January 7, 2008 - 8:50pm | MeganLarson

Unintentional

is what I meant. Correcting my own writing....

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  January 7, 2008 - 8:40pm | Stumpy1

Megan

First, thanks for your honesty.

Here's a story about my drive home, tonight.

I am sitting at an intersection in the left hand turn lane. The light signals green for left hand turns. Great, only one car is in front of me.

Why isn't this gal going? The light is green. Now one of the reasons I love Alaskans is that we are not like New Yorkers where the second someone offends us we lay on the horn.

So why wasn't the gal in front of me turning? Well she was engrossed in her cell phone conversation.

When she finally gets a clue that she has had a green turn arrow for about 20 seconds, she begins her turn.

Just in time for the light to turn yellow.

The rest of us had to sit there waiting for the light to change again.

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  January 7, 2008 - 9:14pm | TheSdog

Stumpy

One thing I learned in Massachusettes in med school is do not be afraid to use that horn.

The only place you need to be careful with the horn is Hawaii from what I have read.

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  January 8, 2008 - 9:01am | MeganLarson

Horn

Sometimes I might "tap" the horn if the light changed and it's been a couple of seconds and I can tell the driver is otherwise engaged and is not aware of the light changing. But I wouldn't blare my horn unless someone was going to crash into me or was being incredibly dangerous or rude--it's like yelling.

The person whose lane I was in going the wrong way yesterday didn't even blare his horn at me. He just let me reverse out of his way. We are definitely more laid back up here.

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  January 7, 2008 - 10:32pm | Stumpy1

East versus West

If you use the horn in Hawaii, it better be for a good reason- to prevent/avoid an accident. Or to get a friend's attention so you can wave. (As long as one is not in traffic).

They are even more laid back than Alaskans. Must be the weather.

But, ohh, those people on the East coast. They are possessed.

I can see why you moved here.

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  January 7, 2008 - 10:38pm | TheSdog

It comes with crowds

There is a rule in Boston driving. Whoever gets to point A second was the opne at fault. You want a reason to not install roundabouts just take a drive down route 5 in Springfield, MA sometime.

When I grew up in San Diego, drivers were laid back. As it has grown and traffic has become a nightmare it is now almost as bad as Boston on the streets.

Drivers up here are clueless. I just love it when I see the SUV with studded tires in the ditch. They also cry about traffic which in most places would not bother anybody. Lake Otis and Tudor would hardly be a concern in most places.

Regardless, cell phones should not be used while driving in any of these places.

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  January 7, 2008 - 11:25pm | Stumpy1

Dog

True, cell phones should not be used while driving. Pixie does not agree. I wonder if she would draw the line at breast feeding while driving?

Might be sort of distracting for the male drivers...

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  January 13, 2008 - 4:08pm | MeganLarson

Activities while driving

The only thing we should do while driving is focus on driving. It's so hard to resist answering the phone or changing the radio station or checking your makeup. Well, maybe Stumpy doesn't have to worry about that...I'm pretty sure Stumpy's a guy, and not the makeup wearing type.

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  January 13, 2008 - 5:47pm | akmooster

When you see an inattentive driver...

on a cell phone, don't call the cops! You'll triple the number of dangerous drivers.
First it was just the one, then you picked up your phone to report it and then a cop, who is on his cell phone chatting, gets an email on his laptop telling him to go check it out.
It's not funny. I pulled beside a cop the other day and he was driving down the street reading his computer and talking on his cell.
I grabbed my cell and took his picture and we almost wrecked, well I could have.

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  January 7, 2008 - 6:07pm | rfn

Good Lord!

While it's good to hear you weren't injured, one wonders what you might have been thinking! I mean, slowing down like that puts you at risk, in Seattle-North, for becoming a homicide statistic!

NOT a good way to start the New Year!

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  January 7, 2008 - 11:00am | TheSdog

Lawyers

are the problem here.

There are not signs everywhere telling people to use their signals for turns or lane changes either.

The law may say the signs have to be put up. However, this is a classic example of an attorney playing games for attention. I am sure there is likely a clause in here to get more than just the money back as well. In the end if this clown wins, the only winner will be the lawyers.

This lawyer speciallizes in "police misconduct." That is just great. I suppose if the glove doesn't fit, you must aquit. Oh wait, you are the same one who was claiming OJ was innocent on here, are you not? Boy are we safer with you around.

I might point out as well the argument here is that the law was not enacted properly. It does not call the law unconstitutional or illegal. That is because it is not.

