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I think the readers here at Rocket Finance have figured out that I am not a fan of big government. I am all for charity and compassion, but modern-day “nannying” goes to far. Some of you may have heard about the padded lamp post idea in Great Britain. Sometimes I wonder if Western Civilization can survive if faced by an axis-type threat. Or maybe I am making a mountain out of a mole-hill. . .

Anyway, it seems that Brits have been injuring themselves by walking into lampposts while texting on their mobile phones! Supposedly 68,000 residents of the UK injured themselves in this fashion last year and a solution has been proposed: pad the lampposts. The good thing for English taxpayers like Plonkee is that the government will not have to foot the bill, but rather the phone directory service, 118 118, plans to provide the padding in exchange for the advertising space.

Some thoughts:

• Did you look at the picture? What an eyesore, but I guess it might be more of an eyesore to bump an eye on a lamppost. . .
• Seriously, if 68,000 people were injured by walking into lampposts while texting, how many were hurt by ogling pretty girls?
• Look at the picture again. What if the guy was walking from the other direction? The pads are going to have to go all the way around the pole.
• What about the garbage can right behind him?
• What exactly are they injuring – noses? fingers? heads? toes?
• Why don’t they just put pads on everything? Cars, buildings, dogs, fences, curbs, etc. Then they wouldn’t need lampposts anymore. Pedestrians could just bump their way along without fear of injury.
• Can I get one of these pads for the chest that my wife keeps at the foot of our bed?
• Actually, it might be cheaper if everyone just wore padding all over their body all the time and we could each sell our own advertising. We would all look like NASCAR or Premiership soccer players.
• Please don’t suggest this idea to any in the United States. American progressives love to copy Europeans and I really don’t want to see a giant pad around the base of the tree in my front yard.

So, what does this post have to do with personal finance? Not much really, but if anyone wants to slap some advertising on me or my kids and pay for it . . . I’m game.

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

 Okay, understand that I look up everything on the internet – directions, recipe’s, spelling, definitions, locations and more. Yet the closest book to me with over 123 pages is the Yellow pages, a telephone and business directory. Here is what I found on page 123:

Special-T Graphics  Cusom Screenprinting and Embroidery  We Now offer Dye Sublimation. Find out more at www.specialtgraphics.com.

Maybe I will get a sponsorship deal out of this one. . .

I tag:

Odnal
Single Guy Money
Plonkee
Patrick from Cash Money Life
Nick from Punny Money (he won’t do it, but it’s fun to tag him)

Coffee cups are a common gift and sometimes we acquire too many of them. Back on January 1st, Frugal for Life posted 18 uses for coffee cups other than to hold a hot drink. In the comment thread, I stated that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their coffee cup.  I was not fully prepared to back up my talk, but, Susan, another Frugal for Life reader called me out and asked me to elaborate. Here is my attempt to answer her question:

If you use a $22 insulated travel tumbler from Starbucks,

you might have just dropped your kids off at soccer practice and are headed for your spinning class in your Ford Expedition.

If you use a plastic travel mug from the local gas station,

you might have filled it while purchasing cigarettes and a lottery ticket on your way home from a third shift job.

If your coffee mug is stainless steel,

you might be a stressed-out general contractor who drives a Dodge Ram Quad Cab with a tool box in the back.

If your coffee cup has lipstick on it,

you might be an administrative assistant.

If your coffee cup is a souvenir from Wall Drug in South Dakota,

you might drive a recreational vehicle.

If your coffee cup is used as an ashtray,

where do you work? No one allows smoking indoors anymore!

If your coffee cup is half full and has mold growing in it,

you are probably a confirmed bachelor who lives at home with your mother. 

If your coffee cup is styrofoam,

you might work at a 10 minute Lube Express.

If your coffee cup is “green”, made from sustainable resources and contains an organic blend,

you probably voted for Al Gore in 2000. (if you are old enough)

If you don’t own at least one Green Bay Packer mug,

you are definitely not from Wisconsin.

If your coffee cup only holds tea,

you might be from England.

If your mug has a picture on the side, 

you might be a grandparent.

If your coffee cup has the words “World’s Greatest” written on it,

you probably know how to change a diaper.

If you never have quite enough time to finish a cup of coffee,

you might have small children in your house.

If your coffee cup is filled and emptied more than 4x a day,

you might need to have your teeth cleaned and I hope your desk is close to the restroom.

If your coffee cup has the name of a pharmaceutical company written on the side,

you probably know how to intubate a patient.

If you have to unscrew the top of your coffee container and pour the coffee into the top,

you might have been born before World War II.

If your cup contains more creamer than coffee

- then why don’t you just drink hot chocolate?

If your coffee cup contains cheap coffee sprinkled with cinnamon,

you might be a personal finance blogger.

The preceding post may or may not be gospel truth. Information contained therein is intended for entertainment purposes only. Exaggeration, over-simplification, outward judgement, hyperbole and stereotypical generalization is par for the course. No coffee cups were harmed in the writing of this post. Apologies to Jeff Foxworthy.