Russ Diamond for Governor

When I ran for city council -- I kept some of the powder dry. I should be more clear. I really kept some of the 'tea' dry.

Russ Diamond for Governor HOST a Pennsylvania Tea Party!
No, you don't have to go down to the harbor. You don't have to wear costumes like the Sons of Liberty in Boston. And you don't even have to serve tea.

All you need to do is schedule and host an event to get people together and rally them behind the Russ Diamond for Governor campaign.

It can be ten neighbors in your home, 50 patriots at a block party, or 600 people at a rented hall. Your imagination is the only limit!

Please contact us today make or get suggestions and schedule your Pennsylvania tea party!"

See that brown bag on the shelf on the far right... It is on its side and only half visible. It is full of Jasmine Tea. We carried this home from Hong Kong on our recent trip. And, another batch of another flavor of tea (Pu erh) came home as well. The tea is measured in a unit called a catties. The bag has 5 catties.

We'll be hosting plenty of Pennsylvania Tea Parties this summer and fall. How about you? I could come there and BRING along the tea for your friends and neighbors.

A Pennsylvania Spoiler Joins Race for Governor - New York Times

It seems as if this IS official.

A Pennsylvania Spoiler Joins Race for Governor - New York Times A Pennsylvania Spoiler Joins Race for Governor

By IAN URBINA Published: April 13, 2006

ALTOONA, Pa., April 11 — In what was already proving a surprisingly tight contest, the race for governor of Pennsylvania has grown more complicated with the entry of an independent candidate who helped spearhead a grass-roots insurgency last year against the state legislature.

Mark Rauterkus and Russ Diamond in December, 2005.

Cruise Control Master, Coach Dick Bower, to lead clinics in swimming

AMS SPONSORED CLINIC for “B”/“BB” SWIMMERS ages 10-14 are going to be held with Coach Dick Bower.

Allegheny Mountain Swimming will sponsor a series of clinics the week of May 8th in an effort to help promote the progression of our developmental swimmers. There is no fee for the clinic as AMS will fund the clinic. The clinics will be hosted by Coach Dick Bower.

Coach Bower has been coaching for the past 50 years throughout the United States. He has coached at all levels, 8 and under, age group, senior, High school, college and several Olympic medalists! He has coached numerous National Champions and is currently involved with numerous top ranked swimmers in the United States. Coach Bower started his coaching career in this area and is now consulting, providing coaches workshops and holding numerous clinics throughout the world.

This clinic will try to provide the B/BB swimmers with information and motivation to move on to the next level!

There are 4 clinics scheduled at this time.

Monday, May 8, 6:30-8:30 PM Bethel Park High School
Tuesday, May 9, 6:30-8:30 PM Moon High School
Wednesday, May 10, 6:00-8:00 PM North Allegheny High School
Thursday, May, 11, 6:00-8:00 PM Fox Chapel High School

Registration: B/BB swimmers age 10-14

Swimmers must e-mail Bill Kennedy to register. Include Name, Age, Swim Club, and most important - Date and Location you would like to attend!

No swimmer is permitted to register if they have an “A” time. All swimmers must be registered USS!

Registered swimmers will get an e-mail confirmation of registration with a registration number. Please bring this confirmation to the clinic. We are limited to 42 swimmers per clinic on a first come first serve basis. You may specify a second choice location in the event that the clinic you want to attend is full.

Coaches are encouraged to attend! Coach Bower will meet with you 30 minutes before the session to provide you with information on the program. He would like you to then help out with the clinic if you would like to under his direction. He will stay after the clinic for any coach that has questions or would liker further information. This type of clinic works best if coaches attend and follow-up with their swimmers. Coaches please e-mail me if you plan on attending.

Any Questions: Bill Kennedy - bk1swim -at- adelphia.net

Province Swim Pool in Chengdu. This is a 50-meter pool, all deep water, 8 wide lanes. You can't see the seperate diving well in the photo. Now the large flag has been replaced by a modern scoreboard with video. Those are temporary bulkheads on the outside 2 lanes so a 50-meter course can be swum in the middle of the pool.

Western Pennsylvania, bring it home

AP Wire | 04/12/2006 | News in brief from western Pennsylvania
AP - PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh-area leaders are supporting a campaign to bring more conferences, meetings and even family reunions to southwestern Pennsylvania in 2008.

The Reunion 2008 initiative promotes the campaign under the theme, 'Bring It Home to Pittsburgh.'

The campaign is part of the city's plans for its 250th anniversary celebrations in 2008.

'This is an opportunity to get creative and plan events that bring people back to Pittsburgh,' said James Rohr, chairman of the Pittsburgh 250 Commission and chief executive of PNC Financial Services Group.

The campaign offers a 'unique opportunity to reintroduce our region to the world,' said Andrew Masich, chief executive of the Sen. John Heinz Regional History Center.

A 'Bring it Home' campaign a few years ago generated the booking of 122 meetings in the city, according to the Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The bureau has created Reunion 2008 kits that contain reunion planning information.

Home -- Here is an idea. I think Pittsburgh could and should build a Time Share Building or Time Share Complex. Make them high rise apartments and sell them for week-long periods. I think that there are many people from around the world that would come to Pittsburgh for a week. I think that they'd be popular.

And, Michael Keaton might buy the first unit.

Pittsburgh getting All-Star makeover - PittsburghLIVE.com

I've had it up to here with this fixation on the All-Star Game. The wi-fi needs to be built by the All-Star Game. Eight officers get training in scuba for underwater work for the All-Star Game. New dogs and remote camera to peer on citizens are to be installed for the All Star Game. Red carpet to move ballplayers on convertables for the All-Star Game. And now, we get to shrink wrap and wall paper our empty buildings all around town for the All-Star Game. Redd up already -- but do it for something other than the Reds, White Sox, Red Sox and Royals -- as I'm getting a YANKed around feeling.

Pittsburgh getting All-Star makeover - PittsburghLIVE.com: "The city's facelift also could include wrapping abandoned buildings with the All-Star Game logo, Mayor Bob O'Connor said. Communities throughout a 10-county region will be encouraged to use the All-Star logo on shops and sidewalks.

'We don't just want Downtown,' O'Connor said.

But in a shift of the 'tone' from O'Connor, there is a great quote. This isn't just for 'downtown.' Right on Bob. Just as wi-fi should NOT be 'just for downtown.'
Obesity was less of a problem in 1944. And, look, the All-Star logo didn't JUST show downtown.

Got bikes -- but no kids. But, the roads are not safe. We don't have bike lanes. We don't have bike racks. We don't have drivers to share the road.

Number of Kids on Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Doubles

MedlinePlus: Number of Kids on Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Doubles
FRIDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- In a four-year span, the number of U.S. children and teens taking prescription drugs to treat or prevent type 2 diabetes has increased two-fold, according to a new study.

'From 2002 to 2005, we found a doubling of type 2 diabetes medications,' said Emily Cox, the senior director of research at Express Scripts, a benefits management company that conducted the study.

So, this is what happens if you cut the Recreation Centers by more than half. We used to have 32 outdoor swim pools. Most of them, in the city, are vacant lots. Dormont's Pool is not going to open this year, without a miracle.

The city does not have a marathon, like it used to have. The city used to sponsor The Thrift Drug Classic -- bike race. And even the 84 Lumber PGA event is soon only to be a memory.

Participation sports have taken a big hit. We need to get fit and make fitness a part of our fabric again.

And, even in sports in this city, it is a major victory to be .500. The Penguins are the worst team in hockey (we think) and the team won't pledge to say in Pittsburgh, and there is a pep rally for the Pens next week. The Pens walked away from the only indoor ice rink in the city, other than the Civic Arena, which they want to hit with a wrecking ball anyway. The closed indoor ice rink is a dark hole in our city. And, the Pens even put Southpoint, its practice facility in Washington County, in a lurch with ownership.

How many hockey rinks came into the market in the wake of Mario's arrival here? Mt. Lebo, Plum, Bladerunners, Castle Shannon, B.Park, Island Sports, etc. And then ask how many of them are financially stable and viable?

Perhaps the Pens can hold some of the blame for that build out and resulting contractions too? Greed isn't hard to find.

Now, obesity in kids and adults is par for the course.

Interesting Questions on KQV poll in recent days

The Dormont Pool will be closed this summer because extensive renovations are needed to make it safe. Dormont is represented by State Senator Wayne Fontana and Representative Tom Petrone. They are asking Governor Rendell for help in funding the estimated 3-million dollar cost of repairing the pool, a cost they say the community can not afford.

The online voting was 51 to 49 percent. At one time, in the morning, the votes were heavy on the side of NOT funding the pool. Then I expect that the word got out to Dormont residents and they started to rack up the calls and clicks.

The other question of interest was about the payment for the expansion of new seats in the Steelers' venue, Heinz Field. The 700+ seats and new box / lounge area is going to be paid for, in part, by public money. The Steelers are getting an upgrade to what they already have and they don't need to pay the full freight of that upgrade.

