St. Valentine was a wussy as far as martyrs go for the period. In the time in which, "Accept Christ, get killed and go to Heaven!" was essentially the motto of the early, oppressed Christians, it's almost disappointing to hear about a man who pleaded for his life through the use of letters when meeting your death via Crucifixion, stoning, hanging or dismemberment seemed all the rage.
Martyrdom during the 2nd and 3rd centuries was an epidemic according to Roman writers, with some even telling of accounts of Christians essentially committing suicide by running in front of a chariot or jumping in front of a few Praetorians and going, 'I WORSHIP JESUS! KILL ME!' (and now I mention suicide bomber, and let that sink in for a moment...) it's no wonder why Constantine said, "OKAY! Enough is enough, I'm tired of seeing guts in my streets, someone clean up this damn mess and make okay for these guys to live. Thanks. Now let me go back to worshiping the sun (paraphrased.)"
I'm not entirely sure of the emperor during Valentine's life, and since I'm writing this from memory and not Wikipedia, you should give me a chocolate on principle. Now, this dude was a Christian living in pagan Rome...a Stranger in a Strange Land if you will (grok?) And he obviously did something to get someone important's attention. This got him thrown in jail, and scheduled to be executed. Now, instead of taking the better, more honorable Christian route at the time, that being, accept your death, get a cookie from the Man Himself when you walk through the pearly gates, he pussed out, and started writing letters to the princess of Rome. You know, a woman who was, gee, pagan, and gee, probably shared them a lot with her dad, and they both had a chuckle. After telling her of the wonders of Christ, plea for his life, offer to buy her a trip to Acapulco and the occasional Rose [of Sharon] was sent her way, he signed it, "From your Valentine." Catchy, huh?
Poor guy never got what he wanted though, which may or may not have been a piece of sweet Roman ass, and he met his death at the executioner's blade. Rumor has it, that his heart, in addition to his head, was displayed on a pike after the execution. Now, if THAT doesn't scream "HOW ROMANTIC!" I don't know what does. The Victorians sure as hell thought so, and figured that the plight of this poor chap was a great reason to write letters to loved ones. This evolved when Hallmark, yes, the card company, took it to the next level, and it started to become a day in which you send TOKENS OF AFFECTION TO LOVED ONES.
Hold up, let's rewind: "Pussy saint won't die for his faith like a man, get's heart on stake, here's chocolate, wanna screw?" Something is up, here. Something terribly does not compute.
If you love these people so much, why aren't you sending them gifts and flowers for any old day? Why did a saint have to die for you to do it? Why did Al Capone have to slaughter dozens of men for you to get laid? WHY? Why must you jam up restaurant business so you can impress your date by ordering expensive food and drinks and leaving a shotty tip because you over spent? No.
The answer is NO. You need to love who you love ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, EVERY YEAR OF THEIR LIVES. Don't let some commercial card company and the stupidity of the Victorian people to ruin history for the sake of a buck. It's pointless, and it makes you look like an amateur. Your significant other and your family are your saints. Don't be a martyr. St. Valentine's head and heart are rolling in their grave.
is true.
but as is pointed out in yesterday's XKCD (http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/valentine_dilemma.png), it is a prisoner's dilemma and you can't win unless you make a deal with your SO well before hand.
So, do you think Hallmark is busy coming up with another trap day that they can sucker the nation with? what might that be? if we can anticipate the tricks they may pull, then perhaps we can flank them with preemptive non-consumer ritual...
All I know is I'm getting a nice dinner out of the deal, so I don't mind.
All I know is that Saint Valentine's Day was just another blip on the Catholic calendar until some British company saw another way to create a bogus holiday for big $$$, back in 1797.
It was in fact the first "Hallmark Holiday", though not invented by Hallmark...Much like Mother's Day, which was commercialized so fast that within 9 years of it's inception, the woman who pushed it into reality fought against its continued existence.
*ahem*
If you don't buy your GF candy that is bad for her, you are not a good BF.
You may now return to your consumerism.
Is there any other kind of candy?
Dentists say apples, but they actually got quite some sugar in em and besides, as a Discordian it's bad taste to bring more apples into a relationship :)
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 14, 2012, 08:44:34 PM
Is there any other kind of candy?
