Mcall.com: Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek Blog

Pay to play hits Richardson from New Mexico and looks to entangle PA Governor, Ed Rendell too.

Mcall.com: Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek Blog: "Rendell Has Ties To Firm That Won New Mexico Contracts.

MLK Rally invite

Rally on Martin Luther King Day 2009 on Monday, January 19 at 12:00 pm. MLK & Economic Justice Rally with North Side United at Calvary United Methodist Church is slated for Monday, January 19 at 12:00 pm to 3 pm.
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=42872179405

RootsCamp Pittsburgh, January 24, 2009 - at the United Steelworkers Building, 5 Gateway Center

I'll be there. You can attend too.

Thanks for signing up for RootsCamp! Here's a quick update.

More than 30 people have now signed up, and dozens more have said they will come but not yet signed up. Still, we know we have plenty of room for more at this point.

We can comfortably accommodate 200. So if you know of someone who you think should attend but who may not yet know about RootsCamp, please invite them. Here's the link to the main RootsCamp Pittsburgh page: http://rootscamppittsburgh2009.pbwiki.com/

As you probably know this is a self-organizing conference. The attendees decide what they want to talk about. We have a "Proposed Sessions" that we can use to throw out some topics that would be good for the breakouts. Click on that link from the main page linked above and suggest some topics.

Thanks again, folks. There is much to learn from each other from this past election, and RootsCamp is going to be a great opportunity to do that. We can't wait to see you there!

Michael Morrill

Executive Director

Keystone Progress

610-568-0469-office

mike@keystoneprogress.org

www.keystoneprogress.org

Pittsburgh homicides jump 28% as other cities see declines

Bad news.

Pittsburgh homicides jump 28% as other cities see declines The number is unofficial and could fall to 73 when the bureau reclassifies some deaths as accidental or justifiable, including three police-involved shootings. But even the lower figure makes 2008 the city's bloodiest year since 1993, when there were 83 homicides. The number also represents a 28 percent increase from 2007, when the city recorded 57 homicides.

The bureau's clearance rate for homicides -- those where an arrest was made or a case was otherwise solved -- went down from 75 percent in 2007 to about 49 percent for 2008.

Allegheny County as a whole had 120 murders in 2008, up from 98. The record, 125, was set in 2003.

Miffed Schenley students 'making do' with digs

Miffed Schenley students 'making do' with digs: "Becca Ridge, a senior from Highland Park, said the Advisory and Activity period instituted this school year is of little use to clubs because students have the period at different times. Some students reportedly leave early rather than sit through an activity period at the end of the day.

The district had a different take on the A&A period, saying it turned into a study hall when students showed little interest in offered activities."

Pennsylvania Conservative: New Release: More Proof of PA Homosexual Politicians Pushing Their Agenda

Bruce Kraus watch. He's in this press release, FWIW.

Pennsylvania Conservative: New Release: More Proof of PA Homosexual Politicians Pushing Their Agenda During the first half of 2008, newly elected open homosexual Pittsburgh Council member, Bruce Kraus, wrote, introduced and got passed a domestic partner registry. On April 10 Mr. Kraus testified against the Marriage Protection Amendment during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Pittsburgh.

Peabody High School on Chopping Block.

For everyone's insight. My comments are being saved for another posting. This was covered by the P-G today.

---

FIRST PITTSBURGH PEABODY COMMUNITY AND PARENT STAKEHOLDER MEETING ANNOUCEMENT
(Two Meetings-Same Agenda-Same Day-
Pick Your Best Time-Attend One Meeting)

Time: First meeting- 8 am Second meeting- 6 pm
Date: (Both Meetings On) Wednesday, January 7th
Location: BGC Community Activity Center, 113 N. Pacific Avenue

Below are two recent news articles focusing on the work of a site selection committee for the Pittsburgh Public Schools International Baccalaureate program. (Please also read the letter from the BGC to the Superintendent -- attached and below.)

As you can see the site selection committee picked Pittsburgh Peabody. Pittsburgh Peabody with its rich history of educating high school age youth presently has 500 students attending the facility.

The Bloomfield Garfield Corporation is not aware of any broad based Pittsburgh Peabody parent and community stakeholder group planning process occurring prior to the announcement.

In order to ensure full Pittsburgh Peabody Community and Parent Stakeholder input into whatever Superintendent Roosevelt and Board of Education plan evolves the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation is forming a stakeholder working group.

