Fwd: Please welcome PIIN's new Executive Director, Jamaal Craig!

---------- Forwarded message

Moving People of Faith to Action Dear Mark, PLEASE WELCOME JAMAAL CRAIG AS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PIIN! Jamaal Craig will begin serving as the new Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network on Monday, October 2. Mr. Craig has an extensive labor organizing background, including positions with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – United Healthcare Workers West in Sacramento, California; the AFL – CIO in both Cincinnati and Chicago; and the United Steelworkers International here in Pittsburgh. Mr. Craig has also worked on two Presidential campaigns as a political organizer on the state level in Michigan and Iowa. His educational background includes formal study in Criminal Justice, Ethnic and Diversity Studies, Political Science, and Public Policy. Currently he is a Ph.D. candidate in Public Policy and Administration, and he teaches courses in Political Science and Ethnic and Diversity Studies at the Community College of Allegheny County. A native of South Carolina, Mr. Craig resides with his family in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. He serves as President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, co-chair of the Pittsburgh NAACP Labor and Industry Committee, and Board member of the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute. He is a member of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and the Fetzer Advisory Council on Labor, Trades, and Crafts. Mr. Craig and his family are members of Wesley Center AME Zion Church. We are blessed that our Executive Director Search Committee has conducted a very thorough and successful search process over the last five months.  Members of our Search Committee include Suzanne Broughton, Rev. Buena Dudley, Rev. Vincent Kolb (convener), Rev. Eric McIntosh, Lauren Enty Rumbaugh, Rev. Jesse Spencer (chair), and Ronnie Cook Zuhlke.  Thank you, Jesse, for your exceptional leadership; thank you, Vincent, for pulling together such an amazing team; and thank you to all the members of the Search Committee for your diligent work on behalf of PIIN!  We are also very fortunate that Ana Garcia-Ashley, Executive Director of the Gamaliel Network, worked closely with our Executive Director Search Committee throughout the process. I would also like to thank Fred White for serving with distinction as Acting Executive Director over the last two months. Fred and our other PIIN staff members – Bill Bartlett, Susan Lithgow, and Sue Thorn – have admirably sustained PIIN's momentum during this transition period, and they deserve our heartfelt gratitude. Please watch for opportunities to become acquainted with Jamaal over the next few weeks. I am sure that he will be eager to meet everyone who is part of PIIN. Together, we can all move forward with our work of moving people of faith into action to eliminate structural racism and economic inequity. Sincerely, Rev. David Herndon, President, PIIN Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network 564 Forbes Avenue, Suite 808, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 office@piin.org

Are sports worth it?

Hat tip to Jay Chambers who wrote.

I can't take credit for this; it is a copy and paste job. Anyway, read it and it may help keep everything in perspective. 

You see athletes large, small and in between. Some are gifted and know it, so they coast. Others are not and know it, so they work like crazy. A select few are gifted and work like crazy. 

There is a place for all of them in youth, junior high and high school sports. 

There also is a place for their parents. So many places. You find them behind the wheel, in dugouts, on benches, in lawn chairs, at concession stands, in hotel lobbies. 

They work ahead or work split shifts or work into the wee hours, all in an attempt to be there when the boy or girl they welcomed into the world digs in with the bases loaded or drives to the basket. 

Occasionally, they look in the mirror or at the bank statement and wonder, "Is it worth it? Is all of this really worth it?"

 

Here's the good news:

Yes. 

It is absolutely worth it.

 

The wins and losses fade. Trophies collect dust in an attic. Stat sheets wind up in a recycle bin. 

None of them matter. 

You realize it years later. Like the day you wake up and your youngest is graduating from college. 

At our house, it is Friday. 

You hear her talk about a semester-long project that involved building a city - designing the water system, infrastructure, etc. - and the mind drifts to softball diamonds here and in other cities, other states. 

It was a group project requiring strategy, planning, execution and, more than anything, teamwork. Sports introduced her to all of it. 

They taught her that life isn't always fair. Line drives get caught. Bloopers fall in. Umpires miss calls. Players drop balls. 

Deal with it. Learn from it. Move on. 

Sports strengthened their resolve, toughened their skin. So when an irate boss openly voices his/her displeasure, they can tell a concerned co-worker: "It's OK. I've had coaches yell at me." 

