Jen Lakin has something to say about Schenley High School

It took until your vote in February, 2008, for me to really crystallize what I find wrong with dividing up Schenley, both the building and the kids. Your plan not only breaks the kids apart, it will, by design it seems, pit the new schools against each other.

We chose the magnet program because we believed in the idea that different kinds of kids could and do learn things from each other. I chose it because when I asked for changes or better choices, I wasn't asking just for my kid(s), but for all of the kids.

Now, I'm in a position where fighting for the best interests of my child (in particular, my 8th grader) pits me against the same kids who would have been his peers at Schenley.

To demand the best teachers at Frick’s 9th grade next year is to lessen the possibility of the kids at University Prep having those same teachers. The division guarantees that the good and great teachers have to make choices about where to be -- and I can't see how they can be fairly split in the future, either.

To demand a range of classes (CAS, PSP, mainstream, electives) at Frick is to ask for resources that will take away from the kids at University Prep and Reizenstein. Elective choices in the three locations for next year are obviously going to be far more limited than they are at Schenley. Sharing programs like Youth and Government, the musical, band, chorus, and sports for a year or two by busing kids around every day only puts off the problem that the two new smaller schools will never be able to offer the choices available now at Schenley.

You are tearing apart a family, a working community. I’m not saying it’s perfect nor that it can’t be improved – ask us! The parents have lots of suggestions.

I’ve attached several charts, showing that Schenley’s population (which is 71% African-American, 24% white, 6% other):

* Outperforms the district averages (the only majority AA school to do so)
* Has the highest performing AA students
* Has the highest percentage of college bound seniors – the most males and females, black and white

Even when the district pulls out only the lowest performing scorers at Schenley and not at any other school? Those kids still outperform 5 schools’ averages for all students, not just the lowest scorers. A cynic might suggest that the University Prep planners specifically chose a traditionally high-scoring population for its experiment, rather than the more difficult task of fixing a failing school.

Soon, if these reforms go ahead as planned problems will be faced by the whole district. Where do you think the students for these new themed schools will come from? IF the new schools populate most of the kids will be coming from the current high schools – which will then be faced with underenrollment, leading to cuts in staffing and cuts in programs. Some kids for the University Prep middle school program starting in 2009 will be coming from Arsenal’s feeder pattern. What will that do to Arsenal? You are going be faced with this same situation over and over again if you don’t stop and look at the big picture soon.

As a board you need to make sure that you aren’t receiving cherry-picked and incomplete information that leaves out both comparisons and context for the information you’re given. This district needs comprehensive, well-planned reform created with public input and supported by public buy-in.

Save Arizona State University Swimming

Save ASU Swimming: "ASU Men's swimming is in crisis mode after the ASU Athletic
department disbanded the Men's swimming team. The ASU Swimming
foundation has been created to reinstate Men's swimming and
Protect the future of both Men's and Women's swimming at ASU.
The ASU Swimming foundations primary mission is to generate
money to fund the ASU Men's and Women's Swimming team.

Go Sun Devils.

Statement from Nick Lardos to the Pgh Public School Board

05/19/08

Good evening everyone. My name is Nick Lardas. I am a resident of Oakland and am here to speak again as a concerned parent, taxpayer and voter.

I am here today to ask you for two things:

1) Stop the current High School Reform Plans now and take the time to plan fully for meaningful improvement not change for the sake of change.

2) Leave the current programs and students that are in Schenley HS in Schenley HS and make phased plans for improvements to the building and the programs.

Over the past year I have made a good attempt to keep up with the plans for High School Reform and Schenley HS. And the only thing I know for sure is that I am totally confused. Each day there are new rumors as to what the renovations of different buildings will cost where programs will be moved and then possibly moved again, what programs will be dropped what will be added, the district is in even worse financial condition than previously thought, taxes will have to be raised and on and on. The latest rumor is that Mr. Roosevelt is abandoning us and interviewing for jobs.

The end result is that parents are voting with their feet and leaving the district. Your latest projections show enrollment for September down over 10% from last year.

The excuse often given that the sudden deterioration of Schenley HS forced the district to begin implementing their incomplete reform plans is false. If Schenley were unsafe the students should not have been let back into the building for the 2007-08 school year. Your own documents and a tour of Schenley show that there is no imminent danger. Classes can continue in the building this year and next year and the year after while thoughtful planning takes place. The last time I testified before this group I offered to meet with you to tour Schenley and review your Architect’s reports with you. No one took me up on my offer so I am making it again.

