lincoln, canals, cuban coups and ytown

The YSU Archives and Special Collections blog finds some amazing things.

On Lincoln:

"I came across a local tie to one of the nation's most well-known events, the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Quoting from John Turk's book The Musical Danas of Warren, Ohio page 6.

"On the evening of April 14, 1865, when President Lincoln was shot and mortally wounded, not only was the Vice-President away from the city but the Secretary of State, Frederick Seward, lay seriously wounded as the result of a similar assassination attempt. Setting up an office in the room across from where Lincoln lay, Stanton took full control of the government. With Dana at his side, he spent the night dictation orders and telegrams to alert the country, keep the military advised, and attempt to solved the crime. For a period of almost twenty-four hours, Charles Anderson Dana was the de facto Vice-President of the United States."

Charles Anderson Dana was the uncle of William Henry Dana, founder of the [YSU] Dana School of Music in 1869."

more here.

On canals:

"An entire chapter is also devoted to Kirwan’s favorite project: The Lake Erie-Ohio River Inter-Connecting Waterway.

Kirwan envisioned the cheap waterborne transportation of goods into the American heartland, as well as the creation of a connecting link between the Atlantic Ocean (via the St. Lawrence Seaway) with the Gulf of Mexico (by way of the Mississippi River). Kirwan fought a thirty-year struggle for the Waterway's construction, but failed in the end when the Republican governor of Pennsylvania, Raymond P. Shafer, killed the Waterway by refusing to grant a right-of-way passage through his state. Would the canal have provided the economic benefits that its supporters promised?"

more here.

On conspiracies:

"I highly recommend visiting this site, not only to inform one self about the hidden history we sometimes miss (and incorrectly label as conspiratorial). But to get a better understanding of what an archives does and can accomplish for a society."

more here.

news: 30 Mar 2008

The city of Akron and Summit County are looking into becoming more efficient by cooperating regionally.

"The Summit County sheriff will help run Akron police for the next 18 months while the departments see if they can save money and boost crime fighting.

Mayor Don Plusquellic on Friday assigned his new deputy mayor of public safety, Larry Givens, to work with Sheriff Drew Alexander on a plan that may be the first step toward a metropolitan police department, the first in Ohio."

more here.

YSU's Dr. Carroll gets to the $4 million point for his work on nuclear isomers.

"YSU’s Isomer Physics Project concentrates on discovery research, trying to develop a better understanding of the fundamental processes with new experiments, he said, rather than looking for applications.

Grant funds pay student wages and research release time for Carroll, buy materials and equipment, and pay the research team’s travel expenses. Carroll plans to take a group to Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago later this year for some off-site experiments there, and another experiment may be scheduled at a facility near Tokyo."

more here.

everyone needs a 3rd arm

The Jambrain blog features some local cooperation:

"Jason Tibolla is on a musical mission: he and his cohorts are making a market for original, local music. Their Pre-Pat Party Saturday at Salty Grog’s was one shining example of their work.

Tibolla, Viking Jim and Pete Drivere host the Sunday night (9-10) Home Grown show on Clear Channel 93.3 which they started this past Thanksgiving to feature local bands doing their original work."

"Most of their shows are at Salty Grog’s (where Commesso tends bar), Barley’s downtown and the Cellar in Struthers. “We are putting 3-5 bands in each show,” Tibolla explained. “They get part of the door, so they know they’re getting something. We take care of all the up-front costs: venue rental, sound, lights, security,” and then make sure it works with a very visible presence.

Cooperative contacts with promoters in other tri-state areas are broadening the exposure for local bands and bringing other bands to Youngstown."

more here.

OMG, it's the RJW.

The Raymond John Wean Foundation is stepping up big-time to the plate to assist the urban communities in the Mahoning Valley. You can go to their website for more information about this great organization and the grant programs they offer, especially for neighborhood development.

