Tragic

The Enquirer is reporting that a Flying Pig Marathon runner collapsed at the finish line and later died. The coroner reportedly stated the deceased was a 45 year old man who had a history of hypertension and was allegedly not taking proper care of himself.

Warped Sense of Party Loyalty

There can be little question that Jeff Berding and David Crowley are not working together to help each other get reelected. Berding's negative efforts are most clear in the CityBeat Blog post:

Later, Jeff Berding — Crowley’s Democratic colleague on council — was quoted in a newspaper column criticizing Crowley. Berding stated: “Can you believe it? This is the guy who wants to tell the generals how to run the war in Iraq, but in this case he says we’re in no position to judge, that we shouldn’t stand up for the family of a slain police officer.” Also, Berding added, “It shows a warped value system.”

Berding is acting like he's a Republican and is doing so on purpose, showing no respect for the party that just recently endorsed him. Saying David Crowley has a warped value system is not only wrong, it is a nasty thing to say. Berding seems to think his only way to win is to campaign on the same issues and stances as Chris Monzel. He will need to have lots of money to win a second term, something he likley can do.

Rise of Gen X

As a card carrying member of Generation X, I feel no sympathy for companies who are squeezing the workforce they currently have down to a stone dried turnip, and now worrying about not having enough people to fill the jobs of the soon to be retiring Boomers that GenX has been carrying on our backs for a while now. If the retiring Boomers are going to have their stock portfolios appreciate a little slower because corporations are going to be paying people more wages over the next decade plus, then I say "cry me a river." With the cost of health care rising, the amount companies are paying for not increasing, GenX is once again left to clean up the generational mess being left by the Boomers. This is just the beginning.

More HB Goodness

I missed last night's Erika Wennerstrtom solo act at Southgate, but Mike Breen reports on the first official Heartless Bastards music video for All This Time.

I've not yet found the new video online, but here's a youtube.com live video from March of 2007.

Drilling Down to Me

It is an odd feeling when I am on Hillary Clinton's press relations email list. I'm getting emails now because she is coming to Dayton and Cleveland and it would appear that her campaigns press department has a very good list of bloggers that can be targeted as the candidate swings through the state.

I don't think Ohio will be a big state for the primaries, so I do not expect to see all of the candidates here before our primary.

Smoking Ban Lack of Impact?

It has been six months since since the smoking ban went into affect and yesterday enforcement went into effect. Most establishments have been following the ban since last December. From the Enquirer we hear both sides to the issue, but my experiences agree with this quote from the article:

Habit's Café in Oakley has not experienced any change in business. In fact, more people are coming in for the food at Habit's, said manager Brian Dobbins.

"It's a non-issue for us," he said. "There are always a few complaints but by and large, everybody's been very happy. Every night I get a customer who says it's a much better environment."

I've heard nothing about a mass exodus over the last 6 months. This weekend, the hardcore smokers may be going to Kentucky, but they will be leaving a small number of bars. Those places, like the Pilot Inn, may face a business down turn, but that conventional wisdom is likely to end up being false. With gas at $3 a gallon, how many Norwood smokers are going to drive to Kentucky to drink? They might do it more a few times, but in the end, they will adapt. Maybe after their first DUI they will have no choice but to walk to the neighborhood bar.

I would expect the standard for new bar construction will include a patio or deck.

It's Driehaus vs. Chabot

The Papers have been files so as Howard Wilkinson puts it The Battle of the Steves is on.