Editorials from The Roanoke Times -An awakening of downtown life?
This is the conceit of the press these days. We think its good, were going to support it (wether you like it or not), so you might as well support it too. Its no wonder most Roanokers feel powerless in the face of change. The Times portrays major movements such as the Condo-ization of downtown, the AMWV, and several other local issues it stoops down to pass judgement on as groundswells. Tidal waves of popular opinion and support, so you might as well shut up and get back to work, because your opinion doesn't count.
Theres one thing Ive always found interesting about Editorial pages, aside from the attitude. Why are most, and when I say most - I mean most across the country, editorial pieces unsigned. I have yet to see one in the Roanoke Times actually have a name attached. Are we to assume this is the opinion of the paper as a whole? Were that the case, the Times then needs to have its psyche checked out. To spit into the face of your readership, a good number of whom completely disagree with your editorials, is a tacky move.
A good newspaper supports its community. Provides it with unbiased news, both local and national. It editorializes logically, understanding when dissent becomes heavy-handed. And it makes sure its staff is personally responsible for the content they provide. And when I say personally responsible, I mean answerable to the public - the readership, the customers.
The whole notion of individuals hiding behind the Editorial page banner bothers me. There are 4 individuals listed on the Ed. banner. 3 men and 1 woman. Each has differing life experiences, each has different thoughts. Yet we are kept in the dark about which writer is which. And it is much harder to get an entire editorial staff replaced than it is to call for the termination of an individual who constantly rubs the community the wrong way.
Again, Im not saying dissent is a bad thing. Sometimes newspapers can give a different viewpoint on an issue, one which might cause people to think differently. The Times Ed. staff does not cause people to think differently - they demand it. They presuppose that you think one way, they admit not everyone does, and they tell you straight out - if you think that other way, your dead wrong.
I remember reading once a line, "those who think otherwise don't have Roanoke's best interests at heart."
If we had an option of a different newspaper, Im pretty sure the Times building would have withered and blown away after that one. It is not a newspapers place to decide what is and is not good for Roanoke, policy or otherwise. We, who have read other newspapers, expect better from our newspaper. Especially in a special community as such is Roanoke. This place is, by and large; a very faith-oriented, hard-working, diverse yet cohesive place. Issues such as Victory Stadium, while appearing large and unweildy, actually fall to the back burner for everyday life. They are diversions, gripes, something to grumble about. But for the Editorial page of the Times to constantly focus on the truly meaningless distractions, rather than focus on the governmental and community problems that lead us to these distractions - that is where the problem comes in.
Oh - and a side note about the P. 1 headlines today. Now I will grant it was below the fold, everything above the fold was local. But the bottom left corner, headine "Do the news media ignore minorities who disappear?"
Ok- listen, first off its an AP story. As is the Schiavo story, but thats a high value story, so I dont have a problem with that being on the front page. But the story on disappearing minorities? Well, that could have been a bit further inside the main section - like where the rest of the article is contained - on page 8. Or, considering its a media story - stick it back in the Extra section. That section could always use a touch more padding, and that section should be where the media stories are located and debated.
And for design ideas for the new Wicktory Stadium, how about looking at what Steinbrenner is doing for the new Yankee Stadium. A truly stunning design, yet classic.
Allright, enough..
6/15/05
I would like to take this moment to talk about real estate
Allright, wake up.. I know this is not the most fascinating of topics. But bear with me here. I have a little expertise in this.
Ya ready?
Back in the days of my youth, on the local main street, which housed a few bars - a few restaurants - a grocery store & department store which were started by the man who eventually sold the concept of a general large-scale department store to R.H. Macy. It's a fairly historic street in most regards. It was an utter business failure. No one went shopping on Main Street after the malls opened, after the mega-supermarkets opened. There was a theatre there, which for 26 of my 30 years on the planet - was closed. Well, closed to the public - if you werent afraid of heights and were a kid you could easily get in. They finally tore it down to put up a gazebo, about 20 sq. ft of grass, and a medical clinic.
Since I never remember it being open, I did not consider it a great loss. Interestingly though, as soon as the gazebo went up - the drug dealers showed up. No idea as to why though.
Anyway, above a good majority of the storefronts on the street were what we called Taxpayers. Being that property taxes were so high (currently, a 1,750 sq. ft. house on 40x100 lot roughly $7-8k) usually the rent from the apartments went to pay the taxes, utilities, and part of the cost of the store beneath. Not that the stores were getting off easy. Rent was well over 2k a month on a 1k sq. ft. space.
But what wound up happening, over time - the renters finally gave up on the street - refusing to pay rent that high for badly maintained, small apartments. Well, that killed off some of the storefronts. Fast forward to 2 years ago or so - they revamped a good number of the apartments. Re-landscaped the street. Yadda yadda... There were 850 sq. ft. apartments lining the street.
Heres a current example of the renters market in Valley Stream, NY. Where I grew up. These apartments are one block off the main street.
- Studio, 1 bath, 500-588 sq. ft., $1075-1095 a month. No pets, nothing included. $75 a month extra for parking.
-1 bed, 1 bath, 736-900 sq. ft., $1250-1475 a month. Parking still not included, still no pets, still no utilities.
Now I've got 990 sq. ft. here, and Im paying nearly 3/4ths less than that *thank heaven*.
And dont say, well you make more in NY. Rated to the market, you actually make less up there than you do here because the value of a dollar is higher down here.
Now, back to my original point. I like the idea of living downtown in a nice apartment, condo- Im not a fan of condo's but thats just me. But heres the kicker, apartment prices are so high on main st. that no one is renting, the storefronts cant afford to stay in business. So the main street area has not bounced back, its still in the state of disrepair it was 10 years ago. As a matter of fact, looking up the listings for Valley Stream, I found that the first restaurant I ever worked for is going to be torn down and a 3 story apartment complex put on its site. There is not room for that much parking there. But thats not Roanoke, so lets get back to the focus.
Playing rentals with downtown can be a wonderful thing. But the prices have to be scaled properly. You are still looking at an area with no grocery store, no department store, I dont believe I have seen a drug store - so your looking at having to travel for everything. Yes, you can walk to the market and do your grocery shopping for the most part, but not as a whole. And should you have a need for Nyquil at 3am, driving to Walmart or Kroger while sick can be quite a chore.
The prices Im seeing listed for rent on all these renovated spaces downtown, while still not the frightening NY prices, are still pretty bad. If you are looking for CEO's, executives, CFO's and the ilk to populate those buildings, then fine - keep them high. Just remember theres only so many people like that to go around. The majority of people who would like to live downtown, will not be able to afford it at those rates.
Keep downtown liveable, don't go crazy with the pricing. Remember these people still require parking in most cases, groceries, the simple things that make a location all the more convienient. Just watch the money.
Ya ready?
Back in the days of my youth, on the local main street, which housed a few bars - a few restaurants - a grocery store & department store which were started by the man who eventually sold the concept of a general large-scale department store to R.H. Macy. It's a fairly historic street in most regards. It was an utter business failure. No one went shopping on Main Street after the malls opened, after the mega-supermarkets opened. There was a theatre there, which for 26 of my 30 years on the planet - was closed. Well, closed to the public - if you werent afraid of heights and were a kid you could easily get in. They finally tore it down to put up a gazebo, about 20 sq. ft of grass, and a medical clinic.
Since I never remember it being open, I did not consider it a great loss. Interestingly though, as soon as the gazebo went up - the drug dealers showed up. No idea as to why though.
Anyway, above a good majority of the storefronts on the street were what we called Taxpayers. Being that property taxes were so high (currently, a 1,750 sq. ft. house on 40x100 lot roughly $7-8k) usually the rent from the apartments went to pay the taxes, utilities, and part of the cost of the store beneath. Not that the stores were getting off easy. Rent was well over 2k a month on a 1k sq. ft. space.
But what wound up happening, over time - the renters finally gave up on the street - refusing to pay rent that high for badly maintained, small apartments. Well, that killed off some of the storefronts. Fast forward to 2 years ago or so - they revamped a good number of the apartments. Re-landscaped the street. Yadda yadda... There were 850 sq. ft. apartments lining the street.
Heres a current example of the renters market in Valley Stream, NY. Where I grew up. These apartments are one block off the main street.
- Studio, 1 bath, 500-588 sq. ft., $1075-1095 a month. No pets, nothing included. $75 a month extra for parking.
-1 bed, 1 bath, 736-900 sq. ft., $1250-1475 a month. Parking still not included, still no pets, still no utilities.
Now I've got 990 sq. ft. here, and Im paying nearly 3/4ths less than that *thank heaven*.
And dont say, well you make more in NY. Rated to the market, you actually make less up there than you do here because the value of a dollar is higher down here.
Now, back to my original point. I like the idea of living downtown in a nice apartment, condo- Im not a fan of condo's but thats just me. But heres the kicker, apartment prices are so high on main st. that no one is renting, the storefronts cant afford to stay in business. So the main street area has not bounced back, its still in the state of disrepair it was 10 years ago. As a matter of fact, looking up the listings for Valley Stream, I found that the first restaurant I ever worked for is going to be torn down and a 3 story apartment complex put on its site. There is not room for that much parking there. But thats not Roanoke, so lets get back to the focus.
Playing rentals with downtown can be a wonderful thing. But the prices have to be scaled properly. You are still looking at an area with no grocery store, no department store, I dont believe I have seen a drug store - so your looking at having to travel for everything. Yes, you can walk to the market and do your grocery shopping for the most part, but not as a whole. And should you have a need for Nyquil at 3am, driving to Walmart or Kroger while sick can be quite a chore.
The prices Im seeing listed for rent on all these renovated spaces downtown, while still not the frightening NY prices, are still pretty bad. If you are looking for CEO's, executives, CFO's and the ilk to populate those buildings, then fine - keep them high. Just remember theres only so many people like that to go around. The majority of people who would like to live downtown, will not be able to afford it at those rates.
Keep downtown liveable, don't go crazy with the pricing. Remember these people still require parking in most cases, groceries, the simple things that make a location all the more convienient. Just watch the money.
6/14/05
"The art museum is not being built on top of our mountains. Instead it is preserving Roanoke's natural beauty by being built in our downtown."
I HIGHLY disagree. I would say, looking at the attached photos, that the beauty is allready there. We dont need to add a block of glass and steel. We should be enhancing, not "entrancing." Plus, that parking lot probably generates a nice bit of revenue for the city.
6/13/05
Hard choice...
I feel like I should make a post today, but it seems like the Art Museum stuff is still being read. So Im kinda torn, I dont want to bump the AMWV stuff too far down the page, but I dont want to leave my regular viewers hanging...
decisions, decisions....
decisions, decisions....
6/10/05
Part 2: To the citizens of Roanoke, and the members of the Roanoke City Council - I post a reminder.
“Historic Resources:
The City has three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, which are also protected locally: City Market District, the Warehouse Row, and the Southwest Historic District in the
neighborhoods of Old Southwest, Hurt Park, and Mountain View.
Historic designation has contributed to the City’s revitalization through improved property maintenance and economic incentives for rehabilitation. Roanoke is currently undertaking a survey to identify additional historic structures in the downtown to promote further economic development and historic preservation strategies. The Historic and Cultural Resources map (Map 3.2.2) identifies the three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, National Register structures, and potentially significant archaeological sites.”
(http://tinyurl.com/bf5do)
This paragraph is taken from the City of Roanoke’s “Vision 2020” plan. A plan they willingly adopted for the betterment and protection of Roanoke’s future.
There are sections upon sections of policies and actions, like any government document - everything is stated 3 times over. 2 of these policies in particular deal with the issue in question:
“EC P6. Cultural and historic resources. Roanoke will support, develop, and promote its cultural resources. Roanoke will identify, preserve, and protect its historic districts, landmark features, historic structures, and archaeological sites.
EC A26. Undertake a comprehensive inventory of historic and cultural properties and districts in the City and consider historic districts, where applicable. Solicit neighborhood and stakeholder input in the inventory, where applicable.”
(http://tinyurl.com/7akeh)
“Roanoke will identify, preserve, and protect its historic districts, landmark features, historic structures, and archaeological sites.”
I wanted to pull that out to make sure it was read, clear and understood.
On building downtown, both new and revitalizing old buildings:
“Design principles:
• Downtown should have a recognizable skyline; tall buildings and maximum site
development should be permitted. Buildings should be set close to the street with groundfloor
facades that emphasize pedestrian activity.
• Buildings should be designed to accommodate a mixture of uses. Downtown’s historic
character should be preserved and used to guide new development with the assistance of
the Architectural Review Board guidelines.
• Access to and circulation within the downtown should be efficient, convenient, and
attractive. Streets should be designed to accommodate multiple modes of traffic: pedestrian,
bicycles, transit, automobiles. Encourage two-way streets to the maximum extent feasible.
• On-street parking should be reserved for shoppers and short-term visitors. Long-term
parking should be concentrated in parking structures or to the side or rear of principal
buildings. Surface parking should be minimized.”
(http://tinyurl.com/dx7fy)(emphasis added - kmc)
To preserve and protect downtown, and downtowns history, the ARB needs to hold fast to its principals. It is charged with protecting our history, our heritage. We have lost quite a bit through the years, but we persevered. The Hotel Roanoke was a victory, the Higher Education center was a victory, and now the Culinary School (Gainsboro) and the Dumas Center are victories. The past triumphing in the present to have a place in the future.
Yes, the location of the AMWV is historically protected, as they themselves admit.
“The City has three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, which are also protected
locally: City Market District, the Warehouse Row, and the Southwest Historic District in the
neighborhoods of Old Southwest, Hurt Park, and Mountain View.”
The city market district is shown in Map 3.2.2 in blue - which indicates a “Sensitive Cultural/Archaeological Resource.”
(http://tinyurl.com/8mwdp)
This is not the first time I have seen the Market Area listed as a “preservation” site. As of 9-16-82 and 4-20-83 the Roanoke City Market area has been listed with both the Virginia and National Register of Historic Places respectively. On the Virginia Register site, there is a map of threatened sites to be protected throughout the state. All of Roanoke City is highlighted on that map.
“Roanoke is fortunate to have at least three architectural gems lying in close proximity: the City Market itself, Hotel Roanoke and St. Andrew's Church. Many would add the old Norfolk and Western general office buildings and the Link Museum to the list. “ (James G. Cosby, “AMWV: Love the design, hate the location.” Roanoke Times, 5-10-05, via. www.architechmag.com)
Randall Stout’s own website, http://tinyurl.com/8fu78, provides images of his vision for the museum, with one image of an interior gallery. Mr. Stout is apparently well known for his skill at laying out gallery space, yet this looks like an after thought. The lobby of Roanoke Regional Airport seems a better space to view artwork than this one example.
“…it represents Roanoke’s metaphorical gateway to the future for a city transforming its industrial and manufacturing based economy to one driven by technology information and services.” (R. Stout’s website, text author unknown.)
No, no it doesn’t - and this metaphorical gateway mantra is repeated by everyone involved in the AMWV at this point. No, its not a metaphor, its not a gateway when its past the exit for Downtown coming south, or beyond the exit if you are going north.
And I really don’t think we need a reminder that the nature of jobs in Roanoke is changing.
Again, back to the Vision 2020 plan: “Historic designation has contributed to the City’s revitalization through improved property maintenance and economic incentives for rehabilitation.”
There is no incentive when the city is willing to hand a $1.046 million dollar lot over to a non-profit group so they can convert it into a void.
