Ohio State’s athletic director Gene Smith must feel like he’s experiencing deja vu these days.

It has been more than a month since the school announced that head football coach Jim Tressel was aware that players had selling memorabilia in exchange for tattoos and other gifts.

Usually with time, due in large part to a short attention span by the public, the major stories seem to fade into the background and become part of the rich tapestry of our subconscious.

But with yet another story being reported on April 20, Tattoo-gate still seems to be alive and kicking.

The latest report dealt with an update on the ongoing investigation surrounding Tressel and the fallout from the now infamous press conference that was conducted during this past March.

There wasn’t any form of a bombshell that came from the story outside of the fact that Tressel’s $250,000 fine probably won’t cover the cost of the investigation, but one quote did stick out when reading the story published by the Associated Press.

When referring to the situation surrounding Tressel and the five players involved in the NCAA scandal, Smith was quoted as saying that, “It’s a nightmare.”

The phrase itself isn’t that revealing. Anyone in Smith’s shoes would likely say the same thing, but the Freddy Krueger scenario reaches far beyond any potential violations that will be dealt with by the Buckeyes.

Golf legend and Ohio State alum Jack Nicklaus informed reporters at a fundraiser for the annual Memorial Tournament held in the Columbus suburb of Dublin that he feels that “Jim Tressel is taking the fall.” Nicklaus went on to say that while he is not privy to any information that the media is not aware of, he thinks Tressel is a “good guy” and made allegations that he believes Smith and university president Gordon Gee knew about the involvement of players selling merchandise to tattoo parlor owner Edward Rife.

As hurtful as the Golden Bear’s comments to Smith might be, he isn’t the only one talking about the situation. Gee got in the act this week after he talked with the Ohio State student newspaper “The Lantern” to apologize for his ill timed joke at the March presser. The phrase “I’m just hoping the coach doesn’t dismiss me” might be the epithet on Gee’s tombstone when everything is all said and done.

If you need further proof of the zombie like qualities of the Tressel saga head on over to Google. After conducting a simple search of Jim Tressel, there were over one million results that were returned. I am going to hypothesize that there was far less just two months ago and there were probably fewer ones calling for the head coach of Ohio State to be fired too.

Whether fortunate or unfortunate, Smith has been the one left to take the brunt of the fallout from Tattoo-gate.

Tressel has been able to focus on spring practice which will wrap up on April 23 with the annual spring game. While there may be the occasional query into the pending NCAA investigation, the Vest has been able to focus on football and preparing his team for life without him for five games next season.

Gee’s natural domain is academia and not rooted in the sports realm. There are far more pressing situations like the university’s commencement and overall university problems to get lost in then worrying about any verbal gaffes made earlier this spring.

Smith has been the point man for questions regarding the case. He was peppered with questions in the AP article about every angle of the ongoing investigation. For Smith, there is no other world to escape in to.

There is just this behemoth of a story: Tattoo-gate and all the problems that surround it and it is not showing any signs of going away anytime soon.

Whenever the final verdict on the NCAA violations are passed down, it might be another dark day in Columbus for Tressel and the Buckeyes.

But forgive Gene Smith if he has a little smile come across his face. He will just be happy that his personal “Groundhog Day” may be coming to an end.

