Find me on Facebook

Search “Pat Patterson” and you’ll find me. Ask me to be your friend. If I know you, I will approve you. I have been spending a lot of time there lately, but with football season upcoming, you’ll find me back here in a few short months…

Just to get caught up…

Since my last note here…

I turned 40.

I restarted fishing.

I went to North Myrtle Beach again.

I bought (and flew) a kite.

I went to Ridemakerz, the Build-A-Bear for men.

I got and (hopefully) beat sciatica.

Work has gotten better (in a way).

I bought $35 worth of pralines.

How have you been ?

2009 Rockin’ on the River Schedule

From the Rockin’ on the River website, here is the 2009 slate.

Rockin’ is held on the below dates at the Riverfront Center in Cuyahoga Falls. With the exception of the July 11 Wish You Were Here show, all events are free and brought to you by Bob Earley and those at The Summit Entertainment.

So without further ado, the 2009 schedule…

May 22nd Broken Road with 52nd Street and Captain Fantastic

May 29nd Number One Bad Boys
(Poison Tribute) with 7T7

June 5th Zoso (Led Zeppelin Experience ) with Lock 4

June 19th Bad Medicine (Bon Jovi Tribute) with The Girls Band

June 26th Higher Ground
(Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute) with Hooked on Tonics

July 3rd Fins to the Left – BEACH PARTY (Music of Jimmy Buffet) with The Uptown Cats

July 10th Coldplayers (Cold Play Tribute)

JULY 11TH Wish You Were Here
See The Rockin’ on the River website for ticket information.

July 17th 7 Bridges (Eagles Tribute) with Karri Fedor and Kerosene

July 31 Almost Queen with Big House

August 7th Victory Highway with Jersey

August 14th Ekoostik Hookah with Red Sun Rising

August 21st Vicious Cycle with Rhythm Syndicate

August 28st Majestic with Evil Ways

Nothing to do on a Friday night during hard economic times ? Baloney ! There’s lots to do, starting Memorial Day weekend in the Falls…and all the Friday shows are free.

Akron mayor under serious recall threat

Akron mayor Don Plusquellic, who has been mayor of Akron since I was in high school (I’m two months shy of 40 now), is under a serious threat of being recalled from office.  As a resident of Cuyahoga Falls, I am in full support of the effort to oust this “bad neighbor.”

Local attorney Warner Mendenhall is spearheading the Change Akron Now campaign to recall Plusquellic, who is another fine example of tax-and-spend. And since he is apparently being protected by more vice-mayors than Michael Bloomberg in New York (14, versus 11 for Bloomberg) as well as the Akron Beacon Journal, he seems to be untouchable. Heck, he only won the 2007 Democratic primary (the TRUE mayoral election of 2007) 57%-43% over Joe Finley. In past elections, Don Don won with at least 70% of the electorate for him.

When you consider how Don Don was trying to sell the city down the river by “leasing out” the city’s sewers and to take that money to fund scholarships ERRRRR college loans for Akron’s school kids ERRRRR scholarships to people who promise to stay in the city of Akron for 30 years after they graduate from college. What’s left in Akron ? Goodyear…and if you visit Mendenhall’s site, you’ll learn that he’s trying to sell the Chinese on taking over Goodyear !

That, plus the city’s in debt to the tune of…are you sitting down…$760 million. Three-quarters of a BILLION dollars. So while he’s supporting efforts to raise the highest income tax (2.25 percent) to one of the highest in the country (2.58 percent was his most recent effort), he’s flying to Disney World, China, Tampa…eating dinner on the “company dime” (and I’m not talking McLunch either). That, and breaking campaign finance law, using city workers to work the polls on election day (and possibly unconfirmed] having them knock on doors against the recall). And while he’s doing all that, he’s making cuts at the city’s police department, and home invasions are so old-hat, they barely make the news anymore.

And that’s not even what he has to say about the listeners of talk radio. Like I said, the Beacon Journal seems to love Don Don, even in a February 26 editorial, editor Steve Hoffman (who is a regular on the decidedly left-wing News Night Akron) basically says the recall effort is a waste of taxpayer money…not that each CITIZEN OF AKRON (not to be read as “voter” or “adult”) owning $4000 of the city’s debt is any sign of wastefulness of taxpayer money.

And why would a city of 210,000 need to have 14 vice-mayors ? Is it because, uh, the mayor isn’t doing his job because he’s too busy globetrotting and bad-mouthing listeners of talk radio ?

