Sofa Sleeper to good - or not so good - home. Before Backyard Brawl special - or great for huntin' cabin.

This has to go! It hits the sidewalk for bulk pick-up by mid week. It is now on the first floor by the front door ready to roll. Help find a new home.

Pitt plays at WVU this weekend. So, we gotta give-a-way this sofa sleeper. It is still indoors! It is perfect for a tailgate if you got the brawn to move it. It is ideal for a hunting cabin. Works! Folds out into a bed. All the cushions are there. It is about 20 years old.

Call me: 412 298 3432.

Goes to the first person who has a truck to haul it away. It is on the South Side Flats. Would fit into a pick-up truck.

Matches are not included.

The point of CHOICE is not being delivered in these plans

Pittsburgh just got more Promising Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said the Promise alone won't stabilize enrollment. Parents and students need more choices. The district plans a new International Baccalaureate school for grades six to 12, a science and technology school and a university-affiliated school.

This gets to the heart of the matter in what I've proposed to the school board in some of my rants. Listen Brian.

When the I.B. program closes at Schenley High School, if it does, and it shouldn't, it will end a choice. There is no new choice by putting all of the I.B. Students into the new I.B. High that is now in the east -- at Reisenstein.

To increase the choices offered, offer TWO schools with I.B.

A new I.B. High coupled with the existing Schenley where I.B. is also present inserts choice.

Furthermore, the reduction of FRICK as a I.B. prep -- or ISA (International Studies Academy) magnet will diminish 'choice.'

The same held true when talking about the stadiums. Our city's landscape was diminished with the removal of 3RS (Three Rivers Stadium) and Pitt Stadium (where high school playoffs were once played) and the arrival of PNC Park and Heinz Field. The math was +2 -2 = NO NET GAIN.

If they had built Heinz Field and kept Pitt Stadium, then there would have been a net gain. The Peterson Event Center could have been built in Hazelwood, near to Panther Hollow.

With these schools, there is extra stength in the choice, options for families and flexibility of staff. For example, our elementary level music teacher is only in Phillips School for one day a week. The other days are spent at other schools. Same too could be the case for a teacher of Chinees or Japanees or Italian.

Likewise with the middle school program for the creative and performing arts. Rodgers Middle School is in the east part of town and it presently operates for grades 6, 7 and 8. Then some of those kids go to CAPA, downtown, for grades 9 to 12. Rodgers works! Same too with Frick.

Keep what works. Replicate it. Allow more options there!

If they want to make the Downtown CAPA a school for 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12th grades -- fine. But expand the high performing school and retain the existing high performing school in the process.

Forcing all kids to downtown for grades 6 to 12 is NOT giving a choice.

Likewise, there a kids that attend FRICK in middle school years and then attend a different high school -- such as Alderdice.

Keep Frick as a high school and put the new Science and Technology High School program in at Westinghouse.

Even with Phillips Elem, our school has two programs. One classroom in each grade is called a 'neighborhood school.' Meanwhile, the other classroom in each grade is called a 'language magnet.' Parents, students and those who are considering a move into the area can make the decisions that best suit the needs of their students.

With real school choice -- and the Pittsburgh Promise details worked out, Pittsburgh can better itself. We must insure that is so. But, we must not fool ourselves into thinking that there are choices when new programs arrive only to gut the good that was already present.

A+ Schools evaluates the Pgh Public School district -- yeah right.

Mayor looks back on banner week The announcement of UPMC's pledge 'will be seen in the future as being a very important day in the city of Pittsburgh,' said Michael Lamb, the county prothonotary, city controller-elect, and a founding co-chair of A Schools, which evaluates the district. 'We will begin to attract people who wouldn't have considered Pittsburgh in the past.'

Did Michael Lamb end his conflict of interest yet? He is to be the independent controller -- not a board member with A+ Schools as well as the elected controller.

Memo to SEA about the loss of Outback at PNC Park

CBS to Open a Concept Restaurant in Boston

CBS is expanding its brand into restaurants, opening its first eatery, called CBS Scene, next fall in Boston. The 15,000-square-foot restaurant will feature table-side televisions running CBS programming, as well as a store selling DVDs of network shows, T-shirts and other merchandise.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/12/09/kraft_cbs_focus_on_a_concept_restaurant

Perhaps they'd be interested in the location at PNC Park once filled by the Outback?

Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store

Don't put one of these on this year's Christmas list.

Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store: "Availability: Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your credit card will not be charged until we ship the item. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available. Kindle Availability Due to heavy customer demand, Kindle is sold out. Because orders are prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis, please ORDER NOW to reserve your place in line. Your Kindle will not arrive by December 24th. Note that Kindles cannot currently be sold or shipped to customers living outside of the U.S."

Speaker # 28 -- you have 90 minutes to place a call

Back to the school board meeting tonight for more public comment. Join us. I just called and I'm #28. More than 100 have also spoken in past meetings. They are wearing everyone out.

Public hearing at the board tonight at 7 pm, Monday!

Sign-up at 412-622-3600 through noon for tonight's hearing and written testimony is accepted until 5 pm at boardoffice@pghboe.net.

There are two NEW board members, so at least there will be new faces. You can check out some previous testimonies at the Save Schenley website.

City Paper article.

Go -- call or write!

Thanks Jen for the update!

History Buffs -- and folks of community, literacy and redevelopment: Get to this hearing!

David Tessitor at City Council in Dec 4, 2007 about Carnegie Library of Pgh and North Side.

View Video

They want to close one of the very first library buildings built by Carnegie -- in the historic North Side. A grand park is with an abandoned building. The city is trying to fight abandonded buildings! This is the wrong way to go.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh system should NOT close the wonderful, historic, beautiful building. The city can force its hand and make it stay open. Here, the city is trying to attack our history by being a sales agent for a goofy property for a replacement building.

Hearing set for opponents of new North Side library The Dec. 18 hearing begins at 5 p.m. at the New Hazlett Theater. Folks, the typical nonprofit weenies won't break ranks on this. PUMP, Pop City, RAD Tax takers and others are sure to sit on their hands and not raise a voice in opposition.

Hearing set for opponents of new North Side library
Sunday, December 09, 2007
By Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A group of petitioners against the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's plans to build a new branch on the North Side has been given a public hearing before City Council Dec. 18 at the New Hazlett Theater in Allegheny Center.

Dave Tessitor, a resident of Allegheny West, said 40 people signed the petition in favor of reusing the old Allegheny Regional branch, which has been unused since it was struck by lightning two springs ago. Since then, library officials have closed in on a ground-breaking, with architectural renderings for a new construction on Federal Street on the site of an old gas station.

At several presentations earlier this year by Loysen + Kreuthmeier architects, North Side residents turned out to offer feedback on designs for what would be a one-story library. After the architects made adjustments, the majority of attendees favored the plan.

But Mr. Tessitor said there have always been residents who believe the Allegheny Regional branch, an 1880s-era landmark built as a library in what is now Allegheny Center, should remain the neighborhood's library.

"What's the biggest thing we have going for us?" Mr. Tessitor asked, answering, "History." He said he believes an old library, refurbished to be cost-efficient, could be a bigger lure to development up the Federal corridor than a new one built in an area of "underachieving real estate."

The new Carnegie Library has been cited as a potential leader in revitalizing what is now a blighted Federal Street.

Carnegie officials have said they cannot sustain the operating costs of the old building and that it is not suitable to new programming needs.

A pending agreement between the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority, which owns the parcel at Federal and Parkhurst streets, and the Carnegie Library is on hold until after the hearing.

The Dec. 18 hearing begins at 5 p.m.

Diana Nelson Jones can be reached at djones@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1626.
First published on December 9, 2007 at 12:00 am

Older video from the archives:

David Tessitor speaking to City Council about Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's failures on September 12, 2006.

View Video

New Swimming t-shirt

From Grant

Grant, my second child, now 10, is in a swim meet on Tuesday, tomorrow. I'm the volunteer coach. The Phillips Elem School team goes to the city-wide swim meet at Alderdice at 1 pm. So, we got new t-shirts.

Speaking of shirts, I pulled one out from my stash. It was a shirt I designed years ago when I coached in Illinois with the New Trier Swim Club.

