The nutty professor name drops hog wash, candidate Nash and Dr. Seuss.

Freedom to Screech is back, and less literate than ever.

WHO SAID IT?

We are concerned about a comment made by a candidate for City Council.

At a recent Democrat gathering he was overheard telling potential voters and we Quote: Candidate Matt Nash stated, that the people should serve local government rather than local government serve the taxpayer.

Matt was kind enough to tip me off when the pretend professor mentioned me, so I returned the favor on Twitter: They're taking issue with ya.

His reply: "I have no idea what they are talking about."

My summary: They don't, either, but it makes for much needed comic relief.

The last known photograph of me in a suit.

It is an indescribable honor to be recognized by Freedom of Speech.

I believe TIF bonds should be safe, legal and rare.

As for the suit, this photo shows what mine looks like. The photo was taken the last time I wore it, in 2009.

With stylish Che wallet and glass of red wine. 

It needs alteration, given that I've lost about 40 lbs since then. But I know where to do that, right Cisa?

Whatever became of Professor Erika, anyway?

Two and a half months between posts? Fundraising for Hillary really takes it out of a girl.

Erika changes her mind and get Diane Benedetti-McCartin's name backwards, too.

I was delighted when Erika endorsed me at Freedom to Screech.

Anyone but Gahan and England in 2015.

Well, I'm anyone -- and so are many others, for that matter. Now she's reversing field and withdrawing the endorsement, it having taken only 20 days for her to notice that she'd done so in the first place.

Our final thoughts: A message to Mr. "Bully" Baylor. Hell would freeze over before Freedom of Speech would EVER Support or Endorse you.

Easy come, easy go. I think she's just biased against non-smokers.

But there's even more. See if YOU can locate the coherent English-language sentence in this nicotine-stained gargling from the wee hours, this morning.

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

WHAT WE BELIEVE....

What we here at Freedom Of Speech believes is for those opposed to intolerance, excessive government control of our lives, and attempts to monoplize opinion or suppress freedom of thought, expression and worship.

It's just that simple.....

For heaven's sake, lady; what did the King ever do to you to have his native tongue mangled this way?

Or was it just the Bud Light Lime-a-Rita talking?

SCOOP: The Freedom to Screech pavilion during Thunder.

"Hi, I'm a friend and supporter of Freedom Of Speech -- can you direct me to their reserved seats?"

"Of course, madam ... right this way."

Yes! Erika just endorsed me for mayor ... and she's got a boobery fixation, too.

No, really -- she did. In the breach, but hey -- any poseur in an electoral storm, right?

WHAT A SWEETHEART DEAL....

Our final thoughts on this contract:

Elect a boob and you get boobery.

Re-elect a boob and you get EVEN more boobery. Oy vey!

Anyone but Gahan and England in 2015.

There it is: "Anyone but." I resemble that remark, don't I?

Erika Denhart rejects walkability, injects Speckophobia and expectorates noxious projectiles.

Rather than link you to Erika's unkempt litter box, from whence various disordered personality viruses lurk and the stench of unfiltered Chesterfields send you running for a handy Febreze, I'll merely reprint all of it right here.

For those newbies just tuning into the chronic illiteracy fest that is New Albany, suddenly trendy or otherwise, Freedom of Speech is a production written, produced, directed and oozed by a perpetually disgruntled woman named Vicki Denhart, who in it plays a role of her inspired creation, Erik, a bok-reading college professor who does not exist, this fiction being necessary so that her Fred Phelps-like thunder-puffs can be hurled anonymously, without comment. This, then, is "freedom" of speech, Erika-style. Occasionally she takes her show on the road to council meetings, lurching and rasping through lengthy denunciations of modernity until the nicotine fades.

Verily, cities can be defined by the persistence and oddity of its one-chord, obviously affected eccentrics. Perhaps we can name a tax after her ... after her.

Psst, officer ... looks like we have a new customer for the enchanted kingdom.

