Which One Of These Ten Totally Annoying Drivers Are You?

There are certain kinds of driving behaviour that drive people nuts. If you exhibit at least one of these nine behaviours, you need to look yourself in the mirror and vow to never do it again--the results of not facing this behaviour head on may result in further annoyance to your fellow drivers on the road, as well as honking, inappropriate hand gestures, cut-offs, and perhaps even a pull-over by the police. If you exhibit 5 or more of these behaviours, then God have mercy on you. 

1. Spontaneous Horn Honker: If you honk at the car in front of you within five seconds of a light turning green, or for someone taking a little longer to get through a left-hand turn at an intersection, you're this type of annoying driver. Better to take a deep breath, and relax. 

2. Tail-Gaiter: Do you like to pressure the driver ahead of you by getting as close to his/her bumper as possible? Add the flickering headlights for extra leverage? If so, then you fall into this category of annoying drivers. Even if the person ahead is going 10 kilometres under the speed-limit, it's not their problem, it's yours.

3. Slow-Poke: If you're getting a shot of schadenfreude at the category above, because you're one of those drivers that drive slow in the left lane to annoy the Tale-Gater, you're not off the hook. This is one of the most annoying types of drivers. Ever notice that there are fewer radar on the roads during rush hour?--it's because people have places to go. Chances are, that person burning down the left-lane has somewhere to go, so why take that moment to prove a point? Better to simply move over to the middle lane and let him/her pass.

4. Ambiguous Lane Changer: One way to get back at the speed-demon tailing you, though you're both in the wrong, is to blithely drift over into the middle lane--without using your turn-signal. This not only eats the guts out of the person revving up your tail-pipe, but is a danger to the drivers coming up in that middle lane and/or looking to turn in from the right-hand lane. Your signals are important safety features for your vehicle--use them.

5. Butt-Flicker: Yep--you got it: if you're one of these, then you are prone to flicking the cigarette butt out your window when your finger tips start to burn. Didn't you learn about pollution when you were in kindergarten? Thought you'd add another layer of harm to those around you in addition to the effects of second-hand smoke? Smoking is within your rights to do--in spite of taking years off your life, as you'll read in a previous post--but put it in an ash-tray and dispose of it as you would other trash. (Incidentally, this is in the same category as the 

6. McSlinger: Those who decide that the best place for a paper bag of greasy remains from that burger combo is the side of the highway--slung from the window of their speeding vehicle! If you're a McSlinger, you deserve 6 months of community service. If you're a Butt-Flicker and think McSlingers are Neanderthals, you're one-step away from it my friend...).

David Letterman and socialite, Zsa Zsa Gabor, take an all-day car trip eating junk food and tossing wrappers into the back seat and sometimes out the back of the car itself!

7. DJ-Wannabe: Didn't quite realize your high-school dream of being that dude spinning tunes to a sweat-soaked gymnasium of writhing fans? Is that why you turned your vehicle into something the Guvernment nightclub would envy? Those around you, even if they dig the song, find it annoying, especially if it's competing with their tunes. Think you're somehow immune to the sorry cliche if you're playing Johnny Cash instead of a bad-remix of Chaka Khan? Nope. 

8. Brake-Hitter: Ok--you know who you are: Maybe you're prone to freak-out flash-backs from the 60s, or you have a bad case of restless leg syndrome, but whatever it is, you are compelled to hit your breaks in the middle of traffic flow for no apparent reason. If this is you, stop. It's really dangerous to yourself and those behind you. If you are somehow uncomfortable or anxious while driving--or a bee just blew in through your window--try to pull over and deal with whatever's going on. Issues you have while driving are not bad in themselves, but putting other people at risk is.

9. Villeneuve Clone: You think you're the next Formula One champion--in your Honda Civic: darting in and out of lanes, cutting people off, not using your signals, flying at high speeds. Here's the truth: nobody's in the race with you--there is no race. You might find another Villeneuve Clone to race you, but you make those around you scared to death. Get a membership at a racing club where you can pursue your inner passion for danger and speed in a controlled environment--but don't put the rest of us through it.

10. Dart Vader: You can't quite figure out which lane is better, because at some time or another, they all are. In fact, you don't want just one lane, you want all of them. To this end, you dart in and out of lanes, invading other vehicles' padding of space between them and the next vehicle, in this unflagging urge for better flow. For those of you who must endure the Dart Vader, may the force be with you...

If This Isn't Your Way Of Standing On The Job, These Stand-Up Desks Might Be--Not To Mention They'll Help You Reduce Heart Attack And Stroke

As stated in the last post, sitting down all day at your desk is very bad for your health--indeed, it is considered now the "new smoking." As new research is being done on the effects of being sedentary on the job, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc, there is an emerging wealth of tips and design ideas for either buying or building your own stand up desk. The state of your health impacts the kind of life insurance policy you will qualify for, so it's appropriate that we make some remarks here about a way of working that will, as research is showing, significantly improve your health in a similar way to quitting smoking.

