For 14 years I had a 15 minute commute to work. For the next 3 years I had a 35 minute commute. For the last 8 years I’ve had a one hour or more commute. I knew I’d eventually become a 1 percenter. But I thought it would be a different 1%.
You will find more statistics at Statista
I get a rise in a rickshaw every morning. I ask the puller to take the long way so I have more time with my concubine.
Here in Minneapolis they have fucked up the streets with bike lanes and traffic calming – all for 0.6% of the people! Also since it’s 6 months of winter a year, nobody bikes in the winter – except for a couple of nut jobs.
They just recently completed a Light Rail between Mpls – St Paul at a cost of over a billion dollars. Put it right down the middle – on grade – and fucked up a major urban street. This little project cost over $1 billion. The joke is it makes 27 stops in about 6 miles! It takes over an hour to go from Mpls to St Paul. But hell they don’t care – not about the motorists or the FSA who will ride this train.
All this for 5.2% of the population.
I forgot to say that the fares are subsidized by tax dollars. The ridership doesn’t pay a large percentage of the costs – cause if the fares would actually support the operation – nobody would ride! Talk about fucked up logic.
Besides rush hour – the three car trains are mostly empty – wonder how much energy that takes to haul 20 passengers with a 3 car train?
I’d like to see a kilowatt or BTU per passenger mile. Auto’s may be more energy efficient than LRT.
Admin,
I am with you1 hour plus, often time 1 1/2 hours. I usually work until 6 PM because getting on the highway at 5 going south is a complete waste of time, I may as well work. More awesome when the Pats play on a Monday or Thursday as the town I live in is next door usually makes the drive 2 plus hours. They have been “improving” the stretch of 128 that I drive for over 5 years, so much the better. Now with winter coming I can be sure that the inclement weather will only help.
Love my commute,
Bob.
Dutchman, on the Metro “Green Line”. I think it cost almost $2 bil, but who’s counting – except you & me? It runs in the exact same spot as the ol’ #16 bus, but takes longer, costs more and destroyed a major road.
Since I’m retired and live only 7/10ths of a mile from the golf club, the average time from my garage to the club parking lot is a brutal 90 seconds. If I hit the one traffic light, it jumps to 2 minutes. The stress is unbearable. Heh.
SSS,
For 2 years I worked in Harwichport on the Cape, 96 miles each way. God I miss that commute.
I followed my boss to another company and ended up working in Mashpee, cut my commute to 75 miles, so much the better.
Bob.
1 hour and 25 minutes tonight. I bet that pushes me into the 1%.
I’ve been working from home for the past year. My commute is about 25 feet unless I go downstairs to make a pot of coffee on my way to work. I guess that makes me in the 4%.
Like HS, I walk out the door to work.
Maybe someday when I grow up I’ll get a real job and have to drive there. Or not.
EF
For me 65 minutes each way at 75 mph, not so bad.
“Like HS (Hardscrabble Farmer), I walk out the door to work. Maybe someday when I grow up I’ll get a real job and have to drive there. Or not.”
—-efarmer
Pls don’t ever quit. Bedrock of civilization – farmers and soldiers.
“Long hours of commuting, especially if you’re driving, is associated with high blood pressure, musculoskeletal disorders, increased anger and resentment at work, absenteeism, lateness, and an ability to concentrate and perform to the same standards as those who live in much closer proximity to the workplace. Long commutes can also increase the risk of heart attacks, flu, depression etc.”
Admin – I know you say you cannot change this situation, and you have responsibilities – that is commendable. But the commute is doing you no good whatsoever. Life is way too short for that shit.
And your plan to work to 62 and then drop dead still sucks.
I know (knew) a lot of folks your age and younger, and your age to 62, who have dropped dead. One such was our dear friend AWD, who was the picture of health.
Avalon will support you in making a life change, I am sure of it. There has got to be some kind of better answer than working to 62 and then dropping dead – assuming you make it to 62.
