Saturday, December 31, 2011
Phoning divides drivers - Road Worrier - NewsObserver.com
So what? There is a right action to take here, and it should be clear to everyone.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Lowes
I stopped at our Lowes in Chapel Hill today after failing to find anything on the Lowes.com website about their reported decision to cease advertising on All-American Muslim on The Learning Channel. Not a word on the site. One of the people in the store told me I was wrong and got me an 800 number to call. 1-800-445-6937. Once you click through, you get a customer care person who is only empowered to read a statement over the phone. She and her supervisor confirmed that nothing is on the website and they will not send me anything without my sending them an e-mail request. Lowes, in my view, appears to have made a very bad decision and is now trying make believe that it never happened. That may have some value to them, but I hope other customers will join me and take their business elsewhere. This matter raises an important issue, far more important than Lowes seems to believe it is, and the only way to respond is simply to take our business to other stores.
WebSafety Supports California's "Distracted Driving Awareness Month" - Business - Press Releases - msnbc.com
MSNBC reported yesterday that many companies are considering or have adopted prohibitions against cellphone use while driving. Devices such as the the attached should be installed in all Chapel Hill government vehicles, not to mention the vehicles of other governments and private businesses in the area.
Design a Corporate and Small Business Cellphone Safety Policy
Good for all of Chapelboroham, government and non-government.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
NTSB Recommends Ban On Cell Phones While Driving : NPR
Let's get it applied to as much of Chapelboroham as possible now!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
CityMaps.com: Find New York Restaurants, Bars, Hotels, Shopping, Movies, Deals, Parking and more | CityMaps | Get A Closer Look | NYC | Manhattan
How wonderful this would be for Chapelboroham!
Regional Mag Publisher Looks to Resuscitate Local Newspaper Business with Weekly Offering - City and Regionals @ FolioMag.com
Will this be The Weakly? Or perhaps the Chapel Happy News? No matter what, it will be at least interesting to see what emerges, but I suspect we can predict the future by looking at the past of what this outfit's magaines have contained which mostly boosternews.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
In Four Days, Hundreds of Tickets for Texting While Driving - NYTimes.com
This is what we should be doing in Chapelboroham. Read this.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
M. Sarkozy veut un renforcement de la sécurité routière - LeMonde.fr
Surely might be worth considering for Chapelboroham, NC and the US as well!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Cellphones
"Regulation of Use of Cell Phones by Operators of Motor Vehicles: The Council voted to hold a public hearing, scheduled for Feb. 20, 2012, on a proposal to regulate use of cell phones by operators of motor vehicles and consider whether to schedule a public hearing on a draft ordinance."
One can only hope that the Council decides to do the only responsible thing and ban all use of cellphone while driving a motor vehicle anywhere by anyone over whom the Town has the legal power to act.
One can only hope that the Council decides to do the only responsible thing and ban all use of cellphone while driving a motor vehicle anywhere by anyone over whom the Town has the legal power to act.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Wasted driving
I wonder how much gasoline and time we all waste using automobiles to do tasks that really don't require them. Just think of the hassle everyone faces in some measure in getting their cars inspected. Time to go to the inspection point, perhaps a wait there or a drive back, and then a return roundtrip to collect the car. Imagine how someone could get all of that organized in some way so as to do inspections in parking lots or at home? Why not?
Dangerous driving
What do we citizens do when we see a car being operated dangerously as I did today (at about 11 AM) on 15-501/54? It was a Lexsu LS 430, if I got that right - A812 NC license with a big "scuba" flag as part of the license plate. I have seldom seen a car tailgate as agressively as I did this one, speeding and weaving in and out of traffic, turning off south on 15-501 and then left from Culbreth Rd. What are our options? Call 911?
Saturday, November 26, 2011
"The Death of the Fringe Suburb" - NYTimes.com
This sure makes sense. How do we get there from here in Chapelboroham? I might start by ripping up the transit maps and schedules and start running buses according to the routine needs of people from going to work to buying food. Rush hour from the suburbs is only part of the transportation need that must be met; if we don't meet basic needs of people, visions of "walkable" communities remain only that, ideas in our heads.
