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You know you are getting old when:

2jakes

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,680
Location
Alamo Heights ☀️ Texas
I've become a big fan of pit bulls after getting to know a couple of them in recent years. Respect them, treat them kindly and they're the most loyal dogs you'll ever meet.

"2jakes".

When I was sent to live with my
grandma, I was three.
She owned a pit-bull named jake.
Jake & I became best pals.
He protected me from the mean
kids.
I could sleep at night in the dark
because jake was there to chase
away the boogeyman.
Everywhere we went it was jake
and me. Folks started calling us
the "two jakes ".
I pay homage to that pit-bull
and best friend on this forum.
2jakes (Joe) :)
 
Last edited:
Messages
12,018
Location
East of Los Angeles
I've become a big fan of pit bulls after getting to know a couple of them in recent years. Respect them, treat them kindly and they're the most loyal dogs you'll ever meet.
Pit bulls have gained a reputation for being mean, vicious dogs, but in my experience they're no different from any other breed. If they're raised to be mean and vicious they will be, and if they're raised with kindness and affection they won't. Of course, even the gentlest dog can go into "attack mode" if it believes it needs to for whatever reason, but that depends on the temperament of that specific dog.
 

2jakes

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,680
Location
Alamo Heights ☀️ Texas
Pit bulls have gained a reputation for being mean, vicious dogs, but in my experience they're no different from any other breed. If they're raised to be mean and vicious they will be, and if they're raised with kindness and affection they won't. Of course, even the gentlest dog can go into "attack mode" if it believes it needs to for whatever reason, but that depends on the temperament of that specific dog.

It was at a public place.
I was behind a couple who had their
toddler wearing a leash or harness
walking on the sidewalk.

Ahead on the side was a young woman standing with a beautiful full grown German Shepard on a leash but no
muzzle.
As the couple got closer to the young woman,
the dog made a bead for the child making a deep gut growling sound.
Both the couple and the girl were busy
or occupied with something else to notice.
I grabbed the mother's arm which was holding her child's leash. She immediately stop. The father took a few
steps as the dog went into the offensive
attack protecting it's owner.
Luckily, no one was seriouly hurt.

I realized that an animal does not take
age into account when they feel that
their owner is in danger.
I don't want to think what that dog
would have done to the child.
I've seen dogs go for the throat in a
death bite.
The startled parents thanked me
later after they calmed down.

********


When I was ten, at a local drive-in
theater which was outside the city.
A coyote attacked a child.
The father nearby went into a rage
and with bare hands killed the coyote.

I've never knew how savage a human
could get or where the strength came
to do what he did.
Probably it's the basic instinct that a
parent has when it's child is in danger
and will do things that under other
circumstances probably would not be
capable of doing.

Amazing!
 
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GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,797
Location
New Forest
^^^^^
Or, the "is it possible ... " inquiries, as when asking "is it possible I could get a cup of coffee?"

Yes, it is possible.
I shall probably get shot down for this, but if there's one sort of folk that kills you with kindness it's US retailers. My wife and I go off the beaten tourist track, the places we visit rarely hear an English accent, as a result they cannot do enough for us.
But when all I want is a a takeaway, life can get very frustrating.
"Yes sir, how can I help?"
"I would like a brie & bacon sandwich please, with a smear of mango chutney."
"Certainly sir,"
"Brown or white bread?
"Brown please."
"Would you prefer wheat or rye?"
"Wheat please,"
"with or without the crusts?"
"With!"
"Do you prefer smoked or unsmoked bacon?"
"Just give me a ****ing sandwich."
(I made that last sentence up, I wouldn't be so rude.)
 
Messages
12,018
Location
East of Los Angeles
When you got your driver-license since 14 1/2 years.
:rolleyes:
I've had my current driver license for, best guess, about 20 years now. I have a clean driving record--no tickets or accidents--so they've just sent me a new one every time the previous one expired. Apparently, someone finally noticed how long it's been because I received a letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles last week stating I need to make an appointment to take a driving test before they'll renew my license this time.
 

2jakes

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,680
Location
Alamo Heights ☀️ Texas
I've had my current driver license for, best guess, about 20 years now. I have a clean driving record--no tickets or accidents--so they've just sent me a new one ever time the previous one expired. Apparently, someone finally noticed how long it's been because I received a letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles last week stating I need to make an appointment to take a driving test before they'll renew my license this time.


The only driver's test I took was when I first applied as a teenager.

Afterwards, when it's time to renew my license, I go online.

But after a certain amount of years,
I have to go for an eye exam.

Based on the medical questions regarding my health, the clerk determines if I have to take another driver's test.

So far I haven't had a medical issue that requires taking the driver's test.
A short eye exam is made at the front desk.
Followed by a quick photo that will be laminated on my driver's license.

About the only decent photo I have seen on a driver's license card was that of
Jane Fonda's.

All of my license I.D.photos ever since I
can remember are pretty bad! :cool:
 
Last edited:
Messages
12,018
Location
East of Los Angeles
The only driver's test I took was when I first applied as a teenager...
I wish I could say that, but I had some "issues" in my younger days that were apparently a red flag to the California DMV--an accident in 1978 for which I was deemed to be at fault, and enough speeding tickets between then and 1981 for a judge to threaten to suspend my license. What can I say, I was young and foolish. But I was a delivery driver for a local construction company at the time and would probably have lost that job if my license was taken away, so that was my wake-up call to start behaving myself. Then in 1988 I passed out at a local theater after seeing a movie. Long story short, my license was suspended until my doctor(s) and I could prove to the DMV that the cause had been diagnosed and resolved so that it wouldn't happen while I was driving. Since then, getting my license renewed has been a breeze, especially since they just started mailing them to me. :D

As for the photos, yeah, they're maybe a step up from a mug shot. As I mentioned above the current photo on my license was taken about 20 years ago, and I look like a cross between Charles Manson and a member of the Robertson family seen on Duck Dynasty. :rolleyes:
 
As for the photos, yeah, they're maybe a step up from a mug shot. As I mentioned above the current photo on my license was taken about 20 years ago, and I look like a cross between Charles Manson and a member of the Robertson family seen on Duck Dynasty. :rolleyes:

Here in TX, you can renew online every other time it expires, but have to get a new picture taken and pass the eye exam on the other times. So every 14 years you have to go to the DPS office and stand in line for a mug shot. Play your cards right, and you get a photo at 18, 32, 46, 60 and 74. I'm on one of the ones in the middle.
 