In the eight years that he occupied office, George W. Bush saw his approval ratings skyrocket up to 90 percent post-Sept. 11, 2001 and tumble to as low as 25 percent on three separate occasions (www.gallup.com). His presidency was not praised for handling the deadliest terror attack ever executed on U.S. soil, or the passing of Sarbanes Oxley in response to Enron, WorldComm and Tyco frauds. Instead, Bush was ridiculed by the media for public gaffes, a cabinet lacking intelligence and involving the U.S. in two wars without any evidence of WMDs or an exit strategy.
Americans had finally had enough. Liberals wanted Bush out long before the 2008 election and conservatives were eager for his exit following the frivolous spending policies that plagued the end of his second term. The public disdain for Bush presented the perfect opportunity for the Democrats to sponsor the most progressive candidate to occupy the Oval Office since Jimmy Carter.
Liberals, democrats, progressives and the like immediately fell in love with Barack Obama. His smooth talk, charming personality and technical savvy provided the feel-good vibe a candidate needs to win undecided voters, and he quickly became the “popular choice.” Cries from the Right that he was unqualified and lacked any real experience went unheard and Obama quickly found himself president.
Almost two and a half years later, Obama’s presidency has lacked any form of leadership and common sense, but why has the media tried so hard to ignore this? Sure, you hear the usual suspects speaking out — Rush, Glenn, Bill, Anne, etc. — but constituents are not nearly as fed up with Obama as they were with Bush, judging by his 45 percent job approval rating. Do the numbers reflect the job he’s done?
Environment: Bush had Hurricane Katrina, Obama had the BP oil spill. Both were handled quite poorly.
Military: Bush led the U.S. in to war with Afghanistan and soon after Iraq. Obama failed to withdraw troops in the manner that he claimed he would and helped spark an offensive in Libya.
Economy: Bush approved massive spending increases in his second term which had little to no effect on the economy. Obama continued this flawed policy of tax and spend (and then some) with no different outcome.
Public Gaffes: Bush made several foolish comments during press interviews. Obama compared his bowling skills to that of a man in the Special Olympics on Jay Leno and received a pass from the oh-so-forgiving media.
Throw a shoe at Obama and we have an identical presidency.
Those who support a political candidate and their values are reluctant to change their opinion overnight. It took conservatives several months to take notice of Bush’s faulty economic policy. I have recognized these similarities during the past few months, but finally others are beginning to take notice. Michael Moore recently demanded Obama return his Nobel Peace Prize and Minister Louis Farrakhan recently asked Obama, “Who the hell do you think you are?” on his radio show, both comments in response to Obama’s policy in Libya.
The time is coming and citizens are starting to take notice. It would not surprise me in the least to see Obama’s approval ratings drop at least 10 percent by the end of his term, especially with the way his administration has handled (or failed to) this jobless recovery. I would be shocked if his party allows him to run for a second term. The Democrats are not stupid; they know that dissatisfied voters sway elections. Angry Democrats helped elect Reagan over Carter and frustrated Republicans helped elect Clinton to his first term over H.W. Bush.
Only two things are certain right now; Republicans are going to work hard to find a respectable, electable candidate to take control of the White House in 2012, and Obama’s publicist is going to be earning his paycheck in the coming months.

Ben Treece is a discretionary money manager with Treece Investment Advisory Corp and a stockbroker for Treece Financial Services Corp licensed with FINRA.

The Maritime Academy of Toledo is now operating out of its new home in the former maritime union building on Water Street in Downtown Toledo.
The Maritime Academy moved into the state-of-the-art marine training facility which it is leasing from the American Maritime Officers Plan (AMOP).
“We now have the best marine educational facilities in the country,” Superintendent Renee Marazon said.
She reported that the AMOP came to the academy about using the training facilities and left all the equipment and simulators for the students to use.
The Maritime Academy is a tuition-free public charter school for students in grades five through 12 and also offers certification training for adults in the maritime industry. The academy was founded in 2005 and previously operated out of a Downtown building on Monroe Street.
Today, 193 middle and high school students are studying marine subjects, learning to navigate a Great Lakes freighter or to play the steel drums in the school band, all while preparing for college and a possible career in the shipping industry.

Cadet Henry Brown at the engine simulator at the Maritime Academy.

