TitosBuritoBarn wrote:Here's a couple I've picked up lately:
*The Big Bang Theory character Penny, who lives across the hall from the two main characters, is said to be from Nebraska. In a recent episode when someone hacked Sheldon's World of Warcraft account, they all went to confront the guy and Penny proclaimed she would show the thief "how we do things in Nebraska" and kicked him in the balls.
*The instruction manual for SimCity 4 Deluxe suggests building sea ports to increase industry but qualifies that you could skip them if your city is located in Nebraska.
*A recent episode of Criminal Minds had the team traveling to Omaha to track down a troublesome kid who was taken to "North Omaha Medical Center" as a part of the former age limit-less Safe Haven program but then tried to escape back to his home in Newton, IA by hitchhiking and killing his drivers.
Good catches. According to wiki, Penny is actually from Omaha.
New Need For Speed game, The Run comes out later this year and involves driving across the country from San Francisco to New York. Little information is known about it so far, but if you pause the trailer below at about 0:59, it looks as though the route passes through the panhandle of Nebraska and then skirts the northern edge to Sioux City.
Holy |expletive|. For that "Bull Run" event, did they pay to bring in all the trashy East Coasters from Albany. Or was it sponsored by Republic of Couture? Jersey Shore?
What a trash fest.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
StreetsOfOmaha wrote:Holy |expletive|. For that "Bull Run" event, did they pay to bring in all the trashy East Coasters from Albany. Or was it sponsored by Republic of Couture? Jersey Shore?
What a trash fest.
Yes, but I forgive them for the extremely awesome cars they bring with them.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Omaha soon to be featured in new food show on Sundance Channel.
Named one of the 50 greatest chefs by Relais & Chateaux, Chef Ludo is in Omaha and working on his new show 'Ludo Bites America' on the Sundance Channel. Stopping by places like Big Mama's Kitchen, Ted and Wally’s, Johnny’s Café, Hot Shops, and tomorrow (May 18, 2011) he will be at the Institute for the Culinary Arts to visit with some students.
Apparently one of the National News Networks did a live remote form the North UP yard in Council Bluffs this morning talking about one of UP's new environmentally friendly locomotives.
Ad Week wrote:In Omaha, Neb. Pepsi has been quietly testing a program touting the freshness of Diet Pepsi. Both Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke are sweetened with NutraSweet, an ingredient which tends to lose its sweetness in liquids after four months or so, changing the taste of the finished product. In Omaha, Pepsi has revamped the typically cryptic codes found on its diet colas so that they are readable to consumers. Then the line "For best taste, drink by date on bottom of can" has been added to packaging.
Pepsi has even gone so far as to produce a television spot, from BBDO, to support the effort, as well as radio and point-of-purchase materials. A Pepsi spokesman confirmed the Omaha test and noted that in about four other markets codes have been similarly changed. But only in Omaha "have we taken it one step further to consumers," he said.
I'm always torn when I see national media paying attention to the good things about Omaha. On one hand I'd love to brag about what a great place this is; yet on the other I don't want to attract any of the elements that would make it less of a great place.
I grew up in the Omaha area, but spent a decade away serving in the military. After living in cities around the world, I can tell you we have a wonderful gem of a city here. There's nowhere I'd rather reside.
What kind of elements would make it worse, if you don't mind my asking? As far as I'm concerned as long as we don't attract a bunch of "family values" types, Jersey Shore types of serial killers, pretty much any population influx is welcome. I am new to this board as well. I want a heavily cosmopolitan Omaha with a broad diversity of people, neighborhoods, etc.
Professor Woland wrote:What kind of elements would make it worse, if you don't mind my asking? As far as I'm concerned as long as we don't attract a bunch of "family values" types, Jersey Shore types of serial killers, pretty much any population influx is welcome. I am new to this board as well. I want a heavily cosmopolitan Omaha with a broad diversity of people, neighborhoods, etc.
I don't know what kind of elements those would be - I just love the way the city is. Change is inevitable, I know that. Nothing ever really stays the same. I do find it curious that you lump "family values" types - whatever that means, in with serial killers. Omaha has always been a family-friendly town during my lifetime. Perhaps that's not what you mean...
Professor Woland wrote:What kind of elements would make it worse, if you don't mind my asking? As far as I'm concerned as long as we don't attract a bunch of "family values" types, Jersey Shore types of serial killers, pretty much any population influx is welcome. I am new to this board as well. I want a heavily cosmopolitan Omaha with a broad diversity of people, neighborhoods, etc.
Second, I agree infinity%. It seems all I ever see in Chamber of Commerce type promotions is about how Omaha is "great for families". Fine and dandy but is it a place for someone who doesn't want to be married by 22 and start plopping out kids while voting hardline GOP? I just described my brother and tons of other people I know that live here yet this does not reflect my reality or what tons of other people want in a city. Attracting a bunch of mindless breeders does nothing to boost our cities standing amongst creative people. In fact it pushes them away from Omaha.
Professor Woland wrote:What kind of elements would make it worse, if you don't mind my asking? As far as I'm concerned as long as we don't attract a bunch of "family values" types, Jersey Shore types of serial killers, pretty much any population influx is welcome. I am new to this board as well. I want a heavily cosmopolitan Omaha with a broad diversity of people, neighborhoods, etc.
Second, I agree infinity%. It seems all I ever see in Chamber of Commerce type promotions is about how Omaha is "great for families". Fine and dandy but is it a place for someone who doesn't want to be married by 22 and start plopping out kids while voting hardline GOP? I just described my brother and tons of other people I know that live here yet this does not reflect my reality or what tons of other people want in a city. Attracting a bunch of mindless breeders does nothing to boost our cities standing amongst creative people. In fact it pushes them away from Omaha.
I'm not sure how this became political. I think we would disagree on how important it is to be in good standing among 'creative people.' This city has a great creative side, but midwestern, business-centric cities like Omaha want and need traditional families. I doubt very much that Omaha will ever be as desirable for 'creative people' as Greenwich Village or San Francisco - but those regions have staked their identities on being havens for artists. Omaha is neither of those places.
I also think you would be surprised at how many of the people who are participating in Omaha's creative scene are very much more aligned with your Chamber of Commerce image than you might imagine.
Professor Woland wrote:What kind of elements would make it worse, if you don't mind my asking? As far as I'm concerned as long as we don't attract a bunch of "family values" types, Jersey Shore types of serial killers, pretty much any population influx is welcome. I am new to this board as well. I want a heavily cosmopolitan Omaha with a broad diversity of people, neighborhoods, etc.
Second, I agree infinity%. It seems all I ever see in Chamber of Commerce type promotions is about how Omaha is "great for families". Fine and dandy but is it a place for someone who doesn't want to be married by 22 and start plopping out kids while voting hardline GOP? I just described my brother and tons of other people I know that live here yet this does not reflect my reality or what tons of other people want in a city. Attracting a bunch of mindless breeders does nothing to boost our cities standing amongst creative people. In fact it pushes them away from Omaha.
I'm not sure how this became political. I think we would disagree on how important it is to be in good standing among 'creative people.' This city has a great creative side, but midwestern, business-centric cities like Omaha want and need traditional families. I doubt very much that Omaha will ever be as desirable for 'creative people' as Greenwich Village or San Francisco - but those regions have staked their identities on being havens for artists. Omaha is neither of those places.
I also think you would be surprised at how many of the people who are participating in Omaha's creative scene are very much more aligned with your Chamber of Commerce image than you might imagine.
Everything is political. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. Quote me.
It's not just about drawing creative people. It's about drawing different kinds of people. Unless you're a married, working, Republican-voting white person, Omaha is not trying very hard (or at all) to attract you. Look at most of our big urban developments. They are priced to only attract one kind of person economically, which usually but not always, comes with certain political affiliations.
I understand that cities need all kinds of people. I'll use SF as an example. It was at the other extreme a few years ago where it's city was actually losing population because of the low birth rate of it's citizens. That's not only due to the large percentage of gay people but DINKs (Dual Income, No Kids). This is that coveted urban demographic that usually moves into areas in need of work and turning them around. As well as young singles who are not ready to settle down and procreate. I don't think Omaha has any problem attracting people that want to come to a bigger city to work and live out their days until dying as long as they can watch the Huskers. Omaha does not excel, even have a reputation at attracting or retaining creative people who incubate ideas and places making them better urban areas.
Everything is political. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. Quote me.
** I generally agree.
It's not just about drawing creative people. It's about drawing different kinds of people. Unless you're a married, working, Republican-voting white person, Omaha is not trying very hard (or at all) to attract you. Look at most of our big urban developments. They are priced to only attract one kind of person economically, which usually but not always, comes with certain political affiliations.
** I don't agree. The Omaha Summer Arts Festival, the Old Market, the Holland Center, Sokol, The North Downtown area - are all urban developments that cater to the creative community. Also, the entire east-of-72nd street part of town affiliates themselves with Democrats.
It's true that many of the recent big retail developments have been in other parts of town. This is partly because that's where the open land is. It's easier to convert farmland to a BestBuy than an urban area. Partly it's because the retailers think that's where they'll do the most business.
As for whom Omaha is trying to attract - I think it makes sense to be attracting working people who have the wherewithall to contribute to the tax base. I happen to know that Omaha businesses are recruiting hard in places you might not expect though, like India.
You'll call me naiive or a pollyanna, but I see people from all kinds of ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds moving in, around, and to Omaha. Sure, we're not Detroit, where whites are a shrinking minority, but I've never measured my city through the eyes of affirmative action. The business I work in ( a large employer ) is plenty diverse ethnically, religiously, and in other ways - and probably everyone working here lives within 50 miles.
I do think you show a bias against those who are married, working, white, Republican-voting people though. Why is that? Is it better to be unmarried, unworking, nonwhite, and other-then Republican? Of course not. Just different. Diversity, remember?
It's not that I oppose families, I think they are obviously a very important part of every city. It's just that "family friendly" is usually (but not always) a synonym for lame. Kids benefit a great deal from growing up in an environment where challenging ideas are present and they have contact with a diverse group of people. I think there is some great stuff going on here in this regard. I'm an atheist but I like the interfaith efforts here precisely because it does foster the sort of environment conducive to tolerance and diversity. I would love to see more LGBT people here even though I'm straight. Granted, part of the reason I am so fond of this city is that it has a distinct character, but I think that character can be maintained and enhanced by the addition of different types of people, but when the people who come are primarily the types who want to uphold some idealized "family values" culture it makes it less inviting to others. My opinions on matters are probably very different from many people's here on a number of things (I am an ancarchist of a certain stripe so I don't really cotton to urban planning.)
Professor Woland wrote:What kind of elements would make it worse, if you don't mind my asking? As far as I'm concerned as long as we don't attract a bunch of "family values" types, Jersey Shore types of serial killers, pretty much any population influx is welcome. I am new to this board as well. I want a heavily cosmopolitan Omaha with a broad diversity of people, neighborhoods, etc.
Second, I agree infinity%. It seems all I ever see in Chamber of Commerce type promotions is about how Omaha is "great for families". Fine and dandy but is it a place for someone who doesn't want to be married by 22 and start plopping out kids while voting hardline GOP? I just described my brother and tons of other people I know that live here yet this does not reflect my reality or what tons of other people want in a city. Attracting a bunch of mindless breeders does nothing to boost our cities standing amongst creative people. In fact it pushes them away from Omaha.
I'm not sure how this became political. I think we would disagree on how important it is to be in good standing among 'creative people.' This city has a great creative side, but midwestern, business-centric cities like Omaha want and need traditional families. I doubt very much that Omaha will ever be as desirable for 'creative people' as Greenwich Village or San Francisco - but those regions have staked their identities on being havens for artists. Omaha is neither of those places.
I also think you would be surprised at how many of the people who are participating in Omaha's creative scene are very much more aligned with your Chamber of Commerce image than you might imagine.
Everything is political. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. Quote me.
It's not just about drawing creative people. It's about drawing different kinds of people. Unless you're a married, working, Republican-voting white person, Omaha is not trying very hard (or at all) to attract you. Look at most of our big urban developments. They are priced to only attract one kind of person economically, which usually but not always, comes with certain political affiliations.
I understand that cities need all kinds of people. I'll use SF as an example. It was at the other extreme a few years ago where it's city was actually losing population because of the low birth rate of it's citizens. That's not only due to the large percentage of gay people but DINKs (Dual Income, No Kids). This is that coveted urban demographic that usually moves into areas in need of work and turning them around. As well as young singles who are not ready to settle down and procreate. I don't think Omaha has any problem attracting people that want to come to a bigger city to work and live out their days until dying as long as they can watch the Huskers. Omaha does not excel, even have a reputation at attracting or retaining creative people who incubate ideas and places making them better urban areas.
Wow. You're an angry one, aren't you? In your last few posts you have been dissing and bashing on everyone different than you - everyone you expect to respect you. "Mindless breeders"? Pretty intolerant.
My reasons for coming to Omaha had nothing to do with "creative environment", "family friendly", or "political affiliation" aspects of the city I suspect that those things are of very little importance to most people who move here. What draws people to Omaha is more apt to be job opportunities and the cost of living.
In other news, and maybe this has been posted, the current (I think it's current) Prudential Financial TV advertisement features a bunch of imagery of beautiful cities and landscapes, and in addition to NYC and Kansas City, there is what I am pretty sure is a quick shot of the Qwest Center (it's hard to mistake that big cantilevered overhang) with a bicyclist riding in front of it (I think).
If anyone can confirm this or find a video of the commercial, that would be awesome!
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
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