What assembly is this????

So there I was, in the garage, listening to the borough assembly meeting. A cold brewsky in one hand, and a handful of skepticism in the other.
Why the garage? The terrain of my compound makes reception a challenge, and I just didn't feel like sitting in the house listening to it on the 'puter, (I love the KMXT live streaming). Besides the kids gotta get his homework done. Oh yeah, if you do check out local radio on the web, click on the Donate button and help support the best media on the rock.
Is me or was that the shortest, most jovial borough assembly meeting in history? I actually had to double check the tuner to make sure I had not tuned into some other borough meeting. I felt like I was standing at the edge of a funeral party for the town bully. You know, where everyone stands around trying to say nice things about a person very few actually liked. I suppose it is never good to speak ill of the dead, or of the departed.
The high lights for me?
1. Apparently the ambulance Mel Stephens was chasing passed by the borough building, enabling him to drop by and put his 3 cents in. His gratitude for the departing assembly matters was tear jerking, (tears of mirth, that is). After all the pain you have suffered trying to hold the assembly accountable it is too bad your covert write-in campaign failed so miserably. I guess we'll have to listen to your comments from the floor for a while still.
2. The news that our community will be receiving a kickback from the 700 billion dollar bail-out. It could be as much as 400K for the next 3 years. Hopefully the assembly won't piss it away on studies and plans for the desperately needed borough administrative building. BTW, didn't I hear something about our school lunch program being short about 292K this year? Maybe they can trim some of the waste, as they are planning, and the assembly can now afford to fork over the rest. For that matter, why don't we invest some, and then give the rest to our school district?
3. Mr. Abell went out with some class and I really did like his suggestion that everyone should give public service a try. Thanks Tom, now move on and enjoy that lifetime of medical benefits you take as a parting gift.
4. Mr. Oswalt : that was the most eloquent & intelligent statement of your career and I will follow your lead.
With two legs of the triad removed, I am curious to see how the remainder will stand without their support. Its gonna be a fun winter, so pay attention folks. Ask hard questions, and demand real answers.
Peace
Griff

Spinning down

The adrenaline rush is waning as I type.
I spent the afternoon at the Elks lodge watching, what I thought improbable, happen. The giants, overcame and became giant killers. Whereas I was disappointed that my home team did not re-write history, I was glad to see the underdog prevail. Talk about mixed emotions.
Hat's off to Tom Petty and the Heart breakers! I expected some hyped up glitz filled with greatest hits medleys. I was happy to see that they treated this event as another show and put out a short concert style performance that reminded us all what consummate musicians they are.
The Elks, Rotary, and our own KFL put on an amazing spread, and an excellent presentation of the game. It was my first visit to this event and it will not be my last.
That said: lets gear up for the next super event. Super Tuesday looms in our future. Which king/queen of sound bytes will prevail? I, for one, could never choose Hillary as our next. However; as far as the Dem's go, she at least occasionally says something with weight. She has beliefs, misplaced at times, but hard beliefs. She is facing an opponent that I would never choose for office. Obama speaks in metaphors. So much so that as he is winning the edge in the media wars, and he is doing so with out actually saying anything.
On the other side of the house, it is a crap shoot. I would choose the man with a record of building cross party bridges. A hero, because we need a hero right about now. This is a man who has overcome great odds, never wavered in his beliefs, and still understands that compromise, although a bitter pill, is necessary for the good of our nation. Right now McCain is the man for me. I would love to see a McCain/Paul ticket. I think that team might stir things up a bit, and I believe that is what this country and government needs.
Do not misunderstand this rant. I still believe that the best people suited for the oval office are not running. I simply offer my spin on the lesser of evils.
After all, isn't that what the past several elections have boiled down to? Not the best person available for the job, just the best choice on the ballot. Sad, but true.
Peace
Griff

My hat's in.

Hey I'm back!
Apologies to the two readers of this blog for my hiatus. I've been wicked busy.
I would love to spend paragraphs catch'in ya'll up on my adventures, but good sense tells me to keep this reasonably short.
So let's talk about the paper; our beloved Mirror.
After a three day weekend our local rag is wafer thin. Hard to believe that there was so little going on on this community that all four pages, (subtract the comics and classifieds), had little to say about what is really going on.
I have wondered for some time about the escalating brevity in the "Letters To The Editor" section of the local pulp. There is so much happening in this community, why is this section getting so spartan in it's commentary?
I hesitate to believe that so many have so little to say. Perhaps the same machine that stifled Nick in his prime, has persevered and we have given up on the hope that we have something to say.
That said I need to address one thing.
The Borrough assembly is in the midst of legal and personal turmoil. Talking with some colleagues I learned that all is not well in Camelot.
I did not realize that "attendance gate" is far from over. Come to find out that Mr. Stephens lawsuit is far from over. Sure the judge ruled and our assembly members acquiesced. They did the right thing, given the circumstances. However; I come to find out that three of the current board members are co-plaintiffs in this law suite.
This is what spurred the heated discussion at the last meeting.
Fellow voters, I ask this. Why should we pay for extra attorneys when board members choose to seek private representation? Why would we allow standing members to sue our community and pay their costs to do so?
I think it is time for the details of this law suite to be made public. Not an unreasonable expectation; given the outcome and burden this community will have to pay.
There are a few members of this assembly who really want to enable change on our island. There are also a few that want to maintain the status quo. or who signed on with personal axes to grind. Can you say RECALL?
Look at this, get informed, make a decision!
If our elected officials are not informing the constituents, are not listening to the will of the people, then CUT THEM LOOSE!
That said;
Our local rag. Where is the impartial. non-partisan , information we desire? The majority of the drivel that is printed is available on the I-Net or any major national pub. If the local media is not shining light in the corners then who is?
I challenge the Daily Mirror to pick up that spotlight and shine it in the dark corners that drive the economy of this island. We must hold our elected officials accountable, otherwise we are sheep. KMXT; keep looking into those dark corners, but look deeper. Who cares if you lose a sponsor? If you pursue truth and shine that light into the real business of this community, more sponsors will appear.
To my fellow Flat's Rat's and other borough citizens.
What up? Ask those uncomfortable questions. Expect reasonable answers. Demand public accountability.
In closing: someone publish the details of this law suite, give us names and grievances. Let us decide what to fight for. What is right is right, but the government is not our parents. Rather it is the other way around. We give you the chance to sink or swim, and we should hold you accountable for your actions or in-actions.
Wow,; I am spent.
I have thrown my little hat into the ring. Disagree? Then step up, but put it in a public forum for all to see. Yep, that's my last challenge to the paper and our elected officials. Put your cards on the table. I welcome all rebuttal. If the blog-o-sphere daunts you, ask around, I am not hard to find.
The right thing is not always the easy thing, but is always right thing.
Peace
Griff