To Pump or Not to Pump - New York Times

To Pump or Not to Pump - New York Times--At the link is a story about a man's choices on the West Coast. It reminds me of my latest personal accomplishment--Buying an unlimited month-long RTA pass for $54, for which expenditure I am entitled to ride all the buses and the rapids in this part of the state, as explained under the RTA Riding Options. My only regret is that I didn't know enough to buy the ticket on-line--instead, I descended into the bowels of the Terminal Tower, under the big escalators, to find a place where I could use plastic.

All my fears and uncertainties of being lost in the transit system have been allayed by the GCRTA Trip Planner. For me, an optimal configuration would be riding transit everywhere, checking routes and connections with a laptop, making decisions on where to do business in relation to the transit lines, and the coffee shops.

This is why the sovereign City of East Cleveland will soon see an influx of new residents--they will gravitate toward the ample bus routes and the Windermere Rapid Transit. All our car-less treehugger friends in Cambridge would find East Cleveland a bargain, and the same goes for my own Archwood-Denison neighborhood, Brooklyn Centre, Old Brooklyn, and perhaps even Tremont, where the circulator roams. Ditto Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights. Property values should also increase along the transit lines, disproportionately to those areas with poor or no transit service.

Even though we've had an on-going, head-over-heels love affair with the automobile here in NE Ohio ever since I can remember (my first word was "Buick," much to the consternation of "Mom," my second word), I think a lot of us are going to become intimately familiar with buses and trains, as well. Riding in an auto then assumes its proper perspective and will become a treat, not a daily necessity.

It's All Right, Ma: Bob Dylan Turns D.J. - New York Times

It's All Right, Ma: Bob Dylan Turns D.J. - New York Times. "Once famously reclusive, Mr. Dylan is now going very public with his eclectic musical tastes, on a show that makes its debut Wednesday on XM Satellite Radio."

Read more to discover the playlist for his Mothers' Day show.

Jane Jacobs, Social Critic Who Redefined and Championed Cities, Is Dead at 89 - New York Times

Jane Jacobs, Social Critic Who Redefined and Championed Cities, Is Dead at 89 - New York Times--This morning, I see dead people. I missed this obit on Jane Jacobs last week. I had no idea she was so mature. Again, more good reading for a Sunday morning, for perspective.

John Kenneth Galbraith, 97, Dies; Economist Held a Mirror to Society - New York Times

John Kenneth Galbraith, 97, Dies; Economist Held a Mirror to Society - New York Times: "... among his 33 books was 'The Affluent Society' (1958), one of those rare works that forces a nation to re-examine its values. He wrote fluidly, even on complex topics, and many of his compelling phrases — among them 'the affluent society,' 'conventional wisdom' and 'countervailing power' — became part of the language. "

A good read this Sunday morning.

24-hour restaurants/diners in Cleveland?

This past evening, we went all the way from Willoughby through Richmond Heights and South Euclid, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, and the east side of Cleveland without seeing a place to grab a bite after midnight. We finally wound up having to make the choice between the cluster around the Lakewood/Cleveland border or the Expressway Diner on Memphis near Fulton. As I drove, the phrase "dead-ass town" kept coming to the forefront of my consciousness.

Where are there good places to go, besides Steak n' Shake and the ones I've already mentioned, and a few truck stops down I-71, to get food on a 24-hour basis? The list at Plugged In Cleveland didn't reveal much:

24 HOUR Restaurants - 10 results found

• Steve's Kitchen Cleveland
• Common Grounds Cleveland
• Dianna's Deli & Restaurant Lakewood
• Dimitri's Cleveland
• Michaels Family Restaurant Rocky River
• My Friends Deli Cleveland
• New Best Steak and Gyro House Cleveland
• Rapid Stop Cleveland
• Shobbeez Carry-Out Kitchen Bedford
• Shobbeez Carry-Out Kitchen Maple Heights

Campbell assesses loss in mayor's race

Campbell assesses loss in mayor's race: "Campbell is coming back to Cleveland to start a business, Jane L. Campbell Consulting.
She said it will be a one-woman company for now, focusing on technology in government and economic development.
She won’t rule out a return to politics someday, but for now, she said in an e-mail, “One of the great joys of my new life is that I am a private citizen.” "

For a change, we share Miss Jane's enthusiasm, her joys.