The current confusing HS reform plans call for scrapping the second best middle school and third best high school in the city and tearing them apart to create two maybe three new themed 6-12 high schools. There has been no statistical information nor any educational theory presented that either the 6-12 concept or the themed high school concept have any merit. There have been no cost benefit studies done to show that these concepts and the massive facilities changes they entail will financially or educationally benefit the district and our students. There are no plans for the high schools and middle schools that are totally failing in our district. None of this makes sense from a fiscal or educational point of view.

Stop the current reform plans keep Schenley and its students intact. Take the time to work with the parents, teachers and students. Find out what works and what doesn’t. Look at what is working at the private and suburban schools that are taking our students. Then come up with a comprehensive plan for the entire school district and begin to implement it slowly and methodically.

Respectfully Submitted by:

Nicholas D. Lardas

3434 Parkview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: 1-412-(NUKED by BLOGMASTER)

Email: (NUKED by Blogmaster too)

Re-sent letter to PPS about Schools and Schenley

B-PEP

THE BLACK POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT PROJECT

c/o Hill House Association, 1835 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

412-758-7898

Superintendent Mark Roosevelt and Board President, Bill Isler

Board Members: Heather Arnet, Mark Brentley, Theresa Colaizzi, Jean Fink,

Sherry Hazuda, Bill Isler, Floyd McCrea, Thomas Sumpter, Randall Taylor

Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Education

341 South Bellefield Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Dear Superintendent Roosevelt, and Board President Isler, Members: Heather Arnet, Mark Brentley, Theresa Colaizzi ,Jean Fink, Sherry Hazuda, Bill Isler, Floyd McCrea, Thomas Sumpter, Randall Taylor:

For many years, B-PEP, the Black Political Empowerment Project has been very concerned about and involved in the issues of reforming Pittsburgh Public Schools so that all of our children, in particular African American children receive a high quality education. Our involvement in school reform became even more heightened as a result of the announcement on October 31, 2007 that called for the closing of Schenley due to students and staff being exposed to asbestos where conditions had deteriorated and the cost to remediate was prohibitive. Also on October 31, 2007 we learned of other dramatic high school reforms that didn’t come with as much details or a good public process that should have occurred for such an enormous undertaking to be successful.

Our informed position of today, February 26, 2008 has been influenced by attending meetings, public hearings, information provided from the Superintendent, his staff and administration, Board members, PA Department of Education, principals, teachers, students, parents, news media, concerned community members, in addition to independent building engineers, legal and finance experts. Weighing all of this, we respectfully ask that in order to "completely assure the safety of the students and faculty, that the Schenley High School building be remediated this summer by removing the ceiling plaster. This would give the district time to develop the further needed renovations and updates, many which would be on an "as needed" basis. It would allow the students to remain in the building, instead of letting it sit vacant, unnecessarily. It would also give the district the time to completely and effectively develop the programming and the implementation aspects of the high school reform initiatives.

Understanding the fierce urgency of now to make ensure that ALL of our children are receiving a high quality education is something that we all agree on. Can we please focus on figuring out a way to teach and reach them where they are at NOW and have some good results to show for it and NOT use the excuse that we were not able to this because we spent so much time discussing not so well laid out plans?

Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Stevens, Chairman and Celeste Taylor, Vice-Chairperson

Web page www.b-pep.net

Will Schenley stay or close? Recommendation due Monday - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The reporting on this is so wrong. Still.

Will Schenley stay or close? Recommendation due Monday - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Roosevelt previously has suggested closing Schenley, citing the $64 million cost to fix asbestos problems and update the school's mechanical systems. But students, parents, alumni and other residents have opposed him because of the school's listing on the National Registry of Historic Places, its revered architecture and storied history. The school has produced such illustrious graduates as pop artist Andy Warhol and Clifford Shull, a Nobel Prize winner in physics.

Roosevelt is closing Schenley because he wants to leave his mark on the district. That's it.

The money is a lie.

The asbestos is a lie.

As a dog walks down the street, it lifts its leg to piss on the post -- leaving a mark. That's Mark Roosevelt's motivation. The other reasons don't hold water.

The reporters have let Roosevelt get a pass, mostly.

