Came across this a few days ago, and thought it fairly awesome. So, if you’re in Las Vegas and are also into .38 Special, I think I’ve found the new singer for your cover band.
Maybe NSFW. Click for larger image.
CityBeat has been doing the “Best of Cincinnati” thing for quite some time, and it’s one of those things that seems to define the magazine in a lot of ways. On one hand, they do a pretty good job at reporting things traditional media sources (read: local television news and The Cincinnati Enquirer) tend not to cover. On the other, I wonder if the great content they have only serves towards this once-a-year issue.
In general, the idea of a “Best of Cincinnati” issue is great. It provides Cincinnatians and visitors alike a solid reference for restaurants, shops, bars and, well, everything Cincinnati.
That’s not to say that it’s not without its flaws. Yeah, there are flaws with the thing. Who would’ve guessed?
I wonder whether anyone’s had some kind of problem with the “Best of Cincinnati” issue. It’s a pretty massive undertaking–and one that’s clearly been a work in progress for quite some time. So, what of it? Is the “Best of Cincinnati” issue awesome or terrible? It’s clearly a staple in some ways, and I know I’ll continue to read it every year, but I’ve always got questions about it.
I can understand why people feel so strongly about health care and its reform. As much as I try to avoid discussing politics (at least when it will inevitably lead to debate), it is hard to not take it personally.
I’ll lay my cards on the table–so you can stop reading if you disagree and are not willing to read anything written by someone with whom you disagree: I am in favor of health care reform. I am even in favor of a public option. I’m liberal and always have been. As much as this probably impairs my judgment (and my salary), I still try to get as much information as possible from the least biased outlets possible. I don’t watch MSNBC and I don’t read Huffington Post. I don’t watch FOX News or read The Weekly Standard. I mostly try to get my news from the BBC and my friends’ Twitter feeds, honestly (I don’t think Corey Haim had been dead more than 2 hours when I first saw an RIP on TweetDeck).
I have a bit of personal experience with the issue. I’ve been without health insurance since June 2007. Since then, I’ve been either unemployed, working temp jobs, or working part-time at a bar. I have been employed full-time since November, but I’m not eligible for insurance coverage until June. I spent over $3000 on health care expenses in 2008, and my AGI was less than $15,000.
Here’s the thing–regardless of how you feel about this issue, it’s unacceptable for threats of violence to be dismissed as First Amendment rights. When one member of the House declares his fellow Congressperson “a dead man” who can’t go to his home, and fails to apologize, we are moving away from civilized discourse. People are getting death threats. Families are in danger. Furthering your cause through threats and violence is a pretty terrorist thing to do.
I have no problem with there being different points of view–in fact, I encourage it. I’m certainly biased to a liberal point of view, because I’ve always been poor. But now, not only do I have to be scared that I’ll get sick(er), I have to be scared that someone’s going to throw a rock at my car because it has an Obama sticker on it.
Democracy isn’t easy, but it isn’t supposed to be. Supposedly, we are trying to bring democratic ideals to the rest of the world. Perhaps we should try them out first.
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Did you know you can ask the Chick any question you want? Send an email to advice@thecincinnatiman.com, post an anonymous comment, OR head to www.formspring.me/checkwithachick.
There’s not a question she won’t or can’t answer. Seriously. Any question. Takers?
Each week or so, TCM asks its writers to chime in on a particular subject. This week, we ask, “What’s the least manly NCAA mascot?”
David Ben
Because I grew up just a couple hours away and my dad is a grad, I went to a good handful of Syracuse Orange (Orangeman, at the time, before everyone got all PC) football and basketball games. As a kid, I loved the mascot – I mean it was a giant orange. It did somersaults. It was the color orange and has a huge blue hat. What’s not to like?
But now as an adult, nothing is lamer (is that a word? Lamer? More lame? Whatever. The orange is lame). It is a giant orange. It does somersaults. It is orange in color and has a huge hat. There is absolutely nothing intimidating about citrus fruit.
Jason Bailey
The only answer is the South Carolina Gamecocks. I mean, let’s break it down. 1) They’re chickens. 2) Ridiculous idiots everywhere buy their stuff just so they can wear the word “COCK” in bold, all capital letters. 3) Cockfighting is right up there with shooting beer cans with shotguns and kicking puppies as things only assholes and rednecks partake in.
Jason McGlone
The entire culture surrounding the mascot of the Wichita State Shockers represents, to my way of thinking, nothing more than a bad fraternity joke gone horribly wrong. You know exactly what I’m talking about. In fact, you know what everyone’s talking about when they say, “Shocker.” And that’s exactly what the student body seems to have adopted at whatever game the college happens to be playing.
