respublica

"You cannot have this great treasure — that's the Arch — and surround it by junk."

Former Missouri Senator John Danforth is continuing his push to turn the Arch grounds into a more inviting place and more importantly, a place where there is something for visitors to do.

And to accomplish this, he plans to put a lot of his own money into the effort.

Good for him.  It is telling that the past Arch director recently left to head up the Washington D.C. Mall, a place which is definitely a destination point where there are lots of things to see and do as well as places to eat, sit and use restrooms when necessary.

Lots of trees are nice, walking up to the Arch and touching the metal is interesting...once.  Paying a fairly large amount of money to take the family up to the top of the Arch is interesting...once.  But to keep people coming back, tourists and locals alike, there has to be something else.  St. Louis needs the Arch grounds to be edifying, but also attractive with attractions.  And, last but not least, an easy way to get there on foot from downtown.

Concordia Seminary graduation finale

Wrapping up two days of graduation events with a few scenes from the actual graduation ceremony.

The balcony overlooking the academic quad was the scene for photographs with the president and this year's honorees.

The processional of faculty and graduates was led by Professor Robert Rosin.

The graduation speaker was Len Walter, journalist with WBBM in Chicago.

Graduate Michael Hall, a student we've known since his first year and who has helped us with almost every function we've hosted, gets his degree.

Roger Wehrli receives the Christus Vivit award.

And finally, two professors who are retiring and becoming professor emeritus, were honored.

Dr. Ronald Feuerhahn and Dr. Richard Warneck.

Graduates all together for the last time

After this morning's service for the bestowing of theological degrees, the class gathered together at the foot of the steps to the chapel.  No one can ever remember this happening before.

Now, after several graduate and honors luncheons, we get ready for tonight's official graduation ceremony.

Phyllis Wallace is back on the air

Phyllis Wallace, host of the nationally syndicated radio program Woman to Woman is back on the air after a few years away.  Her program, produced by Lutheran Hour Ministries returned this month and this time she has a website to complement her shows. 

Phyllis is a woman of great energy and tremendous good humor, so it is a pleasure to link to the recent launch of her new website.  She's a good friend and I have to add, a longtime resident of Collinsville, although she will always add that her upbringing was, like mine, in the suburbs of Chicago. 

Roger Wehrli at Concordia Seminary

During tonight's graduation ceremonies at Concordia Seminary, Roger Wehrli, former Mizzou and St. Louis Cardinals football player who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2007, will be the recipient of this year's Christus Vivit Award.

Many St. Louisans will remember Wehrli as part of the Big Red-Cardiac Cards teams coached by Don Coryell.  He played in St. Louis from 1969-1982 as a cornerback at a time when the Cardinals were thrilling everyone.  He is also a longtime Lutheran and an active layman in his congregation of St. Paul Des Peres, Missouri.

Last night Roger and his wife Gail joined us at a reception for graduates and families and I was able to take a photo of him with Dale.

Who are the Lutherans

As long as we're on the subject of Lutheran doings this morning, here is a YouTube video using a song by Lost and Found to run through a list of notable Lutherans.  One notable Lutheran not mentioned is Congressman John Shimkus of Collinsville.

Thanks to Quincy Pundit for this link.

Under the big top, out in the rain

Good afternoon.  This is graduation week at Concordia Seminary and everyone would love to see some sun for a change.  But, clouds and drizzle won't stop the festivities, especially the reception we're hosting tonight for graduates and their families under the big tent next to our house.

Tomorrow is supposed to be nice.  Graduation in the quad.

Lawmakers playing with food

Yesterday Chicago aldermen overturned their two year ban on the restaurant sales of foie gras.  Restaurant owners are ecstatic, the alderman who originally sponsored the bill banning goose liver, shouted his objection to the approval vote.

The Missouri House, wrapping up for this session and having taken care of all the important issues, voted to make the ice cream cone Missouri's official state dessert.  The vote was 112-31.  Who voted no and why?  Did 31 legislators have some other dessert they lobbied for?

