Sunday, October 31, 2010

Why Should You Vote?

Elections are important because government officials – the ones we elect and those they hire – decide how much taxes we pay and how those taxes are spent.  They determine whether we go to war, whether to build or repair our roads and bridges, what our schools teach, and what social services to provide, and to whom. 

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Democrats’ Successes, Republicans’ Lies

President Obama’s strength and courage led Congressional Democrats to dozens of impressive victories in only 21 months. We didn’t get everything we wanted, but he tackled issues that no one else would. And he didn’t give up. I’m not 100% pleased with Obama or the Democrats, but I am more pleased than I have been with any previous president.
Read More . . . . http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/democrats-successes-republicans-lies

Friday, October 29, 2010

Anyone Know if There Are Any Pittsburgh-Washington Busses for Tomorrow's "Rally for Sanity?"

I've been travelling a lot lately, and don't want to drive to DC, but I think I'd like to try to go if I can find a ride. Thanks!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Evaluate Your General Election Choices

Evaluate Your General Election Choices
http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-pittsburgh/evaluate-your-general-election-choices

Do Campaign Thugs Reveal Our Future?

On Monday, Kentucky Senate candidates Jack Conway and Rand Paul debated in Lexington. Outside, just after the event, TWO of Paul’s campaign thugs pushed Lauren Valle to the ground. Mike Pezzano held her down while Paul’s Bourbon County campaign coordinator Tim Profitt STOMPED ON HER HEAD

Monday, October 25, 2010

Joe Sestak for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) beat the odds and defeated Sen. Arlen Specter, (pretending-to-be-a-D-Philadelphia) in the primary election for U.S. Senate last spring. Now, he faces former Wall Street banker and Congressman Pat Toomey in the general election on November 2. Sestak is easily the best Senate candidate to run in Pennsylvania in a long time and deserves your attention and your vote.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Today Is "Wear Purple" Day in Support of Gay Teens

My profile picture and I are both wearing purple today for "Wear Purple Day" to commemorate teens harassed (to death in a few cases) for being gay. I'd also like to point out the It Does Get Better Website, which, while it's aimed at LGBT teens, it's a reassuring Website for teens who feel outcast for any reason. http://www.itdoesgetbetter.org/

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Updates to The Society Blogroll

Hello.

I just did a quick update to the blogroll. Check it out!

To be a member of The Pittsburgh Women's Blogging Society, you should have your own blogging presence and agree to have it listed on our blogroll. If your membership was deleted it was due to my being unable to verify your blog address. Feel free to drop me a line if there was an error.

The blogroll will be featured prominently at the upcoming "Women in Media" event to benefit the Women & Girls Foundation of Southwestern PA on November 6, 2010. Hurrah!

Dan Connolly for Congress in PA 18th

It’s two weeks to Election Day, and Democrat Dan Connolly is fighting an uphill battle against Pennsylvania’s 18th District Republican Tim Murphy for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He emphasizes the differences between himself and Murphy, which are substantial. Although voters aren’t familiar with him, he deserves your attention and your vote.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Astrological Happenings Horoscope: October 18-24

Our week begins on a pillow of dreams on Monday October 18, and we're hitting the snooze button a few times with a sleepy Pisces Moon. Mercury trines Neptune (Pisces ruler), and we experience something that may feel like mental fatigue or drowsiness, as healing waters flow and cleanse us from months of repetitive thought patterns. We should allow our mind to venture into imaginative resources that we normally wouldn't tap into, to experiment with a new approach to our day. Discover ways to be constructive by using the power of imagination ~ by creating an idea, developing a new work system, inspiring someone, adding color to our life, etc. Add oomph to your day!
Read more from Suzi Dronzek's Astrological Happenings this week!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Meghan McCain at Pitt for National Coming Out Week

The University of Pittsburgh’s Rainbow Alliance, the LGBTQA undergraduate student association, sponsored an event with Meghan McCain, daughter of you-know-who, on Thursday evening at Pitt’s Lawrence Hall. Holden Caulfield said, in Catcher in the Rye, that you know a book is good when you want to phone the author to discuss it. That’s the impression that McCain leaves behind. You’d welcome the chance to have lunch with her.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Tales Exaggerate Congressional Pay and Pensions

As long as I can remember, there has been a vague general rumbling that members of Congress collect exorbitant salaries and outrageous pensions and other benefits. The rumblings have changed form over the years, from idle gossip to organized viral email campaigns, but the substance remains. Despite efforts to spread the truth, many Americans still contend that members of Congress take home truckloads of money, don’t participate in Social Security, and get full pay for their lifetimes after serving only a single term in Congress. Sorry, folks, it just isn’t true.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Astrological Happenings

It's a pretty quiet week with no major planetary distractions, but who's complaining? Be sure to take advantage of it. This week starts on a positive note as Moon travels in gracious Sagittarius on Monday October 11. Opportunities are available, pay attention. Travel, education, outrageous adventures, and spirituality are favorable. Happy Columbus Day.


