Is Zeus Your Co-Pilot?

Unless they are flying slaves out of bondage in the Sudan, or flying food into Burundi, no Christian Church sound own a plane. According to the Cincinnati Post Ken Blackwell has flown on an Ohio Church's Plane. This fact is just a one liner in the article, but either Russell Johnson or Rod Parcels' church own a plane. That is a travesty. Honestly speaking, even though I gave up my religion many years ago, it must be totally un-Christian to own a plane that would be used to fly around a politician. This goes beyond a minister owning a Cadillac. This shows to me that the Churches run by Russell Johnson and Rod Parsley are not really religious entities, they are a political machine, namely the Ohio Restoration Project.

MIAMI 4 Western Michigan 1

Love and honor to Miami,
Our college old and grand,
Proudly we shall ever hail thee,
Over all the land.

Alma mater now we praise thee,
Sing joyfully this lay,
Love and honor to Miami,
Forever and a day.

The #2 ranked Miami hockey team leads the first round CCHA playoff series 1-0. The series continues tonight. More here.

City Polls

WCPO and SurveyUSA have completed a poll this week referenced by the Enquirer. The overall results were:

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Mark Mallory is doing as Mayor?

• Approve: 60%
• Disapprove: 23%
• Not Sure: 17%

Generally speaking, would you say things in Cincinnati are on the right track? Or the wrong track?

• Right Track: 35%
  
• Wrong Track: 59%
  
• Not Sure: 6%

Would you agree or disagree with this statement: 'I feel safe in my neighborhood?'

• Agree: 42%
  
• Disagree: 53%
  
• Not Sure: 4%

The internals referenced by Carl Weiser at the Enquirer Politics Blog are the most interesting. The internal not mentioned and likely not collect would be what neighborhood the responder lived in while say did they feel safe. Seeing how that skewed would also be an indicator in the other questions.

TOAST

Jean Schmidt is politically terminal. If Bob McEwen can't beat her in the primary, then he is one crappy politician.

COAST Hates Schmidt

COAST has it's guns trained on Rep. Jean Schmidt for claiming endorsements from people who later said they never endorsed her. They issued a press release:

The Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) announced today that its representative Mark Miller will file a formal Complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against Jean Schmidt, for claiming on her web site and in a campaign brochure, endorsements in this primary election by Congressmen Steve Chabot and Tom Tancredo.

Both Congressmen have in fact refused to endorse Schmidt.

It is an elections law violation in Ohio to make a false statement in the course of a campaign.

Despite the clear statements of both Congressmen, Schmidt did and continues to falsely publish the claimed endorsements.

"Jean Schmidt obviously has a problem with the truth," said COAST Chairman Jim Urling. "First she did not tell the truth about being against higher taxes, then she fibbed about her conversation with Representative Buhp. And now she completely fabricates endorsements. She must be held to account for her persistent prevarication's."

It is always nice to see Republicans attack other Republicans. That thought brings a smile to my face. Please GOP, keep me smiling!

Mallory's First Hundred Days

How did Mayor Mark Mallory do during his first hundred days as mayor?

Jay Love Quits the Buzz

Radio talk show host Jay Love has left WDBZ-AM for a staff fundraiser position with AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati (AVOC). I have not been able to listen to much of the Buzz over the last couple of years, but Jay was always and interesting host who knew how to rile up his listeners. I don't know anything about Nathan Ive, who is replacing Jay next week. WDBZ has been tame for a while. It was pushing the edge of facilitating racist groups by giving open mics to local nutty black separatists. When I hear them now, very rarely, they have moved back from the edge.

UC Students Are Safe

I wish journalists would stop trying to scare parents of college students into buying newspapers. Local TV news folks have done to Miami for years and now it is falling to the UC.

UC kids are safe. They are as safe as anyone else. The fact that crime occurs in Coryville or on UC's campus is not the fault of UC. It is opportunistic for the UC student body government leadership to use the current crimes as a catalyst to gain new safety measures that would not have prevented the crimes in question. That opportunism is often effective, but that does not mean it is not manipulative and disingenuous.

Gay Rights Has the Votes to Pass

The Enquirer is reporting that the anti-discrimination against gays and lesbians law has the votes to pass. Monzel disappoints on social issues as usual. Got to get that bigot vote!

I will make the call out now to Berding and Thomas. Both need to respond and make it known that they stand for gay rights. If not, they will gain a new title.

Jean and Steve

Jean Schmidt appears to not be getting the love from her fellow Republicans. Is this the first sign of a loss in the GOP primary?

Theft in Office

When it comes to stealing while in office, one does not normally think of this from a Norwood Councilman.

The Know's House

In case you missed Jackie Demaline's Enquirer article with it's concept photo or missed Rick Pender's 'rumor' in last week's City Beat, then I can add the final word: The deal is done.

I wish a big congratulations to Jay Kalagayan and the entire Know team for this effort. I look forward to seeing great theatre, as soon as next month!

Be it, Don't Dream It

Nick Spencer has it right with his post on how OTR can change. The only thing I would add is that you don't have to make this a single person endeavor. If you have a full time job, like most of us, consider a partnership or better yet a team. Get a group of investors together and pool your resources and start a business. Hire someone, create a job, and create economic growth. The business doesn't have to be open 24 hours a day, but if you set the hours right, commit to it, it can bloom, especially when you are one among many businesses. Just remember its business, not personal. Don't get pissed if it fails, and be careful mixing business with friendships. That is how capitalism works, after all.

Dale Mallory Sues West End council

Dale Mallory, brother of Mayor Mark Mallory, is sueing the West End Council over his removal as the West End Community Council President. Mallory's full press release reads:

Dale Mallory asks Court to Declare Alleged Impeachment Illegal

(Cincinnati, OH) Dale Mallory has asked the Hamilton County Court of Commons Pleas to invalidate his alleged impeachment as President of the West End Community Council (WECC). Mallory made the request by seeking an injunction and restraining order against Shirley Colbert the WECC Vice President who presided over the meeting where the alleged impeachment occurred.

“This process was illegal,” said Mallory, “those who conducted it did not follow the Constitution and By-Laws of the West End Community Council.”

