Free-For-All Friday 12/7/12
Decatur Metro | December 7, 2012Feel 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.
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Need a repeat on the recommendations for both a general handyman and a quality carpenter.
On a related issue for Master DM: any way to search previous Friday FFAs? the search mechanism only seems to search for major topics , not within the FFAs.
Just do a regular google or bing search for “decatur metro free-for- all friday X” with X being whatever term(s) you want to search for. That works pretty well, and it will have to do until that DM guy gets off his ass and fixes this problem, his excuses about having a real job and a family and wanting a life and all notwithstanding…
Given the enormous holiday bonus that we all chip in and give DM every year, you’d really think he could build more bells and whistles for this site……………… I’m still waiting for the feature that ensures that I say what I really mean.
Oh dear, I would get in A LOT of trouble on the internet if that feature was standard…
Well, a lot MORE trouble
Like the insurance commercial says – you can’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true.
I’m looking for a similar recommendation. Specifically someone to build and install window boxes. Thanks.
Do you mean window planter boxes? If so, you can find a simple design on the webs, have Home Depot cut the boards for you and all you have to do is assemble.
Yessir.
Will Sawyer is a terrific handyman/carpenter. He built some window boxes for me a few months ago. Worked off a picture I found in a magazine and did a beautiful job. Give him a call: 828-450-6620.
I have always been irritated when I see adults walking along the railroad tracks, and I just want to call them out on being a bad example for our many kids who walk to school and back every day. However, this week I witnessed a new low…on Monday I saw a young family with two babies having what was presumably their holiday portrait made–standing on the railroad tracks! With a professional photographer! I thought about calling the police since they were obviously trespassing (and putting their children in danger). This was over by Feast. I hope one day they’ll quietly take the portrait out of the frame and put it away as they realize what a dumb decision that was.
+100
That is a dangerous and illegal practice. Over 600 people a year are killed doing just that.
Some other fatality statistics:
— falling out of bed, 450 annual deaths (we should all sleep in cribs)
— drowning in a bathtub, 340 deaths (showers only, people!)
— shopping on Black Friday, 550 deaths (Amazon is safer)
— lightning, 10,000 deaths (just stay home already)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/20-things-that-kill-more-people-than-sharks-every
Make sure to keep your mouth closed in the shower, or they can be just as deadly as the bathtub.
http://pixelpunchstudio.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/the-more-you-know.gif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3rhQc666Sg
Everybody has a campaign, I have mine.
I would like to believe that the walkers probably would make a different choice from better options.
Agree and my children are not allowed to cross the tracks at Renfroe illegally but boy do I feel like I’m going against the tide.
Perhaps you should have made a citizen’s arrest, Tiptoe? Yes, I’m being snarky. It’s not Marta with a high voltage third rail. I suspect the photo shoot came off just fine with no deaths involved.
How else would kids learn to balance?
Not that I’m defending anything — it is private land and, without question, hundreds of deaths are hundreds too many — but I have to admit I’m left scratching my head sometimes at the things people get especially vigilant about.
Let’s take Steve’s number of 600ish deaths (though, subtracting incidents that involve a motor vehicle, I’ve seen ped-specific numbers as low as around 450). As I said, whatever the number, it’s too many and each is tragic. Still, the Federal Railroad Administration estimates that 20-50% of those are intentional suicides. So that leaves a number as low as 225 or as high as 500. Again, before I get flamed, I understand that’s a lot. Even one would be too many.
Meanwhile, though, about 4,000 pedestrians a year are killed on streets and roads, and just shy of 60,000 are hurt. Not that I’m trying to play the numbers game. I just can’t imagine I’d ever see anyone post “I can’t believe I saw a family walking their kids down Scott Blvd. or College Avenue, just feet from a relentless flow of traffic in excess of 35 miles per hour” despite the fact that, if we’re talking about people putting their children in peril, behavior in proximity to streets, statistically, carries far greater risk. But we’re so accustomed to the role of cars in our lives that we excuse this or simply don’t consider it at all.
What do we do about streets in regards to our kids? We educate them. We teach them not to walk down the street, to always be aware of what’s happening, and to cross safely. Then we trust them to make intelligent decisions. I don’t particularly think a photo on the tracks is a good idea either, and that’s not what this longwinded blathering is about. I just don’t understand the need to really call out a particular behavior for its idiocy while giving another, far more common and far more dangerous, behavior a pass.
