Happy Labor Day Weekend! I sure hope you have a fun and safe time. Hopefully it won’t rain all weekend, though it is quite overcast outside my window.
The Colonial Center
It is changing its name to the Colonial Life Arena. The Colonial Center people say it better represents the sponsor, and Colonial Life feels the same. Which I find amusing as I had this conversation with some of the grand pooh bahs of Colonial when it was first named the Colonial Center. In the south, anything and everything gets colonial on it, so Colonial Center just means deep south to most. Unless you add Life, people will not identify your company with the building. But I was told no, you are wrong, marketing and advertising people of great brilliance and experience have determined that it identifies our company, and it is clean and straightforward, representing our company well. Now they are spending $200,000 on the signage change to make it Colonial Life Arena. To think they could have paid me $1000 in the beginning for advice, both of us coming out ahead. I do believe Colonial Life Center would roll of the tongue easier than Colonial Life Arena, meaning most people will just say arena, or Carolina arena. But, imagining what went on in smoky, clandestine advertising backrooms, I would guess that it someone said if we call it Colonial Life center, people would barely notice a change, so let’s make them say a completely new name, Colonial Life Arena. Maybe people will, but knowing the propensity of us southerners to have a lazy speak, I kinda doubt it.
I bring this up to point out that sometimes (and most times) common sense and gut feelings (intuition) take precedence over high powered, high priced consultants and those with years of experience and academic credentials. Far too often, many decisions are based on seminars, articles, trends, rather than a good understanding of people and behavior. The real estate boom market was one of those mistakes. Just barely over a year ago, people were still buying real estate at a crazed frenzy based on trends, articles, seminars that said real estate was secure and the best and safest investment you could make. Unlike other commodities, more land cannot be made, so real estate was safe. Yet, as I looked around our city and others across the nation, I wondered where all the people were coming from to fill all these new units being built. And if they were coming to fill these, what were they leaving, and what would happen to what they left? I got no answers other than you should invest and flip it at a profit because it is a hot market. I was starting to feel left out, and then, BOOM, the hammer fell, and now look at the market and state of the economy. It really mirrors the dotcom bust of 8 years ago. If you put the two side by side, you will notice so much of the same. The only difference is the real estate is still there, though owned by someone else, or is a house unfinished, or finished and unoccupied except by the occasional vagrant.
The same thing applies to politics. Much spin and smoke is created to lead you to where they want your attention, and away from what should be noticed. It is truly a sleight of hand trick using mouth instead of hand (but there is no sleight of mouth on these spin masters). You hear it on our mayors part, always smoke screening the problems in our city by saying we are in the greatest renaissance the city has ever seen, yet we are losing SCANA, the VA, Lourie’s, Capital Newstand, and a host of other businesses. We are in the greatest financial crisis this city has seen since Sherman. We have destroyed more of our retail, historic structures, and glorious downtown residences in the past 20 years than at any other time since Sherman. Many businesses have suffered and died due to the 5 Points, downtown, and other revitalization projects, and no real help has been offered. The greatest financial blunder in the history of transportation was made when our mayor and council decided to let SGE&G off their responsibility to fund the bus system forever. (I have heard that this decision was made in part by some council members who were challenged that they would have a well funded candidate against them if they did not support releasing SCE&G from its duty. This is inline with what I have said is my intuition about someone/s making money off the deal behind the scenes.)
The moral of this story is summed up in one of my old sayings ( I just loooove making up old sayings): If it smells funny…and sticks to your shoes, it probably is.
It is election season, voter beware.
OK, OK
You send me so much, and I have so little time anymore to respond, that you think I am ignoring you. At least that is the crux of a few letters I have received recently. No, I am just over my head in things to do. I only have 1513 messages in the newsletter box, forget the 5000+ in the others. So please do not feel offended if I do not respond but I do try to read everything and use it to build upon, even if I do not directly use it. Your comments give me a sense of community awareness and feeling, and they provide info upon which to build. So my thanks to you for all you send and the knowledge you provide me, which I try to pass along.
Keep those comments flowing, they are greatly appreciated.
5 Points Parking
Belinda Gergel has appointed a committee to investigate parking, and the first meeting is at the Senior Center Wednesday at 6p. I will be out of town, but here is what I sent the committee.
I will not be here then so I will miss the meeting. I am opposed to a large facility at the Kenny site. I favor the Claussens as it is much more centrally located, giving merchants in north 5 Points parking as well. Yet it is only 1 block from the Kenny site. It also blends in to the hill and background very well, much as one in the Wachovia lot would do against the railroad berm. But the Wachovia lot is also at the far end of 5 Points, away from the north 5 Points merchants who could also use parking. Maybe a multi-level garage could be put next to the Office Depot, which would also be against the railroad berm and not as visibly detracting. I also favor the Gergel plan of perimeter parking as it allows easy parking near many more businesses, but these lots MUST be lighted well at night, be very open visibly, and be patrolled frequently, for obvious reasons. Cameras on internet and recorded would be excellent to add, and those cameras are cheap to add.