---

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO ALL THE LITTLE PEOPLE IN NEW ALBANY. ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE THESE FREEDOMS AWAY. NO ONE SHALL TAKE THESE RIGHTS FROM US. THE MOMENT WE BEGIN TO SEE THE PERSONAL AGENDAS IN CITY GOVERNMENT, WE SHOULD SPEAK OUT. WE NOW HAVE A VOICE. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE WAY OUR CITY GOVERNMENT OPERATES. MY PHILOSOPHY IS COMMON SENSE AND SEEING THINGS AS THEY ARE, AND DOING THINGS AS THEY SHOULD BE DONE.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

DUMBEST STATEMENT WE EVER READ.....

"Won't be a traffic study" but traffic will be studied."

We really do believe Mr. Speck says whatever pops into his head without forethought at all. $75,000 is just another EASY pay check and some free beer to him.

Talk about a Conflict of Interest.

Why are they wasting $75,000 of our money when there are"more important issues" that need dealt with?

A message to Mr. Warren Nash: How do you sleep at night?

Mr. Baylor if you want a walkable city, why don't you just do us all a big favor - move and stop "bullying downtown business owners."  Several businesses have told us, they put those stupid signs up just to shut you up!

Like the bible says: "the truth shall set you free."

Is it Erika, or Erica, or Airikka? Is he or she it? Bigger than a Wal-Mart white bread basket?

Erika's back.

First, she scrutinizes the May primary ballot and offers LOCAL PRIMARY 2014 ENDORSEMENTS, and by her subterranean trognonymous standards, it isn't a bad showing: Only three misspellings of candidate names ...

A(e)bersold
Schellem(n)berger
Byerl(e)y

 ... and a sentence coming after the list, advising readers to vote for the "following" names. It just goes to show that when it comes to the choice between proofreading and unfiltered Camels, every day's a smoke break.

But there's more!

The ellipse is teasingly elongated in In WHO'S - WHO IN 2013...., and NAC's senior editor gets a special nod from a special educator.

Biggest Bully of 2013 - Roger Baylor

Yay for me. I'd like to thank the preschool academy ... but seriously, Erika, is it Gardner or Gardenour? Same person, right?

Is it Schellemberger, Schuellenberger or Schellenberger?

Do the spellings change according the case and gender, as in this foreign version of English you're using? Is it a patois? Are barnacles impeding your pathway through the syntax?

Shouldn't you be supporting Coffey against Seabrook, so as to remove him from your seat to ultimate power (and Versace handbags) in the 1st council district?

Will Auntie V take you with her when she moves to the Gulf?

So many questions; so very little interest.

"Beware, yuletide oupistidophobes. I’m watching": The 2010 column and subsequent reaction.

It is my aim to keep rewinds and reruns to a minimum, but I can't resist revisiting this topic on an annual basis. 

Once upon a time, I used my newspaper column's bully pulpit, now defunct thanks to humorless Alabama pensioners and their registered local agents, to mischievously bait prevailing intolerance in the community. The column reprinted in its entirety below (how many re- words can I use in one posting?) appeared on December 23, 2010, and predictably, those intimately resembling the subjects of my column immediately descended upon me, not unlike piranhas on a stray Boston butt, resulting in this wrap-up on December 29, 2010:

"Beer Money" fan mail pours in ... that's nice ... is it time for a beer yet? 

... Takes a lot of nerve to put it in print that you don't believe in God. I'm not surprised. Goes along with all your anger ... To the Tribune: I agree with the commenter who asked that you stop publishing Baylor's columns. He doesn't write anything to help the people. This article doesn't make any more sense than anything else he writes. I don't read this and only checked this one out because someone sent me a link. It's just filling space. Make it your New Year's resolution to get rid of it.

On the same day, I was overjoyed to learn that Vicki Ann Denschack was savaging me at Freedom to Screech.

I stopped reading at "We was told," but she don't like me very much, do she?

