Big Three Bailout

I'm for a Big Three Bailout. I'm a true believer in American ingenuity and technological prowess, and I truly feel that having the Big Three domestic automakers as viable, going interests is important to the United States. Moreover, they've made too much progress recently to let them completely fail.

Reading some of the comments about this debacle on websites like CNN and the NY Times makes me want to drink myself into a puking mess though. So many people out there ranting about how the Big 3 produce junk and how they need to just go bankrupt, etc, etc...is quite frankly, a little disturbing to me. I knew that in a lot of circles, the opinion on our own domestic car makers was bad, but I didn't really think it would be as bad and as misinformed as it is.

Of course, my guess is that it's probably the same people posting similar comments on multiple message boards. I'm sure that at the end of the day, most Americans simply don't care, and probably don't post anything (and/or don't have a real opinion either way), but to read comments like "let em die" and "they don't make cars people want" either makes me wonder if these same people are actually employees of their competitors, or simply just haven't stepped inside a Big Three showroom in 20 years. There's no doubt though that this is a growing, popular sentiment - GM, Ford and Chrysler now command less than half of the US market, something that has only just recently happened.

The way I look at this mess, is that even if I wasn't a car nut, and even if I drove an import (well, my wife does), I still would want to give these companies a chance - (we're giving companies like AIG an opportunity, and over the last 8 years we've let Halliburton essentially get all the business it wants thanks to the Iraq War), why not let three of the largest manufacturing companies in the country, who actually employ a shitload of people, that actually produce tangible products from parts that are made right here in the United States, have a chance too? Common sense would tell me that the Big 3 spend untold billions of dollars on engineering and technology, IT products, parts, people, etc, etc. to make it worth at least trying to prop them up (financially) so that they can make it through the recession and pop out on the other side. Wouldn't it be cheaper on society, given the size and complexity of these companies, to let them keep going as operating interests, as opposed to having thousands upon thousands of people suddenly on unemployment? Having followed this industry for a while now, I know they've made some major improvements not only on the product side, but on the business side as well, slashing costs and reducing their work force to keep up with their import competition. One of the smartest moves that these companies made was restructuring how they pay their workers health care costs when they renegotiated their UAW labor contracts in 2007 (putting the onus on the union to pay for health care). I'm convinced that if the economy weren't so weak, and credit weren't so tight, that they'd probably be able to shore up the financing they need to sustain these efforts and keep going until 2010, when their new labor contracts take hold.

Moreover, I think anyone half paying attention, even outside of being a car industry nut, would at least notice that the Big 3 are starting to produce viable, competitive products? I mean, don't people drive around and see the cars around them in traffic? Lets face it, what's the real honest to God difference between a Honda, a Hyundai, a Chevy Malibu and a Ford Fusion?? That's right - as Andrew Dice Clay would say, "what's the fucking difference?" - because there really isn't any! But ask the common Joe on the street these days, and you'd think the Asians are building their cars out of gold or something. If you really poke and prod around any of these products nowadays, you'll see that the Big Three are not just competitive, but in some regards, ahead of the curve. The recent Cadillac CTS is proof positive that these companies know how to make an awesome car - just like they did in the 1960s.

Like we've all mentioned before, it's a gigantic perception problem that the Big 3 face, and it's absolutely awful when I see it manifest itself on the comment boards by the general populace. In a strange sort of way, I see simply writing off the Big 3 car makers, their history, and their recent accomplishments almost as a slap in the face for the United States.

What's amazing to me is a lot of the "let em die" crowd probably tends to feel the way they do because they've either been burned by a Big 3 product from 20 years ago, or maybe feel that the Big 3 don't produce fuel efficient cars, or that the quality of the Big 3 sucks. However, every single one of these mantra's can be countered by facts that actually support the Big 3 and their message.

On quality, viability and simply having appealing products - just picking up a magazine or searching out information on Ford and GM's recent product hits and quality improvements brings up loads of good information, from publications like Consumer Reports and auto rags like Car and Driver and Motor Trend. The information is out there.

On fuel efficiency - Cobalt, Focus, Aveo, 4-cylinder Malibu and Aura, 4 cylinder Fusion, new Ford hybrid models - even GM has hybrid models out there. GM and Ford will soon have plug in hybrid cars (in 2009) and GM is introducing the Volt Electric Car in 2010. Sadly, Chrysler is still behind in this category I think. The last fuel efficient car they sold was the Neon, and the killed it. I think that was a big mistake. The Sebring is an okay car, but unfortunately I don't think it stands a chance these days in this crowded marketplace.

