Comment Archives
Re: “N.C. State finds buyer for 80,000-acre Hofmann Forest”
The sale strategy of the Hoffman Forest in Onslow County, NC reflects the corporate mentality of the current board and dean of the DNR at NCSU. The sale represents the conflict of ideas between the two sectors in society. A corporation analyzes an asset in terms of what it needs at the moment with the assumption that it paid for it at one time. The college received a gift which cost it nothing and generates $2 million a year.
Placing an investment in the stock market, which may return 3% per year on average, may boost the income from yield to 3.5%. The logic seems sound, almost doubling the yield without maintenance costs of land, depending on portfolio costs by the broker. The stock market looks promising. Yields are high. Profits of certain sectors and companies are good. Forecasts are splendiforous, as expected. The timing, however, is questionable.
Washington pundits say that there is recovery, yet there are few jobs being generated. Another school of experts say that the American economy is perilously close to disaster. The real estate and banking collapses demonstrate credible examples of the second condition. Asset analysis of both private and public sector enterprises reveals an unsure footing for recovery and growth. Most of the faulty decisions made by corporations were prefaced by a change to short term thinking, not toward long term gain and stability.
What would be the harm of holding the forest until the economy demonstrates stability and proven growth as an interim strategy? If, at that time, the sale and reinvestment is desired, then, sell the parcel.
The losses experienced in 2008-9 were catastrophic for some investors and retirement funds. Whole stock broker companies failed, Banks failed. Some lost all in the precursor to the promise of a massive economic melt down. The Dow Jones index lost more than 50%, an event unseen in the last fifty years of reports.
Until we return to the stability of the 1950's, the model for increasing revenue for the college is flawed by the potential for loss of value on the market. The trees standing in the forest will remain until harvest, barring forest fire. The market for lumber is relatively constant. The "asset" will continue to grow no matter what happens to the stock market.
Compare the risks and rewards without the cloud of current corporate cogitation.
Re: “Roger McGuinn”
http://folkden.com for years of monthly posted free downloads from Roger McGuinn
Re: “The populist plea bargain of Rush”
"Rolling the Bones"? Yeah...this guy shouldn't be writing about Rush.
Re: “Radius Pizzeria: An exciting menu that falls short on execution”
Gee, you think that taking four kids under 5 years old is a good recipe for a thoughtful restaurant review? Not to mention going on a super busy night right after the place opens? I have not been to Radius yet, but I know several people who have including other INDY Staffers, and the reviews have been unanimously fantastic. I am an ad rep for the INDY.
Re: “DNA Day 5K”
Check out the website! There is a free science festival following the 5k run. ncdnaday.org\5K
Re: “Les Claypool's Duo de Twang”
And yes as I go back and read my response I do notice the plethora of typos and misspellings. In my haste they escaped me but please base the response on the context and not my crappy typing.
Re: “LiLa's IV”
LiLa's music is unbelievably hype and I think that IV supports this claim. It certainly doesn't "eat away at one's listening time". LiLa is awesome, and IV, along with the rest of their music, is worth listening to. The show on Friday was incredible. I agree with some of the previous comments, I don't think anyone will be outgrowing LiLa's music or energy.
Re: “LiLa's IV”
I'm not a longtime Lila fan, so I don't feel the need to defend their honor like some other commenters. That said, as a reviewer, you should know a term like "bro band" is a loaded term that comes with connotations - primarily negative ones. If that's what you meant, you should own up to and explain your reasoning up front. Instead, you bury it in a clause of a complex sentence. That's not fair to Lila or any band you review.
Personally, Lila's rapping veers a bit too close to the rap-core style of Linkin Park for my own tastes. But see how I did that? Explained WHY I liked/disliked something before unilaterally declaring it as "_______"?!
I recognize that all reviews are opinion pieces, but casually dropping such a definitive (& possibly the review's strongest) assertion strikes me as irresponsible, careless, or both.
Re: “Les Claypool's Duo de Twang”
This "editorial" extremely disappointing from such a publication. A extremely prevalent and influential artist of out time chooses to play at such a great venue, that most locals within 45 miles do not even know it exists, and all you can do is have a negative spin. Critique is fine but a self indulgent opinion that undermines talent that has been proven valid is questionable. I felt it was surreal and a honor to have such a talented musician come to such a out of the way location, even NC for that matter. There are exponential amount of talent that laugh at such places don't be so glorified as to "dis" the one that decides it is worth while. It's foolish. If you are any sort of musician (and your probably not) yes there is a solidifying style Claypool has . THAT'S HIS. It worked and it worked well for this small tour. All the greats have there styles that come out in other contexts. Fine if you don't like it it but to imply it was run of the mill your opinion is not worth much. I am sure that Les Claypool can give hoot but I feel that one sided comments like this, from a marginal blurb (at best), take away from experiences that people who never seen a show of this sort, are searching for. As for everyone else I will let you know it was a great experience we where luck y to see, at least on the positive side. Nothing's perfect.
