Patterson Tries To Put An End To The Madness of The State Senate

People always talk down about Governor Patterson. Personally I feel that he is receiving a lot of blame he doesn't deserve. Sure, he hasn't done a lot to right home about since taking over, but I don't believe he has done a lot wrong either. I see Governor Patterson as a victim of circumstance. He came to the job to be a Leiutenant Governor and nothing more. When Governor Spitzer resigned, David Patterson was forced into the job. He could have declined, however, if that occurred, the President of the Senate would take over. At the time, the President was a Republican. Thus, the Democratic Party forced Patterson to take the job. Will he run for reelection? Maybe, maybe not.

This is a man who should have been an inspiration to people. A man who was legally blind able to rise through the political ladder. Instead, he is commonly joked about in our state. He should, however be recognized for the move he made earlier this week.

I meant to write about my dislike for what has been happening in Albany since it started 16 days ago. Drum Corps and other things have kept me from that and for that I apologize. I think what is happening in Albany is incredibly embarrassing for our state. Sure the Republicans started it, but both sides deserve blame in this situation. We are seeing men we elected, not too mention our taxes pay, acting like children. In fact, I take that back. With the way they are arguing, bickering, locking eachother out, and turning the lights off on eachother, I can honestly say that I have seen better behaved Kindergarten classes.

Rather we like it or not, the only people losing from this are you and I. We, the citizens of New York state are being screwed by these childish senators. While these children fight, there are important bills that will effect you and I sitting on the table of the senate. Bills that effect our children's education, who we can marry, and how much we pay in taxes.

There are other officials who could step in on the situation. Take, for example, our assemblyman Gary Finch. He has been in the service of the state for years. Instead of working for us, however, he is writing letters to CBS trying to get Letterman thrown off the air. Then he tries to say he was "doing it for his constituents" without even asking them their thoughts. Guess what? Your constituents don't care about a late night talk show host! They care about seeing their wants looked into by their elected officials.

Enter Governor David Patterson. A few days ago, David Patterson passed legislation forcing the state senate to meet extra days now that the regular sesson is over. The children are finally being punished. Perhaps it will help. As of today's news it did nothing. There was still fighting and lights being turned off on eachother. On the otherhand, at elast both sides are meeting together. Perhaps soon we will see them figure out a way to represent us. Until then, we wait, and we read of the idiotic exploits of our state government. I know this will not clear Governor Patterson completely of his blame. At the same time, people should applaud him for trying to get some handle on the situation.

D-Day Memorial on Brink of Financial Ruin

Back in 2001, a National D-Day Memorial was dedicated in Bedford, Virginia.  The location was chosen after Bedford lost the most men in the D-Day landings.  Now, eight years after the dedication and on the eve of the sixty-fifth anniversary of Operation Overlord, the memorial sits close to bankruptcy.  

A recent AP report details some of the many problems for the memorial.  The donations have dried up in the rough economy and its best supporters, World War Two vets, are passing away in great numbers.  That coupled with a drop off in visitors due to the great distance between the location of the memorial and major cities is leading to the memorial's troubles.  According to the president of the memorial group, the only hope may be for the location to be taken over by the park service or a college.

Although I have never been, the design of the memorial sounds amazing.  Sculptures of soldiers in a reflecting pool are shown struggling up the beach while fountain jets in the pool go off at random representing enemy fire.  

It bothers me to think that such a wonderful monument can fall on such hard times.  The group in control of the memorial is currently courting the possibility of a partnership with the World War Two Memorial in Washington or Liberty University.  On Tuesday night at the premiere of a documentary about Bedford and its men at D-Day, congressmen attending were reminded of the troubles of the memorial.  Democratic Representative Tom Perriello of Virginia is planning to introduce a piece of legislation to transfer the memorial to the National Park Service.

I can only hope that this legislation works.  It would be a shame as well as disrespectful to the memories of those lost to see such a wonderful memorial close.  

The Troubles With a Possible E-Mail Tax

For years now, there have been hoax e-mails making the rounds cliaming that the US Postal Service would start taxing our e-mails.  As presaid, however, these were little more than hoaxes.  Now, however, there is talk of the creation in our government of an actual e-mail tax that could be levied within the next decade.

