I was reading Caleb Hale's nice piece about the Varsity Theater building in the SI yesterday and was amused by the constant rattling of the pauper's cup by the Stage Company.
Let's recount a little history. They had a free building for many years. Put on shows, had a nice time, did good things. But they didn't do any maintenance on the building and like most buildings in Southern Illinois, if you do no maintenance the building falls apart. Sad end, the building was torn down. Now they are searching for a home and would like someone else to pay for it. I guess I understand that feeling, I like it when someone else pays too.
Today, there are many stages for rent in Southern Illinois for a fairly low rent. SIU alone has 4 or 5 stages to choose from. Throw in CCHS and a few other places and you realize we have a huge number of unused stages for rent in a town of 24,000 people. But, renting a stage isn't optimum, it would be so much nicer if someone would build the Stage Company a new building to their specifications and maintain it forever, for free.
I have been approached a few times to see if I wanted to write "the check" to make the "Stage Company's" dream a reality. Any good fund raiser will tell you to ask a key question, has everyone in your group pledged or given money already? The "Stage Company's" answer is something like we are too poor to give money. Oops.
Let's assume that you can rent any stage in Carbondale for $200 per night. Let's further assume they need the stage for 30 straight days, 4 times a year. That is $24,000 per year. I bet that is less then the electric bill on a new building they propose. You had to know that the $600k was just the beginning of the money they wanted right? Starts to make a new pool look reasonable.
What do you think? Are you ready to have the tax payers pony up the money to make the "Stage Company's" dream a reality? I'm not feeling the love myself.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Patents at SIU - still screwed up?
I was researching the last entry and once you start talking to research professors about the brochure, they immediately say something like, "those SOB's have had my patent over there for a year and have done nothing." How hard it is? When someone puts a patent into the system at SIU, they drop it to the bottom of the ocean. Cut it out. Get back to people. Do the work. Maybe a little internet database where people can check the status? I guess that would make you admit that nothing had been done and nothing would ever be done?
I think that SIU is processing more patents these days. My fancy brochure doesn't give any historical numbers, but I remember the numbers like 1 or 2 per year historically and they are claiming 13 patents filed and 2 issued. Maybe the 13 is a good sign or maybe it isn't? If it is 13 patents entering the system, that is only a $1k kind of thing or free if you have one reasonable staff person doing it. It is expensive to do more.
I have written about this before, back before anyone read my blog.
Your comments are welcome.
I think that SIU is processing more patents these days. My fancy brochure doesn't give any historical numbers, but I remember the numbers like 1 or 2 per year historically and they are claiming 13 patents filed and 2 issued. Maybe the 13 is a good sign or maybe it isn't? If it is 13 patents entering the system, that is only a $1k kind of thing or free if you have one reasonable staff person doing it. It is expensive to do more.
I have written about this before, back before anyone read my blog.
Your comments are welcome.
Why do SIU administrators campaign like politicians?
I received a big envelop from SIU the other day and it contained a 4 page, both sides, fold out, super thick and glossy brochure entitled, "Research Profiles 2007." Postage was over $1 and the brochure must have cost at least $1 each and maybe as much $4 each. Then there was a little specially printed cardboard hanger on the brochure with SIU's logo and these words, "Compliments of John A. Koropchak Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Dean."
I know why SIU sends these sorts of things out, and maybe they data mine and only send these super expensive things to big givers? But, how exactly did I get this tax payer funded document that is "Compliments" of some administrator? Did he pay for it? Why am I getting expensive campaign literature, that claims to be compliments of some pseudo-Vice President type? Is he running for office?
If we ask about this, I bet they will tell us that "we didn't spend tax payer money." But that means they are spending donor money. I think that means they are wasting the money that I send in, by sending me fancy brochures, doesn't it? Why would I give them more?
One of the problems that SIU hasn't begun to address is how to walk the fine line between communicating and wasting money. Brochures like this one feel like waste. A quarterly email list, with fancy HTML email, would feel like communication to me. I guess the 70 year old fat cats, might like paper though. It isn't a clear and easy problem, but SIU should start to think about how they are going to handle this.
The appearance of wasting our money, to make yourself look better, is a place that SIU needs to avoid.
Your comments are welcome.
I know why SIU sends these sorts of things out, and maybe they data mine and only send these super expensive things to big givers? But, how exactly did I get this tax payer funded document that is "Compliments" of some administrator? Did he pay for it? Why am I getting expensive campaign literature, that claims to be compliments of some pseudo-Vice President type? Is he running for office?
If we ask about this, I bet they will tell us that "we didn't spend tax payer money." But that means they are spending donor money. I think that means they are wasting the money that I send in, by sending me fancy brochures, doesn't it? Why would I give them more?
One of the problems that SIU hasn't begun to address is how to walk the fine line between communicating and wasting money. Brochures like this one feel like waste. A quarterly email list, with fancy HTML email, would feel like communication to me. I guess the 70 year old fat cats, might like paper though. It isn't a clear and easy problem, but SIU should start to think about how they are going to handle this.
The appearance of wasting our money, to make yourself look better, is a place that SIU needs to avoid.
Your comments are welcome.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Had to take a little break. A good book.
I was kind of burned out after the election and had to take a little break from the blog for a couple of days. Just came back from a few days in the Northwest. Went to my favorite NW non-profit's annual charity auction. You wouldn't believe the amount of skyscraper construction in Bellevue, WA.
