Monday, December 19, 2016

Behind the Bubble - New Feature Coming To Lebo Citizens

Behind the Bubble – New Feature Coming to Lebo Citizens
by Jason Margolis

I am pleased to announce a new monthly feature coming to Lebo Citizens: Behind the Bubble.  

Through news and feature stories, this series will look take a journalistic stance towards one of the most fascinating, and often divisive, places to live in Western Pennsylvania.  Additionally, it will do so in a spirit of inquisitiveness, not partisanship.  I will be writing one story a month for one year beginning January 2017.

Behind the Bubble will ask questions and seek insight about what lies behind the surface just below, and beyond, the bubble’s rim.  Just below the bubble are the people, histories, aspirations, fears, and relationships that move Mt. Lebanon.  Just beyond the bubble’s rim is the bigger world that Mt. Lebanon models, eschews, interacts with, and turns away from.  Through more closely examining these cultures, Behind the Bubble will seek to expand the understandings of both the people within and outside this community.

On a personal note … When I was asked to contribute to Lebo Citizens, I initially declined.  First, I am busy parenting three young children.  Second, I have a demanding and intense job as a professor and department chair at Duquesne University.  

However, ultimately I saw this as an opportunity to return my roots as an English teacher and journalist in New York City.  There, I wrote articles for community newspapers, taught journalism, and was the faculty advisor to the student newspaper.  I remember how journalism – real journalism – could be a light in the darkness.  Journalism asks why and how, when others won’t even touch the what.

Unfortunately, here in Mt. Lebanon and beyond, real journalism is in some serious trouble.  While we wouldn’t expect anything other than gloss from municipal publications like Mt. Lebanon Magazine, many of our local papers have fallen short of asking these important questions.  This is not a phenomenon unique to Western Pennsylvania, as newspapers are shuttering their doors everywhere, or keeping only a safe, skeletal staff that supports on-line advertising.

The new real journalism is on line, in a flat world, though to get there you have to sift through a sea of “fake news.”  In creating and maintaining Lebo Citizens, Ms. Elaine Gillen – say what you will about the messenger’s manner – has turned over rocks for insight.  Anyone interested in learning more about journalism in today’s world should read through these pages carefully.  

I am honored to join Lebo Citizens for one year to contribute to this mission of real journalism within and beyond Mt. Lebanon – just below and beyond the bubble’s rim.  

Behind the Bubble - New Feature Coming to Lebo Citizens

86 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jason, this Lebocitizen reader looks forward to your column.

I don't always agree with your views, but I do read and analyze your insights.

May I suggest a first column topic.
We just had a Unity Rally to deal with racists and anti-Semitic graffiti. Not a bad thing, but...
Here we are in the holidays of Goodwill and Retrospection and I'm curious as to why a number of parents insinuated that the school district was lax in addressing that hate.

By my count we have 15 houses of worship of all denominations in Lebo, are the kids sleeping through the services.
We have a community magazine that mocks grocery store shoppers that may speak a foreign language or not be rich enough to get their hair done in NYC.
Read Fake Lebo (I actually like reading it) and see the number of comments that joke about Dormont or Castle Shannon people.

I just wonder if in the words of Pogo, "we have met the enemy and he is us!"

RG said...

Dr. Margolis:
EXCELLENT NEWS!! Do you suppose you could convince your colleague, Dr. Antony Davies, to do a monthly economics column? (I'm only partially kidding!)

Richard Gideon

Unknown said...

@ 11:05am - Thanks, good suggestion on delving into levels of diversity, (in)tolerance, integration, etc., here in Lebo. And no worries -- I am not so sure I always fully agree with myself! ;-)

@ RG: I have never met Dr. Davies, but I will be on the look out! I am pretty sure Elaine is open to more monthly columnists...

Anonymous said...

Maybe Dr. Davies can enlighten us on how the "trickle down" economics policies of the next administration will cripple the American economy (as trickle down always does).

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, the stagnant time economic growth of the last eight years has been something to crow about 10:29!
I'll take the optimism exhibited in the stock market for future growth than what we've just been through any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Anonymous said...

Come on kids, don't fight. Why you're arguing about national economic policy when our evil local PIO rubs our collective noses in her taxpayer-supported propaganda empire I'll never know. Readjust your priorities to the bubble!

Anonymous said...

Isn't it funny 10:29 that thousands of immigrants are still willing to risk life and limb despite knowing Trump will be our president for at least 4 years.
Apparently, they believe in trickle down economics.
I'll take their optimism over your negativism any day of the week!

Unknown said...

It is interesting how these comments get at the interplay between MTL issues and national issues. You have all exactly captured the spirit of my new column, before I have even written one!

Anonymous said...

8:18

You must be joking.

Lebo Citizens said...

Jason, the spirit of your new column was captured in the PG article about Dan Miller's Unity Rally.
Crowd gathers in Mt. Lebanon to praise inclusion
Dan said this was not a political event. It was designed to bring the community together. Yet, the junior commissioner spoke about the negative rhetoric from the recent presidential election. Democrats are blaming Trump for the negative rhetoric. Hillary was a perfect angel, not calling us deplorables or uneducated rural voters who elected Trump. "Jennifer McDowell, who also attended the rally, is driving to Harrisburg today for the Pennsylvania Electoral College vote, and to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 21 for the Women’s March on Washington. She believes the presidential election has allowed disenfranchisement to become normalized.“I believe we have serious divisions, and they are just going to be worsened by the incoming administration,” she said." Uh, Jennifer McDowell, Trump won the popular vote in PA. Why would you drive to Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania Electoral vote, if it weren't to persuade the electorates to vote for Hillary? I love the photos of Cori Vipperman, the vocal deer hater who urged the commissioners to take me to court. She is a core member of the deer killing movement.
This reminds me of the "How to disagree without being disagreeable" event planned by Susan Morgans and Jo Posti. The only difference is that Dan's intentions were honorable, but it became a shining moment for all the haters in Mt. Lebanon.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

To whoever commented on the "stagnant economic growth," do you mean stagnant as in the lowest unemployment rates in years, 73 straight months of job growth (14-15 mil jobs), and a saving of the American auto industry? Keep touting those 700 Carrier jobs trump saved, though! His 35% tax would cripple the economy. The tax would basically be a new 35% tax on families.

Anonymous said...

Key truths about the Obama economy from CNN.

So you like this 9:59?

"Worker pay: The typical American family brings home just shy of $54,000 a year, almost exactly the same as 20 years ago (once you adjust for inflation). Wage growth has been very low under Obama. It's the "missing piece" of the recovery. Not good."

And...

