I just realized that my recent dependance on my GPS unit has one major unintended consequence. Now I apparently become even less aware of directions than I was before, since I'm now completely dependent on being spoon fed each and every turn. Comparing notes with my co-workers on how I navigated to and from a recent trip made me aware that I wasn't paying attention to route numbers and directions like I normally would have without this little crutch.
But then I stumbled upon an interesting piece about the technology,
Why I got the damn thing in the first place. It explains the increasing popularity of GPS as being due to male drivers inability to ask for directions, as well as appealing to their insatiable desire for new, expensive, and unnecessary toys. Ah, it all makes sense now!
And as tempting as it was to get one of the optional celebrity voices like Mr. T or John Cleese I didn't bother to try that yet. Although the optional "Comrade Stalin" voice DOES sound sorta' interesting...
"Greetings Comrades, and welcome to the people's democratic social path finding system. Let me begin by asking you, Comrade, how come you actually have a car? Are you corrupt Comrade? What? you are a member of the central committee? Very well Comrade. So, where would like to travel today? Your dacha at Crimea? I think Lefortovo prison would be more like it. Stand by Comrade, calculating time till mother Russia achieves world domination. What? Drive time? OH, hold on. Calculating drive time. Your drive time today, Comrade, will be 45 days and 23 minutes. What you ask Comrade? Why so long? Because we don't take right turns comrade. NEVER. We would rather take the long route.