I have used a stand up desk in my studio at work for about 4 years now, and I would not work any other way. It is a large drafting table whose height I can adjust, as well as the angle of the surface itself. When I am tired of standing, I have a simple wooden stool that I sit on that keeps me from slouching or reclining back and drifting to sleep. (Indeed, I nap, but not at my drafting table. Instead, I have a small pillow stashed in my drawer that makes the floor behind my drafting table quite comfortable--at least for the 15 minutes that I maintain with military consistency).  For technology, I carry a small laptop into work, which I connect to an Apple Thunderbolt monitor and control with a wireless mouse and a wireless keyboard. The laptop can be operated with the wireless mouse and keyboard while in a closed position, which allows me to keep the laptop on a shelf under my drafting table out of the way of action. 

An important point here is that many of us spend more time at our jobs than in our homes or, really, any other 'place'. Thus how your workspace works for you is a vital part of optimizing not only your productivity but also your very well-being. These different models of stand-up desks, though merely scratching the surface of a growing body of knowledge about good workplace design, will help you get on your way. 

The basics of stand-up desk ergonomics: the table height should be at or slightly below elbow height.

Wirecutter has done extensive research on a number of standing desk models, which would be good to read. For their research, they ordered six different standing desks and tried them all out determining which ones worked best. There are two different kinds of standing desks: fixed-height and adjustable, the latter of which has a control panel tucked under its surface for convenient raising and lowering. Unfortunately, many of them are quite expensive, with the cheapest one retailing for about $500 and moving up from there into the $2000 range. Fixed-height stand up desks are great for those just getting into using them, and are the favourite of workspace diy hackers everywhere.  

Below is a mere sample of some great stand up desks.

High-End Designer Models

nextdesk Terra, with Apple monitor, wireless trackpad, and wireless keyboard. The desk has good surface space while looking very stylish. The height is controlled by a little panel that sits just below the man's right hand, for convenient adjustment. A well-recognized stand up desk in publications such as Wired Magazine.

The Max, by Geek Desk. 350 pounds of lifting capacity, 4 programmable height pre-sets, and an LED height display. This model boasts a more industrial aesthetic with a starting price of about $1000.

Ikea Hacks

There are some cool standing desk hacks that are made from Ikea furniture pieces combined in very creative ways. These hacks boast a much leaner price tag--a good kick-off point for those who want to give standing desks a try--and can be customizable. 

This corner floating desk is assembled with Ikea butcher blocks and some simple brackets. A great hack for about $200

This stylish stand up desk is created by fusing together an Ikea T.V. stand with Gallant table legs. The legs are adjustable, and the T.V. stand offers some cool storage for your various supplies. The total cost is under $200. 

For those with home offices, try fusing your standing desk with a book wall for this very stylish and practical hack. 

Famous Standers

Ernest Hemingway, replete with sweeping bay window and deer head--or is that a moose?

Winston Churchill, whom we've covered before in the Art of Napping. I don't see his day-bed there, but maybe it's somewhere off stage left...

Not simply a 21st Century phenomenon, offices in the 19th Century had combinations of sitting, standing, and communal desks. More on the history of the standing desk here.

Why You Don't Want To Be Sitting Down On The Job, Even If You're The World's Best Boss...

Following the last post about things that you are unwittingly doing that could be killing you, this post is about the health risks of sitting down on the job--that's right, sitting down on the job. 

If you look at traditional societies, humans travelled long distances on foot, lifted and carried large amounts of weight, and used their bodies for almost everything. Now, our bodies have almost become secondary to our brains, and our brains are growing almost obsolete by the ever growing computing power of machines. With the human body becoming secondary, and the sedentariness of our 9-8 lives, we are actually shortening our longevity. In a recent study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, titled Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in Older Women, a linkage was found between the amount of time sitting and the increased risk of mortality, including heart disease, stroke, etc. 

In an article in Harvard Health Publications, Dr. JoAnn Manson, one of the above study's authors and chief of preventative medicine at Harvard-affiliated Bringham and Women's Hospital, states that 

“Even if you are doing the recommended amount of moderate to vigorous exercise, you will still have a higher risk of mortality if you’re spending too many hours sitting. . . . Each of these behaviors is important and has an independent effect on cardiovascular disease and mortality.” 

That is, even if you spend time on the evenings and week-ends in some form of physical activity, your collective time spent sedentary at work will not be made up for; meaning that your hours spent sitting on the job over-rides any gains you think you are making by working out and exercising. 

You might be asking, "Why is sitting at my desk at work such a problem?" According to Dr. I-Min Lee, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, “Sedentary behavior is associated with an increased risk of the development of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease." 