Doesn't mean they like it, doesn't make it right. But they can handle it.

 

Sports prepare them to manage success and disappointment, deal with adversity. Remember that the next time you drive six hours to a sweltering summer tournament, or shiver under a blanket at a spring doubleheader. 

It's worth it. 

Just be sure to occasionally take a breath, take a step back and take a second to enjoy the moment. It doesn't last much beyond that. 

Games turn to seasons and seasons to years, faster than you can say, "Do you have everything in your bat bag?"

 

Squeeze what you can from the long rides, the overnight stays. You never get those back. Be a shame to waste them listening to an iPod or dwelling on a loss. 

Encourage them to succeed but allow them to fail. They learn from both. 

Be there either way. It's all they will remember. 

Experience the journey with them, not through them. You had your time. This is theirs, no matter how many hours you contribute. 

Keep in mind, the key is not whether they make or miss the winning shot, but accept responsibility for taking it. If they can do that, they won't shy away from much at work, in school, in life. 

Hold them accountable beyond the court/field. Remind them playing sports is like any privilege. It can be taken away. 

Finally, continue to give them love and support, win or lose. Stay in the game. 

It's worth it.

Fwd: Twofer

---------- Forwarded message

From: John H

Attached are two articles, one serious and one seriously accurate.  The first deals with the endless atrocity of American corporate greed imposed by military force on Afghanistan.  This is not a war.  And, like Iraq and others we have precipitated, it does not exist in search of victory.  Rather, it exists to enrich contractors and their sponsors and to ensure that Americans continue to live in fear of terrorism which we endlessly recreate.  This is, in short, a horrific criminal enterprise with no redeeming value whatsoever.  But don't take my word for it, check out the Ann Jones article.

John

Links

• When will They Ever Learn (PDF)
• Scathing New Parody Site Rips Mask off Zombie
• Centrism.biz

Fwd: FW: McResistance | https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/silence-from-theresistance-as-senate-votes-to-maintain-trumps-war-powers-d71de2a7b73a

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John H

https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/silence-from-theresistance-as-senate-votes-to-maintain-trumps-war-powers-d71de2a7b73a

John

Fwd: WordCamp Pittsburgh Wrap-up

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: WordCamp Pittsburgh, PA

WordCamp Pittsburgh, PA 2017 Thank you, thank you, thank you! Can you believe it's been a little over a week since the fabulous WordCamp Pittsburgh? Our team had a great time planning the event and we hope you had a great experience. Some updates and additional info for you.... PHOTOS! Thanks to our fabulous Volunteer Photographers, Miranda Knee and Marta Greca, we have some great photos from throughout the day. You can check them out at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Fz2Wuld4YSSrPPoe2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/4UBCcnXxcCcTC5AI3 SLIDES! We're still collecting slides from some of the speakers, but the ones we have collected are available on the session page. (Look for the Slides link under each session description.) MEETUP! If you're not a member of our WordPress meetup group, join now! https://www.meetup.com/preview/Pittsburgh-WordPress-Developers-Designers. Our next meetups will be in early October, so check it out soon. SPONSORS! Another heart-felt thank you to our sponsors - BoldGrid, WooCommerce, JetPack, Bluehost, Pair Networks, A2 Hosting, GoDaddy Pro, Pantheon, Libsyn, SiteLock, WPML, DreamHost, SiteGround, GiveWP, and Sticker Giant. WordCamp Pittsburgh would not be possible without you. VOLUNTEERS! To all of the volunteers that helped to make the day run smoothly - thank you for your time, your skill, your patience, and mostly for being you! You were all amazing! Thank you all - attendees, volunteers, sponsors - for making WordCamp Pittsburgh 2017 a very special event! Cheers! The WordCamp Pittsburgh Team

Manchester neighborhood, Come Live Over Here

The City of Pittsburgh, via the City Planning Department and after receiving feedback from the Manchester Citizens Corporation and residents in Manchester, hired OHM Advisors as the consultant group to lead efforts to draft a Manchester/Chateau neighborhood plan. A Steering Committee, comprised of members from the Manchester/Chateau community, representatives from the City of Pittsburgh, and representatives from Manchester community organization, will assist by providing guidance on the direction of the plan.

