11.01.08
Posted in People at 6:12 pm by Anthony
The Lake Road is one of the more popular walks in Cobh. It provides a nice gentle slope on the way down and a not too severe challenge on the return journey. There are, of course, a number of alternatives to the return journey.
Three of my favourite options are - The sea walk along the impressive new Five Foot Way which is usually very busy with fellow walkers. The tranquil walk along the Lower Road or the return via the leafy but vehicle busy High Road.
Whichever route is chosen, the most prominent structure visible is the new Garda station. Built in the shape of a ship complete with crows nest, funnel and portholes , it must be the most imaginative design for a Garda station in Ireland and of course totally appropriate given Cobh’s long and illustrious maritime history.
It is also a very large building, perhaps in recognition of the two most famous ships associated with Cobh, Titanic and Lusitania? Another unique feature of the building is a roof covered in grass – no, not that type of grass! – a grass lawn.
Recently, the Gardai were busy on the High Road operating a checkpoint. I knew there was a checkpoint before I actually saw the Gardai involved because a motorist was flashing a warning to oncoming cars.
I witnessed a similar incident recently where a motorist was flashing to warn other drivers of the presence of a Garda speed checkpoint. The following is a reasonable interpretation of what the driver was thinking.
“Watch out, fellow motorists, the ‘boys’ are up ahead. We road users must back each other up against the tyranny of the law.”
However, the cold hard reality of such behaviour can be more accurately summed up as follows.
“Watch out fellow motorists in case there is one among you who is a totally irresponsible and highly dangerous speedster. I want to warn you so that you can slow down and give the impression that you are a responsible motorist.
My warning will ensure you are not caught, that you will not suffer any financial or social embarrassment resulting from the consequences of your idiotic actions. By warning you I am prepared to risk serious injury or death on all other road users, including my family and friends.
I sincerely hope that if I ever find myself heading towards your recklessly driven, death dealing vehicle – you will remember that it was me who warned you.”
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10.14.08
Posted in Environment, People at 9:52 am by Anthony
Before Eileen bought her first car she was a normal, happy-go-lucky person. She’s still normal and happy-go-lucky except for the very brief but highly intense moments when she is consumed by road rage.
No ranting or raving, no foul language, no obscene hand gestures, just a brief ice-cold silence before the atmosphere in the car returns to its natural warmth.
Her method of dealing with road rage is controlled and reasonable. Unfortunately, there are many motorists who are unable to control their anger and consequently become aggressors or victims of this modern phenomenon.
But why is road rage such a unique form of anger in the modern world? The answer can be found in the nature of the beast and the radically changed environment he has recently been forced to inhabit.
I say recently because cars as a means of mass travel have only been around for about sixty years. Humans, on the other hand, have been around for about three or four million years during which time they have developed a highly complex system of signals based on the five senses of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing
The crucial condition for human interaction through the senses is a degree of personal contact. Whether looking for a sexual partner or avoiding someone whom you sense is potentially dangerous, it is the conscious and unconscious signals received and processed in the brain that are your guide.
Take a simple example - You’re walking down a crowded street and accidentally bump into a total stranger. On the surface, the following exchange usually occurs. “Oops, sorry!” “That’s ok”, incident over, both move on.
Subconsciously, however, there is much more to this encounter. When you bumped into the person, you immediately knew you were to blame and instantly began to put things right by apologising. The ‘victim’, startled and perhaps, fleetingly angry, instantly assessed the situation and concluded that it was unintentional.
Such instant assessment and understanding is only possible because each individual has the subconscious ability to immediately use some or all of the senses that have evolved over millions of years. This natural ability to interact with our fellow humans is a crucial element in our evolutionary make-up necessary for the interpretation and resolution of potential conflict.
Now take this human animal, who has been evolving and interacting in this way for millions of years and suddenly strap him into a one-ton metal and glass machine capable of travelling at great speed.
In addition, severely restrict his freedom of movement by imposing thousands of strict rules and regulations which, if broken, can have serious consequences for him and other road users. Add to this controlled and stressful environment the usual human life stresses such as money, work and relationship worries and it is easy to see how an innocent mistake or an aggressive action by another motorist can quickly develop into an explosive road rage incident.
Isolated inside this mobile machine, the natural human communications system is dramatically curtailed. Sight, and to a much lesser degree, sound are the only senses utilised and even these are principally employed in the safe manoeuvring of the vehicle rather that any natural interaction with fellow humans.
Neither is this phenomenon unique to any particular section of society such as testosterone-filled young men. All drivers, male and female, young and old, are equally open to getting caught up in a spiral of anger.
Women, for example, who would instinctively react with caution in a one to one confrontation with a man, can, when deprived of the full use of the natural senses, find themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.
Similarly, when two males confront each other face to face, there is a constant and urgent exchange of sense signals utilised to decide on fight or flight. Invariably, this natural assessment system results in a non-violent resolution.
