Today is Sunday, September 7 and there are 109 days until Christmas.  In case you are wondering, I have not even bothered to ask about Christmas music.  We remember the natal anniversaries of Queen Elizabeth I, Grandma Moses and Art Ferrante.  On this day in 1880, Geo Ligowsky patented a device to throw clay pigeons for trapshooters, in 1936 Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) began operation and in 1981 Judge Wapner and the People’s Court premiered on TV.  It is Independence Day in Brazil, Settlers’ Day in Namibia and South Africa and in the US it is National Grandparents’ Day.

This past week was the first day of school for many people, but not the lovely Elaine.  She has been planning what she was going to do on the first day for a long time and she got the chance this past Tuesday.  When teachers throughout the state were going back to school and getting ready for another year, she was sitting on the beach enjoying the day.  We went down to our friend Pat’s house and then went out on the beach on the first day.  The lovely Elaine took a selfie with the ocean behind her and sent it to some friends and family to let everyone know that she was truly retired and loving it.

I know that I have gone on about this topic in the past, repeatedly, but I am constantly amazed at the way people drive.  I think there should be a better test to make sure that drivers can read English.  I am talking about simple things like traffic signs.  For example, the big red eight-sided one that says STOP.  It does not say “Slow down, but keep rolling to see if cars approaching you slow down to let you out.”  It says STOP!  I do not think that is that difficult a concept.  You come to an intersection, stop moving, check to see that there are no cars coming and then go.

And yet, it seems to be a tough idea for drivers.  I have seen people simply keep going without slowing down.  I am not sure if they did not see the sign, could not understand what it meant or just did not care.  They always seem so annoyed when you blast the horn at them, too.  I have always wished that I could be entitled enough that traffic laws did not include me, but I don’t drive the fancy cars that seem to have that right.  I actually have to obey the rules. 

Another sign people have a problem with is “No Turn On Red.”  That is one that I think is pretty simple.  The words are all one syllable and there should not be any problem understanding them.  It is simple – No Turn On Red.  It means do not make a turn when the light is red.  There are some intersections where it gives day and time restrictions.  People assume that those are because they are near schools, so they do not have to obey them when school is not in session.  The sign does not say “No Turn On Red Monday Through Friday 7 AM to 4 PM When School Is In Session.”  The sign does not mean no turn unless you are not in the mood to wait for the light to change, nor does it mean no turn if someone is waiting to cross the street.  It means do not turn while the light is red.  Apparently there is a large number of people who cannot read or do not understand what the sign means.

When you are out and about, watch the way people act at a stop sign.  There are some who come to a complete stop, make sure that there are no cars within three blocks of them and then go (these people are usually over 70).  There are the ones who come to a stop and wait until a car is within 100 feet and then go; thereby heightening the excitement.  There are also the ones who never actually come to a stop.  They just sort of slow down and roll through the intersection, hoping no one is coming.  I have heard this maneuver referred to as a “California Roll.” 

Speaking of stopping, what is the deal with drivers and stop lines at intersections.  No one seems to know what the stop line is for.  The line shows you where to stop when you have a red light.  It has gotten so bad that they have to put up signs that say, “Stop here on red light.”  How pathetic is that?  Some drivers roll past the line before stopping, others stop a car length before the line.  I like to stop right on the line.  Why?  Because the way people drive nowadays, actually stopping on the line makes me different.

So there you have it.  I have vented on the couple of items that have presented themselves this past week.  It is too bad that I cannot issue traffic tickets for the violations I see during a day.  The town would not have budget problems if I could.  On the other hand I would never get to where I am going because I would spend my time issuing those violations.  It is too bad that there isn’t some group who could do that … wait, that would be the police department.  Of course they are too busy closing roads so the utility company can dig holes in the streets.  Oh well …

One more short, non-traffic item.  I have noticed something when doing laundry.  When I do my short sleeved shirts I have become aware of an interesting phenomenon when they come out of the dryer.  When I take the shirts out and only one sleeve is inside-out, it is always the left sleeve that is turned.  If you think about it, check the sleeves on your shirts the next time you do laundry.  This is another thing that makes you go h-m-m-m-m.

This week our fact tells us that Hitler and Napoleon were each missing one testicle.  This is not generally known and is seldom brought up.  One of the main reasons for that is that it would sound awkward to say something like, “Adolph, trying to take over all of Europe really took ball.”