Car Vlog 008-011 (Synchronized Lights – an Environmental Issue)
February 25, 2007
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Welcome to another episode of Car Vlog… I’ve got a bunch of these backvlogged so I thought I better get posting. Here is a mash dealing with synchronized lights.
I really pay attention to driving. I almost became a civil engineer because I like the concept of city planning. Ideally without cars but if we have them we may as well not make them sit around idling.
Hamilton is a great city to drive in because it has synchronized lights. I can go from one side to the other through maybe 50 lights or so at 50 or 60 km/hr in about 15-20 minutes non stop!
When I go to and from work (in rush hour) I go through about 10-20 lights past McMaster University without stopping and it takes 5 minutes. I then go through 10 or so lights in Oakville to get from the 407 down Trafalgar to Sheridan College where I teach. Here the lights are not synchronized and it takes me 10-15 minutes – often waiting at one light twice!
Of course it is not just me… it is all the students, the business workers, the home owners, etc. All waiting with our engines idling.
I talked to some city planners about this off the record. They said that they do not synchronize the lights in some areas so these areas do not become thoroughfares. Well… I think it is a little late for that and thoroughfares for whom? I mean, only the people who need to go down the road for some reason go on the road and they are going to do it regardless. So why make them stop at half the lights!
In a slightly related matter, one aspect of synchronized lights going through the downtown core of your city is that your city will seem less busy and more like something to just pass through. You are not stopped to see stores and connect to your community. So Toronto seems much more busy as herds of cars stop and go. But Hamilton, seems almost not a city at times because cars just flow right through.
Anyway, these four short mixes make up a mash about the issue. The first one is past McMaster, the next past Sheridan and then past McMaster again and Sheridan again. I apologize for the attitude in my voice more so in the second set. Sometimes this really bothers me. I’ve been planning on taking the issue to the Sheridan members to see if the city can be lobbied for change.
Psychedelic Dancing As Exercise – Part 6
February 16, 2007
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Here we discuss easing… as you change direction of your motion, ease out slowing down and then ease back into the return motion speeding up. This makes for less wear and tear on the joints, bones and muscles and gives your dancing a more fluid and organic feel. We also talk about hand and wrist movement for combatting computer strain, etc.
The song is Spencer Davis Group’s Waltz for Lamumba or something like that from Here we go ’round the Mulberry Bush. The same kind of groove can be found in Bitches Brew by Miles Davis and a host of tribal rythmic songs from the late 60’s. Love the heavy organ, maracas, cow bells, etc. Very Groovy!
The mix was made with the Zen Mix vlogging tool at http://www.zenmix.com. The foreground features Focuso – see the Dan Zen Blog Entry on Focuso!
Get dancing people! Loosen up – no steps to follow – you can’t go wrong and it feels great – puts you in touch with your body and nobody has to know! Unless… you start vlogging it with Zen Mix!
Cinematographer for Galacticast
February 6, 2007
Just became a “Cinematographer” for Galacticast! Well sort of…
If you have not been to their site, please take the above hyperlink there.
Zen Vlog 