The Right to Make A Right

No, I haven't become an ultra-conservative. I'm talking about making a right-hand turn while DRIVING in Philadelphia. Having lived in L.A. for so long really puts a magnifying glass on the problem and I've come to the conclusion that if there's one major difference between Philly and the rest of the civilized world, it's this issue.  Now the way I understand it is...

During the late 70's or early 80's, Mayor Frank Rizzo was famously opposed to allowing right hand turns while the light was red at any intersction. However, after a major campaign by the public and his own city council, he was reluctantly persuaded to abolish the "No Right Turn on Red" law. Finally, after years of having to wait until the light turns green to make a right hand turn at an intersection, Rizzo at long last agreed to allow drivers, after first looking both ways, checking the rearview and both side mirrors, using extreme caution and unless a posted sign said otherwise, to make a legal right hand turn at their discretion! Oh joy. Oh, happy day.

Unfortunately what came next was unprecedented, unnecessary, and IMHO, mind-numbingly stupid (I thought so then, and I think so now)... He ordered a "NO TURN ON RED LIGHT" sign put up on practically EVERY street corner of the city. Since there weren't enough of these signs in existence, it gave the prison inmates something to do for a while, and that's about the best I can say about this idiotic decision. Seriously, I have no idea what the cost to make and install these signs cost the city of Philadelphia, but he may as well have just flushed that cash down a toilet. And not only was it a waste of time and money, but to this day, the signs remain a major inconvenience and waste of time for Philly's motorists.

Some of these signs, to be sure, are located at intersections where they make sense. Near schools, major arteries, shopping centers, expressway entrances, etc. But the vast majority are at intersections where traffic is slow, have high visibility and in many instances, aren't even full intersections (e.g. T-crossing, driveway entrance, very minor intersections). It's an insult to our intelligence to be forced to sit and wait for a light to turn green before making a right when it's perfectly safe and no one's on the road for miles.

I say, the time has come for a revolt on this issue. Let's get a NEW campaign started to uproot about three-quarters of the signs now holding up Philadelphia drivers and productivity.

Honk if you agree.

It's Late, I'm Tired and I Just Started This Blog

I've always wanted to write a book about some of the things I witnessed as a bartender in Los Angeles, some of the conversations I've been privy to, restaurants I've discovered, gems of wisdom derived from my experiences on the way to losing most of my hair, etc.

So. Anyway, as I was saying... My first choice was to write a book, entitled "Tales From The Bar Side", but I didn't want to go through all the hassle of finding a publisher, a literary agent, publicist, and whatever being an author entails (I'll talk more about this in a blog about procrastination). I just like to write and I have a whole shitload of stuff in my cranium waiting to be spewed out. I have no idea in what order these things will emerge from the storage units inside my head. My only hope is that I have something relevant to say to someone, somewhere, and that my sense of humor shines through as well.

Every so often, I'll get on my soapbox about something. I don't whine often*, but when I do, I'm painfully aware that I'm doing it, but, like everyone else, I need to vent from time to time, so I apologize in advance for those particular blogs when they end up here among my little vignettes. I'll try to inject some humor into those occasional tirades as well - although I'm sure it will come out as my trademark sarcasm.

Lastly, let me just say this - I am NOT a Tweeter. I'm far too verbose to confine myself to short phrases several times a day to express myself or keep friends and fans posted as to where I'm eating a donut. Nope... I'm afraid I need to BLOG. Stay tuned.

*Some people think I do... screw 'em! This is whining...