The free thinking radical

Citizens for Legitimate GovernmentHappy Birthday, Thomas Paine!

interview with Mitt by a Florida guy named Mark -- who says they are all on the same page

VAT = Value Added Tax

Some taxes in Europe are VAT. They are not used in the US. With a VAT, a smaller percent is applied at every stage in every transaction. Here, the taxes are applied at the final sale to consumer, not at wholesale, not at production, not at raw goods, etc.

Russian rowing officials banned after dopes pirate boats

SI.com - More Sports - Russian rowing officials banned - Tuesday January 29, 2008 10:58AM: Officials of the Russian rowing federation received a one-year ban after seven rowers committed doping violations in a 12-month period.

The penalty, announced Tuesday by the International Rowing Federation, bars all administrators, coaches and medical personnel of the Russian body from attending any FISA competitions or meetings.
Humm.... With this type of thinking, would the Pirates ownership be able to be fired after another bad year of baseball?

Some outstanding school questions, ... await the answers

Reform/Alternative Options Committee
Questions Regarding the Pittsburgh Public Schools High School Reform Plan
Submission to PPS Board of education

Reform Options Committee Members (names deleted)

After the announcement of tentative high school reform plans as well as the tentative breaking up of Schenley High School, a group of concerned parents formed a committee to try to sort out the complexities of High School Reform. Representatives from this group contacted Mark Roosevelt, who welcomed the opportunity for parents to engage in a dialogue with the administration to ask questions and voice concerns about the proposed changes in our schools.

Over the last several months, our group has met twice with Derrick Lopez, Director of High School Reform. Below are the questions that have resulted from many hours of reviewing the information presented by the administration over the last year as well as the information given to this group by Mr. Lopez. Although much valuable information was gleaned from our two meetings with Mr. Lopez, answers to the questions below remain elusive. We hope that you, as school board members, will find these questions helpful while gathering information regarding the reform of our schools.

---

1. Is there an overarching plan that addresses the remaining district high schools?
a. Are there 2, 5, and 10 year visions of the district?
b. When will these be widely disseminated in the media and to parents directly?
c. Could you please provide specific data supporting each of the components of the proposed reforms (eg themed high schools, eliminating middle schools, smaller high schools, separating poorly performing students into their own facility)

2. During our meetings with Mr. Lopez, he stated that community councils would be formed while assessing the districts needs for school reform. He also stated that there are currently steering committees addressing the new IB and University Prep High Schools.
a. What is the process for member selection of these committees/community councils? Who are the members? When will they start meeting? What will be the frequency of meetings/agenda?

*Parents have continually expressed concerns that we are not getting a voice at the table regarding the massive changes proposed. We have suggested that each school PTA should elect one representative to be a member any community council or steering committee that is formed regarding all aspects of PPS reform.

3. What are the citations of research regarding 6-12 configurations? Since Brashear is currently configured as a 6-12 High school, can there be a comparison done regarding drug use, drop-out or transfer rates, suspension/referral rate, test scores and staffing considerations between Brashear and another demographically similar high school/middle school set?

Please review attached analyses regarding increased/decreased transitions. This is a google document.

4. One component of the reform plan will create a predominately African American high school at the Milliones Middle School site.
a. Is integration a priority in the reform plan? If so, what will be done to ensure that Milliones will not remain predominantly African American? How was the racial make up prediction (80%-20%) calculated? Has there been discussion of recruiting at risk students from throughout the district to attend University Affiliated HS?
b. Are smaller classrooms for low achieving students a priority? How will the goal of smaller classrooms for at risk student population be achieved? (more teacher hires?) Has there been consideration/discussion regarding smaller classrooms district wide?
c. What is the reaction from the Hill community and the rest of the African American students/parents in the district to this component? Who, specifically, has been contacted for input? Has there been an effort from the administration to reach out to the community at large? If so, when? What was the response?
d. Is there a signed deal with Pitt? What is the time frame of their commitment to “University Prep”?
e. What are the specifics of the “University Partnership” with Pitt?
f. Is this a replicable model or a one-time, one-place model? Who is on this steering committee? How were they selected? Has anyone contacted the educators involved with the successful Spartan Classics program that was discontinued due to lack of funding to incorporate the best practices from this program into HS reform? What are the state’s requirements regarding hours for student teachers?

