Living Out Loud

Red Meat Bill Cunningham

Whatever.

Its old news now and I don't really care. Let me give you a reason why I'm writing about this today before I ask a few questions.

I'm sure most of you have heard about Willie's attack on Obama this week when McCain was in town. Now Willie is saying he’s going to support Hillary, because McCain  didn’t approve of what the shock-jock said and apologized for it. Then Willie cried like a schoolgirl to Sean Hannity about it, saying the McCain people wanted red meat for the crowd.

Another – whatever.

Click here to get to Crooks & Liars to watch Willie cry to Sean Hannity.

z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-.

This post is up today for one reason only: someone please tell me why people still listen to this guy? For over 20 years, Willie hasn’t changed his act one bit – and that’s all it is. His conservative hate wore me out two decades ago. Why is he still on WLW radio?

Educate me. Why is he soooooooo Cincinnati?

- Larry Gross

(Photo: CityBeat)

Fact #46 is Bullshit

I'm a smoker and I smoke Camel Lights. They have a redesigned pack (I like the one old better) that has a promotional whatever slipped into the back of the pack - something called "boost your blend I.Q. about Camels."

Here's fact #46. . .

"A big factor in how tobacco tastes is what part of the stalk it comes from. We use leaves from the top, middle and bottom of the plant for the best-tasting Camels possible."

Hey RJ Reynolds, I grew up on a farm! A tobacco farm! Your fact #46 is bullshit!!

Down on the farm, when you're "stripping" tobacco (pulling the leaves from the stalk), here's how it goes. . .

The leaves at the top of the plant are called the "tips."

The leaves on the middle of the stalk is called just that - the middle.

The leaves at the bottom of the plant is called "trash," leaves that don't get a high price when you're selling it at the market.

You guys are using the whole plant just like the rest of the tobacco companies are. Give me a break.

How about a little truth in advertising?

- Larry Gross

(Photo found on Mr. Google)

Young Kids in Colerain Township do Some Coke While Parents are Away

The time: last night.

Thinking their parents were out for the evening, a couple kids in Colerain Township decide to party! They invite some friends over and there’s plenty of Coke to go around.

The thing is, the parents return. See the shocking developments in the video down below.

Reporting live from Colerain Township, this is. . .

- Judy Darling,
LOL Blog Reporter

(Photo from www.thechoicegame.com)

Nice Guys Can Finish First

I lose track of years badly. I don't know how long I've known Jim Allen, but it's been a lot of years.

I knew his wife Jan first. We volunteered at AVOC together and became close friends. Future down the line, I would meet her boyfriend who would become her husband. That was nice guy Jim Allen.

Along with another friend Janey – Jan, Jim and myself often pal around on the weekends. We can be a loud group of people, but we always have ourselves a time.

Please remember how I lose track of years, but a few back, I was the accounting manager at CityBeat and we had an opening in the department. Jim expressed an interest in the job.

I was a little hesitant at first to hire him, because we were friends. What if it turned out he was no good at accounting? What if I had to – you know – fire him? That would be the end of the friendship for sure.

That worry was all for nothing. Jim turned out to be a great employee, good with numbers and also well liked by all the other Citybeaters.

I stopped being CityBeat’s accounting manager probably over two years ago (I went on to bigger and better things, like this LOL Blog – stop laughing), but Jim and I remain friends.

Jim, I know you read this blog. I want you to know the best thing about having you as an employee was your ability to come in, keep your head down and just do your job - and do it extremely well. You were never high maintenance and I could always count on you. Hey buddy, it was appreciated.

Today is Jim’s last day at CityBeat. He’s moving on to a better job – more money, good benefits. The paper’s going to miss him, but nothing stays the same.

I’ve heard people say that nice guys finish last. That’s not the case with Jim Allen. He’s truly a nice guy and I know he'll have much success in his new job.

- Larry Gross

(Photo from Jan Allen)

My Friend and his Family

When my friend and his family took me in, I didn't realize it at the time, but I was damaged.

