Brown Flynn has narrowed their list of favorite local non-profits down to 10 and are asking citizens to "vote" for their favorite ones via donations. Mildly feeling similar to a high school popularity contest except in this case there are no losers.
How about a little "who the heck is Brown Flynn?" answer for you?
A community relationship management firm, Brown Flynn helps organizations “do well while doing good” in the community. We combine a collaborative approach, innovative consultation and communications solutions to create strategic connections within and between businesses, non-profit organizations and foundations. Respected for our integrity and known for our conscientious style, we are vested in our clients, communities and one another.
Straight from the "about us" web page!
Anyway, the 10 finalists are...
Shoes and Clothes for Kids
Parkworks
Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
The Littlest Heroes
Entrepreneurs for Sustainability
Corsortium of African American Organizations
Cleveland Public Art
Cleveland Bridge Builders
Artists Archive of the Western Reserve
Check out the above groups and look around their sites a bit, even better, go see in person what they are about. I know for a fact that groups like this love to talk to new people about what they do. Then, when you are so inclined, go ahead and show your support. The best part about organizations like this is that it allows YOU, the citizen, to affect change in your community.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
Great Lakes Restoration Conference
September 22 -24 at the Crowne Plaza City Centre in sunny Cleveland, Ohio
Purpose is to get like minded folks who would like to make a concentrated effort to protect and preserve our Great Lakes and in essence, help out the economies that depend on them. So much has been in the news lately about decreasing lake levels, pollution and economic development centered around the Great Lakes.
I realize that it seems like a huge undertaking, trying to get the White House to reinstate funds for the protection of the Great Lakes but involvement in local, and not so local groups do wonders to garner press and raise awareness.
If for nothing else go for the food, music and a trip on the Goodtime III!
Great Lakes Restoration Conference webpage
Purpose is to get like minded folks who would like to make a concentrated effort to protect and preserve our Great Lakes and in essence, help out the economies that depend on them. So much has been in the news lately about decreasing lake levels, pollution and economic development centered around the Great Lakes.
I realize that it seems like a huge undertaking, trying to get the White House to reinstate funds for the protection of the Great Lakes but involvement in local, and not so local groups do wonders to garner press and raise awareness.
If for nothing else go for the food, music and a trip on the Goodtime III!
Great Lakes Restoration Conference webpage
Thursday, September 21, 2006
English K-ni-git makes Americans look like tools
Sir Richard Branson, shown above (in the space suit, doing what he does best: livin' da life) has won a special place in my heart recently despite running a company named "Virgin". Besides investing in companies I already love, such as Scaled Composites and investing in Cilion for ethanol development (although I shake my head at making it from corn) he recently launched Virgin Fuels which will concentrate on "green" fuel for both the Virgin Air and Virgin Trains businesses. Now, in a move to win even more of my heart (oh, his eyes are DREAMY!) Sir Branson, pardon me, Richard has promised to commit all profits from the airline and rail firms for the next 10 years into fighting global warming. The investments (estimated to reach 3 billion dollars - about 17 days of war in Iraq) will concentrate on developing renewable energy technologies through Virgin Fuels.Marvelous.
Cite your source
Something is in the air...
and the state of California isn't happy about it.
Wednesday, California, or someone possibly acting on its behalf (state Attorney General Bill Lockyer?), filed a lawsuit against 6 automakers stating that...
"The injuries have caused the people to suffer billions of dollars in damages, including millions of dollars of funds expended to determine the extent, location and nature of future harm and to prepare for and mitigate those harms, and billions of dollars of current harm to the value of flood control infrastructure and natural resources,".
Citing greenhouse gas emissions as the primary culprit, the lawsuit comes a month after California passes a law forcing industries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.
The six companies cited in the lawsuit are General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler AG, Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Ironically, stocks in the six companies had increased in value by the end of the day.
Cite your source
Wednesday, California, or someone possibly acting on its behalf (state Attorney General Bill Lockyer?), filed a lawsuit against 6 automakers stating that...
