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March 2007
The Archives
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General
GENERAL: Bad Driving
A recent study noted that there was a link between aggressive driving and video games that promote aggressive driving. The facts were solid, but also flawed. It is hard to say where who what was really at fault since the only games that tested were “aggressive” driving games (games that reward you for driving aggressively and not defensively) and the people doing the test were an insurance company who had cause to link bad driving and video games anyways.
But, I submit to you this: drivers in general are more and more flawed. As I venture out on the streets daily I notice other drivers doing illogical/dumb things. Like cutting over from the left hand lane four lanes to make a right hand turn. Blindly entering a lane change. Pulling out in an intersection aggressively forcing the oncoming traffic to slow down for you. My guess is most of these people don’t play the games in the study, period. I’m more inclined to believe that many of these bad habits are taught or just lousy driving.
So, is it that we are teaching these bad habits or are they inherited? When we sit in our cars and rush the yellow lights, knowingly and unknowingly cut people off in traffic, or just make dumb behind the wheel decisions, are we rubbing off on our younger passengers? Or is it this country’s revenge mentality- “get them before they get you?” It seems easier to cut off a faceless car brand than it is to push someone into a wall as you walk down the hall at work, isn’t it?
I really don’t have an answer. All I know is that I’m sick of making all of you awful drivers look good by avoiding collisions with you, allowing you the right of way, and slowing down for you when I see you dart lanes and perform general stupid things. Are you that deaf, dumb and blind when you get behind the wheel, or are you just deaf, dumb and blind in general? I propose the latter. Not in the literal sense, it’s just that when we put on that shell that is our automobile we get so wrapped up in our universe that we don’t notice all the bodies rushing around our orbit until an extinction event happens. Or we don’t care, which makes matters worse.
I think its better that we think our cars aren’t just means of transportation- but also weapons. I suggest we start treating them with the same respect we give a hand gun.
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Technology, TV
TECHNOLOGY: Custom TV- The Time Has Come
This whole idea was bought about by me watching Heroes episodes online, “TV on demand”. I watched a Lost episode online previously, but didn’t think much of it, but the more I get into the online thing the more I see that it’s an exciting untapped market. And there’s a ton of programming online that no one knows about because no one is marketing it.
There’s the TIVO. I own a SlingBox. There’s Comcast Video On Demand. Programming delivered when and where you want it. Why haven’t we finally gotten to a point when we can get delivered content on demand? Why are such technologies being challenged, stifled, and left to rot on the store shelves?
The “powers that be” originally decided it was a bandwidth issue. Then YouTube came along- sure the video was bad, but watchable and enjoyable. The ‘powers that be” decided to pull their copyrighted material off YouTube threatening lawsuits. They are now they’re trying own hand at these things, with no success due to them trying to adapt this new model to there.
It seems that the powers that be still want to stuff the same Reality-TV nonsense down our throats rather than allowing us to choose what we want to watch. I regularly disregard anything on mainstream TV because of its lack of substance. Good shows are regularly cancelled in place of trite (Arrested Development anyone?) and were forced to watch fixed content at regular time intervals rather than picking up a show on our time, when it convent for us.
Isn’t it time for user driven content- when and where you want it? Isn’t it time for our own custom programming when we want it? Isn’t it time for us to choose what we want rather than have it chosen for us?
I can do with the commercials within the on-Demand content, after all, the creators have to make a buck. I even can stand whatever product placement they have online. What I can’t stand is when I turn on the TV that I’m forced to watch time blocks pre-programmed to be whatever the power-that-be want it to be. It’s an ancient mentality driven by old ancient fools that refuse to change their business model. There is a ton of money to be made on the on demand model if the programming dinosaurs can sit-up and take notice.
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General
Catching up:
First Thing’s First-I was shocked by Captain America’s death. Everyone who knows me knows how big a Captain America fan I am (as evidenced by all the models and figures I own) , but I know in the greater scheme of comic marketing they’ll give Cap a big comeback or makeover.
I just hope the core character remains the same.
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