Some people assume that because I’ve been on this planet quite a while and that because I’ve spent many years as a journalist that I have some sort of greater understanding of the events that transpire around us.

In a certain few cases that may be accurate, but generally I stumble through life as professionally ignorant and seeking enlightenment.  

Currently here are a few of the things that befuddle me:

I don’t get the whole “Chewbacca Mom” craze. A woman with kids made a video of her wearing a mask of Han Solo’s best friend. This becomes an internet sensation.  Why? Was it cute, clever, or perhaps just a tad creepy?

I’m perpetually in a daze over weather forecasts. Most nights I watch a local TV news program that has the least irritating weather people. Frankly, every time I see one particular forecaster – who once had the gall of actually coming on after a prediction to crow he had made it correctly – I want to throw something at the set.

So, I watch the forecast at night and then I wake up in the morning and I look at the forecast on my telephone. Sometimes I confirm this prediction by then turning on the TV and watching the local morning show.

I also look out the window to confirm what I’ve been told.

Why do I do all that when it seems seven times out of ten the forecasts aren’t correct? And I keep a variety of coats and umbrellas in the car anyway?

I have another seemingly random obsession with gasoline prices. I notice the prices every day as I drive around the area. I may not need gas, but I pay attention to whether or not the prices have increased or decreased from the past day.

Why the heck do I care? It’s two cents cheaper than yesterday, yay! I mentally check the potential savings. I may be able to pocket an additional 20 cents!

Why is it I never follow the long-running TV shows that become cult hits when they are on weekly? And when they finally go off the air the task is often way too daunting to seek them out and watch. “Lost,” “Breaking Bad,” – sorry never saw them. I tried starting “Game of Thrones” and watched the first season and part of the second but then I became distracted.

The one time I decided to digest such a show – “Mad Men” – after the end of the run is when I discovered that Netflix didn’t have the actual conclusion of the series. Now that was a little frustrating.

Oh well, at least the threat of internet spoilers holds less meaning with me.

When did it become necessary for people in my profession to sacrifice accuracy in order to post something about a story first? Everyone in my business wants to break a story, but generally getting the story right is also important.

Yes, I’m well aware that news stories posted on the internet are frequently updated and will note as such, but here is the problem: people tend to remember what they first see. They may not go back to that original story to see the updates, so for good or bad their recollection of a story is the first draft.

By the way, I’ve struggled with this question: Do we really need the constant flow of information that Twitter, Facebook and other social media represents? Just how much stuff can we consume during the day?

What really are the things we need to know as opposed to the ceaseless noise that confronts us?

Who decides what the flavor of the month is? Where the heck did chipotle come from? Yes I know it’s a jalapeno pepper that’s has been dried and smoked, but how did it become so ubiquitous? I have the same question for cilantro.

Why do some food trends succeed and why do others falter? I knew a guy who tried marketing a food to sell at fairs that was a Belgian waffle segment on a stick dipped in chocolate.

Well perhaps I know the answer to that one. It was like a soggy sponge coated in chocolate, not a good thing.

It’s my lot in life to ask questions and despite the occasionally frustrating nature of doing so I intend to continue looking for answers.

This column is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the position of the owners or advertisers of this newspaper. Got a comment about this story? Go to http://speakout.thereminder.com and let us know.