Wednesday, January 28, 2009

No Surprise

From the NY Times:
H.R. 1: Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.

*Voting for passage:
John Boccieri D-OH-16
Steve Driehaus D-OH-1
Marcia Fudge D-OH-11
Marcy Kaptur D-OH-9
Mary Jo Kilroy D-OH-15
Dennis Kucinich D-OH-10
Timothy Ryan D-OH-17
Zack Space D-OH-18
Charles Wilson D-OH-6

>>>Voting against passage:
Steve Austria R-
OH-7
John Boehner R-
OH-8
Jim Jordan R-OH-4
Steven LaTourette R-OH-14
Robert Latta R-OH-5
Jean Schmidt R-OH-2
Patrick Tiberi R-OH-12
Michael Turner R-OH-3

Once again the Ohio Republicans would rather sit by and do nothing while our state continues to lose businesses and jobs. The Republicans continue to push their silly tax cuts for their wealthy friends. On the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC tonight, she quoted a Moody Investor Service study. Here is what was found:
...Each dollar spent on food stamps results in $1.73 in returned economic activity.
Each dollar spent on infrastructure results in $1.54 in returned economic activity.
Each dollar spent on tax cuts results in $1.03 in returned economic activity.
Each dollar spent on corporate tax cuts results in $0.30 in returned economic activity....
(Thirty cents!)

Despite the fact that the Republicans call themselves fiscal conservatives, their numbers just don't add up. Face it. The Republicans keep repeating the same mantra, even though it doesn't work.

If you'd like to contact the Ohio Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives to speak about your disapproval of their vote against the stimulus package, here are their contact numbers in Washington, DC:

Steve Austria (202) 225-4324 ......... Steve LaTourette (202) 225-5731
John Boehner (202) 225-6205 .......... Robert Latta (202) 225-6405
Jim Jordan (202) 225-2676 .......... Jean Schmidt (202) 225-3164

Pat Tiberi (202) 225-5355 ............... Michael Turner (202) 225-5355
Posted by at

Snow, Ice, and Snow

* Central Ohio is currently experiencing a horrible winter storm. We've already had several inches of snow, and we are getting ice on top of the snow. More snow is expected later today. The Ohio State University is closed as well as every school district.

* The Marion Star is reporting that President Obama's proposed stimulus package contains money for fixing schools and providing money for education.

* CNN:
An Ohio man who was suspended as the drum major of a band for giving President Obama a nod during last week's inaugural parade is calling it quits.
John Coleman resigned from the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes & Drums a week after the parade in Washington. Publicity about his suspension had gotten to be too much, he told CNN affiliate WEWS....
...Coleman was seen during the nationally televised January 20 parade nodding toward the new president while marching with the band. A few steps later, he appeared to wave briefly...

Perhaps I don't understand the rules of marching, but I thought he was saluting the President.

* Don't you think it is funny that Rush Limbaugh is against birth control? Aren't you glad that his wives and lovers used birth control? Limbaugh represents old school politics, just like the rest of the old white guy political party of the Republicans.
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Obstacles

President Barack Obama has been in office one week, and yet some Republican "experts" say that he has done nothing. However, just a few of his executive orders involving clean air and lifting the gag order in reproductive matters signals real change.

Republicans are speaking against President Obama's stimulus package. The GOP would rather let the entire country go down the toilet while they pontificate about their same old tax cuts and other such garbage. The Republicans haven't had a fresh idea in decades.

Even during the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt worked to turn things around. However, the Republicans voted against Roosevelt's programs and legislation time and time again. What would have happened if the Republicans would have had their way with Roosevelt's recovery plan?

[Note: Badger Blues has an excellent blog entry about how the Republicans blocked Roosevelt's Social Security plans. Here are some excerpts from Badger Blues:

...It (Social Security) was passed against solid Republican opposition. 99% of the Republicans in the House tried to kill the Social Security Act....

....In 1939, the Democrats proposed extending Social Security benefits to dependents and survivors of retired workers. Three-quarters of the Republican Congressional delegation voted against the bill...