Retreating… now!
Scott — thanks for adding some pragmatism to the conversation. Everyone has their ‘hot button’ issues and the reasons may not always be clear to others, but at some point, I think, the situational conditions have to be taken into account. A family standing for a few minutes on the tracks is a LOT different than kids playing on them, or — god forbid — playing chicken.
Actually they were there an hour later when I went back by to pick up my kid. The point is to be a good example for their children. People who have their portraits made on railroad tracks raise children who play chicken on railroad tracks.
And DEM, they were trespassing too!
Oh brother! My dad used to take me dove hunting along rural railroad tracks and it brings back some of the fondest memories I have of time spent with him. Really tiptoe, I think there are many other things to get far more irritated with.
How can you live in this town and not cross the tracks on foot? From anywhere you can see at least a half a mile in each direction. You want danger – try crossing W. Howard or College Ave on foot.
+1 Scott. And I’ll go a buit further.
The notion of calling the police on a family taking a portrait on a RR track is way beyond the pale. Your personal aversion to small risks is your own business, not a cause for dialing 911.
Not disagreeing, but in reference to this…” I just can’t imagine I’d ever see anyone post “I can’t believe I saw a family walking their kids down Scott Blvd. or College Avenue, just feet from a relentless flow of traffic in excess of 35 miles per hour” despite the fact that, if we’re talking about people putting their children in peril, behavior in proximity to streets, statistically, carries far greater risk”
Actually in order to compare these two sets, you would need to know the total number of people who walk along streets and railroad right-of-ways to calculate fatality rates. Basically you have the numerator, but you still need the denominator to calculate “risk”.
600+ die every year and 600+ walk the tracks every year. Therefore,
600+ / 600+ = 100% deaths from walking the tracks.
The family discussed above must be an anomaly where it still rounds up to 100%. Can someone back check my math here?
Thanks Scott. On any given issue there seem to be folks who hold absolutist opinions, and these tend to be “letter of the law” rather than “spirit of the law” based. Just witness past conversations about rolling through stop signs – some people have zero tolerance. It’s like rolling through a stop sign at 1 MPH at 5 AM with no one in sight is a sign of moral wretchedness.
As Naaman Gibbetts wisely says, the world would be a great place if it weren’t for all of the people.
Sorry, but the 600 is trespasser deaths only. Motor vehicles add another 400 to that.
And, my real point, is, although this incident was innocent enough, it sets a bad precedent. The kids, by parents’ example, grow up thinking it’s OK to be on the tracks. They could be one of the 600 killed down the road walking across a railroad bridge or walking down the track with earpods and never hear a train.
“They could be one of the 600 killed down the road walking across a railroad bridge or walking down the track with earpods and never hear a train.” — Anybody walking on a RR track like that is most likely walking around streets & sidewalks like that, too. Statistically, it’s more likely that a car or a MARTA bus will take them out.
If we are talking about setting a bad precedent, I would think the greater risk is people that jaywalk. I feel like more people blindly step out into traffic much more than they blindly step foot on the railroad track without looking in both directions.
Amen. Yesterday as I drove eastward along W. Ponce, a woman talking on a cell phone came walking out into the street from between parked cars, middle of the block, didn’t even break stride until I slammed on my brakes. Stopped & looked at me for a minute but never interrupted her conversation. Same neighborhood, couple of weeks ago, a woman in a motorized wheelchair was crossing mid-block while talking on a cell phone and seeming to ignore everything around her.
This conversation reminded me of this classic movie scene.
One of the funniest movies ever: The Darwin Awards
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428446/
Check out this train safety video from Australia. LOL
http://dumbwaystodie.com/
LOL! My daughter and her friends have memorized this song. HI-larious.
(And, best to stay off the tracks as a general rule.)
I have two questions that I’m not sure have ever been discussed here on DM:
1. Are there any problems between bikes and cars around here?
2. What are people’s thoughts on Decatur’s proposed annexations?
BWA HA HA HA. See that? I just poked the bear. I did that because J_T is my hero, and I want to be JUST…LIKE…HIM.
Did you hear that WALMART is opening a store at Suburban Plaza?
1. No
2. Yes
All children should be free range but also quiet and perfectly behaved, simultaneously.