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  January 7, 2008 - 11:17am | pixieteeth

Life

Is not a safety pen. I'm sorry. However, we can enjoy all of our constitutional freedoms until and unless autocrats choose to mangle the constitutional rights of the US and Alaska with impunity.

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  January 7, 2008 - 11:19am | TheSdog

Pixie

Be as unsafe as you want.

However, once your behavior starts to threaten my safety we have a problem.

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  January 7, 2008 - 12:05pm | pixieteeth

When your autocratic desires

cause me a problem then we have a problem. I have the right to constitutional right of speech. Your bullying tactics and worry about "safety" (what a handy catch all) notwithstanding. Furthermore, I feel unease at the number of people driving with high blood pressure. They are putting us all at risk. If people with high blood pressure are not being treated then they should have their ADL revoked. If they cannot control their high blood pressure how can they control a 3000 lb vehicle. They are putting me more at risk than cell phone drivers.

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  January 7, 2008 - 1:41pm | TheSdog

Pixie

There are medical conditions which do prohibit you from driving such as blindness and uncontrolled seizure orders. If you knew anything about hypertension you woulkd realize most people do not even know they have it.

You can also lose your license for excessive tickets which is an indication of unsafe practices.

You want to continue to make ridiculous statements about high heels and hypertension. It seems you are advocating no restrictions on who can drive and what activities they can be involved in while driving.

And yet you advocate drunk driving laws, driver's licenses, red lights, stop signs, etc. It appears you truly are not free when you drive with all those darn laws.

Welcome to society where you are free but that does not give you the right to do whatever you want. You have to respect your fellow man and that is what this law is about.

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  January 7, 2008 - 1:51pm | pixieteeth

No,

The blood pressure types get all frightened when driving and they could hurt themselves if they see someone with a cell phone in use. Are they taking their medication? We need to know. Also, testosterone poisoning. The individuals with this ailment pose a great danger to my safety on the road and your safety as well. Don't you truley care about safety on the roads? Or do you just care about jamming your cell phone agenda down my and others throats?

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  January 7, 2008 - 5:47pm | MeganLarson

Pixie

You completely ignored everything Sdog said and continued on with your line of thinking. You're taking it to the silly, inane, and extreme. Try another arguement because this one's not working.

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  January 8, 2008 - 8:32am | pixieteeth

Megan taint dextrous

therefore, she assumes, ignorantly, that everyone else is equally limited. Megan is an airhead with jarhead aspirations. Nonetheless, she engages in formal fallacies in her "thinking". Fallacy of false cause, because she sneezes she believes this causes her cell phone to ring; she believes that her airhead limitations distribute over the entire population. She should honor her own limitations; however, she in typical republican thug-like mentality aspires to limit everyone else to exactly her own personal limitations by encoded law. Furthermore, she believes as a republican that she is a supervoter therefore a supercitizen relative to the others; the serfs - you and I. Further, I believe she believes sincerely and completely in empire building that's why exactly she lives here in Alaska. Her gender and age make no difference. Her personality traits are those of Henry VIII; she thinks Alaska is ripe for empire building and power mongering vis-a-vis the removal of cell phones from the populace. She doesn't impress me a bit.

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  January 8, 2008 - 12:22pm | rfn

On cell phone removal:

Some among us would need surgery in order to put away their cell phones.

Surgical removal of the device that has put roots down into the ear canal and sucked the life out of what used to be the "thinking" part of their brain. In extreme cases, even some teeth may have become involved; often the first indication of the extent of the problem.

Such operations are best performed without anaestesia. In this way the patient remembers, a tad longer, not to risk re-infection.

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  January 7, 2008 - 6:06pm | AK_Lady

Hey ML

Pixie is driven, huh?

Look at this. The new plate wouldn't clash. I wonder if it has Bluetooth? I have some 4" heels in the garage somewhere, what size do you wear? ;)

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  January 7, 2008 - 6:17pm | MeganLarson

I love it!

I just won't use my cell phone while driving it.

Size 8 shoes.

I'm sure we'd turn heads driving around town in that beauty in our 4 inch heels with the new license plate and the driver's cell phone safely stowed, because it's dangerous to dial and drive! Remember, I have dibbs on summer! ;)

I wonder if it comes with BlondeStar?

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  January 8, 2008 - 8:18am | pixieteeth

Megan got run over by a reindeer

literally, on television. Did you see it? Remember? This? is the person who is going to determine what communication gear Alaskans can travel with?

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  January 8, 2008 - 1:26pm | AK_Lady

.

No, that was Meghan Stapleton. I wish she'd go back to work for KTUU since she quit working for the guv. She was a good reporter and news anchor.