If you drop dead from this shit, you know I will tell you I told you so.
llpoh
I didn’t start writing until I had a two hour daily commute. The road rage was channeled into this blog. Therefore, I owe it all to my commute. If I had a 10 minute daily commute, I’d be too happy and carefree to be pissed off about the world. I’d have to shut down the blog.
By the way, where is your damn article about your world excursion. I assume you’re back firing people again at the plant.
SSS – what about miners and manufacturers?
I am back, sort of. I am thinking about it. Gotta sort out the thoughts.
But to be honest, the comments by asshats like Chen, Billy, bb, the various dopplers of Billy and me, etc. I am seeing going up on Stuck’s posts and elsewhere has kinda put me off posting anything original.
Stuck (and you) put in a lot of effort writing or creating posts, then those dicks come along and fuck it up. It is a disgrace. Those fucks have never posted anything original, and they think it is appropriate to shit on the threads of folks that do.
As a rule and by tradition, we have tended to be respectful on the threads that consist of original work by you/TBPers (RE’s were the exception). Flamefests are generally reserved for non-original work. Even Smokey – as incendiary as he was – agreed with that.
But the dickwads mentioned above are destroying the original threads, and to be honest I do not really want to go through the effort of writing an article only to have those fucksticks shit on it. It is one thing to have a conversation/disagreement on those threads, but it is entirely another thing to have it fucked up with the shit I have been seeing.
I will work on the article, tho.
I went the exact opposite.
In the 80s and 90s my commute varied between 20 to 40 minutes each way. I lived in a small town that was about 20 miles from 3 major towns. The two years I worked east and went to school west were a bitch, but not awful.
Then I moved to De’toilet and found a job 45 minutes away – without traffic. I split my time between cities.
If I left my house at 6:55 or earlier, I would get to the office by 7:30ish (lead foot). If I left at 7 or later, I would not get to my western office until 8, the northern office would take until 9.
Pretty much the same coming home. Leave by 4:45 and be home by 5:30, leave at 5 and you wouldn’t see home until 6:30 or later.
So, I went in early and stayed late nearly everyday. Made a pact with my IT guy that he wouldn’t report on my computer activity outside business hours (as long as I didn’t report on his activity with not-his-wife-girl, on a desk, in my office, after business hours), but, was making huge money and usually just worked.
I hate traffic. It makes me angry, makes my head and stomach hurt, and can generally fuck up the world’s best day.
I’ve never understood why someone would trade easy time – sitting and reading a book, grabbing a coffee, working – with stuck in traffic, heart pounding, palms sweating, veins throbbing, anger and frustration and gas evaporation of driving during rush hours.
But, that’s just me.
And now my commute is less than 5 minutes (again, the freeway is re-opened! yea!) so the only frustrating, horrible, part of my day is actually arriving at work, not getting there.
“SSS – what about miners and manufacturers?”
—-Llpoh, in response to my comment that farmers and soldiers are the bedrock of civilization
Well, in very ancient societies, after farmers and soldiers (those who produce food and those who protect those who do), it gets complicated. I definitely would put miners and manufacturers next in older societies.
In modern civilization, the top of the heap goes to water and power utilities, which depend upon the previous four occupations. After that, it’s a food fight.
What about accountants?
When my feet hit the floor, I am at work.
I concur with llpoh about the site going downhill with billy the asshole commenting. He used to have something to say but it appears his cock holster has run the gamut.
“What about accountants?” (in the framework of important jobs in modern civilization)
—-Admin
I’ll take a discreet pass on answering that question. Mama didn’t raise no fools.
Llpoh says
“But to be honest, the comments by asshats like Chen, Billy, bb, the various dopplers of Billy and me, etc. I am seeing going up on Stuck’s posts and elsewhere has kinda put me off posting anything original.”
You have referred to a young woman as a ‘cunt’ in the comment section of this site. You wrinkly ol paper skinned injun, shame on you for trying to take the high road here.
“But to be honest, the comments by asshats like Chen, Billy, bb, the various dopplers of Billy and me, etc. I am seeing going up on Stuck’s posts and elsewhere has kinda put me off posting anything original.” ————- Llpoh
Yeah, it kinda does suck …. not when people respectfully disagree …. but just shit all over it. Sigh.
