Windsurfer

Except for the ex slaves who took their masters' surname. I might add, you might enjoy a book I just read called, "The Jews In Scotland". You'll read that names like Cowen and Aiken were derived from Jewish surnames. Cowen- Cohen back in Scotland.

It is totally "germane" to compare the two. Both states are rural and urban. Portland is actually more urban, despite slightly lower population than Charlotte. Both states are split politically. The biggest difference is, personal drug use and the sale of marijuana has been legal here a lot longer. And, it's not just Oregon. Why not look at empirical data? Portland, and Oregon, have now gone back to re-criminalizing personal drug use. That's not to say arrests will lead to jail time, but it does allow addicts to be arrested and given help, as opposed to just letting folks wander the streets. There's a huge pull-back regarding legalizing drugs in Oregon. It hasn't been the panacea everyone thought it would be.

Indeed, it is difficult to tell whether someone is high or has a mental disability. The logic is the same you used when you wrote about your own experiences in NY or Mooresville. Purely anecdotal. Only one big difference: as it's legal here my kid has first hand knowledge of what it smells like, what stoned people act like, and how it's difficult to communicate with them. There is a house not far from the local high school where the kids go during lunch, with the parents' knowledge no less, to get stoned at lunch.

I did. Thanks for the update.

All I'm saying is that Oregon had all the same arguments. Now schools are at a shortfall for money and the quality of education is dropping. The goal posts have been moved. FWIW, I'm not for criminalization either, but Oregon has just re-criminalized small personal use of drugs. There is no panacea. As far as no negative effects, google "IQ + adolescents + marijuana". Moreover, when the teacher has to repeat herself over and over because half the class is high then a lot of valuable learning time is wasted. Use among under-aged kids has soared since it became legal. Is this what we really want? https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/07/20/legal-marijuana-may-be-slowing-reductions-in-teen-marijuana-use-study-says/

And, I hate to break it to you, there were kids in CMS in the early 70s smoking it too. It's a matter of degree, isn't it. It's one thing to know some 'cool kids' doing it out in the woods while skipping class, but another when your kid tells you the teacher has to repeat herself over and over because half the kids are high. Great.

Having lived in Oregon now for about three years, I can tell you legalization and taxing isn't working out as well as everyone here expected. Despite all the chatter about how legalizing would end or minimize illegal trafficking and crime....turns out the opposite has happened. The cartels are now operating, almost in the open, in Southern Oregon. Landowners are now complaining about having leased their land out to folks they thought were above board, but turned out to be other. You may argue that marijuana is not a gateway, but I can see it already in my kid's middle school. So sad to hear about pre-teens now smoking it. ( It has become a family thing up here now I guess). Google fentenyl use in Portland if you want to become depressed. Folks are moving on up to bigger things. Keep your standards high. It's hard to go back.

Meanwhile, UNCC celebrates big bucks for football. Priorities, I guess.

All good points, except, please forgive me when I try to exit out 16 to the NW from I-77 north bound

Car repair kept me in business for many years. Dealerships now have lock on it. Same with laptops. Hence the pending lawsuits. "Right to repair" lawsuits need to go forward. That will keep help keep repair costs down and keep us from having to tow our vehicles a 100 miles if a warning light pops up. Insurance is linked to that, btw.

Same thing happened in Pineville. I remember specific conversations with some business owners there who claimed the same thing. I couldn't believe it. I just shook my head and told them what a huge mistake they're making....

Awesome memory! You have to wonder what kind of radar and weather warning systems they had back then.

Wouldn't the airport be Camp Greene?

Thanks for the reference to "550 acres". That's awesome! My family moved to Beverly Woods East in 1969. The idea was for me to walk to school, which I did for one year until they started bussing. Then it was the 45 minute ride to First Ward Elementary. There used to be a ton of kids my age who used a trail that ran from the end of the cul de sac at Rebel Dr. Do you happen to remember if that trail is still there? Lots of fond memories. Also went to Carmel "Jr. High".

I've been reading through their site and can't find this "500" acres figure. Granted, there'll be nice trails wending their way along the riverbank but is that 500 figure one solid area or just pieces of land ?