Sunday, July 31, 2011

"Oslo mayor:“We shall punish the terrorist & this will be his punishment: more democracy, more tolerance, more generosity.” Prime Minister: “…the answer to violence is even more democracy.” Diplomat Steinar Gil:“Norway will not change.Evil will not ...prevail.”Crown Prince: “Tonight the streets are filled with love.We have chosen to meet hatred with unity. We have chosen to show what we stand for.”



ME- AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE DID AFTER 9/11!
had a great weekend with my little sweetie- mini-golf and a rousing game of UNO. grocery shopping and so- for supper last night-cheese burgers on the grill(with grilled veggies as a side. the fresh strawberries and chocolate icecream for dessert-this morning-pancakes and bacon with a glass of milk-then later on she heads on home.

got pulled pork in the crock pot for dinner-been cooking since early yesterday afternoon. laundry in the dryer-it's a beautiful day.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Paul Krugman:


"....the first thing you need to understand is that modern Republicans don’t care about deficits. They only pretend to care when they believe that deficit hawkery can be used to dismantle social programs; as soon as the conversation turns to taxes, or anything else that would require them and their friends to make even the smallest sacrifice, deficits don’t matter at all."
DEAR CONGRESS, Last year I mismanaged my funds and this year my family and I cannot decide on a budget. Until we can come to a unified decision that fits all of our needs and interests, we will have to shut down our check book and will no longer be able to pay our taxes. I'm sure you'll understand. Thank you very much for setting an example we can all follow.
my little sweetie is getting her teeth brushed and face washed-just had a waffle and bacon and juice for breakfast.

wish i had 1/2 her energy!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Layla looking SO lady like!!!
we took little sweetie out to the aspinwall grille for dinner. she had chicken planks and fries and we all shared a death by chocolate warm brownie/icecream dessert with whipped cream and chocolate sauce- too good!!!
from fb-me- i think some folks really need to read this-thanks


Much of the gridlock we're now seeing in Congress over raising the debt ceiling is due to the recalcitrance of insurgent freshman Congressmen who refuse to raise any taxes. It's hard to feel sorry for House Speaker John Boehner, but he's pulling his hair out over the current impasse. A lot of the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of Grover Norquist, who founded Americans for Tax Reform in 1985 at the request of Richard Nixon, after Norquist served a stint as chief speech writer at the notorious U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Somehow, over the years, Norquist has hoodwinked, cajoled and otherwise extorted incoming Congressional freshmen into signing an oath NOT to raise taxes. This has to stop. De facto, Norquist has become one of the most powerful men in the party, yet remains relatively unknown to most Americans. Norquist, by his grip on Republican lawmakers, should be considered a fiscal terrorist for sabotaging the political process. Here's the link; http://www.washingtonpost.com/​how-grover-norquist-hypnotized​-the-gop/2011/06/30/AGYOUlsH_s​tory.html..



politics playing with we the people-screw em-me!
"True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and
independence.

People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which
dictatorships are made."


Franklin D. Roosevelt
Attention all Crime Watch Members. CANCEL the attempted child luring report from yesterday 7-29-11. The vehicle and the individual were located by the Indiana Twp. Police. There was a misunderstanding between the possible suspect and the child. There was no attempted luring. The older male did ask for help from the child. He is a family member of a local resident who was doing property clearing in the area. It was a misunderstanding between both parties.

Thanks for the assistance with this incident and as always be aware of your surroundings.

--
Crime Prevention Officer,
M. Myers
Indiana Twp Police Dept.
412-767-5333 ext. 350
mmyers@indianatownship.com
The Christian Left:



‎"When we must bury so many of 'the least of these' because the US economy crashes, let us not forget that the ashes and dust with which we cover them are the GOP's loyalty to the rich, Big Business and the War Machine." -The God Article



Follow MeRobert Lenzner
StreetTalk
My ProfileMy Headline GrabsMy RSS Feed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
me- geeezzz, pay some attention.


By ROBERT LENZNER



The 400 richest Americans used to pay 30% of their income on the average to Uncle Sam. Today, they pay 18% on the average, according to Steve Rattner, a Wall Street financier, who just presented these figures on Mornings With Joe,MSNBC.

