tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post5536098506967015019..comments2024-03-29T10:25:17.813-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: This is your BRAIN on GPS...Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77154855124629513702016-04-04T20:25:21.318-04:002016-04-04T20:25:21.318-04:00My GPS is sometimes Athena the Wise and sometimes ...My GPS is sometimes Athena the Wise and sometimes Iktomi the Trickster. I have to keep an eye on her and usually try to have some idea of where I'm going just in case. I have a very limited sense of direction, so it has helped more often than not. Once a police detour sent me off into a nearby unknown. When I stopped to set the GPS, a woman pulled up next to me and asked if I knew the way out. I said, "No, but in a minute this should," . . . and it did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38282678935880075312016-04-04T19:12:22.388-04:002016-04-04T19:12:22.388-04:00Wendy: you ended up 2 hours and one STATE west! Oh...Wendy: you ended up 2 hours and one STATE west! Oh my.<br />This is where zip codes come in handy Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15161076053320958242016-04-04T19:03:04.231-04:002016-04-04T19:03:04.231-04:00On an East coast vacation a couple of years ago I ...On an East coast vacation a couple of years ago I was so excited to have Google Maps on my iPad and I was very popular with the usual navigator who was accustomed to missing a lot of scenery while fumbling with maps in her lap. All was well until I entered an address and a pretty common city name without specifying the state...we ended up in an old industrial area 2 hours and one state west of our intended destination. <br />I like looking at maps in an atlas but I'm not so great at navigating with travel maps turned right, left, and upside down while I try to figure out where I am. <br />Recently I tried just asking Siri for directions and kept getting the wrong instructions until I yelled a very specific expletive and Siri responded in his very proper British manner, "Well, I never!" I love my conversations with Siri!WENDYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11853203454861717860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70771348454517229482016-04-04T18:54:52.780-04:002016-04-04T18:54:52.780-04:00OMG, this was a hilarious (and eye-opening) post! ...OMG, this was a hilarious (and eye-opening) post! Enjoyed everyone's stories. Nope, no GPS-reliance for me. But, if I didn't all ready admire Lucy/Roberta enough in the past, I certainly do now. LOL, Lucy, had to read that one out loud to dh! (And he said, "yep, sounds like you, with less adjectives.") Too funny. <br /><br />I see the point, but still love maps and Google ones. Much simpler, for now anyway! ;)Lynn in Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624333137637840905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-40241843765835920962016-04-04T18:01:10.018-04:002016-04-04T18:01:10.018-04:00I have had the best time laughing at this post tod...I have had the best time laughing at this post today. Hallie--"Having a GPS has elevated taking long cuts to an art." Hank--"And the driver says: Well, GPS says I am at your house!" Lucy--"Are you going to listen to that bitch, or are you going to listen to your wife?" Juia--"Turn onto the street where the Boy's girlfriend used to live" Debs--"No, I'm not getting off in the middle of a ****** cornfield, you maniac!" Rhys and John--Finally I exploded and said "Turn the damned thing off." "She's got to learn," he said. "She's a bloody computer!" I yelled.<br /><br />It's only been in the last year that I've really started using the Google Maps on my iPhone, but I love it now. Kaye, I'm with you on the north, south, east, west. Yes, I know the river is north of me, but please just tell me if I turn left or right, preferably before I get right upon the turn. And, of course, I have yelled at my phone navigator when she is a bit slow, and I tell her that I know she needs to recalculate, just do it. I'm looking to buy a new car now, and it will be the first car with the GPS built in with its screen. I'm kind of excited about that, although my friend who takes many road trips seems to still prefer her phone. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39379463599471210422016-04-04T14:54:01.868-04:002016-04-04T14:54:01.868-04:00Pat D - It seems so silly to use the GPS when I kn...Pat D - It seems so silly to use the GPS when I know where I'm going - and yet it's illuminating how it doesn't know the back ways I do an invariably seds me the long way.<br /><br />Karen I think my TomTom is too old to have incidents <br /><br />Susan, I think there are some people who are literally dyslexic when it comes to directions and maps.<br /><br />I wish I had unlimited service on my phone - then I'd use Waze.