Western Pennsylvania Sports |
Visit this group |
Subscribe to Western Pennsylvania Sports |
Visit this group |
As fit citizens, neighbors and running mates, we are tyranny fighters, water-game professionals, WPIAL and PIAA bound, wiki instigators, sports fans, liberty lovers, world travelers, non-credentialed Olympic photographers, UU netizens, church goers, open source boosters, school advocates, South Siders, retired and not, swim coaches, water polo players, ex-publishers and polar bear swimmers, N@.
Wrong again, Mr. Murphy.
Anyone remember Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy alleging the "fix" was in last year to award the city's sole slots license to Harrah's Entertainment for a Station Square casino?
Thomas "Tad" Decker, head of the state Gaming Control Board, certainly did.
Shortly after awarding a bunch of casino licenses across the state -- including one to a group headed by Detroit's Don Barden, who will operate the Majestic Star on Pittsburgh's North Shore -- Decker became irked when asked by reporters about Murphy's remark.
<a href="http://ads.pittsburghlive.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/pittsburghlive.com/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/whispers/s_485486.html/186634330/Position1/OasDefault/dollarbankP1R3_Dec06/change_300x250.txt/34336162363733303434353734343230?http://www.dollarbank.com/pays/"><IMG SRC="http://ads.pittsburghlive.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/OasDefault/dollarbankP1R3_Dec06/http://ads.pittsburghlive.com/richads/dollarbank/change/300x250_PL.gif" WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=250 BORDER=0></a>
"It's hogwash. It's nonsense," he said. "Who was fixing what? It's insane."
Care to elaborate, Mr. Decker?
"How can people accuse us of this not being on a level playing field without having some facts? It irritates the hell out of me because it's not true."
Given the inaccuracy of the former mayor's comment, which he quickly retracted, it's hard to blame Decker for being a bit upset.
The Citizens Voice - Loaded questionsThis is a town where backroom deal-making is part of everyday business, so it shouldn’t be surprising that some people believed — and will continue to believe — that clandestine deals were behind the awarding of the state’s slots licenses.
Sturmgeschutz and Sorcery Taliban are explicitly forbidden from working as teachers for the government. The Taliban sees the growing number of schools, especially those that educate girls, as the most dangerous threat. If the Taliban can get to a teacher, they must first warn them to stop teaching. If that is ignored, the teacher is to be beaten. If that doesn't work, the teacher is to be killed. So far this year, twenty teachers (male and female) have been killed by the Taliban, and hundreds beaten, and even more threatened.The best way to get revenge on those elements of culture isn't with war, but with education.
This is a game at JumpCut. The video asks, Where am I?
The correct reply has not yet been left on that groups page.
This post is dedicated to those in Hays and near Mifflin who have been without water, given all (now 10 or so) their water main breaks. Do you think we'd ever see man-hole covers and craftmanship like this around our streets and sidewalks?Bits&Bytes: Comcast unveils higher rates after FCC eases rules A group of Carnegie Mellon University students are putting the final touches on a report considering what a citywide Wi-Fi Internet access could mean to Pittsburgh, but stops short of telling the city what to do.This is what I've been saying all along. The effort to make the city covered with robust wi-fi is going to present some places where there will be profits and other places where there will be losses. Downtown's might and density is a cherry. One should NOT give away the cherry of the region. The cherry needs to go out as the rest of the city gets coverage.
'It's not our job to say what's best,' said Jon M. Peha, an associate director of CMU's Center for Wireless and Broadband Networking, whose class of about 21 undergraduate and graduate students spent the fall semester doing the work free of charge.
The report, likely to be released to the public sometime in January, sought to present scenarios estimating how much a citywide Wi-Fi Internet network might cost, what one or multiple Wi-Fi providers could expect to earn from each neighborhood, and how city government and services might use the Wi-Fi network.
The class presented its analysis to an invitation-only panel that included city Councilman Bill Peduto, telecom attorney and former city Councilman Dan Cohen, a representative from Verizon and technology nonprofit 3 Rivers Connect. The class is tweaking the report before making it widely available.
