Did some driving the past week - Observations:

[Mikey]

The family and I will be flying to Newark on Thursday to spend a week and a half visiting the stepdaughter and grandkids in NYC and NJ, and to visit some colleges with my daughter who's a senior this year.

I'll be spending a lot of time driving around northern NJ, NYC, upstate NY and all the way up to Boston. Should be interesting. Unlike a lot of people I've always liked driving in NYC. You just have to imagine you're a cab driver, watch them, and do the same things they do. I'm just wondering if I should order up some extra armor plating before driving through the "Big Dig".

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I too, love driving in NY. Only did it once, but...their red lights are basically as good as green.

[Atomic Punk]

Newark is an easier airport to deal with than Fresno, if you can believe that. That is one thing New Jersey shouldn't get a rap for being. NYC is the funnest city there is and I look forward to my next visit (not move).

[Mister Bushice]

Illinois
Oh, and the entire state seems run down.

I've heard theres a Redbull shortage there.

[poptart]

IllinoisTraffic delays. Chicago is a freaking parking lot. You pay the attendant to sit for a while, then move a couple of miles and pay another attendant. Seems like a scam to me. Oh, and the entire state seems run down.

IN


Illinois native here.

About Chicago, you speak the truth.

[Mikey]

Newark is an easier airport to deal with than Fresno, if you can believe that. That is one thing New Jersey shouldn't get a rap for being. NYC is the funnest city there is and I look forward to my next visit (not move).

I find that hard to believe. Last time I was in Newark (prolly 10 years ago) I think it took me three tries just to get out of the airport, and then I had no idea which way I was going. That place was like a bowl of spaghetti. Maybe they've made some improvements since then. Seems like Fresno Yosemite "International" Airport has about one entrance and one exit, and maybe 20 flights a day.

[Mister Bushice]

IllinoisTraffic delays. Chicago is a freaking parking lot. You pay the attendant to sit for a while, then move a couple of miles and pay another attendant. Seems like a scam to me. Oh, and the entire state seems run down.

IN


Illinois native here.

About Chicago, you speak the truth.

Does everyone in Korea park their car on a slant? Just wondering.

[poptart]

For what it's worth (not much, I'm sure) driving in Seoul has got to be worse than driving in ANY major US city.
Too many people, too many cars, not enough roadway.

For that matter, you can't drive ANYWHERE and get their quickly here.

When I first got here a friend was going to drive us to Seoul to take care of some business.
I asked, "How far it is to Seoul?"
"30 miles or so," was the answer.


One-and-a-half hours later ............ we're still driving.


It's like that Chicago 'parking lot' deal everywhere you go here.

Do your driving at 3:00 in the morning, or FUgget about it.

[The Whistle Is Screaming]

I find that hard to believe. Last time I was in Newark (prolly 10 years ago) I think it took me three tries just to get out of the airport, and then I had no idea which way I was going. That place was like a bowl of spaghetti. Maybe they've made some improvements since then. Seems like Fresno Yosemite "International" Airport has about one entrance and one exit, and maybe 20 flights a day.

They actually have made some improvements, you'll probably still see some construction though.

[Goober McTuber]

Wisconsin

Cows.

You bad-mouthing our womenfolk?

[BSmack]

Wisconsin

Cows.

You bad-mouthing our womenfolk?

We're insulted.

sin

Bovines

[Felix]

Stopped in South Bend to check out Touchdown Jesus. Wish I'd stayed in the Interstate.

It's amazing that ND is situated in that shithole of a town......

Southbend is just nasty......

[socal]

Stopped in South Bend to check out Touchdown Jesus. Wish I'd stayed in the Interstate.

It's amazing that ND is situated in that shithole of a town......

Southbend is just nasty......

At least you can stop there. Nothing but drive-bys here.

Sin,

South L.A.

[Terry in Crapchester]

Stopped in South Bend to check out Touchdown Jesus. Wish I'd stayed in the Interstate.

It's amazing that ND is situated in that shithole of a town......

Southbend is just nasty......

Technically, ND is not in South Bend, it just happens to be near South Bend. ND has its own post office, btw.

I'm told that South Bend was a nice place, years ago, when they still had a Studebaker manufacturing plant in town. That closed in the 40's or 50's, IIRC, and if it weren't for ND, you could probably dig a big hole and bury South Bend in it.

