Im torn a bit. Some said to give the immigration thing a rest, so I did, but then, not as many people discussed the posts.
Soooooo .... makes me wonder whether i should be responsible and talk about what needs talkin about, or whether I should just stir things up to cause a ruckus to get more discussion on my blog.
Oh well.
Here goes my foray into the school bond issue.
Its about time to vote, if you have not voted, you need to get that ballot mailed in.
If you didn't get a ballot, you can get one at the courthouse in Winfield.
Ballots have to be in by noon Tuesday, NOT mailed by then, but in the ballot box in Winfield at the courthouse.
So even mailing it Monday probably won't work.
We had a story about one problem that is developing, and that being the fact that a lot of ballots have been returned by the post office as undeliverable.
This is because people have not changed their address when they have moved. We got ballots for the people who used to live in this house, but they don't live here anymore. I dont know where they live, but I dont think it is Arkansas City.
Obviously they have not changed their address with the voting people.
Now before the naysayers get riled up about this, you have to realize it is just a quirk in the system. I dont think its some grand conspiracy to either get it passed or to derail it, depending on which side of the conspiracy you are on.
If you are a registered voter in the district, you can still get a ballot even if one did not come in the mail.
It will just be a bit more hassle if you didnt change your address.
I am begrudgingly supporting the bond issue.
You can tweak with details and argue the various points to death. I am sure some parts could be made better, but I dont think that helps anything.
If we really think a detail should be changed, we can go to the school board and make the case.
I see it more as giving a general approval to a building program that will improve schools. I dont really care if they follow the plan exactly, though they may have to.
I dont have kids in school, but I believe in supporting my community.
It is a quality of life issue, and it is going to cost me about an extra $60-$70 a year for 20 years. Taxes are already high, that much more wont break me.
But I do sort of object to the fact that renters are not paying any of the freight.
Still, its a good thing to do for the community.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Curry FIeld
By request.
I was thinking about Curry Field, and what would happen if the school bond issue passes.
They would be building a new stadium near the high school, but that would take some time. Even if if passes, I would imagine at least one more football season at Curry Field.
So you could have a "farewell tour" for the field. Make i a marketing thing.
Im not from here and don't have a huge emotional attachment to Curry FIeld, though I do understand why some people would.
If parking were not an issue, I would say you could have outdoor concerts there. I know, i think everywhere would be a good site for an outdoor concert, but this would work.
It could stay a field for intramural sports with Cowley College.
What if Cowley brought football back?
If they did they would probably have to rebuild the facility anyway, but that would be ironic. Ive not heard anything about Cowley having football again. Its a very expensive proposition, so I wouldn't hold my breath.
I did some research awhile back. Back in the 1890's and 1900's there was an adult men's football team here. That was about the same thing that college teams had. It was pretty loose. I remember reading that in 1910 a coach at Oklahoma was in hot water for insisting that college players actually be enrolled at the school.
But the cool thing was, OU played at Curry Field and lost. Ark City is 2-1 against Oklahoma. Thats a better winning percentage than KU has against them:) They also played against Chilocco Indian School.
If they do get the bond issue, and build a new stadium, i am sure we will do an detailed history of Curry FIeld.
I was thinking about Curry Field, and what would happen if the school bond issue passes.
They would be building a new stadium near the high school, but that would take some time. Even if if passes, I would imagine at least one more football season at Curry Field.
So you could have a "farewell tour" for the field. Make i a marketing thing.
Im not from here and don't have a huge emotional attachment to Curry FIeld, though I do understand why some people would.
If parking were not an issue, I would say you could have outdoor concerts there. I know, i think everywhere would be a good site for an outdoor concert, but this would work.
It could stay a field for intramural sports with Cowley College.
What if Cowley brought football back?
If they did they would probably have to rebuild the facility anyway, but that would be ironic. Ive not heard anything about Cowley having football again. Its a very expensive proposition, so I wouldn't hold my breath.
I did some research awhile back. Back in the 1890's and 1900's there was an adult men's football team here. That was about the same thing that college teams had. It was pretty loose. I remember reading that in 1910 a coach at Oklahoma was in hot water for insisting that college players actually be enrolled at the school.
But the cool thing was, OU played at Curry Field and lost. Ark City is 2-1 against Oklahoma. Thats a better winning percentage than KU has against them:) They also played against Chilocco Indian School.
If they do get the bond issue, and build a new stadium, i am sure we will do an detailed history of Curry FIeld.
did ya'll see this ?
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Hugo Chavez’s government is taking its battle against U.S. ‘‘imperialism’’ into Venezuelans’ dictionaries, urging state phone company workers to avoid English-language business and tech terms.
Through a campaign launched Monday, newly nationalized CANTV hopes to wean employees and others from words like ‘‘staff’’ (‘‘equipo’’ is preferred), ‘‘marketing’’ (‘‘mercadeo’’) and ‘‘password’’ (‘‘contrasena’’).
