In line at Checkers yesterday, I noticed this license plate ahead of me in line.  Either this guy is a mortician, graveyard proprietor, or perhaps a lawyer with a God complex.  I apologize for the reflection in the windshield but for those who can't read it, the plate says IBURYYU.

Speaking of Checkers, if there is one beef I have with the place is that it is a drive-through-only establishment.  Maybe it’s because I’m not a huge fan of fast food anymore but the few times a year that I have a hankering for pseudo-meat, I would like to have the choice of whether I want to take it home or eat it there.  Usually I always choose the latter option for one reason – fast food fries are never good once they cool down and by the time you take something home, they’re not worth eating.  Of course, one could argue that they’re never worth eating at least in terms of being bad for you. 

One more aspect of Checkers is an unofficial study in human behavior.  Since it’s a carryout-only place, they have 2 lines you can choose from.  On the right side of the building you pick up your food through your driver-side window.  The other side of the building forces the driver, if they are alone, to pay and pick up the food on the passenger side window which is sometimes no easy task.  I’d daresay every time I pass the Checkers establishment by my house there is at least a 2-to-1 ration of cars on the drivers-side delivery window lane.   Judging by the photo above, you can tell what side I chose subconsciously.  Were I a slacker teenager working there, I'd request to be put on the left side drive through window.

We’re all creatures of habit to some extent and I equate this behavior at Checkers to walking on the right side of the sidewalk when you pass someone walking the other way.  When someone insists on being on the “wrong” side of the sidewalk, it seems as though the equilibrium of the universe is thrown off.  Then again, that person might be British.

Speaking of Britain (TWO segues in one post?!), and I think they do this because of the high tourist population at any given moment in London, but they have very handy “Look Left” indicators painted on the road where the sidewalk ends.  This is a lifesaver for all of us who come from countries where we would instinctively look to our right for traffic.  Yes, I know, you’re supposed to look both ways and I do, but a lot of London’s streets have medians in the middle and when you get to that point, instinct kicks in and you initially would look to your right.  Do that in London and there will be an obituary about you very soon after.