What the Vancouver Olympic Games mean to Canada - Michael Farber - SI.com: "Canada's Olympic home losing streak began July 18, 1976, a day after the opening ceremonies in Montreal, trudged depressingly through Calgary 1988 and now stands at 0-for-244 as an expectant nation awaits the lighting of the cauldron for the XXI Olympic Winter Games.It isn't about winning. It is about showing up, the participation, the struggle, the journey, the self-discovery, the effort, the relationships.
Friday, February 12, 2010
What the Vancouver Olympic Games mean to Canada - Michael Farber - SI.com
Education Week: Attention, Gates: Here's What Makes a Great Teacher
Education Week: Attention, Gates: Here's What Makes a Great Teacher: "“In a quest to find out the best teaching practices, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is giving $45 million to six school districts, including Denver, for a two-year study of teaching.The best summary:
“The Measures of Effective Teaching project will examine the work of 3,700 teachers from across the country, using videotapes, surveys, and student assessments to figure out what works and what doesn’t.”"
Teaching and learning happen whenever significant adults interact with and direct children.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Olympic protesters rally against cost, security - 2010 Olympics - SI.com
Wow. A mention of protest in Sports Illustrated.
Olympic protesters rally against cost, security - 2010 Olympics - SI.com: "That includes whether their late-afternoon journey through downtown Vancouver ends at peaceful protest or in tear gas and mass arrests.
'Our main goal is to be the voice of opposition, to disrupt the Games with a message of resistance and the true social impacts,' said Anna Hunter, an organizer with the Olympic Resistance Network, a consortium of groups behind a 'Take Back Our City' march planned for Friday. The protesters are railing against everything from the cost of the Olympics to tight security. 'The ORN believes in a diversity of tactics and strategies.'
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
A Sleeping Giant Awakens -- perhaps -- from a sidelined, silent state when told to freeze out
We've got our problems in Pittsburgh. Some are epic. Furthmore, a few of them are complex. And as the city has been on the brink for some years now, I've been astonished at how little the folks at CMU and Pitt have done with the city and for the city.
I'm not talking about PILOT funding of city services. CMU and Pitt should not be paying a tuition tax.
The type of help I have been seeking has been absent, mostly. I've been looking for professors and grad students to awaken in serious ways to help fix the city.
Sure, some things have happened. But, few. Bill Peduto did a CMU web BBS thingie on a couple of different instances. They both imploded, became out of date, and served as a drag. Archives vanished. Some electronic voting and cyber option focus groups sprang to life with a conference or two as well. The grand eletronic voting machines, not iTronics nor Debolt, with open source and off-the-shelf hardware is still just a pipe dream.
Then there was the Pirates. CMU put in some cash and owned part of the baseball team for a while some years ago. That's when the losses seemed to came at a fever pitch.
CMU did save Schenley Golf Course, I think. Ball sports are not a strength of CMU, it seems.
Now, after being told to hold spring break in the middle of a ski jump also known as Forbes Ave, the giant of CMU is starting to push its nose into the realm of city dealings and solution crunching. GREAT. Bring it on. We want the creative problem solvers to care about the city and do things in the public realm in earnest.
I'm not talking about PILOT funding of city services. CMU and Pitt should not be paying a tuition tax.
The type of help I have been seeking has been absent, mostly. I've been looking for professors and grad students to awaken in serious ways to help fix the city.
Sure, some things have happened. But, few. Bill Peduto did a CMU web BBS thingie on a couple of different instances. They both imploded, became out of date, and served as a drag. Archives vanished. Some electronic voting and cyber option focus groups sprang to life with a conference or two as well. The grand eletronic voting machines, not iTronics nor Debolt, with open source and off-the-shelf hardware is still just a pipe dream.
Then there was the Pirates. CMU put in some cash and owned part of the baseball team for a while some years ago. That's when the losses seemed to came at a fever pitch.
CMU did save Schenley Golf Course, I think. Ball sports are not a strength of CMU, it seems.
