The Low-Tech Times

In a development The Low-Tech Times sees as bad news, Chrysler will offer wireless Internet access in its 2009 models. Ken Bensinger’s Los Angeles Times article reports on serious safety concerns:

“Surfing the Web is something people really don’t have any business doing while they drive,” said Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Assn. “It’s definitely a distraction.”

His and other safety groups say the only way to drive safely is without using any electronic devices, headset or no.

Chrysler says that when the car is in motion, the service is intended to be used only by passengers. The privately held company acknowledges, however, that there is no way to prevent a driver from steering with one hand and Web surfing with the other.

I do not understand the obsessive demand for always-on, always-connected Internet access. Do people realize that there is more to life than the Internet?

Facebook is a popular social networking site where users create online profiles and interact with other Facebook members. While it is quite popular with some people, many others see the service as a waste of time.

Corey Lorinsky of Silicon Valley Insider reports on a brand research study tracking words associated with various companies. According to the article, Facebook did not fare well in the study:

The experiment, via a site called brandtags.net, is anything but scientific. But it is simple: The site shows a brand’s logo and simply asks you to type the first word that pops into your head.

Here are the top 25 words or phrases on Brand Tags currently associated with Facebook (descriptive words are bolded):

friends, social, college, annoying, people, facebook, fun, boring, kids, lame, community, social networking, myspace, waste of time, addictive, social network, network, networking, stupid, young, useless, crap, internet, stalker, s***

Compare that list with Amazon’s:

books, book, everything, shopping, convenient, easy, buy, cheap, awesome, fast, online, smile, great, shop, amazon, useful, internet, good, online shopping, shipping, amazing, store, reliable, cool, huge

The results are very interesting and seem to support an earlier Low-Tech Times editorial piece entitled Facebook Accounts Are Completely Unnecessary.

ErinSlick’s recent post Bathroom Rules for Coworkers gives very good advice when it comes to relieving yourself:

I work in a very big office. Over the years, I’ve shared a bathroom with hundreds of women. This has led me to believe that some women are a bit ridiculous when it comes to the bathroom. So I’ve created five rules to help those of you who are Lavatoryily Challenged.

1. Do not, under any circumstances, take your cellphone with you. One time, I was actually forced to listen to a girl go on and on about the results of her chlamydia test. Seriously. Don’t do it. Even if you’re planning on having an arcane conversation. It can wait until you’re done. I promise.

ErinSlick’s five rules are aimed at women, but unfortunately I am able to testify that many men are also guilty of using cell phones while in the restroom. There is clearly no need for people to use mobile phones while relieving themselves.

For more on rude cell phone use and tips for dealing with it, click here.