Surreality TV

I don't post much about my commute anymore. What used to be surreal to me is now so normal that not only am I not surprised when someone tries to kill me with their Escalade, I expect it and make sure they understand in advance that I'm the bigger asshole and that I will not be intimidated by their random foray into a lane I already inhabit. This really is my daily commute. Usually both morning and afternoon. Aggressive asshole with no regard for their self or anyone else is just your average DC area driver. Unless there is water from the sky involved, in which case you can add panicky into the mix, making for even more extreme fun.

I expect that sort of behavior from folks in over sized SUVs who think they're god, but lately, I've been getting it from bicyclists. I hate to rain on their parade, but their twenty five pounds of steel and rubber plus their body weight isn't a match for a seventies era Honda Civic, much less modern cars that weigh three times that.

The most egregious example was back in February. I was on Lynn Street (one way, north) approaching the GW Parkway halfway around the blind curve that crosses Fort Myer Drive (one way, south) to the onramp (you can see the light over the bushes on approach, which is nice), when what's right there in front of me going the wrong way in the middle of the fucking road? An idiot on a bicycle of course. This moron didn't merely lack enlightened self interest, he was actively doing shit counter to his very survival. That I didn't hit him was purely due to the fact that there was no car in the lane to my right so I had somewhere to go, because I sure as fuck didn't have time to stop.

If I'd hit that asshole, he'd have been lucky to live. In the process there's a good chance he'd have come through my windshield, potentially killing me in the process. And of course, bicyclists don't have insurance, so assuming no one actually died, my insurance would have had to cover all expenses, leaving me pretty much fucked.

That was pretty much the last time I gave a fuck about a commuter on a bicycle; the idiocy has continued unabated, but usually not quite at that level of suicidally stupid. They can all die in a fucking fire for all I care at this point, and won't be missed. As long as they don't get in my way it's no longer any concern of mine. Their sense of entitlement won't save them when momentum turns them into roadkill.

I don't post much about my commute anymore. What used to be surreal to me is now so normal that not only am I not surprised when someone tries to kill me with their Escalade, I expect it and make sure they understand in advance that I'm the bigger asshole and that I will not be intimidated by their random foray into a lane I already inhabit. This really is my daily commute. Usually both morning and afternoon. Aggressive asshole with no regard for their self or anyone else is just your average DC area driver. Unless there is water from the sky involved, in which case you can add panicky into the mix, making for even more extreme fun.

I expect that sort of behavior from folks in over sized SUVs who think they're god, but lately, I've been getting it from bicyclists. I hate to rain on their parade, but their twenty five pounds of steel and rubber plus their body weight isn't a match for a seventies era Honda Civic, much less modern cars that weigh three times that.

The most egregious example was back in February. I was on Lynn Street (one way, north) approaching the GW Parkway halfway around the blind curve that crosses Fort Myer Drive (one way, south) to the onramp (you can see the light over the bushes on approach, which is nice), when what's right there in front of me going the wrong way in the middle of the fucking road? An idiot on a bicycle of course. This moron didn't merely lack enlightened self interest, he was actively doing shit counter to his very survival. That I didn't hit him was purely due to the fact that there was no car in the lane to my right so I had somewhere to go, because I sure as fuck didn't have time to stop.

If I'd hit that asshole, he'd have been lucky to live. In the process there's a good chance he'd have come through my windshield, potentially killing me in the process. And of course, bicyclists don't have insurance, so assuming no one actually died, my insurance would have had to cover all expenses, leaving me pretty much fucked.

That was pretty much the last time I gave a fuck about a commuter on a bicycle; the idiocy has continued unabated, but usually not quite at that level of suicidally stupid. They can all die in a fucking fire for all I care at this point, and won't be missed. As long as they don't get in my way it's no longer any concern of mine. Their sense of entitlement won't save them when momentum turns them into roadkill.

Not just the planet, but the division with respect to GM apparently. I wasn't aware that Saturn had come to be viewed as toxic to GM. During the mid 90s, when GM was last facing financial collapse, Saturn was the only part of the company making money. Of course, back then Saturn was building small, quirky, efficient, and reliable cars that people wanted to buy, and had an emphasis on customer service that was only outdone by companies that sold cars for five times the price. Seems to me that maybe there's a lesson to be learned in there, but I don't expect the over educated idiots that are the modern corporate execs at most companies in the US today to notice, much less, learn it.

On Saturday, I have my final test for second degree. I hope I pass. I was making stupid mistakes in my forms on Saturday during class. Little things like a closed fist instead of an open hand on a block or strike here and there. Hopefully, this coming Saturday will be better.

