What would you do with...

Hi all, I am wondering...What would you do with the extra money if the state you currently lived in suddenly started receiving as much money as New Mexico, Alaska, West Virginia, etc?


Thank you Taxfoundation.org for this wonderful graphic, which you can click on to see fully.

The way you can calculate this is by going to this page then multiply the amount your state spends by the ratio one of these other states receives per dollar in taxes. Then subtract by the amount your state actually receives, then you can tell me how you'd spend that greenback.

ie:
Illinois Taxes (2005) NM Illinois federal funding (2005)
($ 99,776,000,000 x $2 ) - $80,778,000,000 = $118,774,000,000

I'd add another track to all passenger rail corridors where physically possible, and add two tracks on high speed corridors. Build the circle line, the yellow, red, blue and orange line extensions. Then spend the rest on a single payer state health plan & university scholarships.

but then again that is selfish.

because that extra money would be equal to about a fifth of social security costs, and half the national debt interest.

so, a more realistic calculation using a similar formula from that same info would be

IL taxes 2005 - IL fed. funding (2005)
$ 99,776,000,000 - $80,778,000,000 = $18,998,000,000

I'd spend it over 10 years on the same things, then once the infrastructure projects were finished, invest in replacing all power with renewable sources.

If I had more time on my hands I might actually budget it out, because I'm that big of a nerd. But, I have loads of work to get back to, so I'll just leave this theoretical, fun exercise.

Funky Proposals for Northerly Island

Courtesy of the poster BVictor on SkyscraperPage

funky plans for Northerly island:

Plan 1


Plan 2


Plan 3


Plan 4



Crazy Funky in my opinion, my thoughts:

• 1st image from the 1st project is gorgeous, this proposal could do really well in the long term, by setting up an armature around which natural systems could evolve
  

• The barrier reef idea is ambitious and would create a great respite from the city at that distance from the original shore, but cost makes this least likely

• The 3rd seems least costly, and large dunes could be mighty picturesque
  

• I love the "a" "g" "o" and the pier created by the "h", but not a cursive fan.

If someone correctly guesses which one was designed by Studio Gang, you don't get a prize, but get my R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

And maybe you'll find out what that means to me

also, what intrigues you/befuddles you about these ideas.
Seeing as the city has asked what would you like dislike about each, as no one proposal will be implemented solely

delete

I also have been working on one for Cincinnati.



This is no where near finished, but it basically thinks out the issues I've been trying to address.

And when I get something more concrete, and feel like discussing it further, I'll post it all here.

A plan I've made for the transit infrastructure of Chicago for the year 2050 enjoy

Click for larger

I'll elaborate on this, because social engagements have fallen through.

The plan can be split up into 5 major modal shifts.

1: Extensions for the Brown, Pink, Orange, Green, Red, Blue and Yellow lines+

2: Frequent stop city Metra Lines incorporated into CTA.*^

3: An entirely new far west side Cicero line
(Light Rail, Heavy Rail, Bus Rapid Transit, who knows, I've shown it as restrained as possible in order to leave that argument for others.)

4: Consolidation of routes and stations to increase capacity on the entire system#

5: A new Boulevard Streetcar/Tram system
(More information at the end of this post, because it's a doozy to explain)



+...yes, for those of you keeping track at home, that means every line except the Purple. Why, it goes out far enough and it operates purely as a shuttle during non peak hours. In honesty, I wouldn't extend the Blue if it weren't for the chance of a new Western Terminal at O'Hare

*In the case of the Electric, no track or hardware changes will be made, because it would preclude continued use of that right of way for South Shore commuter trains. However, if the RTA were to shift South Shore trains along the Union Pacific ROW beneath the proposed Red line extension flyover onto Rock Island main line, or SouthWest Districts into LaSalle Street or Union Stations, then there would be the possibility of constructing the Canal Street Subway, and double tracking the Lake and Congress Subways to create two subway loops. Justifying the expense of rebuilding the South Shore lines to match the third rail infrastructure of the rest of the system. The Electric District line has been referred to as the Grey and Gold lines, I made it Grey because differentiating between Gold, Orange and Yellow lines all within the same system sounds like a headache.

