Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Fun with Maps - The North Pole

 From the famous polar bear riddle to Santa Claus to famous explorations and expeditions the North Pole is completely unique. The North Pole is by definition the northernmost point on the Earth, lying diametrically opposite to the South Pole. At the North Pole all directions point south; all lines of longitude converge there. Thanks to Gerardus Mercator we have had maps of the Arctic region and North Pole for centuries.

This video talks about the "wobble" at the North Pole, an amazing meeting between Sir Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong at the North Pole, the mystic aura of the Pole and, yes, some thoughts about Santa Claus.





Carnovsky 3 pictures in 1 Ocean Jigsaw Puzzle

 This is not your typical jigsaw puzzle. It is very challenging because it consists of 3 different images sitting on top of each other and forming one blended image.



The creators Carnovsky are a Milan based art and design duo compromising of Francesco Rugi and Silvia Quintanilla. They are best known for their RGB project, which was first presented at Milan Design Week in 2010 and has since been showcased in numerous international exhibitions.

It is a high-quality product. There are 500 nice solid pieces which come in a sturdy paper bag. You also get 3 pairs of viewing glasses (Blue, Green and Red) and a copy of the Ocean artwork print.




Why the colored viewing glasses? You will need them (or use your phone to scan a QR code to acts as the lenses) in order to discern the 3 images. I tried solving the puzzle without using the glasses and was only able to complete the border.

When you put on the red glasses, for example, you see only the image that makes it through the filter. The same for the blue and the green. For me the blue lenses were too dark and it was difficult to work with that image. But the red and green really popped.

This is a challenging and fun puzzle. Don't give up. You will be rewarded with a beautiful 19.7 inches x 19.7 inches result.



Nela Park GE Lighting Holiday Light Display 2021

 Nela Park is the headquarters of GE Lighting, located in East Cleveland, Ohio. Nela Park is the first industrial park in the world and was home to most of the lighting breakthroughs of the last century.  Thomas Edison was a founder.  Albert Einstein and other notables visited.  

I was raised in East Cleveland and our family visited the world-famous Christmas lighting display every Christmas season.  You used to be able to drive through the campus but in recent years the display is all along Noble Rd.  Here is a quick video tour of the 2021 display.




See  more of GE Nela Park at Cleveland 101 

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Fun with Maps – The Kamchatka Peninsula

 Fun with Maps – The Kamchatka Peninsula

When the Soviet Union fell in 1991 it was the first time in over 50 years that outsiders were able to visit the topic of this episode of Fun with Maps, Kamchatka.

Kamchatka is a 900-mile-long peninsula roughly the size of California, yet only 400,000 people were allowed to live there, and all had to have special military clearances. The reason for the secrecy was Kamchatka's location so near Japan and the US that Soviets could listen in on communications during the Cold War. 

 Kamchatka is an example of a map having enormous geopolitical implications. Russia may have regrets about ceding the Kuril Islands to Japan, not to mention selling Alaska to the US in 1867.  Had they not, how those events may have influenced history we will never know.  


More Fun with Maps episodes

More Russians in Cleveland


Thursday, November 18, 2021

Mom

 I just left the hospital.  Mom passed away this morning.  

When Dad died 29 years ago on Thanksgiving it left a void and I still miss him every day.  

But Mom was the matriarch of the family and this emptiness will never be filled. I usually have too many words but I am at a loss now.

She’s with Dad (and her brother Terry and all the Sweeneys, Primosches and other family and friends) in Heaven so her suffering is over. 


For Debbie and me and the rest of her family and friends it has just begun.  I miss you already Mom.

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Holodomor Commemoration at St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral

Every November, The Cleveland and Parma Ukrainian communities, along with Ukrainian communities and allies around the world, commemorate the victims of the Ukrainian-Famine Genocide of 1932-1933.




The United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, led by Marta Liscynesky-Kelleher and George Jaskiw, M.D., held a remembrance ceremony on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at the Holodomor Memorial at St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma Ohio.

The program included presentations from youth groups and a service (panakhyda) for the repose of the souls of the deceased.



Watch a video of highlights.