In the Affidavit, which accompanied the request for the restraining order, Mallory says that Deputy Sheriffs physically blocked him from presiding at the February 21, 2006 meeting of the West End Community Council. According to Mallory, he was told that he was not the Community Council President even before the impeachment process, and that he had to sit in the audience and could not address those present at meeting. Most of the West End Community Council members who qualified to vote at the proceeding were denied that right by those conducting the meeting. Even Dale’s brother, Mayor Mark Mallory was not allowed to cast a vote.

“For the past several months the CityLink issue has received a lot of public attention,” said Mallory, “although I never publicly endorsed or supported this project, I have received threats and had an illegal impeachment process conducted against me because I wouldn’t publicly oppose it.”

Mallory also stated he was informed that prior to the illegal impeachment proceedings, Shirley Colbert, the Defendant in this case, and others opened a bank account without the authorization of the West End Community Council. Dues collected from alleged Community Council members were placed in the account. Mallory is also seeking a Temporary Restraining Order to preclude Colbert and others from accessing the West End Community Council’s bank accounts and appropriating funds.

Mallory says his 1st and 14th amendment rights were violated and he is asking the court to require that the WECC Executive Board and its members recognize him as the legal President of the organization.

I don't know if he has much of a case. Any lawyer wish to chime in?

Cheers to City Council

I am pleased to see Council members David Crowley, Laketa Cole, Chris Bortz and Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell all support an anti-discrimination ordinace protecting gays, lesbians and the transgendered.

It is sad and disturbing to see the bigot Phil Burress out pushing the his hate ministry:

But Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, said he wished council would put the issue before voters first. He promised a response: It will take gathering 7,000 signatures in 30 days to force the issue onto a ballot, he said.

"I thought council had grown up and realized there are a lot more important things they are facing. This sets the city back more than a decade," Burress said.

Please note the insane dichotomy Phil Burress is living under. He wants Council to realize there are more important things than passing anti-discrimination laws, but he thinks it is such a big deal he is trying to get 7,000 signatures to try and overturn the effort. This guy DOES NOT EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY OF CINCINNATI!

Burress is clearly a bigot. He is willing to do anything he can to make it legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians. I will be interested in hear the views of anyone who disagrees with me on the use of my infamous term "bigot" which some are sick of. It is as valid a label as any other. Hamas is a terrorist group, and Burress is a bigot. Those who do and think as those two do are also terrorists and bigots, respectively. Members of Hamas are bigots as well. Burress is not a terrorist, but the emotional and political 'violence' he uses puts him in parallel with the goals of groups like Hamas. That is why laws like these are needed.

Tragic

Sam Shipman, artist and member of local band The Thirteens, was killed in a car crash over the weekend.

Rebuilding Main Street

It was great seeing Kaldi's absolutely packed on Friday nigh for BockFest. I overheard more than once someone comment that they have never seen the place as packed, at least not since the riots. You couldn't find a seat, and the wait staff had to fight to place drink orders at the bar with patrons.

I really love the idea of Main Street. I don't know if everyone has the same idea anymore for Main Street. Is it an arts district with some bars? Is it a bar district with some art galleries? Is it a neighborhood with a little bit of everything? I don't know what it could or should be, but I want it to be something.

The efforts of the Main Street Entertainment Group are very welcome. They are big reason behind this year's BockFest, where the parade was a welcomed effort, with more floats than its had in years, my friends tell me.

Will closing part of Main Street off at night be the thing to turn things around? Well, that depends on what idea for the area you think it should be. I don't have an answer. I don't know how some of the bars down there will survive without more local neighborhood residents going there. It has the makings of something great or of something that will end in conflict in our city of disharmony.

It will not be boring.

Jim Parker: Showman & Candidate

If he wins the nomination, I don't know, but the man can put on a good show.

WAIF Falling Apart

The Dean (Jason Haap) is not the ideal person to compare to, but in what is becoming a WAIF meltdown, he comes across as the sane one.

Half of a Story

And now here’s half…of the story. The anti-abortion side gets their propaganda published for free in the newspaper. Where is the pro-choice side of the issue getting free ink space? This story has in it only references to Steve Chabot and women who testified against the right for women being allow to control their own bodies. What about congress members who support the rights granted under Roe v. Wade? Did they not appear at the committee meeting? Did they not question these witnesses? Can you at least get mention of who else has or will be testifying on the other side of the issue? Apparently we can’t have that.

Please know that what one of the women referenced in the article does is fill women's heads with anti-abortion propaganda, and is called hero by the newspaper for doing this. Being called "hero", as the second puff piece does, may be fine for the extreme right-wing conservative audience, but for those looking for truth, not propaganda, it leaves the taste of ”yellow human interest journalism." That would be soft touch yellow journalism that crusades in what one would call a subliminal manner.

Has the newspaper ever profiled a local Planned Parenthood staff member as a "hero"? I would guess no for two reasons: 1)bias and 2) the fact that most Planned Parenthood staff members are forced to live in fear from the darkside of the anti-abortion movement, and don't want to have the negative attention they would be hit with from the zealots.

One Big Pissing Contest

This sounds like our elected officials don't play well with others. What are they really fighting over? Control?

Si Leis

I have to call it out: Si Leis is kind of consistent. Si billed who he could bill, namely DeWine who is not his political buddy, instead of the President.

When Bush had his Great American Ball Park rally back in 2004, I don't remember a story of Leis billing the Bush campaign for security, so Leis only grandstands when he can poke at someone he doesn't like or is not his candidate of choice.

CAM Upgrade

The Cincinnati Art Museum plans a massive upgrade of its facilities, including a sculpture garden and new parking garage.

A few die hard art students and others are not please with the plan to raise the old art academy, which move to OTR last year. If the CAM is going to grow and increase the value of art in the community, how can it not take on a plan like this. Art needs include the preservation of the past, but it must break new ground.

See the art museum for yourself tonight at One World Wednesday. This month the country is Ireland. Great beer and music awaits. It starts at 5:30 PM. $8 or free for CAM Members. Yes, I am a member and it pays to join!

WOXY Prom

An effort to help out WOXY gain subscribers takes places as a re-prom but is also called Dot Com Prom. It takes place this Saturday Night at alchemize, 1122 Walnut street. Dig out your best duds, buy a corsage, and make like a wall flower in hopes of help great local Internet radio station WOXY.

