So, the what of the Rivers Casino's tax assessment appeal for years 2009-2013 - an appeal that if they win will force the Pittsburgh School District to write a check to the Casino for somewhere in the ballpark of $5 million dollars!
So much for the new Casino benefiting our communities! I would like to have as many community groups as possible sign an open letter to the Casino (that we could hopefully get printed in the paper) to tell them to stop their appeals. This is mostly to shame the Casino - whose owner, Neil Bluhm, is on the record in New York telling investors about the hundreds of millions of dollars they are making at the Rivers just weeks before he testified in Allegheny County tax court that "in 20/20 hindsight he never would've made the investment here" because they've lost so much on their investment(!) - and to scare other major real estate holders and corporations from taking on the same sort of appeals and deprive our schools of even more desperately needed funds. I'll be reaching out by phone about this soon, starting with those of you directly involved with education focused groups, but please, if this interests you, reach out to me now and we can figure out how best to work together on it.
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Rivers Casino wants what?
Got an email from Rose that read in part:
Pitt has Big East flap pulled from Allegheny County to Federal Courts
See the court papers from Pitt about the case.
http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/File:BIG_EAST_COMPLAINT.pdf
Now that's Drama! Pittsburgh High School kids got a taste of bigots in the Culture District
Link to a story in the school newspaper about the CLO treatment of a high school theater group at the awards night.
http://www.obamaeagle.org/top-stories/2012/06/05/obama-drama-voices-protest-over-gene-kelly-awards/
I'm proud that the school newspaper did such an article.
Tweet it!
Update:
A friend posted speculation that this will all be worked out and that the article will be taken down from the website. My reply is different. I said, "No way will the article be taken down from the school paper. That would be more of an outrage than the crap the kids experienced in the Cultural District that day.
I'm proud that the school newspaper did such an article.
Tweet it!
Update:
A friend posted speculation that this will all be worked out and that the article will be taken down from the website. My reply is different. I said, "No way will the article be taken down from the school paper. That would be more of an outrage than the crap the kids experienced in the Cultural District that day.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Schools are getting an "F" in this graphic.
I didn't create it, just re-posting it. Food for thought. Chew as you wish, mouth open or closed is fine.
Via: OnlineEducation.net
Via: OnlineEducation.net
Saturday, June 02, 2012
Graduation speech for the kids from Glenbrook Evening High School
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight
you, then you win."
Last night I was invited to deliver the Commencement Address to
the Graduating class of 2012 at my high school.
Consider this a great milestone for our efforts to restore America.
Why?
For years we have fought to make our message part of the American
Dialog using every format we can think of... Websites, films,
news shows, flyers, street actions, elections and more...
Despite the attacks from the establishment against our message the
fact that I was given the podium and able to address the young
graduates is a major victory.
We recorded it for you to see and share. I hope it inspires.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W8Zg_-oDbI
Forever Vigilant for Liberty,
Gary Franchi
RTR National Director
FUD kills nations too
From another source on a web thread:
FUD = Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.
The concept of "Romney Supporters" is an Oxymoron. So refer to them instead as the (GOP) "establishment".
The establishment's biggest weakness (problem) is that they embrace the culture of FEAR.
Fear is at the root of our country's problems. These fears have been created, nurtured, expanded, and embedded into our very culture by TPTB for the purpose of manipulating the people into surrendering to tyranny and the NWO. (death of Liberty)
Based on my experience, I think they KNOW that our country is screwed, but because they have such great FEAR they fail to take any action - including mentally recognizing the problems, and therefore doing anything about them - (we would call them "asleep" vs. those with less / no fear are "awake").
Now, because they are driven by their fears, it is much easier for them to "accept" the falsehoods of TPTB and actually embrace evil than it is to "man up" and do what is right. They SUBMIT to SLAVERY because they are COWARDS.
FUD = Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.