...In 1950, the Democrats voted to extend Social Security benefits to the disabled, but 89% of the Republican delegation voted against the proposal. The Republicans still controlled the legislature, and the proposal was defeated.....

(Social Security for the disabled was finally passed in 1956 when Democrats controlled Congress.)]

In this time of economic turmoil in our country, we have to take bold steps to move toward massive re-employment. We cannot allow ourselves to get stopped by the Republicans and their inability to think and innovate. If they won't support President Obama's stimulus package and plans to get people back to work, then let the GOP and their followers sit by and twiddle their thumbs while the rest of us accomplish something.
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Monday, January 26, 2009

Progress

*** All eyes will be on Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland when he gives his yearly address on the state. The Toledo Blade:
...The Democratic governor is expected to use his third state-of-the-state address to propose what he characterizes as “transformational’’ reforms to Ohio’s education system, again seeking to inspire Ohioans to think ahead despite the state’s worsening economic woes....
.....The governor has said he would not consider his administration to be a success if it did not deal with a school funding system that the Ohio Supreme Court repeatedly ruled is overly dependent on local property taxes, unconstitutionally placing students in poorer districts at a competitive disadvantage....

Whatever Strickland proposes should be studied because it is time for change in Ohio, especially in the area of funding education. We can no longer allow the right wingers to stop progress in our schools.

* Many Ohioans are hoping that our elected officials in Washington, DC will help get our county back to work. Democrats have signed on to support President Obama's stimulus package. Unfortunately, not all of Ohio's members of Congress have decided to support President Obama. One of the biggest obstacles is right winger, Rep. John Boehner. Boehner continues to thwart any progress that President Obama makes.

Ohioans need to let Boehner know that his lack of support is being noticed by the people. According to a website called themiddleclass.org, Boehner has F's for his voting record. How can we make any progress if Boehner and his ilk in Congress continue to stop progress?

Let Boehner know you want his support for Obama's legislation:
Ohio 8th District--- Call Toll Free - 1-800-582-1001
. . Butler Co. Ohio . (513) 779-5400 . . . (513) 779-5315 fax
. . Miami Co. Ohio . (937) 339-1524 . . . (937) 339-1878 fax
. . Washington, DC . (202) 225-6205 . . . (202) 225-0704 fax
. . House Republican Leadership Office . (202) 225-4000 . . . (202) 225-5117 fax
House Republican Leader e-mail - http://republicanleader.house.gov/Contact/

Speak up for progress.
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Saturday, January 24, 2009

Kilroy Connects

Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) had special meetings with her constituents yesterday, according to the Columbus Dispatch:

Mary Jo Kilroy kicked off her first public tour of her district as a member of Congress yesterday by meeting with three women facing varying degrees of economic pressure and threats to home ownership....

...Kilroy underscored her intention to keep in touch with constituents in the district that includes western Franklin County, including much of Columbus, and all of Madison and Union counties.

Her schedule today includes an open house from noon to 3 p.m. at her district office in Columbus, 1299 Olentangy River Rd., Suite 200, a dinner in Marysville and a high-school basketball game in Richwood....

Rep. Kilroy has a lot to consider in the coming months. We need to offer her our ideas for our nation's recovery.

Posted by at

Friday, January 23, 2009

A Busy Friday...

> Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) is making a concerted effort to try to meet the needs of her constituents.
Dispatch:

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, the freshman Democrat from Columbus, says she is determined to find "Main Street" solutions to the economic problems plaguing her constituents - and will begin meeting with those affected by the downturn in an effort to find out first-hand what's going wrong for people.

The first of what apparently will be a series of Kilroy town hall meetings will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the Northside Branch Library, 1423 N. High Street, in Columbus, Kilroy's office said this afternoon.....

Kilroy is keeping her promises to help her constituents.

