tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106624802011-12-22T21:37:33.136-05:00Thoughts on life and politics from Downtown Richmond VirginiaPaul Hammondnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-51974108902962967372011-07-14T05:10:00.001-04:002011-07-14T15:42:48.550-04:00

An unusual thing happened yesterday. I spent my usual half-day at Louisiana Flair shopping for supplies at Sam’s Club, picking up oysters at P.T. Hastings, and making a few deliveries in the blazing heat. Just another day at my favorite part time job, my only paying job. Since I left my so-called career position at Media General, I’d made a decision to exit the corporate world, a decision I’ve

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-2180515358333164152011-01-07T07:52:00.007-05:002011-01-08T13:28:19.429-05:00

Written in response to Michael Paul Williams' column in today's (12/7/11) Richmond Times Dispatch.Mr. Williams,If you ever want to know if you are on the wrong side of an issue, check and see what Said El Amin is saying and that should give you a pretty good idea. Very sad to see you jump in on the Harvey Bridge issue. It is a memorial erected in a park they loved by their friends and neighbors.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-64906962740954473492011-01-01T21:34:00.006-05:002011-01-01T22:05:19.910-05:00

The Harvey's, Brian and Kathryn and their two children Stella and Ruby were killed in the Woodland Heights home. I didn't know them or of them till this day five years ago. Since I have learned they were minor celebrities with a large following of friends in Richmond and in Bryan's case at least, around the world. You might have known them, but I did not. Still, what happened five years ago

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-50719178936984977452010-11-24T14:08:00.003-05:002010-11-24T14:16:00.642-05:00

Just because I want to see a big chunk of money spent on Monroe Park, doesn't mean I want to see any of it wasted. Todd has sent out an alert regarding a large sum of money the city is spending on sidewalk repairs on the Laurel Street edge of Monroe Park which will probably have to be redone as part of Master Plan for the new park. The city has no money to waste. If it has this kind of cash

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-15203785038563013052010-11-22T16:24:00.004-05:002010-11-22T16:53:24.088-05:00

I did my usual stop by today and walked around the park. It was the best day in a week of best days. Weatherbug is showing 67 degrees right now though it feels warmer. The leaves are even more beautiful today than they were last week. This place has a special charm. Here's one great pic. Click the picture for a larger version. Download and keep it if you want. I did my usual inspection and

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-47165419843005138722010-11-21T10:17:00.005-05:002010-11-21T17:18:10.372-05:00

I've written a few of these now and made a point of stopping in the park nearly everyday this week. Sometimes more than once. I've tried to make my point as gently as possible that the park is underused, misused, and neglected, and that continuing to use the park as a homeless day care center is wrong headed, bad for the park and bad for Richmond and probably bad for the homeless. I've shared

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-17689309034646647122010-11-18T19:07:00.004-05:002010-11-18T19:48:59.194-05:00

I returned to the park yesterday and spotted a group of students bashing each others brains out, but not in a bad way necessarily. There were maybe twenty kids, 10 on each side, beating on each other with padded weapons and homemade "armor". If I were 20, or maybe 10, this would be great fun. The kids did seem to be having fun and that's OK with me. I WANT people to use the park. The more the

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-52669047619495140602010-11-17T09:31:00.002-05:002010-11-18T09:51:38.914-05:00

I have been known to take advantage of the charity of others myself sometimes. Having been banished from home by a power failure, this past Sunday offered a number of opportunities, including a cheap breakfast at Karen's City Diner, hash browns and coffee, a spin through the gym and an opportunity to make a Sunday morning visit to the park. I hadn't taken in the Sunday buffet at Monroe Park in

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-82814628061194393672010-11-17T08:50:00.000-05:002010-11-17T08:50:40.230-05:00

I've just received the word from Terry Rea of SlantBlog that I am no longer welcome. From what I can tell it is from disagreeing with him, vehemently. Terry is not one to hold any punches and expresses his opinions in no uncertain terms. That's why people have blogs, so they can spout off to their hearts content about whatever floats their boat. That's what I do here every now and then, more then

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-45500959732898324672010-11-16T18:20:00.003-05:002010-11-16T18:29:25.215-05:00

Just to show you I'm not all about bashing the homeless, gentrifying neighborhoods and being a pain in the butt to selected individuals, here is, as Monty Python used to say, "Something completely different". I swear I've watched several thousand hours of nature documentaries and just when I think I seen everything comes along something else that stuns me with amazement. Now for your viewing

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-32011359105258267242010-11-12T07:34:00.004-05:002010-11-13T18:10:32.514-05:00

Well, that outta get the attention of Homeland Security. When this gets processed by the NSA computers, whistles are going to go off, flack jackets are going to go on and the black SUVs are going to roll. I can hear them heading down I95 as I type. It'll be just me and a lame dog against the CIA's finest. I think I have a fighting chance, but to save the taxpayer a lot of dough, let me

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-43973301529678553612010-11-09T08:16:00.002-05:002010-11-09T09:02:07.190-05:00

Michael Paul William published his take on plans for Monroe Park in today's RTD. This letter was written in this context. You might want to read it before or after reading this.Dear Mr. Williams,It is very disappointing to read your article this morning regarding the homeless in Monroe Park. You in no way addressed the feelings of many people in this city that this is a misuse of one of

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-19042250786483486112010-09-23T08:24:00.003-04:002010-10-11T10:47:22.056-04:00

The Hand of God appeared on a photo I took of the"Black Hebrews" who were proselitizing on Broad Street. I'm not sure what She is trying to tell me.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-81578330440522875722010-09-22T20:47:00.003-04:002010-09-22T20:51:53.372-04:00

So you're scared and you're thinking thatmaybe we ain't that young anymoreShow a little faith,there's magic in the nightYou ain't a beauty but, hey, you're alrightOh, and that's alright with me.....

