These days, everything is going digital. So it should be no surprise that many books are available in electronic form. The first was the Declaration of Independence, placed online by Michael Hart. He went on to establish Project Gutenberg. The Project's goal is to create a free worldwide library. To mark Project Gutenberg's 35th anniversary, World eBook Fair is offering free access. You can download from the collections until Aug. 4. Thereafter, memberships are available for $8.95 annually. There are more than 300,000 e-books available through the site. And they are yours to keep via  www.worldebookfair.com.

A lot of people have fond memories and love the old brick and mortar libraries. Still there are tax payers who have never used the library and many don't even know where it is. I know I ruffled a few feathers when I wrote that libraries were a thing of the past and in the computer age I still believe that day will come. 

I would rather libraries and for that matter, golf courses, ice rinks, skate parks, and movie theaters too, be part of the private sector. Let them move off the tax rolls and into the real world. Let them loan or rent movies, CDs, have entertainment shows and coffee shops without tax payers subsides. I guess I can't call it a subside more of a blank check. Does every state really need 500 libraries? One in every high school, collage and city.

More blank checks. Farmington Hills will take over operation of the historic Longacre House, which has been used as a community center and operated by a nonprofit group that has had financial difficulties. I think the city pretty much had no choice but to save this historic house. But being the cheap skate I am, I cringe at the thought of the tax payers are also responsible for $215,000 in bank and personal loans. More blank check mentality. Let see, we took the loan out, but why should we pay, let the tax payers.

I like the idea of the city web site offering a fly over video of the 18-hole Farmington Hills Golf Club on Halsted which is available via www.ci.farmington-hills.mi.us and I am not even going to ask who is paying for it. The video produced with the city's computerized mapping system is intended to help golfers get a feel for the course before teeing off. To get there go to the city's web site and click on "Explore Our Community." Then go to "Parks and Facilities."

Congratulations to Angela Corsi of Farmington Hills who won the 2006 Miss Michigan pageant. She received a $10,000 scholarship and will represent Michigan in the 2007 Miss America pageant.

At any rate I am a cranky old guy who plays guitar in a band. All the ideas in my column are mine and not that of the paper or even many of the readers. As a rule I don't like big government. I hate when they say this will only increase your property tax by another $75. I hate that gas is $3 a gallon. I hate poor service, long lines and people who don't care. Hey and now that I think of it I hate cranky people.

To reach Ben E. Jet call (313) 730-1627 via e mail benejets@aol.com and see the web sites www.bennyandthejets.com and www.reverendguitars.com.