jdm00

^According to Wiki, the Valley View Bridge is only 212'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_View_Bridge The Jeremiah Morrow Bridge(s) are 239' tall.

I don't know, that's a pretty big deal that the originating passenger number is as high as it is. No doubt numbers were higher overall when it was a hub because of all the connecting passengers, but even then all kinds of people would drive to the other airports (which are all in proximity to CVG) instead of flying from here. Seems like CVG has definitely been able to build up the local traffic as it attracts lower-cost carriers.

I don't think that there's any way it would go to the rehabbed 5/3 arena, which as I understand it is going to have a capacity between 10K-12K after renovation. These NCAA games are usually in larger-sized arenas, more along the lines of US Bank's capacity. As for UC being able to play there, check out some of the UC message boards. Your ability to play there as a school is limited if you play more than 3 games at the site OR if you are the "host school." (This is why, when the games were in Philadelphia a couple years ago, Villanova made sure to (1) not play more than 3 games at the arena, and (2) the host was actually LaSalle, not 'Nova.) If UC remains the "host school," they couldn't play at US Bank arena. I think what would happen would be a transition to a different "host" (e.g., UC's conference, or maybe NKU or Miami.)

I thought the Fort Myers airport was a really nice one when I flew there, and very new. (Maybe San Jose as well--could be confusing those.) I know when I flew to Fort Myers, though, that it was definitely an older crowd going there.... Atlanta is just too large. Plenty of food options, but it's overwhelming to navigate if you aren't that familiar with it.

That was an interesting article. I like how he is the same analyst who two years ago said Southwest would not come to CVG....

About commuting patterns, most people in the Cincinnati MSA don't commute to anywhere in the Dayton MSA, or vice versa. And as it stands out only a certain part of the Cincinnati MSA commute to the Dayton area, namely the West Chester-Liberty Township area. You see I live in the Cincinnati MSA, and I certainly do not commute to Dayton, nor do any people I know who live in my vicinity. Also about the article you cited, it really seems to be based on pure speculation because I found numerous articles dating back a several years ago, and it said it could happen in the next census, but it didn't actually happen, so again it all seems to be based on pure speculation. There could also but speculation that the metro areas of Los Angeles and San Diego could merge together, and the chances of Cincinnati and Dayton's metro areas coming together are as likely as that. Let me cite an article: *http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/1998/11/09/story3.html from 1998 and expected to happen in the 2000 census, but didn't. I understand that it hasn't happened before. I also am not particularly caring if it does happen or doesn't. But I do know that the article says that the commuting criteria are being met, according to this guy. Like I said, I haven't looked at the data (and I wouldn't know what to look at anyway), but just pointing out that people have talked about it in the past and it didn't get the designation doesn't mean that commuting patterns haven't changed. As jjakucyk said, it's all well and good to talk anecdotally--if someone knows what they're looking for in the data and takes a look at it, maybe we will see if this article has validity or not.

^I understand what you're saying, but I think that the designation of MSA vs. CSA is not based on those factors, but instead is strictly dependent on the data compiled by the census (which I am not an expert on, but I believe centers primarily on commuting patterns and the like). I don't know that data and the criteria well enough to really speak to how likely the designation is or isn't.

^Hey, don't shoot the messenger. Did you read the article? It references the census data as supporting the MSA designation. Now, you can certainly suggest that the head of the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance doesn't know what he's talking about (though I find these chamber types seem to be pretty on top of things like this). What is your basis for saying it's more likely to be a CSA? Is it based on your own review of the relevant census data?

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/feature/5-things/2017/02/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-and-all-hail.html?ana=e_me_set1&u=mdqxSjVwpbwLHTa%2Bxb7xwQ0dc4b18a&t=1486754104&j=77348741&s=scroll Apparently getting closer. And according to this article, the criteria are met to merge the MSAs. Interesting. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/02/09/it-s-time-to-take-the-cincinnati-dayton-msa-idea.html

This building has surprised me with its height. In light of its location, it really stands out (in a good way). It's been a far more impressive addition to the east side of the CBD than I thought it would be just based on the description.

That's a weird one--shooting actually inside the soup kitchen. Not that that is good, but it's a lot different than what the original tweets made it sound like (e.g., a shooting out on the street).

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/12/21/utah-fastest-growing-state-west-bucks-sluggish-trend/95694042/ I just enjoyed looking at this story and not seeing Ohio in the "bottom 10" in growth rates. Also, I understand that it's easy to say "the South and West are booming," but that's such a generalization that doesn't hold up when you look at the data. Mississippi and West Virginia (two states I would consider Southern) aren't growing. Likewise, Wyoming and New Mexico are both clearly "western" states, and they aren't booming either. Certainly there are states in each region that are doing well, and presumably that helps to prop up the regional growth rate as a whole. Oh well.

^There is some truth in what you say, but as for downtown being a "ghost town" at 5:00 p.m. compared to other cities, I'm not sure who you are comparing it to. New York? Chicago? Sure. But as compared to what I would consider Cincinnati's peer cities, we're not any worse (and I'd say probably ahead of the curve in terms of CBD activity in the evening).

I will be there (probably getting there as early as 4 or 4:30, as I will have childcare duties starting around 6). I may bring the "non-UOer" as well.

^A "fit of rage" is voluntary manslaughter, not involuntary manslaughter. The term is actually in the statutory definition of voluntary manslaughter (R.C. 2903.03). The statutory definition of murder in Ohio is actually pretty simple: "No person shall purposely cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy." (R.C. 2903.02).

I think you mean the Hyatt ballroom, not the Millennium. And the Hyatt just underwent a $25 million renovation a couple years ago and is very nice, and really an excellent event space.

Not sure where you read that, but this article is based on Census data. Metro Cincinnati is 9th in share of students who attend private school (behind Cleveland), and also doesn't have a single zip code in the top 10 for private school share percentage: http://www.citylab.com/housing/2014/08/where-private-school-enrollment-is-highest-and-lowest-across-the-us/375993/

As a Xavier grad, I'm going to assume that your knowledge here is based on your perception, not actual experience. XU is not like going to Ohio U or whatever, but it's not BYU, either. In fact, it's not a dry campus. There's a pub run by the school on campus and alcohol is allowed, even in dorms, when you are of age. (At least those were the rules when I was there.) Throw in the fact that in addition to whatever parties are going on around campus (in the various student-rented houses in North Avondale and Norwood), the close proximity to UC, and even the proximity to Miami, and you have a pretty eventful college experience. But don't let that get in the way of your narrative....

^I was just wondering what the percentage might be. Lots of pent-up demand for Cubs fans, but man it was loud on some of those plays. Assuming the Tribe doesn't come back, should be an epic Game 7.

There's nothing weird about the fandom for Xavier basketball. It's a pretty specific group, heavily centered on alumni and people connected with the school, but there is a bit broader support because the program has been consistently good since about 1980. We fully understand that if the Bearcats are good in basketball, they will tend to pick up the casual fans looking to support a winner. But now that XU is in a serious upswing (and is now playing in what is likely a better conference than UC, who really suffered as a result of all the conference realignment), it's beginning to pick up a bit more steam outside of the core fan base. But the program has a top-shelf arena (there's a reason the Cavs have played preseason games at Cintas), draws very well, and has a very good national reputation. Of those 10,000 people at each game, I'd say 95% of them know it's a Catholic school. Any trip on campus or to Cintas lets you know your not at a state school....

Not sure where you're getting your information, but according to Wiki (which is pretty good on this), the Columbus MSA is already larger area wise than the Cincinnati MSA. The Columbus MSA is 4851 Square Miles, and includes the following: Delaware (457 sq mi) Fairfield (509) Franklin (544) Hocking (424) Licking (687) Madison (467) Morrow (407) Perry (412) Pickaway (507) Union (437) The Cincinnati MSA is only 4464 square miles, and includes the following: Hamilton (413) Butler (470) Warren (407) Clermont (460J) Brown (493) KY: Boone (256) Bracken (209) Campbell (159) Gallatin (105) Grant (261) Kenton (164) Pendleton (282) Indiana: Dearborn (307) Franklin (391) Ohio (87) If you move out to CSA, the Cincinnati CSA adds two counties: Clinton in Ohio (412 square miles) and Mason in Kentucky (246 square miles). The Columbus CSA includes Ross, Fayette, Guernsey, Knox, Logan, Marion, and Muskingum counties, adding over 3700 square miles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_metropolitan_area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_metropolitan_area,_Ohio Note, the math is wrong on the totals of these, unless the Census bureau is somehow only counting parts of the Columbus counties in the MSA (which I don't think they do). It shows a higher land area for the Cincinnati MSA than is correct, and a far lower one for Columbus MSA than is correct, based on the underlying numbers. I clicked through to each counties' page, got their land area, and added it up to get totals. Which makes sense; Ohio counties are typically about 400-500 square miles or so, and Columbus has 10 of those counties in the MSA.

That's a great picture.

Heard some negative feedback this weekend from friends riding it for the first time. Some of these things are understandable growing pains, but it would be great to iron out these things as quickly as possible. (That said, I was obviously still encouraging about the system and how they should give it another try.)

I just got it when I posted.

I took the streetcar for my commute home from work this evening, and there was a cop on the car checking for tickets. Most people seemed to have them, though they weren't necessarily all validated.