Newspaper Page Text
I pvaviWFMSCONTACT US AT P.O. BOX 1027, ATHENS, CA SOSOS OR MAIL@ELACROLE.COM
MmmS V V EfC9 letters may be edited eor style, a/io/rv /iwo space considerations
I am from Belgium and I just got back from
Athens, where I spent six weeks with my friends.
I have followed the debate about the [ACC
Commissioner Linda] Ford plan intensively,
because at first I didn't know what all the fuss
was about. Compared to Belgium, one of the
most urbanized countries in the world, Ather.s-
Clarke still has an abundance of green space. If
you want to see uncontrolled sprawl and urban
chaos, please feel free to visit my country.
Belgium is an example of how not to proceed
when it comes to land and growth management.
No wonder Americans sometimes think Belgium
is just a city, because that is what it looks like:
slashed with highways, industry, railways and
concrete. Islands of beauty still survive, but the
prices of real estate in the countryside have
soared incredibly high. In other words: you need
lots of money if you want to breathe clean air or
have some nature around you.
It sounds like I'm putting my country down,
but that is not my intent. I know Belgium's evo
lution was caused mainly by economical and
demographical factors, but nevertheless there
was an element of choice. Holland has done
much better on urban management because they
have planned more and have left less to chance
or to the whims of the free market. Belgians
only seem to worry when it is too late.
Holland has controlled sprawl in different
ways: first of all by protecting agricultural space
and natural preserves. Secondly, by building
smaller houses and building them closer
together. Thirdly, they have done a lot to pro
mote carpoolinq and tne use of bicycles in the
cities. But most of all: they have planned with
their focus on the future. This is, in my opiruoh.
what Athens needs to do as well. It needs to
work on an inteqrative approach taking into
account the likely demographical and econom
ical development, and working together with the
othei counties and the state of Georgia. I really
hope Athens can stay green. If not. Belgians vis
iting Georgia will think Athens is just another
part of Atlanta.
Patrick Laureys
Gent. Belgium
INFILL IS GOOD
Hello, I think all of your recent pieces
regarding development along the greenway have
missed the point Infill is good for us. Not to an
obscene extent, perhaps, but all of the bike
lanes and greenway-type things are only justifi
able when they have people to safely use them.
As it is. the greenway now has only the original
Whistlebury and a rather shady set of apart
ments adjoining it in a part of town whose crime
record has not been stellar. More apartments or
houses may well make the greenway and other
bike-lane-type things justifiable and safe. There
is no reason for local residents to stand in the
way of this. I suspect that those who do are not
currently living on the East side of town.
Nicki Hendrix
Email
PROFIT OR STOP IT?
The mayor and city council are taking heat
for the zoning situation in Athens. I feel their
pain. Developers and investors define success as
profit. The community defines success as a liv
able environment. There is a point when a politi
cian makes the transition from profiteer to
pubbc servant, reconsiliating the community as
a whole. In Athens, the transition has not taken
place. I hope that one day they close off campus
to cars, work on air quality, let people skate
board, route traffic away from the arches, make
a BICYCLE FRIENDLY TOWN, leaving morals out of
politics, and having ANYTHING but more cars
and filthy smoke.
The destruction culture is heading this way
from Atlanta; so tar the government and invest
ment culture in athens is excited on how to
profit from it, not how to stop it.
Dave "squante'' Oldaker
Email
ARTIST RESPONDS
I'm writing to attempt to make a few correc
tions on your magazines review of the bsk
album entitled Number One. [Record Reviews
Oct. 11 ] Being the artist that the review is
about. I feel like I should try and set things
straight. I understand that it is hard to present
information about an album to the public while
giving them a feel of what the music is really
like, but some things I just can’t let slide. Plus a
question was asked so I figured that I could at
least answer it. This particular review was very
personal, which doesn't really bother me, how
ever, I wanted the general public that doesn't
have a copy of this album to know that the
review was a little far-fetched in terms of how it
was related to the music of other artists.
Emphasis has always been made during the
writing process to ensure that the sound is
unlike anything else. Also to answer the ques
tion, "What's he so angry about?" my response is
that a closer listen to the album, and one could
understand what's going on, and why it-is going
on. This CD does in fact have a few angry
moments, but the majority of the lyrics are posi
tive and all lyrics are brought forth in a very
straight forward manner. Also, I'd like to note
that the prank phone call intermission is in fact,
very funny. Even if you are a hippy, you should
be able to enjoy it. No offense to Flagpole.
