Ron Paul urges voters to back alternatives to Dems, GOP | Chronicle | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Ron Paul urges voters to back alternatives to Dems, GOP | Chronicle | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Out of the race for president, Lake Jackson congressman calls Obama, McCain 'the lesser of two evils' and wants voters to go for minor-party hopefuls instead

Third Party Watch reports on Ron Paul's suggestions

Third Party Watch Advance copy of Ron Paul’s Wedesday press conference: He says ‘vote third party’
Posted by TPW News Items --- September 9th, 2008

The Houston Chronicle obtained an advance copy of Ron Paul’s prepared remarks for the press conference he is holding Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Joining him will be third party presidential candidates Bob Barr (Libertarian Party), Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party), Ralph Nader (Independent), and Cynthia McKinney (Green Party).

OMG - got a winning ticket to South Africa's prize in advance of the World Cup Soccer

Spam never looked so good. Much, much, much. Here is what was sent to me, via email. If I get sued for copyright violation, I'll know that they are legit and I'll have lots of money anyway. See the first comment for the text of the full header of this email.

---

CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING THE LUCKY WINNER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN 2010 WORLD CUP LOTTERY.

lotto sa

M T N LOTTERY GAMES CONSULTING

Company Reg No;1996/079414/23

M T N Building,132-133
Park Hurst,Balfour-Unit 1440
JOHANNESBURG,GAUTENG 2001
SOUTH AFRICA

2IN CONJUNCTION WITH

SOUTH AFRICA 2010

WORLDCUP LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITEE

M T N 2010 LOTTERY DRAW NOTICE

Dear Winner,

This is to inform you that the M T N Lottery Game Consulting and the Local Organizing Commitee (LOC) of the 2010 World Cup, here in South Africa, has held an Internet Raffle Draw, and your Email Address was among the 2010 Email Addresses that was picked by the computer during the Third Quarter Raffle Draw (TQRD).

We are therefore with great pleasure, to notify you that your Email Address once again, happened to come out top number (1) out of the 2010 Email Addresses, on the FINAL BALLOT DRAW, and this had made you the JACKPOT WINNER OF THE SUM OF US$ 850,000.00(EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLAR).

Be aware that this M T N Raffle Draw was organised by the M T N Lottery Game Consulting (L G C) and the Local Organizing Commitee (L O C) of the 2010 World Cup, to create awareness for the world, as South Africa is finalizing their preparation for the hosting of the 2010 World Cup.

BELOW ARE YOUR WINNING DETAILS:

DRAW NUMBER: 4,13,21,27,36,38 BONUS 45.

EMAIL CODE NUMBER: 15/76/EF36

FINAL JACKPOT NUMBER: 0001

SN: 2010 / MTN LGC / LOC / ZA

WINNING INSURANCE POLICY NUMBER: JJA23ZA

INSURANCE COMPANY: OLD MUTUAL INSURANCE SA

AMOUNT WON: US$ 850,000.00

AGREEMENT:

IT IS NOW AGREED BY THE M T N Lottery Game Consulting (LGC) and the Local Organizing Commitee (LOC) of the 2010 World Cup, THAT THE WINNING INFORMATIONS WRITTEN ABOVE ARE THE ORIGINAL WINNING INFORMATIONS AS WAS SELECTED BY THE COMPUTER ON MONDAY 8 OF SEPTEMBER 2008, AND IT HAS ALSO BEEN AGREED THAT THE WINNER WHOSE THESE WINNING IN FORMATIONS HAS BEEN SENT TO, WILL BE PAID THE WINNING SUM OF US$ 850,000.00 BY SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE'S OF 2010 WORLD CUP LOTTERY WITHOUT FAIL.

Note that this program is being sponsured by:

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT,MTN AND FiFA.

Mr. Kuash Behler, Our First Quarter Winner of

US$ 850,000.00 from Amsterdam, Holland

30th April 2008.

Our Second Quarter Winner Mrs. Ali Fatima from Nepal receiving her winning cheque of

US$850,000.00 also on the picture is her husband and friends rejoicing with them. 27th March 2008

Congratulations from all our staff and we also extend our thanks to the Sponsures for being part of our promotional program.

