tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69270295818605336802024-03-05T00:42:59.149-05:00Gerard's BlogPete had the right idea.hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-69823620998999039912012-08-03T01:30:00.001-04:002012-08-03T01:32:08.659-04:00ZZ’s Pizza Closing<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/ZZs-Pizza/82567179999" target="_blank">ZZ’s Pizza</a> in Walnut Hills is closing. Below is a very heartfelt email sent out to their mailing list. Ben, I hope posting it here was okay.</p> <blockquote> <p>July 29, 2012</p> <p>Friends of ZZ's,</p> <p>It's with a heavy heart that I write to inform you all that this fall, ZZ's will be closing. I felt that I would let you all know in advance so it does not come as a surprise.  Most restaurants seemingly just lock their doors and not even the employees know it is happening.  I felt I owed it to you all, to inform you, because without your continued support we would have never made it this far.  After struggling with the idea for the better part of 6 months, I decided it was in the best decision to move forward both personally and professionally.  I am very proud of what my co-workers and I accomplished during our time operating the restaurant.  We collectively took a Cincinnati icon and tried our best to resurrect in a way that Tom and Bill could be proud.  We took a huge chance and put blind faith into a project few believed in.  We faced countless roadblocks, unforeseeable setbacks and struggles- but fought through them and opened over a year later than anticipated.  Many of you do not know, but the restaurant almost never happened.  The restaurant was within a month or so of opening and pipes burst. The entire building was left in ruin.  11 long months later, we opened on October 28th, 2010.  For all of us it was dream fulfilled and something that was extremely special to us and magnified by all of the adversity.     </p> <p>We opened our doors with everything we had emotionally and financially vested within this little flatiron building.  We didn't have any marketing or viable advertising and less than $200 to our names, and not even enough product to get through the week.  We opened the doors for lunch in nervous anticipation, not knowing who or if anyone would come in, and after a half hour that seemed like days, our first guests arrived.  Word spread and within days we progressively got busier and it was absolutely the most fun I had ever had.  We were overwhelmed to say the least, sleep deprived, and continuously learning- but we were on cloud nine.  Seeing and recognizing customers that repeatedly dined with us, and building such a phenomenal group of loyal guests, was and still is the biggest validation of our hard work.  I have been so blessed to meet so many of you personally, and you have become friends.  There are too many of you to name individually, but I want to thank you in particular for your loyalty, patronage, and endless support- I cannot tell you how many days I just wanted to quit and give up, then one of you come would stop in rave about the pizza, your experience, and how much you loved what we were doing- which gave me and everyone the belief and strength to keep going.     </p> <p>The glue that held ZZ's together was the amazing group of people that I was surrounded with everyday.  From the beginning the outpouring of support of my friends, who shared in the vision and desire to see this place open.  Friends volunteering their time to help paint, put up drywall, clean, work shifts so we wouldn't be short staffed, and providing the mental support that was all crucial to opening.  Your time, your encouragement, and your undivided friendship was the catalyst that finally got this place open. I cannot thank Justin and Kyle enough for their hard work, endless hours and dedication. They challenged me, gave everything they had, and from day one believed in what we were doing. They were underpaid and overworked, but I couldn't have asked for a better supporting team.  Renny, Jaime, Mark, Tara, Dave, Chip, Naveen, Greg, Scotty, Katie, Seth and all those that were here from day one in so many capacities, I owe more than just a thank you, but I want you to know how much you mean to me.  I would like to thank my family.  Thank all of you that helped in so many ways, including the 2000 pies my aunts and grandmother made for the taste of Cincinnati, and just being here for me. To my brothers: Jake the snake for your help whenever needed; to Grant for helping with every Taste, Party in the Park, and the remodel processes; to Adam for pretending to know how to serve tables and coming home on your limited military leave to help your brother; and to Brandon for all your unpaid accounting work, and pushing me to be more assertive and focused- I am truly blessed.  Lastly, my parents, who thought this was crazy from the beginning, and most likely still do- for never losing faith in me, and helped facilitate this dream.  If it wasn't for mom and her unsurpassed love and always open ear, ZZ's woud still be a pipe dream.     </p> <p>I'm a firm believer in enjoying what you do and that work can be fun, and for a long time it was.  At the beginning of the year, it became apparent to me that the strains and stresses of the restaurant had diminished my passion and I was no longer happy.  Several employees moved on to fantastic new career opportunities, and things were changing.  For the last 6 months, without them and subsequently running a restaurant they help build by myself, I got worn out. Working 7 days a week, staffing issues, sales declines, broken A/C units/Equipment, isolating myself from my loved ones- I had to ask myself if this is what I really wanted.  And finally I came to peace with the decision that it wasn't, I could walk away knowing that I accomplished many things, made many mistakes, and learned invaluable lessons- the most important being that life is precious, and happiness is paramount. So although this has been the most difficult decision and has been very hard to grapple, ultimately it will be best, and it time to reclaim my excitement in life. I want to be able to travel again, have a family, and generally have more normalcy in my life.    </p> <p>The plan is to stay open until October 28th, which will mark our 3rd anniversary. If that timeframe changes I will certainly inform you all. Until then it will be business as usual, and I hope to see many of you before then, I promise to continue to make what we all know is the best gourmet pizza in the city.  Our hours are changing one last time, beginning next week. We will be Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. Wednesdays and Thursdays open 5-9 ( Wednesday will now be half-priced wine night), Fridays 5-10, Saturdays 5-10, and Sundays 4-10.    </p> <p>Thank you for your understanding and all of your support, although this will mark and end to something I loved so much, the memories and pride I have from the last few years will never diminish.  Although the next chapter isn't completely written, whatever I elect to do and what the future entails, I will never regret the chances I took and be forever grateful for the opportunity.  I firmly believe the future of The Summit Restaurant Group still has many great things in store and I am extremely optimistic and excited of what will come next. </p> <p>Thank you all, <br />Ben Chassagne, <br />ZZ's Pizza Company</p> </blockquote> <p>À la prochaine.</p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-9798478620751915942012-05-17T23:13:00.001-04:002012-05-19T01:46:02.411-04:00QC Merge & Cincy Coworks<p>Something special happened last week. A 1st-year conference gathered over 80 people in a funky downtown space for two days of learning, friendships, and inspiration. </p> <p><a title="IMG_0181 by teamgaslight, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamgaslight/7177729454/"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="QC Merge" border="0" alt="QC Merge" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7177729454_d02e46f0df.jpg" width="500" height="389" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://qcmerge.com">Queen City Merge</a> was, in my opinion, a success. No, it wasn’t perfect, but as a 1st-year conference it can only get better. The conference ended on the Reds party deck at Great American Ballpark. As I left I felt a lot of energy, but also a bit of sadness like when vacation comes to an end.</p> <p><a title="IMG_9898.jpg by teamgaslight, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamgaslight/7172903666/"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="QC Merge" border="0" alt="QC Merge" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7172903666_0f72362dd6.jpg" width="500" height="333" /></a></p> <p>QC Merge was chartered to bring together folks from diverse web disciplines (hence “Merge”) to show how much talent is in Cincinnati for building web companies.  