Here are some highlights of their recent March 2008 awards:

"A group that has created a national model fighting foreclosures will receive $50,000. The group, based in Cleveland and known as the East Side Organizing Project, brings subprime lenders to the table through organizing. Homeowners who have mortgages with ballooning payments are then offered an opportunity to renegotiate their loan. The money will be used to hire an organizer for the Mahoning Valley.

Lien Forward is Mahoning County's effort to return vacant lots to usage. After the properties become abandoned, the County Treasurer is able to pass the lots on to local residents who own adjacent property and are seeking to use the lots. A grant of $50,000 will allow Lien Forward to expand its outreach capability.

Three groups in Youngstown will receive funding to hire community organizers. These grants are part of a neighborhood organizing initiative that the Foundation is supporting. The Northeast Homeowners and Concerned Citizens Assn. will receive $65,000, and on the North side a group of stakeholders will oversee an organizer ($60,000), as well as the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition ($60,000) on the City's Southeast side.

The Youngstown-Downtown Revitalization Committee is a project to bring residents and stakeholders together to discuss improving Wick Park. A grant was made to support Youngstown Cityscape's involvement in the process. The Kent State Urban Design Coalition will also be a resource to the group in its efforts ($70,000)."

more here.

tonight's event is free, no euros needed

First off, Art Youngstown is having a community-wide gallery showing tonight, March 14th from 7pm to 10:30pm in the Ohio One Building downtown.

This event is free and open to the public.

If it's similar to the last gallery event on Federal Street, there will be plenty of people, art covering every corner of the space, food, drink, and excitement.

Everyone in Ohio and Pennsylvania is welcome to attend.

The Youngstown Artblog has been really cranking out posts recently. First, here is a post about the space for the reception this evening:

"Art Youngstown is having what promises to be a great show. How could it be otherwise in a venue known as The Great Room?

This fantastic space is five thousand square feet , has 25 foot high ceilings and is completely decorated in heavy wood work to nearly the ceiling. There are even hand carved wood griffins above the entry. The lighting is seductive and warm and the space is an incredible place to display original art. If you have never seen the Great Room in the Ohio One building this is your chance to enjoy the splendor and grandeur of Old Youngstown."

more on the space here.

Next, he shows his love for the interesting lady known only as Rita.

"I receive so many benefits from the city that at times I am actually glad to pay. These days so many organizations get a chunk of my money, including the Church and various art and cultural organizations, that I figure I am paying my dues to be a part of a club of 85,000 members.

Consider what you are getting for your money: great location in the state, great inner city parks, a convocation center, impressive downtown events to name just a few. So take my advice: pay it, shut up and enjoy the city."

This post made me chuckle. Read more here.

And next, a very interesting post on the devaluation of the dollar, the rise of the euro, and how Youngstown artists can take advantage of this:

"The American Dollar continues to fall like so many dead leaves from Autumn trees and a cold winter wind is blowing. The Euro however is rocketing into prominence like a 4th of July firework. Many reports are coming out of Manhattan stating that Europeans are spending Euros like mad on American Art and Antiques, because of their currency's strength against the feeble Dollar. In fact signs saying "Euros Only" are appearing in gallery windows."

"To reiterate what I have been saying in this blog, we have a tremendous resource in the artists of our Valley. Many of us have been selling our work to those very collectors for years now. We can easily tap into the National and International Art Markets in a much more profound way if we can work together and get REAL support from the powers within our community.

Here is a list of things I would like to accomplish in the next 6 months: Create a stronger unity amongst Valley artists, Use this unity to promote Valley art nationally and internationally, establish strong contacts with European collectors, and establish Youngstown in the Manhattan and European mindset as a Cultural Mecca. To help assist in accomplishing these goals I would be happy to hold meetings to discuss and formulate plans.

Email me: Artbake777(at)aol.com."

more on this topic can be found here.

If you are surfing the internet instead of being downtown tonight, well, then you need to get out more. (if you are physically capable)

Yes, that means you Aunt Betty.