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-14232932710096513522010-09-21T06:53:00.001-04:002010-09-21T01:54:40.193-04:00

*This article was originally published December 12, 2007. I'm republishing it here because it is especially timely in view of the planned closing and renovation of Monroe Park, but primarily I am motivated by an article in Richmond Magazine by Chris Dovi with the almost identical title and subject matter, albeit an entirely different point of view. I have nothing against Chris and spoke to him at

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-30775559922641799702010-09-19T18:10:00.000-04:002010-09-19T18:12:18.338-04:00

National Drug Reform Leaders To Address Cannabis in the CommonwealthVirginia NORML to hold marijuana law reform symposium in Richmond next Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 5:00 pm.Richmond, VA - Virginia NORML is proud to present “The Politics of Cannabis in the Commonwealth”, a plenary session of Virginias’ most prominent criminal justice reform leaders on September 25, 2010 at Virginia

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-71957240836565539012010-09-07T22:17:00.004-04:002010-09-07T22:47:03.578-04:00

Tucked away behind the Carillon and Dogwood Dell is one of Richmond's secret gems. J Rockers and river rats are well familiar with it, but it is little known among the Richmond diaspora. So if you've been there and done that, just come along for the ride. If this is new to you then welcome to hidden Richmond.Complete with it's own moatThis is not going to be a history lesson, but we could all

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-56731812059839459832010-09-04T02:10:00.000-04:002010-09-04T02:00:13.364-04:00

Monroe Park is scheduled for a long overdue remake. Today's RTD reports $6.2 million is slated to implement a master plan that has been years in the making. The plan itself is a grand scheme,almost a pipe dream, but grand nevertheless. I have long been an advocate for what should be the jewel of the Richmond Park system. There has always been a huge stumbling block to park's renewal and that is

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-27384212708619259352010-03-14T19:04:00.004-04:002010-03-14T20:39:07.994-04:00

I'm ashamed I didn't write about this earlier. While the cable and network TV world swallowed and repeated endlessly the claim by the Toyota driver who claimed he was racing out of control down a California highway. Being naturally suspicious of almost everything lately and having a well developed reputation as a crank, I mostly sat on my suspicion that this could have been a hoax. I had NO

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-66480500546531346682010-01-13T23:01:00.003-05:002010-01-13T23:29:48.817-05:00

This will be one of the great humanitarian disasters of our time. I knew to expect the worst when I heard the news yesterday, but the grief and desperation we are seeing today is just beginning. Even in well organized societies a disaster on this scale unfolds over weeks and months. Even on a good day, Haiti is a mess. The loss of life will likely rival the Asian tsunami a few years past. I

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-68187084891894324452009-12-30T21:17:00.009-05:002009-12-30T22:42:10.493-05:00

If you are reading this you probably have one of three reactions to this "news".He's dead? Really? Of course he's dead, where have you been the last 15 years?Who's Harry Nilsson?I took a liking to HN back in the '70's when he had a brief period of popularity and radio play, but to appreciate Harry Nilson's music, you really need to set down with one of his albums to get the gamut of his humor,

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-40471080250767597612009-12-25T05:45:00.002-05:002009-12-25T05:45:00.241-05:00

Award winning singer/songwriter/musician Chris Lucas sings in this new Christmas Day.Merry Christmas and happy holidays to my family, friends and readers. I'd be lost without you.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-19539920198960513282009-12-19T20:20:00.004-05:002009-12-19T20:56:28.556-05:00

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-36086145939712219932009-12-17T17:20:00.004-05:002009-12-17T17:46:58.648-05:00

Style reports Mayor Jone's halfhearted effort to save Carytown New Year's Eve party. This was a tradition that Richmond embraced and the city government smothered. I went the the 2nd annual event two years ago anticipating a mini Times Square event and I wasn't disappointed. I saw three great bands, Prabir and the Substitutes, a Johnny Cash tribute band and I can't remember the third, but it

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-9316258384923603512009-12-13T18:40:00.004-05:002009-12-13T19:26:22.959-05:00

From A Hazy Shade of WinterWinter sunlight and sunsets are the best, at least where I live. In winter the sun stays low in the southern sky all day long. Richmond's diagonal streets mean my windows face southwest, directly towards the winter's early sunset. Today the skies parted and revealed a ghostly sun as white and as pale as a full moon. It was otherworldly. One minute a dense, dismal mist

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-72383433130758082052009-11-02T07:37:00.003-05:002009-11-02T07:59:34.397-05:00

