Friday, August 06, 2010

Fw: [DW] IdeaHub from the Department of Transportation

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-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Clift <clift@e-democracy.org>
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 14:04:57
To: newswire<newswire@groups.dowire.org>
Reply-To: clift@publicus.net
Subject: [DW] IdeaHub from the Department of Transportation

This caught my eye:

DOT launches IdeaHub (08/03/2010) Transportation launched an online
community where its employees can share and collaborate on new ideas
with their 55,000 colleagues across the country. The online community
will allow the department to post challenges to employees as a way of
getting people to think about specific questions or problems.
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/08/ideahub-to-engage-dotemployees-tap-their-expertise.html

I wonder if state and local transportation officials might participate?

A decade plus ago I recall running into a transportation listserv that
sparked my interested in inter-governmental effective practices
exchange. Not sure if it is alive today, but many niche groups are
still out there:
http://www.google.com/search?q=transportation+listserv

Speaking of intergovernmental exchange, I think the UK has some action
worth noting:
http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk

Cheers,
Steven Clift

Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com
Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.Org
Follow me - http://twitter.com/democracy
New Tel: +1.612.234.7072

From: <lisa.nelson@gsa.gov>
Date: Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Subject: [MuniGov2.0] August 6 Weekly Research and Best Practices Email
To: munigov@googlegroups.com

Happy Friday,

Here is the August 6 research and best practices email. As always,
feel free to pass the information along to others who might be
interested or refer them to
https://forum.webcontent.gov/?page=research_newsletters.

Last week a few people had difficulty opening the usability links. I
am attaching the article that it came from with the links. The
checklist and 25-minute video links are IN the article and available
to the reader.

Lisa Nelson, GSA
Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies

Research

IT Trends in State Government (07/27/2010) NASCIO/TechAmerica/Grant
Thornton survey finds tough economic times have presented new
opportunities for CIOs. Many have been able to implement new
cost-saving strategies, innovative business models and emerging
technologies. http://www.nascio.org/publications/documents/NASCIO-2010StateCIOSurvey.pdf

Canadas Global Positioning Strategy (06/2010) The Canadian
International Council considers the shift in the global balance of
power. Three "game changers" are identified - the rise of China, India
and other players in the global economy, the entry of the United
States into a period of relative economic decline and the hardening of
the border between our two countries since 9/11. http://bit.ly/aNPgok

News

Federal Agency Social Media Hubs (08/02/2010) Many federal agencies
are creating hubs for their social media connections. Some provide
access to specific media links, such as agency bloggers, others
provide links to policy and training.
http://www.businessofgovernment.org/blog/federal-agency-social-media-hubs

DOT launches IdeaHub (08/03/2010) Transportation launched an online
community where its employees can share and collaborate on new ideas
with their 55,000 colleagues across the country. The online community
will allow the department to post challenges to employees as a way of
getting people to think about specific questions or problems.
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/08/ideahub-to-engage-dotemployees-tap-their-expertise.html

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Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire now contains the following file

http://groups.dowire.org/r/file/9582-2010-08-06T190459Z
Name: Rocket Surgery Made Easy_external2.docx
Tags: "attachment"
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 14KB

You can view all the file that have been added to Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire at
http://groups.dowire.org/s/?g=newswire&t=0&p=0&f=1

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Replies go to members of Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire with all posts on this topic here:
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email newswire@groups.dowire.org
with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*.

Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire is hosted by Democracies Online - http://dowire.org.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

So sad. Really sad.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

We must teach our kids to swim.

The other day it was 102-degrees, after the sun went down, in Nashville, TN. It wasn't that hot here, but we've got three rivers.

Finally, splash parks don't cut it in my opinion. You can't learn to swim n a splash park.

On a much more positive and happy note, we had a great water polo practice today, Thursday, at Peabody High School, from 10:30 am to noon.

All of our players are swimmers and the game was well matched. We need more players too. Visit us on Friday or all next week, Monday to Friday, 10:30 am to noon at Peabody High School.

NCAA probe into WVU football - so let's get this straight

The P-G has an article about the NCAA looking into rule problems with WVU's football program.

