Free-For-All Friday 7/5/13
Decatur Metro | July 5, 2013Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed in the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed in the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
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“Every crowd has a silver lining.”
P.T. Barnum
I was going to leave a comment about crime. Have there been any other posts and comments about crime?
You missed that? Incredibly, the DM boards identified the root cause of crime and the problem should be solved very soon. So moving on to more vexing questions: best Porsche for the money? I say 911 turbo!
I don’t know that the “911 premium” is worth it. My vote goes for a 944 (Turbo or non-Turbo) or first-gen Boxster S.
I was sort of joking but would talk cars any day, so, didn’t they stop making the 944 in the 1980s? In all honesty I would not vote 911 either — I think the Cayman is better-looking and is far cheaper. Cayman S is even better. Alas, not a practical car for those of us with kids.
Yes, I suppose it depends on whether we’re talking best bang for the buck regardless of age or just new cars. Totally agree the Cayman/Cayman S is the way to go if new is the key criteria. But I stick to my original suggestions if used can be thrown into the mix.
SMB…SLT, I guess “easier to work on” depends on what you’re used to. I cut my shadetree mechanic teeth on BMWs, so they just “make sense” to me. Japanese cars are a bundle of confusion, though I do have a soft spot for hot Subies.
You’re exactly right…whatever you grew up working on is what makes the most sense. And I have had Japanese for most of my driving life.
That said, if someone gifted me a Porsche (any Porsche, even the 4-doors), I wouldn’t say no.
Forget about the money, I need a Panamera
Sorry, I’m a purist on this one. I refuse to accept the Panamera or the Cayenne as Porsches. I just pretend they don’t exist. Same with the BMW X5, X3, and the Audi Q7.
Oh, I am up for a car conversation any time, despite the fact I really should be working instead of commenting on DM.
I see you guys are partial to German cars. I lean more toward Japanese, as I find them cheaper and easier to work on. I am looking forward to the redesigned 2014 Subaru WRX STi. The current one has 300 HP and I expect the new one to have even more.
Oh, there’s no doubt the Japanese cars are cheaper, all else equal. They also have a very different feel, IMO. German cars have traditionally offered more road “feel” to the driver, though they seem to be getting cushier nowadays. That said, I’ve owned several Japanese spots cars over time (the old Toyota Supra and more recently, the Mazda RX-8) and liked them both.
With this incredible crime wave we’re having shouldn’t you think more along the lines of armored vehicles. I see no end in site. It’s obviously Decatur Armageddon.
I was going to comment on weather. We can’t control that yet?
Yes we can…ask Al Gore.
Anyone, male or female, can make it rain. It’s making it sun that’s the issue
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=make%20it%20rain
Ack, I cannot edit this link even though I did it in time after I read the whole thing. Sorry DM!
“You should always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours.”
Yogi Berra
” ‘The best defense is a good offense’ you know who said that? Mel, the cook on Alice.”
-The Frantics
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=anz8DRchtME&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Danz8DRchtME
If Mel and Flo were here, I am sure they could do something about all the problems.
You can get anything you want at Alice’s restaurant.
Can anyone recommend a company that specializes in finding/removing mildew?
My thali took a tumble.
It’s 11 am. Is everyone still asleep?
Does the City of Decatur have an ordinance against parking disabled/inoperative vehicles on its streets… for days/weeks/months/years? If so, does it cover chained up bicycles? What is the deal with that?
There is such an ordinance (you can access the city code via http://www.decaturga.com). If you’re talking about the bicycles on Adair St. near Ponce, save your breath. Many are indignant they are allowed to remain, many others feel like it’s a cranky thing but it’s OUR cranky thing…
that guy on Adair street is a hero.
Guessing that you are referring to the situation on Adair. This comes up from time to time.
http://www.decaturmetro.com/2012/10/17/morning-metro-racetrac-proposal-shot-down-beer-fest-map-and-that-parking-spot-in-front-of-your-house/
My reading of the ordinance (98-13) gives me the impression that the bikes are in violation, since typically these are NOT “against the curb.” City does not seem to agree, since they haven’t ticketed to the best of my knowledge.
Sec. 98-13. – Bicycles—Parking.
No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or at a curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.
