If the global warming fringe
is so certain
of the scientific validity of its position,
why oh why
is it already resorting
to televising propoganda
with no content
save that which is designed only
to tweak the emotions?
If the global warming fringe
is so certain
of the scientific validity of its position,
why oh why
is it already resorting
to televising propoganda
with no content
save that which is designed only
to tweak the emotions?
I can’t write haiku.
The pattern is beyond me.
I just can’t grasp it.
So now gas is just about at $3 a gallon. I trust no one is shocked.
And how have we reacted to this impending crisis?
Well, let’s see. Chrysler and GM have had talks about co-producing a vehicle.
A highly efficient hybrid?
A stripped-down economy model?
Nope. Another SUV. Just what we need.
Locally, we’re doing no better. Gridlock is still wasting tremendous amounts of fuel unnecessarily.
On Tuesday, a mere ten percent of the Gainesville population voted to keep the incumbent city commissioners, based on their campaign promises to Do Something About The Traffic Problems Real Soon Now.
Since only eleven percent *voted*, unfortunately, that means the incumbents won in a landslide. Or, actually, more of a gravel dribble.
And unless my eyes deceive me, we’ve started addressing the issues caused by an over-capacity, badly broken traffic system by… drum roll please… increased traffic enforcement.
This is sort of like treating a cancer patient by slapping them until they apologize.
Clearly, of course, the frustration felt by people forced to island-hop between red lights on major thoroughfares isn’t the fault of the traffic planners. It’s some vague group of wandering gypsies known as “red-light runners”. And they must be stopped!
And what a chance to enhance revenue, to pay for all the additional officers driving around in big heavy cars while gas is $3 a gallon.
Did I mention that gas is $3 a gallon?
Does anyone think it’s going to stop there?
It’s time to stop treating these issues as though they were some sort of game. Do something, anything, right now. Put the low-impact signals into blink mode. Tweak a few more timings for better accuracy (Archer Road and 13th, anyone?) Encourage businesses to stagger their hours and their shifts. Research *real* alternatives for mass transit.
And for heaven’s sake, don’t approve any more development until we can handle the people we already have.
The Florida NPC site has posted the 2007 bodybuilding contest schedule.
I’m still incorporating the data into the searchable schedule on my site, but I did go ahead and post the list of contests I plan to attend this year.
I’ve gone from 13 last year to 10 planned this year, with three of those ten noted as tentative.
Two are tagged for distance, and the third is the Gainesville show, which wasn’t listed in the calendar. I’m following up to see if that was an oversight.
In any case, I’m quite happy with the planned itenerary thus far– I think it’s much more manageable than in years past.
Update: The Gainesville show is tentative for this year. More as I find out.
Oh, here we go again.
Daylight savings time, that aberration of an idea whose usefulness expired halfway through the last century, has actually been *expanded* by some six weeks.
Nothing can justify the brainwhack this causes to all Americans. Sleep patterns average about two hours. Changing the clock by half that is about the worst option one could imagine.
Furthermore, from a computer security standpoint, the change extends an already potentially dangerous race condition from a few hours to several weeks.
But if we’re resigned to doing this, then let’s be smart about it.
Let’s adopt a program whereby the clocks are changed every month by ten minutes in the appropriate direction.
That would maximize the (unsubstantiated assertions of) safety and energy conservation benefits and minimize the disruptive impact on the population at large.
Of course we’ll have to replace the “Spring forward, Fall back” mnemonic, but it was pretty moronic anyway. Admit it, you almost wanted to add a “Hyuck hyuck” at the end every time you said it.
I have a solution to the local traffic problems. Really.
All it will require is for the County Commission to fill the daily schedule the local DOT management with meetings on opposite corners of town.
I think the problems would get fixed rather quickly if they became part of the daily grind for those tasked with keeping them in check.
Look how long it’s been since I posted!
I’m repentant. Truly. I’ve been most busy, but that’s little excuse.