tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:18:22 +0000There's no way around it, you have to get to work in the morning and home again in the evening. Who says it has to be the most stressful part of your day? It's your time. Don't waste it. Enjoy it, however you prefer.http://www.commutesmarter.com/noreply@blogger.com (Duane)Blogger417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6019208195823207742Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:43:00 +00002009-10-28T05:43:15.371-07:00http://www.justaguything.com/the-top-ten-gas-guzzlers-of-2010/ I don’t know what I expected in a story about the top 10 gas guzzling cars but … this wasn’t it.  Let’s just say that I don’t think any of us are in danger of sitting in traffic and having one of these bad boys sitting there next to us so we can point and laugh about what they’re doing to the environment. :) When the BMW M6, Porschehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/xvIXUNDJLFQ/no-lamborghini-for-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/xvIXUNDJLFQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/10/no-lamborghini-for-me.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-2568623068212997051Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:19:00 +00002009-09-24T09:20:24.204-07:00I no longer have enough of a commute to read anything, but I’m still curious.  The NYTimes did a survey (specifically asking “…on the subway”) and posted a very nice interface to their results: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/09/07/nyregion/nyc-subway-reading.html The Bible shows up, but no Shakespeare.  I do keep seeing that “Infinite Jest” one spoken of highly, which is a Hamlet http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/mPZ7TGZWWMQ/what-are-you-reading-on-your-commute.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/mPZ7TGZWWMQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/09/what-are-you-reading-on-your-commute.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-943081528600803902Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:21:00 +00002009-09-17T11:21:16.045-07:00http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/can-you-live-without-a-car/ Mint.com (awesome financial management site , which you should be using) breaks down just how much you “need” a car. Personally I could probably live without one. During the good weather I can bike to work, and at only 5-10 minutes away, my wife could pack the kids in the car and zip me over there / pick me up when it’s really needed.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/TkT4RPfk5dA/can-you-live-without-car.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/TkT4RPfk5dA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/09/can-you-live-without-car.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-9108976670942964109Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:15:00 +00002009-08-28T07:15:37.558-07:00http://www.motorists.org/blog/gm-4000-dollar-car-we-will-not-get/ Not so fast.  GM is apparently quite capable of producing a car for $4000, and indeed plans to sell them … just not in the U.S.  It seems that our government has these things called “standards” for stuff like, I dunno, safety.  Costs money to make sure a car lives up to those standards.  Just not in other countries. I suppose http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/SbK4ihhN_uo/how-about-4000-car.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/SbK4ihhN_uo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/08/how-about-4000-car.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-4457209016842226821Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:31:00 +00002009-08-20T13:31:24.407-07:00http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125079911572147367.html According to the Wall Street Journal, the program, which gives owners up to $4500 to trade in their “clunker” for a new car with better mileage, is coming to an end.  No real detail in the article other than that they’ve got to do all the paperwork to make sure the dealers get reimbursed before the money runs out. I was thinking about it, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/9poLyvRN5vA/cash-for-clunkers-to-end-monday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/9poLyvRN5vA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/08/cash-for-clunkers-to-end-monday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-2567359556141392683Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:27:00 +00002009-08-20T07:27:32.722-07:00http://www.universalhub.com/node/27123 When I took the Boston Commuter Rail, I paid over $150/month for my monthly pass – and that was for a Zone 2, when there’s something like 5 zones, so I was getting off easy.  There’s no automatic system on our trains – the conductor comes by, you show him your ticket which has a big 2 on it and if I remember correctly was color coded for month, and that’s http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/0g4tW6NcpJw/save-money-by-counterfeiting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/0g4tW6NcpJw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/08/save-money-by-counterfeiting.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-1651775854708764338Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:38:00 +00002009-08-18T05:38:50.090-07:00http://kdka.com/local/iphone.iburgh.application.2.1131909.html Pittsburgh announces their new app that allows people to take a picture of a pothole, write up a description, and then send it on to City Hall (GPS stamped along the way) so they can take care of it. Great idea.  Want all cities to have this.  I could have sworn that Boston had something similar but I can’t find it. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/mFiqmN8ZpOc/picture-yourself-on-bike-in-pothole.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/mFiqmN8ZpOc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/08/picture-yourself-on-bike-in-pothole.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6511239178744536291Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:58:00 +00002009-08-16T06:58:53.770-07:00http://gas2.org/2009/08/15/6-alternative-fuel-vehicles-built-by-teenagers/ 8th Grader Builds Solar-Powered Bike With GPS, iPod Dock Eighth-grader David S. Dixon built this street-legal quadricycle powered by a solar-charged electric motor. The bike not only carries his dog and three friends, but it has also has an iPod dock and GPS. Ya, it’s that cool! Some neat ideas in there! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/BXZdNmougyQ/alternative-fuel-vehicles-by-kids.