Messages
10,939
Location
My mother's basement
Wanna make a careful driver out of one with a recent and prolific history of traffic violations?

Revoke his license to drive. Knowing that any encounter with law enforcement will have costly consequences is all that's needed for a thoughtful young scofflaw to take every precaution against that, short of actually not driving, of course.

Do the walk-around. Make sure all equipment is in proper working order. Stringently observe the traffic code.

Or so I've been told.
 
Messages
12,018
Location
East of Los Angeles
I just set the cruise control for the speed limit and not worry about it. This is especiallly useful where the speed limit is 25 mph, as I find it harder to regulate lower speeds in mosst cars.
Unless you're driving like a complete jackass, around here most police officers will look the other way if you're driving up to 5 miles per hour over the posted speed limit simply because speedometer calibration on most cars is somewhat vague at best; one car's 25 mph is another car's 28 mph.
 
Messages
10,939
Location
My mother's basement
I've driven right past cops while doing at least 5 mph over the limit. I suspect they see me and my car and think that all they could put on me is the small speeding citation. Equipment is in order, as is all documentation. Better use of time to get that kid coming along shortly who has had a couple and somehow overlooked paying his insurance premiums.
 

Stearmen

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,202
We have to get a new photo every 7 years here, and I can't wait till the next one. I was in a foul mood the day my last one was taken, and the result was I came out looking like the matron in a particularly ripe women-in-prison exploitation movie. NO TALKING IN THE LINE!
My last drivers license was 15 years old, every one who saw it said it was the best photo they had ever seen on a license. The secret, I was apparently in a really good mood that day and had a great big smile. Last year, I had to go in and renew it, so I got a great big smile on, when the prototypical DMV worker told me I could not smile because of facial recognition software. I of course was unhappy, and she snapped the photo right then, no do overs thank you! A friend of mine is a retired maximum security prison guard, he said I looked scarier then any of his inmates.
 

2jakes

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,680
Location
Alamo Heights ☀️ Texas
I've driven right past cops while doing at least 5 mph over the limit. I suspect they see me and my car and think that all they could put on me is the small speeding citation. Equipment is in order, as is all documentation. Better use of time to get that kid coming along shortly who has had a couple and somehow overlooked paying his insurance premiums.

I drove my first car (beetle) for
almost a year before a traffic cop
stopped me on the freeway because
my tail-lights were not working.
Altogether I was issued five tickets
 
Messages
12,018
Location
East of Los Angeles
I drove my first car (beetle) for almost a year before a traffic cop stopped me on the freeway because my tail-lights were not working. Altogether I was issued five tickets
I had that many on my record when that judge threatened to revoke my license. :D I think the only reason he didn't was because I was the only civilian in the courtroom that day who had the good sense to show him the proper level of respect without being snide or surly.
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,797
Location
New Forest
Drivers in Asia use the horn constantly, squeeze in front of you, cut people off, all of the things that incite road rage here, but no one seems to get upset. That's just part of driving. That road may be four marked lanes, but traffic is eight cars wide, not to mention motorcycles with women riding sidesaddle on the back with an infant on her lap, weaving in and out. You just have to be hyper aware at all times, and ready go with the flow.
Scariest motoring incident that I ever saw was in Egypt. We were in a coach heading out to see the pyramids, the road was three lanes wide. On the inside lane was a service bus packed to the gunwales with people, we were in the outside lane and in the middle was a small car. The three lanes merged into two lanes, the two buses came alongside one another. I never did know what happened to that car.
 

2jakes

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,680
Location
Alamo Heights ☀️ Texas
Driving my '67 beetle on a rainy day.
I did a complete circle as I made my
exit on the freeway.

Since I wasn't going fast when I took
the exit lane, the beetle skidded in a
circle slowly. So I didn't panic.
At the half way point of the turnaround,
I was now facing the driver who had been behind me.
I nodded to the driver as I continued the
circle, doing my best not to show my embarrassment.

Once I completed the circle, I proceeded to make my exit.
Acting as if nothing extraordinary had occurred.
All the while the driver behind me just sat there wide mouth and eyes, not
sure of what he had just seen. :eek:
 
Messages
12,018
Location
East of Los Angeles
Driving my '67 beetle on a rainy day. I did a complete circle as I made my exit on the freeway...
I can't recall ever spinning any of my Beetles a full 360 degrees, but with the engine weight in the back they did tend to get a little "tail happy" now and then. This was part of the reason Ralph Nader dedicated an entire chapter to the 1960-64 Chevrolet Corvair in his book "Unsafe at Any Speed". Most American drivers were unfamiliar with driving rear-engine vehicles and the fact that having the engine weight in the back changed the cars' handling characteristics (i.e., a tendency to "oversteer"), so that combined with the also-unusual-in-the-U.S. swing axle that would "tuck under" in certain circumstances led to a lot of drivers losing control and causing collisions.
 

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