Between Friends

If you enjoy exercise -- or abolsutely hate to exercise but workout anyway because you want the 150+ benefits that exercise provides [provided the exercise is appropriate, safe and effective, per your desired goals] -- here's a question:

What are your top 10 exercise equipment choices -- your preferences and interests; what equipment you use daily or most often; or most enjoy and benefit from? 

Treadmill?

Arc Trainer?

Elliptical?

Cross-trainer?

Stair-climber?

Versa-climber?

Tread-climber? 

Rowers?

Recumbent bike?

Standard bike?

Spinning bike?

Air-dyne bike?

Selectorize weight machines?

Free weights [dummbells, etc]?

Plate-loaded weight training machines?

Cables?

Pilates chair?

Pilates reformer?

Stability balls?

Medicine balls?

Bosu balls?

Bands?

Tubes?

Mats?

Speed [boxing] bags?

Kick-boxing bags?

Golf clubs?

Tennis raquet?

Bud Light?

TV remote?

__________?

If you don't exercise, why not? What is your reason -- hey, I'm just curious! 

Is it lack of time?

Too busy?

No energy?

Injuries?

You do what your idol -- Dr. Phil -- does?

Pain?

Don't like to sweat?

No access to exercise equipment? 

Don't like health clubs or fitness centers?

Don't like to exercise for more than a minute? 

Annoyed from all that exercise in the past and yet no results?

You'll miss Hell's Kitchen re-runs?

Don't know what to do?

Too many things to figure out how to do?

Too stressed out?

Face high risk for medical emergencies during exercise? 

Too boring?

Don't want to workout in the same area as persons of the opposite sex?

Don't want to change?

Don't want to workout with persons more physically fit and trim than yourself?

Don't want to workout with co-workers?

Not enough sleep?

More hair on your body than a silverback gorilla?

Prefer playing sports instead?  

Would rather go for a walk?

Don't want to have to hire a personal trainer?

Too fond of the gazillion fat cells adding extra junk in your trunk? 

Don't want to wear spandex?

Don't like having to see oneself in the mirror?

Don't like being flirted with? 

Prefer watching Tony Little exercise machine infomercials?

Don't want to see posers [people who admire their beauty in the mirror]?

Don't like having to "work-in" [use equipment others are using at the same time]?

Don't like limits on cardio equipment?

Muscle-heads [body-builders like Hans and Frans] annoy you?

You're afraid you'll sit on a syringe loaded with steroids?

Don't like the music?

You are afraid you'll look silly?

Too busy eating donuts while watching exercise-TV?

Will see your ex there?

Can't find a parking space close to the front door of the Y?

Fitness center is too far out of the way?

Don't want to waste your gas?

Prefer working out in your living room with a Richard Simmons tape?

Not into yoga?

________________?

I stole this headline from the online article I just read. If you're familiar with this story, what's your take on it? Is it doable? -- and given our current situation, is it feasble at all, much less within 10 years?

If you have not heard nor read this story yet -- here is the executive summary: Al Gore has issued a challenge to both presidential candidates to "produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources within 10 years"

As for my own thoughts:

[1] I commend Al Gore -- and no, to you right-wingers out there, I am not a Gore supporter nor a liberal nor a "drinker of the Kool-Aid" -- I am a fiscal conservative frankly, but I think and vote independently. For the record, just because a person is a member of the "other political party" doesn't rule out any smart suggestions and ideas they may make. Nor does it justify turning a deaf ear on said ideas -- but for those who do, well, it says a lot about their own biases and dare I say it, ignorance.

[2] Gore has the passion and ambition and clout to help turn that suggestion into an action plan -- and so I support that initiative. And frankly, I respect the fact he's making a public press conference out of it rather than doing what so many people do, whisper their ideas and hide behind the curtain, unwilling to take a public stand.  

[3] I'm all for this proposal but there's trillions of dollars in the status quo system -- oil production and utilization, etc. It's off the subject a tad, but even our processing plants -- converting corn into ethanol -- are operated by machinery that runs on fossil fuels! So, here we are investing billions of dollars in the use of corn to produce fuel -- yet the plants making that ethanol [which incidentally is supposed to be for the purpose of eliminating our reliance on oil] are using machines that use oil -- and so it seems to be yet another government subsidized scam [probably a result of earmarks].  Furthermore, in the process, the cost of corn is driven way up there -- making everything that uses corn more expensive; and corn is used in everything, which, um, makes everything we buy more costly. is it possible to use "wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources" to operate these ethanol plants? I have no idea. 

