The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will issue a final rule next month that will force states to spend an estimated $1.2 billion to implement the “511″ traffic information hotline championed by former Vice President Al Gore. So far, thirty-two states have established telephone numbers that provide callers with pre-recorded traffic updates. The rule will standardize the data formats and required features that will apply to all the states, beginning with coverage in the top-fifty metropolitan areas.
Beyond 511, the new federal rule will force states to offer real-time traffic information already being provided by a number of companies including Google, Yahoo!, Clear Channel, Westwood One and Navteq. These firms distribute high-quality traffic information to the Internet, 2400 radio stations, 170 television stations and countless GPS units and mobile phones throughout the country.
So, let me get this straight. A perfectly workable service that is already being distributed by a billion and five private companies, and generally in considerably more useful formats than a frickin' phone number isn't good enough, no. We need to build a system, using a pile of taxpayer money, that doesn't work as well and causes even more bloody morons to crash into each other because they can't drive and use a cell phone at the same bloody time.
And, of course, we'll need to post up a few zillion more signs to alert people to this new service that doesn't work as well as something they already probably have built into the radio or navigation system of their frappin' car.
When I come to power, I will have very few, simple instructions for all arms of government. One of which will be: If Al Gore suggested it, do not do it.
I guess I can't hate the Red Sox as much. For a while.
I would not have thought I'd live to see a Republican Senator from Massachusetts in my lifetime.
I said some time ago that we needed Carter to get Reagan. Looks like this is the first of many steps back in the right direction.
UPDATE: And in the meantime, a glimpse into the utter lunacy we're up against.
I don't believe I've seen quite as stark a "but.. but.. you're supposed to help meeeeee!" tantrum since the third grade.
posted by Mr. Lion
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The fifth race of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season will be held, in partnership with NYC & Company, Jersey City, NJ and Liberty State Park, over the Hudson River on June 19 and 20. This year marks the sixth year of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship which will also land in nine cities including Abu Dhabi, UAE; Perth, Australia, and Lisbon, Portugal.
“New York City is known for its ability to draw some of the world’s greatest, large-scale events each year, and we’re always happy to welcome new and exciting sporting events that amplify its reputation as one of the most electrifying cities in the world,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “The Red Bull Air Race World Championship will, without a doubt, bring a new element of adventure to this city, and add to the incredible roster of events taking place here in 2010.”
The best summarization of the State of the Union address I've seen, is courtesy of Mark Steyn, by way of Hewitt.
MS: Yes, it is nonsense. I mean, this line that oh, I inherited a huge deficit, so what I’ve done is blown it up to an even larger size makes no sense anyway. But again, I think this is unbecoming in what is essentially a bit of monarchical theater. You know, Bush could very easily have said well look, he could have stood there in the 2002 State of the Union and said look, I inherited this al Qaeda mess from Bill Clinton, because he didn’t have the guts to take out the guy in Afghanistan when he could have. He could have stood there in 2003 and said well look, I inherited this unfinished Iraq business from my predecessor who just wanted to fly over and bomb the no-fly zone once in a while, and that’s unfinished business that I “inherited”. Obama will still be blaming everything on what he “inherited” in years and years to come. It’s time to man up. You’re the president. Nobody forced you to be the president. You wanted the job. Man up or get the hell out of the way. But to stand there blaming in this cheesy, tacky, finger pointing at a guy who’s been gone now for over a year just makes you look Princess Fairy Pants. It’s pathetic.
Princess Fairy Pants. Yeah, I think that's going to get some use.
OK. Now I’m mad. That rat-f*cker just claimed to support the protestors in Iran? He said maybe ONE thing since June of ‘08, and did nothing to actually help? I used to just disdain Obama. Now I hate him.
