Oh the Symbolism

One can't look at the picture accompanying this article and not see it as some type of symbolic sign from Zeus.

[Via Kevin Drum]

Sidewalks

I would guess this ranking is based on some type of pedestrian death rate as compared to the volume of sidewalks. What I wonder is does this count the entire Metro area or does it count just Downtown or inner-city areas? the mean streets of Mason actual are rather mean. You can't walk them.

As with safety, the Cincinnati Metro area is one of the safest places to live in overall. We also I believe the Metro area suffers from the most fear of non-whites of nearly any city I have ever visited. The fear that keeps the chickens in the suburbs is only real in their perceptions. That creates the Balkanized community in which we resided.

Drinking Liberally

Maggie Downs has 'outted' Drinking Liberal to Cincinnati. Will conservatives or Republicans (not always the same thing) start showing up? I would say no. The bar is kind of on the West Side, but still in a neighborhood that would strike fear in the hearts of your typical Conservative. They don't have the courage to show up. (cough, cough)

Is this Local TV News or a Newspaper.

On the front page of the Enquirer Website we see a headline reading "P&G sex patch under scrutiny." When we click on the link we get a story with the title "P&G sex hormone under scrutiny" No where else is it called a "Sex Patch" and the news article does not even have the same title. Who changed it? Was that used in the print version or was it only on the web? Why was it changed to a title that is more titillating?

Waiting to Attack

The CCV and its allies are reportedly waiting before filing suit against same sex benefits offered at 5 Ohio public universities

Again, for the ignorant, those who voted for Issue and knowingly did so are bigots. If you voted for it, you voted for a ban on public benefits or other allowances of any actions that could acknowledge a marriage type situation on a non-married couple. That is wrong. If you can't understand that, or still live in denial, then please watch the actions of Phil Burress and his 'partner' in theocratic fascism David Langdon.

Voice Discrimination?

This is obviously the text version of the Channel 5 story, so I have not heard the voices of the people involved. What I do know is that the terminology is way off. This is not "voice discrimination", this possibly is racism based on the sound of voice. Voice discrimination is something that people with speech problems would face. As a person with a speech impediment, I can attest that such a thing exists, but is not considered significant in society. Calling this voice discrimination is misleading. It is race or ethnic discrimination based on the voice, not discrimination because of the voice. A fine line to some, but not from my perspective.

In this case the problem I have is the distinction of why these people were allegedly denied housing. Were they denied housing because the landlord thought they sounded "black" or other minority, or were they denied housing because their speech indicated a lack of education or ignorance and thus considered a less desirable tenet? Again, I did not hear these people speak, so I don't know how they might sound. It may be bigoted to deny someone a house because they are not educated, but I don't think it is illegal.

Portman, Taft in Denial

Both Portman and Taft deny they are leaving their current jobs early. Speculation and rumor suggest Taft will leave the governor's job for a Federal Job and after some maneuvering Portman would take over.

This rumor, fueled here and elsewhere, is thin. Ken Blackwell and about 50 other Republicans are itching to become the next governor. Portman would be someone no one could beat for the GOP nomination if he were running as the incumbent.

UPDATE: Another Denial.

That was quick

Cincinnati Public Schools chief Frailey is leaving after being here only two years. He is going back to Texas. Reportedly he is leaving to spend more time with his children. I find it odd that he did not bring them with him, but I assume he is divorced.

Frailey I believe made progress with CPS, but his dent in the problem was not close to making the schools an option for all again.

He's no Hemingway

After slugging my way through the short yet painful column by Tom Brinkman I had to wonder, is this thing real? I think someone could have edited it, just a bit. I am not talking grammar, for I have no room to talk there. Instead it reads like dictation, put together in the most awkward format possible.

I would agree that if this survey really did occur and really did come from David Pepper, then as campaign issues goes, someone is on crack. It is laughable to think that anyone would actually push a citywide prescription drug benefit. David Pepper was not the top vote getter by being an amateur. Could some have been playing a trick on Tom?

Hanger Solution?

