You might be a Roadneck if …

1. You think “Merge” means everyone else has to move into your lane - which is ending. Don’t try to outrace me. My truck is bigger than your car. I will cut you off.
2. You think it’s fun to drive under the speed limit on a 2-lane road during rush hour. The least you could do is pop in a DVD in that mobile entertainment center for me (in the car behind you) to watch. And that doesn’t mean the kiddies’ Sesame Street, either.
3. You insist on illegally turning where it’s plainly marked “No left turn.” The chorus of angry cars backed up behind you are not singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fella.” Go directly to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
4. You ride the dotted white line forcing me into the potential path of oncoming traffic as I go by you in my lane. Remember when you were a kid and your big brother said if you crossed the line he’d beat you up? Here comes big brother now. Better get back in your lane.
5. You think your car is an office on wheels. Unless it’s big and black and property of the U.S. President, it’s not. Put away the phone, the computer, the dictating recorders. And pay attention to the road, dammit.

And last, but not least … (NOT, I repeat NOT office-friendly and some may find offensive, but funny as hell): Conquering the Road.

Ed. note: I came across this posted on Fox News earlier today and, while I don’t subscribe to the beliefs of Fox News, totally agree with the author’s sentiments. While the VT massacre was the worst of its kind in history, overshadowed - daily - is the loss of our servicemen and women who are fighting to maintain the freedoms we, as Americans, enjoy every day. I concur that something should be done to honor our fallen husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, and children - family and friends. Their lives were just as significant as any other’s!

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The following text is an article that was briefly posted and then taken down from Department of Defense Web sites:

Why don’t we honor our fallen servicemembers?

By Army Sgt. Jim Wilt (Combined Joint Task Force-82 Public Affairs Office)

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Following the deaths of 32 Virginia Tech students, the President of the United States ordered that all American flags be flown at half-staff for one week.

In accordance with the president’s order, the U.S. flag at Bagram Airfield was raised to half-staff.

The deaths of the 32 students are a tragedy that was felt throughout the world. Even Afghan President Hamid Karazi gave his condolences to the U.S. on the loss of so many young lives. The president of a country, which has seen more than its fair share of young deaths, tipped his proverbial hat to these young people.

But I find it ironic that the flags were flown at half-staff for the young men and women who were killed at VT yet it is never lowered for the death of a U.S. servicemember.

(I condition that the following are my personal sentiments as they relate to current events.)

I’m a mother. My son is 16. In a couple of years, he may be put in a position of mandatory draft and military service. That doesn’t bode well with me, considering the current state of affairs globally. Even moreso when considering most of the kids don’t understand/support the rationale for this war. Deja vu.

Based on information available to me, the war in Iraq has no foreseeable and/or favorable conclusion. Hope for the eminent withdrawal of U.S. forces is no longer a vision and, instead, Bush has called for increased involvement including the deployment of tens of thousands more soldiers. (Soldiers currently over in the Iraqi area have been informed their tours may be extended.) Congress isn’t supporting this initiative, and Bush’s own advisors - including current and retired generals, are not favorable of this either.

For all of the missions (related to this war effort) carried out by our military, to the everyday citizen, it appears we’re no longer making significant progress, just regressing. The ‘democratic’ elections anxiously anticipated, planned and carried out last summer in Iraq have not provided a sense of calm and/or balance within a country ravaged by divide.

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Iraqi forces trained by the U.S. have become infiltrated with enemies, creating in-fighting. Who’s on our side? It’s hard to say anymore. Every day, we hear more and more reports of bombings, and stepped-up brazen attacks. Casualty and death toll statistics are staggering, while overall support for the war effort is diminishing.

Despite this (and although I’ve lost the optimistic hope that the U.S. involvement will soon be relieved), I will continue to support my soldiers and thank them for all they do to protect our interests. But I have to wonder, can the U.S. ever escape the vacuum we were sucked into in the first place? Is this the prize garnered for our righteousness and arrogance as a world leader?

Back in early 2000, some friends and myself tasked each other to come up with a creative and artistic rendering of what the new millennium meant to us.