Traffic Superstition

In Los Angeles, we are so traumatized by traffic that we've developed Freeway Superstition.

My friend Ron and I were cruising an open stretch of the Hollywood Freeway during the late afternoon - a rare privilege. With wind whipping our hair, I exclaimed, "This is amazing, no traffic!" His brow furrowed and he shushed me immediately. He warned that I could be jinxing the whole thing by the mere mention it. As if.

If my power of suggestion could summon a never-before seen force throughout Los Angeles, causing thousands of people to swing onto the 101 on-ramp for no apparent reason, I'd use those powers otherwise. I'd be a book deal-having, Academy Award-winning Kennedy with the highest metabolism in the West. Just saying.

Highways vs. Freeways

Back East, no one says freeway. Out West, no one says highway. The Highway vs. Freeway debate continues to be a passionate yet pointless point of contention. And everyone's defense is boring; "Our way is better because it's...ours?"

...So what is the difference between highways and freeways? According to Dictionary.com:

Highway - a main road, esp. one between towns or cities

Freeway - an express highway with no intersections, usually having traffic routed on and off by means of a cloverleaf.

...But guess what the synonym for highway is? Freeway. And a synonym for freeway? Thaaaat's right. Both coasts are right, both coasts are wrong and everyone needs to find something more substantial to trump the other coast. Serious issues, such as Twizzlers vs. Red Vines.