September 11, 2016
As I think about what happened on this day 15 years ago, I still remember what it was like waking up to the news instead of music that morning. It was a shock to learn that a terrorist attack had happened in our country.
And then I think about our situation today. With the upcoming election I've been thinking a lot about how this country has come to a point where the people running for President from the 2 major political parties, are people that I wouldn't want in my house, let alone running our country.
Well, here's my 2 cents.
This country is in this particular situation because the majority of people in the US have turned away from God. Many prophets of old have said that, "this land is choice above all others, and they who inhabit it will worship God, or be swept off." God has blessed this land, the United States of America, with a Constitution written by men that were inspired by God. The architects of this nation were inspired by God to take the actions they took in order for us to have the freedoms we enjoy today. They gave their all. In many cases, they ended up poor and homeless. It is important that we remember our past so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.
And what do we do? We put a dishonest businessman and a dishonest politician on the ballot to run for our nation's highest office. Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin would roll over in their graves if they saw us today. Putting these 2 people on the ballot is a disgrace to everything this nation was founded on. And yet, if anyone says they don't support either of these 2 people, they are scorned by their peers. Freedom of Speech was written into our Constitution so that EVERYONE would have the right to express their opinions, without the fear that they would be considered outcasts if they did.
We had a good man run for President 8 years ago, but the nation turned up their noses at him because he was, and is, a religious man. Instead, they voted in a President who has done more than any previous President in reducing the freedoms we enjoy because of the Constitution. Our current President is a charlatan and a pretender. And now, 8 years later, the people of this nation are wondering, "How did we get here?"
I'm hoping and praying that when November comes around, I will be able to cast my vote for someone I consider worthy of the office. I usually vote Republican, but this November I will cast my vote for the person I feel will heal this nation. The person I vote for will have to be a religious person. They will have honor and be honest in their dealings with their fellowmen. They will have respect for everyone, including their opponents.
Will the person I vote for be elected President? Probably not. HOWEVER, I will have done my duty and cast my vote for the person I thought deserved to lead our nation. That's all I can ask anyone else to do as well.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Rush Hour Traffic
I carpool with my brother-in-law and when it's my turn to drive, there are things I do that I know drive him crazy. For instance, when I'm in heavy traffic, I will intentionally leave a large opening between my car and the car in front of me. Why, you ask?
Well, here's my reasoning: I'm NOT an hourly worker and do not have to punch a time clock every time I get to work. Therefore, I'm not going to get in trouble if I don't arrive at my office at a specific time every morning. However, I am well aware that there are drivers in rush hour traffic that ARE UNDER THE GUN and are expected to be at work at a specific time.
For those drivers that have to be at work at a specific time, THAT'S why I leave a huge gap between my car and the car in front of me.
I also know there are people that are in a hurry for one reason or another. I make it a point to NOT be in a hurry for anything, if I can help it. If I leave a huge gap between my car and the car in front of me, other drivers have room to maneuver in traffic without feeling a lot of stress.
That huge gap also gives me a chance to slow down when I see traffic is STOPPED DEAD ahead of me. I don't see any point in speeding up just to slow down really fast! It doesn't help my gas mileage when I drive that way. It doesn't help my stress level either when I drive that way. So, to those drivers behind me who think I'm slowing down just to tick them off, I say, GROW UP!!! LOOK DOWN THE ROAD and you'll see WHY I'M SLOWING DOWN!!
Don't misunderstand me here, I like to drive at the speed limit or 5-10 mph over, HOWEVER, I don't like to crowd the vehicles in front of me, just to try and get them to speed up. That increases the stress I feel as I drive and I'm sure it ups the stress of the driver that I would be crowding.
I've also found that when more than one driver leaves space between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them, that TRAFFIC keeps MOVING at or above the speed limit.
Some drivers may not understand this simple fact: If they are traveling faster than the traffic in front of them, they WILL HAVE TO HIT THEIR BRAKES. When ONE DRIVER hits their brakes in heavy traffic, AT LEAST 3-5 vehicles behind them will have to hit their brakes. This is precisely how traffic jams happen!!!! In less than 5 minutes, ALL TRAFFIC will be crawling at 5-10 mph or LESS. Myth Busters even did a show to prove or disprove that notion and that is precisely what they found. NOBODY LIKES THAT!