I bought a book that seems interesting, "More Sex is Safer Sex," by Landsberg. Kind of like Freakonomics, only different. I'm not quite done, but the first chapter alone makes the book worth buying.
Anyone else have a book to share with the crowd?
I bought a book that seems interesting, "More Sex is Safer Sex," by Landsberg. Kind of like Freakonomics, only different. I'm not quite done, but the first chapter alone makes the book worth buying.
Anyone else have a book to share with the crowd?
Why Joel is the most disappointing city council member
After Chris Wissmann wrote up his pre-election comments in the "Nightlife", he came under some direct attack here on this blog and I'm sure in other places. Some people even went so far as to claim that he wasn't a good city council member and I certainly don't agree with that. But is did start me thinking, who is the worst city council member?
Here is my stack ranking of city council members, best on top -
Our solid A student.
Cole - understand the issues the best, hardest worker, most ideas.
The A- Students (it is hard to get an "A" if you are only part time).
McDaniel - prepared and fair.
Wissmann - prepared and votes what he things is right. Sometimes I am amazed he votes against somethings, but overall a better representative of the college students and community.
The B, C or D Students, depending on issues.
Jack - needs to work harder preparing, but comes down on the right side of the vote often. I like how he responded to the pressure of the election. Hopefully, this is the start of a new trend, instead of performance of a baseball player in his contract year. Lance has a lot to offer Carbondale, I hope he finds the work ethic to push forward.
Haynes - I'm putting Haynes here, mostly because I can't tell what he is doing. I like his voting record, maybe the best of any council member. I can't tell is he is just a little shy, doesn't prepare enough or just is willing to go along if the vote is going his way. I was impressed by his performance in the debates over the last month or so. I hope he speaks up more, he clearly has a knowledge base of what is going on, that could help.
Our F Student.
Fritzler - I like Joel. I hoped that he would do a good job on City Council, but he hasn't so far. He seems to have two large faults.
First, he doesn't understand how our society works. He has been employed in the public sector forever and either never knew or has forgotten how everything outside of being a low level civil servant works. I ran into him and we ate lunch together a couple of months ago, I was amazed by what he said. He complained about giving businesses tax incentives for anything. He complained about fixing drainage culverts for new buildings. He just didn't get why the tax payers are willing to give the city money and what services we expect.
Joel has had zero results as a city council member thus far. He has proposed nothing that has seen a vote. He seems to have only one agenda item.
Which leads us to Joel's second large fault, his one agenda item is to get Brad Cole and stop him. This just isn't what the citizens of Carbondale need him to do. What we need Joel to do is prepare for the meetings and vote for the things that will move the city forward and help the people who live in it. We don't need him grinding an ax and complaining about every program that Brad puts forward, good or bad.
I don't know why Joel doesn't like Brad, but Joel get over it. You are our worst city council member because of it. Find common ground, make up, compromise, kiss a** if you need to, but do a better job. Most of Brad's programs are good for the city and the right thing to do. Get on the board with his program of moving the city forward, work hard enough to propose programs yourself to move the city forward, or get off the city council and let someone who can act like an adult be elected in your place.
At first, I wanted to give Joel an incomplete. Once I looked into it, I have to give him an F. Joel, you have your midterm grade, you need to pick up your performance by the final. You can't be against everything in the city's/Brad's agenda, it makes you look like a fool.
Of course, your comments are welcome.
Here is my stack ranking of city council members, best on top -
Our solid A student.
Cole - understand the issues the best, hardest worker, most ideas.
The A- Students (it is hard to get an "A" if you are only part time).
McDaniel - prepared and fair.
Wissmann - prepared and votes what he things is right. Sometimes I am amazed he votes against somethings, but overall a better representative of the college students and community.
The B, C or D Students, depending on issues.
Jack - needs to work harder preparing, but comes down on the right side of the vote often. I like how he responded to the pressure of the election. Hopefully, this is the start of a new trend, instead of performance of a baseball player in his contract year. Lance has a lot to offer Carbondale, I hope he finds the work ethic to push forward.
Haynes - I'm putting Haynes here, mostly because I can't tell what he is doing. I like his voting record, maybe the best of any council member. I can't tell is he is just a little shy, doesn't prepare enough or just is willing to go along if the vote is going his way. I was impressed by his performance in the debates over the last month or so. I hope he speaks up more, he clearly has a knowledge base of what is going on, that could help.
Our F Student.
Fritzler - I like Joel. I hoped that he would do a good job on City Council, but he hasn't so far. He seems to have two large faults.
First, he doesn't understand how our society works. He has been employed in the public sector forever and either never knew or has forgotten how everything outside of being a low level civil servant works. I ran into him and we ate lunch together a couple of months ago, I was amazed by what he said. He complained about giving businesses tax incentives for anything. He complained about fixing drainage culverts for new buildings. He just didn't get why the tax payers are willing to give the city money and what services we expect.
Joel has had zero results as a city council member thus far. He has proposed nothing that has seen a vote. He seems to have only one agenda item.
Which leads us to Joel's second large fault, his one agenda item is to get Brad Cole and stop him. This just isn't what the citizens of Carbondale need him to do. What we need Joel to do is prepare for the meetings and vote for the things that will move the city forward and help the people who live in it. We don't need him grinding an ax and complaining about every program that Brad puts forward, good or bad.
