Atomictumor

Because he writes things like this.

According to the Oak Ridger, the Oak Ridge Board of Zoning Appeals shot down a proposal for an indoor skate park across from the School Administration building, citing concerns about the nearby residents, busy streets and the effect it will have on the older, established neighborhood.
The article didn’t go too in-depth and as such, didn’t say if the proposal included a request for funding.  Hell, I’m not even sure the Zoning Appeals board would have anything to do with funding.  But anyway, they shot it down, so it’s a moot point.
It’s funny that this skate park proposal was shot down the same day AT and I almost hit a skateboarder on our way to pick up MastaG.  This damn fool kid was riding his board right in front of St. Mary’s school on Tennessee Ave. in the middle of the road.  AT might have hit him if I hadn’t said anything.
That’s not the first time he and I have almost hit a kid riding around town on a board.
Saying that the proposed indoor park on NY Ave. was close to busy roads is stupid.  The outdoor skatepark at Yearwood park is at a much more dangerous intersection.
Saying that the indoor park would be disruptive to neighbors or the “established neighborhood” is silly, as well.  Oak Ridge has very little to offer to kids that age.  We have no mall, no really good hang-out spots.  What do kids do when they get bored?
They cause trouble, that’s what.  If we don’t provide entertainment to kids, they’ll use all that pent-up energy for nefarious purposes, like drugs, alcohol, vandalism and even harassment.
I personally think an indoor skate park would be a wonderful idea.

Around 3 o’clock I got a call from Willow Brook. From the nurse’s station. Apparently MastaG was running amok on the playground and smacked right into a metal bar with his head. The nurse was horrible unforthcoming with information over the phone, but she said he wouldn’t be able to ride the bus. Ugh. I’d have to brave the car rider traffic.
AT got home just as I was leaving, so we headed out together. We got to the school, rushed to the nurse’s station and saw poor ol’ G sprawled out on the bed with his feet propped up and an ice pack on his noggin. He was awfully pale, but alert.
Apparently he was running at top speed (from girls, no doubt) and thought he’d be able to clear the bar and instead ran smack into it with his forehead. He didn’t lose conciousness, but the nurse said he was pretty shaken up when he was brought in. She strongly recommended we take him to the doc, so we did.
The doc gave him the all clear and said to give him Tylenol if he devolops a headache, and to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t have any signs of a concussion. Roger that.
So as of right now, MastaG’s milkin’ it for all he’s worth, soaking up as much pity as we can muster. I can just imagine him giving the girls puppy dog eyes at school tomorrow.

Unless you’re interested in boosting the mullet ratio in Oak Ridge.

Evidently, people are thinking about putting a racetrack out at K-25. Lets stop and think about that for a minute. Here’s Oak Ridge building all sorts of fancy houses (like Rarity Ridge, which is evidently getting a 60 foot waterslide, meaning AT will be quickly making a friend who lives there) on one side, and then a race track on the other side.

And whats been getting to me are all of the letters of support that have been coming in for it. Theres people from all over the place sending in letters to the Oak Ridger and the Observer supporting the damn thing. Some of the letters point out that some races bring out 50,000 people, which would certainly boost the local economy.

At Big Lots and Taco Bell.

Then it would bring in more traffic, and more need for more law enforcement that Oak Ridge probably can’t afford, seeing as how it can’t swing basic services like full bussing for students, so then we’d have roving bands of Camero driving rednecks taking over the town.

Who’d save us then?

Seriously, theres like a billion things that would be better done here in town.  Racers, go to Bristol or wherever.  Thanks, no thanks.

Which is why I don’t get paid to commentate on sports. Or for editing skills. When I made a few World Cup predictions, I was under the mistaken belief that a pirate heritage, massive magnetic cyclones, witches, and cloned former soccer champs actually made a difference.

Don’t fool yourself.

Its all about lobbying.  This is a World Cup bought and paid for by Mediterranean beach money.

Thats what I’ve learned, with the two champs being France and Italy. Man, who wants the World Cup if you have to choose between France and Italy? Thats like a presidential election between a stuck up douche and a dumb redneck?