Whereas John Futty’s story on the saving of Columbus latest class of police recruits should have led today’s edition, Robert Vitale did lead today’s edition with a story about how Mayor Coleman’s “State of the City” address will lack ambition… I don’t know about that… Dismantling a 19-year-old building and using economic stimulus money to turn it into a park, even though it won’t stimulate the economy… I’d say that’s ambitious…
Margaret Harding’s front-page feature on college graduates lacking job prospects was excellent… Equally excellent, Mark Frenchick’s feature on the Scioto reconstruction (which will bring business to a gorgeous section of the city)…
James Nash’s story on another potential gaming ballot initiative story is solid… Unfortunately, Bruce Cadwallander’s story on controversial judicial appointments, doesn’t do enough to explain the controversy… A final word about Metro (and Catholics, please save your e-mails)… Lent is not news… It had no business as the metro lead…
Rob Oller’s feature about the NFL combine was ridiculous… Another in the collection of columns written by every other reporter in the country, every year… Also ridiculous (and useless) was Amy Saunders’ feature on what to wear for interviews (Life and Arts)… In these difficult economic times… If a qualified person walks into a company, they should he be hired… Even if they are wearing a potato sack…
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wexner Center Presents Siren
Siren, a whirling, spinning spectacle of sound and light, will be presented at the Wexner Center Thursday–Saturday, February 26–28 at 8 pm.
The sound installation, by British composer and artist Ray Lee, is comprised of tall metal tripods rigged with rotating arms, each equipped with a pair of tone generators and two LED lights. These individually tuned sirens emit pulsing drones while the illuminated tips trace fiery patterns in rapidly circling trajectories; as the hour-long program progresses, seemingly infiinte layers of complex harmonies build on each other, while the audience is invited to walk through and among the tripods.
Siren produces alarming sounds for alarming times: hypnotically intense but also strangely soothing, like a celestial choir of harmonic overtones. The electrifying environment immerses the viewer in an alluring spell of unique sonic and visual delight.
Click here for a podcast featuring Chuck Helm, the Wexner Center’s director of performing arts, discussing Lee’s work; a video can be viewed here.
The sound installation, by British composer and artist Ray Lee, is comprised of tall metal tripods rigged with rotating arms, each equipped with a pair of tone generators and two LED lights. These individually tuned sirens emit pulsing drones while the illuminated tips trace fiery patterns in rapidly circling trajectories; as the hour-long program progresses, seemingly infiinte layers of complex harmonies build on each other, while the audience is invited to walk through and among the tripods.
Siren produces alarming sounds for alarming times: hypnotically intense but also strangely soothing, like a celestial choir of harmonic overtones. The electrifying environment immerses the viewer in an alluring spell of unique sonic and visual delight.
Click here for a podcast featuring Chuck Helm, the Wexner Center’s director of performing arts, discussing Lee’s work; a video can be viewed here.
INVITE: Blessed Label Fashion Show
INVITE: Eighties Prom
The Never Normal
Officially, neither one of these make our violent crime count, because no violence actually occurred… But, think about this… The vast majority of us utilize a bank everyday… The vast majority of us visit a school everyday… And these two incidents occurred at a bank and a school… Anyone else nervous right now?
10 TV: Fifth Third Bank, located at 1960 N. High St., was robbed at about 1:20 p.m., police said. According to investigators, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt that read "Centerville Football" was in line at the bank when a teller looked up. The teller was about to ask the man if he knew some friends of his from Centerville when the man handed him a note that said he had a gun and was robbing the bank. After the teller gave the robber money, police said that the robber fled the bank. The robber is in his 30s or 40s, and is 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build. He also has dark hair and a mustache. Police said he was wearing prescription glasses, the black-hooded Centerville football sweatshirt, jeans and dark shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbus Police Robbery Squad at 614-645-4665 or the FBI at 614-744-2168.
NBC 4: Police responded to a local high school after a loaded gun was found inside the school. According to Columbus police, Marion Franklin High School on Koebel Road was placed on lockdown at about 11:45 a.m. Police said the incident began when a teacher went to the school parking lot to investigate three juveniles smoking. During the teacher’s investigation, they found bullets lying in a car, which led officials to search the lockers, where the loaded gun was found. One of the three students is facing felony charges in connection with the loaded weapon, but officials said it is not known if the other two students involved will face charges.
