PeopleareParked.com

The other day on my lunch break, I went to the local gas station, pulled in the side with the “Enter Only” sign. Of course, there are always people that go in through the other side, clearly marked, “Exit Only”.

There are four lanes all marked with arrows in the same direction - forward. I was wishing my tank was on the passenger side because the driver’s side tank lanes were full. Why can’t the car makers split this more evenly? Not every vehicle make is the same, so why are most tanks nowadays on the driver’s side?

The real issue is the way people drive to get to the appropriate pump. They squeeze around you, back-up, cut you off, face the opposite direction, and park every which way. It’s crazy! It’s a wonder there’s not more accidents trying to get gas. It’s a headache enough with the rising prices.

Some of the craziest antics are on the highway gas stations. There’s no end to what people will do to save a few minutes. They actually turn around and face toward the oncoming traffic, who is exiting at a high rate of speed. How dangerous is that?

I figure it’s better to be parked in line than driving chaotically-parked at the gas station.

I have a pet peeve about people who stay in the left lane on the highway when they are not passing any other vehicles. What’s worse is when they are going slower than me and I can’t get by. For these parked people - the LEFT lane is for passing and the RIGHT lane is for traveling. Maybe they don’t know their right from their left, in general, which is a different story.

So… maybe I do drive a little fast at times and perhaps above the speed limit (won’t admit it with any kind of certainty, in case there are any troopers reading). Unless you are passing, pleeease move to the right. I don’t really want to pass you on the right for safety’s sake.

I’ve seen many traffic tie-ups caused by none other than someone going slow in the left lane. There’s no reason for it and actually is a safety hazard. Not me, of course, but many others who are just as frustrated as I am, will pass on the right. Help keep the traffic flow flowing, please!

Political reporting is PARKED! Oh, excuse me…….I mean the spin doctors are so talented I could never figure out that they are all PARKED, one sided ID 10 T’s. Once the spin doctors get through with their spiels the “commentators” take over. Oooo goody. I love to listen to all their wisdom and knowledge about the issues. Can you change the cue card please and stop wearing the networks political view on your sleeve. Anyone with half a mind - or at least someone who reads the paper and watches the news should know that the news commentators don’t report the facts, but a subtly biased presentation of the event in favor of one candidate or the other. Did you read the title of this post. Just the FACTs please.

And while I am on it, let’s comment on those talk show commentators.

Stick a finger down my throat, because if I hear one more of those pompous, self righteous my addiction was because I threw my back out spitting on your face and then the doctor over prescribed my medication for 10 years make me want to slap em in the face. Whew! That was a sentence for sure, but I had to get it out. I’m not always this wordy about commentators, but when elections come around they seem to come out of the wood work like little ants.

So, what’s the whole point of my “Just the facts please”? Just that. I don’t want to hear what your thoughts are. I want to hear and read about the issues and make up my own mind. Tell me the candidate says yes or no on the issue, not maybe. If your words are well rounded, balanced and persuasive then I’ll pay attention, maybe even consider it. But if your just going to regurgitate and play the one sided card because you control the media then expect to get slammed and slammed you should get!

I’ve held off talking about this topic because anything “political” can become a pretty divisive issue in the “hands of the wrong mind”.  Given that, I can no longer stand by and listen when so much stupidity surrounds me, i.e. politics,  politicians and how its all reported. 

I’ll be blogging about it all, but to ease my way into this topic I’ll start with something easy.  The recent democratic debate in which Obama and Edwards went after Clinton.  The whole event looked more like the Democrats stole a page from the Republican play book because attack politics is what George W used to beat McCain and Kerry and look where that got us.  Billions of dollars in debt, a war that we were tricked into, terrorists in every corner of the world, countries distancing themselves from us, NCLB not funded, no social security reform, roads and bridges not getting repaired, secrets, arrogance, disdain for all but the rich and powerful……..and the list goes on.  OK,  can you tell I didn’t vote for George W Bush or his father. 

Anyway, what’s PARKED about the whole thing is how the democrats have said they talk about the issues and not the candidate.  That they will take the high road.  So Barack and John where was the discussion on the issues?  Where was the SUBSTANCE?  Where was the DEBATE?  Quit attacking each other and talk about how your going to solve our real problems.  Problems like the national debt, education, health-care and bringing our troops home from that quagmire in Iraq.   I don’t want to hear you beat up on each other  - the republicans will do that for you.

Yeah, it ticked me off because I like Clinton and I think Washington needs a real change.  For me that’s a woman in charge and not the same “ole set of boys on the hill”.  Clinton is smart, and capable.  So let’s stick to the issues because I’m going to vote on substance not spin!

