How to make the most of your high beams while driving.

December 13, 2025December 5, 2025 ~ SA Otey

Are you the type of person who drives around with your high beams on all the time? Of course not, you are a decent human being who cares about the eyesight of others. If by chance your high beams are ignited someone will send you a friendly reminder by giving you the double high flash. Rather than just dealing with the bright light for a few seconds the person wants you to know that you are being rude by lighting up the road even more for your safety. However, if you have a newer vehicle with LED headlights, other drivers will think that you have your high beams on by default. So they will flash you.

This is where it can be fun and or dangerous. When you give them your highs, they will be like, “Oh wow, they have really good headlights”. The other reaction is they will pull in front of you, stop at the next intersection, and get out of the car and approach you. This happened to my wife when she was coming home one night. So she backed up and turned around in a driveway as the person approached her. Not sure what was going to happen, but this stuff never happens when I’m in the car.

Moral of this story? If you have a newer automobile, drive with the high beams on all the time. At least for the first year until the oxidation fogs up your lens. Don’t be a decent human being.

Fun tip: Carry a spotlight in your car to shine back. Let your kids in on the fun by shining the spotlight on a car that is flashing you from behind because you are driving the speed limit.

Roundabouts vs. Four-Way Stops: A Safer Choice

July 22, 2025July 21, 2025 ~ SA Otey

4-way stop becomes a roundabout to a complete way stop.

I’m pretty excited that America has embraced roundabouts (aka, the circle of yield). However, many surrounding community members are not as pleased as I am. Some people just want it to stay the same or completely remove all the traffic signs from the intersection.

The thing is, people already treat four-way stops like roundabouts, but with less space. Rarely do you see someone completely stop at the white line? They roll up to the intersection (or just before it) and perform a synchronization of wheel rotation with the other automobiles to cease moving. A roundabout will help because it will give you more space to execute your California roll.

Roundabouts will also eliminate the need for someone to direct traffic from other lanes. It’s difficult to wave someone through while they are semi-circulating. It will also stop head-on collisions from people who are finishing up a TikTok or Facebook update about how bad traffic is. It’s difficult to speed through a roundabout, but not impossible. I’m sure someone will revert to childhood memories and try to “Dukeboy” it over the middle. That’s why we need to build children’s playgrounds in the middle of the roundabout. That way, you will truly drive like your kids play here.

How to pick a good watermelon

June 17, 2025June 16, 2025 ~ SA Otey

close up photography of sliced watermelons

Now that it’s hot and humid outside, what better way to cool down than with a slice of watermelon? If you ever see somebody with a pickup bed full of melons, here’s how to get a deal. For instance, if you can get one for $6 or two for $10. Buy two of them and then ask to return one of them. Since one watermelon is worth $6 dollars you end up paying only $4 for the one watermelon. It’s a great deal. If they don’t accept returns, just smash both of your watermelons all over the pavement so that the onlookers can see. It’s only $10, and how fun is it to smash a watermelon? Just ask Gallagher.