List of movies that do and don't promote car and suv culture

Here are some lists of movies for those of you looking for movies that don't feature cars or that don't feature suvs.  Now granted this is obviously not an very extensive list.  It basically reflects movies I've seen recently (yes, mostly on Amazon Prime for those of you who probably guessed from the list).  I'll add more as I see more and feel free to comment about other movies you have seen or if you feel some of this information is incorrect.  I'll try to create updated lists as I see more movies.  

Movies without cars

Ex-Machina

Macbeth (2015)

Maya the Bee (2015)

Noah

Solomon Kane

Movies without SUVs

Ex-Machina

Macbeth

Margin Call (I think?)

Maya the Bee (2015)

Noah

Project Almanac (possibly none-hard to tell)

Solomon Kane

Movies with low use of cars/where characters get around by ways other than cars at least some of the time)

Annie

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (maybe none?)

Movies with low use of Suvs (or other gas guzzlers)

Da Vinci Code

Ghost Busters

Men in Black

Project Almanac (possibly none-hard to tell)

Wild Card

Wolf of Wall Street

Movies excessively promoting car culture/ car centric

Amy

Da Vinci Code

Everything Must Go

Ghost Busters (is also anti-EPA)

Instellar

Margin Call

Men in Black

Mocking Jay Part II (note this movie gets knocked down not because of what is directly in the movie, but because of using the movie and its actors to do commercials for gas guzzling pick-up trucks)

Mortdecai

The Captive

The Voices

Wild Card

Wolf of Wall Street

Movies excessively promoting SUV culture (or other gas guzzlers)

Instellar

Mocking Jay Part II (note this movie gets knocked down not because of what is directly in the movie, but because of using the movie and its actors to do commercials for gas guzzling pick-up trucks)

The Captive

The Voices

Metro shut down is about liability not safety

I know I'm about to piss a whole bunch of people off, but please at least try to understand.  Unfortunately, so many people have a horrible knowledge and understanding of statistics.

Statistically, you are far more likely to die commuting by any other form of transportation other than rail (unless you count flying).  So thus forcing people to commute by other forms of transportation does not increase safety.

Many employees had no choice but to go to work during Wednesday's metro shut down.  The worst affected in many cases are the working poor who do jobs that require a physical presence, whom can't afford to miss work, and whom can't risk losing their job because they could not get to work.  Even harder, many of these people have less options, not to mention less safe options to get to work.

Even worse metro rail did not run buses along the train routes and gave extremely limited notice.  If they had waited a few days for the weekend my guess is they could have run buses along the train routes.  Keep in mind some train stations see zero bus service during most hours including DCA.

So basically, by forcing people of rail, metro might be decreasing their liability, but not increasing safety.  Sure you can say someone could have died in a fire.  But someone is far more likely to die because of a jay driver hitting them, a reckless driver, etc.   And if someone dies because of a jay driver or other reckless driver or poor road design (just to name a few things) metro isn't liable.

Which begs the question why is zero considered the standard on metro rail, but not when it comes to any other form of commuting?

Worse though while politicians come down on metro, where is the concern about the ever increasing number of pedestrians and cyclists being killed?  Why aren't they attacking the car companies for all these deaths?  Oh wait that's right the car companies give them money and are in their pockets.

In fact, if I could propose 5 ways to seriously decrease deaths and serious injuries they would be the following.  Now when have you ever heard a politician suggesting these?

1.  Once a pedestrian or cyclist is injured or killed at a crossing by a turning vehicle, do not allow vehicles to make turns at that crossing until the intersection is fixed.

2.  Enforce jay driving laws.  I've never seen one driver ticketed for jay driving ever.

3.  Enforce no parking in bike lanes.  I really should not even have to say this.  But it amazes me counties invest all this money in bike lanes and then don't bother to ticket those parked or standing in them-which is a revenue maker.

4.  Restrict who can drive an SUV as the death rates to pedestrians from SUVs are much higher.

5.  And for goodness sake, make sure there is always a safe place for pedestrians to walk when there is construction.  It's ridiculous what I've seen over and over.  Multiple lanes for cars without a single one taken away and zero sidewalk.  

Update: Kaufman Green Guide Dublin: Guinness to be Vegan by end of 2016

I wanted to share the good news.  Guinness is going to stop using fish products in its production process by the end of 2016.  In other words us vegans will soon be able to go to Ireland and enjoy Guinness.

