Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Winston-Salem Journal LTE's WE 01/04/12


Downtown library
I started coming to the downtown Forsyth County Central Library in 2008 to use the public computer to apply for jobs. I was directed upstairs to Information Services. I didn't know at that moment how that simple bit of advice was going to change the course of my life.
I decided to go back to college, but I don't have a computer, so I continue to come to the Central Library. I have come to know the library staff and some of its frequent visitors. It's a diverse group of individuals coming together using the library for resources to write résumés, search for jobs, research and even write novels. It's really like a gathering of family and nobody is a stranger.
The library staff has provided me with the tools, information and help I needed to graduate this spring with honors. I give the Central Library and its staff a huge amount of credit and gratitude for helping me accomplish this goal.
I am sure other people credit the public library for their success in finding jobs and being better informed. I am writing this letter to let people know about the library, its entire staff and services — the best kept secret in the city.

TIWANDA WOODS
Lexington
Third-party candidate
Many people locally and nationally want to see a third-party candidate run for the office of president. But the deep entrenchment of both major parties makes it all but impossible for anyone (viable or not) to run on a third-party ticket.
Is there an answer? Yes, but the time to organize such a movement is now, so when the election of 2016 rolls around we, the people who are disgusted and fed up with both establishment parties, will have a real choice instead of choosing which is the lesser of two evils.
Who is willing to do that? If we don't, then "they" will continue to win repeatedly and we, the people, will continue to get screwed over. The choice is ours.

STEVE HENDERSON
Winston-Salem
Flat Rock, Stokes County
So, it's come to this, Journal — a two-page story, with photos, about a rock (" 'Not a run-of-the-mill place,' " Dec. 28)? Slow news week, huh?

ANGIE MONTGOMERY
Winston-Salem

96 comments:

  1. Crisis takes a much longer time coming than you think, and then it happens much faster than you would have thought.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good morning WW. Did you make it through last night without 'mother nature' calling?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good letter about the library; it's a very valuable public resource.

    I was reading an article about Best Buy's problems in Forbes...the author quoted one of Hemingway's characters (The Sun Also Rises) on how he went bankrupt: "Gradually, then suddenly."

    The copy editor had a devil of a time with Steve's letter, I'm sure.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hopefully, we'll be able to get back on track today, and be able to discuss the issues of the world, instead of having to deal with a few radical, liberal posters, who want to intimidate and threaten a particular conservative poster through (false) identity exposure. I won't mention any names though, but we all know who they are.

    However, given the mental maturity of some the liberal people involved, I don't hold out much hope.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yeah Arthur, Mr. Henderson could have smoothed out a few of his sentences.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bucky...nope. One of the draw backs from prostate cancer surgery.

    Arthur...the best way to be worth a million dollars is, in some businesses, to start out with two million dollars. How goes the job hunt?

    ReplyDelete
  7. WW...I wish our economy would get back on track. It's like living in a world waiting for something to happen, so you can go on with your life. It's strange.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It really amazing how the polls have gone up and down for the Republicans candidates for president. I don't think people are too thrilled with any of them. But, they're all better than Barack Obama the way I look at them.

    If Obama stays in office, one thing is for certain. Our economy will completely collapse.

    We'll probably have to hold our noses when we vote again this time.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bucky, waiting is right. Just stand by, macro events will control our destiny. How we react will be key.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Seems we may get a contest between a big government moderate R and an all government always D. Plays out the string.

    ReplyDelete
  11. WW...I'm not thrilled about Romney, but I think he would get our economy rolling again. We can't stand four more years of economic oppression under Obama.

    ReplyDelete
  12. But you know how liberals are, they're like lemmings jumping into the sea when they vote.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I really wish they weren't so ignorant.

    ReplyDelete
  14. We really need that oil pipeline. That's a huge mistake by the Democrats to stop that from being built.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Slow. Have a few promising leads, but the holidays have put a break on things. Search committees need time off too, I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Romney plays well with the DC Establishment and the hounds on Wall Street. He may well be the last of his kind. To me, when the "bond vigilantes" finally take aim at our debt and dollar, the stuff will hit the fan. From that moment it is all about how a president reacts. That is what makes this election so important.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yep, this election is just as important as when Ronald Reagan ran against Jimmy Carter. After four years of economic and international turmoil under Carter, we had to have a change in direction. Reagan came in and provided leadership and righted the ship and things improved quickly.

    You just can't have that type of recovery under a democrat. They're too busy giving away everybody else's money for it to happen.

    ReplyDelete
  18. A job is so important to one's self-esteem. Even if you have to take a temporary job while you're waiting for a 'real' job. I'd do it Arthur. It'll take some of the pressure off of you for a while.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I was speaking in college educated young people's terms, Rielle.

