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The Wassup guys, years later. Pretty good.

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So after all my ranting about bad drivers, I’ve decided to do something about it, to “put my money where my mouth is”… to “walk the walk”…

I’m applying to become a Neighbourhood Pace Car.  Now, from what I understand, there is no real application process, you basically just sign a pledge from and mail it into the Ecology Action Centre and they send you a couple of bumper stickers to place on your car’s bumper (or rear window, etc) (I’ve posted the pictures of the logos to the right).

The pledge is basically just a statement that you will:

• drive the speed limit
• obey pedestrian crossings
• be courteous to other drivers
• pay attention to the road (not your passengers, devices, etc)
• display the pace car logos on your car.

Simple enough eh? Well, if you are interested in stifling the bad driving epidemic, here’s a link to the pledge form.  Fill it out and pass it in at one of the participating locations listed on this page.

I’ll walk the pledge from down to the Purdy’s Wharf location today…

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So I started ranting on her blog about how other drivers are really pissing me off.

First some back story…

When Isobel was born, well, actually a few months before, we decided that we really should break down and get a car.  I’d been putting it off forever.  I’m a public transit kind of guy.  I can’t stand stop & go traffic, and can’t abide paying so much for gas, when there is a perfectly usable (albeit, late & slow) bus to take.  Sure the transit system could REALLY use improvement, but that is another rant.

Now however, we were having a daughter, and with all the travelling we’d be doing with her, and her entourage (diaper bags, strollers, toys, etc) taking the bus or cabs would really, really suck ass.

So I found a guy who was recommended by a friend who helps first time car buyers find what they need.  I know nothing about cars (except push peddle, make go).  So he really helped us find a car…  Nice little 2003 Nissan Sentra.  Not awesome, but it gets the job done.

So, since then I’ve had to deal with driving around almost every weekend, especially since we are/were looking at getting a house (we are delaying a year to build up a larger down payment).  Now, Nova Scotia isn’t historically known for asshole drivers.  In fact, generally, our drivers a pretty good.  But as the saying goes, it only takes one fuck-nut to ruin it for everyone, and there seem to be more and more fuck-nuts every day.

Tail Gaiters…

I can’t even count the number of times in the last 6 months that I have been tailgated while driving the speed limit, not 5 km/h below it, but at it or even slightly above it.  These dicks seem to think I’m going too slow for them, forget the big fucking sign in my back window saying “Baby on Board”, forget the empty lane beside me, no, they need to tailgate my ass to show their displeasure of me DRIVING THE FUCKING SPEED LIMIT!

I swear, sometimes I wish Isobel and Rhonda weren’t in the car so I could tap the break and laugh as they cry about having to pay for not only the repairs to their $60k+ SUV, but also to my POS Nissan Sentra.  Insurance companies and the law don’t take kindly to tailgaters, a good driver should always put enough distance between themselves and the car ahead to be able to stop in time.  Increase that distance in poor weather, and at higher speeds. 

When these dicks actually do pass me they like to honk their horn, scowl or give me the finger.  FUCK YOU.  I can guarantee that will happen on the Circumferential Highway in Dartmouth, it is like it is the HRM’s Autobahn, everyone who seems to be one it (well, a good 75%) seem to have no idea that it is 80km/h.

On Blinkers & Lane Changing…

It really isn’t hard, no really, if you are changing lanes or turning a corner, use you fucking blinker.  Not just as you do it either, give the person behind you warning that you are about to cut them off, cause god (or the flying spaghetti monster) knows you can’t actually be bothered to check  to see if someone is there or not…  And just because it is obvious that you are taking a turn (you are in the turning lane) doesn’t mean you don’t have to signal.  The people across from you can’t see the fucking turning lane arrows!

Speeding…

Yes, I know, you are very busy, your time is precious, your poor baby $100k SUV doesn’t like being in the rain, but there are other people on the road, and no matter how much you wish we weren’t, you still can’t go any faster than the person ahead of you (re: tailgaters"), no really, it actually IS impossible.  Oh, and swerving in and out of traffic is a sure way to fuck your SUV up, and kill a few kids while your at it.

If you do need to speed, at least have respect for the other drivers on the road, sure, go fast, kill yourself if that’s what you really want, but do so in a way that you don’t kill me or my family.  If there are 3 lanes, then speed in the one furthest from the rest of the drivers on the road.

Better yet, save yourself some money and slow the fuck down!!!  The difference between 90km/h and 120km/h (or 20km/hr slower that you usual speed) is something like a savings of 30% fuel. So instead of costing $350 to go 500kms, it’ll only cost that tank of yours (tank as in the beast of an SUV) $245.

Miscellaneous…

Other notes… Look before you change lanes, to be sure that there isn’t actually somewhere there… not in your blind spot even, but right beside you, in plain sight, honking at you, Jerk. 

Get off the fucking cell phone!  There is a law now that forbids you from using it whilst driving!  Its not a suggestion, and holding your hand over it so no one notices, or leaning your head against the window next to your seat belt is FUCKING OBVIOUS!  GROW THE FUCK UP!  There are countless studies showing that cell phone usage causes the accident rate to go up substantially!  FYI: A recent study showed texting while driving was more dangerous than driving while under the influence of Pot.

Ok.. I’m done for now.. Thin I’ll submit this to The Coast to see if they’ll print it…  They print expletives all the times, So hopefully this isn’t too crude for them.

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Some industry people were wondering if the gamble would pay off.  Apparently, it has.  It is rumored that Radiohead sold somewhere around 1.2 million albums in the first day alone, speculation is that they probably made $10 million in the single day.  The best part? Its all theirs, no cut for labels, no cut for stores.

