From violin-gang |
Erik and his school mates were making music on Grant Street at the home of the Allegheny County seat of government -- last week.
Today, the same building is closed.
As fit citizens, neighbors and running mates, we are tyranny fighters, water-game professionals, WPIAL and PIAA bound, wiki instigators, sports fans, liberty lovers, world travelers, non-credentialed Olympic photographers, UU netizens, church goers, open source boosters, school advocates, South Siders, retired and not, swim coaches, water polo players, ex-publishers and polar bear swimmers, N@.
From violin-gang |
From Grantman |
From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
From people & vips |
From Grantman |
MVN - Coaches: "Coach Ad'm DusenburyThe workout was over the top for Grant, but a great match for Erik. The younger MVN kids were at a swim meet.
Warmup was an 800 and then 12 x 100 kicks.
The main set was 16 x 200s on
4 min each.
3 x 200 fly + 200 IM
3 x 200 back + 200 IM
3 x 200
breast + 200 IM
3 x 200 free + 200 IM
The final set was a swim with paddles, 8 x 100s, working on technique.
Erik, Ad'm and Grant at the end of practice. |
From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
Reasons why you should be on your local council:
1. There is a high turnover on borough councils (no-compensation job!), and most candidates run un-opposed.
2. When elected, you get to take an oath to swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States!
3. Protect private property rights through granting/denying variances. You will know what to do.
4. Protect private property by denying or getting rid of historical commissions and controlling traffic.
5. Demand your borough live within it's means. Be the tax payer's best friend.
6. Keep taxes low and spending lower. Demand reasonable contracts with utilities and contractors.
7. Witness to finance committee and pension and general fund money managers about Keynesian/Austrian economics.
8. Gain access to your PA Senator and PA House Representative. Tell them you stand for limited government and make alliances accordingly.
9. Fight for/against PA Bills that affect our freedoms.
10. Have oversight of your local police and fire unit activity.
Fulfill the mission by C4L to become a community leader.
Not for you? Attend your next local council meeting and find out what's going on.
Interested? Here is the manual for PA borough council. Read it to find out more.
Petitions start circulating on Feb 19, 2009, to get on the ballot.
We apparently have voting machines casting phantom e-ballots in Allegheny County... please read on.
"Phantom e-ballots" were cast by Allegheny County's iVotronic voting machines in this past election. When more ballots were cast on these voting machines than there were voters allowed to approach the machines, its a problem. As many as 10 phantom ballots were cast in one polling place - and an initial review of 12 "problem reported" precincts has found 3 polling places which had cast phantom e-ballots.
In the "10-phantom ballot" precinct the voting machines were reported to be fading out and blinking back on all day and eventually two machines shut down in the afternoon. If a printout of this polling place's ballots finds that 10 ballots were cast without containing any votes, then the situation is reconcilable and not a big deal. However, if all the ballots have some votes on them, then we have a great opportunity federal funding for new voting machines with paper ballots and verifiable voting. Generally, we would also like the county to be transparently reporting on the voting machine problems, such as the prevalence of these phantom e-ballots.
County Council Meets Tuesday, at 5pm
PLEASE SIGN UP TO SPEAK TO COUNTY COUNCIL TO ASK FOR VERIFIABLE AND ACCOUNTABLE ELECTIONS
REQUEST TO COMMENT HERE BEFORE MONDAY AT 5PM:
http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/council/comment.asp
If this link doesn't work, please email or call JOHN MASCIO, CHIEF CLERK : 412-350-6495 jmascio@alleghenycounty.us
COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS TUESDAY AT 5 PM
County Courthouse
436 Grant Street
4th Floor - Gold Room
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Councilman Chuck Martoni has offered to schedule a sense of council motion for
Tuesday Dec. 16th's meeting at 5PM:
County Council Resolves that the BOE (Board of Elections) and the Division of Elections should:
1) Print a hardcopy of the ballots stored in iVotronic memory in Wilkinsburg 1-6, under witness by election integrity and party observers as provided by PA law, (see Section 3154 of Purdons, PA Election Code).
2) Provide meaningful routine and standard reporting on election problems and lessons learned each election, to include items addressed in the 15 questions.
3) Make available for review, without resort to records requests or legal assistance all election reporting documents identified in the 15 questions.
4) Make public the report on the November 2007 election.
Election Report Questions for Allegheny County
1 - How many and what precincts have more iVotronic ballots than voters accessing the iVotronics?
