Meeting with the Black & White Reunion / Summit Against Racism, Jan 22, 2011

School Reform's next challenge: Sports

Pittsburgh Public Schools has been planning changes among the sports opportunities for city students that could include a move away from the "City League" and enter into the WPIAL. Mixing the schools, programs, teams, players and fans from the urban with the suburban counterparts can make interesting competitive and racial realities more visible on a day to day basis, should this occur. Is there the political will and vision to overhaul sports in the city schools?

Mark Rauterkus, a parent and member of the PPS Sports Reform Task Froce, has been a long-time advocate for community sports. This year Coach Mark ran water polo for PPS Summer Dreamers and volunteers as the AM swim coach for Schenley HS Boys. His swimmers set state records in four states (including PIAA and WPIAL records). He has coached NCAA Division I teams for 8 seasons.

Michelle Porter, an engaged parent and PTO leader at PPS schools, is a serious sports fan with two emerging star basketball players, a boy in 9th grade and a girl in 6th. She works at CMU and has keen perceptions after being to thousands of gyms throughout the region.

Invited Scribe: Jake House, PPS Administrator in charge of PPS Sports Reform Committee. Jake moved to Pittsburgh to tackle this issue on a full-time basis.

Dr. Lane, new boss at Pittsburgh Public Schools - part 1 - My OPEN Letter to her

Open Letter

To: Dr. Linda Lane, Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools

From: Mark Rauterkus

Mark@Rauterkus.com - 412-298-3432

Parent of 2 PPS students, sports coach, advocate and member of the PPS Athletic Reform Task Force

Monday, January 10, 2011

Dear Superintendent Lane,

This weekend the Post-Gazette ran another article about pending efforts of sports reform in Pittsburgh Public Schools. (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11008/1116588-364.stm)

The article included this telling statement:

"The athletics overhaul committee, headed by Jake House, includes coaches, school athletic managers, school board members and school administrators."

Missing from the news coverage includes:

- PARENTS (three of us were on the committee, yet omitted from the article)

- STUDENTS

- ATHLETES on PPS squads

- Taxpayers

- Community leaders

- Sports boosters

- Park and Recreation Professionals (one was included, yet off the article)

- Fans

- Alumni

- Citizens

- WPIAL Athletes, Coaches, Administrators, Fans.

- Officials (one was on the committee).

Without a doubt, sports and after-school programming has plenty of moving parts. Reform makes a hard issue for all involved, including the students. Student voices and the associated engagement discussions with a wide community has been a weakness in the planning quest so far. This can be fixed with your help now.

The Annual Summit Against Racism, a community event on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, needs your support. Michelle Porter and I are leading a 90-minute workshop devoted to dissolving the City League and what this means for the PPS and race relations in Western PA. (http://www.BlackAndWhiteReunion.Org)

Can you help to insure that we invite and bring plenty of PPS students athletes and PPS coaches to the event, as well as Jake House, the committee's coordinator? There we can work on an agenda for serious outreach in this topic to further engage students -- both at the schools and in our communities for the months to come. We can have better school opportunities for our kids!

Thanks for the consideration and support in this important aspect of our city and region. I look forward to working with you and other PPS Administrators to make this occur in the very near future.

---

I gave this letter to Dr. Lane on Monday night at CAPA High School in a 'meet and greet' that happened just prior to the "evening with Dr. Lane." The letter was also given to a few school board members and some of the members of the PPS Administration that night.

Fw: Blocking Netflix

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: "Josh Levy, FreePress.net" <info@freepress.net>

Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:59:36 +0000

To: Mark Rauterkus<mark@rauterkus.com>

ReplyTo: info@freepress.net

Subject: Blocking Netflix

Dear Mark, Tell the FCC: Stand Up for Mobile Internet Users When we access the Internet on our phones — as more of us do every day — we expect to be able to go wherever we want, whenever we want. But a terrible new service plan from MetroPCS — the fifth-largest U.S. mobile phone carrier — is the latest phone industry attack on Net Neutrality. The company is limiting users' ability to access certain websites and services, unless they pay extra for the privilege. Free Press just alerted the FCC to this blatant violation of Net Neutrality.1 Please click here to tell the FCC to launch an investigation. Here's what MetroPCS’s new pricing scheme looks like: Customers purchasing the most expensive plan will have to pay extra to access Netflix, Skype or any website using “advanced HTML” on their phones.  Those with the cheapest data option won't be able to access any of these online services, except for YouTube -- despite its similar data usage. It gets worse. MetroPCS’s plans disproportionately affect people of color and urban communities, whom the company recognizes as a major portion of its customer base, and who largely depend on mobile phones to access the Internet.2 There is a way that we can stop MetroPCS's discriminatory practices. Last month, the FCC adopted weak rules that leave mobile Internet users virtually unprotected from these types of abuses, with two big exceptions: They prohibit the blocking of websites and competing video and voice communication applications on mobile phones. Yet that’s exactly what MetroPCS is doing. The FCC must now take action to protect the public and enforce these new rules. If the agency does nothing, we could see a domino effect in which larger carriers like AT&T and Verizon introduce their own forms of mobile blocking and discrimination. We can’t let that happen. The FCC must take MetroPCS to task before other carriers follow suit. Tell the FCC: Enforce your new rules. Investigate MetroPCS’s outrageous, anti-Net Neutrality practices. Mobile Internet users should have the freedom to access any sites or services they want. The FCC must respond to our concerns3, protect our online rights and investigate MetroPCS now. Thanks, Josh Levy Online Campaign Manager Free Press P.S. Have friends with MetroPCS service? Forward this e-mail to them and make sure they sign our letter as well. 1. "Groups Ask FCC to Investigate MetroPCS for Violating Net Neutrality Rules," National Journal, 1/11/11: http://act2.freepress.net/go/1717?akid=2221.8833392.bGM5Sb&t=6 2. "For minorities, New 'Digital Divide' Seen," USA Today, 1/11/11: http://act2.freepress.net/go/1720?akid=2221.8833392.bGM5Sb&t=8 2. "Letter Urging the FCC to Investigate MetroPCS," Free Press, 1/11/11: http://act2.freepress.net/go/1722?akid=2221.8833392.bGM5Sb&t=10

Fw: PA Economic Boost Awaits Action

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: "Bob Logue" <ucblogue@verizon.net>

Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:16:26 -0500

To: <Undisclosed-Recipient>

Subject: PA Economic Boost Awaits Action

Would a $24 Billion Dollar infusion of economic activity (at NO COST to government on any level) boost Pennsylvania's stagnant economy?