Did we get a workable compromise to the P&G hangar plan? Tacking on fees to golfers is still not a grand way to pay for this, but does it beat just eating into the strapped budget?

The Enquirer went overboard in its praise of P&G as its night in shining armor coming to our economic rescue. Well, no, they are doing what Kroger did.

A-La Cart Cable

Simple, it works, and its the ultimate in cable choice. I could avoid the shopping channels and maybe get History Channel International.

Bronson is No Ronald Reagan

Peter Bronson is no Ron Reagan. He should take a look at what he says, then look in the mirror.

Doesn't it seem odd that I am lecturing Peter on not being a good enough conservative? Peter might want to understand his word play comes off as not only petty, but also inappropriate.

UPDATE: The Democratic Underground is going apeshit over Bronson.

Blaming the Brownouts

Grandstanding and opportunism aside, is is remotely fair to claim the reduction of fire coverage was to blame or partly to blame for the death of a citizen?

The firefighters union rubs me the wrong way when they try and blame the death of anyone on the lack of fire coverage. It reminds me faintly of the fictional fanaticism in the movie Backdraft.

Nate doesn't hold back his attacks, but a black man died, therefore Nate is outraged.

More today from the Enquirer.

Warren County Terrorism Capital of Ohio

A couple weeks or so ago the Enquirer editorialized on Warren County's overkill on election night. They outed the man who choose to lock out reporters from the board of elections:

The lockdown apparently was done at the recommendation of Frank Young, the county's emergency services director, who said he got information from an FBI agent during a conversation about general Election Day threats that made him think Warren County could be a terrorism target. According to South, the county was ranked 10 on a 1-to-10 threat scale.

We don't know if Frank Young is just hypersensitive or if the unnamed FBI agent was over reaching.

Brendan of spacetropic pointed out that Carl Rove referred the Warren county as "key bellwether political district in the country." I just don't see how a county could be a bellwether when it's vote was so lopsided. Bush won 72.06% to Kerry's 27.58%. This might be a place where Rove thinks he has found fertile Bush ground, but this is hardly a place that shows any National trends.

Be the News, CNN the News

Via MediaBistro we find Steve Safran on Saving CNN. Now, CNN is not in any danger, but I agree it needs to get better. He sums up the bottom line well:

- DO NOT TRY TO BE FOX NEWS: FOX found a niche. Love 'em, hate 'em - whatever. Don't copy its model. FOX is really more of a talk channel than a news channel anyway. Don't think about being the "lefty" news to its "righty" news. (And ignore the chumps who will say you're lefty no matter what.) Stick with down-the-middle journalism, peppered with informed opinion (not "Crossfire" arguing), sharp, unconventional analysis, and non-hysterical coverage of breaking news. And keep a sense of humor at all times. I promise you'll win.

I can't stand FOX in part because I find it biased, but also because it is trashy TV, just talk radio with video. CNN needs to cover the news the world round. Let FOX become infotainment central. Return to the day when news was what they programmed, not tabloid fodder. The problem is that they have to go oversees. I think the market is there. Their current coverage of the Ukraine's election aftermath has been decent. CNN should match the BBC in how it covers the world. It should build its brand and market it inside the USA.

People are Whacked in the Head

They want to uphold Roe V. Wade but want to ban homosexual marriage. These are the two most hot button issues right now. Abortion, well that is the grand-daddy of them all and will not go away, but this poll suggests that what pro-choice people say is true, a clear majority support legalized abortion under Roe. Now, they would disagree what that means, but hell, I'll take this as a sign the culture wars are partially hollowly supported by some. I guess you have to put on a conservative face sometimes, but underneath freedom for women still rings true for some.

Low Income Housing

Where do we put low-income housing? Originally Cranley wanted to spread it outside the city. Now he is against a plan to spread it outside of the currently over saturated neighborhoods.

What is the solution? I don't know if there is one. We will always have poor people. The question is will society be better off if poor people are concentrated in certain areas or spread out? I think spreading classes out into all areas is the best way to go, but with mixed classes come culture clashes. Is that what we need? We are already gearing up for a culture war, will widening it do any more harm?

