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What makes a good TV rating?

Many people all over the world watch television series based on the commercials, promotional media hype, interviews that the cast members, promoters and sponsors give and, of course, by word of mouth.  Another way that people are influenced into watching a particular show is through the television content rating systems.

Why did I not turn in my rapist?

Gena Smith is a 30-something Army combat veteran of Iraq. She suffers from both PTSD and MST, a roller-coaster of pain and emotions you never want to ride. She’s currently a veteran advocate who pens the blog “Regular Fury.” She is sometimes asked, especially by the media, Why didn’t you turn in your rapist?

Matt Bors comic

Free Press picks for Arnold 2015:

With more than 50 sports and events, including 14 Olympic sports, the 2015 Arnold Sports Festival presents fitness and fun for all ages March 5-8, 2015. The festival has expanded into the world’s largest multi-sport fitness weekend since its 1989 debut.  Over 18,000 athletes will compete at Greater Columbus Convention Center, Ohio Expo Center, Hilton Columbus Downtown, LC Pavilion, Hollywood Casino, Nationwide Arena, New Albany High School and Stars Indoor Sports. See ArnoldSportsFestival.com for all times and locations.

Local high school teacher with super hero strength goes for world record

Powerlifter John C. Downing, coach of The Ohio State University powerlifting club level team, is going for a world record in his weight class at this year’s Arnold Sports Classic. Downing is 5’6 and 181 pounds. In his weight class, the record is 617 pounds for the squat, one of three weight-lifting moves in the sport of powerlifting. Thus, he’ll be attempting to lift more than three times his bodyweight.
  Competitive powerlifting is a global sport that has nine professional organizations, and is up for review by the Olympic committee to make it a medal sport. Competitors vie for first place by achieving the largest weight total possible for three separate lifts – the squat, bench press and deadlift (where the weight is on the ground and must be lifted to hip level).
  Downing has mostly trained six days a week, several hours a day, for the last 12 years to reach this level and be a relevant contender at the Arnold, which is considered one of the sport’s most prominent events. Last year he tied for third place. This year he wants to break the record and take first place.

First Person Singular – Calla, local poet

“First Person Singular” an occasional column by JP Marat that provides Columbus artists the opportunity to speak . . . in their own voice. Thank you Free Press.


JP Marat writes:

  I’m fortunate. My radio show on WCRS 98.3 / 102.1 on Thursday Nights at 11pm (Big Barking Dog Alternative Radio Hour) gives me the opportunity to interview local musicians, artists and poets. In preparation for a radio show that aired on Feb 26, (“Columbus Musicians & Poets v2”) I spoke to an extraordinary young woman named Calla. If you attend any of the poetry slams around town, you’ve definitely seen her. Five feet nothing. Piercing brown eyes. Quick to smile. Strong & agile. Mischievous. Most likely a ninja in a previous life. We met at Kafe Kerouac on High Street. I let my audio recorder roll. We talked about gender, love, Skyline Chili and Tupac Shakur. The conversation that evening intrigued me. As the night ended, I needed to know more about her concept of “Body Politics.” Calla obliged. About a week later I got an email from her . . . Girl can write . . . Just Say’in.


Calla writes:

Mystery Train Revisited

It’s now been a little more than a year since I came on as a music writer for the Freep, and on a rather rare basis, I get asked how I managed to pick this gig up. Obviously, it wasn’t any sort of merit-based thing, as my previous writing experience consisted of Sixth Circuit Briefs, diatribes ripped off from Hunter S. Thompson, and a penchant for hate mail (although not hate e-mail -- I like the idea of people at the Dispatch or Fox News actually having to open up an envelope to read the opening salutation “Dear Fuck-face...”).

Pink Reason’s Kevin Failure organizes cancer benefit for father

Kevin Failure does much for Columbus Punk and DIY. He fronts Pink Reason and also has a new band called Brass Orchids. Kevin runs a label called Savage Quality which has released albums by American Jobs, Teenage Anal Terrorist and more.

  He books shows at Bourbon Street/Summit. Kevin has played a huge role in developing our cities’ current underground electronic subculture with his Future Maudit event.

  Kevin is now faced with helping his father David De Broux through chemo.

  Kevin described the trip to the hospital where the cancer was discovered.

  “A few months ago he had a fall. He suspected he had broken ribs because he was having trouble breathing.”

  A couple of the benefits will be held in Wisconsin where his father lives and there is one here.

  The Columbus benefit is Thursday, March 5th at Cafe Bourbon Street/The Summit. Pink Reason, Mosses, and Ipps are performing.

  Kevin’s dad is a veteran who was stationed in Germany during the 70’s.

Sometimes, you just might find, you get the shaft

I think George Clinton ought to be called in to do a P-Funk concept album of how Campus Partners and Ohio State want to de-funkify High Street.

  Remember the good old days when South Campus was one huge block of rough'n'tumble bars, carry-outs and hip clothing stores? A virtual Wild West red light district practically, so popular Thursday through Saturday nights cops had to put up the super-strength industrial wire stretching from phone pole to phone pole, keeping the drunk kids from falling into High Street there were that many thousands of revelers. Papa Joe's alone pumped a Niagara Falls of beer every night while every drinking establishment hosted a squad of football players getting in extra-curricular blocking and tackling practice as bouncers and doormen.

  Ah, the hourly debauchery. The teenage drinking age. The good times and the bruises to show for 'em. How are kids gonna learn if they aren't allowed to get hurt once in awhile? Long live the plastic scaldings from the old toy Vacuu-Form.

AbleGamers Foundation helps making gaming enjoyable for everyone

For most of us, gaming comes easy. Those who aren’t faced with physical, sensory or cognitive challenges can play anything without worrying whether special controllers are supported, whether the colors are clearly separated, or whether it contains patterns that could trigger an epileptic seizure. But for many, these things are serious concerns. Even something as common as carpal tunnel syndrome — which I suffer from myself — can affect a person’s ability to enjoy games that the rest of the community takes for granted. With video games such a significant part of our culture and online games specifically a vital source of social interaction for some with disabilities that limit their ability to travel, making games that can be enjoyed regardless of these challenges should be an important consideration for game designers.

  Sadly, much like matters of racial and gender representation, these issues all too often fall by the wayside in an industry that’s mostly white, male and conventionally abled.

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