[indyfrisco]

I did some driving too. Went to Columbus for a wedding. Stayed at the downtown Westin. Wedding was there too.

I gotta say, Columbus is a real shit hole. I was surprised. I had higher expectations. I never made it to OSU's campus. Wish I would have been able to make it there and see the shoe.

Gotta say though, the drive from Southern Indiana to Columbus was an easy stretch. Never hit traffic once and that's including driving through Louisville and Cincy.

[Sky]

I did some driving too. Went to Columbus for a wedding. Stayed at the downtown Westin. Wedding was there too.

I gotta say, Columbus is a real shit hole. I was surprised. I had higher expectations. I never made it to OSU's campus. Wish I would have been able to make it there and see the shoe.

Gotta say though, the drive from Southern Indiana to Columbus was an easy stretch. Never hit traffic once and that's including driving through Louisville and Cincy.

Hmm, Indy I think you should have asked some highlights before you went. You were south of Broad and that is pretty much where the city starts to go to shit. A lot of factories and run down business do not provide eye candy. However, north of Broad St around the arena district has really improved over the past 5-10 years. Then a little bit farther north is the "short north" with a great selection of bars and restaurants. Lets go again and I will host (along with LB and 88). Then you can take us to College Station.

[Dinsdale]

I too did some driving, and here's some observations --

While the technology and design are 12 years old, the original Taylor Made Titanium Tour Driver can still make a golf ball go a very long way, if swung correctly, despite it's relatively small club face target area.

[Felix]

and if it weren't for ND, you could probably dig a big hole, bury South Bend in it, and nobody would care.....

ftfy......

[Atomic Punk]

I find that hard to believe. Last time I was in Newark (prolly 10 years ago) I think it took me three tries just to get out of the airport, and then I had no idea which way I was going. That place was like a bowl of spaghetti. Maybe they've made some improvements since then. Seems like Fresno Yosemite "International" Airport has about one entrance and one exit, and maybe 20 flights a day.

Like TWIS was saying, it's true. It is the easiest airport to deal with and I've been through very many. They fixed it up about 2 to 3 years ago and are still working on it.

Back to topic...

Columbus, OH is a difficult city to get through due to the high volume of traffic. If you think Fresno sucks, well there you have Columbus.

Indianapolis was surprisingly easy as they slow you down to 55 mph and have many lanes available. I'm not sure the speed had to do with it, but they make it really easy to drive through. Also, it's a very pretty city

St. Louis may take some shit, but it's not only a beautiful city, but it's easy to find your way around.

[Terry in Crapchester]

and if it weren't for ND, you could probably dig a big hole, bury South Bend in it, and nobody would care.....

ftfy......

Implied in my original post, of course.

[Mikey]

I too did some driving, and here's some observations --

While the technology and design are 12 years old, the original Taylor Made Titanium Tour Driver can still make a golf ball go a very long way, if swung correctly, despite it's relatively small club face target area.

No shit? You mean the $3,000 that I spend on new clubs every year doesn't really help my game that much?

Sin,
Mr. Gullible Golfer


PS, you can have my persimmon 3 and 5 woods the day you can pry them from my cold, dead hands.

[indyfrisco]

I did some driving too. Went to Columbus for a wedding. Stayed at the downtown Westin. Wedding was there too.

I gotta say, Columbus is a real shit hole. I was surprised. I had higher expectations. I never made it to OSU's campus. Wish I would have been able to make it there and see the shoe.

Gotta say though, the drive from Southern Indiana to Columbus was an easy stretch. Never hit traffic once and that's including driving through Louisville and Cincy.

Hmm, Indy I think you should have asked some highlights before you went. You were south of Broad and that is pretty much where the city starts to go to shit. A lot of factories and run down business do not provide eye candy. However, north of Broad St around the arena district has really improved over the past 5-10 years. Then a little bit farther north is the "short north" with a great selection of bars and restaurants. Lets go again and I will host (along with LB and 88). Then you can take us to College Station.

I'll take your word for it. Someday I'll get back up there. If A&M could get a H&H like t.u. did, I'm there for sure.