"Government debt: Government debt has nearly doubled under Obama from $10 trillion to $19 trillion. Concerning."


http://money.cnn.com/2016/07/28/news/economy/obama-clinton-economy/

You keep all that "Hope and Change" and the "if you like your health plan, you can keep your health plan" lie.

I'll take a chance on the new guy.

Anonymous said...

A lack of growth in wealth for the middle class is a direct result of all the money staying at the top 1%. Again, the wealth did not "trickle down." Government debt will always be present, and that number is not a result of Barack Obama. Probably the useless wars we've been fighting since the last guy. Also, the "new guy" has already backtracked on some of his pledges to immediately repeal Obamacare. Most of the poor, white supporters who won him the election use it! Republicans would like to immediately discard it, but should realize doing so will leave their new supporters without healthcare.

Anonymous said...

Trump won 3 times election night... after the recounts ...and yesterday. Get over it.

Anonymous said...

I find it humorous that although I never mentioned the election or Clinton, I simply compared Obama's econ. policies with the new administration's, I am told to "get over it" because Trump won... But I never questioned his victory.. Of course Donald Trump will be our next president, but that doesn't mean I can't disagree with the direction in which he/Republicans seem to be taking us. Isn't that what this blog is dedicated to? Disagreements and dissent of the proposed policies of elected officials? Only those who disagree are told to get over it.. Get over yourself.

Lebo Citizens said...

I am afraid there will be more opportunities for discourse, 1:02 PM. There is talk about protests at the Inaguration and after that, impeachment proceedings. Michael Moore was bribing electorates by offering to pay their fines if they would vote for Hillary instead. I don't remember anything like this when Republican candidates lost. I don't think anyone is willing to move on, 1:02.
12:24 PM, Trump told us during a debate that the healthcare reform would' happen overnight. He wanted to have something to replace it to insure a smooth transition.
Elaine

Lebo Citizens said...

*wouldn't.
Elaine

RG said...

The number one problem in the USA today - and it starts local and ends up national - is debt. $19 trillion is just the tip of the iceberg. Count in "unfunded obligations" (i.e., Social Security and Medicare), and the total US debt is around $90 trillion. This is $10 trillion more than the entire economic output of the world! There was only one presidential candidate that spent any considerable time talking about debt and the harsh medicine it would take to tackle the problem, and that candidate was Gary Johnson.

Blaming Obama or Bush is fruitless; the person to blame is usually the one seen in the mirror in the morning, because that is the person who expects "stuff" from their governments; from local (field turf) to national (Social Security). Unfortunately, it is only the people who get in on "stuff" in the beginning that benefit - like most Ponzi schemes - with those who come in later left with the bill. It is tempting to blame the "1%" for all of our problems. But again, blame is fruitless; if you were to confiscate the entire wealth of the 1% you would only get enough money to run the national government for less than a year. If you confiscate the wealth of the upper 10% (and this covers quite a few Lebo residents) you could run the national government for about a year.

Look, debt eventually comes due! There is not one example, in the recorded history of the world, where a nation ignored its debt and survived. People who think that debt is no big deal and that it "will always be present" probably were the same ones who advised the first French Republic, or the Germans after WWII.

Anonymous said...

AnonymousDecember 20, 2016 at 8:50 AM you wrote: "8:18, You must be joking."
No, I'm not joking, I much rather work and live with people (of all races) that are full of optimism, willing to work hard and assimilate into our American system than associate with a negativist.
I'd definitely prefer these immigrants get here legally, but I also prefer to look for the best in people. Apparently you don't.
So, tell me 8:18, do you support building a wall to keep these people out?

Anonymous said...

12:24, you said it not me!
"A lack of growth in wealth for the middle class is a direct result of all the money staying at the top 1%."

Excuse me, but the present administration had two terms to distribute all that wealth from the 1 percenters down to the middle class. Excuse me but I don't remember getting any checks.

Did you get mine? Did you get my disappearing 401K and stock dividends?

RG said...

"...or the Germans after WWII."

OOPS! Let's make that "..or the Germans after WWI."

Anonymous said...

Mr. Gideon, if Social Security is "stuff", then why is it deducted from my salary? I agree that turf and deer killings fall into this category, but I only "expect" SS because it's been taken from me for the purpose of being returned later. A low expectation I might add.

Anonymous said...

"AnonymousDecember 20, 2016 at 7:55 AM
Come on kids, don't fight. Why you're arguing about national economic policy when our evil local PIO rubs our collective noses in her taxpayer-supported propaganda empire I'll never know. Readjust your priorities to the bubble!"

So 7:55, what do you think of the suggestion in the SMART post to require the hard-copy version of MTL magazine to be PAYR (Pay As You Read) to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfills?

Anonymous said...

Um... The first comment from 3:31 that was directed at me..
First off, I never said I was worried about Donald Trump spreading hate in Mt. Lebo? But please, put words in my mouth to try to make me look bad... And also, calling some of Mr. Trumps supporters poor, uneducated, whites isn't hateful... That's a fact from exit polling. Never did I say that all of his supporters were this demographic, and never did I imply that being a poor white was bad. I simply said that many of President Obama's supporters, poorer, working class whites, voted for Donald Trump this election because he appealed to them. They hope for a change which will benefit them. Also, saying that many of these people use the affordable care act is also a fact. I'm not sure that anything I said was hateful. Thanks for putting words in my mouth and assuming.

Anonymous said...

Whoever said that only Gary Johnson could provide a fix is a fool. The man was clueless. What is Aleppo?

Anonymous said...

Also, 3:31, I never made excuses for HRC's loss? Her campaign was poorly run, she couldn't appeal to the working class, and Trump did. Read my comment before you reply to it.

Anonymous said...

Personally, although I disagree with most of Donald Trump's economic policies, I fear that his cabinet may be even worse. His appointments to cabinet positions are awful. An EPA director who sued and fought the EPA, with close ties to the energy industry. A climate change denier nonetheless. People love to say that "they're not a scientist," and then refuse to listen to the scientists. The past two heads of the department of energy have been world renowned physicists, one with a nobel prize. Our next Secretary? A former governor and contestant on dancing with the stars. That's who I want in charge of our nuclear arsenal. Finally, a secretary of state who wins an award of friendship from Russia and Putin, who were well known to be meddling in our democratic elections. A secretary of education who is a creationist, and believes in vouchers and private schooling. Yes, these are great picks. I was willing to give the "new guy" a chance, but he keeps letting me down.

Anonymous said...

3:38, you wrote: "I simply said that many of President Obama's supporters, poorer, working class whites, voted for Donald Trump this election because he appealed to them. They hope for a change which will benefit them."

And your point being????

I'm sure many poorer, working class people, educators, public service workers and unemployed whites, blacks, hispanics, etc., voted for Hillary or Bernie because they hoped for changes that would benefit them.

