Akron

Tip of the Hat and Props to PD's Michael McIntyre - First Reporter to Recognize "A new cash crop" for Ohio

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 06/21/2010 - 14:41.

Tip of the Hat and Props to the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Michael McIntyre, and his Tipoff column today - First Reporter to Recognize "A new cash crop" for Ohio.

I look forward to discussing this initiative in detail with Michael and others in the media and public, as it is important to educate the community on the economic benefits we will receive from "Growing a Bright Green NEO PAC for Legalization & Commercialization of Cannabis Crops, Products & Services".

Here is Michael McIntyre's correct and intelligent impression of our initiative to make Northeast Ohio the Open Source Capital of the Brightest Greenest State of Earth:

A new cash crop

Some Northeast Ohio boosters are pushing for a new product to revive the local economy: Marijuana. And, no, stoners, they're not talking about boosting sales of Doritos.

Norm Roulet of the RealNEO blog announced last week that a political action committee, Real Green NEO PAC, was formed to push for a November ballot issue for "enlightened legalization of cannabis crops."

"Cannabis has been cultivated in nearly every province and climatic zone in China from ancient times to the present"

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 06/16/2010 - 09:30.

December 29, 2009 - China executed a British citizen, Akmal Shaikh, caught smuggling heroin

When United States leaders speak of developing our "homeland security" by drilling and stripmining our way to "energy independence", I must question their scientific integrity and intellectual competency.

It is well understood worldwide that our Federal government has made impossible the development of an industrial hemp economy in America, which offers citizens a greater degree of energy independence here, because past corporate tycoons were able to force corrupt and ignorant politicians to incorrectly associated "hemp" with "marijuana", and "marijuana" has incorrectly been branded as dangerous and addictive by many ignorant and corrupt American scientists, and the corporate tycoons who pay their salaries.

Long story short, because of the ignorant 1936 low-grade American exploitation film called "Reefer Madness", the tuly mad leadership of America has long outlawed developing industrial hemp resources, intellectual property, and technologies in America.

Identifiable effects on public health which may be expected from the presence of a pollutant in ambient air, e.g. Heart Attacks

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 06/07/2010 - 11:00.

As a result of old science, politics and industry dominating energy, health and environmental planning and development of Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, Ohio and America, citizens here must confront the realities of too much pollution in our air today, with certainty of growing air pollution worldwide in the years ahead. As such, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's 2009 Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter finds our pollution causes cardiovascular and respiratory problems and death... topping a long list of cumulative harm pollution causes people and society. Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter forms the scientific foundation for the review of the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM) in America, and "accurately reflects “the latest scientific knowledge useful in indicating the kind and extent of identifiable effects on public health which may be expected from the presence of [a] pollutant in ambient air”".

As I've long written on realNEO, Northeast Ohio has a pollution crisis and does a poor job or monitoring our pollution, putting citizens' lives in danger. How much in danger is the subject of this lengthy EPA analysis. In short, you are certainly being harmed greatly by the high levels of PM clearly released into the air in Northeast Ohio, especially near major roadways and coal burning facilities that are source points, like Mittal and MCCO. For example: "Epidemiologic studies that examined the effect of PM 2.5 on cardiovascular emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions reported consistent positive associations (predominantly for ischemic heart disease [IHD] and congestive heart failure [CHF]), with the majority of studies reporting increases ranging from 0.5 to 3.4% per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 2.5".

HAPPY HOLIDAY REALNEO

Submitted by Keith Winston on Mon, 05/31/2010 - 08:01.

                      Happy Holiday everyone on REALNEO and please drive safe and drive for others watch the children,and eat plenty of food.       BE BLESSED

Air Quality Advisory in NE Ohio - Thursday, May 27, 2010 Only

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 09:46.
05/27/2010 - 00:00
05/27/2010 - 23:59
Etc/GMT-4

Northeast Ohio - Today's high temperatures and lack of wind may result in exceedances today for both ground-level ozone and fine particles.  An Air Quality Advisory is in effect for today, May 27, only.  Fine particle concentrations will be highest in urban areas, while ozone may be more widespread.