So, here's what I have to say to all the drivers out there, and that includes my kids: Wake up earlier so you don't have to be in a hurry. It's amazing what happens to your mental well being when you aren't in a hurry. If you're having trouble waking up in the morning, try going to bed earlier in the evening. Once you find what works for you, stick with that sleep schedule EVERY DAY. I had to work nights when I first started my current job. My Sweetheart made sure that I stayed on that sleep schedule every day, including the weekends. Even when we went on vacation, my wife made sure I kept my sleep schedule. I never felt any stress on my drive to or from work, mainly because I was traveling to and from work against the flow of normal traffic. However, I also never felt any stress at home when I worked nights. As a matter of fact, I think I saw my family more when I worked nights, because I would get home just as they were getting up and getting ready for school/work. And then I would sleep while they were at school/work and wake up about the time they got home. Then, when they went to bed, I left for work.
Do yourself a favor and, as they say in London, MIND THE GAP! You have control over how much space you leave between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
Well, here's my reasoning: I'm NOT an hourly worker and do not have to punch a time clock every time I get to work. Therefore, I'm not going to get in trouble if I don't arrive at my office at a specific time every morning. However, I am well aware that there are drivers in rush hour traffic that ARE UNDER THE GUN and are expected to be at work at a specific time.
For those drivers that have to be at work at a specific time, THAT'S why I leave a huge gap between my car and the car in front of me.
I also know there are people that are in a hurry for one reason or another. I make it a point to NOT be in a hurry for anything, if I can help it. If I leave a huge gap between my car and the car in front of me, other drivers have room to maneuver in traffic without feeling a lot of stress.
That huge gap also gives me a chance to slow down when I see traffic is STOPPED DEAD ahead of me. I don't see any point in speeding up just to slow down really fast! It doesn't help my gas mileage when I drive that way. It doesn't help my stress level either when I drive that way. So, to those drivers behind me who think I'm slowing down just to tick them off, I say, GROW UP!!! LOOK DOWN THE ROAD and you'll see WHY I'M SLOWING DOWN!!
Don't misunderstand me here, I like to drive at the speed limit or 5-10 mph over, HOWEVER, I don't like to crowd the vehicles in front of me, just to try and get them to speed up. That increases the stress I feel as I drive and I'm sure it ups the stress of the driver that I would be crowding.
I've also found that when more than one driver leaves space between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them, that TRAFFIC keeps MOVING at or above the speed limit.
Some drivers may not understand this simple fact: If they are traveling faster than the traffic in front of them, they WILL HAVE TO HIT THEIR BRAKES. When ONE DRIVER hits their brakes in heavy traffic, AT LEAST 3-5 vehicles behind them will have to hit their brakes. This is precisely how traffic jams happen!!!! In less than 5 minutes, ALL TRAFFIC will be crawling at 5-10 mph or LESS. Myth Busters even did a show to prove or disprove that notion and that is precisely what they found. NOBODY LIKES THAT!
So, here's what I have to say to all the drivers out there, and that includes my kids: Wake up earlier so you don't have to be in a hurry. It's amazing what happens to your mental well being when you aren't in a hurry. If you're having trouble waking up in the morning, try going to bed earlier in the evening. Once you find what works for you, stick with that sleep schedule EVERY DAY. I had to work nights when I first started my current job. My Sweetheart made sure that I stayed on that sleep schedule every day, including the weekends. Even when we went on vacation, my wife made sure I kept my sleep schedule. I never felt any stress on my drive to or from work, mainly because I was traveling to and from work against the flow of normal traffic. However, I also never felt any stress at home when I worked nights. As a matter of fact, I think I saw my family more when I worked nights, because I would get home just as they were getting up and getting ready for school/work. And then I would sleep while they were at school/work and wake up about the time they got home. Then, when they went to bed, I left for work.
Do yourself a favor and, as they say in London, MIND THE GAP! You have control over how much space you leave between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
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