In a study from the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, entitled Reducing Occupational Sitting Time and Improving Worker Health: The Take-a-Stand Project, 2011, it was concluded that "prolonged sitting time is a health risk." This study was done among employees who had sedentary jobs. Here's more of what the study concluded: 

"Study results have demonstrated associations of prolonged sitting time with premature mortality (1–3); chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer (4–7); metabolic syndrome (5,6); and obesity (5,7). In contrast, breaks in prolonged sitting time have been correlated with beneficial metabolic profiles among adults, suggesting that frequent breaks in sedentary activity may explain lower health risk related to waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride levels, and 2-hour plasma glucose levels (8)."

Additionally, the Take-a-Stand Project reduced time spent sitting by 224% (66 minutes per day), reduced upper back and neck pain by 54%, and improved mood states. However, and this is an absolutely striking part of the study, the removal of the device largely negated all observed improvements within 2 weeks. 

The Benefits of a Standing Desk on Your Feet Australia Campaign

The traditional North American ways of working are making us sick and shortening our longevity. This research has been around now for a number of years, and yet our offices are largely equipped with sit-down workspaces, and distributors of products and services are interested in keeping people seated so that they are more likely to consume. Television manufacturers want you seated, movie and television shows want you seated, employers want you seated (based on the long-held and false assumption that when people are sitting down, they're working), computer and internet software companies want you seated, so that you are more likely to engage in all the stuff peddled to the world that has only the appearance of importance. 

If you are sedentary in your workplace, and you have read this post, it's time to change this vital aspect of your life. In the next post, I will present the myriad options available for work environments that will help you. The good news is that the heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic syndrome that result from a sedentary work style can be reversed. 

The Way You Make Me Feel... 8 Everyday Activities Could Be Killing You And You Don't Even Know It!

There are things we do everyday that are lowering our life spans--and we don't even know it. Well--maybe we do. Here are ten activities, some of which seem quite normal, that are shortening your life.

1. Sitting on the Job: Sitting is the new smoking, as written in another post. Study after study are finding that being sedentary on the job can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and even cancer. There is thus a growing demand for and interest in stand-up desks, with many different ways to make one yourself. 

2. Sleeping Too Much: Getting too little sleep isn't good, but neither is sleeping too much. If you're sleeping nine hours per night or more, you could be increasing your risk of heart disease. Moreover, sleeping too much can be a sign of psychological issues, such as depression. However, napping during the day--even up to two hours--can profoundly increase your health.

3. Staring At the Screen: Too much screen time, from computers to television, can increase your risk of heart attack immensely. Here's are a few strategies: 1) meet with others at work--engage in more quick meetings, 2) Get information from books and periodicals instead of always defaulting to the internet, 3) Go for a walk during the day--yes, at work! Do it. Take your breaks outside, if you can, for a stroll. It'll clear your head, and pump oxygen up into your brain, thus invigorating your body and stimulating your mind.

4. Taking Medication for Non-Life Threatening Illness: If you're taking anti-anxiety medication, or other pharmaceuticals, you could be decreasing your lifespan. However, by not taking them, if you have a psychological disorder, could be detrimental also. You know your body, and the extent to which you need to be under medication. If you are planning to get off an anti-anxiety or anti-depression medication, you must first consult a physician who can put you on a regimen for slowly decreasing your dosage.

5. No Sense of Humour: Laughter is a wonderful stimulant that can lower stress and decrease your cortisol levels (the hormone that rushes from the kidneys to the brain when you're stressed out or anxious). If you're under stress, or feeling overworked and burned out, here's a great idea: get your spouse, partner, or friends, and watch a good comedy. 

6. Long Commutes: Spending and hour and more per day in the car stuck in traffic means that you have less time for those activities that can lower your stress and build your body and mind, like time with your family, exercise, solitude, and sleep. I have heard stories of people commuting two hours only one way to their jobs. If this is you, consider a) finding a job closer to home, or b) if there is another location closer to your house, try to relocate. 

7. Eating Poorly: We all know this: garbage in, garbage out. Too much processed foods, red meat, fast foods, fat and sugars can lead to obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Watch your sodium levels too--that is one of the silent killers. If you have a diet problem, consider a dietician, getting into a regimen at your local YMCA, or simply get a book on healthy eating and try out the recipes. 

8. Being Anti-Social: There have been some studies to show that drinking alcohol can actually have a good effect on health, not because of the drink itself, but because you're more likely to be social when drinking, which is of great importance to one's health. If you've been holed up at work or home, get out with friends to a movie or dinner, laugh, get out for a walk together or play a sport. 

OK--So Maybe This Guy's A Special Case, But Here Are 10 Critical Tips For Avoiding Collisions With Cyclists

Ever rolled up on a cyclist in your vehicle and tried to pass but were too nervous to do so? Or every mistrusted a cyclist and became annoyed if not angry? Ever nearly hit a cyclist while having parked along a busy street just by simply opening your door? 

