Daily Dose of Common Sense

People often mispronounce the word for someone who sells property. It’s spelled “realtor,” which should be said as “real-tor.” However, a lot of people (and I mean a lot) say “real-a-tor.” Well, that’s wrong.

There’s no extra “a” in the middle of the word. It’s not a three-syllable word, just two. You would never say “realaty” for “realty.”

I don’t know where this pronunciation started, and I hear it all the time. But, one blog post at a time, we can change the world. (Won’t someone think of the children?! The children!!)

Growing up, our household had a strict “no bumper sticker” policy. We were threatened with bodily harm should we ever put an unnecessary sticker on the car. My dad didn’t want to scrape them off, and I learned early on that bumper stickers were a nuisance.

I understand the need to show “flair.” Some people want to personalize their cars, too. But, putting a hard-to-remove item on the paint job seems like a hassle.

Some people believe having a bumper sticker on their car has lead to vandalism from someone who didn’t share the same views. Who wants their car to be keyed, or worse, just for showing your opinions?

We’re all free to decorate our cars any way we please, of course. I just think there might be a better way to do it than a rectangle sticker on your bumper. Dashboard toy, anyone?

Photo courtesy of Flickr: Phillie Casablanca

We’ve pretty much avoided commenting on the whole Jon & Kate train wreck. But, even we can’t resist this one. This photo is from the New York Post:

Yes, “penalty” is misspelled. And, apparently, he can’t spell his own name either. Now, I’m pretty sure Jon himself didn’t type this out. But, whoever did doesn’t know how to use spellcheck.

Egg, meet face. Face, egg.

Most pedestrians jaywalk at one time or another. For those who don’t know, jaywalking is defined as, “to cross a street at a place other than a regular crossing or in a heedless manner, as diagonally or against a traffic light.” I’m a fan of jaywalking if it helps you get where you need to go a little bit faster. However, if you’re jaywalking, you should know to move your ass if cars are approaching.

I’ve seen it time and time again: lollygagging jaywalkers. Some pedestrians appear to think that traffic should stop for them, even though they are in the middle of the street. I don’t know whether that attitude stems from selfishness, naiveté, ignorance, or what. But, it’s very unwise to play chicken with something much larger and heavier.

I want to have a sign that says, “You’re the one breaking the law and a 4,000 pound metal machine is speeding towards you. Can you get a MOVE ON?!”

Photo courtesy of Flickr: Adrian Miles

Dating can be rough. It’s hard to meet people and put yourself out there without feeling a small amount of stress. Some might wonder if potential partners are on the up and up. Is she a gold-digger? Is he really a brain surgeon? Well, there’s an iPhone App for that. A product called DateCheck is now available to act as your private detective.

Only, aren’t we getting a little paranoid? Not to mention invading someone’s privacy? Here is some information from DateCheck’s site:

Simply enter a name, phone number or email address and instantly get accurate and comprehensive results. With features like Sleaze Detector, Compatibility, Net Worth, Interests and Living Situation you can be in the know on the go. “Look up before you hook up.”

Net worth? Oh, that’s a nice way to eliminate someone great because of a superficial judgement about their finances. Living situation? How about “none of your business?” The “Sleaze Detector” will find out if the person has any criminal convictions, felonies, or misdemeanors. While this may be more desirable information, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to attach so much weight to it. Just because someone has a felony in their past doesn’t mean he/she is bad, and the opposite is true as well. If they don’t show up as a criminal, you can’t bet they are squeaky clean. Remember, Ted Bundy didn’t have any arrests under his belt.

What’s really scary about this process is the way you submit information on the person you’re investigating. You give the application a name, phone number, or email address. Wow. That’s a far cry from the old days of meeting with the detective agency and providing a photograph. This seems to scream “misidentification” to me. Also, you know folks won’t be using this to just look up before they hook up. Most people will use this on about everyone they know. At what point does our personal information become off limits?

Relax, folks. Go with the personality of the other person and your gut. Both are usually right.

[Via WalletPop]