If these companies die, then so goes an entire large chunk of the American middle class, and an industry that helped that middle class, and our entire country become what it is today. Think of the how many different people were effected positively over the last 100 years through their "car" experiences? This is an industry that has inspired songs, books, poetry, art, whose products have even taken on the roles as key parts of movies (the movie "Bullitt" comes to mind)- these companies are deeply woven into the fabric of our Nation. We see their products in Norman Rockwell paintings and we read about them in Keroauc novels. Christ, Bruce Springsteen sang about 396s and drag racing, he sure as shit never wrote a song about Credit Default Swaps. Their factories were utilized during WWII to help build tanks and planes. Throughout the backdrop of 20th (and now 21st) Century American history, the Big Three have been there - sometimes in the background, and sometimes at the forefront, but there nonetheless. See the USA in your Hyundai just doesn't make as much as sense as in your Chevrolet, now does it?

But even if there wasn't such an emotional attachment to their products or their history for some people, wouldn't it be healthier as a country to figure out exactly what the real problems are that these companies face, and then embrace some sort of cohesive plan to help them fix it? (Simply considering how much R&D, purchasing, finance, HR and engineering $$$ is involved with these companies)? I would think this would be a much more noble and worthy cause than say, giving AIG $250 billion to do absolutely nothing, or giving Halliburton contracts to essentially run the War in Iraq (which does nothing to help our own country's infrastructure).

Lastly, helping out the auto industry is another way to help feed the economy from the bottom up, which in some academic circles, is considered paramount to a successful economic recovery for the United States. Former President Bill Clinton's Labor Secretary Robert Reich says it best when it comes to ensuring that our country remains economically strong moving forward in his commentary from November 19th on NPR's "Marketplace".

It's essential that these companies get the financial support they need to make it through this recession. This is a loan, which will be paid back (with interest). Without a viable, domestically owned and controlled auto industry, I feel that we can almost essentially take ourselves down a couple of rungs on the world ladder. Despite what many feel, this is an important business, that too many people rely on. If Congress does nothing, or comes up with more political excuses as to why this would be the wrong way to use taxpayer money, I think the consequences, especially over the short term, would be absolutely devastating for our economy.

Suicidal Poochie Saved by Bridgestone

Ah, this ad makes me want to buy Bridgestone tires for my car.

The Media and the US Auto Industry

Hey, I haven't written anything in a long time. I guess I've been a little busy with a career in supply chain working for Chevron and most unfortunately, a father who has become quite ill with lung cancer. But being the gear head that I am (like my Dad who worked at GM for a large part of his career), I can't help but think about how our own domestic car manufacturers are viewed in the eyes of the public at large. I drive a GMC, but my wife drives a Lexus, and I know which one I like more (the Lexus). Probably not a fair comparison, considering the GMC is 4 years older, and its a truck, but still...I know which one has given us less problems. But times are changing, for the better I think, for the US automakers. But you wouldn't know that if you opened any large newspaper these days. Its interesting to watch, but I think we're seeing a good example, a case study if you will, of how an industry with it's back against the wall can actually come out fighting, and perhaps even change what I'd like to think are pretty stale perceptions.

A lot of mainstream journalists, columnists and editorial writers have been taking some pretty hard cracks at the domestic auto industry. I've been following the car industry for a long time, passively, as both a consumer and an enthusiast. Anyone who enjoys reading the Wall Street Journal, Businessweek or the like has surely come across quite a bit of press over the last couple of years agonizing over the troubles that GM, Ford and Chrysler seem to be having since posting some pretty huge losses in 2005.

While I agree that GM, Ford and Chrysler messed up pretty bad by putting all their eggs in one basket (SUVs and trucks in the 90s), they really are offering some very competitive (and "relevant", using a word from our fearless leader) products these days. The problem now with the Big 3 is perception and stigma. Lets face it, a lot of influential journalism comes from the coasts, and the coast dwellers love their trends - they always have. Its trendy to rip on the Detroit automakers, which honestly is pretty sad, especially for a car guy like myself. If its trendy to associate only trucks and SUVs with Detroit, then most California or New York based writers will do it. Columnists and their rags will stay popular, and ultimately sell books and magazines, and that's what the media is in business to do. Some of the news is true (health care costs certainly are a problem, not just in the auto industry, but for self insured small businesses as well), but a lot of is just simple tripe, coupled with a now very boring and somewhat deceiving notion that our auto industry is archaic and mundane, which really isn't the case (anyone who follows the industry with an open mind and at least a little bit of curiosity will see that the Big 3 have some pretty cool technologies and designs too). In a way, the view by most mainstream columnists of Detroit continuing to offer old, stale product is as old and stale as the old stale product actually was. At the end of the day, it would be a lot harder to convince any reader who wasn't following or had no interest in the auto industry via a cartoon, that Detroit was actually building decent cars now.