At the least, it got people talking. After the end of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/antiheroine">Jen Myers</a> talk “Developers Can’t Design and Other Myths,” a rabid discussion ensued about why developers and designers don’t get together more often.  Why don’t developers congregate over here?  Why don’t designers congregate over there?  Should they congregate professionally or at a happy hour?  Cincinnati’s a good city for cross-pollination. Cincinnati’s a bad city for cross-pollination.</p> <p>Jen’s talk was followed by <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/alexknowshtml">Alex Hillman</a>. Now, if you’ve followed coworking at all over the past few years, you’ve run across Alex’s name.  As co-founder of <a href="http://indyhall.com">Indyhall</a> in Philadelphia, he’s helped create one of the most successful coworking spaces in the nation (note I didn’t say largest, richest, or loudest).  Cross-pollination of ideas, creating community, gathering diverse folks – Indyhall breathes these ideas and the QC Merge debate was like a coworking values game of Scrabble™.</p> <p>As a web developer, I am fairly active in the local developer communities. I attend the <a href="http://www.meetup.com/TechLife-Cincinnati/">user groups</a>, hackathons, and happy hours.  You know what I find there?  Other developers.  When I look at the local <a href="http://aigacincinnati.org/site/index.php">AIGA</a> chapter’s roster of events, I see all kinds of events.  Same for the <a href="http://cincinnatiama.org/">AMA</a>, and the <a href="http://aafcincinnati.org/">Adclub</a>.  There are lots of developer events.  There are lots of designer events.  And there are lots of marketing and ad events.  How is it that someone like me who loves going to developer events has never encountered someone from the these other groups (not until recently at least)?  How is it that it takes a two-day conference to start the conversation?</p> <p>We want <a href="http://cincycoworks.com">Cincinnati Coworks</a> to be a big part of this conversation.  I ask <a href="http://aigacincinnati.org/site/index.php">AIGA Cincinnati</a>, <a href="http://cincinnatiama.org/">Cincinnati AMA</a>, and the like to be a part of it too. We all want the same thing, and we’ll get there faster together.</p> <p><em>Cross-posted on <a href="http://www.cincycoworks.com/blog/">Cincinnati Coworks</a>.</em></p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-76743235486563878682011-03-23T08:23:00.000-04:002011-03-23T08:23:00.769-04:00A frequent transit guide for CincinnatiBackground info: <a href="http://www.urbancincy.com/2011/01/transit-guide-explains-cincinnati-bus-riding-basics/">Transit guide explains Cincinnati bus riding basics</a><br /><br /><iframe src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1057319855/a-frequent-transit-guide-for-cincinnati/widget/card.html" frameborder="0" height="380px" width="220px"></iframe>hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-8776836113090741502011-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:002011-02-10T08:00:26.474-05:00In 2004, Make Cincinnati Weird Launched. In 2011, It Relaunches!<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127160340685512"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="161999_127160340685512_7932025_n" border="0" alt="161999_127160340685512_7932025_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/TVMuvErlu1I/AAAAAAAAA2s/2fQsEaBuuhc/161999_127160340685512_7932025_n%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="313" /></a> </p> <p>Make Cincinnati Weird, inspired by the Keep Austin Weird campaign and others, launched in 2004.  It was entitled "Make" Cincinnati Weird in response to the popular opinion that Cincinnati is conservative, traditional, etc.  and needed to <strong>get</strong> weird before <b>keeping</b> it weird. </p> <p>Alas, the project and blog eventually fell derelict.</p> <p>But now, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, a new fellowship has gathered to resurrect MCW and carry forth the mission that has been and always will be.</p> <p>To document the quirky, offbeat, and… well… <em>weird</em> goodness of Cincinnati. The single guiding principle, is that <strong>diversity breeds strength</strong>.</p> <p>Join us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127160340685512">Saturday, Feb. 19th, at Milton’s Tavern on Prospect Hill</a> to celebrate and wish our fair stewards onward!</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="hobbits" border="0" alt="hobbits" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/TVMuvuu1jUI/AAAAAAAAA2w/9cCepOz2B2A/hobbits%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="260" /><em style="font-size: 0.8em"> * Not actual people</em></p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-78034217403061882612011-01-16T23:35:00.001-05:002011-01-16T23:35:29.175-05:00R.I.P. David Crowley<p>David Crowley was a good man and a great Cincinnatian.  Back when I was more involved politically, I saw him I believe at three different debates, and met him at one of those debates. He always made sense, always seemed pleasant, and avoided the “fire and brimstone” type campaigning that is often so common.</p> <p>Also, Mr. Crowley, I apologise for the time I mistakenly called you Patrick Crowley (NKY politics reporter) on an old <a href="http://www.cincinnatidealer.com/content/view/372/27/">Cincinnati Dealer parody article</a>.  Your comment set me straight.</p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-26402792329301340332010-01-13T14:46:00.001-05:002010-01-13T14:46:31.821-05:00Who Says Facebook Isn’t Useful?<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/S04jFHH2hmI/AAAAAAAAA0E/hfHjTBfwZXA/s1600-h/whosays%5B19%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="whosays" border="0" alt="whosays" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/S04jFkzzMiI/AAAAAAAAA0I/0ZUDaB3T4JQ/whosays_thumb%5B17%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="344" height="512" /></a></p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-7924133551479398362009-12-27T12:20:00.001-05:002009-12-27T12:24:09.748-05:00IgniteCincinnati, Finally<p>The <a href="http://www.ignitecincinnati.net">Ignite concept</a> is coming to Cincinnati, finally.  Not to be confused with the <a href="http://www.ignitecincinnati.org">excellent grant program</a>, <a href="http://www.ignitecincinnati.net/">IgniteCincinnati</a> is:</p> <blockquote> <p>A night of presentations with a twist. 14 presenters each get 5 minutes to talk about their subject. 20 slides that auto advance after 15 seconds. It is quick, fun, smart and fills the Know Theater. Our next one is January 20th.</p> </blockquote> <p>To qualify this, I should say that these type of short-format talks have been going on in the area for a while now time under different names.  Whether you call it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignite_%28event%29">Ignite</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecha_Kucha">Pecha Kucha</a> <a href="http://www.doyoupk.org">Night</a>, <a href="http://cincysm10.eventbrite.com/">Open Mic night</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_Talk">lightning</a> <a href="http://www.hellogerard.com/2009/02/streetcars-pecha-kucha.html">talks</a>, jolt talks – the events are always fun… AND educational!</p> <p>I love these events. I try to make them whenever they occur, and hope to see you there on the 20th.  </p> <p><a href="http://www.ignitecincinnati.net/"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Ignite Cincinnati" border="0" alt="Ignite Cincinnati" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SzeXdH2idJI/AAAAAAAAA0A/NHq-pLj-IFE/ignite_header%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="324" height="67" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://ignitecincinnati.eventbrite.com/">Register for IgniteCincinnati</a>. </p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-10484418336978506902009-11-25T14:55:00.003-05:002010-05-05T09:36:17.157-04:00Cincinnati Impresses: Center Of Innovation<p>The <a href="http://andyerickson.org/2009/02/22/center-of-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-in-it/">Center of Innovation</a> program at the <a href="http://www.uc.edu/cas">College of Applied Science</a> at <a href="http://www.uc.edu/">UC</a> aims to show seniors that their choices for employment upon graduation is not limited to Fifth Third, Kroger’s, and Great American Insurance (not that there’s anything wrong with those fine companies). The program also aims to show them that, in a region full of marketing, design, and business talent, there is <em>serious</em> need for young technology talent with an entrepreneurial bent. For those who might want to take the plunge, the program also outlines business skills and resources they’ll need to complement their technology skills.</p> <p>This is a great thing, and kudos and support goes to <a href="http://andyerickson.org/">Andy Erickson</a> and <a href="http://it.cas.uc.edu/IT/Default.aspx?ID=Hazem%20Said&Cat=Faculty">Dr. Hazem Said</a> for their work so far.