The new facility offers students an education using maritime and nautical themes in traditional subjects with hands-on learning in a boat building laboratory, two navigation simulators, ship-size galley, commercial laundry, and other hospitality amenities for potential positions on cruise ships and freighters.
The curriculum at the academy focuses on one of the world’s most valuable resources, the navigable waterways of the Great Lakes, its islands, rivers, ecosystems, food chain and supply, recreation and impact on the region’s economy.
“Our challenging curriculum and strong code of conduct set high standards for our students,” Marazon said. “We support our students with individualized attention and hands-on learning opportunities that keep them engaged.”
Quincy Cunningham is an example of many students who are taking advantage of the educational opportunities at the Maritime Academy. He was once a shy child who struggled with reading comprehension, Marazon said.
“It opened a lot of opportunities for me and helped me to pursue a career as a veterinarian for large mammals,” Cunningham said.
“When students have a passion for what they want to do, we help them pursue it,” Marazon said.
After four years at the academy, Cunningham will graduate at the top of his class having earned the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He plans to attend Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
His mom, Patrece Tolbert, credits the one-on-one attention and hands-on learning experiences he received at the maritime academy for his success.
“We learn more here from better teachers who work with students one-on-one with hands-on training,” said Daryl Winfree, a junior from Toledo.
“There’s more attention focused on individual students in smaller classes,” said William Moore, a senior from Toledo, who plans to join the Marine Corps after graduation in June.
The Maritime Academy has a staff of 30 professionals, including a licensed career tech instructor who happens to be a licensed sea captain as well, Marazon said.
Rick Brown, instructor and marine CTE program director, heads a three-year career tech program for the students who also attend classes at Owens Community College. Students can earn up to 24 credit hours toward an associate degree, Brown said.
The Maritime Academy of Toledo is one of only 18 maritime academies in the U.S., the only one on the Great Lakes and only middle and high school combination, Marazon said.
The academy also serves an important role in retraining adult mariners and educating adults seeking to begin new careers in the maritime industry, she said.
Marazon said the academy hosted its first fundraiser, an Admiral’s Ball and Silent Auction, on April 16 with a theme based on the sinking of Titanic. The use of the facility’s indoor pool and movie theater are being auctioned for company or family parties.
The fundraiser will educate attendees about a capital campaign to raise $2.5 million by the end of 2012 for the purpose of purchasing the building from the American Mariners Organization.
Marazon said the academy is planning a Fourth of July Picnic for 30 select people with a balcony barbecue and excellent vantage point for viewing the annual fireworks display on the Maumee River.
The fundraising events are sponsored by the Maritime Academy of Toledo Foundation, a nonprofit 501-C3 organization, which oversees the operation of the charter school and promotes adult job training programs in the maritime industry.
The Maritime Academy has the capacity for another 100 students at its current location. Parents interested in obtaining information about the academy or touring the facility may contact the academy at (419) 244-9999 to arrange a meeting or go to www.maritimeacademy.us.

Friends, family and admirers of glass artist Tom McGlauchlin will gather for a celebration of his life May 1 at the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion.

Tom McGlauchlin in 2008

The 76-year-old pioneer of the studio glass movement died April 4 of pancreatic cancer at his Toledo home.

The celebration was planned so that McGlauchlin would be in attendance himself, but he died before it could happen, said Pat, his wife of 49 years.

The event will start at 2 p.m. Several people will speak and local jazz musicians will perform songs chosen by McGlauchlin.

“People are coming from far and near to celebrate Tom’s life and legacy,” said Kay Elliott of The Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Foundation. “His contribution to art glass is enormous. He was there when it all started. Jazz was his muse. He talked about how he always listened to music when he creates. Tom was wonderful. He had a great sense of humor and was exceedingly brilliant. He was a huge part of the fiber of the Toledo community; he went to everything, participated in everything. He was just wonderful.”

Greg Tye of local jazz group Hepcat Revival will perform “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You” by Louis Armstrong at McGlauchlin’s request. The song has become traditional at New Orleans funeral parades.

“You probably have to have known Tom to understand the choice, but it speaks to his personality,” Tye said. “It’s comical and in this case a little bittersweet. It’s a great little song and I hope to do it justice.”

McGlauchlin piece titled 'Red Hat'

Tye, a senior TV producer at WGTE, hopes to put together a segment about the artist at some point.

“I didn’t know him socially, but I interviewed him several times and was struck by the breadth of his artistry,” Tye said. “Usually artists don’t deviate much, but Tom had all sorts of variation and just the breadth and scope of his career is pretty amazing to look at.”

Born near Beloit, Wis., the youngest of nine children, McGlauchlin started as an engineering major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before switching to art.

He was at the 1962 workshop at the Toledo Museum of Art where his mentor Harvey Littleton first demonstrated how glass could be blown and sculpted as art. The event is now considered to be the birth of the studio glass movement.

After teaching at his alma mater and then in Iowa, where he established the second college-level glass blowing classes in the nation, the McGlauchlins moved to Toledo where Tom taught glass art for a joint program of the Toledo Museum of Art and University of Toledo. He left the position in the mid-1980s to work as a full-time artist.

McGlauchlin’s work can be found in private collections, including Elton John’s, and in museum collections worldwide, including the Toledo Museum of Art, the Corning (N.Y.) Museum of Glass, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., Museum Kunst Palast in Dusseldorf, Germany, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Japan.

