tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:14:49 +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)Blogger406125tag: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.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6722915549969287867Tue, 19 May 2009 12:34:00 +00002009-05-19T05:34:07.256-07:00A device that could dramatically reduce the number of collisions by eliminating driver error is to be tested in Europe. The system uses technology similar to wi-fi to enable vehicles to communicate with each other, sharing information about their speed and location, to determine when a crash is imminent. read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/JlOsjZz8snM/technology-could-stop-speeding-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/JlOsjZz8snM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/05/technology-could-stop-speeding-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6052568036055966823Tue, 19 May 2009 12:33:00 +00002009-05-19T05:33:53.507-07:00Don't put up with that awful caterwauling noise when you drive. Most car brake noise is easy to fix.read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/9e_BYzAg4d8/how-to-fix-squeaky-brakes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/9e_BYzAg4d8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/05/how-to-fix-squeaky-brakes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-5117430321254816382Wed, 13 May 2009 15:26:00 +00002009-05-13T08:26:37.524-07:00http://www.merrimackvalleytma.com/BiketoWork09.htm My local “Transportation Management Association” sponsored Bike to Work Day today, and I’m happy to report that I actually got off my sorry butt and did it.  I rode my bike the 3.5ish or so miles to work.  It’s not a lot – I particularly like how the guy at the finish line said “We’ll round up.” –- it was more for the feeling of accomplishment http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/AtrIKny64EY/bike-to-work-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/AtrIKny64EY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/05/bike-to-work-week.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-4554939294162874864Wed, 06 May 2009 14:22:00 +00002009-05-06T07:22:44.765-07:00From electric MINIs and Mitsubishis to high gas mileage Fiats, Smarts, Fords and more, see the hip, pint-sized new cars soon to hit American roads.read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/fvTxhm16MaQ/hottest-new-cars-prove-small-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/fvTxhm16MaQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/05/hottest-new-cars-prove-small-is.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-5490743501210994365Wed, 06 May 2009 02:37:00 +00002009-05-05T19:37:44.929-07:00From not buckling up to not getting enough shut-eye, here's a rundown of the 10 most common mistakes motorists make.read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/Yc8F30MLALk/10-most-lethal-driving-mistakes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/Yc8F30MLALk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/05/10-most-lethal-driving-mistakes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-5104272169654371913Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:50:00 +00002009-04-28T13:50:38.030-07:00Here is a look at the coolest rides on display at China’s premier auto show, Shanghai 2009.read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/7jInqq4_wlo/8-hottest-new-cars.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/7jInqq4_wlo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/04/8-hottest-new-cars.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6059054908820464777Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:35:00 +00002009-04-27T13:35:38.115-07:00Evaluating combined city/highway gas mileage, horsepower and torque points were awarded on a place basis to define the list. While none of these cars are gas sippers, a couple get upward of 20 miles per gallon, like the Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Chevrolet Corvette.read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/kQOv9bctfdU/10-fastest-fuel-efficient-cars.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/kQOv9bctfdU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/04/10-fastest-fuel-efficient-cars.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-5793118491977406367Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:14:00 +00002009-04-25T19:14:55.264-07:00"As the App Store celebrates its 1 billionth download, we list our picks for the best automotive applications available."read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/J4nhK84Q8zE/top-10-automotive-iphone-apps.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/J4nhK84Q8zE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/04/top-10-automotive-iphone-apps.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-6246693399410005778Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:04:00 +00002009-04-24T11:04:47.276-07:00I have been saying I'd swap out the wife's old minivan (now, my commuter car) for awhile now. Sure seems like a good time. I just have to get over the inertia of "no monthly payment" to "couple thousand in down payment and then monthly payment again".read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/ZlL_JzDfq0E/7-reasons-why-nows-time-to-buy-car.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/ZlL_JzDfq0E" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/04/7-reasons-why-nows-time-to-buy-car.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-1097830687328700730Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:54:00 +00002009-04-23T05:54:17.654-07:00"She spun the wheels so fast that her tyres disintegrated and the metal rims sent a shower of sparks into the engine, igniting the brake fluid and setting the car on fire.Appalled onlookers urged her to get out of the car as the flames licked around her but she told them to 'F*** off', an inquest in Gloucester was told."read more | digg storyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/x1zIXVADTfo/woman-burnt-to-death-in-road-rage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/x1zIXVADTfo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/04/woman-burnt-to-death-in-road-rage.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35411594.post-8336311949405414934Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:51:00 +00002009-04-19T04:51:32.365-07:00As the nice weather approaches I’d like to start riding my new bike to work, at least periodically.  The job’s only about 3 miles away, it shouldn’t kill me. Well, I haven’t been on a bike in about 20 years.  Glad I took it for a practice spin this week – a 10 minute trip around the neighborhood had my knees feeling like jelly when I got off! That’s ok, I’ll work up to it.  Any full time bike http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~3/H_8AHeY4juk/bike-to-work.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Duane)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommuteSmarter/~4/H_8AHeY4juk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.commutesmarter.com/2009/04/bike-to-work.html