More from the Holodomor Commemoration

A look at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral



 


Monday, November 15, 2021

Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia's Sacred Mountain

 The Cleveland Museum of Art's highly anticipated exhibition, Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia's Sacred Mountain opened November 14, 2021. The groundbreaking exhibition incorporates mixed reality and reveals the CMA's newly restored Cambodian masterwork, Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan, through an integration of art and experiential digital design.


The exhibition transports visitors to the dramatic floodplains of southern Cambodia and illustrates the history of the sculpture, spanning 1,500 years and three continents. The exhibition unveils Krishna alongside nine other related large-scale sculptures generously lent from the NMC, the Angkor Borei Museum and the Musée national des arts asiatiques-Guimet in Paris, through an integration of art, technology and experiential design.



According to Sanskrit texts, Krishna, an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, once hoisted a mountain overhead to shelter people and cattle from a mighty storm brought upon them by Indra, the god of rain and lightning, whom Krishna had angered. At the time, the dark-skinned god was just eight years old, and after this feat, his fellow villagers came to recognize him as a divinity. Around the year 600, a sculpture was created for the temple site of Phnom Da in southern Cambodia to honor this feat.


Watch Dan Hanson's video preview of the exhibit which includes comments from Sonya Rhie Mace, CMA's George P. Bickford Curator of Indian and Southeast Asian Art who speaks about the participation of actress Angelina Jolie among other items. It also takes a look at the incredible HoloLens 2 virtual reality tour which includes a life-size holographic representation of the original cave temple on Phnom Da.



See more pictures and information on Revealing Krishna

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Veteran’s Day - 3 Asian-American Marines you should know about

At the Cleveland Asian Festival several years ago Marine Brigadier General Daniel D. Yoo (Korean heritage) spoke about the contributions of Asian-Americans in the Marine Corps and other services and singled out 3 Asian-American military heroes.  It’s worth at watch.

Thanks to all Veterans


Thursday, October 28, 2021

Rotary Club of Cleveland honors Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.

 Each year the Community Service Committee of the Rotary Club of Cleveland selects an individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding "Service Above Self" in the Greater Cleveland area. The meeting was held on the 20th floor "Sky Lounge" of One University Circle.



What a view of University Circle!


The 2021 honoree is Chris Ronyane for his "innovative leadership he has transformed University Circle and its surrounding neighborhoods into a vibrant, diverse, and mixed-use community."


Rotary's Jennifer Kelly presents Chris Ronayne with the award


See photos and videos of Chris Ronayne and the Rotary

RIP Mike Trivisonno

Radio Legend Mike Trivisonno passed away unexpectedly today (10-28-21).




In 2007, Debbie Hanson profiled Mike Trivisonno for ClevelandSeniors.com. Here is how it began...

Love him or hate him - everybody knows his name. He's WTAM radio's drive time disc jockey and he's not afraid to speak his mind. But now, as News Commentator Paul Harvey would say, here's the rest of the story.

Mike was born on Cleveland's East Side on September 20, 1949, the eldest of three children. He had a number of jobs before he took to the airwaves in 1987. His father worked in ceramic tile, so naturally, Mike worked on and off in that profession from a very young age. Then he went on to landscaping. He worked as an employee of a landscape firm before starting his own company "Chagrin Valley Landscaping".

Read the rest of the profile of Mike Trivisonno

Rest in Peace, Triv

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Turnip Spice Latte?

Did you know the Irish and Scottish carved turnips not pumpkins for Halloween?  

That was in the free ethnic eNews last night.

If you didn’t received the free weekly ClevelandPeople Ethnic eNews last night you can sign up here 

You could write a book about the history and spread of Halloween from the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day to what it is today. This was the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed.

Did you know that in Ireland and Scotland, the turnip has traditionally been carved during Halloween?  Immigrants to North America used the native pumpkin, which is both much softer and much larger – making it easier to carve than a turnip. At least we don’t have turnip spice lattes.

The American tradition of carving pumpkins is recorded in 1837 and was originally associated with harvest time in general, not becoming specifically associated with Halloween until the mid-to-late 19th century. 