> On the other hand, Republican Rep. John Boehner is acting like the spoiled brat that he is. Boehner, who'd rather be golfing, still doesn't seem to understand what is going on with the economy and jobs. Boehner has become a naysayer as far as endorsing any economic recovery package that President Obama has proposed. I think that Boehner would rather work to save his country club buddies than the regular average Americans. We have to remember that Boehner and his ilk are partly responsible for the mess we are in now. Boehner and his GOP had a love fest with George W. Bush. They gave him everything he wanted. They pushed for deregulation. Now we find ourselves in an economic hole that will be difficult to get out of anytime soon.

Update on Boehner *** A video of Congressional leaders meeting with President Obama shows Boehner drumming his hand and fingers on the top of the table (video appeared on TV--- MSNBC). What does this kind of body language indicate?
Changing Minds:
...Drumming or tapping the fingers can indicate frustration, for example when another person is speaking and the person wants to interrupt. It may also mean that the person drumming wants to leave....
Nice job, Boehner.

> President Obama is busy undoing the previous administration's anti-science stance:
The Guardian UK:
President Barack Obama today is to make the most contentious move of his young administration with an order overturning a ban on federal funds to foreign family planning organisations that either offer abortions or provide information or counselling about abortion.....
...It will allow US aid, usually through the US agency for international development, to flow to HIV/Aids clinics, birth-control providers and other organisations that advocate or provide counselling about abortion across the world. It is known as the "global gag rule" because it denies US taxpayer dollars to clinics that even mention abortion to women with unplanned pregnancies....

(The spelling is different over there in the UK.)

There are a lot of people who are thankful for this action.

And there is even more from President Obama........
Reuters UK:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the way for the first trial to see if human embryonic stem cells can treat people safely, a company involved in the controversial research on Friday.

Geron Corp (GERN.O: Quote, Profile, Research), a California biotechnology company, said it plans a clinical trial to try to use the stem cells to regrow nerve tissue in patients with crushed, but not severed, spinal cords.....

Now if we can only catch up to the scientific research that has been done in other countries for the past eight years, we might be okay.

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

A Call to Action

President Obama's Inaugural Address has already inspired Americans to do something to help our neighborhood, state, and community.

The White House:

....Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America....
.....With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.....

What can we do to help get things moving again? Encourage responsibility. Call your local school district and find out how you can volunteer. Start a food drive in your neighborhood for your local food bank. Begin a book drive and donate the books to a homeless shelter, a children's center, or a local public school. Volunteer at a children's hospital, soup kitchen, or food bank. We cannot let this opportunity pass.

Here are a few contact numbers if you are interested in participating in "....remaking America....":

Mid-Ohio Food Bank------ (614) 274-7770
Columbus Public Schools------ contact volunteer office at (614) 563-7000
Holy Family Soup Kitchen----- (614) 461-9444
Homeless Families Foundation, Columbus, Ohio----- (614) 461-9247

Pick up the phone and do something!
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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

President Obama is Working for All of Us

The picture below from Time Magazine made me feel absolutely giddy:

(by Callie Shell / Aurora for TIME)

President Barack Obama makes a call from the Oval Office on his first full day on the job.

He is not wasting a second to get things done.
Posted by at

Don't Start With Me

Yesterday was a great day. Many of us hoped and prayed that this day would come. However, on this morning's Morning Joe on MSNBC, Joe Scarborough and guest Tucker Carlson were already criticizing stuff. I just wanted to jump through the TV and scream at them.

We've endured 8 years of lies, scandals, cover-ups, wars, deficits, and a complete national disaster in the area of the economy and job creation. It is time for Republicans to stop whining and help move the country forward. Republicans have participated in 8 friggin' years of a rubber stamping an ineffective President. I could go on but my blood pressure is already spiking.

Right now, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is being a pinhead. I think we need to put these obstructionist Republicans on the spot. Call Cornyn's office and tell him to stop holding up Hillary Clinton's approval for Secretary of State. Cornyn can be reached at:

Washington DC

517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856
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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Torch Has Been Passed....

Eschaton let us know that change has come. Check out the new and improved White House website.

