It was interesting to read DeWayne Bartel's endorsement of the $35 million for libraries and his interview with Councilman Gary Sandberg. Most interesting was that a reliable source told me that Sandberg announced his resignation as council library liason.
DeWayne says the delay of a vote last night was "only about a decision over location". Surely it couldn't be that Gary didn't have the 6 votes he needed to dump $35 more million dollars on the property tax payers who reside in the City of Peoria
I suspect it will be an interesting council meeting on June 24. It may all boil down to common sense.
There are only two sure things I'm told; death and taxes. I might add "big" egos and facts that get in the way of intelligent decisions.
My challenge to meet with me at Lakeview Library and show me a library "bursting at it's seams", inadequate parking and people using computers for "intellectual development." You know you can't or you would. Invite Mike Bailey, who lives in tazewell County and doesn't pay Peoria property taxes. People who own computers say they use the libraries computers because everything is "free".
I say a lot of young people are using the free library computers because they don't want their parent or parents to see what use they are making of these unsupervised computers.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Public Libraries - Mass Market Taste?
John J. Miller who writes for the National Review and is author of "A Gift of Freedom: How the John M. Olin Foundation Changed America" writes "Every unpopular book that is removed from active library shelves such as Ernest Hemingway, Marcel Proust, Thomas Hardy, William Faulkner and Alexander Solzhenitsyn from the shelves of public libraries make room for a new page turner like James Patterson, John Grisham or David Baldacci, the three authors most checked out at the Fairfax County Public Library in heavily populated northern Virginia.
Mr. Miller raises a fundamental question: What are libraries for? Are they cultural warehouses that contain the best that has been thought or said? There's a fine line between an institution that aims to edify the public and one that merely uses tax dollars to subsidize the the recreational habits of bookworms.
Fairfax County may think that condemning a few dusty old tomes allows it to keep up with the times. But perhaps it it's inadvertently highlighting the fact that libraries themselves are becoming outmoded.
There was a time when virtually every library was a cultural repository holding priceless volumes. Imagine how much richer our historical and and literary record would be if a single library full of unique volumes had survived to our present day."
Mr. Miller says that the bottom line is that it has never been easier or cheaper to read a book and the cost of reading will get cheaper. If public libraries attempt to compete in this environment they will be increasingly be sen as welfare programs for the middle-class readers who would rather borrow Nelson DeMille's newest potboiler than spend a few dollars at their local Walmart or used book store.
The reality is that readers have never enjoyed a bigger market for books. They can download audiobooks to their MP3 players and listen to them anytime. Companies such as Google, Amazon (Kindle) and Microsoft are making material available to anyone with a computer and browser.
A used computer can be bought at the recycling center at 401 Rock Island for a little as $25 and free training. Check it out. I understand that's where many residents of PHA get their computers and training.
Miller continues "that instead of embracing this doomed model, libraries might seek to differentiate themselves among the many options readers now have, using a good dictionary as a model. Such a dictionary doesn't merely describe the words of a language-it provides proper spelling, pronunciation and usage. New words come in and old ones go out, but a foundation of linguistic and coherence has been laid. Likewise, libraries should seek to shore up the culture against the eroding force of trends.
This particular task will fall upon the shoulders of individual librarians who should welcome the opportunity to discriminate between the good and the bad, the timeless and ephemeral, as librarians have traditionally done They ought to regard themselves a teachers, adviser's and guardians of an intellectual inheritance.
the alternate is to morph into clerks who fill their shelves with whatever their customer wants, much as stock boys and girls at grocery stores do.
Good luck in finding Chrisopher Marlowes "Doctor Faustus" that has survived for more than four centuries but apparently hasn't been checked out at Fairfax library in two years.
After listening, reading, evaluating and seeing, I still contend the $35 million library request is mainly about computers, bricks and mortar and ego's. Meeting rooms abound throughout the community especially in our public schools. If the boys and Girls Club can use Trewyn School(they do now that the Grinnell location has been closed over a year) for free after hours, so can any other public body.
Sorry, I say they could use more money with better management and oversight of all financial transactions by an oversight committee of two or three councilpeople with a eye especially on the use of library credit cards.
Mr. Miller raises a fundamental question: What are libraries for? Are they cultural warehouses that contain the best that has been thought or said? There's a fine line between an institution that aims to edify the public and one that merely uses tax dollars to subsidize the the recreational habits of bookworms.
Fairfax County may think that condemning a few dusty old tomes allows it to keep up with the times. But perhaps it it's inadvertently highlighting the fact that libraries themselves are becoming outmoded.
There was a time when virtually every library was a cultural repository holding priceless volumes. Imagine how much richer our historical and and literary record would be if a single library full of unique volumes had survived to our present day."
Mr. Miller says that the bottom line is that it has never been easier or cheaper to read a book and the cost of reading will get cheaper. If public libraries attempt to compete in this environment they will be increasingly be sen as welfare programs for the middle-class readers who would rather borrow Nelson DeMille's newest potboiler than spend a few dollars at their local Walmart or used book store.
The reality is that readers have never enjoyed a bigger market for books. They can download audiobooks to their MP3 players and listen to them anytime. Companies such as Google, Amazon (Kindle) and Microsoft are making material available to anyone with a computer and browser.
A used computer can be bought at the recycling center at 401 Rock Island for a little as $25 and free training. Check it out. I understand that's where many residents of PHA get their computers and training.
Miller continues "that instead of embracing this doomed model, libraries might seek to differentiate themselves among the many options readers now have, using a good dictionary as a model. Such a dictionary doesn't merely describe the words of a language-it provides proper spelling, pronunciation and usage. New words come in and old ones go out, but a foundation of linguistic and coherence has been laid. Likewise, libraries should seek to shore up the culture against the eroding force of trends.
