Tuesday, January 12, 2010
And Many More....
Happy birthday to Brian Griffin, who has just completed his thirty-eighth revolution around the sun!
CSO 2010-11: Wow, Wow, Wow!
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2010-2011 schedule. It is, easily, the most impressive lineup of CSO concerts in one season in the ten years I've lived here.
Both Janelle Gelfand and Mary Ellyn Hutton have the scoop. (A note here: until this weekend, I was unaware that Ms. Hutton, the outstanding reporter/critic formerly of the Cincinnati Post, had a site where she continues to write and blog. Griff: get a link up!) The highlights of the season include:
Paavo will conduct nine of the season's concerts. (At least, I count nine. Gelfand and Hutton both say eight, but I think they're referring to subscription series concerts, which doesn't include the Yo-Yo Ma farewell gala.)
It's a season to look forward to, and will no doubt be one to remember.
Both Janelle Gelfand and Mary Ellyn Hutton have the scoop. (A note here: until this weekend, I was unaware that Ms. Hutton, the outstanding reporter/critic formerly of the Cincinnati Post, had a site where she continues to write and blog. Griff: get a link up!) The highlights of the season include:
- a cycle of all five Beethoven concertos;
- five commissioned fanfares;
- an opening weekend featuring Kathleen Battle;
- a "farewell gala" featuring Yo-Yo Ma; and
- Vadim Repin performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto.
Paavo will conduct nine of the season's concerts. (At least, I count nine. Gelfand and Hutton both say eight, but I think they're referring to subscription series concerts, which doesn't include the Yo-Yo Ma farewell gala.)
It's a season to look forward to, and will no doubt be one to remember.
City Council Passes Rules by 6-3 Vote
WVXU is reporting Cincinnati City Council adopted rules rules to govern council today, almost a month and half after they normally are adopted.
I'm wondering who voted in the majority, anyone there for the vote care to update us with names?
I'm wondering who voted in the majority, anyone there for the vote care to update us with names?
Does Smitherman Only Know How to Threaten People?
Is Chris Smitherman, president of the local chapter of the NAACP, only able to communicate via threat?
It sounds like the school board to a degree agreed with his position that not enough African-Americans were employed on the current school construction projects. So, Smitherman went into his bag of tricks and pulled out the only thing he has: shouting threats. Political retribution to a school board is akin to telling a volunteer staffer you are going to dock their pay for being late. That aside, Smitherman has no political power to use. In the last election he had little influence on City races, so what makes him think he can do anything for the school board?
The more telling questions not answered were alluded to in the article: How many non-whites are employed on the constructional projects? Did the projects reach the goal of 40% of workers from city residents?
Maybe if Smitherman asked more questions, instead of demanding answers to the wrong ones, he might be taken seriously and maybe even has his opinion considered.
It sounds like the school board to a degree agreed with his position that not enough African-Americans were employed on the current school construction projects. So, Smitherman went into his bag of tricks and pulled out the only thing he has: shouting threats. Political retribution to a school board is akin to telling a volunteer staffer you are going to dock their pay for being late. That aside, Smitherman has no political power to use. In the last election he had little influence on City races, so what makes him think he can do anything for the school board?
The more telling questions not answered were alluded to in the article: How many non-whites are employed on the constructional projects? Did the projects reach the goal of 40% of workers from city residents?
Maybe if Smitherman asked more questions, instead of demanding answers to the wrong ones, he might be taken seriously and maybe even has his opinion considered.
Monday, January 11, 2010
What's Worse: Cheating or Betting?
Pete Rose was accused of betting on baseball and banned from the game--including its Hall of Fame--as a result.
Mark McGwire has been accused--and has now admitted--to using steroids. His penalty? None. In fact, it appears that he will continue to be the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.
As regular readers know, I wasn't born and raised in Cincinnati, though it is my adopted home-town. I now consider myself a Reds fan. But I'm no Pete Rose groupie. As far as I'm concerned, Rose got the penalty he deserved, first for betting on baseball and then for lying about it for years. I don't buy the argument that it's OK since he never bet "against the Reds." Once he started betting for the Reds, he bet against his team every time he didn't bet for it. Everyone--including Rose--knew that getting caught gambling on baseball would get you baseball's version of the death penalty.
I don't know, though, how McGwire's transgression is less onerous than Rose's. Rose didn't cheat. Even under my theory of betting "against" his team, Rose has never been accused of intentionally altering game outcomes. But that's not so for McGwire. McGwire cheated. He gained an advantage through his conduct. And in doing so, he sullied one of baseball's most hallowed records.
Let's be clear about what McGwire did. This isn't a pitcher doctoring a ball on the mound, an act that can be detected by a smart umpire. This isn't even about HGH, which wasn't banned by the MLB until 2005. This was steroids--the rage-inducing, testicle-shrinking grandaddy of performance enhancers--which were banned in 1991. He knew he was breaking the rules. He knew he was gaining an edge. And he did it anyhow. He admits that he used during 1998, when he broke Roger Maris's single season home-run mark.