^In the case of the Rock Island line, a new Heavy Rail line would be built along and adjacent to CSX ROW parallel to Western avenue for five and a quarter miles between the 91st street stop and the flyover before the Western stop on the Orange line. This train could continue along Orange line tracking into the Loop, or along Circle line Tracking to the near north side. I show it as heading to the near north side to show that potential. As you will see a lot of representational decisions had to be made, because showing the possibilities of lines once this new track infrastructure would be complete, is absolutely mindboggling. I might do a post on it later.

#So, in regards to route and station consolidation there are infinite possibilities for how to do this, I have rendered one.

Turning the Skokie Swift into part of the Red line is a way of increasing capacity, if during non rush hour some of the trains don't run all the way out to Old Orchard, it keeps commute times down, make the Swift more attractive as a transportation option, and therefore might make the line more profitable.

Running the Purple line full length constantly is aimed at reducing the lenght of the Red line once the Swift and 130th extension are added. It eliminates the Red line from stopping at 3 (or more if you fancy) stops on the busy north side. It also allows a more convenient experience for those who need to get to downtown Chicago from Evanston during non-peak. Lastly, it allows for the Purple line to be consolidated with a West Side line (in my example, the current Pink) therefore providing more service to the loop without increasing congestion.

Splitting the Green line and combining it's two routes with other lines is about stopping the nonsensical half loop that it currently runs. Yes I understand that if you connected the Brown with the Orange and ran it in a similar way, you could reduce the load by reducing the trains doing full loops. My only gripe is that this leads to a line seeming inferior. Plus, if you have half loop service, but continue having at least two full loop lines (which is necessary when you have four lines entering from the northwest and only two from the southeast) if one of those two loops is running at a capacity higher than the other, or one of your half loops is running at a higher frequency, a delay on either line being forced to run close to maximum capacity. Would immediately cripple your entire above grade system. Making all lines full loop exits eliminates this, by allowing routing to be adjusted based on shifts of useage year by year (i.e. the pink line surges similarly to the Brown in the two decades, you can shift the pink and brown to run opposite each other for an equal load on each direction of the loop. Similar to how the loop is so lopsided right now with Brown line capacity maxed out.) This can be done in many ways, I did the one least confusing in terms of station names.

This also frees up colors for the Circle Line (Yellow), Rock Island Line (Orange) and the West Side Circulator (Pink). Once again all arbitrary, with the exception that I have yet to see a Circle line map without it marked in yellow. On that note, I show the Circle as completed, because by 2050 anything's possible.

Now onto the Streetcar/Tram.
Phasing? Scheduling? Lines? Implementation?
You name it, I'll try to address it. Like the Post Office, only hopefully more competantly.

The Boulevards have been puzzling me for years. Such grand streets, such majestic parks...such dilapidated buildings? I've studies planning, urban design, architecture. Each one tells us, if you build a park system great buildings will be built around them. And so they were along the Boulevards. After all they were a fast means of transport through an otherwise congested city, and they had amenities at their doorsteps. Many years later and the neighborhoods they served, are too close to be suburbs and too far to have been jumped to by the kind of gentrification that is drawn to busy retail districts, and quick transport. The highways supplanted the Boulevards as a means of getting through a congested city, and now we must think of how to reinvent them.

My Proposal
and my reasoning

I propose to construct a Tramway along the edges of the boulevard medians, providing for a safe staging area for loading of passengers and the ability to regulate when the trams do and do not interact with traffic. Allowing the system to be as reliable as possible. A tram was chosen, because; light rail would require possible utilities to be relocated, and separated ROW to be maintained; Bus Rapid Transit would have required either interfering with traffic at stops, on an otherwise smooth moving thoroughfare, or paving over large portions of the Boulevard system (something my conscience would not allow); and lastly a subway, because I envision this system as a means for attracting development to these corridors based on their otherwise under-utilized proximity to CTA transfers, jobs, and other neighborhood amenities.

