You be the judge
By Mike Ference
PA State Rep. Lisa Bennington, D-Allegheny County, held a press on May 12, 2008, in Harrisburg, PA to discuss House Bill 1137, legislation known as the Child Victim’s Act of Pennsylvania, which addresses statute of limitations and identifying sex abusers.
If the bill passes, it would change the age at which a civil suit could be filed from until the accuser is 30 to 50, bringing the civil statute of limitations in line with the criminal statute. The bill would also suspend the civil statute of limitations for two years in child sex abuse cases in which the statute has expired so that people over the age limit could file a suit. And it would allow the filing of such actions against child sex abusers and their enablers in both public and private institutions.
According to Bennington, it’s the private institutions where offenders have been allowed to move on and continue with their lives. “Their victims have been left behind to pick up the pieces, never getting their day in court and or a chance to see justice carried out. They live with this horrific crime for the rest of their lives,” she points out.
A 2005 Philadelphia Grand Jury Report uncovered 63 priests in the Philadelphia archdiocese who had abused hundreds of children over several decades. In some cases, archdiocese leaders intentionally concealed the abuse to protect the church.
And Bennington stresses, her bill does not target the Catholic Church. Rather, “it pertains to all religious institutions, public schools, youth groups and any organization where child sex abuse has occurred. This bill would give all Pennsylvania victims their fundamental right to hold those accountable that afflicted or allowed the abuse to occur.”
Sounds reasonable and seems like a good thing. Similar legislation has passed in California and Delaware in recent years. In California, about 1,000 victims came forward and 300 predators were identified. Yet, there’s one PA lawmaker who strongly opposes the legislation and doesn’t even intend to give the bill a hearing.
State Rep. Thomas R.Caltagirone D., (Berks County), the House Judiciary Committee chairman, says the proposed bill is driven by victims’ desire to win large legal payouts. Caltagirone goes on to say the bill is all about money, not about justice.
Ironically, Caltagirone was quick to vote with fellow legislators for a 50 percent increase in their pensions in 2001 and the infamous middle of the night pay raise in 2005. The state rep along with other lawmakers chose to take the self-induced pay grab immediately in unvouchered expenses. Many PA residents felt this made the elected officials look like money-hungry crooks, as it was eventually declared unconstitutional.
As expected, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference deplores the bill. Choosing to continue to protect perverted priests, rather than seek justice. Likewise, the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania is also against the bill. And while Caltagirone has officially declared HB1137 dead, his puppy-protection bill seems to be racing for the finish line.
Could the PA state rep be more concerned about protecting puppies than innocent children abused as sex toys by grown men and women? His recently unveiled, HB 2532 which would forbid dog owners from performing surgery on their pups went before the Judiciary Committee on May 14 and could be voted on as early as June 10.
As someone who has been investigating clergy abuse in Pennsylvania for almost 20 years, this writer can’t help but thing that something is amiss.
On the eastern side of the commonwealth of PA the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office issued a scathing report on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for the high level of sexual abuse among Catholic priests and the cover ups and the reassigning of credibly accused Catholic priests by Cardinals Bevilacqua and Krol and their aides. It should be noted that Bevilacqua first served as Bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese before his transfer to Philadelphia. Insiders claim Bevilacqua left his successor, Donald Wuerl, quite a mess.
For example, while Bevilacqua was still assigned to the Pittsburgh Diocese he agreed to place Fr. John P. Connor, an admitted child molester first within the Pittsburgh Diocese and later, after Bevilacqua took over in Philadelphia Fr. Connor was assigned there. According to testimony in the Philadelphia Grand Jury the arrangement was based on a “tradition of bishops helping bishops.” Sadly, Fr. Connor went on to abuse others and Bevilacqua was found to be a liar according to the grand jury report.
One has to wonder why the Pittsburgh Diocese voluntarily settled with 32 alleged survivors of clergy abuse. $1.25 million for crimes the Pittsburgh Diocese will never have to admit ever occurred. The settlement would not tarnish the stellar reputation of Archbishop Donald Wuerl who never had to pay a dime to any clergy abuse victims during his tenure as bishop in the Pittsburgh Diocese.
Oddly enough, an underling – so to speak – Auxiliary Bishop Bradley reconciled the situation, only weeks before Bishop David Zubik was to be installed as the new leader of the diocese. So it seems everything fell into place.
Thirty-two survivors received a few bucks, the diocese is off the hook for any future civil or maybe even criminal suits based on the settlement. Wuerl continues to do in Washington D.C. whatever it is that Archbishops do and Zubik was allowed to get a fresh start in the Pittsburgh Diocese without the interference of those civil suits that were resting in limbo for several years.
The settling of the civil suits certainly allowed for an impressive and dignified installation of Bishop Zubik, no hecklers or demonstrators from any groups with compassion for children sexually abused by Catholic priests.
And, although I have no proof, nor anyway to calculate, I would be willing to bet the farm that more money was spent on Zubik’s festivities than was awarded to 32 survivors of alleged abuse by Catholic priests from the Pittsburgh Diocese. No big deal, the worst is over.
Unless of course, somewhere down the road – maybe a year, a few months, a couple of weeks, or perhaps in the next few days – information turns up that the cases of sexual abuse actually occurred and that cover ups were the norm in the Pittsburgh Diocese just like cover ups and shifting priests from parish to parish was the norm in the archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Anyone with a little common sense would be concerned that a man of the cloth might be tempted to hide crimes of clergy sexual abuse of young children only on the eastern side of the commonwealth of PA and not the western side as well.
That’s a lot of ifs ands or buts – only time will tell if Pennsylvania is indeed a pro-pedophile state. For now it’s three cheers for Rep Bennington and HB 1137 as for Rep. Caltagirone – one politician who obviously cares more about dogs than children – maybe it’s time for the law maker to rollover and play dead.Mike Ference is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker and amateur investigative
reporter who has been probing clergy abuse in Pennsylvania for almost 20
years. He’s currently sharing details about his investigation with
Pennsylvania State Trooper John Woodruff. Is a formal investigation
forthcoming? Only time will tell. Mike Ference may be reached at
412-233-5491 or email him at Ference@icubed.com.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Is Pennsylvania a Pro-Pedophile State?
Verify our voting software before November
Make sure that our voting software is the approved and authentic software!
Our county has never checked. They must do it before this November's election. The county isresponsible for safeguarding our voting software. Please, politely call Dan Onorato, D, Allegheny County Executive, 412-350-6500. He has blocked this request for months.
Voters of Allegheny County want our voting software verified. Authenticate our voting machines Dan. The public has a right to know that our software is authentic. No more excuses and delays. This was promised two years ago.
http://Pa-verifiedvoting.org
Our county has never checked. They must do it before this November's election. The county isresponsible for safeguarding our voting software. Please, politely call Dan Onorato, D, Allegheny County Executive, 412-350-6500. He has blocked this request for months.
Voters of Allegheny County want our voting software verified. Authenticate our voting machines Dan. The public has a right to know that our software is authentic. No more excuses and delays. This was promised two years ago.
http://Pa-verifiedvoting.org
Bob-Barr08-CMU-all.wmv
Oct 10, 2008 Bob Barr, Libertarian candidate for US President, gives a one-hour talk in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University on October 10, 2008.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Bob Barr speech via Google Video
The same 1-hour 10-minute presentation from Pittsburgh's CMU that featured Bob Barr, Libertarian candidate for US President.
Depending upon your computer and net connection, you might have better success watching from Google Video or Blip.TV.
Oct. 16, National Ferrell Cat Day
National Ferrell Cat Day is Thursday! There is no content on the page at wikipedia about ferrell cats. http://en.wikipedia.org/Ferrell_cat
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Through the miracle of modern technology, voters will finally have a chance to compare Bob Barr with Barack Obama and John McCain.
Starting this evening at 9:00 PM EDT, live and concurrent with the broadcast of the closed debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees, you will be able to see where Bob differs with his opponents. Using digital video recording technology, Bob's responses to the moderator's questions will be spliced in in real time for viewing at the campaign's website at www.bobbarr2008.com/counterdebate Bob will be broadcasting from Newport News, Virginia on the campus of Christopher Newport University before a live audience.
I encourage you to watch and I ask a favor of you. Would you please forward this message to your friends who may be interested? This is their chance to learn that there's not a dime's worth of difference between McCain and Obama - and that Bob Barr offers hope for real change in Washington.
I encourage you to watch and I ask a favor of you. Would you please forward this message to your friends who may be interested? This is their chance to learn that there's not a dime's worth of difference between McCain and Obama - and that Bob Barr offers hope for real change in Washington.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Election Day ballot includes on PA referendum question
On Election Day, Nov. 4, 2008, voters in Pennsylvania decide on a statewide referendum question.
The lone statewide referendum isn't about the drink tax, giggle. Keep reading.
Touch screen ballots will ask whether the state should incur $400 million in new debt to pay for repairs to the state's water and sewage infrastructure.
The funding would be provided in grants and loans to municipalities and public utilities for various construction, improvements, expansions, or repairs to our drinking, storm, and wastewater treatment systems. Projects could also aim to alleviate pollution created by rainfall, snowmelt, former mining operations, urban and agricultural runoff, and sewage systems. Grants and loans would be awarded by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.
Judges are still in the process of deciding about the Allegheny County questions about reducing the drink tax.
America could use a few Lessons in Liberty?
Campaign Updates Could America use a few Lessons in Liberty?"Could America use a few Lessons in Liberty?"Of course we need lessons in liberty. But, I don't like the sales question to be asked. New book: Lessons In Liberty.
Sadly, when Bob Barr visited Pittsburgh on Friday there were no books on hand for sale. This book is another book.
New parents group wants city school board's ear
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A group of parents and taxpayers is coalescing around concerns about the Pittsburgh Public Schools' changes to middle grades and high schools.
Parents United for Responsible Educational Reform introduced itself to the school board last night, saying it expects input into district initiatives and wants officials to answer a raft of questions about school changes.
The group sprang, in part, from some members' unsuccessful fight last school year to stop the closing of the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building. At the time, parents said the district didn't listen to their views or adequately plan for Schenley's dismantling.
Now, they're hoping an organized, unified voice will force officials to pay attention.
