I'm Super Serious

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Ladies and gentlemen: welcome back to I’m Super Serious. I hope everyone is well on this glorious day. We have me, Quomsec; and over yonder is Markus Dewitt. What’s going on Markus? Uh-no-no-holy fudge cakes: I can’t believe it; I still forgot your mic. Markus: I’m sorry, man. I was thinking about it the other day–then it just–my God–just–it just left me. Goodness gracious. My apologies.

OK. So, also among us we have, uh; Ethan James. Uh-as we have stated in the first episode: he cannot talk during the recording of this podcast. I will–however, I need to compliment his socks: they’re pink. I-I like pink. I-it’s not a-a-a-a crazy neon pink. Look at those, man! Eh-heh-ha-but just like–kind-of-a-like, like-ah-like-ah mmm-yeah, check out my chill pink socks–kinda pink. And, uh, I think it works with him. Eh, nice job, Ethan.

Also in the studio we have a good buddy of mine, named Quincy. I’m not sure where he is right now. He-he knew we were recording at one AM. He knew about this, right? I mean: I-eh-I-I just don’t understand why he’s not here. Hm. OK. Quincy, my man: whatever you’re doing I’m hoping you’re having a good time.

So, how are you doing? Yeah: you? No-no-no-no-no-no-no: not you; I mean: you. Are you doing swell, or does something smell? Whatever your case--wherever your mind is: just know that you should never be afraid to try a honeysuckle in the summertime. They’re just great. They’re just–ahw–they’re just great.

So, hold on-eh. Before we get going here: guys, guys: why is it so hot in here. Ethan? Uh, Markus: w-w-what’s going on here? You guys know of my penguin-complex, guys, I mean. W-what is the temp at? Like seventy-eight or something? Listen-listen-let’s just get things below seventy, OK? Let’s get into, like the sixty-nine, sixty-eight, sixty-seven area. Mmm. That just relaxes me. And it’s-that’s-that’s my temperature area. Anyways, we’ll get that adjusted. Ethan: thank you, man.

So, OK. So, let’s get started. So, this is part two of the Transatlantic Mezzanine Bridge. So, we’re gonna talk some more about the bridge and inject some more knowledge into those noggins of yours, ya hear. Eh-eh-honestly this bridge could easily take up six-hundred episodes. So, what I’m gonna do for the remainder of this episode is kind of pick-pick and choose some interesting pieces of information that I have read and researched about the bridge. And-uh I will bring those pieces of information in-into light, and we’re going to talk about them. Simple enough, eh?

So, just to summarize: the-the Mezzanine Bridge, the Transatlantic Mezzanine Bridge stretches over three-thousand miles, or about five-thousand kilometers from New York City to London, with an inland section in the UK leading to London from-well, from the water, obviously. The bridge took fifty-six years to construct and sadly over six hundred people died while constructing the bridge. The exact number of fatalities is-is at six hundred and three. This is out of forty-two thousand five hundred and six workers. Most deaths on the bridge were in relation to rough weather and unexpected challenges. Also, there was some lack of training that resulted in some fatalities, as well, unfortunately.

So, one thing that is quite interesting about the bridge was that, in all honestly iit could have easily taken a decade less to construct. Eh-eh-the thing that happened was: over twenty percent of the bridge–now this is on a section closer towards the United States side. This section had to get torn down and rebuilt due to, believe it or not: shotty building materials and supplies. Now, two major construction companies that were involved in the creation of the bridge were found guilty in cutting non-construction materials into concrete mixtures, to cheaply increase the yield.

Now, a-a massive–a multi-million dollar investigation took place, concerning this incident. And it was concluded that both companies were found guilty of putting additives such as literal food products and trash into concrete mixtures, while also minimizing the use of reinforcing rebar inside the concrete. Now they-these companies-they claimed these additives would suffice in place of rebar. But, uh-I mean: come on, man. Are you seriously going to look me in the eye and tell me that food can replace rebar? Eh-eh-eh-come on! That’s-that’s just ridiculous.

So, the section that was involved in this situation was-was; like I said: torn down and rebuilt. Now, after this entire process was complete, which dramatically increased the cost of the bridge, as you can imagine. One of the construction companies ended up going bankrupt-because of basically their reputation getting torn to shreds after they were exposed adding food to the bridge. Eh-eh-eh-it’s just ridonculous. Shortly after rebuilding the bridge. Man. I find it-I find it quite disturbing that they would even think that adding food and trash to concrete would have any benefit whatsoever.

One interesting thing a-about this case is that how it was actually discovered that this was taking place was not by construction workers coming up and telling others: hey-hey-hey: food’s getting added to this construction mixture. It wasn’t anything like that. What happened was: it was determined–and-and it was discovered that the bridge was attracting a large amount of aquatic life. Marine life was literally eating away at the bridge. Aquatic life was seen on video eating away at the bridge. It was ridiculous. And, heh-heh: that was the initial red flag that spearheaded this entire investigation. It was fish nibbling at food particles in the concrete of the bridge. Pretty insane in the membrane.

So, what is also fascinating is that four point eight billion metric tons of concrete were used to construct the bridge. This also includes roughly one point two billion metric tons of steel. Hah. That is a massive amount of materials. Heh-heh. Oh my gosh. Imagine what you can create with that many materials. What-what could you make? A tower to space or something? Oh my gosh. I don’t even know. Mmm. I don’t even know.