In any case, I was saying the same thing. I kept telling the people I was with that it HAD to be nicer further north. We just had all the people at the wedding there and didn't venture up north. We went East of where we were staying to the "beer district" and there wasn't shit to eat around there. That's what had me so pissed was the lack of places to eat. I think we ended up at Kladaugh's or something like that. It was an Irish pub. Had som Hogarden and Fisn n Chips. It was ok at best.

[indyfrisco]

I will say the reception area at the Westin was top notch. I heard $60,000 was spent on the wedding. Yikes. Dave and Ray played the reception too, a favorite amongst the IU students who were most of the crowd there.

[Wolfman]

if you're in Syracuse--be sure to take a drive
up to Tipperary Hill and see the traffic light
with the green on top !!

[Mikey]

if you're in Syracuse--be sure to take a drive
up to Tipperary Hill and see the traffic light
with the green on top !!

Is it a long way?

[Felix]

if you're in Syracuse--be sure to take a drive
up to Tipperary Hill and see the traffic light
with the green on top !!

Is it a long way?

courtesy rim-shot...

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

if you're in Syracuse--be sure to take a drive
up to Tipperary Hill and see the traffic light
with the green on top !!

Ok...

Hate to go TiC on you, but would you really expect someone to drive around looking for a freaking traffic light? As if that's so interesting?

And...why would we do that AFTER you've posted it here? Is there really more to take in than what you've just shown us?

[Ken]

funnest

Perhaps all you are qualified for is cleaning up shitstained, geriatric underbritches afterall.

[Ken]

I did some driving too. Went to Columbus for a wedding. Stayed at the downtown Westin. Wedding was there too.

I gotta say, Columbus is a real shit hole. I was surprised. I had higher expectations. I never made it to OSU's campus. Wish I would have been able to make it there and see the shoe.

Gotta say though, the drive from Southern Indiana to Columbus was an easy stretch. Never hit traffic once and that's including driving through Louisville and Cincy.

Hmm, Indy I think you should have asked some highlights before you went. You were south of Broad and that is pretty much where the city starts to go to shit. A lot of factories and run down business do not provide eye candy. However, north of Broad St around the arena district has really improved over the past 5-10 years. Then a little bit farther north is the "short north" with a great selection of bars and restaurants. Lets go again and I will host (along with LB and 88). Then you can take us to College Station.

Concur. Indy, you were in the wrong area. Columbus is a pretty nice city, imo.

[Wolfman]

Mikey with the definitive joke !!

btw--
if you are able--and haven't been there--
take in the Finger Lakes and wine country
sure to be great scenery,etc. this time of year.


rack old school Crouse-Hinds

[Ken]

I find that hard to believe. Last time I was in Newark (prolly 10 years ago) I think it took me three tries just to get out of the airport, and then I had no idea which way I was going. That place was like a bowl of spaghetti. Maybe they've made some improvements since then. Seems like Fresno Yosemite "International" Airport has about one entrance and one exit, and maybe 20 flights a day.

Like TWIS was saying, it's true. It is the easiest airport to deal with and I've been through very many. They fixed it up about 2 to 3 years ago and are still working on it.

Back to topic...

Columbus, OH is a difficult city to get through due to the high volume of traffic. If you think Fresno sucks, well there you have Columbus.

Indianapolis was surprisingly easy as they slow you down to 55 mph and have many lanes available. I'm not sure the speed had to do with it, but they make it really easy to drive through. Also, it's a very pretty city

St. Louis may take some shit, but it's not only a beautiful city, but it's easy to find your way around.

You are a fucking idiot. A bloody, fucking idiot. Lessee here... let's base our statments on one and only one data point... you know, that one time you drove through Columbus on a cross-country, completely fruitless endeavor in the dire hopes of elevating your life to a level where you are no longer compared to the likes of a gibbon or fruit fly.

I see that worked out well for you.

[Wolfman]

crap--I forgot



if you get into Cortland NY --only 35 miles or so
south of the "Cuse---this might be another hot
spot to visit !!


(-:

[Atomic Punk]

See Kenjetta had to collect his bitch self to respond to me twice. He/she also has a elderly shit fettish. Sucks to be you fucking little worthless pile. Open your maw and take a huge dump you little faggot. I see the girls ripped your wormy ass over on the other board. Typical you foul little pussy piece of shit.

[Screw_Michigan]

I did some driving around today. Here are my observations.

