Rootstrikers

Hello #Rootstrikers (aka, "Batmen"), I'm writing to let you know about a new book, inspired in part by many of you, and to invite you to participate in a different kind of #Rootstrikers project tied to that book. On Tuesday, Byliner Originals (http://byliner.com/originals/) published One Way Forward: The Outsider's Guide to Fixing the Republic — a short (~50 pages) and inexpensive (~$2) book that I've written to map a strategy for moving this revolution along. This book(chen)  complements the (much longer) Republic, Lost at http://republic.lessig.org/, published last fall, and builds upon the extraordinary (what I call) "outsider movements" that we've seen on both the Left and the Right. Unlike regular books, however, and in a sense like Wikipedia, I am hopeful this work will eventually come alive. This is where we need your help. I've set up a blog  at: http://oneway.lessig.org/  that invites reactions to each chapter. After 6 months, I will revise the book based on those reactions, and release both the original and the revised work as free, CC-licensed downloads. The revised book will then continue to live on a wiki, licensed as Wikipedia is, to permit free (but copyleft) distribution. If this works, the text could become a framework for one (among possibly many) ways for us to move this fight forward. You are the key to bringing this community to life. #Rootstrikers play a critical role in the campaign to change this system — as teachers, helping others to see the corrupting influence of money in politics (the "root"), and as citizens, working to strike at that root (the "strikers"). We don't often ask for your money (though sometimes we must). But we do ask for your help. This campaign must be person-to-person. And your feedback and ideas would do a great deal to make this one source better. So if you get a chance to read the book, we'd be grateful for your feedback. And if you could join a community to help bring this book alive, that would be even better. Thanks for your help. You can get the book at:  http://byliner.com/originals/one-way-forward. Lawrence Lessig, #Rootstriker

It's Official: Spring Leaves When Summer Arrives

     Larry Spring is in Schenectady tonight for a press conference and for a Schenectady Board of Education announcement about his new job as Superintendent of Schenectady schools. He has a three year contract. He will be paid $181,200/year, plus benefits. He will start in June.
     Click on these Capital Region reports:
     http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schenectady-selects-leader-3333633.php
     http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schenectady-hires-Cortland-schools-chief-3333633.php
     http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Payout-in-pact-recalls-exit-of-Ely-3361379.php
     See related post dated February 11, 2012.
     Contact: David Weiser
Clerk of the BoardSchenectady City School District
108 Education Drive
Schenectady, New York 12303
Phone: 881-2000 X-40116email: weiserd@schenectady.k12.ny.us

June 11, 2012 update: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/New-schools-chief-likes-big-picture-3623787.php

First Pale Face in Cortland County

     For starters, the first white man in Cortland County wasn't Reverend Farley Smoot--despite rumors and persistent reports--often aided and abetted by this blog.
     Instead, history points to French adventurer Etienne Brule.
     Consul Willshire Butterfield writes in History of Brule's Discoveries and Explorations 1610-1626:  "October 15, 1615...But what of Brule and the five hundred Canantuannais? They had left Carantouan (Waverly, N.Y.); they had marched northward, leaving, probably, the territory now included in Tioga County, New York, and going through that of present counties of Tompkins, Cayuga, Cortland and into Onondaga, but reaching the rendezvous (fixed upon near Lake Simcoe by the Hurons) two days after the departure of Champlain and his Huron allies."
     The Canantuannais, also called Andaste, were Susquehannocks, who with the Hurons refused to join the Great Peace offered by the Five Nations of the Iroquois. The purpose of the march northward was to meet Champlain and his Hurons at the main Onondaga Castle, invest the fortress and conquer the Onondaga. Carantouan, by this history, was located on Spanish Hill next to Route 222 at Waverly, N.Y.
Click on reference:
http://www.spanishhill.com/susquehannocks/who.shtml
     Brule had a late start. He arrived two days after Champlain had abandoned the siege. After a brief skirmish, he and the Canantuannais returned to Carantouan.
     Onondaga Castle was enclosed with four palisades and defended by more than one thousand warriors. Champlain had built siege towers and the Hurons had pushed them to the outer palisades. French sharpshooters had mounted the towers and fired at the Onondaga warriors behind the palisades. The French threw flaming bundles of evergreen wood over the ramparts but the Onondagas put out the fires with water. The unsuccessful siege lasted from October 10 to October 16, 1615. Champlain and the Hurons then retreated to their hidden canoes located on the east side of Lake Ontario. They returned to New France.
     After more than a year exploring the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay, Brule returned to the Hurons. Passing through Seneca territory, he was captured by them. He was tortured but managed to obtain his freedom by a false promise to establish peace with the French and Hurons. When he returned to Huron territory in New France, he immersed himself in their culture. Later, in his short adventurous career, he plotted against Champlain. He was eventually killed by the Hurons over an unknown dispute. Sagard wrote that the Hurons burned and ate Brule after they killed him.
Click on reference:
http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=95
Editor's note:
One of several horrible contributors to this blog has suggested that the Huron burning and eating of Etienne Brule may have been the first serving in North America of the French dessert called creme brule. The French word "brule" means "burned."
Gastronomists and surviving witnesses of the siege at Onondaga Castle are encouraged to leave a comment.