   

• There is $8 Billion sitting idly in tax escrow accounts in banks all over Pennsylvania.  Banks pay NO interest on the $8 Billion they hold so this idle money gains the depositor (home owner with a mortgage) absolutely nothing.  Banks cannot lend the money, so it generates NO economic activity in the market place; and banks don't benefit either. It just idly sits there waiting until yearly property taxes are due on homes, and then the banks forward the money to the counties, school districts and municipal governments. 
• Economists say money reverberates through our economy multiple times.  We used three times (a very conservative estimate) to arrive at the $24 Billion in economic activity that would be occur if the $8 billion in tax escrow accounts was no longer required from those with home mortgages.
•   IF THERE WERE NO PROPERTY TAX ESCROW ACCOUNTS:
• Homeowners with mortgages would pay only the principal and interest on their mortgage plus homeowners insurance; cutting their monthly 'house' payment by multiple hundreds of dollars. 
• More people could keep their homes.
• More people could buy homes greatly boosting the housing market.
• More people would improve their homes.
• More young people would establish their home for their families in Pennsylvania rather than some other state
• More seniors (retirees) would remain here, keeping their accumulated wealth here, too.
• Greater population would attract more businesses to serve them.
• Tens of thousands of PERMANENT jobs would be created IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR with no need for governmentally funded so called 'job creation' programs.                Make-work governmentally induced jobs are often temporary—lasting only until the federal or state funding is no longer forthcoming. 
• More people working + more businesses equals more tax revenue for schools, counties and municipalities.
• More people able to purchase homes means revitalization of our suffering municipalities.
• No more sheriff sales for 'delinquent' property taxes currently based on phony, corrupt assessment figures stealing the homes and most, or all of the equity of 30,000+ Pennsylvania homeowners EVERY YEAR.
• No more countywide reassessments which cost Pennsylvania taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
• Smaller government since every county's property tax assessment offices, could be cut dramatically, saving taxpayers tens of millions across the state.
• No more harassment of homeowners since there would be no more reassessment hearings.
• The Lottery-Funded Property Tax Rebate program could be abolished, saving the lottery over $60 million per year, which could be used to provide more seniors with PACE coverage, or expanded Rent Rebates.
• True home ownership would come to Pennsylvanians for the first time in our history—since we currently in effect only 'rent' our homes from the counties, municipalities and school districts.  Private property ownership rights is a basic component of our freedom. 

How could this dream become a reality?  First, if anyone tells you it can't work...they are either misinformed or lying.  They need only to check with the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee which studied the STOP Primary Residence Protection plan and found abolishing all three property taxes on primary residences (homesteads\farmsteads) is fiscally sound and economically viable.  The schools, counties and municipalities would be fully funded with replacement revenue for the lost property tax revenue.  Increased economic activity would mean even more revenue for the county and municipal governments and school districts than they are currently receiving.

     During the 8 years of Governor Ed Rendell's reign of error, 240,000+ Pennsylvania families lost their homes and equity and he couldn't have cared less.  Will Governor Corbett be any better?  Let's hope and pray he will.  Do whatever you can to spread this message to Governor Corbett, the newly elected or re-elected legislative leaders and YOUR state reps and senators.  Print this out and mail it to them...or if you can find e-mail addresses for them...send it by E-mail. 

     I welcome their response at ucblogue@verizon.net    or to Box 306, Fairbank, PA 15435-0306.  Happy New Year to you and your family.  It won't be a happy new year for the 30,000+ homeowners who will have their homes and equity stolen this year due to the corrupt Pennsylvania property tax system.  Bob Logue, STOP Primary Residence Protection Plan.  Learn more at www.grandoldusa.com   and www.spedunkie.com  hit on the STOP page. 

Division III athletes doing well at colleges

Latest News - NCAA.org

Data from the first year of a two-year pilot program in Division III to assess student-athlete academic performance reveals that student-athletes are graduating at rates comparable with or higher than those of their student body counterparts.

A total of 115 Division III schools voluntarily submitted graduation-rates data in the first year of the pilot. Results from this representative, division-wide sample showed that 66 percent of student-athletes who enrolled as freshmen in 2003 graduated within six years (the same methodology used to calculate federal graduation rates in Divisions I and II). That compares favorably with the 65 percent graduation rate for the general student body at the 444 active and provisional Division III member schools.

300 turn out to meet new city school chief

300 turn out to meet new city school chief

Dr. Lane said she believed that it was important for teachers to know their craft but added, "In the heart of it, you've got to love the kids. They know."

I have a lot to say about this event. I took notes, not my video camera. I expect that it will be on the TV on the city station or PPS Tube soon.

Stay tuned.

Bill would make council members resign to run for other office

Rev. Burgess is making himself a real outcast in council now. Way to go.

I like the spirit of this bill. But, a few points. First, this bill is most needed at present within the Pgh Public School's BOARD. That is where I have pushed for it for the longest time. We don't want the volunteer, elected board positions to turn into opportunities to step upon the backs of the students for personal gain so that runs for other office can be launched from the school board. That is a long-standing suggestion of mine that is less of a factor in 2011 than it has been in the past. But still, the suggestion holds.

Furthermore, in Allegheny County Council where such a law exists, it is not really followed, as per PA Senator Wayne Fontana. He said he was going to run for office while on council and only quit council after he voted as he wanted in some tight decisions. Then he quit. The P-G editorial flamed him for breaking the rules of the county charter too. So, some of these political jerks are too big for their deeds to follow the established mandates (i.e., Wayne Fontana) -- hence -- the policy needs to be iron clad and with teeth should they go their own way. Guillotines would provide ample satisfaction and fear.

Bill would make council members resign to run for other office
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess today proposed legislation that would require City Council members to resign if they wanted to campaign for another office.

Mr. Burgess said the legislation, which he's entitled "Resign to Run," is designed to ensure city officials focus on the city's business, not the next political opportunity.

"The public should not pay for the ambitions of elected officials, he said.

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/11011/1117138-100.stm#ixzz1Ak6EgoTN

Chelsa Wagner announces controller bid

Chelsa Wagner announces controller bid: "Chelsa Wagner announces controller bid"

I think someone wants to stay close to home and going to Harrisburg is too much work.

But, in my humble opinion, she would be way better than either Nick Kotik or else George Matta. They want jobs and have done nothing to light my fire while in office in the past.

The job of controller is a place were we want and need real fire lighters. Not much of that has happened in recent decades.

Let's vote.

Try these words on for size when in a sticky situation, "Let's vote." It could be at a community meeting, a meeting with school administrators, or even in City Council Chambers -- and you'll get quick push-back.

When the voting process gets opened, a big can of worms is revealed. Who votes? Who gets to craft the question? Who gets to count the votes? Can we do 'elimination voting' or 'percentage votes?' When do we vote? When do we vote again if the one's in power don't like the outcome?

Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

January 13, 2011 Volume 11, Number 2

Is Taxpayer Referendum on Its Way to Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh Councilman Burgess has introduced a measure to give City voters the power to approve or reject property tax increases. The proposed ordinance calls for a referendum asking voters if they want to change the City charter to require a referendum on all property tax increases. As Reverend Burgess notes, “this is about giving the people the power to fight a tax increase.” The Councilman should be congratulated for this bold initiative.

We have been a strong and consistent advocate of voter referenda for tax hikes for over a decade. It is a public policy which could hold great promise for Pittsburgh’s future. Of course there are elected officials who are very opposed to giving voters approval power over taxes. Responding to Reverend Burgess’s proposal, a member on Pittsburgh City Council said, “you elect people, and they make those decisions.” Granted, that is the way it is supposed to work. Sadly, Council’s long running inability to hold expenses down has necessitated ever increasing tax revenues to fund spending growth.

