Remember that low profile Dodge Charger in Massachusetts State Police livery from the IACP show last year? Well, I've seen two on the highways within the past two days. Someone in D Troop has one, and someone on the Turnpike, as well. So there are probably more around the Commonwealth.
The next time you see a Dodge Charger coming up fast, your first thought shouldn't be, "what a pretty shade of blue."
"Oh, shit," is more like it.
Just quick takes today:
Falwell's dead. I can't think of anything to say except: good riddance. With each passing year I become more angry at those who would abrogate the civil rights and human dignity of an entire class of people. So, screw Falwell. The world is better off without him. There; I did think of something to say.
Boston ranked third in road rage. Third? We let New York beat us again? Get with it, people! All it takes is a single finger and a little random horn-blowing. Maybe all our psychotherapists are dispensing too many meds. Anyone care to do a correlation survey?
Craig Jackson is finding out what happens when you sue a judge - you get sued right back. The latest dispatch from the Barracuda wars is in the upcoming issue of Sports Car Market. In brief, a judge from the midwest was upset that Barrett-Jackson didn't get enough money for his car at the Scottsdale auction. So he chained it up and refused to go through with the deal. B-J sued him for business libel and a bunch of other things they probably should have left alone. Now he's suing back. It's been a bad year for B-J, and I'm perfectly happy to see Craig Jackson get slapped around a little. Stay tuned.
In Prague, apparently they pull you over by waving a red and white stick out the window.
Weird. They seem to have electricity there....
All I can come up with to explain why the tickets are strewn across the seat is that maybe the glovebox was full of them already. There were more on the windshield, and the meter maid was approaching.
Probably cheaper just to park in a garage.
Massachusetts may reform the auto insurance system that has plagued its drivers for years, according to Fox25 News, that bastion of level-headed in-depth reporting. The new rates would be based on miles driven instead of merely location of garaging. I'm for it, of course, because my commute is one mile, but I'd support almost any change to the current system.
Here's a crazy idea: what if we let insurers compete for our business?
Random thoughts:
1. Why is that I am now more interested in reading Cook's than Autoweek? Please note, I still grab SCM, Roundel, and Panorama before Cook's. In that sense, I am more like my father these days. It used to frustrate me that he only likes what he likes, and never spends time on the other stuff. Is this a natural consequence of aging, spending time on only the things you know you like? I have no patience for another article about another Japanese coupe or American sedan. I just don't care, and you can't make me.
2. It is ridiculously easy to speed in a 996 Carrera. I can't imagine what a 997 Turbo is like.
3. My never-before-used, been-sitting-in-its-box-unopened-for-five-years, Valentine One seems to work fine. I decided to break it out tonight on the way to the Cape, because my usual ticket-avoidance method -eyeballs- doesn't work as well at night. Crossing into one of the small towns along the route, I learned the V1 works when it warned me of a cruiser well before I saw it. I wasn't actually speeding at that point, but I might have been. A permanent install is on my modifications list.
4. Tomorrow we lift off the hardtop from the Carrera for spring. Let's see how creased that back window is.
5. AG AG is really hanging on. He's moved from lying denial to lying forgetfulness. The next step is confession. Then resignation. Could we move it along, please? The guy is in so far over his head, it's amazing he can breathe. Being GWB's friend has really paid off over the past six years. I'm sick of the whole crowd, myself.
According to the report released yesterday, Massachusetts is in a very bad spot financially and will need to add new tolls to keep the transportation infrastructure up to speed. I can easily believe the amount of the deficit, but I'm very skeptical that throwing more money into it is the solution.
The Boston Herald summarized the report, "It also found that
bloated costs, sketchy financial practices and a startling lack of
resources are impeding efforts to maintain major highways, bridges and
rail systems that are deteriorating badly." Obviously, the Boston Globe summary is bit less colorful, but it isn't much different.
Options being thrown out are higher tolls, new tolls, increased gas taxes, and public-private partnerships, whatever they are (Lexus lanes?). Totally wrong approach, if you ask me.
If the system is broken, more money will just go to waste. Instead, we first need to fix the system. This will mean firing lots of state and authority employees who are overpaid and underworked. This will mean telling the unions, "No, you can't have another raise." This will mean slashing retiree health benefits. That's a start.
While we're thinking about it, how about easing regulation and lowering fees and taxes to draw more business into the state? We've seen companies flee Massachusetts in droves. We need to be attracting them if we're to create jobs.
Of course, with Deval Patrick in power, that approach won't be considered. He's surrounded by like-minded tax raisers. As proof that the fees and taxes approach is a one-way street, I see that the Globe notes the Tobin Bridge is making money. I don't hear anyone talking about lowering those tolls.
We're in deep trouble. Taking more money from our pockets to pay the lazy incompetents at the various departments and authorities is insane. No one rational would set out on that course.
Watch it happen.
The Boston Police issued these common-sense tips for vehicle security. If you're not that practical a person, you should pay close attention; common sense isn't always.
SCM has weighed in on the Barrett-Jackson lawsuit, via an analysis from John Draneas, who has the writing job I want. Take a look. Draneas seems to think, as I do, that Craig Jackson's strategy is not a sound one.