Speaking of all of us who are going to hell (according to Plusquellic after the failure of the referendum that would allow for the lease of the city’s sewer system) for listening to talk radio, Mendenhall stated on last night’s Tom Erickson show on WNIR that he would need to gather about 3200 valid sigantures from Akron voters in order to get the recall on a ballot, and they would like to gather these by April 10 in order to get the matter on the ballot in the summer, which will likely require at least 5000 signatures to be able to weed out the 3200 necessary.

And just for the record, if the recall goes forward and succeeds, Don Don will be replaced by Akron law director Max Rothal. The Beacon Journal’s Steve Hoffman would have you believe there is no candidate to replace The Don. There is, and it’s Max Rothal…at least until a special election can be held.

Mendenhall has called a meeting on March 11 – tomorrow night – at 7 pm at the downtown library in Akron. Petitions will be available for folks to collect signatures at the meeting.

Here are some points of contact for the Change Akron Now effort, which I fully support…

Warner Mendenhall’s website, complete with quotes and evidence to show folks why indeed it’s time for a change.

You may e-mail Warner Mendenhall at warnermendenhall@gmail.com .

For the non-multimedia savvy, you may call (330)474-3939.

It’s time for Don Plusquellic to find something else to do. Props to Warner Mendenhall for taking the initiative to make that a possibility.

Terrell Owens: Not Unemployed

It was reported last week that the national unemployment rate is at a 25-year low of 8.1%.

The good news: 91.9% of us still are working.

The bad news: among the 91.9% of us now working: Terrell Owens. Owens signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills.

So what can one say about T.O. ?

The good and the ugly on Owens…

Owens is a good football player…when he wants to be AND he shuts his mouth. What’s gotten him chased out of San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Dallas is this…he is not a team player. It’s all about T.O., not about the team win. It’s all personal glory. He has not played for a quarterback (outside of Steve Young) that has been able to stand up to him or is not intimidated by him. Jim Rome talked about a conversation he had with Joe Montana back during Super Bowl week. Rome asked Montana how he would have handled Owens in the huddle. Montana said that he’d never throw to Owens if he was like he is in the huddle (disruptive, trying to call plays to suit himself, etc.).

So now the former 49er/Eagle/Cowboy who is second all-time in touchdown receptions is a Bill. At 35, Owens has not shown that he can take a team – any team – on his shoulders and win the big one (he has appeared in one Super Bowl and was, at best, a non-factor). What makes him think he’s going to take the Bills – a team that underwent one of the most colossal meltdowns in NFL history (from a 4-0 and 5-1 start to a 7-9 finish and having the distinction of being the last NFL team to have an offensive touchdown scored against them by the Cleveland Browns, in addition to losing that same game) – to the promised land ? Like I said, this was a team that lost to the Cleveland Browns !!! A team that didn’t score a touchdown on offense the last four weeks of the season – and did not score A SINGLE POINT IN THEIR LAST TWO GAMES !!! So now it’s all settled…the Bills are going to win it all because they signed a wide receiver that has taken no team anywhere in his career. It’s all about TDs for T.O.

So I give props to the Buffalo Bills for landing what could be one of the biggest prizes in this year’s free agency, Terrell Owens. I hope it works out. And a little advice to Trent Edwards…if Owens starts running his mouth in the huddle, be like Joe Montana…don’t throw him anything.

Not a lot to say lately

Due to President Obama’s stimulus package, I have not had a lot to say lately. As part of his stimulus package, where the National Endowment for the Arts gets $50 million, NOAA gets $830 million (to tell me it’s going to rain tomorrow), and NASA is getting $1 billion to run the long-obsolete space shuttle into the 20-teens, that money has to come from somewhere. So, where is it coming from ?

From charging Constitutionalists and members of the Constitution Party $4 million to post on conservative-based blogs, unless I’m espousing liberalism, talking about fishing or the outdoors, or saying how I approve of the job our president is doing.

Just kidding. I’m not being billed…

For now.

I don’t have a heck of a lot to say lately. I am among those who don’t approve of the job Obama is doing. We are now paying for the New Deal (which the liberals also blame on former president George W. Bush)…our children and grandchildren will be paying for the current rendition of the New Deal.

You vote for an all-Democrat House, Senate, and White House…you get tax-and-spend.

Congratulations.

Now I write my check for $4 million.

