Save Gas - Grow Some of Your Own Food

by Jim McCue , composter and biotech researcher

People all over the world are discovering that large-scale corporate factory agriculture, the kind that continues to cause the bankrupty of smaller, more diversified, often family-owned farming, does not always have in mind the health and happiness of those who increasingly have no choice but to buy their food from the factory-farm system.

As in other sectors of the economy, production, processing, and distribution of food has come to be increasingly concentrated in fewer hands. Because making money in the business world so often seems to necessitate closing one's heart as to destructive effects of one's business decisions, the most "successful" (that is, the ones who have accumulated the most money) are often the most hard-hearted.

Take fossil fuels such as oil, the gasoline that's made from it, and natural gas. It's now commonly understood that these things are: in limited supply; subject to increasing demand; and have numerous environmental side effects. The agricultural system - as presently structured - needs huge amounts of water, land, and fossil fuels to make fertilizer and provide transportation. Small organic food gardens and farms need less water and space to grow a certain amount of food. But large agribusinesses have used their increased lobbying power to structure our laws so that the taxpayer subsidizes cheaper (and lower quality) food. This is why "organic" has become associated with "high-muckety-muck"; people think only elites can afford the better quality. But the fact is, we're all paying for the mass-produced food that is lower quality - through our taxes.

Now that the price of gas has hit the fan, and as the predicted drastic increase in natural gas price also looms, it's time to start taking seriously those enviro "Chicken Littles" who knew these problems were coming and who know that the price of food - being connected to the price of fossil fuels - is also going to go through the roof. There is no sane reason to ship such a large part of our food such great distances. There is a place for food transportation, but not where we can more easily grow higher -quality food right here in the Pittsburgh region. We need much more locally grown food, much more organic food, and changes in our laws that have queered the situation so dangerously that large numbers of Americans are coming to find themselves short of money for necessities - food or rent, for instance.

The belief in chemical fertilizers and pesticides has come from overly focused points-of-view which externalize the side effects. Profit at the expense of your own health or you neighbors' is not a very good long-term investment. Sure, you might get a better yield on that particular crop this year if you sock the soil with nitrogen made from natural gas and pesticides synthesized from oil. But what about next year, when your garden's predator/prey balance is weakened and you, your family, and your neighbors' health is compromised by those toxins and your food's nutrient ratios are lower. And do you really want to escalate
our increasingly violent competition with other countries for the fossil resources to grow food that way?

The soil is not a machine. It is a vast living community which is harmed when we humans go to pot-shotting at the bugs while overdosing the soil with the major nutrients - nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous - ignoring all those micro-nutrients and enzymes and tiny living things - molds, bacteria, bugs, worms, etc. - that are vital to soil fertility. And the larger life forms - frogs, toads, "weeds", "groundhogs" (formerly called woodchucks in a less competitive time), minks, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, deer, bears, cougars, snakes, newts, salamanders - are also part of the soil (and which used to be abundant in what is now the Pittsburgh region).

A food security project is gearing up in the Garfield area. Effort is being made to secure land from the increasingly predatory real estate situation which is being exacerbated by the city's budget problems. What the Healcrest Urban Community Farm is starting should be a template for what happens county-wide.
The choice will be made whether to demonize the poor - and so rationalize their abandonment and allow the system failures to treat them more and more badly - or to recognize ourselves, our own family in those without the power to avoid direct consequences of the increasingly brutal business climate that is developing. Please look into what food security advocates such as these people are doing, and see that - just as we need the lowly earthworm and so-called "ugly" bugs and critters too small to see without a microscope - we also need those who we who may be a little better off have found it easier to marginalize.

The Healcrest Urban Community Farm is devoted to sustainable urban farming, is organizing gardens and gardeners to supply farmstands, and owns 1.7 acres near Penn Ave. at the corner of Shamrock Way, Hillcrest Street, and Pacific Ave. Their events are available via 412/362-1982, mothermoonbeam@aol.com, or http://www.thomasmertoncenter.org/calendar. The next is October 20th - an exploration of types of composting around the world - 6 to 8 p.m. at the Farm. Some of their other meeting are at the most interesting used-book shop I've ever seen, owned by one of the Farm's founders - Ricardo Robinson.

