Long, Long Time Ago, I Can Still Remember . . .

I don't like saying "back in my day" or "when I was in school". That's ancient history and no one cares about my glory days except me. But I do find the need to refer to my younger days when looking at what passes for journalism today.

As a young J-school student in the early 70s, I was learning the craft just as we were coming out of the Nixon era. Days when true investigative reporting made a difference in this country. And while I never wanted to become a Woodward or Bernstein, I did ascribe to what they stood for -- fair, objective coverage of the story, no matter what the subject.

Then, journalists were considered the fourth estate -- a watch dog to keep our government honest. We had the Canons of Journalism, a code of conduct designed to place reporters above reproach, more honest perhaps than some of those on which they reported. We were taught to perform research to support our stories -- to not take the information at face value. We even had to pass (God forbid) an ETHICS course in order to earn a degree in the very thing that, to many, was as natural as breathing.

What the hell has happened?

Journalism has proven McLuhan's theory that the medium is the message. Today, it's no longer journalism; it's media in an extremely distorted sense. And there is NO fourth estate because media is entertainment and entertainment equals dollars. Ethics and objectivity are replaced by the corporate edict -- make money or else. And quickly, the journalist's integrity becomes compromised by the bottom line.

While our political leaders have evolved into greedy, lying bastards, we cannot place all of the blame for what's wrong in our country on them. No, my fellow journalists have played a part and must shoulder a great deal of the blame.

• For failing to hold the politicians accountable for their actions.
• For failing to ask the right questions, the tough questions, all of the time -- whether it's career expedient or not.
• For confusing news with entertainment.
• For failing to get the facts straight.
• For failing to remain objective.
• For becoming part of the PR spin machine, covering whoever has the bully pulpit at the moment in the manner of that individual's choosing.
• For putting their own celebrity before the truth.
• For allowing the likes of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, even Rachel Maddow and Ed Shultz, and many others to pass off commentary as news.
• For failing to remember what they should have learned as lowly J-school students.

. . . back in the day

. . . before the medium became the message.

Remembering Tepe

When I first met Ralph Tepe, I found his overall presence to be, well, intimidating. Then I discovered that this somewhat gruff exterior hid the heart and soul of a poet, a person whose wit and wisdom inspired love from his students and respect from his colleagues. Upon deciding to pursue a Master's degree, I enrolled in his "Applied Philosophy" class, just to get back in touch with being in a classroom. I could not have made a better choice. With Tepe, lively discussion brought philosophy to life. More than that, he pushed me to think -- really think, a valuable asset that served me well in my graduate studies. I came to know him better when I occupied an adjacent office and we discussed everything from literature to a course he planned on the history and sociology of the automobile. If I were at a loss for words, I could always count on him to provide me with the best ones. If my writing became too convoluted, he would smile and ask me how I would diagram that sentence. No one diagrams sentences any longer! That is, no one but Tepe, who made me a better writer. No matter what the conversation, I always came away feeling richer for the encounter. Of all the paths Tepe could have taken in life, he chose public education, inspiring hundreds of students of all ages, teaching them to think and reach for more. But he also inspired those of us who had the good fortune to have worked with him. I am a better, wiser person for having known you, Tepe. You were a colleague, a mentor, a friend. And for that, I am eternally thankful.  Shalom.

Why Do We Never Get An Answer?

When I first worked as a newspaper reporter, I always worried that I wouldn't get all of the information. Just to cover my ass, I often asked what may have seemed to be silly questions or too many questions. But I asked anyway, and I got my answers.

Now it seems that journalists just won't ask enough questions to get all the information that the public needs. At least I'm never satisfied with the information they present. So I have some questions that I need answered. Some of them are dead serious; others are more in the Andy Rooney did-ya-ever-wonder line.

1. Why is a poor child less important than a rich one? Even if it is the parents' fault for not supporting their offspring properly, those children still deserve to eat, to be educated, to have the opportunity to succeed. Don't penalize the child for the sins of the parent.

2. How is Social Security an entitlement when millions of Americans have invested their earned money, without choice, in the program? Perhaps those of us with funds in the program should say "It's my money and I want it now!"

3. Where in the Bible does Jesus preach against anything related to the LGBT community? Yes I know it says in Leviticus that men should not lay with each other as they would with a woman. But that is Old Testament Hebrew law -- something that Christians say Jesus trumps. Plus, the idea of homosexuality was unknown in ancient times; it was normal behavior in most cultures of that day. Men went to male prostitutes for pleasure; their wives were for procreation only.

4. And while I'm on the LGBT subject, how does same sex marriage harm my own marriage? It simply isn't possible. Plus, it seems that heterosexuals have done the majority of the damage to the institution of marriage on their own with affairs, domestic violence and divorce.

5. What do God, guns and country have to do with each other? OK, I will concede the guns and country part a bit. Winchester tamed the Old West. Samuel Colt made all men equal. Lead and black powder won the freedom of the nation and resolved its internal dispute. And, I will accept that God and religion have been a major force in this nation. But putting them all in the same equation, to me, isn't logical. So I ask for an explanation.

6. Why is lying about getting a blow job impeachable, but lying to go to war is not? As long as the President is getting the job done for the country, I really don't care what goes on under the desk. I do care, however, about putting our young men and women in harm's way for a false reason (just because some bully got the better of your daddy on the playground).

7. When you fly the Stars and Bars, do you really know what it means? I often see the flag of the Confederacy being displayed with beer, Hank Williams Jr., and large 4WD trucks. Being a Rebel wasn't about being a redneck. It was about states' rights and a certain way of life that, unfortunately, depended upon the slavery of other humans. I can't imagine Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and Stonewall Jackson giving up the cry of "Git R Done".

