Friday, February 12, 2010

Pittsburgh Public Schools Summer Dreams Camps

You won't find Swimming and Water Polo camp, nor Olympicpedia, nor Junior Lifeguard Camp, nor Sports Manager Camp. Those were two of my suggested camps. But, here is the line-up of what was picked.

Afternoon Activities
Judo

Facilitated by: Allegheny Youth Development

Camper capacity: 40*

*Special Scheduling Note: Boys only are eligible for this program

Location: Pittsburgh King

Culminating Activity: Camp concludes with a mini-judo tournament

How would you like to test your physical limits in a contact sport that’s exciting, safe, and most of all, fun? The Olympic martial art of judo might be perfect for you. Judo teaches you how to use an opponent’s own force and momentum to throw or subdue him. You’ll learn amazing throws, quick foot-sweeps, strong pinning techniques – all the tools you’ll need to compete in real judo matches. You’ll also build the courage, sportsmanship and self-control that this sport demands. So kick off your shoes and join us on the mat. Hajime!



Ultimate Frisbee: Catch The Spirit!
Facilitated by: Camp Spirit of the Game

Camper Capacity: 100

Location: Pittsburgh Obama (in the Reizenstein facility)

Culminating Activity: Campers will participate in an Ultimate Pentathlon

Discover what millions of young people already know: the sport of Ultimate Frisbee is easy to learn, outrageously fun, and richly rewarding. Play games, make friends, get fit--and take home key lessons about how to succeed in life. Learn teamwork, dedication, respect and integrity. Earn trophies and prizes. Get a professional quality flying disc to keep, a hi-tech sport shirt, and a medallion for completing the Camp. Learn more about Ultimate at http://campsog.com/links.aspx and about the SDA Ultimate Camp at www.campsog.com/summerdreamers.aspx.



Artists and Scientists Camp

Facilitated by: Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Camper Capacity: 80

Location: Off-site at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Museum of Art – campers from Pittsburgh Obama (in the Reizenstein facility) will be eligible

Culminating Activity: Campers create pieces of art and/or graphic displays of scientific phenomena

Imagine having your work displayed at a museum. After activity-filled afternoons at both Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Museum of Art, you’ll create a project for display in the same building that is home to Tyrannosaurus rex and works of Vincent van Gogh. If you’re ready to explore your community, try science research and artistic expression, and then share your project with an audience beyond your school, this Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh camp is the place to be!



On Stage

Facilitated by: Community College of Allegheny County

Camper Capacity: 90*

*Special Schedule Note: This activity will take place Monday – Thursday. Campers will be able to choose fun academic electives and workshops to participate in each Friday.

Location: Pittsburgh CAPA

Culminating Activity: Culminating activities include short skits, songs, or oral reports

Are you ready to experience the magical world of playwrights, actors, musicians, singers, dancers, costume and set designers? Through “On Stage,” you can enjoy performances by a variety of local artists and interact with the performers. Then you can go on to write an original skit or a song, learn more about the life of a favorite entertainer, perform in a short play, choreograph a dance, design a costume, or learn more about the technical aspects of theater. If you are ready to practice in the world of performing, this is the place for you!





Green Architecture, Community Design, Theater, Cartooning

Facilitated by: The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

Camper Capacity: 20

Location: Off-site at The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh – Campers from Pittsburgh King will be eligible

Culminating Activity: Campers will build boats and create cartoon illustrations and posters designed to help others conserve energy

The PPS Summer Dreamers Academy at The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh will engage students in fun and exciting activities including: green architecture, community design, theater and improv, cartooning and a fun filled week of Museum exploration.



Young Playwrights

Facilitated by: City Theatre

Camper Capacity: 120

Location: Pittsburgh CAPA

Culminating Activity: Campers will create a compilation of 10 plays

Wouldn’t it be fun to create a world filled with characters of your own? Who act and speak just the way you want them to…about what means the most to you? Every day, playwrights create characters and tell stories that audiences experience under the bright lights of the stage. City Theater Young Playwrights will give you a chance to dream up a world of your own. Learn about the great writers who came from Pittsburgh – such as August Wilson and George S. Kaufmann; see how they create vivid characters and action-packed stories, and then use the playwriting tools you learn to tell a story of your own!



artSLAM

Facilitated by: Frick Art and Historical Center

Camper Capacity: 22

Location: Off-site at the Frick Art & Historical Center – Campers from Pittsburgh Obama (in the Reizenstein facility) will be eligible

Culminating Activity: Campers create, design and curate an art exhibition

Your art in our museum! artSLAM takes you behind the scenes at the Frick Art and Historical Center. Work alongside curators, artists, and educators to develop an exhibition that showcases your creativity. Make the art, write about it, organize and install the exhibition, and celebrate with a museum opening for your family and friends.



K.R.U.N.K. Mini-camps

Facilitated by: Gateway to the Arts

Camper Capacity: 30 at each site (120 total)

Location: Pittsburgh Brashear, Pittsburgh CAPA, Pittsburgh King, and Pittsburgh Peabody

Culminating Activity: Campers will perform their K.R.U.N.K. production at the end of the camp at the August Wilson Center

K.R.U.N.K mini-camps-If your dream is to be a hip hop musician, producer, dancer, or technician, the K.R.U.N.K. movement (Kreating Realistic Urban New-school Knowledge) will teach you what it takes and how to make it happen. You’ll learn about the music, how to make it, record it, dance to it, and you’ll have the chance to put it all on stage.



World Music and Dance

Facilitated by: Gateway to the Arts

Camper Capacity: 20

Location: Pittsburgh Peabody

Culminating Activity: Campers perform an original dance that they learn during the camp

The nomadic Romany people travelled from India to Europe, picking up the pulsating rhythms and unique instruments of the countries where they lived. Fluid arms, pounding feet, rapid rhythms, played on the Rabel, Oud, and Bazouki. Learn how to dance and play in the many moods of this spirited ancient people. If you love to move this class is for you!


NASA: Journey into Outer Space

Facilitated by: Mad Science of Pittsburgh

Camper Capacity: 320*

*Special Schedule Note: This camp will be offered two days each week in two sessions. 160 campers will participate in Session 1 each Monday and Wednesday and 160 campers will participate in Session 2 each Tuesday and Thursday. Campers will have the opportunity to choose a second exciting academic elective or workshop to be led by camp coordinators on the days they do not attend Mad Science.

Location: Pittsburgh Brashear

Culminating Activity: Culminating event includes all campers firing rockets made in camp

Join the quest for exploration from our Earth's atmosphere to the outer reaches of our universe. We'll create comets, discover planets, uncover stars and more! We'll explore the four forces of flight, the challenges of living in outer space and participate in a grand rocket launch!