VIVA SOUTH AFRICA! VIVA SPONSURES

& VIVA THE WHOLE WORLD.

PRIZE CLAIMING INSTRUCTION:

To receive your prize, contact our Paying agent on the following Details:

Company: GLOBE FINANCE CORPORATION

Company Registration number: 1947/027670/07

Contact address: 27 NEWTON STR, NEWTON PARK,

P.O BOX 7706 NEWTON CENTRAL JOHANNESBURG

Contact person: MR. CALEB SMITH.

Position: Finance Director

TEL: + 27 787 931 175

Email Address:

caleb_smith96@live.com

Please keep this form confidential from public to avoid double claiming and contradition over the receiving of your fund. Very important, Lottery rules says that you must be 18 years and above to be able to claim a prize.
Announcement Made Today Tuesday 10 Of September 2008 (South Africa Time 10:25 am)

Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of the 2010 World Cup Lotteries Board Commission ;

DR Mrs. Teresa Botha Dr.Themba Woodroffe Mr. Rudolf P. Markhams

(Zonal Co-ordinator Sec.) (Board Member) (Promotional Manager)

Signed by:

Copyright 1994-2006 The MTN interative Lottery Inc.

All rights reserved. Terms of Service -Guideline

100860 8556 2548 9576ZA

Thailand jail holds author for 3 lines in novel of 300 page book sold 7 times w 40 other books in inventory

Reporters sans fronti�res - Thailand: "Nicolaides added: “I know the importance of respecting this country’s traditions, customs and expectations. I am not an agitator.”

Guide to setting up a public issues forum released from New Zealand leader

After setting up the Canterbury Online Public Issues Forum,
I wrote a guide to starting a local online public issues forum in Aotearoa New Zealand. It documents some of what I learned in the process, and includes various resources that we created along the way. It's available from this post on our blog.

Please use, circulate and comment.

best to all,

Dan

Extreme Strings Orchestra gets ready for the 2008-09 season soon

The Extreme Strings Orchestra will kick off it's 3rd season on Saturday morning September 27 from 9-11 AM and you are invited. You can come to check us out or come and join - and we hope you do!

Here are all of the details you should know right now.

The XSO is an educational youth music program that specializes in the great American music styles of Fiddling , Jazz, and Rock.

We also play electronic instruments and work with pickups, wireless units, effects, amps and sound systems.

We are looking for middle, junior high, and high school students who play Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass and are also open to Guitar and Mandolin players as well.

This program is open to ALL students from suburban schools, private schools, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and home-schooled students from all over the tri-state area.

We would prefer at least 2 years of experience playing the instrument but we can discuss that. Although we have some very fine advanced players this is not an elite group and we break the XSO into 2 or 3 groups most weeks and work with students at their own levels. However, it's most fun when we put the whole XSO together and we try to do that every week.

We meet at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High (CAPA for short) at the corner of 9th St. and Fort Duquesne Blvd. Downtown Pittsburgh as part of the Centers For The Musically Talented program.

We meet most Saturdays through the school year from 9-11 AM.

Tuition cost this year will be $450. There is a discount of $75 for full payment by 10/31/08. Also, families with more than one child in the program receive a discount of $100 per child.

There are full tuition grants available for up to 20 Pittsburgh Public School students.

Your tuition covers 24 educational sessions as well as performance opportunities through out the year. Last year we performed for the Three Rivers Arts Festival, in the Heinz Hall lobby as part of the "BOWFIRE" concert, the All City Arts Festiva, the "Saturday Light Brigade Radio Show" (twice) l and did workshops with students in the Norwin and West Mifflin School Districts and the Pulling String private music studio. We even had two of our students perform on stage with "BOWFIRE"

Our faculty includes myself, Sena Thompson as an instructor and arranger - the kids love her, Erin Snyder as low strings instructor, and Alex Van Laningham - a recent XSO grad - as well as outside professional instructors who will visit to do workshops in their specialty.

Last year we had about 25 students and many are returning. We hope you will join us. It's big fun.

