What I Saw - Friday, September 7, 2012

Time out to pen some thoughts

Labor Day Wrap-Up

Some items from the past week . . .

 Yes really

 The sign says NO SWIMMING, but technically he's not breaking the law, because he's doggy-paddling.

 He did, however, go in without a life jacket.

 No comment

 Underfed construction worker

 One of our "best-known" bars

 Quite a bargain

 Taking the high road

 On Mill Street, between Third and Lawrence

 "I saw some grass growing through the pavement today." - Jack in the Green by Jethro Tull

 Either get out the Roundup, or mow the sidewalk.

 Unless they're adding it as a side lawn, in which case, mow it anyway.

 Having a high-carb snack from an overflowing trash can at River Park 

 A guy and his geese

 A guy charging his phone

A guy holding a sign of the times

Happy Labor Day

According to the United States Department of Labor:

"Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."

The billionaires get to pay less tax

The working poor get to fall through the cracks

With an Overall Score of 70, Columbia Is Very Livable

According to areavibes.com HERE.
The site compares our stats with those of Pennsylvania, and the nation.

The Proverbial Accident Waiting to Happen?

Barber Street is one-way going east from Plane Street to South Twelfth Street.  Despite that fact, drivers often travel west on Barber (the wrong way) after turning right from South Eleventh Street.  

Miraculously, there have been no accidents so far.  But this afternoon at 3:08, a wrong-way driver traveling west on the 1000 block of Barber almost collided head-on with a school bus going east (the correct way).  After witnessing this near-miss, I investigated why these incidents keep happening and discovered the following:

 This is the intersection of 11th and Barber, looking south on 11th, and it's here the trouble starts.  Drivers who don't realize Barber is one-way make the mistake of turning right, causing them to travel west on Barber - the wrong way.  And the reason they do so is there is not a NO RIGHT TURN sign posted.

In fact, the only indication at this intersection that Barber is one-way is this partially hidden DO NOT ENTER sign on Barber, which is barely visible to anyone traveling south on 11th and possibly considering making that right turn.  That's the only indication - no NO RIGHT TURN sign, no ONE-WAY sign. 

If anyone affiliated with the Highway Department is reading this, please install better signage here before someone gets injured - or worse.

Fish Dinner, Anyone?

This picture was taken a little after five o'clock this afternoon.  Someone dumped these fish near the railroad tracks on Malleable Road (or as we Columbians say it: MOW (as in OW!) - LUH - BULL Road).

I've heard of "catch and release" - but "catch and dump"?

This garbage will be sure to draw cats, skunks, rats, mice, foxes - you name it.  I wonder if the thoughtless person who dumped this considered the consequences.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Some pics from the past week or so that weren't previously posted . . .

There were a few issues at last Sunday's river baptism at River Park:

Two jet skiers landed near the base of the boat ramp.  While one waited, the other attempted to back his truck and trailer down the ramp as the service was being conducted.  He was then asked by a pastor not to do so, because the church had a permit to be there.  The jet skiers then waited until the church service concluded.

 Also, two other people who were preparing to leave the park in their boat let their dog run through the crowd.  

 The dog was unattended for several minutes as its owners gathered their belongings for the trip.

The dog was only a minor disturbance, but allowing him to run through the crowd was disrespectful.

I wonder if the dog's owners ever read this notice posted nearby.

And speaking of notices, have you ever read the bulletin board under the bridge?

NOTICE, NOTICE, NOTICE!

Reminds me of the lines from that old song:

"Do this! Don't do that! Can't you read the sign?!"

Meanwhile, these folks were unfazed by it all and simply enjoyed the beautiful weather.