Young People Don't Need Unions If They Want To Succeed In Work & Life

Recently, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a joint Letter to the Editor from two union leaders who repeatedly touched on socialist items under the guise of the American work force. The letter was entitled, “Young People Need Unions. They've Not Been Told What Collective Action Can Accomplish.”

The piece, compiled by Michael Fedor and Jennifer Jannon, touted on shockingly anti-American principles. Let's get started with the diagnosis:

“Young workers are among those hardest hit by the economic recession and the group least likely to have health insurance. We are shockingly likely to be living with our parents because we can't afford to pay rent -- let alone a mortgage. A recent study done by the AFL-CIO and Working America found 34 percent of workers under the age of 35 still living with parents, a number that jumped to 52 percent for those making less than $30,000 per year.”

First off, how is this different than just about any other generation? Nearly 20 years ago, when I was starting out after graduating college, I lived with my fiance. We had a plan to live together, pooled our money together, and survive day-by-day. We rented a small apartment. Then a larger one. Then an even larger one. Then half a house. Then we worked enough to buy a house. I was 30 when we closed the deal. From what I understand, that was my parents' plan slightly more than 20 years before that. And so on.
Secondly, if a young worker makes $30,000 a year, count yourself lucky. As someone in your early 20's, college graduate or not, you most likely don't have the work resume to make that kind of scratch. The same was correct 20 years ago. In fact, my goal was to make more money every year. Through hard work, that basically happened. To toss a blind “$30,000” at someone in their late teens or early 20's is fiscal bankruptcy. Who pays these wild prices? The consumer. Any consumer.

Back to the manic assertions of Fedor and Jannon: “Young workers know that the answers to their struggles won't necessarily come from employers. Just 41 percent said they strongly trusted their employer to treat them fairly. Young adults, in other words, need the benefits of union membership more than anyone.
That's why, as young adults in the labor movement, we were pleased by the focus on young workers at the recent AFL-CIO convention in Pittsburgh.”

They say that “just 41 percent...” I wonder if my grandfather, working in coal mines 60 years ago, had a higher “satisfaction” rate for his managers. Yes, he was a proud member of the United Mine Workers Association back in the day. Did “Pap” have top-of-the-line accommodations all the while working in an industry that defined the need for early unions? Seeing that the biggest thing he did in my lifetime was add a second trailer onto the decades-old one I remember from my earliest days. Family, not contractors, built the wonderful hallway between the two residences.
It's clear that Fedor and Jannon are aiming for the lowest-common-denominator: soft-mushy-minds of the disenfranchised who aren't ambitious, hard-working, principled employees. Instead, they are cobbling archaic ideals into empty ideas that—as a vantage point—somehow got the least-qualified Presidential candidate in the history of the union the top spot in the land.

More from Fedor and Jannon: “The need to involve younger workers wasn't just given lip service. This convention saw the election of the first woman and the youngest AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer ever, Liz Shuler, 39. A powerful new voice in the labor movement, she told the convention, 'It's not that today's young people don't like unions; it's just that they really don't know about us.'
How true. In school, most of us weren't taught that America's working people, united in unions, fought to win weekends off, the 40-hour work week, the minimum wage and safe workplaces. Nor were we taught that union members now earn 30 percent more and are 52 percent more likely to have employer-provided health insurance than nonunion workers. Or that for women and people of color, the best guarantee of equal pay for equal work is a union contract.”

Only a moron wouldn't use a relatively-minor office to showcase a a “young” leader. That being said, Shuler, 39, isn't young enough to be touted as youthful. Richard Trumka, 60, the new union president, seemed like an old man 30 years ago when he was yielding a relatively-heavy thuggish persona in the coal mining industry. Add to that the fact that he was an attorney and his creepiness was off the charts.
And by the way, when Trumka was “standing up to management” in 1979 in Western Pennsylvania, the coal mining industry was crippled throughout the region as a result. Mines closed, jobs were lost. Families were ruined. Forever.

It's beyond easy to call rallies for unionization asinine. Here's perhaps the coup de' gras: “These omissions have done our generation a disservice by obscuring the power of collective action. Instead, we've been taught that progress comes from above and that our success should be measured by what we alone accomplish.”

Again: “that our success should be measured by what we alone accomplish.” Economies are created, lives are enriched by “what we alone accomplish.” There were reports that the lunatics at the AFL-CIO convention booed a picture of Ronald Reagan. Reagan, who as president, railed against large governments, all the while extolling the virtues of the individual. Unionizing, just to save the least-productive worker for the highest hourly-rate possible, is extreme madness and way-of-life destroying. We won't even talk about the freedoms of working without “union representation.” The next union member I meet who is proudly ambitious at work will be the first.

The twosome continue: “Even for those of our generation who want to join unions, it's difficult to do so. Decades of union-busting have left many too afraid to risk their jobs with an attempt to unionize; workers are fired in one-third of unionization attempts. Passage of real labor law reform would go a long way toward ensuring that all workers have the freedom to join a union.”

In many areas of labor, unionizing is simply unfeasible. Only a few years ago, I enjoyed a part-time job in which fellow workers were eager to hear from a union organizer. I attended the meetings and heard altruistic, but unreasonable pay demands from co-workers. Those discussions continued after my time there was over. Within the blink of an eye, many of those jobs were eliminated. Guess what? They were not necessary jobs and management reacted accordingly.

Let's conclude Fedor and Jannon's argument: “Beyond that, young workers face unique challenges. As employers hire more temporary, part-time and contract employees, we feel stuck -- and ever more isolated.
That's why the renewed commitment from the AFL-CIO to help younger workers find their voices is so exciting. Every day Working America, the community-organizing affiliate of the AFL-CIO, talks to people who don't have unions in their workplaces but want to be heard on issues like health care and job security. We know that the passion for change is out there, waiting to be tapped.
To do that, the AFL-CIO is joining partner unions and organizations to engage our generation, awaken the best in us and involve us in the movement that built this nation -- and that will rebuild it better than ever.”

Not once is an argument for success or excellence forwarded in this naive, insulated diatribe. Success and excellence can only be forged with the freedom, hard-work and determination that is gleefully placed on the back-burner of this argument.
Unionizing for the sake of unionizing destroys jobs. That much is fact. Simple economics proves that unions cannot operate fast-food restaurants. The average burger flipper or mop person is a kid just starting out, a part-timer looking for supplemental income or a retiree looking for something to do. The aggressive worker at the corner fast-food joint is in the management program. There isn't a custodian in America who should earn $25 an hour to push a broom, yet unions prod for that type of wage.
Entrepreneurship has and will always run this country. They are the risk takers who will employ workers at a fair market value.

Unions did at one time assure menial laborers weren't being killed on the job. Antique unions made sure workers got paid over time and had time off. Today, unions push for Sundays off, all the while members routinely stay away from the church services “unions” seemingly wanted to protect.
America was built on ingenuity and personal accomplishments. Not the selfishness of a few. There's a genuine reason why union membership is on the wane in big numbers. Collective action slows growth to an excessive crawl.

