I found out yesterday that N/A does not necessarily mean not applicable. I went up to Canada, which is only about 20 miles from Bellingham. Now that the Canadian dollar is worth more, many Canadians come to the US to shop. Then, with school being out, that is quadrupled.

Supposedly, to help travelers at each side of the border -- prior to the exits for alternate routes -- a freeway sign that updates is installed and it predicts border waits at the different crossings. Yesterday, it  said that the truck crossing was a 25 minute wait. It said that the Peace Arch, the main crossing, was N/A.  Not applicable? That says to me that the border wait would be not applicable, as in minimal wait.

I found out that I was wrong in how I interpreted that. I am just not smart enough to figure out government speak. When I arrived at the Peach Arch, photo below, the N/A wait was one hour and twenty minutes. I was more than half way to the crossing when I snapped this photo.

 

So what is the correct way to interpret N/A? I spoke with a lawyer friend today, guess you have to have a legal mind to get it. I told him how wrong the sign was, complained that they don't update it. He said, "oh yes they do -- you just don't get it". He went on to explain that N/A means that the wait is so long that they cannot estimate it. Hence, not applicable,  as in we will not predict it, we have no clue, slow down and wait.

At least I did get an education today -- some insight into government logic. It was my lesson for the day: The totally obvious is not always totally obvious and N/A does not mean not applicable.

 

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

        

        

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6 Comments on Blaine, Where N/A Does Not Mean "Not Applicable"

JUL
24
2008
121,981 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Holy Cow! How long did that line take to get through? Or is the answer to that question N/A? LOL
7:59pm • #1
Hit Router

Perhaps N/A means Not Available?
8:25pm • #2
1,151,997 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Richard,

You might be on to something there. They sure got us locals fooled though. We all thought it was good being N/A. Ends up not.

 

Jim,

Took about an hour and twenty minutes
10:35pm • #3
JUL
25
2008
1,151,997 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Richard,

You win the prize. I called a friend who works there. He says it is "not available." Wish they had told us locals. Everyone I know had thought the N/A was the line, then we complain about it when we get tied up. Too bad it does not just say "long delay".
3:17pm • #4
1,980,523 Points 484 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

How long is the wait???   N/A.  Or, not accountable. 

Now that is a government explanation.
4:20pm • #5
1,151,997 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lenn,

Wait was nearly 1.5 hours. Government speak is not for me I think. At least, now that I know what it means, I will be better able to negotiate the silliness.
4:38pm • #6

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Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) Rainmaker_large

Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Bellingham, WA

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King of the House Home Inspection, Inc

Address: Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Sumas, Nooksack, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA, 98225

Office Phone: (360) 676-6908

Cell Phone: (360) 319-0038

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Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals. Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest. Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.


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