I love this idea. The post title is obnoxious, the intrusiveness of the idea so complete, the numbers so compelling. In a nutshell – left turns across oncoming traffic cause a disproportionate number of accidents (I’ve been in one, my wife wrote off her first car this way) and slow down traffic significantly, compared to established and well tested alternatives – namely streets configured to require u-turn/right-turn combinations instead of left turns.

“Sound absurd? Think again. According to Smithsonian Magazine, researchers at North Carolina State University have found that the superstreet design is more efficient and safer than allowing drivers to turn across traffic. After examining data from 13 superstreet intersections and comparing them to their traditional counterparts, researchers found that, on average, the superstreets delivered a 20-percent decrease in travel time and caused 46 percent fewer reported traffic collisions. More importantly, the superstreet design caused 63-percent fewer accidents that resulted in personal injury.” [Autoblog]

On one hand, the numbers from NC are compelling. On the other hand, it looks (from the illustration) like it would consume more space and cost more than a simple four-way intersection. Its also interesting that it goes distinctly against the somewhat popular vancouverist notions of around avoiding high-flowing, high-speed traffic arteries.

Image Credit: North Carolina DOT

“…the [Hyundai] Veloster smokes it [the Honda CR-Z hybrid] with better fuel economy, more power, lower weight, better transmissions, and a more attractive aesthetic.”

via Hyundai Veloster Hot Hatch Asks “Honda Who?”.

Hyundai’s mopping the floor with it Japanese counterparts. Honda and Toyota haven’t released anything remotely passionate in years, and since the Rx-8 fizzled, I’d lump Mazda in the same pile (even with all of their zoom zoom rhetoric). Nissan is the only Japanese automaker still waving a flag for itself, but only at the top end (350Z, GT-R). So – Hyundai can waltz in and gobble up market share with solid offerings, which they’ve been doing – and with hot new stuff like the Veloster, will no doubt continue to do.

DSC_0398, originally uploaded by Rod Edwards.

This past October, a ludicrous storm (caused by a record-setting low pressure cell to the south of Lake Winnipeg) did a stupendous amount of damage to the south basin of Lake Winnipeg. Here’s some shots from our area; click the picture (or follow this link) to jump to the photoset and browse more shots of the damage.

Here comes the politics: Cottagers who knowingly bought erosion-prone lots from the province four years ago (at $8,000 a pop for lakefront), are getting provincial assistance to rebuild their shoreline. Cottagers who were there previously (i.e.: who bought lots from the province decades ago, and who pay higher taxes and receive less services) are being left high and dry.

“Voters in Iowa chose to remove three high court justices who helped make Iowa the first Midwestern state to permit same-sex marriage.” [CNN]

Another example of the Tea Party/Republican/??? conflicted agenda at work. Yes to small government! But also, yes to government meddling in bedrooms!

I think when a Tea Partier says “freedom” they mean something different than what they think they’re saying. To me, “freedom” means freedom from prejudice and equal opportunity. To a Tea Partier, it seems to mean “Freedom to live within what we judge to be the right way to live.”

That means a compromise stadium, in a compromise location, paid for with tax dollars, helmed by politicians and a “community-owned” team – looking forward to seeing how this goes (grimace). Winnipeg’s business community is capable of great things – witness mayor Katz’s downtown baseball stadium or the new airport – why football is such a boondoggle (given the bomber’s sell-out seasons) is a headscratcher.

For crying out loud: make it private, make the bombers private, put the whole thing downtown, and quit institutionalizing mediocrity.

From the Free Press:

WINNIPEG — The deal to complete Winnipeg’s new stadium must be signed by Wednesday to ensure the cost is locked in at $190 million, says Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz.
The University of Manitoba and Winnipeg Football Club boards have two days to agree to a stadium-building plan that will see the province front most of the construction costs on the 33,000-seat stadium at the university’s Fort Garry campus.
This afternoon, city councillors were briefed on the deal at a closed-door council seminar. Following the meeting, Katz told reporters what the proposed deal will involve.
As previously announced, the province will provide a $15 million grant and front the majority of the construction costs. The City of Winnipeg will contribute $7.5 million from the proceeds of the sale of the existing stadium at Polo Park toward the project and also contribute another $2.5 million on services in kind – mainly development fees – as well as traffic improvements in Fort Richmond and University Heights to satisfy residents who live near the proposed stadium, the mayor said.
Future property taxes from new residential and commercial developments at the Canad Inns Stadium site will be used to pay back $75 million of the provincial loan. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be responsible for $85 million of the loan payback over four decades, Katz said.
Creswin Properties will no longer be part of the deal and will be compensated to the tune of $4 million for engineering, design and other work on the project, Katz said. That figure is part of the $190 million tab, Katz said. Creswin wanted $6 million, Katz said.
The deal must be completed by Wednesday, which is the day when the guaranteed construction prices expire, Katz said.
Council is expected to vote on the deal on Wednesday. So far, only Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith said he may vote against the plan.
Couns. Dan Vandal (St. Boniface) and Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge) said the deal is good for the city, even though it’s unfortunate there is no private-sector involvement.
Bomber board chairman Bill Watchorn said he is optimistic the deal will be completed.
Colin Craig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation denounced the deal.

Crafty Europeans are re-branding incandescent light bulbs as 100 W “heat balls” in an attempt to skirt the ban and protest what many see as excessive government meddling in personal choice.

“Heatballs are opposition to regulations being passed that bluntly ignore the most basic democratic principles and bypassing parliamentary procedures, effectively muzzling the common man,” the site reads, adding that it is also a protest of “unreasonable measures supposedly protecting our natural environment.”

via Authorities reject ‘Heatballs’ attempt to skirt EU light bulb ban – The Local.

One of the justifications for government is to address “externalities” – costs that would otherwise go unpaid and unrecognized in a free market system. One example would be dumping toxic PCB’s into rivers – regulation provides a mandate for proper handling and a means for companies to pass the cost onto those who receive the benefit of their products. IMHO, that’s a good thing. The line gets a bit blurrier, however, when the externality is less egregious than toxic sludge.

In terms of light bulbs: I can’t help but think that market mechanics could achieve the same end without the erosion of choice.

The worst was one fine Easter morning. We were all sitting at the kitchen table preparing to dig in to our Easter breakfast. The table was nicely set. Our plates were full. I remember my mother putting two English muffins into the toaster which was placed in the middle of the table. She pressed down on the lever and sat back down. AS the toaster heated up, all the roaches which had been feasting on crumbs came spilling out over the sides, a river of twitching antenna that ran over the butter dish, our plates and down the legs of the table. Ugh.

via What’s your worst roach story? : AskReddit.

Transocean, owner of the drilling rig that caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Mexico three weeks ago, has asked a Houston federal court to limit its liability for the resulting oil spill to $26.8 million, a small fraction of the anticipated damages from the accident.

via Owner of gulf oil drilling rig tries to limit liability for spill.

Ropes on a Boat, Bako, Malaysia, originally uploaded by Rod Edwards.

Traveling up to Bako National Park on Malaysian Borneo (from the provincial capital of Kuching), one has opportunity to take in many, many photogenic sites. Big shrimp nets are a common thing to pass, and those big nets are serviced by locals in extremely quaint & colorful boats.

For more from Malaysia, see:
www.flickr.com/photos/dreadsword/sets/72157623526546967/

Also Bako:
www.flickr.com/photos/dreadsword/4268405838/in/set-721576…

www.flickr.com/photos/dreadsword/4444235133/in/set-721576…