It's been a while since I last posted, though the forum came to mind late last week when we (Shareable Magazine) published a story by Jay Walljasper entitled:
How to Design Neighborhoods for Happiness:
http://bit.ly/dIJ4NM
This is a great short post about how to design pocket neighborhoods. I hope it's helpful.
Neal
ps. more neighborhood stories and how-tos can be found on your neighborhood channel: http://www.shareable.net/tag/neighborhoods
Neal Gorenflo
About Neal Gorenflo: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/5uDGHs6vM6wnnONRLUHFXG
View full topic, share on Facebook, Twitter, etc:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/707D8Tu6BQFlKtv8EfNun2
Help our volunteers in Christchurch, New Zealand with post-quake forum outreach:
http://e-democracy.org/chchdonate
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Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Losing Our Way - NYTimes.com
Losing Our Way - NYTimes.com
So here we are pouring shiploads of cash into yet another war, this time in Libya, while simultaneously demolishing school budgets, closing libraries, laying off teachers and police officers, and generally letting the bottom fall out of the quality of life here at home.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Flurry of Education Bills hit PA Senate
Thanks Ron C.
On March 22, the chairmen of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15) and Senator Andrew Dinniman (D-19), announced the introduction of an 18 bill package aimed at providing mandate relief for school districts. The following bills were introduced:
Senate Bill 202 (Sen. Dinniman, D-19) would allow alternative certification pathways for principals and teachers;
Senate Bill 293 (Sen. Eichelberger, R-30) would increase the thresholds for bidding contracts to $25,000;
Senate Bill 296 (Sen. Brubaker R-36) would increase the thresholds for bidding contracts to $25,000;
Senate Bill 329 (Sen. Dinniman, D-19) would suspend non-essential reports from districts to PDE in years in which stateeducation funding declines;
Senate Bill 537 (Sen. Rafferty, R-44) would require a 2/3 vote by school boards to raise property taxes;
Senate Bill 612 (Sen. Folmer, R-48) would allow school districts to furlough for economic reasons and require proportionate reduction of administrators;
Senate Bill 801 (Sen. Waugh, R-28) would allow districts to bid single prime;
Senate Bill 802 (Sen. Piccola (R-15) would allow school districts to hire either school certified nurses or registered nurses;
Senate Bill 803 (Sen. Piccola, R-15) would allow districts to advertise from a menu of options including the internet;
Senate Bill 814 (Sen. Corman, R-34) would reauthorize the Mandate Waivers program and allow bidding for school construction projects both multi-prime and single prime;
Senate Bill 844 (Sen. Dinniman, D-19) would allow districts that are making AYP and showing adequate PVAAS growth be waived from PILS administrator training requirements;
Senate Bill 857 (Sen. Smucker, R-13) would repeal language that requires school districts to use increases in basic education funding for new programs and expansion of existing programs;
Senate Bill 858 (Sen. Waugh, R-28) would allow districts to hire certificated superintendents or candidates who have degrees in business or finance;
Senate Bill 869 Sen. Alloway (R-33) would no longer require school districts bordering Pennsylvania to provide transportation for students to attend out of state private schools;
Senate Bill 870 (Sen. Eichelberger, R-30) would repeal sections of the School Code that require 10 paid sick days and paid sabbatical leaves;
Senate Bill 871 (Sen. Brubaker, R-36) would suspend continuing education and professional development for teachers for 2 years;
Senate Bill 872 (Sen. Brubaker, R-36) would remove requirements for the establishment of concurrent enrollment committees and quarterly meetings;
Senate Bill 873 (Sen. Brubaker, R-36) would require the Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education to review and overhaul the PlanCon process for school construction and reimbursement.
The Senate Education Committee is scheduled to consider this package of bills on April 5.