There are trade-offs to blanketing the city with Wi-Fi, Dr. Peha said. 'Some parts oft he city are probably profitable' for a Wi-Fi provider but to bring Wi-Fi to the whole city would require additional financial resources, he said.
flower currency A Hippyesque Post-Hippie Approach To Changing the World
A project to explore a value exchange system, created and owned by children, to enable artists to collaborate on the creation of interdisciplinary art works.
Judge Puts Allegheny Co. Smoking Ban On Hold - News Judge Puts Allegheny Co. Smoking Ban On Hold
Injunction Stands Until April
Another water main break repaired in W. Mifflin Another water line in the West Mifflin area developed a leak last night, but this time Pennsylvania American Water Co. reports that it was able to make repairs quickly.
ThePensblog.com: 2. The 'Shoeless Joe Jackson' InitiativeI love it as gambling was at the root of the fussing. Use gambling to get the arena back on track.
This would be tough for us to execute because we hate to see our Pens lose. However, our plan is to contact the Pens and have them throw the rest of their season; losing every game while keeping an eye on the spread and the over/under for every game. Pens fans everywhere bet against the Pens for the rest of the season. $290 million dollars. New Arena.
Crank Up the Radio; Pick Up the Phone. Stream.Dates, times and pointers are on the Google Calendar of Mark Rauterkus and Running Mates.
Join activists Russ Diamond and Eric Epstein as they fill in for two of talk radio's greatest assets in Central Pennsylvania during the holiday season!
Russ and Eric fill in for talk radio host Bob Durgin on WHP 580 AM from 3:00 - 6:00 pm on Friday, December 22, Tuesday, December 26 and Wednesday, December 27, 2006. The Bob Durgin Show’s toll-free talk line is 1 800 724 5801.WHP 580 website
The fun continues with The Gary Sutton Show on Newsradio WSBA 910 AM from 9:00 am - noon on Wednesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 28, 2007. The Gary Sutton Show’s toll-free talk line is 1 800 357 0910.Listen to the Gary Sutton Show live on the internet. Link to the The Gary Sutton Show
Call in and talk about reform issues, the future of responsible government in Pennsylvania, or whatever else is on your mind! One never knows where the conversation will lead with these two at the helm.
Bill Toland casino chat transcript We must not forget our third new arena in the area paid by the state. The Peterson Event Center. The cost over runs alone could have paid a large chunk of the new arena. Why did Pitt not look to combine a multi-use arena with the Pens at that time? They would have had more seatting than the Pete.FYI: I was against Pitt's building of The Pete on its present location as a basketball only venue. That was a bad deal.
At the Allegheny County LPPGH Holiday Party (12/20/2006) one of our speakers, Johannes Ernharth (a past LPPGH chair and financial planner), spoke about some of the deep financial problems facing the country.
He mentioned that it's now illegal to take more than some set amount of change out of the country and that it's illegal to melt our coinage for the value of the metal.
That's the sad result of a money policy that inflates our currency and, thus, drives up the apparent value of most everything else in terms of that inflated currency.
FYI, here is an interesting web site:
www.coinflation.com
It shows the value of our coin money based on its alloy composition and the current value of metals. Note that even that today's lowly penny (largely zinc) is now worth less than the equivalent amount of zinc and copper. At this rate, can we expect wooden nickels sometime after the 2008 election?
Mark
PS -- If you didn't hear about illegal coin melting read this:
http://www.coinflation.com/turn_off_the_smelters.html
Keystone Politics :: Pennsylvania Politics, PA Government, Harrisburg Gossip Preliminary calculations put the price tag at $33.8 billion during the next 30 years -- a figure larger than the Pennsylvania government's entire budget for the current year.Here comes an advance thought. New idea alert.
Gettysburg's anti-slots group rejoices : The Morning Call Online ''I just don't think this is the place for it,'' Blanc continued. ''This is history, not gambling. I just think it would have taken away from the history of Gettysburg.''There might be a theme here.
Keystone Politics :: Pennsylvania Politics, PA Government, Harrisburg Gossip For Pittburgh’s mayor, Luke Ravenstahl… we give a box of “Just for Men”, because we know the graying process is going to start early for you.
