Diamonds dropped in London

SI.com - Olympics - IOC drops baseball, softball from 2012 Olympics Baseball and softball were tossed out of the Olympic program for the 2012 London Games -- the first sports cut from the Summer Games in 69 years.

Baseball and softball will be played in 2008. So, the the sports live for now in terms of Olympics still.
I never liked seeing baseball as an Olympic sport. Good bye. See you in October.
This summer, being the trend setters that we are, it must have been news to the IOC voters that my boys, (ages 7 and 10) have yet to pick up a baseball throughout the summer. The gloves and balls sit here and don't get used. We go in waves with various activities, and the baseball wave has yet to hit in 2005.
I don't have a problem with baseball. I just don't think it is well suited as an Olympic sport. Softball is fine, if both the men and women were to play.

I don't think that this move is a "big mistake" as does Lasorda.

I do think that baseball and softball should be sports in the Senior Olympics and in the Keystone Games. But spare us of those sports in the Olympics. I love scholastic baseball and softball too.

Figure what would have happened if NYC got the Olympics in 2012 and the IOC pulls baseball from the line-up. They were boasting that Yankee Stadium would have been used as a venue for baseball in 2012. Hillary and company should have offered to use Yankee Stadium as a boxing venue. They might have been backing the wrong horse, so to speak.

Baseball also got nailed because of the steriod scandals, as well as the other drugs too I guess. Doping is a big, big topic in international sports and baseball has been lax to the highest degree. Pittsburgh is keen on "between the lines" and the other uses of drugs in the game as well. Those behaviors don't wash in the global world.

Furthermore, the USA Baseball team has been much worse than the USA Hockey squads. Plus some of the best ballplayers in central America don't play internationally either. The sport didn't cover all the bases with a strong line-up, so to speak.

The downside, no other sports were put onto the agenda as official medal sports. I figure that the UK pressures will get rugby and cricket as demonstration sports.

The most damage, however, comes to the entire process. The openness of the vote was absent. The bull-headed meeting organizers wanted to put this just to a voice vote and the IOC booed. The vote totals were not announced. The movement has plenty to learn and understand in terms of democratic leadership. Many of the IOC members felt skunked at the way the meeting fell apart as sports were being considered.

Vast rightwing conspiracy exposed!

I'm wondering what some of you might make of what follows. It could be an interesting launch article.

If nothing else, there are some interesting talking points about the reach and viability of the net. And, with The TRIB such a big role in this, it is worthy of peeking at, even if only for a good chuckle.

WorldNetDaily: Vast rightwing conspiracy exposed!
That was the gist of Hillary's "vast rightwing conspiracy."
The 'unregulated' Internet
What made the whole system work was the Internet. The report singled out the World Wide Web as a special threat, devoting an entire section to the subject. It decried the Net as a perfect conduit for Scaife's 'stream' of 'conspiracy commerce.' The report stated:

The Internet has become one of the major and most dynamic modes of communication. The Internet can link people, groups and organizations together instantly. Moreover, it allows an extraordinary amount of unregulated data and information to be located in one area and available to all.

State argues against closing air wing -- and I'm starting to look for the pointers to all the details. Help hoped for, please.

State argues against closing air wing Top officials tell base-closing panel Pentagon is wrong

Friday, July 08, 2005 By Maeve Reston, Post-Gazette National Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Several hundred yellow-shirted Pennsylvanians converged in Washington yesterday to show support as state officials told an independent commission that the Pentagon was dead wrong this spring when it recommended closing the Pittsburgh-area 911th Airlift Wing, an Air Reserve unit in Moon, and the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, which is north of Philadelphia.

I'm going to go out on a limb and tip my hand at a hunch I've got. Then, I'll ask for your help. This speak first, ask second approach works on one's own blog -- as I can go back and NUKE the dang posting if I wish. That said, ....

I have no problem telling top officials that they are wrong. I do it often. I respect those who have the corage to do the same.

However, if I need to side with one or the other and the options are STATE OFFICIALS and PENTAGON -- that becomes a hard call and I'm more in favor of leaning on the side of the PENTAGON.

Those in the Pentagon have a job to do. They are trusted with a massive duty. I'd rather let them be free to set up their resources as they see fit.

Most of all, I don't want to see a line of reasoning from locals about how the bases are an economic asset that can't be lost. That line of thinking came out in short bursts early in the sound-bite process. I do hope that cleaner lines of thought prevailed and those mentions were left unsaid since then.

So, for now.....

WHERE can one find all the details of what was presented to the base closing commission? Are the materials made available online? Are there transcripts online?

I didn't tune in to see the coverage at PCNC or C-SPAN. Is some of that archived?

I'd love to read the works and have those materials that were presented online.

Thanks for the pointers.

Beijing 2008 equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong

SI.com - Olympics - Beijing 2008 equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong - Friday July 8, 2005 1:45AM SINGAPORE (AP) -- Equestrian events for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be held in Hong Kong to ensure the 'best interests of the competition and the well-being of the horses,' the International Olympic Committee announced Friday.

The agreement finalizes Beijing's push to have the equestrian competition moved about 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) away to Hong Kong due to concerns about equine diseases on the Chinese mainland.

The best interests of the horses? Perhaps S.I. just ran the press release for the organizers as the lead paragraph. The true worry, and it is a valid one, is about diseases. No problem. Just tell it like it is.

Pitt football is moving beyond MAC opponents for non-conference games -- yes!

PittsburghPanthers.com - Football Stories The University of Pittsburgh will add five high-caliber opponents to its non-conference football schedule in the coming decade.

Pitt athletic director Jeff Long announced today future non-conference games with Iowa, Miami (Fla.), NC State, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

This year Pitt is to travel to Ohio University in Athens to play a Friday night game in September. I'm an OU grad. I love Athens and my time there was great. But, I'm not planning on going. But the big news is how Pitt is choosing to play Va Tech in the future, and sidestep the likes of the OU Bobcats and Furman.

It is a good move to see Pitt's football schedule filled with more worthy, traditional powers.

The other point of interest is how IOWA is going to show up. Visually, when Pitt takes the field against the Hawkeyes, there will be many in the Burgh and western PA who won't know who to cheer for at first glance. The TV highlights most of all will look like Pitt is playing against the Steelers.

IOWA's colors are black and gold and the uniforms greatly resemble the outfits of the South Side Sabres. (giggle)

ACLU and Patriot Act call

Decisive House and Senate votes on the future of the Patriot Act are right around the corner. For nearly four years now, our government has claimed the kind of unchecked power and lack of due process that challenge our most fundamental principles of freedom and democracy.

While the Bush Administration and some leaders in Congress want to make every one of those powers permanent (and even expand the Patriot Act's assault on fundamental freedoms) there is good news: Democratic and Republican members of Congress, and liberal and conservative opinion leaders, are speaking out against the most extreme provisions of the Patriot Act.

Join the ACLU and Working Assets to make your voice heard. Tell Congress that the Patriot Act should not be made permanent, let alone expanded:
http://action.aclu.org/Petition3

JP's blog: The Conversation covers the passing of a RUNNING MATE: What was he doing with Perot?

The Conversation: What was he doing with Perot?: "What was he doing with Perot?
I am embarrased to admit that until he died, I knew Admiral James Stockdale ....

Great feats and good posting, well worth the read.

Bigger Budget and Bigger Pay for Harrisburg's Politicians

The state house and state senate put in a late budget and is about to get some pay raises. The pay increases are going to state lawmakers, judges, and top honchos within the executive-branch.

The 2005-06 budget of $24.27 billion represents a 6.1% increase in spending over this year's budget of $22.87 billion. This marks an 18% increase in spending for PA since Gov. Rendell took office in 2003.

The pay increase for lawmakers increases base pay 16% from $69,647 to $81,050. Committee chairmen pay increased by 28% to $89,155, and committee vice-chairmen pay increased by 22% to $85,103. Majority and minority leaders' pay increased 24% from $100,911 to $124,788. Pay for the Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore increased 34% from $108,724 to $145,553.

The pay rates, since the time of Gov Ridge, were hooked to the rate of inflation in Phili. This pay hike goes above and beyond that one that was to last deep into the future.

The PA House and Senate members' I ran against, Diven, R, and Fontana, D, both voted for the tardy budget and voted against the pay raise.

Aug 20 date from Herb. Healthcare discussions slated.

Herb sent out an email:

In Chester County (population 500,000), at least two head trauma patients have died during the one-hour ride to Lancaster General Hospital. Why? Because there are no full time neurosurgeons and no trauma center left in Chester County.

In Titusville, just north of here, the last orthopedic surgeon left earlier this year. Across the state, OB/GYN’s have dropped obstetrics from their practice.

And at present, only 4% of the doctors in Pennsylvania are under the age of 35.

What’s going on? The answer is that the high costs of medical malpractice insurance (and also the high probability of being sued) are driving physicians out of the state or into early retirement.

In 2003, though, the state legislature passed a reform bill which has had a positive effect. The 1,815 medical malpractice suits filed in 2004 were a 34% drop from the 2,751 average of the years 2000 to 2002.

The state representative who spearheaded that bill, Mike Turzai introduced another malpractice reform bill in June of this year and is coming to the Rogues breakfast on Saturday, August 20 to tell us about it. And to tell us how we may be able to help get it passed.

When: 9 AM, Saturday, August 20, 2005
Where: The Holiday Inn on Fort Couch Road in Bethel Park
Cost: $13.00

Please RSVP by Friday, Aug 19 to 412 279.1222 or email Herb so that I can get a count for the Holiday Inn. You may still attend (PLEASE) even if you don't RSVP.

Please pass the word to people you know and invite them to join us this Saturday. This should be an informative session.

