Friday, February 08, 2008

Keith Olbermann | Special Comment Regarding FISA

Original from 2/2/08 with update on 2/8/08 (below)

The cost of freedom is priceless.


This, Mr. Bush, is simple enough even for you to understand: If Congress approves a new FISA act without telecom immunity and sends it to your desk and you veto it - you, by your own terms and your own definitions, you will have just sided with the terrorists.

Ya gotta have this law, or we're all gonna die. But you might veto this law!

It's bad enough, sir, that you are demanding an ex post facto law which would clear the phone giants from responsibility for their systematic, aggressive, and blatant collaboration with your illegal and unjustified spying on Americans, under the flimsy guise of looking for any terrorists stupid enough to make a collect call or send a mass e-mail.
We need more libertarian thinking -- and people in office with those thoughts -- for the next three decades to undo what President Bush and the Republicans have done.

Update from 2-8-08

Important Phone Action: The Third And Final Stand Against Telecom Immunity, If They Want Yet Another Filibuster We'll Give It To Them.


Day, Another FISA Veto Threat By The Bully In The White House

Yesterday, Bush again put the self interest of himself and his giant telecom criminal co-conspirators above our national security, by threatening to veto the FISA update bill unless we gave them all get out of jail free cards. And if Congress were to bend over yet again, he would still probably veto it to demand even more changes and/or defy other major provisions with a signing statement, as he so outrageously did with the recent defense bill.

We must be just as relentless as the criminals who are working overtime to gut our constitution. We have had two successful filibusthttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifers so far, and it looks like we're going to need a third. And we need strong opposition in the House too, for that is our last bulwark.

No Immunity of Any Kind Action Page:
http://www.usalone.com/no_telecom_immunity2.php (anyone can use this link, includes local district phone number lookup for all your
members of Congress)

Facebook Version

Please AGAIN call all your members of Congress, toll free at 800-828-0498, 800-614-2803 or 866-340-9281, and submit the action pages above to back that up with an email message. 1) Tell them NO immunity, and while you are at it, them 2) no basket warrants or reverse targeting, 3) no sequestration of illegally harvested evidence, and Yes to 4) making FISA the exclusive means of surveillance.

The latest scam they are trying to run down on the American people is to retroactively lower the liability bar to some kind of flimsy "good faith" standard, the clear intent of which is to ensure that the telecoms get off the hook, another snaky end run around the law. Suppose a bank robber told a judge he had a good faith belief it was his own money. How far would that one fly? What part of NO immunity don't they get?

The American people deserve to know how far this is gone. We are not going to allow one of the most precious amendments in our Bill of Rights, the protection against unwarranted search, to be swept under the rug. And even beyond that, informed commentators believe that creating the Big Brother database of Cheney's dreams would in fact invite a nightmare of new national security vulnerabilities.

Dennis Kucinich Is Still Standing Strong

And what greater hero do we have than Dennis Kucinich, still standing strong as ever on every issue that matters. Here is his own leadership statement opposing telecom immunity

The veto threat by the President is just the latest example of the use of fear and intimidation -- in the name of "national security" - to secure legislative authority to violate the Constitutional rights and protections of American citizens. I strenuously object to any immunity for telecommunications companies and demand a full accounting of these companies' involvement to Congress and to the American public. When corporations cooperate with the government to strip people of their Constitutional rights, that is a textbook description of fascism. There must not be any place in America for this type of conduct.

And yet, even now, powerful corporations are pouring money into Dennis's district, to try to buy his seat out from under him by threatening him in his own primary. They are running malicious attack ads in heavy rotation. Please consider making a donation to Dennis now, to help him fight back.

Fight Back Dennis Donations:
http://www.usalone.com/fight_back_kucinich2.php

And to thank you for standing with him, Dennis wants to send you his own special commemorative edition of the pocket Constitution with any donation of $100 or more. Remember, even if you had already donated the limit to his courageous presidential run, you can donate as much as another $2300 to the congressional seat defense. In fact, if you are so fortunate as to be able to contribute $1000 or more, Dennis will personally autograph your new pocket constitution for you.

Dennis would not be silenced and neither will we. We need more like Dennis Kucinich, not less. We need to protect the ones we've got with everything we've got.

So please, submit the action pages on telecom immunity, call all your members of Congress again and again, because that is the most important contribution of all. But if you also have to means to help Dennis continue to stand up for you, your contribution to him right now could make the critical difference.

Paid for by the Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich Committee

Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible.

If you would like to get alerts like these, you can do so at http://www.usalone.com/in.htm

Invite to the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Convention

Dear Libertarian,

I am proud to invite you to the 2008 Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Convention on March 14, 15 & 16 at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern, Pennsylvania (www.desmondgv.com). This location, west of Philadelphia, offers easy access via the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Schuylkill Expressway or Rt 202. The hotel facility was selected for it's high quality accommodations, great food and state-of-the-art technology.

This convention will be of particular importance, as we prepare for the 2008 elections. So far, we have eight Libertarian Presidential candidates confirmed to attend. Each contender for the party's nomination will have an opportunity to address the convention attendees with a short presentation and then come together for an exciting debate. This will be an excellent opportunity to evaluate these presidential hopefuls prior to the national convention in Denver.

To ensure that this will be one of the best conventions ever, the LPPa has joined forces with the New Jersey Libertarian Party and the West Virginia Libertarian Party. This unique tri-state convention will provide great opportunities to collaborate. In addition to the presidential debate, a wide range of workshops, speakers and social events are scheduled. Featured speakers will include Larken Rose, Michael Badnarik, Bill Redpath and Don Ernsberger. Our members are sure to be informed and inspired. Important party business and officer elections will also take place, so don't miss it.

In addition to the regular convention activities, members are invited to attend the Montgomery County Hospitality Suite on Friday & Saturday nights. Enjoy beverages with your fellow Libertarians while supporting our local activists.

Arrive Friday morning to take Michael Badnarik's full day Constitution class. Convention attendees save $50 on the tuition. Register for this class at www.ConstitutionPreservation.org.

Please take a minute to register online at www.lppa.org/convention. Save money by signing up by February 15th.

If you have any questions about the event, feel free to call me at 610-539-8825 or email jamesbabb@mac.com.

I look forward to seeing you!

James Babb
2008 LPPa Convention Chair

PS: Reserve your room at the Desmond by calling 610-296-9800. Mention "Libertarian Party" to get a room with a king size bed or two queen size beds for only $119 +tax.

PPS: Do you have a product or service of interest to Libertarians? If so, we have a limited number of exhibition tables available as well as advertising space in the convention booklet. Call 610-539-8825 for more information.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Now there are three. Memo to Mike Huckabee, counting counts

It is hard to support a guy for President that can't count.
Newsmax.com - Mike Huckabee Comments on Romney News: "'This is a two-man race for the nomination, and I am committed to marching on. I believe in the importance of a strong national defense -- which includes winning the war against Islamic extremists and the protection of American sovereignty.
Huckabee should know better, when making an official statement.

Bush asks Senate to OK international pact against steroids - Thursday February 7, 2008 2:53PM

When Bush asks the US Senate to act swiftly, I take pause.
SI.com - More Sports - Bush asks Senate to OK international pact against steroids - Thursday February 7, 2008 2:53PMPresident Bush asked the Senate to swiftly approve an agreement ratified by more than 70 nations to fight the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
It is okay to move swiftly against something that allows people to move more swiftly.

It is NOT okay for government to move swiftly into a realm where we play and just want to have fun. Getting government involved has a way of sucking the fun out of things.

How can the US be a leader -- or -- "solidify our nation's place as a leader in the worldwide effort to rid athletics of cheating through chemistry" -- when there are already more than 70 other nations that have approved the agreement.

When the US is 71st -- at best -- it isn't at the front of the pack. Well, to be sure, there are plenty in the US of A -- plenty of US citizens that is -- that have been at the cutting-edge in this battle for fairness, education, exposure -- and sadly, cheating too.

I like the fact that the war on drug use in sports has been a private affair so far. It has been beyond the scope of the US Senate and US Government officials -- mostly.


