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The
Other Side of the Edge….. Racism Changes Its Colors…..
By Joe Facinoli
Racism (ra’siz em) noun: 1. The
notion that
one’s own ethnic stock is superior. 2.
The belief
that each race has certain qualities or abilities, giving rise to the
view that some races are better than others.
3.
Discrimination against, or hostility towards, other races. (see
also: racist –noun or adjective) Where, in Merriam-Webster’s
clear definition above, does it mention, or even imply, that when one
person, of a certain or given race (or color), criticizes… read
more. |
Commissioners
Corner… Combating
drugs, wrapping up fiscal year
September is coming to a close, football season is in full swing, some
of the crops in the county are coming off the fields, and cool, crisp
days are here. The unmistakable signs of fall are
here.
Fall is one of the best times is Darke County. Cooler days
and
nights make things like yard work, or any work outside much more
tolerable. Darke County is also one of the prettiest places
to be
this time of year. The trees… read
more. |
U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown… Promoting
Adult Education and Success in the Workforce
According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy reports, some
90,000,000 adults do not possess the basic skills – literacy, numeracy,
and command over the English language – needed for success at home and
the workplace. And while our nation’s unemployment rate last month was
7.3 percent, it was 3.5 percent for individuals with a bachelor’s
degree and 11.3 percent for those without a high school diploma. This
week – National Adult Education… read
more. |
Sinking your half of
the boat,
By Jim Surber
What will be the result of the U.S. House Republicans’ last-ditch
effort to block the Affordable Care Act more popularly known as
Obamacare? My first reaction is that this is what happens to a party
that has been hijacked by zealots. If they can’t take over Washington,
then they’ll shut it down. If a definition of insanity is doing the
same thing twice and expecting different results, then what is defined
by 41 attempts to repeal the same law? For all the hype and… read
more. |
State
Representative Jim
Buchy…Common Core - Coming to a School Near
You?
For the past several months I have been learning a lot about the Common
Core. This is a new standards model that is going into effect in our
schools now. The State of Ohio decided in 2010 to adopt the Common Core
English and Math standards to bring a more rigorous curriculum to our
schools. This was part of a movement that started in local schools and
was adopted by the state to align with other states. At this time Ohio
is not changing standards for… read
more. |
U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown… Enrolling
for a New Health Plan
In less than two weeks, enrollment begins for the health law’s new
insurance marketplace, allowing almost one million Ohioans to become
eligible for financial assistance to purchase quality, affordable
health insurance. Starting October 1, Ohioans without insurance, or
those who would like to change their insurance plans, can shop for
health insurance coverage at www.healthcare.gov. For years, we’ve heard
stories of Americans frustrated and failed by our… read
more. |
The
White
House, Dan Pfeiffer
Hello -- Right now, Congress has two jobs: to pass a budget that
invests in the middle class and to pay the bills it has already
incurred. But instead of doing their jobs, a few reckless Republicans
in Congress are so obsessed with refighting old political battles over
Obamacare that they're threatening to shut down the government and stop
paying the country's bills. On Friday, these House Republicans voted to
shut down the government unless… read
more. |
Of cats and coffee,
By Jim Surber
First, I must confess that I have never been a coffee drinker. I have
never liked the taste but certainly have no quarrel with those who do.
Like chewing tobacco, I tried it but never liked it. That said, I was
intrigued by a recent news article describing how scientists have
designed a test to verify the genuineness of the world’s most expensive
coffee bean called Kopi Luwak. By using a “metabolic fingerprint,” with
something called metabolomics technology, the… read
more. |
Broke Wife, Big City…Top 10 Perks of Being
Pregnant,
By Aprill Brandon
10. People will always insist you sit down. Your mom, your significant
other, your co-workers, even the 98-year-old man with scolosis on the
subway will get up and insist you sit down. Already sitting down? No
worries. They will then insist that you lie down. Being pregnant, it is
practically your JOB to be lazy. That is, unless you listen to "some"
people who will insist you stay physically active. But "those" people
are doctors and are stupid… read
more. |
Boehner
Discusses Debt Limit, Defunding ObamaCare
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a press conference with Republican leaders today,
Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) reiterated that, for decades,
presidents of both parties have worked with Congress on debt limit
legislation that includes spending cuts, and this year should be no
different. Boehner also highlighted House Republicans’
continuing
effort to protect all Americans from the president’s train wreck of a
health care law. Following are… read
more. |
From
the Other Side of the
Edge… Go
Ahead….Shut it Down !!
