A new platform: The Libertarian Majority

Libertarian Majority: "As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.

This is great.

Singapore will host first Youth Olympics in 2010

SI.com - More Sports - Singapore will host first Youth Olympics in 2010 - Thursday February 21, 2008 8:09AM: "The event, to be held every four years, is designed to encourage youngsters to get involved in sports and spend less time in front of computer and television screens. The first Winter Youth Olympics will be in 2012.

Let's not bash computer screens. I think it would be great to blog at that event. :)

Rogge said broadcasters will be offered free daily television highlights from the Singapore Games.

"We know that youth sport is a difficult issue for broadcasters who are not showing much of it and I regret that," he said. "However, this exposure will be much bigger than for any other junior world championships."

Perhaps we can get the feed and stream them onto PCTV 21.

Vote on closing Schenley High School delayed - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Vote on closing Schenley High School delayed - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "City schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said he delayed a vote on closing Schenley High School to give supporters time to raise money to fix it and to study if it would be cheaper in the long run to repair the structure.

In other Schenley news:

The topic of this evening's PSCC was scheduling for next year's classes. Mrs. Facaros facilitated the meeting with counselors Dr. Dillard and Mrs. Martin. Sample course selection sheets for incoming 9th graders, 10 through 12, and IB Diploma Programmed Course Requirements were available. Counselors will be meeting with each student to plan schedules for next year; students will bring schedules home to be signed.

Grades and records of 10th grade students will be reviewed carefully before students sign for IB courses. An attempt will be made to coordinate the block schedules with non-IB classes for flexibility if the student has difficulty with the IB classes. The goal of scheduling is to find the right level of class for each student.

Schedules for next year are tentative, depending on the outcome of the school board's vote next week on the move to Reizenstein, the expansion of Frick to include 9th grade, the move of 9th grade students to Milliones for university prep, and the move of the tech program to Peabody. For example, if the moves do go through, it will eliminate culinary arts as an elective for all but the Peabody students. With the 9th grade in the basement of Frick, the food prep rooms will be eliminated; Reizenstein does not have facilities for food prep either.

Discussion on proposed moves: As usual when there are Schenley parents, there was an informal discussion of the proposed moves for next year. Time is passing very quickly to have classes in place for next September. As stated above, certain aspects of the schedule will have to be changed depending on the location of various students. If the 9th grade is to remain at Frick, renovations will be needed to the basement floor which currently houses the kitchen, sewing, industrial arts classrooms. After the location of students is determined, the placement of teachers will have to be determined. Teachers who have been trained for the IB program will have priority over teachers who have not been trained. At this time, it is planned that the 9th graders at all "Schenley" sites will follow the high school bell schedules. Teachers, especially world language teachers, will probably travel between the two IS sites. It is possible that buses will transport students for advanced math and after school activities although those details have not been worked out.

A parent requested and Mrs. Facaros will try to arrange a tour of the Reizenstein facility for those who would like to tour the building. This will need to be arranged before any renovations are begun on the building.

Although this was a short meeting, there was a lot of information. If anyone who was at the meeting has anything to add, please email me and I will make corrections/additions.

Next PSCC meeting: March 19. Topic: IB/IS
Please put the April 16 PSCC meeting on your calendar when Duquesne University will be doing a parent evaluation of High School Reform. We need parental input.

amy moore

Great, another institution doing an evaluation on high school reform after the deal has been cut. The evaluation needs to happen in April -- for changes in say 2010 and unfolding to 2014.

David C. Salo is publishing a new book -- June or July 2008

Dave Salo, Ph.D., head men's swim coach at USC, author of the now out of print book, Sprint Salo, is publishing a new book with Human Kinetics.

Sounds good. Total conditioning for swimmers, or something like that.

Can't wait.

Finally the skeleton spotlight to herself. - Wednesday February 20, 2008 2:36PM

We are NOT talking about "BODIES" at the Science Center.

SI.com - More Sports - Katie Uhlaender finally has the American skeleton spotlight to herself. - Wednesday February 20, 2008 2:36PM: "Katie Uhlaender finally has the American skeleton spotlight to herself."