Our new brochure will be ready later this week and we can send you one if you wish. It will definitely be on our site ASAP and we may attach it to a future email message.

Although we hope to do a complete update of the web site this week - which is overdue - there is some good information about our program including video and sound clips at http://www.extremestrings.com/Site/Home.html

Contact me if you need more information. Thank you for your consideration.

--

Steven Vance
Yamaha Certified String Educator
Executive Director
EXTREME STRINGS
2549 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh PA 15222
412-325-1211
http://www.extremestrings.com
stevenvance@extremestrings.com

Jazz, Rock and Fiddling
Teaching, Learning and Playing Great American Music

Macworld | Live Update: Apple’s ‘Let’s Rock’ Event

The live blogging of the Apple Event was -- well -- live blogged too.

Macworld | Live Update: Apple’s ‘Let’s Rock’ Event: "10:08 PT - JS: Just a funny note from the event. We are surrounded by the sound of fast, furious typing fingers. Is the entire world liveblogging this event? I suspect it is. They're all here.

Here's an easy way to start your day in a positive way:

1. Create two new files on your computer.
2. Name one file, 'Barack Obama' and the other file, 'John McCain.'
3. Send them to the computer's Recycle Bin.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5. Your PC will ask you: "Do you really want to get rid of 'Barack Obama' and 'John McCain?"
6. Firmly Click 'Yes.'
7. Feel better!

Tomorrow we'll do Nancy Pelosi and the PA House of Represenatives.

Sent to me by a friend. I did a few edits and doubled the elation by changing some of the words.

Flashback: Joe Jencks played a prior House Concert for us in Pittsburgh

A slide show of the first Joe Jencks house concert:



That gig was our 'first ever sold out performance.' We held it on the first floor and had just enough people to squeeze into the room. RSVPs are necessary so we can save you a seat.

Next week's house concert is going to be on the third floor, under our new roof. The room has a stage and we're very excited to have you attend. This will be our first concert in the 'newly re-done third floor space.'

We won't have any petitions for you to sign this year. I'm already on the ballot for the November 2008 election. I'm a candidate for the "electorial college."

For fun, I've put the event into a ticket system on the internet. No need to sign-up via that system. But, if you wish, you can check out Show Clix dot com. Direct Link.

SabrinaSpiher.com: A Media Empire

Another blogger rants about the South Side and our clueless Councilperson.

SabrinaSpiher.com: A Media Empire: "here's Bruce Kraus harassing the businesspeople of the South Side for selling food on the sidewalks - horrors! Apparently, he's been getting constituent complaints about messy drunks at 3:00 a.m. It is achingly obvious that these constituents are old. I am 100% certain that the young people who are spending $100,000 to colonize the ugly little aluminum siding box houses around East Carson are not concerned about the 3:00 a.m. drunks - in fact, they came for that atmosphere. I have a better solution than trying to put the poor chicken-on-a-stick guy out of business: if you don't like the South Side, move. You're ugly little box house will sell for 18 times what you paid for it in nineteen ought eight, and you'll be in good shape to head out to a ranch home in Edgewood, or wherever old people like to live. Meanwhile, the city won't waste its time and energy making one of its most appealing spots less appealing to the people they're constantly claiming they want to appeal to: young people. Lord!

I do not agree with Kraus -- nor with the blog posting above for a few reasons. Sure, constituents are going to complain. Sure, some are old. But, many are not.

Our drunk problem isn't at 3 am. Rather it is from midnight to 2:15 or so. Mostly the worse as the bars close around 1:30 to 2 am.

But, the aftermath of the crowds presents another problem that surfaces about 7 am as it gets light and the trash lingers. The drunks are gone. The bouncers are gone. The rented beer is spent an returned to 'Mother Earth' too. But, those that have jobs and lives to lead are seeing the remains.

Frankly, I didn't move here for the South Side bar atmosphere. Wrong. This is a neighborhood, a mixed neighborhood with churches, schools, institutions, families, single folks, seniors, recreation, business, retail, history, eating/drinking and the flexibility/freedom to make yourself here without the burden of conformity's pressures.

