College aid stuff from last night

Last evening, I attended the Financial Aid information session at Schenley presented by PHEAA with additional information on the Pittsburgh Promise. I am surprised that there have been very few substantial changes in student aid since I "retired" as a financial aid counselor at the community college 20 years ago. The amounts have changed of course but the types of aid and the procedures for applying are basically the same. A few key points:

1. Complete the FAFSA form even if you do not think that you will qualify for state or federal grants. Many colleges will want the information on file before awarding any institutional money. Also, if your child is a 2008 or later graduate of a Pittsburgh city school who meets the attendance requirements, the FAFSA will be required for the Pittsburgh Promise. Even if he/she does not plan at this time to attend one of the qualifying schools (Allegheny County school or state university or state related), plans do change. He/she is eligible for up to $5000. If he/she starts out of state but decides to come home to PA after a semester, part of that money would still be available.

2. File the FAFSA as early as possible. Even if you do not file your income taxes before April 1, it is important to file the FAFSA using estimated numbers as soon as possible. Some campus-based aid is limited so it is good to have your application in as soon as possible. It also might help make that decision of which school to choose, based on the aid that they are offering.

3. Ms. Hargrave, from the local PHEAA, gave several web sites for additional information.
EducationPlanner.org
PHEAA.org
collegeboard.org

Eddie Jones, from PPS central office spoke briefly about the Pittsburgh Promise. They are still working on the Promise and additional information will continue to be released. The list of eligible schools contains 65 public and private schools in Pennsylvania, although a number of those schools are branch campuses of the major universities, Penn State and Pitt. Technical schools, such as the Bidwell Training Center, ITT Tech, Culinary Institute, in Allegheny County are eligible. The student must be in at least a certificate program. There is an incentive for remaining in the city system. A child who attends k-12 is eligible for up to $5000 per year; 1-12, up to 95% of $5000; and 9-12, up to 75% of $5000. As the program is further established and the proposed graduation exam is in place, the amount will rise to $10,000 per year.

My apologies to the representative from NEED; I forgot to write her name. She spoke very briefly on the college/career advising program. On February 11, NEED is co-sponsoring with Schenley a workshop to help with the completion of the FAFSA form. Please see the information below:




-----Original Message-----
From: Arlene Tyler [mailto:ATyler@needld.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 1:00 PM
Subject: UPDATED * FAFSA Completion Workshop Flyer










NEED "preparing the workforce of tomorrow with educational assistance today"

Arlene Tyler Holland
NEED . Student Services Department
PHONE: 412.566.2760 . FAX: 412.471.6643 . WEBSITE: www.needld.org
United Way Contributor Choice Code: 250 . Combined Federal Campaign Code: 33076
EMAIL: Atyler@needld.org

Since 1963 offering "last dollar" funding and helping young African Americans learn about, aspire to, prepare for, apply to, and complete college.

NEED has MOVed
EFFECTIVE November 1, 2007 the new address is:
Warner CENTRE, 332 Fifth Avenue, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Open education initiatives

Over at my tech pointer blog, a new blog I'm now using for links, I've pointed at and signed The Cape Town Open Education Declaration.

Tech Pointers of Mark Rauterkus: "The Cape Town Open Education Declaration: 'Cape Town Open Education Declaration:
Unlocking the promise of open educational resources'" link

More and more educators are stepping up to make open education a reality. Examples of open education in action include:

• CC Learn
  
• Centre for Open and Sustainable Learning
• Connexions
• Curriki
• Learning Activity Management System (LAMS)
  
• OER Commons
• Free High School Science Texts
• Moodle
  
• MIT Open Courseware
  
• Open Courseware Consortium
• WikiEducator

Pittsburgh 250 nonsense - letter to editor from Donn

Ron Morris has Moes. I've got Running Mates. I'm going to make Donn a new running mate.

Pittsburgh 250 nonsense - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewPittsburgh 250 nonsense

I read Colin McNickle's column about the warped thinking behind the public relations campaign for the Pittsburgh 250 celebration with great interest ("Stop this nonsense!," Jan. 20 and PghTrib.com).

I reread it with great dismay, because he hit the proverbial nail on the head.