That was turned into a KQV poll -- and when I tuned in, the bulk of the callers and clicks were to have the Steelers pay the entire amount.

Wayne Fontana, D., voted to have the public pay for the seat expansion at Heinz Field.

Walking in place in a park with exercise equipment.

Taking a long walk on a short -- err -- expensive pier. Go Lt. Gov Candidate Stilp

Source: Gene Stilp, Lt. Governor Reform Committee

Stilp to Protest Brightbill's Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Per Diems in
26.2-Mile Walk From the Senator's Home to His Capitol Office

Lieutenant Governor Candidate Says Brightbill Should Return Thousands in Wrongfully Pocketed Taxpayer Funds

On Wednesday, April 12 from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate and anti-pay-raise activist Gene Stilp will take a break from the statewide campaign trail to embark on yet another trail. This time, Stilp will walk from Senator David "Chip" Brightbill's home in Mt. Gretna, Lebanon County to Brightbill's Capitol office. The distance: exactly 26.2 miles.

Stilp is staging the walk to demand that Brightbill return tens of thousands of dollars to Pennsylvania taxpayers taken in the form of per diem expenses, even though the Senate Majority Leader lives well within commuting distance of the Capitol.

"While the Pennsylvania House of representatives has a rule that no legislator can receive a per diem if the member lives within 50 miles of the Capitol, the Senate, where Senator Brightbill is the Majority Leader, allows the taking of a per diem no matter how close you live or if you actually use the money on expenses," Stilp explained. The Senate per diem rate is currently $143 per day. "Obviously, the rate was lower in the past, but as Majority Leader, Senator Brightbill makes the rules," Stilp said.

In recent years, Brightbill has collected as much as $8,000 to more than $10,000 per year in extra income from the per diems. "He does not stay in hotels in Harrisburg, he merely pockets the money," Stilp said.

Stilp is also asking Brightbill for a full accounting of his per diems while in office. "No one knows what the real amount is. It may well total more than $100,000 in extra income. Only an audit of Brightbill's per diems will tell," Stilp noted. Senator Brightbill is also holding up passage of Governor Rendell's Minimum Wage Bill in the Senate.

While Stilp is not a resident of Brightbill's district, and the Senator will likely point this out, the anti-pay-raise activist notes that taxpayers across the commonwealth pay for the per diems, not just Brightbill's constituents.

"These tens of thousands of dollars Brightbill owes the taxpayers are in addition to the tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions he just returned to gambling interests. Simply put, 'Chip's dip' into the taxpayers' pocketbook for per diems has got to stop," Stilp concluded.

Mr. Stilp is currently running against Catherine Baker Knoll in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor. The election is May 16.

Citywide Wi-Fi to get public airing

Citywide Wi-Fi to get public airing council will hold an April 24 public hearing on the possibility of citywide Wi-Fi.

Saturday - Rogues and Pitt

The Rogues meet at 9 am in Saturday, April 15, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Select across
from South Hills Village, $13.00 per person. This month, all candidates for elective office get to speak on behalf their campaigns and the issues that they see important.

RSVP to Herb Ohliger, herb138 -at- fyi.net.

That afternoon Pitt's football team plays its blue-gold game at Heinz Field. Cost is $5.

Hope you enjoy your weekend.

Blog Fest Prom and Page Six Fiction and Social Interaction

Did you hear about how the one blogger's avatar went to the Duquesne Club and fell in love with the tourist in a tuxedo?

CMU/Pitt Nursebot Project Social interaction: A huge number of elderly people are forced to live alone, deprived of social contacts. The project seeks to explore whether robots can take over certain social functions.

Humm.... A nurse bot that tells you to take your meds, and injects a bit of blogging content into your veins as well.

Taken to the next level, perhaps we can agree that we can use technology to heal and be an interaction force to help people live longer. So, we should build bridges to social events in the tech world too.

I suggest that others in the Pgh Blogging Universe put together a PROM for May or June. I'll attend. But, sadly, I won't be able to organize it.

With a prom, there might be some newsworthy mentions in the local, if not statewide newspapers -- like who wore pink and who came in sneakers. And proms are one of those last chances to have a youthful fling, before hitting the 'real world.'

A bloggers prom event could be a milestone for maturity for the medium and the messengers' confab.

Another suggestion, if folks really wanted to play around like teens (and perhaps strive to re-caputure their youth) -- perhaps the ring-leaders should instigate a no-agenda, fiction filled, fun-only, interactive, project for scribes and creative types that aims to be a HYPE MACHINE --- like Page Six!

Page Six is the gossip page for an out-of-town newspaper. Recent reports of journalists and clebs pimping for PR and profit, (imagine that), adds fuel to the pay-ol-a fire.

Scandal, intrigue, escapades and brushes with the high-rollers (from boardroom to bedroom to nursing homes) could be cooked up -- as in fabricated -- into a 'soap opera' that plays among various sites. And, so as to not slander anyone, the characters could be movie stars and divas of an online origin for this drama.

Any D&D gamers on the scene in the Pgh Blog space? I bet some of the seniors would have a lot of spare time on their hands.

Fantasy games, clues, discovery, investigations, and more could happen -- just for the hell and thrill of it -- online and off. Then buzz and coverage would come -- with elusive behaviors expected.

Seneca Valley sells stadium naming rights

Way to go Mr. Caprara. Well done.

Seneca Valley sells stadium naming rights The Seneca Valley school board last night sold the naming rights of its football stadium to NexTier Bank in what may be the first transaction of its kind in Western Pennsylvania.

Raider Stadium will now be known as NexTier Stadium under a 10-year agreement whereby NexTier will pay the Butler County school district $50,000 over 10 years plus the expense of new signs.

Signage, including a NexTier Stadium name above the stadium entrance, the NexTier logo bar across visitors' side bleachers and NexTier logo flags on light posts, could be in place before the district's June 2 graduation at the stadium.

It is believed that this is the first partnership in Western Pennsylvania in which a high school stadium takes the name of a corporate sponsor, according to Greg Caprara, athletic director for the school district.

So, the Dormont Swim Pool naming rights should be the next on the auction block.

And, I'd love to see a region wide sales effort. This was part of my position paper on parks a few years ago. Sell the naming rights to lots of assets -- but do so in a more ogananized and more profitable way.

Just as the high-end auction houses put together the big players for a bidding event -- the same could be organized for other efforts in a catalog and in person.

Heck, perhaps one of Terry Bradshaw's game-day jerseys would have been featured as a 'down-payment' to create the endowment.

FWIW, Greg Caprara, A.D., hired me as the varsity swim coach at Fox Chapel for the girls and boys teams a couple of years ago. We surfed through a transition season and this year, the (girl) Foxes got 2nd in the WPIALs. Greg is good for sports in the region as he is a 'think outside the box' leader.

Rocky Mountain News: Rocky Ride for Pirates: Tossing Rocks by Keaton

Sports and Journalism.... humm...

Rocky Mountain News: Columnists This is a pretty adept PR job by Major League Baseball, which has managed to make the question, 'If the press didn't know, how were we supposed to know?' Too bad Enron didn't think of that.

In fact, two reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle forced baseball to act, but critics point out these were not sportswriters but news-side guys.

As Mark Jurkowitz of The Phoenix in Boston wrote last week, sports have become a big seller for newspapers and other media, which are looking for sales drivers in a big way.

Nice article on the role of Journalist and Sports Coverage.

Major Leage Baseball lost me. I don't even want my kids to play baseball, sadly. I don't want to take them to PNC Park -- and I think it is way better to go to a high school baseball game. Perhaps my kids will go to PNC Park to watch high school baseball at the end of the year. I'd rather see High School Baseball every day in PNC Park -- and sidestep the Pirates. But, I'm going overboard a tad.

According to Jurkowitz, Buster Olney, formerly of The New York Times and now of ESPN, wrote this in The Times 10 days ago: "I had a role in baseball's institutional failure during what will be forever known as the Steroid Era." In my sport, swimming, we had an era of steroids. One time of serious concern was the 1976 Olympics. Time stamp that! And, we didn't ignore the issue. Baseball did.

And, now, baseball isn't welcome in the Olympic Village. Baseball has been given the boot and won't be a part of the London Olympics in 2012. It is too late to give them the cold-shoulder for 2008.

As for weightlifters and sports reporters -- well -- I've got some history there too. When I published books, we did a good bit of work on putting out some anti-doping materials.

And, I've not been publishing for more than 10 years -- so time stamp that too!

Baseball's reporters -- and the bulk (pun intended) of the mainstream reporters on sports are both naive -- and they do need to share the blame. Same too for the corporations that employ the scribes. The Post Gazette used to own part of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Other media companies (Cubs) have big interests in various teams too.

I don't care much about the 'conflict of interest' -- but I do care that the conflict was not revealed. Disney, ESPN, and the Mighty Ducks can all have stock owners with the same bank accounts. But shine a light on the news for goodness sakes.

