I'm finding a good number of homes with central air, and oil heat.
If your home allready uses electricity in the summer to cool it, why would you pay to heat it with oil? Especially considering you are allready using electric power to run the fuel pump to the boiler.
Just a question, as the Forgotten-Roanoke.com street team makes ready to invade downtown Roanoke. Be down there by 1pm.. see you around.
6/9/06
New! For Summer 2006!
The summer series of Forgotten-Roanoke.com will be brought to you courtesy of Studebaker. Yes, Studebaker - makers of fine cars and trucks. Over 75 million miles of happy customers can't be wrong. See for yourself, test drive a Studebaker today.
And here's the podcast for today (wow - 2 in one week!)
What Duck?
6/8/06
What in the name of Bob?
Shocked! Shocked I tell you..
All this time, hiding in plain sight for those who would seek it. The Hollywood Video located on the upper level at Towers Mall contains, well, the Holy Grail of Life, the Universe... and Everything.
The original BBC-produced "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" on DVD.
All episodes, 2 discs. And no, you cannot have it. I am watching it right now.
The only thing more froovy than this would be the original radio show, also BBC produced.
Ahh the memories this brings back..
And those it scurrilously hides away, as it pushes out useful information (ie: the rare Jelly donut Munchkin at Dunkin Donuts is best enjoyed all at once, and possibly in pairs.) for such trivial things such as the word froovy.
(6x7)
All this time, hiding in plain sight for those who would seek it. The Hollywood Video located on the upper level at Towers Mall contains, well, the Holy Grail of Life, the Universe... and Everything.
The original BBC-produced "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" on DVD.
All episodes, 2 discs. And no, you cannot have it. I am watching it right now.
The only thing more froovy than this would be the original radio show, also BBC produced.
Ahh the memories this brings back..
And those it scurrilously hides away, as it pushes out useful information (ie: the rare Jelly donut Munchkin at Dunkin Donuts is best enjoyed all at once, and possibly in pairs.) for such trivial things such as the word froovy.
(6x7)
I know you havent heard from me in a while
And theres good reason, I assure you. But way before I get back to normal mode, I want to share something with you I never knew about..
I was digging through the Mill Mountain Theatre's website (millmountain.org), just poking around - looking at the schedule and such.
A link attracted my eye - Free CenterPieces.. and I was thinking "Well, maybe they give away unused props, or even floral arrangements from time to time." Being the cheap kinda guy I am, I had to click.
"Every month, on a Wednesday, Mill Mountain Theatre presents a 45 minute one-act play on the Trinkle Main Stage.
CenterPieces are always FREE,
and they begin at 12:15, so you have time to bring your lunch, bring a
friend, and we will have you back at the office by one o'clock. "
Well now how damn cool is that?
Plus, its a nice break from the "long block" programming they run. I mean, sure - I'm no Beauty and the Beast hater, but its not high on my list of things to see. So to run it for nearly a month straight.. well.
Maybe 2 different plays a month. Or even one main one, and one only done on weekends for one showing. I don't know - Im not the guy with all the theatre answers.. I'd just like a little more variety..
I was digging through the Mill Mountain Theatre's website (millmountain.org), just poking around - looking at the schedule and such.
A link attracted my eye - Free CenterPieces.. and I was thinking "Well, maybe they give away unused props, or even floral arrangements from time to time." Being the cheap kinda guy I am, I had to click.
"Every month, on a Wednesday, Mill Mountain Theatre presents a 45 minute one-act play on the Trinkle Main Stage.
CenterPieces are always FREE,
and they begin at 12:15, so you have time to bring your lunch, bring a
friend, and we will have you back at the office by one o'clock. "
Well now how damn cool is that?
Plus, its a nice break from the "long block" programming they run. I mean, sure - I'm no Beauty and the Beast hater, but its not high on my list of things to see. So to run it for nearly a month straight.. well.
Maybe 2 different plays a month. Or even one main one, and one only done on weekends for one showing. I don't know - Im not the guy with all the theatre answers.. I'd just like a little more variety..
6/6/06
What am I thinking?
Some of you wonder why I bother taking photos of a granite ediface downtown, which clearly has no historic value - or railing against the building of yet another "downtown condo loft" thing..
Well, for once - Im going to let someone else do the explaining.
Well, for once - Im going to let someone else do the explaining.
