Comments on: The Cleanest Street in North America http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/ Christopher Lydon in conversation on arts, ideas and politics Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:00:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lisa Williams http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8557 Lisa Williams Wed, 29 Mar 2006 18:42:33 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8557 Oh, and my theory is actually driven by Zoning, which for most midsized City Halls is what checks the box beside Sex, Drugs, *and* Rock 'n Roll. Cambridge is so densely populated that if someone wants to build a screen porch people act like the Huns are invading. Add that to the fact that the Much Bigger Than a Screen Porch project is undoubtedly being done by Harvard, which is hated by townies for the fact that they buy up all the property, develop it for for-profit purposes -- and then pay absolutely nothing in property tax. Whaddya got? A crowd of angry citizens (Cue the torches and pitchforks) declaring that if that *#*%$ construction project leaves dust and dirt all over their neighborhood they're gonna riot like it's 1999, and give money to Other People's Political Campaigns, besides. The developer gets back at the residents by sweeping 8 times a day, to annoy the residents with the noise. Hoist, meet your petard. Oh, and my theory is actually driven by Zoning, which for most midsized City Halls is what checks the box beside Sex, Drugs, *and* Rock ‘n Roll.

Cambridge is so densely populated that if someone wants to build a screen porch people act like the Huns are invading. Add that to the fact that the Much Bigger Than a Screen Porch project is undoubtedly being done by Harvard, which is hated by townies for the fact that they buy up all the property, develop it for for-profit purposes — and then pay absolutely nothing in property tax.

Whaddya got? A crowd of angry citizens (Cue the torches and pitchforks) declaring that if that *#*%$ construction project leaves dust and dirt all over their neighborhood they’re gonna riot like it’s 1999, and give money to Other People’s Political Campaigns, besides.

The developer gets back at the residents by sweeping 8 times a day, to annoy the residents with the noise. Hoist, meet your petard.

]]> By: Lisa Williams http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8556 Lisa Williams Wed, 29 Mar 2006 18:38:27 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8556 Have I mentioned you guys are totally teh r0xx0r? Yeah. You are. One thing I loved about bloggers going to the 2004 Democratic National Convention is that they would tell me whether the danishes at the Barack Obama breakfast sucked or not. Because, yes, I *do* want to know. Gives it all character. Have I mentioned you guys are totally teh r0xx0r?

Yeah. You are.

One thing I loved about bloggers going to the 2004 Democratic National Convention is that they would tell me whether the danishes at the Barack Obama breakfast sucked or not.

Because, yes, I *do* want to know.

Gives it all character.

]]> By: Nikos http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8385 Nikos Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:05:08 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8385 nother: I escaped the Beatles brain-worm by (randomly) hearing the Stones' version of 'You Gotta Move' -- which (unintentionally) captured a sense of the weirdness of this thread's topic! PS to ROS: is this another 'undercover' Community Thread? Ya'll are sly, you know that? ;-) nother: I escaped the Beatles brain-worm by (randomly) hearing the Stones’ version of ‘You Gotta Move’ — which (unintentionally) captured a sense of the weirdness of this thread’s topic!

PS to ROS: is this another ‘undercover’ Community Thread?
Ya’ll are sly, you know that? ;-)

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8378 Potter Mon, 27 Mar 2006 12:48:49 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8378 h wally... these are creative people who need their space to zone out. h wally… these are creative people who need their space to zone out.

]]> By: h wally http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8371 h wally Mon, 27 Mar 2006 04:36:04 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8371 Zamboni man may just be providing a needed service. I worked in construction and have seen all sorts of problems arise from debris in the streets. It's amazing how fast your insurance rates can start rising with a few broken windshields caused by flying debris such as rocks and pieces of concrete. What amused me was the fact that you had a camera person and an interviewer on the scene as well as a room full of people looking out the window. The only guy actually working was Zamboni man. Zamboni man may just be providing a needed service. I worked in construction and have seen all sorts of problems arise from debris in the streets. It’s amazing how fast your insurance rates can start rising with a few broken windshields caused by flying debris such as rocks and pieces of concrete. What amused me was the fact that you had a camera person and an interviewer on the scene as well as a room full of people looking out the window. The only guy actually working was Zamboni man.