He had the unique idea to either sell or lend (for free) books, and specializes in what he judges to be "good" literature. The place has the nice laid-back come-on-in-and-talk atmosphere that could do something economic-development-wise for Hazelwood. It's called Yard Sale Books, and is at 5165 Penn (near Pacific.)

Special Events at Roberta Weissburg Leathers

Roberta Weissburg Leathers is thrilled to invite you to a Grand Open House Party celebrating our newest store in the South Side Works.

Friday, October 21 thru Sunday, October 23
527 S. 27th Street ~ South Side
412.488.8008

Would be gambling hall owners pour even more cash into state PACs and candidates

I won't be getting any of this money, I promise. However, I'll be running against it again.

It is no secret that the state Dems and state Republicans are flush with cash from the racino days, the riverboat days and the rest of the past decade as gambling came calling. Diven and Fontana got lots of state party money. That is blood money from gambling interests.

Then there is the trickle down effects. Money from one goes to the next and on-and-on to even the school board and city council candidates. Many Dems give money to other Dems and this money often came from the special interest groups -- like gambling hall operators.

PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Pa. slot parlor hopefuls pour cash into PACs, candidate funds: "Pa. slot parlor hopefuls pour cash into PACs, candidate funds
10/15/2005, 12:37 p.m. ET By MARC LEVY, The Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) � Entrepreneurs vying for licenses to run gambling halls in Pennsylvania have contributed at least $330,000 to political candidates and causes since the state legalized slot machines 14 months ago, campaign finance records show.
The recipients included the five men, Gov. Ed Rendell and the four top Republican and Democrat leaders in the Legislature, who appointed the members of the state board that will award the slots licenses.
About $171,000 was contributed to the governor and the four legislative leaders and PACs that those lawmakers control.

October: Sleepy Hollow and PG

   Here, now, the PG does NOT stand for Post-Gazette. Rather, Project Gutenberg.

Now we enjoy the month of Halloween.

Here, Pittsburgh, might be sleepy in terms of its politcal race for its top elected official. And, we might be turning into a mere Hollow rather than a big-league city -- but let's have some October fun with Project Gutenberg.

---

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW

BY WASHINGTON IRVING

FOUND AMONG THE PAPERS OF THE LATE DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER.

A pleasing land of drowsy head it was,
Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye;
And of gay castles in the clouds that pass,
Forever flushing round a summer sky.
CASTLE OF INDOLENCE.

IN the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern shore of the Hudson, at that broad expansion of the river denominated by the ancient Dutch navigators the Tappan Zee, and where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of St. Nicholas when they crossed, there lies a small market town or rural port, which by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally and properly known by the name of Tarry Town. This name was given, we are told, in former days, by the good housewives of the adjacent country, from the inveterate propensity of their husbands to linger about the village tavern on market days. Be that as it may, I do not vouch for the fact, but merely advert to it, for the sake of being precise and authentic. Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little valley or rather lap of land among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world. A small brook glides through it, with just murmur enough to lull one to repose; and the occasional whistle of a quail or tapping of a woodpecker is almost the only sound that ever breaks in upon the uniform tranquillity.

I recollect that, when a stripling, my first exploit in squirrel-shooting was in a grove of tall walnut-trees that shades one side of the valley. I had wandered into it at noontime, when all nature is peculiarly quiet, and was startled by the roar of my own gun, as it broke the Sabbath stillness around and was prolonged and reverberated by the angry echoes. If ever I should wish for a retreat whither I might steal from the world and its distractions, and dream quietly away the remnant of a troubled life, I know of none more promising than this little valley.

From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered glen has long been known by the name of SLEEPY HOLLOW, and its rustic lads are called the Sleepy Hollow Boys throughout all the neighboring country. A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere.

Go get the entire book. Find a youngster and read it to him or her. Start tonight. Here is the link to the entire work, free of charge, as part of Project Gutenberg's fine efforts.

A call to a meeting as published in the AIA newsletter

Working Together for Pittsburgh's Future

What does your neighborhood need to succeed? Please join the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, and Southwestern PA LISC for a Town Hall Meeting for Pittsburgh's Future. The meeting will be held Thursday, October 20th from 2:30 to 8 pm at The Circuit Center, 5 Hot Metal Street in the South SIde. To RSVP, call Jennifer Fox at the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh at 412-391-4144 or email jfox@cdcp.org For more information, visit www.ppnd.org

Stan, muddy Stan

Stan was the name of the hurrican that hit Central American recently. A few emails via the Katrinia Helpers list are posted in the comments.