Its inspiration comes from sailing shirts. When in a sailing race, there are few chances to have directions put onto paper and held in one's hands. The hands are busy with the lines and sails and such. So, the instructions for the course are often put onto the shirt, printed upside down so it is easily read by the one wearing the shirt.

From swim-drills

We did this for meet behaviors. It is called, Phase One. Phase Two has yet to arrive.

Communicate about participation months in advance.

Arrive early and be ready to swim at the start of warm-ups.

Act, stay and be dressed as a team.

Know your times.
(past, best, goal, dream, standard, actual)

Only positive talk.

Cheer weird.

Talk to the coach before and after every race.

Just drink water.

Update your improvements.

Sign-up for more meets.

This conversation about the t-shirt came from our talk about Grant's coach this year at the JCC. He is a great young coach and he has a tatoo on his arm that says, "To do:
1)
2)
3)
4)"

His body art is functional. The tatoo, on the inside of his lower arm, is a blank template of a to-do list. Then he uses a ball-point pen and writes down the things that he has to do. He gets points in my book for being clever.

Tomorrow, we get to wear new t-shirts for the swim meet! Grant is in the 10-and-under backstroke. More about the meet in a day or so.

Tonight (Monday), at 7 pm, Erik, plays violin at the Frick Middle School, Pittsburgh Frick 6-8, at the holiday concert. Perhaps he can use the concert as an excuse for added protection at school today -- given how his team won the football game yesterday. Erik loves the Patriots. And, most of those close to him have come to understand this about him.

Yesterday's concert at PPG Wintergarden with the PMA (Pittsburgh Music Academy) was great. Stay tuned for photos.

Drink tax causing hangover

Drink tax causing hangover Besieged by criticism of the new 10 percent tax on alcoholic drinks, Allegheny County Council members have seen the relationship between Democrats and Republicans take a decidedly acrimonious turn.

Representatives of both parties have vowed to try to set aside political differences to undo the damage done by the tax debate and the accusations it generated.

Remember, no Libertarian voted for the drink tax.

I'd expect that the members of council would have a set-up to pass the drink tax and then try to blow smoke as to why some were against it. It gave some cover. Then one was in the deal to vote for it and leave council. Now they will try to patch things up and do the lockstep boosterism as a legislative body, sign of solidarity, whatever.

Why in the world was the alternative without ever a chance of passing? That is the big lie here. When options are never with a chance -- we all face continual defeat.

DeFazio was sharply critical of the 'manner in which it was presented.' That's kill the messenger statement. Statements about the message are absent. DeFazio needs to know he has a vote. His votes speak volumes. His votes hold the truth. Those that vote for the new taxes are for the new taxes. That's honesty. DeFazio voted for both new taxes.

If DeFazio or others didn't want to see the tax, he could have and should have voted "NO." And, if he had any other idea, it should have been presented. But he is only good for sharp, critical jabs that try to twist the real truth.

It is one matter to fight against the cutting of services to residents. It is another to fight against the cutting of residents. The county is shrinking!

iJustine’s BIGGEST Talkcast ever | TalkShoe Blog

iJustine’s BIGGEST Talkcast ever | TalkShoe Blog: "Welcome to the BIGGEST Talkcast ever page (even bigger than Leo’s!), staring Justine (iJustine) Ezarik. She’s already been doing Talkcasts on Sundays at 8:45 pm with hundreds of participants. Justine will be having some very special guests…stay tuned"

I wonder about the special guest. Could it be Bill Peduto? I'm thinking the guest could be Todd Rundgren. Todd did a show this weekend. He is generally all about new technology. iJustine might have gone to the show and hooked up with him there and offered an invite to the talkcast.

PA Healthcare Lobby Efforts from Chuck P

If you haven't done so already, please contact the following Members of the Health and Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives. Tell them you appreciate their co-sponsoring House Bill 1660, the "Family and Business Healthcare Security Act" and also their pushing for hearings on HB 1660 at the earliest possible moment.

Yours in unity,

Chuck Pennacchio
____________________________________________

Health & Human Services

Oliver, Frank Louis, Chairman
Seip, Tim, Secretary
Myers, John, Subcommittee Chairman on Human Services
Pashinski, Eddie Day, Subcommittee Chairman on Drugs and Alcohol
Wheatley, Jake, Subcommittee Chairman on Health
Kenney, Jr.,George T., Chairman
Benninghoff, Kerry A., Subcommittee Chairman on Human Services
Reichley, Douglas G. , Subcommittee Chairman on Health
Sonney, Curtis G., Subcommittee Chairman on Drugs and Alcohol

Bishop, Louise Williams
Cruz, Angel
Curry, Lawrence H.
Kirkland, Thaddeus
Manderino, Kathy
McIlvaine Smith, Barbara
Mundy, Phyllis
Payton, Jr.,Tony J.
Shimkus, Frank Andrews
Smith, Ken
Waters, Ronald G.
Cutler, Bryan
Gingrich, Mauree
Kauffman, Rob W.
Mackereth, Beverly
McIlhattan, Fred
Ross, Chris
Taylor, John
True, Katie
Watson, Katharine M.



FAMILY & BUSINESS HEALTHCARE SECURITY ACT
SENATE BILL 300 - HOUSE BILL 1660

#1 Visit our website at http://healthcare4allpa.org to learn more and to educate others.
#2 Lobby your State Legislators using the talking points below. Find your representative at: http://healthcare4allpa.org/legislators.htm
#3 Write letters to the editor, using the talking points below.
#4 Donate $10, $25, $50 – whatever you can – to our volunteer, citizen-centered education and lobbying effort: http://healthcare4allpa.org/donate.htm
#5 Circulate a petition and return it to us:
http://healthcare4allpa.org/documents/petition_s.pdf


Talking points:
1.4 million Pennsylvanians have no health insurance. Millions more are underinsured. Untold thousands more think they have good coverage until the corporate-run insurance company rejects their claim based on technicalities, "pre-existing" conditions—or denies life-saving procedures arbitrarily defined as "experimental."
We are left with a system that delivers reduced preventive care; delayed treatment; difficulty seeing specialists; costly co-pays & deductibles, and caps on treatment costs.
Single-payer universal healthcare replaces the "Medical-Industrial-Complex" of corrupt insurance companies and their allies with a simple plan using existing State and Federal funds, a 3% earnings tax and a 10% business payroll tax (a huge savings for most individuals and employers). The outcome would be an improved Medicare-For-All system of publicy-funded, priavtely-provided universal healthcare.
Once Pennsylvania demonstrates to the nation what 87 countries have already discovered, single-payer universal healthcare will become national policy along the lines of Congressman John Conyers' HR 676. Congressman Conyers made this point precisely when he came to Pennsylvania in April to endorse the "Family and Business Healthcare Security Act."
Over 100 Pennsylvania State Legislators have had discussions with Health Care for All Pennsylvania, and nearly half of them have signed up as co-sponsors.

As the only statewide single-payer campaign in the nation with bills before the House and the Senate, as well as the commitment of our Governor to sign the legislation upon reaching his desk, Pennsylvania is stands to lead the nation out of this crisis, much as we did in 1776.

Consider:
• Administrative costs for greedy insurance companies exceed 30% of the cost of healthcare compared to just 3% for Medicare. (This step would save Pennsylvania taxpayers 6-7 billion dollars.)
• The U.S. already spends double what most industrialized
countries spend per person on healthcare.
• 18,000 Americans die annually from being uninsured.
• Thousands of the insured die from services denied or
delayed by insurance companies.
• Life expectancy in the U.S. is among the shortest in the
industrialized world.
• Infant mortality rate in the U.S. is among the highest in the industrialized world. Only Latvia is worse.
• We pay far more per person than any other country.
• Approximately 50% of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. relate directly to medical bills.

Senate Bill 300
House Bill 1660

YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. So act now and spread the word. Remember, we have the economic (savings, efficiency, competitiveness), moral (lives saved and enhanced), and democratic (65% of citizens want it) high grounds. Now we need to put our citizen power to work and demand single-payer universal healthcare!

Thanks for all you do.