Brewski Laverne and Shirley style: PabstCity funding clears key hurdle. Meanwhile Iron City web site still drunk on saving city.

JS Online: PabstCity funding clears key hurdle The proposed PabstCity entertainment and retail development should get $41 million in city financial assistance, based on a recommendation Tuesday by a Milwaukee Common Council committee.

Perhaps Iron City could be saved if we turned the brewery into loft apartments and did a "metro-pole" disco downstairs.

Well, we tried that with the Duke Brewery and have the Brew House artists' lofts on the South Side. That's the building complex near the South Side Hospital and the one with the big clock. And, it isn't so "upscale." But, it happened without the $41-million in public money.

What's up with Iron City anyway? Did the water bill issue get resolved?

The iron-clad irony of the I.C. Brewery saga was the opening, about a year ago, of the Save Our City web site, with its distinctive oval label. As is the case with most beers -- the head was mostly foam. The chuckle of a company doing a web site to save the city while the company was going under and beholden to the grip of the Water And Sewer Authority was intoxicating.

Don't drink and drive nor blog.

It's time to pull plug on monorail

Here are a few great examples of how NOT to do it right. But, as is the case in most ventures in life, there is never a shortage of scripts for failures. And, what plays well in one area may not work in another.

It's time to pull plug on monorail My sense is that the Seattle Monorail Project has entered a lengthy, costly death spiral.

It's time to show mercy on Seattle's squeezed middle-class taxpayers. Let's pull the plug on this exercise of duplicity and waste.

The agency has managed already to pile up a $100 million debt, with what to show for it? It is chugging along at $4 million a month. Interesting to see will be cost figures on the spasm of advertising churned out to defend the discredited financing plan.

In Pittsburgh, at least, we've not spent too much money on Maglev. Sending Brenda to a German vacation or taking some photos while we're in China is not a big deal.

But, we've already spent a lot of money on the plan for the tunnels under the river to the ball parks on the lower North Side.

This is when it takes courage to pull the plug. After spending a good bit of money, it is harder to stop. But, it makes sense to do so from time to time. Don't toss good money after bad. All the spending in the world might not save some projects and turn them into prudent projects that are community centered and sustainable.

Even the convention center enters this type of thinking. Great building, but great burden with overhead and upkeep. Its costs to operate are high, year in and year out. So, we should consider a cut to those losses. I don't mean we should tear it down. Rather, we should sell it off.

Turn the convention center into the slots parlor. Then let the operators of the slots parlor also be private venture for the stadium and exibition authority. They'd run the convention center without any public money. They'd buy it from us.

Then if they want to build another slots hall -- fine. Do it while they operate the one in the Convention Center and then they'll be able to turn the Convention Center into something else -- on their own.

The city and county don't need to be in the big gambling business of being a conention center operator. But, we've got it now. And, we can get out of it soon, with the slots license.

As a zoning move, we could zone the convention center as a facility that is okay for slots. Then the ball is rolling in our favor.

Not Sore Loser. Rather Sore Victor. To the victor goes the spoils.

I'd rather not say anything here and now as I don't want to get "paved over" nor "railroaded" nor "9-to-5-ed" (whatever that might mean).

I did see Diven driving to town yesterday in his big black SUV. I guess he had a court date. Did he miss the budget session in Harrisburg for this?

Libel lawsuit has undercurrent of South Hills political battle Libel lawsuit has undercurrent of South Hills political battle

Wednesday, July 06, 2005
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A long-running battle for political dominance in the city's southern wards went litigious yesterday, as a city councilman sued a foe backed by a rival group.

Going to the Games and checking out Big Ben

Big Ben will look great decked out in Olympic rings. Not #6. London in 2012.

I see London. I see France. I see Kennywood is expanding too. What's up with that?

Trivia: Kennywood has a mono-rail that it purchased a few years ago. Presently, that eqipment is in storage. For Brenda's sake, it isn't a 'high speed' ride.

High Speed Train to Harrisburg in one hour, so wants Brenda. Think Again!

KQV did an interview with County Councilwoman, Brenda Fraiser who is back from a seminar about high-speed trains in Germany. She'd like to go from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg in one hour.

OMG.

We took a ride on Maglev in China. Stay tuned....

One slight peek at the difference between the China and PA high-speed train experiments -- people. They've got millions of people all around there, yet that train was still mostly empty.

Another org outraged by PA Budget -- Club for Growth

FOR July 5, 2005 from: Kathryn English, 717.541.5000

Pennsylvania Club for Growth Challenges GOP Leaders to "just say NO"
What happened to the Pro-Growth Agenda for PA

HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Club for Growth challenges all General Assembly members to say NO, not only to the $24 billion proposed budget but NO to their own 14% pay increase.

The PA Club and its members are somewhat confused by the recent embrace of lower taxes and limited government by the General Assembly GOP leadership, yet with a 110 to 93 republican majority it is rumored that not only will Governor Rendell get his $23.8 billion budget passed but it will be increased to approximately $24 billion, an estimated 4.8% increase will be approved in the late evening tonight. It was this same leadership in 2004 that not only passed a budget that was more than double the rate of inflation, but even upped Gov. Rendell’s spending plan by $160 million more.

PA Club for Growth Executive Director Kathryn English is questioning, “what happened to House Bill 1663 sponsored by Rep. Feese and co-sponsored by 81 Pennsylvania Representatives, including 5 of the 7 House Majority leaders?" House bill 1663 would constitutionally limit annual increases in state spending to the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index, this year limiting spending to 2.8%. "Although not ideal this is far better than the approximately 4.9% proposed increase" stated English.

To add insult to injury for the taxpayers of Pennsylvania, the General Assembly is considering voting themselves a $10,000 or 14% increase to increase base salary to $79,647. In January, legislators already received an automatic annual cost-of-living increase of $3,700 – more than 5%. In addition to their salaries, most state lawmakers receive $128 a day in expense money when they are in Harrisburg and each member may charge up to nearly $8,000 a year for auto expense.

"What happened to Senator Brightbill’s “Taxpayer Fairness Act," introduced this spring with the co-sponsorship of 28 of Pennsylvania’s 50 Senators,” questioned English, and added “if 28 of the 50 Senators sponsored legislation that allowed for only a 2.7% increase in budget, how did the Senate pass an approximately 4.9% budget increase?”

"While we hope this package of bills represented a true change of heart on the part of GOP leadership, the Senates (30 Republicans – 20 Democrats) approval of Governor Rendell's proposed budget and the expected House passage is in a conflict with the previous proposed legislation. English added, "We'll be watching to see how the sponsors and co-sponsors of House Bill 1663 vote, not only on the proposed budget, but their own pay increase."

The Pennsylvania Club for Growth, which supports strong fiscal conservatives who run for the state legislature, will continue to work with lawmakers to move forward a pro-growth agenda that includes tax cuts and other smaller government issues. "Our goal is to either reform or remove RINOs (Republicans In Name Only)," said English. "If the GOP leadership — with huge margins in both houses of the legislature — doesn't start giving more than lip-service to fiscal conservativism, they can expect the Club and its members to start working toward their early retirement."

The Pennsylvania Club for Growth is a group of citizens dedicated to expanding the prosperity of working families through the Reagan Doctrine of lower taxes, smaller government and strong free enterprise. As the Pennsylvania chapter for a rapidly growing national organization, we are committed to seeing that Pennsylvanians regain their voice in Pennsylvania politics. For far too long, elected officials who claim to be fiscal conservatives have cast aside their beliefs to partake in a bloated government that insists on taking more and more from families trying to achieve the American Dream. To that end, the Pennsylvania Club for Growth is committed to supporting and electing men and women who are advocates of the Reagan Doctrine. For more information, log on to www.paclubforgrowth.org.

Commonwealth Foundation chimes in on PA budget mess

Solid data follows with blogmaster's highlights. Neither Fontana nor Diven were a part of the prior efforts to keep the budget in check. We'll be watching what happens.

NEWS RELEASE on 07.05.05

Public Service vs. Lip Service
Tonight's Budget Vote Will Reveal Members' Commitment to PA Taxpayers

Harrisburg, PA - As Pennsylvania lawmakers enter the final hours of the budget process, the Commonwealth Foundation reminded the 28 Senators who sponsored Senate Bill 4 and the 81 Representatives who sponsored House Bill 1663 that their budget vote tonight will reveal the true level of commitment to fiscal restraint.

Gov. Ed Rendell proposed a FY 2005-06 budget of $23.845 billion -- a 4.2 percent increase in spending over last year's budget of $22.876 billion. But if House Bill 1663, sponsored by House Appropriations Chairman Brett Feese, or Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chip Brightbill, were law today, the increase in state government spending would be limited to 2.8 or 2.7 percent, respectively.

According to calculations by the Commonwealth Foundation, if Rep. Feese's spending limitation were applied to the FY 2005-06 budget, Pennsylvania taxpayers would see a budget of $23.527 billion -- or $318 million smaller than the governor's proposal. And if Sen. Brightbill's spending limit was in effect, the burden to Pennsylvania taxpayers would be more than $351 million less than under the governor's proposal-a total spending plan of $23.494 billion.

Senator Brightbill's "Taxpayer Fairness Act" would limit state spending growth to the lower of either a) the average rate of change of inflation plus state population growth for the three preceding years or b) the average rate of change in state personal income for the three preceding years.

(See comments of this blog entry to view the listing of names of the 28 PA Senators and various PA Reps who had signed onto those prior acts to keep down the budget's growth.)

"Tonight's vote on the budget will reveal if Pennsylvanians are getting public service or just good old lip service from these elected officials," said Commonwealth Foundation President Matthew J. Brouillette. "And we look forward to praising those who put taxpayers' interests ahead of special interests."
The Commonwealth Foundation is an independent, non-profit public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg.