Chris T,
Raleigh
Re: “Affordable housing takes a hit in Chapel Hill”
You imply town leaders are the ones working to solve the problem, but fail to recognize that it is town leaders who CREATED the problem.
In Chapel Hill, you can't build up and you can't build out. So, by design, elected leaders have created an artificial island, inflating prices by restricting supply. As all zoning and land-use restrictions do, these policies benefit the current stakeholders (property owners) at the expense of future ones (renters, those in the lowest quintiles, those who hope to one day own).
'Inclusionary zoning' is the latest fad among planners and policy makers who somehow fail to recognize that requiring developers to sell some % of units at a LOSS, forces them to RAISE prices on the other units. Thus, it makes housing LESS affordable for all but a lucky few. It adds to the problem. It does the exact opposite of what it's intended to do.
For the very very very few who get to live in these affordable units, they just hit the lottery. They are getting a mid-market product for a sub-market price. Those advocating such solutions are celebrating lottery winners, not solving any problem.
So long as Chapel Hill remains anti-development, affordable housing will remain under-provided. No silver-bullet policy or tinkering by the 'experts' is going to change that.
Re: “Monuts Donuts: Show up early and often”
You missed their best kept secret (and Durham's best breakfast sandwich). The bagel sandwiches are AMAZING, especially with the maple Sriracha!
Re: “The climate change movement is not resonating with the public”
Bob, bad call. You should have gone to the real deal-- the Boston memorial run in Raleigh. It was a beautiful day, very moving, raised money for victims of a real tragedy, and it felt good to be with over 2,000 regular folks running. I am not much a flag waiver but it was awesome to run under the huge American flag hoisted by a construction crane.
Instead, you went to hang with a small scrum of ideologues who have swallowed -- hook, line and sinker -- the fraud of climate change. OK, its a choice but I suggest to you and your readers that the people have already made their decision on this -- climate change is not only not a threat, all the proposed 'solutions' (to a non-problem) can easily be dismissed as self serving for those invested in the fraud. If the East Anglia emails didn't work for you, just think Al Gore. If that still doesn't convince you, ask yourself a simple question: if climate change is really a clear and present danger, why are we not working non-stop to solve the problem as quickly as possible in a cost-effective manner? This is the way real problems are addressed. Fraud, on the other hand, not so much.
Re: “JFK, Oswald and the Raleigh connection”
Mr. Benson, Senator B. Everrtte Jordon of NC played a major role. I married Ben Bulla's daughter, who was Jordan's controller at Sellers Manufacturing, Graham, NC. I posted my thoughts, while perhaps with too much emotion, under 16 things u need to know about Oswald. Ben Bulla was commissioned by the Jordan family to right Jordan's false biography. I allege Jordan handled the money transfer via Johnson, if u review my article. Since 1990 to 2000, I went to numerous events, family and political, that now make sense after 23 years. Bulla has 1.6 million sq ft of property, will lake, two buildings, and it is practically all of Lindsey Mill Road in Saxaphaw, NC. The tax value is listed less than $90,000. This is a $400,000 piece of real estate. Jordan family lives just down the road. Further Bulla, dirt poor at birth, has holding throughout the USA, including a Hilton in Orlando, numerous condos in Sanford at Carolina Lakes and no one could figure out how this was acquired. He handled the money for Jordan, who was chairman of the Rules Committee. They used Bobby Baker as the fall guy. But when Bulla interviewed persons for the book (you can hear the audio on unc Southern Hertigage--Ben Bulla), nobody could remember much about Bobby Baker, some obvious lies by all. I have the same chill you describe and I saw the inside of it.. I have always been one of principle. Thank you for your time and article.
Re: “Augusten Burroughs' new book is a disappointing collection of self-help cliches”
I grabbed this book from the shelf without reading the jacket because I look forward to anything this author writes. I did not expect it to be a genuine "self help" book though. I thought it was a joke. Initially I was put off, but the truth is, he is right about most everything he suggests to the reader. It may not be pretty, but it is true.
A. Burroughs is an excellent source on the matters of acceptance and looking forward. I reluctantly loved the book!
Re: “8 early researchers into the JFK assassination”
Everette Jordon, nc senator, had had picked the result of the Warren commission before Kennedy's body was moved from the hospital and delivered all payoff through Bobby Baker and Nancy Tyler. Then they kill tyler in a plane gliding accident where Baker just happened to be on the shore to recover her body. Tyler was Mary Jo Kopechen roomate.....add it up....Terry Sanford was supposed to be on the ticket with Kennedy and johnson offered the vp, hoping he would decline. NC senators handled the money and corruption part of the plot, mad because their man, Terry Sanford didn't get on the ticket.