NCAA probe into WVU football alleges improprieties
• Exceeding the permissible number of coaches from 2005-09, when non-coaching staff members engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.
• Graduate assistants, a student assistant, student managers and non-coaching staff members, in the summers between 2005-09, monitored voluntary summer workouts.
• Rodriguez 'failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance.'
• Stewart 'failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance.'
• The first two violations indicate the West Virginia athletic department failed to sufficiently monitor the football program to assure full compliance.

So, let me get this straight. The players had optional practices in the summers and supervisors were present because the coaches are not permitted. These voluntary practices had supervisors who were a student assistant, grad students, student managers and non-coaches. So, the problem is that the Athletic Department failed to sufficiently monitor the football program. Yet the rules do NOT allow the real experts, the coaches, to be there to help with the students athletes. So, the kids practice on their own. But, getting some helpers for the players from the ranks of the students is not permitted.

How many water boys are they allowed?

The NCAA is punishing WVU for failure to monitor because WVU had too many peers monitoring.

Think again.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Pittsburgh Public Schools settle suit over girl's anorexia, taunting

The P-G reports on some school news.

Pittsburgh Public Schools settle suit over girl's anorexia, taunting: "Pittsburgh Public Schools settle suit over girl's anorexia, taunting"

Humm.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Big day in the summer!

AM swim practice: 7 to 9. Erik does workout and I float for 1 hour in outside lane.

AM water polo practice: 10:30 to noon. I coach and we play a cool 3 on 3 game, widths, shooting only after a dry pass.

I teach PPS Summer Dreamers, 12:30 to 3 pm. Kickball until it rains. Then water polo passing in gym.

Erik and running mate, Tobias, bike to Sq. Hill and then to Washington Road's bike oval for some practice.

Eat and rest to 6 pm.

Back to the oval for evening races: Erik's third of the summer and Tobias in his rookie ride. About 22 riders in the junior and women's race. Erik gets 11th and does NOT get dropped by the pack. He wins a lap and is in the hunt pulling the pack up to two break-away riders after 10 laps.

Newsletter text for pre-baseball for the PPS Summer Dreamers field trip to PNC Park for game tomorrow, vs. Reds.

Erik is sleeping on floor -- zonked out -- by 10:15 pm.

Meanwhile Grant played about 5 hours of golf at Schenley with his clinic / tournament play with First Tee. He is hitting par on many holes now.

Donovan is in town and paid us a visit. Sleepover isn't possible as we've got cats.

Summer!

Fw: 6 teens drown in Louisiana river; 7th rescued

------Original Message------
From: Swimmer Erik Rauterkus
To: Mark Rauterkus
ReplyTo: Swimmer Erik Rauterkus
Subject: 6 teens drown in Louisiana river; 7th rescued
Sent: Aug 3, 2010 10:22 AM

6 drown story

http://m.usatoday.com/1927979/news/;jsessionid=C95711B12AF68E890B022BA76A3B328F.wap2
Erik
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Monday, August 02, 2010

Pittsburgh day camp mixes learning, dreaming

Pittsburgh day camp mixes learning, dreaming: "In Pittsburgh, Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said the summer camp was specifically designed for middle school students because district academic achievement data shows they tend to do well on proficiency tests, but their performance generally tapers off as they advance into higher grades."

Sunday, August 01, 2010

MGR Foundation Youth Peace Rally

We invite you to the 2010 MGR Foundation Youth Peace Rally on August 12, 2010. The event will take place at Market Square, Downtown Pittsburgh from 12:30 PM-2:30 PM.

The Summer Dreamer's Academy

Hundreds of people will come together to support and witness Pittsburgh youth express themselves and speak out against violence. In partnership with the Pittsburgh Public School's Summer Dreamers Academy and other community groups, our students will share live performances that promote peace. You will be inspired by their visual art work and creativity. Come and see how our youth are using music, art, drama, and dance to promote peace in our communities! Support Pittsburgh Youth and come see what they have to say at this year's rally.