"Burly men with anchor tattoos worked here once,
moving things from one place to another. They ate their lunch from
buckets, hit the bars on Washington Avenue for a beer and a shot after
work, then took the clattering trolley cars home. Soon soft-handed
number wizards will sleep among the pillars.
The
views of downtown will be nice, but given the number of empty lots
around, it’s likely someone will build structures around it." Read more, at Lileks.com (today only, tomorrow this link will go to a different story)
Early morning head-scratching...
"I can and I will have you shot."- R. Gravely to the Roanoke City Council.
Wow, seems now the City Council is finally attracting more nuts than just it's members. *rimshot*
On the future re-purposing of the Victory Stadium site:
"The council will use the study to help develop a long-term master plan
for the land the city owns on the south side of Reserve Avenue between
Jefferson Street and Franklin Road, he said. In coming years, the city
plans to demolish an existing parks and recreation building and a
school operations office, along with the National Guard Armory, once
the guard relocates its offices."
Well thank goodness, I cannot tell you what an eyesore that Armory is, and certainly I have never heard of anyone using a former Armory for anything. Well, actually there is that one in New York which is used for antiques shows, trade shows, and other things. And the one in Providence, RI which was turned into upscale apartments.. but no, no uses at all for a massive building with tons of storage space.
On the City Market plan, in which it was considered to move the vendors into the street:
"I think we have a pretty unanimous decision that we want to improve
the area that the vendors are in," said Vice Mayor Bev Fitzpatrick,
"making it a little wider and also considering whether or not there's a
permanent structure that both would give it a signature look but also
would protect the interests of the farmers and vendors while enhancing
the looks of the buildings."
There is one simple, easy solution to this problem: shut down Market Street to motor traffic between Church and Campbell. Make it only accessable by vendors, city services and utilities, and important deliveries. Oh, and move the Wertz outdoor dining area to Kirk, the Trio area to Church (they own those storefronts too, let them use those and stop taking space from the vendors). And as for a permanent structure, well - thats a tough one. How do you make awnings and beams look better? Perhaps asking the business owners if they would allow for installation of permanent roll-away awnings on the buildings, ones that would roll out to cover both the sidewalk and the vendors - I could see that being a big plus.
Maybe it's just too early and Im not thinking clearly. Must be, if I can figure this stuff out for less than it takes the city to do surveys and studies...
Wow, seems now the City Council is finally attracting more nuts than just it's members. *rimshot*
On the future re-purposing of the Victory Stadium site:
"The council will use the study to help develop a long-term master plan
for the land the city owns on the south side of Reserve Avenue between
Jefferson Street and Franklin Road, he said. In coming years, the city
plans to demolish an existing parks and recreation building and a
school operations office, along with the National Guard Armory, once
the guard relocates its offices."
Well thank goodness, I cannot tell you what an eyesore that Armory is, and certainly I have never heard of anyone using a former Armory for anything. Well, actually there is that one in New York which is used for antiques shows, trade shows, and other things. And the one in Providence, RI which was turned into upscale apartments.. but no, no uses at all for a massive building with tons of storage space.
On the City Market plan, in which it was considered to move the vendors into the street:
"I think we have a pretty unanimous decision that we want to improve
the area that the vendors are in," said Vice Mayor Bev Fitzpatrick,
"making it a little wider and also considering whether or not there's a
permanent structure that both would give it a signature look but also
would protect the interests of the farmers and vendors while enhancing
the looks of the buildings."
There is one simple, easy solution to this problem: shut down Market Street to motor traffic between Church and Campbell. Make it only accessable by vendors, city services and utilities, and important deliveries. Oh, and move the Wertz outdoor dining area to Kirk, the Trio area to Church (they own those storefronts too, let them use those and stop taking space from the vendors). And as for a permanent structure, well - thats a tough one. How do you make awnings and beams look better? Perhaps asking the business owners if they would allow for installation of permanent roll-away awnings on the buildings, ones that would roll out to cover both the sidewalk and the vendors - I could see that being a big plus.
Maybe it's just too early and Im not thinking clearly. Must be, if I can figure this stuff out for less than it takes the city to do surveys and studies...
6/5/06
And here it is, as promised.. (finally!)
The Pod #12
a nice re-introduction, or introduction for all you first-timers out there, into the weekly (when possible) podcast.