If I can do it, you can do it.

support the arts in downtown youngstown

sticks and stones

Very interesting post in the Reason blog today:

"Of course I'm not equating Kern and Ferraro. It was just interesting to contrast two free speech items in the news this week. Kern is a zealot and a bigot who clearly needs to get out some more and meet cooler people. I feel sorry for her and hope all the gay and lesbian friends she doesn't know she already has don't take her comments to heart. I believe that Ferraro is an intelligent woman with her heart in the right place. She just needs to polish her rhetorical skills. There was a message in what she said that could have been delivered more effectively. I'm imagining her words might go something like,

"Senator Obama has found himself in a remarkable position in this campaign, and it's hard for many people to look away. They want to be a part of that movement, even if it's about history and not Mr. Obama himself."

More bite, less perceived racist tenor."

More to read here.

wo we think we are

Meditations in an Emergency considers a recent New York Times article about how Barack Obama is doing in fairly mixed-race states:

The growing counties an hour’s drive from Cleveland and St. Louis are filled with white voters whose parents fled the industrial cities of their youth before a wave of African-Americans and for whom social friction and economic competition, especially in an age of declining opportunity, are as much a part of daily life as traffic and mortgage payments. As Erica Goode wrote in these pages last year, Robert Putnam and other sociologists have, in fact, found that people living in more diverse areas evince less trust for others — no matter what their race. Maybe it shouldn’t surprise us that while white Democrats in rural states are apparently willing to accept the notion of a racially transcendent candidate, those living in the shadow of postindustrial atrophy seem to have a harder time detaching from enduring stereotypes, and they may be less optimistic that the country as a whole would actually elect a black candidate.

"What I find interesting about this is that we can no longer think along lines of urban/suburban/rural. The mention of communities that are somewhere between these categories, and in existence outside of formerly successful urban empires, is a new sort of population that’s only recently beginning to enter the cultural consciousness for many Americans who assumed that everything was either New York City, the suburbs of Desperate Housewives, or Mayberry. There are many different kinds of communities between each of those sorts of points on the scale."

Read more at Meditations here.

And a very interesting article on Barack Obama's mom who died of ovarian cancer at 53 in the New York Times here.

news: 12 march 2008

Akron-Canton airport to launch $110 million expansion
in The Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Akron-Canton Airport will make room for international flights, three more gates and a new airline over the next decade as part of its $110 million plan announced this afternoon.

That means bigger parking lots, a new ticket counter, a 25-percent-bigger passenger screening area and a runway long enough to send planes anywhere in North America."

Helpers Sought to Beautify City
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"Youngstown CityScape is looking for volunteers to help with its Streetscape beautification program.

Among the focus areas for the June 7 event are Wick Park, East Federal Street, the John Young Memorial, the Police Memorial, near the Choffin Career Center and near city hall."

more info here.

$500,000 pledged for YSU Business School
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"Youngstown State University graduate Jocelyne Kollay Linsalata has pledged $500,000 to help in the construction of a new building for YSU’s Williamson College of Business Administration.

In recognition of the gift, YSU will name the Gallery in the new business building in Linsalata’s honor."

Consultant to Study Scholarship Plan
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"The board approved a contract Tuesday with Hodge Cramer and Associates Inc. of Dublin, Ohio, a national philanthropic consulting company, to determine if the Youngstown Promise will work. The cost will be covered with grant funds.

The plan is to model the scholarship program after the Kalamazoo Promise in Michigan, which has proved to be beneficial to public education partnerships with higher education by providing college scholarships for Kalamazoo high school graduates to attend any state college or university in Michigan."

North Side to Get $3.4 Million Rec Center
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"Plans for the 15,800-square-foot Arlington Heights Park and Fitness Center include an all-purpose gym, workout equipment and weights, a patio, conference rooms and a cafe. The facility is to be surrounded by an 11.5-acre park complete with basketball courts, two playgrounds, a tennis court and a picnic shelter."

