What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

Tropic Thunder is playing at Park Place Cinema. In Morrisville. Maybe for several more weeks, than on it will go, to Carmike/Blue Ridge. A DVD release will no doubt follow.

The movie has made headlines for it's success at the box office and for it's use of the R word.

California's first lady Maria Shriver has written about it.

So has her brother Timothy Shriver.

Marcia Brady has pledged not to see the film.

Whether folks go see the movie or not, the R word is being discussed. It's a step. Yes it is.

UPDATE 8/29 - Likely the discussions will get a bit more..... interesting. McCain's running mate has an infant son with Down syndrome. As a high profile special needs parent she joins the likes of Gene Stallings, George Will, Julie Newmar, Dale Evans & Roy Rogers. But politics is a far different kind of high profile. I hope the discussions are productive ones.

Landfall... the Land Use & Transportation Plan in a Nutshell

Your 'Tis blogger, like Jimmy Buffet, is tryin' to make a little sense of it all. This week it's Morrisville's vision-in-progress, aka our Land Use and Transportation Plan or LUTP.

The current versions of Morrisville's LUTPs have some wrinkles. Serious ones. A massive Regional Activity Center radiating outward from Park West Village is a bad idea. It's a bad idea even if NC54 is widened to the six lane boulevard proposed for the area. Likewise, labeling the largest contiguous undeveloped land in Morrisville a "small area plan" with nary a hint of what's to come.... well jeepers! If it's a plan, there should be more than shades of gray on the document. Otherwise, we should call it the Land Use and Transportation I'll Get Back to You Later on That One, the LUTIGBTYLOTO. Then there's the extension of Crabtree Crossing Parkway, massaged, debated, tweaked, narrowed, but basically unchanged - a thoroughfare through a residential community, the red herring to addressing NC54 woes.

A little starch, a hot iron, maybe some Retinol-A, we can remove the wrinkles:

Thursday, 8/14/2008 Planning and Zoning Meeting
LUTP Open House & Public Comments
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Open House
6:00 PM - PZB meeting and public comment opportunity begins
(The usual 3 minute time limit applies to public comments)

Can't make the PZB meeting? Offer comments via email:

PlanningBoard@ci.morrisville.nc.us (Our volunteer Planning and Zoning Board)

MayorandCommissioners@ci.morrisville.nc.us (Our elected officials)

BHitchings@ci.morrisville.nc.us (Our Planning Director)

But if you have an opinion, don't wait until landfall.

National Night Out - Morrisville Style

Scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2008, this year's event will be held at Cedar Fork Community Center, located at 1050 Town Hall Drive, from 7-10 pm. Our Morrisville fire department will provide free hotdogs, popcorn, and drinks, and all are welcome to participate in and enjoy a variety of games and activities including:

Sporting Competitions - Citizens vs Morrisville Firemen and Police Officers
Family Games and Activities
Highway Patrol Helicopters on display
Special Operations Response Team demonstrations
McGruff the Crime Dog
Sparky the Fire Dog
Police Vehicles
Fire Vehicles
EMS Vehicles
Fire House for smoke and fire safety

For more information contact Officer Shawn McGrady at 463-1622.