"PURE Reform's mission is to review district proposals for public school reform, ask relevant questions, pursue answers to those questions and in general seek transparency and effective public participation in the reform process. We act as a clearinghouse for parents to seek and share information," Annette Werner, a Shadyside resident and group steering committee member, said at a news conference outside district offices.
Later, at the school board's monthly public hearing, Ms. Werner said a commitment to public input only can help the district's leadership turn city schools around.
The district's six-year strategic plan, up for a board vote next month, emphasizes the importance of community input. Asked about the work PURE Reform plans to do, school Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said, "I have no problem with it at all."
Ms. Werner said the group so far has interested "hundreds" of school supporters. It has a Web site at http://www.purereform.com.
Its concerns include whether schools configured for grades six through 12 are effective. The district is moving forward with plans for four such schools, including two that will absorb Schenley's student body.
The group also has questions about extracurricular activities in six through 12 schools, the district's system for evaluating principals and district enrollment decline. In all, 20 questions are posted on the group's Web site.
"Questions we have been asking in person, in the press, via e-mail, via letter and to the school board for more than a year have largely gone unanswered," Ms. Werner said before the hearing.
Ms. Werner said the group wants to work with district officials, not be in conflict with them. But she said the group intends to make an impact -- and get answers to those questions.
"We look forward to the district's response," she told the school board.
Missing cat stirs post-no-bills debate. New champions of US Constitution have 4 legs!
Conventional wisdom says that a dog is man's best friend. Only in Pittsburgh can the four-legged pets be best friends to the US Constitution.
Getting the signs torn down is bad -- but wait for the bill to arrive. There can be fines too.
I don't want some city employee to be the one who determines the reasonable numbers and durations for signs. If the sign is about fluffy -- okay. If it is about freedom -- then watch out.
So, the public officials are to tolerate some statements, despite the city code's overall ban on posting fliers on public surfaces, but take others to jail. That's a typical Councilman Bruce Kraus' effort.
Life is always about an exemption from the bans when the bans are everywhere. Rather than make these exceptions to undo the loss of freedom, it would be refreshing to just propose freedom in the first place. Use what is already in place, at the least.
Now it is written -- at least in the newspaper and this blog. Unwritten rules from government officials are not healthy.
"A written policy is in the works," he said.
How many exemptions are there?
Darn constitution gets in the way of another pea-headed action by some over-reaching legislative do-gooder.
Now we've got constutional champions named "Mochi."
The issue came to the fore when the Shadyside owners of Mochi, a Shiba Inu, were threatened with a fine for posting lost pet signs. The city withdrew the threat, the signs went back up, but the dog was not found.
Mr. Stocke said his friendly, black, white and brown long-haired Mulva has been spotted by someone put on alert by the fliers, but hasn't yet been caught.
Tell Bruce Kraus to put the animal shelter public service announcements at the end of the meetings or at another time.
Thanks to Bruce Kraus, this is what our city is doing and worrying about.
From china - sculpture
Missing cat stirs post-no-bills debate: "When John Stocke's cat, Mulva, got away two weeks ago, he put up lost pet signs, hoping the city of Pittsburgh government had decided how to handle fliers for finding Fluffy or Fido.Furthermore, the start of the weekly city council meetings, Bruce Kraus is keen on putting the cats and dogs of animal shelter at the front of the agenda, before the business of the city and before the citizens have a chance to speak.
He soon learned otherwise when, a few days later, a Department of Public Works employee started ripping them down.
'They take 3 percent of my income and spend it obstructing my efforts to find a lost pet?' he fumed. (The city's earned income tax is shared with the school district.) He said he then called the department, and was told he could keep the signs up for just three days.
Getting the signs torn down is bad -- but wait for the bill to arrive. There can be fines too.
 |
| From PPS Safety |
I don't want some city employee to be the one who determines the reasonable numbers and durations for signs. If the sign is about fluffy -- okay. If it is about freedom -- then watch out.
So, the public officials are to tolerate some statements, despite the city code's overall ban on posting fliers on public surfaces, but take others to jail. That's a typical Councilman Bruce Kraus' effort.
 |
| Lost cat! From china - sculpture |
"There was some miscommunication with these posters," said Mr. Costa of Mr. Stocke's signs.
He said his employees are supposed to remove most fliers. "We do allow lost pet fliers only when they're at intersections," he said. There are two other unwritten rules: "[Do] not blanket the area and don't exceed two-week postings."
Now it is written -- at least in the newspaper and this blog. Unwritten rules from government officials are not healthy.
"A written policy is in the works," he said.
How many exemptions are there?
That could be tricky. In July, Mr. Kraus included a line in a piece of advertising legislation saying that the city's post-no-bills rule "does not prevent the posting of fliers regarding lost pets."
"We had to take it out," he said, because he concluded that the exception would favor one message over others, and could be deemed unconstitutional.
Darn constitution gets in the way of another pea-headed action by some over-reaching legislative do-gooder.
Now we've got constutional champions named "Mochi."
The issue came to the fore when the Shadyside owners of Mochi, a Shiba Inu, were threatened with a fine for posting lost pet signs. The city withdrew the threat, the signs went back up, but the dog was not found.
Mr. Stocke said his friendly, black, white and brown long-haired Mulva has been spotted by someone put on alert by the fliers, but hasn't yet been caught.
Tell Bruce Kraus to put the animal shelter public service announcements at the end of the meetings or at another time.
Monday, October 13, 2008
What about this quality? Reactions welcomed
Save me from making a mistake! Feedback welcome.
What do you think? Too hard to see? Too small?
We're playing with a new PC and video software settings, in advance of PghPodcamp, of course.
Test #2 goes here:
What do you think? Too hard to see? Too small?
We're playing with a new PC and video software settings, in advance of PghPodcamp, of course.
Test #2 goes here:
OpenOffice.org turns 3.0 with general release
The OpenOffice.org Community is today announcing the general availability of OpenOffice.org Version 3. Right from the opening screen, OpenOffice.org 3 has a fresh new look, with a new start screen, new splash screen, new icons, and a host of usability improvements.I've been using OpenOffice.org's prior releases and it is working well. I'm going to upgrade to the general release on all of our PCs and Macs now.
The Writer word processor has a cool new slider control for zooming, allows multi-page display while editing, has powerful new multilingual support, and boasts improved notes capabilities. As well as conventional office documents, Writer can now edit wiki documents for the web.
The Calc spreadsheet has been given another increase in capacity - now up to 1024 columns per sheet. It also has a powerful new equation solver, and a great new collaboration feature for multiple users.
Draw can now cope with poster-size graphics (up to 3sq metres), and Impress supports multiple monitors for presentations. Chart now produces much more clean looking graphics by default, and has a range of additional features requested by power users.
The popular built-in PDF export facility has been further enhanced with PDF/A support and a range of new user-selectable options.
OpenOffice.org 3 is now also available for the first time as a full Mac OS X application, bringing the power of the world's leading open-source office suite to a whole new group of users. And it's even easier than ever to persuade MS-Office users to upgrade to OpenOffice.org, with new support for MS-Access 2007 'accdb' files, improved support for VBA macros, and a new ability to read MS-Office Open XML files (Microsoft Office 2007 and Office 2008 documents)
OpenOffice.org's support for extensions is really coming of age with OpenOffice.org 3. A rapidly expanding number of additional features are available from different developers to add great features such as an Impress presenter console, support for business analytics, PDF import, and a whole new way of supporting additional languages.
Tell your friends that 2008 is 'The Year of 3'; - the year we released OpenOffice.org 3; the year we make OpenOffice.org available on all 3 major computing platforms (MS-Windows, GNU/Linux, and Mac OS X); and the year to realise the 3 key benefits of OpenOffice.org: it's great software; it's easy to use; and it's free.
Links
Official Press Release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/OOo/3/prweb1459364.htm
Download: http://download.openoffice.org
Guide to new features: http://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/features/3.0
Technical release notes: http://development.openoffice.org/releases/3.0.0.html
Availability of localised versions and ports: http://download.openoffice.org/other.html
The OpenOffice.org Community
The Tartan Online : Residences on Beeler Street put under law scrutiny
The Tartan Online : Residences on Beeler Street put under law scrutiny: "The independence of Carnegie Mellon students living on Beeler Street is under the public eye and may soon be tested. In the past month, a grievance has been filed with the city citing a Pittsburgh ordinance that makes it illegal for landlords to rent out houses to a group of more than three unrelated residents.The bills to send a student to CMU exceed $50,000 per year and the city is picking a fight with these kids. Golly. There are plenty of matters to focus upon with the city. Even with the life of the college students some matters do need to be addressed.
Here, again, they miss the mark.
The city needs to make a crack down on bad behaviors where victims are involved. Do not get hell-bent on the enforcement of bad laws where there are no victims.
Should there be people from an address that has problems with trash -- fix it.
Should there be some individuals who are loud and disturb neighbors at late hours -- visit them, fix it, and as necessary, have them pay damages to the victims.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Ueberroth goes on offensive in IOC money dispute - Olympics - Yahoo! Sports
Simple math isn't simple when you deploy a pie chart merged with a round globe. Real world math, real world sports, UN style bills, and pocketbook sportsmanship. Humm.
Ueberroth goes on offensive in IOC money dispute - Olympics - Yahoo! Sports: "“Who pays the bill for the world Olympic movement?” Ueberroth said Saturday in his final speech as USOC chairman. “Make no mistake about it. Starting in 1988, U.S. corporations have paid 60 percent of all the money, period. Be sure you all understand that. The rest of the world pays 40 percent. It’s pretty simple math.”
It was Ueberroth’s first extensive response to comments made by European IOC members Denis Oswald and Hein Verbruggen, who said earlier this year that the amount of money the USOC received was not morally acceptable and called for the revenue-sharing deal to be revisited.
Libertarian candidate Barr attacks 'comfort zone' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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| From people & vips |
Libertarian candidate Barr attacks 'comfort zone' - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewLibertarian candidate Barr attacks 'comfort zone'"Another good review of the talk.
By Tony LaRussa, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr of Georgia touched on economics, energy policy and national defense during an hourlong speech Friday evening on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University.
Barr portrayed himself as a political outsider who does not meet the qualifications that the media and political pundits are using to judge the Democratic and Republican candidates for president and vice president.
"You might notice that I'm not wearing a flag lapel pin," Barr said, referring to public criticisms leveled in the primary against Democrat Barack Obama, who began wearing one after the issue was raised.
