tfl: The Flatiron Life

I do not see the IU Medical Center being renamed after this.

I have made it. I am in the lovely city of Madison. Only 2.5 hours and $2 for tolls.

Barry White has died.

Jonah Goldberg says Californians should have to learn from thier mistakes, not have a do-over.

I can think of an FSA employee or two with this guys same problem.

Two centuries, one score, and seven years ago ?our fathers bought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equally.? On this day it is of vital importance that we all read the words that set us free and reflect if only for a moment on their meaning for that time, our time, and our lives.

Before the oft repeated second paragraph, comes the ignored and in many ways more important first. When I was in Mr. Martin?s Jr. High History class it was this first paragraph, which is also the first sentence, of the Declaration we had to memorize. Though I cannot remember every word in the correct order, the beginning is quick to my mouth: ?When in the course of human event?? This first clause is as powerful and important as any other that come in the opening of the Declaration. This is the first line that the King would have read. His advisers would have given him a summery before he read it, and the title of the document would have gave the purpose away. However, this first line is designed to state that at a time of the people?s not the king?s or the current government?s choosing we can do what follows.

What follows is a doozy. The Declaration of Independence not only turns the thirteen colonies into thirteen ?Free and Independent states? united for a common good. It sets each of us free, in and out of America. At a time of our choosing it may becomes necessary for one People to rid itself of the current government. We are also reminded that we each have a separate and equal station in life. This station is not granted to us by a government or any other person, but through ?the Laws of Nature and of Nature?s God.?

This paragraph should be an often reminder that each of us is sovereign. We are each a nation unto ourselves. It is by our choosing that we have come together to form the alliances that constitute out great republic. We, the represented, are the ones from which our representatives derive their name and their power. They cannot grant us any rights because the only rights they have are the ones we have temporarily loaned to them. It is of vital impotents to our health and to the Republic?s health that we remind them that they are our servants. That we brought them into this world and we will take them out.

Michael Kinsley has some interesting ideas on how solve the gay marriage issue. (Via the Corner)

I would like to thank all of you for make June 2003 the highest traffic month ever for The Flatiron Life! We had 2394 hits last month. I know that does not look like much, but in May we had 1519 and in April only 752.
I encourage all of you to stay up to date with the most important goings on by checking back her often. In the last month, great new features like the Tribute to Nina have been added. Look for new features such as reviews and opinion article to be added in the future.

As always, I am interesting in receiving email from all of you. I am interested in the kind of people visiting and what you would like to see in the future.

Starting Monday I am going to be detailed north of the Cheddar Curtain for work. I will be working in Madison, making the drive every week, Monday through Friday. The way the plan looks for now I will be there for over a year.

I know that this is rather belated, but here is a summery of the road trip the Chi-mate and I took on Sunday. We traveled from Chicago, Mayor Richard M. Daley, to Fairfax, Virginia in a little over 12 hours. We covered 733 miles. Our route was Lake Shore Drive (US 41), I-55, Dan Ryan (I-90/I-94), Chicago Skyway (I-90), Indiana East-West Tollway (I-80), Ohio Turnpike (I-80), Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76), I-70, I-270, Capital Beltway (I-495), and I-66. The total toll was $22.20: Chicago $2, Indiana $4.65, Ohio $8.95, and Pennsylvania $6.60.

The trip was fun, but I would not want to make it often. I like the ticket system that Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania use for the long stretches of tollway that allows you to just keep on driving. The trip did spark the classic question of why we have to pay a toll. I am not opposed to tolls. I think they are a good way of having the users of the roads pay for the road. What I do have a problem with is that you still have to pay gas tax on the toll way. The gas tax is used to pay for the other roads, which you are not using if you are on the tollway.
A tunnel was in our route, which was enjoyable. I also never realized how hilly Pennsylvania is. Justin?s little Saturn could barley make some of the inclines. In addition, in Penn?s Woods we saw a stand of power generating windmills. It might be hard to tell from the picture but they are huge!