Joe,

JM>  I try to keep up with the traffic, since going too slow is as much a
JM>hazard as driving too fast.

  It is the law that "slower traffic must keep right". Yet, folks are
passing me obviously speeding. It sounds like a double standard.

JM>  Add to the fact so many drivers are distracted these days.  They're on
JM>the phone, texting, looking at some GPS read out, any number of things
JM>and not paying that much attention to what's going on around them. So
JM>many have the attitude, "Its my road, get out of my way".

  Or if a woman is applying makeup as she goes down the road, she is
literally "farding" (note the spelling) <G>.

JM>  I see people walking along texting and walking out into traffic, into
JM>poles, etc.  I've even seen people texting while riding a bike!

  One woman in Florida was so enamored into her smartphone, that she
walked right into the side of a moving train, and was seriously injured.
I think she filed suit against the railroad...personally, I hope it was
laughed out of court!!  And, all these folks who complain about the
trains making too much noise?? The railroads were there long before most
all of them were even born!!

JM>  I generally only carry my phone when working.  If for some reason it
JM>rings when I'm riding along I just let it ring till I can get out of
JM>traffic and be stopped.  After all, there's always voice mail if its that
JM>important.  Generally the calls are someone wanting to sell me something
JM>or begging for money.

  I have the CALL DETECTOR app on my Android phone. It has blocked
practically all of these scam, nuisance, etc. calls.

JM>  They aren't the law, they're merely friendly suggestions.... ==sigh==

  Sheesh.

JM>  Plus one sees more.  On the interstates its the same fast food joints,
JM>the same gas stations, etc exit after exit.  One could be in CT or CA for
JM>all they know.

  Sort of like what Judge Doom said there would be after Toontown got
"dipped off the face of the Earth" in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit??".

  "Soon, where Toontown once stood, there'll be a string of gas
stations, inexpensive motels, restaurants that serve rapidly prepared
food, tire salons, automobile dealerships, and wonderful, wonderful
billboards, reaching as far as the eye can see. My God!! It'll be
beautiful!!". 

JM>  I enjoy the slower pace, going through little towns, etc.  Speed up,
JM>slow down and so forth.

  And reflect on what life was like when times weren't so rushed.

Daryl

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