THE BEST

Nature is the finest art.

Quiet is the nicest music.

c. 2013 Fred J. Scheyd

TRAFFIC CAMERAS

The following is a response I wrote to an article in the New Orleans Times Picayune about traffic cameras in the city:

I drive for work throughout the city and southern region almost 40 hours per week. I am no great fan of these traffic cameras. I do know this: If you REALLY want to save lives put those cameras on the interstates and highways every few miles. Catch and penalize -- and perhaps take away the driver's license of -- speeders and tailgaters. I fear for my life every day on the road and I thank my guardian angel for protecting me yet again when I make it home safely. It saddens me when I pass the hundreds of roadside memorials along my route. Many, many, many people flirt with death for themselves and innocent others when they speed and tailgate. I guess they assume nothing could possibly go wrong. They are WRONG! Everything can and does go wrong in a split instant and they leave no room -- no margin -- for error. I say penalize them all. Take them all off the road. Save lives. Not pretend, but REALLY! 

FJS

SMART ADVICE

If you're like me and so much of the rest of our hi-tech society, you probably own a cellphone. And that cellphone probably holds phone numbers of the important people in your life -- family, friends, work, corporations, organizations. And you probably pull up whoever you want to call, push a button and the call goes through. And you likely have NO IDEA of the SPECIFIC TELEPHONE DIGITS that you just dialed.

You likely have very few actual telephone numbers -- as they used to say -- memorized. You likely know very few telephone numbers, if any, -- as they used to say -- by heart. You would be ABSOLUTELY LOST or VERY NEARLY LOST without your smart phone doing all the hard work   -- knowing all of the specific telephone digits for you to make contact with the important people in your life.

If your smart phone suddenly went stupid, you likely would be LOST! You likely wouldn't have a clue about how to contact your closest contacts. You have GOT! to be SMARTER! than your smart phone -- because one day your smart phone may go -- WILL GO! -- DUMB!

STOP! That's exactly right! STOP! STOP! whatever you are doing this very minute, take out your cellphone, pull up the important numbers and write -- that's RIGHT! -- WRITE! -- you know, PEN AND PAPER! -- those important numbers down. CARRY the most important numbers on an index card in your wallet or purse. Type ALL of your cellphone numbers into a computer file. PRINT that file and keep a copy in your dresser drawer or at your office desk. Review and UPDATE your phone numbers list frequently.

BE SMARTER THAN THE SMARTEST SMART PHONE! YES YOU CAN!

Respectfully,

FJS

PEACE

IF PEACE ON EARTH
IS BUT A PASSING DREAM,

WE CONDEMN OURSELVES
TO LIVE AN ETERNAL NIGHTMARE.

c. 2011 Fred J. Scheyd

IF WE DO NOT LIVE IN PEACE,
WE HAVE ALREADY DIED.

c. 2011 Fred J. Scheyd

IF I COULD CHOOSE

IF I COULD CHOOSE

ONE PLACE TO BE,

ONE PLACE TO SPEND

ETERNITY,

I'D CHOOSE THE CROSS,

THE FOOT OF CHRIST

THE LORD MY GOD,

MY GOD,

THE DAY HE DIED.

Sincerely,

FJS

BLOGGING SECRET WEAPON

I happened to catch a brief clip of biography when actor Steve Allen died a while back. Mr. Allen wrote many -- MANY -- books during his lifetime. He said the secret to his writing so much was that he carried a small TAPE RECORDER with him everywhere he went, readily available to capture his passing thoughts which then more easily developed into his books.

THANK YOU, Mr. Steve Allen, for this invaluable jewel of information and advice. I am indebted to you and I am certain you don't mind that I share this wisdom with the blogosphere. God Bless to you, Sir.

Sincerely,
FJS