Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Complaints Filed Against Drew Campaign

The mayoral campaign of Sandra Russo-Driska has filed complaints with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, alleging that connections between the donations and corporations doing business with the city are obscured on the campaign finance disclosure forms filed by the campaign of Daniel Drew.

These come after the Drew campaign filed its own complaint with the SEEC, alleging that the Russo-Driska campaign failed to report that 8 donors gave more in cash than the maximum of $100.

The Russo-Driska campaign is alleging 14 violations, linked to $12,500 worth of donations.

Connecticut's campaign finance law bars anyone from giving more than $1000 to a candidate, and requires the campaign committee to identify each donor's employer, and to answer the question,
“... does contributor or business he/she is associated with have a contract with [Middletown] valued at more than $5,000?”
Here are some of the complaints about the Drew campaign, relating to donors who failed to reveal apparent associations with corporations doing business with the city:
  • Mike Silvestrini of Westbrook, CEO of Greenskies Renewable Energy, donated $1000 to Drew on April 20th. In reporting that donation, the Drew campaign failed to disclose that Greenskies has multiple contracts with the City
  • Charles Hajjar of Milton (Mass.) donated $1000 to Drew on June 15th, he was described as “self-employed”. The Drew campaign failed to disclose that Hajjar is a principal in Hajjar Management, which has obtained a very generous tax abatement and building fee waiver from the City for developing apartments at the corner of Broad and College. 
  • Kelly Landino of Chester donated $1000 to Drew on March 27th. The Drew campaign described her as “home-maker”. But Kelly Landino listed the same address as Robert Landino, who also gave $1000 to Drew, and is the CEO of Centerplan. The Drew campaign failed to report that she is associated with Centerplan, which has contracts with the city.
  • Martin Smith of Middlefield donated $500 on June 8th. The Drew campaign described him as “self” employed. It failed to disclose that he is "Founder and Principal" in Waterhouse Development, which asked for tax abatement for development of condominiums along the river.
  • Barbara Smith of Middlefield donated $1000 to Drew on February 14th. The Drew campaign described her as an attorney for Fidelity National Title Insurance Co. But Barbara Smith listed the same address as Martin Smith, Founder and Principal of Waterhouse Development, who also gave $500 to Drew. The campaign failed to disclose that she is associated with Waterhouse, which asked for tax abatement for development of condominiums along the river.
  • Mary Cermola of New Haven donated $1000 to Drew on June 29th. The Drew campaign described her as a Programmer for AT&T. But Mary Cermola listed the same address as Joe Cermola, who is a Principal and Founding Partner with Cardinal Engineering, and also gave $1000 to Drew. Cardinal Engineering has contracts with the City.  

Dorian Lockett, speaking for the Drew campaign, told The Eye, "My only comment is that the complaints speak for themselves."

The SEEC will review these complaints at their next meeting, which will take place on November 3rd.

Trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis plays with Noah Baerman

Nadje Noordhuis performs at Russell Library November 1st.


This coming Sunday, November 1st at 1:30pm The Hubbard Room at Russell Library will host Resonant Motion, Inc. as it presents the fourth and final installment in the 2015 Jazz Up Close series with trumpet player and composer Nadje Noordhuis, forming part of a trio featuring bassist Henry Lugo and pianist/series curator Noah Baerman. 
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Noordhuis moved to New York in 2003 to pursue graduate study at the Manhattan School of Music and has since become a fixture on the New York and global jazz scenes. Her distinctive and authoritative trumpet playing can be heard in acclaimed groups including Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, the Diva Jazz Orchestra and Rudy Royston’s 303, which recently completed its second residency at New York’s hallowed jazz club the Village Vanguard. Her eponymous debut album on Little Mystery Records is an eclectic and energetic collection of original music on which “tenderness and melody reign supreme” (Michael J. West, JazzTimes). This program is made possible by the generosity of the Middletown Commission on the Arts.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Cat Tales presents the Cat of the Week! Heidi!!



http://www.cattalesct.org/adopt/?cat-name=heidi

Gender:Female
Breed:Domestic Short Hair
Color:Black & White
Age:12 years 

Are you looking for a new companion? I am a friendly girl who loves to be held and would purr on your lap for hours. I want all your attention so am looking for a home where I can be the only pet. When my friends at Cat Tales rescued me, I was in such bad shape they did not think I would pull through. But I surprised them with my resilience. Now I am strong and healthy and ready for a new home. To stay healthy, I need to take thyroid medicine twice a day, but I make it easy. You can just mix it in my food. I also just had a full dental, so I am ready to go! Please come meet me to see just how sweet I am!