Friday, June 01, 2012
Israel and apartheid
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Julian P Heicklen" <jph13@psu.edu>
Date: Jun 1, 2012 9:35 PM
Subject: Israel and apartheid
To: "Julian Heicklen" <jPH13@psu.edu>
From: "Julian P Heicklen" <jph13@psu.edu>
Date: Jun 1, 2012 9:35 PM
Subject: Israel and apartheid
To: "Julian Heicklen" <jPH13@psu.edu>
Hi Tyranny Fighters
I have received e-mails, seen Facebook postings, and videos, where Israel is called an apartheid state.
This e-mail is to clarify this situation.
The world is an apartheid world. It is sending all of its Jews to live in the ghetto called Israel.
Anti-semitism has grown rapidly since 2000 all around the world. Jews are fleeing their native countries.
A significant factor driving this is the emigration of Muslims into many world countries, particularly in Europe.
The Muslims are the world's leading zionists, driving Jews into Israel.
As far as I know, there are only 2 countries in the world where the Jewish population is growing.
These countries are Israel and Germany.
Since the second world war, the Jewish population in Germany has grown from zero to about 100,000, mostly emigrants from the former Soviet Union.
Over the same period, the Jewish population in Israel has grown from about 100,000 to over 6 million.
In all of the rest of the world Jews have been sufficiently badly treated that they left their home countries.
All of Africa, except South Africa and maybe Morocco is cleared of Jews.
All of Asia, except for Iran, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and parts of India have been cleared of Jews.
Vast emigrations now are taking place from Western Europe.
Emigrations are increasing from North America. In Jerusalem, I live in an area of almost total North American Jews.
Please be careful when you use the word apartheid in reference to Israel. Israel is the ghetto. The rest of the world is apartheid.
Yours in freedom and justice—Julian
Monday, May 28, 2012
Teachers teach
Bram is diving into education at his blog. He is way out of his comfort zone, and that's okay from time to time.
I posted this at his blog.
Here is the deal. Bad teachers should be fired. That needs to happen throughout time.
Good teachers in the wrong settings, perhaps, should be moved to different settings once or twice. But, PPS can't be keeping bad teachers.
There are very few bad teachers, but they are exist.
Furthermore, if we did fire bad teachers, then it would be easy to decide who needs to stay and who needs to go based upon years on the job.
Because some bad teachers have stayed too long, because of failures of middle and upper management, and because of a lack of peer review among teachers, we are in a mess.
Yes, teachers need to watch out for other teachers, helping and otherwise.
I wish there was more peer review and more peer pressure.
First, gang up on the teacher (among other teachers, staff and administration and even trusted parents) so that the challenges are overcome to make sure that the students are getting good opportunities, making progress and successes are delivered.
But by the end of the year, the staff needs to realize that the hand holding can't be forever.
Sadly, when a teacher is floundering, they don't get the help. And in due time, they don't get the next assignment nor the boot.
Bad teachers that linger are hurting public education, PPS and the Teachers Union. IMNH, good and great teachers have to carry some (say 5%) of the blame. The principals get the lion's share of the blame. Central Admin gets some too.
Great teachers know what's going on in their buildings.
Ask how much impact in all the rubics outlined in the blog posting are with peer review?
I posted this at his blog.
Here is the deal. Bad teachers should be fired. That needs to happen throughout time.
Good teachers in the wrong settings, perhaps, should be moved to different settings once or twice. But, PPS can't be keeping bad teachers.
There are very few bad teachers, but they are exist.
Furthermore, if we did fire bad teachers, then it would be easy to decide who needs to stay and who needs to go based upon years on the job.
Because some bad teachers have stayed too long, because of failures of middle and upper management, and because of a lack of peer review among teachers, we are in a mess.
Yes, teachers need to watch out for other teachers, helping and otherwise.
I wish there was more peer review and more peer pressure.
First, gang up on the teacher (among other teachers, staff and administration and even trusted parents) so that the challenges are overcome to make sure that the students are getting good opportunities, making progress and successes are delivered.
But by the end of the year, the staff needs to realize that the hand holding can't be forever.
Sadly, when a teacher is floundering, they don't get the help. And in due time, they don't get the next assignment nor the boot.
Bad teachers that linger are hurting public education, PPS and the Teachers Union. IMNH, good and great teachers have to carry some (say 5%) of the blame. The principals get the lion's share of the blame. Central Admin gets some too.
