"I smell toast ... I taste pennies ... I think I'm having a stroke!"

[veronica_rich]

One of the things my sister acquired for me for Christmas was a set of DVDs of a long-forgotten TV show, "Stark Raving Mad," only on for one season in 1999. It starred Neil Patrick Harris as an uptight junior book editor and Tony Shalhoub as the horror writer he's having to shepherd. One of the funniest shows EVER. (Especially the episode with Steven Weber as the crazy stalker fan to Shalhoub's writer. OMG.)

Here's my enlightenment for the day (I learn something new every day - sometimes it's as simple as "don't sit there again, dumbass"): The Golden Gate Bridge Authority has a suicide barrier project for which it is collecting donations. No, really. I was kind of surprised myself.

Comments

[the-dark-snack.livejournal.com]

When I read the title I swear it said penis.

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

Penis and toast. Eww.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Fun for everyone yay!

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

The suicide barrier has been a hot topic for years. I don't get it. Just PUT UP THE FUCKING BARRIER.

I LOVED Stark Raving Mad. It was a hoot.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Apparently the authority that funds/governs the bridge won't OK the expenditure? Or even a bond issue for it? And there's worry about the balance of the bridge if you add more structure to it, it has to be done in a certain way? I don't understand it all, that's just what I was reading.

As for the show - in the words of our LJ sistren, I INORITE? I still don't know why the show was canceled before its first season was even over - it won a People's Choice award and everything!

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

What seems to be the REAL reason is that they are afraid the bridge would lose its iconic status as the photo-op of the west coast. The barriers are high (duh) and will fundamentally change the way the bridge looks.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Why not just put big metal spikes on every climbable surface (other than the drive-way) like stores do with their signs to keep birds away?

Seriously, I'm no architect, but I'm not sure how a barrier is supposed to work - the trained maintenance workers still have to be able to access and climb those parts of the bridge, and if it's simply a barrier with a locked gate to keep out non-employees, a really enterprising person could pick a lock, couldn't they?

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

I agree but it's a stupid aestetic thing that makes no sense to me. There was a recent documentary where a filmmaker filmed people going over the edge. It was ghoulish (although I think the filmmaker's motives were pure in that he filmed it as a IN YOUR FACE thing) The Golden Gate District Transit Authority was not pleased. However the debate rages on.

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

Right now, I'm tasting toast and smelling pennies. What does that mean?

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I dunno. Are you having a stroke?

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

Well, if I am, it's NOT a stroke of luck.