T.J. Think Tank hits on stem cell research

From the slated speaker, Greg Yoest:

Tomorrow night, Wed., July 6th, I'll be giving a talk at a local North Hills politics-and-public-affairs monthly dinner and discussion group called the Thomas Jefferson Think Tank. The talk's called "Stem Cell Research: The Science, The Ethics, and the Politics."

It's pretty much what the title says it is, a 45-60 minute talk about stem cell research and several of its different angles, followed by as long of a formal and
informal Q & A period that the restaurant allows us to have (usually up until 9pm in their meeting room, then 10pm? 11pm? midnight? at their bar, if anyone wants
to stay that long!).

The talk begins around 7:15-7:30, and many people attend just for the talk--if you want to have dinner, try to get there early (6pm? 6:30pm? not much later than 7pm) so as not to overload their kitchen. (try to rsvp, as late as late afternoon tomorrow, if you're attending so we don't get SUPER-swamped!) Super-informal but we will try to stick to this stem-cell research topic and not veer off onto a tangent like taxpayer-funded sports stadiums :-)

Who? What? Where? When? How? WhoKilledKennedy? etc:

Where: Silvioni's Restaurant, 2125 Babcock Blvd. in the lower North Hills, just off of McKnight Road near where it connects w/ I-279-N just outside of the city. (Immediately next to Evergreen Fire Hall, near the Thompson Run/Monte Cello's intersection, 2 places up from Best Feeds Garden Center; many of you remember
that neck of the woods well!) Or call the restaurant (412-821-9895), or MapQuest 2125 Babcock Blvd Pgh PA for better directions.

When: Wed., July 6th, speech ~ 7:20pm (tomorrow night!!!---sorry for the late notice but there's a core group of regulars who attend every month and I'm just informing you all fyi in case you're REALLY interested in this topic; if nothing else this e-mail'll re-connect me to all yinz getting it, maybe more the reason I'm sending it along than anything else! I'll be videotaping it and I can make copies if you're
REALLY interested in this topic!!!!!)

What: a talk on "Stem Cell Research: The Science, The Ethics, and the Politics" geared towards a generally-literate and interested audience..sort of what like Carl Sagan did for astronomy in the late 1970s!!!!!!

Who: I'll be the (main) speaker and discussion leader; anyone who wants to attend is welcome!!!!

Why: gotta eat dinner somewhere!!!!

How: verbal, spoken-word speech, with some visuals thrown in for good measure :)

All F.Y.I and if I don't see yinz in person soon I surely will by long-overdue e-mails!!!!!!

Sincerely, Greg Yoest

Sorry, I'll be at a swim meet. :(

Crafton Crocs and a biathlon

July 4th, we did a run and swim biathlon. This was in the parking lot as you can notice the caution tape. 

Classic watchdog line in PG about city government

Deep within an article by new PG jouralist, Rich Lord, concerning the City's (mostly Mayor Murphy) effort to privatize the garage that fixes and maintains the trucks and autos of the city one reads this classic line:

The city seems on track to save less than it bargained for.

Excellent summary. Nuff said.

The garage saga seems to be another deal from Mayor Murphy's Administration (and City Council) that won't add up to what was promised. Broken promises. False hopes. Changes that come with pain, but changes that do not impact the bottom-line. The city's position is worse than before.

That bad news has an upside however. This time it isn't the message, it is the messenger. That article, rather long and insightful, was printed in the PG. And, it ran in July, printed before the year-end. The garage is a 'done deal.' But, the article provided 'follow-up coverage' on a newer program. The coverage was on a 'work in progress.' The article delivers real-time news reporting on a technical matter beyond a knife fight or a job promotion at a real estate office in the metro area.

I am more than pleased to see Rich Lord as part of the Post-Gazette's staff. We've got a watchdog at the big city daily, finally.

Articles such as this would never have happened in the Post-Gazette three, five, seven years ago, in terms of city government.

By the way, it seems to me that the two oversight boards are not making any noise. The I.C.A. is going to cost the city's budget $2-million. However, the ICA hasn't held a meeting in a month. The next meeting hasn't even been scheduled, to my knowledge.

The Act 47 Team came to town to watch out and restrict the over-spending by those on Grant Sreet. Are they really watching? Do they really care? They've been here more than a year and their programs have taken root in some quarters. Where is the windfall from those efforts? I hope that the Act 47 team delivers some value on the long list of items still lingering on their to-do list. But I won't be holding my breath.

Pittsburgh is in a sad position when watchdogs are necessary for one's who are on duty to provide oversight. Thankfully, with Rich Lord's arrival at the PG, a spark of a bark has been awakened. This is a great trend that needs to continue and snowball.

Privatized fleet maintenance saving city less than expected Privatized fleet maintenance saving city less than expected
Monday, July 04, 2005, By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This type of journalism might lead to increased public pressure, accountability, and even controllers who have a grip of control and overlords with the vision for oversight.

Sticking with China: Local firms -- shrugging off criticism of China's currency, acquisition moves -- press on with plans to expand in world's most po

Lead story in the PG's Sunday Business section on China.

Sticking with China: Local firms -- shrugging off criticism of China's currency, acquisition moves -- press on with plans to expand in world's most populous country Sticking with China: Local firms -- shrugging off criticism of China's currency, acquisition moves -- press on with plans to expand in world's most populous country

Sunday, July 03, 2005
By Jim McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

While the takeover bids by Chinese companies for Unocal Corp. and Maytag are grabbing headlines and roiling public opinion, Bayer, Alcoa and other companies with ties to Pittsburgh are quietly marching forward with large projects in China.

The other story is of interest too.

Critics say China's currency policy gives it unfair advantage: "Critics say China's currency policy gives it unfair advantage

Sunday, July 03, 2005
By Jim McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

From Dave Frengel's perspective, there's not a lot of good to say about China these days.

The government affairs director for Penn United Technology, a tool, die and spare parts manufacturer in Cranberry, says he's all for global trade but believes China is being given too much of a free hand.

Let's talk about some miss-information a bit. The Yuan, the casual name for China's currency (RMB is its more formal name), has a rate of exchange that is hooked directly to the U.S.A.'s Dollar. The excange rate for the YUAN and Dollar is always at 8.1. They don't change. That's the policy set up by those in power now in Beijing.

There is nothing unfair about that policy. Zippo. What's unfair is all the crying that it's unfair. The Beijing policy means that the American politicians can't pull a fast-one on the world and deflate the value of the dollar -- or increase its value. The magic of the economic wizards -- or at least the wizards like to think of themselves as such -- is only a wish that can't be obtained nor controlled via DC's power brokers.

There is no 60% tax on US exports to China unless one thinks that there is a 100% tax on US goods to Japan because its dollar exchange is more like 1 to 100 (close enough for this blog) and not 1 to 8.1. It's just math. The US Dollar to Thai currency is 1 to 40 (or so).

That's taxing on small minds. It's called math. But, it isn't a "tax." It's called an exchange rate. Remember the lesson apples to apples and not to oranges.

I don't think it is wise for US Senators to force CHINA to revalue China's currency.

Funny then how the PG paper talks about Greenspan's meeting. The PG news is more than a month old. It is stale. China's policy was pondered. They did a double-clutch. They were going to set up a new export tax in China, but it was pulled a couple of days later and was never put into effect.

The PG must have run an old AP story. It is bad news.

Bristle onward Frengel, you protectionist who knows what is careless and reckless. Yeah right.

Wikimania - perhaps we could organize a Pittsburgh huddle as theirs concludes or is in progress?

Main Page - Wikimania: "Wikimania 2005: The First International Wikimedia Conference will be held in Frankfurt am Main, Germany from 4 August 2005 to 8 August 2005.

I'm not going to Germany, but I'd like to if I could. No money. No time. No driving need to be away from the homefront. And, what I'd really love to see and explore is a way to get some Pittsburgh folks to gather to talk about WIKI matters. Perhaps we could use this meeting in Germany as a good excuse to hold a MEET-UP like huddle in Pittsburgh in early August too.
I'm going to spend a good amount of time in July on the Platform.For-Pgh.org wiki.

UnSpace provided to great blog posts -- so far on the Tour de France. Keep it flowing please.

UnSpace Blog Archive Tour de France Stage 1 Results David Zabriskie (26 y/o, CSC) took the maillot jaune (Yellow Jersey) for the first stage with an amazing 20:51 with Lance Armstrong (33 y/o, Discovery) finishing 2 seconds and Alexandre Vinokourov (31 y/o, T-Mobile) a relatively distant third at 53 sec. George Hincapie (32y/o, Discovery) took 4th at 57.

I'd love to follow the race through the blog posts of others.

Re-banged: New bicycle saga for a first-time rider

Grant, now 7, our 2nd boy, now rides a bicycle. This is a monumental advancement! He is so proud. We are all thrilled.

The training wheels were taken off of Grant's bike a few days ago. Now the only thing comming off is skin.

To re-bang, or spelled without the hypen, rebang is to fall and re-injure the same spot on one's body. Grant has been re-banging his elbows the most.

Today, for the first time, Grant and I rode along the bike-path next to the Mon on the South Side to Station Square. He fell four times. He had a blast.

Today Erik, 10, went white-water rafting on the Yough with a friend's family. That was his first on that river, riding cat 1 and 2 water. He's back with any bruises. My wife wasn't too relaxed throughout the day.

We love the water and have done some canoe trips on the New River in Virginia and even got to raft in a tame (tourist-type) Snake River in Wyoming.

One day, so goes my dream, we'll buy our own kayaks and spend lots of time on the rivers, lakes, ponds, oceans and pools as we grow up -- for fitness, fun and education. For now -- let's be happy with the bike time and occasional river voyage.