Cartoons of the day about the US Auto Industry

The Gold GMC

Out in front of the Sturm Family home (under construction) in Durango, Colorado - July 2003.



I'm not completely sure why, but when it comes to trucks, I'd like to think of myself as a GMC guy. I know, I know, they're exactly the same as Chevys, with the only difference being the grills, the steering wheels and in some cases, the colors. But for all intents and purposes, GMC trucks are exactly the same as Chevy Trucks. Basically, GMC drivers like good trucks that are exact replicas of Chevys, but have no preconceived social identifier attached to them. They're totally anonymous vehicles. I like that. Perhaps owning the least popular of the two brands makes me feel more special too. Seriously, what sounds better: "Hey, I'm a Ford man". "I'm a Chevy man". "I'm a GMC guy myself".

This post details the ownership of one of the best vehicles I had over the years. I have a ton of great memories associated around the time I owned this truck, and a lot of bad ones too I'll admit. Purchased in the spring of 2001, this vehicle spent 3 solid years with me, becoming a close and reliable confidant so to speak. It got me where I needed to go, hauled my personal junk back and forth between Houston and Denver (right after I bought it), and took me through thousands of miles of American interstates and back roads between Houston and Seattle, twice. The whole time, it had not one single problem - save for an engine ticking noise that apparently was quite common - that had made it's way into the engine after about 7,500 miles or so. That tick stayed with the motor until I traded it in (April of 2004, for the white GMC) with well over 80,000 miles. Other than that small nuisance noise, it was pretty solid vehicle.

Right after I bought the truck in 2001, I took it up to Denver to work with my cousin building and staining decks. If you ever had the pleasure of driving a two wheel drive pickup in the midst of a mountain snowstorm, you'll know the pure, unadulterated terror I experienced after only having had the truck for about a month. I was only minutes away from cousin's house in Conifer when a late spring snowstorm nearly forced me to park on the side of US 285 about 10 miles away from his house. This truck had absolutely no traction in wet weather, and driving in the snow was nearly impossible. While trying to move forward up a steep grade on 285 during this driving snowstorm, I was only moving in one direction - sideways. It probably didn't help much that I had Texas plates in Colorado, but needless to say I had many strange looks (and waving fists) as frustrated Colorado motorists went around me up the hill, in their Subarus, four wheel drive trucks and small front drivers, while I stayed in one spot, turned slightly sideways, more or less blocking all lanes of traffic, wheels spinning uncontrollably. Yes, I was thinking that my $20,000 brand new truck was about to get destroyed as I go careening into a rock, or worse, over the side of a cliff. Somehow, miraculously, I made it to my cousin's house. What would have taken about 10 or 15 minutes from that point in dry weather, took nearly an hour and a half. I ended up parking the truck towards the front of his subdivision (a labyrinth of winding, cliff hugging dirt roads that are hard to navigate on a dry sunny day, let alone a wintry day with 6 inches of snow on the ground).

That time around, I only spent a few weeks in Colorado. I took the truck on it's first trip up to Seattle during May of 2001. That trip was incredible. I stopped in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, drove through Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix visiting friends and enjoying some time away from working in a cubicle. Over the course of 2001 and 2002, the truck performed flawlessly, taking my friend Hux and I out to Big Bend National Park during the spring of 2002, and taking me out to the Texas Hill Country and up to College Station numerous times. When I drove back up to Seattle in October of 2002, I again went back through L.A., Sacramento and San Francisco - making it to Seattle right at 7pm on a Friday night, to meet Erik and friends downtown to watch a live sketch comedy act of "Mr. Show". We drove the truck out to La Push, Washington to go camping too.

During the time I owned this truck, I moved from The Woodlands to in the inter loop of Houston and came up with the idea of starting my business in Durango after taking a drive up there during the summer of 2003 - in this truck of course.

I dated of course while I owned this truck - and most importantly, I met my wife Sharon while I owned this truck.