“Stimulus” package…Democrats up to their old tricks ?

With the president’s signing of the economic stimulus package, it went into effect. But the question is, is it really a stimulus package ?

Let’s review…

Normally, the priorities of a Congress and/or White House controlled by the Democrats are as follows…

1. Tax.

2. Spend.

This, by far, is the largest undertaking of its kind – including the New Deal passed under FDR in the 1930s, but far from making the economic impact we were led to believe by everyone in the media except Fox.

Thanks to propublica.org, let’s look at the breakdown of this bill…

Accountability $323,500,000
Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General $22,500,000
Department of Commerce – Office of Inspector General $10,000,000
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Office of Inspector General $6,000,000
Department of Justice – Office of Inspector General $2,000,000
NASA – Office of Inspector General $2,000,000
Defense Department – Office of Inspector General $15,000,000
Department of Energy – Office of Inspector General $15,000,000
Department of the Treasury – Inspector General for Tax Administration $7,000,000
General Services Administration – Office of Inspector General $7,000,000
Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board $84,000,000
Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General $10,000,000
Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General $5,000,000
Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Inspector General $15,000,000
Environmental Protection Agency – Office of Inspector General $20,000,000
Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General $6,000,000
Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General related to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology $17,000,000
Department of Education – Office of Inspector General $14,000,000
Corporation for National and Community Service – Office of Inspector General $1,000,000
Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General $2,000,000
Government Accountability Office salaries and expenses $25,000,000
Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General $1,000,000
State Department – Office of Inspector General $2,000,000
Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General $20,000,000
Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General $15,000,000
Rural Housing Service insurance fund program account – direct loans and unsubsidized guaranteed loans $11,672,000,000
Rural community facilities program account $130,000,000
Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC) $500,000,000
School lunch programs for schools in which at least 50% of students are eligible for free or reduced price meals $100,000,000
Food bank commodity assistance program $150,000,000
Food distribution program on Indian reservations $5,000,000
Agricultural disaster assistance transition – Federal Crop Insurance Act
Farm operating loans $173,367,000
Direct farm operating loans $20,440,000
IRS health insurance tax credit administration $80,000,000
Emergency food and shelter $100,000,000
Bureau of Indian Affairs job training and housing improvement programs $40,000,000
Indian guaranteed loan program $10,000,000
Community service employment for older Americans $120,000,000
Extra funding for state unemployment insurance $150,000,000
State re-employment services for the jobless $250,000,000
Child care assistance for low-income families $1,651,227,000
Child care assistance for low-income families through state programs $255,186,000
Child care assistance for low-income families to improve infant and toddler care $93,587,000
Community Service Block Grant Program $1,000,000,000
Social Security Act funding $50,000,000
Social Security Administration processing of disability and retirement workloads $460,000,000
State administrative expenses to carry out increase in food stamp program $295,000,000
Economic development assistance programs $150,000,000
Violence against women prevention and prosecution programs $225,000,000
Office of Justice Programs state and local law enforcement assistance (Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants) $2,000,000,000
State and local law enforcement assistance grants to improve criminal justice systems, assist crime victims and mentor youth $225,000,000
Southern border and high-intensity drug trafficking areas $30,000,000
ATF Project Gunrunner $10,000,000
State and local law enforcement assistance to Indian tribes $225,000,000
Crime victim assistance $100,000,000
Rural drug crime program $125,000,000
Internet crimes against children initiatives $50,000,000
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants $1,000,000,000
Justice Department salaries and expenses for administration of police grant programs $10,000,000
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund for financial assistance, training and outreach to Native American, Hawaiian and Alaskan native communities $100,000,000
Local and state fire station upgrades and construction $210,000,000
Disaster assistance direct loans may exceed $5,000,000 and may be equal to not more than 50% of local government annual budget if the government lost 25% or more in tax revenues
Business $870,000,000
Rural Business – Cooperative Service: rural business program account $150,000,000
Small Business Administration salaries and expenses, microloan program and improvements to technology systems $69,000,000
Surety bond guarantees revolving fund $15,000,000
Small business loans $636,000,000
Education $48,420,000,000
State grants for adult job training $500,000,000
State grants for youth job training and summer employment opportunities $1,200,000,000
Dislocated worker job training $1,250,000,000
YouthBuild program for high school dropouts who re-enroll in other schools $50,000,000
Job training in emerging industries $250,000,000
Job training in the renewable energy field $500,000,000
Head Start programs $1,000,000,000
Early Head Start program expansion $1,100,000,000
Education for the disadvantaged – elementary and secondary education $10,000,000,000
Education for the disadvantaged – school improvement grants $3,000,000,000
Education impact aid $100,000,000
School improvement programs $650,000,000
Innovation and improvement of elementary and secondary schools $200,000,000
Special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act $12,200,000,000
Pell grants for higher education $15,840,000,000
Institute of Education data systems $245,000,000
Institute of Education state data coordinators $5,000,000
Dislocated worker assistance national reserve $200,000,000
School improvement grants awarded based on the number of homeless students identified in a state $70,000,000
Student aid administrative costs $60,000,000
Energy $41,400,000,000
