If you read REALNEO, you know the huge burden of lead poisoning on our region's children and adults, the community's quality of life, and our education system and economy, and you know that, since May, East Cleveland Mayor Eric Brewer has been planning to work with Motley Rice to bring litigation over lead poisoning to Ohio courts. Today, the Plain Dealer published word the litigation is finally here, as East Cleveland is expected to file suit in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court over the public nuisance lead causes in their community, as has been done in 27 other states to date. East Cleveland is the leader bringing such litigation to our state, and it appears other cities and the state of Ohio are preparing to follow suit. I take great pride that I helped advance this development, and I look forward to helping East Cleveland, NEO and all Ohioans win, as a result.

This invitation just in from Cleveland Tech Czar Michael DeAloia... could be very interesting... 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of Ivy Lee's first press release, which for all intents and purposes was the birth of the public relations industry. Since then, the PR profession and journalism have changed immensely. Along with new technologies came a transformation in how news is gathered, read, and disseminated. We are constantly adding new terms to our everyday vocabulary: blogs, citizen journalism, social media, RSS, SEO, wiki's and PodCasting to name a few.

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Seriously, it must be hard to run for office. Esp as a Republican in this election. You've had the keys to the kingdom and carte blanche to do whatever your will for many many many years. Now it looks like the there might be a tide coming in to wash your sand castle out to sea and as you realize you're powerless to stop this, you must do your best to build some kind of barricade. Something that will block your little piece of hard work from being erased. And that my friends, that's when the desperation sets in.

Enter [insert incumbant name here]. It's nothing new of course, like some Mendelian function on coke it get's ramped up to full force around this time year after year. As those that have try to protect themselves from those that want. It's been going on since long before I was born and will probably be going on for well after my carcass releases it's architectural grasp on life.

And just like people that are constantly trying way too hard to convince you and themselves that they are one thing and another all at the same time, it just smacks of being false. I can't help but feel that this feeling of the fraternal-like system of the keepers of our political cycle is the majority of the reason why people don't vote. But as for the people who like their masochism with a side of Freedom Fries.. well they have to pay attention at least for a few weeks out of the year. As a payoff, not only do they get radio show fodder for upcoming years, they get to witness, first-hand, where all the sitcom writers have wandered off to.

This topic could go as broad as you like but since we're here in the AK-rowdy it seems fit to focus on people that hit closer to home, like Mike DeWine.

I just got the following event details from our Tech Czar Michael DeAloia about an important international conference coming to Cleveland - The International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers - with keynote by Case VP of IT Lev Gonick (congratulations, Lev). I've worked with lots of high level global IT managers and they are an excellent draw to Cleveland... they like to explore and they spend money, so this conference is a gem. And they are offering a special deal for Cleveland IT companies worth checking out. Most interesting to me and you is how they are selling Cleveland to their international membership... check out our forum on 22 reasons to attend this conference in Cleveland, Ohio, and add your ideas to share with these important guests of our community, and all others! See conference details below...

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Photo of Peter B. Lewis Building, by Frank Gehry, accented by Athena Tacha's Merging, 1986, of the Putnam Sculpture Collection. Photo by Evelyn Kiefer

Catch this award winning documentary on WVIZ about world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, dessigner of the exceptional Peter B. Lewis Building of the Weatherhead School of Business at Case University... Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 9pm. About the documentary...

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On October 20th, artists Grant Smrekar, Paul Sydorenko and Bill Rupnik will be the first to Leave ‘Em Wanting More when they initiate the final one-night only shows at the 1300 Gallery.   “We’re excited to have Grant, Paul and Bill as our first three artists for the last shows at 1300,” Martin Geramita, owner of 1300, said. “A strong opening show will be great momentum for the final series.”   With three known, Cleveland-based artists, drawing a crowd shouldn’t be an issue. Smrekar, a mixed-media artist known for his political street art, graffiti images and most recently landscape imagery and collage compositions, will join Paul Sydorenko, a multi-media artist currently showcasing work from his upcoming children’s book titled, Grounded.  Rounding out the first of the final shows at 1300 is Bill Rupnik, a self-described “visual terrorist”, whose combination of stencil art, photography and mixed media is inspired by “grime and sleaze”.

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I'm sure everyone who follows news and current events knows about Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez' speech at the UN, declaring US President Bush the devil. In today's NY Times there is an insightful expansion on this story, as they report that during Chávez' speech he held up a copy of retired MIT Professor Noam Chomsky’s book “Hegemony or Survival: America’s Quest for Global Dominance,” a critique of American foreign policy, and urged his audience “very respectfully, to those who have not read this book, to read it.” The NY Times reports sales in America of the book have since spiked - I certainly now plan to read it. Hegemony is preponderant influence or authority over others. Chomsky writes: "One can discern two trajectories in current history: one aiming toward hegemony, acting rationally within a lunatic doctrinal framework as it threatens survival; the other dedicated to the belief that “another world is possible,” in the words that animate the World Social Forum, challenging the reigning ideological system and seeking to create constructive alternatives of thought, action and institutions. Which trajectory will dominate, no one can foretell." Another quote from the book, and the NY Times article are below...