Others on Council view the ability to tax as “an important tool” in governing the City. But their power to tax has led to the profligate spending that has put the City in the bind it now finds itself in. Misuse and abuse of this “important tool” lie at the heart of Pittsburgh’s financial nightmare. Arguing for continued unrestrained authority to set tax rates is illogical and specious as well as incredibly self-serving.

Finally, there are those who worry voters will never approve a tax increase. They have every reason to be worried about that in light of taxpayers’ disgust with the inability of government to rein in spending. Still, there may be cases where voters can be convinced a legitimate need exists for additional revenue.

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR for short) movement has been around for quite some time. Colorado was one of the first states to implement fully the concept. All tax increases at all levels of government in the state are subject to referendum approval and government expenditure growth is strictly limited to the inflation rate and population growth. After implementation in the early 1990s Colorado became one of the fastest growing states in the country.

TABOR’s rationale is quite simple and straightforward. Over time elected officials almost inevitably find it easier—for various reasons—to bend to the entreaties, or threats, of powerful interest groups to spend money that redounds to the benefit of these groups. Such interest groups represent sources of campaign financing and reliable voters on election day and whose wishes dare not be ignored. On the other hand, taxpayers are a disparate population with many allegiances and political views. Their broad interest in having government be as effective and low cost as possible is rarely the foremost concern of elected officials. Typically taxpayers as a whole do not march as an interest group or testify on spending measures or new programs. Then too, taxpayers are often conflicted because not only do they pay taxes they are members of interest groups that benefit from government largesse.

Taxpayers who do not work for government or who are not part of a favored interest group are at a disadvantage compared to the aggregation of special interests who tend to get what they want. This is especially true in an environment where strong public sector unions are present.

Greater economic prosperity in communities with TABOR is easy to understand. Businesses like a low tax environment. And they also like having the assurance that government spending will be constrained so that tax rates are not under continual threat of being raised. Government in a TABOR community must work hard to be lean and efficient including adopting cost saving measures such as outsourcing non-core functions. New programs requiring big spending increases are much less likely to get off the ground. Government instead is forced to focus on its core functions, something it should be doing without being forced. Finally, a very salutary result of TABOR is that government’s burden on taxpayers is far less likely to increase over time and can actually be lowered.

Politicians who fight voter approval of tax increases are saying, “trust us to do what is best.” The problem is their track record is beyond deplorable and there is little or no taxpayer trust in them. Government exists for the benefit of all citizens including taxpayers and their input on momentous decisions is crucial. And while voter approval of every governmental decision is not possible or desirable, on the biggest decision of all—the amount of resources government will have to spend—voters should have the ultimate say.

No system is perfect nor can any system solve every problem or anticipate every adverse situation. But voter approval of taxes, accompanied by strict spending limits, offers a far better approach to fiscal matters than the irresponsible government behavior that has driven Pittsburgh into the financial ditch it finds itself stuck in.

So, Reverend Burgess is to be commended for proposing this first important step of referendum for tax hikes. It would be very positive for the future of the City and the way it is perceived by the business community if Council would approve the Reverend’s proposal and allow the citizens to vote on whether they want tax increases to be subject to referendum.

Surely, in light of the government’s litany of financial management failures, Council and the Mayor should grasp this opportunity to show a little humility and demonstrate some faith in the good sense of the people of Pittsburgh—and a lot less deference to political power players.

Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President Frank Gamrat. Ph.D., Sr. Research Assoc.

For updates and commentary on daily issues please visit our blog at http://alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.

For more information on this and other topics, please visit our web site: http://alleghenyinstitute.org

If you wish to support our efforts please consider becoming a donor to the Allegheny Institute. The Allegheny Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Please mail your contribution to:

The Allegheny Institute, 305 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard, Suite 208, Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Thank you for your support.

How pension bailout came in a frenzy at 11th hour

How pension bailout came in a frenzy at 11th hour

Ms. Doven said. "It really was a three-ring circus."

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/11009/1116783-53.stm#ixzz1AXLp9dj8

And the mayor says it is not his fault. So there.

Bike movie on Feb 3 at South Side Works

Ride The Divide mountain bike film coming to Pittsburgh, Feb. 3.

The promoter of "Ride The Divide," the mountain bike documentary that was named the best adventure film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival is looking for ticket buyers. If you are not familiar with the film, please check the trailer at http://www.ridethedividemovie.com.

Coming to Pittsburgh for a one-night-only show on Thursday, Feb. 3 at the Southside Works Cinema. This is the final stop on a 10-day, 10-city Midwest tour that is part of a larger nationwide tour. It is selling out theaters all over the country and anticipate we will sell out the South Side's 267 seats on this night as well.

Spread the word throughout your cycling club or team about this event, which should be the highlight of the cycling season in Pittsburgh this winter.

Use the attached information to get the word out through emails, your web sites, your Facebook pages and putting up posters at places you frequent, such as coffee shops and brew pubs. Press release (also pasted below for your convenience), a printable poster, and our jpeg logo which can be used with an calendar events listings you might be able to post online.

Here is the link to our Facebook event which has all the information in it as well:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=190087151007312

And here is the direct link to purchase advance tickets:

http://www.imathlete.com/events/EventStore.aspx?fEID=7982

If you have any questions, or any ideas to help get the word out to a wider audience, please contact me as soon as possible. I hope to see you and your club members out at the show.

Thank you.

Garry Harrington, Colorado Springs
603-209-5010  RIDE THE DIVIDE, AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM, ON MIDWEST MID-WINTER TOUR   

Ride The Divide, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the world's toughest mountain bike race, will conclude its Midwest mid-winter tour when it stops in Pittsburgh on Thursday, February 3, at the Southside Works Cinema.

The film chronicles the story of several mountain bikers who attempt the 2,711-mile race named the Tour Divide along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The movie was named the Best Adventure Film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival.  This film has become an instant cycling classic, and made its television premiere in September on the Documentary Channel. But the Adventure Cycling Association said the film should be seen on the big screen: "The cinematography is stunning!"

Added UpaDowna, "Ride The Divide is one of the most inspiring real cycling movies … in a long time." Epic Riding summed the movie up as follows: "In a word? Fantastic. In more words? Moving, funny, inspiring."  

Ride The Divide embraces the inspiring stories of three of the racers who experience the immense mountain beauty and small-town culture as they attempt to pedal from Banff, Canada, to a small, dusty crossing on the Mexican border. There's Mike, a 40-year-old family man who uses this challenge to chart a new course in life; Matthew, a leader in extreme endurance racing who's competing for his fifth time; and Mary, the first female rider to race this route.

As they set out, they will attempt to accomplish what very few have been able to. Over the course of a few weeks, they'll attempt to climb over 200,000 vertical feet along the backbone of the Rocky Mountains.  They'll experience mental breakdowns, treacherous snow, hellacious blisters, and total fatigue. Above all, they'll race with no support – at times in total isolation. The tests of endurance and the accomplished moments throughout Ride the Divide prompt us to reflect on our inner desires to live life to the fullest.  

Ride The Divide made its debut at the Vail Film Festival and was named the best adventure film at the event.

