Alexandria

Written By Mike George

2021 -2023

Mike moved to central Louisiana in 2021 to begin work at the Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO) as a field operations and maintenance engineer in their substations. While there, he established a new location for Crimson House in Alexandria and created WANDA, a musical baton that enhances his visibility and safety with respect to nearby drivers.

Featured
Farewell to CENLA
Farewell to CENLA

Mike prepares to move forward in his quest returning to Ohio, by way of Lafayette and New Orleans. He reflects on his time in the neighborhood and shares his tentative travel plans, which include a train ride from New Orleans to Cleveland.

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Why I Walk
Why I Walk

Despite the stigmas of not owning a car, walking affords a much more intimate relationship with the places I live.

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The Circle
The Circle

Mike takes a walk around one of America’s largest traffic circles.

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Stroll in Alexandria
Stroll in Alexandria

In this first-person POV of downtown Alexandria, Louisiana, Mike marvels at some of the small towns and unexpected places that have made efforts at better connecting their communities with transit and other pedestrian-oriented measures.

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The Great American Circle Jerk
The Great American Circle Jerk

Mike marvels at the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) corporation for its unmatched ability to profit from drumming up conflict and division among young Americans.

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Recycle!
Recycle!

In the absence of any sort of city recycling service, Mike demonstrates his routine of walking his discarded recyclables to Target - one of the few places that offers any semblance of recycling disposal.

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Mall-side Moonlit Musing
Mall-side Moonlit Musing

During his first week living the streets of Alexandria, Mike bemoans the lack of consideration for pedestrians and non-motorists in the design and construction of roadways throughout American cities.

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Stroll down Masonic Drive
Stroll down Masonic Drive

During his first week living the streets of Alexandria, Mike bemoans the lack of consideration for pedestrians and non-motorists in the design and construction of roadways throughout American cities.

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Final Day of Crimson House
Final Day of Crimson House

Mike reflects on his impending eviction, characterizing his time there as a stagnant state of limbo, and highlighting the spectacular failure of his nonprofit initiative.

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Reflections on Home, Family & Belonging
Reflections on Home, Family & Belonging

Mike reflects on his personal experiences during the holiday season, reminiscing on his mother, a Taiwanese immigrant adapting to American life in Steubenville, Ohio. He praises Steubenville for accepting his mother and recognizing her strength.

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The Morning After
The Morning After

Mike processes the aftermath of last night's soiree with Robert.

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Final Soiree
Final Soiree

Mike kicks back with his new friend Robert and throws an impromptu soiree to commemorate the final days of Crimson House Alexandria, as his eviction date draws ominously near…

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Progress Report
Progress Report

Mike reflects on the challenges of his nonprofit Crimson Rouge Studios, shares his vision for a more inclusive space that emphasizes STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education for the Queer community, and invites viewers to help shape the organization's future.

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On Stage in the Carport
On Stage in the Carport

Mike prepares for a performance in his carport with WANDA, a musical baton recently invented to accompany and assist with his commutes on foot.

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State Change
State Change

Mike provides a candid update while preparing to move out of Crimson House in Alexandria, during which he considers hosting a "RENT"-themed eviction party for himself. He notes the peculiar physics of water as it freezes and thaws, a concept unfamiliar to his Louisiana neighbors but known all too well by those in the Midwest during the winter.

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Rent Coming Due
Rent Coming Due

Mike struggles to raise the funds needed to save Crimson House Alexandria from imminent closure, to prevent from being evicted from his home in Louisiana.

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Back to Basics
Back to Basics

Mike reflects on the dangers of domestic terrorism targeting electrical infrastructure, explaining the vulnerability of power substations. Pivoting to the subject of addiction and recovery, he describes his father's sobriety as a source of inspiration. revealing his ambition to launch a transformative camping retreat that would aim to subtly guide participants through healing experiences to aid in overcoming undesired addictions.

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Before Sunrise
Before Sunrise

In this "After Dark" episode during the wee morning hours before sunrise, Mike reflects on his Asian/Caucasian heritage, his childhood love of board games, and the irony of digital data persistence. He speaks frankly about the financial pressures he's facing, delivering a prayer regarding rent and groceries.

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A Tribute to My Dad’s Recovery
A Tribute to My Dad’s Recovery

Mike expresses admiration to his father for his incredible feat of willpower in sustaining over 20 years of sobriety. He contrasts his earlier "rockstar life" of heavy drug use with the disciplined, clean lifestyle he maintained while raising a son, highlighting that he quit everything — from heroin to cigarettes — cold turkey without the help of medication or patches.