</p> <p>This past Tuesday I gave a short talk to students in the <a href="http://www.onestop.uc.edu/learningopp/courseDetail.asp?course_ID=5206857" target="_blank">Innovation Seminar series</a> in CAS at UC about what' it’s like to work in a startup from a coder’s point of view. I talked about transitioning from a cubicle farm job to a startup environment, the nature and pace of working in a startup, and the tons and tons of learning that is inevitable.</p> <p>You won’t get a lot from these slides without the narrative, but I post all my talks here so I thought I’d post this one.</p> <p><em>Cross-posted on <a href="http://www.straylightrun.net/2009/11/25/coding-in-a-startup/" target="_blank">my programming blog</a>.</em></p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: left; width: 425px" id="__ss_2576392"><a style="margin: 12px 0px 3px; display: block; font: 14px helvetica,arial,sans-serif; text-decoration: underline" title="Development In A Startup" href="http://www.slideshare.net/gerrys0/development-in-a-startup">Development In A Startup</a><object style="margin:0px" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=development-in-a-startup-091124132744-phpapp01&stripped_title=development-in-a-startup"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=development-in-a-startup-091124132744-phpapp01&stripped_title=development-in-a-startup" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> <div style="font-family: tahoma,arial; height: 26px; font-size: 11px; padding-top: 2px">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/gerrys0">presentations</a>.</div> </div>hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-9799332987105519182009-08-01T13:56:00.001-04:002009-08-01T14:46:25.681-04:00Coworking in Cincinnati<p>I had a good time at <a href="http://cincysm10.eventbrite.com/">Cincinnati Social Media's Open Mic night</a>.  Unfortunately, I only caught snippets here and there of the talks.  The audio in the venue was poor in general, and the people in the back of the room were interesting to talk to, so I spent a good deal of time doing that instead.  Apologies to the organizers.  But it was the first event of its kind around here and I think the next one will be better.  I think it should be in an auditorium-like setting as opposed to a bar, so that the audience is more captive. I know, why don't I organize it, right?</p> <p>One speech in particular caught my eye: <em><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1881757">Beyond Free Agent Nation</a></em> by <a href="http://twitter.com/blecount">Brian Lecount</a>.  In it, he discusses the slow transformation of the American workforce. Some 18-month old data that he quoted stated:</p> <ul> <li>8.3 million independent contractors comprise 16% of American workforce. </li> <li>74 million 1099's were sent out (2008?) </li> </ul> <p>It was a great talk and pointed out the many challenges of this newfound trend.  For example, many who make the leap to independence underestimate how much time is spent on administrative work.  </p> <p>And then there is coworking, a trend that is sweeping the nation. According to Wikipedia:</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coworking">Coworking</a> is an emerging trend for a new pattern for working. Typically work-at-home professionals or independent contractors or people who travel frequently end up working in relative isolation. Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.</p> </blockquote> <p>Brian had some strong opinions about coworking, in particular, how it was missing real business development.  Community is great and all, but how much value is that network really building?</p> <p>In any case, if you haven't heard, I am involved in a <a href="http://www.cincycoworks.com/">coworking movement that has started in Cincinnati</a>.  Go to the site and take the survey.  Coworking spaces are popping up all over the country.  In some cities, it's simply about renting desks, and that's okay.  But in other cities, it is having a real transformative effect on these cities in how people with ideas get together and make their cities better.  Hopefully, in Cincinnati, it will become the latter.</p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-70957841406810108502009-07-20T10:14:00.000-04:002009-07-20T11:10:57.232-04:00InOneWeekend Registration Open<p>Registration is open for <a href="http://www.inoneweekend.org">InOneWeekend 2009</a>.</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>FRI <font color="#80ff00">BRAINSTORM</font> SAT <font color="#80ff00">BUILD</font> SUN <font color="#80ff00">LAUNCH</font> </strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#80ff00">InOneWeekend</font></strong> is an innovation and entrepreneurship organization that hosts participant-driven weekend events that create and launch viable start-ups in a single weekend. Our low-commitment, low-cost, high-return, highly awesome events allow like-minded, diversely experienced individuals to create an elevating experience and quite possibly <strong><font color="#80ff00">the next big thing</font></strong>.</p> </blockquote> <p>I participated in <a href="http://www.hellogerard.com/search/label/inoneweekend">InOneWeekend last year</a> and can say that no matter what the outcome of the work, the experience itself was extraordinary. Not only was the weekend-long coding quite fun, I learned a great deal from all the non-programmers - marketers, designers, business planners, attorneys - that were crammed into the same space.  There is only space for 100 participants, so sign up today!</p> <p><strong>InOneWeekend 2009 </strong>- 100 people create a start-up in a weekend  </p> <ul> <li><b>When:</b> Friday, August 28 - Sunday, August 30 </li> <li><b>Where:</b> Tangeman University Center at the University of Cincinnati </li> <li><b>What:</b> A special keynote speaker (!) will kick-off the second annual InOneWeekend with a lecture open to the public on Friday afternoon.  Then the selected 100 participants will brainstorm over 300 ideas with Jeff Stamp of Bold Thinking and vote on the concept.  Saturday, they will build the product and write the business plan and investor presentation.  Sunday: Launch! </li> <li><b>WAITLIST OPEN:</b> InOneWeekend is assembling the dream team of design, technology, and business participants.  To find out more and apply, visit <a href="http://elizabeth.sendloop.com/track_link.php?SubscriberID=675&ListID=8&CampaignID=12&LinkURL=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5pbm9uZXdlZWtlbmQub3Jn&LinkTitle=">www.inoneweekend.org</a> and click on 'Register for upcoming events' </li> </ul> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_4y63HG5QNLwauVX4A6I3ipNTtGL93cfUHQTUyeXRczOJ9hZKT1EYfQIH4StRJi9wZ1IhmkLa9tE56SYaN9Cu6yqvlXAcy8XtSQx6CloQ7zSzG8GTqI9w6zo8kkeLGm4yTtbPDifuAA/s1600-h/iow_pdf%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" border="0" alt="http://www.inoneweekend.org" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SmOpFSHTJqI/AAAAAAAAAyk/hE7skuzddmI/iow_pdf_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="419" /></a></p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-13171920257190961902009-07-19T19:46:00.001-04:002009-07-19T19:46:29.027-04:00The Cincinnati Enquirer Show Its True Priorities<p>I was <a href="http://cincinnati.com/blogs/enquirermedia/2009/07/09/a-letter-from-the-publisher/">disgusted by the Enquirer's response to the laying off of 101 employees</a>, including the entire staff of CiNWeekly.  If you haven't read it yet, go read it now, and then come back while I highlight the salient points. </p> <p>Done? Here is the salient point: <em>Advertisers, we are still worth spending money on. Buy ads from us!</em></p> <p>I understand everyone has to make a living.  But this is a bit of salt in the wound. I expected the post to be apologetic.  But there was no apology.  I expected sympathy. No sympathy towards its former employees or their families was mentioned.  Not even a little regret.  Here is what I read:</p> <blockquote> <p>Naysayers have predicted our demise many times over those years, but today The Enquirer reaches 64 percent of local adults every week, or 803,800.</p> </blockquote> <p><em>Look at our reach, buy ads from us!</em></p> <blockquote> <p>Enquirer Media does not have an audience problem. Nearly two-thirds of the market will read our newspaper this week. It’s the economy.</p> </blockquote> <p><em>Look at our reach, buy ads from us!</em></p> <blockquote> <p>And, we’re more than a newspaper. Enquirer Media reaches 83 percent of the adults in its core market every week with one of our products. Moreover, it reaches those people nearly five times. </p> </blockquote> <p><em>Look at our reach, buy ads from us!</em></p> <blockquote> <p><strong>We work for our advertisers.</strong> The newspaper and digital initiatives continue to provide the same strong results for our advertisers. We help them understand and employ today’s technology to grow their business and reach their goals.