Fascist
I seemed to have attracted a little attention from www.cincynation.com. I would only note this definition of "fascist" from M-W.com:

2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control

Last I checked when someone in power dictates what is considered "obscene", and then acts on that determination, I think using fascist as an adjective is most applicable.

The People & Larry Flynt Vs. Simon Leis
It appears now that a clear majority of local residents agree that the Flynts should be allowed to sell porn videos in their store in the county and that our fascist sheriff should not be pursuing his personal crusades against the Flynts, while hundreds or even thousands of crimes with real victims go unsolved.

Ms. SkyPunk
Maggie Downs has taken one small step for a columnist, one giant leap for all writer kind. I am impressed. That jump took guts. I could never jump out of a working plane. I don't even like roller coasters. I am amazed that Maggie has now become a skydiving enthusiast. She will be jumping from the Carew Tower in no time. She is already a virtually solo jumper, so people eating lunch on Fountain Square better keep one eye in the sky.

The video of her jump was funny. From the initial nervous tension to the Charlie’s Angels pose, a nice presentation. There was one major problem with the video, the soundtrack. I don't know who produced the video, or who chose the sound track, but it could have used some pumping up:

1. Prodigy's “Breathe” would have captured some of the tension.


2. ”Ride of the Valkyries” is always a crowd pleaser, and could have fit in as the plane took off.


3. The Foo Fighters' “I'll Stick Around” might have fit in.


4. Sly & The Family Stone's “I Want to Take You Higher” was simply a must use. It works on so many multiple levels.


5. Jimi' Hendrix's “Gypsy Eyes just sounds cool, and should be used more often on video soundtracks everywhere.

Over all, the soundtrack could have used a little more fun.

Speaking of music, I have a great idea for the Enquirer promotions department. I propose they produce a TV commercial for Maggie's column. The commercial would be a spoof or take-off of the Musical/Movie "Chicago" and use the song "Roxie" with Maggie doing a Broadway style number around the city. They would have to go full boar on the production with dancers, and a re-recording of the song, replacing "Roxie Hart" with "Maggie Downs" in the lyrics of the song. The syllables work out perfectly. They could start with a newsroom shot, cut to the baseball stadium, Main Street, Mount Adams, the Zoo, UC, and end up on Fountain Square. It would be classic. Think of the opening sequence of the "Drew Carey Show" using Cleveland, but just insert Maggie for Drew.

You don't think they would go for it? I think it would work. If Maggie can skydive, she surely can do a Broadway number.

I do have to ask another important question. Why didn't Peter Bronson or Laura Pulfer skydive too? I want to see Peter Bronson try bungee jumping.


Note: In case you wonder whom the original Skypunk was, read this report of his unfortunate death last year and his history here in Cincinnati.

Lions of Summer
I don't know what to make of the supposed Lion on the loose out around Mason, Ohio. The credibility of the man who is the only person to have seen the animal is a bit suspect:

Andy Lawson said he first encountered the lion Sunday night, when it made a grunting racket outside his trailer. The lion returned, sniffing around his trailer, the following night.

Video of Mr. Lawson did not ooze with credibility. WLWT's story, including video, lists a poll asking "do you believe him." There is confusion on the actual name of the person who stated he saw the lion. The UPI story quoted above reports his name is "Andy Lawson", but both the WLWT and WCPO's stories refer to him as "Casper Lawson." The Post agrees. The Enquirer agrees with the UPI. WXIX's web sit took an early vacation, with no coverage of the story. WKRC’s article only referred to the witness as a "resident." Who is right? Well, according to a search of the Clerk of Courts Web site the man's first name is Casper and middle name Andy or Andrew. I would assume he goes by his middle name. I sure would not want to be called Casper.

A simple fact in a story could in the end cause an Andrew Lawson trouble if Casper Lawson's story does not pan out, and he is discredited. Imagine what happens with a story that is more serious and more complicated, like a murder for instance. How often does this kind of fact variation happen on that type of story? A little clarity by all outlets might make sense, especially when this story goes national with the UPI and Washington Times.