We ask that join us on January 7th to learn details on what is being proposed. Our goal is also to identify an ongoing stakeholder group that will provide input to the Superintendent and the Board of Education as to what is best for the students at Pittsburgh Peabody and our region.

PLEASE SEND A REPLY EMAIL AND LET ME KNOW YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING.... Call with questions...

Rick Flanagan
Bloomfield Garfield Corporation
Cell 412-913-4360


Peabody best site for IB program, panel says
Friday, December 05, 2008
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A 30-member site-selection committee has unanimously recommended the Pittsburgh Peabody building as the best permanent home for the International Baccalaureate program for grades 6 through 12 in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

The district today released the recommendation, which calls for the building to be ready for the 2012-13 school year.

The recommendation noted the district's location near public bus transportation and the fact the building would need fewer renovations than some other buildings.

---

IB school program may move to Peabody

By Rick Wills TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, December 6, 2008

A committee is recommending that Pittsburgh Peabody high school become the permanent home of the district's rigorous International Baccalaureate program starting in the 2012-13 school year.

The program could bring hundreds of new students to Pittsburgh Peabody, which enrolls about 500 students but is expected to have a student population of less than 200 over the next five years.

---

The International Baccalaureate Programme offers students a chance to earn college credits. The program teaches subjects through an international perspective. It had been housed at Schenley High School until the district closed Schenley in June, 2008.

A 6-12 International Baccalaureate program was created in the Reizenstein school in East Liberty. However, the cost to make needed upgrades to Reizenstein has been estimated at $50 million, and the district has been looking for a new site for the IB program.

Peabody, which is located in East Liberty, was selected by a 30-member site selection committee, which presented its recommendation this week to schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt. The committee is made up of parents, students and alumni from across the city.

"I thank the committee for their work, time and thoughtful deliberation," Roosevelt said in a statement issued Friday evening. "Their recommendation will inform the work we are currently doing to restructure our high schools."

Roosevelt and his staff are expected to provide a recommendation to the school board in the next few months.

The site selection committee looked at six schools -- Connelly Vocational School, Reizenstein along with Langley, Oliver, Peabody and Westinghouse high schools.

Peabody was selected as the best option. Its East End location is convenient to many students in the program, and few building renovations will be needed. It also is close to public transportation, the district said.

For the next three years, the IB program will remain at Reizenstein Middle School.

Rick Wills can be reached at rwills@tribweb.com or 724-779-7123.

---

Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation
5149 penn avenue
pittsburgh, pa 15224
phone 412-441-6950 fax 412-441-6956
http://www.bloomfield-garfield.org



December 26, 2008
Mark Roosevelt
Superintendent
Pittsburgh Public Schools
341 S. Bellefield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Dear Superintendent Roosevelt,

The Bloomfield Garfield Corporation (BGC) appreciates your empowerment of a Pittsburgh International Baccalaureate program stakeholder group that recently released it proposed plans to move the International Baccalaureate program to Pittsburgh Peabody. The Board of Directors of the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation (BGC) is now asking for you to engage a community and parent leadership working group made up of Pittsburgh Peabody stakeholders.

The Bloomfield Garfield Corporation has already begun to identify community and parent leadership to join the working group. This leadership group will review the proposed International Baccalaureate program proposal, gain additional broad based community and parent input, and appropriately respond to the Pittsburgh International Baccalaureate proposed plan. The Bloomfield Garfield Corporation will act to organize and convene this stakeholder group.

Presently, the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation is asking that the Pittsburgh Public School Schools take the following action:

1) To the address above, send a copy International Baccalaureate program plan and a roster list of the decision makers on the plan. An emailed copy would be welcomed.
2) Please send copies of all the meeting minutes of the Pittsburgh International Baccalaureate program meetings.
3) Assign one or more of your district administrators to work in collaboration with the BGC on matters relating to the BGC newly created Pittsburgh Peabody Community and Parent Stakeholder Group.

As always, the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation seeks to support your restructuring plans. The work of the BGC/Pittsburgh Peabody Parent and Community Stakeholder group will permit the varying stakeholders to feel a sense of pride and ownership over whatever restructuring plans are finally approved by the Board of Education.

Please send an email to me with the name of the administrator who you have assigned to engage the BGC on this matter.