And all Decatur adults shall wear a helmet at ALL times, especially when crossing the railroad tracks on foot, or taking a picture on said tracks. Otherwise, the wrath of righteous indignation shall flow down upon you from all corners of the internet. Clearly a few Decatur parents know what’s safe and the rest of us have no clue. So just put on your helmet and be done with it.
I’m so glad you agree.
Buffett you are a reckless menace. A helmet only protects the head! What of the rest of the child? That’s why my kids wear full body kevlar. No cuts, bruises, or broken bones. And if a stray bullet happens to hit them, no problem. I know other parents don’t go to the same lengths, but I guess they just don’t care about their children.
And most importantly, DEM, you have no Decatur-noses turned up in your direction. The nose-turner-uppers can focus on me while I drop my kids off on the square with their skateboards.
You can’t win with nose turner-uppers because they exist on all sides of issues. So noses turn up if you are a free-ranger and noses turn up if you set lots of limits. Just ignore the noses and don’t let your own get bent out of shape.
I object. Kevlar is not environmentally-friendly. I am starting a petition against you and your Kevlar-suited family. Who is with me? And I am calling 911.
1. No. Apparently there’s a new trend that when cyclists come through in traffic, all drivers part their cars like the Red Sea, hold hands, and sing Kumbaya as the cyclists gloriously ride through the cheering.
2.) Instead of Walmart being the gateway to the city, they are going to build an actual gate around the city, to keep Walmart shoppers and renters out. Of course, it will be made of cheap plastic from China and will break within the year. And unfortunately this will mean people with jobs and money may try and get in, and get this, they may try and trade that money for housing. Awful, just awful…
As long as the gate opens ju-u-u-ust wide enough to let in the tax money after we annex Wal-Mart/Suburban Plaza, we’re ok with it.
Awww, how sweet. I am so going to add that to my resume! I’d offer to meet you at Trackside for a beer but I fear I’ll be arrested crossing the tracks to get there.
That’s sorta pathetic….
Thanks for being a killjoy.
There’s always one. Or, around here, one hundred! I would just like for ww to clarify exactly what is pathetic, your attempt at humor or calling me your hero…
I think you forgot a couple…
Do food vending vehicles get free parking on the square?
When is Westchester reopening?
Re Westchester: Soon, I think. The groundbreaking for Beacon Hill police/CSD complex is coming up. Free Westchester! will no longer have the same zing.
Patch is reporting an armed robbery of the Marathon gas station at the corner of Commerce and College, 9:15 PM. Sometime in the last few months,wasn’t there an afternoon robbery of a ?high school? student near the apartments at Avery and College? Is that stretch of College more dicey than further west along College? Maybe I should be asking my freerangers to take other routes as they head north and west from the southeast part of Winnona Park or the Columbia Seminary area? Could there be more lighting placed and more police presence? I know no place in Decatur is perfectly safe but this seems to be a stretch with risk that might not be realized by my freerangers.
The robbery took place a week or so ago. The perp was well known to the employee, lives in the area, and immediately identified.
There is plenty of lighting along that area and the police do patrol on a regular basis, as they do in other parts of the city.
Umm AHD – the Patch story is about the arrest of that Marathon burgler, just days after he committed the crime in Nov. (Great job DPD!) He’s now sitting in the clink according to the story. I actually feel safer now than I did a half hour ago. So to answer your questions – always be careful, but no, there isn’t a crime wave in the area that should cause alarm, particularly because one of the hood’s bad guys is now off the streets.
Be careful, Homey, when you venture south of the tracks. It’s dangerous out here. Sounds of gun fire and hookers on every corner. I hope we’re not reverting to the way it was before Decatur was cool.
Ok, I feel better. I don’t live there or walk there much so it’s helpful to get feedback from people who seem to know the area. And I’m glad that DPD did a good job. And as someone commented on Patch, criminals are often not bright. Robbing a store that you patronize regularly is not brilliant thinking. (Or the effects of chronic meth use–decreased impulse control and ability to understand logical consequences.) Reminds me of the young men who robbed some DHS teens a few years ago on the square–the perpetrators were immediately recognized as former RMS classmates. You’d think they’d take MARTA a few stops to where they were among strangers!
Rumor has it that he made his getaway running along the rairoad tracks across the street.
If you take MARTA to commit a crime, you’ve got no reliable getaway transportation. A smart criminal avoids MARTA.