"The use of performance-enhancing drugs by elite athletes sets a dangerous example for millions of young Americans, encouraging young people to take grave risks with their health and safety," Perino said.
I do worry about the use of performance-enhancing drugs from the sandlots to the scholastic arenas more than at the elite levels.

Preposterous! Penn Hills Parents go far from the Indian Reservation to dish out a living hell.

Gordon's coaching future uncertain'I just think you don't have the right to play God with kids' lives,' Mr. Rash said.
No coach wants to play the role of God with kids' lives.

However, some parents seem willing to put some coaches through a living hell with preposterous claims.

Go get your mail yourself. Check in. Self determination works.

YMCA To Build New Facility In Pittsburgh's Hill District - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

YMCA To Build New Facility In Pittsburgh's Hill District - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh: The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is planning to build a new branch in the city's Hill District.

McCain was born ... where exactly? McCain's eligibility to be President is questioned.

Some were talking and ... for what it is worth, ...
John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone, to U.S. parents. The U.S. Constitution requires that anyone serving as President must be a "natural born Citizen."

Here's an entry from Wikipedia on the subject.

Three major candidates have sought the Presidency who were born outside the United States: Barry Goldwater (ran in 1964) was born in Arizona while it was still a U.S. territory, George Romney (ran in 1968) was born in Mexico to U.S. parents, and John McCain (ran in 2000 and runs in 2008) was born in the Panama Canal Zone to U.S. parents. Barry Goldwater's case among these three is unique in that although Arizona was not a state, it was a fully incorporated territory of the United States, making it debatable whether or not he was born "outside" the United States. The Panama Canal Zone was under United States sovereignty between 1903 and 1979.[7] None of these candidates was elected, so it has never been fully addressed whether children born to Americans overseas are "natural-born citizens" and thus eligible for the Presidency. However, McCain is currently seeking the 2008 Republican nomination for President.
It'll be interesting to see if the issue is raised in a serious way.

P-G's blog, Early Returns, talk about they hype of conflict

City Council Members are NOT permitted to contact and meet with any of the directors within the city's administration. This is a new policy from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. The mayor has to approve all meetings and conversations in advance.
August Wilson house a political football... This seems a lot like the media relations policy instituted when Mayor Bob O'Connor took office in 2006 and his spokesman Dick Skrinjar told managers not to talk to reporters without his approval. That policy remains in force under current spokeswoman Alecia Sirk, though it isn't always rigorously enforced.

Under Mayor Tom Murphy, reporters could call department heads directly and get answers to factual questions, on the record, without anyone's approval.)

There's talk of a council revolt, which could take the form of refusal to act on bills the administration wants, or even the subpoenaing of managers. We at ER don't think it's going to come to that, but it certainly has soured relations between the administration and the new council.
It is a sad, sad day in Pittsburgh when we long for the times and policies of ex-Mayor, Tom Murphy. When Tom Murphy is a signal of the 'good old days' -- Pittsburgh is in deep, deep trouble.

Of course there will not be a 'revolt' on council. There can't be as they are all among the same party. They are all on the same page, mostly. They try to kick up some marginal grumbles so as to look like they are different.

When the real revolt begins -- the D-party monopoly will shatter.

The Judge -- a Nation of Sheep





A soft form.

More: Home The DVD’s are a dollar. Please, share them with friends and neighbors.

Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community gearing up to purchase South Side Property on Jane Street

The funky South Side has a funky church full of love and short on spaces to hold its musical, soulful, spiritual worship. The group is now gathering in Mt. Washington. Newsletter details, to get up to speed:
SUNDAY, FEB. 10
Worship Service, 12:30 p.m. at Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church (213 Bailey Ave.). There we can provide a place for kids to worship and play, and a time of fellowship and food following the service.

NOTE: We will no longer be meeting at the Walton Church on for Sunday Worship. The

Rev. Bebb Stone and the Mt. Washington congregation have graciously extended their invitation to allow us to worship in their space on Sundays through the Lenten Season. We are so thankful to have their support as we pursue purchasing a permanent worship location.

UPDATE ON THE SPACE ISSUE:
The zoning hearing is scheduled for March 6. On that day, we will present our request to meet at the 2700 Jane Street location as a religious assembly to the zoning board. Please continue to pray that we will be well received-- by the zoning board, the South Side community groups and our South Side neighbors.

You can contribute funds to be used specifically for the purchase and improvement of the building. The United Methodists have given us $300,000 to help buy the building, which is a crucial blessing in our mission to offer a place of worship in the South Side. However, we still need to raise money to help fund the initial purchase, plus money for whatever improvements we may need to make to building.

From the beginning, we have acknowledged that pursuing the purchase of the 2700 Jane St. location was going to take incredible amounts of patience and gracious contributions of time and money from our supporters. If you are considering giving to Hot Metal, now is the time.

Checks can be sent to :
Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community
2000 E. Carson St. #300
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Memo: Building Fund

We will also be sending out other information in the following weeks highlighting how you can help. Thank you for all your support thus far. Please continue to pray that God's will be done in this situation.

email: hotmetal@hotmetalbridge.com
phone: 412-481-4010
web: http://www.hotmetalbridge.com
For years, I had hoped, requested and pushed (a bit) to the church leaders that they should purchase and move into South Vo Tech High School. They could have got the building for a song, and music isn't such a problem. And, they could have then opened a year-round pre-school, day-care. Plus, other business opportunities could have flowed in the spaces as well, providing community service and income streams.

Another option that made a great deal of sense to me, as well as to other members associated with the church was to move into the now vacant ice rink facility within a shut-down park on the South Side located behind the UPMC South Side Hospital. The city owns that park, the padlocks and the lost opportunities. Ever hear the story of the guy that takes a candle and puts it under a basket?

There was a big effort to put in a bid for the ice rink facility in the May 2007 Request For Proposals (RFP) organized by the city after years of requests. A guy named Ray championed the effort. He had been a part of nonprofits and worked full time on the project for a number of months. They had an extensive committee of nearly 50 people from within and beyond the church. He had meetings all around town to make the proposal and get it into the city before the deadline.

Well, the deadline was in mid-May, 2007. There was NO NEWS of the city's selection until September 2007. Nothing was said for four months. And, then the news wasn't nice. Seems that all the proposals "stunk." They all were rejected. The city got to do nothing with the property -- again -- as I expected.

The Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community wanted to acquire the property and turn it into a year-round youth and community center. There would be a day-care in working hours. There would be places for Sunday morning service too. In the evenings and nights -- as well as weekends, there would be staff to supervise kids and adults in social work, group classes and light recreation. They had a gym space with a basketball court in there -- but it wasn't a big time sports operation.

This city's treatment of its resources stinks.

They would have had a long term lease for the facility and been able to go in and make updates, clean-up the facility and park, and build activities that would have had positive impacts on the region.

In the past few years, the Hot Metal Church has grown by using space in the Goodwill Building. But that space is no longer available to them with changes to the building expected.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

A Bright Light in the Big Cities: How Urban Home Sales Boost Profits | RISMedia

A Bright Light in the Big Cities: How Urban Home Sales Boost Profits | RISMedia: "While some brokers across the country wallow in the difficulties of today’s market, others instead look to new avenues to maintain and even grow profitability. One such avenue is the growing trend toward urban living.

With a coast-to-coast footprint comprising 35 major metropolitan markets, NRT LLC is well-positioned to capitalize on the urban real estate market. Both the higher populations of these metro areas, as well as average sales prices, bode well for brokers and agents who target residential sales in the city. And in many cities across the country, urban living is witnessing increasing numbers. From empty nesters who want no part of retirement communities to single women embarking on homeownership, city life is where it’s at."

DefectiveByDesign.org calls to Libraries: Kick DRM out!

Join us 2/09/08 at the Boston Public Library.

Take action at your own library! (Modify our flier).

DefectiveByDesign.org will be taking action this Saturday at the Boston Public Library to demand that they remove DRM technology from their collection! We will be gathering outside the entrance at the main branch of the Boston Public Library (700 Boylston St., Boston MA 02116) at 1PM on Saturday, February 9th, 2008. Please, Sign-up if you are attending.

