Poles & Lines

I love the beauty of a uncluttered urban skyline. This photo is of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Parking Garage Gate. The photo looks west down Madison, from the corner of Madison, and Sixth Street.

In the first photo I edited out the utility poles, and power lines. I also include the unedited photo for comparison.



Why I hate utility poles? One example below.



Millions of dollars have already been spent remaking downtown Springfield, Illinois. Millions more will be spent in the coming years. Despite these efforts, the overlooming utilty poles, hanging about, always remind us that Springfield has a long way to go.

Union Station Forever

Springfield Illinois' Abraham Lincoln Presidential LIbrary, and Museum is still very much under construction. Just across the street from the museum on Sixth Street can be found Union Park, and Union Station.

Union Station, located on Madison Street, between Fifth, and Sixth Streets, right across the street from the ALPLM Parking Garage!

Union Station is undergoing a twelve million dollar makeover! When refurbished, the station will become the visitor's center for the ALPLM complex.

I've included some photo below of the construction currently taking place. I also include an image of the Great Seal, which suggest that Union Station's design may have been influenced by Masons.

One thing is for sure, those modern windows must go - hideous!

The history of the building is interesting, and I'll post more on it later.

Fourth Celebrated in Downtown Springfield

Like most cities of Springfield, Illinois size there are official activities celebrating July 4th.

The "official" July 4th fireworks display is presented at the front of the Illinois State Capitol building, located at Second, and Capitol street.

The display always attracts thousands of patriotic citizens. Our family has made attending the display an annual tradition.

I recorded some great videos, but unfortunately I won't be able to post those to this blog.

This year I followed my wife's advice, which was to park closer! We paid for this decision at the end of the show - having to wait a good fifteen to twenty minutes in the car as we tried to get out of the parking lot.

Never again, I say! We'll park farther away next year.

Shocking, but true, this year's display actually started at Nine! It has always started a little late in the past - between, fifteen, and twenty minutes late. Perhaps those in charge were trying to launch the display ahead of an approching storm front. I witnessed groups of people racing into the area as the show was beginning.

I snapped many photos, but I'll post just a few. For fun I've posted each firework photo with another "similar" photo stolen from various images off the web.

In the first set of photos I present an incredible image taken by the Hubbell Space Telescope. The photo is part the Deep Space series on ancient, and very distant galaxies.

The galaxies are imaged from just one incredibly tiny spot in the sky, yet each galaxy is immensely huge, and the space between them even larger. I bring up for comparison one of my paltry firework photos from July 4th.





A Set of Sprites! Sprites are amazing natural phenomena created at the upper edges of the atmosphere by lightening storms (only recently discovered). I took the second photo from this year's July 4th celebration.





The next photo is of the Horse Head Nebula in Orion, along with my own firework version just below it.






This last set is somewhat racey - well, if you were a Bee. Sperm (a Bee's), and my imaginative firework analogy.






No doubt about it, I love July 4th!

I do wish roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets, etc., were easier, and more legally obtained. Something missing in this "perfect" world.

Jerome's July 4th, 2005 Parade

This post is a works in progress - I'm posting what I have now, and will finish up over the next few days.

A little hokey? A little too down home?

Maybe, but I like Jerome's annual 4th of July Parade.

I've noticed over the years that more, and more groups have found their place in the procession. There's just something to be said about a small town 4th of July Parade.
It's hard to describe, sort of like going back in time - to a kinder, and gentler era. One where everyone knew their neighbors, and looked out for them.

The odd thing is that Jerome is completely surrounded by a much larger community - Springfield. So perhaps it's all an illusion - but's it's also possible, that it's what we, who live in Jerome, make of it.

The following series of photos were taken at the corner of Alberta Lane, and Filmore. The parade commenced Saturday, July 2nd, 9:00 a.m., at the Village Hall, which is located at 2901 Leonard Street.


In the lead is Jerome's Finest!



Patriotic Bicycles (I've prepared many a bicycle for my own child)




Grand Marshall (I blanked out their names. Residents 56 Years!)



Babies on Parade!




Springfield, Illinois' Fire Truck - Thanks SFD, For All You Do!



Hey, Wait! Who let this clown behind the wheel? Oh, it's alright, the monkey's driving! What would a parade be without the Shriners?