I have no doubt the AMWV can run, possibly even turn a profit. But in a $46 million dollar building, not including overhead - you start at a loss and keep digging a hole. It would be more tasteful, appreciated, and possibly supported if they built on the site, with a completely different design. One which compliments the surrounding architecture. I personally would be more impressed with the interior space layout than the exterior “conception moderne.” Show me what you can do with an existing space to make it more future thinking, give me a base to work with. If you renovate and rehabilitate an existing structure to bring it to the 21st century and beyond, and show it works, others will follow the lead. Building a specific-style, site-specific, “La Belle Epoque” building, it will be alone. It will not spur development, it will not broaden horizons. I will stand alone as the sole example of its kind in Roanoke. And it will be to its detriment for that to happen. The Art Museum can survive. The art will always have a home for display. The Museum is a building which can come and go. Stainless Steel stains, concrete crumbles, stone will fail, polycarbonate panels will cloud with time. Brick, concrete, steel, and iron last, and are easily repaired. Easily cleaned.
Build it if you must, but build it appropriately. In an appropriate location. Save the modern-isim for stand-alone sites.
The City has three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, which are also protected locally: City Market District, the Warehouse Row, and the Southwest Historic District in the
neighborhoods of Old Southwest, Hurt Park, and Mountain View.
Historic designation has contributed to the City’s revitalization through improved property maintenance and economic incentives for rehabilitation. Roanoke is currently undertaking a survey to identify additional historic structures in the downtown to promote further economic development and historic preservation strategies. The Historic and Cultural Resources map (Map 3.2.2) identifies the three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, National Register structures, and potentially significant archaeological sites.”
(http://tinyurl.com/bf5do)
This paragraph is taken from the City of Roanoke’s “Vision 2020” plan. A plan they willingly adopted for the betterment and protection of Roanoke’s future.
There are sections upon sections of policies and actions, like any government document - everything is stated 3 times over. 2 of these policies in particular deal with the issue in question:
“EC P6. Cultural and historic resources. Roanoke will support, develop, and promote its cultural resources. Roanoke will identify, preserve, and protect its historic districts, landmark features, historic structures, and archaeological sites.
EC A26. Undertake a comprehensive inventory of historic and cultural properties and districts in the City and consider historic districts, where applicable. Solicit neighborhood and stakeholder input in the inventory, where applicable.”
(http://tinyurl.com/7akeh)
“Roanoke will identify, preserve, and protect its historic districts, landmark features, historic structures, and archaeological sites.”
I wanted to pull that out to make sure it was read, clear and understood.
On building downtown, both new and revitalizing old buildings:
“Design principles:
• Downtown should have a recognizable skyline; tall buildings and maximum site
development should be permitted. Buildings should be set close to the street with groundfloor
facades that emphasize pedestrian activity.
• Buildings should be designed to accommodate a mixture of uses. Downtown’s historic
character should be preserved and used to guide new development with the assistance of
the Architectural Review Board guidelines.
• Access to and circulation within the downtown should be efficient, convenient, and
attractive. Streets should be designed to accommodate multiple modes of traffic: pedestrian,
bicycles, transit, automobiles. Encourage two-way streets to the maximum extent feasible.
• On-street parking should be reserved for shoppers and short-term visitors. Long-term
parking should be concentrated in parking structures or to the side or rear of principal
buildings. Surface parking should be minimized.”
(http://tinyurl.com/dx7fy)(emphasis added - kmc)
To preserve and protect downtown, and downtowns history, the ARB needs to hold fast to its principals. It is charged with protecting our history, our heritage. We have lost quite a bit through the years, but we persevered. The Hotel Roanoke was a victory, the Higher Education center was a victory, and now the Culinary School (Gainsboro) and the Dumas Center are victories. The past triumphing in the present to have a place in the future.
Yes, the location of the AMWV is historically protected, as they themselves admit.
“The City has three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, which are also protected
locally: City Market District, the Warehouse Row, and the Southwest Historic District in the
neighborhoods of Old Southwest, Hurt Park, and Mountain View.”
The city market district is shown in Map 3.2.2 in blue - which indicates a “Sensitive Cultural/Archaeological Resource.”
(http://tinyurl.com/8mwdp)
This is not the first time I have seen the Market Area listed as a “preservation” site. As of 9-16-82 and 4-20-83 the Roanoke City Market area has been listed with both the Virginia and National Register of Historic Places respectively. On the Virginia Register site, there is a map of threatened sites to be protected throughout the state. All of Roanoke City is highlighted on that map.
“Roanoke is fortunate to have at least three architectural gems lying in close proximity: the City Market itself, Hotel Roanoke and St. Andrew's Church. Many would add the old Norfolk and Western general office buildings and the Link Museum to the list. “ (James G. Cosby, “AMWV: Love the design, hate the location.” Roanoke Times, 5-10-05, via. www.architechmag.com)
Randall Stout’s own website, http://tinyurl.com/8fu78, provides images of his vision for the museum, with one image of an interior gallery. Mr. Stout is apparently well known for his skill at laying out gallery space, yet this looks like an after thought. The lobby of Roanoke Regional Airport seems a better space to view artwork than this one example.
“…it represents Roanoke’s metaphorical gateway to the future for a city transforming its industrial and manufacturing based economy to one driven by technology information and services.” (R. Stout’s website, text author unknown.)
No, no it doesn’t - and this metaphorical gateway mantra is repeated by everyone involved in the AMWV at this point. No, its not a metaphor, its not a gateway when its past the exit for Downtown coming south, or beyond the exit if you are going north.
And I really don’t think we need a reminder that the nature of jobs in Roanoke is changing.
Again, back to the Vision 2020 plan: “Historic designation has contributed to the City’s revitalization through improved property maintenance and economic incentives for rehabilitation.”
There is no incentive when the city is willing to hand a $1.046 million dollar lot over to a non-profit group so they can convert it into a void.
I have no doubt the AMWV can run, possibly even turn a profit. But in a $46 million dollar building, not including overhead - you start at a loss and keep digging a hole. It would be more tasteful, appreciated, and possibly supported if they built on the site, with a completely different design. One which compliments the surrounding architecture. I personally would be more impressed with the interior space layout than the exterior “conception moderne.” Show me what you can do with an existing space to make it more future thinking, give me a base to work with. If you renovate and rehabilitate an existing structure to bring it to the 21st century and beyond, and show it works, others will follow the lead. Building a specific-style, site-specific, “La Belle Epoque” building, it will be alone. It will not spur development, it will not broaden horizons. I will stand alone as the sole example of its kind in Roanoke. And it will be to its detriment for that to happen. The Art Museum can survive. The art will always have a home for display. The Museum is a building which can come and go. Stainless Steel stains, concrete crumbles, stone will fail, polycarbonate panels will cloud with time. Brick, concrete, steel, and iron last, and are easily repaired. Easily cleaned.
Build it if you must, but build it appropriately. In an appropriate location. Save the modern-isim for stand-alone sites.
The corner lot of little importance (Part 1)
What would ostensibly be 118-131 Salem Ave. SE, the site chosen for the AMWV, is much more than a parking lot, and once that asphalt tarmac is broken up - Im sure rubble from its past will be revealed.
A brief history of the AMWV site:
1886 - A few dwellings, a few dry goods shops, a shanty, barber, and a restaurant comprise the half of the block which is to become the AMWV.
1889 - 3 Tenements, 2 Restaurants, a house and a bowling alley have taken up residence on the site. The bowling alley being one of the vanguard alleys in Roanoke. In the following 5 years, nearly every street downtown would have at least one bowling alley - although in some cases, 3 was not uncommon.
1893 - 3 houses, 2 vacant stores, and 2 shops exist on the site.
1898 - A home, a restaurant, several storefronts, and a barber occupied most of the site.
1903- The north side of Salem Ave. near what is now Williamson was graced with a stone retaining wall. Behind this was a home. The Norfolk Ave. side was home to a tenement, a junk shop, a barber, and a vacant storefront.
1907 - Progress takes hold, the Hotel Randolph occupies a good 2/3rds the site. Numerous storefronts line the ground floor. There is ample parking for your horse and buggy, along with a restaurant or two. Across Williamson was the Randolph Market.
1919- The Hotel Ritz occupies the space which we now know as Billy's Ritz. At the opposite end of the block, there was the Hotel Anderson. 2 restaurants, 16 stalls for buggy parking, a filling station with another restaurant nextdoor (what seems to be the Lonesome Dove/Tony's Place) which was erected just the year before. And on the block, another big loss for Roanoke, was the pedestrian bridge to the N&W Railway Station - a ornate glass and steel affair.
The name of the Hotel Anderson changed several times through the years, serving as the Hotel Lee for a time. Unfortunately, all traces of these hotels have been lost to time. And now we are going to lose again.
The revenue created by this location historically, will never be matched by sanitizing it. Were the AMWV going to have retail space (other than the gift shop/cafe) lining the ground floor - then I would say it is an appropriate use, but its not going to. Add to that the empty space within the building, and you are looking at a major loss in revenue.
Architecture (or what passes as...) aside, that high-visibility, high traffic, well traveled area is not appropriate for a venture like this. Again, this is what zoning laws are for. Identify the commercially viable zones, preserve the historic use of an area, and find homes for artistic endevours. With Opera Roanoke moving to the Dumas Center, the ongoing program at the Jefferson Center, the O Winston Link museum, and The RSO performing at the Civic Center - Roanoke is spreading its arts thin. Two Artistic Zones should be created, centered around both the Jefferson Center and the Dumas Center.
Which would mean, in order to be effective, the AMWV should be moved to the north side of the railroad tracks. Allow incentives for artists to set up shop around the Jefferson Center, and keep the big, bold arts in the same general area.
"Part 2, the City's Responsibility" will be posted soon.
A brief history of the AMWV site:
1886 - A few dwellings, a few dry goods shops, a shanty, barber, and a restaurant comprise the half of the block which is to become the AMWV.
1889 - 3 Tenements, 2 Restaurants, a house and a bowling alley have taken up residence on the site. The bowling alley being one of the vanguard alleys in Roanoke. In the following 5 years, nearly every street downtown would have at least one bowling alley - although in some cases, 3 was not uncommon.
1893 - 3 houses, 2 vacant stores, and 2 shops exist on the site.
1898 - A home, a restaurant, several storefronts, and a barber occupied most of the site.
1903- The north side of Salem Ave. near what is now Williamson was graced with a stone retaining wall. Behind this was a home. The Norfolk Ave. side was home to a tenement, a junk shop, a barber, and a vacant storefront.
1907 - Progress takes hold, the Hotel Randolph occupies a good 2/3rds the site. Numerous storefronts line the ground floor. There is ample parking for your horse and buggy, along with a restaurant or two. Across Williamson was the Randolph Market.
1919- The Hotel Ritz occupies the space which we now know as Billy's Ritz. At the opposite end of the block, there was the Hotel Anderson. 2 restaurants, 16 stalls for buggy parking, a filling station with another restaurant nextdoor (what seems to be the Lonesome Dove/Tony's Place) which was erected just the year before. And on the block, another big loss for Roanoke, was the pedestrian bridge to the N&W Railway Station - a ornate glass and steel affair.
The name of the Hotel Anderson changed several times through the years, serving as the Hotel Lee for a time. Unfortunately, all traces of these hotels have been lost to time. And now we are going to lose again.
The revenue created by this location historically, will never be matched by sanitizing it. Were the AMWV going to have retail space (other than the gift shop/cafe) lining the ground floor - then I would say it is an appropriate use, but its not going to. Add to that the empty space within the building, and you are looking at a major loss in revenue.
Architecture (or what passes as...) aside, that high-visibility, high traffic, well traveled area is not appropriate for a venture like this. Again, this is what zoning laws are for. Identify the commercially viable zones, preserve the historic use of an area, and find homes for artistic endevours. With Opera Roanoke moving to the Dumas Center, the ongoing program at the Jefferson Center, the O Winston Link museum, and The RSO performing at the Civic Center - Roanoke is spreading its arts thin. Two Artistic Zones should be created, centered around both the Jefferson Center and the Dumas Center.
Which would mean, in order to be effective, the AMWV should be moved to the north side of the railroad tracks. Allow incentives for artists to set up shop around the Jefferson Center, and keep the big, bold arts in the same general area.
"Part 2, the City's Responsibility" will be posted soon.
A $46 million dollar novelty
You all might want to duck come the morning. This whole Art Museum and Solar Reflector thing just went from asinine to downright wrong.
Move an existing phasod, which is roughly a century old, around the corner. What about the rest of the building, which is also the same age?
That parking lot alone is worth $1,046,500.00
So we get an attractive wall.
And an ugly, unused art museum.
What a trade.
And I wish these "starbucks elite" would stop saying its going to bring in money to the local economy. Its not, ok? People dont travel somewhere for one thing, then spend money at others. They travel somewhere for multiple things, and spend money only at those places. This is not something where we can say "Oh well, we tried" if it fails. This is a huge gamble with the very life of this city.
And since Mr. Randall Stout is in town apparently, I ask him to walk the site - and really give it a good hard look, imagining what his building will look like in the place they want it to be.
No offence to the fine people at Billy's Ritz, but if they havent put money into fixing up the "shabby chic" building they have now, whats the promise they will? Those 2nd and 3rd floor boarded up windows will look great next to a world-class art museum. Allegedly world class.
I've been to the Museum of Transportation, Ive been to Explore Park, Ive been to the Zoo atop Mill Mountain many a time. These are worthwhile causes and should be supported by Roanoke. Im not big on art, but I do keep meaning to get to the Art Museum and O Winston Link museum. However, a building of that scale and design - and I would probably stay home. I didnt support the garish designs in NYC, and Im not supporting them here. Build to the area, not build of the area. Not that this is going to do either.
You want to create an artistic triangle, where it can be easily reached yet still stand out? I give you the Yellow Cab site, 200 Shenendoah Ave. Right down the block from both the O Winston Link Museum, and the Hotel Roanoke. Right on 581, easy to get to. Highly visible.
And doesnt wreck the area.
More to come in the morning, lots more. Including the history of the site, and why the Roanoke City Council should rethink its actions.
Move an existing phasod, which is roughly a century old, around the corner. What about the rest of the building, which is also the same age?
That parking lot alone is worth $1,046,500.00
So we get an attractive wall.
And an ugly, unused art museum.
What a trade.
And I wish these "starbucks elite" would stop saying its going to bring in money to the local economy. Its not, ok? People dont travel somewhere for one thing, then spend money at others. They travel somewhere for multiple things, and spend money only at those places. This is not something where we can say "Oh well, we tried" if it fails. This is a huge gamble with the very life of this city.
And since Mr. Randall Stout is in town apparently, I ask him to walk the site - and really give it a good hard look, imagining what his building will look like in the place they want it to be.
No offence to the fine people at Billy's Ritz, but if they havent put money into fixing up the "shabby chic" building they have now, whats the promise they will? Those 2nd and 3rd floor boarded up windows will look great next to a world-class art museum. Allegedly world class.
I've been to the Museum of Transportation, Ive been to Explore Park, Ive been to the Zoo atop Mill Mountain many a time. These are worthwhile causes and should be supported by Roanoke. Im not big on art, but I do keep meaning to get to the Art Museum and O Winston Link museum. However, a building of that scale and design - and I would probably stay home. I didnt support the garish designs in NYC, and Im not supporting them here. Build to the area, not build of the area. Not that this is going to do either.
You want to create an artistic triangle, where it can be easily reached yet still stand out? I give you the Yellow Cab site, 200 Shenendoah Ave. Right down the block from both the O Winston Link Museum, and the Hotel Roanoke. Right on 581, easy to get to. Highly visible.
And doesnt wreck the area.
More to come in the morning, lots more. Including the history of the site, and why the Roanoke City Council should rethink its actions.
