The morning had been chaotic, the kids were whining about going to school and the dog had vomited on the new carpet. It was a Monday. By the time she got on the highway, Sue was ready to murder someone. She had an appointment in 45 minutes and the traffic was crawling. What the hell was the holdup? Finally there was clear road ahead, and she put distance between herself and the chugging trucks. This was good. It looked like she would make her meeting after all.
Suddenly there was a huge SUV behind her. It had appeared out of nowhere, it was flashing its lights and someone was shouting at her. She couldn't hear what they were saying but it didn't look good and she could see a fist and a rude sign. Sue felt herself start to panic, she was already doing 140km, and there was a string of trucks in the left lane, and a bakkie full of children in the right lane, there was nowhere to go. The SUV was so close now it was almost touching her bumper. Her hands were sweating on the steering wheel and her heart was pounding so loudly she was battling to breathe. Its lights were glowing with a demonic red glare.
She tried to speed up and get out of the way, but as she did the bakkie lurched into the lane in front of her. All those children - what if it stopped suddenly? She had to brake but the SUV from hell was almost upon her. She couldn't see in as the windows were tinted dark and all she could see were lights flashing and all she could hear was shouting. She slowed down a fraction, giving the bakkie enough time to get out of the way, and then she turned her attention to the SUV. She managed to get into the left lane, between two alarmed truck drivers, and let it pass. The she slotted in behind it and proceeded to tailgate, hooting, shouting abuse and driving dangerously close to its bumper. Now she could see more if the occupants, who looked terrified as they tried to get away. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked quite mad. No wonder they looked so scared. Too bad, thought Sue, revving her engine. You asked for this. I also have an SUV and I know how to use it.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Buckle up- your dog.
I saw a funny thing the other day. A woman was driving with her dog in the front passenger seat of the car. At first glance it looked like two blonde out for a ride until the dog turned around. Gave me a giggle, until I considered the consequences of having your beloved pet unrestrained in the front seat of the car. I remember how our dog loved the car and hanging his
face out of the window breathing into the wind. Like many spoilt andbpampered dogs he knew which was his seat and often I would take the back
seat to the dog. But the dangers are clear, the dog won’t wear a seat belt and no self respecting dog will sit in the back seat. Here we can’t count the bag dogs,(any canine small enough to fit into a handbag) which are more accessory than animal. But what if the driver were to brake hard or be rear ended? The dog will end up through the windscreen or worse on the drivers lap. And what about the danger to other road users, as a moment of
distraction could turn good doggie into a cause for a death.
So in the interests of animal anti- cruelty there should be a law against
this kind of thing. Sure the dog likes sitting in the passenger seat but the
risks are high. The dog must be protected from him or her self, as in this
case the dog does not know what its best interests are. And of course we
can’t discriminate. What about cats then? They would be unlikely to be
content with sitting quietly for a country drive and soon would demand
attention or the chance to drive the car.
The SPCA should get involved, dangerous dog transportation could be up
there with neglect. WE must protect our pets.
So if we believe that our animals are worthy of legal protection, please
explain how sane, intelligent people persist in driving with children on
their laps, not in car seats, with their noses pressed up against the rear
window, standing up between the driver and passenger seats, etc.
The risks are huge and well documented. In a collision any unsecured item in
a vehicle becomes a missile. Try this simple test. Balance a cool-drink on
the passenger seat and drive at 60 km. Brake suddenly and see what happens
to the cool-drink. Yup on the floor. Oh you weren’t wearing a seat belt,
sorry about that, we should have warned you. See what happens when you have
to stop suddenly.
So in the interests of animal and human rights we must all pull together and
talk some sense into those members of society who do not believe that the
laws of physics apply to them and gravity is merely a myth. Today do your
part, don’t let friends risk the lives of their innocent pets and equally
innocent children. Talk some sense into them, for the sake of their kids.
face out of the window breathing into the wind. Like many spoilt andbpampered dogs he knew which was his seat and often I would take the back
seat to the dog. But the dangers are clear, the dog won’t wear a seat belt and no self respecting dog will sit in the back seat. Here we can’t count the bag dogs,(any canine small enough to fit into a handbag) which are more accessory than animal. But what if the driver were to brake hard or be rear ended? The dog will end up through the windscreen or worse on the drivers lap. And what about the danger to other road users, as a moment of
distraction could turn good doggie into a cause for a death.
So in the interests of animal anti- cruelty there should be a law against
this kind of thing. Sure the dog likes sitting in the passenger seat but the
risks are high. The dog must be protected from him or her self, as in this
case the dog does not know what its best interests are. And of course we
can’t discriminate. What about cats then? They would be unlikely to be
content with sitting quietly for a country drive and soon would demand
attention or the chance to drive the car.
The SPCA should get involved, dangerous dog transportation could be up
there with neglect. WE must protect our pets.
So if we believe that our animals are worthy of legal protection, please
explain how sane, intelligent people persist in driving with children on
their laps, not in car seats, with their noses pressed up against the rear
window, standing up between the driver and passenger seats, etc.
The risks are huge and well documented. In a collision any unsecured item in
a vehicle becomes a missile. Try this simple test. Balance a cool-drink on
the passenger seat and drive at 60 km. Brake suddenly and see what happens
to the cool-drink. Yup on the floor. Oh you weren’t wearing a seat belt,
sorry about that, we should have warned you. See what happens when you have
to stop suddenly.
So in the interests of animal and human rights we must all pull together and
talk some sense into those members of society who do not believe that the
laws of physics apply to them and gravity is merely a myth. Today do your
part, don’t let friends risk the lives of their innocent pets and equally
innocent children. Talk some sense into them, for the sake of their kids.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Save the planet
There are an estimated 6.7 billion people in the world, and 9 billion are
projected for 2042. 1.2 Billion live in China, where those that can afford
to ride bicycles. Imagine 6 billion cars on the roads, and worse still
imagine the air quality, already poor in urban areas getting a whole lot
worse. There are about 600 million vehicles on the road, give or take a
million. That’s a whole lot of petrol consumption and a bit fat carbon
footprint.