Isn't that pretty much why every voter chooses a candidate?

Of course, you on the other hand vote for candidates because you're altruistic, right?

And of course your perspective on climate change science is indisputable, because... well because... you wrote it and that makes it so!

I'll read a little bit before I accept your info as fact.

Friends of Science | The Myths and Facts of Global Warming

https://www.friendsofscience.org/index.php?id=3

Anonymous said...

Since the conversation has expanded from Jason's future column and onto the top 1%, the US debt and social sercurity maybe this is a good place to interject a received email.

"Subject: I'm game. Warren Buffett said send this to 20 people. You are my 20. Please keep this going to your 20.

The BUFFETT Rule
Let's see if these idiots understand what people pressure is all about.

Salary of retired US Presidents - $180,000 FOR LIFE.

Salary of House/Senate members - $174,000 FOR LIFE.

Salary of Speaker of the House - $223,500 FOR LIFE. This is really stupid.

Salary of Majority / Minority Leaders - $193,400 FOR LIFE.

Average Salary of a teacher - $40,065

Average Salary of a deployed Soldier - $38,000

Here’s where the cuts should be made!

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:

"I could end the deficit in five minutes," he told CNBC.

"You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election".

The 26th Amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds ) took only three months and eight days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971 -
before computers, e-mail, , etc. cellphones.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year or less to become the law of the land - all because of public pressure.

Warren Buffett is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2017

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman / woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present, & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 3/1/17. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Congress made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and go back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people, then it will only take three days for most people in the U.S. to receive the message. It's time!

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS! If you agree, pass it on."

Anonymous said...

Look 5:03, I'm not so sure why you're so angry. Of course working class voters voted for every candidate? A lot of people vote! But according to exit polling and other polls, it is a fact that more working class voter cast their ballots for Trump. Many of these were previous Barack Obama supporters. Are you trying to dispute that? I'm confused as to why you continually get angry when presented with that idea. Please elaborate. And no, my opinions on climate change aren't correct because I wrote them, they're accepted by an overwhelming majority of the scientific community. Why can't everyone accept that the earth is warming, perhaps by both man and natural causes? Personally, I believe many with ties to big business, those who donate to high ranking republicans, refuse to accept the scientific consensus because they believe it will hurt their business. Then, these republicans, in turn, are forced to deny the reality of man made climate change themselves. If you want to accept that man is causing some of the warming of the earth, but then you want to say that you value the manufacturing jobs more than the long term affects of the warming, that is your prerogative. But I just don't see how you can deny it all together. Regardless of how the earth is warming, don't you think we have an obligation to fix it? But now, we have executive advisors to Donald Trump going on to CNN and not only denying the reality of climate change, but also saying, "We've gotten a lot of things wrong in the 5,500 year history of our planet." Lol. Tell me how old the dinosaurs and fossils and rocks are again? A lot more than 5,500 years. I'm confused as to how anyone can be so ignorant in regards to all science. Science isn't for you to decide what you believe. You cite "friendsofscience.org." I promise you that you, sir, are NOT a friend of science.

Anonymous said...

5:47 PM: Well said! I agree with everything you have posted!

Anonymous said...

7:05, you are a piece of work. Where did I say I was angry?
I'm not angry, I just asked you what you point was saying that many poorer Obama supporters voted this time for Trump because he appealed to them.
What were you expecting that they voted for Trump because he didn't appeal to them?
I'm pretty sure almost every voter cast their vote for the candidate that appealed to them! I'll bet there were rich Obama supporters that voted for Trump because he appealed to them too.

As far as science not being up to me to decide what to believe, right back at ya!
You ask how old the dinosaurs, fossils and rocks are, I'm sure you can tell me!
While you're on that soapbox, pray tell, how many periods of cooling and warming has this planet gone through over the ages?

Anonymous said...

Hey 7:05/9:57 -- check out the new Christmas video Elaine put up. Its about your Candidates.

Anonymous said...

Of course 7:05, you probably think all the people listed below are ignorant rubes since they don't agree with you.
These scientists have said that it is not possible to project global climate accurately enough to justify the ranges projected for temperature and sea-level rise over the next century. They may not conclude specifically that the current IPCC projections are either too high or too low, but that the projections are likely to be inaccurate due to inadequacies of current global climate modeling.
David Bellamy, botanist.
Lennart Bengtsson, meteorologist, Reading University.
Piers Corbyn, owner of the business WeatherAction which makes weather forecasts.
Judith Curry, Professor and former chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Freeman Dyson, professor emeritus of the School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study; Fellow of the Royal Society.
Ivar Giaever, Norwegian–American physicist and Nobel laureate in physics (1973).
Steven E. Koonin, theoretical physicist and director of the Center for Urban Science and Progress at New York University.
Richard Lindzen, Alfred P. Sloan emeritus professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Craig Loehle, ecologist and chief scientist at the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement.
Ross McKitrick, Professor of Economics and CBE Chair in Sustainable Commerce, University of Guelph.
Patrick Moore, former president of Greenpeace Canada.
Nils-Axel Mörner, retired head of the Paleogeophysics and Geodynamics Department at Stockholm University, former chairman of the INQUACommission on Sea Level Changes and Coastal Evolution (1999–2003).
Garth Paltridge, retired chief research scientist, CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research and retired director of the Institute of the Antarctic Cooperative Research Centre, visiting fellow Australian National University.
Roger A. Pielke, Jr., professor of environmental studies at the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Tom Quirk, corporate director of biotech companies and former board member of the Institute of Public Affairs, an Australian conservative think-tank.
Denis Rancourt, former professor of physics at University of Ottawa, research scientist in condensed matter physics, and in environmental and soil science.
Harrison Schmitt, geologist, Apollo 17 Astronaut, former U.S. Senator.
Peter Stilbs, professor of physical chemistry at Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.
Philip Stott, professor emeritus of biogeography at the University of London.
Hendrik Tennekes, retired director of research, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.
Anastasios Tsonis, distinguished professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

10:20, I saw the video. LMAO

Anonymous said...

My point was that an immediate repeal of Obamacare, as many Republicans desire, would leave many of the new GOP supporters without health care. You preferred to lecture me on the nature of voting, instead of reading the crux of the argument. In response to your "scientific" beliefs, if you choose to be ignorant and continue to buy into the lies spit out by the GOP and their financial backers, atleast turn the lights out when you leave a room. The world is 4.5 billion years old, not 5,500, and we are killing it.
Cheers.

Anonymous said...

I, for one, am shocked that those against the cull are climate change deniers! Shocked, I tell you. Trump said it's a Chinese conspiracy! We have any flat earthers? Remember deer have nothing to do with Lyme!