Some Proud Veterans Bearing Our Nation's Colors!




Wait! Aren't these guys a little young to have fought in the Civil War?




The Ansar Arab Patrol Are Always A Blast!




Great Care, Great Respect, The VFW Color Guard.



Doing the Polka is a July 4th Tradition in Jerome!



More to Come!

A Fourth of July Blast!

Now this is a 4th of July Blast!

I'm including several photos taken from JPL's, and NASA's websites. I include my own comments, and official captions, and credits.

The following image was taken from the surviving Deep Impact spacecraft. It shows the immediate result of the Impactor probe's high velocity encounter with comet Tempel 1. The comet is half the size of Manhattan Island, while the Impactor probe is only the size of a washing machine. Due to the velocities involved, (i.e., 23,000 mph), the explosion generated at impact was the equivalent to five tons of TNT.

Enough to create quite a show!



NASA Caption: This image (ab0ve) shows the initial ejecta that resulted when NASA's Deep Impact probe collided with comet Tempel 1 at 10:52 p.m. Pacific time, July 3 (1:52 a.m. Eastern time, July 4). It was taken by the spacecraft's high-resolution camera 13 seconds after impact. The image has been digitally processed to better show the comet's nucleus.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD

***
This next image (below) seems straight out of a science fiction movie!

NASA Caption: This image (above) from NASA TV is a view from Deep Impact's flyby showing the impactor colliding with comet Tempel 1.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD

***
The next image (below) is from Impactor moments before it slammed into Tempel 1. I love how this image makes, in my mind anyway, a very real thing-place out of what has been something previously only imagined, or seen in science fiction movies.

NASA Caption: This image (above) from NASA TV shows shows one of the last images from Deep Impact's impactor before collision with comet Tempel 1.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD.

***
In the photo (below) we see how the apparent brightness of the comet has increased (temporarily) due to the ejecta thrown off from the impact. I like this series of images as it shows the effect of what we did in space can be seen all the way back here on Earth.



Official Caption: This is a series of images (below) taken at the CFHT (Canada France Hawaii Telescope) equiped with the Megacam camera, pre- and post-impact. The images are 10s exposure time and were taken through the r filter. North is up, East is left. The field of view is about 11 x 11 arcmin, which corresponds to about 430,000 km at the comet. The increase of brightness after impact (which occurred at 05:52:24 UT as seen from Earth) is obvious on the second and third images.

Credit: J. Pittichova, Y. Fernandez, K. Meech (Institute for Astronomy, Hawaii), R. Cabanac, M.B. Laychak and P. Martin (CFHT).

***
Some may question our priorities, that is, spending money on the space program when there are so many problems here on Earth. Let me say, I believe every dollar spent on this mission was worth it. This mission shows that we can send a craft to a comet. One day, the whole of humanity may depend on our ability to nudge a comet out of a collision course with Earth. In fact it's just a matter of time.

Urgent Care's Condition Upgraded!

Photo: Urgent Care - Macarthur Blvd - Springfield, IL July 2005 (before demolition)

The Springfield Urgent Care, currently located at 1836 S. Macarthur Blvd., is yet another facility slated for the wrecking ball. A recent posting on the Walgreen's just down the road from Urgent Care sparked some interesting responses.

Several comments regarding the soon to be demolished building that currently houses Walgreen's at the corner of Ash & Macarthur were posted. Those comments helped to spur the creation of a new blog titled Look Back Springfield. Look Back Springfield is dedicated to the posting of Springfield's history. Anyone, and everyone is invited to participate!

I doubt that many comments will be made regarding the small building that currently houses the Springfield Urgent Care. I see the move as a great improvement. The current facility is cramped, and dingy. The new building, which is located just south of the existing facility, appears to be a significant improvement to South Macarthur Blvd, and to Springfield, Illinois.


Photo: New Facility Will Be Called Priority Care - Springfield, Illinois - July 2005

A MADMAN'S BLOG.

I've located Joseph E. Duncan III's Blog.