"To Rethink Sprawl, Start With Offices" - NYTimes.com
We sure need a lot of this thinking in Chapelboroham and it could start with an analysis of how each office connects with the community around it, from the people who work there, to its supplies an services, and anything it sends out from there. By making such analyses in a public way, we can all think carefully about working with the people who do the most to make this place a better one and let those who don't focus on this goal fend for themselves. I'd start with an analysis of where the people live who work for the Town of Chapel Hill. How much energy could we imagine they consume each day and how much pollution do they add to our shared air?
Friday, November 25, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Case of the Distracted Driver - NYTimes.com
Why are we remaining so far behind the obvious need for a total ban?
Friday, November 18, 2011
"Thinking Outside the Bus" - NYTimes.com
I think we could use a lot more of this thinking in Chapelboroham. When was the last time you took the business? What did you do?
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
"Orange voters approve sales tax increase" - NewsObserver.com
What percentage of registered voters voted?
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
"Faites bouger votre quartier !" - Site Officiel de la Ville de Lyon
Why don't we have quartiers that function like this?
".biz - N.C. hits record jobless rate using lesser-known estimate" - newsobserver.com
It is really awful, even if those not experiencing such a problem don't feel the pain themselves. That does not make it less painful.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
"UNC professor advises African governments" - The Daily Tarheel
How do we do a better job of sharing these stories in Chapelboroham and, more important, how do we move to the next stop of promoting opportunities to meet all of these interesting people?
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Ecox vélo électrique - Le magasin de vélos électriques à Paris et en ligne
I wonder if the Chapel Hill 2020 effort has data on the sale and use of bicycles, electric bicycles, "pliable" bikes of both kinds, etc. 40,000 bicycles with battery "assistance" are being sold each year in France. Story on this tonight on French national news - TF1 including this store. Still only 1% of sales. The 40,000 number may be total sales? A "pliable" electrically assisted bike runs around 2,200 USD!
Chapel Hill plan
What's most striking from a distance (France) about this project is how many people seem to have vast amounts of time to devote to this project. That means they get to feel that it is "theirs" and the more time the spend the more ownership they assert. It still strikes me as bureaucracy run wild.
Friday, October 28, 2011
"Americans’ Migration Patterns Shifting" - NYTimes.com
Has anyone studied this in Chapelboroham? Note reference to Nort Carolina.
"Free Trade, By Itself, Can Lift Labor Standards Abroad" - NYTimes.com
Always nice to see Chapelboroham people in The New York Times.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
"Beyond Green: A Net-Zero College Community" - NYTimes.com
Where are we on biogas and net-zero communities in Chapelboroham?
Sunday, October 23, 2011
"On Recycling, N.Y.C. Goes From Leader to Laggard" - NYTimes.com
How do we compare in Chapelboroham?
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
"At New York Schools, Finding Time for Exercise" - NYTimes.com
How are we doing in Chapelboroham on this?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
"How Active Is Your Daily Commute?" - NYTimes.com
Seems to me that we could all do a lot better at making the trip to work, whatever it is, a lot more active!
"New York Planting One Million Trees, Too Many for Some" - NYTimes.com
Are we still losing trees or has that stopped? What is the trend?
"Glad Cuts the Hyperbole for Its New Green Trash Bag" - NYTimes.com
Still, let's use fewer of them and concentrate on buying less that must be discarded and more that can be recycled in some way.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
"Library bids come in too high" - Chapel Hill News
I still wonder a lot at the wisdom of proceeding on this project. There are many views of the initiative that just don't make sense today, and perhaps for all time.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
First time I've seen a mention of a Customer Service Council for RDU. Seems like an excellent idea if it worls.
Friday, October 7, 2011
"Carrboro could get dollar store" - The Daily Tar Heel
I think we need a whole new set of criteria and approaches and thinking when it comes to something like this. The proposal needs to be viewed from every possible angle, working with the developer, to help everything succeed better. Instead, these things take on a food fight feel more often with people choosing sacred cows to defend or advance. What is needed is a way to work with the plan, the store, the people who live within walking distance to make it emerge not as something dropped into place from Mars but something that works organically well with the environment of place and people into which it is proposed to be placed.