Cubeta Endorses Russo-Driska. Democrat was City's Youngest To Serve As Mayor

Opinion Submitted by Michael Cubeta, Jr.  
Cubeta (left) with Russo-Driska (right), from Russo-Driska campaign

Cubeta was elected mayor at the age of 28 in 1979, defeating Vincent Loffredo by THREE (3) votes in the primary election [Sidebar editorial opinion: DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, EH? YOURS MIGHT BE THE DIFFERENCE!). For more, see the Hartford Courant article, reprinted in The Eye)
Cubeta served until 1983, when he was defeated by Sebastian Garafolo.
--------------
As a life-long Democrat and former Mayor of Middletown, I am pleased to join the growing ranks of fellow Democrats along with Republicans and unaffiliated voters who will be supporting Sandra Russo Driska for Mayor. This year’s election is not about Republicans or Democrats. It is about who is best qualified to lead, who can best represent all of our citizens, irrespective of party affiliation, and who is best suited, as Mayor, to bring Democrats and Republicans together in a spirit of true bipartisanship to work on common sense solutions to the problems facing our community.

I am confident that Sandra Russo-Driska is the clear and compelling choice.

I have known Sandra nearly all of her life, and I am particularly pleased that her interest in local government began during my Administration, when as a high school student she was employed as a summer intern in the Town Clerk’s office. I followed with pride and admiration her development over the years, as she rose to the position of Assistant Town Clerk and finally to Town Clerk.

During a long and distinguished public career, Sandra exhibited not only exceptional leadership and management skills but a strong service ethic as well as the demonstrated ability to work with Mayors and other City leaders on both sides of the political aisle.  As a Councilwoman for the past two years, she has put these skills to good use, drawing on her long experience and extensive knowledge of Middletown’s government.  During this time, Sandra also founded a popular new Main Street business, Sandra James Boutique, adding private sector entrepreneurial experience to her extensive public resume.

Anyone who knows Sandra cannot help but be impressed with her enthusiasm, her determination, her contagious optimism, her genuineness, and her boundless energy. As a lifelong resident of our City, Sandra knows Middletown, our neighborhoods, and our residents.  She has a strong sense of community and a passionate commitment to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens.

I have no doubt that Sandra will be a highly effective Mayor and most important, that she will place people above politics, as she always has. Moreover, I am impressed that Sandra has campaigned for the City’s highest elective office the way she will govern, by assembling diverse grassroots support from the Middletown community and by attracting strong financial support from family, friends, and neighbors. Sandra’s message has been clear and straightforward, that she will put people first, not politics- a welcome change indeed.

The incumbent Mayor, in my judgment, has disappointed and has failed to demonstrate, on several counts, that he merits re-election.  He has alienated a large segment of the local Democratic party, having purged veteran Councilwoman Hope Kasper from the Democratic ticket and has isolated himself from long-time Democratic Council Majority Leader and former Mayor Tom Serra.

As a relative newcomer to our community, he often appears disconnected to Middletown, with a misplaced sense of priorities. As Mayor of Middletown, his first priority should be to our community; however, he frequently appears more interested in demonstrating his allegiance to his political mentor, Dan Malloy and traveling the state cultivating his own political ambitions. For example, when the Governor earlier this year announced deep and damaging budget cuts in state aid to community hospitals, rather than speak up for Middlesex Hospital and for the patient community it serves, Dan Drew remained silent and chose instead to toe the party line.

I am also deeply troubled by the frequent contradictions between this Mayor’s words and his deeds, and in many cases, between the political hype and the truth. For example, Dan boasts of his strong grassroots support in the Middletown community. Yet, he has chosen to bankroll his re-election campaign with more than $100,000 in large donations from other politicians, lobbyists, PAC’s, City and State contractors and vendors, and politically-connected big-City law firms. In fact, only 1 in 4 contributors to his campaign have been residents of Middletown, a troubling and telling statistic indeed.

