Score one for the good guys.

Or Gals.. take your pick..

Warehouse earns place on national landmark list

Now it should be interesting to see what develops over there, personally I always thought the place would make a great location for a microbrew-pub, where they make the beer directly on premises. Usually in the center of the dining room.

Ever wonder how we look to those outside Roanoke?

Roanoke River project prompts criticism from environmentalists

ROANOKE,
Va. It's been in the works for nearly 40 years and now Roanoke's
65-(m)million-dollar flood control project is causing controversy.

The project got underway last fall. Since then, one section of the Roanoke River's banks has been stripped bare.Proponents
say it will reduce flooding and create a major greenway without harming
the river's habitat. They say beneath the construction zone are the
seeds of a green revolution.Others say the project is chopping down too many trees and jeopardizing the river.The flood control project includes a greenway along the entire ten miles of the Roanoke River within the city limits.It's supposed to help local wildlife. But that's if it doesn't cause serious damage first.Liz Belcher is Roanoke Valley Greenways coordinator.She tells The Roanoke Times ... quote ... "We're happy the greenway is starting, but at what cost?"

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Not too good huh? Sometimes you gotta pick your battles...

An incentive for you to go out today

There will be no site update as I enjoy the weather.. so if you really want an update, your gonna have to hunt me down.

There will be an update in the next few days, when its raining or something.

Today is just too nice.

From the Looking Back column in todays paper.

1906
"The management of the Roanoke baseball team offer a season ticket, good for a young lady and her escort, who suggests the best name for the Roanoke team."

Some of the names suggested for the Roanoke baseball team included Invincibles, Magicians, The Mountaineers, Big Lickers, Puzzlers and The Kickers.

__________________

The Puzzlers? Sounds like the City Council should be playing some ball...

Oh hey - it's Saturday

Too nice of a day to worry about blogging. Just worried about the rain issue. Fires starting too often now, wife had one break out near work from just a smouldering ciggarette...

I have faith this won't be a drought year, but this is not the best start..

Just one of my things though.. what you gonna do?

You wanted the Pod, you've got the Pod

Pod #11.. prelude to St. Pats, city council election nonsense, and common sense - with an obnoxious background noise sure to get your foot tapping.


The Pod #11 is here.

I know what you want

You want a podcast..

Well its going to come sometime after noon, I've got to wash the smelly hounds first.

You're just going to have to wait.

Deadwood meets DT on the internet

Well well well, look at what DBJ is doing now. (read here)

Im sure good things can come of this. Increased news reporting, localized information. And all of it available on the internet, according to the article. "He said the two news organizations will also be able to share stories through each other's websites."

Sounds good to me, but Im still calling this Media1.1 - this is the first step in a good direction, now lets see how well they can dance.

Just something to mull over..

For those of you old enough, The Day After is on now. And it's still just as damn creepy as it was back in 1983.

Certain things you never want to think about, even if they are fiction.

Remember that space thing I told you about before?

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/media/cassini-20060309.html

Here ya go... liquid water in space... its nearly unpossible, but yet it is so.

Amazing, no?

You folks should know

NASA is poised at 2pm EST to announce something.. something big and a bit unexpected.

From Drudge: "NASA's Cassini spacecraft may have found evidence of liquid water reservoirs that erupt in Yellowstone-like geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. The rare occurrence of liquid water so near the surface raises many new questions about the mysterious moon. "

Liquid water on a cold and distant moon. The odds of that are astounding, the implications - boggling. Stay tuned to your favorite news site for further details.


Technorati Tags: moon, NASA, water

Well I have good news to report!

The widely reported death of the Roanoke City Market on Sundays has been proven false.

Thanks to the Roanoke Times for just catching onto this, I've known for weeks that starting Sunday, March 19th - the whole market area will be hopping on sundays. Starting around 11am, the city market will be alive and kicking just as you like it.


Of course, this ruins my nice quiet sundays downtown for photography and such, but thats ok. I'll just get up earlier and maybe finally have breakfast at the Texas Tavern.

Of course, I could have a bowl with for breakfast and be happy.
But thats just me.. keep your eyes out, as your entering the Forgotten-Zone, Sunday Mornings...

Sorry I havent been around much

But things are devloping here at FR HQ, where we have just recieved a treasure-trove of information that I am attempting to process.

But.. have you read the Chef K blog?

He's delving into the kitchens to reformat and rework the entire kitchen. Interesting in his approach - I have no clue how possible or probable any of it is, but it all sounds pretty good to me.

Check it out, if you have the time

A question for you Times staffers out there...

You seem to have a hard time finding people who are reasonable when you do your stories.

Either that, you just don't present them that way. Today's article on the Flood Control Project you seem to have problems finding anyone who has anything GOOD to say about the project, or can at least play devils advocate. Although, you do find balance with Jay Roberts - it's all too brief.

And for goodness sake, it will absolutely NOT create a "Dead Sea" in the midst of Roanoke. There are natural forces which will keep that from happening. I can say this much to you: Providence, RI has a Riverwalk and waterside park, gondolas cruise the waterway and you can walk along the river on a concrete walkway. They have a occasional festival that occurs several times a year called "WaterFire."

It is an amazing sight to behold, but before you get thinking otherwise - it's not what Roanoke is about. This is just an illustration on what other cities do. Austin, Tx has a riverwalk too - slightly different, but they have the gondola idea as well. All of them natural rivers, and all of them pale in comparison to the Roanoke River, even with the stripped earth of the flood reduction program.

All of those have the feel of a city, even when your beside the river itself - it still feels like a city. Here, when you clear the Franklin Rd. or 581 overpass by a minute or two - you don't feel like your in the city. You feel as if you have escaped, and its not just the trees or the ivy - its the whole package.

Perhaps if more people who were appreciative about the greenways themselves spoke up, these negative articles need not be written. Greenway Fans are out there, you just have to go to the greenway on a nice day to see them. Although looking at this weekends weather, I shudder to think how crowded both the greenway AND Mill Mountain will be.

Might see me there anyway...

Yes well..

Terribly sorry, I got involved in something tonight - therefore I am remiss in posting some links for your enjoyment. I shall rectify that in the morning, I promise it.

By the by, anyone see Marc LaMarre on SLS? What a horribly edited interview..

His eyes are bright though, and thats a good thing.

Walk safe, tread carefully.. the road is long and fraught with danger.

And that goes for anyone undergoing such a transformation in their lives, addiction or otherwise...

Just another miserable day in Roanoke

Man.. this weather is just wonderful is it not?

I am highly unmotivated to write about anything today, so Im gonna post some links in a little while..

apologies to those who also have to suffer, in this dim grey world, from lack of interest in anything.

Thought I'd share these with you

Just some photos from Ye Olden Tymes, and I swear all were taken on a Sunday - as there is not a living soul on the streets.

Franklin Rd. looking from Jefferson. The grassy area with the stairs on the left is the old Shenandoah Club, next to that - the Professional Arts building. On the right side - you can see the awning which is just after Paul's Cafe. Just past that is the Jefferson Electric Co. You know, the one with the big ship and massive lanterns on it. Still there. This photo is circa 1925, roughly.

This is the former Jefferson Hospital. I've got a page on the way about the hospitals downtown, so you'll just have to wait..

This is the window of Heironimous, displaying goods for Easter. Well, goods for Easter Sunday - you know, when you have to get all fancied up and wear white gloves and such. At least, thats my impression from this window. Maybe its just me. Judging by the font on the sign, I'd plug this Easter Impression sometime around the late 1920's. I could be wrong.

And finally, a shot of the immediate area around Jefferson and Campbell. That big building at left-center is the Terry Building, home to many a bank and broker in its short run. It's not often you find a skyscraper lasting only 20-30 years or so. But, welcome to Roanoke. Anyway, theres a few pages alone in that beauty. You can still see a peice of history though, down on the now "HomeTown Bank" building - the clock which hangs on the corner is the only remaining item from the Terry Building.

Could it be theres another curse on the loose in Roanoke? Only time will tell - keep your eye on HomeTown Bank.

Have a good sunday..

Hey there

How ya doin? Enjoying this confused weather? Me neither...

Making me a bit crazy though.. nothing new there.

I'll have something to say later, but for now - Im just going to sit here and stare at you all as you read this.

Bet that makes you feel all warm inside.

Spotted at Tanglewood

O I wish....

Yes, the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile is over at Tanglewood RIGHT NOW..

Why? I cannot say. How long? I do not know.

There are many mysteries about the Weinermobile, and few answers.

The Pod has launched Captain

ALERT ALERT

POD LAUNCH

POD #10 has launched, track it here

or listen here if you like: The Pod #10

Comment below, because you know you want to.