Newport Moving Ahead

Newport appears to have a huge development plan in the making. With the Levee in a slump, will this work or not?

What is lost in the article, although given a first sentence mention, and will be sure to gain the ire of many is this:

With the demolition of Newport's riverfront housing projects now under way, the battle among developers for what could be the biggest redevelopment project in the city's history is about to begin.

...

The city is under a fairly tight deadline because demolition recently began on the site's public housing, which consists of 31 buildings totaling 200 apartments. The site is expected to be cleared by June.

If this were to happen in OTR, we would have protests, lawsuits, and TV Cameras. The demolition has already begun. 200 apartments of people are already displaced, not to return to the site, unless they gain wealth beyond their prior means.

What is keeping this from happening in OTR at this point? Is it happening at all in OTR, and not getting any more attention?

Post Will Die

It has been a clear and obvious fact to most, but the Cincinnati Post will die once their JOA with Gannett ends. I find it very unlikely that it will do anything other than being a Northern Kentucky newspaper, whether daily or not is the question.

Via Nick Spencer

Mardi Gras

Anyone Go to Mardi Gras over the weekend? Was it fun? Wild? Tame? Filled with lots of open containers and open bras?

It Must Be Simple

For Bronson, movies, TV, and art can't be complicated. It is easy to brand "Narnia" as "Christian," but it is as Christian as "Platoon."

I give Bronson for one thing, he saw the movie he is criticizing, namely "Brokeback Mountain." He attacks other movies with one phrase labels. I don't think he saw "Good Night and Good Luck." I think Bronson would like it. Anyone claiming to be a Journalist of any stripe should adore that movie. It speaks for Freedom of the Press more than any movie last year.

Asking the Right Questions

The abortion debate has been heating up lately, and I have not been one to shy away from it, which is actually not normal for me. Anyway...

Via Atrios we steered to what gets at the more honest questions that people have to face over this issue. From Oliver Willis:

This will be an intriguing question that should be asked in the 2008 election: Do you support the imprisonment of doctors for up to five years for the alleged “crime” of performing an abortion, as South Dakota’s legislature demands?

This question is not one of the questions at the core of the abortion debate, but covers the real life consequence lawmakers and crusaders have when they pass laws, without thinking about what they are doing, instead of only thinking about how many votes the might get for what they are doing.

The follow-up question I would ask is "do you support the imprisonment of women for up to fives years for the alleged 'crime' having an abortion?" Then you can ask is it a crime to conspire to assist in the alleged 'crime' of having or performing an abortion, which would entail the imprisonment for such a crime. Both bring the issue down to what happens if you make abortions illegal. What punishment should people be forced with when they are making personal decisions that shouldn’t be the business of the state?

Bottom line here is the distinction in the abortion debate that gets lost: being against abortion and being for laws banning it and/or making it a crime.

The polling on this is what I think goes back and forth in the debate, all over how the questions are phrased: do you support abortion? Well, no, I don't want people to have to have abortions, so, no. Do I support a legal ban on abortion? Hell no! People should have the right to control their own bodies.

The other big question that doesn't get asked or answered is "If you want to end Abortions, why don't you support the prevention of abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies through use of contraception?"

This then gets us back into the cycle of the core debate, which I agree with others gets very tiresome and pointless. That debate is coming back as a battle, and those seeking to outlaw abortion appear to be willing to anything to outlaw it. That battle will be met with more opposition than I think they expect. The over-reach will be ever-present with actions of the likes of Tom Brinkman, who is of the mindset to force all to act at the whims of those who share his basic religious beliefs. To them there are no questions to ask, just orders to follow.

Fluffy Profile of Ghiz

Council Person Leslie Ghiz is profiled, very briefly, in the Community Press this weeek.

The profile is at best a human interest story at worst its the typical type of non-hard hitting journalism that is the Community Press.

WLW on XM

John Kiesewetter is reporting that 700 WLW-AM will begin broadcasting on XM Salellite Radio channel 173.

Is this a deal Clear Channel has with XM with other CC stations or just WLW? Will this drive WLW even farther away from local radio, and more towards crap. I understand and concur that it already has a large level of crap, but their news coverage has the only really live breaking news coverage of most issues through-out the city. If I fear something big happened in town, I am turning on the radio, not TV. Well, that is unless it is during a Red's game.

Banks Back and Forth

First Cranley and Heimlich said there was a deal, but the Mayor says it getting closer, but its not there yet. Ok, someone messed up and spoke without consulting with the rest of council or commission.

Bush In Town

First I wonder if Si Leis is billing Bush for security? The President got free reign on our highways, so it certainly cost a bunch. The visit was purely political, so I hoped someone other than the government paid for hauling Bush's political team around.

Anyone rich enough to attend the event care to share any of the "speech" Bush made? Did he vamp on about DeWine or did he spew more trite propaganda?

Protesters were out in force, but kept at more than an arm's lenght.

Yea Umm?

Regular or Decafe?

Add your Open Thread goodness here:

West End Division

I would appear that things are getting a wee bit personal in the battle over CityLink. It is odd to want to ouster a community council president because he supports a project that for now won't happen. It sounds like personal conflict is made ripe from opportunity for action. Dale Mallory has enemies on the council, and they appear willing to act.

Where's the Balance

There is not any retort from anyone on the other side of the issue discussed in this article. Other than one sentence, there is no balance to counter weigh the claims of Steve Chabot. Yes, this is about abortion and your can bet there are plenty of people willing to go on record on this hot button issue. When Chabot is allowed to make a quoted claim about the law, outside speculation on the court policy, it should be required to get a quote to counter his undocumented claims that really have no bearing on the point of the article.

Step One

Step one in the effort to control women's bodies begins outlawing of IDX and D&E procedures. My estimation is that this the Federal banning such procedures will be rule constitutional, even without a health provision. It will be a 5 to 4 decision. Reproductive rights are now hanging by a thread. The 2008 election will likely decide for a generation what kind of society we shall live in, a right wing theocracy, or a democracy where individual/personal freedoms outweigh the religious conviction of others.