 “If they can get you asking the wrong question, they don’t have to worry about the answers.”

Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow

There is much effort put into rationalizing our current economic conditions in NEO, but I don't see anyone in NEO analyzing our genuine progress... our GPI (see America, above... how's NEO doing?). At the core of this challenge is, what's the economy for in the first place? An article at the New Dream website asks that question, and states "It’s time to demand that champions of the status quo defend their implicit answer to that question.  Do they actually believe that the purpose of the economy is to achieve the grossest domestic product and allow the richest among us to multiply their treasures without limits?" "But what if we answer the question... The greatest good for the greatest number over the long run.” "In that light, economic success cannot be measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or stock prices alone.  It must take into account the other values that constitute the greatest good — health, happiness, knowledge, kindness — for the greatest number — equality, access to opportunity — over the long run — in a healthy democracy and sustainable environment." Based on that, are the NEO and American economies healthy? Read the rest of the article to see what you think...

Yesterday, I posted some photos I took of the Community Vehicular Reclamation Project in Toronto and was thrilled to see one of the organizers there post a comment on REALNEO with more details today. I went to their website and found all sorts of other cool initiatives they drive for reclaiming the streets there, which we should embrace here... I know, "not invented here". Well, be like realneo and think glocally! Here's what's planned for tomorrow in Toronto. Wish I could be there for this... world carfree day 2006! Join Streets are for People! and The ReEvolution Day Arkestra in celebrating World Car Free Day via a musical parade through downtown - heading East from Trinity Bellwoods Park along Queen St.West.

Friday September 22nd, 4pm
Meet at Trinity Bellwoods Park (Queen St. Gate) for Tea and Preparations BYOTea, costumes, instruments, floats, banners, signs, etc... All Musicians are most welcome and encouraged to join the Arkestra
5:30pm - Take to the streets!

All Day &/or during parade - Parking Meter Parties!
Rent back a piece of the city! It's fun! It's Legal!
Just as a car driver would, park your vehicle (ie your bike, trike, or unicycle...) in a parking spot along Queen West (the main parade route) & for $1.50/hr it's all yours!

WHAT CAN YOU DO with a 6 x 12 foot parking space?

I got an email today from Cleveland Public Art (CPA) that Thursday, September 21st is National PARK(ing) Day and Cleveland will join teams in New York City, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Seattle that will concurrently create PARK(ing) spaces in their cities, created by transforming metered parking spots into parks, complete with sod, a bench and a tree, reclaiming the street for parks and people, at least until the meter runs out! LOCATIONS: West Side Market, E 9th and Huron, & Warehouse District.  Very cool to see Cleveland participating in this. I ran across another example of creating awareness for reclaiming the streets for green space, in Toronto, last week, where the "Community Vehicular Reclamation Project" have parked a really cool green car on Kensington. All good

While hard to compare to shootings and murder, I can't think of a worse development for NEO, local arts and culture and my neighborhood than the news I recieved just now - Gallery 1300 is closing. I don't know enough details to know if it is "our" fault - not enough money flowing from the community to the gallery and artists - or just that the smart, great people who have made 1300 a core part of the NEO scene have other opportunities to pursue, but I know we all owe it to their team to really put out for them in their closing months. More to come on this as I learn details... for now: the Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Title of the Exhibit: Leave ‘Em Wanting More – The last shows of 1300

Opening Reception: 

5 - October 20, 7-10 – Grant Smrekar, Paul Sydorenko, Bill Rupnik

The 7GEN development team of Phillip Williams and myself are thrilled to work with the important Cleveland Club of Washington, DC, to provide technology to their leadership and members. From their new Drupal website, found at http://clevelandclub.org: "The Cleveland Club of Washington, D. C., founded in 1957, is an association of Washington men and women who share a keen interest in Cleveland. Most of the more than three hundred members are former Clevelanders or graduates of its universities. Participants include United States Representatives, judges, prominent federal officials, journalists and others of diverse background and occupation."

Cleveland Plain Dealer Architecture Critic Steven Litt is really stepping up to lead the march for a better designed Cleveland, as he has been the lone mainstream voice for intelligent redevelopment of the I-90 bridge and is the lone voice at all for saving the landmark Breuer Cleveland Trust Building on East 9th, between Euclid and Prospect, which for 15 years Jacobs demolished by neglect and now Cuyahoga County Commissioners want to demolish by force, all to build a replacement building for their offices, at great cost to taxpayers... this is the Jacobs Coast Guard Station fiasco X 1000, and community leaders are letting this one slide too.

InfoTelis is hosting an elite panel discussion focusing on economic growth in Northeast Ohio through technology. Techonomic Talk – Voices of the Future brings top-notch experts together with business leaders, advocates and policymakers to explore emerging economic and technology issues in the region through a robust debate. Participants will have the opportunity to dig into the complex problems that crop up as emerging technologies meet traditional economic structure in Northeast Ohio and gain a better understanding of future opportunities and growth.