Here are my reflections on this wonderful day:

* I'm so thankful that we have President Obama and Vice President Biden!
* President Obama's speech was great. Like President Obama said, "....we've got to pick ourselves up, and dust ourselves off...."
* The Obama Family looked so great. I'm so happy for them.
* How is it possible that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court misread the President's oath of office?
* Aretha Franklin is still the Queen!
* Some people are speculating that Cheney may have actually suffered a stroke. It had been reported that he strained his back picking up boxes. Can you actually imagine Cheney doing physical labor with all of his various heart ailments??????
* Estimates are that there were about 2 million people in Washington, DC for the inauguration.

It is a new day.
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Monday, January 19, 2009

Dr. King

Today we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With Dr. King's Day and the inauguration of Barack Obama coming so close, we should pause and do something positive. There is a campaign to do some community service today to honor Dr. King. If you find yourself unprepared to participate today in a large community project, you can still do something like-----

>>>>>>> contribute some $ to a charity. Make sure you specify that you are doing this to honor
Dr. King and the Presidency of Barack Obama.
>>>>>> volunteer at you local food bank or soup kitchen. If you cannot give the time, drop off some canned food or a check.
>>>>>> give your time to a senior neighbor or a local senior center.

There are many, many, many things you can do. Just do something. Here are a few websites with suggestions:

http://www.mlkday.gov/

Mid-Ohio Food Bank--- https://www.midohiofoodbank.org/donate-now?c=main
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Friday, January 16, 2009

Political News

* Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) has been very busy lately. Kilroy was one of the cosponsors for H.R. 463.

* GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate, Rob Portman, might have some political baggage.
Washington Post:
.....Ohio (R): Victories by Gov. Ted Strickland and Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2006 coupled with Obama's statewide win in 2008 signal momentum for Democrats in the Buckeye State. Voinovich was almost certain to face a serious race in 2010 but would likely have been favored -- albeit narrowly -- against a somewhat weak Democratic bench. Republicans are thrilled at the candidacy of former Rep. Rob Portman and paint him as a future star for the party but his ties to the current Administration could complicate matters. (More on that next week in The Fix.) The Democratic field is still very uncertain with Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Reps. Tim Ryan and Zack Space as well as Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher mentioned.....

If Portman worked for the disaster-prone Bush administration, doesn't that make him a contributor to the financial and diplomatic crises we currently are experiencing? Just asking.
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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Boehner Still Doesn't Get It

Drama king, Republican Rep. John Boehner of Ohio had a few words to say about the Democratic stimulus package, according to First Read at MSNBC.com:
...."Oh. My. God," said a stuttering Minority Leader John Boehner moments ago at a news conference. He was reacting after having just read the provisions outlined by Democrats today....

....Boehner says that much of it isn't going to do anything to help the economy in the short term. He says the approach by Democrats is to "clean out every dime from the taxpayer," and that the nation can't "borrow and spend it's way to prosperity."

Well, thank you Mr. Boehner. We are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression because of the Republicans and his Republican President. George W. Bush got us into this mess by doing nothing. The Republicans and their de-regulation of many businesses and industries, created a wild west atmosphere in the financial markets. Now Boehner and his supporters want the country to do nothing. He'd like us to just sit here and let things correct themselves while more people lose their jobs, their healthcare, and their homes. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. We can't wait.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

"Green" Jobs Could Boost Ohio Economy

Environment News Service:

....the nonprofit advocacy group Environment Ohio issued a report that estimates the environmental benefits to the state and the nation of such a $150 billion investment....

.....Among the recommendations in the report are weatherizing U.S. homes and businesses, training workers for new, clean energy industries, and increasing public transportation capacity to meet growing demand.....

"It is critical to get our nation's economy moving again and to ensure that those that have lost their jobs or can't find work can do so as soon as possible. A great way to stimulate the economy is by creating green jobs and promoting environmentally friendly development," said Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy, a Democrat. "I appreciate the efforts of Environment Ohio to highlight what can be done in Ohio to stimulate the economy in a green way."