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No Good Deed
No Good Deed

Having reach his wit's end, Mike vents some of his burnout and profound frustration, brooding in the cruel irony of facing imminent eviction, following his unsuccessful efforts to help house and support others through his nonprofit Crimson Rouge Studios. He defends his altruistic initiatives, reflecting candidly on the emotional and financial toll of trying to spark something in the face of community indifference, seeing it as a symptom of a systemic ill of pettiness and lack of gratitude nationally.

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Humility, Listening & Understanding
Humility, Listening & Understanding

Mike shares his thoughts on the declining state of American society, emphasizing the loss of humility and genuine understanding in online and real-life conversations.

Mike also expresses his deep concern for the political shift in his home state of Ohio, attributing it partly to demographic changes linked to the shale gas boom and an exodus of college-bound graduates away to coastal cities.

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Flying Cars and Rainy Interstates
Flying Cars and Rainy Interstates

Mike hosts a special Thanksgiving episode on a rainy afternoon, reflecting on the stagnation of technology. Discussing Louisiana's geography, he notes the relatively recent connection of the state's north and south with Interstate 49.

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Stage Tech Needed
Stage Tech Needed

Mike fumbles around with setting up his computer's audio in order to livestream his performance on WANDA, while being pestered by a persistent fly in the room. He then shifts to preparing for karaoke night at the nearby "Bottoms Up" Queer bar.

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Sunday Funday
Sunday Funday

It's a Sunday morning in Alexandria, as Mike prepares to head out for a walk with WANDA to brunch. Along the way, he stumbles to find his keys and phone, but discovers some forgotten chocolate ice cream in his messy kitchen.

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Dead of Night
Dead of Night

Mike takes WANDA for a nighttime stroll on a quiet Saturday night, greeting his neighbors before traversing the empty vastness of the Alexandria Mall parking lot. During the walk, he ponders the beauty of silence, the importance of self-honesty, and the value of 360-degree awareness in everyday life.

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The Portland She-bacle
The Portland She-bacle

Two years after the 2020 West Coast wildfires, Mike recounts the traumatic events he faced mere months after moving to Portland, Oregon. Bearing such emotional weight has been a lonely journey, as I was reminded while trying to share this with loved ones who would find themselves overwhelmed.

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Gutter Talk
Gutter Talk

With the onset of autumn, Mike shares his observations of daily life in Louisiana, particularly the local weather and distinct infrastructure around him. He notes a curious lack of gutters on the surrounding houses and reflects on the risks of living inland during hurricane season.

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Forsaken
Forsaken

Mike vents his disillusionment with modern society and personal frustrations, particularly "smart" technology, the polarization of American politics, the struggles of operating a nascent nonprofit, and his spiritual frustrations with the manipulative tendencies of traditional Christian dogma. Throughout the episode, he seeks a form of digital escapism and catharsis, processing his feelings of exhaustion and disappointment through the course of this chaotic rant.

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House Projects
House Projects

Mike discusses his progress on a couple home improvement projects in the works - including a home security and control system for his smart devices, and a home audio bluetooth network in development.

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Sunday Night Scramble
Sunday Night Scramble

Struggling on a disorganized Sunday evening, Mike prepares to pick up groceries and is helped by his neighbor Tracy, who comes by to assist with installing a lock on his back door.

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Open Mike - Episodes
The Portland She-bacle
The Portland She-bacle

Two years after the 2020 West Coast wildfires, Mike recounts the traumatic events he faced mere months after moving to Portland, Oregon. Bearing such emotional weight has been a lonely journey, as I was reminded while trying to share this with loved ones who would find themselves overwhelmed.

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Conservatively Speaking
Conservatively Speaking

Mike explains his conservative political views, reframing it with the intent of restraining government and/or curbing societal excesses. He likens our persisting depletion of resources to the consumption of frozen beverages in that it occurs in abrupt stages, rather than a linear decrease in supply.

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The Peace and Stability We’ve Taken for Granted
The Peace and Stability We’ve Taken for Granted

Mike contemplates the fragility of global stability and the passage of time as he celebrates his 36th birthday.

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Wrong Way
Wrong Way

Lamenting on his unsatisfaction in his present work in Louisiana, Mike ponders on the next steps in his career and where that will prompt him to move next.

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To My Fellow Pedestrians
To My Fellow Pedestrians

Mike brings to light the cultural and social implications of car dependency, expressing admiration for those who navigate on foot, especially in areas hostile to pedestrians.

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Spring in the Bayou State
Spring in the Bayou State

Mike provides an update from his home in Alexandria, discussing his latest project to develop a wireless audio scheme to connect all the Bluetooth speakers in the house, before inviting us on a "virtual date" in which he divulges some personal thoughts and anecdotes in his dating life.