This current handwringing fit has been brought on by watching The Eleventh
Hour. Not much fun, even with Leonardo de Caprio narrating the environmental
crisis. A slew of environmental experts and civic leaders paint a bleak
picture of a world on the brink of catastrophic environmental breakdown. The
role of vehicle emissions and industrial pollution is outlined, and more
alarmingly is the question of whether the planet can support so many people.
While numerous other species go extinct every year, people just keep
multiplying and of course all aspire to the lifestyle we define as
successful and western. Instead of worrying about where our next meal comes
from, and instead of cultivating or building we go shopping. Consumption
beyond our needs has become part of the dream of success that we are taught.
To have so much and to spend our money on meaningless things and watch
others go without basics like food and shelter. We rationalise that if they
are not successful it must be their fault. Maybe they didn’t understand the
Secret properly.
It doesn’t make sense to set up a series of wants that can never be met.
Forget basic needs of peace, security, food, or meaningful work. The ratio
of food eaten by Western beef as opposed to that eaten by the third world,
or Africa is shocking. The tragedy is that through exporting their culture
we are all to some extent influenced by the American lifestyle and aspire to
a Rodeo drive shopping experience. Even worse is the possibility that we are
getting there. The countries that have worked so hard to attain a modicum of
western living don’t want to hear that it is the path to hell, as for so
long they have been deprived. Just like the high protein and fat of a
western diet leads to disease in our bodies, the high consumption and
turnover of natural resources leads to environmental disease.
Since solutions don’t exactly grow on trees, it is up to the generations who
have benefitted most from development to make the change. With the highest
education levels and better health care than ever before and freedoms hard
won, if we know better shouldn’t we be doing better?
I was shocked when a friend asked me if I walked the short distance from
home to the coffee shop. It hadn’t even occurred to me to do so, and this is
only about a kilometre away. So it means a mind shift and the chance to get
some exercise and save some fuel. Who knows, it could be just the thing to
get fit, lose weight and have the body you’ve always dreamed of.
projected for 2042. 1.2 Billion live in China, where those that can afford
to ride bicycles. Imagine 6 billion cars on the roads, and worse still
imagine the air quality, already poor in urban areas getting a whole lot
worse. There are about 600 million vehicles on the road, give or take a
million. That’s a whole lot of petrol consumption and a bit fat carbon
footprint.
This current handwringing fit has been brought on by watching The Eleventh
Hour. Not much fun, even with Leonardo de Caprio narrating the environmental
crisis. A slew of environmental experts and civic leaders paint a bleak
picture of a world on the brink of catastrophic environmental breakdown. The
role of vehicle emissions and industrial pollution is outlined, and more
alarmingly is the question of whether the planet can support so many people.
While numerous other species go extinct every year, people just keep
multiplying and of course all aspire to the lifestyle we define as
successful and western. Instead of worrying about where our next meal comes
from, and instead of cultivating or building we go shopping. Consumption
beyond our needs has become part of the dream of success that we are taught.
To have so much and to spend our money on meaningless things and watch
others go without basics like food and shelter. We rationalise that if they
are not successful it must be their fault. Maybe they didn’t understand the
Secret properly.
It doesn’t make sense to set up a series of wants that can never be met.
Forget basic needs of peace, security, food, or meaningful work. The ratio
of food eaten by Western beef as opposed to that eaten by the third world,
or Africa is shocking. The tragedy is that through exporting their culture
we are all to some extent influenced by the American lifestyle and aspire to
a Rodeo drive shopping experience. Even worse is the possibility that we are
getting there. The countries that have worked so hard to attain a modicum of
western living don’t want to hear that it is the path to hell, as for so
long they have been deprived. Just like the high protein and fat of a
western diet leads to disease in our bodies, the high consumption and
turnover of natural resources leads to environmental disease.
Since solutions don’t exactly grow on trees, it is up to the generations who
have benefitted most from development to make the change. With the highest
education levels and better health care than ever before and freedoms hard
won, if we know better shouldn’t we be doing better?
I was shocked when a friend asked me if I walked the short distance from
home to the coffee shop. It hadn’t even occurred to me to do so, and this is
only about a kilometre away. So it means a mind shift and the chance to get
some exercise and save some fuel. Who knows, it could be just the thing to
get fit, lose weight and have the body you’ve always dreamed of.
It's in the bag.
How embarrassing to be the cliché, a woman with a handbag bulging with
necessities, from make up to medicine. What about the un-losable documents
that we often carry in our hand bags, okay in some cases, it’s a bit of a
suitcase. For me a handbag is one of the easily accomplishable signs of
femininity because if I could manage without one I would stuff everything I
needed into multiple pockets and that wouldn’t be very ladylike would it?
So we are stuck with a portable cornucopia of necessary and unnecessary
items, as in who put the remote control in my hand bag because it wasn’t me?
And the horror when that handbag is out of your sight or stolen with your
life inside.
If you have ever been through the expense and time wasting incurred in the
loss of even the smallest bag and its contents then the fact that insurers
have added handbag insurance to car insurance should come as a blessing.
Insurers seem to have recognized that women often carry their lives in their
handbags and have added handbag cover or portable possessions cover to their
quotes. I went to *www.hippo.co.za* for insurance
quotes online, and after you have had your fun trying to insure the Rolls or
Aston Martin, try it with your car. I got back quotes ranging from R 441 to
R 610. The cheapest premium of course had the highest excess, of R 5300,
from Budget Insurance High Excess and this included Road side and Medical
Assistance and portable possessions cover up to R 2000, plus had a 14 day
money back guarantee. Budget Insurance offered R 518 monthly premium and an
excess of R 2800 included roadside assistance, and medical assistance and
portable possessions cover up to R 2000.
