Transportation

Snow day telecommute

Posted on by backuphill

black vehicle traveling on road near person walker

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Well, the snow came just as they predicted and it hasn’t let up yet. This is somewhat unusual for the Pacific Northwest and there was a collective “YES!” across the region as schools are mostly closed today.

As you may recall from earlier posts, I drive about an hour to work every day. Weather like this makes it a challenge, to say the least, so I have decided to telecommute today. That makes work much easier and less stressful that trying to battle the roads and elements.

Quite frankly, I didn’t want to drive today. NOT because of the weather. I can handle that and have enough experience to handle what the roads may throw at me.

However, what I can’t account for are the other idiots on the road! I gotta tell ya, for a region that does a lot of driving in less than ideal weather, people are freaking stupid when it comes to this stuff. I see more four-wheel drive vehicles on the side of the road, in the ditch, upside down than I see any other vehicles. Guys (and I do mean that literally), just because you have a four-wheeled vehicle doesn’t mean you are invincible. You still need to use your brain, and a little less of that lead foot.

So, playing it safe from the other drivers today. And, if you live in the NW like I do, take it easy if you have to go out. The object is to get there. It isn’t about how fast you got there.

 

Noisy road

Posted on by backuphill

brown asphalt road beside lake

                                 If only my commute was this nice to look at.                                         Photo by Nextvoyage on Pexels.com

You probably don’t think about it much because you are driving and paying attention to the other drivers around you, which you should be. However, there is probably one thing you don’t notice you’re doing as a result of a noisy road.

The surface of the roadway is kind of an important thing when it comes to highways. I mean, it gets thousands and thousands of cars driving over it every day/week/month/year. It has to be durable, but also something that withstands heat, cold, weight, collisions, rain, etc. So, I am sure there is science behind why they do what they do when they make roads. But, really, I don’t care.

I just want a road that is smooth and quiet. Road noise should be a low hum that you really don’t notice unless something is wrong with the car. Instead, half of half of my commute is across 40+ year old concrete that has been worn down to the pebbles used to make it and it sounds like a jet engine starting up as you drive over it as high speeds.

Thus, I have to listen to the radio really loud. All to hear the traffic report. And if there is another person in the car, well, you just have to yell, even if they are just sitting right next to you. That is annoying.

What small things do you notice as you drive the same route and sit in the car for hours each day? Anything only you would notice and have to point out to others when they ride along with you?

Zip it!

Posted on by backuphill

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NOT a zipper merge, but an example of how it feels when it is done wrong.

One thing I is for sure, Americans don’t like to merge on to highways. What’s worse is that we apparently also have no manners when it comes to merging, which stresses people out about merging even more. Thus, it becomes a never ending cycle.

One thing is also for sure, if the zipper merge was done correctly we’d all spend less time sitting in traffic. Look at the example below:

zipper20merge

Or better yet, take a look at the video below!

Come on, people, get with the program and we’ll all get to where we wanna go faster and more safely. Oh, and have a little patience already!

New car clean

Posted on by backuphill

automobiles automotives black and white black and white

Photo by Torsten Dettlaff on Pexels.com

You know how bright and shiny that car looked when it came off the lot? You know, sparkling, dust free interior, the chromy parts chroming, and the black plastic on the outside hasn’t started to fade to gray…

Is it ever like that again? I mean for a BRAND SPANKING NEW CAR?

Probably not. I don’t have time to wash it daily and I don’t have time to clean the inside on even a weekly basis…so it gets dirty, like the car I just got rid of. That old car rarely got washed and rarely got cleaned on the inside. I mean, it was old, so who cares, right?

But this new car…can I just put a bubble around it?

All I want is for it to stay clean!

By all means, have my parking spot.

Posted on by backuphill

parking multi storey car park

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OK, so I like don’t park in the same place every day.

Oh, wait, I do! My mistake. That’s my spot! Get your jalopy outta my spot!

So why the hell are you parking in my spot? Just because you got here a fraction of a second before me? Yeah, ok, like I don’t let the air out of tires every day either…

 

It’s rain people…

Posted on by backuphill

blur cars dew drops

Photo by Kaique Rocha on Pexels.com

News flash: We live in the Northwest and it rains here. It rains here a lot.

