Why?

With her trademark passion, intelligence, and devastating wit, Huffington Post editor in chief Arianna Huffington tackles the issues that are crucial to this year’s presidential election and, even more so, to the fate of the country.

Huffington makes the case that America has been hijacked from within by a radical element—the “lunatic fringe” of the Right that has taken over the Republican Party. Despite holding views at odds with the majority of Americans, these zealots have given us an endless war in Iraq, a sputtering economy, a health care system on life support, a war on science and reason, and an immoral embrace of torture.

But they haven’t done it on their own: they have been enabled by a compliant media that act as if there is no such thing as truth and are more interested in cozying up to those in power than in holding them accountable, and by feckless Democrats who have allowed themselves to be intimidated into backing down again and again.

It finally happened. . .

Taken at Chadi's Marathon at the Village at Coventry this afternoon. . .

Snyderman House

One week ago I posted a mystery photo of a long gone historical home here in Fort Wayne, and asked readers to submit their best guesses as to where the home was located and it's real name. That particular house was the lost Knee House located in southeast Fort Wayne, behind the old Heck's store on US 27 South.

Local blogger Cathy Dee incorrectly guessed that it was another lost local treasure, the Snyderman House, on the city's southwest side. But she reminded me of this newer, albeit no less interesting, home that was lost to "arson" in 2002. As she noted, the home merited a Wikipedia entry as well. I'll leave my "conspiracy theories" at the door on this one, and merely note that a certain local developer sorely wanted the land that this house stood upon. Here is the home in it's original glory:


And what little remained after it was torched:

From: The Architectural Record:

The 1972 Snyderman House in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a seminal early project of Michael Graves, burned to the ground on July 30. The house is perhaps the best example of the Modernist work of Graves’ early career. Arson is suspected, but has not been confirmed.

The home’s original owners, Sanford and Joy Snyderman, left the house in 1998 and sold it in December 1999 to developers Joseph Sullivan and William Swift who initially had plans to tear it down and develop a number of homes on the property. Local architect Matt Kelty, AIA, started a nonprofit organization called Eleventh Commission Inc. to potentially purchase the home and save it. The house has remained on the site in disrepair since 1998, and vandals "tagged" the house, knocked holes in interior walls, and broke glass.

The house was the subject of much attention in the past three years. Kelty told RECORD, “More than 3,000 attended the two open houses sponsored by Eleventh Commission, Inc., and at least two dozen student groups were provided private tours. Photographers of international fame visited to capture the deteriorating design on film, and members of academia who happened through the Midwest would call and meet us at the house.”

Fortunately enough, this lost treasure was quickly replaced by "cookie cutter" homes that were deemed Beazer than this old chestnut. Progress, but at what price?

Chris Matthews eviscerates right-wing wacko

Chris Matthews took up President Bush's pointed attack on the Democrats in the Knesset yesterday, asking if Bush was "out of line." Radio talk-show host Kevin James didn't think so, saying - and I'm paraphrasing - "RRRRAAAAAHHHH! OBAMA BLAAAAHHHH! HAMAS LOVES BARACK, YAAAAHHHH!" Chris Matthews was quick to ask, "Why are you screaming?"

But the best was yet to come. Matthews, convinced that James was being a fatuous ass, called him out on his knowledge of geo-political history, asking James if he knew what Neville Chamberlain did at Munich in 1938. If you answered, "He signed the Munich Agreement, conceding a portion of Czechoslovakia to the Nazi regime," you are right. If you answered, "He talked to Hitler, and caused 9/11 to happen and made the Statue of Liberty cry, just like Barack Hussein bin Laden wants to!" then you are Kevin James:

Name that Ft.Wayne Landmark

The above photo is of a local Fort Wayne legend at the height of it's glory. Like many local teenagers in the 1970's, I spent a fair number of hours there. Of course it didn't look near this grandiose at that late date, but it was a very solid structure and we never worried much about getting hurt there. This fine example of art-deco architecture was destroyed some 20 years ago. Can you tell me the real name of the property? Can you tell me the wrong name it was known as by the local kids? The location?

You know you're from Ft. Wayne when...

You know you're from Fort Wayne when...

