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To: smolejv@gmx.net who wrote (22076)	8/4/2002 3:17:41 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74559

Hi Dolinar, Speaking of IT, here's the latest example of pure hubris and out-of-control idiocy emanating from the very best and brightest technologists: jimhightower.com Friday, August 02, 2002 "SEGWAYING YOU OFF THE SIDEWALK" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's generally considered bad form to drive on the sidewalk. The occasional drunk, the addled, and some yahoos have been known to jump the curb and plaster a few pedestrians, but the law is fairly specific on keeping motorized vehicles in the street. This separation of motor vehicles from pedestrians was a problem, however, for Dean Kamen and his mega-rich investors. Kamen invented the much ballyhooed Segway Human Transporter –– a futuristic, two-wheeled, scooter-type mobile that he claims will revolutionize the way people live, work, and get around. Powered by batteries and balanced by gyroscopes and computers, the 69-pound Segway scoots along at about 12 miles an hour. The driver stands upright on a platform between the two wheels, steering with handlebars. Putting this thing in city traffic with cars, however, would result in a lot of squashed Segway riders, so Kamen and his cronies want to have people drive them on our sidewalks. Yes, where we walk. Hold your child's hand, look out for granny, and keep looking over your shoulder as you walk along because –– bzzzzzzzzt –– here comes another Segway buzzing you! If you think that surely, this won't be allowed, it might surprise you to know that Segway's hired lobbyists have quietly and very quickly hit state legislatures and already won changes in 30 states to allow these machines on our sidewalks, on hike and bike paths, and elsewhere. Worse, most state laws require no instruction, no license, and no insurance to step aboard a Segway and go zipping down the sidewalks. Once a few pedestrians get bumped off, you can bet the lobbyists will be back with demands to keep pedestrians off the sidewalk. And when Segway owners start getting in crashes with each other, you can count on the makers to come out with a 4-wheel SUV Segway –– a big honker that lets the owner rule the whole sidewalk. This is Jim Hightower saying . . . It's another case of money and technology going on a rampage . . . and literally running over us. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" I don't know about you, but I think this is human intellect run amok. First we create a vast pandemic of obesity in the U.S. with our astonishly stupid diets, then we are surreptitiously driven from our own sidewalks by madmen with lobbyist/whores driving the legislative agendas to benefit a narrow special interest while flaunting common sense and the commonwealth of man. This is in the same league as the special privileged legislation that allowed jet ski manufacturers to flaunt all common sense and be permitted to sell their individualized pollution platforms to thousands of idiots across the globe. I think of the particular case of Lake Tahoe in California. A pristine jewel that man is befouling with the exhaust of grossly inefficient two-cycle engines. Devious swindlers like Enron sold the California Air Resources Board on a scheme to put MTBE into gas mixtures throughout the State. Now that hydrophilic carcinogen is being dumped raw into Lake Tahoe by morons who haven't a clue how destructive their pleasures are. When they run these idiot-machines over the lake, it's almost an exact 1:1 ratio of fuel burned to fuel dumped. How can we have such disrespect for the planet? And whatever happened to swimming? A good form of exercise that would cut down on obesity, air pollution and drown a few morons in a Darwinian approach to saving the planet from ourselves. As Walt Kelly said in his eponymous cartoon strip Pogo: "We have met the enemy, and they are us!" Cheerio! Ray [[PS: I assume our New Zealand correspondent will return after the hangover has passed.]]