Roldo Bartimole writes:

You don”t understand the power and cost of small, supposedly inconsequential taxes on “little people” in contrast to taxes that hit the “big people” unless and until you total up the cost. Then only blindness hides the truth.

The latest “little taxes” – on various sales – show that Cuyahoga County has taken $178.9 million out of the pockets of mostly ordinary people. It is to pay for what our corporatist leaders want. At little cost to them, of course.

The quarter-percent sales tax increase voted without the public for the medical mart hit $71.3 million at the end of September. The exact figure: $71,339,247.06. That”s only since January 2008 and during a recession. It”s a 40 year tax! Hold on tight! Continue Reading »

Tuesday evening our Socrates Café met at the Mayfield Road Phoenix Coffee House and the question we pulled from the box was:

Is youth really wasted on the young?

The quote, Youth is wasted on the young, along with a slightly different version, Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children, is attributed to George Bernard Shaw.

In our initial around-the-table responses, there was, in a repeat of last month, an odd unanimity with all but one person (myself) disagreeing with the statement.

Several people detected a bitterness and disapproving judgment in the words and one perceived it as distinctly male and sexual in nature.

The word wasted, in particular, troubled people because of the difficulty of describing a non-wasted life. Several examples of lives not wasted were offered but were discounted because they seemed extreme and problematic due to a perceived imbalance in the those individuals” lives.

From my own perspective, the vitality, virility and verve of life is at best most misused and at worst greatly wasted by the young because time is an as yet unappreciated commodity for those who believe they have limitless quantities of moments. While it is possible for me, now past the half-century mark, to train to run a marathon or to discover a mathematical proof or embark on a career in neuroscience, it is much more difficult to do so now than it would have been at 18.

I am sure that the sentiment did not originate with Shaw. Indeed it may be as enduring as Plato’s complaints concerning the young of his day. If it is always with us, is there an answer?

(Then there’s these kids.)

Roldo Bartimole writes:

Mayor Frank Jackson answered the Pee Dee on criticism of his scholarship program.
Jackson tells Terry Egger, Pee Dee publisher, that he has both his “head and heart” in the right place – together.

Here”s the letter:

October 13, 2009
Mr. Terrance C.Z. Egger
President & Publisher
The Plain Dealer
1801 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Dear Terry:

I hope that you are doing well and want to acknowledge that The Plain Dealer has covered an issue over the past week that is key to the future of Cleveland: education. Based on your coverage, I felt compelled to write you this letter so that I can address statements made in your paper regarding the Cleveland Scholarships for Education and Training program.

First, let me say that these are children, not “drop-outs” as stated in How to reach those who reject our help. It was also stated that our children “squander life and chance.” That statement is applicable to many, including adults. It is particularly applicable to those who have no excuse because life and society have been good to them.

Finally, today”s editorial states, “Mayor Jackson”s heart was in the right place…but his head Continue Reading »

Speaking last night at the Pepper Pike Civic League Candidates and Issues Forum, Jill Miller Zimon said:

My name is Jill Miller Zimon and I”d like to thank the Civic League, residents and fellow candidates for the opportunity to address you. If after I”ve spoken, you have questions or comments, but we run out of time, please visit my website at Zimon For Council or feel free to call or write me.

There is a lot to to be said about a community in which people choose to live, generation after generation. Many Pepper Pike residents are or have been part of such legacies.

But it also says a lot about a community when the community can attract people who otherwise have no roots there. When I moved to Pepper Pike, I was such a person. My husband and I were attracted to Pepper Pike because it was a community that looked to us like a community that cared about it self. Yards with land and trees between the homes and pastoral roads perfect for idyllic autumn drives. Continue Reading »

I could never bring myself to forward all the email jokes, cartoons and other Internet comedy that land in my inbox. But then I started posting the ones my dad sends me. Judging from my comments and emails, my dad has become one of my greatest blogging assets. So for your morning blog chuckle I present: From My Dad.

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

Found in my electronic chapbook.