Yours in unity,
Chuck
Chuck Pennacchio, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Health Care for All Pennsylvania
Chuck@HealthCare4ALLPA.org


HEALTHCARE FOR ALL PENNSYLVANIA
For more information, or to make a contribution, contact:
Health Care for All Pennsylvania
P.O. Box 828
Levittown, PA 19058

http://healthcare4allpa.org

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Mayor's Office Celebrates Entire Week -- without fumbles!

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Mayor's Office Celebrates Entire Week of Not F@#&ing Up: Late in the day, the Mayor decided against selling high school drop outs to UPMC for organ harvesting purposes.

Field trip chaperone tackles man trying to nab 4-year-old :: Naperville Sun :: News

Good news from a suburban midwest mall.

Field trip chaperone tackles man trying to nab 4-year-old :: Naperville Sun :: News Field trip chaperone tackles man trying to nab 4-year-old

Way to go dad. Gives added meaning to the slogan that Chicago is the city with big shoulders.

Live...From New York! It's PA Society weekend! (Heard in the Hall)

First, these guys make careers off of getting drunk off of public funds, then they get drunk on the real stuff, but in NYC to avoid the 'drink tax' that they left for us to pay, locally.

Live...From New York! It's PA Society weekend! (Heard in the Hall) The weekend that Pennsylvania politicos have been awaiting all year finally arrived, with less intrigue than last year but as much liquor as ever.

My slow down in blogging is NOT because I went off to New York.

Last night was a big night on East Carson Street in the South Side. We had Donnie Iris on one side of the street and Todd Rundgren on the other. Tonight there is a line outside of Club Cafe to see another popular act (sold out) and songwriter.

The Republican Eagle | Rauterkus and Simonson may fill out Port board

The Republican Eagle | Rauterkus and Simonson may fill out Port board: "Rauterkus and Simonson may fill out Port board"

Not me, but an 'open-minded' post.

Book Explodes Swift Boat Myths

Newsmax.com - New Book Explodes Swift Boat Myths: The foreword for the book was written by John E. O'Neill, the lead spokesman for the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth in 2004. One chapter that underscores the impact of the new media on the campaign has been made available online at ToSetTheRecordStraight.com. 'Rather's Ruin and the Rise of the Pajamahadeen' tells how ordinary citizens with computers exposed the phony documents '60 Minutes' used to attack George Bush's National Guard service, effectively ending Dan Rather's career at CBS News.

Sample chapter in PDF format.

---

Inkscape. Draw Freely.

Inkscape. Draw Freely. About Inkscape An Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.

I've not used it, yet. Reactions welcome.

Ravenstahl, Onorato flush with cash

Poisionous snakes. That's all I have to say. (Inside Oak Hill joke with PittRants.)

Ravenstahl, Onorato flush with cash The $83,610 Mr. Ravenstahl raised during the month prior to the deadline was bolstered by $23,000 in donations on Nov. 8 from Boston-area residents, almost all of whom are listed on the report as associates of the developer Beacon/Corcoran Jennison. That developer, which plans to add to its Oak Hill public-private housing community under a deal the mayor brokered, hosted him in Boston Sept. 26.

Been "no mail" for more than 24 hours

I've been without the internet for more than a day. I'm still alive!

My wife is in Chicago. That hasn't killed us either.

But, we come Sunday -- its the Steelers vs. Patriots. I live with these big New England fans.... But, we'll attending a Christmas concert that starts at 3:30 pm on Sunday at the PPG Wintergarden. Violins are finished at 4:05. Hope the game is still a game by then.

That could be the end of us. Catherine comes home Saturday.

#21 -- RIP

We know #21 for baseball.

Another who wore that number, in another sport, was put to rest this weekend.

Click comments for David's statements.

Just today as I walked Grant to school, as the snow started to build, Grant and I talked about his first day of basketball practice slated for after school. He's on a team of 4th and 5th graders. One of his concerns -- picking a number for his jersey.

He asked what number he should pick.

Good question.

I didn't have a good answer.

Of course, the 5th graders get the first pick.

I told him that when I played basketball, we could only use numbers that a ref could display with two hands. Number ranges were 1 to 5, 10 to 15, 20 to 25, 30 to 35, 40 to 45 and 50 to 55. That's it. How old fashioned, I guess.

Swimmers don't wear any numbers. They should, I guess.

Meanwhile, Erik has his first swim meet today. He got is swim suit yesterday. A blue pair of lycra jammers with FRICK on the leg. Erik is more of a brief kinda-guy. Talk of old fashioned.

Guys today want to wear baggy shorts -- even in swim races. Might as well play basketball games and only shoot 3-point shots and never make a lay-up.

Oh, they do that these days too.

Can't wait for The City Game tonight. I'm sure we'll win!

tribalmedia: Media Blog, says the wait for iPhone's SDK is due to M$

tribalmedia: Media Blog Microsoft - The real reason for an iPhone SDK About a year ago I wrote about the success a full blown SDK for Apple's iPhone's and iPod's would have. And then came the iPhone and there was no SDK and no way to write applications for it. That all changed a month ago when Apple announced that they would release an SDK in February. Now everyone is happy and excited.

Speculation.

What about OpenOffice.org's effort to port to the iPhone?

Pittsburgh Pist-Gazette and school insights

Don't worry. This was the year that the district was to focus upon 'discipline.' (giggle)

Pittsburgh Pist-Gazette Why couldn’t we do what was done when Ms. Pist was young? At that time in ancient history “bad kids” got sent to “bad kid schools.” These unruly delinquents were heavily disciplined in “special schools.” They were made to behave and as a consequence sometimes they actually learned. If their behavior improved, they could rejoin the mainstream schools. If not, then at least their disruptive (sometimes criminal) actions would not deprive other kids of a decent education.

The PPS opened a new school -- almost prison-like. It is run by outside contractors. It costs plenty. An update would be nice. You're on that with 'Conroy.'

Another school that would help -- a Vo Tech High School. Some kids get jazzed about working with their hands in real world situations. Some kids are not cut out for college.

Lots of kids who were attending South Vo Tech, before it closed, were in other high schools first. Then they opted out of that school and found a home and a 'family of learing' at South, unlike what the other schools offer.

Plus, we also have Schuman Center -- a 'jail for kids.' That too is busting at the seams.

Bigotry of low exectations. College scholarships to those with a 2.0 GPA.

Mark Roosevelt scored with the Pittsburgh Promise as it gets kicked off with the first big -- B-I-G -- donation.

On the radio Mark Roosevelt, politician turned school superintendent, spoke of fighting the bigotry of low expectations. Now college scholarships are going to those with those who are able to graduate from Pgh Public Schools with a 2.0 G.P.A.

Mayor Ravenstahl said he is 'terribly excited.'

Marty Griffin, KDKA Radio, said that the downside was that he would have been able to use the money a couple of years ago to go to college. His was a dig at the youthfulness of the mayor. But, Mayor Luke went to North Catholic, a Catholic School -- not a school in the PPS district. He would have NOT been eligible. And, North Catholic is moving out of the city -- and out of the county.

UPMC is stepping up.

China says it welcomes reporters to cover Beijing Olympics in 'fair and objective' way - Tuesday December 4, 2007 3:49PM

SI.com - More Sports - China says it welcomes reporters to cover Beijing Olympics in 'fair and objective' way - Tuesday December 4, 2007 3:49PMChina said Tuesday it welcomes journalists covering the 2008 Beijing Olympics, responding to complaints by a media rights group that the Communist regime has decided to clamp down on reporting in the run-up to the games.

I love that play on words. "The run-up to the games." One would hope that there would be a lot of 'run-ups' to the Olympics!

Once you are there, in China, eating the local food, expect that there will be a lot of "run outs" as well, if you know what I mean.

The tastes, smells, cooking, eating, meals, drinks and splendid socialized eating are to be enjoyed -- after the athletes compete in their main events. Soak it all up. Sample each course, and there are often many of them, post-game.

I hope I'm not turned back by the officials. Worse yet would be hitting a road block on the other leg of the trip -- being detained.

At least this is the summer games and there won't be any ice hockey teams there to trash the Olympic Village(s).

Journalist do need to be watched. Frankly they are not that trustworthy these days.