Hackett Should Quiet Down

From worrying about dirty tricks to making a fool out of one's self on national cable TV, Hackett needs to go back to his law practice. Chris Mathews cheaply goaded him with the Bush 'coke' question, which Hackett butchered. I like Hackett. I would have love him being my congressman, and I was not opposed to him being Senator, but he looks so very bad right now. It is true that he got screwed over because he didn't have a big enough war chest, but his lack of political experience is starting to show, and likely would have meant DeWine would have crushed him come November.

Pinko Suburbs

These community centers reek of Communism, don't they? What good red meat suburbanite would be caught dead in a place where a community comes together in a secular manner?

In all seriousness I don't have a problem with these centers. I still wonder at the psychology of those living in the suburbs. Do they just want life in a small town or do they want to live in a big city? Trying to be both looks to me like they are trying to force community out of walled off neighborhoods. How can that work in the long run?

The worst part is it in Mason, Gay families can't get family memberships, unless someone changed a policy that I don't know about.

Ira Glass Coming to Town

A great move for Ink Tank to gain writer and NPR Host Ira Glass as a speaker for their Writers Weekend, Sept. 29-30 at the Art Academy (1125 St. Gregory St., Mount Adams).

Fat Cats

Is this some kind of new way to make politics seem sexy or trendy to women? I guess I am on a gender bias watch today or something, but I find it insulting on some level that the President's visit is covered by the Tempo Section, where is painted in the MTV Cribs style, call it Pol Cribs. Fluff appears to be the only way people can understand politics. The guy with the best wine list wins, I guess.

Adding a sidebar with Stan Chesley is trying to make this a non-partisan thing. I am glad they show their house so no one confuses this extremely rich people with the common humans living in the real world.

I will mock for a second though: the wife, Margie, is listed as a "composer and lyricist." Ok, is that a hobby, like I am a writer, or has she published music?

Funny and Sexist!

The Woes of Jean Schmidt and Tom Brinkman and a cake make for humorous fodder. I wonder, honestly, if Brinkman would have made such a profoundly nasty joke right to Schmidt's face if she were a man. Brinkman is a classic conservative, who likely views women as the weaker sex. His type would lash out at any woman trying to do what he considers a man's job, his job particularly.

Jean does need to get over it, but this little episode I think shows Brinkman to be a cutthroat politician, literally. He goes for the kill, even at inane moments like cake cuttings. His desire for political conflict is a dangerous one, and more evidence of why he is not fit for public office, expect maybe as dogcatcher or Sheriff.

NKY's Sunday Challenger Dead

News coverage in the tri-state area shall take another blow with the closing of the Sunday Challenger. The Northern Kentucky focused paper issued their last edition today, after publishing for about 18 months. It will be missed.

UPDATE: More from the Challenger itself.

In the Tank Cincinnati

I stumbled on WCET's In the Tank Cincinnati today, and I am very impressed. On the CET Website they describe the show as follows:

In the Tank Cincinnati
Third Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm
In the Tank Cincinnati reports on sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, sometimes bizarre happenings in the Greater Cincinnati area.

The show I saw ranged from a short piece on Woman Writing for a Change, a local Travel website owner, a local food expert, to a history of Ohio Presidents. They need a better website, but keeping to their video focus is best at this point. I would want an archive of the programs online, which I can't find so far.

The coolest thing I learned from the show is that Mt. Washington is part of the land George Washington owned, but never saw.

Nightlife?

I am a 'member' of www.zipscene.com, but at this early stage I don't see their website adding much to local nightlife. Their discount card might add a few more people going out, but this site is really a marketing tool for business. It adds nothing to me at this point. I am a bad example, since I already use several other sources to find out what is going on around town, but so far Zipscene is limited to the business who use the service, so the average user is not getting a full picture of the events going on around, just a marketing pitch from businesses with either a good marketing team or just the cash to spend on it. As a marketing tool, this kind of thing works great. As a service to the public, it has a long way to go before it gives something more than a CityBeat or Cinweekly can provide.

Cincinnati Blog: Change the Law

There is some kind of blogger hiccup going on, but this post on Malone: Cincinnati Blog: Change the Law is still around. At least I think it is.

Showdown

The battle over the banks is starting to look like a wild west stare down contest.

Will Pepper use this as an issue in the election, specifically playing Heimlich as being anti-city or unwilling to work well with others if he balks at the city's demands?

Both Sides of the Mouth

Peter Bronson is making two divergent points while trying to only make one. His article is about a religious group indoctrinating kids into becoming Christian shock troops in the media. His conflict comes plainly:

"Our hope is that someday at some moviemaker, some of our people will be in the room when they want to make an R-rated movie to say, 'We don't need to do that,'" said executive director Mike Volette.

...

The idea is not to push a Christian agenda, he said, but to have people in media who at least understand Christianity."

If the idea is not to push a Christian agenda, then what's the deal with being against "R" rated movies? Read this section:

Two-thirds of the $1.5 million invested in the UndergroundZone came from business sponsors such as Cincinnati Bell, Key Bank and Grippo's. But more sponsor help is needed to train "media missionaries," to take their message into the deepest, darkest heart of hostile Hollywood and tone-deaf newsrooms.

It sounds like hazardous work. Cartoons of missionaries in pith helmets tied to stakes or being cooked in giant pots come to mind. But maybe there's hope.

Just this year, TV shows have been canceled or rewritten after protests by Christians. "The Book of Daniel" on NBC, about a pill-popping priest and his sidekick surfer-dude Jesus, was yanked almost immediately. And ABC has agreed to cut scenes in an April 13 "Will & Grace" that had Britney Spears mocking the Crucifixion of Christ.

"Media is not good or bad," Vollette said. "It just depends on how it is used."

Now that sounds like a fruitful salt ministry.

Once again Bronson contradicts his own points within his own column. Either the guy he's interviewing believes "The idea is not to push a Christian agenda" or he's creating Storm-troopers to go out and try and get "Will & Grace" censored because a bunch of prudish Christians are too sensitive to have the religion questioned through the mass media. He can't be both. Trying to be both means you are lying to someone.

Sorry Peter, this program is all about pushing the Christian religion. What is sad, is that the kids are likely being mislead into thinking otherwise.

Target Practice

Shoot me a river of bias Faux News interviews. Otherwise:

Open Thread!!!