</p> </blockquote> <p><em>Look at our reach, buy ads from us!</em></p> <blockquote> <p><strong>We have talented, flexible employees.</strong> And we still have, by far, the largest local footprint in terms of content gathering, print and online audience, promotional capability and sales capability.</p> </blockquote> <p><em>Look at our reach, buy ads from us!</em></p> <p>There was some other statements made, but that was all I read.</p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-20358437693630782552009-06-21T14:47:00.002-04:002009-06-21T14:58:43.326-04:00URBANEXUS Cincinnati: Creating the Innovative CityJoin Next American City and our local partners — SoapboxMedia.com, CincinnatiInnovates.com, Northern Kentucky Forum and Haile/U.S. Bank Foundation — as we present a salon at the Northern Kentucky University Student Union, featuring a conversation about how Cincinnati is making strides toward innovation.<br /><br />The Cincinnati region’s institutions and companies lead the world with their innovative products, processes and people. How can the community tap that internal culture to inspire a broader civic culture that makes Cincinnati synonymous with creativity, ideas and energy?<br /><br />For more information and to RSVP, visit <a href="http://americancity.org/index.php/urbanexus/cincinnati">Next American City</a>.<br /><a title="View URBANEXUS Cincinnati on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/16637858/URBANEXUS-Cincinnati" style="margin: 12px auto 6px; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">URBANEXUS Cincinnati</a> <object codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="doc_903986704649667" name="doc_903986704649667" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" rel="media:document" resource="http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=16637858&access_key=key-12aodh8ejgp1erxbyx4y&page=1&version=1&viewMode=" media="http://search.yahoo.com/searchmonkey/media/" dc="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" align="middle" width="100%" height="500"> <param name="movie" value="http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=16637858&access_key=key-12aodh8ejgp1erxbyx4y&page=1&version=1&viewMode="> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="play" value="true"> <param name="loop" value="true"> <param name="scale" value="showall"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="devicefont" value="false"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="menu" value="true"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="salign" value=""> <embed src="http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=16637858&access_key=key-12aodh8ejgp1erxbyx4y&page=1&version=1&viewMode=" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" play="true" loop="true" scale="showall" wmode="opaque" devicefont="false" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="doc_903986704649667_object" menu="true" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" salign="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" width="100%" height="500"></embed> </object>hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-32104449189036950112009-05-14T01:02:00.001-04:002009-05-14T09:08:28.992-04:00Photos Of Other Cities<p>Hello. I know I have been absent from this blog. Unfortunately, I have to say, do not expect this to change any time soon. </p> <p>In the meantime, here are some photos of trips to New York and Chicago.</p> <p align="center">:::</p> <p align="center">Grand Central Station</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFtBLs3bZkqxvsUEd8Jzx874IK17lz9HBi_mwy6r4raPB1fU0ni6hi07lm8865Wn-5Cz11v3Hdgh6OU1Za_UsvSmsdCgPdAUjp426ANEnR1dmcWtYGR3AaE-PBXqpr6Qf4m2whdJ__Iw/s1600-h/grand_central%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="99" alt="grand_central" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgukoXA5EGI/AAAAAAAAAvg/0KqlftPKk9I/grand_central_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">We were lucky enough to run right into a Free Tibet march, fake prisoners and everything.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa4DcZZvg7XumDq8KAyxUwADYXLnTIpmRpj1aFrqhAP8wi5t6e61cDznUMSEzvC5Jr7oaOUJGN1Z_XwUW0u-0VxW4QsmbvSlpDjOWhM2XG3rO9lVfE6ejojuxzvJh4vAigqv3NaqUYVE/s1600-h/IMG_2438%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2438" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgukrUakMHI/AAAAAAAAAvo/_JZPtKkKRd4/IMG_2438_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhQhTG16IyG8BY6-0G6OTgjOvsCrnRHC0KIVw7w3fpqtEz_EUGMkdAuzVMnmDwuytT95Bt9m0-vXdxeFVvgcLYbwKCCwq5MgRTvWXtRx8GANI_T5d8mbC-A11OL_7lFnAVUsdGbMbEFI/s1600-h/IMG_2439%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2439" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgukvttKIUI/AAAAAAAAAvw/um9AVtbUv6Y/IMG_2439_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Lunch in Bryant Park.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sguk0VtzevI/AAAAAAAAAv0/D-8E9rXsouI/s1600-h/IMG_2440%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2440" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sguk06j4XiI/AAAAAAAAAv4/s5Df0v8sfug/IMG_2440_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW6VBPJ0kDWuLmXzteUWUJ2DP5fcrx-Y5G3GBb7i0Df_Azwm1kcM_cGjL_bJyeFBe9w1M0bMq01seoP0YUIKkcHxaTCXMZSWMP7MqaSYwtsrLgBgRhNYakIseJ7T4co5_mMVwzyT0S6w/s1600-h/IMG_2441%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2441" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sguk4l2O6pI/AAAAAAAAAwA/BGtIWmPuMkk/IMG_2441_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Central Park.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sguk7VpK5mI/AAAAAAAAAwE/BFSGI4G5wJc/s1600-h/IMG_2460%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2460" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sguk7rwUtYI/AAAAAAAAAwM/C6HlSbH0f1Y/IMG_2460_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6vzcji92HnWLtrGq4ItqhDm3wSO26guL82OlzMUX3yR6c01_xlkaagq4JAkzMfyM6Of0CpFMyQFwUIldwSb6eTTP_VchfaiAzdTRrv-DjrlaQAHT5BDjw97jQfUvDCyPUnKPA6MZkJM/s1600-h/IMG_2461%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2461" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sguk-ItWqEI/AAAAAAAAAwU/EspyC7coeVE/IMG_2461_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgwXc1QWNtI/AAAAAAAAAyE/GKwtFR6-RkI/s1600-h/IMG_2459%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXue3Lcl3lbzUI62f3LZV_EyA4lYMOgJ8z1NodWYmxAigb35Wa0WbPResDmM9kkEpvGBOuwpE_hwulJZWL94XzItU58dpQXC9sdNN6G2_8xhH3iRDCMXXfX-ZEjs0Y9YY1wXI5gET4JBE/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Looking uptown.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulDc104RI/AAAAAAAAAwY/SS9MWNxpFMQ/s1600-h/manhattan_north%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="103" alt="manhattan_north" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulD-5GjgI/AAAAAAAAAwc/3ugAFLx5tSM/manhattan_north_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Looking downtown.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa_-3yxOY6KQdVOPGg_TDnI9NusO3qDW0JZX-LFRfMcB8bVdYyn2m36GMK0uYsztnXWzU_WTQdNsER2VkEMPj30KYcjLliueJOswtuwclHzFQrFlzjhLLcexWGeqDvp1qRImsNtr0TP4/s1600-h/manhattan_south%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="94" alt="manhattan_south" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulIsIOmhI/AAAAAAAAAwk/jf0mUxN6OkA/manhattan_south_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">By sheer coincidence, we found ourselves in Times Square during Earth Hour, when they shut off all the big screens.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85B6er6St2jvrgedFbM3_RaDzeg7OaMFpPNGfutBmCtgb1mTM928BXbwULViM1U-rI6J-FUYMnB3xEYVCqM99yDbRzemDCdH9gLC1xl9Sr094AHdnzTkWr41SiJpBibx_J307bV_H9lE/s1600-h/IMG_2477%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZza78VSyf5JWjF5iO8W1bqqUwGNjY2OkbRPaAgTl8ZLwULYlt5UfvxXnlLF6ezFAS-NVSd9MrIiZ5IdJhE483-ZDnjpdIoHBCrQdvIaf5mkkcsYGA1vu7e25XO4qeiALi0QW5ofGPeaw/?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">A secret burger joint!</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEfcpNjHDsxazxc_fut4TWT974R_ZMO9lPR0yFaTdmaTi3KZTuVRFYbwwyPHRoUD8_II1zMeCz7u-L_RD2b5zOlIJr4l-VvHkUZEWrFtzESLMmnt80jASFGYxxfCKa4H-d8AYYL3IjGQ/s1600-h/IMG_2481%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2481" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgwXfcWujSI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/6Q2jJgjSeJs/IMG_2481_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">:::</p> <p align="center">At night, this American Gothic couple comes to life and cleans garbage off the streets.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qQdSiIZTEbo8cc613HDajHzurqpn5ROxDWVU7-_UTJxNri17x-MDR8dNMNowxLI1g_xOEFKFLmp6mUXj5Ihv0ibr-qb1Bn_mXobIIMVIsAFXvlTqTBKa_XXH-O1k9OI7Nf1zGwN6aj4/s1600-h/IMG_2489%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKUdOrV5HZEe6xP4RemgCYJY4eNDCMh3e_c7ahnpx9lvl3XYx_bAlYuns-ss9yipJEMSCC5D8bRGUl2XQg6BHVdjfbWGs7BYi6kkuv70595KucBC09Rtuyd4dBD_vJzIe9PXfSXXv_mQ/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">At the Museum of Science & Industry, in one giant room, they have a giant train set model of the entire country!