From You
Jul 2, 2003
Letters
SUPPORTING BUSH
Mr. McCommons, I am a longtime reader of Flagpole and a recent fan of your writing. I attended President Bush's campaign rally and simply wanted to point out that he did stop in downtown Greensboro and speak to a small group of onlookers. It is also a little naive and/or disingenuous to juxtapose the two visits (Bush and Stevenson) as a case study in how they conduct themselves. Certainly you don't think that Adlai ran two presidential campaigns without holding similar fund-raising rallies. Mr. Stevenson was an intellectual giant and an inspiring articulator of the American Dream, but he was not immune to the machination of politics. Finally, I disagree with the assertion that our current president - unlike FDR - is not interested in materially helping the poor. His pledge of billions toward AIDS victims in Africa, his organization of the Freedom Corps, numerous faith-based grant programs, as well as his recent prescription drug program and tax "refunds" (to those who don't pay taxes) represent a far more active, inclusive and open-minded approach to leading our nation than I can recall in the last 20 years. I wish you continued success.
Greg Purvis
Email
HOWDY, NEIGHBOR!
Me and my two sisters purchased a four bedroom house behind Beechwood a couple of years ago. When we bought it there were five unrelated people living in it and the owner said that they had never had any problems. So I bought the house thinking that even if my sisters moved on after school then I would still be able to rent out a couple of bedrooms to help pay for it. Boy, did I get shafted.
The day we moved in one of our neighbors was nice enough to come by and let us know that we were unwelcome in their precious neighborhood. We did the only civil thing by ignoring her completely, but then a citation from the marshal's office showed up saying that he had had complaints about multiple un-related students living in our house.
I went to the marshal's office with all the appropriate forms and even a picture of us as small children so that he knew that I was not fronting on the bloodline tip. The guy looked real busy and said that he would make a note of it and to not worry about it.
Two months later I got another citation saying that if I didn't stop housing unrelated renters then I would have to pay $1000 and serve jail time. I went back to the Marshal's office only to find that it was a new marshal who seemed to care even less then the last one. I gave the same story and got the same response.
A month later I got yet another "formal threat" from the homeowners association. Since I was losing all patience I went directly to the president of the neighborhood and explained the situation. I even told him how one of my neighbors threatened to send the police to my house because I wouldn't erase his late fees at the video store I work at (true story). I told him that I was having a hard time putting up with this nonsense and if he knew who was causing me all these problems to please tell them to come by my house and talk to me like a civilized human being.
Luckily that seemed to do it (although I never found out who the culprit was). I haven't been harassed since, but for how long? The problem is not too few laws, there are too many! The marshal is too busy to enforce real laws like abandoned couches and loud parties because he's too busy running around every time some old lady counts too many cars in a person's driveway. I am a homeowner. I pay my taxes, I keep my lawn fit and I even pay my neighborhood dues! Why on Earth does the government think that they can tell me who can and cannot live in my house? Shame on them for even THINKING that they can intrude into my home like that. When laws are broken they need to be enforced, period. When you think that you can lump all of these problems into one category of "unrelated renters" it's just plain wrong. I hate drunken idiots as much as the next guy (lord knows they've stolen enough movies from me), but this ordinance is an exercise in documented stupidity and everyone will pay for it in the long run.
Jeremy Long
Athens
ALMIGHTY CRAP
In response to Carrie Coker's complaint about Patrick Franklin, Flagpole's "snooty, know-it-all" movie reviewer: Ms Coker, if you want to read nice things about mainstream movies, then I suggest you read a mainstream newspaper. I personally appreciate Mr. Franklin's vitriolic wit and his ability to peg these Hollywood movies for the almighty crap that they are.
A. Bettini
Athens
PLOT THICKENS
Add to the list of conspiracies the disappearance of hot pickled okra from grocery store shelves.
Nicki Hendrix
READING ON-LINE
I would like to compliment the Flagpole Magazine for their superb coverage of local news in the on-line publication. It is wonderful to be able to keep up with what's happening locally in politics and entertainment while I am on a three-month medical rotation in Kansas. Being a resident of Athens, I feel a sense of pride in being able to show people out here where I come from, how colorful our town and the people who live in it are, and what issues concern us.
People are always commenting on how interesting our town looks and how different things must be there. A group of nurses were taken by the name Casper and the Cookies and want to hear what they sound like. Will we ever be able to download song/performance clips from your site?
I look forward each week to the next issue. I can't wait to get back, have a beer and bread at the Globe and lose myself in an issue for an hour. Keep up the good work, and thank you for being there.
Travis Cown
Fort Scott, KS
DEAD AIR
I find it silly that 90.5 WUOG should win best supporter of the local scene when they decided to cut off the station during Thursday's "Sound of the City," so they could attend the Flagpole music awards. Having to work Thursday night I was hoping to at least listen to some local music on the radio, but was surprised to hear that the staff decided to kill the signal after telling the listening public that since we were all at the Morton Theatre there was no reason not to turn off the station and attend the awards. Incidentally the same thing happened two nights later on Saturday when the DJ informed us that since someone had not shown up he was just going to cut off the station and get downtown to drink. Get it together guys. If you're winning an award at least don't kill the station during the show that is mainly responsible for your winning. 90.5 does a great job, but maybe during break radio they could implement a scenario where locals not enrolled at UGA could fill in the missing DJ gaps. (We will return to our regularly scheduled programming at 6 a.m.)