There are countless ways we as motorists come in contact with cyclists on a daily basis. Some are able to cheerfully coexist with them, some are indifferent to them, and others get triggered--big time. One columnist Tom Stafford for the BBC theorizes that motorists rage at cyclists because of a built-in evolutionary orientation to rules and social order: if we see people going against the social order we feel slighted. This evolutionary reaction takes place in drivers when they see cyclists following different rules of the road and accordingly getting ahead.

But this default to some kind of unverified evolutionary structure of human interaction seems like a bit of a cop-out: "Well I'm perfectly justified to harass a cyclist--it's in my genes!" That is, while this theory may make an intelligent article to read, it does nothing to foster cooperation and safety between those who legitimately share the road.

Nevertheless, here are some safety tips for motorists when driving alongside cyclists:

1. Simply put, respect the legitimate rights of all who share the road. It is a cyclist's right to be on the road just as much as it is yours. By thinking this way, you might extend more patience and grace to those who are riding alongside, ahead, and behind you.

2. In bad weather, give cyclists more trailing time between them and you, as you would with another motor vehicle.

3. When passing, try to give at least 3 feet of space between your motor vehicle and the cyclist, as you would passing a slow moving motor vehicle. 

4. Don't pass a cyclist if you're turning right at the next street up ahead and then cut back in for the turn--it will cut him/her off. Cyclists can move unassumingly fast, and need plenty of time to make necessary adjustments.

5. When turning left at an intersection, yield to on-coming cyclists as you would to on-coming motor vehicles.

6. Before you open your car door, look behind for cyclists who may be coming up quickly along side your vehicle.

7. Don't honk your horn at a cyclist while approaching behind them--it'll really startle them and potentially cause a slip of the handle bars and loss of control of the bike. Understand that there is a vulnerable human being ahead of you with 99 percent less protection than you have in your vehicle.

8. Reduce speed when approaching cyclists, especially if the road is narrow.

9. Do not pass a cyclist when on-coming traffic is present. Just wait and take your time.

10. Keep special watch for children on their bikes, especially when backing out of your driveway with your SUV or van. They can be so small and can roll past so swiftly, it's hard to see them. Look, look, look, then look again before pulling out.

These 10 Tips For Moving Are So Awesome You Just Have To Read Them--Even If You Might Not Be Moving Right Now

Moving is a stressful ordeal; it sounds easy enough, but if you've ever tried to move your family home yourself, it's very difficult and physically and mentally taxing. That's where the professional mover comes in: to take over the stress of the actual move in exchange for money. But how do you know what mover to hire? How do you avoid moving fraud, or, worse yet, horror stories of movers that hold your belongings hostage at the door of your new home while demanding more money. 

Here are 10 tips for choosing the best company to help you move into your new home:

1. Do your research: Finding the best mover for you based on price and performance will take some work, especially if you haven't moved in many years or are moving for the first time. You want to find a reputable, professional mover that has an excellent performance and reliability record. Ask family members or friends about their movers, as well as do consumer reports online. Choose at least three prospects and then begin the process.

2. Get more than one estimate: There are different costs that movers charge, from weight of the items to packing materials. A professional mover will come to your home and perform a walk through, getting a good understanding of what you are moving, and approximately the weight. Given that different moving companies will most likely charge differently, it'll be important to have your three choices come to your home and give you their best estimate. 

3. Make sure you know what you will be moving: It might be helpful to have an already prepared inventory list of all the items you want to move before the moving representative arrives. Everything you add after the quote will lead to a higher cost, so try to determine as precisely as possible what you will or will not be moving.

4. Purchase mover insurance: Mover insurance is important to protect your possessions while in tow, especially if there is a long commute such as from one province to another. 

5. Get the lowest price: Moving is very expensive, and there are often hidden costs. Professional movers can be very reliable, but they can also charge a lot. Find the lowest price possible, because the overall cost of moving will be more than you expect, especially if changing provinces.

6. Read, refer to, and keep handy the bill of landing: The Bill of Landing is the contract document between you and the mover. Read it carefully before signing it, and keep it handy during the move for reference, especially if something goes  wrong.

7. Ask questions: While meeting with the movers, make sure you have asked a lot of questions, especially about hidden costs. Also, et a good sense of the contract: what is being charged, the mover's liability for your possessions, and dates for pick up and delivery. If something is fishy, then get clarification; if it still feels fishy, then move on to the next one.

8. Keep your delivery date: If you change your delivery date while the move is in place, your possessions will have to be stored in a storage unit that will cost you more money. Make sure you are certain about a date before locking it in contractually.

9. Check inventory: A good mover will have inventory checkers throughout the process who write down every item that is being moved from one location that is then checked off at the final location. And it's often the case that the home owner is volunteered to help out with checking off the items as their being moved into the new home. Ensure that the mover is doing this, and step in to do it yourself if for some reason that procedure is not in place.