"The injuries have caused the people to suffer billions of dollars in damages, including millions of dollars of funds expended to determine the extent, location and nature of future harm and to prepare for and mitigate those harms, and billions of dollars of current harm to the value of flood control infrastructure and natural resources,".
Citing greenhouse gas emissions as the primary culprit, the lawsuit comes a month after California passes a law forcing industries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.
The six companies cited in the lawsuit are General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler AG, Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Ironically, stocks in the six companies had increased in value by the end of the day.
Cite your source
PARK(ing) Success
After lunch I took off from the ol' office and wandered around the mythical East 9th and Huron intersection (actually E. 9th and Prospect as Huron tends to disappear before intersecting East 9th on either side). I was in search of some sort of art installation and armed with my trusty (and slightly rebellious) digital camera I set forth with the mission to find said installation thing and document it, mostly because I am a geek. As in the previous postings I had mentioned that Cleveland Public Art, Spaces Gallery, Green City Blue Lake and Bruce Hotel were sponsoring the violent and subversive capture and desecration of a perfectly good downtown parking spot. Yes, people, no doubt kids rebelling against their parents, curfews, and green vegetables created a public green space downtown! Not that they were trying to say that Cleveland does not have its share of nice little parks. We have quite a few. I think the whole purpose was to put into perspective how much land is set aside for personal vehicles to sit out in the sun and how little land is set aside for the actual people. Didn't Douglas Adams comment upon how if an alien species were to first step foot upon the planet they would no doubt assume that cars were the most prevalent and dominant life form? Anyway, photos of such activity (probably not gang related) follows.
...from a distance, basically when I finally found the dang thing.
... as a Plain Dealer photographer was trying to figure out what the caption should read. The huge black SUV in the background had just stopped and looked accusingly at the nice people sitting on the grass. I was wondering what confrontational comments would be bandied about. One of the PARK(ing) people nicely commented that there wasn't enough room for them to share the spot and the SUV moved on. When I left there was over an hour left on the meter. I hope they stayed and enjoyed the sun all day.
...as an added bonus, a nice shot of public square under construction from my office. I think the city is beautiful.
I hope that the whole PARK(ing) day celebration was an enormous success and pray that more people become instigated enough to get involved. If there is anything a city cannot have enough of, it is public art.
...from a distance, basically when I finally found the dang thing.
... as a Plain Dealer photographer was trying to figure out what the caption should read. The huge black SUV in the background had just stopped and looked accusingly at the nice people sitting on the grass. I was wondering what confrontational comments would be bandied about. One of the PARK(ing) people nicely commented that there wasn't enough room for them to share the spot and the SUV moved on. When I left there was over an hour left on the meter. I hope they stayed and enjoyed the sun all day.
...as an added bonus, a nice shot of public square under construction from my office. I think the city is beautiful.I hope that the whole PARK(ing) day celebration was an enormous success and pray that more people become instigated enough to get involved. If there is anything a city cannot have enough of, it is public art.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Smilin' Al Gore makes more headlines in a good way
In an effort to cause even MORE confusion among those trying to predict what the Democratic party will attempt come 2008 Al Gore steps up to the podium at New York University's School of Law, no doubt with a brand new powerpoint presentation in his pocket, and boldly states...
"Penalizing pollution instead of penalizing employment will work to reduce that pollution,"...
What? Tax polluters? I squealed with what could be construed as delight. With California already leading the nation in progressive penalties for high production polluting peoples (HA!) and Clinton attempting to start a state by state initiative to create stricter pollution controls it seems that not only is everyone jumping on the bandwagon, but they are jumping on the SAME bandwagon.
Almost.
Gore, bless his heart, is attempting to take it even further, wanting the US to rejoin negotiations and participate in (by actually agreeing to AND signing) the next Kyoto Protocol successor and by placing heavy taxes (some could say fines even) on companies that create large amounts of pollution. I suppose it only makes sense since someone has to subsidize the cleanup of brownfield sites, water and air cleaning/purification projects, health care for those affected by the pollutants, etc.
Cite your source!
"Penalizing pollution instead of penalizing employment will work to reduce that pollution,"...
