Emergency? Really??

Stuck in a jam or crawling slowly through rush hour traffic I have over the years accepted the fact that if I want to live in the city or it vicinity and enjoy the luxury of a daily commute with an overpriced car (not because it is expensive per se, but the taxes for cars are exorbitantly high), traffic jams are going to be part and parcel of it. If I want to dream of a traffic jam life, I have to either work on a Sunday only or shift base out into the country side or suburbs and work there or from home.

But being stuck in a jam is not all that bad. For one, its a total alone "me" time where you can hear your thoughts louder than usual and if one can separate the stress of driving away, then it is actually a good time for reflection and planning. Heck, people came up with apps to bring about motivational talks to the smartphones for the drive home and what better time to listen to one of it than being stuck in the car with nothing else potentially productive to do.

Oh yes, there will always be some hero who would be able to play Candy Crush while being stuck in a jam. For the life of me I have no idea how can that be done. Gone are the days of don't talk and drive....these days people text and drive (yes I am guilty of it), but Candy Crush and drive? That's taking it to a whole new level......or maybe I'm just an outdated fart...

Anyway let me talk about the paradox of the emergency lane.

Seriously. How often do we have an emergency and a need for that lane? I mean truly ask ourselves, what are the odd of our car breaking down regularly, or suffering a punctured tyre, or maybe having a passenger who is in the midst of labour...?

The answer.....

Everyday there's a whole bunch of drivers who have emergencies. And amongst the biggest emergency? Traffic jams.

Yes traffic jam these days should be re-classified as an emergency and the driving schools should incorporate that into the curriculum. Every time during rush hour and non rush hour and especially festivities, as long there is a traffic jam....there is always someone who needs to use the emergency lane. Because it is a God forsaken curse to be stuck in a traffic jam that necessitates so many drivers to use it.

Forget that it complicates other non-emergency users or real emergency road users......them traffic jam haters get first dibs to use the special lane created for them so that they can use the hazard lights which are anyway hardly used in a car also and it helps to tune and check its function. Also the left side indicator is less used and must be primed because unlike what the driving schools have been teaching, overtaking on the left most lane is more fun and less challenging and dangerous. Besides a special lane was created called the "Emergency Overtaking Lane"

Well in a way I guess these drivers were "considerate" enough to take their emergencies to a specific lane....

Show of hands for people who get annoyed with drivers who creep up behind you on the right most lane of a highway and they further signal to the right while flashing you and you are already driving at the limits of the speed limit (well usually over anyway)....I would of course love to see them cross over the highway and overtake me on the opposing lane.....would have been a reason to stop and watch them at least....

Thank goodness for TedTalk and good ol jazz music in the car......

Do not attempt to overtake a real emergency lane user....

So What....

I have been listening back to quite alot of Miles Davis lately.....probably one of the best jazz musicians to have graced the musical world.

One particular track always tickles me and its titled "So What"

When one listens to it.....you can't help yourself but identify with the tune and you will slot in the words "So What" into the music as it progresses. The tune has a very nice swing to it and is filled with a carefree attitude that is translated from a 4 piece band into a vocal-less masterpiece.

On a different note (no pun intended)....

Not too long ago I was in a discussion with a friend who spoke about the state of the country. And I was asked if I would consider migrating to which I asked why should I consider such an option (unless the obvious which is someone offering me a very good career opportunity). Well, the reply was nothing close to my materialistic ambitions but it was more on a matter of security and political turmoil. He said the country is spiralling out of control and that he no longer feels safe physically and economically. He feels threatened more so after starting a family and that his kids may not be able to enjoy a good future with the kind of bleak future the political arena is painting.

Out of the blue.....good old Miles was playing in my head "So What........So What....."

Not that I was trying to block my friend's voice out of the conversation, but really in my head I was asking so what.....

If crime rate was a reason why people will want to move away then populous cities such as New York, London, Chicago, Jakarta...etc....would have a great depletion of population as opposed to bursting in its seams to accommodate more immigrants and wannabe city dwellers. (well unless of course they were all criminals too looking for a bigger slice of pie in the city, which sometimes they can be disappointed that there are more leftover food in a great city than tasty pies).

Lowered standards of education he says......"so what" my head plays......

It was kind of ironic because both him and me are a product of total local education, from primary education all the way to college / university. While the mainstream standards may fluctuate, as in the case of the United States where despite a high number of schooling opportunities are provided, the rate of illiteracy is climbing, I still believe the best and most important influencing factor that helps determine a child's education is still the parent factor. Like it or not, but more engaged parents who take an interest in their child's development and education progress would inadvertently have a positive impact (like DUH!!)

Point is....having a "poor" education system as feared by my friend does not define the final outcome of a person. Having a "better" education system as expected by my friend who is looking to migrate may help but also is not the final determinant that it would be more beneficial to a child. So what......if there are good schools with good facilities and good teachers......but the kid is either not interested in school coz no one else seems interested.....or the kid excels but does not apply the knowledge later.....

So what......

Gosh the song is in my head again.....this is what happens when I suffer from writer's block and come back rambling......so what!!!

signing off with Miles Davis brainwashing you guys..... cheers

Public Face

Hiding behind a public face
Laughing and crying without a trace
A smile carved out to meet expectations
A smile returned leaves no satisfaction

A fascade that’s kept for ever so long
Confuses the world from the right and wrong
The lies are shown as a light of truth
And truth denied its form and worth

So towards the bright lit sun we bravely face
Cast smiles of calmness even if its bitterness we taste
For the world will only see what it wants to see
Shroud the untold truth behind a veil of mystery