6/9/05
If a train aint movin, its useless....
Wonderful weather, aint it? God Im rarely this un-motivated. Even my train of thought is dead in the station. I scanned todays Times, meh.
With the exception of the Purple Heart story, which we all saw last night on the news anyway, its a slow news day. National news? Feds bust Al-Kinda cell in Cali. OOh.. shock. We know they are here, were just picking them off as we see fit.
Theres an op/ed piece written by Ed Hall from Hall Assoc. on the Art Museum and Solar Reflector thing. I understand his point, and its valid - but another op/ed written from the wrong angle.
Most talk about the uplifting nature of having the art museum open downtown in a giant solar reflector. How such a cultural attraction will SURELY not only attract, but keep a younger crowd in Roanoke. Those who leave Roanoke because its not like New York City, they should stay now! Its not going to happen. Those who are unsatisfied with the place they were born, are going to view any attempt to get them to stay as entrapment. They will be jaded to it, they are the kind who dont go to the Farmers Market because its "stupid." They never realize what they have till they leave it. The Art Museum is not going to convince them otherwise.
Trust me on this one, Im extremely jaded to the charms of NYC. Except at Christmas, thats really the only time I ever truly cared about being there. And even that was shot out the window after I saw "Dickens of a Christmas" last year. Discontent is born in the soul, and not the street. As Ive said - people allready have access to the arts here in Roanoke, and they dont go.
But thats old news anyway - how many times will we have to keep rehashing the same old story. I guess everything has the potential to become the Warhorse story that Victory Staduim is, given enough time and general inaction. Again I point to the Vision 2020 program the city itself laid out a few years back. If we, the people, just held them to it - we wouldnt have these debates. Wouldn't need to.
Other than that, nothing really new in the news today. Although that can always change at a moments notice. Yesterday I know while I was at the hospital - I heard of 2 children being hit by cars. 2 seperate incidents.
Newsworthy? As an illustration to those amazingly distracted drivers, yes. For the familys, probably not. Most times you really dont want your familys personal time of crisis writ large on the main page.
But heres the kicker to the story. The kids were both ok. Aside from bruising, maybe a broken bone, some bleeding - they were going to be ok.
Not often you hear a happy ending like that.
And thats where Im going to leave this.. maybe more to come.. if this train gets rollin again.
With the exception of the Purple Heart story, which we all saw last night on the news anyway, its a slow news day. National news? Feds bust Al-Kinda cell in Cali. OOh.. shock. We know they are here, were just picking them off as we see fit.
Theres an op/ed piece written by Ed Hall from Hall Assoc. on the Art Museum and Solar Reflector thing. I understand his point, and its valid - but another op/ed written from the wrong angle.
Most talk about the uplifting nature of having the art museum open downtown in a giant solar reflector. How such a cultural attraction will SURELY not only attract, but keep a younger crowd in Roanoke. Those who leave Roanoke because its not like New York City, they should stay now! Its not going to happen. Those who are unsatisfied with the place they were born, are going to view any attempt to get them to stay as entrapment. They will be jaded to it, they are the kind who dont go to the Farmers Market because its "stupid." They never realize what they have till they leave it. The Art Museum is not going to convince them otherwise.
Trust me on this one, Im extremely jaded to the charms of NYC. Except at Christmas, thats really the only time I ever truly cared about being there. And even that was shot out the window after I saw "Dickens of a Christmas" last year. Discontent is born in the soul, and not the street. As Ive said - people allready have access to the arts here in Roanoke, and they dont go.
But thats old news anyway - how many times will we have to keep rehashing the same old story. I guess everything has the potential to become the Warhorse story that Victory Staduim is, given enough time and general inaction. Again I point to the Vision 2020 program the city itself laid out a few years back. If we, the people, just held them to it - we wouldnt have these debates. Wouldn't need to.
Other than that, nothing really new in the news today. Although that can always change at a moments notice. Yesterday I know while I was at the hospital - I heard of 2 children being hit by cars. 2 seperate incidents.
Newsworthy? As an illustration to those amazingly distracted drivers, yes. For the familys, probably not. Most times you really dont want your familys personal time of crisis writ large on the main page.
But heres the kicker to the story. The kids were both ok. Aside from bruising, maybe a broken bone, some bleeding - they were going to be ok.
Not often you hear a happy ending like that.
And thats where Im going to leave this.. maybe more to come.. if this train gets rollin again.
6/8/05
So it was an interesting day
I learned my wife really does not like waiting in emergency rooms. She always said so, but we never had opportunity to test it out. Then came the phantom pain.
We went swimming in the complex pool on Monday (which apparently is some form of sin around here. Heck, the guy opened the pool for us, I didn't know it was supposed to be closed on Monday.) swam for about 2 hours, so nice.. forgot how good it was to get in the water. Been over a year and a half. Next morning, about an hour after waking up, she had this awful pain in her right foot. Right around the ankle. Its been bothering her badly for 2 days now, and today we go to the hospital (no, Im not saying which one - mainly because I like this one).
So we are waiting in the ER waiting room to be called back. They said about 45 minutes, fine - as long as we can get an x-ray and a solution - its all good. Well 45 mins comes and goes - next were onto an hour and a half. Apparently they were heavily booked solid in the back. Wonderful, but still no real information and no sign of any coming.
2 hours in, we still were warming seats, watching the annoying pacing guy pace annoyingly. (redundant, as was his pacing) Watching about 5 of the 20 people get called back, people with serious health issues far above a injured ankle. We could accept that.. she was getting antsy.
Not that I blame her in the least, especially hurting as she was. And considering there was no medical staff present to ask questions to. I would have been asking to see a doctor or nurse by then. But then again, I've never had a sprain of any sort. My one real medical emergency required instant admission. (Yes I am hinting at what's coming in the near future.)
3 hours later, we cant get a straight answer from anyone, she finally packs it in and decided we head home. Fine by me, as I was ready to nap in the waiting room. So that's where it stands - bad communication, no communication, and the annoyingly redundant pacing guy. He was a patient, he had his shirt on backwards, he smiled a whole lot, and he had a strange unnerving bulge under his shirt.
She had enough, and for all the pain she was in - I've never seen anyone gimp faster than she did to get out of there.
Me - I have a strange affinity for hospitals. But I've only been in 1 that I remember clearly.
We went swimming in the complex pool on Monday (which apparently is some form of sin around here. Heck, the guy opened the pool for us, I didn't know it was supposed to be closed on Monday.) swam for about 2 hours, so nice.. forgot how good it was to get in the water. Been over a year and a half. Next morning, about an hour after waking up, she had this awful pain in her right foot. Right around the ankle. Its been bothering her badly for 2 days now, and today we go to the hospital (no, Im not saying which one - mainly because I like this one).
So we are waiting in the ER waiting room to be called back. They said about 45 minutes, fine - as long as we can get an x-ray and a solution - its all good. Well 45 mins comes and goes - next were onto an hour and a half. Apparently they were heavily booked solid in the back. Wonderful, but still no real information and no sign of any coming.
2 hours in, we still were warming seats, watching the annoying pacing guy pace annoyingly. (redundant, as was his pacing) Watching about 5 of the 20 people get called back, people with serious health issues far above a injured ankle. We could accept that.. she was getting antsy.
Not that I blame her in the least, especially hurting as she was. And considering there was no medical staff present to ask questions to. I would have been asking to see a doctor or nurse by then. But then again, I've never had a sprain of any sort. My one real medical emergency required instant admission. (Yes I am hinting at what's coming in the near future.)
3 hours later, we cant get a straight answer from anyone, she finally packs it in and decided we head home. Fine by me, as I was ready to nap in the waiting room. So that's where it stands - bad communication, no communication, and the annoyingly redundant pacing guy. He was a patient, he had his shirt on backwards, he smiled a whole lot, and he had a strange unnerving bulge under his shirt.
She had enough, and for all the pain she was in - I've never seen anyone gimp faster than she did to get out of there.
Me - I have a strange affinity for hospitals. But I've only been in 1 that I remember clearly.
So heres the deal today
Im probably going to be irked picking up a copy of the Times for 2 reasons. 1) its not going to be as clean and crisp as it was yesterday. Other than the colors being off, yesterdays copy which was printed in Greensboro was a true power broadsheet. Normally by the time I get my hands on a copy Im looking at an overinflated tabloid.
2) Boones Mill... Lynn Frith. They want to extend the Boones Mill water supply outward, which means a new plumbing contract for Lynn. They want to build a new town hall, which is yet another contract for Lynn. They are going ahead with bottling "Watershine" Boones Mill Bottled Water. Which means, you guessed it -Another contract for Lynn.
At some point in my life here - and Im not intending leaving anytime soon, I will open the paper one day, and see Lynn being brought up on a host of charges. Federal (possibly), State (definately - theyre sick of him), and local (if Franklin County ever gets its act together).
But thats not all that important. What is important is ground was broken yesterday on the Carilion Bio-Medical park. Having seen some of the sketches of buildings being raised there - I can honestly say, this is great.
The buildings have a style which does not go against the tide, but rather will almost look collegiate when in service. Reminicent of the outbuildings just off 29 that UVA has erected for medical and other purposes. Very classic styling, but with a modern edge and functionality. The tennants that have been announced so far are some of the top bio-engineering firms around.
Luna Innovations, from Blacksburg, is a serious competitor for high-tech military contracts. They have designed a hollow carbon atom, which carries metals and rare earth materials designed for use in detection of physiological problems. Possibly even treating them, considering if you swarm the site - say a tumor - with these, expose to low low low radiation, they all act as mini-magnifying glasses, focusing the radiation on the tumor and eradicating it, without damaging surrounding tissues.
I've had this very procedure done to me, but without the mini-magnifyers. I would have been very happy with them, but instead I had this: the Gamma Knife not so much not fun, but they hold the frame for the thing on your head with screws (tiny, but still screws) that are set into your skull.
In the next 2 months there will be more stories about my experiences with this, as I reach my 3 year anniversary of the destruction of the BST.
Well, wrapping up - Im dismayed by the Boones Mill nonsense, hopeful with the Bio-Med stuff, and elated that theres still a chance.. STILL A HOPE that the Art Museum will not go forth. Look here
Updates as warranted today, Ive got something in the works.
2) Boones Mill... Lynn Frith. They want to extend the Boones Mill water supply outward, which means a new plumbing contract for Lynn. They want to build a new town hall, which is yet another contract for Lynn. They are going ahead with bottling "Watershine" Boones Mill Bottled Water. Which means, you guessed it -Another contract for Lynn.
At some point in my life here - and Im not intending leaving anytime soon, I will open the paper one day, and see Lynn being brought up on a host of charges. Federal (possibly), State (definately - theyre sick of him), and local (if Franklin County ever gets its act together).
But thats not all that important. What is important is ground was broken yesterday on the Carilion Bio-Medical park. Having seen some of the sketches of buildings being raised there - I can honestly say, this is great.
The buildings have a style which does not go against the tide, but rather will almost look collegiate when in service. Reminicent of the outbuildings just off 29 that UVA has erected for medical and other purposes. Very classic styling, but with a modern edge and functionality. The tennants that have been announced so far are some of the top bio-engineering firms around.
Luna Innovations, from Blacksburg, is a serious competitor for high-tech military contracts. They have designed a hollow carbon atom, which carries metals and rare earth materials designed for use in detection of physiological problems. Possibly even treating them, considering if you swarm the site - say a tumor - with these, expose to low low low radiation, they all act as mini-magnifying glasses, focusing the radiation on the tumor and eradicating it, without damaging surrounding tissues.
I've had this very procedure done to me, but without the mini-magnifyers. I would have been very happy with them, but instead I had this: the Gamma Knife not so much not fun, but they hold the frame for the thing on your head with screws (tiny, but still screws) that are set into your skull.
In the next 2 months there will be more stories about my experiences with this, as I reach my 3 year anniversary of the destruction of the BST.
Well, wrapping up - Im dismayed by the Boones Mill nonsense, hopeful with the Bio-Med stuff, and elated that theres still a chance.. STILL A HOPE that the Art Museum will not go forth. Look here
Updates as warranted today, Ive got something in the works.
6/7/05
No Roanoke Times Tuesday morning
No Roanoke Times Tuesday morning
Roanoke Times statement on the delay
One of the reasons blogging/Radio is so important. Paper is still transient. Its there one minute, but can be gone just as easy. As long as you have power, phones - you have news. People can call in reports of whatever, the broadcasters can then read those reports.
Friends call friends to tell them whats going on by them, friends put friends reports on the blog - suddenly you have a variety of sources to choose from for your up-to-the-minute reporting. National Weather Service does it with the Spotters, nothing more than an extended reporting network.
I think thats really where newspapers are running into trouble these days. Newspapers are static - they are a timeslice of events from the time of printing. There is no running reporting, no constant commentary. Don't get me wrong - I love my morning paper, but by 10am Im wondering what else is going on... The websites for most newspapers are still struggling with the static idea. I mean, the printed word has been around what, centuries now. Thats along time to be doing the same thing. It gets encoded into the genetic makeup of the newspaper. This is how its laid out, this is its sections. Until the "digital paper" (not far off, IBM and a few others are finishing up on it) hits the market - there has been no real change in newspapers in decades. Sure with the computer, layout and publishing has gotten easier. No more typesetting challenges, no more image issues.
What would Walt Whitman, Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle so many years ago think of all this. He would probably be amazed at the new technology in the newspaper press itself, but he would still recognize the newspaper. For a good while, in NY - we had 3 papers. 3 papers for the masses, not counting the NY Times. The Daily News and The NY Post - both morning editions, and Newsday - a Long Island based paper which up until 1987(ish) was still an evening edition. I had a paper route as a kid. For a while, I was doing the Daily News in the morning, and Newsday in the evening. Probably 110 papers a day, and my routes didn't overlap.
That was probably the last time in my life before the rise of the Internet as a reporting tool that I can remember getting updated stories, in print, same day. Im not a big TV fan. I'll watch the news off and on at night, but I personally prefer to get local news online - its a cleaner, faster way to get to the stories that interest me. Now I realize that the Roanoke Times, DBJ, SLS - they all do news updates if the stories warrant one. But thats seldom it seems compared to what Ive seen the Blogging community do. For example - go to Rhett's Roanke Firefighters page. He has a story about a fire at Loudon Ave. that I have not seen anywhere else.
This is not the first time either. Just a week ago, he had pictures of an accident on Franklin and Reserve. And prior to that, trumping anyones coverage, he had photos from the scene (maybe 10 feet away) from the big accident on 581 by Valley View.
Its one thing to be a reporter and gain access to a scene, its another to be on-scene and report it later. Theres a fundamental difference in mindset.
Well, I guess I've kicked this horse enough.
Roanoke Times statement on the delay
One of the reasons blogging/Radio is so important. Paper is still transient. Its there one minute, but can be gone just as easy. As long as you have power, phones - you have news. People can call in reports of whatever, the broadcasters can then read those reports.
Friends call friends to tell them whats going on by them, friends put friends reports on the blog - suddenly you have a variety of sources to choose from for your up-to-the-minute reporting. National Weather Service does it with the Spotters, nothing more than an extended reporting network.
I think thats really where newspapers are running into trouble these days. Newspapers are static - they are a timeslice of events from the time of printing. There is no running reporting, no constant commentary. Don't get me wrong - I love my morning paper, but by 10am Im wondering what else is going on... The websites for most newspapers are still struggling with the static idea. I mean, the printed word has been around what, centuries now. Thats along time to be doing the same thing. It gets encoded into the genetic makeup of the newspaper. This is how its laid out, this is its sections. Until the "digital paper" (not far off, IBM and a few others are finishing up on it) hits the market - there has been no real change in newspapers in decades. Sure with the computer, layout and publishing has gotten easier. No more typesetting challenges, no more image issues.