This blog is a motley coalition, one whose opinions range from outlying to outlandish.

11:03, here's a list of scientists who believe in man made global warming: everyone else. Trotting out twenty contrarians in the sea of the majority of tens of thousands is in no way convincing. History will judge you, if there were people around to document it.

Anonymous said...

Gee, 12:57, apparently a lot of those poor working stiffs are running away from your Affordable (not!) Care Act. Otherwise known as Obamacare.

From CNBC: "Federal health officials in a new report say that about 11.1 million people were enrolled in Obamacare insurance plans as of the end of March.
That's 1.6 million or so fewer people than had actually selected a plan on one of the government-run health marketplaces by the close of the third season of open enrollment in February."
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/01/obamacare-enrollment-drops-after--some-miss-premium-payments.html

You'd think all the prosperity Obama created would give people the money to carry that affordable health insurance. Maybe they're anticipating all those damn republicans that don't care about people, including themselves taking it away so they beat them to the punch, eh 12:57?

Then there are the insurers. They're dropping out as well since that Affordable Care isn't so affordable after all.

USNews: "Aetna's decision to partially withdraw from a major provision of President Barack Obama's health care law is leaving some Americans with only one or no health insurance options, threatening the law's promise to continue to reduce the number of people who have historically been too sick or too poor to access coverage.

Aetna, retaliating in part against a Department of Justice lawsuit, announced Monday that it was leaving exchanges in 11 states, following a string of similar announcements earlier this year that came from other large insurers like UnitedHealth and Humana.

The exchanges, or marketplaces, allow some Americans who don't get health insurance from an employer to compare different plans and buy them at a tax-subsidized rate, mostly in the form of reductions to the amount they pay for their policies each month.
But with insurers choosing not to participate, in part because they are losing money by covering people who are sicker and seeking out immediate care after having insurance for the first time, people who shop for these plans are left with even fewer options to choose from. Some will have only one plan to select, and at least one – Pinal County, Arizona – will have none."

Good thing we have you 12:57, esteemed climatologist/paleontologist/doctor/lawyer/accountant/politician/pollster/environmentalist, soothsayer, Indian chief and all-around nice person to take care of us all!

Some advice 12:57, what do you think we should accept regarding PAYT/SMART? How will we know that what we currently pay for trash collection is taken out of our tax bill?

Also keep in mind that we already participate in a PAYT program - the used tire disposal fee - to save the environment.

Our commissioners some how saw fit to use our tax dollars to buy those tires, we responsibly paid to safely dispose of, to spread all over our crown jewel sports field.

So please mother, lay your advice on us, if you please.

Anonymous said...

"But with insurers choosing not to participate, in part because they are losing money by covering people who are sicker and seeking out immediate care after having insurance for the first time"
Lovely, so people are losing their health care options for trying to use their new health care? Doesn't seem like President Obama's fault, seems like corporate greed. Maybe we should only get to have health insurance if we plan on never needing it!! Someone who is very sick tries to use health care, Ghastly!
No, I am not a renowned climatologists or paleontologist or pollster, I just choose to listen to the overwhelming majority in those fields. That is the difference between you and me. Yes, I do think paying for what you throw away is SMART. People will be encouraged to be less wasteful when they know that everything they throw away must be paid for. Look at Germany and other parts of Europe, these types of programs work well. Why should I have to pay the same in my taxes as some wasteful fool? If you can't seem to grasp the overwhelming consensus on climate change/pollution/etc, can I convince you that regardless of what you believe, not being wasteful and saving some of your own money could be a good thing? If you don't like the turf, maybe don't use it/don't let your kids use it. Maybe you can even go down and hold up signs and yell at the kids and parents who do. Or, if you really hate the taxes and commissioners and town that much, you could move out.

Lebo Citizens said...

So much for the Unity Rally. I stepped away from the blog and then I read 11:17's hateful comments. I get really upset when people say to move out if you don't agree. Please stop.

There are two sides to every story. You may not believe this, 11:17 AM, there may be some merit to what people share who do not agree with you.

There is much more to consider when discussing PAYT/SMART. It is the logistics. All that Mt. Lebanon is doing is have its residents deal directly with Waste Management or whomever gets the contract. Remember how there were residents who were not getting their garbage collected for several weeks? I attended the meetings where the commissioners were putting the trash collectors in the hot seat because of the poor service we were getting. If we go SMART, we lose the leverage Mt. Lebanon has to hold the contractor accountable.

As far as healthcare, I can tell you first hand that if you have group health insurance, you're lucky. Healthcare is NOT affordable to those of us on private plans.

Now, the thing about Lyme disease and deer not having anything to do with it, please read this on the PA Game Commission website. https://pagamecommission.wordpress.com/page/8/ I am always being accused of spreading conspiracy theories. Are you suggesting that the PA Game Commission is lying to hunters in order to encourage more hunting? That's a new one.

I don't appreciate how you insult my blog readers. We're not "a motley coalition, one whose opinions range from outlying to outlandish." When Lebo Citizens was private, we didn't have the level of comments that you have been submitting.

Please, take it down a notch. And Merry Christmas or whichever holiday you celebrate.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Please 11:22, where in this whole discussion, or on this blog state or otherwise affirm anyone's belief that the earth is 5,500 years old?

As for touting the party line, I believe you were asked a question about local politics and leadership, specifically regarding PAYT/SMART which you've evaded.

Convince me , why should I follow your party?

I'm all ears, or rather eyes. Make your case.

Anonymous said...

Yep, you're right Elaine, so much for that Unity Rally.
That effort was short-lived. Sorry, Rep. Miller, we let you down, I think.

Anonymous said...

That unity rally was a sham, a bunch of overprivileged whites, who's biggest problems are deer and turf, coming together in the freezing cold to feel like they're making a difference. There are a lot of real problems out there. Protesting about what you care about to the local government is all well and good, but don't act like some people from one of the most well-off suburbs in Pennsylvania getting together is going to unify the nation.

Anonymous said...

11:17, if you will, please tell us how long a company can operate losing money?

Healthcare insurers pulling out of markets because they're losing money, imagine that!

Of course according to your logic, electric companies should operate at a loss. Everyone is entitled to lights.
Home builders should operate at a loss... everyone should have a roof over their head.
Food stores should operate at a loss... everyone needs food to live.
Car builders should operate at a loss.
Phone companies should operate at a loss.
Plumbers should operate at a loss.
Construction companies, especially those that build schools, should operate at a loss because everyone is entitled to an education. Right?
This is a strange world you live in 11:17.
I wonder how you think anyone makes a living in it and can afford to live in Leboland.


Anonymous said...