Darfur activists urged to keep Olympics non-political - Wednesday February 20, 2008 10:22AM

SI.com - More Sports - Darfur activists urged to keep Olympics non-political - Wednesday February 20, 2008 10:22AM Beijing Olympics officials defended China's stance on Darfur and appealed to activists Wednesday not to pressure sponsors to pull out of the Games.

Those pesky Darfur activists.... Hey, teacher, leave those kids alone.

Singapore believes size is advantage - Wednesday February 20, 2008 11:20AM

SI.com - More Sports - Singapore believes size is advantage - Wednesday February 20, 2008 11:20AM The Youth Games are likely to only feature one-third of the athletes -- all aged between 14 and 18 competing in 26 sports -- that the Summer Olympics draws.

We are not a rubber stamp. We are the council of the city of Pittsburgh.

Them thar are fighting words from Bruce Kraus.

Gosh. Notes (live blogging) of the city council meeting on Wed, 2-20-08.

Process.

Investigation or Conversation?

"I support a hold," says Jim Motznik. Motznik wants to refer it to somewhere else. Let the buck stop elsewhere.

Bill Peduto introduced a bill to begin an investigation. Too bad there are no others on city council with a backbone.

Even Doug Shields made a wish upon a eclipse that the administration make a statement to rescind the sign deal.

Dan Deasy says that they are a long way off from determining if the sign is appropriate or not. That's called being 'out of touch.'

Rev. Burgess thanks Bill Peduto for his leadership on this matter. The process of how the sign got approved is broken. But he'll want to exhaust the powers of council.

Tonya Payne says we may be getting too far out there. She has not heard one thing from anyone on this issue. Does Tonya read the paper? Does Tonya only live for the mob mentality? She doesn't want to do anything that is so political. She doesn't see the remedy. She is without vision. Her good judgement means following the marching orders of the mayor.

Tonya, the URA is a city authority -- not a state authority, by the way.

Tonya, when things get tossed around in a campaign, such as merging the URA and the City Planning Department, they are NOT real. Campaign chatter is just campaign chatter. Campaign ideas do NOT establish laws.

Tonyna thinks, "If you want to keep this clean -- calling for an investigation only sees who is on whos side." -- NO.

An investigation is NOT a political call. A campaign is a political side struggle.

Bill Peduto says last year is last year. Dennis R, Cathy McN, domestic violence. Bill thinks that city council is powerful and it can pummel. Whew. This isn't just about a billboard. City employees and past city employees put this together. The pattern includes the threat that employees would NOT be able to talk to city councilmembers.

Steps: Zoning, planning, conditional use, bid. Investigate now or get pulled into a lawsuit that the city (Ravenstahl bending over for Lamar Advertising) will not win.

Kraus is proud to sit on this body for an important issue. This is never about politics. It is about our sworn duty. Very difficult territory. One must be willing to leave one's comfort zone. Kraus is unsure about public hearings and post agendas. Kraus is worried about spending taxpayer money if council should hire an attorney. Gosh.

Doug said that this is a civil, not criminal matter. The big fear is the fallout of people being put under oath. Then it gives rise to criminal. None are talking about any criminal matters at this time.

It is a fricking sign. It isn't an important issue. And Pat Ford is playing the city like a fiddle. What is the next verse? Dance on or end the tune?

The cure, for Doug Shields, is to have this go through all the normal steps.

I think that the cure is to fire Pat Ford. Nuke the darn sign too. Then, move to liquidate the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Ravenstahl appoints Lanier treasurer - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ravenstahl appoints Lanier treasurer - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review She will not receive a pay increase.

This is the second new hire that gets a new job title and does NOT get a pay raise.

If I get hired as the newest member of the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board -- the number of new hires without any pay increase would be three!

Really, I'd be 'appointed' -- not 'hired.' The post comes without any pay.

Yesterday, in my public comment at city council, I told Luke Ravenstahl, that I was available. I had sent him a letter in the past.

