went to the San Diego DMV this morning to register the car (a Civic Hybrid -- ask if you want to know more about it -- in short, avg MPG is ~47!). got there at 7:03am, got in line (i was about 15th in line), the office opened at 8:00am, and i was walking out to get cash and take the plates off at 8:19am. by the time the office opened, the line was around the building on three sides.

cost was $149 total. there has been a lot of carping lately about the VLF (Vehicle License Fee) being "tripled". well, i had a nice chat with the DMV clerk who helped me, and she explained that it wasn't exactly that: in the salad days of 1997/98/99, they consistently reducded what the VLF had always been, such that it is now 33% of what it used to be. so what is actually happening (as it's now being called a "foregone conclusion" in the media) is that it's being restored to the original level, not raised. ummmm, a pretty significant difference in phrasing.

and today's road hazards are pretty significant, too:

7/22/2003 9:56:03 AM: Traffic Hazard - Debris/Objects
Location: WB SR52 JEO CONVOY
9:51AM - PALLET, STYROFOAM IN #3 LANE

7/22/2003 9:57:37 AM: Traffic Hazard - Pedestrian on Freeway
Location: NB SR15 JNO NB I-805
9:49AM - MAN RUNNING IN CD

7/22/2003 9:58:57 AM: Traffic Hazard - Animal
Location: 3134 OLIVE HILL RD
9:08AM - ONE HORSE CORRALLED AND THE OTHER IS BEING ROUNDED UP NOW TO GET BACK IN FENCE
8:59AM - NEED HORSE TRAILER FOR OLIVE HILL AND AQUA HILL
8:59AM - NEG 1125 HORSES, THEY ARE QUARTERED IN A PASTURE
8:51AM - RP #2 CHECKING WITH NEIGHBORS TO SEE WHO HORSES BELONG TO
8:50AM - OTHER CALLER TRYING TO BLOCK THE HORSES WITH A BLK FORD MUST
8:43AM - 2 HORSES
8:42AM - UNK IF WAS TC , BUT HORSES ARE DOWN
8:42AM - INJURED HORSES IN THE ROAD

and on the 163 NB ramp to I-8 westbound, i personally had to avoid a t-shaped piece of white steel, which looked like it was probably part of a bedframe. sweet!