In my last post, I mentioned that I want to add wiki functionality to this site. Another thing I think this site should have is trackback functionality. The issue with trackbacks, of course, is spam. I am going to turn trackbacks on and see how it goes. If we get too much spam to handle efficiently, I'll turn it back off.

I missed it, but apparently on the Lehrer-Mcneil Report, there was a section on increased individual participation in "journalism", or what they called "We Media". A large piece of the report was focused on wiki technology. Of course they mentioned Wikipedia. Apparently, wikipedia has over 2 billion hits per month. "Subscribers" to wikipedia outnumber the subscribers to the New York Times, Washington Post, the LA Times(and maybe one or two others) combined.

Over a period of roundtable "world cafe" discussions, participants at the Storm the Palace table wrote the following summary ideas on a flip chart or post-it to the idea wall - each idea is being posted to the "Community Forums: Technology" on REALNEO focused on this category... read on:

The Ohio Community Computing Center Network, the umbrella organization for free public computer centers and teaching centers, has provided testimony to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio stating that the SBC/AT&T Merger and the Verizon/MCI Merger are not in the best interests of the public.   The following is a summary, raising the concern that further telecom consolidation will reduce vital high-speed Internet opportunities for low-income urban and rural areas.  Today, high-speed Internet is critical for education, work and other activities of daily life.  While technological advances in more robust networks, immense Internet speed and additional services are exciting, if only a portion of spciety can participate in yet another technological evolution, Ohio will again be left struggling.  The testimony called for efforts to reduce the divide that finds low-income and rural communities with lower levels of broadband access and an end to telecom efforts to limit the rights of cities to invest in broadband services directly, on behalf of their residents.

In NEO today, we see a growing consciousness in the alternative energy and sustainability movement, a resounding catalyst in the digital cities OneCleveland phenomenum, and many other indicators that we are finally developing a vibrant new economy mentality.

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Oregon's commitment to Open Source is well demonstrated by the establishment of their Open Technology Business Center in Beaverton - we need this in NEO:

Earlier this month, REALNEO IT Analyst Derek Arnold attended the O'Reilly Open Source Convention and Drupal Conference in Portland, Oregon, and he brought back more than new code, knowledge and relationships - he brought back the State of Oregon's vision of being "an epicenter for Open Technology (Linux and Open Source-enabled hardware, software and services)". The State of NEO needs to embrace such a vision!

On Thursday, August 25 from 9-11 a.m at the Cleveland Environmental
Center (3500 Lorain Ave.), EcoCity Cleveland hosts the third in a
series of workshops designed to help nonprofits sharpen their Web site
skills. In this training session, we move beyond the basics to discuss
more advanced tools for effective communications such as surveys,
integrating your group email, and alternative software to build
community online.

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Hear One of the Most Successful Entrepreneurial Stories to Ever Hit Cleveland!

Business Unusual: “BrandMuscle: An Entrepreneur’s Story!� Phil Alexander

Ever hear of someone starting a new business and turning it into gold and find yourself saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?� Well a lot of people have dreams of starting their own business but few actually take the leap because of the risks, hard work and dedication involved.

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On Tuesday, August 2 to Sunday, August 7, 2005, I (Derek Arnold, Technology Analyst for REALNEO) will be in Portland, Oregon for the 2005 Drupal Conference which also runs concurrently with O'Reilly Open Source Conference, also in Portland.

A resounding theme among entrepreneurs in NEO has for a long time been "I don't get respect". Now, a new study by Stuart Mendel, Assistant Dean of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and Co-director of the college's Center for Non-Profit Policy and Practice, validates that "Cleveland could foster small-business growth as a way to erase the "Poorest Big City in America" distinction it earned last year".

The war in Iraq is big news world-wide. Whether reports on casualties or offensives, the news papers, airwaves and internet are on constant high-alert for stories on developments, which they publicize daily. It is thus surprising a major Iraq-related story that has been big news world-wide was not featured in the mainstream US news until this past weekend. The story is of eight secret "Downing Street Memos" - DSMs - which raise considerable cause for global public debate on a lack of US and UK government honesty and openness leading up to America declaring war on Iraq. Why are the DSMs, which the press in Europe starting reporting on May 1st, just now becoming "front page" news in America... seven weeks after the story broke in the UK?

Plain Dealer "reader advocate" Ted Diadiun felt it necessary to dedicate his 06.19.06 Page 2 Sunday column to this question, and his explanation offers critical insight on the state of US mainstream news reporting and American and Northeast Ohio society today.

Here's a fast report on the opening of the 14th annual Community Technology Centers Network CTCNet. Read more.

Please join the NEO Excellence Roundtable for inclusive dialogue and pursuits to optimize the brainpower, quality places and innovation networks of Northeast Ohio. The Roundtable meets 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM each Tuesday for discussions and lunch at the City Club of Cleveland - related content posts here and at a virtual community for the collaboration at http://neoexcellence.realinks.us.