You've Got To Watch This: The Future of Pandemics, Surveillance, Online Security, and The Super-Enhancement Of Human Intelligence

With the rapid pace of information technology, we have access to all sorts of information. These three TED talks cover issues pertinent to our future. This is an important part of this blog simply because the future is becoming more and more rapidly NOW, especially as technology and human knowledge speed up. 

This is a kind of TED theatre. What's important about the exercise of watching multiple TED talks is not the individual talks themselves, but how the ideas from the collection of talks meld with and bounce off each other to create higher-level questions and observations that ultimately lead to discussions with others. 

It is important that we learn more about the future, especially when we are talking about the broader context of insurance as the act of mitigating and securing against risk. 

1. Larry Brilliant: My Wish: Help Me Stop Pandemics: Accepting the 2006 TED Prize, Dr. Larry Brilliant talks about how smallpox was eradicated from the planet, and calls for a new global system that can identify and contain pandemics before they spread. 

Larry Brilliant: My Wish: Help Me Stop Pandemics

2. Hubertus Knabe: Dark Secrets of the Surveillance State: The first talk is about the dark secrets of the surveillance state. With news traveling about the power of Google and how our locations are being perpetually tracked on a daily basis, not to mention the NSA and other organizations, being aware of privacy issues is critical for living in the 21st Century. Hubertus Knabe studied the Stasi, the East German Secret Service, and was even spied on by them. 

 Hubertus Knabe: Dark Secrets of the Surveillance State 

3. Nicholas Negroponte: 30 Year History of the Future: Inventor, innovator, and scholar, Nicholas Negroponte (of the Negroponte $100 laptop computer), talks about predictions he made in the 70s and 80s that came true, and leaves you with a prediction for the next 30 years.

Nicholas Negroponte: 30 Year History of the Future

4. Lorrie Faith Cranor: What's Wrong With Your Pa$$word? Lorrie Faith Cranor has studies thousands of internet passwords and has discovered a number of common mistakes users make when creating them that compromises security. How did she get at these passwords to study them? That's part of the story itself.

Lorrie Faith Cranor: What's Wrong With Your Pa$$word?

5. Ray Kurzweil: Get Ready for Hybrid Thinking: Two hundred million years ago, our mammal ancestors developed a new brain feature: the neocortex. This stamp-sized piece of tissue (wrapped around a brain the size of a walnut) is the key to what humanity has become. Now, futurist Ray Kurzweil suggests, we should get ready for the next big leap in brain power, as we tap into the computing power in the cloud. This talk has had over 1,000,000 hits on TED.

Ray Kurzweil: Get Ready For Hybrid Thinking

If You Are Not Aware Of Ebola In North America, Now's The Time To Be Informed and Prepare A Plan

Insurance is all about mitigating risk; and in the 21st Century there are a number of core risk areas that we need to be continuously vigilant about--one of which is the threat of a pandemic. 

A second case of Ebola was discovered today in Dallas, Texas from the same hospital that Thomas Eric Duncan, the first case of Ebola in the U.S., was treated. There, according to the Star, Duncan was left in a public area for extended periods of time and was treated by nurses who were "without proper protective gear." According to the Toronto Star, 

"Nurses were forced to use medical tape to secure openings in their flimsy garments, worried that their necks and heads were exposed as they cared for a patient with explosive diarrhea and projectile vomiting, said Deborah Burger of National Nurses United."

Several nurses allegedly reported that the the protocols for mitigating the risk of Ebola outbreak in the hospital were slipshod and constantly changing. As well, samples from Duncan were sent through the hospital's pneumatic tubes thus increasing the risk of wider-spread contamination, and, just as disgusting in its reality as it is shocking in its procedure, "hazardous waste (one source describing as "blood, vomit, and diarrhea-soaked hazardous materials) was allowed to pile up to the ceiling." The patient was treated by nurses who were treating other patients, often without appropriate protective gear, and even covered shoes.

The second victim, a nurse from the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, traveled by plane from Cleveland to Dallas prior to realizing she was infected with the virus. How can you contain a virus in the midst of myopic protocols and lax security procedures? 

On another note, the Globe and Mail reported today that Alberta nurses warn they don't have proper training to cope with Ebola. They are onto something: Is anyone putting together a singular protocol that any hospital can immediately execute to contain a virus of this nature before it becomes a pandemic?

Let's switch gears now and talk about you--what can you do in the event that, in the midst of hospital administration incompetence and overall carelessness by those coming in contact with Ebola victims but insisting on traveling, this seemingly tidy little virus becomes a pandemic? Here are a few things taken loosely from Rainer Stahlberg's work:

• It will be important to have reserves of food and water on hand, in the event that public spaces become unsafe--this is critical item number one for all crises. The last thing you want to be doing is wandering into infected areas to buy food.

