As IF Times

Source: Rob Kardashian Blac Chyna: Couple Grills Together After Engagement Reveal : People.com

Since the invention of the IPhone, an entirely new industry has sprung up dedicated to supplying the public with applications (apps) that enhance the experience of phone users.  While some have been quite useful, including navigational apps, or ones that point out the location of a restaurant, gas station or massage parlor,  there have been many more apps invented for all kinds of conveniences that we never knew we needed.  For amusement, take a look here, useless apps, to take in some training wheel  samples of human ingenuity.  For those too lazy to click on the link, they include such cutting edge human experiences as a tickle app; an app that measures how long you can hold your finger on a spot and an app that simulates the draining of a beer glass as you tilt the screen are among the gems.

Notwithstanding the improvements to the human condition that these apps represent, the reality is that for most people past the age of giggling when someone mentions boobies, apps that convey newsworthy information may be among the most useful of computer and phone apps.  The whole point of having a portable communication device is to be plugged in to the social world.  Here’s an idea for some smart app developer out there: create a filter that automatically deletes or blocks any reference to the inane revelations of most pop culture from a news feed.  Let’s assume that you don’t think that the gripping adventures of the Kardashians are newsworthy, or don’t find stories of Miley, or Justin, or Ben, or Jennifer, or Snoop Dog worthy of using up your bandwidth as you read about the latest Global Warming tragedy: you should  be able to filter out these cultural gems and only read about things that aren’t intellectual pablum and which threatens to cap your IQ.

It’s not that the lovable antics of the Hollywood prodigies aren’t interesting to some; heck they are the millennials’ version of the pet rock from another time.  But the embedding of their breathless exploits into real news feeds requires that you sift through them as if you were filtering junk flyers from your regular mail delivery.  Anyone who can develop such a filter app will not only be doing a service to the news business, they will also be helping to increase the general IQ level for all.

Source: Advocates support a ban on all hands-free devices behind the wheel – NEWS 1130

Who are these advocates anyway?   The proposed ratcheting up of restrictions for drivers supposedly addresses a safety issue by, what else; more laws, more fines and more restrictions on people just going about their daily business.  We knew this wouldn’t end at just stop signs.

In fact this extra heaping helping of regulations may never have the desired effect.  The idea is to remove all distractions from drivers so that they can concentrate solely on driving.  This is idiocy and naivete institutionalized. People are as likely to stop talking on phones in cars as they are to do only 50 in a 50 zone. The never ending creep of do-gooders and finger waggers is like the spreading of an infectious virus.  It is indiscriminate and adversely affects innocent people.  And there is no vaccine in sight.  There is an organized  movement of technology philistines determined to roll back advances in technology and who won’t be happy until bicycles and red flyer wagons are the preferred modes of travel.  As soon as someone finds some favorable statistics, we can expect restrictions on travelling while dark.  How did the Amish become so militant?

Throughout the long evolution of man, he has been able to adapt to whatever environmental challenges have been placed upon him.  It seems highly improbable that he can’t surmount the challenge of talking or listening to music while holding on to a steering wheel.  There are bodily functions that work automatically without conscious thought, such as breathing air or passing gas.  We can do these things without conscious effort, allowing us to mentally focus on other things simultaneously.  Let’s draw the line at performing dental procedures, putting on contact lenses or juggling cats, but we suspect that most normal people are capable of talking and perhaps even chewing gum while driving.

There’s no argument that typing homework on a phone while driving to school would be ill advised, dangerous and would most certainly qualify for a Darwin award.  Unfortunately there are idiot quotients in every society.  Anyone causing an incident while being irresponsible deserves whatever consequence is due to them. But there should really be an awareness push on non drivers.  I refer to the general pedestrian and bicycling population that move about without proper regard to their own safety and whom are often the victims of distracted drivers.  This contingent of people have been brainwashed/deluded to believe that since the ‘law’ gives them a notional right of way,  they are impervious to harm by vehicles.  We see this all the time, pedestrians and cyclists who put themselves in harm’s way on the streets as if there’s a magic bubble which protects them from the dangers of vehicles.  What’s worse, is that these days, they are texting while walking or while riding making them oblivious to their surroundings.

Logically, if flesh and bone steps into possible harm’s way in front of a parade of two ton metal vehicles moving at any speed, it should be with a healthy bit of caution.  A roadway is not a dog park.  There will always be idiots at the wheel at any given time.  The principle of self preservation should rule people’s actions, not some fanciful notion of right of way.  As it stands now, complacency trumps the very basic instinct of survival for people and this has given rise to careless pedestrians and cyclists alike.  This carelessness needlessly makes them all victims.  It’s as if people don’t expect to get eaten by a wolf just because they’re wearing an ‘I am a vegetarian t-shirt’.

More laws on what we can do in cars leads to more enforcement officers, to more legal battles, more work for lawyers, (truly sinister) fine payment mechanisms,  paperwork, more use of paper and eventually this daisy chain of consequences leads to deforestation, global warming, yada yada yada.  Why would we be for global warming?

Update:  I didn’t make this up: nose pick