"It's a new day in East Cleveland" is an expression of East Cleveland
Mayor Goggins that was clearly demonstrated from dawn until dusk
Saturday, June 4th, as the city held a neighborhood clean-up, hosted a
bicycle rodeo for kids, and welcomed residents to the MLK Civic Center,
on Shaw Avenue, for a terrific lunch and a Town Hall meeting to discuss
plans for revitalizing the community.

Please join us for a special alfresco Community of Minds! Enjoy fine
outdoor weather (or indoors if inclement) as we explore a hot topic:
blogging.

Blogging has been garnering extraordinary media attention lately. It
has been hailed as everything from a landmark technology that will
change the way we communicate, share knowledge, and entertain
ourselves... to mere hype. The answer likely lies in the way that we
choose to leverage this new tool. Join Community of Minds as we explore
the strategic value of blogging, as it pertains to business.

As we explore blogs as a business tool, Cleveland Public Library will
also highlight its enabling technologies... such as WiFi and database
archives.

Guest Speaker: George Nemeth, Cool Cleveland's CIO and creator
of the Brewed Fresh Daily blog (www.brewedfreshdaily.com) will lead the
discussion, share insights and answer questions. Bring your wireless
laptop to surf along in real time, on CPL's free WiFi hotspot.

Food & Drink: Community of Minds provides complimentary Hors d' Oeuvres. Cash bar available.

Parking: Self-parking is available across the street at the BP
Building, located next to the Hyatt. Limited metered street parking may
also be available.

This event is sponsored by Thompson Hine.
Established in 1911, Thompson Hine - www.ThompsonHine.com - is among
the largest business law firms in the United States. For the last three
years, the firm has been named as one of the Best Corporate Law Firms
in America (in an annual survey of 32,000 corporate directors conducted
by Corporate Board Member magazine). With more than 350 lawyers and
offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; New York
City; Washington, D.C.; and Brussels, Belgium, we serve some of the
world's premier businesses.

This event is co-sponsored by REI (The Center for Regional Economic Issues).
According to REI, economic development insight comes from combining
different perspectives into a composite view of "What's next?". REI
combines the work of academic researchers with the disciplines of
management consulting. The goal is to develop actionable insights into
the types of investments that can accelerate productivity in a regional
economy.

This event is co-sponsored by the Cleveland Public Library, CPL (www.cpl.org).

Location

This is a joint meeting with Community of Minds, a business networking group - http://www.communityofminds.com

It's
going to be held in the reading garden at the Cleveland Public Library
along with the blogger meetup to talk about the impact of blogging (and
podcasting) on business.

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I'm worried about my country. I love America. I think it's the best
country in the world. But I also think we're not tending to our sauce.
I believe that we are in what Shirley Ann Jackson [president of
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute] calls a "quiet crisis." If we don't
change course now and buckle down in a flat world, the kind of
competition our kids will face will be intense and the social
implications of not repairing things will be enormous.

Wednesday's East Cleveland Extending Community Home Online (ECHO) meeting will be held from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at the McGregor Home - see http://www.mcgregoramasa.org/guest.asp and below for directions. We shall be the guests of McGregor CEO and President Rob Hilton, who will join us to discuss transforming the quality of life for seniors in this community.

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NYC provides excellent virtual community capabilities worth accessing here in NEO - consider the following bulletin from their department of health and mental hygiene on choosing a day care provider. Helping residents make smart decisions is one of the greatest values of eGovernment. If you need daycare services in NEO, take some advice from NYC.

Following several months of meetings and discussions, the East Cleveland ECHO - Extending Community Home Online - initiative is making great progress. A strong and diverse team of volunteers has come together to develop for East Cleveland a virtual comunity where there was not one, and we'll begin distributing donated computers to area organizations and residents the week of April 18th, starting with the Helen S. Brown Senior Center and next flowing to students at Shaw High School. Computers will run free open source software, making everything we distribute free for recipients. All related developments, ECHO public meetings (usually Wednesday at 9:30 AM), and other East Cleveland events will be highlighted at the new East Cleveland portal, currently being developed at http://eastcleveland-org.bryght.net - check in often!

Creating Web User Interfaces that Work - After 10 years of changing web design trends, the
enduring truth is that web sites are most successful when form and function work
seamlessly together. A website’s orientation, the clarity of layout and
terminology, and a common-sense, visitor-oriented approach are consistently
rewarded by internal and external customers.

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Trio tires of watching observatory fall apart - East Cleveland - It
was built as a premier research and teaching facility, a monument to
early American innovation, dedicated to unveiling mysteries of the
universe and to charting stars in the far reaches of space.

For decades, world-renowned astronomers pondered, probed and calculated inside these brick walls. Read about the current condition of this landmark property, and vision for the future, at the City of East Cleveland portal, now in early development here.

Time to revisit the hottest topic i Internet marketing. A panel discussion of current trends and developments.

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As learning tools mature and acceptance grows a panel of experts will discuss what's hot and what's not in online training and learning.

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