The $64-million dollar amount has been discounted dozens of ways at dozens of meetings. It isn't even being used by those within Pittsburgh Public Schools -- since about December 2007. But the media still uses it.

To install air conditioning is not an update of the school's mechanical system.

Here is an idea. Fix the windows that were just installed five years ago. And, do these repairs under the terms of the warranty from the manufacturers. The windows don't work as they should. Windows can't open. They screwed them shut as a bastard fix. They (school administrators) didn't do the job they needed to do to keep the building running because they wanted to suck the blood from the building and use that as an excuse to sell it.

The $64-Million is inflated from about $30-M real price tag. And, they are now running up the tab to move programs (successful programs) to other buildings (crap buildings) at prices that are far greater than the $30-Million to fix up Schenley.

* The cost of Milliones is NOT being reported.

* The cost of a fix up to a once failed middle school, Reisenstein, (no windows now, valued property that is an easy sell) is in the dozens of millions. It was pitched at a cost of $300,000. Now the costs are 10-times greater and still rising.

* The cost of CAPA's expansion is not being factored in to the formula. Plus, those two successful schools are going to crash.

* The cost of moving robotics to Peabody is not being considered.

* The cost of moving the professional development from Reisenstein to West End's PCA/Gifted/Greenway is not in the mix.

* The cost of busing from the Hill to the east edge of town is not in the mix.

* The changes to Frick Middle School.

* The loss of student confidence.

* The acceleration of outward migration.

Fix Schenley.

Think again.

Think it through.

In the near future, the school boards of tomorrow will re-open Schenley anyway. The political promises have been made and this will occur. Mark Roosevelt has the helm for the short term, with the help of board president Issler, but that will end shortly. This entire move and crisis is a fabrication that won't wash in the long term and with the truth.

When everything is understood, looking at the forest and not the trees, it becomes clear that their reform moves are killing the school district and must be corrected.

Roosevelt had a hand-picked group spend more than a year on 'high school reform.' The entire body of work on that policy advising group went out the window in one meeting. Those that objected by asking questions were NEVER INVITED BACK to attend another meeting. The discussion for them ended. Roosevelt's own game of divide and conquest failed within the ranks of his own generals.

Tax-increment financing successful -- in creation a divide between rich and poor while killing city

Tax-increment financing successful, city data indicate - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "An often criticized financing tool used by local governments to spur private development appears to be working well in Pittsburgh, according to data provided by the city's redevelopment agency.

Sure, tax breaks work for the URA and for the special interests. Tax breaks and TIFs suck for the city as a whole and for the little guys. TIFs suck for the poor. TIFs suck for the one's who already invested here. TIFs suck for the home owners. TIFs suck for the school children. TIFs suck for the urban fabric of the city.

TIFs are great for churn. TIFs are great tools to strip away the authentic characteristics of a once great city.

TIFs are great for the old guard trying to keep its power.

TIFs are great at driving the overall decline of the region to new speeds of depression.

Rainmakers

The Trib reported:

Pittsburgh City councilman Bruce Kraus taped a novelty-sized fundraising thermometer to his office door last week in hopes of raising cash to cover $10,706 in legal bills he's splitting with colleagues Bill Peduto, the Rev. Ricky Burgess and council President Doug Shields.

The councilmen racked up the legal charges in a zoning appeal and lawsuit against an electronic billboard Lamar Advertising built Downtown.

The four abstained from a vote Tuesday that would have made city taxpayers pick up the tab for the legal services.

City lawyers had warned the four that they were dangerously close to committing a conflict of interest because paying the bill would be the same as forcing taxpayers to cover a "personal debt."

The councilmen haven't exactly turned out to be major rainmakers. The council members this week will try to build on initial donations of $3.99 - a mere 0.03 percent of their goal.

What's wrong here?

Lamar Advertising started this whole messs. Lamar got dinged for putting up a sign for private use / profit on public property without the advance clearances and proper proceedures.

So lets review what Bruce Kraus does in his efforts to keep the folly sustained.

Bruce uses public property, a door in city hall, to place advertising messages that are NOT allowed. Kraus posts a sign for personal profit in city hall. The procedure and ethics battle grounds extend.

Clueless.