[4] The best part of Gore's very bold challenge -- in my opinion -- is the fact that he makes the same assertion to both McCain and Obama. Making it clear he's not siding with one or the other based on a specific party affiliation. He's indirectly asserting that whichever candidate represents the best choice for getting us to that goal, marks the best choice for the American voter. After all, the 1st 4 years of a 10-year plan are the most important years; and chances are the candidate will be office for 8 years. 

[5] There's so much talk about this and that being "bi-partisan" that I hate hearing the word. But in this case, Gore is 100% bi-partisan. I think that carries alot of weight.

[6] But I tend to be a realist -- not a dreamer -- and so I am skeptical -- is this truly an achievable outcome? It seems unlikely. Sure, when JFK made the bold challenge about "making it to the moon"  that probably triggered a similar amount of skepticism among the public. But what's different about this [challenge from Gore], is that this country is already hooked and drunk on fossil fuels. In the 1960s the whole rocket science industry was non-existent! -- and so the point is, it was easier to achieve that bold goal to reach the moon because, from day 1, nothing else existed in that realm; and so they avoided having to re-build, re-engineer, re-wire, re-configurate and re-work everything. They got to start from scratch and could focus 100% of their energies and money on designing and building things according to the way they needed them to be.

That is not the case with U.S. energy goals! 

Hell, we are as hooked on fossil fuel energy production as a crack addict is hooked on crack. And to move in the direction called for -- be to protect what's left of the environment in these capacities, or for national defense and terrorism risk prevention or mitigation --requires a comprehensive re-engineering of all systems and plants and products. And to engineer -- and implement -- a whole new way of doing things takes everyone being on the same page -- and it takes exponential cooperation from everyone. I just don't see that happening. There is too much money and ego and need for control, for that to be realistic. But that's just my take on it.

Yesterday's ultra-tragic nightmare on highway 40 drives home one key piece of common knowledge: One person acting irresponsibly can -- and often does -- cause exponentially serious -- if not grave -- consequences for everyone else but themselves. My heart goes out to every single one of those drivers forced into that horror -- and those who saw it happen. What an absolute horror for those drivers. 

Those people were just trying to get from one place to another. It's a lesson on how very, very, very quickly things -- thoughts, feelings, priorities, to-do lists, needs, goals and wants -- can change. I was nowhere near that scene -- and only learned of it very late in the evening last night -- and yet I will never forget those images.

Seeing that -- carnage -- is a harsh reminder we all face the same risk on a daily basis. It reminds every one of us of our own very close calls involving tractor-trailers -- what a state trooper [friend] calls "close encounters of the deadly kind" -- for some of us, close calls with careless truckers took us very close to certain death. 

I almost bought the farm a few years ago on I-44. Had a concrete barrier to my left and an 18-wheeler on my right taking the liberty of merging into my lane at 70mph -- and an SUV tailgating me. And I would bet that 7 of every 10 people taking the time to read this blog has had an encounter with an 18-wheeler -- not much different than this.

These drivers were -- and are -- not unlike you and me. All of them were doing what we all do on the roads in this region -- wasting gas while sitting in traffic -- and having been at that very spot on I-40, waiting in line to access 270, you're basically 100% unaware of what and where the danger is until it's too late. We all face that risk on all the highways and it's damn scary.

I know a half dozen big rig drivers and these guys like to talk -- and talk frankly. They're all good guys but the stories they tell are not-so-good -- nor reassuring -- revealing just how at-risk we can be when in their company on the highway. Some are cavalier -- the attitude about their own [reckless] driving is indifferent -- and they know they personally face minimal risk for mortality should their rig cause or be involved in a crash.

Police investigators only released a general statement that the trucker was "inattentive" -- and I would bet truckers do the same stupid -- and dangerous -- things while driving -- and driving at excessive speeds! -- that other motorists do (e.g., talking on a cell phone). Knowing a few male truck drivers, I'm aware they've other things in their cab that takes one's attention off the road. For example...

A portable urinal [container]. And as any man can attest, getting the zipper down -- and getting the other thing out and active -- requires both hands; and when a trucker has both hands off-the-wheel -- and their eyes are looking down rather than up, and on the road ahead -- it's more than just a tad dangerous.  

