I-383 – Harrisburg to Lancaster
by Brian Troutman on Nov.01, 2004, under Amateur Counsel, Highways
Mounting Traffic on I-283 at Highspire
Interstates and US route numbers follow (or are supposed to follow) strict numbering guidelines, but state departments of transportation can number any state route as they please and will sometimes use this liberty to bridge psychological gaps in the Interstate network or keep alive a familiar designation that has officially been retired. For example, US 309 once ran from Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre and beyond, but when it was decommissioned in 1968, PennDOT decided to keep the number on life support as PA 309. Also witness PA 581 that runs from I-81 eastward into Harrisburg. It could be Interstate 581, although it might not meed Interstate technical standards, but in any case, it serves the purpose that a true I-581 would serve. (continue reading…)
SWPA Roadgeek Meet: “No accidents, no arrests, and no unpleasantness.”
by Brian Troutman on Oct.16, 2004, under Highways
Ray's Hill, western portal.
Despite the cold and damp weather that cast a raw pall over Southwestern Pennsylvania on Saturday, October 16th, faithful roadgeeks from around the Commonwealth and nearby states descended upon “the Town of Motels” for a pilgrimage onto a section of highway which is also one the most talked-about and mysticised topics for highway enthusiasts. (continue reading…)
International Geophysical Year (I.G.Y.) – Donald Fagen
by Brian Troutman on Oct.01, 2004, under The Greatest
Donald Fagen - The Nightfly
Donald Fagen is perhaps best known as one of the two principals behind the ’70s jazz-rock fusion (I hate that term) group, Steely Dan. As listeners follow Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, and a rotating group of highly skilled hired hands through the group’s discography, they will note that each successive album becomes more polished, more calculated, and that rock and roll stylings take a back seat to blues-inspired riffs and jazz-based chords that are ingeniously interwoven with enigmatic lyrics to create unique and captivating musical experiences.
The 1980 release Gaucho marked Steely Dan’s last studio album (for the next two decades, at least), and someone searching a database only for “Steely Dan” would miss one of the greatest entries in Fagen’s entire career. A solo effort, The Nightfly, was released in 1982, and the entire album deserves a “Greatest” mention, but the standout is Fagen’s most successful solo single, “I.G.Y.” (continue reading…)
