• Cyburbia is a friendly big tent, where we share our experiences and thoughts about urban planning practice, the built environment, planning adjacent topics, and anything else that comes to mind. No ads, no spam, and it's free. It's easy to join!

RTDNTOTO 🐻 Random Thoughts Deserving No Thread Of Their Own 19 (2024)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jarrett Reddick did a solo country album a couple of years ago . . . seems odd at first, but considering where the band is from, it's really not surprising.

I really like how he country-fied "The Bitch Song," but there is enough new country material in there to just barely rise above the "meh" level.

Jim

Who's Taylor Swift anyway? :)
 
We have long history of mentioning that word.

oldest searchable mention of that word was by Dan back in 2001

first mentioned in the first Random Thought thread was by Chet back in 2005
Well, as long as you didn't use it the way Chet used in RTDNOTO in that second link I think you'll be able to keep your job.
 
In what language do animals think?

When did you last see a commercial for a national Chinese restaurant?

Why are bomb, comb, and tomb all pronounced differently? (thanks, Gallagher).
 
Friday Afternoon ?

1714768806276.png
 
Z's Cynical Observations (been a long week):

- Oregon drivers are the "hall monitors" of the highways, always making sure we accelerate slow and go the speed limit. Likely, they are the same kids in high school who would remind the teacher they didn't assign homework at the end of class...

- Also... one of the Senate staffers used Comic Sans as an email font today...

I'm done. Leaving early.
 
I took mom out for a few errands on Saturday morning. After we were done, I asked her what she wanted for lunch. Her pick was Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
I personally think KK donuts are overrated. I've always preferred the local mom-and-pop donut shops the best.

More power to Mom, though!

Jim
 
I personally think KK donuts are overrated. I've always preferred the local mom-and-pop donut shops the best.

More power to Mom, though!

Jim

We have some great local donut places, especially for jelly filled donuts or a cake donut, but Krispy Kreme is hard to beat in terms of a simple glazed donut, especially when they're still warm.
 
We have some great local donut places, especially for jelly filled donuts or a cake donut, but Krispy Kreme is hard to beat in terms of a simple glazed donut, especially when they're still warm.
I like KK, but it's always the caveat that they're only good is it's a glazed donut fresh out of the fryer. Reality just doesn't allow me to get that hot donut.
 
Anyone going to the virtual NPC conference this week? I may pop in on a session or two, but don't have any firm time set aside to attend.

(Hey! The npc24 thread is locked.)

Jim
 
If one more real estate agent asks me "What does the City want to see on that property?" I swear to you all, they'll feel the sting of my backhand and I'll just have to quit my job/profession/life in general.
 
More power to Mom, though!

She wanted to go inside and see what kind/flavors of doughnuts they had.
After looking in the case and asking the teenager behind the counter a few questions, we bought a dozen glazed.
 
If one more real estate agent asks me "What does the City want to see on that property?" I swear to you all, they'll feel the sting of my backhand and I'll just have to quit my job/profession/life in general.

Some of our cities were getting so many questions like that that a few years back we began working with some of them (the cities) and the property owners to put together a "property showcase" for them to market those higher profile properties. We invited together the planning and council members, local developers, brokers, and some bankers. We had our architects draw up sketches and renderings to show the developers what the cities wanted to see, ran fiscal and economic impact models to help the councils and planning commissions see possible spin-offs, etc. Over the years we've had a few deals come to fruition that were basically exactly what the cities wanted and were done by developers who we put in the room with the property owners and the cities in those showcases so we count those as successes. We've also had a few developments that probably happened as a result of the matchmaking that goes on in the showcase since a property owner may have another parcel or two that a developer had that wasn't on display at the showcase.

This seemed to work well for those properties that are too small for any sort of industrial use or something flashy that might get some incentives but helps the communities to market potential retail or commercial lots. We stopped doing it for a few years because of the pandemic but we've had enough interest from the local brokers and developers that we've brought it back for this year.

I dunno if this helps in dealing with your annoying agents but at least it gives the city a venue to be proactive about a vacant lot... of course, we've always got some cities in the county or some property owners that have absolutely no desire to participate, so...
 
Some of our cities were getting so many questions like that that a few years back we began working with some of them (the cities) and the property owners to put together a "property showcase" for them to market those higher profile properties. We invited together the planning and council members, local developers, brokers, and some bankers. We had our architects draw up sketches and renderings to show the developers what the cities wanted to see, ran fiscal and economic impact models to help the councils and planning commissions see possible spin-offs, etc. Over the years we've had a few deals come to fruition that were basically exactly what the cities wanted and were done by developers who we put in the room with the property owners and the cities in those showcases so we count those as successes. We've also had a few developments that probably happened as a result of the matchmaking that goes on in the showcase since a property owner may have another parcel or two that a developer had that wasn't on display at the showcase.

This seemed to work well for those properties that are too small for any sort of industrial use or something flashy that might get some incentives but helps the communities to market potential retail or commercial lots. We stopped doing it for a few years because of the pandemic but we've had enough interest from the local brokers and developers that we've brought it back for this year.

