Zodiac issues? Try to decode this:

From

Photo taken of this 'plate' in one of our visits to China. It was in a resale / art market. I think it has to do with the Zodiac there. Who can decode it?

Amrican Dream

Meeting with the Black & White Reunion / Summit Against Racism, Jan 22, 2011

School Reform's next challenge: Sports

Pittsburgh Public Schools has been planning changes among the sports opportunities for city students that could include a move away from the "City League" and enter into the WPIAL. Mixing the schools, programs, teams, players and fans from the urban with the suburban counterparts can make interesting competitive and racial realities more visible on a day to day basis, should this occur. Is there the political will and vision to overhaul sports in the city schools?

Mark Rauterkus, a parent and member of the PPS Sports Reform Task Froce, has been a long-time advocate for community sports. This year Coach Mark ran water polo for PPS Summer Dreamers and volunteers as the AM swim coach for Schenley HS Boys. His swimmers set state records in four states (including PIAA and WPIAL records). He has coached NCAA Division I teams for 8 seasons.

Michelle Porter, an engaged parent and PTO leader at PPS schools, is a serious sports fan with two emerging star basketball players, a boy in 9th grade and a girl in 6th. She works at CMU and has keen perceptions after being to thousands of gyms throughout the region.

Invited Scribe: Jake House, PPS Administrator in charge of PPS Sports Reform Committee. Jake moved to Pittsburgh to tackle this issue on a full-time basis.

Dr. Lane, new boss at Pittsburgh Public Schools - part 1 - My OPEN Letter to her

Open Letter

To: Dr. Linda Lane, Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools

From: Mark Rauterkus

Mark@Rauterkus.com - 412-298-3432

Parent of 2 PPS students, sports coach, advocate and member of the PPS Athletic Reform Task Force

Monday, January 10, 2011

Dear Superintendent Lane,

This weekend the Post-Gazette ran another article about pending efforts of sports reform in Pittsburgh Public Schools. (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11008/1116588-364.stm)

The article included this telling statement:

"The athletics overhaul committee, headed by Jake House, includes coaches, school athletic managers, school board members and school administrators."

Missing from the news coverage includes:

- PARENTS (three of us were on the committee, yet omitted from the article)

- STUDENTS

- ATHLETES on PPS squads

- Taxpayers

- Community leaders

- Sports boosters

- Park and Recreation Professionals (one was included, yet off the article)

- Fans

- Alumni

- Citizens

- WPIAL Athletes, Coaches, Administrators, Fans.

- Officials (one was on the committee).

Without a doubt, sports and after-school programming has plenty of moving parts. Reform makes a hard issue for all involved, including the students. Student voices and the associated engagement discussions with a wide community has been a weakness in the planning quest so far. This can be fixed with your help now.

The Annual Summit Against Racism, a community event on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, needs your support. Michelle Porter and I are leading a 90-minute workshop devoted to dissolving the City League and what this means for the PPS and race relations in Western PA. (http://www.BlackAndWhiteReunion.Org)

Can you help to insure that we invite and bring plenty of PPS students athletes and PPS coaches to the event, as well as Jake House, the committee's coordinator? There we can work on an agenda for serious outreach in this topic to further engage students -- both at the schools and in our communities for the months to come. We can have better school opportunities for our kids!

Thanks for the consideration and support in this important aspect of our city and region. I look forward to working with you and other PPS Administrators to make this occur in the very near future.

---

I gave this letter to Dr. Lane on Monday night at CAPA High School in a 'meet and greet' that happened just prior to the "evening with Dr. Lane." The letter was also given to a few school board members and some of the members of the PPS Administration that night.

Fw: Blocking Netflix

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: "Josh Levy, FreePress.net" <info@freepress.net>

Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:59:36 +0000

To: Mark Rauterkus<mark@rauterkus.com>

ReplyTo: info@freepress.net

Subject: Blocking Netflix

Dear Mark, Tell the FCC: Stand Up for Mobile Internet Users When we access the Internet on our phones — as more of us do every day — we expect to be able to go wherever we want, whenever we want. But a terrible new service plan from MetroPCS — the fifth-largest U.S. mobile phone carrier — is the latest phone industry attack on Net Neutrality. The company is limiting users' ability to access certain websites and services, unless they pay extra for the privilege. Free Press just alerted the FCC to this blatant violation of Net Neutrality.1 Please click here to tell the FCC to launch an investigation. Here's what MetroPCS’s new pricing scheme looks like: Customers purchasing the most expensive plan will have to pay extra to access Netflix, Skype or any website using “advanced HTML” on their phones.  Those with the cheapest data option won't be able to access any of these online services, except for YouTube -- despite its similar data usage. It gets worse. MetroPCS’s plans disproportionately affect people of color and urban communities, whom the company recognizes as a major portion of its customer base, and who largely depend on mobile phones to access the Internet.2 There is a way that we can stop MetroPCS's discriminatory practices. Last month, the FCC adopted weak rules that leave mobile Internet users virtually unprotected from these types of abuses, with two big exceptions: They prohibit the blocking of websites and competing video and voice communication applications on mobile phones. Yet that’s exactly what MetroPCS is doing. The FCC must now take action to protect the public and enforce these new rules. If the agency does nothing, we could see a domino effect in which larger carriers like AT&T and Verizon introduce their own forms of mobile blocking and discrimination. We can’t let that happen. The FCC must take MetroPCS to task before other carriers follow suit. Tell the FCC: Enforce your new rules. Investigate MetroPCS’s outrageous, anti-Net Neutrality practices. Mobile Internet users should have the freedom to access any sites or services they want. The FCC must respond to our concerns3, protect our online rights and investigate MetroPCS now. Thanks, Josh Levy Online Campaign Manager Free Press P.S. Have friends with MetroPCS service? Forward this e-mail to them and make sure they sign our letter as well. 1. "Groups Ask FCC to Investigate MetroPCS for Violating Net Neutrality Rules," National Journal, 1/11/11: http://act2.freepress.net/go/1717?akid=2221.8833392.bGM5Sb&t=6 2. "For minorities, New 'Digital Divide' Seen," USA Today, 1/11/11: http://act2.freepress.net/go/1720?akid=2221.8833392.bGM5Sb&t=8 2. "Letter Urging the FCC to Investigate MetroPCS," Free Press, 1/11/11: http://act2.freepress.net/go/1722?akid=2221.8833392.bGM5Sb&t=10

Fw: PA Economic Boost Awaits Action

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

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

Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:16:26 -0500

To: <Undisclosed-Recipient>

Subject: PA Economic Boost Awaits Action

Would a $24 Billion Dollar infusion of economic activity (at NO COST to government on any level) boost Pennsylvania's stagnant economy?

   

• There is $8 Billion sitting idly in tax escrow accounts in banks all over Pennsylvania.  Banks pay NO interest on the $8 Billion they hold so this idle money gains the depositor (home owner with a mortgage) absolutely nothing.  Banks cannot lend the money, so it generates NO economic activity in the market place; and banks don't benefit either. It just idly sits there waiting until yearly property taxes are due on homes, and then the banks forward the money to the counties, school districts and municipal governments. 
• Economists say money reverberates through our economy multiple times.  We used three times (a very conservative estimate) to arrive at the $24 Billion in economic activity that would be occur if the $8 billion in tax escrow accounts was no longer required from those with home mortgages.
•   IF THERE WERE NO PROPERTY TAX ESCROW ACCOUNTS:
• Homeowners with mortgages would pay only the principal and interest on their mortgage plus homeowners insurance; cutting their monthly 'house' payment by multiple hundreds of dollars. 
• More people could keep their homes.
• More people could buy homes greatly boosting the housing market.
• More people would improve their homes.
• More young people would establish their home for their families in Pennsylvania rather than some other state
• More seniors (retirees) would remain here, keeping their accumulated wealth here, too.
• Greater population would attract more businesses to serve them.
• Tens of thousands of PERMANENT jobs would be created IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR with no need for governmentally funded so called 'job creation' programs.                Make-work governmentally induced jobs are often temporary—lasting only until the federal or state funding is no longer forthcoming. 
• More people working + more businesses equals more tax revenue for schools, counties and municipalities.
• More people able to purchase homes means revitalization of our suffering municipalities.
• No more sheriff sales for 'delinquent' property taxes currently based on phony, corrupt assessment figures stealing the homes and most, or all of the equity of 30,000+ Pennsylvania homeowners EVERY YEAR.
• No more countywide reassessments which cost Pennsylvania taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
• Smaller government since every county's property tax assessment offices, could be cut dramatically, saving taxpayers tens of millions across the state.
• No more harassment of homeowners since there would be no more reassessment hearings.
• The Lottery-Funded Property Tax Rebate program could be abolished, saving the lottery over $60 million per year, which could be used to provide more seniors with PACE coverage, or expanded Rent Rebates.
• True home ownership would come to Pennsylvanians for the first time in our history—since we currently in effect only 'rent' our homes from the counties, municipalities and school districts.  Private property ownership rights is a basic component of our freedom. 

