Jan
21
All Ears #2
ByIt’s Thursday, Asheville, and that means it’s time for a fresh installment of All Ears.  In an effort to create ease of access to government, I’m opening this thread for all of your Asheville concerns.  Whether it’s noisy neighbors or orange ozone days, leave your observations, visions, rants, and gushy love letters here.  Tell your friends that there’s a new way to interact with your City Council.
11 Comments
January 21st, 2010 at 9:12 am
what’s with all the detours on Biltmore Ave?
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January 21st, 2010 at 9:14 am
Chocolate microscopes! (That one’s for Shad)
Seriously, I really dig MM’s idea of using local Asheville musicians instead of Muzak as background music on the Asheville Channel. It’ll probably be cheaper than having to pay for Muzak (check into it – that stuff is costly!), and I’m guessing that most AVL musicians would be so stoked over the offer that they’d let you use it for free!
Speedbumps on Riverview may not be a bad idea, either, considering what happened near Fliss’ house the other night.
Also, I think someone needs to change the tinfoil on Ditmore’s hat.
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January 21st, 2010 at 9:43 am
Thanks, Admin (whoever the hell you are).
I’d wager that it wouldn’t cost the city a dime – the musicians would love the exposure, and I’d imagine would do it for free.
As I read more bla bla from the Public Art Board‘s Mission statement, it all really seems to click:
Substitute the word art with music and it’s a no-brainer.
I’m looking forward to hearing Alan Ditmore’s lovely a capella version of “The Vascectomy Song” and Cecil Bothwell singing “Onward Post-Theist Soldiers” with full tambourine accompaniment.
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January 21st, 2010 at 9:49 am
I’ve started trying to figure out how to go about the music change. More as I learn it.
As to speed bumps on Riverview. This is another area I’ve got to learn about. I’ve begun inquiries, and I’ll keep y’all posted.
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January 21st, 2010 at 9:49 am
Shad,
The detours are due to bridge construction. They’re going to be there for a long time. Find alternative routes if possible.
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January 21st, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Hey Gordon – I’d love to see some traffic calming measures on State Street, particularly around Hudson St and the curve just past the Hanover St intersection.
Thanks!
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January 21st, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Thank you for facilitating the sewer pipe repair on Howland. The private plumber and the city were at the complex before I could call DENR. Most impressed and most grateful because I really didn’t need another thing on my to-do list!
About the Local Muzak- Great idea! Though the “they’d love the exposure” comment reminds me of something an artist friend said to me once. After the millionth time she had been asked to donate one of her paintings to a charity event, she finally said no. The person making the request said, “But you’ll get great exposure.” Her response: “Don’t people die of exposure?” That said, what if local musicians were compensated, even a little bit. It’s not like they get paid tons of money for gigs in Asheville! What if we create a CD- “Asheville Muzak”- that would be cool!
Gordon- Yuri will be able to direct you to the traffic calming person. I wonder if he is a Buddhist…Sorry, I really need to get a life….
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January 21st, 2010 at 3:38 pm
I have to agree with firelady on that point. As a musician as well as a cartoonist, I am so exposed after living in Asheville for the last 40 years that it is a miracle I haven’t been arrested for said exposure.
It’s kind of like saying to the lawyer who represents you at your anti-annexation lawsuit, “I can’t pay you, but the exposure that you get will help propel you to bigger and better gigs!” Exposure doesn’t pay Progress Energy, and until we ALL of us are on the exposure exchange………PAY ‘EM!
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January 21st, 2010 at 3:53 pm
David- I’ll add that to the punch line. Die or get arrested for exposure! Love it!
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January 21st, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I want to recycle some toxic batteries without driving for 30 miles (round trip) to the landfill. Can we do something to make this easier?
I heard that Home Depot will take old CFL bulbs if they are in a clear plastic bag. I will try that for the CFL I have that burned out – aren’t they supposed to last for like ten years? Mine lasted 5 years.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 9:26 pm
We would LOVE some speed bumps on Covington St. in W. Asheville or to even turn it into a one way street. Lots of folks (including the gigantic garbage trucks) use our street at as a cut through from Haywood to Sulphur Springs and they haul ass up and down the street. We have a lot of kids that walk to and from school or bus stops on and no sidewalks. This makes it really dangerous when people fly down the street!
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