Great teachers know what's going on in their buildings.
Ask how much impact in all the rubics outlined in the blog posting are with peer review?
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Heading to Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday
These students get to go to Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday at 10 am to get a Proclamation. Erik Rauterkus (far right) is the Pennsylvania Youth Governor this year.
Flashback: Four years ago, we were getting set for the Olympics in Beijing
We love the Olympics. In 2008, we went to Beijing. Here is a little slide show from then.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByN94c3Pp4BpYTYyYTMzMWUtZmM1My00NjIwLWE1YWEtYWY3YTMwZmE5OTdk
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByN94c3Pp4BpYTYyYTMzMWUtZmM1My00NjIwLWE1YWEtYWY3YTMwZmE5OTdk
Saturday, May 26, 2012
John Carlos in the UK, before the London Olympics
My life is not about winning medals. My life is about being a freedom fighter.
It is not about "black vs. white." That is what they want us to believe. It is about "right vs. wrong."
Olympic Project for Human Rights.
I am not afraid to offend my oppressor.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Grant jumps from NA Tigers to Princeton Tigers to get ready for possible JO tournament in California in August
USA_Waterpolo_Transfer_Grant_May_2012.bmp
So, this summer Grant might play water polo at the JOs in northern California with a team from Princeton. The deadline for switching one's club status is tomorrow. Grant moved from being a NA Tiger to a Princeton Tiger.
This happens all the time. The NA program is going to field teams in other age groups, but not 14-under boys.
Fwd: Raising money for Obama music programs -- by baking! (PSO concert too)
From: Jean Siegel <jeanmsiegel@gmail.com>
Hi PPS Parents,
Would you please help earn money for PPS Obama Academy's music
programs -- by baking?
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is returning to East Liberty
for a fifth annual Community Engagement Concert at East Liberty
Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
ALL proceeds from the concert will benefit music education programs at
Pittsburgh CAPA, Pittsburgh Dilworth, Pittsburgh Obama, and Hope
Academy of Music and the Arts.
Helen Blier is again running the bake sale after the event, once
again, the proceeds will support the music programs at the 4 schools.
She's a little stricter than I am baking for teachers -- she asks
folks to make something, and to individually wrap the items, so they
can sell them a piece at a time. Please contact Helen at pacem1
-at- gmail -dot- com. Also, Helen would appreciate one or two
volunteers to staff the bake sale as well.
If you're interested in the concert itself, here are the details:
(please buy your tickets at the school from Mr. Schrader, because then
we keep all the money)
Tickets:
$10 - Adults
$ 5 - Students & Seniors 60+
FREE - Children and youth 18 and under with adult
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICALLY IMPORTANT: The proceeds from tickets we sell
at the school before the concert, we get to keep, completely. That's
100%, as in all (A-L-L) of it!
Tickets are available for purchase at the school from Mr. Schrader.
Tickets are also available online at Brown Paper Tickets
www.brownpapertickets.com (online sales will be split between the four
participating schools).
There will be cash sales at the door the evening of the performance
(door sales will also be split between the four schools).
THANK YOU for your support.
Hi PPS Parents,
Would you please help earn money for PPS Obama Academy's music
programs -- by baking?
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is returning to East Liberty
for a fifth annual Community Engagement Concert at East Liberty
Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
ALL proceeds from the concert will benefit music education programs at
Pittsburgh CAPA, Pittsburgh Dilworth, Pittsburgh Obama, and Hope
Academy of Music and the Arts.
Helen Blier is again running the bake sale after the event, once
again, the proceeds will support the music programs at the 4 schools.
She's a little stricter than I am baking for teachers -- she asks
folks to make something, and to individually wrap the items, so they
can sell them a piece at a time. Please contact Helen at pacem1
-at- gmail -dot- com. Also, Helen would appreciate one or two
volunteers to staff the bake sale as well.
