I paid a visit to my brother Tim last week. After having crack (read: a "Heartbreaker" crepe from The Skinny Pancake) for lunch, I brought him back to his house. On his fridge, I saw a poster printed by Burlington Telecom. On it are photos of street signs for 205 various streets in Burlington. I was fasicnated by the poster, so much so that my brother gave it to me. I steadfastly refused (a la Jerry Seinfeld and the gravity pen), but took it after Tim assured me that he could get another copy of the poster.
As I sit here wasting my afternoon until the Super Bowl kicks off, I'm using Google Maps to look up many of the street names. The two streets I lived on in Burlington (Cayuga Ct. and Nottingham Ln.) are both depicted. They're listed in alphabetical order, the exception being Faith, Hope and Charity Streets in the New North End, which are listed consecutively.
As a horse racing fan, I smiled at the inclusion of Saratoga Av. (I'm strongly considering getting DEL MAR as a plate when it's time to renew my registration.) Both Pine Place and Pine Street are depicted. Both DeForest Heights and DeForest Rd. (Hill Section - had to Google that one) are depicted.
Lots of lovely ladies in Burlington (Catherine St, Caroline St, Sandra Circle, Holly Lane, Janet Circle, Margaret St, Lori Lane, Tracy Drive, even Venus Avenue.)
Lots of greenery as well (Birch Court, Ivy Lane, Fern St, and Village Green - the only time I've ever seen "green" as a street suffix.)
If you want to make your room feel a little more homey, swing by BT's office on Church Street. Hopefully, they have plenty more posters lying around.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Burlington's annual hostage negotiations
Or, as they're more commonly known, the school budget vote.
Yes, it's time again for Burlington's annual exercise in guilt inducement and extortion. A rite of passage in which one of America's most corrupt unions demands more money from middle-class Burlingtonians. And if they don't get it on the first try, they'll just keep begging until the weak voter base gives in.
I don't want anybody to think that this is an easy blog to write. My mother works in the Burlington schools, and recently received a significant raise, which she desperately needed as she struggles to support herself as a Chittenden County homeowner. Expenses such as raises for people who make $9 an hour living in the Northeast are completely necessary, and if I were still a Burlington taxpayer, I wouldn't have a problem footing the bill for that specific expense.
But some of the proposals are just downright goofy. Check out this gem, as published in Wednesday's edition of the Burlington Free Press:
Wait...what? Did all the local television and radio stations shut down when I wasn't looking? Usually, they tell people if school is closed FOR FREE. Yet the BSD wants to pay so that people don't have to engage themselves in the cumbersome task of turning on a radio or television? Come the fuck on.
All told, the total budget increase would be 7.5%. I didn't get a 7.5% raise this year. I appreciate teachers, but they need to understand that's it's hard for everybody these days. I do love how they try to cry poor to a city of working-class people who pay skyrocketing property taxes to fund education in other Vermont towns. As I say every year, not only do I encourage the bourgeoisie of Burlington to vote "no", but to continue to vote "no" until staff salaries and the costs of educating the students become two separate budgets with two separate votes.
Yes, it's time again for Burlington's annual exercise in guilt inducement and extortion. A rite of passage in which one of America's most corrupt unions demands more money from middle-class Burlingtonians. And if they don't get it on the first try, they'll just keep begging until the weak voter base gives in.
I don't want anybody to think that this is an easy blog to write. My mother works in the Burlington schools, and recently received a significant raise, which she desperately needed as she struggles to support herself as a Chittenden County homeowner. Expenses such as raises for people who make $9 an hour living in the Northeast are completely necessary, and if I were still a Burlington taxpayer, I wouldn't have a problem footing the bill for that specific expense.
But some of the proposals are just downright goofy. Check out this gem, as published in Wednesday's edition of the Burlington Free Press:
Funding requests include money for a call alert system that the district has decided to implement in early 2008. The automated system will alert parents via e-mail, cell phone or land line of snow days or unexpected early release from school.
Wait...what? Did all the local television and radio stations shut down when I wasn't looking? Usually, they tell people if school is closed FOR FREE. Yet the BSD wants to pay so that people don't have to engage themselves in the cumbersome task of turning on a radio or television? Come the fuck on.
All told, the total budget increase would be 7.5%. I didn't get a 7.5% raise this year. I appreciate teachers, but they need to understand that's it's hard for everybody these days. I do love how they try to cry poor to a city of working-class people who pay skyrocketing property taxes to fund education in other Vermont towns. As I say every year, not only do I encourage the bourgeoisie of Burlington to vote "no", but to continue to vote "no" until staff salaries and the costs of educating the students become two separate budgets with two separate votes.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Fox 44 News At 10
I've always been interested in broadcasting. I was a game show aficionado at the age of five, and have followed radio and television ever since. Having worked at 95 Triple X during my high school years, I take a great interest in the radio and television stations that "serve" my town.
