The Feds have agreed to allow states to delay inspections for bridges in poor condition - this is a decision that was made after the I35 disaster in Minny where 13 people died when a bridge collapsed. This makes me ANGRY. Read about it here -

What the fuck are people in government thinking? In New York, at least according to the statistics, there is no bridge that isn't scheduled for an inspection every 24 months. The worst state in comparison? Illinois, with nearly 11,000 bridges on schedules longer than 24 months. California is in third with 3,600... which to me is absolutely dangerous and inexplicable given that its such a seismically active area. Combined with a $15 billion budget deficit, I wonder how Cali manages to maintain its infrastructure at all.

Keep in mind - this sort of statistic is keeping track only the *scheduled* bridge inspections. It doesn't speak about if/when the inspections have actually occurred. Wondering about your own local commute? I sure was - I roundtrip across the southern Grand Island bridges twice a day. The problem is that even bridges your state and federal government KNOW are unsafe are not being inspected within an acceptable time frame. Want to know how the bridges on your commute rate?



The default commute is from SF, CA to San Rafael, CA - you'll have to change and tinker with the tool to have your bridges and ramps pop up. I checked my commute from Buffalo to Grand Island.

Grand Island Bridge - last inspection October 2006. Evaluation of condition - meets minimum tolerable limits to be left in place as is. Rating - structurally deficient. On average 11,000 people a day have no idea that they are crossing a structurally deficient bridge. Why hasn't it been repaired, and why is it acceptable for our government to allow citizens to use risky infrastructure? WHY IS IT THAT THEY JUST INCREASED THE TOLL FOR THIS BRIDGE KNOWING DAMN WELL THAT THE MONEY THEY ARE COLLECTING AT THE BRIDGE IS NOT BEING PRIORITIZED TO MAINTAIN IT?

190/324 interchange - December 2006. Same evaluation and rating as the GI bridge.

Rt. 33 near Grider St. - August 2006 - same story.

I would love to know who to complain to.

Think I lie? Check it out.



I was amused by the throngs of "GROSS!" and "YUCK!" reviews. The fucking guy is the executive chef at Aquavit in Manhattan - this ain't some dredded out stoner cheffing in the dorm room. I say, try it before hating on it. Who is with me? We can even discuss the various outcomes we have on my journal.

Perhaps after seeing this my brother won't want Philly to be a smoking crater anymore - for me this is a genuine American form of protest.



For a further explanation read here -

I have to admit, this is one of the stranger bits of news I've read in a while. Three generations of shoplifters, all in one store at one time -

Oh, and I wanted to leave you guys with what is the strangest music video I've ever seen.... EVER! Its a hodgepodge of gay innuendo, psychedelia, dance and totally unrelated things, being thrown together for reasons I'll never understand.

Oliver Stone is creating a new film about the life and presidency of GWB -

Now we can wait for the explanations over the elements of fantasy in his movie, just as he did for 'JFK,' with gems like "maybe so but I felt the spirit of the movie was true."

And based on the recent poor performances of politically oriented Hollywood scripts, I wonder how well it will do to begin with. Perhaps the ABB's that are still around will feel a sense of warped patriotic honor and go see this movie, but at this point its beyond painfully obvious that there has been and currently is no market for the lefty flicks that Hollywood can't help itself... with or without.

What amuses me more is when Oliver Stone is asked about his personal opinion of the POTUS, which is well-known. His response is in the article I've linked. If anybody is actually gullible enough to believe that, I've got a great set of blue bridges (perfectly safe, btw!) that span the north and south sides of Grand Island that I'd like to sell to you.

I'm not exactly a defender of President Bush in general, but to suggest that Oliver Stone of all people would put together a balanced account of President Bush's life and presidency is laughable. He is in Cindy Sheehan territory, and I only say that in a hip, post-ironic way to reinforce her past relevance.

Now that I'm home and have had time to think about it, I put together a better collection of pictures from my trip. I've set them in my myspace picture gallery. The link is here if you are so inclined.

Josh

You guys in Cali are lucky - this stuff is AWESOME!



See you in six months, hopefully.

