314. More on LD Conventions - Weighted Votes - How many delegates to State Convention

I've been on and off the phone all day trying to answer questions people have about how much each precinct committee person's weighted vote is, and also about how many delegates to the State Convention in Lexington each LD gets. Here are some answers. I should point out these are the official numbers from Frankfort, given to be by Amanda Flanary of the State Party HQ. They were previously provided to the Jefferson County HQ.

First, Jefferson County's delegates to the State Convention are allotted as follows:

28th LD (A) - 9
29th LD (B) - 11
30th LD (C) - 11
31st LD (D) - 10
32nd LD (E) - 10
33rd LD (F) - 10
34th LD (G) - 13
35th LD (H) - 10
37th LD (I) - 7
38th LD (J) - 9
40th LD (K) - 10
41st LD (L) - 11
42nd LD (M) - 13
43rd LD (N) - 12
44th LD (O) - 11
46th LD (Q) - 11
48th LD (S) - 11
59th LD (T) - 1 (one, most of this LD is in Oldham County).

Also, below are the weights for each precinct committeemember, the number listed on the far side. For instance, if you are an precinct committee youth in L113 (PRECINCT 113, 41 DISTRICT), your vote tomorrow is worth 319.33333 of the total. There is no proxy voting so it is important for each member elected last week to show up. There will likely be races for the positions to go to Frankfort, so the weighted votes are important. To be a delegate to Frankfort, a person must be a registered Democrat in the District. They do not have to be a Precinct Committee member to get elected, but the only people who can vote are the Precinct Committee people elected last week.

The formatting below is bad. In the first line, the numbers are 786, with 1/3 being 262. In the second line, 434, with the 1/3 weight being 144.6666667 - and so on.



Precinct District Total Weighted
PRECINCT 105 28 DISTRICT 786 262
PRECINCT 107 28 DISTRICT 434 144.6666667
PRECINCT 108 28 DISTRICT 815 271.6666667
PRECINCT 111 28 DISTRICT 643 214.3333333
PRECINCT 113 28 DISTRICT 737 245.6666667
PRECINCT 114 28 DISTRICT 640 213.3333333
PRECINCT 115 28 DISTRICT 650 216.6666667
PRECINCT 118 28 DISTRICT 380 126.6666667
PRECINCT 119 28 DISTRICT 569 189.6666667
PRECINCT 121 28 DISTRICT 757 252.3333333
PRECINCT 122 28 DISTRICT 462 154
PRECINCT 123 28 DISTRICT 783 261
PRECINCT 124 28 DISTRICT 829 276.3333333
PRECINCT 125 28 DISTRICT 648 216
PRECINCT 126 28 DISTRICT 599 199.6666667
PRECINCT 127 28 DISTRICT 353 117.6666667
PRECINCT 128 28 DISTRICT 521 173.6666667
PRECINCT 129 28 DISTRICT 882 294
PRECINCT 130 28 DISTRICT 378 126
PRECINCT 131 28 DISTRICT 590 196.6666667
PRECINCT 134 28 DISTRICT 589 196.3333333
PRECINCT 135 28 DISTRICT 593 197.6666667
PRECINCT 136 28 DISTRICT 362 120.6666667
PRECINCT 137 28 DISTRICT 533 177.6666667


PRECINCT 119 29 DISTRICT 750 250
PRECINCT 124 29 DISTRICT 490 163.3333333
PRECINCT 125 29 DISTRICT 445 148.3333333
PRECINCT 127 29 DISTRICT 189 63
PRECINCT 130 29 DISTRICT 673 224.3333333
PRECINCT 131 29 DISTRICT 517 172.3333333
PRECINCT 132 29 DISTRICT 497 165.6666667
PRECINCT 133 29 DISTRICT 644 214.6666667
PRECINCT 134 29 DISTRICT 524 174.6666667
PRECINCT 143 29 DISTRICT 347 115.6666667
PRECINCT 149 29 DISTRICT 436 145.3333333
PRECINCT 151 29 DISTRICT 587 195.6666667
PRECINCT 152 29 DISTRICT 458 152.6666667
PRECINCT 153 29 DISTRICT 714 238
PRECINCT 154 29 DISTRICT 532 177.3333333
PRECINCT 155 29 DISTRICT 468 156
PRECINCT 156 29 DISTRICT 615 205
PRECINCT 157 29 DISTRICT 844 281.3333333
PRECINCT 158 29 DISTRICT 533 177.6666667
PRECINCT 159 29 DISTRICT 638 212.6666667
PRECINCT 160 29 DISTRICT 360 120
PRECINCT 161 29 DISTRICT 293 97.66666667
PRECINCT 162 29 DISTRICT 747 249
PRECINCT 163 29 DISTRICT 635 211.6666667
PRECINCT 164 29 DISTRICT 510 170
PRECINCT 165 29 DISTRICT 521 173.6666667
PRECINCT 166 29 DISTRICT 391 130.3333333
PRECINCT 167 29 DISTRICT 0 0
PRECINCT 168 29 DISTRICT 591 197
PRECINCT 169 29 DISTRICT 424 141.3333333
PRECINCT 170 29 DISTRICT 419 139.6666667
PRECINCT 171 29 DISTRICT 425 141.6666667
PRECINCT 172 29 DISTRICT 582 194
PRECINCT 173 29 DISTRICT 515 171.6666667
PRECINCT 174 29 DISTRICT 250 83.33333333
PRECINCT 175 29 DISTRICT 434 144.6666667

PRECINCT 101 30 DISTRICT 889 296.3333333
PRECINCT 102 30 DISTRICT 406 135.3333333
PRECINCT 103 30 DISTRICT 636 212
PRECINCT 104 30 DISTRICT 519 173
PRECINCT 105 30 DISTRICT 476 158.6666667
PRECINCT 106 30 DISTRICT 1,148 382.6666667
PRECINCT 108 30 DISTRICT 1,008 336
PRECINCT 109 30 DISTRICT 419 139.6666667
PRECINCT 110 30 DISTRICT 658 219.3333333
PRECINCT 111 30 DISTRICT 1,113 371
PRECINCT 113 30 DISTRICT 316 105.3333333
PRECINCT 115 30 DISTRICT 1,068 356
PRECINCT 122 30 DISTRICT 424 141.3333333
PRECINCT 123 30 DISTRICT 490 163.3333333
PRECINCT 124 30 DISTRICT 715 238.3333333
PRECINCT 125 30 DISTRICT 591 197
PRECINCT 126 30 DISTRICT 786 262
PRECINCT 128 30 DISTRICT 592 197.3333333
PRECINCT 129 30 DISTRICT 376 125.3333333
PRECINCT 130 30 DISTRICT 485 161.6666667
PRECINCT 131 30 DISTRICT 327 109
PRECINCT 133 30 DISTRICT 715 238.3333333
PRECINCT 134 30 DISTRICT 541 180.3333333
PRECINCT 135 30 DISTRICT 562 187.3333333
PRECINCT 136 30 DISTRICT 335 111.6666667
PRECINCT 137 30 DISTRICT 306 102
PRECINCT 138 30 DISTRICT 358 119.3333333
PRECINCT 139 30 DISTRICT 594 198
PRECINCT 140 30 DISTRICT 433 144.3333333
PRECINCT 141 30 DISTRICT 522 174


PRECINCT 101 31 DISTRICT 451 150.3333333
PRECINCT 104 31 DISTRICT 448 149.3333333
PRECINCT 106 31 DISTRICT 503 167.6666667
PRECINCT 108 31 DISTRICT 625 208.3333333
PRECINCT 109 31 DISTRICT 652 217.3333333
PRECINCT 110 31 DISTRICT 568 189.3333333
PRECINCT 113 31 DISTRICT 700 233.3333333
PRECINCT 114 31 DISTRICT 507 169
PRECINCT 115 31 DISTRICT 581 193.6666667
PRECINCT 116 31 DISTRICT 618 206
PRECINCT 117 31 DISTRICT 478 159.3333333
PRECINCT 120 31 DISTRICT 828 276
PRECINCT 121 31 DISTRICT 457 152.3333333
PRECINCT 122 31 DISTRICT 582 194
PRECINCT 126 31 DISTRICT 841 280.3333333
PRECINCT 129 31 DISTRICT 314 104.6666667
PRECINCT 130 31 DISTRICT 560 186.6666667
PRECINCT 131 31 DISTRICT 354 118
PRECINCT 132 31 DISTRICT 863 287.6666667
PRECINCT 135 31 DISTRICT 526 175.3333333
PRECINCT 136 31 DISTRICT 760 253.3333333
PRECINCT 137 31 DISTRICT 483 161
PRECINCT 138 31 DISTRICT 801 267
PRECINCT 139 31 DISTRICT 654 218
PRECINCT 140 31 DISTRICT 651 217
PRECINCT 141 31 DISTRICT 426 142
PRECINCT 142 31 DISTRICT 294 98
PRECINCT 143 31 DISTRICT 491 163.6666667


PRECINCT 107 32 DISTRICT 368 122.6666667
PRECINCT 139 32 DISTRICT 667 222.3333333
PRECINCT 141 32 DISTRICT 391 130.3333333
PRECINCT 142 32 DISTRICT 434 144.6666667
PRECINCT 143 32 DISTRICT 718 239.3333333
PRECINCT 144 32 DISTRICT 505 168.3333333
PRECINCT 145 32 DISTRICT 498 166
PRECINCT 147 32 DISTRICT 255 85
PRECINCT 148 32 DISTRICT 568 189.3333333
PRECINCT 149 32 DISTRICT 592 197.3333333
PRECINCT 150 32 DISTRICT 573 191
PRECINCT 151 32 DISTRICT 391 130.3333333
PRECINCT 152 32 DISTRICT 503 167.6666667
PRECINCT 154 32 DISTRICT 470 156.6666667
PRECINCT 155 32 DISTRICT 729 243
PRECINCT 157 32 DISTRICT 368 122.6666667
PRECINCT 158 32 DISTRICT 334 111.3333333
PRECINCT 159 32 DISTRICT 280 93.33333333
PRECINCT 160 32 DISTRICT 431 143.6666667
PRECINCT 161 32 DISTRICT 169 56.33333333
PRECINCT 162 32 DISTRICT 225 75
PRECINCT 163 32 DISTRICT 407 135.6666667
PRECINCT 164 32 DISTRICT 439 146.3333333
PRECINCT 165 32 DISTRICT 682 227.3333333
PRECINCT 166 32 DISTRICT 515 171.6666667
PRECINCT 167 32 DISTRICT 705 235
PRECINCT 168 32 DISTRICT 384 128
PRECINCT 169 32 DISTRICT 728 242.6666667
PRECINCT 171 32 DISTRICT 386 128.6666667
PRECINCT 172 32 DISTRICT 520 173.3333333
PRECINCT 173 32 DISTRICT 470 156.6666667
PRECINCT 174 32 DISTRICT 860 286.6666667
PRECINCT 175 32 DISTRICT 332 110.6666667