How could this dream become a reality?  First, if anyone tells you it can't work...they are either misinformed or lying.  They need only to check with the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee which studied the STOP Primary Residence Protection plan and found abolishing all three property taxes on primary residences (homesteads\farmsteads) is fiscally sound and economically viable.  The schools, counties and municipalities would be fully funded with replacement revenue for the lost property tax revenue.  Increased economic activity would mean even more revenue for the county and municipal governments and school districts than they are currently receiving.

     During the 8 years of Governor Ed Rendell's reign of error, 240,000+ Pennsylvania families lost their homes and equity and he couldn't have cared less.  Will Governor Corbett be any better?  Let's hope and pray he will.  Do whatever you can to spread this message to Governor Corbett, the newly elected or re-elected legislative leaders and YOUR state reps and senators.  Print this out and mail it to them...or if you can find e-mail addresses for them...send it by E-mail. 

     I welcome their response at ucblogue@verizon.net    or to Box 306, Fairbank, PA 15435-0306.  Happy New Year to you and your family.  It won't be a happy new year for the 30,000+ homeowners who will have their homes and equity stolen this year due to the corrupt Pennsylvania property tax system.  Bob Logue, STOP Primary Residence Protection Plan.  Learn more at www.grandoldusa.com   and www.spedunkie.com  hit on the STOP page. 

Division III athletes doing well at colleges

Latest News - NCAA.org

Data from the first year of a two-year pilot program in Division III to assess student-athlete academic performance reveals that student-athletes are graduating at rates comparable with or higher than those of their student body counterparts.

A total of 115 Division III schools voluntarily submitted graduation-rates data in the first year of the pilot. Results from this representative, division-wide sample showed that 66 percent of student-athletes who enrolled as freshmen in 2003 graduated within six years (the same methodology used to calculate federal graduation rates in Divisions I and II). That compares favorably with the 65 percent graduation rate for the general student body at the 444 active and provisional Division III member schools.

300 turn out to meet new city school chief

300 turn out to meet new city school chief

Dr. Lane said she believed that it was important for teachers to know their craft but added, "In the heart of it, you've got to love the kids. They know."

I have a lot to say about this event. I took notes, not my video camera. I expect that it will be on the TV on the city station or PPS Tube soon.

Stay tuned.

Bill would make council members resign to run for other office

Rev. Burgess is making himself a real outcast in council now. Way to go.

I like the spirit of this bill. But, a few points. First, this bill is most needed at present within the Pgh Public School's BOARD. That is where I have pushed for it for the longest time. We don't want the volunteer, elected board positions to turn into opportunities to step upon the backs of the students for personal gain so that runs for other office can be launched from the school board. That is a long-standing suggestion of mine that is less of a factor in 2011 than it has been in the past. But still, the suggestion holds.

Furthermore, in Allegheny County Council where such a law exists, it is not really followed, as per PA Senator Wayne Fontana. He said he was going to run for office while on council and only quit council after he voted as he wanted in some tight decisions. Then he quit. The P-G editorial flamed him for breaking the rules of the county charter too. So, some of these political jerks are too big for their deeds to follow the established mandates (i.e., Wayne Fontana) -- hence -- the policy needs to be iron clad and with teeth should they go their own way. Guillotines would provide ample satisfaction and fear.

Bill would make council members resign to run for other office
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess today proposed legislation that would require City Council members to resign if they wanted to campaign for another office.

Mr. Burgess said the legislation, which he's entitled "Resign to Run," is designed to ensure city officials focus on the city's business, not the next political opportunity.

"The public should not pay for the ambitions of elected officials, he said.