Fw: My underwater hockey team IN a commercial!!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
From: DEB RAMAGE <dramage1@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:18:04 +0000
To: aem55@pitt.edu<aem55@pitt.edu>; Amy Ramage<amoid@comcast.net>; AndreaMcQueen<fishswimtoo@yahoo.com>; Arlene Kensinger<arlenekensinger@yahoo.com>; Barb Gutzwiller<blgutzwiller@zoominternet.net>; Ben Holtzman<benjamin.holtzman@gmail.com>; Betty Davic<edavic@kent.edu>; Bev Bradford<bbradford@camelotcoal.com>; Beverly Kerkam<beverly_kerkam@verizon.net>; <bradley.ramage@sunmed.com>; brecallender@hotmail.com<brecallender@hotmail.com>; Carol Lewis<cjpyatt@msn.com>; Carrie McDermitt<camcdermitt@gmail.com>; Char Morris<char514@zoominternet.net>; Cindy Byers<mgxb98@yahoo.com>; Cindy Reisser<crrpres@comcast.net>; Dale Wagner<mrdrwagner@gmail.com>; Dave Sherrieb<dsherrieb@indy.rr.com>; <david@relaxnow.org>; Dawn Gilson<vlangel@hotmail.com>; Dianne Gabel<di_gabel@yahoo.com>; Dianne Wagner<dikenkoda@zoominternet.net>; <dreckless@aol.com>; <ebusredos@comcast.net>; Gail Pebworth<pebwortg@wabash.edu>; Gary Torick<gwt52@consolidated.net>; Georgianne Barry<manatee7@zoominternet.net>; <gracenewstart@yahoo.com>; Grant Butson<grant.butson@lfg.com>; Gregory McQueen<c.gregory.mcqueen@erieinsurance.com>; Guillaume Besson<guillaume.besson@yahoo.fr>; Heath Wagner<hkw1973@yahoo.com>; Helen snead<helensnead122@gmail.com>; Jack Ramage<jramage@mbawpa.org>; Jack Beaulieu<jackbeaulieu@verizon.net>; Jay Ammon<jay@jayammon.com>; Jay Egar<eger@consolidated.net>; Jeff Grover<felix43@hotmail.com>; Jeff Banyas<jbanyas@zoominternet.net>; Jerry<bigmacsmlfry@yahoo.com>; <jmclaughlin@att.net>; Joe Humbert<josephbhumbert@eaton.com>; John Wagner<john.wagner85@gmail.com>; Jordan Wallace Ramage<jramage@mix.wvu.edu>; JoycePratley<jpratley@verizon.net>; Judy Wagner<jwg60@verizon.net>; JudyGoodhart<ljgoodhart@bresnan.net>; june00@zoominternet.net<june00@zoominternet.net>; karen Lucovich<klucovich@zoominternet.net>; KathyNevins Green<dksummers@ma.rr.com>; Larry Kuremsky<estates@kuremsky.com>; Len Schoettker<resist@zoominternet.net>; <lewfarm1@consolidated.net>; LindaHeery<heerys@zoominternet.net>; Linda Nath<snowbird@zbzoom.net>; LindaNeugebauer<wneug@atlanticbb.net>; Linda Schulte<lindaschulte29@gmail.com>; <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>; Martha Smith<mas1920@earthlink.net>; Mary melick<marymelick@bigpond.com>; <matt@yanniassociates.com>; Matt Leisie<leisie1@zoominternet.net>; Max<maxwell.e.hand@gmail.com>; meyergab@verizon.net<meyergab@verizon.net>; <mgruetze@gmail.com>; MichaelKernan<mikernan76@gmail.com>; Michelle Ramage<michelleramage17@gmail.com>; Mike<mitchnd@yahoo.com>; <mkernan@planthealthcare.com>; <nettie5646@yahoo.com>; patrickandnugget@aol.com<patrickandnugget@aol.com>; patti3@zoominternet.net<patti3@zoominternet.net>; pdemarco@zoominternet.net<pdemarco@zoominternet.net>; Phil Bell<bellpb@muohio.edu>; Pohla Smith<pohla@aol.com>; pracoach@gmail.com<pracoach@gmail.com>; robert neubert<neu7@hotmail.com>; Robin Hazelgrove<robynhazelgrove@bigpond.com>; RoseMcQueen<roseandgordo@aol.com>; Ryan Mcdermitt<mcdermitt@yahoo.com>; SallyRadke<sally.radke@gmail.com>; Sam Gonzalez<samuelgonzalez2@eaton.com>; Shirley Golden<shirley25@comcast.net>; Stan Patterson<stan.patterson@poacfl.com>; Stephanie Kingston<stephanie.kingston@poacfl.com>; Steve Davis<stevejdavis@sbcglobal.net>; Susie Fleming<swfleming@verizon.net>; tessaandavie@aol.com<tessaandavie@aol.com>; Tom James<tjfirefly@aol.com>; Tom Swogger<tswogger@gmail.com>
Subject: My underwater hockey team IN a commercial!!