Now, after being told to hold spring break in the middle of a ski jump also known as Forbes Ave, the giant of CMU is starting to push its nose into the realm of city dealings and solution crunching. GREAT. Bring it on. We want the creative problem solvers to care about the city and do things in the public realm in earnest.
CMU's Priya Narasimhan "loves this city." She worked with CMU students and created the "smart football " http://www.footballtracking.org/ and other kwel gizmos, http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/01/students-using/.
This week they put up a snow status site after pulling two all-nighters.
Go to the site, http://www.cityzenmobile.net, to
report road conditions and snow removal progress. Priya invites all to take a look and add your insights.
Creating Literate Olympians Here -- Hardley -- Nearly
Olympics: Locals just miss in luge, snowboard: "Robby Huerbin of Ross Township was among USA Luge's top competitors through 2009, including a victory in his final qualifying run Nov. 6 in Park City, Utah, but a cumulative points system kept him off the team. And he knew it that day.
Lynn Ott of Sewickley was in similar position with U.S. Snowboarding, but her final event Nov. 13 in Copper, Colo., was beset with misfortune, and she was finished.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Who else longs for the days of political pavement and snow plows?
At least then, back in the days, some of the roads got done and there was a flimmer of accountability.
Open thread........
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Open thread........
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Jack beats Dan among D party leaders from around PA in race for PA Gov Nomination
Specter wins Pa. party backing | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2010: "Wagner, who had been meeting party leaders among the back roads and veterans halls of Pennsylvania for months, received the majority of votes with 153 on the second and final ballot to 76 for his closest rival, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. Wagner won more than two-thirds of the 67 counties, dominating the smaller ones, but the county-by-county votes were weighted according to Democratic criteria.My early favorite in the race for Gov and Lt. Gov is on the R side, Russ Diamond. He is running for Lt. Governor.
Wagner called it a victory.
'I'm obviously very proud of the support,' he said. 'The majority of votes - over 50 percent - that is a strong vote total, in my opinion.'
Onorato, who saw in advance that he couldn't win, claimed a victory in preventing Wagner from winning.
'This is a big boost for us today. This is a big win for us,' he said. 'The state committee has made it clear they're not going to endorse anybody. It's wide open for me.'
Onorato said that with his huge advantage in campaign money - nearly 10 times what any other Democrat had Dec. 31 - he was in the strongest position to win in May.
Wagner and Onorato are both Pittsburghers. Their home county was split, with 26 votes for Onorato and 15 for Wagner. In other southwestern counties, Wagner more than made up the difference.
Specter wins Pa. party backing | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2010
Specter wins Pa. party backing | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2010: "When U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter switched from a Republican to a Democrat last year, some Democratic loyalists in Pennsylvania said hell would freeze over before they'd embrace an old foe they had been battling in statewide elections for 30 years.Fine time to become a Libertarian.
Yesterday, amid the deep freeze and howling winds of the worst winter storm in years, the Democratic State Committee met in a snowbound hotel in Amish country to consider endorsements in this year's races for the U.S. Senate, governor, and lieutenant governor.
Despite the reservations of some party members, who challenged him for what they considered pro-Republican sins of the past, Specter, of Philadelphia, beat U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, of Delaware County, gaining the two-thirds majority required for endorsement by the party rules.
Video and Coaching
It’s proven. Coaches who study video of their spring and summer practice sessions are better prepared for their next season than those who do not. Studying recorded performance reinforces good technique, corrects bad and increases retention by 70%! Head football coach John Capodice of Berlin CT teaches this lesson well. John and his Redcoats just won their first state championship and coach Capodice has been named Head Coach of the Year by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Northern Connecticut chapter. Read more about John, his season and how he studies video here.
