We went to Ohio for water polo tournament

: Keep the pressure on Barnes & Noble!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: DefectiveByDesign.org

A few weeks ago, we asked you to reach out to Barnes & Noble about
their Nook eBook reader. Many of you did, and while Barnes & Noble
has yet to formally respond, we can continue to put pressure on them.

The current news is that Amazon plans to launch a color Android
device, much like the Nook color. If we continue to put pressure on
B&N, we can use this increased pressure from Amazon as a reason to
make the Nook a device for everyone, not just large book publishers.

Here's a selection of messages to Mary Ellen Keating at Barnes and Noble:

 "If I buy a book (be it an ebook or a hard copy) *I* should own it."
  -- Bryan Cuneo

 "This is not progress. Rather, it is an attack on society and on our
  rights."  -- Jason X. Self

 "If you use DRM, we will be forced to turn a blind eye to your
 products, and your company." -- Maki

 "I had considered purchasing a Nook until I read about the DRM. Now
 I won't buy a Nook unless you drop DRM. The device is usable, but in
 my opinion, hamstrung by DRM." -- L Mease

We've moved our blog post on the subject to our new Nook hub,
<http://defectivebydesign.org/nook>.

We've also responded to this blog post: <http://ur1.ca/532mp> -- where
someone claims certain books for the Nook are DRM-free. Once again, we
tried to get some answers out of Barnes & Noble on this, who told us
that only public domain books from Google Books are DRM-free, and any
books downloaded from Barnes & Noble have DRM.

In the meantime, if you haven't written to Barnes & Noble, please do:

* Do you use Twitter? Let @nookBN know that you won't buy a Nook until
 they drop DRM. To use Twitter without JavaScript, hook it up to your
 StatusNet or Identi.ca account!

* Tag the Nook Color and Nook on Amazon with
 "defectivebydesign". Don't forget to follow up your tagging with
 discussion in the tag forum --
 <http://www.amazon.com/forum/defectivebydesign>.

* Email Mary Ellen Keating -- <mkeating@bn.com> -- Senior Vice
 President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at Barnes &
 Noble, and ask Barnes & Noble to drop DRM from the Nook. Be sure to
 BCC us at info@defectivebydesign.org on any emails you send!

--
Follow us on identi.ca at http://identi.ca/dbd

Subscribe to our blog via RSS at http://www.defectivebydesign.org/rss.xml

DefectiveByDesign.org is a project of the Free Software Foundation

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Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: IRS v. Benoit civil suit, or the government stealing my house suit

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mike Benoit

For those who have been interested in my case where the IRS is stealing my home for taxes I don't owe, I am still in the house even though at the last report I was told to vacate in 40 days on July 29th. I have motions pending requesting a stay but the reason I am still in the house is the government forgot to list my mortgage holder as a party to be paid off at sale so they had to file a motion to amend the order which gave me this addition time. I am so glad the government is so incapable. They succeed by force alone.
 
I have learned much by studying other court cases such as the Lloyd Long trial, Vernice Klugman and Tommy Cryer's case just to name a few. I have also learned on my cases and this one is no exception. I have downloaded all the documents so far which total over 100 and I am willing to let them go out to anyone who is interested is studying them for a fee of 100 hundred dollars. Or you could get the first 20 for 20 dollars and then decide if you want more. This is basically covering my cost.
 
If you want hard copies there will be a mailing charge. If you are interested email me back or call me at 619-449-8540 <tel:619-449-8540> during the day.
 
 
Thanks
 
 
Mike
 


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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Mark Rauterkus invited you to join him on Google+

Mark Rauterkus invited you to join him on Google+ Join Google+ The Google+ project makes sharing on the web more like sharing in real-life. Circles The easiest way to share some things with college buddies, others with your parents, and almost nothing with your boss. Hangouts Let friends know you're free for a video hangout, any time, anywhere. Then catch up, watch YouTube, or... just hangout. Sparks A feed of just the stuff you're really into, so when you're free, there's always something waiting to be watched, read, or shared.

You received this message because Mark Rauterkus invited rauterkus.upload@blogger.com to join Google+. Unsubscribe from these emails.

Schenley sports will live on - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Schenley sports will live on - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "The first-year football coach at now-closed Schenley High School is trying to assure opposing coaches the Spartans' athletic program is alive and well for the 2008-09 school year.

'Everything is basically the same,' Bell said. 'Just the building is different.'

The entire Schenley sports program, including 14 varsity teams, will compete this season despite Wednesday's 5-4 vote by the Pittsburgh Public School Board to shut down the 92-year-old school."

By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, June 28, 2008

Buzz up!
Post to MySpace!
StumbleUpon Toolbar


Jason Bell's phone keeps ringing this week.

The first-year football coach at now-closed Schenley High School is trying to assure opposing coaches the Spartans' athletic program is alive and well for the 2008-09 school year.

