jamiec

I normally don't think Scene is too witty, but I found this recent blog item rather humorous.... Dick Feagler: LeBron James is a Queer-Bait Thu Dec 06 2007, at 02:14:14 PM Today’s subject: LeBron’s sprained finger I was talking to the guys at the coffee shop, and we all agree that LeBron James is a cupcake, a swisher, a queer-bait. Back in my day, that’s what we called any guy who didn’t show up for work when he had a sprained finger. You’d be too embarrassed to even have a sprained finger. It’s practically like getting your period. If we had a sprained finger, we’d stick it in a grinder to make it look better, so the guys wouldn’t razz you. Or maybe we’d pour some gasoline on it and set it on fire. Except back in my day, you had to walk 12 miles to the store to get some gasoline, and you didn’t have any money to buy it anyways. Those were the days when good old Americans made the gasoline, not like these towel heads we have today. Back in my day, the only people who put towels on their heads were ladies who just got outta the shower. And they were classy broads, not like these trixies we have today… This has been another moment of insightful thoughts on America, courtesy of Dick Feagler. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming… http://blogs.clevescene.com/cnotes/

This is an interesting thread, and I like that it's not mean-spirited. I myself have been contemplating my future. I like living in Cleveland and having a sweet apartment, but I'm concerned about future prospects, and the job market here while not impossible to penetrate is certainly not as robust as other areas -- like Seattle. Things that scare me here include getting laid off and not being able to find a new job. I have some big goals, and realistically they are not attainable in Cleveland. Right now I have an Excel spreadsheet open and I'm trying to determine if I can afford to join the YMCA. It'd be my one "splurge." I don't even have cable! I'm going to do it because the YMCA, thank God, doesn't require you sign a contract haha :) Sorry, I took this off topic slightly....

http://timferris.blogspot.com/2007/12/claudia-pens-beautiful-devotional-piece.html I'm sick of responding to every single blog, column, comment I read or hear. lol.

No, RTA has such a huge infrastructure investment in the rail and stations that it would be folly to even consider it. The stations were built with 80 percent federal funds, and if we closed them, the FTA would seek reimbursement of millions of dollars that we do not have. So, operationally and financially, it is not going to happen. Also, our research has found that there are "rail riders" and "bus riders" -- and each has a disdain for other modes of transit. Your assumption that shutting down the rail would force more people onto the bus is not 100 percent accurate. It would also drive some people away from transit completely. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

How in the world are Miami, Denver and Pittsburgh more walkable than NYC?

:shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot:

Aren't there health codes to follow, etc.? I can't just open a diner without being inspected by the health department.

Wow, just like a movie set!

I don't know what he's talking about either. If people were squatting in foreclosed houses, they're hurting themselves and the people who still own houses in the neighborhood. I think our plan for dealing with the homeless is flawed because I don't think there is a plan. People sleeping on the street is insane and dangerous. I thought this article from Malcolm Gladwell on homelessness was interesting: http://www.gladwell.com/2006/2006_02_13_a_murray.html

So, am I reading that right, according to those numbers there are more than 33 homicides in Edgewater area each year?

This season has me really down on Danny Ferry. I have no idea what he's doing. Right now, we're stuck with Larry Hughes until the end of NEXT season. They need to get rid of him! Who knows what the answer is. Dan Gilbert isn't going to stand for mediocrity, though, I'm confident. Even at the worst of times, I guess we can comfort ourselves in this: At least we're not the Knicks.

Max's Deli won't reopen at redesigned Westgate after all Posted by Zachary Lewis November 29, 2007 15:53PM Categories: Breaking News Fans of Max's Deli will have to wait a little longer to get their fix. Michele Kotoch, owner of the popular, 25-year-old Rocky River eatery known for its desserts, said Thursday she has abandoned plans to re-open at the new Westgate shopping center, which is under renovation on the Rocky River-Fairview Park border at Center Ridge Road. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

Man, Pope, you're on your game this week with the snappy comments! I too have noticed some lighting problems on Euclid. Between E.4 and Star Plaza can be intimidating, to say the least... I walked down to E.4 after work a week or so ago and wished I had gone down Prospect because the lighting is better.

I'd give you an A if you spelled "AL GORE" with those eco-friendly X-Mas lights.

How about the Cavs taking it to the Celtics tonight! LeBron is just off the hook! This team is going to be all right! It still needs some help in order to win it all. The Celtics will be tough to beat in a 7 game series. Unless we can get some more magic, it's going to be tough.

