Ahh… Christmas. That special time of year. There’s a certain something in the air that makes me just a bit… crankier. Is it all the preparation? The stress looking for presents? The unrealistic expectations of holiday cheer? Nope, it’s all those @#$%^&* shoppers out on the road.
Category: Rants Page 2 of 3
“Every curve is exciting, if you go fast enough.”
–EMan’s sister
There’s a Simpsons episode (season 16, episode 13, “Mobile Homer,” for those that care) where Homer and Marge are on the freeway chasing Bart and Lisa, who are in a recreational vehicle. Marge is looking ahead and says, “I can’t see past all the SUVs.”
I’ve just returned from a week long trip from Germany, and experienced something that makes me even crankier than driving—flying through Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport in Paris.
(Also: The German Paradox – Parking)
The Autobahn. The word evokes a mystical essence about German driving. It’s the last automotive frontier, like the old American wild west. It’s still unlimited. Thoroughbreds like Porsche, BMW, Audi and Mercedes (okay— and VW for that GTI guy) still roam the autobahn. And every encounter in the left lane is about who’s faster, and who needs to move now.
(Also: The German Paradox – The Autobahn)
To a driving enthusiast, the allure of Germany is undeniable. An unlimited autobahn? The Nürburgring? Home of Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Audi (and for that GTI owner, VW)? What could be better?
I was reading the Booth Babe’s article about summer driving events, when I made the mistake of reading the comments. I hate reading the comments, because I lose all hope in my fellow man (again).
Monday.
“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Don’t knock the weather. If it didn’t change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn’t start a conversation.”
—Kin Hubbard
“No matter how rich you become, how famous or powerful, when you die the size of your funeral will still pretty much depend on the weather.”
—Michael Pritchard
All drivers do stupid things. This includes you and me. At some point in time while driving, we will be distracted or not paying attention in some way.
Being a conscientious driving enthusiast is not without its problems, especially about the environment. I wrote an article about this over 10 years ago, and more recently, the Booth Babe wrote about the same issue. I have no straightforward solution to this topic. Not even a bent, twisted one. But I bring this topic up today because of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.