This particular task will fall upon the shoulders of individual librarians who should welcome the opportunity to discriminate between the good and the bad, the timeless and ephemeral, as librarians have traditionally done They ought to regard themselves a teachers, adviser's and guardians of an intellectual inheritance.
the alternate is to morph into clerks who fill their shelves with whatever their customer wants, much as stock boys and girls at grocery stores do.
Good luck in finding Chrisopher Marlowes "Doctor Faustus" that has survived for more than four centuries but apparently hasn't been checked out at Fairfax library in two years.
After listening, reading, evaluating and seeing, I still contend the $35 million library request is mainly about computers, bricks and mortar and ego's. Meeting rooms abound throughout the community especially in our public schools. If the boys and Girls Club can use Trewyn School(they do now that the Grinnell location has been closed over a year) for free after hours, so can any other public body.
Sorry, I say they could use more money with better management and oversight of all financial transactions by an oversight committee of two or three councilpeople with a eye especially on the use of library credit cards.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Edward Szynaka - Peoria Public Library Director
This information was taken from the blog sites of the Peoria Pundit "History shows library expansion needs strict oversight" June 26, 2007, and the Peoria Chronicle "Shenanigans at the Peoria Library Board", June 25, 2007.
"Leading the charge for the passage of the advisory referendum (cost of the referendum, $100,000 dollars, $20,000 from the Caterpillar Foundation), was Mr. Szynaka who was appointed to the post in August 2006. Mr. Szynaka had been fired from his previous job. (Prior to that he had a management position in a Library system in Pasadena, California.) Voters might have like to have known about Mr. Szynaka's record from Indiana where he was in charge (in the beginning, at least) of a similar expansion project for the Marion County Library in Indianapolis. One of the first things he started work on here in Peoria was getting money to expand the library facilities, considered by many--especially the Peoria Journal Star--to be inadequate.
When asked, Peoria library board members said that they were aware of Szynaka's history, but considered it to just a case of politics being played by Republicans on the library board (Szynaka apparently is a Democrat). It seems to be a bit more complicated than that, and it doesn't explain other questions.
On it's Website, the Indianapolis Star still runs (ran) a multi-part series detailing how a modest renovation and parking project mushroomed into a $100,000,000.00 project that is still being plagued with cost overruns and questionable spending, including more than $60,000 on Szynaka's credit card that were never explained. Most of the libraries snafus are generally blamed on the contractors and other personnel hired by the board while Szynaka was still CEO.
From the Website of the Indiania Attorney General's office; "Nearly $60,000 has been returned to the Indianapolis/Marion County Public Library's operating budget since a state audit revealed misappropriated public funds. A final check of $22,446.00 has been received to cover the audit charges against former Chief Executive Office Ed Szynaka for questionable purchases and charges on the Library credit card.
We have worked with all parties involved to recover the thousands of dollars inappropriately depleted from the public library's operating budget without the added expenditure of litigation for taxpayer, Attorney General Carter said."
A State Board of Accounts revealed $21,372 in unallowable credit card charges paid from the library's operating budget. Former CEO Ed Szynaka was charged individually with making inappropriate charges of $23,766.00. The SBOA also charged the library for audit costs and referred the case to the attorney generals office for collection."
The Peoria Pundit continues "If there are library employees here in Peoria who are upset at Mr. Szynaka's management style, they are well-advised to keep their opinions to themselves. Back in Indiana, Szynaka was able to talk his board into firing a long-time library employee because she was critical of the the changes made there similar to the changes he wants to make here in Peoria. Minutes of that library board meeting are available in PDF format."
I have written many blogs related to this $35 million dollar property taxes funded drive and have questioned the whys of the need of 30,000 square feet of new space on the North side where I live. I have the availability of the Peoria Heights underutilized Library, the busy but not overcrowded Lakeview Library; I have visited Lakeview approximately 100 times in the last 52 weeks, and had the self check out machines been working, I would never had to stand in line more than a couple of minutes. The claim is that Lakeview is overcrowded yet the library has over 1000 linear feet of unused shelves. Stacks could be taken down to accommodate more computers.
Library users who live north and west of me (Edgewild) have the use of the large Dunlap Library. Many of the residents of the North side send their kids to Dunlap schools and the growth has resulted in new schools all of which have libraries. (All schools have libraries).
All libraries within 25 miles of Peoria accept Peoria Public Library cards at no charge. You can return any item checked out of any local library at any of these area libraries.
All library people I have ever asked for help are courteous and most could use more help and more pay.
"Leading the charge for the passage of the advisory referendum (cost of the referendum, $100,000 dollars, $20,000 from the Caterpillar Foundation), was Mr. Szynaka who was appointed to the post in August 2006. Mr. Szynaka had been fired from his previous job. (Prior to that he had a management position in a Library system in Pasadena, California.) Voters might have like to have known about Mr. Szynaka's record from Indiana where he was in charge (in the beginning, at least) of a similar expansion project for the Marion County Library in Indianapolis. One of the first things he started work on here in Peoria was getting money to expand the library facilities, considered by many--especially the Peoria Journal Star--to be inadequate.
When asked, Peoria library board members said that they were aware of Szynaka's history, but considered it to just a case of politics being played by Republicans on the library board (Szynaka apparently is a Democrat). It seems to be a bit more complicated than that, and it doesn't explain other questions.