The main reason for the drop in their tax rate of some 40% is the tax cuts by George Bush in 2003, taking the rate paid on dividends and capital gains down to 15%. This reduction in the investment class’s taxes powered the bull market in stocks from the fall of 2003 until the fall of 2007.




Shockingly, the plan to raise the debt ceiling collects nothing from the wealthiest Americans to reduce our budget deficit. The Republican right wing holds the Obama White House hostage. It’s a sad day for the principle of sharing the pain equitably.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Attention ALL Crime Watch Alert Members. Special attention Indianola and Dorseyville area members. A possible child luring occurred on this date 7-29-2011 at 11:11 am. The incident occurred on Cove Run Rd just off of Rt 910 behind the area of the Emmerling Plaza. During this incident a child was in his yard doing yard work when a vehicle approached him. The vehicle was described as a older Ford Taurus 4 door that was silver in color. The vehicle did have a rear spoiler on it. It was also reported to possibly have had a Ohio license Plate. The driver was reported to be a older white male possibly in his 70's. The male did ask the child if he wanted to make some money. He did offer the child cash if he would get in the car and help him pick up trash along the roadway. The child said "NO" and the male drove away. The vehicle did drive through the Emmerling Plaza and exit onto Rt 910.

If anyone witnessed anything this morning in the area of Rt 910. Or if anyone knows of or has seen this vehicle. Please contact this Department as soon as possible. You can do so by calling 911 and asking to speak to a Indiana Twp. Police Officer and reference this incident.




--
Crime Prevention Officer,
M. Myers
Indiana Twp Police Dept.
412-767-5333 ext. 350
sun is getting brighter-heat rising.

had a bagel/ tomato sandwich for lunch using the 1st of little timmy's ripened tomatoes-very good. nothing like home grown veggies and fruits!

i should run the sweeper-but...






me- i'm not an atheist and thankfully not all christians are fundamentalist.
i just think christians need to think about the statements made in this clip.

One third of those surveyed said they will buy iPhone 5

According to Pricegrabber, of 2,852 online shoppers recently polled, thirty five percent of them plan to buy an Apple iPhone when it’s released sometime this fall. Furthermore, a full sixty nine percent of them, when asked which kind of smart phone they’d most like to receive as a gift, chose the iPhone 5, a smart phone that consumers have yet to even see.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Bob stretching himself to lie on two
Chairs!
nice day today- not too hot-that's coming tomorrow-so i made spaghetti with a basil chicken cream sauce and a mixed salad.

finished my weekly column for tomorrow and sent it in. we've picked up some really good writers. you should check them out.

did a bit of laundry and wrangled more dust bunnies. max has an upset tummy. who knows what he ate while i wasn't looking!

nothing much else going on. babysitting friday and saturday- we will have big fun even if it is going to be gawdawful hot again!



me-yeppers!
http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/07/27/in-my-mail-letter-to-all-citizens-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-13026

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

http://current.com/shows/countdown/video/worst-persons-kilmeade-ingraham-and-beck


me- please watch
here it is!















me- as my buddy-woody says- if they kill off social security it will take TWENTY PERCENT off of the debt automatically!

get wise-read and research-it's your country and your money- they work for us-we don't work for them!








Who owns America? Hint: It's not China


Editor's Note: The following piece comes from Global Post, which provides excellent coverage of world news - important, moving and odd.

By Tom Mucha, Global Post

Truth is elusive. But it's a good thing we have math.

Our friends at Business Insider know this, and put those two principles to work today in this excellent and highly informative little slideshow, made even more timely by the ongoing talks in Washington, D.C. aimed at staving off a U.S. debt default.

Here's the big idea:

Many people — politicians and pundits alike — prattle on that China and, to a lesser extent Japan, own most of America's $14.3 trillion in government debt.

But there's one little problem with that conventional wisdom: it's just not true. While the Chinese, Japanese and plenty of other foreigners own substantial amounts, it's really Americans who hold most of America's debt.