"And I only have one house -- but more importantly, I don't care how many houses these candidates have," a reference to criticisms against Republican John McCain, who hesitated when asked how many homes he and his wife, Cindy, own.
McCain, who has seven homes, later said he was unsure how to answer because he did not know if he should include the homes the couple have provided for their children.
Barr criticized the debate process, which does not include third-party candidates and permits the candidates to set the rules. The problem, Barr said, is that it allows the candidates to "stay in their comfort zone," a term he repeated at least a half-dozen times during his presentation.
"To us, a debate is a real exchange of ideas," he said. "By definition, it is pulling somebody outside their comfort zone."
Barr, who represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, spent most of his time providing a professorial outline of major issues, including:
• The economic crisis: He strongly opposes government bailouts of financial institutions.
• Energy policy: He supports domestic oil drilling as a bridge to the development of alternative energy sources.
• The Iraq war: He would seek advice from military leaders to develop a strategy for troop reduction.
The P-G posted an article, scroll below, on the web site. However, that article did not appear in the print edition.
And, because I have a lot of photos, here is another.
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| From people & vips |
Friday, October 10, 2008
Barr brings long-shot campaign to CMU
Introduction from Dave Powell, Chair, Allegheny County Libertarian Party:
Thank you all for coming out, I know you all must be busy.
The subject of this lecture series is political leadership. Like many people here, I got very active in politics with the Ron Paul campaign. I’ll just say right up front that I can think of no other current leader in Congress other than Ron Paul that has any kind of credibility whatsoever.
I would also say that this lack of credibility extends to Senators Barrack and McCain. I might have been able to vote for the Obama of 2005. But he voted vote the MCA, the Patriot act extension and to extend funding for the illegal Iraq war.
So no HOPE or CHANGE for me then.
I went to campaignforliberty.com’s Rally for the Republic in September, which was a great event… no tear gas like the GOP rally, but, you know, fun nonetheless. The cops did bring their gasmasks later in the afternoon but, you know, the mood was gone.
I heard this at the Rally so I can’t claim authorship of this but it’s one of the truest things I’ve heard in years. Sometimes it seems that we have a choice between the Evil party and the Stupid party, as they enact laws that are evil or stupid. Sometimes, though, we get laws that are Evil *AND* stupid. ****We call this Bipartisanship****
And so it is with the Great Wall Street Bailout.
If I could go back in time 10 years and ask myself what I thought about Credit Default Swaps, Habeaus Corpus, RFID chips, or waterboarding I would probably have returned a fairly hostile stare and said “What the hell is all that? Stay away from me you WEIRDO!”
So I must ask:
Do we *want* to be activists? Do we *WANT* to be out hanging flyers at midnight? Do we *want* to be answering emails at 3AM? Do I WANT to be here in a hot suit, talking about politics and arcane Constitutional and financial matters?
NO! We have a lot of things we’d rather be doing. We have families and hobbies and some *really good TV* to watch (My Name is Earl just started back up)…but, for some reason we are all here.
WHY is that? Why is that?
It’s because WE HAVE to be
We HAVE To be activists.
WE HAVE to fight for change –Real change.
I am here today because the government has taken away your rights to Habeus Corpus.
I am here because waterboarding is something that *your* tax dollars pay for.
I am here because this deficit spending is nothing more than stealing from our children and grandchildren. The New York City Debt clock was not big enough anymore – THEY HAD TO UPGRADE IT!!!
I am here because the constitution is the framework that enables our country to be great, and our government has been ignoring it for far too long.
If the government does not follow the law THEN THERE IS NO LAW. It is a government of men, with all their imperfections, shortcomings, and faults.
So, if I may take a moment to address the Financial crisis:
You cannot fix a leaky dam with more water. You cannot fix a debt problem with more debt, it’s as simple as that. You cannot prop up failing businesses with tax dollars. We, in this area, know this firsthand, but they don’t seem to know it yet in D.C. And make no mistake, when they talk about “Credit”, they mean “Debt”.
Failed institutions must be liquidated, so that the good stuff can be bought up by people who saved and returned to productivity as soon as possible. Any money spent to the contrary will just delay the inevitable. Look at AIG – we give them $80 billion, and after they throw themselves a half-million dollar party, they come back for some 37 more.
They authorized 700Billion dollars to hold off a stock market collapse. What did we get?
What’s it’s called again? Oh yeah - A Stock market collapse. Even the socialist independent Bernie Sanders voted against the bailout!
Now, what we *really* have to avoid is a currency collapse. As the great Mister Rogers would say: “Can you say “Hyper-inflationary Depression? Sure, I knew ya could.” In case you are unfamiliar, a currency collapse is when your country needs to sell a lot of it’s currency or debt and nobody will buy it. Or, borrow a whole lot of money, and nobody will lend it. So the central banks prints money and the currency buys less and less the more it gets printed.
If other countries stop lending us $2Billion dollars per day, our government would be forced to cut Social security, Medicare, and military spending IN HALF.
Then, instead of just stock market people going broke through inflation, *Everyone* goes broke.
This is why we must END THE FED!
I stand here today to say to all who will listen: * Your republic, *YOUR* Republic is on the Edge.
This Democratic Congress has not had the will to stand up to a corrupt Administration, preferring instead to lapdog themselves into better standing in the next round of handouts. The fact that Bob Barr, and the other 3^rd party candidates were excluded from the Presidential Debates just shows how it debate was just a big joint press conference under the guise of open debate.
We need people to take a stand. We need people to run for local office, and we have a few here tonight: David Posipanka, Titus North, and Jim Barr are all running for office, please stand guys.
We need someone to stand up against the corrupt beltway politics that are bleeding our country dry.
Folks – we have with us tonight such a man. He is a former federal prosecutor and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003. Bob joined the Libertarian party in 2006, and served on it’s national committee.
We are all human, and therefore imperfect. Like Earle Hickey on the My Name is Earl TV show, Bob Barr has made decisions in the past that many of us don’t agree with. But like Earle Hickey, he means to make amends, no matter what it takes, and he stands before you today, as a flag-bearer of the Liberty movement, a champion of the Constitution, and a crusader for your personal freedoms.
He is willing to sacrifice to stand for office, he is Ready to lead, he is Our Candidate for the Office of President of the United States
Ladies and Gentlemen - Bob BARR!!!!!
Got some ink at the event today in the P-G, just published.
Thank you all for coming out, I know you all must be busy.
The subject of this lecture series is political leadership. Like many people here, I got very active in politics with the Ron Paul campaign. I’ll just say right up front that I can think of no other current leader in Congress other than Ron Paul that has any kind of credibility whatsoever.
I would also say that this lack of credibility extends to Senators Barrack and McCain. I might have been able to vote for the Obama of 2005. But he voted vote the MCA, the Patriot act extension and to extend funding for the illegal Iraq war.
So no HOPE or CHANGE for me then.
I went to campaignforliberty.com’s Rally for the Republic in September, which was a great event… no tear gas like the GOP rally, but, you know, fun nonetheless. The cops did bring their gasmasks later in the afternoon but, you know, the mood was gone.
I heard this at the Rally so I can’t claim authorship of this but it’s one of the truest things I’ve heard in years. Sometimes it seems that we have a choice between the Evil party and the Stupid party, as they enact laws that are evil or stupid. Sometimes, though, we get laws that are Evil *AND* stupid. ****We call this Bipartisanship****
And so it is with the Great Wall Street Bailout.
If I could go back in time 10 years and ask myself what I thought about Credit Default Swaps, Habeaus Corpus, RFID chips, or waterboarding I would probably have returned a fairly hostile stare and said “What the hell is all that? Stay away from me you WEIRDO!”
So I must ask:
Do we *want* to be activists? Do we *WANT* to be out hanging flyers at midnight? Do we *want* to be answering emails at 3AM? Do I WANT to be here in a hot suit, talking about politics and arcane Constitutional and financial matters?
NO! We have a lot of things we’d rather be doing. We have families and hobbies and some *really good TV* to watch (My Name is Earl just started back up)…but, for some reason we are all here.
WHY is that? Why is that?
It’s because WE HAVE to be
We HAVE To be activists.
WE HAVE to fight for change –Real change.
I am here today because the government has taken away your rights to Habeus Corpus.
I am here because waterboarding is something that *your* tax dollars pay for.
I am here because this deficit spending is nothing more than stealing from our children and grandchildren. The New York City Debt clock was not big enough anymore – THEY HAD TO UPGRADE IT!!!
I am here because the constitution is the framework that enables our country to be great, and our government has been ignoring it for far too long.
If the government does not follow the law THEN THERE IS NO LAW. It is a government of men, with all their imperfections, shortcomings, and faults.
So, if I may take a moment to address the Financial crisis:
You cannot fix a leaky dam with more water. You cannot fix a debt problem with more debt, it’s as simple as that. You cannot prop up failing businesses with tax dollars. We, in this area, know this firsthand, but they don’t seem to know it yet in D.C. And make no mistake, when they talk about “Credit”, they mean “Debt”.
Failed institutions must be liquidated, so that the good stuff can be bought up by people who saved and returned to productivity as soon as possible. Any money spent to the contrary will just delay the inevitable. Look at AIG – we give them $80 billion, and after they throw themselves a half-million dollar party, they come back for some 37 more.
They authorized 700Billion dollars to hold off a stock market collapse. What did we get?
What’s it’s called again? Oh yeah - A Stock market collapse. Even the socialist independent Bernie Sanders voted against the bailout!
Now, what we *really* have to avoid is a currency collapse. As the great Mister Rogers would say: “Can you say “Hyper-inflationary Depression? Sure, I knew ya could.” In case you are unfamiliar, a currency collapse is when your country needs to sell a lot of it’s currency or debt and nobody will buy it. Or, borrow a whole lot of money, and nobody will lend it. So the central banks prints money and the currency buys less and less the more it gets printed.
If other countries stop lending us $2Billion dollars per day, our government would be forced to cut Social security, Medicare, and military spending IN HALF.
Then, instead of just stock market people going broke through inflation, *Everyone* goes broke.
This is why we must END THE FED!
I stand here today to say to all who will listen: * Your republic, *YOUR* Republic is on the Edge.
This Democratic Congress has not had the will to stand up to a corrupt Administration, preferring instead to lapdog themselves into better standing in the next round of handouts. The fact that Bob Barr, and the other 3^rd party candidates were excluded from the Presidential Debates just shows how it debate was just a big joint press conference under the guise of open debate.
