Turn signals are for wimps.

Signed,

The Guy Behind the Wheel of That Impossibly Souped-up Subaru

I don't disagree, but if you indeed feel that way, I assume that you've also disconnected your brake lights and thus this tip doesn't apply to you.

Unless, of course, you're just messing with our heads.

Two words: Special Features

That should be the crux of the DVD review - unless you haven't reviewed the movie already (which you have, so I point back to the second pair of words.) Outrageous outtakes? Intriguing Interviews? Delicious Deletions?

I'm all out of aliteration now, sorry. :)

Creature of Habit? My child is 36, and I STILL fling my right arm across the passenger seat if I break suddenly! (Of course in those day, a child could ride in the front seat.)

Beth, I think you're right. This one has an alternate ending.

I've never been very interested in the extra features on DVDs. The only exception is Napoleon Dynamite, and I watched every minute of every extra (and it was worth the effort!).

Deborah, I'm pretty sure the maternal instinct trumps the reach-for-the-paper-towels instinct by a longshot. Although I suspect the latter is tied pretty closely to the former, at least in the early years. ;-)

I have to admit, the "Creature of Habit" sent me off on a bunny trail that's worth exploring, though it shows me in a bad light. I drove an '83 Ford Bronco for ten years, and not once ... not ONCE ... in ten years did I unlock the door on the first try, whether from the outside using the key, or from the inside with the rocker switch. The rocker switch was a horizontal switch, which I thought was stupid ... why not be a vertical switch? But why didn't habit help me there? Unfortunately for me, the wrong way first was the habit. Ditto the door lock on the outside. I always turned it the wrong way first. Why? Is it a chick thing or bad engineering?

If the lock switch was mounted on the door, then I'd say it was an engineering/design gaffe. If it was mounted on the armrest, then no matter which way it was mounted, it was bad design (I still see this in $40,000 vehicles today).

The key-turning issue is even more interesting, though. Is there a cultural or educational reference that keys (ha!) our brains to think that turning a key counterclockwise is supposed to do something specific? In thinking about it, I'm pretty sure I'd always turn a key clockwise to lock a door...but I'm not sure why. Do you recall which direction did what on your Bronco?

A chick thing? Why, my dear, I haven't the faintest idea to what you may be referring! ;-)

The Bronco has been gone for ten years, and I don't remember which way the outside lock turned, except it was backwards! But the rocker switch was on the door.

But I clearly developed the habit wrongly from the get-go, and never could break it. There's a lesson in there somewhere :)

I don't disagree, but if you indeed feel that way, I assume that you've also disconnected your brake lights and thus this tip doesn't apply to you.

Unless, of course, you're just messing with our heads.

Huh?

Signed,

The Intellectually Stunted Guy Behind the Wheel of That Impossibly Souped-up Subaru

Hi Eric. Would you rather I just keep it to myself when I see a typo in your blog? I don't look for them and don't mean to see them, but in my line of work they jump off the page at me no matter what I am reading. (P.S. It's in the title thing again.)

Nancy

Nancy, I obviously need all the help I can get! ;-)

One of the females in my house moved the paper plates to the cabinet instead of the pantry, and I've been opening the pantry now for approximately two weeks, only to be befuddled over and over again. I agree with the whole 'creature of habit' thing.

Stephen, that exactly the sort of thing I was referring to. It's amazing how long it takes us to rewire our synapses!