In England, from the medieval period  up until the 1930s, people practiced the Christian custom of souling on Halloween, which involved groups of soulers, both Protestant and Catholic, going from parish to parish, begging the rich for soul cakes, in exchange for praying for the souls of the givers and their friends.

In the Philippines, the practice of souling is called Pangangaluwa and is practiced on All Hallow's Eve among children in rural areas. People drape themselves in white cloths to represent souls and then visit houses, where they sing in return for prayers and sweets.

On Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve), in Poland, believers were once taught to pray out loud as they walk through the forests in order that the souls of the dead might find comfort.

In Spain, Christian priests in tiny villages toll their church bells in order to remind their congregants to remember the dead on All Hallows' Eve.  And don’t forget  Dia de Muertos (see below).

Irish and Scottish migrants brought many Halloween customs to North America, and then through American influence, Halloween spread to many other countries by the 21st century such as Ecuador, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, (most) continental Europe, Finland, Japan, and other parts of East Asia.


Friday, October 22, 2021

People having Fun with Maps at One World Day

 You know who we like to have Fun with Maps.

Each year when the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation hosts the annual One World Day in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, ClevelandPeople.com makes sure everyone has fun with maps.

The ClevelandPeople.com booth had large 5' x 7' maps of Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, North America and the Middle East. Visitors placed a colorful dot on the map where there ancestors (or they) came from. At the end of the day almost 80 different countries were represented and various areas within countries. A real display of Cleveland's diversity.

Here are a few sample pictures of people finding their heritage on the maps.  See more Fun with Maps









More people having Fun with Maps at One World Day 2021

Saturday, October 09, 2021

Fun with Maps - Lesotho

 There are only 3 enclaved countries in the world. By enclaved we mean an independent country whose territory is completely surrounded by the territory of one other country.  In Lesotho’s case, it is within South Africa.

 Lesotho is a unique and interesting country and the map really defines it.  Did you know that the country of Wakanda in the Marvel superhero movie Black Panther was inspired by Lesotho?  

There’s lots more interesting items about Lesotho. Keep having Fun with Maps. 

Watch the video below"


 See more Fun with Maps 

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Beatlemania - Many dreamt it, she did it!

 My Ticket to Ride: How I Ran Away to England to Meet the Beatles and Got Rock and Roll Banned in Cleveland (A True Story from 1964)

By Janice Mitchell

Reviewed by Dan Hanson

September 2021

I didn't expect to really like this book. Of course I like the Beatles music but Beatlemania was a little before my time and I never understood the screaming throng of young girls at concerts. But I soon found myself engrossed in a fascinating story.

In 1964 as Beatlemania swept the US and world a Cleveland Heights teen from a troubled family falls "in love" with the Beatles. She buys every record, magazine and tchotcke she can. She dreams of meeting them and moving to London to be with them. Probably the same dream as thousands of young girls at the time, right?

But this girl went beyond the dreaming stage. Her passion and drive lead her to several adventures including being alone in a room with the Rolling Stones and being kissed by one of them (not the one you might expect!). She saved her money and camped out at Public Hall to get front row center seats for the Beatles concert at Public Hall. That just furthers her drive to be part of their world.


She and a friend actually cash in their meager funds, get passports and travel to London to "Meet the Beatles" just like the record said. Without telling their family or anyone else. It's a fascinating account of their adventures and exposure to a very different climate from their Cleveland Heights homes.

It was suspenseful as the teen girls hitchhiked in England, met and hung out with older guys in bands and took chances that would be much more dangerous in our modern world.

The story grows as Cleveland Heights police and the local radio station start tracking down the missing girls while the girls keep pursuing meeting the Beatles in London and Liverpool. Even the Beatles get involved!

It's a fun read and locals will recognize many of the Cleveland and Cleveland Heights landmarks from the story. It also gives an insider's look at the carefree mod days of early Beatlemania in London as teens flocked to clubs, dressed in the latest fashions.

Click to buy it at Amazon. 

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Big Numbers - Million, Billion , Trillion

Sometimes we throw around numbers like a million or billion or trillion or more very casually. It's good to have a frame of reference to compare to. 

For example, 1,000 seconds is almost 17 minutes. One million seconds are counted off in about eleven and a half days. But it takes 32 years for one billion seconds!  That's how much bigger a billion is to a million.