Eminent Domain -- once a buzz, now a swarm -- potential stingers

In 2001, as a candidate for Mayor as a 'free market republican' in a contested primary, my pledge was to work against any and all forces of eminent domain. Back then I had thought we had gone overboard. Perhaps that whine came before its time!

The flap over Eminent Domain is now more than ever.

In 2005's race, I stood against eminent domain in my platform. It went to the matter of our willingness to over litigate and reach solutions that are not 'ideal.'

As we know, in 2001 and in 2005, I didn't "win" at the ballot box. However, some points were scored in the discussion. And, opportunities exist to make eminent domain a more pressing issue for all politicians and all races for the years to come.

The PG's Sunday paper had two more letters to the editor. The author of the first letter, Scott B, came to Pittsburgh a number of times in the past to help the locals fight eminent domain. He has some family in the area. I had the good pleasure of meeting him and assisting then (a bit) with those efforts. The second letter comes from fellow leader of the Libertarian Party in Allegheny County.

Be very afraid of this decision on eminent domain

Your editorial "Eminent Sense" (June 28) defending the U.S. Supreme Court's appalling eminent domain decision was entirely inaccurate. You sought to reassure Pittsburghers that they had little to fear from the court's ruling. Nonsense.

People in Western Pennsylvania should be deeply concerned about the court's ruling and should work to change the law in Pennsylvania. As Justice Sandra Day O'Connor powerfully wrote in her dissenting opinion: Under the court's 5-4 decision, "nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory."

But an amazing thing has happened in the wake of this decision. One would be hard-pressed to think of a recent Supreme Court decision that has generated such uniform and widespread outrage across the country and across the political spectrum. Americans are virtually united in opposition to it. The homeowners in New London, Conn. have been overwhelmed with phone calls, letters, and e-mails of support. Messages of opposition have filled newspaper letters-to-the editor pages nationwide, including those of the Post-Gazette. Online polls on national Web sites show upwards of 96 percent opposed to the Supreme Court's decision. Clearly, Americans understand how threatening the court's decision is for ordinary home and small business owners.

Now is the time to take this genuine grass-roots anger and energy and transform it into productive activism to change the law in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. For citizens interested in learning how, please go to the Web site of the Castle Coalition (www.castlecoalition.org).

SCOTT BULLOCK, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice, Washington, D.C.

Editor's note: The Institute for Justice represented the business owners challenging the potential use of eminent domain in proposed development in Downtown Pittsburgh in 2000.

---

No friend

I was quite disappointed to read your June 28 editorial ("Eminent Sense") supporting the Supreme Court's Kelo decision concerning the use of eminent domain.

To support the authority of "Big Brother" to take the little guy's home away from him when some vague and unproven central plan is proposed implies your support for sacrificing the individual for the collective good -- or, at least, the good of the government itself and the powerful who are politically connected to it.

And I thought the PG was a friend of the average working person.

JERRY GLOEKLER, Bellevue

---

Andrew's a short article about Kelo on Freedom's Gate, comes from another area Libertarian. He's already had LTEs published in both the Trib and the P-G. See the
links from his blog.

DON'T PANIC: Sally Struthers, eat your heart out...

A few years ago I helped with a local PCTV 21 show called The Art of News. That was fun. The shows that were produced were a real hoot. This blog post would make for a great script for that show, if it was still being developed.

DON'T PANIC: Sally Struthers, eat your heart out...: " Senate Democratic leader Robert Mellow isn't shy about pushing for a $10,000 raise for state legislators -- to take their pay up to $80,000 a year.


Hmm... it kind of sounds... greedy. This might take a real PR push, but I have the perfect idea for the commercial:

I still long for The Art of News writters meetings.

RedState.org has a section devoted to FEC (Federal Election Commission)

FEC dot RedState dot org Section: FEC

This technical, legal, political stuff is for some die-hard activists. Yummy.
http://www.krempasky.com/redstate/images/fec.jpg

Generally -- after almost every move of pending move from the goverment weenies who are so quick to mess with our freedoms and democracy -- one only needs to post, "Think again."

The, "keeping the options open" avenue is a well worn pathway for them.

NYC hopes Senator Clinton can boost its chances to land 2012 Olympics

SI.com - More Sports - NYC hopes Senator Clinton�can boost its chances - Saturday July 2, 2005 4:15PM SINGAPORE (AP) -- Other cities are bringing presidents, prime ministers and royalty in hopes of landing the 2012 Olympics. New York is bringing Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Okay, here comes my best wishes with a political mind: I'd love to see NYC get the Olympics. That's official.

I've got a lot of friends and even some family in NY and the general area. I could stay with them for a month in 2012 and earn my keep by trading pins and offering to wash auto window in bump-to-bumper traffic outside a tunnel.

My circle of friends in London, Moscow, Madrid, and Paris is much more thin, presently.

Otherwise, there is sure to be a big party in one of the cities in a couple of days when the news is released. It would be fun to be in Madrid or Moscow when, and if, that decision comes to be known.

When Syndey got the Olympic bid, that city was over joyed. And, the glow lasted for months, if not years and right up the to hosting of the games.

The tone in NYC isn't expected to be the same, I dare predict. A great many there be happy, no doubt. But I don't think we'll see the gushing, ga-ga reaction.

City's loss is UPMC's soon

The saga with the #3 guy in the Murphy Administration gets another article to freshen the thread.

Kennedy won't be involved in EMS talks in new job Departing City of Pittsburgh Operations Director Bob Kennedy probably won't have an opportunity to finish the biggest job he's left undone: the transfer of the city's paramedic service to local hospitals.

Older (June 29) posting on this blog about Kennedy:

Pittsburgh losing operations director to UPMC Pittsburgh Operations Director Bob Kennedy will leave the city post this week to become a vice president for government relations at UPMC Health System.

Humm....

A couple of years ago, I called upon some of Pittsburgh's biggest employers, and that would include UPMC for sure, to do the city a big favor. I asked that the big employers HIRE Mayor Murphy and some of his cronies in City Hall -- for the good of the city.

Often, when you get into a tangle, the best thing you can do to get beyond is to show the oppostion a better exit. Getting the trouble to leave with grace is a great way to win in the end.

Well, back then, no outfit (not Mellon, Giant Eagle, PNC, UPMC, nor the Peace Corps) offered Tom Murphy a corner office, parking space, secretary. Tom Cox still works for the city too. Others flew to Detroit and Cinci. Whew.

Now comes the news of Kennedy's departure. Did UPMC finally get the message? Let's not kid ourselves.

How about a package deal?

But really, given this time -- what's the worry. Who cares if they go to the private sector or to unemployment?

Kennedy, on the other hand, isn't the worst of the worst. But, why would UPMC hitch its GOVERNMENT RELATIONS post to a person from the MURPHY ADMINISTRATION?

Either: UPMC doesn't understand the horrors of the Pittsburgh legacy of the Murphy Administration; Or, UPMC thinks the #3 guy in the horror-filled administration is not a culprit too; Or, UPMC is holding up its civic duty to take him on as a rehab case-study; Or, Kenneydy might hold value with a EMS deal yet to unfold in the past decade; Or, Altmire made em do it; Or, you can tell us what you think in the comments below.

If AGH hires Murphy and Tom Cox goes to work for Alcoa, the PG, the Steelers, or even American West Airlines, I'll be happy for them, personally. My only wish was that those shoes would have fallen two years ago.

Mr. Kennedy, way to go on getting the new position. Hope you have a splendid career henceforth.

Legislative Pay Raises

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
3863 Union Deposit Road #223
Harrisburg, PA 17109
1-800-774-4487
www.lppa.org

For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Doug Leard at 215-646-1502 or
David Jahn (Chair) at 610-461-7755

Pennsylvania legislators feel they do not make enough money. Yet, our legislators already rank, with California, New York and Michigan, as the highest paid state legislators earning over $69,000 per year. In addition, they receive a generous daily expense allowance of $125 per day, a car with insurance and health insurance. Plus, they receive an automatic cost of living adjustment each year.

The Libertarian Party strongly opposes this excessive compensation of our legislature. Neighboring states pay significantly less to their legislators. New Jersey pays $49,000 per year while Delaware pays $36,500. Neither state provides a per diem expense allowance.

Other states manage their affairs paying far less than this. For example, New Hampshire pays just $200 for a two year term of office. New Hampshire also has no state income tax and no state sales tax. If only our legislators could exercise that kind of tax restraint.

Perhaps our legislature should be paid for performance, not politics. Their salary could be tied to the change in the inflation adjusted state budget. If the inflation adjusted state budget increases 4%, then the legislature gets a 4% pay cut. If they hold the line per inflation, they get the inflation rate. If they cut spending 3%
below inflation, then they get 3%.

Performance pay -- perfect for Pennsylvania.

The Libertarian Party, the third largest and fastest growing political party in Pennsylvania and the nation, continues to provide a beacon of hope for voters disillusioned by the fog of Big Government.

Letters to the editor: 7/01/05

Two interesting letters to the editor on education follow. They are from today's PG and hold different views.

Letters to the editor: 7/01/05

---

Moving for school

As someone with a young family who is actually moving back to Pittsburgh, I have to speak up about the Board of Public Education's new hesitation to approve the design and construction of the addition to Colfax Elementary School, as reported in the June 23 Post-Gazette. An addition is necessary to accommodate the growing population at Colfax.

This is occurring long after the board approved the change to a K-8 school and new grades have already been added. How the board thinks making and breaking decisions from one year to the next will lead to any improvement and stability in the schools is beyond me.

Our decision whether to live in the city instead of the suburbs rests on a good public school system. I visited Colfax. The active, engaged learning I observed, the diverse population and the fact that it is a K-8 school are the reasons that we want to move back into the city. Why else when I can get a nicer house for less money and pay far less taxes in the suburbs?

