Fracklands North Carolina

Welcome to Fracklands, North Carolina.  Do you think this will become part of "Variety Vacationland?"  From this map you can see how Chatham County has fracklands on the south eastern side of the county.  Maybe building 22,000 homes in Chatham Ridge can keep fracking away from that part of the county.

Chatham County Has It's Challenges

Is there a county under more development and change pressure in the state than Chatham County? Coastal counties in the building boom and those around Mecklenburg are sure to say they need to be considered, but right now, I can not think of any of the 99 other counties with as much going on. How Chatham County leaders respond to this change is going to make the difference.

The county is under pressure from four sides. From the North, there has been the overflow from Chapel Hill commuters and that has been the issue for years. Now there are new lines of development from the East, West, and South.

On the East side we have the Chatham Ridge development. On the West side there is talk of a megasite for industrial development. And from the South we have the pressures of mineral exploration.

Instead of one long post we will look at each challenge separately over the next few weeks and maybe even post a song about these issues.

NC is not looking after North Carolinians

^{I am reminded of an old saying, "if you are not pissed off you are not paying attention."}

^{From Matthew we learn we are to look after the least among us.}

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

But in North Carolina that does not seem to be the case. We don't care for the least.

http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/columnists/article_ee198c62-7244-11e2-a2ab-0019bb30f31a.html

"Monday night the Senate voted along party lines to pass legislation that would reject an expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and would prohibit the state from setting up its own health exchange under the federal health care law.

By doing it, they didn’t just ignore the 500,000 low-income people who would receive health care under Medicaid expansion, they also ignored Gov. McCrory, who sent a letter to senators before the vote asking them to slow down the legislation to consider all of its implications for the state.

Sen. Berger couldn’t have cared less and the Senate Republican majority passed the bill to deny health care to half a million people."

North Carolina is not ready willing or able to expand medical care.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/02/mccrory-nc-not-ready-to-expand.html

Out of work, down on your luck in North Carolina try living on $350 a week.  Heck, try living on $535.  And for less weeks.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/morning_call/2013/02/nc-senate-approves-unemployment.html

Ten things to tell someone going to San Francisco their first time for vacation

Cable Cars are Tourist Rides not Transit

1. Take Mass Transit.  Get a pass at the tourist office just across from the Bart Station on Market.  Works on the Cable cars.  Your smartphone will tell you what bus to take.  Your bus driver will help you also.  Plan your trip and a 3 day pass may be all you need. Use it when you are doing the sites and really needing to get from one side of town to the other.  Also schedule the restaurants farthermost from you lodging while you are using the pass.

              http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm

2. Don't take the cable cars to get anywhere.  They are slow and packed.  Get up early and take them before everyone else is on them.  Use your Muni pass as it is $6 each to take the cable cars otherwise.  Use them as a tourist ride, not as a transit option.

3. Take the Segway Tour
                        
                   http://citysegwaytours.com/san-francisco

Ghirardelli Chocolate is the only meal to eat in the Warf

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge

4. Walk everywhere you can go.

5. Walk across the golden gate bridge.  Take muni to get there.  This is a good day to have reservations at Mamacita and take the bus back from the bridge to the Marina area.

6. Don't eat in the wharf (tourist area)

Rent Bicycles from the Bike Hut

7. Rent bicycles from this place.  Take the bus down, you will be close to the Giants Stadium and there are a lot of lunch and afternoon bar places.  Ride up to the wharf and the golden gate.  Spend the day on the bike.  Staying close to the bay makes sure the trip is flat. Return to the bike hut and eat lunch or casual dinner on King Street

                        http://thebikehut.org/

8. Don't give the street people any money unless they are being creative.  Reward creativity.  And if a well dress black man says he needs money to get gas cause his family is beside the road in San Mateo, walk on.  He is good but he is not that creative.

Street Festivals are Fun

9. Take advantage of the street festivals.  Feel like a San Franciscan.  Start reading the sfgate.com site at least a month in advance to find out what is going on.  Get to know the issues in the city.  You can ask people how they feel about...  There are good conversation starters.

10. Rent your car at the end of your vacation so you can leave SF in the car and return it to the airport.  Most major car rental companies allow this without any drop off fees.  The cost of airport transportation for a family will cover the cost of the car for a day.  You don't want to park in SF.  If you do have a car in SF then drive the 35 mile scenic drive.  Sunday morning has low traffic and would be  good option to really see the city.  Then make your way out of town, north to Napa, East to Yosemite, or South to Carmel. 