Heads up to Lifeguard and EMS friends -- free offer for swap out

A special offer came to our attention concerning a Cervical Immobilization Device (CID). This would apply to swim pools, EMS crews, hospitals, firehouses, and such.

The company, Laerdal Medical, developed a SpeedBlocks Immobilizer. SpeedBlocks are the best device for, not only EMS field use, but for lifeguards and Water Rescue Technicians. SpeedBlocks are the very best head immobilizer system available.

Laerdal Medical is offering a Free Swap-out Program by which you can swap out your current head immobilizer for a Laerdal SpeedBlocks immobilizer. This program is available directly through the manufacturer.

Access the Laerdal Swap-out program at http://www.laerdal.com/3536/speedblocksform.htm.



For additional information on this product and skills, access the SPINAL IMMOBILIZATION SECTION of the Lifesaving Resources’ ONLINE CATALOG.

Cheer for a High School Team -- as the Pirates are, well, Mr. Mom said....

Go Langley Mustangs!

The kid from Montour had a good movie role in the past when he played the star of "Mr. Mom." .... snicker.....

Need another reason, sterioids are not such a factor in high school sports. And, when you go to a local high school baseball game, chances are, one of OUR teams is going to win. And, often, none of the kids are loosers.

HighSchoolSports.Net shows Langley HS schedule

Now that the weather has broken, you can catch a lot of the local high school teams' schedules on the web site, HighSchoolSports.net.

HighSchoolSports.Net - Listings Tuesday 04/18 Home vs. Steel Valley High School at Sheraden Field 3:30 PM

Wednesday, 04/19, Home, vs. Brashear High School, Langley Field 3 pm

Fridaym 04/21, Home vs. Allderdice High School at Langley Field at 3 PM

Monday, 04/24, Home vs. Peabody High School at Langley Field at 3 PM

Wednesday, 04/26, Away at Oliver High School at 3 pm.

Saturday, 04/29, Away vs. Beaver Falls High School at 7 PM

Monday, 05/01, Away at Perry High School at 3 PM

Wednesday, 05/03, Home vs. Sto-Rox High School at Sheraden Field at 3

Monday, 05/08, Away at Westinghouse High School at 3 PM

Thursday, 05/11, Away at Schenley High School at 3 pm.

Friday, 05/12, Away vs. Bishop Canevin HS at 8 PM

Thursday, 05/18, Home Quarter-Finals at Langley Field TBA

Tuesday, 05/23, Away, Semi-Finals, TBA

Sunday, 05/28, Away, Baseball City League Finals, To Be Announced

Statement before City Council, odds and ends and downtown wireless tip-off

My name is Mark Rauterkus.

My family and I reside at 108 South 12th Street on the South Side.
I have a home on the internet at Rauterkus.com.

I am vice chairman of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party.

Recently I was a candidate for City Council and I'm presently circulating petitions for the November election.

My voter registration is now as "independent.'

Democracy is important and at the time of elections, we need to put forth new ideas and new candidates. I feel that the one party system in the city -- and the national 2-party system -- both need drastic overhauls.

One simple, level-headed change I endorse concerns ballot access. The PA ballot access coalition has put forth pending legislation that is common-sense and should be adopted.

The new voting machines we are getting in Allegheny County raises another serious problem. Thankfully the Sequoia option has been scratched from consideration. That's out. It was junk. Frankly, the new option is NOT MUCH better.

Years ago, I called for OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE as the best method for getting our "voting machines' -- and that "feature" is still lacking from the solution -- so I'm not satisfied.

Technology is important to me and our society.

I have a rich tech background. I am a 'geek" that understands many of the implications and impacts of tech policy.

Today, my main message is about the Downtown Wireless plans and proposals.

If I was in your position, I'd NOT take the plan that is before you now.

Downtown Wireless is "downtown." You are a 'city council.'

I would INSIST upon City-Wide Wireless.

This is another example where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

One of your roles, as city council, is to lead with integrity and understand and apply a big concept -- EQUITY.

Would you ever build a POLICE FORCE and have it ONLY serve Downtown?

Would you ever deploy a FIRE Department and say -- you can't leave downtown?

The wireless downtown plan is just for downtown.

It makes no sense to embrace a downtown plan because we should have wireless city-wide -- and great firms like Earthlink can help to throw the switch on the deployment without ANYTHING from the city -- except a key ingredient.... That is "LEADERSHIP."

Furthermore, Downtown wireless for 2-hours is silly.

+ The cost after 2 hours of use per day is UNKNOWN. You should NEVER buy into an agreement until the big facts are on the table. HOW MUCH and WHEN are key questions that MUST BE ANSWERED.

Both 'consumer costs' and 'government costs' are matters that city council should represent as part of its duty.

+ Downtown businesses -- for example, Alcoa or a financial institution, or a law firm, -- are NOT going to use the public wireless infrastructure. Don't fool yourself. The firms mentioned and others with a downtown address are the kind that need security and control as well as accountability with their mission critical networks. This solution will NOT provide, especially at the outset, the necessary components for the downtown business sector. And, these firms already have networks that are beyond what this plan aspires to deliver.

+ Even pending residents of downtown, as featured in in today's newspaper, who are moving from suburban homes to return to city living, (such as Rich Trombetta, 42, a computer project manager for PNC Bank) are NOT going to reply upon 2-hours of free wireless so as to live downtown. He can afford his own line. Like I've got my own line.

City council should not be suckers for rich get richer propositions -- based on downtown neighborhood hype.

+ On the other hand, small business -- say, the South Side's Pickle Barrel and Dee's Cafe, -- could use the wireless in two hour chunks for themselves and their customers. The sector who can really use and thrive with a new wireless capacity is the small, neighborhood business throughout the city that operate beyond downtown.

+ Downtown is easy to make wireless -- without telephone polls. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse -- in PPG's business complex -- does not need a telephone poll to make the jump to wireless.

+ Downtown buildings, for decades, have been serviced with high speed, cable, fiber optics.

+ Our neighborhoods, are a different matter, unlike the landscape of downtown and the needs of those who work and conduct business downtown.

+ The school kids would be PRIME users of free wireless for daily, two-hour periods for doing their homework. That is PERFECT as I don't want my kid on the internet for longer stretches anyway. Our kids needs to be literate with technology. Doing homework at grandmas, or in a rec center before a ballgame, or elsewhere would be a great boom to our quality of life.

+ When city council sanctions sweet-heart, downtown deals, like the downtown wireless plans, it then NULLIFIES all hopes for a city-wide install. City council's act lets them "pick the cherries." Serious city-wide work needs to be done.

+ City-wide wireless isn't a breeze. But, it isn't hard to accomplish.
The entire Philly area, full of its corruption, is going wireless. Philly is going wireless, as a COUNTY. We don't need to take Allegheny County wireless, like they are doing in Philly, but we should enable the entire city to have wireless access.

Perhaps City Council is being hoodwinked.

Perhaps, city council members are ignorant -- or just dis-ingenious to the neighborhoods.

+ The PDP, Pgh Downtown Partnership, should be sent back to the drawing boards.

+ There is no rush to get wireless installed before for the 2006 All-Star Game. Give me a break.

+ Tell the PDP to co-host, a REGION WIDE, youth technology summit. After two or three days at a summit, with everyone under the same roof, we'll be able to tell city council what is our best course of action.

Wireless should be for the entire city, not just downtown. Otherwise, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. And, downtown is easy to make wireless within various buildings and hubs. The city should have been wireless years ago. But, this is the kind of absent minded services you get when you have this type of city council leadership.

Swim programs at the college level

Good news and bad news about some college swimming programs. Iowa State Univ. is going to re-start its men's swim team -- and -- UNH is going to cut its program.

Camp AK-O-Mak The University of New Hampshire is ending its men's swim team program. Let's help our alumni who swam at UNH - by helping them spread our disappointment with this decision. Swimming is a great sport - and means a lot to so many of us. So, too, does equality in sport. Swimming seems to be on the short end of the stick in the UNH case. The school needs to save money - so they're ending a program that is considered 'easy' to cut.

Here is a link to write UNH's president, if you'd like to help save men's swimming:

http://www.unh.edu/president/presemail.htm or email the UNH Athletic Director Mr. Marty Scarano at marty.scarano@unh.edu It's time to speak up for swimmers everywhere!

Thanks "running mates" for the clicks and the short note to the AD and University President.
These kids won't be going to UNH. They won't even dream about it. And, the parents of these kids won't be taking jobs as faculty and staff at UNH either. More than 100 quality students depart a campus when the men's swim team is dropped as college coaches often recruit 25 students to their campus each year. Only 10 may join the team, but more are pulled to the school for their education.

---

My note:
Message: I would say that the decision to cut mens swimming and diving would take away more than 100 quality student athletes from your school. A decent college coach recruits 25 new students to the school each year. Only 10 or so may join the team. But, others show up and become students. And, they'd not go there if swimming wasn't an option.