Another violent crime occurred on Broad Street Saturday night on the same block where a daylight murder took place only days ago. I'm not sure if this was a random crime or the result of a dispute, but City leaders need to move aggressively and clear the bad guys out of here. This section of Broad is becoming notorious and lies just between the convention center, Centerstage area and the

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-76775891685781112272009-10-31T17:09:00.000-04:002009-10-31T17:09:00.771-04:00

Another Snippit from the RTD Op/Ed Page"A fatal stabbing on East Broad ... is not the type of think that makes residents want to hurry downtown."This is a bad stretch of Broad. There is a very busy bus stop here loaded with actual passengers and many hangers on. It is usually covered with litter and nobody seems happy being there except for the "hangers on". Why couldn't the RPD station a

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-71238320528940706382009-10-31T11:29:00.004-04:002009-11-01T07:13:14.679-05:00

In a Letter to the Editor in today's RTD the writer claims it is noting short of a tragedy that Doug Wilder, due to his opposition to Creigh Deeds, should be in the White House instead of the "current arrogant, ostentation" president we have. It makes one wonder if the writer was paying any attention at all the last four years. There's no question though that he would keep his cabinet in line.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-81575514734998111322009-09-18T18:54:00.003-04:002009-09-18T19:16:28.611-04:00

For once I wish I had watched America's Got Talent. As overwhelmed as I was by the first time I saw Susan Boyle perform on BGT, I hadn't seen any other performances and heard considerable flack about her including the fact that she didn't win the competition. She still is one of the most incredible human interest stories this past year and this new performance of Wild Horses just confirms that. I

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-86700722339822691292009-08-28T22:16:00.005-04:002009-08-28T22:25:47.968-04:00

These may be reruns, but the dates, times and details seem different from my previous post.From the Fan District Hub:Aggravated assault: Aug. 26 at 10:14 p.m. A teenage female reported she was shot with a BB gun by an unknown male 15 S. Stafford Ave. Her injuries are not life threatening.Robbery: Aug. 26 at 10:28 p.m. two females reported they were robbed by two unknown males with a gun at Floyd

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-84206600775439188312009-08-24T17:50:00.008-04:002009-08-25T15:13:15.564-04:00

Down here we measure robberies in spates. Run of the mill crime like burglaries, car break ins, hit and runs, simple assaults, do not get much mention. I count three spates this year, but I might have missed one.New - Just saw this one on Fan of the FanAssault on Floyd Ave. - August 18th, 2009.The Richmond Police Department is reports that a female was assaulted by a known male early Tuesday

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-82532752059599712942009-08-18T09:28:00.001-04:002009-08-18T09:28:00.043-04:00

Since I won't have Save Richmond to kick around any more, it's an appropriate time to put this topic to bed. I don't know where they are going with that brand, but the are going on without Don, who starts his new gig with Style today. Here's my best of list. All my posts reference specific posts from Save Richmond. I encourage you to go to the source and form your own opinion.This “Pantele Thing”

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-80013754730560177942009-08-14T07:17:00.001-04:002009-08-14T07:17:00.297-04:00

Batteries Included.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-18331068752558670772009-08-13T13:04:00.002-04:002009-08-13T14:33:51.281-04:00

This time he's mad!!! (not mad crazy, just mad)This is a clip from Wierd Al's movie "UHF" which is worth seeing just for these clips. I stole this straight out of BLAAAHg after watching Spatula City. This one is in honor of Don and his coronation as Styles culture czar. This will be followed by a 30 day period of mourning or celebration, depending on you point of view, after which normal

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-9517146469507712952009-08-13T06:00:00.002-04:002009-08-13T06:00:12.427-04:00

Thank God for Twitter. I'd hate to hear this news second hand. I hated to hear it at all, but there it was, "Don Harrison, our new Arts & Culture Editor" straight from @StyleWeekly. I almost fell out of my chair. I'm still shaking my head. I've made a small career out of Save Richmond and now he invades my favorite weekly? I feel like I just lost a relative. What to do... nothing really, just

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-38533264162665112412009-08-12T06:23:00.004-04:002009-08-12T06:23:00.150-04:00

From Richmond On JamesI've been meaning to write about this since the day it happened, before, but couldn't find my hook, the peculiar little fact that illuminates. During their last session, City Council voted to buy a cement plant marring the view from Libby Hill. Nobody sneezed at the $2,000,000 price tag and additional cost to clear, clean up and develop it. It is part of the vision of a

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-27124400225952881192009-08-05T05:16:00.002-04:002009-08-05T07:58:31.898-04:00

A week ago I had a chance to speak to City Council. It is a privilege afforded citizens of Richmond to speak for 3 minutes to council several times a year. Whenever I do this, there is the dilemma of what topic to focus on. I can usually think of ten. There is crime, the DMP, baseball, Centerstage, Echo Harbor, $2,000,000 cement plants, etc., but three minutes is three minutes. Some rant and

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-46047873250325287702009-08-02T11:56:00.002-04:002009-08-02T15:53:57.039-04:00

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-49088211646145348952009-08-02T07:51:00.001-04:002009-08-02T08:03:17.463-04:00

