Up the creek without a paddle?

Come June 5, who's going?

Venture Outdoors - Home: "Today Mayor Luke Ravenstahl challenged area canoe and kayak enthusiasts to join Paddle at the Point and break a world record for the largest raft of canoes and kayaks.

The Mayor himself plans to be on the water in a boat on Saturday, June 5th celebrating World Environment Day in Pittsburgh!"

Corbett withdraws subpoena of Twitter identities

Corbett withdraws subpoena of Twitter identities: "Attorney General Tom Corbett's office has withdrawn the subpoena it filed with Twitter, seeking to find the identities of two users who have been critical of Mr. Corbett on the social networking site.
Prosecutors said they do not need to know the identities, now that former Democratic aide Brett Cott has been sentenced to up to five years in jail for his role in the Bonusgate probe. They claimed Mr. Cott was the anonymous blogger CasablancaPa, whose identity they were seeking from Twitter, along with user 'bfbarbie.'"

Fw: Tom Corbett: Trying to kill the first Amendment!

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: "Chris Benson, PA Young Dems" <Chris.Benson@payd.org>
Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 16:31:42
To: <mark@rauterkus.com>
Subject: Tom Corbett: Trying to kill the first Amendment!

Friends --

As a freedom-loving Democrat, I was appalled and disgusted with Attorney General Tom Corbett -- the GOP nominee for governor -- over his most recent abuse of the Attorney General's office.

To quote the Philadelphia Inquirer: "Corbett has stepped into a political minefield by using grand-jury subpoenas to try to unmask two of his harshest critics on the Internet.... But news of the subpoena unleashed a cascade of criticism from First Amendment and electronic-privacy advocates, who contend that Corbett is engaging in a Big Brotherlike attempt to silence and intimidate people who don't agree with him."

For those of us that follow Pennsylvania politics, this is just one of the abuses of power that Tom Corbett has exhibited since he took office. The betrayal of his voter-given public trust is enough to warrant his resignation as Attorney General alone.

Can you help us stick-it to Tom Corbett and tell him that he's NOT the right man to lead Pennsylvania for the next four years? Here's how, and it's easy:

Log on to your Facebook and/or Twitter account and put this in your status:

"Want to stop Tom Corbett and protect our First Amendment? Visit www.VoteOnorato.com and contribute today."

To stop our power-abusing Attorney General, we need to make sure that Dan Onorato is elected the next Governor of Pennsylvania this November.

Thank you all so much for your help, and thank you for all that you do for the Democratic Party!

For the cause,

Chris Benson, Corresponding Secretary
Pennsylvania Young Democrats





This email was sent via YDA's DEMopolis to: mark@rauterkus.com.
To unsubscribe from this list: http://action.yda.org/unsubscribe.jsp

Fw: The American Entrepreneur - Insider's Report

Check this out.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: "The American Entrepreneur" <brittany@taeradio.com>
Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 08:01:39
To: Mark<mark@rauterkus.com>
Subject: The American Entrepreneur - Insider's Report

Read Ron's Weekly Article: To My Start-up CEO Friends
_________________________________________________________________
Links:
1. http://www.taeradio.com/articles/981/to-my-start-up-ceo-friends

Today on The American Entrepreneur

A Profile of the Female Entrepreneurship Experience in Western Pennsylvania

"The American Entrepreneur" Ron Morris spends some time with two of the
leading women in the region's business scene, Yvonne Campos of Campos
Market Research and Marilyn Landis of Basic Business Concepts . They
discuss their respective business experiences in the City of Pittsburgh, and
how their roles as leading female entrepreneurs have brought together other
women business leaders to collectively make an impact on Pittsburgh's
business climate. Plus, Alan Laick of Laick Design stops by to discuss
the things that your company is NOT doing with its website (….only you
don't know it yet!)