Duncan is the individual accused of kidnapping Shasta Groene (see my blog posting immediately prior to this one), and possibly will be charged in the killings of Groene's two brothers, her mother, and step father.

http://fifthnail.blogspot.com/

His final posting's make it clear he is close to the breaking point - shortly before the killings. He hints at other crimes as well:

Friday, May 13, 2005

Still Confused

¶ 5:43 PM

My blog entries lately are erratic and full of a lot of B.S., for that I apologize. I am just trying to put down what is in my head, regardless. As far as "taking people with me" well, I don't know if that is right or wrong. In fact, I don't know much any more what right and wrong even is. My view is either everything is right (in some regard) or everything is wrong (in some other regard). The question (one I am struggling with at this point) is, "Does it matter?"
Does anything matter? My mother is crying right now, because her son is in trouble again. She tried to raise a good son, and she knows her son has a good heart, so why does he do these things? She is probably more hurt and confused than me. Does it matter? It hurts me to know these things, but DOES IT MATTER???
A hundred years from now, all my mothers pain will be forgotten, and other mothers will cry for there sons. A million years from now there probably won't be any mothers (at least not like we know).
I have feelings, in fact I think I must be more sensitive than most people because I seem to feel more than they do, at least more than what they openly express. I feel for the starving children and families in the world, others say, "Oh, that's too bad, but I can't do anything so..."
I wish I could be more honest about my feelings, but those demons made sure I'd never be able to do that. I might not know if it matters, but just in case, I am working on an encrypted journal that is hundreds of times more frank than this blog could ever be (that's why I keep it encrypted). I figure in 30 years or more we will have the technology to easily crack the encryption (currently very un-crackable, PGP) and then the world will know who I really was, and what I really did, and what I really thought. Also, maybe then they will understand that despite my actions, I'm not a bad person, I just have a disease contracted from society, and it hurts a lot.
I hope to complete this journal before I die (soon) or turn myself in (I still might do that, I think it is the right thing, but of course, I'm not sure).
Speak of being sure; I wish I could be sure about my thoughts. But right now the only thing I'm sure about is that I'm sure about nothing. It is not a good position to be in considering my circumstances (being a felony fugitive and all).

Posted by: Joe

And yet another post:

Sunday, April 24, 2005
Wrestling With Demons

¶ 7:21 PM

Yes, I am still alive. I honestly wish not, I just don’t know how to kill myself so it makes sense. Nothing makes sense to me right now. Last night I realized I was “scared and alone.” Being scared doesn’t bother me as much as being alone, but it is a fate that I probably chose sometime before I was ever born because I’ve been making the decision to fight my battles alone since I was a small child. The current battle is of epic proportions (I do not make this claim idly either). It is a battle between me and my demons. Only two people in the world have a clue as to the power and nature of my demons (besides me) and they will probably never read this. But just the same, these demons are stronger than even I gave them credit for, and now they are taking my best blows and not even staggering. I’m afraid, very afraid. If they win then a lot of people will be badly hurt, and they’ve had their way before, so I know what they can do. I’ve been praying a lot and asking God for help. I’ve asked him to step in and intercede directly, because I see no other way at this point that I can win. If you are reading this, and you believe in God, please pray for God to help me defeat my demons. God has shown me the right choice, but my demons have me tied to a spit and the fire has already been lit. I don’t know if the right choice is even an option any more!

Posted by: Joe

Yes, I know, it's morbid - but it is useful information too.

If more people had read Mein Kampf, and taken it seriously, maybe there would have been no WWII.

Needless to say, people are finding his blog, and posting comments like crazy.

Caution: When I surfed to the very first page of this blog archive (January 04?), which you can't reach through the link I provided above, a TROJAN may load on your PC!

My virus scanner stopped this, but I find that very odd, that a TROJAN could be downloaded off of a blog page.

Denny's Waitress A Hero!

I sent this email via the Denny's Corporate Website:

Dear President, and CEO, of Denny's,

Your waitress, Amber Deahn, is a hero! Can you think of any other word to describe her? Wow! She makes Denny's look soooooh good of a place to take the family.

I learned during an interview on CNN that Ms. Deahn has a fifteen month old baby. I just bet she could use a raise in pay!

Her quick thinking, and decisive action, shows she's just the type of employee any company would love to have working for them.

I recommend that you increase her salary, bring her into your Home Office, and possibly give her a chance to speak before your company. It would inspire your whole company!

In fact you could take this opportunity to emphasize that Denny's is a "Kid's Safe Place", and show how Denny's reaches out to the community.