If you're interested in the concert itself, here are the details:
(please buy your tickets at the school from Mr. Schrader, because then
we keep all the money)
Tickets:
$10 - Adults
$ 5 - Students & Seniors 60+
FREE - Children and youth 18 and under with adult
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICALLY IMPORTANT: The proceeds from tickets we sell
at the school before the concert, we get to keep, completely. That's
100%, as in all (A-L-L) of it!
Tickets are available for purchase at the school from Mr. Schrader.
Tickets are also available online at Brown Paper Tickets
www.brownpapertickets.com (online sales will be split between the four
participating schools).
There will be cash sales at the door the evening of the performance
(door sales will also be split between the four schools).
THANK YOU for your support.
Fwd: Car Wash / Bake Sale
We are sponsoring a car wash, bake sale with kettle corn, apple crisp.
Busy Beaver - Crafton/Ingram shopping center from 9 to 3 pm on Sat.
May 26, 2012.
Come and let us wash your car and have some apple crisp or kettle corn
while you wait.
From Coach Mike Schneiderlochner
Busy Beaver - Crafton/Ingram shopping center from 9 to 3 pm on Sat.
May 26, 2012.
Come and let us wash your car and have some apple crisp or kettle corn
while you wait.
From Coach Mike Schneiderlochner
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Fwd: Heicklen flees U. S.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Julian P Heicklen <jph13@psu.edu>
From: Julian P Heicklen <jph13@psu.edu>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HEICKLEN FLEES UNITED STATES
Julian Heicklen arrived in Israel on May 22, 2012 as a political exile. He was granted Israel citizenship at customs.
There is a warrant for his arrest in Santa Ana, CA because he distributed pamphlets on the sidewalk in front of the U. S. District Courthouse in Santa Ana. Also he was arrested for the same offense, but the cases were dismissed, in Springfield, MA, Newark, NJ, and 11 times in Manhattan, NY. However the Department of Homeland Security refuses to return his confiscated property.
He was tortured 7 times in 3 New York hospitals and once in a Springfield hospital. He was dragged out of his bed at home at 6:00 am by 11 law enforcement officers and placed in jail in the federal courthouse in Manhattan.
He was arrested by New York City police for standing on the sidewalk in front of the Isaiah wall across from the UN building in New York City and holding two signs which read STOP HATING JEWS. As a result he was incarcerated for two weeks in the Riker's Island jail before his case was dismissed in the interest of justice. However New York City refuses to return his confiscated property.
He has been convicted for criminal contempt of Court in Orlando, FL and sentenced to 145 days in jail for distributing jury information on the sidewalk connecting the county courthouse to the parking lot. The conviction has been appealed, though Heicklen already has served 22 days in the Orange County (Orlando) jail.
In Manhattan, NY he was on trial based on a grand jury indictment forged by the U. S. Attorney. Title 18 USC § 3161(c) states: "In any case in which a plea of not guilty is entered, the trial of a defendant charged in an information or indictment with the commission of an offense shall commence within seventy days from the filing date (and making public) of the information..."
Judge Kimba Wood colluded in the forgery by purposely violating 18 USC § 3161(c) to give the U. S. Attorney time to produce a witness. On at least 2 occasions, undercover agents posed as jurors to entrap Heicklen into jury tampering. Both attempts failed. Heicklen has copies of the recordings. After 18 months with no success, Judge Wood dismissed the charges on April 19, 2012.
THE PRICE OF JUSTICE IS ETERNAL PUBLICITY
The situation described above is the 21st century version of the Watergate scandal of the Nixon administration. Yet the U. S. and world press mostly have ignored this story and refuse to publicize it. Without publicity there will be no justice.
All of the above happened because Heicklen told the truth. The United States is now Nazi Germany of the mid 1930s. Hitler is in the White House. The press is afraid to report the news. The American people are in denial. The United States is the number 1 prison state in the world. The mass executions are still to come.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Fwd: FW: CAPA CABARET TONIGHT, Saturday
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bonita Allen
Dear Friends:
CAPA CABARET is Saturday, 5/19/12, and you can buy tickets at the door ($20 for adults and $15 for students). Please forward this email to everyone you know to support this important fundraiser for the students of CAPA! I am out of town and sad to be missing this big event, but Steve and Erik will be there with money to spend on raffles and auctions. Look below for more information about this incredible event!
