I’d say it was a good year overall 
Monthly Archive for December, 2007
http://www.trumansky.net/panoramics/
Left it outside of wordpress to allow wider resolution photos. Enjoy!
Playing with bulb exposures by using a tripod and very carefully keeping the shutter button pressed with my hand.
45 seconds at f/3.5 with the 18-55 kit lens. (I REALLY WANT SOME L GLASS!)
Warning, long post 
To preface, over the summer I got a speeding ticket on I-81 for going 75 in a 60mph zone in the Highway Safety Corridor. Basically, the speed limit drops 5 mph for a 15 mile stretch or so. Stupid way to get ticketed, but I did. At least I wasn’t the kid doing 90mph in a 25mph zone on his day-old motorcycle.
I shall attempt to summarize the great teacher that Kaila and I both had for 8 very boring hours as per requested by the all-knowing Virginia Department of Transportation in two sentences:
And I quote:
“Doctors should be hung”
“I love Mel Gibson”
What does that have to do with me being an improved driver?
What a gigantic waste of time and money. $55 per person, cash or check, to be made directly out to the nice lady teaching the class for the day, not the DMV or to the company with the incredibly creative name of “A-Safe Driver Program” that was listed on the DMV website. Instead, it went directly to a cranky middle aged woman who looks like she’s 20 years older than she probably is due to popping 9 pills during class and smoking during lunch. At least try and put some effort into concealing a gigantic cash cow the state of Virginia and these private companies have set up with these “Driver Improvement Clinics”.
There were 28 people being taught ranted to today. At one point she said that she does this three times a week, so lets do the math:
$55 x 28 people = $1,540 per class
$1,540 x three classes a week = $4,620 per week
$4,620 x 52 weeks/year = $240,240 per year.
Even taking the extreme low ball of only 1 class per week, it still comes out $80,080/year. For comparison, the starting salary of the average teacher in FCPS is $42,400, and breaks the $80,000 mark at about the 20th year of teaching only when combined with a masters degree or higher.
The woman teaching, who seemed to be schizophrenic at times, who went off on rants that ranged from native Americans and immigration to the relationship between 9/11 and the time it took to pass widespread cell phone laws is certified by the state to help young drivers improve after an accident or being ticketed. The class was scheduled to begin at 9:00AM. By my watch, we first touched our instruction manuals (Filled with the usual basic rules for driving, such as keeping your distance on the highway) at around 11:45AM, with the only driving related anything done beforehand was a quick 10 minute video that brought back fond memories of driver’s ed in 10th grade. (Also prompting the first sentence out of her mouth to be a curse at the VCR including the phrase “Piece of Shit”, with that nice word for poop repeated dozens of times over the next eight hours. Love the professionalism I paid for!) The rest of the time in between then was filled with this woman’s hatred for doctors, judges in Fairfax county, lawyers, teenagers trying to argue a point, doctors who do not obey a Do Not Resuscitate, her apparent preference of death over time in jail for a traffic offense oh and did I mention hate for the medical profession? (And I quote: “The pharmaceutical companies don’t do much testing on the medications they sell.”)
In the last 30 minutes, she had us plow through another driver’s ed-esq “Spot the Hazards!” video, then gave us a joke of a final test where she read the answers out loud as we circled them on the sheet; all for a little blue certificate that says in a few words that you’ve successfully completed the “Driver Improvement Program” required by the courts or the DMV or whatever. With that worthless certificate, you can get a suspended license reinstated, possibly putting some poor guy back on the road who basically is back where he started in terms of driving awareness after he accidentally ran a red light and slammed into a minivan or something. What help does this class have for someone in actual need of real, useful, classroom instruction?
To summarize that brain fart onto the screen above, the class was less driver improvement education and more fear-mongering about the court system and everything possibly remotely connected to it, such as the great conspiracy by doctors to suck your wallet dry. (Watch out!)
The only thing useful that we probably learned today was that you don’t want to get involved with the courts and to bring a lawyer if you do, which sounds like a big “Well Duh” for anyone with half a brain and that the course gives you 5 positive points on your driving record.
A gigantic resounding 
, middle finger and sigh to the system.
http://www.asafedriverva.com/
We will assist you in being a better and safer driver, possibly reduce your auto insurance rates and most important, show the judge, who will be making a decision regarding your case, that you have taken this charge seriously!
I prefer my jokes to not cost $55, thank you
(Wow, that was a lot longer than I intended.)
I think so, Brain, but where are we going to find a duck and a hose at this hour?
I think so, but where will we find an open tattoo parlor at this time of night?
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but if we didn’t have ears, we’d look like weasels.
Uh… yeah, Brain, but where are we going to find rubber pants our size?
Uh, I think so, Brain, but balancing a family and a career … ooh, it’s all too much for me.
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but isn’t Regis Philbin already married?
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but burlap chafes me so.
Sure, Brain, but how are we going to find chaps our size?
Uh, I think so, Brain, but we’ll never get a monkey to use dental floss.
Uh, I think so Brain, but this time, you wear the tutu.
I think so, Brain, but culottes have a tendency to ride up so.
I think so, Brain, but if they called them “Sad Meals”, kids wouldn’t buy them!
I think so, Brain, but me and Pippi Longstocking — I mean, what would the children look like?
I think so, Brain, but this time *you* put the trousers on the chimp.
Well, I think so, Brain, but I can’t memorize a whole opera in Yiddish.
I think so, Brain, but there’s still a bug stuck in here from last time.
Uh, I think so, Brain, but I get all clammy inside the tent.
