New KY Blog: Can You Hear Me Now?

I ran across another local blog Can You Hear Me Now?. The blogger lives in Kenton County and is a young 63 years old.

Back Pages?

A U.S. GI dies as his copter is shot down in Iraq and we hardly hear about it. Are people on vacation? Do we not want to disrupt the Fiesta Bowl? Is everyone just numb to soldiers dying?

No. 1

700 WLW is reporting the first murder in Cincinnati for 2004. We went just over a day and a half before the first murder. Just great.

This murder reportedly had many witnesses along Liberty Street. The victim reportedly was shot in the back twice while being chased down the middle of the street.

UPDATE: Story from the Enquirer and WCPO.

Cornhole, an Olympic Sport?

Well, not yet, but "The Inaugural Cincinnati Cornhole Classic" is a start. Mark February 20th on your calendars!

I just hope Phil Burress does not think this a Hustler sponsored event.

"Black on Black Crime" Plan

What can best be called the Cincinnati City Council "Black Caucus" has announced a plan to try and address what they are calling "black on black crime." They cite the fact that 84% of the 75 (63 of 75) were blacks. Couple that with the police chief’s contention that 90% of the murders were drug related and you see where this plan focuses. They have four main initiatives:

It proposes expanding a Children's Hospital gun violence education program into more schools and recreation centers, reinstating the police department's gang unit, choosing a Sunday for clergy to preach against violence and starting a job-finding effort for convicted felons.

The only one that will have any short term effect is getting the gang unit going again. Why did it ever go away?

The other programs are long term, but they are the just pissing in the wind, especially the special preaching by clergy. Everyone knows that drug gangs go to church and actually listen to their preacher....cough, cough.

What I don't like here is that the "Black Caucus s" is doing this on their own. They have segregated themselves into a group and are acting on their own. Now, some might see this as good. I don't see this as good. I see this as a sign that in this city blacks don't trust or just don't want to work with non-blacks. I am not say that these four believe that, but I think they are acting on their own as a "black group" because many in the "black community" would have a hissy fit if this same plan came from a white person. The status of messenger matters way to much. If people dislike or hate white people that much, then no, race relations will never improve.

Councilman David Pepper gives his solution to this problem in a guest column in the Enquirer. His ideas might actually have an impact.

And So It Begins

Welcome to 2004, an Election Year! I am not one for predictions, but on the political front I see this year more like 1968 than 1984. Blood in the streets up to my ankles? I will not go that far, but I am predicting some violence at political events. It might be something small, but if things are close come October, people will get stupid and start beating each other up.

My only resolution for the year is to use the word "fascist" no more than 5,532 times on this blog.

My Press

Incase you are really bored, you can either read online or research the mainstream press my blog has recieved. I will try and keep this up-to-date, but to be honest I will likely forget I am even doing this unless someone emails me and tells me. Well, anyway, have fun. Oh, these are not in any particular order either.

1. No blogs, no chat, no Web fun
2. Blogarithms
3. Cincinnati Magazine Feb 2005 edition, not online

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Brian Griffin? - I am a thirty something blogger living in Cincinnati. That would be middle thirty something, however. I feel old most of the time, so don't think I am old just because I may write or rant that way.

2. Is Brian Griffin your real name? - Shhhh! Yes, it is.

3. Are you a professional Journalist? - No, I am not a professional journalist. I am at best an amateur journalist, if you believe blogging is a form of journalism.

4. What is a Blog? - A contraction of the term "web log", a form of on-line writing characterized in format by a single column of chronological text, usually with a sidebar, and frequently updated. From www.samizdata.net

Blogger has this definition:

A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.

Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules.

In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. Or not.

5. Where can I find out more information about Cincinnati? - Try one of the following websites: www.cincinnati.com or www.cincinnati-oh.gov.

6. What do you write about? - I write about what ever the Hell I feel like. I mostly write about Cincinnati news, politics and media, but I will venture into national politics and media coverage as well. I will dabble in culture and other random PR for friends or other groups I care to support.

7. What are you, a Democrat? - No, I am not a registered member of any political party, and I will be staying that way. I am a liberal, but don't assume a meaning of that based on your perspective, you might be wrong. I consider myself an Independent Liberal. My views on various topics vary from the typical Liberal. I would be considered ultra Liberal on personal social issues, but moderate on economic issues. I don't fear corporations, but I don't trust them either. My views can surprise people sometimes, and I like it that way.

8. How Often Do You Post? - I post everyday. During the week I try to post early mornings and then at night if I am up to it. On weekends I post when I get the fancy to write. I try to write more thought out elements on Weekends vs. Weekdays, but that is my goal, not always my reality.

9. What's the best browser to use with your site? - The most current version of Firefox works best. MS Explorer works fine, but has minor formating issues that I have yet figured out.

10. Weren't you in the newspaper or something? - Yep, I have been written about a few times in the local mainstream press. I am starting to keep track on a blog post here, so you can check out some of My Press. Geesh, I sound like a PR machine.

11. Are there other fine print items you need to point out? Why yes there are: The view points here are my own or that of the individual blogger. None of the view points expressed by Brian Griffin or any individual blogger on this site represent the view point of my employer or any organization I am affiliated with.

