The demand of, "Your papers, please." must be stopped now in PA

The "Real ID Act" Rebellion is hitting full stride in Pennsylvania -- now. Your help is needed.

In 2005, Congress passed the "Real ID Act" in attempt to make a SINGLE form of identification linked to all sorts of personal information. Across America, states are in OPEN REBELLION against this infringement of both personal and state's rights!

Now the Bush Administration has unveiled plans to tie the United States, Mexico and Canada into an information-sharing "North American Union." Hey folks – let's share all our personal information with Mexico!

Pennsylvania is not amused. Our state is NOW CONSIDERING H.B. 1351 by Rep. Sam Rohrer that would REJECT the implementation of Real ID in the Keystone State. If passed, we would be the 5th State to outlaw the outrage, while another 16 have passed some form of resolution against it.

WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO GET HB 1351 PASSED IMMEDIATELY!

Call your state legislator and ask him/her to CO-SPONSOR HB 1351. (The numbers below get you into the clerk's offices of the House and Senate.) Ask for your representative/senator, or go to www.legis.state.pa.us to look up your member by name, district, or zip code.

The message is simple: VOTE YES ON H.B. 1351!

House Clerk #: 717-787-2372
Senate Clerk #: 717-787-7163

Ravenstahl hush-hush on findings by Pittsburgh ethics panel - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Be open. Be honest.

Ravenstahl hush-hush on findings by Pittsburgh ethics panel - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The mayor received those recommendations in the form of a letter from the board Tuesday, but he has kept it secret.

Rule #1 in public life: "Don't keep secrets."

I hate secrets. Everyone in Pittsburgh hates them too. We are nebby.

Luke, it isn't going to work. It looks bad. It is bad policy. It is not what public officials are to do.

Here are the four cornerstones of my ideal and what I want to be and project:

I care. I think it is important to have care and concern for others and our shared spaces. And, I want to be able so say I offered care too. I care for my kids as a stay-at-home-dad.

I want to be loving. Love is what makes the world go around -- beyond the science of it all. I love the city. The love I have for family and friends should not be questioned. I offer tough love advice -- but they come from a love of coaching and a love for the hope of improvements. I'd love to make this world better. I love to talk about and advance solutions, mine and from elsewhere.

I am open. There is nothing to hide when you do you best and give your all. When things are open, things can improve. Issues can be talked about, in the open. The best solutions can be found -- when things are open. Be open for business, remarks, attacks and contributions.

I want to be honest. Facts, data, research and objective observations are necessary. We can't fool ourselves and others. We can't ignore issues, problems and people for any reason. Lies stink. So do half-truths.

Update: The letter was released by the Ethics Hearing Board today.

Kenneth Foster Lives

He was due for his execution in Texas. The Governor said he can live.

Kenneth Foster, Jr. (born October 22, 1976) is a prisoner formerly on death row in Texas. He was convicted of murdering Michael LaHood in August 1996. His conviction and execution were contested because he was convicted under a law of parties, not for physically committing the crime. He got a reprieve from the Governor of Texas only a couple hours before the execution, which was supposed to take place on August 30, 2007.

R.I.P. -- times NINE

Nine firefighters died in Charlestown, South Carolina, in a furnature warehouse blaze. Seems the roof fell on them.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/19/charleston.fire.ap/index.html

Life is precious. Let's end this theme on the blog now, shall we.

Update:

Terry Hoeppner, Big Ben's college coach, dies: "Indiana football coach Terry Hoeppner died today of complications from a brain tumor, a university spokesman said. He was 59."

Another RIP: WESLEY, (Wes) THOMPSON reports that his mother passed away.

Unfortunately the Lord chose to take my mother, Mildred Thompson, home on Sat. 6-16. Friends will be received fron 7-9 Mon., & tues. 2-4 & 7-9 at Thomas Smith funeral home 930, Center Ave B, Blawnox PA 15238. A service will be held Wednesday morning 10 AM.

Hat tip to Kathleen Stewart of the western side of Pgh.

Pennsylvania lost a leader. RIP Dr. George Osborne

He was a leader at the PA College of Optometry, an audiologist, a professor. He helped to launch the Pennsylvania Accademy of Audiology. He hired a couple of Univ. of Pittsburgh graduates. He has been a pioneer in distance education. He was a pilot.

Last Friday, the College announced with great sadness that Dr. George S. Osborne, Dean of the School of Audiology died suddenly on June 14th.

The Memorial Service for Dr. Osborne is as follows:
Friday, June 22nd at 7 p.m.
Paoli Presbyterian Church
225 S. Valley Road, Paoli, PA 19301
Phone number at the church is 610-644-8250

Should you like to get a condolence note to the Osborne family, we ask that you send it to our offices here at PCO, and we will be sure to have all communications forwarded to the family.

