6/20    I am on travel for work in Santa Clara from LA. I haven't actually
        spent time down here (as opposed to Berkeley/SF) in about 12 years.
        I have some questions and observations:
        1. Why do people drive so slow here? The freeway is wide open and
           people still go 65 in general.
           \_ It's the cultural thing.  In other countries, you can get
              onto a freeway and take your sweet time to get to the cruising
              speed in 20 seconds and no one is going to complain.
           \_ On average people in LA drive a lot longer per commute than
              people in N Cal. LA is much bigger with much more suburbs and
              the highways are much more congested, so people tend to drive
              in a way that minimized their time in traffic (as fast as
              possible). Secondly LA has a Hummer/SUV/49er/I-love-foot-ball/my
              bling bling is bigger/better/faster than you culture and people
              have a tendency to drive a bit above speed limit (80-85 over the
              70mph limit) vs. N Cal where they're driving at the speed limit.
              In the end, time is money, and people will do what they can to
              save time.
              \_ Like none of this is true in the bay area?  Riiiiiight.
           \_ Sometimes a Prius ends up in the fast lane.
           \_ Probably because it's not rush hour, and those that need to rush
              to work usually drive during rush hour.
           \_ I moved recently from SF to LA. I think it's more that people
              in LA drive so fast and aggressively and have no patience.
              This is the West Coast - we're all supposed to be laid back
              I thought.
              \_ Maybe, but if the lanes are open then why not go 80-85?
                 \_ If your average commute is only 15-25min a day (typical
                    Bay Area commute), the time savings between 65 and 85 is
                    minimal (with local traffic dominating your commute time).
                    So people just don't rush the way they do in LA. On the
                    other hand if you live in shitty suburbs like Riverside,
                    Azusa, Ontario, and the rest of the Inland Empire where
                    you need to spend 2-4 hours a day on shitty highways like
                    605 210 110 5 101 405 while you inhale dirty LA smog, then
                    yes, there is a lot more incentive to buy a nice comfy
                    luxurious car and try to go 80-85 when it is possible to
                    do so.
                    \_ They *do* go 85 here.  Which freeways have you been
                       driving where they drive slower when there's open
                       road?
                       \_ 101 and 280 so far.
                        \_ People driving slow on 280?  Damn last time
                           I was on 280 I was driving 85 and I was
                           the slowest car on the road.
                           \_ Dunno what to tell you. I have yet to be
                              passed by anyone the entire time I have
                              been here on any road.
                              \_ and I'm sure you have a large penis
                                 \_ Not that I drive crazy fast. Everyone
                                    else is just stuck at the speed limit.
                                    Unheard of.
                 \_ Lots of cops.
                 \_ People here have a higher interest in perserving their
                    lives.
                 \_ Just because somebody *can* do something, it doesn't mean
                    they will or should do it. I'm finding the mentality of LA
                    drivers annoying.
                 \_ I have no idea where you're all getting the idea that LA
                    drivers are one iota different than SF Bay Area drivers.
           \_ oh, I dont know, maybe it has something to do with the SPEED
              LIMIT?
              \_ What's that? It's annoying. Today everyone was doing 40
                 on the expressway. I looked at the sign. Yep. 40 was the
                 speed limit. WTF is wrong with people here? Does going
                 45 scare you?
        2. What is that nasty smell? I thought it was my hotel, but I figured
           out it's the air. Is it the Bay? It smells like warm, stale,
           salty air. If it's the Bay, then why doesn't say, Marin smell
           like this? Is there some sort of plant nearby? I can't stand it.
           \_ Millions of unshowered people.
              \_ No, seriously. There is a foul stench in the air. Surely
                 I am not the only one to notice this.
                 \_ Where? There are garbage dumps, salt ponds, and a couple
                    sewage facilities along the bay. Some parts of Milpitas
                    smell really bad.
              \_ salt flats, they can smell really nasty if you're downwind of
                 them.
           \_ It is pretty amusing that someone from the Inland Empire is
              complaining about Bay Area air quality.
              \_ 1. I'm not from the IE.
                 2. Nowhere in LA smells bad like this unless there's
                    some sort of industry nearby. It permeates everything.
        3. Where is everyone? With about 100 Fortune 1000 companies nearby,
           I expected to see a lot of hustle and bustle in the mornings.
           It's like a ghost town. This is true for Mountain View, San
           Jose, and so on. Not just Santa Clara. Lots of massive office
           parks and not a person to be seen. Even the highways are
           relatively empty.
           \_ Everyone got laid off in 2001.  Anyone who didn't now does the
              work of 4 people.
           \_ Which freeway were you on? There are tons of people on 85.
              101 also clogs up beginning in the afternoon. There are tons
              of people at certain hotspots... like Valley Fair/Santana Row
              or Mtn View Castro St. There are a lot of dumpy areas that
              nobody wants to hang around in.
           \_ You should be used to this, coming from LA. Everyone gets
              in their cars, drives to their destination, which is behind
              a wall or smokey glass, then drives to their next destination.
              There is no public space. If you want to see people, go to
              the mall. This is just like LA, btw, except for the beach.
              Welcome to the suburbs, where you don't have to interact
              with anyone who is not exactly like you!
        4. One more: Why does Live105 play almost exactly the same music
           they did 12 years ago? I've listened to a few hours' worth at
           various times of day and it's not that the music is bad, but
           I'd say that only about 1/8 songs is actually newer than 5
           years old. The DJs are hideous, BTW.
           \_ Does LA have good radio stations? They have always been
              shit and always play the same limited genres ad nauseum.
              \_ No, LA has bad radio statons except for KKJZ. However,
                 they do play music from year 2006 and 2007. I appreciate
                 LA radio a lot more now.
                 \_ BTW, today's big ticket giveaways were Bob Saget
                    and NASCAR. On Live105. That is very scary.
                    \_ Bob Saget is actually pretty hilarious when he's not on
                       some family show like AFV or Full House. His bit in
                       The Aristocrats was the best.
                       \_ Yeah, yeah. He's foul-mouthed. How about tickets
                           to, I dunno, a show?
           \_ Live 105 is owned by CBS, thus is incapable of innovation.  -tom
           \_ Zombies.  They took over the radio stations years ago but no one
              noticed.