Outside Magazine proclaimed that "(t)he toughest bike race in the world is not in France," after reviewing the film.  

Ride The Divide will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Southside Works Cinemas located at 425 Cinema Drive in Pittsburgh. Tickets are $15 at the door, and $10 in advance at www.IMAthlete.com/Events/RideTheDividemovie. The event is sponsored by Venture Outdoors of Pittsburgh (www.ventureoutdoors.org).  Media contact: Garry Harrington 603-209-5010 <mailto:gharrington3165@hotmail.com> gharrington3165@hotmail.com
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Much work is left for City League's move to WPIAL

Much work is left for City League's move to WPIAL: "The Pittsburgh City League is moving forward with plans to join the WPIAL.

Within the next few weeks, a 22-member athletics overhaul committee for Pittsburgh Public Schools is expected to forward a proposal to new superintendent Linda Lane that calls for the City League to join the WPIAL for the 2012-13 school year."

There is a big mistake in the article. The teams at Pgh Obama will NOT be part of a coop with Sci-Tech and U-Prep.

Where are the religious liberals?

David Dunn, a dear friend from our church, wrote this article that ran in the Post-Gazette.

Where are the religious liberals?: "Where are the religious liberals?
They have let conservative politicians and talk-show hosts claim the high ground
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
By David Dunn

Two generations have passed since it was common to see people of liberal religious faith take to the public square to champion worthy causes, fight for those with no voice and demand justice from the powers-that-be.

Religious liberals served as the moral battering ram of the civil rights movement and took to the streets in waves to confront those who sought to justify wars in southeast Asia.

Since then, however, religious liberals have faded into the woodwork, doing good works with humble voices mostly in the safety of their own congregations."

Of course, there have been certain occasions in recent years when their voices have been raised. Many protested the invasion of Iraq in 2003. More recently, many traveled to Arizona to protest that state's enactment of an ethnic profiling law that posed as immigration reform, and the Catholic Church displayed qualified support for the health care law passed last summer.

But these few points of light have failed to illuminate a righteous path out of the woodwork.

This has not gone without notice. Religious conservatives have moved in and laid claim to the moral high ground once occupied by religious liberals.

For the most part, religious conservatives have been good tenants and have served this nation well in many ways. They have been doing the heavy lifting in the public square over the last 40 years.

That said, conservative politicians and media entertainers also have carpetbagged their way onto this moral high ground, finding religious conservatives to be the most genial of neighbors.

How can any people of religious faith, conservative or liberal, condone the hateful speech so often delivered these days under the cloak of religion?

Radio show host Dr. Laura practiced Orthodox Judaism until 2003 and authored a book on the significance of the Ten Commandments in everyday life. Her show, in her own words, is supposed to offer "advice infused with a strong sense of ethics." Instead, she routinely demeans, discredits and puts down callers who come to her in a time of need. People of faith should forgive individual mistakes, but they also should hold people accountable for their body of work.

Glenn Beck professes that religious faith is the cornerstone of his life and guides his vision for America. That is fine, but it does not excuse comments referring to President Barack Obama as a racist or a Nazi and or claims that people like himself were central to the civil rights movement and somehow need to "reclaim" it.

Former U.S. senator and likely presidential candidate Rick Santorum, perhaps more than any other modern politician, employs his religious faith as a weapon against those who do not fit into the limited confines of his ideological box. He routinely invokes his religious faith to essentially condone war against Islam and the persecution of homosexuals.

Jesus sought the persecution of no one and simply called upon the religious to live their faith more perfectly. Perhaps Gandhi had someone like Rick Santorum in mind when he said, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Eventually, those who use hateful speech and ideas to further their own ends behind the guise of religion will fall under the weight of their own hypocrisy, but without an organized challenge to hateful ideas, this can take a very long time.

Religious conservatives have the most to lose when such personalities are taken as de facto ambassadors of their religious faith, but all people of faith need to confront them and their ideas.

Religious liberals need to reclaim the religious landscape they let slip away over the last 40 years. Modern political and social conservatives have done an excellent job of making "liberal" a dirty word. Religious liberals need to come together and become again an uplifting voice for America that counters those of hatred and intolerance.

Religious liberalism has much to be proud of in the story of America. Our founding fathers held a variety of religious beliefs but many today would be considered liberal Christians. They were activist revolutionaries who drew upon their religious faith to envision a radical democratic country and make it a reality.

Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address," a speech essentially regarded as a sacred testament to the meaning of America, drew from ideas conceived by liberal clergy. His closing words about "government of the people, by the people, for the people" were inspired by liberal Unitarian minister Theodore Parker, who had earlier expressed American democracy as a "government of all, by all, for all."

If people of liberal religious faith wish to further this vision of America, they need to start organizing and start acting in the public forum. And they need to realize that religious conservatives are not the enemy.

Doctrines may differ, positions on emotionally charged issues may differ and cooperation may at times be difficult, yet there is much upon which all people of religious faith can agree. With this, a true pluralistic vision of America, consistent with the ideals of our founding fathers, can be rediscovered.

David Dunn, an engineer, lives in Eighty Four and is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon (dave.dunn24@comcast.net).

Ron Morris on Pitt Football and Steve P, the AD who should be fired

http://recordings.talkshoe.com/rss139.xml

Athletic Reform at Pittsburgh Public Schools

Nice background video.

WordReport 1.0 release and introductory sale

ANN: WordReport 1.0 release and introductory sale

I'm happy to announce the 1.0 release of WordReport. This library lets
your LiveCode stacks crank out MS Word and OpenOffice reports of any
kind: business documents, contractor invoices, real-estate flyers, mail
merge, product catalogs, software data reports, educational worksheets,
band concert posters, customer service letters, or whatever else you
dream up. (In fact, the demo stack includes sample code and templates
for three of those scenarios.)

You create a formatted template with data insertion tags, save it, and
then insert your data from within LiveCode to create reports. WordReport
is self-contained and doesn't need any word processing software to
create reports, but you'll need MS Word or OpenOffice to create the
templates. The demo stack will get you off to a quick start exploring
capabilities, and a friendly User Guide explains everything.

The library handles images as well as text and has other advanced
features such as loops and optional context marking. It handles Unicode
and as a bonus, in addition to the unlimited formatting in your
template, you can include basic styles within your export data for extra
emphasis on the fly. It does headers and footers too. And tables. (And
number formatting with commas if you need it.) Everything you need to
make customers and clients happy with great-looking reports, while
improving your own back office workflow too.

To celebrate this release (finally!) I'm offering WordReport on sale at
a very special introductory price for 10 days. Get it while it's low!
This is a power tool for saving time and producing great documents in
all kinds of practical scenarios.

http://curryk.com/wordreport.html

(A hearty thanks to the beta testers also. And for those interested in
news about WordOut, the export library, a beta has been available for
some time, email me if you wish to try it. I'll be finishing it up as
time allows, and as promised, those who purchase WordLib at full price
before the WordOut release will receive an export library discount.)