Locally, McGlauchlin’s works include “Clouds of Joy” at Four SeaGate, “A Mountain for Toledo” at the SeaGate Center, “University Woman” at the University of Toledo’s Carlson Library and “A Free Verse in Color” at Bowling Green State University.

McGlauchlin was looking forward to events next summer marking the 50th anniversary of the historic glass art workshops in Toledo, as well as attending his celebration of life, Tye said.

“He was supposed to be part of this celebration,” Tye said. “We would rather have had this event while he was alive. I think he would have really enjoyed it. We were trying to get it done, but you can’t control life. It’s sad he couldn’t be here to enjoy it, but I think he will be there in spirit.”

The big news this week came when the rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded its outlook on long-term U.S. debt on fears that the United States’ budget difficulties may lead the Treasury to default on some of its bonds.
This news, of course, sent shockwaves through financial markets, knocking major stock industries down several points upon release. The sentiment — and portfolios — of many investors around the world changed very quickly with this action by S&P.
S&P’s decision to downgrade its outlook on long-term U.S. debt comes on the heels of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s warnings that a failure by Congress to raise the debt ceiling could result in a default on government debt.

In other words, Mr. Geithner is warning Congress that the United States’ national debt has grown so large that the Treasury can no longer afford to service that debt without taking on additional debt. Sound idiotic? That’s because it is.
First, Mr. Geithner, in his infinite wisdom, is pretending that he lacks any other mechanisms for servicing U.S. debt. Monetization stands out as one viable option; and while the resulting inflation would be far from ideal, it beats the heck out of default, which would cripple this nation’s credibility in international markets.
Then again, Congress could always cut back on spending and gradually reduce the national debt.
Unfortunately, this makes entirely too much sense to be a desirable path for politicians in Washington. Plus, they’d surely lose votes if they started cutting funding and spending on various less-than-necessary programs.
Despite Geithner’s repeated warnings, which are unlikely to be anything more than empty threats, it would appear that the ratings agencies may be overreacting — which is certainly understandable. After all, S&P, et al can hardly afford to appear incompetent after they failed to correctly assess the risk in all those pesky mortgage-backed bonds and derivative securities that largely contributed to the market crash in 2008.
To borrow an interesting turn of phrase from Mr. Obama’s predecessor that seems to characterize the dilemma facing ratings agencies, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me … you can’t get fooled again.”
From an investment standpoint, the S&P downgrade on long-term U.S. debt amounts to little more than noise in the market. The news, though big for headlines, did not fundamentally change the world. The threat of default by the U.S. government has always existed, so one ratings agency’s lack of confidence shouldn’t mean much.
More importantly, investors certainly shouldn’t be making investment decisions based on this event alone. Obviously this news represents another factor to be considered, but it shouldn’t be leading investors to change their outlook on the fundamentals of this market or the economy.

Dock David Treece is a discretionary money manager with Treece Investment Advisory Corp and a stockbroker licensed with FINRA. He works for Treece Financial Services Corp and also serves as editor of the financial news site Green Faucet. The above information is the express opinion of Dock David Treece and should not be construed as investment advice or used without outside verification.

Congratulations. You have reached retirement and now you are ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor. All the years of hard work and sacrifice have paid off. You have thrived and you have survived. There have been disappointments and there have been triumphs. In many ways you have struggled and in many ways you have succeeded. You have created a family, raised your children, forged a career, established a home and made a life. Congratulations again. Now what are you going to do?
Keys to a successful retirement are the Three Ps: Position, Preserve and Protect.
Create a plan to position retirement accounts properly. We call it The Independent Income System. To enjoy a relaxing retirement, the average retiree will still need a steady flow of income. Various investment mechanisms can be used to help produce income. It is important that issues like time frames and safety be considered. You will want to make sure your income does not run out and most retirees want to avoid high levels of risk.
This is where the preserve part comes in. The positioning is crucial to preserve the accounts for a lifetime to come. Issues like interest rates, stock market fluctuation, economic conditions, etc., should be considered in order to better preserve what you have worked so hard to accumulate.
Once you have positioned things properly put the finishing touches on the plan and take steps to protect all of your assets. Depending on how things play out this may be the most important thing you do. What do we need protection from? The thing many retirees are most afraid of: a health care crisis that messes up all you have done to position and preserve. There are solutions available. Make this part of the overall plan.
Let’s talk about the fun stuff. Since you are retired, what will you do now with your time? Freedom and happiness is the key to most retirees. A combination of leisure, fun and productivity can be the ingredients to a formula for a great retirement phase of life. Remember the old bumper sticker “Happiness Is … ?”
Here are some things that come to mind: Happiness is …