Location

Northeast Ohio
United States

A Dangerously Misleading Article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer Prompts Me To Publish REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER RISK

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 05/20/2010 - 01:45.

I was flabbergasted to read an article in the Cleveland Plain Deal titled "Organic food benefits debated in wake of president's report on cancer, environment", about the 2008–2009 Annual Report of the President’s Cancer Panel - REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER RISK... What We Can Do Now, that has nothing to do with ORGANIC FOOD, is misleading, and seems intended to further dumb-down local citizens to the health hazards caused by excessive polluting and medical interventions here, preventing citizens from following one of the core Recommendations:

SELF-ADVOCACY

7. Each person can become an active voice in his or her community.  To a greater extent than many realize, individuals have the power to affect public policy by letting policymakers know that they strongly support environmental cancer research and measures that will reduce or remove from the environment toxics that are known or suspected carcinogens or endocrine-disrupting chemicals.  Individuals also can influence industry by selecting non-toxic products and, where these do not exist, communicating with manufacturers and trade organizations about their desire for safer products.

EPA regulatory proposals that address emissions from boilers, process heaters, and certain solid waste incinerators

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 05/03/2010 - 14:02.

On April 29, 2010, EPA proposed a set of regulatory proposals under the Clean Air Act that address emissions from boilers, process heaters, and certain solid waste incinerators. These rules would significantly cut emissions of pollutants that are of particular concern for children. Mercury and lead can cause adverse affects on children's developing brains -- including effects on IQ, learning, and memory. The rules would also reduce emissions of other pollutants including cadmium, dioxin, furans, formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid. These pollutants can cause cancer or other adverse health effects in adults and children. Together, these rules would cut mercury and other air toxics emissions from nearly 200,000 units across the U.S.

Make sense of what just doesn't make sense, by doing things like growing GRASS...

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sat, 05/01/2010 - 15:05.

ICEarth Bigbang computers, our Linux distro, and our optimal open source data and application configurations are designed to handle the most processor (CPU and GPU), memory and transaction intensive challenges in the world, to save Earth. Doing that requires an integration of our regional and global geographic information systems with layers of valuable insight not yet integrated, like environmental, atmospheric and topographic data, to drive analyses of life impacting factors in our neighborhoods like environmental fallout from all sources of pollution, to the home and child, for free to them. A good explanation of the type of data and analyses included in such capabilities is described below, helping you make sense of what just doesn't make sense, by doing things like growing GRASS...

Question of the Day: What is the Connection between Lead Poisoning, renal function, diabetes, and hypertension

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 14:24.

Whether you care about childhood lead poisoning or not, I think you'll be interested by important insight on Lead, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Renal Function that everyone in the world should understand. Think of the cost of this on society - the suffering, reduced quality of life, and lost years for so many people, caused by lead harming kidney function. Here's the intro and abstract - you'll need to set up an account on WebMD to read the rest (apparently free - this is not an endorsement of WebMD... I am not a member... I will join to read the rest of this  and let you know my thoughts)...

NEO Leaders Speak Of Driving New Economy Growth - Since November, 2008, real NEO Has Grown Like This!

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 10:38.

I've been asked what our traffic looks like over time, so I pulled a few quick charts of the number of visitors to realneo since we started using Google Analytics, and what they have visited, to measure performance of this site - and we've grown by pretty much all counts I've considered important by 30-100% since then - in some cases by 1,000s% - in less than a year-and-a-half.

If You Are A "Politician" In Northeast Ohio Not Committed To Lead Poisoning Eradication, You Must Resign

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 04/26/2010 - 05:00.

