European designs their highways with this. It's called a 'diverging diamond interchange' . The nice thing about it is it DOUBLES the capacity of the interchange from 300 to 600 cars per hour. That's 72,000 more cars in a day!

See the citation at:

www.popsci.com/bown/2009/...interchange

And, the proof is in how it REALLY WORKS! See the video at:

www.youtube.com/watch

If you increase the number of vehicles that can cross and use an interchange, it means less people sitting in traffic burning fuel. That reduces emissions, fuel use, and greenhouse gases produced. Win-win all around for the public, our environment, and the businesses that use the interchange!

Went into the local grocery store to get a prescription picked up today, and came up on a situation on my exit. Two young men had shoplifted some items from the store, and were confronted by the store assistant manager. He called 911 to get the police there, and the punks were spiteful, hateful, threatening the man with bodily harm if he stepped outside (he didn't).

I was leaving the store at the time, and continued on my way out. The punks were headed toward their vehicle. At that point, I knew what I had to do, and my personal safety became paramount. I stepped behind a van to get in my car, and then stepped out again, got the description of the punk's car and a license plate. After they had left, I took that information back into the assistant manager, who was still on the phone with police. They'll get these two. They don't need to be on the streets, threatening people with violence if they don't get what they want. So friggin' uncool.

I felt bad for the punks, for about two seconds. But then, I realized, people like that drive up the prices of goods and services for the rest of us. And, in an uncertain economy, I don't need another price rise.

Somebody needs to get a life, get a home, get a FRIGGIN' JOB!

Right now as I'm writing this, either there's a hostage event unfolding in the old Governor Hotel (now the Governor state office addendum) on Madison Street in Jefferson City. This is NOT the Governor's mansion, NOR the Jefferson State Office Building, NOR the Truman Building. All of the information coming from the scene so far indicates that Jefferson City's P.D. has jurisdiction (and NOT Capitol Police, NOR the Missouri Highway Patrol, though they are on scene if necessary)

The press (ASSHOLES in Central Missouri) have been all over this like stink on the portapotties at Burningman. Slow news day, I guess. First it's reported to be a hostage situation with shots fired, then no shots fired. I'm following these fools on Twitter. I hope that the local police tells them to shut the hell up, because they're disclosing police tactical set-ups in case SWAT has to be sent in.

Right across the street sits Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, ANOTHER asshole who's disclosing the SAME tactical information on his twitter account. Come to think of it,HE may be responsible for setting things up for the reporter types by 'setting an example.' Yeah. Like I'd want my kid to be a Republican or shoot off at the mouth during a potential hostage negotiation!

Only police officers and public officials take courses in 'Crisis Management'. This is being managed very efficiently*cough, cough*(sounds like BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT). Well, you can't shop on High Street in downtown today!