We don't think we'll be tripping all over ourselves to engage her consulting firm; judging from the PD article, she has one skill that sets her apart from and above all the rest, and this is what could be showcased in her new business' name: BlameShifters. Or, should it allude to the mystery, the allegory, swirling around The Red Room ? What IS Cathy Panzica up to lately?

Coffee at The Ugly

Effective Thursday, April 27th, The Ugly Broad at 39th and Denison added Phoenix Coffee to its offerings. We can now go there and drink good coffee (Brazilian Santos regular, or Columbian decaf) as well as the other, more traditional stuff. We now have another "great, good place" or "third place" where we can all get together and begin to bond as a community.

Once again, Sherry Perry has come through for the Archwood-Denison neighborhood. Please support the coffee-talk initiative.

Next on the agenda: Archwood-Denison guerilla wi-fi.

(Remember, too, that Steak Night is Thursday and Taco Night is Wednesday, and there are now hamburgers & chicken tenders & french fries available at a moment's notice, as well.)

Gloria's also blogged this at http://www.gloriaferris.net/2006/04/have-a-cuppa-joe-at-the-ugly/

Wrongagainken.com

Wrongagainken.com--GREAT SITE paid for by Citizens for Jim Petro. Enjoy.

"Net Neutrality" under siege | BlogHer [beta]

"Net Neutrality" under siege BlogHer [beta]: "One of the great promises of the internet has been how it has created the information explosion -- not just in terms of commerce, but in terms of personal expression. People are communicating online, interacting with each other, sharing ideas, information, experiences. Entire industries have emerged. Small businesses are empowered.
"This, of course, is disruptive to the status quo. This insurgent economy is shaking the foundations of the multinational corporations. So perhaps we should not be surprised that such a lobbying effort is underway.
"As you might expect, there's lots of money behind this."

Here's a fairly straightforward piece about how our shameless shills in Washington are compromising the interests of the public, again. Read it all. Find out how your local reps stand, or stood, on the issue. I can't see any reason to compromise here, or to cut any rep any slack. This is war; we do not, we cannot, tolerate traitors.

Web Sites Set Up to Celebrate Life Recall Lives Lost - New York Times

Web Sites Set Up to Celebrate Life Recall Lives Lost - New York Times: "'Some days it makes me feel she's still there,' he said. 'And some days it reminds me I can never have that contact again.'"

I see that endeavors similar to our local Dorothy Fuldheim blogspot are beginning to proliferate.

Young Officers Join the Debate Over Rumsfeld - New York Times

Young Officers Join the Debate Over Rumsfeld - New York Times: "Kori Schake, a fellow at the Hoover Institution who teaches Army cadets at West Point, said some of the debates revolved around the issues raised in 'Dereliction of Duty,' a book that analyzes why the Joint Chiefs of Staff seemed unable or unwilling to challenge civilian decisions during the war in Vietnam. Published in 1997, the book was written by Col. H. R. McMaster, who recently returned from a year in Iraq as commander of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment.
'It's a fundamentally healthy debate,' Ms. Schake said. 'Junior officers look around at the senior leadership and say, 'Are these people I admire, that I want to be like?' '
These younger officers 'are debating the standard of leadership,' she said. 'Is it good enough to do only what civilian masters tell you to do? Or do you have a responsibility to shape that policy, and what actions should you undertake if you believe they are making mistakes?' "

There's an interesting debate emerging here, and it has repercussions at our local level, as with the situation in which Fire Chief Paul Stubbs finds himself relative to the administration. At what point might a fire chief be derelict in his duties? How must he discharge his obligation to the public? We need to be helping our commanders through these difficult times.

Cornell's Worried Image Makers Wrap Themselves in Ivy - New York Times

Cornell's Worried Image Makers Wrap Themselves in Ivy - New York Times: "Their fear is being viewed as a country cousin to Harvard, Yale and Princeton, more like a Midwestern flagship state university than a core member of a prestigious club. 'Because of when most people go to college, their identity becomes closely associated with the identity of their university,' said Peter Cohl, a committee founder who graduated last spring and is now working on Madison Avenue.