Best wishes,

Curry Kenworthy
--
WordLib: Import MS Word and OpenOffice documents
http://curryk.com/wordlib.html

WordReport: Template-driven MS Word and OpenOffice reports,
from invoices and worksheets to catalogs and mail merge
http://curryk.com/wordreport.html

Need custom software development or RunRev help?
http://curryk.com/consulting/

Homewood Woman Shines Light On City Councilman’s Tax Bill « CBS Pittsburgh – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of Pittsburgh

Homewood Woman Shines Light On City Councilman’s Tax Bill « CBS Pittsburgh – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of Pittsburgh

Comment from Dan Sullivan is rumored to post in the discussion area:

Burgess also had several property tax liens against him when he was a candidate in 2006. Rich Lord of the Post Gazetted did a story on it.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07006/751778-182.stm

Now he’s calling it a witch-hunt. It’s really called “opposition research,” and it’s routine in election campaigns. If this were the first time, he could say he didn’t realize that. Since it’s the second time, he would have to plead colossal stupidity.

Dave Barry's Year in Review: Why 2010 Made Us Sick

Must read humor from Dave Barry about 2010:

Dave Barry's Year in Review: Why 2010 Made Us Sick: "Dave Barry's Year in Review: Why 2010 Made Us Sick"

Uncle Sam, a looter. Letter to editor from Plum's Mark C.

This LTE in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (1/1/2011) is based on a PG article about inheritances. Point being that the more in debt with obligations government gets, the more desperate too.

http://www.post- gazette.com/ pg/11001/ 1114740-432. stm

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Uncle Sam a looter?

Boomers beware! You're more in line to be looted ("Boomers In Line for Big Pot of Loot," Dec. 19) than to see your full $6 trillion inheritance pot.

Counting Social Security, Medicare and state and municipal debt, total government debt is more than $100 trillion.

Horrendous government spending and debt levels will soon require more than printed paper. The government is desperately looking for large pools and streams of wealth.

Yelling "tax the rich" is just a divide-and-conquer strategy because the rich aren't rich enough. The boomer's $6 trillion inheritance pool will eventually join the $3.6 trillion retirement pool, the annual $2.2 trillion health-care stream and the energy revenue stream in the government's cross hairs.

Even total confiscation won't reduce the problem. That's because they'll only spend it on the next Taj Mahal school building, the next stadium, the next tunnel money pit, the next government pension, the next bailout, the next November bribe or the next undeclared war.

That's why individuals should inherit wealth, not governments.

MARK CROWLEY
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Fw: Donna & Rick Nestler in Friendship January 23

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: Friendship House Concerts <friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:06:59
To: altesj<altesj@yahoo.com>
Subject: Donna & Rick Nestler in Friendship January 23

Friendship House Concerts is proud to present

Donna & Rick Nestler

Sunday, January 23

4:00 pm

Rick's rich baritone voice truly brings the songs of the sailor (both
traditional and contemporary) to life. Rick learned the arts of the
chantyman working aboard large traditionally rigged vessels such as
the sloop Clearwater, the schooner Voyager, and the square rigged ship
HMAV Bounty. A Coast Guard licensed Master, with a 100 ton ticket, he
also is an actor, a singer, song writer, and a multi-instrumentalist.
He learned some of his most effective performance techniques playing
in low waterfront dives and in institutions of higher learning from
St. Thomas to Toronto, California to New York, and everywhere in
between.

Pete Seeger calls him, "the Terror of the River, raffish Rick
Nestler." The New York Times says, "One of the prime troubadours of
Hudson River lore and legend is Rick Nestler." Rich Bala, Joe
Heukerott, and Pete Seeger have all recorded "The River That Flows
Both Ways."

"Rick has a songbag that would have made Alan Lomax green with envy .
. . you will discover a warm and endearing voice, a wry sense of
humor, a great collection of songs, and a style that is sorely needed
on the folk scene." Ron Olesko WFDU-FM

As a rare treat, Donna Nestler, a member of the Dirty Stay-Out
Skifflers Jug Band, will join Rick. A superb instrumentalist, she adds
ukulele, mandolin, banjolele, washboard, kazoo, soaring vocals and
more.

Check them out at http://www.ricknestler.com

Seating is limited. For information and/or an invitation, call or email:
LLouise & Jim Altes
412.361.6051
friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com

Suggested donation: $15.00. All proceeds go to the performers.
After the concert, there will be a pot luck dinner. Please bring an
entree, an hors d'oeuvre, a salad, a side dish, or dessert to share.

Upcoming events of interest:

Jan 23, Donna & Rick Nestler http://www.ricknestler.com at Jim and
LLouise's friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com
Mar 20, Squid Jiggers http://squidjiggers.com at Jim and LLouise's
friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com
Mar 23, Molasses Creek http://molassescreek.com at Rick and Cindy's
cah@lonewolf.com
Mar 26, Val Mindel et al http://www.valandemmy.com at Annie & Curt's
amtrimble@earthlink.net
Apr 3, Brian Peters http://www.harbourtownrecords.com/peters.html at
Rick and Cindy's cah@lonewolf.com
Apr 9, Les Gustafson-Zook http://www.gustafsonzook.com at Rick and
Cindy's cah@lonewolf.com
Apr 10, Friction Farm http://www.frictionfarm.com at Jim and LLouise's
friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com
May 22, David Glaser http://www.davidglaser.com & Brad Yoder
http://www.bradyoder.com at Jim and LLouise's
friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com
June 12, Magpie http://www.magpiemusic.com at Jim and LLouise's
friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com
Sept 25, Kim & Reggie Harris http://www.kimandreggie.com at Jim and
LLouise's friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com
Oct 22, The Honey Dewdrops http://www.thehoneydewdrops.com at Rick and
Cindy's cah@lonewolf.com
Oct 23, Nick Annis http://www.nickannis.com at Jim and LLouise's
friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com

Invite: Paddle to the Polar Bear Plunge

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: Mike Cornell <cornells@zoominternet.net>

Sender: kayaking-129-announce@meetup.com

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:38:31 -0500

To: <kayaking-129-announce@meetup.com>

ReplyTo: kayaking-129@meetup.com

Subject: [kayaking-129] New Meetup: Paddle to the Polar Bear Plunge

Announcing a new Meetup for Pittsburgh Kayakers (ka-"yack"-ers)!

What: Paddle to the Polar Bear Plunge

When: Saturday, January 1, 2011 8:00 AM

Where: South Side Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Every year in Pittsburgh, a bunch of crazy people come to the Mon Wharf and jump into the icy water at 9:30 AM New Year's Day. Let's be part of the spectacle! Meet me at Riverfront Park on the South Side for an 8:00 AM launch. We'll paddle down the Mon and watch the festivities from our boats, cheering on the crazies and smiling for the TV news crews.

The air temperature will be a balmy 40-degrees, but expect water temperature to be in the mid-30's. Therefore, everyone on the trip MUST wear cold-water gear (wet suit or dry suit) in addition to their PFD's. Bring a marine radio if you have one - River Rescue will be on duty for the event, a quick radio call away. Call me at 412-370-9772 if you have any questions.

Cowabunga!

