Saturday, February 06, 2010

Former Pitt players Dinkins, Session took different rout to Super Bowl

Former Pitt players Dinkins, Session took different rout to Super Bowl Darnell Dinkins once thought he could get there, too.
He did, just not quite as he expected back when he was a star quarterback at Schenley High School. Not only did he not make it as a Super Bowl quarterback, he never played quarterback in the NFL or even in college at Pitt.
But Dinkins is here, playing in his first Super Bowl, and so is another former Pitt Panther, Clint Session. They are here in part because they changed positions during their days at Pitt.
This is why I'm cheering for the SAINTS. Go #80! Go Spartans!

Play: Marx in Soho

Marx in Soho, a play, has been a collaborative effort between members of the International Socialist Organization, the Thomas Merton Center, and the history departments of Pitt and La Roche college. This is the second showing of the play, which was also performed in Pittsburgh during the G20 Peoples Summit. The play was well attended and a lot of buzz surrounded it so we decided to bring the actor, Brian Jones, back from Chicago to perform it again. It just so happened that it turned out to be well timed considering the author, Howard Zinn's, recent passing.

We will be hosting the play at the Graduate School of Public Health Auditorium on Saturday February 20th at 7:30 pm. It is free and will be followed by a discussion kicked off by members of the endorsing organizations.

There will be a large number of books for sale after the play including other titles by Zinn like A Peoples History and Peoples Voices.

There is also another corresponding event the evening prior to the play. Brian Jones will be hosting a talk on Black Liberation and Socialism also followed by discussion at the meeting room in Panera Bread Company on Forbes Avenue in Oakland. The talk will be at 7 pm.
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Thursday, February 04, 2010

Fw: [school-discuss] FLOSS, Microsoft, and Governments

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-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Kahn <jj2kk4@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 12:42:08
To: <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
Subject: [school-discuss] FLOSS, Microsoft, and Governments

Since our discussion of Elevate America,
I have been doing some exploring. The
more I dig, the more interesting it gets.
Here are some tidbits:

In the Missouri State Office of
Administration, the Information
Technology Services Division--through its
Information Technology Education Center--
offers classes for state employees. Two of
the classes are entitled "Linux
Fundamentals" and "Advanced Unix/Linux."
The Education Center also has a library of
technology-related books for employees to
use; two of the volumes are _LINUX User
Basics_ and _Using Linux_.

The Missouri State Public Defender System
suggests the use of OpenOffice and Google Docs.

Several agencies of the Missouri state
government use GNU Mailman.

The entire web site of the Missouri Public
Service Commission is built with Plone.

The Missouri State Library heavily uses Drupal.

For retailers who need to handle confidential
lottery information, the Missouri Lottery System
advises using GNU Privacy Guard.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (DESE), in its periodic
newsletter, has had stories on both the K-12
Linux Terminal Server Project and the CoSN K-12
Open Technologies Leadership Initiative. In
addition, DESE heavily relies on Moodle.

Now the punch line. From fiscal year 2000
to the present, Microsoft has received the
following amount from the Missouri state
government for software licenses, consulting,
and various other products and services:

US$3,196,676

Please note that this figure represents only
taxpayers' money that went directly to MS; to
calculate indirect costs (forced hardware
upgrades &c) would be more difficult, but it
is safe to say these have been substantial.

My sources are available upon request for
anyone who is interested; for now, I want to
do a step-by-step summary of how things look:

(1) In the Missouri state government there are
a substantial number of people who are aware
that FLOSS exists and have tried out a variety
of FLOSS programs.

(2) Some of these people have decided that
FLOSS is good enough to use in their agencies
and to recommend to users outside the government.

(3) Notwithstanding points (1) and (2), Microsoft
has a pipeline solidly plugged into the Missouri
state treasury and is consistently pumping out
hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Again,
it should be emphasized that this does *not*
include indirect costs of non-FLOSS systems.

Now a few questions:

(A) Have any parties within the FLOSS community
examined the FLOSS vs. non-FLOSS debates in the
context of the waste of taxpayers' money?

