Yes, you can't get there from here

Blue Mass. Group , a liberal Democratic web site, recently ran a proposal to privatize the MBTA as a way to improve service. John Daly of Dorchester, however, writes on his Daleyblog that he doubts what would be a private monopoly would do any better.

``With the T, a government agency controlled by elected politicians, we get the system that we deserve, just like we got the Turnpike Authority that we deserved. Things don't change until we make a stink, and we usually don't make a stink until things get really bad."

Margaret Sanford of Somerville wonders when it became OK to spend $900 on a baby stroller. She writes on The Son Always Rises: But the Daughter Sleeps In :

``Suddenly Bugaboo strollers are popping up all over Somerville. My first car didn't cost much more than that. I used to only see them" pushed by ``beautifully coiffed women on Charles Street, but suddenly normal people are pushing them around."

On T-Rage , Mike Mennonno of Dorchester writes that among his least favorite Boston buildings is the Tip O'Neill Federal Building next to the TD Banknorth Garden:

``The architect's inspiration seems to have been a stingy slice of tiramisu."

No, we're not talking about anti terrorism stuff here. We're talking about how impossible it is to actually get there. Korte Yeo of Somerville writes on his Sobah Comic that what used to be a 15-minute trip to the airport recently took him 47 minutes -- and involved getting lost -- because of Big Dig-related road changes. A sample:

``I amble over to Southie and find Broadway, eventually getting back on Route 93 North. Amusingly, there is no exit directly to the airport on 93 North anymore (chuckle chuckle)

``I think to myself, `Hey, self . . . if you get off at Government Center, the airport is right there.' There used to be an exit to shoot right into the airport, this isn't that bad after all. A quick glance at the clock tells me my friend has been waiting for about 20 minutes. As I approach Government Center, exit 23, there are three signs, three, and two of them lit and blinking which state `Government Center only' and `Government Center, NO EXIT.'

``I think to myself, `Damn . . . they really need that open, especially with the Pike exit closed . . . why would it be closed now?' As I pass the third sign warning me of the situation, I wonder how the hell you get to the airport.

``Forty feet after I go by exit 23, a flashing sign informs me: Exit 23 or 27 to airport."

Waiting to walk across St. James Avenue in the Back Bay, Alyssa Boehm of Arlington gets drenched by a guy in a Mercedes who seemed to change lanes just to speed through the large puddle in front of her. On her Big Red Blog , she addresses him:

``Just wanted to thank you for helping to put the nail in the coffin of a bad day. I wish you a lifetime of bad haircuts and soggy sandwiches, you jerk."

Josh Ourisman recently moved to Central Square from San Francisco. He reports on his On the Other Hand on gunfire outside his apartment one night earlier this month:

Though no one was hit, he writes: ``It was definitely relatively close by, and a small caliber gun (sounded a lot like a .22, but I'd guess a 9mm is more likely). I think it's also safe to say that there was only one gun. Immediately after the shots were fired a large, black SUV (looked like a newer-model Chevy, but it's hard to say) came down Bishop Allen (from the same direction the cop cars later came from), went straight through the intersection and took the street that bears off to the left after the parking lot."

Contact Gaffin at adamg@gaffin.com. Find links to the complete items mentioned here at www.universalhub.com/0827.html.