I will totally start writing about more cool things to do in/around Cleveland...

tomorrow.

Until then, just think of this as "what the heck, Cleveland? part deux".

Once again, Cleveland beats the snot out of Detroit and becomes the darling known as "America's Poorest City". This morning on good ol' WCPN when I first heard this it was accompanied by, what I deem, the best part of Cleveland pride. Instead of complaining about tax breaks for the rich or lack of support for the homeless or discussing regionalism or even how the Food Bank HAD TO EXPAND because TOO MANY PEOPLE were giving food, instead the thing that stood out the most was the declaration that the census was inherently flawed. Yeah, that makes everything better.

Here is an actual news article from Cleveland.com.

Actual Census .pdf

Yay for #7!?

Thank you "Forbes Magazine" for ranking Cleveland as the US's #7 drunkest city. I wouldn't be so offended if #8 wasn't Pittsburgh, a city with the most obscure of alcohol purchasing laws.

Check out the source HERE

You don't have to if you don't want to.

More wind power reads

I am well aware that the solution to changing the current practice of energy/power creation and distribution cannot realistically be resolved with a single approach solution, however, until solar power (photovoltaic or heat stack), wave power and geothermal become either more efficient or economical I will continue to push wind power as a relatively cheap, clean and efficient stop gap solution that can be implemented by private individuals who wish to hasten change.

Now wind power does have its downsides. In Ohio most wind pattern studies were of relatively low elevation wind patterns and velocities, it wasn't until recently that mid to high elevation studies were compiled showing that the northern coast of the state can attain constant and efficient power generation due to proximity to the jet stream. In fact, recent systems in place at Oberlin College and Bowling Green are proving that at the 100m elevation large scale power harvesting would be surprisingly economical.

Much of the debate doesn't just deal with power generation. There is the "it is ugly" debate, the "added infrastructure for roads and power lines" debate, the infamous and awful "bird strikes" argument (widely disproved by now), the "loud whooshing noise" argument which I find sort of funny and even the "the turbines will slow down the wind and destroy the jet stream" argument which seems to ignore the impact of deforestation or skyscraper construction.

If you would like to read some intelligent and interesting responses to those questions (none of them mine so they do actually exhibit comprehensive thought progression) I will suggest you take a look at Charles Komanoff's Whither Wind? article published in Orion Magazine Sept-Oct 2006.

I found the approach to studying and debating wind power in this article rather wonderful and hope that some of you will actually take the time to read it.

More trains and now movies and cars!

Wow, I don’t really know what happened with that last post but I don’t even think that using proper grammar of any sort passed through my mind. I was in a hurry for an interview for a new job and just dashed that out so I could run out the door. I refuse to fix that post, let it exist as a glaring example of the atrocity that I can and probably will commit again, to the human language. I suppose if anyone would like to send me a copy of Eats, Shoots and Leaves, I would be very happy.

So much has happened. I took a new job so I will not be posting my resume or portfolio for quite some time. There are going to be a lot of changes in the next couple of months and I probably won’t have the time to go back and edit all that noise anyway.

Yesterday my girlfriend and I went on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Peninsula Explorer which traveled through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Rockside Road in Independence, Ohio down to Peninsula, Ohio. It was only a 13 mile journey but it was quite beautiful and the little town of Peninsula had tons of interesting older homes and some rather nice little shops to visit. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad also offers a bunch of holiday themed train rides as well as some rather fun sounding wine-centric train rides, if you imbibe in that sort of thing.

Also, as our “day out about town” sort of excursion for the day progressed we finished up the festivities of the day by seeing The Shining on the big screen at Playhouse Square. Yes, they are showing some great films in that marvelous building. Yesterday we got to see West Side Story as well. Two films I had never had the chance to see before. Apparently my life is rather sheltered. I don’t think I understand all of what I saw in The Shining. The bit with the guy in the rabbit suit will probably leave me guessing for decades. If you happen to have any clarifications please keep them to yourself. I don’t even think I want to know what was supposed to be going on there.

Before I go, let me remind you that the Madison Car Kulture car show will go on today from noon until 8pm on Madison Road in Lakewood, Ohio. Perhaps I will see you there.