Phasing of Construction

The most obvious portion of this system is to connect the portions of the southside that are experiencing improvement with each other. In order to create the impression of a consistent whole. An engine for improving the livability of the overlooked Chicago. The first phase would be a tram line from the Museum of Science and Industry to the Garfield stop on the Red line (3.5 mi. 2 trains). A year later a line from Logan Square to the Garfield Park Conservatory (4 mi. 2 trains) Every year after that, alternating extensions of the lines. Garfield Red to Gage Park (2.5 mi. 2 trains), Conservatory to Pulaski Blue (2 mi. 1 train), Gage Park to McKinley Park (2.5 mi 1 train), Pulaski to Douglas Park (2 mi. 1 train), Douglas to McKinley (2.5 mi. 2 trains), Logan Square to the Chicago river (1.5 mi. 1 train), Washington Park along Drexel Boulevard to Pershing (3 mi. 2 trains), & Chicago river to the Lake Michigan along Diversey (2.5 mi. 2 trains).

Services Provided and Scheduling

Lake Michigan to Logan Square (4mi.)
This line would be a heavily desired, but costly. Placing it last, allows for Diversey to be redesigned to be carless. Only Buses and the Tram. This would allow for Diversey to be landscaped as the Boulevard it was intended to be in the original planning of the Boulevard system. This pedestrian street would start at Clybourn, where express buses would be routed along in order to head down Diversey to get onto a bus dedicated lane on Lake Shore Drive. When completed this would be the scheduling of trams:

:00 Diversey Harbor to Science & Industry
:10 Diversey Harbor to Logan Square
:20 Diversey Harbor to Drexel Boulevard
:30 Diversey Harbor to Science & Industry
:40 Diversey Harbor to Logan Square
:50 Diversey Harbor to Drexel Boulevard

Logan Square to Pulaski Blue Line (5mi.)
This line would be the northwest side, a lot of really cool areas, great building stock, just nothing that really ties the neighborhood to it's amenities. I mean a bus provides the transport, but a bus is nameless. This provides transit from Blue line to Blue line in only 15 minutes, compared with 35 minutes (not including waiting for either). Connecting Garfield and Humboldt parks is a must. Scheduling of trams would be as follows:

:00 Diversey Harbor to Science & Industry
:10 Logan Square to Pulaski Blue Line
:20 Diversey Harbor to Drexel Boulevard
:30 Diversey Harbor to Science & Industry
:40 Logan Square to Pulaski Blue Line
:50 Diversey Harbor to Drexel Boulevard

Pulaski Blue Line to McKinley Park (4 mi.)
This section of the Boulevard system is especially disorganized, a myriad of train overpasses, crossing the river, under highways. It's a mess, but along it are 3 transit lines, 2 large parks, the County Jail, and a lot of really good houses. This area is in more dire of straits, being North Lawndale and all, but this section also doesn't necessarily have to be built. It serves mainly as the connector of the northern and southern trunk lines. Scheduling:

:00 Diversey Harbor to Science & Industry
:10 Pulaski Blue Line to McKinley Park
:20 Diversey Harbor to Drexel Boulevard
:30 Diversey Harbor to Science & Industry
:40 Pulaski Blue Line to McKinley Park
:50 Diversey Harbor to Drexel Boulevard

McKinley Park to Garfield Red Line (5mi.)
McKinley Park has transit, warehouses, an amazing park, quick transit to Midway and downtown. It's a wonder Pilsen has been taking off before it, really. Connect this with the neighborhoods to the south near Gage park, beautiful Sherman park and over to the Red line, then you might have a nice Back of the Yards revival opportunity. If so, the residents would see a schedule similar to this:

:00 Diversey Harbor to Science & Industry
:10 McKinley Park to Garfield Red Line
:20 Diversey Harbor to Drexel Boulevard
:30 Diversey Harbor to Science & Industry
:40 McKinley Park to Garfield Red Line
:50 Diversey Harbor to Drexel Boulevard