</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzqFbyoYsUz5cTHbPbGmoxtYapWf-0pFY4EeTcdoK-VbwT2XZO99l9oMXMMPYAk6zbgEmz35Q3h5EmhA7bUbemPjDi_tFy9Ymv-2ivIpE-Oq31dsmVLxQo9bSbwfkaOvLbc9i76t7mZM/s1600-h/IMG_2502%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2502" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulVqoHG7I/AAAAAAAAAxA/EYCgXeWpj9w/IMG_2502_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulaHOR-PI/AAAAAAAAAxE/4Pie_D-gfQg/s1600-h/IMG_2505%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2505" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulapJ3MiI/AAAAAAAAAxI/_uCM_xGbUwo/IMG_2505_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">High atop the Sears Tower.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhffGpQfrbl-z01K3bVku-osWOJfdmMI6771k7aRHUrWGBJWMt7anOlb0ZedU8KA9LGH9_wpjpQOJIgh0weWPTb9QCN2dL7_0q3P3I9W9au3Rhp-4YKVkYvvJAbPjs_Wt2633WE0We4c/s1600-h/IMG_2513%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2513" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulfGOcplI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/cc2Gz2MY9lE/IMG_2513_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /> </a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SguliDBFsBI/AAAAAAAAAxU/WHkTwB9j13w/s1600-h/IMG_2511%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2511" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulijrdyJI/AAAAAAAAAxY/UJ-SBh3WCRk/IMG_2511_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgwXxzoP9sI/AAAAAAAAAyU/BDdEp3l29Ao/s1600-h/IMG_2510%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2510" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sgulim4zviI/AAAAAAAAAyY/28v4jBR426c/IMG_2510_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p align="center">The Museum of Natural History is pretty freakin' cool.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxisxbfkNkqqQUxnJUM_PWmRoDuDy8Uw6ilMt0Nhsawxar4TSF0enZPhPKovR5ed4tTSg3eObtfoKBBVyxspRPCrn00qMXdrPLV6XnZLiB96H80SdyPxIxElIpjPJWmvLoFPM08hStThg/s1600-h/IMG_2519%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2519" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulmnattWI/AAAAAAAAAxk/5xEuLU0nMrg/IMG_2519_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulrE-nZPI/AAAAAAAAAxo/dptZRdaoujo/s1600-h/IMG_2520%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2520" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SgulrewSt3I/AAAAAAAAAxs/tJF9sL9n5bo/IMG_2520_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sgulw17EAiI/AAAAAAAAAxw/KiVpa_DJt4M/s1600-h/IMG_2521%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2521" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sgulxb7huuI/AAAAAAAAAx4/ZCTf-dmlu9s/IMG_2521_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">From Navy Pier.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcZ2boLEs_slvkaeGevRE95CB_hjHaxMNXEeBHk3FadM4_BkVHfW2NHF4c3C6oBZhaJIREpN-MdWg-ZaXinr2LMc7jGs3MdQFlPWNXGdceelXkCr8-HRMWjRgNKeVJ6GymiIAYoP980g/s1600-h/IMG_2487%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_2487" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/Sgul1K_aulI/AAAAAAAAAyA/yS5j4WELOKQ/IMG_2487_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"></p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-29337670114134980052009-03-20T18:51:00.009-04:002009-03-20T18:58:25.185-04:00Cincinnati Impresses: ShareThis.com<p>At a recent <a href="http://www.oink-pug.org/">OINK-PUG</a> meeting, the accessible folks from <a href="http://www.sharethis.com/">ShareThis.com</a> talked about their ubiquitous Javascript button and their server infrastructure. </p> <p>If you aren't familiar with ShareThis, they provide the sharing button that appears at the bottom of this very blog post. Every page I go to these days seems to have the little green button. Occasionally I find myself wanting to share a page that uses not ShareThis but one of the alternatives, and I find myself cursing because I do not have immediate access to my contacts. (Thank goodness I have the <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5000">ShareThis Firefox add-on</a> to fall back on.) I bet that there are a lot of people in Cincinnati using the button on their web properties, and don't even know that the company is based right here in the Queen City.</p> <p>ShareThis started in Columbus, moved to Cincinnati, and now has an office in Mountain View, California. They boast a number of accomplishments to be envied by any company in any city, the least of which being $21 million in venture funding. A $21 million dollar funded consumer internet company, in Cincinnati?</p> <p>But equally impressive to those in the industry is the raw technology that powers their infrastructure. ShareThis was one of earliest <a href="http://aws.amazon.com/solutions/case-studies/sharethis/">case studies on Amazon Web Services</a>, and the <a href="http://www.rightscale.com">Rightscale</a> demo given that night was memorable (maybe that says more about Rightscale).</p> <p>They've got that hockey stick growth according to <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/sharethis">relevant traffic measures</a>, so I'm excited to see what happens from here onward. Let's downplay that Mountain View office, and keep the PR coming from Ohio.</p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-44786413995276737092009-03-20T18:51:00.008-04:002009-03-20T18:55:22.269-04:00Cincinnati Impresses<p>This is the intro to a series of blogs coming up that all submit the same theme. Perhaps it will become a longer series.</p> <p>I have observed or have been sent a few things lately that keep sticking in my mind. Each of these sticks in my mind because they are or imply, well, super awesome things about Cincinnati. When I think about them, I think, "Wow. That's incredible. Is this happening in other cities?" And I am left to wonder. (The answer is probably yes, but still it feels good to wonder.)</p> <p>And these aren't impressive in an obvious way, the way that maybe we have sports teams that dominate, or the way that our modern art museum is architecturally significant. These impress in a more subtle way (at least they're subtle to me). Or perhaps they impress only to the niche that I find myself playing in these days.</p>hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-12385519178657174402009-02-18T08:57:00.001-05:002009-02-18T09:01:22.572-05:00Streetcars & Pecha Kucha<p>Some short notes on a couple items in Soapbox this week. First, an excellent <a href="http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/0217soapdishstreetcar.aspx">opinion on the streetcar</a>.</p> <blockquote> <p>It should be noted that the proposed Mill Creek Expressway/I-75 project will essentially add one single lane of freeway in both directions of I-75 between the Western Hills Viaduct and Paddock Road, while also revamping on/off ramps, and will cost an estimated $642.5 million. That's an extra lane of freeway for 7.9 miles, plus revamping interchanges.  ...In addition to the $642.5 million Mill Creek Expressway project, the Through the Valley project will engage in an additional widening exercise from Paddock to I-275 at the cost of an additional $149 million (at least).</p> <p>...Coincidentally enough, if the full stretch [of the streetcar] to the zoo and back were implemented, it would be a route of roughly 7.9 miles, the same stretch of widening on I-75.</p> <p>So we have critics carping on the profligacy of <strong>spending $185 million versus a whopping $800 million for freeway widening</strong>.</p> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p>The second item I noticed was about the apparent success of the first <a href="http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/53pechakucha.aspx">Pecha Kucha night in Cincinnati</a>.</p> <blockquote> <p>"<a href="http://www.doyoupk.org/">PK Vol. 1</a> was such a huge success," says official organizer, Greg Lewis. "It demonstrated that the same desire that got PK started in Tokyo six years ago is present here in Cincinnati today."</p> </blockquote> <p>Uh, I don't mean anything negative, but I know that technology groups around the region have been doing these presentations for last two years.  They may not have been as flashy, and certainly none were in as cool a venue as the CAC, but they have been around.  You may have heard them mistakenly referred to as Machu Pichu talks, or Pikachu presentations, but PK has been present in Cincinnati for a while now.  So thanks for participating.  :)  </p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-58775838826364100912009-02-13T09:37:00.001-05:002009-02-13T09:37:40.242-05:00Storm's A-Comin'<p>Tornado sirens sounded on and off as a high wind advisory lasted throughout the day and into the night.  But the afternoon was actually pretty calm, except for a few isolated torrential rainstorms that stopped as soon as they started.  Here's the end of one of those rainstorms, looking at Bellevue and Dayton.