What's next?

They're printing new warnings on cigarette packages these days -- graphic photos of blackened lungs, and cadaverous human beings blowing smoke out of tracheotomy openings...

Yuk.

Apparently, the little box of text that said the Surgeon General had determined that smoking is bad for your health just wasn't cutting it any more. People are too familiar with it, and it was "no longer effective".

Was it ever?

Regardless, I suppose that with the proliferation of TV shows that involve graphic autopsy images, they HAD to up the ante. People are accustomed to being scared these days, so it takes more than a silly text box to frighten them into good behavior.

I'm just wondering what's next -- pictures of rotten teeth on candy bars? Images of the morbidly obese on potato chip bags? Pictures of a healthy colon vs. a polyp-riddled one to encourage you to take the high fiber cereal? Diabetic ulcers pictured on soda cans?

Going to the grocery store might soon become as scary as CSI, or NCIS, or Dr. G: Medical Examiner...

And food corporations will LOVE the new marketing strategy: "Here's a product, ready for you to buy, complete with evidence as to why you should not..."

I'm sure that will fly.

I'm not a fan of smoking, but I do feel sorry for tobacco farmers -- an industry where the government requires you to do your best to convince people NOT to buy your product...We have been conditioned to think this is reasonable in regards to tobacco -- but we probably will feel differently about it when it comes to a grocery store near us...and it isn't different.

I'm reminded of this quote:
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons that under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."        -- C.S. Lewis

In praise of automatic doors...

The other day I left the grocery store in the rain...Actually, this could have been any day, and likely all the days that I have gone to the grocery store this year...and all the more reason for this post.

I had a cart, albeit the small one, loaded with bags, my purse on my shoulder and another bag on my other wrist...Oh, how I loved it that the door automatically opened for me!! Such a pleasure! Such a help!

For some reason, that day it brought to mind nightmarish scenes of holding on to two toddlers, a stroller containing an infant, and hands full of purse, diaper bag and purchases while trying to get in, or out, of a door...

Those were the days.

And during those days, we sometimes did without rather than shop at stores without automatic doors.

And since those days, I have never lost an appreciation for automatic doors. I use them whenever I can! They are an unappreciated luxury...To walk out of the store, cart full, hands full and have the door open widely before you to walk outside with out impediment? Luxury, I say, LUX-UR-Y!!!

I just the love the feeling that the doors part before me, and I play a little game sometimes to see if I am faster than the doors...You know, see if I have to wait for them. And then, to make my joy complete, I head out to the car my hubby bought me, which has{drum roll} AUTOMATIC DOORS!! A push of the buttons and they open before me. I'm getting really good at timing it so that I don't even break stride, just walk right up, put my packages in and get in to drive away...

It's AWESOME!

I have noticed some stores in The Big City have a set of auto doors, and a set of manual doors...And quite a few people choose the manual doors. Why?

I get the funny feeling that they believe that shouldn't use the auto door...And that's because...uh...they are going green and refuse to use more energy? Uh...they are trying to get more exercise? Uh...it's only for people in wheelchairs, scooters, or for strollers?

Far be it from me to get between a scooter chair and the automatic door...I would NEVER do that! But for the love of all things efficient, why WOULDN'T you use the hands-free door?? Talk about saving energy! You can be getting out your list, putting away your keys, texting your friend while you enter the store, never breaking stride!!!

I repeat: It's AWESOME!

And so today, I salute the under-appreciated Automatic Door...Don't take these luxuries for granted. Take time to enjoy it the next time you use one.

Amen.