Mental Popcorn

Take a look at these snippets… pay close attention you will be tested!

“Insp Richard Watkins, of the major collision investigation unit, said high speed was a factor in the crash.” - Adelaide Now

“Police believe speed was a factor in a crash near Auckland last night that killed two people…” - TV3 News, New Zealand

“Alcohol was a factor in the wreck, Trooper Jeramy Rice said.  It is not known if speed was a factor.” - Helena Independent Record

Now, let’s see… what is “speed”?  Well, according to Wikipedia, it is “the rate of motion, or equivalently the rate of change in position, often expressed as distance traveled per unit of time.” - okay, sounds reasonable I hear you think.

 So, what is a “collision” then?  Again, according to Wikipedia, it is “the action of bodies striking or coming together.  The magnitude of the velocity difference at impact is called the closing speed.”

 Now, I am no physicist, but I will suggest that I am smart enough to understand that:

SPEED IS A FACTOR IN EVERY COLLISION!

Please don’t believe the rubbish that law enforcement agencies have been peddling to support their revenue generating activities, it is about time that people understood that there is a great deal of deception occuring and journalists all over the world fall for it every day.

What people should be focussing on are the facts of whether the vehicle was exceeding the speed limit or not - rather than going for the easy shot and suggesting that “speed was a factor” -  DUH!  We already know that, there was a collision, therefore, there will always be speed!

Age has a nice way of tangling up with one’s affairs. To start with, it is like an observer, in the distance, someone that stands at the side of the field watching as you learn to play the game, like an eager parent, but one that is obedient and happy just to watch.

And then, as years peel by, Age has a nice way of appearing now and then, randomly, around corners, in Doctor’s offices and at the roadside of misfortune. Just enough to remind you that someday soon your free ride may require a fee - that those years of consuming microwave foodstuffs from convenience stores at unholy hours might not have been good afterall.

More recently, I discovered that my friend the root canal is waiting in upper right number seven, just paused for that opportunity to pounce at the insistence of Age. And, of course, everyone who is more friendly with Age has gone through this before, but strangley some force prevents them from informing those of us who are not as familiar.

I hope one day, when Age comes to roost, that we’ll be old friends. Until then, I guess I’ll try to look the other way.