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Good Morning, America
Good Morning, America

Mike shares his daily morning routine.

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Let's Not Talk About Politics
Let's Not Talk About Politics

Mike reflects on the global instability sparked by the invasion of Ukraine and his anxieties regarding the potential for similar conflict in Taiwan. He's concerned about American apathy and a wavering in the nation's role as a defender of democracy.

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Saturday Morning Coffee Talk
Saturday Morning Coffee Talk

Mike takes a short walk down the street, bemoaning the city’s car-centric urban design and lack of pedestrian infrastructure. He then invites viewers inside to relax to some music, offering cooking tips and pondering to himself how to better navigate the messiness of livestreaming.

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Use It or Lose It
Use It or Lose It

Mike laments the dearth of recycling collection services in central Louisiana, but remains determined to demonstrate its need to the powers that be.

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Discord
Discord

Mike speaks to a profound sense of social disconnect he experienced while living in the Pacific Northwest, describing it as operating on a different "frequency" than that of the people there. Using the analogy of mismatched frequencies (60 Hz vs. 50 Hz) between two AC electric power systems, he recalls moments in social settings in which his contributions were seemingly ignored or overlooked, leading to a deeper awareness of his challenge trying to be sync with those around him.

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Overheard in the Honors Dorm…
Overheard in the Honors Dorm…

Mike calls out the pretentiousness and smugness of an "Honors Dorm," highlighting the irony of such collegiate labels, given the proportion of notorious partyers among the "honors" students who clearly weren't there for academic prestige. Reflecting on the various cohorts out there with prestigious-sounding names, he argues that while rewarding achievement and providing academic challenges are important, the exclusionary labels often feel unnecessary and audacious.

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Such a Good Feeling
Such a Good Feeling

Kicking off a beautiful morning, Mike performs "It's Such a Good Feeling" from the beloved children's show Mister Roger's Neighborhood.

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Package Reveal
Package Reveal

Mike revels in the excitement of opening a package he'd forgotten that he ordered.

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Relaxed Afternoon
Relaxed Afternoon

Mike provides a casual update from in front of Crimson House Alexandria.

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Gone South
Gone South

Freshly arrived in rural Louisiana, Mike adjusts to his new role at CLECO, contrasting the "boots on the ground" field work he now performs with his previous experiences working moreso in an office environment. He reflects on Pride at how the Queer community has evolved recently.

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Anxieties of Rural Louisiana
Anxieties of Rural Louisiana

Mike voices his dread of moving from the vibrant city life of Portland and Columbus to the middle of Louisiana...

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The Southern Route
The Southern Route

Mike announces his upcoming relocation to Louisiana, a move he views with a mixture of trepidation and romanticized anticipation - if not a tension between his fears of Southern intolerance and his desire to embrace Southern hospitality.

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4/20 Special: High Water Ahead
4/20 Special: High Water Ahead

In this “special” 4/20 broadcast, Mike reflects on transitioning from a disastrous termination in Portland to a happy limbo with a choice of distinct career paths ahead.

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Making Plans
Making Plans

Reporting from Michigan with his new friend Quincy, Mike shares personal updates and reflections, following his Portland she-bacle, before giving a tour of the city of Neo Hyrule.

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Ruth Vader Ginsburg
Ruth Vader Ginsburg

Broadcasting from Michigan, Mike explores an electric range of topics, including cryptocurrency, stock market trends, local dispensary products, and the French language. He discovers a “Ruth Vader Ginsburg” meme featuring the late Supreme Court Justice dragged in Darth Vader drag.

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Love, Loss & Legal Weed
Love, Loss & Legal Weed

In this Valentine's Day special, Mike reflects candidly on his recent dating misadventures, including one with a gay white supremacist. He also discusses his relationship with cannabis, comparing the market between different states he's visited recently, and shares his thoughts regarding addiction, politics, and the state of the country.

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Musings in Monroe
Musings in Monroe

Mike enjoys some vindictive satisfaction regarding his ex-boyfriend's recent job loss. He then chats with Jake about Ohio geography, political figures, and social class.

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Escaping Hell
Escaping Hell

Mike vents about a relentless stream of hardships and trauma that have followed him since leaving Portland, Oregon, during a period of hell that includes being a victim of rape and theft by an ex-partner, an illegal eviction spurred by friends of the ex, and precipitously losing his job after a mental health crisis sparked by the wildfires that besieged the state of Oregon in summer 2020.

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Mike George http://mike.ohmg.xyz
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