Speaking of Police -- and the witch hunt

The conversation in City Council turned to the police again, today. OMG, I can't even believe how The FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) boss can talk about a 'witch hunt' in terms of the 'time out' that heads to officers who have been served with a PFA (protection from abuse order). He mentioned those words again today --
'witch hunt.' He used them before on Halloween, Oct 31. I thought he had to have been joking. On Halloween, it is easy to find a witch. Hunting isn't even that necessary. They find you that day.

"Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"

A 60-second promo of a show, speaking of police, that I've been soaking up via podcasts. http://www.freetalklive.com/files/FTLpromocorruptcops.mp3

Jim Brown Productions -- now out -- the film: The Power of Song

Jim Brown Productions Pete Seeger: The Power of Song in theaters now!

Teacher, What do you make?

Well, we know more as to what Jo Pa makes as the football coach at Penn State University.

What Do Teachers Make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do… Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?" (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about the USA while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.... You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw had dropped. He stayed silent.

THIS IS WORTH SENDING TO EVERY TEACHER YOU KNOW. Even all your personal teachers like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and your spiritual leaders/teachers - Pastor's/Priests/Clergy.

Republicans Plot to Rig the 2008 Election

Johann Hari | Republicans New Plot to Rig the 2008 Election If this were being done in every state, everywhere, it would be an improvement. California's forgotten Republicans would be represented in the Electoral College, and so would Texas' forgotten Democrats. But by doing it in California alone, they are simply giving the Republicans a massive electoral gift. Suddenly it would be extremely hard for a Democrat ever to win the White House; they would need a landslide victory everywhere else to counter this vast structural imbalance against them on the West Coast.

National Debt Grows $1 Million a Minute

National Debt Grows $1 Million a Minute Washington - Like a ticking time bomb, the national debt is an explosion waiting to happen. It's expanding by about $1.4 billion a day - or nearly $1 million a minute.

What's that mean to you?

It means almost $30,000 in debt for each man, woman, child and infant in the United States.

Ron Paul debrief after the YouTube / CNN joke debate

December 3, 2007

Want to know a secret? There were two moments I especially enjoyed at the CNN/YouTube debate -- despite my frustration at some of the questions, and the maldistribution of time.

First, I was pleased at John McCain's attack, which he clearly had planned. Not because that sort of stream-of-consciousness nonsense about Hitler and WWII -- when the neocons openly want what they call WW IV! Are we to forget that the first war crime charged at Nuremberg was waging aggressive war?

I mean this: mainstream politicians NEVER attack an opponent they think is far behind. The McCain campaign, we've heard, is worried sick about New Hampshire, and they thought a slam at me would help. Ha! Of course,
it only strengthened our forces.

Then, after the debate, Rudy Giuliani walked up to me and said, "Oooh, you sure have a LOT of supporters." It's only the beginning, I told him.

Indeed, he could have told that by the crowd outside after the debate. Mitt Romney had a few people, but no one else did. We, on the other hand, had about 500 enthusiastic revolutionaries, plus a boat, a trolley, and two planes towing lighted signs. As I looked out at the crowd, I thought: the establishment has no idea of what they are facing. We have an army of freedom, prosperity, and peace. As the LA Times political blog noted the other day, the
British also thought they had no problem with the Americans--until Yorktown.

But we have an astoundingly short time before the first contests. The Iowa caucuses are on January 3, the New Hampshire primary is on January 8, and Nevada and South Carolina are both on January 19. We have only 30 days to stake our claim to the nomination, and to the new America that restores the ideals of the founders, and leads the world through free enterprise, a sound dollar, the rule of law, and peaceful example. Not through inflation and bombs.

Help me surprise the neocons and all the establishment with our success. Help me build the foundation for the America we all want. Send your most generous contribution: https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate. The military-industrial complex, the biased media, the big banks, the Fed, the waterboarders, and the IRS don't like what we're doing. But every good American is applauding us, and daring to hope for a better future.

Please, help me give it to them, to us, to all Americans to come. Keep this revolution growing and winning:
https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate.

Sincerely,

Ron

From the Hot Metal Bridge, a roundabout trip to some cool sites

I'm a huge fan of pedestrian bridges. They are great. We need to make more car-free infrastructure.

From the Hot Metal Bridge, a roundabout trip to some cool sites a roundabout trip to some cool sites

The Hot Metal Bridge is what opened this past week. The Mon-Con Bridge is what re-opened seven years ago. There are two bridges, side-by-side. They've been, in recent times, been called the wrong names. Oh well.

If it was up to me, I would have worked hard to open the pedestrian bridge first. That was the harder one to do. Then we would have had both bridges open for the past six years.

How can something be 'cool' yet be seven years behind the times? Isn't the thought of 'cool' such that it can't be stale? Is 'cool' not like being 'hip?'

I'd be hard pressed to call the Pgh Technology Center on Second Ave one of the most 'youthful parts of the city.' The Tech Center is "TIF" land. And, it has been the subject of a SECOND wave of TIFs, years after the first. TIFs (Tax Incremental Financing) are so 'old school.'

The Pgh Technology Center is so suburban. That office park could be in Green Tree, South Pointe, Morgantown or Dallas. It isn't urban, dense, nor youthful.

Save money for schools -- start with an open source embrace

I figure that at least some of you have already seen the article entitled "Software Piracy Fight Makes Enemies" ... snip to another author ...

IMHO, schools are going to play a big part in bringing about a real world digital tipping point. At least that is the point that we are going to be making in the Digital Tipping Point film.

I am a volunteer supporting a public middle school in San Francisco with Free Open Source Software, and we have filmed our work there as part of the DTP film. We are giving away all of our footage on-line under a Creative Commons Attribute ShareAlike license (cc by-SA).

We interviewed the superintendent of the Portland Public School District, who talked about Microsoft's dirty deeds there. Basically, the BSA demanded an audit pursuant to the Microsoft EULA. The audit alone would have cost the Portland District $100, 000.00. Microsoft just *happened* to send out its sales rep at the same time and offered to make the whole thing go away if the school district would just pony up for new licenses.

The PPSD told Microsoft no, and it became such a press issue, that Microsoft backed off, and as a result, the PPSD increased its FOSS usage to the point where many schools in the PPSD have no Microsoft products at all.

Source: Christian Einfeldt, Producer, The Digital Tipping Point.

Panther statue decorating pushed back to Jan. 10 - News

Wait until next year has new meaning for the birthing and re-birthing of Pitt's Cows. Well, NYC had the cows. Cinci had the pigs. The Burgh had the dinos. Next up -- Pitt's ten panthers.

Panther statue decorating pushed back to Jan. 10 - News After reviewing 26 proposals, the SGB selection committee gave the statues to Tau Beta Sigma (a band sorority), the Pre-Medical Organization for Minority Students, The Pitt News, Pitt's chapter of the American Chemical Society, the Panther Psychology Club, Pathfinders and the Black Action Society. The Inter-Fraternity Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the National Panhellenic Association will combine to decorate one of the statues. The Panthers for Israel, Hillel, the Muslim Students Association and the Saudi Student House will work together to create a statue, as well. SGB also took one of the statues for itself, which it has invited all students not involved with any of the nine other statues to help decorate.

Once painted, the statues will be placed in prominent locations around campus until homecoming next year, where they will be repainted by a new selection of groups.

Each year, a new suite of groups gets to repaint them.

The panther that was put up on campus next to the Pitt Student Union a few years ago has a story behind it. A deal was cut with Pitt's student government president to land the panther instead of generation of opposition to the removal of Pitt Stadium. The statue represents a sell-out bobble.

UPMC, CMU: No plan to buy Schenley

UPMC, CMU: No plan to buy Schenley Carnegie Mellon University and UPMC say they're not looking to buy the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building in Oakland, but the University of Pittsburgh won't say one way or the other.

Panther Rants is to blame. Well at least it is there to turn to

Panther Rants: Nordenberg comments on Pederson hiring BLAWNOX -- University of Pittsburgh chancellor Mark Nordenhair sat down with the staff at Panther Rants and explained the logic behind hiring former athletic director Steve Pederson.

Bitter sweet.

I am so angry, still, about the return of Steve Pederson, as Pitt's re-tread Athletic Director, that I still can't blog about it.