Fw: The 48 Hour Film Project Returns in 2010... plus some extra fun!
| Hi 48 Hour Filmmakers and Fans! The 48 Hour Film Project returns to Pittsburgh in 2010! We'll be soon with the most exciting 48 filmmaking hours of your life! Keep an eye out here for official dates and the start of registration. In the meantime, we have a lot of cool things coming up. Including, a chance to: 1. Vote your least favorite genre "Off the Island!" 2. Make a 48HFP Music Video - no time limit! 3. Attend our end of the year extravaganza - Filmapalooza in Vegas! YOUR VOTE COUNTS! Take this short, and I mean really short survey, to help us decide the official genres this year. Tell us which to keep and which to get rid of in 2010. (A note to you lovers and haters of our beloved "Musical/Western"... it's not going anywhere, so vote for something else to get rid of or keep.) This is also your chance to make suggestions for the required Character/Prop/Line of Dialogue for cities throughout the world, so put those thinking caps on! Go here to take the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/48HFP_genres_elements2010 MAKE A MUSIC VIDEO! That's right... here's your chance to take a little more time to make your masterpiece 48HFP film. Make a Music Video to "You Have 48 Hours" by Bill Briare. We invite you to make a music video -- in whole or in part -- and we'll mix the submissions together for the best music video ever and post it on our website and on YouTube. The deadline for submissions is February 28th, so don't miss out. For more info, go to: http://www.48hourfilm.com/competitions/musicvideo/ ATTEND FILMAPALOOZA in VEGAS! We'll be in Vegas to celebrate the fantastic 48HFP filmmaking of 2009 and we hope you'll join us. Filmapalooza is April 10-12 at the NAB Show. We'll screen all the 2009 City Winning Films, the winning Showdown and National Film Challenge films, network with filmmakers from around the world and party like it's 2010. Registration for Filmapalooza is only $25... AND it includes access to the NAB Show Floor for free! Go here to register: http://www.filmapalooza.org We hope you'll take part in one or all of the above! --Kahmeela and Nina Kahmeela Adams Nina Gibbs 48 Hour Film Project http://www.48hourfilm.com |
Monday, February 08, 2010
Fw: Update on Port Authority Service
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
From: "Palmer, Catherine" <palmercv@upmc.edu>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:00:49 -0500
To: 'mark.rauterkus@gmail.com'<mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
Subject: FW: Update on Port Authority Service
Hi-
Bus information. Just FYI.
Catherine
Subject: Update on Port Authority Service
UPDATED: 12:25 PM, Sunday, Feb. 7
Port Authority has restored limited bus service on multiple routes across
The T remains shut down. They are operating bus shuttles along the light rail routes. See details on the shuttle service below.
Service has been restored to the Mon Incline.
Some bus routes have not yet been restored as road conditions remain difficult in many areas. Below is a list of routes where we are offering basic levels of service, but not on a typical schedule.
Riders may have to "flag" bus drivers today as many stops and stations are not fully accessible due to snow.
Bus routes now offering limited service:
* If there's no detail listed next to the route, that means it's following normal routing - but still will not be following scheduled trip times today.
* Latest updates are in red.