An amused dishwasher
Athens
BROOKLYN BRIDGE, TOO?
Sir, Complements of the season to you. On good recommendation reputation of yourself and your business, I came to get your contact, which I decided to contact you pertaining a business proposal. I am the Senior Accountant of Central Bank of Nigeria (Lagos Branch) and I am sorry if this letter comes to you as a embarrassment, but be restassured that it is with trust I disclose my business proposal to you.
This business has been maturing with time and I am at the concluding part of this deal. To cut the story short, In 1998 the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) awarded a Fifty Six Million Dollars (US$56Million Dollars) contract to a consortium of two firms(Sbibat Gmbh of Germany) & (Japan Marubent co-operation of Japan) to supply Oil Equipment. This project has been completed in the year 2002 and short term loans and related depts paid off.
In my capacity and power as the Senior Accountant in the Banks Account Department for the Federal Government Foreign Contractors sets up by the President of the Federation, I have been able to reschedule payment of thirty Million (US$30Million Dollars) which has been already been paid to Sbibat Gmbh of Germany this year 2002. So I took advantage of some irregularities in the Banks Foreign Contractors database and easily reflected in the Banks up date statement of Account, as outstanding debt owed, to be paid to Sbibat Gmbh. At this moment I have rectified payment advice for transfer of thirty Million Dollars (US$30Million Dollars) to be paid by telegraphic transfer or bank certified cheque into a foreign account abroad.
On behalf of all wishes to transfer this amount into your Company/Personal Account provide by you, the following information will be need to facilitate the transfer of the funds as quickly as possible.
1. Your banking particulars including their telephone & fax number where the funds will be transferred into and also their telex number.
2. Your personal Telephone, Fax & Mobile Number, also your Email Address for easy communication.
Finally may you be notified about our meeting on a neutral ground face to face as soon as your banking particulars have been fax or email to me to enable me to facilitate this transfer as quickly as possible.
I appreciate to inform you that documents to back up this project executed by you or your company for you to provide at any called time here in Nigeria will be sent to you by fax from the various ministries and originals by Courier Services, so that you can prove that you are the actual contractor and the beneficiary of the Contract Sum. Hoping to hear from you. Thanks and best regards
MR. ROLAND BEN (SENIOR ACCOUNTANT) C.B.N
Lagos
Mr. McCommons, I am a longtime reader of Flagpole and a recent fan of your writing. I attended President Bush's campaign rally and simply wanted to point out that he did stop in downtown Greensboro and speak to a small group of onlookers. It is also a little naive and/or disingenuous to juxtapose the two visits (Bush and Stevenson) as a case study in how they conduct themselves. Certainly you don't think that Adlai ran two presidential campaigns without holding similar fund-raising rallies. Mr. Stevenson was an intellectual giant and an inspiring articulator of the American Dream, but he was not immune to the machination of politics. Finally, I disagree with the assertion that our current president - unlike FDR - is not interested in materially helping the poor. His pledge of billions toward AIDS victims in Africa, his organization of the Freedom Corps, numerous faith-based grant programs, as well as his recent prescription drug program and tax "refunds" (to those who don't pay taxes) represent a far more active, inclusive and open-minded approach to leading our nation than I can recall in the last 20 years. I wish you continued success.
Greg Purvis
HOWDY, NEIGHBOR!
Me and my two sisters purchased a four bedroom house behind Beechwood a couple of years ago. When we bought it there were five unrelated people living in it and the owner said that they had never had any problems. So I bought the house thinking that even if my sisters moved on after school then I would still be able to rent out a couple of bedrooms to help pay for it. Boy, did I get shafted.
The day we moved in one of our neighbors was nice enough to come by and let us know that we were unwelcome in their precious neighborhood. We did the only civil thing by ignoring her completely, but then a citation from the marshal's office showed up saying that he had had complaints about multiple un-related students living in our house.
I went to the marshal's office with all the appropriate forms and even a picture of us as small children so that he knew that I was not fronting on the bloodline tip. The guy looked real busy and said that he would make a note of it and to not worry about it.
Two months later I got another citation saying that if I didn't stop housing unrelated renters then I would have to pay $1000 and serve jail time. I went back to the Marshal's office only to find that it was a new marshal who seemed to care even less then the last one. I gave the same story and got the same response.
A month later I got yet another "formal threat" from the homeowners association. Since I was losing all patience I went directly to the president of the neighborhood and explained the situation. I even told him how one of my neighbors threatened to send the police to my house because I wouldn't erase his late fees at the video store I work at (true story). I told him that I was having a hard time putting up with this nonsense and if he knew who was causing me all these problems to please tell them to come by my house and talk to me like a civilized human being.
