ODOT, OHPOLITICS, and let's go fishin'
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Let me begin this week's tome by saying several of my past and present friends and favorite people – guys like Dave Covert, for instance – work for or have worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
They are all No. 1 in my book.
I am particularly fond of all those ODOT drivers who get up early on snowy mornings and keep Folsom Hill safe for all of us who live on the south side of Route 247.
Just wanted to clear that up. Now, where's the city auditor's office these days?
* * *
How about that Brad Wenstrup, anyway?
* * *
On another political front, most of our readers found themselves in full agreement with SSCC professor Jon Davidson's recent assessment of the campaign communication curse often referred to as a Robocall.
Such is the seasonal term for the incessant and annoying as fingernails on a chalkboard political telephone calls that always increase in volume as election day nears. These automated calls and their computerized, pre-recorded messages are more annoying than a Porter Wagoner album infomercial that you just can't seem to turn off. (Maybe it's because a young Dolly Parton was always hawking those boxes of Breeze laundry detergent with the towel inside the box. "You cain't buy 'em. You cain only get 'em for free in boxes of Breeze."
I think all politicians who purchase Robocall advertisements ought to have their mouth washed out with a cupful of Breeze and some liquid Tide for rinsing. (I'll make an exception for Mr. Steve Cowdrey, who posted a public apology for using one of these services.)
But let's be honest, there's a reason that talk is cheap.
And when political candidates can record a 15-second sound byte and have 2,250 telephone calls made on their behalf at 7 cents a call for $157, well, one might understand the advertising concept. On the other hand, they might want to check out local newspaper advertising. For the same $157 (or less), an ad in The Highland County Press will reach more than 25,000 readers. And it won't annoy the voters you're trying to reach, either. We promise.
WLW's Gary Burbank used to blow up all the political ads the day after the election. Too bad he's retired to the St. Pia Zadora Golden Buckeye Retirement Community. I miss him.
* * *
One last political observation this week. I was going through a few magazines in our home library magazine rack the other day, and as I settled in for a good read, it occurred to me: We have the National Review June 30, 2008 edition with relatively unknown Chicago community organizer Barack Obama on the cover. We also have this week's March 5, 2012 edition with a caricature of Obama on the cover, but with a current photograph of the president on an inside page.
Placing the 2008 photo next to the 2012 photo, it occurred to me: That presidency thing is a tough job. In the 2008 photo (if, indeed, it was a 2008 photo), Obama looked like he could have passed for 30 or 35. Fast-forward less than four years and he looks like he could be 60. He's somewhere in between, probably around 50.
The point being that the stress and responsibilities of the office obviously take their toll. In recent years, it happened to Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. They aged dramatically through their two terms. Maybe President Obama really doesn't need or want a second term. But I suspect voters will give him four more years, considering the present GOP field.
* * *
This past Saturday evening was a special night for Ernie and Rita Blankenship and their family. A tip of the hat to John Barney for emceeing the event in fine fashion, and to Erin Blankenship and Andrea Holt for putting everything together.
There's an old saying on the college football dinner circuit that you should never speak after the meal or after Lou Holtz. Both are tough acts to follow.
On the local level, John called upon me to speak after WSRW radio legend Willard Parr. Thanks a lot, John.
Asking me to speak in public is like putting an elevator in an outhouse. It just doesn't belong. (Courtesy of "Roadhouse.")
Otherwise, it was a really great evening at the Hillsboro Elks Lodge. One thing was evident: Ernie and Rita have a lot of friends. From about 5:30-7:30 p.m., Ernie stood by the entrance and greeted everyone who came through the door.
As the evening progressed and I spoke to a number of Ernie's friends, I soon realized that many of us had similar stories. Whether it was attending sporting events together, finding game tickets for a certain sports fan, or helping a young person find gainful employment, Ernie always came through. Always.
Thanks, Ernie. Thanks, Rita. And Happy Anniversary to two of the most wonderful folks in town. We love you.