Energy efficiency and conservation block grants $3,200,000,000
Weatherization Assistance Program (increases maximum income level and maximum assistance) $5,000,000,000
State energy program $3,100,000,000
Advanced batteries manufacturing, including lithium ion batteries, hybrid electrical systems, component manufacturers and software designers $2,000,000,000
Modernize electricity grid $4,400,000,000
Electricity grid worker training $100,000,000
Fossil energy research and development $3,400,000,000
Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund $390,000,000
Department of Energy science programs $1,600,000,000
Advanced Research Projects Agency $400,000,000
Innovative technology loan guarantee program $6,000,000,000
Western Area Power Administration construction and maintenance $10,000,000
Bonneville Power Administration borrowing authority $3,250,000,000
Western Area Power Administration borrowing authority $3,250,000,000
Leading edge biofuel projects $500,000,000
Federal building conversion to “high-performance green buildings” $4,500,000,000
Energy efficiency federal vehicle fleet procurement $300,000,000
Indian Health Service information technology and telehealth services $85,000,000
Indian health facilities $415,000,000
Grants for public health centers $500,000,000
Construction, renovation, equipment and information technology for health centers $1,500,000,000
National Health Service Corps funding $75,000,000
Addressing health professions workforce shortage $425,000,000
National Institutes of Health grants and contracts to renovate non-federal research facilities $1,000,000,000
National Institute of Health grants and contracts for shared resources and equipment for grantees $300,000,000
National Institutes of Health fund to support scientific research $7,400,000,000
National Institutes of Health Common Fund $800,000,000
National Institutes of Health renovations of high-priority buildings at the Bethesda, Md., campus, and at other locations $500,000,000
Comparative effectiveness research $300,000,000
Comparative effectiveness research by the National Institutes of Health 400,000,000
Comparative effectiveness research by the Department of Health and Human Services $400,000,000
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology $1,680,000,000
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s regional or subnational efforts $300,000,000
Department of Commerce health care information enterprise integration activities related to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology $20,000,000
Department of Health and Human Services computer and information technology security $50,000,000
Department of Health and Human Services Prevention and Wellness Fund $1,000,000,000
Prevention and Wellness Fund immunization program $300,000,000
Prevention and Wellness Fund evidence-based clinical and community-based prevention strategies $650,000,000
Prevention and Wellness Fund reduction in incidence of health-care-associated infections $50,000,000
Rehabilitation services and disability research 540,000,000
State grants for rehabilitation services and disability research $18,200,000
Rehabilitation services in independent living centers $87,500,000
Rehabilitation services for older blind individuals $34,300,000
Other $2,147,000,000
Census Bureau programs $1,000,000,000
Digital-to-analog television converter box program $650,000,000
President shall establish arbitration panel under FEMA public assistance program to expedite recovery efforts from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Requirement that Department of Homeland Security uniforms be manufactured and sewn together by U.S. fabric and apparel companies
National Endowment for the Arts grants $50,000,000
Department of Labor salaries and expenses $80,000,000
Additional awards to existing AmeriCorps grantees $83,000,000
AmeriCorps program salaries and expenses $5,200,000
AmeriCorps program administrative costs of expansion $800,000
National security trust appropriation $40,000,000
Social Security Administration health information technology research $40,000,000
Filipino World War II veterans compensation $198,000,000
Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses to maintain and modernize the information technology system $50,000,000
Distance learning, telemedicine and broadband program $2,500,000,000
National Telecommunications and Information Administration – broadband technology opportunities program $4,690,000,000
National Institute of Standards and Technology scientific and technical research and services $220,000,000
National Institute of Standards and Technology construction of research facilities $360,000,000
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operations, research and facilities $230,000,000
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration procurement, acquisition and construction $600,000,000
NASA science $400,000,000
NASA aeronautics $150,000,000
NASA exploration $400,000,000
NASA cross agency support $50,000,000
National Science Foundation research and related activities $2,500,000,000
National Science Foundation education and human resources $100,000,000
National Science Foundation major research equipment and facilities construction $400,000,000
National Science Foundation – Office of Inspector General $2,000,000
Veterans Affairs for hiring and training of claims processors $150,000,000
Veterans Affairs information technology systems $50,000,000
State Department technology security upgrades $252,000,000
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) technology $38,000,000
Agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments $24,000,000
Agricultural Research Service buildings and facilities $176,000,000
Natural Resources Conservation Service watershed and flood prevention programs $290,000,000
Watershed rehabilitation program $50,000,000
Rural Utilities Service water and waste disposal program account $1,380,000,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Army $1,474,525,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Navy $657,051,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Marine Corps $113,865,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Air Force $1,095,959,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Army Reserve $98,269,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Navy $55,083,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve $39,909,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Air Force Reserve $13,187,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Army National Guard $266,304,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Air National Guard $25,848,000
Army research development, test and evaluation $75,000,000
Navy research development, test and evaluation $75,000,000
