Excellent tunes -- free! And on your browser right now. Just click on Radio Bojack!


Meter updates every 30 seconds. Click here for
an instant update.
Our complete Portland debt series linked here.



E-mail us here.

About

This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on April 16, 2007 4:06 PM. The previous post in this blog was More environmental problems with the Prius. The next post in this blog is Never was there a better time to shut up. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

Links

Law
How Appealing
Bag and Baggage
TaxProf Blog
Mauled Again
Native America, Discovered and Conquered
The Fire of Genius
OrCon Law
Ernie the Attorney
JD2B
The Volokh Conspiracy

Hap'nin' Guys
Tony Pierce
Parkway Rest Stop
Utterly Boring.com
The Vig
Dwight Jaynes
Various Observations...
The Daily E-Mail
Portland Freelancer
Saving James
Bob Borden
Dan Zanes
Dingleberry Gazette
The World's Maddest Dog
The Rural Bus Route
Another Blogger
The World of Today
William Bragg
Bradach Blog, The War on Error
Jeremy Freese
Izzle Pfaff
Jeremy Blachman
Straight White Guy
Furious Nads (b!X)
The Grich
HinesSight
Onfocus
AntSaint
Kevin Allman
Jalpuna
MTPolitics
The Naive Optimist
Beerdrinker.org
As Time Goes By
AboutItAll - Oregon
Quark Soup
Alas, a Blog
GusBlog
Worldwide Pablo
Misterblue
Tales from the Stump
Two Pennies
Scott Hendison
Mikeyman's Computer Treehouse
Rusty
Comentario Loco
Appliance Blog
The Bleat
Rosenblog

Hap'nin' Gals
My Whim is Law
I Count to 4 (Nth of Pril)
I Could Kill Her
Lelo in Nopo
Rose City Journal
Kimberlee Jaynes
And Sew It Goes
Mile 73
Frances de Florida
Rainy Day Thoughts
Ready or Not
Raging Red
Sarah Bott
That Black Girl
Posie Gets Cozy
Lao Ocean Girl
{A}
Cat Eyes
Chantel Williams
Althouse
Frytopia
Menagerie
Ragwaters, Bitters, and Blue Ruin
This Stony Planet
Heather Bea
GirlHacker
View from the North

Portland and Oregon
Isaac Laquedem
Portland Gentrification and Other Problems
Jeff Mapes
Our PDX Network
Stumptown Lunch
Amanda Fritz
PolitickerOR.com
O City Hall Reporters
RoguePundit
Guilty Carnivore
Metroblogging Portland
Old Town by Larry Norton
Bend Blogs
Lost Oregon
Cafe Unknown
Tin Zeroes
Another Portland Blog
Mark Nelsen's Weather Blog
Oregon Media Insider
Portland Food and Drink.com
Dave Knows Portland
Idaho's Portugal
Alameda Old House History
MLK in Motion
ORblogs Site News

Retired from Blogging
1221 SW 4th
Twisty
Jim Treacher
I am a Fish
Here Today
What If...?
Superinky Fixations
Pinktalk
Mellow-Drama

Wonderfully Wacky
Dave Barry
Borowitz Report
Blort
Stuff White People Like
The Dullest Blog in the World
Worst of the Web
The Ultimate Insult
Scrabo's Mad World
Lancow's E-mail

Valuable Time-Wasters
My Gallery of Jacks
Litterbox, On the Prowl
Litterbox, Bag of Bones
Litterbox, Scratch
Maukie
Ride That Donkey
Singin' Horses
Rally Monkey
Simon Swears
Strong Bad's E-mail

Oregon News
KGW-TV
The Oregonian
Portland Tribune
KOIN
Willamette Week
KATU
The Sentinel
Southeast Examiner
Sellwood Bee
Mid-County Memo
Eugene Register-Guard
OPB
Topix.net - Portland
Salem Statesman-Journal
Portland Business Journal
Daily Journal of Commerce
Oregon Business
KPTV
Portland Info Net
McMinnville News Register
Lake Oswego Review
The Daily Astorian
Bend Bulletin
Corvallis Gazette-Times
Roseburg News-Review
Medford Mail-Tribune
Ashland Daily Tidings
Newport News-Times
Albany Democrat-Herald
The Eugene Weekly
Portland IndyMedia
Not the Oregonian, the Oregonion
Oregon's Future
Brainstorm Northwest
The Columbian

Music-Related
The Beatles
Bruce Springsteen
Seal
Sting
Joni Mitchell
Ella Fitzgerald
Steve Earle
Joe Ely
Stevie Wonder
Lou Rawls

E-mail, Feeds, 'n' Stuff

Monday, April 16, 2007

Comon sense in Washington State

At least they're doing something up there about irresponsible cell phone use while driving. Meanwhile, down here below the Columbia, the telephone lobby's too strong.