The highest premium of R 610 from AA insurance included AA membership, a
cash back bonus and had a R 2800 excess. First for Women included handbag
cover of R 2000, cost R 471 monthly and had options to take out Cash Back
plus. Woolworths have also entered the insurance market and their online
quote was monthly premiums of R540 with a R 3550 excess and R 2000 grocery
cover and R 2000 hand bag cover. Auto and General’s premium was R 550 with a
R 2550 excess and a service charter and online claim facility.
If you shop around and here word of mouth is a great indicator of who pays
and who does not, you can improve your insurance costs. The area you live in
and whether your vehicle is in a lock up garage make a huge difference to
your costs.
Oh and you have to be a woman. Finally, being a woman, and a woman of a
certain age, at least pays when it comes to insurance, so take that guys. We
pay less.
necessities, from make up to medicine. What about the un-losable documents
that we often carry in our hand bags, okay in some cases, it’s a bit of a
suitcase. For me a handbag is one of the easily accomplishable signs of
femininity because if I could manage without one I would stuff everything I
needed into multiple pockets and that wouldn’t be very ladylike would it?
So we are stuck with a portable cornucopia of necessary and unnecessary
items, as in who put the remote control in my hand bag because it wasn’t me?
And the horror when that handbag is out of your sight or stolen with your
life inside.
If you have ever been through the expense and time wasting incurred in the
loss of even the smallest bag and its contents then the fact that insurers
have added handbag insurance to car insurance should come as a blessing.
Insurers seem to have recognized that women often carry their lives in their
handbags and have added handbag cover or portable possessions cover to their
quotes. I went to *www.hippo.co.za*
quotes online, and after you have had your fun trying to insure the Rolls or
Aston Martin, try it with your car. I got back quotes ranging from R 441 to
R 610. The cheapest premium of course had the highest excess, of R 5300,
from Budget Insurance High Excess and this included Road side and Medical
Assistance and portable possessions cover up to R 2000, plus had a 14 day
money back guarantee. Budget Insurance offered R 518 monthly premium and an
excess of R 2800 included roadside assistance, and medical assistance and
portable possessions cover up to R 2000.
The highest premium of R 610 from AA insurance included AA membership, a
cash back bonus and had a R 2800 excess. First for Women included handbag
cover of R 2000, cost R 471 monthly and had options to take out Cash Back
plus. Woolworths have also entered the insurance market and their online
quote was monthly premiums of R540 with a R 3550 excess and R 2000 grocery
cover and R 2000 hand bag cover. Auto and General’s premium was R 550 with a
R 2550 excess and a service charter and online claim facility.
If you shop around and here word of mouth is a great indicator of who pays
and who does not, you can improve your insurance costs. The area you live in
and whether your vehicle is in a lock up garage make a huge difference to
your costs.
Oh and you have to be a woman. Finally, being a woman, and a woman of a
certain age, at least pays when it comes to insurance, so take that guys. We
pay less.
Nyctalopia
Little old ladies tend not to drive at night. Perhaps the elderly
don't have the most cracking night lives, but the reason they would
probably give you is that they are night blind.
When your mother told you to eat your carrots so you would have good
eyesight she was right. According to the website.healthvitaminsguide.com,
night blindness is caused by a lack of Vitamin A, and is due to
problems in dark adaption. When headlights blind you and you really
can't see after they pass, it may be time to check your vitamin A
intake.
Nyctalopia is the official term for night blindness. This is the
inability to adapt to dark lighting conditions. According to the
healthvitaminsguide website, "The retina is supplied with a chemical
called rhodopsin or visual purple. Light falling on the retina brings
about chemical changes in the rhodopsin and other substances in the
rods and cones. However large amounts of Vitamin A are needed to bring
about those changes. If there is a lack of vitamin A night blindness
can be the result. Other causes of night blindness include; Cataracts,
retinal degeneration such as retinitis pigmentosa, trouble adjusting
from low to high levels of light, certain medications, and birth
defects".
Yellow lenses can help with this problem, and your optician can advise
you of the best solution. How do you get enough Vitamin A? Since we
can't produce it in our bodies it must be part of our diets. Found in
green plants, and bright colourful vegetables such as carrots and
tomatoes, carotenes are changed into Vitamin A in the liver.
Another nice big word xerophthalmia, meaning dryness of the cornea can
also be a symptom of a lack of Vitamin A. Alarmingly according to
Www.healthome.co.za a chronic deficiency can eventually lead to
permanent blindness.
And that is the reason to eat your carrots, and keep a good balanced
diet. The joys of driving at night will be yours with a high intake of
Vitamin A and perhaps a bit of kindness to your liver.
don't have the most cracking night lives, but the reason they would
probably give you is that they are night blind.
When your mother told you to eat your carrots so you would have good
eyesight she was right. According to the website.healthvitaminsguide.com,
night blindness is caused by a lack of Vitamin A, and is due to
problems in dark adaption. When headlights blind you and you really
can't see after they pass, it may be time to check your vitamin A
intake.
Nyctalopia is the official term for night blindness. This is the
inability to adapt to dark lighting conditions. According to the
healthvitaminsguide website, "The retina is supplied with a chemical
called rhodopsin or visual purple. Light falling on the retina brings
about chemical changes in the rhodopsin and other substances in the
rods and cones. However large amounts of Vitamin A are needed to bring
about those changes. If there is a lack of vitamin A night blindness
can be the result. Other causes of night blindness include; Cataracts,
retinal degeneration such as retinitis pigmentosa, trouble adjusting
from low to high levels of light, certain medications, and birth
defects".
