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01 May 00 - 08:14 AM (#220698) Subject: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Peter T. I confess to hating cars, and have done everything I can to avoid them, but for the last two weeks I have had to commute with a friend back and forth to work from auburbia. The most obvious thing is what a long waste of time driving is, and how barren the landscape of these herds of mechanical caribou is: far duller than Arctic tundra. This is all environmentalist cliche. More interesting seems to me to be the way that as the traffic gets worse, the cars are turning into living rooms, complete with phones and coffee holders and tape decks and in SUV's enough space for a coffee table. This makes sense: if you are going to spend your life in a car, why not have a mobile home? I assume that one day in one great massive traffic jam, the cars will all just stop, and people will set up house, put up fences, and the whole process will start all over again. Is there anything good I can say about this experience: my colleague says that it is a time of the day he gets to think. I suppose the rhythm takes over: I drive so seldom I can't get into it. And I notice that (in spite of what people say), commuters are incredibly polite to each other: there is an elaborate set of rules of the road that most people abide by, warning others, humanizing the herd. And there are these moments of freedom, when you get to accelerate to 30 or more, gaps open up, and for a split second the commercials come true. But overall it is sobering: the plan seems to be to have 6-10 billion of these cyberpeople, cars wedded to bodies, covering what is left of the earth, and driving their living rooms around all day long. |
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01 May 00 - 08:39 AM (#220702) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Billy the Bus Peter, I hear what you're saying, and couldn't agree more. I make my living driving visitors round an island, with a total of 14 miles of narrow, winding road. I seldom hit 30 and the trip takes 1½ hours. Our total permanent population is less than 350, yet, something like 30 "new" cars have been brought to the Island this year. It's insane - even we are having parking problems, and the odd traffic jam (usually caused by a couple of mates stopping in the middle of the road for a natter). I haven't driven on the "mainland" in the past 5 years - too damned scared. And, I'm not talking traffic densities like you are talking. Y'know, one of the most sobering pictures I've seen in my life was in Scientific American, late 70s from memory. It was a night photo of Europe from space. You could pick out the outline from the lights of cities AND the autobahns. What the noctural world looks like now from space, I hate to think. On the odd occaision when I see TV and the streams of traffic on freeways in the States, sometimes slowed to a crawl, I think just as you do. Thanks - Sam |
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01 May 00 - 08:48 AM (#220705) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: thosp hi Peter your post brings to my a movie i saw in the late '60's -- a french film by jon luc goddard called "weekend" --- if possible you should get/rent a copy -- peace (Y) thosp |
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01 May 00 - 09:07 AM (#220710) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Mary in Kentucky I commuted 50 minutes one-way each day for three and a half years and loved it! Of course, most of my drive was on a rural two lane highway. But for the first time in my life, I could listen to the radio for an extended period of time, and also for the first time in my life, I got to "see Spring." I observed the change in time and position of the sunrise, the jonquils in March, the lilacs in April and as Mbo quotes from Tolkien, "in every wood, in every Spring, there is a different green." Mary |
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01 May 00 - 09:20 AM (#220713) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: MMario I have never really minded commuting, though I do commute through rural areas. BtB - 14 miles of road on the whole island? That's a round trip to the grocery store... Makes me think....as we have several miles of "trail" through the woods on the property...at least three miles worth if not more...14 miles on the whole island... |
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01 May 00 - 09:22 AM (#220716) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Dave (the ancient mariner) I cut my driving from 65 kms to 18kms, but I miss the trees, the wildlife, and the peace and quiet of the country. Sometimes the driving is worth it Peter. Now I'm in the city I miss my pet Hawk and her family. Even the call of the coyote was better and less disturbing than the wail of sirens, and noisy car exhausts. Sigh! Yours, Aye. Dave |
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01 May 00 - 09:22 AM (#220717) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Little Neophyte You know how James Taylor sings that song 'Up On A Roof', well that is how I feel about 'In My Car'. My car, is an alternative sanctuary to my home. I play my favorite music and hum along to the tunes and there is nothing like drinking a big thermos of Starbucks Kenya Coffee while on the road. I don't have to drive people around all day long like Sammy does, I just go where I please. The best excursions are when I hit the highway and leave the vortex of the city limits. I feel free as a bird. I start those long highway road trips with the ritual of playing the sound track from the movie The Big Chill. Yep, nothing like driving my car. Little Neo
