Car Crash?

This weekend I read an article titled “5 signs you've been in a staged car crash” by Barbara Marquand. This article was published on Insure.com on December 12, but I found it on Yahoo News. The article was about staged car crashes and how to notice them. The article says that fake car crashes occur all across the U.S. and that the purpose for them is to get insurance money from car companies.

                I think that Barbara was genuinely trying to help the people who get in staged car crashes and I admire that she is trying to warn the public about this kind of threat. However, I can see people viewing this article as a guide on how to perform a staged car crash, even though I know that that wasn’t the intention.  When Barbara is describing the many ways that people have been taken by a staged car crash at an intersection, it could be seen as a guide to fake car crashes at intersections and when she is describing the signs of a staged car crash the signs could be seen as an inventory list.

                 This just goes to show that you should be careful who you say things to and when. I could be telling a police officer to be careful when someone is shooting armor piercing bullets and then all next week gangs would be stocking up on armor piercing bullets. I could be telling a child not to play with fire because they could get hurt and another kid would start making bonfires in his backyard. I could be telling somebody how to prepare for a staged car crash and then the amount of staged car crashes in Texas could go up 50%, or in New York, or all across the U.S.

                Then again, I’m just a high school student who has no knowledge of legal affairs so you can choose to ignore me if you wish.    

                My advice is if you are in a car crash the first and probably the only people you should be talking to are the police and your own family. Don’t take any advice from people that you don’t know about where to go and who to visit, especially if they’re the ones who ran into your car. If you want to be extremely safe then don’t drive a car and take a bus or taxis or space ship or teleporter or camel or some form of transportation that is not insured.

Snow Day. Gift or Problem?

This weekend I read an article on Yahoo news titled “Cold-snap stories: From frozen Vegas to the frigid Midwest, residents commiserate” by Jim Skillern. This article was published on 12/5/13 telling of some interesting weather stories. Apparently, not only Texas is experiencing cold weather this weekend. There have been stories of heavy snow, freezing rain, slick roads, and abnormally cold weather from places as far west as California to Oklahoma.

This article gives me some very mixed emotions about this winter storm. At first when I heard that there would be snow and a day off of school I was jumping for joy. Then, I remembered all of the assignments I had to do and I lost some of my steam power. Now the winter storm that I was hoping would give me that winter wonderland feeling has killed 5 people in Minnesota since Monday. I’m still going to look at this storm from the bright side, but anyone who is experiencing this weather should be careful.     

To anyone ages 5-15, don’t throw snowballs before checking for rocks first and wear as many layers as possible to keep you warm without suffocating yourself. Don’t build any snowmen, as soon as you give them a hat it’s like they come alive. Snow angels are fun, but I personally enjoy snowball fights. If you are a person for staying inside where it warm and dry then have fun with that.

Anyone who owns a car should either purchase snow tires or chains or stay off the road and stay home. If you can’t work from home, then this would be a good day to call in sick. If the power goes out at home then find a generator or build a fire. If the power doesn’t go out buy some hot cocoa and little marshmallows and relax. Ensure that if a power line snaps and falls in your yard not to touch the snow, ice may be frozen water but, it’s still a conductor of electricity. Last time there was snow in Texas a power line fell in our yard. I’m glad that my parents handled that because I would have just stayed inside and looked at it until the snow melted.

This is all the information I have on winter storms and if this information was unhelpful, I apologize, but in my defense I was raised in Texas and snow safety information isn’t really a necessity down here. Either way, enjoy the snow, have fun, and give Jack Frost my regards.