I hit the wall. Writer\u2019s block! Nothing I want to write about, complain about. A sad state for an old coot. I need something to stir me up; otherwise, I\u2019ll lose my status in the old coot world. I thought I might opine about the ads on TV for the Oral-B power toothbrush. It shows the device gliding along top a row of teeth, with the bristles reaching down both sides to the gum line, flecking away tartar particles with a voice over claiming this will prevent gum disease. My immediate reaction was to yell, \u201cBull!\u201d<\/p>\n
I have the exact same toothbrush displayed in the ad; you have to tilt it to get it to reach the gum line, and thus it only does one side of a tooth at a time. Then I did the math. The bristles are a quarter of an inch long; the distance between the gum line and the top of my shortest tooth is an eighth of an inch greater than that. A majority of human\u2019s teeth are the same. Thus the caricature of the portrayal of an Oral-B in action is bogus and thus deserving of my, \u201cBull!\u201d (Even though I like the toothbrush and it works great, just not as portrayed<\/i>)<\/p>\n
But so what? Who cares about a stupid toothbrush ad on TV? Then I considered complaining about my lack of small talk skills. And, my need for an App for my smart phone to help with the shortcoming. Like when I\u2019m stuck in a seat next to a stranger on a plane, in a long line at the DMV, at a wedding reception, cocktail party or gallery opening. To help me after I\u2019ve exhausted my small talk skills of, \u201cHow you doin?\u201d and \u201cHow about this weather?\u201d<\/p>\n
The App would come to my rescue. I\u2019d type in a stranger\u2019s age, sex, dress style and social status (redneck, yuppie, slob, outdated, old coot, etc.) and up would pop a set of questions. Questions are the best mechanism to a successful conversation. People love to talk about themselves. They don\u2019t want to hear about YOUR children and grandchildren, dog, cat, professional and social successes. And, they definitely don\u2019t want to endure listening to a litany of ailments from an old coot like me. Let them talk about themselves and they\u2019ll think you are a gifted conversationalist!<\/p>\n
But, neither of these topics held my interest long enough to create a discourse. It troubles me greatly. There\u2019s not enough stupid stuff going on around me to energize my old coot crankiness. I guess I\u2019ll give it up and close with the thought, \u201cAll\u2019s well with the world.\u201d DARN! DARN! DARN!<\/p>\n
Comments? Complaints? \u2013 mlessler7@gmail.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I hit the wall. Writer\u2019s block! Nothing I want to write about, complain about. A sad state for an old coot. I need something to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n