Etheostoma Caeruleum

Nice... There is still a lot of fabric there to work with, even with the 20-plus acres removed for the FEB project.

If the ground is stood about the money going for development of passenger rail....then such can prevent someone like Kasich wasting the money elsewhere, no? Also, I wrote a "from the heart" letter...not the best, but just an assembly of some thoughts...where should I send it.. It can be read here: http://qualitychatter.com/2010/11/kasich-do-not-de-rail-rail-or-joke-is.html If there is anything inaccurate I should leave out, let me know.

Excellent letter! Well stated. I do see this as something that can contribute to brain drain of all ages.

Here is a question... A couple weeks ago, it looked like something was planning on happening at the old Centrum Theater at Coventry. Are there plans to re-open this into some kind of theater again? I used to love this place.

Don't forget about the Radio Theater Night Social! See it on pluggedin.

^ Well, "All Aboard Ohio" will take on a new meaning. This is the kind of thing that makes me want to just go. But, then we surrender to the lies, on the other hand. As a nation we cannot be a progressive forward thinking nation....with a population of 300 million plus and growing...and have only a handful of progressive cities/states offering the kind of rail services the nation needs. It seems so disproportionate. KJP...you explained things well above. Question though... Do you think it would be a good idea to circulate a petition on behalf of rail supporters and/or ABO.....send all the facts into these new powers? I mean in addition to just writing letters randomly, is there any plan for a counter to this as a group or coalition, or do we just lay down and take this bad medicine? Also...When you mentioned something to the effct that Kasich cannot turn back because he has has too much invested in his stand, or something like that... It reminds me of the Beach Boys song... "Don't Worry Baby" ...the part where the song goes something like... "I can't back down now because I pushed the other guys too far" Is this what it all comes down to? The pride and ego thing?.... Perhaps that he is too spineless to admit he just might be wrong about all this? (however par for the course in the character of those who have hijacked his party posing as "Republicans")One man's ego denies so much for the state. I mean sooner or later the facts really need to surface on all this. Afterall, I don't think Ohioans are really this oblivious.... I just think they are fed with terrible, terrible mis-information. Thoughts?

I hope that is it nice and snowy for winter fest...as winter is supposed to be that way. The scene looks better with a blanket of fresh snow, lights, and glitter.

^ Look at the DCA blog to see all that is going on during this time of year... You can learn a lot from that blog. Its amazing how many people still have no clue what is happening. What would you like to happen?

Here is an idea... All who support rail.. Attention.. Time for a mass exodus out of Ohio and spend our lives money elsewhere....and be sure to send letters to Johnny boy telling him why we're leaving....Oh, and maybe some of us can even work in the newly created jobs in the rail industry. Afterall, we know how passionate he is on keeping people HERE to achieve their dreams and in creating jobs for Ohio. Seriously, all things considered... Has any of this information really reached his office? I cannot imagine that all who are pro rail here can stand for this. Surely this scenario must have been anticipated and a back up plan in the hat?

Indeed, how backwoods...bass akwards.... and embarrassing for Ohio on a national level to forfeit the funds. How Heeee Haaawww!!! Its like Ed McMahon showing up at your door with the winnings for Publishers Clearing House and you say... Naaaahhh... I don't want it. My God man....this good 'ole boy's thinking is so far behind he thinks its first! (Sigh!) Would a letter writing campaign really work? I mean this guy, IMO, simply wants to "BE right"...rather than do what is right. Maybe he wants to outsource more jobs to China.... I wonder how much money he may have somehow received from China and/or India. The decision to not get Ohio on board with this just does not add up no matter what party, or bastardization of that party, one affiliates ones self with. Maybe his staffers need to skim through this thread.

The argument that favors the rail is clearly unarguable. If we had a media that delivered the FACTS...instead of one that alters the facts to fit personal opinions...we might have a more informed public. The truth needs to prevail. Kasich is denying this state so much, but too bad the sheep he led to slaughter are too jaded to see how they've been played on this one.

Good points.. Another thing I just thought of..... In his campaign ads he was spewing about how much he wants to keep people here in Ohio to achieve their dreams and not in some other state, yadda.. yadda...yadda... Hmmmm...well, many of the bright people we want to keep in our cities in the state, I would imagine, would like rail transportation options as are in the cities to which many seem to re-locate. Well, in a way, I can see by denying Ohio rail development, it makes it less appealing to live here in that regard so we lose these people to other cities/states. Does that make sense?

