January 30, 200916 yr Freezing death of Mich. man sparks anger The Associated Press, January 23, 2009 BAY CITY, Mich. -- When neighbors went inside Marvin Schur's house, the windows were frosted over, icicles hung from a faucet, and the 93-year-old World War II veteran lay dead on the bedroom floor in a winter jacket over four layers of clothing. He froze to death -- slowly and painfully, authorities say -- days after the electric company installed a power-limiting device because of more than $1,000 in unpaid bills. The old man's sad end two weeks ago has led to outrage, soul-searching and a resolve never to let something like this happen again.
January 30, 200916 yr I never new Bay City had it's own municipal utility provider. They have the giant ConsumersEnergy Plant right there north of downtown which provides electricity to millions.....following these state regulations. I didn't know such entity "Bay City Electric Light & Power" existed, or even if it should exist. This is really sad.
January 30, 200916 yr The fact that nobody at the utility tried to talk to the customer in person is completley unforgivable. There needs to be an investigation into their management practices. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that their policy of simply leaving notes on the door is so they can get around the state laws against turning the power off to the elderly. See no evil, hear no evil. Sickening.
January 30, 200916 yr ^ His neighbors/family seem to be looking for someone else to blame, and arrive at the electric company because it was evil enough to not give away its product for free. If you have an 87 year old neighbor or uncle, and you think he might be getting forgetful in his old age, take care of the guy. Check up on him once in awhile, make sure he's paying his bills, has food, staying healthy, etc. Whatever happened to compassion? That is what sickens me. It's obvious this guy was old, and sick, and needed to be taken care of. His family and friends are looking for someone to blame for their failure.
January 30, 200916 yr Sure, if someone misses a few bills they should freeze to death. Check on your uncle or the electric company will slaughter him, over a miniscule debt. How much are electric bills in a small house with a gas furnace? $50 a month? That's enough money to kill an old man for? Seriously? Public utilities are not "products" for a reason.
January 30, 200916 yr He froze to death -- slowly and painfully, authorities say -- days after the electric company installed a power-limiting device because of more than $1,000 in unpaid bills. It wasn't just $50... But this was completely absurd and should never have happened.
January 30, 200916 yr Unusual Question. I'm planning to move soon, and I'm going to stick with my current cable provider (comcast). I have all the equipment, but I don't want to return any of it, but move it to my new location. The reason why is all the stuff they gave me is brand new and I haven't had a single problem since it went into service. I'm concerned that when I'm in my new location, I'll have to return what I have and pick up 'new' equipment that might be junk. I'm sure all cable providers have similar policies when people move and maintain accounts. That's why I'm wondering if anyone knows. Finding the answer to my question from comcast would require long waits with customer service, or I wouldn't know until the day I actually switch my service location. Comcast tv and internet has been extremely reliable, but their customer service needs an overhaul. I'd prefer to take all the equipment with me to my new apartment than go through a huge hassle.
January 30, 200916 yr Unusual Question. I'm planning to move soon, and I'm going to stick with my current cable provider (comcast). I have all the equipment, but I don't want to return any of it, but move it to my new location. The reason why is all the stuff they gave me is brand new and I haven't had a single problem since it went into service. I'm concerned that when I'm in my new location, I'll have to return what I have and pick up 'new' equipment that might be junk. I'm sure all cable providers have similar policies when people move and maintain accounts. That's why I'm wondering if anyone knows. Finding the answer to my question from comcast would require long waits with customer service, or I wouldn't know until the day I actually switch my service location. Comcast tv and internet has been extremely reliable, but their customer service needs an overhaul. I'd prefer to take all the equipment with me to my new apartment than go through a huge hassle. Dont reveal you identity and call and ask, when moving if you can move the equipment. This information might be on Comcasts website. For us, it's mostly based on where you live and what services you have. If you move within your neighborhood you might not have to return the box. i do know someone from Akron cant take a box to Cleveland or someone from BK can't take a box to Manhattan. AFAIK, it's all on a case-by-case basis call as I'm not that familiar with that level of regional operations.
January 31, 200916 yr Thanks MTS, I'd be moving to another state, so I guess they wouldn't let me take it.
January 31, 200916 yr Thanks MTS, I'd be moving to another state, so I guess they wouldn't let me take it. Oh yeah. I'm sure comcast operates like us. Each "regions" cable operation is operated like it's own company. so trying to use equipment from one region most likely will not work in another region.
January 31, 200916 yr You won't be allowed to take it with you, you'll have to return it and go through the process ($$) of getting all new service, even if it's the same equipment, same service.
February 1, 200916 yr Is it okay for vegetarians to eat animal crackers? Why do people say Tuna Fish when they don't say Chicken Bird or Beef Mammal? Why in a country of free speech do we have phone bills? If money doesn't grow on trees, why do they have branches at banks? Do they still call it a hearing if a deaf person goes to court? If babies wake up every two hours why do we say "sleep like a baby"? Why do they sterilize needles for lethal injections? Why do people sing "take me out to the ballgame" when they're already there? How does skating on thin ice get you in hot water? Isn't it too cold? If I have cured ham, what disease did it have before I bought it? :?
