CPS: Pass the bond issue
The editors of the Enquirer are for the school bond issue, and so am I. Make sure you vote on May 6th!

Old-fashioned station plays the future
WOXY an "Old-fashioned" station? I assume they mean old in the sense of being an independent station in a sea of corporate monolithic sharks. I like the station, but I wish they would play "classic-alternative" music more. I guess I am getting to old to listen to the newest of the new rock. I like a little old school punk, grunge, and new wave mixed in more often. I wonder how pissed WLW is that they don't this kind of glowing press from the Enquirer. Listen to 97X

Another LeBron James in the making?
The kid is only in the eighth grade. He will fit in with the local sports nuts, out to cash in on a powerless kid. I can only speculate what kind of money is changing hands right now trying to determine what school this kid will attend next year. Which powerhouse school will cough up the most dough? Everyone will deny money will change hands, and I of course am only speculating, but when opportunity knocks, smart people can find ways to try and beat the system. I hope we don't see this kids games on local commercial TV or ESPN, but I bet in a few years a US Bank Arena marquee game will occur, bringing to life some sports marketer’s wet dream.

Cincinnati May Become Model For Homeland Security
This headline is just to good to believe. Is Cincinnati the model because we have little to protect from international terrorism? We are wide open to domestic terrorism, which I am sure is lost on this assessment of our security.

Air France may resume flight to Cincinnati
I expect there to be a boycott. Willie and the Freepers will no doubt be all over this. I hope they try and boycott at the Airport. I would love to see the smack down security would give them. Alas, I am sure the hot air has drained from their hot heads, allowing this bit of news to go unchallenged.

CHRIS ANDERSON has the deal on the Iraqi Playing Cards story.

Droopin' drawers extend probation
Pulling up your pants is not rocket science. I think most 3 year olds can accomplish it. I think by 5 years old most people learn and realize they don't want their pants down in public. Does a 21 year old think it is somehow attractive to women to show off his underwear while picking up trash along the roadside? Is he trying out for the Rumpke Hot Trash Collectors Calendar? The judge in this case put it simply as the article states: "Ruehlman said he would consider ending Nixon's probation early if he gets a job, earns a GED, stays out of trouble -- and wears a belt."

One Eyed, One Horned, Flying Purple People Bridge

Officials: 9/11 Was Main Reason for War
A "little" white lie is no way to start a war. DailyKos has a forceful response.

Rumsfeld Rules Out Religious Iraqi Gov't
I am sure others have said this but... Why Can't Rumsfeld do something about the theocrats in the White House, Capital Building, and the Supreme Court amongst other places?

Ohio senator: no talk of tax cut in brief meeting with Bush
Does George Voinovich have balls? That is the question that I am sure every follower of Ohio politics is asking. Will he back down or will he stand up to the President? It sounds like Voinovich is not going to back down. Conventional Wisdom is saying that here in Ohio the latest round of Bush tax-cuts don't have much support, beyond the party hardliners. I think Bush's tax cut is toast. He should settle on the $350 Million number or something a little higher, if he can slip it by. Bush would do better if he would dump the dividend tax elimination. That is what is not flying. He would easily get the rest of his package passed without it. Admitting defeat after his "great" Iraq victory is something Bush and company could not swallow, and I predict they will attempt to crush the moderate Republicans, some even wishing they would be defeated in their next primary. Not much a liberal like I can do, but bitch and moan, of which I am now finished, for now.

12 Baptist Convention May Come To Cincinnati
I would not trust this group to commit to anything. I would want an ironclad contract with a huge cancellation fee. If this pans out, it is a valley size crack in the boycott.

Local Police Chief Arrested On Sex Charges
Two questions come to mind:

1. How stupid does a cop have to be to try something like trying to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex? You might think he has heard of the numerous local cases of police officers pretending to be teenaged girls online. I wonder how well he was at solving crimes, if he is dense enough to try and pull off one of more idiotic crimes to try and commit.

2. How does a 26-year-old police officer rise to the rank of chief? Is he the only police officer? Or is Elmwood Place the size of Mayberry?

AP Version, WCPO version

Heberle School and Lead Paint
The Heberle students moved to new site all because of one child's blood level. Is that an over reaction? Could it be any better timed? Less than two weeks from now the voters will be deciding on a bond issue to upgrade and build new schools. I will happily play the role of conspiracy theorist, but no one can deny that the timing could not have been better.

