The Judge -- a Nation of Sheep

A soft form.

More: Home The DVD’s are a dollar. Please, share them with friends and neighbors.

Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community gearing up to purchase South Side Property on Jane Street

The funky South Side has a funky church full of love and short on spaces to hold its musical, soulful, spiritual worship. The group is now gathering in Mt. Washington. Newsletter details, to get up to speed:

SUNDAY, FEB. 10
Worship Service, 12:30 p.m. at Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church (213 Bailey Ave.). There we can provide a place for kids to worship and play, and a time of fellowship and food following the service.

NOTE: We will no longer be meeting at the Walton Church on for Sunday Worship. The

Rev. Bebb Stone and the Mt. Washington congregation have graciously extended their invitation to allow us to worship in their space on Sundays through the Lenten Season. We are so thankful to have their support as we pursue purchasing a permanent worship location.

UPDATE ON THE SPACE ISSUE:
The zoning hearing is scheduled for March 6. On that day, we will present our request to meet at the 2700 Jane Street location as a religious assembly to the zoning board. Please continue to pray that we will be well received-- by the zoning board, the South Side community groups and our South Side neighbors.

You can contribute funds to be used specifically for the purchase and improvement of the building. The United Methodists have given us $300,000 to help buy the building, which is a crucial blessing in our mission to offer a place of worship in the South Side. However, we still need to raise money to help fund the initial purchase, plus money for whatever improvements we may need to make to building.

From the beginning, we have acknowledged that pursuing the purchase of the 2700 Jane St. location was going to take incredible amounts of patience and gracious contributions of time and money from our supporters. If you are considering giving to Hot Metal, now is the time.

Checks can be sent to :
Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community
2000 E. Carson St. #300
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Memo: Building Fund

We will also be sending out other information in the following weeks highlighting how you can help. Thank you for all your support thus far. Please continue to pray that God's will be done in this situation.

email: hotmetal@hotmetalbridge.com
phone: 412-481-4010
web: http://www.hotmetalbridge.com

For years, I had hoped, requested and pushed (a bit) to the church leaders that they should purchase and move into South Vo Tech High School. They could have got the building for a song, and music isn't such a problem. And, they could have then opened a year-round pre-school, day-care. Plus, other business opportunities could have flowed in the spaces as well, providing community service and income streams.

Another option that made a great deal of sense to me, as well as to other members associated with the church was to move into the now vacant ice rink facility within a shut-down park on the South Side located behind the UPMC South Side Hospital. The city owns that park, the padlocks and the lost opportunities. Ever hear the story of the guy that takes a candle and puts it under a basket?

There was a big effort to put in a bid for the ice rink facility in the May 2007 Request For Proposals (RFP) organized by the city after years of requests. A guy named Ray championed the effort. He had been a part of nonprofits and worked full time on the project for a number of months. They had an extensive committee of nearly 50 people from within and beyond the church. He had meetings all around town to make the proposal and get it into the city before the deadline.

Well, the deadline was in mid-May, 2007. There was NO NEWS of the city's selection until September 2007. Nothing was said for four months. And, then the news wasn't nice. Seems that all the proposals "stunk." They all were rejected. The city got to do nothing with the property -- again -- as I expected.

The Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community wanted to acquire the property and turn it into a year-round youth and community center. There would be a day-care in working hours. There would be places for Sunday morning service too. In the evenings and nights -- as well as weekends, there would be staff to supervise kids and adults in social work, group classes and light recreation. They had a gym space with a basketball court in there -- but it wasn't a big time sports operation.

This city's treatment of its resources stinks.

They would have had a long term lease for the facility and been able to go in and make updates, clean-up the facility and park, and build activities that would have had positive impacts on the region.

In the past few years, the Hot Metal Church has grown by using space in the Goodwill Building. But that space is no longer available to them with changes to the building expected.

A Bright Light in the Big Cities: How Urban Home Sales Boost Profits | RISMedia

A Bright Light in the Big Cities: How Urban Home Sales Boost Profits | RISMedia: "While some brokers across the country wallow in the difficulties of today’s market, others instead look to new avenues to maintain and even grow profitability. One such avenue is the growing trend toward urban living.

With a coast-to-coast footprint comprising 35 major metropolitan markets, NRT LLC is well-positioned to capitalize on the urban real estate market. Both the higher populations of these metro areas, as well as average sales prices, bode well for brokers and agents who target residential sales in the city. And in many cities across the country, urban living is witnessing increasing numbers. From empty nesters who want no part of retirement communities to single women embarking on homeownership, city life is where it’s at."

DefectiveByDesign.org calls to Libraries: Kick DRM out!

Join us 2/09/08 at the Boston Public Library.

Take action at your own library! (Modify our flier).

DefectiveByDesign.org will be taking action this Saturday at the Boston Public Library to demand that they remove DRM technology from their collection! We will be gathering outside the entrance at the main branch of the Boston Public Library (700 Boylston St., Boston MA 02116) at 1PM on Saturday, February 9th, 2008. Please, Sign-up if you are attending.

If you can't join us, we encourage you to take action against any library in your area that has DRM technology infecting its collection. You can customize our flyer and pass it out to the local patrons and librarians in your area.

The Boston Public Library has Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) on its ebooks, audio books, music, and videos, and we are demanding that they remove it, and establish a policy against DRM -- a policy that respects user freedom.

We know that the real motive behind DRM technology schemes is to increase profits for those who impose them, but their profit is a side issue when millions of people's freedom is at stake; desire for profit, though not wrong in itself, cannot justify denying the public control over its technology and its libraries. Defending freedom means thwarting DRM.

Join us in demanding that the BPL Trust and libraries worldwide eliminate DRM from their collections.

We'll report back on the success of our action here in Boston -- Be sure to tell us about your local actions too!

Sheryl Crow on Gather: Watch, Share & Win by Music Editor — gather, sheryl crow, exclusive | Gather

Sheryl Crow on Gather: Watch, Share & Win by Music Editor — gather, sheryl crow, exclusive | Gather Available on February 5, Sheryl Crow's Detours is the latest pinnacle in a sky-high career. With songs about socially charged issues like Katrina, it delivers solid lyrics and catchy hooks.

Sheryl wants to know: If you could write a song about an issue that's near and dear to your heart, what would that song be about? Comment to share your ideas with her. And do it as many times as you want. She'll pick her 10 favorites. If yours is among them, you'll get a FREE copy of Detours!

Song ideas must be submitted by midnight, February 22. Sheryl's choices will be revealed on February 29. Be creative. And good luck!

Perhaps she could do a song with Amy Carol Webb, Mindy Simmons, Anne Feeney or Meg Barnhouse -- to get a few ideas.

City considering sci-tech school at science center

This would be cool. Homeroom in the port quarters. Recess could be topside. Lunch would be at the dumpsters at Heinz Field. Gym could be on the virtual hang glider within SportsWorks. Drop out -- then you are in the next showing of bodies.

City considering sci-tech school at science center Pittsburgh Public Schools is considering locating its new science and technology school at the Carnegie Science Center.

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Jen wrote in a public email:

Next public hearing is February 18th.

With the decision to hold off on a vote about Schenley, an important point is making sure that no more money is spent on permanent changes for those students until more comprehensive decisions are made. This would give the administration time to develop the plans and curriculum for new and changing programs in a well thought out manner, including taking into consideration community input. Back in November the board approved spending to hire architects and contractors to begin planning to reconfigure several schools (CAPA, Frick, Milliones, Reizenstein). Amounts were approved, although they had huge caps on them (things like we'll spend $250K but if it's more than $5M we'll get back to you).

I will be writing to the board suggesting that no more money be spent on Reizenstein (and /or Milliones) than is necessary to use one of them as a temporary school for the students to move into for a year, saving any extra money for Schenley's repairs. If Reizenstein were to be sold after that, we wouldn't have sunk millions of dollars into it, just to sell it. All the 9th graders could attend a high school, as a high school student. Plans or programs to instill the study habits necessary to excel in a rigorous program could be part of the entire 9th grade planning, as well as increased emphasis on mentoring and guidance counseling.

Or, you know, something like that, I'm clearly still working on it!

If you have any great ideas, send them along --

Jen Lakin

UltimateRonPaul.com | Homepage

UltimateRonPaul.com | Homepage CLICK HERE to write Ron Paul’s Inaugural Address or his State of the Union Address—and to comment on others’ submissions.

LinkedIn: Answers: Headed to Olympics -- and wondering about blogging and potential backlashes

I asked a question at Linked In -- about a pending trip and blogging. Not sure what will come from this, so I asked.

LinkedIn: Answers: Headed to Olympics -- and wondering about blogging and potential backlashes Headed to Olympics -- and wondering about blogging and potential backlashes

I'm not sure if I can point non-users of LinkedIn to the question or not.

I'd love to grow my Linked In network as well. If you are a member there, let's swap pointers.

Update:

Google to Offer Free Music Downloads

Google is planning a joint venture with Chinese online music company Top100.cn that would permit it to provide free, licensed music downloads in China. The service, which is likely to offer access to tunes from global music giants, could start in the next several weeks.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120226551059746565.html

Valentine's Day Babysitting by 5th graders at Liberty School

Liberty Elementary (in Shadyside) is sponsoring a Valentine's Babysitting Service (on February 15th, the Friday evening following Valentine's Day) from 6–9 p.m. All proceeds will be used to help fund the 5th graders' trip in May to Washington, D.C., which they are really looking forward to!

Children aged 2 and up are welcome. They will be cared for (and entertained) by Liberty 5th graders, supervised by parents and staff.

See comments for more details.

Ron Paul matters.... proof

It was said that Ron Paul is NOT a factor in the GOP race. Well, I don't think that is true.

Yesterday, to the south, in West Virginia, a deal was hatched to get Ron Paul three delegates to the GOPers Big Dance -- out of 17 total. Interesting.

Ron Paul 2008 — Hope for America In an agreement first reported by West Virginia television station WSAZ, the three Ron Paul delegates were secured through an agreement with the Mike Huckabee campaign.

Ron Paul delegates to the state convention swung their support to Huckabee – putting Huckabee over the top – after Congressman Paul was eliminated in the first round of voting. With three national delegates, Ron Paul secured 17 percent of the 18 delegates that were decided at the State Convention.

Those who think they know it all are full of it. I don't know what's going to happen. But, I know that you have to show up first. Ron Paul is showing up.

Penn Hills Republican Committee

Regular Meetings on the third Tuesday of every month.

7:30pm @ Penn Hills Senior Center, Jefferson Road.

For more information contact Mike Myers at 412-373-0077 or pennhillsgop@verizon.net

I wonder what they have to say about the school district's coaching situations.

Coach Situation Divides Penn Hills Community

kdka.com - Coach Situation Divides Penn Hills CommunityCoach Situation Divides Penn Hills Community
PENN HILLS (KDKA) ― The controversy surrounding former Penn Hills Football Coach Neil Gordon fueled tensions at a packed school board meeting Tuesday night.

The district is divided over the decision not to renew his contract last month. Gordon led the team to five conference championships and playoff appearances for 10 consecutive years.

Another thread on another board.

Scout.com: Neil Gordon withheld recruiting letters? Neil Gordon withheld recruiting letters?

SWAT team around the corner on East Carson Street

I'm not going to live blog the police incident. We have to take the kids to school. But, we did gander out onto our deck, after hearing KQV's Walt G, reporter, say that there is the 8th, 9th and 10th shot from the roof of the Iron & Glass Bank into the apartment on the other side of the street.

Yep, we could see them. And, while we peeked, there were another 4 to 6 shots. The shots were soft-sounding. And, we could see a big puff of smoke. About six guys were on the roof of the building.

I know nothing else. Tell me -- or just make something up if you wish.

Have a nice day.

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Update at 9:09 AM: The situation on East Carson Street is over. The guy got away.

Meanwhile, a resident was walking to the South Side this morning, passing on the pedestrian bridge over the tracks, and sees this guy running like hell through the swampy, muddy area by the rail road tracks at the foot of the slopes. He is looking over his shoulder and in a huge hurry. This info gets told to the police at the scene, just 2 or 3 blocks away. "Hey guys, ..."

The response from the police then and there was that the guy they were looking for was in the apartment.

Life goes on.

Lock your doors.

Tactical tear-gas was shot into the apartment. It dissipates.

Video soon.

Dollars and Education Performance: Same Old Story

Policy Brief

An electronic publication of

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

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February 5, 2008 Volume 8, Number 8

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In the recently released Governor’s Report on State Performance, the pages are filled with the typical puffery about the Commonwealth’s accomplishments since the Governor took office. The usual items are highlighted; increases to the state’s economic indicators such as employment, per capita personal income and state gross domestic product—although as usual, there is little context for the state data in the form of comparisons to the U.S. or states with strong performances.

However, in an unusual twist, the Governor mentions the inadequate performance of the state’s education system, particularly Pennsylvania students’ performance in math when matched against those in other countries. This twist is out of character with the normal self administered back slapping tone of the rest of the report, but clearly this is nothing more than a ploy to justify throwing more dollars at education. Indeed, the Governor’s latest budget proposal calls for $290 million in additional education outlays for the coming fiscal year. A mere down payment on the massive $5 billion more in state spending the Commonwealth’s education lobby claims is necessary to lift all students to proficient levels in reading and math. A claim based on one of the most fatuous studies of education and spending every produced.

The Governor’s Report notes that only 38 percent of Pennsylvania’s students mastered math skills as measured by an internationally administered test while students in other countries, specifically Asian countries such as Singapore (73 percent), Hong Kong (66 percent), and Japan (57 percent) are doing remarkably better. Pointing out this deficiency is followed by this statement: “Ensuring that all children in the Commonwealth have access to an education that prepares them…is the goal of Pennsylvania’s publicly-supported education system.” The Report then lists the programs and money this administration has spent since taking office, such as “$2.4 billion in new state investments to schools” to make sure these students can compete in the “competitive knowledge-based economy”.

But what is not mentioned is how much these other countries spend to get the much better results they achieve. For example, in 2003 Japan spent about $7,500 per pupil whereas Pennsylvania spent $8,916.

Singapore recently (2006) spent about $6,500 per student (and that includes post-secondary) whereas Pennsylvania’s recent data (2005-06) show public school per pupil expenditures of more than $10,000. If the Governor wants to actually increase educational proficiencies, maybe he should consider options other than spending more money. Enlarge the corporate donation scholarship program and create a voucher program open to all, with per student vouchers worth at least 75 percent of the current per student spending in Pennsylvania.

While critics will contend there are cultural differences between students from different countries, we don’t need to go overseas to show how public school students fare in Pennsylvania —we can make a comparison based on private schools in the Commonwealth. The most recent SAT scores (2007) show a significant disparity in educational achievement.

According to the College Board (the group administering the SAT exam), Pennsylvania’s public school students scored a combined average of 986 (Math and English).

Meanwhile, students attending religiously affiliated schools scored an average of 1024—and most religiously affiliated schools do it for thousands of dollars less per pupil than the state average of more than $10,000. Students claiming to have attended independently affiliated schools had an even higher average score of 1056.

Spending more money on public education does not translate into higher scores. If that were the case those attending Pittsburgh Public Schools, where per pupil expenditures exceed $18,000, would show proficiency levels well above the state average and rank higher than the foreign countries mentioned in the Governor’s Report. Instead, the eleventh grade math proficiency rate as measured by the state PSSA exams comes in well below the state average—with three of the City’s high schools at less than 15 percent proficiency.

Throwing more money at the problem clearly isn’t the answer. It merely rewards those who have been responsible for the unsatisfactory outcomes of the past and who continue to try to convince the taxpayers and the legislature they know best. Just another $5 billion will do the trick they now say. What a windfall for consultants and curriculum design “experts” that would be.

Some Pennsylvania schools and districts perform reasonably well. But the same students in private settings with the same level of spending would almost certainly perform even better than they do now. Unfortunately, many school districts are not doing well at all and throwing money at them is not the answer. What is needed is a genuine and dramatic overhaul of the system. Create vouchers for parents and students who want real choice.

The state has a constitutionally mandated role to play in establishing a thorough and efficient system of education for the people of Pennsylvania. That system does not require the public sector to be the monopoly provider. Other countries offer choice. It is not rocket science. It can be done here if those who truly care about our children’s future would demand and work for real change by challenging the entrenched education establishment. Otherwise it will be more of the same.

Underperforming students, ever more spending and higher taxes; something Pennsylvania can simply not afford to continue doing.

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

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Please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

Neil Gordon on KDKA Radio

Kevin Mathews, on KDKA Radio, has an interview with Coach Gordon. It is on at 12:30 pm on Tuesday.

Lots of nice callers to the show.

Why? All roads lead to Erin V, said one caller. She is on the school board. She got into a big fuss with PA's ex-junior senator, Rick S. about residents.

There is a School Board Meeting tonight at 7 pm at the PH School District Admin Building.

Wow, we dodged a bullet.

No trough urinals! - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Trough urinals are a contradiction to a new civic center that is intended to celebrate the achievements of our civilized way of life and, specifically, our unique city.

Splash Zones called 'wave of the future' by Motznik

Sure, Citiparks Director, Mr. Ashley, has a way of making chicken soup without all the necessary ingredients, but let's be real.



City council voted to spend up to $250,000 on two new splash zones. One is slated for Beechview and the other for Troy Hill. Plus, two more similar facilities will go into other neighborhoods with federal funds. The second wave of these splash zones, facilities #3 and #4, are for CDBG (Community Development Block Grants) money. That means that the money must be spent in poorer neighborhoods.

Bill Peduto wanted to say that an Aquatic Committee got the idea rolling.

The Aquatics Task Force was a joke, Mr. Peduto.

Troy Hill has lost its Rec Center, Swim Pool, Firehouse, bus routes and soon will see the departure of North Catholic High School (where Mayor Luke Ravenstahl went).

A splash zone is a playground with water features. There is no need for a lifeguard as there is no swimming. There is no coaching. The learning is on your own. This is a place for play for kids in a certain age group.

Splash zones are not 'cutting edge.' Not even close. There is little to no sense of fitness, learning, teaching, teamwork, competition, wellness and supervision.

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 02/04/2008 | Federal deficits soaring higher, menacing the future

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 02/04/2008 | Federal deficits soaring higher, menacing the future President Bush took office in 2001 with a budget surplus, but his final budget proposal envisions federal deficits of more than $400 billion a year for the next two years. As big as those numbers are, experts think that the administration is lowballing the deficits, and they put little stock in Bush's vow to balance the budget by 2012.

'I think the promise that it will be balanced by 2012 is ridiculous,' said Chris Edwards, the director of tax policy for the Cato Institute, a libertarian policy research group.

Plenty of ugly local news

The front page of the Trib newspaper tells of two Dem politicians who are going to be doing time. Twanda, formerly of Pittsburgh city council, gets 1-2 years. Frank, formerly of the PA House, gets 6-months of house arrest.

But there is much more beyond those bimbos. This story of a New Year's Day fight among teens is hard to understand.

Witness tells of street fight that led to deathWitness tells of street fight that led to death

It is real. It is real bad.

Bogus Allegations Made Against Ex-Penn Hills Football Coach and AD @ junk mail

Mary Robb Jackson gives an interview. The story rehashes his "firing." Well, the job was just re-opened.

kdka.com - New Allegations Made Against Ex-Penn Hills Coach Gordon says he plans to apply for his old job.

Recruiting letters are mostly junk mail. Even the swim team was mentioned, in that there were letters found for swimmers.

These letters were from the past. Neil Gordon has not been the Athletic Director for more than a year. It seems to me that the old Athletic Director might want to take an inventory of the areas in the school. It shows that the new guy has made a serious fumble, more than Gordon.

If the mail was found in the basement of a postal worker -- then we have problems.

If the mail was being taken from student athletes who are in high school now -- and not delivered to them by design -- then we have problems.

If the mail was screened by the coach and INTENTIONALLY destroyed by the coach or AD -- then we have problems.

If the coach or AD contacted certain universities and told them to never recruit any Penn Hills student -- then we have problems.

Here, there are no problems. That story tells nothing.

If there is more to the story than is contained within the reporting of the story -- tell me. Post in the comments.

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P-G reports: Superintendent meets players

Patricia Gennari, superintendent of Penn Hills schools, met Thursday with the school's football players to get their feelings on the coaching situation.

A few weeks ago, the Penn Hills school board decided to open coach Neil Gordon's position, despite his successful record of 156-74-2 in 21 seasons. The board directed Gennari to inform Gordon of its decision.

The mother of starting quarterback Tom Fulton said Penn Hills' players were instructed not to talk to the media about their meeting with Gennari.

Some Penn Hills residents are upset at the board's decision and want to be heard at a meeting. The school board has a public meeting at 7, and the football coaching situation is on the agenda.

Gordon said yesterday he has reapplied for the job, and Penn Hills also is accepting applications from other individuals.

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Update from Feb 6, 2008:

kdka.com - Coach Situation Divides Penn Hills Community 'And yes there was a box of letters in the athletic office, but the players knew that there was a box and it was their responsibility to come down and get them themselves,' Bob Struss, a student, said.