I, for one, am deeply offended at this heavy-handed attempt by outside influences, with no stake in our City’s future, to attempt to hijack this election by funneling thousands into Drew’s campaign.

And while Sandra has chosen to campaign person-to-person, “the old-fashioned way,” without the need for professional political handlers, Drew has instead opted to hire a high-priced political consultant/public relations firm (which incidentally, is currently being investigated by another Connecticut city for ethical misconduct), at a cost of nearly $40,000, to choreograph his reelection campaign and package his candidacy.  No doubt as the election draws near, we will be deluged by a flood of glossy pamphlets and slick ads extolling this Mayor’s supposed accomplishments.

Voters should beware of candidates throwing large amounts of money around to try and buy their votes. This election should be decided by which candidate would do the best job as Mayor, not by who can raise the most cash.

Consider the following troubling contradictions in the Drew record:

  • Mayor Drew has promoted his fiscal management prowess, claiming to have lowered taxes. However, he conveniently neglects to mention his substantial tax increases in the years when he is not running for reelection, and the fact that during his tenure, taxes overall have actually increased from 26.9 to 32.6 mils, while our property values have fallen.  More importantly and more insidious is the massive debt that he has managed to pile up in just four (4) short years. Thus far, he has saddled taxpayers with $60 million in new borrowing and he has proposed nearly $50 million in additional debt, a total of almost $110 million which the City will be repaying, with interest, well into the next decade. Given this record of reckless spending, Middletown simply cannot afford another four (4) years of Dan Drew.
  • The Mayor also touts his economic progress, yet the Grand List of all taxable property during his Administration has actually decreased for each of the last three (3) years, an average annual decrease of 2.45% during his term in office. The Mayor was not bashful in trumpeting his widely publicized junket to China billed as an economic development initiative, but we are still waiting for him to announce the first Chinese firm that will be relocating to Middletown, CT.  I would suggest that we not hold our collective breath.  And four (4) years after he took office, there is no viable plan for the redevelopment of the waterfront except the Mayor’s suggestion to create a new high-salaried position of “Waterfront Czar,” no doubt with a large supporting staff of new City positions funded by the taxpayers.
  • The Mayor boasts of his government reorganization, about which he recently has been quoted is ‘working beautifully.” This glowing assertion, however, is less than credible in light of reports that Drew’s ‘department shuffle’ has cost more than it has saved. Additionally,  he fails to mention a disturbing consequence of his ill-considered consolidation of the Human Resources Department with the Legal Department, namely, that key City positions have remained unfilled for months on end and sometimes years, with the resulting decrease in City services. In short, the City’s personnel system under Drew has become largely dysfunctional. And as for supposed management skills, taxpayers need look no further than the $15 million cost overrun in the Mattabassett Sewer Project on Drew’s watch to conclude that effective management and financial oversight are not among his strong suits.

Time and time again, we have seen overwhelming evidence that this Mayor’s performance has fallen far short of his public relations. This all too familiar disconnect between what politicians say and do has prompted voters at every level to reject typical politicians in favor of outsiders. That is why I am confident that on Election Day, Middletown voters will choose real-life experience over failed experiments, collaboration rather than confrontation, and bi-partisanship instead of business as usual.

Voters like me who are fed up with the same old politics have a real choice in this election and can vote for real change by electing Sandra Russo Driska, as our next Mayor.

Michael J. Cubeta Jr.

Opinion: How And Why To Write In Hope Kasper For Council

write-in instructions
Click image to enlarge.
How to fill out a ballot to cast a write-in vote for Hope Kasper.
Submitted by Hope Kasper.
------------
It's official I, Hope P. Kasper, am an official Write In Candidate for Common Council in the upcoming November 3, 2015 election.  I am hearing that most people have not voted Write In Candidate and they are not sure how that is done.

Now that we have ballots to fill in the bubbles next to the name of our choice , it is much simpler to vote Write In Candidate. On line D under Common Council, box D2 write my name, Hope P. Kasper, and fill in the bubble.  It is that simple.