Todays podcast, and topics thereof

From the Roanoke.com Messageboards:
"lovenrv on 3/2/2006 5:59:40 PM wrote:
Roanoke is a wonderful city. The people, the landscape and once upon a time it
was an extremely important city. Today, it is not. BUT, many people who
love it are trying to make it great, again. By building a world-class
museum that will bring locals and tourists to the heart of the
community, generate new development, new jobs and a new outlook on the
future is one of the steps to placing Roanoke in the eyes of the
nation. You'll be surprised how well this sturcutre will fit within the
urban fabric of the city - it's quite the opposite of what people fear.
Narrow thinking only hurts the city that these folks claim to adore. As
for land along the interstate, we should be building loft-style
apartments that stretch along the market's edge."

Allright - I don't exactly have the want to address this now, but I would like to hear your comments on this statement. I will address this in my podcast tomorrow.

But seriously, drop a line.

Podcast will drop in 1 hour or so.

Move the museum?

Priceless.. just priceless.

Now that those connected with the museum are realizing the cost of developing the Salem Ave. site are skyrocketing, so lets distract people by talking about moving it some place not a single celled organisim would want it moved. This way, when we "begrudgingly" go with the downtown location, regardless of the cost and traffic congestion and all that, people will be thrilled that we left Mill Moutain alone.

Oh Art-heads, are things really that bad in your little world? Don't you realize Mill Mountain IS an art museum unto itself. One look out from the Star's overlook and you can see every style, from the PoMo to the impressionistic.

Although allow me to be momentarily amused by the dragging of Mr. Vander Maten into this whole deal. Here is the man charged with the betterment of Explore park. And read his words carefully.. "Vander Maten said moving the zoo to Explore Park "certainly is an idea that's on the table."

Note how he wants the zoo, which is clearly an attraction and draw. NOT the museum, even though adding the museum to Explore Park would be easier than anything based on location and site(s) available.

Oh - "The mountaintop would be made more accessible with a mountainside
tramway, the thinking goes. And the synergy of the area could help draw
people off the Blue Ridge Parkway toward downtown."

Mountainside Tramway? Incline Railroad in the only form we could build it now?

Oh, and Mr. Mayor - you really want a better way to tie downtown to Mill and Explore? You need to read my blog more often sir.. Search through my archives for just those very sentiments, in an easy-to-realize plan.

So, in a nutshell - your not looking at an actual idea floated to move the Museum to Mill Mountain (which in itself would triple the costs), your looking at an idea floated to generate buzz about a dying project. To hide the obvious.

But keep trying, I think I noticed some dust had been moved from the parking lot on Salem Ave. I was unsure if this was a sign of development of the location or not. Please, give us a clear sign. Show us the cost vs. funding data.

excitin times

Circumstances you are most definitely not aware of behind the scenes here at Forgotten-Roanoke.com (temporary) Global Domination HQ have changed. For a short while, no appreciable difference may be noted - but after a while, you'll notice. In saying that, what you do need to know is there will (hopefully) be no difference in the way everything runs. The Pod may have to be switched days, or may be broken up into installments via cellphone several times a week.

Too early to tell on what will work properly. However, site updates will continue every 2 weeks, blogging may be a bit lighter - but will continue daily.

As I discover more, I will tell you more.

Enjoy the good weather, which you have Me (your overlord) to thank for. How? I finally broke down and pulled out my turtlenecks. Obviously the weather pattern must change inversely to whatever I deem acceptable and necissicary clothing at the time.

Later Yall

Now I know there are questions..

I'm sure you have noticed the latest update (page 2 of Henry Gains) is relatively without images.

There is good reason for this.
Not everything in history has been recorded graphically. Much of history is oral-tradition. The only images are the ones you create in your mind when you hear a story. This is the way history is.

I have talked to many a person about many a subject, and the things they tell me about there are no photos for. The best that I could do is go back to the location and take a photo of what it looks like now, and attempt to weave the story around that. But in certain cases, that is not appropriate..

This was one of those times.

Just have to let you all know

I just got done watching "MirrorMask"

Outstanding movie from the Henson Company, Neil Gaiman, and Dave McKean.


It is visually stunning, superbly watchable, and a definite family film.

If you liked Labrynth (which I did), Dark Crystal (which I don't really remember), or The NeverEnding Story (the original only) - you're gonna like this. But remember to watch it with your kids.

It's different, but still a family film - but very different than anything you've seen short of a Tool video.

I'm not waving!!

Im drowning!!!!!!!

I recieved in the mail today a sice of the 1960's here in Roanoke. March 15th, 1964 to be precise.

It was a Sunday.

And boy am I up to my ears in information.

But aside from that, I have tentatively finished the Henry Gains page - you can follow the link (same as 2 weeks ago) over at Forgotten-Roanoke.com

I say tentatively, because as I was working on it - the inspiration hit me that with all the current work ongoing in the area - it will be worth a revisit in a few months, to see the changes and perhaps delve a bit further into the vast historical legacy of the area. So that's what Im gonna do.. so there!

Any suggestions - drop a line (email address on the BIO page) or leave a comment here. Next update will be for March 12th, the beginning of St. Patrick's week and the beginning of Roanoke's festival season.

Forgotten-Roanoke will be out at the parade, hooting it up with me fellow Dubliners and Kerrymen... Oh yes, there will be hooting. I promise it.

Blogging resumes later today, until then - enjoy the pages.

I found the excerpt on a few messageboards (scroll down for podcast, sorry)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Extract from chapter 94 of the novel "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Science may have alleviated the miseries of disease and drudgery and provided an array of gadgetry for our entertainment and convenience, but it has left us in a world without wonder. Our sunsets have been reduced to wavelengths and frequencies. The complexities of the universe have been shredded into mathematical equations. Even our self-worth as human beings has been destroyed. Science proclaims that Planet Earth and its inhabitants are a meaningless speck in the grand scheme. A cosmic accident." He paused. "Even the technology that promises to unite us, divides us. Each of us is now electronically connected to the globe, and yet we feel utterly alone. We are bombarded with violence, division, fracture, and betrayal. Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history? Does science hold anything sacred? Science looks for answers by probing our unborn fetuses. Science even presumes to rearrange our own DNA. It shatters God’s world into smaller and smaller pieces in quest of meaning ... and all it finds is more questions."

"The ancient war between science and religion is over," the camerlegno said. "You have won. But you have not won fairly. You have not won by providing answers. You have won by so radically reorienting our society that the truths we once saw as signposts now seem inapplicable. Religion cannot keep up. Scientific growth is exponential. It feeds on itself like a virus. Every new breakthrough opens doors for new breakthroughs. Mankind took thousands of years to progress from the wheel to the car. Yet only decades from car into space. Now we measure scientific progress in weeks. We are spinning out of control. The rift between us grows deeper and deeper, and as religion is left behind, people find themselves in a spiritual void. We cry out for meaning. And believe me, we do cry out. We see UFOs, engage in channeling, spirit contact, out-of-body experiences, mindquests-all these eccentric ideas have a scientific veneer, but they are unashamedly irrational. They are the desperate cry of the modern soul, lonely and tormented, crippled by its own enlightenment and its inability to accept meaning in anything removed from technology."

"Science, you say, will save us. Science, I say, has destroyed us. Since the days of Galileo, the church has tried to slow the relentless march of science, sometimes with misguided means, but always with benevolent intention. Even so, the temptations are too great for man to resist. I warn you look around yourselves. The promises of science have not been kept. Promises of efficiency and simplicity have bred nothing but pollution and chaos. We are a fractured and frantic species ... moving down a path of destruction."

"Who is this God science? Who is the God who offers his people power but no moral framework to tell you how to use that power? What kind of God gives a child fire but does not warn the child of its dangers? The language of science comes with no signposts about good and bad. Science textbooks tell us how to create a nuclear reaction, and yet they contain no chapter asking us if it is a good or a bad idea.

"To science, I say this. The church is tired. We are exhausted from trying to be your signposts. Our resources are drying up from our campaign to be the voice of balance as you plow blindly on in your quest for smaller chips and larger profits. We ask not why you will not govern yourselves, but how can you? Your world moves so fast that if you stop even for an instant to consider the implications of your actions, someone more efficient will whip past you in a blur. So you move on. You proliferate weapons of mass destruction, but it is the Pope who travels the world beseeching leaders to use restraint. You clone living creatures, but it is the church reminding us to consider the moral implications of our actions. You encourage people to interact on phones, video screens, and computers, but it is the church who opens its doors and reminds us to commune in person as we were meant to do. You even murder unborn babies in the name of research that will save lives. Again, it is the church who points out the fallacy of this reasoning.

