Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Fwd: USNA Summer Seminar and Summer STEM - Now is the Time!
Something to consider for summer for middle and high school students:
These programs at NAVY may interest some, especially if STEM-focused.
1. For an out-of-the-ordinary STEM summer session at the U.S. Naval Academy (5 days, students residing in the dormitory, Bancroft Hall), and it's for 8th-10th Graders (for the Fall). The Academy Admissions Office drafted the email notice itself, and passed it out to USNA Blue & Gold Officers around the country. "Blue & Gold Officers" (like Coach Ed) work with the Admissions Office to help spread the word about not-your-normal but hopefully stimulating programs that younger students may find challenging, particularly if they love STEM or science fields.
2. For a Summer Seminar about a college - a week like no other. This is for rising Seniors who may be considering a career in the Navy or Marine Corps, and wish to see a bit of what it may be like (or more!) Through the lens of one of the pathways to becoming an officer, at the U.S. Naval Academy. Like the STEM Summer Session for younger students, this one is also residential, so parents drop 'em off and pick 'em up later!
Below is the approved USNA-style email advisory:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Good afternoon!
The applications for the United States Naval Academy's Summer Seminar and Summer STEM are OPEN!
Summer STEM is geared toward students currently in 8th, 9th and 10th grade, the Summer STEM residential program will give attendees an opportunity to engage in hands-on math and science activities with our faculty and midshipmen.
2018 Sessions:
June 4-9 for current 8th graders (rising 9th graders)
June 11-16 for current 9th graders (rising 10th graders)
June 18-22 for current 10th graders (rising 11th graders)
Attached is a digital brochure and the website is:
Naval Academy Summer Seminar (NASS) offers an opportunity for rising high school seniors to experience the academy for one week. Participants learn about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation's future leaders at this four-year college.
2018 Sessions:
June 2-7
June 9-14
June 16-21
Attached is a digital brochure and the website is:
This past summer,
USNA
hosted students from all 50 states, US territories, as well as students living abroad. Both attendees and parents raved about the experience, and we are counting on you to help spread the word about these fantastic opportunities. You can check out more on Facebook at:
Please watch and
feel free to
share our videos:Monday, February 05, 2018
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
More Bike Lanes -- as I've got some experience with them in Chengdu, China
More bike lanes! Because, some day, I'm going to be the one in the back seat! Plus, the brakes on that sucker didn't work so much. The brake on the bar for the front tire flew off the first time I applied pressure, flipping forward. The only real stopping power came from the sick break, in the middle of the frame. To stop, push downward. The question was always, use both hands to turn away from the crash, and be with less grip in the pending collision. Or, put a hand on the brake while reaching downward getting out of balance, but protecting some other vulnerable body positions.
I am born in the year of the rooster -- as per the story at The Moth.
See and listen to more insights from my wife, Catherine, at https://themoth.org/storytellers/catherine-palmer
I am born in the year of the rooster -- as per the story at The Moth.
See and listen to more insights from my wife, Catherine, at https://themoth.org/storytellers/catherine-palmer
Monday, November 06, 2017
Conservative foil: Sue Kerr of Pgh Lesbian Correspondents
Let's ponder the
definition. “Conservative” is holding to traditional attitudes
and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in
relation to politics or religion.
Sue Kerr, a blogger,
(I am a blogger too) is playing the role of a conservative and asking
people to vote “NO” to the City of Pittsburgh ballot measure that
I have championed because:
- She has not found
anyone with actual facts, however, she refused to answer my friend
request on Facebook and refused to discuss this with me despite my
repeated approaches to her. So, her seeking is more like planned
avoidance. Come on Sue. Why can't we be friends? One of my central
themes as a coach and advocate for better government is “playing
well with others.”
- Then she writes,
“the narrow exclusion would only benefit a few people.” Really?
You really want to put hardships on super-minorities? You think that
because only a fraction of the population is (insert letter of your
choice) that they don't deserve the rights of others? What about
protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or
gender identity? Hey, that is a “narrow” and those protections
only benefit a few people. So, let's let things as they are. So
conservative of you.
Pittsburgh passed a
law with sexual orientation protection and that benefits few – and
I'm proud to have that as part of the fabric of our city's legacy.
Helping a few people helps us all be better, be stronger, be more
whole. At its roots, the ballot question is about non-discrimination.
I don't like discrimination, even for a few, and I'm puzzled why you
favor it.