Believe me, I understand that there are financial problems. Our children are coming from the Baltimore school system, which has had even greater financial difficulties. I witnessed the Baltimore board change plans after decisions were made. And I saw the devastating effects these constant changes had on schools that had been steadily improving and had been generating renewed support for the public schools. Uncertainty and instability doesn't help students, schools or communities. I hope the Pittsburgh board will do better.
SARAH BERMAN, Baltimore, Md.

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Quality, not size

With all respect to Principal David May-Stein and the parents who so badly want $15 million to support Colfax Elementary School's expansion to K-8: Even if K-8 is better for the middle-school years (we can find studies that prove both good and bad), your kids aren't the ones who need it the most.

Your children have the options to go to some very high-performing middle schools: Frick International Studies Academy, Sterrett Classical Academy or Rogers School for the Creative and Performing Arts. None of these schools is far from Squirrel Hill and none of them are in dangerous neighborhoods. They all have high test scores and their graduates have gone on to do great things.

The kids who may benefit the most from a small middle school environment such as would be provided in a K-8 setting are the ones whose parents probably can't write letters to the editor, attend school board meetings en masse or even supervise their kids' walks to school or homework.

If the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education chooses to add K-8 programs, it should allocate the district's dwindling finances to the kids and neighborhoods that need improved programming the most. And Squirrel Hill is not in that category.

I'm a parent, too. I've sent four kids through East Hills Elementary School. Three have gone through Frick (one is just about to go) and two are in CAPA High School now. I could complain about lots of small issues, but I prefer to praise these schools for their overall programs. The fact that we have any of these choices is remarkable.

Nearby high-performing school districts such as Mt. Lebanon and North Allegheny all have large middle schools. I think the issue is not so much K-8 vs. middle school only but how these schools are funded and operated. Small classes, good facilities, well-trained teachers...
ROBERTA MINTZ, Shadyside

---

The dynamics in the city school are not like those in many other places around here. Some people go to city schools and are stuck here. They are not leaving. They can't leave. Leaving isn't an option. They cope and deal as best they can with what they got. Kids grow. Go with the flow of life -- but getting a new home in the suburban areas is asking way to much. It's not going to happen.

Other people are here by choice. They can move. Many do. Some choose to stay. To stay makes a constant decision. Once the situations are so bad at home, then the grass looks much greener elsewhere, then the family packs its life and finds a home and schools elsewhere.

Mostly, those who are the poorest are the ones who are in the first situations. They are stuck, in part, because they can't afford to move into a more expensive home, lifestyle, district.

Pick-up lines for the Pgh Oversight Panel. Women wanted. Hold the phone. My wants are more geared to accountability and democracy.

Today's PG reports that the all white male oversight board, often called the ICA, might be geting a new female member after James C. Roddey leaves his seat on that board. The new member being pointed to is Barbara McNees, President of the Pgh Chamber of Commerce.

The board was called, "Five Guys Named Mo," by Sala Udin. Sala's objections were strong, but in the end they didn't play to total satisfaction with voters, as he's been voted out of council. But, Sala made the point as strong as he could.

The point I'd like to raise again is still valid and not the same as his, of course.

I don't think women want to be "Queen for the Day" -- nor even Queen for the week, month, season, year or seven-year period of operation of the oversight board.

Lamb, Peduto and O'Connor each made mentions in the spring about how poorly Pittsburgh does in a number of gender factors. Women's pay in Pittsburgh is not nearly equal to that of the men, in similar capacities, for instance. We have had nine on city council, and only one (for now) is a women. Our old-fashioned ways are well documented elsewhere.

Nobody needed to die to make McNees a Queen of Oversight. But, nobody needed to vote on that appointment either.

The solution is to still appoint to the boards, but give voters an opportunity to cast "retention votes" on each individual. A retention vote would be a great way to inject oversight from the people into the oversight board.

We can't get away from democracy.

We need to give the oversight board its due and its mandate.

Most of all, there have been bad and good QUEENS and rulers. The top dog in China, on many instances, was a women. Some have been dandy and some have been beasts.

At this junction, we need to put accountability and democracy as well as engagement into the drivers seat. Diversity will work because of the pressure when it comes to the appointments.

Illustrated Example of this sage:

At first blush, a new appointment, such as Barbara McNees would need a majority to stay on the board. So, let's say she is picked to serve and gets the nod and joins in July 2005. She'll show up for the meetings and get to work as soon as possible.

But, there are no meetings scheduled. That raises another big question as to its viability, perhaps a defacto revolution of nonaction is brewing.

Given regular meetings as an assumption, McNees would be a full fledged member and act with all the powers.

At the next election, November 2005, a ballot question asks voters "yes" or "no." Should Barbara McNees continue to serve on the oversight board, (ICA)? If she fails to get 50% of the YES vote, then she resigns her duty on the board. Her term just ended. Then another appointment is made. At the next election, that new person gets to be put on the ballot to either pass or fail the retention vote.

With a retention vote, no campaign spending would be needed. No Political Action Committee efforts either.

People who don't know McNees from Eve might not vote on the question, skipping it and to leave others with strong opinions the option of the decision. People who feel strongly about a women would vote "yes."

Meanwhile, we already have others on the ICA Board. And, we have lots of others on other Authority Boards. The 50-percent YES vote would be needed for the NEWLY appointed members of boards in their first vote. Then as a board member is on the board they'd face other 'retention votes' and the percentage of YES votes would INCREASE.

First months = 50%
Second year = 70%
Fourth year = 80%
Fifth year = 85%
Sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth year = 90%
Tenth year = term limit.

The necessary approval rating would need to increase greatly according to the length of service on the specific board.

So, McNees would face a Nov 2005 retention vote and need 50% as "YES" to continue. Then in two years, in Nov 2007, she'd need to have a 70% "YES" vote to be retained. Then the fourth year, Nov 2009, she'd need 80% to stay. In Nov 2010, she'd need 85%, Nov 2011, she'd need 90% and again 90% for Nov 2012, 2013, 2014. She'd be off the board with a term limit by 2015.

Other people, depending upon when they are appointed, would be on a spring ballot rotation. So, if people got onto the board in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March, April -- they'd generally be slated for the April or May ballots for their retention votes. Other months would be up for retentions in November elections.

There would be a lot of retention votes, a new twist to the voter landscape.

Crain's Cleveland Business - What others are saying about Pittsburgh

Here is a story about a story, but in another market about Pittsburgh.

Crain's Cleveland Business In the fourth segment of a six-part series about the globalization of the steel industry, Associated Press reporter Joe Mandak takes a look at the rebuilding of America’s steel towns.

The story focuses on Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Worcester, Mass., detailing how each is bridging the divide between the industries that grew the cities and the industries that will carry them forward.

I've got to go find the original series. Pointers wlecomed.

ICAN WHOIS Data Reminder, last update, 1969

I have and have had a number of internet domains. This just came to me. It is worth a giggle.

Per the ICANN Whois Data Reminder policy regarding your domain name service with 4Domains.com this notice is being sent as record of your current domain whois details effective today Jun-30-2005.

Domain..............: rauterkus.com

Creation Date.......: Jul-09-2000
Registration Date...: Jul-12-2002
Last Updated Date...: Dec-31-1969

Check out the last updated date! I've been around a long time -- but that was even before Al Gore INVENTED the internet.

Before I deployed Rauterkus.com, I had: SportSurf.Net, SportsReader.com, Bundle.com, Sandlot.com, FreeTeam.org, and Sunnyhill.org. Sunnyhill now operates fully by the web committee at our church.

I still use CLOH.Org too, but there hasn't been an update there in months. However, some of my older materials are some of the best and most in demand.

Yesterday, Alice, Director of Dallas Vision Volleyball emailed to ask about the e-books in PDF format. In a past life I had published a number of excellent, cutting-edge volleyball text books with top-flight authors. She thougt the URL had changed and was searching for the drill book. We noticed that Apache need to be restarted on the server. Fixed. Coaches and players of volleyball at all levels can pick up the no-charge books in that collection at: http://Rauterkus.com/PDF/SPORTS/. The titles that begin with VB are for Volleyball.

Speaking of older documents, have any of you gone to CMU to see the display with The Bill of Rights? Reactions welcomed.

Self-reliance -- You're the cure -- Strokes an 'at.

Self-reliance is a huge cornerstone of what I think needs to be promoted to "cure various troubles." But, teamwork is not to be discounted. Then, enter a wellness theme, and we've got something to blog about with irony.

It is interesting to see how the 'you're the cure' campaign needed people to write to DC politicians for fixes?

But, they did.

Did the most gripping letters and the largest volumes originate from those who have suffered from strokes, or are battling heart disease (say with high cost perscription drugs)? Or, did the physical education teachers and "fit people" come through with their pen and paper letter-writting exercises after doing their daily push-ups?

Now the people are to thank those in Congress (House and Senate) for putting their names on a letter to fund heart disease and stroke. Note, the funding is NOT for the prevention of heart disease, but just more disease -- as written in this blurb.

As a You’re the Cure advocate, you will be excited to learn about the support in Washington, D.C. for funding for heart disease and stroke. Throughout the spring, many of you have been instrumental in efforts to gather signatures on a congressional letter in support of this critical funding increase.

Now for the exciting news…102 Representatives and a record number 46 Senators have signed onto the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition’s letter. To see if your lawmaker signed on in support of increased research and prevention funding, please select from the pages below:

FY O6 House Signatories

FY 2006 Senate Signatories

However, there is still a long way to go as Congress continues to work on the appropriations process. What can you do to help? If your lawmaker signed on to the letter, you can send a thank you note for their support. Click here to send your message now if your lawmaker was supportive. Send Your Thanks to Congress

Heart Disease and Stroke. You’re the Cure

Where would all the heart disease and stroke workers and industry go if we were all fit?