Now, I know that isn’t news to those who live here but DANG it already! Why do you all have to forget how to drive in the freakin’ rain??? We have rain pretty much 9 months of the year (yes summers are not as rainy) so why is it so hard to remember how to drive in such conditions?

I swear, for so many smart tech people in this area, they are a bunch of idiots behind the wheel of a car. Drive slower, leave more space between vehicles. Simple. When you do that, you have to step on the brake less and you don’t bash into others as often. Duh!

Now do it.

#SMH

When you don’t want a chip off the old block

Posted on by backuphill

abstract break broken broken glass

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Driving down the highway, perhaps over the posted limit, but minding my own business and staying my own lane when out of the blue there is a huge THWACK!! on the windshield.

You guessed it, a flying object made of stone but probably only the size of a peanut.

No damage this time, but is certainly gets your attention and most definitely riles you up. Rocks on the windshield, or anywhere on the car for that matter, are most irritating.

I commute millions of miles, it seems, and I hate it when that tiny little rock causes a chip in the window. Time and cold weather mean at some point the window is getting replaced. Who has time for that? Who can afford that? I suppose that is why you see cracked windshields everywhere…

Damn little rock.

Car salesmen are the worst

Posted on by backuphill

closeup photo of vulture

Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com on Pexels.com

OK, I know this is cliche. I know this is a generalization. I know this has been my experience in EVERY car purchase I have ever made, so I am pretty sure others have it as well.

It is universally known that car salesmen are the worst! I am sure every comedian has probably covered this topic so I am not exploring any new ground here, but I am gonna throw in my two cents.

Car salesmen are the vultures of society.

They perch themselves up near the front entrance of the dealership, waiting and watching for any movement on the lot. They respond to email inquiries and bang out phone calls to people who have shown even the remotest interest in one of their cars. When a customer finds it’s way onto the property they flap their wings and decide who gets to approach the potential meal.

They leave the perch and saunter over near the customer trying not to look too eager. They circle, make small talk, and assess the situation. They wait for the customer to show signs of weakness or excitement about a vehicle.

Then they swoop in and land near their prey. As you fight to maintain the upper hand, they wait you out until you finally give in. You offer, they counter. You offer again, they counter again. Then, when you appear weak, another one swoops in to add more pressure. More offers, more pressure. You’re gasping, breathing hard and trying to hang on to the little life you have left, but there are now two vultures waiting, waiting to see last breaths of hesitation escape from your lungs as you agree to the purchase.

Now they feast! There is a flurry of feathers and papers and the next thing you know you are standing in your driveway with keys to a new car and buyers remorse.

Good luck out there!

Nothing reminds you of this fact more than when you begin your new car search. The process is the same on every single lot. Sure, the names of the dealerships change as you shop around and look for the best deal, but the process is the same. The behavior is the same. It is so predictable.

It sits all day, so why not?

Posted on by backuphill

blur building business cars

Photo by David McBee on Pexels.com

Electric cars.

I think they would be more prevalent if people weren’t so worried about distance it could travel and charging it. I think those two things are sort of intertwined.

I guess I have always wondered why you have to plug the thing in in the first place. Why? If there is technology out there that will make high rise windows into charging panels, why can’t that be incorporated into automobiles? Or if Tesla can make solar roofing tiles and turn the whole rooftop into something that charges your home, why can’t it make the hood (or roof) of your car out of the same material?

I know, it takes a lot of time to recharge and I know (I asked this once of a smarter friend) that it would take a huge amount of charging to make a car work from such limited charging capability. He asked, “Would the cost be worth it?” My answer was that I didn’t know because apparently no one has tried, isn’t some charge better than no charge, and eventually cost would come down because that is what happens with tech as it improves.

Here’s the thing, most people’s cars spend most of the day sitting around, either in the driveway or in a parking lot somewhere. Why can’t it be recharging at the same time without having to be plugged in?

Things that make you go, hmmmmm.