Reading with Rumba and More

Facilitated by: Mercy Behavioral Health

Camper Capacity: 60

Location: Pittsburgh King

Culminating Activity: Culminating event is a dance recital and oral presentations

“Reading with Rumba and More” is a replication of the “Dancing Classrooms” program that is already popular in 6 of our elementary schools. When Reading meets Rumba lives will change. The integration of literacy, reading, writing, journaling, and book discussions with learning the tango, fox trot, swing, meringue, and electric slide can lead students to see the connection between thinking beyond what they normally see and hear, learn to appreciate differences, and gain from someone else’s experience in life. By infusing a literary curriculum with ballroom dancing students double the opportunity to experience growth in self-knowledge, self-respect, respect of others, social skills, communication, and just plain fun.



Art Activism! Youth Peace Rally

Facilitated by: MGR Foundation

Camper Capacity: 20 at each camp site (120 total)

Location: Each camp site

Culminating Activity: Campers participate in a peace rally

Tired of the violence in your schools and communities? This summer is your opportunity to take action and silence the violence. First, learn about Pittsburgh’s struggle for peace by reading stories about youth violence along with interviews with Pittsburgh peace activists. Then, create works of art, spoken word, raps, dances, and speeches to promote peace as you plan and lead the city-wide 2010 MGR Youth Peace Rally!



Youth Cycling: Positive Spin

Facilitated by: MGR Foundation

Camper Capacity: 40

Location: Off-site – Campers from Pittsburgh King and Pittsburgh CAPA will be eligible

Culminating Activity: Camp ends with a 60 mile bike ride to Ohiopyle State Park to camp overnight

Do you want to spend the summer outside with the sun at your back and a cool breeze across your face? In Positive Spin, you will explore Pittsburgh’s riverfronts on two wheels, learn bike safety and maintenance, become a bike advocate, and explore alternative forms of exercise like rock climbing, rowing, yoga, and break dancing. You will even get to build and keep your own bicycle! End the summer with an unforgettable journey: a day’s ride up the Youghiogheny River Trail with an overnight camping adventure!


Photography

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 15

Location: Pittsburgh Peabody

Culminating Activity: Campers create a gallery exhibition of their photographs to be placed on a C.D. or jump-drive

Find your creative side and discover your artist's eye through photography! In this program you'll learn how to operate a camera and how to use a variety of photographic tools and techniques that express your thoughts and feelings. We'll be getting down to basics so you’ll learn how to take better pictures while exploring your unique visions of family, friends, community, and the whole world that surrounds you.



Ceramic Mosaic

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 15

Location: Pittsburgh Peabody

Culminating Activity: Campers will create ceramic mosaics to demonstrate in an exhibit.

Join in on the mosaic madness and help create a large-scale public mosaic that will be around for centuries to come. You’ll also learn valuable marketing skills while creating your own sellable mosaic creations that include handmade ceramic tiles.



2-D Sampler

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 15

Location: Pittsburgh South Brook

Culminating Activity: Campers host an exhibition of their artwork

Tell your stories and interpret your world using a variety of 2D media and creative writing techniques. Drawing, painting and collage will combine with poetry, prose, songwriting and creative non-fiction to create rich and varied narrative visual works that document aspects of our own personal histories and experiences. Daily discussions and critiques as well as an end-of-program exhibition will be included as well.



By Hand: ECO ART Fashion Art

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 15

Location: Pittsburgh South Brook

Culminating Activity: Campers develop a runway show or photo installation of their Eco-friendly fashion

Are you a budding fashionista? Think Project Runway with a focus on the environment -- participate in a "green" fashion show. Embellish and make your own designs and accessories using recycled clothing, plastic bottles, shopping bags, and found objects. Old toys can become jewelry, stuffed animals can become a furry coat . . . . Learn new skills such as crocheting, hand-stitching, therma-bonding, and linking to create exciting pieces of clothing that all your friends will want to wear!



Fabric Fashion and Design

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 30

Location: Pittsburgh South Brook

Culminating Activity: Campers create their own unique clothing

Begin to take control of your own fashion sense and create what inspires you. Make your own fabric by employing a variety of decorating techniques. Bring out the old clothes that have been hiding in your closets for so long and freshen, alter and embellish them for a new look. Who knows? Your ideas may catch on… Whatever the case, you will be creating your own wonderful one-of-a-kind clothing!


Mosaic Storytelling in Glass

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 30

Location: Pittsburgh Peabody

Culminating Activity: Campers create glass mosaics for all to see

Come join us to learn the ancient form of mosaic art. Using colorful, tumbled glass, you will make your own mosaic creation to take home. Then we will work as a group to make a story window from one of your summer reading list books. Together we will create a beautiful and permanent stained glass mosaic window that you'll be able to show to your own children and grandchildren!



Portraits: A Multi-Media Exploration

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 15

Location: Pittsburgh Peabody

Culminating Activity: Campers create puppets to be displayed at exhibition

Are you interested in drawing people and faces? Would you like to practice and learn some new techniques? In this art program you will express yourself in a variety of materials and mediums as we explore portraiture. From 2-D to 3-D, with paper, metal and tile mosaic, we will create a variety of portraits from realistic to abstract and have a whole lot of fun along the way. The camp will culminate in a final exhibition displaying campers’ art.



Sketchbooks of Nature

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 30

Location: Pittsburgh South Brook

Culminating Activity: Campers build their own websites

Are you fascinated by stars or volcanoes or whales or bugs? Would you like to learn more about how everything in the Universe is connected--yourself included? If you'd like to explore nature through storytelling, writing and different kinds of art, this could be the class for you. Develop your relationship with the world around you in your own personal way, and participate with the rest of the class in designing a website to share your creativity.



Improvisation and the Creative Impulse

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 30

Location: Pittsburgh South Brook

Culminating Activity: Campers create murals and drumming performance compositions

Get ready to listen, observe, and react in a class that combines the energy of a drum ensemble with four parts at once, along with the voices of spontaneous soloists! Then see what happens when we collaborate on free-style mural projects. This unique class explores ways to be more adaptive, creative and inventive by using the principles of design through both music and art.



How Artists Get Ideas: Create Sculpture!

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Camper Capacity: 15

Location: Pittsburgh Peabody

Culminating Activity: Campers create and display sculptures

Sculpture: art that you can view from all sides. Meet famous Pittsburgh sculptors and experiment with fun!

How do artists get ideas to use wood, clay, wire, metal and other materials (even JUNK) to make fantastic objects? We will explore 3-dimensional design and different methods of fabrication, making small sculptures and models for very large pieces.




