Free-For-All Friday 5/9/14
Decatur Metro | May 9, 2014 | 7:48 amFeel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
STARR X
New Scott
S
Teri Hammond
DecaturWalker
Chris Billingsley
Terry
Nicole Kaplan
Curious
Calamari
Julie
Krutz
Pack 175 End of Year Picnic
Please join us from 3:00 – 6:00 pm on Sunday, May 18th at Winnona Park Field for an afternoon of fun activities with Cub Scout Pack 175. We’ll be shooting model rockets, playing lots of games, and sharing good food and drink. It’s a great time for you and your son to experience the fun Scouting offers and to learn more about joining us next year
For more information visit: http://www.pack175decatur.com
I’m sad that WRAS is moving away from mostly music during the 5a-7p block. GPB is great, but I’ll miss my music.
Yeah, but now I’ll have four opportunities not to listen to A Prairie Home Companion every week.
Will be interesting to see just how much of WABE’s line-up gets duplicated on WRAS (hope to hell the awful Prairie Home Companion isn’t. That would just be wrong to have that faux folksy silliness airing on one of the (once) great college radio stations).
I don’t understand the reasoning behind duplicating ATC and Morning Edition. Seems like a wasted opportunity. It’s been a long time since I tuned into a GPB station–will their local breaks during those national shows be Atlanta-oriented?
A Prairie Home Companion on WRAS is… jesus god that is wrong on an ineffable Lovecraftian level. My mind cannot wrap around it.
Just to provide a dissenting voice, I’m someone (barely) under 40 who is still a fan of APHC (and GPB while we’re at it), but at the same time wishes WRAS would be left alone.
I don’t understand GSU’s thinking on this at all, and apparently the “contract” between GPB and the university doesn’t actually guarantee student involvement in the new format. I thought Pres. Becker was rude and dismissive in his responses to concerned students and disrespectful with the timing of the announcement. My child was looking at GSU as an alternative to the frat culture at UGA and the suburban/small town quality of most of the other in-state schools. He is not happy at the idea of football becoming even MORE dominant at GSU if the stadium deal goes through. I hope he doesn’t hear about Cinefest – he’ll start looking at out-of-state schools again. Does Becker not understand that Album 88 is one of the most distinctive parts of GSU, making it seem like a real school, not just a bigger version of GA Perimeter?
“He is not happy at the idea of football becoming even MORE dominant at GSU if the stadium deal goes through.”
Football is far from dominant at GSU. Most students couldn’t care less. Don’t know how old you’re son is but, even if the deal were to happen, it would be at least six or seven years before a stadium would be built (the Braves are in Turner Field thru 2017). However, I would worry about the athletic fees going up before that, despite Becker’s vague assertions to the contrary.
Hmm, he might graduate before kickoff in the new stadium. More shame to Becker, then, if he’s making students pay for programs they don’t care about and canceling the ones they do. Myself, I like a football program small enough to drown in the bathtub.
Just got an opinion poll from WABE and it included a question about WRAS. Seems like they are paying some attention to the objections to WRAS becoming gpb.
I regularly listen to a GPB radio station out of Columbus, and find that its weekend programing compares well with WABE. Good jazz on Friday nights, different game shows, PHC aired at different times. This should be a good addition.
Makes me love my SiriusXM subscription even more. Once I switched, I have never gone back to terrestrial radio.
Now that I have a vehicle with Bluetooth, an unlimited data plan, a Jambox, and the Sirius XM app, my terrestrial radio listening is limited to Morning Edition in the shower. That said, I am really going to miss the terrific Saturday block of programming on WRAS, starting with Reeling in the Years and on to Adventures in Paradise, Deviltown, Charm Academy, and Quintessential College Show, even with all the “er, um”s and mangled pronunciation and grammar (“that song was off of the record such and such”) that come with the college radio turf.
My favorite is “The name of that song is titled _________.”
I too will miss the WRAS jocks’ mumbling, silliness, etc. — it was a big part of the charm of all college radio, as was actually hearing new music from obscure or rising artists. They helped me discover so many bands… something terrestial radio seems to have given up on long ago.
