17 August 2011

Red Light Cameras

I'm all for red light cameras. People are upset about the idea because they think it's just one step closer to "Big Brother". Well maybe. But I'll argue that we're pretty much there anyway. Banks have cameras to make sure that we don't rob them. Walmart has cameras to make sure that we don't rob them. People post millions and billions of photos of themselves on Facebook voluntarily every day. There is a picture of you on a hard drive somewhere. Unless you live under a rock in the Pecos Wilderness (that would be nice), you're being watched. So what is the big deal about red light cameras. I don't think the issue is because it's a foreign company who cities contract to set up and manage the cameras. http://www.redflex.com/  I also don't think the issue is that they take a big chunk of the fine issued. And I don't think the issue is that the tickets issued are only civil citations and the city cannot issue warrants or take the person to court for the citation. I think the issue is that we don't want to be held accountable for our actions on the road. When we get into our cars we turn into selfish, arrogant, jerkfaces. I'm guilty too. I'm not an angry person most of the time, but if you cut me off on the freeway then I turn into a jerk.

I had an idea to even take this idea further. I think it would be amazing if in the future all cars speeds were monitored all of the time. Not even just monitored, but governed. I think it would be great if our cars were communicating with satellites all the time and if we tried to gun it past 15 mph in that school zone then our motor shut down for a moment. Does that take away any rights? Is it our right to break the law if we want? I don't know the law. And I'm all about free will. I don't want to be controlled. But driving is a privilege. Driving is a luxury. You can walk your happy butt around town if you want. Walking and the freedom to go wherever you want is a right... But not driving. I think if you can't obey the laws then your rights should be taken away. So many people die each year because of cars. I'm too lazy to look up stats, but I know the numbers are probably pretty high.

Here's a video of the accident I was in. I'm the little maroon car that was hit by the person who tried to speed through a red light. If it wasn't for the red light camera then I would have been sited.


14 August 2011

Route To Work


I'm really starting to like Google + a lot. I love how all of my old Google services that I use are all brought together in one spot. Blogger, Buzz, and Picasa are all accessible on Google +. It's kind of annoying though that I can't rotate the photos I upload to my blog using Picasa. Maybe they still have some bugs to work out. I'm going to stop talking about Google though before I start sounding like an advertisement.

Our weekend was fantastic. I wish I could just freeze time and stay in the weekend all of my life. It's not so much that I dread the week, it's more like I just enjoy the heck out of the weekend. This weekend we went to Pecos and had a picnic. I bought some chicken breasts and Joey brought some good bread, cheese and some Grey Poupon. We took cover underneath a bridge because we thought it was going to rain on us. It didn't end up raining very hard... We had an excellent time though. Just hanging out with friends. I know it's times like this that I'll never forget.

I'm optimistic for this next week. I think I lied in that last paragraph. I think sometimes I do dread the upcoming week. I try to stay optimistic though. I think that this week can bring wonderful things. I just have to break the routine. I think I'll start with my route to work. This week I'll try to take different routes every day of the week.

07 August 2011

Sunday Evening

Tomorrow is the start of a new week. These days seem to be going by faster and faster. I feel like this summer just zoomed past us. 

I'm tired of a few things in my life. I'm tired of my lack of motivation in some areas. I'm tired of our little bathroom. I'm tired of the weather. 

Really, I have no reason to complain. We always complain. I always complain. I complain about terrible drivers in Albuquerque. I complain about dry, hot weather. (I live in a freakin' desert. I need to just get used to it.) I'm just a complainer. We're all complainers. But what do I do to change my situation? I complain some more. I would much rather do something. I could keep on complaining about how flawed people are, or I can just focus on my own life. My life needs improvement. I won't be happy if I focus on other people's lives.

I don't know. Sometimes life gets me down. Sometimes I don't have all of the things that I want. Then I have to stop and think, and sometimes write in a blog, then I remember--I remember that I have all that I need. I have a wife that I adore. I have loving parents and parent in-laws. I have family that loves me. I have a job that pays the bills. I live in a city, state and country that I am proud of. Life is mostly good. 

Today Lindsey and I saw a homeless woman in the park. We both have seen her many times walking around the Nob Hill and University area. I was filled with compassion, but I didn't do anything. I just sat there and I enjoyed my Arizona Tea Arnold Palmer. I wanted so bad to give her something, to show her kindness, but I ignored the urge. Next time I see her, I want to say something, I want to give something. 

01 August 2011

Random Thoughts 8/1/11

It's another day. I'm half way though and I feel anxious. I'm anxious to see what life will bring. Will there be sorrow? Will there be joy? I'm sure a good mixture of the two. I'm trying to find ways to be prepared for both of those things. 

Lots of things are going on in my life right now. I love Lindsey so much. We have lots of decisions to make together. I once heard someone say, "Fail to plan, then plan to fail". So I'd like to have a good plan. We're moving into our new place next month. (We're renting.) Yesterday we had the help of Lindsey's parents to clean the house. It was a few minutes of hard work, but I think it's paying off. The house is pretty old. Old is good though. We're excited to move in. 

So I'm pretty sad that monsoon season really hasn't brought anything to the Albuquerque area. Everyday I look at the radar images to see if there's a chance that one of these storms will hit us. So far we've only had one good storm. It's alright, I live in a desert I know. Rain is so much sweeter when you live in a desert.

Here's something I read today that made me think...

"27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."
Luke 6:27-36 (NLT)