FINALLY!! Our Pine Richland Underwater hockey team is featured for FIVE minutes on this Utube/ facebook commercial just out. We helped film it last October but I couldn't tell very many till now. TOTALLY cool & so proud I didn't wind up on the "cutting room floor"!! Didn't know if they'd include a WOMAN fighting underwater with this "jock" or not!! Love, Deb
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Republican Candidates Betrayed By Their Own Party—All in the Name of the PPA | News and Opinion | Philadelphia Weekly
Republican Candidates Betrayed By Their Own Party—All in the Name of the Philly Parking Authority| News and Opinion | Philadelphia WeeklySpeaking of owning the bottom of the ocean, putting out a candle and a fire, and other insider political Libertarian views -- like ending the war on drugs.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Now that Pitt is out of the NCAA Tournament, who are you cheering for?
Might as well pick a favorite.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Do you like the "Law & Order" TV show? Here goes "ripped from the headlines of real life" stuff
Various plots for the TV show are matched to real court cases.
I'm waiting for the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial guys to come clean with the end of the Pitt vs. Butler game.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
In the army now?
I saw this on Facebook and it makes sense to repeat:
1. We will NOT obey any order to disarm the American people.
2. We will NOT obey any order to conduct warrantless searches of the American people, their homes, vehicles, papers, or effects -- such as warrantless house-to house searches for weapons or persons.
3. We will NOT obey any order to detain American citizens as “unlawful enemy combatants” or to subject them to trial by military tribunal.
4. We will NOT obey orders to impose martial law or a “state of emergency” on a state, or to enter with force into a state, without the express consent and invitation of that state’s legislature and governor.
5. We will NOT obey orders to invade and subjugate any state that asserts its sovereignty and declares the national government to be in violation of the compact by which that state entered the Union.
6. We will NOT obey any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps.
7. We will NOT obey any order to force American citizens into any form of detention camps under any pretext.
8. We will NOT obey orders to assist or support the use of any foreign troops on U.S. soil against the American people to “keep the peace” or to “maintain control” during any emergency, or under any other pretext. We will consider such use of foreign troops against our people to be an invasion and an act of war.
9. We will NOT obey any orders to confiscate the property of the American people, including food and other essential supplies, under any emergency pretext whatsoever.
10. We will NOT obey any orders which infringe on the right of the people to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition their government for a redress of grievances.
Organizational Chart for Pittsburgh Public Schools as of March 2011
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/aforathlete/images/1/1b/PPS-Org_Chart_2011_PDF.pdf
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/aforathlete/images/1/1b/PPS-Org_Chart_2011_PDF.pdf
or
http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/File:PPS-Org_Chart_2011_PDF.pdf
Discussions are best at another blog: http://purereform.blogspot.com.
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/aforathlete/images/1/1b/PPS-Org_Chart_2011_PDF.pdf
or
http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/File:PPS-Org_Chart_2011_PDF.pdf
Discussions are best at another blog: http://purereform.blogspot.com.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Fw: Next Week is Big!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
From: "Ron Paul" <ron_paul@libertypacmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:20:39 -0700
To: Liberty Activist<mark@rauterkus.com>
ReplyTo: ron_paul@libertypacmail.com
Subject: Next Week is Big!