The 4.8L V8 in 2001 was rated at 270 hp and 285 lb. ft. of torque. It was actually a fairly strong running truck. Having just come from a 300+ hp Camaro, I was honestly pretty surprised that this truck didn't feel too slow. I'm not exactly sure what the 0-60 was on this vehicle, but I know that it will keep up with an IS300 sedan up to about 60 or 70. (How do I know that??? Hmmmm. hehehehe).

Near Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, July 2003.

On my way back to Houston from Durango in 2003 I stopped off at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico and decided to do a little off roading (it's only 2wd, but this wasn't very hard core off roading mind you, just driving on dirt roads basically).

This was a great truck to own. I traded it in only because I was starting a business in Colorado (again) and I wanted a 4wd truck. Did I actually need a 4wd truck? As it turns out, I guess I didn't. I'm back in Houston now, and the gold truck is a distant but good memory. I wish I still had this truck. We did a lot together, and went through some important changes together. I miss you friend.
















On my way to Durango - ah what a trip - July of 2003 in the gold 2001 GMC Sierra.

My 86 Pontiac - They Built Excitement

Recently I've been seeing buzz around the internet that GM wants to make a more concerted effort to take the Pontiac division back to it's performance roots, making the entire line up of cars exclusively rear wheel drive. Personally, I think it's a great idea. If the new Pontiac Solstice is any indication as to where the division may be heading, then the Performance Division of General Motors may have hope yet to regaining some credibility back as the maker of true driver oriented, interesting autos like the 60s GTOs and the late model F-Body Trans Ams.

But during a different era for GM and the auto industry in general, back in 1986, my Mom and Dad and I needed a new family car. My Dad was actually working with Malcolm Bricklin trying to set up a dealer network for Yugo America, the American importer of the infamous Yugoslavian economy car and my Mom worked for Welcome Wagon - welcoming new people into our town of Strongsville, Ohio. At the time, our hand me down 1978 Buick Regal was on it's last legs, and my parents finally had the wherewithall to start seriously considering a new car again. My Dad wanted a Buick Grand National, but after my Mom got some insurance quotes, and realized that the car was basically an insanely fast Buick Regal, decided that it wasn't all that practical. Having many dealer friends and contacts from years at GM and now working with Yugo, my Dad found a brand new 86 Pontiac Parisienne on one if his dealer's lots in Irwin, Pa. (Hamilton Pontiac I believe).

After taking the 2 hour drive from Cleveland with my Dad squished into his company car Yugo, we arrived in Irwin at the dealership to pick up the new ride, sight unseen (by my Mom and I), to drive it back to Cleveland. I recall my first impression of the car, not actually realizing that Pontiac still carried the "B-body" GM platform (Buick and Olds already dropped this platform from their lineup in favor of a front wheel drive platform), was, "this thing is big!". At that point, Pontiac was still carrying basically a dressed up version of practically every Chevrolet available. I instantly fell in love though, as I knew that we were essentially taking the last of the large rear drive, body on frame Pontiacs ever built. I was giddy with excitement.

It was certainly not a ground breaking piece of machinery. I imagine that even by mid 80s standards, the body on frame design and solid rear axle were already starting to be considered pretty outdated for your mainstream family sedan - Honda and Toyota weren't as large as they are now, but they were starting to sell fairly good in those days, and most of the domestic family sedans were front wheel drive too. Moreover, 1986 was the first year of the Ford Taurus, a radical departure in design from almost every other domestic sedan built that year. But this Parisienne had some major style. It looked like a Cadillac - it really did. The wire wheels, the leather interior, the chrome door handles on the inside and super sweet fender skirts (which I believe was probably one of the only cars offered during the 80s with that particular styling feature), made this thing look insanely ostentatious, but in a very cool way I thought. It also featured a Pontiac Firebird 5.0 liter V8 with a large 4-barrel carburetor. For it's size and era, it was actually a fairly quick car. From a dead standstill, this car could keep up with my friend's 1991 V8 Ford Thunderbird (up until about 60, then the T-Bird would start pulling away) - I know obviously, because we drag raced the two cars when I was in 11th grade. We were both shocked, as was my passenger and his. How could that be? Well, this particular Parisienne was ordered with an optional trailer towing package, which for 1986, included larger shocks, a stiffer anti-roll bar, beefed up radiator and a much lower gear ratio ratio - which made this car actually "perform" quite well.