It seems the station had been playing more electronic stuff over the past few years, as that’s what all “the kids” are listening to, and that often made me feel older and more out of touch (a job my kids excell at). But I continued to listen because it was simply the best radio station in town.
Thankfully, we also signed up for Sirius XM in both cars. The Underground Garage channel now provides me with new, undiscovered music. And when I wan to piss off the family, there’s always the Grateful Dead channel…
PS, forgot to mention my favorite WRAS shows of all time — Martinis Con Queso and Music for the Pre-Pubescents. Long gone but never to be forgotten!
I have literally been listening to One Step Beyond since ska was cool.
Had I known there was an Underground Garage channel, I’d have signed up long ago.
I like Underground Garage, too. They really dig up some good stuff. For the older set, Deep Tracks as always fun.
Plus, it’s the only station where you’ll hear Dion followed by the Ramones.
I hear both of those regularly (but not usually consecutively) on the wonderful AM 1690.
My wife and I still laugh at this, and it’s cruel, but like, ten years ago we were listening and the DJ was this poor kid with a terrible lisp, and he was trying to discuss the band “Supersuckers” and he just kept on calling ’em “The Thuperthuckers”.
College radio, man.
And therein lies your answer. There are plenty of pissed off people, and I too, love Saturdays on RAS, however, college radio, to be fair, has no business on a 100k watt station. We were lucky to have it as long as we did, but this was bound to happen at some point. It’s fine to be sad about this, but really . . .
Eh. It’s a signature feature of the university. GSU is dealing with a serious case of Athens Envy right now, with their… let’s call it a “hard luck” football program, erstwhile attempts at buying The Ted, and so forth – for some reason the university feels having Yet Another NPR affiliate is a bigger feather in its cap than a nationally-recognized student-run voice.
(They also cut funding to Cinefest, GSU’s campus theater, and pretty much told the students who ran it to quit showing indie/foreign films and start showing stuff that will actually bring in ticket revenues.)
“They also cut funding to Cinefest, GSU’s campus theater, and pretty much told the students who ran it to quit showing indie/foreign films and start showing stuff that will actually bring in ticket revenues.)”
Cinefest, like WRAS, is supposed to be an alternative to the mainstream. Besides, students get in free anyway; I don’t think any non-students are going to pay to see The Hunger Games Part 3 1/2 in a tiny theater downtown. I did, however, pay 5 bucks to see The Master there because it was, to the best of my knowledge, the only place that screened it in 35mm. Unfortunately, as of this month they are no longer projecting films. Digital only now.
Which was, I believe, another mandate from the administration.
Could the college radio station relocate itself to a non-100k watt station, whatever that would be?
I can hardly pick up WRAS on 88.5 so it doesn’t seem like all that powerful a station to me. But I don’t understand radio waves any better than I understand microwaves, ultrasound, or wireless connections.
Download TuneIn Radio on your iPhone and every radio station in the world will be available. For free (data charges may apply…).
Does that app exist for android phones?
Yep
You’re an athhole!
Strongbad once defined college radio in five words: “Dead air . . . ummm . . . dead air.”
But WRAS and WREK are usually exemplary on air. Them crazy kids is doing something right.
So, he nailed the last s? Good for him!
+1. First Wave and AltNation alone make the price worth it.
Can’t forget Liquid Metal, for those of us with really really bad taste in music. 🙂
Sirius/XM”s playlist is a little too shallow for my taste. Look, First Wave, I love Bowie as much as you do, and “Modern Love” is one of my favorite songs, but I don’t need it every two hours. There are other REM songs besides “The One I Love.”
Try The Loft on Sirius XM. The target market skews a little older, but there is still a decent amount of new indie rock played. Currently the new one by The War on Drugs is in heavy rotation. There are great shows like David Johansen’s Mansion of Fun, Vin Scelsa’s Idiot’s Delight, and the now sadly gone Lou Reed/Hal Wilner show. It’s where I hear current favorites like Hurray for the Riff Raff and Jason Isbell. This afternoon is given over to six hours of New Orleans Jazz Fest related music. It’s a good complement to Underground Garage.