8. Why does the stock market fall every time someone sneezes in China? Is it that precarious, or are these traders a bunch of shysters who are taking us for a ride? Again folks, that's our money too. Stop taking it from the little guy and putting it in your pocket.

9. If huge tax breaks for American corporations creates jobs, where are those jobs? I'm still waiting, along with millions of others who got kicked to the curb in this economy. Boehner, Cantor and the rest of the Republican gang claim their plan will create jobs. When? After the zombie apocalypse? It hasn't worked yet, fellows, and it won't as long as you keep rewarding bad behavior.

10. How can Americans claim "God-given" rights from scripture when it was written long before America was even discovered? We have Constitutionally-guaranteed rights, but I don't recall any Biblical text that says God has his hand on this nation and its people. Even in the last days, the Jews are still his chosen ones.

11. Why is it acceptable to do away with protecting the environment and the food supply? People and businesses, like little children, require boundaries. Someone has to set limits to prevent harm to themselves and others. That is why we have a Federal government -- to set the boundaries needed to protect the citizens and the planet.

12. Why should we privatize education, but not space exploration? If education is private, only the wealthy will be educated, and we will have created a greater welfare state than we already have. But space exploration, even medical research could be privatized. Because there would be greater resources, endless creativity, and accountability, we would undoubtedly achieve great things.

13. Do we really believe that military intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan or any other ass-backwards country is going to change things? The former Soviet Union figured it out; why can't we? Again, we are sacrificing our best and brightest for people who hate us and are content to live in the stone age. Leave them there!

14. And finally, why are RuPaul's queens better counselors and psychologists than all of the preachers, professionals and others like Dr. Phil? I've watched RuPaul's Drag U occasionally and the support and advice those queens have given some women is incredibly healing and supportive. If more of us listened to those girls, we'd be a lot happier. And that is something this world needs a lot more of right now.

My questions are waiting. Anyone have any answers for me?

The Nightmare within The Dream

America was founded on a dream, a pursuit of personal freedoms and a better way of life. Millions came to these shores seeking what became known as the "American Dream". Different as we were, that dream meant the same thing to all -- this was a place where life would be better and we could achieve anything we wanted to achieve.

To some, the American dream meant safety -- a place where they would be protected from death squads and political upheaval.

To others, it meant freedom -- to worship as they believed, to pursue vocations and avocations alike, to express themselves through any medium they chose.

The dream that was America also included gainful employment, a home in which to raise your family, clothes on your back, food on your table, education for your children, and access to the best healthcare in the world. If you think back to psychology 101, those don't sound like outrageous wants; they sound like the most basic levels of human needs.

Now, thanks to poor decisions in Washington and the ultra-conservative movement in this country, there is no longer an American dream. For millions, it has become the American nightmare -- a horrific downward spiral from which we cannot wake.

The dream of home ownership has been destroyed by the subprime lending practices and inflated real estate prices. More and more families are threatened with homelessness every day because of misleading practices and foreclosure. Yet Congress does nothing.

The dream of free education for our children is being threatened by bureaucratic mandates, emphasis on test scores, and calls for privatization of our schools. When education is no longer public, many children will be left behind, uneducated because their families cannot afford America's new system. And Congress rallies behind this new direction.

The dream of a college degree is quickly becoming a thing of the past as tuition costs escalate at public and private institutions alike. And Congress backs plans to eliminate Pell grants and students loans, the only hope for many seeking higher education.

The dream of gainful employment has vanished for millions as businesses close their doors and corporations are rewarded for eliminating job or shipping them overseas. Worse yet, Congress fails to acknowledge its role in this situation and do anything to change it.

Dreams of affordable healthcare, a safe environment, saving for retirement, marrying the person of your choice, supporting the elderly and the disabled have all vanished. Dashed by people who do not comprehend the principles upon which America was founded, the principles by which our government is supposed to operate. Damaged by elected officials who serve a political ideology instead of the United States Constitution and the needs of the people. Destroyed by those who place their own self-serving wishes about the general welfare of the nation.

America is poised on the edge of a black abyss, a chasm from which Congress can pull us back if our elected servants are willing to look at issues logically. First, we must hold everyone accountable for their fair share of the tax burden. Placing the overwhelming burden for America's revenues on the working class is, quite simply, short-sighted and ridiculous. Corporations, millionaires and billionaires have made their wealth from America. They owe something back to the nation that enabled them to achieve the dream.

Then, we must have affordable healthcare. We must have free public education and affordable higher education. We must provide support for our elderly and disabled. We must control the Wall Street attacks on peoples' savings and investments. We must maintain the monies that working Americans have already invested in Social Security. We must protect this nation from terrorist threats. We must treat all people fairly and equally, without regard to race, gender, religion or sexual identity. We must create a safe, healthy environment for ourselves and our children. In short, we MUST take care of the basic needs of this nation. Everything else must take a back seat until the general welfare of the nation has been met.

Only then will we awaken from this nightmare and return to the ideal that is the American dream.

Burn, Baby, Burn

My parents raised me to be an independent person. Perhaps they did too good of a job because I revolt at the idea of being told what to do. And God forbid if you try to tell me how I should think. Of all the things that stir my outrage, nothing does the job quicker or better than banning a book.

I am an avid reader. I literally devour books, whether they are good, bad or indifferent. Books expand your mind, your perspective, your knowledge, your ability to think for yourself. Books help you understand how others live, how the world affects your own life. And they even help you discern right from wrong, good from evil.