First, we forget that you actually pay Roger Baylor to write this tripe. "BAYLOR: Beware, yuletide oupistophober. I'm watching." Noneless, it is when good men sit back and do nothing that people like him get this kind of opportunity ...

... So what we want our readers to do is this. Here's a link to the story. If you're tired of reading crap like this, write to the Tribune to let them know that you want Roger Baylor's columns to stop running. They are giving him free space to write destructive nonsense that is unhelpful.

In nine years writing a blog, I've never laughed harder at the oft-observed phenomenon wherein the rebuttals to your position from enraged opponents merely serve as further proof of your position's basic veracity. So, here it is again.

I can only hope that Erika and Amy are reading.

---

Beware, yuletide oupistidophobes. I’m watching.

Phobias are among the most fundamental of psychological phenomena, and I feel for anyone who suffers from them.

I have a few phobias, including a mild fear of heights (acrophobia), and a bit of taphephobia, the fear of being buried alive, as in a grave. These lurk in the murky background of my subconscious, bubbling to the surface every so often to wreak discomfort.

As an atheist, I’m sometimes accused of hagiophobia, a fear of holy things, but the naysayers are the ones with the problem: They’re suffering from phronemophobia, a fear of thinking. Granted, unbelievers aren’t preferred dinner guests this time of year, so how is a fear of atheists and atheism described? One source suggests atheophobia as truest to the Greek origins of the idea, while another offers oupistidophobia, literally “no-faith-phobia.”

I mention oupistidophobia because Christmas truly never fails to inspire intemperate attacks on atheists and atheism. The closer we get to the biggest day on the Christian festival calendar, the more phobic frothing about an insidious, irreligious conspiracy of militant atheists, who although insignificant in numbers, remains intent on attacking the faith of vulnerable, pious Christians – themselves comprising more than three-quarters of America’s population.

My favorite recurring seasonal set piece is when Christians, easily the beneficiaries of the most pervasive and relentless propaganda machine in the history of mankind, express outrage whenever miniscule dollops of free thinking manage to elude the leaden grip of the mandated American theocracy, and suddenly pose an Ebola-like threat to the hegemony of Christianity’s indigenous edifice.

A couple years ago, the Freedom From Religion Foundation erected a sign on the capitol grounds in Washington state:

“At this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”

(As an aside, the wording is largely superfluous past “prevail.” A theist believes in something, and bears the burden of proof, while those absent such belief cannot logically be expected to explain why something does NOT exist.)

Assuming one accepts the desirability of an open, pluralistic society beyond the bare fundamentals required to freely make piles of money for buying Chinese plastic trinkets, what’s so bad about equal time for opposing viewpoints?

The lawn in question abuts a building constructed by adherents of a non-religious political system that purports to represent all the residents of a secular state, not just the believers.

Alas, simplicity seldom is a part of this discussion. Just this past weekend, a local contributor to the Tribune bemoaned the current state of “Christless Christmas,” closing with a typical dose of seasonal alarmism:

“I feel strongly that we have lost much in our move to a Christless Christmas. It shows in our disregard for the value of human life. It shows in our fractured family relationships. It shows in our reluctance to form close ties with our neighbors as our grandparents did. Back then it was accepted, and rightly so, that this was a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values. Our laws are based on the Ten Commandments after all. No one was (and still are not) forced to attend church or worship anywhere. People were, and are, free to be of any or no religion. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists were as free to practice their religions as Christians were theirs."

Really?

To me, this implies that if only Americans of differing creeds would grow up and cede the inevitability of Christian “truth”, choosing to play-act in public by embracing a beige uniformity that never once existed in reality … and if these non-Christians, including atheists, would meekly worship (or mock religion, or use peyote) without publicly challenging the purely Christian nature of the Republic … then this apologetic acknowledgement of Christianity’s pre-eminence would enabled the constantly threatened Christian majority to grudgingly tolerate, as opposed to respect, otherwise errant theological convictions … and voila!

All our societal ills would magically disappear, just like that.