And jeebus, who decided to play Depeche Mode every fifth song? And really, the Smiths did more than just “Girlfriend in a Coma.”
EXACTLY. Needs way way more deep cuts, especially if you’re gonna listen to it for an entire workday.
I sent a few emails to gsu people but heard nothing back. I think the president is a looking for a legacy. I’m dropping my funding for gpb and moving it to wabe a local Decatur charities. College radio is not npr. Gsu does not need air time on gpb. Quit making state funded university all about money. Let the kids get an education and have an experience that doesn’t involve some commercial crap. Sorry, I’m just done with it and no one at gsu cares except the wras team that feels slighted to say the least. Booty shake 88 till June. Just do it!
For those who patronize them but may not know – Camp Woof is moving from DeKalb Industrial to a location near the Hugh Howell / Lawrenceville Highway intersection.
They also have a location in Toco Hill. Love Camp Woof!
I have noticed a little bit of activity inside MAR over the last couple of weeks. Hoping that is a good sign they are coming back soon.
Reopening soon as MARBar according to their facebook page.
Oh fine. You think you are all fancy with your Facebook research. I like to do things the old fashioned way and just peep in the restaurant’s windows!
Glad to know something is coming back.
Mmmm…Mars Bar.
Haaahahaha! That’s exactly what I thought when I first read it…
Thanks to everyone who came out last night to the first even joint Family Fun Night for Clairemont and Glennwood. Over 500 people showed up. You can read more at Decaturish. http://www.decaturish.com/2014/05/friday-photo-roundup-may-9-2014/
The family fun night was indeed lots of fun! Great idea for Clairemont and Glennwood to partner. Fabulous idea to hold event in Decatur Square!
When I first saw this, I thought it read, “Family Fun Night for Clermont…” and thought, ” What the hey?”
If I had kids, I would make sure they had an appreciation for beer can crushing boobs. This is also probably why I don’t have kids.
I’m waiting until middle school to bring that up.
In middle school it brings itself up.
yeah, and at the most inopportune times, like when you’re in biology class and the teacher asks you to go to the chalkboard, and you’ve got a, well . . . nevermind
Do you use the same technique as Blondie? I’ve never seen a man capable of that particular trick.
DHS Athletics Alert:
Boy’s lacrosse and girl’s soccer have both advanced to the quarterfinal round of the State Playoffs. Lacrosse is home tomorrow at 1:00 vs Pope HS. Soccer is away tomorrow at 6:00 at Pierce County HS.
Go Dogs!
(Not “Dawgs”)
Our neighbors in Druid Hills continue to show a lack of class when it comes to the Clifton Ridge development. A large circle with a line through it was painted on the freshly paved driveway into the development overnight. As somebody said on this very topic a few weeks ago, it just proves that money doesn’t buy class.
Sounds to me like someone is pushing their luck and is asking to be charged with a felony. Signs are one thing, but driveways are expensive – this is no longer petty vandalism.
Send that kid with the pressure washer over there. He’ll take care of it!
I still think it’s one adult or teen with anger control issues, not the neighbors as a whole. As I drive by the nicely appointed homes, cars, and huge lawns with the “Deny Clifton Ridge” signs (or whatever they say), I can’t imagine that these are the type of folks that would jeopardize their lifestyle, reputation, and freedom to carpool to Paideia or the Druid Hills Country Club in order to spray paint a protest.
Have to disagree with you here. Land us and zoning disagreements involving the Druid Hills Civic Association have been notoriously ugly.
True and I rememeber Durand Mill. As soon as the elitists lost the battle,….they moved into the McMansions. But I don’t think most of those folks would be willing to have a criminal record for their cause. Donating money, attending meetings, walking around with petitions, getting quotes in the paper is one thing. Getting fingerprinted for a felony charge is another. I’m thinking it’s an adult with serious anger issues and maybe estranged from family. Otherwise, wouldn’t your family notice if you kept sneaking out in the middle of night and came home smelling of paint? Or get bringing home bags with black spray paint?
If it IS a group of underground Druid Hills elitist graffiti-ists, stay tuned for a sensational story coming out eventually. Groups of people, especially amateur criminals, aren’t very good at keeping secrets for long.
