Although the skyline has not really changed much during the last fifty years, many of the lower-level buildings have been removed to make room for larger parking lots. So, something must have been happening. One thing was happening: people were riding the buses less. Everyone wanted to drive to work. Those were the days when Americans were able to be individidualists; one could ride the bus, join a motor pool, ride a bike or drive an eight-cylinder auto without a lot of air-control devices that would later raise both the prices of autos and fuels. It was a time when highways were considered the only way to get to town, at least in the midwest. Consequently, Kansas City never developed any type of light rail system to keep the traffic light. Traffic finally became an issue. But no problem, many of the large firms and employers moved out of the downtown into the far reaches of the metro area. Johnson County in Kansas became a big megaplopalus; another MEGAPLOPALUS THAT HAS ONLY BEGUN TO REACH ITS ZENITH is Clay County and the area around the big KCI or MCI, THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EXPANSION. BUT NOW, AGAIN THE DOWNTOWN IS UNDERGOING A RENAISSANCE WITH THE NEW SPRINT CENTER. Kansas City, Missouri remains to be an enigma, a legend in its own time, the city where barbeque remains supreme and the downtown area always in a state of urban reknewal. It is a unique city, not nearly a million yet, but a place where people pass through on their way to someplace else and decide to stay. In many ways, Kansas City is a small town with enough small skyscrapers to make one think it is a city on its way up. It's been this way since the late 1950s. Join me next month when I will be talking about Kansas City, Kansas and other unique areas like Raytown, Grandview, Independence, Lee's Summit and a few other communities that make KC one of the largest metro areas (in land mass) in the United States
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
OPERATOR, GIVE ME MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
Once my favorite aunt, she fell out of favor with me (rather, I fell out of favor with her when I sent her a Western Union in the mid 60s asking to borrow a few grand to help me continue partying in Memphis, Tennessee. Have you heard the old song by Chuck Berry, OPERATOR,GIVE ME MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. Once a waitress in Pittsburgh, California, she dated almost every aviator on his way over to the Pacific Theater. In retrospect, I am sorry I asked her for the cash, but when one is partying and under the influence of alcohol, one can be foolish.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
LIST OF HUFFSTUTTER BLOGS AND ONLINE JOURNALS
TIME AND OLD AGE: AN ESSAY ON AGING BY R.L.HUFFSTUTTER
TIME IS THE MOST MYSTERIOUS PART OF A LIFETIME; NEITHER THE YOUNG OR OLD CAN EXPLAIN IT CLEARLY AND BY THE SAME TOKEN, IT,S SAFE TO SAY THAT NEITHER THE OLD OR THE YOUNG OWN MORE OF IT THAN THE OTHER.
THERE IS A WISDOM ABOUT TIME, HOWEVER, POSSESSED BY ONLY THE OLD; IT IS A WISDOM THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN IN YOUTH. AND THAT IS GOOD IN THAT IT GIVES EACH PERSON EQUAL WISDOM IN DUE TIME. NO YOUTH CAN COMPREHEND THE REALITY OF TIME IN THE WAY ONE WHO IS THREE SCORE AND TEN. TIME, IT IS A REALITY THAT IS SO DECEPTIVE TO ONE AND ALL. THE DECEPTION WILL ALWAYS BE REALIZED LATER THAN SOONER; AND THAT IS THE SAD PART. BUT SINCE TIME CANNOT BE SAVED IN A BOTTLE OR A VAULT, IT IS MORE OR LESS IRRELEVANT. YOUTH SPENDS TIME AS IF IT WILL NEVER END WHILE THE ELDERLY HANG ON TO EACH DAY, FAR INTO THE SUNSET AND ONLY LET GO RELUCTANTLY. YOUTH RARELY, IF EVER, SIT AND GAZE OUT WINDOWS AT BYGONE DAYS WITH REMORSE. FOR THE AGED, REMORSE QUITE OFTEN HELPS THEM WHILE AWAY THEIR TIME IS A MOROSE FASHION. TOO TIRED AND STIFF TO RUN OVER HILL AND DALE OR GO EXPLORING IN THE WOODS, THOSE SAD REGRETS WILL OCCUPY THEIR TIME; IF IT DOESN'T, KNITTING OR PAINTING PICTURES OFTEN SUFFICES QUITE WELL.
TO THOSE WHO FEEL MY DESCRIPTION OF ONE WHO IS AGED IS LESS THAN IDEAL, I WILL ADMIT THEIR FEELINGS ARE CORRECT. I CANNOT THINK OF ANYONE WHO WOULD RATHER BE SIXTY-FIVE OR SEVENTY YEARS OF AGE IF THEY HAD A CHOICE TO REMAIN IN THEIR THIRTIES OR EVEN EARLY FIFTIES.
I AM NOT NEGATIVE, I AM A REALIST. TIME WAS WHEN TIME WAS BETTER, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT I HAVE LET AGE CAUSE ME TO SURRENDER. NO, BUT BEING A REALIST, I CANNOT HONESTLY ENTERTAIN THOSE SAME DREAMS I HAD IN MY TWENTIES OR THIRTIES. AND THAT, BOYS AND GIRLS, IS THE ESSENCE OF THIS MESSAGE. DOES ANYONE RECALL THAT OLD ADAGE OR DIDACTIC BIT OF INSPIRATION ABOUT MAKING HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES? THAT IS, IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE ANOTHER CUTE BIT OF ADVICE THAT YOUTH SHOULD LEARN AND UNDERSTAND: DON'T EVER BE AFRAID OF OUTLIVING YOUR
MONEY, PLAN AHEAD. "PLAN AHEAD," YES, THAT SOUNDS LIKE GOOD ADVICE.
