Tuesday, October 07, 2008

LTE: Gambling and Children

Letter to editor for your consideration

By Mike Ference
Clairton, PA 15025

Illegal Gaming exposed for Chuck E Cheese Tokens
By Mike Ference

Who would have thunk it. Casino operators are able to do what DAs and
keystone cops have not been able to do since illegal gambling began to
flourish at the end of prohibition – shut down government protected gaming
operations that allowed certain groups and individuals to rake in tax-free
money in mob-controlled towns scattered across the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.

To boost revenues in seven existing casinos, the Pennsylvania Gaming
Control Board is passing out grant money to assist police departments in
finding and prosecuting businesses that house illegal gambling operations.

My gut says there’s got to be a lawsuit with a 50/50 chance of exposing
just how corrupt Pennsylvania government really is and maybe a story or
two on how certain crimes committed by the right ethnic group seem to get
a pass.

Mob lawyers – with extensive background in union affairs – could easily
argue past practice should prevail. In other words, Pennsylvania gambling
devices have a god-given right to stay plugged in because for decades the
gambling joints have been pilfering the hard-earned money of loyal patrons
for decades with no interference from the law.

I’ve also done the research by quizzing an expert on organized crime (who
has written extensively on the mob, he even had a grandfather whacked)
about the, who, what and where of illegal gaming operations. According to
this seasoned law enforcement officer only two scenarios are possible in a
town playing host to illegal gaming operations. One, government and law
enforcement officials are collecting bribes or protection money to assure
the gambling biz is never interrupted. Two, if there are no bribes, money
is being left on the table. Either way, it seems taxpayers could benefit
from a class-action suit and finally get their share of gambling funds
based on government incompetence or good old-fashioned corruption.

As for as the grant money being shelled out by the Pennsylvania Gaming
Control Board; my seven grandkids and I would be willing to guide local
police to all the gambling operations in the Mob Valley section of
Allegheny County (sorry I mean Mon Valley) just for fun or a few Chuck E
Cheese tokens.

Sadly, the folks who are paid to do the same appear to be clueless.

Strategic Plan is out and comments are to bounce back by the 13th

Pittsburgh Public Schools | Strategic Plan:

Download the Final Draft Stategic Plan here [PDF, 69p.]
Read the Press Release regarding Public Commentary here [PDF, 1p., 08/02/08]

I'm signed up to speak at 7 pm on October 13, 2008.

Kathy wrote in an email:

Lots of ongoing issues at the PPS and many reasons for all of us to stay engaged:

1) Declining enrollment in the PPS. We are trying to evaluate the numbers.

2) IB facility location. IB committee is looking at tentative sites and will release recommendations this month. However the general public has no idea what sites are being considered and what will happen to the students that are enrolled at whichever site is selected.

3) Mark Roosevelt recently released his draft of the district’s strategic plan that addresses the direction of the PPS over the next 6 years. We are all supposed to read this 65 page document and come up with comprehensive questions and concerns for the October 13 public hearing (no worries, your kids don’t need to eat or bath over the next 2 weeks while you dive into this dense and confusing document!). Call the Board of Education to sign up to speak at this meeting (412-622-3600)

We at PURE Reform will try to decipher and distill this document and have the results on the website (www.purereform.com) ASAP.

Please go to http://purereform.blogspot.com/ to register your thoughts/comments.

Anyone willing to help with compiling the information that we need for informed decision making, please contact Kathy Fine at finekj - @ - hotmail - .- com.

Do you have enough to drink? I'm going to sip milk.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/fixpa/images//d/d0/Debate3Game.pdf

Conference Call Tonight at 6 pm to prep for Pittsburgh visit of US Presidential candidate

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 3177



Can you join us at 6 pm tonight -- to huddle about the pending visit to Pittsburgh by Bob Barr, Libertarian, candidate for US President.

We'll learn the details and make some other outreach plans.

Thanks for your help and consideration.

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 3177

Powered by TalkShoe

You can also take part in the conference call by using your computer.

After the call, you'll be able to listen to the conversation as well.





Unfortunately the Barr campaign had to cancel the planned appearance and events in Harrisburg on Wednesday, October 8. There will be no event at the Penn State Harrisburg campus nor will Bob appear on PCN. The Meet and Greet event at the Harrisburg Hilton is also cancelled.

We regret that Bob Barr will not be in Harrisburg, however Libertarian Auditor General Candidate Betsy Summers will still be appearing on PCN at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 8, so be sure to tune in then.

It appears the visit to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area on Friday October 10 has been changed to a visit to Pittsburgh, with an event at Carnegie Mellon University. We will pass along more information as it becomes available.

We regret any inconvenience caused by the last-minute changes, and hope we can get the visit re-scheduled in the near future.

