“We complain that we are running out of oil but we aren’t willing to lift a technological finger to conserve any.”

Actually, a few pennies from your gas tax contributions are going to lift that technological finger (not the middle one either). Something called ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems are being designed to take a broad range of information and use it to monitor and manage traffic flow; reduce congestion; and even provide alternate routes to travelers.

This is going to take a new kind of transportation infrastructure and not all of it is inside your vehicle, but there are some interesting things happening in this area.

This would be nice, wouldn’t it. The lack of a wireless connection in your gps, however, is the least of your worries. The web isn’t ready for this. Although it is passe to speak of the semantic web, this is an example where having computer-readable information available could lead to some real applications. Actually, now that I look at the aquarium’s website  www.njaquarium.org – I think] it seems that there isn’t even any human-readible information regarding hours, although the closing information is plainly evident.

Gray: “Following that logic, I’m thinking about opening my own for-profit police and fire departments and suing the city to make them shut down their free ones.” It’s been done. http://www.ruralmetro.com/

The new Pioneer AVIC-N2 nav receiver can subscribe to a $12.95/month satellite radio service that includes traffic routing information. No idea how well it actually works, though. Is there already a centralized source of traffic slowdown data available for free on the net?

My GPS database includes phone numbers for most places listed in it. So I usually call ahead on my cell phone to avoid disappointing side trips, such as closed aquariums.

But I agree with your general point. Wireless Internet would be better.

Of course, when you say to make it free, you run into all kinds of problems. Phone companies in several areas are fighting against free wireless Internet, because they want to sell you that service. They say that government shouldn’t be competing with private businesses. Following that logic, I’m thinking about opening my own for-profit police and fire departments and suing the city to make them shut down their free ones.

“Sadly, in a Coyote v. Road Runner-esque turn of events, the tree proceeded to fall on the SUV’s roof.”

That should be “hilariously and satisfyingly, in a Coyote v. Road Runner-esque turn of events…”