SELECT * FROM TexasHighwayPatrol WHERE CommonSense IS NOT NULL

Thursday night on my way home from my SQL class I was pulled over for failure to signal my intent to turn... in a right-turn only lane. Only got a warning. I actually signaled to turn into the lane, as I always do, but let it drop while I was there. I figured no one needs to know I'm turning right, as it's a given. There wasn't anywhere else for me to go. He insisted that there is nothing that says I don't have to signal there, and he's right. No where in Texas Department of Public Safety codes does is say you don't have to signal your intent to turn in a turn-only lane. I'm also pretty sure it doesn't say to not drive down the highway completely in reverse, or that your passengers aren't allowed to play two rounds of tennis in the backseat. Those are involving common sense. Anyone with that (actually very uncommon) attribute should know instinctively that those are a bad idea. Just like they should know that if they are in a right-turn only lane, all of the people ahead of them are going to be going right. They don't need a signal to tell them this. The worse thing about me getting pulled over that night? Directly after making the turn at that spot there is a traffic light. Whilst I and the squad car were driving up to the light, the car in front of me ran the red light. I feel very protected as a member of the community knowing that our police force is making those difficult judgement calls as to the most dangerous traffic infractions.

Mazda, Out

We had an unexpected cost this past Labor Day weekend. We took my Mazda to the shop in order to get it inspected, as it was due. Unfortunately, there were some issues they were going to have to fix before issuing us the sticker. But, unlike last time they fixed it, when we got the whole transmission rebuilt and the head replaced to a tune of 4K, this time they weren't comping us the labor. They were going to charge us 1200 just to look at the part they thought needed to be fixed.

So, we did what anyone in our situation would do...

We went to a new car dealership. Yep, that's right.

I am now the proud owner of a red 2010 Toyota Corolla, and the Mazda is probably sitting in the dealership's used car lot right now.

Would you like a picture of my new car? Go here and take your pick.

Sorry, it's been raining for days and it's sitting in a very dark parking garage right now.

An Experiment

Instead of sharing to Buzz or posting on Facebook,  I'll put everything here. I'll then put a link to the blog post on those other networks. Then maybe I won't neglect this blog as much. The experiment will be to see if anyone comes here to view my stuff. Of course, some personal pictures will probably have to stay in Facebook, as much as I hate that.