Steam Crow Monster Commute Webcomic - Monday through Friday

Here we are testing the wordpress interface via iPhone.

- Daniel

So, apparently there is this company called “zipcar” that you pay a monthly fee to have access to their fleet of cars. The fee includes gas, insurance, and reserved parking.

You can pull up in a zipcar city, and you can see exactly where and what kind of cars are available. Basically, they seem to keep track via gps and a google map. That way, you can go “hey, I need an Element to move my paccinco machines; where is the nearest one?”

It looks like they’re only in a few cities right now, but heck, I think it’s a pretty good idea. It sort of reminds me of those cities that have the free bicycles, that you can ride where ever you need to go, and then leave them behind.

If we’re going to get off of this stupid oil / gasolene dependency this century, we’re probably going to have to come up with some more creative ways beyond just ”carpool” or “drive less” or “take a bus”. (All of which are valid.)

Have you every used zipcar or something like it? Does it work for you?

I spend a lot of time on the road, and I see a lot of people’s individual “territorial” markings on their cars.

Turns out, according to a study from Colorado State University, that people who adorn their cars with such markings are more prone to road rage:

The number of road rage incidents — bouts of aggressive driving such as speeding or tailgating, or confrontations with other motorists — has risen dramatically in recent years. In 1995 the American Automobile Association found 12,000 injuries and 200 deaths were linked to US road rage. In 2008, the numbers are estimated to exceed 25,000 injuries and 370 deaths, and many more road rage incidents, especially those that do not lead to injury, go unrecorded.

Psychologist William Szlemko and his colleagues at Colorado State University in Fort Collins wondered whether increasingly crowded roads might be contributing to rising tempers. The volume of vehicles on US roads has gone up by 35% since 1987, whereas the road network has swelled by only 1%.

In humans, as in many other species, overcrowding leads to increased territorial aggression, and the team suspected that this was what was happening on the roads.

Zowie. I do know that I’ve been feeling more tension on the roads of late, and that I generally take notice of cars with “will drive for blood” stickers on their bumpers.

- Daniel

Sure, You’ve noticed it. Steam Crow (and Steam Crow Press) are undergoing some changes.

Basically, we’ve decided to do a webcomic. Not just any old webcomic either… our webcomic.

This is a test post, trying out the new system.

So relax, grab a corndog, and check back here sometime later.

- Daniel