"And all the while, you proclaim the church is ignorant. But who is more ignorant? The man who cannot define lightning, or the man who does not respect its awesome power? This church is reaching out to you. Reaching out to everyone. And yet the more we reach the more you push us away. Show me proof there is a God, you say. I say use your telescopes to look to the heavens, and tell me how there could not be a God!" The camerlegno had tears in his eyes now. "You ask what does God look like. I say, where did that question come from? The answers are one and the same. Do you not see God in your science? How can you miss Him! You proclaim that even the slightest change in the force of gravity or the weight of an atom would have rendered our universe a lifeless mist rather than our magnificent sea of heavenly bodies, and yet you fail to see God’s hand in this? Is it really so much easier to believe that we simply chose the right card from a deck of billions? Have we become so spiritually bankrupt that we would rather believe in mathematical impossibility than in a power greater than us?

"Whether or not you believe in God," the camerlegno said, his voice deepening with deliberation, "you must believe this. When we as a species abandon our trust in the power greater than us, we abandon our sense of accountability. Faith ... all faiths ... are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable ... With faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do ... looking beyond the ritual of these walls ... they would see a modern miracle ... a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control.

The camerlegno motioned out over the College of Cardinals, and the BBC camerawoman instinctively followed, panning the crowd.

"Are we obsolete?" the camerlegno asked. "Are these men dino-saurs? Am I? Does the world really need a voice for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the unborn child? Do we really need souls like these who, though imperfect, spend their lives imto read the signposts of morality and not lose our way?"

---end of extract.
/And for as much sense, as much reason and logic went into this - after some hunting around I found this: Pope Benedict XVI and a Deadly Dictator

Actually, this part was pre-Pope, when he was just a Cardinal, but it sounds vaguely familiar: Pope
explains. “Relativism, which is the starting point of this secularist
mentality, becomes a kind of dogmatism that believes it has reached the
definitive stage of awareness of what human reason really is.” Modern
philosophers, politicians and scientists alike have commonly brushed
religion aside when discussing matters of morality. Why? Religious
beliefs are relative to each person, so we cannot risk slowing down
scientific advances to pay heed to personal opinions. In one fell swoop
all religions are swept into a silent corner as equally useless. Faith
certainly aids people in their personal lives, but science serves the
needs of the community as a whole. Such ideas have rocketed
technologies forward at a dizzying pace. Ethical considerations crawl
along with dwindling hope of catching up.

I know this is one of those long posts that interest few, but the basic themes of it do affect us all, and have continuing ramifications in daily life.




Technorati Tags: science, religion, pope, change, relativisim, dan brown

Its Poddin' time....

Who wants some nice fresh Pod?

You know how this works by now.. you can go with this:

The Pod #9

or The Pod #9 @ Odeo.com

Remember, this Pod is fresh, which means it's mmm good!

(brought to you by Harris & Huddleston: Your Fresh Grocer)

We are headed for Podcast

Podcast in 1 hour.. (with any luck)

This one should be interesting too.. Come to think of it - I hope they are all interesting in some form.

Well, you get the idea.

00:58:30 to go

I keep forgetting to pass this on

Along with RoanokeRadio.com, which provides a look inside the history of WDBJ radio - there is now a WDBJ-TV history site, SkylersPlace. Both are full of interesting notes and photos of the long and storied history of WDBJ.

Who knew it was just that fascinating? Im hooked.


Technorati Tags: WDBJ, history, media

Re-testing

don't mind me - Im just doing a little hum-dinger work here.

Could someone help me?

Some over at StarCityPunks needs to let me know why Im getting hits from the messageboard.

Didn't think there was much punky about my blog, or the Chef K blog.

Then again, I am a granddaddy goth/punk/metalhead - so who knows, maybe my past is leaking out again..

I have no clue.

not much to say today

having a down day - which should make for a wonderful night.

I'll keep you posted as nothing develops.

Ladies and Gentleman

Utter apologies all around, as I was not able to complete the Henry Gains section today.. I will have it done quicky though.. so keep your eye on the blog for a link - should be coming soon..

Oops, I forgot something...

Yeah, well - not technically forgot - more did not get a chance to finish the Henry Gains page 2 yesterday - I forgot to inform you all that it would be delayed in a timely manner.

Sorry about all that.

The page will be up later today, before midnight I promise.

Mainly I forgot I had things I needed to accomplish today, which prevent me from working my magic and getting the page done. It happens, please try to understand.

Anyway - Chef K has a post about the whole stupid smoking ban thing, check it out.

In the interests of quashing the rumors, I formally announce that I am not Chef K. The Chef K account is something I set up for a friend - who expressed interest in blogging, but did not have the time to set it up himself. So I did it for him, it is currently linked to my account, but in time (hopefully soon as to clear up confusion) he will be setting up his own account.

Anyway - enjoy the day, those of you lucky enough to have off. And for those of you not lucky enough - well, its not that nice out anyway. Your not missing anything.

Woman's Arm Severed In Car Accident

LEX18 - Woman's Arm Severed In Car Accident: "CLARK COUNTY
Woman's Arm Severed In Car Accident

A Letcher County woman suffered a horrible injury early Thursday when her arm was severed in a car crash on the Mountain Parkway in Clark County.

Jacqueline Dotson and her six-year-old daughter had to be cut out of their vehicle after the accident in which Dotson veered into the median and over-corrected, rolling her truck over the guardrail and landing upside down after flipping several times.

Several people stopped to help, and it turns out, the good samaritans may very well have saved Dotson's life. Sheila Vice, a nurse's aide, and an off-duty EMT from another county stopped to help, and put a tourniquet on Dotson's arm to stop the bleeding. Her arm was found near the accident still clutching a cell phone.

'Basically we stayed there and talked to them until the EMT drivers got there,' said Vice.

Rescuers used the jaws of life to get the Dotson and her daughter out of the truck. Both were flown to hospitals, and Dotson is listed in serious condition at UK Hospital. Her daughter is not in the hospital, and sheriff's officials say they believe she's going to be fine.

Both were wearing seat belts."

I post this one for Rhett, and for all those of you who drive with your hand to your ear.

There is nothing so important that you should throw caution to the wind, nothing so urgent that you need to throw the 2 IQ points of common sense you actually do have into the dark dungeon of your mind, and drive with your hand up to your ear.

One day, try this: instead of having your cellphone up to your ear, stick your finger in it - try driving like that for a little while - and realize that even though it is not that bad, with a cellphone it's far far worse.

/update later, in the overnight hours.
//podcast still sucked.. scrapped for the next few days.

Tom Angleberger's What's on Your Mind?-Margin of error a tricky formula

Tom Angleberger's What's on Your Mind?-Margin of error a tricky formula: "And the same goes for Paris Hilton. In the nanoseconds it takes for the light rays from her sparkly outfits to reach our eyes, she has already bought a new dog, fired a maid and gotten her name in the newspaper again for no good reason."

Do we need a vacation Tom?

You had a great answer going there, on a question about space and how we see the past when we look out into it. Then you go and put Paris Hilton's name in the newspaper for no good reason, exactly as you stated.

Nice going Tom - you just added to her 15+++++ of fame..

Im letting my perfection get the best of me

So Im cancelling todays podcast, as I am unhappy with the quality and choice of backgrounds... I can do better, I will do better - and I will work on it for the rest of today and tonight. Until I get it right..


/flagellates

A really stupid question

What is the purpose of writing on the face of a black granite building with a black marker? Saw a "yout" doing just such a thing today, and had to wonder what the point was? Do your rivals posess some super vision that allows them to see clearly your tag?

And seriously kids, it's called Wild Style, you don't know it - you don't get it - and grafitti is done. It's not cool anymore, besides - the days of glory are over. Unless your tagging deep below the bowels of NYC's subway system - where entire wall support panels in the most ungodly places are covered with a full tag - but no light to see it by, you ain't got nothin.

Rebellion-Lite, coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

Apologies for the lack of posting

Life's been busy round these parts lately. But I am still sticking to my schedule.

Tomorrow: Podcast
Sunday/Monday: update to the site, the 2nd part of Henry Gains (for part 1, click here)

And just remember, the overlord is always watching. There are things happening in Roanoke I have not commented on, as of yet. But I will, when the time is right.

There is much that I have been told of by Chef K, who is also rather busy this week (strange how things flare up out of nowhere), that he will be putting up on his blog later this week.

The rumor mill has refocused it's attention off of Marc LaMarre finally, and has moved on to find a new target.

There is so much going on, it hardly seems possible to keep up with it all. But I will make a valliant effort, so stay tuned.

Tomorrow's podcast will contain sections about Henry Street, parts about the downtown business scene, and other random junk - as always.

