Hydraulic fracturing and public health

Conrad "Dan" Volz, former director of the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, was one of the featured speakers at Saturday's Sixth Annual Earth Day Environmental Justice Conference at the Kent State East Liverpool campus.Volz spoke about the Marcellus Shale hydraulic fracturing industry and its impact on public health in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Volz and his associates provide extensive  information on the natural gas extraction industry at FracTracker.org. Other speakers at the KSU-EL conference were architect Timothy A. Thomas, who gave a presentation on sustainable architecture, and Roger Greenawalt, who spoke on geothermal heating and cooling.

Only in America

by M. Stewart

Thousands of gun lovers will be in Pittsburgh this weekend for the National Rifle Association convention. So we can all feel safe, at least for the next few days.

Today’s NRA is a powerful lobbying organization that represents gun manufacturers and arms dealers throughout the world. The NRA doesn’t care who has easy access to guns—drug dealers, hit men, terrorists, kids, lifetime criminals, or law-abiding citizens—as long as gun commerce and the flow of arms are not impeded. The NRA works tirelessly to create the impression that any attempt to control the flow of arms to criminals is a threat to every gun owner.

According to the Post-Gazette, “gun supporters” plan to boycott Primanti Bros. this weekend because a gun control group posted photos of a visit to the restaurant's Strip District location on its web site. So I guess these deep thinkers will pass up the chance to get a soggy coleslaw and french-fry sandwich. Yumm.

Republican leaders are now criticizing President Obama for releasing his birth certificate, calling it an attempt to divert attention from the important issues that face the nation. But leading Republican contender for the presidency Donald Trump is the odd man out. He is crowing about his role in forcing an American citizen to prove he is an American citizen.

Outlining his trade policy last night in Las Vegas, Trump said he would tell the Chinese: “Listen you motherfuckers, we’re going to tax you 25 percent!”

Lastly, it should be clear to even the most passive observer that GOD used tornadoes to punish the American South this week, just like he punished New Orleans with a hurricane and New York City with Muslim terrorists. Reliable sources tell me that the reason for all these tornadoes is that the South has too many gays.

Others believe the reason GOD sent his whirlwinds to Tuscaloosa was to destroy the University of Alabama. Apparently, his aim was a bit off. An NRA member in Pittsburgh for the convention this week is quoted as saying, "He should have used a gun."

Seriously now, anyone who thinks that GOD does not use the weather to punish the wicked is out of touch with the American mainstream.

Swoger and Kerr debate a big success

The East Liverpool mayoral debate drew a full house at Coffee Fusion Wednesday evening. Not only did I enjoy listening to the candidates, I got to see several old friends that I hadn't seen in quite a while. Pictured at left is Mayor Jim Swoger signing a petition to put Ohio Senate Bill 5 on the ballot. To his right is ELO resident Brett Butler. Below is mayoral challenger Councilman Brian Kerr (left) and former ELO Councilwoman Linda Zigler. Both photos were taken after the debate.

Debate tonight

Don't forget the mayoral debate at Coffee Fusion tonight at 6 p.m. Democratic candidates Brian Kerr and Jim Swoger will be answering questions. Mayor Swoger has eight years in office to defend. Kerr's job is to show how he can do it better. In East Liverpool, the winner of the Democratic primary is the de facto mayor because none of our local Republicans will run for office.  

How to buy a piece of Laurel Hollow Park

by Liz Lundberg

Hey ORL readers: I've asked Matt if I could post today to share some important news about Laurel Hollow Park. Anyone who has been visiting ORL since the beginning will recall my September 2006 article on the historic Newell, WV landmark. But first, an update on the life of Laurel Hollow since late '06; then after that, my special news.

The original brainchild of George Washington Clarke, a dinnerware salesman for Homer Laughlin China, Laurel Park was very popular back in the early 1900s; however, it was destined to be short-lived. After Clarke died suddenly of a heart attack, no one stepped in to fill his shoes. It's said that he spent quite a bit of his own money on it; even though it was built on Homer-Laughlin property, the attraction seems to have been under his sole stewardship, and so it fell into disuse. By the time I wrote about it five years ago, you could walk past where its remains lay and never know it existed.

