Nebraska Judge Says 128 mph Not 'Reckless'

Somewhat off topic and to lighten things up. I once read a short short SF piece where the premise was that for humans to finally figure out how to go faster than the speed of light was to keep upping the speed limit until it was equal to the speed of light.

 

lol..I don't doubt if for a moment!

 

squid, you're looking more and more unreasonable in every post you've written in this thread.

the point here is that law enforcement is around to save the general population from people with type A personalities who have no self control. speeding tickets and reckless driving tickets exist to a- document for the driving record, determining whether you get to keep your license or not in the future and b- cost you enough money that you'll think twice before doing it again. noone can save you from yourself, but they sure as hell can save the rest of us from your obvious disregard for others.

speed kills, any way you slice it. i don't care what you value your life at... but don't go intruding on my life plans to go out there and build a career and raise a family and grow old with my husband by my side. your presence on the motorways decreases my chances of seeing any of my plans happen.

time to do that whole 'growing up' thing, man.

 

Oh, to be young and invincible again. My crotch rocket has been parked in the garage for many years, perhaps never to run again. Marriage, kids, speeding tickets, have all conspired to mellow and mature me. When I'm putting along in my 4 banger, and a pack of supersonic bees flies by like I was a pylon, I can't help but wish I was with them.

So my thrills, few and far between as they are, now come on a bicycle. Any self respecting speed racer would never admit this, but most have no idea how fast a bicycle can go. Did you know the current speed record is over 80 mph? No engine, no hills, no wind, just a guy on a bike.

Yeah, the quarter mile time is pretty slow, and I try to keep *up* to the posted speed limit, at least in town. It's the sensation of speed that's fun, not necessarily the number on the speedometer.

And downhill, well, terminal velocity is the only constraint there. Once on the Coquihalla (a long, steep, mountain grade) I passed a truck. Yes, on a bicycle. Loaded with camping gear, sleeping bag bungeed on the back. After spinning out the biggest gears, I tucked my head down behind the fairing, and held as still as possible. I shoulder checked, pulled into the passing lane, and passed him. If the speedometer hadn't pegged out at 99.5 kmh a third of the way down the hill, I might have known how fast I was going. Was I risking my life? Probably. Was I risking anyone else's? Probably not.

 

You can apply that to all the idoits bumbling around driving while talking on the cellphone too. Those a-holes decrease your chances far more I'd say...

 

YES!

You only live once...

 

Truthfully, what incentive does anyone have to "grow up"?

Let's take a moment and think about this...

 

It seems to be your favorite activity:

Mr. E. Squid

 

can't say i've had the 'average' life by any means. certainly not the luck most people have had, what with supportive families and such. i think that was a huge factor in my life, personally.

growing up and everything that went with it, for me meant acquiring some stability in life. responsibility has its rewards. i've been sitting here for a few minutes now trying to come up with an explanation without revealing too much about myself and haven't been successful. i guess if you've had it good maybe you don't have a reason to grow up. i don't know what else to tell you.

just don't go taking chances on the lives others have made for themselves. that's my request of you and others like you. some of us have only had a year or 2 to really enjoy life.

 

Cheer up, Galaxee, life's not over yet. Maybe part of your youth was stolen from you (thinking back to an earlier post of yours), but it's made you stronger and more mature as a result. Not that you wouldn't trade back if you could; I'm just saying look on the bright side. Raising kids is both the most difficult and most rewarding thing I've ever done. To be and to become, that is the answer!

 

oh, i'm not gloomy at all. i'm just trying to explain to squid why i told him to grow up, since he asked. i'm not always the best with words though.

i've got a lot to look forward to IMO, just don't appreciate all the irresponsible drivers out there who kill so many people every year. and yes, squid, you're right. that does include cell-phone-using drivers.