RSVP to this Meetup:
http://www.meetup.com/kayaking-129/calendar/15866080/




--
Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent to everyone on this mailing list (kayaking-129@meetup.com)
This message was sent by Mike Cornell (cornells@zoominternet.net) from Pittsburgh Kayakers (ka-"yack"-ers).
To learn more about Mike Cornell, visit his/her member profile


Meetup, PO Box 4668 #37895 New York, New York 10163-4668 | support@meetup.com

Call to join for freedom's sake.

"The Free Software Foundation and Richard Stallman's work represents the most important work for freedom that this culture, the American culture, has seen in many many generations because
it takes the ideas of freedom and it removes it from the ivory tower, and it removes it from lawyers, and places it in a community — a technology community—that is one of the most important communities defining the contours of freedom that most people in our culture and increasingly around the world will know."

— Lawrence Lessig, founder of Creative Commons.

* Join us now: <http://www.fsf.org/jfb/>

Fellow DRM elimination crew members: As 2010 rolls to an end, we can take this time to reflect on the growing DRM threat that our society faces and the role DRM plays in attacking all our freedoms.

Most notably this year, Apple's walled garden expanded with their
launch of the iPad, and the announcement of their DRM App Store for Mac OS X. But Apple is not alone: Microsoft, Amazon, Sony,
Intel and Adobe are increasing their efforts too. 2010 was also a year when video game companies continued to impose ever more draconian DRM on game players.

For our work to continue, for more people to become aware of the fight against DRM, we need to grow. To grow, we need your support: both your continued support as part of the DRM elimination crew — supporting our actions and sending in tips and news for new DRM and DRM-free services, but also your financial support.

In these times, it really is important that we build professional and social solidarity around a core set of ideals. It's critical that we hang together, both to advance our positive ideas for a better world and to stop those trying to turn computers against their users.

Defective by Design is a campaign of the Free Software Foundation, and associate members of the Free Software Foundation
form a society — a society supporting the ethical cause of computer users everywhere, whether that is fighting the danger of
DRM, or working to educate and advocate for software freedom.

Join us in a growing society of over 3,000 dedicated members — your friends and peers — in over 45 countries.

* Join us now: <http://www.fsf.org/jfb/>

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Ethics of Democracy

Dan S wrote that he has been in hibernation during this cold snap, putting "The Ethics of Democracy" online in HTML, with a paragraph-by-paragraph "gloss" in the left-hand column for quick reference.

http://www.savingco mmunities. org/docs/ post.louisf/ ethicscontents. html

"The Ethics of Democracy" is probably the most important book by Louis F. Post. Other sites have it in pdf and Kindle formats.

Post was a leader of the progressive movement before it was co-opted by socialists. Like socialists, progressives championed the cause of working people. However, there are important differences, and "Ethics of Democracy" expresses those differences pointedly.

The most important difference is that, while socialism (particularly Marxism) was based on an atheistic utilitarianism, most progressives advocated harmonizing with moral absolutes, which they sometimes labelled "natural law." This distinction is central to "Ethics of Democracy."

I should note that Post did not define atheism as failure to believe in a personal God, but failure to recognize that the universe is governed by moral law: "There are those who thus approach moral questions from fundamental moral principle intuitively perceived, who would disclaim being theists. They are, however, properly enough classified as such, even though they deny a divine personality, for they acknowledge moral truth as absolute. That is the essence of theism, and it distinguishes them from atheists."

The atheist is not best described as one who denies the existence of a personal God. Many a fervent worshipper of God as a personal being, is an atheist nevertheless. Atheism consists essentially in the denial of absolute moral principle - in the assertion that there is no such thing as an axiom of moral right, but that moral questions are to be determined by considerations of expediency ascertained by experiment."

- Part 3, chapter 1, "Honesty the Best Policy"http://www.savingco mmunities. org/docs/ post.louisf/ ethics31. html#essence

Post, like many progressives, saw personal liberty and legal equality as the moral cornerstones of progress, under attack by both amoral plutocratic monopolists on the right and amoral bureaucratic monopolists on the left.

The book gets off to an admittedly slow start, but although it is organized to make a single overall statement, each part and even each chapter within parts stands independently. That is, one can skip or skim sections that are of no particular interest.

Part 1 challenges superficial objections to radical thought that were being made at the time and are still made today. Post tackles four such objections, each with its own chapter. However, as the very similar defects apply to all four objections, reading one chapter invites a "skimming" of other chapters.

Parts 2 and 3 examine the focus on financial success at the expense of others and of one's own personal happiness.

Parts 4 and 5 focus on progressive economic principles. perhaps not as strong on pure economics as Post's mentor, Henry George, had been.

Also, like George, Post seems to have underappreciated the problem of debt-based currency. However, Post is much clearer than George on the difference between the progressive opposition to monopoly and the socialist embracing of monopoly as leading to monopoly socialism.

Part 6, on democratic principles, is quite good. Although Post confounded democracy with majority rule, he has clear statements on the moral limits of government over the individual, an analysis of legal vs. illegal crime, an attack on public debts, an excellent chapter on trial by jury as a protection against abuse, and an essay on why an imperialist nation cannot remain democratic for long.

Post was one of the strongest critics of America's imperialist adventures that resulted from the Spanish American War, and Part 7 contains excellent essays on the patriotic duty to oppose government when it is wrong. It does this from a perspective of profound loyalty to American principles.

I hope you will find these writings informative and enlightening.

Sincerely,Dan Sullivan, director of education Saving Communities 631 Melwood Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412.OUR.LAND
412.687.5263
edudir@savingcommun ities.org

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Jury development

Dan S posted this to a local Libertarian discussion group.

FIJA would be pleased!

Billings Gazette: Missoula District Court: Jury pool in marijuana case stages "mutiny."

It happens that I just posted the book, *Ethics of Democracy* by Louis F. Post, with a chapter called "Trial by Jury."
http://www.savingcommunities. org/docs/post.louisf/ethics65.html

Here are some interesting passages.

"That insult to the jury [a judge berating their decision] was worse than contempt of court. It was worse than a breach of judicial decorum. It was a crime against democratic government. For it was calculated, by intimidating jurors, to undermine the independence of juries and destroy the integrity of the system of jury trial. And the worst of it all is that this instance is only one among many that indicate a disposition on the part of some judges to reduce trial by jury to an empty form with only a curious historical meaning...."Juries are sometimes corrupt and they sometimes make mistakes. But the innocent prisoner has better guarantees of acquittal at the hands of a jury, than at the hands of a judge expert in the work of 'railroading' criminals; and the guilty man has but little better chance of escape. Though juries do make mistakes in deciding questions of fact, it is hardly conceivable that they make as many as it appears from the law reports that judges make in deciding questions of law; and though they be occasionally corrupt, neither are judges always immaculate. There are few lawyers of large experience who will not concede that as a rule, even when juries seem to be mistaken, they get at substantial justice.

"But the judicial function of juries is not the important one. As De Tocqueville says, the jury's function as a judge in particular cases is subordinate to its function as a political institution. In the nature of things in criminal cases, if the jury decides at all, it must decide both fact and law. Legal experts may advise, but the jury must decide. So long, therefore, as the independence of the jury can be preserved, individual liberty cannot be quite destroyed. All other free institutions might go, even the suffrage might be restricted to the very rich or the highly educated, yet, if the penal law were administered by independent juries drawn from the body of the people, the grosser forms of tyranny would still be held in check.

