Modern Life

Genius. They will remember that for a long time. Hopefully they will do
the same with their kids one day. A truly great "Grandpa" story in the
making.
Jim

We saw people driving sports cars into the hotel parking lots, wearing
SHORTS and sweatshirts. They had no winter gear, no warm clothing,
and were absolutely astounded to hear that Interstate 80 was closed.
They were abadoning their homes, because the power was out, and
heading to any available hotel room.

This reminds me that huge traffic jams on I-81 were in last week's news.
The problem was all the cars that couldn't climb the steeper hills due to
the reduced traction on the snow...

I wasn't going to comment, especially since it is off topic for the group,
but it caused me to remember what my sister told me roughly twenty years
ago. She was studying at a university in a hilly and occasionally snowy
area, and the main road into the campus led up a moderately steep (5 to 7%)
hill approximately 1/4 mile in length just after turning into the campus.
Of course, the end of the Christmas break was the fresh snow season.

When the parents would arive, and it had snowed, most could not get enough
traction to drive their cars up the hill. However, the university always
came to the rescue by having the Campus Police, using specially equipped
vehicles, push the otherwise stranded vehicles up the hill.

(I really should make all of you scroll down to read this...)

The specially equipped vehicles were the same plain old Ford sedans used for
routine year round patrol--with plain old tire chains on the rear wheels.

It is with GREAT effort that I am refraining from a political rant!

Peter

with plain old tire chains on the rear wheels.

Tire chains (and studs) are banned in many places because of the damage
they do to roads. They are not as necessary as they used to be because
of better snow tire and all-weather tire design.

Jose
--
Humans are pack animals. Above all things, they have a deep need to
follow something, be it a leader, a creed, or a mob. Whosoever fully
understands this holds the world in his hands.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

"Andrew Gideon" wrote

I'm trying to picture this, and I cannot quite. Two weeks to rebuild 1707
NYC or Philadelphia or London?

Yeah, I'm still chuckling about that one, too. Even a city of a tenth of
the size of one of those! g
--
Jim in NC

Tire chains (and studs) are banned in many places because of the damage
they do to roads. They are not as necessary as they used to be because
of better snow tire and all-weather tire design.

Thank goodness they banned studded tires. I remember Wisconsin's
interstate system in the 1970s being nearly destroyed by all the guys
with studded tires. The lanes actually had 1/2-inch deep grooves worn
in them, from the studs ripping up the concrete and asphalt. It got
down to the rebar, in spots.

That little fiasco cost the taxpayer's billions...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Feb 26, 4:47 pm, Andrew Gideon wrote:

Well put. But I worry that all this wealth has made our kids so soft that
they'll never survive the hardships to come. Between soaring energy
prices, and believers in "global warming" advocating deconstruction of our
economies -- by force, if necessary -- I worry for our kids' future.

Don't forget about Apophis, with whom we've a possible date in 2036.


And the Apocalypse.. What's the latest date for that again?? And the
Rapture, and the End Times, and SkyNet coming online...

Geez, a guy could get really bummed out with all this stuff supposed
to happen - but I can go peacefully now that Scorcese finally won his
Oscar G

("Kingfish" wrote)
Geez, a guy could get really bummed out with all this stuff supposed to
happen - but I can go peacefully now that Scorcese finally won his Oscar
G


Which was odd, since 2008 is The Year of the Rat. :-)

Best line in the whole movie:
'Is that really his name, Mr French?'

Mark Wahlberg as Dignam:
"...#$%^&*#$%^&*#$%^&*#$%^&*. #$%^ #$%^&* #%^..."


Montblack
The Departed (2006)

Jay Honeck wrote:

Tire chains (and studs) are banned in many places because of the damage
they do to roads. They are not as necessary as they used to be because
of better snow tire and all-weather tire design.


Thank goodness they banned studded tires. I remember Wisconsin's
interstate system in the 1970s being nearly destroyed by all the guys
with studded tires. The lanes actually had 1/2-inch deep grooves worn
in them, from the studs ripping up the concrete and asphalt. It got
down to the rebar, in spots.

Interesting as I've never seen an interstate concrete highway that used
rebar... The only metal in most highways is the row of pins used to
lock the sections together at the expansion joints.

Matt

"Matt Whiting" wrote
Interesting as I've never seen an interstate concrete highway that used
rebar... The only metal in most highways is the row of pins used to lock
the sections together at the expansion joints.

The type of concrete highway design varies from un-reinforced slabs with
doweled joints, to rebar reinforced slabs with doweled joints, to welded
wire mesh with doweled joints, to continuous slab reinforced with welded
wire mesh or rebar, or continuous rebar and welded wire mesh.

I have seen older concrete torn up in Columbus Ohio, with tons of rebar, and
recycled into new concrete. I have seen welded wire mesh placed too close
to the surface, and the top layers of concrete worn or spalled (cracked and
flaking) off, and the wire visible.

How the concrete roads were constructed varies partly by region and design
needs, (like cold) and partly by what was thought to be the best method, at
the time.

I suspect that what was seen by the earlier poster was 6 x 6 inch welded
wire mesh. Rebar (in sizes from 5/8" and up) should be placed much deeper
in the pour, and usually stays put, whereas the mesh can easily be misplaced
too close to the surface.

I will not discount the studs and chains accelerating the breakdown of the
concrete, but wire mesh being exposed is in large part due to other forces
breaking down the concrete, and improper mesh placement.

Just my opinions and observations.
--
Jim in NC

Kingfish wrote:
On Feb 26, 4:47 pm, Andrew Gideon wrote:

Well put. But I worry that all this wealth has made our kids so soft that
they'll never survive the hardships to come. Between soaring energy
prices, and believers in "global warming" advocating deconstruction of our
economies -- by force, if necessary -- I worry for our kids' future.

Don't forget about Apophis, with whom we've a possible date in 2036.


And the Apocalypse.. What's the latest date for that again?? And the
Rapture, and the End Times, and SkyNet coming online...

Geez, a guy could get really bummed out with all this stuff supposed
to happen - but I can go peacefully now that Scorcese finally won his
Oscar G

I'm still waiting for the Dodgers to Return Triumphant to Brooklyn.
Only then, all will be right with the world.

(living in Colorado - we *know* how weather can shut down the entire
transportation infrasture)