Dentists say apples, but they actually got quite some sugar in em and besides, as a Discordian it's bad taste to bring more apples into a relationship :)
You don't understand, Citizen. YOU are REQUIRED to buy HER candy, etc. If you don't, you're a lousy cheapskate. These rules were made up by EXPERTS in the candy/greeting card industry. Do not dispute them.
Dear Roger,
What if I bought her a vacuum cleaner, instead?
You are OBLIGATED. Even if she doesn't like candy.
The beauty of this is, you don't fight with THEM over it, you fight with HER.
This Valentine's Day, Kay Jewelers would like to remind you that if he doesn't buy you diamonds, he's probably a serial killer.
Quote from: kingyak on February 14, 2012, 08:53:54 PM
This Valentine's Day, Kay Jewelers would like to remind you that if he doesn't buy you diamonds, he's probably a serial killer.
:lulz:
Or:
This Valentine's Day, Kay Jewelers would like to remind you that if you don't buy her diamonds, no blow jobs for you this year.
(Tell me they don't market the shit out of THAT.)
I'd like to see the different factions war a bit more (kind of like the notes from different organizations Carlin read during one of his specials--"And now, a message from the National Apple Institute. "Fuck Pears!"):
"Hallmark reminds you that if he buys you candy, he already thinks you're fat."
"The National Florists Association wants you to know that only a cheap bastard buys a card."
etc.
Someone asked me today what I got for Phox for Valentine's. I told her that I didn't get Phox anything, so she asked me if Phox got me anything. I said no, and she asked, "well, aren't you a romantic? Doesn't that make you sad?" To which I replied, we don't celebrate Hallmark Holidays.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 14, 2012, 08:57:16 PM
Quote from: kingyak on February 14, 2012, 08:53:54 PM
This Valentine's Day, Kay Jewelers would like to remind you that if he doesn't buy you diamonds, he's probably a serial killer.
:lulz:
Or:
This Valentine's Day, Kay Jewelers would like to remind you that if you don't buy her diamonds, no blow jobs for you this year.
(Tell me they don't market the shit out of THAT.)
It works.
I've seen like seven people get engaged on Facebook in the past 24 hours. Blowjobs for everyone!
St. Patrick's Day is becoming a thing. I think it's getting worse every year. Sort of like the Thanksgiving of drinking and bar fights where people wearing green start shit with people who don't. After that, we'll start celebrating celebrity birthdays like we do Presidents'. Ga-Ga Day will involve costumes. Garth Brooks Day will involve cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and Western-style shirts with thunder clouds and horses on them. Etc.
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 15, 2012, 06:15:43 AM
St. Patrick's Day is becoming a thing. I think it's getting worse every year. Sort of like the Thanksgiving of drinking and bar fights where people wearing green start shit with people who don't. After that, we'll start celebrating celebrity birthdays like we do Presidents'. Ga-Ga Day will involve costumes. Garth Brooks Day will involve cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and Western-style shirts with thunder clouds and horses on them. Etc.
What about Daniel Day Lewis Day?
The thing is, St. Patricks Day is essentially a Irish holiday, celebrated mostly by non-Irish people (no, living in Boston doesn't count). Also, it essentially involves drinking oneself into a stupor, which can be done on any weekend, only with more green drinks. As such, it is somewhat retarded.
Whereas Gaga Day would not only be a statement of fabulousness, it would be open to all, regardless of race, background, alcohol tolerance or fashion sense.
Is not celebrating "Hallmark Holidays" similar to how Jehovas identify by not celebrating birthdays and Christmas or Sinterklaas?
Something about black sheep being, you know, still sheep?
I celebrate Valentine's by doing something special, if I got someone special to do it for, and if I fucking feel like it, because it's as good an occasion as any. I don't necessarily do it on Valentine's, but I might.
And every year it's the same people that shout the loudest about how they DON'T and how it's a COMMERCIAL CARD INDUSTRY FABRICATION
I don't think that I ever spent money on a Valentine's card--of course that's easy for me to say when you can just buy a bigass bouquet of roses for three bucks.
Though I vastly prefer that one time I made a chocolate fondue with bits of fresh pineapple and strawberries and other fruits. Sure I could have done that any time of the year. With candlelight and a blanket on the floor. And said "oh no special occasion, I just don't celebrate Hallmark Holidays", but I might not have thought of it, or maybe it wouldn't have ended up the way it did when we ran out of fruit...
