jcm's blog

So, I should warn you ahead of time. This is a rant.

Yesterday, it was sunny afternoon, so I decided to go out to the store and pick up a few items. The evening before, I had parked my car on the street (for which I have a valid, official Cambridge City permit to do so) but I now decided to park it back at my apartment for a few minutes in order to empty the trunk of some trash, and so forth. The car was parked opposite my apartment building, on the opposite side of the road, about 10 yards from the parking lot. I started the engine, signalled and turned out, crossed the central yellow line as if almost making a U-turn and then turned into my apartment parking lot.

That would be the precise moment when an apparently off-duty Cambridge cop was out walking with his kid and witnessed my (apparently) “heinous” activity of turning my car into the parking lot. I heard a voice say “stop right there”, and a badge flash, and wondered what the heck I could have done wrong. The guy said something like “you know you can’t cross the yellow line”, but only after barking at me for a while. He threatened to call his buddies and have them come give me a ticket if I didn’t go back out and drive down the road and around the block and “do it again”. Since I was in a rush, caught off guard, and couldn’t be entirely sure I wasn’t being singled out for being made an “example” of, I decided the easiest thing was to comply and get away from the guy. That took 10 minutes, because going around the block takes you onto one way streets and several traffic systems that force an (involved) detour.

Now, I could at this point make jokes about doughnuts, or suggest that there are bigger fish to fry than some guy who *might* be violating some parking regulation on a Saturday afternoon. But I also *knew* that I wasn’t violating the law. I know this, because I read the Massachusetts General Laws when I’m bored or just because I’m inclined to do that kind of thing – I especially read certain parts of the traffic code when I went to traffic court earlier this year to successfully contest a citation. I’m talking about Chapter 89 of the Mass. General Laws, which define standard driving practice. They not only specifically do NOT exclude one from making a legal U-turn in the road under certain conditions, but also specifically DO cover the case of allowing one to cross a central dividing line in order to turn into a “private way”. Those regulations allow cities such as the City of Cambridge to enact certain rules, such as those codified into the City of Cambridge Traffic and Parking Regulations.

Article IV of those regulations, entitled “Turning Movements”, clearly states that:

“The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street in a business district and shall not upon any other street so turn a vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic”.

Well, according the latest official City of Cambridge Zoning Map, I live in a C-1 district, which means “Residence C-1″ – that is to say I do not live nor had parked my car in a business district and thus was not subject to the limitation on turning my car at the time. The road was also clear of traffic at the time, and was not on a hill or otherwise subject to obstructions prohibiting an entirely legal “U-turn” (even though that’s not exactly what I was doing – I merely made most of a U-turn as I pulled into the private way where I live). I was therefore not in violation of either Chapter 89 of the Massachusetts General Laws, or of the City of Cambridge Traffic and Parking Regulations at the time. Whatever law this guy thought he might have known, I have no idea. And, having checked it, I’m certain he was incorrect.

What I did yesterday in moving my car 10 yards on a public right of way was completely legal under the laws of Massachusetts, and also under the laws of anyone’s common sense, as I have now proven to myself by checking the regulations. I wanted to do this first, just in case this guy decides to harass me in future – in which case I will file a complaint with the Cambridge Police Review and Advisory Board. I suggest they consider advising their officers to go out and enforce the law, not annoy the local residents going about their lawful business on a Saturday afternoon.

Jon.

So, it’s been a year since I wrote what is now part one of this HOWTO guide. I was a little younger and somewhat more naive about New England winter driving at that point, which means it’s now addendum time.

Required items:

* Blizzak LM-25 High Performance Sports Car Winter Tires
* Face mask
* Gloves (Summit Ascent)
* Mountaineering jacket
* Shovel (plastic)
* Yaktrax

Photo: Blizzak LM-25 High Performance Sports Car Winter Tires

The first thing you need to know about New England weather (in winter especially) is that it can really suck big donkey balls. Unlike the near perfection that is California, it’s quite common to have huge snowstorms that begin as regular storms sweeping across the country (or up the Eastern coast – colloquially referred to as a “nor’ easter”) and wind up dumping snow as they reach the North East and mix with our air fronts. Using the latest storm as an example, we had around 14 inches of snow dumped on us over this weekend – most of which came on Friday, but rounds two (and even three) are underway at the moment.

Photo: empeg Linux car stereo system

At times such as these, the Cities of Boston, Cambridge, and their dependents (Somerville, Medford, Brookline, etc.) will declare a “snow emergency” – as witnessed by the emergency blue beacons that will flash all around town. Snow plows are dispatched in earnest, and an entire industry specializing in snow dispersal is activated. These guys are highly efficient, as is the city in towing your car if you leave it in their way (don’t park on any street with those red “snow emergency” signs erected). At times such as these the parking in various public places becomes free – for example, Cambridgeside Galleria Mall – in case you get stuck.

Photo: Trixie the MX5 covered in snow

This time last year, I had the somewhat foolish notion that I might be able to drive at this time. How bad could it really be, I pondered? I quickly discovered that low profile summer sport tires aren’t such a good idea. I was able to get out of the parking lot (just) but wasn’t able to go more than a block without having to turn around. I think I said many things about New England weather that can’t be repeated in polite company, but suffice it to say I was pretty miserable without my car for much of the winter snow. On the days when it didn’t snow and I did venture out, I was able to experience such joys as getting stuck on ice.

