Big Bogglers of the Mind

Every now and again life delves out mysteries that just bug the heck out of me, but I’ve found it very therapeutic to share theses troublesome mind bogglers with others. So, here goes.

Why do phone companies charge you to have an unpublished phone number? I mean, it’s not like it costs them more money not to use the ink, paper, and labor they would otherwise use to print your number.

And while we’re on the subject of phone companies, why do they also charge you to have your number unlisted? It seems to me that phone companies should be grateful for every request for unpublished and unlisted phone numbers. It’s that much less work they have to do.

Why does “natural” food, foods with no preservatives, artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, no additives whatsoever, cost more than food that has all that stuff added to it? If that stuff has to be added, shouldn’t it raise the cost of the product?

It reminds of when unleaded gas first came on the market. Back in the day, when there was leaded and unleaded gas at the pumps, unleaded gas was more expensive. But gas is naturally unleaded. Lead has to be added to it; yet, we were paying more for it.

Another thing that boggles my mind happens in theaters. See if this hasn’t happened to you. You’re sitting in the middle row of a theater. You’re the only person sitting in your row, and all the other rows are empty as well. Not long after you’re situated in your seat more people enter the theater and decide they want to sit on the opposite side of the building. What do they do? They cross to the other side right through your row, over you! You’re the only person in the theater, but it doesn’t matter. Your row is the row of choice for traversing to the other side. Now, maybe these people are severely farsighted, I don’t know. What I do know is when this happens to me I want to do the Bell Telephone thing, reach out and touch someone, very gruffly if you get my drift.

Road signs are sometimes befuddling. I saw one in town that raises a lot questions. It’s at a crosswalk and it reads, “STOP FOR CHILDREN IN CROSSWALK.” Is this a problem in Orlando? Are there drivers in town who go through crosswalks whether there are kids in them or not? “Hey look, Ida May, a couple of kids in the crosswalk. You know, it’s bonus week. We get extra points for taking both of them out in one swipe, and the kid on the left would make a dandy hood ornament.”

And why does the sign only mention stopping for children? Are adults fair game?

Speaking of driving, why is it we park in a driveway and drive in a parkway? It’s worrying the heck out of me.

Here’s one last item of business before ending this tirade. While reading a newspaper from another area, I came across a headline that mentioned a certain health organization was returning to “old fashion medicine.” I don’t want that. Noooooo. Frankly, when I’m being treated for a medical problem, I prefer the center providing the treatment uses all the modern medical technology available none of this bleeding the patient or using leaches to rid him of his ailment, thank you very much.

Well, that’s it for this edition of Bagley’s Big Bogglers of the Mind.Now tell me, does life seem a bit more confusing to you? I hope so. Heck, I don’t want to be the only befuddled person in the world.