If you can't join us, we encourage you to take action against any library in your area that has DRM technology infecting its collection. You can customize our flyer and pass it out to the local patrons and librarians in your area.

The Boston Public Library has Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) on its ebooks, audio books, music, and videos, and we are demanding that they remove it, and establish a policy against DRM -- a policy that respects user freedom.

We know that the real motive behind DRM technology schemes is to increase profits for those who impose them, but their profit is a side issue when millions of people's freedom is at stake; desire for profit, though not wrong in itself, cannot justify denying the public control over its technology and its libraries. Defending freedom means thwarting DRM.

Join us in demanding that the BPL Trust and libraries worldwide eliminate DRM from their collections.

We'll report back on the success of our action here in Boston -- Be sure to tell us about your local actions too!

Sheryl Crow on Gather: Watch, Share & Win by Music Editor — gather, sheryl crow, exclusive | Gather

Sheryl Crow on Gather: Watch, Share & Win by Music Editor — gather, sheryl crow, exclusive | Gather Available on February 5, Sheryl Crow's Detours is the latest pinnacle in a sky-high career. With songs about socially charged issues like Katrina, it delivers solid lyrics and catchy hooks.

Sheryl wants to know: If you could write a song about an issue that's near and dear to your heart, what would that song be about? Comment to share your ideas with her. And do it as many times as you want. She'll pick her 10 favorites. If yours is among them, you'll get a FREE copy of Detours!

Song ideas must be submitted by midnight, February 22. Sheryl's choices will be revealed on February 29. Be creative. And good luck!
Perhaps she could do a song with Amy Carol Webb, Mindy Simmons, Anne Feeney or Meg Barnhouse -- to get a few ideas.

City considering sci-tech school at science center

This would be cool. Homeroom in the port quarters. Recess could be topside. Lunch would be at the dumpsters at Heinz Field. Gym could be on the virtual hang glider within SportsWorks. Drop out -- then you are in the next showing of bodies.
City considering sci-tech school at science center Pittsburgh Public Schools is considering locating its new science and technology school at the Carnegie Science Center.

Jen wrote in a public email:
Next public hearing is February 18th.

With the decision to hold off on a vote about Schenley, an important point is making sure that no more money is spent on permanent changes for those students until more comprehensive decisions are made. This would give the administration time to develop the plans and curriculum for new and changing programs in a well thought out manner, including taking into consideration community input. Back in November the board approved spending to hire architects and contractors to begin planning to reconfigure several schools (CAPA, Frick, Milliones, Reizenstein). Amounts were approved, although they had huge caps on them (things like we'll spend $250K but if it's more than $5M we'll get back to you).

I will be writing to the board suggesting that no more money be spent on Reizenstein (and /or Milliones) than is necessary to use one of them as a temporary school for the students to move into for a year, saving any extra money for Schenley's repairs. If Reizenstein were to be sold after that, we wouldn't have sunk millions of dollars into it, just to sell it. All the 9th graders could attend a high school, as a high school student. Plans or programs to instill the study habits necessary to excel in a rigorous program could be part of the entire 9th grade planning, as well as increased emphasis on mentoring and guidance counseling.

Or, you know, something like that, I'm clearly still working on it!

If you have any great ideas, send them along --

Jen Lakin

UltimateRonPaul.com | Homepage

UltimateRonPaul.com | Homepage CLICK HERE to write Ron Paul’s Inaugural Address or his State of the Union Address—and to comment on others’ submissions.

LinkedIn: Answers: Headed to Olympics -- and wondering about blogging and potential backlashes

I asked a question at Linked In -- about a pending trip and blogging. Not sure what will come from this, so I asked.

LinkedIn: Answers: Headed to Olympics -- and wondering about blogging and potential backlashes Headed to Olympics -- and wondering about blogging and potential backlashes

I'm not sure if I can point non-users of LinkedIn to the question or not.

I'd love to grow my Linked In network as well. If you are a member there, let's swap pointers.

Update:
Google to Offer Free Music Downloads

Google is planning a joint venture with Chinese online music company Top100.cn that would permit it to provide free, licensed music downloads in China. The service, which is likely to offer access to tunes from global music giants, could start in the next several weeks.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120226551059746565.html

Valentine's Day Babysitting by 5th graders at Liberty School

Liberty Elementary (in Shadyside) is sponsoring a Valentine's Babysitting Service (on February 15th, the Friday evening following Valentine's Day) from 6–9 p.m. All proceeds will be used to help fund the 5th graders' trip in May to Washington, D.C., which they are really looking forward to!

Children aged 2 and up are welcome. They will be cared for (and entertained) by Liberty 5th graders, supervised by parents and staff.
See comments for more details.

Ron Paul matters.... proof

It was said that Ron Paul is NOT a factor in the GOP race. Well, I don't think that is true.

Yesterday, to the south, in West Virginia, a deal was hatched to get Ron Paul three delegates to the GOPers Big Dance -- out of 17 total. Interesting.
Ron Paul 2008 — Hope for America In an agreement first reported by West Virginia television station WSAZ, the three Ron Paul delegates were secured through an agreement with the Mike Huckabee campaign.

Ron Paul delegates to the state convention swung their support to Huckabee – putting Huckabee over the top – after Congressman Paul was eliminated in the first round of voting. With three national delegates, Ron Paul secured 17 percent of the 18 delegates that were decided at the State Convention.
Those who think they know it all are full of it. I don't know what's going to happen. But, I know that you have to show up first. Ron Paul is showing up.

Penn Hills Republican Committee

Regular Meetings on the third Tuesday of every month.

7:30pm @ Penn Hills Senior Center, Jefferson Road.

For more information contact Mike Myers at 412-373-0077 or pennhillsgop@verizon.net
I wonder what they have to say about the school district's coaching situations.

Coach Situation Divides Penn Hills Community

kdka.com - Coach Situation Divides Penn Hills CommunityCoach Situation Divides Penn Hills Community
PENN HILLS (KDKA) ― The controversy surrounding former Penn Hills Football Coach Neil Gordon fueled tensions at a packed school board meeting Tuesday night.

The district is divided over the decision not to renew his contract last month. Gordon led the team to five conference championships and playoff appearances for 10 consecutive years.


Another thread on another board.
Scout.com: Neil Gordon withheld recruiting letters? Neil Gordon withheld recruiting letters?

SWAT team around the corner on East Carson Street

I'm not going to live blog the police incident. We have to take the kids to school. But, we did gander out onto our deck, after hearing KQV's Walt G, reporter, say that there is the 8th, 9th and 10th shot from the roof of the Iron & Glass Bank into the apartment on the other side of the street.

Yep, we could see them. And, while we peeked, there were another 4 to 6 shots. The shots were soft-sounding. And, we could see a big puff of smoke. About six guys were on the roof of the building.

I know nothing else. Tell me -- or just make something up if you wish.

Have a nice day.



Update at 9:09 AM: The situation on East Carson Street is over. The guy got away.

Meanwhile, a resident was walking to the South Side this morning, passing on the pedestrian bridge over the tracks, and sees this guy running like hell through the swampy, muddy area by the rail road tracks at the foot of the slopes. He is looking over his shoulder and in a huge hurry. This info gets told to the police at the scene, just 2 or 3 blocks away. "Hey guys, ..."

The response from the police then and there was that the guy they were looking for was in the apartment.

Life goes on.

Lock your doors.

Tactical tear-gas was shot into the apartment. It dissipates.

Video soon.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Dollars and Education Performance: Same Old Story

Policy Brief

An electronic publication of

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy


February 5, 2008 Volume 8, Number 8

In the recently released Governor’s Report on State Performance, the pages are filled with the typical puffery about the Commonwealth’s accomplishments since the Governor took office. The usual items are highlighted; increases to the state’s economic indicators such as employment, per capita personal income and state gross domestic product—although as usual, there is little context for the state data in the form of comparisons to the U.S. or states with strong performances.


