Queers in the census, green buildings, ABC’s
So Darby, once in the national spotlight for trying to teach “intelligent design” in the public schools, beats Missoula to the punch on fining people who refuse breath tests.
Darby’s ordinance, adopted this winter, demands a $500 penalty of anyone convicted of drunken driving who refuses at the time of apprehension to take a breath alcohol test. The penalty is applied on top of any other DUI-related fines or penalties.
Darby’s law fines drunks, and Missoula’s would make suspects who refuse a breath test pay. The Missoula hearing is March 22.
Fines probably won’t help everyone who’s loaded behind the wheel, though. Mark Rasmussen, who offered an amended version of the ABC’s to a law enforcement officer, was arrested last weekend for drunk driving.
When (Stevensville Police Officer Josh) Ray raised a finger in front of Rasmussen’s face and asked him if he could see it, Rasmussen asked, “Which one?” When asked to recite the alphabet, Rasmussen made it to “O” and then added “P-S-T-U-R-X-V-4.”
I’ll take the alphabet for $500, Alex.
Out West, there’s plans to build Seattle’s greenest building. This Seattle Times story says the project will push architecture and engineering standards as well as building codes . No word on the cost of construction.
Bullitt calls its building the Cascadia Center for Sustainable Design and Construction. …
It would use less than one-third the electricity consumed by the average building — and would generate as much power as it consumes.
It would rely almost exclusively on the rain that falls on the roof for its water.
It would treat and reuse on-site everything that’s flushed down its toilets and poured down its drains.
It would have no more than six parking spaces — all reserved for a fleet of hybrid or electric cars.
Reminds me. Must find out what’s happening with the city’s Toyota Prius. Hope the sticky pedals aren’t giving vehicle maintenance superintendent Jack Stucky any trouble.
Finally, U.S. Census 2010 surveys are arriving in the mail. Ours arrived yesterday, and I can’t wait to fill it out. It’s like one of those standardized tests, but every answer is correct. Dreamy.
But there aren’t enough questions, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The group launched “Queer the Census,” to try to get the Census to count LGBT folks. That in this Denver Post story. (GLBT in Colorado. Hm.)
That’s at least another coffee cup’s worth of reading. Holy Tallahassee, because Toledo shouldn’t have all the fun.
– Keila Szpaller
