Mayor Dave: 'Unreasonable Opposition'

In Mayor Dave's recent blog entry on the Edgewater Hotel proposal, he wrote that "What remains now is unreasonable opposition from a slim minority that vows to use every tool at their disposal, including the courts, to block this project."

I completely agree, as mentioned in my previous entry on this topic. Projects in Madison are too often fought tooth and nail, and it really does no one any good. Let this project proceed for Pete's sake!

What will the IOC do?

The International Olympics Committee is definitely unpredictable, as described. Look at a few years ago when it picked London--nowhere near considered the favorite--for the 2012 games? (What the hell did Tony Blair do when he met with IOC officials in his hotel suite?)

The prevailing theory is that Brazil and Chicago are the favorites. Why? South America has never played host to the Olympics, and Brazil would be a nice start as it builds toward becoming a superpower (along with Russia, India and China). Chicago is a favorite because it is a "safe" bet, as America always is.

I'm not sure why Madrid is not a favorite, and Tokyo is not supposedly because Beijing just had the Olympics.

I don't think Brazil will get it because it is already playing host to the World Cup, perhaps a more important event to the country. Madrid does not have the appeal that Barcelona does, and Tokyo just picked the wrong year. Go Chicago!

Here's an AP article that explains the agonizing decision process of the IOC.

More speed traps

I love that the Madison police department announces where it will lay its speed traps. Here are this week's:

• Tuesday: 900 S. Midvale Blvd., school zone

• Wednesday: 3500 block of Highway 30, construction zone

• Thursday: John Nolen Drive, speed and red light

Watch out, drivers!

Broom/Gorham done

Thank God the construction at the intersection of Broom Street and Gorham Street is finally done. Not sure why such a small area took so long (bigger projects in other parts of the city took far less time, such as Campus Drive). Anyways, that was one of the most annoying of all projects.

IAM Union Should Accept Mercury Marine Offer

Mercury Marine, an outboard-engine manufacturer, has 1,900 employees at its headquarters in Fond du Lac. Like many other companies, it has been hurt by this recession. In order to save jobs, Mercury offered a contract that kept wages at $20/hr while hiring back laid-off employees at $13/hr (same wage for new hires).

No surprise that the union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 1947) overwhelmingly rejected the proposal. That short-sightedness and greed will come back to bite them in the ass, because Mercury will now likely move to Oklahoma, which offered to pay for moving expenses (estimated to be several million dollars) and doesn't have a union to deal with (at the Stillwater plant).

I repeat: the union's shortsightedness and greed will be its own undoing. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported today that there has been talk of a re-vote. The members would be wise to change their mind. Otherwise, why should anyone feel sorry for them?

Congrats Mad-City Ski Team

For the fourth straight year, the Mad-City Ski Team won the National Show Ski Championship, which took place this past weekend at Shorewood Park in Loves Park, Ill. Check out full results and a highlight video from the state championship on the team's Web site, madcityskiteam.com.

We are fortunate that we can watch the team perform for free every Sunday in the summer on Lake Monona (by the Monona Terrace). Bring a lawn chair and your own snacks!

Catch those bicyclists

Many bicyclists forget that they must obey traffic signs as cars do. This is easily apparent when bicyclists blow through stop signs/lights, go the wrong direction on one-way streets and don't yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

(Recently, a bicyclist didn't stop at a stop sign and got hit by a car on the near-east side. It was the bicyclist's fault.)

In an article in today's Capital Times, Madison police are starting to crack down on these bicyclists, who really mar the image of otherwise good people. I like that Madison is bicycle-friendly; I just hate when the few idiots out there feel empowered to do whatever they want.