Lyme- Stopped by the local BofA for a monetary exchange. Then swung by the post office to pick up some stamps. Got talked into buying these DC comic Super Heroes 39 cent postal stamps. By far the absolute coolest postal stamps ever. I commented to the mail gal that they were too good to send out for bills. So she suggested I start collecting them and make more money for the USPS by not using them for postage. Just this once.

I then drove through Lyme proper and the village of Hamburg. Site of one of if not the oldest continuing fairs in the USA. The area has changed little since the war of 1812. Going through there, I was reminded of the Twilight Zone episode where some overworked guy falls asleep on a train and wakes up in a late 1800's town called Willowby.

I then made my way to

Salem- While heading to pay my propane bill in person, I decided to swing by an old motorcycle shop I knew of way out in the sticks called Swiders Motorcycles. Back in the 70's, Mr. Swider specialized in Moto Guzzi's, Norton's, and Suzuk's. There was a closed sign on his little shack of a garage and I see that his prominent sign is no longer there. I peared into the window and could see evidence of some work still going on. A Guzzi. An early '82 GS 1100. A 70's Commando with a nifty Isle of Man decal on the rear fender. A BSA and something underneath a blanket that he probably doesn't want inquisitive eyes to see. I'll have to stop by on some Saturday afternoon soon, because that's when I think he'll be there. Last I spoke to him, he said he had to take a day job somewhere as a machinist to make ends meet. I understand completely.

After stopping by Advanced Propane to pay my measily fifty bucks yearly bill, I then headed to...

East Lyme- time to pay motor vehicle tax, It's funny how I haven't lived in East Lyme for over two years, yet I still pay taxes on one vehicle. Why question the DMV's reasoning for this? They have their motives-which I imagine are to hire the otherwise unhirable who make these kind of paperwork errors even after several attempts to correct the problem. Paid my motor vehicle tax on the car in question and the East Lyme tax lady found my continued name on that towns tax list equally perplexing. As if they need any more tax dollars than they already milk from a town where just about everyone drives a brand spanking new Jaguar, Lexus, or Infinity.

I then headed for home to...

Waterford- Paid the other half of my motor vehicle tax and some other utilities bill. Tried to get ahold of the zoning enforcement officer about a neighbor of mine with four junk vehicles on their spread and what must be a couple of decades of unkempt growth in their yard. It doesn't seem right that I have to be next door to the lone private property in town that is making some kind of rapturous statement of the doom of desolation to come, but what can I do? Move? No. I'm not moving. I can master the wild frontier. Even if it is not mine. Or I can at least try to.

I then arrive home around two thirtyish and find that I still have time to accomplish another task, so I grab another vehicle that is due for its smog check to be done and head off for...

New London- I stop by a place right in the heart of Mau-Mau hood that I know always has an opening for the smog to be done. And it looks like I'm in luck when I get there. Nobody ahead of me at all. I hope to be in and out as fast as jig-a-boo eating a jimmy dean omlet croissant. Car maint man tells me that he'll get right to it as soon as he gets these frozen manifold bolts off of a F150. I sit in the waiting room until I can no longer take the smell of tires anymore and then decide to stand outside. I view the locals. The dark mommas waddlin' slowly down the street, hoppin', swayin', sassin', and bending over as if to say "Ya'll can juz kiss mah big nasty black ass" or for some other reason unknown that I hope to never ever understand.

I then think it better to smell tire and head back into the waiting room. "No" thinks me ten minutes later. "It's better to stand outside." So back on the safari I go. After several minutes, an old orange colored Impala whose color makes it difficult to distinguish just where the paint scheme ends and the rust begins pulls into the drive. Out plops a fat nasty man who is just a minute shade lighter than his pitch black clothing, with the exception of his ridiculous looking belt. He sneers as he extinguishes his smoke as he walks by me towards the door. Whether this is from his disgust over the presence of a white man or having to shift his pauch and lean over to place his cig in the bucket by the door, I don't know. Perhaps a combination, maybe. While he's inside, I notice several ghetto looking figures walking on the other side of the street. One of them is a fat-white-red headed sow in her mid twenty with a face that just rings of being a regular visitor to the emergency room for treatment of various briuses and sprains and has a permanent seat outside the door of the department of children and families services. This group decides to lay claim to the stone wall across the street from the auto shop where I am. But instead of retreating back into waiting room safety, I decide to stand my ground. Fat black man dressed in black with the poor taste in belts then walks out the door. As he walks back to his car, he points at the group across the street, and portly sowfaced gal starts to trunch her way towards him with open arms and squeeling out some form of greeting. Too emotional a reunion for me to witness, and I decide once again that the smell of deteriorating tire rubber in the waiting room is a little more bearable.