I think so, Brain, but I don’t think Kay Ballard’s in the union.
Yes, I am!
I think so, Brain, but, the Rockettes? I mean, it’s mostly girls, isn’t it?
I think so, Brain, but pants with horizontal stripes make me look chubby.
Well, I think so -POIT- but *where* do you stick the feather and call it macaroni?
Well, I think so, Brain, but pantyhose are so uncomfortable in the summertime.
Well, I think so, Brain, but it’s a miracle that this one grew back.
Well, I think so, Brain, but first you’d have to take that whole bridge apart, wouldn’t you?
Well, I think so, Brain, but “apply North Pole” to what?
I think so, Brain, but “Snowball for Windows”?
Well, I think so, Brain, but *snort* no, no, it’s too stupid!
Umm, I think so, Don Cerebro, but, umm, why would Sophia Loren do a musical?
Umm, I think so, Brain, but what if the chicken won’t wear the nylons?
I think so, Brain, but isn’t that why they invented tube socks?
Well, I think so Brain, but what if we stick to the seat covers?
I think so Brain, but if you replace the “P” with an “O”, my name would be Oinky, wouldn’t it?
Oooh, I think so Brain, but I think I’d rather eat the Macarana.
Well, I think so *hiccup*, but Kevin Costner with an English accent?
I think so, Brain, but don’t you need a swimming pool to play Marco Polo?
Well, I think so, Brain, but do I really need two tongues?
I think so, Brain, but we’re already naked.
Well, I think so, Brain, but if Jimmy cracks corn, and no one cares, why does he keep doing it?
I think so, Brain *NARF*, but don’t camels spit a lot?
I think so, Brain, but how will we get a pair of Abe Vigoda’s pants?
I think so, Brain, but Pete Rose? I mean, can we trust him?
I think so, Brain, but why would Peter Bogdanovich?
I think so, Brain, but isn’t a cucumber that small called a gherkin?
I think so, Brain, but if we get Sam Spade, we’ll never have any puppies.
I think so, Larry, and um, Brain, but how can we get seven dwarves to shave their legs?
I think so, Brain, but calling it pu-pu platter? Huh, what were they thinking?
I think so, Brain, but how will we get the Spice Girls into the paella?
I think so, Brain, but if we give peas a chance, won’t the lima beans feel left out?
I think so, Brain, but if we had a snowmobile, wouldn’t it melt before summer?
I think so, Brain, but what kind of rides do they have in Fabioland?
I think so, Brain, but can the Gummi Worms really live in peace with the Marshmallow Chicks
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but wouldn’t anything lose it’s flavor on the bedpost overnight?
I think so, Brain, but three round meals a day wouldn’t be as hard to swallow.
I think so, Brain, but if the plural of mouse is mice, wouldn’t the plural of spouse be spice?
Umm, I think so, Brain, but three men in a tub? Ooh, that’s unsanitary!
Yes, but why does the chicken cross the road, huh, if not for love? (sigh) I do not know.
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but I prefer Space Jelly.
Yes Brain, but if our knees bent the other way, how would we ride a bicycle?
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but how will we get three pink flamingos into one pair of Capri pants?
I think so, Brain, but Tuesday Weld isn’t a complete sentence.
I think so, Brain, but why would anyone want to see Snow White and the Seven Samurai?
I think so, Brain, but then my name would be Thumby.
I think so, Brain, but I find scratching just makes it worse.
I think so, Brain, but shouldn’t the bat boy be wearing a cape?
I think so, Brain, but why would anyone want a depressed tongue?
Um, I think so, Brainie, but why would anyone want to Pierce Brosnan?
Methinks so, Brain, verily, but dost thou think Pete Rose by any other name would still smell as sweaty?
I think so, Brain, but wouldn’t his movies be more suitable for children if he was named Jean-Claude van Darn?
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but will they let the Cranberry Dutchess stay in the Lincoln Bedroom?
I think so, Brain, but why does a forklift have to be so big if all it does is lift forks?
I think so, Brain, but if it was only supposed to be a three hour tour, why did the Howells bring all their money?
I think so, Brain, but Zero Mostel times anything will still give you Zero Mostel.
I think so, Brain, but if we have nothing to fear but fear itself, why does Elanore Roosevelt wear that spooky mask?
I think so, Brain, but what if the hippopotamus won’t wear the beach thong?
(Pinky) Whoof, oh, I’d have to say the odds of that are terribly slim Brain.
(Brain) True.
(Pinky) I mean, really, when have I ever been pondering what you’ve been pondering?
(Brain) To my knowledge, never.
(Pinky) Exactly. So, what are the chances that this time, I’m pondering what you’re pondering?
(Brain) Next to nil.
(Pinky) Well, that’s exactly what I’m thinking, too.
(Brain) Therefore, you *are* pondering what I’m pondering.
(Pinky) Poit, I guess I am!
“Brain, are you pondering what I’m pondering?”
We eat the box?
Only one more final left!
THEN WINTER BREAK I AM SO EXCITED.
A photographer goes to his friends house for a party, and decides to bring along his camera. He takes a bunch of photos, and then a few days later he prints them out. His friend’s wife, who hosted the party, calls him up and thanks him for his photos saying, “The photos are so great you must have an amazing camera.”
The photographer’s annoyed, but he doesn’t say anything to her about it.
That next weekend he’s over at his friends house again for dinner. As his friend’s wife is clearing the table he looks at her and says, “Dinner was excellent, you must have some amazing pots and pans!”
Bahahahahahaha
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