...Of Nothing

* For those who like to carp that "we can't keep building more roads," I suggest a couple of drives.

The I-470 Toll way in Colorado from Boulder to the Denver Airport. Yes, it's out in the country and not an instance of roads as a solution to urban congestion, but it is a fine example of building roads in anticipation of increased traffic rather than as a reaction to it. And damn if it isn't a pleasant, wide-open (other than a couple of toll stops) run. I for one am always happy to pay more for a better drive when I'm in the area.

Highway 100 northbound through St. Louis Park. I drive this route nearly ever day and I can say without exaggeration that the project to add one lane (one measly lane!) to northbound HWY 100 has had more impact on traffic in the metro area than any other I can think of. I quit even trying to take HWY 100 home from work between 4pm-7pm because of the congestion that used to start around 50th and extended to 394. Now, with the third lane, the same stretch during the same time is almost always a smooth sail. Thank you DOT. Now, about that Cross-town...

* If you're flying on a clear, sunny day and don't get just a little bit awestruck when you look out the window as you come in on approach, you may as well suck the gas pipe now, because you have no soul. And I don't care how much of a cynical road warrior you consider yourself, how many frequent flier miles you have, or how times in a row you've been upgraded (for the record, I was two for two on my last trip). I know that those pie charts in USA Today can be riveting, but you might want to take a moment and detach yourself from your "too busy" or "too cool" to care attitude and witness the wonder of the world from on high.

* If you're looking for a sure fire way to shut down the conspiracy nut jobs in your family (admit it-every family has 'em), Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can't Stand Up to the Facts covers the bases as far as 9/11 goes. It's been added (along with a number of other fine tomes) to our recommended reading list. However, you'll have to look elsewhere to take on your uncle who thinks the Queen of England is behind the plot to bring crack to American ghettos.

* Last but not least, is there a more ridiculous rule in the NFL than the "forced out of bounds" BS that we once again witnessed during Sunday's Pats-Colts game? It puts the officials in the impossible position of trying to decide what would have happened had the receiver not been pushed out of bounds and puts the defenders in the awkward position of being punished for play that otherwise is legal. If a running back tries to go "over the top" at the goal line and is stopped cold by a linebacker we don't say that "he would have scored" if he hadn't been hit. So why give receivers such a woulda, coulda benefit? If a receiver is trying get his two feet in and a defensive back pushes him out, it should be called good defense and nothing more.