In 2008 restoration began on what is left of the original structures. and the space they occupy has been transformed. The central area, ringed by (now towering) sycamores is clear of vegetation; there are benches and picnic tables, and the old polar bears' den now serves as an amphitheatre where bands have recently played and weddings are scheduled for this coming summer. Trails that once wound their way through the wilder half of the hundred acres park are lined with crushed stone nearly all the way to Newell Heights.

Newell native and park enthusiast Mark Gonzalez, who now resides in Birmingham, Alabama, has created a website in tribute to Laurel Hollow Park (laurelhollowpark.net), including a text that surely has not been read by anyone for many years. In a description of the park that Gonzales discovered in a 1907 Homer Laughlin China catalogue, we discover that the ravine half of the park was "... improved only by smooth graded walks, rustic bridges and comfortable seats, in so far as they may not interfere with the wild natural effect.” That original intent resonates if you traverse just beyond the renovated paths to the base of the spring-fed waterfall.

So if you never, when you were a kid, explored the vine-choked jungle in the summer or sledded its steep banks in the winter, you still have a chance to enjoy this beautiful historic landmark. Don't waste any more time; get the heck down there, for gosh sakes, and soak it up! Those of you who have, and who remember the mystery and excitement should return to rekindle your sense of alive-ness.

This glorious restoration is the brainchild of the Newell Community Improvement Coalition, a local nonprofit organization composed of roughly two dozen Newell residents, and supported with cooperation from local businesses. The NCIC coordinates and shares responsibilities for those invisible things that happen around small towns, such as putting up seasonal decorations, maintaining public trash barrels (or replacing them when they get destroyed by renegade autos and hormone-infected youths) and clearing debris from sidewalks and gutters. The man-hours add up, and with the addition of Laurel Hollow to the list of activities, these residents have proved their devotion to and pride in their town.

Support the park; buy a brick!

To invite your participation in creating a permanent home within the park for the storing and sharing of its legacy. The next stage in the development of the park is the addition of an information center, to include an enclosed kiosk set upon a raised section of pavement.

Rather than requesting donations, which would render all the gifts anonymous, the group thought that everyone who wants to could have their own legacy permanently installed upon a paving stone at the information center. So far the idea has been well-received and spots are being reserved fairly quickly; still, the estimated need is for roughly 200 inscribed pavers sold, with room for 400 available (should fortune bless the park with so many enthusiasts).

The paving company and stone style have been selected - pavers will be varying shades of red brick and come in two sizes; 4 x 8 and 8 x 8-inch. The writing on each paver will be indelible; no need to worry about it wearing off!  The 4 x 8-inch bricks are priced at $50 and the 8 x 8-inch ones at $80. Construction is planned for mid-summer, so the window of opportunity for obtaining one is only about two or three months.  

If you are interested, you can navigate to Mark Gonzalez’s special Web page to print an application; alternately, you may find pick one up in many of the local business around Chester and Newell.

If you think it is a nice idea but don't really have a reason to get one, please read further for a list of really good reasons. And yes, I'm trying to sell pavers! This project means a lot to me, and my window of opportunity for getting them purchased is only two or three months!

So think of all the people or events you know that you might bless with a paver. Here are my suggestions:

--The memory of your grandparents, who recalled the heyday of the park to you.

--The simple fact that your family name is synonymous with the Upper Ohio Valley: maybe you're an Allison, a Tice or a Chaney, and you want to set their legacy in stone.

--The sled-ride you took that you hit a tree in the park and broke your arm, the tree you carved your initials in, or the first kiss you stole from another under the shade of the hardwoods.

--Maybe you have or know of a local business that would want to take the opportunity to contribute to the project; one that has long had roots here, or one with intentions of sinking deep roots.