Listen Live Online - Paste the following link into your browser
Links: http://gateway.andohs.net/player/default_noax.aspx?nid=6938&sid=8316&customlogo=&shownav=&showfav=&showtuner=&nometa=
_________________________________________________________________

Saturday on The American Entrepreneur

American Entrepreneur Radio hits the road, as "The American Entrepreneur"
Ron Morris broadcasts live from Cefalo's Restaurant and Nightclub on
Washington Avenue in Carnegie. Ron talks with the father-and-son principals
of Cefalo's, Lenny and Dean Cefalo, about their story, and their experiences
in running a multi-purpose facility, specializing in fine dining, live music
and entertainment, and event management. Plus, many of TAE's regular guests
and friends will be on hand to discuss the latest business news and
information for entrepreneurs in the region, including more information on
the upcoming Entrepreneurs Growth Conference networking and business
building event at Duquesne University.

Dr. Will Clower - Plus, don't forget to stay tuned at noon, as American
Entrepreneur Radio presents Dr. Will Clower's "Business and Health", as
Dr. Clower looks at the issues that affect your personal health, and the
resulting impact on your company's bottom line.
_________________________________________________________________

Upcoming Highlights

Friday, May 28th: Robert Kiyosaki - Author of "Rich Dad/Poor Dad"

Tuesday, June 15th: Steve Wozniak - Co-founder of Apple
_________________________________________________________________

Listen Live Monday - Friday from 3p.m. to 6p.m. on 1360 A.M.

Listen Live Online - Paste the following link into your browser
Links: http://gateway.andohs.net/player/default_noax.aspx?nid=6938&sid=8316&customlogo=&shownav=&showfav=&showtuner=&nometa=

Interact Live on TalkShoe - Paste the following link into your browser
Links: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=139&cmd=tc

Listen to TAE from your phone at (724) 898-9669

Call the show live at (412) 333-1360

Interested in reaching the regions top entrepreneurs and business owners?

Contact Andrew Rossi at (412) 249-8644 or andrew@taeradio.com
==============================================

Unsubscribe mark@rauterkus.com from this list:
http://taeradio.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=59bfabe8de8afa6a938032373&id=8e09a2b809&e=f2bb744581&c=c01820f3d1

2 swimming officials file complaint with USOC - More Sports - SI.com

2 swimming officials file complaint with USOC - More Sports - SI.com: "Two longtime swimming officials claim they lost prestigious positions for speaking out against the way the sport's governing body handled sexual abuse cases, and they've gone to the U.S. Olympic Committee seeking to be reinstated."

Fw: [Locals] On-Demand Webinar - Using Technology for Community Building

From: Steven Clift <clift@e-democracy.org


I had the privilege of introducing the use of technology for community building (with a focus on neighborhoods) to a number of funders and others convened by Grassroots Grantmakers this week.

The 90 minute webinar with Q ans A is available on-demand - slides with audio, slides-only, or audio in MP3 here:

http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/845

The session description:

High Tech Meets High Touch: Using New Technology for Community Building (Webinar)

Grassroots grantmaking is high-touch work in an increasing high-tech  world. We have seen what happens when citizen leaders get together in the same room for peer learning or dialogue on issues. What new possibilities are opening up to further connect residents within and across neighborhoods using new technology? What is happening under the radar today and how can we make it more inclusive and benefit all
communities?

Join us to talk with Steven Clift, Executive Director of E-Democracy.org, the cutting-edge national organization working on this question. For some background now, see:
http://e-democracy.org/inclusion and http://stevenclift.com/.

Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com/
Executive Director - http://e-democracy.org/
Follow me - http://twitter.com/democracy