A month or two, a criminal being chased by Decatur Police ran into the tunnel from Avondale towards Decatur Station. It totally messed up rush hour, plus he didn’t get away.
In the case of the RMS alum thugs, they had neither anonymity, nor a getaway vehicle, nor smarts.
Does anyone know of a good, reliable lawn service nearby? We could use some help with the mass of leaves in our yard now, and general upkeep starting in the spring. Thanks for the help!
Southern Land Care. Call Jackie at 404-822-2259.
Hall’s Lawn Care. 404-281-1726. Ask for Willie. Fantastic rates (ours has only gone up $10 in 12 years) , and he’s a character to boot.
Saba Oakhurst, Thank you for having Santa there last night. My 3yr. & 5yr old girls have never acted better during dinner. I hope he is there again….we will be back!
Be sure the girls are aware that even when they don’t see him, Santa deploys extra patrols this time of the year. He or one of his helpers could be peeping around the corner or otherwise watching them surreptitiously at any given moment. The key to maxing out on that Christmas wish list is to behave impeccably during every waking moment between now and Christmas morning.
I told my daughter Santa watches through all the security cameras. After all someone is really watching.
Extra patrols huh? Anyone use that Elf on a Shelf? If you do, make sure your young one watches Child’s Play before you bring it home. That’s probably the main reason (besides I’m too lazy to move it around the house) I could never have it. I would be worried I would wake up one night with it staring demonically into my eyes wielding a kitchen knife. (shudder)
I, too, am seriously creeped out by the Elf on the Shelf and his artificial maniacal grin. At first I thought my visceral reaction to them was based upon the knowledge that I am also too lazy to remember to move it around every night. But, no, it really and truly creeps me out. Thanks for putting the kitchen-knife-wielding thing in my head! One more reason never to have one of those little plastic monsters in my house…
Agree! The creep factor is right up there with clowns, for me.
Ohh yes… They Float Georgie… They Float… and when your down here, with me… YOU FLOAT TOO!
Had to Google it. Totally creepy. What’s wrong with letting kids use their imaginations? Also, creeping around on our own, trying to catch an elf or Santa spying on us, provided a certain amount of entertainment during the season.
I was really creeped out by that footless elf. My older kids traumatized my little one by hiding him (his name was The Outlaw Josie Elf) in the crisper with a paring knife in his chest and she later found him swirling around in the front loading washer. He had to go.
Looks like some pretty extensive filming going on at Agnes Scott the last couple days. Anybody know what the production is?
http://decatur.patch.com/articles/tyler-perry-filming-at-agnes-scott
Looking for a dry cleaner who can do a good job on unique items, such as:
-suede pants
-beaded evening bag
And, also an alterations place that can hem suede pants, too.
Please & thanks!
Perfect Stitches on Briarcliff & Clairmont (in the shopping center where the new QT is going in).
Shawn Colvin tomorrow night at Agnes Scott. Good tix still available. Have dinner on the Square, then walk down to Presser Hall, crossing the railroad tracks responsibly for a great evening hosted by Eddie O. How can you miss that?
Is Caroline Herring at Grocery on Home an acceptable reason for missing it?
Depends. Is Claire Holley singing with her?
No. It’s a solo Christmas extravaganza. Somebody at the Colvin show shout out a request for “Killing the Blues” on my behalf, willya?
Am I the only one who thinks these sophomore and senior projects are pretty worthless and a tremendous distraction from the material that the kids actually need to be learning. There are lots of opportunities for projects/papers within the subjects they are studying.
This is particularly the case for seniors in the IB diploma programme who also have to do a huge research paper in addition to their senior projects. … and Heaven help the senior who is also trying to accomplish something that doesn’t emanate form the four walls of DHS (Eagle Scout, etc.).
Can DHS really require these projects for graduation? I know they can require the research paper for the IB diploma. However, if a student has straight As in all of their subjects and meets or exceeds the state requirements for graduation from high school, can DHS really legally deny them a diploma because of some “special” requirement that they impose? If DHS were a stand alone charter school, I’d think they could, but since they are the only high school in the system, it is legal?
And no.. I’m not a slack parent with slack kids. I just have yet to find a DHS student (my son and most of his friends are very strong students) who is getting anything meaningful out of this project. They all hate it, are not particularly applying themselves to it, and it is a tremendous distraction to their regular school work… the stuff that they actually do need to learn to graduate.
