I-80 in CA ---Yikes!

**John Kasaian** · 5-Jul-2009, 13:31

Originally Posted by Dan Fromm

At the risk of introducing politics into this discussion, isn't the rule "pay no taxes, receive no government services?"

More seriously, John, how much of the obnoxious traffic is out-of-staters? I ask because here in NJ the Turnpike is jammed with obvious vacationers, and not just on holiday weekends. I'd expected that the recession would keep at least a few of them home, doesn't seem to work that way.

On a related topic, some years ago when I spent time daily, it seemed, in traffic jams on I-287, I had a CB radio. Interesting devices, CB radios, they make everyone who transmits on one sound like a redneck. Anyway, I had mine to find out about traffic jams and speed traps. A waste of money for both applications.

But there I was, stuck in traffic and listening to the truckers who were stuck in the jam because their CB radios didn't warn them either cursing about the horrible traffic and drivers in NJ. One of them asked the world what it would take to eliminate traffic jams on I-287. He got no responses, so answered his own question. 10% unemployment. We're nearly there, and I fear he was right.

Cheers,

Dan

Dan,
I-80 is THE major E-W interstate connecting N. California (that includes the Bay area) with the rest of the country.
That means big rigs.
The passes across the Sierras are worked on during the summer season for obvious reasons, and the winters are pretty rough on highways (the winters were certainly rough on the Donner party, whose route I-80 follows)

What amazes me is:
1) they've had to narrow the traffic down to one lane during the day, and
2) somehow California has the money to do such maintenance. State employees are getting paid with IOU's these days. I don't think contractors would stand for that.

What amazes me even more is that I had the misfortune of getting stuck on the one lane sections both coming and going!

Oh yeah, and the mob has got to be pretty p-o'ed at Caltrans for slowing down the supply line funneling all that money destined for the casinos

As far as paying taxes goes, California does quite a nice job at relieving her sons and daughter of their hard earned income

IMHO it is insane spending that has bankrupt the State. Even the State Legislature can't decide on how to cut the pork (and that, my friend will cross the line into politics so I'll have to leave it at that!)

My solution? Language tapes! Learn a foreign language while idleing along on I-80 burning $3.20/gallon gasoline (California prices) until you get to Reno where the gas is $2.70.

Cheers! ...uhhh... Prosit!

**EdWorkman** · 5-Jul-2009, 13:38

Well Dan, it sure doesn't FEEL like "pay no taxes..." Kalifornia is maybe second to New york, or usually is in the top 3. Perhaps folks are gonna realize there is no free lunch and that the price of the lunch on order is unaffordable- or not.

**D. Bryant** · 5-Jul-2009, 14:04

Originally Posted by Dan Fromm

... some years ago when ... ... I had a CB radio.

"What's your 20 there - Teddy Bear ?"

Don Bryant

**Dan Fromm** · 5-Jul-2009, 15:58

Originally Posted by D. Bryant

"What's your 20 there - Teddy Bear ?"

Don Bryant

Never had a handle, Don, I mainly listened. Eventually someone broke into my car and stole the CB. I never replaced it, not useful enough. My home 20 is Cherry Hill. Yours?

I once did respond to taunting by a trucker.

There I was, driving across Illinois in my RHD Scimitar coupe. A trucker started cracking on me. "D'ya see that guy in the funny white car? He's on the WRONG side. I tell ya, he's on the WRONG side" and so on.

After a while I got annoyed and responded "I am NOT on the wrong side. I am on the RIGHT side."

Which got another taunt "Ja hear what he said? He said he's on the RIGHT side. Yuk yuk yuk. He said he's on the RIGHT... Omigod, so he is." After that we had a pleasant enough conversation.

Cheers,

Dan

John, I'll bet that Caltrans is having the work done during the day to avoid paying overtime. In NJ roadwork, at least on major highways, is usually done between 8 pm and 6 am.

**Jeffrey Sipress** · 5-Jul-2009, 17:32

What on earth are you doing traveling to popular destinations on a holiday weekend?? This shit's been going on for decades. I NEVER travel on holidays

**D. Bryant** · 5-Jul-2009, 18:35

Originally Posted by Dan Fromm

My home 20 is Cherry Hill. Yours?

"Out bound and down, Teddy Bear, Come back!"

Dan,

Just to clarify I have never owned or used a CB, but I became familiar with the culture because I had a neighbor who had a "foot locker" connected to his home base and we would hear his (or her) broadcasts on our TV (pre-cable TV).

I can still remember watching Walter Cronkite one evening and hearing, "Teddy bear this is momma bear, whats your 20?" And so it went for about 6 months until we moved.

I had friends who were HAMS and CB'ers but I never caught the habit. I was working for 3M during that period and I would over hear converstions of the truck drivers talking CB stuff in the lunch room. I thought it was a very interesting sub-culture and it wasn't just boys with their toys. As I recall there seemed to be a fair amount of women that plugged into the culture, sort of pre-internet chat rooms if you know what I mean.

Don

P.S. My 20 is north of Atlanta.

**D. Bryant** · 5-Jul-2009, 18:36

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Sipress

What on earth are you doing traveling to popular destinations on a holiday weekend?? This shit's been going on for decades. I NEVER travel on holidays

"Ditto that partner!"

Don

**John Kasaian** · 5-Jul-2009, 21:23

OT but FWIW last year I was at a Feed store and there was a large stack of complimentary full color calenders on the counter. Each month featured a color portrait of a chicken with a disease.

Courtesy of the State of California!