I like the part where you maligned an entire community for the actions of one individual. That’s some quality FFAF rabblerousing!
I am quite amused at the condescension directed towards the Druid Hills elitists from the Decatur elitists.
That just made me laugh out loud!
there can only be one elitistest.
oh, yeah? well we’re eliterer infinity and one
Virginia Highlander 2: The Dickening
Pythagoras is today’s winner! Nicely done.
I would generally agree, but something tells me that the immediate neighbors probably find joy in seeing the developer’s name crossed out and paint in the driveway.
The thing that pisses me off the most about this is that the workers who are there on a day in and day out basis have to see these things. It’s not easy working where you’re not wanted.
If that makes me an elitist, sorry.
If anyone is interested, here is what the Druid Hills Civil Association itself says about the “contentious fight” over Clifton Ridge. http druidhills org deny-clifton-ridge
Read it all the way through, but it still does not give residents (or a resident) the right to spray paint signs and driveways in protest. Things like this should be fought civilly and with good manners.
Of course.
TeeRuss – And so is your comment! Unfortunately, sometimes the actions of some can hurt the reputation of all. Continued actions like these could be put to a halt if the neighborhood really wanted to intervene.
Is it legal to blow yard debris into the street? Seeing this done a lot already this mow & blow season, and one didn’t even slow down but kept blowing stuff right at cars passing. Not good since my windows were down.
Such a pet peeve of mine! ( Along with your out of control herd of children in Decatur.) 🙂
It’s illegal and defined as litter:
Litter means any organic or inorganic waste material, rubbish, refuse, garbage, trash, hulls, peelings, debris, grass, weeds, ashes, sand, gravel, slag, brickbats, metal, plastic, and glass containers, broken glass, dead animals or intentionally or unintentionally discarded materials of every kind and description which are not “waste” as such term is defined in O.C.G.A., § 16-7-51, paragraph 6.
A guy on N Decatur Rd near the Briarcliff intersection consistently blows his clippings at cars, despite people yelling at him. Though he did hit a BMW with a rock last year, prompting the driver to pull into his driveway…
The lawn care company one set of neighbors uses, always blows 6 months worth of clippings, weeds, and old leaves from their yard and roof onto neighbors’ lots and the street, then rushes off. Imagine the workers’ scowls when we confronted them in time this week about cleaning up their mess on our property…
What’s filming in Oakhurst? Is that part of the Goosebumps thing?
It’s the same MTV series that was filming at Yogurt Tap.
It’s the MTV show.
MTV = Meaningless TeleVision
was it the andy dick show that had the eMpTyV thing? as fitting then as it is now (i assume, haven’t turned that channel on in years)
Any update on the bicyclist that was hit Weds on West Ponce; other than what was in the AJC which stated that she was recovering and no longer “life-threatened? How was she hit?
There was something on Decaturish. Check there.
The bicyclist is supposed to make a full recovery. Wonderful news. My partner witnessed this accident and has been shaken up about it for days.
An old* guy hit her from behind as she was stopped and waiting to turn left.
[Call me ageist, but I don’t care who you are, 87 is old. The way my own eyesight and reaction times are deteriorating, I don’t plan to be able drive past 55.]
I agree, and think it’s too easy to continue driving in this state (maybe it’s the same everywhere?) without proving competency. Hell, it’s too easy to begin driving in this state without proving competency.
In my dream world, the state pulls a large random sample of due-for-renewal licenses each year, and requires those individuals to take written, road and eye tests.
Every year, some politician or another tries to introduce some degree of sanity into our traffic laws by writing a bill to make periodic testing (usually just eye tests), but the evil AARP shoots it down.
If I’ve learned anything useful from South Park, it’s that boarding up the Country Kitchen Buffet is highly effective against the AARP. That and hippies hate death metal.
As a bicyclist, these details make me sick to my stomach.
To a guy turning 48 tomorrow, your age 55 threshold is uncomfortably close. Especially since I recently bought the first car I’ve ever owned that can actually get out of its own way.
yeah, a souped-up performance hatchback you like to spin donuts with in the school parking lot while cranking Highway to Hell, and waiting to pick up your kids after school .
you’re the reason why old people can’t have nice things.
ok, i made that first part up.
maybe.