"Let the college's standing drop in publications that rank universities, he said, and 'my value as a human being feels like it's dropping.' (Cornell is now ranked 13th among national universities by U.S. News & World Report.)"

This is a sad state of affairs, to matriculate at a liberal-arts college and then miss the point of the education entirely, to contract instead of expanding, to allow the school's waning reputation to undermine self-confidence and sense of worth.

If this is the prevailing attitude at Cornell, its ranking should soon go into free-fall; they're not building leaders for the future, they're fostering a sick dependency on an alma mater.

How a Billionaire Friend of Bill Helps Him Do Good, and Well - New York Times

How a Billionaire Friend of Bill Helps Him Do Good, and Well - New York Times: "The three Yucaipa funds that Mr. Clinton advises total more than $1 billion, according to interviews and public records. Mr. Burkle would not disclose the precise amounts, citing competitive concerns, but Yucaipa manages in excess of $3 billion, of which these three funds are a subset. The funds are intended to inject investment capital into poor urban and rural areas in the United States and abroad that traditional equity funds and banks are reluctant to serve, Mr. Burkle said.
The funds Mr. Clinton advises invest in grocery stores, retail developments, manufacturing and distribution, and minority-owned businesses. Yucaipa has found significant growth opportunities in such areas because of the low cost of land and the relative lack of competition."

Good article. Reminds us of how well Bill lands on his feet, too.

Boston Archdiocese Opens Financial Records - New York Times

Boston Archdiocese Opens Financial Records - New York Times: "The reports show that the archdiocese has a $46 million deficit, the largest any diocese has ever had, according to two national experts on church finances."

I have no doubt Cardinal Cushing is flipping over and over in his grave, like a whirling dervish. Isn't this where the new bishop for the Diocese of Cleveland came from?

"The biggest liability was $135 million in unfunded pensions for clergymen, Mr. McCarthy said."

Read the entire article, read what they've already sold off to get as solvent as they are. Reserve judgment until later.

The Future of Journalism as Told by Hilaire Belloc in 1918 - New York Times

The Future of Journalism as Told by Hilaire Belloc in 1918 - New York Times--Googling Belloc turns up even more interesting prognostications. This was sent to me by our older daughter, who beat her dad to the punch on today's New York TIMES.

Support the Broadway Mills / Strong Cobb / Gillota Building on Central Viaduct before Cleveland Landmarks Commission | REALNEO for all

Support the Broadway Mills / Strong Cobb / Gillota Building on Central Viaduct before Cleveland Landmarks Commission REALNEO for all--ODOT tries to hijack yet another process. Perhaps we should all see about showing up for the hearing this coming April 27th. Enough is enough.

BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » The value of us

BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » The value of us--I knew there was a pony in there somewhere...

It's Time to Leave Win9x Behind

It's Time to Leave Win9x Behind: "Here is the key quote from the announcement:
'...critical security updates for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows ME will end on July 11, 2006. No other security updates will follow after this date.'"

Advice on Boss's Pay May Not Be So Independent - New York Times

Advice on Boss's Pay May Not Be So Independent - New York Times: Gretchen's at it again. She's improving. Less strident. More balanced. Always crusading. "Warren E. Buffett, the chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway and an accomplished investor, has noted the troubling contributions that compensation consultants have made to executive pay in recent years.
'Too often, executive compensation in the U.S. is ridiculously out of line with performance,' he wrote in his most recent annual report. 'The upshot is that a mediocre-or-worse C.E.O. — aided by his handpicked V.P. of human relations and a consultant from the ever-accommodating firm of Ratchet, Ratchet & Bingo — all too often receives gobs of money from an ill-designed compensation arrangement.'"