Im still working out the kinks in layout for the podcast, my background in radio showing through as I attempt to make it seamless and listener-friendly.

A note about Blinko.com: scumbags. I'll have more to say on that later too.

Competition?

Interesting find today, some of you might allready be aware of this though.

I wasn't, so here it is.

WDBJ7 Blogs

Yes, nearly all the on air personnel at DBJ now have blogs. Even Robin, busy man he is, finds time to blog.

Good reading all around. Of course, with the recent Marc situation, I was a little suprised to find the staff of DBJ commenting on it in the blogs. But it's nice to see it from a newspersons standpoint, the unique view one can only get when it could have been one of your own. How would you handle it?

Beyond that though - it's nice to know Robin, much like the rest of us, has a thing for Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day."

Actually, I'd have to say all the blogs on DBJ I've poked around at all hold some interest. Although Steve Pardon does worry me a touch.. when listing the reasons to read his blog, #3 catches my eye: Most employers frown upon porn and internet gambling- so what else do you have to do at work today?

Ok Steve, compelling arguement.

Looks like I've got some reading to do.. gotta stay up on the competition.

WikiRoanoke:

You all remember PBWiki right? Thats where wikiroanoke.pbwiki.com is hosted, free.
Free and simple. Check it out for yourself. The password is right before you, or write before the . and after the wiki.

if you catch my meaning.




Fun and free and ultra-useful.

Position Paper #3: Putting an end to it.

Spawned on by current news reports, I am presenting this paper to you, the general public - a blueprint for eliminating crime in Roanoke, and freeing up more money to fight crime.

We have all seen the storys about the crime rate being high in Roanoke, so high infact that we rank 2nd behind Richmond as being a dangerous city. Then follows the news reports of botched robberies at gas stations, narcotics sweeps through Old SW, and other assorted miscreant activites.

I'm calling bunk.

And the City Council's take on it? Well, there really has not been one. With the exception of the alleged gangs moving into Roanoke, the city council has been quiet when it comes to crime. They seem to leave the crime problem to the Roanoke City Police Department - who do a venerable job in protecting and serving. But there's a different approach than being in reaction-mode in respect to crime, drugs, and neighborhood quality of life.

I'd like to introduce you to Jack Maple. Jack was a dyed-in-the-wool cop. He revolutionzed the NYPD, and created a model for Police Departments worldwide.

He argued, correctly I may say, that the root causes of crime were not social - they were criminal. Criminals to be specific. Running the gamut from simple petty offenses to major drug trafficers - Maple had an answer for it. Treat each criminal the same, each crime the same. As a crime, and as we were all taught in school - crime is bad. I firmly believe there is no such thing as a "good" crime, I do believe there are some which are questionable in deed and reason, but a crime is a crime is a crime. Nothing will change the fact that in some way, the law was broken. That is all the police need to know. Let the judges handle the rest.

Maple was notorious for making each and every cop responsible in some way for the crime in his precinct. I believe this is the beginning, accountability. But I would like to extend it beyond the precinct walls. I say we hold every citizen accountable.

Remember - you either own or rent someplace to live. You want it to be a nice place, one you need not worry about. One where you do not have to worry about having your rims stolen, your mailbox blown up (I remember being a kid), your window broken, your house broken into, your corner store robbed....

You want nice things, you have to work for nice things. You want a nice community, you have to work for a nice community.

In other words - if we stop accepting the little things, littering - grafitti - run-down housing - barren lots filled with garbage: The big things will get a bit easier to deal with, in the long run.

It's the same as setting an example. You show that you and your street will not accept a bunch of garbage from people, will not stand for a landlord to keep his property in ruins, you'll see change immediately.

Remember, theres more decent folks than there are criminals everywhere. All you have to do is stand up and prove it. And in this day of the internet, digital cameras, and DIY media - it would be easy to publicize that crack house down the street. Very easy. It would also be easy to call out those lovely absentee landlords. Just keep publicizing, posting flyers, the whole 9 yards. Help the current tennents find more suitable housing. In short, evacuate the property.

This program is an extention of Operation Broken Windows, one which worked extremely well in New York City.

On the Police end, it's even more powerful. Can't catch the dealers selling, but you know who they are? Well - you know what kind of car they drive. Is it running fully legal? Many states have laws against anything hanging from your rear-view mirror. Rarely ever enforced, but it could be. Anything to harass and annoy the dealers out of town. The NYPD instituted an automatic warrant check on anyone being written a ticket, held as a suspect, or found somehow outside the law. It netted more career criminals in one year under Op. Broken Windows than in the previous 3 years.

You could sum up the total point of Op. Broken Windows as "Annoy them, and they will leave."

And yes that does mean everyone would be subject to following the same set of laws. Tinted windows, miscolored lighting on the car (I've seen it), anything that would violate some statute of the law.

Same goes for your housing. If you and your neighbors can band together to keep the block looking nice, it will be tougher on the one duplex that looks like garbage. Especially when you start hitting him with code violations.

I would like to see a PD, a FD, and an EMT living on every street. I propose tax breaks and other incentives for city personnel who want to buy and live in the city.

I also propose a "commuter tax" of sorts, collecting a .35% tax on gross income of those who work, but do not live in the city. That money will be earmarked specifically for projects which affect those who work in the city. Infrastructure upgrades, road maintenance, Police-Fire-EMS, public works basically. Things anyone might need or use.

And for a brief moment, people will be angry. But if you make $100,000, thats only $350 extra in taxes you pay. And you will see absolutely where your money goes. If you figure on average, each person contributing roughly $100 to the budget - Your looking at over $1 million each year for public works projects. That translates to cleaner roads, better paved roads, enhanced lighting and signage. Direct change will be noticeable after the first year of collecting the commuter tax. And for each additional year, any overage that is not used by the end of the fiscal year will be placed in an interest-bearing account and used for projects to better the entire Roanoke Valley. Like a new ampitheatre or stadium or some such thing.

No monies will be spent on single-use projects, and no monies will go to city-only expenditure. This will eliminate from the city budget road construction projects and other similar issues.

Putting an end to the budget shortfalls for infrastructure and modernizing the way the city operates in relation to the surrounding areas. When the City is strong, the region benefits.

And thats what this is all about, putting an end to the pratices of the past. Revamping the structure of the city as a business, and getting on with the city being a city. Putting to rest the quality-of-life issues that have plagued this city for years.
And as for the airport, thats a whole other matter entirely.

Thank you for your time.

Elect me as Overlord, and evolve.

Attention Fans

I had a thought.

Instead of back-ending part 2 of Henry Gains this week, why not stick to my schedule and push it to next weekend?

See, Im trying to create a flow here - a continuum if you will.

So get ready as I drop some hints and such this week about whats to come in the next month on the site. And in just a few short weeks, less than the time it would take you to figure out your taxes in pencil with a defective calculator, Forgotten-Roanoke.com will be 1 year old.

/cue Kenny Rogers - "Through the Years"

Yes Friends, can you look back and remember when: We had public disputes with our sponsors - Michael's Bakery (2 locations to serve you- 338 Church Ave 3336 Williamson Rd. 'For good bakery goods for your home table and parties.'), and then kissed and made up. The time we were arrested by the Feds on Suspicion of Terrorisim, for photographing the antique vault at Mountain Trust Bank of Vinton. And who could forget the time we were held for snooping around the Roanoke NeHi Bottling plant, boy what a turn-around that was when we became officially sponsored by Royal Crown for the summer.

Oh the laughs we had.

Exciting news on the horizon though - We are taking on new sponsorship in '06

Yes Friends - Harris Huddleston are now proud sponsors of the Forgotten-Roanoke team. Thats Harris Huddleston, 'Your complete food market' Conviently located at 119 S. Pollard St. in Downtown Vinton, Harris Huddleston is proud to serve, and serve well.

And we are proud to serve our community as well.

Live, from NY.. its a Blizzard!

Keep your eye on this page, as the are live streaming webcams from the Meadowbrook Parkway (top) and the Belt Parkway at JFK (bottom). If nothing seems to change while your looking - try refreshing.

And then remember, it's kinda nice outside.

What a world

I've been out several times in the snow now, but Im waiting for those right moments to grab the camera. You will not find generic snow photos here.

No sir.

So keep an eye out later and tomorrow morning for some photos, and tomorrow at some point for the 2nd half of Henry Gains over on the site.

Otherwise, enjoy the snow folks.. roads are fairly clear, trees are stunning...

Finally - Winter Strikes!

Personal Note

I'd like to extend a happy birthday to my sister.

Or should I call her the Forgotten-Sister?

Well, anyway - Happy Birthday.