People in this town still have a lot of money
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"The event was expected to raise $100,000 for U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who won last week’s Ohio primary by 10 percentage points over U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Though Zoldan didn’t count the cash, he said the amount raised surpassed the $100,000 goal.

Harry Meshel of Youngstown, Mahoning County coordinator of Clinton’s presidential campaign and a former Ohio Senate president, said the candidate’s husband did “a terrific job explaining why Hillary should be president."

a terrific job.

release the hounds!

feel like it's time to bombard the midwest with our thoughts?

GLUEspace has some ideas how:

"If you agree that it’s been way too long since our nation had a plan for fixing our cities’ problems, you could make your voice heard, by either: (1) writing to the presidential frontrunner of your choice, or (2) writing to the editor of your local paper. Below are some samples that you could follow (See full list of Great Lakes papers with links to editorial/letters pages below). Just some ideas to get you going."

more here.

Also, props to Abby for making it into Newsweek this week. Read more here.

can't keep up with the burgh

look.

here is the math:

aggressive blogging by Jim + work week travels + eating/sleeping in the margins = needing to play major catch-up with the Burgh Diaspora blog.

Here are some of the ones (among many) that received by attention over the past four weeks:

On Top of the Political World

"Hillary Clinton appeals to Pittsburgh's old guard and Barack Obama is the voice of Pittsburgh's ongoing transformation. The same scenario played out in nearby Youngstown during the Ohio primary. Clinton used Youngstown as a backdrop to highlight the failures of NAFTA. What she ignored, apparently to considerable political gain, are the agents of change infusing the region with energy and hope.

While I appreciate the more nuanced perspective of the region, Newsweek incorrectly identifies Mayor Luke Ravenstahl as the face of "newer Pittsburgh." Ravenstahl represents business-as-usual, quite different from the situation in Youngstown with Mayor Jay Williams."

Pittsburgh's Near-Abroad

"Regardless, the national and international impression must be one of the entire Rust Belt as depressed, backwards, and pissed off. While shrinking cities share many of the same problems, there still exists quite a bit economic geographic variation within the region."

Cleveburgh Globalization Project

"I propose a Yo Cleveburgh pilot, making good use of the Youngstown urban laboratory to develop a set of best practices for addressing the inherent instabilities of globalization. The goal is to develop the Cleveburgh Corridor into a world city on par with Chicago. One of the solutions that Longworth puts on the table is educational reform, though doing so is notoriously difficult.

My hunch is that Youngstown would be more open to innovative approaches in education than just about any other Rust Belt city."

Jim is setting the table for you Youngstown, read more here.

Rust Belt High Skill Immigration Zone Update

"Renowned Law Professor/Author William Hing, UC Davis School of Law, member of Senator Obama's Immigration Policy Group, has picked up on the "High Skill Immigration Zone" proposal and is spreading the word!"

SBIR/STTR workshops in town

Hey knuckleheads, this is important:

"The Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) and TechLift are presenting a series of workshops on the Federal SBIR and STTR programs. The Department of Defense (DoD) SBIR and STTR programs fund a billion dollars each year in early-stage R&D projects at small technology companies - projects that serve a DoD need and have commercial applications."

"Knowing the ins and outs of how the program works, how best to apply, and what you need to do in order to increase your odds of an award is the basis of the OAI/TechLift workshops."

As a region our SBIR/STTR numbers are very low or non-existant compared to other portions of the state, and definitely other parts of the country.

youngstown's treasures moved to other communities

While it nice to see this story about the renovation of the Idora Park Carousel, one can't help but feel Youngstown's history is being taken away from it:

"Now, the carousel is on display in a storefront in Brooklyn, waiting for its final resting spot to be determined. But it won’t have to travel far. Walentas and her husband — a real estate developer — had selected a site for the carousel before the couple ever set eyes on the 1922 Philadelphia Toboggan model that delighted generations of children in Youngstown.