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Richard Louv, a futurist and journalist focused on family, nature and community, will be speaking about his most recent book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder at noon on Friday, September 22, 2006, at The City Club of Cleveland.

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Around 3:30 AM last night, I went to visit the Edgewater Deli where, a few hours earlier, Salim Alsoliman, 54, was murdered. A home-grown bouquet of flowers memorialized the site - I added some mums from my garden, to express my sadness for the loss of a neighbor and champion of the region. While I was there, some shocked friends of Salim and the other shooting victim of this senseless crime pulled up - recent immigrants to Cleveland, it seemed, as were the victims, I believe... the details are still not available.

With all the election and voting changes and problems in Ohio and Cuyahoga County, including a slew of negative issues related to Ohio-based Diebold and their executive support of the Republican Party and poor performance of their electronic voting machines, and recent court rulings on major Bush supporter Sec. of State Blackwell's efforts to change voting laws in Ohio, as he runs for governor, and the fiasco of the May 02, 2006 Cuyahoga County elections, this forum is certain to raise controversy and be quite worthwhile.

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I was very interested to learn today that three Ohio Universities were rated among the top 25 colleges for entrepreneurship by Entrepreneur.com and the Princeton Review, and I was surprised by which, and why. Most insightful, from the Entrepreneur.com website: "10 Essential Elements of an Entrepreneurship Program...Whether you're looking at one of the schools on our list or have found another program that intrigues you, here's what to look for to make sure you'll be successful in your studies:..."... read on.

I got back home to West Side Cleveland tonight about the same time a neighboring businessman, who clerks at Edgewater Deli, died at Lakewood Hospital, of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Rest in peace, Salim Alsoliman, 54. This senseless murder has been declared a robbery, with the murderers fleeing by car. I sometimes shop at the Edgewater Delicatessen, on Lake Avenue at West 87th Street, which had another clerk killing last year... so I've probably talked to the latest victim before. I remember, after the last Edgewater Deli killing, of Saleem Muqdady, 28, the owner of another convenient store on Fulton near Bridge, in Ohio City, installed bullet-proof glass at the register...which made Ohio City feel less safe. That owner doesn't usually hide behind the glass, but I'm sure he will now, at least until they catch the freaks who killed the latest of his brothers.  I've always considered Fulton and Bridge and the area of Lake and W. 87th very nice, but they are each near freeway on-ramps and so quick get-aways... just like my street of W. 45th, a block from another senseless murder in my neighborhood. It is sad to realize the reasons for senseless murder can be as simple as poor, sick, dirty dogs with guns, cars and good freeway access... very American Dream, really.  So sick. More about the Alsoliman murder below...

This weekend the Toronto arts and culture scene was world-class beyond belief, featuring the final weekend of the Toronto Film Festival, the opening of the new Four Seasons Opera House (premiering Wagner's Ring Cycle), many smaller community arts festivals, and two major arts festivals – the Queen West Arts Crawl, featuring over 500 artists and galleries along mind-blowing Queen Street) and the august 11th Annual Canadian Art Gallery Hop. The Queen West Arts Crawl was way cool, but I stayed in Toronto an extra day for Software Freedom Day and the Canadian Art Gallery Hop, as that featured a free “Glocal Live Roundtable” of many of Canada's arts leaders. “The term GLOCAL fuses global with local and points to the meshing of macro and micro realms of experience in the contemporary world of Internet technologies and instant information. The speed and collapsing distances of this new reality hold challenging implications for traditional identities and communities, along with promising opportunities.” The roundtable was astounding... see below for detailed notes of interest to all concerned about arts, culture and the economy, local to anywhere in the world and global.

By lucky coincidence, I was in Toronto on international Software Freedom Day and so had easy access to Ubuntu today, right when I needed it, and lots of Ubuntu and FOSS experts, and got to meet the cool people in Toronto who run the Toronto Ubuntu and Linux User Groups, and the Linux Caffe, and the awesome Center for Social Innovation... this city rocks in every way.

Imagine a day when the NY Times writes about NEO not just because of great real estate visionary David Perkowski but for political visionaries like in California. NEO leaders talk of how large our regional economy is, and the world knows how large a producer of greenhouse gases we are, so we should be ranked with New York and California in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. In the NY Times today there is an excellent article digging deeper into programs in California, developed by their democratic legislature and republican governor, addressing California's role in the global pollution crisis, and their respnse. We have an election coming up in Ohio in November to choose a new governor and a bunch of other politicians and the number one question of candidates should be how are you going to put Ohio on the same high level of global consciousness about global warming as has California leadership. We must raise the consciousness on this if we are to develop a new economy here, ever... here's how the Times writes of California... "This is the state that in the early 1970’s jump-started the worldwide adoption of catalytic converters... this is the state whose per capita energy consumption has been almost flat for 30 years, even as per capita consumption has risen 50 percent nationally... California, in fact, is making a huge bet: that it can reduce emissions without wrecking its economy, and therefore inspire other states — and countries — to follow its example on slowing climate change." Read more about CA's brave public leadership and the highly-paid, cowardly energy industry lobbyist-attornies below...