Such is life, nothing but a merry-go-round.

South Side's Authentic Food Fest Update: Abruzzi's and Halo's

Abruzzi's moved to the Holiday Inn Express on the South Side, just a short walk from the current place.

Abruzzi's used to be HELENS. Helen had a food joint that was family style. She'd cook and you'd eat what she cooked. No menus were needed.

Abruzzi's is authentic Italian Cuisine and on 10th Street, one the same block as the Oliver Bath House. It is now serving lunch M-F from 11:30 am.

Another new opening, but brand new, is HALO Cafe. They've done a splendid job on a church rehab. It is right on East Carson Street and just opening now. Valet parking available.

I'm not a food critic, so I'll pass on giving my insights. Imagine that. But you all can post below. Additionally, if you want to set a date, I'd be glad to go there with you and yours as a guest. My bar tab will be $0, so I'm cheap. :)

Come Live Over Here -- and enjoy the South Side. And we won't even miss the Street Spectacular this summer.

City Paper: Opens Case for Open Government

Pittsburgh City Paper - News News Briefs

No Open and Shut Case for Open Government by CHARLIE DEITCH

"We’ve been putting this in front of [city] council for two-and-a-half years now," says long-time activist David Tessitor, about his efforts to place an "Open Government Initiative" on the November ballot. "But they never paid attention to it and we’ve never heard back."

Tessitor, working under the name PANDA (Pittsburgh Area New Direction Alternative), hopes he'll be able to gather the requisite signatures to put the proposal to a vote. The Open Government Initiative would change the city’s home-rule charter to set up a citizens' advisory panel. The panel would place a representative at every city council meeting to participate in discussions in a non-voting capacity. The move would also require that public information and recordings of public meetings be placed on the city’s Web site.

These two changes alone, Tessitor says, would allow citizens to have a clearer picture of what exactly their public officials are doing.

"We have one instance after another where our government officials have tried to sneak things past the public," says Tessitor, who points to the city's plan in 2002 to sell the publicly owned library buildings to the Carnegie Library board for $100 each, an option that was buried in building leases. "They have created an illusion of openness by putting some information forward to the public, but it’s not nearly enough."

Both Tessitor and Celeste Taylor, whose group ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is also supporting the initiative, say they are aware of cries that it will slow down the process of government. That should only happen in cases where it needs to slow down, says Tessitor. Good legislation will fly through the system faster, he says, while bad legislation will be held up to allow for proper scrutiny and, if it's truly a bad deal, to be killed.

Neither council President Gene Ricciardi nor President Pro Tem Jim Motznik were available for comment by press time.

"When I'm asked why we need this, I can give a lot of reasons, but the most obvious is because this city is broke and that surely didn’t happen overnight," Tessitor explains. "And worse than being broke, this city is broken."

More volunteers than the current 30 have to step up to get the required signatures, Taylor says, which number in the hundreds after less than a week of neighborhood canvassing. The group has until Aug. 9 to get about 9,000 signatures of registered voters.

"We’re trying to make this fun and empowering and not just a bunch of people bitching and complaining," says Taylor. "This is a good city, but council is too closed off from the citizens."

Contact Celeste Taylor, 412-628-7867 or celeste@openpgh.org; or see www.openpittsburgh.org.

Chris L of GrassRootsPA, moving to office in Camp Hill (Harrisburg)

Chris Lilik, DU grad, hub site coordinator of Grassrootspa.com, guest on the final M-F Jerry Bowyer radio show, mentioned that hs is moving out of Pittsburgh to central Pennsylvania.

Lilik's site is much like a blog but without original content, and with plenty of links and article snips about all sorts of state-wide political coverage. Self-described: The Epicenter of Conservative Grassroots Activity in Pennsylvania.

The population decline continues. Pittsburgh dropped another 1% per year, as has been the progress, for a total of 3,000. Pittsburgh's population decline has been massive, and its still on a roll.

Lilik's departure, as stated on the air from Jerry Bowyer, makes next year's census look drop to be predicted as 3,001.

One of the organizers of PghBloggers.org, an aggregate site, has wondered about keeping or nuking the feed from GrassRootsPA. Now, with the move out of the local area, the hook can take hold.

What's yours is ours.

Four letters to the editor ran in the Trib that were critical of the Supreme Court's
Kelo v. New London ruling. One was from fellow Libertarian, Mark Crowley.

Supreme abuse II, Letter to editor

"Promoting economic development is a traditional and long accepted function of government."

With those reckless words, five Supreme Court justices implemented a far-reaching expansion of government power serving well-connected special interests at the expense of property owners. "Public use" might as well be called "public used," as property rights are traded for corporate welfare and tax revenue.

To be clear about this, substitute the word "medical" for "economic" in the above quote. Consider what "public use" now means. Your body could be a tissue farm ripe for harvesting by pharmaceutical interests and research labs.

What now prohibits tax-hungry bureaucrats from considering a forced organ transplant from a low-wage worker to an injured high-wage ballplayer, actor or industrialist just for higher wage, entertainment or sales tax revenues?

Government is closer to taking an arm and a leg than ever before.

Mark Crowley, Plum

Jason Almire, The First Interview

The first interview has run. Next comes the first bad review. It is offered as constructive remarks so he and others get a better launch. Running for political office opens a parade of hurdles to trip upon. Here is a look at some of them below.

Jason just quit his job at UPMC (gov relations) and is entering the race for US Congress and may run against M. Hart, R, if Jason could win the Dem's primary.

The Qs are bold. Jason A's answer start with "A" are are italic. My reply is regular text. The next link only show the interview from the Politics PA site. By the way, hat tip to Politics PA for getting out good local and state news. If you are a political junkie or otherwise, you need to sign-up for the email blast from the operators of that site.

Jason Almire, The First Interview: "An Interview with Jason Altmire

Q: How does the future look for UPMC? What are the biggest challenges facing it as you depart?

A: UPMC is the largest driver of economic development and employment in the region. I expect that they will continue to diversify and lead the way on cutting-edge biotechnology initiatives. I enjoyed my time at UPMC but have given up my job to explore this race because I feel strongly that Congress is out of touch with the concerns of everyday Americans and leading the country down entirely the wrong path. It is obviously a huge personal and financial risk for me and my family, but I simply cannot stay on the sidelines when I believe I have something to offer the national debate.
MR's reply: Jason didn't come close to putting together an answer to either of the questions. For that, he might be well suited. But, we don't need to know about the HUGE risk when asked about UPMC. Going to UPMC is a huge personal and financial risk for any individual and his or her family. Perhaps the biggest challenge is to sound like one is NOT out of touch, to stay on the wrong path, to be a driver of employment. Mumbo jumbo.

UPMC is much more than an economic development. UPMC is a hospital and research institution. UPMC is about education, fighting illness for patients and solving health care situations -- and as a sideline, it is about employment.

Tell us about your time at FSU, playing football.

I treasure my memories from my time at FSU. As the years go by I realize more and more what a special opportunity I had to be a part of the football tradition there. I've had six knee surgeries and my playing career certainly didn't turn out as I had hoped, but I got to play for a true legend in Bobby Bowden, which by itself makes it all worthwhile. I learned the value of hard work and perseverance, and even what its like to be totally overmatched. As a wide receiver of relatively marginal ability I worked everyday for an entire season against Deion Sanders, which makes a mere congressional race seem like child's play!

MR's reply: Jason has it backwards. It is football that is child's play. A congressional race should not seem like child's play.

Q: We understand that until now, based on your current job situation you could not speak directly about your personal position on political issues, or your possible candidacy for congress. That said, if someone like, say... you, were to run for Congress how much would he or she need to raise to defeat Congresswoman Melissa Hart?

A: The opposing candidate will need adequate financial resources to get the message out, but I don't think that necessarily means matching Hart dollar for dollar. I'm sure she is going to have all the money she needs given her vulnerability and the growing high-profile of this race. Clearly the minimum needed to mount a credible challenge is $1 million, but it will probably take closer to $2 million when all is said and done. If, as I expect, the race stays close after the primary and late into the cycle, the national money will pour in from both sides and you may be looking a one of the most expensive races in the country.

MR's reply: Jason, don't refer to yourself as "the opposing candidate." It is weird to use the third person to talk about yourself too. Say, 'I will need....' Or say, 'Our campaign team hopes to..."

The cause and effect of Hart having all the money she needs because of the vulnerability doesn't wash for me. If she is vulnerable, she'll not have all the money she needs. And if she is vulnerable, the money won't flow to her as easily and some will sit on the sidelines.

I think it is bad form to predict national money will pour into the race. That is a huge assumption.

Frankly, I have to wonder why it would take $2-million to get my message out to the voters of a congressional district. Is that message that hard to deliver? And, I wonder why anyone would want to burn $2-million for a chance at a job that pays $100K per year.

In the PA State Senate race, a big district sorta close to the size of the US Congressional district -- both the D and R candidates out spent me 250-to-one. In total, I was out-spent about 500-to-one. But the R candidate only out-voted me 5-to-1 and the D candidate who won out-voted me 7-to-1.

In would have good feelings for supporting a challenger candidate who understood that the campiagn would hope to be out-spent by a margin of 50-to-1 or even 100-to-1. However, you'd still have a plan to win.

When I talked with Michael Lamb, months before the campaign really started, he told me that he had a plan to raise the $1-million that was necessary to race in the campaign. He was confident that he'd do it. He was well on the way to doing so. All signals were good. I just rolled my eyes. Michael Lamb's campaign did a great job at raising money. But, there was not $1-M that flowed into the kitty. To telegraph the amounts, and have them so out-of-touch with everyday citizens is self-destruction.