You forgot about pouring bleach on the tires before doing donuts in the HS parking lot.
Bleach? Does that make the tires smoke or something? Forgive my ignorance of rebelliousness…
Yup. Makes ’em smoke and stinks to high heaven.
I never actually did that in high school (a ’71 Pinto isn’t optimal for bleach burnouts), but I witnessed it way too often. That’s what happens when you grow up near Moroso Motorsports Park and everyone races their ’68 Camaros on Wednesday nights and on Thursday mornings show off their quarter-mile times written on their windshield.
Pfft–55 is too young. I plan to drive till I have my first merchandise-and-mannequin-scattering crash thru a department store window. THEN I’ll hang it up.
I’m too far past the 55 cutoff to bother pretending I’m not. And I’m here to tell you it’s possible to compensate for deteriorating vision and slowing reflexes by paying closer attention, joining my jihad against cell phone use while driving, and generally cultivating a more watchful (and judgmental) demeanor. I was recently involved in a three-vehicle collision downtown, in which I was the oldest driver and also the only one able to stop short of the ill-fated intersection. Unfortunately, I got smacked around anyway, while cowering at a dead stop, as the red light-running miscreant slammed somebody else clean out of the intersection and then careened into me. I’m fine, my new car is broken, Hertz sucks, Enterprise rules. I’m going to the beach.
BTW, did you know that in the state of Georgia, the lowest deductible you can have on Uninsured Motorist coverage is $250? No matter what you’re willing to pay for a zero deductible, you can’t have it. So you can drive to Publix as defensively as you want, and if somebody smacks you anyway and they don’t have insurance, you’re out $250 (plus however many hours you spend on the phone with your own carrier, with the body shop, in your car tracking down the APD accident report, with car rental companies). Plus another little bit of time you spend on the phone with the Insurance Commissioner’s Office trying to discover the rationale for that stupid law, just because it’s so stupid you can’t leave it alone. (If you’re interested, the ultimate answer is “Because that’s the way it was filed.”)
“BTW, did you know that in the state of Georgia, the lowest deductible you can have on Uninsured Motorist coverage is $250?”
Along those lines, we recently found out that a hit-and-run falls under the same category as uninsured motorist. We were rear-ended by a hit-and run driver in Anniston, AL two weeks ago. It’s the second such incident I’ve experienced in 9 months; was side-swiped on N.Druid Hills Rd. last year. Even before these I’d been wondering if hit-and-runs– both the pedestrian type and vehicle on vehicle– happen more often than in the past. Or is it just the increased reporting of them on all the different media? At any rate, I’m glad I’ve ignored the personal finance gurus’ advice to go for high deductibles. That would be penny wise and pound foolish around here.
Anyway, the jerk in Alabama did $2200 worth of damage, and, along with the repairs, our insurer offered a $90 settlement for loss-of-value. I have no idea if this is acceptable. Any ideas on how to determine if it is?
I was unaware of Georgia’s diminished value law, too, until receiving a check after a fender bender 3 years ago. This 2013 article gives a great overview and alleges that insurance companies are underpaying customers.
www dot wsbtv dot com/news/news/local/appraiser-says-car-insurance-underpays-diminished-/nWLsd/
They only pay now because a lawsuit forced them to.
On a new topic altogether, can anyone recommend a termite bond company? We don’t have an issue, but want to avoid one in the future. Seems like termite bonds can be quite expensive, and I really have no idea what to look for in a company. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
I’ve been pleased with both Allgood & Terminix.
Thanks!
We’ve been using Bulldog Pest Control and have been very satisfied. Also happy that it’s local.
770-466-4156 bulldogpc at comcast dot net.
We have Baco and can (unfortunately) attest to their prompt and thorough response when we did have termite issue & damage.
Anyone use Avondale Pest Control? Mark Medlin came out and did a great job with our quarterly pest treatment last December but didn’t follow up this spring, and several messages and e-mails have gone unanswered. Not sure if something is wrong or I’m being ignored.