A 50-Room Hotel Rebuilt for Two - New York Times

A 50-Room Hotel Rebuilt for Two - New York Times: "Though the 12,000-square-foot building was close to collapse, they purchased it, for $31,500.
The hotel was boarded up, most of its paint gone. Inside, a former owner had shot the dining room full of bullets, and holes in the ceilings and roof provided enough light for a colony of mushrooms to sprout from the floor. 'You had to come in here with a flashlight,' Ms. Neighbour said. 'It was so nasty.'
The work ahead seemed daunting, but they figured they could tackle it at a leisurely pace. They told friends they had a 10-year plan for renovating the house. 'I don't think either of us realized it would actually be 10 years,' Ms. Neighbour said. "

Mi, a Name I Call Myself. And You Are? - New York Times

Mi, a Name I Call Myself. And You Are? - New York Times: "The word nickname is a variant of 'eke-name' ('eke' meant an addition or increase), according to the Oxford English Dictionary. No data shows whether there are more nicknames floating around now than in other periods in history, said Dennis Baron, a professor of English and linguistics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, whose students sometimes greet him with a 'Hi, Debaron,' his e-mail handle. 'As far as we know nicknames have always been with us,' he said. 'But one of the differences is self-nicknaming.'"

Shanghai's Boom: A Building Frenzy - New York Times

Shanghai's Boom: A Building Frenzy - New York Times: "Within the next four years, Shanghai, the backdrop of so much upheaval and so many rebirths since it became the prized treaty port for European powers in the mid-19th century, will be utterly transformed once again. But critics say it will lose as much, in texture and vibrant community life, as it stands to gain in dazzling, futuristic projects. The notion of what warrants conservation has been highly restrictive, amounting to several hundred buildings in a city of 18 million and to parts of 12 districts, like the leafy and increasingly gentrified former French Concession neighborhood.
Mr. Wu, a 46-year-old urban designer, describes how China's greatest city is racing to be greater still, aiming for the top as it ascends the hierarchy of world cities, with one eye on longtime champions like New York, and another on its fraternal rival, Beijing."

cleveland.com: Weblogs#130453--Slouching slowly toward Time Warner

cleveland.com: Weblogs#130453: "Time Warner Cable, which already had a dominant presence in Akron, has agreed to absorb Comcast's cluster. All told, about 465,000 cable subscribers currently with Adelphia or Comcast would be switched to Time Warner.

At the time of the deal, the three companies had said they expected the acquisition to take nine to 12 months to close. In today's statement, Adelphia Chairman and CEO William Schleyer said it is now 'essential that we complete the sale of the company's assets by July 31.'"

I'm glad I didn't hold my breath, but I'll be grateful when it happens. I hear the cable internet service I have with Adelphia, while not bad at all right now, will be definitely super under Time Warner.

Gloria Ferris » Blog Archive » Tonight: Rally in front of Cleveland Fire Station #42

Gloria Ferris » Blog Archive » Tonight: Rally in front of Cleveland Fire Station #42--Supporting the cause, whatever it takes, tonight, as usual. Sigh...
Sometimes, I wish I could golf after work.
As a matter of fact, I wish I had a thing called "after work."
But I digress. I live in Cleveland.

cleveland.com: Weblogs

cleveland.com: Weblogs: "Blackwell and Petro Debate--as Mark Naymik apes the Meet The Bloggers format--

Ken Blackwell won’t publicly debate Jim Petro, but the Republican gubernatorial hopefuls squared off at the Plain Dealer this morning.

Their hour-long meeting before editors and reporters produced some long-winded answers and displays of short temper. Their disdain for one another showed during a discussion of their competing plans to cap state spending.

“Local governments have every reason to be scared to death,” Petro said about Blackwell’s plan.

Referring to Petro’s version, Blackwell shot back, “You want to talk about gimmicks? You want to talk about somebody who can’t hold a position for six months without being exhausted?”

The meeting ended with a stiff hug between the two candidates and this line from Blackwell: 'The fact of the matter is, as tough as we campaign and debate, I know that if, in fact, you would win, you will be much better than Ted Strickland -- but I intend to win.'