Have fun
a nice re-introduction, or introduction for all you first-timers out there, into the weekly (when possible) podcast.
Have fun
A precursor to the podcast
Originally I intended to include this in the podcast, but time ran out - so here it is.
Think this is why the bear was loose in Old SW last week? Listen now
6/3/06
Mark this moment in history
3 hits away
This blog, yes - this very blog you are reading right now is 3 hits away from 14k hits since inception.
Personally, I'm very excited about this.
Personally, I'm very excited about this.
It's the weekend!
No matter how grumbly the newspaper makes me today, no matter how much I might want to bitch, moan, complain about something - I won't.
It's the weekend.
But, Oh, I could have a list a mile long right now I tell you.
Nah - weekend.
Podcast up on Monday, "Remember, Roanoke" will continue as well. I'll let you know when.
But seriously..is the media that blind that they still focus on the word gang, rather than the actual crimes committed. Which is probably symptomatic of the reason the very gangs are allowed to exist in the first place. Much like thousands of other issues lately I've noticed.
No, Weekend!
It's the weekend.
But, Oh, I could have a list a mile long right now I tell you.
Nah - weekend.
Podcast up on Monday, "Remember, Roanoke" will continue as well. I'll let you know when.
But seriously..
No, Weekend!
6/2/06
Possible?
Seriously now, would it be possible to refocus on the fact that the shooting on Melrose was NOT gang related, and infact the claim of being gang related was leveled by someone who did not want the true nature of the "nip joint" being revealed?
Or is that fact lost on deaf ears?
Seriously now, your talking about a shooting which involved an illegal operation, involving alcohol, gambling, and several other illicit activities I've been told.
Wouldn't it be nice to have something else to blame it on? Maybe even distract the police from the real facts?
Well, it did not work on the police, but it did work on the media.
What a wonderful distraction to keep us from ignoring the fact that the whole house was involved in illegal activites.
Or is that fact lost on deaf ears?
Seriously now, your talking about a shooting which involved an illegal operation, involving alcohol, gambling, and several other illicit activities I've been told.
Wouldn't it be nice to have something else to blame it on? Maybe even distract the police from the real facts?
Well, it did not work on the police, but it did work on the media.
What a wonderful distraction to keep us from ignoring the fact that the whole house was involved in illegal activites.
6/1/06
One thing comes to an end, another begins.
Remember Roanoke has launched.
Bet you didn't know the valley had it's first "snowbird" type community back in 1671? A seasonal thing, just like some of the snowbirds do now.
It's true.
Oh, and I promise you, as we move on in time - there will be more photos. You'd be suprised at how few images of the valley in the early, early 18th Century there are.
Anyway - enjoy. Comments? Thats what the messageboard is for.
Bet you didn't know the valley had it's first "snowbird" type community back in 1671? A seasonal thing, just like some of the snowbirds do now.
It's true.
Oh, and I promise you, as we move on in time - there will be more photos. You'd be suprised at how few images of the valley in the early, early 18th Century there are.
Anyway - enjoy. Comments? Thats what the messageboard is for.
5/31/06
Final Report
All in one night. Over 100 years of history fell.
The building that housed Tony's Place/Lonesome Dove was built in 1918, but prior to that, there was also a building there. Which also housed a restaurant. Roughly 120 years of restaurant history fell tonight. (I might be quoted as saying 140, I was in error, thinking of a different building.)
Even at that rate, the bricks witnessed more history than most realize. And in a matter of hours (and yes, contrary to Jeremy Crider's SLS report - it was not 14 minutes, thats just how long he was there) it was no more.
There were a few moments of trepidation, when the building seemed to twist in the wind. A time when it seemed as if the entire front of the building would fall straight down, before the machines even moved in.
First to go was the chicken coop. The rear machine moved into position, then appeared dormant. Then suddenly, it sprang to life, wrenching the coop off the building and tossing it to the ground. It dug further in, hollowing out the building, the machine in the front carefully lining itself up the entire time.
Out front, surgical precision - in the back, brutal force.
The windows, which I thought initially would go at any moment, held till the last. Even under the one-foot flex the building shuddered through, the windows held. The last blow was the endgame. And everything fell.
As the machines moved in, and full demolition began - lightening flared up in the skies beyond.
