Airbags were often a big topic of conversation in my house when I was growing up in the 70s. So long ago it seems. But then I happen to come across an article that says automakers want stronger warnings to prevent "death by airbag" of young children or the very petite-est of drivers. My, how times have changed.

I am in no way unsympathetic to the 22 families cited in the article. But I can't help but ask: doesn't everyone know that the front passenger seat is called "The Death Seat?" Nothing unclear about that. So my question: why would anyone put an infant seat in the front of a car, airbag or no airbag? God help us if the automobile industry is actually taking steps to protect consumers - that used to be Ralph Nader's job. Things must be really bad. (Don't get me started on Nader - his egocentric bungling of the 2000 presidential race was what inspired my idea for Outrage.com in the first place.)

I grew up in a house consumed by automobile safety, thanks to my dad's work on Capitol Hill and then for a major German automaker. Seat belts, child locks, ABS, air bags, supplemental restraint, crumple zones, crash test dummies -- ahh, the fond memories of childhood.