Here's an idea, let's run our municipal government at a loss.
No need to raise taxes and millages... Operate at loss.
All those public servants, teachers, administrators and managers, let 'me work at a loss.
Everyone is entitled to paved streets, sewer systems, police protection, snow shoveling.
We don't need to pay for any of it, they can operate at a loss just like you expect heath insurance companies too.


Anonymous said...

Jason, I wrote in the first comment regarding your new column that perhaps you should write about the Unity or lack in Mt. Lebanon.

Follows is an interesting article from the PRRI. (PRRI’s research explores and illuminates America’s changing cultural, religious, and political landscape. PRRI’s mission is to help journalists, scholars, pundits, thought leaders, clergy, and the general public better understand debates on public policy issues, and the important cultural and religious dynamics shaping American society and politics.)

"“The survey also found evidence of significant fallout from the election among personal relationships,” says PRRI CEO Robert P. Jones. “Beleaguered Democrats were significantly more likely than Republicans to report that they unfriended someone on social media or planned to avoid certain relatives during the holidays because of politics.”
More than one in ten (13 percent) Americans say they blocked, unfriended, or stopped following someone on social media because of what they posted about politics. Democrats are more than twice as likely as Republicans to report unfriending someone over politics (24 percent vs. 9 percent), and that number rises even more among women. Three in ten (30 percent) Democratic women say they removed someone from a social network because of a political view."

http://www.prri.org/press-release/merry-christmas-vs-happy-holidays-republicans-democrats-polar-opposites/

Interesting, one would think democrats and especially democratic women would be more receptive and open to people that are different from them, but the opposite appears to be true.

Following the comments here, the PRRI poll appears to be pretty accurate. Wonder if we can make a correlation to Mt. Lebanon.

As Lebo transitioned from being a registered republican stronghold to a democratic one, have we become more divisive and intolerant?

Lebo Citizens said...

I am not going to continue discussing deer and Lyme disease, unapproved comment at 3:56 PM. Aren't you the one who complained that I take every discussion and somehow relate it to deer? You brought up deer, and I'm ending it.

As far as Dan's Unity Rally, Dan got the ball rolling. Let's see if Susan Morgans or Steve Silverman, both members of the Community Relations Board, can keep it going.
Elaine

Unknown said...

Interesting insights, 4:18pm. Similar to ones that moved me away from the Democratic Party towards being an Independent.

Anonymous said...

Ah yes Jason, THE Democratic Party, the one that preaches acceptance, inclusivity, Unity and progressive thinking.
The one whose candidate talked about baskets of deplorables and now dancing around the streets claiming Trump isn't their president.
The party that preaches we all should be gender blind, but argues that Hillary should be president... drum roll please... because she's a woman.
Look back to our little world here in Lebo. Which party did those women belong to that sat in the school board audience and jeered, snickered and made snide comments as Elaine presented the 2,000 signature petition regarding the high school!
Yep you got it, those nice D ladies.

Lebo Citizens said...

I presented 3,333 signatures, 7:51 AM, but who's counting? Anything is possible, when you are an elected official in Mt. Lebanon.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Certainly not the school directors! They said the had more pro- renovation signatures but they never showed them.

Jus wondering, whatever became of that $15 million, no $6 million five year capital campaign. Shouldn't we be at the five year mark?

Anonymous said...

The school renovation is really nice though, glad we invested in the future of children.

Anonymous said...

It better be for what it cost, 1:03 and if you say so. So far this taxpayer isn't impressed.

Anonymous said...

What do you have against the renovation?

Anonymous said...

IMO, it's uglier than sin from the Horsman side. Personal preference of course, but I find the original Cochran building façade a finer expression of our community's investment in education.
Do not forgot that early in the design phase they claimed this wing COULDN'T be brought up to 21st century ed standards and would need to be demolished or used for other purposes.
Amazing, it seems to be working just fine.

Anonymous said...

We'll have to agree to disagree on the Horsman side. I think once the landscaping and tennis courts are finished it will look very impressive, especially with features like the skywalk. I saw an aerial shot of the school from over the turf, and the campus is large and impressive. As to the old Cochran building, a massive portion of that building was destroyed. The remaining building was completely gutted and remodeled. All new classrooms are state of the art, especially the science wings. The new labs are incredible.

Anonymous said...

Last I heard, people can have different opinions, 5:46, so yes you have your's and I mine.
People like 11:22 may disagree and argue only one of us can be right.

Oh, by the way 11:22, this looks like real science to me.

"5 Scientific Reasons That Global Warming Isn't Happening - John Hawkins"

"1) There hasn't been any global warming since 1997: If nothing changes in the next year, we're going to have kids who graduate from high school who will have never seen any "global warming" during their lifetimes. That's right; the temperature of the planet has essentially been flat for 17 years. This isn't a controversial assertion either. Even the former Director of the Climate Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia, Phil Jones, admits that it's true. Since the planet was cooling from 1940-1975 and the upswing in temperature afterward only lasted 22 years, a 17 year pause is a big deal. It also begs an obvious question: How can we be experiencing global warming if there's no actual "global warming?""

http://m.townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2014/02/18/5-scientific-reasons-that-global-warming-isnt-happening-n1796423

Anonymous said...

6:40, huh?

2016 Climate Trends Continue to Break Records

But keep reading your fake news and having your "different opinions" if it makes you feel better.

Anonymous said...

How did you bring a discussion about the new high school back to global warming? You mad? John Hawkins is not a reliable source on climate change... He is a conservative blogger whose website on wiki is listed as "rightwingnews.com" Probably about as fair and balanced as Fox. Lol. John Hawkins went to a UNC branch campus and majored in psych, which maybe can allow him to evaluate himself and why he refuses to come to terms with the loads of non-partisan scientists who have come to an overwhelming consensus. Makes you think.

Anonymous said...

How do you know your news isn't fake?

"Unlike the Arctic, where sharp declines in recent decades in the ice that floats on sea surfaces have been linked to warming, sea ice in the Antarctic has actually increased, scientists who study the region say. Averaged over the entire Antarctic coast, the increase is slight — about 1 percent a decade. At the same time, larger increases and decreases are being seen on certain parts of the continent.
“We’re constantly struggling against that statement, that Antarctic ice is increasing,” said Sharon E. Stammerjohn, a scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado. “It misses key changes that are happening. And there are really strong climate signals in those changes.”

Most of the sea ice changes are occurring in an area covering about a third of the Antarctic coast, from the Ross Sea to the Bellingshausen Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula, said Paul Holland, a researcher with the British Antarctic Survey. Areas around the Ross Sea, for example, have seen large increases in ice, while in the Bellingshausen and along the peninsula, ice cover has declined sharply. (The area where the research ship became stuck, west of the Ross Sea, has had a slight increase in ice cover over the past 35 years.)"