What? Tax polluters? I squealed with what could be construed as delight. With California already leading the nation in progressive penalties for high production polluting peoples (HA!) and Clinton attempting to start a state by state initiative to create stricter pollution controls it seems that not only is everyone jumping on the bandwagon, but they are jumping on the SAME bandwagon.
Almost.
Gore, bless his heart, is attempting to take it even further, wanting the US to rejoin negotiations and participate in (by actually agreeing to AND signing) the next Kyoto Protocol successor and by placing heavy taxes (some could say fines even) on companies that create large amounts of pollution. I suppose it only makes sense since someone has to subsidize the cleanup of brownfield sites, water and air cleaning/purification projects, health care for those affected by the pollutants, etc.
Cite your source!
Trees have to pay parking meters too
Celebrate National PARK(ing) Day tomorrow, September 21st around Cleveland (and probably other major cities as well).
Cleveland Public Art, Spaces Gallery, Hotel Bruce and Green City Blue Lake will be taking over metered parking spots downtown Cleveland around noon and converting them into some lovely green spaces complete with a bench and tree.
Locations:
West Side Market
E 9th and Huron
Warehouse District
Stop by, enjoy your lunch at a new urban park that is guaranteed not to last. I guess we should celebrate that ironically once in a while.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Smoke up Johnny!
I think I have officially quit smoking now for around two years and have turned into (almost) the worst sort of ex-smoker. There are bars and clubs I will refuse to go into due to the cigarette smoke. Even when the new Grog Shop moved and opened up I found myself passing on shows that I would have loved to see because I just cannot handle the air in there. Despite pleas to turn the fans on to suck out the smoke instead of pushing it back down on the crowd I usually find my eyes watering something awful.
Come November Cleveland has a lot of options to counter smoke in public places. There is my favorite Smoke Free Ohio that is looking to ban smoking in public places. Hey, I understand, it is your right to smoke, but no where in the world is it acceptable to poison someone else so you can enjoy a frivolous habit. Smoke at home, kill your plants, etc, just get that crap out of my face.
Also, the new cigarette tax is poised to put some monies back into the public arts. As one of the few major cities that DOES NOT RECEIVE PUBLIC MONEY FOR THE ARTS Cleveland is sorely lacking and it is only due to private contributors and the hard work of our local talent that lets us enjoy the level of culture that we do. I, for one, am constantly amazed at the sort of things local galleries and theatres are doing and even though I am still young enough to take it for granted I try hard to take the time to appreciate what is being done around me.
Anyway, some of the new proposed tax is slotted to go to public arts giving smokers the chance to act "holier then thou" from the privacy of their own home. Some say this affects the poor more. I don't really understand how. When I was strapped for cash you know what I didn't buy? Cigarettes. Wasn't that hard a choice to make. Stop eating or stop smoking. Sort of a no-brainer. Heck, if it actually worked that way we would have a lot of healthier poor people on our streets that wouldn't be so poor.
I see this sort of thing creating even more attention in the upcoming elections then the govenor's race and although I find that a little bit sad, at least people will be getting to the polls and voting. Heck, go into work late, hang out with some friends and make some changes.
Just don't forget your id. That link was easy as pie to find so let me copy in the necessary information.
Identification Requirements
Ohio voters are now required to provide proof of identity before voting. The form of identification that you may use includes your current and valid state-issued photo identification card, military identification, copy of utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or government document showing your name and current address. (Note: You cannot use as proof of identification a notice that the board of elections mailed to you.) If you do not have, or fail or refuse to provide, the required proof of identity, you may cast a provisional ballot.
Come November Cleveland has a lot of options to counter smoke in public places. There is my favorite Smoke Free Ohio that is looking to ban smoking in public places. Hey, I understand, it is your right to smoke, but no where in the world is it acceptable to poison someone else so you can enjoy a frivolous habit. Smoke at home, kill your plants, etc, just get that crap out of my face.
Also, the new cigarette tax is poised to put some monies back into the public arts. As one of the few major cities that DOES NOT RECEIVE PUBLIC MONEY FOR THE ARTS Cleveland is sorely lacking and it is only due to private contributors and the hard work of our local talent that lets us enjoy the level of culture that we do. I, for one, am constantly amazed at the sort of things local galleries and theatres are doing and even though I am still young enough to take it for granted I try hard to take the time to appreciate what is being done around me.