Peace,

Phil Koch, Executive Director, MGR Foundation
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Newspaper Death Watch and curation

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From: Newspaper Death Watch <pgillin@gmail.com>

Sender: noreply+feedproxy@google.com

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:29:34 +0000

To: <Mark@Rauterkus.com>

Subject: Newspaper Death Watch

Newspaper Death Watch

Tools to Empower a New Kind of Journalism

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 05:12 AM PDT

Adapted from an earlier post on paulgillin.com.

All of a sudden, "curation" is one of the hottest words in the Web 2.0 world. That’s because it's an idea that addresses a problem humans have never confronted before: too much information. In the process, it’s creating some compelling new ways to derive value from content.

Amount of data published in 2010 depicted as iPads stacked on the playing field of Wembley Stadium

Content curation is about filtering the stuff that people really need from out of all the noise around it. In the same way that museum curators choose which items from a collection to put on display, content curators select and publish information that’s of interest to a particular audience.

This function is becoming more and more critical as the volume of information on the Internet explodes. It’s projected that the amount of digital information that will be created in 2010 could fill 75 billion 16 GB Apple iPads (fun infographic here). Yet, as influencer relations expert Katie Paine points out, 90% of it is crap. As more and more crappy content pervades the Internet, the value of curation should grow.

The problem is that curation is labor-intensive. Someone has to sift through all that source information to decide what to keep and what to throw away, and human decision-making isn’t easy to automate. Keyword filtering has all kinds of shortcomings and RSS feeds, while useful in many contexts, are basically headline services.

We’ve recently been working with a startup that's developed an innovative technology that vastly improves the speed and quality of content curation. CIThread has spent the last 15 months building an inference engine that uses artificial intelligence principles to give curators a kind of intelligent assistant. The company is attacking the labor problem by making curators (or you can call them “editors”) more productive rather than trying to replace them.

Full disclosure: We have received a small equity stake and a referral incentive from CIThread as compensation for our advice. Other than that, the pay has amounted to a couple of free lunches. We make no money unless this idea is as good as we think it is.

CIThread (the name stands for "Collective Intelligence Threading" and yeah, they know they have to change it) essentially learns from choices that an editor or curator makes and applies that learning to delivering better source material.

The curator starts by presenting the engine with a basic set of keywords. CIThread scours the Web for relevant content, much like a search engine does. Then the curator combs through the results to make decisions about what to publish, what to promote and what to throw away.

As those decisions are made, the engine analyzes the content to identify patterns. It then applies that insight to delivering a better quality of source content. In effect, it learns to “think” like the curator. CIThread can be linked to popular content management systems to make it possible to automatically publish content to a website and even syndicate to Twitter and Facebook without leaving the curation dashboard.

That’s what happens on the back end, but there's intelligence on the audience side, too. CIThread can also tie in to Web analytics engines to fold audience behavior into its decision-making. For example, the curator can set the engine to overweight content that generates a lot of views or clicks into its decisions and to deliver more source material just like it to the curator. All of these factors can be controlled via a dashboard.

Shhhhh!

CIThread is still pretty early stage. It has some test customers, but none can yet be identified. Here’s a general description of what one of them is doing, though.

This company owns a portfolio of properties throughout the US and uses localized websites as both a marketing and customer service tool. Each site contains frequently updated news about the region, but the portfolio is administered centrally for cost and quality reasons.

Using CIThread, individual editors can now maintain literally dozens of these websites at once. The more the engine learns about their preferences, the more sites they can support. That's one of the coolest features of inference engines: they get smarter the more they’re used.

The technical brain behind CIThread is Mike Matchett, an MIT-educated developer with a background in computational linguistics and machine learning. The CEO is Tom Riddle (no relation to Lord Voldemort), a serial entrepreneur with a background in data communications, storage and enterprise software.

The two founders started out targeting professional publishers, and that’s a pretty safe bet. But we think the opportunity is much bigger. Nearly any company or organization today can develop unique value for its constituents by delivering curated content. Using tools like CIThread, they can do it more quickly and productively than by training humans. They can also capture the knowledge of their editors so that experience doesn’t walk out the door due to resignation or layoff.