Q: Georgia Berner says she would be the best candidate to take on Congresswoman Melissa Hart. Thoughts?

A: Georgia and I are very different people with very different backgrounds and experiences. The primary will provide a real choice for democratic voters and we'll let the people decide who's better for the district and has the best chance to challenge Melissa Hart. Since the story of my interest in the race became public a couple weeks ago, I've been gratified by the overwhelming positive response and many offers of assistance. I'm confident that it will become clear very early who the democratic frontrunner is by the public endorsements and active support from elected officials from within the district.

MR's reply: The reply is fine. However, I'd go a bit more to a point-counter-point type of answer at this moment and begin to raise some issues. Georgia is for X-Y-and Z while I'm even better a Y-and Z, I also stand for A-B-C and that devotion is clearly hard to match, even by the incumbant. So, your race is not going to discount the opposition D, but you can frame the challenger and yourself on issues and contrast that against what Hart has done. Give a couple props to the loyal party opponent and then dive into the race against HART, the real target.

Q: How come Democrats can't come up with decent candidates to take on Tim Murphy, Don Sherwood, and before possibly you, Melissa Hart?

A: Sherwood's challenge would have to come from a primary because his new district is more heavily Republican. Murphy's district is majority democrat in registration and I'm surprised that a big name challenger has yet to materialize. With two strong Democrats on top of the ticket, 2006 is going to be a different year than we've seen in the past in Pennsylvania.

MR's reply: Who are the two strong Dems on the top of the ticket in 2006? Are you talking about Rendell and Catherine Baker Knoll? I'm left wondering. Is this the challenger to Santorum? The point of the mention is to say that your answer wasn't that clear to non-political people. Why even comment on Tim Murphy's challengers? Say that you are aware of various happenings in the greater political landscape but only comment on things that are near and dear to yourself.

Q: You live across the street from Melissa Hart's brother. Do you lock your doors at night?

A: Obviously this is an awkward situation, which I regret. They have been great neighbors and we hope to remain friends through what promises to be an eventful year and a half. We could have moved away before this race and in fact strongly considered it to relieve the tension. But we like the community and our neighbors, including them. We'll just do the best we can. I view our street as a sort of de-militarized zone -- I've told the Harts that I won't involve the neighborhood and we'll just keep our street completely out of the race. We're going to try to keep it as normal as possible under the circumstances for the sake of our friendship and especially our young children, who play together everyday. For me, this situation is the most difficult part of the campaign.

MR's reply. The awkward situation and point to regret is the question. The best way to keep it normal isn't to talk about it with the media. Nor do I want to hear about a "de-militarized zone" in a political campaign.

How about, "I have a great neighborhood and treasure my community." Nuff said.

10K -- say what -- To me, a 10K is a race. To them 10K is a pay raise.

Front page news: Harrisburg lawmakers are hatching a plan for giving themselves a $10k pay hike.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking about hot I'll be able to run a 10K at the end of the Friends of the Riverfront Triathlon. That's what a 10K means to me.

It will be interesting to see what happens. If my former 'race' opponents, Fontana and Diven, vote for that pay raise, they'll be a little richer for the duration of their terms, but it would be another nail to shut down their elected careers.

Bloggers lobby to fight government regulation

Bloggers lobby to fight government regulation - Are bloggers going mainstream?

Jeepers.

Red State got a mention. My mini-blog there has not gotten too much use. But, they do a fine, fine job.

UPA Properties for sale for $500 minimum. Let's change the ADJACENT policy and extend it farther to better liquidate URA holdings.

The City of Pittsburgh and the URA own a countless number of properties scattered all around the city. These are countless as a real inventory of the property locations and the assets are NOT available. A count and details have been promised, again, to be completed in the next couple of months.

Some of these properties are vacant lots. The lots are in neighborhoods. Often, these were homes that were left to rot and have since been torn down. The city can take the property's deed when taxes are not paid.

As the city owns the properties, the city needs to from time to time, go there and mow the grass and do minor upkeep.

If there is a city owned lot or a paper street (that's a slightly different matter but still has many of the same outcomes), the city will often tranfer the title of the property to the URA. Then the URA has a property manager who can work to sell off that property.

A policy of the city is to sell for $500 or more, vacant lots to adjacent property owners. So, if someone lives right next to an empty, city-owned or URA-owned property and there is not overall plan for that property by the URA, then it can be sold to ADJACENT "qualified" buyers.

A qualified buyer is one who has paid all the taxes, water bills, sewege bills and such. That's a great check. We don't need the city to sell its excess property to property cheats.

But here is the new suggestion!

Let's sell off the excess property owned by the URA to qualified buyers who might not be ADJACENT, but who are NEAR BY reidents.

Perhaps the corner lot is URA-owned. Perhaps the next-door neighbor does NOT want to purchase the corner lot. But, say the people who live in the middle of the block do want to purchase the corner lot. Let's have the URA sell off the property to those who live near by.

I'd say the technical definition of "near by" could be extended by month to stretch from five units to an additional five units each season.

So, in the fall of 2005, all lots are for sale as is the present policy. This gives those who do live ADJACENT to the property time to make that sale that they've been putting off and never needed to make.

Then in the first quarter of 2006, anyone who owns property within five address numbers of a URA-owned lot can make a purchase.

Then in the second quarter of 2006, anyone who owns property within ten addresses of the URA-owned lot can make a purchase.

In third quarter of 2006, the near-by description stretches to 15 address numbers.

Then in the fourth quarter, the near-by description stretches to 20 address numbers.

Perhaps in the future the near-by would grow even farther -- to zip codes or to council districts or perhaps by 200 meters.

I'd also make a restriction that each property owner would be entitled to only one $500 sale per quarter.

Furthermore, an owner of a vacant lot would not be able to be considered a nearby resident. This way a person who gets a vacant lot, or who already owns a vacant lot can't go around a neighborhood and buy up more vacant lots. That person would need to reside on a property to qualify to buy at the new ADJACENT lot price rate.

The URA can sell off some of its properties in other ways as well. But, the URA's track record at getting properties back on the tax rolls is less than a success. The URA is good at getting properties and holding onto them. That is the trend needs to be reversed so the properties are more fluid and begin to generate more income for the city from annual property taxes.

Act 72 Laid to Rest - Press Release from Libertarian Party of PA

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
3863 Union Deposit Road #223
Harrisburg, PA 17109
1-800-774-4487
www.lppa.org

For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Doug Leard at 215-646-1502 or David Jahn (Chair) at 610-461-7755

Act 72 emerged from Pennsylvania's General Assembly as a very complicated and confusing piece of legislation. The complexity of Act 72 ensured that just about everyone could find something they did not like.

Many school boards quickly realized that Act 72 threatened their power to tax-and-spend since it gave voters the opportunity to vote against school budgets that raised taxes above the rate of inflation. So, the overwhelming majority of school boards across the state opted out because it would have made them more accountable to taxpayers and voters.

What happens next? The Libertarian party agrees something must be done in the short-term to help property owners who are threatened with the loss of their homes simply because they cannot afford the rising cost of school property taxes. But, we also see rising property taxes for what they really are, a "symptom" of an inefficient and expensive government-run education system.

It is obvious we can no longer afford to keep doing what we have always done before -- raise taxes and throw more money at our public schools. But beyond the money issue, what really needs to be fixed is the "education" side of our public schools. Many parents are dissatisfied with the public schools their children are forced to attend, and a growing number of teachers are frustrated with the constant meddling in education by government bureaucrats and politicians.

Instead of focusing on ways to shift taxes to fund our public schools, Governor Rendell and the General Assembly must begin the process of getting government out of the education business. Pennsylvania needs to encourage a free-market educational system that provides students and parents more choices, where educators have the freedom to use new and innovative teaching methods and where parents would be primarily responsible for the cost of their own child's education.

Education is far too important to be trusted in the uncaring and self-serving hands of government bureaucrats, special interest groups and politicians. We need to put education back where it belongs -- in the hands of parents and teachers!

The Libertarian Party, the third largest and fastest growing political party in Pennsylvania and the nation, continues to provide a beacon of hope for voters disillusioned by the fog of Big Government.

Do Growing Greener Right and Do It Now, Coalition Demands

This came to me from another source, hence the ITALIC type. Authorship / ownership tip: As a style convention on this blog, generally, a good way to tell that I (Mark Rauterkus) didn't write the text is from the ITALIC messages.

Growing Greener implementation legislation is in the balance in Harrisburg at this moment. As you are likely aware, the budget process is supposed to be finished by June 30 (tomorrow), so this is the crazed rush time of year where everything gets thrown into the mix. The good news is that Growing Greener is in that mix. But, we need to make sure that what comes out the other end is what we all voted for in May.

PLEASE contact your legislators NOW and urge them to implement Growing Greener, but to do it RIGHT. See talking points below from a press release issued yesterday by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Conservation and Restoration (PARC). Sierra Club is a founding member of PARC, and urges our members to support PARC's positions in their communications with their Representatives and Senators.

Legislative Delay Violates Voters’ Trust, Risks Farmland and Environmental Cleanup

Harrisburg –With time running out for action this summer, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Restoration and Conservation (PARC), a coalition of sporting, environmental and civic organizations working together to protect Pennsylvania’s environment, who were the main organizers behind the resounding vote for environmental cleanup on the May ballot, called on Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to implement the voters' mandate for new spending on the environment. Instead of the House-passed version of Growing Greener, HB 3, which takes away $85 million a year in existing environmental funds to provide $115 million, the Coalition's 30 organizational members asked the legislature to adopt a general obligation bond, to be paid out of future revenues and not out of existing environmental programs, and to take that action prior to adjourning for its three-month summer recess.

