Birthdays, Birthdays. First, happy birthday to sethcohen, estherchaya‘s hubby. If you haven’t responded to my Favorite Birthday Song Poll, please do so. The results are quite fascinating. It seems no one likes the traditional versions, and I’m the only one channeling Sheriff John!
Interstate 9 in Your Future? According to Andy Field of AAroads, the Master Plan for the California 99 Corridor identifies California 99 from Interstate 5 at Wheeler Ridge north to California 4 at Stockton, along with California 4 between California 99 and Interstate 5 as Future Interstate 9, although this could change. Note that such a designation would force the renumbering of the current Route 9, which runs from Route 1 near Santa Cruz to Route 17 near Los Gatos via Waterman Gap and Saratoga Gap and along the ridge between the San Lorenzo and Pescadero Creeks. Andy noted the likely reason that Route 99 doesn’t continue as I-9 into Sacramento: the remaining portion of Route 99 is supposedly not up to interstate standards. He noted that in order for this designation to happen, a waiver would have to be issued, or else someone would have to pay billions ($5 to $8 billion has been tossed around) to bring California 99 to modern Interstate standards. The biggest issue is bridge height, but there are plenty of other issues with California 99 becoming Interstate 9. My opinion: Don’t bother. It seems like a lot of effort to just bring an interstate to Fresno, and I’m not sure that primary interstate numbers (1 or 2 digit) should be used for solely internal state routes. What’s wrong with California 99?
Paper or Plastic. The Daily News is reporting (but I’ve also seen the story in the Los Angeles Times) that Los Angeles is also considering charging for plastic grocery bags in supermarkets, just like San Francisco. Now, I’m all for encouraging folks for use paper bags. But how would this work, as you don’t know the number of bags used until the order is packed? Does this mean you can’t total the order until bagging is complete? And what about all of those self-service checkouts we’re now seeing in places like Ralphs or Home Depot. Are you trusting the consumer to tell you the number of bags. It would seem to be more feasible to just have a general surcharge for plastic over paper… and charge this to the store, which might make the paper more competitive with the plastic. What do you think?
The Buffy Meme. There’s a meme going around about which Buffy character you are. You won’t see me doing that one, simply because the only time I watched Buffy was for the musical episode, which was great. I think all shows should be mandate to do at least one musical episode. I know that Drew Carey and Gilligan did it. Wouldn’t a CSI musical be great? ER? Law and Order? Enterprise 
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Weekend Planning. This is a theatre weekend: We’re seeing Anna and the Tropics at the Pasadena Playhouse on Saturday, and Pippin on Sunday. So, it should be busy, busy, busy.
Now, to work. I’ve got my focus in my shirt pocket, so I know where it is, unless it falls out when I bend over.
Note: This entry was originally posted on Observations Along The Road (on cahighways.org) as this entry by California Highway Guy. You may comment either here or there (where there are 
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