Eco-Warrior Camp

Facilitated by: Pennsylvania Resources Council

Camper Capacity: 25*

*Special Schedule Note: This activity will take place Monday – Thursday. Campers will be able to choose fun academic electives and workshops to participate in each Friday.

Location: Pittsburgh South Brook

Culminating Activity: Campers wrap up the Eco-Warrior experience by developing and implementing a service learning project

Eco-Warrior Camp offers campers an inspiring diversity of earth-centered activities investigating environmental themes and issues that are critical to the health and welfare of the planet and its inhabitants. Each week of Eco-Warrior Camp offers a combination of education, outdoor and indoor fun, and creative expression through related field trips, projects, art, service-learning, presentations by experts in the field, university visits, and journal writing. Other activities include hiking the watershed, organic gardening, composting, constructing and using a solar oven, making paper, creating recycled art, building and using a vermicompost bin, creating DIY non-toxic personal care products, eco-photography, and participating in the Recycled Olympics. Eco-Warriors will become enthusiastic, empowered community-minded individuals as they come to understand environmental issues and ways in which we can work together to effect positive change among individuals, the community and the planet. Through exploration of eco-friendly actions and lifestyle choices, campers will emerge as Earth stewards and informed, responsible citizens, ready to lead the charge toward a cleaner, healthier future. Campers will wrap up the Eco-Warrior experience by developing and implementing a service learning project.





Design For Success (D4S)

Facilitated by: University of Pittsburgh Learning, Research, and Development Center

Camper Capacity: 45

Location: Pittsburgh Obama (in the Reizenstein facility)

Culminating Activity: Campers design and build a useful product that could help others

Hey kids, don’t you hate it when you have an awesome idea but no one will listen to you? Well, if you’re the creative type or like to make things, solve challenging problems, or have a vast imagination, then Design for Success (aka D4S) is the right camp for you! At D4S you’ll learn how to think outside the box and design and build products that help people, such as an “acne detector" that signals you before a breakout, or an "object grabber” to help a physically challenged person do simple things that we take for granted, like picking up a bottle of Pepsi… or whatever YOU can think of. The possibilities are endless! Feeling excited yet? There’s still one more thing to do: sign-up. Space is limited so be the first to reserve a spot!



Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy (PYLA): Summer Step Up!

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Cares

Camper Capacity: 100

Location: Pittsburgh Obama (in the Reizenstein facility)

Culminating Activity: Campers showcase their accomplishments with a service reflection project

Do you want your voice to be heard? Would you like to explore and challenge your potential? Do you enjoy going on field trips? In a society that often overlooks the power of youth, Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy (PYLA): Summer Step Up! will equip you with the training necessary to problem-solve, speak out, and take action. It will also help you to channel your leadership abilities and creative skills in productive ways. Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy (PYLA): Summer Step Up! promises to be an experience you will never forget! Campers will have the opportunity to participate in fieldtrips, service projects, leadership development activities, along with many more great activities.



Musical Theatre: “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh CLO

Camper Capacity: 50

Location: Pittsburgh Brashear

Culminating Activity: Campers perform in the musical production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”

Do you want to be a star on the stage? If you have an interest in singing, dancing and acting, have a passion for performance, and enjoy musical theater, the Pittsburgh CLO has the perfect summer camp for you! Experience professional musical theater training as you learn, rehearse and perform one of the most beloved musicals of all time: "Disney's Beauty and the Beast".



Design, Explore, Create (Camp DEC)

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation

Camper Capacity: 20

Location: Pittsburgh CAPA

Culminating Activity: Campers present their ideas to City Council representatives and professionals for making downtown more kid-friendly.

Would you like to explore the downtown Pittsburgh area on foot, by kayak, bike, incline, and bus? Are you interested in how buildings are designed and constructed and in improving our city? If so, sign up for Camp DEC (Design, Explore Create). You'll strengthen your reading, drawing, and design skills; explore skyscrapers, green spaces, and historic landmarks; develop creative ideas for making our city better; and become familiar with the professions of architecture, interior design, construction, engineering, city planning, and historic preservation.



Go Wild!

Facilitated by: Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium

Camper Capacity: 100*

*Special Scheduling note: There are two-12-day sessions for this program. 50 campers will participate in each session and will choose a second academic elective or workshop to explore for the second half of the camp.

Location: Off-site – Campers from Pittsburgh Peabody will be eligible.

Culminating Activity: At the end of the program, campers will have a journal with drawings and writing entries to share with friends and family

You can GO WILD this summer as you spend each afternoon at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, meeting African lions, polar bears, sand tiger sharks, stingrays, African elephants, and some of the cutest — though still very WILD — African painted dogs on the planet. You will talk to the keepers who will tell you how much these animals eat each day, how big they grow to be, what their WILD habitat is like and the threats the animals face there. So, sign up for afternoons at the Zoo. And GO WILD!



Exploring Theatre

Facilitated by: Saltworks Theatre

Camper Capacity: 50

Location: Pittsburgh Peabody

Culminating Activity: Campers participate in a the performance of "Us & Them"

Students will have a ton of fun as they explore literary works and learn life skills through theater classes. Campers will learn valuable study skills and confidence in front of an audience through basic acting. Learn monologues, work in a small group to develop scenes and finally rehearse a play to perform the last week of camp. If you like to play and are willing to try new things in a safe environment, this is the place for you.






Joy of Arts

Facilitated by: Sarah Heinz House Boys & Girls Club

Camper Capacity: 42

Location: Off-site at the Sarah Heinz House – Campers at Pittsburgh King will be eligible

Culminating Activity: Campers demonstrate hip hop dances, art installations, and original music creations at the final "An Art Explosion" event

Love to dance? Are you creative? Does music fill your soul? Join us in our state-of-the-art facility at the Sarah Heinz House Boys & Girls Club to improve your skills and have a ton of fun. Choose dance - ballet, hip hop, and jazz, art - graphic design, sculpture, and installation art, or music - make your own CD's, form a band, learn how to make your own beat. Learn new skills, fine tune your talents and get on your way to reaching your dreams!



Pittsburgh Youth Radio Corps

Facilitated by: Saturday Light Brigade

Camper Capacity: 24

Location: Off-site – Campers from Pittsburgh King will be eligible

Culminating Activity: In the end, campers will capture oral histories of community members to be shared in broadcasts and "Storyboxes"

Sharpen your speaking, listening, writing and reading skills by becoming a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Radio Corps. Students will work in the professional broadcast and recording studios of The Saturday Light Brigade, a national award-winning radio program syndicated to six stations in Pennsylvania and Ohio. SLB staff will provide instruction encouraging core literacy skills, self-expression, creative thinking, and audio production. Student projects will be distributed by broadcast, CD and Internet.