I have served four terms on the common council a total of eight years.  In my service to the City of Middletown as a Council Member I have been on the Finance and Government Operations Commission co-chairing the budget that lead to reduction in taxes in a number of the eight years I served.  I also served on the Insurance and Claims Commission and requested bids on the City's insurance needs that lead to a $3,000,000. savings on health care costs.  By the way that is a one mill tax savings. Public Safety Commission and Water Pollution Control Authority were also my Commissions.

The one I am most proud of is the Retirement Board that I have served on since 1988, in many different capacities, in which the employees and retirees have a fully funded plan that is one of the best in the State of Connecticut and the country.

I am requesting your vote and support so that I may continue to serve the City of Middletown and make it the best it can be.

Once more please,  that is line D2, write Hope P. Kasper and fill in the bubble.

Respectfully,

Councilwoman Hope P. Kasper

Registration open for Thanksgiving Baskets in Middletown


Registration is open through Nov. 20 for Middletown families in need to apply for a basket of Thanksgiving food from the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project.

The Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project was established to ensure that all Middletown families who couldn’t afford to purchase a Thanksgiving meal could still enjoy a holiday feast. The Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project will assemble baskets of food for 1,000 Middletown families this Thanksgiving.

Registration for Thanksgiving baskets will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. at Amazing Grace Food Pantry, 16 Stack Street, starting Oct. 26 through Nov. 20.

Those who wish to register must provide proof of Middletown residence and identification for each family member. Acceptable proofs of residence are utility bill, driver’s license or state identification, lease agreement or rental receipts. Acceptable forms of identification are driver’s license, birth certificate, medical card, social security card, or DSS or housing listing.

Baskets will be available for pick up Tuesday, Nov. 24 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Fellowship Church, 1002 Saybrook Road.

This project is supported by many generous local businesses, nonprofit organizations, faith communities, civic groups, and individuals.

Monetary donations are being accepted to purchase necessary food and non-food items essential to this effort. If you wish to contribute, checks can be made out to “Rotary-MCTP” and sent to MCTP, c/o Fellowship Church, 1002 Saybrook Rd., Middletown, CT 06457. For more information about volunteering or contributing a donation, please contact Lara SantaMaria at Fellowship Church at 860-346-1181 or MCTP2013@yahoo.com.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Meet the Candidates at WRA


Perhaps the biggest, and only surprise of the evening at the perennial Westfield Residents Association Meet the Candidates night was that one of the mayoral candidates arrived late, and on crutches.

Republican candidate Sandra Russo-Driska arrived at the event from the hospital where she had been treated for an inflamed cyst in her knee.  On crutches, with a leg encased in a immobilizing boot, Russo-Driska made an entrance from a back door as Republican council candidates spoke.

WRA president Jennifer Mahr greeted candidates and warned them to be civil and "not to get mad at each other."  She then warned them to obey the time constraints, "because you don't want me mad at you."

Non-council candidates from both parties introduced themselves, and then each Council slate was given the opportunity to introduce themselves and to make statements about issues and philosphy.


Speaking as majority leader, Democratic Council candidate Tom Serra boasted about the fiscal prowess of the current Democratic team which had increased the bond rating of the town from a AA- in 2005 to a AA+ today.

"When you get a double A plus as a city, that's pretty good," Serra said.  "The council is helping us remain solvent as a city in terms of finances."

He also urged voters to vote yes on the bond issue which requests an additional $15 million dollars for a sewage pumping station.  This money had not been part of the original bonding estimate, and was a point upon which all candidates, of both parties agreed.

Speaking on the Mattabassett Sewer project, Serra said, "It's important that we finish it.  We're invested in the project and the membership in the district."

When Serra addressed the second bonding issue, which requests money for city parks and playing fields, Serra urged voters to vote "no."  On this matter, Serra found more agreement from Republican opponents than from candidates on his own slate.

Democratic council candidate Mary Bartolotta spoke strongly in favor of the bonding issue, noting that there is little difference in the current bonding ordinance from the one that was originally brought forward.

"I believe the request has been vetted quite well," Bartolotta said.  "We have required that new fields be real grass, and otherwise it covers everything it was supposed to cover."

Bartolotta conducted research that convinced her that artificial turf holds possible dangers for young athletes.

"I don't see why we should want artificial turf," Bartolotta said.  "The decision that was made for this bond was made in the best interest of our children."

