The 10,000 Post thread V3

[philforhockey51 4,211]

5311

Wow Oahu sounds like NJ. 

 

paradise lost

[raynev1 1,886]

5312

Thank you @Schulmanator for rekindling a memory , I got a charge out of it . Ask a forumer anything game gave me ha ha moment . Kids do the darndest things don't they .

   Oooo I'm now a Suburbanite . 

[Duke87 1,070]

(5313)

I can't imagine living in a place like Hawaii. I have too much wanderlust to be confined to a small island.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

5314

 

You should try Japan, the transit systems from the trains to the highways are works of art.  Overcrowded for sure, but they are incredible.

[Larks2242 251]

5315.

I assume only the massive cities are overcrowded? What about the more rual areas?

[Duke87 1,070]

(5316)

Those artful trains and highways are basically THE reason why I'd love to visit Japan someday. Visit, mind you, not move to, even temporarily.

As much as I love traveling about, I have lived in the same metro area my entire life. And while I occasionally look into the possibility of relocating to some other part of the US, for practical reasons that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

[raynev1 1,886]

5317

   I've begun thinking about moving . It would have to be a more rural place . After spending the first half my life in Baltimore,Maryland and then moving here to West Virginia 17 years ago .It's nice to feel smart without going to high school , but gets old after a bit . I don't believe I could deal with city life anymore . Nothing against it though . I used to like it , but not no more . Convenience vs Serenity not hard for me to choose now . If I were to move , it would have to be in a warmer climate .

[philforhockey51 4,211]

5318

Not really on topic but... I think I broke the Best Picture competition

[Duke87 1,070]

(5319)

'Salright, this threas has no topic. :P

 

[raynev1 1,886]

(5320)

I think Phil broke picture competition too . 

[Muck308 55]

5321

Hulk smash.

 

[Mr Saturn64 742]

5322

I've always been a city lover.  It'll sound weird, but I actually do go into the city for the many of the same reasons people go to the countryside.  Being in the city makes me feel refreshed and rejuvenated.  I don't know why that is.  It's just part of who I am.

[raynev1 1,886]

5323

   There's been times I really regret leaving Baltimore . Maybe I should go back and visit , I could use some rejuvenating . Never a dull moment there . After 17 years I'm still talked about and in a good way too . A couple former co-workers told my oldest stepson , I was the best screed operator they had worked with and wished I hadn't moved . Made me feel good , I'm remembered . I am legend .

[Duke87 1,070]

(5324)

Changes of pace can be refreshing. If you don't live in a city, that can mean going into one. If you do live in a city, that can mean getting away from it.

[Larks2242 251]

5325.

@ Ray, How is that as a job? I'd imagine the fumes must really get to you after awhile.

[raynev1 1,886]

5326 

    @Larks2242 Fumes , What fumes ? Never hurt me  . Now the vapors of the diesel fuel evaporating off of the equipment (used as a lubricant) to keep the asphalt from sticking as bad , is a different story . Diesel fuel seems to only be recognised by the State of California , to cause cancer . But since I live in West Virginia , my breathing problems must be from smoking cigarettes .   So I guess I shouldn't have much to worry about .  Yeah right . Asphalt is considered a "Hazardous Material" that is to be recycled or buried in a lined landfill after it's failure . I believe this line of work takes 20-30 years off one's life expectancy . A while back I read that "Road Work" was in the top ten of the most dangerous jobs in the US .  

   Health care providers here (WV) rather blame the sick person for their illness rather than an Industry that makes so much money while making people sick . It's better for business .Though OSHA had NIOSH to do a study on asphalt exposure (not diesel vapor exposure) . I've yet to read about long term health risks , only upper respiratory irritations (COPD) and some infections being associated with the asphalt paving industry . A lot of people I have worked with in the past are either getting sick or dead . 

   So I urge NOBODY , to enter the Asphalt Paving Industry without researching it first and making an educated decision about it . There may be a lot of neat machines to play with , but the only people in the industry that make serious money are not the employees , only the company owners and the oil industries . Greed has been associated with oil , I'm sure .

   Whoever reads this , keep in mind . This is a warning . If you are in school , PLEASE continue . We need more educated people in this world to make proper decisions for the future of mankind . Deciding on issues like good potable water , energy , transportation , education , food and healthcare . And maybe not as much for profit , but for a better society for generations yet to come . 

   Everybody have a great day .

  Edited November 18, 2015 by raynev1  
removed some and added more

[Duke87 1,070]

(5327)

There's also the alternative of paving roads with concrete. Which unfortunately doesn't happen as often as it should do to shortsighted budget decisions. Concrete costs twice as much to pave with but it lasts three times as long, so you save money in the end.

 

[Muck308 55]

5328

I too find serenity in urban places. I live in a suburb but am within the city limits of Pittsburgh pretty regularly. Most recently for jury selection. I didn't get picked. I had been assigned to selection last month... and forgot to go. They were cool about it when I called in and just rescheduled me for this week.

[Mr Saturn64 742]

(5324)

Changes of pace can be refreshing. If you don't live in a city, that can mean going into one. If you do live in a city, that can mean getting away from it.

5329

Definitely true.  I've been looking at inner-city colleges, where I may very well end up living for my 4 years.  I can see how I might eventually get tired of that, although as I sit here in my bland suburban house in my bland suburban town, I can't help but feel satisfied with the idea of being in the city for 4 years.

[raynev1 1,886]

5330 

(5327)

There's also the alternative of paving roads with concrete. Which unfortunately doesn't happen as often as it should do to shortsighted budget decisions. Concrete costs twice as much to pave with but it lasts three times as long, so you save money in the end.