Fencing

Facilitated by: Three Rivers Fencing

Camper Capacity: 36

Location: Pittsburgh South Brook

Culminating Activity: Scenes from literature will be acted out each week and a final research report on the history of fencing will be created

Discover why fencing is one of the USA's fastest growing sports! Sometimes called physical chess, fencing combines power, finesse, strategy, speed and balance to form an exhilarating sport that is enjoyable for a lifetime. Try this Modern Olympic sport, and see what the buzz is about!



Adventures in Rowing

Facilitated by: Three Rivers Rowing

Camper Capacity: 40

Location: Off-site – Campers from Pittsburgh CAPA will be eligible

Culminating Activity: At the end of five weeks, campers will have mastered three types of rowing

No Experience Necessary! Learn to Row, Dragon Boat and Kayak all in five weeks! All three sports are loved by colleges and can even earn you scholarships. They offer great exercise that is also fun and you will meet new friends. You don’t even need to know how to swim to get a new experience on Pittsburgh’s rivers!



Build Your A Game: Video Game Creation

Facilitated by: Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh

Camper Capacity: 100

Location: Pittsburgh Brashear

Culminating Activity: Campers will present the video games they’ve created to parents and camp guests

Do you love playing video games? Have you ever wondered what it takes to actually make a video game? And did you know that many popular games and attractions have been developed right here in Pittsburgh? At “Build Your ‘A’ Game,” you can stop wondering and come spend your summer making video games! In our introductory game development course, you will learn real world practical skills that involve teamwork, storytelling, role playing, making real time choices as well as other aspects of video game making. On your path to becoming a video game developer, you will team-up with other campers and work with local game-making professionals to create your own computer game. Your team will be guided through every step of the game creation process - from coming up with the storyline to publishing it. And, you’ll get to see up close how real game studios do the same thing right here in your own city! Pittsburgh is a great city for video game development, and this camp is a great opportunity to learn about the local industry. At the end of your learning adventure, your game will be published online for all your friends and family to play. How cool is that?!



Venture Outdoors - Biking, Kayaking, Fishing, and Climbing in Pittsburgh

Facilitated by: Venture Outdoors

Camper Capacity: 100

Location: Off-site – Campers from Pittsburgh King will be eligible

Culminating Activity: Campers' culminating event will be leading a group of students in an activity

Venture Outdoors wants to get you outside to explore and learn about some of the great outdoor recreational activities Pittsburgh has to offer. We'll explore the city by bike, kayak and foot. Each week will be a new adventure as you paddle and fish the rivers, bike the trails, climb a rock wall, and hike to hidden treasures using GPS technology. It’s okay if you’ve never tried some or all of these activities—by the end of five weeks, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to show your friends how to get outside too! Discover new sights, new ideas about your world, and new skills within beautiful destinations close to home. All gear and instruction provided by trained leaders.



Health Smart

Facilitated by: Wireless Neighborhoods

Camper Capacity: 100*

*Special Scheduling Note: Campers will rotate between 5 activities sponsored by Wireless Neighborhoods, Bloomfield Garfield Corporation, Centre Avenue and Hazelwood YMCA branches, Eastminster Church, Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, and Kingsley Association. Campers will participate in a different activity each week and will spend two weeks off-site with the Kingsley Association and Eastminster Church.

Location: Pittsburgh Peabody and off-site locations

Culminating Activity: Campers create journals and portfolios of the experience

Health Smart, a camp for 100 East End middle school students, will be set up in five separate stations, with each partner delivering a one-week health experience for the children. Students will spend their summer participating in physical fitness activities, playing different sports, swimming, learning healthy eating habits and exploring careers in health. The program helps young people build healthy habits and healthy decision-making practices in very fun, interactive ways.



Summer Performing Arts

Facilitated by: Youth Enrichment Services, Inc.

Camper Capacity: 20

Location: Pittsburgh Obama (in the Reizenstein facility)

Culminating Activity: In a culminating activity campers will do a 3-5 minute analysis of a play, poem, or short story

Youth Enrichment Services, Inc. will provide campers with an innovative and creative approach to an educational summer camp by using the performing arts to increase literacy. The students’ experience will be unique, thrilling, and theatrical.

What the Vancouver Olympic Games mean to Canada - Michael Farber - SI.com

What the Vancouver Olympic Games mean to Canada - Michael Farber - SI.com: "Canada's Olympic home losing streak began July 18, 1976, a day after the opening ceremonies in Montreal, trudged depressingly through Calgary 1988 and now stands at 0-for-244 as an expectant nation awaits the lighting of the cauldron for the XXI Olympic Winter Games.
It isn't about winning. It is about showing up, the participation, the struggle, the journey, the self-discovery, the effort, the relationships.

Education Week: Attention, Gates: Here's What Makes a Great Teacher

Education Week: Attention, Gates: Here's What Makes a Great Teacher: "“In a quest to find out the best teaching practices, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is giving $45 million to six school districts, including Denver, for a two-year study of teaching.

“The Measures of Effective Teaching project will examine the work of 3,700 teachers from across the country, using videotapes, surveys, and student assessments to figure out what works and what doesn’t.”"
The best summary:

Teaching and learning happen whenever significant adults interact with and direct children.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Olympic protesters rally against cost, security - 2010 Olympics - SI.com

Wow. A mention of protest in Sports Illustrated.
Olympic protesters rally against cost, security - 2010 Olympics - SI.com: "That includes whether their late-afternoon journey through downtown Vancouver ends at peaceful protest or in tear gas and mass arrests.

'Our main goal is to be the voice of opposition, to disrupt the Games with a message of resistance and the true social impacts,' said Anna Hunter, an organizer with the Olympic Resistance Network, a consortium of groups behind a 'Take Back Our City' march planned for Friday. The protesters are railing against everything from the cost of the Olympics to tight security. 'The ORN believes in a diversity of tactics and strategies.'

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A Sleeping Giant Awakens -- perhaps -- from a sidelined, silent state when told to freeze out

We've got our problems in Pittsburgh. Some are epic. Furthmore, a few of them are complex. And as the city has been on the brink for some years now, I've been astonished at how little the folks at CMU and Pitt have done with the city and for the city.

I'm not talking about PILOT funding of city services. CMU and Pitt should not be paying a tuition tax.

The type of help I have been seeking has been absent, mostly. I've been looking for professors and grad students to awaken in serious ways to help fix the city.

Sure, some things have happened. But, few. Bill Peduto did a CMU web BBS thingie on a couple of different instances. They both imploded, became out of date, and served as a drag. Archives vanished. Some electronic voting and cyber option focus groups sprang to life with a conference or two as well. The grand eletronic voting machines, not iTronics nor Debolt, with open source and off-the-shelf hardware is still just a pipe dream.