Anyway, some of the new proposed tax is slotted to go to public arts giving smokers the chance to act "holier then thou" from the privacy of their own home. Some say this affects the poor more. I don't really understand how. When I was strapped for cash you know what I didn't buy? Cigarettes. Wasn't that hard a choice to make. Stop eating or stop smoking. Sort of a no-brainer. Heck, if it actually worked that way we would have a lot of healthier poor people on our streets that wouldn't be so poor.
I see this sort of thing creating even more attention in the upcoming elections then the govenor's race and although I find that a little bit sad, at least people will be getting to the polls and voting. Heck, go into work late, hang out with some friends and make some changes.
Just don't forget your id. That link was easy as pie to find so let me copy in the necessary information.
Ohio voters are now required to provide proof of identity before voting. The form of identification that you may use includes your current and valid state-issued photo identification card, military identification, copy of utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or government document showing your name and current address. (Note: You cannot use as proof of identification a notice that the board of elections mailed to you.) If you do not have, or fail or refuse to provide, the required proof of identity, you may cast a provisional ballot.
R.C. 3503.28(A)(1)(6)
Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a reminder or a voter registration notification, that shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot.
Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a social security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot.
(The above requirement is effective June 1, 2006)
Sunday, September 17, 2006
CHUH library pictures as promised
Well, it was a crazy day to actually go. There was some sort of something going on, I was too busy looking at how stuff came out to actually figure out what was happening. I was pretty much accosted by Clifford the Big Red Dog (who looks MUCH bigger on TV) and there were clowns (SCARY) and jugglers and other scary things.
Oh well, here are some pictures.
-the infamous walkway
- walkway from the inside, where you walk, etc.
- check out those gigantic piers, that handsome man is dwarfed!
-main library entry on Lee Road. Jugglers not a standard decoration.
Oh well, here are some pictures.
-the infamous walkway
- walkway from the inside, where you walk, etc.
- check out those gigantic piers, that handsome man is dwarfed!
-main library entry on Lee Road. Jugglers not a standard decoration.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Image upload test 2
Well, it seems the image of Hagrid and I in front of the library came out just fine.
He was all like "Now don't be doing magic outside of the library Harry!" and I was going "I'm not Harry!" and he was like "Dumbledore will be upset with you if you act the like a wanker!" and then he mumbled something about gringets or something and wandered off. Man, tall people are weird.
He was all like "Now don't be doing magic outside of the library Harry!" and I was going "I'm not Harry!" and he was like "Dumbledore will be upset with you if you act the like a wanker!" and then he mumbled something about gringets or something and wandered off. Man, tall people are weird.Cleveland 2006 SPARX Gallery Hop
Before I post pictures from the library, which I went to and was indeed happy with how the whole thing came out, I will first post some news about a weekend event you might be interested in because there will still be time on the morrow to do something with this information.SPARX in the city Gallery Tour 2006 .
This is the fourth year that this has been going. Basically a bunch of galleries around and in the city have "happenings" which you can go to, either via your legs (lots of walking), your bike (lots of peddling), your car (you better carpool), public transportation via GCRTA, or the take the special TROLLEY for 5 bucks. Here is a pretty nice map that you can download/print out/memorize and plan your trip out on a lazy Sunday after watching the Browns trounce the Bengals. If you are into that sort of thing. Which I am.
Today I just went to the chalk festival at the Cleveland Museum of Art (oh GOD when are they going to reopen?) and even though it was the first day you could already feel the EXCITEMENT in the air. Also, seeing a bunch of families hanging out while the kids drew was pretty neat-o.
Just a couple of pictures whilst I try to figure out what the heck I am doing.
Breathing earth
I thought this was pretty neat-o.
"This presentation displays the carbon dioxide emission levels of every country in the world, as well as their birth and death rates - all in real-time."
Breathing Earth
It is Flash based page.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Dru is all about the doom, save the planet, hug a tree, yadda yadda yadda.
