Booth to resign from council
Big news and big speculation will follow. This part sounds bad though:

Booth said he would stay out of the selection process unless Democrats asked for his input. He did say, however, that it would be important for City Council to appoint another African-American.

"It makes a difference in terms of the kind of representation we have," he said. "We're elected to serve all people. But council as a whole should as much as possible demographically represent Cincinnati."

Quota's are immoral and illegal. If race is made the deciding factor, then a legal challenged should be mounted against it. The Democrats should appoint the Democrat who got the next most votes in the last election, if that person is willing to serve. If not that person, then the Democrat with the next most votes who is willing to serve. I hope this does not turn into a boycott demand. Succumbing to that would be even more undemocratic then the current method to replace Council members.

News Outlets still in Baghdad
Here is the list of reporters or news outlets that I have found reports indicating they are still in Baghdad.
CBS: 1 reporter
CNN: 2 reporters
NPR: 1 reporter
Peter Arnett - special assignment for MSNBC and National Geographic.
ITN
BBC: Total of 8 including reporter(s)
Washington Post
New York Times
AP
Reuters
Sky News
Independent - Robert Fisk (what an ass)

There are others who are in the Kurdish area of Northern Iraq, but as far as I understand those reporters will not leave. I am sure there are many other outlets in Baghdad, but I can't find references to any others. Some of the outlets that are not in Baghdad are NBC, ABC, CBC Radio, FOX News, China's official Xinhua news agency.

Change of Focus
After much thought and random longs to branch out, I am officially opening up the topic of my blog to anything and everything, not just Cincinnati and Ohio. Cincinnati and Ohio will still be my focus and majority of my content, but with the impending war almost upon us, I will have much to say about media coverage of the war, and responses to the war here in America and the rest of the world. I have been slowly expanding topics that I used to reserve to my other blog, PulpStalag the Blog, but now that blog will become more of a semi-loose place to be semi-creative.

War Prediction Time
It is fairly clear war will be this week or not at all. I will make a "bold" prediction of the day and the time of the start of the war, and when it will hit the news. My Picks:

Date: Wednesday, March 19th, 2003
Time Attack Begins: 5:11 PM EST
Time Press First Reports Attack: 6:25 PM EST

If you care to make a guess, just add it to the comments section. The winner will get a free mention on the blog. Ties will be judged using the "Price is Right Rules" on the time the attack begins.

A Note to Conservatives Speaking Out Against Celebrities Speaking Out Against the War
The more attention you give them, them more attention they get. What I laugh about most is the shock as to why people would listen to celebrities on any subject. I guess they forget this while they drink the Pepsi Brittany sells, wearing the "be like Mike" sneakers, or talking on the telephone pimped by Howie Long for Radio Shack.

Some Texas Stations Stop Playing Dixie Chicks Songs After Bush Remarks
It is nice to see FOX News taking an active role in helping to destroy a musical act's career. When will this Political Correctness cease? The speech nazi's are out to silence dissent. It is most funny that FOX and the anti-PC crusaders constantly rail about universities anti-free speech rules on issue like race, gender, and sexual orientation, but when it comes to disrespecting their King George, all's fair in love, war, and media manipulation.

UPDATE: It now has a name thanks to Oliver Willis: "Patriotic Correctness."

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall
When referring to the abrupt change of heart of President Bush Josh came up with the ultimate excuse for George to use: "Spain ate my homework ... " Bart Simpson would be proud.