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/11011/1117138-100.stm#ixzz1Ak6EgoTN

Open Letter to PPS Superintendent, Linda Lane

Chelsa Wagner announces controller bid

Chelsa Wagner announces controller bid: "Chelsa Wagner announces controller bid"

I think someone wants to stay close to home and going to Harrisburg is too much work.

But, in my humble opinion, she would be way better than either Nick Kotik or else George Matta. They want jobs and have done nothing to light my fire while in office in the past.

The job of controller is a place were we want and need real fire lighters. Not much of that has happened in recent decades.

Let's vote.

Try these words on for size when in a sticky situation, "Let's vote." It could be at a community meeting, a meeting with school administrators, or even in City Council Chambers -- and you'll get quick push-back.

When the voting process gets opened, a big can of worms is revealed. Who votes? Who gets to craft the question? Who gets to count the votes? Can we do 'elimination voting' or 'percentage votes?' When do we vote? When do we vote again if the one's in power don't like the outcome?

Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

January 13, 2011 Volume 11, Number 2

Is Taxpayer Referendum on Its Way to Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh Councilman Burgess has introduced a measure to give City voters the power to approve or reject property tax increases. The proposed ordinance calls for a referendum asking voters if they want to change the City charter to require a referendum on all property tax increases. As Reverend Burgess notes, “this is about giving the people the power to fight a tax increase.” The Councilman should be congratulated for this bold initiative.

We have been a strong and consistent advocate of voter referenda for tax hikes for over a decade. It is a public policy which could hold great promise for Pittsburgh’s future. Of course there are elected officials who are very opposed to giving voters approval power over taxes. Responding to Reverend Burgess’s proposal, a member on Pittsburgh City Council said, “you elect people, and they make those decisions.” Granted, that is the way it is supposed to work. Sadly, Council’s long running inability to hold expenses down has necessitated ever increasing tax revenues to fund spending growth.

Others on Council view the ability to tax as “an important tool” in governing the City. But their power to tax has led to the profligate spending that has put the City in the bind it now finds itself in. Misuse and abuse of this “important tool” lie at the heart of Pittsburgh’s financial nightmare. Arguing for continued unrestrained authority to set tax rates is illogical and specious as well as incredibly self-serving.

Finally, there are those who worry voters will never approve a tax increase. They have every reason to be worried about that in light of taxpayers’ disgust with the inability of government to rein in spending. Still, there may be cases where voters can be convinced a legitimate need exists for additional revenue.

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR for short) movement has been around for quite some time. Colorado was one of the first states to implement fully the concept. All tax increases at all levels of government in the state are subject to referendum approval and government expenditure growth is strictly limited to the inflation rate and population growth. After implementation in the early 1990s Colorado became one of the fastest growing states in the country.

TABOR’s rationale is quite simple and straightforward. Over time elected officials almost inevitably find it easier—for various reasons—to bend to the entreaties, or threats, of powerful interest groups to spend money that redounds to the benefit of these groups. Such interest groups represent sources of campaign financing and reliable voters on election day and whose wishes dare not be ignored. On the other hand, taxpayers are a disparate population with many allegiances and political views. Their broad interest in having government be as effective and low cost as possible is rarely the foremost concern of elected officials. Typically taxpayers as a whole do not march as an interest group or testify on spending measures or new programs. Then too, taxpayers are often conflicted because not only do they pay taxes they are members of interest groups that benefit from government largesse.

Taxpayers who do not work for government or who are not part of a favored interest group are at a disadvantage compared to the aggregation of special interests who tend to get what they want. This is especially true in an environment where strong public sector unions are present.

Greater economic prosperity in communities with TABOR is easy to understand. Businesses like a low tax environment. And they also like having the assurance that government spending will be constrained so that tax rates are not under continual threat of being raised. Government in a TABOR community must work hard to be lean and efficient including adopting cost saving measures such as outsourcing non-core functions. New programs requiring big spending increases are much less likely to get off the ground. Government instead is forced to focus on its core functions, something it should be doing without being forced. Finally, a very salutary result of TABOR is that government’s burden on taxpayers is far less likely to increase over time and can actually be lowered.

Politicians who fight voter approval of tax increases are saying, “trust us to do what is best.” The problem is their track record is beyond deplorable and there is little or no taxpayer trust in them. Government exists for the benefit of all citizens including taxpayers and their input on momentous decisions is crucial. And while voter approval of every governmental decision is not possible or desirable, on the biggest decision of all—the amount of resources government will have to spend—voters should have the ultimate say.