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/BXZdNmougyQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/08/alternative-fuel-vehicles-by-kids.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-5754133754627952136Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:28:00 +00002009-08-03T07:28:48.095-07:00http://gas2.org/2009/07/27/student-built-electric-car-charges-in-10-minutes/ I don’t think many people fully think through the true electric car, especially when it comes to charging.  With a gas car, you fill up the tank.  No biggie.  But how long does is take to “fill up” a battery?  If these students have anything to do with it, not long. I like the idea I heard that treats battery packs http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/53FqISGMawg/charge-electric-car-in-10-minutes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/53FqISGMawg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/08/charge-electric-car-in-10-minutes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-1213770558294122107Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:26:00 +00002009-08-03T07:26:38.130-07:00http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1022749_breaking-house-adds-2-billion-to-cash-for-clunkers-senate-is-next I have to admit I don’t fully understand this program, but it seems to be working.  Could I get rid of my 2003 Ford minivan?  What are the rules? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/NXGiBh4xeQg/cash-for-clunkers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/NXGiBh4xeQg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/08/cash-for-clunkers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-4378726337714673050Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:06:00 +00002009-07-29T07:06:11.094-07:00http://www.universalhub.com/node/26650 Having walked in Boston and driven in Boston, I can honestly say that I don’t want to ride my bike in Boston.  Luckily, I don’t have to now that I’m out of that commute.  But this article from Universal Hub makes it sound like more of a nightmare than I even imagined. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/ShVxlXR3zwU/bicycle-rush-hour-in-boston.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/ShVxlXR3zwU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/07/bicycle-rush-hour-in-boston.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-5654465145334418333Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:14:00 +00002009-07-19T18:14:49.533-07:00http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/07/dangerous-foods/ Wired’s got an article up on the foods you shouldn’t eat while driving.  Some of it is fairly ridiculous – soup?  chili?  My biggest problem with eating and driving has always been the mess, not only getting stuff on your hands but the possibility of dropping something on your shirt. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/Asn2XVe6lGs/dont-eat-and-drive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/Asn2XVe6lGs" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/07/dont-eat-and-drive.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-553039854691048900Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:30:00 +00002009-07-16T19:30:20.480-07:00http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/left-lane-slowpokes-drive-you-crazy.aspx?gt1=33004 Here in Massachusetts, there are times and places when we let you drive in the breakdown lane.  That’d be the one on the far right.  So that means that the craziest drivers, the ones who are in such a hurry that they will go wherever they believe the traffic to be moving fastest, will http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/TbO_tPMQHto/get-out-of-passing-lane.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/TbO_tPMQHto" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/07/get-out-of-passing-lane.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-565381021002775280Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:11:00 +00002009-07-16T06:11:24.892-07:00http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1022211_prius-perks-in-peril-from-plug-in-privileges I don’t really understand this article.  Apparently there are retailers that offer “hybrid only” parking spaces.  Fine, I can live with that (people who don’t care will simply ignore it).  But the point seems to be that *these* perks are going away, to be replaced by similar perks for plug-ins (that’d be thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/QzzLESmBG18/parking-perks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/QzzLESmBG18" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/07/parking-perks.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-8816543265008407997Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:15:00 +00002009-07-09T04:15:34.087-07:00http://editorial.autos.msn.com/listarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=1069499 From wood paneling to talking cars, MSN looks at the worst auto fads of the last 50 years – including a few you’ll still see on the streets today. I confess : One of my cars had that automatic seatbelt thing.  I expect it came closer to killing me than saving me, as I lost track of the times I’d turn key in ignition while thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/g3vnbHfmBzc/are-you-guilty-of-these-auto-fads.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/g3vnbHfmBzc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/07/are-you-guilty-of-these-auto-fads.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-4831651318522722005Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:09:00 +00002009-07-08T08:09:13.987-07:00http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/08/economy.traffic/index.html Less people with jobs == less people going to work in the morning == less traffic on the roads == good thing for you? I suppose we see our silver linings where we can. You could just as easily say “less people driving == less demand for gas == prices go up for those of us still driving”, too. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/R9fjHfhJJaU/less-traffic-thats-good-thing-i-suppose.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/R9fjHfhJJaU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/07/less-traffic-thats-good-thing-i-suppose.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6997158984746771935Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:39:00 +00002009-06-30T11:39:13.143-07:00http://www.thedailydust.co.uk/2009/06/30/tube-drivers-to-read-out-shakespeare/ A new initiative will see tube drivers reading out classical quotes with their announcements. The drivers are to be given a book of quotations that will include Shakespeare, Goethe and Friedrich Engels and are expected to read out quotes with their daily announcements to passengers. I like it.  