Lynn Walford 
My father loved cars. Every year, he traded-in last year’s model for a new one. He lived the American automotive dream.
His idea of a good time was to go out into the garage and work on a car. Sometimes, he smelled like Simonize, his cars sparkled and shined brighter than his smile as he drove. Once the car was detailed, he took the family out for a ride.
AT&T is a major player in the connected car space. They are working on various ways cars connect to people including content.
I interviewed Joe Mosele, Vice President, IoT Solutions for Automotive IT News, who told me, “AT&T is providing 50% of the connectivity for cars sold in 2015.”
I
n November, a great person, friend and world renown Caltech mathematician Rick Wilson was hit by a pickup truck. He has spent the last six months recovering. When I went to visit him in the hospital with turkey soup, after Thanksgiving, he looked terrible. Dr. Wilson was crossing the street with the “walk sign” on. It was obvious to all involved that the driver who hit him was distracted.
I’ve written about distracted driving as early as January 2010 when U.S Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood announced a regulatory ban of texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses, along with stiff fines. Apparently the drivers are too distracted to be paying attention.
At the gym, I was got into a heated discussion with a man who was furious with automakers.
When I told him I write about connected cars he said, “You can’t have an electric car, unless you own a home, are rich or have another car!”
He had a limited view of the connected car space. He was talking about electric cars. Yes, it is nearly impossible even in large cities to drive an electric car without access to an electric outlet either in your own garage or nearby. His statements also made me realize that I live in the ideal place with the best of accoutrements for writing about connected cars and new car technology.
I guess I’m a born journalist, I have a photographic memory for facts that just don’t go away. This ability along with my alternative form of transportation put me smack in the middle of a local political scandal.