I don't know why Joel doesn't like Brad, but Joel get over it. You are our worst city council member because of it. Find common ground, make up, compromise, kiss a** if you need to, but do a better job. Most of Brad's programs are good for the city and the right thing to do. Get on the board with his program of moving the city forward, work hard enough to propose programs yourself to move the city forward, or get off the city council and let someone who can act like an adult be elected in your place.
At first, I wanted to give Joel an incomplete. Once I looked into it, I have to give him an F. Joel, you have your midterm grade, you need to pick up your performance by the final. You can't be against everything in the city's/Brad's agenda, it makes you look like a fool.
Of course, your comments are welcome.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Carbondale Main Street online auction open for bids!
One of the best non-profits in town (Carbondale Main Street), is having their annual fund raiser on eBay right now. They have included a page of instructions on how to do eBay if you have never done it before, but if you need help, check with the nearest 13 year old, they are experts. I'm playing with the idea of going hard after this item or maybe this item for the scientific professor in your life that is hard to buy for, I'm going to make fun of this guy soon, so get your bids in now, or you can do this one (I would wait until after the no smoking law kicks in). There is also a bike and set of fishing boots.
Main Street has been the best economic development group in Carbondale for the last 5 years. They have a limited focus of helping our downtown area, no messing around with anything else.
A good cause and good people. Help keep our downtown business core strong and bid on something you need. Now is the time to get that Holiday Shopping down early.
Main Street has been the best economic development group in Carbondale for the last 5 years. They have a limited focus of helping our downtown area, no messing around with anything else.
A good cause and good people. Help keep our downtown business core strong and bid on something you need. Now is the time to get that Holiday Shopping down early.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Going to Quatro's for lunch today - Anon come pay your respects
Some Anonymous sent in a comment in the last couple of days ,that they would come by and talk to me at lunch today. I guess they were going to gloat about Sheila's big win? I'll be there, come by and say hello. We can talk about quality over hype for a while, if you like.
Flash for the past - Nicole Sack back for a visit
Former Southern Illinoisan reporter Nicole Sack (you have to scroll down a little to get to Dave's work on her going away party) was back in town for a visit with the folks and like a good political junkie was at the Cole Vistory party last night. It sounds like Nicole is happy in SoCal and enjoying the work, but missed Carbondale (at least a little). She told me a funny story about parking meter enforcement that you might want to ask her about sometime. :)It was funny, there were two pictures taken. Nicole told us that the first one wasn't right and switched sides for the second one. She looks great in both, but the second one was better. I don't think I have a good side, so either way is fine with me. The whole thing made me have a really stupid grin in this picture, but you likely hadn't noticed I was in it yet. How do women know these things?
She told me she was a fan of my blog, so here is a shout out from a blogging hack to a good reporter.
Will Sheila's Volunteers do anything in the city before the next election?
I have watched the army of volunteers that Sheila has had marching around Carbondale, hosting teas and the like. But, most of these people will do nothing for the city beyond volunteering in this election. Wouldn't it be more productive to ignore the election and work to make the city better the rest of the time? It isn't hard to be a big wheel in Carbondale, you could be in charge of something today, if you want to be.
I have been hearing about how much the Sheila volunteers love Carbondale, but it sure looks like the business community (ie the Brad supporters) is the group that drives improvement in Carbondale on a day to day basis.
I have spent most of my time over the last 5+ years doing my best to help Carbondale, in the best way that I knew how. My program has been largely unsuccessful, but hopeful and consistent. Maybe it is time to figure out what great ideas you would have to improve the city and start to drive them? Maybe you will be like me and fail, but maybe you will succeed and make the world better?
Successful examples of citizen's changing Carbondale government are the Arbor District PAC and the Anti-Smoking campaign. You don't need a study circle or someone's daughter to change the world for you, you just have to start working on what you want.
I couldn't understand the Simonite's call for opening the government of Carbondale, it is wide open now. Start a blog, a group, attend some meetings or write a letter to the mayor. You can change things if you want to. Even a lame computer guy like me gets to have a voice, it just takes a little time and energy.
What say you? Is there anything you want to accomplish in Carbondale? Why not try?
Your comments are welcome.
I have been hearing about how much the Sheila volunteers love Carbondale, but it sure looks like the business community (ie the Brad supporters) is the group that drives improvement in Carbondale on a day to day basis.
I have spent most of my time over the last 5+ years doing my best to help Carbondale, in the best way that I knew how. My program has been largely unsuccessful, but hopeful and consistent. Maybe it is time to figure out what great ideas you would have to improve the city and start to drive them? Maybe you will be like me and fail, but maybe you will succeed and make the world better?
Successful examples of citizen's changing Carbondale government are the Arbor District PAC and the Anti-Smoking campaign. You don't need a study circle or someone's daughter to change the world for you, you just have to start working on what you want.
I couldn't understand the Simonite's call for opening the government of Carbondale, it is wide open now. Start a blog, a group, attend some meetings or write a letter to the mayor. You can change things if you want to. Even a lame computer guy like me gets to have a voice, it just takes a little time and energy.
What say you? Is there anything you want to accomplish in Carbondale? Why not try?
Your comments are welcome.
Some thoughts about the election
For most of the mayor's race, I thought the race was about people supporting Paul Simon's daughter. But, Sheila surrounded herself with people that had no interest in winning the mayor' race. Instead their goal was to gain sweet revenge for the close loss of Maggie Flanagan 4 years ago and they hoped kill the future political career of Brad Cole forever as part of the bargin.