Comments (12)

They want to take my handsfree too. And may yet.

I realize the cell phones represent a hazard and I've encountered my fair share of dunces blowing blissfully unaware through stop signs and lights. But the two accidents I've been in have both involved people changing stations on the radio. If they're going to ban the handsfree, then they need to start taking a look at the radio too. Seriously. Where do you draw the line at "distracted driving"? Should we ban all conversation in the passenger compartment?

In the end, I wonder if it's simply a generational thing. If maybe the kids are (or will in ten years be) better than us old folks.

Of course it's all about distraction. Changing the radio, disk or tape while the vehicle is moving should also be a violation, as well as dialing a cell phone or holding it to your head while operating the vehicle.

"I can handle it" is the same thing the drunk drivers have said for decades.

Just another example of BIG GOVERNMENT getting even bigger. As with many growing laws that continue to oppress the people BIG GOVERNMENT tries to act as a nanny.

I use to think it was only Democrats that increased government oppression, but not any more. Republicans are just as guilty, and dumb Americans keep thinking all of these laws are good. Unreal.

As far as those that can't drive and use a cell at the same time they will still eat, brush their hair, put on make-up, yell at their kids, talk to passengers - and get into collisions. There will always be idiots in the world, but it's so wrong to let BIG GOVERNMENT get bigger thinking "they" can enforce common sense.

Welcome to 1984 - Oceania - where big government censors everyone's behaviour - next, our thoughts.

When your thoughts run someone over with a 3,000-pound bullet traveling at 60 miles an hour, let us know.

Thanks, Jack for calling this what it is; com(m)on sense.

Our legislature seems hopelessly corrupt, in the grip of major contributors. Just look at the flailing around on the bottle bill -- it's a major embarrassment. As for cell phone distraction while driving, just do your own survey. When you see drivers forget to signal, closing speed or distance, tailgate or otherwise break the rules of the road, notice how many of them are visibly on the phone.

"Should we ban all conversation in the passenger compartment?"

Sounds absurd (a useful form of argument often seen in this context). But there's an interesting analogy: federal regulations on the operation of aircraft for hire mandate a "clean cockpit" (by which they mean no extraneous chit-chat) at certain altitudes and at certain times during flights. Similarly, when you're driving a car, there are times when it requires your full attention.

You can't enforce a requirement that all distractions be avoided. You can enforce a ban on some of them -- like driving while visibly on a cell phone.

From what I've heard, studies show that it's the conversation - not the holding the stupid thing to your ear that causes the accidents.

Personally, due to my job, I deal with my CD, a pager, the cell phone and a GPS while going from job to job. I haven't had an accident in over 20 years.

There are distractions while you drive, your job - deal with them.

Have you ever dialed a teeny tiny cell phone while driving? I have. I support making that totally illegal.

"There are distractions while you drive, your job - deal with them."

i think of a different way:

"cell phone use is causing accidents, near-misses and fatalities - deal with it."

but if that doesn't fly, maybe we could also dispense with traffic laws that regulate how we drive--i haven't had an accident in 17 years, and they're getting in the way of my freedom.

I have been nattering on about this for nearly ten years, now.

The research has been out which, although not definitive, it tends to show that 'hands-free' cellphones are even more dangerous than handheld. The reason: Because the problem is the conversation. Having a 'hands-free' gave users the false impression that they could do things which handheld users could not. Consequently, they did dumber stuff.

What talking on the cellphone does is focus the attention of the user on an indeterminate spot in front of them. The result is that the effectiveness of peripheral vision plummets considerably. Most cellphone related accidents are t-bones, sideswipes and pedestrian/bicyclist crossings. Drivers just aren't paying attention to any potential situations coming at them from the sides. How does this compare to a passenger in the car? Well, the passenger can see what it occurring around the moving vehicle and adjust their verbal participation accordingly. The person on the other end of the call has no idea whatsoever as to what is occurring in the proximity of the car.

I'll agree that other distractions need to be monitored, as well. But, as noted, it's simple to see cellphone users compared to someone fiddling with the radio dial or changing CDs. I personally think that reading the paper, or a map, or a book, or applying makeup (all situations I have actually seen on the streets) while operating a motor vehicle should all be cited with existing law regarding reckless driving.

