Author Archives: Editor

Messaging Technology & Human Error: Perfect Terror

Early in May, I reported on Ohio School Board Association endorse an automated emergency messaging system. The technology is probably great; it is human error that can cause the real problems–problems like inducing mass panic. That is what happened in Mason, Ohio.

Local 12-WKRC-TV made the following report on May 27:

Last week parents were notified by mail, e-mail and notices sent home with students that there would be a mock disaster drill at a Mason City School this week. But they did not know in advance the exact location or time of the drill, which is standard procedure.

The mock disaster drill was at Mason Heights Elementary School. The situation was a boiler had exploded, and everyone needed to evacuate the building. The drill is a test to make sure in a real emergency, everything goes smoothly but that didn’t happen.

It may have only been a drill but…

almost 100 parents rushed to a local school after they were notified there was an explosion.

If the school officials had forewarned all parents, why did the drill cause such mass confusion and panic?

The Public Information Officer used the emergency call system to send a message about the explosion to all Mason Heights parents. However, she forgot to mention it was a drill. Hundreds of frantic parents rushed to the school to check on their students, only to find there was no emergency.

Human error sank the Titanic and human error momentarily sank the heart of many of Mason Heights Elementary School parents.

Ohio Democrat Seeking to Outlaw ‘Pit Bull Terrier’ Ownership

Why in the world do Ohioans keep voting Democrats into office. There are a bunch of unreasonable, if not always immoral, dictators. Here is a perfect example of their dictatorial bent.

In the “Final solution proposed in Ohio” published by the Ronaoke Times, Nona Nelson reports that Cincinnati Democrat Rep. Tyrone Yates introduced House Bill 568, Sec. 955.111 last week. The bill amends Sec. 955.11 of the Ohio Revised Code first by omitting pit bull dogs from the category of vicious dog, and then by adding the new sections criminalizing owner of pit bull dogs. The text of bill is as follows:

(A) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, no person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog that belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.

(B) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a person who owns, keeps, or harbors a pit bull dog on the effective date of this section shall surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(C)(1) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, if an officer has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, the officer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant. The court shall issue a search warrant for the purposes requested if there is probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog.

(2) After obtaining a search warrant, an officer shall seize the pit bull dog and surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

In a report by MyFox Clevelend, Rep. Yates is quoted, saying, “I think eliminating vicious dogs is as important to reclaiming our cities as controlling gun violence and making sure our young people are going to school.” He forgot to mention eliminating transfat and making certain immorality is legally protected.

Opposing Yates is Dave Vickers, Director of the Humane Society of the United States. He said, “Enforcing leash laws will keep most of the attacks from happening…. dogs very rarely attack on a leash because they can be pulled back.”

Nelson also found it interesting that two organizations seldom in agreement of legal matters oppose this bill. The Humane Society and the American Kennel Club are campaigning against the bill. Nelson says she plans to launch her own campaign. She intends on sending a letter to Yates asking him to withdraw this bill and not punish innocent dogs and their families for the deeds of human criminals.

Yates bill is the first step to a doggie of the Nazi final solution. It will open the door to criminalizing owners of any breed of dog that can be regarded as vicious. As pointed out by Nelson, breed specific legislation already exists “in other states, counties and cities that bans not only bully breeds, but rottweilers, Dobermans and German shepherd dogs.” According to the Vickers, it is home insurance companies that will determine which breeds are dangerous.

Nelson is right. Bills like Ohio HB 568 set a dangerous precedent and infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens, but then infringing on our rights has never been of great concern to Democrats.

The bill has been sent to the State Government and Elections Committee.
Because it has no co-sponsors, the bill will likely get lost in the Committee. Nevertheless, your representative should know what you think about bills like HB 568. You can join the Humane Society, American Kennel Club, and pit bull owners like Nona Nelson in opposing HB 568 by writing, emailing, faxing, or calling your state representatives.

Go here to access the Ohio House directory and here for the Ohio Senate directory.

Coloring Pages of Ohio (free) at Homeschooling:about.com

I just came across this family friendly post at Homeschooling @ about.com. Actually, it is a Ohio State Bird and Flower Coloring page created by Beverly Hernandez. This 8-1/2 x 11 coloring page can be downloaded to your computer and printed out. I did but I couldn’t find my crayons– bummer. Your kids will love it (maybe) and you will love the peace and quite at for a few minutes. Many more coloring pages are also available for downloading (free).

Looking over the materials available at Homeschooling @ about.com, I’m compelled to think Beverly Hernandez is simply a educational and l Continue reading

Ohio pharmacist patient care plan in light of national health care costs and-benefits

In recent commentary on health care, Dr. Joseph Mercola provides some evaluative data on the bigger picture on health care benefits. For example, he quotes the Centers of Medicate & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports on the national health expenditure (NHE) as having increase 6.7% in 2006 to a total of $2.1 trillion dollars. That figure represents 16% of GDP and an average of $7,026 spent on health care is for each and every American. Out of pocket expenses paid by individuals amounted to $1.1 trillion or 54% of the total NHE. Prescription drug expenditures increased by 5.8% in the same year.