I also know that the senior project requirement has been a deterrent to getting students to sign up for the IB Diploma Programme. The kids do not want to have to deal with college admissions, the heavy IB workload, the extensive IB project, and then have another senior project on top of that.
“They all hate it, are not particularly applying themselves to it, and it is a tremendous distraction to their regular…work”
Sounds like my job. Sounds like EVERYONE’S job!
Also, why are kids still working on college applications now? If memory serves, most application deadlines are in the fall, aren’t they?
That must be what the students are supposed to be getting, meaningfully, out of the assignment! Practice for real life in their future job! Brilliant.
TPS reports for all!
The sophomore project has been a massive PITA at this house, too. Since it was described as a good way to get a feel for the IB diploma experience, it has pretty much squashed any interest in pursuing that.
Didn’t know there was a sophomore IB project too. Maybe just one project in high school is enough? If all sophomores do one for IB MYP, then maybe Senior Project can go? It would be sad to lose all the investment of time and energy into Senior Project but choices have to be made when adding something like IB.
Didn’t know that the Senior Project would stay once IB arrived in DHS. I assumed that Senior Project would evolve into the IB Research Paper. Or it would be an either/or, Senior Project for non-IB students and Research Paper for the IB diploma candidates.
Isn’t Senior Project part of whatever Language Arts/English course the students take in the senior year? Or is it a requirement on top of a full courseload? I do think a lot is going on the first half of senior year with many seniors having to apply to 10-15 colleges to ensure acceptance and the financial aid applications which, for some colleges, are worse than applying for a medical license. Not to mentions sports commitments, which are a source of scholarships, or at least an edge in admissions, for many. I always wondered if it might be done Junior Year instead. But now there’s IB diploma requirements for 10-20% of the class so I dunno……..
I see pluses and minuses to the Senior Project. It potentially can be great and a few of the seniors’ projects are. But too many are one more last-minute 5K or fitness clinic to raise money for a charity with only a couple of participants showing up. If there were a way to find more meaningful projects for every senior, every year, this requirement would work better. The Senior Project staff do a great job but suppporting that many seniors every year probably requires a huge amount of resources, maybe more than DHS has. There’s plenty of professionals among the school and general communities who could provide valuable assistance. But DHS and teenagers have a natural resistance to a lot of parent or community involvement.
Oh boy… those projects … don’t get me started. I’m with you Sarah. I know of no sophomore who is putting any sort of real effort into these things and I know many who are not going to apply for the IB diploma at least partially because of the “double dip” on large projects. I think DHS is forgetting that these kids are busting their butts just to get out of high school senior year . Applying for college is a very different game than it was when we were kids.
My understanding is that these projects do not play into their GPAs, but the kids will not be allowed to advance to 11th grade unless whoever grades all these projects (poor soul) subjectively decides that they have “passed.” Apparently they can be held back in 10th grade based on their project even if they have straight As in all their classes. Whether that would hold water in the real “legal” world, my guess is that they have vetted it legally and are on solid ground.
I think these projects are here to stay unfortunately.
Re the deterrent effect of having numerous large projects on top of heavy course load: Unfortunately, that’s probably okay with CSD because the IB diploma is only aimed at 10-20% of the student body. It won’t work if a huge number of students try to become IB diploma candidates. IMHO, we are moving back towards tracking, even though that is not the intention of CSD. I’m surprised that more parents aren’t concerned, especially since it’s not just going to be “struggling” kids or kids with uninvolved parents who are left out. AP classes also have a tracking feel to them but students can break out of the track–they can take just one or two or however many APs feel comfortable to them. The IB diploma is more either/or–you either are a candidate or you are not and most students won’t be. I believe that students will be able to take standard level or high level IB courses without being an IB candidate but it won’t be the same as being a bona fide IB candidate. When colleges ask “Are you an IB diploma candidate?”, the answer will have to be “No, but I’m taking some IB classes……….” That “No, but…” defines your track.
Since sophomore and senior projects are unique to Decatur HS, colleges will pay no attention to them in the application process. Any time devoted to them is pointless re: college. Can anyone explain the relevance other than ‘it sounded like a good idea at the time”?
Anyone been to Holiday Lights at the Botanical Gardens? If so, whatcha think?