(B) What kinds of data-gathering (preferably
by students) and analysis have been done in
this area, and how recently?

(C) In this area, what contacts have been made
between the FLOSS community and potential
allies, such as activists, journalists, and
lawyers? We also musn't overlook challengers
for public office who are hunting for issues
they can clobber incumbents with.

My fellow Americans: I encourage you to put
your students to work hunting down the various
FLOSS/Microsoft/money ratios and relationships
in their city, county, state, and federal
governments. Let's see how much fun we can
have between now and the November elections.

I ask residents of other countries: what are
*your* governments up to?

Joel

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Haloscan - gone. Another one bites the dust

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The Haloscan hardware and software is physically failing and we have no choice but to discontinue the service.

Two Options: Switch to Echo or Export your comments FREE.

Although we can't rescue Haloscan, we are trying our best to limit the negative impact on users. To do this, we have worked hard to provide 2 options for Haloscan sites.

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Libertarian State Convention, March 27, 2010, in Harrisburg

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania will hold its annual state convention March 26th and March 27th, 2010, at the Hilton Harrisburg in downtown Harrisburg. The convention will include outstanding guest speakers, the opportunity to participate in setting party direction for 2010, nominations for statewide office, and a chance to network and share ideas with freedom-loving individuals from across the state.
"We look forward to getting together in Harrisburg. We are also pleased to be one of many other liberty minded organizations sponsoring the 1st Annual “Liberty Banquet.” Senator Mike Folmer (R-48) will be the keynote speaker Saturday evening,” says Mik Robertson, State Party Chair. “His efforts to reform the Pennsylvania election code to benefit voters and improve the electoral process are a matter of concern to every Pennsylvanian."

Other speakers will be announced.

The convention will begin Friday evening with a welcome at 7:30 pm, followed by business meetings and workshops on Saturday. The Liberty Banquet begins at 7:00 pm on Saturday, March 27, 2010 and is co-sponsored by Campaign for Liberty – Harrisburg, Campaign for Liberty – PA, the LPPA, GOOOH and York 9-12 Patriots. A complete event list and registration form can be found at www.lppa.org. The convention business meeting and workshops are open to the public and are free.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Pittsburgh councilman calls for video, audio in cop cars

This could have and should have been done in the past two years by Bruce Kraus. Kraus was the chair of the public safety committee.
Pittsburgh councilman calls for video, audio in cop cars Pittsburgh Councilman Ricky Burgess is introducing legislation today that would require that all new city police vehicles be equipped with video and audio recording devices.

They found it okay to start installing "Red Light Cameras." All along I asked that the cameras be turned on, but pointed at the ones that work for the government first.

Shout it out Tim!

I absolutely support Tim Tebow's right to state his political beliefs loudly and proudly. We should soundly reject the concept that jocks should just "shut up and play."

More from David Z.

Monday, February 01, 2010

I hope Pitt joins the Big 10!

Pitt should join the Big 10. That would be a wonderful move.

I have little confidence that it will occur, but let's hope.

The site is closed, now. But only for a spell. While Bram's is gone for good?

File this under, WTF and Another one bites the dust.



A site, Wikileaks.org, a wiki, of course, and a scoop site, is down but not out. It hopes to make a return.

Meanwhile, Bram, in Pittsburgh at the PghComet.blogspot.com, took a bite of the dust and stopped.

Rule #1: Don't burn out!

Wishing Chair

Flashback to 2007. Singers knock the prior administration. Never seen before music video!

Sick humor

2 Brazilian?

The Secretary of Defense briefed the president this morning. They told President Obama that 2 Brazilian soldiers were killed in Iraq. To everyone's surprise, all the color drained from Obama's face. Then he collapsed onto his desk, head in his hands, visibly shaken, almost in tears.

Finally, he composed himself and asked, 'Just how many is a brazilian?'

This is not surprising, since he obviously has no understanding of a trillion either.

Meanwhile, in other news with Brazilian dollars, on double TIFed land,
Hazelwood center part of Sunoco's sale to Brazilian firm: "Hazelwood center part of Sunoco's sale to Brazilian firm".

