Cincinnati Syndrome

Jan 7, 2011 by Loki

One thing that has amazed me over my nearly two years here so far has been the attitude of many locals towards the city and its environs.

“Ohio, Where Dreams Go To Die,” read the graffiti at DAAP when my wife arrived for her first day of grad school. It was an attitude I’ve seen echoed many times since. It’s almost like there is an inferiority complex about the city amongst segments of its population.

It’s pretty much bullshit too. No, Cincy is not as vibrant and lively as my old home, New Orleans, was. It’s no NYC or San Francisco either. But why would you want to be just like someplace else anyway?

The Queen City has a lot going for it – history, a hammerlock on consumer marketing, magnificent art deco architecture, and a revitalizing OTR that becomes more of an asset every day. If Cincy were total crap I would not have moved my family and my business here.

Of course like everyplace it also has its downsides. News outlets that are politically polarized to the point of near uselessness is a big one. The apathy that I frequently encounter is another. All that means is that we, collectively, have to get off our asses and make it better. Participation is required if we are to take pride in our community.

Earlier today I stumbled across a video of my friend Kevin Dugan speaking at Ignite Cincy. It addresses another aspect of this topic and is well worth your time.  Afterwards let us know your thoughts in the comments, I’d really ike to get a discussion about this going.

One last thing. One or two people seem to have a problem with the fact that New Orleans is my main point of reference. Tough.

You would, I hope, encourage Queen City natives who move away to show pride in Cincy while in their new state. Well, after 17 generations of family there NOLA is my home no matter where I live.That’s not even touching on events of he past five years down there.

I think the fact that I own a home here, own a business here, and write this blog should show that I consider Cincinnati my home as well. Unlike the other voices presented here I am a relative newcomer. The NOLA references also help me make sure I represent myself honestly. Comprendez vous?

-Loki, Founder and Curator

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A Very Geeky Xmas To All!

Dec 22, 2010 by Loki

Since this is my second winter here in the land of snow I’ve decided to bring a tradition from back home into play. Namely trotting out the most truly a tradition of  demented holiday videos. Since most of our team are die hard Dr. Who fans an obvious theme suggests itself….

Lets start with The Go Gos, not THOSE Go Gos but the original ones from the 1960s.

Then we have the current cast of the show regaling us with a christmas carol (I suspect a bit of eggnog was involved with this one):

As things get uglier how could we possibly skip the Dalek Christmas Album:

Lastly here is the trailer for this year’s Dr. Who Christmas Special, which will be simulcast in the US for the first time ever on BBC America at 9pm Xmas night. Looks like Stephen Moffat is getting old school for this one.

So there you go. From all of us on the CincyVoices team to all of you I’d like to extend our best holiday wishes! No matter which mid-winter celebration you embrace we wish you the best one possible!

Happy Chauna-Rama-Kwanza-Solsti-Mas!

-Loki, Founder, Curator, and Major Geek

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Happy Invasion Day or Reconsidering Columbus Day

Oct 11, 2010 by Loki

Today is Columbus Day (observed), the day we honor the explorer who discovered America back in 1492. The question is how much of that commonly accepted history is factual and how much honor should we actually bestow on Columbus? By the time one gets out of high school the name Leif Erikson is known for getting here first (by about 500 years), and that is only the beginning.

Let us start with this message from Reconsider Columbus Day.

You see, I’ve had good fortune in my life. I’ve had access and encouragement in delving into the darker side of history, something I always find fascinating. I’ve also had a number of Native American friends over the years. Socialization and information have changed my perspective a lot as time has gone by. The message above is one I view as important. To help substantiate that position and provide food for thought I’d like to share the following short videos.

First is a Cherokee industrial band called Corporate Avenger. Like the Dead Kennedys they refuse to pull any punches, getting their message across in no uncertain terms. This excerpt from the band’s wikipedia entry should help communicate their views:

Spike and Adawee have stated in the past that they do not attempt to speak for all Native American people and only speak for themselves, but the band uses their music to reveal their truth about America’s past. Songs like ’20 Dollar Bill’ and ‘Christians Murdered Indians’ provide historical analysis about what was done to the Native Americans at the hands of both early English settlers and Spanish Christian invaders.

Be warned there are a few F-Bombs in this so it is definitely Not Safe For Work (NSFW). As you listen to the lyrics and spoken word portions make sure to read the parade of substantiating facts that parade through the video.

If you pay attention to history there is no doubt that the native population of our continent has suffered gravely in the wake of Columbus. A legacy that not only reflects poorly on us as a nation, and our values, but also one that sadly continues into the present day.

If you have doubt of this I ask you to read up on the Trail of Tears. Here is another Corporate Avenger tune talking about just that, it’s called $20 Bill. The reference is to the fact that Andrew Jackson is on the twenty, the man associated with not only forcing many tribes from their lands but also with the distribution of smallpox infested blankets during their exodus. The chorus is “If Hitler was on the twenty dollar bill, how would the Jews feel?”

Then there is Blackfire. A Dine, or as we call them Navajo, power trio. I have the great honor to cal these three friends. We met shortly after my wife and I started living together when she told me she had some friends coming in town who needed crash space. At the time I was producing shows so having bands crash at the house was not uncommon in those days.

That is how I met Klee, Klayson, and Janeeda Benally. I have rarely had the good fortune to cross paths with such good people. Integrity, passion, a thirst for justice, and enough musical talent to knock your socks off.  Their passion for preserving their tribe’s dying language bridges into their music, and I must say that Dine chants and loud, crunchy guitar work go together brilliantly!

The last video is one of their more recent ones- (Silence) is a Weapon.

Soak this stuff in. This is a view of America that is authentic and all to often swept under the rug.

Since 1971 we have celebrates Christopher Columbus on this day. Yet “Columbus’s claim to fame isn’t that he got there first,” explains historian Martin Dugard, “it’s that he stayed.” Take a good think about the legacy that he left and you might just reconsider Columbus Day.

[This article is crossposted on HumidCity.com]

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The Sound of Science

Oct 8, 2010 by Loki

A little something for you as we prepare to roll into the weekend. Enjoy!

Absolutely lovely! Hat tip to the lovely and talented LS who shared this with me!

-Loki, Founder and Publisher

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The Chicken Dance – Dr Who Style

Jun 24, 2010 by Loki

I’m a geek, pure and simple. I work online, I love science fiction, I’m a huge fan of technology and I watch Dr. Who.

Purely by chance this afternoon I stumbled across this extremely silly video and felt the undeniable urge to share it with all of my fellow geeks here in Cincinnati. The Doctor Who Chicken Dance.  It works on another level as well: the Doctor has a fine tradition of broadcast and fans here in the Queen City. Just check out this archived article from Cincinnati Magazine back in 1987- The Magnetic Dr.Who.

I know it ends with Happy Easter, oh well. It’s still a hugely amusing piece of work. So, without further ado, The Doctor Who Chicken Dance

This one goes out to Yottaquest Fantasy Gaming, The Southwestern Ohio Gathering of Gamers, CincyCon, Sci-Fi City, The Sci-FiCincinnati Book Club, and all of my other fellow geeks in the Queen City!

-Loki, Founder and Publisher

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