Animals, Beautiful Whitewater, Nature
Sandhill Cranes
by JOHN ADAMS •
Author Archive for JOHN ADAMS
Charity, City, Sports
On the 7.24.12 Special Council Session: Supporting Treyton Kilar’s Field of Dreams Project
by JOHN ADAMS •
Tonight, at 6:30 PM, there will be a special session of Whitewater’s Common Council to consider whether to select a bid for artificial turf for the Treyton’s Field of Dreams project, and to authorize down payment on the project.
Council’s decision tonight may determine whether the project meets the continuing requirements for a Pepsi Challenge grant.
I believe that the Treyton Kilar Field of Dreams project deserves particular municipal support because of its chartiable nature (beyond contrasting, ordinary projects), and that no action the city takes should result in a net loss of financing for the project. Additionally, the city needs a better, more systematic way to consider projects’ environmental impact.
Before beginning, I’ll be very clear: I’ve no special knowledge by which to assess the supposed environmental impact of artificial turf.
Significantly, I believe that whatever decision the council makes, they should assure that their action causes no net loss in funding, or reduction in likelihood of completion, for this charitable project.
Because this is a community-based, privately-backed, charitable project, it deserves more, not less, deference than an ordinary municipal one. There is neither a principal economic nor personal advantage sought in this: it’s a sincere, charitable, good-hearted community effort. We’ve had many projects that were either more expensive or more useful for political advantage; the Field of Dreams has neither of those unfortunate attributes.
There is no selfish striving in this; it’s a hopeful project in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy. We have too little of projects like these. There’s no politics in it, no career advancement in it. It came about not through politics or ideology but through the efforts of a family and the many that they have inspired. Politics will never matter as much.
If Whitewater’s Common Council should now act – however sincerely – to impede this community-backed private effort, then they should assure that there is no loss of net funding nor impediment to the project’s timetable. This project did not originate with government, or a single business, but within the community.
As a community-based, charitable effort, it should not be hindered. It should mean more to this city, not less, than an ordinary government or commercial project.
Finally, and most significantly, Whitewater needs an orderly, routine process for addressing environmental concerns. They should be considered – I would not fault anyone for his or her sincere concerns – but considerations like this should be part of a routine city process, addressed early on. We have had far larger municipal projects in the past (in size and area), and ones yet to come, that have received less consideration.
That’s simply a substandard practice. Other projects (with fanciful economic claims) have been rushed at every turn, with little or no review at all. Now this simpler project is held up at the last minute. It’s below a proper, professional standard to react this way. Municipal review should be orderly, early, and thorough.
I support this project, and would hope that Whitewater’s Common Council tonight assures that whatever action it takes leaves the Treyton Kilar Field of Dreams on track, and on schedule, for funding and successful completion.
Daily Bread
Daily Bread for 7.24.12
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning.
Much-needed rain continues today, on a day with a high temperature of eighty-five.
This afternoon, Whitewater’s Urban Forestry Commission meets at 4:15 PM. Later, at 6:30 PM, Whitewater’s Common Council meets in a special, open session to consider the Treyton Kilar Field of Dreams project (“Discussion and possible action on award of bid for artificial turf provider for Treyton’s Field of Dreams and request for authorization to issue down payment”).
On this day in 1911, American archeologist Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca settlement in Peru:
Google’s daily puzzle asks about nineteenth-century childbirth: “The use of anesthesia to relieve the pain of childbirth became widely acceptable after I delivered the Prince in 1853. How many children did I have without an anesthetic?” more >>
Animals, Science/Nature
Can office dogs reduce stress?
by JOHN ADAMS •
Perhaps they can —
According to a preliminary investigation published in March in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business, employees who bring their dog to the office can cap the amount of stress experienced during the day, and improve job satisfaction for all….
Those who had their dogs with them had low levels of stress throughout the day, and about half of that group felt that dogs were important to their productivity. Of the two groups without dogs, 80% felt that the dogs in the workplace had no negative effect on productivity.
Via CNN.
Music
Monday Music: Bob Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone
by JOHN ADAMS •
Daily Bread
Daily Bread for 7.23.12
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning.
Whitewater’s week begins mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 99, and a west wind of 5 to 10 mph.
If you’re living in an undersea habitat, how will someone get dry goods down to you? Live Science has a video with the answer:
On this day in 1914, the ultimatum that led to a world war: “Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia following the killing of Archduke Francis Ferdinand by a Serb assassin; the dispute led to World War I.”
From Google’s daily puzzle, a question about supposedly magical plants: “This plant from the nightshade family was believed to have magical powers. A person who uprooted it was said to die from its scream. To pull it, people would tie the plant to what before running away to safety?” more >>
Press
McClatchy’s Washington Bureau establishes no-alter quote policy
by JOHN ADAMS •
The right decision, yet in our times sadly a hard decision for many, from a major newspaper chain:
To our staff and to our readers:
As you are aware, reporters from The New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg and others are agreeing to give government sources the right to clear and alter quotes as a prerequisite to granting an interview.
