Drag the Mayor to the Fountain

Joe Wessels has a column today about the proposal for a unique ceremony for turning on the Tyler Davidson Fountain. It sounds a bit out there, but I really like the idea. As Joe writes, it is a throw back to other historical traditions, like British Parliament celebrates, where custom dictates that a when a new speaker is elected, they are dragged to the chair at the start of their first session. Very ceremonial, but fun. It makes civic society more human, than just figureheads.

The problem which may prevent this from happening is that City Officials and local leaders are far too stuffy to do something like this, except for Jim Tarbell. That is just such a shame. If people want to change the image of the city, it must include things are are fun, interesting, and don't happen anywhere else. It would be a great way to get media attention, preferable on a national or international level. It is unique, it is rare in Cincinnati, but also across the country. If there was a way to find a similar German tradition, it might go over more with old guard around town.

This kind of thing isn't going to hurt anyone, so why anyone would be opposed to it would be more of reflection on their inability to either have fun or to think beyond the simplistic. It is kind of ironic that to break out of a traditional bland image, we'd be creating an elaborate new tradition that hearkens back to over a hundred years ago. This kind of idea is why Bill Donabedian was hired to run Fountain Square. I say go for it. Maybe tone down the detail of the event, but if this is tied in with an opening day weekend every year, it is a connection to our past and creates a direction for the future to flow forward.

The Nati in Austin

Joe Hansbauer is blogging the SXSW Music Festival in Austin.

Reds Ban Smoking In Stadium

Ok, here's the story. I'm sure this will stir up the comments.

Big Dog Heading To The Tri-State

Later this month former President Bill Clinton will be in Cincinnati for a fundraiser to benefit his wife, Hillary.

Racism in the Warren County Commission

The level of contempt I feel for Warren County Commissioner Dave Young grew more the second time I read this Enquirer article about his desire to violate the 14th Amendment and deny birth certificates for children born in Warren County to illegal aliens. The article states that Young seeks to "challenge" the 14th Amendment. OK, lets review the relevant part of the Amendment:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

What's to challenge here? What part of "All" does Mr. Young not get?

You say there's more? Has Young read TITLE 8 CHAPTER 12 > SUBCHAPTER III > Part I > § 1401?

The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:
(a) a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof;

Let's see, people born in Warren County Ohio are born in the United States and if there are here they are subject to the jurisdiction of the State of Ohio and the United States of America. What kind of scum thinks of stuff like this? I say scum for two reasons. First its the obvious racism behind this. Sorry folks, there is no rationale for his desires other than keeping brown babies out of his county. The second reason his is scum is for daring to challenge the 14th Amendment on something so basic and simple and a foundation of American society. If you are born here, without question, you are an American. It doesn't matter where your parents came from, in the eyes of the law, you are one of us. Well, when I use us, I mean to say All Americans. For Mr. Young, the us he's looking for has a paler face.

In today's paper Young was told what's what:

Young had earlier proposed that the county Health Department withhold birth certificates of children born to illegal immigrants.

But he was told by the prosecutor's office that such a program would be unconstitutional.

Young said he's not advocating taking away health care or other benefits, but "you don't give them citizenship."

The level of racism, hate and bigotry on the Warren County Commission is ugly, but not a surprise.

Gary Burbank Retiring at End of Year

Does anyone reading actually care Gary Burbank is leaving WLW at the end of the year? Back in the day I would listen to Gary and Duke, but that was likely when I was at work and there was nothing else to listen to.

I fully expect that WLW will fill the afternoon drive with some hack of epic stature or at least with some kind of national following. After all, local radio, outside of sports, is dead in Commercial Radio. Public radio is not ideal on local coverage either, but the quality is just so much better, they can make up for it.

YP's and Promotion

Getting YP's to attend an event has always been a challenge, so the Taft Museum is trying the Myspace route, and the claim good results. I'm torn on the use of Myspace. The idea of social networks are a good way to market to a large number of people. It isn't a great way to express yourself or share in depth ideas. The website's technology is also very unreliable. It is popular, however, so I use it.

Side note, the above article provided a nice mention for Cincinnati Advance.