Jakabedy- Yeah, after a few hours in the bar(s), those damn boulders can be treacherous...and MEAN! (hmmmmm...do I mean PEOPLE in the bars, or the boulders...?!) I know the insurance companies stopped paying claims after they found out boulders were acting up... Roselvr- How does that happen?!?!? Faron

I don't get an ego trip from a fancy new car. In many ways I like an older car. Less likely to be stolen. Less concern if you get a ding in a parking lot or get into a small accident. Not a big deal if the upholstery should get a tear and not afraid to carry things in it, or on it. I firmly believe form follows function. I drove mini pickups for many years and they were just perfect for my use. I had to carry a photo studio while traveling. People with cars, well they had troubles! The problem was every time someone would move it was could you and your pickup haul this for us? Or could we borrow your pickup? I wound up getting a mini van that served me well for many years. Problems mounted and not worth putting money into it and I found another used one about 2.5 years old for a great price. At this point the mini vans are functional vehicles for me. I don't care if I look like a soccer mom driving it, it gets me where I need to go, hauls what I need to haul and gets me back home, reliably. Wish it got the same mileage a my last van but that's the price I pay for more power I guess. And I'm not at a point I can't afford to pay a bit more in gas for a little more protection too. One thing with cars, things like brake lines will corrode faster if they're left outside in the colder climates. A garage is a valuable thing to have. Plus if they get the salt and chemicals on them it can raise other issues so there's certain things you need to expect faster maintenance than in other areas, but then other areas have their issues too.

Don't walk around with a lot of valuable or hard to replace *stuff*. When I go to the grocery I put my drivers licence, my store customer card and my CC in an inside pocket. That's all I need for most errands. Never park and then 'hide' something in your trunk. You'll never see the person with binoculars and a cell phone who is ready to direct another person to punch out your trunk lock the minute you are out of sight. Our police sergeant friend says our citizens seem to believe there's a magic safety bubble over our town. They don't lock up their valuables, their cars, their houses, their bikes. "Oh, I was only going to be gone for a minute." The police blotter is constantly filled with thefts where residents left valuables in an unlocked car in a driveway or in an open garage overnight! We were burgled in five minutes when DH left the garage door open while he took the dog out. I was in the jet tub while the thief was lifting my jewelry. The sergeant says thieves 'Christmas shop' along our streets, knowing that they will easily find nice things. They are in and out in three minutes. Even if you have security (and USE it), they are long gone before anyone can be on the scene. These thieves aren't interested in anything but jewelry and cash. No getting caught trying to wrestle anything big. They can buy what they want with the fenced proceeds of the quick hit.

Yesterday's network news describes a rescue of a toddler locked in a closed car in a Kansas parking lot (very hot weather too). Video shows a woman attempting to smash and open up the auto safety glass with a tire iron. Safety glass is intentionally designed to NOT break open from relatively blunt impacts. However it will explode when a fine point is sudden forced against it (there is a sweet spot as well as areas that are less likely to yield). I have a spring punch in my center console, but a neighbor has the ResQMe product and I'm going to buy a couple of those since that device also has a seatbelt cutting tool and fits onto a keychain. (Someone at a B Q showed me his very cinched tight seatbelt from an auto accident -- I don't know how anyone was supposed to release that belt after it tensioned so tightly. Links: toddler rescue https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=57fc1PWqXOE Keychain Rescue Tool (glass breaker seatbelt cutter) There are a number of devices that have a pointed steel tip. When tapped against auto safety glass (or when the spring loaded tip of the ResQMe type is put against the glass and released), the safety glass will shatter. Even a spring loaded "punch" sold at Hardware stores can work. ResQme http://www.esafetysupplies.com/ResQMe-Keychain-Rescue-Tool.html?gclid=CJyfzJ-j7MYCFcWPHwodxWsGOg Oh, one more thing: the comments on the YT video are not thought out. And as far as (cell phone or purse being) "...more important than a child," nonsense. The idea behind it is this -- as an added layer of safety (leaving something you usually take with you from the car, in the back seat close to the baby/child), is aimed at addressing the many of us imperfect humans, who can momentarily become distracted. If we _routinely_ grab our cell phone, briefcase, purse or laptop, but do not routinely have a young one with us, this technique may help prevent a child from being forgotten in a car. If, once at the office (wherever), a purse, laptop or mobile phone need could have us racing to a parking lot. With regard to the kid's invention. People can jury rig a similar setup. Marine suppliers sell thin, UV resistant bungee cord by the foot as well and easily attached hooks or fasteners to secure to the ends. Another summer safety topic is children drowning (it is silent and quick), diving accidents, grills or bonfires (never put volatile fuel or starter on anything but a cold wood, propane or charcoal grill), and boating accidents. Just be aware. If they were planned, they wouldn't call these sad mistakes "accidents."