It's just... gone.

I-680 is obliterated... gone.

Truly, it's a sad, sad sight. I have no words.

Hopefully, they can start work quickly to replace the roadway.

FAQ 2011

Because I feel the need, that's why.

Q: What is the purpose of this blog?

A: In general, this blog is where I let my roadgeek side out to play. Less often, I'll blog about another passion of mine, computers. Of course, human stupidity is a sad constant, and some of that will be highlighted here as well.

Q: There's never anything but still shots in the posts here. Don't you do video?

A: Not at this time. There are a few good reasons for this. One, I don't even own a video camera. B, I have trouble keeping the gas tank full for necessary trips these days, much less the kind of dedicated trips that make for good video. (Seriously, do you want to see a YouTube video of me driving to the shrink?) And finally iii, I'm a perfectionist. If I did have a setup for video and a gas tank that magically filled itself, I'd still have to make about twenty trips and drive about 300 total miles just for a ten minute video that'd fit my standards. (Hence the shrink visits.)

Q: What's your Facebook?

A: (Error 404 - not found)

Seriously, I don't have one. I never have, I never will. Same will probably go for a Google+ page if they ever open registration. I am a strong supporter of anonymity on the Internet, and flat refuse to use any service where I can't just get by with a nickname, pen name or nom de guerre.

Q: There are no girls on the Internet.

A: Silly anon, that wasn't a question... and if that's the case then how am I posting?

Q: What do you drive?

A: The problem with being poor is that it's often cheaper to pick up another junker than to fix the one you have. (Of which there are three broken down in the yard.) The current vehicle I'm using is a 1996 Ford Explorer. The gas mileage sucks. I'm hoping to have the Civic, the Sentra or the Regal back on the road by year's end. (Hopefully the Civic with the way gas prices are going lately.)

Q: What kind of camera do you use?

A: Doesn't it say in the image info in Picasa? ...Ok, yeah, I'm lazy too. I understand completely. It's a cheap 3.2 MP Argus that I picked up a few years back for $50. The battery door is falling off, but it still does the job.

(Edit - Sept 2, 2011: I finally upgraded to a 5.1 MP Vivitar ViviCam 5118. Cost me $30, worth every penny. Use the zoom at your own risk.)

Q: I found out something you may want to know. How do I get in touch with you?

A: I'm on the AARoads forum as Darkangel. I have a Jabber - the info is in my Blogger profile, I think. (You can use that info with Google Talk, too.) I'm also tdarkchylde on AIM, but unless I know you, I likely won't respond. I don't post my email publicly - if you're in the roadgeek community, you probably have it already anyway.

Q: So, what do you do when you're not driving?

A: I'm likely either gaming or watching ponies. Deal with it.

Long-awaited (full) UPD*TE

Ok, that's done. Looks like I was only able to salvage a few pictures from last year's Idaho trip, and an entire camera is still missing with many more of the I-84 shots, along with the I-15/84 multiplex shots. Damn, damn, damn. I hope it's around here, because I don't envision myself heading back that way during my lifetime.

New:

I-84 (western): 56 shots eastbound from just west of Boise, Idaho to the eastern terminus in Echo, UT

Updated:

I-10: Added 13 shots along eastbound in and near Baton Rouge

Long-awaited (teaser) UPD*TE!

Finally. I'm in the process of salvaging the pictures from my camera. Here's one album to whet your appetite til I get done:

Clinched (during the trip these pics were from):

Highways: I-184, both directions (pics westbound), I-270 (Colorado) eastbound (sadly no pics)
Counties: Several in Colorado, Utah, Idaho - will have to figure out which later on

New:

I-184: Yes, that I-184. Westbound coverage between Exit 2 and the western terminus, circa late May 2010.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

As of this post... wow, 22 months since the last post!

First off, stop worrying. I'm not dead. I've just had massive equipment failures both of the computer and automotive variety. I'm only just getting back on my feet here.

With gasoline prices being what they are, I can't afford to travel (and therefore get pictures) anymore, especially with the only running vehicle here being a SUV. Yes, one of those things I swore I'd never ever own. (Technically I still don't own one - it belongs to my roommate.)

Hopefully things will start to look up soonish. If things go right, my income situation should improve soon, the Deathmachine will be back on the road, and I'll hopefully get some new pics of the area... before I move.

Yeah, the Louisiana Roadgeek Girl will hopefully be moving by year's end.

In the meantime, I've found my old camera, which should have some pics from (of all places) Idaho, Utah, possibly Colorado and Texas as well.

So keep the faith.

Drunk Eddie Resigns

Sometimes you get some good news when waking from a nap.

Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price resigns

I've only been calling for this since last year, but seeing as how no one in Mandeville actually reads this blog, I can't take credit. Ah, well. The end result is the same, no matter how the pressure is applied. Either way, the criminal is out of power.

His statement is as follows:

"I have had the privilege of serving the people of Mandeville for 29 years -- 16 years as a councilman and the past 13 years as mayor.

