Are we really upset about speeding tickets…

For the third night in a row (by my count), Nashville WTVF (News Cchannel 5) has reported on ticketing by Tennessee State Troopers.  They report that the department has unofficially mandated a “ticket quota/standard.”  A quota is illegal of course, and that is what is causing all the commotion.  The State Troopers deny that any quota has been established.  The report is full of defense attorneys and civilians (that have received tickets, of course) that are outraged about receiving their ticket.  The journalist antagonizes them with a line that suggests the ticket that they received was probably in response to a quota.   

Here is my thought…

What ever happened to responsibility?  It should not matter if there is a quota or not.  If you are caught speeding and in turn receive a ticket; you have received just punishment according to the law.  There is nothing and no one to be upset at except yourself.   In fact, we should be disappointed that the State Troopers are not able to stop and ticket every driver that speeds.   Would it not be a safer highway if everyone obeyed the speed limit?  And wouldn’t more people obey if the highways were monitored all the more?

Sonic commercials…

In my opinion, the writers for the Sonic Drive-In commercials are some of the most clever and witty comedy writers around.  I have no idea who these writers are, but I laugh at every single commercial.

Continuing…

I am not the same person I was four years ago.  Much has changed (mostly for the better).  Lately I have reflected often on these years trying to decipher from whence I have come and to where I may be going.  Unfortunately, I have few ideas and those that I have had, are fleeting.  Hence, I am trying to get in the habit of writing again.  I need a place to record thoughts and feelings and understandings and experiences.  Without it, much of life (mine at least) goes by and is forgotten.

BGoutdoorgear

This is a great new business.  If you like outdoor activities, check it out.

www.bgoutdoorgear.com

I love satire…

This site was recommended to me tonight – very funny.

Transition cont’d…

As part of my training at JPMorgan, I am to become securities licensed.  For my specific role, that means three test in 8 weeks that I must pass.  I say I must because it is true – if I fail, I’m out of a job.  Good news, I passed the first this morning and it is supposed to be the hardest one.

Hopefully all downhill from here.

One of the funniest things on TV…

I try to stay up just long enough every night to watch David Letterman’s “Great Moments in Presidential Speeches” bit. It really has to be the funniest thing I’ve ever watched.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch this comedy bit, here are a few links to You Tube compilations:

Great Moments in Presidential Speeches

Enjoy!

Vocabulary words…

In studying for the GRE, I have run across a fun little website: www.freerice.com

The site simply gives you a vocabulary test. The list of words range from moderately to very difficult. Another cool thing is that for every word you get right, the UN donates 20 grains of rice to the third world. Its the classic “kill two birds with one stone” case – increase your personal vocabulary and help end world hunger by doing so.

Your skill is measured and this is what keeps me coming back. So far, I have made it to level 43. Can you beat me?

Valentine’s…

I typically do not enjoy Valentine’s Day.  I mean, I always enjoy the time with the one I am with (which has happened to be the love of my life the last 5 years), but it is not a day that I look forward to like Thanksgiving or Christmas.  It just doesn’t have the same quality in my opinion.  I suppose I am one of the cynics out there that think it is purely a marketing conspiracy.  Well, what can I say.

However, this year has been different.  I still did not look forward to the holiday with any anticipation, but I did think much more about my wife and my great love for her.  I really have been blessed lately in my thinking of her and our marriage.  All I can hope for is that it continues to flourish and that I could be continually cognizant of the greatness and mystery of it.

Wishing the same to all you lovers out there.

a BIG test, and all the other stuff…

So, it has been a really long time since I have posted – 3 months now.  It doesn’t seem that long, but the calendar doesn’t lie.  I am a bit disappointed in myself because I really would like to be a regular blogger.  It makes me stop and think about what is going on in my life and in my thoughts.  For instance, the last post was one that I was actually really interested in writing more about, but time got away from me and nothing else was written.  Maybe it will be rekindled on a later date.

Where have I been?  Starting just before the Thanksgiving holiday of 2007, my schedule became ridiculously tight.  I sing in a choir here in Dallas and we sang Beethoven’s 9th for a week straight.  It was really grand and I enjoyed every minute of it.  If anyone is reading this and enjoys classical music, I recommend you download the Boston Pops version from iTunes.  After Thanksgiving, our Christmas concert season began.  The choir had 11 concerts in a 15 day period.  I sang in 7.  For the Christmas holiday, my wife and I enjoyed a trip to New Orleans with my family.  It was a nice and needed vacation from work.  During all of this time, I was still working a full-time job which required me to often times hop into a tuxedo at work before leaving to go to a concert.  It was quite a tough stint.

One of the biggest reasons I have not blogged as of late is because of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  If I received free time during the evenings or days, I tried to occupy myself in study for the GRE.   In fact, I should be studying vocabulary words as I type (but, alas, I am not).  I am intending to apply to graduate school for matriculation in Fall 2009.  Where? we do not know.   In what? religious studies (specialization in Early Christian history).

Maybe there will be more posts to come.