Dear Cleveland Cavaliers,

As you well know, 100,000,000s of people look up to you as community leaders and role models - these are responsibilities you accept as sports and public figures who are intentionally "in the news", for profit.

Bill Maher @ The Huffington Post - President Obama has identified all the problems with the health care system, but there's one tiny issue he refuses to tackle, and that's our actual health.  And get this: Surgeon General Benjamin had previously been a nutritional advisor to Burger King. The only advice a "health expert" should give Burger King is to stop selling food.

It recently came to my attention that one of the most serious sources of pollution in Cuyahoga County is literally in my back yard. Less than two kilometers upwind from my home are the coal and natural gas fired external boilers at the power plant shown above, at University Hospitals, operated by Medical Center Company (MCCo), polluting the surrounding neighborhoods since the 1930s.

It has come to my attention that I am overweight (for those that know me, stop laughing).  I have lost weight in the past, only to regain it and add a couple more pounds.

What to do? Adkins... no did that, now I am fatter.  How about the southbeach diet? No, same deal.  Hummm well since I am lazy I will need something easy.

For the 30+ years of my life spent in Northeast Ohio, in childhood and as an adult, University Circle has been at the center of my universe. What Place is at the Center of Your Universe?

I finally convinced my significant other to bicycle down to Rockside and we did it today.  He is not too happy with me now that we are home with our sore backsides, but the experience was worth it.

 The Whitehouse.gov website has provided an advance copy of the prepared remarks of President Obama's Back to School speech, which has some parents in an uproar. I embedded the player for the speech below, and will put it in our calendar...

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If nothing else, today proved to me the power of magic realism.  Nelson Cintron is a good man, a kind man and a man gifted with the power to transform.  He is not a perfect man, but like all of us, when he tries, he can perform magic. 

In an effort to un-depress myself, I am trying to conjure in my mind the most charming places in NEO to go to when you want to watch people and feel hopeful about life.  Now, I know I can go to the middle of a forest somewhere and meditate, but I need to hear laughter and watch boats bobbing on the water. 

Why is it so hard to make it happen here in NEO?  Do you have a favorite place to share???  Please post your thoughts here.

Cleveland Peace Show

2009 Cleveland Peace Show

Max Eternity - It has long been apparent to me that in so many instances one will find  the same crowd that endorsed the Bush pResidency, hangs with the same crowd that's against healthcare, is the same crowd that is pro-war, is the same crowd that denies global warming, is the same crowd that watches and believes everything they hear on FOX News. 

With just days remaining before Congress returns to D.C. to tackle health insurance reform, we're organizing our biggest push yet to show local support for change -- our "Health Insurance Reform Now: Let's Get It Done!" events.

There are thousands of gatherings across the country, and the event this Thursday in Cleveland could be one of the best. I hope you can be there as we hear from local leaders and present the thousands of declarations of support for reform that we've been collecting in Ohio for months.

ARGENTUM! CAF Annual Benefit

 

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I am very excited that Cleveland Public Library is participating in the National Endowment for the Humanities Picturing America program.  I have always felt more comfortable explaining concepts visually and, lo and behold, today--a wonderful man contacted me today with a visual explanation of Web 3.0.  Enjoy.  Transform.

Live Science - A new study finds obese people have 8 percent less brain tissue than normal-weight individuals. Their brains look 16 years older than the brains of lean individuals, researchers said today.

CPAC invites you to join us at From Rust Belt to Artist Belt II (RBAB2) on Thursday, Sept. 17th, and Friday, Sept. 18th, 2009, in Cleveland's Gordon Square Arts District.  During this two-day event you will have an opportunity to see artist-based community development firsthand and explore the neighborhood’s institutions, including Cleveland Public Theatre, 78th Street Studios, the historic Arcade and the newly renovated Capitol Theatre.