* * *
As promised to one of my friends who likes to combine fishing and other interesting pursuits of happiness, I've been trying to put together a Top 10 list of fishing films. This is a follow-up to a previous column on the all-time greatest sports movies.
The trouble with coming up with a Top 10 list of fishing movies (those "how to catch a big fish" DVDs don't qualify) is this: I'm not sure I can name 10 movies about fishing.
But let's cast out into the deep waters, anyway, and see what bites (besides this column):
With baited breath, I'll concede that the Absolute best movie about fishing is tough to tackle.
But I'm hooked between two films:
• "The Old Man and the Sea" (the original, with Spencer Tracy as Santiago) based on the classic Ernest Hemingway novella. Someone I love was kind enough to buy the DVD for me.
• "Jaws" (the 1975 original) based on the Peter Benchley novel. "We're gonna need a bigger boat" might be one of the all-time great movie lines. I watch "Jaws" whenever it's on one of those movie channels.
After "The Old Man and the Sea" and "Jaws," the fishing line gets a little tighter.
• I'll give you "Moby Dick," the 1956 adaptation of Herman Melville’s novel with Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab.
• "The Perfect Storm" with George Clooney is a good movie.
• "To Have and Have Not," with Bogie and Bacall and my favorite character actor, Walter Brennan, was a tremendous film. While they never actually landed a fish, they were always talking about fishing.
• I'm told that "On Golden Pond" should be on the list. I've never watched it. But I like Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda so it's a catch.
• Another person lured me into putting "A River Runs Through It" in the live well. Never saw it. Brad Pitt's in it, though, and he once played a guy named Rory in "The Devil's Own," plus it's about fishing in Montana, so it's a keeper.
• Being a John Steinbeck and Spencer Tracy fan, it'd be a Bad Day at Black Rock if I didn't include "Tortilla Flat." Hedy Lamar (Va Va va-boom!) is also in this comedy fishing adventure.
That's a daily limit of eight in the bucket.
If you know of two more great movies about fishing, send me an email at roryeryan@gmail.com.
Rory Ryan is the angler in chief of The Highland County Press. He once caught a fish in Idaho in 1979.
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They are all No. 1 in my book.
I am particularly fond of all those ODOT drivers who get up early on snowy mornings and keep Folsom Hill safe for all of us who live on the south side of Route 247.
Just wanted to clear that up. Now, where's the city auditor's office these days?
* * *
How about that Brad Wenstrup, anyway?
* * *
On another political front, most of our readers found themselves in full agreement with SSCC professor Jon Davidson's recent assessment of the campaign communication curse often referred to as a Robocall.
Such is the seasonal term for the incessant and annoying as fingernails on a chalkboard political telephone calls that always increase in volume as election day nears. These automated calls and their computerized, pre-recorded messages are more annoying than a Porter Wagoner album infomercial that you just can't seem to turn off. (Maybe it's because a young Dolly Parton was always hawking those boxes of Breeze laundry detergent with the towel inside the box. "You cain't buy 'em. You cain only get 'em for free in boxes of Breeze."
I think all politicians who purchase Robocall advertisements ought to have their mouth washed out with a cupful of Breeze and some liquid Tide for rinsing. (I'll make an exception for Mr. Steve Cowdrey, who posted a public apology for using one of these services.)
But let's be honest, there's a reason that talk is cheap.
And when political candidates can record a 15-second sound byte and have 2,250 telephone calls made on their behalf at 7 cents a call for $157, well, one might understand the advertising concept. On the other hand, they might want to check out local newspaper advertising. For the same $157 (or less), an ad in The Highland County Press will reach more than 25,000 readers. And it won't annoy the voters you're trying to reach, either. We promise.
WLW's Gary Burbank used to blow up all the political ads the day after the election. Too bad he's retired to the St. Pia Zadora Golden Buckeye Retirement Community. I miss him.
* * *
One last political observation this week. I was going through a few magazines in our home library magazine rack the other day, and as I settled in for a good read, it occurred to me: We have the National Review June 30, 2008 edition with relatively unknown Chicago community organizer Barack Obama on the cover. We also have this week's March 5, 2012 edition with a caricature of Obama on the cover, but with a current photograph of the president on an inside page.
