Analyzing the contributing factors we decided that the guy acted stupid. He could have lost his life for it. All accidents are a combination or series of mistakes leading up to the grand finale. Needless to say the hearts of driver and target (nearly a statistic) went a-flutter. The man, nearly flattened, was on a bike. Our 4000# hauler would have survived (rule of physics). Stupid because he disregarded every rule cliche you’ve ever heard during some corny ‘how to ride a bike safe and sane’ AV:
Riding at night.
Riding without lights.
Riding without reflective gear.
Riding on the wrong side of the road
Riding with one’s head up and locked
( and no helmet on it neither )
The last one is the biggie and I give him benefit of doubt that he was a novice — a man who last took to two wheels umpteen years ago and was now riding his kid’s conveyance because his car was out of commissh or something. Anybody who has ever been on foot in and around vehicular traffic knows (has learned) to respect cars. Right or wrong, the other guy is considred an menace or impaired or he just plain doesn’t see you. Cars win. You might be in the right but you’ll be dead right. Well, let’s just say that now he’s clued in. Luckily the chain of events were broken and this: ‘that was a close one’ — averted — but not without a thrill.

Judge Rosemary Collyers temporary injunction wasn’t just a delay — it was a brickwall. Everyone realizes this now: Mesa Terminates Bid for Atlantic Coast

Independence Day comes late and Christmas comes early. Federal Court Enjoins Mesa Consent Solicitation

 News coverage in USA Today

As Americans prepare to celebrate the centennial of the Wright brother’s first flight, a whole country is cringing at what it believes to be a historical injustice against one of its most beloved heroes… [ read ]

The Peoria Castle Lodge is notorious. Designed and styled in early Medieval Germanic Baroque the furnishings date from the 60s I can almost hear the theme from the Munsters. The dark woods, gothic tapestries, gas lanterns, deep reds lend the place a haunting atmosphere. The rooms are creepy with narrow stain glass windows and an oil picture portrait on the wall whose staring eyes seem to scan and follow your movements around the place. Our FA (a first time guest) had heard all of this from crew room chatter and was a little bit freaked. Its reputation was cemented when the night clerk behind the desk asked during sign-in if he wanted the haunted room 😉

Check-in complete we waited for the lobby elevator to take us up to our rooms. They are just large enough to handle the three of us. The elevator door blends inconspicuously into the side paneling and is just wide enough for one of us to squeeze. The FO stepped in and then the door rumpled closed at about twice speed. He was unable to halt the closure as the rest of us were reaching for our bags and the FA and I were left standing there in silence. I broke the tension by explaining how these places work — Like an Abbott and Costello movie they separate us one-by-one, then they…

That was enough the FA bolted and was last seen heading for the lounge.

I?m afraid that we will be one of the last to see the place in its grand old form. We are told that the Pedullas (owner & operators) have sold out! The Radisson chain is to gut and renovate.

play by play action from the Washington Postÿ — Mesa is not in the business of doing favors for United.” a confident and smiling Jonathan G. Ornstein, Mesa’s chairman testified.

It helps to have friends in high places: District of Columbia and the State of Virginia Attorney General

…about a Florida woman who was trampled in a mad stampede of people scrambling to buy a $30 DVD player at the local Wal-Mart. It was one of those stories that perfectly symbolized our nation’s unhealthy obsession with shopping, right? Well, we might be unheathily obsessed with shopping, but there is growing evidence that the woman, who is a “frequent faller” who has managed to injure herself nine times before at various Wal-Marts around Florida, is faking it. Over the years she’s also filed injury claims against six other businesses, as well. [ read ]

If you ever wondered — On a busy day, a skycap could assist about 20 travelers an hour. If each traveler tips $2, the skycap earns $40 per hour. In an eight-hour day, that?s $320 in tips. Or $1,600 per week. $6,400 a month. $76,800 per year. [ read ]