I finally had some sun to work with so I went back to Coit Tower specifically to take this picture -



Here is your humble adventurer getting his Muni on -



See you back in Buffalo soon guys -

Josh

Precursor, Animal Style w/a Chocolate Shake

I found myself being finished for the day before noon, which was totally unexpected but very pleasant. I had one of my favorite things in all of California - In-N-Out Burger! Before that though, I had to catch a lift so here was my ride. I've been a busy boy since I came here - I haven't sipped this city down, I've been gulping.



(e:ajay) and (e:twisted) - I don't know if you've ever bothered with these but I'd recommend it at least once to see some amazing views of downtownish area. You may know this already but with a monthly Muni pass rides on these are free! With my weekly pass it cost $1 and a little dignity when the operator scowled at me for trying to enter the open area through the door behind him. Anyway, I made it to home base.



Now it was time for the best fast food in America, and time to develop a plan to get rid of the calories. I brought my treasure back to the room with me, not realizing that after 6 hours gone my room would smell of onions. I'm not sure why that doesn't bother me, but in any case I had a chocolate shake, a double double with caramelized onions and a side serving of Bible verses... In-N-Out loves the Lord.








Coit Tower

Screw the Wharf - for a city oozing with character I agree with the locals - although even the locals might admit that having a Walgreen's nearby might be convenient here and there. I went to Coit Tower via the 39 bus route. 10 minutes and $4.50 later and I was at the top of the tower.

NOTE*** At this point the sun got obscured, which was upsetting, but we can't have it our way all the time.



Due west you can see Washington Square and a major landmark in this area of the city - Saints Peter and Paul Church.



West/northwest view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County and what I believe is the Marina district.









Here you can see Lombard St. - the crazy curved street. However, its not the most steep road in SF. That honor is reserved for another road which you will see soon. Still though, what a neat feature in a city. Agree?



At the top of Coit Tower people leave momentos. I left a quarter in the hopes that one day I can move to a place like this. Then it dawned on me - if a quake went off I'd probably have a heart attack because of where I was. Isn't it odd that someone left a picture? I can't believe it has rested there for more than a day but who knows. What I do know, however, is that all of these windows were protected by padlocked glass windows so whoever did that was Houdini in disguise.





At ground level in the tower they have some beautiful murals. Most of it is Communist themed - in this picture a guy is pulling a copy of Marx's Das Kapital off the shelf.



This I thought was cool - it was a slanted windowsill, a little cobweb and a painted in copy of the SF Chronicle.




Filbert Steps

I had heard about these and couldn't find how to access them from below... but this is one of the things about San Francisco that will make me remember the trip for a long time. Just beautiful - plus it inspires jealousy. Take a look and I think you'll agree. This is a walkway that will lead you directly to Coit Tower from Filbert St., but it is STEEP. I saw some psycho local actually jogging up them for exercise.









The picture below is not part of the Filbert Steps, and the property owners make it clear with a sign basically telling you to get the fucking hint. Screw them - that brick is slippery when wet anyway.



I climbed halfway back up thinking I was going to catch the 39 back but I wasn't happy yet - I wanted to see more. So, why not walk down one of the steepest streets I've ever seen in my life and catch the 30 bus for a joyride into Chinatown?

I had to take a picture of this lady - she was so old yet she was going up these stairs slow as a snail. I thought her determination deserved to be immortalized so I took a picture.



Looking directly behind the lady you see this, which puts her chosen path in perspective. IMO this is just ludicrous - these cars are parked at a 17 degree angle on a street that is one of the steepest in all the western hemisphere. No really, it is - Wiki says so! (San_Francisco) Imagine trying to unload a full car...



After going down the hill, at the intersection if you'd look to your right you'd be facing due north with this view.



Chinatown, Kerouac Alley and Cafe Roma

I totally lost my head and only took one picture in Chinatown, but the stage was set by the bus ride. I felt like I was in a bus in Beijing - it was incredibly crowded. An older Chinese man had a tub of cooking oil (think Sysco) and some anonymous product wrapped up. He looked at me and smiled, then said "WOW, ITS CROWDED!" and proceeded to sit down next to me. He made me smile. It came to a point where I realized I should probably get off the bus, and I proceeded to head towards the Asian markets - the less English the better. If I'm wandering Chinatown I'm doing it right. I found some Vietnamese and Chinese green teas, along with some dried snacks that the Western palette would consider... unorthodox. I saw Chinese butchers, gift shops, a hundred restaurants and newstands selling Chinese papers. I slipped and only got one picture of the area.



