How Not to Use an ATM

This is a CRAZY video I found on digg. I hope the person driving and his or her passengers survived this. I know from experience that you must be very careful when driving something different than your normally used to (Mark, if you're reading this, I won't ever forget taking out part of your apartment complex! What a way to introduce yourself to the neighbors!)

How Not To Use The Drive Through ATM - Watch more free videos

Hands Free Law: Smart or Stupid?

First of all, "big ups" to Mary Beth whose post on this subject sparked the conversation that was the catalyst for this post.

So, about eight months ago I logged on to eCost.com (or maybe NewEgg.com, I can't remember) and I bought two little blue tooth hands-free deals for about thirteen bucks each. At the time, Sarah thought it was sort of pointless and she was right since we barely used them. I used mine a little bit, but only because I figured I better start getting used to it before the law changed. Now, of course, the law has changed and if you're going to talk on the cellio, you better have a hands free set or you could get nailed with a ticket.

So far, so good. It's just going to take time before it's totally a habit (charging them, taking them out to the car, enabling them, etc...I say enabling them because I can't stand to use it unless I'm in the car, I just can't walk around with it on all the time like a lot of people do, it sort of annoys me). We've noticed we're talking less on the phone as well while driving because most calls can wait. The main problem we're having, like many others, is that we don't know if we really think the law is going to make a difference in terms of safety. Studies show that the number one thing that distracts a driver is.....having a passenger in the vehicle! It makes sense, right? Talking with the person sitting next to you or, like many of you, having a screaming baby or a chatty toddler can be very distracting. I am the kind of person who blows by his exit because I get "caught up in conversation."

Anyway, here is an excerpt from a big study done by the University of Utah about this subject. The main idea here is that being on the cell phone, whether you're talking the old fashioned way with the phone up to the ear, OR talking on a hands free set, makes you just as crappy a driver as being sloshed. So, my conclusion on this topic is that this law is silly and communist. How's that for a polished thesis?

Drivers on Cell Phones Are as Bad as Drunks

Utah Psychologists Warn Against Cell Phone Use While Driving

Media Contacts

June 29, 2006 -- Three years after the preliminary results first were presented at a scientific meeting and drew wide attention, University of Utah psychologists have published a study showing that motorists who talk on handheld or hands-free cellular phones are as impaired as drunken drivers.

"We found that people are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit” of 0.08 percent, which is the minimum level that defines illegal drunken driving in most U.S. states, says study co-author Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology. “If legislators really want to address driver distraction, then they should consider outlawing cell phone use while driving.”

Psychology Professor David Strayer, the study's lead author, adds: “Just like you put yourself and other people at risk when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others at risk when you use a cell phone and drive. The level of impairment is very similar.”

“Clearly the safest course of action is to not use a cell phone while driving,” concludes the study by Strayer, Drews and Dennis Crouch, a research associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology. The study was set for publication June 29 in the summer 2006 issue of Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

The study reinforced earlier research by Strayer and Drews showing that hands-free cell phones are just as distracting as handheld cell phones because the conversation itself – not just manipulation of a handheld phone – distracts drivers from road conditions.

Human Factors Editor Nancy J. Cooke praised the study: “Although we all have our suspicions about the dangers of cell phone use while driving, human factors research on driver safety helps us move beyond mere suspicions to scientific observations of driver behavior.”

The study first gained public notice after Strayer presented preliminary results in July 2003 in Park City, Utah, during the Second International Driving Symposium on Human Factors in Driver Assessment, Training and Vehicle Design. It took until now for the study to be completed, undergo review by other researchers and finally be published.

Key Findings: Different Driving Styles, Similar Impairment

Each of the study"s 40 participants “drove” a PatrolSim driving simulator four times: once each while undistracted, using a handheld cell phone, using a hands-free cell phone and while intoxicated to the 0.08 percent blood-alcohol level after drinking vodka and orange juice. Participants followed a simulated pace car that braked intermittently.

Both handheld and hands-free cell phones impaired driving, with no significant difference in the degree of impairment. That “calls into question driving regulations that prohibited handheld cell phones and permit hands-free cell phones,” the researchers write.

The study found that compared with undistracted drivers:

• Motorists who talked on either handheld or hands-free cell phones drove slightly slower, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, displayed 24 percent more variation in following distance as their attention switched between driving and conversing, were 19 percent slower to resume normal speed after braking and were more likely to crash. Three study participants rear-ended the pace car. All were talking on cell phones. None were drunk.
• Drivers drunk at the 0.08 percent blood-alcohol level drove a bit more slowly than both undistracted drivers and drivers using cell phones, yet more aggressively. They followed the pace car more closely, were twice as likely to brake only four seconds before a collision would have occurred, and hit their brakes with 23 percent more force. “Neither accident rates, nor reaction times to vehicles braking in front of the participant, nor recovery of lost speed following braking differed significantly” from undistracted drivers, the researchers write.

“Impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while drunk,” they conclude.