Because my ultra-conservative parents allowed me to read any books I brought home, I never thought about book banning. Yes, I knew about the book burnings of Nazi Germany and I had read Fahrenheit 451, but I somehow thought, as a civilized society, we had moved beyond that. Then I began working with a literature professor who taught aspiring teachers about book banning in America. I was shocked.

Steinbeck's incredible portrayal of Americans struggling during the Dust Bowl days, The Grapes of Wrath, had been banned for its vulgar language and negative depiction of the nation. James and the Giant Peach, a childhood favorite, shows disrespect for adults. And perhaps most astounding of all, Shel Silverstein's wonderfully imaginative A Light in The Attic has been banned for promoting disrespect, horror and violence. Someone banned the author who gave us "but sure as you're born, you'll never see no unicorn"?

Now book banning is rearing its ugly head again. This time, Wesley Scroggins of Republic, Missouri, is waging war on three books: Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer, and a book on date rape entitled Speak. The reasons for the ban? They violate Christian principles. Too much swearing, too much sex, things that today's high school student knows absolutely nothing about. Yeah, right!

What Scroggins and his ilk forget is that they, as parents, are the content filters, not the schools. If they don't want their children reading an assigned text, ask the teacher for an alternative. Most are happy to oblige. Any correlation between a book's content and Biblical teachings is irrevelant in the school setting. Again, that is the parent's responsibility to establish and explain any correlation. And finally, banning a book on Biblical principles goes against the separation of church and state. Last time I checked, we do not have a state religion in America.

Being a Christian is fine. Being a Muslim, a Jew, a Buddhist, whatever is fine. Just don't misinterpret the teachings of your religion to do violence to others or to control them. Instead use your God-given brain to think and conduct yourself in a humane, or perhaps godly, manner. You are using religion to exert control over something you do not understand, something you are incapable of comprehending.

And to those who do not wish to be controlled by the small-minded, intellectually stunted idiots in this country, keep on reading those horrible, no good banned and challenged books. Your mind will thank you for it.

Life in the Circle of Fifths

Anyone who knows me fairly well knows my many shortcomings. Some are pretty serious -- my infamous temper and "colorful" language. Others, while less serious, are just sad and at the same time, humorous.

First, I am mathematically challenged. Forget the fact that math is the language of logic; I see nothing logical or rational about it at all. I can't even balance my checkbook WITH a calculator! And second, I have the singing ability of cats in heat. My vocal stylings are so bad that when my sons were younger, they would beg me to NOT sing with them. Not even "Mary Had A Little Lamb"!

Despite the lack of these skills that are vitally important to music, it has always been an important part of my life. In my parents' home, we listened to Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra one day, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash the next. We never listened to that "long-hair shit", my dad's term to describe everything from Beethoven to The Beatles. I even missed the Fab Four's first performance on Ed Sullivan because of my dad's aversion to rock and roll.

At some point, my parents decided that I needed to learn to play an instrument and bought an organ. First, a nice little Wurlitzer, then a Lowery theater organ -- the kind they played in supper clubs! And I took lessons . . . for ye-e-a-ars, I took lessons. From talented musicians who performed in supper clubs, in jazz bands, even in rock and roll bands. Oh, I could read the music and was technically proficient. But actually "perform" the music? Not on your life!

While my playing ability was the musical equivalent of two left feet, all that practice and playing deepened my knowledge and appreciation of all types of music. I began to understand how notes went together to weave a melody. I looked for meaning in lyrics and classical influences in popular songs. I even took college classes about the sociological impact of popular music. (Ever write a paper on the Tolkienesque references in the music of Led Zeppelin or take a test on the meaning of Don McLean's "American Pie"? I have.)

But I had help expanding my musical horizons along the way. I am so thankful to all of those who taught me that, despite my lack of talent, I could still enjoy playing the keyboard. There are days that I miss the feel of my fingers on the keys, my feet on the pedals. I still dream of one day owning a Hammond B-3 and playing Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor", or at least the opening arpeggio from "In-A-Gadda-da-Vida".

My musical knowledge and tastes would be limited indeed had many individuals not opened my ears to new sounds. My late friend Scott introduced me to the psychadelic philosophy of Pink Floyd and the classical sounds of Yes, two groups that remain favorites to this day. When Carl-Michal shared celtic music with me, I discovered the roots of much of the bluegrass music I heard growing up, and appreciated it so much more. And Kevin, well he gave me U2, Sisters of Mercy, Mozart, Black Flag, and all those horribly wonderful 80s groups like The Stabilizers, plus many more.

And, then there is Marti, the wonderfully talented singer-songwriter, who told me that anyone can sing if the song is in the right key. God love you, Marti, I'm still looking for that key.

My family has always shared in (or tolerated) my musical adventures. And while I never sang to my sons, I have given them a legacy of enjoying and appreciating all types of music. My youngest even possesses that ear for music and performance talent that I lack.

I cannot imagine a life without music. I listen to some type of music every day. After all, life is so much better with a soundtrack.

I Like Ike?

Ok, I will admit it. I am old. I was born during the first Eisenhower administration, but JFK is the first president I truly remember. What he and his brother, Bobby, stood for shaped my earliest political views -- views that have only grown stronger and more liberal with the passing years. From family and history, I learned what an ineffective president Eisenhower supposedly was. His great military leadership ability did not translate to the civilian world. Therefore, I was never a fan of Ike.