No system is perfect nor can any system solve every problem or anticipate every adverse situation. But voter approval of taxes, accompanied by strict spending limits, offers a far better approach to fiscal matters than the irresponsible government behavior that has driven Pittsburgh into the financial ditch it finds itself stuck in.

So, Reverend Burgess is to be commended for proposing this first important step of referendum for tax hikes. It would be very positive for the future of the City and the way it is perceived by the business community if Council would approve the Reverend’s proposal and allow the citizens to vote on whether they want tax increases to be subject to referendum.

Surely, in light of the government’s litany of financial management failures, Council and the Mayor should grasp this opportunity to show a little humility and demonstrate some faith in the good sense of the people of Pittsburgh—and a lot less deference to political power players.

Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President Frank Gamrat. Ph.D., Sr. Research Assoc.

For updates and commentary on daily issues please visit our blog at http://alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.

If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.

For more information on this and other topics, please visit our web site: http://alleghenyinstitute.org

If you wish to support our efforts please consider becoming a donor to the Allegheny Institute. The Allegheny Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Please mail your contribution to:

The Allegheny Institute, 305 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard, Suite 208, Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Thank you for your support.

How pension bailout came in a frenzy at 11th hour

How pension bailout came in a frenzy at 11th hour

Ms. Doven said. "It really was a three-ring circus."

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/11009/1116783-53.stm#ixzz1AXLp9dj8

And the mayor says it is not his fault. So there.

Bike movie on Feb 3 at South Side Works

Ride The Divide mountain bike film coming to Pittsburgh, Feb. 3.

The promoter of "Ride The Divide," the mountain bike documentary that was named the best adventure film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival is looking for ticket buyers. If you are not familiar with the film, please check the trailer at http://www.ridethedividemovie.com.

Coming to Pittsburgh for a one-night-only show on Thursday, Feb. 3 at the Southside Works Cinema. This is the final stop on a 10-day, 10-city Midwest tour that is part of a larger nationwide tour. It is selling out theaters all over the country and anticipate we will sell out the South Side's 267 seats on this night as well.

Spread the word throughout your cycling club or team about this event, which should be the highlight of the cycling season in Pittsburgh this winter.

Use the attached information to get the word out through emails, your web sites, your Facebook pages and putting up posters at places you frequent, such as coffee shops and brew pubs. Press release (also pasted below for your convenience), a printable poster, and our jpeg logo which can be used with an calendar events listings you might be able to post online.

Here is the link to our Facebook event which has all the information in it as well:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=190087151007312

And here is the direct link to purchase advance tickets:

http://www.imathlete.com/events/EventStore.aspx?fEID=7982

If you have any questions, or any ideas to help get the word out to a wider audience, please contact me as soon as possible. I hope to see you and your club members out at the show.

Thank you.

Garry Harrington, Colorado Springs
603-209-5010  RIDE THE DIVIDE, AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM, ON MIDWEST MID-WINTER TOUR   

Ride The Divide, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the world's toughest mountain bike race, will conclude its Midwest mid-winter tour when it stops in Pittsburgh on Thursday, February 3, at the Southside Works Cinema.

The film chronicles the story of several mountain bikers who attempt the 2,711-mile race named the Tour Divide along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The movie was named the Best Adventure Film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival.  This film has become an instant cycling classic, and made its television premiere in September on the Documentary Channel. But the Adventure Cycling Association said the film should be seen on the big screen: "The cinematography is stunning!"

Added UpaDowna, "Ride The Divide is one of the most inspiring real cycling movies … in a long time." Epic Riding summed the movie up as follows: "In a word? Fantastic. In more words? Moving, funny, inspiring."  

Ride The Divide embraces the inspiring stories of three of the racers who experience the immense mountain beauty and small-town culture as they attempt to pedal from Banff, Canada, to a small, dusty crossing on the Mexican border. There's Mike, a 40-year-old family man who uses this challenge to chart a new course in life; Matthew, a leader in extreme endurance racing who's competing for his fifth time; and Mary, the first female rider to race this route.

