lecture room 

you should've been there! 

hands-on is the key 

machine lathe 

NEW CENTURY CAREERS - open house

just returned from the New Century Careers Open House. the new facility is located in the Pittsburgh Terminal Buildings along Carson Street between 3rd and 4th Streets.
This was a good opportunity to review the program and tour the rehab taking place within the historic Terminal Bldg.
thanks to all in the service community who came to provide support and gain a better perspective on the mission of New Century Careers.

See photos of the tour.(above)

Open House at New Century Careers - Pittsburgh

New Century Careers | Building Successful Careers and Manufacturing Companies Throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania

Today I'll be visiting the new home of the program and posting a few photos of the renovated facility! j.

"Contrary to common beliefs, manufacturing is the second-largest source of employment in the 13-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. The region’s 170,000 manufacturing jobs at 4,000 manufacturing companies account for 15 percent of regional employment. The average annual salary in Southwestern PA’s manufacturing industry is $42,000. That’s more than 50 percent higher than the average annual wage in the services sector!
To prepare yourself for a machining or welding career with good wages, benefits and personal satisfaction, enroll today for courses offered through New Century." Careers.

Pittsburgh Transportation Equity Project

Pittsburgh Transportation Equity Project

Please extend your support to PTEP and the Youth Policy Institute.

PTEP is established to, "review the current transportation inequity issues within a community and educate the community members about major initiatives that will directly and indirectly impact them. (i.e. affordable transportation inequities, environmental transportation concerns, economic disparity, diversity and inclusion in the decision-making process.) "

YPI was developed, "...because of the disparity gap of African Americans understanding of the legislative process. The need to educate African Americans on the importance of making change in the community through a legislative process was quite visible. PTEP’s target communities had 30% or lower voter turn out in the last election." (more)

CONTACT: PTEP & YPI
Address: 1901-15 Centre Ave
Suite 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412.325.1616
Fax: 412.261.5514
Name: info@ptep.org

chicken of the sea?

DailyOM - Thalassotherapy

July 8, 2004
Finding Rejuvenation In The Sea
Thalassotherapy
Through history, the sea has captivated people's psyches. Like a loving parent, it grants its bounty of nourishment and healing. The father of medicine, Hippocrates, discovered the profound therapeutic effects that seawater had on the injured hands of fishermen. As the years passed, that discovery grew into thalassotherapy...(more)


Japanese Phrase of the Day

Inu ni esa o yaru.
Feed the dog.
Vocabulary / Expressions
inu = dog
esa= feed
yaru= to give
Notes: "O" is a particle which marks an object. "Ni" marks an indirect object.
Now, go feed the dog!

A former co-worker of mine. Glad she was able to get out of the travel industry

What's the Buzz? It's a new coffeehouse
(by Lynn Shea, freelance writer.)

"As a travel agent, Beth Wendt frequently shared the great travel opportunities she found with her three sisters. Together they have been on many cruises, trips to Europe and lots of shorter jaunts to places like New York City and Las Vegas.(more)

it's gonna be a long, lonely summer

(..i likes to cut 'til the bone pokes through...jim)

Cut more, fiscal oversight board tells PittsburghFiscal panel says $33 million in spending reductions not enough; wants $50 million total
By Timothy McNulty, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


-The city is budgeted to spend $390 million this year. The board's request for $50 million in cuts would be a nearly 13 percent drop in city spending.
-The city is budgeted to spend $390 million this year. The board's request for $50 million in cuts would be a nearly 13 percent drop in city spending.
-The board called for the $50 million spending cut yesterday while rejecting a five-year city spending plan Murphy filed June 15. That plan -- required to be balanced, under state law -- combined the lesser spending cuts in the Act 47 plan with a five-year, 49 percent increase in property taxes.
-The board said it rejected the plan to enable the city, the Act 47 recovery coordinators and the board to work together on a final city recovery plan.
-The board is set to deliver that final plan to the state by the end of next month. According to the board's lawyer, Glenn Mahone, Murphy now has 15 calendar days to submit another version of his spending plan. (more)

or the complete letter from the Oversite Board

in my backyard

School marks not up to par
Westinghouse High is now on probation

By Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette education writer can be reached at: echute@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1955.)

"Westinghouse High School is on probation for "serious violation of multiple standards," according to the national organization that accredits high schools throughout the nation...some Westinghouse teachers weren't properly licensed, no curriculum could be found for math and English, staff members were confused about whether the school offered Advanced Placement courses and the guidance counselors weren't counseling students about careers and college..."

