I Meant to Do That

James C. Dietz, a man pushing his religious beliefs gets caught in the Intelligent Design is not religion lie. Now, the first level of lie or I shall just say rhetorical misrepresentation comes from the mention of his religious website: www.existentialrational.com. It is not so much a bible thumping site as it is just a philosophers take on why he is religious. His website reads like a text book philosophical argument on the existence of "God" (presumably the Christian God). For all I know he wrote a text on the subject. He uses the 'logical' tactics of emotion, presumption, perspective and circular reasoning to establish his views. Fine, I have no problem with that.

What he does though in his column is just sad. He tries to say that the basis for ID is not religious. This is where he is just either lying or fooling himself. He says:

I believe that most proponents of intelligent design accept the fact that biological organisms evolved and continue to evolve over time. The difference is that they have observed and accepted the evidence for sophisticated design parameters being introduced into the biological systems of all organisms. They believe that intelligent design parameters have been and, in limited ways, continue to be introduced into the evolution of biological organisms.

Now, first I disagree that most ID proponents believe in evolution as the original of human life. They make accept it for non-humans, but they don't like thinking they are related to apes.

Secondly, he is trying to scientific terms like "observed" and "evidence" and fails to inject his emotional assumptions and false presumptions. The concept of design is a human one. We see form, shape, and structures as something that can't happen unless someone made it. He also has arbitrarily determined what a "design" constitutes. He like sees something that happened and assumes, because he fits his religious beliefs, that what happened, how it looks, acts, and is structured must have been designed by someone for some purpose.

What he is doing is nothing different than if while tripped over my own feet, stumble, and manage to twirl in the air and land on the my feet and then claim, "I meant to do that."

ID is based on philosophy, so why Mr. Dietz is promoting it is not a surprise. The fact that he is pushing it is also another reason to support the fact that he is doing it for religious reasons. Why does he want it taught in Science class? It is not science. If he wants the concept discussed in philosophy class any time the origin of life is debated, then I say fine. Otherwise, no, keep philosophy out of science class.

Mr. Deitz might be surprised to know that there is far more to evolution than Darwin, but when you need a whipping boy, Chuck Darwin is the choice of all honest religious zealots.

I am getting a bit sick of this topic though. Why is the editorial page pushing this issue? I think in the last few months they have had at least 5 if not more guest columns or editorials on ID/creationism and or evolution. The issue is only fodder for religious extremists. Either someone on the Enquirer Editorial Board is fundamentalist/evangelical Young Earth bible thumper, or they view that Demographic as a hot desired market they need to cater towards.

UPDATE: Also, big reason why ID is religious takes form with the concept of a supernatural entity required to have the 'power' to design life. If you believe in ID you believe in a religious concept. It may not jive directly with the various sects of Christianity, but it is religious. Belief in a supernatural creator is one of the definitions of a religion.

Cunningham's Mouth, Yet Again

Local media whore Willie Cunningham has has once again said something stupid on national television. Tom Tomorrow's description of Willie as a "a second- or third-tier radio guy" is something I am sure will do nothing to hold back the self constructed ego of the scourge of Cincinnati airwaves.

FOP Greed?

I am generally supportive of the right of workers to form labor unions. I get discouraged when I see police unions act in such a care less manner. They care not for the financial plight of the city, and a large percent, if not a majority, do not even live in the city. It is like playing chicken with the public's safety. I think now they will push for a slowdown, if they have not really had one going on since 2001 anyway.

Public workers I believe have a different duty than private company workers. They have a role in society that goes beyond their own wages and profit. That is why, in the case of Police and Firefighters, these types of workers have a unique status in society that affords them extra respect for doing their job. I think to me however, when they even flirt with taking action that might slow their actions required to meet the duties to the society, I just lose that respect I had for what they do. All but the one person who voted for the City’s offer. I would like to shake that officer's hand.

Mama Miami

The historically prudish side of Miami University comes out nearly every year with the extreme efforts they take to squash anything related to Green Beer Day and St. Patrick's Day. Miami's Spring Break is always the week of St. Patrick's Day. If I remember correctly there were some legends that tried to explain why this was their policy. It usually took the form of some guy in a frat dying after consuming too much alcohol.

Let the kids grow up. Let them live their own lives. If someone wants to drink themselves to death, they are going to do it while on Spring break in Mexico, even if they miss out on Green Beer Day. Miami Parents I think have pushed this attitude about Miami, and the Administration of the School lets them do it. If you want independent leaders, you have to allow them to be independent.

Making the News

I don't know why but the Blower has included me in his report today, and I don't get a funny nickname. I am "One obscure discredited Blogger who shall remain nameless." I didn't know I was ever credited with anything to become discredited.


On a positive note, Beryl Love, Editor of CiNWeekly, included me in his discussion of our great experience last Saturday at the Tristate Student Journalism Association Conference. It was a very good event. I must admit I felt like a fish out of water there. Some of the names on the presenter list included people I have criticized. Everyone was very nice though.

