Daily Archives: 7/3/2017

Wheels of Industry

A happy thing…

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Like many Americans, I have a daily commute to work. It’s seventeen miles by my odometer.

Every morning I’m on the road by 0630, sometimes fifteen minutes sooner, but I’m on the road.

And I live on the wrong side of the river. You see, MY side of the river has most of the major petrochemical plants that employ THOUSANDS of people. They’re on the road at the same time of day with the same goal – get to work.

Except they’re on the OTHER side of the river.

The ‘river’ in question is the Calcasieu River, and it’s a deepwater ship channel. To get from one side to the other requires driving over either of two bridges, both 130 feet over the river. Both four lanes. Both steep.

Here’s a map:

Almost everybody on the road at 0630 is going west. I’m going east. They have almost bumper to bumper traffic on a GOOD day. There are a lot of ‘not good’ days. Those steep bridges are Darwinian in weeding out mechanically unsuitable vehicles. A stalled car? Traffic backs up for miles. A wreck? Even more miles.

Those who find out soon enough alter their routes to try the unblocked bridge. That backs up the traffic on THAT bridge, people get a bit antsy, and BUMP! – that bridge is blocked too.

the best part? I am going in the opposite direction. Traffic going from west to east is sparse. Once I’m on the east side of the river, I’m going south. The major traffic flow is going north to the Interstates. Again, I win.

And that’s just one more reason to reach work with a smile on my face.

History

Today in History – July 3

1775 – American Revolutionary War: George Washington takes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

1863 – U.S. Civil War: The final day of the Battle of Gettysburg culminates with Pickett’s Charge. When General Lee told General Pickett to rally his division for defense afterward, Picket replied, “General Lee, I have no division.”. His command had suffered over 50% casualties.

1886 – Karl Benz officially unveils the Benz Patent Motorwagen – the first purpose-built automobile. Can’t be sold in the US because it doesn’t meet emissions and safety standards.

1886 – The New York Tribune becomes the first newspaper to use a linotype machine, eliminating typesetting by hand. Linotype actually cast the words to be printed in blocks of a lead alloy. The lead alloy is particularly useful for casting lead bullets, but the days of hauling it off for the price of cheap scrap are over.

1898 – Spanish-American War: The Spanish fleet, led by Pascual Cervera y Topete, is destroyed by the U.S. Navy in Santiago, Cuba.

1938 – World speed record for a steam railway locomotive is set in England, by the Mallard, which reaches a speed of 126 mph.(203 km/h)

1940 – World War II: In confusion of its status between “surrender” and “collaborate”, the French fleet of the Atlantic based at Mers el Kébir, is bombarded by the British fleet, coming from Gibraltar, causing the loss of three battleships: Dunkerque, Provence and Bretagne. One thousand two hundred sailors perish. France gets its butt kicked by BOTH sides in WW II. Medals? Nobody’s gotten a medal for sinking the French Navy since Lord Nelson.

1952 – The SS United States sets sail on her maiden voyage to Southampton. During the voyage, the ship takes the Blue Riband away from the RMS Queen Mary, averaging 34.91 knots for the trip. That’s almost forty miles per hour, not bad at all for over 53,000 tons.

1969 – Space Race: The biggest explosion in the history of rocketry occurs when the Soviet N-1 rocket explodes and subsequently destroys its launchpad. Now these are the only people who can transport us to the space station.

1979 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” ..until THAT enemy is gone…

1986 – US President Ronald Reagan presides over the relighting of the renovated Statue of Liberty.

1994 – The deadliest day in Texas traffic history, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Forty six people are killed in crashes. Contrary to what many believe, this is NOT the day Chrissy got her driver’s license. THAT was the PREVIOUS worst day.

2013 – Egyptian coup d’état: President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi is overthrown by the military after four days of protests all over the country calling for Morsi’s resignation, to which he didn’t respond. President of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt Adly Mansour is declared acting president. Because the Left’s “Arab Spring” was all about freedom and democracy, right?