Random Sputterings: 12/18/2001

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by MaggieL
Well, you're *certainly* welcome to go back to *koff* St. Louis. You won't even have to worry about us gun nuts, since St. Louis all by itself killed Second Amendment rights for the rest of the state. :-)

No thanks, I like Philadelphia.

Okay Maggie, let's try again. The second amendment is alive and well, contrary to the notions of some. The state of Missouri voted against repealing the ban on concealed weapons in early 1999. As a whole, the ban was upheld by about 10% or so. The reason it was upheld is primarily thanks to residents in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, where the voting ranged from 4-1 to 9-1 in favor of upholding the ban.

Now then, someone in that state had to take the lead. With the exception of a few spots, that state lacks solid intelligence outside St. Louis (and maybe...MAYBE Kansas City). I don't trust Missourians to carry concealed weapons...period. If St. Louis City and County didn't take steps, then who?

That being said, I had no problem with Marylanders carrying concealed weapons. *shrugs*

Now...back to the topic at hand.

I know several lovely people who have lived in the KOP area for longer than you have. And I'm sure you and others that have lived out there for 20-30 years moved out there for whatever reason...possibly b/c it was near the sticks and more peaceful and offered what you were looking for in an area to live. The mall is nice, the area has lots of jobs in it, etc. If you love living there, hey, more power to you. As I stated, I hate KOP. To me it represents all that is wrong with suburbia. Of course, I am not a fan of suburbia at all, but that is just me. Lots of people hate the city. *shrugs* We all live and coexist peacefully.

The layout and connectivity of the major highways in KoP cannot be understood by non-natives, and no signage known to man will help. The problem is the confluence of the PA Turnpike, the Schyulkyl Expressway, US 202 and US 422, aided and abetted by a near-miss by US 30.

The week before I left, they opened the new 76 ramps from NB 202. In turn, they closed off the entrance to our building (on S. Warner Rd.) and moved it over to Devon Park Dr. It was much easier to get onto 76 using the new system (although the ramp makes you feel that you're driving to the middle of nowhere), although it didn't help me much. I took the Tpk, and since they closed the NB 202 onramp at Warner Rd., I had to drive over by the mall to catch the Tpk. Although, in the morning, I could avoid 202 altogether by quickly getting off at N. Gulph Rd. and going up Guthrie Rd.

I feel for the folks that take the 124 bus to my old job, especially when the Warner Rd. overpass closes early next year.