Truth – Justice – and the American way !
By Warren Pease
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My first awareness of what we would now call “conspiracy theories” - came to me waaaay back in my1961 High School Drivers Ed course. The teacher was Mr. “S”. It was in northern California – near Stanford. We had about 20 students in my class.
We had classroom time – learning theory, and rules of the road, and then the good bit we all were excited about - actual driving! Certain days were 'class', and some 'field', for driving - depending on the weather. The school had 2 Ford Falcons for the drivers ed courses. They were set up with 2 sets of brakes – the 2nd brake pedal was on the passenger's side for the instructor – think panic stop.
On our weekly outings, a “Student Driver”, Teacher, and 2 hapless, and helpless, students (nervously waiting for their turn to drive – prisoners in the back seat), would set off to terrorize other drivers in the area.
Each week, 4 students were picked for the driving days. This rotating gaggle would set off on driving days – usually Saturday: we would get to drive for about 10 ish minutes or so – each. Residential neighborhoods, busy boulevards with lights and left turns, a wee bit of freeway for a 'final' .. one or two exits up the Bayshore Freeway, toward Frisco, exit and pull over in a gas station, rotate drivers – head back toward San Jose - repeat as needed. He always tried to give us each a bit of extra drive time.
He was a cool teacher and we all liked him. He was a stylish dresser, with an easygoing charm. Plus he was very patient with us driving. Best of all, he answered our odd questions about life and living. He told great jokes and stories in the slow times.
On one particularly slow rainy day, he told us an incredible story about a new car he and his wife bought. He prefaced by insisting it was completely true, but even with our natural teen skepticism , when quizzed by us afterward, he gave all the right answers – closing any and all loose ends to everyone's satisfaction, over the next hour or so!
I assure you, that after class, to a person, we all left believing it was completely true. He was religious, and a very precise engineering type - not the sort to invent stuff. This is a true story.
Here is the story he told ...
He and his wife purchased a new Ford. They wanted air conditioning built in. In those days 'Factory Air', indeed had to be custom installed at the factory. It was expensive, but handy in the summer heat. Alas, they would have to wait a few weeks to pick up the car, for the factory modification, and would be notified when it arrived.
While Mr “S” was at school teaching,his wife got a call that a trainload of new cars had finally arrived at the dealer. Delighted that it had arrived, she picked up the new car.
For the next week or so they enjoyed taking turns driving the car. One day he thanked his wife for keeping the gas tank so full. She said she hadn’t put any gas in, and assumed he was topping it up. On comparing notes, they realized neither had put gas in the car since they had picked it up the week before. The gas gauge was still reading almost full !? They had driven quite a few miles just commuting the week by then, without adding any gas!?
Hey, whats going on? Man that’s some amazing mileage!?. There was a holiday week coming up, so they decided to see how far they could go before running out of gas. Putting a 5 gallon gas can in the trunk, they headed from the San Francisco Bay Area, to Los Angeles to visit family – about 500 miles!
Well they drove to LA – visited – did some sightseeing, and drove back to the Bay Area.
When they arrived – the phone was ringing – notes were in the mailbox - they were besieged by phone calls and messages from the dealer !!!
“They had been given an experimental car – destined for Stanford – delivered to them by mistake !!! – it was in the same shipment with their car – but a serial number /clerical error released the experimental car instead! Would they return it immediately!. They would be compensated, and get the car they actually ordered.! Contact the dealer immediately!”
They had the wrong car .. and Ford would like them to exchange it! Ford was offering them ... a new car each year for life to return the car!
It turns out the car they had – was equipped with some experimental carburetor that allowed hundreds of miles per gallon !!! .. they were gobsmacked .. but under heavy pressure, made the deal .. and returned the car. They did get a new Ford every year I was in High School!?! (free???)
Wow !! – A carburetor that let you go hundreds of miles per gallon in 1961 !?!? …The gasoline companies did NOT want that to go public! Mr S and wife were told not to discuss it - or promote it .. and were forbidden to go to the press, or the new car deal every year - was off !
After intense questioning and grilling by all of us … we couldn’t find any loopholes .. he was serious – not putting us on .. but sharing a 'secret' he was bursting to share!
That’s when we teens had the light bulbs go on – and realized that what the companies 'sell and tell' on TV .. isn’t exactly what they 'know or have' in R and D !? …
Germs of doubt about official pronouncements were seeded ! What else were the great mesophysical “they” not telling us ? We started to really grow up !
Thus began my critical thinking and questioning about what was 'really' going on in the world? – out front – and behind the curtain? ..
what else were we 'not' knowing ?.. and when could we believe what 'they' tell us .. ?
Moral of story : Always – listen between the lines – whenever 'they' speak !!!
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In 1961, I grew up a little bit. I learned to drive a car, and got a license, but also ..
“ ... we .... saw the enemy – and it was ... US ! ” **
Those flashes of understanding started up then – and haven’t stopped since!
200 mpg for gas in 1961 !? … hmmm ??? .. jus' sayin' ….
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"Truth! – Justice! – and, The American Way!"*
Warren Pease – Out !
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* – thanks Superman !
** – Thanks Pogo !
1 comment:
I’m sure glad that carburetor never made out of the R & D department, just think how many cars would have been on the roads contributing to global warming today!
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