Money Where One's Mouth Should Be

Jesse Taylor asks a great questionwhere are the conservatives who want to work in academia? I have read Peter Bronson and countless other right-wingers whine incessantly that there are not enough conservatives in ranks of college professors. I don't think they are looking into Business Schools, but that is another side of the issue. What Jesse brings up is a simple point, why aren't these guys seeking to work at Universities. Why doesn't Peter Bronson try and teach a course at Ohio U's School of Journalism? Why don't more think thank wonks putting aside the six figure salaries to work for colleges? Oh, right, the money. I guess principle has too high a price.

Ignorance Lives in the Hearts of Fundies

Larry Redwine, hopefully a one time guest columnist of the Enquirer, pens a letter to the editor with an opening filled with falsehoods based on ignorance:

Candidates judged by their world view

Whether it's Christianity, Islam, or the faith-based religion of atheism, knowing a political candidate's world view is critical in making a sound decision before entering the voting booth. Granted, because some, like John Kerry this past election, get that 'olde time religion' just about election time, we must weigh their professed religious beliefs with their political record. It can most certainly be said, however, that a person's world view is going to influence the decisions they make on the job, whether it's as a business operator, shop worker or politician.
Larry Redwine, Maineville

Larry's worldview has Jesus colored glasses where he can't define much outside that which he can't understand. Atheism is not a religion. A religion requires the belief in a supernatural entity or entities. That belief, or beliefs, or set of beliefs, or system of beliefs in a god or gods or supernatural entity or supernatural creator(s) can and does very across the spectrum of religion. Atheism is not on that spectrum. To use an old cliche, atheism is no more a religion, than baldness is a color of hair. Atheism is a belief, but a belief that no such supernatural entities exist; it is not based on "Faith" in the same terms applied to religious beliefs. I don't have faith that gravity works. I don't have faith that quarks exist. Calling atheism a religion is common mistake made by religious zealots. It is

When he attacks John Kerry's religious beliefs he does so out of total ignorance. John Kerry did not just come to religion around election time. Kerry is a religious person. Kerry is not a bible thumping idiot, and that is likely one negative Larry Redwine saw in Kerry.

What is sad is that Larry believes in a religious litmus test for who he votes for. He says it in a very politically correct manner, but it still is there. Larry would not vote for someone without a ?Christian? world-view. I don't know what that is supposed to be, but to Larry I can guess it falls in line with far right social beliefs and maybe right-wing economic beliefs. I don't have a problem with a person voting for who they agree with on political issues, that is the essence of democracy. What I have a problem with is when that person views his religion and his political views as one in the same. I have no religion, so Larry would judge me at a minimum in a negative way, if not worse. I could share 99% of his political viewpoints, but he would never vote for me if I were to run for office. (No, I am never running for office, just making a rhetorical point here) That is a difference between his world view and mine. I don't care if you practice a religion or not. I will defend your right to practice your religion. I may find your religion to be pointless, a waste of time, oppressive, or a danger to its adherents. I will speak out against it if I feel it is wrong (as I am doing now), but I would never outlaw it or try and establish a religion or make religious law into state law. Larry I think would do the opposite. He would use the government to promote his particular religion and would use the law to enforce his religious dogma on the public, as was done with Issue 1 here in Ohio. I believe he would try or is trying to establish a national or state religion.

I wonder if Larry has ever had any involvement with the CCV or Phil Burress. Would he join Phil?s Army? Has he already joined it?

Hyde Park Barnes & Noble Closing?

The sign on the doors I believe say they will be closing effective December 31st, and starting tomorrow their daily hours are reducing. I can't find any mention of this on web anywhere, and I don't think I have read this before. I don't know why this would be happening at this point. I would have surmised that the new Oakley Mall opening in 2006 would have a Barnes & Noble in it, but that is over a year away. This location was a small one, and had a limited selection. I don't know what will replace it. I would hope maybe Panera Bread might expand, but that might hurt Starbucks. I could live with one less Starbucks though. I say that as I am drinking my Mocha in a red snowflake cup.