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Posted on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 10:32 a.m.

What is The Deuce? An introduction

By Jordan Miller

Hello!

I'm Jordan, the lead blogger for The Deuce, AnnArbor.com's section for culture, style, arts and technology from a young perspective.

There have been a lot of questions about The Deuce: What is it? Who's it for? What on earth does "The Deuce" even mean? Is this going to be extremely lame? How do I find it?

Let me attempt to answer them.

What is it?

The Deuce was created to fill an obvious need for new voices in Ann Arbor popular media. There are scores of intelligent, creative, active young people in this city, and this is a chance for everyone to hear what they have to say. It's pretty exciting, really.

Community contributors to The Deuce include Amy Sumerton of 826 Michigan, Jeremy Peters of Ghostly International (and a million other things), and Kyle Stuef of Twenty-Nine 11 Studios, among a whole host of other young people who have been incredibly active in our community, both on- and off-line.

We're also lucky enough to have several high school contributors, notably the editors of the Huron High School newspaper.

Who's it for?

Everyone. Yes, there will be information that is specifically of interest to people under 40. But there will also be plenty of content that anyone can read, think about, and learn from.

What on earth does "The Deuce" even mean?

The term "The Deuce" comes from a nickname for Ann Arbor, which comes from another nickname for Ann Arbor, the "Ace Deuce" (where "ace" is for the A and "deuce" is for the 2 in A2). The terminology was shortened again and it became "The Deuce."
We did not make this up. Please see this exceedingly reliable source.

This is not the same "Deuce" so often misunderstood in "Blinded by the Light."

Is this going to be extremely lame?

Lord, I hope not.

Too often, content targeted to a younger audience is pandering and, frankly, annoying. There will be no LOLs or OMGs here. Parents will not referred to as 'rents, and there will be no reporting on Hollywood break-ups.

Our audience is smart, savvy and interested in good content, honest discussion and solid writing. If we don't do this, they won't come back.

That being said, I probably have more of a tendency than anyone to ramble on about nothing. But at least I won't end it with a LMAO. Promise.

How do I find it?

The Deuce lives under the Entertainment umbrella. If you're on the AnnArbor.com homepage, you can click on the link in the menu on the right-hand side of the screen. If you're in the Entertainment section, there's a text link right under where it says Entertainment in big letters.

I hope that this has been helpful. I also hope you'll check it out, participate, comment, vote, E-mail, and shout from the rooftops. Because you'll be just that excited.


Jordan Miller is the lead blogger for The Deuce. She can be reached via E-mail: A2jordanmiller [at] gmail.com, or on Twitter: _jordanmiller_

Comments

Jennifer Shikes Haines

Sat, Aug 1, 2009 : 5:57 a.m.

I'm really looking forward to this section and love a couple of the writers you've got lined up. I'm hoping you'll get some CHS Communicator writers on board, though - they are extremely talented and would be another great perspective. (I'm sure they have good counterparts at Pioneer, as well, I just don't know the Pioneer newspaper and I subscribe to the Communicator).

Angela Smith

Wed, Jul 29, 2009 : 3:26 p.m.

surely the people at wikipedia would know that your edit would then trump my edit!

Allison Bondie

Wed, Jul 29, 2009 : 10:21 a.m.

RJB- I will vouch: as of my graduation from high school five years ago, Ace Deuce was an exceedingly common phrase. I attend college in that next town over, which we college kids refer to as "Ypsi", so I cannot vouch for that population. Kids these days. Seesh.

rjb

Wed, Jul 29, 2009 : 10:07 a.m.

I like the idea of the blog, but the name does not resonate with me. If Ace Deuce is widely used term used by the younger population (high schoolers, college students) then its fine. I just have not heard anyone using it nor really imagining anyone from Ann Arbor identifying their city as being number two.

Duane Collicott

Wed, Jul 29, 2009 : 7:57 a.m.

OK, now I see where "The Duece" comes from, but I'm probably not cool enough to use it. But then, I also don't use "The Joe" or "The Copa".

Jordan Miller

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 8:56 p.m.

I was hoping that the italics would emphasize my sarcasm in referring to wikipedia as reliable. And, of course, you could change it. But I would change it by simply adding a link to the lyrics to "Blinded by the Light." Just sayin'.

Angela Smith

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 8:47 p.m.

yeah, I really really like it -- until you referenced wikipedia as your exceedingly reliable source. If I go in and change the wikidefinition will that throw the whole thing??

Pam Wilson

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 2:20 p.m.

A2 = A squared.... the deuce... sounds like something made up by people who have never lived here!

Amy Sumerton

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 1:02 p.m.

I know, I know. I'M SO ASHAMED. (It may be worth mentioning, that the other day when I mentioned to Jason that I would be writing for the Deuce, he said, "Wait, like, what you drop in the toilet?" [Which is, essentially, what I feel like right now.] So you can add that to your list.)

Jordan Miller

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 12:28 p.m.

Jhale: Get it on a mug! http://www.zazzle.com/custom_urban_dictionary_mug-168243605698579412

Jordan Miller

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 12:25 p.m.

Amy: You double-sinned. You said OMG and you said it about yoga. Actually, I thought you were using it ironically. KellyJames: Retro is the new old.

Amy Sumerton

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 11:36 a.m.

Yikes! I totally have an OMG in one of my blogs. Should I take it out? Oh, I've messed this whole thing up already...

Allison Bondie

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 11:18 a.m.

I like it. Glad to be aboard.

Sean Eldon

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 11:12 a.m.

Including high school bloggers among the commentators at the Deuce is smart. Including young voices means that AnnArbor.com is ahead of other local blogs and online news sources. Kudos.

KellyJames

Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 10:26 a.m.

I still say "Ace Deuce". Does that make me old or retro?