Recent Comments
Re: “The first Durham Pun Championship thrills—and disgusts—the crowd”
Aye, c'est moi (John Morrison)
Re: “In battling Republican lawmakers over the budget, Gov. Bev Perdue has emerged as a mighty opponent”
Au Contrare! Perdue did not bow the extortionary demands of the republicans. Had she acceded to this crack-brained scheme, she would have squandered the power of the governor's office.
The republicans are 100% to blame for the unemployment extension mess. That would be crystal clear to even the dead.
Re: “Au revoir, Bonne Soiree”
This is indeed sad. Bonne Soiree has been our special occasion restaurant for quite some time and it seemed to be the top dog on the local fine dining scene. I will miss it.
It will be displaced by yet another dismal crop of kiddie condos and T-shirt shops.
Re: “Let's go shopping with Art Pope”
You have to laugh. Pope is bitching about boycotts. Problem is, if you are a businessman who plays politics inimical to his customers, you shouldn't be surprised when they haul up short and say, "WTF are we supporting this jackal?" What a buffoon!
Re: “Orange County 2010 Endorsements”
My property taxes have grown at a rate that outstrips that of my salary's growth. Orange County and Chapel Hill are rolling in dough. All the while, those of us who work for the university system put up with no salary increases and endless budgetary cuts.
In 10 years, our property taxes have doubled. Salaries have risen maybe 30%. I think the tax man is taking enough in Orange County.
What Orange County does not need is a higher sales tax than its neighbors. Nix on this proposal.
Re: “New downtown plan: promising, but susceptible to "Chapel Hill Syndrome"”
Empty storefronts look forlornly onto the streets of downtown like empty eye sockets. The "you are not welcome" sign has been put up by the city fathers. As as result, I do very little shopping or restaurant-going downtown.
Who confected the idea of charging for parking until 8PM? Or on Saturday afternoons in the summertime? The town should adopt a common-sense policy: don't charge for parking when the buses are not running.
But common sense is foreign to the big spending city officials of Chapel Hill. Every state agency is having its budget cut. My salary has been frozen for two years and will probably be frozen for another three. Yet, city taxes gallop up at a rate far in excess of inflation. The town is rolling in money and is wasting it. It's time for a tea party.
Re: “Herald-Sun cuts seven jobs”
The fools who bought the Herald-Sun paid way too much for it, over $2,000 per subscriber. The debt necessary to make this ill-advised purchase is a ball and chain that inexorably drags the paper down.
The News and Observer is in a similar downward spiral. Columnists and features disappear on a regular basis. At some point you say, "What am I paying for?"