Slippery Rock Gets One More Year

CollegeSwimming.com::Slippery Rock Gets One More Year “Women’s swimming just completed its 2007-08 season. With the announcement today, students who will be seniors next year know they will have a final season at SRU and underclassmen will have time to evaluate the options concerning their future. Water polo competition begins in March so those student athletes now know definitively this is their final season.”

There is no honor is cutting a team. To have a phase out is okay -- but don't begin to talk about 'honor.'

SRU President, Robert Smith, sucks. May the pox that falls upon him and his career be painful and forever.

I look forward to the return of those teams in better times.

Learn about publishing on the web with these tutorials

Feds tell Pittsburgh schools to destroy recalled beef

Feds tell Pittsburgh schools to destroy recalled beef - Examiner.com: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture has told the Pittsburgh school district to destroy 323 cases of recalled beef."

Where is the beef?
There are a few things that should be recalled in Pgh Public Schools. High School Reform needs to be recalled.

Inside PA Political Elections

The PA Elections Division is to hold the ballot position lottery drawing for delegates and alternate delegates on Wednesday, February 20, 9:30 A.M. in the Keystone Building - Hearing Room #1 (intersection of Forster St. & Commonwealth Ave.).

The last day for D and R party candidates who filed nomination petitions to withdraw has been extended to Friday, Februray 29, 2008, 5 P.M.

Dear Campaign Finance Reform Supporter:

Pittsburgh City Councilmembers need to hear from YOU!

Next TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, at 2 PM, City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed campaign finance reform legislation recently introduced by Councilman Bill Peduto that aims to limit individual and PAC contributions to local politicians in election and non-election years.

As observed in Philadelphia and other cities that have already implemented similar rules, passing this legislation would help to further reform the local government process by limiting the impact of large-scale donors and reducing their access to decision-makers, while also enabling less well-funded candidates to run for office.

To help convince undecided members of Council, I urge you to please consider attending the hearing, along with other members of your organization (or with friends!).

The details of the meeting are below, and the legislation and talking points are attached.

Tuesday, February 26th, at 2 PM in City-Council Chambers
5th Floor, 414 Grant Street

If you would like to make a public comment, please call Linda Johnson-Wassler in advance at 412-255-2138 to sign up.

If you have other questions about the meeting, please call Dan Gilman at 412-255-2133.

Links:

Post-Gazette article announcing the introduction of this legislation:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08007/847284-53.stm

Recent City Paper article with quotes from both sides of the debate:
http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A42016

Thanks in advance!

Julia Nagle
(contact deleted by blog owner)

---

Talking Points for the PEDUTO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM


- Legislation limits the amount any individual can donate to a candidate to $2,500 per year

- Legislation limits the amount any Political Action Committee donations to $5,000 per year

- If a candidate spends more than $250,000 of their own money, the contribution limits for all other candidates double

- Limits the amount a candidate can raise in non-election years. A mayoral candidate can raise no more than $250,000, a controller candidate $100,000, and a council candidate $75,000.

- Prohibits any individual or business that contributes the maximum to a candidate from receiving any no-bid contracts from the City.

- Calls on the City Controller to place all campaign finance reports online

- Requires the Ethics Board to advertise the contribution limits and other aspects of the campaign finance regulations

- May take violators to court for an injunction

- Ethics Board has right to punish for violations

Full bill from Google Document

Costs for 2014 Games have doubled - Tuesday February 19, 2008 11:43AM

SI.com - More Sports - Costs for 2014 Games have doubled - Tuesday February 19, 2008 11:43AM Russia was awarded the games last year, with an ambitious plan to build almost all facilities from scratch at the Black Sea resort. Among them was an elaborate light-rail system leading from the seaside ice-sport venues to the snow sports locations in the Caucasus Mountains 30 miles sway.

Dutch lawmaker calls for Olympic boycott

SI.com - More Sports - Dutch lawmaker calls for Oly boycott - Tuesday February 19, 2008 9:44AM: "Voordewind also suggested setting up a venue in Beijing during the games where visitors can discuss human rights.

He expected opposition from organizers, but said, 'If the Chinese are against the plan, that means they are against human rights.'

Voordewind has only just begun enlisting world support. Neither the Dutch government nor the Olympic Committee have backed him."

