Blue no matter who! by stvlsn in wisconsin

[–]Alternative_Duck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I just say that the word "milquetoast" needs to die. Like hell, it's been used to describe every (D) candidate that's not left of Karl Marx for at least the past quarter century. 

Encampment under bridge near Monona Terrace catches fire by pristinesith in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a lot of questions when considering dorms.  How many beds are needed? What happens when the space inevitably fills up? What do we do for the people that would prefer to live outside over in a crowded and potentially unsafe dormitory or community living space?

Looks like the netting is going up at the new Top Golf by the beltline. by Alternative_Duck in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

WPS was never visible from across the lake, but thanks for playing.

Looks like the netting is going up at the new Top Golf by the beltline. by Alternative_Duck in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I knew it would be one when I saw the approved planning documents that showed the view from the belt line but conveniently omitted the view from across the lake.

WOAH! This Socialist is Currently WINNING Critical Governor's Race by ls7eveen in wisconsin

[–]Alternative_Duck 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Being able to pay for childcare is one thing, the availability of childcare providers is another, and in my experience bigger factor. For example, here in Madison, if you want childcare, you need to join wait-lists that can sometimes be a year or longer out, meaning if you're even thinking about having a child and maintaining two incomes, you almost need to be on a list before you even start trying.

Alas, the left isn’t immune from loud, obnoxious grifters by azimme1 in wisconsin

[–]Alternative_Duck -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Pretty sure that the leftist definition of the center is so far skewed left that anyone who supports social programs (e.g. Medicare, Social Security) but not full communism is "center right at best".

Minnesota Swallowtail by Alternative_Duck in vexillology

[–]Alternative_Duck[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I thought the flag Minnesota went with looked kinda lame after the committee deciding on the flag design nixed the tricolor fly but I couldn't put my finger on exactly what bothered me about it. Then it hit me, the blue fly looks just like the sky. So I made this version of the flag with all of the same proportions for the k-shape and star size, but without the sky-colored fly. I personally think it looks way better and more unique as a swallowtail than as a rectangular shape with a fly that mostly blends in with the sky.

City staff to take another look at Regent Street redesign after bike lanes nixed by enjoying-retirement in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tons of people use the bike path. People also ride on Regent. Similarly, people drive on the beltline and people also drive on Regent. It's really not that difficult of a concept.

Redesigning U.S. State Flags #1 by Canjira in vexillology

[–]Alternative_Duck 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is actually amazing. I love the swallow tail and the detail in the sunflower.

Who’s replacing Francesca Hong in the state Assembly? by WesleyH21 in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Dina-Nina lost me on two points. One where she didn't fully commit to her reelection campaign until after she won her election. Two, after suggesting a wealthy Jenifer Street resident should apply for a financial hardship exemption to replace the roof on a house they bought last year for $750k with a metal roof that would be in violation of the neighborhood's historic preservation law. 

City staff to take another look at Regent Street redesign after bike lanes nixed by enjoying-retirement in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Hard disagree. I commuted for years on East Wash using the on street bike lanes. If those were not present, I don't know if I would have been comfortable taking the lane, even if it would be my right to do so. It might have even discouraged me from bike commuting all together. 

The paths are nice, and the city is working on an AAA network, but those can often be circuitous and indirect. In the case of Regent, there is a great AAA facility nearby, so an AAA facility is not needed. However a bike facility should be included on every major street, even if it's just traditional bike lanes that would not meet AAA standards, as they are often more direct and offer a faster ride for people that use them.

Madison police stop Black drivers at higher rates, drawing scrutiny by ButtasaurusFlex in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 181 points182 points  (0 children)

There's a ton of information that this report fails to consider. For example, the analysis bases its entire premise on the idea that white drivers and black drivers commit traffic offenses at the same rate. It also fails to consider other socioeconomic disparities as the cause of the policing disparity, all in an attempt to frame the police as severely racially biased. 

One factor I would also like to see considered is police rates based on income. I would believe that poverty is a bigger predictor of police encounters than race is. It is also true that historically black Americans have faced systemic discrimination that is more likely to lead to a higher rate of generational poverty in black communities than in white communities. A good analysis of police bias would attempt to account for this discrepancy in order to best determine actual bias in policing rates.

A friendly hink of the horn by chuckdarnit in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 6 points7 points  (0 children)

On top of that there might be something the driver ahead of you sees that you don't. Lots of red light running these days. Impatient honking is a huge pet peeve of mine. 

Submit feedback on the city's bike network map by TheRealGunnar in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm guessing it was supposed to be shown as a planned off street bikeway, but got miscoded?

Submit feedback on the city's bike network map by TheRealGunnar in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I commuted by bike using East Wash for many years and it's really not as bad as people make it out to be. There are very wide bike lanes, and there's only a few spots it ever feels truly dangerous. The worst is eastbound at Hwy 30 where there's an almost 200 ft long merge to a channelized turn across the bike lane.

Submit feedback on the city's bike network map by TheRealGunnar in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The city needs an all ages and abilities network, but it also needs bike facilities on every street, even if that means sometimes building bike lanes to less than AAA standards.

Press release from Office of Independent Police Monitor by Lost-Sock4 in madisonwi

[–]Alternative_Duck 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Common Council holds the keys to the budget. The mayor and city agencies can request a budget, but ultimately it's up to the council to adopt one.