dance of the eternal union 

I got nuttin'.

For those of You with Everything
Reference Desk@Everything2.com

a personal reference desk @ your service.

Visigoths Rule!

The Visigothic Code of Law
(...forgive me as I roll-back the the skin of time. To a golden era in the ways of humankind. For the next several weeks, I will live and assess others according the the Law of the Visigoths. All hail...jim)

"The original Goths were typical savages. They had practically no political organization; dressed in skins; disdained all labor; showed no mercy to their enemies; killed their parents, when they became old and infirm; had few religious ideas; worshiped a drawn sword as a divinity; were filthy [viii] in their personal habits; and recognized only the law of the strongest. From such unpromising progenitors was derived the race destined to be, in large measure, the lawgivers of Europe."

What the Law Should Be.

"The law should be plain, and not lead any citizen to commit error or fraud. It should be suitable to the place and the time, according to the character and custom of the state; prescribing justice and equity; consistent, honorable, worthy, useful, and necessary; and it should be carefully noted whether its provisions are framed rather for the convenience, than for the injury, of the public; so that it may be determined whether it sufficiently provides for the administration of justice; whether or not it appears to be contrary to religion, and whether it defends the right, and may be observed without detriment to any one."

The Visigoths

"In the course of conquest firmly established in Gaul and Spain, and everywhere victorious over the Romans by arms, were, in their turn -- as inevitably happens under similar circumstances -- both enervated and subjugated by the arts of luxury and peace. Despite their surroundings, they, for a long period, preserved their ancient habits and traditions. For more than a century they went about half-clad and unkempt, as they had done on the shores of the Euxine and the Baltic, to the astonishment and disgust of the polished Roman provincials, who had inherited the luxurious tastes, courteous manners, and artistic conceptions of Greece and Italy. To the last, they wore long hair as a badge of sovereignty; a barbarian custom which first became known to the Romans, when the city was saved by Marius from the invasion of the Cimbri and Teutons."

Father's Day gone wild

MDN: Wai Wai
Chirpy actress-dancer-model-designer-professional celebrity Uno Kanda

"Uno's father had to go to the hospital for a stress related ulcer. And his kids are to blame," an entertainment industry insider tells Josei Jishin.
(...just let go mr. kanda. i assure you that your continued ill-health will only cause the kids undue anxiety and shame- or is that the point? ...jim)

behind those eyes. a face invisible to itself. given to reflection and whispers in dreams. forgotten in the light of day. recalled in the moment of death.  

if you like Hesse; you might like T.S. Eliot....

Gnod - The global network of dreams: "Gnod is my experiment in the field of artificial intelligence. Its a self-adapting system, living on this server and 'talking' to everyone who comes along. Gnods intention is to learn about the outer world and to learn 'understanding' its visitors. This enables gnod to share all its wisdom with you in an intuitive and efficient way. You might call it a search-engine to find things you don't know about."

(i checked the 'author' section of this site. i found some adjacencies to that i'd like to explore. see the music and movie sections also...jim)

DailyOM

becOMe one with the book

DailyOM - The 1000 Journal Project: "A Project of Creative Possibilities

(...i don't do yoga. incense gives me hives. i do drink chai lattes and my navel has seen its fair share of introspection...jim)

For more information visit 1000journals.com

Sweetwater Center for the Arts

Sweetwater

Mavuno Festival 2003: October
At Sweetwater Center for the Arts, the month of October means Mavuno~An African American Visual and Performing Arts Festival. Sweetwater's mission is to not only make the arts accessible to all cultures, but also to promote the arts of all cultures. The Mavuno Festival focuses on the rich cultural heritage of the African American community, and the month of October will feature an array of events for you and your family to enjoy. Look for them! The Mavuno Performance Evening will take place at Sewickley Academy's Rea Auditorium. Details about this event will be forthcoming.

not your typical urban bush women

URBAN BUSH WOMEN PERFORM @ SWEETWATER CTR FOR THE ARTS
UBW Home

Just received a call from the Sweetwater Center for the Arts.
They're presenting a Movuno (1st Fruits) arts festival 04 October to 29 October and are hoping to present works by local artists that also represent an expression of the Afro-American experience.
Featured artists will be: Urban Bush Women; One World Tribe; E.B. Lewis; Juxtapower and Curtis Reeves.
For addt'l info, please contact Amy Lumsden at 412-741-4405 extension 12.

i been dissin' you. since you been gone away.

