Fwd: Water Wise eSplash - Important Notice for Reclaimed Water Users; Summer Fertilizer Ban; Saving Water to Save Energy; Good Neighbors

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From: St. Petersburg Water Conservation Office

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Low Reclaimed Water Pressure   The City of St. Petersburg has enacted dry weather protocols to conserve the city's supply of reclaimed water. Effective immediately, the City will temporarily lower the pressure to decrease the flow of reclaimed water coming from the City's water reclamation facilities during the hottest times of the day so that the quantity of reclaimed water will be sufficient for irrigating overnight and in the early morning.   Reclaimed water customers may notice decreased pressure coming from their sprinklers from 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and are encouraged to adjust their irrigation timers and only water according to the City's year-round reclaimed water voluntary irrigation schedule: ·   Water your lawn no more than three days per week. o Even addresses should irrigate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday o Odd addresses should irrigate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday ·   Water from 5-9 a.m. or 7-11 p.m. Watering during the heat of the day is inefficient as much of the water used is lost to evaporation and wind drift.   Reclaimed water customers are also asked to turn their automatic sprinkler systems off if there is not adequate pressure for proper operation. This will aid in filling storage tanks so that customers will be able to irrigate.   The City of St. Petersburg would like reclaimed water customers to know that reclaimed water is a limited resource and should be used wisely. The supply of reclaimed water depends on the amount of wastewater being processed at the City's three water reclamation facilities. It takes five houses worth of wastewater to produce enough reclaimed water for one property.   Reclaimed water pressure will return to normal once the supply of reclaimed water is stabilized. If conditions worsen, the Mayor has the ability to enact mandatory restrictions on reclaimed water.   For more information on sprinkler system efficiency, visit the water conservation website. Upcoming Virtual Class - Getting to Know Your Sprinkler System. Wednesday, June 23rd, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Register here. Summer Fertilizer Ban Starts June 1st   Residents and business of Pinellas County, including those in the City of St. Petersburg, are required by law to avoid the application of nitrogen or phosphorous to lawn and landscape plants from June 1st to September 30th.   Summer rains don't water fertilizer in, they wash it away -- into our ponds, canals, Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Too much nitrogen or phosphorous could cause algae blooms and fish kills, spoiling the beautiful waterways that are our major source of recreation. The treatment of local waterways to remove these nutrients costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Nutrient pollution can be controlled with your help - It is much more cost effective to keep excess nutrients out of our waterways than to remove the pollution once it is there. For more information, view this brochure. Making the Drops-to-Watts Connection: Saving Water to Save Energy Many people over recent years have been adopting energy efficiency practices and technologies such as solar energy and LED lights. But do you know how closely related water and electricity are to each other? Even though water and energy are separate utilities, they are intricately connected. It takes energy to pump, heat, treat and deliver the water we use every day. Alternatively, water is used to create electricity, usually in hydro and steam turbine power plants but also in power plants for cooling the equipment. Because of what is called the Water-Energy Nexus, saving energy saves water and vice-versa. An additional nexus linkage has been made to food since agriculture and associated food production and supply industries use a great amount of water and energy. Because of this interdependency sustainability and the scarcity of food, water and energy are concerns worldwide. For more information on the water-energy-food nexus, visit the United Nations website and the U.S. Department of Energy webpage. How Can We Save Both Water and Energy? Appliances and products. One of the simplest ways to save both water and energy is to install water-efficient products. According to the EPA, it takes 3,000 to 6,000 gallons of water to power a 60-watt incandescent bulb for 12 hours per day over the course of a year! - Select appliances and products that have earned the EPA's WaterSense® label and/or are ENERGY STAR® qualified. As an example, installing WaterSense labeled faucet aerators in bathrooms costs just a few dollars, but could save enough electricity to dry your hair every day for a year! To find out how much water and energy you could save with efficient appliances, and how many pounds of greenhouse gas emissions you may prevent, visit the EPA's WaterSense Calculator. - Consider buying a high efficiency (HE) clothes washer – the costs have dropped dramatically over the last five or more years and many top-loading models are qualified as EnergyStar. The high spin rates of HE washers remove more water from clothes than traditional machines. With less moisture remaining in the clothes, drying time is reduced, saving electricity. Also, HE machines use less water and, consequently, less energy than traditional machines. Select a model that allows you to adjust the water temperature and levels for different loads. - Insulate the hot water pipes as much as possible. When hot water sits in pipes or even travels to its point-of-use, heat is lost through the pipe walls. Also, energy and water are wasted as we keep the faucet open waiting for hot water. - Install an