RMR: Liberal GPS

Oh the Horror!

I know we all feel the same way when we see a nice car in front of us on the road. Instant comparisons take place between your "clunker" and their sportish, European model. Why can't we all have glorious cars like that? Why must we be the the nerdy kids at the crappy lunch table, the handicapped without the advantage of a great parking space, the (only)Roncalli student to forget about extra-curricular Friday?? Will it always succumb to this inevitable fate, or will we one day rise up and be able to peer out hand-crafted Italian windows? I for one, look forward to the day when I can call the newest model my own. It feels as if I am a freshman again, and all the older kids find it convenient to cut me in the lunch line. Will it never end!!? I can feel my tastebuds watering at the sight of luxury and refinement. Please do not catagorize me immediately, seeing as how I am not power/money hungry. I merely wish to catch a glimpse of the hierarchy to which only 5% of society will ever experience. The irritable inequality of it all creates a sense of understanding, oddly enough. Most of us, seeing as we are still young, are quite satisfied with our 10+ year-old cars. As those sports cars drive by(some which can be found in the Roncalli parking lot), we teenagers make it a note that one day, we just might be able to touch a car of that stature.

Four Bars, No Problems:)

What kind of cell phone do you have? Is it colorful, a touchscreen, maybe even smart enough to connect to facebook? Is it Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Ford......Ford?!?! What!! That is a car company, not a cellphone service! Why, of course you are partly wrong on this assumption. Ford, along with several other car-makers, have provided built in phones for their newer models. Shockingly enough, I approve of such an addition. We have all been accused of the phone-between-chin-and-shoulder maneuver. I do not know about the rest of society, but I often face the ultimatum of dropping my phone down the crevace between the seat and the cupholders, or risk letting go of the wheel for more than half the ride. I will let you all decide which is more dangerous for an 18-year-old girl with the motor skills and attention span of a toddler. Without having to hold phone at all times, I find it easier to talk to my companion while driving the busy roads. All that is required is a clear and decisive voice in order to pronounce the desired contact (this can also prove somewhat of a problem when it comes to well......people like me).

Instant Replay?

How many of us have a television in which we can pause, rewind and even fast-forward our programs? Many Americans have invested in such a system, creating extra snack breaks, longer phone conversations, and convenient bathroom runs. I find this system to be useful and entertaining, skipping ahead to my favorite parts of a show or rewinding to watch them again. The brand-new Buick Regal has adapted this feature to their cars. Live television in cars you say? Not television, but rather, radios have been given the incredible gift of "Tivo". If you have the fortunate opportunity to own a new Regal, you can now pause, rewind and, yes, fast-forward your radio stations. I thought I had seen and blogged it all before this brick wall came along. We Americans know that the radio itself can be a distraction in general. Now as a society, we find it convenient to out-do ourselves once more. Do we really need another distraction (and probably a much longer one) to divert our attention from the road? This is the last thing we should be fiddling with in the midst of a busy intersection or rush-hour-ridden highway.

How Do These Cars Affect Novice Drivers?

When our parents were all learning to drive, they had it the hard way. They did not have any fancy gadgets or much of any aid for that matter besides their own knowledge. Are new advancements in cars preventing neophytes from gleaning auto-knowledge? It is my understanding that sixteen-year-olds will never learn to parallel park if the car is to always do it for them. If a sensor on the mirrors is always alerting them, they will never think twice about looking over their shoulder for a "double-glance". We cannot even expect them to rely on the hood cameras completely. Technology is not forever, but knowledge and information we gather is. If a technical difficulty were to occur with one of these "reliable appliances", we would only have our pure skill to make it through the glitch.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

It may seem as though I am bashing technology and its part in the making of cars, but I only criticize the ideas that seem to do more harm than good. There are many new improvements to cars that I find rather helpful. Cars today have a sensor built in to the side mirrors. This allows the driver to know if he or she is too close to a parallel car. Another addition I find most impressive is the "stay awake button". If the car senses that it is errodically drifting or anything of the sort, it will make an alarm-like noise to wake up the sleepy driver. Rather than being a distraction, these inventions provide awareness. There are also many additions to cars that we are not so aware of. Air bags have now been placed not only in the front two seats, but also on all of the side doors. This makes cars alot more safer for travel. Such inventions only provide hope that humanity has not gone completely insane.

Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

A DVD player in a car is nothing new to today's generation. Children under the age of ten have practically grown up with one hanging from the car ceiling. Yet, the auto-industry has managed to pull another fast one on society. Here is a prime example of the kinds of technology meant to distract us. PLaced directly under the pilot control panel, it appears that the driver can enjoy a "flick" every once in a while. All they have to do is take their eyes off the road long enough to get into an accident. It is much easier than it looks. These small DVD players should be placed in the back seats with the kids. There is absolutely no reason for a driver to be taking their eyes off the road. Even if the intent is to just listen to the movie, we all know that sneeking a peak every few minutes is a must. Well, it only takes the blink of an eye for a crash to occur.