Choice and control

Lately, the subjects of "control" and "choice" have come up
in conversations in my "office", the corner coffee shop. It has
become pretty clear that all of the participants in this debate
were convinced that they have a certain amount of control
and that they have choice in life. I bring it up, because relatively
recently I have come to the conclusion that I have neither!
Control: Steering one's life in the direction one has determined
for one's self;
Choice: Independent from outside influences, choosing between
various alternatives presented.

Both, I believe are falsehoods.
If that were true, my environment wouldn't matter.

Control: I plan to go from A to B. I have been requested to do so,
and my health (in one's control?) is allowing me to go. I plan to go
a certain route. I try to start my car. It refuses (beyond control!).
I try again. It responds. I take a certain route, predetermined by
me to be the most direct. Various stop lights slow me down
(beyond control!). Along the route, a fallen limb from a tree
forces me to make a detour (beyond control), etc.
I'll be delighted to discuss this scenario further, but for now, my
conclusion is, that no matter what my intentions are, my
environment is in control!

Choice (actually not TOO different from control!): I receive two
responses to 4 job applications. I happen to be in a great mood,
which influences my approach and reasoning. I decide based on
my state of mind, which has plenty to do with that decision. If I
would have been in a terrible mood, if I had been distracted,
I might have made a different "choice!" My surroundings
are the leaders in my life.

I live my life not within a vacuum. I am constantly subjected to
outside influences, such as the weather (one of the big influences
in my life), when I drink a cup of coffee I react differently to my
environment than when "sober," etc.

What's your opinion? Let's start a debate!

The need for cleavage.

There is a saying that sounds something like this: “When you have it,
show it off!” Conservatively speaking, 50% of the women show their
cleavage in some form or another in public.

When one asks a male, most think that that is a good thing. Men
can’t show cleavage, only chest hair, and that isn’t really “in.”
Women are upset when we, men, stare at their cleavage, though
they must know that’s what will happen when she reveals bits of
her breasts.

Oh, I like the shape of breasts, most men do, but my question is:
“Is it wise to bring unrequested excitement to the conference room,
the lunch table and the coffee shop?” Doesn’t it distract from the
person with whom we confer, have lunch with or with whom we sip
coffee? Men show their manliness by showing up and being. Maybe
we have a sexy beard, but bodily distractions are hard to come by
with men.

Would women be fewer times bothered by men if they “button up?”
Would there then be fewer rapes and other forms of abuse?
You tell me.

Electricity-use restrictions coming?

Recently, I experimented with the concept of saving home-use
electricity. I decided to plug my TV set in only when I was
about to watch a program or the news. As soon as my viewing
time had ended, I unplugged the set again. I did this for about
60 days and reviewed my power bill hoping for a cost saving.
The two bills I received during this period showed a startling
difference compared to the same period last year. Taking
variations into consideration, conservatively, I saved at least
20%. Since then, I have been turning off my printer, unplug my
toaster and other appliances. One advantage: more money for
coffee at the corner coffee shop, where I wrote this revelation.

What is your experience?