Open Source is an method of engagement or participation and approach to project development. It can apply to industries such as software development, economic development, workforce development, education, creative industries, etc. It is not an exclusive term unto itself. Open Source infers community based activity that is user defined. 'Open Source Economic Development' references a method of economic development, recommended heuristic models, guides, tools, and an assumed set of rules of engagement and participation largely influenced by global best practices of what works.

The Plain Dealer ran this hopeful story about the Montessori High School in University Circle.  I would love to see the financials on this model school.  There is an open house next Tuesday.

Montessori High School, 11025 Magnolia Drive, will hold an open house at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9. Call 216-421-3033 to RSVP.

Michael Moore says goodbye to the old General Motors and offers some really good advice to President Obama.

He offers nine really good suggestions for the GM makeover (that'd be our taxpayer makeover of GM). The first one sets the stage well.

Would you be so kind as to take a short bit of time to help us with a research project. 

The task is simple, and only requires that you answer honestly, from the heart.   There are no right or wrong answers, only the opportunity for some useful insight that might help us better serve our communities going forward.

The question is this:  Imagine  you opened the paper this morning and read in the obituaries that I-Open had died.   It is no more.

It is well documented, but little referenced and intentionally overlooked by modern newspaper editors and their PR-stitutes... the origin of the use of the word spam, beyond for Hormel Foods Corporation's "spiced meat" (now officially known as "SPAM luncheon meat") is documented as: "Correspondant Bob White claims the modern use of the term predates Monty Python by at least ten years. He cites an editor for the Dallas Times Herald describing Public Relations as "throwing a can of spam into an electric fan just to see if any of it would stick to the unwary passersby."

 There have been some discussions recently about the integrity of my posts pertaining to my giveaways and reviews, and accusations of "spam".  If you'd like to understand my intentions, the review/giveaway process or to win prizes, read full article.

Register today for the 2009 Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council (GCLAC) 4th Annual Symposium, “Countdown to 2010: Revisiting the Past and Planning for the Future”, Friday, June 12, 2009 from 7:30 a.m. - noon at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (1 Wade Oval Drive)

Location

• Meet at Tower City Rapid station. Tour will begin at Tower City Green/Blue Line Platform Track 10E directly into the Rail Shop (Transportation time 15-20 minutes to/from TC)
• Tour/Presentation of Rail Shop will be conducted by Timothy O'Donnell, Manager of Rail Equipment
• The Shop tour will consist of a walk 'n' talk through each Shop section. Inspection, Defect Repair, Motors, Truck Shop, Body Shop, HRV Midlife. There will also be a (very) short description of the Heavy and Light Rail cars.
• Return to Tower City

Location

I was glad to see printed in the Sunday May 24, 2009, Cleveland Plain Dealer "Cuyahoga County staffing, services unfairly characterized in Plain Dealer series", by James McCafferty, Cuyahoga County's administrator. There he challenges several PD analyses of Cuyahoga County government performance, writing "The Plain Dealer's use of selective benchmarking results in misleading conclusions", which he claims are "disingenuous and intellectually dishonest".

So what can Cleveland do to turn itself around?  That was the same question that many citizens in Atlanta were asking thirty years ago.  It breaks down to the issues and the solutions:

Issues:

GREATER CLEVELAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY KICKS OFF MONTH-LONG COMMUNITY TOOL DRIVE
Donated items will be used to help eliminate poverty housing 

Being caught 'brown handed' is like getting caught red handed except that you are caught being a pollut-o-crat.....as in brown fields and and as in the antithesis of Green.

In an effort to continue to clean up our city, our roving patrol at BSI captured another photo of a local business polluting our great land.  See Buckeye Sustainability Institute' NorthCoast Green Spieler Blog for the hot shot!

I look forward to your thoughts!

Photo credit: Mifune http://www.myspace.com/mifunesound

Life doesn't get any better than grooving to Mifune in the Eastman Garden of the Cleveland Public Library.  

Location

This Friday, May 15, 2009, from 1-7 PM, we will hold a public open house at the Star Complex, the former Hough Bakeries, previously the Star Baking Company, at 1518 Lakeview Road, 44112. We will use these days to build our community around our vision to make Cuyahoga County home of The world's first "Digital City" and the "Greenest Place On Earth".

Plan a time to meet your friends at the Inner Circle, during these open hours. Bring flashlights, cameras, and open minds... plan and dress for the weather, as the site is large and areas may be wet. Friday, the weather should be perfect... we'll have some food from Hot Sauce Williams available Friday afternoon... perhaps some live entertainment... see more about the complex here: http://realneo.us/Star-complex-unique

Location

How an artist sees the world ...

It takes a world renowned visionary and creative genius like Richard Fleischman to take the complexities of saving and transforming our regional economy, landscape and society and express that in one clear, elegant statement.

The Vision for Cuyahoga County is clear - The world's first "Digital City" and the "Greenest Place On Earth".

I've written for some time about the importance of Education as the most fundamental need for our region.  Specifically, we need our programs to be intergenerational, experiential, and service-based.   More heartening news comes down the news wire just recently, reported on MSN Careers and local

 It’s not just the loyal group of Melt fans that continues to grow. Since opening in September 2006, Melt Bar and Grilled opened a patio, then expanded the restaurant in summer 2008 to accommodate the droves of hungry Clevelanders, excited to bring an out-of-town friend or spend a mundane any-day enjoying some true laid-back comfort—in the food, drink and vibe.

Norm Roulet - November 5, 2001, Opinion Editorial in the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Joe Frolik's Oct. 21 (2001) column, "The high-tech route to City Hall," finally starts focusing attention on the Cleveland area's only hope for economic and social renewal: information technology.

Independent studies prove Cleveland is deficient in its use of information technology in government and in supporting the needs and interests of citizens. As a result, the community and the local economy have suffered.

Cleveland must move to the forefront of the information technology revolution by doing two things quickly and effectively:

Achieve universal access for our people.

Develop an optimal virtual community.