Then there was the Pirates. CMU put in some cash and owned part of the baseball team for a while some years ago. That's when the losses seemed to came at a fever pitch.

CMU did save Schenley Golf Course, I think. Ball sports are not a strength of CMU, it seems.

Now, after being told to hold spring break in the middle of a ski jump also known as Forbes Ave, the giant of CMU is starting to push its nose into the realm of city dealings and solution crunching. GREAT. Bring it on. We want the creative problem solvers to care about the city and do things in the public realm in earnest.
CMU's Priya Narasimhan "loves this city." She worked with CMU students and created the "smart football " http://www.footballtracking.org/ and other kwel gizmos, http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/01/students-using/.

This week they put up a snow status site after pulling two all-nighters.

Go to the site, http://www.cityzenmobile.net, to
report road conditions and snow removal progress. Priya invites all to take a look and add your insights.

Creating Literate Olympians Here -- Hardley -- Nearly

Olympics: Locals just miss in luge, snowboard: "Robby Huerbin of Ross Township was among USA Luge's top competitors through 2009, including a victory in his final qualifying run Nov. 6 in Park City, Utah, but a cumulative points system kept him off the team. And he knew it that day.

Lynn Ott of Sewickley was in similar position with U.S. Snowboarding, but her final event Nov. 13 in Copper, Colo., was beset with misfortune, and she was finished.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Who else longs for the days of political pavement and snow plows?

At least then, back in the days, some of the roads got done and there was a flimmer of accountability.

Open thread........
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Jack beats Dan among D party leaders from around PA in race for PA Gov Nomination

Specter wins Pa. party backing | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2010: "Wagner, who had been meeting party leaders among the back roads and veterans halls of Pennsylvania for months, received the majority of votes with 153 on the second and final ballot to 76 for his closest rival, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. Wagner won more than two-thirds of the 67 counties, dominating the smaller ones, but the county-by-county votes were weighted according to Democratic criteria.

Wagner called it a victory.

'I'm obviously very proud of the support,' he said. 'The majority of votes - over 50 percent - that is a strong vote total, in my opinion.'

Onorato, who saw in advance that he couldn't win, claimed a victory in preventing Wagner from winning.

'This is a big boost for us today. This is a big win for us,' he said. 'The state committee has made it clear they're not going to endorse anybody. It's wide open for me.'

Onorato said that with his huge advantage in campaign money - nearly 10 times what any other Democrat had Dec. 31 - he was in the strongest position to win in May.

Wagner and Onorato are both Pittsburghers. Their home county was split, with 26 votes for Onorato and 15 for Wagner. In other southwestern counties, Wagner more than made up the difference.
My early favorite in the race for Gov and Lt. Gov is on the R side, Russ Diamond. He is running for Lt. Governor.

Specter wins Pa. party backing | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2010

Specter wins Pa. party backing | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2010: "When U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter switched from a Republican to a Democrat last year, some Democratic loyalists in Pennsylvania said hell would freeze over before they'd embrace an old foe they had been battling in statewide elections for 30 years.

Yesterday, amid the deep freeze and howling winds of the worst winter storm in years, the Democratic State Committee met in a snowbound hotel in Amish country to consider endorsements in this year's races for the U.S. Senate, governor, and lieutenant governor.

Despite the reservations of some party members, who challenged him for what they considered pro-Republican sins of the past, Specter, of Philadelphia, beat U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, of Delaware County, gaining the two-thirds majority required for endorsement by the party rules.
Fine time to become a Libertarian.

Video and Coaching

It’s proven.  Coaches who study video of their spring and summer practice sessions are better prepared for their next season than those who do not. Studying recorded performance reinforces good technique, corrects bad and increases retention by 70%!  Head football coach John Capodice of Berlin CT teaches this lesson well.  John and his Redcoats just won their first state championship and coach Capodice has been named Head Coach of the Year by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Northern Connecticut chapter. Read more about John, his season and how he studies video here.

Fw: The 48 Hour Film Project Returns in 2010... plus some extra fun!

 Hi 48 Hour Filmmakers and Fans!
 The 48 Hour Film Project returns to Pittsburgh in 2010!  We'll be
soon with the most exciting 48 filmmaking hours of your
 life!  Keep an eye out here for official dates and the start of
 registration.

 In the meantime, we have a lot of cool things coming up.  Including, a chance to:
 1. Vote your least favorite genre "Off the Island!"
 2. Make a 48HFP Music Video  - no time limit!
 3. Attend our end of the year extravaganza - Filmapalooza in Vegas!

 YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
 Take this short, and I mean really short survey, to help us decide the
 official genres this year.  Tell us which to keep and which to get rid
 of in  2010.  (A note to you lovers and haters of our beloved
 "Musical/Western"... it's not going anywhere, so vote for something
 else to get rid of or keep.)  This is also your chance to make
 suggestions for the required Character/Prop/Line of Dialogue for
 cities throughout the world, so put those thinking caps on!

 Go here to take the survey:
 http://www.surveymonkey.com/48HFP_genres_elements2010

 MAKE A MUSIC VIDEO!
 That's right... here's your chance to take a little more time to make
 your masterpiece 48HFP film.  Make a Music Video to "You Have 48
 Hours" by Bill Briare.  We invite you to make a music video -- in
 whole or in part -- and we'll mix the submissions together for the
 best music video ever and post it on our website and on YouTube.

 The deadline for submissions is February 28th, so don't miss out.  For
 more info, go to:
 http://www.48hourfilm.com/competitions/musicvideo/

 ATTEND FILMAPALOOZA in VEGAS!
 We'll be in Vegas to celebrate the fantastic 48HFP filmmaking of 2009
 and we hope you'll join us.  Filmapalooza is April 10-12 at the NAB
 Show.  We'll screen all the 2009 City Winning Films, the winning
 Showdown and National Film Challenge films, network with filmmakers
 from around the world and party like it's 2010.

 Registration for Filmapalooza is only $25... AND it includes access to
 the NAB Show Floor for free!  Go here to register:
 http://www.filmapalooza.org

 We hope you'll take part in one or all of the above!

--Kahmeela and Nina

Kahmeela Adams
Nina Gibbs
 48 Hour Film Project
 http://www.48hourfilm.com

Monday, February 08, 2010

Fw: Update on Port Authority Service

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®


From: "Palmer, Catherine" <palmercv@upmc.edu>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:00:49 -0500
To: 'mark.rauterkus@gmail.com'<mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
Subject: FW: Update on Port Authority Service

Hi-
Bus information. Just FYI.
Catherine
 

Subject: Update on Port Authority Service

 

UPDATED: 12:25 PM, Sunday, Feb. 7

Port Authority has restored limited bus service on multiple routes across Allegheny County.