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Fw: New Ken Arnold schools hire collection agency

From: "Bob Logue" <ucblogue@verizon.net

The Valley News Dispatch news story below is self-explanatory.  But note, there is no mention of how the collection process would change for so called 'delinquent' homeowners.  The question that needs to be asked is:  Will Public Asset Managment be free to add fees to the 'delinquent' homeowners back taxes, penaties and interest.  I don't know how that firm operates, but have read in other publications that another firm immediately adds $1,000 to any back taxes for each property.  Which of course makes it even more unlikely the homeowner can dig themselves out of the hole...which means more sheriff sales.

Also, in the past, those homes 'delinquent' the longest were the ones that would be sold at sheriff sale first.  In some areas I've read about in other newspapers, how long the home is 'delinquent' no longer determines when a property will be sold at sheriff sale.  Vultures looking to get rich off someone else's misery can approach some of these collection agencies and urge them to put a more 'desirable or marketable' property up for sale before those that have been 'delinquent' longer.  So the vulture can cherry pick properties.  That way the collection company gets their money faster, as does the school district, county and municipal government.   But is that fair to someone trying to come up with the money to dig themselves out of this alleged debt when their property is rushed ahead of other properties 'delinquent' longer, but less desirable...or in other words will bring the best returns when the vultures resell it.
    The rich get richer...and the poor get evicted.
AFTER READING THE VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH STORY, BE SURE TO READ THE NOTE BELOW FROM A TAXPAYER WHO HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH JORDAN TAX SERVICE...ANOTHER TAX COLLECTION FIRM. 

New Kensington-Arnold School District sells back tax claims to agency

By Jessica Turnbull
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Friday, January 29, 2010
The New Kensington-Arnold School District will get a shot in the arm with an influx of tax revenue after it agreed to sell its claims to back taxes.
The district will receive uncollected real estate taxes upfront — about $1.43 million — from nonprofit Public Asset Management.
There is no change in the process for the taxpayers as taxes will continue to be collected by the Westmoreland Tax Claim Bureau.
"This will be an upfront injection of cash that will be added to the fund balance," said Jeffrey McVey, business manager.
In exchange for the cash influx, the district sold its tax claims for all uncollected taxes, McVey said. That means uncollected taxes will be sent by the tax bureau to Public Asset Management instead of the district, he said.
The board voted, 8-0, in favor of the agreement. Board member Eric Doutt was absent.
A transactional cost of 5 percent — estimated at $88,200 — is financed through the lender, he said. Current delinquent taxes are valued at $850,000 while delinquent taxes for the previous three years are estimated at $830,000.
"We will be able to budget our revenue more closely each year because we will have a better idea of what our returns will be," McVey said.
The district will benefit from the initial influx of cash and also will not need to deplete cash reserves in the future, he said. McVey said he spoke with business managers at other districts such as Mercer, Oil City and Clairton who are using Public Asset Management in a similar agreement.
"The only negative one of those managers said was that once you start, it is something you have to continue with," McVey said.
Terminating the agreement before the loan is paid means the district would have to repurchase the uncollected tax claims and the steady cash stream would be ended, he said.

Hi Bob: 
     Here is some very important news for you and the rest of the Undercover/Spedunkie readers...
     I had owed the City of Pittsburgh some back taxes due to my surgeries and not able to return to work as I had hoped...
     I had gotten a Notice that my house was to be Sherif sale (posted) unless I had made arrangements for making payments to the City...I went to the City Tax Offices and made payment arrangements and made sure I made these payments along with the current property taxes  (2009)...At times I even made payments that exceeded the payment amounts agreed upon...Now, I had called the City Tax Office today to ask why I haven't received the January Billing Statement for the past taxes...I was told that ALL back taxes to the City and payment agreements have been turned over to JORDAN TAX SERVICE as voted upon by the City Council!!!!
    I have recently filed a law suit against Jordan Tax Services for not give me accurate credit for a back tax year (surgery)...I had paid the tax of to Jordan in 3 checks totalling 285.00..The tax bill was for 284.00...I sent in checks for 100.00, 100.00 and 85.00...Jordan credited the checks as follows 100.00, 74.00, and 84.00...I sent a letter showing the check copies and Jordan never corrected the problem...Next Jordan said they were going to Lien the property...I went to the local Magistrates office and filed suit + an amount to pay off the back taxes to the city...
   If you know of people that are having any problems with Jordan Tax Service and have kept records of their payments and still have problems, people need to take Jordan Tax Services to court..Small Claims or their local Magistrates Office and ask for damages, pain, suffering and any type of legal expenses they have acrued...Otherwise I recommend a Class Action Law Suit....
   One other note is to File a Complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, in so doing one must send to them copies of all payments (canceled checks (front and back)) along with the form back to the Attorney Generals Office...Their is a local office here in Pittsburgh..   Bert