Air Force research development, test and evaluation $75,000,000
Defense-wide research development, test and evaluation $75,000,000
Defense Department medical facilities repair and modernization including energy efficiency $400,000,000
Corps of Engineers investigations $25,000,000
Corps of Engineers construction $2,000,000,000
Corps of Engineers – Mississippi River and tributaries $375,000,000
Corps of Engineers operations and maintenance $2,075,000,000
Corps of Engineers regulatory program $25,000,000
Corps of Engineers formerly utilized sites remedial action program $100,000,000
Bureau of Reclamation water and related resources, including inspection of canals in urbanized areas $900,000,000
Central Utah Project water programs $50,000,000
California Bay-Delta restoration $50,000,000
Non-Defense environmental cleanup $483,000,000
Defense environmental cleanup $5,127,000,000
Federal buildings and courthouses $750,000,000
Border stations and land ports of entry $300,000,000
Department of Homeland Security headquarters consolidation $200,000,000
Customs and Border Protection non-intrusive inspection systems $100,000,000
Customs and Border Protection tactical communications equipment and radios $60,000,000
Border security fencing, infrastructure and technology $100,000,000
Land border ports of entry construction $420,000,000
Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactical communications equipment and radios $20,000,000
Transportation Security Administration checked baggage and checkpoint explosives detection machines $1,000,000,000
Coast Guard shore facilities and aids to navigation facilities $98,000,000
Coast Guard alteration of bridges $142,000,000
FEMA public transportation and railroad security $150,000,000
FEMA port security grants $150,000,000
Bureau of Land Management maintenance and restoration of facilities, trails, lands, abandoned mines and wells $125,000,000
Bureau of Land Management construction of roads, bridges, trails and facilities, including energy efficient retrofits $180,000,000
Wildland fire management and hazardous fuels reduction $15,000,000
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintenance and construction on wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries and for habitat restoration $165,000,000
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service roads, bridges and facilities, including energy efficient retrofits $115,000,000
National Park Service facilities and trails $146,000,000
Historically black colleges and universities preservation $15,000,000
National Park Service road construction, cleanup of abandoned mines on parkland and other infrastructure $589,000,000
U.S. Geological Survey facilities and equipment, including stream gages, seismic and volcano monitoring systems and national map activities $140,000,000
Bureau of Indian Affairs construction of roads, schools and detention centers $450,000,000
Superfund site cleanup $600,000,000
Leaking underground storage tank cleanup $200,000,000
Clean water state revolving fund grants $4,000,000,000
Safe drinking water capitalization grants $2,000,000,000
Brownfields projects $100,000,000
Diesel emission reduction grants and loans $300,000,000
Forest Service road, bridge and trail maintenance; watershed restoration; facilities improvement; remediation of abandoned mines; and support costs $650,000,000
Wildfire mitigation $500,000,000
Smithsonian Institution repairs $25,000,000
Construction, renovation and acquisition of Job Corps Centers $250,000,000
Social Security Administration’s National Computer Center replacement $500,000,000
Military construction, Army – child development centers and warrior transition complexes $180,000,000
Military construction, Navy and Marine Corps – child development centers and warrior transition complexes $280,000,000
Military construction, Air Force – child development centers and warrior transition complexes $180,000,000
Military hospital construction and energy conservation investments $1,450,000,000
Military construction, Army National Guard $50,000,000
Military construction, Air National Guard $50,000,000
Family housing construction, Army $34,507,000
Family housing operation and maintenance, Army $3,932,000
Family housing construction, Air Force $80,100,000
Family housing operation and maintenance, Air Force $16,461,000
Temporary expansion of military homeowner assistance program to respond to mortgage foreclosure and credit crisis, including acquisition of property at or near military bases that have been ordered closed. $555,000,000
Veterans Affairs hospital maintenance $1,000,000,000
National Cemetery Administration for monument and memorial repairs $50,000,000
State extended care facilities, such as nursing homes $150,000,000
State Department diplomatic and consular programs for domestic passport and training facilities $90,000,000
International Boundary and Water Commission – Rio Grande levee repairs $220,000,000
Additional capital investments in surface transportation including highways, bridges, and road repairs $1,298,500,000
Administrative costs for additional capital investments in surface transportation $200,000,000
Capital investments in surface transportation grants to be awarded by other administration $1,500,000
Federal Aviation Administration infrastructure $200,000,000
Grants-in-aid for airports $1,100,000,000
Highway infrastructure investment $26,725,000,000
Highway infrastructure investment in Puerto Rico $105,000,000
Highway infrastructure funds distributed by states $60,000,000
Highway infrastructure funds for the Indian Reservation Roads program $550,000,000
Highway infrastructure funds for surface transportation technology training $20,000,000
Highway infrastructure to fund oversight and management of projects $40,000,000
High speed rail capital assistance $8,000,000,000
National Railroad passenger corporation capital grants $850,000,000
National Railroad passenger corporation capital grants for security $450,000,000
Federal Transit Administration capital assistance $6,800,000,000
Public transportation discretionary grants $100,000,000
Fixed guideway infrastructure investment $750,000,000
Capital investment grants $750,000,000
Shipyard grants $100,000,000
Public housing capital improvements $3,000,000,000
Public housing renovations and energy conservation investments $1,000,000,000
Native American housing block grants $510,000,000
Community development funding $1,000,000,000
Emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes $2,000,000,000
Additional capital investments in low-income housing tax credit projects $2,250,000,000
Homelessness prevention and re-housing $1,500,000,000
Assistance to owners of properties receiving section 8 assistance $2,000,000,000
Grants and loans for green investment in section 8 properties $250,000,000
Lead hazard reduction $100,000,000

