Stars and Stripes: BBC, DOD differ on Lynch rescue news
Fair and Balanced reporting on the Pfc. Jessica Lynch rescue from a newspaper that is affiliated with the U.S. military, but is nearly exclusively published for the members of the U.S. military. This story is mostly a summary of the facts, but it presents them in an objective manner. This story is getting minor coverage in the U.S. media, and will likely get little more. The press is scared to death to dare question the veracity of the story surrounding an American "hero." This young woman's story is riddle with problems, none of which are her doing. The military PR machine at a minimum pumped up the story. The report that she has amnesia is the cherry on a skeptical Sunday. I was please to see that FOX News Watch did cover the story, and did so fairly credibly.

Taste of Cincinnati

Above you can see the mighty boycott B in action. Can't make them out in the crowd? Well, there were less than 10 present, so they were easily missed. As I took this picture the man with the video camera trained in on me. I guess I made him suspicious. You never know when the "man" may try something dangerous with a digital camera. I was sure to wave back at the camera once I had taken my picture.

City Council candidates were also out campaigning. I had a very nice chat with Charter candidate John Schlagetter on his chances and city politics in general. I also briefly met Nick Spencer, an independent candidate for council. Pat Dewine was also out, but I doubt he would have been open to wasting his time talking to a blogger, even a fellow Miami Alumnus.

Oh the Things You Get in Emails
When someone calls you a white supremacist it can sting. When that someone is a black supremacist it tells you that you are in the right. In an email I was call just that. The email writer was a hotheaded boycott B bigot. Saying the pot is calling the kettle black does not do this irony justice. I am the furthest thing from a racial supremacist as most anyone can be. I am an individualist, if anything, but a humanist as well, creating one entertaining combination. What I am not, is supremacist. I am a bit of an intellectual snob, but I make up for that with my countless other faults. I laugh when I am labeled. I laugh because I am lumped into one group by one nutcase, and in another group by some other hardliner. Being called names is fine. I call people names all the time. I usually mean it when I do, at least when I being serious. When I am called a white supremacist simply because I refuse to bow towards a fringe group of black nationalists/racists bent on seeking revenge on non-black people for all of their personal failures, I tend to chafe a bit. I can be magnanimous however. When someone has to call me a racist, they must have little other ammunition to through at me. When I point out anti-Semitism and anti-homosexual beliefs in people and groups, they try to dodge my charges, but making stuff up, but I will not be fooled. I will maintain my observation and commentary. Bigots can hide, bigots can fool most people, but when you don’t worry about gaining influence on image, you can’t be muted. I guess Mr. “wanna be” Al Sharpton will have to find a new name to call me.

Tristate Fire department worker held in beating (last item)
I meant to link to this earlier. People wonder why the hate crimes law was passed? Here a fireman is accused of assault. The problem so far is that at this point no there's no indication that the hate crimes ordinance is being considered. He is being charged with misdemeanor assault, so when would the Hate Crime ordinance come into play? I think this case is set to go to the grand jury. I hope they are not swayed by the uniform.

My XRAY Cincinnati column on understanding the media is up.

CityBeat: The Social Justice Crisis in Cincinnati
There is no "social justice crisis" here in Cincinnati. There are problems for poor people. Wherever there are poor people, there are problems, that is a fact in a capitalistic society that will never cease unless material wealth is cheap and simple to provide to all. Dan La Botz is making a political move. He is nothing new; call it socialism or him a transnational progressive. His goals are not for social justice; instead it is for political power. He praises the CBUF, while trying to paper over the anti-gay bigotry that runs rampant in that organization and in the black activist community. Opportunistic coalitions of convenience. Both the fringe progressives and the black separatists/nationalists want to take down the corporate economic system. The problem is that allies today, will be enemies later. Once one gets power, they will dump their partner, for power is the goal, not justice.

Lazarus adding Macy's to its name Aug. 1
Officially, I have no comment. Off the record... Jeff, I told you so!!!!