Here's a quick and fascinating breakdown by total amount held and percentage of total U.S. debt, according to Business Insider:


•Hong Kong: $121.9 billion (0.9 percent)
•Caribbean banking centers: $148.3 (1 percent)
•Taiwan: $153.4 billion (1.1 percent)
•Brazil: $211.4 billion (1.5 percent)
•Oil exporting countries: $229.8 billion (1.6 percent)
•Mutual funds: $300.5 billion (2 percent)
•Commercial banks: $301.8 billion (2.1 percent)
•State, local and federal retirement funds: $320.9 billion (2.2 percent)
•Money market mutual funds: $337.7 billion (2.4 percent)
•United Kingdom: $346.5 billion (2.4 percent)
•Private pension funds: $504.7 billion (3.5 percent)
•State and local governments: $506.1 billion (3.5 percent)
•Japan: $912.4 billion (6.4 percent)
•U.S. households: $959.4 billion (6.6 percent)
•China: $1.16 trillion (8 percent)
•The U.S. Treasury: $1.63 trillion (11.3 percent)
•Social Security trust fund: $2.67 trillion (19 percent)

So America owes foreigners about $4.5 trillion in debt. But America owes America $9.8 trillion.

me- NINE POINT EIGHT TRILLION!!!!
John Fugelsang -


1 in 5 American children now live in poverty and that's why we need to cut Head Start & lower taxes for millionaires.

Just gave max a bath- so of course he has to jump on the sofa in here!

Saturday, July 23, 2011


me- shall we start profiling ALL fair skinned, blue eyed christians???????????????????



PENNSYLVANIA ICE CREAM TRUCK!
An old man and woman were married for many years, even though they hated
each other. Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep
into the night. The old man would shout, 'When I die, I will dig my way up
and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!'
Neighbors feared him. They believed he practiced magic because of the many
strange occurrences that took place in their neighborhood. The old man
liked the fact that he was feared.

To everyone's relief, he died of a heart attack when he was 98. His wife
had a closed casket at the wake. After the burial, she went straight home
and began to party, as if there was no tomorrow. Her neighbors, concerned
for her safety, asked, 'Aren't you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig
his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?'

The wife put down her drink and said, 'Let him dig. I had him buried upside
down and you know men won't ask for directions.'


me- thanks marty

Friday, July 22, 2011

WOW, it is HOT! it was 88 in the house at midnight last night-85, right now.

got up a few times last night to give max an ice cube to lick and a few for the cat's water bowl.

as my buddy jacque in texas says, "i feel like hammered shit!"

just took a lukewarm shower-feel a bit cleaner if not better.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Coalition of the Billing: An Interview with Jeremy Scahill from Cultures of Resistance on Vimeo.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/worst-persons-arizona-senator-smith-bill-oreilly-james-murdoch
Clean Your Mother's Hands
Author Unknown

Story of Appreciation

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision. The director discovered from the CV that the youth’s academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” the youth answered “none”. The director asked, ” Was it your father who paid for your school fees?” The youth answered, “My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.

The director asked, ” Where did your mother work?” The youth answered, “My mother worked as clothes cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect. The director asked, ” Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?” The youth answered, “Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said, “I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.”

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother’s hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water. This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother’s hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director’s office. The Director noticed the tears in the youth’s eyes, asked: ” Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?” The youth answered, ” I cleaned my mother’s hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes’

The Director asked, ” please tell me your feelings.”

The youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, ” This is what I am looking for to be my manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company’s performance improved tremendously.

——————————- ——————————- ——————————-

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop “entitlement mentality” and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent’s efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others.

For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?

You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person.

The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
going to have a heat index today of 105 degrees and i have a funeral home visit to make.
this heat and humidity is wearing me down. i'm not used to it. few around here are.
watered everything last night(not watering the grass tho-just a waste really)
i'll water again tonight unless we have another of those freakish storms.
not doing anything else today-got a dull headache starting already. i feel bad for the elderly on days like today.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



me- pay attention babies- we are in for a fall!



me-funny

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

OPI

Havana nights ( baby blue)
It's hot and i'm bored!!!!
"I am not a racist.
I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color."


Malcolm X.
WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED



Men Are Just Happier People-- What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.



Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.



You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.



You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.



No wonder men are happier.



Send this to the women who can handle it and to the men who will enjoy reading it



me-thanks donna

Tuesday, July 19, 2011



me- we should all be afraid of this type of power

think about it.
we just got the phone call. my brother in law, tommy. his brother in law, dave, who i have know for years, just passed. we went to see him last evening. they knew he had only a few days left. a 2 year battle with lukemia and a marrow transplant but it was not to be. he passed at nidnight.

not even a month after tommy.

bye dave. say hi to tommy for us.


http://youtu.be/_0hTtsqiFCc



me- william shatner- mr. tamborine man!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Eagle's patch



me- a good one!
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of their skin, or his background, or his religion.