Walentas’ career with the Idora Park carousel began in the early ‘80s, when her husband was charged with revitalizing a former industrial neighborhood known as DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). A partner in the project suggested that the derelict park in the neighborhood’s center — with its striking view of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge — would be an ideal spot for a merry-go-round."

"The Idora carousel was a rare find in more ways than one, Walentas said. Handcrafted by master woodcarver Frank Carretta, it was one of the few Walentas that hadn’t been dismembered or relocated. It was one of the most detailed, as well.

Youngstown helped to build this country, and now piece by piece, this history is being removed.

irish to go

FREE event today from the Mahoning Valley History blog:

"The [Mahoning Valley Historical Society] Young Leaders Advisory Board is pleased to announce the next event in the popular History to Go lecture series: Irish in the Valley.

Join the Mahoning Valley Historical Society on Monday, March 10th at 6:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1410 Oak Hill Ave. in Youngstown, for a presentation on the rich history of the Irish in the Mahoning Valley by Sally Murphy Pallante of The Irish American Archival Society."

more here.

what to do on friday

The Youngstown Moxie blog writes:

"I have sometimes heard people in the Youngstown area complain about the lack of things to do. I've even heard people say they are bored. Well, as Dorothy Parker said, "The cure for boredom is curiosity..." Obviously, the bored folks around here merely need a good dose of it.

I then recommend they have an adventure. "But where?" you say?

Downtown Youngstown of course.

Let me offer a suggestion or two for an adventure in Youngstown next Friday night, March 14th.

read Moxie'sitenary here here.

Plus, a bonus post on artist and entertainers from youngstown was also posted. read this list here.

connecting to expats

the Steeltown Entertainment Project:

"The mission of the Steeltown Entertainment Project ("Steeltown") is to nurture promising talent and to incubate meaningful and commercially viable entertainment projects in Southwestern Pennsylvania by connecting former Pittsburghers who are working in the entertainment industry with the region's human, cultural, educational and economic resources."

Yes, PeCan!

New Obama-inspired ice cream flavors via Slashfood.

Can you choose an ice-cream flavor that represents Hillary?

what's at the Trumbull Art Gallery

The Youngstown Art blog discusses Jim Pernotto:

"Jim lived in worked in Youngstown during a time when many were fleeing the city for greener pastures, and when he did eventually work for a time in Manhattan as the director of Pacifico Fine Art Gallery, he made sure his peers from Ytown found art connections in his new home. Even while in NYC he still found time to have his hand in Youngstown art concerns.

I'd like to thank Jim for the time and effort he has put into helping me with my art career over the years. When I arrived at the YSU Art Department from the deep country side of Central Ohio, I was a young, brash redneck boy with a lot of energy and not a lot of brains. Jim saw my talent, encouraged me in his printing classes, and was one of the very few people I knew that took a real concern for my future as an artist. Throughout the years he has given me valuable and hard to come by art business advice and even today, when my stubborn redneckedness rears its ugly head, he has enough patience and vision to point me in the right direction."

more here.

a request from the fly YNG blog

From the Fly Youngstown blog:

"Once again I would request everyone to join me in a grassroots effort to attract Skybus Airlines to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. Below is a link that is a Contact Form that allows passengers and airport supporters like myself to voice support for our local airport."

more here.

the value of street art?

Subpopular posts a neat video with an interesting question:

How is public art perceived here in Youngstown? Would people stop and ponder it or want their photos taken next to it?

"For over an hour, Jeremy Gibbs stood across the street from a fresh piece by Banksy on Essex Road and filmed people who stopped to look at the piece and take photos. What we find to be most important about the video is the diversity of the people who stopped, noticed, and most importantly - appreciated - the work. The video is a terrific testament to the "value" of street art."

read more here.

news: 7 March 2008

Physicist wins Congressional Seat in Illinois

The Av, the Golden Dawn, and Jay on npr

$5,000 down payment voucher for pruchasing homes in the city

JEDDs report is online

Available at the Youngstown 2010 site, or here.

btw, whoever wrote this report in Cleveland needs to do some proofreading.

