Category Archives: inthenews

Tragic Ending – Art Car 2008

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Well, it was a fabulous day of Art Car Parading, but unfortunately it ended tragically. memoriesBecky, Tricia, Al, and I were returning in Versatile to pick up Tricia’s car from the Art Car Museum.

Just prior to our arrival, Tom and two others were sitting on the curb, just having locked up the museum. A car struck tricia’s, and sent it 3-4 car lengths, hitting all three guys, but pinning Tom.

He was conscious when he left, and we did not learn of his death until the following day.

Some corrected facts that I’ve seen misreported, misinterpreted, or unmentioned:
The car was parked legally.
The street was otherwise empty.
The car was lifted with a rescue air bag.

On to some of the fun from the day (which Tom would not want us to forget!):

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We Want to Help You Stimulate US

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“Enclosed is an important message from the IRS on the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Do Not Throw Away!”

That’s a quote from the back of the envelope from the United States Treasury. A paraphrase of the inside text: we consider you below the poverty line, you have zero adjusted income last year, and still had to pay $180 tax, so we’re throwing you a bone. We deposited $300 in your account 6 days ago. Please spend it all in one place, we think it will stimulate the economy. Not as much as all those rich people who we gave tax breaks will stimulate the economy …

$300 in a $13,794,000,000,000 GDP: I would do the math, but my calculator has an overflow error when I try to figure the percentage.

Benedict – A Breakfast Name

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Once again the Bush Administration makes me wonder if there is anyone educated in protocol working there.

Is it correct etiquette to greet a Pope, or any leader of state or leader of religion, with a 21 gun salute? I bet not.

One past slip of the protocol: official announcement of a new Ambassador to Luxembourg did not use it’s full name (as can be found in online US government documents)!

We’re sorry Pope Benedict, and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg – it’s not most of our faults, we voted for someone else.

Live News Cameras . Com

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This looks interesting. Almost like what CNN was to news 25 years ago – on the edge and trying to figure out where they fit.

livenewscameras.com

The deal? 100+ feeds from live news cameras across the country and across the globe. Often (they’re working on 24/7) they have a live person, who will alert you to what channel has something interesting on it. They’re often doing the same thing you’re doing – watching the feeds.

Government Should Serve Citizens

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Houston has been promoting the draconian measure of red light cameras in the city “to increase safety”.

While many of us may be annoyed at that last person squeezing through a red light at 20 miles per hour during rush hour, there have not been any rashes of deadly accidents caused by red light runners.

There are lots of accidents in the city every day. But in a world where we allow people to take a test once at 15 years of age, and to drive with cell phones, hamburgers, make-up, and video displays (not to mentioned unmuzzled children) we are to expect some distracted and incapable drivers.

There was a recent study showing a slight rise in accidents due to red-light running, with a shift from side-on to rear-end.

Also, extending the yellow light duration has a much greater safety effect.

Now, the National Motorist Association (via sivacracy.net) shows that in 6 cities (two in Texas), the yellow light duration was shorter than the minimum suggested by state traffic safety organizations. Not really surprising. The only goal of red-light cameras is revenue generation.

Municipalities are given a hard sell by the companies who make them (and administer, for a cut of the profit) shaming or forcing our pliable “leaders” to decide to buy them “for the safety of the people”. Houston has even talked about expanding it to people “rolling the red light to turn right”. This is not a major problem!

Traffic lights, signals, and signs have 2 goals: to facilitate traffic flow, and to do so safely. They are not there to punish us, they are not installed to provide revenue. Any camera to surveil the populace is one too many!