Live Blog Bruce Kraus on KDKA Radio with Marty Griffin

Six agencies and the other enforcement agencies (two more?) are necessary to take away the rights of property owners. All of those agencies are good for a big government advocate.

Bruce is still glowing about his mind-expanding trip to San Francisco.

Wonder if any of those lines by the sidewalk cafes were painted by Bruce himself.

Jason got in a zinger at the start of the interview by passing on an instant message: "Tell Adolph Kraus he's fired."

Bruce says many people can't get to the post office because they can't navigate around the outside tables at Falino's. Humm. Tom's Diner was the place that had the giant election signs for the Kraus opponent, twice. If one lives in a cronies world, then to the victor go the spoils. Bang. Pay back. Blow back.

Kraus said, "You don't rule the world, Marty." Who does?

The zoning code in the Strip District is different than what applies in the South Side.

Penny calls: Bruce worked on the removal of the sidewalk cafe on his first day. Not after getting a ton of complaints. Penny has to come out to defend herself. Sidewalk is 18 foot wide.

Puts a rope around the neck of the small business owner.

Bruce wrote the sidewalk cafe ordinance. Bruce says it is not a personal issue. Bruce has HOW many businesses in HIS district? Bruce has 33,000 constituents.

Caller from Monroeville: "That guy does not have a clue!"

John calls and says "Bruce is from another planet." Where are you at on the cars parking on the sidewalks. Marty, he is an absolute liar."

My instant message: Ask Bruce if we'll be able to open South Side's Oliver Bath House for the summer of 2010 in the months of June, July and August for swim lessons? It is closed all summer.

Ask Bruce about the still closed indoor ice rink in the close South Side Park. Any progress there? This is a place that they said was being used for G20 protesters.

Penny got in a closing word. Back in the day....

Library system trims five Carnegie branches across city

Library system trims five Carnegie branches across city: "'There were a lot of pained expressions in the room over the vote,' city Councilman Bruce Kraus, who's also a trustee, said yesterday, 'but it was clear the library really did its homework on these decisions.'

Jeepers. The Library did not do its homework. It has made a long series of mistakes.
I was there and making strong objections to moving the Hazelwood branch of the library years ago. That was a bogus move. It was wrongheaded. We told ya.
The state charter for the library says that a librarian should be at the helm. But, political appointments put a person there who IS NOT with library credentials. Wrong again. Wrong homework. Wrong outcome. Hack. Now this.
There are plenty of other things in the 'homework realm' that can be done and should be done.

Peaceful Rally to Denounce Dan Onorato's candidacy for Governor of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 4TH, 2009
CONTACT: ALBERT PETRARCA 412-350-8278 MOSQUEAVENGER@AOL.COM



What: Peaceful Rally to Denounce Dan Onorato's candidacy for Governor of Pennsylvania

When: Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Where: Outside IBEW Hall, 29th and Sydney (one block off Carson Street towards the river on Pittsburgh's South Side

Time: 5:00 PM


County Executive Dan Onorato and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl are the two leaders who presided over and sanctioned the imposition of a police state on the city of Pittsburgh during the G20.

By announcing his candidacy for Governor this coming Tuesday, Mr. Onorato wants to extend his brutal and destructive leadership to all of Pennsylvania. A coalition of student and community groups will peacefully assemble outside the IBEW Hall on Pittsburgh's South Side to declare that Dan Onorato is neither morally nor politically fit to be Governor.

In addition to trampling on our constitutional rights and violently repressing both protesters and non-protestors alike, Mr. Onorato has, in general, been disastrous for the people of Pittsburgh. He supported the costly and unnecessary North Shore tunnel to service the needs of sports franchise and casino owners while simultaneously raising fares and cutting service to city and county residents who depend on public transportation. While on city council, he was the most vocal opponent of the creation of the Citizen Police Review Board. In general, he has placed the interest of Corporate Pittsburgh above the needs of the people of Pittsburgh.

In a democratic society, one of the means available to the people seeking accountability and justice is the electoral process. We are coming together to use this avenue of civic participation to see to it that Dan Onorato does not become Governor of Pennsylvania. Not in our city - Not in our state - Not in our name!

D.C. trail project embarks on longest mile

D.C. trail project embarks on longest mile: "trail project embarks on longest mile"

Not really.

The trail on the South Side that goes behind the Allegheny County Public Works garage, where they park the trucks that fix the roads, is not a trail at all. It is not complete. It is dangerous. It is right under their nose. Fix that Dan.

Welcome Home Craig

Onorato puts Philly first - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "RETURN OF 'SPOKESBOY.' Our old buddy Craig Kwiecinski, for years the mouthpiece of dour former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, is coming back to town.

Kwiecinski was hired Wednesday by Pittsburgh Public Schools to serve as head flack for Superintendent Mark Roosevelt. He begins his new duties Nov. 1.

Since Murphy left office in 2006, Kwiecinski has worked for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority in Washington, D.C.

Kwiecinski, 36, spent nine years as a Murphy staffer. He was nicknamed 'Spokesboy' by several media types for his youthful-looking face, from which often emerged acerbic responses to reporters' questions.

I never called Mr. Kwiecinski names.

PPS RFPs for 2010 Summer - A for Athlete

PPS RFPs for 2010 Summer - A for Athlete PPS RFPs for 2010 Summer

I've been in a hole working on these four proposals. They were passed into Eddie at Pittsburgh Public Schools on Friday, the day that they were due.

All in all, I'm happy with them. They could be much better, of course. But, they interject a lot of new ideas and discussion points for our city and how we should conduct summer enrichment -- given the bounds of the RFP's call.

Give a glance if you are interested.

Post to my blog or the wiki if you want to ask questions and I'll follow up for all to see.

Your $.03 is welcomed, of course, as always.

Summer 2010 could be an exciting time for summer enrichment for kids going into middle-school grades.

Jack Wagner aims to boost Pennsylvania colleges with scholarship program

Two PA Education articles in today's paper:

Article 1:

Wagner aims to boost Pennsylvania colleges with scholarship program - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Gubernatorial hopeful Jack Wagner pledged Saturday to start a scholarship program to help students who decide to stay in Pennsylvania to attend college."

Article 2:

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment science scores vex educators - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Statewide, fewer than 40 percent of 11th-graders passed the exam, up only slightly from the year before. Fifty-five percent of Pennsylvania eighth-graders passed their version of the test, and 83 percent of fourth-graders passed theirs by logging scores in either a 'proficient' or 'advanced' category."

Will the PA scholarship program lessen the benefit to what the Pittsburgh Promise delivers? Or, does it not really matter because we don't have any belief in politicians nor their promises. Plus, he won't win with planks like that anyway.

Rather than talking at all about college kids in the future, it would be more prudent to talk about how the state does not have a budget and schools today are needing to take a 3rd and 4th dip into their endowment just to stay open. Present tense state folly is killing education in PA on many different levels.

H for Homecoming.

These 18 visit South Side before stepping out downtown!

Rio! Victory!

