You Are 25 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. What Age Do You Act?

I found this on one of the blogs I regularly read, Law & Disorder,

Tips for avoiding speed tickets

The National Motorists Association offers the following information on possible ways to avoid getting a speeding ticket from local law enforcement agents. The association warns that the information is not legal advice but merely tips.

Before going out on the road - Make sure your car at least looks good. The idea to remember is if the car looks good, it appears that the owner is a responsible person. If an officer has to choose between a white 1988 Olds Cutlass going 75 that's in good condition and a white 1988 Olds Cutlass going 75 that is missing a rear bumper, has blown-out lights, and maybe several dents, guess who is getting the ticket? We don't mean showroom condition, just one that shows reasonable care has been given to it. The point here is: Don't give the police any more reasons to look at and/or stop you.

Check your lights. Perhaps the most overlooked yet cheapest items are your lights. Take a walk around your car at night. Make sure all of the lights work, even the $2 license plate lights. In most cases, the only tool needed is a screwdriver. Don't rely on colored tape to act as a permanent replacement for a brake light or turn signal lens. Spend the money and get the real thing. At least the money you pay the parts store is going to some worthy entity, not a government charity as it would if it was spent on a ticket.

Clean the car. Wash it occasionally and vacuum the inside. Papers, maps, fast-food wrappers, and whatnot scattered around do not impress the officer at your side.

Remove all stickers. If it says "Mafia staff car - keepa you hands off," you'll get stopped by the only Italian officer in the county. The officer will not be impressed, nor will he be if it says "Insured by Smith & Wesson."

Stickers for the Police Benevolant Association or similar organizations aren't likely to get you out of a ticket. Why? About the only reason people have them is to get out of speeding tickets! Everyone knows that. Plus, the officer that stopped you may have a grievance against the union (These organizations are also unions in some areas). And, the agency you paid for the sticker may not represent the officer at your side.

When you're on the roadDon't stand out. If you are moving faster than the surrounding traffic, weaving, cutting across three lanes at once or do anything to cause another motorist to use his or her horn, you are a prime candidate for a ticket.

Stay in the right lane. This is related to the previous comment about not being obvious. Not only is this good driving practice, it is good ticket-avoidance practice too. There's a psychological element here; if you're in the left lane, you must be speeding. Note that the left lane is sometimes called the "fast" lane.

Radar can't tell which vehicle is speeding. But if an officer sees you passing another vehicle, the radar gun's readout will be written on your ticket. By passing that vehicle, you provided a visual frame of reference.

Use your eyes. Don't place blind faith in a radar detector; doing so is a good way to get a pacing or vascar ticket, and detectors are less effective in light traffic due to instant-on radar.

Scan the road as far ahead as possible. This is not only good accident-avoidance practice, it will alert you to the presence of unusual items. You'll see cars parked in medians or on entrance/exit ramps, brake lights going on as you approach a turn, or another motorist flashing his headlights at the oncoming traffic. You'll have time to slow down and avoid the speed trap.

Use your mirrors. This is similar to what we just described. Is a car rapidly approaching? It could be an officer on an "silent" emergency call - or an officer trying to catch up to you. Did the trooper you just saw leaving the Interstate get back on again? Stay in the right lane and turn on your car's halo until the suspicious car is no longer a problem.

Watch the trucks. Remember, truckers are professional drivers and many get paid on a per-mile basis. Therefore, the more miles a trucker can cover in a shorter period of time, the more money he or she will make. If they are maintaining Boy Scout-like compliance with the speed limit, something is amiss and you should be wary.

The weather makes a difference in police activity. Would you rather get out of your warm, dry car when it's raining or would you rather do it on a sunny day? Radar works in all kinds of weather, but radar operators would rather not. If it's 10 degrees outside, most officers would rather stay in their warm car than chase one person who's driving safely but illegally at 75 mph.

Sometimes though, even the best avoidance maneuvers don't work.