The Burgh Report most of the nicer, newer ones - were built by private interests and are run for a profit.Exactly.
blip.tv (beta) UpperBlip is a downloadable program that lets you publish many videos to blip.tv all at one time. You can drag files into it, add titles and descriptions, and upload them all at once!"My site: Rauterkus.blip.tv
Downsize DC: Big government harms you, hurts your family, and injures your neighbors Stop the 100 hour legislative orgy
Politician cameras? - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Suppose we mandate surgically attached cameras and microphones for all Pittsburgh politicians.This idea isn't new to me. I had advocated continual monitoring of Steven Leeper in the past. We should have had a tv uplink on him as the convention center and stadium deals went down and the resulting constuction contracts unfolded.
It stands to reason that 24/7 monitoring of Pittsburgh politicians might have prevented, or at least identified, those complicit in the fiscal crimes and policy blunders that have besieged Pittsburgh and spread costs far beyond city limits.
If monitoring politicians stops just one bribe, patronage job, eminent-domain seizure, misuse of public money or shady backroom deal, then aren't a few implants worth it for the greater good?
Mark Crowley
Mean Gene Bye Bye Birdie; or, Glad I Didn't Buy That Malkin JerseyThis made me smile.
Steven Clift’s Notes - Democracies Online � Blog Archive � Are you the Person of the Year? Time Magazine think’s so Person of the Year? Time Magazine think’s so.Shall we take a bow together?
Welcome “Citizens of the New Digital Democracy” to the cover of Time magazine.
DownsizeDC.org Blog | Celebrate Festivus with Jim Babka Today is your chance to celebrate Festivus with Jim Babka, on his radio show. In fine Festivus tradition you can participate in 'an airing of grievances' and 'feats of strength.'
The 'airing of grievances' is easy. Tell us what really irks you -- about government, politics, other institutions, Downsize DC, or even Jim Babka. Jim will attempt to show sympathy, or perhaps something else. As for the 'feats of strength,' brag about something you claim you can do, if you want to. Maybe Jim will believe it.
"At this point, our franchise has enters a period of uncertainty."There is that concept -- 'certainty' -- raising its ugly head again.
Mr. Craig Patrick and Upside-down-guy. "Put the factory near the customers" Photo taken at an airport area chamber of commerce meeting in January, 2006.
Official Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins: STATEMENT FROM KEN SAWYER, CEO OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ... At this point, our franchise enters a period of uncertainty, ...
City Council puts brakes on traffic camera proposal Mr. Peduto asked Public Works Director Guy Costa to change the trash collection schedule for part of Squirrel Hill. It is currently set for Fridays, but holidays push it to Saturdays, creating problems for strict Jews who cannot take out garbage during the Jewish Sabbath.Clearly, a problem exists. Something should be do so as to fix this situation. Those on grant street don't want to offend those in Sqirrel Hill.
Mr. Costa said he will consider switching two East End collection routes.
Who Watches The Watchers?
The case of former State Representative Mark McNaughton gives Pennsylvanians a grand opportunity to see exactly how government truly operates in the Commonwealth.
For the unaware, McNaughton decided to retire from the legislature instead of facing the voters of his district after supporting the Great Pay Raise of 2005. He was subsequently appointed to a seat on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board by Speaker of the House John Perzel, who cited McNaughton’s steadfast opposition to gambling and a desire to make sure the slots law is meticulously followed as significant reasons for the appointment.
As a result, the former legislator is slated to get a boost in pay after all, from roughly $72,000 to a whopping $145,000 plus some lavish perks. Unfortunately for McNaughton, The Philadelphia Inquirer recently discovered that he failed to list thousands of dollars of personal gambling winnings over the past few years on his Statements of Financial Interest, which are required by the State Ethics Commission from each lawmaker every year.
Oddly, McNaughton’s failure to report gambling winnings would not have even registered on the radar had he not abused the power of his former position by attempting to quash certain information in a very messy divorce proceeding. As a result, some of his federal tax returns, on which he did report the winnings, are now part of the public record.
McNaughton claimed ignorance in regard to the omissions, although instructions on the Statement of Financial Interest clearly list “prize winnings” as one of the sources of income to be reported. But even if we were to give him the benefit of the doubt and consider the matter an oversight, is this a quality we’d want in someone charged with overseeing the activities of a multi-billion dollar industry?
