There’s actually a reason. The credit card companies have exempted certain categories of merchants from the signature requirement and, after all, those gasoline purchases are authorized electronically. The credit card companies are extending this no-signature privilege to most other types of merchants for small purchases this year.

I also discovered that the credit card companies do not require you to show ID. In fact, their rules prohibit a merchant from denying a credit card transaction because you refuse to show ID. They do require your card to be signed and they do expect the cashier to verify some commonality between the card signature and the signature on the receipt (ha, good luck with that).

Putting “Ask for ID” on your credit card instead of your signature is not acceptable and your card should not be accepted without a signature according to the credit card companies. Besides, who wants to be flashing their driver’s license (with your address, etc.) to every Tom, Dick and Sally that asks for ID? You don’t have to according to Visa, Master Card, etc.

None of the above applies at Best Buy however, which requires a DNA sample for a credit card purchase.

Shouldn’t it be that they have a rocket launcher for an arm? Isn’t the ball in fact the rocket?

While at the same time some argue that American laws do apply outside America, say to babies born in 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone?

Are they trying to make the waiting that much more difficult irritating?

I noticed a new store today — “Simply Amish.” It’s a good name, but why does it give me an uneasy feeling?

Google stock closed today around $711 a share. Why does it continue to rise?

I use a lot of paper towel. I know, I know, not good. Why hasn’t someone come up with a more environmentally correct paper towel? (I have stopped buying bottled water, though. I got a couple of Nalgene bottles at REI and use water from the refrigerator. I find I’m drinking even more water, too.)

A guy pulled up alongside me today as I was cruising at the speed limit in the center lane of a three-lane road. He very determinedly and aggressively gave me the finger. He then sped ahead, cutting in-and-out of lanes. Why? (All I can figure is someone in a car “like mine” must have offended him sometime.)

January is named for Janus (that two-faced guy); February after februa, a celebration of purification and forgiveness; March for Mars, the god of war. April comes from aperire, Latin for opening, as in the opening of buds in the spring (or possibly from Aphrodite); May is named for Maia, the goddess of of plants; June for Juno, the goddess of marriage and well-being.

Then along comes Julius Caesar and he has the gall in 44 B.C.E. to rename Quintilis (for fifth month, as it was then) to Julius (July). Not to be outdone, Augustus renamed Sextilis (for sixth month) to Augustus (August) in 8 B.C.E.

So, why did it stop 2015 years ago? I mean, there are September (seven), October (eight), November (nine) and December (ten) just sitting out there like blank billboards waiting for a clever new name. (And the numbers are no longer even correct!)

Surely, Julius and Augustus can’t be the last two guys in Western culture with enough ego to rename a month after themselves.

Maybe those folks that are worried about “Christmas” becoming “the holidays” ought to take a look at the calendar. There are all kinds of opportunities for mischief.

[Reposted from a year ago.]

Ivan Rodriguez is rolled up in the fetal position, writhing in pain on the ground and Tim McCarver says it looks like it hit him in the thigh. In fairness McCarver did mention the “cup” twice, but even “groin” didn’t venture into the description.

Testicles — they’re called testicles.

(Which would be about the only word found in the dictionary that Joe Buck didn’t use several thousand times each during the nine innings.)

January is named for Janus (that two-faced guy); February after februa, a celebration of purification and forgiveness; March for Mars, the god of war. April comes from aperire, Latin for opening, as in the opening of buds in the spring (or possibly from Aphrodite); May is named for Maia, the goddess of of plants; June for Juno, the goddess of marriage and well-being.

Then along comes Julius Caesar and he has the gall in 44 B.C.E. to rename Quintilis (for fifth month, as it was then) to Julius (July). Not to be outdone, Augustus renamed Sextilis (for sixth month) to Augustus (August) in 8 B.C.E.

So, why did it stop 2014 years ago? I mean, there are September (seven), October (eight), November (nine) and December (ten) just sitting out there like blank billboards waiting for a clever new name. (And the numbers are no longer even correct!)

Surely, Julius and Augustus can’t be the last two guys in Western culture with enough ego to rename a month after themselves.

Maybe those folks that are worried about “Christmas” becoming “the holidays” ought to take a look at the calendar. There are all kinds of opportunities for mischief.

Except in the NL East, no second place team is more than 6½ back. Aren’t any of the second (or third) place teams capable of making a September run? The 1951 Giants won 37 of their last 45 to come from more than 13 back.

And are none of the first place teams sure not to fold? The ’64 Phillies blew a six game lead with 10 to play.

Another reason we shouldn’t carry guns. Too many of us shoot from the hip and ask questions later (if at all).

When it takes $40 or $50 or more to fill a tank, how many of us might be perfectly happy to tip (say 10 percent) to have someone do the nasty work, and possibly clean our windshield and headlights. I certainly would. Most women I know would.