--Finally think of the folks you know who used to live here but no longer do, and who, like Mark Gonzales, dearly love the upper Ohio valley, and who would leap at a chance to plant a permanent token where their a bit of  spirit permanently abides, if not their bodies.

It's the best kind of bang for your buck; after all, you can’t take it with you, but you can choose the best place to leave it!

At Thursday night's KSU-EL Student Art Show

by M. Stewart

I want to thank all those East Liverpool area residents who came out to Thursday night’s Kent State East Liverpool annual Student Art Show. And special thanks to KSU Prof. Elizabeth Babb’s art students, whose work filled the Mary Patterson Gallery with patrons and paint.

Being involved in the Ohio Valley Regional Arts Council has been one of the highlights of my life over the past few years. We have been fortunate to host some of the region’s finest visual artists, poets, and scientists—painters and photographers like Kam Hayes, Loretta Tipton, Trey Berry, and Bob Frost; poets like Craig Paulenich and Jason Venner; and planetary scientist Francis Graham.

The student show caps a great 2010-2011 season at the KSU Mary Patterson Gallery. Last night’s opening was a tremendous success thanks to all those involved. OVRAC couldn’t function without the hard work of KSU employees/students Karen Vincent and Kim Schneider, who prepare the marvelous feasts and help with every aspect of gallery management. The unwavering support of Dean Jeff Nolte and the entire campus community have been vital to the gallery’s success.

KSU art professor and painter Elizabeth Babb and East Liverpool artist Kam Hayes are invaluable conduits to regional artists. Betsy has opened a wide channel of good will between the Salem and East Liverpool arts communities, and Kam’s local and regional connections have opened doors between the East Liverpool and Akron-Cleveland arts cultures.  

Looking ahead, OVRAC will open the Fall 2011 season with a special exhibit featuring the work of East Liverpool painter Craig Wetzel. You might know of Craig’s remarkable murals at the Nentwick Covalescent Home, which were photographed and collected in a beautiful book titled Come Home and Remember, published in 2010 by the Orange Frazer Press.

Craigwetzel.com has a nice selection of the artist’s work. I’m in the process of discussing the show with Craig as we speak. A firm date will be released sometime this summer.        

The best of both worlds

by M. Stewart
The newspaper industry has been struggling ever since it decided to start giving away its product online. Initially, the plan seemed somewhat reasonable, given the assumption that the advertising model that supported traditional print newspapers could be transitioned to the Internet; however, that transition has not been entirely successful. Most would say it has been a disaster.

One problem is that newspapers are meant to be read, and the multimedia advertising methods associated with the online experience interfere with the reading process. Put simply, loud videos, flashing lights, pop-ups, and animations create a hostile reading environment. As such, the typical newspaper Web site does all it can to push readers away. Think of that loud, annoying Six Recycling video that greets you every time you click into The Review Web site. Need I say more?

Of course, the alternative is to subscribe to the print edition, but not everybody likes the idea of amassing bales of discarded newspapers in their home. Even though I am a committed recycler, I'd rather not deal with all that paper in the first place.

Given those two unattractive alternatives, what's a newspaper reader to do?

Some newspapers--and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is one--have come up with a solution that offers the best of both worlds. Now you can subscribe to the PG print edition without ever having to touch paper or be driven away by obnoxious online advertising. The "PGe," as it is called, is delivered every morning to your computer, tablet, or smart phone, and it looks exactly like the print edition. In fact, it is the print edition--only it's not printed on paper.

I download my PGe as a PDF document, which means that I can keep every issue in an electronic folder that takes up zero physical space and wastes no paper. I find that instead of my typical mad dash through the online edition, I spend lots of time savoring the newspaper from the first page to last. Heck, I even look at the ads! They don't dance, talk, or blink. As well, the words and pictures on every page are crystal clear, and I can zoom in and out at will.

