40 North 83 West

The WSJ has a wonderful, and bittersweet, article on public libraries and their place in today’s society.

Wonderful, because the article reminds me of the special place that libraries have been to me and my family over the years.  As a kid, I would check-out 20 books at a time- exploring as much as reading. There was so much to discover and the library was my portal.

Fortunately, I fell in love with a woman who also loves books. We are able to share booklists and favorite passages.  Stacks of books cover each of our bed stands.

Now, we’re a family of five and it just isn’t practical for us to buy every book that we want to read- there just isn’t enough shelf space. Our library “holds” the books that we want until we get around to reading them.

Bittersweet, because (as the article points out) the role of the library has evolved and kids today are morelikely to use a library for its computers and story hours than for checking out books.  Exploring is done through mouseclicks, not by running one’s eyes up and down a book lined shelf.  Not better, not worse- only different.

The Westerville Public Library, which was a big reason why we chose our community, needs to pass a 0.8-mill replacement levy (on August 7th) in order to maintain the level of service that we adore and have come to expect.  Without the levy, the library will lose 30% of its operating budget and would likely be forced to cut services. 

If you live in Westerville, please support the levy.

Seven Summits detailed two wealthy Americans’ quest to scale the highest peak on each of the seven continents.

Today’s WSJ (subscription required) has a great story about a quite different S. African team that is attempting the same feat:

They were an unlikely duo when they joined forces in late 2005. Gilad Stern is a South African entrepreneur and former aide to Israeli peace negotiators. Evelina Tshabalala, a fellow South African, runs marathons, lives in a squatters camp and is infected with the AIDS virus.

The article goes on to describe the challenges that Ms. Tshabalala has faced and is striving to overcome- including the drowning death of her son, extreme poverty, and the AIDS virus.

 So says the Boston band website.

Brad Delp, the lead singer of the 70’s band Boston, passed away yesterday at 55.

I remember the 1st time I heard Boston. I was hanging out at my friend Pat’s house and he showed me this super cool new album cover. We put the album on the player and jumped around playing air guitar- having a blast being 12 year-old goofballs. Hard to believe that was 30 years ago.

It’s great to see a star such as Shaq bringing attention to this problem.

Shaquille O’Neal will be taking a shot at a TV reality show focused on childhood obesity and health.

The ABC summer series will feature the Miami Heat star and his effort to help Florida schoolchildren lose weight, ABC said Monday.

Airdates for the six-episode series, yet to be titled, haven’t been set.

The series, being filmed in Broward County, Fla., will track the lives of the children involved. O’Neal will be on hand as booster and, in episodes yet to be shot, will lobby politicians on causes including school nutrition, Daily Variety reported Monday.

Way to go!