P.S. FYI:

There is legislation on the table -- in one or more states -- to require "computerized speed limitors" on 18-wheel tractor-trailers -- automatically preventing speeds in excess of a certain. Of course, the transporation industry and their lobbyists are fighting this. But I certainly favor it. What about you?

That said, speed is not the root issue here. Sure, speed does indeed kill; however, as any NASCAR -- or Formula 1 -- race event demonstrates, when attentive -- and well-rested and conditioned -- persons drive at very high speeds there is high risk but minimal [statistical] probability [for accidents or fatalities].

However, when inattentive drivers drive at excessive speeds both risk and probability for serious accidents [and fatalities] skyrockets. So, speed limitors are not the only thing needed for risk prevention. Here's another thing to bear in mind: there's a labor shortage in the trucking industry -- driver attrition is high and recruiting new drivers is tough today. Problem is, a trucking firm has to get the goods delivered to their customers -- and if they lack a sufficient supply of experienced drivers, it means the drivers that they do have available are going to be pushed to the max. Putting us at even more risk.

Plus, with a driver shortage you can guess what's happening -- more and more poorly qualified [inexperienced and poorly skilled] drivers of big rigs are hitting the roads -- and they're working longer hours per day. If you've ever driven for 12 continuous hours you're aware that after about the 10th continuous hour on the road, you tend to lose your focus and alertness and attentiveness. Factor in the fact they've near zero courtesy for other drivers on the road and you've a very dangerous situation. 

Looking at this truck in today's paper you'll see MINIMAL damage to its cab -- yet right in front of the truck lies a mess of mangled vehicles damaged beyond recognition. When you take into account the physics of such a crash it's a wonder "only two" persons were killed. The truck's mass is at least 1500 lbs and it's speed was 75mph at impact. That's an astronomically high amount of force production -- energy -- unleashed on those vehicles. I cannot fathom the sound nor the sight. Much less the experience.

Sadly, I don't see a resolution in sight. This same thing will happen again. The police do a fine job as is -- and they can't prevent nor control this situation. Our government can't help -- they're worthless -- period. Industry and its lobbying doesn't help -- heck it can be argued that industry plays a role in the problem. I guess we motorists must rely on hope -- and trust -- the truckers who are sharing the road are taking all necessary precautions to assure our safety. In other words, we're on our own when on the highways and byways.

What say you?

Caution: Thinking is required!

What have been your most significant turning points -- and watershed moments? These are the times when your inner voice spoke up... or your gut-instinct slapped you in the face -- leading to some profound  -- often life-changing -- vision or idea.

Maybe the turning point provided the direction you needed at the time -- which fork in the road to take to get your needs met -- or perhaps it enhanced your self awareness -- such as the realization of inner strengths and abilities you didn't know you had -- or millions of other things.

My own experience reveals at least 2 types of turning points:

1. Turning points we experience but don't have awareness of at the time -- nor their value   
2. Turning points we are acutely aware of -- and know their value -- at the very nanosecond it arrives

If we lack awareness at the time -- of the actual occurrence of a turning point moment -- we may continue to be in the dark for months or years or decades. Then one day, for some reason, it becomes evident to us that -- back then -- we had, but turned our back on, an opportunity of a lifetime. 

But sometimes -- for only some people -- lacking awareness at the moment a turning point moment arrives doesn't prevent our acting on the message it presents! How is this possible? Answer: The programming of the world's most effective and fastest super-computer and servo-mechanism: our subconcious mind.

And either you know what I am talking about -- because you have experienced firsthand this very dyanmic -- or you don't know -- and if you don't know, no amount of time I may spend trying to help you understand will be enough time. You'll have to tackle that steep learning curve on your own; investing your own dime and time.

My own experiences have me convinced that without self mastery, it's impossible to see and understand and grasp these moments at the moment they arrive -- when action is required. Since these moments come and go in a gazillionith of a second -- just as fast as a nerve cell sends its signal to the brain and the brain signals the body to respond -- seizing the moment -- and the myriad opportunities that come with it -- must be immediate.

Failure and success alike is built one moment at at time. The right decisions at the right moments -- during the moment -- makes all the difference. And having awareness that a turning point is upon us -- and making the decision to act on it -- is all it takes to shift from one path to another.  

Everyone -- irrelevant of their age, socioeconomic class, ethnicity, race, education level, job or occupation, marital status, sexual preference, lifestyle, IQ, EQ, DQ milkshake flavor preference, health and wealth -- has this innate ability. But very few people know it and act on it.