However, in an unusual twist, the Governor mentions the inadequate performance of the state’s education system, particularly Pennsylvania students’ performance in math when matched against those in other countries. This twist is out of character with the normal self administered back slapping tone of the rest of the report, but clearly this is nothing more than a ploy to justify throwing more dollars at education. Indeed, the Governor’s latest budget proposal calls for $290 million in additional education outlays for the coming fiscal year. A mere down payment on the massive $5 billion more in state spending the Commonwealth’s education lobby claims is necessary to lift all students to proficient levels in reading and math. A claim based on one of the most fatuous studies of education and spending every produced.


The Governor’s Report notes that only 38 percent of Pennsylvania’s students mastered math skills as measured by an internationally administered test while students in other countries, specifically Asian countries such as Singapore (73 percent), Hong Kong (66 percent), and Japan (57 percent) are doing remarkably better. Pointing out this deficiency is followed by this statement: “Ensuring that all children in the Commonwealth have access to an education that prepares them…is the goal of Pennsylvania’s publicly-supported education system.” The Report then lists the programs and money this administration has spent since taking office, such as “$2.4 billion in new state investments to schools” to make sure these students can compete in the “competitive knowledge-based economy”.


But what is not mentioned is how much these other countries spend to get the much better results they achieve. For example, in 2003 Japan spent about $7,500 per pupil whereas Pennsylvania spent $8,916.


Singapore recently (2006) spent about $6,500 per student (and that includes post-secondary) whereas Pennsylvania’s recent data (2005-06) show public school per pupil expenditures of more than $10,000. If the Governor wants to actually increase educational proficiencies, maybe he should consider options other than spending more money. Enlarge the corporate donation scholarship program and create a voucher program open to all, with per student vouchers worth at least 75 percent of the current per student spending in Pennsylvania.


While critics will contend there are cultural differences between students from different countries, we don’t need to go overseas to show how public school students fare in Pennsylvania —we can make a comparison based on private schools in the Commonwealth. The most recent SAT scores (2007) show a significant disparity in educational achievement.


According to the College Board (the group administering the SAT exam), Pennsylvania’s public school students scored a combined average of 986 (Math and English).


Meanwhile, students attending religiously affiliated schools scored an average of 1024—and most religiously affiliated schools do it for thousands of dollars less per pupil than the state average of more than $10,000. Students claiming to have attended independently affiliated schools had an even higher average score of 1056.


Spending more money on public education does not translate into higher scores. If that were the case those attending Pittsburgh Public Schools, where per pupil expenditures exceed $18,000, would show proficiency levels well above the state average and rank higher than the foreign countries mentioned in the Governor’s Report. Instead, the eleventh grade math proficiency rate as measured by the state PSSA exams comes in well below the state average—with three of the City’s high schools at less than 15 percent proficiency.


Throwing more money at the problem clearly isn’t the answer. It merely rewards those who have been responsible for the unsatisfactory outcomes of the past and who continue to try to convince the taxpayers and the legislature they know best. Just another $5 billion will do the trick they now say. What a windfall for consultants and curriculum design “experts” that would be.


Some Pennsylvania schools and districts perform reasonably well. But the same students in private settings with the same level of spending would almost certainly perform even better than they do now. Unfortunately, many school districts are not doing well at all and throwing money at them is not the answer. What is needed is a genuine and dramatic overhaul of the system. Create vouchers for parents and students who want real choice.


The state has a constitutionally mandated role to play in establishing a thorough and efficient system of education for the people of Pennsylvania. That system does not require the public sector to be the monopoly provider. Other countries offer choice. It is not rocket science. It can be done here if those who truly care about our children’s future would demand and work for real change by challenging the entrenched education establishment. Otherwise it will be more of the same.


Underperforming students, ever more spending and higher taxes; something Pennsylvania can simply not afford to continue doing.



Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President Frank Gamrat, Ph.D., Sr. Research Assoc.
Please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

Neil Gordon on KDKA Radio

Kevin Mathews, on KDKA Radio, has an interview with Coach Gordon. It is on at 12:30 pm on Tuesday.

Lots of nice callers to the show.

Why? All roads lead to Erin V, said one caller. She is on the school board. She got into a big fuss with PA's ex-junior senator, Rick S. about residents.

There is a School Board Meeting tonight at 7 pm at the PH School District Admin Building.

Wow, we dodged a bullet.

No trough urinals! - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Trough urinals are a contradiction to a new civic center that is intended to celebrate the achievements of our civilized way of life and, specifically, our unique city.

Splash Zones called 'wave of the future' by Motznik

Sure, Citiparks Director, Mr. Ashley, has a way of making chicken soup without all the necessary ingredients, but let's be real.



City council voted to spend up to $250,000 on two new splash zones. One is slated for Beechview and the other for Troy Hill. Plus, two more similar facilities will go into other neighborhoods with federal funds. The second wave of these splash zones, facilities #3 and #4, are for CDBG (Community Development Block Grants) money. That means that the money must be spent in poorer neighborhoods.

Bill Peduto wanted to say that an Aquatic Committee got the idea rolling.

The Aquatics Task Force was a joke, Mr. Peduto.

Troy Hill has lost its Rec Center, Swim Pool, Firehouse, bus routes and soon will see the departure of North Catholic High School (where Mayor Luke Ravenstahl went).

A splash zone is a playground with water features. There is no need for a lifeguard as there is no swimming. There is no coaching. The learning is on your own. This is a place for play for kids in a certain age group.

Splash zones are not 'cutting edge.' Not even close. There is little to no sense of fitness, learning, teaching, teamwork, competition, wellness and supervision.

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 02/04/2008 | Federal deficits soaring higher, menacing the future

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 02/04/2008 | Federal deficits soaring higher, menacing the future President Bush took office in 2001 with a budget surplus, but his final budget proposal envisions federal deficits of more than $400 billion a year for the next two years. As big as those numbers are, experts think that the administration is lowballing the deficits, and they put little stock in Bush's vow to balance the budget by 2012.

'I think the promise that it will be balanced by 2012 is ridiculous,' said Chris Edwards, the director of tax policy for the Cato Institute, a libertarian policy research group.

Plenty of ugly local news

The front page of the Trib newspaper tells of two Dem politicians who are going to be doing time. Twanda, formerly of Pittsburgh city council, gets 1-2 years. Frank, formerly of the PA House, gets 6-months of house arrest.

But there is much more beyond those bimbos. This story of a New Year's Day fight among teens is hard to understand.
Witness tells of street fight that led to deathWitness tells of street fight that led to death
It is real. It is real bad.

Bogus Allegations Made Against Ex-Penn Hills Football Coach and AD @ junk mail

Mary Robb Jackson gives an interview. The story rehashes his "firing." Well, the job was just re-opened.
kdka.com - New Allegations Made Against Ex-Penn Hills Coach Gordon says he plans to apply for his old job.
Recruiting letters are mostly junk mail. Even the swim team was mentioned, in that there were letters found for swimmers.

These letters were from the past. Neil Gordon has not been the Athletic Director for more than a year. It seems to me that the old Athletic Director might want to take an inventory of the areas in the school. It shows that the new guy has made a serious fumble, more than Gordon.

If the mail was found in the basement of a postal worker -- then we have problems.

If the mail was being taken from student athletes who are in high school now -- and not delivered to them by design -- then we have problems.

If the mail was screened by the coach and INTENTIONALLY destroyed by the coach or AD -- then we have problems.

If the coach or AD contacted certain universities and told them to never recruit any Penn Hills student -- then we have problems.

Here, there are no problems. That story tells nothing.

If there is more to the story than is contained within the reporting of the story -- tell me. Post in the comments.


P-G reports: Superintendent meets players

Patricia Gennari, superintendent of Penn Hills schools, met Thursday with the school's football players to get their feelings on the coaching situation.

A few weeks ago, the Penn Hills school board decided to open coach Neil Gordon's position, despite his successful record of 156-74-2 in 21 seasons. The board directed Gennari to inform Gordon of its decision.

The mother of starting quarterback Tom Fulton said Penn Hills' players were instructed not to talk to the media about their meeting with Gennari.