Yellow lenses can help with this problem, and your optician can advise
you of the best solution. How do you get enough Vitamin A? Since we
can't produce it in our bodies it must be part of our diets. Found in
green plants, and bright colourful vegetables such as carrots and
tomatoes, carotenes are changed into Vitamin A in the liver.
Another nice big word xerophthalmia, meaning dryness of the cornea can
also be a symptom of a lack of Vitamin A. Alarmingly according to
Www.healthome.co.za a chronic deficiency can eventually lead to
permanent blindness.
And that is the reason to eat your carrots, and keep a good balanced
diet. The joys of driving at night will be yours with a high intake of
Vitamin A and perhaps a bit of kindness to your liver.
Musical cars
One of the best things about your own car, is having full control over
the music. No sharing of the remote, no compromises on what to play.
No need to accomodate other peoples tastes. So if today is a "to the
limits save your eardrums" Black Sabbath retrospective, it's your
choice. WIth the windows rolled up and the aircon on, no one need ever
know about that little thing you have for the Blarney Brothers, or
your embarrassing need to play Achey Breaky Heart at full volume. The
point is that the windows do roll up, and for good reason.
Imagine your brand new Mercedes, everything about it speaks quality
and class. Now imagine blasting Britney Spears through the speakers.
It would never do, not when you could choose Beethoven or if
particularly militant, Wagner. Even Gregorian chants would go down
better. And when the windows are rolled up, no one can hear you sing.
There is a growing popularity of Karoke again, it's most distressing,
for those who can't sing and for those of us who have to listen to
those who think they can. Keep your choral ambitions for the shower,
or your car, when no one is watching.
The funniest thing is when you hear the music before you see the car,
and imagine a massive passion wagon, based on the volume. By the time
it comes round the corner, you have imagined a bus full of raging
partyers. Then you see that its a Golf with the back half given up to
disco. In these tough times does having a portable party in the boot
incease the value of a car? Hope so.
A friend decided I needed the whole taxi experience and took me
reluctantly on the musical journey. You know sitting in the very back
seat on the sub- woofers. So much vibration, it didn't matter how
badly it drove, I was more concerned with the shaking in my bones.
Now I know how strawberries feel in the blender.
Recently sitting in traffic, growling along to Hip Hop Pantsula, my
calm was shattered by a high pitched whining. Sounded like an air raid
or a very sick cat, coming from the taxi next door. No one in mortal danger. Just Celine Dion.
the music. No sharing of the remote, no compromises on what to play.
No need to accomodate other peoples tastes. So if today is a "to the
limits save your eardrums" Black Sabbath retrospective, it's your
choice. WIth the windows rolled up and the aircon on, no one need ever
know about that little thing you have for the Blarney Brothers, or
your embarrassing need to play Achey Breaky Heart at full volume. The
point is that the windows do roll up, and for good reason.
Imagine your brand new Mercedes, everything about it speaks quality
and class. Now imagine blasting Britney Spears through the speakers.
It would never do, not when you could choose Beethoven or if
particularly militant, Wagner. Even Gregorian chants would go down
better. And when the windows are rolled up, no one can hear you sing.
There is a growing popularity of Karoke again, it's most distressing,
for those who can't sing and for those of us who have to listen to
those who think they can. Keep your choral ambitions for the shower,
or your car, when no one is watching.
The funniest thing is when you hear the music before you see the car,
and imagine a massive passion wagon, based on the volume. By the time
it comes round the corner, you have imagined a bus full of raging
partyers. Then you see that its a Golf with the back half given up to
disco. In these tough times does having a portable party in the boot
incease the value of a car? Hope so.
A friend decided I needed the whole taxi experience and took me
reluctantly on the musical journey. You know sitting in the very back
seat on the sub- woofers. So much vibration, it didn't matter how
badly it drove, I was more concerned with the shaking in my bones.
Now I know how strawberries feel in the blender.
Recently sitting in traffic, growling along to Hip Hop Pantsula, my
calm was shattered by a high pitched whining. Sounded like an air raid
or a very sick cat, coming from the taxi next door. No one in mortal danger. Just Celine Dion.
The illusion of motion
I scared a taxi driver today. One of those fearless bandits of the byways lost it and used his hooter like a aspirant vuvuzela performer. I was minding my own business, putting on makeup and looking for my keys when there is this frantic hooting from behind. All because I was unconsciously rolling back, just a little bit. Usually one is so aware of any motion in a vehicle that we even
imagine it when none exists. The illusion of reverse motion is the
best word we have come up with to describe that sensation of brake
failure, when in a stationary vehicle, you feel like you are sliding
backwards. It's explained that you have as a reference point a moving
vehicle. It's that traffic light creep speed that does our brains in,
too slow to be obvious we assume it's not moving. But I believe there
is a word out there, one word to describe it. If you know please tell me.
In old western movies the wagon wheels seem to be going backwards, we
know they are not, but the eye is fooled by the spinning spokes. Like
when children spin around and around and make them selves dizzy, and
suddenly the earth is spinning. Well it's spinning all the time but
that is the only time we can see it. If the earth is moving at 106
211km per hour, and we can't feel it until we make ourselves dizzy
then that explains the lapse of perception when our brains can't
conceive of exactly how fast we are going. That explains why in a
luxury vehicle without the reference points of straining engine, or
rough road surface we feel like we float in a world above the road,
and how quickly that speedometer moves up, imperceptibly, and before
we know it we are hitting 180Km and don't even feel it. After a trip
averaging 120Km it always feels like you are hitt8ngh an invisible
wall when you have to slow to 60. The motion follows you through your
day.
A motoring myth I would love a decisive answer on is whether
freewheeling will save fuel. Some say it does, and others say it's
inadvisable, dangerous and what is saved on fuel is spent on braking.
