GPS, Map reading, and forgetting how to think for yourself.

 I watch Cnet for interesting tech stories.  Today  I found a good one on utilizing a GPS to help  get around better and faster.  Here's the link to the story.

Getting lost with a GPS? Unfortunately, yes

For those that want the quick version.

Man buys Garmin Nuvi. Man takes trip. Man knows route home. Nuvi knows route home.  Man listens to Nuvi, although he knows better. Wife is mad at man for wasting her time. 

Had the man engaged his brain and not listened to the NUVI  he would not have sat in a 10 mile parking lot. Nuvi would have recalculated the trip and come up with a new best route. It also helps if you can understand the difference between shortest and fastest. The shortest route was simple the least amount of miles traveled.

Unfortunately, the author did not mention which model of Garmin Nuvi he had purchased.  The Nuvi may have spared him some skin if he bought the more expensive one with  the ability to recieve traffic updates.  Still had he only engaged his own mind  and stayed menatlly awake.  His pride would have been in tact. 

The shortcut or the right way, only you can really choose what is right for you.