In recent days, I happened across a quote by Eisenhower regarding the very programs our Republican Congress continues to threaten -- Social Security and Medicare (along with education, civil rights, equal rights, and more). It was part of a letter written to his brother in 1954. I think it sums up nicely what average Americans are trying to tell the idiots who want to gut programs that help the majority of Americans.

"But to attain any success it is quite clear that the Federal government cannot avoid or escape responsibilities which the mass of the people firmly believe should be undertaken by it. The political processes of our country are such that if a rule of reason is not applied in this effort, we will lose everything--even to a possible and drastic change in the Constitution. This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon "moderation" in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

Amazing! A Republican that supports programs that help average Americans. Better yet, he calls out one of the wealthiest men in the nation (at the time) as “stupid”. Can you imagine what he would think of the likes of the Koch brothers and the conduct of Congress today?

As if this weren’t enough, I found another quote that applies to today’s Congress and its way of thinking as well. Ike further demonstrated his belief that people come first in an earlier speech to the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Read this carefully and imagine any politician saying this today.

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This is, I repeat, the best way of life to be found on the road the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron. ... Is there no other way the world may live?”

Schools and homes before bombers and warships? Unlike today’s politicians, Ike knew first-hand about war and he did not want it to happen again. He was not saying we should not have the military but that it should exist in perspective to all else. He saw that the right path lay in helping people. If a man who lived and breathed war and the military for much of his life could reach this conclusion, why can’t today’s politicians who have never seen a battlefield?

It’s just some food for thought. We need to be thinking because it is quite obvious that our elected officials are not.

Heard A Tale of Old Manhattan

I'm not certain if I love to cook, or simply love cookbooks and cooking magazines. My coffee table is piled high with two years' worth of Taste of Home and Food Network magazines. One kitchen cabinet is entirely filled with cook books containing recipes from days when fat and salt went into everything. Occasionally, I do get a good idea from them -- a fabulous recipe that, once I'm finished with it, scarcely resembles the original. Most of the time however, my kitchen resembles Professor Snape's potions classroom, producing noxious odors and strange vapors.

Recently, I came across a photo cutline in one of my magazines talking about hot dog sauce. It seems the new sauce du jour with hot dog vendors in New York City is a simple tomato paste, olive oil and onion concoction. Sounded delicious to me, but there wasn't a recipe. Not about to be deterred by something so trivial as written instructions, I took to the kitchen to see what I could create.

My first attempt was nothing short of -- stupendous! Even people whose culinary skills are the talk of Methodist covered dish dinners loved it. Of course it helped that we ate it on the best hot dogs in all of creation -- Tony Packo's Hungarian Hot Dogs from Toledo, Ohio. But my new sauce held its own with those fabulous dogs.

Then I started thinking, and that not always a good thing. What if this sauce was the base for other things? You could make it Italian or Mexican. Use it with pasta or baked steak. With something so basic, the possibilities were endless.

So today, I made Italian baked steak with my new sauce. I just added garlic, mushrooms, green peppers, basil and oregano, then topped the final product with mozzarella. Absolute heaven!

If you want to give it a try, here's my recipe.

Manhattan Sauce

1 large Vidalia onion
1 small can of tomato paste
Some olive oil
As much Mrs. Dash as you need
1 Tbls. brown sugar
1 tsp. prepared mustard

Halve the onion and slice it. Toss in olive oil until well coated, then saute until tender. Add tomato paste and Mrs. Dash. Stir together over low heat. Add water to thin paste to a sauce consistency. Add brown sugar and mustard. Use more if you think the tomato is still too acidic. Slather on your hot dogs and enjoy. It's an entirely new taste treat.

And if you think you need meat sauce on a hot dog, fry some ground beef and add to your sauce.

Is Anybody Listening?

Speaker Boehner:

I realize that writing to you is an exercise in futility, as you will not respond to my concerns or even deign to consider them. However, I feel compelled to continue expressing my extreme displeasure with your conduct as an elected official. It is quite obvious from your recent comments regarding taxes that you are not listening to the majority of average Americans. Nor can I see how you consider yourself to be a capitalist when everything you are doing goes against the principles espoused by Adam Smith, the father of modern economics and capitalism.

You, and other Republicans and Tea Partiers, have dug in your heels on raising taxes, claiming Americans do not want this. Have you not seen recent surveys of average Americans? The vast majority of those questioned are in favor of increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthiest. Even those who consider themselves to be conservative Republicans favor this. I would wager that, if you asked those who live in your district in Ohio, they would tell you the same thing.

No, Americans do not want to pay more in taxes. We do, however, want everyone to pay their fair share, something Smith considered essential to a sound economy in his definitive work, The Wealth of Nations. Do you not realize that average Americans are paying 28% of their income in taxes while some of corporations and wealthy Americans are paying only one-fourth of that? How can you consider that fair and reasonable, and something all Americans want?

You continue to claim that tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy will spur job growth. As an unemployed Ohioan, I am still waiting for those jobs to appear, knowing full well they will never happen. Granting tax breaks to create jobs is a pipe dream, a fantasy, or an out-and-out lie. To invoke a colloquialism, you’ve beaten that horse to death; it’s time to get off and walk.

It is also clear from your comments and those of others in Congress that you are more interested in removing President Obama from office than fixing the problems of this nation. You must get your priorities in order, sir! As I told you before, this is not about Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, right or left. It is about what is best for America and that is fixing our economy by making certain everyone pays his or her fair share. We did not have these problems prior to the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. We had a balanced budget then; we can have one again – if everyone makes a contribution. Right now, only those who can least afford it are bearing this burden.

