Rand Paul speaking in DC on urban issues of importance

Bliss.... the feeling of ignorance

TMC article on Cleaner Rivers

Federal Rules of Cleaner Rivers Posted: 20 May 2016 11:40 AM PDT By: Kathleen Mannard April 13, 2016 The three rivers of Pittsburgh act as a symbol of Pittsburgh’s history, transformation, and future. During the steel boom, Pittsburgh’s rivers were heavily polluted with toxic discharge such as benzene, arsenic, and mercury. Forty-four years ago, the EPA implemented the federal Clean Water Act with the goal of cleaning American rivers, lakes, and streams as “fishable and swimmable” by 1983. However, the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny rivers did not reach that goal and in the 21st century we are still transforming the polluted waters. The Monongahela River stretches 130 miles until it flows into the mouth of the Ohio River at Pittsburgh’s Point. As recent as 2010, the Monongahela River failed the water quality assessment report of the Department of Environmental Protection and became listed as “impaired by sulfates”. Even though Monongahela was reported as cleaner in 2014 and no longer determined “degraded”, the 2014 Allegheny River assessment reported that the Allegheny was also “impaired”. Although these reports are not always positive results of river refurbishment, the Clean Water Act requires these biennial reports to restore impaired bodies of water. But what other means are taken to restore our rivers’ condition? Because the rivers are so vital to our city’s ecosystem, businesses, and identity, organizations such as the Clean Water Action and other federal legislation are crucial for their survival. In 2015, the EPA finalized the Clean Water Rule which places protections on wetlands and high-water streams that form the foundation of America’s water sources, such as the Ohio River. Specifically Pennsylvania wetlands, streams, and millions of people who receive drinking water connected to these sources are protected under these new federal clean water regulations. The Clean Water Action of Pittsburgh supports the Clean Water Rule because it speaks to their campaign of restoring and protecting Pennsylvania water sources to prevent life harming and life threatening pollution. Not only does this ruling protect water sources and people’s health, it protects our future with water sources affected by climate change and builds a stronger economy. By ensuring that water regulation has federal consequences, smaller stream flows are protected for local drinking supplies. Protecting Pittsburgh’s rivers means protecting all waters of Pennsylvania and beyond.

Be safe in and around the water!

Fwd: Message to attendees of EdCamp at Pittsburgh SciTech

Find events My Tickets

Good Evening, I just wanted to provide you with a few last minute reminders regarding EdCamp at Pittsburgh SciTech this Saturday. We are so excited that we'll get to share our collective wealth of knowledge in just a few days. Please see the information below regarding the event. Thanks! James McCoy Director, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy   Logistical information for edcampPGH at Pittsburgh SciTech We, your friendly neighborhood edcampPGH organizing team, want to share these last-minute tidbits to help ensure your edcamp experience is smooth, trouble free and overloaded with awesome: Event Location EdcampPGH will be held at Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy in Oakland on the University of Pittsburgh campus. The address is 107 Thackeray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213. You may enter the building on either Thackeray Ave. (main entrance) or Bouquet Street. Please do not attempt to enter the building through the parking lot doors.   Registration / doors open at 8:30 am Please be patient as you see the organizing team and volunteers scurrying madly in the minutes leading up to 8:30 am … This is when we will begin checking people in! Parking There is free parking in the Pittsburgh SciTech parking lot that can be reached by turning right after passing the school when coming down Thackeray Ave. If attendance is higher than expected, attendees can park in the Soldiers and Sailors garage located at 4101 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. There are also other lots throughout Oakland and there is also street parking. BYOD, Wifi and Tech support This is a Bring Your Own Device event. You'll have access to WiFi. If you are interested in leading a session and would like to request access to an LCD projector or speakers please email jmccoy1@pghboe.net, or make that information known when you help build the board. (We are primarily a PC school, so bring any necessary apple adapters). After party at The Porch starts around 3:30. After Party will be at The Porch located at 221 Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Festivities will start around 3:30ish. It will be a nice opportunity to continue the conversation. Please leave the school as you found it. That should be it! If anything changes or if new information becomes available, it will be posted on www.edcampPGH.com EdCamp at Pittsburgh SciTech Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM (EDT) 107 Thackeray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Organized by EdcampPGH at Pittsburgh SciTech Download Tickets Contact the Organizer About Help My Account Contact Us Privacy Terms Blog Eventbrite | 155 5th St | San Francisco, CA 94103 Copyright © 2016 Eventbrite. All rights reserved.

Take A Father to School Day's Litany of Commitment

Mothers Day Weekend Radio Show -- Catherine Palmer tells of her mom moments

My wife's photo is on the front page of The Moth, http://www.TheMoth.org.

Listen to her story. It blends parenting, school music concerts and swim meet cheering into her story when the theme was blundering.

Link to the entire NPR show. Catherine's story is second, in at a 6:05 mark.

The crazy ones who thing they can change the world are the ones that do.

Fwd: WJ Water Polo turned to club program

Great news. They changed their decision. W&J water is tonremain a varsity sport. Three cheers for all involved.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Stephen Hilty

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let everyone know that W&J decided to turn the water polo men's and women's programs into a club sport.  While club sports are great at larger schools. turning a D3 sport into a club sport is a death sentence.  Tiger Water Polo has grown exponentially since my time at NA and then to WJ.  Keeping water polo in my area is in imperative, especially at such well respected institutions so close to home.  As parents, former players, and active, I strongly ask that you sign the petition and please put comments forth so the president of WJ and Athletic Director understand how important and unique it is to have water polo alive and thriving in Western PA. 

On a personal note, I am humbled to see what the Tiger Water Polo Club has become.  For anyone at the CMU tournament, it was one of the most Herculean water polo efforts by both the Tiger Masters and High School teams.  I look forward to rejoining the club upon my return to Pittsburgh in a few years. 


https://www.change.org/p/you-save-our-water-polo-program/share?source_location=share_sponsor

Thank you for your support!

Fwd: Beyond Trump v. Clinton

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Ralph Nader" <info@csrl.org>
Date: May 2, 2016 10:58 AM
Subject: Beyond Trump v. Clinton
To: <mark@rauterkus.com>
Cc:

 Looks like it's could be Trump v. Hillary in November.

What are you going to do about it?

Throw in the towel?

Or organize to take charge as befits "We the People"?

Join me, Phil Donahue, Jim Hightower and Patti Smith.

Plus scores of the top public interest organizers in America.

We're organizing a Left/Right Coalition to fight back against the
corporate state duopoly.

May 23-26, 2016

Constitution Hall, Washington DC.

We call it -- Breaking Through Power with Civic Action.

Get in on the ground floor with your fellow Americans.

Sign up now at Breaking Through Power. 

See you at Constitution Hall.

Onward

Ralph Nader

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