Fw: DR News: 2010 Primary - Incumbency, Majority, Wings Without Prayers

From: Tim Potts Democracy Rising PA <tim@democracyrisingpa.com>

Democracy Rising Pennsylvania

The Power of Incumbency Yesterday's election demonstrated once again the effect of incumbency on the choices voters have in elections. All results are from the state's Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation with 99% of the vote counted. Click here. PA House:There are 203 seats up for election this year, 17 open seats and 186 seats where incumbents are seeking re-election. Percent of open seats with contests in at least one party: 94% (16 of 17) Percent of incumbents with primary opponents: 10.7% (20 of 186) Percent of incumbents re-elected: 99.5% (185 of 186) PA Senate:There are 25 seats up for election this year, three open seats and 22 seats where incumbents are seeking re-election. Percent of open seats with contests in at least one party: 67% (2 of 3) Percent of incumbents with primary opponents: 9% (2 of 22) Percent of incumbents re-elected: 100% (2 of 2) Apart from the famous defeat of Democratic U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, the only other incumbent to lose was Rep. Karen Beyer, R-Northampton, who was upset by Justin Simmons. Simmons, running on an integrity agenda, signed DR's petition for a referendum on a Constitution convention. Incumbency suppresses competition and the debate of ideas that elections are supposed to be. That's by design. Incumbents decide how the system works, and they can't resist stacking the deck in their own favor. They use the authority of their (really our) offices to raise intimidating amounts of campaign money. When the legislature is in session, the $500-per-person breakfast fundraiser is routine. And those are the cheap ones. It's the rare challenger from back home who can hope to compete. Under PA law, there is no limit to the size of campaign contributions and few restrictions on how that money can be used. Incumbents who term-limit themselves and have huge stashes of cash can perpetuate political monopolies by funding their successors' campaigns. Gerrymandering, legal obstacles to third-party and independent candidates, a public platform provided by taxpayers, and legal obstacles to easy and secure voter participation all favor incumbents, deprive citizens of choices and weaken representative democracy. Where's the Majority? Normally we think of election winners as getting 50% plus one of the votes. Then there are these winners and the percentage of votes they received because there were more than two candidates in the race: Governor, D - 45.1%, Dan Onorato Lt. Governor, D - Too close to call, but the winner will have less than 40% of the vote. The leader is Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, who also signed DR's petition. Lt. Governor, R - 26.3%, Jim Cawley Senate Districts:22nd - 22.0%, John Blake (D) House Districts:20th - 40.5%, Adam Ravenstahl (D) 85th - 44.9%, Fred Keller (R) 103rd - 46.9%, Ron Buxton (D)* 107th - 37.4%, George Zalar (D) 108th - 47.3%, Lynda Schlegel-Culver (R) 112th - 39.4%, Ken Smith (D)* 122nd - 33%, Justin Laich (D) 141st - 46.8%, Kevin Glasson (R) 190th - 47.2% Vanessa Brown (D)* 194th - 32.7%, Pamela Delissio (D) 199th - 29.2%, Stephen Bloom (R) * Incumbent In some other states, such results would bring about a run-off election, but not here. In PA, the ability of candidates to win without a majority has allowed incumbents to divide the opposition when two or more other candidates oppose them in the primary. Percent of incumbents with multiple opponents who won: 100% (8 of 8) A Wing But Not a Prayer Both major parties had contests that pitted candidates who were on the wings of the political spectrum. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, campaigned for lieutenant governor from the right wing against a crowded field of eight other Republicans. Joe Hoeffel, a Montgomery County commissioner, campaigned for governor from the left wing against a field of four. Both will put a good face on their defeats, but few gave them a prayer of winning, and they didn't. Ironically, both got the same percentage of their party's votes: 12.7%. Perhaps voters have defined the strength of the wings in both parties. In both cases, yesterday was the wings' best chance to fly because they provided real choices of political philosophy. In the general election, the contest will focus once again on the 75% of voters who aren't buying either extreme. Questions: Can PA's political center keep politics palatable for the wings? How? Can such small wings ever lift their parties? Please support Democracy Rising PA with a contribution today. Click here.Thanks! Democracy Rising Pennsylvania abides by strict NO-SPAM rules. Please read our Privacy Policy for more details. We can be reached at: P.O. Box 618, Carlisle, PA 17013  © Democracy Rising Pennsylvania 2001-2010. All Rights Reserved.

Another day of Schenley Spartan Sports to dominate the City League

Christopher Thyberg (one of the championions and stars in soccer, swimming and volleyball).