Click on the links below to hear audio of the full session:

Listen to Part 1

Listen to Part 2

Listen to Part 3

Listen to Part 4 "

IRS Rule Changes Could Expose Your Tax Info

IRS Rule Changes Could Expose Your Tax Info: WHOA!!!! "The proposed rule changes would allow tax preparers to share tax payers' personal information with any outside party, for marketing and other purposes, providing they warn the consumer. Furthermore, the IRS claims that the rule changes are not significant enough to warrant a regulatory hearing to determine their legality.
If upheld, the new tax code revisions would take effect 30 days after approval, which would likely place them in the books for the current 2006 tax year, in time for filing in April 2007"

turf wars

Now that the good weather has arrived, we need to finally get a lid on all this boombox action. Loud noise is one way the disenfranchised steal from all of us, driving down the value of our property and robbing us not only of our equity but of our quiet enjoyment of that property. They also get in the way of legitimate commerce. Other ways they do this is by loitering on the corners and in front of the stores, dealing drugs and hot or knockoff merchandise, and roaming aimlessly in gangs.

It's a turf war, and the only things they bring to the battle are a lot of time to spend and a willingness to engage in mindless or even harmful activity, all this abetted by low self-esteem, anger, and frustration. We need to begin taking away their weapons, the things they bring to the fight. In doing this, we'll bring them back into productive society.

They, too, can have a stake, but somehow they have to come to want it. Right now, their stake comes by spoiling somebody else's, and that's no way to grow a city.

How to Lose the Brain Race - New York Times

How to Lose the Brain Race - New York Times: "IS the United States importing too many immigrant physicists and not enough immigrant farm workers? "

Heck, if we're talking in terms now of importing, might we also talk of EXPORTING as well? We must achieve balance, and I want to start with that kid down the street with the big, tinny speakers in the little, tinny car.

Yearning to Breathe Free: Wanted: Ohio Small Business Appreciation Week (...or month, or year...)

Yearning to Breathe Free: Wanted: Ohio Small Business Appreciation Week (...or month, or year...): "we are ranked near the bottom in terms of our friendliness to small business ; one of the highest taxed states ; and one of the worst states for economic freedom . And what’s worse, we continue to drop year after year in each of these categories."
Jason makes a lot of good points here. Personally, I'd lay it at the door of gangsterism in the political establishment in general, and proceed to clean house from that perspective. Does anybody know the proportions of payroll of government jobs, nonprofit sector jobs, small-business jobs, and large-corporation jobs? Is there anything else I've forgotten, in ways people are employed in making a living?

The Power of Blogs - word of mouth

The Power of Blogs - word of mouth: "To paraphrase PigPen, commenting on the 'dust of ancient Babylon' he could be carrying:

'Kinda makes you want to treat us with a little more respect, doesn't it?'."

Some Worries as San Francisco Goes Wireless - New York Times

Some Worries as San Francisco Goes Wireless - New York Times: "Users of the network in San Francisco will be able to choose from two options. From Google, at no cost, they will be able to connect to the Internet at the modest speed of 300 kilobits a second, about six times as fast as a dial-up connection but slower than cable service. The trade-off is that they will see a variety of on-screen advertising, though exactly what that will look like is part of the negotiations.
Or, for an estimated $20 a month, subscribers will be able to connect through EarthLink at roughly four times that speed and see no advertising at all.
Mr. Vein said he thought the typical San Francisco resident, and the additional 400,000 who commute into the city every weekday, would take advantage of the free service, but that the city's many small businesses would likely pay for the faster service. "

A Home Where Bloggers Can Plumb Those Obscure Passions - New York Times

A Home Where Bloggers Can Plumb Those Obscure Passions - New York Times: "He added that 'blogs are showing that credibility is granted not by some media mogul, but by the collective opinion of consumers"

