PHONES FOR CLONES

The state legislature is considering banning the use of cell-phones in cars by those 18-years-old and younger. Normally, I hate the kind of nanny-state legislations that this Democratic legislature is famous for. But I think they are on to something here. I would take it a step further and make it illegal for those who are 18 or under to even USE a cell phone except in an emergency.

"But Dave, don't you think that kids have rights?" Generally speaking, no, I don't, and since one of the things that we try to do for children is instill in them an appreciation for culture and gracious living and getting along with others, as well maybe occasionally picking up a book, the first place to start is for them to start paying attention to people who are talking to their face!

The plague of children, particularly teenagers, constantly on the phone with each other is one of the banes of modern civilization. Children will pay more attention to their friends on the cell phone than they do to people who are physically standing in front of them. This is a plague that should be stamped out mercilessly. Then we go after young adult women who talk on cell phones while they are crossing the street.

THE GOOD SIDE OF SWEATING

There actually is a good side to all this heat and humidity. It's kept us from having any devastating fires, according to Valley Center Fire Chief Kevin O'Leary. "We've been lucky this summer," admitted the chief, attributing the lack of fires to the weather, which kept accidental fires from blazing into catastrophes. So you see, sweating like pigs has its good points!

THREE CAR FATALITY

There's a lot of interest in the accident that occurred Sunday night. Here's what The Roadrunner has on it so far:

THREE KILLED IN COLLISION SUNDAY
A Labor Day weekend collision on Lilac Road killed three people and sent three to area hospitals.
Two cars collided on Lilac Road just west of Anthony Sunday evening, about 7:20.
A 1994 Ford Explorer, driven by Albert G. Lovelady, 70, of Escondido, was eastbound on Lilac when it collided with a 1995 Cadillac driven by Carlos Mere, 56, of Oceanside.
According to the California Highway Patrol, witnesses said that Lovelady was weaving erratically moments before crossing the center lines into oncoming traffic.
Lovelady, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Mere also died, as did a passenger in the back seat, Lourdes Bacilio, 55, also of Oceanside.
Three other passengers in the Cadillac sustained major trauma and were still in critical condition on Monday.
They are Isabella Mere, 55, of Oceanside, Carolina Cornejo, 52 of Texas and Victor Medina, 22 of an unknown city. Medina was transported to Scripps La Jolla, while the other two were taken to Palomar Medical Center.
The accident is still under investigation by CHP.


Mr. Lovelady, although not a Valley Center resident, was well-known in the area for his involvement with the Valley Center Vaqueros horse club and for his involvement with local 4-H clubs. He was known in that group as "Bud" Lovelady.

Services will be held for him on Saturday, 11 a.m. at Oak Hill Church of Christ. (Oak Hill & Ash), Escondido. The family requests in lieu of flowers, to send contributions to the Valley Center Vaqueros at Valley Center Vaqueros, Inc., P.O. Box 617, Valley Center CA 92082.

We expect to have an obituary on Mr. Lovelady in the Sept. 12 paper.

TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Ten years after the death of Princess Diana, with all of the books, TV specials and coverage on the Internet, all I have to say is this: I find this woman's life to be tedious, boring and meaningless. I have no interest in her and would find it hard to stay awake if somebody tried to explain to me why they find her significant in any way. What's more, I have a hard time imagining a universe where her life would rate more than the ripple that a drop of water creates when it falls in pool. Only people with pathetic lives waste this much energy on celebrity worship.