I’m not a very negative person, but as the world has changed so much in the last several years, a lot has come about that I don’t like. The country music duo Lonzo and Oscar once had a song called “The Funny Way of Living in this Crazy Mixed Up World.” And that was in the 60’s. I can only imagine how they would look at today’s way of living.

For starters, I don’t like cell phones. Don’t’ misunderstand. It’s a great invention, but it’s gotten way out of control. It’s wonderful that we can almost never be stranded anywhere and can always get in touch with family. The problem is, with my phone I can take great pictures, check emails, get games scores, provide a stop watch, and avail myself of dozens of other services, but I can’t consistently make phone calls without having them dropped. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of having a phone?

I don’t like Jason Aldean. He’s the hottest act in country music. But guess what – that ain’t country music he plays. And if it is, I don’t like country music. The producers and promoters say that he’s making them rich so they don’t care what he plays and it’s what the young people want to hear. So what? It’s like having baseball teams play hockey to try and draw more fans.

I don’t like retail stores putting out their Christmas displays the first day of October. I guess some people buy that stuff in October, but I’m still clinging to the last days of summer. When December gets here, if they have anything left, then I will buy Christmas merchandise.

Speaking of Christmas, I don’t like businesses that won’t allow their employees to say “Merry Christmas.” They have to say “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” so as not to offend their customers who don’t celebrate the birth of Christ. They sure don’t seem to mind if they offend me.

I don’t like talk radio. This has been the most polarizing thing that has occurred in this country in my lifetime. Democrats and Republicans can’t work together on a garbage truck or even a charity project anymore. They hate each other too much. If you are in a work place where you are significantly outnumbered, you can really come to hate your job.

I don’t like reality shows. If I want reality, I’ll go to the mall or to work. When I watch TV, I want to get away from reality. I don’t like the morning news shows reporting on who got voted off the island the night before like it was real news.

I don’t like baseball announcers interviewing players and managers while the game is going on. Let me watch the game and let the players do their jobs. If I wanted to hear interviews, I’d listen to talk radio.

I don’t like foul language on TV. It didn’t used to be allowed. Then in 1967, Randy Boone cussed on Bonanza and it was on. (He said, “D—- Ben Cartwright!”) It’s such a way of life now that most people don’t notice it. Kids use those words in school and don’t understand what’s wrong with them. Most comedians don’t think humor exists without profanity. I guess they never heard of the Duke of Paducah or Minnie Pearl.

I don’t like the Kardashians. I don’t know who they are or where they came from. But I know they don’t sing, dance, act, or play sports. They’re not politicians (that’s in their favor.) But let’s give attention to people who have earned it.

I don’t like radio commercials that use sirens or ringing phones. Can’t we use a little common sense? If I am driving with my radio on and I hear that stuff, naturally I’m going to react. It could cause a heart attack or some other bodily problem. And it can be a real hazard just trying to find out if my piece of junk cell phone is actually working.

And finally, there’s the tease. I don’t like that either. That’s when the news guy announces that some news item has occurred, but you can’t find out about it until after you watch the commercials. If it’s not a real big piece of news, they sometimes hold you hostage through more than one break. If that practice had been around on November 22, 1963, here’s how the local news may have handled it: “After the break, find out which famous American was assassinated today in Dallas. And later, which Wake County school board member is unhappy with the new student assignment plan?”

By the way, I also don’t like the Wake County School Board. I don’t know why.