Photos from the other vacation have arrived

From violin-gang

See the photo captions in the Picasa album for more details.

Erik Rauterkus and Amy Carol Webb jam at SUUSI before hundreds and get a standing ovation.

FWIW, are not bringing nor buying violins in China on this trip.

Olympic ticket scam dupes Australian, US and European fans | Herald Sun

Olympic ticket scam dupes Australian, US and European fans | Herald Sun Olympic ticket scam dupes Australian, US and European fans

Every party has a pooper. So sad.

China in China

China is getting set for 8-8-08. We are too. The boys are packed and at the park shooting hoops. Then it is off for some ice cream.

I'm trying to slay the dragon of digital dust.

Heard on some site (if one can do the 'hearing' via a posting) that there is a chance of rain on either 8-8-08 or 8-9-08. We'll have none of that as the world watches the kick off to the Olympics. So, it remains to be seen if the weather altering measures are going to be deployed by the authorities in China to insure that there will be no rain. You don't want to rain upon the parade. Literally.

There are ways that the China government has to bump the weather by seeding clouds and such. Wild, but talked about, if not proven.

The image above is a zodiac chart on a plate. I took the photo as it was for sale in an art market.

Now I'm dealing with a lot of round objects and trying to clean them up. Digital dust on the CDs, DVDs and mini-CDs for the campers and computers.

Then I called Curtis with the Ozanham Basketball program, all excited to say that Holder was listed in the Russian vs. USA basketball game box score. He already knew. He watched the game the other night at 3 am. Someone had tipped him off to the game time. Holder did start. He played some in Wilkinsburg then went to a private school for later in high school.

I'be been telling folks that the Olympics are going to be on the air via NBC for 212 hours a day, given all the various networks. You'll be able to see more of the games here, sitting in front of the TV than I'll be able to see in Beijing. That prediction came true even before we departed town as the games are being watched -- and I'm missing them to pack.

If you can -- set up a time for my and/or me and my boys to come to your school, your team or your neighborhood open house to present our views of the Olympics and Beijing upon our return in September.

Beijing, China - Basketball - Russia vs United States of America

Breaking Olympic News with a Pittsburgh twist: J. Holden, basketball player from Western PA, is playing for Russia in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

ESPN - 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China - Basketball - Russia vs United States of America: "J Holden 37 7-17 1-7 2-2 2 5 7 1 2 0 5 2 17"

I finally got a peek at the box score and there he is. He didn't start. But, he scored 17 points in the game against the USA.

Want to know more about J Holden -- search my wiki.

We'll be looking for you to give him a big Ozanham hug!

Right direction: Roosevelt has made the tough calls for city schools

Original from July 28, 2008. Updated below.

Let's re-hash the P-G editorial on the boss of the Pgh Public Schools, Mark Roosevelt.

Right direction: Roosevelt has made the tough calls for city schoolsRoosevelt has proven that he knows how to make the tough, fiscally sound choices it takes to start solving the district's pervasive problems.

Roosevelt has made tough choices. These are choices that did NOT need to be tough. He made them very, very difficult.

Roosevelt has also proven that he is keen on not taking on the real problems: Oliver, Westinghouse, Langley and Peabody are the high schools that have been called 'drop out factories.' Nothing is being done with those schools -- that we can say is 'tough.'

Mr. Roosevelt choices do not start to solve the district's pervasive problems -- rather -- they work to terminate the district's successful schools. Frick Middle School has been a very good school. Schenley High School was the districts best school in some areas, and near the very top in other areas. Rodgers Middle School is another great school that is getting a whole different location, less access to theater spaces, less room for students, staff and programs. Likewise, Rodgers CAPA High School, the best performing school in the district should be expanding and it isn't.

Roosevelt is not dealing with the problems as much as killing the successful schools.

One problem was too many schools. Now Roosevelt is opening more schools.

One problem was schools with few students. Now Roosevelt is making smaller schools.