Only His Name Is Missing

      Cortland School District Superintendent Larry Spring is a finalist for the school superintendent position at Schenectady. The Schenectady School Board held a regular meeting on February 1, 2012.
     In executive session, school board members discussed the terms of the new superintendent's contract. They have narrowed the selection to one applicant. His name has not been made public. See agenda:  http://www.schenectady.k12.ny.us/Board_of_Education/2011-2012/February012012.pdf
     In an unrelated article, the Rochester city school district is searching for a superintendent. Note the criteria and other factors, which may apply to the Cortland school district, when it begins a search for Superintendent Spring's replacement.  http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120213/NEWS01/202130308/RCSD-Bolgen-Vargas-Superintendent?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
     Our friends in Albany-Schenectady-Troy are searching for more precise information. As soon as we get an update, or official announcement, it will be added to this blog.
http://www.schenectady.k12.ny.us/Superintendent_Search/Update_February022012.htm
http://www.schenectady.k12.ny.us/Board_of_Education/2011-2012/February152012.pdf
Wednesday night we may know the name with certainty:
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S2497702.shtml?cat=300

Who Am I? (Number 5)

     I was born in New York City on October 28, 1914. My parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants. I attended Townsend Harris High School, a public school which enrolled intellectually gifted students in a crammed 3 year curriculum. I graduated and entered City College of New York at age 15. In 1934, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.
     I wanted to be a lawyer but my parents persuaded me to study medicine. I entered medical school at New York University. I did not want to practice medicine; I wanted to research in the field of biochemistry and teach.
     I did my post-graduate work in virology. I worked in the lab of Dr. Thomas Francis at the University of Michigan. I worked with other researchers on the influenza virus.
     My residency took place at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital. By 1939 I was president of the house staff of interns and residents. At the conclusion of my residency, I received a research position on an Army-commissioned project in Michigan. I worked again with Dr. Francis to develop an influenza vaccine.
     By 1947, I obtained my own research facility at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Soon I was approached by the director of a well-known national foundation to direct a special project. This project would define my life and career.
     The special research project involved a deadly disease which had killed more American children than any other communicable disease. I began to study details of the virus and to devote all my attention to achieve a cure.
     By 1954, I had developed a preliminary vaccine. A field trial was established, involving 20,000 physicians and public health officers, 64,000 school personnel, 220,000 volunteers and 1,800,000 children.
     On April 12, 1955, the new vaccine was declared safe and effective. The news quickly travelled around the world. The nation celebrated. In some cities, sirens sounded and bells rang.
     On January 27, 1956, President Eisenhower presented me with a gold Congressional Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service. I also received the Lasker Award in a separate ceremony. I never patented my vaccine. "Would you patent the sun?" I once asked.
     Years later I helped to establish the Medical Research Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. I and other researchers participated in AIDS research.
     I died of heart failure at age 80 in La Jolla on June 23, 1995.
     My name is Dr. Jonas Salk, and I am known for the Salk polio vaccine.