- Vote no, posts
Sue, “because some are already coaching and teaching in public
universities as adjunct faculty (just Google a few names.)” What?
Who? Name names! I know of none. Should we google the entire city
payroll? And, what might that uncover? I don't have the names of all
the city workers. Sue, why don't you send this posting to Michael
Lamb, city controller. Does your partner work for CCAC? I don't know
what to think. I lost my decoder ring anyway. And, let's say it is
true in that perhaps there are a few workers in the city who are
already working another part-time job, against the norm and city
charter's stipulations, for CCAC and /or Pittsburgh Public Schools –
then what? Do you want to whistleblow? Or, would you just forgive
them and not allow others the same opportunities? Then vote YES with
me. Or, are you just without any logic and wishing to spread fog and
doubt?
- Since, as Sue
posted, “enforcement of this ban has certainly not been consistent”
then it makes sense to vote YES and be done with this opportunity for
meaningless rule-breaking. All should know that I championed this
ballot question because last year a newly-hired coach was forced off
of the PPS job because of his city employment with the department of
public works. Real work actions, to my knowledge, have been fully
consistent and ethical. He should not have worked last year – and
he didn't. But, he should be able to work as a coach next week if we
change the charter. And, I hope he applies, gets hired and takes
another coaching job as soon as possible.
- Sue thinks a no
vote is wise because of a lack of an informed perspective. Wrong. The
matter before the voters in the election is for part-time employment.
Part-time employment for public-school coaching and adjunct teaching
at CCAC is different. The charter's authors didn't visualize every
possible situation under the sun for the future of our city. This is
an enhancement. Be progressive.
The quote from Mr.
O'Connor of city council speaks against a broader exemption as being
problematic, but this ballot question is specific and NOT A PROBLEM.
Ms. Rudiak of city
council defends the ballot question too. The change is what it is. It
is not an exemptions for all types of government side work. It is a
question with focus. Perhaps Sue likes uncertainty and sinister plots
within her ballot questions. I don't.
- Sue goes on to
slam Natalia Rudiak for leaving office at the end of her term. She
didn't seek re-election because she is moving on to other chapters in
her life. “Who would champion such a thing?” is a direct question
from Sue. Answer: A reasonable person who listens to citizens'
concerns and does her job while she is hired to do her job. I'm happy
that Natalia has not been a lame duck for an entire year.
Sue attempts to
throw stones now at the messenger and not the message, a childish
ploy.
Sue then plays the
not forthcoming victim yet won't converse with me. Joke is on Sue.
Sue gets it wrong
again when she posts that the goal is to create more employment and
side income opportunities for City employees. Wrong! That is not the
goal. Sue knows what the goal is, as the first line of her blog post
reads, “… I think students in Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS)
deserve good coaches.” That's the goal. We had a good coach knocked
off of a part-time coaching job opportunity because of a city-charter
provision that worked AGAINST good coaching. Here is the formula from
2016-17 season on the PPS pool deck: 2 coaches, minus one, equals
less coaching. That's bad. Help fix it.
- Sue asks a
question for another day and another referendum, “Why not allow
employees to do holiday temp work with the postal service?” That's
not the issue. Your thinking that voters should pick “NO” because
this ballot question is not going to help the postal service is crazy
talk. I'm happy Sue thinks coaching is important. No amount of her
lengthy googling should get in the way of a YES vote on this simple
measure.
- Sue asks: Is it
reasonable to amend our City constitution to address select
employment vacancies in PPS? Isn’t that the responsibility of PPS?
NO! The sticking point is the city, not PPS. The problem is with the
city's charter, not PPS. When fixing a problem, go to the source of
the problem. Victims are not to blame.
We’re talking
3,100 people who would be ineligible out of the whole population of
the City. Is that a reason to change the constitution? YES. Vote yes.
Problem fixed. Changes made. No blood required. This is not a drastic
measure. I hate to write such a drastic blog post too.
The 3,100 people who
work for the city account for the second largest block of employed
people in the city. If five great coaches come from the ranks of the
city's work force, they could impact hundreds of kids a year. Whole
schools and neighborhoods could change. Teen violence might reversed
itself. I know that I help to teach about 200 kids how to swim and
swim better every year. In the course of my career, more than 10,000
kids have called me “coach.” The impact of a few coaches can be
tremendous. I think that some of the folks who work in the city
should have the same opportunities to contribute to the community in
meaningful ways as I have had the good fortune to do as well.