Folks: please comment at the link if you can.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-zirin/victory-chicago-loses-the_b_307995.html
Victory: Chicago Loses the Olympics
By Dave Zirin

I am absolutely reeling with shock that Chicago was knocked out in the first round and the 2016 Olympics are going to Rio de Janeiro. Some quick thoughts about Victoria Brasilia and the Chicago/Daley/Obama humiliation.

1 - This is a victory for the people of Chicago. Pushing back against immense pressure from the Daley political machine, organizations like No Games Chicago went grass roots, corner to corner, and spoke out against the Olympic storm of gentrification, tax hikes, and police misconduct. Certainly one reason the U.S. got the high hat was the lingering bad taste of George W. Bush. The global community, after eight years of sneering contempt from Washington DC, isn’t ready to rinse with the Obama mouthwash.

But it’s the community activists of Chicago who should feel a tremendously gratified. They - along with the millions of Chicagoans who expressed their trepidation in polls - saved their city. They have every right to say with pride, "THAT'S the Chicago way!"

2 - Barack Obama may not be feeling it, but he is the luckiest man alive right now. Yes, President Obama traveled all the way to Copenhagen and didn't even get a lousy t-shirt, but he is damn fortunate it went down like it did. Obama is the first U.S. President to ever appear before the International Olympic Committee and plea for the games. If they had come to the Windy City, it would have been an eight-year distraction and political gold for his opponents. Every time an Olympic project came in late and over budget, every time a scandal hit the tabloids, every time a crime was captured on a cell phone camera it would have been "Obama's Olympic Folly.” Imagine Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck oozing over to Chicago with every blip in the process. It would have all been at best a distraction and at worst, and endless spigot of champagne for his enemies. The person who really has egg on his face is Mayor Richard Daley. He wanted to show everyone he was a bigger man - and mayor - than his Daddy with an Olympic sized stadia to boot. Now expect all the Daley arm-twisting and all the dirty skullduggery in the lead up to both come to light and come home to roost.

3 - This is no time for NIMBY. NIMBY of course means not in my back yard. The No Games Chicago movement has a responsibility right now to do a helluva lot more than just cheer their triumph. Now is the time to stand with the people of Rio. It's no secret why the IOC licked their lips at the thought of Brazil. Like China, Brazil is an emerging market yet to be fully "branded" by global multinationals. They also have a police force that shoots first and asks questions never. Their President Lula, who comes from a radical union background, has clearly shown the decrepit, corrupt, IOC Mafiosi that he is willing to play ball. If history is any kind of a guide, the pain for Brazil's working people is now on the immediate horizon. It's our duty to do whatever we can to express solidarity with the favelas, the landless peasants, and the workers about to stare down the barrel of "Olympism." Our work has just begun.

Now That The G-20 Is Over: Pro Sports In Pittsburgh!

Legendary Tag Team Demolition Shoot For KSWA Gold In Pittsburgh

by Trapper Tom, Ring Announcer/Wrestling Journalist

For the first time in years, former World Wrestling Federation 3-time Tag Team Champions “Demolition” will challenge for tag team gold, and they will lay that claim in Pittsburgh.

On Saturday, October 10, Ax and Smash will descend upon the Lawrenceville Moose and take on the current Keystone State Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Champions—the VIPs—”The Enforcer” Shawn Blanchard and “Dr. Devastation” Lou Martin.

Demolition's appearance was cemented earlier this year when KSWA Owner Bobby O announced that Ax was going to bring his long-time tag team partner with him to face the VIPs. It just so happens that recently Blanchard and Martin secured the championships as part of Millvale Days.

“This is really a coup for us,” said Bobby O, KSWA Owner. “And a great opportunity for Pittsburgh, just a few weeks after the G-20 summit was held here.”

Almost a year ago, Demolition Ax made his return appearance to Pittsburgh. The 30-year veteran is a native of Brownsville, PA who started his professional career in the Steel City. After the initial return, Ax came back on March 28, 2009 to face Blanchard in a match to determine the Number One Contender for the KSWA Heavyweight Championship. Blanchard was victorious by underhanded means. Nevertheless, Ax was inducted into the KSWA Hall of Fame for his career achievements.

After the controversial loss, Ax was banned from the KSWA for hitting fellow KSWA Hall of Famer and VIP Advisor Frank Durso with a folding chair. KSWA Owner Bobby O later re-instated Ax and announced that the reunited Demolition would come to Pittsburgh October 10.

Demolition first appeared in the WWF in 1987 and for a short time was managed by Pittsburgher Johnny Valiant. Later the team was more famously managed by the diabolical Mr. Fuji.

At Wrestlemania IV, on March 27, 1988 Demolition defeated the team of “Strike Force”—Tito Santana and Rick Martel—for the WWF Tag Team Championship. Demolition held the titles until July 29, 1989 when they were defeated by “The Brain Busters”—Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard (no relation). Demolition's first tag team title reign (478 days) remains the longest in WWF history.

On October 2, 1989, Demolition regained the titles from the Brain Busters before losing them to “The Colossal Connection”—of Haku and Andre the Giant on December 13, 1989. As part of Wrestlemania VI on April 1, 1990, Demolition won the titles for the third and final time, beating the Colossal Connection.

After the team dissolved, Ax and Smash went their different ways. However, in the past two years, the duo has re-teamed and sound success around the country.
A shot at the KSWA Tag Team Championship in a major venue such as Pittsburgh could motivate the veterans to once-again claim championship gold.

The VIPs say they are not afraid of Demolition or its legendary success. Shawn Blanchard is also the current and 5-time KSWA Heavyweight Champion, while Lou Martin is a former KSWA Champ and the duo was the KSWA's first tag team champions in 2000.

Demolition vs. the VIPs for the KSWA Tag Team Championship will be the Main Event for Autumn Annihilation, at the Lawrenceville Moose at 120 51st St in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 10, 2009. Also on the card, Golden Triangle Champion Kris Kash, Double-A Anthony Alexander, The Latin Assassin, “King” Del Douglas and many more. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for kids. Card subject to change. For more information or for ticket information, call 412-726-1762 or go to www.kswa.net.

Police use acoustic warfare to disperse crowds - quote from Catherine

Catherine Palmer, director of audiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said 140 decibels can cause immediate hearing loss. But there's no way to know if anyone was exposed to sounds that loud without knowing how far away they were, she said.

Catherine is my wife.

Research and testing on these sound machines should be done by someone at Pitt. I don't think we've heard the last of this.

Full article:

Police use acoustic warfare to disperse crowds By JOE MANDAK, AP

PITTSBURGH — Police ordered protesters to disperse at the Group of 20 summit last week with a device that can beam earsplitting alarm tones and verbal instructions that the manufacturer likens to a "spotlight of sound," but that legal groups called potentially dangerous.

The device, called a Long Range Acoustic Device, concentrates voice commands and a car alarm-like sound in a 30- or 60-degree cone that can be heard nearly two miles away. It is about two feet square and mounted on a swivel such that one person can point it where it's needed. The volume measures 140-150 decibels three feet away — louder than a jet engine — but dissipates with distance.

Robert Putnam, spokesman for the manufacturer, San Diego-based American Technology Corp., said it's "like a big spotlight of sound that you can shine on people."