PRECINCT 101 33 DISTRICT 402 134
PRECINCT 106 33 DISTRICT 436 145.3333333
PRECINCT 109 33 DISTRICT 499 166.3333333
PRECINCT 110 33 DISTRICT 315 105
PRECINCT 111 33 DISTRICT 9 3
PRECINCT 126 33 DISTRICT 578 192.6666667
PRECINCT 138 33 DISTRICT 328 109.3333333
PRECINCT 143 33 DISTRICT 665 221.6666667
PRECINCT 145 33 DISTRICT 576 192
PRECINCT 149 33 DISTRICT 533 177.6666667
PRECINCT 150 33 DISTRICT 568 189.3333333
PRECINCT 151 33 DISTRICT 562 187.3333333
PRECINCT 152 33 DISTRICT 491 163.6666667
PRECINCT 153 33 DISTRICT 559 186.3333333
PRECINCT 154 33 DISTRICT 352 117.3333333
PRECINCT 155 33 DISTRICT 154 51.33333333
PRECINCT 156 33 DISTRICT 574 191.3333333
PRECINCT 157 33 DISTRICT 776 258.6666667
PRECINCT 158 33 DISTRICT 248 82.66666667
PRECINCT 159 33 DISTRICT 382 127.3333333
PRECINCT 160 33 DISTRICT 376 125.3333333
PRECINCT 161 33 DISTRICT 321 107
PRECINCT 162 33 DISTRICT 578 192.6666667
PRECINCT 163 33 DISTRICT 372 124
PRECINCT 164 33 DISTRICT 326 108.6666667
PRECINCT 165 33 DISTRICT 382 127.3333333
PRECINCT 166 33 DISTRICT 338 112.6666667
PRECINCT 167 33 DISTRICT 497 165.6666667
PRECINCT 168 33 DISTRICT 372 124
PRECINCT 169 33 DISTRICT 256 85.33333333
PRECINCT 170 33 DISTRICT 399 133
PRECINCT 171 33 DISTRICT 249 83
PRECINCT 172 33 DISTRICT 403 134.3333333
PRECINCT 173 33 DISTRICT 474 158
PRECINCT 174 33 DISTRICT 446 148.6666667
PRECINCT 175 33 DISTRICT 262 87.33333333


PRECINCT 103 34 DISTRICT 737 245.6666667
PRECINCT 104 34 DISTRICT 629 209.6666667
PRECINCT 106 34 DISTRICT 467 155.6666667
PRECINCT 107 34 DISTRICT 497 165.6666667
PRECINCT 108 34 DISTRICT 378 126
PRECINCT 109 34 DISTRICT 703 234.3333333
PRECINCT 111 34 DISTRICT 601 200.3333333
PRECINCT 112 34 DISTRICT 997 332.3333333
PRECINCT 116 34 DISTRICT 700 233.3333333
PRECINCT 117 34 DISTRICT 804 268
PRECINCT 119 34 DISTRICT 352 117.3333333
PRECINCT 120 34 DISTRICT 417 139
PRECINCT 121 34 DISTRICT 452 150.6666667
PRECINCT 122 34 DISTRICT 345 115
PRECINCT 123 34 DISTRICT 177 59
PRECINCT 124 34 DISTRICT 734 244.6666667
PRECINCT 126 34 DISTRICT 424 141.3333333
PRECINCT 129 34 DISTRICT 257 85.66666667
PRECINCT 140 34 DISTRICT 789 263
PRECINCT 141 34 DISTRICT 409 136.3333333
PRECINCT 142 34 DISTRICT 332 110.6666667
PRECINCT 143 34 DISTRICT 757 252.3333333
PRECINCT 144 34 DISTRICT 590 196.6666667
PRECINCT 145 34 DISTRICT 582 194
PRECINCT 146 34 DISTRICT 636 212
PRECINCT 147 34 DISTRICT 523 174.3333333
PRECINCT 148 34 DISTRICT 264 88
PRECINCT 149 34 DISTRICT 267 89
PRECINCT 150 34 DISTRICT 272 90.66666667
PRECINCT 151 34 DISTRICT 326 108.6666667
PRECINCT 154 34 DISTRICT 552 184
PRECINCT 155 34 DISTRICT 625 208.3333333
PRECINCT 156 34 DISTRICT 441 147
PRECINCT 157 34 DISTRICT 175 58.33333333
PRECINCT 158 34 DISTRICT 490 163.3333333
PRECINCT 159 34 DISTRICT 462 154
PRECINCT 160 34 DISTRICT 277 92.33333333
PRECINCT 161 34 DISTRICT 368 122.6666667
PRECINCT 162 34 DISTRICT 251 83.66666667
PRECINCT 163 34 DISTRICT 355 118.3333333
PRECINCT 164 34 DISTRICT 298 99.33333333
PRECINCT 165 34 DISTRICT 239 79.66666667


PRECINCT 102 35 DISTRICT 725 241.6666667
PRECINCT 103 35 DISTRICT 665 221.6666667
PRECINCT 105 35 DISTRICT 587 195.6666667
PRECINCT 106 35 DISTRICT 556 185.3333333
PRECINCT 109 35 DISTRICT 298 99.33333333
PRECINCT 110 35 DISTRICT 576 192
PRECINCT 111 35 DISTRICT 333 111
PRECINCT 112 35 DISTRICT 599 199.6666667
PRECINCT 113 35 DISTRICT 264 88
PRECINCT 114 35 DISTRICT 22 7.333333333
PRECINCT 115 35 DISTRICT 331 110.3333333
PRECINCT 116 35 DISTRICT 501 167
PRECINCT 117 35 DISTRICT 681 227
PRECINCT 118 35 DISTRICT 563 187.6666667
PRECINCT 120 35 DISTRICT 718 239.3333333
PRECINCT 121 35 DISTRICT 330 110
PRECINCT 123 35 DISTRICT 209 69.66666667
PRECINCT 124 35 DISTRICT 238 79.33333333
PRECINCT 125 35 DISTRICT 355 118.3333333
PRECINCT 126 35 DISTRICT 390 130
PRECINCT 127 35 DISTRICT 570 190
PRECINCT 130 35 DISTRICT 0 0
PRECINCT 131 35 DISTRICT 338 112.6666667
PRECINCT 132 35 DISTRICT 195 65
PRECINCT 133 35 DISTRICT 86 28.66666667
PRECINCT 134 35 DISTRICT 457 152.3333333
PRECINCT 138 35 DISTRICT 953 317.6666667
PRECINCT 140 35 DISTRICT 0 0
PRECINCT 141 35 DISTRICT 623 207.6666667
PRECINCT 144 35 DISTRICT 656 218.6666667
PRECINCT 145 35 DISTRICT 915 305
PRECINCT 146 35 DISTRICT 487 162.3333333
PRECINCT 147 35 DISTRICT 476 158.6666667
PRECINCT 148 35 DISTRICT 682 227.3333333
PRECINCT 149 35 DISTRICT 224 74.66666667
PRECINCT 150 35 DISTRICT 0 0
PRECINCT 151 35 DISTRICT 2 0.666666667


PRECINCT 103 37 DISTRICT 311 103.6666667
PRECINCT 104 37 DISTRICT 258 86
PRECINCT 105 37 DISTRICT 457 152.3333333
PRECINCT 106 37 DISTRICT 456 152
PRECINCT 107 37 DISTRICT 688 229.3333333
PRECINCT 109 37 DISTRICT 392 130.6666667
PRECINCT 110 37 DISTRICT 276 92
PRECINCT 111 37 DISTRICT 835 278.3333333
PRECINCT 112 37 DISTRICT 721 240.3333333
PRECINCT 114 37 DISTRICT 496 165.3333333
PRECINCT 115 37 DISTRICT 660 220
PRECINCT 117 37 DISTRICT 629 209.6666667
PRECINCT 120 37 DISTRICT 367 122.3333333
PRECINCT 122 37 DISTRICT 581 193.6666667
PRECINCT 123 37 DISTRICT 912 304
PRECINCT 124 37 DISTRICT 498 166
PRECINCT 125 37 DISTRICT 872 290.6666667
PRECINCT 126 37 DISTRICT 573 191
PRECINCT 127 37 DISTRICT 0 0
PRECINCT 129 37 DISTRICT 362 120.6666667
PRECINCT 130 37 DISTRICT 329 109.6666667
PRECINCT 133 37 DISTRICT 839 279.6666667
PRECINCT 135 37 DISTRICT 84 28
PRECINCT 138 37 DISTRICT 33 11


PRECINCT 101 38 DISTRICT 772 257.3333333
PRECINCT 104 38 DISTRICT 921 307
PRECINCT 105 38 DISTRICT 354 118
PRECINCT 107 38 DISTRICT 1,042 347.3333333
PRECINCT 108 38 DISTRICT 799 266.3333333
PRECINCT 110 38 DISTRICT 492 164
PRECINCT 111 38 DISTRICT 600 200
PRECINCT 113 38 DISTRICT 689 229.6666667
PRECINCT 114 38 DISTRICT 715 238.3333333
PRECINCT 117 38 DISTRICT 618 206
PRECINCT 119 38 DISTRICT 434 144.6666667
PRECINCT 120 38 DISTRICT 687 229
PRECINCT 122 38 DISTRICT 438 146
PRECINCT 123 38 DISTRICT 700 233.3333333
PRECINCT 127 38 DISTRICT 769 256.3333333
PRECINCT 128 38 DISTRICT 693 231
PRECINCT 129 38 DISTRICT 917 305.6666667
PRECINCT 130 38 DISTRICT 289 96.33333333
PRECINCT 131 38 DISTRICT 445 148.3333333
PRECINCT 135 38 DISTRICT 525 175
PRECINCT 137 38 DISTRICT 458 152.6666667
PRECINCT 138 38 DISTRICT 196 65.33333333
PRECINCT 139 38 DISTRICT 183 61