So, if I got the "card industry" to thank for that maybe I should send them a thank-you card? :)
Quote from: BadBeast on February 15, 2012, 06:49:06 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 15, 2012, 06:15:43 AM
St. Patrick's Day is becoming a thing. I think it's getting worse every year. Sort of like the Thanksgiving of drinking and bar fights where people wearing green start shit with people who don't. After that, we'll start celebrating celebrity birthdays like we do Presidents'. Ga-Ga Day will involve costumes. Garth Brooks Day will involve cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and Western-style shirts with thunder clouds and horses on them. Etc.
What about Daniel Day Lewis Day?
If people channel Bill the Butcher, it could get messy.
Quote from: Suu on February 15, 2012, 11:59:33 AM
Quote from: BadBeast on February 15, 2012, 06:49:06 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 15, 2012, 06:15:43 AM
St. Patrick's Day is becoming a thing. I think it's getting worse every year. Sort of like the Thanksgiving of drinking and bar fights where people wearing green start shit with people who don't. After that, we'll start celebrating celebrity birthdays like we do Presidents'. Ga-Ga Day will involve costumes. Garth Brooks Day will involve cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and Western-style shirts with thunder clouds and horses on them. Etc.
What about Daniel Day Lewis Day?
If people channel Bill the Butcher, it could get messy.
Funny, I always think of DDL, as Bill the Butcher. :lulz:
St Patrick's Day = Amateur Hour. I stay indoors.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 14, 2012, 08:57:16 PM
Quote from: kingyak on February 14, 2012, 08:53:54 PM
This Valentine's Day, Kay Jewelers would like to remind you that if he doesn't buy you diamonds, he's probably a serial killer.
:lulz:
Or:
This Valentine's Day, Kay Jewelers would like to remind you that if you don't buy her diamonds, no blow jobs for you this year.
(Tell me they don't market the shit out of THAT.)
There was a pretty blatant add riffing on that idea this time around. I forget what it was for, if it was jewelry or flowers or chocolate. But the tagline was something like, "For a Happy Valentine's
Night"
In other words, if you don't buy this shit for your lady, you ain't getting any.
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 15, 2012, 10:14:54 AM
Is not celebrating "Hallmark Holidays" similar to how Jehovas identify by not celebrating birthdays and Christmas or Sinterklaas?
Something about black sheep being, you know, still sheep?
I celebrate Valentine's by doing something special, if I got someone special to do it for, and if I fucking feel like it, because it's as good an occasion as any. I don't necessarily do it on Valentine's, but I might.
And every year it's the same people that shout the loudest about how they DON'T and how it's a COMMERCIAL CARD INDUSTRY FABRICATION
I don't think that I ever spent money on a Valentine's card--of course that's easy for me to say when you can just buy a bigass bouquet of roses for three bucks.
Though I vastly prefer that one time I made a chocolate fondue with bits of fresh pineapple and strawberries and other fruits. Sure I could have done that any time of the year. With candlelight and a blanket on the floor. And said "oh no special occasion, I just don't celebrate Hallmark Holidays", but I might not have thought of it, or maybe it wouldn't have ended up the way it did when we ran out of fruit...
So, if I got the "card industry" to thank for that maybe I should send them a thank-you card? :)
Doesn't your country make out like bandits from all of the flowers we American blokes buy for our ladies?
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 15, 2012, 10:14:54 AM
I don't think that I ever spent money on a Valentine's card--of course that's easy for me to say when you can just buy a bigass bouquet of roses for three bucks.
Oh, you crazy Belgians, with your socialist state-subsidized flowers... In the US, during the week leading up to VD, flower prices more than triple. A "bigass bouquet of roses" will run you about $60, if you decide to go
cheap.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 15, 2012, 01:34:16 PM
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 15, 2012, 10:14:54 AM
I don't think that I ever spent money on a Valentine's card--of course that's easy for me to say when you can just buy a bigass bouquet of roses for three bucks.
Oh, you crazy Belgians, with your socialist state-subsidized flowers... In the US, during the week leading up to VD, flower prices more than triple. A "bigass bouquet of roses" will run you about $60, if you decide to go cheap.
My dad once bought my mum a £200 bouquet. Being in the decorating business, she knew how much this cost.
She hit him with it.