February 1, 200916 yr Why is it called Happy Hour when everyone there is de-stressing/bitching about work? We always call it Angry Hour, seems more appropriate.
February 1, 200916 yr If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
February 1, 200916 yr 1/31/09 Michael Phelps Caught Smoking a Bong Michael Phelps Caught Smoking a Bong Michael Phelps is America's Golden Boy, but his recent partying has been less than medal-worthy. The 23-year-old Olympic champion, who has won a record 14 gold medals for swimming, spent a long weekend smoking weed and chugging booze like a college frat boy. I bet that weed was laced with Dianabol! We all know he cheated to get those medals.
February 1, 200916 yr I hate how people always ask me if I had class with Michael Phelps (he went to U of M). The hell I cared. At this university we have class with future NFL stars. I never saw what the big deal was. His weed smoking doesn't bother me all that much. It's not hurting anyone except himself. What bothers me is his drunk driving incident years ago. I have no respect for people who drink and drive. I view Michael Phelps like I view Michael Jackson. MJ is a greater singer, but a strange person. Michael Phelps is a great athlete, but also very irresponsible in his actions.
February 2, 200916 yr Michael Phelps is a great athlete, but also very irresponsible in his actions. He could at least keep it low key. He's a role model and he's sending a bad message to kids by going on a nonstop partying/drinking/smoking binge after the olympics.
February 2, 200916 yr Is anyone else watching the superbowl right now? Heh. At first I thought you said "Supperbowl," and I thought, damn! I am hungry. I should quit messing around on the forums and go get something to eat.
February 2, 200916 yr Is anyone else watching the superbowl right now? The what??? :wtf: I know you're from Shaker but did you eat paint chips when you were little? lol My friend is about to lose 500 bucks.
February 2, 200916 yr Is anyone else watching the superbowl right now? The what??? :wtf: I know you're from Shaker but did you eat paint chips when you were little? lol My friend is about to lose 500 bucks. Is there a Super Bowl this year?? I thought it was cancelled.
February 2, 200916 yr Is anyone else watching the superbowl right now? Heh. At first I thought you said "Supperbowl," and I thought, damn! I am hungry. I should quit messing around on the forums and go get something to eat. We ordered pizza! The delivery guy was so p!ssed that he had to miss the game. I tipped him 6 bucks though.
February 2, 200916 yr David, I think he could kick your ass!!!! Shouldn't you and MTS be digging through Unilever's dumpsters in Chicago looking for documents? Maybe with MTS' superior trash picking skills you guys won't get caught and sued this time :-D
February 2, 200916 yr David, I think he could kick your ass!!!! Shouldn't you and MTS be digging through Unilever's dumpsters in Chicago looking for documents? Maybe with MTS' superior trash picking skills you guys won't get caught and sued this time :-D I work alone! I'm not one who likes to share the prizes. lol
February 3, 200916 yr I do not think Phelps' actions were that big of a deal. He hit a bong. He did not harm anyone but himself. Also, why does Cleveland have so few row houses? I consider Cleveland a somewhat east coast type city, much more so than Cincy or Cbus. Yet they have German Village, OTR, and other areas with row houses. What happened with Cleveland? Certainly enough ethnics/immigrants back in the day.
February 3, 200916 yr HAHAHA, did anyone hear about the Super Bowl porn in Tucson!?! I think this is hilarious. Someone at KVOA in Tucson aired 30seconds of porn into the middle of Super Bowl coverage. Here's the EDITED version:
February 3, 200916 yr ^ Yeah, full frontal male nudity. I always thought the unwritten rule was ladies first?
February 3, 200916 yr Also, why does Cleveland have so few row houses? I consider Cleveland a somewhat east coast type city, much more so than Cincy or Cbus. Yet they have German Village, OTR, and other areas with row houses. What happened with Cleveland? Certainly enough ethnics/immigrants back in the day. I wonder about that all the time. I've always assumed there used to be more and they were torn down, but maybe not. Cleveland does seem to have more of the 3+ story Spanish-style apartment buildings w/ balconies than you find in Cbus or Cincy. I think of Cleveland as more of a Great Lakes city than East Coast, more like Detroit, which also has few rowhouses but lots of these larger Spanish things. The ones in Cleveland, particularly on the east side, are more Tudor-style than Detroit's. To me the East Coast cities, which I've only seen in pictures, have a more London look, with lots of rowhouses. The Great Lakes cities have a more Paris or Mediterranean look, with the tiles and the balconies.