"Everything is basically the same," Bell said. "Just the building is different."

The entire Schenley sports program, including 14 varsity teams, will compete this season despite Wednesday's 5-4 vote by the Pittsburgh Public School Board to shut down the 92-year-old school.

story continues below



After the 2008-09 school year, no one is quite sure the fate of Schenley athletics, which has produced star basketball players such as Maurice Lucas, DeJuan Blair and Kenny Durrett.

"We know for certain that (this season) we are going to be OK," said Ken Saybel, Schenley's athletic director. "Beyond that, we're all a little bit confused about this whole thing."

City League director of athletics Mike Gavlik said the 2008 football schedule includes the Spartans. Schenley opens the season Aug. 29 against Westinghouse at Cupples Stadium.

Shady Side Academy football coach Dave Havern called Bell on Thursday regarding the school's closing and the impact on their August scrimmage.

"He was upset," Bell said. "A lot of people don't realize (we're still playing)."

Here is how it works: The students will be sent to the former Reizenstein Middle School in East Liberty, Frick School in Oakland, University Prep (the former Milliones Middle School) in the Hill District, or Peabody High. But they will all be considered Schenley students -- except for the incoming Peabody freshmen.

The official name is now Pittsburgh Schenley at Reizenstein.

"We'll just keep it Schenley," said Bell, noting that the same red and black uniforms will remain.

The football team will continue to practice on the field behind University Prep, being bussed from Reizenstein, where the vast majority of the varsity team will attend.

John Tokarski, a rising senior in football and baseball, said his Schenley teammates are wondering how it will work out.

"It kind of annoys me," he said. "I'm a captain on both teams, and I'm supposed to have leadership. (My teammates) ask me questions, and I don't have answers.

"I don't want to say it's an inconvenience, but compared to being at Schenley ... Now the locker room will be at (University Prep). What if we need some equipment cleaned or worked on? We're at Reizenstein. I think it wasn't thought all the way through."

Tokarski's sister Leeza will be a freshman this fall at Frick, where she will play soccer. But most of her teammates will be at Reizenstein.

"How's she supposed to bond with the team when she doesn't see them except for practice?" John Tokarski asked.

But Bell said the Spartans will get improved facilities, including a new locker room at University Prep. Many of the athletic facilities at Reizenstein are superior to those at Schenley. Vacant since the end of the 2005-06 school year, Reizenstein will have an enrollment of about 690 students in grades 10 through 12.

"It's a beautiful building," Saybel said. "As far as athletics go, it's positive."

At least half of the school's varsity sports will practice and play at Reizenstein, including basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and wrestling, Saybel said.

Kevin Reid, a second-year boys' basketball coach, isn't excited about the new setup. He called the gym at Reizenstein "inadequate" even though it has similar seating capacity to the facility at Schenley.

"It's going to be almost impossible to run a sports program from four schools," he said. "But all of the coaches are going to try to get it to work."

Students who play for Schenley will take school buses to their practice site and, if needed, be given PAT bus cards to return home after practice.

As for the future of Spartans athletics, Saybel said it is futile to predict.

"We are in the dark now," Saybel said. "We don't know if kids from University Prep will play for us or if they will have their own team."

Bell, who expects about 65 players in the football program, is optimistic.

"Our kids will persevere," he said. "We had a tough year last year. One of our kids' house caught fire (during) practice. Another one of our kids was at a JV game when he found out his mom had passed away. Our kids have been through a lot. We'll take this in stride. We'll be OK."

John Grupp can be reached at jgrupp@tribweb.com or 412-320-7930.

Talking about sports in the city

City School Athlethic Facilities, really people from Kenneth Miller on Vimeo.

Erik Rauterkus, my son, is talking with Kenneth Miller. This has been shown on PCTV 21.

Before: There was a blimp! Now there is a Super PAC for Ron Paul

Fw: [PURE Reform] New comment on Articles on the start of school at Westinghouse.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: Mark Rauterkus <noreply-comment@blogger.com>

Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 10:38:33 -0700 (PDT)

To: <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>

Subject: [PURE Reform] New comment on Articles on the start of school at Westinghouse.

Mark Rauterkus has left a new comment on the post "Articles on the start of school at Westinghouse":

Globally, I have no problems with the efforts to keep the police and the judges, as well as the overlords from where ever out of, or at arms length from our students, classrooms, schools and districts.

Adult matters, different response. Heartbeat.

However, transparency matters greatly.

And, IMNSHO, transparency matters far more than privacy, as we are dealing with communities where elements get mixed easily among the kids, quickly and freely. So, info to others is often the best policy, rather than ignorance in the name of privacy, or worse, dirty little secrets.

