Steve Cotler Steve Cotler

Irrepressibly True Tales

One man's squint at the metaphorical signposts, songbirds, soapboxes, street musicians, and hot dog stands of life. Criticism, lyricism, polemics, performance, and making change…all with mustard.

Dittrick Museum of Medical History at Case Western Reserve

— 12:04 pm · Comments Off on Dittrick Museum of Medical History at Case Western Reserve

I like Blue Highways and off-the-trail attractions.

I was in Cleveland.

So I examined exhibits for two hours, the only visitor at the Dittrick Museum of Medical History.

autopsyLocated on the third floor of the Allen Memorial Medical Library at Case Western Reserve University, the Dittrick is small, but immensely informative. Medical instruments (photo below), a 19th century physician’s office, an apothecary (photo below), x-ray equipment (photo below).

The 11-year-old within me noticed that the x-ray apparatus was plugged in, dials within reach. Would it light up?

I was not tempted.

Continue reading “Dittrick Museum of Medical History at Case Western Reserve” →

Planetarium Earmark

— 9:38 pm · Comments Off on Planetarium Earmark

SSP logoAs former chairman of the Summer Science Program (SSP), an academic enrichment program for the very brightest teenagers, I know a bit about astronomy, the focus of SSP’s curriculum. I also know a bit about planetariums [“planetaria” is also accepted, but that sounds like a type of worm to me]. And since SSP once investigated, in concert with Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, opening up a third campus at Yerkes Observatory near Lake Geneva, WI, I am passingly familiar with the Adler and its mission to bring science to the public.Adler Zeiss projector

So, when Sen. McCain chastised Sen. Obama’s earmarking in Tuesday’s relatively uninspiring debate, I was instantly awake when McCain said:

[Sen. Obama] voted for nearly a billion dollars in pork barrel earmark projects, including, by the way, $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?

What’s wrong with McCain’s statement?

Continue reading “Planetarium Earmark” →

Vote Today Ohio–Day 5–The Morning After

— 6:55 am · View all 2 comments

vp debateWhat to make of the Vice Presidential debate [transcript here] last night?

We err if we view Sarah Palin through the lens of our own ambitions and anxieties. Many assumed she would be apprehensive, even terrified by the prospect of facing millions of Americans.  The future of the GOP was hers to destroy.

But this is not an average woman. Continue reading “Vote Today Ohio–Day 5–The Morning After” →

Vote Today Ohio–Day 4–On a Timetable

— 8:20 pm · One comment

Admin BldgIn a groove now.

Starting at 9 a.m., one trip every hour from Kent State to the Board of Elections in Ravenna. As many as five students signed up per trip.

The pace is picking up.

Vote Today Ohio–Day 3–Shuttling in the Rain

— 8:34 pm · One comment

Kent StateAfter nearly two months of on-campus work by various organizations, almost all students at Kent State University now say that they’re registered to vote.

cloudThe temperature is in the low 50s. The sky is light gray. And a hard rain falls intermittently.

This is my third day on campus, standing beside the Vote Today Ohio van outside the Student Center. There are 23,622 students enrolled here, and I think I’ve spoken to almost all of them.

One-third of them approach with cell phones or iPod earbuds blocking them from the outside world. One-half pass by without breaking stride Continue reading “Vote Today Ohio–Day 3–Shuttling in the Rain” →

Steve with students at an author event

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