Garfield Red Line to both Drexel Boulevard(3.5mi.)
& the Museum of Science and Industry(3.5mi.)
This section would split into two spurs, both would start at the Garfield Red line stop, where the area between eastbound and westbound Garfield now open to the Dan Ryan would be covered, and turned into a station with generous low water plantings, except for where a skylight would allow for light to continue to pour into the red line stop, without the rain doing so. Both lines woud continue into Washington Park along Morgan Drive. At this point the Drexel spur would turn along Rainey, continue onto Payne, and then onto Bowen before coming to it's final alignment on Drexel Boulevard until it does a turnaround at Cottage Grove and Pershing. The Science and Industry line would continue along Morgan to Payne and then via the Midway Plaisance through the University of Chicago, up Cornell and around the Museum. Both lines would expand the area possible for Universtity professors and students to consider living while attending U of C as well as providing access from citizens of the city, to otherwise difficult attractions to access via public transit. They would also have a service connecting the two legs, this is possible given that a full circuit of the lines is 30 minutes, exactly the interval betweenThe two lines would have schedules as so:

Drexel
:00 Drexel Boulevard to Science & Industry
:10 Drexel Boulevard to Garfield Red Line
:20 Drexel Boulevard to Diversey Harbor
:30 Drexel Boulevard to Science & Industry
:40 Drexel Boulevard to Garfield Red Line
:50 Drexel Boulevard to Diversey Harbor

Midway Plaisance
:00 Science & Industry to Drexel Boulevard
:10 Science & Industry to Garfield Red Line
:20 Science & Industry to Diversey Harbor
:30 Science & Industry to Drexel Boulevard
:40 Science & Industry to Garfield Red Line
:50 Science & Industry to Diversey Harbor




Tell me your thoughts, I'll see if I can get some updated images to help make the explanations, a little more enjoyable and seemingly less verbose. Thank you for taking some time to read this bit of my view on Chicago, my home sweet home.

So, I recently joined twitter,

Architects

So, I just found another show where the main character is supposedly an architect.

How I Met Your Mother

what I want to see is an episode where all of the main character "ted" (voice narration by Bob Saget) is visited by two or three friends from college who need to spend some time living in his apartment until the architects start getting hired again.

I mean seriously, a profession viewed as being stable and successful, and all architects are becoming planners.

I don't know how I feel about it being such a default profession in film and television, at least with the lake house there was a reason for him being an architect, although Keanu still played it as if the role was stoner, which in these economic times, might be a familiar cocoon for some architects to revert to

all right then, that was a successfully random purposeless ramble

I'll try posting something useful one of these days

maybe get some of my planning and architecture ideas down on this thing

but I'm too tired right now, I demand a break in the 10 hr days.

so, I have been thinking about random things

song catches for crazy electro songs

schism in my nihilism

her dancing makes me wanna j-j

schism in my nihilism

and

see those girls in those bidniss shirts

make me wanna make em squirt

looks like they wearin their boyfriends clothes

no him no ring then anything goes

gonna get em in their birthday suits

any way, how those came to be is tooo long of a story

I've also been thinking, as I often do, about names for fictional stores

Philadelphia Pie

A shoe store, it's not pie as in apple but pie as in spanish foot, rhymes with Philadelphia, PA...

get it, ok

{edit} I want it to be a chain, i.e. Pittsburgh Pie, Penn State Pie etc.

there are others, I'll post them when I remember them, if I remember

but they're mostly in that line, most are crazy store combos as well, like if the aforementioned store was a shoe store/mexican cheese shop...even more of a reason to evoke feet...ba dum flop

I love nihilism
a self righteous version of narcissism

So, with the acknowledgement of A-Rod testing positive in 2003 my list of truly great (meaning non enhanced) baseball sluggers I have seen play has dropped to 2.  With a lot of impressive, but not amazing longballers that don't make the cut.  

