fsmith

I think I have devised the ultimate test for whether or not you are a true geek. And I now know I must be one.

My wife and I were driving this weekend through the beautiful Western Maine countryside - where the fall foliage is at absolute peak; and I was enjoying driving the winding back roads in my RLX SH-AWD. I do love the New England fall foliage. But I also love driving my SH-AWD along twisty back roads.

Because I leave the power distribution meter as the default display on my HUD, I began to notice the constantly reversing “power on one side and regen on the other side” indicators on the back wheels. Blue forward facing chevrons on the left and green backward facing chevrons on the right as I made a turn to the right, followed a moment later by the reverse indicators as I made a turn to the left. It reminded me of the astonishing technology behind my enjoyment of this car. The car's torque vectoring was pushing me around each turn, even while using the dragging inside wheel to charge the battery.

My wife was, of course, looking at the beautiful foliage. “Look”, she said, “the reds and the yellows are simply amazing.” “Yes”, I said, “but also look at the technology at play on these winding roads”, and I turned the power distribution meter on in the center display so she could also see the alternating forward blues and backward greens of the power system as we turned. “Great”, she said, “fascinating”, and turned back to the beautiful reds and bright yellows of the fall trees.

“Look, there, at that tree”, she said, and I looked, briefly, before turning my attention back to the constantly reversing chevrons as we cruised the zigzagging back roads. Techno-blue and muddy green vs. the deep reds and bright yellows of the trees. This was the last of the fall foliage we would see this year, and I had to decide where to set my gaze. This was the geek test. The amazing technology displaying in the blue and green of the HUD on the twists and turns of the countryside, or the gorgeous deep reds and fiery yellows of the changing fall trees. Amazing technology or amazing nature.

My wife kept trying to keep me focused on the nature and the incredible colors bordering the road. And I would like to say that this story ends with me also enjoying the fall color, which I did, sort of. But now I know what a real geek I am, as I was mostly watching for the blue and green chevron reversal as the next turn approached, and mostly ignoring the foliage. Am I a lost soul?

thoiboi

Great story! :clapclap: as a geek, I appreciated it very much !

2012wagon

This is less about being a geek or not versus the difference between a man and a woman


(Having lived in Boston through residency, I do miss the colors, but I don't miss not owning winter jackets or not being able to go swimming in the beach on X Mas, or shoveling snow)

NBP04TL4ME

Living in New England we get all four season, which I enjoy. However being in the middle of feet of snow, it does start to wear on you in Jan / Feb time-frame. The Fall is great and probably my favorite. We had a family gathering out near Syracuse, NY (about 350 miles West) and the foliage is still not where it should be for this time of year. Definitely colors to be seen but things haven't "popped" yet. Hours in the car would have been so much better with the foliage in full bloom, but what are you going to do????

neuronbob

Nnnnnnnnerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrds!


Takes one to know one. *Bob raises his hand to signify understanding*

fsmith

NO, NO! "geek", not "nerd". -

pcloadletter

Not at all, you are in tune with your surroundings, both organic and inorganic.

hondamore

fsmith...you were simply asked to choose between two marvelous creations...one the heavenly work of a higher power and the other just some dumb trees.