One problem was the capital expenses for school buildings. Now Roosevelt is putting high school kids into buildings designed for middle school students -- and making temporary schools (Reizenstein) that don't clear long-term locations.

Roosevelt has made tough choices -- because they are not logical. Reasoned leadership is absent.

We agree that the most significant buzz is the Pittsburgh Promise. That promise is but a 'cruel joke' as 20-percent of the kids from Pittsburgh that go to college stay in college. The rest flunk out. The promise isn't about the mission of the PPS -- to eductate kids from K to 12. It misses the mark with a lot of sizzle.

One way to narrow the racial achievement gap is to cause an exodus of those with the capability to depart the district to do so. To close the gap by subtraction isn't a victory in my book. Families are departing the city. That's the benchmark to measure again. Think again, PG editors.

To be specific, the district didn't release the numbers on the math and reading scores -- in full. We are still waiting for them. The raw numbers are hidden, just like the school board can't see the newly updated 'dashboard' that computerizes the results. Still in the dark and waiting. Watchdogs don't generally fall for that -- except the P-G.

Update: Since there was some discussion as to the source of the comments I made, here are a few photos from that event. Video might need to wait for a month.

From people & vips

From people & vips

CEO of Pittsburgh Foundation, Mr. Grant Oliphant, was the prime speaker to for Wireless Neighborhood annual meeting.

Woops. Sorry. I said that he was with the Heinz Endowments in the messages on this thread. Perhaps he worked there in the past.

former header info:

Ranked as high as the third most influential political blog in Pennsylvania. (September 2007).

Politics, sports and life with "running mates" and Mark Rauterkus.

Stood for public office in 2007 for Pittsburgh Controller and City Council (district 3).

The Reality Check covers Burgh: Specter Of Liberalism Haunts Pittsburgh

The Reality Check � Blog Archive � Specter Of Liberalism Haunts Pittsburgh: "Pittsburgh is being haunted by liberalism and the city is still spending money it does not have. A little couple weeks ago Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D), the boy wonder, was concerned and fretting because many of his hopes and dreams were pinned to revenues projected from a new casino (being built by Don Barden) on the North Shore. This project had not only fallen behind schedule, but is now in the process of being transferred to new owners and delayed."

This is not the Water Cube

This is on Pitsburgh's North Side. It looks a bit like the BJ Water Cube in the background.

The World - Why China Has the Torch - 2008 Olympics and Human Rights - NYTimes.com

Feature in NY Times about the Olympics and China.

The World - Why China Has the Torch - 2008 Olympics and Human Rights - NYTimes.com“One World, One Dream,” is the official motto of the Beijing Olympics that open Friday, but the world has become considerably more complicated since the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2008 Summer Games to China seven years ago.

What do you think? I'm sorta busy packing and cleaning up my digital dust.

Plenty of pick-up trucks circle Reizenstein -- and those holes in the middle of the field!

On Friday we drove next to the Reizenstein School. Seems like we spent two days there in one mid-day crawl of traffic. The construction is happening at Baker's Square. The pick-up trucks, personal cars of workers, circle the Reizenstein Middle School.

Well, it is now going to be a high school -- except for 9th graders. But then it will be a middle school again, plus a high school. But then again, it is only a temporary school. So, I'm still not sure what to call it -- Schenley, Reizenstein, I.B. High.

But the sight of all sights was the digger out in the middle of the expansive side yard at Reizenstein. A boring machine was drilling one-foot wide holes into the grassy turf. These were digging the foundations for a row of trees that were being planted a few holes prior. The trees are 10 to 15 foot tall now -- and are smack dab in the fickin middle of the practice field for the sports team(s).

The bastards have gone and planted trees to obstruct sporting opportunities at the school site.

No softball there. No football practice there. No soccer practices there. No frisbee -- Bram! No hope for kite flying there with the Ben Franklin Electrolights either.

Are those trees in the middle of the field necessary?

Please explain.

