America The Beautiful
The lyrics of this popular, great patriotic song were adapted from a poem, written in 1893 by Katherine Lee Bates, an English professor at Wellesley College, Massachusetts. Bates wrote the poem on a trip to Colorado.
The melody had been composed a decade earlier by New Jersey composer Samuel Ward as a hymn tune. Ward's music combined with Bates' poem were first published together in 1910, and titled America the Beautiful
We The People, Parade Pics
We The People
The National Constitution Center (according to its website ) is an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of, and appreciation for, the Constitution, its history, and its contemporary relevance, through an interactive, interpretive facility within Independence National Historic Park and a program of national outreach, so that "We the People" may better secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
District Stonewalling Part 3
Government transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their government is doing.
But the District of New Berlin seems to prefer hiding information from “the people”. It chose to stonewall rather than provide requested information about District expenditures to a taxpaying citizen.
Obviously, when school government dodges questions about its spending, it cannot credibly claim to be open, responsible government. Ironically, all seven members of the New Berlin School Board were endorsed by a political group that calls itself New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government.
Fakery--Good and Bad
Last Friday’s Rock-Pop-Blues Concert at the Northern Lights Theater (in Potawatomi Bingo Casino) featured performances by Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and the Blues Brothers impersonators. That show by talented “fakes” was a tribute to the real celebrities, entertaining, and fun.
But the Republican plot to run “fake” (GOP-affiliated) Democrats in Wisconsin senate recall election races is reprehensible and not the least bit amusing.
Harry Potter Movie Marathon Wed. and Thurs. at Marcus Ridge Cinemas
“Not long ago, the most famous Potter in fiction was the misanthropic banker in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ But the name hasn’t been the same since Harry Potter took it over in 1997. Each title in author J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series about the boy wizard whose nemesis is evil itself has been turned into a film. The final book published in 2007 was actually turned into two films, the second of which, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows—Part 2’ opens Friday.”
------- film critic Duane Dudek, July 11 Journal Sentinel.
"Fake" Candidates Fail to Prevail; GOP Scheming
All 6 'Democrats won in primary races on Tuesday against candidates put on the ballot by the Republican Party reported the Journal Sentinel earlier this week.
Remember how Republican officials and voter ID supporters stressed the importance of “election integrity” and protecting against election “fraud”?
Republicans' Radical Redistricting Plan Affects Many (including NB) Voters
While Sen. Lazich was blogging about the weather, the Journal Sentinel (via a July 15 online report and July 16 newspaper article) was pointing out to the public that the new maps of legislative districts drawn by GOP leaders, shift many voters from one Senate district to another.
Per the Journal Sentinel :
Ald. Ken Harenda Skips Important Vote On Agreement With MSP
Per the July 20 Journal Sentinel: A victory in federal court Monday by the developer trying to build affordable housing in New Berlin may have prompted the city to settle. On Tuesday night, the New Berlin Common Council approved a tentative agreement that could resolve the federal lawsuit MSP filed against the city. City officials declined to release details of the agreement because it had not yet been approved by MSP and its attorneys. The agreement could pave the way for MSP to build 102 units in the City Center.
The Journal Sentinel reports that the agreement, called a memorandum of understanding with MSP and Deer Creek Homes, was approved 4-3, with Mayor Jack Chiovatero casting the tiebreaking vote.
What Would Reagan Do?
In Saturday’s (July 23) Journal Sentinel Quick Hit, editorial page editor David D. Haynes remarked:
WWGD? What Would the Gipper Do? Well, Ronald Reagan would probably push Congress to raise the debt ceiling. After all, while he was president, this conservative icon president presided over 18 increases in the debt ceiling. Horrors! Apostacy! Said the ever-reasonable Reagan: “Congress consistently brings the government to the edge of default before facing its responsibility…..The United States has a special responsibility to itself and the world to meet its obligations.” Well put---and still true today.
Will the District Dodge Questions at Tonight's Annual Meeting, too?
When I (a taxpaying District citizen) sent Superintendent Paul Kreutzer and Finance Director Roger Dickson an email on Nov. 8, 2010 with several questions regarding District spending and finance, they ignored my questions. Eventually ( over three months later), an attorney retained by the District contacted me. She said I could not compel the administrators to answer my questions and they were not going to answer them.
On May 3, 2011--- I turned one of my questions into a records request and sent Dr. Kreutzer and Joe Garza ( who later replaced Kreutzer as Superintendent), an Open Records Request to inspect all the records which pertained to the cost/expenditures of renovation, remodeling, redecorating of the District Office that occurred during Dr. Kreutzer’s tenure.
