If this is off topic I apologize, but the story reminded me of this. If you want to make a statement about the economy buy from local small businesses whenever you can. Generally speaking you will get better quality and service. Thanks for this article.

Another note...in the middle of the street in line with a hydrant is a blue bot dot...(the raised reflective "bump")...they are used by Fire Departments to locate hydrants for the reasons mentioned above...not all of them "stand out"...so that is another clue there is a hydrant in the area...but if it's not there it does not mean there is not one...but if there is a blue bot dot look out for a hydrant...

A side from the waste, partisanship and duplicity of State government there is also their accounting "practices"...if we at home did our budgets like they do, with pots of money that can't be touched, we would be in the same mess...all monies the State has need to be in one pot to draw from...then the State needs to have a priority on their spending...the higher the priority the greater chance of funding...what we have now is a mess...high speed rail when we can't pay our bills??? It's more of the nonsense of politics...

I would love to use RT to commute to and from work...but the problem is, "you can't get there from here" which is a common problem with RT...how can I use a service that can't meet my needs??