"It's not a sonic cannon. It's not the death ray or anything like that," Putnam said. "It's about long-range communications being heard intelligibly."

During the Pittsburgh protests, police used the device to order demonstrators to disperse and to play a high-pitched "deterrent tone" designed to drive people away. It was the first time the device was used in a riot-control situation on U.S. soil, according to American Technology and police.

Those who heard it said authorities' voice commands were clear and sounded as if they were coming from everywhere all at once. They described the "deterrent tone" as unbearable.

Joel Kupferman, who was at Thursday's march as a legal observer for the National Lawyer's Guild, said he was overwhelmed by the tone and called it "overkill."

"When people were moving and they still continued to use it, it was an excessive use of weaponry," Kupferman said.

Witold "Vic" Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union in Pennsylvania, said the device is a military weapon capable of producing permanent hearing loss, something he called "an invitation to an excessive-force lawsuit."

The operator of the device is usually behind it and not in the path of the focused beam of sound.

Catherine Palmer, director of audiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said 140 decibels can cause immediate hearing loss. But there's no way to know if anyone was exposed to sounds that loud without knowing how far away they were, she said.

Putnam and public safety officials said the complaints prove the device worked as designed.

"You have to put your hands over your ears and cover them, and it's difficult to throw stuff," said Ray DeMichiei, deputy director of the city's emergency management agency.

Police said they used the device last Thursday to issue prerecorded warnings to disperse when hundreds of demonstrators, including self-described anarchists, without a protest permit held a march that threatened to turn violent.

Aware of concerns about the volume, police were careful to use it about 12 feet off the ground mounted on a tactical vehicle, so no individual would be directly in its path or too close to it, Assistant Chief William Bochter said.

"The only way anybody gets hurt is if the deterrent is on full blast and they stand directly in front of it," Putnam said.

A regional counterterror task force bought four of the devices from American Technology using $101,000 in federal Homeland Security funds, DeMichiei said. Because the amplified message was prerecorded, police could be sure the protesters heard exactly the instructions police desired and have confidence those in the back of the crowd could hear, Bochter said.

Such devices also have military and commercial applications. Putnam said the primary purpose is to transmit specific orders loudly and clearly.

They have been used against protesters overseas, and police in New York threatened to use one during demonstrations near the Republican National Convention in 2004.

He said the city of San Diego uses them to instruct people to leave large sections of beach after festivals. It has also been used in SWAT operations.

In military applications, it allows ships to hail approaching vessels and determine their intent, the company says. Cargo ships use them to tell pirates that they had been spotted. When the pirates know they have lost the element of surprise, they will not attack, Putnam said.

Putnam said those complaining about the device have probably exposed themselves to sounds nearly as loud at rock concerts, and for longer periods of time. Walczak, the ACLU attorney, isn't buying the analogy.

"People don't flee the front row of a rock concert. Why would they be fleeing here?" Walczak asked. "Because it's loud, it's painfully loud."

Titus North, former candidate for Mayor and US Congress on the Pitt situation on the G-20 weekend

Friday night in Oakland was clear proof that the government is simply trying to get us used to living in a police state. It had nothing to do with protecting property. The dispersal order was coming from Schenley Plaza, where there is no property to protect other than the grass. I was watching from in front of the library when the dispersal order came at about 10:45. The kids dispersed. The left the "immediate vicinity," as ordered by police. Some went to the Cathedral lawn, where they were arrested. Some went down by O's, where they were sprayed. Some when back to the dorms, which the police tried to raid only to be stopped by the University Police. I know some of the kids who were arrested and I can guarantee that the ones I know didn't riot after the Superbowl or leave broken beer bottles in the street. The party kids and the political kids are two different tribes.
On Friday night there were no G-20 leaders in the neighborhood to protect. Schenley Plaza was still open. The kids there weren't acting unlawfully. What made it an "unlawful assembly" other than an arbitrary and baseless decision by the police? Why should the students who disperse but continue to watch from a block or two away be subject to arrest? Why should people who have come to the perimeter only to witness and record events be pepper sprayed? This was a simple matter of getting people to accept arbitrary curtailments of their freedoms. It had nothing to do with the kids' behavior or even their politics. Police broke up an orderly anti-Fed demonstration in the Strip District also.

Giving the police arbitrary powers to prevent us from assembling and to arrest anyone who watches them should not be one of the demands of a "pro freedom" movement.

Titus

Saturday's police pinch

Bram is still scratching his head wondering about the most serious injury or serious few injuries sustained by protesters/students on Friday night.

--

Where to begin? ....

The constitution got its ass kicked.

The oath of office taken by the police bullies got its eyes smoked.

The trust in the mayor, county executive and chief got toasted.

My rights and their rights as well as your rights are intimately linked.

The loss of rights of a single student is a serious loss to us all.

I wasn't there. But I care. Those rights are my rights too.

Windows can be replaced. Property has cash values that can be measured. But there is a different kind of damage done by the police then, there, that holds no price tag. That damage cut very deeply.

We all lost plenty. As this unfolds, we may never be the same again.

Greenpeace response to the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh - 7thSpace Interactive

Greenpeace response to the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh - 7thSpace Interactive: "Greenpeace today called on leaders of the industrialised world to match rhetoric on climate change with action"

Bravo to The Sassy Republican for getting this military body snatcher understood

The Sassy Republican: "Pittsburgh G20 'Kinapped' Person Revealed

Has everyone now put this to rest. It was real, mostly.

Well done Sassy One!

Hi Ed!

Luke should buy this women a new pair of pants.

Oakland need not look like this.



I'm not sure it this was today. I think it wasn't.

Notes to Fred Honz Man of KDKA Radio - REDRESS

Ever been IN a PARADE, with a permit, and try to hand out politcal materials?

Baloons (full of hot air) don't count as political lit to me.

I marched with Russ Diamond, PA candidate for Governor on 4th of July at a few area parades and you should have seen the 'authorities' then -- trying not to have head's explode.

Be real Fred.

BTW, G20 protestors who have Fed loans for college should be IN SCHOOL -- not tossed out. They've got lots to learn yet.

Ed, a KDKA caller, gave a bogus civics lesson on the air saying that there is no constitutional right to have a revolution. What?

The caller before was saying that the Minutemen didn't need a blasted permit to hold a protest nor revolution. The caller was worked up about all the laws now and need for permits, must have health insurance, etc.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That final part, to petition the government for a redress is the right to toss a revolution without the need for a permit. The redress is to say the emperor has no clothes -- needs a redress, needs a reform. Citizens can take the government down and out as a full redress.

G20 Sports Opportunity at CMU for Women - Soccer Pitch Needs You

Orginal post from 9 am on September 24, 2000. Updated below:

Larry Evans, friend, Mt. Lebo guy, soccer and sports person, organizer from way back, sent this message and could use some helpers / players / running mates for a G-20 sports cooperative venture -- right away.