Why is this?  

That's right. I am guilty of being a blog hog.  You see, certain things that people write on their -- and others' -- blogs can trigger certain staunch opinions and perspectives. Because I think very fast and write -- and type -- almsot as fast, it's exponentially easy for me to leave "signature dissertations" everywhere.

As recent as, um, just now on Jeanette's blog -- the issue: energy drink ingredients and consumption, particularly among teen girls, including reasons why.

And historically, on um at Kurkel's Place -- the issue(s): healthcare-oriented topics. At the Michelle4Wellness blog -- issue: not sure. On KKmom's blog -- issue: outsourcing of medical transcription to India [which, incidentally, I've changed my stance on in the months since and see her point as more valid than my own at the time].

Yes, others also. And a select few other bloggers have done the same -- dissertations upon dissertations -- on my blog! Snoopydad, for example. Chickenkiller. Sikuvtherite. And many others! Frankly, I am all for this and welcome the dissertations. In some cases, some bloggers have changed my own views -- a big time credit to them for having presented something in a way that resonated with and educated me.  

The point: For me, perhaps because I write them myself -- thus, am biased about the reasons why they're written -- dissertations represent a blogger's investment of time on my blog -- and an investment of mental and physical energy -- and because of this -- and the fact  they reveal a blogger's core passions, interests, intelligences, insights, opinions and perspectives -- I want to see and read what and how they think.  

However... 

There are certain blog statements and dissertations I don't welcome -- and I will not tolerate and, consistent with Fox2 Blogging Policies, will delete without a moment's hesitation: [A] Personal attacks [B] Slander and libelous comments C] Threats and other offensive or disparaging statements by Internet losers -- faceless cowards, control freaks and insecure, mean-spirited types who lack 3 things:

1. The ability to agree to disagree
2. Respect for others' whom are different -- and who have different perspectives
3. Guts -- and the balls -- to make their personal attacks in person

Question: How do you feel about blog hogs -- bloggers who write dissertations on your blog -- and/or the blogs you frequent? Question: Have you experienced personal attacks on the blogs? If so, how did you handle it -- and what are your own policies for bloggers?  

FAQ: Why is this blog categorized as "Political"? [A] There is no category for "none of the above"  [B] This is the area of the blog bar where I read countless dissertations -- and have left more than a few of my own -- and [C] If you want to get a feel for what the "hot topics" are -- that seem to trigger rath and disdain -- this is the place!

Sure, the Detroit Red Wings lost in the 3rd OT to the Penguins last night -- and what a game! -- and I am glad. Not because I am rooting for the Penguins. I don't care who wins the Stanley Cup this season. The fact of the matter is I love the game of ice hockey and want this series to last as long as possible. Ideally, a 7th game.

For me, this is the only professional team sport that requires -- and demonstrates -- the superior athleticism of players -- namely, their mental and physical conditioning. And the average professional ice hockey player is considerably more fit than the average pro baseball or football or soccer or basketball player.

And so, in my opinion, one of many core factors driving the consistent efficacy and performance of the Detroit Red Wings -- and several other teams -- is their superior strength and conditioning [individual players and as a team].

But there is more to the equation! There has to be! Since Detroit has only 1 person on its roster who was a 1st round draft pick, this factor is clearly not the answer. And so, what is the answer? Is it because of their:

• Pro scouting activities?
• Amateur scouting in North America?
• Eurpoean scouting including in the Asian countries?
• Administration? Ownership?
• The front office?
• Head coaches -- and/or their coaching?
• Assistant coaches -- and/or their coaching?
• Coaches for the goalies -- and/or their coaching?
• Strength and conditioning coaches -- and/or their coaching?
• Cheerleaders -- and/or their sexy cheerleading outfits? lol
• Zamboni driver's techniques?

What makes this team so damn good?! And what can we do -- that we are evidently lacking in -- that will get us into the playoffs past the opening round?

Bottom line, whether you love them or loathe them, the Red Wings are a formidable hockey team that has earned respect time and time again. How sweet it would be if we could mirror their performance when it matters most.  

With all due respect to the Blues, they suck and have sucked for a very, very long time. Even our cheerleaders leave something to be desired.

There are tens of thousands of quotes -- and sayings and proverbs -- to live by. 

I'm a collector of quotes -- after all, others' wisdom is invaluable and many quoters are very successful women and men; putting these quotes to use has been very profitable. As I sit here working on a writing project and preparing for a speaking engagement, several favorites come to mind.

