Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Ja, Cleveland hat 99 Luftballons

 
To celebrate 99 years of the Cultural Gardens in Cleveland, the German Garden celebrated to-day.  Die Donauschwäbische Blaskapelle (Danube Swabian  Brass Band) played a mini-concert in front of the Goethe-Schiller monument. The statue is older than the park, it was moved from Wade Park. An older man was quizzing a child about who the two men were. The kid said, "Jefferson and Washington".  The finale was a rendition of the 1983 anti-war song '99 Luftballons' done by Nena.

This was a great idea. The organisers listened to the whines and moans of facebook respondees, and did not have the balloons released. The EPA, the aeroport, and other agencies were fine with it, but the squeaky wheel got greased. Yesterday, East Boulevard began road construction for 120 days, and noise from vehicles was noticeable, and the road was one lane. This was a great event, it brought out a few photographers and press. Few people outside of members of the several cultural gardens were there for the fun, even with food provided.
This little girl in a dirndl was very happy, and active, and a photographic model and subject for several people.
eine der wenigen freien Luftballons
This Luftballon was not mistaken for an UFO, and was not shot down.

Friday, June 19, 2015

butterflies

 
First time on bike path between Alexander and Sagamore in Summit County, entrance is from Cuyahoga Walton Hills. Several colorful bird species, but best foto was this: red admiral, red spotted purple butterflies. Short walk, easy viewing, and high tension towers. Went to see yellow breasted chat. I did not know Alexander-Pleasant Valley was torn up, exhaust system fell -- $175.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Senators in favor of torture

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress - 1st Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary
Question: On the Amendment (McCain Amdt. No. 1889 )
Vote Number: 209 Vote Date: June 16, 2015, 11:30 AM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Amendment Agreed to
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 1889 to S.Amdt. 1463 to H.R. 1735 (Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016)
Statement of Purpose: To reaffirm the prohibition on torture.
Vote Counts: YEAs
78

NAYs
21

Not Voting
1




Some of these voted for torture before (December 2007)

The nine senators who approved torture then:
  • Wayne Allard - Colorado
  • Kit Bond - Missouri
  • Tom Coburn - Oklahoma
  • Thad Cochran - Mississippi
  • John Cornyn - Texas
  • James Inhofe - Oklahoma
  • Pat Roberts - Kansas
  • Jeff Sessions - Alabama
  • Ted Stevens - Alaska
ALL REPUBLICANS

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Saint Casimir Way

 twin towers of Saint Casimir's Church upper back

A street with no name has been christened Saint Casimir Way to-day. It is the path from MLK Jr. Blvd. to Ansel Rd., where one leaves the Cultural Gardens and climbs a hill where the twin towers of Saint Casimir's Church beckon a visit.

Cleveland's Bishop Lennon evicted the parish in 2009, and had prepared to liquidate its property. An appeal to Rome delayed this. When the appeal was judged, a decree was issued ordering the parish to be re-opened. Days before the eviction, the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was re-named St. Casimir. This has caused much confusion. Nearly all computer aided searches and navigation systems directs one to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Other people have come to know about this old parish of St. Casimir in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. They knew the people asked for the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God to keep the parish together and open. Some knew that at an earlier Mass on the day of eviction, that, the parish was dedicated to the Polish national Madonna. Some members of the Mexican community in Painesville have made the church a pilgrimage to Mary, and to ask her intercession to keep families together.


It is a destination parish, and now it will be marked and mapped. John Niedzialek was the prime mover to get the roadway named. John's friend, Jim Skrocki had first suggested the idea to him. John dealt with Cleveland's Silly Hall to find out whose ward the street is in, and wait. Recently the wards and boundaries were changed, and this was on about the border. Councilman Kevin Conwell helped him move the legislation towards passage.

 Written on the flag is the word, 'Solidarność' (Solidarity)
 
Here, John and some children pull off the shroud of the street sign on top of the hill. The camera missed the shot, but beneath the megaphone in the right side picture there is the shroud falling to the ground.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Parade the Circle 2015

Walking around before the parade started, i found some of the most interesting subjects were dogs.
 Finney

 And beforehand, a close up of the performers was easier if one was in front of you.
  
The viewing from the street was not easy for picture taking, unless some stopped in front of you, as did these knockem sockem robots. Some of the small musical bands were great, but as with the other performers, my line of sight was not so good. The streets were lined with people.