On Technology and Our Automobiles

            Fred and I bought some new wheels last year.

            We like the car. It drives well. It fulfills its purpose.

            But, in many ways, it's still a mystery to both of us!

             It's full of gadgets. And most of all those do-dads are impossible to operate! They certainly were not required by Fred and me.  Our obvious conclusion is that technology has finally superseded its efficiency .

            "Why do you say such a thing, Annie?" you ask.

            "We are not driving a car. We are operating a dang mobile computer. The ONLY thing it doesn't do is fly".

             While on our way to the movies recently with another couple, we tried to turn on the rear air for them. While fiddling with every control and touch activation possible, we succeeded in activating the back seat heat air, full blast. They sweltered while we fumbled with every control imaginable to turn off their heat and switch it to cool air. We punched and poked until, magically, the air came on! But we didn't know what we did!

            Not funny!

            Don't tell me we could have checked the "manual" either. That book is totally useless. It has to have been written by someone whose primary language is NOT English. Ambiguity flourishes in that book. The table of contents doesn't even make sense.

            Here are some of the problems we encounter daily.

             Sometimes the vehicle beeps mysteriously when we get out. Sometimes it beeps twice. We have no idea what's going on. Often, I return to the car, restart it, and then turn it off AGAIN. We do know that it is trying to tell us something….

            This vehicle beeps if we do anything, right or wrong. Fred opens a door and the car dings, and the dash says, "Door ajar". Fred yells. I won't tell you what he says!

             We are continually warned not to text and drive. When we text, we take our eyes off the road, right? The trouble is, we cannot operate ANY extra features on this car without taking our eyes off of the road for a LONG time.

            Sometimes we have to pull over.

            The radio? How we long for knobs; volume knobs, on and off knobs, station  and changing knobs. Alas, they are no more. We must scan for a station…and if the signal is not a pre-set station, then heaven forbid, the scan won't easily find another.

            Some of the controls work with the thumbs on the wheel. The cruise control, the up and down speed…pretty cool. I got that.

            The left hand controls are well, let's say, unattainable. While speeding down the highway at 66-70 miles per hour, I might glance at the choices; Display Mode, Trip 1, Trip 2, Fuel Economy, Driver Assist, (Traction Control, Rear parking, Trailer Sway) Setting, (DTE calculation), Easy entry controls, lighting, locks, auto lock)..

            Yikes. And as for the right hand controls?

            So, when possible, we refer to the easy, simple, nothing-to-it, manual.

            The Audio System section which explains how to work just the AM-FM is 16 pages long. I kid you not.

            The SYNC chapter which dovetails into the details on how to use all the bells and whistles is 123 pages long.

             Page 402 shows a highlighted area which says this: Warning. Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control, crash, and injury. We strongly recommend that you use extreme caution when using any device while taking your focus off the road, etc. " No kidding!!

            Fred says, " Oh what I would give for my 56 Packard!"

            No wonder guys flock to the car shows' displays of the older cars. Those were the days, my friends!

           

Advice to the Graduate

             Pom, pom pom pom, pooooom, poooom" (That's "Pomp and Circumstance" )In Kansas, schools and universities are either preparing for graduation or conducting graduation exercises this month. And the public school kids (of all ages) are now chanting, "School's out, school's out, teacher let the fools out!"

            So, in keeping with the tradition of the many speeches, passing on knowledge and wisdom, instruction and warning to our graduating Seniors, I will proceed as well.          

            Here is MY advice to you new graduates.

            1. Whatever you do, continue to pursue some kind of education. Learn a trade. You will have to support yourself at some point. SO, select a profession or trade that society really needs. Don't waste your money or your parents' funds pursuing some useless occupation that doesn't really exist.  Consider studying or doing apprentice work to become a plumber, an electrician, a teacher, a beautician, an engineer, a social worker, a scientist, a nurse, or any medical occupation.

            If you have the opportunity and love of farming, wonderful! Get more training. If you can build houses, learn the finer points. You get the drift. Always improve.

            Making a lot of money is not the answer to happiness. Choose a profession or trade that YOU like and enjoy doing..

