Jackson's Water Supply Must Be Drugged

There is a roundabout in Perryville at Main and Kingshighway. I use it everyday 4 to 6 times a day it is very functional. What is your issue?

Not even the least bit funny or relevant. Did you realize you repeated the same words over and over again in this sad article? Roundabouts have proved very functional in Europe since the invention of the automobile. Roundabouts in the U.S. have worked well in improving traffic flow. There are several in Missouri's cities which have proved their efficiency and safety.

You have have told us you live in Cape Girardeau and your drive to work might be a brisk walk for a more energetic person. Therefore I doubt you have a good knowledge of traffic patterns in the city of Jackson or have any stake in this discussion. Do some research and you will find that the concepts of sliced-bread and stop-lights were considered unnecessary in their early days. As well as automobiles, paved roads, interstate highways, microwaves, cell phones, computers, etc., etc., etc. I like you stuff but sometimes you go off the deep end when you can think of a good topic to write about.

Mmmmm... Perryville traffic vs. Jackson traffic. Comparable? Good Lord people, Brad tries to add a little humor in our day and you jump all over him. Give him a break! Thanks for the story Brad, I found it entertaining, (and more than likely true!)

Manning - the purpose of comments is to "comment" - good, bad, agree, disagree. That is what a forum or blog is all about. It is a venue to give people an opportunity to share their opinions. If you don't like that concept, don't read the comments. Brad states he writes this blog for "his own amusement" which is an absurd statement. If a large newspaper, of which you are an employee, gives you a regular column - then it is not for your own amusement. And if you are going to express an opinion in a public forum, you can expect to have that opinion challenged. If you write for "your own amusement" is it called a diary. If you publish it it is called public domain.

The problem is I used to take the roundabout by St. Francis everyday, and probably about half the people seemed like they had no clue what to do, didn't yield, or yielded to the wrong side.

I'll never forget the time there was a van in front of me, and a little old lady to our right hand side. The van was about to go, but the old lady, instead of going around the roundabout, made a left turn & cut in front of the van.

Parker, I think roundabouts are also useful traffic control feature, and have been through a few large ones in England (I was on a bus and I was glad I wasn't driving), but I think their existence in this area should be limited to locations with a single dominant -- but not constant -- line of traffic.

For instance, I was over in Jackson for over an hour on Wednesday at the newspaper office located right at that intersection and traffic at Main and Hope was pretty constant in all directions. That's always been my observations of that intersection. It's always busy. The intersection needs something, I just don't think a roundabout is the best solution.

That being said, Brian Blackwell, shared that the cutline on the website and in the paper was wrong. No roundabout is planned for this intersection. Instead it is "near the courthouse" which sounds very similar to the roundabout in Perryville although with a lot more traffic. I'm still not so sure that this is a good idea -- considering the parking in this area and the amount of traffic -- without seeing a map.

Thanks for reading.

Parker is entitled to his or her opinion, Manning. Hell, I enjoy spirited discussion. It makes things interesting. I make no guarantees that everything I write will amuse everyone who reads it. Humor is extremely subjective and I realize that, so I write what I find amusing. Sometimes, even I read over an earlier blog I wrote and wonder "What was I thinking" when I wrote it.

However, as absurd as it sounds, I DO write this blog for my own amusement (and to cultivate spirited discussions too). None of the bloggers on this website are paid to my knowledge. I'm just like any of the "community bloggers" who write about taxes or bulldogs or real estate, I just happen to also work for the newspaper.

But I don't work in the newsroom, but instead manage our company's information technology initiatives. The one difference with my blog is that I deliberately try to maintain a regular "publishing" schedule whereas a lot of bloggers publish immediately when they have something done.

So keep on critiquing my diary!

Almighty, I think your right. Cluelessness is the biggest obstacle in hampering efficient roundabouts. It's amazing that such a simple concept can cause so much confusion in some people.

TFR

i thought this entry was clever--and i actually snorted once while reading it. i actually clicked through to read the entire article. (way to go brad.) as far as i know TC1261, brad doesn't have direct control over whether or not a roundabout is going in--or where it's going to be placed--despite his feelings about it. (unless part of the water spiking included a taliban initiaitve headed by brad:-) but, i'm going to remember the terrorists spiking the jackson water bit. *snort* guess i should be relieved i live in cape. *grin*

Well, one would have to 'spike' my water and turn me into a "drug-addled, hallucinogenic-happy, dope-fiend" before I will ever support a roundabout in Jackson. The one in Cape, by Logan's...is nuts. People rarely slow down, much less yield. Nonsense, utter nonsense!

"It has to be drugs in the water supply.

No one except a drug-addled, hallucinogenic-happy, dope-fiend would even remotely believe this is a good idea. "

Brad, I think you have possibly nailed the source of the "Jackson is a Utopia" mentality that seems to permeate the citizens of that community. For the life of me I can't figure out what is supposed to be so wonderful about this community that folks are willing to put up with the traffic and the disproportionately high taxes and utilities. Either that, or all citizens are subjected to brain-washing immediately upon purchase of a home.

Unfortunately, Turnip, this is probably above all of our "pay-grades." While the early details are sketchy, since this involves Highway 61, it's likely a MODOT decision.

MODOT tends to do what it thinks is best like the I-55 cable guards that are right next to the southbound lane rather than in the middle of the median like they are everywhere else in the state.

TFR

Hmmmmmmm....farmwife2 - little jealous aren't we? I used to live in Jackson, now Cape. Cape = higher taxes, higher real estate prices, more traffic, more crime, higher utilities, worse schools, poorer government, more infighting than Jackson. Lord how I miss Jackson. As soon as I get a few bucks equity I am moving back. I will gladly accept that brain washing for the peace of mind.

Not jealous, happy that I don't live in Jackson.

I think there is a roundabout in Chaffee that works very well. The problem with the (insert a noun here -anything other than roundabout) near Logan's is that it is too small. And you think everything is bigger and better in Cape!

Looks like a few of these folks are still drinking the Round-a-bout (Rotary) kewl-aid...Thanks for being the voice of reason BH.

Oh yeah - and don't put a round-a-bout in uptown Jackson, that's just like routing an I-55 off-ramp right to the courthouse steps. If you don't like the congestion, find ANOTHER way to get to Wal-Mart or Coutry Mart...and, don't make your trip anywhere near 3:00...Let's put that round-a-bout in front of the south elementary school, that might ease the complaints of all the mini-van mamas.