"Chapel Hill 2020 meeting sees turnout of 200 to discuss drafting plan" - The Daily Tar Heel
I worry that only activists or people with a lot of extra time on their hands will make important decisions on this. How to get more people involved in ways that don't require as much touchy-feely time? The fact that some of us don't especially like that sort of approach, how does technology allow us to offer our views? It sounds like a lot of decisions are getting made by a few unelected people who just showed up.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
"Portland, Me., Casts Off a Sculpture Spurned by Many" - NYTimes.com
Anything for Chapelboroham to learn here?
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
"Chapel Hill’s 'The Edge' development could bring national retailers"- The Daily Tar Heel
Where are the opportunities for local businesses? Is anybody interested as business person or customer? And what about how this design fits for walkers and bikers and people taking a bus? Where is that plan? Who are the people really behind this? Even this provides none of those answers.
"Taking the car out of Carrboro and Chapel Hill" - The Daily Tar Heel
The problem is so much more fundamental than this. The community simply was not designed and had not grown up to be the right scale and organization for people walking or biking; it is, like most, a community designed for cars. Unless we address that flaw, we'll never solve a lot of problems.
"Lund, a Swedish College Town With Some Viking Mayhem in Its Past" - NYTimes.com
Imagine life here with so few cars! It's nice to imagine, but so very frustrating to come back to reality.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
"The Research Triangle: From Tobacco Road to Global Prominence - William M. Rohe" - Amazon
Probably a great book, but a little expensive and on Kindle version.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
USPS
The PO in Carrboro closes at 4 and when I tried to use the automatic machine inside for a certified letter, it kicked me out twice and I could not make it work. They need to do better despite the challenges that the institution is facing.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
"Town of Chapel Hill Economic Development · Open for Business"
It's always surprising to me that the stuff on this site always gets pushed to people out0-of-town and rarely affirmatively shared with those of us who live here.
Whether this will bring more business is hard to say. It is not likely to hurt, but it is a small tool in doing a very big job.
Whether this will bring more business is hard to say. It is not likely to hurt, but it is a small tool in doing a very big job.
"Has kudzu met its match in tiny bugs that feast on the vine?" - jacksonville.com
Lots of bugs threatening us, from the one linked above to this one.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Cellphones while driving
My prediction is that nothing meaningful will come of this during the meeting this evening, and I decided it was not worth the effort. If stupid people assume the risks and accept the consequences of driving and using a cellphone at the same time, I guess it's just up to the rest of us to try to stay out of their way.
Here is the result:
"Regulate Cell Phones by Operators of Motor Vehicles: The Council voted to pursue enactment of a local ordinance to regulate the use of cell phones while driving. Next, the Council requested a full report on the issues related to detection of violations, enforcement and other issues. Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos said he would request an opinion from the NC Attorney General on the authority of a municipality to regulate the use of cell phones by motor vehicle operators on Town streets and State highways within the municipality. If the Council wishes to pursue the matter further, it would call a public hearing to receive further public input."
I wonder if the draft is due this decade or the next? Can you imagine how long this will languish before going anywhere?
Here is the result:
"Regulate Cell Phones by Operators of Motor Vehicles: The Council voted to pursue enactment of a local ordinance to regulate the use of cell phones while driving. Next, the Council requested a full report on the issues related to detection of violations, enforcement and other issues. Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos said he would request an opinion from the NC Attorney General on the authority of a municipality to regulate the use of cell phones by motor vehicle operators on Town streets and State highways within the municipality. If the Council wishes to pursue the matter further, it would call a public hearing to receive further public input."
I wonder if the draft is due this decade or the next? Can you imagine how long this will languish before going anywhere?
Saturday, September 10, 2011
"Durham Hosts Paper Shredding & E-Scrap Recycling Event Oct. 2"
Very nice. We should be doing this all over Chapelboroham.
I see that this is last year's event, but have seen another promoted on television in recent days for Northgate Mall, as well, in a couple of weeks, I think. No link that I can find on a quick search.
I see that this is last year's event, but have seen another promoted on television in recent days for Northgate Mall, as well, in a couple of weeks, I think. No link that I can find on a quick search.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
One of the things that we really know little about are the ways and reasons that people think about, or go, to various parts of the community. If we understood appeals and turnoffs better, if we knew more about why people are or are not going places, to see or not see other people, we'd learn so much about how business and government could serve them better.
