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Topic:
JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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ValedaKor
Title: C-IV RSA
Registered:
Oct '00
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Date Posted:
6/17/06 3:13pm
Subject:
JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
- Date Edited:
8/19/06 6:24pm (7 edits total)
Edited By:
ValedaKor
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With thanks to the L.A. Convention and Visitors Bureau, and I added notes that HardwareStoreJedi and Miana Kenobi have pointed out....
Since it appears that many of you have never been to Los Angeles and/or California, perhaps the following information will help to orient you to the Golden State and its many rules and regulations  .
CLIMATE
Los Angeles enjoys what is called a “Mediterranean climate;” moderate temperatures with low humidity year-round. IT WILL NOT RAIN. Midday readings average 70 degrees in May; expect middle to high 70’s, I’d say. However, be aware that heat waves are not uncommon on Memorial Day - as in 90-100+ degrees, Fahrenheit. Take precautions in costuming appropriately. Luckily, evenings are generallly cool, even in the summer.
DRIVING AND PARKING
The minimum driving age in California is 16. Drivers must posses a valid U.S. or international driver’s license.
If there are no posted signs (or ones that you can’t see because you are driving by too fast), maximum speed is 25 miles per hour on city streets and 65 miles per hour on the freeway. Yes, we Californians fudge on this. But that doesn’t mean you should. Be safe, not sorry.
California law requires that seat belts be used at all times. This means YOU, people! See safe, not sorry comment, above.
You can turn right on red lights (unless otherwise posted, which isn’t very often) in California.
Los Angeles is full of one way streets. You may turn left into a left-moving one-way street if there is no sign to prohibit the turn. Yield to pedestrians, bicyclists or other vehicles moving on their green light.
Drunk driving is taken very seriously out here. Honestly, did I have to point that out?
Lots of tickets are given for parking violations. There is not a whole lot of long-term parking around the convention center. OK, there really isn’t any. So, before you park that rental on a side street, get out and find those parking signs. And “it was hidden behind a tree” is no excuse when the tow truck shows up.
SALES AND HOTEL TAX
If you are buying stuff in Los Angeles County (which is pretty likely, so you're bringing a lot of money, right?), you will be charged a sales tax of 8.25%. All you Oregonians, stop groaning!
The Hotel Transient Occupancy Tax (or TOT, for those in the hotel biz) in the City of Los Angeles is 14%. Sales Tax is not charged on top of this – the politicians are not quite that greedy. In other cities, the TOT ranges from 10% to 14%.
SMOKING AND DRINKING
You cannot smoke indoors in any public building in California; bars, restaurants, libraries, it doesn’t matter. If a restaurant has an outdoor dining area, smoking is generally permitted; but be prepared to get dirty looks. It’s just the way it is.
The legal age for drinking and purchasing alcohol in California is 21. And yes, if you look remotely under 30, you will get carded. If you’re not 21, just order that Mountain Dew and be happy with it. Bartenders and the restaurants they work at can get in really big trouble if they serve underage drinkers, so keep ‘em happy, OK?
FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS
Electrical current in the States is 110 volts AC. Bring a converter with you.
And DVDs sold out here are generally for Region 1, so think about that before you load up with 50 bootleg copies of the Holiday Special.
And thanks to Happy Ninja, I've added this:
"DVD's in the United States are Region 1, whereas Europe is Region 2, and Australia is Region 4 - the majority of DVD players these days are multiregion either via hacking your player via your remote control, or by having it chipped like mine (I seriously do not recommend that you play them on your PC's DVD player as with a lot of drives, once the region has been changed, you cannot change them back); however, you need to make sure that your television can produce an NTSC signal, as that is the screening format in the USA, whereas Europe/Australia run on a PAL system."
I’ll be following this thread up with information about airports, getting around, rental cars, etcetera. I hope this is helpful!
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Amidala Starkiller
Title: FanForce RSA
MidSouth USA
Registered:
Dec '99
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Date Posted:
6/18/06 1:59pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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HardwareStoreJedi posted:
ValedaKor posted:
CLIMATE
Los Angeles enjoys what is called a “Mediterranean climate;” moderate temperatures with low humidity year-round. Midday readings average 70 degrees in May; expect middle to high 70’s, I’d say. IT WILL NOT RAIN. Evenings are cool, even in the summer.
I would add: beware that heat waves are not uncommon on Memorial Day. As in 90-100+ degrees, Fahrenheit. Take precautions in costuming appropriately.
Just like Texas. 
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Miana Kenobi
Title: Pacific Region RSA
NSWFF Manager
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
6/19/06 4:42pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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I would also like to add this:
Los Angeles is full of one way streets. UNLESS POSTED OTHERWISE, it is okay to turn left on a red light if you are on a one way street cross (if the one way street permits it, that is.)
Unless LA has different rules than us. Helen? 
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NaboosPrincess
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
May '01
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Date Posted:
6/19/06 6:24pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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We are just a little too impatient here to wait for all the pedestrians to cross the street. 
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ValedaKor
Title: C-IV RSA
Registered:
Oct '00
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Date Posted:
6/19/06 6:35pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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skywalker_1982 posted:
All the roads in america are 
firstly you drive on the wrong side of the road
What I cannot understand is I found in indy that you hit the button to cross the road when the green man appears why do people still insist to drive over the crossing causing me to stop for a brief moment in the middle of the road is that allowed???
No, it's not allowed, but certain drivers do it because they're idiots and don't know how to drive.
