Please wear your damn seat belt

I've waited quite awhile to get on my soapbox about seat belts on the blog, for fear of sounding preachy or cranky-old-man-y. But it's getting ridiculous, especially in Missouri.

Three of every four Missourians do not wear their seatbelts. That makes me sad. But get this: 70% of people who die in traffic crashes are UNBUCKLED. For teenagers, the number jumps to 80%. And these are kids who have pretty much always been buckled by their parents. Now they're cool-kid James Dean move is to drive without a belt on? Really?

Here's the thing: We have a solution that would really help. It's called a Primary Seat Belt Law. Most states have it. Missouri doesn't.

Today, you cannot get pulled over in Missouri for not wearing a seat belt. If you get a ticket for something else, the officer can tack on a $10 seat belt fine. As you might have guessed, this is not particularly effective.

In states that have passed Primary Seat Belt laws, their usage jumped 10% immediately. Soon after their traffic death rates went down. This isn't rocket science. It's basic cause and effect.

Opponents cling to their rights of freedom and privacy (on a public roadway paid for with public dollars). Until they get in a crash. Then the expectation is for the insurance company (to whom all drivers contribute) or the government (to whom all people contribute) to cover medical expenses -- expenses that would have been greatly reduced by using a proven safety device installed in every vehicle.

I don't generally lean toward increased regulation of people's personal decisions, but in this case I believe it's appropriate to legislate some safety into our state, for the greater good of all.

Here's my ask:

1) Wear your seatbelt. Buckle your kids.

2) Take a look at the information on www.savemolives.com.

3) Join the converstation. I understand this is not a black & white issue, and I enjoy the discussion.

Props to Zed, Best Buy Salesmen Extraordinaire

I had a unique experience at Best Buy this weekend that I thought worth sharing.  For every "less-than-stellar" sales person on the planet, there are a few that stand out.

Janelle was in the market for a new laptop computer, and with a little research we picked out a nice Acer model that we were excited about.  Mr. Internet told us the Best Buy in Columbia had at least one in stock.  I usually like to buy our computers online with Dell - partially to avoid the big electronics stores.  But this was a good deal, so I headed to the big box.

I eventually found the floor model and began checking the spec details and pecking the keys (I guess to make sure it was a normal computer, and not an alien breed of some sort -- the keys pecked just fine).  

Enter Zed.

First of all, the kid's name is Zed (Strike one).  He was decked out Gen-Y style, with thick-rimmed coffee-house glasses (who needs glasses like that at 19? - Strike two) and some sort of ear piercing/stretching, including a 1/2" stone implanted in his lobe (I'm outta here).

I played it out, assuming a 30 minute session of "this computer is OK, but you might want to consider..."  I was wrong.  I told Zed what I wanted.  He didn't think they had any in stock, but he did a quick search and determined they did.  Though it wasn't where it should be, he did some extra searching.  He found it.

At the checkout, I was behind a couple other computer purchasers getting the full package of "necessary" add-ons for optimal computer performance (overpiced mouse, overpriced case, overpriced surge protector, extended warranty, Geek Squad we'll-come-to-your-house-at-midnight-to-fix-anything-even-your-relationships plan, etc.).  

When Zed stepped behind the counter, he rang up the computer, swiped my card and sent me on my way.  What the hell?  Where's the banter?  The "no thanks, just the computer today" or "I think I'll take the risk my laptop doesn't burn in a forest fire in the next 12 months" discussion?  Nothing.  Just a credit card receipt and a smile.  I had to know why.

I asked Zed why he didn't offer my 52 other things with the computer purchase.  "Body language - I could just tell"  was his response.  Impressive.

So big props to Best Buy for hiring Zed and props to Zed for learning how to read people.

TV is back!

I haven't been all that excited about TV programming for quite some time, and was particularly board with last fall's offerings. Besides "The Office," I didn't really follow a single current show. But January has brought a lot of great stuff back that I'm excited about. A quick run-down.

24

The first 4 hours from this week have been as good as I can remember from 24 for quite awhile. Jack Bauer is the Shaft of our generation. He's a bad mother...