CAC Slammed By Idiot

What it is with idiots who walk into town for a day and think then know the facts about anything going on in this city?

I will agree that the CAC has a bunch of problems and I am not a fan of the building, but to judge the attendance and importance by what you saw on one weekday visit and to view the building as hip to only the old fogies from the 80s and 90s, you sound like a lazy inept critic who phoned in his trip to the Queen City.

The only point this guy makes worth while is the fact that membership is down to pre-move levels. Some of that is out of the control of the CAC, but one of their biggest problems is that they do little to bring people into the space. Art should be for the people, not just for a few snobs looking for a faux sense of superiority. John King, the critic, fits that faux sense with what appears to be his inanity to get over the changes Cincinnati underwent since he was an intern (kid) here 25 years ago.

Mr. King should have seen the CAC last Friday night where a large crowd enjoyed a great evening of art and lightening music from the Heartless Bastards. That event brought WEBN-FM to the CAC. Freaking white-bread WEBN! Variety is what the CAC needs and it can't be pretentious and expect anyone but art freaks to join. Cross promotions with other arts groups, like the Cincy Fringe Festival, are what a contemporary arts museum should make its priority. Anything less and this museum becomes what it was created to be an alternative to: the institutionalism of the Taft Museum.

I find I get more pissed by critics who slam Cincinnati at the drop of a hat out of laziness, personal spite, or ignorance. I think King has achieved a hat trick with all three.

Cincy Streetcar Desire

I love the idea of Streetcars in Cincinnati linking all of the tourist and entertainment districts. Would it work? That depends on how big a system one envisions. I don't know enough about how this will be financed.

Some kind of targeted and versatile mass transit should be developed to link Northside -Clifton -OTR -CBD -Riverfront -Mt. Adams -Newport -Covington -Airport. With the right structure, pricing, and schedule a route could be created by Metro. Using a special or even smaller bus would add a unique and attractive experience to make it complementary to the tourist/entertainment districts, not just utilitarian.

Newport IMAX Site To Be Filled?

With the auction of the Newport IMAX lease, the Enquirer reports that this could lead to a sale of the location. What could work on the site? The theater is a very unique structure, so what ever it is will have to be different. I would guess a bar/nightclub could work. Would a live music club work or even be economically feasible?

I think I once hear someone claim a laser tag location could work. What else?

Keystone Cops

It is something out a Marx Brother's film. The Democratic Senators leading seem to not know how to talk to candidates. No wonder people don't want to run as Democrats. To hear the harsh comments coming from politicos around the country, one wonders how any of them know shit about who would win the freaking primary. I guess it the tone, not so much the comments, but I get this feeling of Ohio and the Dems here getting our change yanked by the National party. Let us run our own candidates, you guys just send the money.

If you want a freaking smoke filled room, join the GOP. I like friendly primaries, and if power was not such a drug, good people might actual run and get elected to office.

Now the Ohio 2nd will be back to bigger long shot.

WBOB-AM To Rock As Oldies Station

DINO Dusty Rhodes is spear heading a movement to lease the radio station from a Christian Broadcast Company that will broadcast an oldies station. No word on if this will be 24 hour broadcast or a selective programming block.

Thanks Zeus it will not be more conservative talk radio.

CityLink Plan Stopped by Zoning Board

The Cincinnati Zoning Board voted 3 to 2 that CityLink would violate the zoning code. CityLink supports can still appeal the decision.

Pepper Is In

The Enquirer is reporting that David Pepper is running for county commissioner against Phil Heimlich.

Hmmm, This post is giving me a sense of déjà vu.

Hackett Out

The NY Times is reporting that Paul Hackett has dropped out the U.S. Senate race.

No word yet on Hackett's possible run for the 2nd District.

The Mayor's office somehow became part of the story. Someone needs to improve communication channels.

No News is Good News?

WSTR is dropping their local 10PM newscast. I do not like the reduction of local news coverage. I was not a fan of this or any Sinclair outlet, which had very biased national news coverage, but I can attest to their local coverage because I did not watch much of it. I will not miss what I don't watch, but I prefer media competition.

Sane Republicans Exist

Glad to know that some Republicans know when the right wing goes too far. It is so very sad that they will not do anything to keep the extremists from office.

Stupid Idiot

Miami assistant Football Coach Arrested For DUI

Hackett Pressured to Leave Race

The drum beat is rising from National Democrats for Paul Hackett to drop out of the race to face off against Senator Mike DeWine. Instead Dems seek Hackett to go again for the Congressional race here in the 2nd district. With Paul declaring for Senate would his ego take dropping down a level at this late point?

Gaby Downey for US Congress

It's offical Gaby Downey of Milford will run for the Democratic nomination in the Ohio 2nd to face against the winner of the Schmidt-McEwen-Brinkman primaripalooza.

Legislating Hate - That's Our Brinkman!

With neither courage nor ethical justice Tom Brinkman has helped introduce a bill in the Ohio House to ban gay & lesbian adoption. House Bill 515 is an abusive attack on liberty and is a hateful spew intending to legislate a bigoted belief based on a selective religious doctrine.

There are no reasons for introducing this law that can not be traced to hate. Any rationale for is based, TOTALLY, on the hate and fear of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered. I say this matter of factly, and I am sure to gain the ire of the right wing fucks out there, but I will without any hint of regret repeat this concept at any point in the future this issue arises.

What troubles me most is the devil's bargain many in the GOP have made with the religious right. There are many in the GOP who don't support and will not support this bill, but they will do little or nothing to oppose it and many even support it. When you support or just vote for candidates like Tom Brinkman and Ken Blackwell (wonder if he supports the bill, ha!), you are giving credence and resource to the forces out push hate via legislation on Ohio. This is merely the softest point for the Brinkman's to hit. The bigotry towards gays is still one of the few unfettered philosophies in America. This law has support from people who are still scared and ignorant about gays and lesbians. Otherwise good people will be suckered in by the fear and bible waving the Brinkmans will do in their coy and cryptic manner.

It is also nearly as sad that some Democrats will support this bill. Unlike gay marriage, the numbers I believe will be small, but those few who do deserve a large level of disdain and outright opposition.

For me personally it is just a matter of trying to understand the motivation. Why do people hate gays? Why do you hate gays Tom Brinkman?