A trillion seconds would amount to no less than 31,709.8 years!

Think of that when you hear of trillion dollar deficits and budgets.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Bishop Anthony Pilla

We just heard the news about the passing of Bishop Anthony Pilla.  

Instead of doing disservice to the man by rushing a few lines for this blog here are two videos 


First is the video of Sam Miller inducting Bishop Pilla into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in 2015.



This is Bishop Pilla’s acceptance speech. https://youtu.be/KMVo49Zi-94

I am sure that Sam and the Bishop are joyfully reconnecting in Heaven.  RIP Bishop Pilla.

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Rocky Colavito statue unveiling and 88th Birthday

Rocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito Jr. (born August 10, 1933) is best known playing baseball for the Cleveland Indians in right field. In 1959, he hit four consecutive home runs in one game. In 1965, he became the first American League (AL) outfielder to play a complete season with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.



Rocky Colavito was an All-Star for six seasons (9 All-Star Games). He is the fifth player in the history of the AL to have eleven consecutive 20-home run seasons (1956–1966). During that span, he exceeded 40 home runs three times and 100 runs batted in, six times. He also led the AL in home runs, RBI, and slugging average once each. Colavito ranked third among AL right-handed hitters for home runs (371) and eighth for AL games played at right field (1272), at the end of his MLB playing career in 1968.

But Rocky is so much more than a bunch of all-star caliber achievements. He was a hero to Cleveland and every kid in little league copied the stretch and other batting nuances of #6. The fans loved Rocky and when he was unexpectedly traded to Detroit on April 17, 1960 by Indians general manager Frank Lane to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn the fans were devastated. They missed "The Rock" and cries of Don't knock the Rock were everywhere.

The Tribe was extremely unsuccessful after the trade and it was blamed on "The Curse of Rocky Colavito" which became a book by sportswriter Terry Pluto.

In January 1965, Rocky Colavito was brought back to Cleveland from Kansas City by Indians general manager Gabe Paul.

The Cleveland fans never stopped idolizing Rocky and he had a triumphant return in August 2021 for the unveiling of a statue in his honor in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood.

The day included a lunch with a birthday cake and the packed house singing Happy Birthday to Rocky.


Happy 88th birthday Rocky Colavito

I was fortunate to be one of a handful who got to ask Rocky questions at a press conference.  I asked about the many Italian American stars in baseball. I asked who would be his all-time Italian outfield with him in right field and Joe Dimaggio in center. Off camera we talked about other positions. For example, he said while Mike Piazza was great the best Italian catcher was Yogi Berra. No contest.

The highlight of the day was the ceremony and unveiling of the statue in Little Italy.



See lots of photos and videos of Rocky Colavito ceremony




Saturday, September 11, 2021

When It’s Polka Time in Cleveland

 

Fred Ziwich and his “International Sound Machine” has a new CD release out called “When It’s Polka Time in Cleveland.”  (Now and Then).  Some of the 23 songs were recorded in 2021 (Now) and others were recorder in the past.

 If you don’t know Fred Ziwich, here is a little about him from when the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

 “Fred Ziwich is known as just about the most versatile nusician ever on the Cleveland polka scene. He is a virtuoso on several instruments, a prolific recording artist,  and an expert music arranger. His band, the "lnternational Sound Machine" has mastered, performed and recorded all of the major polka styles. Fred also plays a large repertoire of popular music. There is no music he can't play and perform well.”

See more from Fred Ziwich’s Lifetime Achievement Award bio. 

 The 23 songs cover a variety of Polka Styles.  I especially liked the title cut, Achtung Los (Watch Out!), The Beer is Good (Die Goass is’ Weg) and Oktoberfest is here.

 


There’s a unique arrangement of In Heaven There Is No Beer and Cleveland Girls Polka.  Fred also does several covers that were a surprise such as The Accordion Man – Billy Joel’s Piano Man with the words adjusted.  Who would expect covers of “Can’t Smile Without You”, “The Way You Look Tonight” and the classic “Does your Chewing Gum lose its flavor (on the bedpost overnight)?