We're looking for players for an intergenerational coed team which will compete in a friendly (and publicized) symbolic soccer match this Friday morning 10 am to noon, September 25 at the CMU Stadium field versus an squad from Iran (persian). Their pick-up team is made up of 10 women (ages 22-27) and 5 fellas (their coaches).

This match will be played rain or shine to highlight women's rights during the ongoing G20 Conference.

Soccer competence need not be very high. The team formed just this past month for the purposes of this symbolic game.

The CMU playing field, the site for the game, was just obtained today. This game was originally scheduled for this Friday evening at Schenley Park as part of an International Citizen Athlete SoccerFest but was cancelled weeks ago over G20 permitting issues. Some sorority and intramural soccer players at CMU have already expressed interest, but some veteran help is most welcomed. This was another injury in the permit process.

So, you can go play soccer on Friday, go to The Great Race Expo on Saturday and run in The Great Race on Sunday.

So, if you want to play, and you are in high school or older, then you should send an email to Larry Evans, cell = 412-445-2951, leifevans@comcast.net. Tell him your name and where you are from and what position(s) you'd prefer to play. Larry will insert your name into a quick line-up / program.

You can play in sneakers or spikes. The squad from Iran is wearing green, so don't wear green, unless you want to cheer for them on the sidelines. Other colors are fine -- colors of the world. Better to wear shin guards and tall socks too. The World Team will wear yellow pennies unless a better offer / uniform can be delivered in time for the game.

I don't think the soccer players would want to wear water polo caps, so I can't really help.

Update:

Mark Rauterkus and event organizer, Larry Evans.


Player photo after the game. The world team won, 5 to 2.

September 28, 2009

Iranian Solidarity Soccer Match at CMU

Wrap-Up

A friendly coed soccer game was brilliantly played this Friday morning, September 25th at 10am-Noon at Carnegie Mellon University’s Stadium. A Persian team - wearing green to show their solidarity with the Iranian reform movement was coached by Arash Farsi, a graduate student from CMU. They fought gamely against a Pittsburgh team made up of student women and adult men players from all over Western PA and coached by Larry Evans. Pittsburgh won 5-2 in an 80 minute match officiated by veteran referee Frank Correnti.

The spirited event was organized by Citizen Athlete Games, Organizing for America, the Persian Panthers, a Persian Student Organization and the University of Pittsburgh-Iranian Cultural Organization. The match’s symbolic intent was to highlight Iran’s situation after its rigged presidential election during the excitement and madness of the G20 Conference.
The Persian team’s flag and banner waving supporters chanted UNITED FOR IRAN and DEMOCRACY IN IRAN throughout the contest while Yinzer team fans just stuck with their old chestnut “RAH RAH REE, KICK ‘EM IN THE KNEE. RAH, RAH, RASS, KICK ‘EM IN THE OTHER KNEE. No G20 celebrities viewed the game unless possibly from one of the many fly-over helicopters buzzing around the Oakland demonstrations. Although invited to kick out the first ball and thus use the universal body language of soccer to send a message to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an very busy President Obama instead chose to deal with the increased tensions with Iran by issuing some stern words at the G20 Conference. Oh well, Barack’s bad.

The Game rosters:

Persia

Hassan Takabi - Goal Keeper
Christina Colosimo - Defender
Amirreza Masoumzadeh - Defender
Elham Khatami - Defender
Sarah Gad - Defender
Amir Soltani - Defender
Gaby Vargas - Midfielder
Matt Falzon - Midfielder
Somayeh Nassiri - Midfielder
Sepehr Nemati - Midfielder
Diana Gomez - Striker
Anahita Khojandi - Striker
Jaime Tupino - Striker
Kerri Gatti - Striker
Coral Wright - Striker
Arash Farsi - Coach


Pittsburgh

Kurt Lesker III – Wing
Kurt Lesker IV - Left Fullback
Richard Papp - Midfield
Mike Page - Forward
Dan Rogan - Right Fullback
Dave Paschel - Goalie
Len Scheinman – Stopper
Miriam Feiler – Striker
Kate Smith – Wing
Ian McIntyre - Sweeper
Mark Rauterkus - Midfield
Larry Evans – Coach/Midfield

Pondering Schools

Just posted this to a thread at Pure Reform Blog about the seven year sub who was denied a job by the guy at the top -- who now is on vacation too.

Agree: Pgh citizens are quite, by and large, apathetic on many areas of our community life.

Agree: Fear is a big factor that can silence and freeze actions. Blow back is real. Stepping out of line often comes with dire consequences for you, your ideas and worst of all, others associated with you, such as your children.


Beyond fear, another factor to help explain and understand the landscape is 'division.' Divide and conquer. One family I know has three kids in high school and all are in different schools, yet all are public schools.

Pittsburgh is a city of bridges, because we need those structures. Our social landscape needs more bridges too, so that the divisions among a H-U-G-E district can be more easily navigated.

Thank goodness for the PURE REFORM blog, as it is one such bridge to help soften the large and often fractured communities of the PPS.

Meanwhile, how many high schools are in Jefferson Hills? The size of the district plays a hand in their capacity to make demands from powered positions.

And, IMHO, finally, if PPS ever got a grip on its real issues and built trust (without yanking families around so) -- the outward migration would reverse.

Pittsburgh's Freedom Conference 2009 - Protest of Knowledge - Prior to the G-20

The Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh helped to sponsor this event. It made me proud -- and -- it made many think again about what the heck is going on with our world, financial concerns, the G-20, freedom, the Federal Reserve, Central Banking, IMF, and so forth.

Part 1 has an intro from Tom. Then comes Dimitri Vassilaros to introduce the speaker(s). First up: Joan Veon. Running time about 52 minutes.



Part 2:



Part 3: The best is last, of course.

Obama, Chicago, Protestors, Olympics

Olympics in Chicago: 'Obama's Folly'?

By Dave Zirin

Recently Barack Obama criticized planned protests at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh because, as he knew from his Chicago days, "focusing on concrete, local, immediate issues that have an impact on people's lives is what really makes a difference and...having protests about abstractions [such] as global capitalism or something, generally, is not really going to make much of a difference."

Well, on September 29 at Chicago's City Hall a protest will take place that will focus on a "concrete, local, immediate issue," putting the protesters across the barricades from Barack and Michelle Obama as well as the all-powerful Democratic political machine of the city. The issue is the 2016 Olympic bid and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's political pact with the Obamas to see the Games come to the Windy City. Mayor Daley, rocking a 35 percent approval rating, says that the Games would be "a huge boost to our economy, raising it to a new level. The Games will help us recover sooner from the recession that still grips our nation and enable us to better compete in the global economy."

There is only one problem with this argument: the history of the Olympic Games almost without exception brands it as a lie.

In fact, the very idea that Chicago could be the setting for the Olympics could have been hatched by Jon Stewart for a four-year supply of comedic fodder. To greater or lesser degrees, the Olympics bring gentrification, graft and police violence wherever they nest. Even without the Olympic Games, Chicago has been ground zero in the past decade for the destruction of public housing (gentrification), political corruption (it ain't just Blagojevich; I can't remember the last Illinois governor who didn't end up behind bars) and police violence (the death row torture scandals). Bringing the Olympics to this town would be like sending a gift basket filled with chardonnay to the Betty Ford Clinic: overconsumption followed by disaster.