We need people to take a stand. We need people to run for local office, and we have a few here tonight: David Posipanka, Titus North, and Jim Barr are all running for office, please stand guys.
We need someone to stand up against the corrupt beltway politics that are bleeding our country dry.
Folks – we have with us tonight such a man. He is a former federal prosecutor and a former member of the United States House of Representatives
We are all human, and therefore imperfect. Like Earle Hickey on the My Name is Earl TV show, Bob Barr has made decisions in the past that many of us don’t agree with. But like Earle Hickey, he means to make amends, no matter what it takes, and he stands before you today, as a flag-bearer of the Liberty movement, a champion of the Constitution, and a crusader for your personal freedoms.
He is willing to sacrifice to stand for office, he is Ready to lead, he is Our Candidate for the Office of President of the United States
Ladies and Gentlemen - Bob BARR!!!!!
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| From people & vips |
Got some ink at the event today in the P-G, just published.
Barr brings long-shot campaign to CMU: "Barr brings long-shot campaign to CMUGreat re-cap.
Friday, October 10, 2008
By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bob Barr, onetime bulldog of the Republican right spoke in Pittsburgh tonight, shorn of both his party membership and his allegiance to some of the policies he voted for as a Georgia congressman and promises to reverse as the first-ever Libertarian president.
He admits it's a long shot.
Mathematically, he could win the Electoral College, after surviving a gantlet of state ballot access laws and a ballot challenge in some of them.
Conventional wisdom -- the kind that usually prevails in national elections -- suggests he has little hope.
Mr. Barr, in fact, opened his speech before an audience of 150 at Carnegie Mellon University by listing his disqualifications for the nation's top office.
"You'll notice I'm not wearing an American flag lapel pin," he said He also noted he has only one house and doesn't care how many anyone else has.
Like Barack Obama, he said, he has also "had coffee with a number of people of dubious background."
"I'm not afraid to operate outside of my comfort zone," he said.
Mr. Barr represented Georgia's 7th District as a Republican from 1995 to 2003, and spearheaded the impeachment of President Clinton in 1998. He left the party after departing Congress, disillusioned, he said, with the party's trajectory away from constitutional principles.
One of Mr. Barr's key votes in Congress was to support passage of the Patriot Act in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
He regrets that now, saying powers to wiretap and spy have been abused.
"I voted for the Patriot Act -- something that I came very quickly to realize was a very bad vote," he said.
Mr. Barr said the administration promised the act would not be used for non-terrorism investigations and that they would report openly and fully about how the act was being implemented.
"In every instance they failed to honor those commitments," he said.
One key supporter said that change of heart is hardly a disqualification.
David Powell, Libertarian chairman for Allegheny County, likened Mr. Barr to the hero of his favorite television show, "My Name is Earl."
"Like Earl Hickey, he means to make amends, no matter what it takes," Mr. Powell said.
If Mr. Barr was there to make amends, it wasn't with leaders of either major party.
He referred to President Bush as a leader "who, similar to Sarah Palin, did not have any experience operating in the real world outside of the borders of our country."
He mocked the debates, from which he was excluded, as exercises that consist of candidates "answering questions that they want to be asked. That is not what they're going to be called on to do as president of the United States."
Last night's gathering pointed to the growing blur that has emerged between some groups on both the left and right, with right-leaning Libertarians making common cause with groups such as the overtly liberal Green Party.
Titus North, the Green Party candidate for Congress in the 14th District, delivered a speech prior to Mr. Barr's and was cheered when he attacked the Federal Reserve system, long a target of the far-right.
"The old left-right definitions don't work anymore," noted Mr. Powell.
First published on October 10, 2008 at 6:36 pm.
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| From people & vips |
Parking at CMU is free after 5 pm on weekends (starts on Friday)
In my email blast I said that there was free parking at CMU after 4 pm on Fridays -- and it is really after 5 pm. Sorry.
Fields & Co. give Pittsburgh faithful a reason for optimism - USATODAY.com
I guess this is what we talk about on a bye weekend for both football teams: the Steelers and Pitt.
Fields & Co. give Pittsburgh faithful a reason for optimism - USATODAY.com: "give Pittsburgh faithful a reason for optimism
Refuse proposal smells fishy - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Refuse proposal smells fishy - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus plans to introduce legislation Tuesday mandating that owners of small apartment buildings and their tenants sign forms indicating their comprehension of city refuse collection regulations.
Violate those rules post-signature and the fines could be, well, hefty: $500 per violation for tenants and landlords after a relatively modest first-time penalty of $50.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
The Associated Press: Bailout angst provides a push for Libertarian Barr
In other news:
The Associated Press: Bailout angst provides a push for Libertarian Barr: "Bailout angst provides a push for Libertarian BarrFurthermore, Bob Barr might get the endorsement of the NRA today. Think again. NRA didn't give its endorsement nor money to the one with an A+ lifetime rating. Rather it went with the C grade candidate, McCain.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Private markets fail, politicians from both parties jump to their rescue, and taxpayers get stuck with the bill. Libertarian candidate Bob Barr couldn't have scripted a better story line to argue that Republicans and Democrats are interchangeable — with a helpless addiction to spending.
B-25 Mystery Search Picks Up Again This Weekend In Monongahela River - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh
Going fishin on the Mon!
B-25 Mystery Search Picks Up Again This Weekend In Monongahela River - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh: "Experts from the group said they are concentrating on locating the engine block, the landing gear, the tires, and the gas tank because they were all bulletproof.
Searchers said that, even if the mystery of the past isn't solved, the new search technology used could benefit others in the future.
The search takes place on Friday and Saturday
Emergency Operation - South Side councilor, residents are taking one last stab to save neighborhood hospital - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh
Emergency Operation - South Side councilor, residents are taking one last stab to save neighborhood hospital - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh Since taking office early this year, Pittsburgh City Councilor Bruce Kraus has fielded calls from South Side residents about everything from unruly drunks to the city's decision to relocate the Zone 3 police station. But nothing compares to the uproar he's heard over the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's plans to close South Side Hospital.No. It is not impressive. Huh is nothing but a time sink. It might be impressive when boy racers spin their wheels and make noise and smoke, but that is generally worthless too.
'We're pushing well into 400 letters,' Kraus says, dropping three two-inch thick binders on his office table. 'Pretty impressive, huh?'
UPMC is going to run the Mercy Hospital. I live on the South Side. Mercy is equally as close to my house as is the South Side Hospital.
Furthermore, UPMC is running the rehab site along the river where the Steelers practice. So, we've already got that facility too. And, UPMC has parking lots as well.
How about if the shuttle buses that run from the South Side parking lots into Oakland are allowed to shuttle people who are not employees. That would be a HUGE victory for local residents and the region.
The time to take on UPMC was when I took on UPMC in 1999. That's when UPMC wanted to buy land at greatly reduced values along the river's edge for no net new jobs. There were better things that should have been done and I advocated for.
The football practice facility should have been built right behind the existing UPMC South Side Hospital so that they would have been able to boost that facilities value. There is plenty of land there that could have been used as it is not locked, closed, filled with a wasteland that was once a community asset and resource. Then we'd have the hospital for decades to come.
But no. Bruce Krause was not to be seen then, when it was needed.
Now it is too little and too late. And, his huffing won't help.
I had concerns about the UPMC Hospital long before the merger was announced.
It is a good idea that these clowns are off!
My instant message to Marty Griffin who is cathing a bunch of state reps in lies as to how much they are working. He wants them to admit that they have a four month vacation.
We should insist that the state reps and senators stay away from capital so as to not pass anything in lame duck periods. We don't want them running a gov after election days.
Be careful what you wish for.
If they were in Harrisburg the deficit would be worse.
Of course you rail on them for their waste. Keep that up!
We should insist that the state reps and senators stay away from capital so as to not pass anything in lame duck periods. We don't want them running a gov after election days.
Be careful what you wish for.
If they were in Harrisburg the deficit would be worse.
Of course you rail on them for their waste. Keep that up!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Planetarium on defense after McCain criticism - Chicago Breaking News
What does our Running Mate, Glenn W, say about this?
Planetarium on defense after McCain criticism - Chicago Breaking News: "Planetarium on defense after McCain criticism
Dr. Paul Knappenberger, president of the Adler Planetarium, talks about the Zeiss Planetarium Instrument today. Sen. John McCain referred to the instrument as an 'overhead projector' in last night's presidential debate.
Aides to Barack Obama and officials at Adler Planetarium moved today to explain a pair of earmarks Obama has sought for the museum since 2006, at a time when the planetarium's chairman was raising money for the U.S. senator's presidential campaign."
2008 Presidential Candidate Spending Analyses
National Taxpayers Union studies three presidential candidates on spending positions.
2008 Presidential Candidate Spending Analyses: "2008 Presidential Candidate Spending Analyses"
Facebook | Patriot Nation
Facebook | Patriot Nation: "'Bob Barr has been on the barricades defending Americans' privacy and liberty against Big Government ever since 1995. He is one of the modern heroes of the Fourth Amendment, standing up for privacy against the FBI, the National Security Agency, and Homeland Security. He is also one of the most savvy and hard-hitting heroes of the Second Amendment, fighting to expose government abuses around the nation.' - Jim Bovard, Author of Lost Rights and Attention Deficit Democracy"
Reminder, Tonight is trash night
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| From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
To my "friends" on the South Side, here is a little clean and green reminder. Tonight is trash night. Put your trash onto the curb for Thursday's early morning pick up.
Life Hint: your landlord may or may not have told you this information about trash collection in the city you now reside. So, figure it out yourself.
Life Hint 2: You don't need to, but it might help matters, if you always took the time to make your bed every morning. You never know when an over-reaching member of council may start to craft legislation about that.
On housing, McCain now likes big government - Oct. 8, 2008
This will be bailout 3.0 -- err -- the Third Bailout.
On housing, McCain now likes big government - Oct. 8, 2008: "WASHINGTON (Fortune) -- Minutes into last night's presidential debate, the already listing ship of free-market Republicanism groaned, keeled over and began a long journey to the bottom of the political seas.The first one's won't work.
John McCain told us he wants the federal government to nationalize much of the home mortgage industry, buying up loans from strained homeowners and renegotiating new, more affordable terms.