The pure stupidity of this, however, isn’t what’s at issue. It’s the bizarre incongruity of the mascot, which you would think would be a lightning bolt, a wall outlet, an electric chair, or even Wes Craven. Not even close.
The Shockers’ mascot is a bale of hay wearing a shirt. But it’s an angry bale of hay, so that goes some distance, doesn’t it? Blerf. A plain old scarecrow would be so much better.
Theworldofdale
University of Maryland Terrapins. A Terrapin is an edible turtle, many of which are endangered. Their logo seems mildly intimidating (if you have a fear of turtles), but when you see an actual terrapin, they are nothing short of adorable.
DJ_MCLean
At first I thought of the Syracuse mascot, but then I saw this picture that has been floating around the internet. I guess when you are a giant orange ball, you look for photo ops to prove your manliness.
Here are a few other “winners”:
University of Delaware Blue Hens: Hens aren’t very manly
Evergreen State College Geoducks: Some sort of clam type creature
US Santa Cruz Banana Slugs: Nothing manly about a gelatinous yellow slug. No pictures that you find of this on the internet are manly (especially the picture in the link)
Nathan Linville
Let me begin by saying that there is nothing less manly than a grown adult dressed in a big stuffed animal costume not to mention, its just plain creepy. I had it narrowed down to two. Most certainly the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slug has to be at the top of the list but I think that the Minnesota Golden Gopher might have the upper hand when it comes to being a bigger sissy. I’m sure a gopher could have some mean qualities but what the fuck is a “Golden Gopher”? A golden gopher couldn’t be half as bad ass as that gopher in Caddyshack, so therefore it tops my list.
That Guy Named Ed
Bowl season made the TCU Horned Frogs part of our national conversation. The “horned frog’ is actually a Texas horned lizard, which is not a frog at all. That’s how they roll in Texas. You can get away with saying one thing when the reality is another. Mission Accomplished!
Now March Madness has put the St. Mary’s Gaels on the map. As in Gaelic people, kind of sort of like calling yourselves the “Celtics.” But when I hear someone say “Celtics” on television, I think of Ireland. When I hear someone say “Gaels”, I think of a group of women in mom jeans and a Dodge Caravan.
It’s really hard to top some of the other examples out there, but my vote is for a mascot found right here in Ohio. The Akron Zips. The Zips are named for a pair of shoes. I know I just said this, but let me recap. They are named for a pair of shoes. And now their mascot is a kangaroo. A female kangaroo.
That is not manly. That is Jack Hannah’s wet dream.
Adam Hipp
My first inclination was to say any of the way too commonly used mascots, since a lack of originiality is not manly; but that could lead to threats of violence from various rabid Eagle, Bulldog, and Wildcat fans (90% chance you like SOME team with one of those names; I sure do). So in an attempt to be more diplomatic, I dug a little, and discovered the Whittier College Poets, with their manliest of mascots, Johnny Poet. This is a glaring illustration that originality may not be such a strong measure of manliness after all.
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Busy week this week. Some descent new releases are headed for Tuesday as well as some pretty awesome shows. Hopefully the upcoming season will bring some more action our way.
Gloomy faces Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds return with The Good Son. Pop laced, underground, rocker chicks The Dum Dum Girls have a new album called I Will Be. Lets go back to The Headbanger’s Ball days with Helloween’s Unarmed: 25 Years, The Best Of. Hip Hop sensation Jedi Mind Tricks, are back with their new one Army Of The Pharaohs: The Unholy Terror. Charlotte, NC Alt rockers Paper Tongues release their debut self-titled album. Anyone feeling a little down in the mouth can get even deeper with the help of Blues artist Seasick Steve and his new one Man From Another Time as well as, raucous, trio John Spencer Blues Explosion’s Dirty Shirt Rock ‘n Roll: The First Ten Years.
Lots of shows this week that could end up motivating you to put down the remote and get out the door. If the music don’t do it, then at least the bars have beer and girls. English/Irish Electronica duo VNV Nation bring their keyboards to the Mad Hatter on Monday. Tuesday at the Hatter it’s Floridian, hardcore act Evergreen Terrace and a few blocks away at The Southgate House, Jedi Mind Tricks will be getting the crowd off their feet while on tour promoting their new album. Wednesday, Metal is alive and kicking with old school Metal act Overkill making your ears bleed at Bogart’s. Experimental/Indie group Child Bite will be playing the Parlour at Southgate on Thursday. Holy shit, Saturday is going to be jam-packed everywhere for any attitude-ridden, tattooed rocker with three different shows that are sure to drop your sack. Finland’s HIM is going to be rocking out at Bogarts, Henry Rollins will be speaking the truth over at Southgate, and my pick for most kick ass time is Nashville Pussy will be giving some dudes hardons at the Mad Hatter.
That’s it for this week, I have beer to drink. Cheers!