Sincerely,


Richard Flanagan
BGC Youth Development Director
Email Rflanag@aol.com
Cell 412-913-4360

Transparency Symposium | Commonwealth Foundation

Transparency Symposium | Commonwealth Foundation: "Opening Pennsylvania Government:

Transparency Symposium

Drug raid nets 10 arrests, heroin cache

Drug raid nets 10 arrests, heroin cache: "Police said they had been tipped by residents in the neighborhood who complained about drug trafficking in Elliott."

Polar Bear Swim, 2009

Original post from 1/1/09

I'm grasping for activities where I can still compete with Erik -- and win. The cold water is a great equalizer.

R, our lead off swimmer, like this was a relay, is next to me. She is still wearing her t-shirt. I'm in the green swim cap with the black Speedo robe. Erik, with grey hat and head down, is next to Rene and Mike, (Running Mate, dad, ex-college swimmer at Duquesne) is behind Erik at the far left of the frame.

The middle of the Frick relay - T, M, Erik.

The action gets hot. T in his leap. M and Erik on deck. The big guys, Mike and I are anchors.

Photo shows Erik in the water and on the way back to the wall.

Did he take a breath after his flip turn?

T and B scramble to the new year ahead.

Four photos from Greg Blackman. Thank you.


We did it! After the jump I'm putting on my shoes and can't feel my toes.

Photo from a cell phone on the edge of the Mon about 9:31 AM on January 1, 2009. Thanks Mike.

We passed out an invite that said to arrive at 9 am, jump in at 9:30 and depart by 9:31. Seems I wasn't too clear. There was some question about that minute when people were required to stay in the water. Wrong. you don't need to stay in the water for a minute. You don't even need to get your head wet. Sorry if I wasn't so clear. Our gang, mixed in the crowd, was all in and out in less than a minute.

None of us signed the official book, by the way. We waited in the line for 20-minutes or so, but then got ready for the jump.

Elsewhere:

Pittsburgh Polar Bear Club Takes Annual New Year's Day Plunge Into Icy Mon River - kdka.com: "Pittsburgh Polar Bear Club Takes Annual Icy Plunge"

City's stale times in 2008

Effectiveness is NOT like this.

City's fresh start in '08 had some stale times: "The year 2008 started with a fresh council, a mayor with a mandate and a Valentine's Day pledge of partnership in Pittsburgh's halls of power. It ended with debate over who in city government can most accurately count to 10.

A recap from me: City council has been so fruitless, that they are not worthy of my regular rants. I've not gone to Grant Street as frequently in recent times as they've been overflowing with folly of a hopeless style.

The public safety director can't be happy with the number of deaths on the streets and the rate of un-solved crimes and un-engaged witnesses. That is nothing to be happy about.

The city is cleaner -- redder, perhaps -- so they say.

How can Doug Shields, city council president, be a critic when he is part of the problem for so long. That's what gets me mad.

The proclamation of pledges to improve governance in Pittsburgh was a stage show that the media swallowed hook, line and sinker. It was a get-out-of-trouble card for many months. It was a way to spin in place without doing much of anything.

Four couples-- just four couples -- signed up for the domestic partner registry. That is what folly looks like. That is ineffective. That is nothing to be proud of. That isn't helping quality of life in the city. People are not going to move to Pittsburgh, nor stay, because of that groundbreaking council act. Even if 40 couples had signed up -- what benefits would be earned other than an opportunity to save $15 per year with the purchase of a family swim pool tags.

Congress on Neighboring Communities -- say what?

Isn't that what the PA Senate is for? Or, wasn't that what I proposed when I ran for city controller -- a citizens' handle for Grant Street. Or, rather, isn't that what I proposed with the development of a Pittsburgh ombudsmen.

Then there is the SWPC, Southwestern PA Planning Commission. Plus, there is the evil Allegheny Conference. Hold a meeting at the Duquesne Club. Or, hold a meeting with the ACDC, Allegheny County Dem Committee.

I'd love to see a Congress on Neighboring Communitys called the Pittsburgh Park District. But Dan Onorato insured that little would be done there by tossing a bone in the form of town-hall meetings and putting some of his VIPs onto a new nonprofit board for parks that has yet to amount to much, if anything.

The theme -- a lack of accountability for action. And, sleeping watchdogs that allow the nothingness to linger.

The hard talk on Grant Street is encouraged such as with the Shields "pack of lies" statement, whenever talking about studies. They can really kick up a big cloud of huff and puff when the outcome is only going to sit on the shelves and won't be revealed for months to come and is really just a "pay-to-play" contract at its root.