5. Has the alternative of housing the University Prep and IB/IS high schools in the the Schenley building, thus creating a new Schenley University Prep HS and a new Schenley IB HS? (Schenley is big enough to accommodate both schools in the 6-12 format, thus creating everything that the administration is proposing (new IB, University Prep, and getting Frick for the Science and Technology HS while preserving the unique social integration that works so well currently at Schenley.
a. Please see attached alternative proposal for revised cost analysis
b. Please go to http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/pdf/govpub/2130small_schools_final3.pdf for data regarding housing two schools in one building.

6. What are the plans for assessing the success of changes at the elementary/middle school levels?
a. How are the problems in the Homewood K-8 schools being addressed? Should we move forward with new reforms when others seem to be foundering?
b. What are the results of the America’s Choice evaluation of the elementary/middle schools?
c. What methods of assessment will be put in place for the new reforms and how will these be reported to the public?

7. What will be the mechanism for the high school choice component of the reforms?
a. If feeder patterns are completely eliminated, how will the district deal with over requesting of certain schools (for instance what if all of the students in Squirrel Hill choose Allderdice as their high school)?
b. What will be the mechanism for student assignment regarding the HS choice component of the plan?
c. How can the community be involved in this process before rather than after the fact? What are the plans for developing acceptance of this plan?
d. How will this be addressed? Can there be a regular newsletter that will update parents on reform plans/progress? Can there be a dedicated section of the website to reform plans/parent updates? Can school board members hold community meetings regarding reform plans in their districts?

8. A large component of the reform plan seems to rest on teacher/principal/professional development.
a. What can be done to ensure complete and rigorous evaluation of teachers in the three years BEFORE they acquire union protections?
b. Will the review process of teachers/principals be open to review change with input from all parties involved (teachers, principals, parents and administration)?
c. How can a parent/student component for evaluation of teachers/principals be incorporated into the process?

9. How will the transportation issues of moving students from Hill to Reizenstein, as well as future high school choice, be resolved?

Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen (video)

Must see video that says, 'think again.'

TED | Talks | Hans Rosling: Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen (video) Hans Rosling: Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen

The first comment sums it up well.

The speech is hilariously entertaining, informative about world demographics, and demonstration of shockingly amazing software, a example of how massive information can be conveyed efficiently, and a call for making publicly funded databases avialable for analysis - all at the same time and in 18 minutes. It will leave you stuneed. No visualization software has ever made me feel so inadequate.

A great mention in the talk is that you have to have health before you can have riches.

Student Dispute Threatens Montclair State’s Paper - New York Times

Student Dispute Threatens Montclair State’s Paper - New York Times The dispute started in November, when The Montclarion’s editor in chief, Karl de Vries, protested at a meeting of the student government that it kept some of its sessions closed to the press. Before that meeting, a lawyer retained by The Montclarion had advised the student journalists about their rights under a state open meetings law.

After Mr. de Vries spoke, Mr. Chicken demanded copies of correspondence between the lawyer and the newspaper, Mr. deVries said in an interview, adding that he refused to provide it. The next day, Mr. Chicken sent a letter to the lawyer — whose fees were paid with student funds — firing him.

Goofy people with power and the tricks that they'll use to create FUD.

Ron Paul's message

January 28, 2008

When I started this campaign more than a year ago, I was a somewhat reluctant candidate. I knew our message of freedom, peace, and prosperity was the right one for our country, but frankly, I didn't know how many people today would have ears to hear it.

Well, did I learn a lesson! Millions of Americans understand what ails our country, and what is needed to fix it. So, with you at my side, I am in this effort to win. Not only by building the ideas of liberty, but by getting the nomination. Our opponents would call that nuts -- you know, the advocates of more inflation, more spending, more taxes, more war. But let me explain why they are, as usual, all wet.