The first meeting of the Steering Committee was held in the last week of August. It was an opportunity for members to meet the consultant team and provide them with initial thoughts on the goals the plan should aim for and the issues in the community that need to be addressed. Based on these discussions, it became clear that stakeholders want to reconnect Manchester to Chateau, spur economic development, reduce blight, and ensure the provision of affordable housing.

Public meetings to update and receive feedback from the community on the development of the plan will be held in October and November of this year. The goal is to have a neighborhood plan drafted by the first quarter of 2018. Regular updates will also be posted on the website: www.manchesterchateauplan.com

Ellen, Ex-Obama Swimmer, goes to college and stars in an insurance commercial

Way to go Ellen!

Thinking more about Tech Captains

Saved by life jacket

http://www.nola.com/northshore/index.ssf/2017/09/capsized_boat_causeway_rescue.html#incart_river_home

Come Live Over Here -- via a container ship

Ten minutes

If you don't have 10 minutes to watch the whole thing, JeffHK made a handy little viewer's guide for you, complete wth timestamps:

0:32 Milky Way 

0:53 Sirius Star (I think) Correction: Jupiter the planet according to some viewers 

1:17 Approaching Port of Colombo 

1:45 Cargo Operation 

2:08 Departure Colombo with Rainstorm 

2:29 Beautiful Sunrise 

3:13 Lightning Storm at Malacca Strait and Singapore Strait 

3:29 Clear night sky Milky Way with lightning storm 

4:01 Camera getting soaked 

5:09 Arrival Singapore 

5:56 Departure Singapore 

6:20 Moon-lit night sky 

6:48 Another Sunrise 

8:30 Headed due north and you can see Ursa Major rotating neatly around Polaris. 

8:36 Squid Boats 

8:54 Chaotic Traffic 

9:15 Arrival Hong Kong 

Greenfield..... ACTION.... Play

Pssst.

Check out this memo from Greg at City of Play. 

What are you doing tomorrow, Wednesday, night? First meeting. 

Fwd: 10 Timeless Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Darius Foroux

These books have taught me more about business than my master's degree.