Just as the Spartans of Sparta in ancient times, so goes the PPS Spartans today. They won, and won some more. But the end looms larger with each passing victory as new recruits and refreshed armies are not to be found.

Today it is boys volleyball. The City Championships are slated for 3 pm at Brashear High School. Schenley is the #1 seed. The championship format is a double elimination tournament so a couple of matches are necessary. Action will still be on the ourt at 6 pm, we expect.



Schenley's boy spikers have won the title the last 4 years. In the fall, the girls volleyball team from Schenley also won.

Today a few of the players are going to -- if the do win the title -- grab their 3rd crown of the year. Some played as 3 sport lettermen this school year and won all three City Championships: Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball.

This is the next to last year for the Spartans. Glory awaits. The last Spartan victory may yet be in the future -- or not?

I think this squad could knock off a couple of teams in the PIAA play, if they hit their groove.

Jan Raether, superstar in three sports: goalie in soccer, breastroke, IM and freestyle relay swimmer, and volleyball back-row specialist.

Video clip (below) shows Jan (pronounced "Yawn") and Martin in the 100 free at Schenley's first home swim meet this winter season.

Rand is the man!

Is there a Doctor in the house, err, Senate?

Let's cheer for Rand!

Fw: [ooo-announce] OpenOffice.org announces Summer Internship Programme

This is a serious challenge with splendid pay off in terms of technology insights as well as cash.


Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: Florian Effenberger <floeff@openoffice.org>
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 21:33:17
To: <announce@openoffice.org>
Subject: [ooo-announce] OpenOffice.org announces Summer Internship Programme

OpenOffice.org announces Summer Internship Programme

Mentors will guide students through OpenOffice.org development
Bounties up to 3.500 EUR per enhancement and bug fix

The OpenOffice.org Community today announced the launch of its Summer
Internship Programme. Students from all over the world are invited to
take their first steps in OpenOffice.org development. A cash bounty up
to 3.500 EUR per enhancement or bug fix is available. Participants will
benefit by learning from experienced mentors from the worldwide
community, gaining valueable skills -- not to mention the opportunity of
coding for millions of users worldwide.

Mathias Bauer, a lead developer of OpenOffice.org, says, "We think that
working on OpenOffice.org is real fun. On the other hand, we kow that
it's also a challenge for new developers. But skilled students who have
mastered the first steps together with their mentor, will have a great
opportunity to work on interesting features in one of the biggest and
most important open source projects."

Cor Nouws, member of the OpenOffice.org Community Council, adds:
"OpenOffice.org is an exciting and challenging project. From our
experience, we know that interested students can learn lots of cool
stuff. Implementing a feature for millions of users worldwide is a
perfect reference for your resume -- and something you can be really
proud of!"

The Summer Internship Programme follows the community's previous
bug-bounty programmes that have been successfully organized in the past.
It runs from May 31st to October 31st and accepted students are required
to work full-time for a period of about three months on their project.

Space is limited, so students are encouraged to apply for the programme now!


Contacts

Florian Effenberger (UTC +01h00)
OpenOffice.org Marketing Project Lead
Email: floeff@openoffice.org
Phone: +49 8341 99660880
Mobile: +49 151 14424108
Skype: floeff | Twitter: @floeff

Louis Suárez-Potts (UTC -04h00)
OpenOffice.org Community Manager
Email: louis@openoffice.org
Phone: +1 (416) 625-3843

International contacts are available at
http://marketing.openoffice.org/contacts.html


Links

OpenOffice.org Summer Internship Programme:
http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org_Internship
Project Proposals:
http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org_Internship/ProjectProposals

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Carnegie Library sides with Ravenstahl on budget contribution

This is the face of "nevermind."

Carnegie Library sides with Ravenstahl on budget contribution The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's board chair has signed on to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's interpretation of a funding disagreement, confirming in a letter dated yesterday that a $1 million pledge in the city budget was contingent on a shelved tuition tax.

The letter by library system Chair Jacqui Fiske Lazo to the mayor, released by Mr. Ravenstahl's office today, has prompted Councilman Bruce Kraus to postpone introduction of legislation that would have granted a second $600,000 payment toward keeping threatened branches open.

