Highways, pangrams, palindromes
I know it’s a bit lame to write a post that just refers to someone else’s post, but this one is too good to let slip through the cracks. After you go to Dictionary.com and look up the word pangram, you have to read this post about Interstate 287 in New Jersey:
A 0.8-mile stretch of northbound Interstate 287 in New Jersey contains these signs:
WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS
NO TRUCKS IN LEFT LANE
LAFAYETTE AVE.
EXIT 20 MPH
BRIDGE FREEZES BEFORE ROAD SURFACE
INTERSTATE NEW JERSEY 287To date this is the shortest reported stretch of U.S. highway whose permanent, official signs contain all 26 letters of the alphabet.
Of course a whole slew of questions come to mind:
- Was this deliberate or an accident?
- Did someone try to break the coveted “shortest pangram highway” record? What’s the prize?
- If this wasn’t deliberate, who counted the distance, the signs, and the letters? Whoever it was, bless their hearts.
Speaking of “pa-” words… What’s your favorite palindrome? Mine has to be “A man, a plan, a canal – Panama.“ Can you beat that?
3 Comments
Raveendran N on November 5th, 2009
Life’s good, with so many things to read and enjoy! Who cares for dirty sites and mud-slinging religious spam now?
James on May 19th, 2010
Mine is Interstate 96 and Interstate 69, which run together around Lansing, Mich.
Keri on February 23rd, 2009
(Cracks knuckles)
“Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age”
And a word-unit palindrome:
“Son, I am able,” she said, “though you scare me.” “Watch,” said I. “Beloved,” I said, “Watch me scare you though.” Said she, “Able am I, son.”
Yes, I have committed both of those to memory. But I may have had a little help.