Three weeks ago CityBeat news editor Greg Flannery reported on his encounter with a woman soliciting petition signatures for "scholarships for children in Ohio". The petition was actually for legalizing gambling.
Well, nothing has changed. I went to return a DVD (Da Ali G. Show, vol. 1) to Bughouse Video and a woman on the corner asked me if I'd like to sign her petition to provide scholarships for children. Thanks to Greg Flannery, I was prepared.
"Is that a petition for casinos?" I asked.
"It's to provide scholarships for children" she repeated.
"Is that a petition to legalize casinos or is that not a petition to legalize casinos?" I asked.
"It's not for casinos, it's for slot machines" she clarified.
"No thanks" I said and went on my way.
Lying, gambling and learning. Like peas in a pod, no?
20 June 2006
Ben Bradlee on Journalism
Last night PBS aired a show called "Free Speech". It was a conversation between Jim Lehrer and Ben Bradlee. I wish more Americans understood journalism the way Bradlee describes it:
Lehrer: Do you think that most Americans understand what our job is? What is it that we do that they should understand?
Bradlee: We're trying to tell you every day what happened in the last 24 hours, that's all. Not what they said happened, not what you think should happen, but what did happen. Readers should expect an honest, straightforward account of what the hell went on yesterday- what's important. What is important.
Lehrer: Do you think that most Americans understand what our job is? What is it that we do that they should understand?
Bradlee: We're trying to tell you every day what happened in the last 24 hours, that's all. Not what they said happened, not what you think should happen, but what did happen. Readers should expect an honest, straightforward account of what the hell went on yesterday- what's important. What is important.
19 June 2006
Surprise! U.S. Troops Used Illegal Torture Techniques
Now I know what you're thinking, "Can it really be torture if it's done by the U.S.?"
The answer is of course "no". The U.S. doesn't torture. How many times does Dick Cheney have to remind you liberals of that? Don't you know he has better things to attend to?
And there's also the issue of whether it can really be torture if the "victims" (so-called) are Muslim? The answer is of course "no". Muslims are not as good as Christians. Their religious leaders were dresses. They promote guns and violence. They think they know the word of God. They interpret their holy book literally. They want their religious leaders to the government and judicial systems. Must I go on?
But the liberal media just can't stop, can it? I mean, just look at the tripe they're trying to push on us now:
A US military report has found evidence to suggest that US Special Operations troops used unauthorized interrogation techniques against detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004.
...during a four-month period in early 2004 US troops used these illicit methods long after approval for them was rescinded.
...reports proved the Bush administration did not take inquiries on prisoners’ abuse seriously.
Awful, isn't it? I'm just as mad as you are. At the media, of course. I would never think of not supporting President Bush and the troops. Oh, that reminds me... I need to pick up another sticker for my bumper. My Escalade is so big that I need a sticker on both sides. That's how much I love my country.
The answer is of course "no". The U.S. doesn't torture. How many times does Dick Cheney have to remind you liberals of that? Don't you know he has better things to attend to?
And there's also the issue of whether it can really be torture if the "victims" (so-called) are Muslim? The answer is of course "no". Muslims are not as good as Christians. Their religious leaders were dresses. They promote guns and violence. They think they know the word of God. They interpret their holy book literally. They want their religious leaders to the government and judicial systems. Must I go on?
But the liberal media just can't stop, can it? I mean, just look at the tripe they're trying to push on us now:
A US military report has found evidence to suggest that US Special Operations troops used unauthorized interrogation techniques against detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004.
...during a four-month period in early 2004 US troops used these illicit methods long after approval for them was rescinded.
...reports proved the Bush administration did not take inquiries on prisoners’ abuse seriously.
Awful, isn't it? I'm just as mad as you are. At the media, of course. I would never think of not supporting President Bush and the troops. Oh, that reminds me... I need to pick up another sticker for my bumper. My Escalade is so big that I need a sticker on both sides. That's how much I love my country.
15 June 2006
Fourth Strike for Chris Henry
Does Chris Henry deserve another chance?
The Bengals WR has just been arrested for the fourth time in six months. Last December he was arrested on a drug charge. He followed that up with a gun charge, then a DUI, and now he's charged with buying booze for underage teenage girls. He boinked one of them, but she was 18 yrs old. It didn't matter, since she filed rape charges anyway. But it turned out she lied and now she is also being charged with making a false report.
Drugs, guns, booze and sex. Welcome to the life of Chris Henry.