I do not see this region progressing -- just look at the low immigration numbers. The hungry and business-savvy immigrants who can't wait to start small businesses to live the American dream are smart enough to stay away. To me that speaks volumes, as did McNickle's well-thought-out column.

Look at the fiasco of the Hill District "community leaders" who are strong-arming the city/county or anyone else for a taxpayer-funded supermarket near the new arena site.

Why don't they ask Giant Eagle why it won't build one in their "hood"? They probably already did ask and did not like the answer. How pathetic!

Bill Flanagan, Pittsburgh 250's executive director, and his legions at the Allegheny Conference are of good intent and well-compensated, but he is like Nero fiddling while Pittsburgh burns!

Donn Nemchick, Munhall

Council OKs parcel sales to Downtown developer

This is a continual problem -- the abstaining vote. People are elected to go to meetings and make decisions. Show up. Be in the room when the vote happens. And, vote YES or vote NO. To abstain is to scream weakness. Being weak happens because the administration has NOT given the member of council enough information. Then a "NO" vote should happen. Or, a weak vote to abstain says, I'm easily moved and this time the buy-off is too light.

Members of council are NOT hired (elected) to be my voice. They are elected to insure that the voice of everyone is protected. Rights of 'free speech' need to be understood and preserved. So, these folks are not elected to 'be my voice.' However, they each are elected to vote upon matters for the people of the district. They get the pay-check -- and they make the votes.

If they vote to abstain -- then they should not get a paycheck that week.

If they vote to abstain more than three times a quarter -- they should be impeached.

What if the guys on public works abstain from putting out salt on a day like today? They would be hounded for not doing their jobs. By the way, the salt truck just went down the South Side side-street.

What if the enviro services crew was to abstain from picking up trash?

Council OKs parcel sales to Downtown developer Council's vote was 5-0, with Darlene Harris, Bruce Kraus and William Peduto abstaining, and Dan Deasy out of the room.

Some council members were concerned because the sale price is much lower than what the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority paid for the parcels.

The URA is selling off properties on the principle of buy high sell low. The URA uses taxpayer money. The URA often champions deals where taxpayers get less money. The URA is working for the wrong side. Go figure.

The URA should be liquidated.

The URA is in the market and the property downtown stays inflated. The old, old owners of the G.C. Murphy Co. store used to have a business. It went bust. They closed the store. But, the owners could squat on the property and not sell it for more than a decade. When did the G.C.Murphy store close its doors? The hopes of re-opening the store was not ever in the cards.

The property could stand vacant for years -- because of the URA. They all knew that government money was going to come along, some day, and buy them out. The URA was an enabler for things that hurt the city -- vacant downtown properties.

If the URA had not been around, the old owners of the G.C. Murphy store would have shut down the business and sold the property as they didn't want to pay taxes year after year. The property could have been purchased by anyone -- such as a Millcraft-like developer, from the old owners, on the cheap.

The taxpayers get screwed coming and going.

The property is put into mothballs. The sales price from the store owners to the URA is much higher than it should be. The taxes are not paid for many years. Then the sales price to the next developer is much lower than it should be. Furthermore, the longer the URA holds the property, the lower the sales price. They want to flip it after a huge delay so that the windfall can best be realized by the next developer -- not the taxpayers.

The exit for the bad situation is a bitter pill -- but -- the bad situation was made much worse by the URA from the outset.

The URA and the governmental weenies have made downtown "a boarded-up, depressing place."

If I'm in charge -- Pittsburgh would liquidate the URA. Urban redevelopment in Pittsburgh lags because of the URA.

Rudy Running Third in Florida

Political eyes turn to Florida.

Newsmax.com - Rudy Running Third in Florida Giuliani received just 15 percent of the votes, down from 36 percent in a Herald poll last November, even though he has campaigned heavily in Florida and virtually ignored the races in New Hampshire, Michigan and other early decision states.

I hope Ron Paul beats him again!

Demand the Truth

Demand the Truth Petition to Media: Demand Balance in 2008 Election Coverage

Coach Gordon, Penn Hills Football -- still at a loss for words

Woodland Progress It's been about a week since the Penn Hills School Board agreed to open the head football coach position, and Neil Gordon said he's still at a loss for words.