Perhaps Ms. Deahn could play a role in that community outreach - as a speaker?

Just look at the following article (edited) taken from CNN! Simply incredible!

From CNN.COM:

Several people who were inside the Denny's restaurant said they immediately recognized the girl, whose picture has been widely circulated in the media, and called authorities.

One witness said the young girl was relaxed, coloring and drinking a soda, before police arrived and detained the man.

Wolfinger said Coeur d'Alene police received a call from a waitress at the restaurant at about 2 a.m. The waitress, Amber Deahn, said she made every effort to keep the girl in the restaurant before police arrived.

"I made sure to make a large shake instead of a child's shake," Deahn said. "We wanted to make sure to take just long enough to where if it turned out to be nothing we could say, 'Hey our shake machine's running a little slow.' "

"We didn't want to cause any suspicion."

One of the cooks said he blocked the restaurant's back entrance in case the man tried to make a getaway.

Coeur d'Alene police detained Duncan at the restaurant until Kootenai County deputies arrived to arrest him.

Deahn said she comforted the girl who burst into tears after police took the man away.

"I would really hope that if my children, God forbid, ever went missing somebody would do the same," Deahn said.

End of CNN Article.

I'm posting a copy of this emailing to you on my weblog (blog). You may find it at:

http://www.jeromeprophet.blogspot.com/

Most sincerely,

Blessed Sacrament School's Class of 2005

As an alumni of Blessed Sacrament School (K-8), I am pleased to post this link to the school's official website.

Here's also a link to the Parish's Website.

Blessed Sacrament is located at 748 W. Laurel, in Springfield, IL.


Check these photos out on 2005's BSS graduates!

It's easy to see how the parochial school acts as an anchor which links the family to the Church. It's also apparent that the Church, and parochial school, links families to other families in the parish community. Harder to see, but perhaps most important, is the role that the Church plays in linking one generation to the one before it. The passing down of moral values, and ancient wisdom, is a task forbidden in the secular public school system. This mission remains the responsibility of the parent, the Church, and parochial school.

The continuity, and certainty, which the Church provides in this world of confusion is priceless. The effect such an institution has upon the family acts to bind the family together even in the worst of times.

While I don't always find myself in agreement with the dogmatism of the Church, I do believe that for the most part the Church has played a postive role in my life as a child, and now as a parent.

Ursuline Convent Auction

Photo: Auction Sign

Last weekend I visited Ursuline Academy to attend the Convent's "Content's Auction". The campus includes a school, and convent which is located at 1400 North Fifth Street in Springfield, Illinois. Founded in 1857, the Catholic High School Academy's motto is " I will serve."


Photo: Auction shopper walks away with a bit of Ursuline history

The number of women desiring a life of service to God through the sisterhood has fallen, as the role of women in society has changed. Dwindling numbers of sisters has meant consolidation, and closures of convents throughout the U.S.


Photo: Ursuline's Statue of Saint Joseph

I spoke with one nearby resident who expressed concern for the fate of the neihborhood. Just to the South of Ursuline Academy is St. Joseph's elementary school, and to the North is Springfield College in Illinois. The presence of such fine institutions has played an important role in keeping the mood of the surrounding neihborhoods positive - despite the general decline of Springfield's North Side.


Photo: Ursuline Music Conservatory

While it's true that the facility itself will certainly find use, the departure of the sisters is historic to the neighborhood, and to Springfield.

I have also included photographs of St. Joe's Elementary School, and Springfield College in Illinois.

Not to forget St. Joe's Elementary School to the South.


Photo: Saint Joseph's West Entrance


Photo: Saint Joseph's Gymnasium


Photo: Saint Joseph's Statue of Saint Joseph


Photo: A Modern Saint Joseph's - It looks like a nun's hat, doesn't it?


Photo: Springfield College In Illinois


Photo: Springfield College in Illinois' Ccornerstone

Gus Gordon Story

Photo: WICS Gus Gordon Under The Weather

I posted a comment on blogfreespringfield, which I've reproduced here for my reader's amusement.

An old buddy of mine told me of a story in which he ended up seated next to Gus Gordon at the Muni.

For those of you reading this blog, and who don't know who Gus Gordon is, please surf to the WICS.com website. He's the Chief Meteorologist for that television station - located in Springfield, Illinois.