Jake Speed - Songatorial

Super idea from Jake Speed & CityBeat.

Agony of Victory and Thrill of Tape Delay

I am watching the end of the Sweden vs. Russia Women's Hockey Game before I head to my coffee indulgence. Is anyone else following the Olympics? I have followed the Olympics (winter and summer) since 1980 when I was an 8-year-old kid amazed that the Russians were in my state. It didn't matter that they were at the other end of New York State, some 6 hours away, it was just a spectacle I had to watch and watch it live as soon as I was home from school. The TV would stay tuned to Jim McKay until I had to go to bed. The time issue was not a problem, so that really help peek my interest.

This year, as with the Olympics for at least the last 10 years (likely since NBC took over coverage) I have lost a lot of interest. I know that the Jingoistic American Culture cares nothing for sports, outside of watching 'America' win, but I thought that in today's modern and connected international community more attention would be paid to the Olympics. In this first day of competition, I am not feeling that community. Is anyone?

Pure Pretense

Once again Kevin Drum succinctly summarizes the Paul Pillar revelations on intelligence about WMD and more specifically the mythic Saddam-al Qaeda relationship.

But the Saddam-al-Qaeda connection is entirely different. Not only did the Bush administration manipulate the intelligence, but I don't think they even believed in it themselves. It was pure pretense from start to finish.

To quoth the Rave: Indeed.

Mean Jean: Run Tom Run!

Mean Jean Schmidt has to be cheering on the possible run by Tom Brinkman for her 2nd District seat in Congress. A three way race with Schmidt, Brinkman and Bob McEwen is how Jean won the GOP special primary the first time. Also, I am very aware of the horrible image I placed in people's minds in the last sentence with use of the term "three way" followed by three names I apologize now for what will likely be years of therapy before that image can be stricken from your mind.

A Continental

In my Radio Voice: Earthly bound citizens of Cincinnati, I give you Sarah H. Eichenberger of Queen City Forum.

This article has, for the lack of a better term, BALLS!  It hits the Continental Lounge right where it hurts: the snob gland.  On a man it's right between his balls.  On a woman it's between her breasts and where her spine meets the back of the brain.

Sarah points to the solid point that provoked me to write about the club when it was first announced: If you are a city version of a country club, ok, but don't pretend to be altruistic about it and think it will change the world, let along the city.  I mean, I know all of the world's problems would end by osmosis if we just formed exclusive cliques.

Kudos' go to Michael Altman, head honcho at QCF, first for getting Sarah on his team and secondly for running this story in light of his involvement with the Continental Lounge.  Quality journalism starts with allowing conflicting viewpoints on issues management may be connected to.  I believe this shows a level of professional maturity that other media outlets, like say the Enquirer, could learn from.

Two Nates Better Than One?

Joe Wessels ponders changing his name to "Nate Livingston." With this blog post I believe the betting can begin on how long it will take Nate to post an attack on Joe. I will start the pool with three hours.

WOW, a Fairly Unified Council

City Council voted 8 to 1 to oppose the CityLink services center in the West End. Cecil Thomas was the lone no vote. It appears from the article that what was voting on was a toothless resolution that means nothing to the actual development of the project.

What better way to gain support of the West End than to say you oppose the project, but then do nothing substantial to actually stop it.

Other than people playing the NIMBY card, I don't see why they oppose it. It has the potential of being a religious brainwashing camp, but as long as they don't get public funding, they can do that.

Pepper for Commissioner?

Ok, this blog post from Howard Wilkinson deals with people wanting David Pepper to run Ohio AG, but the more noteworthy item reported is that Pepper is likely running for County commissioner. This has been rumor and speculation for a while, but this is first time I have seen it reported (blogged in this case) as something closer to fact than rumor.

Is Pepper running?

GOP Squabbling

Hamilton County Republicans are starting the blood bath that division brings. I am surprised to see Tom Brinkman being named as an endorser of Jim Petro over Ken Blackwell.

Madison Theater Reopening Planned

The new owner of the Madison Theater in Covington plans a grand reopening for February 24th, starting with a Mardi Gras party featuring Robin Lacy & DeZydeco.

CityLink Doomed?

5 Members of City Council reportedly oppose CityLink, and plan on moving today to block the service center's development in the West End.

Who are the 5? Leslie Ghiz is quoted in the story as being part of the block of 5, but I don't see the rest listed in the article. Was anyone at the Vibrant Neighborhoods Committee meeting to know who is part of the group?

There is a Forum tonight at the Lincoln Recreation Center in the West End, 1027 Linn St. at 6PM to discuss CityLink. The Paper reports that for what ever reason the group opposing the development will not attend. That seems strange. Are they being kept out or are they being childish?

Blackwell Picks Raga

I know nothing about Raga. I find it odd to through geographic balance to the wind and pick someone from Mason. It would appear the Blackwell is righting off the Northeast completely. His plan has to be to get the religious vote and nothing but the religious vote, which lies in greatest concentration in Southwest Ohio.

Nate in a Cape?

I never would have expect to see Nate Livingston follow the lead of the Dean of Cincinnati by attacking Nick Spencer. I wonder what else Nate will do to emulate Jason. Is there a wardrobe change in his future?

Bias

Ok, a man was shot and killed in the Mason, Ohio Area (fourth item, buried at the bottom), namely near the Kings Auto Mall, and we don't get the interviews with locals saying that it is unsafe to live in Mason??? What gives? Where is the balanced reporting? The reporters couldn't find anyone to go on the record? Hell, I work within a mile or two from where this guy was killed. I would be happy to say that I will be fearing for my life every time I go to work in the Mason Area. I would be lying, but hell it is as valid of a comment as was printed by the paper when someone was killed behind Mulligan's in Hyde Park. I expect to read a follow-up story in tomorrow's paper with neighbors of this man expressing dismay and fear of the living in Mason.

I was at Mulligan's last night, by the way. I had a nice time. I felt safe. The place was a empty for the night of a Xavier basketball game.