Luckily that seemed to do it (although I never found out who the culprit was). I haven't been harassed since, but for how long? The problem is not too few laws, there are too many! The marshal is too busy to enforce real laws like abandoned couches and loud parties because he's too busy running around every time some old lady counts too many cars in a person's driveway. I am a homeowner. I pay my taxes, I keep my lawn fit and I even pay my neighborhood dues! Why on Earth does the government think that they can tell me who can and cannot live in my house? Shame on them for even THINKING that they can intrude into my home like that. When laws are broken they need to be enforced, period. When you think that you can lump all of these problems into one category of "unrelated renters" it's just plain wrong. I hate drunken idiots as much as the next guy (lord knows they've stolen enough movies from me), but this ordinance is an exercise in documented stupidity and everyone will pay for it in the long run.
Jeremy Long
Athens
ALMIGHTY CRAP
In response to Carrie Coker's complaint about Patrick Franklin, Flagpole's "snooty, know-it-all" movie reviewer: Ms Coker, if you want to read nice things about mainstream movies, then I suggest you read a mainstream newspaper. I personally appreciate Mr. Franklin's vitriolic wit and his ability to peg these Hollywood movies for the almighty crap that they are.
A. Bettini
Athens
PLOT THICKENS
Add to the list of conspiracies the disappearance of hot pickled okra from grocery store shelves.
Nicki Hendrix
READING ON-LINE
I would like to compliment the Flagpole Magazine for their superb coverage of local news in the on-line publication. It is wonderful to be able to keep up with what's happening locally in politics and entertainment while I am on a three-month medical rotation in Kansas. Being a resident of Athens, I feel a sense of pride in being able to show people out here where I come from, how colorful our town and the people who live in it are, and what issues concern us.
People are always commenting on how interesting our town looks and how different things must be there. A group of nurses were taken by the name Casper and the Cookies and want to hear what they sound like. Will we ever be able to download song/performance clips from your site?
I look forward each week to the next issue. I can't wait to get back, have a beer and bread at the Globe and lose myself in an issue for an hour. Keep up the good work, and thank you for being there.
Travis Cown
Fort Scott, KS
DEAD AIR
I find it silly that 90.5 WUOG should win best supporter of the local scene when they decided to cut off the station during Thursday's "Sound of the City," so they could attend the Flagpole music awards. Having to work Thursday night I was hoping to at least listen to some local music on the radio, but was surprised to hear that the staff decided to kill the signal after telling the listening public that since we were all at the Morton Theatre there was no reason not to turn off the station and attend the awards. Incidentally the same thing happened two nights later on Saturday when the DJ informed us that since someone had not shown up he was just going to cut off the station and get downtown to drink. Get it together guys. If you're winning an award at least don't kill the station during the show that is mainly responsible for your winning. 90.5 does a great job, but maybe during break radio they could implement a scenario where locals not enrolled at UGA could fill in the missing DJ gaps. (We will return to our regularly scheduled programming at 6 a.m.)
An amused dishwasher
Athens
BROOKLYN BRIDGE, TOO?
Sir, Complements of the season to you. On good recommendation reputation of yourself and your business, I came to get your contact, which I decided to contact you pertaining a business proposal. I am the Senior Accountant of Central Bank of Nigeria (Lagos Branch) and I am sorry if this letter comes to you as a embarrassment, but be restassured that it is with trust I disclose my business proposal to you.
This business has been maturing with time and I am at the concluding part of this deal. To cut the story short, In 1998 the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) awarded a Fifty Six Million Dollars (US$56Million Dollars) contract to a consortium of two firms(Sbibat Gmbh of Germany) & (Japan Marubent co-operation of Japan) to supply Oil Equipment. This project has been completed in the year 2002 and short term loans and related depts paid off.
In my capacity and power as the Senior Accountant in the Banks Account Department for the Federal Government Foreign Contractors sets up by the President of the Federation, I have been able to reschedule payment of thirty Million (US$30Million Dollars) which has been already been paid to Sbibat Gmbh of Germany this year 2002. So I took advantage of some irregularities in the Banks Foreign Contractors database and easily reflected in the Banks up date statement of Account, as outstanding debt owed, to be paid to Sbibat Gmbh. At this moment I have rectified payment advice for transfer of thirty Million Dollars (US$30Million Dollars) to be paid by telegraphic transfer or bank certified cheque into a foreign account abroad.
On behalf of all wishes to transfer this amount into your Company/Personal Account provide by you, the following information will be need to facilitate the transfer of the funds as quickly as possible.
1. Your banking particulars including their telephone & fax number where the funds will be transferred into and also their telex number.
2. Your personal Telephone, Fax & Mobile Number, also your Email Address for easy communication.
Finally may you be notified about our meeting on a neutral ground face to face as soon as your banking particulars have been fax or email to me to enable me to facilitate this transfer as quickly as possible.
I appreciate to inform you that documents to back up this project executed by you or your company for you to provide at any called time here in Nigeria will be sent to you by fax from the various ministries and originals by Courier Services, so that you can prove that you are the actual contractor and the beneficiary of the Contract Sum. Hoping to hear from you. Thanks and best regards
MR. ROLAND BEN (SENIOR ACCOUNTANT) C.B.N
Lagos
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