I haven’t done one of these for awhile, but as I was driving back across town yesterday, all these little questions and observations were banging around in my head – much like a BB in a boxcar….if you can imagine.

It’s been a few hours since that time but let me see if I can remember at least some of my “random thoughts and comments.”

How Did We Ever Survive?

Maybe some of you readers are old enough to remember when cars were made with the dimmer switch on the floor board and you used your foot to switch your lights from low to high beam. Some brilliant “inventor” must have decided one day that the human being wasn’t capable of running three pedals AND a dimmer switch with two feet, so they moved it up to the steering column. Note: Three pedals would consist of accelerator, brake and clutch and some older cars had a starter pedal located usually to the right of the accelerator.

Two feet, back then operated 4 items, while the two hands had control over the steering, a horn, a directional turning signal (depending on the age of the car or truck), shifting lever for the transmission, perhaps a radio, windshield wipers, heater controls and hopefully there were not a lot of other “extracurricular” activities taking place up front or in the back.

So, the super intelligent person moved the damned dimmer switch up to the steering column and today two feet control one gas pedal and one brake (most all cars are automatic transmissions now.) With two feet, having little to do really, the two hands are overtaxed and by God it’s nothing short of a miracle that more people aren’t injured or killed each day.

Two hands take care of the steering wheel, the horn, the automatic transmission shift, the directional indicator light switch, the cruise control, the window wipers and washers, the radio, the heat, the AC, the CD player, the DVD player, all the windows and door locks, seat heaters, GPS, computer (for some), and let’s toss in a dog sitting on one’s lap as well, and by God let’s not leave out that wonderful piece of machinery that has done more to destroy the American society than anything so far in history – the almighty cellphone. Ah, yes. The cellphone.

When you watch people drive while on the highway or driving through city traffic, seldom is there a driver not driving with a cellphone, seemingly permanently attached to an ear. One hand on the steering wheel and the other on the phone while all them other devices get overlooked……including the three or more rear view mirrors.

Not only is the driver severely distracted by the cellphone, but it completely ties up the use of one hand; a hand that is needed to properly control the all important function of operating a deadly instrument. If you unfortunately get hit by a distracted driver, you can contact a buffalo car accident lawyer for legal help.

The cellphone has taken over life in America and certain other places worldwide. Watch people as they go about their day to day. All are consumed by the device. It has turned us into non thinking idiots who have no interpersonal communication skills outside of a cellphone and texting on the cellphone. The world is passing us by.

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, on the weekend I was leaving home. Across the street from where I live, there is a small farm that raises a few beef critters, alpacas, hens and roosters (and they sell eggs). In addition they board horses. As I passed the access area to the pasture and small hovel where the horses hang out, I noticed a young woman in her riding gear and perched atop a horse that was walking in large circles. The rider was busy texting on her cellphone.

Is That the Reason?

Is it a mere coincidence that since John Kerry and Chuck Hagel took over as Sec. of State and Sec. of Defense respectively, things have heated up in Syria, North Korea is threatening to nuke the world, Israel is more determined than ever to blow up Iran, Iran is more determined than ever to wipe Israel off the face of the earth and on and on it goes?

Those Damned Executive Orders

I’ve been reading a bit lately that some believe that there exists, at least one or more person’s interpretation of law, the provision for the president to sign a treaty and then use his executive powers to enact such a treaty even if the U.S. Senate fails to ratify the treaty.

Now, how important are those executive orders presidents have been using for decades?

The Constitution says all treaties become the supreme law of the land. It also says that those treaties must be ratified by the Senate. So much for following the Constitution.

Where’s the Beef?

If Philadelphia doctor Kermit Gosnell had used a gun to murder all those new-born babies, would there have been a different response from the media?

Change of Priorities

Many cities and states across the U.S. are banking on increased “tourism” due to the legalization of same sex marriages and mind altering drugs. Think about that for a minute.