• reading a good book
• going to a concert
• sleeping in
• riding a motorcycle with the cool breeze blowing in my face
• riding in a classic car
• sitting on the beach
• sitting on the couch watching a ball game
• traveling to a foreign land
• eating great food that I have never tasted before
• playing with my grandkids
• working on (and finishing) a project
• helping someone
• making a difference in someone’s life
• growing spiritually
• spending time with the people I love

Make your own list of happiness isms. If you want to make sure they happen and you put off your homework for the fun stuff, go back and read the two paragraphs you skipped. Happy Retirement from The Retirement Guys!
For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC.  NEXT Financial Group, Inc nor its representatives provide tax advice.  The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 842-0550.

During his mayoral campaign, Mike Bell often referred to Toledo as a “sinking ship.” Attention needed to be paid to the economic fundamentals, Bell argued, not rearranging deck chairs.
So it was historically appropriate that on April 15, the exact 99-year anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, Bell called a news conference to announce that a deal to sell the Marina District had struck an iceberg in the form of Toledo City Council.
Dashing Pacific, the Chinese-based company that recently purchased The Docks, offered $3.8 million for the Marina District, which has sat empty and undeveloped for a decade. Dashing Pacific did not ask for any tax breaks or city money. The company simply offered to buy and develop the property in what should have been a promising transaction.

Instead of welcoming the investment and finding ways to cooperate with Bell and Dashing Pacific, some Council members made odd demands and carried themselves as if they were doing the company a favor by deigning to sell the land.
Steve Steel spoke condescendingly to Mayor Bell, objecting that Dashing Pacific is “12 time zones away and we don’t know anything about their track record.”
We know their check for The Docks cleared. We know they are the only global concern to step up and try to help revitalize Toledo.
Lindsay Webb, whose political standing has fallen dramatically in the past few months, seemed more interested in imposing “restrictive covenants” and in parroting a Blade editorial than expressing her own thoughts.
Most curiously, the normally reliable and thoughtful D. Michael Collins clouded the issue with these comments: “I would expect that the prospective purchaser provide within the instrument of purchase, a complete business plan — defining schedules, financing, marketing and all of those essentials that would be required under a business plan for a conventional loan.”
This is incongruent, of course, as there was nothing resembling a loan in the transaction.
Collins also suggested that if 51 percent of the business plan were not complete within two years, the property would revert to Toledo for $2 million. Given the variables in development and construction, such a proposal is nothing less than obtructionist and nonsensical.
But the 51 percent number could have some useful application. Perhaps City Council members should be held accountable for at least 51 percent of their campaign promises. Perhaps voters should look back on 51 percent of the resolutions, votes and actions taken by Council and prepare a list of items to be discussed as each seat is up for re-election.
Titanic was sunk by only the smallest portion of the iceberg it struck; while there is faith that Mayor Bell will be able to salvage the Dashing Pacific deal for the Marina District, it is the 51 percent number that will resonate from this conflict.
It’s appropriate, as 51 percent symbolizes the half-assed effort Toledo City Council has devoted to this transaction.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
— Kevin Spacey as “Verbal” Kint, “The Usual Suspects”

There is a 1986 “Life in Hell” comic strip by Matt Groening that tackles the topic “Kids’ Questions About Death.” After a string of ruminations about the afterlife (“When you go to Heaven, do you look like how you did when you died?” “If cats are bad, do they go to Cat Hell?” “If your leg is amputated during your life, is it waiting for you in Heaven?”), the young questioner is shown hiding under the bedcovers late at night, wondering, “Will I go to Hell just for asking these questions?”
The threat of Hell was once a strong motivator for those in a Christian home. For most of my childhood, I was more fearful of Hell and Satan than I was joyful about Heaven and God. Lake of fire? Winged demons tearing flesh off bones with hook-covered whips? Horned devils spearing their pitchforks through bodies that never numb to tearing pain? No, thanks. I’ll brush up on the Ten Commandments, memorize the names of the apostles and try really, really hard to walk the line.