 

Truthfully, I'm not as much of a hooligan on the roads as these posts might imply. I USED to be maybe 10 years back, until I got into a situation that scared the crap out of me, and I realized my actions could have involved about 8 other people. Thankfully, nothing happened, it was only a close call, pure chance saved my nice person and others on that day, I will fully admit. Sure, do I somtimes whack the throttle or do a little wheelie when no one's around yes. Do I endanger anyone? No. As a matter of fact, most of the time I'm the one at risk from people who don't, can't, or want to see me. Plus, I drive a Prius now right??? :lol:

Reason I asked why grow up, is mostly because people are just so bent on growing up, saving for a rainy day, always looking for a better day later than NOW. Well, there might not be a tomorrow. Ask doc, I'm sure he's seen people's lives get pulled out from under them unexpectedly. If they could go back in time, don't you think they would have called in sick that one day they didn't want to go to work, but felt they should? Or taken that vacation they postponed? Or take a rip down the Howard Franklin bridge at 160? They sort of forget they will someday DIE. No one likes to think about it, and they end up getting a house, cars, kids, etc., get trenched into daily routines, only to grow old and DIE. Well, I've already done that (well except for the kids part :lol: ). Started with zip, moved up quick, and 5 years ago, bought my own home with too much space, eventually loaded the garage up with all sorts of toys, summer cars, jetski's 4-wheelers, etc., all on my own dime at 27, and was completely, and utterly bored. I sold it all off, except for the bike, for I admit, it is the "funnest" toy I've ever owned. So now what's left? Go to work everyday for "something to do" (start dramatic threads on the internet) and let time do it's thing?

Where am I going with this? Oh yeah...lol:

Growing up is seriously overrated. Don't buy into it.



:angry:

 

Having kids will change your whole perspective on life, Squid--I mean if you end up becoming a good parent and start to care about someone else (meaning your child) more than yourself.
Not that I'm advising you to have kids for this purpose but I think that might cause you to start thinking (worrying) a bit more about all of the potential things that can go horribly wrong if you don't make the right decisions.
If all you have is yourself and your toys, I can see after a while how that can get boring.
I look back at my life before kids and say, "Man, I can't believe all the time and money I wasted running after cheap thrills." It all seems so selfish and unimportant now that I have my kids' safety, health, education, and overall happiness and well-being to worry about.

Anyways, I don't think your a maniac psycho speeder either. I just think you project an attitude that rubs people the wrong way because it comes off like you just don't give a damn if you engage in behavior that will risk other peoples' lives.

 

I can see where both of you guys are coming from. I have two daughters and understand where're your're coming from slortz. On the other hand I identify with squid too. I don't ride (mostly because I don't trust people in cars) but I enjoy canyoneering. Is it super dangerous? No. Could I kill myself. Yeah, maybe. But chances are it would be my damn fault since most rapelling accidents are because of operator error, not the equipment. Still, I love the canyons in S. Utah. I enjoy my time because I know that it's limited. I refuse to sit in some job I hate because life's too bloody short. It's sometimes hard to balance giving and enjoying. I think as my kids get older (they're 3.5 and 0.25 right now) the two will merge. I'm looking forward to that.

 

Cheers, tripp! Very similar kid situation for me. Two daughters, one is 2yrs 9mos, and the other will turn 1 this month.

 

Congrats on #2's turning 1! That first b-day party is hilarious. I don't know that I've been to one where the "honorary" guest isn't a little wigged out by the whole affair and pretty grumpy to boot. I can also identify with the changing your outlook thing. I've noticed that I'm strangely much more harm avoidant now than I was 3.5 years ago. I've sometimes found it hard to let my older daughter make the mistakes that she needs to make to grow up. I've always hated helicopter parents but I see where the urge comes from now that I have kids of my own. Still, I force myself not to go down that path. The kids gotta learn their leasons for themselves.

 

So squid, should be start calling you 'dubya' now with your shiney new Avatar? I still the first one was the best. When ya gonna drag it back out of the closet?

 

I agree that we all must take time to enjoy life and not always put enjoyment off till later. My own life is a case in point as my wife recently recieved a terminal medical diagnosis despite being relatively young. I think that the point of the 128 mph naysayers' (myself included) is best summed up in the saying that 'my freedom ends at the tip of your nose'. If my actions have the potential of messing with someone else's life, that is not acceptable.

 

Somehow I knew that. But good on ya for admitting it.

 

You know, on a related note, if I ever have kids, and I was told he/she wanted a bike, I'd be tempted to say, "F no...". For quite honestly, the only reason I'm still here able to type this, is simply because of being lucky during various situations when I was new to it...


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