Gus Gordon has also contributed his expertise in acting, and singing in various productions at The Springfield Municipal Opera. The Muni, as it's known locally has an outdoor amphitheatre.

On this occassion, Gus was a member of the audience - not on stage.

My buddy recalled that prior to driving out to the Muni, he had "checked out the sky", and "felt" that it might rain, and so he took an umbrella along with him.

He brought the umbrella out of his car, and ended up sitting next to Gus Gordon.

It promptly began to rain.

My friend popped open his umbrella, and noticed that Gus was getting soaked. Poor Gus it seems was unprepared for the sudden downpour.

Never one to pass up a good dig, my friend looked over at Gus, and said, "Well, I guess you didn't check out the forecast?".

Gus gave him a dreadful look.

An amusing "beat the weather person at their own game" story, which always comes to mind every time I see Gus giving the latest weather forecast.

More on Gus Gordon - WICS Weather Forcaster/Actor-Singer

Here's a link to a site which features Gus Gordon's reviews on Muni Opera Productions. Gus Gordon, actor, singer, meteorologist, television personality, and theater critic - truly a jack of all trades!

A Famous Down Under Gus Gordon Namesake

The Gus Gordon of WICS lives in Central Illinois. Yet, there is another famous Gus Gordon, perhaps a distant relative, living in Australia. The Australian Gus Gordon is a celebrated author, and illustrator of children's books. He looks like a pleasant enough fellow, and I suspect he may have been caught out in the rain without an unbrella once or twice himself - it's no big deal gus!


Photo: Gus Gordon - Celebrated Children's Book Illustrator

If you're interested in finding more information about Gus Gordon author, and children's book illustrator click on this link.

The photographs of the two Gus Gordon were free-used for educational, and literary purposes only, and all rights to the photograph are retained with the copyright holder.

St. Jerome & Skull

Artist: Dürer, Albrecht, 1471–1528

Penny Lane in the 1970's

Visit the following site for more interesting articles on Springfield History:

http://lookbackspringfield.blogspot.com/


Back in the 70's Penny Lane was located at the corner of Ash & Macarthur.

At Penny Lane Various products were sold to, how do I put this, were sold to, enhance, that's the word, to enhance the 70's experience. Penny Lane sold such items as cigarette papers for those just too cheap to go out and buy a pack down at the Thrifty's Drug Store (now an auto parts store located at the corner of Cherry and Macarthur). Also, at Penny Lane, could be found an interesting variety of beautifully handcrafted smoking pipes that were far more stylistic than the corn cobb variety dad used to smoke his apple scented tobacco - always a great stocking stuffer.

The real thrill for my buddies, and I, were the of pinball machines!

Enhanced pinball. It seemed very very interesting at the time. Communing with the pinball machine, was similar to becoming a cybernetic organism. One connected to the ball through the plate of glass sometimes through slight movements of one's wrist, other times by picking the machines up and dropping them down, sometimes by gentle nudges, other times by kicking into the machines.

The magic of taking a single quarter, and turning it into twenty games or more was overpowering.

Tilt, and the occassional threat of being kicked out for the evening were the only words we feared - or perhaps it was respect.

When on occassion we did get tossed out of Penny Lane it was just a quick walk over to the Bowling Alley off Macarthur & Outer Park - there we learned to control our passions, and not curse the machines, or nudge them with such intensity. Penny Lane was a fun place to hang out back then. I remember that one of my friends fell into dispair when he was banned from entering Penny Lane for several months after he broke their plate glass window.

Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes.

David McCullough!

This story ripped from the headlines of the Illinois State Journal Register:

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough will be the first speaker in the new Jim Edgar Lecture Series, sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the University of Illinois at Springfield, McCullough is the author of "Truman," "John Adams," and many other books. He also was the narrator of "The Civil War" on public television and the voice in the movie "Seabiscuit."
The Jim Edgar Lecture Series will be an annual event. The inaugural lecture will take place Oct. 24. Ticket information will be available later.
Read more in Thursday's State Journal-Register.

Let me warn all my readers in advance, tickets will be sold out almost immediately after announcement of their sale.

Bush's Spin of the War Speech.

Maybe I was just tired, but I fell asleep about ten minutes into Bush's Spin of the War Speech.

What was it all about?