REI and VISA - Credit has its Cost

REI VISA Card is a bear trap
of interest charges and extra fees

One thing that really grips me is when you see a company go against its stated values.  Like when a company that portrays itself as being different and a company of consumers or even a co-op goes against their portrayed or implied values.    REI says it is a co-op.  Their about REI page on their website states:

What began as a group of 23 mountain climbing buddies is now the nation's largest consumer cooperative. But no matter how large we grow, our roots remain firmly planted in the outdoors. Our passion for outdoor adventure is clear, whether you visit any of our stores across the country, phone us, or interact with us online.

Sounds like just some buddies getting together to form a different type of company.  And while they have a passion for the outdoors, they do not seem to have that same passion for their customers, especially when responsible stewardship really means responsible stewardship to their company's bottom line.

We work hard to earn our reputation for quality and integrity every day. Our core purpose guides everything we do: we all work to inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship.

What they really appear to be working hard as is getting every dollar out of their customers. To understand the real motives of REI you only have to look at the terms of their REI Visa card.  Do they think we are financially stupid?  Can’t anyone see how this card is completely unfair when compared to the better cards in the market place?  Where is their 100% satisfaction guarantee?

Just read the cards disclosures.  10.99% best interest rate minimum (could be as high as 22.99% with poor credit) when there are lots of cards three percentage points less.  23.99% for cash advances regardless of credit rating.  Let’s hope you are not camping in some remote location in the USA where you need cash and this is you only option.

Apparently REI members don’t travel outside the US.  Use this care outside the USA and you get slapped with a 3% foreign purchase transaction fee or your cash advance for some Euros in a foreign country just went to 26.99%.

Come on REI.  I thought you were different.  You can be different!  Change this card.  Get a new bank to back you.  Start a credit union.  But this card shows who you really are and what you are about.

Jim Collins in his classic business book Good To Great says that good business executives spend less time crafting their vision statement and more time aligning their organizations actions to their core values.  REI's core values are out of alignment here.  They need a good mechanic.

Priceless?  Everything has a price.  But this card extracts too much, both from the user and the sponsor.

A Good April for Wine and Music - Raffladini and Merlefest

April is not always the cruelest month. Around here I think that title should go to August with its heat and humidity.  I think April may be cruel for tempting us with how good life in North Carolina can be.

The 2012 Merlefest is over.  Now that is cruel.  Because Merlefest puts you in the mellow place without the use of any external drugs. It is a natural high.

As with my tradition, Merlefest weekend started with a visit to Raffaldini winery in Rhonda, NC. There moniker states, this is "Chianti in the Carolinas" with a fine Italian-styled winery overlooking what could be a Tuscan valley, all right in Wilkes County. The day was overcast so the view was more mysterious on this visit that he clear vista days of the past, but the wine and the visit was still enjoyable.

Jazz in April

I wanted to do a play on April in Paris as the Triangle really lights up for jazz performances in April.  But really it is a great time to talk about the most hidden jazz festival – the 22^nd NCCU Jazz Festival in Durham from April 16-21.

Take 6 and Cyrus Chestnut headline this fine jazz festival this year, but there are events of every price and style that any jazz fan can enjoy.  I plan to attend Wednesday’s Faculty Jazz Group sessions featuring the Faculty Jazz Groups of NCCU and UNC.  Sounds like the making of a real battle of the collegiate bands.  Check out their website and try to get out and hear some live music.

I have really enjoyed listening to Cyrus Chestnut’s work as a result of him coming to the area and if I can find a way I will try and make the Saturday night show on April 21.  I would suggest you try and find so Cyrus and take a listen.   Christian McBride plays on his Soul Food album.  He plays with the NCCU Jazz Ensemble Orchestra and it is only $20.

http://web.nccu.edu/jazzfestival/

Lost in the Trees

April 20 is the Lost in the Tree’s CD release party.  While this indie group is not jazz in the traditional sense, they have jazz elements.  This is at Cat’s Cradle Friday Night.  Just give me an excuse to go to Carrboro.  The new CD is called A Church that Fits Our Needs, which is a great title, but I am still trying to get accustomed to the music.

Peak City Blues Project, one of my bands, plays Deep South this Saturday, April 14 at 8:00 PM.  It will be a great throw down, but there will be very little jazz.  Just a lot of blues.  Still only $5.

Peak City Blues Project

Now about that April in Paris Song.  I think Monk’s version is the best even through Count Basie’s performance was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.   Monk has that funky Monk beat and Basie’s is just too smooth and city-fied for me.  Not bluesy enough.  But then there is that chorus from the Orchestra that shouts “One More Time,” that gives Basie a little edge.

April is a great month to get out and hear some music.  And as the Orchestra shouts “One more time!”