Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[GaryV]

11-4-25: Why wasn't the Memphis-Huntsville-Atlanta freeway ever built?

The acronym was too close to MAHA 

[kphoger]

This is supposed to be "worst", not "best".  Your proposal would solve a lot of wind loading issues in Nevada.

We already solved those, though.

Now show me an example of that on an overhead sign.

[I-55]

11-4-25: Why wasn't the Memphis-Huntsville-Atlanta freeway ever built?

ALDOT didn't want to have to build an ALT I-28 in addition to I-28

[JayhawkCO]

11-4-25: Why wasn't the Memphis-Huntsville-Atlanta freeway ever built?

They did, but then gravity took hold as it aged and it turned into a Memphis-Birmingham freeway instead.

[Scott5114]

This is supposed to be "worst", not "best".  Your proposal would solve a lot of wind loading issues in Nevada.

We already solved those, though.

Now show me an example of that on an overhead sign.

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1811766,-115.3410048,3a,20y,147.75h,110.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sY1CKNcVRsO9GBPUMzUwklQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-20.96197205757153%26panoid%3DY1CKNcVRsO9GBPUMzUwklQ%26yaw%3D147.74646482421556!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAyOS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[JayhawkCO]

This is supposed to be "worst", not "best".  Your proposal would solve a lot of wind loading issues in Nevada.

We already solved those, though.

Now show me an example of that on an overhead sign.

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1811766,-115.3410048,3a,20y,147.75h,110.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sY1CKNcVRsO9GBPUMzUwklQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-20.96197205757153%26panoid%3DY1CKNcVRsO9GBPUMzUwklQ%26yaw%3D147.74646482421556!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAyOS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[kphoger]

11-4-25: Why wasn't the Memphis-Huntsville-Atlanta freeway ever built?

To prioritize passenger rail on existing Norfolk Southern lines (via Chattanooga).

[kphoger]

Exit numbers crammed onto the main sign panel, allowing the DOT to save twenty bucks on exit tabs, and letting sign designers show off their cleverness in cramming ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag.

Your proposal would solve a lot of wind loading issues in Nevada.

We already solved those, though.

Now show me an example of that on an overhead sign.

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1811766,-115.3410048,3a,20y,147.75h,110.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sY1CKNcVRsO9GBPUMzUwklQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-20.96197205757153%26panoid%3DY1CKNcVRsO9GBPUMzUwklQ%26yaw%3D147.74646482421556!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAyOS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

I still see a wind loading issue with the exit tab.

[Henry]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

[kphoger]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

Because the LED ones are brighter, which leads to increased light pollution.

[xonhulu]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

Yellow oranges are rare, so harvesting them just for their sodium vapor is very irresponsible.

[Sapphuby]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

People vandalizing with chlorine were responsible for "salting the lamps", destroying many of them.

[Big John]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

People were speeding up thinking they were yellow traffic lights.

[PColumbus73]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

The blue/white LEDs are actually an invasive species that were introduced along with the bright truck LED lights.

[Dirt Roads]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

Because everybody is enamored with the deep purple that results when the yellow frosted cover eventually delaminates from the blue/white LED circuitboard.

[kurumi]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

It's a transitional step. High-population areas will soon be served with blimps outfitted with banks of LEDs lighting up arterial highways. (Now technically these blimps will have rigid skeletons, so instead of LED Blimps they are properly called Zeppelins.)

[pderocco]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

Becuz climate.

[JayhawkCO]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

They're not. The sodium vapor is just now burning at 10,000-33,000 K.

[GaryV]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

It's a leftist, woke conspiracy. We'll have to redistrict intersections to create some districts that will elect more red streetlights. They'll be called "red light districts". And no, we won't release the documents about what happens there.
 

[1995hoo]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

Health concerns about Americans having too much sodium.

[formulanone]

11/5/25:

Why are the streetlights being changed from yellow/orange sodium vapor to blue/white LED?

Because Zeppelin Rules, man!

[PColumbus73]

11/6/25:

How would you fix the BQE Triple Cantilever in New York?

[GaryV]

11/6/25:

How would you fix the BQE Triple Cantilever in New York?

Install moving cantilevers, like Hogwarts-style staircases.

[Max Rockatansky]

11/6/25:

How would you fix the BQE Triple Cantilever in New York?

Hold a fund raising event called the BQE Triple Cantilever BBQ.

[kphoger]

11/6/25:

How would you fix the BQE Triple Cantilever in New York?

The city of New York claims that recent repairs have made the facility safe enough, and that any remaining concern basically boils down to overweight trucks using it.  Therefore, I suggest augmenting the existing weigh-in-motion technology with new in-lane motorized traffic spikes.