§ 1A
§
§ 5A Natrona–Argonne
§ 6B Spring Hill (buses will detour via Perrysville Avenue & Federal to W. North & city)
§ 11D Perrysville
§ 12A North Hills Shopper (regular route except no Northway Mall)
§ 16A
§ 16B
§ 16D
§
§ 21A Coraopolis (terminating at Bank and Walnut in Sewickley; no
§ 21C
§ 26A Ingram – Sheraden
§ 26B Fairywood via
§ 28X Airport Flyer
§ 31D Bridgeville via
§ 33X
§ 36C Green Tree
§ 41B Bower Hill
§ 46G
§ 51A Arlington Heights (no
§ 51C Carrick
§ 51G Mount Oliver (operating today as “51C Carrick” from S. 26th at East Carson to city along With 51A trips to provide extra service along Carson Street. No service on Beck’s Run or to St. Clair Village/Mt. Oliver)
§ 54C North Side-Oakland-South Side (no Polish Hill, Bon Air,
§ 56B Hazelwood (using
§ 56C
§ 56E
§ 61A
§ 61B Braddock Swissvale
§ 61C McKeesport–Homestead (no Mifflin Estates or Century Square service)
§ EBA East Busway All Stops
§ 64A East Liberty
§ 67A
§ 67F Trafford
§ 71A Negley (using Forbes Avenue; no Fifth Ave Bus Lane through Oakland; using Negley only; cannot service St. Clair & Bunkerhill)
§ 71C Wilkinsburg via East Liberty (not using Whitfield inbound-blocked; outbound using
§ 71D Hamilton (using
§ 77A Oakmont (blocked on
§ 81B
§ 86A East Hills (not serving Wilner or Park Hill Drives)
§ 86B Frankstown
§ 91A
§ 500 Highland Park–Bellevue (buses using Negley Avenue and East Liberty Boulevard; no Highland Park service; using Forbes Avenue; no Fifth Ave Bus Lane through Oakland; using Negley only; cannot service St. Clair & Bunkerhill)
Light rail shuttle information - will be marked "Rail Shuttle" and provide service about once an hour:
§ 47L Library via Overbrook: Shuttle will start at Library station and follow Route 88,
§ 42S
In Downtown, both shuttles will loop by entering on the Smithfield Street Bridge, right on Fort Pitt Blvd, left on Grant Street, left on Sixth Avenue, left on Wood Street, left on Fort Pitt Blvd. and then back across the Smithfield Street Bridge. Stops served will be at Grant &
Don Charley
Executive Director Parking and Security
UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside
Any unauthorized or improper disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this [document/E-Mail] is prohibited. The information contained in this E-Mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient (s) named above. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by E-mail and delete the original message
Fw: [Edge of Sports] WHO DAT? Dat's the Super Bowl Champs!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
From: "Edge of Sports" <zirin@listbox.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:57:00 -0500
To: mark.rauterkus<mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
Subject: [Edge of Sports] WHO DAT? Dat's the Super Bowl Champs!
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/527623/who_dat_dat_s_the_super_bowl_champs
Who Dat? Dat's the Super Bowl Champs!
by Dave Zirin
The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl 44. I can’t believe I’m even typing the words. Five years ago this was the team considered most likely to be moved to Los Angeles. Four and a half years ago, after the levies broke, the concern was not whether there would be a Saints, but whether there would even be a New Orleans. Remember that after Hurricane Katrina, the Speaker of the House, Republican Rep. Dennis Hastert said, "It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed.” But now Hastert is on the political scrap heap and New Orleans is the home of the Super Bowl champs. I’m not sure whether it feels like a dream or positively preordained. If nothing else, it’s an emotional release from all the idiocy that surrounded the big game. From the military cheerleading, to Tim and Pam Tebow’s vapid Focus on the Family ad, to the Who’s halftime act which clearly violated the Geneva accords: none of it matters now. We’ll go back to building resistance to Obama’s wars. Tim Tebow will go back to being the next Eric Crouch. And the Who will go back to Madame Tussaud’s. For right now, it just doesn’t matter because the New Orleans Saints won the damn Super Bowl.
Quarterback Drew Brees will get a lot of love after a 32-for-39 MVP performance. But this was no one-man-band. This was about a head coach in Sean Payton who, with his team down 10-6, exercised a wicked sense of daring and ordered the first non-fourth quarter onside kick in Super Bowl history. This was about a Saints defense that bent but didn’t break, freezing Peyton Manning's Colts at 17 points. This was about an offense that was crisper than potatoes at the bottom of a deep fryer. This was also about a stadium in Miami that sounded nearly as loud as the Louisiana Superdome. But most of all this was about a Crescent City that refuses to die.