If you can prove it either way would love to know.
imagine it when none exists. The illusion of reverse motion is the
best word we have come up with to describe that sensation of brake
failure, when in a stationary vehicle, you feel like you are sliding
backwards. It's explained that you have as a reference point a moving
vehicle. It's that traffic light creep speed that does our brains in,
too slow to be obvious we assume it's not moving. But I believe there
is a word out there, one word to describe it. If you know please tell me.
In old western movies the wagon wheels seem to be going backwards, we
know they are not, but the eye is fooled by the spinning spokes. Like
when children spin around and around and make them selves dizzy, and
suddenly the earth is spinning. Well it's spinning all the time but
that is the only time we can see it. If the earth is moving at 106
211km per hour, and we can't feel it until we make ourselves dizzy
then that explains the lapse of perception when our brains can't
conceive of exactly how fast we are going. That explains why in a
luxury vehicle without the reference points of straining engine, or
rough road surface we feel like we float in a world above the road,
and how quickly that speedometer moves up, imperceptibly, and before
we know it we are hitting 180Km and don't even feel it. After a trip
averaging 120Km it always feels like you are hitt8ngh an invisible
wall when you have to slow to 60. The motion follows you through your
day.
A motoring myth I would love a decisive answer on is whether
freewheeling will save fuel. Some say it does, and others say it's
inadvisable, dangerous and what is saved on fuel is spent on braking.
If you can prove it either way would love to know.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Size Matters
Now don't get me wrong, this is not a sexy article comparing car size,
with, um intellect. Let me set you straight, it's not about the size
of the car. Actually it's all about fuel consumption and how you can
nip in to parking spaces SUV drivers only dream about.
You've seen them on the street, the flower power cars. Usually small,
usually driven by women, these tiny carriers sport flowers on their
aerials. Why? Is it a way of harnessing bee power? Or solar energy?
Photosynthesis happening in your engine as we speak? If only we could
power our cars with sun beams. Actually we could but those pesky oil
companies tend to get in the way. Is the flower power pack indicative
of the level of affection that people have for their tiny cars, or is
it so they can find them in the parking at the mall? I asked one
person why, and got the stock answer of Goths and teenagers. To be
different. Alrightly then, so the fact that there's a pack of these
little flower power followers should be seen as a bold attempt to buck
conformity. We're all for that.
Well when you are driving the same car as hundreds of other people
it's nice to be able to find your baby, but do you have to give her a
cutesy name? I recently got envious of a car even smaller than mine,
because it has five doors and negligible fuel consumption. A Daihatsu
Charade disgorged four people, of normal size and its owner enthused
about the fuel consumption. I just like the idea of having extra
doors, and a tiny engine that runs on the same amount of fuel as in
the average cocktail. The other cool and cute aspect of the little
ones is the ease of parking, I watched a woman in a tank doing the
vloeking thing over her power steering. Sorry bokkie, next time trade
in the extra two metre for a tiny town terror. Cars in this class
include the Hyundai Atoz, the Smart which is on a different economic
level to the rest of this article, the Chevrolet Spark and the Ford
Ka. All deliver great fuel economy and reasonable safety. And the
flower is optional.
with, um intellect. Let me set you straight, it's not about the size
of the car. Actually it's all about fuel consumption and how you can
nip in to parking spaces SUV drivers only dream about.
You've seen them on the street, the flower power cars. Usually small,
usually driven by women, these tiny carriers sport flowers on their
aerials. Why? Is it a way of harnessing bee power? Or solar energy?
Photosynthesis happening in your engine as we speak? If only we could
power our cars with sun beams. Actually we could but those pesky oil
companies tend to get in the way. Is the flower power pack indicative
of the level of affection that people have for their tiny cars, or is
it so they can find them in the parking at the mall? I asked one
person why, and got the stock answer of Goths and teenagers. To be
different. Alrightly then, so the fact that there's a pack of these
little flower power followers should be seen as a bold attempt to buck
conformity. We're all for that.
Well when you are driving the same car as hundreds of other people
it's nice to be able to find your baby, but do you have to give her a
cutesy name? I recently got envious of a car even smaller than mine,
because it has five doors and negligible fuel consumption. A Daihatsu
Charade disgorged four people, of normal size and its owner enthused
about the fuel consumption. I just like the idea of having extra
doors, and a tiny engine that runs on the same amount of fuel as in
the average cocktail. The other cool and cute aspect of the little
ones is the ease of parking, I watched a woman in a tank doing the
vloeking thing over her power steering. Sorry bokkie, next time trade
in the extra two metre for a tiny town terror. Cars in this class
include the Hyundai Atoz, the Smart which is on a different economic
level to the rest of this article, the Chevrolet Spark and the Ford
Ka. All deliver great fuel economy and reasonable safety. And the
flower is optional.
Greed and the new poor
Welcome to the new world. Suddenly everything we thought we knew about how
the world of work has changed and all our monetary machinations have gone up in
smoke. Prudent investments and careful trading appear to have gone the way
of the dinosaurs. So far I have not read of any stockbrokers hurling
themselves off skyscrapers, which is at least progress. It is after all only
money.
In reality this financial crisis has nothing to do with prudent investing
and everything to do with greed. So you can't afford a new car or house or
clothes? Well we can do you a favour and make all these necessities ever so
affordable, so you can live while you spend. So what if you are in debt for
life. What had you planned to do with your money anyway?
How did it start? Was it the 1980's creed of “greed is good” that got us on
the slippery slope to global meltdown? Was it the death of Communism that
allowed the scales to shift so far in favour of an unrestrained worship of a
paper god and the freedom it buys us? Money is a tool and like all crafts,
some are masters and some will never even understand the basic rules.