Lag time isn't 'hang time.' Furthermore, to use another basketball illustration, lag time is not marked with hustle, teamwork and hyper passing to get the open shot. Lag time is more like a 4-corner offense when basketball was played without a shot clock. The game would end up with a score of 3-0. The only thing tested was patience and the game clock. Nobody wins.

Rich Lord's article overlooked the rash of water pipe breaks. But, they've been quiet, it seems, in the fall. Quck, everyone knock on wood and keep up with the low-flushing policy.

The snow clearing fleet got revamped but what of the automated route system? Political patronage for paving and plowing is ... where ... LAGGING?

How to Run -- or stand -- for public office, class on Jan 24

This is always a worthy investment of time. Would be nice to see Mark DeSantis attend.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh will present our biennial workshop on How to Run for Public Office on January 24. We do this in odd-numbered years because we believe that most candidates get started in local elections. We will focus on municipal councils, mayors, school directors, County Council and the district judiciary.

The workshop will be held at Point Park University Center, 414 Wood St., Rooms 212 and 213 from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. A continental breakfast will be included. The cost is $50 per person.

The workshop will cover the details of filing nomination petitions and other documents, working with the political parties, understanding the office sought, and running an effective campaign. There will be an opportunity for participants to interact informally with a person who has run for and served in the office sought. There is more detail and a registration form on the attached flyer.

Please forward this information to anyone you believe might be interested in attending or might know someone who would be interested. The wider it is distributed, the better.

The flyer is is also on the League's web site. We welcome any links to it. The address is http://palwv.org/pittsburgh/RunForOffice.pdf
I would be interested in knowing about any links posted.

We look forward to seeing you or any of your friends and associates, their friends and associates, and anyone we can reach through this email at the workshop.

Thank you for your help.

Suzanne Broughton
President, League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh

Hey, you. Get onto my cloud.

Call out to artists in Pittsburgh. I'm looking for 3 others who MIGHT want to make/dabble w creation of a VIDEO wall w 12+ monitors. Ping me.

CollegeSwimming.com::Auburn's Quick Diagnosed With Inoperable Cancerous Brain Tumor

Sad, sad news.

CollegeSwimming.com::Auburn's Quick Diagnosed With Inoperable Cancerous Brain Tumor Auburn men’s and women’s head swimming and diving coach Richard Quick has been diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous brain tumor. One of the most recognizable names in the swimming and diving community, Quick is a six-time United States Olympic coach who has directed 12 teams to NCAA titles.

The Conversation went dark too

With all the talk of burnout and bloggers going AWOL, don't over look the silence from Jonathan Potts.

The Conversation: "Good night and good luck"

His is another blog that I miss. His last post was in September 2008. He was around for four years. But, he had lots of years prior in other roles in the media.

If the burden of blogging is too much for you to bear -- send a digital wink my way and we'll see if it makes sense for you to tag along as a "Running Mate" and just blog under your byline here. But, if you do give-it-up --- do so without pulling the plug on the archives.

Now 2008 is nearly only a memory.

Firmware Verification - DRAFT letter

I'm going to send my own letter. This is a draft from David Powell, my party's chair. I'm the vice-chair. As such, I can be more of an attack dog. I hate it when a bureaucrat plays gatekeeper and closes volunteers, taxpayers, voters, citizens and experts from a watchdog opportunity.

David Powell

Chair, Libertarian Party of Allegheny County

924 Chislett St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15206 

(412) 661-1135

Mr. Mark Wolosik
Manager, Division of Elections, Allegheny County
604 County Office Bldg., 542 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2953
(412) 350-4500

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Dear Mr. Wolosik:

I have been informed that on Monday the 22nd the Division of Elections carried out a procedure to verify the integrity of the software contained within the iVotronic DRE voting terminals employed in Allegheny County. Though many members of my organization would prefer a voting system enabling voters to be sure their votes are recorded as cast, as long as the voters of our County must use paperless electronic voting machines we would certainly hope for any available assurances that they may be operating properly. So it is good news that the County is pursuing this matter.

Unfortunately, I have also been informed that the individual designated by our party to observe the process, Ronald Bandes, was not permitted to participate. Mr. Bandes is a graduate student studying Information Security, Policy, and Management at Carnegie Mellon University and has also served as a poll worker. As you may recall, in the November 2008 general election our party fielded candidates in the state-wide races for President, Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, and also for the 35th district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. We of course wish votes for our candidates to be accurately counted, and were looking forward to the informed observations which Mr. Bandes volunteered to provide.