While it’s all a bit ironic - on many different levels - it could become even more so.
The penalties for violating the ethics regulations are a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one-year imprisonment. Such a finding would need to be reached by the State Ethics Commission and could potentially disqualify McNaughton from serving on the seven-member Gaming Control Board or in any other official capacity in the Commonwealth.
Coincidentally, the State Ethics Commission also consists of seven members appointed to their positions in exactly the same fashion as the Gaming Control Board: one appointee each from four leaders of the legislature and three from the Governor.
An optimist might view this scattered appointment system on the ethics panel as a way to keep things balanced so no individual is singled out for political punishment. A pessimist might view it as insurance to protect everyone’s cronies - a slightly twisted version of “equal protection under the law.”
While any citizen of Pennsylvania is entitled to file a formal complaint on this matter with the State Ethics Commission, Section 21.2 of the ethics regulations permits the Commission to launch its own inquiry.
The Inquirer story was subsequently picked up by the Associated Press and widely disseminated across Pennsylvania. Between seven appointed Commissioners and nineteen staffers listed on the State Ethics Commission’s website, surely one of these 26 must have caught this latest tidbit regarding McNaughton. If not, they’re not doing their jobs.
Here’s hoping that for once, a government entity in the Commonwealth will step up to the plate, do what’s best for its citizens and give them some hope that the public outcry launched after July 7, 2005 is actually being heard somewhere in Harrisburg. Even better, however, would be for Mark McNaughton to withdraw his name for consideration as a member of the Gaming Control Board.
Who watches the watchers? We’ll find out soon enough.PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to returning honor, dignity and integrity to government in Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.PACleanSweep.com.
Sports Montage: The Sports Blog That Strikes First, Strikes Hard, No Mercy “I’ve never heard of a government turning down $290 million of private money to build a public facility." - Mario LemieuxThe Wabash Tunnel is a 'public facility.' The new arena is NOT a public facility.
Isle of Capri makes final argument for license ... the agreement between the Penguins and the Isle of Capri required any new owner to stay in Pittsburgh for at least 20 years if casino operator wins the coveted license.The "at least 20 years" deal and the liquidation is something to bank upon. But, the outlook of saying, 'we'll sue' doesn't give much confidence.
'Anybody who buys [the Penguins] is required to step into their shoes,' he said.
He added that any potential owner who breaks the agreement could be subject to liquidated damages -- hundreds of millions of dollars, according to one estimate -- and possible court action to block any move.
Business Times China, which has lured US$622.4 billion from overseas since 1978 and surpassed the US in 2003 as the largest recipient of foreign investment, is turning off the tap that helped feed two decades of growth.
With new restrictions on investment, China risks impeding its own modernisation efforts and invites a backlash from its trading partners, China specialists say.
AP Wire - Pittsburgh City Council overwhelmingly approves budget overwhelmingly approves budget
Friends of the Zeiss On Monday, City Council held a “Post-Agenda” session on funding for The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. As with all Post-Agenda sessions, this session was open to the general public. This was also one of the relatively few Post-Agenda sessions that was broadcast on the City’s Government Communications Cable Television Channel, City Channel Pittsburgh, on Comcast channel 13.
However, I only found out about this Post-Agenda session, inadvertently, when two people who attended the December 5 regular legislative session of City Council, where the Post-Agenda time and date was announced, informed me of the meeting. I did not attend the December 5 meeting, as I was scheduled to attend another meeting at that time.
As with many of the Post-Agenda sessions held in the past, the December 11 Post-Agenda included discussion of important City business, including the request for significant City funding from a major City institution. Yet few people knew this Post-Agenda would occur since it was not posted or advertised in any public location.
I discussed this matter with the City Clerk, and she informs me that the City Law Department has told her that posting or advertising the date and time of Post-Agenda sessions is not legally required. I would disagree with this legal interpretation.