1. You remember the Glenbrook Ice Rink.

2. You remember when "Belmont's"didn't only refer to a liquor store.

3. You remember when I-69 was just two lanes.

4. You remember downtown before Headwaters Park & Courthouse Green.

5. You can properly pronounce the name "Goeglein" (GEG-line).

6. You remember the Coliseum before the expansion.

7. You remember the Coliseum before the Expo Center.

8. You remember when Science Central opened.

9. You know what "Gladieux " is and remember it catching fire.

10. You remember the Apple Orchard at Glenbrook.

11. You remember when the Roller Dome was THE place to be on Friday and Saturday nights.

12. You've been to Coney Island more timesthan you can count and you have no problems walking in through the back door.

13. You've eaten at the Elegant Farmer.

14. You remember when Memorial Stadium opened.

15. You remember when B. Dalton, Walden Books, Little Professor, and Reader's World were the biggest bookstores in town.

16. You remember when the Georgetowntheater was full-price.

17. You filled a prescription at Hook's Pharmacy.

18. You remember South Side HS and North Side HS before the renovations.

19. You remember Southtown Mall.

20. You've been to Safety Village.

2 1. You've bowled at almost every bowling alley in town.

22. You remember going to Lassus Stations without hearing from Jon Lassus every time.

23. You remember the old food court at Glenbrook.

24. You know what ten thousand burning tires looks like.

25. You remember the time before Jefferson Point when Glenbrook was the only place to shop.

26. You know that it's "State Boulevard" not "State Street".

27. You remember "Holiday 6" and saw movies there.

28. You remember when Southtown had more than Footlocker, Sears, and the MCL Cafeteria.

29. You remember when the TRF Midway was cool, and you didn't have to worry about getting shot.

30. You know what TRF stands for.

31. You remember when Lazer X and Ultrazone opened.

32. You've thrown apples on Johnny Appleseed's grave.

33. You remember going to McMillan Health Center in elementary school.

34. You remember Maplecrest when it was a two-lane, bumpy road that "teed" into Rothman.

35. You remember the times before Wal-Mart and Meijer...when you actually had to go to a grocery store.

36. You were ever on Happy's Place.

37. You remember listening to B106.3.

38. You remember the TRF Raft Race.

39. You ate at the Moonraker and shopped at Tepe's next door.

40. You went to Diamond Jims and still miss it.

41. You've eaten at Power's Hamburgers and remember it being open 24 hours a day.

42. You've managed to cram yourself into Cindy's Diner and not feel claustrophobic.

43. You remember when Hot 107.9 was Foxxy.

44. You remember the St. Mary's Church fire.

45. You remember when Dupont Road was out in the middle of nowhere.

46. You remember the days before I-469.

47. You remember the flea market next to Hillcrest Bowl.

48. You know the Wizards original mascot was actually a wizard...not some creepy dragon.

49. You knew about St. Francis College before the football team.

50. You bought something from Service Merchandise and had to wait for it to come out on the conveyor belt.

51. You remember when the first Meijer opened.

52. You remember watching Steve Shine on WFFT Fox 55.

53. You remember when Mike's Carwash at Glenbrook was full service.

54. You remember when an Express Wash at Mike's cost less than five dollars.

55. You remember the Trolley Restaurant on Wells St. next to where Edy's is now.

56. You've marched in the TRF parade for some reason or another.

57. You remember Penguin Point on Spy Run.

58. You're pretty much guaranteed to find a wooden nickel or two somewhere around your house.

59. You can name all the Halls Restaurants (including those that have closed) and know where they are located.

60. You remember when Lincoln was based in Fort Wayne.

61. You remember Baer Field before it was "internationalized".

62. You remember when Keltch Pharmacy was it's own store, not a part of Scott's.

63. You know what "Froggy's Pad" was.

64. You remember the Seyfert's factory on Hwy 3/Lima Rd. and what smelled like.

65. You know that Best Buy was originally located where Borders is now on Coldwater Road,
and that it was The Children's Palace before Best Buy.

66. You remember when Speice just sold shoes.

67. You know where Kittle's is even though you never shop there.

68. You know that our Pizza Huts are way better than anything outside of Dick Freeland's franchise.

69. You remember when Vernon Jordan was shotat the Marriott.

70. You remember when the Citilink buses were PTC.

71. You remember when Win Moses was mayor.

72. You know the difference between St. Joe Blvd, St. Joe Rd, St. Joe Center Rd, St. Joe River Dr,and Upper St. Joe Center Rd.