As I have grown and learned from life, I have become more confident in the love and eternal promise offered in Christian teachings, but I still have a child’s primal fear of burning forever in the pits of Hell.
Unquestionably and successfully timed to create conversation during the Easter season, with its emphasis on the Resurrection, the April 25 Time magazine cover, “What if there’s no Hell?” focuses on the work of Michigan pastor Rob Bell. The story “Is Hell dead?” walks through the controversy regarding Bell’s book, “Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.” Written by Jon Meacham, the article does a thorough job of discussing Bell’s view (Jesus‚ redemptive work is universal; “every person who ever lived” could go to Heaven whether or not they acknowledge Christ, an idea frowned upon by some clergy because it disregards nearly all of the prescribed church-sanctioned steps to salvation).
Meacham covers an admirable amount of ground (a high point is his comparing religious debate to a “wilderness of mirrors,” a CIA term describing bewilderment) but he never really tries to answer his title thesis. Is Hell dead?
People who have recently driven through certain areas of Toledo may beg to differ, but it’s not a stretch to posit that Hell isn’t what it used to be. Hell certainly seems to have lost much of its stature as a punishment meant to deter bad behavior.
John Skelton doesn’t seem to have been concerned about Hell’s fires when he did whatever he did to his sons Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5. Images of Satan cackling with anticipation do not seem to have impacted Oak Harbor’s Alan Atwater, who on April 16 shot and killed his wife Dawn and their three children, Isaac, Ashley and Brady, before taking his own life. Just his suicide could guarantee eternal damnation according to many religions; murdering his family should expedite matters.
The threat of Hell did not stop LaShanda Armstrong, who last week  drove her minivan into the Hudson River, killing herself and drowning three of her four children. Nor did it stop Jared Lee Loughner from taking point-blank shots at U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others, six of whom died, including 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green. Fear of unimaginable fire did not prevent the crimes of Seung-Hui Cho, the 23-year-old who killed 32 students (and then himself) at Virginia Tech University. Or Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who killed 13 people and then themselves. Or Timothy McVeigh, who killed 168 people in Oklahoma City. Or the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists, who killed nearly 3,000. Or whomever is in the news this morning for whatever senseless and brutal murder they committed.
It does not take an Ivy League sociologist to make the elementary connection: We exist in a society in which life means little to nothing for some people. If the miracle of living can be extinguished without any more thought than it takes to squeeze a plastic trigger in a video game, what possible threat can an afterlife wield? If you can’t find the glory in living, you’re not likely to hope for the glory of salvation, or fear the retribution of Hell.
I remember an afternoon in 1976 at my friend John Bleau’s house in Walbridge. We used to spin records for hours — Cheap Trick, Queen, Eagles, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, all that good ’70s stuff. During one session, John played an Alice Cooper song, “Go to Hell.” Cooper sings a litany of acts that supposedly condemn mortals to Hell (“Refusing to act your age/For gambling and drinking alcohol constantly/For making us doubt our parents’ authority/You’d even force-feed a diabetic a candy cane”). Every time Cooper would swing to the chorus and bellow “You could go to Hell,” John would turn the volume down on the record player so the H-word could not be heard by nearby adults. That’s how much power the word and concept used to hold. Today, hell, like so many other once-taboo words, has lost its capital letter status; it’s almost quaint to think of a time when Satan was an upfront boogeyman, instead of the “Simpsons” and “South Park” cartoon caricature who does his real-life work in more subtle, quiet ways.
It scares me that such evil lurks in our world, but that’s where faith comes into play, isn’t it? That is where we look deep inside, then up toward the stars, and decide what will motivate our life — fear of Hell, desire for Heaven, or the nothingness that mocks them both.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Cell phone swapping, recycled dialogue, false alarms, mysterious phone calls, and character posturing all factor in to a plot that has a basic “who did it?”drive in the original “Scream” (1996), made for 14 million dollars, “Scream 2” (1997), and “Scream 3” (2000). All three Blu-ray editions feature 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, an essential component to the scares and thrills, and a theatrical trailer. “Scream 4” is currently playing in theaters.

The Scream trilogy has choice cameos, entertaining surprises, memorable characters, and twisting plot anchored by Kevin Williamson. Heroine Sidney, played by Neve Campbell; journalist Gail Weathers, played by Courtney Cox; deputy Dewey, played by David Arquette, and Cotton Weary, played by Liev Schreiber, represent the core while Jade Pinkett Smith, Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowen, Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Parker Posey and Patrick Dempsey have all contributed memorable scenes. Other characters exist in the plotline only as a possible suspect because there is no other reason for their appearance.

