Sporting Trouble

An interesting column from ESPN's Pat Forde on Cincinnati and our Troubled Bengals. I liked much about this column. I like how it didn't come out and just slam Cincinnati. That is breath of fresh air. I think this column went beyond sports, which is a good thing, but because it went beyond sports it also was is flawed. I guess I don't know what the articled was about. Was it about who the Bengals should draft and if Character should be an issue or was it about conflicted Cincinnati and the problem sports players we somehow attract? I guess I like my sports and sociology/civics separate.

Take Over CPS?

What is gained from the City take over of Cincinnati Public Schools? This idea feel flat back in 2005 when then State Senator Mallory broached the idea. What is worse about the schools? I don't see the City being able to do any better, and more likely would make CPS into more of political mess.

If Bortz thinks the CPS is being run poorly, why not call for the replacement of CPS Superintendent Rosa Blackwell? More importantly, why doesn't Bortz issue a listing of what specifically CPS is doing wrong and what needs to be changed? Reacting to news of layoffs and budget shortfalls with treats of a takeover isn't constructive, it is a political ploy.

Stupid People and Bad Editing

I have two questions about the next to last Letter to the Editor. 1)Where are idiots getting the notion that by speaking out against the war, you are committing treason? Have they read the 1st Amendment? Has the author thought about the many ways an argument could be made claiming everything Bush says about Iraq is causing people to die?

2) Why is the Enquirer perpetuating this notion by printing this type of letter? This is not the first type letter calling Sen. Reid a traitor and calling for him to be tried for treason for speaking against the War in Iraq. Why doesn't the Enquirer investigate where this type of mentality comes from? It was common among idiots during Vietnam and other wars previously, but it is over 40 years since the antiwar movement came alive during Vietnam. Why not interview someone, hell try Fred Kirkhart of Lebanon, and find out why he thinks this way and where he got it from. Yes, I say where it got it from because people don't repeat a meme without having it served up to them. Was it a right wing website or talk radio? FOX News? That's a good local angle to a national story. What Enquirer assignment editor is not on the ball here?

Will the Banks Break Ground in 2007?

The Business Courier Reports on the published plan for the Banks. It is a big plan. It is bigger than previously envisioned. Will it add what downtown needs? Will it end up being a neighborhood unto itself? There are many questions pending, including Chris Smitherman playing foolish games.

Clear Channel Out of TV Business?

It is good news that Media Mammoth Clear Channel is selling its 56 TV stations, which includes WKRC here in Cincinnati. The company buying them is called Providence Equity Partners, Inc. I know nothing about them.

New Club in Corryville

A new club is opening up: Sub Rosa

A new indie nightclub and dancefloor, located at W Charlton and Glendora, one block from UC, next to the Holy Grail. 18 and Up.

Free Preview Weekend - April 27th & 28th.

Premiere Night - May 5th. Bright Lights with special guest Peter Adams & The Nocturnal Collective. $3.

If you head out, give a full report.

Moerlein OTR Ale Haus Festival

Christian Moerlein is sponsoring an OTR Ale Festival starting tomorrow April 25th through Sunday the 29th at the former Elder Café location at Findlay Market near Elder and Elm Streets. Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell will be there to tap the first keg at 3PM on Wednesday.

Annie's is in the East End

This article lists COLUMBIA TUSCULUM as the dateline location of the incident. Someone at the Enquirer needs to get out a map, Annie's is in the East End. You could argue it is Linwood or California maybe, but it clearly is not Columbia-Tusculum. Are there any editors working there who don't know this?

Cheesy, Yet......

I find the concept of having a sing along to TV Theme song to be very cheesy, but I still worked downtown, I would be there taking part.

Once in a while a cheesy is needed. Bootsy and the Cincy Pops Composer leading it? That makes pushes it into the cheeky camp, and leaves cheesy in its dust.

Where's the List?

My initial reaction to the creation of a "likely killers" list is a good one. I would like to know where the list is. Part of the deal with a validity of such list is for police to have a group to target. The public needs to know who these people are and react. Either it will allow them to know who to avoid or it will hopefully make some people who are interacting with criminals to stop and help catch them when they break the law.