“Some writing affirmations…” “If I grow quiet, the writing will happen…” “I will grow savage and create whole new worlds…” “I will ask great questions and provide amazing answers…” “To write to improvise. I will become jazz…” “Writing is a way to be fully human…” p. 116

From Living The Writer’s Life: by Eric Maisel.

When thinking about governments that you really don’t want comparing notes, Myanmar and Sudan have to be near the top of the list. What do the governments of an African desert nation and a South Asian tropical nation really have to talk about, the best gaudy uniform tailors? The top ten tactics to consider when conducting a genocide?

From Xinhuanet:

Myanmar and Sudan will work for boosting bilateral ties including mutually-beneficial cooperation and the existing friendly cooperation between the two countries, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Monday.

It was discussed during talks between Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint and his Sudanese counterpart Ali Ahmad Karti who visited Nay Pyi Taw over the past four days.

The two sides agreed to cement the cooperation through such international organizations as the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement.

What about the Axis Of Evil Society or the Dysfunctional Leaders Association?

Roldo Bartimole writes:

Memo to Susan Goldberg, Pee Dee editor: Stop making the news and start reporting it.

Today it was “economic development” again as the Pee Dee attributed nonsensical advantages to Issue 6, which, of course, the Pee Dee strongly backs. It”s a supposed County reform issue that has too many holes in it. Big holes.

Eliminating elective functioning offices – sheriff, treasurer, recorder, and auditor – except the County Prosecutor is an invitation to a king-maker position for Bill Mason, present prosecutor and prime mover of Issue 6. Mason doesn”t deserve the promotion.

It just doesn”t make sense. It isn”t reform. It”s merely change. Not good enough.

Also, will Ms. Goldberg please announced what the final vote total of the Pee Dee editorial board on endorsing Issue 3 favoring monopoly casinos? Let”s have a little of that transparency editors are always talk about. Because I can”t see how the editorial board – knowing its make-up – voted for a monopoly casino issue. I was told the vote was “close.”

I believe Goldberg pulled a Machaskee. If you remember the Pee Dee couldn”t come up with a Presidential endorsement because the board wanted John Kerry but then Publisher Alex Machaskee wanted George Bush. In that contest, nobody won but the Pee Dee lost as it was revealed publicly – and embarrassingly – that the Pee Dee would endorse no one. One publisher trumps the voting board.

So I suspect that Goldberg also trumped the staff.

Anyway, today the Pee Dee gives a major Page One headline for a story that tries to suggest that voting for Issue 6 means you are voting for economic development. Please! There is no substantive evidence that this is true or even near true.

It does, however, give Issue 6 another push. That”s the purpose.

I”m not for either Issue 5 – a dodge engineered by Democrats and Labor – or Issue 6, a choice that EXPANDS not reforms Cuyahoga County government by giving us 11 County Commissioners. Oh, I know they aren”t called Commissioners. But that”s what they”ll think they are.

It is a measure that will end up dividing the county into fiefdoms. That”s something we just don”t need. Can you imagine more than one pompous Tim Hagan?

So remember if you vote YES on 6, no matter what you do with 5, you”re still going to get 11. Eleven new politicians to support. And that”s the truth.

Roldo Bartimole writes:

What do we really know about Dan Gilbert? Not much. But it sounds as if he”s the kind of guy that plays one city off against another for his own benefit.

I think anyone with any sense understands what Gilbert is about.

A columnist in the Detroit News questions Gilbert”s motives about his dedication to Detroit (oh, not Cleveland?).

“Dan Gilbert, the self-proclaimed Detroiter working big plans for his diverse business empire, remains bullish on his hometown,” writes Daniel Howes.

Howes says that Gilbert – who supposedly located a few jobs here – plans to locate his headquarters for Quicken Loans in downtown Detroit, along with other business activities. That”s 2,000 jobs, they say, for Detroit. Continue Reading »

I could never bring myself to forward all the email jokes, cartoons and other Internet comedy that land in my inbox. But then I started posting the ones my dad sends me. Judging from my comments and emails, my dad has become one of my greatest blogging assets. So for your morning blog chuckle I present: From My Dad.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

Found in my electronic chapbook.