What would Walt Whitman, Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle so many years ago think of all this. He would probably be amazed at the new technology in the newspaper press itself, but he would still recognize the newspaper. For a good while, in NY - we had 3 papers. 3 papers for the masses, not counting the NY Times. The Daily News and The NY Post - both morning editions, and Newsday - a Long Island based paper which up until 1987(ish) was still an evening edition. I had a paper route as a kid. For a while, I was doing the Daily News in the morning, and Newsday in the evening. Probably 110 papers a day, and my routes didn't overlap.
That was probably the last time in my life before the rise of the Internet as a reporting tool that I can remember getting updated stories, in print, same day. Im not a big TV fan. I'll watch the news off and on at night, but I personally prefer to get local news online - its a cleaner, faster way to get to the stories that interest me. Now I realize that the Roanoke Times, DBJ, SLS - they all do news updates if the stories warrant one. But thats seldom it seems compared to what Ive seen the Blogging community do. For example - go to Rhett's Roanke Firefighters page. He has a story about a fire at Loudon Ave. that I have not seen anywhere else.
This is not the first time either. Just a week ago, he had pictures of an accident on Franklin and Reserve. And prior to that, trumping anyones coverage, he had photos from the scene (maybe 10 feet away) from the big accident on 581 by Valley View.
Its one thing to be a reporter and gain access to a scene, its another to be on-scene and report it later. Theres a fundamental difference in mindset.
Well, I guess I've kicked this horse enough.
6/6/05
LILEKS (James) Matchbooks (well, not really)
James is BACK!
Damn Ive been waiting for this. Ive been reading Mr. Lileks for a while now, then found out after I moved down here that his column was carried in the Roanoke TImes, something I never had in NY. I was jazzed. Then they bumped him. Its their choice - it's a bad choice, but not mine to make. Demographics or something like that. Whatever.
But now, the Lileks most people don't know unless they have dug through the archives on lileks.com. The Screeds.
James is an angry angry man, he just hides it well behind a mask of bad 70's design, worse 50's and 60's recipies, and perfectly horrid trips to Chuck E Cheese.
Read at your own risk. But do read.
Damn Ive been waiting for this. Ive been reading Mr. Lileks for a while now, then found out after I moved down here that his column was carried in the Roanoke TImes, something I never had in NY. I was jazzed. Then they bumped him. Its their choice - it's a bad choice, but not mine to make. Demographics or something like that. Whatever.
But now, the Lileks most people don't know unless they have dug through the archives on lileks.com. The Screeds.
James is an angry angry man, he just hides it well behind a mask of bad 70's design, worse 50's and 60's recipies, and perfectly horrid trips to Chuck E Cheese.
Read at your own risk. But do read.
The National D-Day Memorial
The National D-Day Memorial
Come on, its not even a full 45 minutes away...
jeez, ungrateful... *shakes fist angrily*
Come on, its not even a full 45 minutes away...
jeez, ungrateful... *shakes fist angrily*
6/4/05
The Siege of AR-558 - Memory Alpha
I out myself as a Trekkie. And now that Season 7 of DS9 is out on DVD, I started thinking about the best episodes of all the series - this one takes all.
There is no finer, more explicit example of Star Trek & Roddenberry's mandate that Star Trek deal with real life issues. The horrors of war, felt and experienced as never before on TV.
Darkest. Episode. Evar.
And worth it.
There is no finer, more explicit example of Star Trek & Roddenberry's mandate that Star Trek deal with real life issues. The horrors of war, felt and experienced as never before on TV.
Darkest. Episode. Evar.
And worth it.
6/3/05
Chapter closed..
For the most part, the chapter I previously spoke of, is ended. With some minor details to finalize - like the other half my pay for the time worked.
I will say this much, it is a sad thing to have a part of your fate decided by someone with no connection to reality. The haze of moonshine (yes, really) has severed the connection. And as well meaning and as kind hearted as they can be, the rage of decades drunk have taken effect.
I feel bad really, because things could have worked so differently. But I'll move on, like I always do - and land somewhere else with a knife in my hand and a cutting board under the blade.
Although I might need a break - do I hear Deli work in my future?
I will say this much, it is a sad thing to have a part of your fate decided by someone with no connection to reality. The haze of moonshine (yes, really) has severed the connection. And as well meaning and as kind hearted as they can be, the rage of decades drunk have taken effect.
I feel bad really, because things could have worked so differently. But I'll move on, like I always do - and land somewhere else with a knife in my hand and a cutting board under the blade.
Although I might need a break - do I hear Deli work in my future?
There is life outside this glowing box
We here at RoanokeFound (a subsidy of Forgotten-Roanoke Industries) have come upon one of those life changing moments. Well, ok - its not as dramatic as it sounds, but it aint great.
When your working, but apparently not getting paid for it, and you have no faith you will get paid - what do you do? When self-destruction seems to be the motto of your workplace, what do you do?
We here at RoanokeFound, we are in a quandry. Things change quickly it seems - and allies become enemies. There are laws that govern every aspect of work, every job one takes in life. Trusts are built, action creates response. Minature communities, if not families, are formed.
There are always signs that there is a problem afoot, but due to trust, you write them off as something wholly different. You want the entire operation to succeed. You want everyone involved to succeed.
But success is often stalked by failure and doubt. Logic is shattered. The critical moments between conception and birth are squandered. The restaurant industry will lift you up higher than you thought, and smash you down twice as hard.
more to follow....
When your working, but apparently not getting paid for it, and you have no faith you will get paid - what do you do? When self-destruction seems to be the motto of your workplace, what do you do?
We here at RoanokeFound, we are in a quandry. Things change quickly it seems - and allies become enemies. There are laws that govern every aspect of work, every job one takes in life. Trusts are built, action creates response. Minature communities, if not families, are formed.
There are always signs that there is a problem afoot, but due to trust, you write them off as something wholly different. You want the entire operation to succeed. You want everyone involved to succeed.
But success is often stalked by failure and doubt. Logic is shattered. The critical moments between conception and birth are squandered. The restaurant industry will lift you up higher than you thought, and smash you down twice as hard.
more to follow....
6/2/05
roanoke.com - Commentary Stories -A mean-spirited attack on backers of stadium renovation
This summary is not available. Please
click here to view the post.
5/31/05
Oh, Hi there....
Hows it going? Good, good.. uh.. Guess your here to see something huh?
yep...
so.. uhhh...hmmm
yeah, its around here somewhere.
HEY, hows about them Avalanche? Hell of a team this year...
Boy that Roanoke Times pisses me off.. yeah, totally gets my goat...
yeah
Umm.. its coming ok? Sheesh.. like I dont have 18 things going at once. Boy, your getting demanding. Do you know that? How demanding you can be lately?
Oh, anyone up for a podcast? (asking for more work, idiot)
If anyone has a microphone they would like to donate to the cause, Im more than happy to take it. And perhaps a good primer on how to podcast. Many years ago I was FCC licenced to run the board for a radio station - this digital thing escapes me. Im still looking for the cart rack.
Heres a quick one for ya, how many of you readers (I know your there) would be willing to do a tour of downtown one sunday - a photo tour? (yes, more work) I've got too many ideas.. feel free to tell me to shut up and get back to work.
ok ok - Im going...
yep...
so.. uhhh...hmmm
yeah, its around here somewhere.
HEY, hows about them Avalanche? Hell of a team this year...
Boy that Roanoke Times pisses me off.. yeah, totally gets my goat...
yeah
Umm.. its coming ok? Sheesh.. like I dont have 18 things going at once. Boy, your getting demanding. Do you know that? How demanding you can be lately?
Oh, anyone up for a podcast? (asking for more work, idiot)
If anyone has a microphone they would like to donate to the cause, Im more than happy to take it. And perhaps a good primer on how to podcast. Many years ago I was FCC licenced to run the board for a radio station - this digital thing escapes me. Im still looking for the cart rack.
Heres a quick one for ya, how many of you readers (I know your there) would be willing to do a tour of downtown one sunday - a photo tour? (yes, more work) I've got too many ideas.. feel free to tell me to shut up and get back to work.
ok ok - Im going...
5/29/05
here is your sneak peak at whats coming up next on Forgotten Roanoke. We have hacked the archives of Valley Metro for this project, hence all the secrecy these past few weeks. The FBI has been on our trail. But fear not, FR will go on! Oh, and thanks to Donna Chamberlain over at Valley Metro, uhh.. for providing us with the encryption key passcodes. Yeah, thats it - passcodes.
5/27/05
Thank you one and two
Thats how many people reconized me today at work as "The guy from Forgotten-Roanoke." I must say it is nice to be noticed, but its even nicer to know that people are reading it. I can study the hit counters, and the search word analyzers all I want, but it doesnt mean anyone is actually reading it. Of course, I'll truly know Im having an impact when I get punched in the stomach by some irate citizen, but thats just my idea of success.
So, all in all - it was a good day to open on. We had a nice group of customers, all very appreciative that Eddy saw fit to re-open.
I guess its not a secret anymore - Im working at Howard's Soup Kitchen, and come Tuesday there will be an article in the print edition of the Roanoke Times, along with photos of Jerry and Eddy Howard. The founders of the place. Your humble webmaster does not, as far as I know, appear in any of the photos. I did my best to keep my wonderful face from ruining any of the Brothers Howard photos. And the ambiance of the whole thing.
Hell, I could ruin a brick wall.
But rest assured, your humble servant is still working feverishly on the site, and has thoroughly documented the history of the current Howards Soup Kitchen. And the former Howards location. For further information, see the Ponce De Leon pages. Yes, they were there.
And 102 Franklin Rd.
In all, they are heading into their 26th year in business. Come on out and support them.
And don't come looking for me - Im hiding behind all the steam.
So, all in all - it was a good day to open on. We had a nice group of customers, all very appreciative that Eddy saw fit to re-open.
I guess its not a secret anymore - Im working at Howard's Soup Kitchen, and come Tuesday there will be an article in the print edition of the Roanoke Times, along with photos of Jerry and Eddy Howard. The founders of the place. Your humble webmaster does not, as far as I know, appear in any of the photos. I did my best to keep my wonderful face from ruining any of the Brothers Howard photos. And the ambiance of the whole thing.
Hell, I could ruin a brick wall.
But rest assured, your humble servant is still working feverishly on the site, and has thoroughly documented the history of the current Howards Soup Kitchen. And the former Howards location. For further information, see the Ponce De Leon pages. Yes, they were there.
And 102 Franklin Rd.
In all, they are heading into their 26th year in business. Come on out and support them.
And don't come looking for me - Im hiding behind all the steam.
5/26/05
Hey baby, is that a Category 4 or are you just happy to see me?
http://www.coloradostormchaser.com/Lamar5d.jpg
Yeah, this is cool enough. But it doesnt move me, not the way Im moved by http://tinyurl.com/8sgco
Oh by no means am I saying tornadoes aren't cool, but hurricanes are much much cooler. Twisters rarely range larger than 1/2 mile across, however - hurricanes - well, look at that thing.
A twister is 20 minutes in hell, a hurricane is 10 hours in hell. A grinding, gnawing, chewing hell at that. Relentless. I havent been through any really destructive hurricanes in my life - just one. But - in the offseason, we up in NY call them Nor'easters. Thats when they can be truly damaging.
Over 100 trees, each at least 50 years old were just flattened by a nor'easter one year. In a highly densely populated area at that. It took 24 hours for the storm to clear.
But the one true hurricane I still remember - http://www.geocities.com/hurricanene/gloriairct.jpeg Hurricane Gloria. For days we had watched her make a bee-line for the Hudson River, and NYC itself. We heard the warnings, but NYC had not had a direct strike in years - so as usual, no one took them too seriously. But the night before, when we all colletively looked at our tv's and saw the radar - we knew it was happening this time. We all went panic shopping, filled our tubs or bought bottled water (generally unheard of at this time, in the halcyon years before Evian took off). Taped off our windows.
I was 10, sitting in the window of my 2nd floor bedroom, watching and waiting. We awoke to rain - wind, and rain. I was somewhat let down - but then I found out that not only had it not hit yet, but the eye was coming right for my house!
Monitoring situation ensued. I assumed my station - about 2 feet away from my window in my bedroom, with the tv on in the background giving me updates on the whole situation.
The wind began whipping up, and so did my love affair with hurricanes.
Somehow we got lucky - the eyewall split apart just as it passed over, and we only had one tree on the block fall on a house. Gloria hit at low tide, which is lucky, because nearly 3 miles of the south shore of Long Island are considered "flood risk" and do occasionally flood, during high tide and storms. Its happened in Nor'Easters. Had Gloria hit at high tide, there would have been a tide of over 14 feet, as she was running a 6-7 foot storm surge ahead of her.
Ever since, Ive been a man with hurricanes on the mind - so I say to all these weathergeeks, forcasting bad storms this year - just bring it. Storms are nothing to fear, its nature - you cant fear nature - it does what it wills to do.
You just have to survive it. And for me, I'll happily donate my services to any news organization that wants a on-scene reporter when the next Category-5 comes raging into shore. Just provide me enough rope I can tie myself to a lighthouse, and I'll be fine.
Yeah, this is cool enough. But it doesnt move me, not the way Im moved by http://tinyurl.com/8sgco
Oh by no means am I saying tornadoes aren't cool, but hurricanes are much much cooler. Twisters rarely range larger than 1/2 mile across, however - hurricanes - well, look at that thing.
A twister is 20 minutes in hell, a hurricane is 10 hours in hell. A grinding, gnawing, chewing hell at that. Relentless. I havent been through any really destructive hurricanes in my life - just one. But - in the offseason, we up in NY call them Nor'easters. Thats when they can be truly damaging.
Over 100 trees, each at least 50 years old were just flattened by a nor'easter one year. In a highly densely populated area at that. It took 24 hours for the storm to clear.
But the one true hurricane I still remember - http://www.geocities.com/hurricanene/gloriairct.jpeg Hurricane Gloria. For days we had watched her make a bee-line for the Hudson River, and NYC itself. We heard the warnings, but NYC had not had a direct strike in years - so as usual, no one took them too seriously. But the night before, when we all colletively looked at our tv's and saw the radar - we knew it was happening this time. We all went panic shopping, filled our tubs or bought bottled water (generally unheard of at this time, in the halcyon years before Evian took off). Taped off our windows.
I was 10, sitting in the window of my 2nd floor bedroom, watching and waiting. We awoke to rain - wind, and rain. I was somewhat let down - but then I found out that not only had it not hit yet, but the eye was coming right for my house!
Monitoring situation ensued. I assumed my station - about 2 feet away from my window in my bedroom, with the tv on in the background giving me updates on the whole situation.
The wind began whipping up, and so did my love affair with hurricanes.
Somehow we got lucky - the eyewall split apart just as it passed over, and we only had one tree on the block fall on a house. Gloria hit at low tide, which is lucky, because nearly 3 miles of the south shore of Long Island are considered "flood risk" and do occasionally flood, during high tide and storms. Its happened in Nor'Easters. Had Gloria hit at high tide, there would have been a tide of over 14 feet, as she was running a 6-7 foot storm surge ahead of her.
Ever since, Ive been a man with hurricanes on the mind - so I say to all these weathergeeks, forcasting bad storms this year - just bring it. Storms are nothing to fear, its nature - you cant fear nature - it does what it wills to do.
You just have to survive it. And for me, I'll happily donate my services to any news organization that wants a on-scene reporter when the next Category-5 comes raging into shore. Just provide me enough rope I can tie myself to a lighthouse, and I'll be fine.