It's also difficult for Chicago residents to see how this will help their pocketbooks, given that Daley pledged to the International Olympic Committee that any cost overruns would be covered by taxpayers.

This is why a staggering 84 percent of the city opposes bringing the Games to Chicago.

The Obamas, former Chicago residents, should be standing with their city. Instead, Michelle Obama is preparing a presentation for the International Olympic Committee's decision-making meeting in Copenhagen on October 2. And amid a roiling national debate on healthcare, President Obama may also be there to join his wife in the effort. As No Games Chicago Organizer Tom Tresser said to me, "Why would Obama, who has so far escaped the taint of Chicago politics, connect himself to the mayor's obsession? If we get the Games, and then the scandals start unfolding--they will be 'Obama's Games' and 'Obama's folly' just as much as the mayor will be saddled with the blame.... Why would the president turn his back on 84 percent of the city that gave him his start in civic life?"

But we shouldn't be surprised at this point that Obama is tin-eared to the concerns of Chicago residents. As Paul Krugman wrote September 20 on the banker bonuses, "the administration has suffered more than it seems to realize from the perception that it's giving taxpayers' hard-earned money away to Wall Street."

Shoveling taxpayers' money into the Olympic maw is no better, especially in these tough times. The people of Chicago are feeling this acutely, and it's why they are going out to protest against the will of a ruthless political machine and a popular president.

No Games Chicago organizer Alison McKenna said, "I oppose the Olympics coming to Chicago because instead of putting money toward what people really need, money will be funneled to real estate developers who will be tearing down Washington Park and other important community resources. I oppose the Olympics coming to Chicago because the nonprofit child-welfare agency that I work for had to sustain budget cuts and layoffs, while Chicago has spent $48.2 million on the 2016 Olympic bid, as of July 2009."

At this point in history, the right wing is shamelessly adopting populist rhetoric and the power of protest to sell an agenda of racism and fear wrapped in taxpayer protection. The left looks immobilized and fears that its man in Washington will be offended if it raises more than a peep (the LGBT community being a welcome exception to this dynamic). The protest on September 29 will be an ideal opportunity to offer a pole of attraction on the left for people furious at corporate greed amid a recession. Glenn Beck and Ron Paul cannot become the loudest voices against corporate greed.

There is nothing "abstract" about what the Olympics will do to Chicago. Obama likes to talk about the political tenacity of the Chicago Way. Olympic opponents will need to bring their version of the "Chicago Way" to City Hall.

[Dave Zirin is the author of “A People’s History of Sports in the United States” (The New Press) Receive his column every week by emailing dave@edgeofsports.com. Contact him at edgeofsports@gmail.com.]

Update

Update

Please post comments at the link. The Olympic-lovers are on the attack on the comments boards!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-zirin/obamas-olympic-error_b_302025.html
Obama’s Olympic Error

UPDATED

By Dave Zirin

President Barack Obama is now en route to Copenhagen in an effort to sell Chicago as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics. In the process, he may be selling Chicago down the river. Obama is joined arm-in-arm with his wife Michelle on one side and Mayor Richard Daley's Chicago political machine on the other. Michelle Obama says, "My father was disabled, and I think what it would have meant for him to see someone in his shoes compete. Kids need to see that and that needs to be celebrated just as much, if not more." This seems more like an argument to support the Paralympics (a tremendous event) but that's beside the point. Michelle Obama should perhaps realize that if the Olympics had come to Chicago when she was a young girl on Chicago's working class south side, her home may have been torn down to make way for an Olympic facility. No word on how being out of house and home would have helped her disabled father.

Mayor Daley, rocking a 35 percent approval rating, says that the Games would be "a huge boost to our economy, raising it to a new level. The Games will help us recover sooner from the recession that still grips our nation and enable us to better compete in the global economy."

There is only one problem with this argument: the history of the Olympic Games almost without exception brands it as a lie. As Sports Illustrated's Michael Fish - an Olympic supporter - has written, "You stage a two-week athletic carnival and, if things go well, pray the local municipality isn't sent into financial ruin."
In fact, the very idea that Chicago could be an appropriate setting for the Olympics might have been hatched by Jon Stewart for a four-year supply of comedic fodder. To greater or lesser degrees, the Olympics bring gentrification, graft and police violence wherever they nest. Even without the Olympic Games, Chicago has been ground zero in the past decade for the destruction of public housing, political corruption raised to an art form, and police violence. Bringing the Olympics to this town would be like sending a gift basket filled with bottles of Jim Beam to the Betty Ford Clinic: over-consumption followed by disaster.

It's also difficult for Chicago residents to see how this will help their pocketbooks, given that Daley pledged to the International Olympic Committee that any cost overruns would be covered by taxpayers.

This is why a staggering 84 percent of the city opposes bringing the Games to Chicago if it costs residents a solitary dime. Even if the games were to go off without a hitch - which would happen only if the setting was lovely Shangri-La - not even half the residents would support hosting the Games.

The Obamas, former Chicago residents, should be standing with their city. Instead, we have the sight of Barack, Michelle, and Oprah trying to outmuscle Pele and Brazil for a place at the Olympic trough. The question is why. Maybe Obama wants the Olympic fairy dust enjoyed by Ronald Reagan at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles or Bill Clinton at the 1996 games in Atlanta. Or perhaps he is returning favor to the developers and other sundry connected people in the Windy City who will make out like bandits once the smoke has cleared. But his intentions are clear: he wants the glitz, glamour, and prestige of the games and he wants it for the Daley machine. What the people of Chicago want doesn't seem to compute.


But we shouldn't be surprised at this point that Obama is tin-eared to the concerns of Chicago residents. As Paul Krugman wrote Sept. 20 on the banker bonuses, "the administration has suffered more than it seems to realize from the perception that it's giving taxpayers' hard-earned money away to Wall Street." Shoveling taxpayers' money into the Olympic maw is no better, especially in these tough times.

No Games Chicago organizer Alison McKenna said to me, "I oppose the Olympics coming to Chicago because instead of putting money toward what people really need, money will be funneled to real estate developers who will be tearing down Washington Park and other important community resources. I oppose the Olympics coming to Chicago because the nonprofit child-welfare agency that I work for had to sustain budget cuts and layoffs, while Chicago has spent $48.2 million on the 2016 Olympic bid, as of July 2009."

There is an urgency to building resistance to these kinds of priorities. Right now, the right wing is shamelessly adopting populist rhetoric and the power of protest to sell an agenda of racism and fear wrapped in taxpayer protection. The big public voice against Obama's trip to Copenhagen has been the repellent RNC chief Michael Steele who believes, and this is hilarious, that "At a time of war and recession" Obama needs to stay home. It shouldn't be a scoundrel like Steele who represents a party of privatization and occupation who delivers that message. Now is the time to build a pole of attraction on the left for people furious at corporate greed amidst a recession. This needs to happen, and not just for the Windy City. It's about building a vibrant protest movement that believes in social justice not the rank divisiveness of the right. Obama likes to say that change comes from "outside Washington." It's time to take him at his word.

