James Taylor tickets not ready yet

I just got back from the downtown Obama headquarters. The tickets for Tuesday’s free James Taylor concert in Moore Square aren’t ready yet. Seems there was a problem with the printer and they all weren’t cut. An Obama staffmember told me he expects them to be in around noon.

Upon hearing this, two fans who had been waiting in a car exclaimed “well, that was a two-hour waste of time.” Those two and one other gentleman were the only other ticket-seekers there when the office opened.

Update: They’re available now.

Strickland Park vote

Tonight’s Parks and Rec meeting was a bit contentious (or so I am told – that’s the only kinds I’ve witnessed so far). There are many stakeholders passionate about their views for the park. I came to accept the Strickland Park plan as probably the best that we could get. I hope the neighbors who will frequent the park will enjoy the finished product.

On a totally unrelated note, I need to start eating supper before dashing off to these meetings. Votes like tonight’s are not easy on my stomach!

This is a serious message!

Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr recently posted a video on his website announcing he would no longer be autographing items mailed to him. Its bizarre enough that it practically begs for a response.

This could be the “Kenneth, what’s the frequency?” of 2008. Some have already begun parodying it, like this, this, this, this, and this.

I can’t sit on the sidelines, either: I’ve got to post a parody. Look for a goofy video soon: my first YouTube appearance.

Strickland park

If I didn’t get my fill of excitement last night I’ve got more fun tonight. Tonight’s the night the Parks and Rec board votes on the master plan for Strickland Park.

I’m not happy with how the public process was handled here, though I think the park will be a welcome asset to the neighborhood, ultimately. There are a few changes that I would like to see – and that I will ask for – but I’m not optimistic that these will be accomplished. I think some people have made up their minds and little will change their positions.

The big chair

I attended my first Raleigh CAC meeting (as opposed to the East CAC ones that I lead). I sat at the City Council table for the first time and the meeting was televised on RTN channel 11.

The meeting was dull for the most part. Up until the end, that is, which came after the meeting stopped its scheduled airing on cable. That’s when some longtime CAC chairs unloaded about the perceived lack of cooperation they have been getting from the city’s community services department. Though I was missing half of the televised presidential debate I couldn’t pull myself away from the fireworks.

Yet another unexpectedly-exciting first meeting I’ve attended!

Trickle-down economics

A friend of my coworker works at a local homeless shelter. He says homelessness is up 30% now due to the economy. Urban Ministries of Durham is warning of the same increase in homeless people.

“The current economic condition of our country is pushing many people into homelessness, and Durham will be no exception,” said Greg Rowland, Urban Ministries’ vice-chair. “We are committed to increasing our capacity to provide food, clothing, shelter and recovery to everyone who walks through our door.”

It might hurt to lose pretend money in the stock market but its important to remember those for whom the economic stress is painfully tangible: our homeless.

Warm fall days

Its sunny and clear with a temperature of 85 degrees. Its a perfect spring day here in North Carolina. Slightly warmer than usual, but fine. Its perfect weather for the North Carolina State Fair, which kicks off this weekend. It should get off to a nasty start, though, with temperatures plunging Friday and rain predicted. Sunday should be nice, though.

Ticker shock

I was in a funk most of yesterday: Monday night I got some discouraging news about my new cholesterol results. Rather than improving after months of regular exercise and better eating my cholesterol has gotten slightly worse. Now I am facing medication. Is it the end of the world? Not by a long shot, but I assumed things would trend better and I’m puzzled when they did not.
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