As Leigh, a friend and blogger from New Orleans, said to me, “The energy in this entire town is incredible. People here have been ready for this for decades...but the way the media is treating the Saints as underdogs isn't a surprise to any of us. The people of New Orleans have been subjected to those attitudes for a long time ourselves, and we still are in too, too many ways, but we're still here. And those who are still unable to return here due to the displacement caused by the storm, or the recession, or other circumstances - they'll return in one way or another, because this is a town that can teach the rest of this country how to live. It always has, and it always will, despite it all.”
Leigh’s pride runs across NOLA tonight. The same week that Education Secretary Arne Duncan outrageously called Hurricane Katrina "the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans", the city has delivered a counterpunch to Duncan as well as any and all doubters. Their ascendancy means that the arduous post Hurricane recovery work has gotten more publicity in the last two weeks than it’s received in the last two years. This is maddening but many New Orleans residents wouldn’t have it any other way. As Saints linebacker Scott Fujita’s wife Jaclyn said, “The people of New Orleans love the Saints not because they provide a distraction from their fall but because they are a reflection of their rise.”
Whether you believe that or not, the proof is in the very vibe of the city. The French Quarter is hopping tonight. The Ninth Ward is hopping tonight. Algiers is hopping tonight. People in New Orleans are feeling damn good right now, and to scoff at that is to scoff at the very resiliency that makes us human. Community activist and former Black Panther Malik Rahim who has lived in the city for three decades and still works in Algiers, told me, “I haven’t seen people this happy since Katrina. No question about it.” That doesn’t mean all – or even some – questions about the future of New Orleans are solved by a Saints Super Bowl win. Jobs, housing, and the right of return for displaced residents still need to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
But it does mean that folks of the Big Easy are feeling fearless tonight. Every last person – from Bush to Brownie - that wrote this city off has to now bend down and kiss the ring. President Barack Obama, who often seems allergic to saying the words “New Orleans” must now greet the team at the White House and acknowledge both the Saints and the city that bears their name. Even if tomorrow is unbearably hard, we have today. And today feels mighty fine.
[Dave Zirin is the author of the forthcoming “Bad Sports: How Owners are Ruining the Games we Love” (Scribner) Receive his column every week by emailing dave@edgeofsports.com. Contact him at edgeofsports@gmail.com.]
| Edge of Sports | Modify Your Subscription | Unsubscribe Now |  |
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Invitation to view a photo from Gwendolyn's Picasa Web Album - Pittsburgh Snowstorm Feb 6, 2010
| You are invited to view a photo from Gwendolyn's photo album: Pittsburgh Snowstorm Feb 6, 2010 Message from Mark Rauterkus: Some nice photos of the South Side today. We got out as well. If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=gwenix&target=PHOTO&id=5435310184530200162&aid=5435309674353117633&authkey=Gv1sRgCK2wz7eM5qHfaA&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.  |
Fw: PA Democrats Unanimously Endorse Single Payer Health Care
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
From: "Molly Rush" <molly.rush@verizon.net>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 16:49:38 -0500
To: Cynthia Vanda<grancie0@gmail.com>
Subject: PA Democrats Unanimously Endorse Single Payer Health Care
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
*February 6, 2010*
Contact: Pedro Rodriguez
Given the healthcare reform deadlock in
“Not only does Pennsylvania now have the Democratic Party on board with the Single Payer healthcare for all,” said Healthcare for All PA executive director
Added Pennacchio, “
Presenting the resolution before the voting body of 301 Democratic State Committee members was Tom Herman, Chair of
*Pennacchio is the leader of a statewide coalition founded in 2004 to guarantee comprehensive healthcare for every Pennsylvanian, Healthcare for All Pennsylvania is a registered 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organization including citizens from all walks of life.
Molly Rush
PUSH [PA United for Singlepayer Healthcare]
Health Care for All PA
If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.
--Australian Aborigine Woman
Molly Rush
PUSH [PA United for Singlepayer Healthcare]
Health Care for All PA
If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.