 Dear Liberty Activist, Congress is out of session next week, and I plan to take full advantage! I will be making two important trips, one to Iowa and one to New Hampshire. People are really paying attention, and I hope that if you are in the area, you will attend some of my public events. On Wednesday, I will be traveling to Des Moines, Iowa to hold several key meetings and speak on the steps of the State Capitol to the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators, a wonderful group representing homeschool families. Support from the homeschool community was key to Mike Huckabee’s victory in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses, so this is an important speech. There is no bigger supporter of homeschool education than I, and I am confident we can forge a great relationship with this group. Just last week, I introduced the Education Improvement Tax Cut Act, which would provide $5,000 tax credits to homeschool parents. I am looking forward to sharing my vision to protect Liberty in education and give parents freedom to escape government schools and raise their families as they see fit. My speech will be at 12:00 pm CT on the steps of the Iowa Capitol. There will be a lot of press and a lot of attention, and every single supporter that can turn out will help me. Please consider attending if it fits your schedule. I will also be traveling to New Hampshire on Thursday and Friday for more important meetings, plenty of press opportunities, and two public events. The first event will be a speech and rally at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on Thursday, March 24th, co-hosted by Young Americans for Liberty and the UNH College Republicans. The event will begin at 3:30 pm at the Memorial Union Building right in the heart of campus. Always remember that our strength lies in our numbers, and just by turning out and showing your enthusiasm for Liberty, you can send a powerful message. I very much hope to see you there! I will also be speaking to the Dover City GOP at their annual dinner on Friday, March 25th, at 5:30 pm. This function will help support New Hampshire GOP Chairman Jack Kimball, a TEA Party leader who has so far really impressed me. It would be great to turn out as many folks as possible, because, as we all know, money talks, and helping to make their event a financial success will send the Republican Party a powerful statement about the strength of our movement. You can get more information on the event here. March is shaping up to be a great month for our efforts. Of course, I have you and all the supporters of Liberty PAC to thank for making these trips possible. Your financial support means the world to me, and these trips are only the beginning of where your generous gifts will allow me to take our message. To help keep our momentum going, please consider a gift of any size, up to the maximum legal contribution of $5,000. As I always say, our strength lies in our numbers, so contributions of $100, $50, $20.12, or even $10 make a real difference. Please consider joining me as we fund Liberty PAC to lay the groundwork for our political action in the 2012 cycle. Together, we can reclaim our Liberty and restore our Constitution. For Liberty,  Ron Paul P.S. Your support is critical in guiding my 2012 decision making and guaranteeing a successful political operation so we can elect the type of President who will take our country back from the statists. Please, click here to make a contribution of $500, $250, $100, $50, or even $20.12 today.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sunshine Week
http://www.sunshineweek.org
Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know.
Sunshine Week as a national effort is spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors. The key funder has been the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, with significant support from ASNE Foundation. In 2011, The Gridiron Club and Foundation contributed $10,000.
Though created by journalists, Sunshine Week is about the public's right to know what its government is doing, and why.
Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger.
Sunshine Week is a nonpartisan, non-profit initiative.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Fast Times at CMU High!
wats:ON? Festival-School of Architecture - Carnegie Mellon University
wats:ON 2011: Speed
Event: The Jill Watson Festival Across the Arts
Date: Thurs., March 17-Sat., March 19
Curated by Pablo Garcia and Spike Wolff
Notions of speed in contemporary culture are often tied to technology and its impact on everyday life. Information dissemination and interactions are accelerating, and with it hopes and fears of the future change with every new invention or discovery. Our culture of speed harnesses energies beyond our comprehension, while calling into question the nature of our everyday reality.