On it's Website, the Indianapolis Star still runs (ran) a multi-part series detailing how a modest renovation and parking project mushroomed into a $100,000,000.00 project that is still being plagued with cost overruns and questionable spending, including more than $60,000 on Szynaka's credit card that were never explained. Most of the libraries snafus are generally blamed on the contractors and other personnel hired by the board while Szynaka was still CEO.
From the Website of the Indiania Attorney General's office; "Nearly $60,000 has been returned to the Indianapolis/Marion County Public Library's operating budget since a state audit revealed misappropriated public funds. A final check of $22,446.00 has been received to cover the audit charges against former Chief Executive Office Ed Szynaka for questionable purchases and charges on the Library credit card.
We have worked with all parties involved to recover the thousands of dollars inappropriately depleted from the public library's operating budget without the added expenditure of litigation for taxpayer, Attorney General Carter said."
A State Board of Accounts revealed $21,372 in unallowable credit card charges paid from the library's operating budget. Former CEO Ed Szynaka was charged individually with making inappropriate charges of $23,766.00. The SBOA also charged the library for audit costs and referred the case to the attorney generals office for collection."
The Peoria Pundit continues "If there are library employees here in Peoria who are upset at Mr. Szynaka's management style, they are well-advised to keep their opinions to themselves. Back in Indiana, Szynaka was able to talk his board into firing a long-time library employee because she was critical of the the changes made there similar to the changes he wants to make here in Peoria. Minutes of that library board meeting are available in PDF format."
I have written many blogs related to this $35 million dollar property taxes funded drive and have questioned the whys of the need of 30,000 square feet of new space on the North side where I live. I have the availability of the Peoria Heights underutilized Library, the busy but not overcrowded Lakeview Library; I have visited Lakeview approximately 100 times in the last 52 weeks, and had the self check out machines been working, I would never had to stand in line more than a couple of minutes. The claim is that Lakeview is overcrowded yet the library has over 1000 linear feet of unused shelves. Stacks could be taken down to accommodate more computers.
Library users who live north and west of me (Edgewild) have the use of the large Dunlap Library. Many of the residents of the North side send their kids to Dunlap schools and the growth has resulted in new schools all of which have libraries. (All schools have libraries).
All libraries within 25 miles of Peoria accept Peoria Public Library cards at no charge. You can return any item checked out of any local library at any of these area libraries.
All library people I have ever asked for help are courteous and most could use more help and more pay.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Smaller, Less Intrusive Government
Former Presidential candidate Fred Thompson is quoted in the WSJ as follows:
Conservatism is alive and well in America; don't let anyone tell you differently. And by conservatism, I don't mean the warmed-over "raise your hand if you believe..." kind of conservatism we see blooming every election cycle. No, I'm speaking of the conservatism grounded in principles based on enduring truths; an understanding of the importance of human nature in the affairs of individuals and nations. Respect for the lessons of history, the importance of faith and tradition. The understanding that while man is prone to err, he (she) is capable of great things when not subjugated by a too-powerful government."
Well, Fred, spoken like a politician. This is what I would like to believe but so many contradictions arise daily that I question how alive the conservatism I believe in is fairing.
Conservatism is alive and well in America; don't let anyone tell you differently. And by conservatism, I don't mean the warmed-over "raise your hand if you believe..." kind of conservatism we see blooming every election cycle. No, I'm speaking of the conservatism grounded in principles based on enduring truths; an understanding of the importance of human nature in the affairs of individuals and nations. Respect for the lessons of history, the importance of faith and tradition. The understanding that while man is prone to err, he (she) is capable of great things when not subjugated by a too-powerful government."
Well, Fred, spoken like a politician. This is what I would like to believe but so many contradictions arise daily that I question how alive the conservatism I believe in is fairing.
County Health Department Administrator Announces Resignation
In a letter dated May 22,2008 addressed to Dr. Steve Roehm, Board Chair of the County Health Department, Peoria County Health Department Administrator, Andrea Parker announces she has taken a position as IDPH Peoria Regional Health Officer effective July 31, 2008.
County Board members received this information from the County Board Administration this A.M.
County Board members received this information from the County Board Administration this A.M.
Obama Facts?
Truth seekers are welcome to refute any information contained on this site.
Edmund Burke said it another way: “All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in this world is for enough good men to do nothing.”
All text and attachments are checked by McAfee ViruScan
Barak Obama - 50 Lies and Counting: Posted on Political forum.com - Elections and Campaigns .Share with friends
1.) Selma Got Me Born - LIAR, your parents felt safe enough to have you in 1961 - Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965.
2.) Father Was A Goat Herder - LIAR, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.
3.) Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter - LIAR, he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had
4.) My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom - LIAR, your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007, in Kenya . It is the first widespread violence in decades.
5.) My Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian - LIAR, she does her daily Salat prayers at 5am according to her own interviews. Not to mention, Christianity wouldn't allow her to have been one of 14 wives to 1 man.
6.) My Name is African Swahili - LIAR, your name is Arabic and Baraka (from which Barack came) means blessed in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama.
7.) I Never Practiced Islam - LIAR, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years,until your wife made you change, so you could run for office.
8.) My School In Indonesia Was Christian - LIAR, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check your own book).
9.) I Was Fluent In Indonesian - LIAR, not one teacher says you could speak the language.
10.) Because I Lived In Indonesia , I Have More Foreign Experience - LIAR, you were there from the ages of 6 to 10, and couldn't even speak the language. What did you learn? How to study the Koran and watch cartoons.
11.) I Am Stronger On Foreign Affairs - LIAR, except for Africa (surprise) and the Middle East (bigger surprise), you have never been anywhere else on the planet and thus have NO experience with our closest allies.