The T remains shut down.
They are operating bus shuttles along the light rail routes. See details on the shuttle service below.

Service has been restored to the Mon Incline.

Some bus routes have not yet been restored as road conditions remain difficult in many areas. Below is a list of routes where we are offering basic levels of service, but not on a typical schedule.

Riders may have to "flag" bus drivers today as many stops and stations are not fully accessible due to snow.


Bus routes now offering limited service:
*
If there's no detail listed next to the route, that means it's following normal routing - but still will not be following scheduled trip times today.
*
Latest updates are in red.

§ 1A New Kensington (no Waterworks Mall - use Freeport Road)

§ 1D Mount Royal Boulevard

§ 5A Natrona–Argonne

§ 6B Spring Hill (buses will detour via Perrysville Avenue & Federal to W. North & city)

§ 11D Perrysville

§ 12A North Hills Shopper (regular route except no Northway Mall)

§ 16A Ohio River Blvd

§ 16B Brighton

§ 16D Manchester

§ 16F City View

§ 21A Coraopolis (terminating at Bank and Walnut in Sewickley; no Sewickley Hospital or service to Crescent)

§ 21C West Park (via Dohrman and Singer only)

§ 26A Ingram – Sheraden

§ 26B Fairywood via Steuben Street (no Broadhead – Fording service)

§ 28X Airport Flyer

§ 31D Bridgeville via Washington Avenue

§ 33X West Busway

§ 36C Green Tree

§ 41B Bower Hill

§ 46G Elizabeth (using Route 51 only; not servicing Worthington or upper Clairton)

§ 51A Arlington Heights (no Arlington or Arlington Heights service)

§ 51C Carrick

§ 51G Mount Oliver (operating today as “51C Carrick” from S. 26th at East Carson to city along With 51A trips to provide extra service along Carson Street. No service on Beck’s Run or to St. Clair Village/Mt. Oliver)

§ 54C North Side-Oakland-South Side (no Polish Hill, Bon Air, Mt. Oliver or Allentown service)

§ 56B Hazelwood (using Eight Avenue, Glenwood Bridge and Second Avenue – No Imogene)

§ 56C McKeesport-Lincoln Place (no Ramp Street – No Hays)

§ 56E Greenfield

§ 61A East Pittsburgh–Wilkinsburg

§ 61B Braddock Swissvale

§ 61C McKeesport–Homestead (no Mifflin Estates or Century Square service)

§ EBA East Busway All Stops

§ 64A East Liberty Homestead

§ 67A Monroeville

§ 67F Trafford

§ 71A Negley (using Forbes Avenue; no Fifth Ave Bus Lane through Oakland; using Negley only; cannot service St. Clair & Bunkerhill)

§ 71C Wilkinsburg via East Liberty (not using Whitfield inbound-blocked; outbound using Forbes Avenue through Oakland)

§ 71D Hamilton (using Forbes Avenue outbound - no Fifth Avenue Bus Lane)

§ 77A Oakmont (blocked on Allegheny River Boulevard and Verona Road by stranded cars and downed trees)

§ 81B Lincoln (no Lemington Home)

§ 86A East Hills (not serving Wilner or Park Hill Drives)

§ 86B Frankstown

§ 91A Butler Street (no Waterworks)

§ 500 Highland Park–Bellevue (buses using Negley Avenue and East Liberty Boulevard; no Highland Park service; using Forbes Avenue; no Fifth Ave Bus Lane through Oakland; using Negley only; cannot service St. Clair & Bunkerhill)


Light rail shuttle information - will be marked "Rail Shuttle" and provide service about once an hour:

§ 47L Library via Overbrook: Shuttle will start at Library station and follow Route 88, Brightwood Road and the South Busway into Downtown. Riders should walk to a corresponding street location along the T to catch the shuttle. Stops at Center and Mine 3 will not be served. Riders at Washington Junction should not wait in the Park and Ride lot - walk to Route 88.

§ 42S South Hills Village via Beechview: Shuttle will start outside the South Hills Village station and follow Washington Road, West Liberty Avenue and the South Busway. The shuttle will serve stops along these roads but will not be able to reach some areas, including Broadway Avenue in Beechview and Dormont Junction.

In Downtown, both shuttles will loop by entering on the Smithfield Street Bridge, right on Fort Pitt Blvd, left on Grant Street, left on Sixth Avenue, left on Wood Street, left on Fort Pitt Blvd. and then back across the Smithfield Street Bridge. Stops served will be at Grant & 3rd Ave., Grant opposite Oliver, and at 6th Avenue and Wood Street.

 

Don Charley

Executive Director Parking and Security

UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside

Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC

 

Any unauthorized or improper disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this [document/E-Mail] is prohibited. The information contained in this E-Mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient (s) named above. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by E-mail and delete the original message

 

 

Fw: [Edge of Sports] WHO DAT? Dat's the Super Bowl Champs!

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®


From: "Edge of Sports" <zirin@listbox.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:57:00 -0500
To: mark.rauterkus<mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
Subject: [Edge of Sports] WHO DAT? Dat's the Super Bowl Champs!



http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/527623/who_dat_dat_s_the_super_bowl_champs

Who Dat? Dat's the Super Bowl Champs!
by Dave Zirin


The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl 44. I can’t believe I’m even typing the words. Five years ago this was the team considered most likely to be moved to Los Angeles. Four and a half years ago, after the levies broke, the concern was not whether there would be a Saints, but whether there would even be a New Orleans. Remember that after Hurricane Katrina, the Speaker of the House, Republican Rep. Dennis Hastert said, "It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed.” But now Hastert is on the political scrap heap and New Orleans is the home of the Super Bowl champs. I’m not sure whether it feels like a dream or positively preordained. If nothing else, it’s an emotional release from all the idiocy that surrounded the big game. From the military cheerleading, to Tim and Pam Tebow’s vapid Focus on the Family ad, to the Who’s halftime act which clearly violated the Geneva accords: none of it matters now. We’ll go back to building resistance to Obama’s wars. Tim Tebow will go back to being the next Eric Crouch. And the Who will go back to Madame Tussaud’s. For right now, it just doesn’t matter because the New Orleans Saints won the damn Super Bowl.

Quarterback Drew Brees will get a lot of love after a 32-for-39 MVP performance. But this was no one-man-band. This was about a head coach in Sean Payton who, with his team down 10-6, exercised a wicked sense of daring and ordered the first non-fourth quarter  onside kick in Super Bowl history. This was about a Saints defense that bent but didn’t break, freezing Peyton Manning's Colts at 17 points. This was about an offense that was crisper than potatoes at the bottom of a deep fryer. This was also about a stadium in Miami that sounded nearly as loud as the Louisiana Superdome. But most of all this was about a Crescent City that refuses to die.

