Merv's Politically Incorrect Audio Blog

I would love to see a national high-speed rail push, but beyond the general low regard for public transportation, there is also almost no interest in major infrastructure projects in the US. We don't even maintain our current rail infrastructure despite several disasters over the last few years

 

@zottel

You'd think people'd be dumb to buy a SUV in the Autobahn country.

I was discussing speed limits the other day with my British buddy... I wish autobahns were all around EU.

It suck that you have to check whether your speeding when you are going barely 100km/h.

On the backroads its not that big of an issue..

 

Federal government can subsidize EV for who knows how many billions, but we can't get trains that run on time or at any speed, which might serve carbon goals just as well. And probably help more people and poorer people overall. I dunno, Europe can do rail, and it's a quasi-unified conglomeration of states that usually don't even like one another.

 

Something about SUVs that always make me chuckle. Owners speed all over the place, and then slam the brakes and go over a speed bump at like 2MPH. It's a Sport Utility vehicle that doesn't like a bump?

 

And yet you still see morons texting and driving while in these "safer vehicles".

The human mind is a thick bundle of stupid. It is stunning how much human stupidity and ignorance create trends that shape entire industries.

I love how the movie Robocop becomes more and more relevant every year.



"Something that goes really fast and gets really shitty gas mileage!"

 

In the US in general cars just have gotten much bigger. First gen CRV is small when comparing to the new gen CRV. Hell, even the new gen Civic is bigger than most of the 80s/90s Accords (and the Civic is still in the compact category)! First gen Highlander SUV is much smaller than the giant ass modern Highlander.

Sometimes when driving in my 23 Subaru Legacy I feel like the car is just too big/long for my taste.

 

Still waiting for the act of exercise and anyone who practices it to be deemed “fat shaming” by the wokie wokes.

 

The business model at Planet Fitness and the like is built around these people giving up. It's a gym you can pick if you're good at fitness and the habits you've built around that involve weights and exercise machines. If not, it isn't really built for you to pick those up, and they'd just as soon people quit, but then keep paying the membership fee as part of a daydream about going back and getting in shape. Well, and also because they're legally allowed to make it impossible to cancel your membership unless you request it in writing (cursive only), sent to a PO Box in Montana (unless you live in Montana, in which case it's in South Carolina), Pony Express delivery only, please allow 173 days for processing (unless the Click to Cancel regulations go through).

Some people just need a personal trainer or a workout group or something.

 

Part in bolded above is also common where I am at in FL. One reason why we don't like public transportation: State was design around cars and SFH sprawl (just like LA). There's still a lot of hate for building more housing in smaller plots of land (like duplexes, apartments, condos). I kid you not, where my dad lives (mostly in a retirement area) there are still heavy resistance for Non-SFH development since people do think that duplexes/apartments = Section 8/Black People/Democrat Housing. This make sense since where my dad lives is a heavily White/GOP voting block (and voting data in FL shows that those who live in SFH are most likely to vote Republican and those who live in apartments are most likely to vote Democrat). Since Americans love SFH too much, it is one reason of many reasons why the housing storage is a major problem and it will only get worse in FL. Not everyone needs a SFH.

It's bad most of the US since we need more/less a car to get anywhere. Here in Jax, FL it is one of the worse cities for bikes on the road since we drive like shit (like most of the US). Tons of bikers get hit by cars and the drivers of the cars will blame the person who was on the bike for the accident. Even worse since FL is land of SFHs most roads don't have sidewalks (it is a way to keep property taxes lower for retirees on an income).

Speaking of TX and fat people, perfect video for everyone to watch!!!

One thing I missed about NYC: You need to walk around A LOT due to ease of public transportation. Helps lose weight as long as you are not over doing the caloric intake.

Never had a problem to cancel my PP membership when Covid started in person. My GF canceled her membership due to health issues during Covid via mail and they processed the cancelation within a few days. You just need to mail it to the club you go to visit.