Cincinnati Post: Museum looting: Coalition failed
I have not seen anyone attacking the Post for not blindly supporting the War Plan that was supposed to have worked without a flaw. Where is Cunningham's comedy act? Where is Darryl Park's heartless drivel? Where is the outrage at the FOX News engineer who allegedly stole Iraqi paintings, all be they bad ones from Saddam's son's palace. I could only help but think of the Simpson's Episode called "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish". I wonder who was part of the tontine? Geraldo, Hannity, & Ollie?

CITY BEAT has a series of boycott related articles this week in what can only be described as a boycott themed edition. I will try and have some comments on Kathy Wilson's column, John Fox's Editorial, and the Trifecta's Cover Story later this week. I am torn though on the meaning of the cover photo. I hope you catch its play on recent events. It is very good picture and the symbolism is excellent. I guess much like the Iraq War, the good guys and bad guys are only clear to those who need to have clear sides. I hope that is what they meant, and they are not suggesting the city should be "liberated" via the boycott, via force.

BRONSON: Church ducks gay marriage
Why is Peter Bronson afraid of gay marriage? How will two men or two women getting married hurt Peter? It contradicts his religion, that much we know. Peter can be bigoted towards gays, that is his right. What he can't do is use the government to do it. Why do Peter and his fellow theocrats want to prevent gay marriage? I am repeating myself, but I can't find a logical reason for anyone to care who gets married. When Mr. Bronson sarcastically writes "And Moses cameth down from the mountaintop with the 10 Suggestions ...'' I guess I have to just sit here and laugh. If Peter eats Brats or Metts or most hotdogs I wonder how he rationalizes this? Is not eating pork a suggestion? If it is, then I guess the ban on homosexuality is merely a suggestion. I hope Peter "Mr. consistency" Bronson will be supporting the Anti-Pork Products Act and call for the jailing of the Rib’s King.

Morally Relative Conservatives
Sen. Rick Santorum has been bitching about liberal moral relativism. He does not understand what moral relativism means. What it means is that one believes each individual determines his or her own morals. They do not rely on others to decide what is right and wrong. The individual then lives up to their morals on their own terms. Conservatives like Santorum think moral relativism means that those who don't do what their religion commands can't possibly act on their own accord, without the fear of “hell” to keep them in line. Furthermore they think that without this fear the individual changes their morals to fit each situation, meaning killing one man today is bad, but tomorrow it may be good. That is of course bullshit. I have my own morals. I think I keep to my morals far better than most so called “Christians,” yet I have no religion. I do not need fear of “hell” to keep me in line. My fear of disappointing my family and friends, coupled with the penal code keep me in line.

Santorum in the AP interview condemned homosexuality, and specifically homosexual sex. He does this presumably because his religion says it is a "sin." Santorum then is practicing the moral relativism he condemns. I say this assuming that Santorum does not follow every law written in the bible, for instance

1. No eating pork: Deuteronomy 14:8


2. At the end of every seven years every creditor shall cancel loans made:
   Deuteronomy 15:1-2


3. Set up a King to rule over you that the Lord your God chooses: Deuteronomy
   17:14-15


4. Death penalty for Adultery: Deuteronomy 22:22


5. Only foreigners can be charged interest:
   Deuteronomy 23:19-20

These are but a few "laws" from the bible. Why are these not followed? I would bet Santorum eats pork, collects loans more than 7 years old, supports our laws which outlaw Kingly rule, does not kill adulterers, and collects interest on any loans he makes. He however has selectively chosen homosexuality as something he will be against, but not these other "laws." It appears that following the word of "God" is a relative term to conservatives like Mr. Santorum. Some religious laws are just out of date I guess, or not profitable enough. I hope Phil Heimlich, Peter Bronson, Tom Brinkman, and the CCV take note.

Paul McDorman's letter in today's Enquirer seemed to paint him in the same boat as Mr. Santorum on a certain level. Atheists and agnostics don't need your religion or anyone's to be "moral."

Chris Anderson found what he calls an "eerily prescient" comparison from a 1960's urbanist ideas on "activists" and today's boycotters.

Nate is trying to be funny. Ha Ha, what a knee slapper, Ha Ha, what it is to laugh..... (Cough, Cough).