New York City just doesn't know how to spend money.

According to the New York Post, New York City has decided to drop more than $27 million on street sign lettering because studies have shown that reading all-caps is harder to read.

Wait, what?

Who conducted these studies? Our crack team of researchers search all the corners of the internet (both wiki articles) and could NOT find this alleged research.

Head of our research department.

In addition to the new signs, a new type face called "Clearview" was developed specifically for this project. What was wrong with the nearly endless supply of fonts and typefaces already in existence is beyond our comprehension, but you just know they thought the name was extremely witty.

"You would not believe how funny I am."

Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan even chimed in to justifying wasting... excuse us... spending New York City taxpayers money. This is a direct quote:

"On the Internet, writing in all caps means you are shouting...our new signs can quiet down, as well."

Look at that top sign. What an asshole.

Yep. Apparently, all caps street signs are out, and mixed type face are in. At $27 million in public money going to "quiet down" the city that never sleeps, we here at the Broken Hour Glass know there are at least 50 better ways to waste money. 

Let us address the obvious issue first: all-caps is hard to read. Really, NYC? The Latin alphabet has only been in use since around the 9th century. For argument's sake, let us say that this ties directly to the literacy rates in NYC, which are substantially low,but what does that have to do with driving? After all, don't you have to pass a written exam before they give you a drivers license?

Apparently not always.

This all seems like a GIANT waste off money. If you haven't learned to read and are driving, you seem like one of the lucky few Darwin did not account for. But there is a good chance you won't last too much longer on the road. Even Toonces learned to drive, but we all know how that ended.

The point is, in these times of economic turmoil, doesn't this seem like frivolous spending? Why not put the money into adult literacy? Instead of catering to the stupid, why not educate them? Seems like an obvious solution. Then again, we guess its better than what NYC tax payers have had to deal with in the past.

We're looking in your direction, John Lindsay.