Thing is, there are often enough gracious and appreciative folks to make up for it.
Your “Llpoh stories” were a hit, and with lots of good comments. Be encouraged, old friend. I, and others, look forward to what you have to say about your European travels ……. A LOT!!
Just one word of advice ….. say nice things about Austria.
Take your time, and knock it out of the park, Chief!
“You have referred to a young woman as a ‘cunt’ in the comment section of this site.”
————- Stephanie Sheepdog
It was meant as a COMPLIMENT …. you cunt doppler.
Take NYC out of the public transportation and that 5.2% would drop like a rock. NYC subway and the suburban rail account for 70% of passenger rail traffic in the entire nation.
Thanks Stuck. Those pricks really should learn what is going on around here. They need to add something, which they are all capable of.
Burning Platform
Ed Perkins 9/30/14
To: Ed Perkins
Administrator, So what’s wrong with a long commute other than having to pay tolls and occasionally getting pissed off at traffic tieups and bad weather conditions.
All my working life I had short commutes (10 to 15 minutes) and virtually all that time was wasted. A quarter hour is too short a time to focus on anything but driving, the task at hand.
Occasionally I’d have to work outside the city where I lived. Then I could study (Books on Tape) and think. The enforced solitude was good for me. From your comment above I see your road time has been a benefit to you, too.
As for retiring at 62 or some other age… I say that flicking it in depends on a few factors. They are: 1) Do you have a fair amount of control over your work time and responsibilities? 2) Is your work interesting to you? 3) During your work day can you often generate an hour or two, and sometimes more, to spend as you choose? 4) Do you like the people you work with?
I say that the more control you have over your work and time and the more satisfaction you find from your job, the longer you should work. I knew a salesman who worked into his 90s; I know or have known lawyers who’ve worked well into their 70s or 80s; and I know business people who’ve never retired.
The keys are control and job satisfaction. If you have them, why quit doing something you enjoy?
Hardy har har llpoh. I’m afraid you can’t have it both ways.
What a strange community dynamic you gaggle of bored geezers want to protect.
In what sort of bizarre universe does it behoove elderly men to consider calling a young woman a ‘cunt’ as a compliment?
And please, tell me, what sort of environment would a dipshit like Billy be able to spew whatever diarrea comes to the top of his head whenever he feels like it? I’m afraid you’re standards might be too high for anonymous internet commentary. Certainly you don’t observe the own standards you’re insisting on here.
Ha!
By car 30 min by bike 25 min lots of stop lights no bike lanes
CA says: I concur with llpoh about the site going downhill with billy the asshole commenting. He used to have something to say but it appears his cock holster has run the gamut.
1. I did not get a copy of the rules when I signed on to the site.
2. CA, never heard of you, your a rookie as far as I’m concerned, Billy and I were having a discussion over word usage, to quote flash, it is up to you if you read or don’t. I don’t think you’ve been here long enough to judge Billy the way you do, unless he hurt your feelings or insulted your family, you don’t have a leg to stand on.
3. I understand that an artist can be jealous of his work and sensitive about criticism or if a row breaks out on his post, Sorry, Stuck, we acted like a bunch of Irishmen at a Xmas party.
4. LLPOH, I was more offended to think Stuck was taking sides than I was that Billy disagreed with me. I haven’t doppled you in forever, I’m just not good at doppling, my accent gives me away.
5. People always feel bad after a shitfest, I don’t know if you’ve been there but this was the scene at my humble abode after we destroyed Stuck’s post: Just look at what this wild man has written; he ought to be horse whipped and dragged behind a team of mules for five miles over that dirt road, said El Coyote, referring to the CBP road by the wall.
Chen said nothing, sitting morosely in front of the flatscreen pondering his fate at the hands of minimum wage orderlies.
Juan looked out the window, Nogales was cold this time of year, a little earlier than last year. He felt the draft under the door. He thought about the future, his future, would death find him comatose and unaware? Being cared for by those young men crawling under the steel fence behind his house. Perhaps death would feel cheated and leave, unwilling to take a victim who felt nothing, feared nothing; had nothing to lose.
