PR 2.0: The State of Social Media 2008

PR 2.0: The State of Social Media 2008 In Technorati’s 2008 State of the Blogosphere report, the company observed that blogging is becoming mainstream, leading the way for an Active Blogosphere - defined as the ecosystem of interconnected communities of bloggers and readers at the convergence of journalism and conversation. I’d also add that as the Active Blogosphere further permeates our daily information consumption and distribution processes, that the Social Web equally becomes pervasive. But, it’s so much more than an Active SocialMediaSphere. As networks become densely populated and new communities arise and thrive, we're experiencing a fundamental shift in content creation, distribution, and consumption, thus creating an Active and Participatory Media society that is inspiring and seeding a more literate and enlightened generation.

Express. Are you ready for some silver screen football?

Must see flick.

Tutorial on the bail out

I've been pounding on both of the candidates from the main parties. One might have been hit more than the other. They both are worthy of getting the knocks due.

Atlanta Magazine - Getting to know Bob Barr, candidate for US President

Extensive profile article on Bob Barr:

Atlanta Magazine - October 2008 Bob Barr Once the crusading champion of the GOP, Bob Barr has disavowed his party and much of his past in a quest to become the first Libertarian president of the United States.

Nobody is perfect.

Text From Steelers' Rookie To Ravens Friend Fuels Monday Night Fire - Sports News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

So, is this player's phone really stuck up on a bulletin board in the dirty-bird's locker room?

Text From Steelers' Rookie To Ravens Friend Fuels Monday Night Fire - Sports News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh: "Mendenhall, who is friends with the Ravens' Ray Rice, sent a friendly text, telling Rice he was going to have a big game Monday night. However, Rice passed that message along to his teammates, who didn't seem to be too pleased.

'Thanks for the bulletin board material, rookie,' Ravens' Bart Scott replied.

But Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said the incident is no big deal.

'For him, he texted one of his friends and unfortunately in this business, you got to be careful who you text nowadays, because now they use that and put it as bulletin board material,' Ward said. 'But if you need that to motivate yourself, then your mind isn't really into the game if you're worried about a text message.'

I just hope he holds onto the ball throughout the entire game.

2008 Great Race complete results - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Elisa got 3rd place! Way to go.

2008 Great Race complete results - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "3. Elisa Varlotta, 11, Pittsburgh, 00:56:01

She is a classmate of my son and family friend! She also plays violin and got 1st place for Phillips in Pittsburgh's Elem. School Championship swim meet!

From phillips-swim

Running Mates -- how did you do in the Great Race?

Giuliani's law firm seeking bailout business -- Newsday.com

Giuliani's law firm seeking bailout business -- Newsday.com: "Giuliani's law firm seeking bailout business"
Another source...
Giuliani's law firm seeking bailout business 26 Sep 2008 In the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, former Mayor [9/11 co-conspirator] Rudy Giuliani has begun drumming up business, positioning his law firm to advise corporate clients on how to profit from the government's $700 billion bailout. Bracewell & Giuliani LLP announced it has formed a corporate task force to advise "financial institutions, private investment funds, institutional investors and other market participants" on the costly package. "Our team of former government officials and experienced attorneys in the fields of legislation, enforcement and finance are equipped to guide institutions in this quickly evolving and complex environment," Giuliani said.

This big-money, big-corruption, big-government, big-celebrity, big-law approach has turned off too many people.

Sci-tech school courts minorities

This new school should be a great success --- but --- they are making some serious mistakes.

Sci-tech school courts minorities A 'Dream. Discover. Design' curriculum will require each student to specialize in one of four fields and work with industry, academia or civic groups to solve science problems. A balanced enrollment likely will be viewed as one indicator of a successful school launch.

The curriculum is a much bigger problem than the lottery to get into the program.

Industries are not the one's pushing schools in Pittsburgh. If anyone noticed, most of the industry that was in Pittsburgh is now gone. People in industry that are here are a little too busy to worry about a middle school.

