Stephen Dubner - WSU 6 APR @ 1930

Squee! Freakonomics tickles both the sociologist geek and economics geek sides of my brain, so you KNOW I'm going to be there!

"An Evening with Stephen Dubner"
April 6, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Free & Open to the Public
No Tickets Required

Award-winning author, journalist, and TV personality Stephen Dubner is the co-author of the international bestseller Freakonomics. Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Dubner shows how economics is, at root, the study of how people get what they want, especially when other people want the same thing.

Asian Culture Night 2009 - 11 April 2009

Asian Culture Night 2009 @ Wright State University

A night of cultural explorASIAN through the performing arts... Special Feature: Beautiful Korea!
April 11, Saturday, 7:00 pm at the Apollo Room, Student Union, Wright State university



Admission Fee: $10 Adults and $8 Children (ages 5-12)
Tickets are on sale now and available at the Asian/Hispanic/Native American Center (154 Millett Hall) or the Student Union Box Office.

Be an April Fool for Locks of Love

The last time I had my hair grown out - and then cut it short - I donated it to Locks of Love. They're a great organization doing good work. If you've been considering chopping it off, this is a wonderful way to do it. You can donate hair anytime, but why not do it as part of an event?

April 1 • Be an April Fool for Locks of Love
Kettering Tower, 40 N. Main St.; 12-7 p.m.

Locks of Love will be hosting a charity hair cutting event in the former Rutledge Gallery space. Hair stylists will be on location to cut your hair, and all donated hair will be used to provide hairpieces to children under 18 who suffer from medical hair loss. Hair must be at least ten inches long to donate. Free. 443-0900.

Please excuse me, I'm a geek.

Which is why I think the fact that Dayton has a Science Fiction/Fantasy organization is pretty fracking cool. And this graphic from their website? Yeah, a dragon would totally win versus Discovery One. Totally.

Seriously, though, what surprised me was that I hadn't heard of them until last weekend. And they've got a page to other clubs that might interest you, like Syzygy.

Geektastic!

Building for the future...

I was surprised by a BizBites mailing:

Dayton: #1 in America for New & Expanded Facilities
Site Selection magazine has ranked Dayton as the top mid-size metropolitan area for new and expanded corporate facilities in 2008.
Dayton area corporations launched 41 new projects or expansions last year, making Dayton first among regions with populations of 200,000 to one million.

It's a bit more than that, though. In a sidebar, SiteSelection enthuses:

Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland weren't the only cities contributing to Ohio's "three-peat" in the Governor's Cup for 2008. While each of the Buckeye State's "Big Three" ranked in the top 10 among all large metropolitan areas in the U.S., several smaller Ohio communities proved their mettle as well.
Led by first-time winner Dayton, the state of Ohio placed four cities in the top 10 among all metro areas with populations between 200,000 and 1 million.
According to the Conway Data New Plant Database, the corporate facility tracking service of Site Selection, Dayton ranked No. 1 among all second-tier metros with 41 projects in 2008. Akron and Toledo assured a historic sweep of the medals by capturing silver and bronze, respectively. Akron tallied 39 deals, while Toledo secured 38. Youngstown tied for seventh with 24 projects last year.

"As a location for doing business, the Dayton area makes perfect sense," says Andy Blanchard, founder and CEO of RevWires LLC, a startup that is building a $5-million, 90,000-sq.-ft. (8,361-sq.-m.) factory in Troy. "The state has been more than generous in terms of an incentive package courting me to build a business in the Dayton area. That was important to me as a startup. They gave me access to loans and other funding."

And this actually makes sense. We're actually in a wonderful position.

This sounds stupid, I know. So here's the basic rationale: We are no longer tied to a specific industry. We have multiple colleges and institutions of higher learning in the area. We're still viable as a mid-range transportation hub. And there's still lots of people here who want these jobs.

It's not a guarantee, by any means. There's lots of ways that we can screw ourselves out of the rebound out of the recession.

But the opportunity is there - and we need to have the vision and optimism to seize it.

“Singin’ in the Rain” to Make a Splash on Stage - 24 & 25 April

[Steve's note: Obviously, from a press release. As a homeschooling family ourselves (again, thankfully, though we're not associated with this group), give some thought to coming out and supporting these kids.]

This spring, the musical classic, Singin’ in the Rain, will hit the stage like a storm, showering the audience with terrific tunes and dynamic dancing on April 24th & 25th and May 1st & 2nd at 7 PM nightly at the Randy Chisholm Memorial Auditorium, at the South end of the South Smithville Centre (formerly Belmont Elementary School), 2745 S. Smithville Road, Dayton Ohio 45420. Performed by the Stage LeFters Homeschool Drama Group, and directed by Mrs. Debbie Johnson, this production is a live stage version of one of the most celebrated and beloved movies of all time. A light-hearted musical comedy set in Hollywood in the 1920s, this recollection of the early days of “the talkies” features some of the best loved comedy routines, dance numbers, and songs ever written. A succession of memorable tunes includes Good Morning, Make ‘em Laugh, Moses Supposes, You are my Lucky Star, You Were Meant for Me, as well
as the title number, Singin’ in the Rain. Hilarious situations and snappy dialogue make this show a must-see for the whole family! Tickets are $8 at the door, $5 per student, or may be purchased in advance by calling Debbie at 256-9956. Children under 5 are FREE. A family pass (same household) is $30.

This delightful spring musical will delight all ages when the spotlight is thrust on Hollywood in its heyday -- dashing leading men, glamorous starlets, and plenty of romance. The setting is 1927, and Monumental Pictures’ actors Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are the greatest silent-film stars of their generation -- all the fans flock to see their films and read about their budding romance in the fan magazines. The truth behind the glamorous “Lockwood and Lamont” façade, however, is a burnt-out actor and an oblivious actress with a squeaky voice. Their world is turned upside down, and their fame threatened, when the talkies, or movies that record sound, take over Hollywood. The grand and gentile persona of Lockwood and Lamont is endangered when Lina speaks on screen and reveals her true and rather unappealing nature. Enter Kathy, an up-and-coming actress who has caught Monumental Pictures’--and Don Lockwood’s -- eye. She has a
beautiful voice and secretly dubs over Lina’s voice for the final cut of the first Lockwood and Lamont Talkie. When Lina finds out that Kathy has not only been dubbing her voice, but also winning Don’s affections, she uses all her power as a big star to ruin Kathy’s career. Will Monumental Pictures stand up to Lina’s fury or will the pressure to produce “what the public wants” crush the love between Don and Kathy? Will “Hurricane Lina” wash away the love between Don and Kathy, or can they toss off their umbrellas and go Singin’ in the Rain?

Singin’ in the Rain is the latest of several quality family productions performed by the Stage LeFters Homeschool Drama Group over the past 7 years, including the 2008 performance of The Music Man, which was enjoyed by a total audience of over 500. This Christian drama group is composed of over 50 elementary and high school students from throughout the Miami Valley, all of whom are home educated. . All dance numbers are originally choreographed and the musical numbers will be accompanied by a live orchestra. Concessions will be available during intermission on a donation basis.

Dayton Underwater - FREE 24 March @ 2pm

March 24 • Dayton Underwater: The Great Flood of 1913
Showing at Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St. at 2 p.m.
One of the most photographed disasters of all time occurred right under our feet, and we vowed never to let it happen again. Nancy Horlacher, Local History Specialist, will share vintage images from the library's historic photo collections during each program. Free Individual Reservations are NOT required. Groups of 5 or more must register in advance. 463-2665.

A sneak peek at Spinoza's, 22 March

Enjoy trying new restaurants? Like meeting new people? Then Culture Works E.A.T.S. – Endowing Arts through Sustenance – is right for you. A new program, Culture Works E.A.T.S. is dedicated to supporting great local, independent restaurants by having fun and eating great food.

This month's is SUNDAY, so I don't know if reservations are still available. Future events are listed here, and include Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar on 18 April, and Carver's on 8 May.

Lincoln-Obama Essay Contest - DUE 20 MARCH - PRIZES!

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT LINCOLN-OBAMA ESSAYS - MARCH 20

CASH AWARDS for grade level winners

$100-college; $50, grades 7-9 and10-12; $25, grades 4-6 and K-3

THEME: "The Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas: From Slavery to the
Presidency-What a Journey!

ELIGIBILITY: All students from kindergarten through undergraduate college


TOPICS

Grades 7-Undergraduate College


"Lincoln Salutes Obama" is a popular cartoon. Obama took the oath of office on the same Bible Lincoln used when he took the oath. Think about those facts and about the theme and the cartoon. Wite an essay on a relevant topic as suggested below.

- Freeing our country from slavery or the racism that had barred blacks from the Presidency
- Moving forward after ending slavery or after the election of President Obama
- A related topic of their own choice

Grades K-6

Imagine you are sitting at the desk where President Lincoln sat, in a White House built by slave labor but now the home of President Barack Obama, our first black president. Write an essay explaining how you would fee.

CRITERIA 7-College K-6

Content/Knowledge of the Presidents 70 30
Originality/Creativity 10 50
Organization and Paragraph Development 10 10
Grammar/Usage/Neatness 10 10

SUBMISSION
Include your name, grade, school/organization.
Send to mpeters0312@sbcglobal.net or 1312 Princeton Drive, Dayton OH 45406.

Questions - mpeters0312@sbcglobal.net or 274-8362

MVRPC Meeting - 7 April 2009

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) is a voluntary association of numerous local governments and non-governmental organizations surrounding Dayton, Ohio. These organizations use MVRPC as a forum and resource where regional partners identify priorities, develop public policy and implement collaborative strategies to improve the quality of life and economic vitality throughout the Miami Valley.

I mention them because their next meeting is the 7th of April. If you're able, and interested in the community's welfare, it might be a good idea to make your way there.

Live Painting and Music at Blind Bob's 19 March FREE

March 19 • Live Painting and Music at Blind Bob's
Blind Bob's, 430 E. Fifth St.; 8 p.m.

Artist and Color of Energy gallery owner Mike Elsass and a cadre of his artist friends will wield their paintbrushes to live music by The Rubbles for a unique audience experience. Free. 938-6405.

White guys writing about minorities

Since the LJ "RACEFAIL2009" has managed to catch two authors I follow, I figured why not throw my eminently reasonable perspective out there. So here goes:

Writers must try to write characters from other races, just like they should write characters of other genders. Otherwise, for example, everything I wrote would have a mid-thirties angsty white guy as the protagonist instead of most things I write.

Yes, writers will get it "wrong" sometimes - or even most of the time. (Example? See all of RAH's female characters. Then again, I have met one woman who actually comes close, but she's the exception.) That doesn't mean that we shouldn't try.

Books - and especially fiction - let me get inside someone else's head. My understanding of the issues facing people of color, women, or homosexuals (to name a few) is not the same as their lived experience. But when I write it - which I have - I try my damnest to not only come close and make it accessible to people who do not have that lived experience. Every bit that helps me understand another person with their own unique experience, every bit that helps me exercise that empathic muscle in my brain, whether reading it or writing it, that's a good thing.

This isn't carte blanche. I cannot glibly write about others without doing my best to understand where that character is coming from. Good writers - regardless of genre - are doing that anyway.

My responsibility as a writer is to admit mistakes, keep learning, and fix problems when I can. I have a scene I'm going to have to totally replot and rewrite because I've learned more about the problems transgendered people face and how the threat of rape affects many women.
And I'm glad for it.

If, at the end, my characters can allow someone to empathize a little bit more, to understand the other a little bit more, then I have succeeded.

[Edited: And here's where it becomes obvious that I write stuff ahead of time - John Scalzi's invited Mary Anne Mohanraj to write two lovely posts (part 1, part 2) that say a lot of the things I said above, but say them better, shinier, and with more better grammar. Give her posts (again, part 1, part 2) a looksee - they're well worth the time.]

The Arcade is in new hands...

The historic downtown Arcade was purchased by Gunther Berg and Wendell Strutz of Plymouth, Wis., for the minimum bid, $615.106.02, at auction this morning, March 12.

The two men have formed Dayton Arcade LLC for the purchase and plan to restore the complex to its former glory within three years.

"(Berg) believes in restoration, not renovation," Strutz said. "The way it was is the way he wants to bring it back."

That said, the duo's plan for the Arcade would be a mixed use — housing, office, commercial — as it once was, Strutz said.

As a non-native, I've been stunned that such a gorgeous building has suffered as much as this one. I'm glad that the new owners wanted it enough to go through the 11th hour effort that they did to make sure they got the property - there's more about that and who they are in the DDN. And, in a healthy helping of schadenfreude pie, let's put these two sentences from the story a little closer together:

The historic downtown Arcade was purchased by Gunther Berg and Wendell Strutz of Plymouth, Wis., for the minimum bid, $615.106.02, at auction this morning, March 12. Berg and Strutz were high bidders on eBay at $700,000. Staub said he turned down the offer hoping to glean about $3 million from the sale for his charity.

Myth, Object, and Animal - FREE 19 March

March 19 • Free Admission to William Morris: Myth, Object and the Animal

In the early 1980s, prior to establishing his own practice, William Morris served as Dale Chihuly’s chief "gaffer," or master glass blower. Morris’ mastery of glass is celebrated in Myth, Object and the Animal. The exhibition, which shares compelling works dating from 1993 to the present, attests to the artist’s technical prowess and success in using glass as a medium of expression. It runs through May 31, but you can see it for free on March 19!

Art Quilts - Through 26 March

Jeana Eve Klein: Art Quilts, Thru March 26 at the Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC). These large scale art quilts and intimate embroideries are part of the 16th Annual REACH Across Dayton project, a collaboration with Sinclair Community College that explores commonalities between Dayton's ethnic and culural populations. Call (937) 224-3822 for times and cost, or email them.

DaytonCREATE 1st Anniversary - TONIGHT 5pm

On Monday, March 9th the public is invited to join us at C}Space at 20 N. Jefferson (between 3rd & 2nd on the east side of the street) at 5:00 pm. Dayton's own "Sleepybird" will be playing.

If you've wondered about This is Dayton or any of the DaytonCREATE initiatives, this is a great time to come find out more - or to sign up and get involved! Bring a friend!

There is parking on the street or behind the building.