It’s The Little Things
Normally, I blog about big things, big ideas. Climate change, the national debt, the recklessness and wreckage of our President — things like that.
But, in truth, it is the little things in life that are really making me crazy. Little annoyances that are everywhere, that keep coming back over and over again.
Things that are oh so wrong, and yet can’t be put right.
I bet it’s the same with you. Let me share some of the most annoying things on my list and you’ll see what I mean.
First (in no particular order) is the way the greatest technological advances in communication in the history of mankind has turned to the greatest waste of time the world has ever seen.
In this category go junk mail and telemarketing calls, free video games and of course anything that involves either facebook, cute animals or the number of hits anyone gets on social media.
One example — a recorded voice comes onto my phone once or twice a day, telling me it is my last chance to upgrade my credit score. Clearly, after two months, I don’t think that recorded voice really understands what “last chance” means.
Two more examples
- I have about 1,600 messages on my tablet, and my wife says I should really get rid of them. But, how could I delete a message that might be really important. And, in truth, I did delete about 300 last week. And guess what, they’re back.
-Every time I look up something on line, I am flooded with advertisements from people selling the same kind of thing. I wanted to know what our national debt was today, so I looked it up. Guess what — I got seven pop-up ads from banks and investment firms.
Then there are the ads with the small print on the bottom that only lasts a few seconds. Mostly harmless, but potentially devastating for people who believe them.
One features two delightful elderly ladies, talking to each other. They begin by chatting about a funeral, then one of them tells the other — with a big smile — that she had taken care of her final expenses, so her children won’t be burdened. And, she adds, it only costs her a few cents a day.
Well, some tiny words flash on the bottom. At first glance, I thought it would be something like “valid only in states west of the Mississippi” or “10 year limited payment period.” But, I was wrong.
What it says is that when you call the great big phone number they put up, you will be talking to a licensed insurance agent somewhere, who represents some company or another. And, it adds, the plan being talked about may not be offered in your state.
Then there is the one about reverse mortgages that says you will never lose your home. Not unless you borrow so much to pay taxes and other things that your debt reaches your equity. In other words, if you owe more than you can sell your house for, you aren’t going to keep living there. The bank will sell it off to recover the money they loaned to you — plus interest of course. But you get nothing.
Now I had people going to MAGA rallies and not wearing masks on my list of big annoyances, but dropped it to a minor thing. People want to gamble, fine. That’s their business.
Instead, a different annoyance on the same theme. Why is it that no matter what Trump supporter is being interviewed, they say exactly the same things. The same ideas expressed in the same words. The same diversions, and the same arguments that someone else, somewhere else, had done worse things.
And did I mention that we nearly ran out of brown sugar for my oatmeal yesterday? Now, that’s a world class annoyance.
