Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sat, 08/14/2010 - 17:24.
2010 REALNEO Mid-Year Update at 12,594 Nodes; 25,366 Comments; and 8,984 Members... many who are Trolls
Since around the beginning of 2010, when realNEO.US had been stable long enough to have fairly accurate statistics of our web-traffic - based on over a year of tracking with Google analytics and consistent data on Compete.com - I have been providing members with regular analyses of various metrics of our web traffic, for community insight. These updates include:
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sat, 08/14/2010 - 07:12.
As I explain to "outsiders" what obstacles to true economic development we are confronting here in Northeast Ohio, I point to the concluding half of my "Preamble: Real Co-op for Open Food, Information and Community Development 2009", where I explain "you can't manage what you don't measure. Leadership here does not want to be measured."
At that time - February, 2009 - I explained the risk from having poor local leadership was greatest then, as we had just brought into office a wonderful new President, who must stimulate bad local, state, national and global economies... we had tough battles ahead requiring good local footsoldiers, as $ billions in NEW federal funding initiatives was flowing our way.
They raise the stakes, in exploitation of the difficult economic times here, by attempting to corrupt the good will of our new President.
But that has not been the only dirty clean-coal deal in the works around here, as MCCO has been planning to build additional coal burning capacity for the plant needs of University Circle... a bullet the community is fighting to dodge right now, while attempting to shut down the current coal burning facilities MCCO has polluted the region with since 1932... all of which now seems to be blowing up in the master planners of this region's faces like a mountain-top full of high sulfur coal in West Viginie
As MCCO fights to maintain the rights and economic wherewithal to burn what coal it may - up to 50,000 tons per year - a few sorry other communities weren't so fortunate to have the brakes put on their clean-coal-insanity before the shovels hit dirt, meaning their shit is hitting the fan... as in the cost of the projects are through the roof and rising... the most sorry being the Peabody Energy Prairie State Energy Campus coal industry orgy in Illinois... read the sorry details below from the Chicago Tribune and thank your lucky stars at least we don't have a multi-billion-dollar mess like that to subsidize and breathe emissions from for the next 50 years! Phew... read what happens in REALLY poorly led communities, like outside Chicago, below...
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 09:08.
Environmental Health Watch Outreach and Education Director Kim Foreman testifying at the August 10, 2010 EPA License Renewal Hearing AGAINST renewing their permit to burn coal, reading into the record and excellent statement offering a holistic, realistic perspective from the Cleveland environmental community - view this video.
In an important development from the Ohio Public Utilities Commission, the Plain Dealer reports today that "FirstEnergy Corp. gets permission to burn biomass as sustainable energy source". I previously highlighted this issue on realNEO, as the environmental concerns raised about this plant revolve around developing sustainable fuel stocks for such massive biomass initiatives as the R. E. Burger power plant in Shadyside, Ohio... as burning wood is not the solution... even refuse wood from recycling. But that is all that is on the horizon, for this plant so far... "FirstEnergy spokeswoman Ellen Raines said the company is spending $200 million to re-design and renovate Burger's boilers to be able to burn a mixture of green wood chips, wood pellets and briquettes and something very similar to charcoal."
There isn't enough refuse wood biomass to go around, and the carbon foot print of deforestation for biomass is poor. That is why I propose the state of Ohio take THE global leadership position innovating agricultural biomass optimization, which I believe includes hemp. Thus, the proposal to make Northeast Ohio the Open Source Capital of the Brightest Greenest State on Earth.
John Funk of the Cleveland Plain Dealer continued his expanding coverage of the dangerous situation in University Circle that is the Medical Center Company. Outlining the timeline below, Funk highlights that "The permit, the facility's first ever, expired in 2003, and authorities have been reviewing the company's renewal application ever since" and "Built in 1932 and expanded with gas boilers as needed, the steam plant is operated by the Medical Center Co., a non-profit corporation whose board of directors represent CWRU and the major institutions that make up University Circle. The plant burns about 40,000 tons of coal per year." At issue is the renewal by the EPA of their permit to continue burning coal for five more years, which is outragous.Public feedback to the EPA is encouraged!
The article is included in entirety below to protect this information for public health and safety...
Submitted by danielyio on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 00:37.
The Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) have issued a press release on Tuesday that the gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 18.8 per cent from last year, stronger than the 16.9 per cent growth in the first quarter.
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 20:55.
If you wonder why some powerful people in town and their pawns and puppets have been up in arms about realNEO and us bringing MCCO to trial... take a look at these financials (tons of money) and realize MCCO is listed as a Non-Profit Foundation for "Public, Society Benefit – Multipurpose and Other: Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution" and a "Charitable Organization" - which is perverse, as they in fact cause immense public harm and they shouldn't even have this exemption... and should be "For Profit" and Paying Taxes
With 2009 assets of $66 million and annual sales over $33 million, MCCO was gaming another $500 million (according to former East Cleveland Mayor Brewer) in new funding (probably federal money) to build a new COAL facility at Lakeview and Euclid... even bought the land. The Opportunity Corridor is also being discussed - and the public is asked to wait a year before seeing any plans... as MCCO asks for a 5 year coal burning extension to operate as is for $150+ million more in activity - to burn 220,000+ TONS more coal... spew around 25,000 TONS more pollution...