12.) I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion - LIAR, you were quite content in high school to be Barry Obama, no mention of Kenya and no mention of struggle to identify - your classmates said you were just fine.
13.)An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office - LIAR, Ebony has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.
14.) A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life - LIAR, Life has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.
15.) I Won't Run On A National Ticket In '08 - LIAR, here you are, despite saying, live on TV, that you would not have enough experience by then, and you are all about having experience first.
16.) Present Votes Are Common In Illinois - LIAR, they are common for YOU, but not many others have 130 NO VOTES.
17.) Oops, I Misvoted - LIAR, only when caught by church groups and democrats, did you beg to change your misvote.
18.) I Was A Professor Of Law - LIAR, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.
19.) I Was A Constitutional Lawyer - LIAR, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.
20..) Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill - LIAR, you didn't write it,introduce it, change it, or create it.
21.) The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass - LIAR, it took just 14 days from start to finish.
22.) I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill - LIAR, your bill was rejected by your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation - mainly because of your Nuclear Donor, Exelon, from which David Axelrod came.
23.) I Have Released My State Records - LIAR, as of March, 2008, state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing all the special interests pork hidden within.
24.) I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess - LIAR, you were just part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens . You failed to mention anyone else but yourself, in your books.
25.) My Economics Bill Will Help America - LIAR, your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0, and even YOU voted against your own bill.
26.) I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois - LIAR, even your own supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part.
27.) I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year - LIAR, they were not YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.
28.) No one in my campaign contacted Canada about NAFTA - LIAR, the Canadian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign had with them.
29.) I Am Tough On Terrorism - LIAR, you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction of Israel
30.) I Am Not Acting As President Yet - LIAR, after the NAFTA Memo, a dead terrorist in the FARC in Colombia, was found with a letter stating how you and he were working together on getting FARC recognized officially.
31..) I Didn't Run Ads In Florida - LIAR, you allowed national ads to run 8-12 times per day for two weeks - and you still lost.
32.) I Won Michigan - LIAR, no you didn't.
33.) I won Nevada - LIAR, no you did not.
34.) I Want All Votes To Count - LIAR, you said let the delegates decide.
35.) I Want Americans To Decide - LIAR, you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and only operate during small windows of time.
36.) I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate - LIAR, you passed 26, most of which you didn't write yourself.
37.) My Campaign Was Extorted By A Friend - LIAR, that friend is threatening to sue if you do not stop saying this. Obama has stopped saying this.
38.) I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics - LIAR, you used tactics to eliminate Alice Palmer from running against you.
39.) I Don't Take PAC Money - LIAR, you take loads of it.
40.) I don't Have Lobbyists - LIAR, you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting..
41..) My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad - LIAR, your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon.
42.) My Campaign Never Took Over MySpace - LIAR, Tom, who started MySpace issued a warning about this advertising to MySpace clients.
43.) I Inspire People With My Words - LIAR, you inspire people with other people's words.
44.) I Have Passed Bills In The U.S. Senate - LIAR, you have passed one BILL in the U.S. Senate - for Africa , which shows YOUR priorities.
45.) I Have Always Been Against Iraq War- LIAR, you weren't in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time, unlike Kucinich, who seems to be out gutting you Obama. You also seem to be stepping back from your departure date - AGAIN.
46.) I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care - LIAR, your plan leaves us all to pay the 15,000,000 who don't have to buy it.
47.) I Only Found Out About My Investment Conflicts Via Mail - LIAR, both companies you site as having sent you letters about this conflict have no record of any such letter ever being created or sent.
48.) I Am As Patriotic As Anyone - LIAR, you won't wear a flag pin and you don't put your hand over your heart during the Anthem.
49.) My Wife Didn't Mean What She Said About Pride In Country - LIAR, your wife's words follow lock-step in the vain of Wright and Farrakhan, in relation to their contempt and hatred of America .
50.) Wal-Mart Is A Company I Wouldn't Support - LIAR, your wife has received nearly a quarter of a million dollars through Treehouse, which is connected to Wal-Mart.
Edmund Burke said it another way: “All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in this world is for enough good men to do nothing.”
All text and attachments are checked by McAfee ViruScan
Barak Obama - 50 Lies and Counting: Posted on Political forum.com - Elections and Campaigns .Share with friends
1.) Selma Got Me Born - LIAR, your parents felt safe enough to have you in 1961 - Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965.
2.) Father Was A Goat Herder - LIAR, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.
3.) Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter - LIAR, he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had
4.) My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom - LIAR, your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007, in Kenya . It is the first widespread violence in decades.
5.) My Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian - LIAR, she does her daily Salat prayers at 5am according to her own interviews. Not to mention, Christianity wouldn't allow her to have been one of 14 wives to 1 man.
6.) My Name is African Swahili - LIAR, your name is Arabic and Baraka (from which Barack came) means blessed in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama.
7.) I Never Practiced Islam - LIAR, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years,until your wife made you change, so you could run for office.
8.) My School In Indonesia Was Christian - LIAR, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check your own book).
9.) I Was Fluent In Indonesian - LIAR, not one teacher says you could speak the language.
10.) Because I Lived In Indonesia , I Have More Foreign Experience - LIAR, you were there from the ages of 6 to 10, and couldn't even speak the language. What did you learn? How to study the Koran and watch cartoons.
11.) I Am Stronger On Foreign Affairs - LIAR, except for Africa (surprise) and the Middle East (bigger surprise), you have never been anywhere else on the planet and thus have NO experience with our closest allies.