Read this article on DariusForoux.com Do you want to start a new business or grow your existing business? Being an entrepreneur is a lonely job. But fortunately, you can always rely on books. Forget about going to networking events, meetups, or browsing the internet for useful advice. To me, reading business books is the best use of my time. And in this article, you'll find a list of books that have helped me with 6 skills I think every entrepreneur can benefit from: Adopting the mindset of an entrepreneur. It might sound easy, but it's not. Succeeding as an entrepreneurship largely depends on your mindset, not your talents or resources. Productivity. I look at productivity as the vehicle to your goals and desires. Without a productivity system, you'll often end up working on unimportant things that will not bring you closer to your goals. Business writing. Even though media is getting more visual by the day, we communicate more with words than ever. Being an effective writer helps you to get people to act with your words. Persuasion. An entrepreneur is nothing more than a salesperson who sells their own products. So you better be good at persuading others. Public Speaking. You can quickly stand out from the crowd by adding public speaking to your arsenal of skills. And it's not only a skill that you can use for giving talks or presentations. Want to make better videos for YouTube or social media? Get better at public speaking. Marketing. How do you position, package, and develop products that people actually need? That's marketing. And that's a skill you need to be an effective entrepreneur. You don't have to be an entrepreneur to benefit from these skills. Every person who works for a business can use these skills to advance their career. Below, I mention at least one book for every skill I've listed above. I've spent a long time thinking about which books to mention here. And I decided to focus on books I think will be relevant for decades to come. The last thing you want is to read a book that's useless next year. Let's get started. 1. The Magic of Thinking Big Paperback by David J. Schwartz This timeless book, published in 1959, inspires you to think positively about your life and career. Schwartz has a very practical approach and shares ideas that work. Thinking big has nothing to do with having big dreams. It's about acting big. 2. The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone Cardone is one of the biggest names in sales training. And rightfully so. His mindset and results are exceptional. He's not one those many fake idiots you often see bragging about their cars. Sure, Grant brags a lot. But he's also genuine. The book comes down to this: Want to reach 100K people with your products? Focus on 1.000.000 instead. Btw, get the audiobook, which is read by Grant himself. You'll laugh and learn. 3. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck As an entrepreneur, you need a growth mindset to survive. Life is about solving problems and finding solutions. If you always look at the risks and consequences of everything, you might play it safe, but you'll also never grow. Carol Dweck's book is one of my favorite books about developing the mindset you need to succeed in life. 4. Essentialism by Greg McKeown Productivity is about doing the right things. And this book helps you to focus better on what matters to you, personally. Once you know what you're after, it's easier to get there. 5. The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert Gary Halbert was a successful copywriter. And today, he's still a legend in the marketing world. But this collection of letters goes beyond marketing. Halbert uses his copywriting skills to teach his son about direct response marketing, life, health, and being successful. He wrote these letters while he was serving time in a federal prison. 6. Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath The all-time classic book on persuasion is Influence by Robert Cialdini. I highly recommend reading that book. However, that book is very theoretic and broad. If you specifically want to read more about how you can persuade others of your ideas, Made to Stick is great. Telling persuasive stories is one of your key responsibilities as an entrepreneur. 7. The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking by Dale Carnegie A book list without Dale Carnegie is never complete. I've read a bunch of books about public speaking. New and old. But this book is still the best book I've read on the topic. It really is a quick and easy way to effective speaking so that you can start spreading your ideas better than ever. 8. Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday I recently interviewed Ryan about this book on my podcast. In the book, he gives you a framework for creating a product/service that sells for decades. To me, that's the essence of marketing. In Perennial Seller, Ryan describes key marketing lessons he learned from successful authors and entrepreneurs. Also, he talks from experience. Ryan has written five best-selling books and helped market a bunch of other best sellers for other writers. 9. Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne I have to confess that I've been familiar with the concept of 'blue oceans' and 'red oceans' in the marketing world for a few years. However, I haven't been applying it as much as I should. Too often, we try to compete with other businesses in red oceans. Why do we do it? Why do we always try to be better and not different? Blue Ocean Strategy provides valuable answers that help you create unique products that serve new markets. 10. Anything You Want by Derek Sivers Almost all entrepreneurs I know are lazy. I'm the biggest example of that. Why do you think I'm so big on productivity? I don't want to waste my time on unnecessary things. Even though reading is one of the most necessary things to me as an entrepreneur, I understand that you might not have time to read all these books. Maybe you have a 9–5 job, run multiple businesses, or have a house full of kids. These are all legitimate reasons for lack of time. In that case, I recommend reading Anything You Want, which is one of my favorite books from one of my favorite people. Derek Sivers built CD Baby and sold it later $22 million. And in this book, Derek shares "the biggest mistakes, keys to its success, and the philosophies behind the big decisions." You can read it in an hour (and if you don't even have an hour of free time, you want to rethink your life). There you go. These books have taught me more about business than my master's degree. And the best thing? The books will cost you less than 150 bucks. What's the cost of a master's degree? Actually, don't get me started. Just start reading. That's more than enough. In fact, if you read these books, you'll know more than 99% of all other entrepreneurs. Now, you and I only need to act on the ideas we've learned.     Like books but don't have time to read them all? Why not listen to some of these books instead? Click here to get a FREE trial for Audible. You'll even get 2 books for free to get started! It's the perfect way to learn while you're on the go. And you can immediately start listening today. Have a great week! - Darius

Fwd: How the Pentagon sucks up your money . . . in search of global hegemony

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John H
Subject: How the Pentagon sucks 

Ever wonder just how the Pentagon and its friends the military contractors spend the money which should be providing for your health care?  Well, wonder no more.  Alfred W. McCoy explains much of it in the attached article, but even this is just a drop in the proverbial bucket when the intelligence budget is added in.  Apparently losing successive military engagements (some would say faux wars) is no impediment to extravagance in the search for global dominance.

John

Call to action from City Charter High Post High School Planning Team (PHSP Team)

To whom it may concern,

We recently received a grant through Partners for Work for 10 City Charter High School students will complete the Patient Care Technician training program at CCAC.

We are establishing a professional Roundtable of businesses and organizations to provide career resources and guidance to prepare our students for work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. We cordially invite you to be a part of this group and share best practices, professional workplace expectations and other pertinent information.