People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

Nelson Mandela (born July 18, 1918)
NF is more common than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and Huntington's Disease combined. NF is the most common genetic disorder.

NF can cause pain, mobilitiy issues, paralysis, loss of feeling, disfigurement, learning disabilities, blindness, deafness, scoliosis, and cancer.

There is no way to know how mild or severe a case of NF will be. There is a 50% chance of passing NF on to children. Also, half of all people with NF developed NF due to a spontaneous mutation, meaning that there is no family history of NF. NF affects all races and genders equally. NF can happen in any family.

if you are looking for somewhere to donate-even a dollar or two...







me- my nephew jordan and his new camera thingy!







‎...And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.

Nietzsche

Sunday, July 17, 2011

me- damn it- pay attention- it's coming out in the open now:


Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.







‎"Nixon raised the debt ceiling 9 times for a total increase of 36%.
Ford raised the debt ceiling 5 times for a total increase of 41%.
Reagan raised the debt ceiling 18 times for a total increase of 199%.
George H.W. Bush raised the debt ceiling 9 times for a total increase of 48%.
George W. Bush raised the debt ceiling 7 times for a total increase of 90%.
That was Ok. They were white republicans".

Boag's new hip!

2nd one- he's sort of bionic now!

; )

Friday, July 15, 2011

it's a hot friday babies- have fun!!!!


me- my kid and little sweetie 6 years ago in china


i really really REALLY need a haircut- supposed to be very very hot all next week-just have not had the time.
put a pan of bar cookies in the oven just now-for tomorrow.
got the groceries bought and put away- every trip costs more. but, i can still remember the days when a big bag of potato chips and some pop would blow the budget big time so-i'm grateful that i CAN buy a cart full of food.

my little sweetie was at a day camp at the museum all this week.she loved it. i wish i could have been able to afford things like that when her mom was small but we did take our kid to the museum and the zoo every summer and my parents took her fishing and roller skating.

nothing much today other than picking up round here. the dust bunnies are winning!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

A poem from the POETRY mobile app

GROWING OLD

By Matthew Arnold


What is it to grow old?
Is it to lose the glory of the form,
The luster of the eye?
Is it for beauty to forego her wreath?
—Yes, but not this alone.

Is it to feel our strength—
Not our bloom only, but our strength—decay?
Is it to feel each limb
Grow stiffer, every function less exact,
Each nerve more loosely strung?

Yes, this, and more; but not
Ah, 'tis not what in youth we dreamed 'twould be!
'Tis not to have our life
Mellowed and softened as with sunset glow,
A golden day's decline.

'Tis not to see the world
As from a height, with rat prophetic eyes,
And heart profoundly stirred;
And weep, and feel the fullness of the past,
The years that are no more.

It is to spend long days
And not once feel that we were ever young;
It is to add, immured
In the hot prison of the present, month
To month with weary pain.

It is to suffer this,
And feel but half, and feebly, what we feel.
Deep in our hidden heart
Festers the dull remembrance of a change,
But no emotion—none.

It is—last stage of all—
When we are frozen up within, and quite
The phantom of ourselves,
To hear the world applaud the hollow ghost
Which blamed the living man.





Read more about this poem and poet on the Poetry Foundation website: http://bit.ly/nZ1pRi



Sent from The Poetry Foundation POETRY mobile app. Download your copy from AppStore now!


Sent from my iPhone

Love Quote

If thou must love me, let it be for naught except for love's sake only.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning


Sent from my iPhone

Love Quote

There is no remedy for love but to love more.

- Henry David Thoreau


Sent from my iPhone

Love Quote

We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh.

