The fifth-largest city in America is about to drop a traffic enforcement system that many people say is an infringement on civil liberties. By a 5-4 vote, the Phoenix City Council decided to not renew a contract with the company that has installed cameras at 12 different intersections throughout the city.
Since 2009, the camera system has generated more than $7 million in revenue for the city from an estimated 205,000 camera tickets. However, red light camera systems have fallen out of favor in a number of large American cities, including Los Angeles.
However, the system does have its supporters. An op-ed in the Arizona Republic notes that 132 people have been killed by red light runners over the past 10 years and argues that number will rise once the cameras are removed, particularly those placed at intersections near public schools. Of course, with red light fatalities on the rise across America, there's no hard evidence to indicate that red light cameras are a deterrent. In fact, most analysts say the rise in such accidents is due to the phenomenon of "distracted driving" aka people using their phones while driving.
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Beyond the veiled threat of excessive government surveillance, red-light cameras are symbolic of another problem local governments face across the country: A greater demand for social services with an increasing unwillingness from taxpayers to pay for those services. America has one of the lowest federal tax rates in the world but we are simultaneously confused and outraged over why we don't have better educational systems, health care and infrastructure. Instead of addressing the challenges head-on, local governments have turned to parking tickets and various fee-based penalties like red-light cameras to circumvent the burden of balancing a clean and transparent budgeting process.
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At the end of the day, everyone wants their streets to be safe and most people would prefer to avoid the feeling that "Big Brother Is Watching." So, how can we have safer streets while simultaneously protecting our civil liberties? The answer, of course, is to hold ourselves accountable by being better drivers, not allowing ourselves to be distracted by our phones and by obeying common-sense rules of the road. That's easier said than done but if people prefer the freedom of choice, they have to meet it at the proverbial intersection of personal responsibility. Red light cameras were created to address a problem but they alone cannot be the solution.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.