Rather than complain about Weaver Street construction in Carrboro, let's use it as a way to understand opportunities.
Rather than just watch a lot of people on fairly rare occasions at Southern Community Park in Chapel Hill, let's focus on why they are there, how they come, whether they stop en route, and what bothers them, what interests them and what could be better.
Just to pick two examples.
Employing some people just to ask questions and write about responses would be a nice job for them and a big help to everyone else who makes any sort of decision from walking or driving to buying or selling everything from an office building to a blueberry.
Another example. Some people are avid about riding bicycles in the area. That's great. But how much shopping or other patronizing of stores and services do they do on their bikes? Do we need heavier duty transport bikes either to be pedaled or fueled by solar electric? Those sorts of thinking and asking analyses never seem to happen, or at least I never seen them reported.
In Nice, where I also live, we have rental electric cars and bikes provided by the City at an affordable rate. That's an idea worth studying for here too.
Rather than complain about Weaver Street construction in Carrboro, let's use it as a way to understand opportunities.
Rather than just watch a lot of people on fairly rare occasions at Southern Community Park in Chapel Hill, let's focus on why they are there, how they come, whether they stop en route, and what bothers them, what interests them and what could be better.
Just to pick two examples.
Employing some people just to ask questions and write about responses would be a nice job for them and a big help to everyone else who makes any sort of decision from walking or driving to buying or selling everything from an office building to a blueberry.
Another example. Some people are avid about riding bicycles in the area. That's great. But how much shopping or other patronizing of stores and services do they do on their bikes? Do we need heavier duty transport bikes either to be pedaled or fueled by solar electric? Those sorts of thinking and asking analyses never seem to happen, or at least I never seen them reported.
In Nice, where I also live, we have rental electric cars and bikes provided by the City at an affordable rate. That's an idea worth studying for here too.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Daily Tar Heel :: Orange County uses commercial to advertise new quarter-cent sales tax
I look forward to a link to the explanation of why the increase is a good idea.
"More Children Living in Poverty" - NYTimes.com
NC does not look good on these maps, but I have not yet looked up the specific numbers for the state - this only shows that on two of them, we are in the worst category.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Suggestion for Chapel Happy Magazine
There are three principal sources of money to get our economy in NC going again. One is the government on all levels and that does not look promising. A second are companies, and they are prudently hesitant, rightly or wrongly. The third, and least pressed, are the rich people among us with hordes of money that they keep in various murky mattresses.
How about getting the Chapel Happy Magazine (aka Chapel Hill Magazine) on their trail? Ask them - the rich - how they are spending more in NC in ways that support jobs? Surely, that ought to fit squarely in that publication's focus on how wealthy people can smile at one another in fancy clothes.No?
Linked above is the calendar for release of state data, apparently next up is 16 Sep. A great date to announce release of the first list of people and where and what they have spent.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
People planning
I was thinking today as I drove through the parking lots of Streets of Southpoint that the people who designed that gave no thought whatsoever to making use of all that space as a pedestrian friendly walking space. Such a shame.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Dancing with the Stars of Carolina - Chapel Hill Magazine
At the same time that this be-happy event was happening at the Carolina Inn, someone was being shot at the gas station at University Mall. Balance is important even if it comes without smiley faces.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Time Warner Cable
What, exactly, does the "franchise" on file in Raleigh provide? As I understand it, the Town of Chapel plays no role any more.
Time Warner Cable customer service here is one of the worst and most frustrating experiences I've had in a long time, easily on a par with Expedia and its deceptively presented prices!
Who is the general manager for NC or the Triangle for Time Warner and how do we reach her or him?
I can't wait til we have a telephone alternative to Time Warner.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Orange commissioners OK fee hikes; money to go toward recycling center makeovers | centers, waste, recycling - Burlington Times News
I'm all for recycling, but it would be a lot more equitable to charge people on the basis of what they bring to these centers.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Borders and sidewalks
I wonder if any plans have surfaced for the old Borders store?