Water polo recap from Sarah

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=14JSl3J4JBR2gFSOYb9Dh_saTGWS5uedPwXHoks6dUag

Join the Western PA Wheelmen on Fall Rally - Sept 11 - 35, 65, 100 mile routes

WPW Fall Rally – Sunday Sept 11 – North Park – Come ride with us! <http://wpwbikeclub.org/?p=358>

Posted on 08/15/2011 <http://wpwbikeclub.org/?p=358> by jimlogan <http://wpwbikeclub.org/?author=28>

The Fall Rally starts in North Park at the Olympia Grove, at the intersection of Pierce Mill and North Ridge drive. Registration opens at 6:30 at the site. Maps and cue sheets will be available. Please feel free to start as soon as you register. The following starting times are recommended so you will not be too early (or late!) for any of the rest stops.
100 miles 7:00 am
65 miles 8:00 am
35 miles 9:00 am
Family Fun 10K 11:30 am

Route: The Century riders start off on the 35 mile course, which loops to the north and passes back through the start area for the first rest stop. The 65 mile, Metric century loop is to the north and west of the park. This loop has two rest stops. The first at Riverside high school and a second at Brush Creek park. The courses are similar to last year's, with a few changes to avoid roads and bridges that are under construction. While we recommend taking a cue sheet, all routes will be marked with arrows on the pavement at frequent intervals.

Food: There are two rest stops on the 65 mile loop, and we will provide a post ride lunch at Miller Grove in North Park. There will be water and snacks available at the ride start.

Support: A sag will be available to pick up those who can\'t finish due to bike problems or fatigue. (You and your bike are expected to be in good shape before the ride starts. And please … carry a spare tube.) The cue sheet will have a sag phone number.

Free to WPW members. WPW memberships available day-of for $20. Members can bring their family for the Family fun 10k.

Contact: For bike ride information contact VIA E-MAIL: aagaburri@verizon.net
www.wpwbikeclub.org

 


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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: [DW] Sustainable civic hacking - mySociety, App contests beyond the bandwagon

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Steven Clift
Date: Friday, September 2, 2011
Subject: [DW] Sustainable civic hacking - mySociety, App contests beyond the bandwagon
To: newswire@groups.dowire.org


Two great articles:

How to create sustainable open data projects with purpose
Tom Steinberg on making a website vs making a difference.
by Tom Steinberg  | @mysociety  | +Tom Steinberg  | Comments: 4 | 30 August 2011
http://radar.oreilly.com/2011/08/how-to-create-sustainable-open.html

Everyone jumped on the app contest bandwagon. Now what?
The next wave of government app contests need to incorporate
sustainability, community, and civic value.
by Alex Howard | @digiphile  | +Alex Howard  | Comments: 5 | 19 August 2011
http://radar.oreilly.com/2011/08/app-contests-sustainability-usability.html

My comments below ...

As the likely original person suggesting FixMyStreet should be
FixOurStreet to my friend Tom ;-), I enjoy his laser focus on the end
user. I do want to counter and say that I do see a continuing problem
with narrow, often one-time online experiences, from my community
builder perspective. If "my" marketing and a focused problem-solving
service brings more people into a service, how do you leverage that
engagement as an organizer for broader civic purposes/good? What I
really really like about FixMyTransport is that it really is that by
definition it is a broader -OUR- public service. So "my" marketing
aside, it will be interesting to see this effort unfolds.

One quick lesson, our city-wide "online townhall model" -
http://e-democracy.org/if - attracts some 1% of households for
engagement that often lasts _years_. As Tom might say, most people
don't wake up and say, I want to engage my city government today. Too
abstract. On the other hand, in a few neighborhoods in Minneapolis,
our model using the exact same technology, rules, facilitation, etc.
as a "neighbors forum" is attracting 20% household participation (or
over 800 members in my neighborhood - http://e-democracy.org/se ).
Someone loses a pet, joins us, then finds their pet ... 9 times out of
10 they stay on our general purpose neighbor-to-neighbor exchange and
are exposed to the serendipity of local exchange they would not have
click on or searched out. The silos of local interest can and must be
broken at a level where the common interest in protecting or building
your very local community trumps differences in ideology, ethnicity,
income, etc. which often divide us.

To me this points out the missed opportunity for mySociety and many
other break through projects - you have place-based participants, why
not put some trust into those who want to connect for more generalist
local purposes and channel them into spaces so they can reach critical
mass? I am continuously amazed by the capacity of local people, once
they have an ice breaking online public space, to not just ask someone
else to fix something for them, but to share ideas and take action.

Steven Clift


Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com
  Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.Org
  Follow me - http://twitter.com/democracy
  New Tel: +1.612.234.7072

-----------------------------------------
Group home for Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire:
http://groups.dowire.org/groups/newswire

Replies go to members of Newswire - Steven Clift's Democracies Online Newswire with all posts on this topic here:
http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/3Yjq4Rut48txbXd2DqdoSQ



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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

New bike shop in town to do electric bikes

From china - bike

If I had some money, I would have done this three years ago.