There are a lot of styles on this CD and a lot of music.  Something for everyone.

You can get it when you see Fred perform live or at PolkaConnection.com and other websites.  You can also email him at FredPolka@yahoo.com

Thursday, September 09, 2021

The scale of the German Cultural Garden

 I took this photo at One World Day on August 29, 2021.


It shows the scale of the Goethe-Schiller monument in the German Cultural Garden.  Impressive!



More on 2021 One World Day

Berj Shakarian inducted in Cleveland International Hall of Fame

 Architect Berj Shakarian was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  Berj was the driving force behind the Armenian Cultural Garden in Cleveland as well as the Centennial Peace Plaza among other projects. 

Armenian Cultural Garden

Berj Shakarian in the Plaza


Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation president Dr. Wael Khoury introduced Berj and then previous inductee Paul Burik presented Berj and gave him his CIHF award and pin. 

 Berj then gave his acceptance speech.



More on the Cleveland International Hall of Fame 2020 inductions

Monday, June 28, 2021

How Estonians fooled the occupying Soviets

The Estonian Cultural Garden was dedicated June 19, 1966. Each year, the Estonian community and friends gather to celebrate Estonian Victory Day (Võidupüha) and St John's Day (Jaanipäev).

Toomas Tubalkain served as MC and introduced speakers including Lithuanian Honorary Consul Ingrida Bublys, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Estonian Garden delegate Erika Puussaar.

Erika Puussaar and Toomas Tubalkain

Estonian Garden Group

Estonian Garden Monument

Here’s how they fooled the occupying Soviets. (from our Ambassador Toomas Tubalkain).

Victory Day is the day Estonia won its final battle in the war of independence on June 21, 1919.  St. John's Day is always celebrated as midsummer on June 24th.  Victory Day and midsummer are linked through history.  But during the Soviet occupation, Victory Day was banned, but midsummer (a pagan holiday) was allowed.  Estonians decided to celebrate the two together, without informing anyone that Victory Day was being combined with midsummer celebrations.  


See the Estonian Victory Day celebration

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Serbian Cultural Garden in Cleveland Ohio USA

 The Serbian Cultural Garden is one of over 30 ethnic heritage gardens in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens in Cleveland Ohio. 

The founder and driving force of the Serbian Cultural Garden is Serbian Honorary Consul Alex Machaskee

Alex gave some history and led a tour of the Garden explaining the various features including the large icon of St. Sava and the busts of Nikola Tesla, King Peter 1, Mileva Maric, Nadezda Petrovic, Michael Pupin, Milutin Milankovic, Petar Njegos, Stevan Mokranjac, Vuk Karadzic and other Serbian cultural figures. 



See more of the Serbian community of Cleveland

St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral Choir Master Ken Kovach

 On June 1, 1971 Ken Kovach became Choir Master at the historic St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland Ohio. In his 50 (and counting) years he has witnessed many things in the Cathedral.

  One of which is being part of the filming of the movie The Deer Hunter, a 1978 American epic war drama film. Ken met and worked with Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, writer/director Michael Cimino and others.

 Ken is an Ellis Island Medal Recipient and inductee in the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  

He also sings with a Russian folk group called the Cuyahoga Cossacks

 In this video, Ken tells about the Choir Master role and some of these stories. And then he gives a brief example of his great singing voice – singing The Lord’s Prayer. 



St.Theodosius Orthodox Christian Cathedral in Cleveland

 St. Theodosius Cathedral is the oldest Orthodox Christian Church in the State of Ohio. 

It is located in the historic Tremont area of the City of Cleveland. The historic cathedral was constructed between 1911-1912 and is considered one of the finest examples of Russian church architecture in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States.

 The parish of St. Theodosius Orthodox Christian Cathedral was organized by immigrant Russians living in Tremont in 1896. St. Theodosius Cathedral was the "Mother Church" for most of the Orthodox Christian churches in northeast Ohio today. 

The cathedral is perhaps best known for its appearance in the 1978 Best Picture winning film, The Deer Hunter with Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep

 Ken Kovach has been Choir Master at St Theodosius for 50 years.  He gives us a tour of the inside of the Cathedral and shares some thoughts on the Eastern Orthodox Church. 


