This is a story about how the Western Reserve Historical Society, a beloved Cleveland institution, dreamed too big, lived too large, failed to understand the politics of Cleveland City Hall and marched recklessly to the brink of ruin.

I just talked to UC athletic director Mike Thomas, who confirmed that Mick Cronin would return next season for his fifth season as head coach. “Coach Cronin is our coach now and he’ll be our coach next year,” Thomas said.  “I’m committed to seeing Cincinnati basketball be the best it can be. The university is behind coach Cronin and the team. “I’m an impatient person and I know the Bearcat Nation is impatient, but I think the needle is headed in the right direction.” After this season, Cronin ..   show all text

Columbus might join the growing list of cities that ban motorists from texting while driving. City Councilman Andy Ginther just announced a hearing next week on the issue. It will take place Tuesday at 5 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall. People will be able to offer their opinions as well. The announcement says Ginther plans to introduce legislation to impose a texting ban in Columbus. Bexley became the first city in central Ohio to ban texting while driving last year. Cleveland also has ..   show all text

So, when I announced the Bentham Transcription Initiative (which will soon have its own website, we are working on things behind the scenes) I said it was a “highly innovative and novel attempt to aid in the transcription of Bentham’s work”. I firmly believe that: I don’t know of any other large scale transcription attempt of correspondence that is opening things up to crowdsourcing, and our project has a broad remit, producing an open source tool, whilst undertaking user studies on the use of..   show all text

The first time I was ever published in a book was 1997. It was because I found Roger Ebert's email and asked him a question. You can find the link right here, from Ebert's book Questions for the Movie Answer Man. Here's the question: This was not the first question I had asked Ebert. (Considering the royal "we" construction I would use during my days as editor of Deadspin, it has a certain historical irony.) Ebert was an alum of the University of Illinois, and he was the reason I was ther..   show all text

E-books are cheaper to produce than print volumes, but consumers may not realize that expenses like overhead and royalties are still in effect, publishers say.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Reds are headed over to the game stadium today to do some infield and sign autographs. The Reds will go first, followed by the Indians. "It's more for the city and the fans," Dust Baker said. "We're going to be there an hour, take some infield, sign some autographs and then come back and do our work." Pitchers will throw live batting practice again, with Aroldis Chapman throwing live BP for the second time. It looks like the same batters will face him. "Probably the h..   show all text

Call him, just for now, Spartacus. He was two years when the slavers captured him in 1982 and hauled him off to the little town of Victoria, on…

After talking a little bit about his contract status and the lack of an extension last week, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said again on Friday that he is not going to worry about it. Judging by Lewis’ comments during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, it sounds as if there are some differing opinions on what the future structure of the team should look like more so than years or money. The team approached Lewis, who was named NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, about an exten..   show all text

» Six new passenger lines being considered for service at speeds above 250 km/h. Revealing her plans for India’s railroads in a speech this week on this year’s budget, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee committed to the development of high-speed rail corridors throughout the country, even as she reaffirmed her promise to ensure continued investment in India’s conventional train network, which she framed as a social necessity. Her budget includes $9 billion in spending on the maintenance and u..   show all text