The female factor

http://read.canadianautodealer.ca/?origref=#!/article/53a1cf01ec06918e8d000883-the-female-factor

Google self driver and suicide!

 

One thing Google has going for them: you won’t be able to commit suicide while driving your self-driven Google vehicle off a cliff.  What will road rage look like? Is this a step toward achieving highway peace, or will it enrage the non-Google drivers to retaliate? Google, I have so many questions and I don’t think Siri can answer them all.  When I was 16 and got my first taste of freedom driving alone, it gave me a feeling of pride and independence.  I don’t feel like I want to take the feeling away from my kids when they reach driving age.   I have to admit it does sound good: the idea of sitting in a vehicle taking me to my destination and, during the trip I can read a paper, talk on the phone or have a snack.

Something about it just seems wrong but like most things….we will adjust.

Twitter #News #Hashtag #People #GetOutside

Back in 2006, I remember receiving a call from a friend that went like this, “Have you heard of Twitter?  Ashton Kutcher is trying to get 1 million followers”.  Who would ever have imagined that today he would have 16.1 million and 8,363 tweets?  So much to say in so few words.  You might be surprised to know that Katy Perry is currently in the lead with 52.9 million followers, which is 11 million more than YouTube. 

Despite the popularity contest, Twitter is now becoming a main source for breaking news.  It was Twitter where I learned about Osama Bin Laden’s death, and the bank robbery in my neighborhood yesterday.  

I don’t believe every tweet, but Twitter does spark my curiosity and interest to find out more.   I find people are turning to Twitter more and more for faster news feeds and popular trends.  

Twitter is fun and has some great things to offer, but remember to connect in person.  Sometimes I think people forget how to carry on a conversation, or even form a sentence that is any longer than 140 characters. 

#getoutside

Will Corporatism Rule The Internet?

Will the amazing, chaotic, free-flowing information change with impending regulations and are changes inevitable?  If the Internet highway is permitted to have tolls, just imagine how much we will have to pay just to receive email faster than a YouTube feed.  

I have so many questions and concerns, both as a free agent and a business owner.   Concerns should be voiced when it comes to the question of who regulates our free-flowing Internet.  Large corporations are slowly taking the fun out of the Internet with marketing sabotage.  I only have to wait 5 seconds to watch a YouTube video right now.  Who determined the 5 seconds and how long before it becomes 6?

Is there such a thing as Net neutrality anymore and will it become a thing of the past with the resources behind big business?

If Internet service providers are permitted to offer fast-tracked content, you can only imagine what that content will look like and the fees attached.  This will be the end of free thinking on the Internet.  It will be interesting to see what happens today, with the FCC reviewing the freedom of the Internet, and if Net neutrality will be a thing of the past.   

Which Would You Choose: No Facebook Or “Pay To Play”?

Let’s get serious for a minute.  Do you think Mark Zuckerberg woke up one morning and said, ”Hey, let’s start an open community online platform, and lets do it for free forever”?  Somehow, I highly doubt that.  Very few people do anything for free.  Social media changes every second and managing it all is overwhelming.  People argue that Facebook is about driving traffic to your site, while others say it’s the level of engagement and brand loyalty you can create.  One thing I can say about Facebook is they made it easy.  You don’t have to write interesting articles every day.  All you have to do is post something that’s different with good content.  Your organic readers will reward you and it won’t cost you a cent.  The reality is if you want to be a part of the team or get in on the social media game, you will have to eventually pay to play, with dollars and/or time.  Since most media platforms charge, what makes Facebook so different?  Every business should have that opportunity.  Let’s remember it wasn’t that long ago a business was paying several thousand dollars for a placeholder in print.  All good business evolve, and the one thing Facebook did right was to afford small business owners with the same opportunities to reach new clients as large corporations.  I would be more worried about the power of Google then having to pay for a news feed on Facebook.   It has been 6 months since Facebook elected to change its news feed and content delivery, and I have yet to see a drastic change in the organic reach from posts.  It basically comes down to this: create good content, appeal to your most engaged buyers and don’t forget to maximize as many platforms as possible. 

My only request to Facebook is please add a dislike button.

Let's talk tires

 

Now that the snow is gone it’s time to talk tires.  Did you know that if you inspect your tires regularly you will find signs that your tires may be wearing poorly or that they may need to be replaced?  Often if a tire is wearing poorly, there is a way to correct it and ad some additional life to the tire.  Below are just a few things to look for when you pull your all-seasons out of the garage and haul them off to the dealer.

 

1. Does the tire have any abnormal wear patterns

2. Are there any cracks

3. Does there appear to be any damage on the outside wall

4. Can you see any punctures or patches

5. Is the tire oval in shape vs. round

6. Are there any strange bulges

 

If you notice any of these items, it may be time for new tires.  When looking at abnormal or uneven wear, look for high and low areas and even sometimes smooth areas.

Ever wonder what the writing on your tire is?  Here’s how to read the specifications:

 

P 195/70 R 14 85 H

 

- P indicates it’s a passenger vehicle

- 195/70 - this is the tire width and aspect ratio

- R indicates it’s radial construction

- 14 is the size of rim the tire fits

- 85 is the load index

- H says the speed rating

 

Get your local dealer to review your wear and ask them what percentage you have left before you need to make a change.  Sometimes just rotating front to back can make a difference.

Auto Black Box and Big Brother

In the United States and areas through the United Kingdom, insurance companies have been installing black boxes in clients’ vehicles for years.  These boxes have been installed voluntarily and disclose driving habits and behaviors behind the wheel.  The incentive to having this little black box monitor your every move is to receive the benefit of a premium reduction.  This feature is now available in Ontario and Quebec with Desjardins.  My question is, if you opt to have a box and your driving is erratic, will your premiums go up? I guess we will find out sooner than later.  Apparently, black boxes will be mandatory starting September of this year.  Over 90% of new cars being manufactured currently have a black box.  The box was originally designed to provide insight into conditions surrounding accidents.  I suppose at the very least this will get rid of the “he said, she said”.  My vote is to record the data, but allow individuals to determine what information can be provided from the box.  This is going to be a grey area moving forward especially in the courts.  It will be interesting to see how things play out.