FYI: Just to avoid the likely criticism, yes, it is tragic that a man was shot and killed. I am not commenting on that. Instead I am questioning the coverage the crime got in the Enquirer as compared to the coverage of the murders in Hyde Park. I know most readers can grasp this fact, but I am sure some commenter will be shocked that I am commenting on this so soon after a man’s death. Nothing I have stated is distasteful, in my opinion, so I suggest anyone no pleased with this type of blogging to find another blog to read.

Madison Theater Booking Acts

It has even been "officially" sold yet, but the Madison Theater in Covington is booking acts for later this month. A great venue is back. Will it gain national acts or stick with local music?

Enough of the Dean

This will be a news flash to few, but Jason Haap, aka the Dean of Cincinnati, has come out with an insane attack again Nick Spencer. If you disagree with Nick's politics, ok, I can respect that. I don't agree with some of Nick's views. To come out with this insane racist attack against Nick for the name of the event is just, well, insane. I prefer to stay away from the insanity that is the Dean, but when you make up bullshit attacks against Nick like:

So the effeminate and white Nick Spencer feels some kind of affinity towards Desdemona, who gets brutally murdered by an uninformed black man.

You do the math.

you really need to step back and ask yourself: Does wearing a cape in public mean you are "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" nutty, or just "What About Bob?" nutty? In the case of the Dean it appears to be that Jason has reached into the bottom of the barrel of tricks to try and get attention and has come up with a straight-jacket.

It is time for the Dean to grow up. When you act like an ass and get kicked out of Nick's bar, face the music and suck it up. Don't act like a three year old child and make up bullshit that sounds like it would be coming out of the mouth of Louis Farrakhan.

I will happily await the retort I get for my honest views I have ranted out here. I expect the worst bile possible, and am ready to defend my dropped gauntlet. It is sad when Nate L. comes across as more dignified than the Dean, but Hell, we are in Cincinnati baby!

QCF on The News

Queen City Forum reports on "The News."

Boehner Elected House Majority Leader

Local House Rep. John Boehner was elected House Majority Leader today by his fellow House Republicans. Will this help the people of his district or the rest of Southwest Ohio? Will he be someone that will work with Democrats or just be more of the same lockout partisan style of legislating.

Smoke Free Sitwells

With recent talk of a city wide smoking ban, we get a local business banning smoking on their own and it appears that business is not hurting at all. Sitwells does sell alcohol, but I don't consider it a bar. Could bars survive this type of self ban?

Suppressing the Vote

The intent of this law requiring ID when voting is meant to suppress the number of people voting. This is NOT about voter fraud, no matter what bullshit comes out of GOP partisan's mouths.

How better to get fewer people voting than to make it more difficult to vote? Who is this aimed at? If you said minorities than you unfortunately would be correct.

In comments you will surely hear the GOP claim that this is about "voter fraud" or some other "legitimate" reason. They will need to show how this will prevent voter fraud. There is no evidence this will do anything to reduce voter fraud, and instead it will do nothing but decrease voter turnout. Why are we taking steps backwards in society?

Desdemona Independent Arts Festival

Nick Spencer has announced the event set for Sawyer Point on June 23 and 24. This fest sound like a great event which as a center piece will put on great music. As Nick states in his post, this is just the beginning to what the whole festival will include, but save the dates, and stay tuned for details.

SOTU

I am not watching the State of the Union. I used to love watching it. I now loath it. It is a complete waste of time and nothing but over filtered boiler plate that will be ignored and forgotten in no time.

For Bush this is his last big speech where he has a real influence on the Congressional agenda, and that influence is very dampened by his horrid approval ratings. No one expect this to be a good speech, let alone produce anything to make it out of a committee intact.

Feel free to give your own blow by blow spin on the dog and pony show. I shall endeavor to read the lowlights on other blogs. Why suffer watching it live, when there are 1,000 bloggers out there willing to suffer for you?

The full text will be online somewhere before the speech, so I find myself thinking that it about time for Presidents to just go back to delivering it only in written form, and skip the pointless spectacle.

Balance?

Well, Barleycorn's closes its downtown location, and we get a news article. I guess "The News" on the corner of Main and 9th Street needs to issue a press release to get an article about it's opening? If it got one, I can't find it. I encourage reporters and editors at the Enquirer to take a walk on Main Street around 9th, you can't miss it. Well, it appears that the Enquirer did miss it. That is not balanced reporting.

One blah restaurant closes and another bigger and I hope better one opens. That is not balance, it is a net plus for Downtown.

The Bigot Brinkman

It is sad to hear Brinkman push his bigotry. The article demonstrates his willful ignorance and his bigotry towards gays. It comes across as a game, but with bigots like Brinkman you must not value directness of one's bigotry as a virtue.

Some of that blind respect came from the apathy voiced from the Chairman of the Miami College Republicans:

Brad Bailey, chairman of the College Republicans, wouldn't say whether he supported the lawsuit, but said he respected Brinkman making the discussion public.

"I do support his willingness to question whether or not what the university is doing is legal," Bailey said.

Brad Bailey needs to grow some balls and take a stand on the issue himself. If he respects Brinkman for being open about the issue, why not come out and say his views. If he can't face the music, no matter what side he has on the issue, then he has the makings for a weak kneed politician, ripe for a lobbyist's influence.

Ohio needs to wake up. The Bigots are coming, the bigots are coming. In fact the bigots are here, and Brinkman is just the tip of iceberg. Gay rights are soon to be a pipe dream. This is surely please Brinkman and his ilk. I hope those voting out there see that Ken Blackwell is backing the same issues.

Mallory's Meetings

What's the deal with the concern over meetings? I am at a loss here. How is this a big deal. Caucus meetings are a means of government that I had always assumed went on with council members. I assumed incorrectly. I very much agree with sunshine laws.

What looks bad here is that council meetings as of late have been very short, no debate or discussion. Is that good government?

Mt. Lookout Movies

Kelly from CinWeekly has a great idea for the lifeless Mt. Lookout Cinema Grill. It is so disheartening to walk by the dark building every week. Tap into a niche market, and go with it. Hit the hardcore movie fans who want to see something on the big screen. The only thing I would add in is showing TV programs as well, but that would require keeping the beer flowing. TV show watching in group form requires booze. That is a little know medical fact.

New "News" on Main Street

While downtown last night, I walked past the old Lava club location and was amazed to find it open, but with a big sign out front reading "The News: Grand Opening". Its windows were clear and inside it looked a like a restaurant with a nice bar and huge TV screens. It looked nice and inviting.

