No, we're not moving our home. Sorry to disappoint a few of you. No, we've updated our blog. We're now Involved Citizenry and can be found here:
http://www.johnjordan.com
This blog will no longer be updated. Please visit the other site.
Thanks.
11.20.2009
11.17.2009
Larry Taxemiller: This is the clown that runs the Senate Tax Committee
The sad thing is, this is the underlying view of virtually every DFL'er in the House and the Senate. At least Taxemiller will come right out and admit it.
11.10.2009
Jim Ebert Guest Book: Say a few words
StarTribune.com has a Guest Book where you can post your thoughts on the passing of our friend Jim Ebert. I'd encourage you to visit and say a few words.
Guest Book
Guest Book
Obituary for Jim Ebert
Services for James C. Ebert, 75, of Brooklyn Park, will be Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 710 E. Broadway in Osseo. Reviewal will be at the church one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be at the St. Paul Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Evans-Nordby Funeral, 6000 Brooklyn Blvd. in Brooklyn Center.
Mr. Ebert died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. He was born June 9, 1934.
He was very actively involved in his community, church, Brooklyn Park Jaycees and Brooklyn Park Lions Club.
Mr. Ebert was an Army veteran and served in the reserve for 20+ years.
He is survived by his wife, Rose; son, Robert; daughter, JoAnn (Terry) Geissler; daughter-in-law, Linda; grandchildren, Alex and Alycia Geissler, Jennifer, Robert Jr. and Andrew Ebert, Nicole and Heidi Ebert; great-grandchildren, Steven, Bianca and Riley; brother, Kenneth (Marilyn); sisters, Betty Williams, Lorna Graham and Mary Ruth (John) Hartlemann; sister-in-law, Louise; many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Ebert was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura; son, Lynn; parents, Oscar and Tillie; and brother, Wesley.
Interment will be at the St. Paul Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Evans-Nordby Funeral, 6000 Brooklyn Blvd. in Brooklyn Center.
Mr. Ebert died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. He was born June 9, 1934.
He was very actively involved in his community, church, Brooklyn Park Jaycees and Brooklyn Park Lions Club.
Mr. Ebert was an Army veteran and served in the reserve for 20+ years.
He is survived by his wife, Rose; son, Robert; daughter, JoAnn (Terry) Geissler; daughter-in-law, Linda; grandchildren, Alex and Alycia Geissler, Jennifer, Robert Jr. and Andrew Ebert, Nicole and Heidi Ebert; great-grandchildren, Steven, Bianca and Riley; brother, Kenneth (Marilyn); sisters, Betty Williams, Lorna Graham and Mary Ruth (John) Hartlemann; sister-in-law, Louise; many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Ebert was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura; son, Lynn; parents, Oscar and Tillie; and brother, Wesley.
Jim Ebert: Good friend, servant to our community, example to me and others, passes away
This morning I learned that long time Brooklyn Park resident Jim Ebert had passed away.
I have been privileged beyond words to have been a friend of Jim's since 1998 when I first got involved with our city. By that time Jim was already known as "Mr. Brooklyn Park" for his years of selfless service to our community. We worked together on several things, including our "Music to our Ears" non-profit organization we formed to work toward the Minnesota Orchestra's Performing Arts Center.
I still remember his announcement in 2000 that, after 34 years of volunteering in the community that he was going to "retire" due to health reasons. The funny thing is, he never really retired. We all knew he wouldn't because it was in his blood. He stayed involved in the Lions club, something he absolutely loved, among other things. To the Lions, he was "Mr. Lions", and was inducted into their local Hall of Fame in 2003. Even last year, at the last Lions waffle breakfast I attended, there was Jim selling tickets.
There's so much more he did for our community. If you needed tickets sold for an event, Jim was your man. If you needed a helping hand, he was there for you. Whatever was needed, Jim could get it done. Not by himself always because his health issues got in the way, but he "knew people" and would make it happen.