As they set out, they will attempt to accomplish what very few have been able to. Over the course of a few weeks, they'll attempt to climb over 200,000 vertical feet along the backbone of the Rocky Mountains.  They'll experience mental breakdowns, treacherous snow, hellacious blisters, and total fatigue. Above all, they'll race with no support – at times in total isolation. The tests of endurance and the accomplished moments throughout Ride the Divide prompt us to reflect on our inner desires to live life to the fullest.  

Ride The Divide made its debut at the Vail Film Festival and was named the best adventure film at the event.

Outside Magazine proclaimed that "(t)he toughest bike race in the world is not in France," after reviewing the film.  

Ride The Divide will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Southside Works Cinemas located at 425 Cinema Drive in Pittsburgh. Tickets are $15 at the door, and $10 in advance at www.IMAthlete.com/Events/RideTheDividemovie. The event is sponsored by Venture Outdoors of Pittsburgh (www.ventureoutdoors.org).  Media contact: Garry Harrington 603-209-5010 <mailto:gharrington3165@hotmail.com> gharrington3165@hotmail.com
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Much work is left for City League's move to WPIAL

Much work is left for City League's move to WPIAL: "The Pittsburgh City League is moving forward with plans to join the WPIAL.

Within the next few weeks, a 22-member athletics overhaul committee for Pittsburgh Public Schools is expected to forward a proposal to new superintendent Linda Lane that calls for the City League to join the WPIAL for the 2012-13 school year."

There is a big mistake in the article. The teams at Pgh Obama will NOT be part of a coop with Sci-Tech and U-Prep.

Where are the religious liberals?

David Dunn, a dear friend from our church, wrote this article that ran in the Post-Gazette.

Where are the religious liberals?: "Where are the religious liberals?
They have let conservative politicians and talk-show hosts claim the high ground
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
By David Dunn

Two generations have passed since it was common to see people of liberal religious faith take to the public square to champion worthy causes, fight for those with no voice and demand justice from the powers-that-be.

Religious liberals served as the moral battering ram of the civil rights movement and took to the streets in waves to confront those who sought to justify wars in southeast Asia.

Since then, however, religious liberals have faded into the woodwork, doing good works with humble voices mostly in the safety of their own congregations."

Of course, there have been certain occasions in recent years when their voices have been raised. Many protested the invasion of Iraq in 2003. More recently, many traveled to Arizona to protest that state's enactment of an ethnic profiling law that posed as immigration reform, and the Catholic Church displayed qualified support for the health care law passed last summer.

But these few points of light have failed to illuminate a righteous path out of the woodwork.

This has not gone without notice. Religious conservatives have moved in and laid claim to the moral high ground once occupied by religious liberals.

For the most part, religious conservatives have been good tenants and have served this nation well in many ways. They have been doing the heavy lifting in the public square over the last 40 years.

That said, conservative politicians and media entertainers also have carpetbagged their way onto this moral high ground, finding religious conservatives to be the most genial of neighbors.

How can any people of religious faith, conservative or liberal, condone the hateful speech so often delivered these days under the cloak of religion?

Radio show host Dr. Laura practiced Orthodox Judaism until 2003 and authored a book on the significance of the Ten Commandments in everyday life. Her show, in her own words, is supposed to offer "advice infused with a strong sense of ethics." Instead, she routinely demeans, discredits and puts down callers who come to her in a time of need. People of faith should forgive individual mistakes, but they also should hold people accountable for their body of work.

Glenn Beck professes that religious faith is the cornerstone of his life and guides his vision for America. That is fine, but it does not excuse comments referring to President Barack Obama as a racist or a Nazi and or claims that people like himself were central to the civil rights movement and somehow need to "reclaim" it.

Former U.S. senator and likely presidential candidate Rick Santorum, perhaps more than any other modern politician, employs his religious faith as a weapon against those who do not fit into the limited confines of his ideological box. He routinely invokes his religious faith to essentially condone war against Islam and the persecution of homosexuals.

Jesus sought the persecution of no one and simply called upon the religious to live their faith more perfectly. Perhaps Gandhi had someone like Rick Santorum in mind when he said, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Eventually, those who use hateful speech and ideas to further their own ends behind the guise of religion will fall under the weight of their own hypocrisy, but without an organized challenge to hateful ideas, this can take a very long time.

