Welcome to our group!  We are an assortment of people, with different backgrounds, who all share an interest in learning things from people with other viewpoints.

One of my interests is the field of alternative energy, and in that vein, I participate in an on-line community that brings in people from all over the US as well as folks from Finland, SE Asia, Germany, Belgium, and a number of other locations.  I feel that their individual and collective inputs and perspectives add a perspective to our conversations/discussions that would be lacking without them.

If you would be willing to share a little about yourself, and your interests/background/whatever, maybe we can start having some interesting international discussions here too.

As an example, the "powers that be" here in the city have decided that an "old" building here in our downtown area is of no value to them needs to be torn down: http://www.realneo.org/events/architecture-in-the-city-future-of-the-ameritrust-tower-apr-2007 I can remember this building being built when I was a kid in the 1960's.

Here in Ohio a "century home" can be a selling point for a house in good repair, yet many aren't "worth the money" to fix up, according to some people.

I understand that there are 400-500 year old buildings in London, England.  I saw a picture of a town square in Krakow(sp), Poland where the local people had lovingly re-built their historic landmark buildings brick by brick from their ruins after the second war.

Anyway, just thought I would run off a little at the mouth here, as a welcoming comment.

Bill MacD 

I think your friend Ros was referring to Norm Roulet's photos of  BBC's East Cleveland visit.  (Norm thanks for making that U turn! ) 

Now in the brief few years that I've been blogging, one of the things I've learned is that the media appreciate a little coverage of themselves.  Also, coverage of the media talks to the significance of the event.    When I take shots of news events, I now make certain I get good shots of the TV camera crews.   That’s because once, when I was making a power point presentation about a major gas main rupture to City officials in another state, I could tell that it was only when the officials saw my photos of the other media who had come to record the same gas break news (iI included a photo of the TV helicopters) that  it finally sunk in to the officials that it wasn't just my paranoia about the gas danger that brought me to City Hall.  When the officials saw my shots of the other newscameramen, that’s when they started to take heed …

BBC does a great job around the globe.  Let Ros know Cleveland appreciated their visit and coverage. 

What are some of the public discussions going on from where you hail?

Ros is very cool - we had a great time with World Have Your Say here. Interested in hearing more from your part of the world, especially interested in Free Open Source Software, alternative energy and education, but anything goes here! Thanks for joining our community!

Disrupt IT

Thank you for joining us. I look forward to hearing your opinions and hearing about what is going on in your part or the world. I typically write about arts and culture, but I appreciate the postings on other topics that I am less knowledgeable about such as the economy, technology and environmental issues. I find realneo to be a great place to get informed because there are so many very intelligent members.