Unfortunately we seem to have got it wrong on a global scale and even world
leaders are sweating blood over the crisis. While watching George Bush go a
“ whiter shade of pale” is gratifying, it’s is also terrifying how the
world’s most powerful country ain’t so rich after all. Is it that leaders
care so deeply about the fate of their people or could it be that that
elections are coming up and most of them are going to be out of jobs next
time round? What do unemployed prime ministers or presidents do with their
time? Broker peace deals in the world’s hell holes I suppose. And what do
they live on ? Pension packages that would make a millionaire smile, because
they have to be able to maintain the lifestyle that allows them to live in
the style to which we could all become e accustomed to if only. And what
about Jane and Jabu average who can barely afford to make car payments and
is being urged to plant veggies to sustain life?
Post war generations were so used to deprivation, food rationing and motor
vehicles being a luxury that one rich person on the street had. Perhaps we
are going back to the bicycle route which looks oh so glamorous in movies
but is hell on the legs. At least the red lipstick, stockings with seams and
high heels are cool, but so much better when you are in an air conditioned
car and not on foot.
the world of work has changed and all our monetary machinations have gone up in
smoke. Prudent investments and careful trading appear to have gone the way
of the dinosaurs. So far I have not read of any stockbrokers hurling
themselves off skyscrapers, which is at least progress. It is after all only
money.
In reality this financial crisis has nothing to do with prudent investing
and everything to do with greed. So you can't afford a new car or house or
clothes? Well we can do you a favour and make all these necessities ever so
affordable, so you can live while you spend. So what if you are in debt for
life. What had you planned to do with your money anyway?
How did it start? Was it the 1980's creed of “greed is good” that got us on
the slippery slope to global meltdown? Was it the death of Communism that
allowed the scales to shift so far in favour of an unrestrained worship of a
paper god and the freedom it buys us? Money is a tool and like all crafts,
some are masters and some will never even understand the basic rules.
Unfortunately we seem to have got it wrong on a global scale and even world
leaders are sweating blood over the crisis. While watching George Bush go a
“ whiter shade of pale” is gratifying, it’s is also terrifying how the
world’s most powerful country ain’t so rich after all. Is it that leaders
care so deeply about the fate of their people or could it be that that
elections are coming up and most of them are going to be out of jobs next
time round? What do unemployed prime ministers or presidents do with their
time? Broker peace deals in the world’s hell holes I suppose. And what do
they live on ? Pension packages that would make a millionaire smile, because
they have to be able to maintain the lifestyle that allows them to live in
the style to which we could all become e accustomed to if only. And what
about Jane and Jabu average who can barely afford to make car payments and
is being urged to plant veggies to sustain life?
Post war generations were so used to deprivation, food rationing and motor
vehicles being a luxury that one rich person on the street had. Perhaps we
are going back to the bicycle route which looks oh so glamorous in movies
but is hell on the legs. At least the red lipstick, stockings with seams and
high heels are cool, but so much better when you are in an air conditioned
car and not on foot.
Eco crimes at the car wash
When the tipping point of daily dirt and evidence of disgraceful in- car
-eating has been reached, it's time to get professional help. So its off to
the car wash, a fine way to waste Sunday time. However the car must first
be cleared of the worst mess, not to lessen the work load of the washers but
rather to ease my own embarrassment. If you habitually clean up before the
arrival of the neighbourhood domestic worker, and who doesn't, you know what
I mean. Is that in case she tells her friends how dirty you are? Thought
that was the point of being able to pay someone to take the rough edges off
reality that allow you to pretend that the ironing does itself.
Reality television has a lot to answer for, but the lowest point has to be
the shows that pick on some squalor addict, finding filth and disarray in
the family home, always American, and setting to rights the emotional habits
of a lifetime in a handy half hour with ad breaks. The victim usually ends
up in tears, as the life unlived is turfed into bin bags and they are
confronted with the terrifying reality of a shallow existance consisting of
shopping mall visits and closet space dilemmas. You couldn't do that show
here, based on greed, excess, and inappropriate fashion choices.
This is why small is good in so many ways, because when there's no more
space that's it, you are forced into action. Can't find the gear stick,
lost the dog in the debris on the backseat, well then it's time for 'How
clean is your car' sponsored by Auto friss for a car that smells as good as
you do.
Plastic water bottles are items I battle to throw away, because they will
come in handy, and really should be recycled. I found five in the car and
two in the boot. Eco dilema, keep them and add to mess or chuck and add to
imaginary personal pile of rubbish? This would be the accumulated rubbish
discarded over a lifetime.
The year is 2058, the show is Earth crime scene investigator, sponsored by
Autofriss. Hunky sensitive lead actor mumbles to jury, ''The perp was a
female of 20th century vintage as evidenced by traces of lipstick on these
discarded but fully recyclable bottles. She did knowingly throw them away to
be put into a land fill and never biodegrade''
"Clone her, bring her back to answer for her crimes," the audience chant,
comfortable in their organic hemp tunics.
Imagine being pulled back through time to answer for why exactly you threw
that toxin leaching insect repellant into the garden or why you used up a
rain forest of paper in filing documents that merited five minutes of your
time but were given immortality thanks to acid free additives. Or for
that matter why you used gazillion gallons of water washing the car. After
all this feverish imagining there is really nothing for it but to bite the
bullet and get the job done, and at least at the carwash, I can be with my
people, who have all been led here by the urge to get their cars washed and
read the papers in peace, and start a new week with the sense of hope that a
clean car brings.
-eating has been reached, it's time to get professional help. So its off to
the car wash, a fine way to waste Sunday time. However the car must first
be cleared of the worst mess, not to lessen the work load of the washers but
rather to ease my own embarrassment. If you habitually clean up before the
arrival of the neighbourhood domestic worker, and who doesn't, you know what
I mean. Is that in case she tells her friends how dirty you are? Thought
that was the point of being able to pay someone to take the rough edges off
reality that allow you to pretend that the ironing does itself.