Latest Schenley Hand-out -- pass around

Your Children are at risk!

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WANTS TO PUT 11 YEAR OLDS IN THE SAME BUILDINGS AS HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

THIS WILL LEAD TO:

• BULLYING!

• DRUG ABUSE!

• TEEN PREGNANCY!

PARENTS’

CALL TO

ACTION

YOU CAN STOP THE CHANGES TO OUR SCHOOLS!

1 . CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE AND TELL THEM TO VOTE “NO!” ON THE REFORM PLAN

• CALL 412-622-3600 TO FIND OUT WHO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE IS, OR THE PARENT HOTLINE 412-622-7920

2. WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR! LET THE MEDIA KNOW THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE AFFECTED BY 6-12 SCHOOLS!

• THE MEDIA AND SCHOOL BOARD ARE FOCUSED ONLY ON THE CONDITION AND COST OF SCHENLEY HIGH SCHOOL

• THE SCHOOL BOARD WANTS TO USE THE SCHENLEY HS CLOSURE AS A WAY TO LAUNCH ITS EXPERIMENTAL, ILL-CONCIEVED, EXPERIMENTAL REFORM PLAN

• 6-12 SCHOOLS INCREASE THE RISKS OF PREMARITAL SEX, PREGNANCY, BULLYING AND DRUG USE

3 . ATTEND THE SAVE OUR SCHOOLS RALLY DEC 10 AT THE PITSBURGH BOARD OF EDUCATION BUILDING

• 6PM ON CORNER OF BELLFIELD AND FORBES IN OAKLAND

• LET INCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS KNOW THAT 6-12 EDUCATION IS WRONG FOR YOUR KIDS

4 . GET INFORMED: VISIT WWW.INFORMEDREFORM.COM

• CALL TO GET INVOLVED: 412-513-9091

The price on the spare couch -- now that it is the 4th quarter -- has gone up to $200. That's a 2-M % increase.

That couch isn't for free any more!

Go Pitt!

Another swim meet, but Dangy appeared

Grant had an inspirational cartoon character, Dangy. He showed up on this meet program.

Evel Knievel died, according to evelknievel.com

See evelknievel.com.

Penn Hills High School - class of 77 -- 30th reunion

monroeville-expo

Video snip of song!

Penn Hills Class of 1977 30th Reunion Follow-up from Gina:

The Penn Hills Class of 1977 30th reunion was a resounding success! We had close to 400 people attending. The night was full of fun, reminiscing and dancing.

If you were of the classmates that attended, thanks so much for your support! It was a night to remember!

If you couldn't make it, we're sorry you missed out on such a great time, but you can still be part of the evening as we are offering a DVD of the reunion, a program and the 30th reunion favor (while supplies last)-- see below for details.

Also, I want to take the opportunity again to thank the committee - Joe Evanish, Deb Testa Fantone, Steve Eversole, Michael Migliore and Mark Rauterkus.

Sincerely,
Gina Costa Calabro

Couldn't make the reunion?
We have extra copies of the program and favors as well as DVD of the evening.

The package is $12 for the DVD, a favor and the program. We have a limited supply of programs and favors so get your orders in ASAP!

Just the DVD is $10.

If you would like to order, please send a check payable to:
Penn Hills Class of 77 Reunion,
7 Joshua Valley Road, East Lyme, CT 06333

Be sure to include your full name, address, phone number and email address.

Yearbook DVD = Get Your Copy for Only $10!

Joe Evanish scanned in the entire yearbook and set it to the music of the Seventies. It was definitely a labor of love as this was a big undertaking in scanning and cropping the pictures in the year book. For those who attended the reunion it was played on a big screen during dinner and it was a huge hit!

If you would like to order, please send a check ($10) payable to Penn Hills Class of 77 Reunion, 7 Joshua Valley Road, East Lyme, CT 06333

Be sure to include your full name, address, phone number and email address.

Take me. Great for basement, etc.

"I'm cheap."

"No skeletons in this closet."

Find me at 12th Street and Bradish, South Side Flats. Good for paint cans and the garage.

CNN & YouTube Debate among R candidates

RedState is calling for CNN to fire Sam Feist, CNN's political director; and David Bohrman, CNN's Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of the debate.

The debate, which CNN billed as "a Republican debate, and the goal was to let Republican voters see their candidates," CNN either knowingly or incompetently allowed hardcore left wing activists to plant questions and Anderson Cooper willingly gave one of those activists a soapbox so he could harass the Republican candidates about military policy.

Simple googling would have revealed these left wing activists.

Had CNN done its homework, this would not have happened. They either willfully let it happen, or incompetently bungled it. Either way, heads should roll.

Likewise, we hope one or more of the GOP Presidential candidates will call for a do-over debate on substantive policy issues.

To the Directors post here. Erick Erickson, Editor, RedState.com

Ron Paul 2008 › States › West Virginia

Ron Paul 2008 › States › West Virginia: "For West Virginians planning to serve as a delegate for Ron Paul in the State Convention, or for anyone wishing to vote for Ron Paul delegates in the online balloting in January, the application deadline is quickly approaching - you must be registered as a Republican and submit all needed applications by November 30, 2007."

Rockzillaworld Eliza Gilyson, "Highway 9"

Protest folk song.

Rockzillaworld Eliza Gilyson, "Highway 9" So the little man gathered all his chicken-hawks in
and the neo-cons and his daddy's kin
With their own clear channel and a helluva spin
and a white man hidden in a black man's skin.

Q & A about Pgh Ethics Hearing Board from a student at Pitt

Hello Mark,

I am a student at the University of Pittsburgh that happens to be working on a case study involving Luke and the Ethics Hearing Board. The course is Board Governance and we are studying different aspects of board governance (especially those that are not for profit). You seem very opinionated and I am requesting your thoughts on the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board to use in my analysis. I thought instead of using the different newspaper articles and simply highlighting what everyone already knows, I would turn to bloggers to get the “real deal” and see what actual Pittsburghers think about the Ethics Board, Luke, and their actions especially during the investigation period. Please forward this message to your fellow bloggers if you think they would be willing to share some insight as well.

1) Was the City of Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board board structure and composition helpful or hurtful to the organization? Did board members have conflicts of interest?

2) Was the City of Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board board a “good board?”

3) In your estimation, did the City of Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board reach a fair decision on clearing Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on any wrong-doing? Were there any clear signs of negligence or incompetence on the part of the board or any of its members?

4) Did the board operate independently or did it do the bidding of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (recall that two members of the board are nominated by the major)?

5) In your research, did you see any board activities that seemed questionable?

6) What did the board do right? What did the board do wrong?

7) Should the City of Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board change their policies and/or procedures as a result of this set of hearings against Mayor Luke Ravenstahl?

8) What do you think motivated board members to join the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board? What agenda if any do you think each has as a board member?

Thank you, (Student's name and contact NUKED until I hear from him again.)

My replies:

#1) I've come to understand that the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board is nothing but a big joke. It is not helpful. It is not going to improve upon the ethical behaviors of those in local government. It is a sink. It is much like a fiddle for the mayor and others to play at their will. It moves too slow. I've seen glaciers move more quickly.

Those that are presently on the Pgh Ethics Hearing Board seem ill-prepared for the duty of being on the board. They have put in a request for a budget of $40,000 per year to the President of Pittsburgh's City Council. A big portion of that payment is for 'training.' These folks are not trained. They are in the dark and they know it. They are in over their heads. They are frozen with in-action. And, they won't move until others come to their aid and hold their hands.

I think those on the board who are not ready to be ethical and act as they are called to behave should resign. This is not a place for on the job training.

The organization of the board is fine. However, the people they have picked are fine with being in their role as puppets.

The board's leader, Sister Patrice, was in a conflict of interest by putting out a mention about the golf to Luke. She can't be judge and prosecutor in the same instance.

The board is also building a task force to look at the matter of gifts from the nonprofits. They are all from the nonprofit world. And, they seek more input from the nonprofits. This is okay -- but it comes at the exclusion of taxpayers, citizens, voters, residents. Everyone there has a nonprofit job. The want to increase the direction given to the nonprofit weenies. So, there are certain conflicts of interest because citizens are being excluded.