"Welcome to Disinfopedia, a collaborative project to produce a directory of public relations firms, think tanks, industry-funded organizations and industry-friendly experts that work to influence public opinion and public policy on behalf of corporations, governments and special interests."

(..........building consensus is the 12th commandment...building consensus is the 12th commandment....building consensus is the 12th commandment....building consensus is the 12th commandment...building consensus is the 12th commandment....building consensus is the 12th commandment...building consensus is the 12th commandment.....building consensus is the 12th commandment....jim)

skies over pittsburgh 

ich weiss nicht

German First Names and Official Approval
(I love the Hessian rule of law. organisation uber alles!)

“Germans are used to being regulated in many areas of daily life that Americans might find rather repressive. Want to name your baby? Better pick a name that the local Standesamt (office of vital statistics) agrees with. If they don't agree to register the name you picked, you have to appeal the decision. By German law, a child's name has to meet two conditions: (1) it must reflect the sex of the child, and (2) it must not endanger the 'well-being of the child.' A German couple who wanted to honor their favorite actress, Whoopi Goldberg, by naming their child Whoopi had their application rejected because, among other thing, the name resembles the English expression 'making whoopee.'

(i was thinking whoopi cushion...jim)

Legal glitch gives Va. workers Sundays off

Hitch-up the Wagon, Ma. We're headed to Virginny!
MSNBC - Legal glitch gives Va. workers Sundays off

just read

Coastsider

this site has been recommended as a good example of an online journal: simple, navigable, useful and specific to its community of origin. check it out.

Shanghai'd

The World Outside My Door

Shanghai

tomorrow i'm telling my wife i'm going to Starbucks for a Soy Chai Latte. Be right back, honey!

Difficult choices for American Youth

heaven can wait.please!
Joi Ito's Web: Difficult choices for American youths

you got to scroll down the list of comments to this post. they get get funnier as you reach the bottom of the page.
i love Joi's weblog

Difficult choices for American Youth

heaven can wait.please!
Joi Ito's Web: Difficult choices for American youths

you got to scroll down the list of comments to this post. they get get funnier as you reach the bottom of the page.
i love Joi's weblog

To Thine Own Self be You

Publishers of weLEAD Online Magazine.

"A great leader never sets himself above his followers except in carrying responsibilities"
Jules Ormont

(...useful site for those of us with a strong need to lead...jim)

the lie's as good as the truth if your audience believes you

shades of grey
("...after the rush when you come back down. you're always disappointed. nothing seems to get you high...
...in the morning there are lovers in the streets they look so alive; you- you brush against a stranger and you both apologize...")from Joni Mitchell

(..this has been on my mind for awhile. the combo of J. Baudrillard and J. L. Borges make for me an interesting night of rhetoric...jim)
see an illustrated version of Borges' work at Fantastic Zoology
Baudrillard_Simulacra and Simulations: "Jean Baudrillard"

Simulacra....n. pl. sim·u·la·cra (-lkr, -lkr)
An image or representation.
An unreal or vague semblance.
[Latin simulcrum(from simulre, to simulate. See simulate) + -crum, n. suff.]

"The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth--it is the truth which conceals that there is none.
The simulacrum is true."
Ecclesiastes

just contacted

Urban Youth Action, Inc. is a nonprofit organization located in downtown Pittsburgh, at the Catholic Charities Building, on 212 Ninth Street. The organization was founded in 1966 by Bernard H. Jones, Sr. Urban Youth Action, Inc. (UYA) is a youth oriented education and development program, dedicated to serve and help the youth of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County between the ages of thirteen to nineteen. Their mission statement is:
“To prepare and develop young people for opportunities in education, employment, entrepreneurship and public service.”
UYA offers seven primary programs in three main categories: education, employment and enrichment. The purpose of these programs is to present the students with information and experiences that will not only educate them, but also help them with personal growth.

(around 28jul04 i hope to meet with and tour through our facility a group of young people from Urban Youth Action Inc. if you have people looking for vocational training or those interested in bridging the gap betwixt highschool and work, contact me at 412-323-4000 or jimuleda@msn.com
...jim)

also see:career development program network for a wider net of social svc providers.

shameless self-promotion

and now for a word from my sponsor!!

please take advantage of our afterschool youth programs in the arts:
MCG Youth - Newsletter
we have evening arts programs for adults:
Adult arts programs
http://www.manchesterguild.org/va/adulteducationFlash.html
how about our no-cost vocational training and academic prep classes:
Academic and Vocational Training
http://www.bidwell-training.org/

i'm on a blogroll now.