So, besides the materials-uh that were used to make the bridge–I know we’re kind of skimming over what the bridge was made with–I want to get to-uhm-something else I find quite fascinating: and this is, as you can probably assume: lengthwise we’re at about three thousand miles, which is about five thousand kilometers. So, there’s going to be some gas stations, some stops, some hotels, some other amenities for travelers to stop at. ‘Cause no one is just going to get on that baby and just drive three thousand miles straight. I mean: OK. Don’t get me wrong: you’re going to have people that are gonna do that. I don’t know how: but-hah: eh-it’s going to be done.

So, for the ninety-nine point nine percent of people who are not going to be doing that; yes: every forty to ninety miles there is a gas station of some sorts, a rest area, a small shopping mall, a store, restaurants or hotel; and there are even a few parks strewn about. Also, this is-this is quite cool: the bridge has five separate fire and police departments, all assigned to different sections of the bridge, obviously. Furthermore, they have a very extensive traffic-camera monitoring system, call boxes every ten miles, and a cellular network that extends for the entirety of the bridge. And, thankfully this is not just a-a situation where it’s just one monopoly who has the whole bridge, in terms of network providers. The bridge actually has its own network that most carriers can actually access. I find that quite-quite interesting.

OK. So, let’s talk about the speed limit on the bridge. This is pretty cool. Now the speed limit varies, based on conditions, based on the area. But in general the speed limit is seventy to eighty miles per hour or one hundred and twelve to one hundred and twenty-eight kilometers per hour. Like I stated previously there is also a hyperloop on the bridge. Now, this will blow you away: the hyperloop can achieve speeds up to seven hundred miles per hour, or about two thousand five hundred and twenty kilometers per hour. I wonder what those hyperloop prices are? They aren’t going to be cheap. Man. OK. OK.

Let’s continue here: So, now, I mentioned weather monitoring. Or-or did I? Hm. OK. Weather monitoring is something that is taken very seriously on the bridge. Drivers are given multiple warnings when approaching large oceanic storms. These warnings are communicated via brightly lit signs all across the bridge. There’s even multiple severe weather garages for parking your vehicles if you are ever caught in a bad storm. I think that’s pretty cool. And these garages are also attached to hotels and so forth to squeeze as much money out of you as humanly possible. You know: gotta take advantage of the storm, ya know.

So, let’s go onto a different subject: tolls on the bridge. Yep. Ladies and gents: there’s some crazy tolls on the bridge. Now, full bridge access from end to end costs three hundred dollars, or two hundred and fifty euros. Now this is for up to four axles. And also it will cost one hundred dollars or eighty-three euros per each additional axel. Motorcycles only cost one hundred and fifty dollars or one hundred and twenty five euros for the entirety of the bridge. Not too bad at all.

So, now, say you wanna check out the bridge but you don’t want to drive the entire length of it–OK, well: you’re in luck. Now, you-you aren’t in luck in terms of not having to experience tolls. But, you are in luck in that they have thought about people who will not be venturing one way down the entire bridge.

So, these tolls: there’s different toll packages, I guess you could say. There’s a toll for half bridge access–there’s a toll for quarter bridge access. Now, if you just wanna drive on the bridge for just a few miles–just to check it out: you will have to pay the smallest access toll; which is the quarter bridge access toll, which isn’t too bad: it’s a fraction of the entire bridge toll.

Now, in terms of pedestrians–oh, pedestrians. You know: people like you and I. Well, currently I am not a pedestrian. I’m recording this podcast. Wait: am I a pedestrian? When-when can you actually become a pedestrian? Is that when you step foot on uh-a sidewalk somewhere? I mean, I-I guess so. I’m gonna have to look that up. Mmm. So, pedestrians are only allowed at the start, the very end, and only near road stops, or other amenities along the bridge. Or cannot walk, run, or whatever from one side to the other as the majority of it is restricted to vehicle access only. However, there are some talks about expanding one of the shoulders of the bridge to have pedestrian access. However, right now that does not exist.

So, anyways: now-ah-you know what? I-I need to get across this bridge. OK. I’m gonna do this before the year is up. OK. It-it’s gonna happen. Ain’t nobody gonna stop me, eh. Aw-eh-eh-honestly it’s-it’s gonna be a lot of fun. Mmm. I’m just thinking of, like, gettin’ a rental and just, like, flooring it, like, three hundred miles an hour the entire time. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. I’m kidding. Or-or am I? Speaking of rental companies; yes: there are popular car rental companies on each end of the bridge that specifically rent vehicles for bridge access. Which is-mmm-pretty cool. Pretty cool.

Anyways, uhm-so, I’m going to be on that bridge soon. What about you? What do you think? Do you think this bridge is a great idea? Do you think it’s a waste of time–a waste of money? Is it blocking marine life? Or affecting marine life, or something of that nature? Give me your opinion. You know what? Don’t knock it until you try it. OK? You can give me a pre-bridge opinion, but I want an opinion on you, after you have actually gone across the entire bridge. That’s the opinion I want. So, you gotta make that happen, man. You gotta make that happen. Hey: maybe I’ll see you out there. I’ll be the one doing three hundred and fifty miles an hour across the bridge. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.

That’s it folks. I am out of time. Thank you so much for listening.

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