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/science/earth/still-stuck-in-a-climate-argument.html

Anonymous said...

"How do you know your news isn't fake?"

Because NASA isn't "news." And your "news" is a listicle. I mean, are you pulling my leg? Are you for real? You'd believe TOP FIVE REASONS OUR LEADERS ARE LIZARD PEOPLE over the scientists at NASA? God help us.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I know 6:51 all those researchers on that stuck boat are fake scientist too! Bellingshausen is British and we all know about 'those' people.

"Most of the sea ice changes are occurring in an area covering about a third of the Antarctic coast, from the Ross Sea to the Bellingshausen Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula, said Paul Holland, a researcher with the British Antarctic Survey. Areas around the Ross Sea, for example, have seen large increases in ice, while in the Bellingshausen and along the peninsula, ice cover has declined sharply. (The area where the research ship became stuck, west of the Ross Sea, has had a slight increase in ice cover over the past 35 years.)""

But let's follow 12:05's comment. Why discuss climate change and the high school?

Do you remember when they were planning the HS that the board wanted to be green and reduce energy consumption and save the planet?

Wonder how air conditioning the elementary and middle schools fits in with that goal.?

Did I read somewhere that energy consumption would increase by thousands of dollars per year?

How's does that fit with 6:51's saving the planet agenda???

That electric power needs to be generated somewhere!

Anonymous said...

You got me. I'm convinced. Global warming does not exist because the school board wants to put AC in the elementaries. Not sure how I missed that obvious point.

Anonymous said...

Why discuss the high school/school district and global warming in the same post...

"Increased Use of Air Conditioners to Produce More Greenhouse Gas"

"The extra carbon emissions from the higher air-conditioning needs in the South and West offsets the decrease of emissions from reduced heating needs in the north, Blasing and his colleagues concluded. The results will be published in an upcoming issue of Geophysical Research Letters.
Heating is often provided by natural gas, which is a very efficient process.

"You burn the gas, you get heat," Blasing told LiveScience. "When you generate electricity, you waste two-thirds of the heat produced."

Air conditioners are run on electricity. And most electricity is generated at coal-fired power plants.

"You have to burn a lot of coal to keep me cool," Blasing said."

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.livescience.com/919-increased-air-conditioners-produce-greenhouse-gas.html?client=safari


David Archer, professor in the Department of the Geophysical Sciences from the University of Chicago, in an email interview:



"The warming of the past several decades has been faster and risen to higher temperatures in the past decades than has been seen in thousands of years. Rising CO2 [carbon dioxide] levels can easily explain the warming, but there is no alternative explanation that does not involve rising CO2 or predict further warming. Scientists have done their job, it is time now to confront the reality of human-induced climate change resulting from emission of CO2 from fossil fuel consumption."


Just to be clear, no one is denying that the earth goes thru fluctuations in temperature.

We have actual temperature readings that their was a Little Ice Age in the 1700s. We're in a warm period now.

We also know from the Mt. St. Helena eruption that weather was affected and scientist believe we had a minuscule cooler period because of it.

No one is arguing the earth cools, the earth heats. The debate for me on climate change is whether we have much impact on it.

Some scientist suggest that there is a threat of a super volcano erupting under Yellowstone. If it does they fear an unbelievable cooling of the planet. So maybe we want to turn up the heat in preparation.

But, let say you're right and global warming is our fault from burning fossil fuels etc., etc.

Seems to me your fight is with the school board rather than me.

I'm just a foolish Trump voter and I'm not for air conditioning large buildings and consuming electricity.

Apparently, you're OK with burning more fossil fuels and doing our little part to warm the planet by cooling our Blue Ribbon schools.

Anonymous said...

Why did you post your comment 3 times? You must be antsy. By the way, volcanoes pump a miniscule amount of CO2 to the atmosphere compared to humans. So if Volcanoes CO2 play a roll in climate change, humans must as well.... Here's the thing. I don't understand why everything must be all or nothing. Why can't you accept that man plays a part in climate change? I am, of course, willing to accept that there are natural patterns. Personally, I think that both man causes and natural causes affect the climate, with the majority of the effects coming from man. I don't refuse to accept the facts of man OR natural climate change. You on the other hand, refuse to accept facts from the majority of the scientific community. Again with the all or nothing stuff, why does there either have to be air conditioning or none? I am not suggesting we should let our kids freeze and burn to have no emissions for heating/cooling from the MTLSD. In some cases, heat and cooling are a necessity for safety. Those classrooms get burning hot. AC should be in every school. Don't be so petty. Emissions can be reduced from AC and Cooling from just raising/lowering the temps to reduce energy usage. Also, the connect between the school district/global warming was shady and just seems like you wanted to go back to arguing your position on global warming. lol. Also, why the subtle jab about "heating our blue ribbon schools"? Why is stating that our schools are some of the best in the state an insult? If you hate the local government, complain about taxes, AND insult the school district for being good- don't take this the wrong way, but could you list your reasons for still being here? Not telling you to move out, anyone is welcome here, but truly if you hate seemingly every aspect, do you enjoy being mad? Sure seems so.

Anonymous said...

I know I'm not a scientist 11:23, but I'm pretty sure the people at Oregon State qualify. So...

"As for the world-wide affects of volcanic eruptions this only happens when there are large explosive eruptions that throw material into the stratosphere. If it only gets into the troposphere it gets flushed out by rain.
The effects on the climate haven’t been completely figured out. It seems to depend on the size of the particles (again mostly droplets of sulfuric acid). If they are big then they let sunlight in but don’t let heat radiated from the Earth’s surface out, and the net result is a warmer Earth (the famous Greenhouse effect). If the particles are smaller than about 2 microns then they block some of the incoming energy from the Sun and the Earth cools off a little. That seems to have been the effect of the Pinatubo eruption where about a 1/2 degree of cooling was noticed around the world. Of course that doesn’t just mean that things are cooler, but there are all kinds of effects on the wind circulation and where storms occur.

An even more controversial connection involves whether or not volcanic activity on the East Pacific Rise (a mid-ocean spreading center) can cause warmer water at the surface of the East Pacific, and in that way generate an El Nino. Dr. Dan Walker here at the University of Hawaii has noticed a strong correlation between seismic activity on the East Pacific Rise (which he presumes indicates an eruption) and El Nino cycles over the past ~25 years."

Did you catch what they said about the Pinatubo eruption and its impact on temperature.

http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/how-do-volcanoes-affect-atmosphere-and-climate

Now then you assert I see everything in black and white. Of course you don't. Anything written be Hawkins must be dismissed even though he didn't write the paper on climate, just reported it.