Since last year, I’ve learned a few things. One of the first purchases of the season was a complete set of Blizzak LM-25s, mounted on a second set of smaller rims (affording greater contact with the snow than the low-profile variants). These are seriously high performance snow tires (the best on the market), of the kind you need if you’re going to try driving a rear-wheel drive lightweight sports car on a weekend such as this. I stayed in on Friday during the main snowstorm, but decided to venture out on Saturday for a test drive. I really am that annoyed at the weather here that something had to be done about it this year.

Photo: Trixie the MX5 after de-snowing

Despite (or one might rather say, in spite of) the snow, I was able to drive around without much interruption, and without skidding and sliding everywhere – the same cannot be said of other vehicles on the road (of which I was the smallest, by a fairly sizable margin) – and nearly made it to Ikea before we decided we weren’t really all that desperate to get there. Today, I drove all over town – between the snow plows – getting coffee, picking up a few things, ferrying others around, and for a good workout. I seem to be able to cope with up to 2-3 inches of snow without a big problem, and my car can tolerate several inches more before requiring a little more effort – this is mainly an issue entering/exiting driveways.

Photo: Yaktrax Professionals installed on older shoes

The snow is annoying, but so is being cold. For that, I strongly recommend mountaineering equipment (I’m a delicate flower when I’m going out in search of coffee). I generally wear the kind of gloves and face mask that you’d wear climbing Mt. Washington when shoveling snow out of the parking lot (recommendation: use plastic shovels, not metal ones – you think it’s environmentally better, but unfortunately they break. Live with the oil use). I also have taken to wearing Yaktrax Professionals that I’ve semi-permanently fitted to an older pair of shoes. These are essentially chains for your shoes, and they allow me to run in snow without fear of slipping and skidding. Definitely come in recommended and can be worn while driving. (ab)using old shoes and keeping another (identical) pair in the trunk to change into if absolutely necessary prevents the annoyance of repeated removal/re-application. You just have to careful not to slip indoors.

In summary, fuck the New England winter. Fuck it very very hard. While I eagerly await spring, I shall continue to stick my non-frozen fingers up at this weather. Oh dearest California (San Francisco especially), I miss you so very much. I look forward to seeing you again soon, and enjoying your golden glow.

Jon.

Today, this great nation that we call home has a choice. You have a choice. Whether to extend the reign of King Bush by another 4 years (8 once McCain starts another war and people pander to another extension next time around) or to cast out these unethical, immoral leaders and elect someone who will create lasting change. For all Americans.

John McCain represents not only more of the same, but more of the same established order. He doesn’t care about low income families, John McCain doesn’t care about social programs, education, or even healthcare, and he doesn’t care about you. Just listen to his latest speeches and count the times he mentions education and healthcare (hint: zero). Things that actually matter, not pointless wars in countries not posing a threat to us. When was the last time the US was invaded or attacked by Iraq? When was the last time a child in a low income neighbourhood was failed by the American educational system? When was the last time a family in *America* had to file for bankruptcy because their healthcare costs forced them into a corner?

America: the rest of the world is still laughing at us, and has been for 8 long years. They know (through their less biased, more factual news networks) how bad George Bush and his cronies have really been for this country and for the wider world. A vote for John McCain is not only an endorsement of the Bush era, but a vote for an extension of it. Now is the time to vote against Bush, Cheney, Palin, and McCain. Only you can make a difference by actually voting. Go out, find your polling station, and cast your vote. If there’s a problem, cast a provisional ballot instead.

DO IT. Don’t just think about doing it, go out and exercise your constitutional rights. Your employer has an obligation to accommodate your constitutional rights also. Don’t let John McCain win the White House because of apathy or mere assumption. VOTE.

Jon.

So John McCain just announced Palin as his running mate, in a room packed with pasty blandly dressed white middle class men (and women) – average collective IQ of 50 – to rousing cheers of “USA, USA, USA”.

I wish I could understand why people would care solely about military service and joining the army – which topics covered most of the speech given by Palin just now. Rather than focus on actual issues, once again it’s a case of milking that military ticket for all it’s worth. And the neanderthals in the audience seemed to love it…so good for them. Because that’s really going to make a difference to the economy, poor state of education in this country, lack of quality healthcare for the poor…oh wait, they don’t care. They don’t get it, every bit as much as McCain doesn’t get it himself. And Palin is but a poor shill.

Contrast McCain and Palin with the powerful speech given by Obama last night. There’s a smart guy. A loving family man who “gets it” and has more than a one-trick military pony up his sleeve. Sure, it’d be good for his electoral chances if he’d happened to have been in the military, but in the real world elected officials also need to be in touch with the electorate and deal with real world issues – something that’s hard to do if you can’t even remember how many houses you own today. I recorded Obama’s speech (and Gore’s) and then re-watched both many times over. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so convinced that one man could change the US for the better.

Obama almost brought a tear to my eye last night. If he actually pulls it off in November, I think I’ll be on cloud nine until January.

Jon.