The Graphic - Advocate Graphic - Advocate

2 The Graphic-Advocate Commentary
June 27, 2012
I always wave at oncoming cars
when I'm running. I do this not because
I'm a friendly guy, but I want
to appear as a friendly guy. If it
should happen (and it has), that I'm
way out in the country and need a
ride home, I want motorists to pick
me up.
Waving has given me ample opportunity
to study the return wave of
drivers and passengers. Drivers typically
have at least one hand on the
steering wheel (hopefully), therefore
the one-finger raise (index finger)
is often used. Sometimes they will
point the index finger.
Same goes for the two-finger raise,
or point. Farmers in pick-up trucks,
will often include a head nod along
with the finger wave, especially if
they're wearing a seed corn cap.
If they use the three-or-four-finger
wave, it will often appear as if they
are “throwing” their fingers at you.
This type of wave almost always includes
a head or chin nod.
My favorite return wave is the fullhand
wave with palm showing. This
is the wave I use to greet oncoming
traffic, and when it is returned, I feel
confident that this driver would help
me if necessary.
Passengers in vehicles, because they
do not have their hands on a steering
wheel, if they wave at all, will typically
utilize the full-palm. Multiple
hands raising in a vehicle, from both
driver and passengers, is a great sign
of friendliness.
Of course, in the Midwest, driv-
Empty Nest By Curt Swarm
Hi-Tech Hand Wave
The Graphic-Advocate
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Ken Ross: Editor
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ers often wave
at each other
whether they
know the other
driver or not.
It's part of Midwest
protocol.
A n t h r o p o l o -
gists tell us that
the hand wave
originated from
ancient man.
When two
hunters met in
the wild, the open palm was a sign
of no weapon, or no harm intended.
This gesture eventually developed
into the handshake. Not only could
the lack of weapon be felt, like at
night, but also the warmth of the
other person.
I recently participated in a relay run
across the state of Iowa. I informed
my team, the Roadrunners, about my
study of hand waves. We agreed that
we would all wave at oncoming traffic
and conduct an informal study of
the different types of return waves.
Low and behold, a new type of return
hand wave was discovered. The evolutionary
scales have been tipped. It
is THE CELL PHONE WAVE. Yes!
A good fifty percent of all the drivers
we met were talking on cell phones.
A woman driver actually waved
back with her cell phone. Yep. You
read it first right here—the melding
of technology with an age-old hand
gesture.
I understand for something to be-
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come a trend, it has to happen multiple
times. So far, we have documented
only one cell-phone wave. With
all the cell phone users out there,
I'm confident there will be more. I'm
asking all of you joggers and walkers
out there to wave at oncoming traffic.
Let me know the unique types of
hand waves you receive and, if you
get a cell-phone wave, by all means
let me know.
Nevada is the first state to legalize
driverless cars. The cars are guided
by sensors. Someone still has to be
behind the wheel, but he/she doesn't
have to have their hands on it.
What new kind of wave will develop?
What happens when these
driverless cars, cars guided by sensors,
encounter a jogger? “Warning!
Warning! Foreign body approaching.
Prepare to stop.”
There might really be some unique
hand gestures.
Look Out!
It’s free Stuff!
For me, nothing creates a more
adverse reaction to a commercial
product than a promise of something
for free.
The idea that a profit-making
enterprise is simply bestowing its
generosity on customers without
getting anything in return is insulting
to the intelligence.
When a miraculously effective
product is promoted on the TV along
with a second absolutely free one,
just try ordering the second free
one without getting the first at an
astonishingly low price.
Junk mail that has the word “free”
on the envelope is particularly
onerous and should be discarded
without opening.
My sister’s son sent away for a free
packet of seeds when he was 10. He
subsequently got regular shipments
of garden products along with bills
for the unwanted products, although
not for the original packet of seeds
he received.
After failing to receive payments
for the garden products, the
company sent letters warning to take
$500 REBATE
$ $
$ $
Your choice of $ 500 Rebate or Patio Door
with purchase of 10 or more windows or
siding for your home.
COMMUNITY WHOLESALE
1010 Commercial St., Waterloo, IA
1-800-373-6691
Calhoun County Expo
Commercial Building
July 11 - 15
For booth information contact
Hillaree Meyer
All Vendors Welcome!
Call: 515-389-3203
legal action. This was amusing until
the letters got particularly nasty.
Fortunately, my 10-year-old nephew
was able to avoid the threatened
financial ruin.
What I find particularly bothersome
is the free stuff given away by the
companies I already do business
with. These are available through
“reward points” or “customer
appreciation points” that can be
activated through following the
instructions contained on page three
of the company policy on customer
notices. For a small shipping and
handling fee, qualified customers can
get software for creating a flow chart
or a choice from among recordings
of the most popular Chinese operas.