I repeat: Really?

It’s always the same historically inaccurate ruse: In spite of those inconvenient Constitutional quirks, the United States must be touted with flexed muscles as an overtly “Christian nation,” with requisite displays of piety for outward show, especially at Christmas, and yet, even as they stare malevolently at a winter solstice sign in Olympia, Washington, Christians also quickly remind us that Christmas “exists in our hearts,” a place utterly impervious to the alleged wickedness of the outside world, where faith cannot ever be dislodged.

If that’s true, what’s the point of appearances, anyway?

The mere presence of other viewpoints hardly stands to bring Christianity to its knees. I've never understood why those of religious orientation (another one of those “chosen” lifestyles, eh?) are so insecure when it comes to considerations of alternative worldviews.

Maybe it’s Satan, the same imaginary force for “evil” once held responsible for heretical notions of cell structure, gravity and interplanetary exploration, as well as other scientific findings that caused the heads of so many learned fellow Christians to roll down bloody cobblestoned streets, their death warrants signed by you know who.

Oupistidophobia or not, it seldom matters to me until religion crosses the line, and given the global history of persecution and mayhem administered from a religious perspective, I'll say just this: There's a much greater chance of an atheist being harmed by religion than the other way around.

Just remember the Inquisition as you fill your stockings this holiday season.

NAC's 7,000th post: Seven years on, Vicki Ann Denschak still masquerades as "College Professor of Political Science," as city yawns.

A hearty "Happy Birthday" to Freedom to Screech, which expends its 59th posting of the calendar year 2013 to boilerplate back-slapping -- and who needs grammar, spelling and style guidelines?

We are sure others have discovered that it's not easy keeping a blog fresh and current.

Indeed, it is. NAC's 1,115 posts this year haven't been easy at all, but let's not be churlish on such an auspicious occasion.

The Palsied Poseur Abides, and we are immeasurably somnolent for it. Hip hip, hooray, because while she's opposed to big government spoying on its citizens, there's nothing wrong with eavesdropping on your own neighbors. That's America!

HEY...IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY!

 ... New Albany is really a small town and while you are enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner at the local bars or restaurants, people are listening to your conversation and taking notes.

Will FOS be joining the innkeeper when she sells out and moves to balmier climes?

Stay tuned ... if you can stay awake.

In which Erika decries bullying, plays Twister with her pink elephants and savors a Chesterfield.

I wonder who she's talking about now?

A BADGE OF HONOR....

This blog posting is the first of our personal opinions examining the impact of bullying on everyday people.

Bullying is different from constructive criticism or conflict, bullying is persistent, it focuses on a person rather than a real issue.

We consider an attack from a certain blogger as a "Badge of Honor."

No, Erika; probably not.

I'm very disappointed that Prof. Erika hasn't commented on PourGate.

One blogger out, another still looking for her shadow.

Erika's on the third floor warpath in defense of Big Ed, while a grateful city celebrates three Formica-free months. To paraphrase Groucho, why don't we all wear pants for a change?

Unless he or she or it is a Native American, this is even denser than usual.

On the heels of selecting a deceased man as one's of last year's prime community movers, Erika lowers the hilarity bar even further with a Valentine's Day attack on political correctness, the anonymous hooded non-professor courageously telling immigrants just to go on home ... and yet, as we know, nearly one hundred percent of her/his/its readers ooze from a lineage of -- that's right -- immigration.

Here's the link. Don't forget your HazMat apparatus.

And only one of them is dead. Well, maybe two.

To see the Freedom to Screech man of the year for the 2013 edition, a guy who has been dead since 2011, find the highlighted link below.

To learn who the outstanding women are (I believe they're all living), go here.

I print these in their hilarious entirety without correcting grammatical errors, because there is no need to drive traffic to FOS when the laughs can be right here.

---

FREEDOM OF SPEECH SALUTES THE 10 OUTSTANDING MEN OF 2012...

