Last August, I posted that I needed a new view. After years of sitting at home cranking out news, reviews, and (insert your favorite description here) I was bored with the view.

I received three offers almost immediately. (Obviously, they weren’t all that familiar with the sites.) One didn’t work out, but I accepted the proposals from two Lakeland concerns. I figured I’d spend a little time at each. Nothing too much or I’d drive them crazy. One came from the wonderful folks at NFocus. A spot to call my own and all the filmmaking I could stand. You’ve no doubt noticed I’ve mentioned their film, Endure, a time or two. It’s great learning the film marketing process after a film is finished. I also accepted their request that I put together the film’s “electronic press kit.” It has made it difficult from the news standpoint, as I’ve had to not print some information. A couple of times I felt I was out of the loop enough I could write a news story, but I added a note about helping out the team.

The second proposal was as quick, but it’s taken this long to actually move into the space. USF Polytechnic CEO and President Marshall Goodman asked me to take a space at Blue Sky West. At the time, it was just an office space in need of serious rehab, but I really liked the idea to bring a little Silicon Valley sideways thinking into downtown Lakeland. It seemed a good fit with Lakeland Local. Especially since I’ve started focusing on City Hall and downtown Lakeland activities.

To quash a couple of rumors — I am not employed by USFP, nor am I a volunteer. I will sit independent inside Blue Sky West, neither as a client nor staff. I will interact with both groups and with the general public, limited to offering my thoughts, mentoring and occasional advice. I’ll do what I can to help because I think such an incubator as Blue Sky West can work, and work well, for Lakeland. Working in the midst of it, especially under these conditions, is not something any hyperlocal reporter should pass up. You could say I’m embedded, but not beholden. I’ll praise Blue Sky when it deserves it, and criticize when that is called for.

I trust my independence has never been an issue. My wife is an employee of USFP. When the idea for USF Polytechnic was floated, she was all for it and I wasn’t convinced. Many liked the new name. Guess where I stood? Though I had hoped for a liberal arts college, I’m not against the idea of “polytechnic.” When an old media newspaper did a particulaly bad job with an editorial on USFP, I responded.

(And if you’re wondering…I still prefer the name USF Lakeland.)

This was cross posted at our sister publication: Lakeland Local

“Mobile” will bring up a menu of links to simple versions of our last 10 articles/photos.

We’re working to return our feature-rich mobile version for those who read Mi4 on their phones.

No, it doesn’t mean Majowich plans to write while drinking. His new feature column will focus on beer and brewing. Majowich is a home brewer in Lakeland who travels to brewing festivals and brings back word on the best and worst beers available. If you like to take a sip or two of your favorite brew with dinner, then you’ll want to read On Beer.

He is a lifelong resident of Central Florida. I moved here less than five years ago.

His family has lived in the region for generations. Each generation of my family has raised the next in an adopted town.

He is a Florida State Representative. I am a “New Media” publisher. He’s a registered Republican. I’m a registered Democrat.

While he isn’t “young,” I can’t yet be considered “old.” Let’s say we’re on different sides of middle age. Sit us down and we’ll find subjects where we’ll disagree.

So, of course, I am thrilled that Seth McKeel is going to write the occasional column for Metro I4 News.

If there is one subject that we both find vital, it is finding the methods where this cooperative of communities can work toward common good. Central Florida must grow, adapt, change, build, or not build, by working together. From Tampa to Orlando, from Lakeland to Daytona, the I4 corridor is poised on the cusp of taking flight or jumping off the cliff.

Which direction we take, be it unmanged growth and ill-conceived projects or generational planning and innovative enterprises, will depend on what Seth calls “the 50,000 foot view.” Looking at the big picture instead of too often invoked “Not in My Back Yard.” Looking ahead to how our actions will alter the future.

Seth McKeel’s columns will not always reflect my views. The subjects he chooses will not be dictated from my chair. I predict there will be times where Seth’s column is followed by a counterpoint column from another MI4 writer. However, don’t believe we’ll never agree.

That’s the essence of the MI4 columnists. Here you’ll find free, open, and sometimes spirited discussions of matters important to our common region.

