Lookie-Loos

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, a lookie-loo is a person who, while driving, slows down to scope out an accident on the side of the road. Now, while a single lookie-loo might not do too much trouble, multiple lookie-loos wreak havoc on traffic. The first lookie-loos spot an accident and slow down, causing the drivers behind them to slow down, etc. It usually takes awhile for traffic to start moving again, even after the accident has been cleared.

The reason why I find lookie-loos particularly bothersome is – I don’t understand what it is they gain by slowing down to check out the accident. It’s not like they’re going to pull over and help the people involved in the collision, nor stick around as a witness. They just slow traffic down to an even slower crawl than usual. Potential lookie-loos, please resist the temptation to slow down and gawk at the minor fender bender on the side of the road. Then at least traffic will be “justified” (i.e., caused by too many people on the road at one time).

Side note: I also dislike when people who’ve just been in an accident do not move over to the side of the road. Vehicle assessment and fault CAN be made without the vehicles being in their exact position at the time of impact.

Public restrooms with just hand dryers, no paper towels

Although the earth-friendly cohort may not like their impact on the environment, paper towels in public restrooms serve a very important purpose – to dry people’s hands after washing. Hand dryers are supposed to do the same thing, but unfortunately they do not. Which means that without paper towels, we’re left shaking our hands and wiping them on the backs of our pants to get them dry.

Now, one might argue, why not just develop a hand dryer that does work? Dyson, famous for their incredible vacuum technology, has done this. And while the Dyson hand dryers do a halfway decent job, I imagine they’re quite cost prohibitive (if their hand dryer prices are anything like their vacuum prices). Which means that while you might see a Dyson hand dryer or two in your city’s international airport, they’re not making it to the local park any time soon.

Let’s compromise here, and have both hand dryers and paper towels in public restrooms. That way, the tree-huggers can continue to dry their hands on their pants, and mine will be dry after a good scrunching of a few paper towels. I’d shake on it, but I don’t want to get my hands wet.

Leaving someone a voicemail on their cell phone

“Back in the day,” before cell phones had caller ID or a missed calls queue, it was common practice for a caller to leave a voicemail for the person whom they called to ensure the person called them back. However, now that cell phones do have these features, as well as text messaging, the voicemail is completely unnecessary.

Obviously, you want to tell me something and you want me to call you back… I can pick that up from the fact that you called me and your name shows up in my missed calls queue. I don’t also need a voicemail from you that spells it out. And, so long as you’re not driving and the message is quick, send a text! I may be somewhere that I can’t communicate by voice but can by text.

Leaving someone a voicemail on their cell phone: A bygone relic now that cell phones have caller ID, missed calls queues, and text messaging.

Rather than starting a petition, let’s just stop leaving voicemails. Who’s with me?!

Oversized Handbags

Whether you call it a handbag or a purse, this handled sack was designed to hold (a woman’s, typically) personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, mobile phone, etc. However, in recent years, the handbag has increased in size by gargantuan proportions, allowing women to carry around more items. This has made the convenient inconvenient, as I can no longer find my wallet/coins, cosmetics, a hairbrush, mobile phone, etc., because I’m too busy pushing aside my gloves, scarf, Sigg bottle, teacup Chihuahua, etc.

Oversized handbags: Allows us (women mostly, save the few men (Europeans mostly) brave enough to sport the murse or man purse) to carry more items, making it more difficult to find a given item within the enormous bag.

Let’s start a petition to cease the use of habitual oversized handbag carriage, and instead replace it with the clutch, pocketbook, satchel, or sling bag. Or pockets, as men frequently do. Let’s also agree to only use oversized handbags, duffle, tote, and messenger bags for special occasions, such as a trip to the park or beach. Who’s with me?!