Who ya gonna call?

My girlfriend, who is of infinite wisdom, grace and beauty, somehow finds some of the most interesting going-ons in the news and what not and notifies me of said going-ons.

This one I find particularly timely, not only as I start to debate a new mobile plan as my current phone and plan is of the sucky nature and in need of replacement and I don’t want to just throw out my old phone (being as it is full of heavy metals and what not) and I don’t want to start collecting them. I find it sad enough that I have my old phone from 2 years ago sitting on a shelf in my room.

Anyway, ReCellular will take your old phone, refurbish or recycle it and then sells them in locations where creating a cellular network is cheaper and easier then creating regular telecommunications infrastructure.

Here is the CNN article that explains it some.

I like trains and buses too.

So in betwixt debating if I am wanting to start working for another architecture firm or perhaps begin the arduous journey of self employment I have had multiple discussions with myself, in the form of day dreams turned into naps, or vacantly staring into space or perhaps sitting on the porch with my sketch book sipping diet cokes and watching the neighborhood kids curse each other out. It dawned on me that if I were to take another office job it would have to be someplace I could utilize the public transportation system to get to. Don’t get me wrong, I could have taken it to get to my previous job making the typically half hour drive through the Heights of Cleveland (also known as the land of no brake lights or turn signals, where you can run a red light as long as you honk, and where actually staying in one lane signifies you as weak) a new and exciting 2 hour journey.

With this in mind the new prospect of taking the train to a downtown office, or perhaps even bus around town excites me. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) while not as wondrous in nature YET as Portland, Oregon’s, is still pretty dang good and effective at getting you around the city in a cheap, timely and clean manner. Last year they even started allowing bikes on the train during non-rush hour times!

Anyway, this whole tangent was brought upon by this Getting Around Transportation Today poster which I found on Treehugger.com. I find a lot of stuff there. If you people would just go there you could probably save me a lot of time.

I love local wind power.

My mother has about 5 acres next to a freeway in a rather rural (well to me anyway, I have only seen a cow up close once and it was urinating and scared the bejeezus out of me) with a nice little field all backed up against the freeway surrounded by a couple stands of trees. I can’t tell if there are vernal pools yet on the property in that area but there are a couple pools that I have seen large tadpole develop in before they dry up.

I bring this up because for a couple of years my mother has been interested in putting up a small wind turbine to help take her farm/house off the grid a little bit more. I suppose my main concern is with pay back. She is only an educator, not a professional athlete, however with the new rebates (Thanks Ohio!) it seems more and more likely that she might be able to go in that direction. In fact, if planned properly, payback of all the costs could be as soon as 3 to 5 years!

Anyway, here is a Wall Street Journal article about the whole shebang including the usual NIMBY attitude, a brief discussion on the rumor of bird strikes and some cost to power output comparisons. Not the most exciting stuff but it IS only Sunday morning.

Also, for you other Ohioans who are thinking about putting up your own turbine, how about a handy Ohio Wind Speed Map to help you out?

And for you non-Ohioans who are now wind curious, how about a resource for you guys?

Remember these guides are just simple guides. You will have to take into account the height of the turbine you want to put up as wind conditions can change drastically at different elevations. Bowling Green's windfarm is a great example for you naysayers. Four turbines can provide power for 3,000 residents!

It would just be rude if I ignored the Great Lakes Science Center's very own turbine.

Hey Mom, if you read this, lets check out those ponds and put up a wind turbine!

Cleveland, poised on the precipice of doing something new and, well, good.

"UPS, with help from the EPA and Eaton Corp. of Cleveland, has introduced the world's first hydraulic hybrid diesel delivery vehicle. The environmentally friendly truck, which Eaton and EPA officials said can increase fuel efficiency by 60 to 70 percent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 40 percent, made a stop Monday in Cleveland."

Read the Entire Plain Dealer article

Seven Days to Green Your Life

I ran into this during my daily perusing of Treehugger.Com and figured I would throw this up here before I headed out for a little bit this afternoon.