The goal of the Patient Care Roundtable is to engage local businesses in discussions of student preparation for careers, City High curriculum and business needs for a pipeline to employment.

The Patient Care Roundtable will take place on Friday, October 6th from 10:00 am - 11:30 am, at City Charter High School located at 201 Stanwix Street Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. A wrap-up session will also be held on Friday, March 16th (same time and location).

If you are interested in participating, please reply to this email NO LATER THAN September 11, 2017 with the following information:
Organization Name
Attendee Names and emails
Organization Industry

We thank you in advance for your consideration.


*If this email should be forwarded to another person in your organization, please feel free to send it to them or reply to this email with their contact information.

Sincerely,
City Charter High Post High School Planning Team (PHSP Team)

Antonietta Riley
Transition Manager & Alumni Coordinator
City Charter High School
201 Stanwix Street
Pittsburgh PA 15222

Phone: 412-690-2489
Fax: 412-690-2420

Wanted: Running Mates and places to run to!

Time to hit the road to share insights about this ballot question for city voters in the 2017 general election.

Who wants to help spread the word?

Where and when are the meetings being held? 

Who can we talk to about getting an invite to speak to the audiences -- for only a couple of minutes.

Fwd: Time to end the silence!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John H

This is an article worth reading, time to stop whining and to start networking groups together – this is the fight of our lifetimes and if we lose it all humanity loses.

John

Article: The Silence of the Good People (PDF, 483K)

Pitt Women's Hoops -- an invite for its GAME DAY in a School Day

Hello Teachers and Administrators –

I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are excited about a new school year.

On behalf of Head Coach Suzie McConnell-Serio and the women’s basketball program here at the University of Pittsburgh, I want to invite you and your students to Pitt’s campus for the ninth annual women’s basketball “School Day” game. Pitt will face Cornell at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 13 in the Petersen Events Center.

Last season, the Panthers played in front of a School Day record crowd of nearly 10,000 fans when they defeated Youngstown State, making it the highest attended women’s basketball educational field trip in the country. You can visit www.PittsburghPanthers.com/schoolday to see pictures and videos from last year’s field trip.
 
SCHEDULE OF THE DAY

·        9:30 a.m. – Doors open, students complete educational workbooks, watch warmups, watch educational videos

·        11 a.m. – Tipoff, enjoy educational and fun in-game videos, t-shirt toss, music

·        Noon – Halftime: Speakers from our Life Skills Department and student-athletes

o   Lunch: Guests can visit the concession stands (School Day specials will be available including a $3 hot dog & soda combo or a $3 popcorn & soda combo) or pack their own lunches.

·        1 p.m. – Game concludes, schools depart

In order to support education beyond the School Day event, each school in attendance will be sent free game vouchers following School Day, which may be used to reward students throughout the school year for academic excellence. Students may redeem these vouchers at a women's basketball home game this season for free admission for themselves and up to three guests.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

All tickets are only $1. Visit www.PittsburghPanthers.com/schoolday to find the order form, flyer, and more information.To purchase tickets, contact Angela Hunter at tickets@athletics.pitt.edu or by calling 412-648-8270.

We look forward to setting another nation-wide attendance record with you! Please let me know if you have any questions.J

All the best,

	Tricia Adamczyk MARKETING COORDINATOR Petersen Events Center | 3719 Terrace St., Room 2098 Pittsburgh, PA 15261 | tadamczyk@athletics.pitt.edu office: (412) 624-5038 | cell: (412) xxx-xxxx | fax: (412) 648-8248
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY INCLUDE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION SUBJECT TO PROTECTION UNDER FEDERAL LAW. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. RE-DISCLOSURE OF THIS INFORMATION IS PROHIBITED ABSENT SPECIFIC WRITTEN CONSENT OR AS OTHERWISE PERMITTED BY LAW OR REGULATION.

Fwd: Update and a Request!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Martin 

Hey everybody!

I wanted to let you all know that settling into medical school in Erie has gone splendidly. I love being close enough to pop down to cranberry and seeing my family more frequently, and I'm learning tons of super interesting anatomy at school. I do miss the mountains and volleyball from Denver area, but it's been a happy transition nonetheless.