Open Debates is a good place to start
Face it, last night's 90 minute debate between McCain and Obama sucked. It was a waste.
So as to not just be negative, while offering the solution of Open Debates -- I've got another.
Tune into the first episode of a new TV show: "Worst Week." Watch them in order from 1 to 3. They are on Comcast On Demand, without an extra charge. Funny stuff, like the Keystone Cops of modern time. Way better than the debates with only the D and R.
Open Debates 'The Commission on Presidential Debates is a corrupt stranglehold on our democracy.'I blame the Ds and the Rs. I blame the media too.
Debates' Commission Masterminds Most Somnolent Event: Last night's presidential "town hall" in Nashville hosted by Tom Brokaw was a bust, suggests Micah Sifry. First things first: the word on the street yesterday was that six million votes had poured in through MyDebates.org, the love child of MySpace and the Commission on Presidential Debates. You might remember that we expressed a bit of skepticism about that rather enormous rate of public participation yesterday, and yes, we're bragging, because last night Brokaw pegged the number at a far more plausible "tens of thousands." No matter how many there were, only four "from the Internet" questions were actually asked during the debate. (Answered is a different story -- both candidates made Laila Ali proud with their ability to bob and weave.) So, Micah, how do we fix it? Luckily, he's got ideas, and they center around finally grasping that we have the tools to handle living in a world of abundance. (By the way, we'd love to ask the CPD how many questions actual came in online, but their website lists no contact information -- or even a debate schedule. Democracy!) If you're newly interested in the idea of debate reform, Open Debates is a good place to start.
So as to not just be negative, while offering the solution of Open Debates -- I've got another.
Tune into the first episode of a new TV show: "Worst Week." Watch them in order from 1 to 3. They are on Comcast On Demand, without an extra charge. Funny stuff, like the Keystone Cops of modern time. Way better than the debates with only the D and R.
Pop City - Wiki-ing our Way to a Better Pittsburgh
The best way to wiki our way to a better Pittsburgh is NOT to fork. Rather to join.
The help at FixPA.wikia.com is welcomed from anyone, any time, on any topic. The original framework allows ALL POINTS OF VIEW -- by design.
The help at FixPA.wikia.com is welcomed from anyone, any time, on any topic. The original framework allows ALL POINTS OF VIEW -- by design.
Pop City - Wiki-ing our Way to a Better Pittsburgh: "It's called Pittsburgh Wiki - a 21st century, web-enabled variation on the kind of pure democracy practiced in Athens 2500 years ago where citizens publicly thrashed out issues until they came to a common resolution, and then worked to translate their thinking into sensible action. The goal is to harness the considerable intellectual firepower of the Pittsburgh region's thoughtful citizenry to help transform it into a world-class city, a leader in the best kind of urban living.Stay tuned.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Live Blogging Debate at Election.Twitter.com
Catch my tweets at Twitter. They are listed on the side of this blog too.
http://Election.twitter.com
http://Election.twitter.com
Raise awareness, and take action to end violence in our community
YWCA invites you to attend these activities.
Sunday, October 19: Day of Remembrance
All city faith-based outreach initiative—remembrance of victims of violent crimes.
Monday, October 20: Protecting Our Children
Children in early learning programs will work together to create murals expressing “What a Safe Place Means to Me?” Three of the posters will be displayed in the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh downtown lobby.
Tuesday, October 21: Making Our Schools Safer
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, 305 Wood Street, downtown, Resource Room, 1st floor
The Chief of Police for Pittsburgh Public Schools, Bob Fadzen, and safety dogs, Max and Quincy, will do a presentation. A light lunch will be served.
Wednesday, October 22: Eliminating Racism and Hate Crime
George Simmons, of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, will speak about bullying, harassment, discrimination and hate crimes in Pennsylvania. Check out: www.ywcapgh.org for location details.
Thursday, October 23: Facing Violence Among Men
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Robert Morris University, 600 Fifth Avenue, downtown, Art Gallery, 1st floor
Paul Spradley, Assistant Director of Student Life for Multicultural Affairs, will speak about the impact of violence on young men and your role in prevention. A light lunch will be served.
Friday, October 24: Confronting Violence Against Women
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Carlow University, 3333 Fifth Avenue, Kresge Theatre, Grace Library Hall
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Point Park University, 201 Wood Street, JVHAuditorium, 2nd floor
Elizabeth Kirschner explores the trauma of domestic violence, reading from her book of poems, My Life as a Doll. (Autumn House Press, 2008)
Complimentary copies of the book will be available in limited numbers.
Saturday, October 25: Alternatives to Violence
11:00 – 2:30 p.m. Pittsburgh Peabody High School, 515 Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh
Violence awareness event presentation by RaShall M. Brackney, Commander, City of Pittsburgh, Bureau of Police, Zone 1 Station…Lunch will be served.
October 19 – 25, 2008
The Week Without Violence is an annual event sponsored by the YWCAduring the week of October 19 – 25, 2008. YWCAGreater Pittsburgh’s 13th annual campaign is entitled “Creating Peace in Our Community.” The objective of the Week Without Violence is to focus attention on practical, sustainable non-violent alternatives. Each day of the week focuses on an aspect of this community‑wide problem.
All presentations are free and open to the public.
To register for an activity, please call 412–255–1258.
Sponsored by
The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh thanks the following Week Without Violence collaborative organizations:
Alle Kiski Area Hope Center
Carlow University
CASA (Court Appointed Service Advocates)
Center for Victims of Violence and Crime
Crisis Center North
District Attorney Stephen Zappala’s office
Family Resources of Western Pennsylvania
GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
Kidsvoice
Partners of Murdered Children of Western PA
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR)
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Point Park University
Robert Morris University
Safety Kids
The Honorable Bill Peduto’s office
United Way of Allegheny County
Women Against Abusive Relationships (WAAR)
Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
Womansplace
Bill requires landlords to tell tenants about trash collection
Fruitless looks like this:
You can't legislate good behaviors.
As government pushes with legislation -- then people depart. The trash won't go away. Rather, the value in the neighborhood departs.
Mr. Kraus is doing a knee jerk reaction to complaints rather than fixing the problem. Bruce is a great clean-up guy. Mean and green and clean he is. Too bad he doesn't work for Public Works. That's where is talents reside.
Fruitless example 2:
Bill requires landlords to tell tenants about trash collection Bill requires landlords to tell tenants about trash collectionSigh.
You can't legislate good behaviors.
As government pushes with legislation -- then people depart. The trash won't go away. Rather, the value in the neighborhood departs.
Mr. Kraus is doing a knee jerk reaction to complaints rather than fixing the problem. Bruce is a great clean-up guy. Mean and green and clean he is. Too bad he doesn't work for Public Works. That's where is talents reside.
Fruitless example 2:
Council today gave final approval to legislation giving the city until Dec. 1 to put in place a system by which landlords can register their units, and then until April 1 for owners of an estimated 62,000 rental units to register and pay. The city missed an earlier set of deadlines to implement a licensing and registration ordinance passed by council in December.The South Side isn't ready to live under the rule of Martha Stewart either.
At this time, the city is not ready to receive landlord registrations.
Sarah Palin's Extreme Sports
Sarah Palin's Extreme Sports By Dave ZirinI love sports. And, I love politics. Plus, I greatly enjoy the work of journalist, David Zirin.
Ever since Andrew Johnson welcomed the New York Mutuals to the White House in 1867, presidential politics has exploited professional sports. It's a foolproof way for politicians to show voters they enjoy competition, fair play and are salt-of-the-turf Americans.
If you don't count Jim Ryun, miler, former US Congressmen seeking to win back his seat in 2008. Or, if you don't count Bill Bradley, Paul Allen and Luke Ravenstahl's place-kicking in DIII schools.
Palin has the most extensive sports resumé for a politician since former Representative Steve Largent. But unlike Largent, an NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver, Palin's sporting bona fides are more style than substance.
His closing remarks, swings for the fences:
It's about the right-wing edge of the fundamentalist movement that uses sports to mask a political agenda of creationism, bigotry, environmental catastrophe and deregulation. And if that leads to the "end-times," then so it was written. If sports teaches us anything, it's that you can disguise a lousy competitor for one round, one quarter or one inning, but the truth has a way of making itself known. There is a reason Sarah Palin hasn't done a press conference. In every conceivable way, she belongs in the minors: strictly Bush league.
LTE: Gambling and Children
Letter to editor for your consideration
By Mike Ference
Clairton, PA 15025
Illegal Gaming exposed for Chuck E Cheese Tokens
By Mike Ference
Who would have thunk it. Casino operators are able to do what DAs and
keystone cops have not been able to do since illegal gambling began to
flourish at the end of prohibition – shut down government protected gaming
operations that allowed certain groups and individuals to rake in tax-free
money in mob-controlled towns scattered across the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
To boost revenues in seven existing casinos, the Pennsylvania Gaming
Control Board is passing out grant money to assist police departments in
finding and prosecuting businesses that house illegal gambling operations.
My gut says there’s got to be a lawsuit with a 50/50 chance of exposing
just how corrupt Pennsylvania government really is and maybe a story or
two on how certain crimes committed by the right ethnic group seem to get
a pass.
Mob lawyers – with extensive background in union affairs – could easily
argue past practice should prevail. In other words, Pennsylvania gambling
devices have a god-given right to stay plugged in because for decades the
gambling joints have been pilfering the hard-earned money of loyal patrons
for decades with no interference from the law.
I’ve also done the research by quizzing an expert on organized crime (who
has written extensively on the mob, he even had a grandfather whacked)
about the, who, what and where of illegal gaming operations. According to
this seasoned law enforcement officer only two scenarios are possible in a
town playing host to illegal gaming operations. One, government and law
enforcement officials are collecting bribes or protection money to assure
the gambling biz is never interrupted. Two, if there are no bribes, money
is being left on the table. Either way, it seems taxpayers could benefit
from a class-action suit and finally get their share of gambling funds
based on government incompetence or good old-fashioned corruption.
As for as the grant money being shelled out by the Pennsylvania Gaming
Control Board; my seven grandkids and I would be willing to guide local
police to all the gambling operations in the Mob Valley section of
Allegheny County (sorry I mean Mon Valley) just for fun or a few Chuck E
Cheese tokens.
Sadly, the folks who are paid to do the same appear to be clueless.