"That explains the tendency to minimize the function of juries. With the jury system out of the way or become a mere form, and experts invested with power to punish infractions of the law, our government would go on developing into a government by experts until it had reached the inevitable climax, government by a single expert born to his place and specially educated to his function - the government of a czar.

"Whoever will stop this tendency will be a benefactor. Some exceptionally courageous juror may yet volunteer for that duty. If, when a judge in some other case berates the jury after the manner of the judge in the kidnapping case, a member of the jury will rebuke him, that juror will have performed a most valuable public service. It should not be done pertly, nor lightly, nor rashly; but in self-respectful manner, seriously, earnestly, decisively, and with confidence in his rights as a juror and consciousness of his imperative duty as a citizen of asserting those rights....

"Unless jurors do assert themselves by insisting upon a due recognition from the bench of their rights and dignity, the process of reducing juries to a place in which they will perfunctorily record the decisions of judges will go on apace; and judges, having usurped the functions of juries, will become the real masters of society.

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Steelers look to add seats to Heinz Field

Steelers look to add seats to Heinz Field

The Stadium Authority board voted unanimously to place a six-month forbearance on an option agreement with the Steelers and Pirates that governs development between the stadiums. Some former board members have argued that the teams did not meet deadlines in the agreement, and wanted to sell the remaining publicly owned parcels to the highest bidder, but those members were removed from the board by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Printer headaches

Our Cannon Printer, http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/printers_multifunction/pixma_ip_series/pixma_ip6600d
now gives this: Error Code 6A00. It shows on the built-in screen on the printer itself.

- - - Manual says snip starts: - - - -

POWER Lamp and Alarm Lamp Flash Alternately
Possible Cause: An error that requires contacting the Customer Care Center may have occurred

Try This:
Disconnect the printer cable from the printer, and then turn the printer off and unplug the printer from the power supply. Plug the printer back in and turn the printer back on after leaving it for a while.
If the problem remains, contact the Customer Care Center.

--- end snip from manual - - -

WTF?

Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson favors marijuana legalization

Merry Christmas Libertarians!

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/shock-christian-leader-pat-robertson-favors-marijuana-legalization/
Shock: Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson favors marijuana legalization

By Stephen C. Webster
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 -- 3:29 pm

Robertson a welcome addition to drug reform circles, former narc tells Raw Story
Update: Following publication of this story, a spokesman for the religious CBN television station contacted Raw Story to clarify Robertson's comments. His statement is reflected in the text below.
Count this among the 10 things nobody ever expected to see in their lifetimes: 700 Club founder Pat Robertson, one of the cornerstone figures of America's Christian right movement, has come out in favor of legalizing marijuana.


Calling it getting "smart" on crime, Robertson aired a clip on a recent episode of his 700 Club television show that advocated the viewpoint of drug law reformers who run prison outreach ministries.
A narrator even claimed that religious prison outreach has "saved" millions in public funds by helping to reduce the number of prisoners who return shortly after being released.

"It got to be a big deal in campaigns: 'He's tough on crime,' and 'lock 'em up!'" the Christian Coalition founder said. "That's the way these guys ran and, uh, they got elected. But, that wasn't the answer."

His co-host added that the success of religious-run dormitories for drug and alcohol cessation therapy present an "opportunity" for faith-based communities to lead the way on drug law reforms.

"We're locking up people that have taken a couple puffs of marijuana and next thing you know they've got 10 years with mandatory sentences," Robertson continued. "These judges just say, they throw up their hands and say nothing we can do with these mandatory sentences. We've got to take a look at what we're considering crimes and that's one of 'em.

"I'm ... I'm not exactly for the use of drugs, don't get me wrong, but I just believe that criminalizing marijuana, criminalizing the possession of a few ounces of pot, that kinda thing it's just, it's costing us a fortune and it's ruining young people. Young people go into prisons, they go in as youths and come out as hardened criminals. That's not a good thing."


Robertson has in recent years come under fire for increasingly flamboyant comments, such as calling for the assassinations of foreign leaders and blaming gay people for the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
In this instance, even though he clearly expressed support for the reform of US marijuana laws, a spokesman for religious television station CBN walked back Robertson's comments, telling Raw Story on Thursday morning the Christian Coalition founder "did not call for the decriminalization of marijuana."

"He was advocating that our government revisit the severity of the existing laws because mandatory drug sentences do harm to many young people who go to prison and come out as hardened criminals," CBN spokesman Chris Roslan wrote. "He was also pointing out that these mandatory sentences needlessly cost our government millions of dollars when there are better approaches available. Dr. Robertson's comments followed a CBN News story about a group of conservatives who have proven that faith-based rehabilitation for criminals has resulted in lower repeat offenders and saved the government millions of dollars. Dr. Robertson unequivocally stated that he is against the use of illegal drugs."


Conservatives signing up for drug policy reform
The segment, while significant for illustrating a key conservative stalwart's shifting opinion on the drug war, was mainly a plug for a new conservative group called "Right on Crime," which parlays the arguments of groups like the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) into conservative-leaning messages.


"Our marijuana prohibition laws, which send people to prison for merely possessing a plant, are clearly immoral," LEAP executive director Neill Franklin, a former Baltimore narcotics officer, told Raw Story.
"As a Christian, and as a former law enforcer who is now working to undo the damage these laws have done to our families and our communities, I'm glad to see Pat Robertson joining the chorus of faith leaders calling for reform."

Some faith-based groups, like the Council of Churches and Church IMPACT, also helped promote California's failed Prop. 19 ballot initiative, which would have legalized marijuana cultivation, sales and consumption by adults over 21-years-old. It failed to gain a majority in the state's 2010 elections.


President Obama has maintained his opposition to the legalization of marijuana, although his Department of Justice has largely taken a hands-off approach to states where voters have approved the drug's use if prescribed by a doctor.

Pat Robertson was a Republican candidate for the presidency in 1980, but saw his political ambitions dashed in the primaries by Ronald Reagan. Though he later earned Robertson's endorsement, President Reagan went on to significantly escalate the war on America's drug users.


This video is from the 700 Club, broadcast by the CBN Network. (Segment on marijuana law reform is at beginning.)

Triangle buildings could get face-lifts

This is why the URA should go away. NUKE it. End All Authorities. Liquidation would be a positive move for the public at large. Triangle buildings could get face-lifts

The city is looking to brighten up some "dark corners" Downtown.

Aided by a $4 million state redevelopment assistance grant, the Urban Redevelopment Authority hopes to target rundown buildings Downtown and work with property owners to upgrade them.

The project is designed to supplement a larger revitalization in the Golden Triangle that already has included the construction of the Three PNC Plaza office tower and the redevelopment of a former five-and-dime store and a department store into residential, retail and other uses.