Tomorrow
I want everyone to come down tomorrow to 24 Church Ave. Have some food, say hi - bring a friend.
The update to the website will go up sometime this weekend, as my schedule allows. Tons o' fun lemmie tell ya.
The update to the website will go up sometime this weekend, as my schedule allows. Tons o' fun lemmie tell ya.
5/25/05
So Im working in a bus depot.
Well, former bus depot. And bank, as well as former tinsmith, wallpaper, and paper warehouse. Depends on what year you want to travel back to.
Heck, for a while the place was just a lot of weeds and dirt. But when there has been a building on the site - it has retained the same address always.
Rumor has it there used to be a turntable where our kitchen now is. There is a strange ring in the floor. However turntables are less associated with Bus depot's than they are with train roundhouses and trolley depots.
Unless it was a horse-drawn 'bus'. And infact there used to be stables next door. The soup thickens....
Well, I actually want to say a few words about my home (by about 500 feet), Roanoke County. Roanoke County is trying to market itself as well as it possibly can to the upscale. Those who are looking for the 'rural' life without it being actually rural. Which is why we are getting nothing but upscale housing developments, upscale retail developments, and absolutely zero "quality of life" developments.
They are cancelling the county portion of the RADAR bus service. It would cost $200,000 to keep it going, but the county has decided to withdraw it rather then fund it. Now, for those of you who dont know - the county RADAR service ran 2 extremely limited routes. The Orange line went from Tanglewood to Lewis Gale, with a side trip up Brambleton. All in all, not much of a run really. The Yellow line ran from Valley Tech park to Spartan Square. Again, not much of a run really. They labeled these lines as "Feeder service" to feed into Valley Metro's STAR service.
Well isn't that nice of them. Feed into STAR. Make the people who are taking your service due to disability, age, infirmity, whatever TRANSFER BUSES. Valley Metro's STAR service on the other hand - it runs on all the existing bus routes. All you have to do is call, they will even come 3/4ths of a mile off the route to get you.
Yes, the Orange and Yellow lines would do that also, except they only have the 2 routes. And the CORTRAN service (which has no existing routes listed on the radartransit.org website) is $3.50 a pop.. one way.
So, you dont know where they run - when they run, all you really do know is they are expensive. Still not as expensive as a Roanoke Taxi, but expensive none the less.
Roanoke County is trying its hardest to appease its upper-crust citizens who don't want their tax monies going to something they never use. The Orange and Yellow lines were free, totally funded by the taxpayer. Kiss of death if I ever heard of one. And a little birdy told me that Roanoke County has not taken part in ANY public transit program since 1979.
While I do like my little section of Roanoke here, 500 feet from the city line - I personally would prefer to live in a place where the local government made an effort to serve everyone. But thats Roanoke County's perrogitive, they make their choices and will have to live with them.
I consider myself a citizen of the CITY of Roanoke.
Heck, for a while the place was just a lot of weeds and dirt. But when there has been a building on the site - it has retained the same address always.
Rumor has it there used to be a turntable where our kitchen now is. There is a strange ring in the floor. However turntables are less associated with Bus depot's than they are with train roundhouses and trolley depots.
Unless it was a horse-drawn 'bus'. And infact there used to be stables next door. The soup thickens....
Well, I actually want to say a few words about my home (by about 500 feet), Roanoke County. Roanoke County is trying to market itself as well as it possibly can to the upscale. Those who are looking for the 'rural' life without it being actually rural. Which is why we are getting nothing but upscale housing developments, upscale retail developments, and absolutely zero "quality of life" developments.
They are cancelling the county portion of the RADAR bus service. It would cost $200,000 to keep it going, but the county has decided to withdraw it rather then fund it. Now, for those of you who dont know - the county RADAR service ran 2 extremely limited routes. The Orange line went from Tanglewood to Lewis Gale, with a side trip up Brambleton. All in all, not much of a run really. The Yellow line ran from Valley Tech park to Spartan Square. Again, not much of a run really. They labeled these lines as "Feeder service" to feed into Valley Metro's STAR service.
Well isn't that nice of them. Feed into STAR. Make the people who are taking your service due to disability, age, infirmity, whatever TRANSFER BUSES. Valley Metro's STAR service on the other hand - it runs on all the existing bus routes. All you have to do is call, they will even come 3/4ths of a mile off the route to get you.
Yes, the Orange and Yellow lines would do that also, except they only have the 2 routes. And the CORTRAN service (which has no existing routes listed on the radartransit.org website) is $3.50 a pop.. one way.
So, you dont know where they run - when they run, all you really do know is they are expensive. Still not as expensive as a Roanoke Taxi, but expensive none the less.
Roanoke County is trying its hardest to appease its upper-crust citizens who don't want their tax monies going to something they never use. The Orange and Yellow lines were free, totally funded by the taxpayer. Kiss of death if I ever heard of one. And a little birdy told me that Roanoke County has not taken part in ANY public transit program since 1979.
While I do like my little section of Roanoke here, 500 feet from the city line - I personally would prefer to live in a place where the local government made an effort to serve everyone. But thats Roanoke County's perrogitive, they make their choices and will have to live with them.
I consider myself a citizen of the CITY of Roanoke.
5/24/05
"Tres Moderne'" This is the perfect picture for Roanoke as of right now. It makes it look like some sort of Disney attraction. Of course I played with the color a bit, but you get the idea. Not many places in this world could you take a photo like this one. Sometimes Im just happy to wake up here. Other times Im not happy to wake up, period. But thats my issue.
5/23/05
5/21/05
A new mystery
I only wish there was a link I could send you to for this. While scanning ebay I came across a postcard for Reid & Cutshell Furniture. The listing claims Roanoke, Va.
Allright, the best I can come up with is Reid's Fine Furnishings on Grandin, which opened in 1995.
more later
(later - Hat tip to Carilion Memorial Hospital for helping my mother in law)
So like I said, just another damn mystery. But, on a less-mysterious topic:
WHAT a damn beautiful day outside. Days like this make me wish I had a laptop, I'd go liveblogging right from downtown. Think of it - real time photo-blogging. Meh - Then I wouldn't be enjoyning myself and the day.
Were I live, the apartment community you've all seen, we have a pool (opens next weekend) up the top of the hill in our complex.
I never used it last year, and no- that wasnt smart. The #1 complaint of the people who used to live above us (gone, trying to forget them) was that the pool had no bathroom.
They thought so well of their neighbors. Of course, I would have voted them "Most likely to...", well - it goes along with their idea of not having a bathroom at the pool.
The view from the pool is stunning. You look out, well, I'll have to take a picture later. Best as I can figure - you look out northwest, but your looking over the buildings across the street - and out into the valley. The area where the pool is has been terraced. There is the one level with the pool - then a 2nd, nearly deck-like area of grass thats about 10 feet higher than the pool area. I've been up there once, and that is even more breathtaking.
Finally broke down this past winter and picked up some of those folding canvas chairs at WalMart. Hey - they were on clearance. I dont like paying retail for anything..
Maybe I will drag one up there today and just sit and 'ahhhhhhhhhh.....'
You know?
Allright, the best I can come up with is Reid's Fine Furnishings on Grandin, which opened in 1995.
more later
(later - Hat tip to Carilion Memorial Hospital for helping my mother in law)
So like I said, just another damn mystery. But, on a less-mysterious topic:
WHAT a damn beautiful day outside. Days like this make me wish I had a laptop, I'd go liveblogging right from downtown. Think of it - real time photo-blogging. Meh - Then I wouldn't be enjoyning myself and the day.
Were I live, the apartment community you've all seen, we have a pool (opens next weekend) up the top of the hill in our complex.
I never used it last year, and no- that wasnt smart. The #1 complaint of the people who used to live above us (gone, trying to forget them) was that the pool had no bathroom.
They thought so well of their neighbors. Of course, I would have voted them "Most likely to...", well - it goes along with their idea of not having a bathroom at the pool.
The view from the pool is stunning. You look out, well, I'll have to take a picture later. Best as I can figure - you look out northwest, but your looking over the buildings across the street - and out into the valley. The area where the pool is has been terraced. There is the one level with the pool - then a 2nd, nearly deck-like area of grass thats about 10 feet higher than the pool area. I've been up there once, and that is even more breathtaking.
Finally broke down this past winter and picked up some of those folding canvas chairs at WalMart. Hey - they were on clearance. I dont like paying retail for anything..
Maybe I will drag one up there today and just sit and 'ahhhhhhhhhh.....'
You know?
Saturday
Thank god this week is over. I was getting tired of it anyway. When I took my dogs out for their last walk last night, I couldnt help but feel we had gone back a few months in time. It felt more like November, cusp of winter than it did the razor's edge of summer.
My wife is still confused by the 30+ degree differences between day and night. She's from Florida - they dont swing nearly as much, plus - by this time of year - highs were allready ticking north to 90.
Im from NY, I know how Mama Nature can mess with your head. I remember late season snow all the way into mid-April.
I was born on the hottest day of the year in 1975, in the middle of a stifling heatwave. And if you've ever been to NYC in a heatwave, you know its downright evil. Nothing moves, there is no breeze. Just heat, and humidity, and exhaust, and the smell of every person in a 5 mile radius sweating profusely. Schools up there are not air conditioned, not even equipped with fans. We did not get out of school till the 3rd week of June, so an early heat wave crushed us flat.
You dont get a bus to school unless you live more than a mile from the school itself. So we all would trudge from our homes to school, arriving sweaty and awful. Then at some point, they attempted phys ed. Never worked in weather like that.
The smart ones could con their parents into driving them, the half-smart ones had bikes. Then you had the shlubs like us. Our parents went the opposite direction to get to work, and usually had to leave either the same time, or 5 minutes before. So we walked, in all weather. I never really rode a bus to school except for 1 year. I went to a Catholic school, and it was about 5 towns over - so I had to take a bus. It was ok. But being bussed every day of my school going life? I guess when thats the way things are done, you get used to it.
Im hoping to have a house near enough the school that I dont have to worry about them taking a bus. Boot em out the door in the morning. I used to enjoy my walks to and from, I had my walkman on (they'll probably never know what that is), crankin tapes or the local rock station.
Stopping at the candy store on the way home for a fountain coke and some gum. Then as I got older, stopping at the new 7-11 next to the old candy store for a cup of coffee on the way to school. The old candy store was an ice cream place last time I saw it, probably closed too. We have been through 6 locally owned ice cream parlors in the time I was living there.
Seeing those I was friends with on the walks, avoiding those who seems to have mental problems I knew. Walking in a cool mist, on a foggy gray day in the fall. Theres something no kid should ever NOT have the experience of.
I dont truck with these soccer moms carting the kids hither and thither. We played soccer, baseball, stoopball, football, et. al. in the street. We did not need a league, coaches, or refs. Thats what the older kids were for. And if the road was too busy, we moved the game to a road where one of the other kids lived. One that wasnt busy.
We always whined about staying out after dark, and we were always called in for dinner. My friends mother developed a whistle that carried for blocks, it was early pager technology. And in the summer, we would sit on the stoop (our front stairs - I realize stoop is a regional word) at night and just talk endlessly. Or walk up and down our dead end street, maybe play a game of manhunt.
Summer brings back memories, but never cool ones. In NY, when the heat sets in with humidity - your done for. There are no predictable afternoon showers to cool, there is no breeze which provides some relief.
Its just a solid wall of heat, stink, and wet. But that teaches you more about survival than all the air conditioning in the world.
I dont mind the heat, its the humidity I always hated. It would get thick for days, endless thick.
anyway - enough rambling.
My wife is still confused by the 30+ degree differences between day and night. She's from Florida - they dont swing nearly as much, plus - by this time of year - highs were allready ticking north to 90.
Im from NY, I know how Mama Nature can mess with your head. I remember late season snow all the way into mid-April.
I was born on the hottest day of the year in 1975, in the middle of a stifling heatwave. And if you've ever been to NYC in a heatwave, you know its downright evil. Nothing moves, there is no breeze. Just heat, and humidity, and exhaust, and the smell of every person in a 5 mile radius sweating profusely. Schools up there are not air conditioned, not even equipped with fans. We did not get out of school till the 3rd week of June, so an early heat wave crushed us flat.
You dont get a bus to school unless you live more than a mile from the school itself. So we all would trudge from our homes to school, arriving sweaty and awful. Then at some point, they attempted phys ed. Never worked in weather like that.
The smart ones could con their parents into driving them, the half-smart ones had bikes. Then you had the shlubs like us. Our parents went the opposite direction to get to work, and usually had to leave either the same time, or 5 minutes before. So we walked, in all weather. I never really rode a bus to school except for 1 year. I went to a Catholic school, and it was about 5 towns over - so I had to take a bus. It was ok. But being bussed every day of my school going life? I guess when thats the way things are done, you get used to it.
Im hoping to have a house near enough the school that I dont have to worry about them taking a bus. Boot em out the door in the morning. I used to enjoy my walks to and from, I had my walkman on (they'll probably never know what that is), crankin tapes or the local rock station.
Stopping at the candy store on the way home for a fountain coke and some gum. Then as I got older, stopping at the new 7-11 next to the old candy store for a cup of coffee on the way to school. The old candy store was an ice cream place last time I saw it, probably closed too. We have been through 6 locally owned ice cream parlors in the time I was living there.
Seeing those I was friends with on the walks, avoiding those who seems to have mental problems I knew. Walking in a cool mist, on a foggy gray day in the fall. Theres something no kid should ever NOT have the experience of.
I dont truck with these soccer moms carting the kids hither and thither. We played soccer, baseball, stoopball, football, et. al. in the street. We did not need a league, coaches, or refs. Thats what the older kids were for. And if the road was too busy, we moved the game to a road where one of the other kids lived. One that wasnt busy.
We always whined about staying out after dark, and we were always called in for dinner. My friends mother developed a whistle that carried for blocks, it was early pager technology. And in the summer, we would sit on the stoop (our front stairs - I realize stoop is a regional word) at night and just talk endlessly. Or walk up and down our dead end street, maybe play a game of manhunt.
Summer brings back memories, but never cool ones. In NY, when the heat sets in with humidity - your done for. There are no predictable afternoon showers to cool, there is no breeze which provides some relief.
Its just a solid wall of heat, stink, and wet. But that teaches you more about survival than all the air conditioning in the world.
I dont mind the heat, its the humidity I always hated. It would get thick for days, endless thick.
anyway - enough rambling.
5/20/05
123 Kirk Ave.
(pic from January, 2005)This is 123 Kirk Ave. Formerly the Hotel Raliegh. A.K.A. Lilly's Boarding house.
The actual Hotel Raliegh was on Campbell, this was the back end - which also served as a mortuary and chapel for the undertaker whose storefront was also on Campbell. (Im not going to tell you the name, if you dont know it - just look around next time your down there.)
There was a fire here roughly 20 years ago. Took out the Kirk Ave side of the Hotel. This building was condemned. It has sat in pretty much the same condition since. This photo was taken in January, this is the same building in 2002. (the GIS itself appears to be offline right now, I will try and get a pic posted later of the building from above)
On the GIS overhead image, you can see a few work trucks parked out front. Obviously the rebuilding of this has been a slow process. The sign in the window above reads "Baker D Co Inc." If you look at the 2002 photo and then the 2005 photo, you can see some work has begun.
Well, on my last trip downtown a few days ago, my wife (official noticer of things to be noticed) noticed a work permit in the window. The name on the permit was "Center in the Square". Yet when I searched Roanokegov.com for the permit information - there has not been a permit issued since 2003. And that was a plan review, which has since expired. Plan was for "RESTORE FACADE INTERIOR RENOVATIONS", which was also denied due to regulations on C/O and minor details of the ADA code.