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEwz6LKJC1uLGiB8Xh56TJ1x46DGaEEKR66QVq2uKMPKJiu1dMy80BkZs7H8KOAp3mF5vOgHLSBQGBmcrw3lZdK_WdPyxgkZZwKG6yPmsbyF05Q_WHr2K0jDrAvdVaNQbRflQ5ZRFduI/s1600-h/IMG_2406%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Clouds exiting" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7g4T5XR-S1NDI_RYzwH8eqQw3x4kIP2z0QUw8-jiCxxDf2TLqPgAq71I6CkYY9luyy3ExhlHGJOFZfGj9rqugHnm_ivU3K28_q2Cljnm8USEkqYF_BqEy3bu1bxH85SmULhj0cObECo/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SZWFfbbbs_I/AAAAAAAAAvI/L-AhKtlc9G0/s1600-h/IMG_2407%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Clouds exiting" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfBF4bWsmUAMdrL9u4qaliCKtuJGnHF_b46wBbnL7GZaNQYdUyOSpQoEV-PneU6yuzulnPr5-ky_OxtJBoNnUw54_OlkEu3xSKayATkcrStkn9ozwSuIhBla7eel6HQoujcn0BG4oa5U/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">And those two pictures stitched together...</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9QgfrgPl4ro/SZWFjImcQyI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/CB4WjwpQXys/s1600-h/storm2%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="133" alt="Clouds exiting" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi047Ve_lIqM4M4-lgmH32IuQaVtFZv8k9rxy_0k1dzcGrJ7m6MzbgALPZMrhi8VKx_OMJ5bgi22FuJ_lEbhR-AiFQ49WEedHs0cKAAUvk2zWnRxfk2Q1APYbI8-e8ogHN6teNrgLgMU7Y/?imgmax=800" width="324" border="0" /></a></p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-46173192169268003672009-02-12T15:51:00.000-05:002009-02-12T15:51:01.261-05:00A Word On Consumption<p>One thing I love about CityKin is that I get all this great information from urban/green media, but don't have to track any of it. In a <a href="http://www.citykin.com/2009/02/higher-efficiency-is-not-sustainability.html">post about efficiency vs. sustainability</a> is this quoted quote:</p> <blockquote> <p>Driving a car that is 10% more efficient uses the same amount of gas as driving 10% less.</p> </blockquote> <p>It's a sentiment I've dwelled on before. Sure, it's great if that new pair of shoes is made locally by workers paid a living wage with sustainable materials, but do you really <em>need </em>a new pair of shoes? (Forgive me if my example offends those of you who love your shoes.) </p> <p>I don't consider myself particularly green with the stuff I have, but I have a compulsion to own as little as possible. (Or maybe I'm just cheap.) I have a coat that used to be my dad's. All my shoes are at least 6 years old. I pretty much own things until they are run into the ground. Then I try to sell them on eBay or give them to Goodwill. Unfortunately, the more I look around, the more it feels like we live in a disposable world.</p> <p>I don't know if it's my training, or if I'm just lazy, but I am also very anal about energy and time trade-offs. I hate sitting in traffic. I hate braking on hills. I love walking because even though it takes more time, I benefit from the activity and from saving gas. I meticulously load every corner of the dishwasher, and usually hand-wash pots and pans. I break down every box I throw away or recycle, not only to save landfill or bin space, but also because it means I'll have to take out the garbage less.</p> <p>I like this quote from CityKin's post a lot too.</p> <blockquote> <p>Living in a place where you can get to all the daily necessities of life by walking, biking <em>or</em> driving gives you much more freedom than living in a place where your only choice is driving.</p> </blockquote> <p>I don't get to drive much, so sometimes I just like drive around at night aimlessly. Especially in the summer. At first, I felt guilty about it, like I was wasting gas, but eventually I realized the same thing in that quote. Being green is about freedom just as much as it is about anything else.</p>hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-37463768950032479522009-01-30T10:59:00.001-05:002009-01-30T15:53:07.254-05:00Third Least Popular? Sure.<p>The Enquirer <a href="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090129/NEWS01/901290364/-1/TODAY">points out a Pew Research Study</a> on <a href="http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/722/grass-greener-somewhere-else-top-cities">Social & Demographic Trends</a> that place Cincinnati third from the bottom of a list of cities people would most like to live.</p> <p>I started this post by trying to point out the flawed methodology in the study, as I usually do for negative reports.  But the methodology was pretty solid.  So I looked at the part of the <a href="http://pewsocialtrends.org/assets/pdf/community-satisfaction-topline.pdf">phone survey</a> that gathered data for this list of cities.  The question went like this:</p> <blockquote> <p>As I read through the following places, just tell me your first reaction: Would you want to live in this city or its surrounding metropolitan area or NOT want to live there?</p> <p>First, …[INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]</p> <p>READ IF NECESSARY: What’s your first reaction? Would you want to live in [INSERT ITEM] or not want to live there? <br />IF RESPONDENT SAYS THEY CURRENTLY LIVE IN THIS AREA, PROBE ONCE: “If you had a choice, would you want to live there, or not want to live there?”</p> </blockquote> <p>So it really becomes a gut answer.  I say a name, you give me your first reaction.  And when I think about what my answers would be, all the superficial reputations I have for cities, good or bad, bubble to the top.</p> <table style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200"><strong>When I hear...</strong> </td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200"><strong>I immediately think of...</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">New York City</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Way cool, way hard to live there.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Cleveland</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. River caught on fire.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Dallas</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Hot, flat, crowded. Um, Texas.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Minneapolis</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Quite nice. Lakes and forests.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Orlando</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Hot, flat. Disneyworld. Lots of young people.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Portland</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Hippies wearing hemp and riding streetcars.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Sacramento</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Hot, flat, desert. Near Tahoe.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">St. Louis</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Uh, they got that big arch.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Pittsburgh</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Very scenic. Hills and rivers.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">San Diego</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Beach, beach, beach. First line of defense from Mexico.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Detroit</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Robocop.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Houston</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Even hotter than Dallas.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Las Vegas</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Desert. Water shortages. The Strip of course.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Los Angeles</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Way cool. Sprawling. Traffic.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">San Antonio</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">The Alamo. The Riverwalk. Um, Texas.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Philadelphia</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">East coast, but not too east coast. Still expensive.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Phoenix</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Desert. Retirees.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Seattle</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Beautiful scenery. Lots of childless couples with dogs.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Tampa</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Beach. Retirees? </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Washington, D.C.</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Lots of interesting things going on. Expensive.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Atlanta</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Big city. Southern hospitality.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Baltimore</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Inner harbor. Armpit of Washington, D.C.