10 TV: Fifth Third Bank, located at 1960 N. High St., was robbed at about 1:20 p.m., police said. According to investigators, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt that read "Centerville Football" was in line at the bank when a teller looked up. The teller was about to ask the man if he knew some friends of his from Centerville when the man handed him a note that said he had a gun and was robbing the bank. After the teller gave the robber money, police said that the robber fled the bank. The robber is in his 30s or 40s, and is 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build. He also has dark hair and a mustache. Police said he was wearing prescription glasses, the black-hooded Centerville football sweatshirt, jeans and dark shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbus Police Robbery Squad at 614-645-4665 or the FBI at 614-744-2168.
NBC 4: Police responded to a local high school after a loaded gun was found inside the school. According to Columbus police, Marion Franklin High School on Koebel Road was placed on lockdown at about 11:45 a.m. Police said the incident began when a teacher went to the school parking lot to investigate three juveniles smoking. During the teacher’s investigation, they found bullets lying in a car, which led officials to search the lockers, where the loaded gun was found. One of the three students is facing felony charges in connection with the loaded weapon, but officials said it is not known if the other two students involved will face charges.
BREAKING: Police Recruits Restored
NBC 4: City officials reinstated 27 police recruits Wednesday who were previously laid off as the result of ongoing budget cuts. After a meeting with the recruits, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman made the announcement, citing President Barack Obama’s stimulus package as the only reason the recruits will hit the streets.
The 27-member recruit class was initially laid off on Jan. 27. They were scheduled to graduate the same week. The U.S. Department of Justice is giving the city of Columbus $1.25 million to fund salaries for the police recruits. The money will last through the year, but Coleman said the city faces much larger issues if more revenue doesn’t come into the city.
The Columbus Fraternal Order of Police President Jim Gilbert was in Washington this week, where he and other FOP presidents met with congressional leaders to push for public safety funds from the stimulus bill.
The FOP released the following statement Wednesday “The Fraternal Order of Police is thrilled to learn of the reinstatement of the 27 recruits to the Columbus Police Academy. We appreciate the recognition by President Obama and his administration of the priority these recruits (soon to be police officers) have to the Division of Police and the safety of our community. The Fraternal Order of Police looks forward to their service to the citizens and welcomes them to our ranks, serving and protecting our fine city.”
The mayor’s office is faced with making $13 million in cuts before passing a balanced budget, and city officials said they expected to save $1.2 million with the recruiting cuts.
The 27-member recruit class was initially laid off on Jan. 27. They were scheduled to graduate the same week. The U.S. Department of Justice is giving the city of Columbus $1.25 million to fund salaries for the police recruits. The money will last through the year, but Coleman said the city faces much larger issues if more revenue doesn’t come into the city.
The Columbus Fraternal Order of Police President Jim Gilbert was in Washington this week, where he and other FOP presidents met with congressional leaders to push for public safety funds from the stimulus bill.
The FOP released the following statement Wednesday “The Fraternal Order of Police is thrilled to learn of the reinstatement of the 27 recruits to the Columbus Police Academy. We appreciate the recognition by President Obama and his administration of the priority these recruits (soon to be police officers) have to the Division of Police and the safety of our community. The Fraternal Order of Police looks forward to their service to the citizens and welcomes them to our ranks, serving and protecting our fine city.”
The mayor’s office is faced with making $13 million in cuts before passing a balanced budget, and city officials said they expected to save $1.2 million with the recruiting cuts.
Quick Read
Today’s front-page features outstanding coverage of President Obama’s non-State of the Union… Unfortunately, Josh Jarmin concludes the section with a piece about people trapped in jobs, which I felt trapped reading… Rita Price’s story on the Columbus Foundation facing a critical need, should have replaced Jarmin’s mess…
Speaking of messes, the “employment special section” was simply a reprint of previously written pieces… Advice is important… However, I don’t think the stimulus plan included money to kill innocent trees… I also don’t think it included money to reward boring reporters, so Margaret Harding may want to return her paycheck… Her piece on small business owners, should have focused on small business owners… Instead, it read like a roundtable discussion of academics.
