Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Quick Read

January 20, 2009… I was wondering what would lead the news today?

The Dispatch’s “The Day Has Come” headline was perfect… Equally perfect, their centerpiece story on the history of inaugurals… Meredith Heageny’s story on service was a sparkling compliment… And Simone Sebastian’s continuance of her Walnut ridge series, should have been featured on the front page… (Instead, it was lost on A5)…

Life and Arts also presented two compelling features… Tim Ferran’s striking portrayal of the Arts and Design artist who designed Time Magazine’s Inaugural preview cover… And a lead piece, which despite it’s turbulent beginning, painted an interesting portrait of Ohio horse riders, who will take part in the parade…

Even normally anemic Bob Hunter’s column, which contrasted the progress in racial society with the lack of racial progress in sports, was outstanding…

Monday, January 19, 2009

BREAKING: Space, Taylor Explore Campaigns

Auditor Mary Taylor (Republican) and Congressman Zack Space (Democrat) are actively exploring Senate campaigns, Gossip CBUS has learned. Last week, Senator George Voinovich announced his retirement. To date, Rob Portman is the only announced candidate.

While neither Taylor nor Space has formed an expletory committee, both have sought assessments of their prospects. Space has, according to sources to close to him, discussed prospective campaign managers and personnel. Taylor has yet to speak with potential staff.

In 2006, Space defeated state senator Joy Padgett, to replace now imprisoned Congressman Bob Ney. In the same election, Taylor defeated Barbara Sykes, to become Ohio’s 31st Auditor.

Three Crimes, Three Victims, One Death, One Rape, and One Suspect

Numbers twenty-seven and twenty-eight underscore the continued danger in the city’s east and southeast sides… The third story is the suspect in last night’s Belcher Drive shooting…

10 TV:
A man was found shot to death Monday night in an apartment on the near east side. Police said the man was discovered around 9 p.m. by his roommate at the apartment at 1160 Oak St... The shooting is being investigated as a homicide, and police said the victim may have shot in the course of a robbery.

10 TV: At least five men broke into the apartment on Shore Boulevard, located north of Interstate 270 in southeast Columbus, at about 1:30 a.m… Investigators said the woman inside may have been sexually assaulted. She was transported to the hospital. There was no immediate word on her condition.

10 TV: Police identified a man on Monday whom they suspect shot and killed a woman over the weekend while she was on the phone with emergency dispatchers. The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon at an apartment on Belcher Drive, located on the city's southeast side.... On Monday afternoon, police announced that murder charges had been filed against Tyrone Scales in connection with the ... Court records revealed that Scales, 22, pleaded guilty to gun charges about two years ago. Anyone with information about Scales' whereabouts was asked to contact Columbus police.

Quick Read

Randy Ludlow (front page) and Sherri Williams (metro section) conclude their excellent week of pre-inaugural coverage… Williams piece especially, which centered on the impact that President-Elect Obama’s impending ascension has had on younger minorities)… Life and Arts also features a fascinating sidebar about the rush of titles dedicated to Mr. Obama’s election and presidency. (The section’s story on the Columbus Museum is also worth reading)…

Elizabeth Williams types the metro section’s most compelling column, which discusses the lack of a Bexley Senior Center… Unfortunately, the column falls woefully flat in not discussing how, given the East Side’s terrible reputation, the lack of a center truly impacts senior’s lives… Also falling woefully short was the section’s front-page story on bowling (no, I’m not kidding)…

The Business section (which I know I never mention), features a pair of interesting reads… The first discussing the condo complex at Broad and High… The second discussing Tech Columbus and it’s medical grants… Both could have easily been elevated to front-page stories… Particularly, the Tech Columbus piece, as I am certain most non computer people don’t know what Tech Columbus is…

Sunday, January 18, 2009

BREAKING: Voinovich Was Unwanted

The Republican National Committee did not want Senator George Voinovich to seek re-election, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. As Gossip Cbus first reported, Senator George Voinovich announced his retirement on Monday.

“When you look at our map, he was one we were really concerned about. Bluntly, we didn’t think he could win,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He’s old, he’s ineffective, and quite frankly he’s a voice the party, the direction we want to go in, we need to go in, doesn’t need.”

After resigning as Lieutenant Governor, Voinovich defeated Dennis Kucinich and served as Mayor of Cleveland from 1980-1989. He then defeated Anthony Celebrezze and served as Governor from 1990-1998. Elected Ohio’s 59th Senator, he served as junior senator until 2006. Since 2007, he has served as Ohio’s senior senator.

“He would have faced a brutal re-elect and quite frankly, he wasn’t up to it,” said the source. “You look at the 2006 race (Mike Dewine vs. Sherrod Brown), that would have been the blueprint and he couldn’t survive it. Yes, the guy was a great fundraiser, a good man, but he no way could he have kept the seat.”

Potential Republican replacements are already maneuvering, according to several sources. While Rob Portman has announced his campaign, Mike Dewine and Mary Taylor are undecided. Our source would not comment on Portman or other prospective candidates.