This has to stop! You must stop this stonewalling just so “Republicans can beat the Democrats”. That is juvenile; you sound like bullies on the playground. The Congress of the United States of America is no place for one-upmanship and chest-thumping machismo. It is the place to resolve the problems facing this nation in a rational and equitable manner. It is the place to resort to compromise that saves a nation.

For the sake of America, put aside this us versus them mentality. Do what is right for a change and work together to make this country strong again. If you continue down this path you are currently on, you will not defeat the Democrats and the liberals. You will, however, defeat everything America stands for. Is this what you and your colleagues truly want to be remembered for achieving?

I Wanna Be Elected!

No, I really don't want to seek public office or serve as an elected official, for many reasons. First, it's a rich person's game and I'm not wealthy, nor would I waste money pandering to the electorate if I were. Second, I'm too thin skinned to take the criticism and rejection. I would be exploding with anger or bursting into tears at every turn. But most of all, I'm too much of a control freak. I would handle elected office like I handled parenting. "You will do as I say or else!" Don't think that would work too well in the legislature.

What I do want are a few simple things -- expectations that I don't think should be too difficult to fulfill.

First, I want my elected officials to be non-partisan. The needs of the nation and the people should come before any special interest or political affiliation. Unfortunately, our current crop of GOP senators, representatives, governors and state officials have made it clear that the future of their political party comes before the future of this country. Or, as noted in a recent blockbuster movie, they believe the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many. What they fail to realize is that if they continue with this line of thought, there will be no country left for the GOP to rule.

Next, I want these people to be open to all ideas, suggestions and possibilities. Typically, a special interest group or wealthy contributor gets in their ears, planting a singularly narrow idea that our politicians latch onto like a terrier with a bone. They should be open and willing to listen to ALL of their constituents, not just the ones with the most money or the biggest mouths.

Neither do I want them to fall so in love with their own ideas and voices that they hear nothing else (are you listening, John Boehner?). Too often, they spout rhetoric that is little more than meaningless blather. They no longer understand what they are supporting. They have said it for so long that it has to be true, right? Wrong! As an elected official, it is your duty to question and find out all information before throwing your support behind any issue.

And, I expect you to be intelligent enough to understand that a different point of view is not automatically wrong. It is simply another way of looking at something, and it is another opportunity to learn. That is why America is what it is -- a wonderfully diverse nation. To ignore that and to refuse to learn from it is, well it's just unAmerican. To dismiss another's opinion as wrong closes you off to understanding that person and what guides their beliefs. When you accept the challenges of opening yourself to at least hear what others believe, you expand yourself, your mind, your whole being. Refusing to acknowledge the opinions of others cloaks you in ignorance and limits your intelligence.

Finally, I want you to stay out of my bedroom, my doctor's office, my religion, my schools and libraries, my marriage and my family. Your job is to ensure that I have these things available to me but not what happens with them. You establish the basic framework by which our schools and medical services operate. You guarantee that all Americans have access to basic services and civil rights. When you begin dictating rules and regulations about personal aspects of my life, you have crossed into fascism. And the last time I looked, America was supposed to be a democracy.

We have a voice in America through our vote. (We put you in that office and we can take you out, to paraphrase the great Dr. Bill Cosby.) Once elected, however, you still need to listen to all of us. Becoming an elected official does not entitle you to set your own agenda, tie yourself to special interests, or pander to an elite group of supporters.

Americans want and need public servants, not politicians. You must decide which you want to be.

Who's Cookin' Monsters in the Kitchen?

I love to cook, but I'm not a chef by any means. Usually, I'll find a recipe that I like and tailor it to suit our tastes -- find some way to make it my own. For some strange reason, I started posting photos of my creations on my Facebook page. And I've been getting requests for the recipes. Problem is, I don't always remember what I did to create my version of a recipe. And God forbid I would actually know the amounts of something. I do everything to my taste or whatever I happen to have on hand. Nevertheless, I'm going to try to give you some idea of what went into two of my recent creations.

Texas Caviar (stolen from the former Peppercorns Deli in Marietta, OH)
1 can of white corn, drained
1 can of yellow corn, drained
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 bunch of green onions, sliced (you can use some of the tops if you want)
1 red bell pepper
A handful or bunch of fresh cilantro, finely chopped (add as much as you like -- we love this stuff!)

In a large bowl, mix all of the above together and set aside while you make the dressing. You may want to double the dressing mixture as it soaks into the beans as it sets.

1/2 c. olive oil (extra virgin)
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp ground cumin (we like a lot of this too)
1 tsp. chili powder
ground black pepper to taste

Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together and pour over the vegetables. Toss well and chill. Overnight is best. For a real kick, let each person add a little hot sauce to their serving. YUM!

Lemon Mint Shrimp with Rice
2-4 servings of rice (I'm lazy, I use Minute Rice)
1 can vegetable stock
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of that same lemon
1/2 c. olive oil
Ground black pepper
A bunch or handful of fresh mint
Some sliced fresh mushrooms
1 bag of medium shrimp, thawed

In a dutch oven or a deep skillet, put the olive oil, pepper, lemon zest and mint. Sweat over low heat for 5-10 minutes. Prepare the Minute Rice as directed, substituting stock and lemon juice for part of the water. Add mushrooms and shrimp to infused hot oil and increase the heat to medium. When the mushrooms have started to cook through, add the finished rice. Stir thoroughly and add salt or Mrs. Dash to suit your taste just before serving.