I am slightly conflict on the civil liberties concern, but I've not yet seen this as a problem, as long as the list is based on criteria determined from public information.

PR Payola?

I have to wonder if some PR firm paid the Enquirer money to make sure anytime they can they use "wedding district" in a news story about the area in Reading.

City Nightlife Changing - Growing

Two new nightclubs will open within the next two weeks. The nightclub at 3929 Spring Grove Ave. (formerly Alchemize) will now become Decibel Lounge. The renamed club likely will continue much of the same or similar programming held at Alchemize.

As God As My Witness, Hop Around Will Be Fun

How can you not have fun with a chance to meet Gary Sandy from WKRP? Be sure to check out everything at www.downtownhoparound.com.

I plan on making appearances with the folks from Enjoy the Arts (at Pitiful's I think), New Stage Collective, and the Know Theatre.

I'll be dressed for the CAC's Gala Afterparty too.

Bush in Ohio

He rambled into a Vietnam Question. The audience was filled with hardcore Republicans, but I think the fact the question about Vietnam was asked is a small sign of how low Bush is, even with his base.

Dressing Up?

This article claims there's a trend towards dressing more formally in the workplace. Is this true? Where I work has a nearly open dresscode, so Jeans and t-shirts are common. What about other places around town, is this true? I thought Business Casual was the norm now, not just a growing trend.

A Step Back: A Wake Up Call to Women

This should be a wake up call to women who don't want to have to die on the orders of the government.

For those of you who support a right of a women to not have the government order her to give birth and who voted for George Bush in 2004 or 2000, you should look back on the damage you have helped cause on the people in this country.

As Kevin Drum points out, the actual ruling doesn't really affect something that happens very often. The ban on IDX always was a political football that was more about symbolism, than change. The problem here is the ruling. How it was decided is bad. How this 5 person majority views personal rights is bad. How they view freedom is bad. If you do nothing else in your lifetime, make sure the next series of Presidents will appoint people to the court who believe in personal freedom.

Endorsement Battle: The Next Day

The Enquirer has a recap of the Dem meeting which confirms my take from last night, but spins it. The news is the fact that there was a significant effort to oust Berding, something the Enquirer played as something that "fizzled." What the Enquirer misses is that the anti-Berding effort indicates that a large portion of the Democratic base is not going to be easily convinced to support Berding. He may not want or need that support, but he is not a lock to win re-election. In the end, Berding will have to abandon Democratic issues and move to the right, which likely will mean he will lose the endorsement fight next cycle.

UPDATE: For a better take on the meeting, check out CityBeat's blog. The best part is the exchange between Kevin Osborne and Berding:

Asked by CityBeat to comment after the meeting, Berding said, “Why? You’re just going to write whatever you want to write.” Pressed to clarify if that was a “no comment,” Berding replied, “That’s a ‘no comment’ to you, yes.”

He sounds like a cocky prick in that exchange. I guess he doesn't want Kevin's vote. A lesson to all politicians: Be nice to the press, no matter what.

Something New For Bella's

Hidden in this article is the news that a new lease is close to being signed for a new business at the Bella's location at 6th and Walnut. That location is just to good not to have some type of restaurant or bar.

City Dems Pick Choices

As I type, the candidates are making their cases for getting the endorsement from the City Dems. Berding as already spoke as of about 7:15PM. He was reported to be humble. All of the candidates are getting 3 minutes to speak.

UPDATE: My source at the meeting gave me an interesting tidbit on Cecil Thomas's speech. In it Thomas stated that the Dems should run the City. The implication Thomas made is that they currently are not running the City. This to me could be viewed as a reference to the "Fiscal Five" on council, which is not a block of Democrats.

UDPATE#2: It appears an effort was made to vote for each candidate separately, but that effort was quashed. This was likely an effort to pull Jeff Berding out from the pack, where he would face much more opposition.

UPDATE #3: The slate passed 75 - 43. It appears that a large group of people were not happy with the slate. Berding clearly must be the cause of most of the opposition. My understanding is that most votes have been rubber stamps in the past.

Indian Hill Crime

Will the people of Indian Hill now be scared to death of Rheinstrom Park because they've read this story in the media? If not, why? Per capita hate crimes must have "jumped" through the roof in Indian Hill.