After his first arrest, Henry told the judge he needs to grow up and turn his life around. Obviously, he has not done that. And that is despite the support of his teammates and coach Marvin Lewis. In the short time Marv has been here, we've learned that he runs a tight ship. He doesn't put up with bullshit. But he stepped in as a bit of a father figure and supported Chris Henry and gave him a chance to get his act together. Henry did not step up.
Coach Lewis finally admitted that Henry is embarrassing the team. But he can't do anything about it, because Bengals rules prohibit taking action because of a player's off-field actions (this is my understanding).
Chris Henry had potential. I think we all saw that. So did Daryl Strawberry. So did Dennis McClain. So did Bode Miller. But maybe it's time to accept that Chris Henry is just another "amost was".
On an unrelated sports note, I'll go ahead and congratulate the Mavs on the NBA title. Based on what I've seen, Miami would need a miracle to win the title.
On another unrelated sports note, I saw the Detoit Tigers come back to win in the bottom of the ninth. How can anyone not like Pudge? Did you see it, KatieG?
Yet another: If you didn't see the NHL game last night, it was a heck of a finish! As a sports fan, I love games that go into overtime. Just love them.
The Bengals WR has just been arrested for the fourth time in six months. Last December he was arrested on a drug charge. He followed that up with a gun charge, then a DUI, and now he's charged with buying booze for underage teenage girls. He boinked one of them, but she was 18 yrs old. It didn't matter, since she filed rape charges anyway. But it turned out she lied and now she is also being charged with making a false report.
Drugs, guns, booze and sex. Welcome to the life of Chris Henry.
After his first arrest, Henry told the judge he needs to grow up and turn his life around. Obviously, he has not done that. And that is despite the support of his teammates and coach Marvin Lewis. In the short time Marv has been here, we've learned that he runs a tight ship. He doesn't put up with bullshit. But he stepped in as a bit of a father figure and supported Chris Henry and gave him a chance to get his act together. Henry did not step up.
Coach Lewis finally admitted that Henry is embarrassing the team. But he can't do anything about it, because Bengals rules prohibit taking action because of a player's off-field actions (this is my understanding).
Chris Henry had potential. I think we all saw that. So did Daryl Strawberry. So did Dennis McClain. So did Bode Miller. But maybe it's time to accept that Chris Henry is just another "amost was".
On an unrelated sports note, I'll go ahead and congratulate the Mavs on the NBA title. Based on what I've seen, Miami would need a miracle to win the title.
On another unrelated sports note, I saw the Detoit Tigers come back to win in the bottom of the ninth. How can anyone not like Pudge? Did you see it, KatieG?
Yet another: If you didn't see the NHL game last night, it was a heck of a finish! As a sports fan, I love games that go into overtime. Just love them.
14 June 2006
Imprisoned GOP Official Speaks Out
A follow-up to this post about the Bush campaign official who was sent to prison for breaking the law (i.e. being a Republican):
(from Wes)
For nearly a decade, Allen Raymond stood at the top ranks of Republican Party power.
But most recently, Raymond has been in prison. And for that, he blames himself, but also says he was part of a Republican political culture that emphasizes hardball tactics and polarizing voters.
"A lot of people look at politics and see it as the guy who wins is the guy who unifies the most people," he said. "I would disagree. I would say the candidate who wins is the candidate who polarizes the right bloc of voters. You always want to polarize somebody."
...he said he got caught up in an ultra-aggressive atmosphere in which he initially thought the decision to jam the phones "pushed the envelope" but was legal. He also said he had been reluctant to turn down a prominent official of the RNC, fearing that would cost him future opportunities from an organization that was becoming increasingly ruthless.
[more...]
And now you know how the GOP works (in case you're one of the sad many who doesn't). There's always a sycophant willing to sacrifice ethics for personal gain ("loyalty" if you need to translate into Republican).
(from Wes)
For nearly a decade, Allen Raymond stood at the top ranks of Republican Party power.
But most recently, Raymond has been in prison. And for that, he blames himself, but also says he was part of a Republican political culture that emphasizes hardball tactics and polarizing voters.
"A lot of people look at politics and see it as the guy who wins is the guy who unifies the most people," he said. "I would disagree. I would say the candidate who wins is the candidate who polarizes the right bloc of voters. You always want to polarize somebody."
...he said he got caught up in an ultra-aggressive atmosphere in which he initially thought the decision to jam the phones "pushed the envelope" but was legal. He also said he had been reluctant to turn down a prominent official of the RNC, fearing that would cost him future opportunities from an organization that was becoming increasingly ruthless.
[more...]
And now you know how the GOP works (in case you're one of the sad many who doesn't). There's always a sycophant willing to sacrifice ethics for personal gain ("loyalty" if you need to translate into Republican).