12.) I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion - LIAR, you were quite content in high school to be Barry Obama, no mention of Kenya and no mention of struggle to identify - your classmates said you were just fine.
13.)An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office - LIAR, Ebony has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.
14.) A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life - LIAR, Life has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.
15.) I Won't Run On A National Ticket In '08 - LIAR, here you are, despite saying, live on TV, that you would not have enough experience by then, and you are all about having experience first.
16.) Present Votes Are Common In Illinois - LIAR, they are common for YOU, but not many others have 130 NO VOTES.
17.) Oops, I Misvoted - LIAR, only when caught by church groups and democrats, did you beg to change your misvote.
18.) I Was A Professor Of Law - LIAR, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.
19.) I Was A Constitutional Lawyer - LIAR, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.
20..) Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill - LIAR, you didn't write it,introduce it, change it, or create it.
21.) The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass - LIAR, it took just 14 days from start to finish.
22.) I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill - LIAR, your bill was rejected by your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation - mainly because of your Nuclear Donor, Exelon, from which David Axelrod came.
23.) I Have Released My State Records - LIAR, as of March, 2008, state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing all the special interests pork hidden within.
24.) I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess - LIAR, you were just part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens . You failed to mention anyone else but yourself, in your books.
25.) My Economics Bill Will Help America - LIAR, your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0, and even YOU voted against your own bill.
26.) I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois - LIAR, even your own supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part.
27.) I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year - LIAR, they were not YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.
28.) No one in my campaign contacted Canada about NAFTA - LIAR, the Canadian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign had with them.
29.) I Am Tough On Terrorism - LIAR, you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction of Israel
30.) I Am Not Acting As President Yet - LIAR, after the NAFTA Memo, a dead terrorist in the FARC in Colombia, was found with a letter stating how you and he were working together on getting FARC recognized officially.
31..) I Didn't Run Ads In Florida - LIAR, you allowed national ads to run 8-12 times per day for two weeks - and you still lost.
32.) I Won Michigan - LIAR, no you didn't.
33.) I won Nevada - LIAR, no you did not.
34.) I Want All Votes To Count - LIAR, you said let the delegates decide.
35.) I Want Americans To Decide - LIAR, you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and only operate during small windows of time.
36.) I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate - LIAR, you passed 26, most of which you didn't write yourself.
37.) My Campaign Was Extorted By A Friend - LIAR, that friend is threatening to sue if you do not stop saying this. Obama has stopped saying this.
38.) I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics - LIAR, you used tactics to eliminate Alice Palmer from running against you.
39.) I Don't Take PAC Money - LIAR, you take loads of it.
40.) I don't Have Lobbyists - LIAR, you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting..
41..) My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad - LIAR, your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon.
42.) My Campaign Never Took Over MySpace - LIAR, Tom, who started MySpace issued a warning about this advertising to MySpace clients.
43.) I Inspire People With My Words - LIAR, you inspire people with other people's words.
44.) I Have Passed Bills In The U.S. Senate - LIAR, you have passed one BILL in the U.S. Senate - for Africa , which shows YOUR priorities.
45.) I Have Always Been Against Iraq War- LIAR, you weren't in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time, unlike Kucinich, who seems to be out gutting you Obama. You also seem to be stepping back from your departure date - AGAIN.
46.) I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care - LIAR, your plan leaves us all to pay the 15,000,000 who don't have to buy it.
47.) I Only Found Out About My Investment Conflicts Via Mail - LIAR, both companies you site as having sent you letters about this conflict have no record of any such letter ever being created or sent.
48.) I Am As Patriotic As Anyone - LIAR, you won't wear a flag pin and you don't put your hand over your heart during the Anthem.
49.) My Wife Didn't Mean What She Said About Pride In Country - LIAR, your wife's words follow lock-step in the vain of Wright and Farrakhan, in relation to their contempt and hatred of America .
50.) Wal-Mart Is A Company I Wouldn't Support - LIAR, your wife has received nearly a quarter of a million dollars through Treehouse, which is connected to Wal-Mart.
Peoria City Council Please Note
The Wall Street Journal reported today that Barnes and Noble, America's leading book retail bookseller reported a wider first quarter net loss, cut its sales forecast and said its same store sales fell 1.5%. Barnes and Noble now predicts sales to be slightly lower instead of slightly positive for the year.
The company is still considering buying the failing Borders Bookseller whose shares are trading this morning at $6.93 down from a 52 weeks high of $24.15. Barnes and Noble shares fell today to $28.75 from a 52 week high of $43.90.
These books stores are multi-purpose stores similar to the type of library you are being asked to expand by $35,000,000.00.
Peoria has much higher priorities on which to spend this money. You are already funding our libraries at over $11,000,000.00 a year while nearby Peoria Heights and Dunlap Libraries are under used. Both within easy driving distance of North Peorians.
With some small revisions, the Peoria area would be over served by libraries. Stacks of unused books can be taken down and this space used for additional computers although more and more people are able to use digital systems to access information at their homes.
Studies show that poorer people use libraries less than the more affluent. Same as in our public school systems.
The company is still considering buying the failing Borders Bookseller whose shares are trading this morning at $6.93 down from a 52 weeks high of $24.15. Barnes and Noble shares fell today to $28.75 from a 52 week high of $43.90.
These books stores are multi-purpose stores similar to the type of library you are being asked to expand by $35,000,000.00.
Peoria has much higher priorities on which to spend this money. You are already funding our libraries at over $11,000,000.00 a year while nearby Peoria Heights and Dunlap Libraries are under used. Both within easy driving distance of North Peorians.
