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Get ready: the Republicans may not know it, but they’ve all but certified their ticket for 2016, and they will probably win. 

  The saturation bloviation that followed this week’s Republican presidential debates missed some monumental moments, including:

(1)   There was one (and ONLY one) candidate on the stage that had anything meaningful to say. It was Rand Paul. What he said about war and marijuana was of serious significance.

(2)   The GOP hard core on the stage and in the audience certified their obeisance to a free pass for the horrific presidency of George W. Bush, thereby opening the door for his brother, who can almost certainly win if he runs with the guy from Ohio.

   Let’s deal first with Rand Paul. Like his father (and unlike virtually anyone else in the GOP) the Senator from Kentucky seems to have some actual principles. Both Pauls have been firmly committed to the legalization of marijuana for many years, and have not wavered.

Citizens concerned with corruption and accountability in the City of Columbusheld a non-partisan rally to peacefully protest the corruption at Columbus City Hall on Wednesday, September 9; 5:00pmwhere a fundraiser for Andy Ginther was happening at Strongwater Food & Spirits, 401 W Town St. in Franklinton.

Some of Columbus’s most wealthy elite came face to face with 35-40 concerned citizens outside Mayor Coleman’s Fundraiser for his anointed mayoral Candidate Andrew Ginther.In the wake of the scandal in which former Redflex CEO pleaded guilty to bribing Columbus elected officials to the tune of $20,000 and the recent dropping out of Columbus City Council Pro Tem Michelle Mills, the City of Columbus has become synonymous with the word corruption. 

Welcome to Leith is like an updated version of The War of the Worlds. The main difference is that the invaders are modern-day Nazis rather than Martians.

   Also, this time it’s for real.

   Directed by Michael Beach Nichols and Christopher K. Walker, the documentary shows what happens when a group of anti-Semitic racists attempts to take over a tiny North Dakota town.

   In 2012, a true believer named Craig Cobb sets the stage for the invasion by buying up several pieces of local property. He then invites members of the National Socialist Movement to come to Leith, with the hope that they’ll soon outnumber the town’s 24 residents and can start running things their own way.

   Needless to say, the sudden appearance of strangers toting guns and flying Aryan banners alarms the residents and turns the community into an emotional tinder box.

Columbus Metropolitan Club public forum luncheons are usually interesting and informative, if a little sedate. But the atmosphere was lively on Wednesday. As they arrived, attendees were greeted by demonstrators from the Ohio Community Rights Network (OHCRN).

Ohio Secretary of State John Husted was there to speak about Ohio Ballot Issues 1, 2, and 3. The protesters came from across Ohio to denounce Husted's decision to remove three county charter initiatives from the November ballot.

The initiatives include home rule provisions to restrict or ban fracking wastewater injection wells and pipelines in Fulton, Medina, and Athens Counties. "The Secretary of State claimed he was 'unmoved' by the people’s argument defending their right to petition," said Kathie Jones of Medina County. "He claimed that the content of the initiatives are illegal, and therefore cannot be on the ballot. Yet he does not hesitate to place Issues 2 and 3 on the ballot — initiatives to legalize marijuana, which violate federal law.

A non-partisan rally to peacefully protest the corruption at Columbus City Hall:

Where: Strongwater Food and Spirits, 401 W Town St, Columbus, Ohio 43215

When: Wed., Sept. 9 5-6:15pm

Minnie desperately wants to be loved. But like 15-year-old girls the world over, she feels unlovable.

   This leads her into the desperate acts that are the subject of The Diary of a Teenage Girl, a provocative first film from writer/director Marielle Heller. Based on Phoebe Gloeckner’s semi-autobiographical graphic novel, it forces us to watch as Minnie embarks on a creepy journey of self-discovery.

   How creepy? Read on.

   Living in San Francisco in the 1970s, Minnie (Bel Powley) confesses to the tape recorder that serves as her diary that she was an “ugly child” and hasn’t improved since then. Adding more baggage to her inferiority complex, she lives in the shadow of Charlotte (Kristen Wiig), a beautiful but distant single mom who has no trouble winning men’s admiration.

   So when Charlotte’s boyfriend, Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard), shows an interest in Minnie, the girl eagerly coaxes him into a full-blown affair. Who knows, she asks herself, whether she’ll ever have another opportunity.

Cincinnati Goddamn is a documentary which focuses on two of the 15 black men who were killed by the Cincinnati Police from 1995-2001, the Cincinnati Riots and the reforms that eventually transpired. The reforms included an opening of dialogue between the CPD, ALCU, Black United Front and the community called the Collaborative. It also led to to Community Problem Oriented Policing which is a process that aims to be proactive in problem-solving vs. having the police exist as a hostile entity.
   Police were instructed to use less lethal weapons. A Civilian Review board was established.
   Obviously, the past couple of years have seen deaths involving the police which has led to both protests and riots throughout our country so the relevancy of Cincinnati Goddamn is obvious.

I interviewed two dominatrices, Mistress Eve Minax and Miss Theresa. Each have over 15 years of professional experience. Asking them about their profession, providing insight on what makes a good client. They were asked to answer the questions they preferred, not all questions are answered by both women.

1. How did you start working as a Dominatrix? What flicked the switch for you, from enjoying being a top to getting paid for it and having clients?

EM: Long story, mostly, post 9/11 no work for literary people and yet clients lined up from afar.

The Duke of Fork, Chef Mark Zedella and The Duchess, Loretta Yoga Tune Up®are probably one of the most exciting and dynamic food & yoga innovations to add to Columbus’ Intelligent City (intelligentcity.org) status ratings typically characterized by technology innovations. The connection is that they are capable of empowering Columbus’ residents with one of the most critical health promoting, social justice serving and environmental sustainability yet largely untapped initiatives with the simple utensil; the fork. They work their health promoting culinary and physical fitness combo wonders at community gems such as Worthington Libraries and the Franklin Park Conservatory. They cover nutritionally robust, exciting and delicious topics such as Superfoods, Oil–free cooking, Healthy Holidays and more with their Move Well, Eat Well, Be Well program. Check out their website for more details on how to connect with them. Their next event is Sept 16 at Franklin Park Conservatory.