Blogger's note - killing someone's future in the USA is a tough thing to do. For example, how many minutes until Don Imus is rehired? Anyone seen a Kobe Bryant commercial lately? That isn't the way this country functions. Everyone gets a second chance.
Instead of trying win a close victory, Sheila camp seemed to set their goals on 66% of the vote or bust. In order to score a knock out punch, they threw everything and the kitchen sink at Brad and only hit themselves. If you are in Sheila's inner circle, you should be kicking yourselves for being so stupid.
One of the things that I like about Brad (and I think is true of Joe Moore too), is that he likes politics and the laws of government. I feel that Brad sees "Politics" as his career and hobby, the same way that my Father does Math and I do Technology Business. You see all these organizations of politicians and political causes that Brad joins and then becomes leader soon after? It isn't luck. He likes it, he eat and breaths it. He seems to have an unending supply of ideas of how to improve things, and is limited by budget and reality, but never ideas. I agree that this makes Brad a professional politician, but it also means he is on top of the issues. I really get the idea the understanding the city budget and its subtle meanings are fun for him.
If you look at the 45% or so that voted for Sheila, many of them are so closed minded that they will cheerfully vote for an inferior candidate. I still don't get the Sheila supporters idea for a better community, what were they talking about? If you can't put it into one sentence, doesn't that mean you can't explain it? As I have said here of late, "the Emperor has no clothes."
After watching Sheila and the gang's running an 11 month campaign of deception and smearing, it will be nice to start trying to move the city foreword. Politics of us vs. them don't help in a small town.
Maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is, what kind of city do we want Carbondale to be in the future and start working toward that.
I'm sick of writing about this election, but a couple more before moving on.
Blogger's note - killing someone's future in the USA is a tough thing to do. For example, how many minutes until Don Imus is rehired? Anyone seen a Kobe Bryant commercial lately? That isn't the way this country functions. Everyone gets a second chance.
Instead of trying win a close victory, Sheila camp seemed to set their goals on 66% of the vote or bust. In order to score a knock out punch, they threw everything and the kitchen sink at Brad and only hit themselves. If you are in Sheila's inner circle, you should be kicking yourselves for being so stupid.
One of the things that I like about Brad (and I think is true of Joe Moore too), is that he likes politics and the laws of government. I feel that Brad sees "Politics" as his career and hobby, the same way that my Father does Math and I do Technology Business. You see all these organizations of politicians and political causes that Brad joins and then becomes leader soon after? It isn't luck. He likes it, he eat and breaths it. He seems to have an unending supply of ideas of how to improve things, and is limited by budget and reality, but never ideas. I agree that this makes Brad a professional politician, but it also means he is on top of the issues. I really get the idea the understanding the city budget and its subtle meanings are fun for him.
If you look at the 45% or so that voted for Sheila, many of them are so closed minded that they will cheerfully vote for an inferior candidate. I still don't get the Sheila supporters idea for a better community, what were they talking about? If you can't put it into one sentence, doesn't that mean you can't explain it? As I have said here of late, "the Emperor has no clothes."
After watching Sheila and the gang's running an 11 month campaign of deception and smearing, it will be nice to start trying to move the city foreword. Politics of us vs. them don't help in a small town.
Maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is, what kind of city do we want Carbondale to be in the future and start working toward that.
I'm sick of writing about this election, but a couple more before moving on.
Lunch at the Long Branch Backroom - I liked it
When I first moved back to Carbondale, I went into the Long Branch with my wife because she wanted a latte. The place was thick with smoke, I decided that I didn't need it and never went back. Last Sunday, I met some people for a business lunch at the Long Branch Backroom. Turns out you can go into a door from the parking lot and miss the smoke. The back room is no smoking.
The lunch I had was good. Huevos rancheros and a salad, I was hungry. The HR were good, but came to me kind of lukewarm. The salad was great, walnuts and sunflower seeds, sprinkled over mixed greens. The whole menu appears to be vegetarian, so you are warned. The quality of ingrediants seemed excellent, so my only real complaint is they could invest in a stronger heat lamp to keep the first orders warm, while they cook the later ones.
If you eat out a lot in Carbondale, you quickly find there aren't enough places to eat on a regular basis. I don't know if the Long Branch back room fits the bill as a place that I will eat regularly, but it has possibilities for further exploration of the menu. That is a cause for hope.
How about you? Do you like this place?
The lunch I had was good. Huevos rancheros and a salad, I was hungry. The HR were good, but came to me kind of lukewarm. The salad was great, walnuts and sunflower seeds, sprinkled over mixed greens. The whole menu appears to be vegetarian, so you are warned. The quality of ingrediants seemed excellent, so my only real complaint is they could invest in a stronger heat lamp to keep the first orders warm, while they cook the later ones.
If you eat out a lot in Carbondale, you quickly find there aren't enough places to eat on a regular basis. I don't know if the Long Branch back room fits the bill as a place that I will eat regularly, but it has possibilities for further exploration of the menu. That is a cause for hope.
How about you? Do you like this place?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
"Christmas in April" first cut at the Carbondale Election Results
Looks like Brad won in a walk 56% of the vote. Picture is of your blog host, Brad and Dave More at the Cole Victory party. I almost went and visited Sheila's party, but I wasn't sure I could deal with that many sad State employees in one place.