Pull together a water polo program and you'd get another 100 students -- quality students -- on campus.

Furthermore, my wife, Ph.D., professor at Univ. of Pittsburgh, won't ever go to work at a university such as yours because you don't have swimming programs. She won't swim -- but the benefits would be great for our family and for the greater community. So, you'll need to subtract ten possible new faculity members each year who won't even be interested in jobs at UNH.

Hope you see the big picture.

Signed, MR (contact details)
Dad of two swimmers, coach of two swim teams and a six years as a NCAA Division I swim coach (Ohio Univ., Baylor Univ., Bradley Univ.).

Revised plan would delay West End school closing

Revised plan would delay West End school closing Revised plan would delay West End school closing

This is great news and another example where people were able to "Think Again." I love it.... for many reasons.

The Gifted Center needs to move out of its present location in The Hill District. The plan was to put it over on the North Side at Ridge -- a dumb decision. That building has ONE WINDOW. And, it went up for sale and there were a number of interested parties that was thinking of buying the building. Well, the long and short of it was that The Gifted Center would NEVER fit into where the "right size plan" called for it to move. That isn't going to happen. Such a relief.

The Gifted Center is not slated to move into the West End's Greenway. GREAT. That is a funky school -- but these kids are gifted and they'll be able to fit and have a good place to learn.

Furthermore, the whole shift of the Classical Academy into Langley made no sense to me. The "right sized plan" was ONLY about elementary schools and middle schools. There was little to no thought put into the landscape of our assets and options with those in the high school grades. That is still to come. So, putting more students into a high school building -- without thinking about the overall impact of the high school educational mission and directions was foolish.

Really, in the end of the thinking process -- it might make great sense to move LANGLEY High School into Greenway. Then the gifted center might need to move again. Okay.

Hats off to Mr. Roosevelt for a much, much better decision. Way to go. Thinking again is necessary.

Open Clip Art Library :: openclipart.org :: Drawing Together.

I love community projects and public domain drop offs and pick-up points.

Open Clip Art Library - openclipart.org - Drawing Together.Drawing Together.

This project aims to create an archive of user contributed clip art that can be freely used.

Hartford is nice

Hartford suitor ready to woo Penguins - PittsburghLIVE.com First it was Kansas City, and now it's Hartford, Conn., that wants the team if it can't get a new arena in Pittsburgh.

Hartford is wailing.

What is to say that the Pens would NOT leave even IF we build them a new arena?

The lease helps ground the team in the area -- right?

Well, better than a lease to a building that the Pens would NOT own -- how about if the team has a building of its own and then that building acts as real roots to the area.

Let's not build a new arena and have the arena's ownership be anything other than the Penguins. The Penguins should own the new arena.

School buildings should be owned by the school district. Homes should be owned by homeowners. Commercial buildings should be owned by businesses. Parks should be owned by a park district. New toll roads should not be owned by Australian Investors. But, out of the list, the last one is not such a bad deal as they can't move the highway.

Mayor opens dialogue - PittsburghLIVE.com

Mayor opens dialogue - PittsburghLIVE.com Stephen Opara, 17, a senior at Taylor Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill, told O'Connor that students need more recreation centers and summer job opportunities.

A commission that meets four to six times a year should really be called a 'pep rally.' Others might call it a photo opportunity too.

Of course we need more Rec Center engagement. Of course we need more educational enrichment. Of course we need jobs -- such as lifeguarding -- in the summer months. Those items, ranging from youth technology to dynamic aquatic programs are near and dear to my heart -- and to the soul of the future of this city.

I think probably we should listen to students more often than we do -- and I include myself in the group that should probably do that more often," said Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt, who chatted with O'Connor and students.

Right on. Think again.

But Mr. Roosevelt -- how about if you start by doing a way better job in your communication activities with the school teachers. Send them a blasted email or two -- each week. And, allow them to communicate among themselves as well.

I hate to see the boss of the schools on his knees trying to beg for student to superintendent communications when there is much more to be done among faculty and administration, administration and parents, and administration and tax payers.

kdka.com - O'Connor Puts Hold On Plans To Expand Police Force

kdka.com - O'Connor Puts Hold On Plans To Expand Police Force Right now, the city has 814 officers and 45 cadets will start field training next week.

Glass is half full -- not half empty.

The headline, O'Connor Puts HOLD on Plans to Expand Police Force, is wrong if you just read the article. When you do the math, + 45 + 814 = 859. That is a net gain -- and movement to 900.

I hate to see the twisted reporting. Move Saks (as blog says below) is media expansion and I say it is NOT a net gain. But, add 45 officers is called a a HOLD by the media, and I say it is a gain!

When the MATH is in question -- and the outcomes are at odds with the truth -- we've got some serious watchdog problems still lurking.

Another 45 officers in a month or two is going to be 'perfect.'

Heck we are already due to get more video monitors, cameras and robots. And, we've already got new river frogmen and high-speed air boats -- all in time for the All-Stars. Those acts are hardly "PUTS HOLD ON PLANS" if you ask me.

Another 'under current' (pun intended) is the fear that dangles about too many rookies hitting the streets in some tinderbox neighborhoods. The zone commanders have shifted. The city has some fragile areas that could spiral out of control if a few acts get out of hand.

Let's pray some more.

Lawsuits add to Pittsburgh's financial woes - PittsburghLIVE.com

Of course! Thanks for the notice. People do read my blog and platform.

Lawsuits add to Pittsburgh's financial woes - PittsburghLIVE.com Lawsuits have amplified the costs of guiding Pittsburgh out of its financial mess, according to preliminary budget figures from the city's state oversight board.

Much of the higher-than-anticipated costs comes from legal fights the board started or was forced into with former Mayor Tom Murphy, the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority and the city's firefighters union.

The coutless lawsuits that the city, and even the county have engaged, in the past decades is horrid.

I've called for a major shift in the benchmark for litigation. To me it is a no brainer. These court costs have been massive. And, the city has been big-time loosers. The decisions have more often than not gone against the city's best interest. And, for good reason.

The parking lot in Panther Hollow is one example.

The seedy theater in the North Side is another fine example.

As the country song goes, "you gotta know when to fold 'em."

The city's leadership must "Lay the Shovel Down" -- and do much more to cut their losses. Snip away.

The next big case that is brewing, and I already made mention of this on the blog and on the record at city hall before city council is the Bill Peduto sponsored "Bubble Bill." The city should not waste a nickle trying to defend the "Bubble Bill."

Background: In the fall of 2005, the city, at the urging of the women's health clinic and Planned Parenthood folks, drafted a new set of laws that makes a protected area around people that moves around a protected area already designated around the entry of women's health clinics. This new 2005 law came into being because the managers within the Police Department were without strong leadership. They were fearful of backlashes from city hall politicans who flapped in the wind. And, because of police force cuts and a lack of new hires to cover needed shifts.

Make no mistake, the situation was broken because of compounded problems on compounded problems -- all caused from the ill management of Tom Murphy and his administration.

So, city council acted -- and did a classic 'over reach' so as to write new laws. The best fix would have been new directions and understood policies from the police and top brass. And, there was an enforcement issue that needed to be monitored.

The people need to feel safe and respected on the streets -- and near the health clinics. But, the police were only able to toss their hands into the air and look the other way -- if they were even around due to cutbacks, overtime headaches and thin force in general.

Now that the 'bubble bill' of 2005 is on the books it is right where we thought it would go -- into the courts.

The city might need to spend $200,000 or $400,000 on the defense of the 'bubble bill' -- OR -- a wise, prudent city council member could introduce a new bit of legislation that RECINDS the 'bubble bill' and gets the court case to be dropped. That would take about ten phone calls and save $200,000.

Then, with the $200,000 -- the city can open a few swim pools, hire a few crossing guards and get new rat bait for rodent control.

I feel strongly that there are times and places where defending principles are justified. Let's not burn money on the 'bubble bill' -- NOR another dozen fruitless court cases.

Meanwhile, the ICA (oversight board) paid $800k to a law firm -- and that must stop too.

As we settle disputes in the courts -- nobody wins. Judges are bad at finding the best solutions for the long-term health of the region.

We need a better margin of litigation!

Piatt Place plan grows

This is a red herring alert. The catfish are jumping. ...

Piatt Place plan grows - PittsburghLIVE.com Millcraft Industries Inc., of Cecil Township, Washington County, also wants to talk to officials of Saks Inc. to determine its interest in moving its Saks Fifth Avenue store Downtown to its expanded development site.

'We also will be contacting Saks to determine if it wants to use part of the site to expand its store,' said Lucas Piatt, vice president of real estate for Millcraft, which in January completed purchase of the Lazarus-Macy's building from Federated Department Stores Inc.

If you move -- you move. That isn't a guarantee of growth. Rather that is called "CHURNING." We don't need to churn. We need to grown.

