Andrew Warner

What started as solid coverage of the smoking ban has turned into a platform for dirt bars and their dirty customers.

The Enquirer just can't stop knocking the smoking ban.

We get it Enquirer, there's a few bar owners who want us to think that the sky is falling. And yes, they all have the same standard issue BS given to them by some lawyer looking to topple a law passed by the voters of Ohio:

The group's lawsuit claims the law is an unconstitutional infringement of their members' privacy and property rights. It has requested an order stopping enforcement of the new rules until the issues are given a full hearing in court.

How many times do they have to say this before it becomes true?

If they manage to find a cigarette-puffing judge who accepts their sophomoric legal argument, I'll be excited. That's right. Excited.

The first thing I'm going to do is simple. Open a strip club. Damn it, I'm going to buy a property and there's going to be all sorts of titties on display. It'll be my property and no one has the right to tell me I can't have some strippers in it. Heck, that doesn't even cause any health problems.

At my nudey bar I'm going to host gunfight Wednesdays. Anyone who wants to can come in with their six-shooters and start duels – Wild West style. I'm sure the cops will try to break it up, but frankly, it's my property and if I choose to ignore the laws passed by other citizens, that's none of their concern.

To be honest, I'm disgusted with the state of things right now.

The media's pretending like every bar is crumbling to the ground (which it's not). They keep telling us these anecdotal stories about little dirt bars in Cheviot who are apparently in competition with veteran's halls while failing to report facts or figures about sales

I'm sad about Ohioans (Cincinnati in general since Cleveland (I think) and Columbus already have smoking bans). Are you so addicted to tobacco that you have to do damage to other people to get your fix? It's fucking pathetic. Get some chew or something you addicted pansy.

And bars, if 90 percent of your clientele (as reported by on bar owner in the Enquirer article) smoke, you're a terrible businessperson. Stop catering to addicts and junkies. It's business. Evolve or die.

Labels: Cincinnati, Ohio politics, smoking ban

Posted by Andrew Warner at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments   

The Lindners are nothing if not predictable.

A fundamentalist, pro-life (when it's convenient), business-loving Republican pops up and the Lindners are there to pick up the tab.

The corporate kings of Cincinnati have raised a bananas amount of money for the double-talking Mormon, making Romney the clear money-winner in Ohio with $478,030.

As The Enquirer explains, Romney is barely a blip on the radar – he's a crazy Mormon, what do you expect? – but fundamentalists with money are bound to get him some much-undeserved attention.

Funny how that works.

If you're a "fringe candidate" like Ralph Nader you get demonized and criticized by more "mainstream" thinkers. If you're someone who believes some farm boy discovered golden plates in the woods, only to have them taken away and not be seen by other people, you're destined to get plugged into the media and big money network.

Sadly, crazy people with shitloads of money will topple principles and accomplishment all the time.

Labels: Cincinnati, mormons, National Politics

Posted by Andrew Warner at 5:48 PM | Permalink | Comments   

Funny stuff. Looks like it will be a cool new web site too.

Labels: media, random

Posted by Andrew Warner at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments   

A sunny cool day yesterday meant a perfect day to get down to the ballpark (for some reason only 10,000 people showed up). To top off the perfect weather, the game was neck and neck until the Reds blew it open in the bottom of the seventh.

And yes, the Reds are first in our division now.

I love sports and I love the Reds, but something keeps getting me down at the games: Our fans are complete assholes.

Milwaukee centerfielder Bill Hall suffered the worst of it last night. One drunken, pot-bellied man in right center field couldn't control himself being in earshot Hall. He continued to harass Hall (who made a few mistakes in the field but pummeled the ball at the plate) until the last out. Every stinging comment was a huge victory in what was obviously a very small life.

That wasn't the worst of it, though.

Ken Griffey Jr., our own superstar, got an earful throughout the game from "Reds faithful" in right field. "Why didn't you dive for it Griffey?" "Ryan Freel would have dove for that!" "You're overpaid!" Nothing better than a group of might-be little league coaches harassing a 10 time Gold Glove winner about his fielding decisions. It only sweetens the hypocrisy that these are the same fans who get on Griffey for hurting himself too frequently (diving for balls and jumping into walls, of course).

Fans need to clean up their act here in the Nati. And if you're thinking about taking kids to the game, make sure you explain that the people on the field are winners and the people heckling them are losers. That way the kids will grow up emulating the successful people and not the small ones.