insulating blanket on the water heater tank. This could reduce standby heat losses by 25% to 45%. A pre-cut jacket or blanket costs around $25 and should pay for itself in about a year. Select and install the blanket according to manufacturer's instructions, based on the energy source (gas, solar, electric, etc.). More detailed information can be found on this Department of Energy webpage. -Seek and fix leaks. Visit the Water Conservation webpage to learn how. Designing and renovating a home. Thoughtful planning and design could provide efficient plumbing systems without significantly increasing costs or installation time. The goal is to efficiently move water from the water heater to each fixture. Be sure to follow state and local plumbing codes when making these decisions. - Locate the highest hot water demand areas (the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry areas) as close as possible to the hot water heater. By designing homes with kitchens and baths concentrated in one area of the house, the length of the required piping is reduced. - If centralizing demand areas is not practical, get hot water faster to these key areas by reducing the length and diameter of the plumbing pipe from the water heater to the kitchen and bathrooms (as code and manufacturer instructions permit). Not only is the hot water "wait time" reduced, but there will also be less heat loss in the shorter length of piping. Original source of information in this article is from the EPA"s WaterSense and EnergyStar websites, and the Department of Energy's Energy Saver webpages. Featured Program – St. Petersburg's Good Neighbor Guides   The Good Neighbor Guide series is designed to provide residents and businesses information regarding common concerns, ideas and solutions and also create supportive, sustainable and welcoming communities. The core of this initiative is informative materials and videos designed to be shared within a community and help us all be good neighbors. While a search of the city website using the words "good neighbor" will yield all of these resources, we will focus on just a few.   Sewer Smarts. Everything that goes down your sink, toilet, tub, or shower has to make its way through the sewer system to one of three water reclamation facilities in the city, where it is processed and "recycled" to be nutrient-rich reclaimed water for irrigation. However, each year hundreds of gallons of sewage overflows in St. Pete are caused by blockages in the pipes caused by fatbergs, which are congealed masses of grease combined with items that shouldn't be flushed. This video and the associated webpage provide details about when should and should not go down our drains. Waste Reduction. We all know and love the 3 R's: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". But do you know there are now 6 R's to help reduce waste? Waste, especially single-use plastics, can have negative environmental, economic, and quality of life impacts on our community. Our trash takes up space and produces greenhouse gasses and other pollution. Every resident, visitor and business can take part in reducing the amount of waste produced in St. Pete. Learn more with this flyer.   Leaf Blowing. Improper use of leaf blowers may lead to pollution and water quality problems in our creeks, lakes and surrounding bays, neighborhood flooding caused by clogged storm drains, noise and air pollution and unattractive debris in our streets. Do you know that there is a city (and Pinellas County) ordinance that prohibits blowing or depositing leaves, yard clippings or other debris into the public right-of-way, another property, city streets, alleys, or storm drains? Learn more about the guidelines and reporting tools from this brochure.   The many other Good Neighbor Guides focus on topics such as residential parking, pool maintenance, residential trash and recycling and hurricane preparedness. Keep an eye on the city's website for new Guides! Saving Water is Simple with a Rebate from Tampa Bay Water Wise   To help our customers implement water conservation efforts, St. Petersburg is a partner in the Tampa Bay Water Wise Rebate Program, a regional effort that offers to eligible St. Petersburg utility customers rebates, information and more for several types of actions. Not a St. Pete. water customer? You might be eligible if you are a potable water customer of the counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough or Pasco, or the cities of Tampa and New Port Richey! For eligibility requirements, details, and an easy way to look up which rebates could apply to your property, visit Tampa Bay Water Wise or call 1-888-491-0033. Receive a Rebate for Your Rain Barrel, Tote or Rain Garden!   Do you have a functioning rain barrel, rain tote or rain garden? The City of St. Petersburg has developed the Rainwater Rebate Program to recognize the positive efforts of its stormwater utility customers to conserve potable water and reduce the amount of stormwater runoff leaving their properties. Rain Barrel Rebate — $50 Rain Tote Rebate — $100 Rain Garden Rebate — $100   NOTE: one eligibility requirement is the stormwater customer's attendance at a City-approved Rainwater Guardian Workshop (see article below).   Question or Comment? Contact us! Email: RainwaterRebates@stpete.org Documents and resources are found here. Rainwater Guardian Virtual Workshops Become a Rainwater Guardian by joining your neighbors to learn about: ·  Reducing your use of drinking water outside ·  How rainwater harvesting methods help protect local waterways and the environment ·  Rain barrel setup, use and maintenance ·  Creating shallow rain gardens that are attractive and functional    To protect public health, classes are now offered virtually only. These virtual classes are free and open to the public. Share this flyer with your neighbors and friends! Pre-registration is required. See schedule below and select a link to register.  