An oldy (august of ‘08) dug up from out of the upsideout catacombs. I needed to share it too. It’s the future…

18 Responses to “Foreshadowing”

1. Peter Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am

   that was cool.
   NYC took Chicago’s Bike The Drive a couple steps further

2. bikesgonewild Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

   …the cool thing is that the real theme is humanity…whether folks are riding, rolling, running or strolling, everyone is out enjoying the surroundings & without all the motor vehicles, they can better appreciate their own senses…
   …much more interaction & contact because of that…

3. big jonny Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

   I like the line, “They should close the streets more often.”

   Yeah. Most of Manhattan should be closed to cars completely. The roadways, parking and other support infrastructure to support the car culture are inadequate. A move to bike, walk and state funded public transport such as buses, subways & trains would be a very smart move. (edit – I mean to say public transportation that gets tax “help”, and not transportation that is 100% free.)

   As for fixing Phoenix… I have no idea. A few of my northern breather in Flagstaff are quick to offer wiping the slate clean with a nuclear weapon. But what would poor Flagstaff do without the balance of the state to support it? How many jobs in Flagstaff are more than two degrees from “tourist dollars”? I’d venture to say not too many of them. Even the jobs one would think were safe, such as employment at Gore, Flagstaff Medical Center or Northern Arizona University, are dependent on the fact that Flagstaff is the world’s gateway to the Grand Canyon.

   That’s why a downturn in domestic discretionary spending doesn’t tank the place. The Euro remains strong against the dollar, and Germans pour funds in on their way to one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

   And you stinkfist bums curse the tourist dollar. Good on ya. Stay with that.

4. dave Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 2:27 pm

   “…state funded…”? BJ, where would the state get that money? What, you think that shit is free? Jesus, man, work for a living. Then get back to us. Maybe pay some taxes for a change.

5. big jonny Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 2:36 pm

   Dave,
   It doesn’t matter where the money comes from. What matters is that it’s the right thing to do.

   And, by the way, New York already has public transportation that is supported, in part, by tax dollars. I should have been more clear, I did not mean to say that it should be 100% free transportation. I’ll make an edit to reflect that.

6. dave Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

   Jonny,

   Yes it fucking DOES matter where the money comes from. That’s the main reason why all you liberals are going to Hell. If “it doesn’t matter where the money comes from”, then chances are good that it’s NOT “the right thing to do”. What, the Government just FOUND the money or some shit? Please. And you’re in law school, forfucksake? The things that pass for education these days.

   You want the Government to pay for everything. Problem is, the Government has no money. When the Government wants money, it takes it from guys like me at gunpoint. See, where I come from that’s stealing. Not only is that wrong; it won’t get you in God’s good graces. Find another way or go to one of those Communist countries like France and live. Otherwise you can never be my friend, and that makes me sad.

7. dave Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 2:52 pm

   To clarify, if it’s Government funded, it’s not free. Someone had to pay for it; most likely with money that was taken at gunpoint.

8. dave Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 2:53 pm

   silly liberal
   you think government is free
   someone has to pay

9. big jonny Says:
   January 4th, 2009 at 3:04 pm

   Dave, I don’t know how else to say this – You currently receive an awful lot of services that are paid, fully, absolutely and totally by tax dollars. We all do. That’s part of living in a “society”. Is that clear enough for you?

10. dave Says:
    January 4th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    No, Jonny. And apparently it is not clear enough for our “leaders”.

    Defense, fire, police, highways-things that the citizen can not do on his own? Yes, these are things that the government does well enough.

    Getting to work on time, paying the doctor, keeping a roof over one’s head, competing with the world as a major industry? These things belong in the private sector. As in, the money best not come out of my pocket.

    Oh, and “I don’t know how else to say this”? You havemuch work to do before you can call yourself a lawyer. But what do I know? I’m just a dumb electrician.

11. big jonny Says:
    January 4th, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    So the government can build and maintain roads, but not run the buses that move people around on them?

12. bikesgonewild Says:
    January 4th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    …god dammit, dave…the eagles are playing the vikings in a fucking play-off game…

    …whatever your views or your politics, leave jonny the fuck alone ’til after the game if you really wanna be his friend…plenty a time for discussion on a subject that is w/ us 24/7/365…

    …eagles in the playoffs, not so much…

13. Gnome Says:
    January 4th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    Nuke Dave! (totally kidding) I love dave. Dave?

    Update: Dave, us sharing the same name, I feel we have a sort of kindred spirit and I want to tell you this: I’m a conservative too.

    Now, you’re probably thinking that what I just said means that I’m a narrow minded, bible thumping, ignorant imbecile devoted to supporting whatever it is, that the “right” tells me I need to support, but that is not the case.

    Indeed, it is possible to meld both conservative fiscal values and socially liberal considerations, and come out just fine in the end. Too many people generalize conservativism as an inability to consider anything outside of the good book. In actuality, while I would like to see government spending at less than 3% gdp, I’d like that money to still be spent on bolstering our own societies instead of tearing down others. Imagine if that 10 billion per month that bushco has spent on killing U.S. troops and Iraqis(sp?), was spent on rehabilitation of our cities, infrastructure, and then, global humanitarian efforts. The country and the world would be a better place to reside in don’t you think?

    It’s ok. People will stlll love you.

14. bikesgonewild Says:
    January 4th, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    …& the eagles still fly high…

15. Erik Says:
    January 4th, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    Check out my experience with Mexico City’s experiment with this concept at http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/mexico-city-sunday-morning-bike-rides/. What they are doing will make poor Dave fall off his chair because it is obviously not contributing to commerce. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a damned civilized approach to things.

16. dave Says:
    January 4th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

    In Mexico, you say? Never happen here, more’s the pity.

17. Gee Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 3:24 am

    Dave’s a true american hero.

    When US business up and leave and offshore their profits to pay less taxes, Dave is the kind of guy who says no problem ! I’ll pay their share. When banks and car mfgrs can’t run their businesses and start going under, Dave is more than willing to mortgage his kids and grandkids futures so that those benevolent corporate scions can keep their noses to the grindstones and keep on making Amercia GREAT !! YEAH !! After all, if it wasn’t for these commie car-free initiatives, our free-market overloards would never have gotten distracted and we’d never be in this mess.

    Bernie Madoff for prez in 2012, yo !!!

18. Mike Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 5:11 am

    There once was a man from Fredrock.
    Who came across as a know it all cock.
    The Maurice and gang at Dirt Rag
    Offered a gag
    He called them fag
    He cried he owned all the land
    For that they gave him a ban
    Forever!!

    Dave–your foul mouth and your arrogance grows old everywhere you go.