Strategic Plan is out and comments are to bounce back by the 13th
Pittsburgh Public Schools | Strategic Plan:Download the Final Draft Stategic Plan here [PDF, 69p.]
Read the Press Release regarding Public Commentary here [PDF, 1p., 08/02/08]
I'm signed up to speak at 7 pm on October 13, 2008.
Kathy wrote in an email:
Lots of ongoing issues at the PPS and many reasons for all of us to stay engaged:
1) Declining enrollment in the PPS. We are trying to evaluate the numbers.
2) IB facility location. IB committee is looking at tentative sites and will release recommendations this month. However the general public has no idea what sites are being considered and what will happen to the students that are enrolled at whichever site is selected.
3) Mark Roosevelt recently released his draft of the district’s strategic plan that addresses the direction of the PPS over the next 6 years. We are all supposed to read this 65 page document and come up with comprehensive questions and concerns for the October 13 public hearing (no worries, your kids don’t need to eat or bath over the next 2 weeks while you dive into this dense and confusing document!). Call the Board of Education to sign up to speak at this meeting (412-622-3600)
We at PURE Reform will try to decipher and distill this document and have the results on the website (www.purereform.com) ASAP.
Please go to http://purereform.blogspot.
com/ to register your thoughts/comments.Anyone willing to help with compiling the information that we need for informed decision making, please contact Kathy Fine at finekj - @ - hotmail - .- com.
Conference Call Tonight at 6 pm to prep for Pittsburgh visit of US Presidential candidate
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 3177
Can you join us at 6 pm tonight -- to huddle about the pending visit to Pittsburgh by Bob Barr, Libertarian, candidate for US President.
We'll learn the details and make some other outreach plans.
Thanks for your help and consideration.
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 3177
Unfortunately the Barr campaign had to cancel the planned appearance and events in Harrisburg on Wednesday, October 8. There will be no event at the Penn State Harrisburg campus nor will Bob appear on PCN. The Meet and Greet event at the Harrisburg Hilton is also cancelled.
We regret that Bob Barr will not be in Harrisburg, however Libertarian Auditor General Candidate Betsy Summers will still be appearing on PCN at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 8, so be sure to tune in then.
It appears the visit to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area on Friday October 10 has been changed to a visit to Pittsburgh, with an event at Carnegie Mellon University. We will pass along more information as it becomes available.
We regret any inconvenience caused by the last-minute changes, and hope we can get the visit re-scheduled in the near future.
Sincerely,
Michael J. "Mik" Robertson
Chair, Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
Call ID: 3177
Can you join us at 6 pm tonight -- to huddle about the pending visit to Pittsburgh by Bob Barr, Libertarian, candidate for US President.
We'll learn the details and make some other outreach plans.
Thanks for your help and consideration.
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 3177
You can also take part in the conference call by using your computer.
After the call, you'll be able to listen to the conversation as well.
Unfortunately the Barr campaign had to cancel the planned appearance and events in Harrisburg on Wednesday, October 8. There will be no event at the Penn State Harrisburg campus nor will Bob appear on PCN. The Meet and Greet event at the Harrisburg Hilton is also cancelled.
We regret that Bob Barr will not be in Harrisburg, however Libertarian Auditor General Candidate Betsy Summers will still be appearing on PCN at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 8, so be sure to tune in then.
It appears the visit to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area on Friday October 10 has been changed to a visit to Pittsburgh, with an event at Carnegie Mellon University. We will pass along more information as it becomes available.
We regret any inconvenience caused by the last-minute changes, and hope we can get the visit re-scheduled in the near future.
Sincerely,
Michael J. "Mik" Robertson
Chair, Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
DebateDrink.com | Presidential Debate Drinking Game
Funny. We played in the past. What about you tonight? See me on Twitter!
DebateDrink.com | Presidential Debate Drinking Game Presidential Debate #2 (The YouTube Debate) Rules coming soon!
Bob Barr, candidate for US PRESIDENT, libertarian, will be in Pittsburgh on 10-10
Bob Barr will be in Pittsburgh on Friday, October 10, speaking at Carnegie Mellon University.
That is Erik's birthday!
My most recent happy birthday song was delivered to me by more than 600 people from all parts of the world while at a massive banquet in Amsterdam. Perhaps Erik can have a presidential candidate sing to him.
That is Erik's birthday!
My most recent happy birthday song was delivered to me by more than 600 people from all parts of the world while at a massive banquet in Amsterdam. Perhaps Erik can have a presidential candidate sing to him.
City school enrollment falling fast
The web headline says city enrollment is 'diving.' Ha, ha, ha. Diving, as in the sport of diving, isn't a part of the school district's offerings. If you want to be a 'diver' in the city, you can NOT do it in the schools. You can dive at Pitt, for a great club team. Or, you can dive in many suburban districts and still dive at Pitt's club team.
To be fair, perhaps, that is one way to make sure that the schools do not die, overall. The trend and practice has been to take the kids causing trouble and just leave them where they are -- in a troubled state causing trouble. Or, move the students to different schools to cause trouble there. That's a game of musical chairs for the non-musical but very obvious.
The higher numbers in those programs with gains are due to other reasons -- such as a privatized 'light-jail' school that had been opened.
The district on Sept. 28, 2008 counted 26,649 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, down 1,616 from a year ago.
While some individual schools saw gains, overall enrollment fell in accelerated learning academies, K-8 schools, K-5 schools, middle schools and high schools -- every category except schools for children with disciplinary problems.
Pittsburgh's problems are NOT like those of other urban school districts. This is not okay for a justification. This excuse was used when Gov. Rendell won his election to become governor as he failed in Philly as head of that district. So, Pittsburgh had to show it was on the brink as well. That's when the foundation money was pulled.
Around the globe, urban areas are increasing population. With the higher price of gas, people want to live closer to work, play, worship and cultural opportunities. The city can and should be growing. The city has plenty of great values, in various segments.
Many urban districts are experiencing enrollment declines because of the attractiveness of suburban and charter schools, among other reasons. Mr. Roosevelt yesterday blamed the Pittsburgh district's losses on "city flight," an aging population and other demographic issues.
The city flight that I'm seeing is due to Mr. Roosevelt's policies. When you have a hand-picked committee work for a few years on high school reform and then chuck all of those efforts out the window -- that stinks. That's what they did. The high school reform task force efforts were turned into nothing but a joke.
The Pittsburgh Promise is to PPS just as PNC Park is to the winning ways of the Pittsburgh Pirates. When PNC Park was being built, everyone was told that there would be years of 'sold out' baseball games. The first year there were about ten games that were sold out. That's it. They lied. They were hyper inflated projections.
"We also know the Pittsburgh Promise is an important ingredient," Mr. Tarka said, referring to the college scholarship program for city high school graduates that's intended to lure families to the city and help retain those already here.
During the past three years, Mr. Roosevelt has closed and consolidated schools, introduced new curricula and made other changes, hoping to right academics and finances. Critics displeased with Mr. Roosevelt's changes, including the closing of the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building in June, have suggested that he's driving some families from the district.
Mr. Roosevelt yesterday disputed that idea, saying enrollment numbers conform to state projections that are based on demographics.
He added that ninth-grade enrollment at Pittsburgh Frick 6-9 in Oakland and the new university-prep school in the Hill District show that the Schenley decision hasn't caused parents to pull students from the district.
Frick and the university school together have about 270 ninth-graders, most of whom would have gone to the Schenley building had it remained open. Mr. Roosevelt said enrollment at the Reizenstein building in Shadyside -- new home to Schenley's 10th, 11th and 12th graders -- is a healthy 694.
Enrollment over the past year fell by about 9.5 percent, or 334 students, at the accelerated learning academies; by about 6.3 percent, or 382 students, at K-8 schools; by about 8 percent, or 285 students, at middle schools; and by about 8.8 percent, or 739 students, at high schools. Enrollment at K-5 schools was down 15 students, about 0.2 percent, and enrollment at schools serving children with disabilities was down seven students, or about 2 percent.
Enrollment in schools serving children with discipline problems was up about 46 percent, or 146 students. Most of the increase came from the referral of additional students to the North Side alternative school that Community Education Partners operates for the district.
More to come.
City school enrollment falling fast City school enrollment falling fastSchool student numbers are up in one category -- schools with children with discipline issues. Oh my.
Superintendent says it's because of demographic shift, but critics say it's because of unpopular changes
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Enrollment in the Pittsburgh Public Schools fell just over 5.7 percent in the past year, one of the largest increases in a decade. Superintendent Mark Roosevelt blamed demographic trends, but critics fear it is partly attributable to unpopular changes he has made.
To be fair, perhaps, that is one way to make sure that the schools do not die, overall. The trend and practice has been to take the kids causing trouble and just leave them where they are -- in a troubled state causing trouble. Or, move the students to different schools to cause trouble there. That's a game of musical chairs for the non-musical but very obvious.
The higher numbers in those programs with gains are due to other reasons -- such as a privatized 'light-jail' school that had been opened.
The district on Sept. 28, 2008 counted 26,649 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, down 1,616 from a year ago.
While some individual schools saw gains, overall enrollment fell in accelerated learning academies, K-8 schools, K-5 schools, middle schools and high schools -- every category except schools for children with disciplinary problems.
Pittsburgh's problems are NOT like those of other urban school districts. This is not okay for a justification. This excuse was used when Gov. Rendell won his election to become governor as he failed in Philly as head of that district. So, Pittsburgh had to show it was on the brink as well. That's when the foundation money was pulled.
Around the globe, urban areas are increasing population. With the higher price of gas, people want to live closer to work, play, worship and cultural opportunities. The city can and should be growing. The city has plenty of great values, in various segments.
Many urban districts are experiencing enrollment declines because of the attractiveness of suburban and charter schools, among other reasons. Mr. Roosevelt yesterday blamed the Pittsburgh district's losses on "city flight," an aging population and other demographic issues.
The city flight that I'm seeing is due to Mr. Roosevelt's policies. When you have a hand-picked committee work for a few years on high school reform and then chuck all of those efforts out the window -- that stinks. That's what they did. The high school reform task force efforts were turned into nothing but a joke.
For example, he said the demolition of public housing in Garfield may be responsible for the loss of students at Fort Pitt PreK-5, an accelerated learning academy. The school has 292 students, down 93 from a year ago.
