As I've already posted, I'm a huge fan of California's new 'hands-free device' cell-phone law. The law still allows you to dial and text with your hands on the phone. You just cannot hold the phone to your ear--that would be wrong. I've already seen people using their cell's speaker phone function. So, basically, they are holding the phone with their hand--and shouting--but the phone is not touching their ear. Constitutional law scholars, I'm sure, will be hashing out for decades whether the speaker-talkers are legal. What fun.
Today, I was behind a car in a 45 m.p.h. zone, and he was doing about 30 m.p.h. Everyone started passing him, but he didn't have his hazards on. As I passed, I looked over and there was speaker-phone guy. I couldn't tell if he was texting or dialing, of course, but his hand was not to his ear--good law abiding citizen that he was. The fact that traffic was slamming on the breaks and swerving to get around him had little to do with the safe-feeling I had, knowing he was not putting his hand to his ear. Safety on the roads at last.
Over sights I've enjoyed this summer are on the bumper-sticker front. I was behind a huge pick-up truck today, and guess who he's voting for: John McCain. On the other side, I've seen plenty of Obama stickers. But I'm noticing that they are disproportionately found on Toyota Priuses (or is that Priui?) I have yet to see a Prius driver for McCain.
Here's my theory on why that is. There are now plenty of hybrid car options. Only one of those options screams to the world: "I'm driving a hybrid, I don't care that my car is boxy and has no style, I'm saving planet and am significantly better than you!!!" That car is the Prius. If you want to save the world, you buy a hybrid, fine. If you want to save the world and let others know about it (and you're likely angry they aren't saving the world with you--and quite frankly, you think they lie awake at night and think of new ways to destroy the world) then you only have one option. The Prius. I actually don't mind the Prius or its lack of style. I have found--by a very scientific study of the bumper stickers on the average Prius compared to the rest of the cars on the road--that Prius owners are a bit more "environmentally angry."
And few environmentally angry voters, are voting for McCain. This, despite the fact that McCain has jumped on the anti-global warming team. If you are environmentally angry, there are probably a bunch of other issues that would prevent you from ever voting for a Republican. Hence, the "Prius Owners for McCain" meetings can fit inside, well, a Prius.
No trees were killed in the posting of this blog,
Thomas More
I confess, I hadn't had chance to catch up with your ATT posts before I posted mine. So, my reference to the dreaded Prius was entirely coincidental! (I also had the "Priuses" or "Priui"? debate with myself).
Something else to consider-my little Ford Focus rental car was getting 40 miles/gallon, which is similar to the Civic Hybrid. Of course, it didn't offer the same opportunity to feel smug about lower carbon emissions. But, it did save me a lot of money in gas.
So much of this is smoke and mirrors.
The numbers don't lie.
Posted by: Philomena | August 16, 2008 at 12:14 PM