politics

All posts tagged politics

Save Ohio’s libraries!

Posted by Photonstopper on June 22, 2009
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Save Ohio's Libraries
Save Ohio’s Libraries

This past Friday, Governor Ted Strickland proposed a cut of $227.3 million {from library funding} in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 as part of his plan to fill the $3.2 billion gap in the state’s budget. This will mean a more than 50 percent cut in funding for many of Ohio’s public libraries. Libraries could close or face significant reductions in operations as a result of the Governor’s proposal.

With about 70 percent of the state’s public libraries relying solely on {the state for funds}, the reduction … will mean that many will close branches or drastically reduce hours and services. Libraries bring critical services to the community, such as early childhood education, job help, free Internet access, and a place for everyone to come together as a community.

This budget will be finalized by June 30th so the time to act is NOW!

* I've quoted all of the above from the Save Ohio Libraries Web site but I wholeheartedly agree that this is a real threat to public libraries and the important services they provide. The cuts would be especially devastating to those libraries serving rural and lower-income communities who depend heavily or entirely on the state's support.

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“Clueless bozos steering the ship of state…”

Posted by Photonstopper on April 22, 2008
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Given his position as a famous business leader, I'd have assumed Lee Iacocca would be a staunch conservative Republican and, therefore persona non grata to me. Then I happened across a surprising extraction from Iacocca's book, Where Have all the Leaders Gone? I was shocked and gratified; I really didn't expect this statement. I don't know if I'll ever read his book but Iacocca is delivering a message here we all need to take to heart.

Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, "Stay the course."

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned Titanic. I'll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums out!

From Where Have All the Leaders Gone?. Copyright © 2007 by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved. Read an extended excerpt at: BordersStores.com.


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Just a little update

Posted by Photonstopper on September 12, 2007
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Just a little update on how it's going. If you're a casual reader understand that, in some instances, I'm using this blog to keep track of things. For example, our first note:

  • I reduced Tasha's medication to one-half tablet once per day. Part of the prescribed regimen. That will continue for one week until Monday, Sept. 17 when we'll cut back to a half-tablet every-other day.

Otherwise briefly noted:

Walk like an Egyptian
Walk like an Egyptian

  • Looks like we'll have a star party for the astronomy class students. That ought to be fun and it will give me an opportunity to get my own telescope out at a good site! Date: TBA, probably in October.
  • As I was composing this, Radio Paradise played Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles. What a kick! Had to crank it up… I dunno, it's just, well, just…. I really like it, alright?
  • Tonight I install a big wad of updates on our Solaris servers. This makes me nervous but it must be done. So I get the morning and half the afternoon off… and get to stay on the job til at least 11 PM. {sigh} All part of the job; that's IT for you!
  • I will resist the urge to use this blog to make political comments. I will try really, really hard to do that. Every time we hear the death toll in Iraq (Iraqi and American), however, and learn of another local kid declared to be a hero as he is buried we should be reminded: politics isn't a game. It's our lives. There are very real winners. Very real losers. And often more losers than winners.

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