 

   I agree that concrete makes a better road surface , but I don't agree on shortsighted budget decisions . Longer lasting products seem to be bad for the economy .  Well , the way I see it is . 

   1) If concrete last three times longer than asphalt , then a road wouldn't need paved as often . Correct ?

   2) Failing roads (meaning potholes and ponding of water) lead to more auto repairs , accidents and more road work .

   3) Accidents = more car sales and more hospital visits (Emergency Room visits can be quite expensive) , not to mention the need for a new vehicle . As well as higher insurance rates . 

   It's all about the money . Everybody needs it and everybody wants it . I guess I have a different perspective on things than most people do . 

   Every body have a great day , and be careful out there , the leaves on the roads can be quite slippery .

[astronelson 339]

5331.

5330 

  I agree that concrete makes a better road surface , but I don't agree on shortsighted budget decisions . Longer lasting products seem to be bad for the economy .  Well , the way I see it is . 

   1) If concrete last three times longer than asphalt , then a road wouldn't need paved as often . Correct ?

   2) Failing roads (meaning potholes and ponding of water) lead to more auto repairs , accidents and more road work .

   3) Accidents = more car sales and more hospital visits (Emergency Room visits can be quite expensive) , not to mention the need for a new vehicle . As well as higher insurance rates . 

   It's all about the money . Everybody needs it and everybody wants it . I guess I have a different perspective on things than most people do . 

   Every body have a great day , and be careful out there , the leaves on the roads can be quite slippery .

I think this comes under the fallacy of the broken window. Money spent on road repairs and the results of degraded roads is money that likely would have been spent elsewhere.

 

But if, on the other hand, you come to the conclusion, as is too often the case, that it is a good thing to break windows, that it causes money to circulate, and that the encouragement of industry in general will be the result of it, you will oblige me to call out, "Stop there! Your theory is confined to that which is seen; it takes no account of that which is not seen."

  Edited November 20, 2015 by astronelson  

[Duke87 1,070]

(5332)

It IS all about the money, but on a micro scale, not a macro scale. Building roads in a way that they don't last as long certainly benefits road construction crews. But that doesn't make it beneficial overall, since money spent on maintenance does not enhance the value of the asset, it merely prevents value from being lost. 

Besides, even if the lifecycle costs of road paving go down, this need not mean less money is spent on paving. It can instead mean the construction of more roads.

[philforhockey51 4,211]

5333

Plenty of studies out there on loss of productivity due to traffic. We're talking the loss of Billions that could be spent on advancing scientific research. 

http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1909417,00.html

From the article above: "2. The cost: The cost of traffic congestion hit $87.2 billion in wasted fuel and lost productivity, or $750 per traveler. By contrast, the cost of congestion in 1982 was only $16.7 billion, adjusted for inflation, or $290 per person."

[raynev1 1,886]

5334

A lot of money does burn up in traffic jams , there's no doubt about that . And depending where you are talking about , roads do affect the economy . 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lee_lane_closure_scandal

   And how many people did this effect . Now as I mentioned in post 5330 "Accidents = more car sales and more hospital visits (Emergency Room visits can be quite expensive) , not to mention the need for a new vehicle . As well as higher insurance rates ." It is a trickle down effect done indirectly and maybe not on purpose , but still happens . 

   Here , where I live . Ponding on the roads seems to be created not avoided . And not by companies but the state themselves with improper maintenance , and mismanagement of funds . Instead of figuring the cause of the failure and addressing the reason , they simply cover it up with another layer . Like putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound , it won't get better . It will just get worse . 

   Failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle falls on the vehicle owner not the owner of the road . Most all accidents "here" are handled in that manner , because the people just don't know . The average commuter doesn't know proper procedure of road maintenance or road construction do's and don't's , because it's not their career . A puddle of water on a road in summer means an icy spot in winter . 

   Sorry to go on and on , but I took pride in my work and it just infuriates me . How naive people are about something they use everyday . 

[airman15 4,111]

5335

There's one highway which I absolutely hate that I used to commute on and I now avoid on purpose. It's CA 49, also nicknamed the Grass Valley Highway. Driving on it through Auburn, you will have stoplight after stoplight. And in my experience, it's either green the entire way or you'll be stopping every minute.. at every.. damn.. light.. And if you're really unfortunate, you'll be waiting for ages just for an opening to turn on it. This is not only because traffic almost never stops on 49, but intersecting streets have another street connected to them which run parallel to 49, oftentimes not even 65 ft (~20m) from your last turn.

Now, I could go on until I am blue in the face. And to be fair, Auburn is a very hilly city do there is not much that can be done with it in that respect. I just wish there was a way to remedy the stretch through Auburn, to make life a little easier in navigating through the city.

[Larks2242 251]

5336.

 

A lot of things cause cancer in California, Lead for example from fishing lures will cause birth defects if you fish in the state of California.

[raynev1 1,886]

5337

Lead is pretty bad , yet almost everybody that goes fishing tends to throw it in the water . It definitely affects learning .

[Duke87 1,070]

(5338)

Almost nothing has ever been definitively proven to NOT cause cancer. When worrying about such things it is best to keep that in mind.

[Cool_Z 1,547]

(5339)

Worrying too much about cancer might even cause cancer.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

5340: These comments gave me cancer!
 Kidding.

The other day, I drove to Ballarat (~45 min away) to buy a copy of Fallout 4. Then I realised that I need to download around 24GB of files, and I have no internet at home. Gah!

I'll just download it when I visit family in Melbourne though this weekend.