So, the question begs itself - what is Center in the Square doing with it? Walking by, up to the windows for a good look in, the amount of remaining architecture and design is astounding. Granted the old tin ceiling is now stacked up at the window, which oddly enough matches the tin ceiling in the entryway to Sheila's Cafe, but on the 2nd floor the original tilework on the walls (purely decorative, not the morgue) is still there.
This is yet another mystery in and among all the development going on downtown.
5/19/05
Editorials from The Roanoke Times -Assault on the media
Editorials from The Roanoke Times -Assault on the media
Oh my god. Shut up.
Yeah - there's now a Vast Rightwing Conspiracy against the media?
This is going to get exhausting real quick. Having to listen to the death rattles of the "established media."
Quote: "In the manufactured uproar over a retracted Newsweek story about the alleged desecration of the Quran at the Guantnamo Bay detention center, a few inconvenient facts have been conveniently ignored by all the president's men."
"Not until 10 days after publication, when the riots turned deadly, did the Pentagon call for a retraction. "
Yeah - the Pentagon wanted 17 people to die over a false story, not to mention that the Pentagon "... had an opportunity to fact check..." the story before publication. So the Pentagon spotted the lies, and figured - screw it, let them run it. Believable? *removes brain* TOTALLY!
more nonsense: "The undermining of the media ranges from the constant drumbeat on talk radio - Rush Limbaugh explicitly called mainstream media "anti-American" on Tuesday - to the Bush administration's hiring of friendly "journalistic" commentators to advocate its policies and production of "politicommercials" disguised as newscasts, all at taxpayer expense."
So, Rush is no longer allowed an opinion on the media as a MEMBER of the media? And the Bush administration hiring journalists to pump certain programs is bad, but nevermind the fact that Bush had to HIRE what Clinton got for free. I guess if your paying for it, its a bad thing.
This mind-numbing op/ed piece ends with these 2 paragraphs: "The attack on Newsweek has every appearance of being part and parcel of this strategy, and the consequences are chilling. As Bill Moyers said Sunday at a conference on media reform in St. Louis:
"An unconscious people, an indoctrinated people, a people fed only partisan information and opinion that confirm their own bias, a people made morbidly obese in mind and spirit by the junk food of propaganda is less inclined to put up a fight - ask questions and be skeptical."
First off Bill Moyers is a well known political loonie. Im not sure who he is referring to, but I know I dont follow blindly any singular news source, but rather read several stories - look deep within myself to see how I feel about it, and then decide a standpoint.
I am certainly not 'unconcious' or 'morbidly obese in mind and spirit', I am highly skeptical and very questioning. But thats besides the point.
ANOTHER unsigned editorial in the Roanoke Times which is apparently written for a very narrow audience who have no grounding in reality.
Oh, and theres another peice about Jerry Kilgore.
Hey - Times? What about some LOCAL issues making your editorial column? I mean - you are a local paper are you not?
Just askin'
Oh my god. Shut up.
Yeah - there's now a Vast Rightwing Conspiracy against the media?
This is going to get exhausting real quick. Having to listen to the death rattles of the "established media."
Quote: "In the manufactured uproar over a retracted Newsweek story about the alleged desecration of the Quran at the Guantnamo Bay detention center, a few inconvenient facts have been conveniently ignored by all the president's men."
"Not until 10 days after publication, when the riots turned deadly, did the Pentagon call for a retraction. "
Yeah - the Pentagon wanted 17 people to die over a false story, not to mention that the Pentagon "... had an opportunity to fact check..." the story before publication. So the Pentagon spotted the lies, and figured - screw it, let them run it. Believable? *removes brain* TOTALLY!
more nonsense: "The undermining of the media ranges from the constant drumbeat on talk radio - Rush Limbaugh explicitly called mainstream media "anti-American" on Tuesday - to the Bush administration's hiring of friendly "journalistic" commentators to advocate its policies and production of "politicommercials" disguised as newscasts, all at taxpayer expense."
So, Rush is no longer allowed an opinion on the media as a MEMBER of the media? And the Bush administration hiring journalists to pump certain programs is bad, but nevermind the fact that Bush had to HIRE what Clinton got for free. I guess if your paying for it, its a bad thing.
This mind-numbing op/ed piece ends with these 2 paragraphs: "The attack on Newsweek has every appearance of being part and parcel of this strategy, and the consequences are chilling. As Bill Moyers said Sunday at a conference on media reform in St. Louis:
"An unconscious people, an indoctrinated people, a people fed only partisan information and opinion that confirm their own bias, a people made morbidly obese in mind and spirit by the junk food of propaganda is less inclined to put up a fight - ask questions and be skeptical."
First off Bill Moyers is a well known political loonie. Im not sure who he is referring to, but I know I dont follow blindly any singular news source, but rather read several stories - look deep within myself to see how I feel about it, and then decide a standpoint.
I am certainly not 'unconcious' or 'morbidly obese in mind and spirit', I am highly skeptical and very questioning. But thats besides the point.
ANOTHER unsigned editorial in the Roanoke Times which is apparently written for a very narrow audience who have no grounding in reality.
Oh, and theres another peice about Jerry Kilgore.
Hey - Times? What about some LOCAL issues making your editorial column? I mean - you are a local paper are you not?
Just askin'
5/18/05
News from The Roanoke Times - Art of funding
Oh I shouldn't have picked up todays newspaper. No seriously, I should have left it in the box where it was.
Art jobs lost in Roanoke!! Panic ensues!
A quote from the article: "...it's a stark reminder of a troubled cultural community which by now is feeling the cumulative effect of several lean years. "The change in state giving has had an impact - that looks pretty clear," said Wayne Strickland, executive director of the commission.
"Troubled cultural community? Mmm-hmm. Change in state giving having an impact? Mmm-hmm.
Yeah - lets break this down, you have a "cultural community" that doesnt give as much as they want - hence its obviously troubled, combined with a state thats not funding their every whim. Except for the Art Museum.
$2.43 million.
Think about that.
As the Times itself shows, thats a 648% hike in funding. Are they acquiring new works? Maybe a Picasso or 2? Nope - its in anticipation of the new Art Museum, or at least thats what one is left to infer, as the article does not clearly state. But the new museum is at least 2 years off.
Now I did some number crunching - you could DOUBLE the funding (this years figures, as stated on the front page of the Roanoke Times) to all the other institutions and still have 200k left over if the art museum got a little more than 1/2 the funding its going to get. That would still leave the Art Museum with $1.26 million to play with. Which I would say is a perfectly healthy figure for a group thats staying where it is for now, is not slated to start construction on its new home for a while, and has low attendance figures. Why not ask the customers who go in and out of Gallery 108 all day on Saturday if they have been to the Art Museum. I'd venture to say the majority will answer Once. Maybe Twice.
Oh - and why are we dragging the poor Mill Mountain Zoo into this? Theyre not included in the funding figures on the front page, and yet in the article, a connection is made between the lack of funding and the resignation of Beth Poff, director of the MMZ. Well, considering the MMZ is not included on the front page funding breakdown - but Explore Park is - I think the Zoo thing might not be directly related to the funding issue. Especially when you consider Ms. Poff's outstanding efforts at private fund-raising.Turn over is fairly common in smaller museums, its only the larger museums that tend to keep staff for anything longer than a decade.
Anyway - theres my Buck Fifty on the matter - Im sure there will be more to come
Art jobs lost in Roanoke!! Panic ensues!
A quote from the article: "...it's a stark reminder of a troubled cultural community which by now is feeling the cumulative effect of several lean years. "The change in state giving has had an impact - that looks pretty clear," said Wayne Strickland, executive director of the commission.
"Troubled cultural community? Mmm-hmm. Change in state giving having an impact? Mmm-hmm.
Yeah - lets break this down, you have a "cultural community" that doesnt give as much as they want - hence its obviously troubled, combined with a state thats not funding their every whim. Except for the Art Museum.
$2.43 million.
Think about that.
As the Times itself shows, thats a 648% hike in funding. Are they acquiring new works? Maybe a Picasso or 2? Nope - its in anticipation of the new Art Museum, or at least thats what one is left to infer, as the article does not clearly state. But the new museum is at least 2 years off.
Now I did some number crunching - you could DOUBLE the funding (this years figures, as stated on the front page of the Roanoke Times) to all the other institutions and still have 200k left over if the art museum got a little more than 1/2 the funding its going to get. That would still leave the Art Museum with $1.26 million to play with. Which I would say is a perfectly healthy figure for a group thats staying where it is for now, is not slated to start construction on its new home for a while, and has low attendance figures. Why not ask the customers who go in and out of Gallery 108 all day on Saturday if they have been to the Art Museum. I'd venture to say the majority will answer Once. Maybe Twice.
Oh - and why are we dragging the poor Mill Mountain Zoo into this? Theyre not included in the funding figures on the front page, and yet in the article, a connection is made between the lack of funding and the resignation of Beth Poff, director of the MMZ. Well, considering the MMZ is not included on the front page funding breakdown - but Explore Park is - I think the Zoo thing might not be directly related to the funding issue. Especially when you consider Ms. Poff's outstanding efforts at private fund-raising.Turn over is fairly common in smaller museums, its only the larger museums that tend to keep staff for anything longer than a decade.
Anyway - theres my Buck Fifty on the matter - Im sure there will be more to come
5/17/05
Maybe Im trying to take on too much here
But Im wondering if anyone around here has seen Wikipedia? The user edited (yes, I said USER edited) online encyclopedia.
Anyone, anywhere, at any time can make a entry, correction, add an image, delete a lie.
Heres my thought:
WikiRoanoke.
A totally interactive text of Roanoke itself. Updated 24/7/365. 100% live.
Imagine your curious as to how traffic is downtown on Campbell, you go to WikiRoanoke and someone who is on Campbell has posted that traffic is ok. That post was made 5 minutes ago.
Flooding a problem on Franklin Rd? Well, now you can (eventually) go to WikiRoanoke and the Fire Dept. can post real time conditions for the traffic. Impromptu festival of acoustic guitarists, organized on WikiRoanoke.
Its an idea - maybe even an eventuality. But DAMN is it hard to find info on coding.
(plus its server side, and I dont know if Cox allows such things - but Im migrating soon enough)
Anyone, anywhere, at any time can make a entry, correction, add an image, delete a lie.
Heres my thought:
WikiRoanoke.
A totally interactive text of Roanoke itself. Updated 24/7/365. 100% live.
Imagine your curious as to how traffic is downtown on Campbell, you go to WikiRoanoke and someone who is on Campbell has posted that traffic is ok. That post was made 5 minutes ago.
Flooding a problem on Franklin Rd? Well, now you can (eventually) go to WikiRoanoke and the Fire Dept. can post real time conditions for the traffic. Impromptu festival of acoustic guitarists, organized on WikiRoanoke.
Its an idea - maybe even an eventuality. But DAMN is it hard to find info on coding.
(plus its server side, and I dont know if Cox allows such things - but Im migrating soon enough)
5/16/05
Another mystery
corned beef and co./Alexander's.
This ones been sticking in my craw for a while now. In 1919, maps show there were just regular shops at those locations. In 1903; A drug store, offices, and a shop of some sort. 1886, a school (of some sort) and a vacant store. The only other thing I can prove was there was some sort of restaurant sometime around 1920-1935.
Otherwise, I have no idea why there would be a lower half of a star with brotherhood.
Anyone who knows will recieve my undying thanks, and knowledge that they have staved off a major obsessive headache.
Just another day in Roanoke: roanoke.com - Business Stories - Despite perceptions, region 'wants to grow'
Just another day in Roanoke: roanoke.com - Business Stories - Despite perceptions, region 'wants to grow'
I did have something to say about this article - but 2 days later, Ive forgotten - having moved onto other projects.
2 items of interest tho: Howard's Soup Kitchen is re-opening in its old spot.
and the Little Chef on Williamson is re-opening.
Looks like my things arent the only things brewing around town.
Have you seen the Forgotten-Roanoke flyer yet?
Keep looking if you havent.
I did have something to say about this article - but 2 days later, Ive forgotten - having moved onto other projects.
2 items of interest tho: Howard's Soup Kitchen is re-opening in its old spot.
and the Little Chef on Williamson is re-opening.
Looks like my things arent the only things brewing around town.
Have you seen the Forgotten-Roanoke flyer yet?
Keep looking if you havent.
Allright - a Bronze Filigree to anyone who can tell me where this is. Most of us havent seen it before, or atleast not since it was last painted. But as old as this one is - look just to the left of it - Yes Luke, there is another. A major award to anyone who can tell me what the OTHER ad was. Ive done everything I can with this and one other photo (thats not really much better), and cant come up with the foggiest idea.
dodgeball.com :: mobile social software
dodgeball.com :: mobile social software
If you look at the bottom of the page, it says Copyright 2005 Google, Inc.
Could this be the beginning? Google allready has a GPS enabled Ride-Finder, how long before you can track your friends as they move through the streets of Metropolis? And Google recently launched Blogger Mobile. Blog updates from anywhere, anytime.
Sounds familiar.
Stay tuned folks, I have a feeling things are about to get strange.
If you look at the bottom of the page, it says Copyright 2005 Google, Inc.
Could this be the beginning? Google allready has a GPS enabled Ride-Finder, how long before you can track your friends as they move through the streets of Metropolis? And Google recently launched Blogger Mobile. Blog updates from anywhere, anytime.
Sounds familiar.
Stay tuned folks, I have a feeling things are about to get strange.
5/15/05
A glimpse of your future
EPIC Link goes to an 8 minute mini-movie transmission from the year 2014, from the Museum of Media History, special projects division. (Tampa Bay federal district, Florida). Its a Flash file, and best suited for those with broadband or cable conections. It is possibly the most important document circulating the internet today. It documents the collapse of Media.
Media as in the Roanoke Times, the New York Times, media outlets like CNN and FoxNews. It documents the fall of Microsoft. And it shows the history of Googlezon, the merger of Google and Amazon into the largest and most all-encompasing media outlet and single largest ever "virtual hard-drive" in the history of technology. The box in which your hard drive is stored is rendered obsolete. Everything is stored online, in either a private block accessable only by you, or in a public block which allows everyone to view your media. Its like having Blogger hardwired into your harddrive.
E-paper becomes the new preferred form of printed word. A thin, flexible digital paper; e-paper can recieve downloaded content, and display it just as any other printed ink. With the exception that it is completely customizeable, you can display what you want as content. You decide what stories you want as your daily news.
GoogleOS is, by all accounts, a few years off. Microsoft is running into endless hurdles with the beta testing of its Longhorn OS (next gen Windows). Apple Computers has never really been a major player in the world of Operating systems.
Google and Microsoft will be engaged in battle within the next few years.
And so begins the end of media as we know it.
You have been warned - everything changes from here on out. If you would rather not know, then dont watch.
Media as in the Roanoke Times, the New York Times, media outlets like CNN and FoxNews. It documents the fall of Microsoft. And it shows the history of Googlezon, the merger of Google and Amazon into the largest and most all-encompasing media outlet and single largest ever "virtual hard-drive" in the history of technology. The box in which your hard drive is stored is rendered obsolete. Everything is stored online, in either a private block accessable only by you, or in a public block which allows everyone to view your media. Its like having Blogger hardwired into your harddrive.
E-paper becomes the new preferred form of printed word. A thin, flexible digital paper; e-paper can recieve downloaded content, and display it just as any other printed ink. With the exception that it is completely customizeable, you can display what you want as content. You decide what stories you want as your daily news.