]]> By: Nikos http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8365 Nikos Sun, 26 Mar 2006 23:29:37 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8365 thanks, nother. Now I'm gonna have to go through the rest of my day with the endlessly repeating brain-worm echoes of 'Yellow Submarine.' ;-) thanks, nother. Now I’m gonna have to go through the rest of my day with the endlessly repeating brain-worm echoes of ‘Yellow Submarine.’ ;-)

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8358 Potter Sun, 26 Mar 2006 20:46:17 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8358 Make newspaper hats, grab any noisemaker thing you can find and gather ye all, ROS crew, out there in the street to march in parade singing the above...... ( more pix please) once again now...... Make newspaper hats, grab any noisemaker thing you can find and gather ye all, ROS crew, out there in the street to march in parade singing the above……

( more pix please)

once again now……

]]> By: nother http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8348 nother Sun, 26 Mar 2006 19:04:51 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8348 And our friends are all aboard, Many more of them live next door, And the band begins to play. We all live in a yellow zamboni-thing, As we live a life of ease, Everyone of us has all we need, Sky of blue and sea of green, In our yellow zamboini-thing, We all live in a yellow zamboni-thing, Yellow zamboni-thing, yellow zamboni-thing, We all live in a yellow zamboni-thing, Yellow zamboni-thing, yellow zamboni-thing And our friends are all aboard,
Many more of them live next door,
And the band begins to play.

We all live in a yellow zamboni-thing,

As we live a life of ease,
Everyone of us has all we need,
Sky of blue and sea of green,
In our yellow zamboini-thing,

We all live in a yellow zamboni-thing,
Yellow zamboni-thing, yellow zamboni-thing,
We all live in a yellow zamboni-thing,
Yellow zamboni-thing, yellow zamboni-thing

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8347 Potter Sun, 26 Mar 2006 18:45:07 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8347 Jon, you have a point, it could be the NSA surveillling leftwing radio. Whoa! We need a plan.... Jon, you have a point, it could be the NSA surveillling leftwing radio. Whoa! We need a plan….

]]> By: peggysue http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8346 peggysue Sun, 26 Mar 2006 18:42:55 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8346 counter intelligence - ideas arrived at while sitting at the counter of the coffee shop downstairs? counter intelligence – ideas arrived at while sitting at the counter of the coffee shop downstairs?

]]> By: Jon http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8341 Jon Sun, 26 Mar 2006 18:11:41 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8341 Hmm, can't we scratch a little beneath the surface here? Maybe the ineffectual brushing of the street is a tip-off of the more significant business being conducted beneath the yellow front. With all the probing analysis that ROS has done in recent months of the NSA and other sensitive government programs, don't you think it's only to be expected that the "street cleaning" zamboni might actually just be cover for a highly sophisticated, eavesdropping, electronic nervecenter that just "happens" to be repeatedly encircling your very block? Good thing you have comment threads like this, so your loyal listeners can provide you such valuable counter intelligence! Hmm, can’t we scratch a little beneath the surface here? Maybe the ineffectual brushing of the street is a tip-off of the more significant business being conducted beneath the yellow front. With all the probing analysis that ROS has done in recent months of the NSA and other sensitive government programs, don’t you think it’s only to be expected that the “street cleaning” zamboni might actually just be cover for a highly sophisticated, eavesdropping, electronic nervecenter that just “happens” to be repeatedly encircling your very block? Good thing you have comment threads like this, so your loyal listeners can provide you such valuable counter intelligence!

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8335 Potter Sun, 26 Mar 2006 11:35:20 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8335 Well the man in the yellow sweeper should be given a non-polluting broom. Give him exercise, save gasoline, ROS should contact the local TV station with the story too. OR go out there with a microphone. Hey-- let's have a show with this guy as the principal guest. I bet he could tell us a lot. Second thought, maybe not, nevermind. Pull the shade down, Well the man in the yellow sweeper should be given a non-polluting broom. Give him exercise, save gasoline,

ROS should contact the local TV station with the story too. OR go out there with a microphone. Hey– let’s have a show with this guy as the principal guest. I bet he could tell us a lot.