Americans United: Buckeye Backlash

Americans United: Buckeye Backlash: "...Rabbi Harold J. Berman told The New York Times that he signed on to the IRS complaint because “government is clearly impaired when churches get too actively involved in government, and I think religion gets impaired when government acts in religious affairs.
"The IRS prohibits houses of worship and other 501(c)(3) organizations from using their resources to advance or oppose a candidate’s bid for public office. Churches and other non-profit groups, however, are allowed to engage in issue advocacy. Such status provides houses of worship and other non-profits exemption from income taxation and donations to those entities are tax deductible. Political organizations, however, do not receive such tax breaks. The IRS can revoke non-profits’ tax-exempt status or levy fines against them if they are found to have engaged improperly in campaigns for public office...."
“...Non-profit status is a privilege, not a right,” said the Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Turning our nation’s churches into cogs in a political machine violates the integrity of religion and undercuts the fairness of the democratic process....”

good luck from the Anthony Robbins Organization | REALNEO for all

good luck from the Anthony Robbins Organization, on REALNEO for all--THRU: Norm; FROM: Tony with the teeth and the headset.

Channel 19, WOIO: Killer fire on mind of neighbors about to lose firefighters, ladder truck

gloria's now iconic, on channel 19

THE BIGGEST SCAM IN HISTORY

THE BIGGEST SCAM IN HISTORY--A very interesting history lesson, about banks and debt, passed on to us by our relative John down in Delaware, Ohio. It seems to have been circulating on the internet since February 2006. This is one area where we need to beef up education and bring greater transparency and understanding.

Massachusetts Sets Health Plan for Nearly All - New York Times

Massachusetts Sets Health Plan for Nearly All - New York Times: "'It is not a typical Massachusetts-Taxachusetts, oh-just-crazy-liberal plan,' said Stuart H. Altman, a professor of health policy at Brandeis University. 'It isn't that at all. It is a pretty moderate approach, and that's what's impressive about it. It tried to borrow and blend a lot of different pieces.'"

Apple's Boot Camp Could Enlist More Users

Apple's Boot Camp Could Enlist More Users--Here are some real details, for the more technically inclined, on the dual boot Apple offering mentioned by the New York TIMES earlier.

Big Gain for Rich Seen in Tax Cuts for Investments - New York Times

Big Gain for Rich Seen in Tax Cuts for Investments - New York Times: Good graphic, too. "The first data to document the effect of President Bush's tax cuts for investment income show that they have significantly lowered the tax burden on the richest Americans, reducing taxes on incomes of more than $10 million by an average of about $500,000."

Internet Calls Untethered From Your PC - New York Times

Internet Calls Untethered From Your PC - New York Times: "WHY does Skype get so much hype? Sure, this software lets you make free 'phone calls,' computer to computer, anywhere in the world. But it wasn't the first such program, it's not the most feature-laden, and it's still a mystery to most people over 25.

Yet somehow, Skype is changing everything. Twenty-five million people are using it to make free calls, much to the annoyance of the phone companies. College students call home and friends with it. Business travelers keep in touch with the family. Visitors to the United States chit-chat with their buddies in Europe, Japan or wherever. The software — free from skype.com and available for Mac, Windows, Linux and PocketPC — is pitifully easy to use, and the sound quality is more like FM radio than a phone call.

Skype's popularity has caused some impressive ripples in the fabric of business and society. The word is now a verb, à la Google ('Have your people Skype my people'). Last fall, eBay bought Skype for $1.3 billion and 32.4 million shares of eBay stock. And most intriguing of all, an entire industry of Skype accessories has sprung up."

Windows or Mac? Apple Says Both - New York Times

Windows or Mac? Apple Says Both - New York Times. Great news! I remember loving OS/2 and its dual boot capabilities, and now dual boot is back, relabeled Boot Camp.

Channel3000.com - News - Does Cleveland Police Logo Contain Image Of Pig?

Channel3000.com - News - Does Cleveland Police Logo Contain Image Of Pig? Good graphic with the article. Perhaps it's not a pig at all. Could it be....SATAN???

One Chef, One Address, but Very Different Meals - New York Times

One Chef, One Address, but Very Different Meals - New York Times--Here's an idea for Dennis Althar and his Library-Restaurant complex over on East 55th and Broadway.

Wal-Mart Offers Aid to Rivals - New York Times

Wal-Mart Offers Aid to Rivals - New York Times:--These guys are shameless:

"Wal-Mart acknowledged the program was not entirely altruistic. The company is trying to open 50 stores in urban neighborhoods in the next two years, and the aid to small businesses could help build support in cities like Los Angeles and New York where it has met strong resistance."