PCO
Alumni Office
8360 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027

Dr. Osborne's family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to
PCO Foundation's George S. Osborne Scholarship Fund.

I got a 'tie' for Father's Day -- and I love it. Plus, my t-shirt got new hand prints

From Logos

I have a new tie in the wardrobe. It has a fern pattern. I love it. The fern is a symbol of New Zealand. Word on the street was against giving dad a tie for Father's Day -- but -- they'd be wrong in this case.

I also have a t-shirt with nearly a dozen years of blooming hand and foot prints from my kids. These shirts are all the rage now. At the zoo today I must have seen a dozen of these styled shirts -- 'best dad, hand's down.' Clever. Must have been in a lot of craft catalogs in recent times. I am such a trend setter.

Time to open the Pgh Cereal Bar

After a year and a half of negotiations, CSPI has come to an agreement with Kellogg Company to adopt nutrition standards for the foods it advertises to young children. This is an historic commitment, and thus the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), and two Massachusetts parents will not proceed with a lawsuit against the company.

According to the agreement with Kellogg, foods advertised on media—including TV, radio, print, and third-party Web sites—that have an audience of 50 percent or more children under age 12 will have to meet new nutrition standards. In addition, Kellogg will not:

• Advertise to children any foods in schools and preschools that include kids under age 12;
• Sponsor product placements for any products in any medium primarily directed at kids under 12;
• Use licensed characters (Shrek, SpongeBob, etc.) in mass-media advertising directed primarily to kids under 12 (for example, on the labels of food packages unless those foods meet the nutrition standards);
• Use branded toys in connection with foods that do not meet the nutrition standards.

Video: CSPI Executive Director discusses the settlement.

More information: Press release and related documents

My Comments to City Council - Wed, 4-4-2007

Notes from my statement to city council today:

1. Thumbs up to Michael Phelps and the rest of the USA Swimmers for such a great performance at the World Championships. Phelps won seven gold medals and set a few new world records.

I'm entering the election on November 6, 2007, in multiple events. I too hope to set new records.

A goal of mine is to make history, not be a slave of it.
I wore a red Beijing Olympic polo shirt. We hope to attend the 2008 Olympic Games and see witness some of the competitions ourselves.

2. At 7 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, I've called a community meeting to be held at the Phillips Elementary School to talk about the RFP and the now-closed city-owned ice rink on the South Side. The RFP has finally come, thank goodness. The facility has been a dark hole in the neighborhood, if not the county, for nearly a decade. All are welcome to attend and share insights.

3. The Pittsburgh Promise is a big lie. Others have been to council chambers recently. When they tell lies, it hurts everyone. People are skeptical of politicians for good reasons. The money is not there and it is not going to materialize. If people on council want to worry about the future of our schools, there are many other better things that should be done.

• Worry about school buildings. Work with the URA and be certain to take over the closed school buildings. The URA has been dragging its feet on taking the responsibility of the closed school at the back of Mt. Washington, South Hill High School, for YEARS. There are plenty of closed school buildings that are in the city that are a major drain to the school district now.


• Worry about city-wide transportation. Focus on PAT. Make sure our kids can get to school and back. Get our teachers and staff to school as well. Busing is a major cost and the flow of traffic on our roads is bad.


• Worry about after school. Get the city to join the WPIAL. But that means folks in suburban districts will need to and want to come to the city after dark. Oh my. We need our kids to compete in a global marketplace but can't ever play sports against the others in Allegheny County. An iron-curtain circles our kids and we need to play together. Raise the bar there.


• Work on access to our facilities. Back in Save Our Summer efforts of 2004 we pointed out that there were dozens of great indoor swim pools, gyms, computer labs that are closed to our kids and our communities throughout the summers, weekends and evenings.

4. Nearly an hour of online debate coverage from the Dem candidates in the city council district 9 race is now posted at my blog. Blog readers know this, but the word needs to spread to others in the community.

5. I've been in a battle to get election forms from Harrisburg and Allegheny County in a digital format. They still have not been provided. Dozens of hours have been sunk into this project trying to battle the 'red tape.' More time is still necessary to get the forms into the hands of eligible voters with the correct information. These efforts could have been resolved in about 15 seconds if the person in Harrisburg would only send out the Word file as an email attachment. The struggle to get onto the ballot is monumental.

6. Citizens who want to run in the November general election have only a week or so to change their party registration. They can't be either "D" or "R" past mid-April. So I provided a form to a few in the audience and I also gave a form, in a public way, to Bill Peduto. We'll see if he changes his registration shortly.

I'm still waiting for a reply from Councilman Peduto about my open letter to him about the revival of campaign finance reform legislation.

Signature gathering has begun in earnest. And, it pays to advertise.

From people & vips

Anyone can sign our nomination papers to get us onto the ballot for the November 2007 general election.

Well, any eligible voter that resides within Allegheny County.