^ Agreed. Its so frustrating. What kind of counter attack can be presented to those who don't get it...to get them to see the light? There has to be a way to speak their "lingo" but I do not know. We cannot pass this opportunity up. The arrogance in the opposition is exceeded only by their egos. But what next? In a way, I feel like it is a sort of imprisonment to not have the options we need for alternative travel modes. In many places in Ohio there is not even a bus option. Warren, a town/area that large does not even have a Greyhound anymore! Unless you have a car or get someone to drive, you're screwed. You'd think that the embarrassing scenario factor like this would be motive enough to climb aboard. Is there any positive light to shed in this cloud?

His first call of order is to deny Ohio progress in an area it has lagged so far behind. He was salivating at the opportunity to do this like Mike Singletary anticipating a quarterback sack. The industry and jobs that can stem from it are ignored. The fact that there are thousands upon thousands in the state who would actually like a choice/alternative in this supposed wonderful land of choice, is ignored. Got car, got parking lot... Good to go and we should all be happy with that, says he. On a side note...ODOT cannot even adequately maintain the current road infrastructure it has and yet guys like this would rather to steer any transportation monies towards roads...what a joke. I can even begin to imagine how a lot of the CDC forumers are probably praising Kasich for his call to hault this. God its embarrassing to be in Ohio regarding this particular issue. I honestly do not know what he is thinking. Good agenda Johnny boy... Let China reap all the benefits.

If this is what I think it is......Then it is utterly...absolutely, positively PATHETIC!!! All the parking downtown....and this? Obviously Mr Gilbert knows no other life except the parking lot scene that is so much of Detroit. Looks like I am going to have to call on the troops to start a massive letter writing campaign to the ACOE, OEPA, etc. to deny all permits for this travesty. Dumb.. Dumb.. Dumb!.... As though we need more surface lots to accommodate fat asses to lazy to walk 40 feet so they can spend what they don't have on a penny slot machine. Sorry, but anyone who jumps on me for saying this.. I suggest they get an education in aquatic ecology and understand why this is simply retarded...aside from the points Clueless made... What a joke...and this is a city striving to be "green" and sustainable? This is the best worst example of river abuse yet. One guy should not have this much power to implement this. Cleveland deserves so much better and a plan with vision. This would be a joke by many city standards.

That was one of the first buildings we completed for the window art. Then it sold. If this "internet cafe" is what I have seen in Europe.....it can be a good thing....But not if it is what I see on S.R. 91 in Springfield Twp. (near Akron/Ellet neighborhood)

This does not have to be the reality. It is too often a convenient excuse, especially in the US where it has become our reality so much. It should be noted that not all those committing crimes would suddenly become upstanding law abiding citizens if they had a job pocket full of money. Left out is the notion that some of these people, no matter if a job opportunity was thrown in their face on a daily basis, would opt to take that over the criminal ways they have adopted and embraced. They don't want to work. And, there are many factors as to why the criminal/self destructive lifestyle has been embraced....(we could debate these factors all day) One of many, that often prevails today, IMO from watching what goes on.... just may have something to do with children having no parenting and more often than not....the best examples they get are those which glamorizes anti-social and criminal-like behavior via the kind media they buy into and piss poor dysfunctional examples they see each day. They grow up with these..have kids..they grow up..and so on, the rotten cycle continues. Yes, there are shining exceptions, but not the rule...But, it is those exceptions that can help set better examples. Its sad that when they do try and set good examples, however, that they are often scorned as sell outs or whatever derogatory name they would be called. To the ignorant, intelligence is intimidating. Nevertheless, being poor monetarily, although it is certainly associated here with high crime, does not always automatically mean that such results in a high crime place. Better examples don't take a lot of money.....Let's examine them: I have traveled many places on this planet and have witnessed "poor" places that have little...and what little they have they take pride in and want to make as nice as they can...and those in such places have often been the nicest people I have met and non-violent and the kind of crime we witness in declining neighborhoods here is not an issue like it is here. Not to say they don't have problems/issues, but they have good families who stick together....key word being real "families" Now, I know we think we know it all and have it all figured out in our mere 235 years of existence and cannot possibly learn anything from cultures that have lasted for thousands of years....but Perhaps we can learn something here in young America. Throwing around money without a plan or direction is not magically going to solve bad crime situations in neighborhoods here. It comes down to HOW the money is spent.... and you don't go throwing money around to those who have no clue how to use it wisely in a way to eradicate the ignorance or prevent the problems of decline in the first place. As is, you could throw them all the cash you want, but if the person who receives it is feral and un-molded, it will not do a damn bit of good. If there is money to throw around, let's use it to establish centers that begin with the children.....teach children better examples in life...all that which they never received from lack of parenting.... To implement better nutrition and teach valuable trade skills and/or expose them to things in the world they can get involved with that they never realized such as how to become the next Jacques Cousteau, and offer something socially redeeming to the world... instead of becoming the next media glamorized street criminal addicted to fast food and thinking going out and buying a bunch of material crap once they have the cash will make all in life dandy. That is how I would spend it....Basically to help craft a more articulate and intelligent community; one that will also learn that crime is not the only alternative when you lack cash. Many cultures did not have a monetary system and have thrived. It amazes me that we have become so assimilated that we can fathom no other way to live. It is one thing to lack money in a society that has designed itself around being dependent upon it to get our needs....and struggle and commit crimes to get those "needs" Another thing to discover that its not the only alternative, nor does lacking it mean that you have to have the high crime to follow. Time to plant the seeds of changing this mindset, but it is a major mountain to climb that will take years of deprogramming. Anyway, that is how I would spend it.... Not just throw it at them blindly expect all will fix itself. This has been done that for years and it has not worked. Just giving everyone a job and pocket full of cash will not change who they are inside and what they've been used to. We are more poor in knowledge and common sense than anything else..and it does not take a lot of money or jobs to learn this. Call this all fairy tale idealist in its own right....but if we've lost ideals, we have nothing left. And that is a part of the problem with those poor lost individuals who think they have to resort to street crime. But, some must actually may enjoy it because it was made to look "cool"and normal by the disturbing examples they see. Easier to take something and not work for it in their eyes.