NOW, LET ME SEE, WHAT SHALL I PLAN ON? OUTLIVING ONE'S MONEY IS A KIND OF CATCH 22. THIS IS SURELY A CASE WHERE HOPE AND FAITH MUST ENTER; OTHERWISE, IT IS JUST TOO PERPLEXING, TOO CONFUSING, AND FRANKLY, TOO DEPRESSING. WHAT WAS THAT OLD SAYING ABOUT ENJOYING THE DAY AND GOING FOR ALL THE GUSTO? THAT BIT ABOUT ONLY GOING AROUND ONCE, WELL, I AM GOING TO WITHOLD MY COMMENTS ON THAT ONE
TIME IS THE MOST MYSTERIOUS PART OF A LIFETIME; NEITHER THE YOUNG OR OLD CAN EXPLAIN IT CLEARLY AND BY THE SAME TOKEN, IT,S SAFE TO SAY THAT NEITHER THE OLD OR THE YOUNG OWN MORE OF IT THAN THE OTHER.
THERE IS A WISDOM ABOUT TIME, HOWEVER, POSSESSED BY ONLY THE OLD; IT IS A WISDOM THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN IN YOUTH. AND THAT IS GOOD IN THAT IT GIVES EACH PERSON EQUAL WISDOM IN DUE TIME. NO YOUTH CAN COMPREHEND THE REALITY OF TIME IN THE WAY ONE WHO IS THREE SCORE AND TEN. TIME, IT IS A REALITY THAT IS SO DECEPTIVE TO ONE AND ALL. THE DECEPTION WILL ALWAYS BE REALIZED LATER THAN SOONER; AND THAT IS THE SAD PART. BUT SINCE TIME CANNOT BE SAVED IN A BOTTLE OR A VAULT, IT IS MORE OR LESS IRRELEVANT. YOUTH SPENDS TIME AS IF IT WILL NEVER END WHILE THE ELDERLY HANG ON TO EACH DAY, FAR INTO THE SUNSET AND ONLY LET GO RELUCTANTLY. YOUTH RARELY, IF EVER, SIT AND GAZE OUT WINDOWS AT BYGONE DAYS WITH REMORSE. FOR THE AGED, REMORSE QUITE OFTEN HELPS THEM WHILE AWAY THEIR TIME IS A MOROSE FASHION. TOO TIRED AND STIFF TO RUN OVER HILL AND DALE OR GO EXPLORING IN THE WOODS, THOSE SAD REGRETS WILL OCCUPY THEIR TIME; IF IT DOESN'T, KNITTING OR PAINTING PICTURES OFTEN SUFFICES QUITE WELL.
TO THOSE WHO FEEL MY DESCRIPTION OF ONE WHO IS AGED IS LESS THAN IDEAL, I WILL ADMIT THEIR FEELINGS ARE CORRECT. I CANNOT THINK OF ANYONE WHO WOULD RATHER BE SIXTY-FIVE OR SEVENTY YEARS OF AGE IF THEY HAD A CHOICE TO REMAIN IN THEIR THIRTIES OR EVEN EARLY FIFTIES.
I AM NOT NEGATIVE, I AM A REALIST. TIME WAS WHEN TIME WAS BETTER, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT I HAVE LET AGE CAUSE ME TO SURRENDER. NO, BUT BEING A REALIST, I CANNOT HONESTLY ENTERTAIN THOSE SAME DREAMS I HAD IN MY TWENTIES OR THIRTIES. AND THAT, BOYS AND GIRLS, IS THE ESSENCE OF THIS MESSAGE. DOES ANYONE RECALL THAT OLD ADAGE OR DIDACTIC BIT OF INSPIRATION ABOUT MAKING HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES? THAT IS, IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE ANOTHER CUTE BIT OF ADVICE THAT YOUTH SHOULD LEARN AND UNDERSTAND: DON'T EVER BE AFRAID OF OUTLIVING YOUR
MONEY, PLAN AHEAD. "PLAN AHEAD," YES, THAT SOUNDS LIKE GOOD ADVICE.
NOW, LET ME SEE, WHAT SHALL I PLAN ON? OUTLIVING ONE'S MONEY IS A KIND OF CATCH 22. THIS IS SURELY A CASE WHERE HOPE AND FAITH MUST ENTER; OTHERWISE, IT IS JUST TOO PERPLEXING, TOO CONFUSING, AND FRANKLY, TOO DEPRESSING. WHAT WAS THAT OLD SAYING ABOUT ENJOYING THE DAY AND GOING FOR ALL THE GUSTO? THAT BIT ABOUT ONLY GOING AROUND ONCE, WELL, I AM GOING TO WITHOLD MY COMMENTS ON THAT ONE
Monday, February 2, 2009
KANSAS CITY'S JAPANESE RESTAURANT
NOTE THE WAY THE TREE LIMBS BLEND INTO THE GOJO'S LOGO....I HAVE YET TO EAT HERE.
DRIVING AROUND KANSAS CITY
WELCOME TO KANSAS CITY SNAPSHOTS, AN ONLINE BLOG FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THAT EVERYTHING IS UP TO DATE IN KANSAS CITY, FOR ALL WHO HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE SOME PRETTY LITTLE WOMEN HERE. REF: WILBERT HARRISON'S 1950S SONG "GOING TO KANSAS CITY, KANSAS CITY HERE I COME." IF ANYONE HAS A LINK TO THE SONG, PLEASE SEND IT MY WAY................
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