Pretty Lights, Or Smooth Safe Traffic Flow?

So, a couple of accidents have shut down the Marquette Interchange on this Thursday morning's rush hour. One, not exactly sure where. The other, an overturned semi on National.

Should there be any surprise, I mean really? They say that the design decisions have been made with aesthetics and safety in mind. Just look at the mood lighting and odd lane configuration in place with future expansion in mind. Now that's planning, by the way, given their on-time under-budget implementation.

But I digress. Consider this: I94 to I43 south, a single lane turning into an exit only lane. Markings to discourage crossing into the main thoroughfare. I don't know the exact distance. But, it seems when I drive through it all I have is about two seconds to decide what to do. This is made all the more interesting when some poor soul is trying exit on National from two lanes over.

So to hear about today's traffic situation? No surprises here. How about reconfiguring the lanes to something that makes a little bit more sense, folks? What's more important: pretty lights, or smooth and safe traffic flow?

So They Want To Blame Obama, Ey..?

You know, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Clinton leaves office with a widely known budget surplus. Bush takes office and on his watch the country dives into a deficit. Obama inherits a fucked up financial situation.

But one thing is certain: allowing some of Bush's policies to continue certainly isn't helping..

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/business/economy/10leonhardt.html?_r=1&hp

Tax Breaks For Pets, Not For Domestic Partners

Unreal. There are a couple of Republicans out there who would like to setup a tax break for pet owners. As some of my friends on Facebook have commented, whatever happened to giving tax breaks for domestic partners?

Looks like to at least two individuals, man and his best friend are more entitled to this benefit compared to two men in a long-term committed relationship. Hasn't it been the rule for some conservatives to be staunchly against domestic partnerships and gay marriage because of a slippery slope argument? You know the one: it includes spewing rhetoric that on recognizing gay couples, domestic partners, civil unions, look-alike marriage, etc. we'll eventually be forced to allow people to marry animals.

Wait a minute: my partner of 11 years and I each own a cat, so if this bill gets passed we're eligible for double the credit.. hmm..? ;-)

NPR Article:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113791908

Bill information on Thomas Library Of Congress:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR03501:@@@L&summ2=m&

Let Me Appreciate You By Castration..

Stories like this are utterly disgusting. Imagine that you've made a discovery that literally changes the direction of a world war. Imagine the pride that you must feel in making such a huge difference to countless millions in war weary populations. Then imagine your country focusing on one aspect of your personality, and treating you like a monster to the point that your only way out is to kill yourself.

Yes, this is rather harsh but this article is but one extreme example of the harsh treatment that some gays have faced just for being who they are.

Did you know that at one time, one of the many "cures" for being gay was chemical castration?

Imagine if mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing's homosexuality was "discovered and dealt with" prior to making his discovery during the war against Nazi Germany.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/09/11/alan.turing.petition.apology/index.html?section=cnn_latest