Thursday's Washington Post had an interesting story on the Web site's front page. Over 100 Southern Maryland families with teen drivers are taking part in a study using a webcam-like device called DRIVE CAM. It allows parents to monitor their tender teen drivers in a way most kids don't like--at least right away. It emails the parents when their young one has done something stupid behind the wheel. It can send video to Mom and Dad's cell phone or home PC...notify them not just what happened, but where and at what speed...kinda like a flight data recorder. Nifty!
Okay. Watch the video. Then, read on.
I've been driving nearly 40 years. Over 2 million miles without a chargeable accident. Never a DUI. Lucky? Absolutely!!! But I also believe part of my "luck" comes from having quality driving instruction when I was a teenager.
Did you watch the video? Okay. Tell me this isn't a grand reason to make 18 the minimum driving age! I'll piss off a lot of teenagers by saying that--but a lot of states have raised their minimum driving ages past 16, anyway--so what's a few more months?
I'll tell you: More supervised time behind the wheel. Driving a car is a cumulative craft, like flying an airplane. It's a license to learn, not a license to drive. The FAA requires only 40 hours of stick time before getting a VFR ticket--but few people can master what's required for the checkride in 40 hours. Most students that get signed off to take the test have at least 60; many have 100 hours or more. Instructors must sign off on students before they can take the check ride. The same should hold true for new drivers. Maryland's learner's permits are now good for two years. Other states are at least 18 months.
Young drivers need to learn quality skills quickly; sometimes far too fast for many to get the grip. I'm all for comprehensive driving courses that (at least attempt to) teach basics of situational awareness and reaction, evasive manuevers and emergency procedures. More emphasis needs to be placed on the hazards of drunk driving, aggressive driving and the dangers of having five of your friends with you in your dad's E320 listening to NWA while doing 45 in a 25.
Problem is--these courses cost money. Sure, the school systems offer Driver's Ed, but these days, it's substantially pared-down compared to decades past. Budget cuts. Parents could foot the bill--but driving school is expensive. And the kind of driving school I recommend is only within the reach of a small number of well-off parents. My doctor made his 16 year old son take an evasive driving course before allowing him to drive unsupervised. And his son thanked him for it. Whether it sticks long-term remains to be seen, but if Jonah remembers even a hint of what he learned in those classes--it someday might save his life--and those in the car with him.
We all do stupid things behind the wheel. ANYONE can get in an accident at any given time or place. And, as teenagers, we did some really stupid things. But it's a different world now. Cars aren't battleships anymore. Although much more advanced, technically--they're also much more fragile. There are also about 200 million more cars and trucks on the road these days. With that--probably just as many crazy drivers thinking about anything but driving. And while an airbag might save your life--there's a good chance it would have never had to be deployed if the driver was simply paying attention.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Holy Crap
This will be an odd weekend. Saturday will be a day and night of enjoyment with my wife. Sunday; we'll probably have a nice lunch.
At 3pm Sunday; it'll all be gone. Gone!
I'm having a colonoscopy Monday. In the old days, colonoscopies were done in the doctor's office, with little or any anesthesia. Today, they resemble major surgery. You're sedated, usually with Versed or something similar...and although you're usually able to watch while the G-I doctor probes--you're too knocked out to care.
My pre-op prep instructions resemble a ransom note. Take two Dulcolax at exactly 3pm with an eight ounce glass of water. Mix one 255 gram bottle of Miralax with a 64 oz bottle of Gatorade; your choice of flavor. Drink one 8 oz glass of Gatorade/Miralax once an hour or something like that until bedtime, then take two more Dulcolax, etc. Oh, and by the way--you're allowed clear liquids only from 3pm through 6:30 the next morning. NO nothing after 6:30 am thru the end of the procedure. This is so the gastroenterologist doesn't get a surprise. I'm sure it's happened, too!
By that time, though, considering the heavy artillery going through my system--it won't matter. I will have read a slew of magazines, maybe even brought the laptop in the bathroom for a while. I'll work in the hours before the procedure--so that'll be interesting going without my usual 3-4 large cups of coffee. Maybe we can bring the home studio in the john, too!
But the unpleasantness of the procedure is nothing compared to its benefits...especially if you've lost a friend or loved one to colon cancer. Think Katie Couric's husband, Jay Monahan. More locally; we think about our pal, Walt Starling, who died needlessly in 2005 at 52. The painful irony is Walter had a colonoscopy scheduled for a particular day. The story is Walt got called into work the night before--and, because he was a "per diem" at the time--took it because he needed the money. He cancelled his colonoscopy. Many months later, Walt complained of abdominal pain. A CT scan showed a huge mass in his colon. Further tests showed it had spread to his liver and lungs. Stage four. Surgeons removed the mass, resectioned his colon and eventually sent him home. Walt lasted about ten more months. Had he gone ahead with the procedure when scheduled, there was a good chance doctors could have saved his life.
1,800 people attended Walt's funeral. He had so many friends because he was a great friend to so many. Few people touch others as he did.
In some way or another; we are all statistics. But one column I don't want to be in--is people who left way too soon because they didn't know they had colon cancer.
Besides; I can eat lunch after the procedure...
At 3pm Sunday; it'll all be gone. Gone!
I'm having a colonoscopy Monday. In the old days, colonoscopies were done in the doctor's office, with little or any anesthesia. Today, they resemble major surgery. You're sedated, usually with Versed or something similar...and although you're usually able to watch while the G-I doctor probes--you're too knocked out to care.