Virtual Workshop Schedule Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m. - REGISTRATION ENDS ON MEMORIAL DAY! Saturday, June 26 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 20 from noon to 1:30 p.m. - LUNCH TIME! FREE RAIN BARREL St. Petersburg utility customers may receive a rain barrel upon completion of a Rainwater Guardian Workshop. However (depending on supply) rain barrels will be available at a future date once physical distancing and other public health standards can be assured. Full workshop attendance by an adult utility customer is necessary to receive a rain barrel invitation. Separate registration for a rain barrel will be required. Virtual Education Opportunities The current situation has greatly limited the ability of educators to reach their audiences. Many environmental educators offer successful and helpful online webinars. Some are provided below.   As you conduct your own searches for specific classes and information, please remember that plant selection, water issues, wildlife, temperatures, and soils can be different between areas of the State - be sure your searches take this into account. For example, plants mentioned for use in Alachua County (Gainesville area) may not be successful in Pinellas County. Wild Design That Works. Hosted by the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Online Event: Wednesday, June 2nd, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.   In this talk, the owner of a native plant nursery and designer will cover a wide range of topics from how to let nature guide design, pollinator considerations, site preparation, hand seeding, planting, irrigation, weed control, pruning and the importance of diversity.   Nancy Bissett has developed techniques for restoring many upland communities including scrub, sandhill, and flatwoods that include planting, direct-seeding of native groundcovers and weed control. As a botanist she has helped federal, state, and local authorities find and evaluate rare plant communities.   At the time of the event, log in to the Zoom meeting here. The Passcode is 307188. For more information, email info@pinellasnativeplants.org Keep Pinellas Beautiful Eco-Tour: Clam Bayou Hike and Cleanup. Thursday, June 3rd, from 9 a.m. to noon.   Are you ready to get outside while social distancing? Explore the upland and mangrove ecosystems of Clam Bayou before completing a litter cleanup service project. Discover the ecosystems and unique water features of the park, including watersheds and the interface between urban and natural areas. Learn the way litter makes its way into this waterbody, and how our actions contribute to keeping green spaces like these healthy. Take a look at the new Litter Gitter floating debris abatement device!   After the hike there will be an hour-long litter cleanup service project. All cleanup materials needed, plus t-shirts will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles. Find details and register (which is required) here. Conservation Committee Meeting of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Online Event: Monday, June 7th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.   Are you passionate about conservation of native plants and native plant communities? Are you motivated to communicate important conservation issues to the public, government, and private sector decision makers? If so, consider joining like-minded chapter members on the Conservation Committee, which meets on the first Monday of each month by Zoom. Email the Committee for more information. Backyard Habitat for Birds. Online Event: Wednesday, June 9th, from 2 to 3 p.m.  Join a Pinellas County Extension specialist to learn how you can attract birds to your yard and provide them with additional habitat. Register here. Featured Creature: The Coyote. Online Event: Thursday, June 17th, from 2 to 3 p.m.  If you have seen a coyote in Pinellas County, you are not alone. Pinellas County's UF/IFAS Natural Resources Extension Agent to explore the life history of the coyote and its unique abilities to adapt and survive in urban environments. This presentation will also highlight ways we can learn to coexist with coyotes. Register here. FOR EDUCATORS! Eco Warriors Educator Workshop. Online Event: from Thursday, June 17th through Saturday, June 19th.   Interested in learning about a brand new sustainability curriculum for middle and high school youth? Join this FREE virtual workshop to learn about the Eco Warrior curriculum and be the first to pilot the program in your classes. Topics include water and energy conservation, climate change, consumerism, sustainability careers, and more. Learn how to build the next generation of Eco Warriors! Register here. Need more information? Email Alyssa Bowers or call 727-582-2597. FOR TEACHERS! Exploring Environmental Education Curriculum Options (ECO) Teacher Training Workshop 2021. Online Event: from Monday, June 21st through Friday, June 25th.   Pinellas County's (UF/IFAS) Extension Natural Resources Agent has teamed up with a St. Petersburg College Education Professor to offer this nationally award-winning, week-long environmental education workshop for pre-service elementary & ESE education students, current elementary & ESE teachers, and non-formal educators.   The aim of this workshop is to provide participants with tools and information to interpret the natural world and impart the need for resource conservation to their audience. Using local, state, and national curricula correlated to Florida Standards, participants will be given activities and resources to help foster environmental knowledge and good environmental stewardship in their students.   Each day will feature different environmental subjects and professional speakers will be brought in to provide background knowledge to participants. Certificates of completion will be awarded to those who participate in each day of the week-long training. Zoom registration is required. Learn More about Water Wise Living! Visit Water Conservation Online