Here is is.. The Pod #8

The Pod

For your amusement and edification, a mission-statement of sorts. Perhaps more than that. Perhaps less.

Like it matters. Listen and Enjoy.

You all remember don't you?

It's friday. Podcast day.

it's coming....

The Library Report

Good crowd for the reception at the Virginia Room, showcasing some of the most interesting stuff you haven't seen before.

Like the massive compendium of the Roanoke Times, each page - each edition, pre-1900's.

The Roanoke Beacon, the journal of Roanoke during the early to mid-1800's. The one on display was from 1854. Only 15 originals are still in existence. If I recall - the Beacon published for 15 years or so. Works out to 1 copy per year, if that.

The work the staff of the Virginia room does to preserve and protect, yet keep available all the historic documents it possibly can is beyond admirable. It's heroic. And seeing just a sliver of what they are facing - I'd go so far as to say Herculean.

X-Mayor Smith was there, as was Current-Mayor Harris. The Missus had a nice chat with the mayor regarding the website, of which he knew something about. Nice to know the site is being noticed by those in control of the city.

There were many other nametags on the desk of city council members, the Vice-Mayor, City Manager, and those who sit on the board of the Library and and other such folk.

And myself - your humble webmaster. Not as humble as Mr. RoanokeFirefighters who used the whole shindig as an excuse to do more research, but humble enough as to be more interested in the micro-typed advertisements from the August ??, 1898 edition of the Roanoke Times than being the self-promoting media whore that you expect me to be.

The questions that run through my head when doing the research for the site are as follows: Who? When? What? Then What?

Example: The Ponce De Leon.
Who? Some guy named Trout
When? 1890 or so
What? A hotel, previously a small inn (burned), which burned, was
rebuilt, burned again, rebuilt again, closed, opened as Crystal
Tower (1932).
Then What? Crystal Tower office building, now home to TAP Roanoke. Basement still has spring and stream running under it.
No sign of Roanoke Times editor who fell in, trolls carried him off I
presume.

Of course, this is the condensed version. The real version is very much still an ongoing project - as we begin to delve deeper into the history and mystery of the Ponce, and it's sister Hotels - The Patrick Henry, Hotel Earle, and the numerous other hotels which led lives here in Roanoke. Even the mysterious and impossible to locate Powhatan Hotel (look around, you won't be seeing its advertisement for long).

The etherial time that each place holds, the sense of everything each place has seen. Those are all available for you to explore in the Virginia room at the Main Library downtown.

By the by, I am very dissappointed to say I was neither mugged, harassed, nor did I find a single puppy to kick while walking the streets of downtown Roanoke after dark. Shame on you, Roanoke. You have an image to uphold.

But still, it was a wonderful evening at the library - refreshments were provided (although I did abstain from eating, as I had a pot of chili working at home), along with enough staff to answer any questions and fulfill any need. Even if it is just turning a page in history.

Last chance

The library open house begins at 4p. We (wife and myself) will be arriving shortly after 5. Rhett from RoanokeFirefighters has confirmed he will be arriving around the same time.

Now you know the deal - be there or risk missing out on meeting the 2 ultra-hippest, nicest, smartest, warmest, fuzziest, and all-around-great bloggers in Roanoke today.

/end horn-tooting

A personal invitation for you:

Forgotten-Roanoke.com will be putting in an appearance at the Roanoke City Public Library's open house for the Virginia Room. Tomorrow (Thurs) from 4-7pm, the Virginia Room will be having an open house showcasing its vast archive of Davis Photographs, Sanborn Maps, and other historical resources.

Forgotten-Roanoke will be there, along with RoanokeFirefighters - available for shmoozing and wooing, accolades and awards.

But seriously, this is a great opportunity to see more history in one spot than you could normally see in a lifetime. And it's free. For more information, head over to the Roanoke City Library Calendar.

Ed- So anyway, I've been light on the posting lately as my head attempts to set things straight. Ever take on too many projects, knowing how easy they are to finish - but never getting them done properly because there are so many of them?

Yeah, I've been like that lately....

Expect a return to normal posting with tomorrows podcast. Be there tonight, or I'll hunt you down like a errant goat and drag you there. The Main Library, Virginia Room, 4p-7p. This is your last warning.

sad news

: "Meteorologist Marc Lamarre has been relieved of his duties at WSLS (Channel 10), Shane Moreland, the station's news director, said Monday.

'He's no longer an employee of WSLS,' Moreland said. He declined to give further details or to say whether Lamarre had completed the terms of his contract."

Abrupt? certainly, although the rumor mill has been grinding overtime on this one.

I'd rather not speculate, other than to wish Mark well wherever he may land. And hope that he lands safely.

Although I bet Jaime is looking over his shoulder more often now.

/pay those parking tickets boys, those things can haunt you the rest of your life.

Wow.

Since upgrading to Firefox, and switching to using Performancing as my main blogging tool, I have not had much need to go to my blogger.com account page. Little did I notice that I have surpassed 500 posts, and this one should mark 515 posts total.

Milestones? We don't need no stinkin milestones.

WikiRoanoke

Just a reminder, WikiRoanoke is available for all your Wiki needs. It's free, interactive, and easy to use. And if you can't figure out the password, half of me says you need help, and the other half is willing to tell you outright.

Technorati Tags: wikiroanoke, roanoke, wiki

It's here.

The site update has begun as promised. Head on over to Forgotten-Roanoke and view the Henry Gains section.

A caveat first though: This is a complex story, difficult in it's telling. Roanoke holds an unusual place in the history books in relation to segregation. Gainsboro actually could have been it's own city, side by side with Roanoke proper. With leaders in religion, education, medicine, and law - Gainsboro held its own alongside the city. When Roanoke issued civic bonds - specifically the bonds to build Roanoke Memorial and Crippled Childrens into (roughly) what we know it as today, a sizeable portion of the funds were earmarked for the rebuilding of Burrell Memorial into a modern facility.

A $4 million dollar education bond went to the schools in Roanoke for new buildings and such - and to build Lucy Addison.

When it comes to Roanoke, without one - there would probably be no other. And when history has come and gone, Roanoke should be remembered for it's unique symbiosis with it's twin, Gainsboro.

Just a note...

So you all know, my usual source for old data is currently down - so Im putting the page together anyway. I might need to make additions to it tomorrow, or I might just wait and see what the morning brings before publishing it. You don't know, I don't know - which means, keep checking back.

It's coming

page update later tonight.. Im halfway there, unfortunately - you people don't pay me (there's an idea...) so I have to head to work now.

I would say if you're actually up after midnight, that would be a good time to look. Or just wait till your at work and wasting time using the companys computers, you'll be safe.

Sometime between Midnight and 6am, that work for you? Works for me...

The Pod has launched

Here is is, the podcast you've all been waiting for...

Odeo (for those who prefer to download it or whatever)

Listen now if you like: The Pod #7

If yall come lookin for commentary

Ya'll come to the wrong place. I know theres an article in the paper about the art museum today, and I think it speaks for itself - so I will say nothing about it.

Besides, Im too busy still being mean and kicking puppies. I fell short of my daily goal for violence yesterday, and I do not want this to occur again - we must keep the city's good name and standing.

I was thinking about fisticuffs too. But have settled on tying bags to the feet of cats.

There is quite a bit on tap this weekend. New page Sunday night/Monday AM - podcast today (a tad more serious this time), and all the usual acoutrements.

See you in a bit.

Odeo: Forgotten Roanoke minicast

http://media.odeo.com/9/3/5/minicast1.mp3

its sloppy, its silly - but hey, its only 6 minutes..

tomorrow a more professional podcast..

Still disgusted by that article...

So I guess what we learn is, Roanoke sucks. Were mean little violent freaks who kick puppies.

asshat

Suddenly.. I wish I was Puerto Rican

Only a Puerto Rican could have the righteous anger to properly respond to such high-browed asshattery as this.

What, you ask could have me so livid this early in the morning? From today's Roanoke Times:

Van Patten said the valley's rape rate suggests that the area is
unsafe for women and children, and he said the assault rate indicates
"people's willingness to wail on one another."

"The people in the Roanoke Valley are mean," the criminologist said.
"People are willing to resort to physical altercations to resolve their
differences."

Did someone get beat up for lunch money when they were young? What serious educated adult uses the word "mean"? I might have more on this, if I can get my inner voice to stop cursing in spanish.

To those of you who had your cars towed...

I am terribly sorry.

For those of you with no idea what Im talking about: read this.

Although what I cannot figure out is how many people had to attend the concert and Oklahoma in order to overflow the parking lot?

Must have been one well attended night at the Civic Center.

What kind of world did I grow up in? Not the one I left....

