Kerry Has Shrapnel in Thigh From Vietnam

AP ^ | April 25, 2004 | Nedra Pickler

[NavySEAL F-16]

They're working overtime to get away with this. Just saw Drudge's page.

But, where's Brinkley's article for the New Yorker?

[Egon]

So what is it with drivers in Minnesota?

Not sure. Maybe it's the fact that things are a little more laid back here, and that translates to their driving. It seems like people would just rather be staring out at the scenery and, every once in awhile, make a major corrective action at the helm-- as tree branches, small animals, and the occasional pedestrian are flung from their grills.

Fortunately, you can't do as much damage when you're driving 15 miles below the posted limit.

[MistyCA]

Well, I really don't understand the road signs around here! They are bad, imo. By the time you see the sign you need it is too late to do anything about it! Plus, I don't think I will ever understand why all states don't have those little embedded reflectors we had in California. They sure do serve as a good reminder if you cross the line inadvertently, to say nothing of the fact they make the road markings much clearer. Minnesota needs a better road department for starters. Maybe then the drivers will do better. If you know the roads, it's no problem, but many of us don't know the roads all that well yet!

We love the state, though. This is a beautiful part of the country and I remember now why I was so unhappy when my parents moved us to California. I hated California for years. Now I fly into that part of the country and even though Santa Barbara is pretty, the land surrounding it is dry and ugly....and LA is awful! I can go visit my kids several times a year and be perfectly happy with the jetset lifestyle. :)

[Egon]

Yeah, I miss those bumps too!

They definitely wouldn't work here, though: they'd last until the first snowfall, and they'd be scraped off by the snowplows.

One of the complaints I have with MNDOT is that they seem to take on a whole myriad of projects, all at the same time, and piddle around with them throughout the entire season.

Sometimes, I think they sit down and have a discussion...

Tom: OK, we'll close down the main 35W route through Minneapolis. That should take care of a third of the commuters. Bob, where do you think people will drive in from to avoid that?

Bob: Well, some might re-route to Hwy 65, we should probably start tearing up one side of that road, just to be sure...

Joe: Hey! Look here, though: I bet some will try to skirt around and come down Hwy 100! We can't have that! Let's put a mandatory detour over to 169-- we don't have to have crews there, or anything-- we can just put up the barricades.

Bob: That works out well, 'cause when they try to get back in on 394, we've got that long-term construction going on too!

Tom: Good work, guys! Well, rush hour is upon us; let's put down these beers and get out there to man the stop signs!

[MistyCA]

LOL! Good description of MNDOT meeting! :)

I had forgotten about the snow plows, but they don't use those on the freeways, do they? There should be some way to implement something like that on the freeways without worrying about plows raking them up. I mean, especially in this climate they would be beneficial. Speaking of the climate, this is a very strange summer! I haven't even been bitten by a mosquito! And here it is August and I had the heater go on last night! Then I worried all night about the renters because I had drained the heating system for the apartments thinking we could do some maintenance, but now I am feeling guilty!

We love the rain and thunder! We love the snow! We are lucky enough not to have to go anywhere if we don't want to, so it makes it more enjoyable for us, I think. I don't know how well I would like it if I had to get up and shovel snow in order to get to work! But we have someone do that for us so even that wouldn't be too bad. I love the skyline of the Twin Cities. I love the sunsets! I am really enjoying it here! :)