With some small revisions, the Peoria area would be over served by libraries. Stacks of unused books can be taken down and this space used for additional computers although more and more people are able to use digital systems to access information at their homes.
Studies show that poorer people use libraries less than the more affluent. Same as in our public school systems.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Libraries and Booksellers vs. Digital
"Aristotle lived during the era when the written word started displacement of the oral tradition, becoming the first to explain that how we communicate alters what we communicate. That's for sure. Now we are early in an era where digital rhetoric is replacing the more traditional written word. Ir's already an open question whether constant email and multitasking leaves us overloaded humans with the capability to handle longer-form writing." (Think books)
This article in the WSJ continues, "To expect future generations to be satisfied with printed books is like expecting Blackberry users of today to communicate by writing letters, stuffing envelopes and licking stamps."
Forty years ago we were warned that electric technology is within the gates and we are numb, dumb, deaf, blind and mute about its encounter with the Gutenberg technology on and through which the American way of life was formed.
Digitized words can be spread at low cost in newly interactive ways. Amazons Kindle, now on the market can deliver 100,000 books wireless in less than a minute whether you are in the back of a taxi, at the airport, driving, or resting in bed.
The libraries being proposed for Peoria will be obsolete before they are built. Plus they will be in almost direct competition with Barnes and Noble and Borders. Barnes and Noble closed today on the NYSE at $29.87 down from $43.90 a year ago and Borders closed at $6.99 down from $24.16 a year ago. Borders is struggling so bad that the WSJ says there is dialogue between the two for Borders to be taken over by Barnes and Noble. "Barnes and Noble Studies Bid for Border" in today's WSJ.
Doesn't speak well for these tax paying multi-purpose "libraries" does it?
There will always be a need for printed media but the use of printed media is shrinking in useage. What we are planning is in direct competition of the tax-paying private sector with easy chairs, food and drink, meeting rooms, printed media, digital that will soon not need a "library" to access and unsupervised computers. Plus a few thousand linear feet of almost obsolete "reference books".
I remind you that not one high school principal, high school librarian or Mary Ward, Director of Peoria Public School Library and Technology Center, were consulted as to what they see in the way kids are using libraries now or how they might use them in the future.
How do I know this? I asked them.
Hmmmmmmm.
This article in the WSJ continues, "To expect future generations to be satisfied with printed books is like expecting Blackberry users of today to communicate by writing letters, stuffing envelopes and licking stamps."
Forty years ago we were warned that electric technology is within the gates and we are numb, dumb, deaf, blind and mute about its encounter with the Gutenberg technology on and through which the American way of life was formed.
Digitized words can be spread at low cost in newly interactive ways. Amazons Kindle, now on the market can deliver 100,000 books wireless in less than a minute whether you are in the back of a taxi, at the airport, driving, or resting in bed.
The libraries being proposed for Peoria will be obsolete before they are built. Plus they will be in almost direct competition with Barnes and Noble and Borders. Barnes and Noble closed today on the NYSE at $29.87 down from $43.90 a year ago and Borders closed at $6.99 down from $24.16 a year ago. Borders is struggling so bad that the WSJ says there is dialogue between the two for Borders to be taken over by Barnes and Noble. "Barnes and Noble Studies Bid for Border" in today's WSJ.
Doesn't speak well for these tax paying multi-purpose "libraries" does it?
There will always be a need for printed media but the use of printed media is shrinking in useage. What we are planning is in direct competition of the tax-paying private sector with easy chairs, food and drink, meeting rooms, printed media, digital that will soon not need a "library" to access and unsupervised computers. Plus a few thousand linear feet of almost obsolete "reference books".
I remind you that not one high school principal, high school librarian or Mary Ward, Director of Peoria Public School Library and Technology Center, were consulted as to what they see in the way kids are using libraries now or how they might use them in the future.
How do I know this? I asked them.
Hmmmmmmm.
Library's Unlikely Advocate: Sandberg
According to JS reporter, Scott Hilyard. Not unlikely at all. The $35 million dollar library "keeping up with the Joneses" project will cost property tax payers in Peoria over $2,000,000.00 a year thru approximately 2036. All from property taxes. Mr. Sandberg's property tax bill for 2007 is $403.12 TOTAL. Out of this amount his bill includes $16.50 for library tax. As an example I will pay $271.00 library taxes for 2007 and after the library bonds are sold I will pay an additional approximately $104 per year for 30 years. Mr. Sandberg will pay an additional $5 a year.
While Mr. Sandberg has invited me to move to his neighborhood where taxes are minimal, that has nothing to do with the use of libraries. Any person of any income, ethnic, gender, age or adjacent counties can use the library. Mr. Sandberg has the use of approsimately 30 libraries in the area for $16.50
Many of the people who voted yes to spend $35 million and counting when you add overhead, do not pay homeowners property taxes or minimal amounts as does Mr. Sandberg.
Surprise,Mr. Hilyard, i think not.
While Mr. Sandberg has invited me to move to his neighborhood where taxes are minimal, that has nothing to do with the use of libraries. Any person of any income, ethnic, gender, age or adjacent counties can use the library. Mr. Sandberg has the use of approsimately 30 libraries in the area for $16.50
Many of the people who voted yes to spend $35 million and counting when you add overhead, do not pay homeowners property taxes or minimal amounts as does Mr. Sandberg.