Rather than reform, however, it is often better to just replace first.

2) The City of Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board board IS (present tense) a joke. The board stinks. That is NOT a "good board." I'm not sure why you ask about "WAS" (past tense). The board operates. It is not changing, sadly.

3) In my estimation, the City of Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board has not yet reached a clear decision on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's golfing in the summer of 2007. The code is still up for discussion and changes. Letters have been sent. Various filters and opinions are still brewing. A task force has been called, but not gathered. This matter won't be completed until 2008. Perhaps it will be over by the middle of the next golf season.

If the same offer was put forth again today, I expect that the same outcomes would unfold from the administration. It is not resolved. The lessons are not firm in everyone's understanding. Moving forward, there is much doubt that lingers.

The board members put Luke on trial and that was a very clever way of getting him off the hook. What they found could not stick. The complaint needed to come from a citizen. The Ethics Hearing Board just acts as JUDGE.

4) Without doubt, the Pgh Ethics Hearing Board operates without any hint of independence. It is a branch of the Law Department, in turn, a branch of the Administration, and, of course, the mayor!

5) In my opinion and research, I have found that all of the board activities are to be questioned. First, the entire process is undermined with the confidentiality requirement. Citizens should not be subject to fewer rights of speech because they file a complaint with the Ethics Hearing Board. The Ethics Hearing Board is unconstitutional.

The Ethics Hearing Board should look to all city officials, employees, contractors and candidates. The Ethics Hearing Board seems to think that candidates can't be unethical and that if they are -- that is not within their scope of concern. Go figure.

6) The Ethics Hearing Board has been worthless to the citizens and the struggle to live in a more ethical region.

7) The City of Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board should change its policies. Radical changes are needed. They should happen quickly. First, those that can't tell what is right and wrong should resign. Those that can't open their own mail without it being screened by the law department should quit. Those that are clueless to the first amendment rights such as freedom of speech, should never be in any public capacity. The board should call for massive changes to the code and operations by saying it will stike down the provisions of confidential behavior from anyone who makes a complaint. And, all liabilities should be revoked as well. The board isn't in any position to dish out punishments. It should never be in that role.

8) Board members are motivated to help with the city for countless reasons. Pride, civic duty, and an awareness of the city's ills are just a few reasons. The agenda of the board members are for them to reveal -- not me. I can't begin to read their minds.

Pittsburgh's Hot Metal Pedestrian Bridge Now Open - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Bridge over river opens to locals 100-years late.

Pittsburgh's Hot Metal Pedestrian Bridge Now Open - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl led governmental, non-profit, and bike and trail leaders on the first walk across the freshly restored bridge. 'The rehabilitation of this century-old bridge symbolically captures Pittsburgh's economic revival,' Ravenstahl said. The Urban Redevelopment Authority began work on the Hot Metal Pedestrian Bridge in 2003 after the completion of a vehicular bridge.

Funny how Pittsburgh's leadership takes such a front and center stance on something that is so old.

This isn't a new bridge. Rather, it is a facelift on an old bridge.

Pedestrian bridges are great. Don't get me wrong. But, if we really wanted (and I do) pedestrian bridges, we'd do it with a grand style.

Tip of the Spear

Tip of the Spear In the summer of 2005, Pennsylvania state government revealed its seedy underbelly when the General Assembly gave itself and others an unconstitutional middle-of-the-night pay raise.

Is this book on your Christmas list?

Public Comment to the Pgh Public School Board and Administration about the folly they're causing with out schools and children

The city schools have both an enrollment problem and an employment problem.

These are the statements from my son. They were delivered last night to the school board along with 100 other statements from citizens.

Erik Rauterkus

11/27/07

Statement to the Pgh Public Schools Board of Education

Hello, I am Erik Rauterkus. I live in the South Side. I am a 7th grader a Frick ISA, 6-8, a middle school in the heart of Oakland.

At Frick I am a Spanish major.

Last year Frick started the school year with two full-time teachers for Spanish. My teacher was Ms. Layal. Every thing was going fine until the other Spanish teacher left in the middle of the school year. One fix was a combined class, making our class huge. Later in the year Ms. Layal left too. We were left with about 2 weeks of substitute Spanish teachers that could hardly speak the language let alone control the class.

Then a teacher named Ms. Carter came along and she was with us for about 7 or 8 weeks. After that we had Ms. Llayl again for about 5 more weeks. After that we had Ms. Brunet. We had a handful of Spanish teachers.

This year again we have had many other Spanish teacher problems. The students have no clue what teacher could show up in the door the next day. We have had many very unreliable Spanish lessons throughout the past 2 years at a school. Frick has a specialized language program.

Teacher turn-over has been a real concern. Now the French kids have teacher issues.

Teachers have no clue if they will have a job next year. If great teachers are offered a job in a suburban school, they know they will have that job, that building, that program year in and year out.

The students, families and TEACHERS get yanked around throughout the district time and time again.

Who is going to teach at Frick next year?
Who is going to want to teach at I.B. World?
Who is wanting to teach at the Science and Technology school.
Will Rodgers teachers be merged into downtown spaces at CAPA?

Teachers do not know where they will be. Many will decide to go to suburban settings – and so will the students who want a stable school environment.

Please vote NO as to moving Schenley and Frick.

Thank you for your time.

If others wish to share their statements, please email them to me: Mark -@- Rauterkus -dot- com. I'll do my best to make them appear on this blog.

By the way, KDKA Radio is clearly against the citizens on this matter. Its coverage is crooked. The one blurb on the radio news today was a humorless joke. News pointers:

Group Wants Schenley High School To Stay Open
KDKA - Read more in our Privacy Policy Dozens of supporters of Schenley High School turned out as a last ditch effort to save the school. ...

Supporters plead Schenley High's case
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - An overflow but mannerly crowd of more than 200 people asked the city school board Tuesday night to save Schenley High School in ...

Last night's meeting has a couple of sideline fireworks. There were people held at the door upon my mid-meeting departure who where not able to witness the meeting. There were 45 open seats in the main room. Yet, the citizens were being held at the front door by security. Go figure. In another instance, my voice recorder caused a meeting stir.

Cool Schools: Ten That Get It - November/December 2007 - Sierra Magazine - Sierra Club

Cool Schools: Ten That Get It - November/December 2007 - Sierra Magazine - Sierra Club

CMU makes top 10 list of "cool schools" with Sierra Club.org site.

Informed Reform dot com

Informed Reform

Headline: Put the PUBLIC back into our Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Announcer sacked over spoof messages - Yahoo! News

Announcer sacked over spoof messages - Yahoo! News* 'We would like to remind our American tourist friends that you are almost certainly talking too loudly.'

City League Football Championship 2007, Project: PCTV Special Projects

Play Date / Time Channel Project ID 75, Program ID 1924

11/29/07 Thu 9:00 am PCTV
12/1/07 Sat 3:00 pm PCTV
12/4/07 Tue 7:00 pm PCTV
12/7/07 Fri 4:00 pm PCTV
12/8/07 Sat 8:00 pm PCTV

Tune in and watch as to who gets the blame for the turf at Heinz Field.

CNN / YouTube debate to have eight -- not nine -- not all -- not the black "R"

CNN poised to exclude Alan Keyes from last big debate before primaries

Monday night at 11 p.m., CNN Political Director Sam Feist e-mailed the Alan Keyes campaign to inform the campaign — for the first time — that Ambassador Keyes would not be included in the CNN/YouTube/Republican Party of Florida Debate, scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Prior to this notice, the campaign had received no word from the debate's sponsors about their intentions, one way or the other, to include Dr. Keyes, despite several inquires. The most the campaign was able to learn was that the decision was "ultimately up to CNN."

In the meantime, the campaign contacted numerous Florida party, state, and national leaders, encouraging them to ask CNN to include Ambassador Keyes in Wednesday's debate, so that all nine of the presidential candidates selected by the state for its primary ballot might be scrutinized by voters — instead of just eight.

To no avail.

For reasons evident below, CNN's decision to exclude Dr. Keyes is obviously arbitrary, unfair, and presumptuous — overriding, in essence, the prerogative of the State of Florida to decide which presidential contenders voters have a right to learn about.