I took a walk on my lunch, and very much enjoyed what's up and running. The construction has been a pain in the you know what, but it's shaping up nicely :)

What I'm trying to say is we are letting our community down by not providing adequate educational opportunities. I'm not saying everyone should go to college and study classics. I'm saying that we need a sophisticated workforce that can attract good middle-class jobs. No one is going to put an advanced factory here if it'll cost them hordes of money just to get the workers up to snuff to do the work. I'm not judging anyone at Wal-Mart. I was 22 years old nearly finished with college and washing dishes because I needed money. You do what you gotta do.

^ Looks like he's looking for contractors to bid on construction jobs.

Will someone with some power do something for God's sake! Our workforce is too unskilled to attract modern "lower-skilled" jobs. This region is built on a model that's practically medieval! Just think about all the computers and technology the average member of the Army learns how to use and compare that to our educational system here and the average "low-skill" worker. English, algebra, geography... OK, you're done, get to work!

Who should I be writing to in the Ohio legislature to make a more favorable setting for alternative fuels. Everyone??

This calls for Internet karoake: The year is '94 and in my trunk is raw In my rear view mirror is the mother fucking law I got two choices yall pull over the car or bounce on the double put the pedal to the floor Now I ain't trying to see no highway chase with jake Plus I got a few dollars I can fight the case So I...pull over to the side of the road And I heard "Son do you know why I'm stopping you for?" Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hats real low Do I look like a mind reader sir, I don't know Am I under arrest or should I guess some mo? "Well you was doing fifty five in a fifty four" "License and registration and step out of the car" "Are you carrying a weapon on you I know alot of you are" I ain't stepping out of shit all my papers legit "Do you mind if I look round the car a little bit?" Well my glove compartment is locked so is the trunk and the back And I know my rights so you gon' need a warrent for that "Aren't you sharp as a tack are some type of lawyer or something?" "Or somebody important or something?" Nah I ain't pass the bar but I know a little bit Enough that you won't illegally search my shit

Those parking lots across from National City Bank really tick me off!!

This may or may not be about public safety, but this is the best mug shot ever... http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2007/11/medium_Zack0006.jpg http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2007/11/councilman_zach_reed_held_on_d.html

So I wrote a letter too: Mr. Feagler: Your views on public transportation concern me, and I wish you'd reconsider your position. I would like to invite you to take the bus or the Rapid more regularly. If you'd like, I'd take you on a public transportation tour. I will grant you one point: People do not use public transportation as they should. Some people don't eat as they should, either. Just because people make certain decisions doesn't mean they are right. I think part of the problem is that people in Cleveland don't understand how powerful and useful public transportation can be. They didn't grow up with it like people in New York City. Despite this, I believe we can get more people riding public transportation with the advocacy of an influential person such as yourself. What could be so bad about saving some money on gas and parking fees? And think of the environment. Every little bit helps. Need some ideas on how to take advantage of RTA when you own and DRIVE a car? * I live in Lakewood and regularly take the 55X bus from my apartment to get downtown, as well as the Red Line to get to the East Side. Just two weeks ago, I woke up on a Saturday and thought: "Wow, it'd be nice to go the art museum today." I made a day of it! I took the train to the University Circle stop, had lunch in Little Italy, read a magazine -- RELAXED! -- then walked over to the art museum. What a nice day I had! I could have driven my car, but I decided I didn't want to burn the gas, and it was much easier than paying for parking. * I work in the Theater District, and occasionally I'll be invited to drinks over in the Warehouse District. Rather than moving my car, I just hop on one of the downtown trolleys. A free ride and I don't get ripped off by those expensive lots over there. * Recently I went to an event on the eastern edge of the CSU campus. I work on Euclid but the walk was far and it was cold, yet not worth getting my car out of the deck and fooling with that. I jumped on the 6 bus (soon to be Euclid Corridor bus) and rode it for six or seven minutes and got off. No big deal. Did the same thing to get back to work. * One of my co-workers lives in Euclid with his family. When he and his wife come downtown for evening events and they'd like to have a drink, they take the bus into downtown and then a taxi home at the end of the night. These are regular middle-class people with cars. For them, taking the bus just makes sense. They are using public transit to suit their needs. Mr. Feagler, I just ask that you consider some other points of view on this topic. If you'd like, I'd be happy to take you on a "Motorist's Tour of RTA." Let's think of ways to make this a better place.

I'd have to see some pictures of what this would look like before I can decide if I like it. That whole stretch of Euclid is a disaster between the Halle Building and Colonial Arcade. It makes me unhappy.