Gordon, head coach of the Indians for 21 seasons, said he was making plans for his team in the offseason and hoped to continue at the helm of the Indians.

'We were looking to get things going for winter workouts and the weight program,' Gordon said.

Profs: city not ready for casino

The Pitt News covers to the story from the professors at the Univ. of Pittsburgh. Seems that the city is not prepared for the slots parlor. Go figure.

Profs: city not ready for casino - NewsBut what happens when a brand new $450 million casino comes to town? Does the gambler's problem get worse, or are there adequate resources available to help?

In light of the Majestic Star slots casino being built in Pittsburgh's North Side, these are exactly the questions three Pitt professors sought to answer.

Giuliani, a pit bull. He'll eat your kids too. Thompson departs race. Alan K does the Texas 2 step exclusive

Crossing Mayor Giuliani Often Had a Price Rudolph W. Giuliani likens himself to a boxer who never takes a punch without swinging back. As mayor, he made the vengeful roundhouse an instrument of government, clipping anyone who crossed him.The last thing the USA needs is a president with an attitude.

In other GOP Presidential politicla news, "So long Senator Thompson. Tip: Take your wife out on the town and let your hair down."

Perhaps he'll play a role in the convention, yet to come.

And in Texas, Alan Keyes is starting to kick up some dust. See the comments.

Is the NFL on the right team -- Super Bowl's half time won't seem the same after reading this.

Is the NFL on the right team? - Los Angeles Times: The rubber business has historically been horrific for African workers, known as tappers, who collect sap from rubber trees on plantations south of the Sahara. The labor practices of the Firestone Natural Rubber Co., a subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone, in Liberia seem in keeping with this history.

For 81 years, the company has operated a plantation in Harbel, a company town in the truest sense. Its very name comes from founder Harvey Firestone and his wife, Idabelle. The town received its name after Firestone signed a 99-year lease with the Liberian government in 1926 that gave his company access to 1 million acres of land on which rubber trees grow. The sap -- known as latex -- collected on the plantation is shipped to the Bridgestone/Firestone plant in Nashville, where it is used to make tires, among other goods.

Third time is the charm. What does the mood ring say about healthcare in PA with Rendell now?

The photo shows the backdrop banner and Gov. Rendell at his press conference last week -- an event at which he announced the third launching of his bill to cover uninsured Pennsylvanians. "Healthcare for All." Has a nice ring to it. Great publicity. And a real boost for all the hard work our many hundreds of advocates have done in advancing our single-payer campaign to this stage in the process.

Hearings begin in March.

Chuck

www.HEALTHCARE4ALLPA.org

What if a candidacy raised a zillion dollars and no one voted?

The Ron Paul Internet phenomenon is unlike anything else in recent elections. There have been incredible spikes in fundraising for the Good Doctor and an eclectic mix of supporters continues to look just like the cast of a Federico Fellini film.

Ron Paul is NOT an effective leader of people.

What is amazing to a Conservative voter is that Dr. Paul’s supporters are not Republicans, but a mismatch of political ideologues who oftentimes simply act the picked upon, bullied victim.

A quick scan of Paul’s political beliefs ticks off like a conservative Republican’s wish list. No tax hikes, repealing the IRS, withdrawal from the United Nations, a strong stance of gun owners’ rights; however, the oldest candidate in the race boasts a charisma-free resume that will never garner wide, mainstream appeal.

In some ways, the elderly, yet spry Paul is the quintessential Don Knotts of the Presidential race. He seems easy with the pre-written jokes and sharp on the stump. Paul, like Knotts before him, does not command an authoritative presence. He’s the bookish anti-cowboy during a time in which John Wayne is needed. Or Chuck Norris.

Religion is always a sticking point in Presidential elections, especially when the “Religious Right” is still considered a major voting block. Paul’s religious affiliation is as checkered as his supporters. Married in a Presbyterian Church, Mr. and Mrs. Paul raised their children in the Episcopalian Church, while Ron’s religion (on Wikipedia) is listed as Baptist, despite the notation that he considered becoming a Lutheran minister. Needless to say, since Paul practically “tried out” every religion, voters who value faith in a candidate won’t be clamoring for the devoutly fickle Paul.