I know I still owe some people a recipe for caramel apple cake. Coming soon, I promise.

You Don't Need A Weatherman to Know Which Way The Wind Blows

I recently read a comment claiming people who think and believe as I do were "socialist Democrats." Yes, I am and I'm damn proud to be one. It means I care for people more than corporations. And people are what make up this nation.

As I thought about this, I had to wonder. If I am a socialist Democrat, what does that make Republicans? Thanks to information from a good friend (and fellow liberal), I quickly found the answer in an analysis by political scientist, Dr. Laurence Britt. Read his 14 Points of Fascism and decide for yourself who, or what, they remind you of.

14 POINTS OF FASCISM

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism
From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights
The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause
The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism
Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism
Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media
Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.

7. Obsession with national security
Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together
Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected
Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated
Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts
Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

12. Obsession with crime and punishment
Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption
Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

14. Fraudulent elections
Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

NOTE: The above 14 Points was written in 2004 by Dr. Laurence Britt, a political scientist. Dr. Britt studied the fascist regimes of: Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile).

Does any of this sound familiar to you? It does to me. It frighteningly resembles the current Republican/right wing/conservative agenda in this country. And as the people of Germany, Italy, Spain, Indonesia and Chile all discovered, fascism is far worse than socialism. (And for the record and so the small-minded will understand, socialism IS NOT communism.)

So where does all of this lead? It's time for those of us who believe in equality and civil rights and that our government should of, by and most of all, for the people to speak up. LOUDLY. Proclaim to anyone who can hear us that there are better answers than what is being foisted upon us by our politicians and a small group that has stolen the bully pulpit.

And if you are ever call a "socialist Democrat", remind that person that it sure as hell beats being a "fascist Republican".

Born This Way

Ever wonder why someone is a liberal or a conservative? Yes, it's all about beliefs, where you grew up, and how you were raised. If that were the sole influence, I would be a bluedog Democrat, not the raging liberal that I am. Recently I've discovered some of the triggers that have shaped my liberal bent over the years. Perhaps the earliest was having an Aunt Genie in my life.

As a child, I spent a lot of time with my Aunt Genie. She was my mother's oldest sister, a tiny gentlewoman who lived with her mother -- my grandmother -- in a big, old house near the high school. She never attended school beyond the third grade. She never married, never had a beau. She never held a job, never drove a car.

You see, Aunt Genie had contracted polio as a child in the 1920s. It robbed her body of its muscles, leaving her weak, stiff and drawn. She walked with a cane, couldn't climb stairs or get in and out of a regular bathtub. She couldn't grip with her hands or raise her arms above her head. As she aged, her condition was further complicated by the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that runs in our family.

While she could, she helped to care for her nieces and nephews. She kept a small dog as company for many years. She even lived on her own, demonstrating a remarkable streak of independence that countered her own need for assistance. In her later years, she sadly and angrily questioned her lot in life. But who among us hasn't questioned -- and with far lesser reasons -- why things happen the way they do?

Despite her condition, Aunt Genie, with help from my mother, had to fight for basic human necessities -- food, shelter, and medical care. She received a small disability stipend and some Social Security. She lived in subsidized housing. And she received some general assistance and food stamps. I remember her food stamp allowance amounted to $15 a month. (Honestly, who could live on $15 worth of food for a month? Somehow, she managed.)

Watching this determined little woman stirred something in my conscience. I knew that Aunt Genie had family to help her, but family couldn't be responsible for all of her needs. And, I thought about those who didn't have family support. Who would help them?

It was then, as a small child, I formed the most liberal, almost socialist, opinion that my young mind could conjure. I came to believe that a government of, by and especially for the people must help those who cannot help themselves. The young, the elderly, the physically and mentally challenged, even those whose temporary circumstances prevent them from fulfilling basic human needs must be helped by our government.

It's in our Declaration of Independence -- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It's in the Preamble to our Constitution -- promote the general welfare.

In short, I came to realize -- quite proudly -- that I had become a liberal. Education and events, other people and circumstances throughout my life have further shaped and firmed my liberal resolve. But the seed was planted by Aunt Genie's circumstances.

Yes, I believe that we also must help each other. But for those like Aunt Genie, their needs extend far beyond what individuals and service groups can provide. Who can step in at that point? Now, more than ever, I believe that our government has a responsibility to help the less fortunate. And yet, Congress continues to take away from them, discounting their needs and their value in our society.

Conservatives will claim that it is a matter of fiscal responsibility. I say it is a matter of values and priorities. Do we, as a nation, value corporations or do we value our people? I say that America must value its people . . . people like Aunt Genie. For those who would say I am wrong, I challenge them to live as Aunt Genie did -- a life of pain and uncertainity dependent upon family and others to provide what she could not.

And, despite current thought in this country, I happen to believe I'm on the right track, baby.

School's Out Forever

Recently, a good friend overheard a conversation in which one individual claimed that teachers were overpaid. Knowing she feels much the same as I do about educators and education, how she managed to curb a comeback remains a mystery. Should I ever hear a similar comment, I would be inclined to let loose on the person, first setting them straight about teacher pay, then point out the true cost of a lack of education (more on that another day).

Have you ever received a raise only to take home less money because your health benefits that are income-based ate it up? It happens to teachers all the time.

Most of us spend about the same on our college education to launch our careers. But, how many are required to take additional courses to keep our jobs -- at our own expense, no reimbursement? Teachers are, and they do this during those "three months off every summer" that people seem to believe they get.