The effect of this decision by CNN is far-reaching. Any candidate who does not appear in this nationally-televised debate — the last one scheduled before the primaries — will have little chance of compensating for the damage done to his campaign in the public mind. Note that Ambassador Keyes has already been excluded from two previous national debates on dubious grounds, and as a result, most people are not even aware he is running for president.

Excluding Dr. Keyes from Wednesday's debate will arguably do irreparable damage to his campaign — a result that can hardly have escaped CNN. CNN is playing "gate-keeper," and that is not a legitimate role of the media, no matter how much influence they seek to exert in the political arena.

Read the following exchange, and if you believe an indefensible injustice is about to occur, contact the following executives at CNN and encourage them to reverse their decision to exclude Alan Keyes.

Jonathan Klein, President
jon.klein@turner.com

Rick Davis, Executive Vice President of News Standards and Practices
rick.davis@turner.com

Mitch Gelman, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer
mitch.gelman@turner.com

Sam Feist, Political Director
Sam.Feist@turner.com

Laurel Chamberlain, Media Relations Manager
laurel.chamberlain@turner.com

Lou Dobbs, Anchor and Managing Editor
lou.dobbs@turner.com

David Doss, Executive Producer
david.doss@cnn.com

Wendy Whitworth, Senior Executive Producer of "Larry King Live"
wendy.whitworth@cnn.com

Anderson Cooper, Anchor
Anderson.Cooper@turner.com
Anderson.Cooper@cnn.com

---

Sam,

To clarify — for legal purposes — the criteria established by CNN and YouTube for excluding Alan Keyes from Wednesday's debate, please provide the following information, so the Keyes campaign and its attorneys might assess its validity:

1. Exactly which published FEC guidelines do you have reference to in support of CNN and YouTube's "objective criteria" for excluding Ambassador Keyes? Please cite the publication and page where specific guidelines for televised debates are clearly made public knowledge by the FEC.
   
2. What is the "minimum national polling requirement" established by CNN and YouTube that Ambassador Keyes fails to meet, and what evidence do you have that Ambassador Keyes fails to meet this requirement? Please supply polls that reliably assess Dr. Keyes' actual support among registered Republican voters. To be reliable, these polls must include Dr. Keyes' name and give respondents the choice of expressing their support for him, alongside other candidates listed.
   
3. What evidence do you have of the actual amount of "individual contributions" raised to date by the Keyes campaign, upon which CNN and YouTube based their decision to exclude Dr. Keyes? Please describe the factual basis for identifying this amount, since we have never publicly released this confidential information, and explain how CNN and YouTube acquired it.
   
4. Based on entirely objective, proven criteria — not subjective, speculative, or theoretical considerations — what is the definition used by CNN and YouTube to define a "viable national campaign." Note that this definition must apply equally to a grassroots campaign of the sort Dr. Keyes has undertaken in the past, as opposed to a media-based, high-cost campaign typically undertaken by candidates whose goal is to shape public opinion. In other words, to be valid, the criteria can neither favor, nor exclude, either traditional approach.
   
5. Besides the criteria cited in your e-mail, what other possible basis might CNN and YouTube have for demonstrably damaging the campaign of a presidential candidate certified by the State of Florida as equal in credibility to the other candidates the state has chosen for its primary ballot? In other words, what possible reason does CNN or YouTube have to prevent Florida voters from making an informed choice among all the Republican candidates hand-selected by the State of Florida for its presidential primary?
   
6. How do CNN and YouTube intend to dispel the obvious appearance that their exclusion of Ambassador Keyes from the debate does in fact amount to an attempt to damage the Keyes campaign? In other words, explain why the behavior of CNN and YouTube is not intentionally self-fulfilling — since it presumes in advance that the Keyes campaign lacks viability, and then proceeds to ensure such lack of viability by excluding Dr. Keyes from the nation's consciousness — even though he is the most eloquent and persuasive Republican candidate in the race, a candidate who in 2000 was widely credited with winning the Republican presidential debates and came in third in the primaries, and whose candidacy, therefore, cannot objectively be considered less than viable.
   
7. Since the lawful role of the media in the electoral process is limited to reporting, influencing, and monitoring that process, by what legitimate means did CNN and YouTube obtain the undemocratic authority to screen from the electoral process a candidate officially chosen by the State of Florida for its presidential primary? In other words, explain to America's voters how CNN and YouTube (and other media or internet giants) have acquired the role of ultimate arbiters in the electoral process. Explain, additionally, how such media control of that process is healthy for America's representative political system.
   
8. Why did CNN wait until there was barely a day left prior to the debate before responding to my inquiry about CNN's intentions regarding the participation of Alan Keyes — and why was CNN and YouTube's basis for excluding him not made known to the Keyes campaign until this late date, eliminating any possibility of including him — if it was in fact the intention of CNN and YouTube to be "objective" and fair toward Ambassador Keyes? Surely, you realize that by utterly ignoring Dr. Keyes until now — and then singling him out for exclusion from the debate despite the fact that the latest Mason-Dixon Florida poll lists him ahead of Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul, and Tom Tancredo — CNN and YouTube have destroyed any claim they might make of objective fairness in this process.
   
9. Finally, what is the position of other Republican presidential candidates toward the candidacy of Dr. Keyes, and have any of these candidates, at any time, expressed to the debate's sponsors a desire to exclude Dr. Keyes from the debate? Bear in mind that this question is fair game in court, as are all the other above questions, and may require the sponsors to testify under oath the truth of their intentions, the basis for those intentions, and their attitudes toward the Keyes campaign and Dr. Keyes himself.

At this late point, there's still time to get Ambassador Keyes in the debate. We request that an invitation be extended to him immediately.

Cordially,

Stephen Stone
CEO, Alan Keyes for President

---

From: Feist, Sam
To: Stephen Stone
Cc: Davis, Rick ; Chairman Jim Greer ; grove@google.com
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 11:02 PM
Subject: RE: Inclusion of Alan Keyes in CNN/YouTube/Florida GOP debate

Dear Mr. Stone,

Thank you for your note regarding Ambassador Keyes' participation in the CNN/You Tube debate on November 28th.

CNN and You Tube have established objective criteria for inclusion in the debate, in accordance with Federal Election Commission guidelines. The objective criteria established for this debate included requirements that a candidate meet a bare minimum threshold in national polling and also that a candidate meet a minimum fundraising requirement.

Ambassador Keyes has not met the minimum national polling requirement. And he has not met our requirement that he raise a minimum of $1million in individual contributions. We believe that this fundraising criteria is an indication of a candidate's ability to run a viable national campaign. These are the identical criteria that CNN used in its recent Democratic presidential debate.

If you have additional questions, feel free to contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Sam Feist

CNN Political Director

---

From: Stephen Stone
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:19 AM
To: Feist, Sam
Cc: Davis, Rick; Chairman Jim Greer; Delmar W. Johnson, III; Kirk Pepper; editor@youtube.com
Subject: Inclusion of Alan Keyes in CNN/YouTube/Florida GOP debate

Sam,

I'm writing to learn if CNN plans to invite Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes to participate in the CNN/YouTube/Republican Party of Florida Debate, scheduled for Nov. 28 in St. Petersburg.

As you realize, Ambassador Keyes is one of nine candidates chosen by the Florida GOP — as well as the Florida Presidential Candidate Selection Committee — to be in the state's presidential primary.

The complete list of Republican candidates chosen for the primary by party and state officials is as follows:

Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Governor Mike Huckabee
Congressman Duncan Hunter
Ambassador Alan Keyes
Senator John McCain
Congressman Ron Paul
Governor Mitt Romney
Congressman Tom Tancredo
Senator Fred Thompson

To date, all of the above candidates except Alan Keyes have been invited to participate in the debate.

You might also be interested to know that Ambassador Keyes has already been accepted on ten state's presidential ballots; placed ahead of Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul, and Tom Tancredo in the latest Mason-Dixon Florida poll; and was just invited to participate in the Des Moines Register's Republican PBS Debate, scheduled for Dec. 12.

Since Dr. Keyes hasn't yet received an invitation to join the eight other recognized candidates in the upcoming Florida debate, I would like to know the basis for his apparent exclusion.