Tomorrow is my birthday
and I do what I want.
"This presentation displays the carbon dioxide emission levels of every country in the world, as well as their birth and death rates - all in real-time."
Breathing Earth
It is Flash based page.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Dru is all about the doom, save the planet, hug a tree, yadda yadda yadda.
Tomorrow is my birthday
and I do what I want.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Steve Litt likes me and he doesn't even know it!
On the 9th of this month (the 9th month!) Mr. Steven Litt, architecture critic for THE Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote a pretty nice article about a project I got to work on. The CHUH library, which I had linked to before is now open to the general public. There was a special invite for library employees and other people related to the project but I wasn't invited anymore since I no longer work for the architecture firm that handled it.
All I can say is that I am really happy for Marc and Jim and hope them the best in capitalizing on this good exposure. I admit I was pretty upset since I spent a LOT of time and EFFORT designing that damn walkway and don't even get to taste the fruits of that labor but hopefully it will push design in the city of Cleveland a little bit further down that modernist road and away from that damn "Western Reserve" crap so many people think is proper. Criminy. (As for full disclosure I also partook in a western reserve style building while employed at Studio Techne that turned out pretty nice).
To be honest I was worried that Mr. Litt would actually hate the walkway but now that I find out he liked it, all I can say is "HOORAY!" and "I will do even better next time!". Anyway, I have that article clipped and saved in my portfolio.
Also, the structural engineer I got to work with, Miklos Peller PE, was wonderful and even though I think I am geeky enough to want to learn all I can about something and some people find that annoying, I think Mik really enjoyed talking to a designer who was that interested in how things really work. He even brought me in some books and articles.
I should also be nice and include the Studio Techne Architects link. I am probably still on the employee list.
ps. I will probably swing by tomorrow to check it out. Look forward to some pictures if I am not to lazy to post them.
All I can say is that I am really happy for Marc and Jim and hope them the best in capitalizing on this good exposure. I admit I was pretty upset since I spent a LOT of time and EFFORT designing that damn walkway and don't even get to taste the fruits of that labor but hopefully it will push design in the city of Cleveland a little bit further down that modernist road and away from that damn "Western Reserve" crap so many people think is proper. Criminy. (As for full disclosure I also partook in a western reserve style building while employed at Studio Techne that turned out pretty nice).
To be honest I was worried that Mr. Litt would actually hate the walkway but now that I find out he liked it, all I can say is "HOORAY!" and "I will do even better next time!". Anyway, I have that article clipped and saved in my portfolio.
Also, the structural engineer I got to work with, Miklos Peller PE, was wonderful and even though I think I am geeky enough to want to learn all I can about something and some people find that annoying, I think Mik really enjoyed talking to a designer who was that interested in how things really work. He even brought me in some books and articles.
I should also be nice and include the Studio Techne Architects link. I am probably still on the employee list.
ps. I will probably swing by tomorrow to check it out. Look forward to some pictures if I am not to lazy to post them.
You can't blame the Sun for everything?!
Yet another lame excuse for not accepting human contribution to global warming has started to lose even more credibility. A recent report of a study undertaken by scientists in the United States (I didn't know we were allowed to study the environment!), Germany and Switzerland is stating that over the 11-year sunspot cycles the sun's brightness has only varied by .07%.
They looked at records going back to the 1600's and concluded that there was little solar warming or cooling and that sea sediment suggest that there have been no "dramatic shifts" in solar energy output for the past 1000 years.
Basically, the report says that you can't blame the sun for the recent trend in global warming. That leaves us with cosmic rays, UV radiation or even possibly the emission of greenhouse gases though the burning of fossil fuels. Who ever would have thought?
Cite Your Source
They looked at records going back to the 1600's and concluded that there was little solar warming or cooling and that sea sediment suggest that there have been no "dramatic shifts" in solar energy output for the past 1000 years.
Basically, the report says that you can't blame the sun for the recent trend in global warming. That leaves us with cosmic rays, UV radiation or even possibly the emission of greenhouse gases though the burning of fossil fuels. Who ever would have thought?
Cite Your Source
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