Got any more questions? Email them to me: cincyblog at aol.com

Beware of Men Baring Almanacs!

I bought this Almanac a few weeks ago. I wonder if I am on a list of people to watch?

Run for your lives! Books of openly available information are going to get you!

Wes Flinn has something on this too.

Dowlin Is Running For Commissioner

John Dowlin made it official: he is running for the Republican nomination for Hamilton County Commissioner. He reportedly had "50 prominent Republicans" at his press conference supporting him, including anti-homosexual state Rep. Bill Seitz.

Republican Anderson Township trustee Russ Jackson, Jr. also announced he will run against Todd Portune the other Commissioner's seat up for election next year. 4 other Republicans are rumored to be seeking Portune's seat.

Hmmm. This looks interesting. A GOP slug fest? Will they get to bloody to win come November? I think Portune will be safe if there is any kind of significant GOP primary fight. Dowlin and DeWine should each win against the Democrat that is put up as fodder for that seat, which turns out to be Forest Park Mayor Stephanie Dumas. Maybe Jay Love will run for Forest Park Mayor?

More from the Post.

Damon Lynch IV Indicted

The Rev. Damon Lynch III's son, Lynch IV, was indicted Monday on theft charges allegedly relating to a multiple car break-ins. I still can't find a story on this in the Enquirer but it did make the Post.

Former Lt. Col. Ron Twitty's Stepson Found Shot

Allen Shannon, the 30 year old stepson of the former CPD assistant police chief, was found shot last night. He was pronounced dead on arrival at University Hospital. This is of course sad, but it creates something that I would guess is a awkward situation between Twitty's family and the police investigating the homicide. I find it more puzzling that Ron Twitty kept his job today as a fill in host for Jay Love on 1230 the Buzz. I think I might have called of work to support my wife. He did get a lot of sympathy from callers in the few minutes I listened.

Enquirer Story, WCPO, WLWT, and WKRC.

PolState.com: Former Hostage Anderson Running For Ohio Senate

Terry Anderson, former Middle East AP reporter who was held hostage for over 6 years, has announced that he is running for the Ohio State Senate seat in the 20th district. Anderson is a political rookie but thinks his experience as a journalist, a marine, a college professor, and businessman provides him with an ample background to serve in office. more........

Queensgate Correctional Facility?

It shows how much I know when it was news to me that we have a county correctional facility in Queensgate. I thought Simon Leis only had the downtown county jail to worry about. Does anyone know how the two facilities are used? One longer term than the other or one lower security? It appears maybe the Queensgate facility does have lower security, since someone escaped.

Concealed and Carry Lies

Here is an article on the Conceal and Carry website that tries to claim that Cincinnati's Murder Rate would be lower if there was a conceal and carry law in Ohio. This comment is most pathetic

To fight against legislation which has such proven results is nothing less than gross negligence, and they're getting people killed.

Guess what guys, the vast majority of the murders in Cincinnati are drug/crime related. "Innocent" people are not the majority of people being killed. I would bet a large number are felons and could not carry a gun even under the law being advocated. I hope people see this as an example of lying. Most advocacy groups’ spin there message and come close to lying, but they don't do it as bad as this.

More Kids Gone Wild?

It is never good when someone brings a gun to roller skating rink.

The Strippers are Coming.....The Strippers are Coming

The rumors that a Hustler Strip Club or porn store is coming to Covington are false. I have to admit; I did not hear such rumors. Were those rumors just fund raising propaganda for the CCV?

Traffic....Anyone?

This article brings great news for Columbia-Tusculum. A revitalized area along Columbia Parkway would be great. What sucks is that this means the East Side of town will get stuck in Traffic again. Columbia Parkway was just tore up for a sewer/drainage project and resurfaced. Now it will be torn up again for this project. The traffic will suck, again. I also wonder what this new "Columbia Square" will do to Parkway traffic. Will it become clogged with shoppers and diners? I love business expansion in the city, but we also need something to help with East Side Traffic woes. We have very few ways to get downtown. We don't have 75 to go down if 71 is backed up. I hope someone thinks about traffic this time, unlike when they had construction on Beechmont and Columbia Parkway at the same time.

By the Way

I am back in Cincinnati. My trip was great. The family is good. Florida was nice. I am happy to be back home though.

Chum for Bigots?

This column in the Enquirer reports that a former CIA agent alluded in Congressional testimony that an Al Qaida terrorist cell might be brewing here in Cincinnati. Now, I find this laughable, but I am pissed more. In the opinion of the Enquirer columnist the intended connect was that the Islamic Center up in West Chester was given money by the Saudi Government. Now, this is something for the government to keep an eye on, but the Saudi government gives a lot of money to a lot of Muslim centers all over the country. Why did this former CIA have to bring up Cincinnati? I think we have enough bigotry, hate, and fear to last us through the next year without any help from Washington.

I am very disappointed that they columnist did not get a comment from someone at the Great Cincinnati Islamic Center. Instead he got a comment from the Saudi Embassy. Why not ask American Citizens themselves what they think about being linked to terrorism?