Sincerely,
Michael J. "Mik" Robertson
Chair, Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania

DebateDrink.com | Presidential Debate Drinking Game

Funny. We played in the past. What about you tonight? See me on Twitter!
DebateDrink.com | Presidential Debate Drinking Game Presidential Debate #2 (The YouTube Debate) Rules coming soon!

Bob Barr, candidate for US PRESIDENT, libertarian, will be in Pittsburgh on 10-10

Bob Barr will be in Pittsburgh on Friday, October 10, speaking at Carnegie Mellon University.

That is Erik's birthday!

My most recent happy birthday song was delivered to me by more than 600 people from all parts of the world while at a massive banquet in Amsterdam. Perhaps Erik can have a presidential candidate sing to him.

City school enrollment falling fast

The web headline says city enrollment is 'diving.' Ha, ha, ha. Diving, as in the sport of diving, isn't a part of the school district's offerings. If you want to be a 'diver' in the city, you can NOT do it in the schools. You can dive at Pitt, for a great club team. Or, you can dive in many suburban districts and still dive at Pitt's club team.
City school enrollment falling fast City school enrollment falling fast
Superintendent says it's because of demographic shift, but critics say it's because of unpopular changes
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Enrollment in the Pittsburgh Public Schools fell just over 5.7 percent in the past year, one of the largest increases in a decade. Superintendent Mark Roosevelt blamed demographic trends, but critics fear it is partly attributable to unpopular changes he has made.
School student numbers are up in one category -- schools with children with discipline issues. Oh my.

To be fair, perhaps, that is one way to make sure that the schools do not die, overall. The trend and practice has been to take the kids causing trouble and just leave them where they are -- in a troubled state causing trouble. Or, move the students to different schools to cause trouble there. That's a game of musical chairs for the non-musical but very obvious.

The higher numbers in those programs with gains are due to other reasons -- such as a privatized 'light-jail' school that had been opened.

The district on Sept. 28, 2008 counted 26,649 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, down 1,616 from a year ago.

While some individual schools saw gains, overall enrollment fell in accelerated learning academies, K-8 schools, K-5 schools, middle schools and high schools -- every category except schools for children with disciplinary problems.

Pittsburgh's problems are NOT like those of other urban school districts. This is not okay for a justification. This excuse was used when Gov. Rendell won his election to become governor as he failed in Philly as head of that district. So, Pittsburgh had to show it was on the brink as well. That's when the foundation money was pulled.

Around the globe, urban areas are increasing population. With the higher price of gas, people want to live closer to work, play, worship and cultural opportunities. The city can and should be growing. The city has plenty of great values, in various segments.

Many urban districts are experiencing enrollment declines because of the attractiveness of suburban and charter schools, among other reasons. Mr. Roosevelt yesterday blamed the Pittsburgh district's losses on "city flight," an aging population and other demographic issues.

The city flight that I'm seeing is due to Mr. Roosevelt's policies. When you have a hand-picked committee work for a few years on high school reform and then chuck all of those efforts out the window -- that stinks. That's what they did. The high school reform task force efforts were turned into nothing but a joke.

For example, he said the demolition of public housing in Garfield may be responsible for the loss of students at Fort Pitt PreK-5, an accelerated learning academy. The school has 292 students, down 93 from a year ago.

"There's a lot happening here," Mr. Roosevelt said, adding that the district hopes to begin a project to find families that have left the district and ask them why they relocated.

The district had 39,603 students in fall 1998. It has lost students in each of the past 10 school years, including a drop of about 6.6 percent from 2001-02 to 2002-03 and a drop of about 5.7 percent from 2003-04 to 2004-05.

Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President John Tarka said his members are working with the district to improve the district's academic reputation and reverse the enrollment decline.

The Pittsburgh Promise is to PPS just as PNC Park is to the winning ways of the Pittsburgh Pirates. When PNC Park was being built, everyone was told that there would be years of 'sold out' baseball games. The first year there were about ten games that were sold out. That's it. They lied. They were hyper inflated projections.

"We also know the Pittsburgh Promise is an important ingredient," Mr. Tarka said, referring to the college scholarship program for city high school graduates that's intended to lure families to the city and help retain those already here.

During the past three years, Mr. Roosevelt has closed and consolidated schools, introduced new curricula and made other changes, hoping to right academics and finances. Critics displeased with Mr. Roosevelt's changes, including the closing of the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building in June, have suggested that he's driving some families from the district.

Mr. Roosevelt yesterday disputed that idea, saying enrollment numbers conform to state projections that are based on demographics.

He added that ninth-grade enrollment at Pittsburgh Frick 6-9 in Oakland and the new university-prep school in the Hill District show that the Schenley decision hasn't caused parents to pull students from the district.