SANS - Internet Storm Center - Cooperative Cyber Threat Monitor And Alert System - Current Infosec News and Analysis

aww, what the hey!
let's skip the middlepersons and go straight to 'geek'.
j.

download you some protection:
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

pick a card, a nose and a friend. pt.ii

Pop-up program reads keystrokes, steals passwords - News - ZDNet

(more reasons to never get out of bed...jim)

"A malicious program that installs itself through a pop-up can read keystrokes and steal passwords when victims visit any of nearly 50 targeted banking sites, security researchers warned on Tuesday.
The targeted sites include major financial institutions, such as Citibank, Barclays Bank and Deutsche Bank, researcher Marcus Sachs said Tuesday."

back-up your troubles in a gigabyte and smile,smile, smile

TechLove With Mr. Roboto
by Brendan I. Koerner
The Village Voice: Machine Age: TechLove With Mr. Roboto: Go For a Drive by Brendan I. Koerner

Q. Many a time you've recommended that we mere mortals invest in an external hard drive, for backup purposes. I'm sold, but what should I look for in one of these storage units? Could I make do with the cheapest drive on the block, or is this the sort of thing I shouldn't skimp on?

A. You should eschew the cheapest of the cheap, but....(more)

pick a card; any card

Consumer Corner
Consumer WebWatch consumerreports@cmet.cr-mail.org
(...it's probably just me, but i can't seem to muster the energy needed to protect myself from consumer fraud. i'm lactose intolerant, drowning in an ocean of seasonal allergies and my Prozac seems to nullify the effects of my Atenolol prescription. identity theft would be a welcome diversion for me...or not. jim)

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued to halt a drug discount card scam the FTC says resulted in the theft of more than $10 million from consumers' checking accounts in less than three months. The site, Pharmacycards.com, electronically transferred $139 from some 90,000 accounts without prior consent after accessing them via third-party payment processors, according to the FTC. The commission urges consumers to always examine bank statements regularly and promptly dispute any questionable charges.

Consumers selling items via auction sites or other online venues should avoid buyers willing to pay with cashier's checks greater than the selling price, says Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. His office uncovered a scheme in which fraudsters, usually based overseas, "buy" goods online with counterfeit cashier's checks for an amount larger than the purchase price, then ask the seller to refund the difference. When the bogus check bounces, the seller is responsible for repaying the full amount of the check to the bank.

If you believe you've been a victim of a check cashing scheme, contact the FDIC, at alert@fdic.gov.
Finally, a California mortgage broker tricked consumers with false promises of a "3.5% fixed payment" loan that did not exist, says the FTC. The broker, Chase Financial Funding (CFF), advertised low mortgage rates via spam and on its Web site, www.chaseff.com. The actual interest rate is considerably higher than the advertised amount and varies monthly, according to the FTC.

The agency also warns consumers that, due to a separate trademark action, CFF is now operating under the name "Choice Financial Funding" at the same Web site address.

message in a bottle

...this is a note from an old college friend...hope she doesn't mind being blogged. (sorry, slow news day)

"Hello!!!!!!!
Are you sending me this because you want help? If so I am in! I have not talked to you in such a long time and may I say it has been to long!
Life is good, I am still in physical therapy from my car accident in January, but like I always say...it is not doing anything, so I think I am going to stop. I just got back from a wonderful cruise to the exotic western caribbean. The cruise went to Belize, Roatan (Hondorus), Grand Cayman and Cozumel and I also went to Playa del Carmen. I could have stayed on the cruise for another week.
What is new with you? How is everything with your daughter?... I will talk to you soon." M.