73. You can finish the sentence, "If you're not on Goshen road..."

74. You remember never being able to find parking at the downtown library.

75. You know what St. Francis' campus looked like before the renovations and expansions.

76. You remember when the police department was at South gate

77. You remember Showbiz Pizza before Chuck E. Cheese.

78. You've ever had a birthday party or attended one at the Roller Dome (north or south).

79. You remember Roller Dome North before they renovated it.

80. You remember Tilt at Glenbrook.

81. You remember when Coventry13 was the main movie theater.

82. You remember Denny's on Lima Road.

83. You've complained aloud in your car that St. Joe/St. Joe Centeris a screwed up intersection.

84. You were pissed that northwest Indianagot to keep 219 when the area codes were split up.

85. You've drank out of the lion shaped water fountain at the Zoo.

86. You've eaten at Atz's ice cream shop.

87. It doesn't bother you in the least that a road can change names 3 or 4 times in the course of a few miles.

88. You know the story behind Harry Baals Drive.

89. You remember the GTE Tower.

90. You've eaten at Willie's.

91. You remember Damon's and the fact that the place was cursed.

92. You remember Roger's, Lynn's, and Cub Foods.

93. Even if you know Scott's was generally overpriced, you're still pissed Kroger bought them out.

94. You remember Georgetownbefore the renovation.

95. You remember when there was more than one Big Boy.

96. You remember when the 14/69 Automall was built.

97. You remember when Roger's grocery baggers loaded your bags in your car for you.

98. You drove Harrison Street when it was one, continuous street.

99. You remember when Amtrak stopped in Fort Wayne.

100. You miss being told the "Fort Wayne National Bank Time ".

101. Bob Rohrman annoys you.

102. You've talked to Croaky the Frog.

103. You remember when Lutheran Hospital was on Fairfield.

104. You remember Hudson'sat Glenbrook

105. You've know the rumors about Devil's Hollow at night.

106. You remember the Children's Place in the mall having the little slide and stuff at the back of the store.

107. You know that the television was invented by Fort Wayne resident Philo T. Farnsworth.

108. You remember when the ACPL summer reading program actually had good prizes.

109. You've gone sledding down the huge hills at Franke Parkand Shoaff Park.

110. You remember Furrows behind Southtown.

111. You've ridden on the BMX track.

112. You've had your picture taken while sitting in the joey pouch at the zoo.

113. You remember listening to Charlie Butcher on 97.3 WMEE.

114. You know that the Detroit Pistons used tobe the Fort WayneZollner Pistons.

6th District voting favors Welsh

Tuesday’s Primary Election results prove people in Eastern Indiana are ready for a change as they overwhelmingly came out to vote for Barry Welsh.

Barry Welsh received 94924 votes compared to 43795, which was the total for current Congressman Mike Pence. Welsh won handily in all but one of the 19 contested counties across the district, losing that single county by less than 300 votes.

“I want to thank everyone that voted for us, and ask for your vote again in November. We have worked tirelessly since before the 2006 elections and when we lost that race; we got up the next day and started working toward victory this November. That work is paying off as we have great name recognition and voter trust heading into the 2008 elections. People are ready for a change and we are that change.” Said Welsh upon learning that all counties had reported results.

Welsh continued, “We traveled the district on Primary Election Day and we knew that the results were going to be good, but we did not expect this. I told Brian Howey, who is a well-respected political journalist at an event in Anderson a few weeks ago, that we would beat my opponent by a count of 56 percent to 44 percent. We did not expect almost 70%, but what that shows is that the Independents and even some of the Republicans understand that my opponent has done little for this district with a Republican President and a Republican Congress, and they know that he will do even less with a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress. Now we roll up our sleeves and get to work to make sure those people come back to the polls in November
and we work to bring the change that this district is so desperate for.”

Welsh concluded, “My opponent stood by as thousands upon thousands of jobs left this district. People know that I am a fighter and I would have fought for those jobs and we might have saved some of them. People also know that I will fight to bring new jobs to this district and that is one of the reasons we will win in November.”

Links
Sec. of State Website and District Results:
http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/primary/sos_primary08?page=district&countyID=-1&p
artyID=-1&officeID=5&districtID=6&districtshortviewID=6&candidate=

Contact:
Barry Welsh 765-827-8325
barry@barrywelsh.org