<br /><br />Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53418866876874724472016-04-04T14:11:17.853-04:002016-04-04T14:11:17.853-04:00The other night my friend and I were on our way do...The other night my friend and I were on our way downtown for the last symphony concert in our wonderful Music Hall. There was a sudden standstill in traffic, so I clicked through to the "Traffic Incident" feature on my car's GPS (which it took me nearly a year to find). It told us where the hangup was, and how long of a delay, and by golly, it was pretty accurate. Otherwise, I'd have looked for an alternate route on my own, and we would have probably gotten to the concert late. <br /><br />Pat D, a squirrel, really? That sounds hysterical.Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002794561817071780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60607828008307477772016-04-04T13:58:48.650-04:002016-04-04T13:58:48.650-04:00I am generally not a Luddite, and I try to be on t...I am generally not a Luddite, and I try to be on the watch that I don't become curmudgeonly, but GPS brings out both in me. I hate that feeling of being completely dependent upon it! Instead, I usually look up my destination ahead, familiarize myself with the route using Google Maps, and print out the directions. That way I can reference them to see what my next turn will be, but remain engaged with my surroundings and feel like I am in control of the trip. Where I really DO appreciate the GPS on my phone, though, is when something unexpected occurs, like I get to a planned turnoff and there's a detour,or an accident closes a roadway. Then I'm quite happy to turn to the GPS in my phone for guidance. When on long journeys together my husband usually uses WAZE. I can appreciate the insight it provides, as long as he is the one dealing with it. I just don't want any program yapping at me all the time! <br /><br />One of my closest colleagues in my day job is a very intelligent, high-powered 32 year old woman, who has allowed herself to become completely, hopelessly dependent upon GPS. I just can't get over how out of character it seems. In most situations, she is always in charge, on the ball, anticipating next moves. But behind the wheel she is perfectly happy to go wherever the little voice tells her to go, with no context. And if she does find herself lost, she will then call back to the office and get an admin to figure it out for her. It leaves me scratching my head in wonder.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08292993485984273172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53534893083994704792016-04-04T13:35:37.602-04:002016-04-04T13:35:37.602-04:00GPS stories. My late father-in-law loved gadgets. ...GPS stories. My late father-in-law loved gadgets. We went on a trip with him from Houston to Marksville, LA, where he was born. He had both a Garmin and a Tom-Tom. They were not in agreement. Garmin would say recalculating, in a very snooty disap-pointed voice. Tom-Tom would get hysterical and scream turn around, turn around.<br />Trip-tiks were great, weren't they? I don't know if AAA does them anymore. I love maps. I plot out where we're going and try to ignore the GPS voice. Even when my husband changes the voice to a squirrel, who I cannot understand. The only saving grace of a GPS is it doesn't have trouble reading addresses at night.Pat Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-40640472083014892582016-04-04T13:24:37.902-04:002016-04-04T13:24:37.902-04:00I won't say I'm a Luddite, but I have no u...I won't say I'm a Luddite, but I have no use for a GPS. I don't have one in my vehicle. My husband, on the other hand......I don't think he could survive without a cell phone and a GPS. Saturday he was going to drop me off at Murder By the Book for an author talk and signing. I asked him this favor since parking around there is pretty scarce. We get in the car and he asks if I have the address. No, because I know where we're going. He types in the name of the bookstore. I tell him I can give the directions. We start off. I tell him to go down Shepherd; turn right on Bissonet;the store is on the right after a block or so. He listens to the stupid GPS and mumbles I don't like Shepherd. It's all torn up right now. So he parallels Shepherd for a mile or so while Ms GPS is ordering him to turn at each intersection. Why does he do this if he knows where he's going? Is it a plot to drive me insane? <br />Pat Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14556005052684638322016-04-04T12:31:30.489-04:002016-04-04T12:31:30.489-04:00I'm loving everyone's stories. Debs, I'...I'm loving everyone's stories. Debs, I'd really have to trust Google Maps to give up my A-Z in London. Hallie mentioned how hard it is to navigate the almost 400-year-old cowpaths of Boston - in London they've been adding roads here and there since the Roman occupation. <br /><br />I do like Google maps, and like Libby, I'll jot down the directions in my own hand to remember them. I love the mileage count. I have to confess, now I have a Kindle Fire, I bring it along in the car with the maps preloaded. Easier than folding the paper ones over the steering wheel while at a red light!