As Leigh, a friend and blogger from New Orleans, said to me, “The energy in this entire town is incredible.  People here have been ready for this for decades...but the way the media is treating the Saints as underdogs isn't a surprise to any of us.  The people of New Orleans have been subjected to those attitudes for a long time ourselves, and we still are in too, too many ways, but we're still here.  And those who are still unable to return here due to the displacement caused by the storm, or the recession, or other circumstances - they'll return in one way or another, because this is a town that can teach the rest of this country how to live.  It always has, and it always will, despite it all.”

Leigh’s pride runs across NOLA tonight. The same week that Education Secretary Arne Duncan outrageously called Hurricane Katrina "the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans", the city has delivered a counterpunch to Duncan as well as any and all doubters. Their ascendancy means that the arduous post Hurricane recovery work has gotten more publicity in the last two weeks than it’s received in the last two years. This is maddening but many New Orleans residents wouldn’t have it any other way. As Saints linebacker Scott Fujita’s wife Jaclyn said, “The people of New Orleans love the Saints not because they provide a distraction from their fall but because they are a reflection of their rise.”

Whether you believe that or not, the proof is in the very vibe of the city. The French Quarter is hopping tonight. The Ninth Ward is hopping tonight. Algiers is hopping tonight. People in New Orleans are feeling damn good right now, and to scoff at that is to scoff at the very resiliency that makes us human. Community activist and former Black Panther Malik Rahim who has lived in the city for three decades and still works in Algiers, told me, “I haven’t seen people this happy since Katrina. No question about it.” That doesn’t mean all – or even some – questions about the future of New Orleans are solved by a Saints Super Bowl win. Jobs, housing, and the right of return for displaced residents still need to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

But it does mean that folks of the Big Easy are feeling fearless tonight. Every last person – from Bush to Brownie - that wrote this city off has to now bend down and kiss the ring. President Barack Obama, who often seems allergic to saying the words “New Orleans” must now greet the team at the White House and acknowledge both the Saints and the city that bears their name. Even if tomorrow is unbearably hard, we have today. And today feels mighty fine.

[Dave Zirin is the author of the forthcoming “Bad Sports: How Owners are Ruining the Games we Love” (Scribner) Receive his column every week by emailing dave@edgeofsports.com. Contact him at edgeofsports@gmail.com.]








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Saturday, February 06, 2010

Invitation to view a photo from Gwendolyn's Picasa Web Album - Pittsburgh Snowstorm Feb 6, 2010

You are invited to view a photo from Gwendolyn's photo album: Pittsburgh Snowstorm Feb 6, 2010
Message from Mark Rauterkus:
Some nice photos of the South Side today. We got out as well.
To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Fw: PA Democrats Unanimously Endorse Single Payer Health Care

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®


From: "Molly Rush" <molly.rush@verizon.net>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 16:49:38 -0500
To: Cynthia Vanda<grancie0@gmail.com>
Subject: PA Democrats Unanimously Endorse Single Payer Health Care

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

<http://healthcare4allpa.org>

*February 6, 2010*

Contact: Pedro Rodriguez   215.300.5902, pedroa.rodriguez@comcast.net

 Chuck Pennacchio   215.828.5055**, **cpennacchio@gmail.com *

Pennsylvania Democrats Unanimously Endorse Single Payer Senate Bill 400 and House Bill 1660

Lancaster-- The Pennsylvania* *Democratic State Committee today unanimously endorsed a resolution calling for passage of single payer healthcare, Senate Bill 400 and House Bill 1660, also known as the "Family and Business Healthcare Security Act."

Given the healthcare reform deadlock in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania’s nation-leading status in the battle for state-based “Medicare for All,” is all the more significant.

“Not only does Pennsylvania now have the Democratic Party on board with the Single Payer healthcare for all,” said Healthcare for All PA executive director Chuck Pennacchio, “we also have the promised signature of our governor and the active support of Republican and Democratic leaders in both the State Senate and State House.”

Added Pennacchio, “Pennsylvania is clearly ‘ground zero’ for cost-saving, life-enhancing, job-creating, quality, comprehensive, publicly-funded, privately-delivered, healthcare for all.  Once PA adopts the proven single payer solution, our neighboring states will move rapidly to adopt the same answer, and Congress will quickly follow suit.”

Presenting the resolution before the voting body of 301 Democratic State Committee members was Tom Herman, Chair of Berks County. Seconding the motion were Jon Fox of Lancaster County and James Burn of Allegheny County. The vote in support of House Bill 1660 and Senate Bill 400 was by unanimous consent.

*Pennacchio is the leader of a statewide coalition founded in 2004 to guarantee comprehensive healthcare for every Pennsylvanian, Healthcare for All Pennsylvania is a registered 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organization including citizens from all walks of life.


 

Molly Rush

PUSH  [PA United for Singlepayer Healthcare]

Health Care for All PA

2101 Murray Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

www.healthcare4allPA.org

 

If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.

--Australian Aborigine Woman

 

 

 

Molly Rush

PUSH  [PA United for Singlepayer Healthcare]

Health Care for All PA

2101 Murray Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

www.healthcare4allPA.org

 

If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.

--Australian Aborigine Woman

 

Former Pitt players Dinkins, Session took different rout to Super Bowl

Former Pitt players Dinkins, Session took different rout to Super Bowl Darnell Dinkins once thought he could get there, too.
He did, just not quite as he expected back when he was a star quarterback at Schenley High School. Not only did he not make it as a Super Bowl quarterback, he never played quarterback in the NFL or even in college at Pitt.
But Dinkins is here, playing in his first Super Bowl, and so is another former Pitt Panther, Clint Session. They are here in part because they changed positions during their days at Pitt.
This is why I'm cheering for the SAINTS. Go #80! Go Spartans!

Play: Marx in Soho

Marx in Soho, a play, has been a collaborative effort between members of the International Socialist Organization, the Thomas Merton Center, and the history departments of Pitt and La Roche college. This is the second showing of the play, which was also performed in Pittsburgh during the G20 Peoples Summit. The play was well attended and a lot of buzz surrounded it so we decided to bring the actor, Brian Jones, back from Chicago to perform it again. It just so happened that it turned out to be well timed considering the author, Howard Zinn's, recent passing.

We will be hosting the play at the Graduate School of Public Health Auditorium on Saturday February 20th at 7:30 pm. It is free and will be followed by a discussion kicked off by members of the endorsing organizations.

There will be a large number of books for sale after the play including other titles by Zinn like A Peoples History and Peoples Voices.