You also claim 27 doubting scientist don't disprove climate change. You say your list contain everyone else, but I then show scientist that wonder why there is ice where that shouldn't be any.

Q: Why is referencing our Blue Ribbon schools negative?

Lastly, I would never ever even remotely suggest someone leave Lebo because we don't see eye to eye, but since it's OK with you why don't you take one for the team.

You believe climate change is man made. How about you reduce you impact on climate by joining Cher and moving to Venus. Or at least turn off you electronic devices that allow you to spew your BS here.

Have a nice holiday! :-)

Anonymous said...

"Not telling you to move out, anyone is welcome here" Of course, you chose only to read what you wanted to, as you do with climate change. Did you miss when I said I believed that there are plenty of natural causes to climate change, along with the man man causes? Also, you placed my question of "why is calling our schools blue ribbon schools a negative thing" in your comment, and then just didn't answer it. Why do you only decide to read and infer what makes you look correct?
Merry Christmas (all democrats aren't opposed to saying it)
PS: Speaking of only answering/addressing what you want to, why does your and MY President Elect refuse to have a press conference, refuse to take questions from reporters, only spew out hate on twitter, and instead spend his time taking VERY important meetings with....... Kanye West? Having a President of the FREE World cast off the entire media as "biased media" and attacking all who write negative articles on him on twitter is very dangerous for freedom of speech and democracy. Hope we can agree on that. Cheers.

Anonymous said...

Apologies, seems perhaps you were asking me why mentioning our Blue Ribbon schools was negative. Maybe because of the way you said it? "Do our little part to warm the planet by cooling our Blue Ribbon Schools." Think everyone reads that with a negative connotation. Our schools are SO great that we MUST cool them! Implying we are elitist for wanting kids to be safe in their learning environment. No, every school should be cooled, for safety reasons. I'm not sure if you've been in those schools during the summer. They are HOT. Has nothing to do with "Blue Ribbon Schools." Kids have to take breaks from class because they feel light headed. Please, copy and paste another article. I have read plenty of opposition. Really don't need it taking up space in the comments section. I know, I am just another elitist democrat for wanting AC in my schools.

Anonymous said...

I'm not going to go round and round with you 11:06, it's a waste of time.

I will leave you with an idea that you may or may not like. I believe it's good for the environment, certainly doesn't add to human-caused global warming and in the end benefits students and teachers.

Why not institute heat days? We have snow days and cancellations or late starts when temperatures drop unbearably low.

So if it's hot keep the kids home or dismiss them early before the day gets really hot.

If you are correct about global warming, snows days are going to be a rarity, so adding heat days is a no-brained.

Think about it. We don't use more electricity, don't spew CO2 into the atmosphere, and fee up the $5 million for AC installation to buy technology for students and pay teachers bonuses.

A win-win!

Have a Merry Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year!

Anonymous said...

Here's a suggestion for a future topic, Jason.

With all the effort to make things gender neutral, like changing the Home Rule Charter wording, making transgender bath rooms, and Title IX, this pops up in our school district.

"These days, girls in middle and high school are embracing computer technology in growing numbers. In Mt. Lebanon, they have a new place to come together to ride the tech wave into the future: The Coding Gals club.
The Coding Gals, which meets at Mt. Lebanon High School every Wednesday in a computer classroom, was started in 2014 by Mt. Lebanon parent Christine Tandon as a chapter of Girls Who Code, a national organization to promote coding for girls; the club renamed itself Coding Gals to reflect their self-directed, workshopping approach to coding.

This club and others like it herald a long-overdue shift: the increase in women heading toward careers in computer science and engineering, and information technology."

I'm just curious, since this is long overdue for girls, that must mean there has been an exclusive Coding Boys Club, correct?

This club seems like a great initiative although why is it limited to one gender?

Isn't the school district mission - "To Provide the Best Education Possible for Each and Every Student

Anonymous said...

You're really mad about trying to advance the female presence in a mostly male field? Comparing gender equality and transgender rights with a club designed to have girls advance in a field that has traditionally been skewed towards males is dumb. Because there is "Black Entertainment Television," there must be "White Entertainment Televison," right? No. Because White Entertainment Televison is just about every other channel in the history of TV. Just because one thing is created to include a group of people, doesn't mean that comparable groups should be made. That being said, there is a difference between clubs and classes. Any student can take computer science classes. Also, anyone can make clubs. If someone really wanted to make a "Guys who Code," they could. But no one has. I don't think the district should waste time starting a club that won't generate interest.

Anonymous said...

10:54 your logic is spellbinding.

You write: "You're really mad about trying to advance the female presence in a mostly male field?"

Then you close with: "If someone really wanted to make a "Guys who Code," they could. But no one has. I don't think the district should waste time starting a club that won't generate interest."

So we have a male dominated field, but apparently you believe there wouldn't be any interest in a Boys Code Club. Why wouldn't there be? All those male coders come from somewhere.

Are you suggesting that middle school boys somehow pick up code better than girls? Are they more capable of learning on their own?

Perhaps you're suggesting that boys go through K-12, college and instantly get hired because, well... they're boys.

I said the club is a good idea, all I asked is why it's limited to girls. Once these girls go out into the workforce, male dominated or not, they will be working and competing for the most lucrative jobs with males.

Unless of course you are suggesting we must create coding companies that are strictly female oriented.

Why not establish early in these kids education that it doesn't matter, male or female, you can be an excellent programmer? Isn't that what the ERA is all about.

And no I'm not mad and I believe you may be the same person that claimed the commenter on global warming was angry.

You love to brand people don't you.

Anonymous said...

10:54, what's that you wrote-- "Just because one thing is created to include a group of people, doesn't mean that comparable groups should be made."

That's interesting, I'll have to remember that.

Anonymous said...

10 am I think you are technically correct that if this coding club is offered exclusively for girls, the same opportunity should be offered for boys -- via the schools. This is why some schools don't offer "Girls on the Run" unless they are offering the equivalent for boys. But Lebo has never played by the rules and its strength is not sensitivity. I think clubs for girls who code are cool and I am glad the concept is out there. But pretending that not offering the equivalent to boys is just stupid. Why do you think so many kids grow up to feel like failures? No, it isn't because of this coding club but it is because their concerns are belittled and they've had too few opportunities to feel welcome, included and successful. The poignant article in the Post Gazette today about the Mt Lebanon resident that died of an overdose recently reminds me of this. I hope he didn't die in vain.

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/overdosed/2016/12/26/Mt-Lebanon-guitar-teacher-inspired-others-disappointed-self-overdosed-series/stories/201612260007

Anonymous said...

