City Council candidates to speak at Uptown panel

Professor Stoddard is a friend of mine. I'll try to go and bring my video camera.

City Council candidates to speak at Uptown panel: "City Council candidates to speak at Uptown panel
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The three candidates for the Democratic nomination for Pittsburgh City Council in District 6 are expected to participate in a candidate forum at 6 tonight at Miryam's, 1410 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

Incumbent Tonya Payne and challengers Mark A. Brentley Sr. and Daniel R. Lavelle will participate a panel discussion and answer questions from residents during a program moderated by Dr. Evan Stoddard, acting dean of the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts at Duquesne University.

The forum is sponsored by the neighborhood group Uptown Partners."

Clean Water Action and School Bus Polution

Clean Water Action: "Protect Pittsburgh Kids' Health: Cut School Bus Diesel Pollution

Allegheny County Council head touts natural gas drilling

Allegheny County Council head touts natural gas drilling Allegheny County Council President Rich Fitzgerald plans to introduce legislation tonight that he said will establish a county policy on increasing energy efficiency and yield homeowners about $55 million in property tax reduction by tapping into the county's natural gas reserves.

Describing his proposal as a 'bold economic development initiative,' Mr. Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, said the county should set in motion a plan to start extracting, using and selling the natural gas contained in the area's Marcellus shale, believed to be one of the biggest natural gas reserves in the country.

PNC pledges $6 million for pre-school science program

PNC pledges $6 million for pre-school science program: "The PNC Foundation, which already has a Grow Up Great program aimed at preschoolers, today announced a Grow Up Great with Science program that will expand science opportunities for preschool children in seven states and the District of Columbia."

Third Pittsburgh mayoral debate is back on

The internet is open and always on.

Third Pittsburgh mayoral debate is back on She said the two-day delay was necessary because the station 'can't preempt prime-time' and Saturday night was the first slot the station had open.

Rather than make news and then not put it on the air and out for the public to see -- put the debate onto the internet as it happens. Then air the debate program on May 2.

Talking about the Botique Schools of IB, U-Prep, and Sci-Tech

Some insights from another parent and education advocate.

PURE Reform - Parents United for Responsible Educational Reform... We should avoid settling for a makeshift arrangement and should instead strive for one that is logical, balanced and will stand the test of time as conditions continue to change in ways that we at this time may not even begin to imagine.

The idea is to form a central high school with different campus settings.

Rather than open new schools for smaller groups of students -- a financial boondogle perhaps when it comes to UN-Rightsizing and Re-Segregation as well -- join them.

They want to open a Science and Technology school, plus a University Prep school, plus a school devoted to the International Baccalaureate model.

The counter plan is to open one school that has all three of those as options for students. I see this as an IB wing or IB campus, plus a Sci-Tech wing / campus and an U-Prep wing / campus. But the overall umbrella of the program would be Schenley -- reborn.

Debate - Q by Q - from WTAE online video

Pittsburgh's Mayoral Candidates Debate At WTAE-TV - Politics News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh: "WTAE-TV Channel 4 hosted Pittsburgh's first debate Monday night among the registered candidates in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary."

It is hard for me to watch debates.

First, a cooling off period, a personal habit of mine when things are so screwed up. might be necessary before I post. Second, I'm not of the D party, so I don't get to vote in the closed, D-party election in May. As a Libertarian, my vote comes in the general election. Third, I do have a voice, opinions and some resources, including this blog. Fourth, it is hard for me to watch the debates with local officials and NOT take the role of being a participant. What I would say and do comes first. Others can try to coach Patrick and Carmen and be a big-brother to Luke. I cheer for good replies, but generally, I'm trying to wedge my observations into the discussions. And, my views are unlike what I generally hear from the status quo politicians.

Just to be clear, I'm not running for mayor in 2009. But, I also know that our city is in a big mess -- still -- as it was in 2001 when I did run for mayor.

Luke: I'm not sure what Patrick is referencing (as to the condition of the long-term health of the city).

I think it is called the five year plan. It is a blasted shame the mayor is unsure of the city's finances with respect to its long view. And, it is worse that there isn't a published five year or ten year plan and vision of the city. Luke's uncertainty and Luke's guarantee insures that nothing concrete is available from the administration.

The mayor's slogan of getting it done is accurate only in the past tense. They've done what they've done and drive without a good view of the future. Looking forward must not be a part of getting it done. Uncertainty looms large for our future. Luke dwels on done-ness. We need a mayor to act in a way today so that our kids have better opportunities at home in the future.

Luke: Don't take my word for it, (being proud as to the financial condition of the city). We have an Act 47 team that approves the budget every year. We have an Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority that approves the budget every year. We continue to receive accolades from them about the strong financial management of this city. Don't take my word for it. Look at our third party verification.

Rauterkus: His third-party verification is subjugation. How does slavery feel for you Mayor? The overlords (ICA and Act 47 team) are not a feature -- they are a pox on this city and the American system of self-determination. The overlords have no intention of departing because the mayor has given them no reason to do so. There is no confidence in this city -- that's why his "third party verifiers" are parked here -- to watch city hall -- because the citizens have been robbed time and time again from (* wild card * ) one-party rule, the Democrats, the cronies, clueless appointees.

The overlords are expensive suits that drain the city without accountability. The citizens of Pittsburgh never get to vote for the overlords, nor authority board members for that matter. These 3rd party verifiers are the masters, and the mayor is with a vision that includes overlords to the right and left -- like a bike with training wheels.

Then I'd pull out a training wheel and put in on the table.

The training wheels on a bike don't verify smooth ridership, really.

From Public Art

To be continued.

A goat on a chain would do better than Wayne Fontana, PA Senator from 42nd District

News flash:

Debate

I have yet to watch the debate among the three D party candidates for Pittsburgh Mayor. However, I have seen a couple of posts and tweets.