The option of moving, if we don't like the South Side, has been done thousands and thousands of times already. The one's that are here now are the cranky types that are going to stay because of the principle of things -- or -- because of their lack of capcity to move.

If the South Side turns into an entertainment district to the detriment of everything else, then the city will die. Dead. Bankrupt. Worse than Detroit. Not just the neighborhood, but the entire city, and in turn, the region.

Frankly, the South Side has done well for itself because the government types have stayed out of the South Side, by and large. The Local Development officials can't move their way out of a wet paper bag. The URA is only something most on the South Side know about from reading the newspapers.

We do not need the city and Mr. Kraus of city council working, as said in the blog post, to make the South Side appealing. But, things need to occur for other motivations, without the city. And, selling food on a stick under a sidewalk umbrella to midnight with a three-block litter patrol from 12 to 3 am (by the same business people) would be a great next step.

In the end, you might want to buy a house here -- as there are dozens of them available up and down our streets now. And, to make that investment, insurances need to be understood so it is a great long-term location. Better than South Park and Shaler, even after your children grow to their tenth birthday.

Here I am on the Great Wall. Shows my better side too.

Erik took this photo of me as we were climbing The Great Wall. You don't just walk or hike it. The ups and downs are steep.

From Beijing - Great Wall

There were few people on this stretch of The Great Wall -- so we had some peace and quiet to absorb its magnitude.

Doing the water cube -- off the board with clothes on -- Beijing scenes of us.

Sure, we went to see Michael Phelps and the rest of the amazing swimmers. But we also got to check out the water polo players as well as spend some time on the diving board!

Ron Paul - In Government We Trust? Part 2 - Texas Straight Talk

Congressman Ron Paul - In Government We Trust? Part 2 - Texas Straight Talk Imagine if the money you earned had honest, stable value, or even appreciated like an investment! No such special measures, like converting dollars to gold, would be required to ensure that your savings would sustain you in your golden years. That is the way it could be and is supposed to be. However, the government's thirst for power will not be easily, or cheaply, quenched. Fiat currency is one tool governments have to extract wealth quietly from the working class. It is time for the people to wake up to this ruse and look to the Constitution to restore sound currency.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac get bailout - as did others like Bear Stearns

I am sure you must be as angered as I am by the government take over of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This taxpayer rip-off is guaranteed to cost you and me billions. . . and who is to benefit?

First and foremost, THE BANK OF CHINA. That's right, the government bank in the People's Republic of China. Among others, numerous countries in the middle east and institutions around the world are also benefiting. Billions and billions are being sent overseas at our expense.

What do Senators McCain and Obama say about this government nationalization of our home lending system? They are both reported to be supportive.

I can tell you unequivocally, that Presidential candidate Bob Barr opposes this bail out!

Why? Because our tax dollars are being used (once again - remember Bear Stearns?) to fatten the bank accounts of speculators who bought bad loans. This is a case of the government rewarding those who took high-risk investment positions and were about to lose. . .

And where is Congress through all of this? Today they are back from a six week vacation and after just three more weeks, they quit work for the rest of the year! Between lengthy paid vacations, you can be sure they will be privately encouraging federal regulators and bureaucrats to bail out their friends. You see, Congress is paid handsomely - in the form of campaign contributions and other gifts - to make sure that the wealthy are protected from their own mistakes.

Do you need still more evidence that the only ones to benefit from this bail-out are foreign investors and Wall Street, check out all the major stock exchanges TODAY and you'll see massive gains that you are paying for.

John McCain and Barack Obama support this. No surprise there. Bob Barr is alone in blowing the whistle on this multi-billion bail out.

Scolding: I sliing this in the wake of a bone-headed comment

A most silly posted in another blog, Burghreport.blogspot.com, reads:

The last thing this country needs is another oil state governor with boob connotations (he is one, she has them.)
Anonymous | 09.08.08 - 9:53 am | #

My reply:

So, it is okay to judge people on where they live? (oil state)

Isn't PA an "oil state?" It used to be, i.e., Oil City, PA.