--Australian Aborigine Woman
Former Pitt players Dinkins, Session took different rout to Super Bowl
Former Pitt players Dinkins, Session took different rout to Super Bowl Darnell Dinkins once thought he could get there, too.This is why I'm cheering for the SAINTS. Go #80! Go Spartans!
He did, just not quite as he expected back when he was a star quarterback at Schenley High School. Not only did he not make it as a Super Bowl quarterback, he never played quarterback in the NFL or even in college at Pitt.
But Dinkins is here, playing in his first Super Bowl, and so is another former Pitt Panther, Clint Session. They are here in part because they changed positions during their days at Pitt.
Play: Marx in Soho
Marx in Soho, a play, has been a collaborative effort between members of the International Socialist Organization, the Thomas Merton Center, and the history departments of Pitt and La Roche college. This is the second showing of the play, which was also performed in Pittsburgh during the G20 Peoples Summit. The play was well attended and a lot of buzz surrounded it so we decided to bring the actor, Brian Jones, back from Chicago to perform it again. It just so happened that it turned out to be well timed considering the author, Howard Zinn's, recent passing.
We will be hosting the play at the Graduate School of Public Health Auditorium on Saturday February 20th at 7:30 pm. It is free and will be followed by a discussion kicked off by members of the endorsing organizations.
There will be a large number of books for sale after the play including other titles by Zinn like A Peoples History and Peoples Voices.
There is also another corresponding event the evening prior to the play. Brian Jones will be hosting a talk on Black Liberation and Socialism also followed by discussion at the meeting room in Panera Bread Company on Forbes Avenue in Oakland. The talk will be at 7 pm.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
We will be hosting the play at the Graduate School of Public Health Auditorium on Saturday February 20th at 7:30 pm. It is free and will be followed by a discussion kicked off by members of the endorsing organizations.
There will be a large number of books for sale after the play including other titles by Zinn like A Peoples History and Peoples Voices.
There is also another corresponding event the evening prior to the play. Brian Jones will be hosting a talk on Black Liberation and Socialism also followed by discussion at the meeting room in Panera Bread Company on Forbes Avenue in Oakland. The talk will be at 7 pm.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Fw: [school-discuss] FLOSS, Microsoft, and Governments
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Kahn <jj2kk4@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 12:42:08
To: <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
Subject: [school-discuss] FLOSS, Microsoft, and Governments
Since our discussion of Elevate America,
I have been doing some exploring. The
more I dig, the more interesting it gets.
Here are some tidbits:
In the Missouri State Office of
Administration, the Information
Technology Services Division--through its
Information Technology Education Center--
offers classes for state employees. Two of
the classes are entitled "Linux
Fundamentals" and "Advanced Unix/Linux."
The Education Center also has a library of
technology-related books for employees to
use; two of the volumes are _LINUX User
Basics_ and _Using Linux_.
The Missouri State Public Defender System
suggests the use of OpenOffice and Google Docs.
Several agencies of the Missouri state
government use GNU Mailman.
The entire web site of the Missouri Public
Service Commission is built with Plone.
The Missouri State Library heavily uses Drupal.
For retailers who need to handle confidential
lottery information, the Missouri Lottery System
advises using GNU Privacy Guard.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (DESE), in its periodic
newsletter, has had stories on both the K-12
Linux Terminal Server Project and the CoSN K-12
Open Technologies Leadership Initiative. In
addition, DESE heavily relies on Moodle.
Now the punch line. From fiscal year 2000
to the present, Microsoft has received the
following amount from the Missouri state
government for software licenses, consulting,
and various other products and services:
US$3,196,676
Please note that this figure represents only
taxpayers' money that went directly to MS; to
calculate indirect costs (forced hardware
upgrades &c) would be more difficult, but it
is safe to say these have been substantial.
My sources are available upon request for
anyone who is interested; for now, I want to
do a step-by-step summary of how things look:
(1) In the Missouri state government there are
a substantial number of people who are aware
that FLOSS exists and have tried out a variety
of FLOSS programs.