Report: Former Pa. lawmaker who opposed slots won big at casinos - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Former Rep. Mark McNaughton, who voted against the state's slots law in 2004 and opposed gambling for years before that, won $15,500 between 2003 and last year, according to tax returns obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
McNaughton, a five-term Republican from Harrisburg, disclosed his winnings on federal income taxes, but not on his state ethics forms, the newspaper reported. He is set to take his $145,000-a-year post on the gaming board by the middle of next month.
'It's not illegal to gamble, is it?' McNaughton told the newspaper Friday.
Civil disobedience by Philadelphia residents in protest of the Gaming Control Board's not responding to their demands for good information on the casinos proposed for their neighborhoods. keywords: PGCB, Casino-free Philadelphia, slots, casino, gambling, Pennsylvania, hallwatch |
The Busman's Holiday I have great respect for those bloggers who are so prolific and creative that they’re posting through the day with charm and passion.Thanks Bob. Back at you. But, I name names. =;0
The Three Rivers Post & Standard � URA to Crush Longtime Pittsburgh Landlords You gotta love government meddlers when it comes to development. Their supporters always crow, crow, crow about what they build — even when it fails, as have many of their initiatives in the downtown Pittsburgh area . We are always reminded that nothing would have happened if the meddlers didn’t do their deals.
Downtown efforts leave empty feeling - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Taxes are a problem, said Gerald Schiller, part-owner of several family-owned properties along Forbes Avenue and a frequent critic of government-driven rehabilitation efforts. 'Retailers are deserting Downtown, because they are being phased out of business by the city's tax policy.'We need real benchmarks too. Let's say things are going well, when they are not. Let's look at office vacancy rates -- but exclude the Lazarus Building. What's up with that? We have way to many blind spots, by design.
Schiller is particularly disturbed by a Business Improvement District tax increase on retailers. The 3.92-mill assessment, which provides money for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, will increase by 5 percent annually for the next five years. The tax is levied against property owners in a 90-block area.
Barbara McNees, president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, supports the tax increase.
'We must keep Downtown safe and clean, not only for its current retailers and residents, but for visitors, new residents and others in the Downtown area,' she said.
BREITBART.COM - Ex-Rep. Barr Quits GOP for Libertarians Ex-Rep. Barr Quits GOP for LibertariansClick the comments for the entire article. Or, see the link above.
By BEN EVANS, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON
A former Georgia congressman who helped spark President Clinton's impeachment has quit the Republican Party to become a Libertarian, saying he is disillusioned with the GOP on issues such as spending and privacy.
Bob Barr, who served eight years as a Republican congressman before losing his seat in 2002, announced Friday that he is now a 'proud, card-carrying Libertarian.' And he encouraged others to join him.
Hi. My name is Eugene Gershin. Perhaps we have met online, but more probably you don't know me from Adam. I monitor blogs for SamsonBlinded, and came across your post.The things we see on the net are wild, from time to time. Last week when there was a missing young adult, sadly, the thread got attention from his friends. Life.
I'd like to welcome you to look at Obadiah Shoher's blog. Obadiah - an anonymous Israeli politician - writes extremely controversial articles about Israel, the Middle East politics, and terrorism.
Shoher is equally critical of Jewish and Muslim myths, and advocates political rationalism instead of moralizing.
Google banned our site from the AdWords, Yahoo blocked most pages, and Amazon deleted all reviews of Obadiah's book, Samson Blinded: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict.
Nevertheless, 170,000 people from 78 countries read the book.
Various Internet providers ban us periodically, but you can look up the site on search engines. The mirror www.terrorism-in-israel.org/blog currently works.
Please help us spread Obadiah's message, and mention the blog in one of your posts, or link to us from rauterkus.blogspot.com. I would greatly appreciate your comments.
Best wishes,
Eugene Gershin
Amy Carol Webb MP3 Downloads - Amy Carol Webb Music Downloads - Amy Carol Webb Music Videos: "Faith Fortitude Friends
From china - bike ... |
Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress) H.R.4682
Title: To provide more rigorous requirements with respect to disclosure and enforcement of ethics and lobbying laws and regulations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Pelosi, Nancy [CA-8] (introduced 2/1/2006) Cosponsors (162)
I've crafted a 98 second movie about the pending bill that would bring 'red light cameras' to Pittsburgh's busy streets and intersections.