Class photo.

Swimming is okay at the beaches if you swim within the shark nets. No thanks. We did a lot of swimming, but it as at swim pools, not the beach. This warning is from Lamma Island. It is one of the smaller islands that make up greater Hong Kong. We hiked there on a paved pathway. We got over there and back via ferry from Central, pier 3.

Thanks for the gifts -- friendships -- and hospitality in Hong Kong

We were treated very well in our recent trip. Thanks.


Teresa, Nhicole, Elaine and Lena (faculty at HKU) at lunch.

Photos are to be posted shortly -- we're home!

Julie and Lindsey, Pitt graduate students, fellow travelers, at Ocean Park in Hong Kong.

Carlynton Swim Club -- back in the day -- 2005

City to vote on panhandling bill

Okay, let's turn downtown into Rosslyn Farms. Let's knock out all business. Let's stop all interactions. Let's take down all the signs on all the buildings. Let's end all transactions too. Make them illegal.

The Pitt News - City to vote on panhandling bill The proposed extensions include expanding the definition of panhandling to incorporate all types of solicitation, including religious groups and community service organizations that ask for money. The new bill also lists stricter regulations on when and where individuals are allowed to panhandle.

Downtown's problems are not rooted with some homeless folks.

Downtown's problem is that there are only homeless folks there. Where are all the other people? Where are the everyday hustle bustle folks?

They left when freedom departed.

People vote with their feet!

Legislators aim to put limits on uses of eminent domain

PG coverage of pending bills Headline: Legislators aim to put limits on uses of eminent domain

I've sounded off on eminent domain.

Thousands of new jobs to be created -- says out of touch congress critter

Details at the my Transportation blog, http://Ratsburgh.blogspot.com.

Gene chimes in. Point noted.

MARK, I am a friend of public education! Gene

Hi,

Perhaps Gene R., City Council President and soon to be district magistrate is a friend of public education. But, I feel that a friend of public education would NOT ask the schools to give up any money for the city's dire straights -- such as with the loss income from taxes on a Second Ave TIFF. TIFFs hurt the kids in public schools right now.

We can leave funding for crossing guards out of the 'public school' discussion, but that would enter into the fray in another chapter.

I also feel that the school board races are able to be pulled and mangled by political forces as you, Jim M and Michael Diven attempted in the not too distant past. It serves as a good example for the rant and with the state of the landscape in Pgh politics. Pulling the political wires -- of itself -- isn't so bad. No harm there. But, when there isn't suitable understanding of the candidates running for school board offices -- and then we have some serious problems. So, I rail against the lack of balance.

Put a tea party into your future plans, please

My email blast from Hong Kong....

412-archives

See ya soon, I hope.

We got the tea.

Opening of Chinese National Games and that

Just got to see the lift off of a Chinese rocket into space with two passengers. They'll orbit the earth and are geared to go to the moon, perhaps, in future years. The names of the astronauts was not even mentioned throughout most of the day. The coverage wasn't secret, but it was hardly direct and up-front. Interesting. The liftoff was reported to happen in a few days -- with a few day range of time. Weather was a factor, but so too was putting the cat out of the bag.

Then we got to see the opening ceremonies of the National Games in China. Parade, flags and teams of athletes. There are teams from various regions and provinces. Plus, there are teams from Telco Workers, Space Workers (big cheer with the liftoff today for them), Forestry, Railway workers, etc.

Chinese weightlifter breaks three world records -- Olympic champion Chen Yanqing broke all three world records in the 127-pound weightlifting class on Tuesday, one of two Chinese women to set new marks this week at China's national games. SI

Diversity is not Divine

The wrong bark goes out up the wrong tree, again.

The point is not to make the 'queen for a day' concept work better in Pittsburgh. Rather, the real goal should be the elimination of royalty, boards, overlords, queens, court honchos and better-than-thou kiss-ups.

We don't need as many authorities as we got. We have too many governmental appointees.

Councilman to introduce board diversity bill
Tuesday, October 11, 2005, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Councilman William Peduto expects to introduce legislation today aimed at increasing the diversity of appointees to city boards, authorities and commissions.