Placing the 2008 photo next to the 2012 photo, it occurred to me: That presidency thing is a tough job. In the 2008 photo (if, indeed, it was a 2008 photo), Obama looked like he could have passed for 30 or 35. Fast-forward less than four years and he looks like he could be 60. He's somewhere in between, probably around 50.
The point being that the stress and responsibilities of the office obviously take their toll. In recent years, it happened to Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. They aged dramatically through their two terms. Maybe President Obama really doesn't need or want a second term. But I suspect voters will give him four more years, considering the present GOP field.
* * *
This past Saturday evening was a special night for Ernie and Rita Blankenship and their family. A tip of the hat to John Barney for emceeing the event in fine fashion, and to Erin Blankenship and Andrea Holt for putting everything together.
There's an old saying on the college football dinner circuit that you should never speak after the meal or after Lou Holtz. Both are tough acts to follow.
On the local level, John called upon me to speak after WSRW radio legend Willard Parr. Thanks a lot, John.
Asking me to speak in public is like putting an elevator in an outhouse. It just doesn't belong. (Courtesy of "Roadhouse.")
Otherwise, it was a really great evening at the Hillsboro Elks Lodge. One thing was evident: Ernie and Rita have a lot of friends. From about 5:30-7:30 p.m., Ernie stood by the entrance and greeted everyone who came through the door.
As the evening progressed and I spoke to a number of Ernie's friends, I soon realized that many of us had similar stories. Whether it was attending sporting events together, finding game tickets for a certain sports fan, or helping a young person find gainful employment, Ernie always came through. Always.
Thanks, Ernie. Thanks, Rita. And Happy Anniversary to two of the most wonderful folks in town. We love you.
* * *
As promised to one of my friends who likes to combine fishing and other interesting pursuits of happiness, I've been trying to put together a Top 10 list of fishing films. This is a follow-up to a previous column on the all-time greatest sports movies.
The trouble with coming up with a Top 10 list of fishing movies (those "how to catch a big fish" DVDs don't qualify) is this: I'm not sure I can name 10 movies about fishing.
But let's cast out into the deep waters, anyway, and see what bites (besides this column):
With baited breath, I'll concede that the Absolute best movie about fishing is tough to tackle.
But I'm hooked between two films:
• "The Old Man and the Sea" (the original, with Spencer Tracy as Santiago) based on the classic Ernest Hemingway novella. Someone I love was kind enough to buy the DVD for me.
• "Jaws" (the 1975 original) based on the Peter Benchley novel. "We're gonna need a bigger boat" might be one of the all-time great movie lines. I watch "Jaws" whenever it's on one of those movie channels.
After "The Old Man and the Sea" and "Jaws," the fishing line gets a little tighter.
• I'll give you "Moby Dick," the 1956 adaptation of Herman Melville’s novel with Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab.
• "The Perfect Storm" with George Clooney is a good movie.
• "To Have and Have Not," with Bogie and Bacall and my favorite character actor, Walter Brennan, was a tremendous film. While they never actually landed a fish, they were always talking about fishing.
• I'm told that "On Golden Pond" should be on the list. I've never watched it. But I like Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda so it's a catch.
• Another person lured me into putting "A River Runs Through It" in the live well. Never saw it. Brad Pitt's in it, though, and he once played a guy named Rory in "The Devil's Own," plus it's about fishing in Montana, so it's a keeper.
• Being a John Steinbeck and Spencer Tracy fan, it'd be a Bad Day at Black Rock if I didn't include "Tortilla Flat." Hedy Lamar (Va Va va-boom!) is also in this comedy fishing adventure.
That's a daily limit of eight in the bucket.
If you know of two more great movies about fishing, send me an email at roryeryan@gmail.com.
Rory Ryan is the angler in chief of The Highland County Press. He once caught a fish in Idaho in 1979.
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