If you're the kind of person who finds themselves wanting to lean over to a fellow spectator at a public meeting to discuss something - like the fact that Julie Farrar doesn't put much effort into hiding her contempt for citizens who voice their opinion to the commission - or the fact that Craig Stahl was elected on the "get-out-the-coffee-pot-we're-gonna-be-here-all-night" philosophy to public dialogue but he discarded the idea as soon as he faced political adversity - then you would love the idea of "live blogging."
For those of you who aren't able to make it to commission meetings for whatever reason, the entire meeting is broadcast on Channel 81 of the Buckeye Cablesystem. A copy is rushed over for broadcast shortly after the commissioners go into executive session.
Once that broadcast begins, a live chat session will be opened up on Firelands411 for home viewers to discuss anything and everything that's being said at the meeting. You can make all the snarky, semi-serious, totally serious comments you'd like about the state of the city. The live interaction with viewers who are watching the same thing on television is a pretty dynamic event. Instead of simply watching it you're able to react in realtime and continue arguing your point long after Mr. Stahl cuts you off - had you been there in person. (Just kidding. Mr. Stahl seems to be very fair about his Banana Republic styled time limits.) The chat is saved and will be read later for blow by blow analysis by commissioners who are interested in seeing what's on the mind of viewers at home.
I'm also going to set up live chats for discussion on topics of interest in the city. If you'd like to make a suggestion on this, email me at the yahoo address up in the right hand corner of the page.
