Cleveland Leader - Cleveland News & More!

Buy Local this Holiday Season; Shop at the Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe

Leader Staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:49:12 -0600

The economy still sucks, and instead of supporting the large department and big box stores or mall chains with your holiday shopping this year, why not shop local? By buying local you're helping to support your local economy and the people who live in it, not to mention it also gives you that warm fuzzy feeling of sticking it to the man. Unfortunately, local wares aren't always that easy to come by, but this year we've found the perfect solution for you - Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe.

Located right next to newly renovated Capitol Theatre, the Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe features the works of 15 new Cleveland-based designers, as well as some of your old favorites. It is presented by Room Service, a local store just across the street from Made in the 216. The store will be open from 5-9pm Monday-Thursday, Fridays 5-11pm, Saturdays 5-11pm, and 12-7pm Sundays from November 6th to 29th.

Every Friday (Nov. 13, 20, and 27) Made in the 216 will stay open until 11pm, and will host BYOB parties and live music in the store's basement.

The Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe features 50 Cleveland Based designers offering jewelry, handbags, apparel, t-shirts, knits, candles, stationary, kids items, photography, wall prints, home goods and more!

The Real Picture of Employment in America: 17.5% Unemployed or Underemployed

Leader Staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:41:26 -0600

On Friday, the Labor Department revealed the latest jobs report and the picture was not pretty. Their broadest measure of unemployment and underemployment has reached its highest level in decades, and if their statistics went back so far, it would most certainly be at its highest level since the Great Depression.

One out of every six workers, or 17.5%, were unemployed or underemployed in October 2009. The previous record high was set in December 1982 at 17.1%. WIthout an end in site to our economic woes, the figures could go even higher in the coming months.

That 17.5% figure includes the officiall unemployed, which are those who have looked for work in the last four weeks. It also includes discouraged workers who have looked in the past year, and millions of part-time workers wanting to be full-time.

The official jobless rate is at 10.2% for October, and remains lower than the early 80's peak at 10.8%. But again, this latest figure continues the upward trend, and isup from 9.8% in September 2009. It is highest in those states which had big housing bubles, such as Arizona and California, and those with large manufacturing sectors, including Ohio, South Carolina, Rhode Island, and Oregon.

Rape Crisis Center to Hold Forum for Those Directly & Indirectly Affected by Anthony Sowell

Leader Staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:23:03 -0600

On Tuesday, November 10, the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center will host a community forum at 6pm for people directly or indirectly impacted by the Anthony Sowell case. The forum is designed to answer questions about rape and assault, and advocates from the Center will share information about resources available to rape survivors and their loved ones.

Megan O'Bryan, CEO of the CRCC, said:

"We recognize that the Sowell case and the corresponding media attention can have an adverse impact on all survivors of sexual violence. By hosting this forum, we hope to give survivors and their loved ones information and resources that can help them heal,"

The community forum will be held at the Mount Pleasant Branch of the Cleveland Public Library, located at 14000 Kinsman Road.

The CRCC is dedicated to serving survivors of sexual violence and those who support them. They also operate a crisis hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That number is 216-619-6192. For more information visit clevelandrapecrisis.org.

Minority Leader of House John Boehner Makes Major Gaffe at Tea Party Rally

Eugmc — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:56:27 -0600

You would think that being one of the highest ranking members in the House of Representatives would ensure you of knowing all the documents of America's founding fathers backwards and forwards. Wrong!

John Boehner, the Republican from Ohio serving as Minority Leader of the House, went on a rant at a recent "Tea Party Rally" and stuck his foot in his mouth in a big way. Boehner stated he would read a passage from the Constitution and declared:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!"

Problem is, that passage is from the Declaration of Independence and not the Constitution. And on a partisan note, I think the pursuit of happiness would be a lot easier to achieve if we had universal health care.

Rift Will Split Africa to Create New Ocean

Leader Staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:48:09 -0600

In 2005, a gigantic rift broke open desert ground in Ethiopia in 2005, and since then scientists have speculated that it was the first step in a process that will eventually split eastern Ethiopia and Somalia from the African continent by a new Ocean. Four years later, researchers have proof that this will indeed happen.

When the rigt was created in 2005, it almost went unnoted because of the sparse population of the Ethiopian desert. At 34.8 miles large, or 56 kilometers, it sounds impossible that it couldn't be noticed. Indeed, it was noticed. Satellite imagery clearly showed that the landscape had changed. At the time, geologists believed that the rift was the start of a new ocean as two parts of the African continent pulled apart. This claim was controversial at the time, however.