It looks really bad when words are spelled incorrectly in the Executive Summary of a study, especially one you have been working on for many many months. Folks, disregard this statement if they re-edited this document by the time you downloaded the report.

100 parks within 100 miles

Cool idea from the Steel Valley Outdoors site:

The list of 100 parks and rec areas within 100 miles of Youngstown.

check it out

How To Use this List:
I’ve kept State Parks and related State Forests as two lines. This might be cheating, but they usually offer different experiences.

Each Link goes directly to the appropriate site, not to a directory, wherever possible.

Scroll down to your favorite area. Look right above it.

Have you been here? How about the area right below it?

YSU Joins Polymer Research Consortium

From a story/press release in the Business-Journal:

"Youngstown State University now is affiliated with the National Science Foundation's Center for Layered Polymeric Systems. Led by researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, the $19 million center focuses on layered polymers -- combining thin layers of plastic or other synthetic materials to create products ranging from packaging materials to optical switches."

"At YSU, the academic collaboration will include work in polymer physics and polymer engineering within the physics and chemical engineering programs. Facilitators are Jim Andrews, professor of physics; Doug Price, associate professor of chemical engineering; and Tom Oder, assistant professor of physics.

Andrews, who has spent most of his career researching optical materials and polymers, said YSU was chosen as an affiliate because of its growing research programs, its strong focus on undergraduate education, and its educational outreach in the YSU service area. “The research leaders at Case were impressed with the way YSU’s new College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics facilitates collaboration among the engineering and science disciplines,” he said."

how the falling dollar impacts the economy

good story from the News Hour with Jim Lerher:

Dollar's Falling Value Ripples Through U.S. Economy

As the value of the dollar has fallen, the U.S. economy has had to adjust in a multitude of areas. While some sectors have benefitted from cheaper U.S. exports, others have felt the pinch of inflation. Paul Solman examines the impact of the dollar's value.

Youngstown, this globalization train is moving fast, with or without you. We need to figure out how to have advantage of the system in addition to complaining about it.

time to fish in Mill Creek Park

This news from Steel Valley Outdoors:

"The Spring fishing season began yesterday in Mill Creek Park. Licensed fisherman can fish at both Lake Newport and Lake Glacier, from shore on from boats.

Shore fishing is also permitted at Yellow Creek Park in Struthers."

more info here.

steps for the railroad museum

The Youngstown Steel Heritage Preservation blog writes:

"In January the Mahoning Valley Railroad Heritage Association moved their Pollock open top hot metal car from Brier Hill to their proposed Steel Valley Railroad Museum site on Poland Avenue in Youngstown. This car was built for either YS&T or Valley Mould & Iron, and was acquired from Ellwood Engineered Castings in 1993. At the time it had been sitting off track in front of EEC's melt shop.

The appearance of the car is a good sign that the MVRHA is making progress toward constructing their museum facility. They have a long road ahead as they own almost 20 pieces of equipment and have about 200 feet of track laid thus far!"

read more here.

new park post

In his blog, 5th Ward councilman Paul Drennen put this up:

"Just an FYI that there is an opening on the Park and Recreation Board appointed by Council. All interested should get their information to the 6th floor of city council. Information including a resume and letter of intent."

his blog is here.

steel valley outdoors on WRTA

A statement from the Steel Valley Outdoors blog:

"But sometimes, just sometimes, we end up having to pay for something just because we need to continue it. MRDD renewals almost always pass. We put up with the orange barrels for smooth roads. Educating our kids gives them good jobs, so they can then pay our Social Security."

"My wife has a vision problem. She cannot drive.