Even in his poor health, something he's struggled with for as long as I knew him (in and out of nursing homes several times), and his advancing age (he was 75 when he passed away), Jim volunteered with my election campaign in 2002. He insisted on helping, including door knocking a small area near his home and finding locations for signs.
I was always encouraged by Jim. Every time I saw him he was smiling and saying hi to someone. He always had a good word to say. Always. Simply put, Jim loved people and he loved Brooklyn Park. His goal in life was to make someone elses life better.
And now two of my good friends are gone and I am better for having been their friends. Dean Leininger passed away in 2007 after a long battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Dean (and his wonderful wife Louise) was the only other person I could say was in Jim's league of volunteerism. Both gave their hearts away to the community they loved.
Both were good, honest, loving Christian men. They loved God, their families with all the hearts and the community around them. They were the best examples of what true leadership is, being a selfless servant to others.
In Dean's last email to "The Dean's List" (his friends that he'd send occasional notes of encouragement) he included a poem called "The Mayonnaise Jar". I shared it on my blog after Dean passed away but thought it was appropriate to share it again with Jim's passing.
The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem
almost too much to handle,
when 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar
and 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large
and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students
if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and
poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open
areas between the golf balls.
He then asked
the students again
if the jar was full..
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand
and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded
with an unanimous
"yes."
The professor then produced
two cups of coffee from under the table
And poured the entire contents
into the jar, effectively
filling the Empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor,
as the laughter subsided,
"I want you to recognize that
this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things -
God, family, children, health,
friends, and Favorite passions --
things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained,
your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter
like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else --
the small stuff.
"If you put the sand into the jar first,"
he continued,
"there is no room for
the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time
and energy on the small stuff,
you will never have room for
the things that are
important to you.
So...
Pay attention to the things
that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time
to clean the house
and fix the disposal.
"Take care of the golf balls first --
the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand
and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled.
"I'm glad you asked".
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your
life may seem, there's always room for
a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
I have been privileged beyond words to have been a friend of Jim's since 1998 when I first got involved with our city. By that time Jim was already known as "Mr. Brooklyn Park" for his years of selfless service to our community. We worked together on several things, including our "Music to our Ears" non-profit organization we formed to work toward the Minnesota Orchestra's Performing Arts Center.
I still remember his announcement in 2000 that, after 34 years of volunteering in the community that he was going to "retire" due to health reasons. The funny thing is, he never really retired. We all knew he wouldn't because it was in his blood. He stayed involved in the Lions club, something he absolutely loved, among other things. To the Lions, he was "Mr. Lions", and was inducted into their local Hall of Fame in 2003. Even last year, at the last Lions waffle breakfast I attended, there was Jim selling tickets.
There's so much more he did for our community. If you needed tickets sold for an event, Jim was your man. If you needed a helping hand, he was there for you. Whatever was needed, Jim could get it done. Not by himself always because his health issues got in the way, but he "knew people" and would make it happen.
Even in his poor health, something he's struggled with for as long as I knew him (in and out of nursing homes several times), and his advancing age (he was 75 when he passed away), Jim volunteered with my election campaign in 2002. He insisted on helping, including door knocking a small area near his home and finding locations for signs.
I was always encouraged by Jim. Every time I saw him he was smiling and saying hi to someone. He always had a good word to say. Always. Simply put, Jim loved people and he loved Brooklyn Park. His goal in life was to make someone elses life better.
And now two of my good friends are gone and I am better for having been their friends. Dean Leininger passed away in 2007 after a long battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Dean (and his wonderful wife Louise) was the only other person I could say was in Jim's league of volunteerism. Both gave their hearts away to the community they loved.
Both were good, honest, loving Christian men. They loved God, their families with all the hearts and the community around them. They were the best examples of what true leadership is, being a selfless servant to others.
In Dean's last email to "The Dean's List" (his friends that he'd send occasional notes of encouragement) he included a poem called "The Mayonnaise Jar". I shared it on my blog after Dean passed away but thought it was appropriate to share it again with Jim's passing.
The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem
almost too much to handle,
when 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar
and 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large
and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students
if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and
poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open
areas between the golf balls.