Spectacular Eden Park Opening Ceremony set to kick-off Tournament

If you cannot view this email, please click here <http://www.rugbyworldcupnews.com/mail/display.php?M=533161&C=9872a387828d192362b024e7ab7b4e5b&S=689&L=2&N=342>.

 
  <http://www.rugbyworldcupnews.com/mail/admin/temp/templates/3/media_header.jpg>  
  <http://www.rugbyworldcupnews.com/mail/admin/temp/templates/3/menu-bar.jpg>  
             
   

MEDIA RELEASE
2 September, 2011 

Spectacular Eden Park Opening Ceremony set to kick-off Tournament

Key role for New Zealand sporting legend
Fans urged to be in seats by 7pm
4,000 tickets still available
NZ broadcasters Petra Bagust and Jeremy Corbett to warm up crowd

Tournament Organisers for Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) today unveiled some key elements of the Opening Ceremony which will kick-off the seventh Rugby World Cup at 7.30pm (NZT) on Friday, September 9, including a key role for a New Zealand sports star.

"In one week's time, the world will be watching us as the seventh Rugby World Cup gets underway," said Martin Snedden, CEO for Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011.

"We promise all fans, at Eden Park, and those watching from afar, a night to remember.

"It is the perfect double bill – a spectacular Opening Ceremony, the likes of which New Zealand sports fans will not have experienced in this country, coupled with two great Pacific nations kicking off Rugby's showpiece Tournament."

Host nation New Zealand plays Tonga in the opening match which starts at 8.30pm (NZT).

Unique flavour

Mr Snedden said the Opening Ceremony signals the official start of the Tournament and is the first opportunity for Kiwi fans to see some dazzling video projection technology not seen on such a scale before in New Zealand.

The 30 minute ceremony will tell the story of New Zealand and its unique place in the Pacific and represent the coming together of countries from around the world in New Zealand in pursuit of Rugby's greatest prize.

A New Zealand sporting legend will also have a special role, but Tournament Organisers say exactly who and what they will do is being kept under wraps.

"Rest assured he or she will play a pivotal role in the ceremony.

"There will also be special recognition of Christchurch, which lost its role as a host city for RWC 2011 following February's tragic earthquake.

"As well, there will be a unique interpretation of the official Tournament song World in Union featuring the combined talents of over 400 singers, in a performance that will have a special Pacific flavour.

"The performance will sum up the cosmopolitan character of our young nation with singers of Maori, Pakeha, Samoan, Fijian, Cook Island, Niuean, Tongan, Tokelauan, Australian, Chinese, Korean, English, Irish, Danish, American, Canadian, Dutch, South African and Indian descent.

"The ceremony will be a powerful tribute to New Zealand's creative skills. Some of our finest talent have been working hard to show the world why we are such a skilled and innovative country so this is their chance to shine on the world stage. We have drawn on many of our best choreographers, costume designers, set builders, musicians and many others, plus a cast of 1000 volunteer performers who have given up their time to be part of this amazing show.

"The ceremony has also been masterminded by one of the world's best live event companies, David Atkins Enterprises (DAE), which has staged many other spectacular opening events such as the Vancouver Winter Olympics and Sydney Olympic Games so fans are in for a special night.

"DAE have assembled an amazing team of New Zealand creative talent who have given the ceremony a uniquely Kiwi feel."

Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset, who arrived in Auckland on Wednesday, expects the Opening Ceremony to be the most exciting and spectacular in the history of Rugby World Cup.

"Fans attending the Opening Match and the millions around the world watching on television are going to be in for a real treat.

"The ceremony will be a celebration of New Zealand and its rich cultural and Rugby heritage, the history of the Game and the values that binds it together. It promises to be spectacular and I can't wait to see it.

"There is no doubt that it will set the tone for what will be a very special and successful Rugby World Cup."

Get there early

Broadcasters Petra Bagust and Jeremy Corbett will welcome fans to the stadium from 7pm and plan a few tricks of their own to entertain the crowd.

"We don't want fans to miss any of the action so our best advice is get there by 7pm because the show will start at 7.30pm sharp," said Mr Snedden.

"With an international television audience estimated at over 50 million everything needs to run to a tight schedule. We want the perfect start to this Tournament so we urge Kiwi fans to do their bit when the world switches on to watch New Zealand's big night and don't delay getting to Eden Park."

The good news for fans who have yet to purchase is that 4,000 tickets are still available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets <http://www.rugbyworldcupnews.com/mail/link.php?M=533161&N=689&L=59&F=H> and at selected Ticketek outlets.