The sexist part is ignored.

I'd say the "last thing this country needs" is someone (racist/place-ist and sexist) to de-rail the conversations with silly comments.

Behaviors matter. Voting is a behavior too. Words and deeds in the weeks to come are sure to be measured at great length. Anonymous can help -- or hinder. To hinder by design brings a scolding.

From Passion to Action” Parent Leadership Training

Pittsburgh: September 19 & 20, 2008

Harrisburg: October 17 & 18, 2008

Pennsylvania Parent Information and Resource Center (PA PIRC) is sponsoring two regionally based workshops for parent leaders from local, regional and statewide parent leadership and parent advocacy groups, including parent members of family-school-community partnership teams.

PA PIRC supports strong connections between families and schools and advocates the
development of family-school-community partnerships focused on student success. PA PIRC
recognizes that to contribute effectively to these partnerships each member benefits from solid information to support him or her in this work.

“From Passion to Action” Parent Leadership Training

The two-day workshops, scheduled on Friday, September 19, 2008 and Saturday,
September 20, 2008 in western Pennsylvania and Friday, October 17, 2008 and Saturday,
October 18, 2008 in eastern Pennsylvania, are designed for parent leaders who want to
have an integral role in achieving student success through effective parent involvement and leadership in family-school-community partnerships.

Presenters will facilitate workshop sessions that will include:
Discussing personal leadership experiences

Understanding parent roles as leaders in the family-school-community context
Learning about the National PTA Standards of Parent Involvement

Reviewing the Federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulations governing parent
involvement with schools

Utilizing Pennsylvania’s “From Compliance to Effective Practice”, a standards-based
rubric aligned with the regulations

Parent leaders will have opportunities to learn and enhance involvement and leadership skills through networking with one another. Each participant will leave with a plan for transferring what they have learned to other parents.

Sign up: via PA PIRC at http://www.center-school.org/pa-pirc/workshops08.php

Action Alert: Verify Our Voting Software!

At 5 pm on Tuesday Sept. 9, 2008 we get to tell Allegheny County Council and Our Board of Election to "Audit Our Voting Software."

If we can't have a paper ballot, at least verify that our voting software is authentic!

County Council Meeting - Tuesday at 5pm, Sept. 9th
4th Floor, County Courthouse - Gold Room

Sign up to speak to council before Monday at 5pm with this link here:

http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/council/meetings/recomm.asp

When you sign up, put "Verify Voting Software" in Agenda Item.

In the two years since our voting machines have arrived from a factory in the Philippines, the voting software has never been audited for authenticity. We are asking for public software audits that compare our voting software with the software certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. "Unauthorized Patches" have been used illegally in other states by the voting machine vendors. Allegheny County promised to verify our voting software. Now, we are calling for the Board of Election to hold a special meeting to make software verification happen.

Our goal is to have 30 voters show up this Tuesday at county council and call for software verification. All folks have to do is walk up to the podium and say "Please, Verify Our Voting Software!" If we show up with 30 voters, we will make news.

See you there!

David Brown, VoteAllegheny.org

Missing blacks at GOP Party and in line-up for US Congress

My instant message to KDKA Radio's Marty Griffin who is race baiting:

Smart black candidates run as for office as an Independent, not Republican. That's why there are only 7 blacks running for US Congress. Marty's concepts and benchmark is more mole-hill than mountain.

FixPA.wikia.com is a wiki that you can influence

See, read, link from, edit, contribute, fix: http://FixPA.wikia.com

URA ignored its own rules in parking lot contracts

Get out!

URA ignored its own rules in parking lot contracts: "Mr. Ravenstahl has said there was no connection between the award and a $10,000 campaign contribution from Matthew McTish, the firm's president.

No fooling.

Ugh. There is so much to say. But the first thing that needs to be said is, "Good job Rich Lord." Thanks for being a watchdog. Thanks for the research. Thanks for telling the story. We need -- Pittsburgh needs -- articles like this to come into the light of day. Pittsburgh needs the 4th estate to rise up and help to correct its ills. Splendid job here.