October 31, 2003
f1 weltmeister
Not my Hallowe'en costume, but I like it:
Markus Grondstra as Michael Schumacher.
Perviously on FSP: Michael Shumacher's back yard.
October 03, 2003
What I Drive (for Friday Five)
It is better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
1. What vehicle do you drive?
2002 MINI Cooper.
2. How long have you had it?
1 year, 6 months. 19,000 miles.
3. What is the coolest feature on your vehicle?
Handling on transitions between corners, thanks to quick steering, and a
responsive suspension. An excellent car for a slalom.
The buttons on the steering wheel which control an iPod are also cool.
Thanks, Bridger.
Also note the cat-rescue mode, as seen in the owner's manual.
4. What is the most annoying thing about your vehicle?
No limited slip differential available as a factory option.
5. If money were no object, what vehicle would you be driving right now?
Audi RS6; and Lotus Elise.
If I had the money for the RS6, I'd not buy it but keep the MINI
and enjoy it more, on closed course private roads.
Also, with the money left over from not buying the RS6, I'd get a
Subaru WRX STi.
April 22, 2003
Dangerous Trees: Trees responsible for 1 in 10 traffic deaths
Trees lining roads take the rap for fatal French crashes
Many `arbres' slated for removal
Critics say booze, speed real culprits
ERIC LAI, LEGAL BRIEFS
YOU CAN'T MISS IT
Les arbres, trees, in France are increasingly being blamed for the country's high
number of traffic deaths, reports the French news magazine L'Express.
Of the 7,643 motoring fatalities recorded in the year 2000, striking a tree was
implicated in 799 cases (or roughly 1 in every 10 deaths).
As a result, between 10,000 and 20,000 trees standing less than two metres
from the roadway are slated for removal.
Critics of the clear-cutting plan charge that the true cause of the traffic fatalities
isn't the trees, but rather driving while impaired and excessive speed.
They urge the government to focus its efforts in those areas.
Nonetheless, some 400,000 trees that line France's roads could ually be
on the chopping block if the initial effort proves successful in reducing roadway
deaths.
2003 Apr. 12, 01:00 AM, The Toronto Star.
April 21, 2003
Red Light District Cameras
Red Light cameras are a fraud:
Analysis [Weekly Standard] and discussion [TalkLeft].
Update: recent discussion in Sacramento, CA.
April 11, 2003
Winter Driving
SportCompactCar gave Bridgestone's WinterDrive a great review.
Are there any first person reviews from students ?
March 21, 2003
Parking with sidewalk
Parking lots should be surrounded by a perimeter sidewalk striped area
to make end of row spaces usable.
On the top level of the garage on Bay Street, Emeryville, CA.
See Marin County on the right and the Golden Gate Bridge behind the cherry picker.
Compare to parking lots without sidewalks.
Parking lots without sidewalks
Parking lots should be surrounded by a perimeter sidewalk.
Or at least the end spaces should have a paved path beside them.
After these trees grow it will not be possible to exit a car.
And if there weren't trees, there would be mud to walk through.
Near Bay Street, Emeryville, CA.
The clear space beyond the parking stall should be at least half the
width of the space. (With both side doors open, the MINI is wider
than it is long.)
February 09, 2003
How to argue: it's healthy issue to debate
Beside being able to keep their homes, many of the mobile home park
residents wanted one more thing: a traffic signal at their driveway.
But Bill Burton of Korve Engineering, the company that performed the
traffic study, said the need for a signal hasn't been proven.
"The traffic study shows there aren't enough cars going in and out
of the parks to satisfy the 100-car-per-hour warrant for a signal,"
Burton said.
City Manager Mark Joseph pointed out that traffic warrants are not
the only determining factors for a signal. He said the city council
could simply decide it wants one.
"Even though signals aren't warranted, you have a healthy
issue for debate," he said.
[2003 Feb 15, Napa Register:
American Cyn road widening plan aims to save frogs]