Council candidate Gene Nocera agreed with Bartolotta and added that current research underway was beginning to question the safety of turf, and that the federal government, which once approved artificial turf, no longer did so, and was in fact, suspiciously quiet on the issue.

Republican candidates argued that the artificial turf was not the issue, but that the planning for the bonding was not complete.

"It's disingenous to tell members of the public their going to get everything they want with this project," Republican Council candidate Seb Giuliano countered.  "Because they're not."

Write in candidate Hope Kasper was allowed to present her bona fides, and to explain the process of writing in her name as a write-in candidate for Council.

Three mayoral candidates were then allowed to make brief presentations.

Republican Sandra Russo-Driska hobbled to the microphone, and made a short statement indicating that taxes were at the center of her platform.

"Taxes did not go down," she said referring to the current mayoral administration.  "Your mill rate went up."

Russo-Driska called for more planning, with attention being paid to capital projects, schools and riverfront development.  She also called for cooperation between the parties.

Incumbent Dan Drew touted the financial success of the current administration, citing increase in business investment in town, and the financial stability he feels his administration has achieved.

"Our taxes are down by .3 of a mill this year," Drew said.  "We've increased our bonding rating, and
our fund balance is at the highest point ever."

He highlighted business successes, including the impending FedEx ground headquarters to be built on the former Aetna site.

"It will be close to a quarter of a billion dollar facility," Drew said.  "It will bring up to a thousand jobs and an addition 500 delivery jobs."

Write-in candidate Brian Clark began his presentation by declaring that he was putting an end to negative campaigning, and then spent several minutes castigating the current mayor for what he called dishonesty and illegalities.

"He has eleven pending lawsuits in state and federal court," Clark claimed in a litany of alleged wrongdoings.

With Russo-Driska visibly wincing in the background, Clark declared his affinity with the Republican candidate saying that he agreed with her on most issues, but that he and Drew seemed to "be pissed off at each other for breathing the same air," at which Drew winced as well.

Mayor Daniel Drew of Middletown
The evening ended with questions from voters on the intricacies of the mill rate and revaluation of property, and whether workers at the FedEx facility would be unionized or not.

In closing statements, Drew declared that he hoped to continue the success in the city that had already been established.  Russo-Driska said that she would focus on taxes, education and finances if elected.



Opinion: Vote NO To Grass Only--Question Two

Opinion piece submitted by Thomas D’Aquila
------------------
I understand that there is confusion about  QUESTION TWO which is  part of the upcoming Referendum to be held  on Election Day, November 3rd.  This question, if passed, will eliminate the use of any Synthetic Turf fields.  The Common Council had a study done at the cost of $80,000 to help them decide what to should be done to improve the fields. The study  suggested that both grass and synthetic turf fields are needed throughout the city. There was an elaborate plan for the fields that went along with the study. The last time a study was conducted was the Storch study in 1982, and then John Milardo did a more recent study before he retired. Nothing of value was done with either of these studies and the fields are slowly being worn out by the continuous use they receive.

There has been much discussion about the safety of synthetic turf fields here and elsewhere. I have read numerous reports from various states such as, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Virginia. I have also read a newspaper article taken from USA Today (10/8/15) and a report from a leading toxicologist, Laura Green, Ph.D MIT. These reports and articles all state that all conclusive evidence shows that synthetic fields, using rubber crumb do not pose a health risk to those who play on them.

 Another plus in favor of Synthetic Tuft fields is that four state agencies have combined efforts in a study. They include The University of Connecticut Health Center, The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station, The Department of Public Health and The Department of Environmental Protection and all have concluded, that there is no conclusive evidence that playing fields with crumb rubber leads to any health risks.

Times have changed; we are no longer a city that hosts just football, baseball and soccer teams. More and different teams have evolved and more teams will mean we need more Lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee have taken the city by storm, not to mention our city’s soccer program (over 1000 participants), the Little League summer and fall programs, American legion summer and fall programs, Lacrosse summer and fall, and softball summer and fall teams, just to mention a few.  Our high school cannot accommodate these new sports as well as existing sports. Many of our junior varsity teams (i.e. softball etc.) have to be bused to other sites. I have not even mentioned our tennis teams (boys and girls) who have no courts on site and have to be bused daily to practice. We need to improve what we have and the way to do this is by making some of the fields synthetic. Synthetic fields will tolerate the high usage and will help cut down on the maintenance needed everyday to maintain grass fields.

