Noteworthy: A little courtesy goes a long way out there

By Bruce Penton on February 19, 2025.

You’re driving along, in no particular hurry, and you notice another driver is trying to merge into your lane. Being the kind and considerate person that you are, you slow down and give the other driver the opportunity to do so. When they get in the lane ahead of you, do you receive the ‘thank-you’ wave?

Most Hatters offer one, as I’ve noticed. It’s not required, of course, but it’s a nice gesture to receive a courtesy wave from someone for whom you’ve done a small favour. As for those who don’t offer ‘the wave,’ well, maybe they’re just having a bad day, or are among those people who consider themselves important and simply expect to receive considerations from others.

A recent article in the Globe & Mail discussed this subject, and concluded that the drivers most likely to offer a friendly wave are those driving Ford F-150s, Porsches, Teslas, drivers of convertibles and smokers. Smokers? According to the story, they already have their window down, to help rid their vehicle of the odour, making it easier to throw a quick wave your way.

â€¢ Could anyone else but Paul McCartney announce at noon one day, with no warning whatsoever, that he was performing a concert at a 575-seat venue at 6:30 p.m. that night and sell every ticket within 30 minutes? That’s what happened last Tuesday in New York, when he and seven other musicians (none named Harrison or Starr) played a 20-song set at the Bowery Ballroom in 90 minutes. Tickets were sold in person only (no online sales) and only one ticket per person. Word spread quickly in New York, of course, and tickets went rapidly.

McCartney is 83 and, according to reports, had no problem hitting the high notes.

Many of the Beatles’ classics were on the set list, including A Hard Day’s Night, Hey Jude, Get Back, From Me to You and Lady Madonna, along with one of McCartney’s own singles, Maybe I’m Amazed.

â€¢ President Donald Trump, in a story on the Axios website: “Asked if he’d abide by the ruling if a judge were to block one of his policies, he replied: ‘I always abide by the courts, and then I’ll have to appeal it. But then, what he (the judge) has done is he’s slowed down the momentum, and it gives crooked people more time to cover up the books.”

That’s an ironic statement coming from a guy whose 34 felony convictions mostly involved falsifying business records, aka cooking the books.

â€¢ The Associated Press news organization, the hallmark of newspapers in North America, has been barred from White House hearings because it refuses to use the name ‘Gulf of America,’ as directed by President Trump, instead of the 400-year-old ‘Gulf of Mexico.’

Axios, another news site that exists strictly online, says it will fall in line with the Gulf of America edict, because it serves almost an exclusive American audience. Said Axios last week: “The government should never dictate how any news organization makes editorial decisions. The AP and all news organizations should be free to report as they see fit.”

Not exactly sure of the latest editorial stance of the Medicine Hat News, but its management probably frowns on columnists calling anybody paranoid, an idiot, a moron, or a bully. So we won’t.

â€¢ Short snappers: Nutritionists say the more colourful your plate at mealtime, the better off you’ll be. That means ample servings of vegetables and fruits. … ‘Nighttime snow removal will begin after long weekend’ blared the headline in last Saturday’s News. A look at the seven-day forecast, with a high of plus 12 next Monday, suggests Mother Nature will take care of what the city crews leave behind. … It may or may not happen, but threats by Canadians to reduce, or stop, their visits to the United States could be one of the biggest factors that leads to some easing of Donald Trump attacks on Canada. Money talks, baby. … Can this be true?: The average person with the flu gives it to around 1.4 people. The average person with measles gives it to between 12 and 18 people. … The walking track at the Big Marble Go Centre is one of the busiest places in town most days.