Speaking of messes, the “employment special section” was simply a reprint of previously written pieces… Advice is important… However, I don’t think the stimulus plan included money to kill innocent trees… I also don’t think it included money to reward boring reporters, so Margaret Harding may want to return her paycheck… Her piece on small business owners, should have focused on small business owners… Instead, it read like a roundtable discussion of academics.
BREAKING: Liquid Liquidation
As Gossip CBUS first reported, Liquid is for sale. Originally located in Mansfield, Liquid opened in Columbus on May 17, 2008. It occupies the location, which was formerly Little Brothers in the short north.
Sugar Bar All Access
On March 5, Brody Jenner and the Dr. Mojoe Spring Fashion Show will occur live via twitter… Join Gossip CBUS before you arrive, as you enjoy, and after you leave for an unprecedented view of this outstanding event.
Revenge of the Scourge
Mardi Gras is an exquisite contradiction. The event itself is magnificent… The celebration, culture, and concept are rich and unequaled. The event’s crowd is at best mixed and at worst putrid… For every bunny that attends, there are five societal lepers, who I swear, show up on this day thinking that they are something superior to what they have ever been…
Upon my arrival for their Mardi Gras spectacular, Lodge Bar’s crowd was outstanding… The composition of their crowd fit my above description… Now, before I go any farther, I must defend Lodge Bar (and this has nothing to do with the fact that Snowed Inn occurs Friday)… Their typical crowd is normally two-thirds bunny and one-third respectable looking bunny chasers… They are not a haven for skeeze (that’s another bar, who shall remain nameless)… But, this was Mardi Gras…
And never have I seen so many societal pariahs… A large, refrigerator shaped person in a shirt that read “I heart sluts…” A bald guy, whose head was tattooed, saying a girl was built like a mule… An Axl Rose wannabe, complete with the stovepipe hat… Every time I saw one of these people, I wanted to grab them, and remind them of the obvious… No matter how many future baby feeders they see and how many beads they give away, they had no chance of sex… None whatsoever…
Again, I like Lodge Bar, but these scrubs, clearly weren’t paying attention that day in high school when popularity was established…
Also not paying attention, was another faction of bunny chasers, who obviously didn’t read my column last week… I hate repeating myself… but, for the good of these wardrobe challenged chasers, I will this once… Layers… Collared shirts (polos or button downs, it doesn’t matter)… and color coordination… None of this is hard… But, you make it seem hard and you make this speech necessary when you show up wearing hoodies with decade old Cincinnati Reds or Cleveland Cavaliers logos on them … Lodge Bar is a class establishment… Pretend you know what class is…
As an hour and a half passed, the energy increased, the dance floor continued to flood, the bunnies kept arriving and unfortunately, so did the cast of Freaks and Geeks… I didn’t know Columbus had so many castoffs from Tales From the Crypt… It was horrid, often near vomit inducing to watch these bunnies (and there were a few worth writing paragraphs about), being accosted by these letches…
I’m certain I don’t have to explain the concept of Mardi Gras to anyone (and I’m not going to, so if you don’t know it, google now)… And there were a few bunnies that were just handed beads because they were that angelic… But, the vast majority, I am certain are having nightmares tonight because of the people who approached them… Every time I walked past the Axl Rose wannabe, who was always carrying a few strands, in addition to the dozen he had around his neck, I wanted to grab the nearest bunny and stick her in a closet… I understand that this day, is one of the few days where the objective is supposed to be the same and every male is supposed to be equal, but the more I looked at these guys, the more it was obvious that there is a reason that we’re not all equal…
I know it sounds like I am hammering Lodge Bar… I’m not…. The energy that rippled throughout the crowd was amazing… Every bar and available space on the dance floor was jammed, the stage, at times, overflowed with bunnies, and the night itself was memorable… Lodge Bar, although I wish they could, cant help the morons, who think for this one-day a year, beads make them popular… (Losing a hundred pounds, changing their wardrobe or doing something with their appearance might make them popular)…
