Observations for 11-15-06

Driving is a trip in this country, or at least, this state.

Today whilst driving back home, some moron is going about 20 mph getting 
onto the highway.  How does this happen?  I have no clue, but we had to 
pass him on the median to be able to merge properly on the interstate.

Incidents like this just reinforce my reasoning for not getting a license when 
I turned 16.  It's not necessarily stupid, just a huge risk.  People are absolutely 
mad on the road, old or young.  Honestly I wished the layout of cities and 
populations in America were more focused around cities and our public transportation 
was not an abomination, but what can you do?

The interstates have a nice little thing that says "minimum speed: 40."  Why is this?  
People drive twice that speed on the interstates and people that go that slow are going to
get in an accident.  It's a stupid rule that should be changed, along with the whole interstate structure.  Let me explain:

* Raise the minimum speed in the right lane to 55 mph, change the minimum speed on
the left lane to 70 mph (the standard speed of highways, unless otherwise posted).
* Raise the maximum speed on highways to 80 mph, why is this?  Cars are built to go 80-90 mph for long periods of time.  Every car on the road (or...95%) can go that speed easily.
* Barriers along the median and info on traffic back-ups, sent to a phone or nav system if you will.
* Those reversable "rush-hour" lanes.  You know, those ones that from 5 A.M. to 10 A.M. go towards town, and 
from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. go away from town.  Brilliant idea, right?
* More public transportation and an overhaul to make them appeal to everyone, not just
having them go through all the poverty-stricken areas.  Riding a bus shouldn't be a stigma of your financial status.
* Carpools don't work, but how about an "Ethanol-only" lane?  Encourage some people to buy fuel efficient vehicles.

And this leads me into some whole other argument that I'll save for later.

Fallacy

One word: Fallacy

1. a deceptive, misleading, or false notion, belief, etc.

2. a misleading or unsound argument.

3. deceptive, misleading, or false nature; erroneousness.

4. Logic. any of various types of erroneous reasoning that render arguments logically unsound.

5. Obsolete. deception.


Interesting word, huh? And one I'm growing some sort of affinity towards. It's a shame that in the world we live in today, there is so much deception, lies, and hidden personalities and natures. Sometimes I wonder why I feel like everyone needs some kind of epiphany.

About America:

Well, the Democrats won the midterm elections, but it's a siren's song for a true fix. The past 2 or 3 years have been hundreds of politicians sitting around not doing anything, while our country is thrown under a bus. We're fighting a war that can't be won, we're 8 trillion dollars in debt (as in...far beyond the amount of money in all of the U.S.), we have 8% of the world's population and we use up 30% of the energy, people buy big SUV's, even though petroleum is a dying resource.



*sigh* I basically see a country falling apart around me, simply for the reason that people are too lazy, or too afraid to adjust their lifestyles. We need alternative fuel, smaller cars, a government that provides for it's people, and open arms (this is aimed at whoever the fuck thought of this wall idea around Mexico). Teenage culture is an abomination and like every other generation's thoughts, "Will we really be able to run the country?"  It's interesting to think that the counterculture of this generation are the people who actually want to make changes.

And then you get me: One individual trapped in a rubber room of deception. Everyone around me is in some competition, trying to compete with each other, with me, with people they don't even know. One person, in particular, has this urge to like everything I like, do everything I do, etc. I'm not in a competition, I'm trying to get to college and set myself up for life. It's so aggravating, but should I really risk throwing a friend away just to gain some personal space? Friend vs. Self - funny match.

I've got too much to do, too little time, and too many things riding on the decisions and performance of what I do in this span of being 16-18. Am I stressing out for no reason? probably...but I have to, I hate competition, but I relish it at the same time, not for winning, for the experiences learned, the pressure, getting the best out of yourself when you need it the most.

Take a look at the lyrics of Tool's Aenima, there are some interesting assumptions made from a nearly 10 year old song in there.  "Fret for your figure, Fret for your latte"  Oh, just go take a look, this song is amazing.  Fantastic.  Brilliant.

It's interesting, really, the fallacies we face, from bullshit, or whatever else.  Typical.  You know, there are so many good things in the world, and so many more than can be good.  But, "It's a bullshit three ring circus sideshow" right?  The messages we hear in today's world...goddam, why are people so gullible?  The only way you can get anywhere is to really develop your own self-awareness, your own morals, your own way of living.

Take me for example:
I've never taken drugs, never smoked, never drank, never had sex, never been anorexic, never lusted over anyone.  Am I Christian?  Hardly.  I'm Atheist, but does that mean I have to rage against society, start riots, kill Christians, denounce religion?  I'm a highschooler, where's my 3 failed relationships, my slit wrists, my hair that covers my eye, my black clothes that hide me from the world?  Where's my cigarette to wash away my sorrows?

I'll tell you where - nowhere, because stupid shit won't save you.  The morals someone else lays out for you, the things someone else shows you, are not supposed to be gobbled up.  You pick and choose who you want to be, not be a patchwork of others.

Anyway, I need to write some poetry...blah.