I actually don’t see why one couldn’t just park there, next to the bikes. I was amused one day when a mini cooper snuck in between. The guy came out and stood at his door and you could see the look of frustration.
I know neighbors on Adair think this person is ” a nice guy” but I still see this as selfish and anti-community and anti-park.
I think he’s probably just anti-having park visitors trample and let their dogs trample all over the part of his front yard that’s adjacent to the street.
I know of a utility maintenance vehicle having to park there once. The driver gently moved the bikes to the front yard so as to make room. The guy came out and was verbally abusive to the employee. If the bikes are in violation of a city law, then tickets should be issued, bikes should be towed. Hero or not, the rest of us get in trouble for breaking the laws.
I don’t really get why this pisses people off so much. Just park a little bit down and walk. It won’t kill ya, I promise. I would not call him “anti park” as I’ve actually seen him, on a number of occasions, weeding and planting on the strip in front of the park. He’s been my neighbor since 1997 and I’ve always found him to be quite pleasant.
Nice to some, abusive to others… Bottom line: it is legal for people to park on the street in front of his property, and it is not legal for him to keep his bikes there. He should be fined as much and as often as possible while the bikes remain until he either removes them or the laws change.
Cars park in front of most people’s houses, and we all deal with whatever degree of trampling there is like good neighbors should. Whenever I need to park on Adair, I don’t park there–not out of respect for the guy, but because I wouldn’t want my kids to hear the kind of stuff I’d yell at him if he gave me a hard time.
Putting the bikes there is obnoxious. It is possible that he might be a nice guy, but to people who don’t know him, all we have to go on is this one obnoxious thing he’s done.
“He should be fined as much and as often as possible”
Seriously?
The disabled/inoperative part is interesting. Another part of the code (Sec. 86-21. – Urban camping and improper use of public spaces.) specifically allows for parking of forms of transportation on streets. But since they appear to have flats, the really are not forms of transportation. Essentially no different than abandoning an old couch.
To be specific, since the bikes (probably) don’t work, they no longer fall under sec (a)(2): “Public streets. It shall be unlawful to camp, to store personal property or to sit or to lie down on any public street as defined above.”
and instead NOW FALL UNDER (c): (no storing personal property on public streets)
“Public streets. It shall be unlawful to camp, to store personal property or to sit or to lie down on any public street as defined above.”
Hmmmmm…… maybe someone should call this in!
You must be new.
Somewhat, yes. But still appalled.
Down with rigidity, sterility and conformity. Up with crankiness, it’s one of the things that gives a community color and flavor. This is not a gated neighborhood with HOA rules. This is a living, breathing town that is still able to look and listen and flex and bend and give weight to something besides encoded ordinances once in a while. How long it will stay that way, I don’t know, but for me those bikes on Adair St. represent something we ought to want to hang onto. If we want to claim some Mayberry DNA, then we gotta make room for Otis and the Darlings and Ernest T. Bass.
Yes, absolutely. Hang on to the rudeness and selfishness. It’s what makes a place really special.
“Yes, absolutely. Hang on to the rudeness and selfishness. It’s what makes a place really special.” — Well, yes, along with other things, it can be. Actually, I don’t think the Adair St. bikes are rude and selfish. I think they say, “Hey, we’re living and gardening and neighboring here. Watch where you’re trampling.”
Fine, but my interpretation is that is says I’m special, I’m entitled, I think I own the section of curb and I would rather you park in front of someone else’s place over mine.
Meh. Here is what I said on the earlier thread on this topic, and I still think it:
Parking those bikes permanently in front of his house is obnoxious and entitled. It’s a public Right of Way, not part of his property. If he thinks that there is a good public justification for making that stretch of road No Parking, he can make his case to the city. But for him to decide on his own that nobody can park there because he doesn’t like people parking in front of his own house? Nuh uh.
Oh, and I don’t think that this is analogous to the HOA/gated community rules you’re citing. If somebody wants to make their front yard a Festival of Garden Gnomes, or paint their house plaid, I say: let their freak flag fly / bad taste medallion shine! I would have little sympathy to somebody complaining about that house in FFAF. I agree with Keith F: declaring a stretch a road in front of your own house a No Parking Zone is saying that other people should have cars parked in front of their houses, not me.