They buy each other chocolates and go out for dinner now.
Why is one stupid made-up holiday any better or worse than any other stupid made-up holiday?
Tip: all holidays are made up. Celebrate them or don't, nobody who matters gives a flying fuck.
Quote from: Nigel on February 15, 2012, 03:38:29 PM
Tip: all holidays are made up. Celebrate them or don't, nobody who matters gives a flying fuck.
except on National Mile High Club Day.
Quote from: Nigel on February 15, 2012, 03:38:29 PM
Why is one stupid made-up holiday any better or worse than any other stupid made-up holiday?
Tip: all holidays are made up. Celebrate them or don't, nobody who matters gives a flying fuck.
I am annoyed by most holidays.
Especially Veteran's Day & Memorial Day. The first is a day made up to show respect for soldiers who were "respected" enough to be sent off to someone elses' war, and then when the war finally ended, were told that they'd have to keep fighting a bit longer, so we could have the war end at 11AM on 11/11/18. Great. I'm sure they're all very grateful, in their mustard gas-soaked graves out in some farm field.
The second is the one where I take off of work, not to observe it, but to keep from being bothered by people wanting to "thank me for my service". Look, if you'd REALLY wanted to thank me, you wouldn't have had those phony fucking "wars", not to mention the ones that came after them. My experience wasn't war, it was a fucking TRADE SHOW. And these kids today? They're basically mooks. Their "war" is ARMED FUCKING ROBBERY.
Thanksgiving is where we thank Jesus for saving the pilgrims, when they were actually saved by the natives, who we then robbed, raped, and killed. Have some turkey.
And all the other ones, ALL OF THEM, are nothing more than reasons to buy MORE CRAP.
Except Easter, which is when Jesus came out of his cave and saw his shadow, so they had 400 more years of Rome. And then he laid a chocolate egg or some shit.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 15, 2012, 04:06:08 PM
Quote from: Nigel on February 15, 2012, 03:38:29 PM
Why is one stupid made-up holiday any better or worse than any other stupid made-up holiday?
Tip: all holidays are made up. Celebrate them or don't, nobody who matters gives a flying fuck.
I am annoyed by most holidays.
Especially Veteran's Day & Memorial Day. The first is a day made up to show respect for soldiers who were "respected" enough to be sent off to someone elses' war, and then when the war finally ended, were told that they'd have to keep fighting a bit longer, so we could have the war end at 11AM on 11/11/18. Great. I'm sure they're all very grateful, in their mustard gas-soaked graves out in some farm field.
The second is the one where I take off of work, not to observe it, but to keep from being bothered by people wanting to "thank me for my service". Look, if you'd REALLY wanted to thank me, you wouldn't have had those phony fucking "wars", not to mention the ones that came after them. My experience wasn't war, it was a fucking TRADE SHOW. And these kids today? They're basically mooks. Their "war" is ARMED FUCKING ROBBERY.
Thanksgiving is where we thank Jesus for saving the pilgrims, when they were actually saved by the natives, who we then robbed, raped, and killed. Have some turkey.
And all the other ones, ALL OF THEM, are nothing more than reasons to buy MORE CRAP.
Except Easter, which is when Jesus came out of his cave and saw his shadow, so they had 400 more years of Rome. And then he laid a chocolate egg or some shit.
:lulz: Easter is my favorite. We get drunk on rum-soaked cake and then burn a life-size effigy of Jesus, just like the early Christians did.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 15, 2012, 04:06:08 PM
Quote from: Nigel on February 15, 2012, 03:38:29 PM
Why is one stupid made-up holiday any better or worse than any other stupid made-up holiday?
Tip: all holidays are made up. Celebrate them or don't, nobody who matters gives a flying fuck.
I am annoyed by most holidays.
Especially Veteran's Day & Memorial Day. The first is a day made up to show respect for soldiers who were "respected" enough to be sent off to someone elses' war, and then when the war finally ended, were told that they'd have to keep fighting a bit longer, so we could have the war end at 11AM on 11/11/18. Great. I'm sure they're all very grateful, in their mustard gas-soaked graves out in some farm field.
