What has happened?
Today when someone tells you "thank you" the common reply is "no...thank you".
Now to explain what that means. You do an act of kindness for someone, maybe holding a door open, and that person tells you "thank you".
You reply, "no...thank you". In reality you told the person that thanked you for your kindness that you do not accept their thanks, you reject it, and you thank them back. But what for?
This happens all the time today, when a news anchor tosses a story to a field reporter after the story you hear, "thanks Ron". "No thank you for reporting that." Or at a bank the teller thanks you for using their bank, you reply, "no...thank you."
In all cases replying thank you to a thank you is a rude reply. You are in effect telling the person you totally reject their thanks and yours is better.
The proper reply to a "thank you" is "your welcome".

Meta-analysis studies have proven that texting or using a cell phone impairs driving. I have had this conversation with many people and have been given many justifications.
"The person was just being thoughtless or not thinking."
This one does not work because it takes a great deal of thought to make the choice to text and drive.
"Its no different than setting the radio or talking to a person in the car."
The above studies prove otherwise. Speaking on a phone requires the focal attention of all logical processing of the brain, leaving nothing left to "focus" on driving. Texting likewise takes all processing attention but your eyes also leave the road.
A recent study has proven that distracted accidents amounts with teens has increased. In one study 3.5 million accidents in one year were directly related to the driver using a cell phone. Although laws are in place, teens and others still use their cell phone when behind the wheel. I have asked some why and they all express similar thinking. They are different, they can handle it, or they are "just checking real quick". Real quick is how many have died.
Since I now experience fear when driving or when a passenger in the car of those who feel empowered to believe they are so experienced at driving that they can use their phone I have given this a lot of thought. If people who abuse driving had to face serious life changing consequences then maybe they might realize they are human.

So "Triple 5 & You Don't Drive."

First Offense of Texting/Using Your Cell Phone While Driving.
A $50.00 fine + all Related Court Cost. Also a Mark on Your Driving Record.

Second Offense of Texting/Using Your Cell Phone While Driving.
The fine increases to $500.00 + all Related Court Cost. Also a Second Mark on Your Driving Record.

Third Offense of Texting/Using Your Cell Phone While Driving.
The Fine is Now $5,000.00 + all Related Court Cost. Also Your Drivers License is Suspended for 1 Year.

Some will say that this is too extreme, that people need to use their phone for business. Or suspending a license is too extreme because people need to get to work. But consider the value of a human life. What about the life of your spouse, child, or yourself. Is the life of a person greater than $5,000.00? If your child was killed by a text driver there is no value to be placed on that loss.

And lastly, if I get in your car and you use your cell phone what gives you the right to choose if I live or die. When you use your phone either texting or talking it DOES distract you and at that point you have chosen that it is your right to decide if the people in your car live or die, not to mention the people in the car you hit.

In the past when you and your friends went to a nice restaurant a waiter approched your table, chatted with you and your friends and left you each a menu to view, then the waiter took your order and brought you your food. While you ate the waiter would check on you from time to time to check your drinks, rolls or just to ensure all was well. When you were done eating the waiter brought you your check and you paid the bill adding 15-20% because of the PERSONAL ATTENTION.

Not anymore. Today when you go to the same restaurant and sit at your table your greated with a tabletop kiosk from which you scroll through several pages to choose your food. Since the kiosk is so small you and your friends have to use it one by one, increasing the length of time to choose your items. Keep in mind all the people that touched this kiosk before you. People who picked their nose, or used the bathroom maybe having a BM and did not wash their hands. The kiosk is SUPPOSED to be cleaned, BUT... Now after spending a great deal more time to place your order it is sent to the back and you wait. Up to this point no waiter has approched your table. After a short wait the waiter brings your drinks praising the kiosk system then they leave. Again you wait and after some time your food is brought. In my first experience with a restaurant using the kiosk system we were never checked on after our food was brought to us. To get our drinks refilled I had to track down a waiter and was told "ours was busy". After we were done we were expected to pay via the kiosk, it added 20% for a tip. WHY? A tip is paid to the waiter for the work preformed, the kiosk does most of those duties now. In the TV adverts the "koisk order from your table" system is presented like a great, quick new tool. In reality a restaurant can hire fewer waiters, which means longer wait times less customer interaction, increased frustration using different kiosk in each restaurant,  exposing yourself to touching a koisk that has been touched by people with disgusting hands. In all the restaurants are making it seem these kiosk are a great eating experience but in reality it severly alters the experience making going to a restaurant a very inpersonal experience. And in the end your still expected to tip 20% for a job NOT PREFORMED. When a restaurant uses a kiosk system and then expects you to tip you are then paying for a service NOT rendered.

I have been listing my entire Star Trek collection on eBay. Take a look.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/gregoryd1967/m.html?item=191550378051&hash=item2c994ad043&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562


eBay Star Trek

Over the course of time I have given away many copies of my books free. When the person who received a free copy completed it they either called, texted, emailed or tracked me down in person to tell me how wonderful and moving my free book was. They praised the book to no end. I asked if they had an Amazon account and if so would they mind leaving their kind words there. ALL said they would, ALL have not.
It has come as quite a surprise, I have given probably over 100 copies away and everyone had good words to tell me and everyone promised to leave their thoughts on Amazon and no one has. ( This excludes those who paid and my editor.) So why? I simply do not know. From doctors to techs, from teachers to professor's,  from librarians to professionals.  I have given away a copy of my books to all sorts and they all promised to leve feedback on Amazon. If they all had kept their promise I should have over 100 positive feedbacks.
I have always been easy to overlook.
I will keep trying however.