Another Day In Paradise
Penobscot Community Webpages
11/23/11 penobscot-maine@ymail.com
WINTERTIME DRIVING in maine can make one's fingers turn red as they grip the steering wheel during the
anticipation of a skid which could happen at any time. It amazes me that each year during the first snow of the season,
how many mainers are unprepaired for their first trek in the snow. During our first snow storm of the season, back in
October of 2011, I sat in the living room watching the evening news while the VHF scanner was talking in the
background. Time after time there were emergency dispatchers talking about vehicles off the road. The television news
anchors were talking about the snow falling outside and how many people were injured in an accident on route nine.
Although I was listening to both, everything was kind of erased from my mind over a period of time as the evening
went on . The week of the storm, i picked up the Ellsworth American paper and read how many accident there were
which were contributed to the storm and slippery conditions. It would seem to me that it would be driver speed and
inattention that caused these accidents, yet they all seemed to be written as if the storm actually caused the accidents.
When I was taught to drive, I was told the driver was responsible for driving at " safe speeds " for the road conditions.
If a driver goes into a skid, it is because they are not in proper controll of the vehicle. I was also told that in bad
weather conditions, " 35 saves lives ". Evidently, back in the first days of the automobile, 35 mph was the speed at
which a driver's reaction time was most comfortable. I have found over the years of driving all different types of vehicles
that this seems to be true. Proper tire tread is also a must in the winter. A minimun of 50 percent tread will help your
control much better. With many people having all-wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles, some believe that they
are immune to weather related accidents and can drive at the posted speed limit. Where these types of vehicles do
have much better " TRACTION ", they are almost worse types to be in an accident with. A normal two wheel drive
vehicle which goes into a skid on slippery roads will most likely end up stuck in the ditch. A vehicle with four wheel drive
will do exactly what you see in those famous subaru commercials, jump the snowbank and then continue on to find the
nearest tree. Of course, they are designed to go through the snow better, and they do, unfortunately at the wrong
time.
Remember, " 35 saves lives " The driver is suppose to be the one in control
11/22/11 penobscot-maine@ymail.com
FACEBOOK , When it comes to social networking, it's wise to put your best face forward. Facebook is the latest star
of the online social networking craze. Users post photos and information about themselves and connect with one
another through online profiles. The site was launched in 2004 by Harvard undergraduate Mark Zuckerberg (CEO) as
an online version of the Harvard Facebook. (The name comes from books of freshmen's faces, majors, and hometowns
that are distributed to students.) It began by connecting students, but later opened its service to the general public.
Ok, so what is it that facebook does that keeps people attached to their computers day by day, hour by hour, minuet
by minuet ? Online friends. Just the thought that one can snoop around, check up on the latest happenings, add a
little gossip, and unfortunately vent some anger that should be done, more or less face to face.
Facebook and other social media has caused headaches and anger throughout communities that were once closer
than most families. Once close friends have now become the enemy because of one simple comment that probably
was taken out of context. Some people using facebook do not understand that thousands of others can also read
comments added to their facebook page. Parents, Relatives, Co-Workers, Teachers, Employers, all these people and
more can read your comments posted on facebook 24 / 7. Facebook brings out the real YOU .
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