In high school, I was shocked to discover the one thing that consistently blew my mind about this car - it was fucking fast. Seriously, from a dead standstill I could break the rear wheels loose, which put a shit eating grin on my 17 year old face every time I did it. I have no idea what the actual 0-60 was on this hefty piece of machinery, but it had to be in the mid to high 7s on a cool day, which was incredible by 1986 standards, especially for a car of it's size.

This car soaked up long stretches of highway like a beach towel on spilled keg beer. The dash was long, flat and allowed for a front seating area that could sit three across in quite a bit of comfort. Cars don't have this kind of feel to them today. As I mentioned with the 82 Regal I drove before this car, I sort of miss that. The back seat was the same way, three across was no problem, and the seats were fairly comfy too. No, it wasn't built for high speed twisties like a BMW or Audi, but it would please any family who wanted to drive from Texas to California in (relative to the times) style and comfort. This was a very fancy Chevy Caprice, but it was actually much nicer. I liked this car.

I drove the car during 11th grade and I felt like I was seriously King of the Parking Lot (hehehe). Nobody else had a 1986 Pontiac Parisienne. It was an unusual car, most Pontiacs in the early 90s were small and still somewhat ubiquitous, but not this machine - it stood out, and had a shit load of character. I called it a hoopty actually. But this car wasn't embarrassing at all. It was my Mom's car for years, my car for a year, and it was the car that transported me, a young and excited 13 year old kid from Ohio to where I live now in Houston back in the summer of 1988. This was an important car in my personal history. I fell in love with the American V8 with this car, and I knew there would be no changing my mind - that no matter where GM decided to take the Pontiac division in the future, that back in 1986, making a fancy Chevy Caprice would make a young man root for the division's legitimate comeback into the minds and hearts of the automotive enthusiast world. Who would have thought this would be the car to do it?

The Cars I've Owned - Pt. 1 - The List and The 82 Regal

Being a car guy, I've done some thinking about the cars I've owned and what they were truly like. I've owned mostly American makes, with two Japanese cars for good measure. (Well, one of the Japanese cars belongs to Sharon, but since we're married, I guess I'm part "owner" too).

Here's the list

1) Maroon 1982 Buick Regal 4-door
2) White 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Classic
3) Tan and Gold 1986 Pontiac Parisienne
4) Pearl White 1997 Ford Thuderbird LX
5) Maroon 1991 Nissan Pickup
6) White 1998 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
7) Gold 2001 GMC Sierra
8) White 2004 GMC Sierra
9) White 1998 GMC Jimmy
10) Black Lexus IS300 Sportcross

WOW! - I've wasted a lot of money over the years! hahahaha.

This is an honest rundown. Unbiased, no b.s., with a nitty gritty approach to what was horribly wrong with each one, and why certain ones were really better than others. Each car represents a different part of my life too, so they all hold a dear part of the fabric of my very being, no matter how shitty or cool they were.

The 82 Regal:

Let's start at the beginning of my automotive experience. Back in the fall of 1990, in the months leading up to my 16th birthday. It was during that time that I had my eyes on the car my Dad was driving at the time. This was a dark maroon 1982 Buick Regal 4-door. Yes, this was a perfect example of early 80s American cookie cutter sedans with a drastically underpowered and over-EPA'ed, pollution control device hampered, 2 barrel carburated 3.8L Buick V6. With a plush, expansive maroon interior, seats that allowed your ass to sink 6 inches into the fabric and column shifter this thing would seem like a complete and utter relic by today's standards. Looking back at this car in my mind's eye, I can remember that I actually really liked this car. It had 5 spoke steel "road wheels", a casette player (an option in 1982) and an old school analog factory radio - with large chunky buttons that physically moved the orange needle behind the glass fascia to set the radio station. It wasn't necessarily the best thing out there for 1982, but it fit well with what a Buick Regal was in those days. A step up from a Chevy or a Ford, but not quite a Caddy.

But this car was showing it's age at what would seem way too early by today's standards. Without even 100k on the odomoter (actually, the odometer only had 5 numeral places, hmmm), it was suffering some problems. The carburator was shot. I can't even tell you how many times this car would stall on my way to school during 10th grade. In a nutshell, I would consider these as very dark days for GM. This car really sucked by today's standards. But, it has some cool character about it. There probably will never be a mid sized sedan built again as a body on frame, but I don't think the average person would even realize the difference between this and a typical modern, unit bodied car. These older cars have an expanse of shoulder and legroom inside and almost overly simplictic, rudimentary feel that is missing in a sort of bad way from today's modern cars. I miss that old feeling of really plush cloth seats sometimes. Today's seats are firmer, and provide more support, but compared to these old American cars from the 70s and 80s, they don't have an overly "comfy" feel. I sort of miss that.