- Agnes Repplier


Sent from my iPhone

Bluescentric Blues Name Generator
me- this is a MUST watch- this isn't the republican party i grew up with but it's what we have now! and-to my friends that happen to be masons-check out the bit about the masons and the statue of liberty- i would laugh at this EXCEPT that these frauds and loons are being gathered together by the gov. of texas who is going to run for president.

better take this seriously folks:



Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

tiny tiny bit of drizzle out there-hardly noticable.

nothing much going on. little timmy has more tomatoes growing on him. i enjoy watching them grow.
BThomas Joy:

‎40 years of trickle down voodoo and some people are still talking as if tax cuts for the wealthy,
and the corporate, are good for something, grow up.


me- he's right!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

http://www.roundtree7.com/2011/07/enough-of-this-nonsense/

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



me- just too funny
During Bush Presidency, Current GOP Leaders Voted 19 Times To Increase Debt Limit By $4 Trillion


and NOW they want to let us sink back into a recession and screw the rest of the world as well- think they care more about getting rid of obama than they do the people that they are supposed to SERVE? i do!


me- worth the watch and sadly-true!
got up early. sort of overcast and sticky outside.

don't feel like doing much and can't decide what i could do and what i should do!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Sara and Gary

Max howling with the fire whistle

Taxes on the upper bracket was 74% when Reagan took office.

At the end of his term, he raised taxes 11 times, lowered top rates to 28% and took the debt from $800 Billion to $3.7 TRILLION.

"W" lowered rates for the wealthy TWICE....using the CorporateGOP mantra of cutting taxes creates jobs,


shouldn't we be awash in jobs right now???
funny dog pictures - Goggie ob teh Week: Fluffy Frozen Face
see more dog and puppy pictures
"If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies... It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it."



Albert Einstein
hot and getting hotter. got up extra early so i could shower the night off of me before i took max outside.

did what had to be done round here and now i'm just relaxing.

had a good time at pudd'n's and gerri lee's yesterday. stayed in the shade all day AND had a heavy duty sun block on.
http://www.businessinsider.com/shame-on-the-republicans-2011-7?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Falleyinsider%2Fsilicon_alley_insider+%28Silicon+Alley+Insider%29

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Cuda!
hot and getting hotter-one of those rare cloudless days.

nothing much new, except prayers and good vibes asked for my sister in law's brother in law-confused? well, dave is married to my late bro in law, tommy's widow's (hate that term)sister. he is in intensive care here with lukemia and his body is being assaulted with a rejection fungus. it doesn't look good at all. my goodness, tommy was just buried and now dave is taking a bad turn.

my sister's husband(also a tommy)passed 2 years ago. death doesn't only come for the old-we all know this but damn, death needs to go away from here for a long time!

don't want to think about death on a bright sunday but we don't always get what we want. neither of my brother in laws did and now dave is fighting the battle.


let's have some fun!
State education budget hits neediest school districts the hardest

2011-07-10

Mary Niederberger Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Tony TyePost-Gazette


Protesters set up a lemonade stand in Allegheny Commons on the North Side to protest tax loopholes for large corporations such as General Electric and Exxon Mobil They claimed to be selling 10000 lemonade to make up the shortfall in the Pittsburgh Public Schools budget Actually they were giving it away to raise awareness Prez Johnson center gets a cup of lemonade and talks with Ricky Torres 10 second from right and his cousin Allie Wingold also 10 far right who were staffing the stand



The deep education cuts in the final state budget mean tough measures for school districts across the state but are devastating to poor school districts, many education leaders say.

Though the budget passed June 30 cut $900 million for 2011-2012 instead of the $1 billion proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett, it represents a dramatic drop and hits financially pressed districts hardest because they were most dependent on state funds.

Many of those districts had to reduce staff significantly either through attrition, furloughs or a combination and most lost their after-school and summer tutoring programs aimed at improving student achievement and scores on the mandated Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams.

For students, it will mean larger class sizes, fewer program options and in some cases, fees for participating in sports and activities.

For taxpayers, it will mean higher real estate taxes as some local districts were forced to raise local taxes to make up for the loss of state funding.

For teachers who were furloughed, it means financial hardship and the potential loss of profession.

Statewide, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, estimates that 3,000 of its members were furloughed and another 2,000 positions in its districts were eliminated and not filled. Spokesman David Broderic said those numbers could grow as more locals report to the state organization.

In Allegheny County, based on PSEA figures and news accounts from school board meetings, it appears about 262 teachers have been furloughed from the 42 suburban public school districts, vocational-technical schools and Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Districts are still tinkering with their budgets and class sizes and may recall some staff before the start of school, so numbers may shift.

Pittsburgh Public Schools have not announced any teacher furloughs but eliminated 217 positions -- 147 through furloughs -- among its support, clerical, central office and administrative staffs.