With that said, I took advantage of my chance to watch Fox 44's newscast last night. Without ever having worked in television, I can't put my finger on the reason why this was the case, but the presentation felt dull.
I read a blog entry from somebody regarding the newscast as well, and they pointed out that they use a production style that is similar to other Fox affiliates. Of course, when you duplicate mediocrity, you get more mediocrity. I have no problem with the anchors standing up instead of sitting at a desk, but at least bring them together. Fox 25 in Boston, as unwatchable as their news is, does this by panning to the reporters and other anchors, which brings people standing in different places together.
The news and weather segments were servicable, but the sportscast was grating. I don't know how much research Whitney Brown (the sports anchor) did, but she stated that "many people won't be able to watch the game" in reference to the Patriots-Giants tilt on Saturday night, completely ignoring the fact that Comcast offers the NFL Network, and any subscriber in Burlington can simply order the channel.
After presenting highlights of the day's NBA games (it was Christmas...the only game in town), she filled the rest of the time with a baseball blooper reel, in which she dryly attempted to make funny remarks instead of letting people watch the reel. It's a shame what SportsCenter has done to a generation of aspiring sportscasters.
I'll temper my criticism by saying that Fox 44 just launched the newscast, and many of the people might be working their first jobs in television. That said, it'll take a lot more than what I saw last night to make me forget 3 and 5. It'll take years alone to develop a personality as beloved as Tom Messner.
With that said, I took advantage of my chance to watch Fox 44's newscast last night. Without ever having worked in television, I can't put my finger on the reason why this was the case, but the presentation felt dull.
I read a blog entry from somebody regarding the newscast as well, and they pointed out that they use a production style that is similar to other Fox affiliates. Of course, when you duplicate mediocrity, you get more mediocrity. I have no problem with the anchors standing up instead of sitting at a desk, but at least bring them together. Fox 25 in Boston, as unwatchable as their news is, does this by panning to the reporters and other anchors, which brings people standing in different places together.
The news and weather segments were servicable, but the sportscast was grating. I don't know how much research Whitney Brown (the sports anchor) did, but she stated that "many people won't be able to watch the game" in reference to the Patriots-Giants tilt on Saturday night, completely ignoring the fact that Comcast offers the NFL Network, and any subscriber in Burlington can simply order the channel.
After presenting highlights of the day's NBA games (it was Christmas...the only game in town), she filled the rest of the time with a baseball blooper reel, in which she dryly attempted to make funny remarks instead of letting people watch the reel. It's a shame what SportsCenter has done to a generation of aspiring sportscasters.
I'll temper my criticism by saying that Fox 44 just launched the newscast, and many of the people might be working their first jobs in television. That said, it'll take a lot more than what I saw last night to make me forget 3 and 5. It'll take years alone to develop a personality as beloved as Tom Messner.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Everywhere a sign
Those of you that live in Boston are no doubt familiar with these signs:
So why is it that many of the city's streets still look like this?
At least one of the following statements is true:
1) People don't know how to read signs and follow rules
2) The city made a conscious decision not to enforce the laws.
At this point, I'd like to thank Charlie the bartender at Harry's, who helped to remove my car from a stuck snowbank that I had to park in on Monday night because Kelton St. was not properly cleared. Let's see the city make good use of the $65 in parking fines I've paid so far this year by making sure that everybody plays by the rules.
So why is it that many of the city's streets still look like this?
At least one of the following statements is true:
1) People don't know how to read signs and follow rules
2) The city made a conscious decision not to enforce the laws.
At this point, I'd like to thank Charlie the bartender at Harry's, who helped to remove my car from a stuck snowbank that I had to park in on Monday night because Kelton St. was not properly cleared. Let's see the city make good use of the $65 in parking fines I've paid so far this year by making sure that everybody plays by the rules.
North End nonsense
I grew up in the New North End of Burlington, VT. It's a safe neighborhood, but decidedly middle-class. I lived in a modest home with my one-income family until I was 14, when my parents decided that they wanted to live barely within their means, and move to the Appletree Point section of the neighborhood. I protested the move. We were living not far from North Avenue, the neighborhood's main thoroughfare. School was a convenient walk or bike ride away, and public transit was easily accessible, which was necessary in a one-car family.
But of course, being 14 years old made me unilaterally ignorant, so my parents purchased the home anyway. Instead of being surrounded by blue collar neighbors who for the most part, were quite genuine and pleasant, we were now surrounded by yuppies and disgrunted old people. I recall constantly saying "this neigborhood would be better if there were a pizza place down the street", something not to be found in a suburban-style housing development.