Despite popular opinion, I care about the planet, my fellow man and our common future. A few things I am doing.I reuse everything, paper towels, newspapers, plastic cups, printer paper (I use both sides) and anything else I can think of.I keep the AC near 80 and turn it off when I leave the house.I turn the water off in between rinsing each dish, take short showers and never let the water run

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-70299732628713635382009-07-29T18:53:00.008-04:002009-07-29T22:01:39.355-04:00

I stopped at the Main Public Library just now to do some research on Maggie Walker. The search of the online catalog came up with 6 items. Two copies of an audio book on 100 great black women.Two copies of a 25 year old children's biography that cannot be checked out.A collection of clippings from the African American newspaper.A National Park Service video* which I did check out.I read the first

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-20963370504985147292009-07-28T04:27:00.008-04:002009-07-28T08:07:14.411-04:00

I hope you'll understand, but I still have 3 states to go and a few days to get this done so I am combining my tribute to South Dakota and Wyoming into one post. Since South Dakota and Wyoming are virtually indistinguishable and share a common border, they can effectively be considered one state.South Dakota and Wyoming share many traits. South Dakota and Wyoming contain places of great

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-9943468060165720132009-07-28T04:22:00.003-04:002009-07-28T05:22:03.881-04:00

Both of them. Two lonely Maineites came through knocked Maine off my bucket list. Despite my comments to the contrary, Maine is a wonderful place full of natural beauty. If you happen to be there during the two days when the sun is shining you will have a wonderful trip. Be sure to bring your rain slicker just in case.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-36959401434634713452009-07-27T09:36:00.006-04:002009-07-28T05:23:17.683-04:00

OK, Maine. Stop being a hold out. I'm going for 50 states in 30 days and Maine is one of four holdouts. If I were a Maineite, I wouldn't want to be on the same list with South Dakota and Wyoming. They are fine places, but more well known for their buffaloes and wild Indians. Maine on the other hand protects our northern border from the Canadian hordes.So Maine, while you are taking a break from

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-6100119269263901452009-07-26T18:03:00.004-04:002009-07-26T19:11:57.038-04:00

Great trip. I met lots of nice people, had great conversations and made it back safely. Some of the people I have to thank.Ed from White Hart for remembering me.Bernadette for treating me like family and loading me up with roast beef, green beans, macaroni and cheese and a corn muffin. God bless you. I hope I get back soon.Suzanne, from the Hiker's Inn for giving me sheets, pillow and a towel to

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-49092515721840870952009-07-26T13:00:00.004-04:002009-07-26T13:36:48.225-04:00

Back home in my urban cubbyhole and it doesn't seem right. There are no mountains nearby, streams or places I have to go. My vacation has captured my spirit and I want to go back. I am trying to resist this little tug of war with my soul, but it's not easy. I have work to do here, friends and things to accomplish. I have to get excited about it again and I will. eventually.The problem with

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-90375569960838333062009-07-25T08:28:00.005-04:002009-07-25T09:01:29.704-04:00

I feel like John Denver" Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streamsSeeking grace in every step he takesHis sight has turned inside himself to try and understandThe serenity of a clear blue mountain lake"That's better than I can do this early on a Saturday morning. I slept on wooden bunk bed made tolerable with 3 extra cushions. Dave's place is an adjunct of Mount Rogers Outfitters

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-83285837408420639332009-07-24T11:57:00.001-04:002009-07-24T12:08:53.843-04:00

I'm safe and cool in MoJoe's coffeeshop, a very nice place with food, coffee, comfortable furniture and house computers for hikers coming off the Appalachian Trail. It has already been a good day. For $12 I picked up a brand new Schwinn bike rack, a pair of blue jeans, two books and a fanny pack. That helps take the sting out of not selling my bike. So does the coffee and cinnamon roll.I want

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-35725463708802950692009-07-24T10:11:00.003-04:002009-07-24T10:11:00.570-04:00

I'm staying at my favorite Motel 6, exit 73, I81, Wytheville, VA, just one hour from Damascus. I've been chasing my tail since leaving Lynchburg.Strike One.A potential buyer in Blacksburg backed out of a deal to buy my Bianchi Volpe. That was $600 I had already spent and the excuse for making this trip.Strike TwoThe 30 minute trip to Floyd took an hour. The food was bad, the music was bad, and

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-90490820730581451792009-07-24T06:20:00.006-04:002009-07-25T21:14:02.691-04:00

After deciding not to buy me bike, my reluctant prospect recommends I drive through Floyd, which I consided a great idea. There should be relics from the 60's all over the place. After backtracking two or three times I have ended up in Floyd an hour later. There had to be a story here, even if I wasn't going to the festival. Iwas wrong. It turns out there are no girls here with flowers in there

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-49236623531591979802009-07-23T23:39:00.004-04:002009-07-26T19:17:17.282-04:00

Some things are for the better. I've been trying to blog my way across the state of Virginia, but it's been a trainwreck. When my laptop wouldn't read my SD camera card, I threw in the towel. I am safely tucked away in an undisclosed location somewhere near Damascus, VA. I am going to trim back my ambitios goals and just go for a long slow bike ride down the Creeper Trail. That should improve my