No movie series should take itself too seriously, especially when featuring a ghost-faced killer wearing black. “If my boyfriend just died, why am I taking a shower?” represents some great sample dialogue where the characters criticize the past two Scream installments. Filmmakers even spoof themselves with a “Stab” moviemaking subplot.

The first Scream Blu-ray has two great behind-the-scenes featurettes, “On the Scream set” and “Drew Barrymore”, who was originally envisioned as the lead character Sidney. The question and answer session with the cast and crew is another “Scream” gem.

Screenwriter Kevin Williamson teams up with director Wes Craven for the audio commentary on the first Scream film while producer Marianne Maddalena and editor Patrick Lussier join Craven for the two sequels’ commentary. The two sequels also feature outtakes on the extras and deleted scenes with optional commentary from Craven, Maddalena, and Lussier.

“Scream 3”, the weakest movie among the trilogy, suffers from the hooky romantic subplot between Dewey and Gail, who have little onscreen chemistry this time as Sidney works for a crisis hotline under different alias because “psychos can’t kill what they can’t find”. The installment’s Blu-ray includes a nice behind-the-scenes montage and intriguing alternate ending. Overall, the first “Scream” is the better movie and Blu-ray. “Scream 3” is a close second for best Blu-ray while “Scream 2” is the runner-up for better movie.

Country radio station 107.7 The Wolf and Toledo Free Press are hosting a local singing competition as one of the first steps of the 30th annual Texaco Country Showdown.

Contestants have an opportunity to join the contest’s storied history, which includes past winners and finalists LeAnn Rimes, Garth Brooks, John Michael Montgomery, Ricky Travino, Chris Young, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus and Sara Evans.
Local competitions are taking place in every state in the continental U.S. After that winners will compete in state competitions and then move on to one of five regional competitions. Winners from the five regional competitions will move on the national finals at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., to compete for a $100,000 prize.
Interested performers can pick up an entry form at the 107.7 studio, 720 Water St. or find one online at  www.1077wolf.com.

2010 winner Jaclyn North and LeAnn Rimes.

Each contestant’s entry form, audio demo and $20 entry fee is due by May 16 and can be dropped off or mailed to the station or emailed to thewolf@toledoradiogroup.com.
Individuals and groups of up to seven people are invited to enter.
“I would encourage everyone who really enjoys it, enjoys singing, to give it a try,” said Laura Hart, general manager of 107.7. “If they don’t have a demo, give us a call anyway. We don’t want to scare anyone away from participating.”
To help make the entry process as easy as possible, the station will walk contestants through the forms if they have any questions, she said. All they have to do is call and the station will be happy to help.
“We don’t want anyone to miss an opportunity,” Hart said.
Country Showdown contacted the station about hosting a local contest.
“They liked the market size. They thought Toledo had a lot of talent,” Hart said.
She sent letters to prospective judges with musical experience from a variety of backgrounds, such as music teachers, instead of local dignitaries, she said.
Hart said that it’s exciting to be a part of the country music scene and showcase local talent who has a real shot at gaining national exposure.

Laura Hart

“This is a very musical town. There’s a lot going on,” she said. “Being a new station, we’re hoping this furthers the ties with the community.”
Hart said the odds are good that the winner from this area could continue on in the competition past the state and regional rounds — the Toledo winner has a one in eight chance of winning the state round.
Even if he, she or they lose at the state level, Toledo’s winning act will receive an autographed guitar from Jason Aldean.
“[Toledo’s] just a great city with great people and the radio station there is wonderful and we wanted them to be a part of this and they wanted to bring it to their community,” said Steve Edwards, Country Showdown’s regional producer.
“Every year, we give thousands of people the opportunity to have their dream to compete in front of the family and friends and community and we provide a great experience to do that,” Edwards said.
Unlike “American Idol” or other talent shows, Country Showdown judges won’t harshly critique contestants for a laugh.
“We have always taken a great deal of pride in making sure all of our contests are treated fairly and with respect,” Edwards said. “Regardless of whether they win or lose, we want them to walk away with a great experience.”
For more information, visit www.countryshowdown.com or www.1077wolf.com.