• If there is a vaccine that is provable to work, get yourself and your family vaccinated.

• You will need to distance yourself from public areas; also, if you know the incubation for the virus, keep visitors to your home quarantined for that period plus three days. 

• You'll have to determine when to evacuate and when not. Our news sources are not entirely trust worthy, and rumours through social networking can spread and create unwarranted worry. Check multiple news sources and keep yourself educated. Have a battery-powered short-wave radio on hand in the event that you lose access to mobile technology. 

The intent here is not to be alarmist; at the same time, however, we must look at this with a sense objectivity and preparedness in the event that the worse case scenario becomes reality.

The most important thing is that as you're reading the news stories to be neither naive nor cynical. There is cause for concern: we are in the midst of a spreading virus and our hospitals and governments have little clue how to protect us from it. To be vigilant and well-informed is the best thing we can do right now--that and hope that this can be contained, somehow.

This Guy & His Ultrasonic Sonar Electric Car Are Freakin' Awesome--Not To Mention Changing The Face of Driving

Last Thursday, Elon Musk of Tesla held a product launch, during which he announced the dual-motor, all-wheel driver versions of its Model S sedans. Apart from the fastest model being able to race from 0 to 60 miles per hour at a whiplashed 3.2 seconds (indeed putting it in a class with the fastest production cars on the road), and other amazing features such as all-wheel drive that is dual-motor driven (hence the D-Series), thus transferring power seamlessly between front and rear axles that gives the car not only better handling but also higher top speed. 

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, announcing new AWD Tesla Model S P85D with Autopilot

However, it's the Autopilot mode option being added to the Tesla Model S that gives Tesla such tremendous boasting power among car makers. And the way Musk describes it is no less riveting, and casual, as the glory days of Steve Jobs addresses. 

Tesla Model S with Autopilot

In his address, Musk announces that they have been able to accelerate Autopilot and bring it to market faster than anticipated. It consists of four parts: 1) Long-range radar that can see through anything, 2) Camera with image-recognition, so that it can read stop signs, distinguish pedestrians, 3) 360 degree long-range ultrasonic sonar (how cool is that!) that establishes a protective cocoon around the vehicle and make a smart move by looking at the ultrasonics, and integrated with that is, 4) the navigation and GPS and real-time traffic. 

Tesla Autopilot Sonar System - Courtesy of Tesla Motors

According to Musk, "The car can do almost anything"--even park itself in the garage: when you get home, you step out of the car, and it opens the garage door and park itself. As well, you can summon the car from anywhere and it'll meet you there; for the ultrasonic sonars act like insect antennae that allow the car to slowly make its way along and around obstacles. Also, if you have your calendar turned on, you can walk out of your house, and the car will meet you there with the temperature set just where you like it, playing the right music, etc. 

However, there is an important distinction according to Musk: that between Autopilot and Autonomous. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Musk was asked the serious question of what will happen if the car does in fact crash? Who will be responsible if the car is on autopilot? He replied by saying that Autopilot is used in the same way as it is in airplanes: that there is a pilot actually guiding the plane. So you can't fall asleep and arrive safely at your destination, which is what autonomous driving will provide. What Autopilot provides, according to Musk, is an easier driving experience and greater safety features. 

Bloomberg: Elon Musk on Tesla's Auto Pilot and Legal Liability

That said, Autopilot is on the way to Autonomous driving, which is where Tesla is heading; for Autonomous driving will require numerous redundancies within the car's design that will give it multiple points of failure, so that if one sensor doesn't react well, there are others that will kick in to ensure the car is navigating accurately and safely. This is what is so special about Tesla, namely that it is allowing the consumer to take part in the prototyping process as it pushes the technology of vehicle design. It's not only electric, but it's a faster electric car that is proving to be safer and, just as importantly, a lot more fun. Indeed, the prices remain beyond the average person's budget for a car (including the Autopilot package, it will cost around $80,000 CA); but as we've seen in the computer world, the prices of new technologies tend to drop steadily. It always costs more for the early adopters before there is a significant decline in price and market ubiquity.

What You Need To Take the Hassle Out of Night Riding--And Given The Picture Of David Hasselhoff, The Pun Is Intended...

It's late: you're driving home from your cottage and got held up with family members, or that amazing dinner you just needed a little more time to enjoy. Now you're driving home along highways of variegated lighting--some with none at all--and you're pinching open your eyes to stay awake. There's no help from your spouse whose asleep next to you, mouth gaping open, perhaps even snoring; and your kids have long since escaped consciousness in the backseat, with earbuds still left in their ears. "Did the lady at Timmy's give me freakin' decaf?!" you wonder as you imbibe that double-double yawning widely between ill-fated swigs.