Check out these pathetic headlines, and yet people still continue to move there. Go right ahead and suffer fools. You wont catch me living among the walking dead anymore..

Sorry - these storys just get to me.. It's like reading a shopping list, and every item is "stupid".

A word about the Governor

"A better way..."

All I kept hearing about last night was "A better way..." during the Democratic Response to the SotU.

And I kept thinking to myself, "If your looking to buy a Ford, there's a better way..."

He was confident, I will give him that much - but confident of what Im not sure. There was little substance in his reply, and he continuously touted Democrats and Republicans working together here in Virginia to accomplish things. Thankfully, mercifully, he must have told his speechwriters to forget Victory Stadium or the non-cooperation between County and City. True - those are bipartisan issues, but should not those who are identified with a party take a stand on such things, and have the partys backing - be able to gain support across both parties?

Then again, thats not much of "a better way" either.

He came across as confident, slightly arrogant, and the first time he mentioned "a better way" I will swear on my grave that I heard a NY accent. However what I found most interesting, during some points during the speech - he seemed truly suprised. He was reading from cue cards, which is no big deal - but it seemed like he had not read the text beforehand.

All in all, he looked like a son of James Carville should. He was well groomed for TV, prepared for his time in the spotlight. My only problem was with the eyebrow. God put that eyebrow down allready, stop looking so creepy.

/more posts coming later

Democracy narrowly averted, we should all be thankful.

Article here.

Thank god the State Senate has sided with the will of the Press, and kept the voice of the people out of the political realm.

And for Roanoke County, of all people, to kill the bill and sit back laughing at the City's inability to find a solution to Victory Stadium... no class what so ever.

Representative government? I think we need a refresher on what that actually is.

Or just do away with this nonsense all together, and vote for me.. your humble (future) overlord.

This is a school?

As I said, I went to a smallish old high school in NY.

Classrooms as you would expect them, painted in surplus paint, with desks and chairs in a row. Only in the "artsy" classes were there different seating options.

I personally still have a hard time accepting (and not just here, anywhere) these modern Learnatoriums. Both city and county schools designs are foreign to me. I mean, we packed about 1,000 kids into that building (not happily but we did) and there was learning. But these schools here, with the funky designs resembling malls more than schools, modern and innovative features like wifi cafeterias and such.. it strikes me as less than conducive to learning.

And now County Schools are running a pilot program testing the idea of "no more finals" for certain classes? Are we expecting the students to have a "curriculum vitae" from kindergarden now?

Getting rid of finals. Insane... welcome to the end of any semblance of education as we all grew up with it. I fear what our grandchildren will be not doing in school.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I go deep inside a landmark of Roanoke, get inside its walls and examine it carefully from the non-public standpoint. Perhaps I will be posting about it one day, but either way - it promises to be a powerful moment for me, the site, and Roanoke.

Mondays..

I've got a busy day today, so posting will be light. I will direct your attention to a page I found on the Roanoke Street Railway, with plenty of photos and such.

Street Railways of Roanoke, Virginia

I'll be back later tonight..

public service announcement

 

Skilled Hands will not fail you

Todays Times has an article on something I've been saying for a long long time now. When I graduated high school back in 93, I was one of a handful that graduated who was actuely interested in blue collar work. Sure I wanted to go to college (although after my years in high school I should have known better) and get some form of degree - but working a desk job never totally appealed to me. I was always an attention whore. I love shmoozing the public.

So while I entered the collegiate world, I was not totally happy there. I had my interests, but a degree program never allowed me the flexibility I wanted to learn as I saw fit. See the problem? I had a great attitude about learning.

Working in a kitchen and a deli did wonders for me. I showed me opportunities I never considered, and taught me about the publics desires. Giving me an inkling on how to market myself and the products I was dealing with.

I consider those early years my education. It's where I cut my teeth on getting sweaty and dirty, and the payoff of a hard days labor. And Im not just talking a paycheck either. Im talking about the satisfaction of knowing I did my best, and made people happy.

And thats something that those in the white collar world, all my classmates who went into computing and law and all that will never know. I spent time in the white collar world - and I can honestly say working 9-5 is a wonderful thing. But it's hollow.

Now it's been said that behind the skin of every good cook is a rockstar waiting to break free. And there is good reason for that. Be you a bricklayer, tin-knocker, baker, or landscaper - you create. And create endlessly. Each day you are a step closer to your goal. For a cook - that goal is satified clients who tell friends. For a mason, its finishing the wall to specs. For a landscaper, its 4 seasons of beauty.

And aside from the obvious near-instant gratification you can get in a blue collar job, theres the intangible things as well. My personal view is it's a legacy. If you, as a cook, can expand business - and bring new ideas and foods to the table - have them accepted, and sell well - you've just created a legacy. How many of us can say we remember certain dishes when we were kids - and how they changed the way we eat?

Have you ever walked by a wall, caught some plaster medallion out of the corner of your eye, stood back - and marveled at the overall design of the structure?

Part of what Forgotten-Roanoke is all about is a big thank-you to those who built this town. It's an appreciation for the craftsman, the artisans, the folks who bled, sweat, and bled some more to get this town done. It's looking at what they created, and why. And each brick laid in this town has meaning, has a story.

Plus, heres the real deal about blue collar work. Sure its tough, and sure it keeps you running - but all the really high tech developments are coming home, and they are going to need people to install them. Make them work properly. Run the wires behind walls and all that. as more high-tech comes home, the more we need qualified people to install it. Even the materials themselves are changing - look at the C2C program.

Ask yourselves this: Do you want to be held hostage by a plumber? You will be, if your kids do not understand the value of having a trade. The fewer plumbers, carpinters, bricklayers we have- the more they can charge. You want your kid to make money? Forget being a doctor - too restrictive. The malpractice insurance alone could crush any profit. A lawyer? Well, there is an arguement to be made for that - but thats all it is. Arguing. Computers and all the rest - well, half my class went into the computer field - and last I heard, half of that half had to go back to school to learn a entirely new trade. The market is flooded with computer programmers and such.

Parents, tell your kids - Blue Collar ain't so bad. It provides a good life, a stable life. And theres a sense of personal satisfaction you will not get anywhere else. Besides - your kid could be the next Lee Iacocca. There are no limits to what you can do with your hands and your brain.

So today was April right?

What a beautiful day. We have been taking it easy here at HQ, enjoying the nice weather and giving the dogs a chance to run.

Happy to report the new AC Moore is a nice place, full of nice stuff. Kinda what you would expect from a store.

Did some light camerawork today, will have stuff up on Flickr later, or tomorrow. One of the two. Sorry about the whole Podcasting thing, but I got a new phone this weekend, upgraded from my old junky thing - and I've been tooling around with the configurations on it.

A good ol' Nokia.

Trusty, reliable, and no silly frills like cameras or excess buttons.

Anyway, things progress as always here. See ya when I see ya.

Oh, coming soon - easily identifiable F-R streetwear. Now you can track us like GPS... but don't get in our photos. Ok?

Ok - heres the sched. (M-String included)

Im off this weekend, for more photo-adventuring. I'm going to drop a live audiocast at some point today. That will be this weeks podcast. I figure a live one would be different enough to keep you interested. So keep checking back for that before 5pm today.

I might do one over the weekend, depending on where my hunting takes me.

Im gonna try and shake the quantuum particle hyperdimensional string theory physics thing this weekend too, so you might just have to suffer through another post about it. But I think you'll be ok.

Let's say this much for now: We live in a 10-dimensional universe, possibly more. But atleast 10.

I am going to try and add a few peices to the Orphans page, so you all have something to look forward to over the weekend. Me.

And with any luck, I can finish this position paper I've been working on. But we can hope.

Uh Oh

Some dark corner of my soul has been re-awakened by an article posted on Fark.com of all places. Other Dimensions might soon be detected.

You might not understand this, but I am a closet physicist. And while I might not understand all the math (ok, none of the math) I do grasp the concepts of hyperdimensional physics, and am able to easily extrapolate them further than any sane individual would.

The words "string theory" perked up some long dark corner deep inside me. Something I had forgotten about for a while.

I can ramble on and on about "phase variance" and "material transferance" and your eyes would glaze over, you would walk away slowly. Its not for everyone, I understand.. but forgive me if I lapse from time to time into DeepThought (42) and pull a rabbit out of a brick.

Yes, you heard me. And yes, it's entirely possible.

Thats the beauty of quantuum hyperdimensional physics. Everything is possible, you just have to explain it.

For example: You have been told since you were young, "We are all stardust." And yes, it's true. We are. The very same particles that make us individual were not created just for us - the spirit that makes them move, love, laugh, and live - thats an entirely other matter. But the physical being known as you is the very same substance (recombined) that created worlds. Galaxies.