By Joe Facinoli
Do us a favor,.…please,……SHUT IT DOWN !! The Democrats in the U.S.
Senate are threatening to “shut down the federal government”, by way of
not voting to approve next year’s budget, if those dastardly
Republicans in that chamber don’t go along with raising our federal
debt ceiling, and/or make good on their attempt to defund Obamacare.
And,…..the bad news in this, ….is what, exactly ?? I say, go ahead,
shut the whole thing down! Do what 80 years… read
more. |
State
Representative Jim
Buchy… We All
Have a Role to
Play to Ensure a Safe School Year
Now that school has been back in session for a couple of weeks, we have
all noticed the increased school bus traffic on the roads. Besides just
the buses, high school students, teachers, principals and faculty
members also travel to school each morning. It is very important that
we, as drivers, are cognizant of the increased traffic on the roads,
and with school buses stopping to pick up and drop off children, the
attention given to safety rest on everybody’s shoulders… read
more. |
The
Grumpy Side of 60… I
can spell crocodile, By Bob
Robinson
She stood up and walked around her classmates toward me… her eyes were
fixed on the book I was reading. Uh… actually no… they were fixed on my
hand… uh… no… they were fixed on my ring. I was a “novice” sub at the
time. I just kept on reading. She reached my hand – the ring – and
started running a finger over the shield and other etchings that make a
Texas A&M “Aggie” ring one of the most recognizable rings in
the
world… read
more. |
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown…Five Years After
Near Economic
Collapse, Working to End Future Bailouts
Five years ago, the collapse of Lehman Brothers put our economy on the
brink of collapse and jeopardized the savings and pensions of millions
of Americans. The Lehman Brothers collapse was significant for another
reason as well. Because the federal government bailed out other
financial institutions before and after Lehman’s failure, it … read
more. |
State
Representative Jim
Buchy… County
Fairs, a Place for
Everyone
It has been great to share the fun-filled experiences with all of you
as I attended each of the four county fairs in the district.
From
the first fair in Shelby County, which started July 21st, to the last
fair in Darke County ending on August 24th, trips to the fairs have
been made for over a month now and I enjoyed them to the fullest. It
was nice to see my family, friends and constituents back home that
honestly make the biggest difference in my life. When… read
more. |
Broke Wife, Big City…Pregnancy: Farter for the
greater good,
By Aprill Brandon
So, I'm still pregnant. I know! I feel like I've been pregnant forever
too. In fact, I'm having trouble remembering a time when I wasn't
pregnant. (Just kidding. I remember all too well. I have nightly lucid
dreams in which I drink Scotch and smoke cigars while taking a bath in
Diet Coke and stuffing my face with unpasteurized soft cheeses. In
these dreams, I also occasionally end up in a compromising position
with the guy who played … read
more. |
From
the Other Side of the
Edge… Amateurs
and Liars…
By Joe Facinoli
What do Katy Perry, Groucho Marx, Vladimir Putin, The Clash, Pinocchio,
the Hokey Pokey, and some burning pants, along with a few “highly
placed” individuals in Washington,.….all have in common? Well, perhaps
a “possible” conversation at The White House, from this past week,
might reveal an answer to that vexing query: “Yeah,….that’s a GOOD
idea!” (“Isn’t it??? ”) “John,….why would
you say
that??!!” “Well,…alright,…uh,….ok,...then let’s… read
more. |
Grumpy
Side of 60… Always
room for improvement,
By Bob Robinson
“Oh no… he’s old!! This is really going to be a boring class.” The
young lady sat down in the front row, pulled out her textbook and
settled back looking around her, then at me, and evidently resigned
herself to one of the worst classes she will have to endure on her fall
schedule. The quote was taken directly from her course evaluation at
the end of the semester; I’m guessing at how she actually reacted when
she saw me 16 weeks earlier… read
more. |
Congressman
Boehner Remembers 9/11
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, Members of Congress will take part in
a Remembrance Ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to mark the
12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Congressman
John
Boehner (R-West Chester) will make the following remarks, as prepared
for delivery: “A reading from the Book of Isaiah: “‘The Lord
is
God from of old. He does not faint or grow weary. …
Though
young men faint and grow weary … they that… read
more. |
Ohio
Secretary of State Jon
Husted… Ohio
Gives Back:
Nonprofits Provide More Than Aid
Ohioans have a rich tradition of giving back to their communities and
those in need. This is evident by the fact that more than 60,000
nonprofit organizations operate in Ohio. With so many of these