It's lonely out there; you're still two hours to mothership, and the longed-for comfort of bed--

Many of us have experienced this one time or another; and many of us in those moments kick and berate and curse ourselves--we should know better.

Indeed, night time driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do--statistically speaking. Some studies have shown that sleep deprived driving causes impairment as severe as alcohol. It impairs one's abilities in the following four areas:

1. Coordination
2. Reflex
3. Judgement
4. Information retention

Moreover, your chances of coming in contact with impaired drivers, sleep deprived drivers, animals, and just plain weirdos increases the later you're driving.

For those moments, and others like them, here are a few tips to help you with those late night drives:

1. Check that all exterior lights work properly (front and rear, brake and high beams). If your windshield is dirty, clean it at the next gas station: your ability to see can be compromised if your windshield is full of bug debris.

2. Use your high beams in areas without sufficient light, but not when it's foggy--the light beams will simply reflect back on you further impairing your vision.

3. If your rear-view mirror has a day/night function (usually activated by flicking the knob at the bottom of the mirror itself), use it: someone behind you with high beams on, or a truck whose grill sits nice and high, will blind you otherwise. If someone is coming towards you with high beams on, turn your eyes away from it, and look straight ahead--do not be tempted to look at it head on, which is a natural reflex when we see bright lights.

4. Avoid turning on your interior lights, whether to check a map or otherwise (who uses maps anymore?); and for crying out loud, don't use your mobile device.

5. Keep your eyes moving by checking your rearview, and side mirrors intermittently. This will not only keep you well informed of those around you, but will keep you more alert.

6. Leave more space between you and other drivers, in the event of hit brakes ahead of you. With attention and reflex impairment, you need to give yourself plenty of time to respond.

7. If you have candy or a pack of your kids' bubble gum, use it. Sucking on candies and chewing on gum can increase attention and brain function--same goes for driving. It's good to keep some with you nevertheless as a private stash for just those occasions.

8. Avoid taking any medications that will make you drowsy. If you have to take a medication, try to take it long in advance to allow the initial drowsiness to wear off. There are serious risks involved in drugged driving.

9. Eat a meal higher in protein, rather than carbohydrates, before hitting the road. If you are out with family or friends, avoid the big pasta dinner, and go instead with the steak and caesar salad--the protein will not make you as drowsy. And avoid all alcohol content, passing that over for a stiff cup of coffee instead.

10. Keep a road side emergency kit, in the event that you God-forbid get into a collision, or get thrown into the ditch by a collision with a lugubrious moose or darting deer.

11. If possible, avoid traveling at night. If you need to be in town the following day for work, consider, if you can, keeping an extra set of clothes, getting some sleep, and leaving early in the morning.

Don't Want to Leave This Kitten Without Her Mommy? These 6 Ways Of Avoiding Hitting Animals With Your Vehicle Will Help You

Hitting animals on the road is brutal--especially if you're an animal lover. Our world is growing increasingly paved to facilitate the flood of motor vehicles. As such, animal habitats are becoming ever more encroached upon, and thus leaving them endangered. According to the OPP, there are 10,000 vehicle collisions with wildlife on Ontario highways each year. The time of year at which you are most likely to strike an animal on the roads is right now: from October to November with the latter being the peak time of year for run-ins with animals.

Here are some basic facts about wildlife strikes on the highway, according to Workplace Safety North:

• On average, there is a motor vehicle-wild animal collision every 38 minutes
• One out of every 17 motor vehicle collisions involves a wild animal
• Motor vehicle-wild animal collisions are increasing annually. In 2007, 13,954 collisions were reported. Many more go unreported.
• 89 percent occur on two-lane roads outside of urban areas
• 86 percent occur in good weather 
• Wild animals are unpredictable at all times, however, there are two peak times when the risk of a collision is highest: May and June and from October to January.

So while driving in peak road-kill season, what do you do to prevent such incidents from happening?

1. Simply follow the speed-limit: often animals are hit because people are driving too fast to notice them; and the speed at which the vehicle is travelling does not give the animal enough time to react. By keeping within the speed limit you lower your risk of striking an animal.

2. Stay particularly attentive to the chance of animal encounters on the road at dawn, dusk, and a few hours after darkness: These are the peak times at which animals can be seen around and on the roads. Keep your eyes peeled and your speed down. If you see one animal, there's a good chance others are around. 

3. Don't trash and dash: Littering along the highways attracts animals to their shoulders. Use your common-sense--do you really need to throw your take-out refuse out at that moment? If you can't stand the smell of it, put it in the trunk.

4. Use your high-beams: Whenever possible, put on your high beams during those peak times of day mentioned in #2. This will help in seeing those little eyes staring at you from the side of the road and give you time to respond. 