Would also appreciate suggestions for alternatives if I have to go that route.
I had the exact same experience as you, and we switched to (and have been happy with) Peachtree Pest Control.
I’ve used Peachtree Pest Control for years for both pest and termites.
Leaf boy is home from college and ready for work. Though it’s not technically leaf-season, email if you need any yard work – mowing, raking, weeding, mulching, etc. [email protected]
Hey, I got another what-passes-for-an-attack-ad-around-here from Kyle Williams today.
Per their twitter feed, Arepa Mia is coming to Decatur. Anyone have any insight? Their spot in Auburn Market is really good.
http://instagram.com/p/nyTSxIqMex/
That is fantastic. Great food.
Don’t know Arepa Mia but love arepas!
Curiously I walked by Calle Latina today at 5 pm and saw a sign that said it was closed for a week while some renovations (including a long bar) were being built. I wonder …
Ohhhh, I love me some Calle Latina, but Arepa Mia ROCKS!!! Their arepas & empanadas are head & shoulders above any others in the ATL metro area–their sauces are crazy good. Oh, I hope it’s true!!!
So was all of that loud music tonight coming from the Shaky Knees Music Festival all the way over in Atlantic Station? If so we have two more days and nights of it.
Yep, the winds on a clear night easily blow sounds from Midtown to Decatur. Think of how much louder it would be if we didn’t have so many trees to dampen it!
It did interfere with my open window hockey watching last night but after Fleury conceded the 3rd goal it was actually a welcome distraction. Won’t be an issue tonight as I’ll be up close with Paul Westerberg and partying like a (classic) rock star afterward.
Where’s Lyrics Only Guy when we need him? All I know is, I can’t hardly wait!
I have fond memories of seeing the ‘Mats at the Ritz in NYC. Bob Stinson played the whole show in a t-shirt and titey whities.
Try to catch Gregory Alan Isakov at 2:45 for some fine sensitive singer-songwriter stuff. I would love to see Jackie Greene, too.
I guess I missed you there. The show rocked, even with the crazy downpour delaying the start.
All the old dudes (myself included) were in the front 10-15 rows in the mass of humanity Saturday night. It was pretty humorous to see the youngsters leaving and the old-folks moving in as soon as the earlier show ended…
Maybe the Sweet Auburn Spring Fest?
Just saw a renovated Craftsman style home over by Westchester listed for sale for $829,000. The listing boasts of being able to walk through Hidden Cove Park to Westchester Elementary.
1. That’s unbelievably high for the Westchester area, which was originally more 1960s brick ranches and split levels. Listings in the range of $350,000 are much more common.
2. I knew Westchester Elementary re-opening would bring a boom to that area.
3. The developers were reading my predictions and have started in on changing McBricks to McCraftsmans.
3. Sure wonder what the area would look like now if Westchester had never closed.
4. There’s no question in my mind now that real estate, development, taxes, and elementary schools are tightly linked.
5. I predict that, within 5 years, there will be a need to expand Westchester and it will be expanded just fine despite all the reasons stated in 2003-2004 that it couldn’t be.
Housing bubble 2.0? Prices certainly seem to have reverted to bubble levels in certain places, Decatur included. The counter argument is that (supposedly) tighter lending standards mean that only people who can truly afford $830k houses are actually getting the necessary loans. Color me skeptical, since what banks call “affordable” is sometimes anything but. And a huge mortgage payment means the borrower is usually one layoff away from financial ruin.
At best, it seems to me that paying that kind of money is buying at the top of the market and it may later prove very difficult to sell at an equivalent or higher price. To each his own, of course, assuming we don’t end up with bailout 2.0.
Well, but I was astounded when I saw the first few homes in Oakhurst listed for over $600,000. Obviously, the developers knew something I didn’t know. This does feel like a bubble but I never saw the last bubble burst here in Decatur. I was amazed that we seemed to emerge from our recent recession as unscathed as we did. I observed a few folks get burned who depended on high salaried positions. But seems like local real estate, development, construction, mortgage, landscaping businesses continued to do well.
….as long as they were operating near an open elementary school.