"The voters overwhelmingly embraced the existing Growing Greener program with their 61 percent approval of the $625 million bond question in May," said Jan Jarrett, PARC co-chair and vice president of Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture). "They didn't vote to take money from one set of environmental priorities to fund another, nor did they turn out to hand over state dollars to local government. They voted to preserve open space, clean-up abandoned mine lands, and restore our rivers and streams. Instead of playing shell-games with the taxpayers' money, the legislators and the governor need to stand up and do what the voters asked them to do."

"The proposals put forth so far by the governor and legislators violate the voters' intentions because they divert funding from other environmental programs or fail to make the significant investments needed in conservation and restoration programs," said Andrew McElwaine, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and PARC co-chair. "This new money must be used for environmental programs to protect farmland and open spaces and to clean up our water and maintain places for hunting and fishing. Anything less is a betrayal of the voters' wishes."

The PARC coalition sent Governor Rendell and the leaders of the General Assembly a set of guidelines for spending the voter-approved $625 million bond, which includes:

The new program must address critical needs to conserve dwindling open space and farmland, to restore land and water damaged by coal mining, to protect and restore watersheds, and to repair infrastructure maintained by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission;

Funding for these purposes must not come at the expense of existing environmental programs such as recycling;

The existing trash dumping fee should remain dedicated to its current purposes; and

Funding to address Pennsylvania's environmental problems and to conserve our natural resources must be in place for the long term to ensure a high quality of life in our communities.

Patriot Act - statement of opposition got the endorsement from County and State Libertarians

The Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania chapters of the ACLU sent out an endorsement call and both the Libertarian Party of Allghengy County and the Libertarian Party of PA are included on a letter that has just been sent to the Judiciary Committee Chair of the US Senate, our own Arlen Specter, Republican.

The exercise accomplished the following:

* Added weight to the very real concerns surrounding the Patriot Act.

* Presented the LPPA and LPPGH names out there where our "LP" brand should certainly stand apart from some of the left-leaning groups.

* Established some contacts within the ACLUs of PA and Pittsburgh that we can use in the future.

* Reminded them that we are "the third largest political party in Pennsylvania" and that when necessary we can be organizationally responsive to an appropriate request
even if requested in an awkward way. (Although, I hope they learn to be a little more proactive and maybe feel just a little guilty.)

* Gave local Libertarians an opportunity to respond to a "fire drill" where we had to react quickly to an opportunity to promote liberty and to promote ourselves. We passed, but I hope we can do this even smoother next time.

Hats off to Mark C, a local Libertarian leader, who was on best behavior with the
ACLU and keep on this side of being tolerant of those who make it difficult for us to do them a favor.

A few feel that the letter is pretty lame, but maybe it has to be and too long.

Mr. Bill Robinson -- he's considering a run for City Controller

Lump Camp bumped into Bill Robinson, present member of county council, headed into Giant Eagle.

I asked him if he is considering a run for City Controller -- and he is! That's good news.

He has, he assured me, taken into consideration the eventual resignation of his council seat. He said he'd not want to have me on his back while he was still on county council yet running for another public office.

Good answers Bill. Good on both accounts. I hope he gets into the city controller's race. And, I hope he pulls out of the county council before or at the proper times.

Wayne Fontana didn't. Wayne's lack of action in getting off of council at the right time set a bad policy that shouldn't be repeated.

China heat could kill Olympic horses in Hong Kong -- Downers.

SI.com - Olympics - Official: China heat could kill horses Horses could die in the heat if Olympic equestrian events are held in Hong Kong during the 2008 Beijing Games, the former secretary-general of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation was quoted as saying Tuesday.

How do the elephans survive in the heat of Thailand?

Is it because elephants don't "compete?"

Are horses more prone to going prone in the heat? Or, is it the humidity?

Can't the horse races occur at dawn, so as to be in prime time in the WEST COAST? It would be cooler at dawn.

What do you call a cow without any legs? .... Ground beef.

But that kiddie joke isn't funny any more as there is a word, "downers" now is an official world in the vet and cattle circles. A downer is an animal that can't get up. Those downers are all tested now -- for mad cow disease.

A cow in the American West recently tested positive for mad cow disease.

I'm sure that the control freaks in China would much rather have the lifestock all go to Hong Kong. No sense in spreading the illnesses of the world to Beijing and putting a BILLION PEOPLE to bed hungry with some infection that could spread.

China is now running into some big problems with its birds. A flock of ducks or geese were hit with a "bird flu" (not flew) in the past weeks. This was in the interior of the country and the animals were migrating. In a blink of time, thousands if not millions of fowl could be infected. That is scary on many dimensions.

If Hong Kong won't have the equestrian events, I could see those events being offered to Taiwan.

Horse racing is a big deal in Hong Kong, by the way. They were building a big race track very near to the center of the city last year. Gambling is a big deal too, at the track. They are called, Jockey Clubs.

Another interesting concept in China, polo. Not water polo but polo with horses. A former dynasty in China got into polo for a bit. It is a game for kings. Polo didn't fly in modern times nor with the communist. But, there were some rather large public art pieces in squares and such that featured polo.

I don't think POLO is an OLYMPIC sport. Perhaps it could be pulled into the offering for Hong Kong as an exhibition sport.

Perhaps China couls sweeten the deal and be able to put horses in Hong Kong if a deal was cut to also allowed the jockey clubs of Hong Kong to permit gambling and book making on the Olympic events. In house bets on DIVING would be a real draw.

Red Alarms: Theater District Revival Plan smacks of elitism, cronies and stupidity

A gathering of 75 out-of-town building, planner, designer, developer wonks is being held downtown at the Renaissance Hotel to gather, ponder, pitch and fester about some parcels of "key" spaces that are controlled by and within the Cultural District.

That's fine, except.....

Only outsiders were allowed to attend and participate.

Pittsburgh individuals and firms were EXCLUDED by DESIGN.

How stupid can they be?

But, remember, fools like this run the PDP, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. The PDP held a candidate night for participants in the Pittsburgh Mayor's race -- and told people that they were NOT invited. There were people who were not allow to attend as spectators. A black woman walked to te event from her home in The Hill -- and the PDP morons shut the door in her face.

We've got too many with 1940 style country club attitudes in our downtown institutions.

I won't raise my concerns with the AARP again, now as another example.

The headline in the Trib, "Rivival continues in theater district" -- is plain old B.S. Same old sh*t.

The information I'm blabbing about in this post comes from a few trusted sources. I'll be happy to eat my words and make a public retraction as soon as I see the list of those who attended the sessions. Then we'll call the Pittsburgh-based people and firms and figure out why they were 'blacklisted.'

It is uneasy for me to write this. It is a shame to have to read it. And, I'm sure that some who read this are going to be livid at me, the messenger, and ignore the real message.

I think the creative people that have been invited are the one's who call home something other than Pittsburgh. The ones from here are homers and they might have the luck of setting up the rules, playing gatekeeper, and doing catering duties.

Another head-scratching point: A pedestrian bridge is mentioned in the article. It is to go over Ft. Duquesne Boulevard. They're attempting to span the wrong gulf.

The cultural district is a fine jewel, no doubt. But, I have a big problem with elitist running around acting like they've got rocks in their heads.

All the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to put Pittsburgh together again.

I guess that the photo in the story shows the first residential structure to be built in Downtown Pittsburgh in the past three decades -- if you ignore all the abodes from the homeless, loft conversions, the new Allegheny County jail that's overflowing, (plus the new-new temp housing jail annex), and units within downtown's spitting distance (The Hill and North Side, and anything Uptown???).

We should have more downtown housing. I'm in favor of that. But, I don't want to have subsidized housing for the rich.

We should have open community forums to dream big and plan for sensational, stars-bound landings. But, I don't want any leader nor leadership entity to display the slightest closed-door mentality yet alone outright hostility. What gives when people who live here, and who are experts here, are spat upon?

To right the impressions -- publish the minutes of the meetings, online, in haste. I'd like to see the documentation from those brainstorming sessions. And, I'd like to know what other buildings are going to be needed -- perhaps by eminent domain -- to make this a public-good "darling."

Please, make me eat these words. I want to be wrong.

Lump camp swings into high gear

This week, my boys are engaged in Lump Camp. This isn't anything new to us. We've gotten quite good at this activity in past summers as well.

We are going to get some of the details of this fantastic experience documented this year so as to allow others to sign-up for it in the future. But most of all, I'm hoping that my kids will grow up to one day be camp leaders for their own Lump Camps. They are still campers. Next year we might allow for one to graduate to Junior Leadership Roles.

Lunch is provided at lump camp, only if you ask for it, and ask at the proper times. Plus, lunch depends upon available leftovers in the refrig or hotdogs in the freezer.

We got a leg up on this week's lump camp this weekend. It is always good to build up to the activities of nothingness and not go 'cold turkey' so you don't hit the wall.

We did have a little bout of Thai Boxing at the end of lump camp today. But, officially, that session was AFTER Lump Camp's day ended. Thai Boxing and other such motions are strongly encouraged and permitted after mom walks in the door at the end of her long day at the office. We have to keep the daytime pure and void of activities.

In our Thai Boxing lessons, Grant, 7, worked on keeping his head up so as to avoide the headlock position between my ankles.

Next week, Grant goes to half-day Zoo Camp. So, our time in the zone, the sweet zone of nothingness and naps, is fleeting.

When it is 90+ degrees (F) outside, we have great weather for lump camp. You can't drop into Lump Camp. We have a strict policy on visitors. But, for the future, should you get the clearance and apply early, say for next year, be sure to bring sweaters. The air conditioning is on 'high.'

One of the nice perks of the Green Tree Swim Team is the 8 to 10 pm swim practice as it doesn't bump into Lump Camp. Time to shave and head to the pool.