Bridge collapse

As the country is engrossed in the story of the Minneapolis bridge collapse, I've been wondering about the Coronado Bridge. A TV news report says it's not safe, and now Caltrans says it's fine:

Caltrans officials disputed a TV news report on Thursday claiming that inspectors this week found cracks in the Coronado Bay Bridge.

A day after the fatal bridge collapse in Minnesota on Wednesday, KFMB/Channel 8 said in a news alert, “it was unclear if the (Coronado) bridge would be shut down or when the cracks would be repaired.”

Caltrans spokesman Hayden Manning said the bridge is structurally sound and will remain open.

He said the state Department of Transportation is conducting a routine underwater inspection of the landmark bridge this week. He said no significant problems have been uncovered.

The Minneapolis bridge was 60 feet high and 1900 feet long. The Coronado bridge is 200 feet high over 10,000 feet long. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the thing if it collapsed.

Last ride was short, but profitable

I was belled to a bar for my last ride of the evening. Two staggering drunks piled into the back seat and said, "Take us two blocks straight ahead." I didn't shift out of Park. "Are you kidding?" They weren't, but they gave me $20.

Heineken

I just picked up a Heineken mini-keg for $20. A bargain.

Under (oil) pressure

Before I began work tonight I went through my usual routine, which includes checking fluids. Everything was full. When I started the car the oil pressure gauge showed nothing. So I turned it off and called the company owner and discussed the problem. Considering the engine is full of oil and when it runs it's not making any strange noises, he decided to have me drive it as usual. He laughed: "So you're calling to transfer responsibility to me, huh?" I laughed back: "Yup."