Some Penn Hills residents are upset at the board's decision and want to be heard at a meeting. The school board has a public meeting at 7, and the football coaching situation is on the agenda.

Gordon said yesterday he has reapplied for the job, and Penn Hills also is accepting applications from other individuals.



Update from Feb 6, 2008:
kdka.com - Coach Situation Divides Penn Hills Community 'And yes there was a box of letters in the athletic office, but the players knew that there was a box and it was their responsibility to come down and get them themselves,' Bob Struss, a student, said.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Learn Well Graphics - colab art and history

Learn Well Graphics: "Learn Well Graphics Creates User-Friendly Learning Programs That Help Students Read Better While Learning About History And Financial Literacy"

Dipdive.com song, for the D Senator challenging in four-four time

I've given a lot of focus to Ron Paul, of course. Here is a mention of the D side, headed into Super Bowl Tuesday.
Dipdive.com: "The Yes We Can Song
by will.i.am"

The YouTube URL:



Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates v2: "What does this say?"

This does NOT look like the South Side -- but then again -- it does

Come Live Over Here:



Super Bowl TV ad from Pepsi.

Internet problems continue

WiFi in Pittsburgh isn't the only service on the fritz.
Internet problems continue with fourth cable break - Technology - ArabianBusiness.com Internet problems continue with fourth cable break

Revealed: British plan to build training camp for Taliban fighters in Afghanistan - Asia, World - Independent.co.uk

Hate them one year. Then love them the next.
Revealed: British plan to build training camp for Taliban fighters in Afghanistan - Asia, World - Independent.co.uk: "Britain planned to build a Taliban training camp for 2,000 fighters in southern Afghanistan, as part of a top-secret deal to make them swap sides, intelligence sources in Kabul have revealed. The plans were discovered on a memory stick seized by Afghan secret police in December.
Give them guns and teach them to shoot one year. Then blow them apart the next year.

To many politicians want to churn. Friends to enemies. Land to buildings to land again.

Height dispute stalls condo plan on South Side

Thursday's neighborhood meeting.
Height dispute stalls condo plan on South Side: "public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the South Side Market House, 12th and Bingham streets.

Two more days to RSVP to this event: The Allegheny Institute Welcomes Mayor John O. Norquist

On February 13th the Allegheny Institute welcomes Mayor John O. Norquist, a leader in national discussions of vouchers in education. Mayor Norquist’s talk is entitled “Improving Pittsburgh Public Schools: Are Vouchers an Answer?”

Mayor Norquist won four terms as Milwaukee’s mayor and compiled an impressive record of streamlining city government, improving public safety, and spurring job growth. But perhaps his greatest accomplishment is overseeing the implementation of school choice for Milwaukee’s students. Milwaukee’s voucher system began in 1991 with only 1,500 students and has grown to benefit nearly 12,000 students annually.

Norquist’s strong advocacy of school choice has made him a nationally recognized and sought after expert in the school choice movement. We hope you will make plans to attend this important presentation.

The lecture will take place at the Doubletree Hotel—Pittsburgh City Center, which is located at One Bigelow Square. The lecture will begin at 7:00 PM. We ask that you make reservations at your earliest convenience.

Admission is free but tickets will be required to attend. Please call 412-440-0079 by February 6th to reserve your seat.

Racial Equity Monitoring Project needs volunteers

The Racial Equity Monitoring Project needs volunteers to monitor official meetings and hearings whose stated purpose is to provide equal opportunity and treatment for. Due to the high rate of regional disparities for African Americans, this will be the primary focus population.

WHY?

We deploy citizens to bring the processes of official agencies, offices, and bodies back to the community in order to ensure that meetings, policies, agencies and events designed to provide equal opportunity serve their established purpose. WHERE? REMP monitors public agencies including those related to employment, health, criminal justice, education, elections, economic development, construction and trades, and any agency that affects quality of life for the citizens of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

WHO? YOU!

You don’t need to be an expert, just be willing to devote a few hours to helping ensure transparency and opportunity. We will provide you with training and supplies.

HOW? To get involved, contact Project Coordinator:

Celeste Taylor at talyor.celeste@gmail.com or 412-670-0937

The Racial Equity and Monitoring Project is an initiative of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) has received funding from a Heinz Endowment seed grant.

Then you win. Sorry, this isn't a post about the Super Bowl and the MVP brothers

A group of people are working on a new title called with the working title of, "Then You Win." It is a documentary film project about non-violence movements in India. The aim is a release with the rights to copy, modify and distribute under Creative Commons license. To get them over the goal line -- now is the time for everybody’s help.

http://thenyouwin.yooook.org
First they ignore you.
Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you.
Then you win.

Mahatma Gandhi.

Chad's rant included some sideline cheers about schools

Chad made a rant and hits everything under the sun -- including schools.
Opinion 250: The view from on high: "We're leaving more children behind than we (or they) can possibly count? Close a couple more schools, tinker with the curriculum, reassign some teachers and make noise about trying to save Schenley High School to shut some people up.

We can barely keep up with our medical premiums and co-pays? Put your initials and your helipad atop the USX Tower, your phony Minutes on TV and your auditors on the trail of even more claims to deny. Instead of good schools and affordable health care, give the kids a couple of bucks for college, so long as you don't get double-dipped and other people pony up, too.
I love the self-reliance theme.

OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues

OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues: "Candidates"

Sunday, February 03, 2008

MTV looking for activists - News

Sound check.... 1, 2, 3. Check, 1, 2, 3...
MTV looking for activists - News: "The popular MTV show has returned to Pittsburgh looking for 'activist types,' rather than the usual fun-loving characters, for its 21st season."

Why Ron Paul Doesn't Matter

The Republican candidacy for President of the United States has been a "different" type of process in 2008. It wasn't that long ago that we heard that the race to supplant President George W. Bush started too soon.

Now it's almost over.

A few weeks ago I wrote about how Ron Paul could raise untold millions in contributions and still mean absolutely nothing to the national election.

Last summer, Paul had his apex of importance. His fundraising outled John McCain's. He was roundly cheered on the Bill Maher "Love equals liberalism, no tolerance for conservatives" HBO program.

Ron Paul owns the "outsider" vote. Conservatives consider Paul a crackpot. Not quite the Dennis Kucinich crackpot, but an unviable candidate nonetheless.

And moderate Republicans have embraced John McCain. What's interesting is that some Conservative pundits would rather vote for Barack Obama before they'd vote for McCain.

Lost in the political pantheon is Mike Huckabee, who a mere month ago was considered the front runner. Conservatives, who have not had the luxury of a conservative candidate they could truly embrace, have begun to rally behind Mitt Romney; however, McCain is largely considered a lovable scamp by others like Rudy Guiliani (who inexplicably operated a non-existent campaign) and Arnold Schwazzeneger (who quietly championed amending the U.S. Constitution to allow a Terminator in the White House...or so the urban myth goes).

As the field of Republican candidates continues to dwindle, Romney is getting the true Conservative vote. Super Tuesday will determine whether or not Conservatives are disenfranchised enough to avoid the election altogether.

Paul is about a year older than McCain. That's something the Conservative base can't grab ahold of anytime soon. Paul is not a commanding figure. As argued previously, Paul does not exhibit a religious...read Christian...backbone. His biography is a nothing but a blueprint for a spiritual carpetbagger. Without those who take religion seriously, Paul doesn't come close to registering.

Paul's supporters are not Republicans. They are on the fringe. In many ways, they are the "anti-war," "marijuana" vote. They complain that Paul doesn't get coverage from mainstream media. He has done nothing to earn the coverage. He has not boasted a swell of support from voters.

Paul's "run away" from Iraq philosophy also doesn't resonate with conservative voters, and only mildly with moderate Republicans. "Cut and Run" is the John Murtha/Nancy Pelosi plan of no-attack. It is not conducive with Republicans, most of whom won't abandon our fighting men and women, here or overseas. That may be Ron Paul's biggest philosophical anchor in the Republican party. Had Paul stood up in the War on Terror, he might have recorded some conservative support.

In the election of 2008, Ron Paul should have made a difference. He hasn't and he won't. That's quite the mystery.