Looks like Kilroy and other Ohio Democrats are lining up to support President Obama's energy strategy to create jobs in the newly developing "green" industries. We need to support and promote these new jobs. We need to ask Republicans if they will be part of the solution or part of the problem.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Is is January 20th yet?

* What does it say about a senator's influence and legacy if a news outlet in his home state can't even get his name correct? Senator George Voinovich announced that he will not seek a third term to the U.S. Senate. Voinovich is completing his second term and previously was Ohio governor. Here is the exact headline from WHIO Dayton:

Voinovitch To Retire: Who Will Fill His Senate Seat?

Nice job.

* At the hearing today for Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State, Republican Sen. David Vitter seemed to be questioning Sen. Clinton's ethics. I don't believe that Vitter should be questioning anyone else's ethics. Vitter, as you may recall, had quite a lurid scandal in his past (see Washington Post 7/11/07).

* At President Bush's last White House press conference, Bush said he inherited a recession. Mr. Bush is a liar. When he came into office, we had high employment and the country was doing very well. Bush created the recession several months into his first term and he is leaving with a recession that is almost a depression.

By the way, Think Progress has a story about how White House interns were forced to fill up empty seats in the press room for the President's last news conference.

****** Five Guys opens on January 20th at 2134 Polaris Parkway, according to the Dispatch:

Ohio's first Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant, at 2134 Polaris Parkway, will be inaugurated along with Barack Obama on Jan. 20.

The name says pretty much everything about the restaurant chain: You can buy a small assortment of burgers, cheeseburgers and bacon-cheeseburgers, and you can buy regular or Cajun-spiced fries, hot dogs and soft drinks.

Burger prices start at $4.50, and all toppings except cheese and bacon are free. The store will be be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily......

Awesome!

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Monday, January 12, 2009

Voinovich, continued

Sen. George Voinovich (OH-R) announced that he would not run for re-election in 2010. Voinovich's approval rating was well below 50% and this alone indicated that any campaign would have been difficult. Even as I type this, members of the Ohio Republican Party are drooling at the possibility of running for Voinovich's seat. According to people who know these things, former Rep. Rob Portman is extremely interested in running for the Senate. What do we know about Portman?

On the Issues reports that Portman is a hard-core conservative. Here are some of his votes as recorded at
On the Issues:
Portman-
-voted to ban gay adoptions in Washington, DC.
-is against affirmative action.
-supported prayer in schools.
-supported Bush's national energy policy.
-voted in Oct. 2002 to authorize military force in Iraq.
-is strongly against a woman's right to choose.
-favors privatizing Social Security.

Portman is definitely someone we don't need to be Ohio's next U.S. Senator. We need someone that will help President Obama get things done. We need a Democrat to fill Voinovich's seat.
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Sunday, January 11, 2009

Voinovich

There are lots of news stories indicating that Sen. George Voinovich (OH-R) will announce that he will not seek re-election. Here is an excerpt from MSNBC First Read:

NBC News confirms that Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich will announce tomorrow he intends to retire after his term expires in 2010.

He is the third GOP senator to retire in a month, following Florida's Mel Martinez and Missouri's Kit Bond. Also, Kansas GOP Sen. Sam Brownback is widely expected to run for governor in 2010, rather than seek re-election, meaning the minority party already is set to defend four open seats....

Voinovich had been one of President Bush's biggest supporters. He has continuously provided the warn out Republican mantra in everything he says. We need an energetic, motivated, new U.S. Senator for Ohio. We need someone with the same work ethic and focus as U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. We'll see what happens.
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Friday, January 09, 2009

New Car?

There is an article in USAToday about the new 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid. I love my Honda Civic Hybrid, and if I would purchase a new car again, I'd buy another. The Honda Hybrid price is in $22-25,000 range. That is very reasonable for a new car that will save you gasoline and money.

The new Chevrolet Volt is due to roll out in 2010. The proposed price is $40,000 but I think that price is over the top. It puts the car out of reach for most Americans. If American car designers want to make cars that people will buy, they need to make cars that people can afford.