Up until recently, GM has really let Buick rot on the vine. No new products to speak of before 2005 in what seems like millenia. The new Lucerne and LaCrosse are okay, good enough to at least get some consideration from prospective Toyota Avalon buyers. But will they get an Acura TL or Acura RDX buyer?? I don't know. I don't think so. Buick needs to bring back the Regal name - but put it on a car that is truly awesome. No b.s. It needs to have a completely new platform, and something really unique about it. Perhaps the new direct injection turbo 4 cylinder from the new Solstice GXP should be offered as an option engine in small RDX type crossover or something. Buick needs something that will really draw attention. The new Enclave looks promising. But we need some rear drive V8s, some cars that have cool looking blue and green gauges, and in a throwback to the early 80s, bring back some real plush seats (but keep them stylish).

The more I think about the old Regal, it was probably substandard even for it's own time. It was designed for a different type of consumer than today's hip crowd though. The hip crowd of 82 may have thought these cars to be pretty cool, but Buick didn't have the kind of competition it has today. Honda and Toyota didn't have Acura and Lexus yet, and BMW's and Mercedes were quite a bit more expensive than even Cadillac's of the time. (Incidentally, my friend Nick had an 82 Cadillac Fleetwood at the same time I had my 82 Buick, and his car was much cooler, with a digital radio to boot!).

I'd still like to drive one of these old beasts again though, it would be an interesting experience.

The Olds and the Pontiac:

The 86 Pontiac and the 88 Olds were very similar - more to come on those in the next post.

If anyone has any pictures of an old 82 Buick, feel free to send them to me by responding to this blog.

Historic Loop 610 Photos and the growth around Houston, TX.

I want to start off this post with a caption from a classic Negativland song, "Escape From Noise". This is the song that goes through my mind when I sit in the construction zone underneath the interchange of the I-610 Loop /I-10 Katy Freeway during rush hour as I head west on my way to work:

ROCK MUSIC BLARES
DOORS SLAM
PEOPLE YELL
CHILDREN SCREAM
SIRENS WHINE
TRUCKS RUMBLE AND ROAR
AND ROCK MUSIC BLARES
BLARES
BLARES
BLARES
IS THERE ANY ESCAPE ... FROM NOISE?
IS THERE ANY ESCAPE FROM NOISE?
IS THERE ANY ESCAPE FROM NOISE?
IS THERE ANY ESCAPE FROM NOISE?

With that said, I found it interesting to come across some Houston history while "surfing" the internet.

The Galleria Area of Houston is home to numerous tall buildings, thousands of apartments, townhomes and condos as well as a huge shopping mall. Urban sprawl and the growth of this area over the last 50 years never ceases to amaze me.



The above picture was taken in 1965 and shows what is now the intersection of Interstate 610 (the Loop 610) and San Felipe. I-610 was under construction then. Let's just say this place looks a little different today.

If you want to see more on the history of this freeway, which incidentally supplies part of the name on the subtitle to the blog you're currently reading, then check out this interesting pdf file on Houston Freeways.com

I've been thinking about taking some pictures of my own to document more of the construction going on all around where I live. It's quite fascinating. Interstate 10 and 610 are undergoing a complete transformation just 2 or 3 miles from my house. I pass through that area daily on my way to work (yes, I have a job now fellow Bobb Report devotees), and I must say, the erection of an expanse of new highway overpasses and freshly laid concrete is a marvel to witness. (I just said erection, hehehehe).

Do I mind all this construction? In a word, no. It's unbelievably necessary as Houston has grown into the 4th largest city in the country. Should there have been a rail line put in back in the 50s and 60s when all these highways were more or less just a dream in some politician's head? Well, that could be debated too with no real definitive answer.

Simply put, it is what it is. Houstonians love their cars and their ability to come and go as they please. We aren't laid out like New York or Chicago, so getting around this place requires a major widening of the already extensive network of freeways. It just sucks in the interim, as I spend a lot of time sitting on a system designed for a smaller populace while the work is not yet done.

If you're travelling through Houston from California to Florida, or vice versa on I-10, plan to sit on the Katy Freeway west of Houston for what will seem like an eternity, especially if you come through here during rush hour. And while you're there, remember that you're passing through a city that needed this expansion 20 years ago when Harris County was well on it's way to 4 million people.