Flutterby™! : Observations on life 2009-05-29 16:58:40.778758+00

Observations on life

2009-05-29 16:58:40.778758+00 by Dan Lyke 3 comments

Charlene's car came in yesterday, so we went up to pick it up and finalize a few details (fog lights have yet to be installed, etc). Some day I'm going to pay the premium to buy a beat up AMC Pacer from a dealership just so that I can have the joy of lots of well coiffed employees walking by and telling me how good the car looks. Or at least try to.

We now have 4 cars. Hopefully that'll be back down to 2 shortly. The two teenagers we've offered the cars to have declined, reminding me of that exchange from The Sound of Music

Captain von Trapp: It's the dress. You'll have to put on another one before you meet the children.
Maria: But I don't have another one. When we entered the abbey our worldly clothes were given to the poor.
Captain von Trapp: What about this one?
Maria: The poor didn't want this one.

I'm becoming a Bluetooth headset user. On the one hand I love the convenience of the Bluetooth headset, on the other hand the historical users of headsets have been assholes. I think that this is at least partially the medium, yes, people who talk on cell phones indoors are assholes, and sometimes I am one, but with the headset there's no indication at all that the communicator is having a conversation with anything but air. There's a set of social cues that have yet to evolve there.

I imagine you're also classy enough not to wear the headset 24/7. Played a wedding where one of the wedding party had the blinkenlight headset plugged in the entire time . rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception...

But I think one of the issues with the medium is that it's easiest to do just that. If I'm going to take it out I have to carry the case with me (because just tossing it in a pocket would destroy it), and then it's extra space. It's easiest to just answer the phone in the morning and leave it in.

I do take it out, but because it also take a bit of time to turn on and all, if I'm not actively blocking incoming calls I just leave it there.

The one ethic I would like to see spread is "Don't make eye contact!" If you're using the hands-free thingie to speak on the cell, don't make eye contact with people around you.