Of course, it's the people that make the neighborhood, and as indicated by a story in today's Burlington Free Press, some of these people, in the words of John Mellencamp, "ain't no damn good." Apparently, being a good neighbor is only a good idea when you restrict them. I'd like to beat the NIMBY angle into the ground, but it's already been done, so instead, I'll focus on this:
When Bill Niquette of Infill tried to enter the meeting -- which he understood to be a Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting -- to explain the project, they wouldn't let him in.
That's right. The residents of Appletree Point don't even have the cajones to confront the developer. It's bad enough that Staniford Road might have 30 extra cars travel over it per day (the street's not that busy...trust me, I lived there for 20 years), it's worse that a nice home for senior citizens (who are increasing in number) is in jeopardy of not being built, and it's downright unconsciable that Appletree residents (to whom I actually give the benefit of the doubt), rather than have a bull session in which they air out their concerns, don't even listen to a proposal.
Luckily, many of these people are already old, and will hopefully be long dead by the time I have to place my father and/or mother in an assisted living facility. Perhaps they'll be able to end their lives peacefully in the city in which they've lived for 50 years, if only common sense can prevail, and the powers that be realize that any argument regarding "traffic" in the New North End is complete bullshit. It's an example of people trying to have it both ways. Burlington is a CITY. If you want to be near urban conveniences (as I do), you will deal with vehicle traffic. If this is a problem for you, you can find much cheaper homes in other areas of Chittenden County where nobody will bother you. Go live in Jericho or Westford if you don't want to deal with people.
But of course, being 14 years old made me unilaterally ignorant, so my parents purchased the home anyway. Instead of being surrounded by blue collar neighbors who for the most part, were quite genuine and pleasant, we were now surrounded by yuppies and disgrunted old people. I recall constantly saying "this neigborhood would be better if there were a pizza place down the street", something not to be found in a suburban-style housing development.
Of course, it's the people that make the neighborhood, and as indicated by a story in today's Burlington Free Press, some of these people, in the words of John Mellencamp, "ain't no damn good." Apparently, being a good neighbor is only a good idea when you restrict them. I'd like to beat the NIMBY angle into the ground, but it's already been done, so instead, I'll focus on this:
When Bill Niquette of Infill tried to enter the meeting -- which he understood to be a Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting -- to explain the project, they wouldn't let him in.
That's right. The residents of Appletree Point don't even have the cajones to confront the developer. It's bad enough that Staniford Road might have 30 extra cars travel over it per day (the street's not that busy...trust me, I lived there for 20 years), it's worse that a nice home for senior citizens (who are increasing in number) is in jeopardy of not being built, and it's downright unconsciable that Appletree residents (to whom I actually give the benefit of the doubt), rather than have a bull session in which they air out their concerns, don't even listen to a proposal.
Luckily, many of these people are already old, and will hopefully be long dead by the time I have to place my father and/or mother in an assisted living facility. Perhaps they'll be able to end their lives peacefully in the city in which they've lived for 50 years, if only common sense can prevail, and the powers that be realize that any argument regarding "traffic" in the New North End is complete bullshit. It's an example of people trying to have it both ways. Burlington is a CITY. If you want to be near urban conveniences (as I do), you will deal with vehicle traffic. If this is a problem for you, you can find much cheaper homes in other areas of Chittenden County where nobody will bother you. Go live in Jericho or Westford if you don't want to deal with people.
I work 3 hours a day...
...which leaves plenty of time to write. What to write about?
-lip-service liberalism in Burlington
-the atrocious snow maintenance effort in Boston
-anecdotes from spending nearly every night of the year in bars
-who I believe will win the Kentucky Derby
-NFL picks
-the improbably gorgeous lady who works at Smoken Joe's BBQ in Brighton Center
-new songs being played on Top 40 radio, and why I like or don't like them.
That's what makes me so great. I have an opinion on everything, and a short fuse. Hopefully, the marriage of these two traits will provide both of you who read this blog with quality entertainment.
-lip-service liberalism in Burlington
-the atrocious snow maintenance effort in Boston
-anecdotes from spending nearly every night of the year in bars
-who I believe will win the Kentucky Derby
-NFL picks
-the improbably gorgeous lady who works at Smoken Joe's BBQ in Brighton Center
-new songs being played on Top 40 radio, and why I like or don't like them.
That's what makes me so great. I have an opinion on everything, and a short fuse. Hopefully, the marriage of these two traits will provide both of you who read this blog with quality entertainment.
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