The devil is in the details. Here what they've found in New Mexico. I'd be okay with this as part of the deal in Pittsburgh too.
Do you think that those in Pittsburgh would insist that the same treatments be put into effect here?
Hope you watch the segment and agree. The photos are from my collection from our visits to China. Check out the crossing guards too.
The audio is from a podcast I'm enjoying, FreeTalkLive.com.
TCS Daily - Examining the Libertarian Vote in Depth By David Kirby & David BoazAnother telling quote:
Libertarian Party candidates may have cost Sens. Jim Talent and Conrad Burns their seats, tipping the Senate to Democratic control. In Montana, the Libertarian candidate got more than 10,000 votes, or 3 percent, while Democrat Jon Tester edged Burns by fewer than 3,000 votes. In Missouri, Claire McCaskill defeated Talent by 41,000 votes, a bit less than the 47,000 Libertarian votes.
This isn't the first time Republicans have had to worry about losing votes to Libertarian Party candidates. Sens. Harry Reid, Maria Cantwell, and Tim Johnson all won races in which Libertarian candidates got more votes than their winning margin.
But a narrow focus on the Libertarian Party significantly underestimates the role libertarian voters played in 2006. Most voters who hold libertarian views don't vote for the Libertarian Party. Libertarian voters likely cost Republicans the House and the Senate—also dealing blows to Republican candidates in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
President Bush and the congressional Republicans left no libertarian button unpushed in the past six years: soaring spending, expansion of entitlements, federalization of education, cracking down on state medical marijuana initiatives, Sarbanes-Oxley, gay marriage bans, stem cell research restrictions, wiretapping, incarcerating U.S. citizens without a lawyer, unprecedented executive powers, and of course an unnecessary and apparently futile war. The striking thing may be that after all that, Democrats still looked worse to a majority of libertarians.
re-public: re.imagining democracy - Richard Stallman - The free software movement Could you explain free software activism?
Richard Stallman: First I’d better explain what free software means. Free software means software that respects the user’s freedom. There are four essential freedoms that the user of any software ought to have:
Freedom 0: the freedom to run the program, as you wish.
Freedom 1: the freedom to study the program’s source code and then change it so that it does what you wish.
Freedom 2: the freedom to distribute copies of the program when you wish.
Freedom 3: the freedom to distribute copies of our modified versions, when you wish.
Freedom 2 is the freedom to help your neighbor; freedom 3 is the freedom to contribute to your community. Both of them include both private distribution and publication–whichever you wish. Both include gratis distribution as well as sale of copies, whichever you wish
So what is free software activism? It is the struggle to establish and maintain these freedoms. This is a struggle because most computer users do not have these freedoms. They were taken away back in the 1970s, when a tiny fraction of society used computers; when use of computers spread widely in the 90s, what spread was the use of user-subjugating proprietary software.
First published on Dec 13, 2006I'm certain that being certain should not be the top priority, for sure.
Pens open to Plan B concept - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'Our plan is the only plan that brings certainty to this entire process,' McMackin said. 'There's clear-cut certainty the Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh. Under the concept of the other plan there is nothing but uncertainty.'Sports is about living in the present and not knowing what's going to happen, especially when played on ice with a little rubber puck at the center of attention.
Under the backup plan, Forest City or Majestic Star would pay $7.5 million a year for 30 years, while the state would pay $7 million a year. The Pens would have to pay $8.5 million up front and $2.9 million a year, while forgoing $1.1 million a year in naming rights.
Balsillie said Isle of Capri's proposal is the best plan because it removes any doubt about the team's future and doesn't use 'taxpayers' money.'
'I see a three-for-one here,' Balsillie said, adding that Isle of Capri's proposal provides a sports and entertainment destination, economic revitalization in the neighborhood and a gambling facility.
'The promise of being a good neighbor isn't just a promise,' Balsillie said. 'It has to be fulfilled.'
Balsillie said he hopes to conclude his purchase of the Penguins by the end of the week.
Pennsylvania using Google Earth to promote tourism | News.blog | CNET News.com Pennsylvania using Google Earth to promote tourism
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Superintendent Mark Roosevelt announced a collaboration between the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Public Schools to develop The Pittsburgh Promise, a college access program and revitalization strategy for the City of Pittsburgh.What is this saying?