As to the drinking game, and live blogging, well ... I am sorry I missed it.

When I watch, I'm going to be listening for the expression, "down the river."



Is the mayor going to say to a challenger, "You're going to sell us down the river N@?"

The more I hear, the more I like Carmen Robinson.

Democrat rivals take aim at Ravenstahl during debate

Democrat rivals take aim at Ravenstahl during debate 'We can't just keep throwing money at prisons and curfew centers and detention centers,' she said. She also opposed both investment in a network of security cameras and gun control.

Love it. Go Carmen.

Interviews with mayor candidates on blogs

Worthy reads:

The Pittsburgh Comet: Interview: Carmen Robinson: "Interview: Carmen Robinson"

Another important interview with two challengers: Another important interview with two challengers, http://burghchair.blogspot.com/

Italy Road Trip, anyone?

The deadline for the Creative Commons Technology Summit CFP has been
extended to Friday, May 1, 2009.

Creative Commons is a non profit organization that builds tools that help realize the full potential of the commons in the age of digital networks. Launched at the end of 2002, Creative Commons licenses have set the standard for sharing cultural works (i.e., "content", "media", etc.), following in the footsteps of free and open source software. Over the past five years we have also actively developed and contributed to technologies that complement its public licenses, with the aim of using software to enhance the discoverability and practical [re]usability of content -- to help users manage content, as opposed to software designed to help content manage users (i.e., DRM). In 2006 Creative Commons launched Science Commons, a project applying similar principles to science and research. ccLearn was launched in 2007 to help minimize barriers to sharing and reuse of educational materials.

Creative Commons holds its third technology summit on June 26, 2009 at Aula Magna Lingotto - Politecnico di Torino in Turin, Italy. Creative Commons Technology Summits are a forum for exploration of technology built upon and enhanced by Creative Commons licenses and work in the Semantic Web arena.

Call for Presentations

Creative Commons is seeking proposals for presentations or panels to
be presented at the Technology Summit. Topics of interest include:

* RDFa and ccREL implementations/deployments
* Creative Commons related applications (unique or interesting
integration of licensing, as well as reports on consuming or
repurposing CC metadata
* Provenance of information in Semantic Web applications
* Digital copyright registries ("copyright 2.0"), especially in
relation to the above technologies

Presentation slots are 30 minutes long; if additional time is required, email Nathan Yergler (nathan@creativecommons.org) to discuss options. Send proposals in the form of abstracts to techsummit@creativecommons.org by Friday, May 1, 2009.

Travel funding is unavailable.

More details are available at
http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Creative_Commons_Technology_Summit_2009-06-26.

City eliminates no-bid contracting

City eliminates no-bid contracting City eliminates no-bid contracting

I'd love to see all the details of this new policy. Can anyone send me a copy of the policy or have it posted in this blog - or URL?

Perhaps the policy can be put into law by city council. Then the policy can be put into effect for every authority too.

Schools

Capital Tweets

Stadium renovation plans approved in Montour

Stadium renovation plans approved in Montour: "The plan creates a main entrance by the gymnasium/pool building and a fine arts entrance on the back of the building, near the cafeteria and auditorium. The 9th- and 10th-grade gym will become the main one for competitions, with an entrance of its own."

In the WPIAL, the schools have separate gyms in high schools for 9th and 10th graders. In the city, we've got schools with one gym for those in 6th to 12th grades. So, Jr. High, JV and Varsity -- with both boys and girls teams -- all striving for time on the same space.

Pittsburgh's own world changer, Jessica Flannery, gives address at CMU this week.

Jessica Flannery co-founded Kiva.org. Grew up in Penn Hills. Went to Beulah Church as a child and came to have a first view of poor people there. Her high school days were at North Allegheny. Undergrad as a Bison at Bucknell. Recently, hangs with Bill Clinton, basket-makers, Oprah and other idealists using small investments to create entrepreneurs the world over.



No, that's not basketball! But she is a yoga instructor and surfer too!

Next, I gotta dig for that link to Kiva TV and the poll with Time Magazine for clicks to her as she is ranked as one of the top 100 women of influence this year. Plus, there were some nice interactions from the audience.

Feel free to embed the video into your own blogs and elsewhere. It is in the public domain. Ask if you want the large media files. This segment is 45-minutes.

Jessica and her parents:

Jessica with Erik Rauterkus, 14, 8th grader at Pittsburgh Frick. Erik cut some school and road his bike to hear the guest speaker. Erik has worked to raise money locally for Kiva.org efforts in a few different ways. As a student council member, the profits from a school dance are being put into a Kiva.org loans.

As a mmember of this year's Coming of Age Class at Sunnyhill.org, a service project with a designated offering raised more than $1,000 for Kiva.org too.

License update vote - Wikimedia Elections

Wiki news and democracy.

License update vote - Wikimedia Elections: "The Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation invites the Wikimedia community to vote on this proposal to license Wikimedia material so it is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license (CC-BY-SA), while retaining dual licensing with the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL).

NYRA of Southeast Florida - Home

NYRA of Southeast Florida - Home We are the National Youth Rights Association of Southeast Florida, Inc., a youth-led organization committed to defending the civil and human rights of young people in the United States through educating people about youth rights, working with public officials and empowering young people to work on their own behalf. We believe certain basic rights are intrinsic parts of American citizenship and transcend age or status limits. We are a group of students, neighbors, and friends who want to attain for the youth of America the rights that they deserve.

Can't wait for summer!

Love this photo.

From phillips-swim

Dive on in. This is the start of a swim race at the city's Elementary School Championship Meet. Billy, here in the photo, is in 4th grade. He can walk on water as he is a splendid dancer.