If you want to hear more, e-mail curious@cithread.com or visit the website.

Since we first wrote this, a couple of other tools have come to our attention that attack this same curation task. Curata has an engine that scours the Web for content and auto-posts it to blogs and social network sites. The company has a shipping product and real customers. Curata is positioning its service as more of a lead generation tool than an editorial productivity aid. See the two-minute video below.

CurationStation looks a lot like Curata. It’s a low-cost service that filters content based upon keywords and publishes automatically to multiple destinations. The $2.99 signup incentive is attractive, but set a reminder on your calendar, because it turns into a $279 monthly fee after the first 30 days. If anyone has experience with either of these products, or is aware of other solutions, please comment.

Fw: Still Time to Apply! - 2010-2011 Education Policy Fellowship Program

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From: "Ron Cowell" <cowell@eplc.org>

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:43:18 -0400

To: <cowell@eplc.org>

Subject: Still Time to Apply! - 2010-2011 Education Policy Fellowship Program

There is still time to apply for the

2010-2011 PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION POLICY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Applications are available now for the 2010-2011 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP). The Education Policy Fellowship Program is sponsored in Pennsylvania by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC).

With nearly 300 graduates in its first eleven years, this Program is a premier professional development opportunity for educators, state and local policymakers, advocates, and community leaders. Act 48 credits are available to individuals holding Pennsylvania teaching or administrative certificates, and State Board of Accountancy (SBA) credits are available to certified public accountants.

Past participants include state policymakers, district superintendents and principals, school business officers, school board members, education deans/chairs, statewide association leaders, parent leaders, education advocates, and other education and community leaders. Fellows are typically sponsored by their employer or another organization.

The Fellowship Program begins with a two-day retreat on September 16-17, 2010 and continues through June 2011.

Applications are being accepted now. The class is now two-thirds filled, but there is still time to apply!

Click on http://www.eplc.org/fellows.html to see:

· 2010-11 Schedule

· 2010-11 Application

· Past Speakers

· Program Alumni

· More Information

Since space is limited to approximately 30 positions, it is advisable to submit an application as soon as possible. The application may be copied from the EPLC Web Site, but must be submitted by mail with the necessary signatures of applicant and sponsor.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Fellowship Program and its requirements, please contact Ron Cowell at 717-260-9900 or cowell@eplc.org.

Growing up poor can affect brain development

Growing up poor can affect brain development: "'Why isn't this part of the social fabric, this notion that it takes a village to raise a child? How did we lose sight of that?'"

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Friday, July 30, 2010

Monday, Aug 2 meeting in City Council about the Citizens Police Review Board

This might be a done deal, but who knows? From the TMC.

Dear friends of justice and accountability,

For several weeks and months now, we've been trying to convince City Council not to replace the Citizen's Police Review Board (CPRB) with new people who are likely to cooperate in the Mayor and Chief of Police's attempts to thwart the CPRB's investigation into the police repression around the G20 in Pittsburgh. Despite our best attempts, and many meetings and letters to the Mayor and Council from the Black-Political Empowerment Project, City Council and the Mayor are now planning on ramming the new nominations in on Monday. The new legislation which clarifies the nomination process still hasn't appeared on the Council web site, and City Council has refused a request to hold off until a public hearing is held so that the public will have a chance to comment.

Our last chance to convince City Council not to cooperate in this cover-up is this MONDAY, AUGUST 2 at 10am at the next City Council meeting, where they plan to (a) pass the secret legislation and (b) make the new nominations.

PLEASE SHOW UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY AT 10AM AND ASK THEM TO AMEND THE LEGISLATION TO SET THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE NEW CPRB BOARD TO SEPT. 28, 2010 - THE DATE OF THE NEXT SCHEDULED CPRB MEETING. THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO INTERFERENCE IN THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF THE G20.

This attempt to thwart the investigation and neutralize the CPRB would set a BAD PRECEDENT for future cases, including Jordan Miles and others.