I got back into PF (same for GF) since June 1st thanks to this thread and also I gotten fatter at 195 lbs (current near 192 lbs after 11 days). It is time to lose about 20-25 lbs off of me (and get closer to 36 waist size if I can) and I'm not getting any younger. Currently doing a calorie limit of around 1500-1700 cal per day with 9000 steps during a workout and 3 three days a week at PF for heavy cardio. Since I'm trying to lose weight, doing heavy cardio for now with limited weights. As I get closer to my weight goal then I'll review and focus on what muscle I would like to build on.

PF (like any gym) requires a goal that you need to follow (plus a heavy mental game). If you don't have both, you are fucked.

 

As much as I would like to have a car in the near future because convenience I would only keep one if necessary for work and/or family.

I prefer a moped (50 cc), motor-scooter (125-500 cc generally) or motorcycle. In fact every new driver should first spend at least 2 weeks to 4 weeks on a motorcycle or moped.

Why? Learn to appreciate your blinkers, your mirrors, checking your tire pressure, grip (both road and your tire) and oil level. Additionally you recognise the dangerous drivers and you learn to avoid danger in all kinds of situations. When you are almost invisible on the road you have to learn skills to let idiot drivers know that you are there.

I am so used to the chaos in Amsterdam now, I sometimes feel like a Mongoose or Honey-Badger. When an idiot driver acts stupid and I might be in danger I will make others notice the idiot. Stare the idiot down, use the horn, point and signal to the others. Only my helmet really protects me, one accident above 50-ish KM per hour/35-ish Miles per hour and I am already in danger.

Do you know who are the most dangerous road users in the summer? The wannabe Lance Armstrongs on the skinny bicycles. I am not joking. Even as a cyclist I hated them and I still hate them. They are worse than Tesla drivers. Yes, the wannabe Lance Armstrongs are worse than Tesla drivers.

 

Yep. While in North America and Europe a lot of this century's increased electricity generation has been achieved with wind and solar, that hasn't been the case globally:



So while its proportion in the global generation mix has slightly declined, coal, the least efficient fuel, has become the greatest contributor to emissions:



If global electricity demand accelerates, this pattern will be reinforced because the cost to transition to clean energy is higher in poorer countries.

Figure SPM.7 of the latest IPCC synthesis report's Summary for Policymakers tells the story: compare the estimated potential emission reductions from decarbonization of energy supply (top panel of part a) vs the estimates from potential demand reductions (part b).

Bottom line: yes, electrify; but also - reduce f'ing consumption!

 

I love trains, I've taken the train from Vancouver to Toronto twice, 3.5 days!! I liked taking trains and subways in cities I have lived in, Tokyo, Toronto (apparently they think it's the centre of the Canadian universe), and Vancouver.

 

Oh how I wish...

That bikers in this country had that comprehension. Here, it is necessarily for others to realise that they have no comprehension of safety or danger, and that we must keep them alive. Actually, "we" even includes other 2-wheelers!

Add to this that motorbikes are considered cheap family transport. There may be three, four or more, aboard; there may be a babe in arms.

/Indian-driver-rant

 

In the Netherlands there are severe rules and insurance policies. When you as a driver with a driver's license f**k up, there are serious consequences. Once you have your vehicule, you have insurance, road tax, maintenance, survival in traffic and literally keeping your driver's license to think about.

Having a driver's license and knowing how to get from A to B without drama makes you mobile, gets you jobs and creates opportunities. Smooth drivers are valuable in all kinds of industries and/or sectors.

 

Yes, I'm British, and used to such a culture. But I have not driven there for over 15 years. I'd probably be awful now!

 

https://floridapolitics.com/archive...l-banning-most-direct-to-consumer-auto-sales/

I so “love” my state at times….

 

Not allowed to drive due to eyesight problems but i’m quite happy with the infrastructure here. I can get everywhere on a bike or by train/tram.
The way we built the bike friendly infrastructure here is by good planning, whenever a street was up for repavement or retiling there were guidelines in place. Over the past several decades i’ve seen the streets being updated bit by bit with special bike lanes, crossings for pedestrians and cyclists etc.