Queens Crap: A long overdue change

The Bx 12 bus in New York City institutes a semi-honor system. much like the subways in France.  I'm sure there will be some knuckleheads who hop on and hop off, but there's enough honest New Yorkers, I think.   Queens Crap breaks it out for you if you click:

Queens Crap: A long overdue change

The DCS applauds any opportunity to speed us a bus.

No "Airport Security" At Rail Stations

Our friends over in the UK have made a Common Sense decision of their own, which is that "airport style" security for mass transit is unrealistic.

When the time comes that you have to take off your shoes to get on a commuter bus, I got news for ya, the terrorists did win.   It hasn't come to that yet but I have had to open my bags a few times in some places I didn't have to in 1990.  

And don't bring a bag to Yankee Stadium.  No bags, and they check to see what's under your Yankee cap.  No really.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jun/26/railtravel.terrorismandtravel?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

Congestion Pricing In New York City

The Department Of Common Sense is glad to see that New York governor David Paterson is revisiting the idea of congestion pricing for New York City.

Manhattan is too crowded, and there are too many solo drivers driving Yukons.

To be fair to the drivers, all the suburban commuter rails need additional parking at just about every location.

That being said, to the solo driver in the oversized Escalade....that will be an additional $8 a day please, thanks.

Governor Paterson, you have the support and encouragement of the DCS.

Hooray for The Bike Cops

With $4 gas, more and more police departments are switching to foot patrols and cops on bikes. Very smart and a return to the good ol' days where you might actually know the local beat cop.

The DCS salutes the PDs mentioned in the article below.




http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1213936623135540.xml&coll=1

Save Analog TV

The Commerce department has told the Hoise that the need more money to pay for the government coupons that are being sent out so people can get converted boxes when analog (regular) tv signs off next year.

Why are we having traditional TV sign off anyway? Not everyone can afford cable television, and these converted boxes are sure to be frustrating to connect.

What about those with portable televisions? I have a Sony Watchman that I am fond of....should I take a gas powered generator with me to power the converter box so I can watch football when I tailgate or go camping?

I'm sure somebody is getting rich of this con-job, but it's sure not the average American.

NJ: Can I Make A Left Please (and solve the budget)?

New Jersey. The land where you can't make a left turn (see the picture). Insanity. Every corner has a "jug-handle."

When I want to go to Best Buy I have to drive eight miles to get there but only five miles back. Why, you ask? Because we can't make a left - so I have drive an extra mile and a half - then enjoy the jug-handle, then come back the same mile and a half.

Between time and $4 gas that's really annoying.

How about New jersey add the newfangled "left turn arrow" technology some of the other states have, and the government can sell off all the lands occupied by jughandles. I'm sure Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds wouldn't mind a few more stores.

Car Free Saturdays In New York: $900,000

New York City Michael Bloomberg has announced a plan to close Park Avenue for three Saturdays in August, to encourage pedestrian and bicycle use.

Sounds great?

One report suggests that it will take $900,000 in police overtime to block off the street.

That's just silly.

Honda Clarity: Hope For The Future

Hooray for Honda on their development of the Clarity.

Right on time, hopefully this will be a challenge to other automobile manufacturers.

At one point John Kennedy declared we'd go to the moon in under nine years. I'd love to have been a fly on the wall at NASA when he announced that. We're doing what???

It's time that the country wake up and realize that 99 cent gas isn't coming back. 280 miles on a tank of fuel, with clean emissions! The DCS salutes Honda, well done.

Sorry Mitch Harris, Baseball Can Wait, Navy Can't

Mitch Harris was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals last week. Mr. Harris is a Navy midshipman and hopes to delay his service so he can play baseball.

The Navy has said no, and Mr. Harris will now serve his five years.

The DCS applauds the Navy. Mr. Harris made a commitment, and so did the Navy. Mr. Harris benefitted from the Navy's end of the bargain, now it is time to hold us his end.

The DCS does not agree with the Army which has an "Implemented Alternate Service Option" which is allowing a Cadet to play for the Detroit Lions.

A deal is a deal.

Stop Hypermiling

With $4 gas a seemingly permanent reality, talk of "hypermilling" is increasingly common.

"Tips" include turning your engine off at stoplights and drafting behing 18 wheelers.

The DCS strongly recommends against this. At the stoplight you're just going to slow everyone else down (and waste their gas) while they wait for you to restart your car. As for drafting an 18 wheeler, unless your name is Kyle Busch, you're out of your league. Don't kill yourself trying to save 15 cents.

With All Real Crime Solved....

The opening paragraph of this New York Times article is troubling:

It was just after dawn when Theo Otibu began prowling Ditmas Park in Brooklyn in his unmarked Sanitation Department car. He scanned the sidewalk for an elusive prey, one known only by the droppings of its best friend: the dog owner who does not scoop.

The DCS does not support pollution. Pick up after your dog. But stakeouts? Is there just extra budget in the Sanitation Department?

The Times adds:

Dressed in plain clothes and driving white hybrid Toyotas, Mr. Otibu and the 14 other agents in the Sanitation Department’s Canine Task Force fan out across the five boroughs each day to enforce the city’s “pooper scooper” law, which went into effect 30 years ago and became the model for other large cities.

The DCS recommends there are at least 13 Toyota's that could be sold at auction, and at least 13 agents that could be reassigned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/nyregion/05scooper.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Ban on Sunday Sports?

In Hanover New Jersey a local pastor wants the town to consider outlawing youth sports on Sunday mornings.

"The anxiety of 'Do I go to church or do I take my kid to the soccer game?' is a weekly ordeal," said Mossa, a pastor at the Presbyterian Church of Whippany. "It's letting the team down versus letting God down."

The DCS completely respects Pastor Mossa's desire to have a packed church. The DCS also respects those who want to play sports.

The DCS recommends Pastor Mossa add some earlier/later/Saturday/Sunday night masses so all can play sports and worship if they choose.

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1212726951175380.xml&coll=1

Allocation of Terror Funding

Did you know that of the prime terrorist targets is a casino shuttle in Colorado?

That's right! Your tax dollars at work.

The Colorado-Springs Rambin Express recently got a $184,415 grant from our comrades over at the Department of Homeland Security.

That brings the total received funds to $382,000.

People of Colorado Springs, remain vigilant! We have you covered.

The DCS recommends the DHS think before they allocate, and send the money to much more likely targets.