“Our goal with The Pittsburgh Promise is to help our children and their families plan, prepare and pay for education after high school,” said Superintendent Roosevelt. The Pittsburgh Promise would make higher education achievable for all Pittsburgh Public Schools students regardless of need or income. It also would enhance the economic development of the City.
“To advance the economic vitality of the City of Pittsburgh we need to invest in our neighborhoods, create a business friendly environment and strengthen our school district,” said Mayor Ravenstahl.
The Pittsburgh Promise will prepare students for success in the 21st Century by addressing the three primary barriers to college access: academic preparation, accessibility and affordability. As an integral part of the District’s Excellence for All plan for improving student achievement, The Pittsburgh Promise will begin working with students at a young age to make post-secondary education an achievable goal for
everyone.
The Pittsburgh Promise anticipates making funds available to Pittsburgh Public Schools graduates for tuition at an accredited post-secondary institution within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Students would be required to make regular progress toward the completion of a degree or certification-seeking program and remain in good standing at the post-secondary institution. It is expected that the Pittsburgh
Promise will be funded through an endowment and an annual fundraising campaign from private donors.
An official cost analysis is currently underway. The Mayor and the Superintendent will be forming a joint task force to develop a comprehensive plan for The Pittsburgh Promise. Preliminary work has been done by members of the District’s High School
Reform Task Force and the Mayor’s Business and Economic Development Committee.
Court battle over 'base year' assessment system starts today The plaintiffs, homeowners from Pittsburgh, Franklin Park, Mt. Lebanon, Braddock and other Allegheny County municipalities, are mounting a 'full frontal challenge' of Allegheny County's 2002 base-year property assessment system, arguing the taxation method violates the Pennsylvania Constitution.Uniform is good. Onorato's plan is bad.
They want to see the county's system -- which relies on property values frozen indefinitely four years ago during the last full reassessment -- declared unconstitutional, and therefore invalid. The state constitution calls for uniform taxation of property.
Commencement Dates Allderdice High School 1:00 PM
Sunday, June 17, 2007 Mellon Arena
Excellence for All Parent Steering CommitteeWhy are all of the Excellence for All Parents Meetings scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. All the parents can't make the evening times.
Isle of Capri's casino proposal still favored City task force says its plan is strongest
Less than two weeks before the Pittsburgh casino license is to be awarded, the city's gaming task force is standing by its near endorsement of Isle of Capri, even as a group of ministers works to prevent the Hill District slots parlor.
The Carbolic Smoke Ball WIKIPEDIA POSTED EXACT DETAILS OF AUGUSTO PINOCHET'S DEATH TWO DAYS BEFORE IT OCCURRED
Saturday Talk | ajc.com Live music isn't just mere soundBrova!
While it's good to read that the musicians of the Atlanta Ballet are not struggling financially this holiday season ('Nutcracker joys missed,' Living, Dec. 2), I think this article does a great deal of harm to the cause of live music for the Atlanta Ballet and for any ballet or theater. It gives tacit approval to the replacement of live orchestra with recordings as long as the musicians can make up the money elsewhere. But the harm to the community of musicians, to the art form of ballet, and to the cultural climate of Atlanta is much bigger than whether or not lost income can be made up by teaching a few more lessons or playing another church gig.
Do we want to live in a community that does not value live music? I don't, and it's not just because I'm a musician. The iPod generation already expects music to come through tiny ear pieces. The artistic experience of being in a concert hall or theater with hundreds of other people, all experiencing the power and originality of the live performance, is something I want to have for myself and for my children. Presenting great art isn't about the bottom line; it's about something intangible that will never be replaced by electronic means because it is at heart human. The situation in Atlanta demands that musicians educate the audience to what we already know: live music is worth the price.
Here in Pittsburgh, the public responded with one voice when the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre tried to eliminate their resident orchestra, and the result is a company rededicated to the use of live music. I hope the residents of Atlanta come to the same realization before something precious is lost.
CYNTHIA ANDERSON, Anderson is an oboist with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Orchestra.