Porkopolis: Ham and Fat
Greg Flannery's Porkopolis column this week is worthy of praise and rebuke. First the ham: I praise Greg’s stance in regards to the Cincinnati Progressive Action's refusal to allow the Cincinnati Post's reporter into an alleged "community-wide meeting," while allowing a CityBeat reporter to attend. Double standards are often a problem with extreme left-wing groups like the Cincinnati Progressive Action (CPA). They do not want people discriminated against, except when it comes to something they happen to disagree with, like "Corporate Media." What does the CPA have to hide? Are they plotting a Marxist revolution and don't want any “capitalist pigs” knowing in advance? If a group is about inclusion, then including everyone, no matter their opinions, should be the goal. Why would any group starving for media attention keep an outlet out of an open meeting? Fascist tactics are fascist tactics no matter which side of the political spectrum you haunt.

The fat of Greg Flannery's column came in his screed against the Enquirer’s attempt to broaden its readership. It is, I think, a well-known fact the younger generations, say - those under 40, are not consuming news much, especially daily newspapers. Why shouldn't the Enquirer go after younger readers? I don't know if this method of gaining new readers will work, but it might break up the staleness the paper often exudes. Maggie Downs is still new on the block, and passing judgment on her after one column is a bit premature. I have to laugh a bit at Greg for making fun of the use of her term "Dude." I find it pretentious to find a commonly used idiom to be "so last year." CityBeat produces a great deal of well written stories, but it is not the "arbiter of style" for Cincinnati. If the Enquirer wants to try and get a little hipper, it will not hurt anyone. Fears of what new competition CityBeat might face is a battle better fought by its product on the page, than by cheap rhetorical shots at honest actions. CityBeat can get just as stale as the Enquirer. How many more times can we read Socialist diatribes blaming all of life's ills on either business or "persons not of color"? A little diversity would do some good for everyone. Why doesn't CityBeat have any regular columnists under age 30?

Not Just Me
As a new editor I find it easier to proof read other people's work than my own. In My Miami University post below I did not proof read correctly, leaving a sentence unfinished. This is the Achilles’ heel of blogging: self-editing. When I read Peter Bronson's Column today, I was surprised to learn that I am not the only one with an editing problem. Review this paragraph from his column and tell me what is wrong:

Janet explained why gorillas walk on their knuckles - to protect their sensitive palms for food gathering - and Charlie rounded up a couple of kids to try on the "Gorilla Shirt" that has a 42-inch neck and 38-inch sleeves. They kids fit with room to spare.

In case you missed it, the last sentence seems to need some editing. If Peter wants to pay me, I would be happy to edit him. His problem would be that I might edit out many of his columns in their entirety. I am glad that I am not the only one who needs to improve on my proof reading. I would not want to be Peter's editor right now. I can sympathize. I truly can sympathize.

Miami University
I wish all of the sports reporters at the Enquirer would adopt a fair and consistent means of referring to Miami University as opposed to Coral Gables U. (University of Miami). I hope Dustin Dow starts by not referring to the University of Miami as simply Miami. The Enquirer offices are less than 90 miles from Oxford, Ohio, location of Miami University. Most readers of the Enquirer would know that Miami is in Ohio, and Coral Gables is in Florida. What could be confusing to some non-football fans is when his article headline reads: "Miami bolts, leaves Big East vacuum." I know Miami is not going to the ACC, Miami of Florida is going to the ACC, but I don't like the ignorant misinformed. This is a very simple request and a bit of respect they Enquirer could make to a local university. In the article the only references to the state of Florida are in reference to the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida.

Looking Forward and Looking Downs
This Friday's Maggie Downs column in the Cincinnati Enquirer should be interesting. Today's Enquirer had a "Looking Forward" promo in the editorial section highlighting several upcoming stories this week. The big push is for Maggie's column on her first time skydiving. They went to the length of showing her picture dressed in her skydiving uniform. She is smiling in the picture. I have to wonder, was the picture taken before, or after the jump?