The second is the one where I take off of work, not to observe it, but to keep from being bothered by people wanting to "thank me for my service". Look, if you'd REALLY wanted to thank me, you wouldn't have had those phony fucking "wars", not to mention the ones that came after them. My experience wasn't war, it was a fucking TRADE SHOW. And these kids today? They're basically mooks. Their "war" is ARMED FUCKING ROBBERY.
Thanksgiving is where we thank Jesus for saving the pilgrims, when they were actually saved by the natives, who we then robbed, raped, and killed. Have some turkey.
And all the other ones, ALL OF THEM, are nothing more than reasons to buy MORE CRAP.
Except Easter, which is when Jesus came out of his cave and saw his shadow, so they had 400 more years of Rome. And then he laid a chocolate egg or some shit.
That is how I feel about those two holidays. "Did you go out to get free food on Veteran's Day?" "No" "WHY NOT??" "Because I fuckig hate being thanked for my service by...OH FUCKING FORGET IT" And then there are lights and sirens and I wake up in my barracks room wearing two day old clothes and feeling like a gym sock.
I'll just go ahead and get the inevitable Vonnegut quote out of the way:
QuoteI will come to a time in my backwards trip when November eleventh, accidentally my birthday, was a sacred day called Armistice Day. When I was a boy, and when Dwayne Hoover was a boy, all the people of all the nations which had fought in the First World War were silent during the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of Armistice Day, which was the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind.
Armistice Day has become Veterans' Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans' Day is not.
So I will throw Veterans' Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don't want to throw away any sacred things.
What else is sacred? Oh, Romeo and Juliet, for instance.
And all music is.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 15, 2012, 04:06:08 PM
Except Easter, which is when Jesus came out of his cave and saw his shadow, so they had 400 more years of Rome.
:spittake:
YOINKED!
Also THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4GvXQPC4zE) :lulz:
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 15, 2012, 01:34:16 PM
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 15, 2012, 10:14:54 AM
I don't think that I ever spent money on a Valentine's card--of course that's easy for me to say when you can just buy a bigass bouquet of roses for three bucks.
Oh, you crazy Belgians, with your socialist state-subsidized flowers... In the US, during the week leading up to VD, flower prices more than triple. A "bigass bouquet of roses" will run you about $60, if you decide to go cheap.
I should add that the thee bucks ones, you can only get at the street market (twice a week), shortly before 5pm when they have to close shop and they have to throw out the flowers anyway because next day they'll be too ugly to sell. Otherwise it's 5 euros :P But those aren't the prettiest bouquets. You can probably get one for E10 and they'll all be extra nice-looking. Or get a real fancy bouquet with other flowers for up to E20. Anything more expensive gets into the HUGE bouquets category, the kind for real special occasions, to groups of people or as expensive interior design items.
The only cheap flowers here are the ones the growers sometimes pay day workers in.
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 12:28:44 AM
The only cheap flowers here are the ones the growers sometimes pay day workers in.
Oh that's so beautiful! Payment in flowers!
Yep. Totally illegal here in California but it happens anyway. Most of them are illegal and are too afraid to complain.
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 12:28:44 AM
The only cheap flowers here are the ones the growers sometimes pay day workers in.
Woooooooow.
Mhm. And then they have to try to hawk them on street corners for actual money.
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 02:14:42 AM
Mhm. And then they have to try to hawk them on street corners for actual money.
That's fucking evil.
The flowers aren't really the most evil thing about the way some farmers treat the day workers. That would be calling the INS right before quitting time, forcing them to either flee without their pay or be arrested.
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 02:20:47 AM
The flowers aren't really the most evil thing about the way some farmers treat the day workers. That would be calling the INS right before quitting time, forcing them to either flee without their pay or be arrested.
The INS ought to fine the fuck out of these bastards.
Ought to. Doesn't.
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 02:26:47 AM
Ought to. Doesn't.
They have the power to do it.
Fucking bastards are probably getting kickbacks. I know the border patrol down here is corrupt as fuck.
You know, Garbo, it warms my black little cinder of a heart to know that when I finally keel over, you'll be there to carry on the horrible cynical end of things.
:lulz:
:lulz: Yes indeed.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 22, 2012, 02:27:30 AM
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 02:26:47 AM
Ought to. Doesn't.
They have the power to do it.
Fucking bastards are probably getting kickbacks. I know the border patrol down here is corrupt as fuck.
Yep. The sheriffs and such also have the power (and are also called in for the same purposes), but they *know* all the farmers, so they never do anything, either.