Labels: Cincinnati, Sports

Posted by Andrew Warner at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments   

I'm sure you're all aware by now that the smoking ban official kicks in on May 1st.

I'm upset it took them so damn to get things straightened out and that they tinkered with the law as passed by voters, but what can you do? All in all, it's still sound legislation and a big win for Ohio.

Now all I have to worry about is that sting of guilt when I report my favorite bars and cause them to get fat fines. But hey, it's not my fault they can't respect the law.

Labels: Ohio politics, smoking ban

Posted by Andrew Warner at 7:57 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Check out the whole site, and there's much more information to be taken in, here.

Of course, I still support the 9/11 Truth community.

Labels: random

Posted by Andrew Warner at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments   

Not only is Romney a Mormon, he kills animals for fun (at least that's what he tells conservatives to look cool). Maybe he's on a quest to push all my buttons.

I love how so-called Christians deliver their compassion to all the creatures of the world with a "semi-automatic." Nothing screams Christianity like a bloody, dead quail.

Too bad Romney doesn't apply the Golden Rule (or some lesser known quack principle from the Book of Mormon) to those animals who can't fight back.

What am I thinking? Romney has sold out all of his principles while positioning himself for the presidency. He'd probably sacrifice his first-born if he thought it would carry Iowa. Why would he stop for a second to think about animals?

Labels: animal rights, National Politics, Vegan

Posted by Andrew Warner at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments   

A critique of Mallory's performance...

Labels: Cincinnati

Posted by Andrew Warner at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments   

I never thought I'd see the day Geraldo Rivera looked like an American hero. Thanks to Papa Bear, that day has come.



The fact that this guy is one of the most popular figures in the media makes me sick. It just doesn't seem fair.

But in the words of Papa Bear: FAIRNESS BULL!


(hat tip to Daily Kos)

Labels: media, National Politics

Posted by Andrew Warner at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Cincinnati's crown prince of sleaziness Bob Huggins has proved once again he's a man without class. After one year of Huggins mediocrity at Kansas State, he is bolting to West Virginia.

Huggins was out of coaching for a year before he was hired by Kansas State. Had the school known he would be departing so soon, Wefald said, Huggins would not have been hired to coach the Wildcats.

"If Bob had indicated to us about a year ago this time that he needed something in his contract about (being allowed to leave Kansas State to coach) his alma mater, then we would have gone on," Wefald said. "We would have looked at somebody else."

There you have it. If Huggins had told the truth, he wouldn't have gotten the job. Now a bunch of young athletes are screwed (stuck in Kansas) and K-State is left holding the bag while Huggins makes his getaway.

Maybe Cincinnati will let him go a little more now that he has proved, again and again, that he is a world-class douche.

Update: Paul Daugherty chimes in with a similar sentiment.

Labels: Sports

Posted by Andrew Warner at 6:39 AM | Permalink | Comments   

The Enquirer has reported Justin Boyer, the Ohio leader of the American National Socialist Workers party has announced that Cincinnati has granted a permit for the Nazi group to protest on April 20 in Over-the-Rhine. Boyer states that the purpose of the protest is, "To make the Over-the-Rhine ghetto safe for regular foot traffic by white people." Boyer hopes that a few uniformed members will attend and that smaller numbers will increase the nazi group's glory. The group protested in Toledo last October. The mayor of Toledo holds the nazi group responsible for the riots that broke out there with a counter protest group.

This will undoubtedly alarm many in Cincinnati who can easily remember the April 2001 riots. As someone who lived in Cincinnati at the time I saw the immediate and long term problems that resulted from the riots. Part of the reason Over-the-Rhine is so dangerous is because of the riots. Most people would love to see a safe Over-the-Rhine not for the "foot traffic by white people" but, for the people who live there. A revitalized Over-the-Rhine would be great for the city's economy and culture as well. The nazis are not going to be the group to bring safety to the city and, many will be really pissed off about their protest and, some will counter protest.

The First Amendment is a wonderful thing. It allows dialogue and change. Even though the protest will be inflammatory and racist, good could come of it. The City of Cincinnati needs to take this opportunity to show that violence does not have to break out. I think it would be a great showing for the city if the protest went on and nothing happened. It would give Cincinnatians confidence in the police department and city government if the protest went on without the violence and riots that happened in Toledo. If the protest goes on and there isn't an outbreak of violence maybe Cincinnati is capable of being safe.

