Don't Back Down

I've just updated MT-ModCheck to a new version. There aren't any huge improvements to the code itself, but the interface has been completely rewritten in this release, so that it is now completely integrated with the Movable Type interface - no more separate files to worry about, everything can be done from within the comfortable confines of Movable Type.

I also took this opportunity to add translation hooks for all of the text strings available throughout the plugin, so if anyone out there is interested in translating, feel free to do so, and if you do, let me know by sending me your lexicon, and I'll distribute them with the plugin, making it available for everyone.

Read "MT-ModCheck 3.0.0" »

There are several Hickory Tavern locations in the Charlotte area, and this one is in the fast-growing Providence Road area. This also means that it can be absolutely packed, and when there are a few college basketball games on, it's even more so.

This is because the Tavern is not only a restaurant, it is a sports bar. That makes it a little difficult to classify, but I'll do my best.

Read "Hickory Tavern" »

The third annual Don't Back Down Tournament Pick'em is under way now (well, it's set up now - it doesn't actually start until Thursday) at Yahoo! Sports.

If you'd like to join, you will need the group ID (134388) and the password (dbd) to do so. Make sure you head over to the page and get your picks in by Thursday so you can join in the fun. I'm not saying that Patrick and I aren't having a good time or anything, but hey - the more the merrier!

First off, don't answer that. I know what it is. It's a bunch of morons who have suddenly decided that they can't drive because of something that is happening on the road. That's isn't what I'm after here.

What I really want to know is why can't they just say that? I mean come on now. You say onlooker delay and it sounds pretty. Like maybe there are some ducks walking by the road and everyone has slowed down a little bit to watch them waddle their cute, feather-covered butts by as they drive by. But we all know that isn't the case.

It's a bunch of idiots who either are hoping to catch a glimpse of some blood or just can't stand to think that they might be missing something, so they have to grind things to a halt on the off chance that they might miss something. And three seconds after they get past, they won't even remember. That's just stupid.

Read "What the Hell is the Deal With Onlooker Delay?" »

I actually arrived across the street at the Affinia Manhattan a bit earlier than expected (odd, because of the weather), but still, it is Manhattan, so what better to do than stop in for a bite at a neighborhood pizza joint?

What better indeed. Ideally, it would be good pizza, and NPTII satisfies in one regard - they have a solid selection of pies. I can't say that they are better or worse than the original, as I've never been there. But there are a good selection, ready for your choice. That, in fact, may be the downfall. Your best bet might be sticking with something simple, as the choice could be too overwhelming.

Read "New Pizza Town II" »

Call me crazy, but I actually like Manhattan in the morning. Mostly it's because I like bagels. I mean I really like bagels. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the reasons I like to visit New York is simply to get a real, honest-to-goodness bagel every now and again.

So on my first morning in the city, I walked a block or so down from the Affinia and into this deli on the next corner. They had a nice selection, unlike the smallish store right next to the hotel, so I ordered up a breakfast sandwich on - you guessed it - a bagel. An everything bagel, to be precise. And it was very tasty.

Read "Healthy Choice Gourmet Deli Pizza" »

I must confess to not having chosen this place for our lunch meeting - and in fact, I probably would not have chosen it, if the choice was mine. Now that it's out there, I probably wouldn't choose it, if I had the choice in the future. Dare I say it, but I'm not really that much of a seafood person, and I'm really not a huge fan of sushi.

With that out of the way, if you are a fan of sushi, I have this feeling that you may like the Todai buffet okay, but I also suspect that a massive all-you-can-eat buffet probably isn't the best sushi in the world. Call me crazy, but there it is.

Read "Todai Sushi" »

I should probably start by saying that I am not a fan of Indian food by any stretch of the imagination. It's not that I dislike it, it just doesn't seem to particularly agree with me, and I have never really developed any sort of affinity for it.

However, the group I was with decided to go there, and I wanted to participate with the group, so I went. I'm glad that I did, because the food was good - but my rating probably reflects my bias towards Indian food in general, and I likely can't speak directly towards the quality of the food, since I really can't tell you what I ate!

Read "Tamarind" »

While I was in New York for a brief conference, I decided to actually stay at the hotel where most of the events were being held. This was a change for me. Usually I'll stay elsewhere and just make my way to the hotel. I don't have a problem with the subway, and in fact typically enjoy it, but since the rate at the Affinia was one of the better ones, I decided that it would be easier to just stay there.

In general, I'm glad that I did. But you need to take it with a grain of salt, and be ready for what you'll get when you check in. Make sure that you realize that this is an older property, and you'll probably be okay with what you get when you arrive in your room.

Read "Affinia Manhattan" »

There used to be a great Mongolian Barbeque place in this location called BD's, but they unfortunately aren't there any longer. Now occupied by Stool Pigeons, a sort of sports bar concept, there isn't really a lot to like. What they do have is a nice patio area outside, and it is a good place to sit when the weather is good.

The downside to that is the servers don't do a good job of keeping things clean, and when you ask if they can clean it up, the first reaction is one where you are putting undue requests on them, the second reaction is one that you realize the grill-like tops of the tables don't clean well and the third reaction is that you get to see the other buildings of the area in their rundown state (they are in bad need of pressure washing).

Read "Stool Pigeons Restaurant" »

As some of you may know, we are building a shed. A garage, really, since it's a bit of a monstrous shed. But I still call it a shed, since it is one of those that they assemble on site (that is, at our house). I guess that since it's twenty-four feet wide by thirty-six feet long, I can understand people who don't want to call it just a shed. Add to that the fact that it has a large roll-up door (sixteen feet wide!), and calling it a garage is easily justified.

Unfortunately, a smaller outbuilding can be essentially dropped off. But a beast such as this really must be assembled, and the base for it is a concrete pad. Footer. Slab. Foundation. Call it what you may, but it has to be built. That's not cheap, either, but I digress. To get one of these, you have to jump through a huge number of hoops, and the first hoop isn't what you might call easy. It is obtaining the dreaded building permit.

For those of you who do this regularly, you have my utmost respect. I hope that I never have to do it again. It's really that bad.

Read "The Perilous Process of Building Permits" »

On one hand, you could say that perhaps they are. After all, they sure talk about gangs a lot. Or at least, with a lot of fanfare. For instance, an article in October 2003 (apparently no longer available online, sorry) talked about the gangs in Charlotte. Last month, the Charlotte police talked about gangs again. In today's paper, there on the front page, above the fold it was mentioned in big letters: Arrests made in gang crackdown. Sounds impressive, no?

If you've paid attention for any amount of time, then you likely know that Charlotte has some issues with gangs. That's never been in doubt. What I'm wondering is if they really take these issues seriously. Some time back, the transit center uptown had so many people hanging out on weekend nights that they were actually wanting to get rid of them. Not good news if you were one of the businesses that opened in the transit center (and they wonder why the uptown streets are so dead?).

So what's the story? Is Charlotte really serious about the gang problem? Is there even a gang problem?

Read "Is Charlotte Really Serious About Gangs?" »