beneficial entities calling the Buckeye State home, there is no
shortage of ways for each of us to get involved to help our communities
and our neighbors. In fact, nonprofits in Ohio collectively raise
billions of dollars for assistance and research each year. The benefit…
read
more. |
Syria,
By President Barack Obama
Good evening -- I just addressed the nation about the use of chemical
weapons in Syria. Over the past two years, what began as a series of
peaceful protests against the repressive regime of Bashar al-Assad has
turned into a brutal civil war in Syria. Over 100,000 people have been
killed. In that time, we have worked with friends and allies to provide
humanitarian support for the Syrian people, to help the moderate
opposition within Syria, and to shape a… read
more. |
Life with Levi…Rest in peace, Mickey Mouse,
By Amanda Olson Editor
There has been a death in the family. Luckily, it wasn’t anyone I was
emotionally attached to. Back in July, I made mention of my brand new
computer mouse, which Levi decided to name Mickey Mouse. Sadly, after
two short months, Mickey Mouse is no longer with us. Evidently, if you
dump water on a computer mouse, it won’t work anymore. Or at least
that’s what Levi and I discovered. I’ve also discovered that sippee… read
more. |
Broke Wife, Big City…Letter to my unborn child,
By Aprill Brandon
Dear My Unborn Child, So...uh...hey, I guess. How are you? I'm fine.
Yup. Um...so how 'bout them Red Sox, huh? Sorry this is so awkward.
Truth be told, we hardly even know each other. I mean, all I really
know about you currently is that you are violently opposed to Chinese
food and all you really know about me is that I eat way too much
cheese. So this whole trend just seems a bit ridiculous. Oh wait, you
probably have no idea what… read
more. |
State
Rep. Jim Buchy… West-Central
Ohio Playing a Major Role in
Ohio’s Economic Comeback
Something is happening here in west central-Ohio and there aren’t a lot
of people talking about it. Step by step, west-central Ohio
is
leading the way in Ohio’s comeback. It could be thanks to our
strong agricultural sector, which was barely hurt by the recent
economic downturn, or it could be thanks to the commitment of Honda of
America in the region or any number of other reasons. Nonetheless, the
economy in this region is ticking at a faster pace than… read
more. |
From
the Other Side of the
Edge….. Three
Card Monte…..
By Joe Facinoli
Ever been to New York City, and strolled through the subways, or walked
the streets surrounding Central Park? Interesting places, to say the
least, with so many different and wildly varying sights, sounds, and
activities going on,….day and night. One of the “standard” sights which
one might find, or fall victim to, if too naïve or un-streetwise, is a
deceptively innocent game of chance, which can prove alarmingly
dangerous, financially tragic, and even… read
more. |
U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown… Labor
Day
For generations, hardworking Americans have left their homes every
morning – and some at night – to earn an honest living, to provide for
their loved ones, and to ensure their children have enough food,
clothes, and education to thrive. Steelworkers, nurses, mechanics,
teachers, and plumbers weren’t always treated with the dignity they
deserve. But we know that American history is a history of struggle for
working people – fighting for representation, fair… read
more. |
Broke Wife, Big City…Dogs are from Pluto,
Women are from
Venus, By Aprill Brandon
There comes a time in every relationship where you begin to re-evaluate
just what the two of you are getting out of the whole deal. If the good
times are still outweighing the bad times. If that spark you once had
is still burning. For me and my love, that time is now. To be honest, I
never thought it would come to this. We've been through so much
together. I had heard of other people who had gone through some of the
same problems… read
more. |
U.S. Representative John Boehner…Replacing the
President’s
Sequester with Smarter Cuts & Reforms
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester)
released the following column discussing the president’s sequester:
“Over the past few months, I’ve received a number of letters, emails,
phone calls and Facebook messages about the impact of the president’s
sequester in our region. Many are from hard-working… read
more. |
From
the Other Side of the
Edge…. Dr.
King Would Not Have
Been There….. By Joe Facinoli
Martin Luther King, Jr. was not about celebrity, nor any agenda. And he
was certainly not about politics. He was about truth, and reality, and
presenting these in a way that was undeniable. He was not about what
went on in DC last week, 50 years after his “I have a Dream, today….”
exhortations. In fact, in my humble opinion, I don’t believe he would
have wanted anything to do with that group, who had gathered at the
Lincoln Memorial supposedly to honor… read
more. |
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