Surprise,Mr. Hilyard, i think not.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Pacific Institute and Education
I attended the hyped visit by Lou Tice of The Pacific Institute at the Civic Center Thursday. Mr. Tice addressed approximately 3000 community leaders, the vast majority of them from District #150. I'm not sure what I was expecting but Dr. Fischer, Associate Superintendent of Peoria Public School District #150, summed it up in a handout at the event titled, "I'magine: Setting the Foundation for Excellence". Dr. Fischer wrote "Lou Tice was compelled by the courage and the passion of Peoria educators and the community, to share with us a tool; that will give us an opportunity to look at how we can change. It's a tremendous responsibility for each of us, to hold ourselves accountable for what we say, how we say it, and the impact our words have on our children, spouses, parents, and our peers. Are you willing to accept this change?"
Wow; what an exciting and NEW MESSAGE! I THOUGHT THAT ANYONE WHO ENTERED THE PROFESSION OF TEACHING OTHERS WAS TO BE A POSITIVE PERSON, WHO ALWAYS TRIES TO GET KIDS TO BE THE "BEST THAT THEY CAN BE", SETTING HIGH EXPECTATIONS, PATTING KIDS ON THEIR BACKS (LITERALLY) like as in "self esteem" AND TO HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS; COMMUNITY, TEACHERS, PARENTS, KIDS AND ADMINISTRATION.
While we all should know by now "there is no free lunch", we don't, this was no freebie as touted. Lou Tice, a personality, spell-binder, story teller and actor was not here out of the goodness of his heart but to "sell" the services to teachers and administrators of K-12 kids.
Dr. Fischer continues, "Our Administration has applications available for each school interested in participating in Pacific Institute. Schools will be selected based on commitment and available funding. See your building principal for more information."
Money for the district should be no problem. After all, they own expensive property around town such as on Prospect, they are getting ready to spend as much as $123 million over the next few years for new schools, etc. They have a yearly budget of over $163 million and growing rapidly.
Joe Markum, Caterpillar Manager and Pacific Institute Facilitator, said the the "training has allowed his family to dream bigger, make bigger vacation plans, set and reach higher goals". He says, "Every night before bed, I sit down with my kids and ask what the best thing that happened to you today. What are you looking forward to tomorrow, as opposed to talking about a bad grade they got or something else. I try to get them going to bed thinking about something positive for the next day".
Probably pretty typical of most kids today especially after they reach the age of fourteen. Wouldn't you say?
If I ever come back in another life, I hope to be a consultant especially in the public sector. That's where the big bucks are; you get to travel, smooch with all kinds of "important" people, live in an "ivory tower", eat high off the hog and get a lot of publicity. And afford a staff to do all the work.
With all the high paid administration; one retiring soon just bought a $450,000 house, with all the retired talent in Peoria who mostly work for nothing, why do we continually bring in highly paid consultants and "experts" charging us to tell us what we already know including thinking "outside the box" which is so old it has long been a cliche.
District #150 current Vision Statement says "We take pride in educating and graduating each student prepared and inspired to contribute to the world".
And try as hard as they might, Caterpillar elite do not understand an archaic public school system with 7 unpaid board members and a bevy of Superintendent's managing an $163 million budget.
Hmmmmmm.
Wow; what an exciting and NEW MESSAGE! I THOUGHT THAT ANYONE WHO ENTERED THE PROFESSION OF TEACHING OTHERS WAS TO BE A POSITIVE PERSON, WHO ALWAYS TRIES TO GET KIDS TO BE THE "BEST THAT THEY CAN BE", SETTING HIGH EXPECTATIONS, PATTING KIDS ON THEIR BACKS (LITERALLY) like as in "self esteem" AND TO HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS; COMMUNITY, TEACHERS, PARENTS, KIDS AND ADMINISTRATION.
While we all should know by now "there is no free lunch", we don't, this was no freebie as touted. Lou Tice, a personality, spell-binder, story teller and actor was not here out of the goodness of his heart but to "sell" the services to teachers and administrators of K-12 kids.
Dr. Fischer continues, "Our Administration has applications available for each school interested in participating in Pacific Institute. Schools will be selected based on commitment and available funding. See your building principal for more information."
Money for the district should be no problem. After all, they own expensive property around town such as on Prospect, they are getting ready to spend as much as $123 million over the next few years for new schools, etc. They have a yearly budget of over $163 million and growing rapidly.
Joe Markum, Caterpillar Manager and Pacific Institute Facilitator, said the the "training has allowed his family to dream bigger, make bigger vacation plans, set and reach higher goals". He says, "Every night before bed, I sit down with my kids and ask what the best thing that happened to you today. What are you looking forward to tomorrow, as opposed to talking about a bad grade they got or something else. I try to get them going to bed thinking about something positive for the next day".
Probably pretty typical of most kids today especially after they reach the age of fourteen. Wouldn't you say?
If I ever come back in another life, I hope to be a consultant especially in the public sector. That's where the big bucks are; you get to travel, smooch with all kinds of "important" people, live in an "ivory tower", eat high off the hog and get a lot of publicity. And afford a staff to do all the work.
With all the high paid administration; one retiring soon just bought a $450,000 house, with all the retired talent in Peoria who mostly work for nothing, why do we continually bring in highly paid consultants and "experts" charging us to tell us what we already know including thinking "outside the box" which is so old it has long been a cliche.
District #150 current Vision Statement says "We take pride in educating and graduating each student prepared and inspired to contribute to the world".
And try as hard as they might, Caterpillar elite do not understand an archaic public school system with 7 unpaid board members and a bevy of Superintendent's managing an $163 million budget.
Hmmmmmm.
How Big Brother Stole the American Spirit
"Who stole the American Spirit, ask Gary D. Jones of Belvidere, Il., in a letter to the editors of the WSJ. No one, he says. "Many Americans have chosen to abandon it in favor of blind faith in government solutions. They seem to have forgotten (some never new about "spirit")that the government got it's strength from the people, not the other way around".