And more over, we don't need to subsidize the churning.

To get Sacks to move from A to B is but a shell game. What then goes to B, an empty building?

Even the downtown residents -- they'll be moving out of other neighborhoods to go downtown. That is displacement.

Developers make money when they bribe folks to move near them -- as their land values and property values can double, triple or more. But, holes elsewhere are created, often.

This shifting is often just to allow the rich, err, the super rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer.

If I had a voice in O'Connor's office I'd say in no uncertain terms that any move to this development area that is just as described in the article -- would insure that the entire project gets $0 as a subsidy. It should NOT be accepted.

We're going to take the high road and improve our city -- with gains, real net gains. We can't toss up some smoke and mirrors and expect real progress to occur. We can't have the city be fooled into such sillyness.

O'Connor shouldn't say, Saks should stay here. He should say that he wants Saks to stay PUT. Big difference.

Even with the Penguin discussions. The Penguins should stay here (in the greater Pittsburgh area) and the arena should stay put. The Pens can build a new areana and move out of the civic arena -- but the old arena is going to stay put and be a home to the circus and Disney on Ice and Carrick High School Graduations.

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com Lance: To Dan Onorato. Allegheny County voters twice have rejected a home rule charter amendment that would have allowed sitting County Council members to run for other offices. The idea, a good one, was to prevent the council from becoming a springboard and soapbox for those with higher political ambitions. Yet Mr. Onorato, the chief executive, is proposing a third referendum on the very topic. How many times do the people have to speak?

Lance: To Mr. Onorato. The aforementioned amendment might not pass legal muster. Why? It places before voters not a single issue but a second issue -- if voters also want quick special elections to fill vacancies to avoid the practice of the council appointing people to fill vacancies. Convoluted, 'Christmas-treed' amendments are a constitutional no-no at the state level; there's no reason to think that same rule is not applicable at the local level.

Hear, hear. I've got plenty to say about special elections and those who want to run for office other than the one they are in presently.

Diven Speaks Out On Forged Signatures

kdka.com - Diven Speaks Out On Forged Signatures Diven has withdrawn from the Republican Primary.

Diven could still mount a write-in or independent campaign.

Mayor: Point Park's plan enhances efforts to redevelop Fifth-Forbes

too bad Point Park University isn't seeking to take over the now closed YWCA. That could be a recreation center for students, staff, faculity and community.

Mayor: Point Park's plan enhances efforts to redevelop Fifth-Forbes Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor says the purchase of five properties by Point Park University in the heart of the Fifth and Forbes shopping district Downtown only enhances his efforts to redevelop the beleaguered corridor.

Judge upholds third-party ballot access rules

This is bad, bad news. News like this means Pennsylvania will stay in the dark ages for another decade or more. Folks, this is the time to act up! http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/14272051.htm

MARK SCOLFORO, Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request from minor political parties to reduce the number of signatures required to place their candidates on the statewide ballot.

U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III said a formula that requires minor party candidates to collect 67,070 signatures this year is constitutional and reflects a legitimate state interest.

Jones said he was sympathetic to the plight of the parties and candidates who sought to overturn the law. He urged the General Assembly to reconsider the law, but he declined to issue a preliminary injunction that would invalidate it.

Jones wrote that he is not "a super-legislature, but rather a court of law, and thus we decline to supplant our wisdom in place of that of the Commonwealth's elected officials."

Jones said he shares the state government's concern that, without some standard to make minor parties demonstrate a minimum level of support, the ballot could become cluttered and confusing.

"Undoubtedly, and in particular during these contentious times in Pennsylvania politics, some will brand this concern as undemocratic in that it places little faith in the ability of voters to sort out a potentially long general election ballot," Jones said.

Robert Small, founder of the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition, said his organization will next seek changes to state law that will loosen access.

"We'll have to go back to Plan A, which is trying to get it through the state Legislature," Small said.

Republican and Democratic candidates for governor and U.S. Senate this year needed 2,000 signatures to make it onto the May 16 primary ballot.

But the signature requirement for others is 2 percent of the ballots cast for the largest vote-getter in the last statewide election race, which was Treasurer Bob Casey's record of nearly 3.4 million votes in 2004.

Sam Stretton, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he was disappointed in the ruling and said the parties have already shown public support by qualifying as minor parties under the state Election Code.

"I think it's a serious First Amendment violation and an equal protection violation, so we're going to let the 3rd Circuit (Court of Appeals) take a look at this," he said.

A spokesman for the state Attorney General's Office said the third-party access rules fit within the limits of the state constitution.

The lawsuit is being pursued by the Green and Constitution parties, the Green Party candidate for governor, the Constitution Party candidate for governor and the Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. Senate. The defendant is Secretary of State Pedro Cortes.

BUY ONLY OPTICAL SCAN VOTING MACHINES

STOP COUNCILMAN JOHN DEFAZIO
CALL (412) 350-6516
jdefazio@steelworkers-usw.org
JDefazio@county.allegheny.pa.us

STOP CHIEF EXECUTIVE DAN ONORATO
CALL (412) 350-6500
executive@county.allegheny.pa.us

DEMAND PAPER BALLOT VOTING!

Allegheny County's CHIEF EX. DAN ONORATO, AGAIN, wants to buy an UNSAFEGUARDED voting system without paper ballots.

The BOE will meet on Friday, 6PM, 119 of the County Court House to decide to purchase the iVotronic machine. Onorato is counting on John Defazio to vote with him.

Tell John Defazio to SAY NO TO PAPERLESS DRES...
SAY YES, ONLY TO OPTICAL SCAN VOTING.

Optical Scan is the only Paper Ballot system that we can purchase or use in PA today. Paper ballots form checks and balances for electronic voting. Op scan is the most cost-effective, secure, reliable and auditable voting.

Optical scan is the only voting system with a meaningful audit or recount. Avoiding recounts is not a valid reason for not choosing optical scan. Candidates are entitled to recounts and voters are entitled to see a permanent record of their vote to provide backup reliability in case of electronic glitches and to prevent fraud.

*Onorato/DeFazio plan to purchase iVotronic voting machines that dont have paper ballots and may never have them. Their plan is to wait for stalled legislation to pass (SB977), then will ES&S have to develop a new printer to submit for certification which may or may not be certified. Their present printer will not pass certification. Once again, Onorato has presented a farce of a plan for paper ballots in Allegheny County - Political cover for a fraud prone voting system. Don't let them get away with this.

Optical Scan costs less, is most secure, and is the most used system in the country, as well as the best ADA compliant system, why wouldn't the county buy it?

EITHER THEY DONT WANT RECOUNTS, OR THEY DONT WANT SAFEGUARDED ELECTIONS.

Recounts and audits are the standard for integrity in elections. they simply must happen.

Richard King, Ph.D.
(412) 400-3773
kinggaines@comcast.net
www.PA-VerifiedVoting.org
www.verifiedvoting.org

Jerry Bowyer - hope all is well with you these days

Jerry Bowyer - Home Page Susan and I would like to let you know what has been going on with me and my absence from the airwaves over the last couple of weeks.

Get well soon. I didn't notice a date on the blog entry.

Who's who -- getting along to recovery: Jill Carol

Jill Carroll, recently freed in Iraq after nearly three months in captivity, was a former swimmer and water polo player at UMASS (Univ. of Mass.).

My wife got her undergrad degree from UMASS too.

News accounts said Carroll is in good health and told reporters that she was treated well by her captors, but said she did not know why she was kidnapped. Her release came a day after her twin sister, Katie, made a televised appeal for her freedom.

Carroll, 28, was abducted Jan. 7 in Baghdad while on assignment for The Christian Science Monitor.

Hope all is well with her and her family.

Beep, beep. That's not a four-wheeled Harley -- but a three wheel motorized bike -- with a roof -- headed down the expansive sidewalk in Chengdu.

City Wide Public Safety Meeting is 7 pm on Monday, April 24 in Lawrenceville

The City-Wide Public Safety meeting will be held on Monday, April 24, 2006 at 1900 or 7:00 pm hours. The meeting will be held at Our Lady of Angels located at 37th and Butler in Lawrenceville. Zone 2 and Zone 3 are the hosts for this meeting. I would encourage everyone to attend, so that you can hear information vital to the entire city, and Zone 3. Typically, representatives from Police, Fire EMS, 911, BBI and other high ranking officials are present.

We're going Friday... to Tosca

The Big O - PittsburghLIVE.com Tosca is one of the signature roles of Neves' repertoire. The title character is a diva's diva. Puccini's 1887 composition is an opera about an opera singer plagued by a malevolent magistrate with a hidden agenda.

We understand that this lead is a nice person. Unlike one in New York who (so the story goes), on the last performance, jumped off the castle wall not into a padded landing but onto a trampoline set there by the stage crew in revenge.

---

Another theater date we hope to share is Fiddler On the Roof at Carlynton High School -- this weekend. We know a couple of the fiddlers! How cool is that! Break a leg, but not a string!