Speed is not merely acceleration, but a magnitude of velocity, fast or slow. It becomes a measure of time and space, of dislocation and change, of transformation and evolution. The extremes of fast and slow heighten our awareness of our surroundings, creating a seamless interface between the visceral and the subliminal. Speed creates a blur between what is real and what is imagined.
wats:ON 2011 will examine speed in relation to the production and presentation of creative work encompassing a range of interdisciplinary events.
The Jill Watson Festival Across the Arts (wats:ON?) was created to honor the life of Jill Watson, whose interest in the arts inspired others through her work and her teaching. The festival celebrates Jill's commitment to an interdisciplinary philosophy as an artist and celebrates her accomplishments and reputation as an architect. Jill Watson was a Carnegie Mellon University alumna, adjunct faculty member in the School of Architecture and acclaimed Pittsburgh architect who died in the TWA Flight 800 plane crash on July 17, 1996.
For a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.cmu.edu/architecture/lecture/watson-festival/index.html
Friday, March 11, 2011
Do not punish. Rather, encourage. Rand Paul tells Bureaucrat to keep her hands off of everyone's toilets and light bulbs
News.
This is how it is done in New Zealand.
 |
| From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events |
The toilet has two buttons. One for lighter flushes and the other for larger. That's real choice.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Fight for Public Media at NCMR
 |
Right now, NPR, PBS and your local public radio station are facing unprecedented threats. They're being targeted by extremists in Congress, ambushed by dirty tricks, and vilified on cable news. These attacks fly in the face of the fact that public media in America enjoy broad public support. This April, public media supporters are coming to the National Conference for Media Reform to discuss ways we can rescue public media and build new support for hard-hitting journalism that is free of partisan politics. We'll tackle these issues — and a whole lot more — with people like Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, Salon's Glenn Greenwald, Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz; award-winning journalists David Shuster and Carole Simpson; Free Press co-founders Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols; and people from news organizations like Mother Jones, Oakland Local, Brave New Films, FRONTLINE and The Nation. Want to join us? Register for NCMR 2011 now. Here's what you'll find:
When it comes to the future of news and democracy, it’s clear that there’s a lot to talk about. But there's even more to do. Register for NCMR 2011 now. See you in Boston, Josh Stearns Associate Program Director Free Press P.S. The full program and list of presenters is now online. Check it out! P.P.S. Hotel rooms in Boston are selling out fast. Go here to reserve a room.  |
Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Learn more at www.freepress.net |
PA Education Policy Breakfast
Thursday, March 17, 2011 with Continental Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and Program from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Holiday Inn Select - University Center - Oakland
SUBJECT: Governor Corbett’s Proposed Education Budget for 2011-2012
Governor Corbett will deliver his 2011-2012 state budget proposal to the General Assembly on March 8. This Policy Forum will be an early opportunity to get up-to-date information about what is in the proposed education budget, the budget’s relative strengths and weaknesses, and key issues.
Ron Cowell of EPLC will provide an overview of the Governor’s proposed budget for early education, K-12 and higher education. A representative of the PA Budget and Policy Center will provide an overview of the state’s fiscal situation, a reality that shapes the state budget in any year. The overviews will be followed by remarks from a panel representing several statewide and regional perspectives concerning state funding for education and education related items. These speakers will discuss the impact of the Governor’s proposals and identify the key issues that will likely be considered during this year’s budget debate.
While there is no registration fee, seating is limited and an RSVP is required.
You can RSVP on-line at http://www.eplc.org/forum_westernpa.html
I hope you will be able to join us.
In addition, please feel free to share this information with colleagues who may like to attend.
Tea Party Activist, Tom, ponders teachers
Tom Kawczynski 2011
When I started working with members of the Tea Party movement back in 2008, I was joining a movement I thought was about stopping huge corporate bailouts on the taxpayer dime, about protecting choice in health care options, and looking out for the regular person. Those were important fights, and the Tea Partiers took positions that I supported, along with many others.Teachers are not the bad guys. Read it.
Today is different.
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