(more)

(...perhaps more budget cuts are in order...? jim)

JUST REID

Recent stories by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Truth Out.com
http://www.truthout.com
http://www.truthout.com/docs_02/011103F.demo.teror.htm

Invisible Jihad
http://villagevoice.com/issues/0302/coates.php

• Cosby Rips Into Black America Again
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0427/coates2.php


• A Whiter Shade of Harlem
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0427/coates.php

They're building again in America's black mecca—but not necessarily with black labor — Will Harlem's building boom lead to a job boom? Ta-Nehisi Coates reports

• Doing It With R. Kelly
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0424/coates.php

Stripping the sexiness right out of sex — On the eve of R. Kelly's kiddie porn trial, Ta-Nehisi Coates finds his lyrics to be so much child's play

• A Nation of Millions
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0423/coates.php
Hip-Hop Convention seeks answer to what's holding young America back — Newark-based event will look at the schism between the hip-hop generation and their predecessors in the Civil Rights movement; Ta-Nehisi Coates reports

• Ebonics! Weird Names! $500 Shoes!
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0421/coates.php

Shrill Bill Cosby and the speech that shocked black America — Ta-Nehisi Coates on Bill Cosby's harsh assessment of the black lower class

• An Ocean Apart
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0420/coates.php

Haitian leader returns black love to sender — Ta-Nehisi Coates on Haitian prime minister Gerard Latortue

• Brown v. Board of Education was a good thing—wasn't it?
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0419/bkcoates.php

• She Held the Leash
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0419/coates.php

G.I. Jane in the Torture Room — Ta-Nehisi Coates wonders, Was Iraqi torture a sex crime?

• Old Enough to Vote? Old Enough to Die.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0418/coates.php

Ready to serve? — Ta-Nehisi Coates talks to New Yorkers about the draft.

• A Fistful of Mighta Been
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0417/coates.php
How the Miramax of Music Soundbombed — Ta-Nehisi Coates on the Miramax of Music

Check out CRaZy WOrLD

i've seen the commercials on the telly. now , the site---CraZy WorLd!

big swifty 

Worst highway bottlenecks

(this is all well and good, but just come up with a cure for the "tunnel-crawl" syndrome that happens on either side of the Squirrel Hill Tubes..jim)

A study for the American Highway Users Alliance found these were the worst congestion sites in the United States, followed by the number of vehicles handled daily and annual hours of delay. (more)

Los Angeles Ventura Freeway US-101 at I-405 interchange; 318,000 cars; 27,144,000 hours.

Houston I-610 at I-10 interchange; 295,000 cars; 25,181,000 hours.

Chicago I-90/94 at I-290 "Circle Interchange;" 293,671 cars; 25,068,000 hours.

Phoenix I-10 at SR-51/202 "Mini-Stack" interchange; 280,800 cars; 22,805,000 hours.

Los Angeles I-405 at I-10 interchange; 296,000 cars; 22,792,000 hours.

Atlanta I-75 at I-85 interchange; 259,128 cars; 21,045,000 hours.

Washington, D.C. I-495 at I-270 interchange; 243,425 cars; 19,429,000 hours.

Los Angeles I-10 at I-5 interchange; 318,500 cars; 18,606,000 hours.

Los Angeles I-405 at I-605 interchange; 318,000 cars; 18,606,000 hours.

Atlanta I-285 at I-85 "Spaghetti Junction" interchange; 266,000 cars; 17,072,000 hours.

Chicago I-94 at I-90 interchange; 260,403 cars; 16,713,000 hours.

Phoenix I-17 at I-10 "the Stack" interchange to Cactus Road; 208,000 cars; 16,310,000 hours.

Los Angeles I-5 at SR-22/57 "Orange Crush" interchange; 308,000 cars; 16,304,000 hours.

Providence, R.I.I-95 at I-195 interchange; 256,000 cars; 15,340,000 hours.

Washington, D.C.I-495 at I-95 interchange; 185,125 cars; 15,035,000 hours.

Tampa, Fla. I-275 at I-4 "Malfunction Junction" interchange; 201,500 cars; 14,371,000 hours.

Atlanta I-285 and I-75 interchange; 239,193 cars; 14,333,000 hours.

Seattle I-5 and I-90 interchange; 301,112 cars; 14,306,000 hours.

Chicago I-290 Eisenhower Expressway between exits 17b and 23a; 200,441 cars; 14,009,000 hours.

Houston I-45 Gulf Freeway at US-59 interchange; 250,299 cars; 13,944,000 hours.

San Jose, Calif. US-101 at I-880 interchange; 244,000 cars; 12,249,000 hours.

Las Vegas US-95 at I-15 "Spaghetti Bowl" interchange; 190,600 cars; 11,152,000 hours.

San Diego I-805 at I-15 interchange; 238,000 cars; 10,992,000 hours.

Cincinnati I-75 from Ohio River Bridge to I-71 interchange; 136,013 cars; 10,088,000 hours.

the Total Tool

sorry, just realized that all my links were self-referential(on the functional level). hope i corrected the errors before i offended too many people.(my big fat blog audience)jim

the devil is in the blog!