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01 May 00 - 09:35 AM (#220723) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: black walnut if i'm driving alone on the open highway, i'm like Little Neo....except replace Big Chill with Bruce Cockburn, and Starbucks with Second Cup. ~black walnut |
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01 May 00 - 10:01 AM (#220738) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Peg I used to like driving; until I moved to Boston: home of the stupidest, most foolhardy, most dangerous, rudest drivers in the world... I no longer own a car and prefer it that way (though I do miss being able to just leave town whenever I want). But I find that this car-obsessed city (so many people have those Stupid Useless Vehicles for city driving because they are trendy and make them feel big and tough and entitled) is not very pedestrian friendly, either. I have almost been run over dozens of times by drivers who feel no need to pay attention to stop signs, red lights, crosswalks or blind spots (not to mention stopping when a bus does, to let people off). My own most recent pet peeve about SUV's: now they have TVs and VCRs in the back for the kids to watch...what the hell happened to kids playing games (word games, license plate games, Bury Your Horses, whatever your zeitgeist was) while travelling or looking out the window at, you know, the world??? this planet is going to hell in a handbasket... |
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01 May 00 - 10:13 AM (#220745) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: SINSULL For twenty years I worked in "outside" sales flying and driving from one end of the country to another. I hate airports, cars, hotel rooms and Howard Johnsons. For the first time in my life, I work in an office 8:30 to 5:30. I take the subway or a cab to work and occasionally think about buying a little VW Beetle. Sleeping in my own bed even with sirens and car alarms accompanying my dreams is heaven. But sometimes I rent a car and drive for six or eight hours straight just to clear my head and enjoy some music. It's the best place for it. |
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01 May 00 - 10:57 AM (#220768) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: katlaughing When we lived out on the ranch, many years ago, Roger and I would drive into town everyday to work. He drove, I would recline my seat and meditate or just soak up the beauty of the prairie. Everytime I saw a badl eagle or two or golden eagles I knew I would have a good day, a blessing from the Great Spirit. It was about a 40 mile round trip which was a piece of cake in good weather; in winter it was potentially lethal and took a lot longer. In the West we have always had to drive long distances; not much public transportation. Gives you plenty of time to think, talk, observe. Then we moved to New England....Peg, I know what you mean about Boston!! I had long-haul truck drivers tell me they hated driving in Boston and would take NYC anyday over driving in Boston! I had no choice but to drive back there as Rog was gone about 95% of the time. The kids and I finished off a Subaru with it's last 50,000 of over 200,000 miles, then put about 150,000 on a Ford, over the course of a few years, traveling over hill and dale, exploring all of the wonderful history of New England. The only time I hated it was in the cities; Hartford was very bad, as well. 40 miles there FELT like 100 miles out West! Now, I am back to driving out West and one of my favourite things to do is go for a Sunday drive...it's in the genes...my mom was the same way. We curse the drivers in town for their rudeness and idiocy with SUVs and BIG trucks, but we can still find a dirt road leading into an infinite nowhere, opening up seldom seen vistas of wildllife and scenery with takes our breath away. I have a love/hate relationship with cars. Love where they can take me; hate what they do to the environment and hate the macho attitudes of too many drivers. Oh, and Peter, I refuse to turn my car into a living room! My cellphone is for emergencies, stays in my backpack, turned off unless I need it and then I pull over! As for vcrs and tvs in minivans, one of my op/ed pieces expressed the same sort of dismay, Peg! Just cannot understand the constant need of parents to keep their kids passively entertained. If they weren't going to interact with their kids with games, singing, etc. what heh hell did they have them for? It has almost gone back to the old adage of "children should be seen, not heard", so keep them occupied and quiet at all costs! Whew! DIdn't mean to go on so! kat |
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01 May 00 - 01:32 PM (#220874) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Jim the Bart Anyone who ever had a regular commute understands that there is more than one theory of relativity active in this goofy world. A "fifteen minute drive" takes forever when you're late. An hour drive can pass in a heartbeat when the company is good or if your mind has something compelling to chew on. Another thing about driving a lot - you get to know your vehicle. It's almost like an instrumentalist with her/his instrument (except that acoustic instruments do not pollute, in fact they improve the environment almost without exception). |
