It's a doorbell, stupid.

I literally just encountered the first person I've met who couldn't figure out a doorbell.

I’ve been toying around with an idea for some time to produce a book here on Substack. I’ve considered several topics, but the one that speaks to me the most, and I daresay perhaps many of you as well, is the lack of competence in today’s world. It’s everywhere, from highly credentialed and compensated professionals who can’t find their way from their heads to their bums with their hands to my newest case study, the UPS driver who literally could not unlock the secret to my front doorbell (you should see the Ring footage).

One of the things that I try to do here on Howlin’ is to channel your frustrations by writing about things that I know drive most of you nuts. That being the case, I figure that this topic is about as close as I might choose for universal approbation.

I’m going to reach out to some of you about potential participation in this project. If you have a story that you’d like to tell, please feel free to DM or email me through Substack. I envision a weekly series of columns and podcasts that, over the course of time, I’ll assemble into a multimedia book. I’m thinking that It’s a doorbell, stupid, might actually make a great title, but I’m open to suggestions.

That’s it for today. I’ve got a big event that I’m preparing for on Friday, so Science Friday will be Science Saturday this week.

Now, back to laughing at the camera footage from my Ring doorbell.

-M

Associated Press and Idaho Press Club-winning columnist Martin Hackworth of Pocatello is a physicist, writer, and retired Idaho State University faculty member who now spends his time with family, riding bicycles and motorcycles, and arranging and playing music. Follow him on Twitter @MartinHackworth, on Facebook at facebook.com/martin.hackworth, and on Substack at martinhackworthsubstack.com.