PRECINCT 103 40 DISTRICT 550 183.3333333
PRECINCT 104 40 DISTRICT 458 152.6666667
PRECINCT 105 40 DISTRICT 837 279
PRECINCT 107 40 DISTRICT 622 207.3333333
PRECINCT 108 40 DISTRICT 869 289.6666667
PRECINCT 110 40 DISTRICT 478 159.3333333
PRECINCT 111 40 DISTRICT 383 127.6666667
PRECINCT 112 40 DISTRICT 395 131.6666667
PRECINCT 113 40 DISTRICT 429 143
PRECINCT 114 40 DISTRICT 678 226
PRECINCT 116 40 DISTRICT 113 37.66666667
PRECINCT 117 40 DISTRICT 447 149
PRECINCT 118 40 DISTRICT 1,064 354.6666667
PRECINCT 119 40 DISTRICT 545 181.6666667
PRECINCT 121 40 DISTRICT 896 298.6666667
PRECINCT 122 40 DISTRICT 821 273.6666667
PRECINCT 123 40 DISTRICT 965 321.6666667
PRECINCT 125 40 DISTRICT 307 102.3333333
PRECINCT 126 40 DISTRICT 459 153
PRECINCT 127 40 DISTRICT 755 251.6666667
PRECINCT 128 40 DISTRICT 541 180.3333333
PRECINCT 129 40 DISTRICT 523 174.3333333
PRECINCT 130 40 DISTRICT 461 153.6666667
PRECINCT 131 40 DISTRICT 564 188
PRECINCT 132 40 DISTRICT 283 94.33333333
PRECINCT 133 40 DISTRICT 410 136.6666667
PRECINCT 134 40 DISTRICT 319 106.3333333


PRECINCT 104 41 DISTRICT 1,210 403.3333333
PRECINCT 107 41 DISTRICT 1,651 550.3333333
PRECINCT 108 41 DISTRICT 441 147
PRECINCT 110 41 DISTRICT 466 155.3333333
PRECINCT 111 41 DISTRICT 625 208.3333333
PRECINCT 112 41 DISTRICT 483 161
PRECINCT 113 41 DISTRICT 958 319.3333333
PRECINCT 115 41 DISTRICT 123 41
PRECINCT 117 41 DISTRICT 1,005 335
PRECINCT 118 41 DISTRICT 764 254.6666667
PRECINCT 119 41 DISTRICT 712 237.3333333
PRECINCT 134 41 DISTRICT 391 130.3333333
PRECINCT 135 41 DISTRICT 731 243.6666667
PRECINCT 136 41 DISTRICT 569 189.6666667
PRECINCT 138 41 DISTRICT 327 109
PRECINCT 139 41 DISTRICT 665 221.6666667
PRECINCT 140 41 DISTRICT 595 198.3333333
PRECINCT 141 41 DISTRICT 538 179.3333333
PRECINCT 142 41 DISTRICT 449 149.6666667
PRECINCT 143 41 DISTRICT 331 110.3333333
PRECINCT 144 41 DISTRICT 591 197
PRECINCT 145 41 DISTRICT 1,180 393.3333333
PRECINCT 146 41 DISTRICT 496 165.3333333
PRECINCT 147 41 DISTRICT 862 287.3333333
PRECINCT 148 41 DISTRICT 361 120.3333333


PRECINCT 102 42 DISTRICT 833 277.6666667
PRECINCT 103 42 DISTRICT 1,377 459
PRECINCT 104 42 DISTRICT 621 207
PRECINCT 105 42 DISTRICT 819 273
PRECINCT 106 42 DISTRICT 666 222
PRECINCT 107 42 DISTRICT 716 238.6666667
PRECINCT 110 42 DISTRICT 548 182.6666667
PRECINCT 120 42 DISTRICT 1,021 340.3333333
PRECINCT 121 42 DISTRICT 492 164
PRECINCT 123 42 DISTRICT 1,056 352
PRECINCT 124 42 DISTRICT 770 256.6666667
PRECINCT 129 42 DISTRICT 329 109.6666667
PRECINCT 130 42 DISTRICT 771 257
PRECINCT 131 42 DISTRICT 423 141
PRECINCT 132 42 DISTRICT 864 288
PRECINCT 133 42 DISTRICT 1,003 334.3333333
PRECINCT 134 42 DISTRICT 351 117
PRECINCT 137 42 DISTRICT 358 119.3333333
PRECINCT 138 42 DISTRICT 722 240.6666667
PRECINCT 139 42 DISTRICT 555 185
PRECINCT 140 42 DISTRICT 242 80.66666667
PRECINCT 141 42 DISTRICT 289 96.33333333
PRECINCT 142 42 DISTRICT 861 287
PRECINCT 143 42 DISTRICT 424 141.3333333
PRECINCT 144 42 DISTRICT 404 134.6666667
PRECINCT 145 42 DISTRICT 25 8.333333333
PRECINCT 146 42 DISTRICT 786 262
PRECINCT 147 42 DISTRICT 445 148.3333333
PRECINCT 148 42 DISTRICT 643 214.3333333
PRECINCT 149 42 DISTRICT 551 183.6666667
PRECINCT 150 42 DISTRICT 0 0
PRECINCT 153 42 DISTRICT 991 330.3333333


PRECINCT 101 43 DISTRICT 911 303.6666667
PRECINCT 102 43 DISTRICT 833 277.6666667
PRECINCT 103 43 DISTRICT 930 310
PRECINCT 104 43 DISTRICT 1,113 371
PRECINCT 105 43 DISTRICT 938 312.6666667
PRECINCT 106 43 DISTRICT 1,050 350
PRECINCT 107 43 DISTRICT 1,107 369
PRECINCT 108 43 DISTRICT 1,211 403.6666667
PRECINCT 109 43 DISTRICT 920 306.6666667
PRECINCT 110 43 DISTRICT 585 195
PRECINCT 111 43 DISTRICT 567 189
PRECINCT 112 43 DISTRICT 563 187.6666667
PRECINCT 113 43 DISTRICT 601 200.3333333
PRECINCT 115 43 DISTRICT 664 221.3333333
PRECINCT 117 43 DISTRICT 1,021 340.3333333
PRECINCT 119 43 DISTRICT 863 287.6666667
PRECINCT 124 43 DISTRICT 7 2.333333333
PRECINCT 125 43 DISTRICT 418 139.3333333
PRECINCT 126 43 DISTRICT 239 79.66666667
PRECINCT 127 43 DISTRICT 113 37.66666667
PRECINCT 128 43 DISTRICT 427 142.3333333
PRECINCT 130 43 DISTRICT 671 223.6666667
PRECINCT 131 43 DISTRICT 341 113.6666667
PRECINCT 132 43 DISTRICT 346 115.3333333
PRECINCT 133 43 DISTRICT 304 101.3333333
PRECINCT 134 43 DISTRICT 633 211
PRECINCT 135 43 DISTRICT 0 0
PRECINCT 136 43 DISTRICT 324 108
PRECINCT 137 43 DISTRICT 188 62.66666667


PRECINCT 105 44 DISTRICT 1,037 345.6666667
PRECINCT 107 44 DISTRICT 1,037 345.6666667
PRECINCT 109 44 DISTRICT 734 244.6666667
PRECINCT 111 44 DISTRICT 594 198
PRECINCT 112 44 DISTRICT 579 193
PRECINCT 113 44 DISTRICT 606 202
PRECINCT 114 44 DISTRICT 791 263.6666667
PRECINCT 115 44 DISTRICT 734 244.6666667
PRECINCT 116 44 DISTRICT 750 250
PRECINCT 117 44 DISTRICT 685 228.3333333
PRECINCT 119 44 DISTRICT 787 262.3333333
PRECINCT 121 44 DISTRICT 612 204
PRECINCT 123 44 DISTRICT 442 147.3333333
PRECINCT 124 44 DISTRICT 482 160.6666667
PRECINCT 126 44 DISTRICT 617 205.6666667
PRECINCT 127 44 DISTRICT 759 253
PRECINCT 128 44 DISTRICT 630 210
PRECINCT 129 44 DISTRICT 828 276
PRECINCT 130 44 DISTRICT 605 201.6666667
PRECINCT 131 44 DISTRICT 497 165.6666667
PRECINCT 133 44 DISTRICT 615 205
PRECINCT 134 44 DISTRICT 657 219
PRECINCT 135 44 DISTRICT 626 208.6666667
PRECINCT 136 44 DISTRICT 540 180
PRECINCT 137 44 DISTRICT 788 262.6666667


PRECINCT 101 46 DISTRICT 977 325.6666667
PRECINCT 103 46 DISTRICT 743 247.6666667
PRECINCT 104 46 DISTRICT 314 104.6666667
PRECINCT 105 46 DISTRICT 921 307
PRECINCT 107 46 DISTRICT 735 245
PRECINCT 109 46 DISTRICT 676 225.3333333
PRECINCT 112 46 DISTRICT 744 248
PRECINCT 113 46 DISTRICT 311 103.6666667
PRECINCT 114 46 DISTRICT 609 203
PRECINCT 115 46 DISTRICT 608 202.6666667
PRECINCT 116 46 DISTRICT 675 225
PRECINCT 117 46 DISTRICT 513 171
PRECINCT 118 46 DISTRICT 673 224.3333333
PRECINCT 119 46 DISTRICT 832 277.3333333
PRECINCT 122 46 DISTRICT 626 208.6666667
PRECINCT 123 46 DISTRICT 1,116 372
PRECINCT 124 46 DISTRICT 1,034 344.6666667
PRECINCT 125 46 DISTRICT 751 250.3333333
PRECINCT 126 46 DISTRICT 327 109
PRECINCT 127 46 DISTRICT 419 139.6666667
PRECINCT 128 46 DISTRICT 620 206.6666667
PRECINCT 129 46 DISTRICT 784 261.3333333
PRECINCT 130 46 DISTRICT 250 83.33333333
PRECINCT 131 46 DISTRICT 845 281.6666667
PRECINCT 132 46 DISTRICT 429 143
PRECINCT 133 46 DISTRICT 537 179