Five gold medals. Today's swim meet recap

Erik, 13, got 3 golds and Grant, 10, got 2 golds and one silver at today's Citiparks Swim Meet. It is the championship meet for the City of Pittsburgh. The local team, the South Side Serpents, got 3rd place. More than 300 swimmers and 12 teams were part of the competition that stretched from 8 am to 3 pm at the 50-meter Highland Park Pool.

All in all, I was very impressed with the swimming from both Erik and Grant. All of their times were very close to best times.

Erik: 1:10 100 free (okay); 2:54.56 IM (38, 48, 48.8, 39.2 splits); and 1:30 100 breast.

Grant did a 44 50 back; 3:35.16 IM (54, 51, 104, 44.2 splits); and 50 in the 50 fly. Grant has made great strides in the fly tempo throughout the summer.

At the meet we got to talk to many parents from many different parts of the city. One nice conversation was with city councilman Ricky Burgess. His daughter was in the meet.

The team did get t-shirts!

From ormsby-serpents

The Ormsby Pool Team at Highland Park in 2008, called the South Side Serpents. The coach, M, is in the middle of the photo. Grant is far left. Erik is far right.

Next meet -- the Olympics.

Hot, new trick-or-treat costume: Fuwa

Beijing Olympic Games 2008 � Spare a thought for the fuwa volunteersSpare a thought for the fuwa volunteers

The first person to show up at our door for Halloween's Trick-or-Treat, that isn't a NBC employee, in this costume, gets a prize.

Last year we had t-shirts. Going to Citiparks Swim Meet on Saturday

From ormsby-serpents

I get to go to two more swim meets this summer. Tomorrow morning is the Citiparks Swim Meet at Highland Park Pool. The photo above was from last summer when the team had t-shirts. They are not expected this year. Oh well.

The next meet, the 2008 Olympics, also called, Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

Swim coach David Salo once told me that the Olympics is just another swim meet. He's right.

Good luck city swimmers. Hope all are able to finish the races.

Grant and Erik will swim three events each including the I.M.s.

This is a weird summer if not year in one dimension. Both of the boys have gone all year without being on a single relay with their club teams. Not one in the winter, summer nor the Citiparks meet. That's sorta sad. Last year there were plenty of relay splashes with the summer club team at Crafton and in the winter with Carlynton. Oh well.

For the sake of total honesty, this past winter, Erik was on middle school relay teams. Grant didn't swim a relay with his elementary school team.

Testing, 1, 2. Testing. Is this blog and wiki visible in China? Please ping me Peking!

To the best of my knowledge, neither this blog, http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com, nor the wiki, http://AforAthlete.wikia.com, is able to be viewed in China.

In the recent days, some of the restrictions on various internet sites have been lifted. What about these sites?

Help if you can. Leave a message in the comments or send email to me, Mark@Rauterkus.com.

Peace to all.

Smile. You're on candid camera.

Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare www.WPaSinglePayer.org

NO TRESPASSING:

Constituents denied entry to Congressman’s Office following Medicare Birthday Party

For Immediate Release: August 1, 2008

Contacts: Rosemary Prostko 412-854-0517; rosemarysp@comcast.net

Sandy Fox, Co-Chair, Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare

412-527-9072; sm2fox@yahoo.com

PITTSBURGH—Over 400 people filled the Teamster’s Social Hall in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh on Wednesday, July 30th, for a lunchtime celebration of the 43rd anniversary of the passage of the Federal Medicare Act. The event, sponsored by State Senator Jim Ferlo and co-sponsored by the Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare, Healthcare4allPA, the Alliance for Retired Americans, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, was free and open to the public.

Elected officials—local, state, and national—had also been invited to the event. While members of Congress were in D.C., representatives were sent from the offices of Senator Bob Casey, and Congressmen Mike Doyle and Jason Altmire. Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Tim Murphy did not send a representative nor return follow-up calls requesting attendance, although Murphy’s Democratic opponent this November, Steve O’Donnell, did attend and called for “universal, not-for-profit, single-payer healthcare.”