Sports and Exhibition Authority Reviews Recent Case of a Pirate's Sweatshop Monitor Detained in Bangladesh and Race Discrimination at New Era Cap

Original Posting from Feb 1 at 3 pm. Updated below:

Different worlds merge on Monday, from baseball to The Hill to Bangladesh and snuffing out a whistleblower. We are all connected in our big blue planet.
February 1, 2008

Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance, Contact Kenneth Miller

412-241-1339

The Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) investigator in Bangladesh has been illegally detained, effectively disappeared. A description of events, confirmed by the US Embassy in Bangladesh:

Mehedi Hasan, a Bangladeshi national and a labor rights investigator for the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), was detained on January 24, in Dhaka, by the Bangladesh intelligence service and is being held for interrogation. The WRC, based in Washington, D.C., monitors labor practices at apparel factories on behalf of universities and government entities in the United States; it is clear that Mr. Hasan's arrest is related to the labor rights monitoring work he has performed on the WRC's behalf. It appears that the government plans to bring a number of bogus criminal charges against Mr. Hasan. Labor rights advocates in Bangladesh are very concerned that he will be physically mistreated while in custody.

In a letter of July 6, 2006 Ethan G Orlinsky of Major League Baseball wrote,

It appears that virtually all of MLBP headwear and apparel licensees authorized to distribute apparel in the United States are members of groups such as the Workers Rights Consortium…

Major League Baseball is NOT cooperating with the WRC. If they were, they would be requiring licensees to report the location of all factories and be actively supporting monitors like Mr. Hasan.

Companies like New Era, American Needle and Nike produce Pirates apparel in Bangladesh in the area where Mr. Hason is working. In some cases, Pirates apparel and university apparel is manufactured in the same factories.

In an earlier letter to the Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance (PASCA) on April 2, 2006 Mr. Orlinsky brags about New Era baseball caps and Majestic baseball jerseys being manufactured in the United States. Unfortunately, many of the US factories are sweatshops as well. On Martin Luther King Day of this year, New Era workers at the plant in Mobile, Alabama protested a pattern and practice of race discrimination and a wave of illegal firings. Alongside them marched the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and United Students Against Sweatshops. New Era Cap has rejected the investigative efforts of the WRC.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, whose logo and apparel represent the City of Pittsburgh and who participate in Major League Baseball Properties Revenue Sharing Agreement, can have an appropriate impact by speaking out at this time. PASCA urges Frank Coonelly to represent Pittsburgh effectively:

Issue a statement expressing concern for Mehedi Hasan and demanding his immediate release. Assure WRC monitors access to factories sewing Pirates apparel.

Frank Coonelly should go to Mobile, Alabama himself and meet with the New Era workers. Deliver solidarity, as Roberto Clemente would do. Talk to the workers and demand that New Era's disclose the names and locations of ALL it's factories, and those of its subcontractors, sewing Pirates apparel.

Members of PASCA are hopeful that Frank Coonelly's tenure with the Pirates will be more productive for workers sewing Pirates apparel than was Kevin McClatchy's. PASCA is not asking him to collaborate with an already negligent Commissioners Office, but to take a stand for workers rights that will make Pittsburgh proud.

In a letter to participants at the 10th Annual Summit Against Racism, Dennis Brutus said, "The Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance is asking for a Civil Rights Bridge…the Pirates use Pittsburgh as a platform to represent themselves. That representation is not sincere without accepting a responsibility, an obligation, to reflect our values."

Sports and Exhibition Authority (SEA) should use the anti sweatshop standards encoded in the City and County anti sweatshop ordinances. It should rely on the All-Star 2006 Anti Sweatshop Proclamation signed by then City Council President Luke Ravenstahl. The Sports and Exhibition Authority has a mandate, and precedence, to address these worker rights violations at its meeting on Monday.

The SEA Board will meet Monday February 4 at 1:30 on the 3rd floor of the David L Lawrence Convention Center. Call the SEA on Monday morning to confirm that no changes to the schedule have been made. 412-393-0200

The Chair of the SEA (joint appointment) is John Chalovich. Luke Ravenstahl's appointees are Jeff Koch, Tony Ross and State Senator Wayne Fontana. Dan Onorato's appoints are Rev. William Curtis, Dr. Edie Shapira and State Senator Sean Logan.  

Members of the One Hill Coalition will be at the meeting to discuss the role they would like the Board to play in their negotiations with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Volunteers from the Black Political Empowerment Project's Racial Equity Monitoring Project will also attend.

www.iww.org and www.sweatfree.org/baseball

Update on Feb 3, 2008:
Dear Colleagues,

I am very happy to report that Mehedi Hasan was released on Sunday afternoon, Dhaka time. We have confirmed it directly with Mehedi himself. We also understand that the pending charges against him have been dropped; this is what the police have told Mehedi’s lawyer. Documents confirming this have not yet been received, however. We hope to know more soon about the government’s official position on the case and their intentions going forward. As you know, we have also been very concerned about how Mehedi was being treated in custody; we are awaiting information on this question.

We want to thank all of you for your efforts on this. Unquestionably, it was the pressure from foreign governments, buyers, and NGOS both in Bangladesh and around the world that secured Mehedi’s release. Your help is deeply appreciated.

As we know you are all aware, there are other labor rights advocates and worker leaders in Bangladesh who have been arrested and/or are facing unfair charges similar to those to which Mehedi was to be subjected. Police and judicial procedures under the state of emergency raise grave doubts about whether any of these cases will be adjudicated justly. There is also the ongoing problem of the government’s broader effort to repress labor rights advocacy and the exercise of associational rights by Bangadeshi workers. It is our hope that the energy mobilized on Mehedi’s behalf, which has been so effective in securing his release, can be maintained and directed toward the broader goal of protecting labor rights advocates and worker representatives throughout Bangladesh. We look forward to working with you toward that goal.

Please contact us if you have questions about this update. We will provide more information about the status of Mehedi’s case as we receive it.

Thank you again for your timely and effective action.

Best,

Scott Nova
Jeremy Blasi

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Some Bush budget details begin to leak. They don't look good for local economic drivers -- UPMC.

The AP has a good news article on the budget summary. Some of this is yet to hit. It is due on Monday.

Look at what GWB wants the US to spend on: India and China.

Plus, there are some big hits that might play out in Pittsburgh, with UPMC and the mega funding from medical grants.
News from The Associated Press: "Funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the subject of an intense battle with Democrats last year, would increase by almost $20 billion over the next five years. An additional $6 billion is requested to finish a massive project to protect New Orleans from flooding. And the Food and Drug Administration would get a larger-than-average budget increase to send FDA staff overseas to inspect food and drugs imported into the United States.

Bush also backs $2 billion over three years to help get cleaner and more efficient energy technology to big polluters like India and China.


You don't have to read between the lines to know who this could impact. ... The Bush budget would eliminate a $302 million program that gives grants to children's hospitals to subsidize medical education.

Onorato's plans to privatize part of county's parks does NOT wash well with me

Most of all, I have no faith in Dan Onorato.
Onorato discusses plans to privatize part of county's parks
By Allison M. Heinrichs TRIBUNE-REVIEW

About 150 people gathered at Boyce Park this morning to discuss plans with Allegheny County officials to privatize part of all nine county parks. Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said he plans to put out for bids operation of ski slopes, golf courses, wave pools, horse stables and other amenities in the county's 12,000 acres of parks.

"There's no reason we shouldn't be making money on these facilities," said Onorato, who spoke at a town hall meeting in the Boyce Park ski lodge. "We need to think outside the box."

Onorato said the parks are 20 years behind on maintenance. He said he has set aside $10 million to match dollar-for-dollar any private money raised for park improvements in the next year.

For more information visit www.alleghenycounty.us and click on the Parks Action Plan.

Allison M. Heinrichs can be reached at aheinrichs@tribweb.com or 412-380-5607.
Here we go again. It wasn't too long ago when I railed against the 'thinking outside the box' plan of the PDP (Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership) in its efforts, along with Bob O'Connor originally, then Luke Ravenstahl, to put up WiFi in certain areas of downtown. Everyone else, mostly, thought that this was a great thing. Mindless boosterism can't be healthy either.