City council looks like what I predicted before the primary and very acceptable. Haynes, Polhmann and Jack for city council, I sure hope that Lewin doesn't sneak in, but would be fine with Moore (he sure ran a fine campaign). I guess that the voters decided that the city is doing well and added a person who spent lots of time driving a very popular no smoking law. Congratuations to everyone who ran, this race was good for the city.
I listened to Haynes in the debate a little last night and liked what he had to say. I'm going to get off his back for a while, but I still think he needs to go to lunch with Mary Polhmann and talk to her. If they need a referee, give me a call. :)
Major and Rendleman win in District 95 and Elbert Simon off. As Simon loses this time, after winning a number of times before, you have to wonder how many people are reading this blog anyway? :) Did a paper endorse other people, how did we figure out that Simon should go all together and at the same time? I'm sure it wasn't this blog, anyone know what happened?
I found this entry by mistake, but it is interesting now. Found this too, guess he agreed?
I ended up voting for Navreet Kang because I like him and he is my insurance agent, but was fine with the park district results. I have more respect for what is happening over there then I did before the election.
I'll write some more tomorrow, but writing this made me realize how many words I have written about this election. It is kind of amazing.
Any of my Pro-Sheila Anonymous commenter's want to explain how they managed to screw this up so bad or did the voters of Carbondale figure out that they are better off with quality over "my bad"? If you don't have anything to say about this, don't worry, I do.
See you in the morning.
Sheila's conspiracy theories continue -watching for cheating
I was down voting this morning and saw that we had poll watchers in my polling place. I realized that both were people I liked and were Sheila supporters. I asked one of them if he planned to be there all day and he said he was, except his wife was going to spell him for lunch.
Turns out that Sheila and her people have decided that Brad has hired college students to go vote illegally. You know, like we are in Chicago! Apparently, she has talked volunteers into keeping track of each voter and making sure there is no funny business going on. What a waste of time.
These people have lost their minds! Wow, I knew they had gone crazy since the primary, but this is really over the top.
Did you see some crazy liberal state employee keeping track of who you were this morning?
Turns out that Sheila and her people have decided that Brad has hired college students to go vote illegally. You know, like we are in Chicago! Apparently, she has talked volunteers into keeping track of each voter and making sure there is no funny business going on. What a waste of time.
These people have lost their minds! Wow, I knew they had gone crazy since the primary, but this is really over the top.
Did you see some crazy liberal state employee keeping track of who you were this morning?
DE Our Word on Athletics? Failure of logic.
The DE editorial staff is so clueless this year. Today they write about how Athletics doesn't drive enrollment at SIU. It starts -
I guess someone who studies logic would see there are three options, Athletics makes enrollment go up, stay the same or go down. Since the DE didn't do their research, they don't know which is the general case or if that general case applies to SIU. All we know is that Athletics is doing well and that enrollment is down. We don't know know anything else.
This isn't as bad as their support of Pepper Holder in the primary or their toying with support for Sheila Simon, both of those things were really dumb, but this editorial doesn't shed any light on this issue. Come on DE, you can do better then this.
The DE closes with this "Either way, success on the court or field has nothing to do with success in enrollment." My word is, either way, the DE didn't do their research on this topic before they wrote their article.
Of course, your comments are welcome.
There's been a lot of talk lately about how the prestige of a successful athletic department paves the way for a boost in enrollment.Let me give the DE a theory back, that is as valid as what they write. If Athletics wasn't doing so well, enrollment would be down much more.
At SIUC, it's only a theory.
I guess someone who studies logic would see there are three options, Athletics makes enrollment go up, stay the same or go down. Since the DE didn't do their research, they don't know which is the general case or if that general case applies to SIU. All we know is that Athletics is doing well and that enrollment is down. We don't know know anything else.
This isn't as bad as their support of Pepper Holder in the primary or their toying with support for Sheila Simon, both of those things were really dumb, but this editorial doesn't shed any light on this issue. Come on DE, you can do better then this.
The DE closes with this "Either way, success on the court or field has nothing to do with success in enrollment." My word is, either way, the DE didn't do their research on this topic before they wrote their article.
Of course, your comments are welcome.
Monday, April 16, 2007
"42"
The 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier of Major League Baseball is today. I wasn't born, but maybe this changed the world as much as the invention of the car?
City Council Candidates - hard choices from imperfect candidates
Haynes and Jack - One doesn't vote on anything hard (anti-smoking stuff), but when he does vote, seems to choose correctly. The other doesn't seem to have a job, doesn't seem that prepared, but does seem to vote intelligently. Wouldn't it be interesting if Lance isn't reelected after being on the council for the best run in Carbondale government in years?
Moore - seems to be best prepared of all the candidates. Kind of like a younger Brad Cole. I said he had no chance before the primary, but he is looking good now.
Pohlman - is a one issue candidate, but that issue is now passed into law and the state will make it permanent soon. She continues to say the city is $6M in the red in the budget and that is just crazy. There are unwritten rules that you should never let a doctor be CEO, I wonder how you can think the Carbondale budget is in the red if you are listening. Looked stronger when I knew less about her.
Brown - Invisible to me. What do we know about her? I can't even tell you what she looks like or what she does for a living. But, that could be my fault.