A fight for one is a fight for all,

--Pete Shell, Anti-Racism Committee, TMC

Fw: Ron Morris' Weekly Article

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-----Original Message-----
From: "The American Entrepreneur" <brittany@taeradio.com>
Sender: "The American Entrepreneur" <brittany=taeradio.com@mcsv116.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:00:30
To: Mark<mark@rauterkus.com>
Reply-To: "The American Entrepreneur" <brittany@taeradio.com>
Subject: Ron Morris' Weekly Article

July 30, 2010 Issue 478

"How Do I Measure Thee? ... Let Me Count The Ways"

The other day, I was listening to the General Manager of the Pittsburgh
Pirates' baseball team. He was describing the club's philosophy as it
related to player development.

This guy was mostly talking about his Minor League organization, not the
"Big Club" that resides right here in Pittsburgh. "We really don't care much
about winning," he said, "We really only care about seeing improvements at
all levels of our Minor League operations."

Up until I heard that, I was only casually listening. But when I heard the
phrase, "We don't care about winning," my head immediately jerked in the
direction of the radio. Could he really have said what I just heard?

This GM went on to explain, "the organization's philosophy was essentially
to use hard, and measurable criteria to produce an individual pre- and
post-assessment of each player, at each Minor League level. (Note: For those
not familiar, professional baseball, unlike any other professional sport,
has what is known as a "Farm System." The "levels" in these Farm Systems
become increasingly more difficult as you move up from "Class A," to "Class
AA," and then ultimately up to "Class AAA.")

"Measurement of hard criteria so that pre- and post-assessments can be
performed," I mumbled to myself. "Not a thing in there about winning," I
mumbled on.

So, when my wife asked what I was mumbling about, I yelled out, "Honey, I
just figured out why the Pirates stink. Apparently, they're measuring
everything but the one and only thing that really pays off --- winning."

I'm a teacher. And, as a teacher, I am obligated to regularly report both
progress and lack thereof to parents and students alike.

Over the years, I have probably ruminated over this ... the "grading
question" ... more than any other topic. I have asked myself, "So, do I
measure them on absolute knowledge? Or, do I measure them based on what they
knew the first night of class, and then compare that knowledge to what they
know on the last night of class?"

Furthermore, do I measure them on overall classroom contributions, i.e.,
"thinking on their feet," (the one talent that they_will_ need when they
become business people/entrepreneurs); or, do I measure them on their
answers to written tests? (I've been in business almost 40 years ... not
once has a customer, supplier, or employee asked me to "take a written test"
prior to: a.) buying something from me, b.) selling something to me, or,
c.) coming to work for me!)

The problem I have is that, and no matter how you cut it, you can only
measure hard, quantifiable knowledge. Everything else is just a guess.

But "everything else" is what is important! In the real world, we "pay off"
on the winning and losing that only comes as a result of the character
make-up of the individual, and not necessarily his or her talent.

So, the problem, Dear Brutus, lies not in knowledge or speed or talent.
Instead, it lies in attitude and tenacity and will. All of which are
unmeasurable.

And here's the major disconnect:

In academia, we pay off on activity --- while in the real world, we pay off
on results.

[2]Continue reading | [3]Post A Comment
Links:
2. http://www.taeradio.com/articles/1350/how-do-i-measure-thee-let-me-count-the-ways
3. http://www.taeradio.com/articles/1350/how-do-i-measure-thee-let-me-count-the-ways/#comments

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today On The American Entrepreneur

"The American Entrepreneur" Ron Morris gets the lowdown on the latest
happenings in Pennsylvania's State Legislature, as he talks with
Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Turzai. With a new Governor taking
office come November, whoever he may be, what changes does Mike see in store
for the Keystone State? Plus, Ron talks with two of his colleagues at the
Palumbo-Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University, Valerie
Trott-Williams and Bob Kollar, about the idea of fraud in business, and the
steps that he is taking to help smarten business owners up to this growing
concern. And John Lee of International Investigative Services talks to Ron
about the growing epidemic of copper theft in the world of business.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday On The American Entrepreneur

