Americans have a thing for beauty pageants. While some, such as Miss America and Miss USA, have become American institutions, others are a bit less mainstream: Miss Hell Hole Swamp, Miss Outdoors, Miss Catfish, Miss Snake Charmer, and Miss Klingon Empire, just to name a few. From Planet of the Apes-themed pageants (pictured, 1972) to the local folks at the State Fair, everyone loves a good competition, even the trucking industry. Enter the Shell ROTELLA Superrigs Truck Beauty Contest. Now, it could be argued that a beauty contest for trucks is less like the
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Paper or plastic? If your shopping habits are anything like mine, it’s a question you answer several times a month. The question I’d prefer to answer is: “How would you like your groceries bagged?” Grocery cashiers and baggers are generally hardworking people, and I’m sure they watch the mandatory training video on ‘How to Bag Groceries’, but I feel like many of them could use a refresher. I try not to be too picky – as long as the eggs aren’t broken and the bread isn’t squished – but lately even that seems like
Read more →Last week, I shared a few Million Dollar Ideas that had me asking: “Why didn’t I think of that?” Those ingenious inventions had me wondering – how might I find a way to contribute to advances and innovations in my own field? To get inspired, I decided to see what our industry is up to these days. I didn’t have to look far. Just this week on LinkedIn, Ford announced its intent to have fully autonomous vehicles in commercial operation by 2021. That’s right. In just five years, Ford will be mass producing vehicles
Read more →I love to fish, and I’d be lying if I said I’d never been tempted to call in sick to go fishing. But having a fishing buddy around the office can make that grueling eight hour wait until fishing time seem a little more reasonable. So when our newest hire, Cody, mentioned a love of the sport, I thought there was no better way to get to know our new dispatcher than to take him out fishing. That Friday night blessed us with good weather, so we headed to the local pier at North
Read more →Nothing says “American Dream” like an invention. Just about anyone can find a need and fill it, crafting a prototype in their kitchen and applying for a patent. If the invention gets funded and takes off, the next thing you know that inventor is on top. As Americans, we love inventors. We learn about Benjamin Franklin and George Washington Carver in school, and we venerate the great minds that were able to dream up the objects we use every day. Historically, August 12th, has been a great day for inventions. On this day in
Read more →The games have begun! It’s no secret that I’m a sports nut, and few things are more exciting than the whole world coming together to engage in sportsmanship and goodwill. On Friday, Rio de Janiero kicked off the Summer Olympics with the 2016 Opening Ceremonies. My favorite events? Swimming, diving, track events and gymnastics. I’ve been an Olympics nut for years. One of my all time favorites? Gymnast Mary Lou Retton receiving a perfect 10 for her vault in 1984. Or remember 1996, when the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team “Magnificent Seven” won their first
Read more →At a time when many American car companies were floundering due to the recession, Tesla Motors became the first American car company to launch publicly since Ford Motors in 1956. Since then, Tesla Motors has built a reputation for having its finger on the pulse of the latest car technology. Electric cars and charging stations, dual motors, and self-driving cars are all part of Tesla’s top-of-the-line offerings. As you surely heard, in early May, Tesla driver Joshua Brown, age 40, was killed in a collision with a tractor trailer on a Florida highway. This
Read more →A few Saturdays ago, my husband suggested a relaxing evening of fishing with our youngest son and a few friends. We’d leave the house at 4:30, drive 50 minutes or so to the dock, and have a few hours of fishing while the sun set. Earlier in the day, we went out to buy bait and tackle. As we parked the truck in front of the bait shop, I heard a suspicious rumble. I raised an eyebrow at Dale, my husband. “Does that sound like thunder to you?” I asked. He assured me it
Read more →If you spend any time on Facebook, you’ve probably encountered Rick Lax. And he has probably read your mind. Don’t believe me? Think of a superhero. Any superhero. Now watch the video and see what happens. I’ll be right here waiting when you’re done: What do you think – does Rick Lax have the power? Did he get inside your mind? Lax bills himself as a ‘deception expert’; he uses sleight of hand, fast talking, and other impressive, but mundane, means to make people believe he’s more than meets the eye. Rick says, “You
Read more →You know what’s disturbing? Watching a group of clustered children and adults holding their phones up and shouting “Zubat! Zubat!” while pointing at something that isn’t there. I knew that one of three things was going on: 1) I’d gone crazy (possible) 2) These people had gone crazy (well, one of them was wearing an Auburn shirt!) 3) There was a new craze sweeping Alabama and I wasn’t in the know! (How dare they?) Never one to be left behind, I decided to investigate. And, yep, you guessed it – Pokemon Go! Turns out,
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