On another random topic, Newsweek was annoying me yesterday. We got a free *mumble* month subscription for some reason I can't remember, and this week's issue has an article on how Obama is a huge pussy for not pushing for more gun control.

The article starts off with a story about a recent incident in Pittsburgh where some guy shot some cops with his AK-47 and how the assault weapons ban would have prevented this. Now, I've never met a gun that WASN'T an assault weapon. A gun is a weapon. Period. That's the whole fucking POINT. All guns operate on the same principle and in the same fashion. The only differences are caliber, barrel length, and action. Even leaving all that aside, a fully automatic AK-47 is ALREADY NOT FUCKING LEGAL without the appropriate FFL, which this person did not have. The ban on Scary Looking Guns (which is what this article was primarily focusing on) wouldn't have made one fucking bit of difference in this instance.

Dear Left Wing Idiot Reporters:

Please, just fucking stop. You only make yourself look stupid to people who actually have a clue, and the rest are so numb to fear mongering thanks to the last eight years that this will no longer have much impact on driving them into a frenzy.

This is one of those areas where I hate being associated with the left leaning side of the political spectrum. Fear politics are just as fucking repugnant from the left as they are from the right, and the lefties have been pushing this particular button for decades.

On Saturday, I have my final test for second degree. I hope I pass. I was making stupid mistakes in my forms on Saturday during class. Little things like a closed fist instead of an open hand on a block or strike here and there. Hopefully, this coming Saturday will be better.

On another random topic, Newsweek was annoying me yesterday. We got a free *mumble* month subscription for some reason I can't remember, and this week's issue has an article on how Obama is a huge pussy for not pushing for more gun control.

The article starts off with a story about a recent incident in Pittsburgh where some guy shot some cops with his AK-47 and how the assault weapons ban would have prevented this. Now, I've never met a gun that WASN'T an assault weapon. A gun is a weapon. Period. That's the whole fucking POINT. All guns operate on the same principle and in the same fashion. The only differences are caliber, barrel length, and action. Even leaving all that aside, a fully automatic AK-47 is ALREADY NOT FUCKING LEGAL without the appropriate FFL, which this person did not have. The ban on Scary Looking Guns (which is what this article was primarily focusing on) wouldn't have made one fucking bit of difference in this instance.

Dear Left Wing Idiot Reporters:

Please, just fucking stop. You only make yourself look stupid to people who actually have a clue, and the rest are so numb to fear mongering thanks to the last eight years that this will no longer have much impact on driving them into a frenzy.

This is one of those areas where I hate being associated with the left leaning side of the political spectrum. Fear politics are just as fucking repugnant from the left as they are from the right, and the lefties have been pushing this particular button for decades.

This is only the third time in my thirty eight years that we've had a Democrat in the White House. I think the Republicans can just get the fuck over it right now and quit fucking whining. History says they'll be back in charge soon enough.

Somehow, I don't think reversing Bush's misguided tax cuts are going to destroy the nation, so please, people who voted for McCain, shut the fuck up already, I'm tired of hearing it, and it's only ten in the morning.

If you are afraid to drive in anything but perfect weather?

Please, do the rest of us a favor and STAY THE FUCK HOME!

I hate spending an extra twenty minutes sitting in fucking traffic because ZOMGWTFBBQ!? there's a drop of rain!!!!!

I hate people.

It's not even coming down consistently enough to call it drizzle, but you'd think we were driving in a downpour based on people's reactions.

If you are afraid to drive in anything but perfect weather?

Please, do the rest of us a favor and STAY THE FUCK HOME!

I hate spending an extra twenty minutes sitting in fucking traffic because ZOMGWTFBBQ!? there's a drop of rain!!!!!

I hate people.

It's not even coming down consistently enough to call it drizzle, but you'd think we were driving in a downpour based on people's reactions.

Since I'm not a Real American and I don't live or work in Real Virginia, can I stop paying federal and state taxes?

Dude, we, as a nation, have spent a trillion and a half dollars outside of our normal underfunded deficit spending that you and your Republican idiots keep espousing as sound fiscal policy, while continuing to cut taxes at every available opportunity. Please explain to me how you plan to PAY for this, with EVEN MORE TAX CUTS?

Obama wants to raise taxes...for the people who make the most money and will feel it the least. I'm totally okay with that. It's beats the shit out of going bankrupt, as a nation.

Oh, and that bit of doublespeak last night where you said that RvW wouldn't be a litmus test except for the part where you turned around and said it would two sentences later? There's another reason why I wouldn't vote for you if you were the last candidate on earth. Your Jesus Freak running mate is a large part of the rest of the reasons, since you're likely to keel over and die long before you finish out your term should you win, and there's no way I'd hand that Psycho Hose Beast the Oval Office.