One can go 'outside the box' and be 'dead wrong.' After death, they put people in the box. Frankly, our region is dying -- because we are too often outside the box in a sense of doing what should NOT be done and failing to do what needs to be done.

Parks maintenance is 20 years behind the times -- so says Onorato. Well, Dan, that means as Allegheny County Executive -- you have been a total failure for the past five years. And, as county controller before that, you were a failure as well.

I agree that the parks are down and out in their conditions today because of neglect. Dan Onorato is to blame, mostly. Same too for the others on the Allegheny County Council.

Even when Onorato was on city council back in the late 1990s, Onorato did NOTHING for our parks.

They never give enough attention, effort and support to parks programs. And Jim Roddey thinks Onorato has been doing a wonderful job. Jim Roddey's big upgrade to the parks system was the addition of a jersey barrier at South Park in the wake of a senior driver who smashed up some pedestrians walking along the side of a road.

Well, at least we are not talking about Onorato's killing of the Geese.

The last time there was a 'parks master plan' with city government (not county), I went to a number of meetings. At the final meeting I made one very important suggestion. I suggested that the name of the final document be changed. They did not deliver a 'Master Plan' as titles and advertised. Rather, so as to stop fooling ourselves, the document should have been called a 'Parks Lesser Plan'.

Those were the days before there was much blogging.

We had a park facility very near to our house that was handed over in an effort of privatize its operations. The private owners invested in the physical building. They had a great partner too, as well as a boom market where the activities were wildly popular. Furthermore, there was a city-wide exclusive woven into the deal.

The city gave a 99-year lease to a guy name Paul S to operate its lone, indoor ice rink that is located in a large city owned park that is just behind South Side Hospital. A roof was constructed over the once outdoor ice rink and the Pittsburgh Penguins were tenants. They held their practices as the rink. Once, when the NHL held an All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, most of the NHL All-Stars went there for a practice too.

Today, that park and its rink is closed. It has been closed for years.

Dan Onorato could have -- and should have -- stepped up to the task of getting the County Parks to work a deal so as to 're-privatize that rink and its operation.'

Hell, Dan and Luke can't even come up with a Community Benefit Agreement for the NEW Penguins Arena so it blends well with the hopes of the city residents.

When the ice rink on the South Side started to 'skate on thin ice' -- and look weak around the edges, I made a few calls. I pushed our city council member, Gene Ricciardi, then chair of the Citiparks Committee, to investigate the situations. The lease called for a certain number of hours of public access to the facilities. That had been broken. The lease called for local hockey teams to have access to the rink for both games and practices. That was fleeting. They started to turn the rink into a place for concerts.

I asked for some city oversight. This was city property. There was a lease. Terms were not being upheld. And those in city government did NOTHING. They turned a blind eye on the folly that would happen. Who else remembers seeing the Zamboni driving down East Carson Street one night?

The city and county offer nothing in terms of management in this realm.

This is so frustrating.

To this day, the ice rink on the South Side sits vacant. And, every other month, I get phone calls -- yes, they call me -- from around the nation asking about the rink. Most recently, in December, a group from Florida wanted to send in a letter of understanding to the city to get the operation back on-track with that ice rink. I told them, 'good luck, and don't hold your breath.'

They are clueless.

Here is what I'd do. Call for a global discussion about the parks. Put everything on the table. Hell, I'll be happy to debate Onorato and Ravenstahl in five different parks in five different night to start off the discussions. The best outcome will include citizen engagement. And in short order, we should rip the ownership of the parks out of the grasp of those who work on Grant Street. We should wrestle the park's control and ownership away from Onorato and the rest of them by forming a NEW, consolidated, governmental entity -- the REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.

I want elections, open meetings, Sunshine laws and public process for these public spaces with PARK TRUSTEES making all the decisions.

The state of Illinois, Barack's home state, has this model of government with PARK DISTRICTS. That is a good model and one that needs to be understood here.

The we take the RAD TAX and re-do it with an eye to the new Regional Park District. Two or three years later, we take ownership of the Stadium and Exibition Authority too. That should operate, as well as the stadiums -- under the umbrella of the Park District.

If Onorato really wants to promote "private ownership" of parts of these parks, then he should insist that the Pittsburgh Penguins own the new hockey arena. The Penguins are only going to lease the new building. Yet, the Penguins are going to call the shots. Everything in their world is upside down.

Onorato should sell Heinz Field, PNC Park and the new arena NOW -- before he sells off parts of Boyce Park, North Park, South Park, Settler's Cabin and Deer Lakes Park, etc.

Thomas Jefferson Think Tank gig -- Melissa Hart

FWIW.
Come Meet and Listen to Melissa Hart

Last month, we began our series that addresses the question of the proper role of government in the 21st century. Is it the same as our Founding Fathers envisioned and if not, how and why?

We began to outline a view of the role of government as described in the Federal and State constitutions. The comments, questions, and suggestions came fast and furious for the whole evening. This month’s should be no different because….

This month, former Congresswoman (and current Congressional candidate) Melissa Hart will join us to give her views on the proper role of the federal government. Perhaps we will gain some insights from her time in Congress on how others (from both sides of the aisle) view the subject. This is your chance to hear how government works from someone who’s been there, and plans to be again.

So please join us for what promises to be an informative and enjoyable evening with Melissa Hart.

Come early to enjoy the food, drink, and bring a friend. We will see you Wednesday, February 6, 2008 located at Silvioni’s, 2125 Babcock Boulevard. Dinner will be served until 7:00 pm. The meeting will start at approximately 7:15 pm.
A mention here does NOT imply an endorsement. For additional insights on various events and dates in the region, be sure to check out my public google calendar.

'08 Hopefuls To Talk With MTV, MySpace and The Fix - The Fix

Thanks goodness. I hope that McCain and Romney do NOT show up. Then, perhaps, they will get some time to the good doctor.
'08 Hopefuls To Talk With MTV, MySpace and The Fix - The Fix: "Tomorrow night marks the culmination of those dialogues with a 90-minute extravaganza featuring four of the six candidates still in the race -- Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) for the Democrats, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) for the Republicans.

Mark C's LTE @ ski slopes at Boyce

I had a LTE in the Pittsburgh Trib today (2/1/2007) where I resurrected an older LTE from another paper about the funding of ski lift renovations to a county park. The Trib reported on the reopening of those ski slopes.

My angle was that this older story has something in common with a very recent controversy where bus transit is subsidized in Allegheny County by additional taxes on poured alcohol and on rental cars.

They must have liked that angle because they made it the lead LTE and highlighted its quote "What's next? Will we ... mine reclamation?" at the top of the LTE section.

Mark


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/send/s_550244.html

Misappropriations

Boyce Park improvements cost about $1 million ("Dozens take to renovated Boyce Park slopes," Jan. 27 and PghTrib.com), but about $550,000 came from the Growing Greener 2 program.

The May 2005 ballot referendum authorizing GG2 asked:

"Do you favor authorizing the Commonwealth to borrow up to $625,000,000 for the maintenance and protection of the environment, open space and farmland preservation, watershed protection, abandoned mine reclamation, acid mine drainage remediation and other environmental initiatives?"

Magic carpet lifts, snow tubing and other renovations sound like fun, but I can't find mention of them in the above referendum.

We tax alcohol and rental cars to pay for bus service. We "re-appropriate" money for acid mine remediation to pay for ski lifts and snow tube slopes.

What's next? Will we raise bus fares to pay for acid mine reclamation? Will we increase Boyce Park lift ticket fees to pay for targeted bar and rental-car tax relief?

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will be at the Boyce Park Ski Lodge on Saturday for a town hall meeting. Maybe
he can explain it, unless the meeting is re-appropriated as a gubernatorial campaign rally.

Mark Crowley of Plum

Edge of Sports tackles wellness on Super Bowl Weekend

Edge of Sports Apparently it’s not killer bees, sleeper cells, or flesh eating viruses we are supposed to fear this week. According to the mainstream media, it’s the Super Bowl that’s hazardous to our health.