The front for such a tax is that doing so would help to kill spam, increase bandwidth and, of course, make a lot of money.  There are several inherrant problems with the creation of such a tax, however.  The main one comes in the theory that the creation of such  tax would help to kill spam e-mails.  What needs to be understood is the mind of the common spammer. 

Many of the people who are the origins of these e-mails are behind proxies to send them.  Worse yet, many are also based off-shore or overseas where such a tax can not reach them.  The worst part, however, is that, through phishing, many spammers are able to use a victims info with software to make the spam appear to com from the victim's computer.  So in the end, when Joe Blow's computer is linked to spam due to his being phished, I am sure that the IRS, noting his computer's record of sending ads for debt consolidation and canadian male enhancement, will give him a fair trial.  

I am sure that there are some brightsides to this.  People would probably rely more on instant messaging and e-mails would become more like texts.  This would allow for the opening of more bandwidth.  At the same time, it seems that this tax, aside from being a bad idea in the first place, is nothing more than an impossible dream for the IRS.  Just another excuse to take more money.  

Cheers,

Nick in Gettysburg 

Sotomayor Deserves a Chance To Reply

Personally, I like the President's choice for Supreme Court Justice.  Sonia Sotomayor has the opportunity to bring a new view to America's High Court.  She would be the first latin member of the Supreme Court of the United States.  She would also bring yet another female voice to the court.

While I would be happy to see this, I must say that I too am a bit bothered by the line from a sppech everyone is talking about.  The truth of the matter is that if a white man had said such a thing, it could be considered at the worst racist and at the least to be in ill taste.  The fact of the matter is that this is another example of the double standars that exist in our society.  I would not go so far to say that what Sotomayor said is entirely racist.  At the same time, I do feel the words were in ill taste.  

My problem is that too many people are piling on to this topic.  I feel that it would be best of Ms. Sotomayor came forward and replied on the topic.  If she cleared up what she meant it might help us to better understand.  In the end, if we look at her record as a Federal judge, we see a clean and shining bill of service.  She is most definately worthy of the position.  What she said shouldn't keep her out of the job.  For now, we will just have to wait and see how she acts as a Judge if she is, in fact, confirmed.

Cheers,

Nick in Gettysburg

The History Channel Not Living Up To Its Name

Some people believe there is a Bigfoot.  Others say that they were abducted by aliens.  Thats all well and good.  Let people believe what they will.  But do shows about this really belong on the History Channel?  When I look at the average programming schedule for the channel as of late, I see shows that are mostly about these topics.  It is a trend I have been noticing over the last few years.

As a kid, I remember when we first got this channel.  It always seemed liek they had a show about World War Two.  As Homer Simpson put it in an episode of the "The Simpsons": "The Luftwaffe is the Washington Generals of the History Channel."  In those days I felt like it was all that was on.  I felt like they needed more.  Now, I would kill for more shows on World War Two.

As time went on and I became a Civil War Buff, the History Channel seemed to cater to me.  Every Tuesday morning, before school, I got to watch two episodes of Civil War Journal.  This was also coupled with great shows on Lincoln and specific battles.  The best part is that some of the men that I watched on these shows are now professors that I have gotten to know while at college in Gettysburg.  

Slowly but surely, however, the History Channel began to change.  Sure, a show about what happened in Roswell in 1949 is okay when it comes up on the anniversary.  However, when "The UFO Files" entered the normal TV lineup, that is when things seemed to begin to go downhill.  Let us look at what is now currently on the History Channel.  

"Life After People"- The premise of the show is interesting.  How would animals, buildings and other systems survive if people mysteriously dissappeared.  The problem is that it is a hypothetical thing that hasn't occured yet.  Shouldn't it be on The Future Channel or something like that.  It isn't history...Hell it hasn't even happened yet!

"Ice Road Truckers"- A reality show.  It is a reality show on the History Channel.  The worst part is that it is, essentially, a knock off of "Deadliest Catch" but not as good.  I respect these guys and that their job is dangerous.  It just does not seem like a show meant for this channel to me.

"Axmen"- Yet another reality show.  Only a few weeks before this one premiered, Discovery Channel aired a show with a similar premise.  I just don't get reality shows on History Channel.