Labels: Cincinnati, Downtown

Posted by Samantha Webb at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments   

Discovery Communications (as in the Discover Channel) is capitalizing on the trendy environmental fervor and releasing a 24-hour channel with a focus on environmentally-conscious living.

The only group not capitalizing on all the momentum of the green movement is the Green Party. Hopefully they'll get on board soon. After all, it was kind of their baby.

Labels: environment, media

Posted by Andrew Warner at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Mark Mallory threw one WAY wide right on Jimmy Kimmel Live while trying to erase his new reputation as a pie-thrower. But with Kurt Russell urging him on behind the plate, Mallory did manage to bounce a second attempt into Russell's glove.

Check out the video here.

This bout of bad pitching may be slightly embarrassing for our mayor, but it sure ain't hurting his name recognition.

Just so we can all remember the original:

Labels: Cincinnati

Posted by Andrew Warner at 8:21 AM | Permalink | Comments   

The two frontrunners for the Democratic nomination would both be historical choices for America. One is a woman. One is black (as billed by the media in spite of being a mixed-race American).

I'm not so quick to buy into Clinton or Obama – despite the fact they are clearly the darlings of the media.

Historically, people who are polled in pre-election opinion polls say they will vote for minority candidates on Election Day, but once in the voting booth they have a change of heart.

Edwards, who is killing in Iowa by the way, in contrast to the media favorites is the clean-cut whitey in the race. Mix that with a message geared towards winning a Democratic primary (anti-war, pro-unions and pro-helping the poor) and you've got all the makings of an upset.

Now I don't particularly have feelings for any of these Democratic candidates (I'm still pulling for a Nader candidacy), but I don't believe that America has made the type of progress that will make the 2008 election a milestone event.

Hopefully I'm wrong.

Posted by Andrew Warner at 8:09 AM | Permalink | Comments   

All the dust has settled since the presidential money numbers have been filed. As it turns out, the Democrats are pummeling their Republican counterparts in fundraising dollars. That's usually the job of big money Republicans.

Rumor has it Democrats are actually satisfied with their candidates for once.

Labels: National Politics

Posted by Andrew Warner at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments   

According to the The New York Times a new Republican is throwing his hat into the crowded GOP ring.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, a representative from Colorado, wants to tap into anti-immigrant sentiment and pull other quiet Republicans into his conversation. It doesn't seem like he's in it to win it – not like he would have a chance anyway.

Mr. Tancredo made his announcement as other candidates began disclosing their reports on fund-raising in the first quarter of 2007. He acknowledged that he did not have the money his rivals would have.

“We have something they don’t have: a group of people out there who are there because of an issue,” Mr. Tancredo said. “They’re never going to have that. They can use their 100 million to try and buy constituency. I have it. It’s natural. It’s there.”

This is so not the Republican way. They usually don't let things get so bloody at primary time, but with this many candidates vying for attention (and money), it's going to get messy on the Republican side of the aisle in '08.

Labels: National Politics

Posted by Andrew Warner at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments   

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, in the tradition of Mormons with presidential aspirations, has struck gold – the only difference with his cash and the gold discovered by Joseph Smith is that Romney's is real.

Not only is the pack leading $21 million raised by Romney real, it's an absurdly high amount of dough this early in a campaign.

It only figures that all that cash is going to the dirtiest politician in the race. Apparently his complete lack of concrete principles and ability to completely change his message from campaign to campaign is admired by wealthy Republicans everywhere.

What a shock.

I still have confidence that the American people, even fundamentalist Republicans, won't see fit to elevate Romney any higher than he's already rose. Heavyweights Rudolph Giuliani and John McCain are still househould names. Romney's still a Mormon.

Labels: mormons, National Politics

Posted by Andrew Warner at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments   

I'm on the verge of graduation and it's too late for me, but Metro and the University of Cincinnati are finally doing the right thing: Giving free rides to UC students.

This is one of the best ways to reduce traffic and move UC's thousands of students to areas of the city that could benefit from our disposable income.

Believe it or not, though, a lot of UC students are scared of the bus. It came up in a class last quarter and several students said they would never step foot on a Metro bus. Hopefully they'll get over that suburban fear quickly. Once they ride it to school a couple times, or downtown for a Reds game, I imagine they will.

Labels: Cincinnati, Downtown, UC

Posted by Andrew Warner at 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments