Op-Ed

With the utterance of one word on a voicemail, everything changed, even though he only “half” meant it. Up until the time Jonathan Martin released that recording, the going reaction to his allegations of harassment and abuse by Richie Incognito was that was just the way things were in the NFL, that the process of breaking a person down, of stripping away any semblance of dignity from a person except for the kind prescribed to him by the higher-ups was a natural, downright moral process. And yet, when it came out that this process took on a racist tone, suddenly it was unacceptable. But what did that word really change?

This past Thursday December 5, Nelson Mandela, one of the world’s greatest fighters for freedom, passed away after a life of struggle a the age of 95. Politicians from Raul Castro to Ted Cruz were quick to release statements offering their condolence and talking about how Mandela inspired them. President Barack Obama was no different saying that “his journey from a prisoner to a president embodied the promise that human beings and countries can change for the better” and he could not imagine his life without Mandela’s example. Yet today the United States continue to hold political prisoners, one of those prisoners is Oscar López Rivera. Oscar López Rivera is a Puerto Rican nationalist who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in 1981 for the crime of wanting to see a Puerto Rico free from United States colonialism. 32 years later he still remains imprisoned in Terre Haute, Indiana and has become one of the world’s longest serving political prisoners, serving 5 more years than Mandela did under apartheid.

The universe has a uncanny knack for adding perspective whenever popularity gets confused with significance. The actor Paul Walker was popular. Nelson Mandela was significant. Fox News should not be counted in the ranks of admirers of the revolutionary lion turned honored statesman. Cynics say there’s little difference in cable news, but sometimes the differences are obvious and stark. While CNN and MSNBC honored Mandela by turning over their evening programming to covering his life and times, Fox News stayed on message by largely relegating Mandela’s passage to the news crawl and pounding away with their anti-Obamacare propaganda. The media gossip site, Mediaite went deep into CNN, MSNBC and Fox’s coverage (or lack of) of Mandela’s passage and the clear loser lagging behind the field was the “news” network led by hardcore right-wingers Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes. Hardly a surprise considering everything Mandela stood for are the very things Fox News is against. I flipped the television from Rachel Maddow interviewing Ron Dellums to Megan Kelly chatting amiably with a medal-winning soldier.

Dear Editor We’re extremely disappointed that the Ohio House would gut an effective 10-year-old bipartisan law at the request of the debt settlement industry. It should raise eyebrows that during committee hearings, the industry trade group was the sole proponent of the bill, while numerous pro-consumer groups offered compelling arguments against the bill. HB 173 is a bad deal for consumers and Ohio doesn’t need it. We already have effective regulation for the debt settlement industry in the 2004 Ohio Debt Adjusters Act, which was put in place for a reason. While industry would have you believe HB 173 adds regulations to keep out “bad actors,” this is a smoke screen. HB 173 includes safeguards that are already in effect under the Federal Trade Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule of 2010.

I do not wish to go on further about our feline friends in the Peaves household, but it is necessary to explain that our youngest, Kabibble, has an affinity for plants. To wit, she climbs Mrs Peaves' hybiscus. For that reason we chose to opt for an artificial Christmas tree this year. The idea being, as it is not an actual plant, perhaps Kabibble would leave it be. I had no idea what that decision would cost me, both monetarily and in terms of aggravation. First there was the matter of finding the right tree. Previously our Christmas tree buying experience was the same, year after year. Mrs. Peaves would find the most forlorn tree on the lot and “save” it. She called this act of idiocy “letting the tree fulfill its destiny.” I did not argue with her in order to maintain the general well being of the household and all its occupants. Purchasing an artificial tree was a foreign endeavor to me. Having no use of the things, I had paid no attention to them whatsoever. I was rather surprised to learn that not all of them are created equally.

The passing of a billionaire hardly goes unnoticed and Peter Lewis is no different. In drug policy circles, on either side of the fence, he needs no introduction. At age 80, Peter died in his Florida home on November 23, 2013. He will be remembered for far more than just his money. I’d like to say that I knew Peter, but in truth, I never personally met him. Yet, in the six degrees of separation, we’re only one degree apart. He had probably seen my name many times, and I, his. He knew some of the same people well who I know well. However, the times that I could have met him, I made other choices. The 2001 Drug Policy Foundation Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico serves as but one example. On the expansive hotel staircase leading to the ballroom in which Peter would be speaking, I encountered one of my new reform colleagues (now a long-standing and trusted friend). “Come upstairs with me and meet Peter Lewis,” he urged. Bedazzled by all of the famous faces I had met that weekend, I nodded, yes. But my heart lay elsewhere – the trip to Albuquerque served the dual purpose of being a celebration of my 25th wedding anniversary. I could meet Peter Lewis, or leave with my family.

Reader: Can you explore the topic of genital piercings? Thank you. Genital piercings are a very personal choice. Ultimately, the choice to receive them is for extra sensitivity and pleasurable sensations during sexual activity. There are a number of types of piercings that all have different appearance, healing time and sensation that it provides. Sometimes the type of piercing one receives isn’t necessarily a personal preference, but one that matches the body and how the genitals are uniquely shaped. The most common concern is to take care who is piercing you, receiving a consultation prior to, (perhaps from sending in photos of the area to be pierced for your consultation) and caring for the piercing properly, allowing it to heal thoroughly. Safe sex is highly recommended, even for fluid-bonded partners, because of the open wound at the location of the piercing and risk of infection to it. I asked a friend of mine who has genital piercings to contribute to this particular article. “The Jingle Jangle of Your Honey Pot” The first one was more symbolic than functional really, the bigger ring on the outer labia.

I first hung out with Rochester Native and Columbus based producer Maggz aka Jon Rogers at SXSW because he and Bustown mainstay, Zero Star were performing at the Project Blowed Showcase in Austin. It’s always bonding when you hang out with someone from Columbus out of town. The first thing I was noticed about Maggz is, he takes his art seriously. He explained me his value system this past weekend, “I create music for life. A lot of people look at music like a movie or a video game. For me it's like 'naw, this is my art. Meticulous. This is color.” Maggz recently released a low-end thumping, jazz instrumental album “(Complex)ions: Mauve” that has been getting some love on the underground hip hop blogosphere. “Mauve” reception has been built off the momentum from his 2012 fall release “Fragments of Mind” on Feelin’ Music, a label owned by Swiss beat maker Chief. Feelin’ Music releases downtempo, Dilla-influenced hip hop from artist such as Chief and Moka Only. Maggz started off his relationship with the label just from a fan standpoint. “Another buddy of mine in Rochester was just posting stuff on Facebook, videos from Moka Only.

The past weekend was pretty jovial because two ex-pats had performances scheduled around Thanksgiving family visitations. Disco-house deejay Garrett David played music at the Rehab Tavern, Friday. Anna Ranger was able to have a release show Saturday at Ace of Cups because its core member Nathan Snell was home. Garrett David was in town from Chicago. When Garrett was in High School in Columbus, he made a name for himself under the moniker Adulture. Garrett was a key figure in the rebirth of the dance party in Columbus by playing a pivotal role in Scott Niemet’s Sweatin’ Party, and also took part in a few classic shows including one in 2009 with Diplo at Skully’s, Garrett moved to Chicago shortly thereafter. Chicago is the home of House Music. Things have gone pretty well for him, Garrett does a weekly show with House legend Derrick Carter and Michael Serefini called Queen at the Smart Bar. He is also the music buyer at Gramaphone Records, a revered record store in Chicago. Garrett has put out a few records including a recent release under the name BellBoys with his roommate Adam Rowe.

Dear Editor Regarding the current brewhaha re: Ohio Senate Bill 193, the Ohio Republican Party's latest effort at restraining diversity and independent thinking by essentially outlawing political third parties, I can only refer the sensitive reader to J.M. Coetzee's excellent novel "Diary of a Bad Year." In it, Mr. Coetzee makes the astute point that the chief challenge of the state (i.e.- those in power, in government) is "to ensure that power will be passed from one set of hands to the next without contest of arms." To that end, many so-called democracies, the United States included, choose to offer its' citizenry a choice, Candidate A or Candidate B. Pick your poison, A or B, but C? Forget about it. On all levels of government-city, state, and national, Joe or Josephine Citizen can take his or her pick, so long as it's a Republican or Democrat. And what a diverse choice! The Democrats, owned by the corporations, mouth occasional platitudes regarding concern for the great, unwashed masses. The Republicans, obviously owned by the corporations, offer no such platitudes, so should at least be given credit for honesty. Such is the extent of democracy in America and yes, in Ohio.