The closest I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/uMHM6BkkBQI/tube-drivers-reciting-shakespeare.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/uMHM6BkkBQI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/06/tube-drivers-reciting-shakespeare.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-8953202544600809250Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:30:00 +00002009-06-28T12:30:33.996-07:00Had my first “ninja hybrid” experience yesterday.  I’m crossing the street to get the mail, and I can see that there is a car coming.  However, I cannot *hear* that there is a car coming.  It is, indeed, a very weird experience the first time you become aware of it.  You get none of the Doppler effect that tells you the rate of approach (like you notice most when a fire engine passes by).  It’s http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/xWZD1p28I5Q/hybrid-spotting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/xWZD1p28I5Q" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/06/hybrid-spotting.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-471013521832016794Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:13:00 +00002009-06-16T18:13:44.029-07:00http://lifehacker.com/5292782/master-the-art-of-web-commuting Good article on Lifehacker about doing the telecommuting thing for real. Personally I have trouble with the discipline of separating work and home.  I can spend the morning on the phone or the laptop downstairs in my basement office, but it’s only a matter of time before I’m wandering up to the kitchen for a snack, and before you http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/NIEcev0M5KU/master-art-of-web-commuting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/NIEcev0M5KU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/06/master-art-of-web-commuting.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-7932573468829828561Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:56:00 +00002009-06-15T05:56:26.897-07:00In case you missed it, gas prices jumped drastically over the last week or two.  Locally I’m looking at $2.64 a gallon, which I think is right in line with the national average (although by definition that means that half of you out there have got it worse). Knowing now what we saw last year, are you changing your summer plans?  Are you expecting it to be better or worse than it was last year?  http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/H9rBLKCsT24/gas-prices-climbing-are-you-panicking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/H9rBLKCsT24" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/06/gas-prices-climbing-are-you-panicking.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-4487627021502372465Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:25:00 +00002009-06-09T08:25:36.265-07:00http://www.abcactionnews.com/content/financialsurvival/tampabaystories/story/10-cars-that-seem-to-last-forever/IqburppgwEi1zTrczbjFVA.cspx Personally, I was raised on the “buy something gently used at a good price and then drive it until it becomes too expensive to keep it running” school.  Then I married a girl who was raised on “I want a shiny new leased one every 3 years.” :) But with the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/s2yS4X65B2E/cars-that-last-forever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/s2yS4X65B2E" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/06/cars-that-last-forever.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6264487684922972677Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:36:00 +00002009-06-05T10:36:50.957-07:00If spend any meaningful commute time in the car (even if, like me, you just take it to the train station), chances are it’s getting filthier than you realize, both inside and out.  It’s hard for you to see it because you’re in the automatic zone of driving it back and forth every day.  You stop seeing it the way somebody would who walks up to it with a fresh set of eyes. Take some time out, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/el_lgEEZu8c/get-car-washed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/el_lgEEZu8c" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/06/get-car-washed.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6980064958260941077Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:01:00 +00002009-06-01T06:01:14.924-07:00http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/29/news/companies/gm_fuzzy.fortune/index.htm It seems a logical conclusion – if a car company is going bankrupt in a very public way, you don’t want to buy one of their cars.  After all, you expect a certain level of warranty and service, new parts, that sort of thing.  All of which would be up in the air if the company disappeared 6 months after you make your http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/FVLQi1c7yO8/how-will-gm-bankruptcy-affect-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/FVLQi1c7yO8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/06/how-will-gm-bankruptcy-affect-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-4617397165871425128Thu, 28 May 2009 18:25:00 +00002009-05-28T11:25:30.289-07:00If you drive to work, where do you park?  My job has a lot directly at the front door, with plenty of space… until the building owners came in one say and put “Reserved” signs on more than half of them, leaving us just two officially reserved for the company and the rest of us to fend for ourselves with the first come, first served ones.  If the front lot is full we have to park down the street, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/9y2mwh8ez6E/park-smart.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/9y2mwh8ez6E" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/05/park-smart.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6076069297535627733Thu, 28 May 2009 18:21:00 +00002009-05-28T11:21:38.300-07:00http://jalopnik.com/5271379/the-six-best-ways-to-steal-gas-and-one-really-bad-way As summer approaches we can once again look forward to drastically spiking gas prices, think about selling our cars, biking more, and generally pass the time until September when the prices come down again. Until then, the linked Jalopnik article offers some – hopefully for entertainment value only! – ways of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/rfM0PqByE8U/dont-steal-gas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/rfM0PqByE8U" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/05/dont-steal-gas.html