Kitchen gardens

Planting a vegetable garden may be this summer's "in" thing as more people try to find ways to combat the rising cost of food.  Kitchen gardens in backyards and in pots on decks most often will include tomatoes and beyond that, most any other vegetable depending on the lot size. 

We've long had a summer herb garden, there's just nothing better than walking out the door and cutting basil, parsely, dill, thyme, oregano, cilantro, whatever, to add to meals.  And, the cost is certainly much less than spending $3.00 for a couple leafs of the same.  This year we're adding several varieties of tomatoes, including some heirloom plants as well as squash, eggplant and peppers.  No sweet corn, past experience taught us that the squirrels and raccoons will strip the stalks bare before we even know things are ripe.  Besides, Fournie's and Keller's farmstands in Collinsville serve us corn very well.

All you need for a useful kitchen garden is a spot with sun.  Nature, and a bit of watering, takes care of the rest.

The time that blog forgot

Ann Althouse has created a new blog with the clever idea of blogging news events from past times when there were no blogs. 

Named, The Time That Blog Forgot, she takes a blogger's view of the past.  If you like history, especially American history, you'll want to look in now and then.

Obama's hold on the race

Hillary Clinton wins West Virginia big

but

Obama gains two more superdelegates.

Income changes for members of congress

The Sunlight Foundation has launched Fortune 535, a website which tracks how net worth has changed for members of congress since they were elected and how their net worth has changed compared to the average American family.  Their figures are based on what data they could find from disclosure laws with the codicil that much could be hidden or unavailable.

Click "select a lawmaker" to see his/her net worth comparison.  A very non-partisan look a income and worth.  Some of the lawmakers net worth has to be the value of their homes as opposed to actual cash on hand.

A new Mississippi overlook on the Illinois side

What a great idea!  It's a wonder it took so long in coming.  Now being constructed just south of the Casino Queen, the 40 foot high overlook will allow views of downtown St. Louis as well as both banks of the river.

The overlook which is expected to open this summer will include a large observation platform and a vast lawn below, the perfect spot for watching future fireworks shows or picnicking on the river. 

This spot has always had the best view of downtown, especially at night, but except for the Queen, there was never a good place in which to loll around and enjoy it.  It will be a snap to get to, Metro Link has a sprawling stop there and it won't be surprising if this spot becomes a tourist destination point, bringing with it more places to enjoy the view, like restaurants and small shops.

Bill McClellan v Phyllis Schlafly @ Wash U

Post-Dispatch columnist Bill McClellan jumps into the Wash U/Phyllis Schlafly honorary degree dust up this morning and concludes that even though he is politically in line with those protesting her being honored:  "As a latte-sipping, tree-hugging, peace sign-flashing, gay rights-supporting liberal, I just hate it when my comrades play to stereotype. You know the stereotype. Conservatives are mean. Liberals are whiny. And right now a very audible whine is emanating from the campus of Washington University."

A retired Wash U law professor, Jules Gerard, someone who has supported Schlafly in the past, also weighs in: "If the university were to rescind the degree, then it would have to change its policy statements — to say that the school tolerates all views except conservative ones."

The anti Schlafly at graduation students and faculty are still protesting, taking their signs and slogans to the front of President Mark Wrighton's house.  But, as Bill McClellan ended his piece, "I wish my comrades on the left would remember the words of our spiritual leader, the Great Helmsman himself. Let a thousand flowers bloom! Personally, I raise my vanilla-flavored, low-fat, no-foam latte to Schlafly. She is a remarkable woman and a splendid opponent."

Ranting against Wash U's honoree

Around here, the biggest debate of the season is not the presidential race, but Washington University's decision to give Phyllis Schlafly an honorary degree during graduation ceremonies this weekend. 