Lewin - Lier and unacceptable to me. You ever notice where she is a Dr. and has 3 degrees from SIU? She didn't get her doctorate at SIU did she? Interesting deception there. My sources say, Sarasota University is the source of her PhD, mail order PhD is it? I guess that is OK isn't it? Where you get your PhD doesn't really matter. I got mine out of a cracker jack box.
If you could tell me who would really read the documents and prepare before the meeting, I could tell you who I would support. I had it as Pohlmann, Haynes and Jack before the primary. But Pohlmann doesn't understand the budget, Haynes has decided to call people racist over nothing, Jack has picked up the pace here at election time by suggesting winning compromises on anti-smoking and car dealer incentives. Moore is the biggest winner in my mind between the primary and today.
So, I guess I'm going for Moore, Jack and Haynes. But would be OK with Pohlmann or Brown. The blogging would be better if we elected Lewin, a little public exposure of her thinking and I could just write up the quotes without doing any work at all.
How about you? Who you got?
Moore - seems to be best prepared of all the candidates. Kind of like a younger Brad Cole. I said he had no chance before the primary, but he is looking good now.
Pohlman - is a one issue candidate, but that issue is now passed into law and the state will make it permanent soon. She continues to say the city is $6M in the red in the budget and that is just crazy. There are unwritten rules that you should never let a doctor be CEO, I wonder how you can think the Carbondale budget is in the red if you are listening. Looked stronger when I knew less about her.
Brown - Invisible to me. What do we know about her? I can't even tell you what she looks like or what she does for a living. But, that could be my fault.
Lewin - Lier and unacceptable to me. You ever notice where she is a Dr. and has 3 degrees from SIU? She didn't get her doctorate at SIU did she? Interesting deception there. My sources say, Sarasota University is the source of her PhD, mail order PhD is it? I guess that is OK isn't it? Where you get your PhD doesn't really matter. I got mine out of a cracker jack box.
If you could tell me who would really read the documents and prepare before the meeting, I could tell you who I would support. I had it as Pohlmann, Haynes and Jack before the primary. But Pohlmann doesn't understand the budget, Haynes has decided to call people racist over nothing, Jack has picked up the pace here at election time by suggesting winning compromises on anti-smoking and car dealer incentives. Moore is the biggest winner in my mind between the primary and today.
So, I guess I'm going for Moore, Jack and Haynes. But would be OK with Pohlmann or Brown. The blogging would be better if we elected Lewin, a little public exposure of her thinking and I could just write up the quotes without doing any work at all.
How about you? Who you got?
District 95 - Elbert Simon should go and other picks
When I look at District 95's board election, there are two things that jump out at me. First, we should elect John Major and Andrea Rendleman to the school board. Second, we should vote against Elbert Simon and get him off the board.
John Major is a Carbondale native and taught and then was dean of students in the junior high for 37 years (I had him for 7th grade math and he was a good teacher). Mr. Major knows what is going on inside the school district and would give the board perspective from the inside. John is very interested in improving the school district and the energy to push for that improvement. Both in knowledge and passion, John Major is the man to put on that board.
Andrea Rendleman is my choice to serve from the parent end of things. She is a whole bunch of kids in the system and has had for a long time. She has been involved with volunteer, PTA, PTO and Parent Advisory Board. She is very optimistic and passionate about the schools. A good buddy of Sheila's, but she is a good person to represent the parent interests on the board.
In most school districts Elbert Simon could not serve on the school board, because his wife is Dean of Students at the Junior High. Mr. Simon and his wife team up to control many aspects of disciplinary actions at the Junior High. No school board member should be allowed to have such a huge ethical problem. The District 95 school board should change their rules to not allow relationships with huge conflict of interests to exist with board members. With all the problems we have in Southern Illinois with unethical family relationships, this is one that most school districts have already solved by a simple ethically based rule change.
The general slide of District 95 from one of excellence, to a school district that better parents are removing their children from, has to end. It really hurts the town. With new people on the school board, maybe things will start to change for the better. In a town where the main employee bases are Professors and Doctors, the school system shouldn't be sliding toward Cairo.
John Major is a Carbondale native and taught and then was dean of students in the junior high for 37 years (I had him for 7th grade math and he was a good teacher). Mr. Major knows what is going on inside the school district and would give the board perspective from the inside. John is very interested in improving the school district and the energy to push for that improvement. Both in knowledge and passion, John Major is the man to put on that board.
Andrea Rendleman is my choice to serve from the parent end of things. She is a whole bunch of kids in the system and has had for a long time. She has been involved with volunteer, PTA, PTO and Parent Advisory Board. She is very optimistic and passionate about the schools. A good buddy of Sheila's, but she is a good person to represent the parent interests on the board.
In most school districts Elbert Simon could not serve on the school board, because his wife is Dean of Students at the Junior High. Mr. Simon and his wife team up to control many aspects of disciplinary actions at the Junior High. No school board member should be allowed to have such a huge ethical problem. The District 95 school board should change their rules to not allow relationships with huge conflict of interests to exist with board members. With all the problems we have in Southern Illinois with unethical family relationships, this is one that most school districts have already solved by a simple ethically based rule change.
The general slide of District 95 from one of excellence, to a school district that better parents are removing their children from, has to end. It really hurts the town. With new people on the school board, maybe things will start to change for the better. In a town where the main employee bases are Professors and Doctors, the school system shouldn't be sliding toward Cairo.