Religious conservatives have the most to lose when such personalities are taken as de facto ambassadors of their religious faith, but all people of faith need to confront them and their ideas.

Religious liberals need to reclaim the religious landscape they let slip away over the last 40 years. Modern political and social conservatives have done an excellent job of making "liberal" a dirty word. Religious liberals need to come together and become again an uplifting voice for America that counters those of hatred and intolerance.

Religious liberalism has much to be proud of in the story of America. Our founding fathers held a variety of religious beliefs but many today would be considered liberal Christians. They were activist revolutionaries who drew upon their religious faith to envision a radical democratic country and make it a reality.

Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address," a speech essentially regarded as a sacred testament to the meaning of America, drew from ideas conceived by liberal clergy. His closing words about "government of the people, by the people, for the people" were inspired by liberal Unitarian minister Theodore Parker, who had earlier expressed American democracy as a "government of all, by all, for all."

If people of liberal religious faith wish to further this vision of America, they need to start organizing and start acting in the public forum. And they need to realize that religious conservatives are not the enemy.

Doctrines may differ, positions on emotionally charged issues may differ and cooperation may at times be difficult, yet there is much upon which all people of religious faith can agree. With this, a true pluralistic vision of America, consistent with the ideals of our founding fathers, can be rediscovered.

David Dunn, an engineer, lives in Eighty Four and is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon (dave.dunn24@comcast.net).

Ron Morris on Pitt Football and Steve P, the AD who should be fired

http://recordings.talkshoe.com/rss139.xml

Athletic Reform at Pittsburgh Public Schools

Nice background video.

WordReport 1.0 release and introductory sale

ANN: WordReport 1.0 release and introductory sale

I'm happy to announce the 1.0 release of WordReport. This library lets
your LiveCode stacks crank out MS Word and OpenOffice reports of any
kind: business documents, contractor invoices, real-estate flyers, mail
merge, product catalogs, software data reports, educational worksheets,
band concert posters, customer service letters, or whatever else you
dream up. (In fact, the demo stack includes sample code and templates
for three of those scenarios.)

You create a formatted template with data insertion tags, save it, and
then insert your data from within LiveCode to create reports. WordReport
is self-contained and doesn't need any word processing software to
create reports, but you'll need MS Word or OpenOffice to create the
templates. The demo stack will get you off to a quick start exploring
capabilities, and a friendly User Guide explains everything.

The library handles images as well as text and has other advanced
features such as loops and optional context marking. It handles Unicode
and as a bonus, in addition to the unlimited formatting in your
template, you can include basic styles within your export data for extra
emphasis on the fly. It does headers and footers too. And tables. (And
number formatting with commas if you need it.) Everything you need to
make customers and clients happy with great-looking reports, while
improving your own back office workflow too.

To celebrate this release (finally!) I'm offering WordReport on sale at
a very special introductory price for 10 days. Get it while it's low!
This is a power tool for saving time and producing great documents in
all kinds of practical scenarios.

http://curryk.com/wordreport.html

(A hearty thanks to the beta testers also. And for those interested in
news about WordOut, the export library, a beta has been available for
some time, email me if you wish to try it. I'll be finishing it up as
time allows, and as promised, those who purchase WordLib at full price
before the WordOut release will receive an export library discount.)

Best wishes,

Curry Kenworthy
--
WordLib: Import MS Word and OpenOffice documents
http://curryk.com/wordlib.html

WordReport: Template-driven MS Word and OpenOffice reports,
from invoices and worksheets to catalogs and mail merge
http://curryk.com/wordreport.html

Need custom software development or RunRev help?
http://curryk.com/consulting/

Homewood Woman Shines Light On City Councilman’s Tax Bill « CBS Pittsburgh – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of Pittsburgh

Homewood Woman Shines Light On City Councilman’s Tax Bill « CBS Pittsburgh – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of Pittsburgh

Comment from Dan Sullivan is rumored to post in the discussion area:

Burgess also had several property tax liens against him when he was a candidate in 2006. Rich Lord of the Post Gazetted did a story on it.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07006/751778-182.stm

Now he’s calling it a witch-hunt. It’s really called “opposition research,” and it’s routine in election campaigns. If this were the first time, he could say he didn’t realize that. Since it’s the second time, he would have to plead colossal stupidity.