I've been known to
recruit coaching help for employment needs anywhere and everywhere.
Even at UPMC and at AGH. Last year, an kid of an AGH employee was
employed with our Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp.
Furthermore, it is HARD to find qualified candidates to coach in
part-time positions. There is a world-wide shortage of lifeguards.
Coaching shortages are, well, just google it yourself, Sue.
Sue says that this
proposed change will disproportionately benefit men. Sue, ever hear
of Title IX? There are not fewer opportunities for women coaches.
And, women and men make the same money in coaching with PPS as it is
a union-negotiated amount. Double-wrong.
OMG Sue, here is my
answer for your absurd question that follows. Yes. Anyone can sue
anyone at any time. Sue's Q: “Does this set up the possibility for
excluded employees to sue the City because they are not able to
pursue a sorting gig with the USPS over the holidays?” No one
answered that question – except me.
Only a conservative
crank would use the lack of a robust research process on the charter
provision’s history – paralysis by analysis – as an excuse for
a no vote.
Coaching is a
privilege. I am privileged. I coach boys and girls. Title IX insures
that the boys and girls get equal treatment.
I do not want to see
our police union in Harrisburg at the PA Supreme Court in litigation
seeking rights to move their homes and their kids into school
districts that are out of the city. Rather, I'd be more willing to
permit employees of the city, such as those on the police force, to
be permitted to coach their sons and daughters and their classmates
in the city's schools programs of sports, music, chess, drama, debate
– with part-time jobs. For some, being engaged in the lives of
their children is important. And, it is important enough that if my
city prohibited that from happening, moving out of the city makes
great sense. Let's keep those people here.
And you'd rather
have a volunteer coach from the ranks of city employees – for
further hardships on families. A volunteer coach isn't accountable. A
volunteer coach has no standing with the district and can be flicked
aside by the PFT in a heart-beat. Clueless odds are high. I do not
want evenly applied coaching employment. I want talented, inspiring
coaches. You seem to want to keep employees of the city within
financial distress.
Your commending of
the city employees who put forth this suggestion is misplaced too. A
city resident and a PPS coach, acting on my own, seeing the reality
of situations, put forth the ballot measure. The city and the
district have been reserved. Let's all applaud people who act with
integrity and let's all fix flaws, together. Both big and small flaws
count. Don't get in the way of progress because it has always been
done in another flawed way. This is fair. This is complete for what
it is. If you want utopia, put it on the ballot yourself.
A good reason for
you to block this YES vote is because a women helped get it in front
of the voters and she is quitting. We are losing women in elected
roles so we should not pass measures that they help to advance. Come
on.
You, Sue, can write
the post-office ballot measure for 2018. Go for it.
By the way, off of
society's needs can't be put into one YES or NO ballot measure. By
voting YES, the citizens of Pittsburgh get to side-step and fix a
WORST-PRACTICE clause in the city's charter. It isn't about
“best-practices” – but rather about making improvements.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Fwd: Slavery, Genocide & Racism
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John H
With all of the discussions of slavery, genocide and racism being thrown around for the past couple of weeks, perhaps it would be a good idea to actually talk about the real history of these institutions in the history of this nation. In the attached article, Paul Street, presents a compelling review of these sordid topics. Most Americans lack this knowledge and really do not want to know about and understand that this nation was from the very beginning, not just of the nation, but also from its earliest days as a British colony fully dedicated to the slavery of Africans and the genocide of aboriginal natives. And, while those official policies no longer exist, much of this behavior continues to exist in a variety unofficial treatment and behaviors. The remnants of these destructive ideas are utilized by our 'betters' to insure that we fail to see and/or understand the class divisions which prevent important movements against power and privilege. By all means DO Read Street's excellent article.
John
Link:
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Software Freedom Day is September 16, 2017
http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2017
If you'd like to get your schools or students involved in a project to help promote Open Source software, Software Freedom Day is a great opportunity. Think about putting together a small local event for Software Freedom Day in your area and adding it to the SFD site.
How are you planning to support Software Freedom Day in your local area? Hope you'll join in and help celebrate.
