Government-sponsored research into natural therapiesral therapies

There are a ton of diseases that could be cured or alleviated with minimal side effects using natural therapies. However, no corporation would invest the time and money researching and marketing a natural cure because there would be no patent rights and they'd lose their investment. So instead we get manufactured chemicals with side effects almost as bad as the disease they're meant to treat. What we need is a medical research arm of the government searching for cures using natural products. The results should be posted and use encouraged by prescribers, perhaps increasing reimbursement rates.

Solid bike tir

Anyone else think a solid bicycle tire would be a good idea? I'm thinking a modest band of rubber around the metal rim with shocks or springs of some sort to replace the cushion lost from a pneumatic tire. The benefits would include better "mileage" from not pedaling against an underinflated tire and no flats. Tires could last much longer reducing cost and environmental impact.

Why do we have street lights?

Anyone know? Think of all the energy wasted and light pollution created by street lighting while cars drive around with lights of their own. My very crude estimate has Chambana spending about $2M/yr on it. I know sidewalk lighting is important, especially in densely populated areas to cut down on crime, but the streets themselves? I've read some arguments saying it helps drivers see hazards or signs easier but, if that were so valuable, why are offramps lighted and not the whole interstate? Why not just improve headlights and technologies to allow for improved environmental awareness like nightvision.

Could help save $, aesthetics, and the environment.

Escobar's - Not a fan

Been wanting to check out Escobar's for a while. Read it was pretty nice. Told it was up there with KoFusion which we've been to several times and they have really good food. Tried to go last Monday but they were closed. Finally got there this weekend and I think it just may have been the worst meal I've had in C-U, certainly for the price. We ordered a house salad, mussels, and a dish with filet mignon medallions over pasta and a cream sauce. The salad was just alright. Table bread smelled good but was generally mealy. Mussels were decent but they didn't bother to pick out the bad ones. But the filet dish was just downright bad. Ordered medium, got just shy of raw. See for yourself.
And by filet mignon, they meant a fatty, chewy steak. Most sirloins are better than that. By cream sauce, they meant whatever juices happen to drip off the meat. The pasta was completely unseasoned, as if it was pulled straight out of the water and onto the plate. The side veggies were the only thing decent on the $20 plate.

Just saying.

Woohoo, I can post from my phone!

Okay, so it's not perfect but I can blog from my phone now. Maybe I'll actually do it more often now.