I have changed my opinion some on CiN. I would still wish for a publication that takes itself a bit more seriously. That I guess is what makes it different from CityBeat. I read both every week. I find a place for both. CityBeat is focused on much more of a niche audience, which allows them to be a bit more serious than CiN.

I really am pleased with the CiN staff blog. I would only encourage more posts. That is often the most important key to a well read blog. That is about all that keeps people coming here.

Witness Protection

There was talk of the County offering a witness protection program. Either they still need it or it didn't work. What is missing from this story is drugs. Was this all about drugs? Are drug dealers involved? Shooting someone in the back of head hardly sounds like an amateur family member seeking revenge for testifying against the accused.

Damn the Man

Acropolis Chili battles Eminent Domain.

Cruel Bronson

Yes, Peter is very good at kicking people after they are dead. It would appear that Bronson is both sorry and pissed that Hunter S. Thompson was unable to wake up and smell the Jesus the way Peter supposedly has. That seems to sum up Bronson's disdain of the 60's, which he really missed since he was only 15 in 1968. He instead went to college in the 1970's and I can see how that would have sucked. His bashes anyone or anything that thinks that outside the way the "Church" tells you is somehow wrong, evil, a heathen, or just going to party in Hell. Or if I speak it in the original tongue "Heeeellllll."

Over the Top Rope Battle Royal

Joe Hansbauer of The Nati is reporting that the 3 Democratic Mayoral candidates will meet on March 10 for a forum at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley Square. It starts at 7 PM.

Things are sure to get out of hand when you include an open mic for questions from a mob of Democratic activists. I will be working on the odds at a later point.

The Blower

The NKY Challenger heaped a bucket of praise on Jim Schifrin of the Whistleblower. The former Fax/email newsletter that just this week switched to an email only free newsletter. Schifrin is cranky, stogy, nasty, cruel, universally bigoted, and really gets good scoops on local politicians. The place to go to trash your friend and foe is the Whistleblower.

On online archive is kept at the BlueChipReview. This is not for the faint hearted.

BarrelHouse Closing

OTR's best brewhouse is closing its doors after selling the business. The new owner is reportedly planning on continuing to brew the beer locally, which is served at many other local bars, but the brewhouse will be at a different location.

Lemmie Leaving?

Mayor Luken is hinting that the city manager may resign near or even when he leaves office.

Who would take her place? Will we open up another nationwide search to find someone in Middletown this time?

Water is Wet, Episode #452

Congress reps here have few black aides

Police Searches

I don't get this. People are concerned that Police searches go to far? Now, if that were a complaint about just being searched in the first place, ok, I get that, and I agree. The police should not just search people at random.

When police search someone, they should search the person's clothes, all levels. They should not do a body cavity search, but that is not what people are complaining about. People are right to complain about police searching people for no reason. If they complained more when little Johnny was caught with crack in his underwear, instead of complaining that police found it, maybe Johnny won't do it again and respect the law. Let's worry about police doing illegal searches, not how thorough they get.

WaPo: Federated to Buy Rival May

Federated Department Stores to Acquire Rival May. The article states that the official announcement will be tomorrow. The sale price is reported to be $35.50 for each share of May, to be paid in a combination of cash and stock. Other news reports are calling the price around $36, but are not as specific.

This is big news for Federated. Let us all hope this will be good news for the City in that the National HQ stays here and maybe even expands.

Oscars

I have little interest in the Oscars this year. I have seen so few movies this past year, that I can honestly have a favorite. I traditionally make it a point to see every movie nominated for most of the top honors. This year it has been nearly none.

Who should win? Does the "should" even matter any more?

Reece is Running for Mayor

The official word will not come for another week but a brief mention was given about a comment Vice Mayor Alicia Reece made yesterday:

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Alicia Reece - who has hinted in recent months that she wants to run for mayor - will make it official March 6. Reece, a Bond Hill Democrat, said Saturday she will kick off her campaign for mayor after she returns from a fund-raising trip. Democrats David Pepper, a Mount Adams councilman, and Mark L. Mallory, a West End state senator, have announced their candidacies for the Sept. 13 primary. Charlie Luken is not seeking re-election.

This was not unexpected, she has been toying with the run for months now, but it is the awaited signal to start a chain of events that will define the make-up of the next City Council.

The next link is who Charter will run. Charter wants to field a candidate, but they only have two people with any legitimate shot at making any difference, Smitherman & Tarbell. Rumors about both have been circulating for months. Smitherman reportedly has already been gaining the required signatures to get on the ballot. Both possible candidates only chance to affect the election

Hiding in the background is the GOP. They have two still waiting in the wings for an endorsement, Painter and Winburn. Painter's candidacy seems to have faded. He made rumblings back last year that he would not run against Mallory. Winburn then get be in the driver's seat. Brinkman's name is being floated around as well. He would do nothing but pull down Pepper and or Winburn, so he would stand to only win a council seat, not the Mayor's office. I don't think he will run for Mayor, but I think he wants to be Mayor of a county wide city government.