We are all stardust.

Photons fall at an alarming rate through the universe, this way and that. While you read this, there are most likely billions of them passing directly through your body. Slamming into your head at alarming speeds, and passing right out your feet (if your standing). Now, the question is - do they simply pass through, or is there displacement?

A single photon can be the catylist for massive change, on the order of an atomic reaction - or can pass un-noticed through the world. We know photons carry weight, albeit minimal on a level most of us can't comprehend, but they do have weight.

So as I said, do they displace, or simply pass through?

And what about that there "dark matter"? The very essence of the universe? Well, I can't answer all those questions, but I can theorize. But I will attempt to restrain myself. However, if you seek more logical and studious information, I would like to direct your attention to Michio Kaku.
/> can explain particle and string physics like you would tell someone how to get from here to there. Simply and definitively.

Anyway - Im off to go collect some photons and dream a little string...

Finally, the moment you've been waiting for (feelin kinda grumbly)

My commentary on the new Roanoke Times online..

My biggest complaint is the design, its extremely jumbled and, for an average user, very frustrating. And thanks for disabling the right-click feature so now I actually have to use my back button (which I rarely ever use) rather than my usual rightclick-back. You've also taken away my ability to open an article in a new window, thus ensuring that the main portal page is now rubber cement. Your stuck there, and you just keep bouncing back.

Also, would someone please download Firefox there? It's really simple to use, and includes many features which will be found in the new Microsoft Internet Explorer, when it ships with Windows Vista. Most of those features you have blocked with your new design. Oh yeah, and thanks for dropping us bloggers off the main page (remember back when the Blog of the Day was actually changed day by day?) in favor of your two blogs.

If your going to block everything in sections (New River Valley.. The Lake.. Business....) maybe you should invest in someone with the coding know-how to run Ajax or Ruby on Rails, so the user can customize their own start-page. The homepage information is still static, the headlines for The Lake and Neighbors has not changed in a week or so.

The Times updates its entire site at 1:30am, but doesn't seem to free it of errors until later in the morning. I can look over the site now and still find the same errors that were online when the update went live.

There is plenty to like about the new Times homepage, but it still needs plenty of work. But please, clean up your CSS sheet, and cut out all the gaudyness.

Now - to another topic on the main page, real estate. As you all know I, your future Overlord, and my wife are currently searching for a new HQ. So I tend to read any story on the Roanoke Valley's real estate market with keen interest. But I have to say, never have I seen a delusion to this extent played out on paper. I was told that every house is priced over assesment, which is true - but the prices that are being asked are way over assesment, and for homes which should be valued way under assesment. I've looked at houses in undesireable areas (more commercial than residential, and not convient to anything) where the price was firm. And I mean firm, yet the sellers were allegedy motivated. How can you be motivated and yet not change your price? Thats not motivated by any stretch of the imagination.

I've been in houses which need more work than one would normally care to do. Again, the price is non-negotiable. If I have to invest 10k to clean and repair the home, Im not going to pay you that 10k AND pay it out to have the work done. That's stupid on my part.

And yet even with all the work these homes needs, the prices stay firm. And sit, and sit, and sit for months on the market. And Im not kidding about that. Im talking 3 months average for some of the homes We have seen, with no price change. After 3 months, do you not think there may be an issue?I'd be willing to say there is...

If you want to sit on your property until someone stupid enough comes along to pay full price, then make that clear from the outset. Stop playing games.

I realize the Roanoke Real Estate system is different from the one Im used to in NY, but for all those differences, the delusions are still the same. And Im not sure if the blame lies with the agents or the sellers.

/end rant

Just a note on the whole Google/China deal

I have a feeling that Google knows it's audience well enough to know that even though they have to work with restrictions in China, there are always ways around them - as any good G-Hacker will tell you. Therefore, I applaud Google in working with China to provide internet search access. And as for the blocking of certain topics - well, hackers - get to work.

And for those industry analyists so short-sighted not to see the probability of wrap-around hacking for the Google user behind an Iron Curtain, ya'll need to get a grip on reality and stop looking at numbers for answers.

Mystery in the park

This time I actually had my camera with me when I was in Elmwood... last time I was there, wandering (safely! unaccosted by the homeless!) and exploring the park, I came across this tree. A tree with pipes embedded within.
Yeah, you heard me - pipes embedded within the tree. And unless it's meant to be an aid to climbing the tree - I can see no reason for a tree to be peirced. I did some futher searching this time with my camera, and came across this:
If you look really closely, inside the hole - at the 11 o'clock position, you can see a grey line. Its a nail. One of 3 which are also embedded within this hole in the tree. I realize I was risking assault by squirrel in taking these photos, but I really need answers. How did the tree gain those nails deep within, to the point where the only parts showing are the sharp ends? The heads must be embedded within the wood itself.

My theory, this tree was once part of the fence corner for Elmwood, back when it was privately owned. And the fence was directly attached to the tree. But even that sounds barely plausible to me. So I turn to you, the viewing public - any ideas?

Chef K walking tour

My buddy Chef K has a walking tour of downtown on a Saturday night, with a report on each restaurant along the way.. interesting read.

I have my own review to make: Nick's Pig and Chicken in the Market building, best damn fries ever. The BBQ was great, but the fries.. oh man. I could live on those fries. Let Chef K have his mussels... I just want fries.

And as for the whole guido thing.. maybe one day I will tell you about them, but if I do - it will not be a proud moment.

Keeping Mill Mountain

href="http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/wb/xp-49524" Mountain protection plan />
This is a no-brainer. The hallmark of Roanoke absolutely needs protection. It should be protected, and lest anyone think otherwise, for example; Someone decides to buy a chunk of Mill Mountain to develop similar to Roanoke County's Slate Hill project - the streets would run with the bl... nevermind that.

The response to the development of Mill Mountain would make Victory Stadium look like a municipal street-cleaning project.

Look, we all love that Mountain. With its shiny star, pretty and serene zoo.. just protect the thing. Plus, where else would you want your Overlord to look down benevolently upon the citizenry of Roanoke.

Oh, and in a side note - I was once up at the pavillion on Mill Mountain having a nice lunch. On the pavillion is a board stating the schedule for who has that space reserved for them. Who reserved this spot atop Mill Mountain for a warm day in June?

Why none other than the mayor himself, along with the city council and support staff. Sounds like a municipal field trip to me. And an idea I highly support, I think its important to get out and get into the city itself, rather than be ensconced in a small room attempting to make big decisions.

I know its winter still, and I know we have a few more months of it to go.. but I'd like to invite the mayor and the entire city council to revisit the top of the mountain - and see whats worth preserving.

Cursed/Woodland Park - a photoset on Flickr

Cursed/Woodland Park - a photoset on Flickr

And here are the companion photos, ones which did not need to be on the same page, but were good none the less.

Forgotten Roanoke

Forgotten Roanoke

Here.. enjoy...

don't yell at me for it afterwards

Technorati tags: roanoke, history, realestate, elmwood

Working in the dungeon

The next page launches later tonight - in time for the ice storm (alleged)

I urge everyone to tell a friend about this page..

this is the big news I've been promising.. the curse of Roanoke explained...

Under perfect conditions today

Forgotten Roanoke hits the streets.

What you may not realize about a day like today is that the ambient light is perfect for playing photographer.

So we will be out and about, and if you see us - if you can figure out who we are, stop by and say hi.

To those who fixed the broken Star...

Thank you.

(see last nights audiopost for clarification, and keep your eyes on the Star more often)

Just noticed something

Roanoke Times Victory Stadium Coverage

I'm beginning to wonder if the Times themselves are not responsible for the quagmire (yes, I said it) that is Victory Stadium? Reading the article, and thinking of past articles, it would seem that the Times is trying to manipulate the reader in several ways, from several angles.

And as always, rather than just reporting, they report with feeling. I don't know, like I said - it seems rather manipulative as I think about it now. And I realize that if the Times had any actual influence on Roanoke Im sure things would be very different, but with declining readership (all newspapers have this problem, not just the Times) it's gotta be tough holding onto that warm-fuzzy monopolistic grip over the Roanoke area.

I must humbly apologize

It does not look like there will be a podcast today. Time is running short, and I have alot to accomplish. Also, I am not yet ready to reveal the big secret. There is still more work to be done, and I will not close this case till it's entombed in concrete. AKA - Stronger than hell, and undeniable.

Yeah - it's just that important.

But anyway, it's a beautiful day - you all should get out there and take advantage of it. It's January, the flies are buzzing and the moths are mothing. You'll not find a better spring day in any winter anywhere.

Im just thankful it's not warm enough for skeeters... or wasps.. or yellowjackets...

and you wonder why I like winter?