Please let me know ASAP the position of CNN in this matter.

Note that if Dr. Keyes is excluded on grounds that are self-evidently arbitrary, discriminatory, or unfair, the campaign will of course review its legal options. Dr. Keyes' civil rights, and the integrity of the electoral process, require CNN to show clear impartiality in the selection of the debate's participants.

The just and reasonable thing to do would be to include Dr. Keyes alongside the other candidates chosen by the State of Florida to appear on its Presidential Preference Primary ballot. Certainly, Florida voters have an interest in seeing and hearing all the GOP presidential candidates.

Best regards,

Stephen Stone
CEO, Alan Keyes for President

Massive Homework! Thanks!!

Our house has been getting an internal and external facelift. Lots of clean up. Today, we made headway! Going room to room has been like putting 10-pounds of junk in a 7-pound sack.

In the process, the internet connection is down.

But, thanks to Andy's party at CyberConnection -- I'm checking email and blogging. This is a cool place. I'm okay at StarWars Battlefront II -- but NOT with these kids. Ouch.

Don't expect to see much of me on the blogs for a few days.

Tuesday night we'll be going to the rally and public school board meeting.

Last night's Penn Hills High School 30th reunion was fantastic too. More blogging about that will come later.

Students praise Schenley's offerings - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Students praise Schenley's offerings - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "they savor the student body's unique mix of diverse cultures that somehow blend and, for the most part, get along.

Schenley's 91-year run could soon end. The city school board will vote Feb. 27 whether to accept Superintendent Mark Roosevelt's recommendation to close the Oakland building because of asbestos problems and an aging infrastructure that would cost $64.4 million to fix.

Allegheny County's top GOP job - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Roddey to run for top GOP job - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review His announcement occurs at a time when the local GOP has been on a downslide, failing to recruit challengers in key elections, losing at the polls, sinking into debt and sailing without a captain.

The mind leads and the body follows.

For many years, Jim Roddey was the one that said that the city could NEVER elect a Republican. He made sure it didn't happen with his statements. If he couldn't do it -- then it couldn't be done, so he thinks.

I'm with Bob Hillen on this.

I think that the Republicans in the city won't be in a good position with Jim Roddey as the county's party chair.

If you want to be part of an opposition movement in the city -- join us, the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County! We are also looking to establish some teamwork in the city with other political parties. I'm sure that day is speeding ahead now that Bob Glancey has departed the scene.

Thankfulness

I'm thankful for a lots. Plenty. Here are just a few, in no particular order.

Broadband.

Cheaper prices for blank media, i.e., blank DVDs and blank CD-ROMs.

Open source software.

Open source ways, thinking and styles of being.

Public domain goodies and creators who have a clue about it as well as Creative Commons designations.

Liberty, freedom, democracy, constitutions, the founding fathers and our legacy of rich common ground.

People who are respectful.

Those who sign a petition without thinking twice.

Blip.tv and other v-cast (video casting) sites such as YouTube.

The widespread reach of the English language.

The arrival of open water swimming as Olympic medal races (5K and 10K swims).

Public comment periods at governmental meetings.

Historic buildings that are still standing and others that are still in reside in our memory.

Pittsburgh Podcamp and BootCamp and the dozens of organizers that gave of themselves to make those events flourish.

Citizen courage for past, recent and future "running mates." Many of whom I've yet to meet.

Pedestrian lifestyle. Walking to work. Walking to school.

Ian and Mark at FreeTalkLive.com, my favorite podcast.

The Republicans | See you in Iowa | Economist.com

The Republicans | See you in Iowa | Economist.com

A New Recipe -- Turkey Talk with a political twist

A New Recipe to Reunite Our Country | Unity08 What would Thanksgiving be like if we cooked the same turkey over and over, year after year, and served it bland, tasteless, and downright inedible?

Well, it would be kind of like Politics-As-Usual, which has been feeding us that turkey for many years now.

It's time to cook up a new way to lead the country, as you well know, and Unity08 has the recipe. Please review the cooking instructions below.

For your own health, our meal is pork-barrel and mud-slinging free.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Our Country (divided)
• 1/2 teaspoon of American Values (hard work, ingenuity, inspiration)
• 1/2 teaspoon of New Technology
• 5 cups of Crucial Issues
• 1 box of Questions to Ask the Candidates
• 1 handful of Candidates (formed into teams)
• 1 Online Convention pressure cooker (the largest you can find)

Instructions:

1. Boil Politics-As-Usual, pour it out, and start anew.
2. Combine American Values with New Technology (stir vigorously).
3. Sift and rank Crucial Issues.
4. Mull over Questions to Ask the Candidates.
5. Place Crucial Issues, Questions, and Candidate Teams into Online Convention pressure cooker.
6. Reduce to Unity Ticket.
7. Serve hot and complement with election of the next President of the United States.

See more at the site. Clever cooking!

Covering Cost Over Runs in Schenley's Refirb

Some nameless and faceless poster asked about the cost over-runs that would come with the remake of Schenley High School. What is $64-million last week and $42-million this week could be, golly, $70-million in a few years and with dozens of change orders later.

How true. That is something to think about -- long and hard.

The folks who send their children to Schenley or to any of the Pittsburgh Public Schools are the ones who pay for them too. We are taxpayers. We are not interested in breaking the bank to pay for public education. By all means, we know better than any that the taxes in the city are too high.

Furthermore another big message that was delivered to many cheering peers came from a parent who said that we worry greatly about the other schools in the district. What about Oliver? What about Peabody? What about Carrick? We don't want the school district to focus all its attention and energy on new programs for the I.B. program and continue to neglect the rest of the district. Building a 'flagship program' isn't what we want if and as it comes at the expense of the other kids -- our neighbors -- and our other children.

But, the cost-over-runs are something to watch and contemplate. But, cost-over-runs are not nearly as bad as what we've already got in the district in various situations.

What is way worse than cost over-runs is making an investment in a building, paying for the cost-over runs, and then not utilize it to a fraction of its capacity.

Westinghouse High School is a beautiful building. Major investments were pumped into Westinghouse recently. Modern lab spaces, wonderful classrooms and an excellent building for learning has been built. It costs tens of millions of dollars to fix up Westinghouse. Who knows the real price tag?

And, who knows what the budgeted amount was contrasted with the actual amounts?

But today, Westinghouse High School, a 'drop out factory', is way under capacity.

Some in high places have been saying that the administration and district power brokers have starved Westinghouse of the necessary programs, teachers, and overall "software" that is deployed at Westinghouse High School. The hardware of Westinghouse is great. The software is in need of an overhaul.

So, what is going to happen there?

Why would they want to re-do Frick Middle School and turn that into a "Science and Technology School with students from grades 6 to 12" -- breaking a middle school that is working -- and still NOT fully deploying the prior investments that were poured into Westinghouse.

Make WESTINGHOUSE the home for the new Science and Technology 6-12 school! Make Westinghouse a city-wide magnet school.

Cost over-runs are but pimples when they seemingly squander the past upgrades and investments.

Even at Schenley High School -- they upgraded all the windows to the entire building just five years ago. The taxpayers made a major investment into Schenley recently. Now they want to close it.

Unreal.

District presses to close Schenley - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

District presses to close Schenley - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "'I'm very concerned about the deteriorating condition in the building -- particularly the asbestos,' Patil said. 'The amount of monitoring and dollars it takes to keep it safe is almost unbearable.'"

Unbearable = Being left in the dark + Having no voice + Alternatives that won't work + Alternatives that are MORE expensive + resegragation of the community - (minus) - all colaboration.

I've come to understand that asbestos is NEVER used as a binding agent. If Mr. Roosevelt had attended one or two of the meetings that I've been too, he'd have heard of that fact. And, in turn, he'd begin to change his tune.

There is a dance that is going on and the administration is way out of step.

Last night, the $64-million price tag was used again. Now the price for the fix up is in the $40-ish M zone. They need to 'rehash' and 're-tell.'

It takes two to tango. Get in step PPS Administration. It is a crying shame, bitter shame, when the citizens are able to out-flank them. But, with folly, it is easy to do.