If we have a 5 way race with 3 Dems, 1 Charterite, and 1 Republican the battle for the top two spots have a dynamic that turns on three demographics: the black vote, the Westside conservative votes, and the east side moderate/liberals.

The black vote is the most complicated and most likely to be spit over three or even four candidates. Mallory, Reece, Smitherman, and Winburn would all seek to base their support in the black community. Winburn would have the least claim to that, but could still have significant support, drawing it from the other three. Without Smitherman, both Reece and Mallory gain votes. Tarbell is who they both would be hoping gets in the race instead of Smitherman, because he takes virtually no black votes form them, and instead takes huge chunks of Pepper votes and many possible Winburn votes.

The Westside conservatives would go for the GOP label no matter who is there, but some will not go for Winburn because he is black. They will go for Pepper, or if Tarbell is the race they might float to him. Brinkman complicates this even further.

The Eastside moderates are in Pepper's pocket. They might be turned on by Mallory, Tarbell, or maybe even Reece. Brinkman would pick up the few rightwing extremists, but they are mostly on the Westside (or already have fled to the burbs.)

The liberals will also be tested. They would logically lean towards Mallory. They don't hate Pepper or Reece totally, but neither would be their first choice. Mallory will likely keep them, but needs the money of the moderates.

Pepper is the front runner at this point, way ahead of the rest of the field in the primary race. So far he has the top spot locked up. The race is for number two, and it is far early to say who will get it.

Jene Galvin gave an opinion on the race in CityBeat this week and his take on Reece is, shall we say, a bit optimistic. Nate is not even convinced with today's announcement that she is actually going to end up running.

AP Homeless Stories

In an AP feature story on the homeless a collection of stories from across the country are shared, including a story from Cincinnati:

LUNCH TIME: CINCINNATI.

Brent Chasteen slings a backpack over his shoulder and heads out on the streets.

An outreach worker, the 42-year-old Chasteen was hired by a business group called Downtown Cincinnati Inc. after the city enacted panhandling laws that require licenses for anyone who verbally begs.

Chasteen, dressed in cargo pants and hooded sweatshirt, works his way through downtown, handing out discount food cards to the needy, offering help to a woman bundled up and sitting in Fountain Square amid tote bags stuffed with clothes.

He later heads west to a desolate place near the railroad tracks where a shopping cart is filled with cans and bottles and covered with ragged green carpet.

"Hey, Wolf!" Chasteen calls into the winter air.

A purple sleeping bag tucked in a cardboard box moves. A man with a dark beard emerges.

Wolf has been homeless for 10 years.

"Trying to do what other people do - it's a losing battle," he says, sipping a can of beer. "I sit and look at everybody out there and I go, 'Nah, I'm OK where I'm at.' "

Chasteen makes no judgments.

"I know that we may seem to be in separate worlds on the surface," he says, "but many of them share the same kinds of problems that affect me and everybody else."

Chasteen has been featured locally for his efforts with homeless and issues directly affecting the homeless, the panhandling ID Card: In CityBeat, the Enquirer, the Post, and the Newsrecord.

Queen City Forum Site Redesign

Great site renovation from the gang over at Queen City Forum Magazine.

Also note that Walk in Brain, Wes Flinn's blog, is the official blog of QCF, a good match.

Excuse for a Slowdown?

Harry Roberts, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, is advising his members to oppose the City's current contract proposal. A police slowdown (could we call it a brownout?) has been an on again off again element that the Cincinnati Police have been unofficially engaged in since not long after the April 2001 riots. Denials were always made, but their actions, or rather inactions, provided all of the evidence needed to illustrate a concerted effort to influence public opinion.

With this contract dispute, which seems to be an endless act of brinkmanship every year, will Roberts organize (by a wink and nod of course) yet another police slowdown to help twist the arm of city council? We are heading into campaign season, and crime will be a central issue for council, and especially the mayor's race. The PR minefield for the perceived anti-crime Democrats (Cranley and Pepper) who tend to get good conservative support might get tarnished if they are forced to battle the FOP and be seen as anti-police. That logically might make them more attractive to the liberals, but both crossed over the bridge of centrists and will have to pay a big toll to come back into the liberal camp.

The Cincinnati Post editorial page had similar concerns last month:

City officials, who have been trying to come up with a labor contract that avoids a confrontation with the police, filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the state over a published report that some officers are talking openly about launching a work slowdown if they don't like the deal. A slowdown would not be unprecedented, of course. After the 2001 riots some officers pretty much sat on their hands, particularly in Over-the-Rhine, which to this day remains the preferred shooting range for drug dealers.

Are we not talking about a form of extortion?