Pushing occurs in the schools with parents, teachers, unions, students themselves and academic weenies in the educational fields. Government makes a bit of a push too.

We'll be watching:

To that end, the district Wednesday will launch a school Web site at www.pghscitech.net and mail postcards to district families promoting the school and registration process. Information sessions will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Carnegie Library in Homewood, at noon Oct. 11 at Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore and at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at district offices in Oakland.

When the Sci-Tech school web site is working, do try to give a little bit of web site attention to the schools that are already open. Some of the school web sites throughout the district are a bad joke.

Schenley's web site -- in a school that just opened too -- is way out of date. The IB program need students too.

There are boutique schools in Pittsburgh now. That is the trend.

Meanwhile, the other schools are still drop out factories.

Furthermore, the new schools are not proven to work wonders, with the exception of CAPA. But, CAPA is getting a major upheaval next year too as the high school will begin to accept students in grades 6, 7 and 8.

...the school will be rigorous. That's why graduates will get an honors diploma.

But the school will not be offering AP classes. An honor's diploma might not be worth the paper. Time will tell. It is unproven and without a hook to national standards that can easily transfer into college credit.

... Pittsburgh officials have planned a special advising process, other academic supports and flexible scheduling to help students pull through.

Advising and support are two of the many elements that coaches offer students and athletes. Sadly, Pgh officials are going to not have any scholastic coaches in this building. No sports.

For McCain and Team, a Host of Ties to Gambling - NYTimes.com

Wonder if John McCain is into 'slots parlors' too. Pittsburgh won't have 'table games' in its new, river-front facility. So, do you think we'll see the likes of McCain in Pittsburgh for gambling?

For McCain and Team, a Host of Ties to Gambling - NYTimes.com Mr. McCain portrays himself as a Washington maverick unswayed by special interests, referring recently to lobbyists as “birds of prey.” Yet in his current campaign, more than 40 fund-raisers and top advisers have lobbied or worked for an array of gambling interests — including tribal and Las Vegas casinos, lottery companies and online poker purveyors.

Interesting article.

The Corner on National Review Online

The Corner on National Review Online Palin Will Spend More Time With Couric [Byron York]

Sarah Palin's schedule for tomorrow includes time at 8:00 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. listed as 'Media Interview.' It turns out Palin will be spending more time with Katie Couric. Palin and Couric will tape a 'Day in the Life' feature that will run on the CBS Evening News on Monday and Tuesday, according to CBS.

This blog is not going to go away. Folks, some $.03 advice:

Rule #1 (when speaking with activists): Don't burn out.

A number of others are going away. Not me. Not this blog. I'm here to stay, still.

What is the age after pyrite? Perhaps a new phase is in its dawn.

A few other rules to live by, as a follow-up to Sunday's service.

Minister suggested:

1. Show up
2. Be honest
3. 4. 5. Have faith. (rushing ahead)

Other point(s) I've advanced:

a) Make 'em sweat.
b) Score more points.
c) Don't fear the calling of a vote.

Other points from others that were raised just today:
A) Keep as much distance as possible between other objects and your crotch. (Kids on return from South Park for ride on BMX bikes and the choice of a smaller bike.)

Dozen Athletes Are Donating Their Brains for Study on Concussions - NYTimes.com

Athletes Donate Their Brains for Study on Concussions - NYTimes.comNFL players retire their brains to science. A new center at Boston University’s School of Medicine to study the long-term effects of concussions.

3rd party debates brew

Trevor Lyman is the man who organized the Ron Paul money bombs.

One Lyman money bomb raised $4 million in one day.

Another raised $6 million in one day.

Now, Lyman is at it again.

Lyman wants to hold a third party debate in New York City.

Lyman was inspired by Ron Paul's press conference a couple of weeks ago.

At that press conference, Paul called on his followers to ditch the two major parties and throw their support to one of the independent or third party candidates.

So, we all need to support Lyman's push for an alternative debate now.