Thanks for the compliments. It was inter
esting to see what a typical Athens type person
would think about the music. Even though at
some moments when reading this review, I felt
like someone's grandmother was lecturing me. I
still enjoyed reading someone's opinion To all
the kids out there who enjoy the art side of
music, I'm glad that you understand. Head up.
We’re fighting for something.
Andrew Haugen
Jefferson
MENACE TO MUSIC
"Phish broke up. Finally," is a line out of
Ballard's Business section [Oct. 2S\. Ballard, I
wonder... I've been reading your articles for a
while and have come to the conclusion that you
are the Darth Vader of Athens, and you have
been on an unending quest to kill JamBacca and
his evil sidekick Guitar Solo.
Is it because "jam" registers in your ears as
an unbearable cacophony, or is it because you
despise dogs and sandals and SUVs and sun
dresses?
I ask because for two years. I've seen you dis
miss some of the best musicians in this town,
while at the same time you praise some of the
biggest wankers that exist in this galaxy. This
publication is in dire need of John Britt.
Business sucks (and so does ABC). Both are a
forum for disgruntled musicians to vent on the
real musicians in this town.
Fernll Gibbs
Email
THIS MllklM W*KL»
by TOM TOMORROW
I'M JUST MOT SURE WHAT I WANT.' A BiG
| MAC CAN RtALLY SATISFY A PERSON'S HUNGER--
I BUT THOSE CHICKEN MCMUGGETS ARE MIGHTY
TASTY TOO.'
| don't you Find my inability to choose TRULY
COMPELLING?
PAPER OR PLASTIC? THAT'S A GOOD QUES
TION! PAPER BAGS ARE EASIER TO CARRY--
BUT PLASTIC IS LESS LIKELY TO RIP'
MY THOUGHTFUL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IS
PRETTY DARNED INTERESTING, isn't it?
AFTER THE election many UNDECIDED VOTERS HAD
A difficult time readjusting to NORMAL life...
COKE or PEPSI? what A TOUGH CHOICE'.
THEY RE both REFRESHING cola drinks--But
THEY EACH HAVE QUITE DISTINCTIVE FLAVORS.'
LOOK AT ME. dammit; im COMPLETELY
INCAPABLE OF making THE MOST SIMPLE
DECISIONS! isn't THAT The most FASCINAT
ING THING YOU’VE EVER SEEN?
PERHAPS WE SHOULD ASSEMBLE A FOCUS
GROUP TO Discuss THIS ISSUE FURTHER
DOESN'T ANYONE
WANT TO SEND
A CAMERA
CREW??!
AatU ITALY
i mmm timmmmmevammmm
*A Little Slice
cf New ycrk
with an
Attitude.**
Open until 4am on
Friday & Saturday
125 N Lumpkin Street * Downtown Athens
613-7100
Eat In or Carry Out
Mon -Thu 11 arn-2am • Fri. 6 Sat. 11 am-4am
A COPY STORE
AN D MORE ...
► COLOR CORIES ► RESUMES ► FAX ► FLYERS
► NEWSIETTERS ► BINDING ► OVERSIZE COPIES
► FU1-SERVICE COPIES ► SElf-SERVlCE COPIES
► QVOUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
► VOLUME DISCOUNTS
► FREE PICK UP AND DEUVERY
B EL-JEAN
COPY/PRINT CENTER
16J EAST BROAD STREET ► DOWNTOWN ► 548 )648
ATTENTION
ATHENS BANDS:
From Sept. 1 Nov. 30, Gtiostmeat
wil be accepting submissions tor
the AthFest 2001 compilation CO.
To paMt you most be late* la Athens, GA. SutenissiMs
most It ii CO ar COR format aoi most bo persoaaly
delivered to Mutates Warehouse at 447 E. CSaytaa St,
to dewaiow* Athens Exctoslve, otfl-albom songs are
straifly oacairaied. For more iafo, please email
gbestmeat®boMexom.
i >
FLAGPOLE NOVEMBER 8, 2000
m'FfltffrW© '-8 -00 ■ tomorrow? 1 well com www thismodernworld tom