One of the most renowned business and management gurus in the world returns
to TAE. Henry Mintzberg, Professor of Management Studies at McGill
University in Montreal, joins Ron to discuss the most effective management
strategies for your company, as well as his groundbreaking Theory on
Organizational Forms. Plus, Ron reconnects with John Vechey, the founder of
Popcap Games and creator of "Bejeweled", the gold standard of online gaming
platforms. John tells his remarkable story, and how his creation grew to
become enjoyed by over 25 million users worldwide. And Phil Sabo of Wilke
and Associates CPA talks with Ron about the common problems relating to six
month reviews for the period ending on June 30.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is going to be a lot of Open Talk going on this weekend so be sure
to join in by using TalkShoe at TAEradio.com/talkshoe or by calling the show live at 333-1360.

As always, your dreams are 100% in your hands.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Live 6 times a week!

Weekdays from 3-6 PM and Saturday morning
from 9 - 12 PM on TAEradio.com

Exclusively on
Money Talk 1360 WMNY!

Ron Morris © 2010. All Rights Reserved.
==============================================

Unsubscribe mark@rauterkus.com from this list:
http://taeradio.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=59bfabe8de8afa6a938032373&id=8e09a2b809&e=f2bb744581&c=7aa209c667

Great Orators of the Democrat Party - from an email forward

"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -   Franklin D. Roosevelt

"The buck stops here." - Harry S. Truman

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy

And, from today's genius Democrats...

"It depends what your definition of 'Sex' is?'' - Bill Clinton

"That Obama ... I would like to cut his NUTS off." - Jesse Jackson

"Those rumors are false ... I believe in the sanctity of marriage." - John Edwards

"I invented the Internet." - Al Gore

"The next Person that tells me I'm not religious, I'm going to shove my rosary beads up their ASS." - Joe Biden

"America is ... is no longer, uh, what it ... it, uh, could be, uh, what it was once was ... uh, and I say to myself, 'uh, I don't want that future, uh, uh for my children." - Barack Obama

"I have campaigned in all 57 states." - Barack Obama (Quoted 2008)

"You don't need God anymore, you have us Democrats." -   Nancy Pelosi (Quoted 2006)

"Paying taxes is voluntary." - Sen. Harry Reid

"Bill is the greatest husband and father I know. No one is more faithful, true, and honest than he." - Hillary Clinton (Quoted 1998)

And the most recent gem of wisdom from the "Mother Moron":

"We just have to pass the Healthcare Bill to see what's in it."- Nancy Pelosi (Quoted March, 2010)

HOW LUCKY CAN WE BE - TO HAVE SUCH BRILLIANT MINDS IN CHARGE OF OUR ONCE GREAT COUNTRY?

''Life's tough ... it's even tougher if you're stupid.''
- John Wayne

Go green - recycle Congress in 2010!

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Fw: [wplug-announce] Reminder: WPLUG InstallFest, Sat. July 31, 10a - 3p,Northland Library

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-----Original Message-----
From: DK <wplug@curlynoodle.com>
Sender: wplug-announce-bounces+mark.rauterkus=gmail.com@wplug.org
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:27:09
To: mark.rauterkus@gmail.com<mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Announcements only <wplug-announce@wplug.org>
Subject: [wplug-announce] Reminder: WPLUG InstallFest, Sat. July 31, 10a - 3p,
Northland Library

Hello Folks,

Just a final reminder.

WPLUG is hosting an InstallFest on Saturday,
July 31 from 10a until 3p at the Northland Public Library in
McCandless Twp. The library is on Cumberland Rd, just off Route 19
and McKnight Rd. See the URL below for more detailed directions.

The InstallFest will be held in the first floor meeting rooms 148.
Happily, the space is climate controlled and should be comfortable if
the heat stays with us into next weekend.

The library has an access ramp to the first floor lobby, located on
the left side of the building. I will have a hand-truck and cart
available to haul in equipment, so please feel free to stop in first
if you need to use one.

In addition to the typical InstallFest activities, I will be
presenting demos of the Kiddix Platform from Kiddix Computing,
http://www.kiddix-computing.com/home/index.php, a Gentoo-based OS
designed specifically for kids. If you are a parent looking to
introduce Linux to your child(ren), please stop by to take a look.