"I don't know about Cleveland, man, there is nothing going on," Noah said Sunday, lamenting the options for his off day on a typical cloudy and chilly spring day. "It's bad, man."
"NO GOING OUT IN CLEVELAND MAN - IT'S ALL FACTORIES. DO YOU LIKE IT - DO YOU THINK CLEVELAND IS COOL?"
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 15:01.
As far as I can tell, NOTHING from OHIO is on this most important list of The EPA Top Partner Rankings highlighting the annual green power purchases of leading organizations within the United States - no Ohio-based city, agency, business or institution.
National Top 50 - As of July 6, 2010
The Green Power Partnership works with a wide variety of leading organizations — from Fortune 500 companies to local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities. The following Top Partner Rankings highlight the annual green power purchases of leading organizations within the United States and across individual industry sectors.
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:25.
The Hippocratic Oath is an oath historically taken by doctors swearing to practice medicine ethically.
As they do not practice medicine ethically, all Doctors at University Hospitals Must Turn In Their Licenses to Practice Medicine - including my Father - as they do more harm than good as they pollute this community with soot from burning coal that is unnecessary and that causes certain harm and death to area citizens - especially the young, old, poor, black and weak... and these supposed "doctors" know that very well now.
The Cuyahoga Democratic Party has asked for the resignation of two of their most powerful and ineffective leaders - Jimmy DiMora is on the NOACA Governing Board and has not personally attended one meeting this year - neither has Tim Hagan. Neither has Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson - his planning Director Bob Brown only attended three... same with Commissioner Jones. RTA Boss Dixon - none. Port representative Raskind - none. ODOT representative - 2 out of 6 meetings. NOBODY FROM THE EPA.
Citizens must now recognize the breadth of their influence and failure, causing failure of the region and state though such vehicles as the governing board of NOACA.
First Smart Thing Democratic Leaders Have Done Here Since I've Lived Here! Thank God! I've declared the politicians in Northeast Ohio a threat to national security and have asked for UN support. Off to see Pelosi.
Keep up the good work for a change, Cuyahoga County Democratic Party!
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County's new Democratic Party boss is calling on his two highest-profile Democrats – Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and Auditor Frank Russo -- to resign immediately.
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 00:00.
Martin Luther King Jr. Arrested
I'd like you to reflect upon an amazing speech by the great Martin Luther King Jr. - certainly one of his most controversial and certainly one that was a factor in him being assassinated... EXACTLY 1 YEAR LATER TO THE DAY... Martin Luther King, Jr. Beyond Vietnam -- A Time to Break Silence - Delivered 4 April 1967, at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City.
He speaks some brutal and powerful truths our leadership of then and now do not want citizens of America or the world thinking... and you DO want to think about these things... especially with 43 years passed. I recommend you at least read the end of the speech (inserted below, along with the entire speech), which starts focused on Viet Nam (and is amazing about that), but ends all about citizenship, and what we should have been doing the last 43 years, and what we still must do today... including the famous quote:
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it" - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 19:55.
This excellent article on the MCCO coal burning powerplant in University Circle - Old-fashioned Ohio coal still being burned at tech-savvy University Circle institutions - by the Plain Dealer's John Funk speaks for itself... and is truthful to the best of my knowledge... and I learned some important new information. Thank you John Funk! I've included the entire PD article below in the interest of public safety.
Thank you Mattie and the Sierra Club for making all this happen - love the conclusion... "The solutions are not as forth coming as some might think," Reitman said. "You can't just put up a wind turbine and call it warm." Now to get a timeline in writing from MCCO for all aspects of their planning to move off coal, WITH CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT!
The tall smokes stacks at the back of the Case Western Reserve University campus belong to the Medical Center Co., a non-profit that has been burning coal for nearly 80 years to heat CWRU and much of University Circle.
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 01:22.
August 9, 2010 Ohio EPA AirNow web portal air pollution current conditions for Northeast Ohio - 1:00 AM Report Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups in Cleveland and surrounding communities, as it was all prior day and last night... now?
Good Morning real NEO - last night the air was unhealthy... were your windows open?
It seemed like a beautiful Sunday night for sleeping with the windows open but you should not have last night. You should have known better. Did you know the air pollution would make you unhealthy last night? Were you warned it would be unhealthy today?
The Green Power Partnership works with a wide variety of leading organizations — from Fortune 500 companies to local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities. The following Top Partner Rankings highlight the annual green power purchases of leading organizations within the United States and across individual industry sectors.