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  January 8, 2008 - 2:26pm | pixieteeth

Ipps

Well, we need to keep the freedoms to speak even in our vehicles no matter who the Megans du jour happen to be. OK everybody. May all your dreams come true. Including the freedom to speak or bark on cell phones in Alaska. Have a pleasant day. Sorry, Megan, I was using you as a sounding board and a plank to rail against in the imaginary argument with the "republicans" in my mind... (I trust you understand...fully...)

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  January 8, 2008 - 10:01pm | MeganLarson

That's okay

No worries. It was an imaginary argument, as you said. Quite fitting for a pixie. :) I really like pixies; I even have Tinkerbell on my purse. The one that holds my cell phone.

There was no danger on the road from Megan Larson today: I didn't dial and drive! There was enough to focus on with the snow, huh?

Lady, let's make sure it's a convertable but with a great heater for days like this.

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  January 8, 2008 - 10:41pm | pixieteeth

X-lint

Thanks. I'm driving very carefully. It's so darned slippery. It was a luminous, and imaginative argument. All's well that ends...cheerfully. Mahlo for your patience...:)

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  January 9, 2008 - 8:06am | MeganLarson

Safe

I'm glad you're driving safely. Mahalo! :)

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  January 5, 2008 - 5:29pm | anthonylemons_blogspot_com

Another positive comment, directed towards me.

How nice of you to mention that I have a blog so that everyone may visit. Thank you for advertising for me. Blog name? Oh, its called 'Wake up U.S.'
By the way, what is reason 1,999,458? Thanks.

Back on topic:
1. Does a cell phone law violate the dormant commerce clause?
2. Does the Statute infringe on freedom of speech?
3. Does the Statute violate equal protection of the laws?
4. Does the Statute violate substantive due process?

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  January 5, 2008 - 5:31pm | anthonylemons_blogspot_com

How was it off topic?

Isn't this the cell phone ban thread? For all who did not get a chance to read the comment; it was a court case in New York involving the cell phone ban there. It was an on topic comment, but I believe that the moderator simply thought that it was too long. Anyway, a cell phone ban in cars is not the way to go.

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  January 6, 2008 - 5:08am | celtic_diva_ak

You failed to mention...

...that you basically cut and paste the entire decision - about a mile's worth of text.

Gee...I wonder why it was removed...

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  January 6, 2008 - 12:57pm | AK_Lady

Ha!

Since when is that a problem? Stumpy & Co do that all the time!

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  January 6, 2008 - 3:29pm | inawe1

Personally,

I enjoy and appreciate anthoneys postings and I am learning alot reading them. I also enjoy reading the reactions to his posts. I get to mull it all over myself using both sides to come to my own opinions.
I think I am becoming an addict, to blogs. Is there a meeting for that? :)
Got the addict thing from pitter patter, thought it was funny and oh so true.
Keep on posting guys I love to learn.

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  January 6, 2008 - 4:02pm | anthonylemons_blogspot_com

Thank you so much...

your comment really made me feel good for actually caring about OUR rights. Some people think attacking me personally creates a constructive debate. Thanks again.

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  January 6, 2008 - 6:38pm | bebob

Anthony. it really was a

Anthony. it really was a long piece. perhaps a quick ref to where it is on your website. would speed things along and you may not get flaged.....just a thot

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  January 6, 2008 - 6:47pm | AK_Lady

Puhleeze

There have been many "novels" posted on this blog. anthonylemons' post was actually shorter than others I've seen.

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  January 7, 2008 - 11:31am | bebob

lady

it was just a suggestion. :)

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  January 6, 2008 - 7:56pm | anthonylemons_blogspot_com

Thank you for pointing that out...

the difference between my postings and some others is that mine are for the good of ALL Alaskans, not just a party or group. I look out for us all and don't follow an agenda. Once again, thank you to those who also care for our Constitutional Rights, and their protection.

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  January 7, 2008 - 1:42pm | TheSdog

The good of all Alaskans

except the ones injured in accidents because someone was using a cell phone while driving.

And yes Anthony it has happened. I have seen it.

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  January 7, 2008 - 5:33pm | anthonylemons_blogspot_com

Everything happens.

Its called life. Accidents occur all of the time with all sorts of reasons that contribute to them. I can go on and on with different reasons why accidents happen, but we all know this already, and to pass off cell phones as being some leader in distractions is not only misleading, but screams; "the sky is falling...".

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  January 5, 2008 - 1:21pm | Stumpy1

Four hours of TV a day is not enough

I guess the new cell phones will also have TVs built into them. Drivers could then talk with their friends, send emails, and watch TV all at the same time.

Oh yeah, and drive too.

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