She works in Austintown. I work in Cranberry. We are not poor. We do not expect anyone to support us. I do not understand the argument that only the poor use the bus, that it’s a class warfare thing.

We do not live in the city. We live in Boardman. I do not understand the argument that this is a city thing. This is a regional thing.

This is about providing necessary services to all residents. I pass through New Castle every day. I cannot figure out how come there is a bus [system running] from the hilltop area outside Poland, to the Park and Ride in Portersville and then on to Cranberry and the North Hills, when Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley cannot fund a system that can reliably get you across town.

I said before I’m selfish. I started this blog as a way to promote those activities I like. I want to make money here and bring good jobs into the area so I won’t have to drive an hour to work. I want to teach the next generation about outdoor recreation so it’s protected for me.

And I want my wife to be able to continue to work. I don’t want to have to worry about her being stuck in weather like this, waiting for me or and friend or a taxi to get her home every single day.

We need WRTA. If it’s been mismanaged, if it doesn’t provide a service you use, I understand. But this is a service we need.

Please support it."

read more here

accent on youngstown

The Accent Media Matters blog presents a new project:

"My next big announcement, is our new Accent Media webcast called, Accent on Youngstown. We have been thinking about putting together a :30 minute television show or infomercial for a couple of months, and have decided to test the waters with a :10 minute webcast on our website, blog and MySpace pages.

We will be starting out with at least a bi-weekly pre-recorded webcast, and possibly weekly depending on our workload. We will playing around with the format the first few weeks to see how it best works for us. The plan is to get into a groove to tape segments at our studio on Wednesdays, and have the webcast up by Thursday evening or Friday morning."

read more on their project here.

the unforgettable Sean Jones

The Youngstown Moxie blog recalls Mr. Jones and his trumpet:

"I don't know exactly why Sean Jones popped into my mind this morning but he did. I was drinking my coffee as usual and reading the daily blogs - and there he was playing in my mind's eye. I went in search of a video to share with you. I hope you enjoy it."

"When I first heard Sean I think he must have been about nineteen or twenty years old. Since then he has traveled far and wide playing awesome music. Occasionally, he has dropped in at various clubs in town, usually around the holidays, but I haven't heard tell of him being around lately, except this morning in my head, so hit the button to demand that he make a visit home."

Sean Jones is one of this country's greatest jazz musicians, and just a few years ago he was tearing down the house at YSU's Jazz Ensembles.

She has started a online petition to bring Mr. Jones back to town. Read more here

still waiting to be saved?

Tales from the Rust Belt offers a perspective on the tough questions that remain after the Democratic candidates leave Youngstown:

"I go shopping and I see Wal-Mart and K-Mart packed with people enjoying cheap goods imported from the very countries they disdain. It makes you start to ask some tough questions."

"So Clinton and Obama came to ask for our votes and we told them how tough it has been. You have to ask yourself, though; are we doing everything we can to succeed or are we still waiting to be saved?".

read more here.

bertram's pabulum

The Reason blog produces a post "Why Obama Over Clinton" as a response to Mr DeSouza's column titled "Why Clinton Over Obama". Among the arguements:

"Illinois Senator Barack Obama is certainly not waiting his turn. Indeed, that is a principle issue that seems to be roiling the Democratic establishment. Hillary Clinton, one of their own, with all the right connections, DLC leanings, not to mention the historic trappings of being the first woman nominee is poised for the White House, and this young upstart thinks he can come along and take it from her?! It is this same presumption that has doomed the Clinton campaign and would cause it to falter in the general election, though it is unlikely now to make it that far. It's a good thing, too."

"Both Democratic candidates are proven, capable leaders and executives. After pabulum like that repeated in Bertram de Souza's recent column—that because one Obama supporter couldn't speak intelligently about his Senate record, he must not have accomplished anything of substance—you might be surprised to read real research about Senator Obama's legislative record."

check out more the this quite detailed arguement here.