See more of the Cleveland Russian community 

Tuesday, June 01, 2021

Soldiers’ and Sailors' Monument

 The Rotary Club of Cleveland hosted Timothy Daley, Executive Director, Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailors' Monument for a Zoom meeting.  

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument commemorates the American Civil War; it consists of a 125' column surrounded at its base by a Memorial Room and esplanade. The column, topped with a statue of the Goddess of Freedom, defended by the Shield of Liberty, signifies the essence of the Nation for which Cuyahoga County veterans were willing to and did give their lives.

Four bronze groupings on the esplanade depict, in battle scenes, the Navy, Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry. Inside the Memorial Room are four bronze relief sculptures:  Women's Soldiers' and Sailors' Aid Society, Beginning of the War in Ohio, Emancipation of the Slaves and End of the War at City Point, Va., as well as busts of Gen. James Barnett and Architect/ Sculptor Levi T. Scofield, together with 6 officers, who were either killed in action, or died of disease or their wounds.

 The interior of this old Monument built in 1894 has just been gloriously rehabilitated with its original coloration restored, new lighting, heating, air conditioning and ADA access.   

Watch the entire presentation on the Soldiers’ and Sailors' Monument below.


Meet the Author

I am honored to have taken part in the Lakewood Public Library Meet the Author Series for my book Murder in the Cultural Gardens. 


Filmed in the Hungarian and British Gardens and in front of the Mark Twain bust I tell the story of the book, the Cultural Gardens and the writing process. 


See more at https://www.lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/dan-hanson/


Sunday, May 16, 2021

King Tut Egyptian Street Food Truck Grand Opening

 
Hadia Tawadros and her husband Nader Soliman are encouraging people to "Eat like the Pharaohs" with the launch of their food truck, King Tut Egyptian Street Food. They love cooking and Egypt so decided to bring authentic Egyptian street food to the people of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

 


This is the first food truck in the state of Ohio to feature authentic Egyptian street food.

Monday, February 22, 2021

Fun with Maps - North Africa

 Casablanca, Marrakesh, Algiers, the Barbary Coast, Morocco, the Sahara Desert, Darfur, Benghazi, Tunisia, Tripoli.

You've seen these exotic locales in movies, TV shows and the news but do you know where they are or much about them? In this episode of Fun with Maps, host Dan Hanson looks at North Africa.

Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent and contains 54 fully recognized sovereign states (countries). This first episode in a series covering Africa includes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco (including Western Sahara), Tunisia and Sudan.

After watching you will never listen to Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash or even the US Marines Hymn the same.



Monday, February 15, 2021

Lithuanian Independence celebrated in Cleveland

Members of the Cleveland Lithuanian community gathered at the Lithuanian Cultural Garden to celebrate The Act of Reinstating Independence of Lithuania or Act of 16 February which was signed by the Council of Lithuania on 16 February 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania.


Gathering by the bust of Jonas Basanavicius
in the Lithuanian Cultural Garden


Because of the pandemic only a few officers were allowed to attend this brief outdoor ceremony led by President Algis Gudenas and including Honorary Consul General Ingrida Bublys and Cleveland Councilman Mike Polensek.

Photos and video of the Lithuanian event in the Garden


Here's a video from the ceremony



Tuesday, February 09, 2021

Friday, February 05, 2021

Global Cleveland receives Rotary Club of Cleveland International Service Award

Each year the Rotary Club of Cleveland celebrates International Fellowship Day by honoring a person and/or organization with the International Service Award. The 2021 honoree is Global Cleveland and the award was accepted by its president Joe Cimperman.

Club President Ronald J. Felgenhauer welcomed the virtual attendees and spoke about the history and good woks of Rotary. After the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Father Ralph Wiatrowski, Pastor of St. Barnabas Church, past president Julie Brouhard presented the award.

Before the acceptance, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys read some of the proclamations from US Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Governor Mike Dewine before showing a video message from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

Then Joe Cimperman accepted the award and gave an inspiring speech about Rotary, Cleveland and Global Cleveland.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

The Great Lakes Geek remembers ASCII Art

In my alter ego persona as the the Great Lakes Geek, I posted this short video.