Wired News: America's War With Blogistan
(..this is an issue i've wrestled with regarding the blog that i work on. i want to represent my organization to the best of my abilities and represent my own point of view...jim)

"...After all, just because you link to a site, does it mean that you stand by its content? Does it imply an implicit endorsement? If that’s the case, then how can the Kerry campaign justify linking to other sites that post material that is arguably just as off-color as Moulitsas "literally speaking ill of the dead,"...(more)

"ready or not here we come; gettin' down for the funk that we believe in..." 

my world, and welcome to it

JUST REID:
DITCHING THE LIPSTICK-AND-PANTIES PITCH
Bella M. DePaulo, AlterNet

If Democrats want to inspire single women to vote in
November, they need to lose the cutesy marketing slogans
and talk about the issues.

http://www.alternet.org/election04/19140/

MORE THAN MUSIC AND STYLE
The Black Commentator

The hip-hop generation, defined by the outside world as
a marketing demographic, seeks to redraw itself in its true colors.

http://www.alternet.org/story/19144/



Sites:
http://tinyapps.org/blog/

Welcome to TinyApps.Org, a guide to very small software for your PC. Virtually all of the programs listed here are free of charge and for use under Windows.

LISTEN/HEAR:
http://www.will.uiuc.edu/main/listen.htm
univ of illinois radio

http://www.npr.org/programs/fool/
motley fool radio


Five Things You Gotta Know About Taxes

Commentator Roy Lewis has got it down to the brassiest of tacks -- five simple tips to keep you on top of your income tax return until they throw out the code for good.

The Whole Story on Whole Foods Market
The Whole Foods Market is the largest organic and natural foods grocer in the country and the world. With 157 stores in 28 states, Canada, and Great Britain, Whole Foods has made healthy eating fashionable. Charles Fishman, who profiled the company for Fast Company Magazine, talks with NPR's Susan Stamberg. July 3, 2004

Laws Evolve to Cope with Posthumous Conception
(...don’t ask; don’t smell...)

Laws change and adapt to keep pace with changes in science and technology. Elaine Korry reports on the brave new world of reproductive technology and the evolving laws that govern the entitlements and inheritance rights of children conceived from frozen sperm after the deaths of their fathers.

'The Star-Spangled Banner' in Spanish
From Gerald Erichsen,
Your Guide to Spanish Language.

Works of literature can be especially hard to translate well, as the majesty of the language and connotations of certain words can be lost. That is especially true of songs, where the rhythm and poetry of the original language can be lost as well. But that doesn't keep translators from trying. No fewer than four translators have been serious attempts to translate "The Star-Spangled Banner," although not all have tried to make the words singable.
How well did they do? Judge for yourself by selecting any of the next four pages.

El himno nacional de los Estados Unidos
Versión por Francis Haffkine Snow

Amanece: ¿no veis, a la luz de la aurora,
Lo que tanto aclamamos la noche al caer?
Sus estrellas, sus barras flotaban ayer
En el fiero combate en señal de victoria,
Fulgor de cohetes, de bombas estruendo,
Por la noche decían: "!Se va defendiendo!"

Coro:
!Oh, decid! ¿Despliega aún su hermosura estrellada,
Sobre tierra de libres, la bandera sagrada?

En la costa lejana que apenas blanquea,
Donde yace nublada la hueste feroz
Sobre aquel precipicio que elévase atroz
¡Oh, decidme! ¿Qué es eso que en la brisa ondea?
Se oculta y flamea, en el alba luciendo,
Reflejada en la mar, donde va resplandeciendo

Coro:
!Aún allí desplegó su hermosura estrellada,
Sobre tierra de libres, la bandera sagrada!

¡Oh así sea siempre, en lealtad defendamos
Nuestra tierra natal contra el torpe invasor!
A Dios quien nos dio paz, libertad y honor,
Nos mantuvo nación, con fervor bendigamos.
Nuestra causa es el bien, y por eso triunfamos.
Siempre fue nuestro lema "¡En Dios confiamos!"

Coro:
!Y desplegará su hermosura estrellada,
Sobre tierra de libres, la bandera sagrada!

(Traducido por Francis Haffkine Snow, 1919)

Let us fashion this world in our image

First the Tale, Then the Bill

"When it comes to California lawmaking, the political is increasingly personal. Many of the 2,500 or so bills legislators draft each year are inspired by the experiences of friends, relatives and constituents, by newspaper headlines and occasionally even by themselves.

"What good is having 423,000 constituents if you can't take advantage of what they know?" says Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who has written five laws suggested by constituents through his annual "There Oughta Be a Law" contest.

In the current two-year legislative session, lawmakers have proposed penalizing anyone who has sex with a corpse; creating new legal protections for hate crime victims and their families; limiting the jail terms for law enforcement officials who accidentally shoot someone to death; and impounding cars to stop potentially dangerous drivers like the one who plowed into the Santa Monica Farmers' Market last year. All of those bills were prompted by events with limited, if any, hard evidence that widespread problems were imminent.

"Unfortunately, most legislation is a function of slogan and anecdote," said Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer, a former Democratic state Senate president pro tem. "They start with their philosophy, and then there's an anecdote that tries to prove the point."

This type of lawmaking is hardly unique to California. But some political experts say changes in Sacramento's culture over the last decade or so have made it much more pervasive."

(but then there is 'Megan's Law'....jim)