The fact is, there isn’t a true front runner on either side of the aisle. Mitt Romney (two separate Presidential compatibility tests says he’s by far my candidate, yet I cannot wrap my arms around him) is from Central Casting. Fred Thompson, who came in second in one of my online tests, watched his campaign peak when he announced his candidacy on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Leah Thompson has more of a shot of being the GOP nominee now). Thompson, an actor by trade, tall and rough-looking by genetics, was touted by some to be the most Reagan-esque. But he’ll drop out soon.

Mike Huckabee isn’t much more convincing than Paul, in spite of the fact that wrestling legend Ric Flair endorsed him. If elected, Huckabee might be the only world leader able to make Kim Jung Il tap out to the Figure Four Leg Lock.
On the other side, Barry Hussein Obama is the “cool kid” to support, despite a legislative resume that’s lightly more impressive than mine (and I’ve so far turned down the various offers to run for public office—yes there have been three or four). The “Smartest Women in the World” talk has been silenced in the Hillary “I already have the drapes measured” Clinton camp. American Gladiators has made resurgence, Clinton says, perhaps she can insult women’s characters again for four or eight years. Jebus help us all if Hillary shrieks her way back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Since Ron Paul isn’t ever going to come close to earning true Republican votes in the Primary process, he would best be served in someone else’s Cabinet. Perhaps he could serve his country as Secretary of the Treasury or in a post that would best utilize his intellectual mastery of the Constitution.

What’s ironic is Ron Paul’s candidacy could possibly translate into some sort of Independent run. That would be a disaster for those who share in his “Leave Us Alone” philosophy. This mishmash of supporters would vacuum enough votes from the ultimate Republican candidate to open the White House doors to a “Big Government” Democrat who will most assuredly squash all of the “freedoms” Paul’s followers espouse.

Ron Paul - a quick, easy introduction to the man running for the 2008 presidency - Who is Ron Paul? Learn about the Ron Paul Revolution

Ron Paul - a quick, easy introduction to the man running for the 2008 presidency - Who is Ron Paul? Learn about the Ron Paul Revolution: "Introduction to Ron Paul
This web site was created so that you can introduce your friends and family to Ron Paul. We accomplish this with short video slideshows for the busy professional.

Splendid site. Easy to navigate. Great best-of bits to click upon. Check it out. Unofficial site.



Looks like Ron Paul is going to raise nearly $2-million today, on MLK Day.

Is this the first time Luke Ravenstahl has left the country?

What other international travels has Luke, his wife and Dan Onorato enjoyed?

Anyone know. Post in the comments.

Pennsylvania's Influence Index of bloggers

Blognetnews.com � Pennsylvania � Influence Index#9 Mark Rauterkus -

I'm back. This blog is now ranked #9 in Pennsylvania's Most Influential Political blogs. Last week, for the first time since the service started, the blog fell off of the top 20 listings. So sad. But, it was short lived.

I think I had a better Christmas than most of the other bloggers. So there.

[412] MLK Day -- its official. It is YOUR turn to stand for elected office in 2008

My latest email blast was sent around 3:15 pm on MLK day.

[412] MLK Day -- its official. It is YOUR turn to stand for elected office in 2008 #1. Today is MLK Day. I wish you the best. It is also a day when I've reached a few decisions.

The news reflects, in part, the blog's polling that was done. See the results on the left. I'll take them down shortly.

QUESTION: Should Mark Rauterkus stand for public office, again, in 2008?

REPLIES:

Give it a break. Don't run. (58%)

Run for PA House. Stay active and engaged. (9%)

Run for US Congress. Shoot for a DC post. (7%)

Support Ron Paul as a deligate to the GOP Convention. (17%)

All the above -- as a Republican (7%)

All the above as a Libertarian. (8%)

---

Here is the 'inside story' that bloggers might wonder about, beyond the email blast.

Tom lives in Bellvue and is running for PA House as a R.

Michael Grant lives in Robinson and is running for PA House as a R.

The chair of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party, Dave Powell, and myself, vice-chair, had considered running for PA House. Both of us were going to run as Republicans. Dave Powell lives in the district of Lisa Bennington, D. She is a one-term member of the PA House. She is choosing to NOT run again. With the open seat, there are a ton of Ds seeking the nomination. Powell and I considered joining the R party and seeking R party nominations because of the ballot access issues that third party candidates face. We want to make a statement. The local Republicans are in debt and not able or willing to field candidates anyway. With us both doing the same thing -- it would have made for a stronger statement.

Dave just came back from a week in New Hampshire, working for the Ron Paul campaign. He has a young kid at home. Oh well.

Jim Roddey invited me to join the Republican party, not long ago. If Mr. Roddey wants to get the signatures for me and for Dave Powell -- then we should talk again. But, I won't hold my breath. In 2001, I remember asking Jim Roddey, then county chief executive, to sign my petition to allow me to get onto the R ballot as a candidate for mayor. He refused then. I wouldn't expect help now either.

We both understand the importance of running candidates in the city against the one-party machine. Yes, the D party isn't much of a 'machine.' Helping candidates in the burbs is fine. But, we crave more city opposition. We crave true 'diversity' and new thoughts on the campaign stump.

Furthermore, some races in the city are sure to heat up a bit. It is great to get people of other parties into the mix when the boil begins. Joe Weinroth ran for mayor and got some buzz along with the hype devoted to O'Connor, Peduto and Lamb. Challengers need to start earlier, not later.

Mark DeSantis blew many opportunities in 2007 by waiting to run for mayor and not getting onto the ballot in the primary. He was a 'write in' because he was late.

So, while I'm not yet a declared candidate for the 2008 spring season, I've not ruled out the 2008 general election nor any race in 2009.

Caffeine Doubles Miscarriage Risk

Newsmax.com - Caffeine Doubles Miscarriage Risk: "Pregnant women who drink two or more cups of coffee a day have twice the risk of having a miscarriage as those who avoid caffeine, U.S. researchers said on Monday."

Coffee is one worry. Pepsi and Coke are just as bad. Same too with ice tea. Now Pepsi has a new drink with double the caffeine.

23 Reasons Why a Profile of Pete Carroll Does Not Appear in this Space | Table of Contents | LA Magazine

23 Reasons Why a Profile of Pete Carroll Does Not Appear in this Space | Table of Contents | LA Magazine: "23 Reasons Why A Profile of Pete Carroll Does Not Appear in this Space"

Wonderful profile. But, like the man, it is NOT really a profile.Some want to save the world -— Carroll wants to coach it. He’s launched a foundation, A Better LA, aimed at motivating on a large scale, at ending violence in the inner city, and he now takes time each week to think and talk about problems other than what to call on third and long. With any coach who’s still coaching, drawing conclusions can be hard. His legacy is always in flux; it hinges on what happens next Saturday. But when a coach is remaking himself into a social activist, when he’s just beginning the task for which he may one day be best remembered, firm statements feel that much more ridiculously premature.

Read #16. I've put it in the comments.

Beijing beefs up pre-Games security - Sunday January 20, 2008 10:29PM

SI.com - More Sports - Beijing beefs up pre-Games security - Sunday January 20, 2008 10:29PM: "City officials have initiated a broad security sweep to ensure China's capital is safe in the run-up to the Summer Olympics, according to state media that quoted Beijing's top police official."

Young at heart, make a donation today to freedom's most visible champion today, on MLK day, Ron Paul. Freedom isn't free.

Today, on MLK Day, presents another huge opportunity to make a contribution to the one person on the campaign trails who blends best with the messages of Martin Luther King, Jr. His message resonates for his honesty, its non-violence at home, peace abroad, and civil disobedience against tyrannical government.

Freedom fits everyone.

If you are against the idea of going into an illegal war, a war that was never declared by Congress, even if you are not a Republican, make a donation today.

Today is a 'money bomb.' I don't like that word -- money bomb. But, it has its effect. Today is the day to be a part of history with a donation. You'll be able to tell your grandkids decades from now that you remember giving Ron Paul a donation on a specific day back in early 2008, before the US invaded Iran. You can be a part of history with a donation today. And, it is so easy to do.

Ron Paul is has the most grass-roots support. Ron Paul's average donation at one time was $90. Giving $10 or $15 or $25 is fine!

In my most recent races for public office, I didn't solicit funds for my campaigns. I ran for city controller and spent less than $250. I got votes for less than four-cents each. But, Ron Paul is different. He is worthy of your donation. And, he has been isolated by the mainstream media. Fox excludes him from debates. Just the travels around the country is 'taxing' and 'expensive.' Ron Paul has been showing up. He is getting his message out as best he can. And now, people can't knock him because money talks and he doesn't have it. Well, Ron Paul is the one on the Republican side with the most money. And, he is being wise with the spending. Go figure.

When the next debate comes and Ron Paul is on stage -- while Fred is not and Rudy is broke -- if not absent -- he'll have time to shine.

Ron Paul is on the upswing. California, with its high tech sector, loves Ron Paul. Ron Paul won't tax the internet. Ron Paul spoke to the employees at Google months ago and was thrilled with the support he got then. It has grown.

Ron Paul does well in the silver state -- see below. And the golden state too! And, let's help him make another historical statement on this date -- the MLK date -- for the sake of everyone's freedom and prosperity.

The message below comes from Ron Paul.

January 21, 2008

What a shot in the arm the Nevada caucuses were, where we took the silver as #2, beating McCain, Huckabee, Thompson, and -- of course -- Giuliani. We also got four more delegates. In South Carolina, we beat Rudy again. A big thank you to all our wonderful donors, volunteers, and voters. So many people worked so hard to spread our message of liberty, honest money, peace, and free-market prosperity. I owe you all my deepest gratitude. So do our fellow citizens. So do all future Americans. Most of the mainstream media continue to pretend that we do not exist. Yet soon the race will be down to four candidates-Romney, McCain, Huckabee, and me, and there is no stopping us, as Tim Russert grudgingly pointed out the other night. Thanks to you, we are in this all the way through a brokered convention.

Nevada, by the way, is known as the Silver State for a reason-its great mining industry produced the precious metal for the beautiful silver dollars minted at the fabled Carson City mint. These constitutional coins, include .775 ounces of silver, in accord with the Coinage Act of 1792. Today these coins, worth $1 in my father's day, have about $14 in silver. That is, the dollar is worth 1/14th of what it was, thanks to the counterfeiting Federal Reserve.

The Fed has again taken our country into a terrible crisis. Who else is talking about honest money that cannot be printed up at will by DC bureaucrats? My opponents in both parties are all some variety of print-and-spend Keynesians. Only we are telling the truth, about who is to blame for this recession, and how we can build real prosperity with sound money, no IRS, no deficit, and strict obedience to the Constitution. And, of course, no hyper-expensive, hyper-dangerous empire all around the globe.

When I met with some great ladies in Charleston, all of whom wore beautiful hats, I talked about the young people flocking to our banner. "Don't forget the young at heart," said one. Darn right! A youthful outlook, work ethic, and optimism characterizes all of us. Frederic Bastiat predicted many years ago that liberty would be saved by the young. He might have added the young at heart as well, and how right he was!

I continue to be astounded not only by all our revolutionaries, but by our fellow travelers. Democrats and even the workers for my Republican opponents come up to me to talk about our ideas. They are fascinated, and want to learn more. Reaching so many people doesn't necessarily mean a victory in the next primary, but it counts for the real changes we want in our country, now and for our children and grandchildren.

Of course, I am mainly paying attention to the next primary! We are working hard in Florida, in Louisiana for the caucuses, and then for Super Tuesday in more than 20 states. Meanwhile, the whole world is watching how we do tomorrow in fundraising, on a day dedicated to the memory of Martin
Luther King, the great champion of non-violence at home, peace abroad, and civil disobedience against tyrannical government.

Please make your most generous donation https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/ . We can't let this movement be stopped, nor slowed. I promise you that I will continue to pour all my heart and mind and strength into the battle. I know you will too. Let's work together for all we love, and all we hope for: freedom! Surely, it is worth all our efforts.

Sincerely,

Ron