As for those phantom "three months off", would you be willing to spend that time to attend professional development seminars, work on finalizing records, and readying your workspace for the next term? Teachers use much of that TWO months of summer to prepare for the next school year.

And how many of us are willing to go into work at 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. and work until God know when all for the sake of the students? Teachers are doing this every school day, and sometimes on the weekends. They spend time on lesson plans, grading papers, preparing materials for the next day's lessons, tutoring and mentoring their students, meeting and talking with parents. Some even get involved with local after school enrichment and sports programs.

We all work with people we don't necessarily want to be with. But every day, teachers are confronted by students who don't want to be there. Students who don't want to learn will gain a little by simple osmosis, but they create a disruption for those who are trying to get something from the lesson. Perhaps worse yet are the parent who don't care about their children's education and only see the school and its staff as babysitters.

After 30 years of teaching in one of West Virginia's highest paying school districts, my husband made $50,000 annually. That's less than one-third of the league minimum for Major League Soccer, one of the lowest paying professional sports. Hell, it's less than entry-level pay for an investment banker -- and look at what they've done for you lately! (America really needs to get its priorities in order.)

Break that down by the number of days in the contract -- 180 -- and you get $277.78 per day. Hey, that sounds really good. Now, break that down further by the number of hours spend each day at school (I'm not even going to include the extra hours and days he put in each year). That daily rate divided by eight hours come to $34.72 per hour.

Before you think how great that sounds, remember that the average teacher has a classroom of 25 students. To be paid for working with each of those students, let's divide again. What you end up with is $1.39 per hour per child. You'd pay more than that for some teenager to watch your kid for a few hours on a Saturday night. Damn cheap babysitting, if you ask me. And it's beyond absurd for professional education. Are you willing to work for that? I doubt that you would be.

So why do teachers do it? It takes a special calling to be a teacher, something damn few of us possess. George Bernard Shaw may have been a great writer, but he knew precious little about teachers when he said, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." Beyond what is in the books, beyond the knowledge, teachers must know how to excite young minds, to lead students to discover, to inspire youth. They do it because they can have an impact on a young person's life, both in and out of the classroom. Shaw should have said, "Those who CAN, teach."

Teachers deserve our respect, not disparaging remarks about their ridiculously inadequate salaries. The fact that you can communicate clearly at all is because some teacher taught you vocabulary and composition. In all probability, a teacher taught you to question and to think -- two resources we need to use more more now that our government wants to destroy our educational system.

But that's another rant for another day.

A Working Class Hero is Something to Be

Growing up, my friends and I would walk from my grandmother's house to the pool everyday in the summer. Along the way, we'd make up games about the strange shapes in our town's sidewalks. Diamond shapes marked with WPA and shapes like a can of sardines bearing the letters, CCC. As teenagers, we learned that the sidewalks and some buildings were constructed in an effort to put Americans back to work after the Great Depression.

Another one of those New Deal projects in our little town was the beautiful mural on the wall of the post office. I always was fascinated by how the artist compressed so much about our little corner of the world into one painting. He captured the lazy bend of the Ohio River where our town sits and the farming that once dominated the valley. He showed the nearby underground coal mines and even depicted the famous Spindletop oil well. Most of all, the artist showed people hard at work, doing the jobs that made the Mid-Ohio Valley prosper and grow.

For many years, I wondered who Alexander Clayton was and why his painting was in our post office. I later learned this artwork, created in 1939, was called St. Marys and the Industries of the Region, and was one of several created nationwide by the New Deal Art Project following the Great Depression. The project created jobs for the unemployed and made lasting cultural and infrastructure contributions to communities in need. The beautiful mural in our post office was the only one Alexander Clayton created in West Virginia.

Now, I wonder what the future holds for this incredible artwork that is part of history. Given the current anti-labor sentiment that is rampant in this country, I fear that its days are numbered. Because it illustrates the working class in America and shows labor as a key to prosperity, will it suffer the same fate as the labor history mural in Bangor, Maine? I should hope not.

First, it is a part of history. Whether you like FDR and his policies or not, the New Deal helped this nation to recover and get back on its feet after the Great Depression. These artworks are a link to this time in America, a Federal record so to speak. Living history that we can use to teach our children about the past.

Second, it is a work of art. Art, by its very nature, is subjective -- the artist's personal interpretation of an idea. Censoring artwork destroys freedom of thought and expression, all contrary to principles on which America was founded.

Finally, it is a tribute to labor and the working class. These are the people who built America and believed that hard work was the key to the American dream. With the politicians, lobbyists and corporate fat cats now revealing their true colors toward the working class, anything that shows the strength of labor and the labor movement in this country is in jeopardy.

Including one beautiful mural in a small town in West Virginia.

Somehow, I think West Virginia's politicians may be smart enough to know who butters their bread. At least, I hope so . . .

The World is Black. The World is White . . . Sometimes

Anyone who has ever been to a football match (that's soccer for the unenlightened) with me knows that I get quite passionate about my athletics. While most of my world is painted in shades of grey, sports are the one area where I am totally black and white. Let's just say that I have an overdeveloped sense of justice and fair play when it comes to sports, particularly at the high school level.

These activities have rules for a reason. Rules, first and foremost, protect the athletes. They guide the play of the game. They provide objective guidelines for those who officiate the games. Rules also teach sportsmanship and help the young athletes develop character.

Because of this last reason, it becomes incumbent upon the officials to do the best job possible. Before you even think it, I will concede that referees do not see everything that happens in the game. They must, however, officiate objectively, applying the rules without bias or arbitration. I am seeing less and less of this as the years go by and officials seek to inject themselves into the game.