He then asked
the students again
if the jar was full..
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand
and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded
with an unanimous
"yes."
The professor then produced
two cups of coffee from under the table
And poured the entire contents
into the jar, effectively
filling the Empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor,
as the laughter subsided,
"I want you to recognize that
this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things -
God, family, children, health,
friends, and Favorite passions --
things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained,
your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter
like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else --
the small stuff.
"If you put the sand into the jar first,"
he continued,
"there is no room for
the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time
and energy on the small stuff,
you will never have room for
the things that are
important to you.
So...
Pay attention to the things
that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time
to clean the house
and fix the disposal.
"Take care of the golf balls first --
the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand
and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled.
"I'm glad you asked".
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your
life may seem, there's always room for
a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
10.29.2009
Boyd Monson Letter to the Editor: 2010 Mayor's Race Begins?
I don't often write about local political issues anymore after coming to the realization that it's not politics that's going to save our community but a change in the hearts of each person.
For some reason, something I haven't done in quite some time, I went to the Sun Post web site and came across a letter to the editor that prompted me to write. It was a letter so wrong I was compelled to comment.
Let me start by quoting the letter from Boyd Morson as published in this weeks Brooklyn Park Sun Post:
When I read Monson's letter, when I read his web site, when I see his actions relating to the murder at Blondie's, I cannot help but see similarities with "community organizer" camera hogs like Al Sharpton.
I attended the event he is discussing in this letter and wonder if he's confusing it with something else. My impression, and that of others, sure doesn't compare.
One has to wonder what his real objective is with his attack on the mayor. Our mayor was there, he read a statement of genuine disgust at what took place and care for the victims. The idea that one can tell something isn't genuine because it was a "prepared statement" is ridiculous. In such a charged environment the thought that someone would speak off the cuff without a prepared statement is asking for trouble. Challenging the mayor's heartfelt sympathy due to a prepared statement is an obvious, desperate attempt to find something to criticize.
He then goes on to criticize someone mentioning the then-upcoming Brooklyn Park Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. Given that Monson was neither involved in the planning and, to my knowledge, didn't attend the event (held yesterday), one has to wonder if he is in reality opposed to the idea of a community event that prays for our leaders, raises money and food for CEAP, and is a call for unity in our community. He talks the game of "unity" but criticizes an event with almost 400 people of all backgrounds who are actually doing that. Worse, he describes the simple announcement of the event as "poli-tricks", and "shameful and disrespectful".
No, Mr. Monson, politicizing the Zanewood event for your own political ambitions is shameful and disrespectful.
The question that comes to mind is this; is Monson beginning a run for Mayor with this attack letter? He lost - big - in his attempt to win a seat on the City Council in 2008. Given the Mayor is up for re-election next year this kind of ridiculous letter, looking to create issues where there are none, looks extremely political to me.
Most people see right through self-promoters like this. I watched this fellow at the Zanewood rally as he strutted around in his expensive suit, standing in the middle of the room for much of the time while everyone else was seated, looking to be seen. I've never been impressed with people who have a need to be the center of attention because, while their words are about "unity" and "community" it always ends up that it's about them. That sure seems to be the case here.
For some reason, something I haven't done in quite some time, I went to the Sun Post web site and came across a letter to the editor that prompted me to write. It was a letter so wrong I was compelled to comment.
Let me start by quoting the letter from Boyd Morson as published in this weeks Brooklyn Park Sun Post:
It was both amazing and unfortunate many of our great residents failed, refused or didn't know to show up for the supposed-to-be rally held at Zanewood for the racially motivated assaults on two minorities in our city.
Three individuals crossed city boundaries with the intent to commit heinous acts that painfully resembles years past. Kudos to Brooklyn Park's fineness for their quick response and apprehending the perpetrators. This is not the reasoning many of you shared for moving to Brooklyn Park. In fact, your reason was for our diversity.