    I hope you've got, whatever it was you had in your system, out. You've been particularly nasty in here lately.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Any comments on which of the Republicans you all would rather have for president, because it's very probable we'll have a new president in about a year?

    ReplyDelete
  21. The first LTE is a good read. Good luck to her. If that library is ever going to be built-new one- is it clear yet just where the thing will be?

    ReplyDelete
  22. I hope Johnny isn't using some STD as an excuse to get out of his trial. That would be just like a Democrat.

    ReplyDelete
  23. WW...I think it's a waste of money. Who in the world would want to go downtown at 8 o'clock to a library?

    Here's just a few of the risks you would run into if you did. Some derelict would try to extort money from you through physical intimidation, you car would probably get broken into, gay bucks might be banging in the bathrooms (if you're male). In short, it would be a whole hodgpodge of risks that one would have endure at the undertaking.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Romney and HIS superpac spent about $4.3million dollars in Iowa to garner 10 fewer votes than in 2008.. As a businessman I'm sure he understands the law of diminishing returns.

    ReplyDelete
  25. @H8TR: 8 o'clock is not the only time the library is, or would be open.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Exactly where downtown is the location for the library? My Mother worked at the main library way back before the advent of parchment. The head of the place then was a good man named Mr Ballance.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Richard Cordray will be appointed today as the Chief of the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    ReplyDelete
  28. " . . . Some derelict would try to extort money from you through physical intimidation, you car would probably get broken into, gay bucks might be banging in the bathrooms . . . "

    Just more of the imaginary apocalyptic chaos that conservatives come up with.

    ReplyDelete
  29. WW...you sure couldn't or shouldn't put it near the bus station. We all know what kind of people use that facility.

    ReplyDelete
  30. @H8TR: It's a wonder you ever make it out of your home to go to Dick's. I bet you love that store.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Rielle....no, that's real world stuff that happens. I guess that doesn't into your liberal mind, because you live in an extraterrestrial world.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yes, I love the name. It reminds of a few Democrats I know.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Rielle..., thanks for reminding me. I've gotta go for my five mile run. I don't want to end up looking like 'you know who'.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'll check back later to see who's been naughty or nice.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Rick Perry spent $468/vote and is going back to Texas to "reassess." Remember Rick, in order to reassess, it takes an ass.

    ReplyDelete
  36. well you ran a 5minute 45sec mile when you were 21, bucky, Really not something to advertise.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Bachmann must be really embarrassed to come in dead last in her home state. Of course she thought her hometown was where John Wayne was from when actually is it was John Wayne Gacy.

    ReplyDelete
  38. WW - It is unlikely that the library will build a new building. According to my friend who works at Central:

    1. Renovation and expansion of the old building has not been ruled out, at least in part because there is a reversion clause in Dick Reynolds' original gift of the land in the early 1950s. If the land is not used for a library, it goes to a local foundation.

    2. Among existing buildings that have been mentioned is the Journal/Sentinel building. They would move their editorial offices elsewhere.

    3. The Reynolds Building is on the list, but apparently there is some concern with verticality, whatever that means. There is more space per floor than one thinks.

    4. The old RJR Bailey power plant has been mentioned, originally by its owners, the Piedmont Triad Research Park. It is a spectacular complex behind the Reynolds Building on the railroad tracks.

    5. Either 3 or 4 would benefit from a big parking deck that stands between them. The Bailey would have direct access to a couple of large surface lots as well.

    6. Another advantage to 3 or 4 would be that retail space would also be involved, which would solve the problem of people congregating near the entrance. They are not a threat to anyone, but timid people like Mister Bluster are put off by them.

    7. The old RJR plant #64, which was built to makes Camel cigarettes around 1913, might have made a good site, but it is now being developed for apartments, which downtown desperately needs more of.

    As always, BrokeBack blathers on about things of which he knows not. Downtown is one of the safer places in the county these days. Of course, it is not surprising to discover that he is afraid...bigmouths always are. Maybe he can get a CCW permit...nah, he still wouldn't have the guts...either that or he would panic and shoot somebody.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I do however, feel for conservatives, this campaign has been a complete embarrassment for the nation worldwide. I understand that the theme song for this year's R convention will be Brittany Spears, "Oops, I did it again."

    ReplyDelete
  40. Yes, it must be truly debilitating to live in constant fear of bricks, bucks, and intimidation.

    ReplyDelete
  41. @Rush: After reading your final posts yesterday, I surmise that sans H8TR's ID confirmation, we are very close to pin-pointing. What CAN be confirmed is that he is a H8TR an idiot.

    "An idiot, dolt, or dullard is a mentally deficient person, or someone who acts in a self-defeating or significantly counterproductive way."