Frick and the university school together have about 270 ninth-graders, most of whom would have gone to the Schenley building had it remained open. Mr. Roosevelt said enrollment at the Reizenstein building in Shadyside -- new home to Schenley's 10th, 11th and 12th graders -- is a healthy 694.

Enrollment over the past year fell by about 9.5 percent, or 334 students, at the accelerated learning academies; by about 6.3 percent, or 382 students, at K-8 schools; by about 8 percent, or 285 students, at middle schools; and by about 8.8 percent, or 739 students, at high schools. Enrollment at K-5 schools was down 15 students, about 0.2 percent, and enrollment at schools serving children with disabilities was down seven students, or about 2 percent.

Enrollment in schools serving children with discipline problems was up about 46 percent, or 146 students. Most of the increase came from the referral of additional students to the North Side alternative school that Community Education Partners operates for the district.


More to come.

City elections are heating up |� The Republican Eagle �| Red Wing, Minnesota

Rauterkus is going to win this election, with signs to prove it.
City elections are heating up - The Republican Eagle - Red Wing, Minnesota Ward 3-4

If you've driven through Red Wing lately you've likely seen a Ralph Rauterkus sign in someone's yard.

You may have asked whom is he running against. The answer is no one.

Rauterkus was the only one to file when Mike Hall announced he wasn't seeking re-election.

Monday, October 06, 2008

From http://www.techpresident.com about Keating and McCain and the new flick

Obama Tries to Connects the Dots with Keating Doc: The Obama campaign has kept its powder dry on the so-called Keating Five scandal -- the savings and loan controversy from the early '90s which found John McCain criticized by the Senate ethics committee for his relationship with California S&L figure Charles Keating. Until now. At noon ET today, the Obama campaign is releasing a 13 minute documentary shot in a polished doc style that would do Errol Morris proud. Politico's Mike Allen has more on the strategy behind the campaign's Keating focus. With a microsite built around the film at KeatingEconomics.com, what could have been dismissed as a dredging up of ancient history actually ties the Keating scandal to a powerful theme: that the crony corporatism witnessed during the S&L mess is still at play during our current economic crisis. That's a tough case to make in 30 second TV spot or two minute web ad -- much easier to lay it out in a 13 minute mini-film. And hey, why not launch it right at lunchtime east coast time, when people are looking for a little entertainment? The innovative technique all but guarantees it will attract attention: the trailer for the film has already gotten more than 270,000 views. Worth nothing is the contrast between this and how the McCain camp is treating the situation involving former Weatherman Bill Ayers -- as much as McCain would love to highlight the connection between Ayers and Obama, neither his campaign nor the RNC has produced anything like what team Obama is doing here with Keating; a search for "Ayers" on JohnMcCain.com, for example, produces this: No documents were found."#

Bob Barr: Economic Chaos Increases After Congress Passes Bailout

Bob Barr: Economic Chaos Increases After Congress Passes Bailout: "Economic Chaos Increases After Congress Passes Bailout"

Will Sens. Obama and McCain Claim a Piece of this Rotten Fish They Helped Produce?

Instant message to Marty Griffin of KDKA Radio

The 'shock jock' is getting nasty with both camps -- replaying and amplifying the negative messages from and about Obama and McCain. Keating Five and all the other dirt he can spit upon about them both.

My note to him:

Professor of Univ. of Ill Chicago, & Hyde Park neighbor & fellow nonprofit board member & $200 donor of candidate Obama wishes they (underground) had done more of domestic bombings / terror.

Humm...

He wishes for, but didn't deliver, a "SURGE."

We're bombing now. Different time. different place. Different intensity.

Focus on the future. Politics is about the future, not the past.

Baseball, anyone????

My Tweet asks:
Will folks in Pittsburgh care about Major League Baseball's playoffs now that Philly is to the next round. vs LA next. Yawn, Boo or Cheer?
We have a 'cheese stake' in this race, right?

What are our connections to brotherly love, after all?

The Admiral, of course. He is presently a Philly-based blogger that can't seem to fully butt out of the Pittsburgh blogging seascape -- err -- escape -- as many of the others in this village have done N@.

Fast Eddie, of course.

Comcast.

Family and friends, too many to mention.

How many ex-Pirates are still playing baseball this year? It is time for a Tim Wakefield update? Supan?

How many ex-residents are playing ball now? We always are suckers for the home-grown talent. Who can we cheer for, besides the Buckeye QB, mentioned already today.

This week is a Steelers bye week. So, we've got some extra cycles to devote to something, besides the 2nd presidential debate and Survivor Gabon.

The Pitt News - Two students stabbed at Hemingway's

The Pitt News - Two students stabbed at Hemingway's Two students stabbed at Hemingway's
This is bad news.

An opinion article in The Pitt News about this topic can't be found on the web site. URL please.

In other Pitt News, the football team is now ranked, again, #24. The team was #25 in the pre-season polls, but opening day loss to BGSU put them out, of course.