Intermixed amongst the societal scourge (who I am mentioning for either the last time or the next to last time, I promise) were several of this city’s venue icons… Notably, Brian, a co-owner and lead promoter of Sugar Bar and Park Street Patio… We spoke for a minute, consumed a shot, and as I walked away, I marveled at how, even though Sugar and Lodge are competitors, there is no spirit of competition between the employees… They all value each other…
Speaking of valuable, I can’t type this column without a paragraph on Gonzo, who, in tandem with DJ Legend owned this evening… This wasn’t the first time I had heard either one of them, this wasn’t even the first time, in the last week at Lodge Bar, that I had heard either one of them… Still, both elevated their art for this evening… They manner in which Gonzo can skirt from “Poker Face” to “Live Your Life” to “Show Me Love” (yes, he played Robin) is unbelievable… Combine the talent with Legend and Gonzo’s personable microphone work and they were almost enough to make you stop noticing Axl Rose, still seeking a bunny, even though, none would have him…
Since, I am mentioning bunnies, this is a perfect opportunity to mention the reason (besides the alcohol and great events), that anyone in this city should visit Lodge Bar… The staff… On this night, the two Lodge bunnies, most worth writing about were Haley and Jen, both of whom were (and I cant use this word strongly enough), enjoying their night off… Jen, consuming shots, reading our twitter, and interacting with everyone like the beautiful social butterfly that she is… Haley, showcasing her gorgeous smile and dancing on the speakers…
As gorgeous as Haley, but not as smiley this evening was (my personal favorite) Crown Princess Kadi… As I watched her work behind the bar (and work is the operative word, I don’t think the bunny ever stopped moving), I couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous eyes were present, the jeweler’s crafted looks were present, but the sparkle was missing… Then again, a diamond is a diamond, sparkle or not…
And since we’re talking diamonds, I have to mention a treat, who I had seen working Lodge Bar previously, but I didn’t learn her name until this evening… Alexa, potentially the shortest employee Lodge has, but you know what they say about good things and small packages… She is worth eighteen carats… Chocolate brown eyes, a gorgeous complexion, and a personality that is captivating from the first second of conversation…
It’s employees like Alexa, Kadi, Jen, and Haley, and beyond… It extends to Trevor, Rick, and Pat, and all of the bouncers, who names (and I apologize for this), escape my mind at the moment… I walk into Lodge, I spend five hours talking and twittering and it doesn’t feel, for one moment, like work… I’m in, I’m out… It’s routine, normal, and even enjoyable… Hello, good-bye… Just another of the typically not societal pariahs that inhabits Lodge Bar on a nightly basis…
Upon my arrival for their Mardi Gras spectacular, Lodge Bar’s crowd was outstanding… The composition of their crowd fit my above description… Now, before I go any farther, I must defend Lodge Bar (and this has nothing to do with the fact that Snowed Inn occurs Friday)… Their typical crowd is normally two-thirds bunny and one-third respectable looking bunny chasers… They are not a haven for skeeze (that’s another bar, who shall remain nameless)… But, this was Mardi Gras…
And never have I seen so many societal pariahs… A large, refrigerator shaped person in a shirt that read “I heart sluts…” A bald guy, whose head was tattooed, saying a girl was built like a mule… An Axl Rose wannabe, complete with the stovepipe hat… Every time I saw one of these people, I wanted to grab them, and remind them of the obvious… No matter how many future baby feeders they see and how many beads they give away, they had no chance of sex… None whatsoever…
Again, I like Lodge Bar, but these scrubs, clearly weren’t paying attention that day in high school when popularity was established…
Also not paying attention, was another faction of bunny chasers, who obviously didn’t read my column last week… I hate repeating myself… but, for the good of these wardrobe challenged chasers, I will this once… Layers… Collared shirts (polos or button downs, it doesn’t matter)… and color coordination… None of this is hard… But, you make it seem hard and you make this speech necessary when you show up wearing hoodies with decade old Cincinnati Reds or Cleveland Cavaliers logos on them … Lodge Bar is a class establishment… Pretend you know what class is…
As an hour and a half passed, the energy increased, the dance floor continued to flood, the bunnies kept arriving and unfortunately, so did the cast of Freaks and Geeks… I didn’t know Columbus had so many castoffs from Tales From the Crypt… It was horrid, often near vomit inducing to watch these bunnies (and there were a few worth writing paragraphs about), being accosted by these letches…