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01 May 00 - 01:36 PM (#220877) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: JenEllen I'm lucky to live in an area where traffic isn't really a problem. It's about a 17 mile drive into town, through rolling hills and wheat. The seasons play out perfectly, and there is always plenty of wildlife to watch (and watch out for). Great music also helps the road fly by. I'd much rather have my bike/feet/brain being used than to sit in the back of one of those damned SUV's. I'll never understand the need for folks to stay 'connected' these days. Actually LISTENING to people has become a lost art. I'd much rather turn the ringer off, and share an hour and a pot of tea in real conversation than be at the mercy of a telephone, pager, cellphone, laptop, etc. I find it quite rude, glossing over the important things in an effort to accumulate and consume. Peter: Be thankful that rhythm hasn't taken over. When I lived in the city, I commuted with friends. The herd mentality does seem to take over after a while. The best I can offer is that you use the time to find out something new about yourself and the folks around you. Maybe talk your partner into leaving an hour early one day, driving up to watch the elk and meditate on the day to come. |
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02 May 00 - 12:47 AM (#221273) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: GUEST, Vladimir Ilyich Did you all forget?
Shame on you!! |
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02 May 00 - 12:53 AM (#221274) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Mbo Shame on you for misquoting!
That's better Freddy! --Mbo |
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02 May 00 - 12:56 AM (#221276) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: katlaughing Better yet, let's be all-inclusive, either "Workers" OR:
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02 May 00 - 12:59 AM (#221278) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: GUEST, Vladimir Ilyich And if you were so worried about it, why didn't you post this earlier. Like yesterday for example! |
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02 May 00 - 01:01 AM (#221281) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Amos Buncha commie pinko hippie faggot bastards! Whyncha get a haircut!! 'S a mattah you!! |
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02 May 00 - 01:04 AM (#221284) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: GUEST, Vladimir Ilyich And I was being 'all-inclusive' . There is some absolute nonsense in this place at times, and it stems from shallowness like that! |
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02 May 00 - 01:05 AM (#221286) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Mbo HA HA Amos! Sorry Vlad, I thought you were quoting, oops. --Mbo |
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02 May 00 - 01:07 AM (#221288) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: GUEST, Threadie Amos, eh? Forever the man with the enlightened vocabulary. |
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02 May 00 - 01:09 AM (#221289) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: katlaughing Why not start a thread specifically for that issue? Nobody is stopping you. |
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02 May 00 - 01:12 AM (#221293) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: GUEST, Vladimir Ilyich But, of course, you wouldn't understand that, would you? |
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02 May 00 - 01:29 AM (#221297) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: JenEllen Lessee here.....how's about those of us interested in the workers of the world, try working on our tact. And those of us here for spring, try giving birth to a little thing called a sense of humor? Life's too short. |
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02 May 00 - 03:52 AM (#221335) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 1 From: Mark Cohen Peg, when I lived in Massachusetts I found a book called "Wild in the Streets: A Guide for Boston Drivers." If it's still in print, try to get a copy -- it's a gem! It includes a sequence of eight or so diagrams of a Brighton intersection, with each car labeled with a letter, showing what happens at different times during the light cycle, comlete with jumping the light for left turns, etc. The caption ends with, "Notice that car M has not moved through the entire sequence, because the driver was too timid to go." I'm somewhere between Billy and Boston, both literally and figuratively. It takes about 5 hours to drive around this island. My commute is about 6 miles, mostly overlooking the ocean. Sometimes I see whales. There's a part of me that misses the excitement of starting a long car trip, but now I'm quite happy where I am and a 2-hour drive to Kona is enough of a trip for me. Last month I was in Oregon and drove about 500 miles in a week, mostly up and down I-5 between Portland and Eugene, and you can have it. Aloha, Mark |