Ends

The RWC 2011 Opening Ceremony – some facts

Start time: 7.30pm Friday 9 September
Pre-show start time: 7.00pm
Duration: 30 minutes
1,000 performers
200 back stage production crew
200 back stage support volunteers
400 performers to sing World in Union
8,000 blades of flax harvested and 9.5kms of silk to be used in costumes
During rehearsals, performers and crew consumed:

13,122 muesli bars
5,740 litres of water
5,636 hot drinks

<http://../../Recruitment+Alerts/Recruitment+Alert_clip_image001.gif> 

Official Travel and Hospitality Programme: Tickets packages are still available through the Official Travel and Hospitality Programme. Visit www.rth2011.com <http://www.rugbyworldcupnews.com/mail/link.php?M=88827&N=621&L=23&F=H> to book your packages now.

About Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd (RNZ 2011): RNZ 2011 was established in June 2006, following the selection of the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) as the Host Union for RWC 2011 by the IRB Council in November 2005. It is the organisation responsible for the planning and delivery of RWC 2011 in New Zealand on behalf of its shareholders, the NZRU and the New Zealand Government.

About IRB Rugby World Cup: IRB Rugby World Cup is the third largest sports event in the world. The inaugural tournament took place in 1987 and it is held every four years. In 2007 the sixth tournament was held in France and enjoyed a cumulative worldwide broadcast audience of more than four billion.

For the latest on RWC 2011 visit www.rugbyworldcup.com <http://www.rugbyworldcupnews.com/mail/link.php?M=533161&N=689&L=11&F=H>.


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Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: JC Penney breaks promise to families following deadly fire

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Judy Gearhart, International Labor Rights Forum
Date: Thursday, September 1, 2011
Subject: JC Penney breaks promise to families following deadly fire
To: Mark@rauterkus.com



Call on J.C. Penney to institute fire safety and justly compensate families -- send a letter now >> <http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HO0bvjuvfFjakCQWcttHatldNylKj2HG>

Dear Mark,

Last December, 30 Bangladeshi factory workers perished in an easily preventable fire that broke out in the unsafe, multi-story sweatshop in which they were working.

Following the fire, over 65,000 ILRF supporters and Change.org members called on U.S. apparel brands sourcing from the factory to assume responsibility for fair compensation for the affected workers' families and to take meaningful steps to stop the epidemic of workplace deaths at their suppliers in Bangladesh. But further action is needed now <http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=vU9tEyNzruMUrTwvu35Rz9ldNylKj2HG>.

Most U.S. apparel brands that were doing business with the factory have now signed a commitment to act, but J.C. Penney has shamefully broken this pledge. While other brands continue negotiating in good faith to establish an adequate worker compensation fund and sustainable fire safety initiatives, J.C. Penney has dropped out of this initiative, despite its initial commitment to support these efforts.

We need your help to send a message calling on J.C. Penney to honor the commitments the company made in January.

Sign the new petition to J.C. Penney now! <http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=qwkir%2BmhftoDBHz%2FI4ggeNldNylKj2HG>

In Bangladesh, nearly 500 workers have died in factory fires during the past five years. Establishing effective initiatives to prevent fires like this from occurring again is critical. Nothing less than workers' lives are at stake. Don't let J.C. Penney walk away from workers in Bangladesh.

Are you on Twitter? Help JCPenney feel the heat by tweeting along these lines: 

@JCPenney: honor your commitment to compensate Bangladeshi factory fire victims & adopt fire safety. http://tinyurl.com/jcpfiresafety @ILRF

Thank you,

Judy Gearhart

------------------------

This message was brought to you by the International Labor Rights Forum <http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=qfVzTLmE8TZeHXGIkcDSRdldNylKj2HG>.

Donate <http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=i2jyaUdSAif5icS3WOz2ztldNylKj2HG> | Subscribe <http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=X4778zRvPjT66O1IK9RletldNylKj2HG> | Unsubscribe <http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5kKypoqPULSk7vIscvSAL9ldNylKj2HG>

<http://www.salsalabs.com/?email>


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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: Neighborhood Learning Alliance Supports More Than 250 Students This Summer

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Neighborhood Learning Alliance
Date: Thursday, September 1, 2011
Subject: Neighborhood Learning Alliance Supports More Than 250 Students This Summer
To: Mark <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>


Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser <http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0d73f31b85a8a8a698be115a1&id=d39d1f3fae&e=a353c2ac8b>.
<http://www.neighborhoodlearning.org/sites/all/themes/denizen/images/logo.gif> <http://neighborhoodlearning.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0d73f31b85a8a8a698be115a1&id=c9d4b74aa0&e=a353c2ac8b>
<http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d73f31b85a8a8a698be115a1/images/SD1.jpg>   <http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d73f31b85a8a8a698be115a1/images/SD2.jpg>
 
Summer Dreaming   This summer, Neighborhood Learning Alliance (NLA) provided a fun, educational summer camp experience to more than 150 middle school students as part of the PPS Summer Dreamers Academy. NLA offered three camps: Check Mate chess instruction, Make a Splash swim and polo lessons, and Health Smart nutrition- and health-related curriculum and activities.
 