Several times prior - a single pidgeon flew to perch on a newly exposed beam, or board on the building. And moments before the final blow, a single pidgeon flew into the crawlspace between the ceiling and the roof. And then the building was gone, leaving only a massive cloud of dust in its wake.
And a flight of pidgeons in the sky.
Check out Roanoke Photos for more photos of last nights demo of the Lonesome Dove.
The building that housed Tony's Place/Lonesome Dove was built in 1918, but prior to that, there was also a building there. Which also housed a restaurant. Roughly 120 years of restaurant history fell tonight. (I might be quoted as saying 140, I was in error, thinking of a different building.)
Even at that rate, the bricks witnessed more history than most realize. And in a matter of hours (and yes, contrary to Jeremy Crider's SLS report - it was not 14 minutes, thats just how long he was there) it was no more.
There were a few moments of trepidation, when the building seemed to twist in the wind. A time when it seemed as if the entire front of the building would fall straight down, before the machines even moved in.
First to go was the chicken coop. The rear machine moved into position, then appeared dormant. Then suddenly, it sprang to life, wrenching the coop off the building and tossing it to the ground. It dug further in, hollowing out the building, the machine in the front carefully lining itself up the entire time.
Out front, surgical precision - in the back, brutal force.
The windows, which I thought initially would go at any moment, held till the last. Even under the one-foot flex the building shuddered through, the windows held. The last blow was the endgame. And everything fell.
As the machines moved in, and full demolition began - lightening flared up in the skies beyond.
Several times prior - a single pidgeon flew to perch on a newly exposed beam, or board on the building. And moments before the final blow, a single pidgeon flew into the crawlspace between the ceiling and the roof. And then the building was gone, leaving only a massive cloud of dust in its wake.
And a flight of pidgeons in the sky.
Check out Roanoke Photos for more photos of last nights demo of the Lonesome Dove.
As I speak
Roanoke.com reports it's coming down tonight, and tomorrow night. Start time of 6pm.
Folks - get your cameras ready.
Or if you cannot be there in person, watch it online here.
Folks - get your cameras ready.
Or if you cannot be there in person, watch it online here.
Getting closer
As I curse myself for not having my camera with me, I send out a news tip, which Im sure someone will grab and run with - get some photos of.
The Lonesome Dove/Tony's Place is falling down.
I'm guessing that all the shaking of the ground has compromised the structure.
Which leads me to question something I saw today down there.
Why would you fill in a hole you just dug?
Wayy in the back there, behind Billy's Ritz. That last yellow machine on the left.. filling in a hole that it had dug just the past week.
Strange. But not nearly as strange as the two large oil tanks which were exhumed and removed in the same day - and hidden from public view (on Salem Ave.) behind a pile of dirt.
The Lonesome Dove/Tony's Place is falling down.
I'm guessing that all the shaking of the ground has compromised the structure.
Which leads me to question something I saw today down there.
Why would you fill in a hole you just dug?
Wayy in the back there, behind Billy's Ritz. That last yellow machine on the left.. filling in a hole that it had dug just the past week.
Strange. But not nearly as strange as the two large oil tanks which were exhumed and removed in the same day - and hidden from public view (on Salem Ave.) behind a pile of dirt.
5/30/06
HeatSink
"Were just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year..."
-pink floyd
It has begun. Where last week we were all sniffling, sneezing, and wheezing from allergies - these past days we have been trapped.
Stuck down deep in the bowl of the Roanoke Valley, the collect for all the heat and humidity. Closer to the Sun than say.. New York City. But not so high the atmosphere thins and cools. The pressure cap is on, and we simmer.
I find myself fighting an urge lately to walk into the Municipal Building, grab the first politico I see, and ask them what they did to this city so many years ago. Maybe shake them up, apply some pressure till I get an answer.
It seems as if the city was asked to choose at gunpoint, Your money or your life.
I'm pretty sure at this point there was a 3rd option, but what it was - its hard to tell. Muddled by the years, apparently thats the one the city chose.
A weak form of government, usually found in cities with smaller populations. A citizenry that is trampled in the name of progress. As evidenced by the current Sundays on the Market - where just 3 weeks ago vendors lined the tables along Market St., now it is slowly being overtaken by the restaurants outdoor seating - to the point where the street is now the public sidewalk, according to some.
A City which has shoved its best and brightest out the door, off to other places rather than engage in the futility of change, but will more than welcome them back when they retire - and are quiet and not likely to demand more.
