It’s Tuesday, so stop by the Seattle chapter of Drinking Liberally for an evening of politics under the influence. The festivities take place at the Montlake Ale House, 2307 24th Avenue E. beginning at 8:00 pm. Or stop by early for some dinner.
Tonight’s activity? I think our time would best be spent celebrating my birthday…so beer offers and inappropriate flirtations are all welcomed.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iI4jgaa_As[/youtube]
Not in Seattle? The Drinking Liberally web site has dates and times for 332 other chapters of Drinking Liberally for you to get lost at.
Happy Birthday! Roger Rabbit rarely shows up anywhere to celebrate birthdays. As for Roger, he doesn’t even have birthdays anymore. He’s got his quota and decided not to have any more birthdays.
I figure most of the liberal/progressive community is satisfied with the Deep-bore tunnel arrangement for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct. But I’m convinced the 4-lane Cut-n-Cover tunnel, WsDOT’s Scenario ‘G’ is superior in many ways aside from its lower cost.
The biggest problem with the Deep-bore is the lack of access for motorists heading to Interbay and Ballard. This is about 40,000 vehicles daily or 2500 per hour forced to use the new Alaskan Way surface boulevard with its 15-20 stoplights. Even if half of these vehicles take Westlake or Mercer to access the Deep-bore in SLU, all day bumper-to-bumer gridlock is guaranteed on Alaskan Way.
The 4-lane Cut-n-Cover tunnel provides a better evacuation system. That’s important. It has enough capacity as long as speed is limited to 40mph, a good idea with any tunnel.
As far as construction disruption goes, there’s no avoiding the mess of removing the AWV and rebuilding the Seawall and Alaskan Way.
The 4-lane Cut-n-Cover construction is manageable.
Starting from the south end in 2-block segments, traffic is diverted around the trench under the viaduct and returns to the surface above completed segments. Excavation dibris is removed via the tunnel.
The AWV remains in place until the last year or so for constructing the Lower Belltown segment. Traffic is then diverted via Broad and a probably permanent and desirable bridge over the railroad tracks onto Alaskan Way and enters the competed portal at Pike. The Seawall and sidewalk are mostly complete.
So why are the powers-that-be all for the Deep-bore tunnel? My guess is that they’re only concerned that waterfront commerce continue with the least disruption — what with cruise ship patrons to impress. And, traffic is gridlocked everywhere else downtown, so bumper-to-bumper gridlock for everybody else who drives, bicyles and walks through the new Alaskan Way is acceptable to the Deciders and the money’d class. I suggest complacent liberals give some thought to the merits of the 4-lane Cut-n-cover tunnel before it’s too late.
I, for one, wish a happy birthday to our Blogging Overlord.
@1 Aren’t you forgetting something?
@4 Not that I know of.
@5 Maybe this will help you remember.
WHACK!!!
@6 Oww!! What was that for?!
@7 Think harder, jackrabbit … !!
[scuffling noises]
@9 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS. RABBIT!
@9 It’s about time, you decrepit old senile rodent! This is for not remembering …
[biting, kicking, clawing noises]
… and to help you remember the next time!
Ooo eee owww!!!
[running noises]
If anyone locates my husband, don’t bother calling 9-1-1, just crate him up and ship him via ground freight, and there’s no hurry.
Eeeeeeeeyyyyaaaaarrrrggghhhhhhh …
Furthermore, don’t believe the b.s. he feeds you about his alleged sexual prowess — it’s been 25 years since his dick got big enough to see it with a microscope.
Hello, operator? … I’d like to make a collect call to the reservation desk of Quantas Airlines … operator?
Bachman is Stupes’ kind of politician.
Fear-mongering to point of self-parody.
But the woman is so damn bad at it. If you’re going to fear-monger someone has to get scared.
Only morons like Stupes feel the slightest twinges of fear from batshit-insane Michelle Bachmann.
I think that cartoon unfairly characterized Bachmann.
She sounds much more stupid in person…..
I see Rodent is talking to his imaginary friend again. Oh, the joys of senility!
@19 This thread is a comic strip, and you’re one of the cartoons in it.
Yes Rodent, I’ll be the one with the shotgun chasing your old pussified ass. :)