(...i really enjoy getting mail from old friends. especially when i realize how quickly our lives can change. just knowing that someone i know has been sucking-up the sun, surf, sand and tiny umbrella drinks for the past 14 days (and 13 nights)makes my wretched existence that much more poignant. i'll have to talk to M. and discover if the cruise was part of the car-wreck package or if she had to pay extra for that (;p
...jim)

The Women's Resource Directory

New Page 1
went looking for Carena Pope's phone number to give to my co-worker and found this most excellent web page (not just for women).
http://www.wrcpgh.org/directory.htm

(..This just in from Ms Tyra of the YouthPlaces organization. now, those are some hard working folks. i hope everyone there on Smallman street are enjoying the summer. i hope to do some more work with them during the autumn of '04...jim)

Original Message-----
From: Salvador Wilcox, EI, Inc. [mailto:s.wilcox@educationinnovations.org]
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 2:51 PM
To: tgood@youthplaces.org
Subject: Scholarship Opportunity for Young Entrepreneur's Club

"Tyra-
It was a pleasure meeting you today. I hope we can get a partnership going! Below is information about our scholarship opportunity. Feel free to pass it along to anyone who you think would get some benefit. Thanks, Sal Wilcox

Education Innovations, a non-profit organization in Highland Park, has full scholarship opportunities to The Young Entrepreneur's Club (July 26 through August at St. Andrew's in Highland Park). We thank PNC Bank for the opportunity to offer this club free of charge to eligible children in grades 4 through 8. The Young Entrepreneur's Club runs Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 12:00PM.

To accept a scholarship, students must be low-income and enrolled in his/her school's free or reduced lunch program. Student in the Young Entrepreneur's will learn how to earn, spend, and save money as well as develop business ideas that will keep earning for them for years to come. You can get more information about The Young Entrepreneur's Club at www.educationinnovations.org. Please send an e-mail to scholarships@educationinnovations.org if you would like to be considered for a full scholarship."

Salvador A Wilcox
CEO,
Education Innovations, Inc.
914 Heberton Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412.363.7707 (voice)
412.363.7706 (fax)
www.educationinnovations.org

...and now, 412 with Mark Rauterkaus.

(...i always enjoy these updates from Mark...jim)

Hi Friends of Freedom,

You are invited to our July 4th party. Hope you can make it this year.

Come at or after 6 pm on July 4.

Details:

We are starting a little earlier this year as we'll play badminton and other games in the park by our house. We have something for every age and ability. So come to the house or directly to the park at 6 pm (or any time after).

Badminton is a popular world-wide, full-medal Olympic sport. We obtained some equipment from CHINA, where they have OPEN REC CENTERS and coaches.
We'll share. We'll even tell you a little bit about our five week trip if you ask.

Games are slated for the Armstrong Park, on 12th Street between East Carson and Sarah Streets. The park is one short block from our house, 108 South 12th Street. We are at the corner of 12th Street and Bradish, a gray, wood frame. Look for the "Fire Mayor Murphy" sign in the front window.

Games in the park start at 6 pm, crafts at the house, water
balloon toss, regatta fireworks at dark (9:30-ish). We supply lemonaide, chips, cups, napkins, spoons, forks (sometimes we even manage a fruit salad). If you want other drinks and snacks please feel free to bring them along. We have several beds to rest babies if little ones fizzle before fireworks.

Don't miss the fun. Let's spend an evening smashing "birdies" around the park -- birdies, not skeet.

FYI, we're inviting V.P., Dick Cheney as well. (His fax: 202-456-2461) He might be 'game,' as he'll be in Pittsburgh at Soldiers & Sailors' Hall in Oakland around noon on the 4th.

Confirmed out-of-town guests include our nephew, Cameron Middleburry College and his state's top student in 2003 ACT score) and Aunt Debbie (Florida).

For more insights: Mark@Rauterkus.com
cell = 412-298-3432

Closing Pointer and Rant:

Today (sunny to 6 pm, high of 74-degrees) the public pools within the
city closed at 2 pm. And, the Post-Gazette story from today, (must read)post-gazette sums up conditions in a part of the city. We (Pgh Interfaith Impact Network's Youth Task Force) were PROHIBITED from installing a computer lab, at no charge to the city, at the Warrington Rec Center. Sigh.

A majority on City Council is set to squander their rights and
independence. Council bargained for our city to enter into a "distressed status." The mayor rejoiced in its arrival. Within hours, our elected council is set to yield to the unelected of oversight boards and appointed authorities.

Elected city leaders: "Duty isn't pragmatic!" Pittsburgh's "UN-American" mode of operation aims for solutions that are one step better than the worst possible, again. To heal and soar takes much more.

Loyalist (loyal to King George) of 1776 didn't have to face scornful emails wedged within an invite to cherish and celebrate at a free 4th of July party. How sad for them. Thanks for reading and do consider a visit to the South Side on the 4th. And as always, thanks for your dissent.
Ta.