PRECINCT 116 48 DISTRICT 404 134.6666667
PRECINCT 117 48 DISTRICT 784 261.3333333
PRECINCT 118 48 DISTRICT 482 160.6666667
PRECINCT 119 48 DISTRICT 585 195
PRECINCT 122 48 DISTRICT 660 220
PRECINCT 125 48 DISTRICT 660 220
PRECINCT 126 48 DISTRICT 426 142
PRECINCT 128 48 DISTRICT 435 145
PRECINCT 129 48 DISTRICT 434 144.6666667
PRECINCT 130 48 DISTRICT 458 152.6666667
PRECINCT 131 48 DISTRICT 614 204.6666667
PRECINCT 132 48 DISTRICT 660 220
PRECINCT 133 48 DISTRICT 805 268.3333333
PRECINCT 135 48 DISTRICT 717 239
PRECINCT 137 48 DISTRICT 513 171
PRECINCT 139 48 DISTRICT 697 232.3333333
PRECINCT 140 48 DISTRICT 358 119.3333333
PRECINCT 141 48 DISTRICT 738 246
PRECINCT 142 48 DISTRICT 393 131
PRECINCT 143 48 DISTRICT 393 131
PRECINCT 144 48 DISTRICT 335 111.6666667
PRECINCT 145 48 DISTRICT 448 149.3333333
PRECINCT 146 48 DISTRICT 455 151.6666667
PRECINCT 147 48 DISTRICT 357 119
PRECINCT 148 48 DISTRICT 190 63.33333333
PRECINCT 149 48 DISTRICT 533 177.6666667
PRECINCT 150 48 DISTRICT 378 126
PRECINCT 151 48 DISTRICT 491 163.6666667
PRECINCT 152 48 DISTRICT 316 105.3333333
PRECINCT 153 48 DISTRICT 402 134
PRECINCT 154 48 DISTRICT 553 184.3333333
PRECINCT 155 48 DISTRICT 442 147.3333333
PRECINCT 156 48 DISTRICT 380 126.6666667
PRECINCT 157 48 DISTRICT 316 105.3333333
PRECINCT 158 48 DISTRICT 369 123
PRECINCT 159 48 DISTRICT 115 38.33333333
PRECINCT 160 48 DISTRICT 288 96
PRECINCT 161 48 DISTRICT 370 123.3333333


PRECINCT 101 59 DISTRICT 583 194.3333333
PRECINCT 102 59 DISTRICT 821 273.6666667
PRECINCT 103 59 DISTRICT 158 52.66666667
PRECINCT 104 59 DISTRICT 414 138

Finally, remember, I am running for re-election to the State Central Committee, an election which will take place at the State Convention in Lexington in June. I would appreciate your vote if you are elected tomorrow.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
State Headquarters in Frankfort 502-695-4828
Louisville Headquarters on Barret Avenue 502-582-1999

313. LD Conventions tomorrow in Jefferson County and Fayette County - County Conventions elsewhere

I was in the Obama for America HQ in Louisville where I heard the lady at the desk giving directions to a caller about what to do at the County Conventions tomorrow. Her responses to the caller were frankly incorrect. She was telling them that tomorrow is a repeat of last week, only at the County level. It isn't. There will be no Committeeman, woman, and youth elected tomorrow. In Jefferson County especially, the makeup of the County Committee, with the exception of the 42nd and 48th LDs, is a done deal. The Obama campaign doesn't seem to understand the process, which makes them like a lot of people. The State Party went to great efforts to get people involved this year, sending out postcards and pamphlets, and hosting a number of educational sessions across the state, including two in Louisville. Unfortunately, very few people attended and the Obama campaign folks didn't arrive on the scene until well into the process. Nonetheless, expect Obama folks at the conventions tomorrow in some degree of numbers. Few if any will know what they are doing, but there is strength in numbers and they will have the numbers.

The one thing that will happen tomorrow that the Obama campaign can and certainly will have an effect on will be the election of delegates to the State Convention. Each LD (and County) are allotted a number of delegates to the State Convention to be held in Lexington in June. If the Obama folks turn out in the numbers they did last weekend, they can effect a change in the makeup of the State Convention and the State Central Executive Committee.

All of this should make for an interesting morning. My district meeting is to be held at the Dosker Manor Senior Citizen High Rise on Muhammad Ali Boulevard. There is no parking for non-residents in the complex and people typically park on the four city streets which surround the complex - Muhammad Ali, Preston, Liberty, or Jackson. However, because Thunder over Louisville is early this year to avoid a conflict with Passover, all of those streets will have "No Parking Anytime" tomorrow - the signs have already been erected. I have no idea where the three people from each of the 41st's precincts are supposed to park - that should be interesting as well.

Hold on - the process is getting interestinger and interestinger.

312. Louisville Poll

This month’s Louisville Magazine features, among other things, its 23rd Annual Best of Louisville Awards ballot, sponsored by Hilliard Lyons, one of Louisville’s oldest businesses. I thought I would make my own list here, answering and commenting on the questions in their categories, and then inviting your comments. So, here goes.

Asian Restaurant – I do not eat much at any true Asian restaurants. A friend of mine, a Filipino guy who for simplicity same goes by Phil, has served as an assistant Chef at the Kobe Restaurant on Midland Trail in Shelbyville and I’ve eaten there with him a few times, so by default, that is my answer.

Bargain Restaurant – My kind of eating – cheap. Truthfully, I like to go to the little Chinese place, with a very small buffet, right down at the end of the Courthouse Alley on 5th Street. I have no idea what it is called but the daily special is $5.25 plus tax, without drink.

Gourmet Pizza – I don’t think there is any doubt the best gourmet pizza in this town is Wick’s, especially the one at Baxter and Highland avenues. But, I rarely go there because it is too loud and too crowded for my tastes. But when I do, I’m always sated. Also, Wick’s has played the good corporate citizen, taking a chance on a pizza parlor out Dixie Highway way past Valley High School. I’ve been told it has been an economic success. Good for them and good for the residents in the somewhat forgotten corner of the county.

Indian Restaurant - I can’t honestly answer this one. Someone enlighten me.

Irish Pub – Flanagan’s Ale House on Baxter Avenue is the place for me. It is local enough to still seem like a pub, and big enough to handle a nice crowd, especially with that wonderfully underdone Back Room.

Martinis – I don’t drink martinis, so I don’t know.

Middle Eastern Restaurant – Saffron’s on Market Street. I went there for the first time just recently at the invite of Marty Meyer, who works for Congressman Yarmuth. I’ve since been back. The food is good and the setting is appropriately Persian.

New Restaurant – There is an old saying that a good Republican would never do anything his grandmother hadn’t already done twice. As for restaurants, I am then rather Republican. I don’t do new restaurants as a habit. I did try to new Blue Nile on 5th Street just a few days ago, where you eat with your fingers using a bread-mixture of some sort. The food was good, but I needed utensils. The night before Easter a group of us ate at Rivue, the new top-class restaurant atop the Galt House Hotel on N. 4th Street. It was different, expensive, and interesting, but I’m not ready to give it a review here.

Outdoor Dining – Carly Rae’s at 1st and Oak has exceptional food, but their service has always been less than pleasant. My friend Migael works there and I hope his work is an improvement on the service. They have a large outdoor patio which is a great place to eat brunch on Sundays or enjoy a late night glass of wine. They are the 3rd or 4th restaurant at this site and they all have shared the contradictory issues – good food, poor service. Hopefully the upcoming outdoor season will be an opportunity for improved service because the venue is great.

Private Dining Rooms – I’m from Preston Highway where the term “private dining rooms” has no meaning. I have eaten once with Councilman Jim King in one of the private dining rooms at Cunningham’s on 4th Street, but one time doesn’t make me a good judge.

Restaurant Atmosphere – The Third Avenue Café at 3rd and Oak is my favorite place for atmosphere. They have music on some nights – most recently it was three students from YPAS who are going to be Peter, Paul, and Mary someday. Other times Celtic music is on tap, or guitar playing. There is a TV tuned to CNN but the sound is turned down so you have to follow the closed-captioning if it interests you. Plus, there are broad windows opening up onto 3rd Street and the intersection, offering a “real live” theater production now and then given the area characters who populate the “live stage” outdoors.

Restaurant for Desserts – I rarely eat desserts, so I’m not the one to ask.

Restaurant for Side Dishes – One of my favorite places to eat is the downtown café on 7th Street opposite the Police Station, known as Gavi’s. Gavi’s is a several generation family operated Russian/American café. Several of the side dishes are carryovers from the Fatherland. I especially like the Russian Potato Casserole.

Restaurant for a Splurge – Proof on Main, at 7th Street. The food is delicious, if minimal in amount; the atmosphere is bold and energetic.

Restaurant with a View – For me, anything offering a view of the river is great. Even the Café Magnolia, with its small windows which actually overlook I-64, which overlook the river, works for me. As previously mentioned, a few weeks ago I dined at Rivue, high above the city, where two parts of the room rotate while you dine, offering broad views up and down the river as well as across into southern Indiana. Over in Jeffersonville, several restaurants have been established on the river, all offering great views.

South-of-the-Border Restaurant – Louisville has a large number of restaurants offering south-of-the-border fare, from cheap eats to high-end restaurants. I prefer the cheap and delicious eats of the Santa Fe Grill at 3rd Street and Heywood Avenue, across Heywood from Holy Name Church and across 3rd from the University of Louisville’s Jim Patterson Baseball Stadium.

Sports Bar – The March 28, 1992 basketball game between Duke and Kentucky, the greatest college basketball game ever played, pretty much broke me of watching ballgames in restaurants. I’ve never gotten over Christian Laettner’s last second jump shot, giving Duke a 104-103 game winning advantage in the East Regional Finals. In that game, Laettner made 10 of 10 shots from the field and 10 of 10 shots from the free-throw line. I watched that game with a friend in a Sports Bar of sorts. She and I both cried at the end. I still do when I think about it. I haven’t been back to a true Sports Bar since then with the single exception being last fall when I ventured through the Champions Sports Bar in the Marriott downtown at 3rd and Jefferson, while the University of Louisville football team was playing.

Sushi Restaurant – I haven’t acquired a taste for sushi yet.

Swanky Bar – I mentioned Proof on Main earlier. It also fills the bill in this category, for all the same reasons. There is a wall of pictures on one wall – John Yarmuth’s is one of them.

Wine By The Glass – When I drink, I regularly order “a cheap Merlot.” I do this most often at the previously mentioned Third Avenue Café. I can sit for hours in there doing absolutely nothing and enjoying every minute of it.

TV Anchorman/Anchorwoman/Weathercaster/Sportscaster – I don’t watch TV – haven’t done so regularly since the end of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. I could not tell you who the anchorpeople are in this town. I miss Livingston Gilbert, Bill Gladden, Bob Kay, and Cawood Ledford. And, on the radio, I miss El Metzo.

Elected Official Male - This is difficult as I know a lot of elected officials. My boss is the easy answer. Irv Maze is a great guy, great friend, and conscientious leader in Jefferson County. Among legislators, I’ll tip my hat to the Dean of the Legislature, State Representative Tom Burch of Jefferson County’s 3rd District. He is a great guy.

