Chiquita Spin

If I understand this article correctly, Chiquita is claiming that their payments to Colombian rebels was just a normal business expense commonly used by US companies in Central America.

Special payments by U.S. companies in Latin America - whether for faster telephone installation or security services - are known as 'facilitating payments' and are allowed under U.S. law. Chiquita says it and other American companies have done it for years.

Are they really comparing paying protection money to criminals to telephone installation? Do restaurant owners get to deduct the expense of paying of the mafia to assure their deliveries are made on time? What a large pair of bananas they have.

The New WOXY

We still will have a modern/alternative rock station to kick around. As I reported earlier from Sledge's blog, the new station will keep the same format. I would expect the station to be more "mainstream" and compare more to 97.3. I myself would love kind of a classic alternative/punk/new wave/grunge rock station that played the likes of the Clash, U2, Pearl Jam, Elvis Costello, and the like.

Gun Nuts, Oh the Stupidity

Ohio Gun Nutt part of the OFCC have written a list of businesses they are boycotting because they don't allow people carrying guns into their establishment.

Once again gun nuts are seeking SPECIAL RIGHTS, this time through acts akin to blackmail.

Frisch's response is the best:

"We're OK if they choose to boycott our stores," said Karen Maier, vice president of marketing for Cincinnati-based Frisch's Inc., which has posted signs banning weapons at all corporate-owned Big Boy restaurants in Ohio. "We don't want firearms in our stores."

What right do gun owners have to force their "rights" upon others via civil business interference? I hope none of these guys pushing this boycott are against the boycott of Cincinnati. The must approve of the method, if they attempt to use of themselves.

Idiots. Just Idiots. They have their guns, but they will not feel good until they can take their faux penis and intimidate everyone possible with it.

Chiquita paid rebel groups

My first question about the Enquirer's story is simply: Did Uncle Carl know? From the article:

Chiquita said the Justice Department was contacted after the company discovered the groups were listed on the State Department's Foreign Terrorist Organizations list. The list names 37 organizations, including al-Qaida as well as three groups in Colombia.

A Justice Department spokesman declined Monday to comment on the investigation. U.S. law makes it a crime to knowingly provide resources to terrorist organizations.

If Carl Linder was still part of the company when this happened, I hope he is being including in the investigation.

More from CNN.

Local Pols' Views on Rummy

Korte rounds up the views and statements of local and regional politicians about Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld. They all seem to hem and haw a bit, but support Rumsfeld staying.

I myself don't really care much if he stays or goes. I don't see the policies changing either way. We might even get Wolfowitz instead, and that is a scary thought.

Rummy should not be the fall guy for Iraq. The chains of sorrow should hang around the neck of Bush himself. Dumping Rumsfeld helps Bush's keep moderate votes, so in political terms I would hope Bush keeps him.

We're the Killer Bees!

Here's the 411 on the damn cicadas.

Backhanded Praise?

Bronson column today about 1230 the Buzz comes across as backhanded praise. Mostly because of his admitted original preconceived notion about the station. After the riots the Buzz did come across much like an Al Jazeera. I don't know if one time of calm a storm, namely the mini-riot in Winton Terrace, will erase the mouthpiece they give to the likes of Kabaka Oba and William Kirkland, two of the infamous Boycott B and two of the most avoid racists in town.

New Enquirer Managing Editor

Hollis Towns is the newest member of the Enquirer. He takes over a vacant position at the number 2 spot. He was previously at the Kalamazoo Gazette, so how will life in a much larger city affect his work? I wonder if anyone will notice his race? Do all senior editors get their picture in the paper when they are hired? It didn't happen here.

Bush's New Campaign Motto

Jeff Stahler gives us The Buck Stalls Here.

This was Radio X

Dig out the hankies for the end is near for 97X. Memories are full and the future of rock and roll is bleak. A station that was beyond a cliché, hopefully will not become one. More from the DDN.

The only funny thing is that Matt Sledge was listed two times (both repeated online to make four) in the memories section; he must have spent a lot of peanuts to get that much press.

