Random randomness.

[mrv3000]

I finally broke down and ordered myself a FasTrak transponder. I figured that some days a couple of bucks will be worth saving my sanity.

Semi-related: I still don't quite understand London's system. (One I only know about from watching Top Gear.) You have to call when you're in the car or something? But what if you don't have a phone? Will they hunt you down through the omnipresent CCTVs?

And not-at-all-related-but-thought-of-because-I-thought-about-London: If I ever saw the Queen, would I have to curtsy even though I'm not a subject? IT COULD TOTALLY HAPPEN IN A STARBUCKS. YOU NEVER KNOW.

Comments

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

You can also pay in advance on the internet, by a standing order through your bank or in various newsagents across London.

And yes, the CCTV is EVERYWHERE. They record the license plate of every vehicle that comes into the congestion charge zone and check their records. If you're not exempt and you haven't paid, you'll receive a fine in the mail.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Wow! And the congestion charge zone covers a huge area, doesn't it? Lots and lots of streets and roads?

Around here there are specific toll roads and express lanes instead of whole areas.

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, basically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_congestion_charge#Area_covered_by_the_charge

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

It amazes me that they're able to keep track of everyone!

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

JUST DON'T TOUCH HER.

Seriously there was one article here that was like: "The Queen's trip was mostly a success EXCEPT FOR WHEN THE PREMIER OF ONTARIO ALMOST PUT HIS HAND ON HER BACK TO HELP HER INTO A CHAIR!!!" I gather this is very srs bsns.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

XD XD

Don't touch the Queen! Got it!

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

If Opal drops by, we should ask her why no one is allowed to touch the Queen. It's the one important question I forgot to ask while staying with her.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Good plan! We really should come up with a list of Questions for Brits You Were Afraid to Ask (But Not Really).

Like, seriously. What is brown sauce?

[sesaworuban.livejournal.com]

It's a spicy sauce that is brown and a similar consistency to tomato sauce/ketchup/catsup. It goes particularly well with sausages.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I'm curious, but afraid.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

I know it is considered like, treason, but I don't know why.

lol actually maybe that's not true and I am wrong. IDK this was a recent discovery for me though.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's not to leave smudges on her?

[jesidres.livejournal.com]

Unless you're Barack or Michelle Obama. They coo' like that.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I'm nowhere near that cool. Woe.

[janetmaca.livejournal.com]

lol, oh Ontario. The perpetual screw-up. All of Quebec thanks you for making us look good. :D

[nicachick007.livejournal.com]

I think they probably would hunt you down. Because of CCTV. I don't really know if I think CCTV is a good thing from all the DW and TW...

And about the Queen, I would say yes. If the President has to bow to her, so should you, even if you are just in a coffee shop. Also, curtsying is fun, as long as you're in a dress. So you should make sure you're always wearing a dress when you go to Starbucks. JUST IN CASE.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I think they probably would hunt you down. Because of CCTV. I don't really know if I think CCTV is a good thing from all the DW and TW...

Although it does come in very handy for hunting down aliens. That's gotta count for something! ;)

And about the Queen, I would say yes. If the President has to bow to her, so should you, even if you are just in a coffee shop. Also, curtsying is fun, as long as you're in a dress. So you should make sure you're always wearing a dress when you go to Starbucks. JUST IN CASE.

GOOD PLAN!

[nicachick007.livejournal.com]

Although it does come in very handy for hunting down aliens. That's gotta count for something! ;)

This is true... though I have every faith that the Doctor and Torchwood could find the aliens all on their own without the government's sneaky cameras helping. They are kind of cheating when they use the CCTV.

GOOD PLAN!
I thought so. I'm glad you agree.

[poohmusings.livejournal.com]

FasTrak is awesome. I honestly don't remember what was like actually having to stop at a toll booth and fish out money to pay. Plus, the Bay Area just instituted this new changing toll amount system (different toll amounts for peak hours, non-peak hours, and weekends) and there's no way I could remember how much I'm supposed to pay when.

Dude, what would you do if the Queen tried to cut in front of you at Starbucks???

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

FasTrak is awesome. I honestly don't remember what was like actually having to stop at a toll booth and fish out money to pay. Plus, the Bay Area just instituted this new changing toll amount system (different toll amounts for peak hours, non-peak hours, and weekends) and there's no way I could remember how much I'm supposed to pay when.

We don't really have any toll roads down here in SD (yet), but would have to go through the hastle of going through the toll booth when I'd go up to OC to the corporate office. I swear it's always a different amount when I go through.

But what we do have are Express/HOV lanes that are forbidden to the masses unless you've got a carpool or a golden ticket transponder. No option for cash payment down here.

Dude, what would you do if the Queen tried to cut in front of you at Starbucks???

THERE WOULD BE HARSH WORDS AND A CURTSY.

[poohmusings.livejournal.com]

THANK GOD FOR THE TACKED ON CURTSY.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, manners and all that.

[poohmusings.livejournal.com]

Your parents would be proud.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Totally!

[sesaworuban.livejournal.com]

As for the farce of the Congestion Charge - you have to pay by Internet or phone within 24 hours of going into the zone... but they don't tell you the telephone number or web address on any of the signs. It may be possible to set up a direct debit but it wasn't the last time I went ingot fined. Grr.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a difficult system.

[audrich.livejournal.com]

*reads about Fastrak with interest*
Hmmm.. very Big Brother but must save a lot of hassle.

I am stupidly scared to drive into London and I’m supposed to know what I’m doing!

As for the Queen – I did once know a couple (may they RIP) that STOOD UP when the Queen came on the tele and on the radio. Watching the Queen’s Christmas speech with them was a bit lip bitingly amusing, but old fashioned values and all that.

My claim to fame is that I nearly took Her Majesty’s eye out with a union jack but I was only 4 at the time and it was in the days before all the psychopaths got really good airtime 

Are you coming to the Angel Isle then?

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I am stupidly scared to drive into London and I’m supposed to know what I’m doing!

You could accidentally wander into the wrong zone! O_O

As for the Queen – I did once know a couple (may they RIP) that STOOD UP when the Queen came on the tele and on the radio. Watching the Queen’s Christmas speech with them was a bit lip bitingly amusing, but old fashioned values and all that.

:D :D :D

My claim to fame is that I nearly took Her Majesty’s eye out with a union jack but I was only 4 at the time and it was in the days before all the psychopaths got really good airtime

Awwww! Bless.

Are you coming to the Angel Isle then?

It'll probably be a while before I go anywhere.

[diavestra.livejournal.com]

I have considered doing the FasTrak thing. How, exactly, does it work?

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

You have to put a deposit down ($40 for me) and they send you a transponder to stick in the windows. Then each month your credit card gets billed for whatever you rack up. Down here there's a minimum of $3 or $4 a month, so it'll cost me that much even if I don't use the lanes. But if I go over that amount, the minimum counts towards it.

It was actually really easy to sign up for and I got my transponder in 2 days.