Ain't No Love In The Heart: Wipe Columbus Down

Columbus's historical border may be two rivers, but in a way, it's still land-locked. We are a supposed oasis of progressivism and independent spirit. Our fair city that is above all of your problematic favorite urban spaces. All we do is develop and win. Yet beneath all the glimmering Columbus Underground headlines, we are little more than yet another sand dune in the desert of American hubris. Like literally, the name of our city is Columbus, y'all. Well a couple Mondays ago, this sand dune got a well-deserved duststorm.

First Person Singular - "Ask A Muslim"

"First Person Singular" is an occasional column by JP Marat that empowers artists, musicians and community activists to speak in their own voice. Sincere thanks to The Columbus Free Press for the opportunity to let our voices be heard . . .

My First Encounter with “Ask A Muslim”

Brave New World: Is GMO marijuana under development, or is this genetically modified pot just a hoax?

I was having a debate with my friend the other day. He cried hoax – April Fool’s! I said brave new world. So, which is it? Is genetically modified – GMO – marijuana under development, or is this just a joke?
  The news article that kicked off this debate entitled, “Monsanto Creates First Genetically Modified Strain of Marijuana,” appeared in the online newspaper World News Daily Report. Actually, not the optimal source. In its own disclaimer, the Report calls its articles “satirical and fictional.” Further, a website calling out fakery labeled the article “False.” Score one for my friend.
  But the question remains open. Is genetically modified pot little more than an April Fool’s joke?
  A February article in The Columbus Free Press described GMOs as “living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory.” Without question, they are getting a bad rap. GMOs have been banned in some countries, linked to illnesses and even deemed unethical by the Vatican. So why would a company want to genetically modify marijuana?

Ward systems, police review, community bill of rights – oh my!

Columbus City Hall

How do some of the candidates for Columbus City Council stand on some of the most contentious issues in our city? The Columbus Free Press contacted all ten Columbus City Council candidates on the May 5, 2015 primary ballot and asked for their positions on three key issues of concern to our editorial board. Only half of the candidates responded.

  The three incumbent Democrats – Zack Klein, Melissa Mills and Jaiza Page – did not respond. State Representative Michael Stinziano was the only Democratic Party-endorsed candidate that sent in his answers. Of the three Republican-endorsed candidates – John Rush, Dimitrius Stanley, and Besmira Sharrah – only Rush responded to our questions. All three candidates who are not endorsed by the two major parties responded to our questionnaire: Will Petrik, Ibrahim Sow, and Kiwan Lawson. Petrik is endorsed by the Franklin County Green Party.


A ward system


  The first question the Free Press asked was: Where do you stand on incorporating a ward system into the Columbus City Council structure and do you support any ward representation?

Mayoral Candidate Andrew Ginther and “The Big Lie”

Current city council president and Columbus Mayoral candidate Andrew Ginther has pulled out all the stops as he seeks to deflect from his record of incompetence related to the Columbus City Schools data scrubbing scandal, using a technique that can best be described by what leading propagandists described as “the big lie.”
  In response to other candidates bringing up what they call his record of failure on the school board that they claim led to continuing fraud, Ginther declares he is proud of his service on the school board and for his work chairing the Audit and Accountability Committee. Going further in defense he states that once he became aware of data scrubbing allegations he immediately launched an investigation and kept it going even though the school administration tried to end it, and that the investigation was on-going when he departed the school board for council in 2007.

A Preview of Coming Wars: Do Black Lives Matter in Africa?

White House Pushes to Keep Power to Shut Down Cellphone Networks

 

In 2005, amid reports that the London subway bombers had used cellphones as detonators, the White House secretly established the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 303, which granted the government the ability to unilaterally shut down all cellphone service in an area of its choosing when it feels it needs to.

The details of the procedure are still not public, and a series of lawsuits aiming to at the very least get the basics of how the law even theoretically works have faced massive official opposition, with the White House and DHS desperate to avoid any oversight.

The power has become increasingly controversial in recent years, as cellphone communication has increasingly replaced landline phones, and would be more essential than ever during “emergencies,” the very time the administration wants to be able to silence them.

Mormons' Posthumous Weddings & "Highest Sacraments" in Thailand


 Nearly 50 years after Mormons opened small
churches here converting Buddhists, animists and other Thais, they
have now announced plans to construct their first big temple in
Thailand, enabling their families to be "sealed" together for
eternity, posthumous weddings for dead ancestors and other "highest
sacraments."

The Mormons' nearest Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)
is in Hong Kong, about 1,000 miles northeast of Bangkok.

Over the years, Mormons have converted more and more people in
Thailand, prompting LDS President Thomas S. Monson's announcement.

"The Bangkok Thailand Temple will be the first in this Asian nation,"
LDS said in a statement on April 5 from their Salt Lake City, Utah
headquarters.

"It may be some time before an exact location, construction schedule,
dates for groundbreaking, etc. are provided," LDS public affairs
officer Karlie Brand replied when asked for details.

"Some members speculate that the Church office building on New

"Old law prisoners" subject of demonstration

Group of protestors with signs

There was a demonstration at ODRC Friday, April 24, 2015 demanding justice for old-law prisoners. There were approximately 30 people there, a very good attendance for a prison issues demonstration. The demonstration was "In memory of Gerald Loomer" sponsored by "First Thing's Smoken" and "In the Name of Justice."  Gerald Loomer, died in an Ohio prison in February. On February 9, Darlene Loomer Moore Bendenritter posted on Facebook (page Release Gerald Loomer): "There was a demonstration at ODRC today demanding justice for old-law prisoners.  I counted 30 -- very good attendance for a prison issues demonstration.

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