Reality television has a lot to answer for, but the lowest point has to be
the shows that pick on some squalor addict, finding filth and disarray in
the family home, always American, and setting to rights the emotional habits
of a lifetime in a handy half hour with ad breaks. The victim usually ends
up in tears, as the life unlived is turfed into bin bags and they are
confronted with the terrifying reality of a shallow existance consisting of
shopping mall visits and closet space dilemmas. You couldn't do that show
here, based on greed, excess, and inappropriate fashion choices.
This is why small is good in so many ways, because when there's no more
space that's it, you are forced into action. Can't find the gear stick,
lost the dog in the debris on the backseat, well then it's time for 'How
clean is your car' sponsored by Auto friss for a car that smells as good as
you do.
Plastic water bottles are items I battle to throw away, because they will
come in handy, and really should be recycled. I found five in the car and
two in the boot. Eco dilema, keep them and add to mess or chuck and add to
imaginary personal pile of rubbish? This would be the accumulated rubbish
discarded over a lifetime.
The year is 2058, the show is Earth crime scene investigator, sponsored by
Autofriss. Hunky sensitive lead actor mumbles to jury, ''The perp was a
female of 20th century vintage as evidenced by traces of lipstick on these
discarded but fully recyclable bottles. She did knowingly throw them away to
be put into a land fill and never biodegrade''
"Clone her, bring her back to answer for her crimes," the audience chant,
comfortable in their organic hemp tunics.
Imagine being pulled back through time to answer for why exactly you threw
that toxin leaching insect repellant into the garden or why you used up a
rain forest of paper in filing documents that merited five minutes of your
time but were given immortality thanks to acid free additives. Or for
that matter why you used gazillion gallons of water washing the car. After
all this feverish imagining there is really nothing for it but to bite the
bullet and get the job done, and at least at the carwash, I can be with my
people, who have all been led here by the urge to get their cars washed and
read the papers in peace, and start a new week with the sense of hope that a
clean car brings.
We need public transport
Public transport
This has been the year of immigration, with so many people leaving the country or making plans to do so. My facebook fetish is now all about checking on the diaspora of mates in the big world. Apart from fear of crime, poverty, regime shifts, etc many have left for jobs which for various reasons, are in industries that don't really exist here. One career not in high demand here is train driver, well obvoiusly, I mean when did you last catch a train? Though imagine how great our roads would be if the bulk of goods were transported by rail rather than highway.
Friends who consider the lifestyle in the UK to be one of loneliness and quiet desperation, as in 'you are apparently never more than six feet away from a rat', and the water is allegedly so bad, since it's been recycled so many times that you are forced to drink warm beer instead, and nobody is friendly so you live a lonely life, have only one good thing to say about it.
Public transport. While the trains may cause complaining among the commuters when a few minutes late, at least they do come.
We are sadly denied any such options here, which is really quite strange, as we have a large population mainly needing transport to city or suburb, and we lack the infrastructure for everyone to put a car on the road, plus vehicles are expensive in relation to earnings. I grew up in Sweetwaters, and had early experience of the big blue buses, most crucially when I was bitten by a dog, bleeding everywhere and convinced it was my last day. Well thank heavens for the big blue bus. The other great thing about safe public transport is the freedom to paaartee. Yes we are looking at the other side of the dronk driving debate. Before angry letters roll in, I will not attempt to justify driving under the influence, particularly since I have lost a family member to a drunk driver. But if a single glass of wine puts you over the limit but there is no option bar expensive taxi's well you see the dilema. It should be the state's responsibilty to protect its citizens, even from themselves, and thus we should demand public transport as a human right. I can hear the squeals of laughter in the halls of power now. Obviously there are plenty of other priorities, such as health and education, but if we were looking for a single item that would boost the economy, provide jobs on an ongoing basis reduce road carnage and make all our lives easier, you couldn't pick a better industry to plough public money into. Do that and you have my vote.
This has been the year of immigration, with so many people leaving the country or making plans to do so. My facebook fetish is now all about checking on the diaspora of mates in the big world. Apart from fear of crime, poverty, regime shifts, etc many have left for jobs which for various reasons, are in industries that don't really exist here. One career not in high demand here is train driver, well obvoiusly, I mean when did you last catch a train? Though imagine how great our roads would be if the bulk of goods were transported by rail rather than highway.
Friends who consider the lifestyle in the UK to be one of loneliness and quiet desperation, as in 'you are apparently never more than six feet away from a rat', and the water is allegedly so bad, since it's been recycled so many times that you are forced to drink warm beer instead, and nobody is friendly so you live a lonely life, have only one good thing to say about it.
Public transport. While the trains may cause complaining among the commuters when a few minutes late, at least they do come.
We are sadly denied any such options here, which is really quite strange, as we have a large population mainly needing transport to city or suburb, and we lack the infrastructure for everyone to put a car on the road, plus vehicles are expensive in relation to earnings. I grew up in Sweetwaters, and had early experience of the big blue buses, most crucially when I was bitten by a dog, bleeding everywhere and convinced it was my last day. Well thank heavens for the big blue bus. The other great thing about safe public transport is the freedom to paaartee. Yes we are looking at the other side of the dronk driving debate. Before angry letters roll in, I will not attempt to justify driving under the influence, particularly since I have lost a family member to a drunk driver. But if a single glass of wine puts you over the limit but there is no option bar expensive taxi's well you see the dilema. It should be the state's responsibilty to protect its citizens, even from themselves, and thus we should demand public transport as a human right. I can hear the squeals of laughter in the halls of power now. Obviously there are plenty of other priorities, such as health and education, but if we were looking for a single item that would boost the economy, provide jobs on an ongoing basis reduce road carnage and make all our lives easier, you couldn't pick a better industry to plough public money into. Do that and you have my vote.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Get lost and found with GPS
The stereotype is that only men have issues with asking for directions, because of course they don't get lost, they just like complicated shortcuts. We know better and while women don't usually have to battle their ego's before admitting they are lost and asking for help, it may not always be safe to do so.