Charity & Child’s Play

For February, a pair of major announcements… (These will rerun twice, separately… still, you may want to mark you calendar)…

Eddie George’s Grille Super Bowl Sunday Silent Auction (February 1): Auction items will include the V.I.P. Owner’s Box, as well as entertainment and sports memorabilia. Owner’s Box winner and seven guests will receive appetizers and drinks. All proceeds benefit the Glimmer of Hope Foundation, America’s only under-40 breast cancer study.

Duck & Dodge National Dodge ball Tournament (February 28): The Easton Sports Barn (3599 Chiller Lane) will host this unique event. Registration is underway ($130 per squad).

Criminal Sunday

Three very different incidents that demonstrate the same point… No activity is completely safe…

10 TV:
A woman was shot to death while she called 911 for help from the porch of her north side apartment Sunday afternoon. Neighbors heard the gunshots, but didn't see the shooter. Police found the victim face down in front of her apartment on Belcher Drive. Police said the victim called 911 a first time to report a disturbance. The woman called again and the dispatcher heard gunshots. The victim was taken to the hospital where she died. Her name has not been released.

10 TV: Police said thieves used a blowtorch to gain entry into an armored car office and got away with packages of rolled coins. The robbery took place late Saturday night or early Sunday morning at the Brinks office at 1362 Essex Ave. on the north side… Authorities believe it took several hours for the thieves to remove the coins. Police and the FBI are investigating the robbery.

10 TV: Police said a fight Saturday night at Easton Town Center started after a group of teenagers were upset that a movie was sold out. Easton mall security and officers on horseback and in cruisers responded to the mall at Easton at about 9:30 p.m… Police regained control of the crowd and directed the teenagers to the other side of Morse Crossing and away from the movie theater. That is where parents were able to pick up their children.

You Have Questions... I Have Answers

Since Gossip Cbus began, I’ve been swamped with e-mail (thanks for the love)… While I’ve tried to give individual responses to several, I also know that some of the questions are questions others may have and thus, answering them publicly would be better… Therefore, from time to time, I will answer questions where everyone can see them…

Q: Does Gossip Cbus have a Facebook page?
A: Yes, we do and in the next few weeks will be launching some major initiatives with it… We simply haven’t had the opportunity to do a lot with it but I promise that will change soon… If you want to friend us now (prior to any announcements), simply search our e-mail address on facebook (It wouldn’t let us use Gossip Cbus for our name stupid facebook)…

Q: My friend forwarded me a link he received from an e-mail. Is there an update list I can join?
A: Your friend had likely e-mailed us and as a result received one of the very few (I think three total) mass e-mails we sent out… I don’t like mass e-mails and as a result, Gossip Cbus probably wont do one… With that said, we will have a place you can go for breaking news alerts and we will also be announcing that soon…

Q: I’ve noticed you promoted several events that you didn’t cover. Was that a result of this week’s snow?
A: Absolutely. With all due respect to the brave people who ventured out Wednesday, I was not about to… Weather is a constant variable and unfortunately, it sometimes wrecks out schedule (and several cars)…

Q: You said last week that you don’t consider other Columbus publications or websites your competitors? If this is the case, why should I read you and not them?
A: If you want to read the others and us, please do so… But, since you asked why you should read us, read us because we are better. Columbus Alive, U Weekly, the Other Paper, 614 Magazine, Metromix, and Columbus Underground… All of us have a role, but none of these outlets publishes anything on the volume of legitimate news we do… With Gossip Cbus, there’s always the possibility of finding out something you didn’t know…

Quick Read

Simone Sebastian provided another exquisite inaugural feature, continuing the Dispatch’s noteworthy coverage of the impending inauguration. Unfortunately, Sebastian’s masterwork was offset by Randy Ludlow’s banner lead about prisoner’s families, who attempt to sneak drugs into the prisons (you mean degenerate people come from degenerate families? I am shocked)…

Tim May’s column on the OSU wide receiving corps seeking a new voice, given the departure of another pair of potential draft picks, was the highlight in an otherwise dull sports section… The column on Manny Malhotra was well written, but was less a feature, than it was a necessitation of his statistics… And Bob Hunter’s column made me want to run through a glass window… His entire premise was that Jim Tressel isn’t perfect and given recent high profile losses, changes are necessary… YOU THINK?

Metro and State ran an outstanding piece on the opening on another expansion of OSU’s medical center (which should have run front page, considering what the university means to this city)… Sadly, their lead was a Hunter clone, with a headline that screamed “Death Days For Retail” (Again, thank you for telling us what we already know)…

Life and Arts had a trio of great features on art exhibits which are opening, notably the exhibition at the King Center Arts Complex… And Joe Hallet typed a beautiful column on his personal memories of retiring Senator George Voinovich…

A Change Has Come, But Not Completely…

The tables were set. Perfectly folded white napkins… Elegant crystal stemware… Exquisite centerpieces, place settings, and table cloths… These immaculate arrangements would have been identical to those at the Selma, Alabama Country Club in 1962… But this evening, at the Medallion Club in Westerville, Ohio, was different. Seated at the pristine tables, discussing the impending presidential administration, were spectacularly dressed African-Americans… Waiting to serve them, dressed in aprons and servant attire, were three Caucasians.