“… the writer has another option. They can decide to write back with whole books.” p. 104

From Living The Writer’s Life: by Eric Maisel.

“Oh, it was all a misunderstanding. What we thought was a massive buildup of enemy troops along our border with Myanmar was just normal troop movements. Nothing to see. Move along, move along. And, oh yeah, about that natural gas exploration matter? Let’s talk.” that’s the message from Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni.

From Mizzima:

Bangladesh will hold talks with Burma on the long-standing maritime boundary dispute of its territorial waters in Colombo on Thursday, which has threatened its rights to explore gas in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni will discuss the issue with her Burmese counterpart on the sidelines of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue in Sri Lankan capital Colombo on the day.

“We’re hopeful about the meeting with the Myanmar [Burma] Foreign Minister. We are going to discuss the maritime boundary issue in detail,” Moni told a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka on Sunday.

India has already responded positively to Dhaka’s call to settle the long-standing row over sea territory through negotiations, she added.

Both India and Burma have claimed that Dhaka’s territorial waters overlapped theirs and they have protested Bangladesh’s move to explore gas from the disputed offshore hydrocarbon blocks.

[Snip]

The Foreign Minister also rejected reports that Burma has shored up security along the Bangladeshi border following Dhaka’s declaration that it’s taking both New Delhi and Naypyitaw to a UN tribunal to resolve the contentious maritime boundary issue.

Brinkmanship or bad communications? I can’t tell.

[Update — 1349] 1040: Step away from the computer, Andrew Sullivan – the hissy fit does not become you

Roldo Bartimole writes:

If Dan Gilbert had even a smidgen of real interest in Cleveland and its people he would show it by volunteering to pay property taxes on Quicken Arena.

Don”t make this bet unless you”re on the Pee Dee editorial board.

We are being offered – again – a lot of nonsense about economic development and jobs. This is the corporate and Pee Dee mantra for subsidizing rich people.

So if you want to fatten some fat cats vote for casinos.

“Issue 3 is a gamble. But business as usual will not work for Cleveland or for Ohio,” said the editorial. Issue 3 hands Dan Gilbert a second monopoly in Cleveland. This time a casino that can score more money than LeBron. Continue Reading »

I’ve considered taking part in the National Novel Writing Month — NaNoWriMo for all the insiders — before, but this year I’ve decided to dive in and see what exuberant imperfection can produce.

NaNoWriMo founder Chris Baty encourages a pseudo team approach for the experience, finding other writers taking part who like the idea of gathering together to write in groups.

Here’s what I propose to anyone living in or around Cleveland Heights. If you’re a morning writer like me, bring your laptop to the Phoenix Coffee House on Lee Road and write with me from 6-8 a.m., weekdays (except Thanksgiving and the Friday following) during November.

I’d write there on Saturday and Sunday too, but Phoenix doesn’t open until 7 a.m. on the weekends so I’ll be writing at my home desk on those days.

We’ll begin on Monday, 2 November (and write through to a great finish four weeks later on Monday, 30 November.

For those of you not familiar with NaNoWriMo, this is not a writer’s group. We will not be sharing, critiquing, editing or otherwise doing anything other than writing. Since there’s no verbal interaction, what’s the point? If you’ve ever worked in a newsroom where the sound of keyboards is all around you, you know the energy that comes from knowing that everyone else in the room is pounding out the copy. If you’ve never had that experience, come try it.

Please email me if you’d like to take part at hessAThavecoffeewillwriteDOTcom.

I could never bring myself to forward all the email jokes, cartoons and other Internet comedy that land in my inbox. But then I started posting the ones my dad sends me. Judging from my comments and emails, my dad has become one of my greatest blogging assets. So for your morning blog chuckle I present: From My Dad.

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.