Tax break starting April 2009…look for a tax hike in 2010-2011.  Remember those priorities…tax and spend.

Super Bowl XLIII

Pittsburgh Steelers  27
Arizona Cardinals   7

Steeler’s defense owns Larry Fitzgerald and sends Kurt Warner off into the sunset of the old southwest.  Troy Polamalu has an INT and James Harrison is named MVP.

UPDATE: The Steelers scored their 27, but the Cardinals scored 23. James Harrison ran back an interception 100 yards to end the first half, and Santonio Holmes caught the winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds left.  Holmes took MVP honors for Super Bowl XLIII.

Pittsburgh Steelers  27
Arizona Cardinals  23

2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Announced

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their selections for enshrinement into the hall for 2009. Their selections…

Bob Hayes
Ralph Wilson, Jr.
Bruce Smith
Randall McDaniel
Derrick Thomas
Rod Woodson

Let’s have a word or two about each…

Bob Hayes played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965 to 1974 and for the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. Before football, Hayes was a gold medal sprinter in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Hayes was the first player (and at the time of this writing the only player) to win both Olympic gold and a Super Bowl ring. Hayes’ play forced the innovations of the zone and “bump-and-run” styles of defense, and was the first Cowboy to rack-up 1000 receiving yards in a season in ’65. Hayes will receive the award posthumously, as he died in 2002.

Ralph Wilson is the owner of the Buffalo Bills, as he has since their founding as an AFL team in 1960. The Bills won the AFL title in 1964 and 1965 and made four Super Bowl appearances. At 90 years old, he is among the senior of NFL owners.

Bruce Smith was one of Mr. Wilson’s players in Buffalo from 1985-1998 before moving to the Washington Redskins from 1999-2003, a total of 19 seasons. He was a feared defensive lineman throughout his career. He is one of the few first-overall draft picks to go on to a Hall of Fame career.