We went last year. Very nice. Dancing lights outside were great. Lots of people but didn’t feel too crowded. I recommend.
Sweet Jack had half price tickets yesterday, not sure if you can still get that deal. You have to buy tickets there though (as opposed to buying online ahead of time and by passing the line). We have not been yet but I am looking forward to going. Heard it gets crowded, so go early. Oh, and kids under 3 are free!
Best and most original holiday display I’ve been to in this town. I went last year and also just went Sunday night. It was already spectacular last year, and they added 50% more lights this time. For those only used to things like Life College or Callaway, you should find this much more unique.
Went last week and it was fantastic! Go after 8:00 and you’ll find that most of the kids have gone home – much more relaxing and conducive to enjoying festive cocktails!
They added 50% more lights this year. Went last year and had a fantastic evening.
Note about parking. Do not enter the deck on Piedmont it’ll take an hour to get in.
We entered on Monroe and got right in
Anyone know where Dr. Jessica Doyle from the CorrectMed Clinic on Scott is now? I thought she was going to be there through the end of the year, but she’s already left. I’m hoping she’s still somewhere in the area.
We take our almost 3 month old to Dr. Doyle and decided to move to her new practice – unfortunately it is not that close. She is now with Pediatric Health Center in Conyers (if you Google it, it looks like Dr. Aaron Goldberg is the doctor most associated with the practice). We drove out for a well baby visit this week and it is a big of trek, but worth it for us to continue with Dr. Doyle.
Thanks, DNG. I am sad to hear that she’s all the way in Conyers. That’s too far for us. We were all settled in at CorrectMed. Now I have to find a doctor acceptable to teenagers – again.
I f you think your child might be interested in playing tennis, come to Oakhurst Park tomorrow for Children’s Try Tennis Day from 10am until noon. They will have lots of fun trying out some tennis games and it’s FREE!! Info on the Active Living blog: http://beactivedecatur.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/oakhurst-park-try-tennis-day/
What’s in heavy rotation for the holidays on your iPod/mp3 player? Here are five of mine:
Fairy Tale of New York by the Pogues and Kristy MacColl
Just Like Christmas by Low
Santa Claus Is a Black Man by Akim and Teddy Vann
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by David Grisman
Father Christmas by the Kinks
I’ve held off breaking out the holiday tunes but may get into them tonight. Heard Bob Edwards interview Aimee Mann the weekend before T’giving and plan to pick up her Christmas CD soon.
After hearing Scott Simon’s chat with Tracey Thorn this morning, I believe I’ll check out her new holiday album Tinsels and light, whcih is streaming at the NPR website.
Happy Hanukkah, y’all.
Hell yeah to the Pogues and Fairytale of New York, but don’t forget Kirsty MacColl! And I thought I was the only one who immediately thought of the Pogues when thinking of Christmas music.
Gotta go with Springsteen’s Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town over any other version, if only for the Big Man’s Ho-ho-hoing and saxophone blowing.
Can’t stand most commerically produced Christmas crap, though the Kink’s Father Christmas does make me smile. But fair warning, the next time I hear Wham’s Last Christmas or Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, I may go postal (and I don’t mean Postal Decatur)!
You will like this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/dec/06/fairytale-new-york-pogues-christmas-anthem?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038
You are correct, I liked that very much. Thanks for the link. I did not know the story behind the song though I just assumed that, like everything else about Shane MacGowan, it would have to be a good one. And I think I just found a perfect stocking stuffer for myself in James Fearnley’s book.
Went to the Jonathan Coulton show on Wednesday and got to hear him perform “Christmas in Jail” with John Rodrick. Now I need to download their album One Christmas at a Time.
My older daughter and I went to that show and said the same thing – that Christmas Album sounds awesome! Especially for anyone with a cynical view of the holidays
Though the Coulton concert is the oddest concert I’ve ever been to. 95% of the fans just stood there. Even when they were getting funky. It reminded me of that first middle school dance where everyone stands there and stares at the band and doesn’t know what to do.
OK, downloaded the album from Amazon ($1 cheaper and has previews of all the songs). I can confirm that it’s a lot of (often cynical) fun. Favorite so far is “2600,” an ode of childhood longing for the Atari 2600, with the repeated refrain “There’s only one thing that I want–2600!”
The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping
Pretenders 2000 Miles