The proposed ordinance would require that the city advertise on its Web site openings on boards, like those that guide city redevelopment, public housing, parking, water and sewerage and other functions.

People could apply via the city's Web site. Each year, the city would report on the diversity of the applicants and appointees, allowing the public to track progress, he said.

"By law, we could not create a quota," he said.

"But what we can do is create a system by which the next mayor would be persuaded to make diverse appointments."

The legislation would "encourage [officials] to look beyond their usual suspects" when making appointments, said Heather Arnet, executive director of the Women and Girls Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which helped craft the proposal.

Mr. Peduto said council will hold a public hearing before voting.

And now for some modern art. This was a very impressive room in the Hong Kong Museum of Art. It celebrated the book and pages flowed from the sky, along the walls and open on the floor. Furthermore, all the characters (words) were made up -- jibberish so to speak.

Good reason to put our priorities in order -- and it isn't for government groups to get into real estate

PG article:

North Side housing renewal reversed by neighborhood violence

We need to get our house in order, and I don't mean the bricks and windows. The problems of Pittsburgh are not hardware ills. Rather, we have software, performance, activity, community problems. This isn't about blight. This isn't about buildings. This isn't about shade trees. Nor is it about parking garages and stadiums.

Cardinal beat Red Storm and the other hot-shot from CMU

Stanford robot beats CMU in desert race -- so reported the PG headline.

This was a science experiement -- and a big-deal race. This was more about 'sport' than it was about toys and play. Perhaps it was a test-match, as is said in international competitions when one squad battles another.

But, CMU's problem is that it was up against Stanford. No other university in the world can hold a candle to Stanford in terms of its sporting success. Stanford owns the NCAA's President Cup for the best sports program. Stanford has won at least one national title every year for the past ten years -- in at least one sport.

CMU, meanwhile, is bush next to them -- in terms of sporting success. Different league. This isn't like the Pirates playing the Yankees.

The slow drowning of New Orleans

Ken S, a PA Libertarian, wrote with a pointer about the article:

The Washington Post ran an article Sat, 10/08, with the headline: The slow drowning of New Orleans. It is available under the "Hurricans' Aftermath" section on msnbc.com
with the same headline.

I encourage you to print it for yourselves, and safe it as a classic tale of the long-term damage caused by politicians who: a) look no further than their own relections, b) are happy to spend everyone's money except their own, and c) are arrogant and stupid enough to believe they can control the forces of nature, despite repeated evidence to the contrary.

Ludwig and Lamb put their chips on the table -- still -- while Bob and Joe slumber

The first gambling forum was held and this excellent idea was put forth by Les Ludwig.

Two of the first three speakers were unsuccessful Democratic mayoral candidates in the spring primary. Les Ludwig wanted to know whether the David L. Lawrence Convention Center could be used as a casino. Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb said he has concerns about how a Station Square casino might affect Mt. Washington, where he lives.

Neither Murphy nor either of the nominated mayoral candidates, Democrat Bob O'Connor and Republican Joe Weinroth, attended.

Perhaps I'll go to the meeing on Monday night at The Dice.

Characters, giggles really

Salina had a story (and it is more a story than news) in the Trib about Diven and his band of merry folks.

It is hard to say one is not making footprints when you spend $1-million and only get votes at $70 or so per tick. The footprints are up and down Diven's front and back sides. Diven did a deer-in-the-headlights campaign for PA Senate -- and wasted $1-million. And, he is still doing the PSAs, as mentioned in the article.

If Diven was christened by Harrisburg's elite -- we only have to remember that it was those devils who bailed out Pittsburgh, gave us gambling, can't understand schools and took the big pay raise. To me, a christening from them is more like darnation!

Even the savior had 12 others to loaf with.

I hope to see Michael Lamb running, not for Diven's seat in the state house, but for Fontana's seat in the Senate -- in the D's primary. Lamb should not have run in the race in 2001 for Mayor. And, Lamb should have switched out of the Mayor's race to enter the State Senate race, even as an Indie. Even late in the game.

My curb talk says that the present city councilman, Motznik, runs for City Controller if Tom Flaherty gets the win in his quest for a seat on the bench as a judge. Motznik can't run against Diven. No way.