5. If you are heading toward an animal, do not swerve to get out of the way--unless it is a moose: according to Work Place Safety North, "A collision with a moose, which can weigh up to 500 kgs (1200 lbs), carries a significant risk of injury or death to motorists and passengers." If you are about to strike a moose, it is suggested to swerve out of the way, or, if that is not possible, to crouch down below the dashboard and prepare for impact. The impact of a moose's body can crush the roof of a car completely flat. 

6. Steer away from animal in collision: If you can't avoid hitting the animal, aim where it is coming from, not where it is going. Move your eyes in that direction away from the animal, not at it, for your vehicle will go in the direction of your eyes. Brake slightly then look and strike the animal from an angle, not head on. Take your foot off the gas just prior to collision, which will cause the front of your vehicle to rise reducing the risk of the animal coming through your windshield. 

By following these 6 tips, you should be able to avoid colliding with animals on the highway. If you happen to hit one, be cautious about getting out of your vehicle to see it. Depending on the road conditions, this may not be wise. If an animal is not dead, but merely injured, do not approach it. Call the local police or Ministry of Natural Resources office. 

Why We Might Just Need This Guy After All...

You’re walking through Best Buy one day, and one by one different products catch your eye, particularly the smart ones: TVs, and those iPhone-controlled home appliance systems, the latter being surprisingly inexpensive. “You mean that for under 50 bucks I can control my garage-door, thermostat, and lights with my smart phone?” you excitedly ask yourself.

It’s very appealing—who doesn’t want to have that kind of blithe control over the various systems of your home? And besides—how cool is that anyway!

However facile those devices seem, they come at a hefty price of transparency and security. The problem with these devices (whether smart TVs, smart phone-controlled home appliances, or any appliance connected to your device through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) is that they are now equipped with bidirectional networking interfaces, which exposes the internet to the appliance and the appliance to the internet. The result? A whole slew of security risks. As Peter Bright states in a Jan 9, 2014 article for ArsTechnica, that we should resist these new devices, “because the ‘internet of things’ stands a really good chance of turning into the ‘internet of unmaintained, insecure, and dangerously hackable things’." 

What we are seeing is what's called "the internet of things," or "IoT," namely where the internet literally connects things with other things, such as heart monitors to watches to cars to smart TVs and refrigerators. According to Gartner, an IT company out of Stamford, Connecticut, there will be 26 billion devices on the Internet of Things by the year 2020. This level of complexity is something we have not seen before; and with those 26 billion devices being connected to human beings, the risks to our health, livelihood, personal security, and even life are appalling.

In a recent article in BetaBeat, reporting on Europol (the European Union's criminal intelligence agency) and its recent Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment, there are myriad ways in which, as things and humans are being ever-more connected, our security is becoming more precarious. The report states,

With more objects being connected to the Internet and the creation of new types of critical infrastructure, we can expect to see (more) targeted attacks on existing and emerging infrastructures, including new forms of blackmailing and extortion schemes (e.g. ransomware for smart cars or smart homes), data theft, physical injury and possible death, and new types of botnets.

The BetaBeat story cites a report by internet security firm IID that predicted that the first cyber-murder would take place by the end of 2014. They also envisage hackers "remotely burning down homes, infiltrating the electrical grids, and exploiting military weapons systems." 

Recently, on September 25th, 2014, there was a report in the Ottawa Citizen of "Bash Bug Sets off Internet Security Alarm Bells," claiming,

A newly discovered bug leaving everything from smart appliances and thermostats to Internet servers and even home routers vulnerable to hackers has been classified as “catastrophic” and is sparking a massive examination of computer systems across the Internet.

But how does this relate directly to smart appliances? 

In an article by Peter Edwards of the Toronto Star, Jan 22, 2014, Proofpoint, Inc., a corporation specializing in corporate security, reported that month that, “cybercriminals have targeted Internet-connected home devices, since they’re much easier to hack than home computers or tablets.” 

And, according to Proofpoint, Inc.’s study, 750,000 malicious email messages were sent out from more than 100,000 household gadgets, including a fridge, between December 23, 2013 and Jan. 6, 2014.”

According to Professor David Skillicorn of the Queen’s School of Computer Sciences, he would not trust a thermostat or garage door opener that can be turned on and off from a cellphone, for “there’s no simple way to make it [work] just for me, guaranteed.” Many of these smart appliances are running Windows or Android software, and can be used to send SPAM, but also denial-of-service attacks and all sorts of things that are opened up when a device is connected to the Internet. That makes all internet-connected home products like thermostats, microwaves, and even security cameras all security risks.

So, if you’re on that stroll through Best Buy, and are attracted to the latest smart TV, or in the throes of a simple and inexpensive way to connect your lights, thermostat, and garage door to your iPhone, think again. The security risks imposed on your home—and those, of course, around you—by that seemingly innocuous device may have a much greater cost than a meager 50 bucks. Not to mention that you are contributing to the growth of the Internet of Things, the complexity of which human beings will continuously grow subjugated.