The Feds have agreed to allow states to delay inspections for bridges in poor condition - this is a decision that was made after the I35 disaster in Minny where 13 people died when a bridge collapsed. This makes me ANGRY. Read about it here -

What the fuck are people in government thinking? In New York, at least according to the statistics, there is no bridge that isn't scheduled for an inspection every 24 months. The worst state in comparison? Illinois, with nearly 11,000 bridges on schedules longer than 24 months. California is in third with 3,600... which to me is absolutely dangerous and inexplicable given that its such a seismically active area. Combined with a $15 billion budget deficit, I wonder how Cali manages to maintain its infrastructure at all.

Keep in mind - this sort of statistic is keeping track only the *scheduled* bridge inspections. It doesn't speak about if/when the inspections have actually occurred. Wondering about your own local commute? I sure was - I roundtrip across the southern Grand Island bridges twice a day. The problem is that even bridges your state and federal government KNOW are unsafe are not being inspected within an acceptable time frame. Want to know how the bridges on your commute rate?



The default commute is from SF, CA to San Rafael, CA - you'll have to change and tinker with the tool to have your bridges and ramps pop up. I checked my commute from Buffalo to Grand Island.

Grand Island Bridge - last inspection October 2006. Evaluation of condition - meets minimum tolerable limits to be left in place as is. Rating - structurally deficient. On average 11,000 people a day have no idea that they are crossing a structurally deficient bridge. Why hasn't it been repaired, and why is it acceptable for our government to allow citizens to use risky infrastructure? WHY IS IT THAT THEY JUST INCREASED THE TOLL FOR THIS BRIDGE KNOWING DAMN WELL THAT THE MONEY THEY ARE COLLECTING AT THE BRIDGE IS NOT BEING PRIORITIZED TO MAINTAIN IT?

190/324 interchange - December 2006. Same evaluation and rating as the GI bridge.

Rt. 33 near Grider St. - August 2006 - same story.

I would love to know who to complain to.

Think I lie? Check it out.



I was amused by the throngs of "GROSS!" and "YUCK!" reviews. The fucking guy is the executive chef at Aquavit in Manhattan - this ain't some dredded out stoner cheffing in the dorm room. I say, try it before hating on it. Who is with me? We can even discuss the various outcomes we have on my journal.

Perhaps after seeing this my brother won't want Philly to be a smoking crater anymore - for me this is a genuine American form of protest.



For a further explanation read here -

I have to admit, this is one of the stranger bits of news I've read in a while. Three generations of shoplifters, all in one store at one time -

Oh, and I wanted to leave you guys with what is the strangest music video I've ever seen.... EVER! Its a hodgepodge of gay innuendo, psychedelia, dance and totally unrelated things, being thrown together for reasons I'll never understand.

Oliver Stone is creating a new film about the life and presidency of GWB -

Now we can wait for the explanations over the elements of fantasy in his movie, just as he did for 'JFK,' with gems like "maybe so but I felt the spirit of the movie was true."

And based on the recent poor performances of politically oriented Hollywood scripts, I wonder how well it will do to begin with. Perhaps the ABB's that are still around will feel a sense of warped patriotic honor and go see this movie, but at this point its beyond painfully obvious that there has been and currently is no market for the lefty flicks that Hollywood can't help itself... with or without.

What amuses me more is when Oliver Stone is asked about his personal opinion of the POTUS, which is well-known. His response is in the article I've linked. If anybody is actually gullible enough to believe that, I've got a great set of blue bridges (perfectly safe, btw!) that span the north and south sides of Grand Island that I'd like to sell to you.

I'm not exactly a defender of President Bush in general, but to suggest that Oliver Stone of all people would put together a balanced account of President Bush's life and presidency is laughable. He is in Cindy Sheehan territory, and I only say that in a hip, post-ironic way to reinforce her past relevance.