Among the suburban school districts, those with the largest teacher furlough totals include Steel Valley with about 36, Woodland Hills, 35, West Mifflin, 22, Highlands, 32, and Elizabeth Forward, 22.

"It's going to change programs and offerings, and for these poorer school districts it's going to be absolutely devastating," said Butch Santicola, a local PSEA spokesman.

Among the across-the-board cuts in districts are fewer options for foreign languages in high school, the elimination of foreign language programs in middle and high school and also fewer counselors and guidance counselors. There will also be fewer high school business and consumer science courses, fewer teachers aides in classrooms and cuts to some elementary music programs.

"What's hidden in all of these cuts is the layoffs of special education aides, and that is going to hurt programs," Mr. Santicola said.

School officials have scrambled since Mr. Corbett announced his budget in March to deal with the impending significant loss of state funds. They saw slight relief in sight in May when the state House approved a version of the budget that restored some funding. The Senate's version of the budget held essentially the same funding restorations with the exception of an additional $2.8 million for the Duquesne City School District, which initially took a $4 million hit in Mr. Corbett's budget.

However, school districts were thrown another curve in the final state budget when six of the 10 exceptions to state Act I were eliminated. Act I is the state law that limits school districts' tax hikes based on an inflationary index in return for property owners receiving state gambling revenues to reduce property taxes.

The exceptions for special purposes were created to allow districts to apply to the state education department for permission to raise taxes beyond their specific cap for reasons such as increased health care or pension costs or school construction -- costs that were beyond the school districts' control.

The final state budget retains four of the exceptions: pension increases, special education costs, school construction approved by the electorate and grandfathered debt.

"They kept the ones that are the two biggest ones that are requested by districts -- pensions and special education -- so it is noteworthy that they did the right thing. Districts have to be able to make some decisions," said Tom Gentzel, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

Among the exceptions eliminated, effective in the 2012-2103 school year, is the one that would allow districts to ask permission to raise taxes above their index for renovation or new construction projects. Now all such increases will have to be put to voter referendum, making the approval of construction projects more difficult.

Education experts say the likelihood of taxpayers in any district voting in favor of a tax hike for any reason is highly unlikely. Patrick Sable, chief financial officer for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, pointed to a referendum to hike taxes in Clairton that was soundly defeated this year. The board, fearful that the state would eliminate exceptions for the 2011-2012 school year, put a tax hike beyond its limit on the ballot in May.

"This diminishing local control is really not where we should be. School districts need the opportunity to make decisions about their districts. This 'one size fits all' doesn't work," Mr. Sable said.

In McKeesport, where the district is in the midst of a building consolidation project that calls for the creation of three primary/intermediate schools, officials could be in a difficult position if they find they cannot use about $34 million in an escrow account from a late 1990s project that was scaled back, business manager David Seropian said.

The current plan is to use the $34 million, along with proceeds from a $10 million bond issue and $15 million in qualified school construction bonds, to finance the project. But if it's determined that it is not legal to use the escrow funds, the district would face another bond issue, requiring voter approval if a tax hike was needed for repayment.

"There's a lot of education involved. People will have to know a lot before they go to the voting booth," Mr. Seropian said.

The PSBA's Mr. Gentzel is also frustrated over the fact that the legislature did not give school districts any relief from mandates as it had earlier suggested, such as easing the rules on teacher furloughs and allowing furloughs to take place for economic reasons.

Members of the Legislature have said they would be willing to revisit some of those issues, including mandate relief, vouchers, school choice and a review of the exceptions to Act I, in September.

But for Steel Valley superintendent William Kinavey, that's a hollow promise. "I'll believe it when I see it," Mr. Kinavey said.

With significantly decreased state funding and more restrictions on raising local taxes without voter approval, Mr. Kinavey has one question for the governor: "How do you raise revenues you need for your district?"

Mr. Kinavey said he has "right-sized" his district through furloughs of teachers, teachers aides, custodians and cafeteria workers for the coming year. "But I am very, very, very nervous about years two, three and four under Corbett. I think he is not a friend of public education, especially in lower income areas," Mr. Kinavey said.

In the Wilkinsburg School District, just two teachers were furloughed, but 19 teaching positions were eliminated and the districtwide staff of 305 was reduced by 42 positions. That included the furloughs of 10 instructional aides, four custodians, four administrators.