If you know the officer is after you

Unless otherwise directed, pull over to the right shoulder as soon as you can. Going to the left shoulder is asking for one unhappy officer since the left shoulder exposes both you and him to the path of passing vehicles. His job is dangerous enough as it is, don't make it worse. Pull as far off as possible. (If you're on the right shoulder, traffic can easily move to the left. If you're on the left shoulder, traffic cannot safely move to the right. Plus, re-entering traffic is much easier done from the right side, for the same reasons.)

If it's at night and the police car is unmarked, you may want to continue on to a lighted area. Most officers won't have a problem with that. Also, turn on the dome light.

Put both hands on the steering wheel and wait for the officer to arrive next to your door. He has no idea if you're armed, an escaped ex-convict, or just an average person.

Keep movement in the car to a minimum; he can see your movements but doesn't know what you're doing. Are you hiding a gun? Putting away a radar detector? Make his job easier and you can only benefit.

When speaking to the officer, don't insert "Sir" or "Ma'am" after every word. Cops call that "bootlicking." Conversely, calling the officer by his rank or title, like "Sergeant" or "Deputy" is not disrespectful if used sparingly. But, only refer to them this way if you're absolutely sure of their rank or title.

Although most people want to be honest, don't volunteer self-incriminating information. When the officer asks "Do you know how fast you were going?" or something similar, just say "yes" or "I was driving at the speed of traffic" (if true) and leave it at that. But if there's a valid reason for your conduct, such as a medical emergency, say so.

When the officer asks for your license and registration, tell him it's in the glove box (if it is), then ask if it's okay to open it. Leave it open so he can see in. Again, reduce his apprehension about the situation. However, if it's in a console between the seats, ask before opening, but close it when you're done. It's too easy for you to reach back inside and get a weapon.

Do not argue or plead your case. The roadside is never the place to conduct a hearing. To do so is a guaranteed losing situation, and all you'll do is get your story added to the cop's list of "Ten Best Excuses." Cops enforce, courts decide.

Remember that officers are usually not required to show you the readout on the radar gun (for their safety and yours.)

Be inconspicuous. If you make a fuss, the officer is more likely to remember you when you go to trial. That's bad, you want to be as forgettable as possible.

Keep your copy of the ticket!

If your speed was recorded on radar or some other speed measurement device, you should request the make, model and serial number of the device and the serial number of the calibration instrument (for radar, the tuning forks). Some of this information may already be on the ticket. However, only ask for this information after the officer has given you the ticket.

Note the make and license plate of the officer's car. Also look for ID numbers on the sides.

Do not voluntarily agree to a search of your car. If the officer has to ask for permission, it is very likely that he does not have probable cause or reasonable suspicion to believe you have something illegal. If he had probable cause or reasonable suspicion, he would not need to ask you.

When you've parted company, go back to your car and make notes of the situation. Amount of traffic, weather, time, officer's demeanor, etc. No detail or event is unimportant, you will forget them later when you need to know. It is a good idea to draw a map of the area, including trees, signs, buildings, etc. You may need that later.

I can't believe people actually read and take these things into consideration.

So, I sit behind the same three girls in my Anthropology class and this one chick forgot (or just didn't put on) her make-up this morning and she looked like a whole different person. Kinda gave me a flash back of high school, there was this one art teacher Ms Petra, that always had pounds of make up on, and we all knew she wore wigs. Everyone used to joke that they never wanted to see her in the morning before she got her self "pretty", it'd be like looking at a zombie.

And as I'm sitting there in class, two girls come and sit on either side of me, like right next to me, when there's like six other seats they could sit down in. One of them had a huge 3-ring binder, so as she's writing on one side of it the other side is more or less cutting off any exit from my chair (cause we have those desks connected to the chairs), talk about puncturing my bubble. Oh, and she also decided that since she was sitting right next to me she could just look over at my paper when the teacher took the power point away. At least we weren't taking a test, but couldn't she have asked to see my paper instead of just looking?

