The Observation Deck

Valerie Molinski wrote: But one last time, back to the topic at hand:
-WHY IS THIS SUCH AN ISSUE that you feel the need to make this post about it?

Val

If you need the rest of the inquisition answered I will be happy to do so.

But simply put, I post what I want to post. I would hope you do the same, and others do the same.

As I said with Robert's post, I am actually glad he expressed himself, and made some points I suppose, but I hope nobody made him do it. I hope Robert, and You, and Dan, and Brian, and Mark, and Betsy, and... post simply because they want to share an image, a thought, a joke, a fear, whatever.

People love to frame this project in their own myopic thoughts if what "newspapers" should be, what "newsites" should be. That the LO print and the LO online version are two different critters, whatever. I look at it all very differently, the Lakewood Observer project just is.

NEWS papers have hires staffs of writers, photographers, lawyers, ad sale people etc. We do not and never wanted it, it is not what we do. But so often I read "Your NEWSPAPER is fake news" the need to brand it so they can tear it down. I find it amusing. The print, and the Deck are two different things. Not really most news and media sites allow people to post and discuss right after a story, we made it, on purpose, a person can read a story then has to make an effort to comment on it. This allows the person putting up the story a chance to frame the story. This was developed after seeing just how ugly comments after any story got. The Deck came before the paper, but was used to make the paper and still is. If you can put up on the Deck, we encourage writing in the paper, witness Mark Kindt, Brian Essi, Betsy and others. Likewise, if you are not into 300+ words, stop by the digital backyard fence and throw out a comment, a post, and thought, a photo or even and observation. Members of the LO will not grade you on it, we will take it for what it is, simply a post to share.

Maybe it would be best to think of this as a puddle. We had thought of a think tank, but all of us agreed way to deep, and way to serious, so we had a thought puddle. A place where a person could throw out a pebble, and see the ripples it made, and what "observations" can be made of the pebble, the rings and the reflections that come from it. Do not over think it, it will drive you nuts.

I enjoy many of your posts, but has anyone from here beg you, called you or emailed you to make them? No. But let me assure you we would miss them, but by your frequency, by the choice of your topics, and by your comments, we, all of us develop a better picture of who you are and what you are passionate about. We through Observations develop a more complete image of your and the community you would like to see. The same is true for everyone. Let's look at the Mayor, he has had an account from day one has posted a couple times, but stays out? Does that not say more about the Mayor than it does any of the participants here? Even by not joining in, based on what you know and how you have been treated, you should realize, no one deletes your words, no one changes your posts, and you will always have room and space to add, clarify, correct or discuss anything you want. Why on earth would a person fear that? Not use that? Tell people it is evil? It is like saying a mirror is evil? Instead he prefers places where opposition is stifled. Where people are banned, and stooges has his back. I am not faulting him, I am merely saying it speaks volumes of the man and the Mayor.

Why did I post the photo and make the post, I found it funny, even hysterical and worth sharing. If you did not, you could have simply ignored it, but you didn't or couldn't so the pebble hits a rock and ripples are sent back, and more rocks are hit and more ripples reverberate and clearer and clear pictures are created, like with radar or sonar. If you can understand that, you will understand what an amazing community tool this project really is.

Well time to get gas in the car, and I am sure you quit reading awhile ago.

Let me know if you need the rest of the questions answered.

peace

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Keep up the good work Jim ! As far as I am concerned this Lakewood Observer Project works exactly the way it should. We all get
to express ourselves by the way we feel. Not how some other person thinks we should.

I kind of like the building, and I think the doc was great. I was intrigued by the title, and played a little, now I'm about three-quarters through. And after reading all this, I'm not sure what the stone house and hospital have to do with it.

Perhaps, there is a powerful irony at work here.

Civic leaders who fight to save an old chiropractic clinic vs. Civic leaders who fight to close a modern hospital.

What if they were the same?

The major difference between Portlandia and Lakewood is that while both are absurd, at least Portlandia is funny.

Dan Alaimo wrote:I kind of like the building, and I think the doc was great. I was intrigued by the title, and played a little, now I'm about three-quarters through. And after reading all this, I'm not sure what the stone house and hospital have to do with it.

Dan


I will have to go back but some of the reasons they have to do with it but not why I posted photo are...

1) The City of Lakewood owns the Oldest Stone House, and as such are responsible for the upkeep and safety of the house. The foundation is letting in moisture, and so some of the documents at the Oldest Stone House now have a need to be kept elsewhere. Also the Director of LHS feels his health is a factor in the Oldest Stone House. Had the city maintained the Oldest Stone House no move or the potential plan to move to this building would be unneeded, and moot. The City had also floated moving the Historical Society into the School Board Building which is historical, but will surely fall to the wrecking ball when it is decided that it is too costly to building around. While I knew about the ownership of the Oldest Stone House, and the City's promises to set aside at least $50,000 for maintenance, I only this week found out about the moisture and the health factor of the director.

2) The Mayor during his lead in to the Hospital Debacle and while he was desperately shilling for votes had made overtures to the Lakewood Historical Society, and publicly that if the Hospital Deal was voted through, the windfall of money (the $120 million which was a lie and they knew it) would provide funds for every charity and their cousins. One thing floated was a complete rebuild of the skate house to be the new home of the Lakewood Historical Society, a second floor, air conditioning, even a refreshment stand that the LHS could make money on. All he needed were the votes. Of course as was pointed out here, a) He had promised more money out than ever was coming in and that was at the $120 million dollar figure. Do a search for "The Producers" and comparisons that the Mayor was making promises he could never keep for votes. b) It was proven that the Mayor, the finance Director and others were repeatedly warned to stop using the $120 million number as it was an outright lie. Of course they continued to use, and still it comes to the surface every now and then. The fact was always, the City was getting $0.00 for closing the hospital, the funds were going to a private foundation that had no connection to History, and the Mayor knew it. (This is all from public statements made by the Mayor and others over the past 3 years)

So in a conversation about Lakewood Historical Society moving to a nondescript building, that people were desperately trying to push through for historical designation, so that they could keep documents safe, those topics emerge. There are other connections but for now, we will go with those.
(In bold comes from the Preservation Society's docket which is public and why I posted the photo)

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Jim O'Bryan wrote: Of course as was pointed out here, a) He had promised more money out than ever was coming in and that was at the $120 million dollar figure. Do a search for "The Producers" and comparisons that the Mayor was making promises he could never keep for votes.

I prefer the analogy to be Benjamin Siegal and shares of The Flamingo...

I am personally glad to see the building is being preserved and put to good use.

http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/ ... _to_1.html

[quote="Kate McCarthy"]I am personally glad to see the building is being preserved and put to good use.

In today's Print edition of the Lakewood Observer.



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