Meanwhile, my vehicle is still waiting for its check. Is it time for a little rollyeye action yet? Finally, the tech moves it into the garage bay for the test. I peer outside and notice that the warthogs, baboons, and wilderbeast have migrated to another location. So I muster up some courage and feel that can tough out these last few minutes in the great outdoors once again. I'm not out there five minutes when the drivers of two cars get into an argument over attempting to get into the same parking space- a 60 something black woman and a bald headed Puerto Rican in sliver Mitsubishi without AC- thanks for bringing me back to reality that on such a glorious weather day as this that not everything one sees is all rose gardens and idyllic beaches. Love to stand here and listen to you two animals growl at each other, but my vehicle is all done and I'm ready to leave a cloud of dust behind me as I depart from the Serrengetti plain and back to civilization. You know, they always told me that these colored folks where a happy hearted bunch. Like how Addicus Finch said in To Kill a Mockingbird that all they wanted to do was to sing beautiful music all day. These recollections must've been from the days on the plantation when the marijuana was free, or when cocaine was part of the paychech for loading the steamboat with bails of cotton. I didn't see a whole lot of "happy-go-lucky" tude in old New Londontown....No sir.

hey irie, we know when you hit the deek and post.

[Ken]

Takin' the BP ptiches one at a time...

See Kenjetta had to collect his bitch self to respond to me twice.

Not sure what your prob is, but how's 'out lookin' ME in the eye and postin' to ME. What's with this addressing OTHERS in reply to MY post. Man up, asswipe. And as far as the two responses, my first inclination is to roll out a rolleyes. My second inclination is to shake my head at your overbearing incompetence.

He/she also has a elderly shit fettish.

Yes, I'M the one. Ahem, not you who previously said we should thank you now for when we shit up our beds for you to clean up. You see, now color me silly, but I read that as coming from someone who actually looks forward to the day he can forclose on this deal. Again, color me silly. I may be in the minority.

I see the girls ripped your wormy ass over on the other board. Typical you foul little pussy piece of shit.

Well, even if that were the case, I guess some props to you are in order. After all, you're the one who pointed it out to everyone! Gosh! You let everyone know that supposedly SOMEONE ELSE 'did your dirty work for you' (settle, settle... I don't mean cleaning up shitstained underbritches. We know well enough to leave that for you). I mean, that IS how a place like this works, right? Someone ELSE smacks someone and a third party who can't do it himself, points it out to everyone? If so, props.

Now, I guess I gotta go check out .net.

[Terry in Crapchester]

if you're in Syracuse--be sure to take a drive
up to Tipperary Hill and see the traffic light
with the green on top !!

I'm told that those who are red-green colorblind "read" traffic lights by the positioning of the lights. That would be an accident waiting to happen in that event.

[Dinsdale]

I'm told that those who are red-green colorblind "read" traffic lights by the positioning of the lights.

Gee, and every time I go to the DMV, I'm told that if you can't pass the vision test including the one where you have to differentiate between red and green, you don't get a license in the first place.

[Wolfman]

there are a few kinds of colorblindness--the most
common being "red/green" (not that lame comedy)
it is an X-linked trait and therefore mathematically
more common in men-- people with it say they can
spot wild game when hunting better than folks with
normal color vision--possibly why the allele remained
in the human population for so long.

[Terry in Crapchester]

I'm told that those who are red-green colorblind "read" traffic lights by the positioning of the lights.

Gee, and every time I go to the DMV, I'm told that if you can't pass the vision test including the one where you have to differentiate between red and green, you don't get a license in the first place.

Dins, Dins, Dins.

You really should know better than this. Different states have different laws regarding licensing of drivers. I'll certainly take your word that a person having red-green colorblindness can't get a license in the U&L. That's not universal, however.

New York's vision test form: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv619.pdf

Note that it says nothing about colorblindness.

[Dinsdale]

So, in a state where they have inverted traffic lights, they also give licenses to colorblind people?


But they're red on guns because it's dangerous?


Ponderous.