Pissing Off the Chamber of Commerce

One way to piss of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and every merchant in town is by running a story on how great the shopping is in Chicago two weeks before Christmas.

Rev. Al Sharpton's Coming to Town

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. Al's going to be at Joseph-Beth Booksellers tomorrow afternoon promoting his book. No word if he will appear anywhere else in town, or if he will address the Nathaniel Jones case. I can’t imagine that he would not at least discuss it at his book signing.

Ok, will the CJC big protesting this? Will Nate make the trip to Norwood to protest? This should fit their boycott criteria: outside "celebrity" making a commercial appearance in the city. I would pay money to see Nate and Kabaka Oba denounce Al Sharpton. That would be a stunt that could get Nate back on the national news. Well, Nate? Are you up for it?

Fluff Jackpot!

The Enquirer hit the jackpot with a joint interview of all of the singles on City Council. To use a remote line from SNL: "Who were the ad wizards who came up with this one?"

I appreciate the attention to single people, but could they have maybe instead picked other people to talk to, or better yet, focused an interview with city officials to real issues, not this "Real Life, Real News, Real Crap" stuff?

I have to credit Pepper with a good answer on the state of single life here in the city, especially those who are not from the area:

I disagree with John a little bit. I think it's maybe not as bad as 39th out of 40 ... But of people I know here, especially ones who aren't from here, their social existence really revolves around their workplace. If socially you don't get beyond your workplace much, people think (the singles scene) is pretty stagnant.

We as a community need to figure out how to get different sectors and groups to mix together in a more natural way than they do today.

Sam Malone really needs to get a life. His ideas of fun seem to be limited to the movies and going to a a Gameworks. I think we have enough glorified sports bars around town to meet demand.

[Link via Reader: Stacey]

"Youth" Protest Coverage

This story got a plethora of coverage. Does the number of participants have an indirect relationship to amount of news coverage? All of the stories carried a reasonable description of the turnout. Some of the stories were treating like they were having a bake sale for starving children. WCPO's was most odd:

Although the group was small it was not about to let bad weather or rules against leaving school prevent them from speaking out on the street or at city hall.

That seems like a bit of an endorsement from the reporter. He could have reworded and used a quote from the protestors or at least attributed the tone to them, not to what comes across as admiration of their spirit, if not their goals.

Coverage: Post, Enquirer, WCPO, and GoXRay.com.

Eight Reindeer Monologues

If you like theater, then check out:

THE EIGHT: Reindeer Monologues by Jeff Goode

December 8-9, 14-16 & 21-23 Sunday-Tuesday Performance Runs!

The Courtyard of Arnold’s Bar & Grill
210 E. 8th Street Downtown 513.300.KNOW
FOR IMMATURE AUDIENCES ONLY!
There is Smoking at the shows except Tuesday Dec 16

EAT AND DRINK AT THE SHOWS!

Dinner available 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Reservations only for 6:30 p.m. dinner/drinking time
Reservations are null and void at 6:50 p.m.

Other tickets will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

$15 General Admission & $12 Student/Senior

www.knowtheatre.com 513.300.KNOW

I saw it Monday and loved it. Great actors, good food, try the lasagna.

Student "Protest"

Well, initial reports from WLW at 12:00 indicated that no protest was going on. At 12:30 WLW reports only 4 kids who were "regular" protestors at other prior rallies.

This sounds like PR coup. For what ever reason this story made the local news today. I would say they did nearly everything but just ask the kids to go down so they could have a hot story.

Coverage: Cincinanti Post, WCPO.

UPDATE: While eating lunch I saw the group walk towards city hall at around 12:50 or so. I would guess there were 25 to 30 young people. I don't know if they were high school or college age. There were also 10 to 20 over 25-year-old adults, including Damon Lynch.

Of the "kids" I would estimate that at least half if not more like 75% were "white."

Where Are They Now?

Ever wonder what Cincinnati Council Candidates do after they don't make the cut? Well, one candidate, Leslie Ghiz, was in the news representing someone in an employment dispute with the City of Oxford. What makes this case noteworthy is one of the allegations from Ghiz's client that while working she "found an 11-foot wooden penis statue in a flowerbed that she had gardened for the city of Oxford." Part of the dispute hinders on charges of creating "a prejudiced and sexist work environment directed toward Baxter."

You don't hear of a an 11 foot wooden penis on public property too often. I hate to make light of her case. It sounds like there is something to that case, at least enough to go to arbitration. I must have a few tabloid tendencies in me after all.