The "putting the band back together" feel of this season has already been rewarding, and the fast-paced nature of the season so far means the plot shifts on a regular basis (sometimes even within a single episode).

LOST

This has been my favorite show for awhile now. I'm a sucker for a good, long, detailed story (whether on TV, from a book, or in a video game), and LOST fits the profile. Also, the weekly discussions with family, friends, and the online community about what the hell is going on adds to the fun of the show.

I'm also impressed that the producers/creators/writers made a deal with ABC to cut the show off after a finite number of episodes. LOST should not die a slow death (see Alias) or get cancelled after a great season finale cliffhanger (Joan of Arcadia).

(Aside - Yes, I watched Joan of Arcadia and loved it. A little sappy, perhaps, but a good solid family drama that also included God jumping into the bodies of random people to help guide the main character. Worth a DVD rental if you missed it.)

Battlestar Gallactica

We were a little late to the party on this show, but it was fun to catch up on DVD and a great ride since. I haven't been as excited about the series of late, but I have to know the identity of the final Cylon, so I'll be watching.

American Idol

Idol is my reality show guilty pleasure. I've particularly enjoyed a couple changes in the early 2009 episodes. The new judge - Kara, I think - is good (for the love of all that is good and holy, please fire Paula now). They've also shown fewer awful singers (the gag is getting old, and they've realized it) and added more tear-jerking, Olympics-syle stories about the contestants. My favorite so far is the welder from Oklahoma.

So there it is - excitement for Spring '09 TV. What about you? Anything you're watching, or have given up on, of late?

Movie Pick: Born into Brothels

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388789/


This 2004 documentary follows nine children living in Calcutta’s red light district. Their mothers are prostitutes “working the line,” and their fathers are nonexistent, abusive, and/or tied to the current economic system of the neighborhood.

Zana Briski, a freelance photographer, was working on a documentary of the conditions. She found it very difficult to get anyone to open up to her, an outsider. She began teaching photography to the kids in the area, and in doing so got them to both trust her and create great art.

The life change in the kids was impressive, and a “3 years later” extra on the DVD showed how improved many of their lives were by the experience.

I was particularly struck by two things:

1. The parents had generally given up hope for themselves and their children. Some did not allow their kids to attend a nearby boarding school, which was disheartening. I couldn’t imagine not promoting the best for my children -- but then thought about times when it happens.

2. The kids took some incredible pictures with basic equipment (hand-me-down 35 mm cameras).

The film was awarded the Oscar for Best Documentary, and has since launched a movement: Kids With Cameras.
http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/

Looking to '09

After looking back at 2008, it seemed appropriate to take a quick look at some things I'm excited about for 2009

Movies
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Night at the Museum 2

Harry Potter has been delayed for awhile (I think Daniel Radcliffe has kids), but I'm still a sucker for anything in the HP universe. It'll probably be too much for the kiddos (I'm guessing PG-13 like movies 4 and 5), so we'll likely be in the weird situation of hiring a 14-year-old babysitter to watch our children while we go watch the Harry Potter movie with a bunch of 14-year-olds and children.

Night at the Museum was the first true "Family Movie" experience in the Chandler house (defined as a movie the kids loved that did not include Janelle and I poking out our eyes - I'm talking to you, Strawberry Shortcake), and I'm looking forward to watching the sequel with the kids as well.


Blake in Kindergarten
We'll have both kids in school full time this fall, which I think will be fun. Blake's gotten a taste with preschool in his eventually elementary school, but it will be a whole different ballgame come August. Our baby is growing up.


Ten Year Anniversary
Ten years of wedded bliss (etc.) this June will obviously be blog-worthy in its own right. But I figured we'd might as well celebrate early. I'm sure we'll spend some extra time reminiscing this year as we look back on the last decade, and forward to the next one.


The Unknown
At the beginning of 2008 I was working for MoDOT, had never tried sushi, and only knew the name Barack Obama because of my brother's Myspace page. Now I'm serving at the pleasure of President Obama in my current job and I haven't been on Myspace for a year.

And eating raw fish.