Well, there is ONE place to eat Kosher food in Beijing. Perhaps that venue can be a place to chat about human rights.

Did Dan Onorato or Luke Ravenstahl visit with this guy while in the Netherlands?

Perhaps I should.

Texas Looms Larger for a number of reasons

Ron Paul posted:

The DC neocons think their old dream is about to come true. They think they can defeat me in the Republican congressional primary in Texas on March 4th. And you know what? They may be right.

My opponent, who describes himself as a traditional conservative, is a dedicated servitor of all the special interests who have given us the disaster of recent years, from unconstitutional wars to a looming recession, from huge deficits to massive new welfare programs.

A Republican operative allied with the worst forces in DC recently said: "Give what you can [to Ron Paul's opponent]. Ron Paul is running scared -- using his Presidential campaign's donors' money to subsidize a desperate last-minute attempt to save his Congressional seat."

That is a lie, of course. It is illegal to use presidential campaign donations in my congressional race. The congressional campaign has to stand on its own. But so far, we have raised only about a third of what a well-funded effort would need.

In my 10 terms in Congress, I have not only been able to serve my constituents, and help them, for example, negotiate federal red-tape. I have also been able to defend our principles of less spending, lower taxes, no inflation, and strict adherence to the Constitution. Some people in DC laugh at the idea that I should obey my oath of office, and ask first of any proposed legislation, is it constitutional? But I know that you share my support for the vision of the framers.

My friend Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland) was just defeated in his primary election by a neocon fraud similar to the one I face. My friend Walter Jones (R-North Carolina) is under heavy pressure as well. People like our hand-picked opponents will do anything to gain and keep power. They represent everything that is wrong with DC.

If I am defeated in the upcoming congressional primary, our ideas will be held to have been defeated as well. It will be proclaimed from the rooftops in DC that such "ridiculous and outmoded notions" as the free market, sound money, personal liberty, limited government, and a pro-American foreign policy are through.

I am determined not to let this happen. All that you and I believe in is far too important to the future of our country, and to everyone and everything we love, to let the neocons dance on its grave.

Please, help me stop the lies, the distortions, the pressure groups, the special interests that benefit from DC rip-offs. There is still time to run radio and tv ads, to set up phone banks, to get out the vote. But unless you help, my reelection to Congress may be in jeopardy. Please help me return to Congress to fight for the people of my district, and for the ideas that can save our country from the path to trouble we are now on.

I hesitated to ask you, since you have already done so much. But my wife Carol said, "When you need help, you ask your best friends." So I do ask you, to hold out your hand in support.

Please give today http://www.ronpaulforcongress.com, as generously and as quickly as you can.

Sincerely,

Ron

Public comment delivered to Pgh Public School Board and Administration: Schenley High School can stay open

From moments ago, a fellow parent delivered these comments to the Board of Ed and the Administration in public comment. Nick's son and my son are school mates and team mates at Frick Middle School.

Good evening everyone. My name is Nick Lardas. I am a resident of Oakland and am here to speak again as a concerned parent, taxpayer and voter.

I request that the board vote no on moving students out of Schenley HS, and no on further expenditures on HS reform. These issues are interrelated and until complete information and complete plans are available spending any money down any one path is a waste of our precious resources.

Ten days ago because of my engineering & construction expertise I was invited along with a group of construction professionals to tour Schenley HS with some PPS Facilities personnel. Base on that visit and the information in this Facilities Portfolio on Schenley I have concluded that the building is safe for students now and next year. There is no emergency. There is time to plan wisely before spending money.

There is not now, nor have there ever been according to your records any asbestos fibers in the air at Schenley.

According to WJE, your expert, the plaster that fell last summer was the result of prior water and vibration damage that was never fixed. Now that all the plaster has been addressed there is no imminent threat. Furthermore there’s no such thing as sudden catastrophic adhesion failure in 90-year-old gypsum plaster. Go search the web or the public library.

High moisture readings in water damaged plaster are to be expected regardless of humidity levels.