It’s one thing to wish a person an early death – I’ve a few people in mind myself – but to wish them a death-like state before they die is abusive on top of nasty, continued El Coyote, Chen, you have to reply.
I don’t want to get in trouble. Already Stucky is telling me to cut out the horseshit. Said Chen.
Tell them I said, I propose, said El Coyote, correcting himself while waving his dirty paw in the air, removing people’s texting fingers so they can start communicating in intelligible words again. Unless they use filthy language, then they must also lose their tongue.
What about you, Coyote, you have used dirty language at times, said Juan, looking back at the room, at El Coyote who stood on two skinny hind legs.
Yes, and I must lose this long tongue of mine, which I’m willing to do so long as my proposal is taken seriously; I’m willing to lose this vestige of primitive communication like howling or grunting. Writing, pure unadulterated thought, is not to be besmirched with the sounds coming from a bacteria infested mouth and diseased tongue. I’m all for writing online, but not texting; those horrible adulterous contractions and acronyms that like a backdoor villain steal into the language to seduce the innocent and naïve with bad simulations of wit and ingenuity, said El Coyote.
Admin’s going to ban me for sure, moaned Chen. What’s going to happen to me then?
You’ll go to sleep, maybe dream electric dreams, dear boy. You’re nothing but a moniker, an invention of mine, as I am of Juan and he of someone we both have never met.
I love that stream of thought beaner shit!
I do not care if people flame to their hearts content. Just keep it off of the threads that contain original material created by Admin and the TBPers. People put in effort to create/write those threads. Save the flamefests for the other threads.
Fine.
Ok, no more doppling either.
Shitballs, ebola is in the US. I’m from Texas, but I ain’t going home for Thanksgiving this year.
Chen, Juan, Coyote
The three of you crack me up. Well done.
Stephanie Sheepdog
Can’t you just stay gone … for, like … forever?
“4. LLPOH, I was more offended to think Stuck was taking sides ..” ——- Chen the Burrito
Just to be clear, I was NOT taking sides. You’re both decent enough fellows, deep down where it counts. I was trying to talk sense to TWO people who I KNOW are better than what they were doing. I hope it worked ….
Now that the fuckin Chen has run off his insightful commentary, not really sure what he said, I can add his name to the list of peoples shit I no longer need to read.
I have been here much longer than you have and enjoy reading for knowledge and useful discussion. I have a list of people’s comments that I relate to, and it seems to be getting shorter all the time.
I only hope people like llpoh, stucky, and TE don’t tire of this site.
Really I expected a comment or two from Billy, not you.
Cheers
It was the weekend, very few peeps around, I was grateful for the response, any reply is better than feeling like being in the rubber room or solitary; this place is a ghost town on the weekends.
CA, very few understand what I say but when they do, I find they are very smart readers, I’m not saying I can tell they are smart and your not, I just mean that they sound smart and read smart, if that makes any sense to you. Besides, CA, you don’t vote, I usually only get one, maybe two thumbs up and I’m pretty sure it ain’t you. No big deal, Admin ain’t paying me, he claims he’s waiting on a big check from ZH.
Alas, pore sheepdog, I like his sense of humor but that’s been shoved of to some reservation – somewhere where Clammy posts and only every third Friday of the month if there’s a full moon and Llpoh’s company is in the black and not bleeding red ink.
Lipoh ,you pussy.Grow a set .No one has ever showed me a rule book either.
Odelay Chen. I’ve got yer back.
Stucky- Forgive me if I take your opinion here rather lightly. You are the one who told Billy the Raging Dipshit, “There will be no making up after this…..NONE”, and then 16 hours later you said on another post, “Billy, we’re on the same page here…as usual.’ That’s just weird, something like beaten wife syndrome, and you do it weekly.
Yes, Sheepdog, but if you’ll notice his efforts at reconciliation, that’s the best intervention since SMS Ivan Crane, it’s great. Sometimes he makes it look so easy that like a good ballerina, you might think you too could do a pirouette easily.