GoogleOS is, by all accounts, a few years off. Microsoft is running into endless hurdles with the beta testing of its Longhorn OS (next gen Windows). Apple Computers has never really been a major player in the world of Operating systems.
Google and Microsoft will be engaged in battle within the next few years.
And so begins the end of media as we know it.
You have been warned - everything changes from here on out. If you would rather not know, then dont watch.
5/13/05
Im going to teach people a new word today....
Editorials from The Roanoke Times -A step back in the fight against neighborhood decay
It's called "zoning". Its what keeps the apartments and "commercially owned" properties from invading residential areas. Now I realize, the places are allready there - they have been for a while. Much like Old Southwest, where the personal, commercial, and industrial are mixed to various results - it has been this way for a long long time.
Now I hate (oh yes I hate, boy do I hate) to keep going back to NY for examples, but its what I know best - and Im too lazy to google sometimes.
Where I grew up, the only apartments in residential areas were illegal apartments, all the rest were what were called "garden apartments." Set in the zone between commercial properties (supermarkets and such) and the residential (home owner) areas, they were little communities unto themselves. Much like the complex I live in now. I think thats one of the reasons I chose it, it is similar to what I know as an apartment complex.
Now I understand, and have some compassion for the people living in these "mixed use" areas. Im not suggesting that we rezone, and just sweep them out. But set a deadline. Say - June 1st, 2015 - these mix use areas will ALL be re-zoned and apartments and commercial ventures in residential areas will no longer be allowed. Now Im not referring to the apartment complexes, the multi-building places you see along Walnut Ave. as you head up Mill Mountain. And Im not referring to the ones that are between Franklin Rd. and Carilion Memorial. They are all their own little communities, with dedicated parking - dedicated land uses. Im talking about the single homes that have been carved up 8 ways to Sunday to make apartments, the law offices and media companies that own what should be a single family home on a residential street.
If one want to live in the house AND have an office there, well that is a different matter. Thats what zoning waivers are for.
Roanoke is supposed to be re-zoning as part of the Vision 2020 program, it serves as a great opportunity to get the communities organized. This goes here, that goes there - there are no communities that are strictly residential, with no space for commercial properties that I have seen.
If there is a heavily traveled thoroughfare that most members of the community travel on a daily basis - sticking a gas station/convience store on it is not a tragedy. And a strip about a block or 2 long (1 block = 2000 linear ft roughly) on either side that can be used for the apartments, and lawyers who want a house as their office, doctors with small pratices. But no commercial properties except on the main drag.
Its a hassle, its problematic, its inconvienent. But its necissicary. As the population of Roanoke grows - wether it takes 5, 10, or 15 years - eventually in these residential neighborhoods - parking will become a problem. And with converted homes now apartments, without off-street parking sufficient for the amount of cars, theres gonna be real issues when it comes to parking. And thats just one drawback, there are far far worse hidden within a topic like this.
Prostitution would seem like a picnic compared to what can become.
It's called "zoning". Its what keeps the apartments and "commercially owned" properties from invading residential areas. Now I realize, the places are allready there - they have been for a while. Much like Old Southwest, where the personal, commercial, and industrial are mixed to various results - it has been this way for a long long time.
Now I hate (oh yes I hate, boy do I hate) to keep going back to NY for examples, but its what I know best - and Im too lazy to google sometimes.
Where I grew up, the only apartments in residential areas were illegal apartments, all the rest were what were called "garden apartments." Set in the zone between commercial properties (supermarkets and such) and the residential (home owner) areas, they were little communities unto themselves. Much like the complex I live in now. I think thats one of the reasons I chose it, it is similar to what I know as an apartment complex.
Now I understand, and have some compassion for the people living in these "mixed use" areas. Im not suggesting that we rezone, and just sweep them out. But set a deadline. Say - June 1st, 2015 - these mix use areas will ALL be re-zoned and apartments and commercial ventures in residential areas will no longer be allowed. Now Im not referring to the apartment complexes, the multi-building places you see along Walnut Ave. as you head up Mill Mountain. And Im not referring to the ones that are between Franklin Rd. and Carilion Memorial. They are all their own little communities, with dedicated parking - dedicated land uses. Im talking about the single homes that have been carved up 8 ways to Sunday to make apartments, the law offices and media companies that own what should be a single family home on a residential street.
If one want to live in the house AND have an office there, well that is a different matter. Thats what zoning waivers are for.
Roanoke is supposed to be re-zoning as part of the Vision 2020 program, it serves as a great opportunity to get the communities organized. This goes here, that goes there - there are no communities that are strictly residential, with no space for commercial properties that I have seen.
If there is a heavily traveled thoroughfare that most members of the community travel on a daily basis - sticking a gas station/convience store on it is not a tragedy. And a strip about a block or 2 long (1 block = 2000 linear ft roughly) on either side that can be used for the apartments, and lawyers who want a house as their office, doctors with small pratices. But no commercial properties except on the main drag.
Its a hassle, its problematic, its inconvienent. But its necissicary. As the population of Roanoke grows - wether it takes 5, 10, or 15 years - eventually in these residential neighborhoods - parking will become a problem. And with converted homes now apartments, without off-street parking sufficient for the amount of cars, theres gonna be real issues when it comes to parking. And thats just one drawback, there are far far worse hidden within a topic like this.
Prostitution would seem like a picnic compared to what can become.
roanoke.com - Business Stories - Despite perceptions, region 'wants to grow'
Important article, read and watch for my commentary later after a long nights sleep. Damned allergies.
roanoke.com - Business Stories - Despite perceptions, region 'wants to grow'
roanoke.com - Business Stories - Despite perceptions, region 'wants to grow'
5/12/05
Children's Advocy Center of the Roanoke Valley
Children's Advocy Center of the Roanoke Valley
Im blogging this one for someone special, for a singular purpose. I think you know why.
Im blogging this one for someone special, for a singular purpose. I think you know why.
Well if this is'nt brilliant timing!
From the Roanoke City Council Agenda for Monday, May 16th @ 2pm.
"PRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Proclamation declaring May 2005 as National Historic Preservation Month." (emphasis added)
Sounds like a job for... Forgotten-Roanoke.com!!!!
Of course had I known this was coming I would have baked a cake. Now I really have to scramble on getting something larger than I had anticipated together. Which means, Forgotten-Roanoke will be hitting the streets again this weekend.
Oh - and if anyone found copies of old maps with notes written all over them about a month ago or so - please enjoy them. Its not like their not free anyway, but leave it to me to drop all my notes right before I was finished for the day. Oh - and it was raining.
You remember what that looks like, right? Rain? Things getting a little dusty and pollen-covered around here.
/raindancing
//wants a clean car again
"PRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Proclamation declaring May 2005 as National Historic Preservation Month." (emphasis added)
Sounds like a job for... Forgotten-Roanoke.com!!!!
Of course had I known this was coming I would have baked a cake. Now I really have to scramble on getting something larger than I had anticipated together. Which means, Forgotten-Roanoke will be hitting the streets again this weekend.
Oh - and if anyone found copies of old maps with notes written all over them about a month ago or so - please enjoy them. Its not like their not free anyway, but leave it to me to drop all my notes right before I was finished for the day. Oh - and it was raining.
You remember what that looks like, right? Rain? Things getting a little dusty and pollen-covered around here.
/raindancing
//wants a clean car again
Local news, or is it...? (or.. Tackling the local media, and getting a flag on the play and a 5 yard penalty for roughing)
Can anyone tell me why when I watch the WSLS news at 11, there is only 3 minutes of local news - if not less? WDBJ manages at least 5-7 minutes, not to mention the various spots done later in the broadcast. Its a bit more, uh, interested in the Roanoke region than SLS. Then again - SLS puts such emphasis on its VIPIR (that Vipir, not Viper - no matter how you pronounce the i) radar and weather team, Im amazed they even attempt news at all.
No offence to Mr. LaMarr, who I personally like. Oh - and that twit who does sports and has to keep apologizing for all his stupid comments. Yeah - speaking your mind without thinking first is OBVIOUSLY the most brilliant move in the world.
That only works for me, thank you.
But anyway - this post is about the lack of true local news. Or time devoted to local news.
WFIR has the powerhouse premier names in Talk Radio, yet has no local show save for the morning program - which is news and weather and traffic every 5 minutes. Helpful, but wheres the weekly show about hmm.. the Roanoke City Council, the Gubernatorial election, or even the local scandal involving the squirrel terrorists who keep messing up your deck with their little claws. Oh wait, sorry - thats truly not news.
I think its time someone showed an interest in this town, Our Town.
Wheres the live local coverage of the various parades downtown? The St. Patricks day parade should have been broadcast. The 4th of July celebration should be broadcast. Up in NY, the local cable mafia has a channel devoted to 24 hour a day news and event coverage. Mind you its not very good, because they only do a new news broadcast every 4 hours, then repeat it 3 times. And Im not saying Cox does a bad job with local coverage, and I dont want 24 hour coverage of Roanoke and the environs, but we need something. Something local, something people can talk about the next day. Or later that day. Now Im not suggesting FIR take Rush or Sean off the air and go local - I understand theres too much money to be made, having done some radio in the past myself. But there has to be an hour or two after Sean goes off the air at 6 that local talk can take over.
Then again - FIR hasnt had a website for a while now. "Under construction" my ass - must be a federal project. Thats the only thing I know that can be under construction that long and get nothing accomplished.
Oh - and thank heavens BOB-FM 101.5 has decided to get DJ's. It was nice hearing nothing but music and that "no smutty talk" guy, but one does tend to miss the soothing voice of the DJ. Kind of like the pilot on an airliner, he/she sets the mood. Now they just need a website too. For some reason they did not re-up their domain, and now its DOA.
Well, for now I shall have to appease my local addiction with "Dick and Dave in the morning" on Q99. I just wish I could carry that through the day.
No offence to Mr. LaMarr, who I personally like. Oh - and that twit who does sports and has to keep apologizing for all his stupid comments. Yeah - speaking your mind without thinking first is OBVIOUSLY the most brilliant move in the world.
That only works for me, thank you.
But anyway - this post is about the lack of true local news. Or time devoted to local news.
WFIR has the powerhouse premier names in Talk Radio, yet has no local show save for the morning program - which is news and weather and traffic every 5 minutes. Helpful, but wheres the weekly show about hmm.. the Roanoke City Council, the Gubernatorial election, or even the local scandal involving the squirrel terrorists who keep messing up your deck with their little claws. Oh wait, sorry - thats truly not news.
I think its time someone showed an interest in this town, Our Town.
Wheres the live local coverage of the various parades downtown? The St. Patricks day parade should have been broadcast. The 4th of July celebration should be broadcast. Up in NY, the local cable mafia has a channel devoted to 24 hour a day news and event coverage. Mind you its not very good, because they only do a new news broadcast every 4 hours, then repeat it 3 times. And Im not saying Cox does a bad job with local coverage, and I dont want 24 hour coverage of Roanoke and the environs, but we need something. Something local, something people can talk about the next day. Or later that day. Now Im not suggesting FIR take Rush or Sean off the air and go local - I understand theres too much money to be made, having done some radio in the past myself. But there has to be an hour or two after Sean goes off the air at 6 that local talk can take over.
Then again - FIR hasnt had a website for a while now. "Under construction" my ass - must be a federal project. Thats the only thing I know that can be under construction that long and get nothing accomplished.
Oh - and thank heavens BOB-FM 101.5 has decided to get DJ's. It was nice hearing nothing but music and that "no smutty talk" guy, but one does tend to miss the soothing voice of the DJ. Kind of like the pilot on an airliner, he/she sets the mood. Now they just need a website too. For some reason they did not re-up their domain, and now its DOA.
Well, for now I shall have to appease my local addiction with "Dick and Dave in the morning" on Q99. I just wish I could carry that through the day.
5/11/05
News from The Roanoke Times -PARK EXPLORES LIFE ON SHOESTRING
News from The Roanoke Times -PARK EXPLORES LIFE ON SHOESTRING
All I can say is that this is a damn shame.
Cuz you have something better to do on a nice day, right?
Kids got another soccer game, lawn needs to be mowed. Maybe its time to mulch?
Get real - the "change" that half of Roanoke so desperately pines for will never occur unless we can support
what we have now.
Listen up Mayor Harris, City Council, et. al.
Take one of your vacant storefronts that the CITY owns, and turn it over to Explore Park for the summer.
Let it be an extant museum and visitors center. Provide the basics for them, running water - electricity. The very basics they would need to run the operation. Phones and such would be up to them. Let them interact with the people IN Roanoke, and guide them to Explore from downtown. The return would be obvious. You begin to open up a new support level for Explore. Even if they sell t-shirts or whatnot, maybe run guided tours of Explore with a rented van that shuttles people from downtown out. It's still better than (forgive me on this one) being stuck out on the Blue Ridge far far from the throbbing masses.
Im not leaving you out of this Roanoke County. You could DAMN WELL do the same thing. I have been to Explore twice now, and been here for a year. I listened with admiration as the man who essentially was building the newest structure told me of how he is doing it, how it was done, and how with minor minor modifications the structure could be made liveable. If I recall correctly, it was himself and another gentleman who were doing the main share of the work. Using tools either re-created or brought from home, they had raised the structure in a span of 6 months. Thats all on volunteer time. You could see the passion in his eyes, and love and pride at what they had accomplished.
But thats not important. And obviously those who find that unimportant will just as likely find whatever "art" they decide to put in the new museum unimportant. Sure it will be a novelty for a moment, a brief moment. Just like Explore is when your young and on a class trip (Im speaking from all the class trips I took in my life to Old Bethpage Village Restoration, and all the history I learned there - not to mention the cool stuff in the gift shop - the upturned sasparilla tree, which every kid got to take a piece of root to chew on... I digress), its different. Its something beyond your understanding at first - but then it becomes abundantly clear. Its History, and you've learned something. Drat!
Its only when you get older, and realize the sacrifice it takes to WILLINGLY give your time to a cause that you really begin to understand the meaning of Explore Park, and the countless other parks like it. Its not just a shadowplay of history past, its a connection to the very roots of history. When you work with tools as outdated as the Tandy computer is today, when you sweat and stink and are covered in grime but your happy. When you can turn your eyes to this 2-story home, with a fireplace, and know you built it against the tide of modernisim. Then you understand why Explore Park is important.
$618.15
I've seen what that kind of money looks like. Its nice, but not enough. And you worry, and fret. And you do think of the other shoe dropping. And you seriously wonder how long it can hold out.
Yes they are getting more money in July, but so what. All it takes is a weeks worth of rainy days, and your suddenly wondering how much longer. If something is not done to provide Explore with an outreach center, or even outreach capability in Downtown Roanoke - I forsee Explore having a shortened season this year. I dont want to be right. But like I said, a weeks worth of rain - it's not like you can just turn everything off when you leave at night.
Its not Edu-tainment, its passion. And that long sought after "understanding" I keep hearing about.
All I can say is that this is a damn shame.
Cuz you have something better to do on a nice day, right?
Kids got another soccer game, lawn needs to be mowed. Maybe its time to mulch?
Get real - the "change" that half of Roanoke so desperately pines for will never occur unless we can support
what we have now.
Listen up Mayor Harris, City Council, et. al.
Take one of your vacant storefronts that the CITY owns, and turn it over to Explore Park for the summer.
Let it be an extant museum and visitors center. Provide the basics for them, running water - electricity. The very basics they would need to run the operation. Phones and such would be up to them. Let them interact with the people IN Roanoke, and guide them to Explore from downtown. The return would be obvious. You begin to open up a new support level for Explore. Even if they sell t-shirts or whatnot, maybe run guided tours of Explore with a rented van that shuttles people from downtown out. It's still better than (forgive me on this one) being stuck out on the Blue Ridge far far from the throbbing masses.
