Social Media Gone Awry

Social media is the new black, right? It's perfect for every occasion. Kid graduating from college? Facebook it. See something amusing on the street? Twitter it. Going out to dinner? Use FourSquare to post your location to Facebook and Twitter at the same time.

But we've all seen examples of too much social media. Sometimes, it's just that a "friend" puts more on Facebook than you want to know. Other times, social media is used to spread news that probably should be relegated to more traditional fora. (For instance, I recently learned of a law school classmate's unexpected death via Facebook.)

Now comes word that the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections is considering tweeting the completion of executions. That strikes me as being in remarkably bad taste. But perhaps I'm just old-fashioned. What do you think?

(Hat-tip: SL&P Blog)

Reminder: Tweetup for Tarbell Tonight at Neon's!

Just a reminder to everyone that the Tweetup for Tarbell takes place tonight at Neon's Unplugged (208 E. 12th Street) from 5:30PM to 9:00PM.

Come out and support Jim Tarbell's campaign. This isn't a fund-raiser, just an opportunity to meet Jim and learn about his effort to become the next Hamilton County Commissioner.

If you are lucking you might get to wear his top hat too.

Someone Get Chris Monzel a Map

Geography must not be a requirement for Hamilton County Commission, but it should be. Chris, the City does not extended into Kentucky, so efforts to prop up the Airport there are limited at best. Also, the City does not extend over all of the county, therefore you should be addressing your comments to us, not your prospective primary voters out in Blue Ash. Most importantly, during his ranting speech at Monday's Finance Committee Meeting, Council Member Chris Monzel referenced West Chester and Mason in his attack on Streetcars.

Yes, Chris tried to use these Exurban communities to make a point about Cincinnati in regards to why he's against the Streetcar plan.

The "Son of the Suburbs" should just start packing and move to West Chester or Mason if he loves those types of communities.

Before he packs up the U-Haul, someone needs to get Chris a map. Better yet, let's just put out a call. Would everyone in West Chester and Mason, please be sure to vote for Chris on May 4th! We need a voting scandal! Just to make sure. Just so Chris knows and to help keep him from personally driving up the cost of gas. Chris, West Chester and Mason aren't in Hamilton County. The Republicans there can't vote for you. Sure you can get their money, and don't worry, people will be checking to see how much out of City and County money you got for your campaign.

Seriously, Monzel's rant for right-wing votes during Monday's meeting was laughable. He shows all he cares about is getting the short term votes of people who are against the development in and often against the existence of the City. He is not helping lead the city, he is standing in its way.

Chris Monzel needs to move out of the way. He needs to move away from the City he cares nothing about. He has never come up with an significant plan, proposal, or idea that would improve the lives of people of this City. His current crusade to get elected to a higher office is more than prima facie evidence that he is actively working to impede development of the City. He would rather sink money into projects outside the City and outside the State of Ohio. We don't need a guy on County Commission and certainly not Council who is not working for the best interests of its citizens. He's working for the interests of his donors and the special interest extremists supporting his crusade to kill the City.

The good news is that six members of the Finance Committee disagreed with Monzel, and his sidekick Leslie Ghiz, who shared his vote, but lucky for her, didn't rant on about the suburbs. I guess she's not moving out of town, yet.

For more of the good news on Council's action check out: UrbanCincy, CityBeat, and the Enquirer.

Support the Streetcar at City Council

Show your support for the Streetcar in Cincinnati! Please attend the City Council Committee meeting on Monday afternoon at 1PM. Please get there 15 minuets before to sign up to speak. If you don't want to speak, just your presence will help get the message to council that the City needs to go forward on the Streetcar.

For more details check out the Cincy Streetcar Blog.

Awesome Food, Drinks at Thai One On At Mayberry

Just a quick post to note that Chef Josh Campbell of Mayberry did it again this past Wednesday night, putting together a terrific dinner of Thai food.

My friend and I sat with Julie and Terry. Julie will have pictures and a more thorough review up sometime soon, no doubt. Through the meal, Julie would say intelligent things like, "The herbaceous quality of the dish gives it a subtlety that's exquisite." I, on the other hand, would occasionally take a break from shoveling forkful after forkful of delicious food into my mouth, gasp for air, and grunt, "Food good. Me like."

By now, everyone knows that I love Josh and Mayberry. The guy can just flat out cook. But Wednesday night was my first encounter with Molly Wellmann, and that deserves a few words.

She'd prepared four drinks for the Thai-themed dinner. The one I chose--perhaps the least adventurous option--was a Thai iced tea. It was prepared with Thai tea, coconut milk, and Kraken rum. (I managed to avoid saying it during dinner, but I'll say it now: Release the Kraken!) It was a terrific drink, with just the right balance of liquor. I'd not had Kraken rum before, and it was an excellent choice for the iced tea.

Julie and Terry already knew Molly, so she came over near the end of the meal to chat. Molly was not at all what I'd expected. Having heard about (but not having met) Molly and knowing how "in" she is right now, I'd imagined her as one of those people who is so cool or hip as to be aloof. Nothing could be further from the truth. She was warm, engaging, and disarmingly charming. And I found out what the difference between a "bartender" and a "mixologist" is. It's not simply that a mixologist makes awesome drinks (although Molly certainly does!). It's the depth of the mixologist's knowledge of her craft. At one point, Terry asked Molly about absinthe. Molly took off on an extended riff about the history of liquor, distillation, and wormwood. Molly speaks about drink-mixing with the knowledge and passion that I can only hope I display when I talk about the law.

I've got to catch up with Molly when she's tending bar some day to try her Manhattan. Or anything else she'd care to mix up, for that matter.

All in all, an extremely successful event for Mayberry. If you're not following the World Food Bar on Facebook (and thus learning about their planned special evenings), you're a fool.

Welcome Home Christian Moerlein

Beer drinkers, OTR supporters, Cincinnati fans, today is huge! The Cincinnati Business Courier reports that Christian Moerlein Brewing Company will start making beer in Over-the-Rhine within a year.

Hannity Rains on "Tea Party"

Schadenfreude is not just a word it is a reality.

I'm not sure what to make of FOX News, however. I doubt they were pissed that Hannity was violating every rule of Journalism by appearing at the Cincinnati "Tea Party" event. I think they were more pissed that FOX News wasn't getting a cut of the gate. No money, no Hannity. No midwestern crack-posts are going to be Hannity's pimp. FOX News is the pimp for all of the Right-Wing media whores, and don't you forget it, Cincinnati!