May 27, 2008 OPEN HOUSE special "Potential WORLD CHAMPION SPEAKER guest"

May 27, 2008, OPEN HOUSE with special "Potential WORLD CHAMPION SPEAKER guest"

Go to the Toastmasters meeting from 6:30 to 8 pm on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 and enjoy an OPEN HOUSE with a special guest. POTENTIAL WORLD CHAMPION SPEAKER Charlie Wilson will come and run through his excellent potential winning speech.

He delivered it on Sunday 5-18-2008 at http://achievers902.freetoasthost.net/ at the May Achievers 902-13 Toastmasters gathering. This has the possibility of being up there with Darren LaCroix, Craig Valentine, Vikas Jhingran and others who've won the WORLD CHAMPION OF PUBLIC SPEAKING over the years. Spread the word and come see this excellent performance. Then, you'll be able to say, I KNEW CHARLIE WHEN.

Directions to the meeting also obtained from http://edgewood.freetoasthost.com/ or our Club's web page.

From Monroeville: Take 376 west, towards downtown. Get off at the Edgewood/Swissvale exit.
At the bottom of the ramp move into the right lane and turn right at the traffic light. (this will put you onto S.Braddock)
Almost immediately, you will pass the on-ramp to the Parkway. Immediately passed that is Greendale Avenue. Turn right onto Greendale.
Follow 3 stops signs. At the third stop sign you want to vear right and go up the hill. This becomes Race Street.
At the traffic light, turn right and follow to stop sign. The Edgewood Club will be directly in front of you.


Rick Hayes will be Toastmaster and emcee that evening.

Rick Hays ATM-B, CL
Edgewood Toastmasters Club President
Rick Hays (Richard M. Hays, Jr. and 'Rick from Mt. Washington')
hays7@verizon.net home email
http://edgewood.freetoasthost.com/ Edgewood Toastmasters on web
http://www.d13tm.com/ District 13 Toastmasters web site

Back in the saddle with School Reform

Jen posted:

Mr. Roosevelt is supposed to make his recommendation regarding Schenley at the Education Committee meeting on Monday, 19th at 7 pm (I think it was originally scheduled at 6 pm but has been bumped back an hour for a closed door executive committee session, I have no idea what that means, if anything!) This isn't a public hearing, just a meeting you can watch. But, show up if you can, maybe wear a little red/black to show your support. You might be able to chat with your board member afterward too. Of course, you can always call, email or write, too. The recommendation will be voted on in June, though we don't know a date yet.

It's taken me a while to get around to writing up Monday's public hearing, but here it is. I'm putting one testimony below my signature -- it's great, be sure to at least read that part of this email! I'll try to mail around my testimony (the updated version is on another computer, if I go get it now, this will never be sent) and anyone else who sends theirs in the next email.

There were 31 speakers listed, with 5 no shows. The basic breakdown was 2 speakers about Miller's criteria for a new principal, several more speaking about high school reform more generally including Carey Harris from A+ schools giving feedback (I missed this three minutes, if anyone sends me a summary, I'll pass it along) and 3 spoke about the need to plan for special education in the new (and/or reformed) high schools from the beginning, not as an afterthought.

Other concerns about reform were expressed including someone sharing accounts of problems in ALA schools and the number of promises made for these schools that weren't kept. About 14 speakers spoke specifically in opposition to the plans for Schenley, and a couple of other more general reform speakers also supported Schenley. A Montessori parent thanked the board for money that made possible a new science teacher and noted the changes that a new teacher and a committed principal can make. (Amazing how well that bottom up, money to teachers and kids in response to stated needs works so well, isn't it?)

Points made about Schenley included:


• little or no effort (that we've heard about, at least) to looking at alternative plans for Schenley, including just removing the plaster which could fall, and continuing to use the building while plans for renovation are made. It was pointed out again that Schenley is particularly well-suited for doing some renovation work while students are in the building -- meaning that a plan renovations could continue over a long-term schedule after any "safety issues" are addressed.


• the loss of ESL (those students are not moving with the current 9th-11th graders) and how that removes an additional international piece that has been part of Schenley/IB


• the number of changes that have been made in the district over the last 20 years that were then regretted and reversed and often reversed again. The need to listen to parental and community input before making plans, rather than after to avoid this sort of waste.


• the buildings which have been renovated and had additions added, in a district with falling population, with far less support than this Schenley has.