Help me out, I fell asleep - is the war over, did we win?

Dave on Flag Burning!

Dave at The11thHour has been working overtime covering the Flag Burning Amendment "Controversy". In his latest post regarding this issue he brings up some interesting points.

If a group of flag burners held large placards of American Flags, or perhaps Crumpled Wall Paper that looked just like American Flags, and set them on fire - that wouldn't be a crime under the proposed amendment.

But wouldn't the next step be to make it a crime?

Imagine you'd have a group of flag burners, burning a flag in front of a courthouse, or police station - the mayor, or chief of police would look weak unless he/she ordered dozens of cops with mace, and clubs, to beat their way into the crowd, hoping that someone will resist so that they can justify the brutality.

They'd finally, after breaking many noses, fingers, and heads, of the protestors reach the burning flag - only to find that it was just a pretend flag.

Certainly, this would cause some problems for the police, and govermental entities attempting to enforce the flag burning laws.

The call would be to protect the police, and civil leaders from lawsuits from those victims of police brutality, and false arrest, by passing additional laws forbidding such lawsuits, or making it a crime to even burn images of American Flags.

Now once we're at that point, where burning images of things is a crime were moving into a strange world indeed.

We're entering into the Twilight Zone - creating the type of society which the backers of the flag burning amendment want this nation to become?

The American Flag, at that point will have been turned into a graven image - a sacred idol - with all the attributes, and special treatment of a god.

Think! A man burning the Holy Bible on the one hand stays out of jail, because it is his right to do so under our constitution, but if he then picks up an American Flag, and burns it he goes to jail. There is no denying it, we will have deemed the American Flag to be a god!

Perhaps we could next create temples dedicated to the god of the American Flag. People would have to bow, put their hands on their hearts, and sing the National Anthem, when in proximity to the American Flag, or else risk being made a human sacrifice at the hands of the Priest of the Church of the Divine American Flag.


Photo: Free-Used & Not Mine

When will this debate be put to rest?

Disclaimer: I have never burned an american flag, and I have never seen an american flag set on flames except on television, or in photographs. Nor have I ever known anyone who has (as a form of political protest) set a flag on fire. I can not begin to understand why any american, with our rights to protest in other ways would chose to burn an american flag. It seems to make no sense to me at all why a protestor would burn the american flag because it places the most powerful of political symbols outside of their embrace - essentially, forever.

Springfield Illinois' Bridge to Nowhere

Nestled between the City of Springfield Illinois' Municipal Building, and the Police Department can be found a Bridge to Nowhere.

This public space simply begs out for repair - NOT!

The pedestrian bridge was always an awful, cheap looking structure. The symbolism of the bridge was always suspect. It looks out of place, and always did.



Ugly, oh yes. There's a much better version of this bridge in the movie, The Planet of the Apes!

As the rest of downtown Springfield is getting a sorely needed revamp, what with the opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, this public space begs to be put to use.

The entire "plaza" that runs south of the Bridge to Nowhere could become an inviting civic space. This area is situated just north of Capitol Street across the street from the Lincoln Home area on Seventh Street.



My recommendation is to tear down The Bridge to Nowhere, and erect a very large bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, perhaps on a horse, surrounded by a modern well lighted fountain. The key here is to make sure that the fountain, and statue can be seen all the way from the Historic Lincoln Home Area on Seventh Street.

The horrible modern art sculture on the "plaza" running between Capitol Street, and The Bridge to Nowhere needs to be donated to some other town or city with poor taste - or perhaps it can be sold for scrap if no one will take it.

Although the treelined "plaza" corridor between Capitol Street, and The Bridge to Nowhere is often used by hobo's taking naps, and lunch time brown baggers from the Municipal Building, and the Springfield Police Department the space is poorly designed, and greatly underused.



This public space should be opened up, and turned into an invitation to explore the City of Springfield using the proposed statue of Lincoln and fountain to reach out to those visiting the Lincoln Home Historic Area.

I've included some disgraceful photos of The Bridge to Nowhere in this post, I sure hope I haven't offended anyone in doing so for it is so darned ugly!

Note the rust on the warning sign? It has been "temporarily" closed for years. The plaques on the hideous structure itself are unreadable to those still interested. To what could The Bridge to Nowhere be dedicated? Civic neglect perhaps.