I was cleaning the basement and found two printouts of ASCII Art – Mona Lisa and Alfred E. Newman. 

I talk about ASCII and the ‘good old days’ when you could create art for any existing device using a text editor, ASCII characters, a dot matrix printer and a box of green bar paper.


Monday, January 18, 2021

Led Zeppelin Pinball Machine from Stern Pinball

 Whether you are old enough to remember when Led Zeppelin was touring and cutting their classic LPs or you have "discovered" them more recently, the band is undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time.





Thanks to Stern Pinball, Inc., you can rock out while playing a terrific pinball game.

Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball.




Headquartered in Chicago, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.

Recent Stern Pinball titles include Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time.

Everyone knows Led Zeppelin. Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin consisted of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and the late, great drummer John Bonham. Together they became one of the best-selling bands with estimated record sales of 300 million units worldwide. In 1995 Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their innovative and influential impact on the entire music industry.

In this high energy rock and roll pinball concert experience, pinball and music are fused together. Players are transported back to Led Zeppelin’s early days and tour the world from 1968-1980. As if players were members of the band playing its music, their play updates game features at the start of each verse and chorus of ten iconic Led Zeppelin songs:

  • Good Times Bad Times
  • Whole Lotta Love
  • The Song Remains the Same
  • Rock and Roll
  • Trampled Under Foot
  • Ramble On
  • Kashmir
  • Immigrant Song
  • Black Dog
  • Communication Breakdown
These are high-energy, classic hard rock tunes and some of the Great Lakes Geek's favorites. Yours too I bet.

“There is nothing more energizing and fun than bringing pinball and music together,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “Partnering with Led Zeppelin, we created a one-of-a-kind pinball experience. It’s our dream goal to create a pinball machine with this iconic rock band.”




Stern Led Zeppelin Pro Pinball machine


The Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models all feature a custom-molded Hindenburg Zeppelin toy, based on the iconic imagery from the Led Zeppelin I album. When lit, the Zeppelin toy scores speed locks on the player’s musical journey to Zeppelin multiball. A custom Swan Song Records trademark Icarus sculpted leaper toy takes flight when smashed by the chaotic pinball. A 3-bank of drop targets, 3 custom steel ramps, and 3 flippers keep the pinball action rolling.




Stern Led Zeppelin Premium Pinball machine


The Premium and Limited Edition models feature an innovative interactive Electric Magic™ toy. This device is a unique motorized toy which rises from below the playfield to create different magical pinball experiences. An optical spinner charges the Electric Magic magnet, capturing and making balls disappear. The Electric Magic device also converts into a physical pinball bash toy capable of locking a ball or launching a ball around the playfield.

In true rock concert fashion, the Expression Lighting System™ with 96 intelligent RGB LED’s enables full color spectrum control. Positioned in pockets cut into the cabinet sides to provide color themed full playfield illumination, this integrated playfield lighting system is synchronized to custom light shows specifically designed for every song and dynamically responsive to game events.

As an encore, these models have an additional reversing scoop and metal combo ramp, allowing players to keep the hits coming with constant adrenalized pinball action. A back panel mounted illuminated song status board indicates which Led Zeppelin song is in play. Only 500 Limited Edition games will be made for sale throughout the world. This limited version includes an exclusive Icarus themed full color mirrored backglass, exclusive custom themed cabinet artwork, custom high gloss Paradise Shimmer Blue powder-coated armor, a custom autographed bottom arch, exclusive custom art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball glass, a shaker motor, and a sequentially numbered plaque.




Stern Led Zeppelin Limited Edition Pinball machine


Led Zeppelin pinball machines and accessories are available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes are:
  • Pro Model: $US 6,199
  • Premium Model: $US 7,799
  • Limited Edition Model: $US 9,199
Check out this Led Zeppelin Pinball - Game Trailer (57 seconds)





If you can swing it, what a great centerpiece in a man cave, game room, bar, club, wherever. The saying is "If it's too loud, you're too old." I'd update that to "If you don't have a blast cranking the Zeppelin while playing this wild pinball game, you need to have your pulse checked."

Rock on!