Can Sheila win?
Daughter of our most famous local politician, much loved parents, member of the SIU community, liberal, good person, good wife and mother, supporter of good causes, but maybe the worst campaigner in history?
Sheila could have just shut her mouth and "rode her bike to victory" (this is quoted from an anonymous source), but instead she had to surround herself with a pack of idiots and decided to gun big, bad Brad Cole down in the middle of Illinois Ave.
I got how clueless Sheila was after spending a couple of hours with her, but so many people in Carbondale wanted to believe!!!!! It was like Bush's address to the nation after 9/11, we wanted to believe, so we did (at least for a while). Now after 11 months of campaigning, silly whisper campaigns, countless "Tea with Sheila" meetings, hundreds of sign, thousands of letters, we are left with the impression that Sheila isn't very smart/nice/ethical.
Why didn't Sheila read the budget herself if she wanted to make an issue of it? Who would dare raise an issue that they supported themselves and not just once of twice, but dozens of times, over years of votes.
I think one of the big problems that Sheila has found is that Brad Cole, really isn't that big and is pretty darn good at being mayor. When attacked directly, Brad has control of the facts and mostly he hasn't done anything wrong. One of the great things about Americans is that we like being fair and Sheila attacks have crossed way over the line, so we all know they are unfair. Some of her supporters feel that the ends justify the means, listening to them has cost Sheila an easy win in this election.
If we judge from the campaign and the last 4 years on what each mayor candidate will do, we can guess what Brad will do. We can hope that he is receiving the complaints about his first term clearly, he needs to be more sympathetic, put out a positive vibe, even when he is talking to people who don't get it. We all want Brad to keep working hard for the city and accomplishing more good deeds on our behalf, we just want him to take off a little of his hard edge. I suspect this will happen with time, so no worries there. It is hard being a young man, I used to be abrasive myself. :)
I used to think I knew what Sheila would do if she was elected, which is not much. She would be a modern version of Neil Dillard. If things were really bad, should would announce "my bad!" and then do nothing much. But, I have become more aware that Sheila may be a much worse mayor then that and I'm concerned. This being nice, while stabbing in the back and getting caught by everyone, is a bad trend. Her run since the primary is historically bad and that is scary.
All the newspapers are supporting Brad, at first her supporters said, "it is just the Southern." Then, Chris Wissmann shouldn't be speaking out. Now it is a clean sweep. It might start to indicate a trend?
Still Sheila has a whole lot of yard signs out there and her supporter are still sending irrational letters into the papers (I loved the one by my old 6th grade math teacher in the SI yesterday, talk about reaching for points that aren't there). There are still supporters out there for her, even if her campaign strategy has hit a brick wall at 60 mph. You wonder how many people have a sign in the yard, but will vote Cole in the booth don't you?
So, can Sheila still win? I know I hope she doesn't, but can she? Will you still vote for her, even though it is clear that a ration person might see her campaign points making her seem unethical? Even though Brad weathered 10 months of her running unopposed and looks to be untouched by all of the probing for wrong doing? Does anyone believe that she will be a better mayor then Brad anymore? Did anyone ever think she would be a better mayor?
What say you Anonymous and other commenters? You going to the polls tomorrow with the feeling that Sheila can win?
Sheila could have just shut her mouth and "rode her bike to victory" (this is quoted from an anonymous source), but instead she had to surround herself with a pack of idiots and decided to gun big, bad Brad Cole down in the middle of Illinois Ave.
I got how clueless Sheila was after spending a couple of hours with her, but so many people in Carbondale wanted to believe!!!!! It was like Bush's address to the nation after 9/11, we wanted to believe, so we did (at least for a while). Now after 11 months of campaigning, silly whisper campaigns, countless "Tea with Sheila" meetings, hundreds of sign, thousands of letters, we are left with the impression that Sheila isn't very smart/nice/ethical.
Why didn't Sheila read the budget herself if she wanted to make an issue of it? Who would dare raise an issue that they supported themselves and not just once of twice, but dozens of times, over years of votes.
I think one of the big problems that Sheila has found is that Brad Cole, really isn't that big and is pretty darn good at being mayor. When attacked directly, Brad has control of the facts and mostly he hasn't done anything wrong. One of the great things about Americans is that we like being fair and Sheila attacks have crossed way over the line, so we all know they are unfair. Some of her supporters feel that the ends justify the means, listening to them has cost Sheila an easy win in this election.
If we judge from the campaign and the last 4 years on what each mayor candidate will do, we can guess what Brad will do. We can hope that he is receiving the complaints about his first term clearly, he needs to be more sympathetic, put out a positive vibe, even when he is talking to people who don't get it. We all want Brad to keep working hard for the city and accomplishing more good deeds on our behalf, we just want him to take off a little of his hard edge. I suspect this will happen with time, so no worries there. It is hard being a young man, I used to be abrasive myself. :)
I used to think I knew what Sheila would do if she was elected, which is not much. She would be a modern version of Neil Dillard. If things were really bad, should would announce "my bad!" and then do nothing much. But, I have become more aware that Sheila may be a much worse mayor then that and I'm concerned. This being nice, while stabbing in the back and getting caught by everyone, is a bad trend. Her run since the primary is historically bad and that is scary.
All the newspapers are supporting Brad, at first her supporters said, "it is just the Southern." Then, Chris Wissmann shouldn't be speaking out. Now it is a clean sweep. It might start to indicate a trend?