I'm all for the girl's coding club. As a graduate from West Virginia University, the 3rd quarter Alumnae Magazine had an article regarding an African Ametican woman from West Virginia, detailing her role has a mathematician involved in the getting the first astronauts into space and John Glenn walking on the moon. White men have always dominated the math and science fields for many years. Women have been lost in the shuttle for too long.

Anonymous said...

No I didn't suggest forming a club for boys.
I asked why not a club for everyone.

You idea is silly, you want to segregate girls from the opposite sex to show them that they can succeed in a profession dominated by male employees. That's great way to build self esteem!

That makes a lot of sense.

Anonymous said...

"The myth about women in science - CNN.com"

"But the facts tell a different story. National hiring audits, some dating back to the 1980s, reveal that female scientists have had a significantly higher chance of being interviewed and hired than men. Although women were less likely to apply for jobs, if they did apply, their chances of getting the job were usually better. The typical explanation for this seeming contradiction has been that the women who survived the intense sexism and winnowing process of graduate training were unusually talented, and thus deserved to be hired at a higher rate than men."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/13/opinions/williams-ceci-women-in-science/

Anonymous said...

Yep got it... those damn white men!

Nice, glad to see the Unity Rally worked.

Anonymous said...

Good to see that the guy who copies and pastes opinion pieces and tries to pass them off as fact is back

Anonymous said...

Some more convoluted logic 9:42!

"l and I am glad the concept is out there. But pretending that not offering the equivalent to boys is just stupid. Why do you think so many kids grow up to feel like failures? No, it isn't because of this coding club but it is because their concerns are belittled and they've had too few opportunities to feel welcome, included and successful."

Wow, kids are feeling like failures, because they're belittled and had too few opportunities to feel welcome, INCLUDED and successful.

Wow, So your answer to combat all that belittling is to create a computer programming club that excludes individuals because they may be male.

I wonder 9:42, if a male student self-identifies as female are allowed into the club or are they excluded?

Anonymous said...

You need to learn to dig a little deeper 10:41. It's good science.

The opinions piece was but a brief synopsis of a scientific study conducted by the female author at Cornell University.

http://m.pnas.org/content/112/17/5360.abstract

Reading this article, it appears that both men and women with degrees in science curriculums are being hired by tech giants.

"Tech Giants Are Poaching Universities’ AI Talent"
The Wall Street Journal

https://www.google.com/amp/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/universities-ai-talent-poached-by-tech-giants-1479999601?client=safari


Anonymous said...

If you can get out of your little tunnel 10:41, you might want to read the following from Purdue University Press.

Women succeeding in the sciences: theories and practices across disciplines

Jody Bart

Preface

"This book, and the conference that gave rise to it, are a reflection of the re- cent—by which I mean in the last twenty years—growing scholastic interest in the topic of women in science. This interest extends across a wide variety of disciplines, from philosophy, sociology, and education to areas of the so-called hard sciences. The issues raised by this topic are the questions surrounding the fact that women as a social category have entered into study, practice, and research in science in ever higher numbers."

But you're right 10:41, keep segregating and telling young women they're oppressed and there is no hope. That's the way to instill self-esteem.

Did you pick no hope view from Michele Obama?

Anonymous said...

Here's an interesting article 10:41 and I'm not sure what to make of it.

"How Stereotypes Can Drive Women To Quit Science : NPR"

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/12/156664337/stereotype-threat-why-women-quit-science-jobs

I wonder, if by segregated girls into a girls only coding club are you reinforcing a negative stereotype that girls aren't as science oriented as boys or destroying it.

My thought is that by putting the two sexes together early on you have a better chance of eliminating the potential stereotyping for these young kids.

Of course, 10:41, this is just my opinion. You may now proceed to stereotype me as being full of crap because I read something and shared it.

Anonymous said...

Here's a future topic for your column.

Why do democrats hate an extremely rich guy, born to money, womanizer, that fills his cabinet positions with people from industry?

In 1960 they thought JFK was the greatest person to run for office!

What changed.

Anonymous said...

For those that have been following comments here 12/23/16 @ 11:23 wrote quite emphatically: "Personally, I think that both man causes and natural causes affect the climate, with the majority of the effects coming from man. I don't refuse to accept the facts of man OR natural climate change.

11:23 is very opinionated.

The Wall Street Journal, the Times and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have opinions or are thinking too, for those with open minds.
Opinion: Climateers Can’t Handle the Truth

"In zinging Mr. Pruitt, currently Oklahoma’s attorney general, the Times rests its unspoken case on a quote from an article this year in National Review, in which he and a coauthor wrote: “Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind.”

But this statement is plainly true. No climate scientist would dispute it. Through all five “assessment reports” of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—sharer of Al Gore’s Nobel prize—the central puzzle has been “climate sensitivity,” aka the “degree and extent” of human impact on climate."

Anonymous said...

Hey global warming fanatic what do you want say to about this?

Apparently "all the rest of scientist don't share your opinion.

Remember what you wrote on 12/21/16 @ 6:38 am? I do.

"11:03, here's a list of scientists who believe in man made global warming: everyone else. Trotting out twenty contrarians in the sea of the majority of tens of thousands is in no way convincing. History will judge you, if there were people around to document it."

Professor Happer from Princeton and Judith Curry from Georgia Tech weren't in my list of twenty scientist.

"Skeptical Climate Scientists Coming In From the Cold | RealClearInvestigations"

"While it could take months for such expanded fields of research to emerge, a wider look at the possibilities excites some scientists. Happer, for one, feels emboldened in ways he rarely has throughout his career because, for many years, he knew his iconoclastic climate conclusions would hurt his professional prospects.
When asked if he would voice dissent on climate change if he were a younger, less established physicist, he said: “Oh, no, definitely not. I held my tongue for a long time because friends told me I would not be elected to the National Academy of Sciences if I didn’t toe the alarmists’ company line.”

That sharp disagreements are real in the field may come as a shock to many people, who are regularly informed that climate science is settled and those who question this orthodoxy are akin to Holocaust deniers. Nevertheless, new organizations like the CO2 Coalition, founded in 2015, suggest the debate is more evenly matched intellectually than is commonly portrayed. In addition to Happer, the CO2 Coalition’s initial members include scholars with ties to world-class institutions like MIT, Harvard and Rockefeller University. The coalition also features members of the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorology Society, along with policy experts from the Manhattan Institute, the George C. Marshall Institute and Tufts University’s Fletcher School."

http://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2016/12/31/skeptical_climate_scientists_coming_in_from_the_cold.html

Anonymous said...

The Phony War Against CO2
Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide has helped raise global food production and reduce poverty.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-phony-war-against-co2-1477955418


Tell me again how history will judge me, 11:03!