I’m certain I don’t have to explain the concept of Mardi Gras to anyone (and I’m not going to, so if you don’t know it, google now)… And there were a few bunnies that were just handed beads because they were that angelic… But, the vast majority, I am certain are having nightmares tonight because of the people who approached them… Every time I walked past the Axl Rose wannabe, who was always carrying a few strands, in addition to the dozen he had around his neck, I wanted to grab the nearest bunny and stick her in a closet… I understand that this day, is one of the few days where the objective is supposed to be the same and every male is supposed to be equal, but the more I looked at these guys, the more it was obvious that there is a reason that we’re not all equal…
I know it sounds like I am hammering Lodge Bar… I’m not…. The energy that rippled throughout the crowd was amazing… Every bar and available space on the dance floor was jammed, the stage, at times, overflowed with bunnies, and the night itself was memorable… Lodge Bar, although I wish they could, cant help the morons, who think for this one-day a year, beads make them popular… (Losing a hundred pounds, changing their wardrobe or doing something with their appearance might make them popular)…
Intermixed amongst the societal scourge (who I am mentioning for either the last time or the next to last time, I promise) were several of this city’s venue icons… Notably, Brian, a co-owner and lead promoter of Sugar Bar and Park Street Patio… We spoke for a minute, consumed a shot, and as I walked away, I marveled at how, even though Sugar and Lodge are competitors, there is no spirit of competition between the employees… They all value each other…
Speaking of valuable, I can’t type this column without a paragraph on Gonzo, who, in tandem with DJ Legend owned this evening… This wasn’t the first time I had heard either one of them, this wasn’t even the first time, in the last week at Lodge Bar, that I had heard either one of them… Still, both elevated their art for this evening… They manner in which Gonzo can skirt from “Poker Face” to “Live Your Life” to “Show Me Love” (yes, he played Robin) is unbelievable… Combine the talent with Legend and Gonzo’s personable microphone work and they were almost enough to make you stop noticing Axl Rose, still seeking a bunny, even though, none would have him…
Since, I am mentioning bunnies, this is a perfect opportunity to mention the reason (besides the alcohol and great events), that anyone in this city should visit Lodge Bar… The staff… On this night, the two Lodge bunnies, most worth writing about were Haley and Jen, both of whom were (and I cant use this word strongly enough), enjoying their night off… Jen, consuming shots, reading our twitter, and interacting with everyone like the beautiful social butterfly that she is… Haley, showcasing her gorgeous smile and dancing on the speakers…
As gorgeous as Haley, but not as smiley this evening was (my personal favorite) Crown Princess Kadi… As I watched her work behind the bar (and work is the operative word, I don’t think the bunny ever stopped moving), I couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous eyes were present, the jeweler’s crafted looks were present, but the sparkle was missing… Then again, a diamond is a diamond, sparkle or not…
And since we’re talking diamonds, I have to mention a treat, who I had seen working Lodge Bar previously, but I didn’t learn her name until this evening… Alexa, potentially the shortest employee Lodge has, but you know what they say about good things and small packages… She is worth eighteen carats… Chocolate brown eyes, a gorgeous complexion, and a personality that is captivating from the first second of conversation…
It’s employees like Alexa, Kadi, Jen, and Haley, and beyond… It extends to Trevor, Rick, and Pat, and all of the bouncers, who names (and I apologize for this), escape my mind at the moment… I walk into Lodge, I spend five hours talking and twittering and it doesn’t feel, for one moment, like work… I’m in, I’m out… It’s routine, normal, and even enjoyable… Hello, good-bye… Just another of the typically not societal pariahs that inhabits Lodge Bar on a nightly basis…
One Grand, CBUS
Who would have thought in less than three months, we would report live from the Fiesta Bowl, Mardi Gras, Frog Bear and Wild Boar, Lodge Bar, McFadden’s, Sugar Bar, and in the process, rack one thousand twitter tweets… You made it possible Columbus! Keep reading and keep e-mailing… You never know what might happen next…
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Recruit Resurrection?
