Sunday, August 5, 2012

Weekend Newsbites: Sat. & Sun., August 4 & 5, 2012


I've gotta tell ya, folks... I enjoy the Olympics!

Yesterday American Serena Williams literally demolished fellow American (*GRIN*) and cute blond Maria Sharapova... who was actually representing Russia... though she's lived in the U.S. since age 7.

(*SMILE*)

Serena played some of the best tennis of her life and totally dominated the little blond girl with the cannon camera and cute little puppy dog... and then - unfortunately - she "celebrated" with a bit... (umm...) too much exuberance. Still, though, nothing to get too hot and bothered over. She is who she is and came from where she came from... obviously "the moment" put her on auto-pilot and frankly... I can't blame her.

Today of course Scotsman Andy Murray made history by soundly thrashing Roger Federer (perhaps the greatest tennis player of all time) at center court Wimbledon to win Olympic gold for himself and for the United Kingdom.

GOOD FOR YOU, ANDY...!!!

Back to yesterday... Russia got the best of our men's volleyball squad. (I caught the early games at the gym while doing my workout.) Disappointing... but those Russians are tough! We'll just have to see how the race for the medals works out; certainly Team USA isn't out of it yet! Indeed, we could still win the gold!

Anyway... besides watching the Olympics... yesterday was BBQ day at Colleen's where we celebrated Kenny's and Kevin's birthdays and remembered Colleen's late dad who would have turned 75 today. (I of course made my kick-ass "heart attack potato salad" as well as my - if I do say so myself - awesome turkey burgers.)

Today...? I've gotta admit... I'm kinda comfy right here in the air conditioning... but we'll see what the rest of the day brings.

1 comment:

William R. Barker said...

http://online.wsj.com/article/APb49e7e5cb92d4f1da872047bd8c60fed.html

New York State officials on Friday said a planned replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge in Manhattan's northern suburbs could nearly triple the existing toll to $14, while two analysts outside the Cuomo administration warn the cost may rise further and be shouldered by taxpayers statewide.

* AND YET NO ONE HAS YET TRIED TO ASSASINATE CUOMO OR ANY OF THE OTHER POLITICIANS WHO ARE PUSHING THIS INSANITY.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration, however, tried to bolster support for his proposed $5.2 billion project by saying simply repairing the span would cost $3 billion to $4 billion, including repair of the piers, but provide just another 20 years of use.

* YA KNOW... I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT. (*SHRUG*)

Cuomo officials said Friday the new bridge will require a toll of $14. They say even a refurbished bridge, including major structural improvements, would still require a $12 toll. The current toll is $5.

* FOLKS... THEY AREN'T EVEN PRETENDING THAT THEY'RE NOT ROBBING US BLIND! SERIOUSLY... THINK ABOUT HOW INSANE THIS IS... AND CONSIDER THAT THERE'S MORE PUBLIC OUTRAGE ABOUT CHICK-A-FI (ON BOTH SIDES!) THAN THERE APPARENTLY IS ABOUT THIS!

"The tolls are going to go up ... almost as much as if you built a brand new bridge," said Larry Schwartz, Cuomo's chief of staff.

* NO. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS NECESSARILY SO IN TERMS OF BEING "NECESSARY." THIS IS INSANE!

Discounts for local commuters on the span crossing the Hudson River between Westchester and Rockland counties would apply under either option. Local Westchester-Rockland commuters would pay $8.40 in tolls for a new bridge, but would pay $7.20 for tolls on a refurbished bridge, according to projections provided by the Cuomo administration.

* NO! THIS ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH! I UNDERSTAND "COMMUTER PRICING," BUT THIS IS SO OUTRAGEOUS THAT WE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE CONSIDERING IT! WHAT THIS TRANSLATES TO IS "IF" YOU'RE A FIVE DAY A WEEK "COMMUTER" YOU'RE "ONLY" GONNA BE RAPED; WHEREAS IF YOU NEED TO CROSS THE BRIDGE "ONLY" ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK... OR CALL IT FIVE OR TEN TIMES A MONTH... ANYONE NOT IN THE TOP 1%.. 2%... 5%... OF INCOME EARNERS IS GONNA REALLY, REALLY, REALLY TAKE A FRIGGIN' HIT!

A more elaborate option that would include a bus rapid transit system would force the toll up to $28, or $16.80 for local commuters...

* FOLKS... IT'S SO OBVIOUSLY... THEY AREN'T EVEN TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK AS IF THEY'RE GIVING US ANY REAL CHOICE...

Schwartz said three bids were received Friday for the new bridge project, which still requires additional approvals to happen. It is also the first "design-build" project pushed by the state, which would enable faster design and construction and a lower cost. Schwartz said that means cost overruns or other unanticipated costs must be borne by the builder, not the public.

* LISTEN... FOLKS... YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS MORE ABOUT THE FIX BEING IN - PAYOFFS TO CONTRACTORS AND THE UNIONS - THAN ABOUT SAFETY OR EVEN EFFICIENCY.