My pre-op prep instructions resemble a ransom note. Take two Dulcolax at exactly 3pm with an eight ounce glass of water. Mix one 255 gram bottle of Miralax with a 64 oz bottle of Gatorade; your choice of flavor. Drink one 8 oz glass of Gatorade/Miralax once an hour or something like that until bedtime, then take two more Dulcolax, etc. Oh, and by the way--you're allowed clear liquids only from 3pm through 6:30 the next morning. NO nothing after 6:30 am thru the end of the procedure. This is so the gastroenterologist doesn't get a surprise. I'm sure it's happened, too!
By that time, though, considering the heavy artillery going through my system--it won't matter. I will have read a slew of magazines, maybe even brought the laptop in the bathroom for a while. I'll work in the hours before the procedure--so that'll be interesting going without my usual 3-4 large cups of coffee. Maybe we can bring the home studio in the john, too!
But the unpleasantness of the procedure is nothing compared to its benefits...especially if you've lost a friend or loved one to colon cancer. Think Katie Couric's husband, Jay Monahan. More locally; we think about our pal, Walt Starling, who died needlessly in 2005 at 52. The painful irony is Walter had a colonoscopy scheduled for a particular day. The story is Walt got called into work the night before--and, because he was a "per diem" at the time--took it because he needed the money. He cancelled his colonoscopy. Many months later, Walt complained of abdominal pain. A CT scan showed a huge mass in his colon. Further tests showed it had spread to his liver and lungs. Stage four. Surgeons removed the mass, resectioned his colon and eventually sent him home. Walt lasted about ten more months. Had he gone ahead with the procedure when scheduled, there was a good chance doctors could have saved his life.
1,800 people attended Walt's funeral. He had so many friends because he was a great friend to so many. Few people touch others as he did.
In some way or another; we are all statistics. But one column I don't want to be in--is people who left way too soon because they didn't know they had colon cancer.
Besides; I can eat lunch after the procedure...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Update On A Few Things--
Haven't had much to blog about lately, so I thought I'd update you on the last few weeks:
--I hear the Goldman Family Party is still going strong, a week after OJ was convicted. Much as I feel for Fred and Kim; OJ's conviction just gave them five more years on the talk shows without repeating themselves...
--My gig in Chestertown went great (see my "I gotta gig" blog)! We sounded great! In fact; we were so good, A) The Fabulous Hubcaps, the headliner band, asked us how long we'd been together, to which I said, "not counting today?" B) the Mayor of Rock Hall (about 15 miles from Chestertown), asked if we'd be interested in doing a couple of gigs in the near future! This is a big deal for a bunch of 50-something guys who gaze at guitarcenter.com and pine for a Marshall 100 W lead amp with 2 cabinets...
--Our money situation is tanking. If you have money in TSP or something similar; you have my deepest sympathy. But my guess is most of this is election-year ploys. Gas prices will fall hard; the markets will rise and Bush will find Osama Bin Laden the first weekend in November. He'll be working at a 7-Eleven in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The same one Elvis worked at. Or did Elvis work in Chaska, Minnesota?
--I think it's hilarious AIG's top executives spent $440K on a "weekend retreat," complete with spa services (one can only imagine)...less than a week after the government handed them 2/3 of their $85 billion dollar payment. And now, the government's talking about giving them more! I heard CBS commentator Dave Ross today--talking about the bailout and how teachers are miffed because the trickle-down isn't going to schools and their salaries. Ross said teachers and school systems should get busy and reorganize themselves--as banks! I love Dave Ross.
--A few blogs ago; I wrote about my stepson, Nick, buying a Wii with his own money; his first major expenditure. Two days ago; our two Maltese(s) decided to eat the sensor bar. And yes, they do make aftermarket sensor bars for Wiis. Seems Frosty and Sammy aren't the first to use the sensor bar for a chew toy--nor will they be the last, it seems...
--I hear the Goldman Family Party is still going strong, a week after OJ was convicted. Much as I feel for Fred and Kim; OJ's conviction just gave them five more years on the talk shows without repeating themselves...
--My gig in Chestertown went great (see my "I gotta gig" blog)! We sounded great! In fact; we were so good, A) The Fabulous Hubcaps, the headliner band, asked us how long we'd been together, to which I said, "not counting today?" B) the Mayor of Rock Hall (about 15 miles from Chestertown), asked if we'd be interested in doing a couple of gigs in the near future! This is a big deal for a bunch of 50-something guys who gaze at guitarcenter.com and pine for a Marshall 100 W lead amp with 2 cabinets...
--Our money situation is tanking. If you have money in TSP or something similar; you have my deepest sympathy. But my guess is most of this is election-year ploys. Gas prices will fall hard; the markets will rise and Bush will find Osama Bin Laden the first weekend in November. He'll be working at a 7-Eleven in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The same one Elvis worked at. Or did Elvis work in Chaska, Minnesota?
--I think it's hilarious AIG's top executives spent $440K on a "weekend retreat," complete with spa services (one can only imagine)...less than a week after the government handed them 2/3 of their $85 billion dollar payment. And now, the government's talking about giving them more! I heard CBS commentator Dave Ross today--talking about the bailout and how teachers are miffed because the trickle-down isn't going to schools and their salaries. Ross said teachers and school systems should get busy and reorganize themselves--as banks! I love Dave Ross.
--A few blogs ago; I wrote about my stepson, Nick, buying a Wii with his own money; his first major expenditure. Two days ago; our two Maltese(s) decided to eat the sensor bar. And yes, they do make aftermarket sensor bars for Wiis. Seems Frosty and Sammy aren't the first to use the sensor bar for a chew toy--nor will they be the last, it seems...
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