If Lyman gets 10,000 pledges by October 8, he and the other sponsors will organize a debate in New York City.

All major candidates -- Nader, Barr, McKinney, Baldwin, Obama and McCain will be invited.

Already, with no publicity, Lyman has close to 1,000 pledgers.

So go to thirdpartyticket.com now.

And add your name to the pledge list.

You don't have to say how much you are pledging.

Just add your name.

The Commission on Presidential Debates won't let Ralph debate.

So, let's get behind Trevor Lyman's push now.

Let's crank it up.

And get it done.

How McCain Stirred a Simmering Pot

Inside baseball stuff follows. But, this sets the mood so as to explain by John McCain, a guy who can look Putin in the eye, can't even look at his debate opponent.

How McCain Stirred a Simmering Pot When Sen. John McCain made his way to the Capitol office of House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) just past noon on Thursday, he intended to 'just touch gloves' with House Republican leaders, according to one congressional aide, and get ready for the afternoon bailout summit at the White House.

Instead, Rep. Paul D. Ryan (Wis.), the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, was waiting to give him an earful. The $700 billion Wall Street rescue, as laid out by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., was never going to fly with House Republicans, Ryan said. The plan had to be fundamentally reworked, relying instead on a new program of mortgage insurance paid not by the taxpayers but by the banking industry.

South Siders find liquor license hard to swallow

PG on ineffective city government.

South Siders find liquor license hard to swallow: "When City Council passed legislation last year that limited the use of liquor licenses on East Carson Street, South Side residents, tormented by drunken noise and vandalism for years, thought they finally had a defense against its worsening.

I didn't think that. Think again.

I'm a South Side resident. I'm upset at the crap behavior of some who crawl our neighborhood too. But, from the get-go, I could tell that this approach was going to tank.

Wrenna Watson's statement as to the 'type of patron' for a place that has yet to open is very crystal ball. And, it might even be a slam dunk for 2008 award for the racial profile awards for all bureaucrats the world over.

Before the commission voted, Chairwoman Wrenna Watson said she had been to Khalil's and Ali Baba's, two restaurants similar to the one planned for East Carson, "and their type of patrons are not the type we are trying to inhibit on the South Side."

Problem: The type of establishment can't be judged with an application to the planning department.

Problem: All types of establishments have the potential of making matters worse. But, the establishment is not the real culprit. True, the beer from one tap down the street ends up on our front porch. But, it is transported by a guy or gal that should be punished.

The solution is to target the wrong doers.

Furthermore, there are a few dozen bars and taverns and salons and nightclubs that are sure to go out of business in the months to come. The market has exploded and a correction is in order. But, that's for the market to dictate, with the help of slots parlor license protection from the state police.

Once the slots parlor in Pittsburgh opens, we'll see some shrinkage in the number of bars in the South Side.

Man dies after tumble into river at start of Head of Ohio

What a way to go.

Man dies after tumble into river at start of Head of Ohio A Washington D.C. attorney active in his local rowing club and who once represented a client in the seizure of the former presidential yacht died today at Allegheny General Hospital after he collapsed and tumbled from his boat at the start of the Head of the Ohio rowing competition.

Stuart C. Law, 79, was pronounced dead after another rower dove into the waters of the Allegheny River and kept Mr. Law afloat until rescue boats could arrive.

So sad. Sounds like an interesting gentleman with a rich career and passion for sport.

My kids and I rode our bikes up to the start of the race at mid-day. We had a nice pedal and look-around at both ends of the course. Didn't hear a peep about these events. I almost asked if anyone had gone 'swimming' so far today -- but we were around as a boat got disqualified for failing to be at the start of a race -- so said the race's starter while a parent knew otherwise.

Titus North's Financial System Stabilization Plan | Titus North for Congress

These are amazing points from Candidate North. Well done.

