VIEWPOINTS
A8 • INDIAN HILL JOURNAL • APRIL 19, 2012
Editor: Eric Spangler, espangler@communitypress.com, 576-8251
EDITORIALS | LETTERS | COLUMNS | CH@TROOM
an HVAC expert; however, my limited knowledge informs me that the school has one system for heating, a multiple zoned James Baker COMMUNITY PRESS hot-water heating system, and GUEST COLUMNIST another system for cooling, which would logically be convection air. The hot water system runs in several loops to various parts of the building. Each loop is a ‘zone’ with its own hot water pump, which is controlled by a preset thermostat. The first question would be, “Is it oil fired or gas fired?” If it is oil fired, and you must have the boiler, you may wish to consider converting to a gas boiler. Gas is much less expensive, burns cleaner, and does not
require a large storage tank, which can become an environmental nightmare, if it rusts and leaks. Our school buses should be running on natural gas. If the school is air conditioned there is a separate system, likely using convective air to cool the building. This air runs through large metal ducts, just as it may in your home. This system may also be ‘zoned’, using automatic dampers within the ducts to redirect the airflow to the hottest areas. The best long-term solution may be to replace the boiler with a geothermal heat pump, as the village of Indian Hill did a couple of years ago. This could be connected to the air conditioning ducts, using ‘air handlers’, and should be much less expensive to operate than both the old fashioned boiler and the traditional above ground heat pump. In fact, it would replace
both the expensive boiler and the existing obsolete air conditioning system. If this cannot be accomplished, for cost or technical reasons; then, one should consider a switch to gas as the fuel, which could reduce operating costs, and make the system more environmentally friendly. There is no reason to replace the old boiler with another boiler of the same design. You may be able to continue this process of reducing operating costs by applying film to the windows to reflect heat in the summer and retain heat in the winter. If it is possible, adding insulation may further reduce the heating and air conditioning costs. James Baker is a 35 year resident of Indian Hill.
CH@TROOM Last week’s question Have you seen or do you plan to see 'The Hunger Games'? Do you think the movie is appropriate for children and teenagers? Why or why not?
“By today's standards the movie is moderately gory. It is an adequate script, a good overall story, and great acting and pretty-good production. A lot of people get killed, but the violence is more realistic than a lot of mainstream movies today, assuming you are enjoying the basic fictional premise. “People should know their children and determine what is appropriate. I have four children and each of them would have been interested and prepared to see this at a very different age. Some people may find the idea of the games more disturbing than the violence. Again, they need to ask questions and know their children. “Many people will find the themes thought-provoking and
NEXT QUESTION Do you believe pastor and author Rick Warren’s assertion that dogs and cats go to heaven? Why or why not? Every week we ask readers a question they can reply to via e-mail. Send your answers to espangler@communitypress.com with Chatroom in the subject line.
the the movie very entertaining. My biggest gripe was the way fighting was handled with closein, rapid-cut blurred shots. It actually tempered a lot of the stuff that might be thought inappropriate for young people, but it also jarred with the really great character development and visualization that prevailed in the film. “And see - it is possible to review a film without giving away all the good stuff.” N.F.
“I have not seen, nor do I plan to see 'The Hunger Games'. I have read a lot of reviews about the movie, and I know a little bit about the plot (primarily the disturbing part of the movie where two young people are placed in deadly opposition to each other, with the intended result being that one of them is killed.) I've talked to a couple of young people in their early teens who have seen it, and spoke highly of it. “Reluctantly, I would say that it might be appropriate for teenagers as part of a classroom assignment or something similar, but not for young children. Dystopic novels (like Orwell's 1984) have value in warning us about what might happen in society if we aren't careful, but at the same time, can be very disturbing to little kids who don't understand that it is only fiction. Bill B. “No, I think that there's
enough evil and ideas for destroying humans without glorifying it in the movies. And definitely no as far as being appropriate for minors. I won't contribute to anyone or anything that I find offensive.” J.K. “I have read the 'Hunger Games' and I do plan on seeing the movie. “I feel that although the book is very violent, and I have heard the movie mirrors that, I think it is appropriate for children and teens. The violence cannot be any greater than the average first-person shooter video games which are ubiquitous among children and teens. “Also I think it is important to teach children and young adults that as our cultural norm moves more towards a society where only the top achievers will thrive and move ahead it serves as a good metaphor of what to expect in the near future.” I.P.
Author: Supreme test for the court
Nine Supreme Court Justices will now decide the fate of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Based on their records and questions during oral arguments, it appears all four Democratic-appointed justices (Obama appointees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, and Clinton appointees Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg) will vote to uphold the law. Two of the Republican-appointed justices (Reagan appointee Antonin Scalia and George W. Bush appointee Samuel Alito) led the opposition to the law, even though Justice Scalia shockingly remarked he shouldn’t be expected to read the entire law! George H.W. Bush appointee the ever-silent Clarence Thomas is a safe no vote. If the administration is to prevail in this case, it must capture at least one vote beyond the votes of justices Sotomayor, Breyer, Kagan and Ginsburg.
