Exactly How I Feel

"I’d spent a good chunk of my early life combating the notion that the Inventor of The Universe was angrily monitoring the use to which I put my genitals." Brandon K Thorpe, one of the authors of this incredible piece of investigative journalism about gay culture in the Miami Archdiocese.

The Only Thing We Have To Fear

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Franklin Delano Roosevelt
I've never understood Protestant preoccupation with predicting the end of the world, until now. It always seemed an act of futility. After all, if only a select few are going to be Raptured, why bother? In the latest flameout  Harold Camping predicted that 200,000 would be annexed into Heaven. I always figured that the mathematical odds are against me, so why bother?
Then I understood the basis of doomsday predictions. It can be summed up in one word: Fear.
It's fear that keeps followers of such idiots in line and fear that compels the weak minded and easily frightened to join these asinine sects.
"I know why you have come - I have seen it in your faces Sunday after Sunday as I've stood here before you. Fear has brought you here. Horrible, superstitious fear. Fear of divine retribution a bolt of fire from the skies. The vengeance of the Lord and the justice of God...But you forgot about the love of Jesus..." Walter Pidgeon as Mr. Gryffydd in How Green Was My Valley.
Exactly. 

Why I My Cats Stay Indoors

Why my cats are indoor cats:
--They won't bring in fleas, ticks and other insect pests.
--They won't catch diseases such as FIV or rabies.
--They won't get lost.
--They won't kill small animals -- mice, birds, frogs, and the occasional bunny rabbit and deposit them on my doorstep.
--They won't be killed by cars, neighbors, etc.

What's Next For The L?

OK, so I am a transportation geek. I admit it, I own it.
Here are two articles about the Chicago L published a week apart.
From the Reader: How To Fix The L
And from Gaper's Block: A CTA Map for 2055
Both articles are VERY conceptual (read: unrealistic) but have a lot of interesting ideas. Daniel Burnham is on their side. You know, make no small plans, yadda, yadda,
Neither of these reports take into consideration the CTA Gray Line proposal for turning the Metra Electric South Shore and Blue Island lines into a CTA Line. Economical, logical and dead simple.
The other issue I have is that neither of these reports take into consideration stops or lines built to Union Station and Navy Pier. A circulator line to and from Union Station is a must if high-speed rail is going to be a success. Once passengers leave the high-speed rail, they've got to have a way to get to their final destination or at least close to it.
And Chicago must have a link to Navy Pier. With 8 million visitors a year, it is the largest tourist attraction in the Midwest.