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-43158857711865817102009-07-23T16:28:00.001-04:002009-07-25T21:24:46.469-04:00

I've had a change of heart. Pictures be damned. I'll get them online after I get home. Here's my story and I'm sticking it.Thursday July 23, 2:00 PMI stopped in Lynchburg on the way to Damascus, one of my favorite places in the Virginia. I stopped at the same place on my last trip, the White Hart Cafe in Old Town. This place impacted my blogging career in a couple ways. I did my first remote

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-82263096072139773942009-07-23T05:55:00.004-04:002009-08-12T22:58:35.572-04:00

It's time to congratulate Don Harrison on his many accomplishments since the founding of Save Richmond, six years old somewhere around today. That was a different era for me, a mere four and a half years old and many thousands of readers less. Back then I had approximately one or two readers, myself and the occasional family member. There were perhaps others, but I had no statistics nor contacts

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-43933918196063147772009-07-21T07:57:00.011-04:002009-07-21T23:08:15.274-04:00

RTD photo by P. Kevin MorleyMy RTD comes to my doorstep rain or shine whether I pay or not. Who am I to question this gift from my past. I believe I have earned a free subscription. As payment I actually read and and now am going to write about it.Rex Springston updates his regular feature, The James River Journal. Rex, is one of my favorite RTD reporters. He keeps us in touch with the natural

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-62977598832160153402009-07-19T10:06:00.008-04:002009-07-20T08:30:52.680-04:00

The statistics are in and I'm a hit in 46 states, but what I find most disturbing is that I have no readers in Delaware. Delaware, being the first state to sign the constitution, I decided to find out what makes Delawareans tick. Here are some fun facts about Delaware courtesy of the Discovery Channel:Delaware has a state bug - the ladybug! On December 7, 1787, Delaware, became the first state to

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-13323050748597799572009-07-18T04:52:00.004-04:002009-07-18T12:22:42.292-04:00

I stumbled upon these pictures of last year's brood. I captured them live off the webcam. Every few seconds a little beak would appear. It was a rare transfixing moment that did not last. A day later the chicks were gone and the nest was empty, but I still remember that moment and these pictures bring it all home.This year there is happier news. They have returned to their last years nest at

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-50643087668464920302009-07-16T15:36:00.013-04:002009-07-17T15:41:21.124-04:00

I rose early this morning to attend the presentation at Plant Zero by the Project for Public Spaces. Rachel Flynn emceed the program, but quickly gave way to Ethan Kent of PPS. It was an engaging presentation, far too detailed to recount here, but there were some basic concepts worth passing on.There were lots of examples given on waterfront projects that enhanced public interaction with the

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-76489076992325367962009-07-16T11:30:00.003-04:002009-07-16T11:46:01.428-04:00

You know her, the angel of First Friday, Christina Newton. In an effort at cost cutting, she has just vacated her last toehold in the West Broad Arts District. She will now be working out of her shack on the south side (just kidding Christina). Funding for almost all non-profits has dried up and they are struggling to make ends meet. If you want to help, write your councilperson, the mayor,

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-81003771388358890852009-07-15T19:43:00.006-04:002009-07-15T21:21:17.092-04:00

I've been doing the human antenna dance for about two weeks. If I sit in the middle of my couch I get some channels, if I raise my arm I get another, some days I get one channel or they come in pixelated about 10 seconds at time. Online research revealed antenna from $15 to $99. Since there are some new 1080 public TV channels that I only get teased with I was ready to hit Best Buy and fork over

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-34928488321415935982009-07-15T08:43:00.007-04:002009-07-16T03:33:15.307-04:00

Paul Goldman is back on the Back Page this week. I knew something was up when my hits doubled yesterday and most of the searches were for Ukrops, a subject I recently discussed. Ukrops future is hardly worthy of back page attention and seems to be a segway to score points from his failed mayoral campaign. In between lauding them, faulting them and lauding them again, he brings up the lack of

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-60293451110254897362009-07-13T21:54:00.007-04:002009-07-17T15:43:13.678-04:00

To anyone who attended tonight's City Council meeting at my encouragement, I apologize. I thought I was going to die. It was crushingly (adverb alert) dull. Among the highlights:A Nigerian (?) man spoke dramatically in the comment period about the census, New York, Texas and George W. Bush. It was stirring and a little bit scary.A Baptist minister compared charging churches a water hookup fee to

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-87821199525356823252009-07-12T23:02:00.004-04:002009-07-12T23:21:58.618-04:00

My back page article in Style has drawn some interesting comments, pro and con. It just shows there is not unanimity on this issue. I would urge you, no matter what your point of view to attend the City Council meeting Monday night for the debate on amendment to the downtown master plan. The meeting will be broadcast on cable Channel 24.Also consider attending Project for Public Spaces: "How to

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-7220486548314570062009-07-11T19:28:00.007-04:002009-07-11T22:41:21.145-04:00