In all, it's a 14 percent reduction in staff in a district where there already "was no fat," business manager Bruce Dakan said.

"Is the responsibility level higher than ever? Yes. Is the stress level higher than ever? Yes," Mr. Dakan said. "In school districts it's difficult, and it's going to get more difficult."

Mr. Dakan and other school business managers are still scratching their heads over the state's decision to eliminate reimbursements for charter school tuition. Previously, districts received only about 30 percent reimbursement for the monies for students who attend charter schools and had lobbied to have the percentage increased. Instead it was eliminated.

That loss is hundreds of thousands of dollars for some school districts and the action "is a slap in the face for public education," Mr. Dakan said. The irony, he said, is that the program cuts forced on the public schools by the state budget will likely prompt more families to send their children to charter schools.

Jill Fleming-Salopek, an English teacher for 16 years who most recently worked as a secondary literacy coach in the Steel Valley School District, was furloughed last month. She is updating all of her clearances and posting her resume online and starting a program to earn a principal's certification in hopes of re-entering the education field.

"I'm going to update all of my stuff, and I'm going to put it out there. I am not going to close any door," said Ms. Fleming-Salopek, who holds a master's degree and has served on numerous district committees. "But the harsh reality is with all districts cutting back, I may have to look elsewhere. I love what I do, but I'm not even sure if I'll be working in education again."



Mary Niederberger: mniederberger@post-gazette.com; 412-851-1512.


ME-THANKS CORBETT!!!

: (
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

BOAG AND SARA!



http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/what-has-obama-done-since-january-20-2009.html
There I was sitting at the bar staring at my drink when a large, trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig.


"Well, whatcha' gonna do about it?" he says, menacingly, as I burst into tears.

"Come on, man," the biker says, "I didn't think you'd CRY. I can`t stand to see a man crying."

"This is the worst day of my life," I say. "I'm a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen and I don't have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife with another man and then my dog bit me."

"So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all, I buy a drink, I drop a capsule in and sit here watching the poison dissolve; then you show up and drink the whole thing!

But enough about me, how's your day going?
http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/07/09/hippie-tv-shorts/

very cool-check us out!

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Steve Raker:



shorter contemporary Christianist theology: people we don't like will be judged by God, people we do like will be forgiven by God. ..the system works and everyone conveniently 'gets' what we think they deserve. a cynic might notice this and mention that God really has nothing to do with the transaction.
‎"Republicans are good for one thing: getting elected every 30 or 40 years so
people can be reminded how terrible they are." ~Bob Shrum
a beautiful morning! just perfect. not yet hot and the light breeze is heaven!

Friday, July 08, 2011

Cheering

CHESWICK-my iphone auto correct drives me crazy!

it's so very big-the size of this smokestack just doesn't translate well by phone.


me- WTF??????????????????

okay babies-it's sticky and wet and miserable out here in the burgh but damn it-

IT'S FRIDAY!

you know what to do-

just make sure you don't do it too strenuously!!!
THE MAN WHO GAVE UP SEX FOR GOLF...

from my uncle gabe-


I’m sure this story will have a profound meaning for you golfers.


A golfer is in a competitive match with a friend, who is ahead by a
couple of strokes. "Boy, I'd give anything to sink this putt," the
golfer mumbles to himself.

Just then, a stranger walks up beside him and whispers, "Would you be
willing to give up one-fourth of your sex life?"

Thinking the man is crazy and his answer will be meaningless, the
golfer also feels that maybe this is a good omen so he says, "Sure,"
and sinks the putt.

Two holes later, he mumbles to himself again, "Gee, I sure would like
to get an eagle on this one."

The same stranger is at his side again and whispers, "Would it be worth
giving up another fourth of your sex life?"

Shrugging, the golfer replies, "Okay." And he makes an eagle.

On the final hole, the golfer needs another eagle to win. Without
waiting for him to say anything, the stranger quickly moves to his side
and says, "Would winning this match be worth giving up the rest of your
sex life?"

"Definitely," the golfer replies, and he makes the eagle.

As the golfer is walking to the club house, the stranger walks
alongside him and says, "I haven't really been fair with you because
you don't know who I am. I'm the Devil, and from this day forward you
will have no sex life."

"Nice to meet you," the golfer replies, "I'm Father O'Malley."

Water pouring from my gutter
Hellish rain!