09 June 2006
French Open Final Might Make History
It's down to the final weekend, and only 2 men now stand between Roger Federer and tennis history. Unfortunately, those 2 men have beaten Federer more than anyone else on the tour. Federer seems to have overcome the Nalbandian curse, but he has his hands full with Rafael Nadal. Nadal has won 57 straight matches on clay and is the defending French Open champ. He is the only player to beat Federer this year. So Federer has to beat the best clay court player in the world on his best surface (I am assuming Nadal will win his semifinal).
That's a tall order, and when I think about it, that's how it should be. To win 4 straight slams in amazing enough, but to beat the world's best clay-courter and defending champ on clay would be truly extraordinary. What a way to complete a Grand Slam.
But like I said, that's a tall order. I can't remember a more anticipated matchup in a grand slam final. This is the one everyone has been drooling for. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a dud. That's happened too often in the French finals in recent years.
Go Roger!
That's a tall order, and when I think about it, that's how it should be. To win 4 straight slams in amazing enough, but to beat the world's best clay-courter and defending champ on clay would be truly extraordinary. What a way to complete a Grand Slam.
But like I said, that's a tall order. I can't remember a more anticipated matchup in a grand slam final. This is the one everyone has been drooling for. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a dud. That's happened too often in the French finals in recent years.
Go Roger!
08 June 2006
Council Should Vote on City Manager Nominee
City Council says the mayor needs to submit multiple candidates for city manager so that they can choose who is best. Mayor Mallory says he just needs to submit one name for an up or down vote.
I haven’t read the city charter, but I’ve watched Mallory over the years, and I’ve noticed that he’s a careful study of rules, procedure and regulations. So if I had to guess who read the charter correctly, I’d guess Mallory.
But it’s another point that gets under my skin: council members aren’t complaining that there are better candidates out there. They are only complaining that they don’t get to interview more candidates. But the only reason they have given for interviewing more candidates is that they want to interview more candidates.
What this tells me is that these council members do not know what they want in a city manager, whereas Mark Mallory does. If they knew what they were looking for, they would quickly interview Milton Dohoney and ask him about the specific issues that matter to them. But they don’t know what issues matter to them, so they can only carp about not having more choices.
It’s like asking for a multiple choice test because you’re not quite ready for fill-in-the-blanks.
Valerie Lemmie lambasted council for micromanaging everything on the city manager’s desk, and it looks like the new council is doing the same thing before it even hires someone. If they can’t say exactly what they are looking for and why Milton Dohoney does or does not meet their expectations, then they shouldn’t make excuses and blame the mayor for it. They should either abstain or vote based on his background and qualifications.
I haven’t read the city charter, but I’ve watched Mallory over the years, and I’ve noticed that he’s a careful study of rules, procedure and regulations. So if I had to guess who read the charter correctly, I’d guess Mallory.
But it’s another point that gets under my skin: council members aren’t complaining that there are better candidates out there. They are only complaining that they don’t get to interview more candidates. But the only reason they have given for interviewing more candidates is that they want to interview more candidates.
What this tells me is that these council members do not know what they want in a city manager, whereas Mark Mallory does. If they knew what they were looking for, they would quickly interview Milton Dohoney and ask him about the specific issues that matter to them. But they don’t know what issues matter to them, so they can only carp about not having more choices.
It’s like asking for a multiple choice test because you’re not quite ready for fill-in-the-blanks.
Valerie Lemmie lambasted council for micromanaging everything on the city manager’s desk, and it looks like the new council is doing the same thing before it even hires someone. If they can’t say exactly what they are looking for and why Milton Dohoney does or does not meet their expectations, then they shouldn’t make excuses and blame the mayor for it. They should either abstain or vote based on his background and qualifications.
07 June 2006
States Sue EPA Over Lax Pollution Controls
New York, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont joined Wisconsin in filing the lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The states, led by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, want the government to require tighter pollution controls on the newest generation of power plants. [More...]
The cities of Washington and NYC have also joined the lawsuit. What about Cincinnati and Hamilton County? The Ohio Valley has high pollution and high incidence of air quality sickness. Asthma mortality rates are higher than average as well. It certainly makes sense for SW Ohio to be interested in this issue, if not join the lawsuit.
But since this is an issue that affects our region directly, does it make sense to join the lawsuit? Would City Council support it? Would Mayor Mallory?
County Commissioners DeWine and Heimlich are in the pockets of corporate special interests, so it’s unrealistic to imagine them backing the lawsuit, but what if David Pepper gets elected? That would give Portune and Pepper the majority.