More Than 150 Credits Recovered!  Neighborhood Learning Alliance was hard at work this summer making sure that more than 100 students who needed to make up credits were able to do so before the start of the 2011-12 school year.

In partnership with University Prep, NLA helped more than 75 students recover classes through summer school.
NLA provided transportation and fiscal support to 40 Peabody and Westinghouse students who attended summer school at Allderdice High School.
An additional 10 students recovered classes by attending NovaNet instruction at the NLA offices in East Liberty.

For more information about the work of NLA, contact Stephen MacIsaac, Executive Director, at 412-363-1914 <tel:412-363-1914>, or visit us online at www.neighborhoodlearning.org <http://neighborhoodlearning.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=0d73f31b85a8a8a698be115a1&id=cde1c63276&e=a353c2ac8b>.


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Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Fw: [PURE Reform] New comment on How we got where we are Part XIX (June2008).

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

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From: Old Timer <noreply-comment@blogger.com>

Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 03:36:07 -0700 (PDT)

To: <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>

Subject: [PURE Reform] New comment on How we got where we are Part XIX (June 2008).

Old Timer has left a new comment on the post "How we got where we are Part XIX (June 2008)":

Mr.Moss was one of four teachers who won slots with the PFT--against all odds and against the "slate" choices of Tarka's gang.

They won and represent a mandate from teachers....and Tarka's response has been to try and mute them at all turns.

Dirty. This is a dirty union.

If we say that those making choice in government--indeed, within school boards and administrations--are corrupt, then you would have to put PFT leadership even lower than that.

Ethically bankrupt.

Any teacher who does not vote this do-nothing, capitulating, cowardly leadership OUT this year truly IS a fool.

I only hope a new president like Mark Sammartino can clean house and amend "bylaws" that do nothing but insure that they are untouchable.

Each teacher pays $800 in union dues. You might as well call that theft.

Post a comment.

Unsubscribe to comments on this post.

Posted by Old Timer to PURE Reform at September 1, 2011 5:44 AM

20 Years Ago...

From: Glenn A. Walsh

Today (August 31) at 5:00 p.m. EDT, twenty years ago, Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center) closed as a public museum.

This was Saturday of the Labor Day Weekend in 1991. I had issued a memorandum to Pat Weidman, Director of the Department of Visitor Services and Volunteers, suggesting that the last day of public visitation should be Labor Day, September 2. This would give Pittsburghers two additional days to visit Buhl Planetarium before it closed, as well as give Buhl the additional income from these nostalgic visitors. This would have had no effect on the move to the new Science Center building, as nothing would be moved during the holiday weekend.

However, when Pat Weidman took my suggestion to the Management Committee, it was rejected. It was obvious that Buhl Science Center Director Al DeSena and other Program staff had no interest in giving the public extra time to see Buhl Planetarium. They only thought about the glory of opening the new science center building. Since they had no intentions of being in the Buhl building on Labor Day, the final day of visitation would be the last day they would be in the building for the evening's special member event--that Saturday evening.

The building and most equipment and artifacts continued as the "Allegheny Square Annex, The Carnegie Science Center" until February of 1994 when the building was completely abandoned by The Carnegie Science Center. Science Center science and computer classes, and teacher development programs, were centered in the original Buhl building during this time period.

Originally, the new Carnegie Science Center building had specifically been constructed without classroom space. During Pittsburgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri's Administration, the city and the Science Center had agreed, through what could be called a "gentleman's agreement," that the Science Center would not abandon the original Buhl Planetarium building. However, after a couple years of operation of the "Allegheny Square Annex," and after the untimely death of Mayor Richard Caliguiri and a new city administration, the Science Center's agreement to continue operating the original building was conveniently forgotten.

After abandoning the building, the Science Center attempted to sell-off the historic Zeiss II Planetarium Projector and 10-inch Siderostat-type, Refractor Telescope to a college south of Dallas. The irony is that the college had no intent to actually use the equipment, but only to display them as antique artifacts (but for how long?). Had these pieces of equipment left the city at that time, there might have been an excuse to tear-down the building.

A grass-roots effort, helped by many of you, stopped this sale of historic Pittsburgh artifacts. At this link, you can learn more about the efforts to stop the sale of the Zeiss and Siderostat:

http://buhlplanetarium3.tripod.com/Buhlnews.htm#1995hearing

Although we won the battle to keep the historic equipment, the historic equipment and artifacts remained in an empty and unused building for several years. Proposals to reuse the Buhl Planetarium building, which would have kept the historic equipment and artifacts in-place and occasionally used, were considered but fell-through for both financial and political reasons. Such proposals included a Pittsburgh Public Schools Center for Gifted Children, Italian-American Cultural Center, and an annex of the National Aviary.