Obit for John H.

John’s obituary and other information can be found on the Beinhauer Funeral Homes website here: 

https://www.beinhauer.com/memorials/john-hemington/4602463/index.php 

Obituary

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John E. Hemington, Jr, 76, died April 24, 2021, at Canonsburg Hospital after a sudden heart attack. He was born July 16, 1944, in Uniontown to John Edward and Mary Lenore (Griffith) Hemington.

John graduated from McGuffey High School, Class of 1962. He took a break while in college to serve in the U.S. Army as an audio specialist assigned to the 15th Psyop Detachment Strategic HQ in Okinawa. After returning home, his sister introduced him to Carrilee J. Lightholder, whom he married after graduation from WVU with a degree in Social Work. They would have celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary June 30. He earned a law degree at Antioch School of Law, which focused on public interest law. He went on to practice law in Uniontown and the South Hills area of Pittsburgh. He left the practice of law to help form several computer software and information technology businesses. Later, he derived much satisfaction from his many years of work managing computer systems for The Watson Institute, which provides education and support for special needs children and their families.

Societal injustice troubled him deeply. His passion was reading to understand life, history, politics, economics, and the world. He spent countless hours writing about and sharing what he read with a large group of friends by email. Through his active membership in The Battle of Homestead Foundation and as a founding member of the Izaak Walton League of Allegheny County, he worked to realize a small part of the social, economic, and environmental justice that was central to his life. In addition, he was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills, where he loved discussing current events. Golfing with friends and watching NASCAR were two of his favorite pastimes.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Carrilee (Lightholder) Hemington, are his daughter, Carrie E. Hemington and her husband, Tyrone A. West of Ellicott City, MD; his son, John Bryce Hemington, of Pittsburgh; and three grandchildren, Gregory, Madeleine, and Daniel West.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Susan (John) Tait.

An outdoor celebration of life service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (Sunnyhill), 1240 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228, on Saturday the 1st of May 2021, with visitation at 1pm and service following at 2pm.

Please visit www.beinhauer.com for additional information

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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Edward Hemington Jr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Fwd: Opt out now of cross-app tracking on iPhone

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You asked, Apple delivered Now it's easy to opt-out of cross-app advertiser tracking on iPhone.  See How  Hi there – Good news! If you use an Apple iPhone, a new software update will give you the option to opt out of tracking by apps (including Facebook, Instagram, and more) when you use your phone. Until now, advertisers have been able to track the actions users take across activity on iPhone — kind of like a salesperson that follows you from store to store while you shop, recording every item you look at. Creepy, right? You can now opt out of this cross-app tracking with a new software update for iPhones. Just be sure to click the button that says "Ask App not to Track" after you update your iPhone's iOS to 14.5 If you don't have don't have an iPhone, you can help spread the word so your friends and family with iPhones can opt-out of tracking.     Share on Twitter     Share on Facebook   Apple's decision to allow users to opt-out of cross-app tracking is a huge win for consumers, many of whom might not even be aware that they can be tracked across apps on their phone. Now, with the option to opt-out of tracking at the point-of-use, consumers won't have to dig deep into their phone's settings to protect their privacy. Mozilla first called on Apple to curb cross-app tracking in 2019 because advertisers shouldn't be able to collect highly personal data across apps without consumers' consent. If you have an iPhone, be sure to update your operating system so that you can opt-out of tracking, and then share the instructions to opt-out with your friends and family.   Share by Email     Thanks for spreading the word, Kaili and the Mozilla Team P.S. The Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization fighting for a healthy internet, where privacy is the default and YOU have more control over your personal information. We depend on contributions from people like you to carry out this work. Can you donate today?   Connect with us Thanks for reading! You're receiving this email because we think you're neat, AND you subscribed to hear from us. If our emails aren't sparking joy, we'll understand if you unsubscribe. You can also update your email preferences at any time. Donate to Mozilla  |  Download Firefox 2 Harrison St. #175, San Francisco, CA 94105 Legal • Privacy

Fwd: COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at ASCEND Pittsburgh

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Free Pfizer Vaccines

View this email in your browser REGISTER FOR VACCINATION Greetings and well wishes! ASCEND Pittsburgh is hosting a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic this week courtesy of Hieber's Pharmacy. No eligibility requirements necessary and all are welcome to attend. An ASCEND membership is not necessary.  We do ask that you please bring an ID and insurance card if you have it. Please follow this link to register for an appointment in one of the 20 minute time slots. Each time slot is limited to 4 people. The vaccination will take approximately 5 minutes, then you will wait for 15 minutes before you leave. Second vaccine doses will be scheduled at the time of your first vaccine. No eligibility requirements necessary. Please bring an ID and insurance card if you have it. When:  Thursday, April 29th | 4p-9p Friday April 30th | 7a-12p If you are unable to make these appointment times, please contact sara@ascendclimbing.com. If there is enough interest, additional times will be added. Where: ASCEND Pittsburgh 2141 Mary Street, Pittsburgh PA 15203 Directions Who: Hieber's Pharmacy will be administering the Pfizer vaccine. Hieber's is a local, woman owned and operated pharmacy. If you have questions about the vaccine please contact Jamin Gross, PharmD  at 412-608-0515. Texts and calls are welcome. If you have questions about registration or ASCEND Pittsburgh please contact sara@ascendclimbing.com or call 412-745-2141. What Else is Going On? Saturday, May 1st: LGBTQ+ Outdoor Climbing Trip 9A-3P Saturday, May 1st: BIPOC Affinity Session 6P-8P Thursday, May 6th - Saturday, May 8th: Steel Town Throw Down Qualifier #4 Saturday, May 8th: Big Free Fitness + Yoga Mash Up 7:45A-8:45A Saturday, May 8th: Garden Hose Mother's Day Flower Sale 9A-1P Saturday, May 15th: Queer | Femme | Trans | Women Affinity Session 6P-8P Copyright © 2021 ASCEND Climbing, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted to receive the ASCEND Climbing Newsletter. Our mailing address is: ASCEND Climbing 2141 Mary Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Running Mate -- John H -- has passed suddenly

