Tag : maps
Although it’s also sort of a during-dissertation road trip.
Not pictured is the flying from San Diego to Pittsburgh and back. Long may it remain unpictured!
Presumed worst parts (in chronological order):
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For no particular reason whatsoever. None. I figure four weeks or so. Maybe four and a half.
No tolls.
Man, but the middle of the country is boring, though. Just looking at that long, straight-ish line makes me shudder. If you ask me, we should collapse the middle of the country. My brother and his family can get out of South Dakota first. Heck, everyone can get out if they want to. We’ll give them two weeks notice. There’s no reason why Wyoming shouldn’t just border Minnesota.
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The worst thing about moving to Pittsburgh is that it’s on the wrong side of the line.
Bright yellow is Carl's, the lighter one is Hardee's.
If you’re not aware, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s are owned by the same company. As such, you don’t find both restaurants in the same market. It’s hard to say how they’ve determined who gets what market in some cases. Obviously there’s historical precedent (Carl’s originated in California and had mostly just California stores until some time in the 90’s, frex), but in the areas where neither chain had much of a presence… yeah, it’s like they just drew a line.
Three areas of non-clarity: one in SW Montana/SE Idaho/NW Wyoming (which chain does Jackson get?!), one in Western Kansas/Nebraska (which chain does, um, you know, that big city in western Nebraska get?!), and one in Southeast Texas (Houston).
Also if you’re not aware, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s do not have similar menus (aside from both serving hamburgers). They *do*, however, have identical marketing and branding materials — they run the same TV commercials for both, only they have a photo of a different hamburger at the end. Their websites are almost identical (again with the burger photo swapped out). Same star at both locations, same “Six-Dollar” nomenclature (attached to different burgers), etc.
It’s kind of irritating. Here’s the crux of it: why should it never be possible for someone living east of The Line to order a Western Bacon Cheeseburger? Seriously. Just put it on Hardee’s’s menu, it’ll be all right.
It’s also kind of weird to overlay this map with Jack-in-the-Box locations. If you look at the Hardee’s menu, it bears a striking resemblance to Jack-in-the-Box. And with a few exceptions, Jack-in-the-Box’s map almost perfectly overlays Carl’s Jr. and makes very few incursions across the line into Hardee’s territory.
Anyway. I’m going to miss the Western Bacon Cheeseburger. Here’s hoping Carl Karcher Enterprises comes to its senses.
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