Re: “13 documents you should read about the JFK assassination”
NORTH CAROLINA SENATORS KILLED PRESIDENT KENNEDY: (650 hours research): JFK picks Johnson for running mate, because J has the "woman" file on JFK. This was a goodwill move to silence the woman file. JFK never expected Johnson to accept (they hated each other). JFK wanted Terry Sanford as his running mate. JFK was to drop Johnson and pick Sanford for the re-election. Senator Everette Jordan made sure $100,000 and a $540 stereo was delivered to Bobby Baker. Senator D. Everette Jordan was charged with delivering $100,000 to Texas for the payoff and the cover up. Nancy Tyler, Mary Jo Kopechen roomate, dies in a glider plane accident with Bobby Baker standing on the beach waiting for the glider plane to crash. Don Reynolds, assist NY crime family ( Sammy, the Bull) to place Serve U machines (most likely the company now is Serveomation) in a govt DC building. Baker and Tyler apply for mortgage as cousins (illegal) on documents. When questioned the response, "We were kissing cousins". Terry Sanford may have not known any of the plot. Sanford may hae been kept in the dark, except that he thought he was to be the VP candidate. The Jordan family commissions Ben Bulla to write a "history changing" book on Everette Jordan. Ben Bulla was an Alamance County Boy Scout Leader who was responsible for protecting NC Boy Scout molestors----His code was his license plate, BSA-BEN,. In 2007, they tried to kill Bulla and burned down the Ben Bulla Boy Scout Clubhouse. Everette Jordan framed Ben Bulla and Bobby Baker, a $19,600 a year page. Everett knew Bulla has the Boy Scout Perversion files and was covering up well. HOW DO I KNOW.? I married Beth Bulla and divorced Beth Bulla her in 2000. None of this comes from Bill Riley, Jesse V., etc. I was on the inside and just this year, put together the pieces. I sat with the Sanfords for dinner at the Jordan Book Dedication. Ben Bulla was rather ignorant. They never let Bulla speak a word at the release of his own book. He was required to sit on the stage in silence, cause if he opened his mouth, he may say too much. NC has no statute of limitations on child molestation. If you were a boy scout in NC and a victim, Ben Bulla's covered up any reporting. Kelly Clark, Oregon Atty. got the first ruling by the Supreme Courts. But 1,000's of NC victims are still out there. Kennedy would have made the Dominican Republic the mafia gambling spot, but a dictator took over, so they looked to Cuba. When Cuba says no, hence the Cuban missle crisis......Bobby Baker was from South Carolina. All the other killers/conspirators were our own grand OLD NORTH STATE OF NC. Cuba had nothing to do with killing Kennedy--that's why they hate the USA. These are the facts. Could care less if i have any believers---i lived it and it took 13 years to put the pieces together
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Re: “Claiming freedom is worth it”
The reasons you list for why you love North Carolina are part of the reasons my partner and I are excited to relocate from San Diego. I'm looking forward to moving to your beautiful state and being part of the growth equation.
Re: “[Updated] Losing Jamie Hahn: Raleigh and the power of passionate people”
Thanks for the nice comments. The third person in the photo is David Blair. Glad to see he put the photo on his Facebook page.
Re: “[Updated] Losing Jamie Hahn: Raleigh and the power of passionate people”
Great article. So much love. (The person on the right is David Blair.)
Re: “This week in disappointment: guns, housing and energy”
The article on the PRIP program is disingenious at best. The reason you don't see Durham politicos signing on at the state level is because the income the licenses will generate is too enticing. The fact is, across the country, cities and counties have long had the ability to "keep tabs on slumlords, protect renters and allow responsible landlords to maintain their property values"'; they failed to do so. This, like other rental programs around the country, just creates another "license" fee (i.e. - another tax) for ALL landlords to pay whether they've had complaints or not (read the program FAQ's more closely, it's not just for those with violations - http://durhamnc.gov/ich/cb/nis/Pages/NIS_P…). It's a fairly typical government approach to finally getting around to dealing with problematic issues; don't use the tools available to them for years to deal with troublemakers and then create a new ordinance or law that applies to all, even those who have never had issues. If they're doing this to "protect the renters", what's to keep them from extending this to annual "proactive" inspections of owner-occupied housing? They already have the right to perform inspections of poorly maintained owner-occupied housing. I would imagine that those that have worked so hard to renovate or build new homes in the "designated" area would be up in arms if they were asked to pay an annual license fee and be subjected to annual inspections all because the City didn't do its job enforcing an existing code on the house down the street.