[Dave Zirin is the author of “A People’s History of Sports in the United States” (The New Press) Receive his column every week by emailing dave@edgeofsports.com. Contact him at edgeofsports@gmail.com .]

Conservatives chime in on global money ills in G-20 precursor

I was there. It was a great event. I've got it on video too. Stay tuned.

Conservatives chime in on global money ills in G-20 precursor - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Conservatives chime in on global money ills in G-20 precursor by By Mike Wereschagin of the Trib

Railing against the G-20: It's not just for liberals anymore.

"You don't have to be a socialist to be concerned about the G-20," said Thomas Woods, one of three speakers at Freedom Conference 2009, a conservative forum billed as a "free-market alternative to the G-20."

The event Tuesday night attracted about 100 people to Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Oakland.

"They tell us no one could've predicted" the global economic crisis, said Woods, an author and economist. "There were people who did predict and, by and large, it was free-market economists who predicted it."

Sounding at times like marchers who have been protesting the Group of 20 economic summit since Sunday, speakers and attendees repeatedly blamed "the system" for creating the recession and saving only the wealthy and well-connected.

"We agree on what's wrong. We don't agree on the right way to fix it," said Tom Kawczynski, president of the Republican Assembly of Greater Pittsburgh. One of the organizing groups, the assembly is not part of the official local party structure but touts itself as the "Republican wing of the Republican Party."

"This system attracts predators," said author and activist G. Edward Griffin. "They call themselves statesmen, but they are predators."

Others warned that huge debt owed to central banks around the world has created a behind-the-scenes government to which elected leaders are beholden.

"The countries of the world owe the banks 67 percent of their GDP," said Joan Veon, founder of the Women's International Media Group and another speaker. "This is what we call world government."

Tribune-Review columnist Dimitri Vassilaros served as master of ceremonies.

Woods blamed the Federal Reserve and other central financial institutions -- the World Bank and International Monetary Fund among them - for the depth of the recession.

"We can talk about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but that's small potatoes to the Federal Reserve," Woods said.

Disconnecting U.S. currency from the gold standard allowed the congressionally created bank to manipulate interest rates by printing more money whenever it wanted, he said. That kept interest rates too low and ended the post-dot-com recession before the market could correct itself, he said. "The system contributes to this problem."

Melina Brajovic, 42, an attendee from Blawnox, gathered signatures for a petition asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring to the floor a bill, sponsored by Libertarian hero and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, calling for an audit of the Federal Reserve.

"We need to bring our currency back to the gold standard," said Brajovic, who immigrated to the United States in 1985 from Serbia.

Among her signatories was Mike Ott, 48, of Hampton.

"I believe we should audit the Federal Reserve and take back the right to print our own money," Ott said. He called the nation's central banking authority "unconstitutional" and "morally wrong."

The forum was organized by a coalition of conservative groups looking for an excuse to get together. The G-20 summit provided that excuse, Kawczynski said.

"The entire world has come to talk of what will be, and we know we need to be a voice in these discussions," Kawczynski said.

While liberal groups march against the G-20's role in promoting international trade and globalization, the Freedom Conference's problem with the gathering is that world leaders are putting too many restrictions on trade.

"Look at carbon caps," Kawczynski said, referring to proposals being discussed among world leaders to limit countries' carbon emissions. "They're creating a market, putting a price on something you didn't have to pay for before."

Liberals have blamed the bank collapses and home foreclosures on free-market excesses, while the conservatives said the blame lies with government meddling in the market, mostly through its monetary policy.

"It doesn't matter what race you are. It doesn't matter what class you are. Bad monetary policy affects you," said Herman Bauer, 25, of Mt. Oliver Borough.

Bauer worries policies such as the 2008 bank bailouts and 2009 stimulus package required the Federal Reserve to print so much money, the dollar was emptied of its value.

"I definitely think the worst is yet to come," Bauer said. "The dollar is completely devalued."

Bailing out financial firms whose risky behavior led to the global credit crisis last year encourages entrepreneurs who are "crazy, risk-prone drunkards, basically," Woods said.

Distrust of the Fed runs so deep, Bauer insinuated it is responsible for the assassination of President Kennedy, who he said was the "last president that seriously worked to get us off the Federal Reserve."

To do it over again - boys -- be dancers!

Tonight, Tuesday, see you at Soldiers & Sailors Hall in Oakland.

The educational event begins at 7 pm. Arrive earlier to mingle. See FreedomConference2009.com

ONE campaign to hold a panel discussion on Wednesday afternoon. It will be at the University of Pittsburgh and offer a variety of perspectives on the G-20 response to the global economic crisis and the challenges ahead, with a focus on the well-being of the world’s poor. Participants in the panel include current and former senior officials, plus leading experts and advocates for global poverty reduction. Sponsored by the Center for Global Development, the ONE campaign, and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Threat of shark attacks doesn't deter new host Sydney - Universal Sports

Threat of shark attacks doesn't deter new host Sydney - Universal Sports: "'They can't eat us all.'"

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission

Can you canoe? Not here then.

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission: "No person, vessel, article, or thing shall enter into, depart from, or move within the security zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or his authorized representative.

WTF

Monday Morning Quarterbacking the city's leadership.

Permit snafus strike first marches: "At a march for jobs yesterday in the Hill District, police delayed the event at one point, claiming the protesters didn't have a valid permit, even though they did.
The convention center bypass 'isn't private property, it's public property. It's a through street, and they had a permit,' he said.
'The more distressing thing for me is that the first two demonstrations that were the subject of a federal court lawsuit got bungled by the police, and bungled in a way that they tried to restrict activity. It's either sheer incompetence or something more insidious. It's one or the other, and neither is very flattering.'"

The guys in robes make rules that the guys in blue need to know about and obey. Otherwise, people get disjointed in their actions. This is big trouble for the mayor and county executive. The buck stops there with them.

Working with Citiparks on Summer Dreamers, or not

	9/17/09
to Duane

To Director of Citiparks:

Hi Director,

I saw that Mike R. was in the court room. Eeeks. Hope you all are not
snowed under too too bad.

I'd love to strike up a conversation with you about the Pgh Public
Schools RFP for summer 2010 enrichment.

The deadline for those RFPs / proposals is Oct 2. And, there is still
a good deal of red tape for me to navigate.

I'd like to see if it is possible to get some cooperation in the grant
/ proposal requests.

For instance, for the 5 weeks of the camp, July 12 to Aug 13, 2010,
we'd love to have a group of up to 25 kids use the Schenley Ice Rink
building as a possible classroom -- mainly in case of rain, from the
hours of 12:30 to 3:30. They would also run at the track and use the
park.

By all means, there are funds to pay for this but they have to be in
the budget. Federal stimulus funds are being spent.

