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Re:
It could be, TAPS. I believe it would certainly qualify . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 10, 2013 at 11:04 AM
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One of Murphy's Laws. 
posted by
TAPS.
on May 10, 2013 at 7:04 AM
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Re: JimmyA
Is that the problem, Bill? And how does one go about driving with the grain? I still say the Fates are usually against me when I'm running late . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 10, 2013 at 6:11 AM
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JimmyA
You’re driving against your own grain Jimmy. BC-A, Bill’s R®st
posted by
BC-A
on May 10, 2013 at 5:30 AM
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Re: influence of the Fates
See, MsJudy? Many of us notice and are aware of such things, but there never seems to be a clear-cut answer as to why! That's why I never take chances anymore, and when I'm calculating my travel times, I always try to factor in the lights. It's just a little easier to assume you're going to hit several red ones! Damn those Fates . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 10, 2013 at 4:59 AM
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influence of the Fates
Beats me, but you're right, it does always work that way!
posted by
MsJudy
on May 9, 2013 at 5:02 PM
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Re:
But what, lion, are those sensors measuring? The stress of the car, or the driver? If it's the approaching car, that's one thing. But if they were actually measuring people's stress levels, they would have burned out a long time ago . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:36 AM
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Re: I agree with Lustor
Another vote, Mia, for the "I've got to go to the bathroom, and I'm hitting every damned light" lament! Being somewhat late for an event or an appointment is one thing, but when Mother Nature calls, time is indeed a factor! And I think stating that one's "eyeballs are floating" may be a bit tamer than exclaiming that one has to "drain the lizard." I don't suppose you hear that one too often . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:34 AM
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Re:
So you like those "schools" too, huh adnohr? I guess it's safe to say that the "red light" situation is the same in the Great White North as it is down here in the states! Yeah, one mischievous god or the other probably has it in for us, especially when you are in a hurry . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:28 AM
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Re: JimmyA
I never do, Sir Wiley. And in this case, I'd be gambling with both my time, and the possibility of being late for something. Cushions, cushions . . . gotta give ourselves cushions! If I believe it might take me 15 minutes to get somewhere, but I know there are at least a half a dozen lights in between me and my destination, I will easily calculate in an extra 10 minutes, just in case! No gambling here . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:23 AM
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Re:
Oh I see, Annicita. The power of positive thinking, perhaps? It could work, but I think the forces that stack up against you over such things may be a bit more powerful! At least they seem to be when I'm on the road . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:19 AM
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Re:
I'm sorry to hear that, lovelylady. But then again, it's one of those life's little frustrations that perhaps you are better off not having to deal with! That, and putting yourself at risk each day of being crashed into by some idiot bullshitting on a cell phone! A topic for another day . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:17 AM
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Re:
That seems to be the case, lustor. And yes, I too have been in that "potty" situation many times myself! Your bathroom is calling, you're only a few miles from home, you only have two or three more lights to go through and . . . wham! . . . each one will turn red as you approach! Those "light gods," as Jeansaw calls them, are pretty nasty sometimes . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:15 AM
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Re:
You're lucky, FSI. There are a few main highways near me with no lights, but the bulk of the roadways around town are loaded with them! In fact, certain routes that I have to take, I know there at least a dozen, all seemingly timed to turn red when I approach them! Sometimes, when I'm calculating how long certain trips may take, I always have to factor in these lights! A half hour cushion is usually sufficient . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:11 AM
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Re: Jimmy
Those are the types of schools, Naut, that I like to attend! Both seem feasible, of course, but there may be one other "thought." What about Loki, the Norse god of mischief? Unlike Hermes, he's not necessarily put in a "bad mood" simply because of the rejection of some nymph! He'll simply screw with anyone, anytime, over anything, using his powers to drive us all crazy! Properly motivated, I can picture him watching carefully as I back my car out of my driveway, quickly ascertaining whether or not I am indeed in a hurry. Then I will most assuredly hit every red light along my route! Now, if Hermes and Loki ever teamed up, we would all be in very serious trouble . . . !
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:07 AM
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Re: Definition of 'traffic light"
Is that the definition, Ciel? Hmmm . . . you may be right. Rare is the time when I approach a traffic light and it stays green until I have gone though. Most of the time it will either turn red ( usually the norm ) or just turn yellow, forcing me to decide in a nano-second whether or not to hit the brakes, or gun it. However, with all of the surveillance cameras situated at the various lights, I usually hit the brakes! I'm not much of a risk-taker . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 7:00 AM
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I'm pretty sure they have stress sensors...
posted by
lionreign
on May 9, 2013 at 6:58 AM
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Re: jimmy
If there is, jean, I'd love to know what that lesson actually is! Patience? Better time management? Depending on the destination, event or occasion, of course I'd rather be early than late. But it seems as though that "light god" may be a bit of a trickster, and will continue to confound me no matter when I leave my house . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 9, 2013 at 6:56 AM
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I agree with Lustor
This always seems to happen when my eyeballs are floating (my dad's favourite way of saying he needs to pee...).
posted by
Mia890
on May 8, 2013 at 9:13 PM
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I'll go with Naut's reasoning. And his choice of options too.
posted by
adnohr
on May 8, 2013 at 8:21 PM
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JimmyA
They go red they go green so what's the mystery, in your case just don't gamble.
posted by
WileyJohn
on May 8, 2013 at 7:31 PM
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its your state of mind....when running late imagine yourself making every light instead of stopping at them
posted by
Annicita
on May 8, 2013 at 5:55 PM
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Search me, Jimmy! But then, I don't drive so I wouldn't know!
posted by
lovelyladymonk
on May 8, 2013 at 3:32 PM
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especially when you have to go potty that happens
Because the lights have speed times and if you are going to fast it triggers the timer, if you go the speed limit you will miss the lights or at a steady rate
posted by
Lanetay
on May 8, 2013 at 9:54 AM
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I have noticed that too
...Forutunately, there are few red lights during the different work commutes I take.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on May 8, 2013 at 9:28 AM
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Jimmy
There are two schools of thought!
One holds that Hermes, as we know the god responsible for all things traffic, is by nature subject to irrational whims. Mind you, some people think his moods depend on the success he’s having with the latest Nymph of his fancy – if she turned herself into tumble weed just before he caught up with her he tends to be very annoyed, and we all suffer...
The other school of thought suggests that we tend to notice red lights more when we’re in a hurry! That’s when they irritate us more than usual, which is also the occasion to think of the times, relatively infrequent, when we have ‘clear sailing’. And of course when we’re not in a hurry, red lights recede much more into the ‘normal environmental background’, and we don’t really notice, much less remember them...
I adhere to the Hermes school of thought...
posted by
Nautikos
on May 8, 2013 at 7:17 AM
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Definition of 'traffic light"
A green light which turns red when cars approach it.
posted by
Ciel
on May 8, 2013 at 7:14 AM
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jimmy
yes, that also happens to me, but if you are wondering why that is, maybe there is a light god teaching us a lesson?
posted by
jeansaw
on May 8, 2013 at 5:38 AM
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