Even if you cannot attend, please help spread the word and mention
this event to family, friends and colleagues whom are users or might
have an interest in Free Open Source Software.

Event page with directions and more information:
http://www.wplug.org/wiki/Meeting-20100731

Thanks and hope to see you there,
David Kraus
_______________________________________________
wplug-announce mailing list
wplug-announce@wplug.org
http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug-announce

Fw: mtlv games

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From: leifevans@comcast.net

Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 04:11:49 +0000 (UTC)

To: <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>

Subject: mtlv games

To: Mount Lebanon Community Friends (and pals living elsewhere!)

From: Larry Evans

Hi Folks! As a semi-retired social and sports activist and rookie MLV Board member entering my 64th year on this planet and wondering if my wife will "still need me or feed me", I find true value in helping a good-hearted organization like Mount Lebanon Village shed its training wheels and become a force for promoting Lebo-quality longevity.

Please check out our Mount Lebanon Village Intergenerational Games set for Saturday, August 14^th in Mount Lebanon Park. The idea is to partner adults over 50 with someone under 50. For AARP certified geezers like me and Karen, this means we will be dragging along whippersnappers like Ducky (27) and Jenny (14) to the "show" and we hope you are tempted to do likewise! See details below!

The Mt. Lebanon Village Games are designed to bring together old friends and new acquaintances, pairing people of different ages and generations. The idea is to partner adults over 50 with someone under 50. The pairings could be with a son, daughter, grandchild, friend or neighbor – or maybe even some husband and wife teams! Partners will spend the day participating together in the activities of their choice. It will be a fun-packed day featuring a one mile fun run/walk around Mount Lebanon Park, gently competitive team sports including soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball, doubles tennis and bocce, athletic skills contests like free-throws and punt, pass and kick and old fashioned summer games like checkers, water balloon toss and a treasure hunt, followed by a barbeque picnic and banjo music. The event takes place in Mount Lebanon Park, 9am-2pm on Saturday, August 14^th, 2010. See flyer/registration forms below…

BTW, we are getting a tremendous response to the Games since being publicized last week in a Brian O'Neil PPG column and in Mount Lebanon Magazine so we are also in need of Volunteers to help make this event a success. Please let me know if you can possibly volunteer for the August 14^th Games. Teens can earn community service credit and all volunteers get a nifty t-shirt and free food at the picnic.

Larry Evans h 412-341-1486 c 412-445-2951

Mt. Lebanon Village Intergenerational Games

Saturday, August 14, 2010

9am-2pm at Mt. Lebanon Park and Tennis Center

Mt. Lebanon Village (MLV) is a community oriented, non-profit organization established in 2009 to give residents of Mt. Lebanon, age 50 and older, the practical means, confidence and peace of mind to enjoy life while residing in their own place of residence in the environment they value as they grow older, and to serve as a model and mentor to other such villages.

The Mt. Lebanon Village Games present a way to get to know our neighbors, to enjoy a day of playing together and to celebrate our common bonds. The Village Games are designed to bring together old friends and new acquaintances, pairing people of different ages and generations. The idea is to partner adults over 50 with someone under 50. The pairings could be with a son, daughter, grandchild, friend or neighbor – or maybe even some husband and wife teams! You can also come on your own and enjoy the festivities. Partners will spend the day participating together in the activities of their choice. It will be a fun-packed day of gently competitive team sports, individual pursuits and group games, followed by a picnic and prizes. Participants will be given a chance to win prizes for every event in which they partake.

START THE DAY WITH A FUN RUN OR WALK! At 9 a.m. the Village Games will open with a "Chase Your Elders" one mile fun run/walk in Mt. Lebanon Park where older folks start first, followed by a staggered progression by their younger partners so that all may finish at about the same time. A pre-race warm-up, led by fitness instructor Gurney Bolster, will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Mt. Lebanon School District Entrance on Horsman Drive.