Today has been an interesting day. Gravity has been difficult to deal with. Among today's list of dropped things.Toilet PaperParing Knife (bare feet)IceScrewdriverScrewsActually things to numerous to mention. If I stopped to make a note each time I dropped something I would just lose my pen or the paper.Other unfortunate eventsLocked myself out of the apartment.(Found the spare key after scouring

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-92040141130430193972009-07-10T07:57:00.002-04:002009-07-17T15:41:21.125-04:00

From Donna Fletcher - Department of Community DevelopmentThursday, July 16 - Project for Public Spaces:"How to Create a Great Waterfront" The Vice-President of the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), in New York City, is coming to Richmond Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 am to speak on key steps for creating great waterfronts. The public is invited to attend a talk by Ethan Kent followed by a

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-68229048005660901132009-07-08T12:00:00.000-04:002009-07-08T12:00:33.770-04:00

There's a major difference between print and electronic journalism. Print is forever. When it hits the presses, that's it. You can't revise it, you have to live with it. That's why print journalism is so much more difficult. You've got to get it right the first time, or at least the last time, because your name is on it.Today's Back Page in Style has my name on it, my second in 3 years. This one

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-31694349277086619492009-07-04T13:34:00.003-04:002009-07-04T13:51:23.759-04:00

And I dreamed I was dyingI dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedlyAnd looking back down at meSmiled reassuringlyAnd I dreamed I was flyingAnd high up above my eyes could clearly seeThe Statue of LibertySailing away to seaAnd I dreamed I was cryingWe come on the ship they call the MayflowerWe come on the ship that sailed the moonWe come in the age's most uncertain hoursand sing an American tuneOh,

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-15649314306108156062009-07-04T08:35:00.007-04:002009-07-04T13:34:31.674-04:00

I woke up this morning to read the dismal pageview reports I usually get and I've got 500 referrals from something called Stumble Upon. I've know about Stumple Upon for awhile, but never known how to turn it to my advantage. I always thought it was a site that would randomly choose sites of interest to you and also provided a way for you to recommend and review sites. I have no explanation

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-72592957103768299442009-07-03T11:53:00.012-04:002009-07-03T16:38:09.934-04:00

I've never understood the obsession Save Richmond has with the Ukrops family, but it must go way back. When I got to Richmond, Ukrops was a grocery store, a good one. It reminded me of a regional grocery in Florida called Publix. Both were a little nicer than they had to be. The help was helpful, the deli was above average and the prices were higher, but having been subjected to dumb looks,

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-40855250809889519912009-07-03T09:34:00.003-04:002009-07-03T09:39:44.409-04:00

Part of an occasional series. From Jennifer Young.As a full-time artist whose primary focus is painting the landscape, I work both on location ("en plein air") and in my studio. These two working methods differ in a lot of ways, but like my passions for art and travel, plein air painting and studio painting complement each other. Painting on location...Read and see full story on All Things

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-19420233301742370332009-07-03T09:31:00.002-04:002009-07-03T11:47:37.558-04:00

Next Event: Friday, July 3, 2009See All Things Richmond for more details

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-61363360925233974682009-07-03T05:28:00.002-04:002009-07-03T05:37:33.897-04:00

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-68985730503352106462009-07-03T00:28:00.002-04:002009-07-03T05:36:54.322-04:00

In case you missed this on All Things Richmond.Lewis Ginter Botanical GardensFrom Lewis GinterTucked away on Lakeside Drive is one of Richmond's hidden, but not so secret gems. Thanks to Jonah Holland, I got the cooks tour of the garden. Since my only previous visit was during the Garden Fest of Lights, I really had no idea of the full extent of the garden, which should be seen in daylight hours

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-48132479284506380872009-06-29T15:48:00.005-04:002009-06-29T21:55:21.179-04:00

I just received this by email. We have such a problem with street crime in the city, making criminals out of drug users only excacerbates it, draws off critical police resources, crowds our courts and our jails and turns young people into felons who will be released back onto our streets. Organizations like Drugsense.org and the Marijuana Policy Project inject some common sense into our drug

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-52651496333207081502009-06-27T02:00:00.004-04:002009-06-27T09:20:32.894-04:00

Strange things happen at 2:00 AM and usually not good things. Whenever some one is shot or stabbed, it usually happens after two.Unidentified male shot while walking down Marshall.Police break up fights outside Richmond nightclub after closing.Shockbottom pizza parlor shot up by angry patron.This stuff very rarely happens at five in the afternoon. By 2:00 am, I am usually tucked away in bed in

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-85783842233541312582009-06-26T08:32:00.004-04:002009-06-26T17:58:45.416-04:00

Michael Jackson died yesterday, another falling star burned out too young. Does anybody know how old Elvis Presley was when he died? About the same I think. This story requires no research. It is already too familiar. Child actor/singer becomes world famous, blessed with talent, becomes the most famous man in the world. People adored him, dressed like him and wanted to have his baby, some did.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-27427858436552971922009-06-25T09:26:00.008-04:002009-07-17T15:42:22.149-04:00

With the recent renderings of the Echo Harbor proposal, it seemed worth trotting out this old rerun to remind people of the actual view they are striving so hard to preserve, not the carefully edited one that is so often referred to. It makes me wonder how many people have stood on Libby Hill and actually seen it for themselves.The View That Named the City.A remarkably similar view from Libby