10 TV: Twenty-seven Columbus Division of Police recruits are still waiting to find out whether or not they will have jobs come week's end. As the recruits await word on their jobs, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police -- the union representing Columbus officers -- traveled to Washington D.C. as part of an effort to try and secure federal money that could be used to keep the recruits in Columbus…
Late last month, city administrators informed the recruits that they would not have jobs waiting for them with the department. According to city officials, the move would save the city about $1.2 million. Members of the police union criticized the plan, saying the city had already invested more than $1 million in training the recruits.
In addition to eliminating the police recruit class, the city has closed recreation centers, ordered layoffs and asked unionized employees to forgo pay raises in 2009. All moves were made to combat a looming budget shortfall.
Last week, President Barack Obama promised federal stimulus money to save police and fire recruits, and he specifically mentioned the situation in Columbus… Members of the police recruit class said Obama's words gave them renewed hope that funds would be allocated to save their jobs.
While the city is expected to formally lay off the recruits on Friday, city officials said they could still be rehired if and when stimulus money is allocated…
Late last month, city administrators informed the recruits that they would not have jobs waiting for them with the department. According to city officials, the move would save the city about $1.2 million. Members of the police union criticized the plan, saying the city had already invested more than $1 million in training the recruits.
In addition to eliminating the police recruit class, the city has closed recreation centers, ordered layoffs and asked unionized employees to forgo pay raises in 2009. All moves were made to combat a looming budget shortfall.
Last week, President Barack Obama promised federal stimulus money to save police and fire recruits, and he specifically mentioned the situation in Columbus… Members of the police recruit class said Obama's words gave them renewed hope that funds would be allocated to save their jobs.
While the city is expected to formally lay off the recruits on Friday, city officials said they could still be rehired if and when stimulus money is allocated…
They Could Have A Job, They Just Don’t Want One…
NBC 4: A local restaurant owner is having a difficult time finding managers to run her Subway stores. Amanda Jones and her husband are looking for a few good women and men to fill several job vacancies at their four Subway locations. “Right now, we are looking for managers. We want people that are honest, motivated, dedicated (and) ready to grow with a strong brand,“ Jones said.
Their search began a few weeks ago, but they’ve not had any luck so far. Jones said she scheduled four interviews Monday, but three applicants never showed up. The positions are competitive, paying between $25,000 and $35,000 a year. Benefits are available, along with sales incentives. “If you can get more customers in and increase your business by 25 percent, we can give you $500,“ Jones said.
Even with unemployment more than 7 percent in Ohio, there is no interest in the positions. Jones said she believes advertising may be the problem. “I think it might be that we are using a different means to recruit people than they are looking. I think there are definitely people that need jobs and we need people. We need managers and I don’t think we are on the same page.”
Jones said another reason for slow applications could be the reluctance of some to step away from their comfort zone of the corporate world into the service industry. Anyone interested in applying for the jobs can do so at http://www.subway.com.
Their search began a few weeks ago, but they’ve not had any luck so far. Jones said she scheduled four interviews Monday, but three applicants never showed up. The positions are competitive, paying between $25,000 and $35,000 a year. Benefits are available, along with sales incentives. “If you can get more customers in and increase your business by 25 percent, we can give you $500,“ Jones said.
Even with unemployment more than 7 percent in Ohio, there is no interest in the positions. Jones said she believes advertising may be the problem. “I think it might be that we are using a different means to recruit people than they are looking. I think there are definitely people that need jobs and we need people. We need managers and I don’t think we are on the same page.”
Jones said another reason for slow applications could be the reluctance of some to step away from their comfort zone of the corporate world into the service industry. Anyone interested in applying for the jobs can do so at http://www.subway.com.
Number Forty-Six
10 TV: Police were searching for two men who they said robbed another man on the city's northeast side late Monday. The victim was walking to his car in a parking lot on Brooklyn Court at about 10:20 p.m. when two men approached him… Investigators said one of the men pulled out a gun and demanded money. The three men got into a fight the victim was shot in the leg. Police said the suspects are 17-20 years old. One man was wearing a black coat and the other was wearing a tan-colored coat. Anyone with information is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4665 or Crime Stoppers are 614-645-TIPS.
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