The times have changed since 1968.    

Today, when the president meets with Pakastani officials, it's drones, not peace, which is the topic of discussion.   

The NYTimes, in 2008 compared Ben Shahn's 1968 Peace poster with Shephard Fairey's Obama Hope poster.

This is a warning in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, that kids aren't allowed - that kids are a problem - interfering with commerce or causing flash mobs or whatever.  

In every community our overall impression of that community is aggregated from numerous experiences.   

Google hasn't provided the public with an algorithm to process this data, so here I go....

I had an experience recently which involved delivering scrap metal (light iron) to a junk yard.   

 The Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority is an abomination.   

Myers University, University Square Parking Garage -  on and on failure after failure.  Corruption - the folks are steering millions of dollars of bonds - which Cuyahoga citizen taxpayers are guaranteeing for Wall Street, to projects which are complete losers. 

If you own real estate in North East Ohio - in many, many communities - your real estate may be valueless.  In fact, your real estate may be a financial  liability.

How did this happen?    

Has our corrupt, ignorant, and inept local governments caused this massive loss in equity?

Is it Rust Belt deterioration?

Federal banking policy?

Or is it "market forces"?  Racism?

When I visited a friend recently I asked about this painting and was told that it was a May Show entry called "Starfish" painted by Janet Moore.   A sticker on the back of the masonite board confirmed that this painting was from the 38th May Show held in 1956.   

With the Federal Government shut down, these two fellows were not able to visit Washingon, DC - so instead they are cruising the streets of Cleveland picking up anything metal - an old stove, the lawmower you left out, aluminum street signs, etc.   

Not having enough money for a rope or tie down straps, the top half of their load went onto the pavement in the intersection.  

Vacation today includes your smart phone.  And a SeaDoo! (or a boat)  And money.  

In lots of vacation places,   all of the above are required.    You have to be prepared and work  to get that vacation. 

Still, very exhilarating on a warm rock in the hot sun with orange lichen against the blue water.

Except for Brasilia, is there a city where the roadways and land to be occupied were defined prior to maxing out  urbanization density?  

In most cities it seems that they are built ass-backward.   First a tiny town is established and the street lay out is committed.  Population 100.

Except for Brazilia, is there a city where the roadways and land to be occupied were defined prior to urbanization?  

In most cities it seems that they are built ass-backward.   First a tiny town is established and the street lay out is committed.  Population 100.

 In a recent New Yorker Magazine (August 12/19, 2013) I noticed a two page advertisement that struck me - the ad was so drab, so unispired, so gray, so boring - something was suspicious about it.

The ad was a total turn off for the product that the ad was allegedly "promoting" - showing flashlight batteries in a schizoid graffic?   Huh?

Personal affiliations cannot be legislated, dictated, constitutionally dictated.  

Love and affection and interest cannot be mandated via politics.

These folks are showing us (in Ohio) that personal relationships are defined by those in the relationship, not by government.

https://www.facebook.com/Schoep.and.John

Hot weather is the end for many.    Yet, we continue to selfishly cool down our private space automobiles and buildings while using the atmosphere, lakes, and oceans as a publc exhaust heat sink/sewer.   

 Kevyn Orr put Detroit's 700,000 citizens into municipal bankrupcty today.  

Bond business will never be the same. (I hope)

Read about this titanic issue here at the Washington Post.

 Lots of little indicators tell the public that the MEDCON is a failure for the citizens of Cuyahoga County.

First, the spin doctors changed the name from MEDCON to Global Center for Medical Technology and Conferences in DownCleveland.

Second, the Fitz and the It is What it Is whiz announced that there was so much money coming in from the .25% Cuyahoga County convention center sales tax a 600 bed county owned hotel will be built next to the Medcon.   (not a peep from the present down town hotel owners who will lose bed revenue)

 Juries are no longer effective.  if they ever were.   Is there a better concept?   

what are the alternatives to "jury" trial?   Of our peers?   

Much like Harry Potter here.   Weird. 

I am not impressed with the present judicial system. 

The Zimmerman/Martin jury has no window through which to escape.  

Why is it that the jury is damned?

 It's a hot evening and I was just cutting up some food, and I flashed back to a story Tiny told me.   

Wasn't actually a "story", it was an explaination of why Tiny didn't have any front teeth.

Tiny wasn't.    He got that nick name just for the reverse.   6'7".   Carry a cast iron bathtub up four flights on his back - alone.  Like breaking sticks.   Tiny my ass.   A giant.

The New York Times reports that Leslie James Pickering, the owner of a bookstore in Buffalo, was targeted by a tracking program from the United States Postal Service.

Every 6 months the Realneo Post Office box is re-upped for $30.00 ($60.00 annually).  That just happened.

The monthly server cost is $29.95.

A few weeks ago I took a wrong turn and ended up seeing the future.

Holyoke, Massachusetts - way back when, had their act totally together.

Dam the Connecticut River, and use water and gravity to create 1,000's of mill "jobs".

 My long time friend Charlie is the closest thing to James Joyce.   Brilliant. Empathetic. Expressive. Perceptive. Addicted. Always extremely hospitable. No Guilt. Crazy.

Different strokes for different folks...

This image shows the wall/roof structure of what may well be the largest "A" frame building in North America - designed by Joan E. Goody circa 1960 -  more images soon.  The building is used as the gymnasium at Camp Kenwood near Wilmot, NH.

Caught this extemporaneously

- in the background a public art presentation of black and white posters of faces of homeless young people, wheat pasted on a brick alley wall

In the foreground - bold orange dyed hair.

Very in-the-late-spring season.

Couldn't have been choreographed....

Image: Solar Impulse /Jean Revillard/Rezo.ch/Handout