<br /><br />Also, the last book tour I did I had an escort at every stop outside New England. Forget GPS - the ultimate travel luxury is an interesting driver who brings you water and snacks!Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39963547097961980642016-04-04T12:12:06.965-04:002016-04-04T12:12:06.965-04:00My 2005 Prius came with GPS. I'll admit the n...My 2005 Prius came with GPS. I'll admit the novelty had me for a few months, but as a die-hard map user, I quickly gave it up. Still have the car and any passenger with me usually consults their phone and will "compete" with the car's GPS. Ridiculous!TFJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01145220939173150233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23728405483021069732016-04-04T12:06:51.527-04:002016-04-04T12:06:51.527-04:00I grew up using maps (not surprising, given my age...I grew up using maps (not surprising, given my age). I like them and I'm rather proficient with them.<br />I'll check MapQuest, or such, copy,not print, the directions, putting them in my own shorthand. LFT RT etc.<br />I know GPS can really be handy, especially since it's harder to get proper maps today.<br />I haven't converted yet.<br />Almost everyone has a story about yelling at their GPS and calling it impolite names!<br />At least it's entertaining.Libby Doddhttp://www.libbydoddart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86993530699369273792016-04-04T12:05:26.965-04:002016-04-04T12:05:26.965-04:00Hank, I loved Trip-Tiks! My parents always used th...Hank, I loved Trip-Tiks! My parents always used them on car trips when I was a child. How fun.<br /><br />This winter in London, after years of carrying around my A-Z (THE London map book, which comes in every size from huge to pocket) I had a plan that allowed me full service on my phone, hence Google maps. It was great! When I remembered to use it.<br /><br />I rather pride myself on my sense of direction and my ability to get around in London without getting lost. Which is how I ended up walking a good five miles in the completely wrong direction, in the dark, in absolutely bitter cold. I only realized what I'd done when I stopped recognizing the bus stops. It took Google maps and multiple buses to get me where I was going. Next time, Uber!Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52838856355919376762016-04-04T11:54:30.288-04:002016-04-04T11:54:30.288-04:00Well, years ago, Jonathan and I were somewhere, HI...Well, years ago, Jonathan and I were somewhere, HIngham MA? And LOST. And I kept saying--If the water is on the right, we're gong north, so we're fine.<br /><br />It was a PENINSULA.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22332498375700121612016-04-04T11:32:23.765-04:002016-04-04T11:32:23.765-04:00Yes! I'd forgotten about Trip-Tiks! They were ...Yes! I'd forgotten about Trip-Tiks! They were great. <br /><br />Mary Ellen basically turned the Trip-Tik idea into an audio version, didn't she? <br /><br />I also have trouble with cardinal directions. In Colorado, everyone always says "the mountains are in the west". Then I'm either standing someplace where the mountains are obscured, or I look around and ALL I see are mountains. So not helpful. Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002794561817071780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29467214413950842382016-04-04T11:27:34.370-04:002016-04-04T11:27:34.370-04:00I always orient NORTH in Manhattan - WEST is what ...I always orient NORTH in Manhattan - WEST is what matters (toward the ocean) in LA. In Boston where the streets are paved-over cowpaths, knowing which way is north doesn't help.<br /><br />WHen my husband tells me to turn left, I'm tempted to ask "which left" -- he often confused left and right (I wonder if it's because he's lefthanded).Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55165755921099491642016-04-04T10:50:37.952-04:002016-04-04T10:50:37.952-04:00North? Don't get me started. I don't eve...North? Don't get me started. I don't even comprehend compasses. Why do I need to known which way North is? What good will that do? If someone says : Go north on Main Street? ::blows out breath: : Just tell me to go toward the store with the red awning. Or point: that way.<br /><br />I have used the sun, though, to figure out, say, which side of the train to sit on to see the water.<br /><br />And I am kind of teasing about some of this--I CAN read maps, with much delight, and am very happy to do so.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85269487121685033862016-04-04T10:46:49.809-04:002016-04-04T10:46:49.809-04:00All hail the prescient Mary Ellen--that is BRILLIA...All hail the prescient Mary Ellen--that is BRILLIANT, Karen in Ohio. <br /><br />Remember Trip-Tiks? That AAA used to provide? Oh,those were fabulous.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53041825432679233222016-04-04T10:45:01.580-04:002016-04-04T10:45:01.580-04:00Hurray! I am home! So happy. I arrived at Boston ...Hurray! I am home! So happy. I arrived at Boston Logan at 2 am from California--so now I have no idea what time it is . I woke up a while ago and said to Jonathan- am I supposed to be tired? But I will always recognize home! Hurray.