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-52560032574546074892009-06-24T05:15:00.002-04:002009-06-24T05:15:01.409-04:00

"So beautiful an arch," Jefferson wrote, "so elevated, so light, and springing, as it were, up to heaven, the rapture of the Spectator is really indescribable!" and since then, Natural Bridge, VA has passed into the national lore as one of America's heritage sites. I always imagined such a site as worthy of National Park distinction. I was surprised to learn that Natural Bridge is a privately

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-65442303207795339152009-06-23T18:48:00.006-04:002009-06-23T19:47:15.892-04:00

No Signal. That is all that wanders around the blue screen on my hi def TV. I can watch it for a little while, but after a bit my mind wanders and so do I. Comcast finally came through on their threat to turn off the cable simply because I cancelled it. I had some hope they would just forget and let me slide. As you probably know, free cable is one of life's little joys. Come to think of it, I've

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-38455156561125363952009-06-23T12:11:00.006-04:002009-06-23T12:21:44.418-04:00

This was a best seller back in 2008 and now is your last opportunity get your hands on a genuine "I'm Not Wild About Larry" bumper stickers. That fact that no one will know what you are talking about will only enhance their value. Last year, one sold on Ebay for upwards of 50 cents. I am willing to let these babies go for ten cents each, with discounts available for volume orders. Order now

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-9480140067439097362009-06-23T05:11:00.001-04:002009-06-23T05:11:03.235-04:00

Funny how there is a Paul Simon song for most any occasion.Kodak Retires Kodachrome Color Film After 74-Year Run

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-84993431610390702572009-06-22T13:47:00.007-04:002009-06-22T22:48:48.456-04:00

Well, I did it. I missed Father's Day again and the fact the my Dad passed away nine years ago is no excuse. He taught me more about being an adult than anyone other than my Mom. I give her short shrift because I can talk to her whenever I want. She's a gem and I love her much, but today is Father's Day Plus One. So this one's for you Dad. I feel closer to you everyday.Dad at Lost ArtHappy day

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-51788052674047394422009-06-22T05:11:00.002-04:002009-06-22T05:11:02.087-04:00

I came to Richmond with a very distorted view of who Doug Wilder was. Basically I knew nothing about him except his place in history, the first black/African American Governor in US history. He had a nice smile (beware the smile). When he showed up as the reformer of Richmond government, I was ready to go along. I voted for the new city charter without reading the list of ingredients. I assumed

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-73381704238421878312009-06-21T13:52:00.002-04:002009-06-21T18:53:57.679-04:00

This review of Louisiana Flair has been moved to All Things RichmondThere are many stories here about LF. Click here to read them.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-26181427104345074342009-06-21T09:50:00.004-04:002009-06-21T18:52:30.691-04:00

The RTD reports that a deal may be signed by July 1st to get an Eastern League franchise relocated to Richmond, most likely it would be the Norwich Defenders. The idea is to get a team established in Richmond and fiddle with the details later. Club owners think Richmond will be the top market in their league.In earlier news, the New York Times reported that the International League was

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-36655856000435188142009-06-21T00:01:00.008-04:002009-07-17T15:44:12.911-04:00

This is about people of Iran who have had their hope stolen and are willing to risk death and imprisonment to get it back. Sure Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are playing a roll. Information is getting out and the struggle goes on, but we have seen this before. In Burma and Tibet, less bumbling and more brutal governments have crushed popular uprisings, shutting down their servers and sweeping

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-88014513227752281502009-06-20T09:06:00.003-04:002009-06-22T17:04:05.793-04:00

Sour City has been moved to All Things Richmond.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-35776484789183517092009-06-19T22:49:00.003-04:002009-06-19T22:56:58.242-04:00

I have been invited to be a contributor to Unceremoniously Dispatched, a blog for the recently departed. As a former member of the Evil Empire, I am doubly honored. As stated elsewhere, I never thought I'd join a club that would have me as a member, but I am not a choosy begger. Plus I get to hang around real live published writers otherwise known as journalists. This is a bloggers dream come

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-63791052449331818302009-06-19T05:59:00.000-04:002009-06-19T07:29:41.375-04:00

I gave up cable news about 3 months ago and I've been much happier since. The news mostly consists of whatever cheerleader/mother/child was murdered murdered last week and the MSNBC trashing Fox News, Fox trashing MSNBC while Larry King put everyone to sleep. Here's my take on the following anchors. Glenn Beck - Mentally distubed, but I think insanity might be a job qualification in his case.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-86198807400783906942009-06-18T05:19:00.000-04:002009-06-18T05:19:01.492-04:00

That is the most common derogatory slang I have heard for the Times-Dispatch. My creative friend likes to call it the Slop Dogpatch. There must be a least a dozen other pseudonyms out there. I think it would make an interesting list.I don't have anything against the RTD. I never worked for them. I wasn't fired by them. Some people hate them, just as a matter of principal. Many of those

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-73551414460246250592009-06-17T21:56:00.006-04:002009-06-17T23:13:32.011-04:00