Last year in Denver I worked for an AmeriCorps program called City Year. I primarily worked in a 7th grade classroom as a near-peer mentor / tutor / coach, serving a population of largely underprivileged, mostly Hispanic families and children. My school was in it's second year of existence (now third), founded on the principle of developing our students into successful learners and leaders. Feel free to ask me more about it by email or next time we see each other!

The kiddos were undoubtedly a handful at times, but I saw echoes of my own middle school experience while helping them through theirs. I helped my partner teacher, Celine Wuarin, organize the beginnings of a field trip for the students to help them gain perspective on their community and world. Field trips were highlights of my time in middle school, and we unfortunately didn't have the budget to provide many similar opportunities last year. This trip is going to be a huge eye-opener for the students that attend, a completely off-the-grid excursion to Southern Arizona to learn how to live sustainably and work within local communities to make positive changes happen. 

My request is this: would you consider donating to support making this field trip a reality for these students? The kids have been fundraising non-stop since I left them in May, but any additional support would mean the world to them. I've included a link for a GoFundMe site that you can donate to, and there's a lot more information about what they'll be doing in that website too! And a video with my old homeroom students!

https://www.gofundme.com/compassacademytravel

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at this address or ask next time we cross paths! Looking forward to seeing you all again soon! :)

Martin

p.s. feel free to pass that link along to anyone you know who might be looking for a meaningful donation opportunity, especially with the holidays just around the corner!! 

Fwd: Inaugural Lecture in the Hesselbein Series with Col. Diane Ryan!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: McShane, Lydia Frances <lfmcshane@ pitt.?

Inaugural Lecture of the Hesselbein Forum Lecture Series

 

"To Serve Is to Live: Honoring a Legacy - Inspiring the Future"

 

Influenced deeply by leadership expert Frances Hesselbein, Dr. Diane Ryan is focused on character-based leadership at all levels, in all sectors. Dr. Ryan will explore values-based leadership development as well as share research that demonstrates the importance of quality, character, mind-set, values and principles in today's rapidly evolving world.

 

Thursday, September 28, 2017

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Twentieth Century Club, Lecture Room

4201 Bigelow Blvd

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

 

Please RSVP to lfmcshane@pitt.edu or call.

_______________________________________________
gspia-johnson-institute mailing list

--

--
Ta.


Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com
Swimming and Water Polo Coach, Schenley High School, Pittsburgh, PA
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell

Physical Literacy for kids

Fwd: If Hillary had won . . .

---------- Forwarded message

From John H.

Israel appears to have backed itself into a corner by supporting the wrong side in Syria.  Now will the U.S. resist Netanyahu's furious push to attack Iran?  And, Paul Street explains how things would have gone if Hillary had actually won the election.

 

John

Links

The reasons for Netanyahu's Panic

If Hillary had won

Fwd: Union Power

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "John H

These are particularly precarious times for all of us (save for the rulers and their sponsors), but they are dangerous times for unions.  At the same time, most of the advances in safety, stability and standards of living in the 20^th century are tied to the work of unions and union organizers.  The inclination of many unions appears to be to pull-back and shelter in place.  If, however, we are not to witness a full takeover of our nation and much of the world by fascist corporate state (neoliberalism), unions and the rest of us will have to be willing to stand up fight.  Unions, in particular, have done this in the past.  And, in many cases, those standing up suffered grievous repercussions up to and including murder by thugs and government troops doing corporate bidding. 

 

It is always more comfortable to sit back and let others do the fighting, but now is not the time for unions to recuse themselves from the battle.  No job is any longer secure – even white-collar jobs.  Yet far too many of us seem willing to remain complacent in the face of a truly existential danger from the corporate right.  They, after all, own almost all of the media that matters and are constantly bombarding us with propaganda intended to disable and disarm us from questioning their motives and actions which daily serve to strip us of our rights and privileges as citizens – setting us at odds against one another fighting for the meager crumbs the billionaires deign to drop to us.

 

Unions can lead us in this fight by reaching back into their past to develop a spirit and willingness to once again standup to illegitimate authority and fight for the values we should all hope to share.  This will be difficult as many union leaders and rank and file have bought into the corporate mantra while hiding in dark corners afraid to do battle with a system intending to destroy them.  Fortunately, as the attached articles set out, there are unions and independent workers who are willing to stand and fight.  A major part of this be a shared program of education to bring the totality of the problem home to the many who are standing by thinking that nothing can be done.  And this must include not just unions and their members, but all of us.  This education must include an understanding of how our corporate rulers use the government and the military to spread 'their' empire across the globe.  What they do in far-flung countries across the globe will soon come to this nation if nothing is done to wake folks to this reality.  This will be a difficult and sometimes dangerous undertaking, but it must happen if neoliberal totalitarianism is not to finally dominate the world. 

 

I am not now nor, except for a brief period years ago, have I been a union member.  I do have a tremendous respect for what unions have gained for all of us.  I also understand that, in too many instances, unions have become their own worst enemies by falling into the trap of corruption on the part of leadership or cooptation by the corporate elite.  Nothing is ever perfect and that includes unions.  If, however, unions can adapt to the current situations and develop appropriate tactics – not just falling back on old standards – they can once again become a dynamic force for change that we all desperately need.

 

For those of you not familiar with In These Times and Working In These Times, I encourage you to check them out.  There is a description of Working In These Times at the end of the third article in the attachment.

 

John

A new bill of rights for workers article

Fwd: FW: [what's up-discuss] lecture and discussion about my time in the West Bank

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "John Hemington" <jehemington@verizon.net>
Date: Sep 1, 2017 10:17 AM
Subject: FW: [what's up-discuss] lecture and discussion about my time in the West Bank
To: "John Hemington" <jehemington@verizon.net>
Cc:

This will be an extremely interesting and important presentation from two Pittsburghers who travelled to the West Bank and experienced for themselves the conditions there.

 

John

 

Dear Friends

 

I hope you will attend this event.

 

What Two Jews Learned First-Hand in the West Bank

 

Thursday September 7th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm

@ the Space Upstairs 214 N. Lexington St. Pittsburgh PA 15208

 

Father-daughter duo Bob and Moriah Ella Mason will give a presentation about their experiences working with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence in the West Bank this past summer. 

In June of 2017 The Center for Jewish Nonviolence brought together 150 Jews fromall over the world to mobilize around the Sumud Freedom Camp - an encampment of Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals that is reclaiming a Bedouin village in the West Bank for the former residents who were expelled in the 1990s.

Bob and Ella will share the story of this campaign and their experience participating in creative nonviolent resistance across the West Bank. They will also share some background about the Occupation and how it functions, stories from our Palestinian hosts and partners, and how people in Pittsburgh can support the movement for Palestinian liberation

This event is free; donations will be collected to support Sumud Freedom Camp from those who are able.

 

 

Moriah Ella Mason

Artist, Bodyworker, Educator

EveryBody Integrative Massage

www.moriahellamason.com

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Inventory / Sales for weight belts from Watermark

Weight & Quantity

3 pound = 1

4 pound = 2

5 pound = 1

6 pound = 3

8 pound = 6

10 pound = 3

12 pound = 1

Fwd: Chris Hedges nails it . . .

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John H

Attached are two pieces, one by Chris Hedges and an op-ed by Clive Crook.  I'm sure that many will find these to be controversial, but I am convinced that both are correct.  There is currently a massive effort to divide and conquer the American public – and, to be certain there are some very major differences among us.  There are, however, significant areas in which most of us can find room for agreement.  The problem is that the major mainstream media outlets – on both sides – seems to be working night and day to ensure that we will never be able to come together to discuss them.  We must somehow come to understand that this only serves to benefit the ruling class and never works in the favor of the rest of us.  It is a classic strategy which has been employed for centuries, but it has never been employed as effectively as it is today.  We must constantly work to find the issues we agree on and avoid focusing solely on those issues on which we disagree if progress is ever to be made toward that elusi8ve goal of 'a more perfect union'.  Human societies have never agreed on everything, but the most successful ones have learned to agree and implement the most important ones.  Ours is now far from falling into the orbit of the most successful; and, if ours is to survive much longer, we will have to figure out how to talk with each other and to work together for meaningful change.

Think about it before buying into the propaganda hype being constantly spewed forth from the major media outlets.