Great photos! Thanks for posting...So many interesting stories about this cemetery....many dramatic ones.

My take on a lot of these drinks: Mostly crap that just makes more plastic garbage and obese kids. Anytime a marketing label makes great claims...that is a warning sign to me to think they'll do the opposite and I'd better do my own snooping around for the facts. Too many base their decisions when selecting a food/drink product based on the fancy sales claims rather than the facts. Here is a simple tip for energy....Try eating an orange and drinking water after a hard workout and do some deep breathing or stretching exercises... So many of these drinks are mostly sugar water...and not meant as a main source of hydration and probably only have any value at all if you sweat like a pig like the girl on Flash Dance...then drank one. Still I would do what I mentioned above. Additionally, I seriously doubt that most who are drinking these kinds of drinks, such as kids walking around leisurely drinking them like water, (then pitching their empty or half full containers on the ground) are burning off the energy/calories hard and fast enough compared to what these things dump back in. So, their intake is disproportionate to the energy spent by the consumer. Add to this a host of artificial chemicals and colors that contribute to other ills, but that's another story. http://walking.about.com/od/snacks/a/energymyths.htm Heaps of info. about this all over.

All good points, but one thing..... he better learn why he needs to care about that which he doesn't, because a hell of a lot of people actually do...contrary to what the conservative owned mainstream boob media portrays. Not caring will cost us a whole new frontier of economic development in the green front. It may behoove him to start learning about "conserving" and using wisely and efficiently the very source that sustains his a!! and the economy, that without...would not exist.

I agree. McDonald's won't adapt because they're urban design lovers, they do it likely because of some kind of design requirement in a particular city/village, etc. code...otherwise they'll do their typical spit and paste garbage. But yes, this is an area that should expect and demand what fits well and respects the surroundings. Another reason I have always said...letting developers dictate city planning is like letting loggers dictate sustainable forest management.

I will throw out a least expected vote for not "the best" but for a least expected treat, more so..... Dish Deli in Tremont bakes daily, one or two fresh thin crust pizzas with some great toppings, all in the right balance. Its not just cheese and bread with ketchup on top. Often the ingredients are local and in season....and made from scratch. One would not expect to get such a nice treat in this place. They only make small quantities of quality, though, so if you're looking just to get stuffed with dough, there will not be enough. It sells out fast.

The Flaming Ice Cube sign will have internal lights. Electric work is being done.

Flaming Ice..the cube on the square...now has the sign...lighting will follow...and a planned grand opening.

This dipshi! will cost Ohio a lot of potential jobs. No worries... China will gladly take them.