The classic line of the entire article however is this: Affable, hard-working and focused, Coghill's only black mark may be a lack of knowledge of the issues.

His only black mark is a lack of knowledge of the issues. Jeepers. Seems to me that the knowledge thing is way over-blown, or not.

Then there is this typo. Nerone isn't on city council. Was that to be Motznik?

Nerone ascended to his City Council seat the easy way: It was vacated. He borders on bland and would be the weakest candidate of the lot. Aggressive door-knocking, a solid base and drive-by visits to neighborhoods are needed to win House seats like this; none is Nerone's strength.

Good news journalism -- but the missing gaps are huge

The Trib recently reported:

"Around Baltimore, their properties are going up 50 to 60 percent, so there's going to be a lot of stink raised," said Ron Brown, an assessment supervisor in Maryland, which reassesses every three years. "See, that's why we work for the state. The county uses our information ... then they blame it on the state."

But what is NOT reported is the fact that in MD, they use a measure called, "ASSESSMENT BUFFERING." That is the tool that we need here in PA. That tool isn't talked about, yet, in the mainstream media in Pittsburgh. We need to talk about Assessment Buffering. I talked on and on about it in the campaign for PA Senate.

Assessment buffering has "salvation promise potential" for the region.

The assessments in Baltimore go up 50 to 60 percent. However, what gets paid is only one third of the increase each year for the next three years. So, there is NOT a big hit to the household in one short period. Family budgets can be adjusted.

In PA, we just kick you in the teeth and don't make any measures otherwise.

In PA media circles, they take the bad news elsewhere and report upon it so that those here who have to pay the pain feel not so bad.

Witch Hunt or some good, clean, new fashioned fun to sweep PA?

More and more, the people of Hong Kong celebrate Halloween. I don't expect we'll see many in this type of constume however.

We want to keep the pay-raise issue alive in the minds of the average citizen---not just the ones who signed their names on a petition. So, we plan on having a little bit of fun by participating in as many Halloween events and fall festivals as we possibly can. When is YOUR town's parade or festival?

Our first event is the Mechanicsburg Halloween Parade, THIS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11th, and we NEED YOUR HELP. We are depending on local, Mechanicsburg-area people to lend a hand by walking with us in the parade.

We want YOU to have fun, while, at the same time, delivering the message that VOTERS ARE NOT SHEEP...not anymore, anyway!

Without letting the "cat out of the bag", so to speak, we want ALL of you to BRING A BROOM with you, and come walk in the parade as we SWEEP the scoundrels out of our lives. We have borrowed a few masks/costumes for the lead characters, if you are willing to wear one. But we also need people in regular casual clothes, too. Just BRING A BROOM, if you can.

If you can dress in either white, black, or red (our official colors), that would be great....but that's not required. If you have your own animal masks (pigs, cows, sheep, especially), wear them!

If you have extra brooms you don't need, we will accept donations of those (but we need you to fill out a form, sorry, because we are a political action committee that has to follow certain laws).

So, when and were are the Pittsburgh-based halloween events? I'll go. I'll bring a broom or two.

On the South Side, we used to host a halloween parade. But, then the event was killed by city hall due to budget cuts. The Market House folks (staffers too) helped to organize the event.

Then the cost of police overtime blew the event out of the water.

One year, the event was to be killed. I had been asking a lot about its organization in August. Yep, no more parade was the word from Grant Street. I replied through the chain of command, "Great. I'll sponsor the parade." Tell the Mayor that I'll sponsor the parade. I want to meet with him and the director of Parks to hash out the budget and we'll raise the money as a community effort that I'll organize. It was August, so we had plenty of lead time. A week later, the parade was re-scheduled as a formal city event. The next year, I was working no the Great Race Replacement.

But, there are other events in the city and area.
Clean sweep advocates need all the various tools at the ready -- from mops, to brushes, to brooms. 

This is what you get when you have a cultural district that takes its eyes off of 'culture' and goes into land development

The Pittsburgh Cultural District and might as well mention the PDP (Pgh Downtown Partnership) should be ashamed. We are killing the Pgh Ballet with this move. Protest and outrage is necessary here.

We have the folks in the cultural district -- as well as the folks in the neighborhoods -- more worried about land development deals. They have taken their eyes off the ball. They fumble their duties. They make everything we have diminish in value with their miss-placed priorities.

