Ellen ... Since you left the states a few years ago, the traffic engineers over here have delighted us with new inventions. We now have something called "car pool lanes." The theory goes like this: One car and one driver get to sit in the traffic stalls, while cars with many peoples in the cars get to pass them by faster by traveling in their own "car pool lane."

O.K. Sounds great, right? This is a classic case of "human engineering" gone bad. You see, most "car pool lanes" allow travelers with TWO people in the car. Except SOME require THREE people in the car. It apparently depends on which county you are in ... and what time of the day!

So ... if you are a stranger to the territory you are perusing, you usually don't have a clue as to which lane you are allowed to enjoy, until the cop pulls you over and gives you a $ 155 ticket.

But, that's progress they say! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson