One Car For One Person In NYC = Insanity

I accept that we will not be able to change the topography, build more mass transit overnight. But there are way too many cars in NYC, and as logically put forth by many parties, there are layers upon layers of hidden costs when it comes to car. Oil pricing (price fixing and government subsidies, anyone?), car manufacturers (government bailouts and tax incentives for manufacturing them, to name just two), and of course pollution, accidents, accident and emergency car crews that are required to clean up the mess that they leave, etc.

Here is my modest proposal: What if weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm, every car that entered the city from any of the bridges or tunnels HAD to have 2 or more occupants. Single occupancy vehicles would have to pay a flat fee, say $10. Something cost prohibitive enough to get people over the "I tried car pooling, and it just didn't work out?" Once in the city, drivers would be free to dispense with passengers and drive as they like. Enforcing the additional payments and monitoring could be performed by those same nifty little cameras they use to send you tickets when you run a red light. Minimal additional infrastructure, huge decrease in the volume of weekday traffic in NYC.

What could possibly be so hard about that?

Morning Commute

New York is expensive. It's constantly under threat of terrorist attack. And these days, it snows too much. But for those of us who don't have a dress code and a love for all things GoreTex, it's a bikers dream. Especially on days like today, even with a blustery headwind and a steady downpour. But for the exception of a solitary pedestrian, I have the Brooklyn Bridge all to myself. Beautiful.

Bicycle Crash as Metaphor

Back on the Stick, Island Style

Sometimes, it takes a moment of pause to get one's bearings.

Or, in my case, a dive head first into the azure blue Aegean Sea and temporary abandonment of my fiscal senses -- i.e., spending Euros like they are Dollars.

To read this blog it would seem that I only go fun places and see wonderful things. Sadly, this is not the case. My last post on this site is from right after my honeymoon nearly 2 years ago. Needless to say, so much has transpired since then that it will be nearly impossible to document it all. But I will try.

In the meantime, let me say just start by writing that the Greek Islands are about as close to heaven as I have come in this life. Allow me to share this little slice of heaven, the view from the patio here at the Hotel Cheladonia on the island of Santorini, or Thira as is known to the locals.

Buenos Aires es muy bueno!

We went to Buenos Aires, Argentina for the honeymoon. Estamos enamorado de BA - que ciudad mangifica!

The following are my initial reactions, in no particular order. And by the way, we spent six wonderful nights at the Hotel Home and let me just say that it is absolutely the best -- great service, clean, well designed rooms, a pool out back and very reasonable rates, right in the heart of Palermo....it's where you want to be.

Such an eclectic blend of cultures, a sprawling, sputtering, spinning and dancing melange of classic European architecture, and all the black diesel dust belching pell mell roadways and bumper riding taxi cabs you expect of a third world country. Motorcycles, subcompacts, all whizzing past the totally modern and incredibly storied cobble stone streets of an elegant city with wide, wide boulevards. It has aristocracy and open air markets, cheap leather goods and cafes and the absolutely best steak I have ever eaten in my life. Long live Buenos Aires!

Once in a lifetime

It's official! On Friday, December 8th, 2006, I wed the love of my life, Ms. Cornelia Henning, now Mrs. Cornelia Van Amburg. It's in the Times!

It was, I must confess, a hugely emotional experience. It was the most magical, wonderful night, to be surrounded by loved ones, and pledging those vows. Words cannot come close to describing the emotions that swept through me.

I sincerely hope everyone gets a chance to experience emotion as untrammeled and real at least once in his or her life.

I'm going to go cry now.

Brand D -- Everybody's Buying It!

Two days later, and the dust has just about settled from the mid-term elections...and lo and behold, the Democrats have regained control of both the House and the Senate! And, as if wonders would never cease, Rummy has resigned!!! What is happening in this country? Is this is a clear mandate by the people to end our ceaseless war for oil? Have we resolved as a nation to put a stop to the continual erosion of civil liberties and draining of our public coffers for private profit?

I must admit I am hopeful - it seems that Brand D is something that everyone wants a part of...the time is right for serious conversation about our future as a democracy; Brand D stands for Dialogue. Brand D stands of Diversity. Brand D stands for a better Democracy.