Contrary to what has been reported the ventilation system is partially working. The exhaust fans on the roof penthouses are actively pulling air out of the building. While the intake fans are off, the ducts and dampers are open so makeup air is being drawn into the building through them.

The new windows do not seal well. In fact your facilities personnel are screwing them shut because of this. I don’t understand why you do not have the manufacturer who warranted these windows fixing them.

If you would like to act in an abundance of caution, remove the plaster ceilings in Schenley this summer. This is work that will have to be done as part of the renovation of Schenley, so you will not be throwing money away on any temporary move.

The cost to renovate Schenley according to your portfolio is $37.8 Million, not the higher figures reported.

There is not enough time in the 3 minutes allotted here for me to explain everything I know related to these issues. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with each of you individually or together to more completely explain your own documents, as well as tour Schenley with you and facilities personnel to point out these items. If you are interested my contact information is included below.

Thirty years ago this school district rushed to embrace the latest in educational trends and wasted tens of Millions on open class rooms & windowless schools. Concepts which have proven to be a failure. There is no emergency. The sky is not falling. Don’t be fooled by fancy names and feel good salesmanship. Ask for all the data. Ask for the cost benefit analysis of all the options studied. Take the time to get all the information and make an informed decision.

Respectfully Submitted by:

Nicholas D. Lardas

Nick's contact info has been nuked by the blog owner. If you want it, leave a note in the comments.

Tom Kawczynski pulled out of a race for R nomination for PA House

Tom Kawczynski posted to a public email list this notice. He had been working to get onto the ballot for the Rs in a state house race. Tom lives in Bellvue. He had also been a key organizer for the Ron Paul MeetUps.

Hey Everyone,

Since some of you didn't know, I just wanted to confirm that I am dropping out of my state legislature race. Although I very much wanted to run, and was very grateful that the support so many of you gave, there were circumstances beyond my control that forced me to withdraw. If I had a choice, I would have continued my run, but that did not seem feasible.

I believe now as I ever have that it is important that all of us stay involved, howsoever we choose, to spread the important ideas that this campaign has illuminated. People want to hear about liberty and limited government. I spent a great many hours out there talking to people, house by house, door by door, and they accepted this message. It transcends parties and policies.

For the same reasons that I'm withdrawing from this race, I'm going to be taking a much lower profile. Rest assured this is not because of any change in my ideas, but driven by a new dedication and focus in creating a situation for myself where I am more able to facilitate the changes I believe are so necessary. We all need to get smarter in how we act, and myself more than anyone.

I just wanted to say thanks to those who helped. I'd like to especially thank Scot, Jay, Lionel, Dave P., and Sara. I couldn't ask for better people or better friends. Value the people you meet here. They're a special bunch, and together, we're the best hope for the future.

Yours,
Tom

I don't know if Tom will stay on the Libertarian Party board or not.

Modern China in Recap from AP -- without a byline

Don't you love the AP and Sports Illustrated?

SI.com - More Sports - China hoping Olympics will bring international fame - Monday February 18, 2008 11:25AM: "Return of prestige"

This article (link above and reposted below) provides a modern day re-cap of China with a review of a reporter who has been there. He knew Chairman Mao. He reopened the AP office in Beijing after the rules of the Cultural Revolution were changed to allow Americans to return to China. However, the reporter / writer is without a byline on this posting from the S.I. web pages.

Nice article:

Return of prestige
China hoping Olympics will bring international fame
Posted: Monday February 18, 2008 11:25AM; Updated: Monday February 18, 2008

HONOLULU (AP) -- On Aug. 8, 2008, when the Beijing Olympics begin in promised splendor, a few may reflect on how far or how fast China has come to host this high mark of international prestige.

A little more than a year after the games finish, Oct. 1, 2009, China will mark its 60th anniversary as a communist nation. It is a survivor when many Marxist regimes have met their demise beginning with the first, the Soviet Union.

To my old eyes, it seems almost a miracle that China has survived the pain and bloodshed to emerge from poverty and become one of the richest of Earth's nations in so short a time.

Torn by internal strife for years, long shunned internationally, China now seeks to acquire something intangible but precious, to match its new prosperity. It seeks prestige, or "weiwang" in Chinese. Prestige is a quality China once had in abundance as the ancient Middle Kingdom, an empire to which other nations regularly paid tribute.