• the lack of knowledge in the district (and even in those affected by this change) about the reform plans, both current and future.


• the diversity at Schenley, the interaction among kids at Schenley (despite administration reports otherwise), the fact that Schenley looks like the district in its racial make-up (it felt very odd to be asking to have different kinds of kids together, not only for the direct benefits of that, but also because it links their needs together -- I kept wondering if we are really in 2008).


• statistics about Schenley (I don't count CAPA, it has entrance requirements and can remove kids):

One of three high schools with PSSA scores above the district average and the only majority African-American (70%) school that is above the average
the highest scoring African-American students in the district (white kids tie for highest),
highest %age college bound seniors for every group broken out (black/white x male/female)

(you can look for yourself at http://www.aplusschools.org/ -- the 2007 Report on School Progress: A Closer Look (right hand column) there are more stats there, too)

Let me know if you're hearing anything -- I was asked by two different reporters what our "strategy" was now. I was a little flummoxed by that, I admit. Our strategy is trying to inform people, trying to get the whole story out there, and trying to get answers and be heard...sort of the same thing it's always been! But, if you've got a more exciting strategy than that, PLEASE let me know and I'll pass it around!

Jen Lakin

---

Good evening. My name is Michele Feingold. I am a Schenley and Frick parent who graduated from Allderdice long ago, before I knew Schenley was worth fighting for and preserving.

I currently work in clinical research. Our clinic often chafes at the limits imposed by our Institutional Review Board, or IRB. We sometimes wait for months before we can start enrolling subjects in a study. This is because our IRB requires us to answer every possible question about study protocol, design, safety and documentation to their complete satisfaction.

Perhaps our IRB really has the right idea and their caution is justified. After all, we are talking about human subjects. And don’t you think, truly, this is the approach a school board ought to take? I’m not talking about endless in-depth inquiries, just careful, well thought out and fully vetted plans that consider as many alternatives as possible and examine the real and potential shortcomings rather than just making rosy predictions. For example, when weighing the cost of renovating historic Schenley in the heart of the university district, consider the costs of renovating Reizenstein and Milliones and Frick and Peabody, versus the possible benefits of selling the Reizenstein property. What about the issue of IB students who find themselves unable to fulfill the requirements of the program – would they actually have to leave their school as well as their classes? What about that? What about the meta-message given to mainstream students by sending them to Milliones, away from their supposedly smarter peers and into a more racially segregated environment? What are we telling them about themselves? And what about the inevitable refusal of many white mainstream families to send their children there? Let’s be idealistic, but not naive.

Honestly, did the community ever get an invitation to brainstorm alternative options before the high school reform plan was handed down? Why not let CAPA be the pilot program for six through twelve before we commit ourselves to the master plan? Consider hiring Nick Lardis to plan a renovation of Schenley without having to close it down. Bring University Prep into the building. Institute a school-wide program of diversity training and consciousness-raising that will make Schenley a regional and national model of class and racial integration. (That could even reduce hostilities at board meetings.) Let loose the energy of parents and alumni who are chafing at the bit to be meaningfully involved in their community and their children’s education, and they might dazzle you with their ability to raise money and support the board.

It’s fine to dream big, but let’s dream smart. Grandiose visions have a way of crumbling and leaving a lifetime of bitterness. Slow down, listen to and partner with the stakeholders, and your time spent on the board could be an overwhelmingly positive experience.

Too much to say -- and lots of ORANGE

Internet cafes are great. I'm paying 1 Eurp for an hour. In the hotel, it is 25 Euros for wifi for the day. The biz center at the hotel is too much too.

Amsterdam's weater was great, but might turn on us tomorrow. Biked about 15k. Went 'off the map' for most of it. Got a better map.

It is easy to get lost on the roads here. They have this pie grid system, but the canals don't really always go as they should.

I've rented a bike with coaster breaks and no gears. Don't need em. No helmet either. The guy at Mac Bike told me to just 'pray.'

Swam at an outdoor swim pool today, 50-meter course. Lots of grassy areas all around. But it seems as if that could have been a pool complex with 10 different pools or so. Wonder where they swam in 1928?

That venue will host an international water polo match in September. Got a book in Dutch about it.

We fell in love with Fish & Chips while in Christchurch. Here, they've got the chips. No catcup -- but mayo. Served in a paper cone from street vendors. The fish -- well -- herring. Different vendor.