If you have any interest in the 5 Points area, I suggest you attend this meeting.
Speaking of Parking
Here is a nifty solution from one observant reader. Our friends at China Garden had plans drawn for a project that included this, but have since changed plans.
Pour It Now
I support this project for many reasons. If you want to know why, ask.
FUN RAISING, POUR IT NOW SILENT AUCTION
WHAT:
Mark your calendar and make plans to attend! Enjoy a live Jazz
Ensemble made up completely of local skateboarders, hor d'oeuvres,
open bar and great auction items, ranging from art to fashion! This
family friendly event is fun for everyone! Tickets are only $25 per
person and can be purchased online at www.pouritnow.com
WHEN:
Sunday, September 7, 2008
6:00pm to 9:00pm
WHERE:
MoMo's Bistro
2930 Devine Street
Columbia, SC
WHY:
With no public skate parks in Columbia, Fun Raising, POUR IT NOW's
silent auction helps raise the funds needed to build a park that will
prevent potential injury to children forced to look for places to
skateboard that may place them in harm's way.
About Fun Raising:
(Columbia, SC) On Sunday, September 7 skateboarders and community
members will raise money to help build a much needed skatepark in
Columbia. POUR IT NOW, in conjunction with MoMo's Bistro and The Half
& Half present Fun Raising, a silent auction at MoMo's Bistro.
The Fun Raising Silent Auction will help POUR IT NOW continue their
effort to raise awareness and funds to replace the park at Owens
Field. Fun Raising provides the skateboarders of Columbia the support
they need for a free, fun, safe place to roll around.
Enjoy a live Jazz Ensemble made up completely of local skateboaders,
hor d'oeuvres, open bar and great auction items, ranging from art to
fashion! This family friendly event is fun for everyone. Tickets are
only $25 per person and can be purchased online at www.pouritnow.com .
For more information:
Ryan Cockrell: ryan.cockrell@gmail.com
POUR IT NOW: www.pouritnow.com
And life needs to be, or at least have a little humor to dull the pain…..
You send me so much humorous material, much too politically incorrect to put here. (But I do love it, so keep it coming!) In honor of football season, I respectfully submit this sent by an astute female reader (with obviously no mercy for northern football fans).
As for those dawgs, someone call the SPCA, poodle fighting is illegal (though not very rough), and it could mess up their perms.
…………………..
There are two sports seasons in America, according to Colin Cowherd of ESPN---- 1) Football season and 2) Waiting on football season.
The wait is almost over!! Whooo-hoo!
Go Dawgs!!! Sic 'em!! woof, woof, woof!
And this couldn't be more true:
Football & SEC
Planning for the fall football season in the South is radically different
than up North. For those who are planning a football trip South, here
are some helpful hints.
> Women's Accessories:
NORTH: Chap Stick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.
SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara,
and a fifth of bourbon. Money not necessary - that's what dates are for.
> Stadium Size:
NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
> Fathers:
NORTH: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath.
SOUTH: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.
> Campus Decor:
NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.
SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.
> Homecoming Queen:
NORTH: Also a physics major.
SOUTH: Also Miss USA .
> Heroes:
NORTH: Rudy Giuliani
SOUTH: Herschel Walker & Peyton Manning
> Getting Tickets:
NORTH: 5 days before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus.
SOUTH: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus, make a large financial contribution, and put name on a waiting
list for tickets.
> Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:
NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they're going to t! he ga me,because they have classes on Friday.
SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don't want to see the few hung over students that might actually make it to cla ss.
> Parking:
NORTH: An hour before game time, the University opens the campus for game parking.
SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.
> Game Day:
NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting 'Game Day Live' to get on camera and wave to
the idiots up north who wonder why 'Game Day Live' is never Broadcast
from their campus.
> Tailgating:
NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio
station with truck tailgate down.
SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking
accompanied by live performance from the Dave Matthews Band,... who come over during breaks and ask for a hit off bottle of bourbon.
> Getting to the Stadium:
NORTH: You ask 'Where's the stadium?' When you find it, you walk right in.
SOUTH: When you're near it, you'll hear it. On game day it is the state's third largest city.
> Concessions:
NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.
SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup, with the home team's mascot on it,
filled less than half way with soda, to ensure enough room for bourbon.
> When National Anthem is Played:
NORTH: Stands are less than half full, and less than half of them stand up.
SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.
> The Smell in the Air After the First Score :
NORTH: Nothing changes.
SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of bourbon.
> Commentary (Male):
NORTH: 'Nice play.'
SOUTH: 'Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs.'
> Commentary (Female):
NORTH: 'My, this certainly is a violent sport.'
SOUTH: 'Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs.'
> Announcers:
NORTH: Neutral and paid.
SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.
> After the Game:
NORTH: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.
SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker, while somebody goes to the nearest package store for more bourbon, and planning begins for next week's
game.
Nothing else in the universe comes even halfway close to the glories of Southern football!
Sic em' dawgs!
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