To understand why Olympic prestige is so important to China, it is important to remember how low as a nation China had fallen -- and how little real prestige it enjoyed -- as a result of power struggles during the first few decades of its communist existence after the Nationalists were vanquished in 1949.

It is useful, too, to remember the three powerful, larger than life figures who dominated the Chinese landscape early on.

They were Mao Zedong, its founder, a peasant's son and dreamer; his ambitious, once bone-poor third wife, Jiang Qing, and Deng Xiaoping, the no nonsense realist. During the early years of Mao's dictatorship, quarrels within the Communist party over China's direction brought it to the edge of collapse, a blood-spattered period remembered today for its cruelty and chaos.

The violence only ended with Mao's death and his wife's imprisonment in 1976.

Twice purged by Mao, Deng emerged from house arrest a few years later to halt China's headlong tumble into anarchy and begin the remarkable economic recovery and regaining of national prestige reflected in these Olympic games.

As an AP reporter, I knew all three of the lead players: Mao and his wife in 1940s Yanan, the Red base before the victory of 1949, and Deng in 1979 Beijing.

Mao was a dreamer with his feet firmly planted in the past. He believed China was powerful enough to achieve greatness by itself without relying on the outside world.

When Mao's grandiose national economic campaign resulted in failure and famine, the pragmatists led by Liu Shaoqi and Deng removed him from office and took over. Mao meekly accepted his punishment. But Jiang Qing, furious at losing her place as First Lady of China, fought back.

Cannily, she used Mao and his great national popularity and organized the Marxist sounding 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution. With the help of defense minister Lin Biao, she turned Mao into a demigod, a genius born once in every 10,000 years. Then she denounced Liu and Deng as villains for trying to diminish Mao's greatness. The nation's students, organized into Maoist Red Guards, attacked anyone daring to belittle the Great Helmsman's name. The "no school" bell rang throughout China and the students gleefully went on a hot-eyed rampage.

I wrote about the Cultural Revolution mostly from Hong Kong and Tokyo -- Americans were barred from China -- but got a glimpse of China under Mao when I was allowed to accompany the U.S. ping pong team to Beijing in 1971. I made more visits later, after the ban against American reporters was lifted.

Beijing under Mao was drab, emotionless and bureaucratic. The Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, once a delight to visit, were stiff with plaster statues of Mao. Huge portraits of Mao adorned the walls of the Forbidden City and China's Great Wall.

The little red book of Mao quotations, compiled by Lin Biao, and tin Mao portrait badges were everywhere. I acquired one.

By the end of 1971, only months after the American ping pong visit, Lin Biao's agenda had become clear: he plotted to murder Mao and take his place at the head of party and nation. Discovered, he fled, and died when his Moscow-bound plane crashed en route.

Madame Mao, high priestess of her husband's cult, banned the famous Peking Opera, put in its place a half dozen dramas of her own composition which glorified Maoism. I suffered through several of them, bemused by the heroes, bigger than life, and amused by the villains -- usually running dogs of American imperialism.

I had the good luck to reopen the AP Beijing bureau in 1979 and thus become a daily spectator during the early days of Deng's determined campaign to recover China's lost prestige. Unlike Mao, who dictated the smallest details of Chinese life from Beijing, Deng believed in openness and few controls. He gave the cities and the provinces license to make their own rules, draw up their own contracts.

I developed a bantering friendship with Deng, one of the few Marxists I knew with a sense of humor. Remarkably modest for a man with so much power, he described himself modestly as the first among equals and insisted he had no desire for titles like party chairman or president.

He intended, he told me, to gradually introduce controlled democracy along with his limited capitalism. Later, the student protests that brought chaos and bloodshed to Tienanmen Square in Beijing in 1989 soured his view of democracy. He ordered the troops to fire on the unarmed demonstrators. He died at the age of 93 without apologizing.

Some observers say the games now give the Communist party an ideal public opportunity to achieve for China, after all its suffering and sacrifices, the prestige it so apparently desires.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.