I had just had a relationship breakup which tore me up badly. This led to dealing with other emotional issues from my past. On top of this, I was being forced out of my apartment downtown. I was a mess.

So often during this time, I felt like I was somebody else. Often, I felt weak and hopeless. Depression was with me everyday.

My friend lives in Monford Heights. I know him well, but not really his family. In the weeks ahead, I would come to know his three sons, his daughter and his wife. In a way, they would become my new family.

It felt good to get a good night’s sleep again. My friend and his family always made sure I was eating regularly. They looked out for me. They wanted me to be safe. They wanted me to get better.

I usually get up early in the morning. First thing, I would go outside to their backyard, sometimes with a cup of coffee, and check out what the weather was going to be.

Monford Heights has a lot of lakes and often geese would fly over making those honking noises that geese make. I loved looking up at the sky and watching them. It was comforting somehow.

I stayed almost two months with my friend and his family. Now feeling stronger and more like myself, I’ve gone back to the independence that I now know I’ve missed. I’m on my own again.

What my friend and his family did for me will never be forgotten. They hung with me when I needed friends the most. That's one of the reasons why I love them. I want them to know that.

- Larry Gross

(Photo from Jupiter Images)

I Stole His Little Debbie Snack Cakes

Paybacks can be hell and I have finally gotten even with that asshole Tom Anus.

A few weeks ago, he stole my clothes after we had sex and I fell asleep. He didn't even leave me my underwear or shoes. What a low class guy.

I got him good this morning. He left his Little Debbie Snack Cakes on his desk. They were the Zebra kind – you know, a delicious yellow cake filled with creme and trimmed with fudge stripes. Sooooooooooo good.

What goes around comes around. That’s what I always say. I’m eating Little Debbie right now.

- Brandy Edwards

(Photo from Little Debbie Website)

Someone Stole my Little Debbie Snack Cakes

There aren't many who work here in the LOL office, so there are only a few I can point my finger at.

Someone stole my Little Debbie Snack Cakes – right off my damn desk. They were the Zebra kind – a delicious yellow cake filled with white creme and trimmed with fudge stripes. Sooooooooo good. My mouth is watering right now.

I have a feeling this is Brandy Edward’s doing. Just because I stole her clothes a few weeks ago, she’s acting all pissed about it. Stealing my Little Debbie Snack Cakes, however, is a much lower than taking her stupid dress that she probably got at the Family Dollar Store.

I’m hungry. Oh, Little Debbie, I want you bad.

- Tom Anus

(Graphic from Little Debbie Web Site)

Monday's Lunch

Dave only gets half an hour for lunch and he loves his hamburgers. He orders more than a few at a McDonald's and has to slam them down – you know, only 30 minutes to eat them.

On the 15^th burger, Dave starts to not feel so well. You’ll see this in the video down below if you dare watch it.

- Joe Locker

(Photo from Wordpress)

She Wants Her Stuff Back

I feel bad for my friend Mae.  She lost her job about a month ago - was an accountant for a small company downtown. She's smart - was probably too smart for that hole-in-the-wall company who has a lot of secrets to hide - but that's a story for another day.

On that Friday morning a month ago, they told her she was fired - no reason given except for the fact the company was having a hard time making payroll. Business conditions weren't good.

She was asked to leave immediately. Mae wasn't allowed to go to her desk and get her personal stuff - some family pictures, a coffee mug, some paintings - just stuff she had in her little office cube. Her boss said they would get this to her the following week.

Now a month has gone by and none of her personal belongings have been returned to her.

She wants her stuff back. Isn't that Mae's right?

- Carol Walters

(Photo from www.myoops.org)

Question of the Week

With all the snow and ice last week, most businesses downtown shoveled their sidewalks, but some didn't.

How do you feel about those stores, bars, etc. who didn't take the time to make their business safe for their customers?

- Larry Gross

(Photo from www.clivedouce.com)