Campaign For Liberty in Kentucky

Looks like there is a website detailing elected officials positions on the Northern Kentucky Smoking Ban. http://www.cflky.org


So far the positions from Campbell County elected officials are up on the site.

Pro-Liberty (Against the ban): Commissioner Mark Hayden
Anti-Liberty (For the ban): Judge Executive Steve Pendery and Commissioners Dave Otto and Ken Rechtin

Ron Paul

The Enquirer - Volunteers ready to clean riverbanks

The Enquirer - Volunteers ready to clean riverbanks

It would be great to see some people out helping with this event. I can tell you the river sure needs it!

Socialist from UC?

I knew Nancy Zimpher wasn't good for UC, I just didn't realize that she might have socialists on the faculty in the (at least formerly) well respected College of Business. (To her credit he could have been there before.)

Craig Froehle, apparently a Ph.D. in business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, responded to my article about City Wi-Fi "Public Web access is crucial need for Cincinnati" stating:

"There will ultimately be those who wrongly claim that governments should not be in the "business" of Internet access ("City doesn't need to be in Wi-Fi business," May 19). These small-government types may also question the wisdom of publicly built/operated roads, street lights, water and sewer systems, emergency services and many other essentials that our governments provide or oversee."

I guess I fail to see how Internet service, when it is already widely available in Cincinnati with all of that "evil" competition, is a "vital city service". Unfortunately running multiple water systems, road systems, street lights, and sewer systems in one city isn't feasible, as I'm sure "Dr." Craig Froehle realizes in his boiler plate socialist-style response to "small government types". What he failes to mention is that THERE ALREADY EXISTS no fewer than 5 companies providing high speed internet access to Cincinnati ranging in cost from $19.99 to $59.99 a month. Not to mention that there already exists city-wide high speed wireless Internet access from 2 companies (Sprint and Verizon).

Froehle claims that it is our "Essential civic responsibility" to provide everyone who works or lives in the city Internet access. I ask, is it also our responsibility to provide everyone with computers? How about a cell phone since it is immoral to force people to place phone calls from the confines of their home? Why not provide everyone a car since it is unfair that we don't have $100 million 4 mile loop for streetcars? Maybe we should provide people health care (oh wait that's already in process). Gee, something sounds a lot like "To each according to their need.". WHAT isn't mentioned is how that is paid for, hint, "From each according to their ability". If that isn't Socialism, then I don't know what is. (Yes there is some sarcasm in this paragraph).

If this is the sort of thing being taught at a business school at the University of Cincinnati, and other colleges, I feel we are in for a long and sad road towards Socialism in this country. The death of the American Dream, where hard work, not loud whining, gives everyone the opportunity to be as successful as they want to be.

In response to Cincinnati's proposed Wi-FI plans.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer: "City readies for Wi-Fi"

I had to respond to this with a letter to the editor. Since Cincinnati already has High Speed Cable, DSL, Broadband over powerline, and wireless EVDO high speed data plans available from no fewer then 5 companies, it seemed dubious that there was a "need" for city-wide Wi-Fi". It got published:

City doesn't need to be in Wi-Fi business

We live in one of the most connected cities in the nation. We have cable broadband internet, we have DSL from the telephone companies, we have broadband over power lines from Current (Duke), we already have city-wide DSL like speed broadband wireless access from Sprint with their EVDO rev A network, and Verizon with their EVDO network. Sprint has a service called WiMax coming soon that will provide better than broadband speeds. We have wireless hot spots throughout the city without a dime of public money spent.

If the city wants to use a wireless data network to "improve their workers' productivity," give them a wireless broadband card from Sprint or Verizon. It will be far more economical in the long run, allow for upgrades to the latest and greatest technology, and be supported by those that are in the business of providing wireless data and voice services. You can even make city vehicles roaming "hot spots" for city workers with these EVDO cards.

The role of government is to protect its people. Well, here the government should protect its people from a plan that would create a government agency to provide outdated services to the public run by bureaucrats that haven't the slightest clue about the latest and greatest technology, all for a cost that will be far greater than anyone expects. Municipal Wi-Fi is just another boondoggle, just another way to spend taxpayer money to subsidize an outdated technology and create a new governmental agency.


Buying the services from those in the business to provide them at a profit will cost all of us less money in the long run. They know what they are doing, they have the technology available now, and they spread the cost amongst millions of users.

This money would be much better spend on police officers to patrol the streets so that, maybe someday, we could actually walk them without fear, and be able to enjoy one of the city's hundreds of already in place hot-spots.

Officer won't be cited - Would a regular citizen be so lucky?

From the Cincinnati Enquirer:

PRICE HILL-- A Cincinnati police officer won't be cited in an accident in which her cruiser knocked a car carrying a mother and child onto its side.

District Three Police Specialist Patricia Hoffbauer, 44, hit another car at West Eighth Street and Hermosa Avenue about 1 p.m. Thursday when she failed to yield to eastbound traffic while making a left turn south onto Hermosa Avenue, police said. The other car hit a tree and flipped onto its left side.

The driver, Noel Walker, 21, of Delhi Township, and her 11-month-old son, Cameron Walker, were taken to University Hospital with minor injuries, treated and released. Walker is three months pregnant. Hoffbauer was not injured.

I would be willing to bet I'd be cited for failure to yield if I were the one who caused the accident. Is this another example of the city flaunting its power? Remember the Cincinnati Garbage truck fiasco trashing my friend's car?

"Deal Finder"

You gotta like this one. (That is unless it becomes too popular!)

From the site: Use eBay Deal Finder to discover valuable items that others haven't. All items have zero bids, less than 4 hours left, no reserve price, free or fixed rate shipping and a total price that includes shipping costs.

So for all of those out there looking for an easier way to find those hidden deals on eBay, click below:

http://dealfinder.ebay.com/dlf/home

Rhapsody's "Merry Christmas" - Rhapsody service unavailable

Wow. What a day for the Rhapsody service to go down. After trying for 45 minutes to sign into Rhapsody on 2 different machines with no luck, I had to contact live support to find out that the "service is down". Nothing like making a customer guess there are issues instead of posting something on the homepage or during sign-in. When asked about a refund for the period the service is unavailable, "I'm afraid that's not possible".

I guess "Unlimited" music isn't quite ready for prime-time. I'd be REAL unhappy if I had purchased a Rhapsody Sansa MP3 player this Christmas. Bad enough I can't play Christmas music for the family now...

Two thumbs DOWN!