During the rally, I looked around and was quite shocked it wasn't overflowing with the many caring and compassionate residents that I know truly embrace and value our diversity and have chosen to live, work, play, worship, learn and do business here.
Kudos to the organizers. However, I was disappointed our mayor had to read a prepared statement and was unable to instinctively convey the devastating impact of these racial attacks. How out-of-touch and disconnected that appeared to me. It was equally disturbing to witness the underlining "poli-tricks" associated with this rally when the host mentioned how great our elected officials were and that we need to keep them in office then announced the upcoming Mayor's Prayer Breakfast and encouraged residents to purchase tickets while others passed out fliers. This during a time when the community rallied together in support of the hateful attacks on some of our own. How shameful and disrespectful, Mr. Mayor.
When I read Monson's letter, when I read his web site, when I see his actions relating to the murder at Blondie's, I cannot help but see similarities with "community organizer" camera hogs like Al Sharpton.
I attended the event he is discussing in this letter and wonder if he's confusing it with something else. My impression, and that of others, sure doesn't compare.
One has to wonder what his real objective is with his attack on the mayor. Our mayor was there, he read a statement of genuine disgust at what took place and care for the victims. The idea that one can tell something isn't genuine because it was a "prepared statement" is ridiculous. In such a charged environment the thought that someone would speak off the cuff without a prepared statement is asking for trouble. Challenging the mayor's heartfelt sympathy due to a prepared statement is an obvious, desperate attempt to find something to criticize.
He then goes on to criticize someone mentioning the then-upcoming Brooklyn Park Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. Given that Monson was neither involved in the planning and, to my knowledge, didn't attend the event (held yesterday), one has to wonder if he is in reality opposed to the idea of a community event that prays for our leaders, raises money and food for CEAP, and is a call for unity in our community. He talks the game of "unity" but criticizes an event with almost 400 people of all backgrounds who are actually doing that. Worse, he describes the simple announcement of the event as "poli-tricks", and "shameful and disrespectful".
No, Mr. Monson, politicizing the Zanewood event for your own political ambitions is shameful and disrespectful.
The question that comes to mind is this; is Monson beginning a run for Mayor with this attack letter? He lost - big - in his attempt to win a seat on the City Council in 2008. Given the Mayor is up for re-election next year this kind of ridiculous letter, looking to create issues where there are none, looks extremely political to me.
Most people see right through self-promoters like this. I watched this fellow at the Zanewood rally as he strutted around in his expensive suit, standing in the middle of the room for much of the time while everyone else was seated, looking to be seen. I've never been impressed with people who have a need to be the center of attention because, while their words are about "unity" and "community" it always ends up that it's about them. That sure seems to be the case here.
10.22.2009
Brooklyn Park Mayor's Prayer Breakfast: Video Promo
Click here for a short video promo for the 2009 Brooklyn Park Mayor's Prayer Breakfast.
10.19.2009
It is not our "differences" that make us strong, but our common thread
It is not our differences that make us strong as a people, it is what we have in common. We cannot unite behind differences, we can, however, unite behind the common thread we have - as Americans.
I dare you to watch the entire five minute video.
I dare you to watch the entire five minute video.
10.15.2009
WES SKOGLUND: You're wrong
As I was reading today's Star Tribune Letters to the Editor I could not help but laugh at the one written by extreme liberal, former State Senator and Representative Wes Skoglund.
Wes has never seen a bit of rhetoric he didn't like. From health care to fireworks, the sky is always falling with ol' Wes. As we debated the current fireworks laws that threw off some of the shackles we had in Minnesota regarding fireworks use, Wes gave it his best to try and preserve the old, tired laws no one obeyed anyway. You know the arguments, emergency rooms will explode with hundreds of thousands of people who don't know how to handle a sparkler. Of course, it never materialized. But Wes had to try. After all, the state giving back some of their power, even in this small area, could not be tolerated by this extreme liberal.
Well, today's letter is no different. Today Wes rails against Tim Pawlenty's "scheme" (he was missing the word "risky") to "import other state's heath insurer's". You know the argument, right? Minnesota does such a better job in regulating companies and no other state could possibly have better insurance companies than we have.