Titus North's Financial System Stabilization Plan | Titus North for Congress: "Titus North's Financial System Stabilization Plan"

To address the immediate problems of the financial system, we need to do the following:

1) Conduct prompt and thorough audits of our banks and insurance companies in order to ascertain the value of their assets. Any institutions that have debts in excess of their capitalization should be seized by the government and either liquidated or put into receivership.

2) Undercapitalized institutions must to take steps to bolster their capitalization or face a partial government takeover. This would be done by injecting public funds in exchange for shares in the company according to fair market value. The management would be dismissed and the institution would have to follow strict guidelines until their health is restored and the public funds repaid.

3) Allow other institutions to sell their toxic subprime assets to the government AT MARKET PRICES, which would be a small fraction of the book values. The securitized subprime assets would be unbundled and the government would renegotiate the terms of the loans so that primary homeowners will be able to make payments. The banks and insurance companies who sell their loans to the government must agree to several conditions, including a cap on executive salaries of no more than the salaries of the President of the United States, the Vice President, or other corresponding government executives.

4) Impose a moratorium on foreclosures on primary homes. Keeping homeowners in their houses and making mortgage payments offers the best chance at recovering the principle of the loans. Most foreclosures were triggered by the jump in monthly interest payments when low teaser rates expired. Foreclosures cause a glut of supply, which bring down home values and inflate mortgage-related losses.

5) All banks and insurance companies must be required to set up and contribute to a fund to reimburse the taxpayers. Also, contributions to the fund will have to take priority over paying dividends to shareholders until taxpayers are reimbursed.

6) Executives at companies that fail or require tax payer assistance should be sued for the pay they received during the years their companies were engaging in the practices that produced the current crisis should be forfeited into the taxpayer reimbursement fund.

7) Hedge funds should be investigated for wrong doing and liquidated should they fail.

8) Establish a very small transaction tax on stock, bond, foreign exchange and derivative transactions. It would discourage speculation and its proceeds could go to the taxpayer remibursement fund.

9) Abolish the Federal Reserve. The structure of the Federal Reserve gives commercial banks too much influence over the vary institution that is suppose to regulate the banking industry. It's founding was unconstitutional in the first place because the Constitution gives Congress authority over the currency. The Treasury should go back to issuing currency, with congressional supervision.

We have the example of Japan's trial and error in overcoming their financial crisis of similar proportions. Let's not reinvent the wheel!

Titus North is running radio ads. Green for US Congress

I have recorded a radio spot opposing the Wall Street bailout. The spot will air on some local radio stations.

The times for KQV (AM 1410) are as follows:
Saturday: 8:25 a.m., 9:24 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 12:25 p.m., 2:24 p.m. and 5:57 p.m.
Sunday: 8:19 a.m., 9:19 a.m., 10:19 a.m., 12:14 p.m., 3:57 p.m., 5:14 p.m. and 8:33 p.m.
Monday: 8:33 a.m, 11:26 a.m. and 4:07 p.m.

The times for WJAS (AM 1320) are as follows:
Sunday during the "Swinging with Sinatra" show sometime between 10AM and 12 noon
Monday: Three times (Specific times will be posted as soon as they are learned.)

The times for WMNY (AM 1360) are as follow:
Saturday during the Lou Dobbs Show at about 8:30PM and around 9:10-9:20 PM
Monday twice during the Bloomberg First Word Show 7-9AM. (Specific times for those spots will be posted as soon as they are learned.)


Titus North

Candidate for U.S. Congress, PA district 14

votenorth.org

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2 Political Junkies recap bailout meetings

2 Political Junkies: "President Bush chimed in, 'If money isn't loosened, this sucker could go down' -- and by sucker he meant economy."

What I don't get, yet: If the economy is going down the drain because of the loose credit -- does it make sense to loosen credit further and offer a bailout of billions. They want to take the turd deeper into the toilet -- flushing it away with nothing but bigger, better floating, taxpayer purchased, Wall Street relieved, turds.

This sucker could go down if we land another battleship (of the same broad based composure) smack dab on top of the first one, once floating freely.