If, however, because of machine isolation these men are unable to assess and resolve their dispute naturally, by the time they come face to face outside their vehicles, it may be too late. It is this situation, where the various stages of anger and frustration are built up without resolution that can sometimes lead to violence and even murder.
Road rage is a global problem that has reached epidemic proportions in many countries and while law enforcement can do a lot to control the phenomenon there is also an urgent need for an educational programme.
The central focus of any such programme would have to be the reconciliation of the primeval instincts of the human animal with 21^st century technology.
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09.10.08
Posted in People, Sex at 8:23 am by Anthony
I spotted her the moment I entered the bakery area of the supermarket. It wasn’t difficult really, because, apart from her, there was only two other humans present, a married man of about 35 and his child.
The man was pushing a trolley but shopping was the furthest thing from his mind as he continuously tripped over his drooling tongue, totally captivated by her beauty and potent sexuality.
Shopping was also the furthest thing from her mind as she reveled in her power, she was a sexual predator who had made a killing and she was extracting the full price that was due to her.
My arrival broke the spell, the man returned to his shopping after calling to his child, who had wandered off to inspect a delectable display of cream cakes. She immediately turned her attention to me.
It didn’t matter that I was at least 38 older than her. It wasn’t about age; it wasn’t about hunting for a mate, it wasn’t even about sexual attraction. It was simply about a ravishingly beautiful creature that had only recently blossomed into womanhood, a creature that was testing her new found powers, a creature who was beginning to realise the full extent of the potent powers she possessed.
She was a Gothic Goddess – a perfect body mounted on high heeled shoes, jeans so tight that they could have been painted onto her. Jet black shoulder length hair that just fell short of her beautiful but skimpy top, a top that only partly covered her black lace, red trimmed bra. Pale, flawless skin, dark eye makeup and exquisite bright red lips that were just beginning to pout in my direction.
I quickly realised that I had to act immediately. She was purposefully heading in my direction, determined to ensnare the intruder whose intervention had allowed her previous victim to escape. I instinctively knew that if I wanted to win the coming battle I had, at all costs, to avoid looking at her, I had to behave as if she didn’t exist.
For her, it was simply unacceptable that a male of the species who had drifted within her sphere of influence could ignore her presence. It was critical for the continued confirmation of her newly discovered womanhood that all males should pay homage to her beauty and power.
The battle lines were drawn.
I immediately took evasive action and headed for the apple tart display. She paused only for a moment before following, stopping close by to poke around at some doughnuts.
I steadfastly focused on the tarts and cheered inwardly when she moved away – I had won. But my victory was short lived. As I turned I realised that her move away was not surrender but merely to set up an ambush.
As I stood, helpless, she approached with one of those yellow warning signs used by supermarkets to alert customers that the floor has just been mopped - Now, I was about to be mopped.
She very deliberately bent over and placed the sign on the floor and in the process allowed me a clear view down her top. Like a rabbit caught in the full glare of headlights, I stared transfixed at the perfect shape of her exquisite breasts as they firmly supported her lace bra. My stare lasted about two seconds; believe me, that’s a long time for a 56 year old man to be looking down the top of a woman aged about 18.
I had won at the tart display encounter but she had most definitely routed me in the wet floor sign ambush – The score was even.
After collecting my thoughts I changed tactics by moving out of the bakery area and over to the pizza counter – an organised and honourable retreat, so to speak.
I knew she was following, not by direct sight but by observing her reflection in the chrome counter. In an instant she was standing so close to me that an observer could be forgiven for assuming that we were a father/daughter couple out enjoying a bit of shopping.
She made no attempt to order, she was only interested in extracting her due homage.
I ordered a pizza from the shop assistant and despite my senses being enveloped by her alluring perfume I continued to act as if she wasn’t there. I looked up, down, to the right, but never for a moment turned my head to the left where she waited patiently to receive my surrender.
She knew that within moments my pizza would be ready, that I would be walking away, leaving her defeated. I smiled inwardly as the shop assistant placed my pizza on the weighing scales, the last act before the deal was done - I was confident of victory.
But, once again, I was ambushed. The goddess leaned right over, looked directly into my eyes and asked the most ridiculous question – How much do you think your pizza will cost?
There was no avoiding such a direct approach; I was forced to look at her, to acknowledge her presence. But my response was calm and measured, I showed her the price on the pizza that the assistant had just handed to me and remarked that it was good value.
The score was still even.
Walking away, I was acutely aware that I could still lose. I instinctively knew she was still standing there, waiting for me to look back.
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09.09.08
Posted in People at 5:32 pm by Anthony
I watched a really interesting news item the other day.
This guy went out on the street and handed out postcards with his name and address. The card invited people to write down their secrets and post them to him. It was an amazing success; he’s still getting thousands of replies every week. He only gave out a limited number of cards and only in the American city in which he lives but he’s now getting replies from all over the world.
It’s a really good idea and seems to have helped an awful lot of people. Have a look here to see a Utube clip of the man behind the idea and read some secrets. I found this one the most intriguing.
“Everybody that knew me before 9/11 thinks I’m dead.”
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