The Death of Culture

For those on the far right who preach about the loss of traditional values and culture, I turn a mirror back on them and denounce the state of music in the so called "Christian Community." What I have heard of modern Christian music (also called contemporary Christian music) is enough alone, outside of my personal beliefs, to make me not be a Christian. Having grown up in a mainstream traditional Christian church, I was raised on GOOD Christian music. The traditional hymns of the Wesleys and the music of Bach are what I sang each week and that is what should be taught to kids today, if you want to maintain the traditions that are talked about and lamented in right-wing circles. Instead the kids in Christian churches are brainwashed with factory made music that has more to do with marketing religion, than it does with music. It is a sad, sad state of affairs that when the self proclaimed defenders of Traditional American Culture, can't even protect one simple accept of that culture, and in fact don't care to protect that tradition.

When I hear of a drum kit in a Church, I cringe. The only values I ever found positive out of going to church were the people and the music. The people today don't seem to be going to church to find a community of friends, instead they are looking for an identity. When the music is gone too, I see myself as seeing church as a total drain on Traditional American Culture. Rap Music, something I don't like, has far more value to society than anything one is going to hear at "Winter Jam."

Current TV

Is anyone watching Current TV? Here in town you have to have digital cable, which as a former TV junkie I of course have. It is an interesting concept for television, but when this outlet was first launched it was billed as a news channel. I just watched a piece about a super metro-sexual man learning how to wrestle professionally. After that they aired an old piece about the Israeli pullout of Gaza. Then I saw cartoon about “Godapaloza,” which was quite funny, except that they said Darwin put on the same stage with other “gods” and billed as the “god of atheists,” but their point was otherwise fine and I won’t quibble too much over the details.

What is this channel? I know they are going after the young audience who allegedly hate news, but this is news for an MTV attention span, which is not limited to the young. The stations is made up most of reports that are like mini-documentaries without timeliness or any direct information. It tends to be a hodgepodge of first person views and some stated "facts," which these individuals state but lack the credibility of experience for one to trust they are telling all of the "facts." If you use nothing but freelancers, amateurs, or outside affiliates you lack the brand name of trust and respectability that comes with the established news outlets where established reporters and anchors create a sense of brand and image to which the viewer can relate. This is clearly a new concept that is interesting, but it not information, it is hip infotainment with an unclear yet present point of view.

Wussy

I hope to hit this show tonight. I normally don't announce that to the world on my blog, but I am perplexed to find this article on the Enquirer's website. I think this might be a web only article. I don't subscribe to the print edition, so I can confirm. This is the second local music story I have seen on their Enquirer's website since their relaunch. I hope this is a trend.

Funny thing is that that I wonder if the author of the article is the same Gil Kaufman featured in this City Beat article about leaving Cincinnati. The article was from 2002, so could he have come back. Can we get a story why he came back, if this indeed the same person? Just wondering outloud.

Mike McConnell is Dense

Reading this article on WLW-AM's Mike McConnell I am so very amazed at how out of touch he is with the city and with reality. He is quoted as saying:

"In many ways, it was not tremendously more dangerous than Cincinnati. It's bombs (over there), not bullets. The Marines I stayed with weren't shaking in their boots over the violence. No one was panicked."

Mike really is a sucker. I used to think we was a fairly smart person, but he got an easy Pentagon tour of Iraq, talked to hand pick Marines, and then compares that to Cincinnati. Rethink the logic Mike, you got a fluffy clean view of Iraq while staying in the Green Zone, surrounded by U.S. Troops. Mike needs to take a walk by himself in downtown Cincinnati, then take a walk in downtown Baghdad. Since Mike would likely not live after his walk in Baghdad, we can only speculate which place he might say was worse. I think he would agree Iraq is far, far more dangerous than Cincinnati.

Fountain Square News

Fifth Third is driving the upgrade around Fountain Square. The upgrade includes a 5-year deal with Rock Bottom. Good!

Strickland to Announce Lee Fisher His Running Mate

Democratic Candidate for Governor, Congressman Ted Strickland, will announce Lee Fisher as his choice for Lt. Governor today during a press conference at 9AM in Cleveland.

Fisher is former Ohio Attorney General.

Meanwhile the GOP is still bickering. Taft is blathering and wants to increase high school dropout rates.

Detail on the Dubliner Debacle

City Beat has the details on the fall of Mike Kull's Dubliner. In what appears to be a fair article, both sides come across as a people who could use a referser in respectful business practices.

Kevin Osborne in CityBeat

Mallory's Crime Plan is not the only thing interesting in this week's City Beat. Former Post and Enquirer reporter Kevin Osborne makes an appearance as reporter in the local Alt Weekly.

New Owners Find Mess At Dubliner

Damn, looks piss poor. It is sad that it came down to what appears like sour grapes.

King George's Lackeys

It is nice to know that King George has a good number of sniveling servants willing to let him do as he pleases. U.S. Senator Jim Bunning comes across as an idiot:

"I think it is legitimate, and anything we can do within reason to stop any further attacks on the United States, I hope the president will use. ... If I start getting phone calls from al-Qaida, I hope he taps my phone, because that's what has basically been done by the NSA."