Sad News from Bryce:

Some of you may already have heard and some of you may not have yet. Yesterday morning my Dad/ John suffered a heart attack and unfortunately, he passed away later that morning. I do not really know how to express to you the void that his absence will leave for me and my family. I like you over the years have become accustomed to his informative emails and articles. This seemingly never-ending flow of information that he was carefully curating to keep those of us who he knew and cared for informed was at times overwhelming. I know I did not get to nearly as many of the articles as I should have.  To you all whom he sent these emails, I want to express my deep-felt gratitude for your part in his life.  I saw those emails as an expression of the love he felt for all of you and his desire for a more just and equitable world.  He was an idealist who often struggled with the inequity that is present in the system and the complacency that exists as part of our collective society. I hope that you too felt the love that he gave as he shared his gloom and doom-laden missives. It was his idealism and principled discussion that gives me hope that while the world we inhabit is far from perfect there are always those like my Dad who will devote their energy to make the world a better place. I am reminded sitting here that he would often find the articles then take the time to reformat them so that they were more accessible to those of us who were not as devoted to the research as he was. Whether you agreed or disagreed with the content he presented, it was always with love and concern for the world he inhabited.

Information about funeral services will be available shortly at Beinhauer Funeral home www.beinhauer.com

Candidate Thompson quote

THOMPSON: Oh, let me just say briefly on the environment, our rivers are uninhabitable, and basically we're putting tons and tons of raw sewage in the river. Other cities, Cleveland and Columbus, they've decided that they want to live in a world with clean water, and we've decided to countersue the government because we want to live in a world of filth and feces. So we need to stop putting feces into our rivers.

#BANG!

PPS School Board PAC

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/new-pac-focused-on-racial-equality-in-education-endorses-pps-school-board-candidates/Content

Not sure what this means?

Wondering if there are people who run for school board as a stepping stone? 

Fwd: Fw: ParkMobile Data Breach Affects Some Mobile Parking App Users

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Subject: FW: ParkMobile Data Breach Affects Some Mobile Parking App Users

 

Pitt Information Technology has received reports of a data breach that occurred at ParkMobile in March 2021. ParkMobile makes the popular mobile parking app of the same name and provides metering and parking app services to the City of Pittsburgh. Some University of Pittsburgh garages may accept payments through ParkMobile, if you pay through the application.

 

What Data Was Affected?

 

ParkMobile indicates that basic user information was taken, including license plate numbers and, if provided by the user, email addresses, phone numbers, and vehicle nicknames. Encrypted passwords were taken but not the encryption keys necessary to read the passwords, meaning that significant resources would be needed to break the password encryption.

 

ParkMobile indicates that no credit cards or parking transaction history were accessed, and they do not collect Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, or dates of birth.

 

What Do I Need to Do?

 

If you have an account with ParkMobile, out of an abundance of caution, Pitt IT recommends you change that password as soon as possible.

 

While the data exposed in the alleged breach did not come from University systems, sometimes individuals reuse the same passwords on multiple websites. If you use the same or a similar password at Pitt or other websites, you should also change those passwords. Also, because of the nature of other data taken, be vigilant for an increase in phishing scams or other scams related to this data.

 

In addition, utilize the following good password practices to minimize your susceptibility to data breaches:

 

• Use a password manager to simplify the management of your various passwords. Pitt Password Manager (LastPass) is available at no cost to all students, faculty, and staff. You can use it to create strong, unique passwords for all your online services.
• Do not reuse passwords across different websites. Scammers try variations of known passwords, so it is important to make sure your passwords are not similar to each other.  
• Use strong, complex passwords that include symbols, numbers, and uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Change your passwords frequently.

• Use multifactor authentication on websites that allow it.

 

Fwd: End of the Road

A sad post from a friend.

Many of his comments and emails have graced this blog -- as I consider him a real running mate.

Mark

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From: jehemington <jehemington@verizon.net>
Date: Sat, Apr 3, 2021 at 2:15 PM
Subject: End of the Road
To: John Hemington <jehemington@verizon.net>

Well folks, here's the deal, I will no longer be sending out these political e-mails calling out establishment policies.  This morning I got hit upside the head with the news that my family believes that I am a loopy, loony-tune heading down a wormhole because my "extremist" politics are so far outside the mainstream.  Now, I do not agree with this assessment at all, but I am also convinced that if this is the way my own family feels then there is no hope and no real point in continuing to put in the effort to try and alert others to what is really happening out there in the world.  This tells me that the plutocrats and the corporate warmongers have won.  That humanity's time on this wonderful planet is not to persist much longer – certainly not for many more generations.  The way things are now trending with the current administration's foreign policy we could well see a catastrophic nuclear war in our own lifetime.  Should we somehow avoid that disaster, we will almost certainly not escape the catastrophe of climate change much sooner than scientists now predict.

 

Sadly, mainstream politics, whether the Democratic Party variety or the more bizarre Republican variety have no answers to any of the most serious problems facing humanity.  Nor are they even willing to willing to pretend to actually address them.  Furthermore, there is no hope in this country for a viable third-party to develop and prosper.  So, we are left with the endless nonsense of political Kabuki Theater of impossible corporate subsidy solutions that never address real issues while more and more people starve in the streets.  At the same time, this most powerful nation on earth creates almost daily holocausts in nations all around the globe in the name of protecting "human rights".  We are, whether we like to acknowledge it or not, an evil people. We allow our government, in the name of patriotism and corporate profit, to destroy the lives of millions of others, both here and abroad, without any serious concern or dissent.

 

These have been issues I have struggled with ever since I left the Army in 1970.  And contrary to my family's belief that my obsession is of recent origin.  It is not.  However, I just don't have the energy to keep this up in the face of so much apathy at home and among those "progressive" legislators I have supported financially and otherwise.  Legislators who have refused to use the power of their votes to push the establishment Democrats to really adopt progressive portions that they claimed to support in Biden's campaign in much the same way as the conservative Democrats have used their votes to quash progressive ideas for years.  It is all very demoralizing and I am not willing to continue the battle from here on out.  This is not what I had hoped to be saying today, but my mental health and family health must take precedence over my political desires.

 

 

John

 

Fwd: [Art-All-Night] Call for Artists

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*CALL FOR ARTISTS *

The next Art All Night will be held April 24th - April 25th, 2021 in a location that couldn't be more convenient - your house!

The show will be open from 4 p.m. Saturday all night long until 2 p.m. Sunday by accessing https://www.artallnight.org. View art, hear music, watch demonstrations, create art, play games and make memories "All Night" long!

*Artists*

We invite you to submit one (and only one) piece of artwork during this one-of-a-kind event. Artist registration instructions are available at https://www.artallnight.org where you can use the online registration system through April 19th for videos and April 21st for photographs.

If you are submitting a 3D piece (sculpture, ceramics, papier-mâché, etc.), please consider submitting next week instead. We are currently working on a feature to make our virtual showcase more multi-dimension friendly. Stay tuned!

*Volunteers*

Volunteers are also needed to help spread the word. Please consider forwarding this email to your friends and family, liking one of our social media pages and hitting "going" on our Facebook event. However you are accustomed to spreading news please use those channels to get your friends and family to enter art and attend the event. Your help is the only way the show goes on and the only way it continues. Please help us put on one of Pittsburgh's great events in a whole new way.

Art has the power to heal and now is a great time to share your art with Pittsburghers and brighten someone's day.

Art All Night...  412-235-1950
info@artallnight.org