She takes a good picture, even in the skydiving get-up. Ok, I am sucking up a bit, but I am usually nice to new people.

My Opening at XRay
I have two new articles up over at XRay. One is my first editorial, mostly just an introduction of myself to the Web site's readers. Myke Amend has a very funny satire flaming on the RIAA.

Fame, What Is It Good For?
Jerry Springer appears to think his fame, or infamy, derived from this television sideshow could help the Democratic Party if he is elected to the U.S. Senate from here in Ohio. If Jerry wins, I am moving to Kentucky. I will not be any better off, Jerry will not control on the State or local government, but the embarrassment of being from Ohio would then eclipse that of being from Kentucky. Wouldn’t Jerry fit in better in Kentucky anyway? Why doesn’t he run there instead?

Slippery Slope
The Cincinnati Post's editorial today covered last Thursday's Sodomy ruling. The Post wants us to listen to the screed of Justice Salia's dissent as some kind of warning that allowing the Supreme Court to trump a legislature will bring about lawlessness. The hidden problem here is a more stodgy reading of history. The Post wants to focus on the fact that sodomy was considered "wrong" historically in this country, which was true. So was slavery. So was refusing women the right to vote. So was the right of the state to control a woman's body.

The constitution is not rigid. It is ebbs and flows. It is a living and breathing document. It also is there to protect the minority from the tyranny of the mob. The right of privacy is a fundamental right of American Society. "A man's home is his Castle" is an old and true maxim. What you do in your bedroom is a not for the government to concern it self as long as no one is harmed. It is the duty of the government to prevent an oppressive majority religion from using its set of behavior rules as the basis to force the entire populace to comply with its teachings. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is not codified law in this country, but the sentiment surely applies and so does the 14th Amendment.

Nick Spencer on Racial Diversity
Charter Committee City Council candidate Nick Spencer wrote a guest column in Sunday's Enquirer. Nick comes out in strong support of diversity and in big support of the repeal of Article 12, the anti-homosexual city charter clause. Nick calls for whites to spend sometime in predominantly Black neighborhoods. I agree with this idea, it can open people up to new experiences. I suggest Blacks do the same thing though too. Many say White people do not know enough about Blacks, beyond stereotypes. I think the same is true about Blacks. They are just as guilty of only seeing stereotypes, and can use some diversity too. Everyone needs to a know more about the way other people live their lives. Once they do, I think they will discover we all generally live similar lives, with only subtle differences.

Nate Livingston and Amanda Mayes Arrested
Both co-chairs of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati were arrested while protesting a concert taking place at the Cincinnati Zoo Sunday. WLWT reported that an altercation with a concert goer allegedly took place, which resulted in a police officer suffering minor injuries. Livingston has been charged with Misdemeanor Assault, Resisting Arrest, and Disorderly conduct. Mayes was charged with Resisting Arrest.

According to Cincinnati.com Michael McDonald and The Neville Brothers were scheduled to perform at the Wild Nights at the Zoo Concert Series.

UPDATE: WLWT's Story

Katharine Hepburn 1907-2003
There has been no better motion picture actress than Katharine Hepburn. Her best movies include:

The Philadelphia Story
The African Queen
The Lion in Winter
Holiday

One of the last giants of Hollywood's Golden Age has past. My favorite of hers will always be "The Philadelphia Story".

XRay Magazine Has New Web Site Editor
In the movie "The Right Stuff" Dennis Quaid played Gordo Cooper. Cooper's famous line in the movie was "Who was the best pilot I ever saw? Well, uh, you're lookin' at 'im. " Well, if you ask who is XRay Magazine’s new web site editor, then I would say: you're lookin' at 'im.

