Cards now, and you have email or texting to stay in touch with family and friends. People pay bills on line, people can read magazines on line now as well. Everything is wired.
What set me off this time is that Maryland may get rid of regular toll booths soon and just do electronic tolls. Look I am only 38 (soon to be 39), I'm not a young man but I am also not a grumpy old man. Technology and progress are great. But our dependence upon it is a little disturbing. As is the fact that one of the multitude of reasons we have high unemployment is that a lot of jobs have been replaced electronically sending those workers out of a job. A pop culture look at this appeared in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where Charlie Bucket's dad lost his job to a robotic arm. So now he is out of a job and his family is poor. But he adapted and they rehired him to take care of the machines. However not everything in this world has the happy ending that Hollywood does.
Dependence on the technology is a little scary because there are people out there who do not know what life was like before all this technology reared it's head. Kids in their teens and twenties have always known the internet and used cell phones. They only know about all things that are wired. Also everything appears to be run by machines or computers now. Businesses thrive on their computers and servers and rely heavily on it.
But what if...What if a terrorist decides to cripple the United States. All they need to do is drop an electro magnetic pulse on big cities and all the computers and phones and tolls will be fried, done, gone. Now what? Some people who have been around for a while will be able to survive, but a lot of people will find it hard to survive. Our phones and pads are a huge part of our lives now and people, even old fogeys like me are dependent on these things if we want to be or not. Frankly it is an idea that scares the hell out of me.
But technology is good. it makes things easier for everyone. It saves time so we can get more done and spend more time with family, friends, or ourselves. it's conveinent and we don't have to work as hard or as long as we used to. I'm all for technology but the dependence on it by everyone scares me a little bit and I don't know what to do or say about it because everything is much simpler. There is a lot of upside but there is also some downside that people may not be aware of. I want people to realize there is downside to it.
One last note before I head off. Yesterday while at the playground with my family I saw something that I found amazing and technology was the reason. A teenager, who apparently may be deaf since he really can't talk to well or only responds with grunts or noises was surrounded by 4 or 5 kids, who I believe were his friends and they were all having a blast by having a conversation on the deaf boy's IPAD. He was communicating with them and they were responding and hanging out with him. In the cynical past I noticed kids like that were either teased or taunted by bullies and may have had friends but they were not visible at school. Here he was one of the gang. Thanks to technology.
But please beware of becoming to over dependent on it. Just my 2 cents.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I am a Dinosaur
I came to the realization this morning that I am a dinosaur. Not in the really cool Velociraptor way but in the old fogey way. My favorite things to get for presents for my birthday, or Christmas are usually DVDs, CDs, Books, and Comic Books. Now all of these things have been digitized. So before I know it DVD, CD, Book, and Comic stores may all be going the way of the (ahem) dinosaur. But I prefer to physically hold things in my hand, or have them put on shelves so I can peruse what I want to look at, or listen to. Now everything is in IPOD's or Nook's, or IPAD's. So if I get all of these things to get what I like, what will opening presents be like? Gift cards? I like when I receive something from somebody that I can physically hold so I can remember it as a nice gift. Look now that I am older I do realize it is easier for me to just get what I want, and I don't mind gift cards or money, but sometimes having something physical in hand is nice. But I will just need to adjust to the new status quo or to things that are different then I am used to. It's the best I can do to continue to receive excellent gifts from family and friends.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Driving Habits of the Rich and Stupid
On a day it is pouring rain, the idiots are in force on our nations roads. Today in lovely downtown Baltimore on the Jones Falls X, a car was driving on the shoulder to get ahead of the backup everyone else was trapped in. I was hoping to God either that A. he saw an abandoned car and had to slow down and wait for someone to let him in, or he ran into a police officer. Neither of which happened.
Since it is raining and is about 7:30 in the morning, it was dark and dreary, there was a car without headlights on. Isn't it a rule that you need headlights on , on a day like this? Don't even get me started on the idiots who have no idea what Yield means, or those who drive on an exit road and wait until just about they are supposed to exit then jump in front of you. Idiots. And more of this rain is supposed to fall. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the rain, I am against the idiots who drive in the storm. Morons...
Since it is raining and is about 7:30 in the morning, it was dark and dreary, there was a car without headlights on. Isn't it a rule that you need headlights on , on a day like this? Don't even get me started on the idiots who have no idea what Yield means, or those who drive on an exit road and wait until just about they are supposed to exit then jump in front of you. Idiots. And more of this rain is supposed to fall. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the rain, I am against the idiots who drive in the storm. Morons...
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