ORANGE cowboy hats. Anyone want one as a NL gift? Saw a bunch on sale. Let me know ASAP.

Google NL bikes and basket bikes.

Marty G. on the fearless four

Remember, this started at an ask of $80,000.

Even in the final moment at the table last week, Doug Shields wanted to bump the total from $11,000 to $12,000.

Jim Motznik was on the air with Marty Griffin.

Ask Hugh McG if he'd drop his fee!

Four Pittsburgh council members told to not vote - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Heavy or Not? -- Kraus says "not."

Four Pittsburgh council members told to not vote - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "The only penalty is to 'forfeit their office,' which DeSimone called draconian.

'I don't think that it holds any weight at all,' Kraus said of DeSimone's opinion.

Perhaps Kraus will be like Tucker S. He served on council for only a few months.

Go ahead and vote. We dare ya. You can be replaced. Real reform minded people can fill the spaces.

The P-G reports:

Council members in conflict of interest over legal billsThe response, from Ms. DeSimone, bluntly said: 'We caution that a conflict of interest has already occurred in this matter. The course urged here will not eradicate the conflict, but it may lessen the likelihood that someone will file an action seeking to invoke the forfeiture provision.'

I want to see that 13-page opinion.

Furthermore, I could see it go down like this.

Hugh McGough does NOT adjust hill bill downward, south of $400.

Then today, a member of council ask to 'table' the bill. The motion dies for a lack of a second.

Then a vote is taken. Shields and Peduto, by luck of the alphabet and seniority vote AFTER Burgess and Kraus. So, the rookies, Burgess and Kraus each vote to pay the bill, putting themselves deeper into the ethics violation. When it is the turn of Peduto and Shields, both abstain. Suprise, suprise!

The 'doesn't mean anything' nor 'have any weight' comment goes down in history as a way to sum up their careers as an elected politicians on Grant Street. Burgess and Kraus have their seats removed.

Shields and Peduto survive.

The size of city council goes to seven and never returns to nine as a special ballot question is rushed onto the November election.

Pyrite Age: Put a santa hat on the Chengdu Panda and 'gone fishing ' with wooden shoes

Loose ends:

The land was moving in the land of the pandas with the earthquake. Pandas, pyrite, vacation. Oh my.

Wow. The death count is at 10,000 now. But, the roads are bad. Getting a grip on the damages and loss of life is sure to take some time. I'm expecting a few eco issues to gush about as well.

By the way, my internet access might be less than normal in the days to come. I'm going to hang the 'gone fishing' sign and head to the land with the wooden shoes.

If you can, check out the middle school musical at Pittsburgh Frick, ISA (International Studies Academy). The school is in Oakland -- near Childrens Hospital and just across from the Pitt Towers. The play is at 7 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Pay $3. at the door. The musical is called, "Gone With the Breeze." My son, Erik, has a part. Singing, dancing, acting about Hollywood and a casting call for a show that is bigger and better than "Gone With the Wind."

Hope the show goes well. We'll be missing it, sadly. Reviews most welcome. Photos too.

The UPMC sign on the Steel Building is still missing the "M". Is it crumpled on the sidewalk?

I spoke at tonight's school board meeting. Erik also presented a written statement, but he didn't go.

The line-up of speakers was strong for the preservation of Schenley High School in its current location. The asbestos problem is really just a lie.

After I spoke, the school board president let me know that he didn't agree with my positions.

On technology, I feel that the developed software should be put into the public domain with an open source license. The school board is moving to a new dashboard like system and that code base -- not the data from each student -- has no commercial value and could be released to the public. Other districts and other developers might give it a peek, offer improvements and it could be of greater value.

When the news reporter talked about the injured penguin last week, it took a moment to realize this 'news' wasn't about either a zoo nor from anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. How's the guy who stopped the puck with his face? If the Pens clinch with two more wins there will NOT be a conflict with the weekend swim meet at the JCC on Sunday afternoon.

On the Expresso exercise bike today, Erik and I had another battle. We can both start a course and ride our bikes along virtual pathways, up and down hills, around turns, etc, and RACE. He won by a wheel length. Our times were identical. But, at the finish, he just passed me by. This was the 4th race and my first stage loss. I should not have shown him how to tighten the toe clips nor adjust the seat to an optimum level. He had his pulse up to 210. My max was 150ish.