Fw: Our Pittsburgh House will be open for Rent, March 1

From: Wilburn Hayden  haydenmsw@alumni.unc.edu&gt;
Our Pittsburgh House will be open for Rent, March 1
It looks like you all have had more snow and colder temperatures than we have had this winter. I am not complaining, even at 18F last night.

Please get the word out about our house being available to rent. Thanks.
91 S 24th STREET, South Side Flats Pittsburgh, PA 15203-2233
Levels: Basement, First Floor, Second Floor, & Loft; Bedrooms: 3 with Loft (29X13); Baths Full: 2; Lot: 20.17X40.25; Inclusions: Dishwasher, Electric Stove, Microwave/Convection Oven Combo, and Refrigerator; General Information: BRICK HISTORIC HOME, Built in 1880; First & Second Floors and Basement CENTRAL GAS HEAT & AIR; Loft: Gas Heat and Large Window AC; Fireplace/Wood Stove: Living Room which can heat all of the 1st floor; SKYLIGHT; CIELING FANS; Floors: Hard Wood except Kitchen - Tile and 1 Bedroom - Carpet Parking: On-Street Parking; Directions: CARSON TO 24TH STREET
http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=115825717624075350241.00047e3b3a02163898ea6&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=40.430469,-79.970276&spn=0.009865,0.022681&z=16

Rent: $1400.00 per month, plus utilities.
Contact: Wilburn Hayden, 647-344-0373 or whaydensw@hotmail.com   Available March 1, 2010

Underwater Hockey at swim practice was a blast


They need a Fix PA Wiki

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Fw: PA Walks And Bikes PARTY!

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From: Pro Bikes <todds@probikesllc.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:40:36 -0500 (EST)
To: <mark@rauterkus.com>
Subject: PA Walks And Bikes PARTY!

Pro Bikes
Pro Bikes NEW PARTNERSHIP!!

Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Dear Mark,

Hello All,

Join us Tuesday evening, Feb. 2nd, from 7 to 9pm at the Pro Bikes Squirrel Hill location for the Pittsburgh Launch Party of PA Walks and Bikes!!!

We at Pro Bikes are pleased to announce a partnership with a NEW Pennsylvania cycling and advocacy group, PA Walks and Bikes!!  This advocacy group will be fighting for safer and more convenient bicycling and walking in the state of Pennsylvania and is working to create more sustainable transportation and livable communities.  Pro Bikes is proud to support this group and unveil them to the Pittsburgh Community! 

Join us for an informative party/get-together at our Squirrel Hill location where you'll be able to find out exactly what this group is doing and how to support them!  Drinks and snacks will be served and staff will be on hand to answer any and all questions you might have.  For details, please  go to:

http://www.pawalksandbikes.org/

-or-

 go to: http://www.logodesignteam.com/projects/design-concepts/PAWalksC34aA03aT00a-A.jpg

for the complete detailed invitation!

Hope to see you all there!

Pro Bikes
5876 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15217
412-586-5497
http:/www.probikesllc.com




 
Safe Unsubscribe
This email was sent to mark@rauterkus.com by todds@probikesllc.com.
Pro Bikes | 5876 Forbes Ave | Pittsburgh | PA | 15217

S6 idea

Basketball star to speak about Mormon faith
Saturday, January 30, 2010

Former Utah Jazz star Thurl Bailey will speak about his Mormon faith Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Oakland Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The free talk is open to the public, and geared toward youth. Mr. Bailey, who was raised Baptist, spent eight years among Mormons in Utah before converting to the faith while playing basketball in Italy.

