Cars Suck

Sorry, time for a little rant here...
As much as I would like to not depend on automobiles, our family does own and use them. I still see them as an evil necessity in our lives. I know, the auto does provide a way to transport one or more people and much cargo long distances quickly. What I don't like (besides the pollution and waste they produce) is all the stuff that goes along with them.
OK, here is the cause for my rant - yesterday while looking for a parking space at a local shopping center, another person in their car backs into mine. I am stopped, waiting for cars in front of me to move, and this person backs out of an aisle to my left and into my front left fender. My two kids were in the back seat, and fortunately no one was hurt. What this really brings to mind is the inconvenience that a situation like this brings about. What was a minor fender bender has left me and the kids a bit shaken up, and phone calls to the insurance company, and later getting the car repaired. I do have to say, I have my insurance through AAA, and they have been extremely helpful so far. Which raises the point of how much money is spent in providing this mode of transportation. We pay plenty in car payments, insurance, gas, registration, and maintenance and repairs.
What about the alternatives? Let's say that our family decides to sell the cars, and look for other ways of transportation. In our city we have the metro bus and trolley system, and the trains for longer trips up the coast. We could probably get monthly transit passes for the 4 of us for about or a little cheaper than the car and insurance payments per month. The problem we would be left with is the convenience of the car would not be there. Our bus schedule leaves quite a bit to be desired. The trolley system is great, except it doesn't go anywhere you need it to.
I commute by bicycle, but I cannot see the bike taking the place of the car for the rest of the family right now.
I know that this is a lifestyle that we have chosen, just like most of the country. If something happened today that took away our cars, we could get by. We are fortunate to live in an area where we can get around if needed. I know plenty of people in rural areas would have a much tougher time. Car culture is ingrained in our society pretty well. All of the inconveniences that go along with having the convenience of the car are just accepted as "normal". I at least realize that this "normal" is a fallacy, but haven't quite figured out what to do about it.
If you have read my rant, thanks for taking the time.

Holiday Commuting

Commuting by bike is great just about any time of year. I find it especially nice around this time, when all the Christmas lights are on display throughout the neighborhoods. On my ride home, it is a nice diversion to see all the festively decorated houses. These types of sights you just cannot truly enjoy while speeding by in a car. Riding a bike is the perfect cruising speed to enjoy them. Actually, riding a bike is the perfect speed to enjoy most things worth seeing. Walking is great, too, but the speed of the bike also makes it efficient to travel a fair distance.
If you never get out of your car and slow down a bit for the holidays, you are really missing the spirit of this magical season.

Good News if You're Nuts

A new health study shows that a diet enriched with mixed nuts may reduce heart risks. Published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, the Spanish study concluded that a Mediterranean diet enriched with mixed nuts may help manage metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that includes abnormal obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high glucose levels, which all can be risk factors for heart disease.
After many years of being told that we should eat a low-fat diet, now there is some evidence that the natural high-fat content in some foods are actually good for you. Everything in moderation, of course. The closer to the source you can get for your food, the better, I say. Both in eating foods grown locally, and eating foods in their most natural state.