Greg Cravens
About Kevin Lipe’s post “Next Day Notes: Grizzlies 93, Pelicans 81” …
Tayshaun’s swagger was turned up to 11. It was amazing and terrifying to watch #TheTaykeover.
Youngblook_901
About Toby Sells’ story, “Study Says Bicycling Boom Could Bring Gentrification” …
I would refer the authors of the study to Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs.” If people are worried about how to pay their rent or feed their families, they won’t benefit as much from quality of life amenities as someone whose basic needs have been met. Gentrification can never be a bad thing. It rebuilds decaying neighborhoods.
Jenna S’ais Quoi
Jenna: “Gentrification can never be a bad thing.” I assume you’re talking about Memphis and not those cities like NYC and San Francisco where natives are forced out in droves.
Mia S. Kite
About Bruce VanWyngarden’s Letter from the Editor, “Talking Heads” …
The flip side is that artists now have fewer barriers to reach an audience. If you make good music, you can get discovered without having to go through a record label and without having to have some record exec agree to promote your music. You can record it at home, post it online, and create your own following, which you can then use to generate profits.
I know everyone hates him, but Justin Bieber is a prime example. He got famous due to YouTube videos, and he was discovered and channeled to make it big. Before, he would’ve had to go to numerous record labels and just hope someone felt he was worth their time.
The term “starving artist” exists for a reason. Only the best of the best (or sometimes the luckiest) make it big. That hasn’t changed, but the barriers between someone and their audience are gone now.
GroveReb84
About Wendi C. Thomas’ column, “Teen Makeover” …
As an African-American male in his 50s, I find this article somewhat perplexing. The behavior of those students at that Kroger indeed was barbaric and savage. It was the worst of an out-of-control mob that gained more and more power from those who were made helpless from the swarm.
The following statement concerns me: “None of the victims’ injuries were severe.” That certainly wasn’t for a lack of trying. They didn’t care whether the young man who was being stomped would be injured permanently or not. And of course, your statement does not include emotional damage. I hope that the young boy who was assaulted can recover emotionally. I think his dad is a hero. He has what I do not have, grace. I would not be as patient and understanding as he was. His son had the right to be left alone, and wasn’t.
As a community, specifically the African-American community, in this case, we should make it clear that this type of behavior is unacceptable and barbaric. It is not the behavior of civilized people who were the first to walk on the planet. There should not be any ambivalence in that regard.
Memphomaniac
It is a sad place where many of today’s black youth are. Some people think that this is a new type of violence, but it is not. It has always been around, but smartphones make the world a different, more exposed place.
TruthBeTold
Nice grab there, Bruce and the Flyer. [With Wendi] you brought some real quality journalism to what is generally one of the better alternative newspapers I’ve read.
Smitty1961
About Bianca Phillips’ story, “Sierra Club Proposed Alternatives to Shelby Farms Parkway” …
I live north of Shelby Farms. Farm Road in the current alignment and in the alignment proposed by the Sierra Club is inadequate. The current alignment is a scar across the park. It places those using the amenities of the park in undesired close contact with those using Farm Road as a thruway. Construction of Shelby Farms Parkway, as designed, will separate traffic and provide safer conditions for those using the park. I support construction of Shelby Farms Parkway as designed with the stipulation that it be made a “No Trucks” route. This stipulation has been discussed, endorsed, and will require approval.
Enrico Dagastino