It’s hard for an offensive lineman – especially a guard – to have a Hall of Fame career because they have no stats…all they do is block for those that do. Randall McDaniel played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1988-1999, and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000 and 2001, and is one of the few. He started all but two of his career games played.

Derrick Thomas led the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense as a linebacker from 1989-1999. His Hall of Fame career was cut short when he died after a car crash in February 2000. The Chiefs became a defense-oriented team during his time there and made 7 playoff appearances during that time. Prior to Thomas’ arrival, they had one playoff appearance from 1972-88.

And lastly but certainly not least…the Steeler. Rod Woodson wore #26 for the Steelers from 1987-1996. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers in 1997, the Baltimore Ravens from 1998-2001, and the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and 2003. Woodson, a defensive back, amassed 71 career interceptions for 1483 yards and 12 touchdowns – the latter two figures are NFL records, and the 71 INTs are the third-most in league history. I remember the 1995 season the most when it comes to Woodson. The Sunday before I got married, I was going back and forth between the Cleveland Indians – who were on the verge of locking-up their first postseason appearance in over 40 years – and the Steelers, who were opening their season at Three Rivers Stadium against the Detroit Lions. I heard Rod Woodson was hurt and later that he tore his ACL. In football terms, that means you’re out for the year. I thought the year was over, what with Woodson being their most prolific player. The Steelers worked and worked, and made Super Bowl XXX – and Rod Woodson played in that game ! Although the Steelers lost that Super Bowl – the only one they have lost (note that, Cardinals’ fans) – it was an amazing feat for Woodson to rehabilitate and play in the Super Bowl the same season as an ACL tear. Oh, and the prime rib special at Woodson’s restaurant at Station Square was unbeatable…but he could have kept the Brussels sprouts.

So the debate will rage on…did the selection committee do right ? This debate goes on every year after an announcement is made. This year’s debate will, I’m certain, revolve around two players that were passed on…

Wide receiver Cris Carter played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins from 1987-2002. After having off-the-field issues in Philadelphia, he was released and latched on to the Minnesota Vikings, where he changed his attitude and his life choices, and made Hall of Fame consideration during his 12 years there. This is where the Cris Carter who played for Ohio State finally showed up in the NFL. He finished his career second in receptions (1101) and touchdowns (130) by a wide receiver (to Jerry Rice), but now is third behind Rice and Marvin Harrison.

Dermontti “Dirt” Dawson was one of the handful of Hall of Fame caliber players to have replaced a Hall of Famer. In Dirt’s case, he replaced longtime Steelers’ center Mike Webster in 1989 (he played on the same line as Webster in his rookie season 1988 but took over as center in ’89). He continued his excellence as the Steelers’ snapper until 2000, after a 13-year career. He only missed 3 starts in his career (184 games) and made 7 Pro Bowls. The likely argument against Dirt this year was Woodson’s “automatic” first-ballot entry, and the selection committee usually won’t induct two teammates the same year. I will, however, go on the record stating, not only as a Steeler fan but as a football fan, that Dirt’s exclusion in the Hall of Fame needs to end.

So there you have it…a brief recap of the six enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Although they were announced yesterday and will be announced at the Super Bowl, as well as introduced at next week’s Pro Bowl, they will not be officially enshrined until this coming summer. Congrats to all that made it, and hopefully the two near-misses will make it next year.

B. Hussein Obama: The 44th President of the United States

As of noon yesterday, we now have a new president: Barack Hussein Obama.  He was sworn in to office yesterday in Washington, D.C.  I made a few observations, and would like to point them out…

First of all, is it me, or did it show a lack of class of the attendees and a lack of respect towards former president Bush to boo and sing the “Nah Nah Nah Nah Hey Hey Hey Good-Bye” song when he was introduced ?  I have NEVER heard a sitting president having been booed…ever.  No outgoing president in recent memory has been so gracious to his replacement (for lack of a better word) during a transition than George W. Bush was toward Barack Obama.  Was Bush perfect ?  No.  But what president was ?  Heck, Bill Clinton was IMPEACHED for PERJURY, and he went into history as one of the greatest presidents (I’m still trying to figure that one out).  I’ll end this section with this…you may not have agreed with George W. Bush, but you always knew where he stood on the issues.

Next observation…Aretha Franklin was terrible. 

Next observation…the first Obamaism occurred not during the first presidential smoke break, but during the oath itself.  He spoke over Chief Justice John Roberts at first, then forgot what he was saying and in turn making Roberts err.