Seth McKeel has an unique vantage point. No matter where we fall in the political minefield, it would do us all well to get a glimpse of his view.

photo credit: Nick Sherman

He profoundly changed my life, and his death upended it forever. So I look at the world a little differently than I did a year ago. Because I’m reminded in every hour of every day of the impact Randy had on so many lives. (a little about him).

And I’m mindful, you see, that God has given me this platform of public service. I’m admittedly fairly good at this political gig, but I ask myself every day, “how many lives have I touched…and have I made a difference today.” If I die today, have I made as significant an impact as Randy would have me make?

My most favorite part of my public job is the opportunity I have to think about the future, at 50,000 feet. And to do it with some of the most advanced tools available. I hear from the leading econonmists regularly, the leading demographers, the leading agriculture professionals, the leading educators…you name it, we hear from the best. And, of late, I am focusing much of my attention on regionalism – and specifically on amplifying the initiatives of the Bay Area and Orlando Area toward together becoming the world’s leading super-region. I believe the blocks are in place, and that if we assemble them correctly, we’ll be there – quickly. I meet with the leading economic developers of our region, hear collective visions of university Presidents, and learn what it will take to efficiently move people from place to place throughout this super-region. I take my positions and cast my votes, with that knowledge in hand. Even then, I miss the boat from time to time. But it has dawned on me of late that my community suffers from a mypoic view of its region that I fear results from a lack of data and a dearth of knowledge about what’s really going on in the world that surrounds them.

So, in this new year, I’ve decided to right the wrong, and to bring enlightenment to the region. Well, that was a little haughty. Better, I’ve decided to do my part with the platform given to me, to offer a new perspective. My mission is to do my best to offer a viewpoint that reminds our community that we live in a connected world and thrive in connected economies. The world isn’t flat. When we wake up and realize that our success depends on our reaction and response to what emanates from the communities that surround us, I’ll believe we have arrived. Leaders are at their best when the tools available to them are sharp, and the knowledge upon which they rely is robust. Isn’t it fair that we give our citizens the benefit of a broader perspective with greater knowledge? I think so and I intend to provide it, beginning today and beginning here.

I’m appreciative of the opportunity to associate my views with MetroI4News. Chuck Welch and I could not see the political world more differently, but the real world more alike. We both believe strongly in regionalism. And we believe that folks simply deserve better – they deserve a choice, they deserve perspective, and they deserve a diversity of thought. I’m looking forward to contributing. I know you won’t always agree with me. I only hope that you’ll find depth in my perspective, appreciate the duty I feel to provide it and accept the sincerity with which it is offered. I plan to make a difference.

photo credit: aresauburn

The problem isn’t that I can’t update it, it is deciding how we will go ahead in the future.

Adding contributors to Lakeland Local proved to be more time consuming than I expected. We are finally in a swing and I can reurn to making changes at MI4.

Just not today. Sunday. Hopefully.

The changes won’t be great…and I will keep linking to the area blogs I read every day. The idea was always to drive traffic to those blogs, while giving users the opportunity to use MI4 as a one-stop place to find the best blogging from the I4 corridor.

I will continue that…while adding some new features…including more original content for this area from both myself and area writers and photographers.

At least, that’s the plan.

Pulse of Central Florida is a blog about the Orlando and Central Florida area from an insider’s perspective, managed by two residents who have lived here for nearly 20 years combined. It covers everything from entertainment, shopping, news, fashion, and more.

That’s the capsule description for the latest blog to join in the MI4 experience. The Pulse is our first Orlando-centric blog, and we’re happy to add their voice to our regional chorus. Look at the tabs below to check out the blog’s latest posts.

Here’s a pair of representative posts from the Pulse: Do you know SoDo? and How do you weekend?

The purpose of this site is to connect you to the most important regional stories. Each morning Chuck Welch (Lakeland Local) will direct you to Today’s Five Must Read Articles from local newspapers.

Less often we’ll feature MI4 Commentary from Tommy Duncan (Sticks of Fire), Welch, and special guest writers. If you have something you’d like to write email us at metroi4news AT gmail DOT com.

The current MI4 lineup of bloggers also includes Interstate4Jamming, and Tales From the Delk Side. We’re on the look out for other regional news bloggers. Check the sidebar for links to area newspapers, bloggers, and other regional sites.

We hope you find MI4 useful. Let us know if there is anything you’d like to see us feature.