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Fwd: American delusions, er innocence
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John H
From: John H
Linked below is an excellent article, Unlearning the myth of American innocence, and a review I wrote for Dan Kovalik's excellent new book The Plot to Scapegoat Russia. Both the article and Kovalik's book deal with very similar subject matter, how the United States deals with the rest of the world and the fact that Americans are the least aware of all the peoples of the world of the horrendous impact of our national policies – and I just don't mean recent policies. The United States has been invading, overthrowing and supervising the massacre populations since the very founding of the nation – and even before. There is a giant hole of trained ignorance in the American psyche which tends to prevent Americans from even asking the appropriate questions about our relations with the rest of humanity. We are, for the most part, a delusional population unable to even conceive of the possibility that the policies of our nation are not as pure and necessary as the driven snow.
Read this article, then buy a copy of Dan Kovalik's wonderful book and expose yourself to a reality which will never be told by mainstream media in this nation. Without understanding what we do as a nation in the world and why we do it (hint: it has nothing to do with spreading democracy and helping others in need or protecting the helpless and downtrodden) we Americans will never be able to confront the our own direct responsibility for many of the ills which continue to befall humankind. And, above all, come to the realization that neither of our mainstream political organizations are in any way or fashion innocent or even one better than the other in this regard. And, don't be deceived by the title of Kovalik's book, it's not really about Russia. It's about United States policies in the wider world and Dan Kovalik has been there, seen the results and reports on the reality of our depredations.
John
Links
Monday, May 08, 2017
Online Travel Guide for Journalists (ebook)
The Committee to Protect Journalists aims to share this resource. This is not an easy time for journalists all over the world, with the discoveries of surveillance on citizens, which includes journalists and their sources.
Monday, March 20, 2017
Sunday, March 05, 2017
Fwd: Two for the road: Keynesianism and Scab Economy / Anti-Union Movement
---------- Forwarded message
From: "John H
From: "John H
A couple more articles dealing with what got us into the current fix. Understanding history is 80% of making meaningful change.
John
Links to articles
Wednesday, March 01, 2017
Fwd: Big Data and Big Surveillance
---------- Forwarded message
From: John H
On Monday I sent out an article on Robert Mercer and Cambridge Analytica. Today there is a follow-up of sort discussing Big Data and the Democratic Party establishment (the New Democrats and the DNC). It takes some issue with the first article but is really worth reading. The second attachment discusses enhanced surveillance techniques being employed by corporations on their employees. This is an extremely frightening turn down the road toward complete totalitarian control of all workers and, perhaps, all of us whether working or not. Do read this!
John
Links:
Monday, February 20, 2017
Fwd: I keep searching . . .
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Link
Believe it or not, I keep searching for some good news to send around, but these are difficult to come by in this terrifying 'new world' of Trump & company. However, if you weren't already frightened sufficiently, the two articles included in the PDF file attached from Consortium News should rattle your cage just a bit more. It seems that ever since the election, Democratic Party elites are hoisting the banners for war just about anywhere it is not yet engulfing the world. Not being satisfied with most of the Middle East and Afghanistan already in flames and chaos – with millions of people dead, wounded and displaced – the Democratic Party elites are calling for more blood and destruction so as not to be outdone by their Republican colleagues on this score. Now legislation has been introduced in Congress, by a Democrat, to give Donald Trump unfettered authority, with no Congressional oversight, to attack and wage war on Iran any time he so pleases. If this doesn't make you a bit uncomfortable, then you may want to check out the fires we are attempting to set in Ukraine, another of our favorite war charities – oh, and yes, China too. It is true what the historians have said that dying empires are interesting places and times indeed.
Good night and good luck!
John
- Ex-Dove Dem, article in PDF
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Friday, January 27, 2017
Fwd: No effort will be spared . . .
---------- Forwarded message
From: John Hemington
From: John Hemington
It is now clear with the Trump administration and efforts in other states, particularly New York, that no effort will be spared to insure that any criticism of Israel or support for Palestinian rights will be permitted – up to and including the rights of free speech and association granted by the constitution. It is true that Fordham University is not a public university and therefore not subject to same Constitutional requirements that would limit government actions, but certainly New York City and New York State are. It is clear that the State of Israel has a protected status in the United States that no other nation or even U.S. citizens have. And so it goes . . .
John
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Really?
Women at a big march are holding signs saying they hoped for the day when they'd have as many rights as a gun? You mean, they wish they could be banned from schools and other public places, closely monitored by the government, and scapegoated for the problems of society?From Tom Woods.
