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Michael Fitzgerald
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Monthly Archives: December 2006
Experts judge downtown
“Some members of the public still perceive downtown as a place that is unsafe.” Duh, ya think? Read the latest story on downtown Stockton here in current issue of California Planning and Development Reporter.
Of particular interest is the line about sprawl — the point being that if the city continues to permit it, why would [...]
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2006: Stuff closes
A big theme in Stockton in 2006 was closings. Closures, if you prefer.
Spunky 99 Speedway (1947-2006) closed after 59 years of exciting races.
Ye Olde Hoosier Inn succumbed to old age and Wilson Way. The owner of Pollardville chicken kitchen, dance club and ghost town retired and sold off the oddball bric-a-brac that made Pollardville [...]
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Lighten up, for cryng out loud!
I returned from vacation to find a story in which former Councilwoman Ann Johnston clucked disaproval over pranks in City Hall.
Outgoing Vice Mayor Giovanetti redecorated Mayor Ed Chavez’s bland office with antiques while Chavez was away, for instance.
Johnston scolded that such undecorous clowing around (to quote the story) “threatens the esteem in which government is [...]
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More Best (or telling) 2006 Quotes
–”He’s only one vote.” Renee Hall, partner of Councilwoman Susan Eggman. Eggman’s defeated opponent for the Council, Beverly Foster, had proclaimed she was God’s candidate.
–“I’ve been going to concerts for 30 years … I’ve never been ripped off this bad.” – Ray Ladd, who paid $98.78 for Neil Diamond tickets only to find out people [...]
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Mike’s Unhelpful Christmas Suggestions III
The Bacon of the Month Club. “I’ve made it a life goal to seek and find great bacons from all over the United States,” says pork partisan Dan Philips of The Grateful Palate.
For only $140 a year—plus shipping and handling—you can have the Ultimate Platinum Premium Bacon Collection delivered direct to your door. Featuring such [...]
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You ain’t seen the future ‘till you’ve read the brochure.
Oooh, la la. Check out “The Sheraton Stockton at Regent Pointe.”
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Super huz gives wife 22 dozen roses
Barbara Stanton of Stockton was amazed today to receive 22 dozen roses at work from her husband, Ron, for their 20th anniversary.
That’s 22 dozen as in 264 roses. As in, Wow.
“It’s an amazing sight,” glowed Stanton, an administrative assistant in University of the Pacific’s Anderson Hall. “I’m still speechless.”
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Harlan Pick’s $12 words
Reader Harlan Pick, culling his bookshelves, thoughtfully left me off a couple books: “Mrs. Byrne’s Dictionary” and “An Almanac of Words at Play.”
A terrible mistake, Mr. Pick.
I am already full of $6 words, so much so that I long ago took to using the dictionary in reverse: I look up the big words I know, [...]
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Mike’s unhelpful Christmas suggestions II
Versace Customized Private Jet. Milan’s cutting-edge fashionista Gianni Versace has teamed with TAG Aircraft & Interiors to tart up your transport into a flying fashion statement.
Cost: fergeddaboudit.
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More 2006 Weird Stuff