As I sit here, Virginia is up 2 to 1 in the elimination game against Arkansas. It's a great pitching dual with great defense, a baseball purist dream. You might think this was a boring game. You might think baseball is boring, but it isn't. At any one point there are four or five things going on. The catcher is calling signals, the batter is getting set for 90 mph of hard leather, the pitcher is

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-73295271666951320482009-06-17T10:59:00.005-04:002009-06-17T11:12:37.795-04:00

Fan District Hub tells the story of Richmond's police out reach to the homeless.There is a segment of the city’s population that requires a different type of community policing. That is Richmond’s homeless community.The Richmond Police HOPE Unit makes its mission to police, serve and protect this vulnerable population. HOPE stands for Homeless Outreach Partnership and Enforcement.“It’s a focused

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-15048542158523382172009-06-17T05:18:00.003-04:002009-06-17T11:07:19.993-04:00

Has this man ever had an idea he didn't like. I think not. I think he likes ideas less for their own sake than because he thought of them. Just think if he had been elected Mayor. Governor Moonbeam indeed. He would be the Svengali of City Hall. His last two great ideas didn't work out so well, the new City Charter, and our illustrious former Mayor. After being thrown under the bus along

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-73879735586274639612009-06-16T06:00:00.001-04:002009-06-16T06:00:02.631-04:00

Yeah, you are saying, he's just an RTD rat, but you'd be wrong. I was an MG rat. We didn't run newspapers, we just ran them into the ground. You may hate the RTD, but guess what? Nobody cares. I wasn't remotely important enough to have any inside knowledge, but like most people, tried to do the best I could at whatever I was told to. Thankfully that wasn't good enough and now I can say what

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-55981402085911483932009-06-15T05:42:00.006-04:002009-06-16T00:08:02.406-04:00

************************* Update **************************** I just heard on Showbiz Tonight, that "House" is the most watched show in the world!? 82 million people watched or watch it now. I am so out of touch and Hugh Laurie must be so happy or at least so rich. I don't know if Hugh Laurie is capable of being happy or not. We know that Rupert Murdoch is both happy AND rich.********************

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-56848155477012651642009-06-14T01:47:00.006-04:002009-06-14T02:23:07.881-04:00

I was all set to do it. The blog was locked and loaded, but I couldn't pull the trigger. It is such a nice weekend and I've been in such a good mood, I just didn't want to spoil it, but I got it in the vault and the weather may change. In the meantime, the James was meant for better things, like swimming and feet dangling. Enjoy your Sunday.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-75465647974120588322009-06-13T15:52:00.003-04:002009-06-13T16:06:39.711-04:00

Virginia is going to Omaha to play in the College World Series. Eleven days of baseball, from June 13th to the 23rd, two or three times a day. If were are lucky they will be playing on the 23rd in the bottom of the ninth. I've never been to the CWS, but I know Omaha. It is a trail town about the size of Richmond. The Pony Express used to start west from there. Imagine 20 games in 11 days.

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-25341111036146789182009-06-13T05:36:00.009-04:002009-06-13T21:51:45.477-04:00

My only superpower is to bring small disasters to those around me. The earth doesn't cave in and they aren't struck by lightning, but normal, ordinary folks drop things, computers break and memories fail. These are intelligent, coordinated people, but my proximity alters something in the atmosphere and they become confused and clumsy. I have no control over this. I am one of the X-men. It is a

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-67377359533110776142009-06-11T20:49:00.005-04:002009-06-22T22:43:49.695-04:00

I just found a valuable gift from my past tonight that came out of nowhere. Dozens of letters from friends and family, including letters of mine, all hand written or typed single space on a typewriter of all things. Who knew I could turn five or ten single spaced pages. What on earth did I have to talk about? Now the words come one at a time and I build a paragraph like I am stacking bricks. I am

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-23115365258976624832009-06-10T12:53:00.004-04:002009-06-10T13:13:00.210-04:00

Now don't get me wrong, some of my best friends are Democrats. So are most of my family and I have voted for many of them, including Jimmy Carter twice and Bill Clinton the 2nd time. Above me sits my sacred poster of George McGovern I saved from the '72 campaign. He's so darn friendly and these guys live forever, look at Jimmy Carter. But here's the deal. Why should I or or anyone else pay

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-16073304559479808702009-06-10T06:00:00.005-04:002009-06-10T20:15:02.512-04:00

Baseball continues to be big news. I am watching a classic Red Sox - Yankees game from Fenway Park and switching over to watch the Orioles in between innings. Meanwhile here are some personal observations, including some updated remarks regarding Opening Day Partners proposal for the Diamond.UVA is going to the College World Series.I'm trying to figure out a way to get on the media junket.Busch

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662480.post-87093044216659105992009-06-09T05:59:00.004-04:002009-06-09T07:47:10.865-04:00

Of the many items on my bucket list, perhaps the most important one was to organize my CD collection, most of which consists of downloaded MP3s from Napster days. I have 145 Springsteen Concerts including ever tour stop from 2001. Each one is unique, except for the crowd noise, which sound very similar. I also discovered I have 50 commercially bought CDs that I cannot locate. There is nothing

Paul Hammondnoreply@blogger.com0