Pittsburgh gets $1.35 million for new docks on Mon River | AP | 05/12/2008

Pittsburgh gets $1.35 million for new docks on Mon River | AP | 05/12/2008: "Pittsburgh gets $1.35 million for new docks on Mon River

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh will be getting new docks on the Monongahela River for as many as 17 recreational watercraft.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says the permanent tie-up facility will be built with a $1.35 million grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The docks will stretch four blocks in the city's South Side and will be part of a $10.5 million park. Work on the docks is scheduled to begin next year and they will be in use in 2011 or 2012.

Construction of the South Shore Riverfront Park is expected to begin in the summer. The park will include historical trail markers, continuing the Three Rivers Heritage Trail system and Greater Allegheny Passage."

Serious, Super Serious: Lawyer says 4 council members have conflict of interest

Lawyer says 4 council members have conflict of interest Assistant City Solicitor Kate DeSimone submitted a legal opinion to City Council today saying that four members should not vote on approving payment of a $10,706 legal expense because there is a conflict of interest.

If they do, they 'shall immediately forfeit their office,' Ms. DeSimone wrote.

Ms. DeSimone said the four -- President Doug Shields and members Bruce Kraus, William Peduto and Ricky Burgess -- already were in conflict by taking part in a discussion and preliminary vote on paying the bill.

Really, I care to know what Tonya Payne is going to do.

I'm uploading a video of the meeting last week. Watch for it at Rauterkus.blip.tv.

---

I I said last week, worth repeating, the best way out of this is to have Hugh McG, to make his bill drop to ZERO, or perhaps $.04 or perhaps $400. At $400, each of the guys would only have to pay $100.

If Hugh's work became "gratis," then the matter goes away. Poof. Mr. Kraus suggested a similar pathway for Lamar, weeks ago. Kraus asked Lamar to act in a way that was counter to its own 'commercial interest.' Lamar had received a permit to build the sign. Kraus wanted them to decline that permit out of 'good faith.' Kraus ranted (and this was weeks ago, around when he called for a moratorium on all billboards for six months) that a voluntary solution from Lamar was the right thing to do. That gesture, sweet as it was, didn't play out then. Well, same need for a voluntary move holds today for the lawyers who worked with the renegade four.

This video is from the meeting. It lasts about an hour.

Do not merge Rodgers Middle into downtown's CAPA High School

Watch this video by clicking on the link and hear from three high school students in Pittsburgh who want a great education. They know the situation and are not afraid to speak as they went to the middle school too.

Click to play

The video is being converted to FLASH now, and a new like will come shortly. Or, go to my blip show site.

Section 8 Housing gets some chatter with KDKA Radio

Marty Griffin thinks Section 8 housing is a problem everywhere.

My solution:

"Section 8" landlords should be required to live within 1-mile of their residence. That would tighten ownership and neighborhoods. People are getting rich building slum housing who do NOT live there.

I'm not certain of the 1-mile distance, but there can be some metrics associated with distance to investments and primary residence. Likewise, a phase in policy can be leveraged into the forumla. Plus, we should get rid of the 'deed transfer tax' to make the marketplace more fluid for the transfer of ownership among home owners.

Suburban landlords are wonderful for urban neighborhoods. But, the landlords who want public subsidization should only go to those who are near.

Commentary: CNN owes China an apology for slandering

Don't think CNN will rush reporters, including Jack Cafferty, to the region to cover the story.

Commentary: CNN owes China an apology for slandering So annoyed by Cafferty's despicable and shameless attack on an American national TV, American Chinese have launched an online petition, requesting an apology from CNN. The petition has got more than 40,000 signatures and the number of signatures is growing by the minute. China's Foreign Ministry, on April 15, also strongly condemned Cafferty's weird remarks, demanding CNN and the anchor himself take back the malicious remarks, and apologize to all Chinese people.

Chengdu Rocked at 2:28 pm

Not good.

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide: "China Is Hit by 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Near Chengdu

Two years ago, on this day, we were at our 'second home of sorts' in Chengdu, China.

The major earthquake was 90k west-northwest of Chengdu.

China takes home 7 medals from USA Diving Grand Prix

China did not reign supreme Sunday at the USA Diving Grand Prix, giving hope to the other nationhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifs preparing for the Beijing Olympics.

News.