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Finally, if you're mad about playing the extra cost for a hands free device, always remember this option, it's VERY inexpensive and it'll also earn you extra attention:

Movie Review: Kung-Fu Panda: A

According to the consensus of critics, "Kung Fu Panda has a familiar message, but the pleasing mix of humor, swift martial arts action, and colorful animation makes for winning Summer entertainment." I agree with them except for the fact that I think the "familiar message" is a great one and definitely NOT an impediment in what I found to be an extremely entertaining and suprisingly profound movie experience.

First of all, the film is very fun to watch. It's beautiful, using a broad color palette, and the animation is fluid and organic. Although many believe Pixar is at the pinnacle of CGI toons due to their their nuanced style and the "fun little details" they deftly put in to each of their works, the Panda holds his own in terms of technical prowess.

The pacing of Kung Fu Panda is just right too: it starts of with a bang and doesn't slow down even though it takes its time establishing the basic situation and characterization. I would have liked to have seen more character development of the "Furious Five," the kung-fu masters Po, the Panda, must work with, but I think that would have made the film too long and brevity in childrens' films is paramount.

Finally, the story is entertaining. From the primary plot line to the thematic messages underlying the fun narrative, I believe most audiences will come to find themselves caring about Po and his plight. He's an easy to character to empathize with and despite what some critics called a rote, cliched theme, I thought the message was profound and honest. Haven't people heard of universal themes? Truths that are ageless? From the idea of motivation and will power to stilling the mind to the belief in personal potential and creating one's reality through perception, there's plenty to think about by the time this movie ends. And if you're not in to that, there's plenty of jokes about Po's plump Panda persona and lots of cool kung-fu action. Indeed, the movie stands up well enough as an action flick alone!

So, my personal grade for this one: A+ with extra credit for general "awesomeness"
My grade for the general audience: B/B+

Oh, by the way, "There is no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness. "
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BONUS #1: Which characters of the furious five are missing in the image at the beginning of this post.

Bonus #2: Deep thoughts from Kung Fu Panda
A. "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present." This deals with the idea of the ETERNAL NOW. Yesterday (the past) is an idea, a memory. Tomorrow is the future, a concept, an idea. All there is, then, is the present, the NOW.

B. "One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it." The problems we face, or create, in life hold within themselves the lesson which we need to learn.

C. There's another quote about there being no accidents in life which I really like. Are there really accidents in life? Meditate on that question....grasshopper.

TRAILER:

Photo 'Splosion!

Well, this morning finds me with Sarah at the hospital (working), Claire asleep and Carter doing self-imposed homework (we buy him pre-school/kindergarten work books at the store and he loves coloring, filling in blanks, connecting dots, etc.) so I have the chance to organize all the photos sitting on the notebook and get them into slide shows. Here are some slide shows and a few videos of a bunch of images we've captured in the last couple of months including Rob's wedding, random photos we took at my parent's house, etc.

Spring time evening beach trip with my mom and the Hamiltons(Huntington):




Random springtime photos:




Some photos from my classroom:


Our photos from Rob's wedding:

Gone Fishing II

My friend Dan from work bought a boat a while back and in May (or April?) we took a trip out to Catalina with a bunch of the guys from work. We tried our hand at fishing but came up short in terms of catching any sizable fish but had a great time nonetheless. The weather was great and being out on the ocean in a smaller boat is a lot of fun because you have such a great sense of speed and the air and sights are so refreshing. We chased from fishing boats around and saw some interesting sights including some seals swimming out in the middle of nowhere and talked to some funny people. Here are some of the photos I took.

Team Todd Zoo Videos

These videos go with the post (picture slide show) about our trip to the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park in March.


"Flying on deez!"


Carter, overwhelmed with happiness high above the zoo declares his love for mommy: "I love you mommy."


Carter gets nipped by a goose (I was obviously more scared than Carter):


The "post-poop interview" (Carter got pooped on by a bird and it stunk):


Sea otter gazing. I think the other kid and Carter call it a "llama":



"I'm an orangutan." Carter spent most of the time doing, or trying to do, things like this:


"1, 2, 3, 4, 5! And nothing happens..."




Carter runs and finds pinecones:

"Charlie, that really hurt!"

I love funny stuff and this is funny. I hear I'm late to the game and that April and Wes already blogged this and showed it to me, but for some reason I don't remember having seen it before, so here it is: two British kids, brothers apparently, and....just watch the video...

Happy 27th Sarah!

Happy birthday Sarah! Sarah is the most wonderful person I know and I know her VERY well. While no one is perfect, sometimes I think she comes pretty close. She is so sincere and well-meaning and is constantly concerned with the welfare of others. She never wants to hurt anyone's feelings and is always striving to be a great mom, to serve others, and to do her duty both at home, church and work. Although she usually works only one day a week, her job comes with a high level of stress but she tries not to let that follow her home. I know she sacrifices time with her friends to be home with the children, to spend time with me when I get home from work, and to assure that she gets everything else done on her plate and I'm very grateful for that.

Sarah was born on June 26th 1981 in Logan, Utah and grew up in Riverside, CA. It's funny because I too was born in Utah (Ogden...the "armpit of Utah" some say which fits me I suppose) but grew up in Southern California. We met at BYU in 2000 and the rest, as they say, is history.

Happy Birthday Sarah and may we celebrate many more together. Ti amo sempre amore mio!