cam, 363 words, 2 comments, Speeding Fines, Speed Cameras, Phoenix, Arizona, Civil Disobedience

The truth about cars as an article on civil disobedience in Arizona where speed camera's have been defaced with post-it notes:

Over the past month other cameras have had their lenses covered with multiple yellow notes with the phrase "honest mistake" written on them. This is a subtle dig at camera operator Redflex

Courtesy of Australia's early foray into speed cameras, Redflex, an Australian company, has won the contract to put speed cameras throughout Arizona. Governor Neapolitano wanted the cameras to aid in revenue shortfalls. Taxing people more is politically impossible in the US, consequently, governments raise money through means where people have no moral stance; speeding is one. Added bonus, nearly everyone speeds.

Australia is not dis-similar and has massive fines for speeding - up to $700. Fines are so large that Queensland has a mechanism where you can pay it back bit by bit. Kind of like lay-away (lawby for Auians) for taxation. If someone has to enter into a repayment scheme over a speeding ticket then we are in unfair and unjust territory.

The Arizona speeding cameras were nearly put on the recent electoral ballot as a citizen initiative but Napolitano managed to halt that action. The cameras are exceptionally unpopular and viewed as cynical revenue raising mechanisms. I doubt they would have survived a popular ballot.

One of the fellows I work with had forty-five minutes to kill while waiting for his car, so he went and stood infront of a mobile camera van. He said he managed to stop two speeding tickets being issued as they got a shot of his back rather than the car.

The fellow in the van called the police on him. He said his heart was pounding in his chest when the policeman pulled up. But the policeman said to him, "You aren't obstructing traffic, and you aren't being a public nuisance, so nothing I can do." The bloke I work with and the policeman had a chat about how they hate the speed cameras and then policemen went on his way. My workmate was getting waves and honks of the horn the whole time he was doing. Good on him. (reply)

cam, 119 words, 0 comments, Phoenix, South Mountain, Unicycle, Mountain Unicycling

We went up South Mountain yesterday. It is about a seven mile hike but is not challenging in ascent, path or distance. It is a pretty mild walk on the body; however we passed two guys that were doing it on unicycles.

Which is a pretty impressive mix of skill and courage. The second guy had blooded up knees and legs, so he had obviously taken a spill somewhere. They were in good spirits about doing it too. Mountain biking is common in Phoenix, there are plenty of places to do it, however, this is the first time I have ever seen anyone mountain unicycling.

Update: A quick googling finds MUni. A rough terrain unicycling group. (reply)

cam, 160 words, 0 comments, Phoenix, Arizona, Scottsdale, Waste Water Treatment, Public Space, Public Structures, Modernism, Photography

The Waste Water Treatment plant on Hayden and McDonald contains parks and public areas around it. The building is done in a modern style with rusted metal, rocks in rusted mesh and blood red canvas sails for shade.

You wouldn't know it is a waste water treatment plant other than a back entrance has card access and a warning that only authorized personnel are allowed in. Immediately infront of the facility is a water feature and dog parks. There is a shaded amplitheatre of sorts behind the structure and then it blends into baseball parks.

It is possible that disguising it in the modern structure was a requirement or a means to fend of any NIMBY attacks so that it could go through council. It is quite a stunning building and well integrated into the surrounding public space. (more)