Still Sheila has a whole lot of yard signs out there and her supporter are still sending irrational letters into the papers (I loved the one by my old 6th grade math teacher in the SI yesterday, talk about reaching for points that aren't there). There are still supporters out there for her, even if her campaign strategy has hit a brick wall at 60 mph. You wonder how many people have a sign in the yard, but will vote Cole in the booth don't you?
So, can Sheila still win? I know I hope she doesn't, but can she? Will you still vote for her, even though it is clear that a ration person might see her campaign points making her seem unethical? Even though Brad weathered 10 months of her running unopposed and looks to be untouched by all of the probing for wrong doing? Does anyone believe that she will be a better mayor then Brad anymore? Did anyone ever think she would be a better mayor?
What say you Anonymous and other commenters? You going to the polls tomorrow with the feeling that Sheila can win?
DE endorses Cole, well really they call Simon unacceptable - but they are still confused
The DE's endorsement is here.
The DE's rejection of Sheila because of her "campaign of disinformation and baseless attacks," seems on target. I don't know how so many state employed, well educated, liberals thought it was OK to go on a whisper campaign of lies for the last 11 months (could they not have known it was lies?). In only 1 month of real campaigning, the whole thing fell apart. If you thought that Karl Rove was just lucky before, think again. It is hard to keep all those lies up in the air for months at a time.
I'm pretty confused about the DE's idea that Brad is killing "The Strip?" The strip is little changed in the last 30 years, beyond the difference that the students don't walk anywhere. The students have chosen to shop at Walmart and the Mall. The only thing left on the strip is services businesses, but all the higher volume stuff is concentrated where there is better parking. The strip will magically re-emerge when gas prices are $4 or $5 per gallon and not every student thinks it is their given right to drive everywhere.
In a city council election where you are choosing one limitation or another, Joe Moore seems like a logical choice for them to make.
The DE's rejection of Sheila because of her "campaign of disinformation and baseless attacks," seems on target. I don't know how so many state employed, well educated, liberals thought it was OK to go on a whisper campaign of lies for the last 11 months (could they not have known it was lies?). In only 1 month of real campaigning, the whole thing fell apart. If you thought that Karl Rove was just lucky before, think again. It is hard to keep all those lies up in the air for months at a time.
I'm pretty confused about the DE's idea that Brad is killing "The Strip?" The strip is little changed in the last 30 years, beyond the difference that the students don't walk anywhere. The students have chosen to shop at Walmart and the Mall. The only thing left on the strip is services businesses, but all the higher volume stuff is concentrated where there is better parking. The strip will magically re-emerge when gas prices are $4 or $5 per gallon and not every student thinks it is their given right to drive everywhere.
In a city council election where you are choosing one limitation or another, Joe Moore seems like a logical choice for them to make.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Tax breaks for business? First example of why you must use them
It is interesting to watch as the USA becomes an economy based on consumer spending, the cities that have the regional shopping Mall's and big box concentration's, harvest the largest amount of sales tax dollars.
I have written before that with little doubt, the best thing that Neil Dillard did as mayor was grant "The Gap" a tax break to come to the Carbondale Mall. In the 5 short years since then, the Carbondale Mall has filled up with good stores and the Marion Mall is in serious trouble.
Things are so bad in Marion that they sent my little internet company BoundlessGallery.com a letter and glossy brochure to relocate there. Reports are that Marion had no traffic over Christmas outside of their 3 big boxes (Target, Dillard's and Sears). How dead is the traffic? The Friday before Christmas, there were only 5 walkers counted inside the Mall. The stores inside the Mall are just dead and the marginal stores outside of the mall are seeing hard times and some are shutting down.
Would the situation be reversed if "The Gap" and more importantly in Southern Illinois, "Old Navy" had gone to Marion instead? I think it likely would be completely different.
How much money would it cost Carbondale to stop being the shopping center of Southern Illinois? Do you want to drive to Marion to shop? I don't.
Some people say that giving corporate welfare is always bad. In many cases, if you become the regional hub, you harvest the follow on business as well. This is exactly what happened in Carbondale's Mall, thanks to a small tax break.
Of course, your comments are welcome.
I have written before that with little doubt, the best thing that Neil Dillard did as mayor was grant "The Gap" a tax break to come to the Carbondale Mall. In the 5 short years since then, the Carbondale Mall has filled up with good stores and the Marion Mall is in serious trouble.
Things are so bad in Marion that they sent my little internet company BoundlessGallery.com a letter and glossy brochure to relocate there. Reports are that Marion had no traffic over Christmas outside of their 3 big boxes (Target, Dillard's and Sears). How dead is the traffic? The Friday before Christmas, there were only 5 walkers counted inside the Mall. The stores inside the Mall are just dead and the marginal stores outside of the mall are seeing hard times and some are shutting down.
Would the situation be reversed if "The Gap" and more importantly in Southern Illinois, "Old Navy" had gone to Marion instead? I think it likely would be completely different.
How much money would it cost Carbondale to stop being the shopping center of Southern Illinois? Do you want to drive to Marion to shop? I don't.
Some people say that giving corporate welfare is always bad. In many cases, if you become the regional hub, you harvest the follow on business as well. This is exactly what happened in Carbondale's Mall, thanks to a small tax break.
Of course, your comments are welcome.
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