"During this time, I've worked with a dedicated City Council who has contributed greatly to a collective vision for our city. This vision was further realized by the hard work of the Planning and Zoning Commissions and all the other committees that serve our city.

"The city of Mandeville would not function without the commitment of the city employees who work diligently and who have given me support when I needed it, not only in the day-to-day operations of the city but especially during the tough times when we had catastrophic storms.

"Through the years, we have had achievements in which we can all be proud -- achievements accomplished through the shared efforts of everyone. We have, together, been able to make Mandeville one of the finest cities in the country.

"It has been my great pleasure and honor to serve you as mayor. But over the past year, the distractions have become a burden to the city. It is important to me that the City of Mandeville continue in a forward, positive direction and be able to have the full representation that it well deserves.

"So, it is with great sadness that I've made the decision to step down as mayor of Mandeville effective immediately.''

I hope he remembers not to get too comfortable being out of office... he's still got charges hanging over his head, and is looking at a good bit of time.

This is a great day after all.

Yet another minor upd*te

I made it back to New Orleans again, and as usual, the camera hitched a ride, falling apart as it is.

Updated:
I-10: 19 new shots of eastbound between the 610 split and the North Claiborne Avenue exit.

Drunk Eddie indicted!

NOLA.com: Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price indicted on perjury charge

Today must be the day of "about damn time," I swear. First, the news on the I-12 interchange, now this! Drunk Eddie's been indicted for something, in this case perjury, stemming from (alleged!!!) false testimony given in a 2008 criminal trial of one of his buddies. A sergeant in the Mandeville Police Department was also indicted.

Now, I used to give Drunk Eddie nearly daily grief in this blog because he seemed to be in the news every day over his near-criminal screw-ups. I also haven't talked about him in forever because he seemed to be in the news every day over his near-criminal screw-ups. Beating up on a dead horse gets boring after a while... but this is real news.

This has been a long time in coming. We here in Mandeville have known better than to bitch about the corrupt government across the Lake because Price was just as bad, punctuated by him obliterating a Causeway toll booth barrier in his city-owned SUV while loaded. Supposedly, there are even more charges being considered when another grand jury convenes later in the year over Mandeville's finances, of which there were improprieties found in a Legislative Auditor's report.

Again, the staff here (consisting of myself and a hyperactive cat) resume our calls for Drunk Eddie to resign so Mandeville doesn't have to wait to have its next corrupt ruler take office. Except now, it may not be necessary. He could end up having to leave office due to a change of address to one of Louisiana's wonderful state prisons. Thank $deity that Mandeville's city charter forces the mayor to go bye-bye if convicted of a felony.

LA 1088/I-12 interchange contract to be awarded this month

NOLA.com - Contract to be awarded this month for new I-12 interchange near Mandeville

It's about damn time, coming from someone who lives within walking distance of the area where roadwork will commence. We've been waiting for this interchange to be built for my entire life, it seems. It's always been pushed back. Just to keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting...

Now is the time. I ranted against a school being built on 1088 between I-12 and LA 36 back in February because of the lack of an interchange and the potential for a traffic jam right in front of my house. Of course, who listens to me? They opened it anyway. At least traffic's not so bad... yet.

Once they begin work on the interchange, it will become a nightmare. Why? Because they'll be improving LA 1088 to a divided highway in the process. This is still a good thing, as the added capacity for LA 1088 will be needed. It's not just for the locals - traffic in Mandeville proper will be able to shave about six miles from an eastbound trip on the Interstate over the current interchange at LA 59. It'll relieve that interchange of some traffic from the south and from the north (connecting to I-12 from LA 1088 shaves even more mileage over LA 36 West and LA 59 south to I-12 - though far fewer people live on parts of LA 36 that would benefit, and no one lives on that part of 1088 yet.) Problem is, traffic at that interchange is insane, and even 1/4 of that traffic would choke a two-lane highway.

But the process of widening 1088 would choke things up for a while even if they left the existing two-lane carriageway alone while they built one parallel.

Still, gripes aside, this is something that has been needed in the worst way for years and will relieve traffic all over the extended Mandeville area. Plus, it's an interchange I could photograph by walking... can't wait for that opportunity.

Minor UPD*TE

I haven't been taking that many pics or updating lately, but I have some very good reasons. One, I'm poor, two, gas costs too much, and three, I'm now living alone, and having to cover all associated bills. Still, I had to take a trip down to New Orleans last Tuesday, so I have a few pics from the trip.

New:

I-610 (Louisiana): Eastbound coverage between the split from I-10 and Exit 3.
LA 3021: A.K.A. Elysian Fields Avenue. Southbound coverage between I-610 and LA 39/46 (North Claiborne Avenue.)

Updated:

I-10: Added six pictures between Exit 228 (Causeway Boulevard) and Exit 230 (the I-10/I-610 split).

Revised:

I-110 (Mississippi): Revised album to reflect the truncation of Mississippi 15. Picture descriptions will be edited later.