Scientists from several countries now confirm that the volcanic activity at work beneath the Ethiopian rift are identical to those at the bottom of the worl'd oceans. And they say that the rift is likely the beginning of a new sea.

Eminem to Return to Film With New 3-D Project

Leader Staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:19:41 -0600

Seven years after his hit film "8 Mile", Eminem is set to return to the film studio. This time he's venturing into the world of 3-D.

Eminem will also produce the project, which is called "Shady Talez". It has been described as "The Twilight Zone meets Creepshow", and will also be turned into a comic book series.

Other producers on the film include John Davis (I, Robot) and Dallas Jackson.

Natalie Portman Talks About Sex Scene with Mila Kunis

GossipGirl — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:14:40 -0600

So the rumor has been that Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman engage in a steamy sex scene in Darren Aronofsky's upcoming film, "Black Swan." Speaking with V Magazine recently about the film, Portman pretty much confirmed the rumors, although she argued the semantics.

She said:

"It's not raunchy - it's extreme."

That doesn't really give us much to go on, but there's a good chance the scene involves nudity. Both Portman and Kunis have gone nude on camera before, so it wouldn't be anything new for either of them. The only difference is, Portman says she is more open to it now than she was earlier in her career.

Portman explained:

"Previously I was figuring out my own sexual identity, likes and dislikes and all that stuff, and it's weird to be doing stuff on film as you're figuring it out. Also, being a sexual object when you're a kid is really uncomfortable."

Whether this scene simply helps market the film or actually adds to it remains to be seen.

Major Changes to Cleveland Medical Mart Plan Raises Eyebrows

Leader Staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:35:05 -0600

The Medical Mart plan that was shoved down our throats as the potential savior of Cleveland's economy seems to be going the way that just about every other project in this city has before, and that's not a good thing. It looks like the project will go over its budget by tens of millions of dollars, if not more, and the site that MMPI, the firm in charge of the project, planned to use may not work out after all.

MMPI now says that the cost of renovating Public Auditorium is $60 to $100 million more than expected. Oil heating, plumbing and mechanical systems were much more pricey than anticipated. In addition, they've been unable to close deals on several parcels of land on St. Clair Ave.

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones says that what this means is that the site of the Medical Mart will now most likely be the northern part of the mall, between Cleveland City Hall and the old County Courthouse. However, a number of nearby sites are also still an option.

Peter Lawson Jones says that the change would make it possible for more money to be put into the building and provide a lakefront view which would enhance the project. He says that the relocation will not change the overall timeline for getting the project built, but there are some other issues that could complicate matters.

Shaquille O'Neal Horse Game With YouTube Superstar Getting Closer

Eugmc — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:28:04 -0600

Trick shot master B Manley has released another video following his viral trick shot video that caught the attention of Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Shaquille O'Neal. After months of delays, it looks like the $1,000 challenge by the Cavs big man may be finally ready to happen.

The YouTube video description reads:

don't worry, HORSE game w Shaq is still on, but he is probably one of the busiest dudes in sports, hopefully we can have it out by Thanksgiving. we'll keep you posted.

Sources tell me that the big HORSE game will be a "go" this month after months of setbacks. O'Neal doesn't think that the footage is real but may be in for a rude awakening. After B Manley takes care of business with The Diesel, he wants a shot at fellow Cavs superstar LeBron James.

Disney Goes Dark; Mickey Gets a Makeover in New Video Game

Leader Staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:47:47 -0600

With his cute round features and high-pitched voice, Disney's iconic character Mickey couldn't possibly be evil... or could he? For the past year, Disney and Nintendo have worked on redesigning the 81-year-old character for an upcoming Nintendo Wii video game.

The new Mickey is now leaner and meaner. While it is a departure from the Mickey we've come to know and love, it's actually a closer depiction to the original incarnation in 1928's "Steamboat Willie", in which he got into fistfights, played tricks on his friends, and amorously pursued Minnie.

The new Mickey still sports his trademark red shorts, yellow shoes, and white gloves. But he now has longer limbers and a bit edgier facial expressions that some have even called "demonic". Demonic might be going a little too far, but it is definitely a look that conveys that this Mickey isn't all sweetness and nice.

With the makeover, company execs are hoping that it will keep Mickey relevant in a generation growing up with Nickelodeon and Pixar. And what better a way to do that than to put him in a video game.