Vote NO to grass only  -- question 2.

 This is the year to change and to improve what we now have for future generations. Let us do it right this time. I am in favor of synthetic turf fields because some of the popular sports are very hard on fields. Sports such as Lacrosse, football and soccer tear a field up, especially in inclement weather, whereas a synthetic turf field can handle any sport, in any weather, without high maintenance. This also means teams can practice on turf fields without ruining them for game time. You get the ultimate usage on a synthetic turf field.

There are synthetic turf fields in our city already. Xavier, Wesleyan University (2) and Middletown High School have turf fields. Neighboring towns such as Durham, Rocky Hill Wethersfield, Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Berlin, Hamden, and New Britain, which is now putting in another tuft field, all have tuft fields. In the Ivy League there are six of eight schools have synthetic turf fields. It is hard to imagine that all these entities have not done their research and deemed synthetic turf safe for use.

My final reason for voting NO to question 2 is because I believe that there might be several new things added to this question that were not there originally.  The true costs and specs to complete this project have not been included, such as a boat launch, boathouse brick pathways, riverfront and playscapes. Please become educated and vote QUESTION TWO DOWN.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Vote YES on Park Improvement Referendum

This is a Letter to the Editor opinion submitted by Linda Bowers on behalf of the organizations as signed below.

=======================

To Middletown  Citizens,

City-Wide Parks Improvement Bond Referendum will be on the Nov. 3 ballot in Middletown, authorizing the city to spend up to $33.5 million on badly needed improvements to City Parks and athletic fields. Please support this long-term investment in our parks and healthy outdoor recreational opportunities!

Why should you vote yes?


  • Middletown’s parks and playing fields have needed attention and facility upgrades for many years. 
  • The improvements will take place over 8-10 years and increase the quality of life for many residents. 
  • All our kids, walkers, bikers, families, sports, recreation, transportation, safety, & accessibility will benefit. There’s something for everyone!



  • Improvements to existing grass playing fields and new grass playing fields to add capacity and amenities
  • Improvements to our parks including landscaping, lighting, amenities and building upgrades
  • Veteran’s Park improvements including new pool and building
  • Basketball, volleyball and tennis courts
  • New exercise and walking trails
  • New floating dock for crew and other river-related activities
  • Bike paths and bike-friendly amenities
  • Splash pad/spray park and playground construction
  • Increased safety and accessibility 
  • Dog park

John Hall and The Jonah Center for Earth and Art,
the Complete Streets Committee,
Ecoin (Environmental Collective Impact Network),
ARTFARM,
 Middletown Garden Club,
Central CT Rowing (CCR),
Middletown’s Resource Recycling Commission,
and Project Green Lawn
 ……ask Middletown voters to choose “YES” on the ballot.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

“Words, Don’t Fail Me Now” -- The Colonel Carries On



“Closet organizer ads show how people with three shirts, one pair of pants, and a sweater live.” [1]

“Time management (really self-management) is the application of our resources to the accomplishment of our goals with minimum waste.” --Tom Phlize [2]

“The three most important components of self-management are (3) the to-do list, (2) the schedule, and (1) mad lust to achieve one’s goals.” --Id. [3]

“Time management skills are morally neutral. For example, they can make an ISIS leader a more effective beheader, rapist, and slaver.” --Id. [4]

“You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.” --Daniel Patrick Moynihan [5]

Bob Dylan’s best song is “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,” a fact often mistaken for an opinion. [6]

It’s hard to feel safe when you think how easily rats can swim up through your toilet. [7]

“Only one thing is impossible for God: to make sense of any copyright law ever written.” --Mark Twain (quoted without permission)[8]

“Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.” --Abraham Lincoln [9]

“People ask what the exact difference is between brevity and concision. It’s a long story.” --Sir Harry O. Triggerman [10]

“Professor” Irwin Corey is often billed as “the world’s foremost authority.” He is 101. Being groomed to replace him is Professor Davis Logsdon of the University of Minnesota. http://bit.ly/1Lj2Zel [11]

The man the Native Americans called “Dances With Wolves” had a twin who died young. He was known as “Runs With Scissors.” [12]