The mission of the celebration was to bring attention to the importance of protecting traditional Medicare from privatization and to advocate for Expanded and Improved Medicare for All, HR 676, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan), with 91 co-sponsors, including Congressman Mike Doyle (D-Pittsburgh).

Following the celebration, Rosemary Prostko, a senior citizen and volunteer with the Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare, headed south to the Mt. Lebanon district office of her U.S. Representative, Tim Murphy, where she was joined by three other supporters. Their goal: to deliver an enormous “Happy Birthday Medicare/Support Improved Medicare for All” cookie, visible through hard plastic, along with single-payer information and an over-sized Medicare Birthday card containing hundreds of signatures in support of single-payer legislation.

What follows is Rosemary Prostko’s account:

F. and I arrived at Rep. Murphy's office at about 3:00 P.M. We were soon joined by two 60+ year old female constituents of Congressional District 18.

The four of us approached the office with the camera on but not recording. I pushed the buzzer. A very young staffer opened the door a crack. I very pleasantly said, "Since no one from your office could attend Senator Ferlo's Birthday Party for Medicare we brought the party to you!" He slammed the door saying "We do not allow videotaping." I shouted through the door "We will turn the camera off!" He disappeared into the darkness of the office.

Quite surprised we looked at each other!! What should we do now?

We decided to proceed to State Senator Pippy's office two blocks down the street. We arrived at the Senator's office--same materials, a second cookie, and entered. The person at the desk was very gracious. F. did ask if he could tape and was told "Yes, of course". Did not even seem to understand why we asked... The whole episode took about three to four minutes and was very pleasant.

As we left Senator Pippy's office (three 60+ year old ladies and 45ish F.) we were approached by TWO MT.LEBANON POLICE OFFICERS!!! They were very polite but asked what we were doing and if we had ID. As compliant U.S. citizens doing nothing wrong, the others did as requested. I gave no id (remember this) because I had left everything in my car to carry the cookie/materials. We asked why they needed the info and they said they needed it for their "report". Reports were made on all complaints. The Officer doing the talking said we had frightened the staff at Rep. Murphy's office and they were investigating the complaint. They said they would phone the Rep.'s office and tell them who we were and our intent to deliver a cookie and written materials.

M. and L. had run out of time so they left. F. and I went back up the street. F., as a non-constituent and the "cameraman," decided to stay away. The unmarked police car was in front of the office. I entered and rang the buzzer. Two staff people looked out at me and once more faded into the darkness of the office.

I went to the Police Officer in his car. I said "Please come to the office with me so they are not afraid.” He said "I called and gave them your information. They are a private business and they do not have to admit you.” I of course responded "They are not a private business they are the site of my government representative!"

His reply once more was they did not have to let me in. I said I thought he was giving more service to them than to me. He replied if I felt threatened he would do the same to protect me as he was doing for them. I asked if he felt I was a threat to anyone. He smiled but did not answer.

Remember, I did not give my name or any ID. This morning Rep. Murphy himself called my home to "see what happened". I wonder where he got my name? I will be going to the Mt. Lebanon Police Station to review the "REPORT".

My friend L. is now afraid she will not be able to fly next week!

Conservative Reform Network � Blog Archive � Pay It Back: House Democrat Corrupt Organization

Another blogger hits out against Wayne Fontana and Chelsa Wagner for recent campaign efforts that came from taxpayer sources.

Conservative Reform Network � Blog Archive � Pay It Back: House Democrat Corrupt OrganizationThe House Democratic Corrupt Organization (HDCO), illegally, used public taxpayer money to defeat and undermine a dissident Democrat, Mike Diven, driven to become a Republican by Democratic harassment Mike Diven. The opposition started in Democratic primary of 2004.