The heart of a city is it's people. These men stand up for the best interest for New Albany citizens.

They work hard and play by the rules. And most of all they look out for their neighbors, co-workers, and the many needs of the "little people" of New Albany.

It's well known these men have:

* Supported the best interest for New Albany citizens

* Worked with local groups to provide food and supplies for the needy

* Listened to concerns of the public

* Not afraid to stand up for the rights of us citizens

* Supports the best interest of fellow employees

* They put their lives on the line for all New Albany citizens

* Successful businessman who give back to our community

* Goes above and beyond to bring detailed information to the table

* They always lend a helping hand to the citizens of New Albany

* Dedicated to real public service

Freedom Of Speech salutes and appreciates these outstanding 10 men, and their courage to stand up for what is right. These men through generosity and compassion devote themselves to helping others.

They are a great example of leadership in New Albany:

Todd Bailey - Former Police Chief

David Brewer - New Albany Building Commissioner

Ed Clere - State Representative

Matt Denison - Former City Operation Manager

Brian Gadd - Asst. Fire Chief

Roger Jeffers - Newly Appointed Floyd County Parks Superintendent

Maurice King - Former Citizens Advocate

Chris Morris - Editor, New Albany Tribune

John Schellenberger - 4th District County Council

Bill Schmidt - Former City Councilman, and private citizen

Salute! Language and grammar casualties as Erika picks her fave gals.

Read about these ten great women, as presented on a boilerplate list repeated year after year.

Notice the merry juxtaposition of caps, bolds and italics, so often heedless of playing by the (grammatical) rules, but then again, them little folks tend to have their word allergies, eh?

Giggle softly when the "alphabetical" list isn't alphabetical ... er, twice.

Cherish your Freedom to Screech, folks. To whom would we laugh aloud, if not that nutty faux transgendered trognonymous professor?

FREEDOM OF SPEECH SALUTES 10 OUTSTANDING WOMEN OF 2012 ...

These 10 Outstanding Women have embarked on becoming a new class of leaders for the City of New Albany and that means "Commitment to our community."

Nash on Clere Channel billboards: Erika goes for Matt's groin, but not before pausing for an unfiltered Chesterfield.

Erika's hopping mad. In fact, he/she/it is so distracted by bile and intemperance that those crucial daily meds yet again have gone unswallowed, and Freedom to Screech now imagines itself as Ed Clere's press agent, with Mr. Denschak herself grabbing marquee billing.

Mr. Clere would like a swift and visceral response to this nonsense.

And exactly what nonsense might it be this time -- of course, apart from the hilarity  of Erika's own split-gendered trognonymity?

Well, it's about signs, signs, everywhere the signs, during which Rep. Clere ranks political free speech above increased local taxes (i.e., future bridge tolls) in the campaign lexicon, while others (Clarksville) view the resulting steroidal yard sign proliferation with alarm. Two weeks ago, NAC provided relevant background:

Size matters, and obviously, it depends on what the meaning of "and" and.

With a perfectly straight face, I offer the newspaper's text in its entirety .. just imagine if there were another New Albany-based columnist (in addition to the versatile, provocative Matt Nash) to explicate such stories -- you know, to provide differing interpretations. As Tug McGraw once noted, "Ya Gotta Believe."

As for the possible fine, the case of Keith Henderson's legal fees provides a useful precedent. Merely submit the bill to Darin Coddington. He will pay, and commissioners Bush and Seabrook will provide cover. Case closed.

Darned if Our Man Matt didn't make this inexplicably discarded ex-columnist proud and tackle the issue, head on, and to the dismay of Clere Channel fluffers everywhere.

Atta boy, Matt; I always knew you could clamber over those skeletons in your scion "closest" and hit the bullseye, dead center.

NASH: The signs are all around, by Matt Nash ('Bama Pensioner Nuggets)

 ... This year, a local politician was notified that his political signs were too large based on an ordinance that was passed and that they needed to be removed. Instead of having the signs taken down, State Rep. Ed Clere left the signs where they were until the election was over.

