Older And Wiser

What's the deal with motorcycles that zoom so fast between the lanes of parked cars?   They always approach loud and fast, and I'm like-- whoa buddy--- you're gonna whack somebody!   One big rear view mirror and we're all parked there for an hour while the EMTs pick him up off the road.   They call this "lane-splitting" when traffic is moving, and "filtering" when traffic is stopped.   It's totally legal in the U-S and some argue it keeps traffic flow moving and reduces rear end collisions.  

It's 2017.  Why do we still struggle with telemarketers?   I get about 6 unsolicited calls per day, half of which don't even respond when I pick up the phone.   The other half say "hello?" ten seconds after I say hello.   (I always wait for them to say hello before I hang up-- so they can hear me slam the receiver down.)   This gripe is so old and tired that some people just give up and yank out their landlines.   C'mon America.  This mess should have been fixed long ago.   Even when registered with the government's "donotcall.gov" list- we still get the calls.   And does any doofus ever actually BUY something from a telemarketer?  Apparently so.  If you're that dumb, you really do need federal protection for your own safety!

I used to love the phone book, I really did.  I'll even admit to looking myself up just to see my name in print.   The phone books used to be something that were delivered to my door... reverently... by the phone company.    I remember vowing to keep this one nice and clean...  no scribbling... no dog-eared pages-- but they were always abused.    We actually USED the phone book back then--daily.    But c'mon people.    It's 2017, and phone books have got to go.    Today they arrive on my porch like so much junk mail.   They are as welcome as a deposit from my neighbor's dog.   Today, phone books are... in a word... trash.    We have computers and smart phones now, so let's save the trees.  Am I right?