Stretched a bit thin

I’ve been staying up way too late and getting up way too early lately. I’m starting to feel the effects.

Thus, though I have a lot to write about, I shan’t be doing it here tonight.

Slain ambassador true believer in Libya, its people – USATODAY.com

USA Today had a great bio of Chris Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya who was killed in an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. He was an amazing diplomat.

Three weeks ago, Ambassador Chris Stevens cut the ribbon to reopen the U.S. Consulate in Libya, the place where Libyans could get visas to the U.S.

“Ahlan wasahlan bikum” he welcomed them in fluid Arabic to enthusiastic applause. “You are welcome to visit America, and there’s the door.”

Tuesday, Stevens and three other diplomats died when protesters incensed by a video maligning Islam stormed the consulate in Benghazi.

“He risked his life to stop a tyrant, then gave his life trying to help build a better Libya,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said. “The world needs more Chris Stevenses.”

via Slain ambassador true believer in Libya, its people – USATODAY.com.

“Net-zero” homes coming to East Raleigh?

One of KB Home’s net-zero homes in Tampa, FL


Wow. I’m stunned. I just figured out what KB Home means by the “environmental features” that they hope to build on the Weatherford property next door. KB Home builds “net-zero” homes: that is, homes that produce as much energy as they consume. They call their hyper-energy-efficient home the “ZeroHouse 2.0.” The company describes it this way:

Imagine a home that can save nearly 50,000 gallons of water a year, has an electric bill that could be next to nothing and can be monitored and controlled from your iPhone. No need to just imagine this home of the future, you can now purchase one of your very own . . .

In addition to being designed as a net-zero energy home, the home is ENERGY STAR qualified and WaterSense labeled. By combining an efficient building envelope, energy-conserving lighting, appliances and fixtures with a renewable energy source in the form of solar power system, the home is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes, allowing for a homeowner’s electric bill to be nearly zero. As such, it is estimated to save homeowners’ nearly $6,000 in energy costs annually, when compared to a typical resale home.

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Closing in

The Weatherford property as seen in Raleigh iMAPS, 2012-09-12.


I should’ve known it was too good to last. Word is that the Weatherford property, the 10 acre property across the street from my home, is under contract. I also learned yesterday that the wooded lot behind my home was sold last week.

As for the Weatherford property, the surveyors left marking tape on Monday and Kelly and I talked with executives with the buyer (presumably KB Homes) Tuesday. Their plans include single-family homes around 2500-3000 square feet. They’re said to include “environmental features” that sounded intriguing but weren’t elaborated upon. The lot sizes will be smaller than the 1/3 acre lots that my neighborhood, Bennett Woods, enjoys. This was due to the rising cost of land.

The rep who we spoke with said that our street, Tonsler Drive, made the property “especially appealing.” That means our days of being the last home on the street are probably numbered, though I assume we’ll be the last home on Tonsler proper (due to the existing street numbering) and a new street will begin at the end of Tonsler.
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Trunk full of cans

Remember the recycling theft ordinance that Raleigh passed at my prodding? Well, I’ve been looking the other way when I see obviously homeless people walking away with cans but there was one instance Friday that I could not let go.

A baby blue Cadillac was driving through the neighborhood with a handicap placard on the rear-view, a number of people inside, and the trunk open wide and stuffed from floor to lid with bags full of aluminum cans. I just couldn’t let this one go and called the cops. I don’t know if an officer didn’t find the car, wrote them a ticket, or simply let them go with a warning. I just know that what I saw was ridiculous.

Reelected by acclamation

I found out at this morning’s Parks board planning meeting that I was the only candidate for Parks board chair and the current vice-chair Kimberley Siran was the only candidate for vice-chair. We’re thus going to be reelected by acclamation at the upcoming Parks board election.

In addition, on September 4th the Raleigh City Council reappointed me for another two-year term on the board.

I’m grateful for the trust of my fellow Parks board members and that of the City Council. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve!