This is a photo of how Google collected some images for Google Maps Street View in Paris.  Kind of an interesting mix of high and low tech.

Saw this on CNN.com. There's nothing cuter than a little kid on a snowboard.  I was told by my snowboard instructor this past winter that they usually don't start kids this early on snowboards because their heads are too big in relation to their bodies.  It makes it harder for them to keep balance.  But, this girl doesn't have any problems with that.  She looks more comfortable on a snowboard than I've ever been!

I hope someone doesn't spend too much time trying to find Cinergy Field.  I guess that there must be some city department that handles this type of thing.

CNNMoney.com: Satirists cash in on oil spill

Sad, but funny.

Cincinnati.com: Another Shepard Fairey mural painted over

This is a case of vandalism as the owner was not involved in the painting over.  This is really embarrassing to Cincinnati as it reinforces the perception or the reality that we're not very accepting of new ideas.

UPDATE: Here's a picture of what the mural looked like before it was vandalized.

Virgil's Cafe on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives tonight at 10PM Food Network.

I have a guess about what might be on DDD tonight:
I was at Virgil's Cafe in Bellevue last Sunday for brunch and tried the DDD Breakfast sausage napoleon.  It was delicious!
I noticed that since the last time I was there, the art on the walls had changed and the creepy clown painting was gone.
It was replaced with some smaller prints that I couldn't quite make out from where I was sitting.  Not really an improvement on the clown.   
Cincinnati.com: Listings For All 7 Area "Diners" Shows Starting Tonight

NYTimes.com: For One Promising Pitcher, No Need to Tour the Minors

Nice article on Reds' rookie phenom Mike Leake.  In the short time Leake's been with the Reds, he's become one of my favorite pitchers to watch.  Leake doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he's got great control, mixes speeds, and challenges hitters.  It's just fun to watch.

Cincinnati.com: Shepard Fairey mural painted over after objections

This is over in Covington, KY, 242 W. Pike St., in the middle of the Covington Arts District.

From this:
to this:
From the article:

Michael A. Claypool, who owns the building and the business, said Thursday about the mural, "We had no clue what they were going to put up. When it went up, we were the first to think it was offensive."

My reaction:
Know what you're getting into when you volunteer your building for artwork.  My first reaction was that Shepard Fairey probably should have chosen a more appropriate image if he knew that there was a school nearby.  But, thinking about this more, is the image really offensive?  Isn't art supposed to provoke some kind of thought or discussion.  Like, why is this Southeast Asian child carrying a gun?  Painting over things won't make issues in the world go a way.

UPDATE:  Here's more information about the image, Duality of Humanity 4.

Pro Series Tetherball.  For kids that want to grow up and play professional tetherball.

NYTimes.com: Bristol Palin to Hit Speakers' Circuit

Bristol Palin is hitting the speakers' circuit and will command between $15,000 and $30,000 for each appearance, Palin family attorney Thomas Van Flein said Monday
...
Bristol Palin, 19, is listed on the speaking group's website as available for conferences, fundraisers, special events and holidays, as well as women's, youth, abstinence and ''pro-life'' programs.

If there's anything the Palin's know how to do, it's cashing in.  Now you can have Bristol over the holidays speaking about how abstinence teen pregnancy pays!

USAToday.com: Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950

Federal, state and local taxes -- including income, property, sales and other taxes -- consumed 9.2% of all personal income in 2009, the lowest rate since 1950, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. That rate is far below the historic average of 12% for the last half-century. The overall tax burden hit bottom in December at 8.8.% of income before rising slightly in the first three months of 2010.

No one wants to pay taxes, but if you listen to the conservative rhetoric, you'd think that we're being taxed at the highest rate ever.  But it's not so.

Newsweek.com: Why I Hate 3-D (and You Should Too)

3-D is a waste of a perfectly good dimension. Hollywood's current crazy stampede toward it is suicidal. It adds nothing essential to the moviegoing experience. For some, it is an annoying distraction. For others, it creates nausea and headaches. It is driven largely to sell expensive projection equipment and add a $5 to $7.50 surcharge on already expensive movie tickets. Its image is noticeably darker than standard 2-D. It is unsuitable for grown-up films of any seriousness. It limits the freedom of directors to make films as they choose. For moviegoers in the PG-13 and R ranges, it only rarely provides an experience worth paying a premium for.

I agree with everything Roger Ebert has to say about 3-D films.  I love technology and its use in films is good if it can advance a story and bring a meaningful new experience.  I think in the right hands, like James Cameron with Avatar it can be beautiful, but with others it is just another noisy visual special effect.

It's always fun to see an actor of one of your favorite shows do something different.  Here, it's Zachary Levi from NBC's spy dramedy Chuck singing a duet with former American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee.   

Chuck is finishing its third season, but I only started watching it in January on Blu-Rays.  The show is the perfect blend of action, comedy, and romance.  50 episodes later, I'm finally caught up with only four shows remaining this season.  Chuck is borderline for renewal, but I'm hopeful for a 4th season.

I saw this advertisement on a bus shelter on Liberty St.
That breast milk must be some pretty good stuff, because I don't think I've ever looked this satisfied.

This ad is being run by the Ohio Department of Health.  According to an article in Cleveland.com, only three states -- Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana -- have lower breastfeeding rates than Ohio

ClevelandLeader.com: Ohio Billboard Promotes Breastfeeding, Offends Some

NYTimes.com: The Post-Hispanic Hispanic Politician

Mark McKinnon is prepared to be more explicit about the long-term stakes. An early member of George W. Bush's inner circle in Austin, he knows Texas political talent when he sees it. "Julián Castro has a very good chance of becoming the first Hispanic president of the United States," he says flatly.

Time.com: Top 10 Taserings

It's like America's Funniest Home Videos.  It's not really right, but people laugh at taserings because you know the person isn't seriously hurt.

Cincinnati.com: Latest casino sketch released

It's interesting that we're embracing a casino downtown while the businesses in Columbus's Arena District are trying to push out their casino to the suburbs with today's Issue 2 vote.

VillageVoice.com: Shepard Fairey's May Day Opening at Deitch Projects

Slideshow of the opening of Shepard Fairey's Mad Day show.  Lots of images of Shepard Fairey's canvas pieces.  I heard that canvas pieces were going in excess of $45,000.

More photos from Obey Clothing.

NYTimes.com: Shanghai Is Trying to Untangle the Mangled English of Chinglish

An amusing article.  Don't miss the slideshow. 

Engrish.com for more.