    ReplyDelete
  42. 'Celebrity Wife Swap': Gary Busey, Ted Haggard Trade Wife, Fiancee

    this is problematic. Do people actually watch this stuff?

    ReplyDelete
  43. Interesting. Thanks for the update, OT.

    ReplyDelete
  44. An observation: He'll react to "hater", but not to "H8TR".

    ReplyDelete
  45. . . . not the PhD we, nor he, think(s) he is.

    ReplyDelete
  46. WW - That would be Paul Ballance, a wonderful man indeed. When he took over, the library was still in the original 1906 Carnegie building on Cherry Street, now the home of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic church. He oversaw the building of a new library in 1952-53 at the corner of Fifth and Spring, next door to Centenary Methodist.

    His successor, Bill Roberts, another great man, oversaw the construction of a huge addition to the building in 1979.

    Over 1300 people use the Central Library every day. It is by far the busiest public facility in the city. And as the letter writer above points out, one of the most valuable resources in the county.

    I'm pulling for the Bailey power plant because it is a spectacular complex with two huge smokestacks, two fifty foot coal silos and a bunch of external conveyer belts rising all around it. Properly restored it would be one of the most eye-catching libraries in the country, bringing a lot of free publicity to the library and the city.

    ReplyDelete
  47. OT...thanks for the update. Since I don't live in FC, I don't catch all the goings on.

    ReplyDelete
  48. OT, I kind of like that Bailey plant idea myself. The current main was a good resource for us as we could walk to it when we lived in West End.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Celebrity wife swap? What, crabs all around?

    ReplyDelete
  50. Bob, they wouldn't have that crap on TV if people didn't watch it.

    My best friends favorite quote, from George Carlin, of course:

    "Consider how stupid the average American is. Then consider that half of them are even stupider."

    ReplyDelete
  51. Although "books" at the library is losing ground to technology, technology itself is the reason we need to update/rebuild libraries. As fast a turnaround as technology makes, it's still expensive for the general public to access information. If it weren't for libraries . . . ?

    ReplyDelete
  52. Do you think the library needs a donation of books in view of the tech change going on? We have around 50-60 mostly hard back that we want to donate somewhere....and not to a book sale preferrably.

    ReplyDelete
  53. @WW: I've been to a few of their book sales at the Southside and Carver School Rd. locations; you'd have to ask, but I'm sure they'll GLADLY accept your donations. I think they do the book sales as fundraisers for their individual facilities.

    ReplyDelete
  54. My opinion is that libraries and librarians are still necessary because people need help filtering out the crap. It's not that they're stupid necessarily, it's just that there's so much junk out there. A librarian should be able to perform more accurate searches, and should be aware of subject-specific databases to help fill the need of the patron.

    Google's great for what it is, but there's so much more out there.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Do you have any Stephen King or Richard Bachman hardbacks, BTW?

    ReplyDelete
  56. Breaking news: Toxicology reports are in. David Carmichael's alcohol blood level was .29, Womble's was ZERO. Sorry to burst your bubble, H8TR.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Rielle, no I don't recall any.

    ReplyDelete
  58. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  59. It's odd how some people who complain about libraries also complain about ignorance.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I use the Central Library several times a week and no hay problemas.

    ReplyDelete
  61. It's like complaining about Planned Parenthood and then complaining about people who have children that perhaps should have planned better.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Ho Ho Ho! Well well well! I'm gone just a few minutes, and I see the riffraff has taken over. Just as I thought.

    Bobby I don't know where you're getting your information, probably from Rielle A/K/A Nancy Drew, but I used to 'average' that speed for miles and miles at 21. So let's not get on your high horse, okay?

    5:45 is the time that it takes for Rush to get his pants down over his puggy body to use the john would be a more accurate description.

    And what's this I hear, Womble wasn't in the bag? The Journal reported earlier that he was 'under the weather', as you liberals put it. Tsss Tssss....What am I going to do with the Journal? They wouldn't make a mistake would they?

    ReplyDelete
  63. LindseyGraham
    Joined: 29 Dec 2006
    Posts: 178
    Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:32 am Post subject: To POPAT or not to POPAT?

    Fast forward to age 21, I was completing my first police/sheriff school. I had just ran a mile in 5 minutes and 45 seconds.

    ReplyDelete
  64. After all this time, Bucky, you should know better than to question me.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Romney was asked about the differences between him and Rick Santorum and could only say he wasn't sure. After all those debates one might think he would have a clue, but I guess clueless runs deep.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Okay Bobby...you got me. Yesterday you were way off the reservation though.

    ReplyDelete
  67. I probably went slow because they always want you to run faster the next time.

