As previously reported on this website, I was expecting to punch another notch in my hot dog belt this weekend with Louisiana during a trip for a friend’s wedding. With the impeding hurricane (more directly, the evacuation orders), Vanessa and I opted to cancel the trip.
I was very sadden to miss the wedding, but safety first.
As a follow-up to my near home arrest, I am now trapped at work. Currently, there is a Nike 10K that is being ran by individuals across the world at the same time. In Austin, the running route has MLK, Guadalupe, Red River and Dean Keeton closed in various forms around campus with through traffic, apparently, not being allowed to cross those streets.
Anyone familiar with the campus area will quickly realize that anyone with a car on campus won’t be able to get out until the road closures are ended. I’m at work (on campus) now, but not leaving anytime soon.
I was driving home today on Congress, turning right to a side street, when a person on a skateboard rode out in front of me. I honked and him, and he yelled profanely back that he was at a crosswalk.
For those unaware, it is illegal to ride a skateboard on the sidewalk on Congress Ave between the river and the Capitol, on 6th between 700 East 6th and 1200 West 6th, and on Guadalupe between MLK and 29th street.
I probably shouldn’t have honked, but he shouldn’t yell at me when he’s the one actually illegally.
Today I would like to propose another prayer intention, given the news we receive, especially during this period, of numerous road accidents. We must not get used to this sad reality! Human life is too precious and it is too unworthy of man to meet death or become an invalid due to causes that could mostly be avoided. There is certainly a need for a greater sense of responsibility, above all by drivers, as accidents are often caused by excessive speed and imprudent conduct. Driving on public roads calls for moral and civic sense. Indispensable to fostering this is authorities’ constant endeavor to prevent, keep watch and restrict. Moreover, as the Church, we feel directly involved at the ethical level: Christians must above all make a personal examination of conscience on their own conduct as drivers; moreover, communities should educate everyone to consider traffic as a field in which life must be protected and love of neighbor concretely exercised.
–Pope Benedict XVI, Sunday, August 17th during his weekly Angelus reflection
