Babs Johnson
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2015
Maryland has the most narrow part of any state. It is less than two miles from West Virginia to Pennsylvania, with Maryland in between, at the town of Hancock.
The Chesapeake bay of Maryland has its own legend creature like the Loch Ness Monster. Chessie has been seen in the bay for decades with no conformation that it really exists or what it actually is.
We were just in NJ driving back from my husband's family's house in NY (we live in TN), it was so incredibly bizarre to me to see people at gas stations and the attendant who pumps your gas for you. Lol. I asked Bill, but he couldn't give me a good reason - WHY can't you pump your own gas? What's the reasoning?
The one I know of (because DH mentions it a lot) is Adaptive headlights. I try to tune out as much geeking out about cars as I can--not my thing.
I can totally see that some features make more sense for the type of driving that is typical in one country versus another (moderate highway speeds vs autobahns, plenty of dirt roads and hills, vs plenty of super narrow cobblestone streets, etc).
I admit to being baffled by the brightness of the headlights though. What is it about driving in the US that makes brighter headlines dangerous/blinding but not in Europe (where European spec headlights come at me all the time, of course, and I never feel blinded by them)? I'm sure there is something, I just can't think what it would be--maybe you can explain? Thanks.
That is still an ongoing balancing act! There was an article here not too long ago about trying to design an interior that had enough cup holders that Americans would buy them but hid them well enough that the Europeans would not be deterred from buying it. Definitely a different mentality about what you do while driving between the two countries.
Me? I like a cup holder and a drink available when I drive. Oddly, again DH was mentioning that in response to that article people on the forum from the US complained the current 5 series does not have enough cup holders--there are 4, two in front and two in back (so basically one per person) and Germans were complaining they are unneeded and unsightly (they all go behind a panel or into an armrest when not in use.
Personally, I think it is a good number and they look fine as designed. Then again--I am not obsessive with cars or on the forums lol
In Pennsylvania you can only buy wine and liquor at specific state stores. You can buy beer at a beer distributor. And certain grocery stores now have the right to sell you 2 12-packs of beer in a special area of the store.
It's the most annoying thing.
There's a school in Pennsylvania that calls itself "California University".
In Pennsylvania you can only buy wine and liquor at specific state stores. You can buy beer at a beer distributor. And certain grocery stores now have the right to sell you 2 12-packs of beer in a special area of the store.
It's the most annoying thing.
I lived in Pennsylvania until I was 28, and buying alcohol there was always a PITA. There were some State Stores where everything was behind the counter. You couldn't browse, you had to ask specifically for what you wanted. And some of the clerks were the surliest people who ever lived. Closed on Sundays, closed on July 4th and even minor holidays. One time the union wanted more days off and wanted to close on Flag Day. They didn't get their wish.
It was well worth the drive to go to New Jersey for alcohol. Prices were much cheaper, the selection was superior, and they were open practically every day including Sundays. NJ drinking age was 18 at the time while PA was always 21. It was easy to get a fake NJ drivers license. No photos at the time. Some places would even honor a PA ID, even though they weren't supposed to.
That's because it's in California, PA.
There's also an Indiana, PA (and University) - so maybe it's a Pennsylvania thing?
Supposedly the ban on self-service started as a safety concern. Apparently the legislature thought citizens were too stupid to operate gas pumps without a PhD from MIT. Occasionally some state senator introduces a bill to allow self-service, but the reaction is always overwhelmingly negative. The naysayers still cite safety, employment (mostly part time and low paid), and other silly reasons, but they all add up to "I'm too lazy to pump my own gas."
I admit it's great in winter to only have to crank the window a bit and hand the attendant a credit card.
A few years ago DW called me in a panic. She's a lifelong Jurzee Gurl and was in Pennsylvania with about a quarter tank of gas. She was afraid she wouldn't have enough gas to get home, or even to get back to New Jersey. (She had more than enough). I just told her to pull up to the pump and read the instructions. It ain't rocket science. If she has a problem, someone will notice the Jersey plates, roll their eyes, laugh in her face, but still show her what to do.
I lived in Pennsylvania until I was 28, and buying alcohol there was always a PITA. There were some State Stores where everything was behind the counter. You couldn't browse, you had to ask specifically for what you wanted. And some of the clerks were the surliest people who ever lived. Closed on Sundays, closed on July 4th and even minor holidays. One time the union wanted more days off and wanted to close on Flag Day. They didn't get their wish.
It was well worth the drive to go to New Jersey for alcohol. Prices were much cheaper, the selection was superior, and they were open practically every day including Sundays. NJ drinking age was 18 at the time while PA was always 21. It was easy to get a fake NJ drivers license. No photos at the time. Some places would even honor a PA ID, even though they weren't supposed to.