Has Jim Bunning read the Bill of Rights recently? Where does it say in the Constitution that the Bill of Rights (or any article or amendment) can be suspended or waived based on the whim of the President? Fact: It doesn't say that. It is so very clear that Bush has violated the Constitution here, and it is so very sad, that so many Republicans are willing to let Bush do it, all in the name of "fighting terrorism." Well, "fighting communism" was the battle cry for J. Edgar Hoover, and what he did to thousands, if not millions of U.S. citizens was dismissed in a similar way because of irrational fear and blind faith that people in power are not full of shit.

For those who will ride on the fact that we are in the state of War, and that gives Bush the power, well, you are wrong. A STRICT CONSITUTIONALIST, would declare that since only Congress can "declare war" that no war has been declared. An authorization for the use of force is not a declaration of war. If they are legally the same, why not use war? If there is no difference, why not use the constitution as it is written? I mean, come, isn't Bush follow a literal interpretation of the Constitution or not?

Is It All About Paperwork?

Is the sticking point over having Sheriff Deputies patrol Over-the-Rhine a matter of paperwork? IS that really what Leis is filing suit over? If adding Sheriff patrols to OTR is going to help reduce crime and we can pay for it, then what is stopping Leis from doing what ever it takes to get those patrols going? Why would he let paperwork get in his way? Just fill out the damn forms, Si.

Elliott Block: "CW will go to 64"

John Kiesewetter of the Enquirer reports on the local impact of the "merger" of the WB and UPN TV Networks. Elliot Block is the owner of local UPN affiliate WBQC. I agree that any an all logic points to the higher power WSTR getting the CW affiliation. I don't watch much of either channel, so I doubt I will change that. WSTR could stand to have better local production values, and maybe this new Network will help bring that.

Mayor's Night In

Mayor Mark Mallory is establishing a twice a month chance to talk with the Mayor. This program is not new to Cincinnati and as the article points out, Charlie Luken had it right after the riots, but after a few months it ended to lack of turnout.

Will this program last and serve as a means for the Mayor to hear the views of the citizens or as a way for individuals to gain help with working with the city? Is this means for Jane Doe to voice her views on police policy or economic development, or is it a chance for her to get the Mayor to make a phone call to a city department to get something to happen? It could be used for both, but will it be that?

More from WCPO.

Might Be?

I am willing to take a leap and say that the idiots who left a Chemical Bomb in a black man's mailbox committed a hate crime. More morons. Would finger prints survive the bomb squad's defusing of the device?

Archive of Enquirer.com Columnists

What, no chicks?

Enquirer Redesigns Website

Something new from the Enquirer. This format has been in place for NKY.com since its inception, but they have moved the format over to its older brother. The biggest add I see so far is the inclusion of a link for the Community Press & Recorder.

The details are here on what is new, including a FAQ.

Wulsin Running?

Howard Wilkinson reports that Victoria Wells Wulsin is taking steps to run for the 2nd congressional district. She was runner up to Paul Hackett in the Dem primary and would be a logical choice. She would stand a good chance of winning the primary, would she have any at beating Schmidt or McEwen?

Monty Out of Gov Race

Betty Montgomery, State Auditor, has withdrawn from the governor's race, leaving Ken Blackwell and Jim Petro in the hunt for the GOP nomination.  This is a big blow to the moderate GOP in Ohio.  Ohio once contained a moderate GOP, in case you forgot.  Taft (though he is disgraced), DeWine, and Voinovich to name a few are not right wing republicans.  I disagree with them, but they are not out to establish a theocracy, and they generally only appease the right wing extremes when they have too.  Monty's poor showing indicates either that the GOP in Ohio are totally run and controlled by the religious fundamentalists, assuming Jim Petro can't pull a comeback and win, or that so many of the party don't give a crap, and are leaving the party for GDI territory. (God Damn Independents for the ignorant).

I don't think Ken Blackwell can win as governor if he keeps up being the theocratic movement's lapdog.  I will qualify this with the fact that a large number of people are really ignorant and even though they would disagree with him on 90% of the issues he is pushing, they will vote for him because of “1” thing.  That “1” thing is something different to various voter types and individuals, but the one thing that I fear that is becoming more of an influence on the voter is peer pressure.  If you don't vote as your neighbor does, you might not be welcome anymore at the neighborhood picnic.  This is just a symptom of the polarization and sectarian nature of politics today.    

Ford Closes Local Plant

Horrible news for the region. This will hurt Clermont County big. So, where's this great economy?

Malone on Trial

This will be an interesting exhibition of law, but Sam Malone's trial on charges of hitting his son will do much for society. Malone will likely not get punished much, if at all. His relationship is likely ruined with his son, and his son is likely scared for life, literally and emotionally. All of this rests on the idiot notion that beating your kids with a belt is right. It is as wrong as wrong can be. I will never understand anyone who thinks what Malone did was anywhere near right. Malone will get support from a few idiotic conservatives and from those seeking to exploit race, but Malone's reputation is now that of a child abuser.