“A Celebration of Change Inaugural Ball,” conceived and hosted by Linda Evans, was more than a gala tribute to President-Elect Obama… It was a national history lesson for this nation. A lot has been made of the history of Tuesday. So much has been made that the distinction “first black president” has almost become a cliché… But, sitting among these two dozen on Saturday, one quickly understood how much this moment means. One quickly understood history, at its core, is not an overall distinction; it is the personal experience of those living it…

The most intriguing aspect of this evening was the firm grasp of reality the people I spoke with had… Jokes were made throughout the campaign about “hope” and “change.” There has been an almost utopian belief by some that President-Elect Obama will step into the Oval Office on Tuesday and the world will heal… And there has been the insular view of some, who have quickly shrugged off the opportunity that this moment gives America for a national dialogue on the various problems facing the African-American community…

As I sat and spoke with individuals, one could truly see them grappling with, what their chosen and elected candidate had previously called “the fierce urgency of now.” They aren’t wide-eyed or zealous… They are optimistic. They understand that this job wont be done overnight. They understand that failure is a possibility. They concede the fact that this is the moment that the tough conversations, on single parents and violence, should happen… But, they are empowered by a renewed sense of promise… The realization that they our nation’s citizens are not inadequate… They are powerful beyond measure…

Only hours before his assassination, Martin Luther King stood before a church audience in Memphis and said, “I’ve been to the mountaintop and I’ve seen the promise land…I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!”

After two hours and a dozen conversations, the mindset of the people I had spoken with was evident… They are, at this moment, in the Promised Land… America may not be and they may not see America there again… But one day, because of this moment, America will return as a promised land.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

It’s Basketball Season… And Michigan Still Sucks

Given the fact that this game took place at 8:00 on a Saturday… I’m guessing not a lot of people were watching… Still, it’s a victory over Michigan…

Ohio State's youthful regulars grew up a little Saturday night, just in time to help the Buckeyes upset their Big Ten rivals Sophomore Evan Turner scored 19 points and freshmen William Buford and B.J. Mullens each added 15 to help the Buckeyes beat Michigan (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, No. 25 AP) 65-58, spoiling the Wolverines' celebration of their 1988-89 national championship team. Each of the trio scored during a 10-0 run in the final five minutes that broke a 47-all tie and gave Ohio State (13-3, 3-2) the lead for good.

It’s What We Call the News

NBC 4: Columbus police were quickly on the scene of a sidewalk in the 700 block of Bryden avenue Saturday afternoon after a call alerted them to a man described as shot in the chest. They found the man lying on the walk with a wound from a small caliber handgun on the left side of his chest. He was whisked to Grant by ambulance in stable condition.

Number twenty-six epitomizes the decline of this city…. Its not even safe to walk down the street…

10 TV: Expect snow showers early Sunday morning… we could see an inch of accumulation by early Sunday. Snow showers will move out by Sunday afternoon. Temperatures peak shy of 30 degrees… it could snow again Sunday night. There is another chance for light snow showers on Monday. Expect partly cloudy skies for most of the work week. Temperatures gradually climb back to highs in the 30s by weeks end. The next chance for snow arrives on Friday.

The bad news, roads will be terrible tomorrow… The good news, it’s championship Sunday, so no one will be on them anyway…

Quick Read

As I scanned an anemic Saturday front page, my eyes were drawn to one piece… “Bird Strikes Common at Airports in Columbus.” This piece was enterprising, well written… It was the perfect sidebar piece… FOR THURSDAY, the day the U.S. Airways crash happened…

The sluggish edition went from bad to worse, with metro featuring a story on the Short North robber, which gave me nothing more than I already knew… Newspapers, if you’re going to insist on covering the same stories we do, you could at least do some reporting… You have more time…

The Dispatch’s lone bright spots were Life and Arts excellent pictorial of the previous two days winter weather and an interesting metro section front-page column on fire hydrant procedures… Never has a potentially boring subject been made so readable…

Finally, I want to take a moment and personally address a commenter to this blog, who (besides ranting about the Columbus Crew), said that dissecting a newspaper and posting about it has to be a new level of lame… Some people love this feature; some people hate this feature (and I have the e-mails to prove both)… The point of this section isn’t to please anyone, its to provide analysis of what we are reading and hopefully make those typing the columns more attune to what we want.

Friday, January 16, 2009

INVITE: St. Practice Day

“Think You’re Ready For St. Patrick’s Day? Let’s Practice”

Commencement: 9:00

Venue: McFadden’s (South Campus)

Drinks (Available All Night)
$3 Green Beers (20 ounces)
$3 Little Green Men Shots