Elected Official Female – Again, a difficult answer to provide. I will offer that the Jefferson County Clerk, Republican Bobby Holsclaw is one of the nicest people in local government. Her predecessor in that office, Rebecca Jackson, also a Republican who went on to be the last Jefferson County Judge Executive with any duties, was also a very pleasant person. But, I have to offer that being nice is one thing, while casting votes that affect people’s lives and futures is another. First District Councilwoman Dr. Judy Green has been a breath of fresh air on the Metro Council, where fresh-air breaths are few and far between. In the State Senate, Denise Harper Angel, against whom I strenuously (and unsuccessfully) campaigned in 2004, has proven to be a very good legislator, although that isn’t all that difficult with the crop of folks we have in Frankfort. Nonetheless, I have told her several times how pleased I have been with her votes. Joni Jenkins and Mary Lou Marzian are good friends of mine on the House side, but the House’s overall role in determining Kentucky’s future isn’t helping their status.

Art To Buy – Although I haven’t bought much art, I know when I do I prefer to buy it off the walls of some of Louisville’s odder places to do so, places such as Jennica’s Restaurant on E. Market Street, or in any of the other funkier locales up and down East Market.

Bathing Suits – Gosh, I haven’t bought a bathing suit in years. When I did, it came from Target.

Beauty Supplies – Who needs ’em?

Beer Store – When I buy beer, I like a variety. I used to go to Our Place Liquors on Poplar Level Road. Lately, it’s been Barret Liquors at Winter and Barret avenues. But, honestly, I do not but much beer.

Birthday Cakes – My grandparents were bakers. My brother and I grew up with the coolest and biggest birthday cakes imaginable. All the neighborhood kids came to our birthday parties. The Noble’s Bakery closed in 1972. I haven’t seen anything comparable since.

Children’s Books – I do not have an answer here.

Fabric Store – Nor here.

Fresh-Baked Bread – Ermins at 1st and Oak or Nord’s Bakery on S. Preston Street. When Nord’s took over the old Klein’s Bakery, I was concerned they would change the old fashioned tastes of the place. Thankfully, I was wrong. They have great bread, donuts, and chocolate milk. As for Ermin’s, they offer large loaves of bread made fresh daily, plus an interesting menu on the side.

Gag Gifts – I’d have to ask my oldest nephew about this. I really don’t know.

Handbags – I’d have to ask my oldest niece about this. I really don’t know this one either.

Men’s Shoes – I’ve discovered S&K Menswear in the last year. I really like it. I go to the one in Okolona at Jefferson Mall on the Outer Loop.

Women’s Jeans – I have no idea.

Day Trip from Louisville – Oh my! There are so many. I’ve written about them in my blog. My favorite would be from Louisville to Lexington, along US60, in October, to Keeneland in the afternoon and Commonwealth Stadium that evening. A stop in Shelbyville on the way up to shop for antiques and take in a bite to eat in one of the Mexican places along Main Street. Between Keeneland and Commonwealth Stadium, maybe along Vine or Main downtown for a glass of cheap Merlot in one of Lexington’s hotels. Returning late in the evening usually requires gassing up – gas went up to $3.46/gallon today - at the Flying J off I-64 at the Waddy exit. They have pizza, which is cheaper than the gas.

Manicure/Pedicure – They didn’t teach us about this at Durrett.

Museum – The Frazier Museum downtown at 9th and Main is one of my favorite places, although I haven’t been there a lot. It combines history with military arms, and is like traveling back in time over several continents. It is one of the places I recommend to visitors. For pure research, although it isn’t technically a museum, the Filson Club, on S. 3rd Street, is without peer.

Weekly Newspaper or Tabloid – Given that Velocity’s sole purpose is to be like LEO, the obvious answer is LEO, Louisville’s Eccentric Observer.

Outdoor Playground – I’ve written several times of the Jefferson Memorial Forest, which lies to the south of the Gene Snyder Freeway, between I-65 and Stonestreet Road, in far southern and southwestern Jefferson County. If an outdoor playground means the opportunity to fish, hike, and learn, this is the place. For those with kids – thankfully not me – the playgrounds in Waterfront Park on E. River Road are always packed, a testament to their popularity.

Product Made in Louisville – There used to be so many, but most are gone. I played baseball in high school and still enjoy the game so a Louisville Slugger is an easy response. But there is also beer. Louisville has a number of microbreweries making local beer. I like to go to Browning’s at Main and Jackson streets. There is of course Louisville’s signature classic foods, Derby Pie, the Hot Brown, and Benedictine Spread. Derby Pie is an exclusive product of Kern’s Kitchens. It is a luscious combination of chocolate, walnuts, and filling. The Hot Brown, created by the Brown Hotel, is a turkey and bacon open-faced sandwich topped with a Mornay or cheese sauce, served piping hot. Benedictine, created by Louisville restaurateur Jennie Benedict in the late 1880s, is a combination of cucumbers, cream cheese, and onion juice. I used to eat Benedictine sandwiches regularly at the Four Sisters Tavern on Poplar Level Road, which closed in 1987. A meal consisting of a Benedictine sandwich as the appetizer, a Hot Brown as the entrée, with Derby Pie for dessert would be an ultimate celebration in Louisville gastronomy. Maybe served with a local beer – and another Benedictine sandwich.

Small Theatre Company – My friend Gil Reyes is involved in a small theater company and I’ve attended a few of his plays. I also get invites from Mark England for various small theater productions. The Victor Jory Theatre at Actors Theatre of Louisville on Main Street offers an intimate setting for small-stage productions. Many years ago, I regularly attended plays at the Youth Performing Arts School on S. 2nd Street, which were excellent works.

Yoga Studio – Never been in one.

Reason to Live in Louisville – Overlooking the dearth of real political and fiscal leadership on the part of the Mayor of Louisville-Jefferson County Metro, there are a number of good reasons to live in our big town along the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606. Many of them have been listed herein. This is where I was born – in the old Norton’s Infirmary at 3rd and Oak. Other than a few months of diversion in Lexington and Frankfort, it is where I have lived now for 47½ years. I do hope to live someday, at least for a little while, in Washington DC. And I’ve tentatively planned to retire to downtown Frankfort, where I can sit in the Kentucky Coffeetree Coffeeshop, ordering coffees from Eric the barista while reading old books on Kentucky history, among other things. But, until then, Louisville is a great place to live.

Incidentally, they turned on the Fleur D' Lis fountain in Jefferson Square this morning.

311. Transition to Spring

The temperature sprung up to the mid 70s today as the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606 finally makes the transition to Spring. In Louisville, that means that everything that is scheduled in the next several weeks is based on a particular imaginary line, or event, demarcating time - The Kentucky Derby.

While the rest of the Commonwealth (with school age kids) is celebrating Spring Break, Louisvillians are making plans to buy clothes, attend parties, and plant gardens. Tomatoes and peppers are best when planted "by Derby Day." The new shirt you've been putting off buying through the Winter will go good with what you plan to wear "on Derby Day." And, for politicians knocking on doors who are asking folks if they can put a yardsign in their yard, the oft-heard reply is "after Derby Day."

The Kentucky Derby Festival kicks off this Saturday with Thunder over Louisville, an extravaganza beyond belief which starts early in the morning and culminates with the world's largest fireworks display down on the Ohio River (at Milepost 605) at 9:30 pm. I usually try to be out of town as I tend to get claustrophobic. Approximately 1,000,000 will make their way downtown (where I live) to attend the events. I have to be at a political meeting at 10:00 am Saturday morning, but after that I will probably go get a bank loan to fill the car up with gas and then take to the backroads.

It is nice to be in Louisville now that it is Spring.

Election News and Commentary from Precinct L113

Today was Election Day for the Democratic Party in Kentucky. This blog and others have written several entries about it over the past few weeks. Today's election, theoretically held in each of Kentucky's precincts, began the quadrennial process of democratically rebuilding the Democratic Party from bottom-to-top (in that order). Today's elections were held for the precinct level. In my precinct, L113, which votes at the Phoenix Hill Apartments Complex Clubhouse, the following happened.

First, more than one person showed up. Over the years, I've attended every one of these for my home precinct. This was my eighth Reorganizational Election. At more than one of those, I was the only one present. Today, that was not the case. The second item of news is that in one of the positions, the Committeewoman, an actual election took place where those of us present had to choose between the two women who were nominated for the position. The third item of news is that the incumbent Committeewoman was defeated in her race for re-election, bested by a new activist who had never gone through this before. Finally, we had a 17 year old observer watch the entire proceeding, which I do not know if that is a good or bad thing, but it is an interesting one.

That's the news part. The following is commentary.

Of the eight voters who showed up at L113 (there were nine to start with but one left, plus the 17 year old onlooker), four of them (as well as the 17 year old onlooker) sported Obama stickers. They were there because the Obama campaign sent out notices telling them to be there. I received one of those myself. One person, a neighbor of mine who I just met a few days ago, came as the Obama Precinct Captain for L113, bearing papers which could have been used if the officially-appointed Temporary Chair failed to show, papers which would have been very helpful in such a situation. I do not know if the Clinton campaign made similar efforts. I do know of several Clinton supporters, who on their own, made efforts at getting people involved in this process - I do not know if Senator Clinton's national campaign put the same effort into this as her opponent's did. Paying attention at this lowest level of grassroots organization may be one of the reasons Senator Obama is currently leading the delegate count, albeit not by a decisive margin. It was certainly effective in those non-primary Caucus states in the Midwest, all of which he won, and probably played a role today throughout the state.

In L113, the Temporary Chair, long-time Phoenix Hill activist and businessman Tom Nolan , did show up, and ran the meeting very smoothly. Mr. Nolan was unopposed to be Committeeman, a position he has held for several terms. His wife, Sally Nolan, was opposed by Amy Ellswick for the Committeewoman position, and Amy was eventually elected. My close friend Keith Dickerson, Jr., was unopposed for Committeeyouth, and was thus elected. Mr. Nolan was also elected as the Committeechair for the next four years.

Their role is, in the short term, two fold. The three of them, committeeman, committeewoman, and committeeyouth, are to attend next week's 41st District Convention, which is to be held at the Dosker Manor Building A Lunchroom. There their first responsibility will be to elect a Chair and Vice Chair for the 41st Legislative District, people who will serve on the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee. Only one person filed for each of these positions (incumbent Claudia Riner for Chair and Gordon Studemire (who was the ninth person above who left my precinct meeting early) for Vice Chair), as such they will be elected by acclamation. Their second duty next week will be to elect delegates from the 41st Legislative District to attend the State Convention, to be held in Lexington the first weekend of June.