Based of CMS historical data, NHE was just $253.4 billion in 1980 or $1,100 per person, and accounted for 9.1% of GDP. Since 1960, Continue reading

Ohio pharmacists planning to increase cost-cutting patient care services and profits

The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently reported on the plans of Ohio pharmacists to expand their role in patient health care. This was revealed at the May 9 Health Care Summit on Pharmacist Provided Patient Care held in Columbus. One of the speakers was Debra Parker, an assistant professor at the University of Findlay School of Pharmacy. She believes pharmacists can improve patient health care while lowering costs to insurers. During her presentation, Parker said, Continue reading

Ohio Before 1850 According to Morgan

An interesting article by the above title was posted on Harold Henderson’s genealogical blog Midwestern Microhistory. This particular Harold Henderson is probably not the same one who previously pastored the First Church of the Nazarene. The author of Midwestern Microhistory was a professional journalist turned genealogist . Although pastors could also be journalists, the liberal leaning environment of journalistic sphere would discourage most men and women of the cloth. I should have wrote most ministers of a traditional theological bent would find the modern media establishment frightfully alien.

Henderson’s posting, Ohio Before 1850 According to Morgan, is about a unique database of more than 10,000 “books, pamphlets, and broadsides printed in Ohio, from the earliest in 1796 through 1850. The creative genius of this historical collection was non-other than Richard P. Morgan of Willoughby, Ohio. The index is known as the Morgan Bibliography of Ohio Imprints, which is hosted on line by the Ohio Consortium of College Libraries and the State Library of Ohio” known as OhioLINK. Continue reading

Amish-run reclaimed retail and expired goods stores are thriving

The subject of a hot story put out by The Associated Press is the growing popularity of the Amish version of Family Dollar and Dollar General stores. This story was so hot it was published by newspapers, prime time news stations across the nation, by foreign news, and even by the even Forbes and Business Week.

I guess when we are all suffering an economic period of stagflation any news of cheap goods for a consuming public is a huge event indeed. A stagflation is when the paycheck remains the same while prices of goods and service continually increase. That is providing you are not among the unfortunate whose paycheck was laid off. The importance of the good news can be compared to gas prices being cut by over 50 percent. Yes, it’s true; it’s the day dream of every commuter and believer in the promise of political campaigners.

Amish-run salvage stores are a thriving discount industry tucked away in America’s farmlands. They sell all kinds of goods including food and medicine dirt-cheap. This developing rural economy is drawing a steady stream of non-Amish customers seeking relief from the effects of the current economic recession.

One question that comes to mind is whether it is legal to sell expired goods like food and medicine? Continue reading

Hometown Mother’s Day Weekend

Mom — She’s there to support us, sacrifice for us, give us unconditional love and a big hug – no matter how bad we are!!! The Xenia Merchants and Midtown Merchants Associations join the Greene Co. Dailies in hosting a Hometown Mother’s Day to show our MOMS how much they mean to us on May 8, 9, and 10th. Sidewalk sales will be held by the merchants Thursday through Saturday (weather permitting). Continue reading

Ohio School Board Assoc Endorses Emergency Messaging System For Notifying Staff and Parents

The Ohio School Boards Association announced today its endorsement of Leader Alert, a health and safety alerting product, for the more than 700 Ohio public school districts that comprise its membership.

Leader Alert, the creation of Leader Technologies of Columbus, Ohio, makes it possible for a school to quickly and simultaneously alert thousands of parents and staff by telephone, texting, and email in case of emergencies ranging from lurking predators to snow days.

According to OSBA Deputy Executive Director Rob Delane: Continue reading

Gas prices expected to reach $4 by summer

Gasoline prices could spike at $4 per gallon before summer, a top fuel market analyst says. And that may just be the beginning of super-higher prices.

If the price of oil goes above $130 per barrel, “it puts the $4 gallon apocalyptic national average squarely in the cross hairs as less of a rogue price and more of a routine number,” said Tom Kloza, senior analyst with the New Jersey-based Oil Price Information Service.

After weeks of predicting that national average prices would peak in the $3.75 range, Kloza on Wednesday conceded the $4 possibility after the benchmark price of crude oil set a record, $123.53 per barrel, on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

A year ago, oil was $61.47 per barrel, Kloza noted, meaning its price has more than doubled.

The OPIS/AAA average price in Greater Cleveland and Akron Wednesday was $3.56 to $3.59. The national average price was $3.62. Connecticut was at $3.88; California and Alaska were more than $3.90.

The jump in crude prices Wednesday occurred despite the weekly U.S. Department of Energy report showing an increase both in gasoline and oil stockpiles.

To see the whole story written by John Funk, go to The Plain Dealer Business Blog.