2008 Lead Poisonings of children in Cuyahoga County, Ohio - do not move here

2008 Lead Poisonings of children in Cuyahoga County, Ohio - do not move here

The Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council has released data on children in the neighborhoods of Cleveland and surrounding suburbs who were tested and documented as lead poisoned in Cuyahoga County in 2008 - about 3,200 of our Cleveland children were KNOWN to be lost to lead poisoning - about 4,000 children poisoned in Cuyahoga County overall. As only a small percentage of our children are actually tested for lead poisoning, the numbers of children in the County lost to lead poisoning is much higher... 1,000s of victims higher.

Cleveland's worst known mass-murderer, Anthony Sowell, is only known to have killed 11 people.... yet that has captured 1000s of inches of pointless newsprint... hours of pointless news coverage... to help nobody.

EPA Announces Start of National Lead-Safe Renovation Program to Protect Children and Pregnant Women

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 04/23/2010 - 20:41.

Home Depot attempts to delay EPA rules protecting children and pregnant women from lead poisoning?!?!

Home Depot uses Ohio U.S. Senator George Victor Voinovich in a failed attempt
to delay EPA rules protecting children and pregnant women from lead poisoning?!?!

Despite the foolish, incompetent, worst efforts of our disgraceful Republican U.S. Senator from Ohio, Genocidal-George Voinovich, who attempted to derail life-protecting lead poisoning prevention measures for America's children and pregnant women - supposedly as a favor to Home Depot, which we should all now boycott for life - I'm pleased to announce:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that renovations and repairs of pre-1978 housing must now be conducted using safe practices to protect children and pregnant women from exposure to lead-based paint. Almost a million children have elevated blood lead levels as a result of exposure to lead hazards, which can lead to lower intelligence, learning disabilities, and behavior issues. Adults exposed to lead hazards can suffer from high blood pressure and headaches. Children under six years old are most at risk.

“Our lead-safe program will protect children and families from lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation and repair activities in houses built before 1978,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “This rule requires contractors to follow some simple and effective lead-safe work practices to prevent children’s exposure to dangerous levels of lead. Lead poisoning is completely preventable.”

Census Data and Cleveland Growth

Submitted by Kevin Cronin on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 12:28.

A quick note about the census -- By now, we've all seen the cute advertising to encourage censis compliance...it's about accuracy, it's about getting our fair share of federal money, it's about maintaining appropriate representation in Congress.   Here's an online tool to see how we're doing.  With nation-wide and state-wide compliance in the 34-35% rate, Cleveland response rates average in the 10-20% category.  Well, to be fair, Cleveland, like many other areas, has a lot of factors that suggest low compliance r

realneo Seed and Plant Swap

Submitted by Evelyn Kiefer on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 02:19.

Would any Realneo members like to participate in a seed and plant swap? I would be happy to host. Please post your thoughts on possible dates and times. We could also include garden tools and other gardeing related items if people are interested.

2010 Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council 5th Annual Symposium

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 03/22/2010 - 04:58.
06/11/2010 - 07:30
06/11/2010 - 12:00
Etc/GMT-5

Please save the date for the 2010 Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory 5th Annual Symposium. 

What: 2010 Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council 5th Annual Symposium

            Healthy Kids, Homes, & Places – Ensuring a better future for our community

Location

Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Drive
Cleveland, OH 44106
United States
Phone: 216-658-7206

Family and Community Day/Exhibition Opening, Cleveland Museum of Art: Art of the American Indians, The Thaw Collection

Submitted by Evelyn Kiefer on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 14:35.
03/07/2010 - 13:00
03/07/2010 - 16:00
Etc/GMT-5

 

Art of the American Indians: The Thaw Collection


MARCH 7–MAY 30, 2010
Admission free

Location

Cleveland Museum of Art
United States

Dance Workshop with Sevi Bayraktar, Films with a Women's Focus ...

Submitted by Evelyn Kiefer on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 11:43.
03/07/2010 - 11:00
03/07/2010 - 16:00
Etc/GMT-5

The Cleveland Food Coop, Cleveland Food Not Bombs & Women Speak Out for Peace and Justice are sponsoring theses events in celebration of International Women's Day, events are free but seating is limited.