Mark McGwire should have the courtesy and grace to remain in the obscurity to which he had retired after his infamous testimony before Congress five years ago. The Cardinals' decision to retain his services as a hitting coach--to prop him up as a role model for how young players should approach the game--is vile. McGwire's presence on a major league coaching staff is an insult to every player who played or plays the game within the bounds of the rules, and an affront to every fan, unaware that McGwire's success was the result of illegal intravenous drugs, who cheered his hitting prowess in 1998.
If McGwire doesn't have the decency to stay away from the game and the Cardinals lack the wisdom to keep him away, then baseball and Bud Selig must step in to impose a penalty on McGwire. Given that McGwire's actions changed game outcomes and stole a coveted record, how can his sanction be any less severe than Rose's? Bud Selig must make the tough decision faced by Bart Giamatti in 1989 and force McGwire to accept banishment from the game.
The Reds open the 2010 season this April against the Cardinals. I don't normally boo much at ballgames or encourage others to do so, but if McGwire is present, he should be booed. And he should be ashamed.
Mark McGwire has been accused--and has now admitted--to using steroids. His penalty? None. In fact, it appears that he will continue to be the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.
As regular readers know, I wasn't born and raised in Cincinnati, though it is my adopted home-town. I now consider myself a Reds fan. But I'm no Pete Rose groupie. As far as I'm concerned, Rose got the penalty he deserved, first for betting on baseball and then for lying about it for years. I don't buy the argument that it's OK since he never bet "against the Reds." Once he started betting for the Reds, he bet against his team every time he didn't bet for it. Everyone--including Rose--knew that getting caught gambling on baseball would get you baseball's version of the death penalty.
I don't know, though, how McGwire's transgression is less onerous than Rose's. Rose didn't cheat. Even under my theory of betting "against" his team, Rose has never been accused of intentionally altering game outcomes. But that's not so for McGwire. McGwire cheated. He gained an advantage through his conduct. And in doing so, he sullied one of baseball's most hallowed records.
Let's be clear about what McGwire did. This isn't a pitcher doctoring a ball on the mound, an act that can be detected by a smart umpire. This isn't even about HGH, which wasn't banned by the MLB until 2005. This was steroids--the rage-inducing, testicle-shrinking grandaddy of performance enhancers--which were banned in 1991. He knew he was breaking the rules. He knew he was gaining an edge. And he did it anyhow. He admits that he used during 1998, when he broke Roger Maris's single season home-run mark.
Mark McGwire should have the courtesy and grace to remain in the obscurity to which he had retired after his infamous testimony before Congress five years ago. The Cardinals' decision to retain his services as a hitting coach--to prop him up as a role model for how young players should approach the game--is vile. McGwire's presence on a major league coaching staff is an insult to every player who played or plays the game within the bounds of the rules, and an affront to every fan, unaware that McGwire's success was the result of illegal intravenous drugs, who cheered his hitting prowess in 1998.
If McGwire doesn't have the decency to stay away from the game and the Cardinals lack the wisdom to keep him away, then baseball and Bud Selig must step in to impose a penalty on McGwire. Given that McGwire's actions changed game outcomes and stole a coveted record, how can his sanction be any less severe than Rose's? Bud Selig must make the tough decision faced by Bart Giamatti in 1989 and force McGwire to accept banishment from the game.
The Reds open the 2010 season this April against the Cardinals. I don't normally boo much at ballgames or encourage others to do so, but if McGwire is present, he should be booed. And he should be ashamed.
Will Ghiz End Toys For Leis Program?
BossSexy makes a good point about Leslie Ghiz: if elected to the Hamilton County Commission will she put an end to the useless toy purchases made by th Sheriff's department? Could they maybe sell off some of the toys and maybe put the money to actually investigating more crimes throughout the county? I mean with Si Leis, the local Sheriff, as her campaign chair, she stands a good chance of talking with him about his problem of having too many toys he doesn't need. He will surely listen to her....
Using his toys in parades doesn't actually save money, like a Kindle will. Ghiz hasn't done much saving money as a council member. She's saved lots of raises for the FOP, but that would be about it.
Using his toys in parades doesn't actually save money, like a Kindle will. Ghiz hasn't done much saving money as a council member. She's saved lots of raises for the FOP, but that would be about it.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Phony Coney Probes Who is Funding COAST
I would have thought there would be more in lines of local right wing nuts funding COAST, but it turns out there's more of a special interest motive at play. I wouldn't be surprised to see COAST start a petition drive to try and force the State of Ohio to issue gold coin currency, right after the check from the Gold Miner's Association cleared.
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