It is an article from The Independent about how to “green your life in seven days”. It basically breaks down everyday life into the “7 deadly Eco-Sins” and then gives you a step by step 7 day plan to create new habits that will lead to atonement. Anyway, check it out, I found it fun, but then, I am a geek about this stuff. Also, there are even more links all throughout the article.

Seven Days to Green Your Life by Donnachadh McCarthy.

New Happenings 2006 08.26

2006 August 26

Mark your calendar for the 4th Annual Madison Car Kulture show on Madison Avenue between Lewis Drive and Clarence Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio from noon to 8pm (or something along those lines). Admission is free and although I will profess to be a “treehuggin’ big motor loathing everyone should bike instead” sort of man I will admit that shiny cars are a source of visceral enjoyment. I can quiet the logical part of my brains to lose myself in the glorious man made contraptions that perpetuate our dependence on a solitary society and nonrenewable energy source because I constantly am able to ask myself “why are there no biodiesel, hybrid, or good ol’ fashioned electric automobiles?”

Click here for the Plain Dealer’s exhaustive article.

Speaking of which I really dropped the ball by not telling the biodiesel guys I met at the Great Lakes Burning River Fest about this car show. I will remedy this as soon as I can find their contact info.

Speaking of Bio-Diesel

I thought this comic was very timely and funny in that oh so familiar disturbing way. You know, where there is a little bit of truth to it.

I can't bring the image in because it breaks the site in Internet Explorer but you can click here to view the funniness

This is a great site for educators and people interested in learning about environmental issues.

Rustle the Leaf

Of course I offer many such interesting links over at the links page. Links are like library books, you should check 'em out.

C'mon Dru, get on with the HAPPENINGS!

While I admit that half of the lack of postings in this blog has to do with forgetting my username and password combination the other half is due to the stemming of elaborate projects reaching out from the ground and clawing at the sky intertwined with the multitude of local happenings that are, um, happening.

First due up is, of course for those interested in the happenings of the personal nature is, the inclusion not only of resume and fun time “teaserfolio” in my search for prospective offerings of the professional sort as well as some reviews and much needed links of local going-ons that are not only highly enjoyable but also *gasp* mildly educational. Within this vein I had traveled to the 2006 Burning River Fest which had surpassed last years in scope and awesomeness. Things of this nature get me all invigorated concerning my city and the hope that sometimes escapes its grasp. I plan to follow up with photos and reviews but first have to dig through the gigantic PILE of information that my loved one and I collected.

In summation here is a list of things to look for.
- Online resume/portfolio
- Burning River Fest Review with pictures.

I swear, I will get this all up in what appears to be a timely manner to, well, me.

Two weeks go by and NO NEW NEWS?

Not exactly. I ask your humble apologies. You see, I have been working on a myriad of projects set for unveiling on the first. Nothing exciting but instead time consuming and exhausting. It has been very warm in my home office and my computers are of the wind up variety that don't react well to large files and hot air.

Things have been afoot but I have found that my sources online have done more then enough to spread the word and any reiteration from myself will only dilute the message.

Enough of this, I have work to do.

When next you see me I may be a new man.

Will William McDonough be my new daddy?

A long time ago, when I was but a glimmer of a spec of a college student, I had received via post a fine brown cardboard box from Amazon, that ubiquitous online resource that constantly fights to empty any liquid assets I would have the fortune to collect. Within the confines of said box rested a tome that to this day fills my heart with that warm fuzzy feeling usually construed with too much caffeine. It was a smallish book, some would say a manual, who’s pages would not degrade when wet and who (if you had the copious time) you could bury in the back yard and later retrieve and enjoy its pristine condition. I speak of that wonderful diatribe Cradle to Cradle.

I am not trying to come off as a groupie of Mr. McDonough and Michael Braungart (God knows there are probably enough camping out on their respective tree lawns and throwing various garments at them when they speak such as all rock gods deserve) but I would like to act not only as a proponent for that fine book, but also for the intent behind it.

With such in mind I offer the following link to a 45 minute long conference speech given by Mr. McDonough in the year 2000CE at Bioneers.

and his official website.

There, go, click and be fruitful.