HDCO and State Rep. Chelsea Wagner (D-Allegheny) and State Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Brookline) , both of whom benefited, wittingly or unwittingly, knowingly or unknowingly, innocently or guiltily , from the illegal use of public taxpayer money to win their elections.

House Democrats, Senator Fontana and Representative Wagner need to repay the public taxpayers the money that was wrongfully taken by their Democratic Leadership for their benefits.

I'm not sure if they know the half of it. There is much more and I've blogged a bit about it in the past.

I don't have much of a beef with Chelsa. But, with Fontana, I've got a big stink.

Fontana can't 'pay back' what he got however. He has no capacity to raise the money that was spent for him by others in Harrisburg. And, he did a lot through his office. I don't like to fight the Senator to get his permission to get onto the ballot -- and have his office work against me.

The headline on the front page of the newspaper the other day, that I didn't blog about, was for payments to law firms. A good deal of money went to firms to battle me. I'd say it was at least a $15,000 bill -- as reported to me by a friend in the field.

My solution, since he can't pay it back -- and he can't make what is right with the past is for him to resign and let's do it over again in a special election. Then he'd be able to call himself my senator. Until then he is just a cheater without the sense to not use his (or my) state senate office for political work.

[412] Beijing Bound. Our summer vacation shapes up -- Olympic style

[412] Beijing Bound. Our summer vacation shapes up -- Olympic style


Hi Friends, Neighbors the world over!

We depart (and the house guests arrive) for Beijing in a couple of days. Your gift and postcard requests are due to me ASAP.

Throughout August, my family and I are going on our 4th trip to China -- but this time we'll be within the buzz of the Olympic Games. We're excited.

I'll be blogging from China, as best as can be expected, at this new
site with others.
http://2008gamesbeijing.com/

Check out a service called TWITTER as well. See links on my blog.
http://Twitter.com/Rauterkus/


Recent snip: "her teammates stopped their training session and flashed their middle-fingers at the man behind the camera..." Sign up to follow my twitter feed.

Olympicpedia has concluded. My sons and I -- with the help of a few others -- built a 1,000+ page wiki this summer. study up for our sporting experience. http://AforAthlete.wikia.com There is plenty to do there -- and it will be a lifetime labor of love. Your input is most welcomed.

I've got a lot of hanging questions yet:

- Where can we train in Beijing, as I expect they'll not let us splash within the Water Cube without tickets. Erik, Grant and I want to continue to swim and exercise / lift.

- I need a loaner computer monitor. I'll bring the PC/Mac Mini. We're in an apartment in BJ's Silicon Valley.

- We would like to get 3 bikes for the month. Perhaps the 4th bike could be one with a bench. Then the boys can drive my wife an I around town.

- Tickets and tips are welcomed, especially to gratis events. We have a sample of tickets to many different events, swimming, water polo, basketball, canoe, table tennis, football.

- I'm very light on Biz cards, pins, trade swag, N at . Anyone with a suitcase full of Pitt t-shirts or hot ideas -- call me.

- My blog(s) and wiki(s) are not able to be seen from within China -- at last report. So, we do what we can. Mega uploads are expected in September. A proxie and other technical questions might -- like camera storage needs -- might still materialize.

- Go USA Athletes!

Get to the Zoo

From Come Live Ove...

Danish coach accuses Chinese of spying (cont.) - Grant Wahl - SI.com

Humm....

Danish coach accuses Chinese of spying (cont.) - Grant Wahl - SI.com: "I don't think that's the way that anybody should be treated at a World Cup or an Olympics.'

Interesting story.

Locally, we only have to look as far as the family changing rooms at Soak Zone and some jerk 15 year old employee with his cell phone camera stuck to the end of a stick for cheap views. But, let's leave that one for the Carbolic Smoke Ball and humorist, if there is any humor in that.

In US football, the Patriots were pointing cameras at coaches in the games to catch signals and plays as they were relayed to the players. This came into focus by a US Senator from Pennsylvania who was able to waste lots of time on the matter.

