Trolley Folly

N&O reporter Ryan Teague Beckwith wrote the article Sunday I’ve been meaning to write for years now. It was a look back to the days Raleigh was trolley town. From the 1880’s to 1930’s, tracks ran throughout downtown, serving Cameron Park, Glenwood Avenue, and other destinations.

Problems Beckwith cite with the service include it being too hot or cold at times. Well, duh! It’s not like your horse-drawn buggy had a heater in it, either. People made do.

I also don’t like how Beckwith blames the trolley for feeding segregationist policies. While segregation is wrong, I think the blame lies on the segregationists, rather than the trolley. The trolley did far too much good.

In 1933, the tracks were shut down and public transportation gained all the charm of “taking the bus.” City development changed drastically as a result. Think of how people-friendly the city would be if we still had those tracks.

I first became interested in the old trolley system when working on my shrine to the old Raleigh Municipal Airport. I found the old pictures of trolleys I found in the N.C. State Archives and History to be captivating. Perhaps one day I’ll create a page about the trolleys similar to my RaleighMuni pages.

Pentagon Spying On Americans?

It appears the Pentagon is spying on Americans. Peaceful Americans, at that. Apparently the military considers Quakers to be a threat. Go figure.

I’m no expert, but I’m thinking there are far more real enemies out in the world that need attention before we begin worrying about a few peace activists. But maybe that’s just me.

Wet Weather On The Way?

Looks like wet and possibly freezy weather may be on the way, though it probably won’t amount to much. The blazing red sunrise on the clouds this morning told me we are in for some kind of precipitation. The birds in the trees were especially noisy, too. Makes me think something is up.

The wet stuff is supposed to get here this evening. Hopefully we’ll get rain, as this drought stuff is sooo summer 2005.

Radio Desert

Raleigh is a radio desert compared to California. One highlight of my trip was tuning into KCRW, a Santa Monica public radio station with a translator covering Palm Springs on 89.3. Its been a long time since radio reached out and grabbed me. KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic had that effect. I was happily grooving on the way back to the airport until the signal from Palm Springs faded.

Fortunately for me (and you), KCRW has a honkin’ Shoutcast stream. Good times.

Los Angeles: Rudeness Capital Of The World?

I couldn’t help but notice just how crazy people are in the Los Angeles area. They’re like sharks! Rudeness abounded. Drivers honked horns constantly. Cars cut in waiting lines of traffic. Driving anywhere was an exercise in patience.

At the datacenter I was visiting, I walked across the lobby just as a woman was entering. “Excuse me,” I said as I stepped in front of her. I turned around to hear her grumbling loudly to herself “Go ahead! Walk in front of me and don’t even say ‘excuse me.'” She stormed off, leaving me shaking my head.

Wow, I thought. What is it about this place that makes people continually pissed off?

We were looking for a place to park at lunchtime at a crowded shopping center. A car in front of us was stopped to let a car back out of its parking space. A car opposite us, which had clearly gotten there first, was patiently waiting to take that spot. As we watched, the car in front of us quickly pulled into the waiting car’s spot, leaving the waiting driver livid. There were no manners anywhere!

There were exceptions, of course. My buddy Matt and wife Daniella were exceedingly generous, feeding me and putting me up for the night. They live in Palm Desert, though, where there’s more room to spread out. Also Steve, my business contact, was very cool. Decades spent in Southern California hadn’t jaded him. I suppose the surfing he does every day keeps things in perspective.

In spite of my long plane ride back, I was quite happy to be back on my home soil. Going away really makes you appreciate what you have.

As for Los Angeles, you can keep it, thank you.

RIP, Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor, the comedy legend, died Saturday morning from a heart attack. He was 65.

Pryor had his troubles, to be sure, but he also posessed a comic genius few can ever match. So many comedians owe their careers to him. His comic observations of the world around us helped bridge the divides across racial and ethnic lines. Pryor laid it all out there. He showed us things we were otherwise too afraid to see: the prejudice in America being one. (Two others are “The Toy” and “Superman III“, but I digress).

Its safe to say that there will never be another Richard Pryor. Thanks for the laughs, Richard.

Back From My Trip

I got back from my week-long trip late Friday. Been spending the weekend remembering how to be a husband and daddy. Blogging has taken a back seat as a result.

Went to a dinner party that my friends and I occasionally throw. I don’t think I’ve had that kind of fun in a long, long time. It was a great way to recharge my batteries. My parents did the kid-sitting for us. It was nice to see them, too.

Yesterday was the anniversary of my grandmother’s death. She had been on my mind yesterday (and many days before, to be truthful). She’s still missed, that’s for sure. At the end of this week, we travel to Delaware for the service for Kelly’s grandmother, who died several days ago.

We had a fun afternoon spent playing Christmas music together. Kelly broke out her flute, I played guitar and piano (though not simultaneously), Hallie played harmonica and Travis sang. It was a blast! We hope to make a regular thing of it.

Time to update a few more blogs, then off to bed to face yet another week of work.