Well, well, well.

Is Bruce Kraus that worthless and without merit. Or, did the mayor get the the boss of the Library System?

Did you know that in New Zealand, at their libraries, patrons pay a small fee for checking out books. Furthermore, to surf the internet at sites within New Zealand is without a charge. But, there are nominal charges for use of computers and the internet in the library when surfing to sites that are beyond New Zealand.

Swimming Slide Show

Third slide is a movie of the winning 400 yard free relay by the boys of Schenley.

Email Blast on Election Eve

Hi All,

Tomorrow, Tuesday, election day. That means we vote. Well, to be more exact, a few will vote. I can't vote on May 18, 2010, here in Pennsylvania. It is forbidden for me, as I'm a member of the Libertarian Party. I'm among the nonvoters and generally in the majority on these primary Tuesdays.

Any 'reform' of state government needs a focus on election laws and practices. Some of the ridiculous rules are not real laws but are just the way the judges and election departments have made their interpretations.

Since I can't vote, here are some thoughts from me to you. Perhaps you are a primary voter, as I love discussion, debate and a democratic process driving public policy decisions. This concept of elections with decisions made at the ballot box MUST THRIVE so decisions are not made in the streets with bullets. Yesterday I returned from Dubai, UAE -- a place where voting is absent. But, they've got no taxes and a "Pittsburgh Promise" that gives free education and college tuition to all the locals, for studies anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, if in Thailand, (translation = Free Land), I might find myself perched with my video camera within the fray among the "Red Shirts," demanding elections. Thankfully, I just get to make an email blast.

So, do vote, if you can, but don't vote in a clueless ways. It is okay to skip parts of the ballot. And, by all means, never vote for anyone who is running without any opposition. That's the worst. We have far to many elections where there is really no choice at all. And, voting for someone over nobody sends the wrong message as I'd much rather have "NONE OF THE ABOVE" inserted onto all ballot questions.

As for voting in Allegheny County, Dan Onorato was at the helm when new electronic voting machines were purchased. He made a very bad choice. I have no trust in that decision -- and that alone should disqualify him from being governor. But there is more. Dan Onorato also was at the helm of the county and had wonderful opportunities to do something about PARKS. He did next to nothing on the overall issue of PARKS, an issue I care greatly about. With Mr. Onorato, the bulk of the talk of parks was about minerals and the unannounced killing of geese, not about care for our kids, coaching and programs that build community. His "nonprofit parks foundation" is a complete failure and huge fumble by Mr. Onorato. It Onorato wins, I guess I won't get appointed to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness. Vote, if you can, for Jack Wagner, in that race.

Other great voting advice:
+ PA Republicans, please vote for Russ Diamond for Lt. Governor. He is 3rd on the ballot.

+ A couple of "Libertarians" are in two special elections in PA. One is for PA House and Don Walko's former seat and the other if for US House and John Murtha's former seat.
- Demo Agoris is the L candidate as Representative in US Congress, District 12.
- Daryl Putman, L, is the candidate and Representative in the PA General Assembly, District 20.
Both are worthy of your vote if you reside in those districts.

+ Kentucky Rs, please vote for Rand Paul for US Senate.

+ Change is good with politicians, IMHO. I hope the D party sees fit to vote out the snarlin, err, Senator Arlen Specter.


Change is bad when it comes to authentic physical assets. Really, I balk about CHURN that wants to cloak itself as progress. So, tonight, Monday, May 17, some will meet to talk about the Civic Arena after the Penguins move out. A free event called CITY LIVE! REUSE THE IGLOO?. This lecture is from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at North Side's HAZLETTE THEATER on May 17, 2010. We should keep the Civic Arena for reuse. That would be prudent public policy.

I love to keep in touch. Send me changes to your email address. I'm at Mark@Rauterkus.com .

