Thursday, March 12, 2009

Mom---Moooooommm

Here we go again with a casino initiative. It's not really the casino idea itself that's bothering me, it's the fact that we defeated it only four months ago. After months and months of endless political advertising from both sides. I'd love some sort of legislation that forces any initiative that fails to skip at least one election before trying again. Makes me think of the little kids who keep repeating the same request over and over until they wear mom down and she finally says yes. Please mom, please, please, please can I have a casino? I'm just gonna keep saying no.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Holiday

A little bit of fun for International Women's Day

Comics and Editorial Cartoons: Non Sequitur on Yahoo! News

Old Memories

Joe Wessels column in this week's CityBeat is a loving tribute to Cincinnati icon Uncle Al. While I didn't grow up in Cincinnati and watch Uncle Al, I saw several parallels to my own life. Where you had Uncle Al, in Cleveland we had Barnaby on WUAB 43. It's been so long I can't remember much specifically about him but I do remember him as kindly, older guy, not unlike Captain Kangaroo. I tried searching for info but couldn't find anything which makes me wonder if anyone else remembers him at all.
Like Joe, I'd always look for the WJW studios right along the Shoreway. He looked for Uncle Al down here, while I looked for the weatherman, Dick Goddard. This guy was my hero when I was a kid- I was fascinated by the weather. I wanted to do that when I grew up & my grandma bought me his books, which were crammed with information about all kinds of weather. He's been on the air so long, I thought he must have retired by now, but he was still going at it when I was up north at Christmas. The guy is a weather diety.
We also had the tv that turned with a dial and took five minutes to warm up. Not only that, but after years of use, the dial wore out and you had to turn it with a pair of pliers. I also remember my dad going down to the drugstore to test and buy tubes for the thing. Christmas gift to the family at 15- after the original moved up to Maine and back- a new tv.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Downtown Life

Coming home from the gym today, I noticed bunches of flowers outside Jean-Robert at Pigall's, presumably left by those in mourning over the demise of our city's only 4-star restaurant.

Jean-Robert At Pigall's

Meanwhile, there's a real life CSI going on up on 9th between Elm & Race. Bet you won't see as many bouquets on the street from people mourning that victim. I'll also wager you don't get to discuss such exciting topics at your gym in the suburbs.