And how much does it cost? Well, a month's trial subscription is just $1. After that, you pay 10 cents per day. If you already subscribe to the print edition, the e-version is free, although I can't imagine why anyone would want both. Check out a sample copy of the PGe.

I can foresee a time in the not-too-distant future when the paper edition of newspapers will be eliminated entirely. No more printing presses, no more physical delivery, no more bales of discarded papers in the nation's landfills. To be honest, I feel good about paying for my news again and would be willing to pay a lot more than a dime a day. I want the newspaper industry to thrive, and I want our journalists to once again be paid a living wage for their work.

I can't help but wonder how long it will take our local Ogden newspapers to get on board with a PDF edition.

Mayoral candidate debate in East Liverpool

by M. Stewart
Next Wednesday, April 27, the Democratic candidates for mayor of East Liverpool--incumbent Mayor Jim Swoger and Councilman Brian Kerr--will take part in a debate at Coffee Fusion & Tea, located at corner of Fifth and Washington streets downtown. The debate will begin at 6 p.m. sharp and last approximately one hour.

Dave Marshall, owner of The Mezzanine mall (old Ogilvie building), said he will shut down the coffee counter during the debate. Review managing editor Jim Mackey will ask questions of the candidates, and he will be assisted by former East Liverpool councilman Bill Hogue.

As I understand it, candidates will have 60 seconds to answer questions. Rebuttals and follow-ups will be timed as well. Mr. Marshall has asked yours truly to be to the official timekeeper, so I'll need to find a stopwatch!

Seating is limited, so come early to stake out your territory.

The ruling class and Ohio's CEO

I don't have much time this morning, so let me send you off to a good piece by syndicated op-ed columnist E.J. Dionne about the failures of the American ruling class. The essay appears in the print edition of today's Post-Gazette, but I couldn't find it in the online edition. That's why I'm sending you to the Washington Post.

Speaking of the ruling class (I'm joking, of course), Gov. Kasich visited his Tea Party friends in Salem. Read all about it in our local newspapers. Wonder why he didn't come to Liverpool?

The power of water

Honest, decent Republicans must reclaim their party

by M. Stewart

It’s time for honest Republicans to start reclaiming their party from the Tea Party nuts—that is, unless they are convinced that more than half the American electorate is just as delusional as they are.

Last week’s incident with Sen. Jon Kyl was the perfect symbol of Tea Party rule. After a wildly inaccurate public statement about Planned Parenthood was exposed, Kyl defended himself by saying that his statement was “never meant to be factual.”

Of course not, senator. You’re a modern Republican, and you gave up worrying about factual statements a long time ago. You’re now working in the tradition of Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman, Donald Trump, and Fox News. All you have to do initiate the lies and propaganda, and your dumb-ass constituents will don ridiculous costumes, write what you said on cardboard signs, show up at a Tea Party rally, and demand that we all bow down to the super rich (who wouldn’t be caught dead rubbing shoulders with them).

The Tea Party nuts want us all to believe that President Obama is the ultimate tax-and-spend Democrat. Thanks to this Muslim Marxist foreigner, you’re paying most of your hard-earned dollars to the evil federal government, which, in turn, is handing it all to lazy black crack addicts and Mexicans who are taking white folks’ jobs.

The facts tell a completely different story—yes, a completely different story. Does anyone out there remember facts—you know, information that is meant to be factual? The Associated Press reports today that “The super rich pay a lot less taxes than they did a couple of decades ago, and nearly half of U.S. households pay no income taxes at all.”

Too abstract for you? Well let me give you some personal data. My effective tax rate under the evil President Obama’s regime for tax year 2010 was 4.34 percent. For 2009, it was 6.89 percent. For those of you who are math challenged, my tax rate went down 2.55 percent.

And for those of you who are convinced that state employees are draining you dry, know that my salary is significantly less than that of the average American, but I'm not complaining. If you think my retirement benefits are the culprit, know that I contribute 10 percent of my income to the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, and when I retire, I will sink below the poverty line unless my son agrees to give me a monthly pay-back allowance. Our Republican governor and his pals want to make sure I get even less.

So if the facts don’t fit into your political point of view, just ignore them and make up your own. Get out a chalk board and draw lines between circled names of the people you hate and data you saw on Fox News. Before long, you will have constructed a completely delusional view of the world. You see, propaganda is fun, and it’s a lot easier to be convincing when you’re not tied down by facts.

And then there is the case of California Republican Party official Marilyn Davenport, who distributed a picture of  a "baby" President Obama alongside two "parent" chimpanzees with the caption: "Now you know why no birth certificate." In true Tea Party fashion, Davenport responded to charges of racism by saying, "The thought never entered my mind until one or two other people tried to make this about race."

Yet Tea Party Republicans would have us believe that they stand for truth, justice, and the American way; that they are the only true patriots; that they represent God on Earth.

Hey, did you hear that Sarah Palin had oral sex with Donald Trump and vomited up an armadillo? It’s true. I swear to God.

Musical salute to Yuri Gagarin

Education or training?

By M. Stewart

“A nation that destroys its systems of education, degrades its public information, guts its public libraries and turns its airwaves into vehicles for cheap, mindless amusement becomes deaf, dumb and blind. It prizes test scores above critical thinking and literacy. It celebrates rote vocational training and the singular, amoral skill of making money. It churns out stunted human products, lacking the capacity and vocabulary to challenge the assumptions and structures of the corporate state. It funnels them into a caste system of drones and systems managers. It transforms a democratic state into a feudal system of corporate masters and serfs.”

This is the introductory paragraph of an essay by Chris Hedges titled Why the United States Is Destroying Its Education System. While the tone is a bit shrill for my tastes, I think Hedges critique of education is largely valid and accurate.

Let’s face it, the recent attack on teachers and public education is little more than a convenient political strategy for right-wing politicians who realize they can cash in on playing to the lowest-common-denominator of the electorate—the very people who need education the most but who wish to validate their own lack of it by sucking up to the rich. Anyone who can think past his nose understands that the attack is a diversion that seeks to make teachers the scapegoats and provide cover for those actually responsible for the economic and budgetary crises.  

Frankenstein's monster

Despite the politicians and their clients, the attempt to educate the reluctant American masses continues, even if we realize that true education is beyond the grasp of most. To be perfectly honest, it always has been. Creating a population of self-respecting, thinking beings who expect a piece of the pie is not what capitalism needed after all—especially from the perspective of the wealthy ruling class, which is starting to feel a bit like Victor Frankenstein running from his creation. There is only so much wealth to go around, and when too many average citizens want it, something must be done.

 “Training” is a more reasonable goal for the general public, and politicians and school administrators understand that training can be accomplished by sitting in front of a computer. Teachers really can be replaced by education technicians. Moreover, I am told that these changes are inevitable. It could be that the ideal worker is a trained drone unable to think beyond its program. Imagine Mary Shelley’s monster, but one that does not aspire to be human. I'm exaggerating, of course, but you get the point. Andrew Carnegie was misguided when he built all those public libraries. It never occurred to him that one day there would be a hoard of politicians who, claiming the moral high ground, would cut off funding for books. 

At one time the liberal arts and sciences provided the foundation of public education. These days it’s not easy to justify the study of literature, history, philosophy, music, art and culture to anti-government politicians and their corporate masters. As such, my kind may soon be replaced by machines and machine operators in the name of efficiency, profit, and digital outcomes. Then again, maybe not. The future is never quite as clear as we imagine, and too many people imagine the worst.

But no matter what the future brings, you won’t see me whining and crying about it. Times change, and when the time comes for me to go, I’ll go knowing that I did my part in my time. We dare not insist on outliving our usefulness to the world.Who knows? Education may once again become the exclusive domain of the idle rich, who, bored with money-making, will demand interesting, thoughtful, conscious lives for themselves and their children.

And everything that happened before will happen again.     

Research, research, research

by M. Stewart

It turns out that sugar may not only be bad for us, but literally toxic—certainly in the amounts that Americans consume the stuff.

Surely something is going on. According to an article in the New York Times Magazine, “In 1980, roughly one in seven Americans was obese, and almost six million were diabetic, and the obesity rates, at least, hadn’t changed significantly in the 20 years previously. By the early 2000s, when sugar consumption peaked, one in every three Americans was obese, and 14 million were diabetic.”

For an extensive review of contemporary research on the issue of sugar and its connection to obesity, diabetes, and cancer, check out Is sugar toxic? I must warn you that the article is fairly long, but it’s worth the time.  

If your attention span is wanting, here’s something a bit shorter. New research done at Kent State University indicates that there is a link between body weight and memory—as in overweight people display weaker memory skills than those who are not overweight. Maybe a better way of putting it is that weight loss improves memory.

Last but not least, British scientists have discovered that one’s political persuasion may be connected to brain structure. According to an article in the The Telegraph, “Scientists found that those with conservative views have brains with larger amygdalas, almond-shaped areas in the centre of the brain associated with anxiety and emotions. On the other hand, they have a smaller anterior cingulate, an area at the front of the brain associated with courage and looking on the bright side of life.”

Progress and regress

by M. Stewart
In his 2005 scholarly book, Theories of Mythology, Eric Csapo discusses, among many other things, the Victorian assumptions of one of the world's leading writers on the subject, Scottish anthropologist James Frazer (1854-1941). Frazer's great work, The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion, is a classic in the field.

I find Csapo's discussion of Frazer particular interesting in light of current American political, social, and cultural conflicts. The following excerpt is from page 51 of Theories of Mythology. NOTE: Frazer's is not a world view that Csapo necessarily supports.

. . . Frazer constructs an image of society which essentially maps the hierarchy of mental and moral development, extracted from the evolutionary timeline, onto each and every society. Society, it seems, never moves forward together in step, but one has to distinguish a progressive and regressive sector in every culture. 

Sir James Frazer

There is a cultural elite, which is the repository of conscious and purposive thought, and there is the ignorant mass, which is the repository of primitive ideas, which would even readily revert to the savagery of a previous age if it were not firmly controlled by the cultural elite. Indeed, the masses do periodically in times of stress reverse the direction of human progress. Evolution and progress might be arrested and reversed even in Western society, if the regressive element is not strictly contained.


[Quoting Frazer] "It is probably not too much to say that the hope of progress -- moral and intellectual as well as material -- in the future is bound up with the fortunes of science, and that every obstacle placed in the way of scientific discovery is a wrong to humanity."

This regressive element still carries about in its collective head the fossils of past theories and practices, without really needing, within their dim collective intellect, to entertain any consciousness of their original meaning and function. Here is Victorian anthropology's internal other, the social counterpart of the savage, whose existence . . . is necessary to the whole enterprise of comparative self-definition.

UPMC sled hockey benefit

by M. Stewart
We spent an enjoyable Saturday evening at the Bladerunners Ice Complex in Harmarville, Pa. watching members of the professional staff at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute take on the Pittsburgh Penguins adult sled hockey team in a benefit game.

The Penguins team athletes all have had a spinal-cord or other injury that restricts lower body movement, but sled hockey is an upper-body sport, and their disabilities disappear on the ice. The UPMC staff found out just how difficult the sport is, but losing the game was the last thing on their minds. Clearly everybody was a winner at this wonderful benefit event.

The Bladerunners Ice Complex is just north of downtown Pittsburgh off Rt. 28. The facility houses at least three hockey arenas (that I saw) and is evidence of a very active amateur hockey culture in Pittsburgh. (Click photo to enlarge.)

U.S. Rep. Archie Bunker

by M. Stewart
I remember an old All in the Family episode where Mike Stivik got an out-of-town job offer and was preparing to move away with his wife, Gloria, and their son, which caused great conflict in the Bunker household. But at the last minute, the job offer was pulled and the Stiviks ended up staying in New York, prompting Archie to claim that he'd planned all along to pay their moving expenses.

After everyone heaped praise on Archie for the magnanimous gesture, he confessed privately to his wife, Edith, that he had no intention of paying for the move, but since the job offer was pulled, he could say that he had, so his daughter and son in law would think he was a great guy. Following a moment of confusion, Edith--one of television's greatest enablers--ended the program by thanking Archie for the thought.

Someone else must remember that episode of All in the Family too--namely, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, whose office issued a press release yesterday claiming that if the federal government were to shut down, the congressman would "donate his salary for the time of the shutdown to eastern and southeastern Ohio veterans organizations." You can read all of Johnson's April 8 press release at his web site.

Well, it looks like old Bill won't have to donate his salary to those veterans organizations after all! By some miracle, a veritable deus ex machina, the Tea Party was able to make an 11th-hour deal with the Democrats and keep the federal government running. Of course, Rep. Johnson knew nothing of this when he had his people write the press release on Friday. It was a complete surprise. Willing to play the role of Edith Bunker, some newspapers published the press release in their Saturday edition anyway.

In other entertainment news, Charlie Sheen continued his "Torpedo of Truth" comedy tour at Radio City Music Hall in New York City last night. While the Jesco White of the jet set didn't get booed off the stage like he did in Detroit, reports indicate that the reception wasn't exactly warm. There were some boos and jeers from hecklers, but there were also some appreciative fans who paid over $100 to see Mr. Sheen talk about himself and his problems. But all in all, the night didn't go well for Sheen, unless you think ending with the audience chanting "Fuck you, Charlie" is an invitation to an encore.

But things were quite different in the once great state of Ohio, where a just a few nights earlier Sheen received the warmest of welcomes. According to TMZ,  Cleveland fans went wild over Charlie, going so far as to offer him a standing ovation. Does anyone remember when Cleveland was known as a center of culture in the Midwest? I do, but that was a long, long time ago.

At the Mary Patterson Gallery

The Kent State E. Liverpool Mary Patterson Gallery

Francis Graham, Brian Steele, Mary Ann Hogue, Bill Hogue

Artist Loretta Tipton and Newell resident Lisa Pence

Art reception tonight at Mary Pat Gallery

EAST LIVERPOOL -- For those of you who appreciate the fine arts, there is an exhibit opening tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Kent State University's Mary Patterson Gallery featuring the work of Salem artist Loretta Tipton. As always the Ohio Valley Regional Arts Council will provide free food and drink, so come hungry.

Loretta's work is very high-quality and accessible. She is also a professional framer, which means that her stuff is handsomely framed with archival-quality materials and is ready to hang. As well, her pricing is extremely reasonable, which isn't always the case with our artists. Even the larger pieces are priced under $250, and many are in the $100 range. You're just not going to find original art of this quality any cheaper.

Hope to see you there! If you can't make it this evening, regular gallery hours are 6-8 p.m. Thursday and 1-3 p.m. on Fridays (and by appointment). The Tipton exhibit runs through next week only. The gallery is located on the second floor of the Mary Patterson building on the campus of the Kent State East Liverpool campus.

Corrupt governors, persecuted teachers, and suburban terror

by M. Stewart

1. What do you do with a kid in his “mid-20s, … no college degree, very little management experience and two drunken-driving convictions”? Well, if you're Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, you give him an $81,500 per year job along with a 25 percent raise after just two months, especially if his daddy is a campaign contributor.

For the complete story, see Daniel Bice’s piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

2. For all you teacher haters out there, here’s some news that should get your blood up. An East Liverpool teacher was fired for teaching from the Bible! Can you believe it? Is it possible? What will the godless liberals do next? Click here for more details.