No, I am not the best web site editor anyone ever saw. I am just starting out, so don't over react to my movie quote. I hope to be the best that I can be, but I will need the help of the XRay Print editors and staff to help me out. What does this mean for my blog? I hope it means little. I hope to continue blogging right along side my work at XRay. I will be honest that I expect to be blogging a little less, but I will try to stay as current as I can.

The Katie Couric of Cincinnati
John Kiesewetter provides us with a fluffy profile of Sheila Gray, morning co-anchor of WXIX-TV's morning news program. John provides a nice profile of Mrs. Gray, which for a TV reporter is not out of the ordinary. He does mention her husband, Ric Robinson, and summarized his career, but John left out Mr. Robinson's horrible run as early afternoon talk radio host on WLW-AM. Ric was a horrible host. Now, I have a low opinion of most talk radio hosts, but Ric was the worst WLW has put on as a regular host that I ever heard. He lasted several months, but Bill Cunningham was moved to the afternoons, which, I hate to admit, was an improvement.

All in all Sheila is a light, bubbly person, who like Katie Couric can be very very annoying. She does what she does well. Morning shows are just infotainment now a days, but it is good that her show is local. It provides local people more opportunity to reach the local audience directly. Katie Couric can't do that. As long as people understand what they are watching is mostly entertainment, mixed with some news, then I hope 19 in the Morning continues providing live locally based content as long as Raycom finds it profitable.

Dennis Miller: Latest Horse's Ass
When did Dennis Miller loose all credibility? Is he a born again Christian now too? He once was a good comic who was on the rational side of the society, but now he has drunk the kool-aide.

I have no problem with people being conservatives, but Dennis Miller used to see all politicians as bullshit artists. Somehow Bush is not a bullshiter? I know that hardcore conservatives worship Bush, so they buy into his propaganda, but Miller had some credibility with a pox on both your houses attitude, trusting no one. How can Miller, a smart man, trust Bush? I do not get it.

His career is now toast. It is one thing to give money to the GOP, or even openly support socially moderate Republicans, but to shill for the right wing's messiah is the kiss of death in Hollywood. I don't see Miller as winning over the hard-core GOP crowd either. He was hated by the Budweiser crowd on Monday Night Football, so I don't see the hardcore Freeper crowd coming out in droves now that Dennis is Bush's toast master. I guess he will have to scrap the Ambrose Bierce and Immanuel Kant jokes, and stick with the "death to Democrats" crowd pleasers. That's the news, and I am outta here!


UPDATE: Andrew Cline at Rhetorica.net comments on Miller's addition to the campaign.

Bush Needs $incinnati
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports:

"Of the top 20 most lucrative ZIP codes for Bush's 2000 campaign, three were in Cincinnati. The one that provided the most money was 45243 - Indian Hill, the verdant home of the Tristate's elite. "

One would think this kind of support would bring more federal dollars back to this area, but it doesn't. Because this area is so one party dominated, none of the local congressman, Chabot and Portman, need to bring home the bacon. The GOP does not have to do anything to get their man elected in this reigon, beyond putting a name on the ballot, airing a few commericals, and making the Democrat look like a baby killing communist. I think GOP City Councilman Chris Monzel might be taking a page from that playbook. I expect his West Sider ploy to come up after Council's summer recess.

New Gen X Enquirer Columnist
I am guessing at Maggie Downs' age based on references in her first Enquirer column yesterday. I applaud a younger voice in the Enquirer. A vast majority of Enquirer columnists are well over 40 years old, leaving their perspective on society rooted before the rise of MTV or the personal computer. My only other comments on Maggie dealt with a story she wrote back in January for the Enquirer. My comments were not well received by at least one friend or co-worker of hers. I enjoyed her light take on Cincinnati. I look forward to reading her takes on Cincinnati culture. I hope she checks out XRAY Magazine to locate some of that culture.

Bronson's Sex Obsession
It seems like every other column from Peter Bronson lately has been about sex in one way or another. He is on a porn crusade one day, and today he is worried about "sex-offenders" living in OTR.