CAPA CABARET 2012!
Tickets include live entertainment, light hors d'oeuvres & desserts. There will be wonderful raffle & auction items including student artwork, a KindleFire, a diamond ring, a Lemieux autographed hockey stick and more! An affordable family-friendly event also featuring a 40 minute show of CAPA talent.
Proceeds from this year's event are to benefit all CAPA students by funding their Arts Department programs.
For more information click here: http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/capa/site/default.asp
Event: CAPA CABARET 2012
Hosted by the CAPA PTSA
Location:
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
111 Ninth St
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Thank you for your support and I hope you can attend CAPA Cabaret 2012!
--
--
Ta.
Mark Rauterkus Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim and Water Polo Camp Head Coach with Neighborhood Learning Alliance
http://NeighborhoodLearning.org
http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://FixPA.wikia.com
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell
http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://FixPA.wikia.com
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell
Friday, May 18, 2012
Fwd: PTC Sponsor - Rev Pittsburgh - Grand Opening
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Brett Prince" <brett.prince@gmail.com>
Date: May 18, 2012 12:39 PM
Subject: PTC Sponsor - Rev Pittsburgh - Grand Opening
To:
PTC,
On May 26, one of our new 2012 sponsors, Rev Pittsburgh, is hosting a grand opening event at their facility in Cranberry township:
--
From: "Brett Prince" <brett.prince@gmail.com>
Date: May 18, 2012 12:39 PM
Subject: PTC Sponsor - Rev Pittsburgh - Grand Opening
To:
PTC,
On May 26, one of our new 2012 sponsors, Rev Pittsburgh, is hosting a grand opening event at their facility in Cranberry township:
It's official… REV is open! Let co-owner Frank Velasquez, former strength coach for the Pirates, and co-owner Aimee Slattery, former World Wrestling Rehab Specialist, welcome you to our state of the art 3600 sq. foot turfed facility. Enjoy refreshments, door prizes, 10 min informative "chalk talks" every hour, a FREE chair massage, and talk shop with Pittsburgh Pirates players and staff. It's the one stop shop in care! First of its kind in the area! "There is something for everyone at REV" Visit our REV website at www.REVpgh.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Date: May 26th, 2012 Time: 10am - 2pm Location: 290 Executive Drive #400 Cranberry Twp. PA 16066 Contact: 724-591-8228
10:45 – 10:55am: "Shoulder Care for the Overhead and Throwing Athlete" Frank Velasquez Jr. ATC, CSCS*R
11:45 – 11:55am: "The Female Athlete" Aimee Slattery, PT, MS, CSCS
12:00 – 12:10pm: Official "Ribbon Cutting" Ceremony
12:30 – 12:40pm: "Change without Pain" – Carrie Velasquez, BS, LMT
12:40 – 1:40pm: "Free Chair Massages"
--
Brett Prince
(412) 335-3478
(412) 335-3478
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Water Safety in Schools. Imagine that!
United States House of Representatives formally acknowledges that water safety education should be included in primary and secondary schools. (H.RES.658)
May 15, 2012, marked the Inaugural International Water Safety Day (IWSD) prompting the United States House of Representative via H.RES.658 to formally acknowledge that water safety education should be included in primary and secondary schools. The day was celebrated with water safety tips and lessons by life guards, teachers and swimmers from around the world, including Olympic Great Anthony Ervin and the Michael Phelps Foundation, all striving to make a planet that’s 70 percent water, 100 percent water safe.
This important congressional resolution brings annual in-classroom water safety education on May 15th a step closer for schools across the nation. It also strengthens the critical advocacy work conducted by the water safety community.
Read the full resolution via the Library of Congress: (H.RES.658)
Thanks to the Diversity in Aquatics efforts.
Thanks to the Diversity in Aquatics efforts.
Fwd: Reminder - You're Invited: EPLC Education Policy Forum - May 17 - Pittsburgh
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Education Policy and Leadership Center <robinson@eplc.org>
From: The Education Policy and Leadership Center <robinson@eplc.org>
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