Now guess which state he automatically goes to. You know it, right? It's the one Minnesota liberals always use.
Yep, Mississippi.
He calls insurance companies that don't cover "basic benefits" like "chemotherapy, mastectomies or maternity care" "less scrupulous".
Tell that to the single 23 year old MALE who doesn't plan to get pregnant.
In Skoglund's world, insurance companies that don't offer every bell and whistle are unscrupulous. In Obama's world, those are called "cadillac plans" and are going to be highly taxed.
Let me suggest to Skoglund that not every plan needs to offer every bell and whistle. Perhaps he's never purchased auto insurance with multiple deductible options, multiple options on things like glass coverage (or no glass coverage, those unscrupulous insurance companies!), or multiple options like towing, etc. I guess car insurance companies that don't offer every option are unscrupulous.
In Wes' world, if you are allowed choice (uh-oh, Mr. Pro-Choice is against choice?) in selecting options, or coverages you think you'll need, or coverages you can afford, means the insurance company is unscrupulous and offering those plans is a "scheme".
Of course, that's ridiculous. Choice in insurance coverage is GOOD, not bad. It's not a scheme but the American Way. If my 23 year old son wants to purchase health insurance that doesn't cover having babies, why shouldn't he be able to lower his cost and not buy it, much like he has the choice to not cover glass coverage on his car is he so chooses?
Because Wes Skoglund thinks it's a scheme.
Maybe Wes Skoglund should get his nose out of the business of other people and stop trying to make their decisions for them. The state doesn't need this "power", let me buy my own insurance and decide what I need to cover and what I don't.
Wes has never seen a bit of rhetoric he didn't like. From health care to fireworks, the sky is always falling with ol' Wes. As we debated the current fireworks laws that threw off some of the shackles we had in Minnesota regarding fireworks use, Wes gave it his best to try and preserve the old, tired laws no one obeyed anyway. You know the arguments, emergency rooms will explode with hundreds of thousands of people who don't know how to handle a sparkler. Of course, it never materialized. But Wes had to try. After all, the state giving back some of their power, even in this small area, could not be tolerated by this extreme liberal.
Well, today's letter is no different. Today Wes rails against Tim Pawlenty's "scheme" (he was missing the word "risky") to "import other state's heath insurer's". You know the argument, right? Minnesota does such a better job in regulating companies and no other state could possibly have better insurance companies than we have.
Now guess which state he automatically goes to. You know it, right? It's the one Minnesota liberals always use.
Yep, Mississippi.
He calls insurance companies that don't cover "basic benefits" like "chemotherapy, mastectomies or maternity care" "less scrupulous".
Tell that to the single 23 year old MALE who doesn't plan to get pregnant.
In Skoglund's world, insurance companies that don't offer every bell and whistle are unscrupulous. In Obama's world, those are called "cadillac plans" and are going to be highly taxed.
Let me suggest to Skoglund that not every plan needs to offer every bell and whistle. Perhaps he's never purchased auto insurance with multiple deductible options, multiple options on things like glass coverage (or no glass coverage, those unscrupulous insurance companies!), or multiple options like towing, etc. I guess car insurance companies that don't offer every option are unscrupulous.
In Wes' world, if you are allowed choice (uh-oh, Mr. Pro-Choice is against choice?) in selecting options, or coverages you think you'll need, or coverages you can afford, means the insurance company is unscrupulous and offering those plans is a "scheme".
Of course, that's ridiculous. Choice in insurance coverage is GOOD, not bad. It's not a scheme but the American Way. If my 23 year old son wants to purchase health insurance that doesn't cover having babies, why shouldn't he be able to lower his cost and not buy it, much like he has the choice to not cover glass coverage on his car is he so chooses?
Because Wes Skoglund thinks it's a scheme.
Maybe Wes Skoglund should get his nose out of the business of other people and stop trying to make their decisions for them. The state doesn't need this "power", let me buy my own insurance and decide what I need to cover and what I don't.
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