Creating a flow chart might be
useful, although I have no idea why,
but I’m skeptical that it is worth the
small handling fee plus the cost of
upgrading my computer to operate
the software. Also, the Chinese
operas are not available on eighttrack
so I have no use for them.
Sometimes reward points can be
converted to cash, more convenient
Ross
Rambles
By Ken Ross,
Graphic-Advocate Editor
What’s Happening
than a certificate for a free spinach
soufflé at a restaurant chain with
locations in both major cities in the
U.S. However, the idea of giving
cash back for a purchase doesn’t
make sense – “Give me money and
I’ll give you a product and some of
the money back. What a deal!”
Targeted discounting is a related
annoyance. When I see a product
I use offering discounts that I’m
not qualified for – the owning your
own home discount, the paying
on-line discount, the never having
put teeth-staining food dye in your
brother’s Kool-Aid discount – I feel
like I’m somehow subsidizing other
customers.
Of course, you’re supposed to
regard the discounts and free gifts
as simply acts of generosity with no
impact on the price of the products
you purchase. If you believe that,
I know a bridge you can have
absolutely free with the purchase of
another bridge at an astonishingly
low price.
Every Monday – AA & Al-Anon Meetings 7:30 p.m. St. Thomas Catholic Church, Manson
Every Tuesday – Al-Anon & AA Meetings at 8:00 p.m. at Central School Preservation in Lake City.
Every Tuesday – Lake City Community Farmer’s Market 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on the Town Square followed
with “Cookout” in the Park every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Every Wednesday – Story Hour J J Hands Library in Lohrville, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, June 28: Summer Reading Program at Lake City Public Library for students 1 st through 6 th grades.
Register at 712-464-3413.
Friday, Sat. June 29, 30 & Sun., July 1: Lake City Western Days.
Sunday, July 1: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Friends of the Library Picnic in the Park (on the square).
Monday, July 2: 5:30 p.m. Rockwell City Area Swim Team Meet – Forest City vs. RC at Rockwell City
Tuesday, July 3: Calhoun County Republicans will meet in the Courthouse, Rockwell City at 7:30 p.m. All
Republicans are urged to attend. The Calhoun County Family Picnic to be held August 23 will be discussed. If
any questions, contact Kevin Schreier, chairman at 515-463-2258.
Tuesday, July 10: The Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners will meet at 9:30
a.m. at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Office, 905 High St., Rockwell City. If you need special
accommodations, notify Peg Lenz by calling 712-297-7824.
Wednesday, July 11: 5:30 p.m. Rockwell City Area Swim Team Meet – Emmetsburg vs. RC at Emmetsburg
Saturday, July 14: Root Beer Floats served at the Rockwell City Depot during the parade
Wednesday, July 18: 5:30 p.m. Rockwell City Area Swim Team Meet – Storm Lake vs. RC at Rockwell City
Saturday, July 21: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Car Show at the Rockwell City Depot
Sunday, July 22: 3 rd Annual Somers Car & Bike Show. For information call Rod Scott at 515-408-2212.
Registration 11:00-1:00. Show from 1:00-3:00 and presentation at 3:00.
Saturday, July 28: 10:00 a.m. Rockwell City Area Swim Team Conference Meet at Webster City
Monday, July 30: 2:30 – 4:30 pm Life Serve Blood Center Community Blood Drive at the Lohrville
Community Building
Monday, August 20: 12:30 – 5:00 pm Life Serve Blood Center Community Blood Drive at the Lake City
Community Building
Wednesday, August 29: 1:30 – 5:30 pm Life Serve Blood Center Community Blood Drive at St. Paul’s
Lutheran Church in Rockwell City
Sunday, Oct. 14: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Hobo Stew at the Rockwell City Depot
Wednesday, July 11th
Contest @ 7:00 pm
Must be between 4 & 8 and
reside in Calhoun County
Include the following:
Name • Address • Telephone • Birthday
• Parents Name • Favorite Thing to do in
Summer • Favorite Animal/Why • Favorite
Person/Why • Favorite Game to Play/Why
Mail to: Darci Walters
311 Austin St.
Rockwell City, IA 50579
(712)297-7148
darcenewalters@hotmail.com
2nd Annual Calhoun County Expo
Mud Volleyball Tourney
Sunday, July 15th at Calhoun Co. Fairgrounds
Cash payout & trophies for 1st ($300)
2nd ($200) and 3rd ($100)
$50 Trophy for Best Team Uniform &
Best Team Name - (Keep it clean)
Registration at 10 a.m. Volleyball to start after
First 16 teams total (10 person teams)
(2 must be of opposite sex per team)
*Will have food and beer stand available
Big Daddy Addy will be announcing & DJ-ing
Please return this form and $100 entry fee to:
Ricole Kraft
605 N. Lincoln
Lake City, IA 51449
(712) 887-0002
Please make checks payable to
Calhoun County Expo
------------------------------------------
Contact Person
----------------------------------------
Team Name
---------------------------------------
Phone Number
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