We may feel limited on Tuesday October 12, but our need for speed is still activated as Moon races through Sagittarius. Be mindful of our own motivations when we feel annoyed or read more >>

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Your Tax Dollars at Work – and FREE STUFF

Allegheny County is currently celebrating its annual “RADical Days” – and we’re all invited. Every site that receives funds from the RAD, or Regional Assets District, tax offers some services free to the public at this time of year. There’s something for everyone.  In March 1994, the state legislature permitted Allegheny County to add one percent onto the already existing six percent Pennsylvania sales tax. They called it the “Regional Assets District” or RAD tax. Where is this district and what exactly are we paying for?

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

How Much Do You Know About Our Government?

Just for fun, here’s a quiz on our government. All of the topics have been mentioned in my articles, or in the news, or in relatively recent American history. You can check your answers through the link at the end. If you like, you can answer the bonus essay question and perhaps win a prize. If you do well, thank a teacher. If not, read a newspaper.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Executive Orders and the U.S. Constitution

Republicans/conservatives/tea partiers delight in criticizing President Obama for using any of the many tools at his disposal when doing his job. The latest favorite is the Executive Order. Once again, they exploit the public’s civic and political illiteracy to spread their lies. Executive Orders are not laws. Presidents don't make laws. Congress does. They imply that the orders are unconstitutional, yet they didn’t have that problem with any orders issued by Republican presidents.
Read more . . .

US Supreme Court session opens

Today, the US Supreme Court opened its 222nd annual session.  By federal law, the court opens on the first Monday in October.  Each session usually ends in late June or early July.  Our constitution established the US Supreme Court.  Congress has the power to create other “inferior” courts.  Those include federal district and appeals courts, and state supreme and appeals courts.  In Pennsylvania, the lower Courts of Common Pleas operate on the county level.  Common pleas courts supervise local district magistrates.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Some Internal Business Matters

Dear Pgh Women Bloggers,

I'm updating the email list and the blogroll. Please let me know if you have any requests for changes. We have an exciting announcement coming up and want to be sure everyone is in the loop.

Thanks,
The Society

Friday, October 1, 2010

TARP Cost Will Be Less Than Once Thought - NYTimes.com

TARP Cost Will Be Less Than Once Thought - NYTimes.com

Weekly Horoscope: October 1 - October 3

The Moon is swollen in emotional Cancer on Friday October 1, and while our sensitivities want to be protected, they also search for an outlet. We could feel the need to express ourselves as Communicator Mercury opposes braggart Jupiter, and we may excrete more than we should. If you're you're going to say it and put it our there, remember that a positive approach attracts a positive response. Otherwise, know when to zip it. Because of necessary upgrades needed to my server, my website and email went down for a few days. When this happens, I will usually send out an alert and whine about it on my blog as I did on Monday, where options are available to stay in contact with me. If you would like such alerts to be delivered to your email address, or to have weekly access to my astrological tarot horoscope, subscribe for free.


Pressure is building in the cosmos on Saturday October 2, and we may experience strong gusts of wind that cause a change in the weather as fury is stimulated in the heavens. Luna begins to inflate with majestic pride as she enters Leo today. It's not about talk, but taking action. Just as a sensitive firecracker is highly reactive, the Leo Moon is just as raw and willful. Our purposeful shift will create quite the read more >>

The American Terrorists

We’ve endured much talk about terrorists in America during the past nine years. Politicians protect us from terrorists by telling us the color of the day. Removing our shoes before boarding an airplane will protect us from terrorists. Nastiness and religious intolerance will protect us from terrorists. People with “funny” names are terrorists. We can recognize terrorists just by looking at them. Believe it or not, the idiot “security chief” at my son’s high school told me that I wasn’t allowed to take a picture of the building because “There are a lot of terrorists around here you know.” This is what happens when we prize ignorance in our society. Sadly, terrorists are real. They surround us everywhere, every day.