Although my mark for making the cut has probably been altered greatly due to the fact that at one time I was too naive to believe that both of the thigh-like forearms of Slammin Sammy and On the Mark McGwire were being drugged up.

The two that remain on my list match the two archetypal Major League Sluggers 

• Jim Thome the doubles hitter who periodically jacks one, until his legs wear out and he is forced to become a designated hitter, puts on some pounds and resorts to just hitting for the fence, because second base is to long of a distance for a consistent sprint anymore.

and

• Ken Griffey Jr. the fast young sweet swinging outfielder, who stretches himself just too far enough times that he's worn out and injury prone by his early 30s.  He fights back from each injury, just to re-bench himself with another risky play he could've made less than a decade prior.

Both of these men might also fall off this list, like Rafeal Palmeiro did some years back.  But I hold out hope that there have been a few of the classic consistent fence swinging sluggers since I have been watching baseball religiously.

but according to the NYT (which like a good liberal I should believe dogmatically) 

Graphic: Home Runs Steroid Era

That list is getting SLIM

HIPPOcrat

So, I was at the stimuluswatch and found some interesting projects. (Overall it's a really informative interesting site)

I also found our newest Phrase That Doesn't eXist

the phrase is 

"Hippocrat"

to be contradicting in the things that you support politically

meaning that some don't align with what I believe

i.e. If you support racial rights but not gay rights you are a Hippocrat.

(not being a Hippocrat would mean you didn't support either, so you could be a full on bigot)

M2S

Hypocrite

I propose a new party, the Hippocratic Party, our mascot is obvious,  slightly elephant-y (Africa?), and somewhat donkey-like (2 big teeth I guess?), and like existing parties in that it won't have a consistent set of values. 

HippoCrats UNITE!

Sick and weird sports

Ever have one of those days where you are sweating even though it's cold, you're coughing like there's a great dane stuck in your chest, and your nose is either running a mucus marathon, or multiple snot sprints.

I'm sick y'all and I'm sick y'all.

Liquid diet, multiple boxes of kleenex and a warm bed.

We'll see if it works

{edit}

So there is this sport called aussie rules football.  Weird.  

Cool, but the fact that I had never heard of the most popular sport in Australia is weird.

Footy: Australian for NFL

MEGGAPOHST!!!!!!!

{2:30}

Ok.

Today.  Sunday February 1st, 2009 we will embark on a historic journey.  One practically no one will take notice of.  Except you dear reader ... dear solitary reader.

The Super Boston Blog Bowl brought to you by transatlantische.blogspot.com

We will be jointly live-blogging from our debaucherous super bowl sunday escapade.  It is a 20 hr marathon.  Starting at 2:30, goin until 22:30.  I won't be completely live as neither of us has come into vast riches or debt to afford an iPhone, but gosh darn it it will be all 200five live y'know like I'll post it within short term memory of it happening...Yeah.  Hell yeah.

I'm makin a grilled cheese y'all.

This shit's gonna be FLAME 

(by the way flame is the first PTDX of the MEGAPOST)

{2:38}

btw: This grilled cheese was actually literally flame, as in on fire, because I was blogging.

So, I will continue on, add some hotsauce and presto, just like coneys it's suddenly edible.

PTDX cont'd

"flame"

to be delicious, only pertaining to solid food or soups that have been prepared under heat.  

i.e. 

Richko bites into a burrito: Yo, that carne asada shit's FLAME!

Gaines retaliates: Wouldn't that be a bad thing?

not

Jake mixes Kentucky Whiskey, DeKuyper Peach Schnapps, and Ale81

Jessica tastes and responds: That Noxious Newport Nightcap shit's FLAME!!

Jake retaliates: Technically it is a cold beverage, therefore it has not been created with the help of a heat source, rendering it's "flame"ness impossible. 

(Nerd silence) 

But yes, it is quite orgasmic.

M2S

That food is especially appetizing right now, you should have some as well.

