respublica

It's about time

Cell phone companies have finally agreed on a one size fits all charger. 

Starting next year all those different chargers will be a think of the past.

State Park-change they don't believe in

A Belleville News-Democrat editorial weighs in this morning on the Collinsville/State Park annexation issue.

It isn't long, but the gist of it is, "Most of the State Park Place residents don't want to be part of Collinsville, the same as the last time city leaders discussed this."

Then the summary:

"City leaders have said they won't annex the area against the people's will. So if they really want State Park Place to become part of Collinsville, the discussions need to be with the people who live there to persuade them about the benefits of annexation."

If the paper had been paying attention they might know that persuading residents of State Park, block by block, house by house, is exactly what the city plans to do.  If there is ever a decision to go ahead with a annexation plan with State Park, the city plans to work with residents individually and by street. 

Interestingly, this is how a growing number of urban planners see as the best way to do things-block by block rather than taking large area all at once.  The Post-Dispatch had a story by Tim Logan on Monday, June 29, (can't find it on the website) which discussed the large project developer Paul McKee has for north St. Louis which entails taking a huge portion of that part of the city all at once.

While many large vision projects sit languishing on the drawing board in St. Louis-Ballpark Village and the Bottle District for example, smaller urban areas have successfully been re-vitalized-Benton Park, Maplewood, Tower Grove Park, South Grand etc.

While the editorial makes it appear as though everyone in State Park are against annexation by Collinsville, this may not be the case.  The city is setting its sights on going about things in the right way, step by step. 

Read it. A fresh idea

Congressmen are being urged to "read the health bill".  What a concept.

It became obvious they didn't read the stimulus bill not did anyone have the time or the actual Cap and Trade energy bill, to read before voting.

Cap, Trade and a T-Shirt

Ok.  After a week of arm twisting members of congress who really really didn't want to vote yes on the Cap and Trade (energy) bill, President Obama comes out yesterday and says he really really doesn't like one of the provisions.

He doesn't like the provisions which would impose trade penalties on other countries that do not accept limits on global warming.

Why was this not told to the bill's sponsors last week?  They could have taken it out, surely they had time if they found the wherewithal to send a 300 page addition to the bill in the middle of the night before the vote.

There is also a feeling that the global warming issue isn't the big thing it was last year.  From Roger Simon:  "It’s as if that was last year’s - or last decade’s - fad, at the very moment the House of Representatives has been browbeaten by LaPelosita into voting for a cap-and-trade bill no known person has read, let alone understood."

Ah.  There's more:  "It will be interesting to see whether Obama will really put his weight behind this one - or if he will let LaPelosita twist."

Looks like Roger was on to something.

Oh, and here's a place to buy a T-shirt which says,

Dear Congress.
You Cap us,
We Trade You.
Love,
Your Boss

My own strongly held opinion is no bill should ever become law unless members of congress can prove they have actually read it before voting.

Sound off or etiquette?

One of the odder "sound offs" in the Belleville News-Democrat finds its way into the paper today.  Monday is the day when the paper lets people voice their opinion anonymously instead of with signed letters to the editor. 

Seems to me this 'sound off' should have been routed to Dianne Isbell for her Monday Etiquette column.

"Every year I have 50 to 60 friends and family over for a back yard reunion on the Fourth of July. I note on the invitations to bring a covered dish, to RSVP and to bring their own drinks because we supply all the meat. But people don't RSVP, they bring one tiny covered dish and they bring extra friends with them. I don't really mind the extra friends, but I wish they would RSVP and bring a larger covered dish."

That must be some backyard.

Weekly fire hydrant running constantly update

It's still running.  Water is still spilling all over the Oakland Ave and Macklind intersection, it's been weeks of 24/7.  If you can't see the water coming out, click to enlarge.

Will your town be next?

Concord New Hampshire has instituted few trash pick up rules.  Beginning July 6 residents will have to "Pay As You Throw".  They will be required to put all trash in specific purple bags which they will pay for- $2.00 for a twenty pound bag and $1.00 for a ten pound trash bag.  If trash is not put in these bags the trash will not be picked up.

The idea is that having residents pay for each bag of trash will translate into more recycling and the elimination of wasteful habits.

On this date, June 27

Displaced Techsan was born.

Happy Birthday Tex!

                      

Clayton Farmers Market 2009

8:20 a.m.  Ten minutes before opening Biver Farms has a line which would stretch almost the width of the parking lot.

I was lucky.  After a half an hour wait, I got the second to last half pint box of raspberries.

Your feel good story for Saturday

White Sox pitcher, Mark Buehrle, a St. Louis native, has partnered with his wife to provide help for a local animal shelter, Alton Illinois' Hope Animal Rescues.

Since November the Buehrles have donated lights, ceiling fans and air conditioners, but are now extending their efforts into the sale of wine.

A new wine with the label, Buehrlot, will be sold with all profits going to the shelter.

You can purchase some of this wine online by going here.  It is a 2007 San Martin California Merlot. 

Woof.  This is so great.

Living in St. Louis as we do, being dog lovers and having a husband who is an extreme White Sox fan, you can bet we'll be getting some of this.