I get lost easily, it's just one of those things and have relied on the kindness of taxi drivers, who always know the way, and assorted strangers to lead me out of trouble. If you have difficulty finding your way and don't like asking for directions it may be time to get into the 21st century with one of the latest smartest navigator phones. Samsung have a real contender to Apple's iphone in their latest offering. It's called the Omnia but a colleague came up with a better name; insomnia. Fitting since the first thing I did was stay up all night trying to figure out how everything works. Usually Samsung gives you a nice fat manual, which most women would read from cover to cover, refer to often, and most men would totally ignore.
Perhaps this is why it is only available as a download, which you won't know how to do without a manual, circular logic at it's best. With so many options to choose from, and to learn without a manual it's easy to stay up all night. Internet access is really easy, which sadly chews up lots of time and true workaholics can use a feature that synchronizes with your work server, so you stay in touch all the time. Learning all the features takes some getting used to. To use the stock cliches, like " packed with features", or "the ultimate phone" don't do it justice. Omnia means according to the encyclo.uk " the Latin plural of all" and this phone tries to be all things. Actually it goes a long way to being all you need in a phone. Without a map or a sense of direction, the built in navigator is a real help, and with the omnia you get lifetime Garmin navigation, so update when you need to. Only hassle is that the shortest route is not always the safest route, and if you needed a reminder of the disparities of distribution of wealth and resources in South Africa, a quick trip through your local informal settlement will set you straight. Apart from this small setback, the navigator is a huge asset, even though she speaks in a bossy tone and seems to get tense if you ignore directions, just like human navigators. It is an essential tool for reps, especially those who get lost in their own towns.
I get lost easily, it's just one of those things and have relied on the kindness of taxi drivers, who always know the way, and assorted strangers to lead me out of trouble. If you have difficulty finding your way and don't like asking for directions it may be time to get into the 21st century with one of the latest smartest navigator phones. Samsung have a real contender to Apple's iphone in their latest offering. It's called the Omnia but a colleague came up with a better name; insomnia. Fitting since the first thing I did was stay up all night trying to figure out how everything works. Usually Samsung gives you a nice fat manual, which most women would read from cover to cover, refer to often, and most men would totally ignore.
Perhaps this is why it is only available as a download, which you won't know how to do without a manual, circular logic at it's best. With so many options to choose from, and to learn without a manual it's easy to stay up all night. Internet access is really easy, which sadly chews up lots of time and true workaholics can use a feature that synchronizes with your work server, so you stay in touch all the time. Learning all the features takes some getting used to. To use the stock cliches, like " packed with features", or "the ultimate phone" don't do it justice. Omnia means according to the encyclo.uk " the Latin plural of all" and this phone tries to be all things. Actually it goes a long way to being all you need in a phone. Without a map or a sense of direction, the built in navigator is a real help, and with the omnia you get lifetime Garmin navigation, so update when you need to. Only hassle is that the shortest route is not always the safest route, and if you needed a reminder of the disparities of distribution of wealth and resources in South Africa, a quick trip through your local informal settlement will set you straight. Apart from this small setback, the navigator is a huge asset, even though she speaks in a bossy tone and seems to get tense if you ignore directions, just like human navigators. It is an essential tool for reps, especially those who get lost in their own towns.
Remember road trips to the beach.
Road trips are fast becoming a luxury, especially when it works out cheaper to fly, but you miss out on the journey. The much anticipated trips to the coast were a treat growing up, with all the excitement, and car sickness that came with it. Getting there is half the fun, as our parents may have said, although they didn't act like they were having fun when the " are we there yet", and " I need to wee'' started, usually just as we left town. Taking time to really see the scenery, unpack the particular greeness of the fields, work out how much blue and how much yellow makes that shade and wonder what might lurk in the depths of the sugar cane, was part of the joy of allowing imagination to run wild. No time for that now, as we live on the clock and even our leisure time is strictly prescribed by deadlines and timetables. Advice to the stressed to make time for fun, strikes me funny. The very idea of time set aside for fun is crazy, as if all the rest of time is of a different quality, of lesser enjoyment potential because its work time, so therefore filled with bureaucratic unpleasantness. Shouldn't we have fun every day?
Those road trips were filled with potential and adventure because they were unhurried and there were no deadlines, you arrived when you got there and there was always food when you eventually did arrive.
The old road to the coast was a road of dreams to the family and anticipation of the spoiling that grandparents are known for. I miss the innocence of that slower time, now its all about money, how much things cost rather than their value. What we have rather than who we are as people, and that's sad. When the dust settles on our economic woes, and we look at what's left, can we look back on lives filled with integrity and joy or has greed fuelled our time and tarnished our dreams?
In the mean time it's all about fuel economy, and saving every cent, and this may mean more shared family holidays, and more time on slow trips, where the journey is as important as the destination, and the experience and memory more important than what you bought that day.
Those road trips were filled with potential and adventure because they were unhurried and there were no deadlines, you arrived when you got there and there was always food when you eventually did arrive.
The old road to the coast was a road of dreams to the family and anticipation of the spoiling that grandparents are known for. I miss the innocence of that slower time, now its all about money, how much things cost rather than their value. What we have rather than who we are as people, and that's sad. When the dust settles on our economic woes, and we look at what's left, can we look back on lives filled with integrity and joy or has greed fuelled our time and tarnished our dreams?
In the mean time it's all about fuel economy, and saving every cent, and this may mean more shared family holidays, and more time on slow trips, where the journey is as important as the destination, and the experience and memory more important than what you bought that day.
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