This Vent-Hole (hereinafter known as IVH), if lost or stolen will not be replaced nor purchase price refunded. Violation of IVH rules will result in expulsion without refund. Admission to certain functions within the IVH may require additional innuendo; enter at your own risk. Frivolity and silliness are highly recommended for all riders. Flamewars are expressly forbidden and political ranting is strongly discouraged. Please consult your counselor, magistrate or religious functionary before usage. A copy of IVH rules can be obtained from one or more members wearing tie-dyed oxford shirts after written requests. Any transmission, rebroadcasting or any other pictures, descriptions or accounts of the IVH without expressed written consent is strictly prohibited. Comment below if you agree with said terms.
I have a short rant, and it comes from my experience with the public transit system here in Charlotte.
For moths, now, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has been my primary mode of transportation. (As you know, I can't drive—don't have a car, and not technically allowed to drive because I owe GEICO money on a settlement claim. $19,000 of money. Grumble.) The service, all things considered, isn't all that bad, although the transfer system for riding buses is a bit annoying. I mean, you can't use a transfer to return on the same bus which you purchased it, so you have to either find another bus, or shell out another $1.75 to ride that bus home. It's minor, considering you don't have to pay a separate charge to ride the LYNX rail, but still. Annoying.
About that LYNX rail, however: it's also great, and very comfortable (I think they're the same trains they use in Portland, Oregon), and...there's only one line. I'm fortunate to live close enough to it, but it makes it tough to get to other parts of town. The buses only go out so far, and if they go further, it's usually a commuter bus. That means I can't get to Concord Mills except on weekends. When I don't want to go to Concord Mills. If I do, I'm leaving at 6 am, and can't get back before 5 pm.
Ugh.
Let me get to the point: this is why transit funding exists. And why it was stupid of several governors to reject funding for high-speed rail. Because God forbid we should want fast trains; no, we want 20,000 more cars on the road to clog up more highway and slow us all down, puffing carbon into the sky and making us choke. We like dodging 90 MPH-driving people who get off at the next exit, so they can grab a burrito at Taco Bell.
While these moron governors reject Federal money for faster trains, the Department of Transportation may allocate those funds to other municipalities, to help build out rail infrastructure in those places. Places like Charlotte. We need those funds here. I'd certainly like it if they could finish the light rail out to the north end of town, as well as build more bus lines to places we can't get to now. It's good for the city, which doesn't have the traffic problems of a place like Washington, D.C., but with this beltway they're completing here, the influx of vehicles goes up as soon as the economy rebounds. Then, it'll be hell.
Thus, my advice to future governors is this: don't be stupid. Take. The. Money.
Thank you. A personal update to follow in the comments.
Craig's gone dark this week, apparently. Tonight's repeat features actor Jim Parsons. Meanwhile? I'm going to post a Dr. Who clip.