THEN PLAY BALL AND OTHER FUN STUFF! From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in Mt. Lebanon Park, choose from a wide variety of friendly coed, intergenerational team sports including volleyball, softball, soccer, basketball, tennis and bocce. Then measure your athletic skills in a 50 yard dash, punt, pass and kick, free throw, target toss, and radar gun stations. There will be old fashioned games like a treasure hunt, relay races, water balloon toss, horseshoes, shuffleboard, hula hoops, scrabble, checkers, and chess. You can also engage in creative activities such as an inter-active story-telling session led by the Wing & a Prayer Pittsburgh Players.

Throughout the day, be prepared to share your favorite Mt. Lebanon memories with a roving MLV volunteer camera crew.

DON'T MISS THE PICNIC! Beginning at noon, enjoy a delicious picnic provided by Pittsburgh Barbecue Company. Come to the Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center Founder's Room and Deck to share great food and listen to live banjo music provided by "The Entertainers". Ted Sohier of WQED will be our MC and prizes will be drawn. (Participants must be present at the picnic to receive prizes.)

REGISTER on line or by mail by August 9^th to guarantee receiving a nifty Mt. Lebanon Village Games commemorative T-shirt!

REGISTRATION FEES: Individual (over 50) $15. With Partner (under 50) $25. Family (up to 6 members) $40.

The Mt. Lebanon Village Games Registration Form

Individual (over 50) __________________________________________________________________

Age (as of August 14)_________________Gender_______________ T‐shirt size_________

Address___________________________________________________________Zip_________________

E‐Mail_________________________________________Phone__________________________________

Partner (under 50)____________________________________________________________________

Age (as of August 14)_________________Gender_______________ T‐shirt size_________

Address___________________________________________________________Zip_________________

E‐Mail_________________________________________Phone__________________________________

Additional Immediate or Extended Family Members (indicate pairing, any age mixture is ok)

3.________________________________________________Age______Gender______T‐shirt size_____

4.________________________________________________Age______Gender______T‐shirt size_____

5.________________________________________________Age______Gender______T‐shirt size_____

6.________________________________________________Age______Gender______T‐shirt size_____

Please check below the events in which you & your partner/family wish to participate

OPENING EVENT 9AM

___ Chase Your Elders One Mile Fun Run/Walk (8:45 a.m. group aerobic warm‐up at start line)

Onsite registration and Village Games packet pick‐up begins at 8AM at the Tennis Center Founder's Room off of Cedar Blvd

TEAM SPORTS 10AM – 1PM (select no more than 3 since games are scheduled on hourly intervals)

___ Soccer___ Softball___ Doubles Tennis___ Basketball___ Volleyball___ Doubles Bocce

___ ATHLETIC SKILLS 10AM – 1PM (come when you want)

Includes Free Throws (Basketball), Radar Gun (Softball & Soccer & Football), Target (Softball & Soccer & Football), Punt, Pass and Kick (Football & Soccer) and a 50 Yard Dash

___ OLD FASHIONED GAMES 10AM ‐ 1PM (come when you want)

Includes Relay Races, Treasure Hunt, Horseshoes, Shuffleboard, Water Balloon Toss, Chess, Checkers, Scrabble, Hula Hoops

___ INTERACTIVE STORY TELLING 11AM to Noon (with the Wing and a Prayer Pittsburgh Players)

Upon arrival at the Tennis Center's registration headquarters participants will receive a program mapping out the event locations and an individualized schedule of activities.

REGISTRATION FEES: Individual (over 50) $15. With Partner (under 50) $25. Family (up to 6 members) $40.

Send the Registration Form with a check payable to:

Mt. Lebanon Village, 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 info: 412‐343‐4054

www.mtlebanonvillage.org

WAIVER OF LIABILITY

In consideration of Mt. Lebanon Village ("Village") allowing me/us to participate in its activities and intending to be legally bound, I/we waive, release and forever discharge the Village, its successors, assigns, members, officers, employees and agents and shall indemnify and hold them harmless from any loss, claim, demand, liability or causes of action of whatever kind or nature, either in law or equity, which arise from my/our participation in any Village activities from this date forward in perpetuity (thereby releasing me/us from the chore of re-signing this release for all future Village activities.)

Date: _____________________ Signature________________________________________