There are too many to pick out a "top 10" but here are 15 quotes on topics within the broad category of self actualization, personal development and success: 

RE: 

Candor. A "No" uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a "Yes" merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid conflict or trouble [Mahatma Ghandi]

Uncertainty. Leap and the net will appear [Zen saying]

Adversity. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity [Albert Einstein] 

Fear. Feel the fear and do it anyway [Dr. Susan Jeffers]

Change. Never swap horses when crossing a stream [American proverb]

Ability. They are able because they think they are able [Vergll]

Success.  Persistance doesn't produce the desired results. Success is born from persistance and experimentation [David J. Schwartz]

Behavior. Live so that you can at least get the benefit of the doubt [K Hubbard]

Love. We are shaped and fashioned by what we love [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe] 

Happiness. Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life [Burton Hills]

Belief.  You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can [(39th U.S. President) Jimmy Carter]  

New Beginnings. Bad times have a scientific value. We learn geology the morning after the earthquake [Ralph Waldo Emerson]

Results. All rising to great places is by a winding stair [Francis Bacon]

Imagination.  A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock pile when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind [Antoine de Saint-Exupery]

Effort. Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself [Katherine Mansfield]

Who they is I don't know, but whoever they are, they say that we have nine lives. Thank you, because at least six of mine have been used and most of these spares have really come in handy! Some have allowed me to do some really, really stupid things.  

So, how many of your 9 lives have been used -- and how? Do you believe in this phenom or is it yet another silly furry tail? Ooops, I mean fairy tale. 

This came to mind upon hearing that a close friend and her entourage were on the water during the horrendous lightning and storms that drove through our region over -- what could be called the worse -- Memorial Day weekend.

It's an exhilerating experience seeing a front come in over water. But if you're on the water at the same time it can be absolutely terrifying -- yet exciting! After all, what doesn't kill you makes you want to do it again.  

Speaking of storms, maybe I'm just weird but there's something majical -- and dare I say it, erotic -- about intense thunderstorms with torrential wind, rain and hail. Except when the power goes out. 

Location: Bangalore, India 

Location: Bangalore, India

Location: Bangalore, India

Bangalore, India markets itself as the IT capital of the world; and just think, this is where corporate America is offshoring its IT operations and infrastructure. So, if you think Indian technology and telecommunications limitations -- and weaknesses -- doesn't affect you, think again. 

Weigh yourself like this

Bangalore, India is supposed to be the IT capital of the world.

To bolster their P&L [profit and loss] statements, more and more large U.S. corporations -- and small to mid-size companies -- are offshoring their IT operations to India.  In fact...

Many Fortune 500 corporations offshore their entire IT department! -- including both internal operations [IT infrastructure and management] and external IT activities [product innovation, customer services, computer help-desk operations, technical support]. 

Plus, they may offshore their entire IT workforce. After all, the costs of labor in India is exponentially cheap -- $30 per hour on American soil translates to about $2 to $6 per hour on Indian soil.  

Bangalore, India may market itself as the IT capital of the world -- and the global leader for IT talent -- but if you've ever visited India or seen photos of India-based infrastructure for telecommunications, 2 questions come to mind:   

• Is India's IT truly better -- higher quality and more reliable -- than America's brand of IT?

• Is IT created and managed on Indian soil -- by Native Indians [and Americans who've relocated there] -- better than IT created and managed on American soil -- by Americans [and Native Indians who've relocated here]?

Reading and responding to dreamchaser's blog -- um, more like running out of room when posting on the blog -- spawned this one. What I would like to know -- from all 5K bloggers on here at most times -- is this:

• What is your IDEAL job or occupation or career field or business?

• What core activities would you perform?

• What skills and talents would you be using?

• What industry applies?

• Would you be working with people or working alone?

• Would you be working with ideas and new concepts?... And/or machines?... And/or scientific principles?... And/or animals?... And/or technology? .. And/or laws and regulations? ... And/or [fill in the blank]?

• Where would you do this work -- what county, city, state or country?

• How many hours would you work per week?

And, if I may be so bold as to ask: Are you now -- or are you close to [< 6 months of] -- having your dream job?

• If your answer is YES -- awesome!  Kudos to you! What was the catalyst for you -- what caused you to go for it and ditch your unsatisfying work?

