One day, finding a shady place to while away the afternoon with a sandwich and an Attenborough piece on insect colonies, I noticed a sort of social opera unfolding in the parking lot nearby. The lot was full and it was apparently premium real estate because several cars were queued up, waiting for spaces.

I loved my father very much, but growing up, I’ll admit I was a little intimidated by him intellectually. I’m not the biggest moron in the world, but let’s face it, designing spaceship components was never really in the cards for me.

Here’s the thing: If you see a sign that says “No Left Turn,” and you turn left anyway, you’re a bad person. Not ‘bad’ like Hitler or Lex Luthor. Not evil. But, like a clown who makes people cry or a doctor who makes people sick. Incompetent, I mean.