Imported from Detroit

To the right is the longest ad in Super Bowl history priced at $9 million and promoting a car that is said to define luxury using Detroit and Eminem as a benchmark. Can you create luxury for $19-24k? Probably not. By comparison you have the Audi A8 at $88k who also had a Super Bowl commercial last night.  They might convince me that they are luxury – not that Kenny G* is any little more ‘luxury’ than a rapper.  To be honest the likelihood that I will own either one of the cars is slim to none. (Audi A8 ad after the jump.)

My issue? Should Chrysler be spending $9M on the Super Bowl? I’ve heard the argument before – and yes – I am talking about it today. That might make it worth the money but clearly I am not their target market and won’t be purchasing a Chrysler 200.  I’m not likely to ever drive a 200.  So this probably isn’t a completely fair statement but wouldn’t $9M be better spent on designing and building a better car?  Is the Motor City really back? If so does that mean we can have the money the U.S. taxpayers ‘loaned’ to you back?  Any of it?  Are we talking about the same Detroit?  Maybe this is what you meant.

I hate to point it out but just maybe the Super Bowl ad was in poor taste.  Wonder what the people that still live in the Motor City think?  All that being said both ads are pretty cool and mopped the floor of just about anything Coke or Budweiser did.  The big winner is still The Force (VW).

Home Sweet Home on The Colbert Report

We made national news! Unfortunately it wasn’t because of any of the great things we’ve all come to know and love in the county we call home or even the upcoming NHL All-Star Game but rather because of the continuing issues highlighted by the Wake County Board of Education. Notice I said “issues highlighted” not problems solved or problems created.  This is something seems to be lost on everyone that is fighting for or against the changes the Board wishes to make.  Unfortunately the issues aren’t easy to solve and using them as a lightening rod in a political arena for either side does more harm than good for the lives most at stake – the students of the Wake County Public Schools.

Before I get aligned incorrectly let me first say I am 100% behind a reasonable diversity policy that gives the same quality education to every student that crosses the threshold of a school in Wake County.  As many claim – for better or worse – I am a product of the public school system. (Of Forsyth County not Wake County.) I appreciate the quality education I received and while I currently do not have a child in the school system I see the unparalleled value of education in our community.

A reasonable diversity policy doesn’t mean that the parents that can afford to live in the best neighborhoods get to go the best schools or even the schools closest to their homes. When we bought our house we knew we weren’t buying in a great school district.  The high school for our neighborhood is Middle Creek – the most direct route from our house is over 10 miles and could take up to 24 minutes.  That is direct – on a bus route?  No idea how long it would take.

From President to President…

January 20, 1993
Dear Bill,
When I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that too. I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described. There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course. You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you.
Good luck –
George

So I was bouncing around the web and saw this today and it made me stop for a minute and really think.  This short letter represents how politics should be.  Were George Bush’s and Bill Clinton’s political ideologies the same or even close? No.  But ultimately the success of the country was more important.  I don’t know what the ultimate outcome of the violence in Tuscon will be.  More gun control?  Better political discourse?  More mental health screening?  The end of conservative talk radio?  I’ve heard all of these as potential “solutions” to prevent another incident.

My hope is “we the people” make a change.  We’re looking at Democrats and Republicans like they are sports teams not political parties that represent different ideas for the same country.  We need to realize that once an individual takes office they are “our representative” regardless of whether or not we voted for them or what party they belong to.  They still represent you and should respond to you if you reach out to them.  You may not always agree with them but you should recognize the benefit of the success and ultimately root hard for them.

Of Huckleberry Finn and the “N-word”

Two Milestones for Tryon Road at City Council

As some of you know I spend a little bit of my time trying to be an advocate for positive change in Southwest Raleigh.  I believe that we have a wonderful diverse community unlike any other in Raleigh or the Triangle (maybe anywhere).  I was recently asked to blog on the start-up southwestraleigh.com and here is my first post from that site.  I travel a good distance on Tryon Road no less than two times a day.  It is the best way for me to get to and from work and it also gives me a unique perspective – I see first hand the near-misses, wrecks and property damage.  I’ve also seen how much the traffic has increased in the past 3 years.  Our community badly needs this passed.  If you have a minute shoot an email to the Raleigh City Council and ask them to please support both the short term fix and the long term solution for Tryon Road.  Thanks!

Tryon Road (SR 1009), between Lake Wheeler Road and US 70-401, is in desperate need of repair, widening, and realignment, to better serve the south west Raleigh community. In 2010 several groups in south west Raleigh have worked diligently in advocating for road updates, improvements and ultimately the realignment of Tryon Road and the replacement of Bridge 259. Advocates have been in front of the city council numerous times and several councilors and city staff have supported our efforts with a tremendous response to the needs in our community.

The next City Council meeting planned for January 4, 2011 contains two milestones for our cause. First is the reduction of the speed limit from 45mph to 35mph with improved driver channelization (i.e. better lane management) at the intersection of Tryon and Junction Blvd. This will improve an intersection that has seen both minor and tragic accidents within the past year. We expect to see an immediate impact on the road if these recommendations are approved by council.

Second, and more exciting, is a request for an endorsement from council to cost share the Tryon Road improvements including Bridge 259 and the connection to the Renaissance Park neighborhood. This is longer term in scope but should have a significantly greater impact than anything we’ve seen done on the road to date. This would remove the “Garner Death Curve” from Tryon Road completely. [Media coverage 1, 2, 3]

We know a lot of people that visit this site will be very happy to hear that these items are in motion. That being said, they are by no means a done deal. If you are interested in seeing this become a reality, email or call your city councilor. You can email all the councilors and Mayor Meeker at once by clicking here. We hope to report on Wednesday that both recommendations passed and another hurdle for Tryon Road has been crossed.

For more updates on the Tryon Road Realignment join our Facebook Page.

Click here to comment on the original post on southwestraleigh.com – if you do write the council please let me know.  As much as possible I want to keep track of how many emails our efforts are generating.