Sometimes the intersection of politics and policy is comfortable, sometimes uncomfortable, and sometimes you have to "connect the dots." One very uncomfortable "dot connecting" involves President Bill Clinton, philanthropic fundraising, the uranium industry and Clinton's private activity that ran contrary to US foreign policy and reinforced a country, Kazakhstan, with an antipathy to human rights and open media.

Creative Capital can transform regions. This story talks about the value of open conversations, building networks, collaborating, and sharing experiences to accelerate innovation in communities and regions...

Coming up this week...

Creative Capital for a 21st Century Digital Media Marketplace @ Insivia

Learn how Creative Capital transforms regions. Get started now by listening to this conversation with guests Geof Pelaia, Virginia Marti College; Eric Purcell & Laura Wright, Insivia; and Experience Artist, Melissa Daubert.

REMINDER....all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies tomorrow and you will start to receive sale calls and you will be charged for these calls.

EM: These organizations are having some success, but their regional impacts are relatively small. These organizations are slowly changing the dynamic of the relatively small footprint around Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.   

I voted absentee – to give me time with my ballot to consider each candidate – and I found that many candidates have no internet record whatsoever.   That’s a bad sign for NEO.

I spotted a link on BFD to Tech Czar Michael DeAloia's fascinating write up on the Medical Mart, so much in our pocketbooks and news every day, in real neo. Well, it seems we have one community leader interested to set the records straight today and from now on, in his world, on his blog, about his world, which is fascinating. I'm glad to see Michael more active than ever, leading the community, since leaving City Hall, and I appreciate the honest facts about the Medical Mart that are missing everywhere else. Read this tidbit below and you'll link through for the rest...

Cosgrove took over the meeting and detailed the Clinic’s expansion plan (which were amazing – what the public is seeing in terms of development and real estate purchases are nothing relative to the massive plans the Clinic has for its University Circle campus), and then offered the possibility of a Medical Mart.

During the very cool Meet the Bloggers spin segment I saw televised after the Obama/Clinton Cleveland debate, one of the bloggers said the response in the blogsphere was split on who won - 50% Obama and 50% McCain. Today, a different window into NEOs cyberspace opened for Obama (and McCain), with endorsements on CoolCleveland. If you visit REALNEO often, you know where I stand... I am one REALNEO member strongly supporting Obama. But I am only one small voice in REALNEO, and I'm curious how other "bloggers" and cybercats in NEO stand on the primary... no matter what, this is an historic election, so why not speak up with your vote, voice and support for whomever you like, while you can really make a difference.

So, please, use this posting to add a comment of support for your candidate. If you have a blog or place in cyberspace where you voice your feelings about this, feel free to link that in. Note, to leave a comment you must be a REALNEO member... use the create account link to request an account and we will confirm that for you as quickly as possible.

It's always good to return home with fresh eyes.  There are so many positives to our city.  It all depends on your view.

I've had the pleasure to spend lots of time around the Obama 2008 campaign in East Cleveland, which has been operating out of the Hough Bakeries Complex, on the Cleveland border, at 1519 Lakeview Road - one block north of Euclid... a few blocks east of University Circle Center. I've posted some photos from there to REALNEO, since the office opened, last week, and will add more here.

The Mayor of 10-5 is now in the office, as Snag now hosts the Inner Circle. I help make coffee and keep the WiFi live. We're going to feature Gypsy Beans baked goods and items from Hot Sauce, and surprises from all around the REALNEO... feel free to stop by any time from 10 AM to 10 PM and say hi.

 

The Cleveland City Council Chamber is a grand room, with wood paneling, curved seating and a colorful mural above President Sweeney’s high backed seat. 

I am one of the livebloggers representing Meet The Bloggers at Channel 3 Studios in Cleveland, not too far from the Democratic primary debate.  I am liveblogging the debate via my Blogger blog, subset of derek and via twitter.

This pan was taken during a stunning East Cleveland snowfall, in Lakeview Cemetery. I was drawn to the cemetery to take these photos of a remarkable sculpture and the winter beauty, and came away realizing the dead would vote for Obama, knowing what they know now.

It was just like sitting at a slick casino table in Vegas - faster than the eye can see,  Mr. Sweeny and Mr. Zone had AMP in the bank. 

More on this tommorrow...

Anyone want to finance an interesting suit  alleging improper bidding process for the procurement of 50 years of coal power  from one non-competitive vendor?

There is no hiding the pride felt by Michigan Representative to Congress John Conyers, Jr., as he speaks of Barack Obama. A 21 term US Senator, Chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and leading Obama supporter, Conyers traveled to East Cleveland, Saturday, February 23, 2008, to share his pride with over 100 volunteer organizers assembled at The Inner Circle to canvas area neighborhoods for “our next President of the United States”.

Change may be the theme of this campaign, but pride is the operative word.

Cleveland City Council should rescind its involvement in AMP-Ohio's proposed coal-fired utility in southern Ohio. A fifty year commitment to coal is the wrong direction, for Cleveland Public Power (CPP), its customers and the environment. Instead, CPP should develop a comprehensive plan for energy need and energy sources, that includes efforts to reduce demand through conservation, insulation, wind, solar and other alternative sources.