"O mio babbino caro" - Gianni Schicchi - Puccini - performed by Amy Irvine (August 9, 2009)

Many beautiful worlds collided the evening of Sunday, August 9, 2009, at "OPERA IN THE ITALIAN CULTURAL GARDEN", a free outdoor evening concert of favorite Italian opera classics, beautifully performed by Opera Per Tutti (Opera For All), held in the spectacular Italian Cultural Garden, in one of the greatest public parks in the world, The Cleveland Cultural Gardens, presented by the Italian Cultural Garden Foundation, Northern Ohio Opera League, and the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation.

Max Eternity - It never ceases to amaze me at how Americans fail time and time again to connect the simplest dots.  How, something as simple as public healthcare can morph into a monstrosity of a conundrum.  This is something so simple a baby could figure it out.  So, case in point...very simply, ask yourself this?  What's the difference between public libraries and public health [care] insurance?  It's the exact same argument.  Hence, why our "socialist" President and the "liberal media" has not been able to articulte th

CNBC - Orchards and vineyards may soon spring from the blight of thousands of abandoned buildings in Cleveland, a city struggling to rise from years of decline and home foreclosures. Once a proud manufacturing powerhouse, Cleveland has lost nearly 10 percent of its population since 2000, the fastest drop of any U.S. city except for hurricane-hit New Orleans.

My sister-in-law is studying ESL this summer in Parma, and we happened upon Sittoo's, a "faster food" branch of the Aladdin's Eatery chain, only more affordable.  We've been going there weekly (or more) all summer long and haven't been disappointed!  Full Article.  ---------> more

While I was sitting behind Food On The Move, at St. Clair and East 140th, where a friend works, I noticed a pear tree in the lot next door, full of rippening pears. While the lot is well tended, and does not appear "vacant", the lone pear tree is the only occupant. And nobody seems to notice it is there, despite its bounty of free food. There are 100s of pears on the tree - in a market, they would be worth $100s. This lot could contain dozens of pear trees - perhaps 100s - producing $10,000s in income for the owners and those who tended them.

The Best of Cleveland-CLEVELAND ARTS PRIZE WINNERS COLLABORATIVE

Nearly 50 years ago CAP began a tradition of identifying and honoring Cleveland’s outstanding artists on an annual basis. Since then the Arts Prize commissioned an Arts Prize medal, launched a scholarship program and established the tradition of holding an annual awards event to honor the accomplishments of Artists in Northeast Ohio.

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 empty storefronts, and ralphy's solution to bring more people into the community.

One of the first planning meetings with Richard Fleischman... December, 2008

The US Marine Corps decision to ban social media, citing concerns for operation and mission security, is an issue every employer wrestles with, but banning social media is on excessive response, one that forfeits important value for social media, including military recruiting.  Employers, military or otherwise, should develop fine-tuned policies on social media, not comprehensive bans or unqualified endorsements. 

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How will the 2010 census define our country? Is it time to change the way we census the United States?

I often leave Cleveland's great classical music radio station WCLV on while I work, and have been enjoying the Cleveland International Piano Compeition live, most of this week.

Right now (10 PM, July 31st) is a stunning performance by a 19 year old Chinese student - second round!... tune in if you read this around now... WCLV, Cleveland FM 104.9... Here is WCLV live on the Internet

 From August 12-14, Mayor Frank G. Jackson will host a three-day summit, bringing together a diverse group of people vested in and dedicated to Cleveland to use their vast knowledge and imagination to create an action plan for building a green economy for Cleveland’s future. This summit will be facilitated by Dr. David Cooperrider of the Fowler Center for Sustainable Value (my teacher, advisor, mentor and friend) at Case Western Reserve University, my alma mater (x2).

Sometimes there's no bigger impact than hearing from City leadership itself.  There is no excuse not to apply and attend - to have your voice heard, and to make a difference !   Come help us.

This will be a fantastic opportunity to meet a great local leader and our district's representative in the House, Marcia Fudge.   Held on the first night of the City Sustainability Forum, at the cozy confines of my own Alma Mater, Case Western Reserve University.  This will be a special time for Cleveland, indeed.  RSVP early!

Just a photo to lighten the mood--wouldn't it be great, if NEO became the first city in the world to reduce energy costs by actually observing interfaith sabbath on Friday, Saturday and Sunday?  No cars, just bikes and pedestrians :)

I wish I could put this book in the hands of every American.  

Late on the 4th of July, there was a big fight in my neighborhood. Thankfully, I wasn't there. A friend who was there described it as around 100 people - some from East Cleveland and some from Cleveland - who just plain wanted to fight. No gang or drug issues - no girl in the middle - just a bunch of people so stressed and freaked out by life that they needed to pound somebody. On that night, those folks settled for pounding each other, and little harm was caused.

In observing what has been planned for major infrastructure and private developments and strategic investment initiatives in the Greater Cleveland Area, with a focus on high dollar, high roller plans for downtown Cleveland and especially the lake and river fronts, when there are no current economic indicators projecting high income growth in Cleveland or the region, my only conclusion is that the "smart money" has been riding for a long time on the easy money of driving casino gambling downtown, in a big way, in the near future.