• If your answer is NO -- why not?! Why are you not moving in that direction? Why are you holding back and delaying doing what you love?     

I read on Fox 2 earlier today that for the first time, polar bears will likely be placed on the "threatened species" list -- just one notch down from "endangered" -- due to significant melting of polar ice caps as a result of increased carbon dioxide, argon gas and other so-called greenhouse gases.

As a life-long animal lover -- and amateur naturalist -- who is fond of these magnificent animals and their previously unspoiled and untouched habitat, I am saddened by this news. Not for my sake but rather for those bears and their cubs.

A few years ago I volunteered at the St. Louis Zoo as a docent -- an interpretor/ educator for visitors. We went through an extensive training program administered by the StL Zoo Education Department -- learning a wealth of animal knowledge from zoo curators and staff. I recall learning that polar bears live and breed and hunt and hibernate on these polar ice caps; they live their lives there and these melting ice flows -- period, but especially at the rate they are melting --  is very troubling.

And I am sick of the republican politicians and talk show pundits and talking heads continue to deny the fact that global warming exists and is indeed a serious problem. Of  course, unfortunately, it's too late for the polar bears. Perhaps it's already too late for species thriving in sub-artic climates as well. Not to mention the rest of us.

Just think how far we have come -- how much destruction of our earth we have caused -- in just a few hundred years. In the early 1600s, English settlers at Jamestown, Virginia were the first to begin colonizing America -- killing or driving the Native Americans out of their territories from this time through the early and mid-1800s. Then, the doors to America were opened and we soon entered the industrial age.

So, technically, our greenhouse gases have been spreading their molecules throughout the earth's atmosphere for only about 150 years -- and at most, 200 years -- because, in 1808, I doubt if there were any such activities that produced these waste products. The point: look at what mankind has done to the earth in such a short span of time.

And who's benefiting from this? Industry and CEOs and executives and shareholders. If any others, who? You? Certainly not me. Sure, I drive a car. But you know what, if there were no cars, I'd walk or ride a bike. In about 4 weeks, which is about all it takes to establish a new habit or routine, I'd forget what having a car was like and adapt.

Bottom line, the timebomb has been and is ticking and will continue to tick. Just because some of us are aware of what's going on and are concerned and taking some actions, those actions don't amount to a hill of lima beans -- it doesn't solve a thing nor change anything -- certainly not for the polar bears who have lived well for centuries, even surviving predation by man. Only to be gassed to death.

And I don't know about you, but I'd rather know the polar bears are living in their natural habitat than see polar bears in captivity -- especially the pathetic way zoos exhibit and "provide homes" for these bears, including our own zoo. Christ, the damn flamingos have more space and access to water than the polar bears.

That too is saddening.

Today, America Online reported the top 5 cities for road rage -- according to police and AAA auto service and insurance reports. The cities are: 5) Washington, D.C. 4) Baltimore  3) Boston  2) New York City 1) Miami  

Having driven in all five cities, the only one I would have placed on the list is Miami.  In Baltimore the only thing I found on the roads at night was a bunch of brown rats! Talk about weird. And on the beltway around Wash D.C. the traffic is the fastest I've ever experienced anywhere -- yet the drivers there know how to drive. They stay in their lane, use turn signals and do not tailgate.

I'd rather be on the road going 95 mph with those people than 80mph with others in other cities, who seem to think the road is a play road in their video game.  

2 cities are on my list for close calls -- namely, road rage and inattentive or idiotic drivers, including motorcyclists and police cruisers travelling at excessive speeds -- and #1 is St. Louis [County]. A close second is San Diego. Do you experience road rage in our region? If you get around to and drive in other cities, how does St. Louis rank?  Have you experienced any seriously close calls?

The scariest incident of road rage I ever experienced occurred at 270 and 44. And if I had been trailed by the "typical 270 driver" that day  -- tailgaiting my assend with no room to spare between their hood ornament and my bumper -- I'd have bought the farm  immediately upon hitting my brakes.

Another close call occurred while riding in a police cruiser -- on a ride-along with a friend whose jurisdiction includes a stretch of I-40. He was the lead car pursuing another car on a high-speed chase -- well over 120 mph -- at night. We were  moving so fast, the "slower cars" in front of us, only going 80 mph or so, had no advance warning that we were quickly approaching from behind, and could not get out of the way. We nearly collided with or side swiped a half dozen cars during that 20 mile chase.

Yes it was frightening. Or maybe I'm just getting to be an old fart.