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Miana Kenobi
Title: Pacific Region RSA
NSWFF Manager
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
6/19/06 8:23pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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Also:
DMV rules
Green light = go.
Yellow light = slow down, red's coming up.
Red light = STOP.
CA Drivers
Green light = go.
Yellow light = Speed up
Red light = either stop or keep going.
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AboutaSith
Title: IEFF Webi-Master
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
6/21/06 7:48pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
- Date Edited:
6/21/06 7:49pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
AboutaSith
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Miana Kenobi posted:
Also:
DMV rules
Green light = go.
Yellow light = slow down, red's coming up.
Red light = STOP.
CA Drivers
Green light = go.
Yellow light = Speed up
Red light = STOP no matter wht. If it's clear, you may make the right turn unless signs forbid.
Fixed. 
CA DMV
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Dark Lady Mara
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
6/25/06 10:32am
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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You're kidding! I'd heard once upon a time that California drivers were pretty good about not blowing through yellow lights (at least compared to drivers in the east). Oh well. I guess it's time for me to be disabused of my fallacious notions.
How is transportation for those of us who might not have access to a car while we're there?
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ValedaKor
Title: C-IV RSA
Registered:
Oct '00
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Date Posted:
6/25/06 12:55pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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Dark Lady Mara posted:
How is transportation for those of us who might not have access to a car while we're there?
Depends on where you want to go. Easy public transportation, by which I mean Metrolink trains and subways, to the San Fernando Valley (including Hollywood and Universal Studios) is good. Downtown LA -- very good, with the train and DASH buses. Parts of the San Gabriel Valley, which is 20 miles east of L.A., can be hard to get to. Getting to and from LAX -- very easy now, with the new Flyaway bus service.
We do have a bus system, which like most bus services can take a while. You can actually get to Disneyland by train and bus, if you're interested in something like that; it'll be slower than driving, but you can get there.
We are a automobile-oriented society out here; although that is slowly changing, what's in place now is what you'll have in May of 2007.
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JediMasterPanama
Title: FanForce CR
Panama
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
8/12/06 9:21am
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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Just wondering...how much money does a meal cost over there. I've heard like even McDonald's is expensive so give me an idea please! 
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ValedaKor
Title: C-IV RSA
Registered:
Oct '00
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Date Posted:
8/12/06 10:08am
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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JediMasterPanama posted:
Just wondering...how much money does a meal cost over there. I've heard like even McDonald's is expensive so give me an idea please!
I'm just about to leave the house... I'll drive by a McDonald's and let you know. I do think that the combos and whatnot tend to be at least a dollar more around here. However, all the fast food places are now coming out with those cheap "snack meals." Taco Bell is still the cheapest place around, though .
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DarkPrince
Registered:
Nov '05
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Date Posted:
8/12/06 12:13pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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ValedaKor posted:
JediMasterPanama posted:
Just wondering...how much money does a meal cost over there. I've heard like even McDonald's is expensive so give me an idea please!
I'm just about to leave the house... I'll drive by a McDonald's and let you know. I do think that the combos and whatnot tend to be at least a dollar more around here. However, all the fast food places are now coming out with those cheap "snack meals." Taco Bell is still the cheapest place around, though .
Taco Bell is great, I love that place.
I just hope that I can find a IHOP that's near where I'm staying by the LAX airport. I don't know how long I could go without an IHOP.
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ValedaKor
Title: C-IV RSA
Registered:
Oct '00
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Date Posted:
8/12/06 12:55pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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Ahem... after exhaustive research , here are some sample prices for you, as found in the greater L.A. basin:
Big Mac Combo: $4.79. Big Mac sandwich: $2.69.
Quarter Pounder Combo: $3.19.
Chicken Club Combo: $5.49.
New Snack Wraps: $1.69.
They do specials all the time, too. Right now, Double Cheeseburgers are $1.00 and 42 ounce drinks are 59 cents.
As far as IHOP goes, hmmmm (bit of BSP here: my company redesigned their corporate offices), there's one at 8600 South Sepulveda, just north of LAX. I think there are others around there, just have to find 'em.
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Miana Kenobi
Title: Pacific Region RSA
NSWFF Manager
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
8/17/06 5:49pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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*waves hand* You all WILL go to In & Out.
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resnictem
Registered:
Jan '99
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Date Posted:
8/19/06 10:12am
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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Um, for those of us that maybe vegatarian, or can't stomach any kind of fast food, is there a grocery store, or deli place we could eat at? Someplace we could possible buy portable munchies, like energy bars or dried fruit or something?
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DarkPrince
Registered:
Nov '05
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Date Posted:
8/19/06 12:12pm
Subject:
RE: JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM: L.A. BASICS
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ValedaKor posted:
Ahem... after exhaustive research , here are some sample prices for you, as found in the greater L.A. basin:
Big Mac Combo: $4.79. Big Mac sandwich: $2.69.
Quarter Pounder Combo: $3.19.
Chicken Club Combo: $5.49.
New Snack Wraps: $1.69.
They do specials all the time, too. Right now, Double Cheeseburgers are $1.00 and 42 ounce drinks are 59 cents.
As far as IHOP goes, hmmmm (bit of BSP here: my company redesigned their corporate offices), there's one at 8600 South Sepulveda, just north of LAX. I think there are others around there, just have to find 'em.
That's awesome for the IHOP. I love that place. I only say this as I'm staying at a hotel right across from LAX. Unless the fanclub block gives me something better.
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