WEEKLY HUM ( 08-06-06 )
SPECIAL COVERAGE=====SPECIAL COVERAGE
With 'An Inconvenient Truth' and a couple of other documentaries making the rounds, the global warming/climate change awareness level has been elevated appreciably. We here at Vermont Hum have sedulously, for years, pored over materials on the subject, trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. To put it mildly, we are uneasy thinking about the whole damn thing. We now submit to you two links which are disturbing at best and chilling at their worst. Eugene Linden's article from the L.A. Times is creepy; here's an excerpt: "But at some point, the frequency, severity and ubiquity of the unusual weather will produce a sense of foreboding, a sense that something is happening beyond our control."
The USA Today link describes how this July was the second hottest month EVER. Here's an excerpt:
"Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say that no single heat wave can be blamed exclusively on human-induced global warming. However, they added that in coming decades heat waves will become more likely and progressively more intense."
MEL TIPS 'EM PART 2
So, no wonder Mel Gibson was going almost 90 on the PCH and no wonder Mel was swearing at and belittling the cops who pulled him over - he was drinking tequila! Yeah! Mel was not out for a drive with a Bud Light like people we all know - he was gulping frickin' tequila!
Vermont Hum conducted an informal survey on the subject of tequila and nearly all respondants stated that tequila makes one act crazier than other liquors. Colt 45 was a close second with Wisconsin grain alcohol a distant third.
Stacey from Barre said, " If you're gonna drink tequila, you might as well do it in the police department parking lot, cuz sooner or later you're gonna be arrested." Well said, Stacey. With that, we move on.
BETTER LETTER
Our HumDrum award for letter of the week goes to Bob Ullrich and Dick Walters, writing on behalf of End-of-Life Choices Vermont and Death With Dignity Vermont, respectively. The letter starts out, "We are very proud and excited to let you know about a new television ad airing all across Vermont over the next few weeks. Lt. Governor Barbara Snelling and Governors Phil Hoff and Madeline Kunin have joined together to speak out in favor of the End-of-Life Choices legislation modeled on the Oregon Death with Dignity act."
Thanks, guys. We hadn't heard about the ad and will be looking for it. For more info about the spot and the org, go to Death with Dignity Vermont.
This letter appeared in the August 3 issue of the Colchester Sun.
SHOW US THE MONEY
By August 3rd, candidates for state office had to disclose how much cashola they've raised so far. Here's the Hum on the street:
- Governor Douglas does not seem to be too worried about either raising money or spending money. He's got the confidence of an incumbent who is generally well liked. What's surprising is the amount Scudder Parker has spent already; nearly 200,000 dollars, about 8k more than Gov D.
- Lt. Governor hopeful John Tracy has raised a mere $40,000 and change, much less than the 100k Dubie has raised and the amazing 132k that Matt Dunne has gathered.
FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
Ponied up to the Essex Junction Five Corners Light Bar & Grille on Saturday and asked for a shot of patience. As I looked around at the fellow idlers at the intersection, I noticed more smokers than usual. I also noticed a lot of bumper stickers with numbers on them, like 3 and 8. And the drivers and passengers in these vehicles didn't exactly look like IT techs. What was going on? But then I realized! Up ahead at the fairgrounds the Monster Truck Jamboree was starting, and the pungent odors of machismo, stale alcohol and Orajel drifted through the Five Corners, prompting me to silently quote the indefatigable John Surrey, "Oh, civilization - where art thou leading us?"
posted by Brian Mcclintock at 22:46
4 Comments:
Id rather watch monster trucks than watch baseball or basketball. Theirs nothing more exciting then seeing a big truck drive over a van. In baseball everybody stands there watching the picture. If you don't like trucks and racing just shut up!
Scudder Parker can spend a billion dollars on advertising but he still ain't going to beat douglas!
With Rainville and Welch neck in neck, it will be interesting when they have to release their financial reports.
I just read an article in the Burlington Free Press about updating the villiage with $1.5 million of Federal Grants (your money and mine). Since 2005, $440,000 dollars have already been spent on installing gaslight-inspired lamps along Railroad Avenue and Main Street, for "streetscape improvements" for the downtown area.
The Free Press goes on; "With the federal funding, village officials intend to extend the gaslamp lighting around the Five Corners, replace galvanized traffic lights with black mast arm signals, update sidewalks and create 20 parking spaces along Park Street. Landscaping throughout the village section will be updated and lighting fixtures outside the Brownell Library will be replaced."
I estimate that about 95% of the foot traffic through five corners is from school children in the morning and afternoon. Streetlights will be pretty but for the few that actually use the intersection by foot at night, what's wrong with the existing lights?
Anyway, once completed my book reading at the intersection should be better with the better light. When waiting for 4 light cycles at 10pm or later, with no traffic in any direction, I often can get a chapter or two finished off.
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