For details, call 412-831-7557.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10030/1032319-53.stm?cmpid=localstate.xml#ixzz0e75UYQSy

Friday, January 29, 2010

Trails in city parks to receive $3 million in improvements

Trails in city parks to receive $3 million in improvements The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the city's Department of Public Works has embarked on a $3.02 million improvement of trails in Schenley, Frick, Riverview and Highland parks.
Work has begun in Schenley Park and should be completed by mid-summer.
Wow. A park upgrade.

Newspapers that charge for content. How is the P-G+ going?

The New York Times decision started to build a wall in front of its content last week. Meanwhile, Newsday of Long Island did the same not long ago, as did the Post-Gazette. With Newsday, the subscriber-based content had a relaunch that reportedly cost $4 million. However, just 35 paying subscribers signed up, each paying $260 per year. Go figure: $9,000 in annualized revenue for $4 million.

The ones that live upon putting ink on dead trees seem hell-bent on killing their watchdog stature as well as their businesses.

So, how many subscribers have come into the fold with the Post Gazette Plus endeavor. Would love to know.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Fw: Help SLB Win National Competition, Facebook Fun, This week's guests (1/30)...

SLB (Saturday Light Brigade) has entered the 2010 HASTAC/MacArthur Foundation Digital Media and Learning Competition with a request for funding that would allow us to serve more youth in their own neighborhoods via SLB Express: Digital Mobile Media Lab, a green-energy-powered van that would contain work stations and field equipment allowing hands-on instruction in digital storytelling, audio production, photography and videography. In addition to exposing youth to technology firsthand, instruction would emphasize scientific and engineering principals underlying media creation and provide career exploration. Project partners include the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and PCTV21.

An important aspect of the competition is pujblic feedback and we have been encouraged to ask you to post your support and ideas.. Please visit http://dmlcompetition.net/pligg/story.php?title=582 to read and comment on The SLB Express. Working together, we can bring a great new resource to youth in our region! Comments are due 2/13. Thanks.

Facebook for SLB

More and more people are playing our on-air puzzles and games on Facebook. You can join in on the fun at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Saturday-Light-Brigade/173278000099 as you listen live via one of our 7 affiliates or at http://www.slbradio.org.

This week's Saturday Light Brigade will feature great acoustic music and plenty of puzzles for your on-air participation. Special guests include:

-- 7:20 am: Sarah DiLeo previews Unblurred, the monthly arts event put on by the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative. We'll also be joined by Flora Shepherd, a puppeteer who will be holding a walk-in shadow puppet-making workshop as well as a musical, country-western puppet show with local musician Missy Raterman at Voluto Coffee, 5467 Penn Avenue, 2/5, 6 to 9 pm.

-- 8:20 am: National touring children's musician and longtime SLB friend Justin Roberts previews his 1/31 (3 pm) show at the Rex Theater..

-- 10:05 am: Pianist Billy Robertson, a fourth grade student at Donaldson Elementary School, West Allegheny School District, plays live as part of our Youth Expression Showcase.

-- 10:35 am: Our Big Brother Big Sister of the Month feature welcomes Jinny Morgan and little sister Emily to our studios. They'll be joined by Sandra Eritano, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.

-- 11:05 am: The Beagle Brothers perform live in our studios with their mix of country, old-time and honky-tonk music.

As always, you're welcome to be part of our live broadcast. Simply stop by our studios when the Children's Museum opens at 10 am. For directions, see http://www.slbradio.com/directions/shtml. Admission to our studios is free. Afterward, consider touring all of the museum (admission applies).

Thanks for being part of The Saturday Light Brigade!

SLB Radio Productions is a non-profit that has produced public radio from Pittsburgh since 1978. We produce a program of live music and talk ("The Saturday Light Brigade", Saturdays, 6 to noon), weekday workshops and related activities for children and adults from our studios in the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.