Im not leaving you out of this Roanoke County. You could DAMN WELL do the same thing. I have been to Explore twice now, and been here for a year. I listened with admiration as the man who essentially was building the newest structure told me of how he is doing it, how it was done, and how with minor minor modifications the structure could be made liveable. If I recall correctly, it was himself and another gentleman who were doing the main share of the work. Using tools either re-created or brought from home, they had raised the structure in a span of 6 months. Thats all on volunteer time. You could see the passion in his eyes, and love and pride at what they had accomplished.
But thats not important. And obviously those who find that unimportant will just as likely find whatever "art" they decide to put in the new museum unimportant. Sure it will be a novelty for a moment, a brief moment. Just like Explore is when your young and on a class trip (Im speaking from all the class trips I took in my life to Old Bethpage Village Restoration, and all the history I learned there - not to mention the cool stuff in the gift shop - the upturned sasparilla tree, which every kid got to take a piece of root to chew on... I digress), its different. Its something beyond your understanding at first - but then it becomes abundantly clear. Its History, and you've learned something. Drat!
Its only when you get older, and realize the sacrifice it takes to WILLINGLY give your time to a cause that you really begin to understand the meaning of Explore Park, and the countless other parks like it. Its not just a shadowplay of history past, its a connection to the very roots of history. When you work with tools as outdated as the Tandy computer is today, when you sweat and stink and are covered in grime but your happy. When you can turn your eyes to this 2-story home, with a fireplace, and know you built it against the tide of modernisim. Then you understand why Explore Park is important.
$618.15
I've seen what that kind of money looks like. Its nice, but not enough. And you worry, and fret. And you do think of the other shoe dropping. And you seriously wonder how long it can hold out.
Yes they are getting more money in July, but so what. All it takes is a weeks worth of rainy days, and your suddenly wondering how much longer. If something is not done to provide Explore with an outreach center, or even outreach capability in Downtown Roanoke - I forsee Explore having a shortened season this year. I dont want to be right. But like I said, a weeks worth of rain - it's not like you can just turn everything off when you leave at night.
Its not Edu-tainment, its passion. And that long sought after "understanding" I keep hearing about.
5/10/05
The Huffington Post (or "boy I didnt think retirement from Blogging would come this early!)
The Huffington Post | The Front Page
Yee-gads.
::"Welcome to the Huffington Post, which, as our motto says, has been delivering news and opinion since, well, a few hours ago."::
Oh lord stop, your just trying to kill me with your irony. I hope to hell she is not writing this herself.
Ms. Huffington has gathered some "notable names" from Hollywood, all of whom so obviously needed a platform like this so they can be heard over the din of those ignorant slobs who arent from Hollywood. But that aside, I respect some of these people. I think Harry Shearer is one of the funniest men around since Robin Williams went sober. I think John Cusack is a very talented actor, who can raise you up or cast you down with the subtle change of his face. Walter Cronkite - god who can stand up to him in terms of groundbreaking reporting?
Thats the A-list. Very notable. People who I have always respected and somewhat admired. Unfortunately Arianna herself is B-list. I know little about her, and sure I could google her, but to what end? I have no interest. Then theres Larry David - creator and writer for Seinfeld. It had its moments, but I do not understand the "genius" tag applied to this man. His whole comedy is Irony. And Irony is only funny in moments. Irony gets tiring. Sorry Larry.
Sen. John Corzine. Ok - google this if you must check it for yourself. This man is a walking scandal sheet. Corzine is a Jersey politian, with a real nose for scandal. Im suprised anyone would want to be associated with him. Tina Brown. Who? Seriously, I know Ive heard the name before - but once again, Im uninterested. I dont believe she has ever done anything that doesnt involve some big name celebrity, and from what I do vaguely remember - she is very talented at gossip. Or getting into parties. One of the two.
Moving on down to the C-list now, those wonderful people who make things happen on occasion. Rep. Ed Markey. I have no idea who this is.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall Ok.. now explain to me why I should be listening to "Elaine" when all her best lines were written by Larry David (see above)? A sample from these 2: "gay marriage destroys real marriage. Now, when I come home to my wife, I feel nothing. How could I? SHE COULD BE A MAN. Thanks a lot, gays. " Umm.. yeah. This is how you set about to make a point about Gay Marriage being ok by you? Pinky and the Brain you two are not.
Who the hell is Mike Nichols, and is he any relation to Terry Nichols? That was my first thought.
Ellen DeGeneres Say what you want about her, she made herself a nice little career. Then she got a daytime talk show. Maybe you should have just stayed in obscurity, nothing personal. But seriously now - your whole gimmick is dancing. Oh and your a what? OH, thats right.. Your a comedianne. There was something else - but I can't remember what. The repetitive hearing and memory part of my brain was damaged during the last election with the whole "I have 3 purple hearts."
David Mamet: Film maker I think. I think being the operative word. Yep - he's a film maker. And writer too. Too bad I havent seen anything he has made. Although friends of mine have. Friends who glow under blacklight, the black lint on their black outfits glowing a phosporescent blue. I remember them talking about him. Of course, that was back in NYC.
David Frum, Michael Issikof, & Laurie David: Well I dont know a thing about them, havent heard their names before. No idea what could make them so noteworthy.
Now heres the kicker - Ms. Huffington started this "blog" so all of you lucky "fly-over country" people could hear their opinions.
And I for one say thank god! Because we didn't have enough places that we could hear Hollywoods opinion on things, the industry "group-think" that we all should follow. Wait - theres one perfect example.
Barbara Streisand Quote: "The Bush administration, capitalizing on the horror of 9/11, had the perfect opportunity to wage a war under false pretenses and four years after 9/11, get away with failing to properly secure our borders, ports, airplanes and nuclear power plants."
I can't tell you how excited I get waiting for the next "Horror of 9/11" t-shirt to come out. Hey Babs, were YOU able to roll over in your warm bed - reach out and open the blinds on the window next to you - look out, and see the smoke rolling off the Towers while your girlfriend (wife now) screamed and cried on the phone? Were you living 1/2 a mile from JFK airport, all you could hear were sirens, and you sat cold and shaking on a warm sunny September morning? Did you have an uncle who lived 2 blocks away, a NYC Fireman - who no one could contact for hours because he doesn't really ever use his cellphone? And did you watch as 3 NORAD fighters escorted a flight from Canada into JFK airport, with news media training their cameras on them no more than 20 feet from where you stood?
Oddly enough - I dont think so. Plus - lets look at the date. Today is May 10th, 2005. The election was Nov. 2nd, 2004. Its time to get over it, and go on with your life.
And I say this to anyone who has the "not my president" bumpersticker. Yes, he is. And too damn bad if you dont like it. Thats what a democracy does - even a Republic like us (you find me one, ONE, true democracy anywhere), we go with the majority. And dont give me that crap about "Chimpy McFlightsuit" and how he and Rumsfeld and Halliburton conspired with Diebold to cheat the American People. It's a self-serving delusion. Im not saying one party has the lock on honesty, or one party is 100% right. Im saying grow up. Its because of people like Babs, Arianna, Bruce Springsteen, Ashton Kutcher (yep), and Bill Clinton that we keep hearing Hollywoods opinion. I am tired of it. Ive got a brain, Ive got eyes and ears - and Im not as easily decieved as Babs would like us to think we are.
I dont think any of us are.
But thanks Arianna, for giving us a look at what it will look like when the world of Blogging comes to an end. Collections of people trying to teach us something, for the greater good. I dont do this because Im trying to show you all something, I do this because I want to. Because I feel better when I do it. Because it becomes another resource for someone looking for information on Roanoke.
Its one thing to have pretty pictures of an area, its another to feel the area out through someone elses eyes.
Ms. Huffington - when all blogs become as preachy and impersonal as yours, then I shall call you Vanguard.
Yee-gads.
::"Welcome to the Huffington Post, which, as our motto says, has been delivering news and opinion since, well, a few hours ago."::
Oh lord stop, your just trying to kill me with your irony. I hope to hell she is not writing this herself.
Ms. Huffington has gathered some "notable names" from Hollywood, all of whom so obviously needed a platform like this so they can be heard over the din of those ignorant slobs who arent from Hollywood. But that aside, I respect some of these people. I think Harry Shearer is one of the funniest men around since Robin Williams went sober. I think John Cusack is a very talented actor, who can raise you up or cast you down with the subtle change of his face. Walter Cronkite - god who can stand up to him in terms of groundbreaking reporting?
Thats the A-list. Very notable. People who I have always respected and somewhat admired. Unfortunately Arianna herself is B-list. I know little about her, and sure I could google her, but to what end? I have no interest. Then theres Larry David - creator and writer for Seinfeld. It had its moments, but I do not understand the "genius" tag applied to this man. His whole comedy is Irony. And Irony is only funny in moments. Irony gets tiring. Sorry Larry.
Sen. John Corzine. Ok - google this if you must check it for yourself. This man is a walking scandal sheet. Corzine is a Jersey politian, with a real nose for scandal. Im suprised anyone would want to be associated with him. Tina Brown. Who? Seriously, I know Ive heard the name before - but once again, Im uninterested. I dont believe she has ever done anything that doesnt involve some big name celebrity, and from what I do vaguely remember - she is very talented at gossip. Or getting into parties. One of the two.
Moving on down to the C-list now, those wonderful people who make things happen on occasion. Rep. Ed Markey. I have no idea who this is.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall Ok.. now explain to me why I should be listening to "Elaine" when all her best lines were written by Larry David (see above)? A sample from these 2: "gay marriage destroys real marriage. Now, when I come home to my wife, I feel nothing. How could I? SHE COULD BE A MAN. Thanks a lot, gays. " Umm.. yeah. This is how you set about to make a point about Gay Marriage being ok by you? Pinky and the Brain you two are not.
Who the hell is Mike Nichols, and is he any relation to Terry Nichols? That was my first thought.
Ellen DeGeneres Say what you want about her, she made herself a nice little career. Then she got a daytime talk show. Maybe you should have just stayed in obscurity, nothing personal. But seriously now - your whole gimmick is dancing. Oh and your a what? OH, thats right.. Your a comedianne. There was something else - but I can't remember what. The repetitive hearing and memory part of my brain was damaged during the last election with the whole "I have 3 purple hearts."
David Mamet: Film maker I think. I think being the operative word. Yep - he's a film maker. And writer too. Too bad I havent seen anything he has made. Although friends of mine have. Friends who glow under blacklight, the black lint on their black outfits glowing a phosporescent blue. I remember them talking about him. Of course, that was back in NYC.
David Frum, Michael Issikof, & Laurie David: Well I dont know a thing about them, havent heard their names before. No idea what could make them so noteworthy.
Now heres the kicker - Ms. Huffington started this "blog" so all of you lucky "fly-over country" people could hear their opinions.
And I for one say thank god! Because we didn't have enough places that we could hear Hollywoods opinion on things, the industry "group-think" that we all should follow. Wait - theres one perfect example.
Barbara Streisand Quote: "The Bush administration, capitalizing on the horror of 9/11, had the perfect opportunity to wage a war under false pretenses and four years after 9/11, get away with failing to properly secure our borders, ports, airplanes and nuclear power plants."
I can't tell you how excited I get waiting for the next "Horror of 9/11" t-shirt to come out. Hey Babs, were YOU able to roll over in your warm bed - reach out and open the blinds on the window next to you - look out, and see the smoke rolling off the Towers while your girlfriend (wife now) screamed and cried on the phone? Were you living 1/2 a mile from JFK airport, all you could hear were sirens, and you sat cold and shaking on a warm sunny September morning? Did you have an uncle who lived 2 blocks away, a NYC Fireman - who no one could contact for hours because he doesn't really ever use his cellphone? And did you watch as 3 NORAD fighters escorted a flight from Canada into JFK airport, with news media training their cameras on them no more than 20 feet from where you stood?
Oddly enough - I dont think so. Plus - lets look at the date. Today is May 10th, 2005. The election was Nov. 2nd, 2004. Its time to get over it, and go on with your life.
And I say this to anyone who has the "not my president" bumpersticker. Yes, he is. And too damn bad if you dont like it. Thats what a democracy does - even a Republic like us (you find me one, ONE, true democracy anywhere), we go with the majority. And dont give me that crap about "Chimpy McFlightsuit" and how he and Rumsfeld and Halliburton conspired with Diebold to cheat the American People. It's a self-serving delusion. Im not saying one party has the lock on honesty, or one party is 100% right. Im saying grow up. Its because of people like Babs, Arianna, Bruce Springsteen, Ashton Kutcher (yep), and Bill Clinton that we keep hearing Hollywoods opinion. I am tired of it. Ive got a brain, Ive got eyes and ears - and Im not as easily decieved as Babs would like us to think we are.
I dont think any of us are.
But thanks Arianna, for giving us a look at what it will look like when the world of Blogging comes to an end. Collections of people trying to teach us something, for the greater good. I dont do this because Im trying to show you all something, I do this because I want to. Because I feel better when I do it. Because it becomes another resource for someone looking for information on Roanoke.
Its one thing to have pretty pictures of an area, its another to feel the area out through someone elses eyes.
Ms. Huffington - when all blogs become as preachy and impersonal as yours, then I shall call you Vanguard.
5/9/05
D'ya hear that?
theres a-rumblin goin on. And its not the coal train passin.
Forgotten Roanoke is rising. Keep your eyes peeled.
Forgotten Roanoke is rising. Keep your eyes peeled.
Aljazeera.Net - Cartoons - yes they have them
Allright seriously, If they can animate the political cartoons, AND make them so damn annoying *ie. ignorant* at the same time, why hasnt the NY Times, et. al. caught on to this?
Nod to Lileks for linking to this in todays Bleat.
Its nice to know what the enemy is up to. Sadly, I dont think theres anything we can actively do to fight that mindset. We have enough problems with sheeple believing this crap at home, overseas where our presence is not as overwhelming - what are we to do?
Old Navy ads arent going to change peoples minds, neither will Coke. As nice as it is to believe that exporting our culture will open peoples eyes to democracy, you cant export an appreciation for Freedom. We cant even get it noticed here, the Land of the Free.
Case in point: Hillary Clinton. A woman who should MORE than appreciate what freedom and liberty has provided her with the opportunity to achieve in life, and yet still she bad-mouths those same freedoms at every turn. Now I understand freedom and capitolisim are 2 different dogs, but they both run in the same pack.
I didnt really have a total point to this, except for this:
Thank you.
and again: Thank You.
V-E day. And some nations still forget.
And some people still forget.
Nod to Lileks for linking to this in todays Bleat.
Its nice to know what the enemy is up to. Sadly, I dont think theres anything we can actively do to fight that mindset. We have enough problems with sheeple believing this crap at home, overseas where our presence is not as overwhelming - what are we to do?
Old Navy ads arent going to change peoples minds, neither will Coke. As nice as it is to believe that exporting our culture will open peoples eyes to democracy, you cant export an appreciation for Freedom. We cant even get it noticed here, the Land of the Free.
Case in point: Hillary Clinton. A woman who should MORE than appreciate what freedom and liberty has provided her with the opportunity to achieve in life, and yet still she bad-mouths those same freedoms at every turn. Now I understand freedom and capitolisim are 2 different dogs, but they both run in the same pack.
I didnt really have a total point to this, except for this:
Thank you.
and again: Thank You.
V-E day. And some nations still forget.
And some people still forget.
5/8/05
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