Editor's note: For a detailed short biography of Jonas Salk visit  www.wikipedia.org

Governor Cuomo Puts New York Students First

The following email release from Governor Cuomo's 2014 Committee was sent February 7, 2012. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment. Jeff Paine.



New York State spends more per student than any other state, but ranks only 38th in graduation rates. It's obvious that our system is failing. And the reason it's failing is because Albany has cared more about the business of education -- contracts, salaries, and benefits -- than they've cared about the needs of our children.

In Governor Cuomo's State of the State address, he noted that all the players in the education establishment -- school boards, principals, teachers and even bus drivers and maintenance staff -- have lobbyists in Albany. Everyone that is... except the students. That's why the Governor has pledged to take on a second job this year: lobbyist for the students.

Inspired by the Governor's remarks, a group of East Harlem high school students filmed their own video about what this means to them: "My Governor, My Lobbyist," recently featured in the New York Times. Click here:


http://www.andrewcuomo.com/video_landing/education?utm_content=0000-00-00%2000%3A00%3A00&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Click%20here%20to%20watch%20the%2030-second%20video%20made%20by%20students%20at%20the%20Renaissance%20Charter%20High%20School%20for%20Innovation%20students%2E&utm_campaign=Education%20NY%20students%20deservecontent

As part of his commitment to put students first, Governor Cuomo has proposed critical education reforms: a real teacher evaluation system as well as enhanced funding for competitive grants that will encourage student achievement and school efficiency.

Help give our students the education system they deserve.  Click here:  http://www.andrewcuomo.com/landing/education_signup?utm_content=0000-00-00%2000%3A00%3A00&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Click%20here&utm_campaign=Education%20NY%20students%20deservecontent
to learn more about the Governor's plan and add your support to this critical fight for our children's future.

Thanks for helping put New York Students First.

Editor's note: A new evaluation agreement between NYSUT and the governor was announced February 16, 2012. Click here for details and editorial:
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Teacher-evaluation-deal-saves-1B-in-aid-3337925.php
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120217/OPINION04/302170018/Cuomo-teacher-evaluations?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p

New York voters trust Gov. Cuomo more than teachers' union, poll finds.
http://www.empirestatenews.net/News/20120218-1.html

Buffalo News editorial dated April 19, 2012:   http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/buffalo-news-editorials/article816842.ece

State wins federal school waiver, Albany Times Union, dated May 30, 2012:  http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/State-wins-federal-school-waiver-3594015.php

The Issues

     What are the issues before the nation, and how can you tell?
     I'm struck--one might say appalled--by the efforts being poured into the current round of primary elections and fearful that the main event will be even worse. Living next door to New Hampshire has provided great detail and what passes for news, even as I tried to ignore the whole thing. The process continues through Florida and beyond.
     Conscientious citizens spend a great deal of time listening to the candidates, the debates, and the commentators. They discuss and argue: all in an effort to pick just the right person. After all, that person might be president--incumbent Obama has entered the campaign--and must be counted on to turn the country around.
     But what are they talking about? Every campaign organization picks "issues" calculated to help its candidates win, issues that favor these candidates, or those issues that denigrate opponents. Political ads and the media follow suit, and we soon find ourselves trapped in a web of minutiae, totally distracted from what really counts. Single issue voters are particularly vulnerable in this process. I ask: If we use a dart board to select our president, is there any chance that we'll return to back alley abortions?
     You may not agree with my choice of our number one problem--corruption of our administration and legislature. But how about number two, our burgeoning debt?
     With the exception of insider trading, none of the candidates is credible regarding corruption. And none makes any arithmetic sense, at all, as to how the debt will be managed in a responsible fashion.
     We have a crystal ball at hand; it's called Europe. No, we're not as bad off as Greece. With the possible exception of the U.K., Europe does not have a plan to manage its debt, and it hasn't touched the economic reforms needed for balanced, healthy economies--the two go together. And we are behind them in terms of recognizing, defining, and accepting our real problems.
     How about a permanent Occupy D.C. Movement?
    
     And now a brief word from our sponsor:
     My new novel, STRIKE, is now available as a Kindle e-book on Amazon. For more information, consult my blog. Click on the following--
www.joebakewell.wordpress.com