To be honest, I would love to see it all back to normal.  There was one day near the beginning of this month that it seemed to return to normal.  The shows all followed a maritime history theme.  It was nice.  A show about the ships of the Revolution.  Another about Civil War navies.  The next on the Titanic.  Not a single reality show.  Why can't it be like this more often? 

Cheers,

Nick in Gettysburg

"Heroic Measures" opens at the Cayuga Museum

This past Friday, the Cayuga Museum of History and Art opened its new exhibit "Heroic Measures: Fire Fighting in Cayuga County".  In my nine years of work at the museum, I have to say that this is one of the best designed exhibits we have ever had.  If you get a chance to go, I urge you to see the exhibit.  

The exhibit itself details the history of the one professional and multiple volunteer fire fighting units in our county.  At the same time, it also features a study of the evolution of the equipment of the firefighters from their helmets to the vehicles they drive.  This includes a focus on firetrucks from the hand-drawn and horse-drawn eras through the early motorized period.  

The upstairs floor of the museum is where the exhibit really becomes interactive.  One room recreates the conditions of what it would be like in a burning room.  It also includes information on how you and your family can create an escape plan in case you should ever experience a fire.  A second room is designed with our younger visitors in mind.  It includes a full scale photo of one of Auburn's fire trucks that has 3-D pipes and guages.  The room also recreates the feel of the fire house.  It has jackets and helmets for the kids to try on and get their photos taken in.  It also includes a fire hydrant and hoses so the kids can learn how firefighters connect the hose from hydrant to the truck.  

In closing, as we get ready for Memorial Day, it is important to remember not only our brave soldiers but also the men and women of the fire and police forces of the world.  What better way than to examine their history.  So feel free to visit the museum and see our new exhibit, not to mention maybe say "hi".

Cheers,

Nick in Gettysburg

AHS Auditorium In Dire Need Of Repair

The following is a letter I have written to The Citizen regarding the deplorable state of the Auditorium at Auburn High School.  I urge anyone else who ffels this way to write their own letters or contact the school board with complaints:

            I love Auburn High School.  I am an alumni of the class of 2008.  I do not, however, love our school district.  For two years the talk was of turf fields.  Meanwhile, other parts of the schools that needed repair began to fall apart.  Areas of our children’s schools in dire need of repair were passed over.  Case in point, the auditorium in Auburn High School.

            We have all been there.  Maybe for a concert by one of AHS’s wonderful music programs.  Perhaps for an awards ceremony honoring those about to graduate.  Or maybe, as in my case, you were there for a dance recital.  If anyone was at Donna’s Dance Center’s recital on May 22, you will know what I am talking about.  The easiest thing to note would be the lights going off halfway through a routine.  It is important to note, however, that the girls never stopped dancing and kept going.  For that, they deserve great commendation.  Working backstage at the recital, I was able to note many problems with the auditorium.  In 39 years of service, this auditorium seems to have had little to no renovations.

            The first problem to address is the lights.  Upstairs on the main light board is a series of breakers.  One breaker is missing the harness that holds it in place.  In theory, it is supposed to cut the lights if they are overheating.  With the harness gone, however, it cuts the lights as soon as it reaches the normal temperature.  So, in order for it to work, a person must stand with their hand on the breaker to keep it from going off, or in the case of the quick repair of the school, place a wedge on it.  Problem is, it keeps the lights from shutting off in case of overheating.  This is a fire hazard!

            Then there is the condition of the stage.  The stage itself was repainted about 6 years ago and is in dire need of a repainting.  Looking at it from the audience, one sees a black stage.  Looking at it from the stage, one sees chipped black paint and exposed gashes of wood.  Some holes are deep and could trip up person. 

            Lastly are the wonderful curtains.  These curtains, it seems at least, have not been replaced and are the originals from 39 years ago.  They show their age all too well.  The black background curtain is torn in many places and held together with safety pins.  The black teaser curtain is torn and in some places, literally, hanging by a thread.  The red fire curtain has a bad tendency of jumping its tracks.  All of the curtains have at least one safety pin holding together a rip in it.

            I bring these to the attention of the school board and the public for one reason.  I write because the state of the auditorium led to a blackout in the middle of two numbers that the girls in it had worked hard on since September.  This auditorium is in a sad state of repair.  It needs work done.  I ask that people bring this up at Board of Education meetings and write more letters.  AHS Auditorium has the opportunity to be beautiful, it just needs a push.