3. As if that’s not enough, it seems that St. Clair Township police have a terrorist group on their hands. A so-far anonymous group is leaving pop-bottle bombs designed to explode on touch in the yards of innocent township residents. So don’t touch that trash! Otherwise, you might lose your hand and/or your face. Instead, leave the trash and call police immediately.

As far as I’m concerned, this has the look of Islamic terrorism. Perhaps it’s associated with reports of a mosque operating as a Christian church in Calcutta. Exactly which church remains a mystery, but church members are reported to look and act just like Christians. Don't fall for it! They are Muslims in disguise, and these pop-bottle bombs are just the beginning. Next thing you know, they’ll be blowing up Wal-Mart. Then what will we do?

Once, twice, thrice

Buenos Ayres Train Station (click to enlarge)

Three Fiesta bowls

The "genre of women"

by M. Stewart

There must be something about 11-year-old girls that inspire gang rapists. First it was Texas, and now another incident of teen gang rape has come to light in California.

In the apparently unrelated Texas incident, as many as 20 teens and adults gang raped a sixth-grade girl after she was taken to an abandoned trailer last Thanksgiving. The California incident occurred in a park restroom, where an unspecified number of male teenagers cornered their prey.

Hena Akhter

Those responsible are said to be members of a teen gang known as the “Southside Mafia.” Members are said to wear “skinny” jeans and ride skateboards. 

Across the seas in Bangladesh, a local Muslim imam sentenced a 14-year-old girl to receive 101 cane lashings after she was accused of adultery. Unfortunately for her torturers, the girl collapsed after just 70 lashes and later died from her injuries. Local medical authorities ruled that the cause of death was suicide.

It seems that a married woman observed the girl talking to her husband, which is all it takes in Bangladesh to become an adulteress. It was later discovered that the young girl was gagged, beaten, and raped by the husband (and victim's cousin) in a bathroom stall. The confusion came when his wife walked in on the scene and saw them “talking.” 

Snookie

But why should we worry about the problems of common folk when there are rich and famous people to discuss? Rutgers University students affirmed the decline of advanced civilization by inviting someone named “Snookie” not to speak at the university, but to conduct two “Q/A sessions” on campus. “Snookie," who is described as a "reality star," was paid $32,000 for her efforts.  

Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison will be paid $2,000 less than “Snookie” for delivering the commencement speech at Rutgers this coming May. How many Rutgers graduates do you think will know who Toni Morrison is when she takes the podium? How many do you think know who “Snookie” is?

Fox News has hired yet another potential presidential candidate as a commenter. This time it’s New York City rich man Donald Trump, who so far has made his mark in the world of politics by announcing that he is a “birther.” We need to remember, however, that Trump speaks for the common people when he's on Fox.

Michele Bachman

I know Mr. Trump is a man, but the segue is Fox News, which also reports that Tea Party darling Michele Bachman—the Sarah Palin of the Midwest—has raised more money than dead white male Mitt Romney to fund her race to power. Perhaps Bachman should contact “Snookie” to run as her VP on the Tea Party ticket. These women are far removed from the world of gang rape and religious murder. Instead, they are free to discuss the evils of government and whatever it is that Snookie finds interesting.   

Britney Spears

With the economy in steady recovery, it appears that the big national issues for Republicans will be light bulbs and toilets. According to leading Tea Party Repubs, real Americans have had all they’re going to take of those sissy energy-saving light bulbs and water-saving toilets. We need to get back to wasting as much energy and water as possible. After all, waste and conspicuous consumption are the birthrights of every American.

Finally, on the cultural front, the big news in American music this week is the return of Britney Spears to the pop scene. According to what I’ve read, Bouncy Brit's new album, Femme Fatale, includes a hit single titled “He About to Lose Me.” Critics have called the new music "innovative" and "ground-breaking."

Referring to something she calls the “genre of women,” Spears was quoted as saying, “I feel like the genre of women today musically is just astounding. I feel like we actually need to come together and do a song that speaks for itself and actually shows how much power we do have.”