With much of that work completed, the URA has decided to go after properties "in need of some reinvestment" -- not to buy but to approach and work with the owners about making improvements.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10360/1113369-28.stm#ixzz19DRKl5xg

OMG. "You go to wait for the valet to bring your car back and there's blight staring you in the face," he said. Is there any question that this is only so that the rich get richer?

Then there is this lie: Nothing has changed (Downtown) in 50 or more years," he said. Ever hear of the tunnel under the river and the re-do of the Gateway Center T-stop? What about Consol Energy Arena? What about the parking garage at the Greyhound Bus Terminal?

Liar and thief.

Julian Heicklen, Plaintiff Counsel Pro Se, wrote to the judge:

jph13@psu.edu

December 20, 2010

Richard J. Holwell

1. S. District Judge
2. S. District Court: S. D.N. Y.
3. S. Courthouse

500 Pearl Street

New York, NY 10007

Re: Julian  Heicklen v. U. S. Department of Homeland Security et. al.

      Case #10 CV 2239 (RJH)(JLC)

Dear Judge Holwell:

1. Dismissal of the criminal cases

Rebecca Mermelstein, Assistant U. S. Attorney, has notified Judge Pitman in her letter of November 22, 2010, that the U. S. Attorney has dismissed all criminal charges against me for activities in front of your courthouse.  Perhaps your thugs, i. e. officers of the Department of Homeland Security, will return the property that they stole from me.

In her letter, Ms. Mermelstein also suggests that the court initiate jury tampering charges against me.  I welcome such an opportunity to expose the lying that you judges give in your instructions to jurors.  The opportunity is appealing to explain to the jury that its duty is not to uphold the law, but to see that justice is done.  In the cases against me which Ms. Mermelstein dismissed, she nullified the law.  Perhaps she should be a codefendant in the jury tampering case, because she tampered with the jury by denying it an opportunity to uphold the law.

2. Denial of default judgment against Bellevue Medical Center

In your ORDER of November 2, 2010, you denied default judgment against Bellevue Medical Center and its employees, because the summons was not served correctly through error of the clerk of court.  You requested that I again serve Bellevue and its employees.  What chutzpah!  It would cost me about $300 to serve those Defendants again.  The Court made the error, it should correct it by having the federal marshals do the service.  They will have nothing else to do now that presumably they will not be spending their time arresting me or anyone else who asserts Constitutionally protected rights.

3. Instructions to stop contacting Judge Holwell

In your ORDER, you also instructed me not to contact you again.  This is the second time that you issued such an instruction.  As long as you are the presiding judge in this case, you will receive correspondence from me.  If you want it to stop, recuse yourself from the case, as I have requested previously. 

3. Order to file an amended complaint, to obtain identities of John Does from defense counsels, and contact the Bankruptcy court to lift  stay on St. Vincent

In his ORDER of November 15, 2010, Magistrate Judge James L. Cott, who is assisting you in this case, issued three instructions to me:

1. I was ordered to file an amended complaint with the additional incidents added to the original complaint.  I will be happy to comply after I receive the identities of all the John Doe Defendants, including those from the ambulance crews (including the NY City Fire Department) from the Defendants’ counsels. The amended complaint will include Michael Blumberg, New York City Mayor, to remove any immunity issues suggested by the New York Fire Department.
2. It costs me about $3500.00 to serve all of the Defendants.  If I have to serve before knowing all he names of the John Doe Defendants, I will have to serve again, at another cost of $3500.  This is an unreasonable burden.  Therefore, I will wait until I have received the names of all the John Doe Defendants before the next service of summons.
3. I was informed that if I wish to learn the names of the John Doe Defendants, I must request that information from the Defense Counsels.  I have done that through copy of a letter that I sent to Judge Cott on September 8, 2010.  Mr. Pellegrino, Counsel for the federal Defendants provided the names of the John Doe Defendants.  The other counsels did not provide any information about the John Doe Defendants.  I submitted Motion Papers to Judge Holwell on October 8, 2010, to issue an ORDER to see that it is done.  There has been no response to those papers.  
4. Through copies of this letter, the counsels are requested again to submit the names, positions, dates of participation, and addresses where they can be served.
5. Again I am asking Judge Holwell to respond to my motion papers by ordering the Defense Counsels to provide the identities of the John Doe Defendants.
6. Judge Cott further states that in order to lift the automatic stay.of this case as to defendant St. Vincent’s Hospital, I must make such a request directly to the Bankruptcy Court.  This is a ridiculous request.  St. Vincent’s Hospital does not owe me any money.  I have no standing in the bankruptcy claim.  I am not an attorney nor a litigant.  Probably I would never get a response from the Bankruptcy Court.  If I do get a response, it will deny my request, if for no other reason than I do not have standing.  The bankruptcy Court would be acting properly, and I would expect no other action.  It is Judge Holwell that must lift the stay, not the Bankruptcy Court.

4. False claim of independent actor for the hospitals

Robert Drucker, Counsel for New York Downtown Hospital, has moved that the Court dismiss it as a Defendant, because it is an independent actor.  Mr. Drucker has committed perjury.   

I have distributed literature on 12 occasions in front of the U. S. District Courthouse in Manhattan.  I have been arrested 9 times.  The proper procedure for police is to take the arrestee to a magistrate.  This happened twice.  On 7 occasions, I was taken to hospitals (3 times to NY Downtown Hospital, 3 times to Bellevue Medical Center, and once to Saint Vincent Catholic Hospital).  On one occasion, I was arrested, my literature and sign confiscated, and released.  On one occasion, I was not arrested, just robbed.  On another occasion, I was ignored.  

In addition I was arrested at the U. S. District Courthouses in Springfield, MA, and in Newark, NJ.  In neither instance was I taken to a magistrate.  Instead I was taken to a hospital.

The purpose of the hospital visits is to perform what is euphemistically referred to as extraordinary rendition.  In each incident, the hospitals, ambulance personnel and the police knew that I had no medical problem. The hospitals are in collusion with the police to perform torture. At the hospitals, I have been sodomized, had a plug driven up my left nostril (extremely painful), had my corneas “dusted” with a brush, beaten black and blue on my chest, and forcefully injected with thorazine on two occasions against my expressed wishes.  Two days after one of these hospital visits, I saw my physician, who looked at my chest and exclaimed: “Did the police do that to you?”  I answered: “No, it was not the police.  It was the hospital personnel.”

1. Request for new filing date of December 30, 2010

In his letter of November 29, 2010, Counsel Robert M. Drucker states that the Defense Counsels have agreed that Plaintiff should submit his amended complaint on or before December 30, 2010.  Of course this is impossible.  Until I get the names of the John Doe Defendants, I cannot act.  I am willing to agree to a filing date of 30 days after receiving the names of all the John Doe Defendants, including those from the New York City Fire Department and St. Vincent’s Hospital.

6. Relationship to the Court

In the event that you are considering a contempt of court charge against me, you have misjudged the situation.  My feeling toward this court is not contempt.  It is hatred, intense hatred. You and your colleagues have destroyed my country.  This letter is being released to the public, so that it will be aware of what occurs in our courts of injustice.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  It is the time of year for serious introspection.

Sincerely yours,

Julian Heicklen, Plaintiff

Counsel Pro Se