In defense of many of those who are unhappy with what goes on while existing on this sphere; I believe that most of us are unhappy; look at the number of divorces and suicides and drug use (don't forget to count excessive use of alcohol as a drug), at many times during our lives; most of us still do not look for government to do things we should do ourselves. There probably are more crooked citizens than there are corrupt politicians. There probably are as many "tort" capitalists as there are "tort" attorneys. There are as many incompetent people in businesses as there are in the public sector. There are probably as many college graduates disappointed in job offerings existing in their chosen fields when they graduated as there will be this year. There are disappointed people who didn't set a foot in college because they weren't college material or felt they didn't need advanced education.
Hopefully, as in the past, there will be more less unhappy and disappointed people who will help pull this country out of the seduction offered by socialism. These I refer to as the "responsible culture".
I believe people who have climbed on the "change" bandwagon with the "Pied Piper" are down deep as disenchanted with themselves as they are with the Democrat and Republican politicians. They want change but they are expecting someone else to be the "changees". And they aren't sure what it is they want changed unless it gives them more money to spend, now. Who is going to pay for it after they are gone is not their problem.
But it is always easy to pass the blame to government and capitalism. It's becoming harder to accept responsibility. In fact, that is the way many have been brought up and the feeling of less responsibility is accentuated by the liberal medias.
What shocks await people in future years. Those with degrees in psychiatry will flourish.
So sad.
In defense of many of those who are unhappy with what goes on while existing on this sphere; I believe that most of us are unhappy; look at the number of divorces and suicides and drug use (don't forget to count excessive use of alcohol as a drug), at many times during our lives; most of us still do not look for government to do things we should do ourselves. There probably are more crooked citizens than there are corrupt politicians. There probably are as many "tort" capitalists as there are "tort" attorneys. There are as many incompetent people in businesses as there are in the public sector. There are probably as many college graduates disappointed in job offerings existing in their chosen fields when they graduated as there will be this year. There are disappointed people who didn't set a foot in college because they weren't college material or felt they didn't need advanced education.
Hopefully, as in the past, there will be more less unhappy and disappointed people who will help pull this country out of the seduction offered by socialism. These I refer to as the "responsible culture".
I believe people who have climbed on the "change" bandwagon with the "Pied Piper" are down deep as disenchanted with themselves as they are with the Democrat and Republican politicians. They want change but they are expecting someone else to be the "changees". And they aren't sure what it is they want changed unless it gives them more money to spend, now. Who is going to pay for it after they are gone is not their problem.
But it is always easy to pass the blame to government and capitalism. It's becoming harder to accept responsibility. In fact, that is the way many have been brought up and the feeling of less responsibility is accentuated by the liberal medias.
What shocks await people in future years. Those with degrees in psychiatry will flourish.
So sad.
Tyrannical Regimes
From the WSJ: "So it is with China and with tyrannical regimes (such as Myanmar, Sudan, Darfur, Venezuela to name a few): The party is convinced it controls everything. But it is often unexpected events that reveal fault lines in the system, the hypocrisy of public discourse, and the almost unbearable injustices. Even as the people of Sichuan attempt to recover from this deadly quake, we learn that scores of children have died from an epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease that has sickened 10's of thousands. All of this reminds us of panics of recent years provoked by the SARS virus, avian flu and the AIDS epidemic.
Epidemics and natural catastrophe's(or not-so-natural catastrophes,if the Three Gorge Dam should also crumble) are more serious threats to the Communist tyranny than democratic pamphlets disseminated on Web sites. The party has resolved to imprison dissidents. But in the face of viruses, popular beliefs and earthquakes, the parties stand naked." (From the book, "Empire of Lies: The Truth About China in the 21st Century; Sorman).
We have so many previously non-registered or even now not registered to vote citizens complaining about our country and how they hate it like Reverend Wright with his rant "God damn America" (many more might agree) if he had said "God damn some of the leadership of America, both black and white", that I continue to ask them to leave this country and go to places that are all in "harmony" like China, Mexico and Africa.
Why don't they leave? They are socialistic believers with "farts" coming out of the wrong end, irresponsible people looking for big brother to do it all for them. Most believe that the world owes them a living wage, jobs; qualified or not, free health care and same sex marriage, to name a few of their warped desires.
Why leave when they down deep know this is the best country in the world to live. They are unwittingly moving this country down the path to socialism and eventually a tyrannical government they will not like at all. Then it will be too late to leave for "utopia".
Epidemics and natural catastrophe's(or not-so-natural catastrophes,if the Three Gorge Dam should also crumble) are more serious threats to the Communist tyranny than democratic pamphlets disseminated on Web sites. The party has resolved to imprison dissidents. But in the face of viruses, popular beliefs and earthquakes, the parties stand naked." (From the book, "Empire of Lies: The Truth About China in the 21st Century; Sorman).
We have so many previously non-registered or even now not registered to vote citizens complaining about our country and how they hate it like Reverend Wright with his rant "God damn America" (many more might agree) if he had said "God damn some of the leadership of America, both black and white", that I continue to ask them to leave this country and go to places that are all in "harmony" like China, Mexico and Africa.
Why don't they leave? They are socialistic believers with "farts" coming out of the wrong end, irresponsible people looking for big brother to do it all for them. Most believe that the world owes them a living wage, jobs; qualified or not, free health care and same sex marriage, to name a few of their warped desires.
Why leave when they down deep know this is the best country in the world to live. They are unwittingly moving this country down the path to socialism and eventually a tyrannical government they will not like at all. Then it will be too late to leave for "utopia".
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