Mark Rauterkus http://Play.CLOH.Org
xCoach@Rauterkus.com http://CLOH.Org http://Rauterkus.com
412-298-3432 = cell

PS: - - - Other dates - - -
Invite 2: July 9, Club Cafe, concert with Mindy Simmons
(singer/songwriter). Theme: "This IS America." http://S6.CLOH.Org

Invite 3: July 11, Sunnyhill Sunday Service at 10:30 am --
Intergenerational Service and Music. Theme: "Consider the Source."
http://Sunnyhill.Org

Invite 4: I'm slated for a radio show, 1360 AM, on July 1 at 7:20 am to talk about the ACT 47, Pittsburgh and a pending edition of the Park District Proposal. http://DSL.CLOH.Org/v1/ Email your thoughts now.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
412-Public-Remarks is an email service from Mark Rauterkus.
Thanks for listening. You can control your own subscription at the URL below: http://rauterkus.com/mailman/listinfo/412-public-remarks

my neighborhood streets are overrun with these 'toys'.

Wired News: Speedy, Tiny and Troublesome

"Whizzing down the street just inches from the pavement, Vincent Walstra looks like a big kid getting away with his little brother's pint-size bike. Arms and legs straddling the shiny yellow two-wheeler, Walstra knows he looks silly, but he's having fun on his new toy -- a shrunken-down motorcycle commonly referred to as a "pocket bike."


i posted a letter to pittsburgh tv station WPXI about this issue just yesterday. this is more dangerous than kids on bicycles

note to self

looking back over the last flurry of entries, i promise to edit for length and speling. grammer, syntax and punctuation are extremely overrated. jim

a little lite reading

Rethinking Schools Online:

"Founded in 1986 by activist teachers, Rethinking Schools is a nonprofit, independent publisher of educational materials. We advocate the reform of elementary and secondary education, with a strong emphasis on issues of equity and social justice."

(...i no longer have children in the public school system, but i'm keenly aware of the challenges of contemporary public education. i visit classrooms and converse with 12-18 year-olds on a weekly basis. i respect both teachers and administrators who go to work with the intention of providing a safe and fertile ground for the physical growth and literacy of our children...jim)

ged out and fine som'ting to do -- you lazy mon'.

Gregg Services, Inc.

you don't have to go to kuwait to find a living wage! call the good folks at Gregg Services Inc.

remember who'll be changing our diapers.

AlterNet: Election 2004: This Ain't No Party

"In Cincinnati, the bus pulled into the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood that had erupted in rioting in April of 2001 after the police shooting of black resident Timothy Thomas. There, things took a strange turn. "The pastor who was supposed to walk us through the neighborhood got scared and left us," Neo recalls. "It was wild. One of my Somali brothers, they tried to rob him, take his watch and his chains. A white guy who was with us, they came at him like nine, ten deep, just talking about, 'This ain't the place for you to be.' One of the 14-year-old guys, somebody pulled a knife on him, just for asking him to register to vote."

(we really don't have any choice when it comes to preparing our children to assume control of this planet...jim)

We're Talkin' Happy Hour- right here!

hey there. yeah..you.
are ya looking for a good time?

(...I've never met Ms Gregg, vis-a vis, but
anyone who is willing to work this hard for
a charity event is looking better to me with
each passing moment. Please share some time
and some coin of the realm with these
fine people...jim)

Location: Sports Rock Cafe
1400 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA
When: Thursday, July 22, 6:00pm- 9:00pm

"Pittsburgh's 50 Finest" are 50 of Pittsburgh's most eligible men and women, who are honored for their activity in the community professionally and charitably. They are successful in their careers and are considered to be some of the most prominent, influential, and successful single professionals in the city. Join Shannon Gregg, one of Pittsburgh's 50 Finest 2004, as she raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by guest bartending at the Sports Rock Cafe! All tips collected will be donated to the CFF, so remember to bring LOTS of cash." (And for those of you who remember when Shannon was a bartender...order beer!)

www.gregg.bz
www.srcafe.net

This is London?

This is London

"Boxing legend Mike Tyson has been sleeping in homeless shelters and living like a 'street bum' since declaring himself bankrupt."
(...i'm sorry, i had to blog this one, if only for the photo image and the part of the text where Mike says, "...unsavory characters are giving me money."
i wish him no ill-will and i hope his station in life will be less complicated... don't we have enough shelters in Pittsburgh for Mike?...jim)