So I heard this commercial this morning on the radio for a device that's supposed to block radar guns, so one can't get caught speeding. The opening line for the ad is (Name of product her, cause I forgot it), banned in eight states. Yeah that's the first thing I tell people when I'm trying to sell my product. Also, if you do get a speeding ticket, this company will pay for it. Maybe we should add it to the above list.

I walk across campus to get to work after lunch and the flags are at half-staff, I'm not sure at that moment why. When I get to work, I ask my bosses and we decided it's because of Rosa Parks dying, didn't she die like a week ago? I hope people are still mourning for me after a week. And one of my co-workers, another student, says "Ooh I bet it was for this lady whose picture was taped to a bus seat this morning, it said 'Don't sit here, for Rosa Parks' (or something to that extent), who's Rosa Parks?" I just about died, that's just sad that one doesn't know who Rosa Parks is, come on didn't you take history? I know she wasn't alive in the 60's but come on. Kinda like yesterday, in my Social Psych class, we were talking about the Vietnam War and my professor kept asking why we didn't remember it. Let's see, maybe because none of us were ALIVE?

Last bit:

What I learn in Philosophy

1. From tragedy we get pleasure in ourself.

2. Bring a whole box of Kleenex with you when you go to see Million Dollar Baby with Hillary Swank and Clint Eastwood.

3. My professor describes soap operas so well it's obvious he watches them religiously even though he is making fun of them.

4. What exactly a "near-miss" is. A near-miss is actually a hit, because if something is nearly missed, it must have been hit.

5. Little things bother my professor (see #4).

6. My professor believes in faeries, he actually saw the play of Peter Pan (when he was young) and he thought Tinkerbell was going to die because none of the little old ladies with blue hair would clap to save her.

7. The lesser of two evils is still evil.

8. My professor was scarred for life when his fish Carrots committed suicide after he purchased a third fish when he was six (my professor, not the fish)

9. You need a snail to clean up after the fish, like birds on the back of hippopotami (I love that word)

10. My professor thinks wolves are related to dogs (but he's not sure)

11. My professor likes wearing polo shirts (like every day) and he tries to feel cool and connect with college kids in his gray leather jacket.

12. People have a very hard time sitting still and the ones who bounce in their seat sit in the squeaky chairs.

13. My professor gets annoyed when the fortune in a fortune cookie isn't really a fortune.

14. My professor absolutely HATES Ross Hall.

15. My professor may have a porch fetish.

16. Buildings are like people: you love them, hate them, or are indifferent about them.

The above list may be added to and reposted.

Jeez Goddess, I think I've been reading you're blog too long.

And once again, if you can't comment because you're not a member of Hotmail or MSN, please email me: weinkermeyer@hotmail.com I do so much love comments

This was sent to me through one of my freebie group emails, how many relate to you?

25 ways to tell if you have finally grown up

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.

2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.

3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.

4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.

5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.

6. You watch the Weather Channel.

7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of "hook up" and "break up".

8. You go from 130 days of vacation to 14.

9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up".

10. You're the one calling the police because those stupid kids next door won't turn down the stereo.

11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.

12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.

13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.

14. You feed your dog/cat Science Diet instead of McDonald's leftovers. 15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.

16. You take naps from noon to 6 PM

17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.

18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severly upset, rather than settle, your stomach.

19. If you're a girl, you go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and pregnancy tests.

20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good stuff".

21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.

22. "I just can't drink the way I used to..." replaces "I'm never going to drink that much again".

23. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.

24. When you find out your friend is pregnant you congratulate her instead of asking "Oh, man--What Happened!?!?!?!

25. You read this entire list looking desperately for one sign that doesn't apply to you and can't find one to save your sorry old butt. Then you forward it to a bunch of old pals & friends 'cause you know they'll enjoy it & do the same!!

Well lets see, numbers 3, 4, 7, 8, 12 and 18 apply to me, sadly I'm getting old at 22.

I think there should be something about forgetting stuff, I'm real good at that.

OK, wierdly I can function on 1 hour of sleep, but 3.5 no way.

And I'm still looking for a nice military guy. Any guy in uniform with that nice buzz cut, I am so game.