Volume 2 Issue 13
February 19, 2003
Well, That Wasn't Fun
The harsh return, more panic to come, and let's bash the French some more
Well, I'm back in the Swamp, good ol' DC. Upon arriving at Dulles today around 7am, I headed in for work...and then nothing happened. Looks like the roads weren't quite cleared enough for a rush hour, and all hell broke loose. Or rather stayed put. So, after three hours trying to get into the city, I took the day off and headed home, to a street that was surprisingly plowed! But then I was told it was done by a neighbor of course, there's no way the city would have done so good a job. So I've embarked on digging out a space for my car, which I'm taking a break from now to give you all a swamp, whether you be at work or school or snowbound yet again. And let me tell you something...2 1/2 feet is a shitload of snow. I'd really forgotten how much there is, it almost comes up to your waist at times. But, I'm happy to just move some of it now, and take the day to rest, rather than to have been here during it!
What I don't understand is why DC is continuously so inept with snow. I thought they were getting better, but then here we go. On the plane, I could watch the early morning news from New York City. There, while they discussed the blizzard, it was in the past tense. The transport systems were on normal schedules and on-time. Everything was open (except the schools). Down here, it's like the world ended. Metro won't be running at normal strength until at least Friday we're told. Huh? And why one would not plow the entire highway, but just parts of it? And if the whole region was incapable of supporting a rush hour, why did the federal government decide to open? Guess wolves weren't roaming the streets...they were probably stuck in traffic.
So the great California adventure has come to an end, and it was fun to see a place that was different from here. When I was growing up, the cities were all very different, i.e. New York was different from Philadelphia was different from Washington. Now people in Washington and Philadelphia shop at the same supermarkets and drug stores, eat at the same chains, gas up at the same stations, etc. Basically, we've begun to homogenized America a bit to much. And while some things out West are without explanation (I really don't like the lack of exit numbers on the freeways...it just freaks me out for some reason), there was a general feeling of it being something different which was interesting. Now back to that snow...then I'm going to bed, which is why we're so short today. Back up to full operating status tomorrow hopefully, just like DC.
What is with these people? As 48 hours after the storm ended, some HIGHWAYS were still not plowed, the DC area had a hellish commute today -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29707-2003Feb19.html
There was so much snow that ski resorts had to close -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27898-2003Feb18.html
And where will they put all of it? The area is trying to figure that one out. Along side the Dulles Toll Road, they're dumping it in the median at one place -
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20030219-96655870.htm
A reason for not limiting malpractice claims: In the ongoing debate about doctors and their malpractice insurance, here's a case that blows you away. At Duke University, a transplant team gave a girl the wrong organs, and she will likely die as a result. This is also where the states need to regulate more. No one will get in trouble for this, and the hospital will just have some PR guy talk about how they've changed their procedures etc. Just a case to look at the issue in a different view -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27387-2003Feb18.html
Hey, let's start another panic! Not content with last week's panic, Tom Ridge is ready to start another one, with his "Ready Campaign" -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/19/homeland.security.ap/index. html
Unintended Consequences: Bush's Iraq talk has driven oil to $37 a barrel. In the Bay Area, gas is routinely over $2.00 and no one blinks an eye anymore...I'd expect it near you soon -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25994-2003Feb18.html
The South Korean subway fire was not terrorism, but rather started by someone who was trying to commit suicide...and lived. And killed 120 people. Um...note to folks out there: If you want to kill yourself on the subway, just jump in front of a train. I mean, you inconvenience people, but don't kill them -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2779453.stm
Look Who's Running for President: Dick Gephardt made it official today -
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/politics/AP-Gephardt.html
Look Who's Running for President 2: Donna Brazile warned Dems to not dismiss Al Sharpton, lest they lose African-American support -
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030219-4145243.htm
More "Old-Europe" Bashing: A restaurant in North Carolina has stopped serving French Fries. They're now called "freedom fries." Great. -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/02/19/offbeat.freedom.fries .ap/index.html
And, in what can't be a great help to France's prestige, a Concorde made an emergency landing in Canada today. The Concorde, the only supersonic passenger plane (although the one I was on today had to be close...coast to coast in less than 4 hours?) was once the world's safest, now it is even more dangerous than military planes -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2781275.stm
Have a great day! *Yawn*