(2) Some of these people have decided that
FLOSS is good enough to use in their agencies
and to recommend to users outside the government.
(3) Notwithstanding points (1) and (2), Microsoft
has a pipeline solidly plugged into the Missouri
state treasury and is consistently pumping out
hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Again,
it should be emphasized that this does *not*
include indirect costs of non-FLOSS systems.
Now a few questions:
(A) Have any parties within the FLOSS community
examined the FLOSS vs. non-FLOSS debates in the
context of the waste of taxpayers' money?
(B) What kinds of data-gathering (preferably
by students) and analysis have been done in
this area, and how recently?
(C) In this area, what contacts have been made
between the FLOSS community and potential
allies, such as activists, journalists, and
lawyers? We also musn't overlook challengers
for public office who are hunting for issues
they can clobber incumbents with.
My fellow Americans: I encourage you to put
your students to work hunting down the various
FLOSS/Microsoft/money ratios and relationships
in their city, county, state, and federal
governments. Let's see how much fun we can
have between now and the November elections.
I ask residents of other countries: what are
*your* governments up to?
Joel
-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Kahn <jj2kk4@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 12:42:08
To: <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
Subject: [school-discuss] FLOSS, Microsoft, and Governments
Since our discussion of Elevate America,
I have been doing some exploring. The
more I dig, the more interesting it gets.
Here are some tidbits:
In the Missouri State Office of
Administration, the Information
Technology Services Division--through its
Information Technology Education Center--
offers classes for state employees. Two of
the classes are entitled "Linux
Fundamentals" and "Advanced Unix/Linux."
The Education Center also has a library of
technology-related books for employees to
use; two of the volumes are _LINUX User
Basics_ and _Using Linux_.
The Missouri State Public Defender System
suggests the use of OpenOffice and Google Docs.
Several agencies of the Missouri state
government use GNU Mailman.
The entire web site of the Missouri Public
Service Commission is built with Plone.
The Missouri State Library heavily uses Drupal.
For retailers who need to handle confidential
lottery information, the Missouri Lottery System
advises using GNU Privacy Guard.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (DESE), in its periodic
newsletter, has had stories on both the K-12
Linux Terminal Server Project and the CoSN K-12
Open Technologies Leadership Initiative. In
addition, DESE heavily relies on Moodle.
Now the punch line. From fiscal year 2000
to the present, Microsoft has received the
following amount from the Missouri state
government for software licenses, consulting,
and various other products and services:
US$3,196,676
Please note that this figure represents only
taxpayers' money that went directly to MS; to
calculate indirect costs (forced hardware
upgrades &c) would be more difficult, but it
is safe to say these have been substantial.
My sources are available upon request for
anyone who is interested; for now, I want to
do a step-by-step summary of how things look:
(1) In the Missouri state government there are
a substantial number of people who are aware
that FLOSS exists and have tried out a variety
of FLOSS programs.
(2) Some of these people have decided that
FLOSS is good enough to use in their agencies
and to recommend to users outside the government.
(3) Notwithstanding points (1) and (2), Microsoft
has a pipeline solidly plugged into the Missouri
state treasury and is consistently pumping out
hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Again,
it should be emphasized that this does *not*
include indirect costs of non-FLOSS systems.
Now a few questions:
(A) Have any parties within the FLOSS community
examined the FLOSS vs. non-FLOSS debates in the
context of the waste of taxpayers' money?
(B) What kinds of data-gathering (preferably
by students) and analysis have been done in
this area, and how recently?
(C) In this area, what contacts have been made
between the FLOSS community and potential
allies, such as activists, journalists, and
lawyers? We also musn't overlook challengers
for public office who are hunting for issues
they can clobber incumbents with.
My fellow Americans: I encourage you to put
your students to work hunting down the various
FLOSS/Microsoft/money ratios and relationships
in their city, county, state, and federal
governments. Let's see how much fun we can
have between now and the November elections.
I ask residents of other countries: what are
*your* governments up to?
Joel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