Feel free to contact council and the mayor with your thoughts. If you want to give your two cents to the EPA as well, I believe this is the person to write to (no email listed; guess the EPA still prefers snail mail):
Jeffrey Holmstead
Asst. Administrator for Air & Radiation
EPA
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460-0001
The states, led by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, want the government to require tighter pollution controls on the newest generation of power plants. [More...]
The cities of Washington and NYC have also joined the lawsuit. What about Cincinnati and Hamilton County? The Ohio Valley has high pollution and high incidence of air quality sickness. Asthma mortality rates are higher than average as well. It certainly makes sense for SW Ohio to be interested in this issue, if not join the lawsuit.
But since this is an issue that affects our region directly, does it make sense to join the lawsuit? Would City Council support it? Would Mayor Mallory?
County Commissioners DeWine and Heimlich are in the pockets of corporate special interests, so it’s unrealistic to imagine them backing the lawsuit, but what if David Pepper gets elected? That would give Portune and Pepper the majority.
Feel free to contact council and the mayor with your thoughts. If you want to give your two cents to the EPA as well, I believe this is the person to write to (no email listed; guess the EPA still prefers snail mail):
Jeffrey Holmstead
Asst. Administrator for Air & Radiation
EPA
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460-0001
01 June 2006
War, Faith and Reason
I'll be in Roanoke, VA until Monday to attend (and photograph) a friend's wedding. I'll suspend blogging until I return.
But I will leave you with 3 thoughts to ponder. Two are below; the 3rd is in the previous post.
From the poem Dulce et decorum est by Wilfred Owen (which is in the opening to Chris Hedges' excellent book War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning):
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues -
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.*
(* It is sweet and meet (fitting) to die for one's country).
And from Friedrich Nietzsche:
"Christianity and the Emotions":
Within Christianity there is also a great popular protest against philosophy: ...To this end, it denies virtue as it was conceived by the philosophers - as victory of reason over emotion. It condemns rationality in general, and challenges human passions to reveal themselves in their extremest grandeur and strength as love of God, fear of God, as fanatical faith in God, as the blindest hope in God.
But I will leave you with 3 thoughts to ponder. Two are below; the 3rd is in the previous post.
From the poem Dulce et decorum est by Wilfred Owen (which is in the opening to Chris Hedges' excellent book War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning):
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues -
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.*
(* It is sweet and meet (fitting) to die for one's country).
And from Friedrich Nietzsche:
"Christianity and the Emotions":
Within Christianity there is also a great popular protest against philosophy: ...To this end, it denies virtue as it was conceived by the philosophers - as victory of reason over emotion. It condemns rationality in general, and challenges human passions to reveal themselves in their extremest grandeur and strength as love of God, fear of God, as fanatical faith in God, as the blindest hope in God.
The Power and the Glory
See if you can guess whose thoughts these are:
My profession progressed satisfactorily, but that was far from satisying me. The question of further simplifying my life and of doing some concrete act of service to my felowmen had been constantly agitating me, when a leper came to my door. I had not the heart to dismiss him with a meal. So I offered him shelter, dressed his wounds, and began to look after him...
But I was still ill at ease. I longed for some humanitarian work of a permanent nature... So I found time to serve in the small hospital. This work brought me some peace. It consisted in ascertaining the patient's complaints, laying the facts before the doctor and dispensing the prescriptions. It brought me in close touch with suffering Indians...
(From Gandhi's autobiography, The Story of My Experiments With Truth (and please note that it's Gandhi and not "Ghandi")
Gandhi went on to free an occupied nation of several hundred million people without money, military, media or Mr. Jesus. What did he understand that America does not?
(The Power and the Glory is a novel by Graham Greene)
My profession progressed satisfactorily, but that was far from satisying me. The question of further simplifying my life and of doing some concrete act of service to my felowmen had been constantly agitating me, when a leper came to my door. I had not the heart to dismiss him with a meal. So I offered him shelter, dressed his wounds, and began to look after him...
But I was still ill at ease. I longed for some humanitarian work of a permanent nature... So I found time to serve in the small hospital. This work brought me some peace. It consisted in ascertaining the patient's complaints, laying the facts before the doctor and dispensing the prescriptions. It brought me in close touch with suffering Indians...
(From Gandhi's autobiography, The Story of My Experiments With Truth (and please note that it's Gandhi and not "Ghandi")
Gandhi went on to free an occupied nation of several hundred million people without money, military, media or Mr. Jesus. What did he understand that America does not?
(The Power and the Glory is a novel by Graham Greene)
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