I proceeded north until I ran into Broadway and Jack Kerouac Alley. I'm awestruck at such a thoughtful way to honor someone whose writing helped to immortalize the city and embodied its spirit. Not that I would hold back on my praise for a personal hero. I was here yesterday but was happy to be back - check this out.



On the alley are little plaques with quotes, and in the center (which I didn't include here) is a circular plaque.







Walk down the alley in the direction you see above, turn left and you have City Lights on your left. Walk up to the corner, turn around and you'll see this -



What a city.

At this point my legs were seriously hurting but I was a mile from my hotel. I decided to walk back up Columbus Ave. and hit Cafe Roma for a little treat before continuing home... and to take a picture of a little easter egg for my brother.



I wasn't sure if I'd be deeply sad to leave California like I always have felt when I gaze out of the plane window, but its safe to say that I'm leaving a little of my heart at this place when I leave.

I've had the best food I've ever ate in my life (I made it to Chow this morning (e:ajay)! also for dinner we went to House of Nanking, which was ludicrously good imo and let the chef/owner/dictator choose the menu), I've been smoking the best Cali has to offer, I've been taking in the great weather, visited City Lights, I've spent time in the Mission, the Castro, upper/lower Haight, Noe Valley, Cole Valley, the Presidio, North Beach, Chinatown, went to the top of Buena Vista Park, went on an 8-hour pub crawl - SF your drinks are fucking cheap for the rent you make people pay. I feel like I'm forgetting things but I've had the absolute best time I've ever had in a city I've traveled to for work. If it weren't for the seismic juju you'd be perfect. I can't really even summarize it effectively so I'll just say thank you SF for being good to me - I've never had a better and more positive introduction to a city. I can't wait to check out the Ferry Building and the cafes in North Beach. I'm not sure where I felt more at home, but I think I was most comfortable in the Haight. SF you have decent political discourse at night on KGO too!

I don't know what I'll do but the places I'm auditing this week are Chinese-owned garment makers. We had to hire a translator because none of the workers speak English, but the lady we hired seems really nice. I got my feet wet bumping around using Muni. I got my weekly pass and I'm good to go - the F line is a block away and will be my main way around until its time to go home. So, for now here is a handful of pictures... if things continue as they have I'm going to get a great picture of the Golden Gate Bridge and maybe maybe maybe I'll go to the top of Coit Tower or the bar in Sir Francis Drake Hotel for some pictures. I take all the credit for the great weather!



City Lights Bookstore - a bit of a pilgrimage for me... I draw a lot of inspiration from the Beats.



Cool and famous - me and the sign!



Haight Ashbury - the district and the corner. This is the view from my friends' front step.



710 Ashbury St. - the Grateful Dead house. I felt bad for the tourists who took pictures in front of 610 holding up peace signs.



Haight and Waller St. - and my buddy Jonas who had no idea he was going to make a cameo in my blog tonight.

I made some pretty savvy purchases as well. I went to Amoeba and got my dad a copy of a movie called "Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony", which is a documentary about the freedom music of South Africa and how it sustained the soul of the black population during Apartheid - it won the 2002 Sundance Viewer's Choice Award and African music, which my dad loves, is at the center of the whole thing. I think it was better than getting him a blue-ray copy of The Aviator.

I also got three packs of different rolling papers, which I let my boy Jonas choose for me. I picked up a shoulder bag from the army navy surplus on Haight - the store in Buffalo is 10x the size and did not have what I wanted and this store did! I also bought three books at City Lights - a copy of a book by Simon Winchester (at the suggestion of my friend Anna's brother Andrew) called "A Crack In The Edge Of The World," which is an account of the quake and fire in 1906 and how it has impacted American history. The pictures make you realize how foolish it was for humans to have settled on this peninsula. City Lights also has its own publishing arm and I felt strongly about supporting their efforts, so I picked up a copy of The Yage Letters, which is constructed from letters between William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg describing to each other their experiences monkeying around with strange native American drugs. Also on the suggestion of Anna, since I told her I like short stories, I picked up a copy of "The Elephant Vanishes" by Haruki Murakami.