Soon after Radiohead’s announcement, Trent Renzor of Nine Inch Nails fame followed suit.  He’s going to offer his next album online in digital form.  This comes not long after his giving permission to fans to steal his music.  He is/was annoyed that the labels & stores are ripping off his fans by charging more for his albums than for most anyone else’s knowing his fans will pay it.

I have no doubt that if he does indeed go the digital route, that he too will reap the rewards of going label free (apparently he has already dropped his label).  I wonder how many others will deem to follow suite?  How many other smaller bands may band together to offer their music on "private" labels, amounting to hosted sites that take care of the distribution and payment processes.

My buddy John asked a good question:  "What will this mean for the Record Stores?"

Well, frankly.  Times are changing.  Music Store chains are feeling the pinch.  Those who see what is coming and adapt will survive in at least a fashion.

Personally, I see these stores turning into more of a media boutique, offering their patrons access to media lounges and offering terminals that allow users to brows music, listen to new artists or artists similar to what they have on their devices, the terminals would scan an attached media player, see what that user likes and suggest similar artist or even highlight local artists & shows/events.  The user could then download new songs (paying for them, unless they are promotional or paid for my the user watching a brief ad or two).  These stores could also offer traditional media (CDs, DVDs, Records, etc) as well as specialized or collector box sets, (similar to Radiohead’s offering on their site).

Stores that adapt in this or similar ways will survive, those that don’t will frankly perish as many have already. 

Locally, our Sam’s closed down last year blaming Music Piracy (which I believe was a bullshit accusation).  There has been news of others shutting down or down sizing as well.

I don’t believe it will happen overnight, but it will happen in the next few years.  People don’t want to buy CDs anymore, especially since they only use the cd as a method of getting the music on their MP3 player.  many more are buying their music from online stores such as iTunes or Amazon. 

This leads to another beautiful change, one that both Radiohead & NIN are embracing: DRM free media.  Those in know are realizing that DRM only slows pirates down, it doesn’t stop them.  DRM only annoys your paying user.  You have no right to tell me that the music I PAID FOR can’t be played on my MP3 player, and my home computer/media center.  I should be able to listen to it where ever and whenever I want. 

The recent changes we are seeing in the online marketplace shows that end users want DRM free music and are willing to pay for it.  Apple recently (today I believe) reduced their DRM tracks in price to be equal to DRM music.  Amazon I think has been DRM free from the go, and others as well.  Give me a choice & I’ll get DRM free or crack the DRM with tools like fairPlay4WM.

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The 10 Best Animated Movies for (Traumatizing) Kids

I’ve never seen half of these movies.. including "Transformers: The Movie".. I know, I know.. what kind of geek am I? 

Personally, I don’t think I’d let my kid watch most of these, but mostly cause they look like they suck.

In other news, there’s been another school shooting in the states.  I’m waiting for Jack Thompson to appear and blame video games.

And in case you were wondering if the world has gone to hell yet: "YouTube Britney Spears fan to get own show"

The end is nigh, and I don’t even believe in God.

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My friend Kelley posted a bit about cell phones on her new blog today.  I originally started a reply their, but it got long & ranty.. so it’s here now.

Cell phone users piss me off to no end.  You know what people? Cell phone were meant so that you could be reached in case of emergency or so that you could call someone if you needed them and there was no payphone/land line around.  That doesn’t mean you have to be an ass-hat.

Here’s some simple rules for cell phone usage:

1. Don’t talk on the cell phone while driving.  Most of you are too stupid to drive without the added complexity of cell phone usage.
2. Don’t talk on the cell phone when you are on the bus.  In order to be heard by the other person you have to yell and no one else on the bus gives a flying fuck about your life.  It’s bad enough we have to hear your MP3 player.
3. Don’t talk on the cell phone when you are in the elevator.  Again.  no one cares about your life.  Tell the other person that you will call them back when you get off the elevator, or ask them to wait a few seconds while you are on the elevator.  If it is that important that you need to talk to the right now, then wait a few minutes and finish your conversation.
4. Little Jimmy and Bobby-Sue most certainly do not need cell phones.  At least until they are old enough to get a job and help/completely pay for them.  The most certainly should not be taking them to school.  If they do, they should be left in their lockers until school is out.

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DualCor Technologies may be using some Intel hardware in its cPC handheld, but that apparently doesn’t mean the two see eye to eye all the time, with the former company now suing the latter over its use of (you guessed it) the “Dual Core” name.

Full Article: DualCor sues Intel over Dual Core name - Engadget

People really, really need to get a life when they sue for this shit.  It’s even worse that:

a) Intel doesn’t even really sell “Dual Core” processors anymore, they sell “Core2 Duo”

b) Why wait like a year to launch your suit?  What, the months of Intel gabbing on about it before the processors were even available wasn’t soon enough?  Had to wait until they made a tidy profit you could leech off of?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m more or less an AMD guy all the way, but this reeks of lawyer stink.

Yeah, this just struck me the wrong way… Its just about every day now that you hear about some pathetic lawsuit like this…

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They even have a drive through cold beer store in Dartmouth.  Now that’s fucking retarded, you just have to get out of the car to put the beer in the trunk anyway.. you can’t carry it in the front seat.  That’s illegal…

Society really is getting lazier & lazier, no wonder we are all getting fat & diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, etc…

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This rant below is very well done. Caution: if you are religious, you might not find it as funny as I and so many others have.

YouTube - Religion - Marcus Brigstocke

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