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 02:38:58 AM
:lulz: Yes indeed.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 22, 2012, 02:27:30 AM
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 02:26:47 AM
Ought to. Doesn't.
They have the power to do it.
Fucking bastards are probably getting kickbacks. I know the border patrol down here is corrupt as fuck.
Yep. The sheriffs and such also have the power (and are also called in for the same purposes), but they *know* all the farmers, so they never do anything, either.
Sure. They also "know" brown paper baggies full of Benjamin and his friends, once or twice a year.
Oh, there's that. But also they know each other personally a lot of the time, especially here in the Valley.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 22, 2012, 02:28:29 AM
You know, Garbo, it warms my black little cinder of a heart to know that when I finally keel over, you'll be there to carry on the horrible cynical end of things.
:lulz:
I know, right?
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 02:56:59 AM
Oh, there's that. But also they know each other personally a lot of the time, especially here in the Valley.
This is what I mean about Fresno. I think it might be the exact opposite of Tucson. Tucson is Our Lady's city. Fresno, though... Fresno is nothing if not the City of Bureaucracy.
Yep. :lulz: And this, by the way, is literally the fault of a Nazi.
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 06:43:40 PM
Yep. :lulz: And this, by the way, is literally the fault of a Nazi.
STORY TIME!
The abbreviated version: A German-American dude from the Bay Area named Karl Leonard Falk moved to Berlin in 1932, worked for Goebbels (directly) and Hitler until 1937, got a doctorate in Nazi Economics, was involved with the early stages of the Final Solution, urban renewal in Berlin, and helped shuffle the Jews into ghettos. He moved to Fresno in 1938 where he taught at my university for many years, and got into city planning/urban renewal here in the 50s and 60s with the intention of bringing government organizations to town to make Fresno a political heavyweight in California politics.
In doing so, Falk totally destroyed the entire downtown area and sent people and businesses north, as well as tearing out all the gorgeous old buildings and ethnic enclaves except Chinatown (we used to have a Little Armenia, Little Italy, and a few others) to make way for it. He succeeded in bringing a shit ton of government offices here, including the IRS and a number of others, which he housed in some horrifically grim looking buildings. If you ever look at Fresno's downtown skyline, you'll see what I mean. The courthouse and the jail loom over most of the other buildings (except for the Banker's Tower, which is really awesome) and the whole area oozes depression and desperation. It's been forty years, an downtown is just starting to show signs of actual life.
Quote from: Secret Agent GARBO on February 22, 2012, 09:48:37 PM
The abbreviated version: A German-American dude from the Bay Area named Karl Leonard Falk moved to Berlin in 1932, worked for Goebbels (directly) and Hitler until 1937, got a doctorate in Nazi Economics, was involved with the early stages of the Final Solution, urban renewal in Berlin, and helped shuffle the Jews into ghettos. He moved to Fresno in 1938 where he taught at my university for many years, and got into city planning/urban renewal here in the 50s and 60s with the intention of bringing government organizations to town to make Fresno a political heavyweight in California politics.
In doing so, Falk totally destroyed the entire downtown area and sent people and businesses north, as well as tearing out all the gorgeous old buildings and ethnic enclaves except Chinatown (we used to have a Little Armenia, Little Italy, and a few others) to make way for it. He succeeded in bringing a shit ton of government offices here, including the IRS and a number of others, which he housed in some horrifically grim looking buildings. If you ever look at Fresno's downtown skyline, you'll see what I mean. The courthouse and the jail loom over most of the other buildings (except for the Banker's Tower, which is really awesome) and the whole area oozes depression and desperation. It's been forty years, an downtown is just starting to show signs of actual life.
That's really interesting! I had heard that "they" made Fresno "that way" on purpose... but I never knew exactly what that meant.
:D Isn't it? It explained so much when I first read up on it.
These, btw, are some of the buildings he's responsible for.
County courthouse:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2717/4112916795_513d436472_z.jpg)
which "replaced" this one in the 60s:
(http://historical.fresnobeehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HP-FRESNO-COUNTY-COURTHOUSE-1.jpg)
The world's most depressing county jail:
(http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/uploadedImages/Departments/Public_Health/JMS/FCMJ01opt.jpg)
Wow, Fresno. Just wow. :lulz: