As fit citizens, neighbors and running mates, we are tyranny fighters, water-game professionals, WPIAL and PIAA bound, wiki instigators, sports fans, liberty lovers, world travelers, non-credentialed Olympic photographers, UU netizens, church goers, open source boosters, school advocates, South Siders, retired and not, swim coaches, water polo players, ex-publishers and polar bear swimmers, N@.
As part of the Pittsburgh Technology Council (PTC) and Catalyst Connections Adventures in Technology (AIT) program, Peabody High School is one of six Cisco Academy sponsored schools in Allegheny County to take their classroom lessons into the real world this year.
'We are offering our youth the opportunity to examine first-hand one of the challenges facing city technology,' Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said. 'We hope that by sharing with them our growth and technology strategies, they will see potential to remain here and continue to improve Pittsburgh after they graduate.'
Let's also give the Peabody students the ability to run a city wide WiFi system.
And, give up the idea of letting Peabody students run the net security for city employees. They can be the ones who are sure to prevent that city employees are NOT able to surf the blogs while working on the city clock.
These types of solutions, with the youth, would be slam dunks if the city hosted (for the region and the world) an annual Youth Technology Summit.
Any XM subscribers (or any Ron Paul supporter for that matter):
POTUS 08, XM channel 130, broadcast CPAC live yesterday including Ron Paul's speech. However, after the live coverage, John McCain and Mitt Romney's speeches were replayed NUMEROUS times, while of course Ron Paul's was not replayed ONCE. They also had special reports by "experts" saying that John McCain was the Republican nominee - not the front runner, not the likely choice, but the NOMINEE.
Please take a few seconds and join me in letting XM know that this is completely unsatisfactory. You can call XM's Corporate HQ at 202-380-4000; just ask to speak to someone about channel programming. Also, email them with the form provided at: http://www.xmradio.com/help/emailus.xmc?ch=130
Please remember to be polite and professional as we are representing Ron Paul to other American citizens and potentially voters. This is the email I sent:
Good morning,
I am writing to thank you for your live CPAC coverage yesterday. I was very excited to have the opportunity to listen in.
I am also writing in regards to election coverage last night after the live CPAC broadcast. I was very upset and disappointed that the speeches by John McCain and Mitt Romney were played several times while Ron Paul's speech was not replayed ONCE. He was not announced at all as a presidential candidate. As a Ron Paul supporter, I listened all night to hear his speech again and was let down.
Also, many of the "experts" on XM 130 were speaking of John McCain as the official Republican nominee. This is both outrageous and untrue. The nominee is not officially announced until the Republican National Convention in September. This is a blatant untruth and abuse of media influence. While other coverage has been decent, allowing "experts" to completely misrepresent the election race and the Republican Party is shameful and disturbing and discredits XM and POTUS 08. This is extremely upsetting to me- to the point that I am seriously considering switching to Sirius Radio. However, I wanted to give XM the chance to respond to this issue.
Thank you very much for your time; I look forward to your response.
Respectfully,
Crystal M. Jones
Let's at least be a pain in their rear!
For Liberty,
Crystal M. Jones
-- Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual. ~ Thomas Jefferson
What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living.... ~John F. Kennedy
Disobey when obedience would cause more harm than disobedience. ~Thoreau
In the beginning of change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for it costs nothing to be a patriot. ~Mark Twain
Pittsburgh Public Schools is currently looking for parents, community members and District employees to serve as judges at the 2008 THINK-A-THON. Judges are asked to commit their time from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2008. Judges will be trained in the morning at 8:00 a.m. so there is no need to be prepared in advance. All judges will receive breakfast, lunch, and a THINK-A-THON t-shirt. To sign up to become a judge please contact Dr. Jerry Minsinger at 412-338-3820.
WHEN: Saturday, March 29, 2008
Judges Orientation: 8:00 a.m.
Competition: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Awards Presentation: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Pittsburgh Brashear High School, 590 Crane Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216
WHY: The Pittsburgh Public Schools THINK-A-THON is now in it’s 10th year. This year, over fifty teams of 4th through 12th grade students will compete in seven different events designed to test their creativity, teamwork, artistic expression, higher level thinking skills, and communication ability. Teams compete in two long-term challenges prepared at their home school and five spontaneous challenges throughout the day and accumulate points as they compete for awards.
Now they protest. We could have used some protesters before they started to dig that wasteful tunnel.
Politics is about the future.
We knew that they would be tearing apart downtown. We know that the city is on one hand trying to spruce up downtown and on the other hand the city is getting bogged down in its own mud.
Original from 2/2/08 with update on 2/8/08 (below)
The cost of freedom is priceless.
This, Mr. Bush, is simple enough even for you to understand: If Congress approves a new FISA act without telecom immunity and sends it to your desk and you veto it - you, by your own terms and your own definitions, you will have just sided with the terrorists.
Ya gotta have this law, or we're all gonna die. But you might veto this law!
It's bad enough, sir, that you are demanding an ex post facto law which would clear the phone giants from responsibility for their systematic, aggressive, and blatant collaboration with your illegal and unjustified spying on Americans, under the flimsy guise of looking for any terrorists stupid enough to make a collect call or send a mass e-mail.
We need more libertarian thinking -- and people in office with those thoughts -- for the next three decades to undo what President Bush and the Republicans have done. Update from 2-8-08
Important Phone Action: The Third And Final Stand Against Telecom Immunity, If They Want Yet Another Filibuster We'll Give It To Them.
Day, Another FISA Veto Threat By The Bully In The White House
Yesterday, Bush again put the self interest of himself and his giant telecom criminal co-conspirators above our national security, by threatening to veto the FISA update bill unless we gave them all get out of jail free cards. And if Congress were to bend over yet again, he would still probably veto it to demand even more changes and/or defy other major provisions with a signing statement, as he so outrageously did with the recent defense bill.
We must be just as relentless as the criminals who are working overtime to gut our constitution. We have had two successful filibusthttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifers so far, and it looks like we're going to need a third. And we need strong opposition in the House too, for that is our last bulwark.
No Immunity of Any Kind Action Page: http://www.usalone.com/no_telecom_immunity2.php (anyone can use this link, includes local district phone number lookup for all your members of Congress)
Please AGAIN call all your members of Congress, toll free at 800-828-0498, 800-614-2803 or 866-340-9281, and submit the action pages above to back that up with an email message. 1) Tell them NO immunity, and while you are at it, them 2) no basket warrants or reverse targeting, 3) no sequestration of illegally harvested evidence, and Yes to 4) making FISA the exclusive means of surveillance.
The latest scam they are trying to run down on the American people is to retroactively lower the liability bar to some kind of flimsy "good faith" standard, the clear intent of which is to ensure that the telecoms get off the hook, another snaky end run around the law. Suppose a bank robber told a judge he had a good faith belief it was his own money. How far would that one fly? What part of NO immunity don't they get?
The American people deserve to know how far this is gone. We are not going to allow one of the most precious amendments in our Bill of Rights, the protection against unwarranted search, to be swept under the rug. And even beyond that, informed commentators believe that creating the Big Brother database of Cheney's dreams would in fact invite a nightmare of new national security vulnerabilities.
Dennis Kucinich Is Still Standing Strong
And what greater hero do we have than Dennis Kucinich, still standing strong as ever on every issue that matters. Here is his own leadership statement opposing telecom immunity
The veto threat by the President is just the latest example of the use of fear and intimidation -- in the name of "national security" - to secure legislative authority to violate the Constitutional rights and protections of American citizens. I strenuously object to any immunity for telecommunications companies and demand a full accounting of these companies' involvement to Congress and to the American public. When corporations cooperate with the government to strip people of their Constitutional rights, that is a textbook description of fascism. There must not be any place in America for this type of conduct.
And yet, even now, powerful corporations are pouring money into Dennis's district, to try to buy his seat out from under him by threatening him in his own primary. They are running malicious attack ads in heavy rotation. Please consider making a donation to Dennis now, to help him fight back.
Fight Back Dennis Donations: http://www.usalone.com/fight_back_kucinich2.php
And to thank you for standing with him, Dennis wants to send you his own special commemorative edition of the pocket Constitution with any donation of $100 or more. Remember, even if you had already donated the limit to his courageous presidential run, you can donate as much as another $2300 to the congressional seat defense. In fact, if you are so fortunate as to be able to contribute $1000 or more, Dennis will personally autograph your new pocket constitution for you.
Dennis would not be silenced and neither will we. We need more like Dennis Kucinich, not less. We need to protect the ones we've got with everything we've got.
So please, submit the action pages on telecom immunity, call all your members of Congress again and again, because that is the most important contribution of all. But if you also have to means to help Dennis continue to stand up for you, your contribution to him right now could make the critical difference.
Paid for by the Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich Committee
Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible.
If you would like to get alerts like these, you can do so at http://www.usalone.com/in.htm
I am proud to invite you to the 2008 Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Convention on March 14, 15 & 16 at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern, Pennsylvania (www.desmondgv.com). This location, west of Philadelphia, offers easy access via the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Schuylkill Expressway or Rt 202. The hotel facility was selected for it's high quality accommodations, great food and state-of-the-art technology.
This convention will be of particular importance, as we prepare for the 2008 elections. So far, we have eight Libertarian Presidential candidates confirmed to attend. Each contender for the party's nomination will have an opportunity to address the convention attendees with a short presentation and then come together for an exciting debate. This will be an excellent opportunity to evaluate these presidential hopefuls prior to the national convention in Denver.
To ensure that this will be one of the best conventions ever, the LPPa has joined forces with the New Jersey Libertarian Party and the West Virginia Libertarian Party. This unique tri-state convention will provide great opportunities to collaborate. In addition to the presidential debate, a wide range of workshops, speakers and social events are scheduled. Featured speakers will include Larken Rose, Michael Badnarik, Bill Redpath and Don Ernsberger. Our members are sure to be informed and inspired. Important party business and officer elections will also take place, so don't miss it.
In addition to the regular convention activities, members are invited to attend the Montgomery County Hospitality Suite on Friday & Saturday nights. Enjoy beverages with your fellow Libertarians while supporting our local activists.
Arrive Friday morning to take Michael Badnarik's full day Constitution class. Convention attendees save $50 on the tuition. Register for this class at www.ConstitutionPreservation.org.
Please take a minute to register online at www.lppa.org/convention. Save money by signing up by February 15th.
If you have any questions about the event, feel free to call me at 610-539-8825 or email jamesbabb@mac.com.
I look forward to seeing you!
James Babb 2008 LPPa Convention Chair
PS: Reserve your room at the Desmond by calling 610-296-9800. Mention "Libertarian Party" to get a room with a king size bed or two queen size beds for only $119 +tax.
PPS: Do you have a product or service of interest to Libertarians? If so, we have a limited number of exhibition tables available as well as advertising space in the convention booklet. Call 610-539-8825 for more information.
It is hard to support a guy for President that can't count.
Newsmax.com - Mike Huckabee Comments on Romney News: "'This is a two-man race for the nomination, and I am committed to marching on. I believe in the importance of a strong national defense -- which includes winning the war against Islamic extremists and the protection of American sovereignty.
Huckabee should know better, when making an official statement.
It is okay to move swiftly against something that allows people to move more swiftly.
It is NOT okay for government to move swiftly into a realm where we play and just want to have fun. Getting government involved has a way of sucking the fun out of things.
How can the US be a leader -- or -- "solidify our nation's place as a leader in the worldwide effort to rid athletics of cheating through chemistry" -- when there are already more than 70 other nations that have approved the agreement.
When the US is 71st -- at best -- it isn't at the front of the pack. Well, to be sure, there are plenty in the US of A -- plenty of US citizens that is -- that have been at the cutting-edge in this battle for fairness, education, exposure -- and sadly, cheating too.
I like the fact that the war on drug use in sports has been a private affair so far. It has been beyond the scope of the US Senate and US Government officials -- mostly.
"The use of performance-enhancing drugs by elite athletes sets a dangerous example for millions of young Americans, encouraging young people to take grave risks with their health and safety," Perino said.
I do worry about the use of performance-enhancing drugs from the sandlots to the scholastic arenas more than at the elite levels.
Some were talking and ... for what it is worth, ...
John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone, to U.S. parents. The U.S. Constitution requires that anyone serving as President must be a "natural born Citizen."
Here's an entry from Wikipedia on the subject.
Three major candidates have sought the Presidency who were born outside the United States: Barry Goldwater (ran in 1964) was born in Arizona while it was still a U.S. territory, George Romney (ran in 1968) was born in Mexico to U.S. parents, and John McCain (ran in 2000 and runs in 2008) was born in the Panama Canal Zone to U.S. parents. Barry Goldwater's case among these three is unique in that although Arizona was not a state, it was a fully incorporated territory of the United States, making it debatable whether or not he was born "outside" the United States. The Panama Canal Zone was under United States sovereignty between 1903 and 1979.[7] None of these candidates was elected, so it has never been fully addressed whether children born to Americans overseas are "natural-born citizens" and thus eligible for the Presidency. However, McCain is currently seeking the 2008 Republican nomination for President.
It'll be interesting to see if the issue is raised in a serious way.
City Council Members are NOT permitted to contact and meet with any of the directors within the city's administration. This is a new policy from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. The mayor has to approve all meetings and conversations in advance.
August Wilson house a political football... This seems a lot like the media relations policy instituted when Mayor Bob O'Connor took office in 2006 and his spokesman Dick Skrinjar told managers not to talk to reporters without his approval. That policy remains in force under current spokeswoman Alecia Sirk, though it isn't always rigorously enforced.
Under Mayor Tom Murphy, reporters could call department heads directly and get answers to factual questions, on the record, without anyone's approval.)
There's talk of a council revolt, which could take the form of refusal to act on bills the administration wants, or even the subpoenaing of managers. We at ER don't think it's going to come to that, but it certainly has soured relations between the administration and the new council.
It is a sad, sad day in Pittsburgh when we long for the times and policies of ex-Mayor, Tom Murphy. When Tom Murphy is a signal of the 'good old days' -- Pittsburgh is in deep, deep trouble.
Of course there will not be a 'revolt' on council. There can't be as they are all among the same party. They are all on the same page, mostly. They try to kick up some marginal grumbles so as to look like they are different.
When the real revolt begins -- the D-party monopoly will shatter.
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.
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.
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."
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 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.
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.
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!
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