Random Thoughts of Mindlessness

1) I feel sorry for Patrick Swayze. Not only because he had cancer and not only because he died far too young. I feel sorry for him because he will forever be remembered in tributes as The Dirty Dancing Guy. As if that is not bad enough, he also uttered what is likely the worst line in movie history, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."

2) I don't understand how people can brush their teeth in a public restroom. Clearly they care about hygiene or else they wouldn't be doing the midday brush in the first place. But why in a public bathroom? Maybe Ladies' rooms are different, in fact I'm sure they are, but the Men's room in most public places can best be described as one of the levels in Dante's Circles of Hell.

3) I don't get cuff links. Moreover, I don't get why people still wear them. I need someone to explain to me why expensive shirts have buttons on the front, but not on the arms. I need someone to explain to me why they want to spend money to buy something that keeps your sleeve from rolling up. Maybe there was a time for them. I can see at some point in history where having cuff links was a sign of stature or possibly the only way to get a great quality shirt made. Now, I think it's just a subtle way for people to say they are better, smarter, more intellectual and have more money than you.

4) Why are there laugh tracks on sitcoms? Either the producers/writers don't think we are smart enough to get their jokes or they think their jokes are not good enough to make us laugh. They are so prevalent now that I hardly ever hear the laugh. Is that the intent? Is there some subliminal message built in that will make me continue to watch such horrible shows as Punky Brewster and Alf? Why are there no crying tracks, or cheering tracks, or moaning & groaning tracks for other types of shows?

5) When did we get to the point as a society that it was necessary to make every child feel like a winner? When did we decide that merely playing a sport guarantees you a trophy? When did we decide that every child needs a snack after playing? Why do parents feel the need to outdo everyone else when it comes to the snack game? Week 1 you can get away with a box of juice and chopped apples, but by week 10 people are grilling Filet Mignon and serving Tiara Misu. I think sports are just an indicator of how we've gone soft as a society and possibly one of the many reasons why we are being passed by much less developed countries. We have no drive. We have no need to succeed because someone has told us since birth that no matter what we do we are just as good as everyone else. We are rewarded for mediocrity and, worse yet, we are not rewarded for the exceptional. Why is it wrong to earn a trophy by winning? Why is it wrong to keep score of a game? Why is it wrong to play good players more than bad ones? Why is it wrong to actually want to encourage kids to do more than they ever thought they could?

6) Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than coming up to an elevator and realizing it's on the same floor as I am. I love hitting the button and seeing the doors open. It's like an old friend opening their arms in a warm embrace.

7) While we are on the topic of elevators, why are people so anti-social in them? Have you ever noticed that if 5 people get into an elevator they will line themselves all around the outside and stare at the floor, ceiling, or straight ahead? Turning your head from side to side is strictly forbidden and making eye contact with someone else is an offense punishable by death.

8) Have you ever noticed in meetings that people tend to take a drink of something right after they speak? I suppose it's a nervous habit that somehow acts as a shield to protect them from the judging eyes of those around them.

9) There used to be a dietary supplement called Ayds (Pronounced Aids). Seriously, there was. It was popular in the late 70's and early 80's right up until...... I actually thought the pills were the cause of the Aids disease as apparently millions of others did as well. By the mid-80's sales had dropped nearly 50% because of the disease. Take a look at one of the old commercials and imagine the PR nightmare caused by the unintentional similarities to the wasting away associated with the Aids virus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lANAkOMa-6k

10) I love being next in line. In many ways it's better than being "at the counter" because once you are there, your clock starts counting down to when you have to leave. Next in line means you have the next possible opportunity to get what you want. It means you don't have to wait much longer. You actually can see the light at the end of the tunnel. You may think I'm going a little overboard on this one, but think for a minute when you are dead last in a long line. It feels like crap. It feels like you have no chance at all to do what you came to do. You actually get angry at the people in front of you, as if they have somehow intruded on your mission to achieve your Holy Grail. Ahh, but then you crawl towards the front, step by step, until you realize you are next in line. It's a great feeling. The only downside with being next in line is you always run the risk of what you waited so long to get, being taken by the person already at the counter.