I am not an attorney, nor otherwise intimately familiar with the Pennsylvania Election Code. As a layperson, it would seem only natural that all parties with candidates on the ballot in the November general election would be entitled to observe election procedures on an equal basis, in accordance with the requirement in Article 1, Section 5 of the Pennsylvania Constitution that elections be “free and equal.” So that we can plan appropriately for upcoming elections, could you please provide me with your understanding of which provision(s) of law govern who may appoint observers for firmware verification events?
Sincerely and Respectfully,
 
Dave Powell, Chair
 
Allegheny County Libertarian Party

The Marketing Student | Generation Y Marketing Insights � A Look At How Gen Y Communicates

The Marketing Student | Generation Y Marketing Insights � A Look At How Gen Y Communicates: "A Look At How Gen Y Communicates"

My $.02 about the article pointer above.

Frequency of email use is LOW, IMHO.

Facebook includes all blogs?

Tweets?

Blog comments = wall post?

IM=chat?

What about conf call rooms such as TalkShoe.com?

This is why I like Twitter -- pointers to clips like this, for car freaks

The new car is called, the 2012 Pelosi GTxi SS/RT Sport Edition.

Rule change sanity in swimming

Effective January 1, 2009 at all North Texas Swimming, age-group defined, sanctioned meets:

* Swimsuits worn by females for all 14 & Under defined competitions shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor past the hip.

* Swimsuits worn by males for all 14 & Under defined competitions shall not extend above the hips nor below the knees.

Great rule above. Time for some video fun, however.

This swim suit, worn by Grant in his younger days, shown in the video below, is not going to be legal in a swim meet in Dallas in 2009.

How to qualify for the Ironman Championships

By Nathan Hangen

The Ironman Championship in Kona, Hawaii is the holy grail for triathletes looking to reach professional status. Just like the Boston Marathon, you have to qualify in a qualifying race to gain entry to the Ironman Champsionships.

Athletes may gain entry into the Ford Ironman World Championship by earning a qualifying slot at one of the 29 worldwide qualifying events - open to citizens of all countries - held throughout the year. Qualifier races vary in length, ranging from 70.3-distance (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run) to full Ironman distance (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run). Each event awards Ironman slots to its top age-group finishers, with some races also awarding professional qualifying slots. Athletes may also gain entry by being selected through the Ironman Lottery. You can generally find a list of races at Ironman.com, as well as a list of current qualifiers.If you qualified last year and wonder if you are automatically quailfied for the current year, unfortunately only the age group winners and top ten professional athletes are invited to return. Everyone has has to re-qualify.

If you do not qualify outright, the Ironman does hold a lottery where you may have a chance to participate, however typically slots unknown until all qualifiers are completed. If your country does not have any qualifying races, the only alternative is to race in another country or apply in the lottery. Unfortunately, your chances in the lottery are extremely slim.

Before the race, you must declare your status, and race in that division. Professionals must hold a valid professional/elite card or a letter from their country's federation. This must be submitted with the application. If you qualified as an age grouper and want to race as a pro, you must re-qualify as a professional earning a pro slot. If you race as a professional athlete during the calendar year, you may not race as an age grouper in IRONMAN for that year and the following year.

There are cutoff times that can disqualify you. Currently, the swim is 2.4 miles and the cutoff is 2 hrs. and 20 min., the bike is 112 miles and the cutoff time is 10 hrs and 30 min from the beginning of the race and the run is a full marathon which is 26.2 miles and the cutoff time is 17 hours from the beginning of the race.

Typically, a triathlete trains for 20-22 hours per week to prepare for an Ironman, although you might need more time if you are new to triathlons or Ironman distances. A good rule of thumb when training for each event is:

Miles per week swimming: 7 (11.3 km)
Miles per week biking: 232 (373.3 km)
Miles per week running: 48 (77.2 km)

Lastly, here are the current and future dates of the Ironman World Championship:

2009: 10/10/2009
2010: 10/9/2010
2011: 10/08/2011
2012: 10/13/2012

To prepare for an Ironman or any other Triathlon distance, visit the Triathlon Training Guide. If swimming is your weak event, be sure to read about the Tri Swim Coach Program.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Hangen