I dunno if this helps in dealing with your annoying agents but at least it gives the city a venue to be proactive about a vacant lot... of course, we've always got some cities in the county or some property owners that have absolutely no desire to participate, so...

I like that a lot. A LOT!
 
I have a Pandora station that started out based on the band Cake and I've been adding other bands/songs to the station seeds to get a mix. I've added in several personal one-hit wonders like this:

I've heard some other stuff by Portugal. The Man and it's growing on me. I just like the sound of their music, even though it doesn't all sound like Feel It Still.

Recently I remove Flobots and The Heavy from the seeds. I realized that I liked them when I first heard them but the fascination wore off.

Here's another seed though, that opened up a whole wormhole of awesome for me:

I was aware of Jack White with the White Stripes, particularly Seven Nations Army, but I didn't realize he'd recorded with other bands and as a solo act. The dude is a riffmaster; comes up with awesome guitar licks. It's not that he's particularly talented at playing as much as he comes up with new ideas in his guitar playing I haven't heard before, like in Steady As She Goes, the syncopation in the riff- it's a simple variation but just pulls me in.

I'm trying to decide if I like more by Franz Ferdindand than Take Me Out.

But there are others I've used as seeds and they are good for just the one song as far as I'm concerned. Songs like Blister in the Sun and Flagpole Sitta.
All three of these are in a couple of my stations. Add Phoenix.
 
I wonder how the Pascagoula Chamber of Commerce feels about Ray Steven's song "Mississippi Squirrel Revival"?
Chorus
The day the squirrel went berserk
In the First Self-Righteous Church
In that sleepy little town of Pascagoula
It was a fight for survival
That broke out in revival
They were jumpin pews and shouting Hallelujah!
 
Anyone going to the virtual NPC conference this week? I may pop in on a session or two, but don't have any firm time set aside to attend.

(Hey! The npc24 thread is locked.)

Jim
I attended NPC24. Not sure if that permits participation in the online sessions. If so, then I will watch a few sessions.
 
I have a Pandora station that started out based on the band Cake and I've been adding other bands/songs to the station seeds to get a mix. I've added in several personal one-hit wonders like this:

I've heard some other stuff by Portugal. The Man and it's growing on me. I just like the sound of their music, even though it doesn't all sound like Feel It Still.

But there are others I've used as seeds and they are good for just the one song as far as I'm concerned. Songs like Blister in the Sun and Flagpole Sitta.

I like Portugal. The Man quite a bit.

 
That's on our list.
The historic preservation story - the rise, fall, and slow revitalization of the City is amazing. We rented a house in Hot Springs Village which was, albeit very white, laid back and chill. Another couple talked us into going there to hunt for quartz chrystals which was dirty but quite fun.
 
All you people with weather, let us know you're safe.

It sounds like I get to learn some clown skills from Ronald McDonald this year.
 
All you people with weather, let us know you're safe.

It sounds like I get to learn some clown skills from Ronald McDonald this year.
Did you know that the Willard Scott played part of the Ronald McDonald in the early 60's?
 
Just came across this gem from Run-D.M.C. Why I don't recall hearing before, I don't know. As a kid form the 'burbs, yes, rap was not my main music preference (I'm a classic rock and metalhead fan). Did not know about Run-D.M.C. until they joined with Aerosmith. Still, good old school rap, which even I can appreciate.

 
All you people with weather, let us know you're safe.

It sounds like I get to learn some clown skills from Ronald McDonald this year.

Yesterday morning my oldest asked what the temp was supposed to be for the day so I looked at my phone and told her, "67º and partly sunny". It turned out to be much warmer for the day in the upper 70s so both her and I ended up significantly overdressed.. This morning she asked me the same question so I looked at my phone and told her, once again, "67º and partly sunny" but added that if it was as accurate as yesterday it would probably end up warmer. It wasn't until an hour after I dropped her off at school in the morning that I looked back at the weather app on my phone and saw the forecast for about the next week was 67º and partly sunny every. single. day. And that's when I realized I had my phone set to the weather in San Diego, CA. Oops!
 
Yesterday morning my oldest asked what the temp was supposed to be for the day so I looked at my phone and told her, "67º and partly sunny". It turned out to be much warmer for the day in the upper 70s so both her and I ended up significantly overdressed.. This morning she asked me the same question so I looked at my phone and told her, once again, "67º and partly sunny" but added that if it was as accurate as yesterday it would probably end up warmer. It wasn't until an hour after I dropped her off at school in the morning that I looked back at the weather app on my phone and saw the forecast for about the next week was 67º and partly sunny every. single. day. And that's when I realized I had my phone set to the weather in San Diego, CA. Oops!
Ha! Set it to my place and get a constant 97 to scare her.
 
Due to the severe storm threat - schools in the tri-satate are dismissing early & cancelling afternoon activities/programs.
Various communities are openning community shelters.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top