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Boston</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Scenic waterways. Lots of young people and colleges.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Chicago</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Scenic lakefront. Big city. Midwestern sensibilities.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Denver</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Mountains, mountains, mountains.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Kansas City</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Funny that Kansas City is not in Kansas.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Miami</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Expensive and pretentious. Pro athletes. Celebrities. Nice weather though.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Riverside</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Riverside? California? Isn't this just part of L.A.?</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">San Francisco</td> <td style="border-right: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-top: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-left: #eeeeee 1px solid; border-bottom: #eeeeee 1px solid" valign="top" width="200">Gay people. Liberal bastion. Technology.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <p>I put those up very quickly. Now what about Cincinnati?  Obviously, I'm biased, but if really tried to pretend I was an outsider, what are the first things that spring to mind?  <em>WKRP.  Rain man. Conservative.</em></p> <p>And that's the problem we, and the likes of Detroit and Cleveland, face.  Of course, Cincinnati is a great place to live for all sorts of people.  But <em>how would you know?</em>   That's the work that's never finished.  </p> <p>So I believe that Cincinnati might finish third from the bottom in a survey like that, even if I know it's not true.  </p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-18565902102744003532009-01-28T09:30:00.000-05:002009-01-28T09:30:00.502-05:00State-Of-The-Art Simulation Center... On Short Vine<p>Soapbox writes about the <a href="http://www.soapboxmedia.com/innovationnews/44simcenter.aspx">University of Cincinnati's Simulation Center (UCSC) in collaboration with Procter & Gamble</a>.  The <a href="http://www.min.uc.edu/ucsc">UCSC</a> is a high-performance computing center for simulating products, systems, and processes that are related to P&G product lines.</p> <p>For some reason, I think it's interesting that it's in the middle of Short Vine, an area I never took for advanced anything, despite its proximity to UC.  Ever since I've been able to drive, Short Vine has conjured up images of tattoo parlors, punk clothing and beauty product stores, Bogart's, and Top Cats.  Now, the only reason I walk the street is when I go to Martino's. </p> <p>But I guess with all the new Uptown Consortium development on MLK, the area is changing.  I always thought that the Short Vine area would be one of the best neighborhoods to live in a parallel universe.  There is a library, post office, drug store, and grocery store - all the ingredients of a walkable neighborhood.  But of course, it's not one of the best neighborhoods to live in, yet.</p> <p>In any case, here is the building.  I remember seeing the UCSC building being renovated a few years ago.  I remember thinking to myself, "that's interesting. Somebody's rehabbing that building. I wonder what for?"</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/sv?cbp=12,450,,0,-17.5&cbll=39.131457,-84.509372&panoid=&v=1&hl=en&gl=us" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="240"></iframe> <br /><small><a style="color: #0000ff; text-align: left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Vine+St+%26+Daniels+St,+Cincinnati,+OH+45219&sll=39.131625,-84.509346&sspn=0.011968,0.019312&g=2728+Vine+Street,Cincinnati,OH+45219&ie=UTF8&ll=39.141045,-84.505119&spn=0.011968,0.019312&z=14&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=39.131457,-84.509372&panoid=OB9oX3W4XqzX-aXNRU8YGQ&cbp=12,450,,0,-17.5">View Larger Map</a></small></p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-14682618067010117672009-01-23T08:21:00.001-05:002009-01-23T10:03:16.442-05:00Cincinnati Is Cool<p>I can't remember where I saw this link, but I always enjoy reading about others' travels to our Queen City. In this edition, Chicago Carless goes into very specific detail about his weekend visit to Cincinnati, and <a href="http://www.chicagocarless.com/2008/09/09/cincinnati-is-cool/">why Cincinnati is cool</a>. There's the usual praise for Skyline and Graeter's. There is also now what has been noticed for a third time by these visiting bloggers: an inexplicable schizophrenic quality to the fabric of the city and its people and almost palpable feeling of potential.</p> <blockquote> <p>How to parse a city of aesthetic beauty, civic pride, high cultural amenities, and, at the most unexpected times, low social graces?</p> </blockquote> <p>Again, Cincinnati and its identity crisis. Are we the North or the South? The East or the Midwest? Are we internet or manufacturing? Are we a small town with big city amenities? Or a big city with small town charms? <a href="http://www.hellogerard.com/2008/09/what-message-does-cincinnati-send.html">What message does Cincinnati send?</a></p> <blockquote> <p>There was no artifice here. Nothing was prettified. Just basic communication passing among familiar faces. Unexpected, a bit shocking in its primal quality. But not out of place. It did make me wonder whether inside the average Queen Citizen beat the heart of a conformer. We may be down, but we’re down together, and as long as we lie low, things can’t get much worse, so let’s just leave well enough alone.</p> </blockquote> <p>To put it another way, perhaps: in Cincinnati, it is important to work hard, shut up, and do what you're supposed to do. It's why fancy nightclubs get so much guff. It's why people take comfort in things that have been the same and familiar for so long, and why people get upset when the Fountain gets moved 30 ft. to the north. It's why the most successful businesses here are still in manufacturing, consumer goods, and insurance, despite the best efforts of the biotech and internet sectors. It's why change happens so slowly, and it's why people segregate themselves with people who are alike.</p> <p>However, in Cincinnati, it's also relatively easy to make a difference. If you want to be an up-and-comer, I don't think you have to compete with as many people like you might in other places. </p> <p>These traits, positive and negative, make Cincinnati what it is: an easy place to live. Cincinnati gives quite a lot and does not ask for much in return. Friendly, inexpensive, and, despite the bellyaching, without lot of big city issues. You have world-class arts and professional sports. You can decide at 4 pm to take in a major-league baseball game at 7 pm that same day. (That may say more about our baseball team than it does our town.) People who move here tend to get stuck here. People who move away tend to come back. At least, that's been my experience. </p> <p>Like his friend Dan at Park + Vine:</p> <blockquote> <p>When he told me in 2006 he was ditching his Windy City communications career to open what I figured would be a glorified hemp shop in a marginal nabe of a secondary rust-belt town, I thought he had already begun smoking his product. As I purchased my recycled bicycle-tire wallet with the writing still on it from the happiest man on Vine Street, I knew Dan had made the right decision.</p> </blockquote> <p>Here is a full list of recent visits to Cincinnati by bloggers.</p> <ul> <li>From Minneapolis: <a href="http://tcsidewalks.blogspot.com/2008/03/other-city-sidewalks-cincinnati-ohio.html">Other City Sidewalks: Cincinnati, Ohio</a> (<a href="http://www.hellogerard.com/2008/03/saddest-sidewalks.html">my take</a>) </li> <li>From Indianapolis: <a href="http://theurbanophile.blogspot.com/2008/05/cincinnati-midwest-conundrum.html">Cincinnati: A Midwest Conundrum</a> (<a href="http://www.hellogerard.com/2008/05/midwest-conundrum.html">my take</a>) </li> <li>From Toronto: <a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/03/cincinnati-photo-diary/">Cincinnati Photo Diary</a> </li> <li>And quite recently: <a href="http://travelswithtallulah.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/new-years-in-cinci/#comment-126">New Year's In Cinci</a> </li> </ul>hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-38968549922821272632009-01-20T22:17:00.001-05:002009-01-20T22:17:00.139-05:00Streetcars Hit Major Bump In The Road<p>So <a href="http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-16909-train-wreck.html">a diverse coalition of groups led by the NAACP want to put the streetcar on the ballot</a>.