Theocratic Fascists At Work Again

he National Press has noticed the work of one David Langdon, who is working to put on the ballot an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to ban gay marriage. I guess DOMA is just not strong enough of homosexual oppression. He wants to make sure it would take a huge effort to change the bigot backed state law.

Langdon is a far far right winger, so far right he supported the Constitution Party, a reactionary Conservative Christian group. An Ohio Democratic spokesman, Dan Trevas, sums up the situation politically on what it means to the Presidential race:

"I'm sure this is the [work of] general conservative movement," Trevas said. "Do I believe Bush-Cheney is rooting for them to do it? Sure, but I don't think they're involved."

Bush and gang don't really want bigots like Langdon getting press where they don't push Bush, but they would like his support if they could get it. This is where denouncing your allies is ethically the thing to do. It is a politically difficult task to swallow, something that will likely cost votes. Bush and most relevantly Ohio Republicans will dismiss this by ignoring it. That might be a mistake. Every vote in Ohio will count and if this guy goes for the openly theocratic fascists, instead of the closeted types, then Kerry is even better off in Ohio than he is now.

Hooray for Nancy Reagan

Yes, that Nancy Reagan. Mrs. Regan is publicly calling for stem cell research. Too bad the anti-abortion extremists have Bush over a barrel. His pre-9/11 cutting the baby in a 1/5th to 4/5th split against federally funded research has been lost on society. I gladly praise Mrs. Reagan for taking this action.

Cicada Sound

This Dayton Daily News article indicates that the real problem with the cicadas is the noise they make. One person told me that is what will drive you nuts, not them get in your hair.

I am sick of the stories, but this one about the noise I would tend to believe.

'Journalistic' Fellatio

Here we find Peter Bronson 'worshiping' at the alter of the Prophet Bush.

Fringe Fest

Thank you Enquirer! This festival is not the normal for the Enquirer to push in such a big article, but this coverage should go a long way to bring in people to the performances. More Here, and also Here.

For the full deal check out the Fringe's website.

This plus a mention along with the Know Theatre Tribe in a Jackie Demaline column, not bad for a Sunday.

Wow, Propaganda Works!

People just really like to eat it like it was candy eat it like it was candy. Rob ate it. No wonder why people actually think Iraq was behind 9'11.

UPDATE: This is up to number #5 on Daypop's TOP40. Can you say "suckers?" Bush hugs a girl, and the crowd goes nuts. Bush misleads the country about the threat from Iraq and.....nothing, they don't care. Bush can do no wrong. This is coming close to a literal religious movement surrounding this guy. Now before the religious zealots starting throwing darts at me, look at the situation. Bush is not questioned by the right. He gets a little grief on this or that, but nothing serious. He is treated like a new messiah. I am sure I will piss people off for going so "over the top" on that, but 10,000 screaming Sally Simpsons paint a different picture.

Freedom?

I find it odd that people would go to a public courthouse to celebrate freedom of religion. Why not go to your church or private place and celebrate the fact that the government does not interfere with your religion. Instead they seek to use the government or its facilities to push their religion. Dare I say the "T" word? Dare I?

I was there for you

I remember seeing a photographer at the Enjoy the Arts/START program, but I did not expect the story to be about 'Friends.'

Follow-Up BushCo Puff Piece

Did not think Bush got enough positive coverage yesterday in the Enquirer? Well, your wish for propaganda is granted including a totally bullshit PR photo of Bush hugging a teenager. The name of the picture is even just called "hug."

"Liberal Media My Ass" is something the Enquirer should just put on its masthead. Come on! What are the editors thinking? Oh, right, I forgot, they are writing for West Chester. The rest of us just don't matter.

The New WOXY

Matt Sledge will be the new Program Director for X97.7, "New Music First." That station will have a alternative/modern rock format. I also believe the station's studios are leaving Oxford, but that tidbit I am speculating on based on some background info, that I could have totally misconstrued. Don't blame me if I am wrong on that. Well, blame me, but don't tear me a new one.