<br /><br />Oh, don't get me wrong. I love maps. Love. ANd as I fly, I always put up the route map on the screen. It's fun to see where we are, and imagine what's beneath. It's a wonderful geography lesson. ANd at the maps in the back of the inflight magazine,too, no matter how many times I've looked at them--seeing how far it is to somewhere, or figuring what's the farthest I could go. Live it.<br /><br />But actually getting somewhere on my own? No way. Flora, I am empathetic with that woman. I inevitably turn the wrong way. ANd then when I think HA! I'm wrong so I'll go the other way..that'll be wrong, too.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-63205371635939266242016-04-04T10:35:17.448-04:002016-04-04T10:35:17.448-04:00I just thought of a dear friend, now long-deceased...I just thought of a dear friend, now long-deceased, who used to travel to consumer shows 40 weeks a year, by herself. This was in the 90's, before GPS, but Mary Ellen was brilliant. She plotted her route, wrote down the turn-by-turns, then narrated them into an audiotape, with pauses after each step. Then she'd play the tape in her little pickup truck. She could rewind it, if she needed to, and not have to worry about trying to wrangle maps while driving. Of course she still had maps in the car, in case of detours, but the tapes were her main navigation tools. Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002794561817071780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-42755028396562287862016-04-04T09:59:57.626-04:002016-04-04T09:59:57.626-04:00I learned to read a map a long time ago (in Girl S...I learned to read a map a long time ago (in Girl Scouts) and I can still do it. And when I want to look at a big picture or a really long distance (if, for example, I was crazy enough to drive to Los Angeles from Pittsburgh), I'd look at a map.<br /><br />But for travel directions - especially when I'm solo? Yeah, GPS. Or rather Google Maps on my iPhone. Even when the directions seem crazy, they tend to work. I got in trouble once thinking I knew better. Nope. Now it's just "listen to the nice woman on the phone and go where she tells me to go."<br /><br />My husband, retired Army, has a navigation system in his car. I asked him, "GPS or maps?" He voted GPS - but he won't throw away all the maps in his glove compartment. Just in case.<br /><br />Oh, I've taught both my kids to read maps - just in case. Although The Boy is a Scout, so he would have learned anyway. The Girl and I are both a bit North/South/East/West challenged if the sun isn't visible, though.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29169158964418093022016-04-04T09:56:27.096-04:002016-04-04T09:56:27.096-04:00Lucy, I agree with Kaye: best line of the year. A ...Lucy, I agree with Kaye: best line of the year. A friend had the first Garmin I ever saw, which she called Charmin. We used her when we were together in other cities, and my friend always got mad at me for calling Charmin a bitch for her snooty "Recalculating" every five minutes. <br /><br />I love maps, and I love to drive, and GPS just adds to my enjoyment of a trip. Year before last I drove the equivalent of coast to coast, twice. On our way back from San Diego, we took our time and stopped to visit a bunch of friends and family, and we had three different GPS methods with us: the GPS built into the car, the one on my phone, and a Garmin. Since we're both geography geeks, we amused ourselves for 2500 miles by comparing all three GPS sources. (One had altitude, which was fun to watch.) They were all different, FYI. <br /><br />Recently, I was trying to get from a funeral on the west side of Cincinnati to my chiropractor's office in Mt. Lookout (neighborhood on the east side), so I plugged in the name of the practice to my car's GPS. Luckily, I am familiar with their actual office, because the GPS wanted me to go to their old address, where they moved from more than five years ago. <br /><br />Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002794561817071780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20250648460517189282016-04-04T09:35:44.264-04:002016-04-04T09:35:44.264-04:00WAZE sounds awesome. I have to look into that. Rig...WAZE sounds awesome. I have to look into that. Right now we have Onstar in the car and the ubiquitous iPhone which is what we really use since Onstar doesn't seem as convenient. No visual. Rhys, I use the male version of Siri - he has a wonderful Brit accent. If you don't use him already, give him a try.Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79375236928151852462016-04-04T09:33:14.767-04:002016-04-04T09:33:14.767-04:00I'm still reading the blog and will add someth...I'm still reading the blog and will add something else, I'm sure. I just wanted to comment here that, Lucy, you owe me a keyboard. I just spit tea all over this one :) How hysterical. My husband and I often have the same discussion!Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.com