If you've driven around your town, you are very aware that the local car dealerships are still flooded with hundreds of SUV's. The SUV's are like dinosaurs. It might be a good idea for the big car manufacturers to make American car buyers offers they can't refuse---- reduce the prices dramatically to get them off the lots. Sure, the cars makers will lose some money, but they are not making money with the cars remaining on the lots.
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Thursday, January 08, 2009

Husted's Residency Problem (continued)

Republican Jon Husted, who owns a home in the Kettering area, but lives with his wife and children in Upper Arlington, Ohio, finally went before the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Husted, recently elected as a State Senator, has had his residency called into question.

Dispatch:
State Sen. Jon Husted says his official residence is his home in suburban Dayton and that his job working for the state provides an exception to rules governing where a person votes.

The Kettering Republican made the statements when he appeared voluntarily before the Montgomery County Board of Elections yesterday. The board held an administrative hearing to investigate whether Husted lives in the Kettering district -- where he is registered to vote and represents Ohio in the legislature -- or in a home just outside Columbus.

The board asked legal counsel for an opinion on Husted's interpretation of election law, which likely will not come until a Feb. 25 meeting....

He gets an exception to rules????? Is he serious?

The Dayton Daily News has even more information about Husted's "home" in Kettering. According to the article, there was zero water usage for months at the Kettering house, and -----

....Democrats on the board want to hear testimony from two neighbors who contend Husted is rarely home, and want Husted to provide records of electricity usage and the deed for the Jon A. Husted Trust, which owns the Kettering home. Republicans oppose the request for documents and additional testimony. A tie vote over the scope of the investigation nearly sent the matter to Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to resolve, but that was avoided when the board agreed to first get a legal opinion on whether Husted's state job could provide an exception to other provisions of Ohio's residency law.....

....Ohio law requires that legislators live in their districts and those who do not could be required to forfeit the seat. It is up to the Ohio General Assembly to determine if a person meets eligibility requirements for office, according to Kevin Kidder, spokesman for Brunner.

I don't see how Husted deserves an exception. There are no exceptions in the law.
Contact the Montgomery County Board of Elections and offer your opinions:
Address:
451 W. Third Street
P.O. Box 8705
Dayton, Ohio 45481-8705

Phone: (937) 225-5656
Fax: (937) 496-7798

E-mail: mcboe@mcohio.org

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Posted by at

A Paperless Future?

With more people reading newspapers online, local newspapers have seen a decline in subscriptions. At our house, we receive two daily newspapers. However, many people just don't buy newspapers anymore.

About twice per year we get yellow and white telephone books dumped at our front door. We rarely use a telephone book. I know that many companies pay large amounts of money to advertise in the phone books, but that is not how I make my decision about which services or companies to contact. When I need a service, I ask my neighbors for recommendations and I search the internet.

According to the Dispatch, Cincinnati Bell will stop dumping those phone books on front doors:

...Cincinnati Bell received Ohio regulators' approval yesterday to dispense with automatic delivery of the books...
....The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted Cincinnati Bell's request to make an online, electronic version of the White Pages the primary directory for customers. Customers still can receive a free, printed directory by asking that one be mailed to them or picking one up at a Cincinnati Bell retail store....

I'd like to see similar moves by other telephone companies. This would save time, money, and the environment. If people need telephone books, they should be able to request one.

I'm sure that you get other advertisements in the mail or on door hangers. Here in our area, we get Papermint, ValuCoupons, and other similar products. If it were up to me, I'd like to opt out of these things. I hate dealing with them. Perhaps companies that want to advertise their services should save their money and come up with paperless advertising, like on the internet. I know I would be very grateful.

What is the future for newspapers, magazines, and advertising? Are we headed toward a paperless future?
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Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Busy Days Ahead

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15th-D) had her first day in the U.S. House of Representatives. Although she might be new in Congress, she is quickly getting to work.

Dispatch:

...Kilroy's new office in Longworth featured bare walls save for a solitary poster of the Ohio Theatre. She spoke about the excitement of becoming a federal lawmaker, especially in a year when the first African-American will be inaugurated as president.