2 - How many and what precincts have reports of machine problems by voters?
3 - HMAWPs have reports of machine problems by pollworkers?
4 - HMAWPs have machines which required service calls by rovers during the election?
5 - HMAWPs have lost or found voting machine equipment this election?
6 - HMAWPs still have outstanding lost equipment from previous elections?
7 - Were any irregularities reported at the warehouse regarding the iVotronic sleep overs at precincts?
8 - Were any irregularities reported at the warehouse regarding the security procedures for the iVotronics?
9 -Has any effort been made to talk with other iVotronic counties to correlate experiences?
10 - Is there a comprehensive list documenting the problems encountered in the canvass?
11 - Is there a comprehensive list documenting the problems encountered in the returns board?
12 - Is there a log of phoned in complaints to the county regarding election problems?
13 - Is there a log of "walk in" complaints registered at the Division of Elections Office?
14 - Is there a comprehensive list of percentage undervotes for each race?
- By iVotronic voting?
- By Absentee voting
- By Provisional and Emergency Ballot Voting?
15 - If more ballots were cast than voters present, were the individual ballots printed out? (and were they cast empty or filled)?
Schenley building removed from insurance, 2 others added'There is no hidden message being sent about Schenley,' he said. 'Absolutely none. Zero. Zilch.'Right.
From signs |
14th December 2008
Jan Cameron believes there’s plenty of exciting talent to carry the mantle in New Zealand Swimming based on performances at the national summer championships that finished in Christchurch tonight.
Ten New Zealand records were established this week with nine swimmers going over the key 900 FINA point mark at the meet, where Swimming New Zealand honoured their three retiring Olympians – Dean Kent, Helen Norfolk and Liz Coster.
Two further records were set on the final night, led by 21-year-old Glenn Snyders, arguably the star not only of the meeting but the most improved swimmer this year.
He took nearly four seconds off his previous best in winning the 200m breaststroke in a new record time of 2:06.45, after setting a new mark in the 100m breaststroke last night in the fifth fastest time in the world this year.
Taranaki’s Charlotte Webby established the other record tonight, going under the seven year old mark of Liz Van Welie in the 200m butterfly. Webby, from the Bell Block club, clocked 2:10.51 in winning the final.
Cameron, the new General Manager, Performance and Pathways, said she is encouraged by the performances this week.
“We’ve honoured three fantastic swimmers tonight but we have seen a number of young swimmers really putting their hands up here,” Cameron said.
They include Olympians Snyders, Melissa Ingram, Corney Swanepoel, Daniel Bell and Tash Hind. But importantly there were impressive showings from Penelope Marshall (North Shore), Michael Jack (West Auckland), Natalie Wiegersma (Waverley, Southland) and Cameron Stanley (North Shore).
Snyders was the star of the show.
“It’s been great. My expectations were just to come and do my best out of the heavy work I’ve been doing,” Snyders said.
“My training has been going well and my results this week are a good indication that I am on the right track.
“My time tonight in this sort of training is really pleasing. This year has been great. I couldn’t have asked for a better year.
“I’ve gained a lot and learned a lot. I can’t wait for next year. I try not to look at the big picture but with every major meet I want to do better and better. I have targeted medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2010.”
Bell edged Swanepoel in the final of the 100m butterfly while West Auckland’s Brett Newall scored an excellent win in the 400m individual medley and Dylan Dunlop-Barrett took out the 1500m freestyle.
Marshall scored an important win over club mate and Olympian Ingram in the 200m freestyle, Wiegersma impressed with victory over Hind in the 200m medley and Annabelle Carey (Aquagym) took out the 50m breaststroke.
The visiting Australian club team from Melbourne, led by world record holder Marieke Guehrer won three finals tonight with Guehrer just failing in her attempt to lower her own world mark in the 50m butterfly.
From signs |
From signs |
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Mike Ference, The Brand Shop, Inc.
817 Worthington Avenue, Clairton, PA 15025
412-233-5491
Email: thebrandman@thebrandshopinc.com
http://www.thebrandshopinc.com
Pennsylvania political activist, The Mon Dawn, is hoping to make the holiday season a little brighter for the less fortunate by offering limited edition, imprinted t-shirts featuring The Mon Dawn-coined term – demobocrats – to the highest bidder. All proceeds will benefit individuals, children and families who face difficult times during these scandalous and fiscally daunting times in our nation’s history.