(warning, this PTDX  is only because it hasn't caught on yet.  So work some magic y'all)

{3:00}

Jake discovers the smell of extra sharp cheddar is like garlic for tabby's, climbs into bed. Witnesses a tabby chase it's tail on a stool, and unsurprisingly wipes out...yet lands on it's feet.

Goodnight

{11:30}

Trying to find clues as to what makes a good sports bar in boston is difficult.  Almost every bar is a good sports bar when a big event is on television, yet when there is no sporting event, every sports bar is a depressing adult Discovery Zone.

We'll see how it works out just playing it by ear.

{12:30}

Off to Cheddar Grits and Shopping

{2:30}

John is in the Metro area on the MBTA.  Jake has bought beer.  All is well.

{2:45}

When you order grits in the south you get a spoon and a tablespoon or more of butter.

When you order Cheddar grits in Cambridge you get a fork.  And it suits the consistency.

{3:30}

Drinking game update.

The Karate Kid

Rules:

Every time someone says "Wax on, Wax off" drink.

[4:40] (Also pertains to "Right Circle, Left Circle")

[4:45] (and "Up and Down")

[3:35]

Every time Daniel says "Ma" drink

[3:50]

Every time there is a high school motorcycle gang drink

[4:05]

Every time there is an odd combination of after school activities happening at once finish beer

[4:35]

Every time Daniel alienates someone take a drink

[5:25]

When "You're the Best (Around)" by Joe Esposito comes on you must waterfall montage that shit UP

[more to come]

{3:45}

It has come to the nation's attention that all hipsters are secretly descendants of the karate kid.

Supply Roster for Bostonian Expedition

1. Transport sack to hide my valuables from the bostonians known for their voracious hunger for broken cameras and out of date cell phones.

2. Identities, all of which are secret and/or false.

3.  A tome of all of Boston's secrets. Compiled by 5th century monks to fool locals into thinking you are a local as well. Possessing one of these within Boston city limits is grounds for public stoning.

4. iPod/secret world government tracking device.

5. Almanac and blogging inspirational tool.

6. Analog record tome.

{4:30}

Hipsters have watched the Karate kid and decided to take all things daniel does and take them as their own. From biking, to aviators, flannel button-up to baseball 3/4 length tees.  To his compulsion to alienate anyone who shows any interest in anything he is interested in especially himself.

{4:50}

The polar opposite of any asian accent is an inner city accent.

One exudes wisdom

the other...Corruption.

Both will get your fences painted and pot holes filled.

{4:55}

Even drunks in the 80's were wearing Washington Nationals hats.

But only on west coast beaches where asian Karate Masters could knock your bottle necks clear off.

{5:00}

Daniel is rocking the cutoff mom jeans look.  Just wait til June and Williamsburg will be crawling with it.

also, solid color windbreakers and hoodies.  Seriously I think we're on to something.

And Tony Kawanari is to Mr. Miyagi as Daniel is to Hipsters.

{5:05}

We noticed something hilarious, got distracted and redact this post

{5:15}

Teenagers have the memory span of Gold fish in the land of Karate Kid.

as well as the sexist stereotypes of the 30's

Alli: "Can I drive"

Daniel: "Sure. Hey, it's the 80's"

{5:55}

The Karate Kid is Over, and it is time for a Super Bowl XLIII break.

We will form strong opinions about teams we care nothing about.

I  (Jake) am a Bears fan holding a grudge against the former Chicago Cardinals who are now the Arizona Cardinals.  Therefore making me a rabid Steelers SuperFan.

I (John) do not believe in football. It is most likely an elaborate illusion pulled off with the help of lasers and holograms.

Ok. So, I completely forgot that the superbowl is sunday.

But, I found exactly the right thing to do at least to start the day.

Fried Chicken and Cheese Grits Brunch at Plough and Stars.

Then I'll go to a Grocery Store that isn't Whole Foods, and purchase the most obscene snacks I can imagine, and the cheapest blue collar beer I can swill. And then I might be able to make up for not having a potluck Commercial rating chili cookoff/Neighborhood Snow Bowl.