Stickers and banners printed up by the company exhort Venezuelans to ‘‘Say it in Spanish. Say it with pride.’’
The Communications and Information Ministry said in a statement that Venezuelans must recover Spanish words that are ‘‘threatened by sectors that have started a battle for the cultural domination of our nations.’’
Other English words targeted include ‘‘mouse’’ (the company prefers ‘‘raton’’), ‘‘meeting’’ (‘‘reunion’’) and ‘‘sponsor’’ (‘‘patrocinador’’) — all of which have become common in Latin American countries.
The leftist president has sought to counter what he calls U.S. cultural imperialism on all fronts, financing Venezuelan cinema as an alternative to the ‘‘dictatorship of Hollywood’’ and forcing radio stations to play more Venezuelan music.English is still taught in schools alongside other languages, however.
Chavez himself often breaks playfully into English during speeches, sometimes to salute his close friend, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, saying: ‘‘How are you, Fidel?’’
Through a campaign launched Monday, newly nationalized CANTV hopes to wean employees and others from words like ‘‘staff’’ (‘‘equipo’’ is preferred), ‘‘marketing’’ (‘‘mercadeo’’) and ‘‘password’’ (‘‘contrasena’’).
Stickers and banners printed up by the company exhort Venezuelans to ‘‘Say it in Spanish. Say it with pride.’’
The Communications and Information Ministry said in a statement that Venezuelans must recover Spanish words that are ‘‘threatened by sectors that have started a battle for the cultural domination of our nations.’’
Other English words targeted include ‘‘mouse’’ (the company prefers ‘‘raton’’), ‘‘meeting’’ (‘‘reunion’’) and ‘‘sponsor’’ (‘‘patrocinador’’) — all of which have become common in Latin American countries.
The leftist president has sought to counter what he calls U.S. cultural imperialism on all fronts, financing Venezuelan cinema as an alternative to the ‘‘dictatorship of Hollywood’’ and forcing radio stations to play more Venezuelan music.English is still taught in schools alongside other languages, however.
Chavez himself often breaks playfully into English during speeches, sometimes to salute his close friend, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, saying: ‘‘How are you, Fidel?’’
Monday, February 25, 2008
attitudes
Really got people going last week with the immigration thing.
I would say there is a difference between "being" a racist and having racially bad attitudes.
I guess everyone knows by now that the racism thing - or racist attitudes - is a hot button for me.
I dont want to call anyone that word. But when you go blaming problems on a certain race of people - i don't know what else you can call it.
Here is another post office story, from a different angle.
In South Carolina, a hot August afternoon. I pull up to the post office. All my windows are down, no auto-windows on this car. I have $3,000 worth of camera equipment laying in the seat.
Need to mail a package and have to go inside to pay postage.
Small post office in a rural area. When i drive up to the door there is no one around except this one guy standing by the door. He is black. Doesn't look unusual at all. He is just standing there. At the door, five feet or so from my car.
I really think i would have had the same concern if it had been a white guy, hispanic guy or whatever. Or even if it had been a female :) .
My concern was that I had to leave my camera stuff in the car and it was an easy target. And to roll up the windows would make it obvious that I did not trust the person, which is what was bothering me more than anything.
I was also concerned that he would think it was because of his color that I was locking up my car.
and as I said, these were manual windows. four of them. so whatever i did, would be obvious ..
So what to do?
What would you do?
I would say there is a difference between "being" a racist and having racially bad attitudes.
I guess everyone knows by now that the racism thing - or racist attitudes - is a hot button for me.
I dont want to call anyone that word. But when you go blaming problems on a certain race of people - i don't know what else you can call it.
Here is another post office story, from a different angle.
In South Carolina, a hot August afternoon. I pull up to the post office. All my windows are down, no auto-windows on this car. I have $3,000 worth of camera equipment laying in the seat.
Need to mail a package and have to go inside to pay postage.
Small post office in a rural area. When i drive up to the door there is no one around except this one guy standing by the door. He is black. Doesn't look unusual at all. He is just standing there. At the door, five feet or so from my car.
I really think i would have had the same concern if it had been a white guy, hispanic guy or whatever. Or even if it had been a female :) .
My concern was that I had to leave my camera stuff in the car and it was an easy target. And to roll up the windows would make it obvious that I did not trust the person, which is what was bothering me more than anything.
I was also concerned that he would think it was because of his color that I was locking up my car.
and as I said, these were manual windows. four of them. so whatever i did, would be obvious ..
So what to do?
What would you do?
Friday, February 22, 2008
An email on small steps
Here is an email I received from a friend from far away, about a post this morning. Just thought it was insightful.
"I guess it is true that changing a name of a pond isn't exactly earth shaking news that will change Arkansas City forever. But then again, if everyone took on a project of some kind ... it just might."
That's a great attitude to disseminate. The TV Age has reduced our hopes for making small changes and reduced our belief that small changes add up to great things. But in actuality, small changes are all anyone is ever allowed. We're not God, we're people. People are given small areas in which to be faithful to God's call.