The LA Times ran an article this week titled, 'Sports is a strain on fans' hearts'. 'In Germany,' the piece opened, 'a study finds a spike in heart attacks on soccer game days. Super Bowl viewers, take heed.'

Friday, February 01, 2008

Life in the dial-up lane - Pennsyltucky Politics

How good can a hard-hitting blogger be if he can't tread water while wearing cement boots? See, it pays to be a swim coach and a political blogger stirring for a revolution or two -- in the same lifetime.
Life in the dial-up lane - Pennsyltucky Politics: "Since we prefer our swimming to be without cement blocks and DeNaples supposedly has ties to the Bufalino crime family, we're going to be nicer than usual and let you read all about the charges elsewhere.

Gov Workers Devote Time to Wikipedia

Team 4: See How Govt. Employees Waste Time On Web - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh: "Now there's a way to see who's making those edits, and Team 4 found thousands of edits done by government employees on government time using government computers. And few of those edits have anything to do with government business.
They might look like busy bureaucrats, but some of them have been obsessing over Ben Roethlisberger, Beyonce and James Bond. Those names are among the hundreds of Wikipedia pages Team 4 found to be favorites of local, state and federal government employees.
I run a wiki. I have not been updating it as much as I should. Perhaps I could contract with the government workers to keep the content more up to date.

On the other hand - who in this story has too much time on their hands?

Lurch, the character in the TV show, The Munsters, may NOT play the harp. But, the real point is who cares? This is NOT newsworthy. The media professionals are worried about wiki edits and making them newsworthy.

The day that wiki edits are newsworthy -- then we should all celebrate because there wasn't an ice storm, schools operated so well that everyone was educated and the rest of our political troubles have been eliminated.

Get back to work government workers. And, most of all, we need journalist who are real watchdogs. The Paul Van Osdol's of the world at WTAE Challen 4 Action News needs to become more clever with understanding what's what. His nose for news needs an overhaul.

It seems to me that there is shit all around the region -- and -- we've got the mainstream media looking for, counting and slaving on a few of the most meaningless pimples on the butt of life.

By the way, does Dr. Cyril Wecht need anything, such as a lift to the airport or else his wikipedia page updated?

Message from Ron Paul

America became the greatest, most prosperous nation in history through low taxes, constitutionally limited government, personal freedom, and a belief in sound money. We need to return to those principles so our economy can thrive once again.

Other candidates talk a lot about stimulus packages, but my record stands alone. I have fought for these measures in Congress as the Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology, and as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and will fight for their passage as president.

My plan entails four points: Tax Reform, Spending Reform, Monetary Policy Reform, and Regulatory Reform.

Tax reform means reducing the tax burden and eliminating taxes that punish investment and savings, including job-killing corporate taxes. If we cut spending to the level it was at under the Clinton administration, we can permanently do away with the income tax and the IRS. No true conservative would say that government was too small during the Clinton years!

There are several steps we can take to immediately ease the tax burden. I have proposed H.J. Res 23, which would repeal the Sixteenth Amendment and thus eliminate income, estate, and capital gains taxes. H.R. 191 would repeal President Clinton's 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits, while H.R. 192 would repeal all taxes on Social Security benefits. I also support legislation to accelerate depreciation on investment and end the practice of taxing forgiven mortgage debt.

In the area of spending reform, I want to eliminate wasteful spending, reduce overseas commitments, and freeze all non-defense, non-entitlement spending at current levels. I never vote for pork-laden bills, and I will veto them and any unbalanced budget as president. We need to refocus our national defense so that we guard our own borders, instead those of other nations. We can save billions if we stop subsidizing our trading partners in Europe, Japan, South Korea and other nations. Congress does not have the constitutional authority to send out foreign aid, and our current foreign policy of nation building is bankrupting us.

Monetary policy reform means expanding openness at the Federal Reserve and requiring the Fed to televise its meetings, as well as returning to sound money. Washington's disastrous fiscal policies, marked by shameless deficit spending and Federal Reserve currency devaluation, are some of the greatest threats facing our nation today. It is this one-two punch — Congress spending more than it can tax or borrow, and the Treasury printing money to make up the difference -- that threatens to impoverish us by further destroying the value of our dollars. It's time to end the fiat money system, legalize competing currencies, and restore soundness to our dollar.

Finally, we need to institute true regulatory reform by repealing Sarbanes/Oxley's regulations that push companies to seek capital outside of U.S. markets. Congress' rush to action after the Enron scandal gave us a bill that has heavily burdened small businesses and driven companies offshore. I also support repealing federal regulations that prevent financial institutions such as independent and community banks and credit unions from fostering economic growth.

A true package to stimulate the economy not only puts money back in Americans' pockets, it deals with the underlying causes of our current situation - an out-of-control foreign policy, runaway deficit spending, and currency devaluation brought on by the Federal Reserve's inflationary policies. When enacted, my plan will provide both short-term stimulus and lay the groundwork for long-term prosperity.

Racial Equity Volunteers to Monitor Monday School Board Committee Meeting

Press Contacts: Celeste Taylor, 412-670-0937 & Tim Stevens, 412-758-7898

Thursday, January 31, 2008


Pittsburgh -- In response to the Pittsburgh Public Schools reluctance to enact recommended improvements in Minority Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) practices, Racial Equity Monitors will be deployed to Monday's School Board Meeting.

Monday's PPS MBWE meeting provides the first full discussion of recommendations made to the board by Dr. Ralph Bangs in June 2007. These recommendations would move the district forward in ensuring that employees and contractors for PPS reflected the diversity of the population it serves. Most municipalities, including State and Federal levels, have such hiring/contracting stipulations.

The Racial Equity Monitoring Project (REMP) will deploy observers in order to monitor the meeting. The monitors will not only gather information but serve as a conduit to the community so that the Board can be held accountable for both progress and delays. "Though the meeting is an important step, we need to make sure that it represents a step towards real and tangible results," stated Celesete Taylor, Project Coordinator. "We will have monitors there to ensure that the School Board knows the public expects them to honor these commitments, as well as to keep these proceedings in the light of public scrutiny."

Also attending Monday's meeting will be Michael Lamb, City Controller. The controllers office is planning an audit this spring of the Pittsburgh Public Schools specific to facilities management and MBWE compliance. This audit will go hand in hand with REMP's efforts to create transparency and accountability.

The Racial Equity Monitoring Project (REMP), helps bring the processes of official agencies back to the community in order to ensure that meetings, policies, agencies and events designed to provide equal opportunity and treatment for minorities (particularly African Americans) serve their established purpose. The project, an initiative of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) receives funding from a Heinz Endowment seed grant.

What: Monitoring School Board MWBE Committee Meeting

When: Monday, February 4, 2008, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Board Committee Room
341 South Bellefield Avenue, Oakland
I think that this is one of the first significant sightings of Michael Lamb since he was sworn into office. Well, to be fair, so far Mr. Lamb has:

1. On election night, he claimed he wanted to hire outside consultants.
2. The outside consultants were to do an audit of the city's auditors.
3. Spoke after talking the oath of office and told everyone of meeting his wife -- and how he picked her up at a bar -- but is very good with numbers!
4. Made mention somewhere that the workers in the office will look professional. Did they get the new threads yet? Logo shirts drive productivity in Grant Street offices, right?
5. Showed up at the Black & White Reunion. Good.
6. ... what else ... ???

Ronald Regan Quotes

"Here’s my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose."

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I’m here to help."

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."

"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."

"The taxpayer: That’s someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t take the civil service exam."

"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other."

"If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

"I’ve laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it’s in the middle of a Cabinet meeting."

"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first. Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book."

"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong."

The American Dream — 51st wedding anniversary is today

A wonderful American story, with deep Pittsburgh roots, is shared.
The American Dream — Ron Paul 2008 Ron delivered newspapers in grade school early in the morning. You had to put the newspapers inside the screen doors and not just throw them in the yard. And speaking of yards, he mowed a lot of lawns, and he didn't have a self-propelled lawnmower. He paid for his first year of college with newspaper and lawn-mowing money.