The inauguration speech was not memorable…same old rhetoric he spewed on the campaign trail.

Interesting factoid…I Googled “Obama Inaugurated” yesterday in Google News, and the first source of a news article: Al Jazeera.

So I got my wish…the inauguration is finally over.  We have a new president.  I will give him a fair chance – it’s not like I have a choice.  However, much like Bush’s detractors were on him like flies on…well, you get the idea…I will point out my disagreements with the president and will feel free to use this forum as my soap box.  Will you agree with me ?  Not always, and I welcome that.  Let’s discuss our differences as they arise.  Discuss our differences in opinion, but without getting personal.

So we say farewell to President George W. Bush and wish him well with his new domestic agenda…taking out the trash (as he stated in his “welcome home” address yesterday).  And I do indeed wish President Obama well.  But I hope he’s ready…he’s not just in charge of the bake sale, he’s now the leader of the free world.

Ramos, Compean granted commutations

The two border guards who were tried and convicted for doing their jobs were granted commutations of their sentences yesterday.  Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were sentenced in 2006 to 11 and 12 year sentences respectively for shooting at a fleeing man they thought was armed.  Their actions stopped the illegal importation of 700 pounds of marijuana into the United States. 

Although the president stood by prosecutor Johnny Sutton and the prosecution of the case, he may have felt the sentences were far too excessive.  Both were in solitary confinement, and would have remained there for the length of their sentences. 

President Bush only used the power of pardon 189 times during his eight years in office and has commuted 11 sentences.  The former erases any criminal record in the matter at hand, and a commutation ends the sentence while not erasing the record.  It would have been better for the president to have pardoned Ramos and Compean, but under the circumstances the commutations were the best case scenario. 

So this writer will take it and will continue to say, as he has before…history will exonerate President Bush.

Will the presidential inauguration be over already ???

On November 5, voters went to the polls. A majority of those who voted decided to make Barack Obama the next president of the United States. My feelings on Obama’s election do not matter for the purpose of this essay…the fact of the matter is, he won the election.  However, it seemed as if the inauguration celebrations started on the 6th.

The formal inauguration consists of these words…

I, (name stated), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.

That’s it !  30-45 seconds !  No “limited edition” coin collections.  No books and magazines directly marketed for the president-elect.  No stupid-looking signs that say “The Office of the President-Elect” (which, by the way, there IS no “office” of the president-elect, it’s just a snazzy title until the president-elect is sworn in).  Oh yeah…and EVERY inauguration is historic.  Every president we elect will have his part in the history books – even William Henry Harrison, who served 32 days before his death.

I don’t ever recall an inaugural weekend with all these people getting together and having a big musical event on the steps of Lincoln’s Monument.  And what’s with the plexiglass ? 

When President George W. Bush was sworn in to office, that was it.  The poor guy hadn’t even been sworn in, and he was being blamed for the recession he was about to inherit.  There were no celebrations (the inaugural balls, of course, happened, but there was little fanfare).  In fact, the outgoing president was anything but gracious to the Bushes during the Clinton-Bush transition (Clinton’s staff went as far as to remove the ‘W’ keys off all the White House keyboards).  From what I have heard from both sides of the aisle, the Bushes have been nothing but gracious to the Obamas.  Is that grace being returned ?  No.  I’ve been hearing reports of cockiness from the Obamas.  I hope that is really not the case, but this is what I’m hearing.

So the inauguration is tomorrow, and we can go on with our lives.  Then we see how long the honeymoon lasts.  For this writer, it ended about a week before Christmas.

More on Global Warming

I have a number to throw at those who gave me grief last spring when 20 inches of snow fell on us.

That number is the number of degrees it was this morning here in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio…

-13.

It hasn’t been that cold here in about 15 years. So we’re actually getting warmer ? I think not.

National Championship Game Update – 1/8/2009

FedEx BCS National Championship
Jan. 8, 8 p.m.
Miami, FL
Oklahoma vs. Florida
FOX
Pick: Florida
Winner: Florida 24-14

So I end the bowl season at 17-17.

Bowl Update – 1/6/2009

GMAC
Jan. 6, 8 p.m.
Mobile, AL
Tulsa vs. Ball State
ESPN
Pick: Ball State
Winner: Tulsa 45-13

16-17.  If Florida loses, I go 16-18.  If they win, it’s .500 for me.