I have seen soccer officials make calls in direct contradiction to the FIFA Laws of the Game. (And yes, I used to carry my own copy to the games.) Basketball referees have ignored the infractions of an aggressive team and charged the more passive team for touch fouls. I witnessed an assistant soccer referee turn his back on the field of play during the game to converse with the female players sitting on the bench. In what may be the worst dereliction of duty, a young man received a concussion after being thrown to the ground in violation of the rules and the official claimed the action was permissible in the game. Worse yet, the powers that be don't seem to care that this nonsense continues to happen.

I speak directly of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Athletic Commission (WVSSAC). That body, established to promote high school athletics and protect the student athlete, has lost sight of its true purpose and now focuses on what it can do for the adults affiliated with the organization.

After the incident of the referee who ignored the game, I reported him to WVSSAC. All they were concerned about was what he said to the girls on the bench. Wasn't it more important that he focus on the job for which he was being paid -- to officiate a game? Whatever he said to the girls (which I later discovered was inappropriate) was secondary to this. What if an incident had occurred during his flirtation that resulted in a player injury? My complaint was ignored because WVSSAC did not deem dereliction of duty by an official to be as important as the referee's feelings.

(I could provide details of the other incident, but the horse is dying. I'm not beating it anymore. I've gotten off and let it die.) And I'm not even going to start on the private school recruitment issue that WVSSAC refuses to address.

WVSSAC once was an auspicious body that set the standard for high school athletics in the state. Now it is a body that can't or won't make a decision that upsets its cushy little world. What leadership and character qualities are you teaching the student athletes by giving priority to your own importance?

And you wonder why my sports world is so black and white . . .

And you're working for no one but me!

(with apologies to The Beatles, once again)

Well we just sent our pound of flesh to the State of Ohio. Yes, we owed state taxes, and not just a few bucks either. More than 600 dollars, all to help bail our great state out of its economic cesspool. And part of it was our fault, because the West Virginia retirement fund can't withhold another state's taxes from my husband's pension. So we're always going to owe.

(That's one for you, nineteen for me.)

Now don't get me wrong. I believe in paying my fair share of taxes, just as I believe that my tax dollars should go to support programs that help Americans in need. The operative words here are "fair share" and "help Americans in need". I don't believe, however, that appointing your cronies to advisor and cabinet posts, then giving them a huge raise meets either of those criteria. I also find it difficult to believe that a retired school teacher and someone who is unemployed still owe the state MORE in tax money.

(Be thankful I don't take it all.)

So Governor Kasich, please enjoy our contribution to your staff compensation fund. The extra money you allocated to the members of this highly valuable think tank is more than most Ohioans make in a year. I expect we will see grand results from their efforts -- new industry throughout the state, new technology, unemployment reduced to zero, no one in need of utility assistance. People compensated that well must possess superb intellect, outstanding business acumen, and overarching concern for less fortunate Ohioans. We should benefit from their abilities and see outstanding results. I, for one, will be waiting . . .

(Yeah, I'm the taxman.)

Take Me Home, Country Roads

In this area, we are fortunate to have a lovely community magazine called Findlay NOW. Published monthly, it highlights people, places and things that make our little slice of northwest Ohio special. I commend the Miller family and the publication staff for this little gem.

But there's a caveat to even the most glowing reviews (isn't there always?). I found a recent article in praise of flat land to be highly disparaging to my former home, West Virginia. Perhaps Mr. Boroff wrote his missive with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, or maybe he was serious. Whatever the true tenor of his writing, I still take exception to it.

First, he claims to have acquired native colloquialisms during his time spent in West Virginia. During the 50-plus years I lived in southeastern Ohio and West Virginia, I never once heard locals use the terms ole' Mississip and hornswoggled. Yes, we say "crick", drop our "G"s, and turn "I" into the longest vowel in the alphabet. But West Virginians do not use terms straight out of a Gabby Hayes western. We are NOT, Mr. Boroff, a entire state of Jessco Whites.

Next, he attacks our beautiful and ancient Appalachian Mountains. Breath-taking? Yes! Awe-inspiring? Yes! But, as a transplanted Mountaineer, I was just as awe-struck the first time I saw Lake Erie waves breaking on Marblehead. Every place has its merits -- scenery to take away your breath and make you say "Wow". Perhaps some people are simply more vocal about West Virginia's mountainous scenery than they are about the amber waves of grain in northwest Ohio. It's all still beautiful.

You mention the impracticalities of mountainous landscape. Driving poses no obstacle. Nor does building construction or a quick game of driveway basketball. You see, we adapt, making the most of what nature handed us. Don't believe me? Come ride with me on the curviest road we can find. I'll teach you how to straighten the curves while staying on the road.

Yes, we can expand our definition of scenic and scenery. I find the local fields of winter wheat at harvest time as beautiful as fall foliage in the Mid-Ohio Valley, a summer storm on Lake Erie akin to winter snows on Seneca Rocks, and the winds of northwest Ohio as forceful as those of Dolly Sods.

Yes, flat lands are remarkable and lovely in their own way. Except perhaps Kansas or the Bonneville Salt Flats. Having been across both in my childhood, I found them to be mind-numbingly dull and boring. At least the Salt Flats have land speed record trials to enhance their appeal. Kansas has . . . well let's just say, Dorothy can keep it.

In an effort to promote the positive values of northwest Ohio, please don't denegrate an area well-known for its beauty. Just be a better promoter of what we have here -- where I choose to live -- in northwest Ohio.