Welcome new people! I love you all <3

Us City-Data people try to steer other Ohioans this way. :) CD is the reason i found UO.

Where`s Cincinnatus?

Allow me to make everybody feel better about the state of major construction projects in Ohio...

 

In Independence, OR (the neighboring town to where I grew up), there is a construction project that has been on hold since 2004. The project, called Independence Station, was originally to be as close to zero energy as possible. The heating and cooling for the building was built using those deep underground pipes that function as heat pumps depending on the temperatures above ground. The roof was to be lined with solar panels, which surprisingly work fairly well in the ever cloudy Oregon. 

 

If I recall correctly, groundbreaking was around the time I graduated high school in 2002, and within a year the building's frame was mostly finished. However, since then NOTHING has been done.

 

Here's what the building has looked like for the past seven years now:

Indy Station's woes mount

No progress has been made recently on Independence Station, which sits in a moth-balled state in downtown. A lawsuit has been filed against the project's developer.

 

So buck up!

That sucks.  I certainly hope I don't see any of this 5 years down the road in Chicago.  We've had some of these concrete hulks sitting around unfinished since 2008.  There was one project I seem to remember in Monterey, CA that was under construction in 1994.  I eventually returned in 2006 to find the same site had not progressed any futher, but was a weed filled concrete basement with unfinished columns and rusted rebar.

There's a suburban shopping center like that near Cincinnati. It's a big joke. Luckily, all the projects in the city (of which there are many) are going full steam ahead. In fact, we just got a new tallest building. Take that, recession!

^ I love Cincy`a new skyscraper! Looks fantastic.I like how it has a dramatic presence from i-71and Kentucky

I'm a tool.  I didn't realize that my OLD library is part of Clevnet, so I can use CPL as well as Lakewood PL.  I'm so stoked now!

I thought this was interesting.  Detroit 1-8-7 has an episode where a body is discovered frozen in ice at the bottom of an elevator shaft, found by urban explorers.  Not really fiction, it actually happened a couple years ago.  Kind of creepy

 

The episode: Hulu - Detroit 1-8-7: Ice Man/Malibu - Watch the full episode now.

 

The actual story: http://detnews.com/article/20090128/METRO08/901280491/Frozen-in-indifference--Life-goes-on-around-body-found-in-vacant-warehouse

 

^ Saw that episode. Kind of the "Law and Order" method to writing a cop show. So far I like Detroit 187. In that episode I thought the cop's angry reaction to urban explorer was interesting, especially the line about only taking picture of the abondoned building but not the new one next to it. I guess that's true for some, I think that most people on here would be just as interested in the new building.

Right now Detroiters are fuming about ruin porn.  They are tired of it being in the spotlight.  I kind of disagree with the whole "stop taking pictures of blight and start taking pictures of good stuff."  Photography is a personal interest and art.  The public can't tell people what they should photograph or criticize the work just because they find abandoned buildings to be offensive.  When you step back and look at it, the vacant buildings are what bring thousands of foreign tourists to the city who will purchase hotel rooms, and eat at local restaurants.  I'd say the photography has helped Detroit.  It's sparked interest for artists to move there and has provided a backdrop for movie making.

 

For the Detroit residents that are frustrated with all the ruin porn photography.  Either get your city to fix the buildings or move to another city if you can't stand it.

Anyone know of any women's/feminist groups in the area?  Groups that are doing work in the community, etc.?

I hate how people are so uptight about pictures. Either you are a terrorist or have a profit motive with the ability to make serious money from your pictures. I couldn`t believe the reaction I`d get from artists in Soho when I`d take pictures of their work sitting on the street. What was really just admiration was taken as complete lack of respect and copywrite infringement. You know what, if  you`re that worried about me making  hi-res copies of your work and stealing your creative ideas, with my p.o.s point and shoot, get your work off of a public street!

I'm a big fan of urban exploring and urban exploring photography.  The reason people take these pictures are many including documenting the past and there is a certain amount of beauty in the abandonment.  The reason Detroit is so prevalent is because of the sheer amount of historic buildings that have been abandoned including beautiful theaters and train stations that you don't see as much in other cities.  Other cities certainly have abandonment, but often not the historic structures.  Even cities like NYC have some great urban explorers.  Check this out.. (NSFW)...

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/08/nudes_n_819790.html?ir=Arts#236162

 

... I really need to get out there for some more exploring!

The sort of camera seems to have a lot to do with how much flak I get when taking photos. I can go almost anywhere and photograph to my heart's content with a pocket-sized digital camera, but when I haul out the D700 with 70-300mm VR lens, I'll immediately be the object of attention.

 

Sometimes the challenge is done in a non-threatening way; recently at the farm show I was approached by a venue official who struck up a conversation about photography and managed to work in a couple of questions about how I planned to use the photos. Assured that my intent was non-commercial, he said, "Enjoy the show" and went on his way. Something similar happened with one of the vendors.

 

Last year at the same show I walked all over with a pocket-sized point-and-shoot camera and took even more photos, and no one paid any attention.

 

When I want to photograph in a place where I might run into serious trouble, I make it a point to check in with the security desk if there is one. In one railroad station they were fine with it and then asked what kind of camera I use. When I showed them the DSLR, suddenly they had reservations and there were more questions. Eventually they gave me the go-ahead. I'm sure that if I had been carrying my Nikon S700, there would have been no challenge.

Right now Detroiters are fuming about ruin porn. They are tired of it being in the spotlight. I kind of disagree with the whole "stop taking pictures of blight and start taking pictures of good stuff." Photography is a personal interest and art. The public can't tell people what they should photograph or criticize the work just because they find abandoned buildings to be offensive. When you step back and look at it, the vacant buildings are what bring thousands of foreign tourists to the city who will purchase hotel rooms, and eat at local restaurants. I'd say the photography has helped Detroit. It's sparked interest for artists to move there and has provided a backdrop for movie making.

 

For the Detroit residents that are frustrated with all the ruin porn photography. Either get your city to fix the buildings or move to another city if you can't stand it.

 

Really?  you don't understand their frustration with being consistently told that their city is garbage?  They shouldn't be sensitive to depictions around the world as nothing but bombed out buildings?  "jokes" about Iraq being a better destination than their home shouldn't bother them?  i mean, i think Detroiters have every right to be pissed about that.

 

I think people in that city have every right to having a chip on their shoulder.  They're the ones left behind to pick up the mess.

 

I'm sensitive about this topic...i was born there and lived there most of grade school.  I grew up in the same house my mother did on the east side. we moved to the suburbs (inner ring) and Detroit was always a stone's throw away.

I hate how people are so uptight about pictures. Either you are a terrorist or have a profit motive with the ability to make serious money from your pictures. I couldn`t believe the reaction I`d get from artists in Soho when I`d take pictures of their work sitting on the street. What was really just admiration was taken as complete lack of respect and copywrite infringement. You know what, if  you`re that worried about me making  hi-res copies of your work and stealing your creative ideas, with my p.o.s point and shoot, get your work off of a public street!

I'm not sure if street "artists" are required to have a vendor's permit in NY (I'm guessing they are) to sell their wares, but maybe they were afraid you were taking photos as evidence. Judging by the quality of 99% of this crap, they should be prosecuted on grounds of aesthetic assault and visual pollution.

evd supports government intrusion and official sanctioning of aesthetic taste. You heard it here first.

The art in general is cool!  Some of the artists were a-holes though. F-in Jersey! *rolls eyes*

Right now Detroiters are fuming about ruin porn.  They are tired of it being in the spotlight.  I kind of disagree with the whole "stop taking pictures of blight and start taking pictures of good stuff."  Photography is a personal interest and art.  The public can't tell people what they should photograph or criticize the work just because they find abandoned buildings to be offensive.  When you step back and look at it, the vacant buildings are what bring thousands of foreign tourists to the city who will purchase hotel rooms, and eat at local restaurants.  I'd say the photography has helped Detroit.  It's sparked interest for artists to move there and has provided a backdrop for movie making.

 

For the Detroit residents that are frustrated with all the ruin porn photography.  Either get your city to fix the buildings or move to another city if you can't stand it.

 

Really?  you don't understand their frustration with being consistently told that their city is garbage?  They shouldn't be sensitive to depictions around the world as nothing but bombed out buildings?  "jokes" about Iraq being a better destination than their home shouldn't bother them?  i mean, i think Detroiters have every right to be pissed about that.

 

I think people in that city have every right to having a chip on their shoulder.  They're the ones left behind to pick up the mess.

 

I'm sensitive about this topic...i was born there and lived there most of grade school.  I grew up in the same house my mother did on the east side. we moved to the suburbs (inner ring) and Detroit was always a stone's throw away.

 

Your sensitivity is purely personal and not representative of Detroiters as a whole.  I should have not said all "Detroiter's" actually because there are a great number of people who do appreciate the photography of their city (blight, no blight) and an even greater number who simply don't care and have their own hobbies to worry about.  As I said, it's poeple's personal interest in the architecture of these buildings.  I've taken well over 10,000 photos of what people may refer to as "blight and abandonment" in the city, except that I call it Architecture.  I don't use my work to exploit the city since I've never sold or tried to sell these photos.  They are for my own interests and documented experience.  If people choose the opposite and intend to use them in an ill manner, then shame on them.  But I know most photographers are not like that.

 

BTW, I find the relationship between the last sentence of each of your paragraphs quite ironic.

Stitch and Bitch. They used to meet at bela dubby on Madison.

 

Anyone know of any women's/feminist groups in the area?  Groups that are doing work in the community, etc.?

I met a famous Cleveland criminial this weekend.  Quite exciting for the poor girl from Lake County!

I almost forgot how crazy my uncle is. I went over to his house the other day and he had 2 new AK-47s on a rack in his garage because 'he and his neighbor are at war', which he said, 'started over a property line dispute'. He builds motorcycles in his garage and his neighbors hate him so much they had an undercover from the zoning commission come over and ask if he would work on a bike to see if they could prove that he was running a shop out of his garage lol! My uncle is the biggest real-life troll. He'll rev his bike at 4am to wake the neighbors up, out of spite. When I first walked into his house the other day, I heard him down in the basement so I walked down and I heard, "Drivers, moderate your language and remember, Obama loves you!" I walked into the room in the basement where he was and here he is, pranking people on this like 1000 watt CB radio that would probably light up any lightbulb that came within 3 feet his CB equip. He's 52! I can't believe that the truck drivers fed into it. 

These forums are dead today!  How else am I supposed to be entertained while I "work"?

[clears throat]

 

Build more apartments!  Reform the zoning code!  Extend the red line!  No, extend the waterfront line!  Greenspace?  GREENSPACE??

 

KHAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!

^ You forgot to call for more retail downtown! ;-)

I dare not speak it.

KHAAAAAAAAAAN!!

 

 

!!

Ah, there it is....

Wanted to PM this to ProkNo5. His inbox is full. Maybe he'll see it here!

 

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2011/02/the-view-from-your-window-16.html

It's the 3rd Ward!!!  Thanks Natininja.  When I try to describe OTR to locals (I talk about Cincinnati more than anyone in Milwaukee wants to hear) I always tell them it's like the architecture of the 3rd Ward combined with the spirit of Riverwest but on a very large scale. 

 

This is really cool, thanks again.

 

 

 

PS - Mailbox full, what?

^ Glad you liked it. Hope I can make it to Milwaukee sometime soon...so many cities to see, so little time! :)

 

I got a pop-up dialog box saying your inbox was full. Maybe it's a glitch from the forum update, if that's not the case.

^  No, I just figured out how to empty it. 

 

If you're coming up to Milwaukee, you've got to come soon so I can give you a tour.  I'm moving to Cincy at the end of May.

I wasn't sure if there was a sim city thread or not, but who still plays it?

I'm installing windows through a virtual machine on my Mac just so I can play Sim City 4.  I miss that game haha.

I stopped playing SimCity 4 in 2004.  But I continued making models for the game to learn 3D Studio Max.  Unfortunately I never finished most of them.  I lent the game to someone eventually but forgot to ask for it back.  I then bought the combined package at Best Buy last spring, but never cracked the package open.  Left it at work in my desk, and now I can't find it.  BAH!

 

Here's a building I made for the game, but never got around to texturing.  I should really finish it.  It's JL Hudsons in Detroit (now demolished)

 

 

 

 

Check out simtropolis.com for lots of cool downloads. I've been trying out Cities XL2011, it's interesting.

 

^Nice model btw. Someone modeled a bunch of Detroit buildings, I think it's called the Barry Sanders Project.

Most of those were done by nofunk, who is a member here on urbanohio.

 

He is working on a model of Carew Tower as well

^I didn't know he was on here, I am a big fan and have downloaded a lot of his stuff.

 

Also, there is already a SimCity thread here.

I just tried the Saltines Crackers Challenge and failed. The challenge is to eat 6 saltines crackers in under one minute. It took me 1 minute and 10 seconds. Can any of you beat it? lol

This has been the slowest weekend on here in a very long time

I just had 3 Wine kills, captain buzz cooler. Yeah, this nothing really going on today on the forum. I had to work today; I came home and decided to watch Hot Tub Time Machine until I fall asleep.

How the hell did you fail at eating 6 saltine crackers in a minute? I can't imagine it being hard.

How the hell did you fail at eating 6 saltine crackers in a minute? I can't imagine it being hard.

 

Its really hard surprisingly. I was 10 seconds short of doing it. Try it lol

I've never attempted the challenge (or heard of it before) but the crackers are essentially saliva sponges and the time limit doesn't allow for it's replenishment and so by probably the 4th or 5th it becomes difficult to swallow or at the least maneuver the chewed up cracker mass to the back of your throat.

I've tried it several times before, it's much much harder than it sounds.

I think we should celebrate Presidents' day around the birthday of some president born in nicer weather.

Took me 45 minutes to scrape the ice of both of our cars this morning...yay. Time to clean out the garage...

I'm confused. What do we call this decade? "The 10s"? That's so weird. The year twenty eleven.. I think a lot of people still say two thousand eleven. That's too many syllables.

I vote for the Tweens!

Think about how old we're going to feel when we say, "I loved/hated the twenties".   

I'm confused. What do we call this decade? "The 10s"? That's so weird. The year twenty eleven.. I think a lot of people still say two thousand eleven. That's too many syllables.

I'm voting for the teens.  Sure the first couple years don't technically end in "teen", but by 2020 I'll probably have forgotten most of what happened this year so who cares?