Consider this - imagine what you would or could do if the assignment was to turn Lowes Homes Improvement and the surrounding area into a walkable, engaging area - drawing people who live nearby and others who could get there by walking, taking the bus and if necessary, driving there in a car. Imagine the assignment was to make it a walkable area? What would you bulldoze? What would you change?
Compare this challenge with Reston Town Center in VA.
How Anchor Stores Keep Neighborhoods Afloat : NPR
What would it take to create a truly walkable 15-501?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
chapelhillnews.com | 140 W. Franklin at sales midpoint
I'd sure like to know how many of the purchasers plan to make this their residence, as opposed to a place to visit during sporting events.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Motorcycle driving recklessly
I followed a motorcycle this evening on 15/501 that turned off ahead of me on 15/501 south, passing in front of Southern Village as I turned there. The bike was swerving all over the road at a high rate of speed. License NC 455457. What can we as citizens do about these situations?
Trucks transporting cars
I saw one of those large tractor trailer rigs on 15-501 yesterday, carrying what appeared to be 6 Hondas. 5 of them were on the upper level and only one was on the lower level. The company says that this is perfectly safe. I find it hard to believe. With all of that weight up top and so much less down below, how can it not be unstable.
The NC Highway Patrol is to call me back to explain. 919-715-8683 - Motor Carrier Division. LT SHACKLEFORD (my apologies for misspelling his name).
--
The NC Highway Patrol is to call me back to explain. 919-715-8683 - Motor Carrier Division. LT SHACKLEFORD (my apologies for misspelling his name).
--
Monday, August 8, 2011
App Smart Extra: An App Aimed to Curb Distracted Driving - NYTimes.com
It ought to disconnect the phone call too!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
HopStop.com - Raleigh Itinéraires en transports en commun: Train, Bus, ferry-boat, vélo & Taxi
Itinerary to get to Wilmington on public "transit" - !
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Press Releases
The Blackstone Group seems to have some issues surrounding it? See This American Life.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Trains?
I noticed box cars or at least train cars on the rail siding by Southern States this morning. Coal? Something else?
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
States Pass Budget Pain to Cities as Cutbacks in Services Cascade - NYTimes.com
How much money does Chapelboroham receive from the State of North Carolina?
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Preservation Nation
What a waste of people's time to try to get Chapel Hill selected for this "prize". The way the contest is constructed - inviting people mindlessly to return once a day and vote again - is nothing short of stupid. If anyone is doing that, I think they must have a lot of spare time on their hands....time that could be contributed to a lot of local needs.
Dumb.
Dumb.
Police Departments Turn to Volunteers - NYTimes.com
How could the local police make full use in Chapelboroham of those of us with law enforcement training?
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
In New York’s Little Italy, Fewer and Fewer Italians - NYTimes.com
What's the closest we get to this in Chapelboroham?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Christians United for Israel - We speak and act with one voice in support of Israel: Executive Board
The group supporting the visit of Mosab Hassan to UNC tomorrow. Judge for yourself.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Attracting businesses
I worry that a lot of the effort to attract new businesses to Chapelboroham suffers from two big problems. One is that the pieces of Chapelboroham compete with one another which makes them look silly and renders the whole thing ineffective. The other is that the search for businesses seems focused on wants and not needs. Which businesses do we really want here because they add value to our lives beyond making tax payments. Let's do that list first and then proceed. Has someone done this?
Couldn't we get a bus to run every hour at least between Durham and Chapel Hill?
How about one that just travels 15-501? With easy connections on a single bus to Chapel Hill and another to Durham, and why not one to Carrboro and Pittsboro and Hillsborough?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Go Hands-Free, or Risk Points on Your License - NYTimes.com
It's a real shame that North Carolina politicians care so little for the people of this state that they do not do the same thing either locally or, better, at the state level.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Towns, Leroy
I think I recall that the husband of the Dean of the UNC Journalism worked for Pat ROBERTS as well. Coincidence?
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Map of New York City’s ethnic neighborhoods - Map - NYTimes.com
Has anyone done this for Chapelboroham?
Saturday, January 22, 2011
BBC News - Greece's alternative economy with bartering
Would this "time bank" idea work in Chapelboroham? Is it already here?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
myProvence Festival : Participer
I wonder if we do this in Chapelboroham or more broadly for North Carolina?
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