Talking about 'Plan B' -- Hat tip to the Pens for capacity to "Think Again"

This is good news -- because it is healthy to 'think again.' Those that can't 'think again' have closed minds -- and should not be given millions for a new hockey arena.

Talking about 'Plan B' - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Penguins officials are planning to talk this week with Pittsburgh and Allegheny County leaders about an alternate plan to build an arena, a spokesman said."

Wonderful motivational slogan for the back of a t-shirt

T-shirts for the Junior High Team...


How many swimming pools are going to open this year in the city -- and in Dormont?

Stickey Sportsmanship to Norwegian ski coach from Canadians

SI.com - Olympics - Norwegian ski coach rewarded with maple syrup - Wednesday April 5, 2006 12:54PM OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Bjoernar Haakensmoen's act of sportsmanship was rewarded Wednesday -- with more than 5 tons of Canadian maple syrup.

At the Turin Olympics, the Norwegian cross-country ski coach handed Sara Renner a spare ski pole after the Canadian broke one during the Nordic ski sprint relay final. Renner went on to win a silver medal while the Norwegians finished fourth.

'It was natural for me to do it, and I think anyone should have done it,' Haakensmoen told The Associated Press. 'I didn't think about it. It was just a reflex. ... but the response has been unbelievable.'"

"Natural.... all natural" -- funny pun.

Let's get him to Pittsburgh for a pancake breakfast.

Allegheny scraps deal for new voting machines

GREAT. We dodged a bullet.

Allegheny scraps deal for new voting machines: "With just six weeks to go before the May primary, Allegheny County is scrapping a multi-million-dollar deal for electronic voting machines built by Sequoia Voting System and instead is purchasing 4,700 touch-screen machines from Nebraska-based Election Systems and Software Inc.

County Chief Executive Dan Onorato made the announcement today, saying Pennsylvania Secretary of State Pedro A. Cortes told him last week that Sequoia's system likely would not be certified because of critical software problems."

However, that does not mean there isn't another bullet on its way.

I want and urge, from the get-go, "OPEN SOURCE VOTING MACHINES." That's my benchmark. And, that's what would be BEST.

It is foolish to take something old that works and JUNK it for something that is new and broken.

Even if the new broken elements are paid for -- so too are the old working elements. They are paid for! Keep em.

Rush and hurry to scramble to spend. Forget that. Think again, thank you. We want a hungry, local, 'tiger team' to tell us that these machines work -- flawlessly.

I don't think we need to satisfy the Help America Vote Act -- until there is TRUST. That's the bottom line.

Where are the results of the Allegheny County "TIGER TEAM" who have pounded and tested the new machines on all sorts of angles?

As a backup in May, precincts with long lines will allow voters to use optical scan ballots. Those ballots, which resemble standardized tests, would be placed in secure boxes and taken to a central location for counting.

There will NOT be many precincts with long lines because too few people vote. I don't see a big groundswell of people rushing to the polls for the spring primary, sadly. But, at certain times in the day, there is a bit of a wait.

...The county will begin an "aggressive" educational campaign for voters and poll workers ....

Great, we need an aggressive educational effort. And, we need an aggressive TIGER TEAM approach as well. The TESTING campaign that I'm calling for is part education, part research and development. It can happen as the educational effort happens and the two can have, at times, meetings of the minds. But, both need to occur to raise the various issues and find flaws that are sure to exist.

Allegheny County voting machine with levers.
Mr. Onorato acknowledged the potential for difficulties. But, the biggest difficulty isn't with the act of the vote -- is it the process from within the technology of the voting. The potential difficulties are greatest when trust vanishes. That is the worst of the worst.

Mr. Onorato said the board would hold a public meeting Friday at 6 p.m.

Good. Put that meeting onto cable TV and onto the internet. Start the educational process now, with that introduction. Capture the meeting on video and put stream it off of the county's web site.

And if anyone is going -- please ask about the 'tiger team.'

Ballot Access is a major key to the salvation of Pennsylvania

General News The state Libertarian Party has joined a coalition of minor parties representing a broad range of ideologies. Ranging from socialists to libertarians and from the ultra-conservative Constitution Party to the liberal and environmentalists of the Green Party, the coalition has one thing in common: a goal to bring a level playing field to all political parties in the state.

The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition has drafted legislation to make it easier for minor parties to have candidate listed on general election ballots, and has asked every state Senator and Representative (all are either Republicans or Democrats) to introduce the legislation; so far, none have done so.

There is bad -- and then there is really bad. Bring it on Madame Justice!

Two examples of what NOT to do follow. I've always said that there are a million ways to do it wrong. However, there is only one way to do it right. Here are two ways to failure.

When things go bad -- one has to wonder.

First, a bit of a hassle has come to Russ Diamond, founder of PA Clean Sweep. There were some board members who were not doing much -- but now they are trying to take over the show. Another asked, are they morons or moles? Good question.

Then from a southern state comes the story of a Pitt Law School Grad, Rachel Lea Hunter, who has ambitions of being elected to the bench. When the power-brokers start to slam a candidate that challenges the status quo -- then things are going well for the challenger. Part of her recent letter follows. (The rest is in the comment part of this blog.)

Release 4-3-2006

Dear Friends & Voters:

It seems that my detractors have been hard at work. Several weeks ago, those in the judicial establishment who are vehemently opposed to me took the opportunity to file a bar complaint against me. Did it relate to taking money or having sex with clients? No. Did it allege some other misbehavior in the practice of law?

No.

What grievous act do I stand accused of committing then?

My use of my nickname, “Madame Justice” on my website in which I render opinions on the law or give free legal advice to those who contact me.

And for this, I am to either withdraw from the race or face censure or disbarment?

This country is facing enormous problems. This state also has its share. There are others accused of committing crimes and those who have committed them but who have not even been charged. And they are worried about what a woman with a brain tumor and a paralyzed face says on a political website?

It sounds ludicrous.

It is ostensibly to protect the poor unsuspecting public, who as we all know is too stupid to think.

There is no “Madame Justice” office in our state; there are only justices and a chief justice. This complaint has nothing to do with protecting the public, which is NOT too stupid to think, as I well know.

Nor is this about prospective clients thinking that I have some special connections with the justices that will help their case. I don’t and never indicated that I had and anyone who thought otherwise has been disabused of that idea. The argument does not hold water, in any case.

We could save all lives by driving at 5 mph. Do we do that? No.

Nor should we prohibit political speech because there might be one misguided soul who might somehow think that I am a real justice or that I might have special connections that will help their case.

This complaint is politically motivated and is a sign that my enemies are so desperate that they will do anything to stop me.

I will not withdraw from the race. Nor will I accede to their attempts to censure or disbar me. If such sanctions are imposed, I will seek redress in the federal courts. And someone somewhere will reveal to me who it was that filed the bar complaint. They too will be part of any lawsuit.

That is why I need your help more than ever to donate to the PAC!

Aside from responding to frivolous bar complaints, I was in Fayetteville a few weeks ago and briefly spoke to the Progressives down there. I will be returning there to speak in more detail about the death penalty. While there, I had the opportunity to meet Luis Olivera who is running for district court there. He has been a prosecutor. He has been in the military. He has been involved in the community. And he is very bright and hard-working. I think he will make a fine addition to the bench and I hope the voters in his district will give him consideration and hopefully their vote.

(... snip ... See the rest of the email letter in the comments, but nothing much of an attack happens there.)

Swann watch

Updates from others who went to the PA Converative meeting. See comments for more on two other keynotes.

The Evening Bulletin - Home - 04/04/2006 - Observations Made At The Pennsylvania Leadership Conference
Lynn Swann kicked off this weekend's Pennsylvania Leadership Conference with a message that was not received well by the staunchly conservative grassroots activists that attended. It appears that Swann is now becoming complicit with the legislative leaders in the rewriting of history about the construction and passage of the pay raise of 2005, specifically the shifting of blame to the governor. As recently as November of 2004, Swann's campaign manager, Ray Zaborney, was a paid political consultant of the political action committee PA Future Fund, which is a PAC run by Bob Asher! Why would our gubernatorial candidate want to dirty his hands with the current corruption in Pennsylvania since he is running as a reformer and a so-called 'outsider?'

...

Lynn Swann gave a mixed performance. When he was off the script or regaling the crowd with football analogies, he was brilliant. But when going through his prepared speech dealing with policy, he seemed like someone who only recently learned a foreign language. The Q and A portion was especially turbulent for him. Questions about the pay raise and the abhorrent spending of House and Senate GOP leaders were given very weak answers, so much so that Swann was heckled a bit. Note to Swann: TRIANGULATE, lest it be rendered true that you are deeply in the pocket of one Bob Jubelirer, a bete noir to conservatives. Swann also dropped a golden opportunity by bunting a softball on Right to Work. Swann said he'd sign a Right to Work Bill, but implied he'd take the Tom Ridge approach and not expend any political capital on it. In other words, if Swann is governor and Right to Work is your top issue, sorry about your luck.