February 3, 200916 yr Also, why does Cleveland have so few row houses? I consider Cleveland a somewhat east coast type city, much more so than Cincy or Cbus. Yet they have German Village, OTR, and other areas with row houses. What happened with Cleveland? Certainly enough ethnics/immigrants back in the day. I wonder about that all the time. I've always assumed there used to be more and they were torn down, but maybe not. Cleveland does seem to have more of the 3+ story Spanish-style apartment buildings w/ balconies than you find in Cbus or Cincy. I think of Cleveland as more of a Great Lakes city than East Coast, more like Detroit, which also has few rowhouses but lots of these larger Spanish things. The ones in Cleveland, particularly on the east side, are more Tudor-style than Detroit's. To me the East Coast cities, which I've only seen in pictures, have a more London look, with lots of rowhouses. The Great Lakes cities have a more Paris or Mediterranean look, with the tiles and the balconies. Personally, I wish there were more. I found this explanation: http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=AR1 "There were very few row houses in the manner of eastern cities such as Philadelphia and Baltimore, which might be accounted for by the sense of unlimited space for expansion in the new West, and also by the greater distance from the European medieval tradition. In any case, the individual detached house was the rule and the row house the exception." I know that there used to be a much bigger "Little Italy" in the area around where 77 meets up with 90 way back in the day. Also, maybe there were more row houses before Burnham's plan. The Erieview plan may have wiped them out too. I really have no idea. I would think they would have been much cheaper to build than the typical Lakewood duplex. I just find them aesthetically more pleasing and, more importantly, more urban.
February 3, 200916 yr I prefer them too, compared with woodframe singles and doubles. Chicago also has a lot of detached housing, but they built theirs out of brick and stone. I've never seen woodframe rowhouses. Maybe that factor made the typical Lakewood stock cheaper to build. I've heard multiple comments from Chicago people that Cleveland looks cheaply built. Based on what's left here, I agree. If we still had more of those larger apt buildings lining our main streets, and mixed in with the duplexes on the sidestreets, Cleveland would look a lot better. That was our high-end building stock, and for some ungodly reason it was the first to be destroyed. I think it's critical going forward that we replace as many of those buildings as possible and quit putting up woodframe houses w/in city limits.
February 3, 200916 yr If you guys are looking for more info on the Cleveland rowhouse conundrum, Grasscat put up a thread a while ago discussing that very topic, with an article from the PD discussing why it never caught on http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1315.0.html
February 3, 200916 yr If you guys are looking for more info on the Cleveland rowhouse conundrum, Grasscat put up a thread a while ago discussing that very topic, with an article from the PD discussing why it never caught on http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1315.0.html Thanks for the link. It still floors me that Cleveland has so selctively destroyed its better building stock. Not even Detroit did that. They level entire blocks. Here, we only level the most impressive building on the block and leave all the rotten shacks standing. It surprises me there has never been a strong movement against this practice, even right now. This is simply not done anywhere else, and I think it has had a massive impact on our city's image. It's not like people are saying "they tore down a disproportionate share of their nice buildings" because they don't even realize that. Instead they're saying "this place looks like crap, it's not even like a big city... I can't put my finger on why but it's really obvious."
February 3, 200916 yr If you guys are looking for more info on the Cleveland rowhouse conundrum, Grasscat put up a thread a while ago discussing that very topic, with an article from the PD discussing why it never caught on http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1315.0.html Wow. Just spent the last hour reading all of the posts. The "then & now" blizzard pic brought a tear to my eye. Also, did someone put a hit on Necromantical? Thanks for the link
February 3, 200916 yr I prefer them too, compared with woodframe singles and doubles. Chicago also has a lot of detached housing, but they built theirs out of brick and stone. I've never seen woodframe rowhouses. Maybe that factor made the typical Lakewood stock cheaper to build. I've heard multiple comments from Chicago people that Cleveland looks cheaply built. Based on what's left here, I agree. It is when you look at a city like Boston. Even parts of Boston which are considered bad and were historically working class, have architecture that blows any Ohio city out of the water. Here's Dorchester
February 3, 200916 yr Some of the streets in the Buckeye-Shaker area or in Glenville could match that Dorchester pic in their heyday. I'm talking about the streets where the doubles are more likely to be triples, and the porches all have greco-roman columns. Totally agree with your main point though. As I read through that 2004 rowhouse thread, it struck me how much general disgust was being expressed about the quality of Cleveland's recent construction. I feel like this stuff is so abominable it shouldn't be going up, but it seems like the UO consensus is much more comfortable with the trend than it was 5 years ago. "Vinyl is cost-effective, futuristic design is a value in itself, you don't know what it's like to be a developer, etc." Bullcrap. The stuff going up in Columbus for the past ten years makes our new construction look like cardboard. And we're being told this is the way, we have no choice. Bullcrap. It is possible not 200 miles from here to build with brick, stone, and classical styling-- Cleveland has got to get on the ball.
February 3, 200916 yr http://www.nypost.com/seven/02022009/news/columnists/pool_fool_letting_endorsement_deals_go_u_153152.htm POOL FOOL LETTING ENDORSEMENT DEALS GO UP IN SMOKE Andrea Peyser February 2, 2009 BYE-BYE, AT&T. Hasta la vista, Speedo! What's that burning aroma I smell? That's millions of dollars in endorsement deals bursting into flames faster than Michael Phelps' bong pipe. I sure hope it was a nice buzz. It'll be his last. Phelps, with his unnaturally fish-like body and shy grin, sold himself as a squeaky-clean, all-American savior after winning so much gold in last summer's Beijing Olympics, the Treasury Department could ask for a bailout. = [email protected] http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
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