I’m all for tipping for good service. In fact, when going to restaurants, I usually tip at least 20%, especially where I’m a regular. I also believe people in the service industry have to deal with a lot of parked people and deserve all they can get.

I’m struggling to pay the bills too, so have to watch where my money goes. Now I do afford myself the luxury of a Dunkin’ Donuts cup of coffee most days in the work week. Granted they work hard standing on their feet all day, but when did it become OK to put a tip jar out? I might get a lot of backlash for this, but I am walking in to the store, waiting in line, and go along my way. It’s not like I’m there for an extended period of time getting waited on. Yes, they greet me with a hello and make my coffee as requested, but I don’t feel it’s necessary to leave a tip for it, although sometimes I do leave the extra change. Part of me feels guilty because the jar is there and I feel obligated and part of me wants to give because I know they don’t make much of an hourly wage. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not rich either, so there is my struggle.

So when is it appropriate to tip? Should I tip just because there is a tip jar present? Did Dunkin’ Donuts start a new trend and we will now see tip jars at McDonald’s? Am I parked for not tipping here or is Dunkin’ Donuts parked for allowing it?

If your a fan you know that what I am about to talk about is something that can roil the blood in your veins. Referees, sometimes also known as idiots can be the biggest bunch of Parked People on this earth. Especially when the games they referee are so one sided in their penalty calling. Their lack of fair play is so blatant you want to call the Commissioner and fine him for hiring/sanctioning such a bunch of dopes.

The Patriots - Colts match up last week was a prime example. Granted Peyton Manning is a great QB and his team is pretty solid on defense and offense, but you know what - they “ain’t” angels on the field.

The referees made a lot of one sided penalty calls or failed to call a penalty at all. What this proves is that there is a lot of inconsistency, and fear on the part of referees. Why!

• Were they afraid to be fair?
• Were they afraid of the crowd
• Were they being paid off to look the other way?
• Were they trying to give the edge to the NFL’s “favorite” son, Peyty Pie?
• Were they trying to “punish” the Patriots for some inane reason like the entire league being envious of Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Mike Vrabel et. el.

Or my favorite and preferred reason……..ARE THEY JUST STUPID?

Yeah, I get a little intense on this issue because the success of any team is based on the honesty and integrity of the referees. If they don’t call all the infractions on both sides then they should be removed from the game, immediately. I’ve watched to many games and seen a lot of good teams get the “shaft” because of poor penalty calling. Something needs to be done and the NFL Commissioner needs to re-examine this issue and fire the idiots masquerading as referees because, it’s almost as if the win is not in the hands of the team, but whether or not the referees play fair!

I got a frantic call from a friend yesterday after she heard that Patriot’s quarterback, Tom Brady, was suspended for four games for steroid use. “Whaaaaaatttt”, I screamed. I immediately checked online for any news from si.com, nfl.com, cnn.com - nothing. Did find a story on Digg that the radio show hosts, Opie and Anthony said this on their show as a farce and some people actually believed it and spread the misinformation. It went on to say that most people know that O and A make these things up all the time and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Well, I guess some people did believe it and gave me a few minutes of panic.

There were some other stories on the web that mentioned Giselle being allegedly caught with steroids at an airport and claimed they were her boyfriend, Tom’s. I’m sure there’s a lot more versions out there, but I just don’t want to know. It’s all a bunch of hype and it’s all parked.

There are so many people that are jealous of the Patriots success and will go to any length to disgrace them. Look at what Don Shula said the other day about the Patriots being “tainted” as they come closer to going undefeated, like his ‘72 Dolphins - that’s parked, man. Then there’s the other complaints about “videogate” and running up the score - parked.

The truth is that the New England Patriots are the most talented team in the NFL and should keep scoring as many points as they can to prove it. The real truth is that they don’t have to prove it to anyone else and just need to keep on keepin’ on. These things have a way of playing out.

Go Pats!

Are the Patriots parked for all those high scoring games, while their opponents are nowhere close in points? No way! I’ve heard some people, not fans of course, say that the Patriots are running up the score and there’s no reason for it. I don’t agree. These players are out there to play, not to sit on the ball.

Coach Belichick is putting on a clinic and showing everyone that the Patriots are a team to be reckoned with and full of talent on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Look at all the weapons they have to score points - Moss, Welker, Stallworth, Maroney, and Vrabel, to name only a few. Even Brady himself proved he can rush for a few scores as he showed us last week. This is pure talent and hard work, not the result of some videotaping scandal.

It’s time the Patriots get their due respect. They can’t help but keep scoring points.