I'd also like to see if we could deploy in our plans:

-- Bike Oval at Highland Park / Washington Road
-- Swim pool visits with a Lifeguard camp
-- Sports movies in an outdoor setting -- perhaps at a school / i.e.,
Movies in the parks
-- Market House for some special events
-- Sand volleyball courts at Highland Park Pool

Ashley, Duane	9/18/09
to me

Mark...I already have staff pulling together a proposal of sorts based
on our past involvement with the School District.  However, a two
pronged approached might not be a bad idea........However, I sincerely
think that they already know who they will fund...and it won't be us.

Mark Rauterkus	9/18/09
to Duane

Hi,

I do not know what proposals and providers the PPS will fund and who
they will not fund????  But, it seems to me that PPS is just new to
this range of activities and are grabbing for a lot at first blush --
up to 2,500 kids or so. Wow. That's huge. If that is the case, then
they'll need everyone's help.

If possible, I'd love to meet with Citiparks staffers who are working
on the PPS summer 2010 enrichment opportunities / RFP. Who is pulling
this together for you?

Furthermore, I know that the main new employees of the PPS had a
meeting with the folks at Phillips Elem as to what they've done in
cooperation with Citiparks in the past years. There is a great success
story with Citiparks and PPS at Phillips with Mr. Netchi the principal
there and your staffers. Well done. That is a large part of the model.

But, my questions still remain about me organizing a camp experience
and trying to deploy some Citiparks spaces for the activities.

Bob Traupman, RIP

Dad, sports fan, friend of kids, caring, businessman, barber.

This is shocking news.

Bob was a new neighbor to the South Side, in a sense. He opened a business on East Carson. He was the one who generally cuts my hair.



The last time I went into the shop he told me a story of walking to a dog owner, stricking up a conversation and then he made it clear that the shit from his animal needed to be pulled off the ground, without question. His kid plays here and for some time, (weeks / years), his habits haven't been appreciated.

He was direct. No nonsense.

Bob is going to be missed, greatly.

Sounds as if he had a massive heart attack. The day before his hands and feet had some swelling. He didn't feel as if he needed to go to see a doctor.

PG obit:

Robert J. Traupman Sr.

TRAUPMAN ROBERT J., SR.
Loving husband, father, son, brother and Barber, unexpectedly on Monday, September 14, 2009. Beloved husband of Julia (Geiger) Traupman; loving father of Gemma C. and Robert J. Traupman, Jr.; son of Ronald D. Traupman, Sr. and Roberta "Bert" (Huber) (Charles) Rodger; brother of Ronald D. (Shelly) Traupman, Jr.; survived also by nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call Thursday 2-4 and 6-8pm at O'BRIEN'S, 3724 California at Cooper Aves., N.S. Funeral Service in St. Michael and All Angels Evangelical Lutheran Church Friday, 11am.
www.obriensfh.com

Published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from September 16 to September 17, 2009. Guestbook.

The video above was from March 2009 when Patrick Dowd was putting price tags on garbage cans.

Got some ink in local paper from email blast: Along with casino and closed schools for G-20

Got some ink in a local edition of a newspaper.

Steel Valley joins schools that will close during G-20 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Mark Rauterkus, a past Libertarian nominee for various Pittsburgh offices, said the conference 'is worthy of everyone's time and attention.'
Organizers are charging an admission of $25, $10 for students, to cover rental of the hall and expenses for speakers. The Web site freedomconference2009.com has more details.
PennDOT said its driver's license and photo center in the Pittsburgh State Office Building will be closed for three days beginning Wednesday.
In a promotion, Rivers Casino said it will raise the flags of the G-20 nations today and fly them through the summit.

Bad signs in mayoral race - Blogs - Slag Heap - Pittsburgh City Paper

Bad signs in mayoral race - Blogs - Slag Heap - Pittsburgh City Paper: "Bad signs in mayoral race"

My $.02:

Teamwork matters. Running mates matter. If these two played off of each other, then we'd have something to watch and think about -- and talk about too. That would get Luke's attention.

Dok and Kevin should be doing join things every day. Sure, they've got to do their own actions, but once or more a day their paths should cross and cross with some gusto.

It takes two to tango.

The two can and should be in a dance at the expense of the current administration. But, teamwork is necessary.

Sadly, the conventional wisdow from the Acklin / DeSantis realm is mostly devoid of teamwork.

The photo above was from a skating event hosted by Bill Peduto, a long time ago.

Help with tickets for friend to Jean-Michael Cousteau on Oct 14

A grad school friend wants two tickets to Jean-Michael Cousteau on Oct. 14. She is trying to get tickets. Got em? Advice and leads welcomed. HELP!

[412-public-news] Fwd: G20 - Freedom Conference 2009, Tuesday Sept 22, 7:00pm at Soldiers and Salors Hall

[412-public-news] Fwd: G20 - Freedom Conference 2009, Tuesday Sept 22, 7:00pm at Soldiers and Salors Hall: "Freedom Conference 2009, Tuesday Sept 22, 7:00pm at Soldiers and Salors Hall"

ESPN: The local leader in sports?

ESPN: The local leader in sports?: "ESPN: The local leader in sports?"

Cue Sheet for a great adventure -- That Dam Ride

Some of the best times of my life. 

That Dam Ride -- here we come!

From NZ bike

Erik, Grant and I are on a trip this weekend. We're biking 140 miles. Half on Saturday. Back on Sunday. The night in the middle is in a tent. We'll be starting in Boston, just past McKeesport. We'll head up the trail to the dam. Snacks, lunches, evening meal is provided.

It takes us 7 hours if we go 10 miles per hour. If we go 20 mph, we'll wrap up in under 4 hours. We'll be somewhere in the middle.

BS no meeting was document back in September 2009

I lived with this administrative silliness and incompetence for nearly a decade.

After much struggle, we did get in a game with South Park. We also got the okay to play in a middle-school tournament at Chartiers Valley with a co-ed team while using some 9th grade rookie players. 

 These kids signed up to play water polo. They went to Schenley High School, that would then become Obama.

“Why Don’t Students Like School?” Well, Duhhhh… | Psychology Today

Interesting parenting / teaching post.

“Why Don’t Students Like School?” Well, Duhhhh… | Psychology Today: "Ask any schoolchild why they don't like school and they'll tell you. 'School is prison.' They may not use those words, because they're too polite, or maybe they've already been brainwashed to believe that school is for their own good and therefore it can't be prison. But decipher their words and the translation generally is, 'School is prison.'

Swimming was CUMPULSORY

Swimming was CUMPULSORY

Free food for kids in the evenings

Wednesday, September 02, 2009
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Kids from kindergartners to 18-year-olds can get free meals from 5 to 7 p.m. at 10 city of Pittsburgh community centers starting on Tuesday, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration announced today.

Meatloaf and potatoes, hot dogs and beans, spaghetti and other meals -- plus fresh fruit -- will be served. The meals will be prepared by Nutrition, Inc., and the program is federally funded.

Allegheny County has been feeding kids through the program since 2000, but it's new to the city community centers including Ammon, Arlington, Brookline, Jefferson, Magee, Paulson, Phillips, Ormsby, Warrington and West Penn.

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/09245/994941-100.stm#ixzz0PxuVmUFS