Submission is a desireable trait.
A City where fear is the ultimate motivator. Ranging from fear of reprisal by the City itself, to fear of contact from your fellow citizen - worry they will personally attack you, take your job or somthing similar.
Baseless fears work, for reasons no one can understand. The City banks on the ignorance of the citizens to not fully understand all it says and does. It only works based on innunendo and rumor, no full divulgence of information. The less you know, and the more you think you know - the better.
A City which has layered itself in protective shields against all community involvement. Be it EventZone, or Downtown Roanoke, Inc. Even the Libraries lost in a cloud of disinformation.
Did you know the City Library system allready has a working agreement with Roanoke County Public Libraries? The nonsense of merging the two into one unit is just that, nonsense. It's a deflection tactic. They are, for all intents and purposes - merged. You can get any book, any media from any library in the area - and have it dropped right at your local library. You can also return that book to any other library, and it will find its way home.
Did you know that?
Regardless. A long time ago, this City banked on the lack of interest from its citizens - the continued alienation of the citizenry from those in power. Give them an issue or two to keep them occupied for 20 years or so, like Victory Stadium.
No longer can the City bank on such notions - there is a rising tide of younger adults who are not willing to stand by, oblivious to the actions of the City. These are Adults who are now willing to stand their ground, and not be chased from the City they love.
For those of you who had given up hope for Roanoke in the past, I have a song for you... a hot, hazy, humid version - perfect for Roanoke.
"Wish you were here..."
-pink floyd
It has begun. Where last week we were all sniffling, sneezing, and wheezing from allergies - these past days we have been trapped.
Stuck down deep in the bowl of the Roanoke Valley, the collect for all the heat and humidity. Closer to the Sun than say.. New York City. But not so high the atmosphere thins and cools. The pressure cap is on, and we simmer.
I find myself fighting an urge lately to walk into the Municipal Building, grab the first politico I see, and ask them what they did to this city so many years ago. Maybe shake them up, apply some pressure till I get an answer.
It seems as if the city was asked to choose at gunpoint, Your money or your life.
I'm pretty sure at this point there was a 3rd option, but what it was - its hard to tell. Muddled by the years, apparently thats the one the city chose.
A weak form of government, usually found in cities with smaller populations. A citizenry that is trampled in the name of progress. As evidenced by the current Sundays on the Market - where just 3 weeks ago vendors lined the tables along Market St., now it is slowly being overtaken by the restaurants outdoor seating - to the point where the street is now the public sidewalk, according to some.
A City which has shoved its best and brightest out the door, off to other places rather than engage in the futility of change, but will more than welcome them back when they retire - and are quiet and not likely to demand more.
Submission is a desireable trait.
A City where fear is the ultimate motivator. Ranging from fear of reprisal by the City itself, to fear of contact from your fellow citizen - worry they will personally attack you, take your job or somthing similar.
Baseless fears work, for reasons no one can understand. The City banks on the ignorance of the citizens to not fully understand all it says and does. It only works based on innunendo and rumor, no full divulgence of information. The less you know, and the more you think you know - the better.
A City which has layered itself in protective shields against all community involvement. Be it EventZone, or Downtown Roanoke, Inc. Even the Libraries lost in a cloud of disinformation.
Did you know the City Library system allready has a working agreement with Roanoke County Public Libraries? The nonsense of merging the two into one unit is just that, nonsense. It's a deflection tactic. They are, for all intents and purposes - merged. You can get any book, any media from any library in the area - and have it dropped right at your local library. You can also return that book to any other library, and it will find its way home.
Did you know that?
Regardless. A long time ago, this City banked on the lack of interest from its citizens - the continued alienation of the citizenry from those in power. Give them an issue or two to keep them occupied for 20 years or so, like Victory Stadium.
No longer can the City bank on such notions - there is a rising tide of younger adults who are not willing to stand by, oblivious to the actions of the City. These are Adults who are now willing to stand their ground, and not be chased from the City they love.
For those of you who had given up hope for Roanoke in the past, I have a song for you... a hot, hazy, humid version - perfect for Roanoke.
"Wish you were here..."
5/29/06
Memorial Day
Every war has it's moments - when the bullets are still, the battlefield quiet.
The soldier's remember for a moment.Stop. and remember today.
And every day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)