Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Congressional "Problem Solvers" Represent 17 of 50 States

And just 4.5% of the current voting membership of Congress.   (But it's a good start.)

Unfortunately, you won't find any leadership here.

17 states
24 members (13 Democrats,  11 Republicans)

Congress's "Problem Solvers" Include WI Rep. Reid Ribble.  (WBAY, 1/14/2013)

No Labels is a movement of Democrats, Republicans and everything in between dedicated to the politics of problem-solving. We stand united behind a simple proposition: we want our government to stop fighting and start fixing.

On the state level, the Wisconsin version of Problems Solvers appears to be Democrat Sen. Tim Cullen and Republican Sen. Dale Schultz.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Following Up on a Sexual Assault of Teen in Front of Public Library


Teen Sexually Assaulted Outside Va. Library. (WUSA9.com, 1/13/2013)

Mentioned in article
  • 14-year-old girl sexually assaulted while standing in front of the Potomac Community Library in Woodbridge, Virginia, at 5:20 p.m.  on Friday, January 11, 2013
  • Suspect is a white male, 18 to 22 years of age, 6'2"-6'5", thin build with a messy beard, pale skin, thin mouth, pointy nose and a northern accent, possibly from New Jersey.
  • Suspect approached her from behind.
Not mentioned in article (and not necessarily that these items should have been.  They are just questions/unknown details that came to mind while reading the brief account.)
  • The library closes at 5:00 p.m. on Fridays.  (Article notes the incident occurred while it was closed.  I assume that by 5:20, all staff members had left the library.)
  • Had the girl been in the library?  Was she waiting for a ride?  Had she previously been in the company of friends?  (Should the last staff member to leave the library feel obligated to check to see if anyone looks to be waiting for a ride?)
  •  Is "outside" synonymous with "at or near the front entrance"?
  • Since this incident occurred after sunset, how well illuminated is the exterior of the library?  (Google Street View shows a street light on State Route 642, which runs parallel to the south side of the library, and a flagpole near the library's entrance, which faces west.) 
  • Since the suspect approached her from behind, are there any exterior library features that compromise people's safety?  Like an unsightly bush or overgrown shrubbery?
 
More than one reason to remove shrubbery.

While You Were Sleeping, You Lost Your Library Privileges @ the Iowa City Public Library



Iowa City library is considering sleeping ban there.  (Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 1/14/2013)

Well, maybe not right away.  The sleep ban is still in the staff recommendation stage.  The library board will take up the matter at its January meeting.

The video was not made at the Iowa City Public Library, but it does illustrate why people might complain about sleeping in the library -- or, perhaps, making videos in the library to post on YouTube.