To be clear, it is the bureau’s policy that we do not alter accurate quotes from any source. And to the fullest extent possible, we do not make deals that we will clear quotes as a condition of interviews.
With the government trying to do more of the public’s business in secret, the demands that interviews be conducted off the record is growing. While it puts us at a disadvantage, we should argue strenuously for on-the-record interviews with government officials.
When they absolutely refuse, we have only two options. First, halt the interview and attempt to find the information elsewhere. In those cases, our stories should say the official declined comment. Second, we can go ahead with the interview with the straightforward response that whatever ultimately is used will be published without change in tone, emphasis or exact language.
These days government is trying mightily to constrain access to public information. Each staffer has had no comments, demands for FOIAs that go unanswered and worse. More recently, our sources have been chilled by threats of leak investigations, and some have endured full blown leak inquiries.
As advocates of the First Amendment, we cannot be intimidated into letting the government control our work. When The New York Times agreed with Bush Administration officials to delay publication of its story of illegal wiretaps of Americans until after the 2004 election, it did the nation a great disservice. Acceding to the Obama administration’s efforts to censor our work to have it more in line with their political spin is another disservice to America.
And judging from the controversy that has ensued from the disclosure of these requests, the people don’t like this either.
If you believe there is a compelling reason for an exception to this policy, please clear it with me.
James Asher
Washington Bureau Chief
McClatchy Newspapers
Via McClatchy’s Washington Bureau establishes no-alter quote policy | McClatchy.
Recent Tweets, 7.15-7.21
by JOHN ADAMS •
http://storify.com/DailyAdams/recent-tweets-7-15-7-21-22
Cartoons & Comics
Sunday Morning Cartoon: Krazy Kat, Bugologist (George Herriman, 1916)
by JOHN ADAMS •
Daily Bread
Daily Bread for 7.22.12
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning.
Sunday in Whitewater brings a high of eighty-nine, and a 30% chance of rain in the morning. Winds will be 5 to 10 mph from the southwest.
On this day in 1934, federal agents shot notorious ban robber John Dillinger.
The Wisconsin Historical Society records that on this day in 1820 a Wisconsin governor who lost his life in wartime was born:
1820 – Louis P. Harvey Born
On this date Louis P. Harvey, Wisconsin Governor, was born in Connecticut. He taught school in both Kentucky and Ohio before relocating to Kenosha, where he worked as a newspaper editor. He was elected to the Wisconsin state senate in 1853, 1855, and 1857. In 1859 he was elected Secretary of State. He served as governor from January 6 to April 19, 1862. Louis P. Harvey diedon April 19, 1862, in Savannah, Tennessee while delivering medical supplies to Wisconsin soldiers at Pittsburgh Landing. Harvey slipped while stepping from one boat to another and fell into the Tennessee River and drowned. His body was recovered four days later and returned to Madison. Governor Harvey is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery. [Source: First Ladies of Wisconsin-The Governors’ Wives by Nancy G. Williams, p. 255]
Google’s daily puzzle asks about the sense of taste: “Which of the five basic tastes would you most likely experience while eating food made with soy sauce?”
Daily Bread
Daily Bread for 7.21.12
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning.
Whitewater’s Saturday will be a hot day, with a high of ninety-four, with a 20% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Winds will be five to ten miles per hour, from the west.
On this day in 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run was fought in northern Virginia:
The Wisconsin Historical Society records that a generation earlier, in 1832, the Gen. Dodge and Black Hawk fought:
1832 – Battle of Wisconsin Heights
On July 21, 1832, soldiers led by Colonel Henry Dodge caught up with Black Hawk near the Wisconsin River, outside present-day Sauk City. Black Hawk commanded only a small group of warriors from atop a hill, while Dodge pursued with a much stronger force of militia. Although greatly outnumbered, Sauk warriors turned the attack on American troops, allowing the Indian women and children to flee across the Wisconsin River. Black Hawk and his men were forced to retreat to the river, but night was falling so Dodge decided to continue the battle in the morning. But when the American troops went after the Sauk Indians the next day, the Sauk had crossed the river and disappeared. One American was killed and eight wounded while at least 50 Indians were killed and another 80 wounded. You can read accounts of this battle by both Black Hawk and Henry Dodge at our site for teachers and students. [Source: Along the Black Hawk Trial by William F. Stark, p. 124-128]
Google’s daily puzzle ask about treatments in the ancient world: “The last ruler in the Ptolemaic dynasty tried to treat the baldness of which one of her famous boyfriends?”