There is also another corresponding event the evening prior to the play. Brian Jones will be hosting a talk on Black Liberation and Socialism also followed by discussion at the meeting room in Panera Bread Company on Forbes Avenue in Oakland. The talk will be at 7 pm.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Fw: [school-discuss] FLOSS, Microsoft, and Governments

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Kahn <jj2kk4@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 12:42:08
To: <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
Subject: [school-discuss] FLOSS, Microsoft, and Governments

Since our discussion of Elevate America,
I have been doing some exploring. The
more I dig, the more interesting it gets.
Here are some tidbits:

In the Missouri State Office of
Administration, the Information
Technology Services Division--through its
Information Technology Education Center--
offers classes for state employees. Two of
the classes are entitled "Linux
Fundamentals" and "Advanced Unix/Linux."
The Education Center also has a library of
technology-related books for employees to
use; two of the volumes are _LINUX User
Basics_ and _Using Linux_.

The Missouri State Public Defender System
suggests the use of OpenOffice and Google Docs.

Several agencies of the Missouri state
government use GNU Mailman.

The entire web site of the Missouri Public
Service Commission is built with Plone.

The Missouri State Library heavily uses Drupal.

For retailers who need to handle confidential
lottery information, the Missouri Lottery System
advises using GNU Privacy Guard.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (DESE), in its periodic
newsletter, has had stories on both the K-12
Linux Terminal Server Project and the CoSN K-12
Open Technologies Leadership Initiative. In
addition, DESE heavily relies on Moodle.

Now the punch line. From fiscal year 2000
to the present, Microsoft has received the
following amount from the Missouri state
government for software licenses, consulting,
and various other products and services:

US$3,196,676

Please note that this figure represents only
taxpayers' money that went directly to MS; to
calculate indirect costs (forced hardware
upgrades &c) would be more difficult, but it
is safe to say these have been substantial.

My sources are available upon request for
anyone who is interested; for now, I want to
do a step-by-step summary of how things look:

(1) In the Missouri state government there are
a substantial number of people who are aware
that FLOSS exists and have tried out a variety
of FLOSS programs.

(2) Some of these people have decided that
FLOSS is good enough to use in their agencies
and to recommend to users outside the government.

(3) Notwithstanding points (1) and (2), Microsoft
has a pipeline solidly plugged into the Missouri
state treasury and is consistently pumping out
hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Again,
it should be emphasized that this does *not*
include indirect costs of non-FLOSS systems.

Now a few questions:

(A) Have any parties within the FLOSS community
examined the FLOSS vs. non-FLOSS debates in the
context of the waste of taxpayers' money?

(B) What kinds of data-gathering (preferably
by students) and analysis have been done in
this area, and how recently?

(C) In this area, what contacts have been made
between the FLOSS community and potential
allies, such as activists, journalists, and
lawyers? We also musn't overlook challengers
for public office who are hunting for issues
they can clobber incumbents with.

My fellow Americans: I encourage you to put
your students to work hunting down the various
FLOSS/Microsoft/money ratios and relationships
in their city, county, state, and federal
governments. Let's see how much fun we can
have between now and the November elections.

I ask residents of other countries: what are
*your* governments up to?

Joel

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Haloscan - gone. Another one bites the dust

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Haloscan is being shut down on: Feb 18, 2010

The Haloscan hardware and software is physically failing and we have no choice but to discontinue the service.

Two Options: Switch to Echo or Export your comments FREE.

Although we can't rescue Haloscan, we are trying our best to limit the negative impact on users. To do this, we have worked hard to provide 2 options for Haloscan sites.

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Libertarian State Convention, March 27, 2010, in Harrisburg

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania will hold its annual state convention March 26th and March 27th, 2010, at the Hilton Harrisburg in downtown Harrisburg. The convention will include outstanding guest speakers, the opportunity to participate in setting party direction for 2010, nominations for statewide office, and a chance to network and share ideas with freedom-loving individuals from across the state.
"We look forward to getting together in Harrisburg. We are also pleased to be one of many other liberty minded organizations sponsoring the 1st Annual “Liberty Banquet.” Senator Mike Folmer (R-48) will be the keynote speaker Saturday evening,” says Mik Robertson, State Party Chair. “His efforts to reform the Pennsylvania election code to benefit voters and improve the electoral process are a matter of concern to every Pennsylvanian."

Other speakers will be announced.

The convention will begin Friday evening with a welcome at 7:30 pm, followed by business meetings and workshops on Saturday. The Liberty Banquet begins at 7:00 pm on Saturday, March 27, 2010 and is co-sponsored by Campaign for Liberty – Harrisburg, Campaign for Liberty – PA, the LPPA, GOOOH and York 9-12 Patriots. A complete event list and registration form can be found at www.lppa.org. The convention business meeting and workshops are open to the public and are free.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Pittsburgh councilman calls for video, audio in cop cars

This could have and should have been done in the past two years by Bruce Kraus. Kraus was the chair of the public safety committee.
Pittsburgh councilman calls for video, audio in cop cars Pittsburgh Councilman Ricky Burgess is introducing legislation today that would require that all new city police vehicles be equipped with video and audio recording devices.

They found it okay to start installing "Red Light Cameras." All along I asked that the cameras be turned on, but pointed at the ones that work for the government first.

Shout it out Tim!

I absolutely support Tim Tebow's right to state his political beliefs loudly and proudly. We should soundly reject the concept that jocks should just "shut up and play."

More from David Z.

Monday, February 01, 2010

I hope Pitt joins the Big 10!

Pitt should join the Big 10. That would be a wonderful move.

I have little confidence that it will occur, but let's hope.

The site is closed, now. But only for a spell. While Bram's is gone for good?

File this under, WTF and Another one bites the dust.



A site, Wikileaks.org, a wiki, of course, and a scoop site, is down but not out. It hopes to make a return.

Meanwhile, Bram, in Pittsburgh at the PghComet.blogspot.com, took a bite of the dust and stopped.

Rule #1: Don't burn out!

Wishing Chair

Flashback to 2007. Singers knock the prior administration. Never seen before music video!

Sick humor

2 Brazilian?

The Secretary of Defense briefed the president this morning. They told President Obama that 2 Brazilian soldiers were killed in Iraq. To everyone's surprise, all the color drained from Obama's face. Then he collapsed onto his desk, head in his hands, visibly shaken, almost in tears.

Finally, he composed himself and asked, 'Just how many is a brazilian?'

This is not surprising, since he obviously has no understanding of a trillion either.

Meanwhile, in other news with Brazilian dollars, on double TIFed land,
Hazelwood center part of Sunoco's sale to Brazilian firm: "Hazelwood center part of Sunoco's sale to Brazilian firm".