State House gives threat to drop $25-million of school funding for Philly

KYW - Newsradio 1060 In a preliminary budget vote, the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday refused to continue an extra $25-million appropriation for Philadelphia schools that began after the state takeover of city schools.

Over and over and over again, we've heard that the Pittsburgh Public School District is about to be snatched up "by the state." Well, it seems as if the state has little interest in taking over school districts when it won't even pay for the district it had to assume control over in the past.

I don't think we should call the bluff of the state and drive the local school district into nothingness -- just so we can dare them to take it over. Not at all. But back off with those idle threats.

We've got to fix the local school district. We've got to do it ourselves. We got to make progess. We are making steps. And, there is a long way to go.

Coach Bonnie's last day at swim practice.

My guys.

Gators grab the men's hoop crown

Erik, my oldest, had in his NCAA chart (an in-house activity) FLORIDA as national champions.

Meanwhile, B, (name withheld for security and eye-are-ess purposes), won $130 for being the victor in his office pool.

I don't like to bet. I just cheered for the underdog.

Democratic Lieutenant Governor Candidate Gene Stilp to Argue Pay Raise Case Before PA Supreme Court on Tuesday

Monday April 3, 12:36 pm ET

Stilp is Only PA Citizen to File Lawsuit Against Legislative Pay Grab

PHILADELPHIA, April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Democratic lieutenant governor candidate and anti-pay raise activist Gene Stilp will personally argue the pay raise case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 4.

The hearing will take place in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court hearing room located in Room 468 of Philadelphia City Hall at 9 a.m.

Stockholm Challenge Event 2006 - Program

If I was ever elected State Senator -- I'd start up a Youth Technology Summit. It would have outcomes such as those found within the Stockholm Challenge. Looks like lots of interesting projects to explore.

Stockholm Challenge Event 2006 - Program: "The Stockholm Challenge Event, May 8-11, for the world's best ICT projects

The Stockholm Challenge brings together inspiring people working with ICT from around world in the six categories of the Award. This time around 100 finalists will participate in the Final Event of the Stockholm Challenge 2006.

The finalists will gather for closed workshops on the 9th to share their experience with academic and industrial members of SPIDER, the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions."

Swingers....

Your fly is about to open.

Imagine your favorite, high-speed coaster. What do you like best? Most people go for the fast descent into a wild dip followed immediately by ‘air time’ as you crest the next hill.

Imagine a ride with that thrilling sensation of weightlessness immediately followed by another... then another... and another... over and over again, in very rapid cycles? Yeah, baby!

Everyone knows a coaster descent is only as good as gravity makes it, so this is where our imaginary ride gets even better. Imagine being actually powered down, i.e. driven, into the dip! Imagine that you are then powered back up to the next heart-pounding crest with dragster-like acceleration!

Now that’s what we’re talking about! A real thrill ride! One that isn’t a coaster, but thrills like one! And it is comes into existence as Kennywood’s new ride: SwingShot.

Interesting multi-media from the old-school folks at Kennywood, Welcome to Kennywood - What's New MORE CABLE GIRLS: The SwingShot is featured on Local Cable Show. Park opens May 6. Season Passes are available for Sandcastle and Idlewild for only $49.95 until May 15th. Don’t miss a whole summer of fun for the price of about two visits!

Volunteer at WYEP -- or roar with a campaign

You can get a no pay job at WYEP on the South Side -- or -- if you care about your political life, I would suggest you volunteer for a campaign. Mike Isaac has a political office to manage on East Carson Street, within the Terminal Bldg and the Pgh Courier. With the campaign, you'd do much more and be the boss -- not just a receptionist.

WYEP is looking for several energetic individuals to volunteer at the reception desk in the new Community Broadcasting Center. The receptionist will be the point of contact for the Community Center and be responsible for all incoming calls into WYEP. They may also be asked to assist in some other office tasks such as assisting with outgoing mailings, sort and deliver incoming mail, greet guest and take memberships. This position requires that the individual must have wonderful communication and people skills. Volunteering Shifts are 9am-1 pm and 1pm-5 pm Monday through Friday. For more information on open shifts, or to volunteer, please contact Kathi Radock at 412-381-9131 x 212

Coyote Music is in concert in Pittsburgh on Saturday night

Coyote Music from Ocracoke Island NC COYOTE is the songwriting duo of Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro who make the beautiful island of Ocracoke, NC their home.

At 8 pm on Saturday, April 8, is this season's final Legends Concert to feature Coyote.

The songwriting duo of Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro has a unique blend of folk, blues and rock influences. Hear enchanting audiences with intimate songs and a variety of acoustic instruments at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, 605 Morewood Avenue, Shadyside.

Admission for the Evening is $15.00 at the Door and
Students only $5.00.

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But the best is a COYOTE Youth Band Workshop slated for Saturday, April 8 from 2 - 4 pm -- for FREE.

This is open to students age 10-18, but is limited 20 participants. Bring your instrument. You must have taken at least one lesson.

Reservations required, call Calliope at 412-361-1915 before noon on Friday, April 7.
Jam session with five fiddlers.

Catch COYOTE on the radio with Saturday Light Brigade (SLB) 88.3 WRCT-FM, with Larry Berger the morning of the concert, April 8.

Wellness is coming into bloom.

Allegheny Alert from Mke Ference about abuses and kids

Allegheny Parents and Police in the Mon Valley -- state concens about wellness and abuse of kids

PRESS RELEASE

Mike Ference

See the Allegheny blog for the full press release. Mike is doing a lot of whistle blowing.

I noticed in the newspaper how a WVU student was found dead in his room, after choking. And two college age kids have died in the past months with falls from 9-story buildings. And, then there is the other story about a college kid with blood found in the garbage shoot, but no body yet.

There is a lot that can go wrong with a young person. One missed step can be serious. Life gets zapped and others are left wondering. Be safe out there, everyone.

Pitt vs. Penn State --- in baseball on WED night, this week in Washington County -- FREE Tickets

Free Tickets! Yes, that is worth repeating.

Ticket booth in Chicago at Navy Pier.

Pitt and Penn State do NOT play each other in football. But, they'll meet in a baseball game at 7 pm on Wednesday night in Washington County at the baseball field of the minor league team. Nice ad in the P-G today caught my attention.

Want to join us?

My wife is on the road this week to Minn. She'll be at the Am. Academy of Audiology event -- and the boys at home are ready to be out and about. Baseball is on tap for WED night. Then we've got the OPERA on Friday. On Saturday we hope to hit the Carlynton High School musical, Fiddler on the Roof. We know some of the fiddlers.

Meanwhile in Iowa, also home to a fine Audiology program, there is a massive outbreak of MUMPS. I figure they'll all get to the convention and the rest of North America will get hit in about a month. The sky is falling!

Grant, now 8, is really interested in playing baseball this summer. We'll get into softball at Ormsby Rec Center. Those practices and games are when school is out from 1 - 3 pm. If there was a baseball league in the South Hills areas that started after school ended (because I don't want to have conflicts with swimming) -- let me know. Most of the kids seasons start any week, and afterschool sessions (practices or games) won't work for us as I'm coaching and the boys are swimming five nights a week.

Deaf firefighter overcoming obstacles (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times

Deaf firefighter overcoming obstacles (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times “Not everybody is open and accepting of having a deaf person in the fire department,” McDevitt said.

Searching -- still --- for candidate for November 2006

Candidates wanted for US Congress races too. Do we have anyone who can run in the 1st (Robert Brady), 9th (Bill Shuster), 14th (Mike Doyle) or 15th (Charles Dent) districts? It looks like those races will only have one name on the ballot in November. It is an absolute shame if there is no choice for the voter for federal office.

It looks like there will also be six races for Senator in the General Assembly that will only have one name on the ballot. We need candidates in the 4th, 14th, 22nd, 38th, 40th and 46th districts. There are a lot of state rep slots left to fill, and far too many with only one name.

Anyone wishing to run for office, please let us know so arrangements can be made to collect signatures!

Yes, this is a LIMO.... Babies need not apply.

West Wing talks of bloggers

Josh, the character on NBC's West Wing, hits the roof in the show when a blogger predicts on election day that his guy is going to win three states. It was a funny quip. "How many people read this blog?"

Blogging is sorta important to an election -- but not really important.

On one hand I can feel for the show's characters who get to the finish line and are just spent. I don't think I took a nap on the recent election day, like the Santos character did. But, I know I did in a past race when I was on the ballot. And, I did need about two weeks to get over the race -- in what I call a 'decompresion' period.

So, a summmertime favorite of ours, 'lump camp' came early around here for me due to the March 14 election.

But, on the other hand, this time when I was a candidate, I ran and kept a good bit of the powder dry. I understood my role in the race and knew that it would not be worth the effort to burn out, rack up debt and feak out as they did in the TV show.

