I finally had my first experience towing the trailer with the new rear camera. It’s so much better and it’s interesting to notice where the other vehicles are in the camera as opposed to the mirrors.

I have noticed that comparing where the vehicles I am passing are in the mirrors compared to the camera I was allowing quite a bit of space before moving back into the right lane (you know…the lane you are supposed to be instead of being camped in the left lane). That’s certainly not a bad thing, but the camera is major peace of mind especially with the way people tailgate on the roadways these days.

This brings up another point, too. Newer cars have those sensors that show a yellow indicator in the side mirrors when a vehicle is in the danger zone. When you get a certain distance away from the car you are passing then the indicator goes out, letting you know it’s clear to move back over.

People need to stop relying on these to move over and need to use their mirrors since that is what they are for. It’s unsafe, but it’s also laziness. I like technology but the automakers, in my opinion, have these sensors set dangerously too close. I have noticed these lights go out about a single car length after I am passed. I get cut off constantly because people rely on these sensors instead of the driving skills they SHOULD have, and when pulling a trailer it can be disastrous trying to panic stop. Whatever happened to a car length of space for every ten miles of speed?

What happens if one of these indicator lights goes out? Just because there’s no yellow light in your mirror doesn’t mean it’s safe to move over.

Driving is dangerous enough, but with people buried in their cellphones 24/7 regardless of what they are doing and with all of this tech that is supposed to make driving safer it’s actually gotten worse.

Plus, please be aware that larger vehicles, towing/towed vehicles and tractor-trailers cannot stop quickly so take that into consideration while driving.

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Over the last several years, the rise of budget airlines has brought many changes to airtravel. Fees for everything is a big one, but coming soon to most any airline near you is the loss of reclining seats.

Some of you may boo…some of you may rejoice. I, for one, am indifferent to the change. I don’t sleep on planes because I am usually too damn excited to be going somewhere – even being on a plane for nine hours. I have reclined my seat before, especially on a long flight to Europe or Hawaii, but I don’t always and it usually only for a short time.

It’s not a big deal to me. I do realize it’s a real pain in the ass for the row behind me, especially if you’re by the window and need to pee so I try to keep that in mind. Being forced to lean over your seat-mates to avoid the protruding seatback is sometimes necessary, but maybe you don’t want to put your special parts in someone else’s face (or…maybe you do!). Perhaps, on the other hand, someone’s face doesn’t want your special parts in it (or maybe it does!).

Removing the reclining function is actually good for everyone. The article I saw said that it will reduce weight which saves fuel and that’s a plus in a carbon-heavy, global-warming mode of transportation. It will reduce maintenance costs of the mechanisms in seats. Plus, it will help stop some (but not all) of the stupid behavior of the entitled on flights. The seats will be made with a slight recline that will be non-adjustable.

Honestly, I drive with my seat in the full upright position. I find that it really helps with my posture and neck & back problems. Since I drive like that maybe that’s why I don’t recline my seat in a plane much. Apparently, the recline in airplane seats has been reduced from 4” of recline to 2”…and that really isn’t much of a recline.

But, I would ask the airlines for a few tradeoffs for comfort. Get rid of the reclining (even up front – don’t limit it to Economy), but how about you put some real legroom between the rows? It’s gotten to the point of ridiculousness.

I have been in some seats that were basically a thinly-padded bench so how about making the damn seats more comfortable? Even a 1-2 hour flight is uncomfortable in some of the seats I have been in. I’d even be okay with just more padding in the seat bottom cushion and not the back.

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When I was in Hawaii in 2012 I was driving to the North Shore and saw a hill with a huge staircase that went up a ridge. It is known as the “Stairway to Heaven”.

Apparently, as has become the case everywhere, social media has destroyed another piece of history. This article explains the unfortunate removal of the stairs.

Again, the entitled people cannot obey the rules and we all pay the price. What a cool thing to be able to see when I was there. I looked up…and up…and up, and thought “no, I’m not interested in that climb.”.

When people do this stuff, they need to pay dearly. Make the fines hurt, tack on several free nights lodging in the Gray Bar Hotel, and demand reimbursement for rescue costs. Scan social media posts and go after them. I have seen it done so you can find people that way and arrest them. It’s the only thing people understand.

It’s too bad to lose access to these things due to the arrogance of others.

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That’s it for this post, See you next time!

Shawn