Wow..

Am I getting a late start or what? Somedays you can't help but sleep in.

With any luck - I'll have the podcast done around noon. If not, expect it tomorrow morning..

Hey - a reason to come back over the weekend!

If you listen to my previous post...

perhaps you can tell me the phone number for the Mill Moutain Star Hotline - which I read about once before. If a light is out - there is a number you can call to report it.

Well, a lights out..

I have no number.

Position Paper #2: What you want.. Baby, I got it...

In order for Roanoke to continue it's "Magic City" growth, several goals need to be reached. Some are tangible, others are merely ideological. But all are of the utmost importance.

First, it is my belief that Roanoke allready has more to offer than most large cities do. The Times, current City Council, and several others do not see this. They are more than happy to point out the reasons Roanoke does not have things, the things it does not have, and how detrimental to the city it is not to have these things.

We cannot land a 747 at Roanoke Regional. There are plenty of other common sized planes we can land at Roanoke Regional. DC-10s for example. But the key core issue behind the lack of decent transportation at Roanoke Regional continues to be the cost of flying. All airlines are "suffering", hurting for cash. I have been to Roanoke Regional when you could not find a spot to stand for crowds, and times when I have been one of 10 passengers on the incoming flight. Until the cost of airfare becomes more competitive, Roanoke Regional will not see increased traffic.

However, that being said - there are things we can do to create competition. Fully backing the TransDominion Express is a good start. We need, on a local level, to get with the planners and begin work on proper stations. By starting now, rather than after the coming test runs of the TDX, we will be in a better position to launch when any type of commuter rail even looks in our direction -be it the TDX or Amtrak.

We have a vast wealth of natural resources at our command. Mill Mountain, the Greenways, Explore Park - and we are a jumping off point for places like the Peaks of Otter and other natural wonders.

Roanoke sits in a highly desireable climate, sure it gets humid during the summer, but we are sheilded from the very worst storms (usually) and actually have 4 identifiable seasons.

There are those who complain that Roanoke's schools are not up to snuff. To those, I ask them to find schools which are better in a city, with the same circumstances as Roanoke. Pull a comparison - and you will find Roanoke schools are no worse off than other comparable schools. A large part of the success of any school is parental involvement. Through-out America parental involvement is slipping, if not nearly extinguished. Most parents are happy to sit back and wait till the school does something they do not like, then complain to the hills. An active, aggressive citizenry would be a benefit to the educational system here in Roanoke.

There are those who complain that Roanoke's City Council does not act in the best interests of the citizens. It is my claim that they do not act in anyones best interest, including their own.

With blinders on to any problem other than Victory Stadium or the 2 high school stadiums, the City Council is actively failing the citizens of the city. Its greatest advancement to date is the new zoning regulations - which were laid out in the adoption of the Vision 2020 plan. It's not like it took alot of work to ratify something that has been sitting on the side burner for years.

Rather than focus on building upon the good in Roanoke, the city council hires planners and consultants to figure out what the citizens could have told it all along. It brings in groups from outside Roanoke, rather than working with the local firms we do have to build the city past greatness, and towards the future.

That is not to say everything they do is wrong, but they do maintain a status quo standing for the city, immobilized till forcibly motivated.

Roanoke needs leadership who can recognize the value of what we allready have, the wisdom to get what we do need, and the common sense to act when needed.

The Star City of the South should be the City that Sells Itself, with vast natural and physical resources, and yet the focus has been shifted from that which we have, to a laundry list of pop-culture wants and needs. There is much to lose in all this, and little to gain. And if you think businesses and families want to move to a place better served by casual dining franchises, you might want to take another look at that equation.

Just so you're aware..

Sched for rest of week:

Fri- podcast
Sun/Mon - new page

Podcast and blog will sync to reveal that mysterious curse/secret thingy I was telling you about.

so your gonna have to work to keep up with me on this one...

I've been doing some digging

and I have hit a bombshell.....

Im not sure how to unleash it - but again, the question is how...

I'll tease you with this, Roanoke might just have a curse upon it. A curse it placed upon itself, and stores in a highly visible location.

Hold on, its coming....

Forgotten Roanoke's Storefront : CafePress.com

Forgotten Roanoke's Storefront : CafePress.com

By popular request, I have added hoodies.

Poke around, see what ya like.. remember, valentines day is coming. Gifts for the everyone on your list, as long as they dont mind it saying Roanoke.

Ok, no more of this...

From the Letters to the Editor, Roanoke Times:

Taxes, not stadium, should be the issue

I received reassessment notices recently from Roanoke. I own four properties in the city.

The taxes were increased from a low of 7 percent to a high of 15 percent. I assume other owners received similar increases.

This large increase affects every citizen, both renter and property
owner. This increase, coupled with last year's hefty rise, puts an
undue burden on thousands of Roanokers.

It is time for Roanoke City Council and the candidates in the
upcoming election to focus on a meaningful tax-rate reduction instead
of tiresome bickering over the stadium issue.

The first job of local government is to oversee a safe city. The second most important job is to run a cost-efficient city.

Roanoke has, at best, a static population. The inflation rate is in the 3 percent range.

A 7 percent to 15 percent tax increase is not justified, and should be addressed immediately.

Lee T. Lawson

Allright, I've had just about enough of this....

Griping and whining about property taxes going up. Now, where do those taxes go? The city itself - the parks, the schools, the social services, trash collection, police and fire departments...

So you don't want your taxes raised? Then start hauling your trash yourself. Go clean a park. And police your own streets. Fight your own fires.

A city must, in order to be a good and desireable city, provide certain basic services to its residents. The residents must fund the projects, as citys are not non-profit organizations and can only recieve certain grants and funding.

You don't like your assesment going up, well imagine if it went down. Property rates start going down, the cost of the city providing services remains the same, and suddenly - theres no more money to buy another police car. The city will really be unsafe then, as the police and fire department are forced to run skeleton crews.

And heres a secret you won't hear anywhere else. Your property taxes going up means your property is more valueable. And your property value going up is a GOOD THING.

The most desireable properties in the country are in areas where property values go up, city services have no problem with funding, and property taxes are in the high-median range.

Its called a ROI - or Return on Investment. Study it, read about it - its worth it. And that investment you make in the city of your choice, by paying property taxes, determines what kind of city you live in. Being a decent civilian who uses their voice in the business of the city doesnt hurt either.

So go ahead and gripe about your property taxes going up, but I come from an area where property taxes run in the $6-12,000 a year range, and yet everyone wants to be there - paying those high taxes.

Ever wonder why they only pick up the trash once a week for residences but more often for downtown businesses? Think about it.

This just in from our "They had it right" Department...

"No great enterprise, at its inception, or in its early life ever escaped the sneers, the
slanderous utterances, or the woeful anticipations of petty men.

In the building up of our City, we have been met, at times, with base calumny and direful prophecy. Like the proud athlete, conscious of his power, taunted by some boastful weakling, Roanoke, smiling at her defamers, walks steadily forward to take her place among the industrial centers of the earth."

Roanoke Booster Speech (circa 1890)

Think those who wrote that speech yesterday would believe today there are still petty men who do not believe?

Industries change, the greater potential of Roanoke has not.

What's the dilly, yo?

I will award a "Brass Figlagee with Bronze Oakleaf Palm" to anyone who can tell me why, in the name of all that is good, Juniors lunch is like this after all these years. What I am looking for is the actual story of Junior's.

Take one highly visible location, a restaurant with 2 access points, and insert food - you've got a business, or atleast you should. So what's the dilly, yo?

(edit)

I guess on 2nd thought I should be more specific. My real question is WHY has this place been shut and boarded since 1994. I know why it closed, but my question is why is it not on the market? Has it ever been? And what was it before?

Certain of my research tools are down today, but with any luck - I will have more info tomorrow.

Just another day..

Working like a dog, to bring you the finest in Roanoke stuff.

Yes, I said stuff - Im tired allright.

Interesting and new things are ahead, keep your eyes here for the latest in... stuff..

I have to be honest...

There will be no podcast today as upon my 2nd listen (I always listen at least twice before presenting it to you, the audience) I realized it was horrible. Just awful. Well, maybe not so bad - but pretty meandering without apparent intent. And I think that might just be illegal here in Virginia.

Get a ticket for Failure to control thought process.

So no podcast today, maybe tomorrow - at the very least, an audiopost tomorrow - to make up for the lack of a full pod.

What can I say, eet muz be zee wethzer....

Stormee Wezzer...

Quiet days.....

Well, you know the deal - another hour or two and there will be a podcast, which you won't listen to... Because you people don't love me.

But thats ok.. I do it anyway...