“If an Illinois demobocrat can sell a U.S. Senate seat for his own benefit, then I can sell my limited editions, imprinted “Be a Snitch” and “Pennsylvania Dirty Dozen Demobocrats” t-shirts to raise money for folks hurting so badly during these tough economic times,” The Mon Dawn said.
While the t-shirts themselves make great holiday gifts for folks with true democratic beliefs and love for their country, the wearables also send a strong message as to what’s really ailing America. “There’s never been a better time to be a snitch, according to The Mon Dawn. “I’m tired of federal and state law enforcement officials devoting their time to rogue politicians responsible for all that is wrong with this once-great country of ours,” he sadly pointed out.
The toughest part of being a snitch may be finding a local law enforcement official who can be trusted to investigate alleged crimes. “I live in the Mon Valley section of Allegheny County in western PA where three former Mon Valley police chiefs were arrested, convicted and forced to trade in their police blues for inmate orange. Toss in former Allegheny County Sheriff Pete DeFazio and his three cronies forced to vacate their positions in disgrace,” The Mon Dawn adds, “and you have to wonder when and where is it all going to stop.”
The Pennsylvania Dirty Dozen Demobocrat t-shirt is the perfect item for anyone on your holiday gift-giving list. Students of all ages can use it as a show-and-tell project in social studies or history class or as a classic example of dysfunctional behavior for a psychology or sociology class in college,” The Mon Dawn proudly stated. “Political pundits on the right side of issues would find this t-shirt a welcome present under their Christmas tree, and a gift to enjoy for many years and for many occasions,” he adds.
The Pennsylvania Dirty Dozen Demobocrats t-shirt was created following the indictment of 12 political scoundrels named in the bonus scandal by PA Attorney General Tom Corbett. The prison time for all 12 scoundrels could conceivably total 1,892 years, if convicted on all counts.
The opportunity to sell approximately 100 limited edition t-shirts with 100 percent of the money going to needy individuals this holiday season will go to the first media outlet that shows an interest in adverting and marketing the t-shirts with an attempt to raise the most money for those in most need of help.
For more information or to receive a PDF file of what the t-shirts look like and an itemized list of sizes available, contact The Brand Shop, Inc. at 412-233-5491, or send an email to thebrandman@thebrandshopinc.com.
From Older t-shirt designs. |
"Green is Good": The Pittsburgh Penguins Award their New Arena's Naming Rights to a Local Coal Company: "a coal company's name will now adorn the arena of a hockey team named The Penguins
Shaler Area basketball coach, 65, dies Shaler Area basketball coach, 65, diesI'll coach the team for the rest of the season. But, it would be better to hire Paul Seneca. Coach Seneca is a basketball guy and last I knew he was a teacher in the North Allegheny School System.
Ryanair Plans $15 Flights to Europe | Autopia from Wired.com: "Low-cost Irish monster Ryanair announced that it plans to begin flying from Europe to the US, with economy tickets starting at 10 Euros, or around $13.00.Folks in Pittsburgh are frugal. We'll eat this up like soft pretzels.
The Big Push 2009 -- Free Software Foundation Appeal - Free Software Foundation Our community has made enormous progress in creating tools that enhance communication and freedom — with profound effect on people's lives. Free software has become a model for how our society can progress collaboratively, and members of our community are at the forefront in expressing these ideals.
From signs |
From signs |
From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
From signs |
From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
We like to travel and with that comes an expansion of perspectives. So, this tour goes where we've been.
One of my favorites, this roadside speeding guy, looking a lot like Mercury with ribbons behind. He was seen while on one of our four trips to China.
From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
The slide show that follows has 64 images, each with comments. I am tickled by the functional art. Best best art to me is action and play among people in the streets and neighborhoods. There is plenty of art within a bike that serves as a carrier for parent and kids or else parked to hold flowers. There is art in the sidewalk stones -- and the Pennsylvania hex signs too.
Slideshow:
Do go and drink up the other offerings from the others presenting the Rustbelt Public Art Neighborhood Walk.
From signs |
Bnus art image:
Why More And More Politicians Are Rotten To The Core -- Matt Towery -- GOPUSA That the governor of Illinois would attempt to sell a U.S. Senate seat didn't shock me. Across America, there is a growing sense of entitlement among more and more elected officials. Not all, of course, but too many.
From city councils to Congress, elected positions have evolved from their intended part-time status to full-time obsessions. And as governments have grown, so have their access to big money. Political leaders now hold life-and-death fiscal power over people and businesses.