And those "big stories" of "huge" improvements? They're all made up of small changes over a long period of time. It's enough that God allows us, no, encourages us to be co-creators with Him in His on-going work. Pretty amazing, actually. A God that wants to do things with us. WITH us! With US! Just way cool.
And He makes that possible with just the small items that are within our small reach. It's sad anyone ever sits at home and complains instead of jumping into the excitement right at their doorstep.
Andrea
"I guess it is true that changing a name of a pond isn't exactly earth shaking news that will change Arkansas City forever. But then again, if everyone took on a project of some kind ... it just might."
That's a great attitude to disseminate. The TV Age has reduced our hopes for making small changes and reduced our belief that small changes add up to great things. But in actuality, small changes are all anyone is ever allowed. We're not God, we're people. People are given small areas in which to be faithful to God's call.
And those "big stories" of "huge" improvements? They're all made up of small changes over a long period of time. It's enough that God allows us, no, encourages us to be co-creators with Him in His on-going work. Pretty amazing, actually. A God that wants to do things with us. WITH us! With US! Just way cool.
And He makes that possible with just the small items that are within our small reach. It's sad anyone ever sits at home and complains instead of jumping into the excitement right at their doorstep.
Andrea
Agents of change
With the talk about the role of the city commission, I wanted to talk a bit about something that actually happened.
You know they re-named the north pond, McFarland Pond at the meeting the other night. I know this isn't earth shaking news, and isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things. It made Mrs. McFarland happy, and the family, which is one good result.
I just want to make the point of how it happened.
A group of people approached the commission and asked them. They had to go through channels, and they did, and the city gave the OK. (The request to open it up for fishing has not yet been approved, still some channels involved there.)
They were all Lions Club members, but it is not a Lions Club project.
THese are the same people - Bob Mathews, Gary Hale, and a couple others, - who got the name changed to Veterans Lake at 6th St. Pond.
The Lions CLub is building a small shelter and plans to put up a flagpole and a flag.
The guys who approached the commission are also heavily involved in the fishing derby, which is growing each year.
They wouldn't be above using McFarlands Pond - or even other ponds and or lakes - for future fishing derby's. In just four years they now have literally hundreds of kids involved.
These sames guys are trying to get Veterans Lake cleaned up. Theres a lot of brush, weeds, briars and such, that need to be cleaned up. They are trying to have a workday Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. They have made a fair amount of progress already.
They could sit around and moan about how the city isn't cleaning up Veterans Lake, and how it isn't fair that the north pond isn't named after the people who once owned the land. AND they could complain about kids hanging out causing trouble.
Or they could start a fishing derby to get kids involved in fishing, and then they could draw attention to the city's lakes by working toward getting them presentable and usable.
I guess it is true that changing a name of a pond isn't exactly earth shaking news that will change Arkansas City forever. But then again, if everyone took on a project of some kind ... it just might.
You know they re-named the north pond, McFarland Pond at the meeting the other night. I know this isn't earth shaking news, and isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things. It made Mrs. McFarland happy, and the family, which is one good result.
I just want to make the point of how it happened.
A group of people approached the commission and asked them. They had to go through channels, and they did, and the city gave the OK. (The request to open it up for fishing has not yet been approved, still some channels involved there.)
They were all Lions Club members, but it is not a Lions Club project.
THese are the same people - Bob Mathews, Gary Hale, and a couple others, - who got the name changed to Veterans Lake at 6th St. Pond.
The Lions CLub is building a small shelter and plans to put up a flagpole and a flag.
The guys who approached the commission are also heavily involved in the fishing derby, which is growing each year.
They wouldn't be above using McFarlands Pond - or even other ponds and or lakes - for future fishing derby's. In just four years they now have literally hundreds of kids involved.
These sames guys are trying to get Veterans Lake cleaned up. Theres a lot of brush, weeds, briars and such, that need to be cleaned up. They are trying to have a workday Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. They have made a fair amount of progress already.
They could sit around and moan about how the city isn't cleaning up Veterans Lake, and how it isn't fair that the north pond isn't named after the people who once owned the land. AND they could complain about kids hanging out causing trouble.
Or they could start a fishing derby to get kids involved in fishing, and then they could draw attention to the city's lakes by working toward getting them presentable and usable.
I guess it is true that changing a name of a pond isn't exactly earth shaking news that will change Arkansas City forever. But then again, if everyone took on a project of some kind ... it just might.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
a suggestion
Many of you like to post anonymously, which is OK.
However, I know some post fairly regularly. It would be nice to be able to kind of keep track of who is who.
Could you guys just create a name to post with?
Would just be a way of being able to keep track and keep the conversation going.
Use any name you like.
what do you think?
However, I know some post fairly regularly. It would be nice to be able to kind of keep track of who is who.
Could you guys just create a name to post with?
Would just be a way of being able to keep track and keep the conversation going.
Use any name you like.
what do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