In 2000, the Children's Museum started planning an expansion into the Buhl Planetarium building. However, despite strong lobbying efforts, they refused to keep most of the historic equipment and artifacts in the building. The Carnegie Science Center quickly agreed to move the Zeiss Projector, Siderostat Telescope, and the large Mercator's Projection Map of the World into a warehouse, to ensure they would not be used in competition with The Carnegie Science Center.

A couple years later, the city loaned the large U.S. Steel mural, "The Rise of Steel Technology" by Nat H. Youngblood, to the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area/Museum in Homestead.

The first floor's Great Hall was reused by the Children's Museum as a cafe, but the east wall was replaced with a huge window, to view the historic clock tower and entrance to the Allegheny Regional Branch of Carnegie Library. The destruction of this wall included the destruction of an astronomical verse from the Bible, inscribed on the exterior of the wall. The wall remnants of this Bible verse remain in storage, as does the Civil Defense sign that had been mounted outside the building's entrance.

The Great Hall's grand clock continues in use. And, the Children's Museum did return to the Great Hall, from the Science Center, the original Buhl Planetarium Foucault Pendulum.

Bowdish Gallery, which had been home of the Miniature Railroad and Village, was turned into a small auditorium/exhibit gallery, with the reuse of 40 original seats from Buhl's Little Science Theater (LST). The reuse of original LST chairs was the only suggestion I made that the Children's Museum implemented. Radio studios of the weekly Saturday Morning Light Brigade children's radio program were constructed in the former miniature railroad maintenance areas east of Bowdish Gallery.

The Mezzanine Gallery is now used as a temporary gallery/program area. The Octagon Gallery, which did not have good handicapped access, is now used as a workshop. The original Buhl Planetarium Workshop was rented to a small nonprofit organization, as were the Discovery Lab (Lab 1) and Lab 2 classrooms.

The Theater of the Stars (Planetarium Theater) and the Little Science Theater were converted into exhibit galleries. The Hall of the Universe is now used as a traveling exhibits gallery.

The second floor office area and Buhl Library are now used for daily children's classes. The third floor Observatory is now used as a Children's Museum Board Room.

Last year, The Carnegie Science Center finally reassembled the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector as a non-usable, static exhibit at the extreme western end of the Science Center's first floor Atrium Gallery (next to the entrance to their Science Stage theater).

The 10-inch Siderostat-type, Refractor Telescope and the Mercator's Projection Map of the World remain, dismantled, in a Science Center warehouse. The Science Center claims they will be reassembled and reused with an expansion of the Science Center building. The Science Center has filed plans for an expanded Science Center building with the city. However, there have been no efforts toward developing a specific timeline and finding funding for such building expansion.

The original Buhl Planetarium building was custom-built to include the Zeiss Projector (inside a 65-foot diameter planetarium dome) and the Siderostat Telescope. Without replication of these specific chambers, the Zeiss Projector and Siderostat Telescope cannot be reused.

It is obvious that the Science Center has no intentions of replicating Buhl's Theater of the Stars. Although they claim they will replicate Buhl's Observatory, they have no firm plans or funding to do so; such a new siderostat observatory would only spend money replicating a chamber that already exists.

It continues to be the case that the most cost-effective way to reuse the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector and the 10-inch Siderostat-type, Refractor Telescope will be to convert the original Theater of the Stars and Buhl Observatory back to their original functions. Then, these historic pieces of astronomical apparatus, which exquisitely taught science to the public for more than 50 years, can return to teaching science to the young visitors to the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < siderostat1989@yahoo.com >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
  < http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com >
* Civil War Museum of Andrew Carnegie Free Library:
  < http://garespypost.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
  < http://inclinedplane.tripod.com >


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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: How we got where we are, part 19, June 25, 2008.

Blast from the past about PPS as the school year nears.

Those in 9th grade begins on Wednesday. Westinghouse started last week.

This series generally is published at another blog, http://purereform.blogspot.com.

How we got where we are, part 19, June 25, 2008 continued:

June 25, 2008: In the face of continued enrollment decline, the Board approved:

- Opening "a new 6-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focused magnet school at the Frick facility. The STEM school will be phased in beginning with grades 6-9 for the 2009-10 school year." Oh but wait! What happen to the Westinghouse Science and Math program (SAM) that was so successful? After investing millions of dollars in the renovations of Westinghouse, including the state of the art science labs, PPS decided to abandon them. I hear now some of those expensive class room rooms  that were set up as science labs are being used to teach English and other non science courses. What a waste.

- Opening "a new 6-12 International Baccalaureate (IB) school focused on language and culture. The IB School will be phased in, beginning with grades 6-10 for the 2009-10 school year and be located at the Reizenstein facility at least through the 2011-12 school year. The IB offers a continuum of high-quality education that encourages international-mindedness and a positive attitude to learning." This is a great program for the few. But the reality is less than 20% of the students  who are actually in the program get the IB Diploma. There are major barriers along the way for completion to include the cost of sitting for the exams. 