Plus, let's be Facebook Friends: http://www.facebook.com/rauterkus
FB Group: Pittsburgh Schenley Swimming = http://www.facebook.com/rauterkus#!/group.php?gid=194350183762
FB Group: Pittsburgh Schenley Waterpolo = http://www.facebook.com/rauterkus#!/group.php?gid=128799118436

Twitter: http://Twitter.com/rauterkus

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rauterkus

Reactions welcome on the Running Mates blog: http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/

--
Ta.


Mark Rauterkus Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com
Swimming and Water Polo Coach, Schenley High School, Pittsburgh, PA
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell

Grant, in a 'red shirt' when we visited Bangkok. Grant, Erik, Catherine and Mark.

Wishing for peace for the "Red Shirts" in Thailand.

Let's vote our way out of this, rather than shoot civilians.

City League Girls' Track and Field Championships

Three cheers for Schenley's girl track superstars -- winning the city title. Two of the girls were also on the swim team!

Yeah to Nisha and Zena!

City League Girls' Track and Field Championships In the 1,600 event -- 1. Amber Key, Peabody, 5:46.44. 2. Nisha Lipowcan, Schenley, 5:47.57. 3. Mari Baron, Allderdice, 5:50.16.

3,200 relay -- 1. Schenley (Karla Reed Simmons, Zainab Sheriff, Zena Lapp, Nisha Lipowcan), 10:36.56. 2. Allderdice, 10:41.69. 3. Langley, 11:06.29.

Way to go!

City League Track Championships: Schenley teams continue dynasty

City
League Track Championships: Schenley teams continue dynasty: "'I
take pride in this uniform and this school,' Sims said. 'Winning is always a big
deal to us because we work hard."

So, when the team lost in the past, it was a problem with "showing up."

Hard work is great. Show up too!

Way to go Schenley.

Getting Communities to Buy into Your Project | Turning Ideas into Action

Golden Rules for an online community:

Getting Communities to Buy into Your Project | Turning Ideas into Action: "On the rules of participation, a couple of examples come to mind. The Gemidiriya project in Sri Lanka has the Golden Rules for Village Organizations and Village Companies. These are:

we must contribute to our development
we must have confidence in ourselves and practice self-help
we are accountable to the village for all our actions
good governance is key to success
let us develop our village step-by-step
cost effectiveness pays
be open and transparent in our dealings
uphold the principles of equity and inclusion
act timely and ensure quality
seek help when required

The Golden Rules were developed with communities through participatory workshops so they resonate with communities. When you visit the project area, you can see the Golden Rules everywhere; they are respected."

We miss you, man.

While we were out, the Pens lost! OMG.

Is it over? Pinch me. We've had a bad dream. The playoff beards are but a fleeting memory too?

This is how they move on post Penguins in Liverpool.

Fast Dancing at Pittsburgh Folk Festival -- right past the Baltic Sea

Today was a whirl in a few different ways. We (Catherine and I) ended our trip to Dubai. We sat around the hotel pool in the late afternoon and then headed to the airport on Saturday night. The plane took off around 10:30 pm Saturday and we landed before dawn in Atlanta on Sunday. A couple of hours there and we're home to Pittsburgh only to head out to the Folk Festival in Monroeville for more food from Lebanon and the middle east.

Eirk and Goda performed, on stage, as part of "Team L."

You have a Picture Mail from cpalmer245@pm.sprint.com

Message: View Entire Message Send and receive Pictures and Videos through Picture MailSM. For more information go to www.sprint.com/picturemail.

Please be aware your friends can forward your picture, video, and album share invitations to others or post the unique Web link to your share invitation on any number of sources (e.g. blogs), through which others could also gain access to your online photos. If you have private or sensitive photos you are sharing, please share them only with those you trust.

© 2010 Sprint. All rights reserved.

Woman with a cause: Mimi Hughes will try to swim the length of the Ohio River to raise awareness about women's issues

Woman with a cause: Mimi Hughes will try to swim the length of the Ohio River to raise awareness about women's issues: "Woman with a cause: Mimi Hughes will try to swim the length of the Ohio River to raise awareness about women's issues"

See comments for full article.