"It's a huge thing," Kilroy said.

Kilroy already has earned a seat on the Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over the banking industry.....

With the country left in such a mess, President Obama, Rep. Kilroy, and every member of Congress will need our prayers and support to get things fixed.
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Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Kilroy in Congress (Update)

Today is a big day for Mary Jo Kilroy.

WSJ:
Mary Jo Kilroy (D., Ohio): Ms. Kilroy joins a growing number of Democrats in Washington who have won seats in previously-impregnable Republican territory -- as well as in the once reliably red state of Ohio, which now has a Democratic governor and senator and went for Barack Obama in the presidential election. The president-elect's coattails may well have given her the boost she needed for a narrow win in a seat which last elected a Democrat in 1967, and one where she couldn't oust the then-Republican incumbent Deborah Pryce in 2006.

The OSU Lantern updated returning students on the election news that had transpired while they were off campus. Mary Jo Kilroy received overwhelming support from OSU students and the Lantern article noted it as well as Kilroy's appreciation for the work of so many OSU students:

...Mary Jo plans to work with President-elect Barack Obama to make sure college education is more affordable for the average student, Borntrager said.

"Students and faculty here at OSU should know that they have a representative who will put them first," he said.

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy's (OH-15) congressional website up and functioning at http://kilroy.house.gov/ .

Washington, DC Office

Mary Jo Kilroy 320 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2015
Fax: (202) 225-3529

District Office

Mary Jo Kilroy 500 S. Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 469-5614
Fax: (614) 469-7469
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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Newly-elected Democrat, Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15), will be joining John Boccieri (OH-16), for swearing in that will take place on January 6th. The Canton Repository has more on Boccieri:

John Boccieri expects Congress will be spending a lot of time in the coming months looking for ways to fix the national economy.....
.....Boccieri said 25 percent of Ohio’s economy hinges on the auto industry, which is just one reason it should be protected. There also is a national defense aspect because auto companies have, during wars in the past, converted production to defense weapons.

He’s anticipating the Obama administration’s economic stimulus plan, which has suggested increased spending on building projects around the country. The move should help by creating new jobs and repairing the nation’s infrastructure, he said.....

We wish our best to Kilroy, Boccieri and all the newly-elected members of Congress. We are counting on them to get things done.

>>> On January 7th, Jon Husted will have to appear in front of the Montgomery County Board of Elections to prove his residency as Kettering, even though he lives in Upper Arlington with his wife and kids (Dayton Daily News). According to a search I did at the Upper Arlington Mayor's Court, one ticket Husted received in 2005 listed his address as Manor Lane in zip code 43221. Do a search yourself at the Mayor's Court website and check out the View Docket information at the bottom of the ticket info page. According to a search I did at the Franklin County Auditor's website, the Husted home in Upper Arlington is listed in his wife's name.
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Friday, January 02, 2009

Seen and Heard in Columbus

* A few days ago, I saw a car plastered with the "Five Guys" logo. A Reuters news article in June 2008, had this----

TCH Restaurant Group, Inc. will take its Five Guys Burgers and Fries from its current count of five stores in Tampa to a total of 86 stores in Tampa, Houston and Columbus, Ohio over the next several years....

Was this car with Florida plates here to search for locations for those future restaurants? Those of us who've visited a Five Guys Burger and Fries place in North Carolina, await those burgers, fries, and hot dogs at a location here in central Ohio.

* Rumor has it that the DSW shoe stores are desperately trying to cut costs by reducing employee work hours. I sincerely hope that DSW doesn't go out of business.

* Word has it that many central Ohioans who are not going to the Inauguration festivities in Washington DC are throwing special parties or gatherings to watch Barack Obama be sworn in as President. How will you spend inauguration day? If you are unable to watch it live on TV, be sure to use your DVR to save it to watch it later.

* Some of the Kroger locations were giving away free Ohio State flags yesterday. Check with you local Krogers to see if they have any left.







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