Sevi Bayraktar is from Istanbul, Turkey performing Gypsy and Flamenco dances.

Location

The Cleveland Food Coop
11701 Euclid Aveue
Cleveland, OH
United States

Luncheon, Women Speak Out For Peace and Justice Featuring Women ad Militarism Panel ...

Submitted by Evelyn Kiefer on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 11:37.
03/06/2010 - 13:00
03/06/2010 - 16:00
Etc/GMT-5

Women Speak Out For Peace and Justice Featuring Women ad Militarism Panel, Music & Dance, Ione Biggs Award.

Just one of the Cleveland Area Celebrations of International Women's Day

Location

Kan Zaman (restaurant)
1616 W. 25th Street
Cleveland, OH
United States

International Women's Day

Submitted by Evelyn Kiefer on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 16:27.
03/08/2010 - 00:00
03/08/2010 - 23:59
Etc/GMT-5

Have you heard of International Women's Day? I first learned about this holiday/event that celebrates the many achievements and contributions of women about three years ago. Please check out the website International Women's Day to learn about the history of International Women's Day and ways it is celebrated around the world. Next year will be the centenary of International Women's Day. 

To Save People The Bother of Attacking Me

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sun, 02/28/2010 - 21:12.

I'll be brief.

I co-founded realNEO in 2004 because Northeast Ohio needs realNEO - the world needs realNEO. It is entirely different from any other "social network" or content management system on Earth, building upon the ICEarth co-op conceptual framework.

I developed the ICEarth (Internet/Information Community Earth) conceptual framework in global collaboration, in the late 1990's, and founded ICEarth LLC, in 2002, to build the co-op data warehousing and serving platform for the ICEarth conceptual framework.

We have built specialised hardware for ICEarth, running specialised open source software, all developed to unique specifications. Initial testing of the hardware and software configurations exceeds expectations.

Time To Start Organizing realNEO for Software Freedom Day 2010 - IT's the Year Of The Penguin real NEO

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 02/17/2010 - 01:35.
09/18/2010 - 01:00
Etc/GMT-5

Software Freedom Day in Toronto 2006

I attended an excellent Software Freedom Day event in Toronto in 2006, which I introduced on REALNEO here, and covered on REALNEO here - I actually needed a copy of Ubuntu that day, so it came in very handy.

I'd like to see Northeast Ohio celebrate Software Freedom Day 2010 in a BIG WAY - Saturday, September 18 - and follow the model I saw in use in Toronto, which included active, friendly engagement on a busy street, with workshops and light training/Q&A offered inside a receptive place. Of course, the Linux Penguin was out-front to draw attention to the event... we definitely need a penguin.

Akron Roundtable Presentation ---- "How Immigrants Can Save NEO"

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 21:24.
02/18/2010 - 12:00
02/18/2010 - 13:30
Etc/GMT-5
Richard Herman, a Cleveland author, civic activist and immigration attorney, will deliver an address titled, "How Immigrants Can Save Northeast Ohio" at the Akron Roundtable on February 18.

Herman co-wrote the provocative new book, Immigrant Inc.--Why Immigrant Entrepreneurs Are Driving the New Economy, with Plain Dealer reporter Robert L. Smith.  Published by John Wiley & Sons, the book urges struggling communities like Cleveland and Akron to recall the immigrant energy that made their cities great.

Location

Quaker Station
135 S. Broadway Quaker Square Inn on the campus of The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44308
United States

Thank you Ronn Richard, Richard and David Goldberg, and the Board of the Cleveland Foundation

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 15:39.

Clara Evelyn Roulet, 1 minute old

I was so busy yesterday having a beautiful baby girl (by waterbirth - by hypnobirth - amazing photos and video to come), I didn't have a chance to thank Ronn Richard and the Board of the Cleveland Foundation for a second great gift that day, showing they recognized the need to transform our regional redevelopment and transformation efforts at the core, after many years supporting and funding what we now have. I believe this opens up new world's of opportunity for our region, just when they are needed most.