Penn State is #6 and still undefeated.

Ohio State's freshman QB, a Western PA kid, has them back on-track. They played in prime time and beat the Badgers. Meanwhile, what happened to the Wisconsin Band?

Finally, I'm hearing about cheerleaders in local high schools that are using electronic cameras, often attached to cell phones, for no good. Parents, check it out!

Amber Alert Noise

In other Amber Alert News, from the City of Pittsburgh's Citizen Alert email system:

On Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 9:41 AM, CitizenObserver wrote that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police alert for a guy who was wanted for an ALLEGED homicide that occurred at 7701 Penn Avenue on September 22, 2008 in which 20-year-old Korey Johnson was shot as he sat in his car at the Sunoco Station, was arrested on 9/26/08.

Please cancel the Alert issued for this guy on October 6 as he was nabbed on Sept 26.

This is NOT okay. The delay from the 26th to Oct 6 gives little or no faith in the update system. Get it right or it won't be used and trusted.

Today, the State Police issued an Amber Alert for a 17 year old girl. I am watching for the suspension of that alert -- as it occurs -- not a week or two later.

I'm happy that the police caught the guy. I'm happy that the police are trying to keep citizens notified. But do a better job!

Malaysia's schools get OpenOffice.org

The Malaysian government has unveiled plans to roll out OpenOffice.org in schools across the nation--a move that will affect some 300,000 PCs.

http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,62045435,00.htm

In other news, OpenOffice.org Annual Conference, slated for Beijing, is now open for registration. I'd love to go to Beijing, China between 5th.-7th of November, 2008. This OOoCon is a double first - it's the first OOoCon to be held outside Europe, and it will also see the biggest concentration of OpenOffice.org developers ever assembled in one location on the planet.

Links:
Conference website: http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2008

Programme: http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2008/programme.html

Registration:
http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2008/travel.html#registration

Plus, the release candidate 3 of OpenOffice.org 3.0 is now ready for testing.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

RCP Tiburon Mile Open Water Swim

RCP Tiburon Mile Open Water Swim: "9. Do swimmers have a maximum period of time to complete the race? Swimmers who have not entered the harbor and passed the Angel Island Ferry within 55 minutes will be pulled from the water.

10. What is the average temperature of the water in October in the San Francisco Bay? The water on average will be about 63-degrees Fahrenheit."

PVK in Pittsburgh for swim clinic

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events


USA Swimming star, Peter Vanderkaay, gold medalist in the 800 meter free relay and bronze in the 200 meter free in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics, is in Pittsburgh today for a swim clinic.

Here he is when we got to meet him after he won the bronze in the Water Cube with his college coach, Jon Urbanckek, also of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Hope you have a great visit and clinic.

300 Great Wall photos uploaded

From Great Wall


From Beijing - Great Wall


Photos are being edited and uploaded, still.

Newspaper Article on Citizens who speak at public meetings quotes me

We are fixtures!

Self-appointed watchdogs refuse to roll over

Article link in the Sunday Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
Mark Rauterkus, 49, of the South Side has consistently challenged City Council, and on his Web site he calls citizenship "a serious responsibility." A stay-at-home father and part-time swimming coach, Rauterkus uses his free time to monitor local government. He's run for public office as a Libertarian, and he regularly updates his blog with commentary on the national, state and local political events.

Challenging government decisions isn't just about saying no, he said.

"If we all did a little bit of the lifting then it wouldn't be such a heavy burden for the naysayers out there," he said.
Of course, I am 'self-appointed' -- but -- I'm also often in a capacity that is more than self-appointed. As an elected board member of the Libertarian Party, I have a 'duty.' As a nominated candidate who has had people in the public sign nomination papers, I have a role too.

One element that I don't generally do is use my voice to rail against other property owners and fellow citizens. The target of most of my messages is government and our public life.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Nice Bike Ride Today -- ran into the Mayor

From Erik


Mark Rauterkus and Luke Ravenstahl, both enjoying the 250th at Point State Park.
From people & vips


The way traffic was shut down in the city was a disgrace, by the way. By 11 am, the roads that crossed the city were closed due to 250 bikers on the bike path. Go figure. There is no way that they needed to close so many roads for such a long period.

Furthermore, those with eagle eyes can notice the outside of The Hilton Hotel and the bare facade, still unfinished.

The best thing at Point State Park, was getting to make our own Smile Cookies, thanks to Eat 'n Park.

From texture - misc.


Saw VIP, Mr. Pippy, wearing his Army bike top.
From people & vips


The fountain is pink. The fireworks are yet to occur.

From Transportation


Fireworks just happened. Boy, the launch site at the USX Tower, now adorned with the lighted UPMC sign, didn't fire as designed, did it?

From Erik