    ReplyDelete
  68. But I'm telling you Bobby, because I like you. You're wrong about my identity. If you want to continue to make a fool of yourself, like Rush and Rielle, be my guest, but you were warned.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Ah, making a fool of myself has been a lifelong endeavor...... Wow, FCSO Watch has 14,096 members. Of course many have the same IP Address.

    ReplyDelete
  70. The Lady doth protest too much, Me Thinks!!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Bobby...the site is basically defunct now. There's a professional spammer that has disrupted the site to the extent that it serves little purpose. I know you don't believe me, but I'm not the owner/operator of the site.

    ReplyDelete
  72. I wish you'd spend as much time on Schatzman's fiascos as you do my identity. You'd find out some good stuff if you did.

    What's my file name in your computer? Bucky? LindseyGraham or ....?

    ReplyDelete
  73. Hope you've got a BIG HARD DRIVE, and considering your sexual orientation, I'll bet you do!

    ReplyDelete
  74. there were lot's of posts back in November and several people registered today. My former bridge partner, Mao Lin, is a security software developer for IBM and could probably advise you

    the spammer, is that the one with about 100 aliases? That was my guess.

    ReplyDelete
  75. With and IntelCore 2 Quad Processor.

    ReplyDelete
  76. I could find about the "perfume princes" as you like to call them, but I only do research for people I know. It's a cruel world.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Yes....I've identified the company that is doing the spamming. I have advised the 'administrator' of the site through various anonymous channels. However, nothing has been done about it.

    Thanks for your concern Bobby. I know you're a good person. There's only few, true 'a' holes in this forum.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Okay Bobby....I'm tired of being nice. Let get back to you all know everything, and I'm the mean 'ol conservative.

    ReplyDelete
  79. lol, Bucky, you're such an alter cocker. GAY GA ZINTA HATE

    ReplyDelete
  80. I'm glad I don't know everything. That would be quite a burden.

    ReplyDelete
  81. What is 'ol? Did he mean ol'? Or ole? Hey, when you get that far, just add an "h" in fron and you've got have of BrokeBack's actual name.

    ReplyDelete
  82. I'm still waiting for your building's address Rush, I still have the urge.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Okay...I just checked. The accident was Womble's fault, he crossed the center line and struck the other car. However, it appears he was not drunk.

    Of course, now since the other guy is dead, they're going to try to say it was all his fault. The whole accident that is.

    Maybe our Forsyth Tech Law School Graduate can tell us what's going to happen as the result of the recent findings.

    ReplyDelete
  84. I think I'm going to end up hating the fact that I asked.

    ReplyDelete
  85. . . . Womble crossing the yellow line was a defensive move, according to my source.

    ReplyDelete
  86. After reconstructing the events at the scene, my source surmises that Carmichael was driving down the wrong side of the road and Womble swerved (crossed the yellow line) as a defensive measure. Of course, they haven't gotten Womble's side of the story. I'll suggest to my source to go and talk to you . . . you'll set the record straight because your objective sources make you right.

    ReplyDelete
  87. Well, you're right, that I'm usually right.

    Nonetheless, I think they've determined from the physical evidence-you know what that is don't you Nancy-that Womble crossed the center line and struck the other vehicle. Since the vehicles struck head on, I'd say if Womble was making an evasive move, as your confidential and highly reliable source indicates, no matter as to the fault of Carmichael, but maybe somebody else.

    Hey Nancy, Democrats make mistakes too. Look what at they did to all of us when they elected Obama.

    Do us all a favor and put down your magnifying glass. You're going to get yourself in trouble.

    ReplyDelete
  88. I knew both drivers and I knew before the toxicology report that David was probably drunk. None of that has anything to do with reality. There was little physical evidence to go on at the scene, but there were witnesses.

    According to Chief Cunningham:

    Although legally impaired, Carmichael was in the center of his lane and witnesses did not report that he was driving erratically before the accident.

    But Cunningham said it's difficult to say at this point if the accident could have been avoided or otherwise mitigated had Carmichael not been impaired. A driver immediately in front of Carmichael's car saw Womble about to cross the center lane and was able to get out of the way, Cunningham said.

    "That vehicle made a move to get out of Womble's way," before Womble struck Carmichael's car, Cunningham said.

    But two cars travelling the posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour on Reynolds Park Road would not have left anyone much time to react, he said.

    ReplyDelete
  89. I hope Womble gets well and goes on with his life. The only real beef I've got with him is his 'Racial Justice' Act. It's a horrible law, and should have repealed, but thanks to Bev, it wasn't.

    It just goes back to my beliefs that anytime you get a bunch of Democrats together, nothing good is going to come out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  90. I have a friend who went to pick up a deceased friend's ashes at the crematorium. While there he encountered the Carmichael's family and heard them say that the police kept Carmichael's shirt.

    ReplyDelete