Does anyone know about this place, how long it has been open and any background on it?

UPDATE: A commenter (likely Ricky H. from Atlanta) points out that Nick Spencer posted that this place was going to open. That's great and yes I missed the one sentence mention of it in a 15,000 work post. My questions still stand, when did it open, and can anyone give any background on it?

Smoke Filled GOP

This kind of thing goes on in both parties, but this year we get the smoke filled room right out in the open. This kind of back room dealing is a sharp double edged sword. On one side this could avoid a blood primary fight, which would help the GOP in the general election. On the other side this is what is wrong with the two party system and what makes it so very undemocratic. Why bother holding a primary at all? If the rank and file GOP voter can't have a voice in who their candidate will be in November, then how can the Ohio GOP be considered a democratic organization?

On the Dems side I will say now that while I think it is foolish for someone like Eric Fingerhut to challenge Ted Strickland, I in no way wish him to get out of the primary. The candidates fighting it out I believe is a sign of a healthy democracy.

Palestinian Civil War Brewing?

Are we starting to see the start of a civil war between Hamas and Fatah? If that happens, I fear it spells doom for any short term Palestinian state. Israel will likely move its military back into the Gaza and into more of the West Bank just to keep some kind of peace, but would they be walking into the middle of a literal fire fight? Does Israel back a side in this fight? Logically I would guess Fatah is the lesser of two evils from the Israeli point of view, but do they stay out of the battle, and the chips fall?

How far away is Iraq from this type of open conflict?

The Death of Culture

For those on the far right who preach about the loss of traditional values and culture, I turn a mirror back on them and denounce the state of music in the so called "Christian Community." What I have heard of modern Christian music (also called contemporary Christian music) is enough alone, outside of my personal beliefs, to make me not be a Christian. Having grown up in a mainstream traditional Christian church, I was raised on GOOD Christian music. The traditional hymns of the Wesleys and the music of Bach are what I sang each week and that is what should be taught to kids today, if you want to maintain the traditions that are talked about and lamented in right-wing circles. Instead the kids in Christian churches are brainwashed with factory made music that has more to do with marketing religion, than it does with music. It is a sad, sad state of affairs that when the self proclaimed defenders of Traditional American Culture, can't even protect one simple accept of that culture, and in fact don't care to protect that tradition.

When I hear of a drum kit in a Church, I cringe. The only values I ever found positive out of going to church were the people and the music. The people today don't seem to be going to church to find a community of friends, instead they are looking for an identity. When the music is gone too, I see myself as seeing church as a total drain on Traditional American Culture. Rap Music, something I don't like, has far more value to society than anything one is going to hear at "Winter Jam."

Current TV

Is anyone watching Current TV? Here in town you have to have digital cable, which as a former TV junkie I of course have. It is an interesting concept for television, but when this outlet was first launched it was billed as a news channel. I just watched a piece about a super metro-sexual man learning how to wrestle professionally. After that they aired an old piece about the Israeli pullout of Gaza. Then I saw cartoon about “Godapaloza,” which was quite funny, except that they said Darwin put on the same stage with other “gods” and billed as the “god of atheists,” but their point was otherwise fine and I won’t quibble too much over the details.

What is this channel? I know they are going after the young audience who allegedly hate news, but this is news for an MTV attention span, which is not limited to the young. The stations is made up most of reports that are like mini-documentaries without timeliness or any direct information. It tends to be a hodgepodge of first person views and some stated "facts," which these individuals state but lack the credibility of experience for one to trust they are telling all of the "facts." If you use nothing but freelancers, amateurs, or outside affiliates you lack the brand name of trust and respectability that comes with the established news outlets where established reporters and anchors create a sense of brand and image to which the viewer can relate. This is clearly a new concept that is interesting, but it not information, it is hip infotainment with an unclear yet present point of view.

Wussy

I hope to hit this show tonight. I normally don't announce that to the world on my blog, but I am perplexed to find this article on the Enquirer's website. I think this might be a web only article. I don't subscribe to the print edition, so I can confirm. This is the second local music story I have seen on their Enquirer's website since their relaunch. I hope this is a trend.

Funny thing is that that I wonder if the author of the article is the same Gil Kaufman featured in this City Beat article about leaving Cincinnati. The article was from 2002, so could he have come back. Can we get a story why he came back, if this indeed the same person? Just wondering outloud.

Mike McConnell is Dense

Reading this article on WLW-AM's Mike McConnell I am so very amazed at how out of touch he is with the city and with reality. He is quoted as saying:

"In many ways, it was not tremendously more dangerous than Cincinnati. It's bombs (over there), not bullets. The Marines I stayed with weren't shaking in their boots over the violence. No one was panicked."

Mike really is a sucker. I used to think we was a fairly smart person, but he got an easy Pentagon tour of Iraq, talked to hand pick Marines, and then compares that to Cincinnati. Rethink the logic Mike, you got a fluffy clean view of Iraq while staying in the Green Zone, surrounded by U.S. Troops. Mike needs to take a walk by himself in downtown Cincinnati, then take a walk in downtown Baghdad. Since Mike would likely not live after his walk in Baghdad, we can only speculate which place he might say was worse. I think he would agree Iraq is far, far more dangerous than Cincinnati.

Fountain Square News

Fifth Third is driving the upgrade around Fountain Square. The upgrade includes a 5-year deal with Rock Bottom. Good!

Strickland to Announce Lee Fisher His Running Mate

Democratic Candidate for Governor, Congressman Ted Strickland, will announce Lee Fisher as his choice for Lt. Governor today during a press conference at 9AM in Cleveland.

Fisher is former Ohio Attorney General.

Meanwhile the GOP is still bickering. Taft is blathering and wants to increase high school dropout rates.

Detail on the Dubliner Debacle

City Beat has the details on the fall of Mike Kull's Dubliner. In what appears to be a fair article, both sides come across as a people who could use a referser in respectful business practices.

Kevin Osborne in CityBeat

Mallory's Crime Plan is not the only thing interesting in this week's City Beat. Former Post and Enquirer reporter Kevin Osborne makes an appearance as reporter in the local Alt Weekly.