Join us at TalkShoe for Micro Credit Efforts

First 24 hour LIVE Talkathon for Kiva International

Description: March 18th starting at noon EDT, tell the world about KIVA.ORG and microlending! Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing w... moreDescription: March 18th starting at noon EDT, tell the world about KIVA.ORG and microlending! Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. lessPhone Number: (724) 444-7444
Talkcast ID: 14678

Link

Kiva efforts are rocking today

Suspension for e-mail baffles Mt. Lebanon dad

Here comes another goofy story from the Blue Devils of Mt. Lebo. It centers upon parenting, email, a police raid on a party, under age drinking, some swear words, and honesty. Plus, it unfolded in Mt. Lebo, of all places.

Suspension for e-mail baffles Mt. Lebanon dad 'I am with the coaches in regard to Shane. If they feel his e-mail crossed the line, they are well within their right to suspend him, and I can live with that,' the father said. 'But, if you are going to suspend a kid for [sending] an e-mail to a coach, how in the world do you not suspend ... kids for going to a drinking party and one of them for getting arrested there?

'Even if it is just that they are suspended by not starting the game, or being suspended for a quarter or something. By not doing anything to the other kids, who I feel did something far worse, Joey David is a hypocrite.'

Ollie Phillips said David has asked Shane to sit on the bench, in uniform, at the game on Saturday even though he won't be allowed to participate.

'That will not happen,' the elder Phillips said. 'He'll sit there in a coat and tie and be supportive, but he will not be paraded out there in a uniform if he's not going to play. Joey David will not embarrass my son.'

I don't know the facts well enough to say what I would do if I was in this situation. At first glance, I'm sure that there is a 'teachable moment' woven in the saga. One of goals is to be, raise and coach "literate athletes." How to use email, and how to write for clarity and self-expression in important.

The dad's acts of supporting the coach concerning the punishment is fine. To wear a coat and tie or else a uniform is interesting.

Insights welcomed.

In the Hundred Acre Woods, Pooh, a French Canadian Penguin and a Philly Politician ...

From Pens Village

At another blog I posted about FUD.

This entire deal is full of FUD.

Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt.

They all are smearing FUD in every direction.

The Pens can rush the ice with lots of jukes and jives. Great. However, I don't want government full of FUD.

Rendell, Onorato, and Ravenstahl are FUD makers.

Station Square bar fight

From texture - misc.

Pittsburgh Steeler, cornerback, Deshea Townsend, is facing an assault charge. He's accused of being in a bar fight at Station Square early Friday morning. However, some are saying he only was a witness. Seems his buddie was swinging fists. Deshea might have NOT hit anyone.

There are a lot of problems in the neighborhoods when it comes to police actions, bar patrons and keeping the peace. Often, the innocent wonder about "enforcment." This story, because it includes a Steeler, might become a new benchmark to watch.

What's going on?

How come some get charged and others don't?

What went down?

Can the neighborhoods get the same type of 'protection' that is dished out at Station Square?

I don't know the answers. But, the incident might open up a big can of worms. And, this chatter and understanding is welcomed on some fronts.

Fathers are key to child's development, experts say - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Blast from the past, about parenting.

Fathers are key to child's development, experts say - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Fathers are key to child's development, experts say

I think I left a comment to a fellow blog and dad today. But it didn't seem to make it onto his blog's comments. It is in my comments feed, reposted here:

The Burgh Report: 3604643758256850988

Rauterkus (Mark Rauterkus): Screw the election. Parent.

My word of advice that can fit in a blog comment is:

A baby's wants and needs are one in the same.

Send me an email with your mailing address -- and I'll send you a two CD audio program about Dads and Parenting from a friend, Hogan Hilling. He presented to the Lamaze group's national convention a while back here in Pgh.

Another pointer / extra, called Braving the storm, (PDF).

Today's big time award: Wilburn Hayden, Ph.D. getting honored as PA's Social Worker of the Year!

From people & vips

We're proud of you Wilburn! Way to go.

He and his family are in Harrisburg today for a big banquet as he's getting honored as Pennsylvania's Social Worker of the Year.

Wilburn's been the boss of the Univ. of California PA's academic program for those seeking a Masters Degree in Social Work. He is the expert about all things concerning blacks in Appalachia. He was been working with Molly Rush and others to advance PUSH, a single-payer health coverage plan for Pennsylvania that is much unlike the one championed by Governor Ridge. He is on many boards, locally from the musical Calliope to the First Unitarian Church and the eco nonprofit on the South Side.

Finally, he, his wife, and son have been great friends. Plus, he has been on the Elect.Rauterkus.com committee as director of policy research for recent campaigns.

Now we've got to plan for more trips to Canada. He's taken a new role as the head of the school of social work in Toronto at York University. They are very lucky. Today I'm kicking myself again for sending him that job posting.

Amber Alert UPDATE: --- alert is off --- Sounds bad.

The call has ended.