Maybe.

Late Night/PTDX

I am working on a Sunday Night/Monday Morning

SketchUp is a slow bitch
and I'm modeling the wet dream of an aging wanna be carlo scarpa
It's all for naught
tuesday I'll be on to another task
but right now...nautilus

[edit Monday]

I would like to add a recurring bit called: PTDX

Phrases That Don't eXist, 

{despite some message boards}

PTDX of the Week

"short sided"

apparently when someone doesn't  take into account your side in a discussion (typically on a blog) and you believe their side is naive or "shorter" than your side of the argument

M2S {meant to say}

"short sighted"

Maaaaaasaaaaaachusets

Before we get to alcoholism and bad movies let me just say a word about Massachusetts and it's inherent state of terror induction.

The White Death.

I was raised in a society where the winter is a tale told to children at night to scare them into eating their vegetables and voting republican. Any amount of snow on the ground such that one can not see the grass underneath is treated in the same manner as a two hundred foot tall plutonium chainsaw-nunchuk wielding osama bin laden. The entire city comes to a grinding halt until the snow is thoroughly obliterated through use of plow mounted flamethrowers and orbital solar mirrors. In the confounding state that is Massachusetts people seem to have accepted snow as a natural part of not living in the tropics. Here they actually drive their cars in the poisonous substance, leading me to doubt the veracity of claims made by prominent cincinnati officials that to let it touch a moving vehicle will lead to the instantaneous formation of black holes.

Traffic Circles.

A.k.a. vehicular thunderdomes, these vortexes of metal and profanity are known to disrupt the brainwaves of midwestern drivers and send them into fits of hulk-esque rage and confusion. In the commonwealth of Massachusetts a decree has been passed down since the days of the revolutionary war that there shall be three traffic circles constructed for every man, woman and child living in the state. This was done to confound the hessian divisions of the british army who's native german traffic circles operated in the clockwise direction. The countercolockwise colonial traffic circles proved to be too much for the formdiable mercenaries and they soon surrendered. The traffic circles now stand to ward off unwanted out of state drivers.

More on Massachusetts later, now drinking movies.

Death Race 2000

Starring Sylvester Stallone and David Carridine. It is one of my favorite movies for obvious reasons if you have ever had the pleasure of viewing it. I'm not going to give away any spoilers here, just rules.

Take one drink any time anyone is "scored"
Take one drink anytime you think Sylvester Stallone regretted this scene later in life
Take one drink anytime David Carridine has a ridiculous non-sequitur
Chug every time a president is assassinated

Jake: saving the bike jousting for when photos are available, also we should get all you bostonians/salemites together and get some good drinking movies. purely for research purposes of course.

MASSachusetts

I'm living in the Peoples Republic

John's chillin in a Spring Field.

I'm going to try and get this going again, see if I can muse more.

Right now I'm on an MLS binge.

Weird for someone who hasn't played soccer in 7 years.

I watched the playoffs this past november, and started getting addicted, just as it ended.  Now, I'm intrigued with the new expansion, the league history since I stopped giving a rats ass in 2001. The fan culture, which is so much more game oriented than pre-game show oriented.  I am also feeling that what draws me to it is similar to what draws me to baseball.  Stadiums are being built around getting fans to feel close to the game, the player development is through a hierarchy, not college to pro with millions made just because someone thinks you'll be good. It's more performance reliant, although performance isn't exactly how I'd describe MLS competition quite yet.

I don't really care for stadiums in the sub-urban areas, where most of the new Soccer Specific Stadiums are. But I think the league goes well with a lot of the emerging American trends, including cheap tickets starting at between 5 and 10 bucks.

I'll get back to you on what I mean by American trends, but right now I have to go and model a nautilus trains station.

Jake

Also, john, let's continue our drinking game posts as a weekly addition.  I'll send it over to you to fill that requirement this week. As well as telling us about this jousting nonsense.