The implications go even further though than just drinking beer as:

1.  Some popular food products in Ireland such as brown bread are often made with Guinness.  Thus there will be more food available to vegans too.  

2.  The Guinness Museum is  a popular tourist attraction in Dublin.  I now feel a lot more inclined to recommend a trip there since now they are making their product vegan.  Vegans will also be able to get more out of the tour as you will be able to enjoy the samples that come with the tour (including a free pint)-thus making the cost more reasonable.  

3.  Mixed drinks really aren't such a thing in Ireland (at least from my experience) so if you wanted to enjoy the bar scene with an alcoholic drink your choices were a bit limited.   

Cheers!  

People not Statistics-Feb 22nd and Feb 23rd

I get really sick of hearing about people killed by the ridiculous car-culture referred to in statistical terms.  Each person killed should be treated as a human.   Maybe only then will we start realizing just how severe the killing is.

So I'm going to work on compiling stories of the lives of those murdered by car-culture.   Here are just a few people who we remember who were murdered by car culture either on Feb 22nd or Feb 23rd (of any year) or has a birthday on these dates.

Before I list this though I'd like to mention unfortunately I doubt I will be able to keep this up on a daily basis but will try to do as many of these posts as possible.   If anyone would like to help volunteer with this project please let me know.   Also if you have a person to add, pictures, or information to add to a bio for the following year please contact me.

Christopher Beaulieu (Feb 23, 2015):

Christopher was an experienced cyclist from the Edmonton area of Alberta who at the time of his death at age 21 was training for an upcoming tour. He had 2 sisters and one brother.  Sadly, his parents and even some of his grandparents had to bury him.   He was killed by a pick-up truck.

Jay Carlile (Feb 23 2004): From Paris Texas.  Happened in Texas so unfortunately no information or justice, only victim blaming.

Juan Guillermo (Feb 22, 2015):  Juan was a cyclist from Chile who was attempting a world record, trying to cycle around the world in 5 years.  At the time he had already cycled 140,000km out of the 155,000.  He died in Thailand hit by a pick-up truck that was being driven recklessly. He had a wife and daughter both of whom were present when he was killed.  If there is any silver lining Thailand takes this much more seriously than many other countries and there is a minimum 10 year jail sentence.

Update: Kaufman Green Books and Guides Gives

Last year I wrote this post in which I offered to help young vegans.

In case anyone wondered how much help I was able to give these are the statistics:

Zero-no one asked for help.

So as promised, since no one asked for help and I could not donate that way, instead I ended up making a donation to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.  In fact, I made the donation in excess of the amount promised.  For those of you not familiar with this charity as a brief summary they are medical professionals who encourage improved health through vegan diets, alternatives to animal testing, and have even recently opened up a clinic in Washington DC.

                                          

Arlington (VA) snow fail

Okay since this survey so far has been utterly useless let me explain to you why I'm filling it out.  As far as I'm concerned if the county had done nothing it would have been better.  You claim to be people centric, walking centric, bike and public transit centric, yet every resource and concern seems to be devoted to cars.  I live in ******* and more people walk them drive here.  Yet you were quick to clear roads and had a "who cares attitude its the property owners responsibility about the sidewalks".  Speaking of sidewalks the intersection and curb at ****** street is still a snow covered mess.  So are bike lanes.  Not to mention it is your plows that piled snow there.  If the county had let the snow melt on its own it would have been a better response.  And if you think this is bad for regular pedestrians what about disabled pedestrians in wheel chairs who need access to the curbs still covered in snow.  What about pregnant woman for whom a fall can be very dangerous?  In short Arlington failed.

Take the survey:Click here

Go to the meeting on Feb 24 : Click here

Capitals Quiz

Here is one more quick trivia quiz today.  A quick test of your knowledge of capitals from easier to harder!

1.  What is the capital of the United States?

2.  What is the capital of the United Kingdom?

3.  What is the capital of Ireland?

4.  What is the capital of Germany?

5.  What is the capital of Hungary?

6. What is the capital of New Zealand?

7.  What is the capital of Minnesota?

8.  What is the capital of Puerto Rico?

9.  What is the capital of Madagascar?

10.  What is the capital of Rwanda?

Answer:

1.  Washington DC
2. London
3. Dublin
4. Berlin
5. Budapest
6.  Wellington
7.  St Paul
8.  San Juan
9.  Antananarivo
10. Kigali