Kathy G, writing at Crooked Timber, is a case in point.  She not only despises Schlafly, but goes on a rant against the very idea of any conservative or republican being worthy to sit on the dais at a Wash U graduation.

"But this way madness lies. Because, as much as conservatives may whine and scream to the contrary, liberalism and conservatism are not moral equivalents. Because, on the one side you have the thinkers and activists who have advanced freedom, social justice, and human rights, and on the other, you have those who have attempted to thwart all those things."

Voter fraud is a myth...

...according to a New York Times editorial this morning.  The paper takes on Missouri's proposed voter id law, calling the effort a ploy by republicans to reduce the turnout of eligible voters. 

The Times writes that Missouri and 11 other states are hoping to pass id legislation to prevent non-citizens from voting and that there is no evidence that this is a significant problem.  But they do believe showing a photo id will keep eligible voters from the polls.

When the argument for or against voter id laws uses non-citizen voting as cause and effect it distracts us from other possibilities in voting irregularities such as the Acorn group now facing trial or penalties for their fraudulent voter registration efforts.  Absentee ballots have often played a role in vote fraud, the possibility of using those ballots to someone's benefit are legendary. 

So, the question has to be, can the NYT's be sure there is enough evidence to say vote fraud is a myth?  Vote fraud of all kinds, not just voting by non-citizens.  I doubt there has been all that much real investigation done in this area. 

Most people have some sort of photo id, it is necessary for almost everything we do these days and those who do not have one should be able to get one, or receive some sort of exception for religious reasons, without much ado.  After all, we sure turned the page from those punch card ballots in one big hurry.  And that was a huge change in how we vote, lots of training lots of education.      

How dirty is that ballpark?

A Politico page highlighting the lowlights at 11 major league ballparks.  Run the cursor over each baseball and a little balloon pops up giving you the specific dirt on that stadium.  Busch Stadium is not one of the 11.

What went wrong with that plane

Anyone who flies frequently or has plans to fly this summer might have a case of the jitters after April's flight cancellations by American and Southwest after it was found each company had let inspections and repairs languish.  Now, Politico has put up a cool interactive page showing what has gone wrong with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft since it went on the production line.  This isn't a video, but a neat rendition all the questioned parts of the plane moving away from the body with descriptions of each problem.

Miner's Institute financing partnership

Miner's Theater/Miner's institute, however it's remembered, the building's future in downtown Collinsville is on the drawing board now.  For the past decade or more the Miner's has seen more than one attempt at restoring and renovating, hopes for bringing it up to code as well as keeping its historic architectural birthright in place.  There was never enough money, never enough follow through and so the building has languished occupied only now and then during the Christmas season for afternoon movies or in the spring/summer for a play or two.

Now the Collinsville Area Recreation District has asked the city to be their partner in reviving it and saving an historic place in the city's history.  The proposed agreement stipulates that the city would contribute $100,000 a year for five years, with a possible five-year extension while CARD would supply all the staffing, find grant money to improve the structure, and head the reconstruction efforts. CARD and the city will also establish a board of directors appointed to the Miner's Institute Foundation which currently oversees the building. Once construction on the building is complete, CARD would continue with maintenance, promotion efforts and establishing events at the facility.

As expected this proposal is controversial.  The city would use TIF funds as their portion of the financial agreement and there are those in the community and on the council who believe this may be too much money for one entity and would hinder funds for other downtown businesses.  Others believe it is too much money over too long a time-period.  One the other hand, those in favor of restoring the Miner's believe it will be a tremendous boost to downtown and that once an historic place is left to die, it is gone forever. 

The vote on this agreement should come at the May 27th's council meeting.  This is one of those issues which come before the council that are very difficult.  No one wants to thumb their nose at history, but at the same time the amount of money is considerable with no real evidence that once done, it will be the success it is prophesied to be.

A decision for the council which is probably causing a lot of individual, inner debate. It is very easy to see both sides of this question.

Clinton campaign photo of the day

Photo from the AP by Elise Amendola