I love having things organized, but there are times that my computer tends to get away from me, specifically with my own personal files and my e-mail. I had enough last night and decided to remedy this situation. Instead of trying to "fix" my e-mail boxes, I did my preferred first step — start over. I created a new database file and moved content I needed to keep over to the new file, making absolutely sure messages that could be deleted were deleted. Amazing how much easier it is to navigate and use now. Next: my documents.

I somehow managed to get Clairol Herbal Essences in my mouth during a recent shower. While I highly recommend these pleasant smelling hair care products, I do suggest maintaining a closed mouth while using them.

Today is my friend Chris Benitez's birthday. Drop by his website and wish him well. Tonight I will be attending his not-so-surprise party and with any luck, remembering it tomorrow. Just kidding. No, really.

The countdown to my vacation in New York is now at fifteen days and counting. With the help of the internet and the Lonely Planet book I purchased, I now have a six-page document with notes and information on a variety of topics including transportation, nightspots, nerdy locales (like the fire station from Ghostbusters), museums and restaurants.

I am commissioned to produce new menus and a website for a local restaurant. I will post more about this project and review some of the food in the near future.

After looking at Seattle, San Francisco and Washington D.C., I have decided to trek up to New York City and spend more time than I was permitted on my business trip last September. The west coast destinations were nearly impossible to manage due to some of the flight restrictions — mainly the fact I would have to travel for more than a week — of my complimentary travel vouchers. And while the idea of visiting the nation's capitol was exciting, I have spent a considerable amount of time there and not nearly enough time in the Big Apple.

I will be in the city from Thursday, 14 April through Tuesday, 19 April 2005 for anyone interested in meeting-up.

In addition to the three draft but mostly only outlined articles I am currently writing, the past week's events have compelled me to put those items on hold temporarily and instead compose several new stories based upon those events.

One story will detail a day of consumerism with a focus on the level of customer service one can encounter. The other is about a unique wedding and the random road trip that followed.

I really want to put some energy into these stories and not just make them some text thrown together on a website. That said, it may take a little while for them to come to fruition.

I have been both busy working on other things and legitimately slacking when it comes to writing articles on pre-decided topics. In fact, three separate compositions sit on my desktop unfinished. And instead of completing one of them right now—when I would rather go to bed—I will share a recent search request that brought someone to Mount Sutro.

While I am sure the intention of the searcher was genuine and possibly educational, I can only hope that their communicatory faux pas is not something they would dare repeat in the context of a human-to-human conversation.

Yikes! I really hope that the person in question was simply looking for colour photographs and perhaps is just a little rusty with the English language. Are the schools in North Dakota really that bad?

As to the fact that Mount Sutro is the second result for that search phrase, MSN combined both my post about (ironically) people searching for pictures of civil rights veteran Rosa Parks and a quote from an entry containing colour photographs from World War Two.

NASA Langley Research Center: Crash Test Videos
Videos of intentional airplane crashes.

Japan Photoblog
My good friend Steven Patten moved to Japan a few months ago. Now that he is settled into his apartment and job, he is regularly posting to his website pictures and stories of an American living in Tokyo.

Zookeepers Chase Man In Lion Suit
"A Japanese zoo prepared for animal escapes by chasing a volunteer dressed in a lion costume."

Industrial Shredder Demonstration
Watch as items including tires, appliances, furniture and more are absolutely pulverised. [ via ]

STC FontBrowser 2.0
Browse through and preview any and all installed fonts with this interactive Flash tool. [ via ]

Support Mount Sutro
Shop at Amazon.com by using our easy-to-remember URL (mountsutro.org/amazon) and help support Mount Sutro.

The NPR radio show All Things Considered recently aired a story about DriveCam Video Systems, a company selling camera and sensor devices into vehicles to determine how accidents occur. While the advantage of this technology may be clearly visible in the world of commercial transportation, the NPR story focused more on teenage drivers and how parents may use this technology to gauge their children's driving habits.

With the DriveCam system installed, live video is captured from one of several cameras, most popularly a forward-facing shot (much like are installed in police cars) and also a camera facing the cabin. If the DriveCam computer system detects something anomalous, such as hard braking, fast turning or an impact registering in the optional force sensors, the video immediately preceding and following the incident are saved for review.

While it may be every parent's ultimate wish to know exactly how their children are driving absent their supervision, I doubt the installation of this technology will have the end-impact of reducing reckless and careless teen driving. Instead of teaching children the values of safe and defensive driving, the DriveCam system stands only to intimidate. Scaring children into possibly better driving practices for fear of punishment will do nothing for the longterm, while providing them with the knowledge and insight available on why they should decide to drive safely on their own will be everlasting. In the end, if a teen driver is going to drive recklessly and possibly get into an accident along the way, they will do so anyway. Just perhaps in their friend's vehicle.

As I mentioned before, there are very practical commercial uses for this technology as well. Not only can DriveCam explain why a work vehicle may return to its owner dinged or missing a mirror, but it can also help exonerate a driver of wrong-doing in the event of a mechanical malfunction.

Such cases and many more are available to watch by selecting from the following video samples provided by DriveCam on their website. Unfortunately only Microsoft Internet Explorer is supported and the installation of the DriveCam proprietary video software ActiveX control is required for viewing.

A Close Call
The driver fails to notice the red traffic signal in the upcoming intersection and is forced to take evasive action.

It is amazing this accident was not worse considering the apparent speed involved.

Asleep at the Wheel
The driver of this AAA-affiliated tow truck falls asleep at the wheel in the middle of the day, allowing his vehicle to leave the road for the sidewalk. This video is dual-camera, so be sure to click the "REAR" button and play the video again to see the alternate perspective.

What the hell do you think that was, moron? Fortunately for you, not a person on the sidewalk.

Pay Attention
The driver fails to notice traffic slowing ahead and nearly rear-ends another vehicle.

I agree with the passenger who rightfully enquires why the driver was being so absent-minded.

Bus Steering Malfunction
In an example of how the DriveCam system can exonerate a driver of guilt, this dual-camera video shows an airport shuttle bus losing its steering system, going over a railing and into a parking lot below. Again, be sure to click "REAR" and play the video again to watch the cabin view.

How scary for both the driver and passenger, who looks like he is going to vomit. I think the driver said it right, though!

T-Bone
This video captures the DriveCam-equipped vehicle as the victim of a t-bone crash.

What lovely driving music.
Too bad he had to have an accident to it.

Wrong Lane
Another example of the DriveCam vehicle as victim, this time to a pick-up truck deciding to make a last minute left turn from the middle lane.

At first I thought the driver at fault was going to make a run for it!

Mirror
This commercial driver clips the passenger side mirror from his shuttle bus.

…and subsequently uses many "colourful metaphors."

What Did I Hit?
A good question for this driver who backs into or over something.

The driver's utterance of "tell me about it" seems to hint at an already bad day getting worse.

Speed Hump
This driver flies through a parking lot over a speed hump, hitting hard enough to trigger the incident saving feature of the DriveCam.

Are these people drunk? Even after plowing through the speed hump, they seem oblivious.

UPDATE

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Related Article: DriveCam Redux