This IB item was amended to include language that "The Board will work with the Superintendent to create a committee to include Administration, Teachers, Students, Parents, and Community Leaders to determine the best permanent home for the IS/IB Programs." Or better put, lets create a IB site selection committee and take over the Peabody building. But first we must put the Peabody neighborhood feeder pattern kids out of their own building because they are not good enough to be in the same building with the IB students. 

PPS tried blending  two schools. This short lived experiment  was with the remainder of the Schenley students from the hill, with the new IB students who had come over from Frick. There were a few Schenley student loyalist who didn't leave Schenley once PPS broke up their school. But PPS didn't feel the blending worked and it was doomed for the start. PPS separated the Schenley students from the IB student by floors, staff, principals and Pods. So what can we do with the students from, Larmer, East liberty, Garfield, Bloomfield, lawrenceville, Stanton Heights, Morningside and friendship. We have to make way for the new East liberty development and Highland Park?  Someone had a brilliant ideal. Bingo!  It was decided to send the remainder of the Peabody students to Homewood, i.e. Westinghouse, or the Hill, i.e. Uprep, which began the process of re-segregating the schools. But no one will notice or care, will they? Did they notice how PPS did Schenley?

- Closing "the Schenley facility for use as a school effective June 30, 2008. Pursuant to 24 P. S. 7-780 of the Public School Code of 1949, as amended, the Board conducted a public hearing on November 27, 2007 in order to take public comment on the proposed closing of the Schenley facility."

This item was also amended to include language that "The Board will work with the Superintendent to create a committee to include District, community, and other governmental representatives to work together to pursue several long-term options for use, investment and/or renovation of this historic landmark."

- Relocating "Pittsburgh Schenley grades 10, 11 and 12 and to establish Pittsburgh Schenley as a 10-12 school at the Reizenstein facility beginning with the 2008-09 school year. The Pittsburgh Schenley school will be reduced by one grade per year and remain at the Reizenstein facility until its last class graduates in 2010-11....To allow the students of Pittsburgh Schenley to remain together at the Reizenstein facility until the final class graduates in 2010-11." This way we can eliminate the Schenley alumni and legacy because they may rise again as they gave us a little scare. For a minute there it looked like they were going to put up a real fight to save their school. It was only one of the most diverse schools in the district, and lords knows we can have that.

Architects are approved for the temporary relocation to Reizenstein and the Frick renovation for Sci-Tech. And big time money is about to be spent so we can't go back now. Plus why not get the Reizenstein building really ready for who we want to sell it too, with tax payers dollars since we are moving the IB program to Peabody. We just want to make the IB site selection committee think they have a real say so in where they will move the IB program to. Even though PPS paid the Dejong group, a facilities study company, $500,000.00 to tell PPS what facilities were the best and they ranked them. Oh did I say that the Dejong advised that the IB program stay at Reizenstein? Sorry its a secret.

Board member Randall Taylor remarks, "I think it's a very, very historic meeting that we have this evening, and some of the decisions that this Board may have I think may have long-term implications for this District, and it may have again long-term impact on the type of services and the type of choices that we like to be able to offer our students. The District, as we know our finances are not in the greatest of condition, and I believe that some of the proposals on the table this evening are going to exacerbate our I think very poor financial position."

Mr. Taylor makes a motion to move Schenley into the Peabody building.  He notes, "So I think a proposal of Peabody is financially a better proposal than the administration's proposal, and I think educationally it's a better proposal because it preserved Schenley High School as the excellent facility all their teachers and all their programs in another building." 

Mr. Roosevelt contends that Peabody is too small and perhaps it is here that we see why former Chief Operations Officer Richard Fellers was exiled and forced to retire. 

Mr. Taylor continues, "It's a senior person very much involved over the years with our school closing and the number they gave me was 1,700 or 1,800 students that fit in Peabody High School. Absolutely." Oh Randall you don't know what your talking about do you? Opps let me be quiet  I forgot he went there and knows Peabody can hold the students, because that's what it had when he was there, and the building didn't shrink did it?

Solicitor Weiss' comments that the Board has already approved construction contracts for Milliones and Reizensten; his opinion holds sway over the majority. Therefore the thought is I guess we better spend that money now before the people find out that in 2011 and...... we will be broke and having to lay off over 300 people and close more schools. Naw that cant be true can it?

Taylor's motion is defeated 2-7.


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Ta.

 

 

Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com      http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

http://FixPA.wikia.com

http://CLOH.wikia.com

412 298 3432 = cell

Summer Olympic Games 2012: Ottawa area athletes with a dream

Summer Olympic Games 2012: Ottawa area athletes with a dream

What area athletes are aiming for the Olympics from the greater Pittsburgh area? Any?

We know some swimmers with Olympic trials cuts.

Great video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjEVUhYqqE&feature=youtube_gdata_player