Notes From the Trenches
Heroes
On a night where many distinguished themselves with honor, on a night when heroes (and one heroine) were front and center, one man shone.
I've previously chided Mr. Greg Reger, president of the board of Develop New Albany, for his low-key approach to DNA's advocacy for Scribner Place. Whatever the effect of that lobbying was, his speech to the throngs assembled at the city council meeting Thursday night was, in a word, humbling.
Although the topic was of particular moment only in tiny Floyd County, his peroration was the finest speech I have ever heard. When I speak publicly, it is extemporaneous and with few notes. After last night's terrific oratory, I may never speak again.
Bravo, Greg.
You Stole My Idea, Valla Ann
Only the sharpest of stilettos skillfully wielded can draw blood before its victim even notices the violation. The suddenly civilized maven of Main Street slipped one in my ribs last night without turning red, shaking with rage, or violating even the merest of the rules of decorum.
We've often talked among ourselves about putting particular books into the hands of each of the members of our city council. Various titles, including Robert's Rules of Order, suggested themselves, but we never did it.
Last evening, Ms. Bolovschak, as she put it, came "bearing gifts" - to wit, nine (ten?) copies of Robert's Rules of Order, the definitive and controlling manual of meetings procedure. It was an altogether appropriate book to give and the gift and giver are worthy of applause.
The applause was not forthcoming, although I made it a point to tell V later that it was a nice gesture made with class.
In a town that had gone 58 years without an independent bookseller, but that now watches hopefully as our own business struggles to make it, and in front of a crowd dedicated to fostering local independent businesses, Ms. Bolovschak pointedly noted that she and her neighbors had acquired these gift books by giving their patronage to a faceless Internet purveyor.
At a moment where she could have softened some of the alienation she has engendered by her erratic and angry public conniption fits at council, she missed the chance and more's the pity.
Instead of enthusiastic, or even polite applause, her gesture was greeted with gasps, guffaws, and catcalls. Maybe she's not running for mayor, after all. The moment was delightfully funny, intentionally or not, and as much as I regret the chance to participate in the gift, it was a clever way to stick it to an opponent.
On a night where many distinguished themselves with honor, on a night when heroes (and one heroine) were front and center, one man shone.
I've previously chided Mr. Greg Reger, president of the board of Develop New Albany, for his low-key approach to DNA's advocacy for Scribner Place. Whatever the effect of that lobbying was, his speech to the throngs assembled at the city council meeting Thursday night was, in a word, humbling.
Although the topic was of particular moment only in tiny Floyd County, his peroration was the finest speech I have ever heard. When I speak publicly, it is extemporaneous and with few notes. After last night's terrific oratory, I may never speak again.
Bravo, Greg.
You Stole My Idea, Valla Ann
Only the sharpest of stilettos skillfully wielded can draw blood before its victim even notices the violation. The suddenly civilized maven of Main Street slipped one in my ribs last night without turning red, shaking with rage, or violating even the merest of the rules of decorum.
We've often talked among ourselves about putting particular books into the hands of each of the members of our city council. Various titles, including Robert's Rules of Order, suggested themselves, but we never did it.
Last evening, Ms. Bolovschak, as she put it, came "bearing gifts" - to wit, nine (ten?) copies of Robert's Rules of Order, the definitive and controlling manual of meetings procedure. It was an altogether appropriate book to give and the gift and giver are worthy of applause.
The applause was not forthcoming, although I made it a point to tell V later that it was a nice gesture made with class.
In a town that had gone 58 years without an independent bookseller, but that now watches hopefully as our own business struggles to make it, and in front of a crowd dedicated to fostering local independent businesses, Ms. Bolovschak pointedly noted that she and her neighbors had acquired these gift books by giving their patronage to a faceless Internet purveyor.
At a moment where she could have softened some of the alienation she has engendered by her erratic and angry public conniption fits at council, she missed the chance and more's the pity.
Instead of enthusiastic, or even polite applause, her gesture was greeted with gasps, guffaws, and catcalls. Maybe she's not running for mayor, after all. The moment was delightfully funny, intentionally or not, and as much as I regret the chance to participate in the gift, it was a clever way to stick it to an opponent.
posted by All4Word at 10:21 AM
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