2022 Miscellany #14

Old Brooklyn, Cleveland 

A lot of fotos in this post. Some are of annual events, some are of public places that are available to everyone, some are random sightings while travelling to other locations. I think, all are interesting in that, they stand out from the drabness that is overwhelming. 

 

This journal is named, "a voice from the rustbelt". The rustbelt is the northeast, and the middle west. The rustbelt is urbanised, and has been diminished in influence as the west coast, southwest, and other parts of the sunbelt have gained prominence. Yet, there are many things still in the rustbelt. Not everything here in this journal revolves around, near, or inside of the rustbelt—there is the whole world outside, and there is no vacuum, we intersect, one thing effects other things. The locus here is greater Cleveland. At one time Cleveland was the 5th, or 6th most populous city in the United States. Cleveland is in the near middle West [or the Old Northwest] (the far middle West states which do not border the Mississippi are outside the rustbelt). Chicago is the capital city, and Cleveland was the chief city in the eastern province. Cleveland shares much cultural milieu with the western cities of the northeast, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Many great fortunes were centered here, and some of that was spent on edifices, and objects, and institutions that are still extant. Of course, most of the populace never enjoyed these things when they were created; but some are available to the public. Members of the rabble created institutions also, and were, and are the residents and denizens. The name is patterned after "a voice in the wilderness", not that there is much of a comparison to John the Baptiser. It is a voice that says something (he believes is important) which is ignored, or deemed unimportant, or not listened to by others.

Krazy Cops, Columbus Parade, Murray Hill Road, Little Italy, Cleveland

one of several faux gargoyles on Garfield Monument, Lake View Cemetery

Items used for ceremony to open the dragons' eyes at Dragon Boat Races Lorain Ohio.

St. Michael the Archangel (Orthodox), Broadview Heights Ohio, The Three Holy Youths (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), from the 3rd chapter of Daniel.  [click]

In America, it is more common for an Orthodox church to have a scene from the Old Testament.

entrance to tunnel under Lake Road at Huntington Metropark, artwork by Bernadette Glorioso & students from Incarnate Word Academy

ladybug on golden rod in Seven Hills

I was near Langston Hughes Branch Cleveland Public Library to return a book that i read [click].  Painted on the wall was a poem he wrote at 17, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers". The historical marker outside has it as his best known poem. I had thought "Harlem", or "Let America Be America Again".

 

For people without much money, almost everywhere it is not easy to get by, and there are few resources to enjoy. To go out with the family may cost more than an hundred dollars, or even to go to a show with someone. But in the area around Cuyahoga County there are excellent libraries, and metroparks. And here is the odd point, all those are tax supported, taxes that are voted upon. When levies are on the ballot for the parks, and the libraries—they invariably win. 

 

One political party, the Repukes, always complain about taxes. The local media always cheerleads for levies for schools, fire, and police. These are all paid for services. If good services are wanted, they have to be paid for. Local governments' most expensive outlay is often the police department. The Repukes always cry, and scare people about crime (they mean street crime, and not white collar crimes, or sedition), and they say they support police forces. The rich have more income than anyone—no shit. The taxes they hate the most are income taxes.

 

When taxes come back to state, and local governments, when Repukes are in charge they spend that money, and not always what it was meant for, and they sometime lower local taxes (income taxes, which by definition, the largess benefits the rich). In reality, the country is under taxed; and the Repukes are greedy hypocrites, who game the system.

Mayfield Wildcat mascot, Columbus Day Parade

Piccola Italia, that's what my father called it.

clever sign: Vote and tell them, "Ruth sent me"

We know this sign refers to the Dobbs decision overthrowing Roe vs. Wade concerning abortion. There are many things to vote for, against, and on. This year, maybe in other years to come too, the chief vote is whether democracy will be allowed. If democracy is permitted to survive this time, the issue may come again; if democracy loses this time, we cannot guess if it comes back.

man and friend, Lorain Ohio

trees in autumn color Wade Park Avenue, Cleveland