Eight years ago, when I confronted my state representative and state senator regarding this topic, and provided the then latest research available, all they did was smile and chant, "Mea culpa."

I also got read tired of hearing bozos tell me that they had every right to use a cellphone while operating a motor vehicle. However, since I've been nearly run over as a pedestrian by morons attempting to drive a stick shift and talk on a cellphone -- three damn times -- and been forced out of my lane and nearly off the freeway by cellphone-using drivers twice, I can see the difference between not being illegal and just being plain stupid. I've begun replying to such apologetics by noting that hitting oneself in the middle of the forehead with a ballpeen hammer while operating a motor vehicle is not specifically illegal, but it sure is f##king stupid. Such a law in Oregon is long past due.

Sponsors



We accept advertising through Blogads. If you're interested, click the "Advertise here" link above, or go here to place your ad through Blogads. For assistance, e-mail me here; I'd be glad to help. Reach lots of viewers -- we're up to about 2,900 unique visits a day, and more than 53,000 page views a week (as of October 4). Our rates are dirt cheap for the exposure you'll get!

In Vino Veritas

Robert Mondavi Solaire, Cabernet 2005
Castello Monaci, Liante, Salice Salentino 2006
Ricardo Santos, Malbec 2006
Quinta da Espiga, Tinto 2006
Charles Smith, Holy Cow Merlot 2006
Charles Smith, Boom Boom Syrah 2006
Charles Smith, The Honorable Pinot Gris 2007
Santa Rita, Cabernet Reserva 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2007
Gloria, Douro, Tinto 2002
Bogle, Petite Sirah Port, Clarksburg 2005
Cardwell Hill, Pinot Noir 2004
Silkwood, Red Duet Cabernet-Syrah 2004
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006, 2007
Osborne, Solaz 2004
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Reserva 2005
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill, Shiraz Cabernet 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2004
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Hannah Nicole, Red 2004
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2005
Protocolo, Red 2005
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2006
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1996
Kirkland, Roogle Shiraz 2004
Garda, Classico Chiaretto
A to Z, Oregon Pinot Gris 2005
I Giusti & Zanza, Nemorino 2006
Treana, Marsanne-Viognier, Central Coast 2005
Fife, Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
B.R. Cohn, Silver Label Cabernet 2005
Marques de Casa Concha, Cabernet 2005
Santi, Sortesele Pinot Grigio 2006
Al Muvedre, Tinto Joven 2006
Layer Cake, Shiraz 2006
Gritti, Ca' Andrea, Umbria red 2005
Altos de Luzon, Jumilla 2004
Thomas Leithner, Zweigelt 2004
Cain Cuvee NV 3
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot 2003
Meridian, Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Paringa, Shiraz 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2005
Kris, Pinot Grigio 2006
Silvan Ridge, Pinot Gris 2006
Fife, Mendocino Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
Castle Rock, Cabernet, Paso Robles 2005
Willakenzie, Pinot Gris 2006
The Show, Cabernet 2005
Essencia Valdemar, Rioja Rose 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Beaulieu Vineyard. Napa Valley Cabernet 2004
Irony, Cabernet, Napa Valley 2003
Rosenblum, Petite Sirah, Heritage Clones 2005
Fra Guerau, Montsant 2002
Barefoot Chardonnay
Kana, Syrah 2004
Castell Salegg, Chardonnay, Alto Adige 2004
Fetish, The Watcher Shiraz 2004
Gold Note, Fair Play Zinfandel 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet 2003
Ponzi, Pinot Noir 2004
Red Diamond, Merlot 2003
Mateus, Rose
Benton Lane Pinot Noir 2004
Penya Cadiella Vins de Comtat 2003
Kamiak, Cellar Select Red 2003
Anselmi, San Vincenzo 2005
Rubrato, Aglianico dei Feudi di San Gregorio 2004
Le Grand Noir (Black Sheep) Cabernet-Shiraz
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2005
Los Vascos, Cabernet, Reserve 2004
Jackaroo, Shiraz 2003
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Crozes Hermitage Syrah, "La Jalet," 2001
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Cotes du Rhone, "Parallele '45,'" 2003
Rolf Binder, Barossa Valley Shiraz 2003
Oyster Bay, Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Woodbridge Chardonnay 2005
Barnard & Griffin, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2004
Quinto do Carmo, Alentejano Red 2000
Forefathers, Alexander Valley Cabernet 2001

The Occasional Book

Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 28
At this date last year: 102
Total run in 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Clicky Web Analytics