I would like to see folks respond to the bikes in the same cranky, local character way in which they’re offered: parking tiny SmartCars or Fiat 500s between them; having Critical Mass stop for an Adair Park picnic and, following the established lead, use that spot as the designated corral for their 100+ bikes; decorate them for holidays; adorn them with mannequin effigies; stuff like that.
No reason he should be the only person having all the fun. Once they’re discarded in the street, they’re community property!
I grew up in Druid Hills where cars were not parked on the street unless someone was having a party. I hate having strangers’s cars parked in front of my house-but I am not entitled to that space. If this guy is allowed to do this, all he is doing is forcing people to park in front of other people’s homes. The guy is no hero. He is a bully.
Why not take the obvious route and build a fence to keep people our of your yard?
Shoot, i didn’t want to comment on this but, hey, Nellie, you could be a little more welcoming, dontcha think?
“Just letting the community know that our house on the 100 block of Avery St. was broken into this morning at 11:30am. The back door was kicked in. Luckily our alarm went off and nothing was taken. Police arrived within 5 minutes. Thanks to Decatur PD for the quick response.”
– Winnona Park Listserv
Wow! Broad daylight too. Thank goodness no one was harmed and what a benefit that nothing was taken as well.
I am sorry to hear but glad everyone is safe. Did anyone on your street see anything?
May have just had one afternoon cocktail too many. Anyone want to come by and drive us to the Tippling Room?
There’s a good chance I’ll be the one there later this evening trying to make the bartender, waiter, or waitress think I’m funny.
thoughts on the following performance art/take our streets back concept
some day next week, say next Wednesday, for an hour between 7-8 we all sit on our front steps using our laptops or phones to make a statement about our strength in numbers, and refusal to be cowed by these thieves.
the mental picture of my block lined with neighbors doing this is a powerful one.
your thoughts?
visually, it would probably be cooler if we were all standing on the sidewalk using our phones
I love this idea, but also of just taking advantage of this cooler weather and spend more time on our porches and in our yards. Watch the cars, wave to neighbors – especially those you don’t remember by name. (I confess to using the Dekalb tax digest to refresh my memory on neighbors names from time to time.)
I do think a group of (sorry this sounds sexist) men volunteering to be in downtown Oakhurst when the restaurants are closing would discourage the opportunistic crimes of our thriving businesses, although Jimmy can likely hold his own!
+1 ….i actually had a similar idea but you said it way better than i would have!
I hosted a neighborhood porch party on Wednesday. Invited about nine households on the street. About five came. Held it from 530-630. Served corona, chips, salsa, and quesadillas. Neighbors who I thought knew each other did not but met on my porch. Everyone had nice time and one family mentioned hosting the next one next month.
We discussed the construction on our street and the crime. Also discussed suspicious sedan parked on street the night before. As neighbors we are each other’s eyes and ears when we are not home.
Is anyone else wondering how long it will take Foxnews to blame today’s tragedy in San Francisco on Obama, or CNN to investigate whether or not it was Terrorism?
No
No, because one of the benefits of cutting cable is I don’t have to be exposed to the blathering idiots on either one of those channels.
Having cable doesn’t mean you have to watch those channels. There is no shortage of intelligent cable programming, like the Real Housewives of [insert city].
We finally have a solution to somrthing with that Real Housewives..but they are just too deep for me.
Candler at kirk appears to be closed. Just saw a Marta bus on wee-kirk.
Anyone missing kids’ bicycle helmets? There’s been two hanging over the top of the Little Library at Dancing Goats for at least a couple of weeks. Despite all the rain, they look like they are still in pretty good condition. Given all the theft/robberies, I wonder that they are still there. Maybe it’s no fun for thugs if all they have to do is pick up something with no struggle…,
Shout out to the DPD yesterday afternoon. Sitting on my front porch mid to late afternoon with my growing large breed puppy, and was approached by 3 teens on bikes about lawn care service and dog walking. They met the description of the alleged perpetrators of several of the recent crimes, and DPD was there within 2 minutes. Felt completely safe and met new neighbors.
However, a little sad to say that hubs did this in his youth trying to honestly earn summer money, and was never questioned (different city, different state). I think we need a little balance here within the community with our expectations of our PD and the protections of everyone’s civil liberties. Our PD and FD professionals do an incredible job, but they have to walk a very fine line to protect all residents and foster our community.