Human Life is Precious

I've been toying with an idea of late, every time I see a car driving aggressively or erratically, just the needless risk taking that jeopardizes other motorists and pedestrians. The idea that some how when we get behind the wheel of our cars we dehumanize everything on the road, taking for granted that in those other cars, and walking down the road are sentient human beings, regardless of age, each one is precious and irreplaceable.  We only have a finite amount of time here, and I plan on making the most of it, and I really don't want some ones urgency to get to the drive thru for coffee to put that at risk.

We all have seen the ageist little signs that enshrine the specialness of having in your vehicle an infant, and I've considered, what one internet denizen has already published here, and I've copied for illustration putting a sign like this on my car:

cropped and presented with out permission, all rights belong to linked creator.

Where this once in a blue moon blog post has surged from, is not the callousness or crazed behaviour of drivers, but the reckless, and sociopathic disregard for human life shown by two idiots at a block party last night.  It was the lead story on the CBC this morning, and the splashed all over the Toronto Star.  The police cheif's made a statement, with shock and weariness in his voice that this was 'the worst incident of gun violence ever' I think he left it qualified 'in North America.'

I find myself, with some caveats agreeing.  The caveats, and I think he meant them as well, is that this isn't to lesson or take away from horrific crimes which have occurred with guns, the Montreal and Columbine shootings for example.  Those were horrible crimes, which involved fire arms, but were premeditated.  This was a crime that was the kind of spontaneous* violence that occurs when people stop considering each other (and likely themselves) to have any value. It is the reckless and thoughtless decision making without a care for consequence or society.  It takes an iota of self work and conscience to say "I'm in a crowded place lets take this some where else.  Never mind the more sophisticated processing that says "This just isn't worth fighting about" and walking away.. 

This isn't a cry for gun control** but a plea for some humanism, humanism in the street, in the car, and in life.  Recognize the people around you as people, recognize yourself as a person, and realize that the golden rule is as relevant a rule today as it ever has been.


* not with standing the premeditation that occurs when you strap a loaded hand gun on and go out in to the public, you obviously mean for it to be there for some purpose?

** I really don't see why people need the right to own a handgun, I'm sure they are fun to target shoot with, but the hand gun is really a single purpose item, it is design for compact people killing, and target shooting is just practice for the real thing.  Long guns are more general purpose, and difficult to conceal.  They have clear sporting value, and permit the enjoyment of marksmanship as well.  That all being said, I do realize that the majority of handgun crime is done with illegally owned handguns, and that out and out banning of handguns wouldn't necessarily solve the problem.  It is too bad ammunition can so easily be manufactured in the home, otherwise Chris Rock's approach to ammunition control might work.

Van-Shman

Insurance is settled, at least for the car, still dealing with injury and incidentals.  Got a good price for the Sonata, so we put a little bit extra into the Caravan.  So now we are getting a Dodge Grand Caravan SE Plus (oooo) with Stow and Go Bench and Captains Chairs.

With RBC settled on the old car we were able to actually finalize the paperwork on the van, so we are picking it up Monday.  Its shiny silver, it was my last choice, but it was what was on hand so we got it.  The trick it seems was the blue tooth.  If we hadn't wanted the built in system they had it in red or blue, but we've had enough hassle with the BlueAnt thing never being charged, or the clip missing... So now we will just have it built in and done with.

So yeah, not excited about a van, just can't get excited about a van, but glad enough to have the cargo space, and it says right in the brochure that it can hold a 4x8, and when I finish the basement I plan to test that.

You Know it is a Bad Sign When...

You can't recognize your car.

So it literally pains me to type this, but that's because my left hand is really sore, last night on the way home from the Go Station I got into an accident. All people seem to be okay, but the Sonata is pretty much a write off, which brings me to our first picture:

Without the grill, bumper, or licence, I actually walked past the car twice...

Anyways, its just not a good week for Geoff, I seem to have bruised both my knees, and my seat belt has left my chest a little sore, but the worst for ware is old lefty who finds general movement uncomfortable. I'm going to go see a Dr, but I'm 90% sure it is just inflammation and pulled muscles.

The interior is all weird, the dash board is pushed forward and the gear box is popped up, and the bumper is in the passenger seat (okay that last one was put there after the fact.)

I think that is a knee shape on the left side, which corresponds with my knee bruise

Point of the story is baaaa, and I'm ok, and was alone in car, so all is as well as it can be.