            2. Fred's expression is this: "If you are going to walk in the chicken yard, you will get manure on your feet". Choose your friends carefully.  Think before you act. Don't let your friends' choices pull you down; allow your choices to pull them up. College is the "perfect storm" for doing hair brained things. Respect yourself and respect others.

            3. Say Please, Thank you, Excuse me, and Yes Sir. Good manners make a way for you with professors, counselors, family, and friends. Step up a level higher. Say what you mean and mean what you say. You are an adult now.

            4. Remember, you are responsible for you. You can not blame your parents, your friends,or your situations for who you are and where you are headed. You are the final authority, and you can do whatever you set your mind to do. No one can stop you but YOU.

            "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go" (Dr. Seuss).

            5. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time. If you make a mistake and find yourself in a hole, then stop digging!  Everyone makes mistakes. The courage comes in correcting them.

            6. And last, live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.  These are all tips that if followed, will direct every other decision in your life with success and well being.

            What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

            Good luck, and may you be successful in all that you pursue.

On A Pot of Boiling Water

            Do you remember hearing the story of the frog in the pot of boiling water? The frog is placed in the water over the heat. The frog is alive. The heat gradually, ever so gradually, begins to heat, and as the heat increases, the frog adapts to the increasing temperature. He doesn't notice.

            Soon the water is boiling. The frog notices then, but it is too late. The frog is boiling and he dies.

            Boy, that's an encouraging little story, right? Not.

            It seems to be an appropriate story for the condition of our country. We are the frogs in the water. The heat is increasing.

            More riots. More destruction. More devastation of lives.

            But that's not all…as if that weren't enough!

            Drought, pestilence, diseases like measles popping up all over the place, earthquakes, economic instability. There are threats from all types of radical extremist groups as well.  Mix in the Boston Marathon bombing with the threats and presence of radical cell groups throughout the nation, and it appears that we are in "hot water".

            "Oh, these things have always gone on," you might say.

            No. Never like this that I can remember; never with all kinds of things happening at the same time.

            The water has been heating for some time. And dear readers, we are in trouble.

             Let's look in the pot. The pot of water has several kids of frogs in that water.

            One kind of frog is swimming around, having a good time, living in "La la" land, and noticing nothing. He is pumping his legs, and moving his front feet, and ignoring the others. He is looking to just "enjoying" life, swimming in his little area,  doing what he has to do to get by, and totally blind and oblivious to the heat. He doesn't care, and doesn't care to learn more.

            Another frog is not paddling very much. He's just watching. But he definitely is planning his escape out of the pot. Right now he is so concerned with the temperature of the water, that all he can say is that, "I am very uncomfortable about this water, and I think there is going to be trouble soon. But I am going to just stay quiet and hope for the best. I am not going to say ANYTHING to the other two frogs, because they will think I am crazy!" This frog needs to be challenged to action.

            Let's look at the third frog. He is  the bold one. He knows its not going to get better unless he can get the fire turned off. He is praying, and he knows that things are correctible but that he needs more on his side.  He is loud and vociferous, and speaking the truth about the situation. The others just move to the edge of the pot. They do not want to hear it.

            Where are you?

            You see, we are in a crisis right now. Our wonderful America is beginning to suffer for her backsliding and ignorance of the morality, faith, and sacrifice that she once considered the backbone of the nation. She is ignoring and mistreating her friends in the world, and acting arrogantly.

            These frogs in the pot…well, they are examples of different groups of people..and as you can see, the first frog is really not interested. He thinks life will go on just like it has forever, and he is totally not aware of much.

            The third frog is up to date. He sees that there are hard times ahead. The water is getting hotter and he is aware. Totally. But there are not as many of him as there are number one frogs.

            It's the number two frog that needs to be told to wake up.

            Who can tell the frog HOW he can get out of that pot?

            Oh, I forgot to tell you something!

            There's a large spoon holder floating in the pot. It's got a label. There's a place to go, if the frogs choose to notice, to be humble, to repent, and to open their eyes.

            They can find refuge from the water and the heat.

            But will they?

            I think the third frog will climb in. And hopefully he will encourage the others to do the same. I hope so.