Each Legislative District in Jefferson and Fayette counties, plus each of the other 118 counties, have been assigned a number of people to represent them at the State Convention. Those people will be elected next week. For me, this is important as these state convention delegates, as well as all the other state convention delegates in the 3rd Congressional District, are the voters who will be eligible at the State Convention to elect the 3rd Congressional District's two Committeemen who serve at the state level. I currently hold one of those seats and hope to be re-elected come June.

As I said, this is a process from bottom-to-top. The first rung, the bottommost at the precinct level, was this morning. And while the process doesn't involve nearly as many people as it should and could, it is an open and democratic process and it is an important and vital part of our political and Political system.

309. An Open America

General Colin Powell receiving the Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Wilson Reagan.

I have just left the Kentucky Convention Center in downtown Louisville where tonight the World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana (http://www.wacaky-in.org) had as its guest speaker former United States Secretary of State General Colin Powell. Secretary Powell spoke for about an hour in a very comfortable style to the several hundred of us seated in the audience, giving us a little history about himself, and offering insights into some of the world playing fields on which he has had the opportunity to serve the United States, both in the field of the military as well as that of diplomacy. He indicated that diplomacy is the better of the two in solving the problems of the world. More than once he anecdotally referred to immigrants who had come to America to find a better life, including his own parents, of Jamaican heritage, who arrived in Brooklyn eighty-one years ago. He affirmed his belief that America is a safer place due to safeguards put in place after September 11, but offered that he spoke to the president not long after those events, warning him that America seemed to be putting up the "Not Welcome" sign at our front doors, turning away especially students whose time in America may have lead to a better future for either their country of origin, or if they stayed here for our our sovereign land, and that he felt and still believes that is wrong, as do I. He spoke of several foreign leaders to whom he referred as personal friends, telling of how they each arrived where they were in the diplomatic intercourses which have changed the political face of the earth over the last twenty years, especially his dealings with former Soviet President Michael Gorbachev while he served under President Ronald Reagan. He went on to talk, at length, about education, economics, and the ascension - an opening up - of democracies and peace throughout most of the world. He spoke especially of Africa, India, China, and Japan, and then of our own Western Hemisphere where only Cuba remains as an anomaly. He spoke affectionately of France, saying America and France had been in a marriage for 230 years, albeit one which now and then needed marriage counselling. Whether or not he was aware that the naming of our town here along the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606 was inspired by LaFayette's help for America by France in the Revolution he did not make clear, although he did reference it. (By extension, even the name of this blog is French inspired). An additional by-the-way, he referred to Louisville [correctly] as a "town" and not as the 16th Largest City in America, a title erroneously bestowed upon it by the Mayor of Louisville-Jefferson County Metro, who was in attendance to here the General refer to our town). He spoke mostly of openness, openness for opportunities not only for the people of America, but for those outside of America who look to us as a beacon and leader. It was a thoroughly enjoyable speech.

I was given tickets to the speech by my friends David and Mary Pat Sexton. I work with David in the County Attorney's Office and I have known his wife Mary Pat since college. Thanks to both of them for this educational opportunity.

HB70, the Gospel of Saint Luke, and Leviticus

I found myself in Frankfort yesterday seeking about the legislative corridors for evidence of some constructive work coming out of that building on the last scheduled legislative day. What remains, at least in the People’s Branch of the General Assembly, are some details in the budget to be worked out, a period for the governor to consider any items he might veto, and a few final days for the General Assembly to override any vetoes the governor might offer. I can not offer any insight as to the workings of the Senate led by Republican President David Williams.

The House, under the leadership of Speaker Jody Richards, finally convened around 4:30 in the afternoon with the news that the Democratic House caucus would be meeting again today to work out some details in the budget. Those details probably include finding a number of legislators willing to vote for it. Today’s papers indicate the Speaker believes it is passable, but it will take some work.

In non-budget business, there were introductions and pictures taken, as well as a somber remembrance of the man known as Mr. Wildcat, Bill Keightley, the long-time UK Basketball Manager, who died at the age of 81 attending an Opening Day game of the Cincinnati Reds. Mr. Keightley is pictured at right with UK Coach Billy Gillespie. The House adjourned in honor of the man who had served at the University for the last 48 years. Many, including me, were teary-eyed.

Following that and some other business was discussion of HB70, a proposal introduced by Lexington Democratic State Representative Jesse Crenshaw to amend the Constitution of Kentucky to allow, if approved by the voters, certain felons to regain their voting rights upon completion of the sentences (including probation and parole) imposed on them by the judicial system. Kentucky, Virginia, and Florida all have laws of some nature requiring pardons from the governor before reenfranchisment. The other 47 states do not. There are exceptions in HB70 for certain heinous crimes such as murder, manslaughter, or sexual crimes involving a minor.

This is a good proposed Constitutional amendment and one I support and have supported for many years. Of course, given that it arose on the last working day of the Session, it is unlikely the Republican end of the building will pick up the issue and run with it. Maybe - hopefully - Senator Williams will prove me wrong. He would do well to heed the comments of one Republican member of the House, State Representative Lonnie Napier of Garrard County. Up until yesterday, I do not ever recalling applauding anything Representative Napier has said or done. He and I differ on a number of issues.

That changed yesterday. In explaining his support of HB70, Representative Napier first identified the measure as one which wasn’t a Democratic or Republican measure, but rather was a Kentucky one. He then went on and quoted from the Fifteenth Chapter of the Gospel of Saint Luke, and specifically the latter half of that chapter, which is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Many of us (who are Christians) first learned this story in Sunday School as little kids. For a non-rural kid like me, I always remembered the phrase “the fatted calf” which served as the main entrée of the feast served up by the father upon the return of his younger son who had sinned against both him and heaven. As someone who went “home” for family reunions, where “home” meant the countryside of rural western Franklin County, and reunions meant an abundance of “fatted calves” and other rural-type foods, I understood the importance of a feast featuring the “fatted calf.” In the parable, the father rejoiced, even to the point of arousing the ire of his older and loyal son, who protested against the joy the father found in the younger son’s return.

The parable, as Representative Napier explained, is a story of compassion. It is the type of compassion I write about in my profile attached to this blog, the kind I and others are seeking in our sometimes seemingly futile search for the social justice of Jesus Christ in our governments and in our personal lives. It is a true telling of hating the sin but loving the sinner. That is a line we liberals often hear when conservatives speak in describing why they vote for certain issues. They say they aren’t voting against the people who live with those issues day in and day out, they are simply voting against the issue itself. It is usually a hollow and frankly false argument.

Yesterday, however, Representative Napier’s use of the story as the explanation of his vote upon the measure proved that even some of the prodigal sons in the legislature – those who often wrap their legislative logic in and with the pages of the Bible, can indeed return to the true meaning to be found in the stories of the Bible, which generally speaking can be summed up in the golden rule, first explained in the Bible in the Old Testament verses of the Nineteenth Chapter of Leviticus, rather ironic since Leviticus, and in some instances this very chapter of Leviticus, serves many conservatives as a basis to ignore the golden rule in respect to certain people or groups of people. I’ve written on this before in an entry on immigration.

The King James Version of Leviticus 19:18 reads

“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

Later, in the same chapter, the writer expands those included in this love of neighbor from just “thy people” to everyone, including strangers, which in some versions is translated as aliens. Leviticus 19:34 reads

“But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”

Jesus expands on these ideas in Matthew 7 and especially in Luke 6. Luke 6, Verse 36, begins “Be ye therefore merciful.”

Yesterday, with their passage of HB70, the House of Representatives proved their capacity to be merciful. Thanks Be to God – and especially, yesterday, to Representative Napier and his use and living out of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

307. Did you know today was a Holiday?

The Kentucky General Assembly was scheduled to meet for the 57th day of its 60 day Session today. But it didn't. It declared a Holiday instead. So, what were they celebrating? Was it the establishment of the forerunner to the NCAA, so done on this date in 1906? That would be appropriate given the role the University of Louisville has played in this year's NCAA brackets. Or maybe it was the acquisition and renaming of the United States Virgin Islands on this date in 1917? Daylight Savings Time was established on this date in 1918 (except in Indiana). It was on this date that LBJ announced that “I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president.” I always liked the way LBJ always referred to himself as "your president," usually by tugging on a senator's arm in a griplock saying, "Your president needs you on this vote, Senator." Johnson's Great Society programs weren't the best-administered, but their intent was heart-filled and heartfelt and he was one of the most important Americans in the latter half the 20th century. Today is the 60th birthday of once (and possibly future) Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore. Maybe that was the Holiday they were celebrating. Who knows? They stayed behind closed doors in conference committees doing work that should have and could have been done long before the last working day of the Session. Whatever they were celebrating on this March 31 Holiday, I hope it was worth it.

The space below is reserved for an update on this year's Legislative Accomplishments.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

The Session will come to an end in two weeks. There is one more working day (the 57th one which was scheduled for today, now to be taken tomorrow on April Fools Day), then a break for the governor to consider which, if any, of the good works of the legislature he might want to veto, then two more days to override him. And then the Republicans, who have added nothing to the cause, will force a Special Session. They cost about $60,000.00 a day.

A final legislative thought. I always found curious the pair of words vote and veto, which are spelled with the same four letters, and are sort of opposites, except that you can't really have a veto without a vote first.

306. Areas Codes

Let us say that if you wanted to place a call to Papa Hemingway whilst he was lounging about his favorite city in the United States, you would use the Area Code 305 to place the call. That was the significance of the previous entry's number to the previous entry's subject matter - the Area Code. Florida was one of the first states that put the North American Numbering Plan, designed by AT&T, into use. The original area code for Florida was 305. Florida now has seventeen. 305, then as now, serves Key West as well as other parts of far-southern Florida.

Area Codes were created in the late 1940s and first came into use in 1951. Kentucky's original area code was 502. We presently have four codes (270, 502, 606, and 859) and we are scheduled to get another one (364) in the far western part of the state next year. The original list of codes for all of the United States, Canada, and Mexico had a zero, and then later a 1, as the center digit. Codes for higher populated areas had all low numbers. This was in the days of rotary telephones. If you are under 40, you may not have any idea what a rotary telephone is. Suffice it to say that the two largest cities in the land have area codes of 212 and 213, which requires the least number of rotary clicks to make a long distance call. None of the original codes began or ended in a 1 which is still the case. For that matter, none of them begin or end in 11 either.


Of course now that the number on a phone is representative of an electronic signal, and not a rotary click, any number can pretty well be assigned anywhere. It seems to be with the advancement of cellular technology that, in all honesty, there should be no such thing as a "long-distance call." But then, those are money makers for telephone systems and I doubt they will go away.

One final note on Area Codes which bothers me. Calls can be made between Canada and the United States using the 1+the Area Code format. But, since 1991, there has been a wall erected between the United States and Mexico. To call "south of the border," one must use the International Calling Codes of 01+the Country Code of 52, as if calling from El Paso, Texas, USA to Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico is a lot different than calling from Detroit, Michigan, USA to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. You have to wonder why one is treated differently from the other.

*****

Bridget: Death in the Afternoon, but I've never had one. In my drinking days, I drank beer, except on payday weekends when Old Forester Bourbon was my drink of choice. In The Sun Also Rises, there is lots of alcohol consumed, mostly beer, but also liqueurs made with Absinthe, which is made with Anise. Death in the Afternoon is made with Absinthe.

Ben: Is that all you ever think about? Wait, I know the answer to that.

305. Call to Hemingway

Yes Ben, of course, you are right. The Basques on the bus with the wine are in The Sun Also Rises. And, the word bota is used one time (so far) in the book. I was wrong to suggest otherwise. I am up to the part where Brett (Lady Ashley) seduces the handsome nineteen year old torero, then Cohn gets mad over it and fights everyone, and then leaves the next morning, while everyone else finally rolls out of their respective rooms to - do what? - have another beer. Just like in the Book of Genesis, "Evening came and morning followed." I've a few more chapters left before I put the little book away for a minute.

Meanwhile, back along the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606, it was also wrong of me to suggest that Spring had actually sprung. Very early this morning (around 4:45 am), the temperature was in the 60s. Then came along a front, knocking 20 or more degrees of mercury off into oblivion, leaving us with less-than-Spring like weather. But the sun has shown through here and there and April will certainly be here soon.

So, here is another end-of-entry trivia question. Why is the picture on the left appropriate for today's entry? Be specific. It isn't just because of Hemingway's fondness for the Conch Republic.

Lamentations

I've got too many irons in the fire - need to take a break, or break away from some of it.

I'm helping two different candidates for Metro Council, although I'm not doing either one of them a lot of good, but I think I am doing both of them some good. Both have been out walking their respective precincts. One has already begun putting up [the dreaded] yard signs and sent out some mail. He is at a neighborhood meeting this evening. The other is a little behind but is still working hard. We are meeting Sunday morning to work on a mail plan for him. Both will need to work hard to win. One is against an incumbent; the other in an open seat. For the one, though, winning the Primary will suffice. The district heavily favors one Party and he is a member of that Party. The other will have a whole 'nother race this fall, and his district doesn't lean too heavily either way.

I'm also helping a candidate for District Judge, although I admittedly know I am not an expert by any stretch of thought in her race. Her father has been a good friend, so I am helping. It is a problem in that she is running against another friend of mine and both are well qualified. Either will be an excellent choice.

I'm also helping a young friend in his run for one of the seats on the local Democratic Executive Committee. I'd like to have a friend there as my term as By-Laws Chair will expire in about two weeks and I do not anticipate getting re-appointed, which is good, I guess. But I am intending to seek re-election to the State Central Committee, where I serve on the State By-Laws Committee, but again, I do not anticipate getting reappointed to that committee either. Getting elected there requires staying involved in the LD elections which are coming up on April 12. Delegates to the State Convention will be elected on that date and it is the votes of those delegates I need for my re-election. I'm also answering questions of whoever asks about how to get to the National Convention as a delegate, which is not an easy task. And I'm still undecided about for whom I will cast a vote for President on May 20.

And, finally, I am going to be doing some work on behalf of the re-election efforts of Congressman John Yarmuth - not the role I played in 2006, but a similar if somewhat diminished one.

On an entirely different front, I've got two close friends out of work, including one who rents a house from me, and that is making life a little complicated. In my life, I've been in the exact same position as my tenant and I will be as lenient as were my landlords in my times of need, which was very. I am hopeful that situation will change but I am aware the economy just plain sucks right now and there is little room for hope, nor does hope seem to want to rear its head beyond the next horizon, so I'll just patiently wait.

Also, 2008 was to be the year I finished my journey through religion and either found a new church home or re-upped in the one I've had for nearly thirty years. I am no where near making a decision, but it is significant to me that on Easter Sunday I attended an Episcopal mass and not a Catholic one.

On the bright side, Spring seems to be finally springing. I rode the #17 bus into work this morning, but upon leaving the office about 5:10 this afternoon I decided to walk the fifteen or so blocks back home given the weather was so nice. It was a pleasant walk - one that I needed. I actually need to do a lot of that. This summer will mark the 30th anniversary of my high school graduation, one of the happiest times in my life. At the time, I weighed 135 pounds, had an enormous amount of hair [some of you have seen the pictures], and still had a considerable accounting of my senses. Today, the scales register about 90 pounds more pounds, none of which is hair as I have very little, and as for my senses, I can't remember where I've lain them.

Ok, that's the end of today's lament.

For entertainment and fantasy travel escape, I have been rereading at night my favorite novella for entertainment and fantasy travel escape. Some of the lesser characters of the book are Zizi, Georgette, Mrs. Braddocks, and the Basques on the bus with the wine. Do you know the book?

Happy Easter

It is snowing right now along the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606, perhaps appropriate for one of the earliest Easter Sundays in decades. Snow is forecast for tonight as well and maybe into tomorrow. But this morning the sun was shining brightly while I attended services at the Episcopal Church of the Advent on Baxter Avenue at the top of Broadway. The sermon was all about Water and Light, based on the traditions assoicated with the Easter candle and the waters of Baptism. Jesus calls Himself the Bright and Morning Star in the Book of Revelation, the closing book of the Holy Bible. After the service, coffee and doughnuts were served while the youngsters spent twenty minutes or so seeking out Easter Eggs in the sidelawn of the church, a task made fairly easy since none of the grass and weeds have grown high enough yet this season to hide anything. After church I went over to my father's house, where a dinner was ready, but I wasn't hungry. My mother was there and promised to take all the leftovers to her house, so as to prompt a visit from me there, which I will do tomorrow. Also at my dad's was my oldest nephew Jacob and his latest girlfriend whose name I did not catch.

My friend Keith attended Easter services at Bates Memorial Baptist Church on Lampton Street where he saw his younger brother, who did not recognize him at first, as well as his mother, who was singing in the choir. Keith usually makes one visit a year to the church of his choice, this visit at this church being it. Keith's cousin Migael, a regular churchgoer, attended with our mutual friend Ken, attending to my knowledge his first church service in over fifteen years, at the Central Presbyterian Church on S. Fourth Street, a church neither one of them belong to.

One reason I was not all that hungry at my father's was my inclusion last night in a dinner at Louisville's newest four-star restaurant, Rivue, located on the 25th floor of The Galt House Hotel on N. Fourth Street. Beginning my evening with a glass of Pinot Noir, which I did not finish during the course of the three hour gustatory adventure, I had as an appetizer a triangular shaped (and not very deep) bowl of delicious Oyster Stew. For the entree, I had a Chicken Penne dish, with artichokes, which up until last night I do not think I've ever partaken of before. The meal was followed by some excellent coffee and chocolate delights. There was a young pianist playing a Baby Grand as we entered. Before the night was over, Migael, who can play most anything but excels in classical and jazz, played for nearly a half-hour. I followed him with a three-song set, the last of which was a jazzed version of my High School Alma Mater. I wish I could play as good as Migael, but just being able to say "I played Rivue" will suffice for now.

So, that's the catch-up for this Easter Sunday. Below are the lyrics one will typically hear at any Easter Sunday service, whether Catholic, Protestant, or otherwise. It is the Signature song for this Signature day.

*****

Jesus Christ is risen today,
Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day,
Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross,
Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss.
Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing,
Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heavenly King,
Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave,
Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save.
Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured,
Alleluia!
our salvation have procured,
Alleluia!
now above the sky he's King,
Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing.
Alleluia!

Words: Compleat Psalmodist, 1749

Easter Hymn (Lyra Davidica, 1708;
arranged by William Henry Monk, 1823-1889)

Happy Easter.

302. All Things Being Equal

Later tonight after you go to bed, around 1:58 a.m. here along the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606, we will cross over one of those all important imaginary lines, the Vernal Equinox, causing the season to change from Winter to Spring and, because some church authorities so dedided, setting up when Easter will fall in a given year. Easter, a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, falls upon the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox, which occurs later tonight. Friday afternoon the Moon passes into its Full phase, and thusly Easter is to be celebrated this Sunday, about as early as it can possibly fall. It last fell on this date in 1913 and will not again until 2160. It can also fall on March 22, having last done so in 1818 and to do so again in 2285 - all of these dates are subject to the idea that I read all the charts correctly. If I did, chances are good none of us will ever see an earlier date for Easter in our lifetimes, whether we are celebraters of Easter or not. Easter originally always fell on 14 Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, a date which falls in preparation for Passover, a day which in Christian tradition will be celebrated tomorrow. Notice the difference between the words date and day. One is unmoving, the other movable. The point of all this is to say that my posting will in all likelihood be light for the next several days, all of which are a part of Easter Week which began Sunday. Surely Barack and Hillary can give it rest for a few days as well.

301. Obama's Speech

It occurred to me yesterday that if I send in my "Declaration of Candidacy" to be a Kentucky delegate to the Democratic National Convention, something I don't expect to do, in the blank where one is required to commit to one or the other of the two candidates, I will write the word "Uncommitted." A better word would be "Undecided." A better description would be "foolishly wishing there was some way out of this without some destruction to the Democratic Party."

I've listened to any number of people respond to Barack Obama's speech today of forty-five minutes of either capturing completely or explaining away his fate either to be or not to be the next President of the United States. I am amazed at the wide variety of responses - some happy, some mad, some who said he can't have it both ways with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, to others who claim he now owns the preacher, lock, stock, and barrel, and does get to have his pie and eat it too. My father, who cannot stand Obama (and I am being very generous in my language) remarked that the senator did the honorable thing by not entirely disowning the reverend. A friend is a friend is a friend, even when they cross over lines you wish they would not have crossed, as Reverend Wright has done not only for Obama, but also for many of his supporters and most of the non-Obama supporters. Bloggers are falling all over themselves from hefty criticism on the Right, to the leftist Rude Pundit's blog entry title of offering some sexual pleasure for the senator in thanksgiving for his words. Ironically, there is no gray area in this mixed race man. It is all either black or white, while he is both.

I've crossed over, a little later than most, from my previous thinking that Mrs. Clinton will be the nominee and in turn the next president. I'm not sure, though, that Obama will be, although I am pretty sure he will be. I still think there is an outside possibility that after the 38th ballot is taken, and neither have moved much, that on the 39th ballot, like an angel descending from the clouds, a series of ropes and pulleys will lower Albert Gore, Jr. from the lofty heights of Nobel Laureatism down onto the playing field, in his role as Savior of the Party. Stranger things have happened, although not at a nominating convention and not in a long time.

It's a long way to Pennsylvania.

And, that's not the end of it. Sooner or later, both campaigns will be here along the Left (and Right) Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606 selling their wares. The longer the race goes, the less I am convinced I need to make a purchase.

300th entry - 10,000th hit

About an hour and a half ago, the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606 recorded its 10,000th hit, someone visiting from Seymour, Indiana, a little burg just north of here in Jackson County, on the way to Columbus, Nashville, and Indianapolis. The county seat of Jackson County is Brownstown. Seymour is the hometown of one of my former employers, attorney Norma Carter Miller, as well as popular singer John Cougar Mellencamp. I assume some of those little pink houses Mellencamp sang about can still be found there. I used to go through Seymour every summer en route to camping at Redbrush Park, which is no longer there. A lot of Louisvillians venture up to Seymour during Christmas season to visit the Tanger Factory Outlet stores.

Whoever you are my reader from Seymour, feel free to come back and identify yourself. There aren't any prizes, just recognition.

Here is a copy of the capture from the 10,000th visit. Those of you who are learned in computer-talk can tell those of us who aren't what any of this means.

Domain Name comcast.net ? (Network)
IP Address 69.243.133.# (Comcast Cable)
ISP Comcast Cable
Location
Continent North America
Country : United States (Facts)
State : Indiana
City : Seymour
Lat/Long : 38.9385, -85.8896 (Map)
Distance : 48 miles (local visitor)
Language unknown
Operating System Microsoft WinXP
Browser Internet Explorer 6.0
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727)
Javascript disabled
Time of Visit Mar 17 2008 5:46:00 pm
Referring URL unknown
Visit Entry Page http://ohioriver606.blogspot.com/
Visit Exit Page http://ohioriver606.blogspot.com/
Out Click
Time Zone unknown
Visitor's Time Unknown
Visit Number 10,000



Here are the lyrics from Mellencamp's Little Pink Houses. Incidentally, to his credit, Mellencamp has asked the McCain for President campaign to stop using this song as part of its campaign, as Mellencamp identifies himself as "somewhat left of center and not in support of Senator McCain." The McCain camp has complied with the request.

Theres a black man with a black cat
Living in a black neighbourhood
Hes got an interstate runnin through his front yard
You know, he think, that hes got it so good
And theres a woman in the kitchen cleanin up the evening slop
And he looks at her and says: hey darling, I can remember when you could stop a clock

Chorus:
Oh but aint that america for you and me
Aint that america were someting to see baby
Aint that america, home of the free
Little pink houses for you and me

Well theres a young man in a t-shirt
Listening to a rockin rollin station
Hes got a greasy hair, greasy smile
He says: lord, this must be my destination
cuz they told me, when I was younger
Boy, youre gonna be president
But just like everyting else, those old crazy dreams
Just kinda came and went

Chorus:
Oh but aint that america for you and me
Aint that america were someting to see baby
Aint that america, home of the free
Little pink houses for you and me

Well theres people and more people
What do they know know know
Go to work in some high rise
And vacation down at the gulf of mexico
Ohhh yeah
And theres winners, and theres losers
But they aint no big deal
cuz the simple man baby pays for the thrills,
The bills and the pills that kill

Chorus:
Oh but aint that america for you and me
Aint that america were someting to see baby
Aint that america, home of the free
Little pink houses for you and me

Oh but aint that america for you and me
Aint that america were someting to see baby
Aint that america, home of the free
Little pink houses for you and me

*****

One final thought -- Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

299. Brackets, or in this instance, Lists.

It's March. March Madness. I'm not savvy enough to know how to put a set of brackets on here. So, you'll just have to follow the lists. I'm predicting a big year for our neighbor to the south of the 36/30 line.

FIRST ROUND

EAST
North Carolina
Arkansas
George Mason
Washington State
Oklahoma
Louisville
South Alabama
Tennessee

MIDWEST
Kansas
Kent
Villanova
Vanderbilt
Southern Cal
Wisconsin
Gonzaga
Georgetown

SOUTH
Memphis
Oregon
Michigan State
Pittsburgh
Kentucky
Stanford
Miami of Florida
Texas

WEST
UCLA
Texas Agricultural and Mechanical
Western Kentucky
Connecticut
Purdue
Georgia
Arizona
Duke

SECOND ROUND

EAST
North Carolina
Washington State
Oklahoma
Tennessee

MIDWEST
Kansas
Vanderbilt
Wisconsin
Georgetown

SOUTH
Memphis
Pittsburgh
Stanford
Texas

WEST
UCLA
Connecticut
Purdue
Arizona

REGIONALS
Tennessee defeats North Carolina
Vanderbilt defeats Georgetown
Pittsburgh loses to Texas
UCLA loses to Arizona

FINAL FOUR GAMES
Tennessee defeats Vanderbilt
Texas defeats Arizona

THE BIG GAME
In a game played in San Antonio, Texas, Tennessee defeats Texas in a game with a total of 191 points scored.

Go ahead and relearn the words to Rocky Top. We're going to be hearing a lot of it between now and April 7.

Here is a trivia question. Since the "brackets" began, what are the only two colleges originally and still eligible to be invited who still have never found their names on a Brackets page?

One final note. Our visitor-counter should trip over the 10,000 mark tonight or tomorrow. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

About 42 years ago, my mother took me up to the old Okolona Fire House on Blue Lick Road, now home to the Wilderness Road Senior Citizen Center, and signed me up to play in the Minor-Minor League of the Okolona Little League Baseball organization. Okolona at the time played of fields which had been built on the farm of the late Shirley Neblett, located on the southwest corner of Blue Lick Road and Preston Highway. Mr. Neblett had also offered the land for the Okolona Fire House. The Minor-Minor field was located behind where the McDonald's now sits. Other fields were for the Minor, Junior, Big, and Senior leagues. Some of the fields were later moved for the building of the Tradewinds South Shopping Center which housed a Kroger and a drug store, among other things. Eventually the McDonald's sprung up out in the parking lot of that shopping center. While the McDonald's remains, the rest of the Tradewinds Center has been torn down. The Okolona Little League relocated to land on the west side of Southern High School, where some of the teams had played off-and-on for years. A Home Depot occupies most of the site of the old Okolona fields.

That year, 1966, I played on the "Colts" for Coach Doan and Coach McFee. We sometimes practiced at Smyrna Elementary on the Outer Loop, the Bethany United Church of Christ on Old Preston Highway, and Blue Lick Park on Mud Lane. Like little leaguers all over Jefferson County, we really didn't think much about the use of the parks and the fields, nor did it occur to us that there were costs involved in using those parks and fields. But, as adults, we do know there are. So the question arises as to what is expected from our government in the way of parkland and uses, expectations as to how those things are funded, and if there should be user fees involved for park usage.

When I was in college at Bellarmine College - now University (one of the five Centers of Higher Education I attended before one of them, Spalding University, decided to grant me a degree) I had as a Business Professor Dr. Bernard Theimann, an exceptional professor who was also a strict fiscal conservative, this in the early days of the Downfall of the American Republic initiated by President Ronald W. Reagan. Dr. Theimann was admittedly one of my very favorite professors in college although we disagreed on most economic policy and a lot of other things. He had a belief that everyone who uses any public facilities should pay a user fee to do so, especially parents with children. His typical rail was against those parents who used the parks as baby sitting facilities. He felt that above and beyond whatever those parents paid in property taxes, there should be additional money paid into the system when any government system was used. I thought he was nuts and told him so. I argued that property taxes are the payment he sought and those taxes were paid by both property owners on their mortgages and by those leasing through their monthly rent payments to landlords. As the son of a landlord of several properties, I assured him costs were always passed on. So, Dr. Theimann and I regularly agreed to disagree. To his credit, he never did use my disagreements with him to decide what my grades would be in his classes. I truly deserved the two Cs and two Bs I got from him, as well as the 2 As.

All this comes to mind today based on an email I read yesterday, the issue of which made its way into the Courier-Journal today. The Mayor of Louisville-Jefferson County Metro, in an effort to save costs, has decided to pass on to Little League players the costs associated with lighting ball fields and concession stands at area public parks used by Little League teams. I think that is preposterous and unworthy of a government. It is, in a word, unsportsmanlike.

Am I wrong? Should Little League players be expected, through the sign-up fees paid by their parents, grandparents, and guardian, to foot the bill for using the parks? If so, to what end does such a thought lead? Are all of us who use any government owned facility to pay user fees, as Dr. Theimann suggested in class twenty-five years ago(?), a suggestion I thought then was asinine and still do. I find the suggestion that Little Leagues (and others) pay these bills to be pathetic.

This idea is related to the argument I've heard all my life about folks who have no children in the public schools wanting to opt out of paying school taxes. For the record, I am one of those who have had no children in the public schools, although I myself am a product of them and my nieces and nephews all attend (or attended as two of them have graduated) public schools. Are we such a country that every penny we spend can only be on ourselves? Reagan and his ilk taught us that greed beginning in the late 1970s and through the 1980s and it is one of the most unfortunate things which has happened to American society. We are no longer societal, we are all individual.

When the American Republic falls, which it will, here along the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606, one of the indicators will have been the day the Mayor of Louisville-Jefferson County Metro decided to charge Little Leaguers to pay for electricity to use the parks - truly unsportsmanlike conduct.

*****

According to the C-J, the following entities are known to be affected by this proposed policy:

Fairdale Youth Baseball, Nelson Hornbeck Park
Fern Creek Babe Ruth, Fern Creek Park
Optimist Club of Hikes Point, Des Pres Park
Jeffersontown Youth Soccer Association, Floyds Fork Park
Lyndon Recreation Association, A.B. Sawyer Park
Middletown Recreation Association, Crosby Park
Okolona Little League, McNeely Lake Park
Portland Youth Baseball League, Lannan Park
Rockford Lane Youth Baseball, Riverside Gardens Park
Southwest Baseball, Sun Valley Park
Southwest Youth Soccer League, Sun Valley Park
West Louisville Sports, Shawnee Park
Other organizations affected:
Berrytown/Griffytown Improvement Organization, Berrytown Park
Healthy Strides, Cherokee Park
Louisville Rugby Football, Hays Kennedy Park
Louisville Radio Control Club, McNeely Lake Park
Louisville Area Soaring Society, Charlie Vettiner Park
Trinity High School baseball, Thurman Hutchins Park