Insert more jokes here about how the Danish team should recruit the senior senator from Pennsylvania to look into the matter -- and we might get WWIII.

Globally, I'd encourage the coach to say that the treatment should not be hinged upon the venue of the World Cup or the Olympics. People should not be treated that way -- period.

Privacy in a public realm is hard to insure. On one hand there is hopes of huddles with the team and no outsiders will be there. Then in the next hour there is hope that there will be 50,000 in the stands and 50-million, if not 500-million, watching on television.

Frankly, I hope that cameras are everywhere in Beijing. I hope that they are in the stands, in the hands of the people, and in the grassroots. In Pittsburgh, I'm wishing we had more cameras that were pointed at our politicians and public funds -- and less at the citizens.

Finally, it come time to make a mention of the overall hope of a 'closed practice.' Wow. That opens a big can of worms.

Pitt holds seminar on youth violence

Pitt holds seminar on youth violenceYouth input key to stemming tide

Community and youth input are important keys to solving youth violence, according to a Pitt seminar.

“A lot of the time, the youth’s voice gets lost,” said Valerie Dixon, the restorative justice coordinator for the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime. “We started having young people come in and they all gave their input on what needs to be done to reduce violent crime.”

Youth input is not THE KEY to ending the violence. It is an important key. But it isn't the key.

I think it is worse. Not only are the youth without a voice. The voice-less spans to the third party candidates, to the bar and tavern owners who want to put a question onto the ballot for voters of Allegheny County, to school teachers who have little to say about closing and improving school performance.

Democracy is all about voices and votes. And, our democracy is frail. Those in power have kept the power for themselves -- and discounted the opposition. Then we all suffer.

Here is one way to deal with the lack of voice for the citizens -- the Bruce Kraus and Darlene Harris way. They choose to start every city council meeting by giving voice to a dog and a cat at the animal shelter. Meanwhile, the people come later. The voice of the residents are not as important as potential pets.

Anther city council example of how they think is to hold a town-hall meeting and have the cable television cameras point at the council members and not at the citizens who are the speakers. They put themselves on stage and train the camera to the back of the citizens.

Sure, "Something needs to be done." But that is no guarantee that the right things are the somethings. They can make matters worse.

When you don't know where you are going, any road can take you there. That's something. But life won't get better.

Putting up cameras isn't going to make things more safe. Cameras have been proven to make a small move of the crime to other areas - just a half-block away. Cameras do not work as well as street lights.

Olivia Jones, executive director of the YMCA Homewood-Brushton Branch, expressed the need for students to be able to connect careers with school in order to keep a focus on education. Jones also delved into the paranoia many children in violent neighborhoods experience.


Careers being connected with schools would be fine. That happened with South Vo Tech High School. It closed. There is nothing else like it in the works, still.

But in this world that crack built -- we need to first connect the kids to the schools before we can connect the careers to the schools. Our kids don't easily connect to schools that don't have sports. And, the city is building new schools that don't have sports. And, the sports that have happened in the schools are being cut. Sports in the city schools are often a joke. Hence, the kids don't connect with their schools. They don't connect with themselves. That's a lesson sports -- great sports -- can teach.

Hence, crack is attractive.

“It is a war zone in our communities only because kids don’t know what’s coming at them,” Jones said.

Well, I don't buy that so much. Sure, it is a war zone. Sure, kids don't know what's coming at them. But the because part is what I have issues with.

Kids don't know what's what within themselves. Kids need challenges and perspectives so as to get a handle on who they are -- what they are capable of doing -- why their efforts of self investment are worthy for growth and long-term health.

We need to prepare kids and for parts of that experience they need to strive without worry of what's coming at them.

When the only focus of the kids is on the external elements -- when all they do is watch what's coming at them -- we're screwed. They're screwed.

We need to combat the violence. To combat the violence, change the focus. Make an internal focus the challenge. Coaches do this better than others.

More at http://www.crsp.pitt.edu