Paradise Valley “Socialite”?
August 30, 2007 by Frank
I just saw an article about a P.V. “socialite” who is being deported for numerous offenses.
Come on. Socialite? I’m sorry to tell you, but Arizona does not have socialites.
It really makes me laugh how hard so many Arizona residents, and their newspaper, pretend that Phoenix is LA or NYC. It’s not. Get over it, and grow up. Like I’ve said a thousand times, there’s nothing wrong with not being another LA or NYC. Really, there isn’t. If Phoenix would just learn to have its own identity and live with that, it might not be so bad.
But no, it won’t. Phoenix, and Scottsdale in particular, lives under the delusion that it is LA. However, there are no “socialites” in AZ. The closest thing to a socialite in that town are the low-life druggies who frequent Scottsdale’s wannabe clubs, and that doesn’t cut it.
PS: When I lived in Arizona I always saw Paradise Valley as upscale and affluent. I’d drive through it and marvel at some of the houses. Now that I don’t live in Arizona anymore and went back for a recent visit, driving through Paradise Valley left me with the impression that it’s as ugly and dusty as anywhere in the Valley. It’s all relative, people. Get out and experience other places and you’ll realize how bad you have it.
I found your site recently and have to agree with you re Scottsdale, actually all of AZ. Drove through Tucson on my way back to CA and I have a question:
Why are all of the Tucson downtown exits closed off until 2010???
I just thought of another one:
Does the AZ Legislature understand physics?
Reason being that semi-tractor trailers are allowed to go the same speed as cars. I was wondering if they understand the co-relation between weight, load, speed, and impact. Perhaps its all about $$$ and being on the receiving end of those precious re-election campaign dollars. *shrugs*
A viewpoint in closing:
I have read tiresome complaints from Arizonans re driving in the AZ “passing lane” by Californians. As a Californian, please allow me to explain:
1. The freeways in CA vary from 2 (i.e.: 101N/S of Ventura) to 6 lanes (OC to SD county line) in either direction. Trucks/vehicles towing trailers are to go 55 mph and are restricted to the far right lanes or to the far right lane if there are just 2 lanes in that direction. In CA, there are no “passing lanes” since which lane is a motorist to choose from? Lane #4? Lane #5? Or maybe #3? Trucks can pass in Lane #2 (2-lane fwy) or #3 (4+ lanes). This provides rationality and predictability to the driving experience since one will not have to look in the rear-view mirror and see a semi barreling down on you going 80 mph as is the case on the 10 fwy outside of Tucson (which is more dangerous than the 55 fwy or even the 91, imo).
Further, the “truck lanes” are beat-up and oddly worn due to truck weights. So, its not too cool to drive in CA on the far right lanes for this reason.
If someone from CA is accidently driving in AZ “passing lanes” please understand that its not intentionally done to circumvent AZ law or to cruise by AZ traffic bent on driving only in one lane.
Probably the best thing would be to widen the 10 fwy and rationally acknowledge that population growth has occurred and needs to be safely accommodated on the roads.
Well, you’re going to find Arizonans complaining about Californians nonstop, about stupid petty things, and even if they have to make stuff up, just to complain about CA. When in my experience, Californians are generally a lot friendlier than Arizonans.
Also, even though the left lane is for passing only per AZ state law, this is completely unknown in AZ and Arizonans are famous for driving slow in the left lane, and many will admit they do it self-righteously to “teach” others to do the speed limit (when in reality they’re breaking the law by going slower than the flow of traffic in the left lane).
Anyway, AZ has become a weird and unfriendly place which is why I moved to CA.
“Arizonans are famous for driving slow in the left lane, and many will admit they do it self-righteously to “teach” others to do the speed limit (when in reality they’re breaking the law by going slower than the flow of traffic in the left lane).”
Thank you for your comment Frank, because that really clears things up for me: as you noted, deliberately slow drivers in the “fast” lane!
I encountered a couple of these self-anointed ones on the 8W going to the 85N. I do not know who these drivers think they are: Keepers of the Flame Eternal For Road Speed? Not sure, but seeing them afar off, I just went around them in the “slow” lane.
Thanks again and rawk on!
~warmblonde