For one thing, for the first time since 1952, we are headed towards a brokered convention. Instead of a coronation of one of the establishment candidates, the delegates, influenced by the people, will decide. And I am afraid that this will take place in a time of heightened economic crisis. That means even more Americans will be ready to hear our message. But it also means I am really going to need your help.

One would never know this from the mainstream media, but we've only had a few primaries and caucuses, and even after the extremely important date of February 5th, we will still have more than half to go. And the Republican nominee will not be decided by the popular vote among the "leading candidates" in a few states also handpicked by the media. The nominee will be decided by the delegates. So let me tell you a little about our "under-the-radar" strategy to get those delegates.

On "Super Tuesday," February 5th, there will be 22 primaries and caucuses. I have a hunch that we're going to do very well. But, of course, the media and the rest of the establishment refuse to recognize that. It's the attitude of the small child who covers his eyes to make something scary go away. But we are not going away.

While the media focus on the couple of states they claim are important, we're competing everywhere. And the reason that we're able to do that is because of your grassroots support. You all are an asset that no other campaign has: donors, and activists who want no special deals from the government, just the Constitution.

We're competing very strongly in all the caucus states, and in all other states where delegates are up for grabs. And we're going to keep picking up delegates. Our strategy's already working.

And we're committed to winning states. I have little doubt that if we can double our efforts in this coming week, we're going to grab many delegates from other candidates. Then we'll start getting ready for the biggest moment of all - the convention in September.

The path to the convention is twisty, however. When we were in Iowa, we got 10% of the vote. But no delegates were awarded that night. That's because voters didn't directly choose national convention delegates; they selected the county and state delegates who will make that decision. And if another candidate like Mike Huckabee is no longer in the race at the time of the state convention in June, his delegates are free to support whomever they want. If we work extra hard, we can convert them into delegates for our campaign!

A similar thing happened in Nevada. We won 14% of the straw poll vote that the media reported on, but what they didn't tell you was that we may have gotten up to a third of Nevada's delegates to their county conventions! I always laughed when I heard some people say Nevada didn't matter. Nevada chooses more delegates to the national convention than South Carolina.

So, while the media will focus on the results from Florida, and probably take down the campaign of my friend Rudy in the process, those results are less important to you and me. Let them fight in Florida while we bring our message to Americans in other areas, like the economically hard-hit state of Maine.

We want to win as many delegates to the Republican National Convention as possible, even if other campaigns don't see some areas of the country as "important. But in this work, I need your help. Help me get many, many delegates to this historic convention, by these three methods.

1. Donate. Your generous contributions are essential if we're going to keep going until September. We need, frankly $5 million by February 5 to run more TV and radio ads in the Super Tuesday states. Your help means everything: https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate.

2. Canvass. You can help us identify those who support our message in your precinct. You can help us to convert others, too. After all, your neighbors pay attention to you. I am going to visit as much of the country as I can, but I need you as my partner in your area: https://voters.ronpaul2008.com.

3. ASK others to sign-up on our website. I meet so many people on the campaign trail who don't even receive my letters! I've told my campaign to make communication with you, the engine of all this, much better. But if people don't sign up for my e-mails, that won't happen. If you could just get one extra person to sign-up, that would be great. More would be tremendous.

Help me by forwarding this e-mail to every other Ron Paul supporter you know, and urging them to join our efforts! https://www.ronpaul2008.com/join.

We've come so far, but now the fun is really starting! I have a feeling the mainstream media will move from ignoring us to attacking us. But that will be a sign of our success. Join me as we continue this great movement into year two, and to a hot convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. We can do it!

Sincerely,

Ron

buzz about schools (from Jen and Amy)

Now that a strike has been averted and we assume that attention can and will turn back to Schenley and High School reform.

-- Tonight, Tuesday, January 29, 2008, the Administration is scheduled to give another “workshop” about High School reform (including Schenley) to the School Board. This isn't a public hearing, but the public can go and see the meeting (6 pm at the BOE building). If you have questions you'd like your board member to ask, please contact him or her tomorrow. Here's the generic email address for all board members: boardoffice@pghboe.net. (Though a phone call couldn't hurt, either.)

My concerns focus on postponing all decisions about building closings/openings and hiring of architects and contractors until the board itself feels it has a clear vision of where the district is heading. Most of the plans focus on the East End currently. What are the plans and vision for reforming the other high schools in the district?

Here's hoping this workshop will have more of these sorts of details, rather than more discussion of “excellence” and “rigor” - I think we've all signed on to those ideas!

A group (of which I'm a part) that developed out of interest/concern about the big picture of reform continues to meet. If you'd like a copy of the document that lists our initial and follow-up questions as well as the answers we've received and the questions we still have, let me know and I'll mail it out. One of our main concerns is that committees get formed and plans get made with no parent or community input sought until after the fact. If you're on a committee, let us know, we'd love to hear how that happens!

-- Interesting find on the A+ Schools website - meetings about the new high schools are planned: http://www.aplusschools.org/excel.html.

The IB, University Prep, CAPA, Science and Technology all have meetings listed, as well as two different listings for career/vocational education information sessions. However, the first of the meetings isn't until the end of February and others aren't scheduled until May. While they are described as seeking input, I imagine that most plans for the fall will have already been made.

-- Next public hearing is scheduled for February 18th, at 7 pm. That's the last public hearing before the scheduled vote on closing Schenley on the 27th. Of course, that vote could be tabled by the board or by the superintendent at any point to allow for more information to be presented and planning to take place.

Jen Lakin

---

One semester down, one to go! Hard to believe that we are at the halfway mark. A few things that I wanted to point out:

Schenley parents who have problems getting information from your son or daughter can check the daily bulletin on the Schenley web site. It looks like they are updating it now. It has information about testing, school visitations, etc.

Athletics: Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge sports fan and the Schenley teams could always use some more support. Apologies to the wrestling team; I think that I missed your season. The swim team is doing very well. They have a home meet against Allderdice this Thursday at 3 pm. Allderdice has DOMINATED city swimming for 30 years but Schenley has some excellent swimmers this year and has a GOOD chance to beat them. It would be fantastic to have the stands filled with Schenley supporters.
Basketball: the boys team deservedly gets a lot of publicity but the girls' team this year also deserves some notice. Wednesday's games are against Oliver (girls at home at 7:30, boys at Oliver at 3). I haven't managed to see any of the boys' games but the 2 girls' games were a lot of fun. The girls dominated their city opponents with some really exciting moves.
Theater: this is slightly off-topic but I wanted to bring it to your attention. Schenley parent, Larry John Myers, is appearing in the Public Theater production of Amadeus. I have been a Public Theater subscriber for more than 20 years and think that this is one of the best plays that I have ever seen them do.

IF you have any news to share concerning Schenley, Frick, elementary language magnets or international studies, send it to me and I will share with the group.

amy moore

No school = blog break

We're running around for the next two days on a school semester break and won't expect to update the blog.

The state of the union ... yawn. Err... stimulation!

FiftyOneYears.com - Home

FiftyOneYears.com - Home: "Please join us this February 1st for the Ron and Carol Paul 51st wedding anniversary mass donation day. Our goal is to bring together 100,000 people to donate $51 each, creating a one day donation total of $5,100,000.

Mainstream Media Gleefully Celebrate Nonexistent “Recession”�

Mainstream Media Gleefully Celebrate Nonexistent “Recession”�: "Mainstream Media Gleefully Celebrate Nonexistent 'Recession'

Liberal Commentators Commence Undeniable, Brazen Effort to Depress Americans and Cheerlead Electoral Change

McCain: Romney Favored Iraq Withdrawal

How is this for spin?

McCain: Romney Favored Iraq Withdrawal / QCTimes.com: "SARASOTA, Fla. - John McCain accused Mitt Romney of wanting to withdraw troops from Iraq, drawing immediate protest from his Republican presidential rival who said: 'That's simply wrong and it's dishonest, and he should apologize.'

The fight for Florida grew ever more intense Saturday ahead of the state's pivotal primary as a fairly civil debate over economic records and leadership credentials spiraled into an all-out showdown.

As the two candidates campaigned along the state's southwest coast, McCain sought the upper hand with a new line of criticism, telling reporters in Ft. Meyers about Iraq: 'If we surrender and wave a white flag, like Senator Clinton wants to do, and withdraw, as Governor Romney wanted to do, then there will be chaos, genocide, and the cost of American blood and treasure would be dramatically higher.'

American Treasure. Isn't that the name of a Hollywood pretend movie -- oh... it is "National Treasure."

National Treasure Photos: "Still photographs of 'National Treasure'"

New mayor vows 'high-caliber' Games

SI.com - Olympics - Beijing mayor vows 'high-caliber' Games - Saturday January 26, 2008 1:18PM Beijing's new mayor took office Saturday and promised the Summer Olympics would make China proud.

In brief remarks to reporters after being appointed by the legislature, Mayor Guo Jinlong twice mentioned the Olympics in August, underscoring the event's importance to the city and China's Communist Party leadership.

Humm. Bob O'Connor was mayor and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. That was a quick score to a young term in office. Some five or six months later came the US Open at Oakmont. That was a rush -- for the mayor, of course. And, I understand that Oakmont is NOT in the 'city.'

Well, how about the guy who steps into the job in Beijing -- and the whole world is due to show up for the Olympics on August 8, 2008. This is sure to put a spotlight -- and pressure -- on the host city.

Of interest is the word to describe the pending games -- 'high-caliber. Gun laws aside, understand that they invented fireworks in China!

High School Highlights: Schenley's streak hits 69

High School Highlights: Schenley's streak hits 69:

This gives another good reason why the Pittsburgh City League needs to be eliminated.

In swimming, there are no teams at Oliver and Westinghouse and Perry.

CAPA has NO SPORTS.

It is not any fun to go through years of play with league opponents and always win.

Let's raise some standards. Let's get the city kids playing in the WPIAL on a day to day basis.

Let's have a city league tournament, or tip-off classic, or all-star post-season match. The city teams would still play against each other from time to time. But, the city league squads need to have 'competition' that makes sense.

Fact Check of GOP debate in Florida

By Calvin Woodward of the Associated Press on Thursday's GOP debate.

Fact Check: Misfires in GOP Debate

WASHINGTON - A number of assertions in the latest Republican presidential debate went unchallenged because candidates spent more time criticizing Democrats from afar than challenging - and correcting - each other face to face.

THE SPIN: John McCain took issue with a questioner's statement that he favors "mandatory caps" on greenhouse gas emissions.

"No, I'm in favor of cap-and-trade," McCain said.

"And all we are saying is, 'Look, if you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, you earn a credit. If somebody else is going to increase theirs, you can sell it to them.' And, meanwhile, we have a gradual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."

THE FACTS: McCain has proposed mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions.

The Arizona senator has been among the most vocal supporters in Washington of capping greenhouse gases, proposing legislation to do that several times, and criticized the Bush administration for resisting mandatory measures.

In a cap-and-trade system, companies that outperform pollution requirements could sell the right to pollute to companies that don't meet the limits. But overall emissions would have to come down, and ever more stringently as years pass.

The bill McCain co-sponsored with Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman last year proposed that pollution allowances be cut by two-thirds between 2012 and 2050. A section of the bill is titled: "Mandating Emissions Reductions."

THE SPIN: Mitt Romney boiled down Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton's health care plan to what he regarded as its essence: a government giveaway.

"Her health care plan, quite simply, is one which says, 'Look, we're going to give health insurance to everybody by the government.'"

THE FACTS: Clinton's plan does not propose that the government give everyone health insurance. Most people and companies would pay for it, like now.

The New York senator proposes that the government help those who can't afford the insurance to buy it, so that everyone can be covered, and uses tax credits to small business and other spending to try to make that possible. Existing health insurance plans would be preserved for those who want it, while people could choose to join other programs she proposes to create.

THE SPIN: Rudy Giuliani again talked up his record as New York mayor.

"I'm the only one who's actually turned around a government economy. I mean, the reality is, when I became mayor of New York the economy of New York was in very, very bad shape - tremendous deficits, 10 1/2 percent unemployment, 300,000 jobs gone. We turned that around, cut unemployment by more than half, brought in 450,000 new jobs, and we cut taxes by 17 percent."

THE FACTS: The unemployment rate fell from about 10 percent when he took office to a little over 6 percent before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, rising after to 7.6 percent. The rate did not fall by more than half.

On deficits, an analysis by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania found that he inherited a $2.3 billion deficit in 1994 and produced surpluses during his mayoralty, but projected a $2.8 billion deficit in his last budget, released the spring before the attacks.

THE SPIN: Mike Huckabee aired his proposal to eliminate federal income, investment and payroll taxes in favor of a national sales tax, an idea he has likened elsewhere to "a magic wand relieving us from pain and unfairness."

Questioned about a 30 percent sales tax, he said "it's 23 percent" if the government is to bring in the same money it is getting now. He said his plan "untaxes the poor, untaxes the elderly."

THE FACTS: A mathematical exercise is required to understand why 30 percent and 23 percent are both applied to the plan.

If an item costs $100 before tax and $130 after tax, that's $30 more, which most shoppers would consider a 30 percent rate.

But proponents of the sales tax cast it another way. They say that because $30 is 23 percent of $130, the rate is really 23 percent.

Huckabee does not exempt the elderly from the tax, despite claiming he "untaxes the elderly."

By that, he means that he thinks most retirees keep their spending under the poverty-line level, and so would be sheltered.

clever comments @ Fred08.com: An Outside Insider's View

techPresident – Fred08.com: An Outside Insider's View The Internet candidate is the one who embodies the authenticity, accessibility, and responsiveness of the medium not just in what he or she does online, but in what he or she does offline.

Property Taxes, Rauterkus / Palmer, 108 S. 12th Street and Dan Onorato's ploy

Got this letter in the mail that goes to the heart of our Dan Onorato's claim that he doesn't raise property taxes.

We live on the South Side.

Parcel ID: 0003-M-00383-0000-00

108 S. 12th St
Legal Description: Fred Bausman Plan 22 Lot 20x80 S. 12th St Cor BR
Adish
2 1/2 STY FRA HSE 108
17th Ward
Tax Status: 20 - Taxable

Notice is hereby given that the real estate assessed / Market Value for the above mentioned property has changed as shown below for the year 2008.

This change is a result of a building permit change.

Comparison to Prior Market Value

Land Value from 11600 to 17300
Building Value from 94500 to 124900
Total Value from 106100 to 142200

Please be advised that you have the right to appeal the Office of Property Assessments determination by filing a Special Appeals Form with the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review (Appeals Board) within thirty days of the date of this notice.

The Assessed/Market Value listed above does not include any exemptions. If you qualify for any Special Acts Abatements, the Office of Preoperty Assessments will make the adjustments for county tax purposes only.

This notice pertains to Assessed / Market Value only. Your property tax bills are calculated and determined by separate taxing bodies. Questions about your tax bill should be directed to your school district, municipality or the Allegheny County Treasurer.

Primer on Delegates and the Conventions. Will be interesting.

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 01/25/2008 | Could tight election races in both parties lead to brokered conventions? Republicans don't have super-delegates, but the rules on how delegates vote are basically left to the state and territory parties. More than 650 GOP delegates could arrive at the Minneapolis-St. Paul convention unpledged to any candidate, while more could be only informally bound to vote for a candidate, according to Jay Cost, a University of Chicago political science graduate student writing for www.realclearpolitics.com. Republicans require 1,191 delegates for the nomination.

This year the national conventions for both old parties might be interesting. I'm sure, according to my hunch, that the GOP convention will be wild. I was talking to someone on the phone and he said he expects fists to be flying on the floor of the Republican convention.

eVote Blog pointer. The same machines are used in Allegheny County

eVote Blog: The iVotronic voting system failed to count over 100,000 votes in various races across the state of Florida in the November 2006 election.

Dan Onorato was the one who insisted that Allegheny County purchase the iVotronic machines. This week he also insisted that there are no problems with these machines.

The voting machines used in Allegheny County are junk.