</p> <blockquote> <p>The NAACP recently launched a petition drive to place an issue on the November ballot that would amend the city’s charter to prevent Cincinnati officials from spending money on the streetcar project without first getting approval from city voters. </p> </blockquote> <p>I definitely appreciate the sentiment. When the same group of people wanted to put the jail tax on the ballot, to let the people decide, I wholeheartedly agreed because I did not support the jail tax. I voted to put it on the ballot, and when it was, I voted against it (both times). But this time, I find myself on the other side of the coin.</p> <p>I have <a href="http://www.hellogerard.com/search?q=streetcar">quoted lots of evidence in support of streetcars on this blog already</a>. The NAACP's main objection seems to be that there are better uses for the money.</p> <blockquote> <p>Smitherman believes the money could be better spent elsewhere, such as in neighborhood business districts. Streetcar systems are a risky gamble that have failed in some cities, he says, and Cincinnati’s mostly would benefit people who own property along the proposed route and developers like Towne Properties, which is owned by Bortz’s family.</p> </blockquote> <p>To be sure, it's a risk, and there are many other ways to spend the money. But let's say we take the $100 million required to build the first phase of the streetcar. The city has 52 neighborhood councils. We could give each neighborhood nearly $2 million dollars - a vast increase in their current dole - and it would certainly be put to good use. But the streetcar is projected to return $1.4 <em>billion</em> dollars in investment, investment that means new residents, new businesses, and higher payroll tax. Big picture here.</p> <p>Also, the fact that the issue is for support of a charter amendment is a bit weird. To me - and I'm no lawyer - it's as if Congress passes an amendment to the constitution outlawing Amtrak.</p> <p>In any case, let me clearly state my opinion: <strong>if this issue gets on the ballot, the streetcar proposal will fail.</strong></p> <p>Because while I believe that people are good-intentioned, the masses are dumb. The majority of people who even bother to vote will not even know about all the issues they will vote on until they are in the voting booth. Which means we will have a repeat of the kind of vote that put two stadiums on the riverfront, and of course a repeat of the vote that doomed the light rail initiative in 2002. (BTW, had the light rail initiative passed in 2002, we would have had running streetcars for the past two years already.) If it goes to the ballot, streetcars will not become a reality for at least another decade. And the NAACP has a very good record with getting issues on the ballot. </p> <p>The streetcar is <em>not</em> a transportation plan. It is a development plan. The point of the streetcar is not to get people where they need to go. It's to get people to stay. It's to get people to live, work, and stay where we want them to stay, namely, in the city. I believe it's a distinction easily lost.</p> <p>Also see <a href="http://www.urbancincy.com/2008/12/letting-cincinnatians-down.html">UrbanCincy's strong reaction to the NAACP petition</a>.</p>hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-7207590515632219682009-01-19T22:21:00.001-05:002009-01-20T09:53:40.303-05:00I Wonder...<p>The Enquirer has reported on this Sayler Park couple charged with <a href="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090103/NEWS0107/901030360/0/NEWS01">starving their newborn baby to death</a>.  From browsing the comments, lots of people have jumped all over this couple.  Commenters have called them drug abusers, stupid, the reason for contraception, etc.  All these things could be true.</p> <p>But after reading the story (and this <a href="http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081223/NEWS0107/312230006">earlier one</a>) carefully, there's nothing to suggest any of these things.  There was no mention of drugs in the story at all.  The couple had no criminal record (though her uncle and and mother were arrested the same day for bank robbery, which does not look good).  And they had from the sound of it three healthy kids already.  And the story says there was formula in the house.</p> <p>Maybe they weren't bad people.  Maybe the baby refused food (it happens).  Maybe they were ignorant of their options, didn't have insurance, and were afraid to go to the hospital.  Maybe the baby had a condition.  </p> <p>Who knows.  There's no way to tell unless personally involved in the case.  The prosecutor must have had additional information, right?</p> <p>If he did not, then he broke up a decent family and sent three kids to foster care (which is no picnic) for a long time.</p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-76911104995947943842009-01-19T00:42:00.001-05:002009-01-19T00:42:05.033-05:00Walnut Hills Kroger Staying (For Now)<p>A little late on this news, but it is worth mentioning.  The <a href="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090109/BIZ01/901100304/1055/NEWS">Kroger in Walnut Hills will be staying for at least two more years</a>.  After that, who knows.  But it's a good sign.  </p> <p>Now, imagine if one of the proposed streetcar routes that goes from Downtown/OTR across Broadway Commons and up Gilbert into Walnut Hills was actually built.  I guarantee you Kroger would find a way to keep that store open.</p> <p>Previous posts on the Walnut Hills Kroger <a href="http://www.hellogerard.com/2008/06/update-on-walnut-hills-kroger.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.hellogerard.com/2008/03/walnut-hills-kroger-leaving.html">here</a>.</p> hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6927029581860533680.post-8100659265076751942009-01-15T12:00:00.001-05:002009-01-16T01:37:15.022-05:00Twenty-Five Things<p><a href="http://5chw4r7z.blogspot.com/">5chw4r7z</a> tagged me, so I must succumb.</p> <blockquote> <p>Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you and post it. At the end, choose 5 people to be tagged. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.</p> </blockquote> <p>I am also fortunate enough to been tagged with the 25-item version, and not the 7-item version that has also been circulating. I don't have much time, so here goes.</p> <ol> <li>I grew up in Northern KY. </li> <li>I spent two years in Santa Barbara, CA, getting my Masters. I really went so I could live on the beach. </li> <li>Other than that I have lived in the Cincinnati area my entire life. </li> <li>I last visited the Philippines in 2000. Need to make time to go again. </li> <li>I am one-quarter Filipino and three-quarters Chinese. </li> <li>I speak no foreign languages. </li> <li>My research area in graduate school was in machine learning and information retrieval. </li> <li>I once took (and passed) the motorcycle course at Great Oaks. That is the only period of time I've ridden motorcycles. </li> <li>I have two tattoos (vagaries of youth). </li> <li>I am an Eagle Scout. </li> <li>I once wandered around Hong Kong for a week. </li> <li>I love Northern KY and Cincinnati equally. (Southeast IN can suck it.) </li> <li>I am exactly 6' tall. </li> <li>I maintained a personal blog from 1997 to 2005, writing 246 entries. Only, in 1997, they weren't called "blogs," they were called "online diaries." </li> <li>On that note, once I discovered "the web" in college I couldn't stop. I spent hours in the computer lab hand-coding websites in HTML, learning vi and Unix in the process. I like to think all those sleepless nights did some good for my career. It certainly did not for my social life. </li> <li>I am a pretty good hearts player. </li> <li>I am stalling after 16 items. </li> <li>I have over 70 first cousins, but I don't see any of them very much. </li> <li>I could talk about software for hours, but no one would listen. </li> <li>In another life, I would be an illustrator. </li> <li>I would love to write a book (but wouldn't all bloggers?). I could go fiction or non-fiction, either way. </li> <li>I can competently water ski, downhill ski, wakeboard, snowboard, ice skate, and mountain bike. I have skydived, scuba dived, white-water rafted, and rock climbed at least once. </li> <li>I played basketball in high school. Never started varsity except for senior night. </li> <li>I started <a href="http://www.makecincinnatiweird.com/">Make Cincinnati Weird</a> and the <a href="http://www.cincinnatidealer.com/">Cincinnati Dealer</a>. </li> <li>The Dealer was a ton of fun, and, at its peak received 300 visits a day and was mentioned in several print publications and once on radio. </li> </ol> <p>I'm tagging <a href="http://clarkstreetblog.blogspot.com/">Ashish</a>, <a href="http://www.citykin.com/">Mike</a>, <a href="http://www.building-cincinnati.com/">Kevin</a>, <a href="http://visualingual.wordpress.com/">Maya</a>, and <a href="http://gdaugherty.blogspot.com/">Gina</a>, mainly because they are all in my feed reader and have not been tagged yet.</p>hellogerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06622511359833376849noreply@blogger.com2