Second thought, maybe not, nevermind. Pull the shade down,

]]> By: sidewalker http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8323 sidewalker Sun, 26 Mar 2006 04:40:40 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8323 tbrucia, your story reminds me of airport bus service. A few years ago, besides the driver, there would be 3 or 4 young men at the points of departure and arrival to off-load luggage and take tickets in Japan. In the US, the driver is expected to do everything. This year I found there was only one baggage handler. Many gas stations have also moved from full-service to self-service in the past two years. Things are changing quickly here, too. tbrucia, your story reminds me of airport bus service. A few years ago, besides the driver, there would be 3 or 4 young men at the points of departure and arrival to off-load luggage and take tickets in Japan. In the US, the driver is expected to do everything. This year I found there was only one baggage handler. Many gas stations have also moved from full-service to self-service in the past two years. Things are changing quickly here, too.

]]> By: tbrucia http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8317 tbrucia Sun, 26 Mar 2006 03:33:46 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8317 In Japanese Shinto temples crews of little old ladies with brooms would do this task. They would be chatting as they swept, relatively unproductive but happy. Their employers, conscious of how slow the work was going, would console themselves by the thought that these women would otherwise by stuck at home, lonely, isolated, and bored. Instead the ladies had something to look forward to, and (in five times as long as it should have taken) the paths and roadways were cleaned. --- Aren't we lucky to live in America, where one bored man can sit in total isolation going round and round, replacing several people with brooms. In Japanese Shinto temples crews of little old ladies with brooms would do this task. They would be chatting as they swept, relatively unproductive but happy. Their employers, conscious of how slow the work was going, would console themselves by the thought that these women would otherwise by stuck at home, lonely, isolated, and bored. Instead the ladies had something to look forward to, and (in five times as long as it should have taken) the paths and roadways were cleaned. — Aren’t we lucky to live in America, where one bored man can sit in total isolation going round and round, replacing several people with brooms.

]]> By: sidewalker http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8316 sidewalker Sun, 26 Mar 2006 03:19:57 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8316 Potter, can we think of the project in Iraq in the same way? Is it a government funded make-work effort for people from regions of high unemployment with no other options? Maybe that, too, is another type of cleansing. Sorry ROS to turn this bright yellow topic back to the war. Potter, can we think of the project in Iraq in the same way? Is it a government funded make-work effort for people from regions of high unemployment with no other options?

Maybe that, too, is another type of cleansing.

Sorry ROS to turn this bright yellow topic back to the war.

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8313 Potter Sun, 26 Mar 2006 02:23:16 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8313 busywork A noun 1 busywork, make-work active work of little value; "while he was waiting he filled the days with busywork" (Merriam Webster) Main Entry: busy·work Pronunciation: -"w&rk Function: noun : work that usually appears productive or of intrinsic value but actually only keeps one occupied busywork
A noun
1 busywork, make-work
active work of little value; “while he was waiting he filled the days with busywork”
(Merriam Webster)
Main Entry: busy·work
Pronunciation: -”w&rk
Function: noun
: work that usually appears productive or of intrinsic value but actually only keeps one occupied

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/the-cleanest-street-in-north-america/comment-page-1/#comment-8312 Potter Sun, 26 Mar 2006 02:19:08 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=472#comment-8312 Is there a name for this? I don't think it's "featherbedding". Make-work?? The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. <b>make-work</b> Publicly provided employment that is designed primarily to relieve unemployment and only incidentally to accomplish important tasks. If private employers are hiring few people because of a business slump, the government can “make workâ€? for people to do. Is there a name for this? I don’t think it’s “featherbedding”. Make-work??

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.

make-work

Publicly provided employment that is designed primarily to relieve unemployment and only incidentally to accomplish important tasks. If private employers are hiring few people because of a business slump, the government can “make work� for people to do.

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