As Magazine Readers Increasingly Turn to the Web, So Does Condé Nast - New York Times

As Magazine Readers Increasingly Turn to the Web, So Does Condé Nast - New York Times: "While newspapers, their cousins in print, have been forced to confront the shifting appetite for news online and have watched their advertisers migrate to cyberspace, magazines have felt less of a need to reorient themselves. For one thing, the drops in circulation for magazines have been less drastic than for newspapers. For another, magazines have always had a more relaxed, if not intimate, relationship with their readers, who tend to set aside precious leisure time to read them."

New York City Losing Blacks, Census Shows - New York Times

New York City Losing Blacks, Census Shows - New York Times: "An analysis of the latest figures, which show the city with 30,000 fewer black residents in 2004 than in 2000, also revealed stark contrasts in the migration patterns of blacks and whites.
While white New Yorkers are still more likely than blacks to leave the city, they are also more likely to relocate to the nearby suburbs (which is where half the whites move) or elsewhere in the Northeast, or to scatter to other cities and retirement communities across the country. Moreover, New York remains a magnet for whites from most other states.
In contrast, 7 in 10 black people who are moving leave the region altogether. And, unlike black migrants from Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit, most of them go to the South, especially to Florida, the Carolinas and Georgia. The rest move to states like California, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan with large black populations. "

Internet Injects Sweeping Change Into U.S. Politics - New York Times

Internet Injects Sweeping Change Into U.S. Politics - New York Times: "President Bush's media consultant, Mark McKinnon, said television advertising, while still crucial to campaigns, had become markedly less influential in persuading voters than it was even two years ago.

"'I feel like a woolly mammoth,' Mr. McKinnon said.

"What the parties and the candidates are undergoing now is in many ways similar to what has happened in other sectors of the nation — including the music industry, newspapers and retailing — as they try to adjust to, and take advantage of, the Internet as its influence spreads across American society. To a considerable extent, they are responding to, and playing catch up with, bloggers who have demonstrated the power of their forums to harness the energy on both sides of the ideological divide."

jack/zen: Word of the day

jack/zen: Word of the day: Perspectivism.

Perspectivism is the philosophical view that all perception and ideation takes place from a particular perspective. (Wikipedia)

It's a perspective that keeps the community from being imprisoned by the hubris of intellectual arrogance. It validates the value of seeing our stories through new lenses, telling them in new ways.

WKSU News: Cuyahoga County Educates to Fight Foreclosures

WKSU News: Cuyahoga County Educates to Fight Foreclosures----This is the merest eyewash, a feeble effort at giving the impression of doing something. They haven't even begun to address the predatory loan servicing that goes on, and we gave ample testimony on that at the foreclosure hearings last July. They've put the focus on the borrower, not on the lenders, the servicers, the attorneys, the developers who benefit, who profit, from the inescapable "loop" system from which most people never escape, once in the foreclosure-processing system.

Brewed Fresh Daily » Blog Archive » Cleveland’s Voice for Social Justice: Cleveland Needs Your Ideas to Improve City

Brewed Fresh Daily » Blog Archive » Cleveland’s Voice for Social Justice: Cleveland Needs Your Ideas to Improve City: My comments, some of my recurring themes, and I'm not April-fooling: "Just on the streetscape side of the issue, take out the parking meters, the advertising kiosks (can we see the numbers on these monstrosities, please?), and all newspaper boxes. Get all wires & cables underground, in all the neighborhoods, into utility trenches. Ban overnight parking, as they do in the suburbs, wherever it’s remotely possible–have the streets clean and vacant at least once each day. The police say it’s a tactical plus. Institute a program of street cleaning, as they did years ago in Atlanta. Dissolve 85% of all the 501c3’s, and give 10% of the savings directly to the poor and the homeless, so they’re at least not poor any more and homeless only if they want to be. Put the rest of the savings into safety and maintenance. Dream up programs to incentivize use of public transportation–emulate a lifestyle like that in Boston, or New York City. "