Others in the race, to their credit and debt, did run themselves into the ground. The post-election reports are due soon. Our went in last week. I kept it under $250 again and filled out the short form.

My POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES -- PACs -- have been 'closed.'

P-G hits two topics: 'Moblogging' trend and God-podcasting

Airport Blogging... and looking to heaven.
The P-G hits on technology, twice, in the same day.

TechMan: 'Moblogging' trend makes mobile Web posting possible ... pronounced 'mo-blogging,' rather than 'mob-blogging,' as it's a combination of the terms 'mobile' and 'blogging.'

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For years, I was a webmaster at my religious community, Sunnyhill.org. Now the church administrator does some of the work and our minister is shy about the use of the net. I called, in an unsuccessful way, for podcasts of messages from the services. But, few others in the congregation supported it. Some did -- but hardly the board. Now the Sunnyhill blog is just a few points here and there to hold onto the namespace. As a point of irony, after today's fine service by Sue R, others were asking for the speaker notes, a GREAT use of the net. Oh well.

Churches turn to 'Godcasting' Churches turn to 'Godcasting'

Tips on crime prevention from South Side

Thefts from vehicles are still are a problem in the South Side around 14-18th streets. Don't leave anything of value in view in your car.

Wallets and purses are being taken out of shopping carts at the Giant Eagle in Wharton Square on the South Side. If you are going to place your purse in the cart, wrap the child restraints through the handle and lock. Make it very difficult to quickly remove the purse without drawing attention to the act. Additionally, make it more difficult to unzip the purse and remove the wallet.

Selling swords might be one way to diminish theft at a shop. Those who might swipe a purse would 'think again.' In the photo, Grant is checking out some wares in China. He wanted to bring home a functional blade, an old-style light sabre. But airport security might have caused some problems for us.

On The Economy: Rendell's score on jobs, not ice, to determine election fate

On The Economy: Rendell's score on jobs, not ice, to determine election fate a matter of far more importance in the Pittsburgh area -- jobs.

Jobs tied to gambling with slot machines are fleeting, at best. Jobs tied to gambling and table games are much better and more abundant. There are more jobs to be expected from a casino -- where ever it might be located -- with table games instead of slots. And, those jobs would pay more. Better paying and more of them -- seems like a winning combination. Furthermore, when Pennsylvania's slot bill was hatched, it sprang up from a bill that was to put slots only at the horse race tracks. Then came the parlors for the cities and for the resorts. In the end, PA is going to have plenty of locations with slots. The marketplace is going to have a big glut of options and the demand is going to be much less. When the supply is increased in such a drastic way -- there are expectations that the value of each location is going to be less. People in Pittsburgh can still and will still play the slots in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, West Virginia, Niagra Falls, Indian Casinos and perhaps in Erie and Seven Springs too, plus The Meadows in Washington County, Gettysburg, and the Downs near Harrisburg. The options are extensive for slots.

Indian Reservations have gambling too.

I think it would be wise to make a break-out statement and say Pittsburgh will do without its slots license and turn it into a license for table games. Then we'll have something on the front of the wave -- rather than getting crushed in the tail end. Being a laggard in terms of a marketplace offering is always Pittsburgh's way -- so far. They overbuilt the Convention Center in Pittsburgh and now the Convention Center is never going to be used to its capacity. It is a waste as all the other convention cities have out paced Pittsburgh. Looser again. If we asked for a TABLE GAME LICENSE, an exception that all the other slots places are sure to embrace, as the Pittsburgh venue will be less of a competitor to theirs, then we'll have something. Consider the game of 'BINGO' and its popularity. That game is much unlike that of playing a slot machine. With BINGO, it becomes a social game, a community game. Furthermore, BINGO is more of a mental game when contrasted to the slot machines. There are women who play bingo with 24 cards and no chips. That's amazing. That's mental stimulation that is worth its price in gold. I understand that BINGO isn't a "table game" -- but with Pittsburgh being what it is -- perhaps there are plenty of other interesting games that we'll be able to play, learn, develop and form into an attraction for others. In Florida they play the betting game of Jai alai, i.e, "HI-LIGH." ?? Right? In Asia, they play a betting game with FIGHTING FISH.

Ticket window to the Thai Boxing Stadium -- a real event and place to gamble.

In Thailand, they play the betting game of Thai Boxing. Well, I'm not going to go that far and suggest that any of these are 'table games' that would work in Pittsburgh. But, each has a bit of character and sense of being unique. 'When in ROME, do as the Romans do.' When in Pittsburgh -- let's NOT do what everyone else is doing. We are someplace special.

Action in a Thai Boxing match.

Finally, the other thing that would be interesting to see in Pittsburgh is a "re-match" among these gambling folks who are bidding for the rights to the casino. Double or nothing is a slogan that could fit in as a groundswell cry to put the brakes on the existing plans and make for another plan that has a better hope of being an economic boom to THIS REGION. A year delay or a delay of even six months -- could be good so as to string out the opportunities for more to get on the ground floor of the bribes and payouts. Why should Rev. Sims and Franco and that gang be so exclusive? This re-do will allow more to be in the fray -- more ads to run in the Post-Gazette, more community meetings, more time for tour bus operators to plan their trips.

Veronica Veil -- Jeepers -- an investment there might net 420 jobs

Stage face of an opera character. Fast Eddie is at it again. This time, I've got a better answer for him to consider. You do the vo-do math.

Source: Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

PA Governor Rendell Says State Investment in Beaver County Performing Arts Center Will Create 320 jobs

Friday March 31, 5:00 pm ET

MIDLAND, Pa., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today said residents of the former steel town of Midland will enjoy greater cultural and educational opportunities with the commonwealth's investment of $4 million in the new Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, a project that will create 320 jobs.

Okay, if a cultural center in Midland can knock out 320 jobs, I'll just yawn. Heck, Veronica's Veil Players who already own their own building with a high stage and seating in a classic auditorium, with balcony, with character -- sans a working heater and a bit of debt on the gas bill -- should be a mother load of jobs. Why not give that organiation $2 million and generate even more jobs. Why 320 jobs -- why not 420 jobs. Beat em by 100.

The South Side has a great theater hall already built. It is owned and operated by Veronica Veil Players. Such a deal.

Take $2-million and divide it by 420 people and you'd get $50,000. One guy gets the buy the heater and install it. The other guy gets to play catch-up with the gas bill. Then you've got 418 people who can all get $20,000 per year for two years and a $10,000 signing bonus.

Heck, these are artists. These are part-time jobs mostly.

I could make my $50,000 spread out over 10 years if I'm just going to be a big patron for the arts. I don't think this show will be playing in Midland, Pa., any time soon.

Khari Mosley turned 30th and we crashed to his Birthday Party

Happy Birthday to Khari....

Last night we ran into a bunch of political folks -- with blasting music to battle with for conversations. Here is the line-up: Saw one candidate for US Senate, one candidate for US Congress, one candidate for PA House, one candidate for PA Senate (I looked in the mirror), one who wants to end the purchase of Sequ. voting machines, one candidate for Dem committee who wants to be the boss of the Allegheny County Young Dems, and a half dozen power players with various organizations. Plus, there was the guest of honor, himself.

I didn't see any cake...

Hope all had a good time.

Merge -- Movement -- Overlords of a HIGHER order!

Merge the Overlords already.

(Click for an larger view of this 'paper cut.')

(Bonus questions #1: Name the people in the image. Leave your answer in the comments.)

(Bonus question #2: Name the Pittsburgh OVERLORDS of both the I.C.A. and Act 47 -- and put a star next to the ones who should stay as a merged effort, while inserting those who should go onto the new merged Overloard body, myself excluded... of course.)

Murray stepping down city's ICA panel

Another bites the dust.

Murray stepping down city's ICA panel: "Murray stepping down city's ICA panel

Saturday, April 01, 2006
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The head of a state panel that oversees the City of Pittsburgh's budget announced yesterday that he intends to resign as soon as a replacement is named."

Dr. Murray has taken a good bit of heat in recent weeks for his statements about the gambling and casino location -- so close to the campus. He jumped on the bandwagon against the IOC -- in part, they said, because a D.U. board member has an interest in the Station Square proposal.

In my neck of the woods, many found it funny that the D.U. leader would worry so much about gambling and NOT the health and wellness of the student body as they get drunk in our streets and bars and neighborhood each night. The drunkeness and even drugs is out of hand among D.U. students. And the lifestyle that has been flowing over here has seen little finger wagging.

The best thing that should happen with the ICA is a merger with Act 47. We don't need TWO groups of OVERLORDS. We need to be talking about mergers, be it in city-county administration, among fledging nonprofits, among city and county services, etc. This merger among OVERLORDS would set a good example and result in a single group that is more focused, more accountable and helpful for the city's long term health.

The ICA has been a lazy group that has not done its job. I don't think the job and duty of its mission is finished -- yet. However, they are sleeping too much, and they do need to wake up.