Demolition Highway
Where Do Your Decisions Come From?
Evel Knievel was a daredevil back when I was a kid. He made a lot of money and was famous. He also spent a lot of time in the hospital. Why?
The way Knievel got ready for his stunt, whether jumping over buses or the fountain at Caesar's, was to drink Wild Turkey. Liquid courage.
That is how a person loses their equilibrium and reflexes. It is a wonder he lived as long as he did.
People think they have an excellent reason for their options, but they are not well thought out. They only think of one key want instead of considering the possible consequences.
For Knievel, that was accomplishing the jump and being a hero. Never mind that people came to his events to see him get slaughtered.
Morbid fascination is what made him a household name.
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Mom's Poor Financing Works Out
My mother bought a brand-new 1966 Volkswagen Beatle. Why? Because her neighbor had one. I hated that car – too small, and it was a coup. I had to climb in back at eight years old. It was cramped.
The bug was great on gas but not a bargain.
Mom was missing payments soon enough on that puny car. She had to give it up and opted for a used 1955 Mercury that was like a tank. More gas expense, but at least there was room.
And the Mercury was affordable.
A drunk driver crashed into the Mercury, leaving Mom with a spinal injury that took six months in the hospital to heal. But the car did the trick in at least keeping her alive.
She would've been dead in the Beatle.
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Economy = Roadkill
A guy at a place I worked bought a massive pickup truck. He was so small that he had to climb up like it was Mount Everest.
I asked him, "What are you doing with a truck you don't fit into??
He told me that he used to have a tiny economy car. This guy saved a lot on gas. He could drive anywhere at less cost. He fit in it perfectly.
But he was almost slaughtered by a larger vehicle. Like my mother, he was in the hospital for months. After that, he bought the most enormous truck.
He told me, "I would buy a tank if it were street-legal."
What did you buy your car for?
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Guilty as Charged
I had a doctor who would dog me about riding a motorcycle. He was worried I would get knocked off the bike. And I did go down more than once.
Why did I have a motorcycle?
??? Less gas expense
??? Less on insurance
领英推荐
??? Less on repairs and maintenance
??? Easier to get by traffic jams
??? Easier parking
??? Girls liked riding on back
How did it work out?
??? Less visible and forced off the road
?? More trips to the gas station
?? More repairs and maintenance since it was old
??? Riding in the rain and wind
?? Being nagged by friends who wanted me off the bike
I used to buy used cars. They were affordable, and the insurance was less. But maintenance was more frequent.
Then I bought my first new car, which started out great. But I kept that car too long as it fell apart. One of the worse companies in the business.
I bought another new car. This was from a company with a better reputation. It lasted even longer than the old car. But now there were cars out there with better technology.
I could've used the new tech. My tire blew out. The car flipped. I wasn't injured, but I lost my car. My new plan?
Replace the car with newer technology every five years or check my tires more often.
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Where does your decision-making come from?
Everyone has their preference. And that's not bad. But you must consider risks as well as benefits.
Classic and Antique cars can be kept in excellent working order. But that depends on the maintenance and what goes inside.
Gas Mileage cars must also be safe cars.
Luxury Cars and Trucks use more gas and need a maneuvering driver.
Motorcycle riders need to be aware of the road.
If you want to lower your costs and increase gas mileage, don't forget safety.
Sorry to you if you like smaller cars. I prefer a mid-level and above. I don't care about the risk after what my mother went through. I also don't fit in them.
Consider some alternatives if you want to save gas and keep your car's performance smooth.
Yours Truly,
Casino Mike
Michael V Morrow