What’s driving things

“Tis the season to be folly. Fa-la-la-la-la, the absurdity.” No joke. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Opposite World shifting gears. Recalculating.

Now that people are used to sport season crossovers with NFL football fielding play at the same time as NBA basketball courts us, Mother Nature is stepping into that dueling trend.

As meteorologists are watching a massive cold front arriving from the north with snow and sleet, potential tropical storm Patty is considering her options in the Caribbean.

Baseball season may be over, but Hurricane Season isn’t quite yet.

Texas and the Gulf Coast, knowing disasters, didn’t need the flames from the California fires to send up SOS smoke signals.

Moving out today are more than 50 fire engines from 47 fire departments across 23 counties in Texas, as well as teams from the Texas Forest Service at Texas A&M. “Who are the Texas firefighters headed to CA? Check the list.” 

Interesting to me is how many small cities/firefighting department immediately answered the call – if you look at the list, you may not even recognize some of the names. Some departments only have 2 engines yet are sending one and men. Noticeable absent is one very large city – but maybe that’s due to multiple of Houston’s trucks being taken out of service/damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

Traveling in a hurry is always potentially hazardous. Things can trip you up…and that’s why Jeep is recalling multiple cars including the SRT and Trackhawk for dangerous floor mats.

Yep, dangerous rugs. An example of an accessory taking over an outfit? OK It’s really not a joke. The beneficial, keep-your-car-clean mat under the steering wheel can take an unexpected wrinkle and keep the car speeding on even if the driver’s foot isn’t on the gas pedal. Not the kind of self driving car experience most people want. Suggested fix in article here (but you can probably guess it…)

Did they spell that word wrong? (screenshot/Josh Share)

Wanting things to come to a stop once in a while is normal, but it should be an expected – a planned – stop, right? Tell that to some “I-doing-this-for-your-own-good” cars.

Since 2012 Automatic Braking Systems and Forward Collision Avoidance systems have been auditioning for Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde. Hondas have gone into protective mode stopping when driving alongside a metal fence or guard rail. A couple of Infiniti SUVs apparently are spreading the word “Stop”” at a particular grate on the New Jersey bridge mistaking it for a barrier. (source).

Ford 150 pickup trucks apparently are balking at passing semi-tractor trailer trucks on the interstate. Just not gonna do it. Hard braking. Luckily for that driver no one was tailgating him. (Ford problems, 2017).

Jeep Cherokee in Illinois, and Jeep SRT8 (CO) are having bossy attitudes. The SRT8 performance vehicle has a button to turn off the Forward Emergency Braking..and maybe there’s a reason for that if you want to go around a slow car on the highway and accelerate, the automatic sensors may decided you are too close to the other car and slam on your brakes…”…hard enough to scare people with you.”. (see 4:20 of the Video)

Companies’ marketing divisions know people’s fascination with technology drives interest. Gotta steer efforts towards that. Ready or not.

Dreamy. Life is how Facebook posts it.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

But it’s getting a bit silly.What are we selling here?

A local furniture store’s newest ad features not really their lovely furniture, but a lovely girl taking multiple selfies – hat on, hat off, chin up, face sideways and pouty  – actually looking quite oblivious to the showcase bed she’s posed on. Guess the message is “Buy furniture! It’ll look impressive on your FB page or Twitter feed!” Now that’s real motivation.

Possibly cleverly limiting buyer’s remorse and return. Once it’s social media posted, it’s signed, sealed, delivered, and yours for real, right?

Paradise lost. It should look like this vintage California highway postcard.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

It’s always something in this in Theatre of the Absurd: Fire breaks, auto brakes, reality breaks.

Hoping Stanley the Giraffe, the llamas at the life guard stand, and the bunnies up against the wall find safe haven. When everything is gone, a pet found is worth everything to a disaster victim.

(If you donate to the Red Cross, please be sure to specify exactly where you want the money is to go…or they can legally spend it on redecorating offices or furniture like they got caught doing after Hurricane Katrina…and there’s a bit of investigation going on about the money collected for Hurricane Harvey relief…)

Thanks for all the First Responders, Firefighters, and those opening their homes to shelter those in need.

Always hard when Mother Nature decides to redecorate.

The challenges of Opposite World. Where’s the brakes?

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

 

 

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