"There's a lot happening here," Mr. Roosevelt said, adding that the district hopes to begin a project to find families that have left the district and ask them why they relocated.
The district had 39,603 students in fall 1998. It has lost students in each of the past 10 school years, including a drop of about 6.6 percent from 2001-02 to 2002-03 and a drop of about 5.7 percent from 2003-04 to 2004-05.
Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President John Tarka said his members are working with the district to improve the district's academic reputation and reverse the enrollment decline.
The Pittsburgh Promise is to PPS just as PNC Park is to the winning ways of the Pittsburgh Pirates. When PNC Park was being built, everyone was told that there would be years of 'sold out' baseball games. The first year there were about ten games that were sold out. That's it. They lied. They were hyper inflated projections.
"We also know the Pittsburgh Promise is an important ingredient," Mr. Tarka said, referring to the college scholarship program for city high school graduates that's intended to lure families to the city and help retain those already here.
During the past three years, Mr. Roosevelt has closed and consolidated schools, introduced new curricula and made other changes, hoping to right academics and finances. Critics displeased with Mr. Roosevelt's changes, including the closing of the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building in June, have suggested that he's driving some families from the district.
Mr. Roosevelt yesterday disputed that idea, saying enrollment numbers conform to state projections that are based on demographics.
He added that ninth-grade enrollment at Pittsburgh Frick 6-9 in Oakland and the new university-prep school in the Hill District show that the Schenley decision hasn't caused parents to pull students from the district.
Frick and the university school together have about 270 ninth-graders, most of whom would have gone to the Schenley building had it remained open. Mr. Roosevelt said enrollment at the Reizenstein building in Shadyside -- new home to Schenley's 10th, 11th and 12th graders -- is a healthy 694.
Enrollment over the past year fell by about 9.5 percent, or 334 students, at the accelerated learning academies; by about 6.3 percent, or 382 students, at K-8 schools; by about 8 percent, or 285 students, at middle schools; and by about 8.8 percent, or 739 students, at high schools. Enrollment at K-5 schools was down 15 students, about 0.2 percent, and enrollment at schools serving children with disabilities was down seven students, or about 2 percent.
Enrollment in schools serving children with discipline problems was up about 46 percent, or 146 students. Most of the increase came from the referral of additional students to the North Side alternative school that Community Education Partners operates for the district.
More to come.
City elections are heating up |� The Republican Eagle �| Red Wing, Minnesota
Rauterkus is going to win this election, with signs to prove it.
City elections are heating up - The Republican Eagle - Red Wing, Minnesota Ward 3-4
If you've driven through Red Wing lately you've likely seen a Ralph Rauterkus sign in someone's yard.
You may have asked whom is he running against. The answer is no one.
Rauterkus was the only one to file when Mike Hall announced he wasn't seeking re-election.
Monday, October 06, 2008
From http://www.techpresident.com about Keating and McCain and the new flick
Obama Tries to Connects the Dots with Keating Doc: The Obama campaign has kept its powder dry on the so-called Keating Five scandal -- the savings and loan controversy from the early '90s which found John McCain criticized by the Senate ethics committee for his relationship with California S&L figure Charles Keating. Until now. At noon ET today, the Obama campaign is releasing a 13 minute documentary shot in a polished doc style that would do Errol Morris proud. Politico's Mike Allen has more on the strategy behind the campaign's Keating focus. With a microsite built around the film at KeatingEconomics.com, what could have been dismissed as a dredging up of ancient history actually ties the Keating scandal to a powerful theme: that the crony corporatism witnessed during the S&L mess is still at play during our current economic crisis. That's a tough case to make in 30 second TV spot or two minute web ad -- much easier to lay it out in a 13 minute mini-film. And hey, why not launch it right at lunchtime east coast time, when people are looking for a little entertainment? The innovative technique all but guarantees it will attract attention: the trailer for the film has already gotten more than 270,000 views. Worth nothing is the contrast between this and how the McCain camp is treating the situation involving former Weatherman Bill Ayers -- as much as McCain would love to highlight the connection between Ayers and Obama, neither his campaign nor the RNC has produced anything like what team Obama is doing here with Keating; a search for "Ayers" on JohnMcCain.com, for example, produces this: No documents were found."#
Bob Barr: Economic Chaos Increases After Congress Passes Bailout
Bob Barr: Economic Chaos Increases After Congress Passes Bailout: "Economic Chaos Increases After Congress Passes Bailout"
Will Sens. Obama and McCain Claim a Piece of this Rotten Fish They Helped Produce?
Will Sens. Obama and McCain Claim a Piece of this Rotten Fish They Helped Produce?
Instant message to Marty Griffin of KDKA Radio
The 'shock jock' is getting nasty with both camps -- replaying and amplifying the negative messages from and about Obama and McCain. Keating Five and all the other dirt he can spit upon about them both.
My note to him:
Professor of Univ. of Ill Chicago, & Hyde Park neighbor & fellow nonprofit board member & $200 donor of candidate Obama wishes they (underground) had done more of domestic bombings / terror.
Humm...
He wishes for, but didn't deliver, a "SURGE."
We're bombing now. Different time. different place. Different intensity.
Focus on the future. Politics is about the future, not the past.
My note to him:
Professor of Univ. of Ill Chicago, & Hyde Park neighbor & fellow nonprofit board member & $200 donor of candidate Obama wishes they (underground) had done more of domestic bombings / terror.
Humm...
He wishes for, but didn't deliver, a "SURGE."
We're bombing now. Different time. different place. Different intensity.
Focus on the future. Politics is about the future, not the past.
Baseball, anyone????
My Tweet asks:
What are our connections to brotherly love, after all?
The Admiral, of course. He is presently a Philly-based blogger that can't seem to fully butt out of the Pittsburgh blogging seascape -- err -- escape -- as many of the others in this village have done N@.
Fast Eddie, of course.
Comcast.
Family and friends, too many to mention.
How many ex-Pirates are still playing baseball this year? It is time for a Tim Wakefield update? Supan?
How many ex-residents are playing ball now? We always are suckers for the home-grown talent. Who can we cheer for, besides the Buckeye QB, mentioned already today.
This week is a Steelers bye week. So, we've got some extra cycles to devote to something, besides the 2nd presidential debate and Survivor Gabon.
Will folks in Pittsburgh care about Major League Baseball's playoffs now that Philly is to the next round. vs LA next. Yawn, Boo or Cheer?We have a 'cheese stake' in this race, right?
What are our connections to brotherly love, after all?
The Admiral, of course. He is presently a Philly-based blogger that can't seem to fully butt out of the Pittsburgh blogging seascape -- err -- escape -- as many of the others in this village have done N@.
Fast Eddie, of course.
Comcast.
Family and friends, too many to mention.
How many ex-Pirates are still playing baseball this year? It is time for a Tim Wakefield update? Supan?
How many ex-residents are playing ball now? We always are suckers for the home-grown talent. Who can we cheer for, besides the Buckeye QB, mentioned already today.
This week is a Steelers bye week. So, we've got some extra cycles to devote to something, besides the 2nd presidential debate and Survivor Gabon.
The Pitt News - Two students stabbed at Hemingway's
The Pitt News - Two students stabbed at Hemingway's Two students stabbed at Hemingway'sThis is bad news.
An opinion article in The Pitt News about this topic can't be found on the web site. URL please.
In other Pitt News, the football team is now ranked, again, #24. The team was #25 in the pre-season polls, but opening day loss to BGSU put them out, of course.
Penn State is #6 and still undefeated.
Ohio State's freshman QB, a Western PA kid, has them back on-track. They played in prime time and beat the Badgers. Meanwhile, what happened to the Wisconsin Band?
Finally, I'm hearing about cheerleaders in local high schools that are using electronic cameras, often attached to cell phones, for no good. Parents, check it out!
Amber Alert Noise
In other Amber Alert News, from the City of Pittsburgh's Citizen Alert email system:
On Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 9:41 AM, CitizenObserver wrote that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police alert for a guy who was wanted for an ALLEGED homicide that occurred at 7701 Penn Avenue on September 22, 2008 in which 20-year-old Korey Johnson was shot as he sat in his car at the Sunoco Station, was arrested on 9/26/08.
Please cancel the Alert issued for this guy on October 6 as he was nabbed on Sept 26.
This is NOT okay. The delay from the 26th to Oct 6 gives little or no faith in the update system. Get it right or it won't be used and trusted.
Today, the State Police issued an Amber Alert for a 17 year old girl. I am watching for the suspension of that alert -- as it occurs -- not a week or two later.
I'm happy that the police caught the guy. I'm happy that the police are trying to keep citizens notified. But do a better job!
On Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 9:41 AM, CitizenObserver wrote that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police alert for a guy who was wanted for an ALLEGED homicide that occurred at 7701 Penn Avenue on September 22, 2008 in which 20-year-old Korey Johnson was shot as he sat in his car at the Sunoco Station, was arrested on 9/26/08.
Please cancel the Alert issued for this guy on October 6 as he was nabbed on Sept 26.
This is NOT okay. The delay from the 26th to Oct 6 gives little or no faith in the update system. Get it right or it won't be used and trusted.
Today, the State Police issued an Amber Alert for a 17 year old girl. I am watching for the suspension of that alert -- as it occurs -- not a week or two later.
I'm happy that the police caught the guy. I'm happy that the police are trying to keep citizens notified. But do a better job!
Malaysia's schools get OpenOffice.org
The Malaysian government has unveiled plans to roll out OpenOffice.org in schools across the nation--a move that will affect some 300,000 PCs.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,62045435,00.htm
In other news, OpenOffice.org Annual Conference, slated for Beijing, is now open for registration. I'd love to go to Beijing, China between 5th.-7th of November, 2008. This OOoCon is a double first - it's the first OOoCon to be held outside Europe, and it will also see the biggest concentration of OpenOffice.org developers ever assembled in one location on the planet.
Links:
Conference website: http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2008
Programme: http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2008/programme.html
Registration:
http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2008/travel.html#registration
Plus, the release candidate 3 of OpenOffice.org 3.0 is now ready for testing.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
RCP Tiburon Mile Open Water Swim
RCP Tiburon Mile Open Water Swim: "9. Do swimmers have a maximum period of time to complete the race? Swimmers who have not entered the harbor and passed the Angel Island Ferry within 55 minutes will be pulled from the water.