John

Links

How Antifa Mirros the Alt-Right (PDF)

Loyal Trump supporters, fellow Americans (PDF)

2nd day of classes for fall semester -- and it is like a 'snow day' for Tulane, in NOLA

Dear Parents:

As you know, classes have been cancelled at Tulane University for Tuesday, Aug. 29. This closure is not due to any change in the forecast of Tropical Storm Harvey or the storm’s expected impact on Tulane. Rather the closure was necessitated by the mayor of New Orleans who, out of an abundance of caution, recommended New Orleans residents stay home on Aug. 29 because faulty equipment has reduced the city’s capacity to drain rainwater from streets. This could result in street flooding in certain neighborhoods located miles from campus. While our New Orleans campuses are closed, our food services will still be in operation, as will the Reily Recreation Center, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library and other limited student services. The only effects we are expecting from Tropical Storm Harvey will be some heavy rainfall. Please be assured that your students are safe and likely looking forward to an unexpected day off.

Please visit tulane.edu/emergency for the latest information.

Dusty Porter
Vice President for Student Affairs

James MacLaren
Dean, Newcomb-Tulane College

Allentown: Come Live Over Here

Working. Trying. Lifting.

Nice coverage from the P-G. 

Heavy too! 

Sports Town Pittsburgh

The Final Post - Sports Town will cease operations in October, 2017

Written by Ken Wunderley on Saturday, 26 August 2017 5:05 am.

Below is a message from Sports Town Editor Ken Wunderley.

In 2010, Tri-State Sports & News Service and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette teamed up to form the Sports Town web site. Sports Town provided excellent coverage of all high school sports for 6 1/2 years.

We were fortunate to have McDonald's as our sponsor during a six-year run, but the corporation has decided to end its sponsorship.

After an unsuccessful three-month search for a new sponsor, the Sports Town web site will cease operations in the near future.

The web site will be shut down at the end of October, so feel free to go back and find any posts or photos that you would like to save.

I would like to thank all the writers and photographers who contributed to Sports Town, especially writer Brad Everett (my right-hand man) and photographer Marilyn Schwilm. The full list of writers and photographers who have contributed over the years are listed below.

I also would like to thank McDonald's, for its six years of sponsorship, along with the many high school coaches, athletes, and fans who visited our site. Your support is greatly appreciated.

And lastly, I would like to thank Post-Gazette Executive Editor David Shribman, for giving me the opportunity to head up Sports Town, and Post-Gazette Assistant Managing Editor Matt Kennedy, for all his help with creating the web site and overseeing its operations.

I am currently working on a WPIAL and PIAA history site. My hope is to find a sponsor and unveil the site on Oct. 1. I will keep everybody updated on my progress.

Sports Town Alumni:

Writers

Chris Adamski 

William P. Allmann Sr.

Keith Barnes 

Stephen Catanese 

Justin Criado 

John D'Abruzzo 

Brad Everett 

Brittany Goncar 

Joe Greiner 

Drew Karpen 

Joseph M. Koch 

John Perrotto 

Ryan Riordan 

Nicholas Tolomeo 

Ken Wunderley

Photographers 

Marc Billett 

Cara De Carlo 

Marsha Green 

J.J. LaBella 

Jim Nagle 

Matt Kruth 

Dean Longwell 

Lynda Scahill 

Marilyn Schwilm 

Susan Wentzel

South Side Residence Get-Together on Sept 16

• Sat, Sep 16, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• at 22nd Street Alongside Ormsby Park
• A FREE kid friendly event for all of our 15203 residents, businesses and friends. A full afternoon and evening of music, food, activities and merriment!
  
  3-5pm Lee Robinson Music's Jazz Band
  3-6pm Moon Bounce, Balloon Sculptor and Face Painter
  3-7pm Duck Pond and Prizes
  3-8pm South Side History Corner
  3-8pm Corn Hole and other games
  3:15pm Kung Fu Demonstration and class for children
  4-6pm Meet the Firefighters and Police Officers
  4pm Tai Chi class
  4:30pm Story time
  5-8pm Strange Brew Band
  
  Bring appetizers and desserts to share and your own drinks - locals restaurants will also be providing appetizers and snacks.