Kickoff for Pittsburgh Mayor Candidate, John Welsh, seeking the D-Party nomination in spring 2017
Video camera of a Saturday event at the Homewood Library featured a new candidate to challenge for the Dem Party Nomination for Mayor, City of Pittsburgh.
Exciting event in terms of audience and messages of the need for a new movement in Pittsburgh.
These are three segments (not complete) from the podium.
Exciting event in terms of audience and messages of the need for a new movement in Pittsburgh.
These are three segments (not complete) from the podium.
Family photo after the speech:
Big welcome for a movement:
Friday, January 20, 2017
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Fwd: . . . and on it goes
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John Hemington
From: John Hemington
We remain deeply embroiled in a serious class war in which young adults have become the most recent victims. It's not just college graduates broken down with almost unpayable debts, it's also those without an opportunity to go to college who can't find jobs paying a living wage or any job at all. It's minority youth of all stripes who are denied essential opportunities in a not-so-colorblind society as we would like to think. Check out the attached article for additional information.
And lest we forget, young adults are not the only Americans suffering from this long-standing class war which resulted in the election of Donald Trump. As this excerpt from Greg Maybury's article in Consortium News, Fall and Rise of the Forgotten 'Deplorables' (see second attachment for full article), points our two major political have long ago abandoned and declared war on the rest of us also:
"In what must serve as the quintessential master class of prolonged, consistent, truly bi-partisan cooperation American politics has on offer, both parties have contributed enormously over the past three-plus decades to the dismantling if not effective destruction of the American Dream in its hitherto real and imagined dimensions.
Whether on broad economic, social, national security, or foreign policy issues, both parties have demonstrated a recidivistic, palpable indifference to the concerns and needs of average working- and middle-class Americans, with both repeatedly showing themselves prone to elitism, corruption, cronyism, manipulation, greed, deception, bribery, hypocrisy, opportunism, self-interest, contempt, cynicism and arrogance.
In the process democracy's once "proprietary" domains — equal justice, freedom, human rights, equality of opportunity, civil rights, liberty, and most everything from habeas corpus to the pursuit of happiness — have effectively been declared "no-fly-zones" for ordinary people, accessible only to those increasingly privileged, mostly unelected, and thoroughly unaccountable few.
Most significantly, both parties have undermined, possibly irreparably, the sense of pride and place folks had in their once beloved — but now maybe not so — United States of America. Along with that, they have all but conspired to "deep-six" that once famously enduring, optimistic mindset that by some accounts enabled the country to thrive and prosper as a "paradise of opportunity" (or even a reasonable facsimile thereof).
Let's term that period The Era of Future Promise, or that time in history — from 1945 to say 1975 — where a whole generation or more of the majority of folks could not only envision a progressively better future for their kids and grandchildren, but anticipated it, and all things equal, if one was willing to strive for such, rightfully expected it.
That is no longer the case for an increasing number of people, and it is this sentiment — one whose seismic impact we have just witnessed — that's been neglected by both party majors. That this envisioned future is no longer realistic for many comes as a direct result of neoliberalism — the roll-out of which was overseen by both parties — and with it the globalization of economic and financial activity itself culminating from there via "casino capitalism" in the inexorable transfer and consolidation of historically unprecedented wealth, power, and income into the hands of fewer and fewer people — is inarguable.
Now the end of this earlier era might have been heralded by Reagan's ascension in 1981 and the advent of neoliberalism. But its sustained demise was enthusiastically presided over by Bill Clinton, in cahoots of course with this year's DNC candidate for president, his wife Hillary, and the then Party establishment. Some folks clearly haven't forgotten that. In short, there was no clear sign from Clinton that things would be substantially different under her regime than under that of her husband's administration.
…
And for those who understood there being such a thing as a "class war" and viewed globalization and neoliberalism through such a prism — if we recognize that the upper class won that war a long time ago — we might posit the following: Why when after the vanquished have long since surrendered to distraction, disillusion or outright despondency are the victors still fighting the war? Before this election, the short answer we might have suggested is that it's because they can!
The ascension of Sanders and Trump in this election demonstrated that vast masses of Americans have finally given up on the two elitist Parties and are ready to fight back; but unfortunately most of us still don't understand what's behind the system which oppresses so many while promising so much. It is now imperative that we somehow figure out a way to redirect this anger and frustration into meaningful action.
Fight on!
John
Links from John's collection
- Economic Hardships with Young People - PDF article
- Fall and Rise of the Forgotten Deplorables - PDF article
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