10. What is the average temperature of the water in October in the San Francisco Bay? The water on average will be about 63-degrees Fahrenheit."
PVK in Pittsburgh for swim clinic
 |
| From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
USA Swimming star, Peter Vanderkaay, gold medalist in the 800 meter free relay and bronze in the 200 meter free in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics, is in Pittsburgh today for a swim clinic.
Here he is when we got to meet him after he won the bronze in the Water Cube with his college coach, Jon Urbanckek, also of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Hope you have a great visit and clinic.
Newspaper Article on Citizens who speak at public meetings quotes me
We are fixtures!
Self-appointed watchdogs refuse to roll over
Article link in the Sunday Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
One element that I don't generally do is use my voice to rail against other property owners and fellow citizens. The target of most of my messages is government and our public life.
Self-appointed watchdogs refuse to roll over
Article link in the Sunday Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
Mark Rauterkus, 49, of the South Side has consistently challenged City Council, and on his Web site he calls citizenship "a serious responsibility." A stay-at-home father and part-time swimming coach, Rauterkus uses his free time to monitor local government. He's run for public office as a Libertarian, and he regularly updates his blog with commentary on the national, state and local political events.Of course, I am 'self-appointed' -- but -- I'm also often in a capacity that is more than self-appointed. As an elected board member of the Libertarian Party, I have a 'duty.' As a nominated candidate who has had people in the public sign nomination papers, I have a role too.
Challenging government decisions isn't just about saying no, he said.
"If we all did a little bit of the lifting then it wouldn't be such a heavy burden for the naysayers out there," he said.
One element that I don't generally do is use my voice to rail against other property owners and fellow citizens. The target of most of my messages is government and our public life.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Nice Bike Ride Today -- ran into the Mayor
 |
| From Erik |
 |
| Mark Rauterkus and Luke Ravenstahl, both enjoying the 250th at Point State Park. From people & vips |
The way traffic was shut down in the city was a disgrace, by the way. By 11 am, the roads that crossed the city were closed due to 250 bikers on the bike path. Go figure. There is no way that they needed to close so many roads for such a long period.
Furthermore, those with eagle eyes can notice the outside of The Hilton Hotel and the bare facade, still unfinished.
The best thing at Point State Park, was getting to make our own Smile Cookies, thanks to Eat 'n Park.
 |
| From texture - misc. |
Saw VIP, Mr. Pippy, wearing his Army bike top.
 |
| From people & vips |
The fountain is pink. The fireworks are yet to occur.
 |
| From Transportation |
Fireworks just happened. Boy, the launch site at the USX Tower, now adorned with the lighted UPMC sign, didn't fire as designed, did it?
 |
| From Erik |
Friday, October 03, 2008
Sarah Palin, Joe Biden And The Lost City of Incan Gold
I just read where Hillary Clinton had nice things to say about Sarah Palin, the Alaska Governor who is running for vice president on the Republican ticket. It's obvious that through her decidedly silent support of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton knows that the Democratic standard bearer is nothing but an empty suit.
I heard a little of the debate on my satellite radio last night, after seeing a Sneak Preview of the wonderful movie "Flash of Genius." Biden sounded tremendous, exactly like the 30-plus year Washington insider should. On the radio Palin sounded a little rehearsed, a little nervous. Critics had pounded it into our heads that Palin needed to come out like Rocky Balboa in the final round of Rocky II, you know where the Italian Stallion won it all for Adrian.
The results were remarkably standard: Democrats said Biden won, Republicans were assured that Palin won. In many ways, they both won. And in many ways they both lost.
I've said since the Palin pick that unless the wheels fell off the wagon, the Republicans had the election in the bag. Then Wall Street took a nose dive. Fickle America blamed President Bush and the Republicans.
That might just be the wheel off the wagon. It's looking more like the most unqualified Presidential candidate in the history of Presidential elections might get the key to the Lost City of Incan Gold.
The PBS Moderator who has a vested, financial interest--not unlike a bettor at a dog track--in Barack Obama winning was smart enough to not divulge that very important information to the group that chose her for the most eagerly-awaited vice presidential debate since they've been airing on television. Gwen Iffill is just the latest of the Limousine Liberals to call themselves objective journalists involved in this election cycle. Oddly enough, Gwen was quoted in an Associated Press article leading up to the debate, saying that there was nothing "out there" to claim she was pulling for Obama's ticket. She must have forgotten that she is in the midst of writing a book about famous African Americans who she admires. It was quickly pointed out that Colin Powell, who was never elected to any post anywhere, is also featured in the book. Woop tee doo.
The comparisons between Obama and Jesus have been toned down considerably, but there is still an outpouring of Liberal assistance, positioning the Democratic ticket as the best thing since Jesus provided anything to anybody.
Dennis Miller, who is clearly the most thoughtful comedian out there working mainstream rooms today--he's the ONLY comedian not comparing President Bush to Satan himself--was on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He was quick to point out the obvious...like him or hate him, President Bush is not the Anti-Christ, which got a tremendous response from the audience. I've called Bill Cosby the most important comedian, perhaps of any generation that paid attention to comedians, because he bucked the trends of vulgarity and non-accountability. Sure, Cos has had his own personal demons, but who wouldn't in his position. Miller may just be the most important in 2008 because he doesn't always go for the low-hanging fruit of conservative damnation.
If Hillary Clinton opened the door for women in national politics, Sarah Palin blew it completely open. Hillary has been angling for the post since the day Bill Clinton first announced he was running for president. Sarah Palin didn't need to hold onto her husband's coat tails for anything. Plus, she seems completely and absolutely likable. Anyone who thinks Palin should be removed from the ticket simply doesn't "get it." She's the best thing in this entire campaign, and the true trail blazer, not Obama.
Joe Biden needed to be chosen by Barack Obama because he is the "experienced old white guy" he needed. During the last Presidential election cycle, producers of American Idol wanted a "Presidential Idol" type show, and candidate. Quietly that show idea went away. Instead, four years later we have a terrorist and extremist-loving empty suit with a creepy, doll's eyes wife who is close to the Oval Office.
Rachel Maddow, the mainstream-hating smirk-meister was on her television program today, picking apart Palin's quotes from the debate. With half-quotes and quarter-sentences, Maddow questioned everything about Palin, expect for her hair style. Maddow prefers the bulldog Bob of the average Rosie O'Donnell blog reader. Let's see Maddow, with her constant "why isn't everyone an elitist like me" Elvis lip curl do any better on the biggest stage of her life.
History professors, the smart ones anyway, will teach future generations that--despite the ultimate turn out--that this is the most groundbreaking Presidential election in quite a while, not just because a pampered African American made it to the top of the Democratic ticket, but a truly notable woman has changed the political landscape forever.
I heard a little of the debate on my satellite radio last night, after seeing a Sneak Preview of the wonderful movie "Flash of Genius." Biden sounded tremendous, exactly like the 30-plus year Washington insider should. On the radio Palin sounded a little rehearsed, a little nervous. Critics had pounded it into our heads that Palin needed to come out like Rocky Balboa in the final round of Rocky II, you know where the Italian Stallion won it all for Adrian.
The results were remarkably standard: Democrats said Biden won, Republicans were assured that Palin won. In many ways, they both won. And in many ways they both lost.
I've said since the Palin pick that unless the wheels fell off the wagon, the Republicans had the election in the bag. Then Wall Street took a nose dive. Fickle America blamed President Bush and the Republicans.
That might just be the wheel off the wagon. It's looking more like the most unqualified Presidential candidate in the history of Presidential elections might get the key to the Lost City of Incan Gold.
The PBS Moderator who has a vested, financial interest--not unlike a bettor at a dog track--in Barack Obama winning was smart enough to not divulge that very important information to the group that chose her for the most eagerly-awaited vice presidential debate since they've been airing on television. Gwen Iffill is just the latest of the Limousine Liberals to call themselves objective journalists involved in this election cycle. Oddly enough, Gwen was quoted in an Associated Press article leading up to the debate, saying that there was nothing "out there" to claim she was pulling for Obama's ticket. She must have forgotten that she is in the midst of writing a book about famous African Americans who she admires. It was quickly pointed out that Colin Powell, who was never elected to any post anywhere, is also featured in the book. Woop tee doo.
The comparisons between Obama and Jesus have been toned down considerably, but there is still an outpouring of Liberal assistance, positioning the Democratic ticket as the best thing since Jesus provided anything to anybody.
Dennis Miller, who is clearly the most thoughtful comedian out there working mainstream rooms today--he's the ONLY comedian not comparing President Bush to Satan himself--was on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He was quick to point out the obvious...like him or hate him, President Bush is not the Anti-Christ, which got a tremendous response from the audience. I've called Bill Cosby the most important comedian, perhaps of any generation that paid attention to comedians, because he bucked the trends of vulgarity and non-accountability. Sure, Cos has had his own personal demons, but who wouldn't in his position. Miller may just be the most important in 2008 because he doesn't always go for the low-hanging fruit of conservative damnation.
If Hillary Clinton opened the door for women in national politics, Sarah Palin blew it completely open. Hillary has been angling for the post since the day Bill Clinton first announced he was running for president. Sarah Palin didn't need to hold onto her husband's coat tails for anything. Plus, she seems completely and absolutely likable. Anyone who thinks Palin should be removed from the ticket simply doesn't "get it." She's the best thing in this entire campaign, and the true trail blazer, not Obama.
Joe Biden needed to be chosen by Barack Obama because he is the "experienced old white guy" he needed. During the last Presidential election cycle, producers of American Idol wanted a "Presidential Idol" type show, and candidate. Quietly that show idea went away. Instead, four years later we have a terrorist and extremist-loving empty suit with a creepy, doll's eyes wife who is close to the Oval Office.
Rachel Maddow, the mainstream-hating smirk-meister was on her television program today, picking apart Palin's quotes from the debate. With half-quotes and quarter-sentences, Maddow questioned everything about Palin, expect for her hair style. Maddow prefers the bulldog Bob of the average Rosie O'Donnell blog reader. Let's see Maddow, with her constant "why isn't everyone an elitist like me" Elvis lip curl do any better on the biggest stage of her life.
History professors, the smart ones anyway, will teach future generations that--despite the ultimate turn out--that this is the most groundbreaking Presidential election in quite a while, not just because a pampered African American made it to the top of the Democratic ticket, but a truly notable woman has changed the political landscape forever.
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