My word, I just remembered an occasion some seventeen odd years ago. A man in a Moomin suit had done the 'Lie down on major motorway, get out of the way of traffic' dare. He had failed at the latter part, and had been killed. I remember it, for the newspapers ran the story (for it must have been a rather slow week), and one of them carried the bombastic head-line '
THE MOOMIN SUIT BECAME A DEATH TRAP', which sounded quite interesting. I thought, quite reasonably, that this meant there was a horrible, dangerous design flaw in some Moomin suits, and that some poor Finnish children's TV actor or somesuch had asphyxiated and died on set.
I did not expect it to be code for 'Man kills himself in exceedingly stupid way'.
Personally, I employ dominance stares whenever crossing an intersection on foot.
I tend to hurry along, and try to not hold up the traffic. Until they blare the horn or rush the engine as to hurry me up. Then, I slow down, look around me to take in the beautiful scenery, fish out my tobacco, light up and finally shamble out of the way. As it happens, when people in motor-cars rush me along, it feels as if all time and worry simply pours off my shoulders, and I have all the time in creation, and nothing is worth doing hastily. I particularly like to do so when there is someone elderly who is desperately moving full-steam to get out of the way of Mr. Late Lars's Ferrari.
I have been run over 4 times. Once I admit to being my fault (but in my defense, I was 4.) The other times? MORONS. MORONS ALL OVER.
That one time was actually serious (concussion and hospital stay)--- the others I got off with just bumps and bruising with some road rash. (And in one instance, a damaged bicycle wheel) Not the point though-- DUMBASSES in their fucking red sports cars high on their own damn testosterone, cant be arsed to STOP, LOOK, THEN TURN-- No, they have to just BLAST around that corner, for "Reasons."
But I digress.
That particular species is common here, as well. There is a nice, long, wide street at the end of which sits my house. Good, reliable old brick is the dominant material here. It is apprently quite irresistable to blast through at flank speed, and listen to that engine work, and make sure half of the parish does so too.
The Main Motherfouler in this particular case drives a yellow Lammbogini, rather than a red one, but the difference in colouring is also the main one. There is his (presumably) friend and fellow motor enthusiast, who drives what appears to be an Audi, painted in gold polish, so that it looks like it has been wrapped in golden fudge paper. It is ridiculous. He is a bit more careful, but nonetheless, one must be watchful when the motoring season comes.
The raggare, on the other hand. Oh! They come each summer, in their vintage, titanic American cars, and slowly rolls through the city, having a lovely time. I like them, for when they crawl down the road in their hulking cars, it stops the sports car Mr. Toad's Wild Ride re-enactors dead in their track. They behave in traffic, their cars looks pleasant, and they are having a wonderful time. It is a good day in spring, when one hears the old V8's come rumbling, accompanied by faint Rockabilly in the distance... It is like when the wagtails returns, and spring is, as they say, go.