Now that he has won the election, he is facing a fine for not removing the signs. According to the report in the News and Tribune, he believes that the ordinance only applies to political signs placed in the right of way, but the town disagrees.

Mr. Clere also believes that he is being singled out for political reasons, but two other local politicians were notified that their signs violated the law and they both chose to correct the problem immediately. Mr. Clere believes that the law didn’t pertain to him and even if it did he was quoted as saying, “I would argue that there still needs to be a high level of protection for political speech.”

Why does he believe that political speech is more important that any other speech? No where in the U.S. Constitution is one form of speech given any preference over another.

At this point, heads begin exploding as The Italian (nut)Job enters the room.

JOURNALISM 101....

 ... What is the real issue here? The local newspaper appears to be trying to silence the voice of this public servant simply because he is a Republican, and they're stomping on him for good measure ...

 ... You Sir, Mr. Nash write a column while sitting around with your local beer drinking buddies and do nothing but think of ways to bully others.

What has happen to fair and balance journalism?

Let's allow an expert on fair and "balance" journalism to make the call on the strength of Erika's bleating.

But every now and then, Erika manages to get it right: "We are NOT journalists and neither is Matt Nash." That's why it's the opinion page, my dear.

The last word goes to "Dan", who is awash in Astroglide and delusion amid the comments at the newspaper's web page.

(Clere's) doing a fine job, and he's not in the hip pocket of those who have had local power in their grubby paws for far too many years.

Dan, your door prize of bourbon balls and kitty litter can be redeemed at the alley exit, and what's more, you'll be delighted to learn that Kerry Stemler, the Bridges Non-Authority, 1Si, our saintly departing Daniels and the US Chamber of Commerce all agree with you 110% ... and $2 per ride.

See also: Life in OSi a grim reality.

REWIND: Labor Day screeching, and Labor Day reading.

(Originally published in September, 2009)

The first part of the transgendered professor's Labor Day screed are the words of Samuel Gompers, and as we've come to expect, Ms. Denschak makes no effort to attribute them.

Just for the fun of it, here's a section of the Wikipedia article on Gompers.

He joined Local 15 of the Cigarmakers' International Union in 1864, and was elected president of Local 144 in 1875. He was elected second vice-president of the international union in 1886, and first vice-president in 1896. He served in this capacity until his death. In 1877, the union nearly collapsed. Gompers and his friend Adolph Strasser used Local 144 as a base to rebuild the Cigarmakers' Union, introducing a high dues structure and implementing programs to pay out-of-work benefits, sick benefits, and death benefits for union members in good standing. He told the workers they needed to organize because wage reductions were almost a daily occurrence. The capitalists were only interested in profits, "and the time has come when we must assert our rights as workingmen. Every one present has the sad experience, that we are powerless in an isolated condition, while the capitalists are united; therefore it is the duty of every Cigar Maker to join the organization. ... One of the main objects of the organization," he concluded, "is the elevation of the lowest paid worker to the standard of the highest, and in time we may secure for every person in the trade an existence worthy of human beings."

Whoa -- sounds damned near Commie to me.

Does this mean she'll be working toward abolishing it?

In my previous post on appointments to the Human Rights Commission, I made backhanded reference to a Freedom to Screech article in which Professor Erika wrote this:

Instead of wasting time on Human Rights an a Ethics Commission isn't that why we pay Council members and the City Attorney?

Glancing at Facebook, we see that Wendy Stepro agrees with Erika.

Nothing strange about that ... well, perhaps one little thing. At last night's council meeting, Wendy Stepro was appointed to the Human Rights Commission.

Behind the mask: Erika defends Chick-fil-A's "virtue" against gays like us while even babies laugh hysterically.

But, of course, she's just as anonymous as ever, oozing courage with every feeble cursor curlicue: WE SUPPORT CHICK-FIL-A...

In fact, Erika's piece is so stimulating that I printed it out and passed it around.