posted by Mike Madison at 9:22 AM /
A commenter wrote in recently to let me know that this blog has gotten boring. Most of the posts on Blog-Lebo have been re-posts of information appearing elsewhere in the media, and/or announcements or summaries of events and activities going on around town. What happened to our opinions?
The answer:
The opinions (which, in most cases, were my opinions) haven't gone anywhere. In no particular order:
a. I've had a pretty busy Fall, and I post to five blogs in total. I can only be opinionated in one place at a time. ;-)
b. I got just a little bit opinionated back in September and early October, and certain Lebo neighbors got so offended that they threatened to sueme us.
c. There hasn't been a lot to get worked up about -- pro or con -- over the last couple of months. The big events in Mt. Lebanon this Fall were the School Board and Commission races. Those are over, and new Board members and Commissioners are learning the ropes. I know some of these people; things are happening beneath the placid surface of Mt. Lebanon; change is coming; there will be debates soon enough. The municipal budget is being scrutinized more carefully than ever (that's good; how about more cost cutting? -- there's an opinion). Efforts to grow commercial activity in Mt. Lebanon are underway (that's good, too; how about more revenue raising?). All in due course. For now, enjoy the coming holidays.
Does anyone have a good photo of the giant Mt. Lebanon Christmas tree -- which fell over yesterday? I'm told that it fell over in the morning. After dinner, it was still lying on its side. I hope that no one was hurt. Will we get a replacement? And who will pay for it?
The answer:
The opinions (which, in most cases, were my opinions) haven't gone anywhere. In no particular order:
a. I've had a pretty busy Fall, and I post to five blogs in total. I can only be opinionated in one place at a time. ;-)
b. I got just a little bit opinionated back in September and early October, and certain Lebo neighbors got so offended that they threatened to sue
c. There hasn't been a lot to get worked up about -- pro or con -- over the last couple of months. The big events in Mt. Lebanon this Fall were the School Board and Commission races. Those are over, and new Board members and Commissioners are learning the ropes. I know some of these people; things are happening beneath the placid surface of Mt. Lebanon; change is coming; there will be debates soon enough. The municipal budget is being scrutinized more carefully than ever (that's good; how about more cost cutting? -- there's an opinion). Efforts to grow commercial activity in Mt. Lebanon are underway (that's good, too; how about more revenue raising?). All in due course. For now, enjoy the coming holidays.
Does anyone have a good photo of the giant Mt. Lebanon Christmas tree -- which fell over yesterday? I'm told that it fell over in the morning. After dinner, it was still lying on its side. I hope that no one was hurt. Will we get a replacement? And who will pay for it?
Labels: happy holildays
6 Comments:
Here's an interesting thought -- if our blog has become boring, why doesn't the person that made the comment suggest some topics to discuss and offer opinions on. :)
I know that Mike and I try our best to share anything that we find in the news or hear on the street, but we're only 2 out of 30,000 plus people that live in town. Both of our email addresses are listed on the home page of the blog -- so there's nothing stopping someone from writing to us to chime in with their opinion on something or to suggest a topic of discussion for the blog.
Remember -- this blog for the residents of Mt. Lebanon to discuss things on their mind and issues facing our community. It's not Mike's blog nor is it mine. It just so happens that Mike started the blog and I stepped in to help him, but it would be nothing without people like all of you that read it to offer your comments and suggestions about the place we call home.
Our blog, like anything, has its ups and downs with regards to content and visitors to the site. As Mike said, we had some important elections that recently happened and those events helped shape the discussion that we had up until that time.
Interestingly enough, a majority of the candidates chimed in regarding voter concerns -- and some of those people were elected -- so I'm interested if they will still comment and pay attention to what's being said on here. I sure hope so.
So...if our blog is becoming a little "boring", the question is..what can WE all do to not make it that way? Remember, this is YOUR blog. We just happen to run it! :)
This confirms it. Some people are truly never satisfied. Here's a NEWSFLASH for the bored....this is a blog about Mt. Lebanon!! Take a poll around W. Pennsylvania (including those within our borders) and most people would probably tell you that this would be a snoozer of a blog from the get go.
Sure we have budgets the size of some developing countries, we paid a seemingly qualified and performing school superintendent $500,000 to leave under cover of darkness (but the school system never missed a beat), we kill deer (to the dismay of some and the joy of others) under the same cover, we have the occasional over-publicized crime (I switched to aluminum gutters and I'm giving my copper ones away as Xmas presents this year) and we all drive too fast down our quiet tree and Tudor-lined streets (which are now over burdened with our unbagged leaves that our excellent public works department has yet to collect). Zzzzzzzzzz.
Let's face it, we hardly benefit from a myriad of serious issues that generate interesting and lively debate. And when we do, I think Mike and the folks willing to express opinions using their real names (and complete sentences) have engaged in some very spirited debates on this blog. I would also point out that most of Mike's intelligent and well-crafted posts about Mt. Lebanon (designed purely to generate debate and discussion) have fallen on deaf ears.
If given my choice, I'll take the boring Blog Lebo over the not-so boring issues facing our neighbors - failing schools, declining infrastructure, violent crime, disinterested and underperforming public officials, foreclosures, declining home values, and a really bad stadium turf.
One more thing - I know for a fact that Mike is always ready and willing to raise topics presented by this blog's readers. I've raised a couple subjects with him through email that have all quickly made their way on as posts. So . . . speak up.
The tree fell down on Thanksgiving. I think it may still be down. Perhaps there is a martial arts studio close by that is willing to work it's magic and get it back up.
They were working on the tree this morning and by this evening it was back up...
I think it came down last Monday with the storm that struck the Steelers game...
The tree was put up today around 1p. However, the pentagram (5 sided star) is inverted now. Draw your own conclusions.
Re: the leaf collection
Last week, Channel 19 was running a notice that it was the last week for leaf pickup.
However, the leaf collection page under Public Works says standard procedure is at least until early December, and up to mid-December weather permitting.
The latest news on the municipal website says they will be collecting one more time next week.
Please note: I haven't corroborated any of this with actual district officials. I'm assuming "the Lebo PR/Marketing machine" is on top of that.
(although, keeping the facts straight between the three sources would presumably be part of the job. Guess we don't pay them enough for that ;)
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