The most likely candidates for a fifth vote in favor of the law are either George W. Bush appointee John Richard Roberts or Schwab Reagan appoinCOMMUNITY PRESS tee Anthony GUEST COLUMNIST Kennedy. Both justices Roberts and Kennedy seemed to be right in the middle of the two ideological wings of the court. Chief Justice Roberts has shown particular sensitivity to accusations that the court decisions are political. He has also shown a preference for deferring to congressional authority to solve national problems. Kennedy indicated “most questions in life are a matter of degree.” He went on to state that a young person who is uninsured has an impact on health insurance rates. The individual mandate
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Author: Indian Hill school district can still reduce costs Saving money does not always involve cuts in services, or lowering the quality of materials. You can save money by investing in products, systems, and services that will reduce your-long term operating costs. Industry has made much progress, designing systems that use less energy. This type of spending requires some knowledge of the systems you have, knowing which innovative systems are available, and how to apply them to your needs. Such investigation is also time intensive, and it requires an incentive, a desire to value the taxpayer. This may take time away from the ‘day jobs’ of those who volunteer. It would be wise to put a school janitor on the school board. Consider the $30,000 replacement of a school boiler. I’m not
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(actually referred to in the law as “minimum coverage requirement”) will sink or swim on one simple judgment: whether uninsured Americans are in the health insurance market. The essence of the government’s argument is that under the Commerce Clause, the government has the right to regulate interstate commerce. We are all in the health care market. As a result, the government is saying you’re going to pay in advance. You’re not going to pay at the point of sale, because it’s impractical to give you insurance when you’re already sick. Mitt Romney pushed extremely hard to get an individual mandate into the health reforms Massachusetts enacted. He said “We cannot have people free-riding on the health insurance system.” It is estimated those who are insured pay $1,000 more in a family policy to cover the expenses of the uninsured.
There are serious questions of law, but also serious questions of the role of the court in the sweep of history. Our 17th chief justice should heed the historical example of the 12th chief justice. Republican President Calvin Coolidge appointee Harlan F. Stone opposed F.D.R.’s New Deal policies, but argued the court had no right to overturn them. His decision will reveal whether Chief Justice Roberts is mindful that five unelected, life-tenured justices, appointed by Republican presidents, striking down the most important Democratic enactment since 1965 would smack of blatant, political, judicial activism of the highest order. Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school, and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is currently neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com).
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Blind group to walk in marathon The American Council of the Blind of Ohio, Greater Cincinnati Chapter, will participate in the Flying Pig Marathon for the third time in 2012. We started with 12 participants in 2010, had 18 in 2011, and now will have 40 in 2012. We will be walking the 5K, 10K, or half marathon, with our sighted guides and raising funds for our non profit organization as will over 100 other non profit organizations participating in the Flying Pig Marathon. All sponsorship donations go directly and completely to ACBOGCC as is the case with any participating organization. If you want Joyce Rogers COMMUNITY PRESS to sponsor us Flying GUEST COLUMNIST Pig walkers, please send donations to Joyce Asher, 620 Ridgestone Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45255. Make checks payable to ACBOGCC and indicate that the check is for a Flying Pig Marathon donation. The mission of ACBOGCC is to improve the quality and equality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired in the Greater Cincinnati area. We carry out our mission by promoting equal access to employment, transportation, cultural events and to all aspects of life for people who are blind or visually impaired. For example, a few years ago, we worked with Tim Perrino at the Covedale Theater to establish audio described plays. Also, our ACB Walkers group is just one of our many other activities that give people who are blind or visually impaired the opportunity to improve our lives by walking with guides on a regular basis for fun, fitness, and friendship. If you want to join the ACB Walkers group, contact Joyce Rogers at jarogers@one.net or (513) 921-3186. We already have 20 walkers who are blind walking in the Flying Pig this year, and we have more than enough sighted guides to walk with them. The word has spread to friends everywhere. Ola, an 85-year-old woman who is visually impaired from Mason heard about ACBOGCC's participation in the Flying Pig, and she decided to join us. Jean, her volunteer sighted guide from Newport, Ky., has walked together several times with Ola as they train for the 5K. In fact, we had more volunteer guides this year than we could match with walkers who are blind or visually impaired as a result of so many caring people responding to our request for guides. Again, the only way left to assist our work with walking in the Flying Pig is to send in a sponsorship donation. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Joyce Rogers lives in Covedale.
Indian Hill Journal Editor Eric Spangler espangler@communitypress.com, 576-8251 Office hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday See page A2 for additional contact information.