By Marylynne Pitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Outside the Benedum Center last night, a Dixieland band played "Sweet Georgia Brown," but the 150 people picketing the lack of live music at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's production of "Carmen" did not sugar-coat their messages.

One picket's sign read, "Live Ballet Plus Canned Music Equals Dirty Dancing." Another protester's sign said, "Wanted: A Ballet Management That Cares."

Among the pickets were 25 music students from Carnegie Mellon University; musicians from New York City, Toronto, and Akron; local stagehands; Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians in full dress with white ties; and T-shirt-clad members of the Service Employees International Union and Teamsters.

In an attempt to save $500,000 a year, the financially troubled PBT has decided to use recorded music during its performances instead of hiring musicians.

Laura Brownell, director of symphonic services for the American Federation of Musicians in New York City, said ballet-goers were being cheated because "they are being asked to pay the same amount for half of the experience."

Mark Tetreault, principal tuba player with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, agreed.

Shark Fin Soup --- been there, done that.

Okay, what's the buzz about shark fin soup? We had it served to us at a traditional meal two nights ago -- when Grant (7) was sleeping on the floor in the corner of the private room within the larger facility. And again, last night, while the speakers for the event gathered (only Catherine and the two Pitt grad students went), the meal's six course was shark fin soup.

This is a traditional banquet food for special occasions in Hong Kong.

Some world-wide protests forced Disney to knock it off of its menus in Hong Kong. And that is a big deal as Disney has the resorts and tries to lure (pun intended) weddings to its banquet facilities.

Other larger, Hong Kong facilities have not backed down to the protesters and have kept the dish.

Once it came in the soup with small chunks. The other time it was in grinds. But the soup is much more than the shark fin. Pork and a chicken broth dominate the bowl.

What follows is from the Pgh Zoo and Aquarium site. They are getting set for RAD days and Zoo Boo.

Fish Flap Aired at Phipps

Eat fish, live longer? Maybe, but is your catch-of-the-day safe to eat? Is there enough of it swimming that it should be fished at all? How can consumers be sure which results of scientific studies are true and which are just plain fishy? And which fish get a clean bill of health?

As the world's shrinking and increasingly toxic seafood supply places many fish off-limits for responsible and safe eating, Slow Food Pittsburgh joins forces with Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in an educational series. The message? Despite the scaremongers, fishmongers, and scary reports, many delicious and responsible options remain.

Series participants will learn as they eat. Each program offers information and guidelines along with an opportunity to sit down to a meal celebrating seafood choices that satisfy both appetite and conscience. The series opens Sunday, October 9 with a free-to-the-public panel discussion at 4 p.m. in Phipps' Outdoor Garden under tents. The debate will be followed by a seafood dinner at 6 p.m. in the same location.

The debate will mesh viewpoints of panel participants. Douglass Dick, owner and executive chef of Bona Terra restaurant in Sharpsburg will address the balancing act by chefs to make responsible seafood choices and satisfy a public that often unknowingly demands endangered fish. Seth Morrison, Seafood Team, Whole Foods Pittsburgh will discuss the pros and cons of farmed and wild-caught fish considered when buying for an eco-aware customer base. Sara Pozonsky, co-owner of her family-owned fishery will tell her insider's story of wild salmon fishing in Kenai, Alaska. David Mintz, Senior Education Specialist, Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium will put global overfishing and threats to farmed and wild fish in perspective and explain the role of the consumer. The Zoo and Aquarium is an Associate Partner in Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program, featuring regional Seafood Watch Guides that help consumers understand what fish to buy and why. Copies of the guide will be available at the program and Mintz's presentation will focus on helping consumers use the guide as an aid in wise shopping. Participants will also receive a wallet card guide detailing eco-best and eco-worst fish choices at the markets.

The buffet-style dinner menu of fresh, sustainably produced seafood will be prepared by Café Phipps and big Burrito chefs. It features a clam and oyster raw bar, steamed mussels, grilled Wild Alaskan Company Copper River salmon, smoked trout salad, herbed roasted potatoes, locally grown greens, and autumn apple desserts. Guests will sit together at long tables, Slow Food style. Dinner is $45 for Slow Food members and $55 for non-members. There is a cash bar featuring wine and beer.

Participants may opt for the lecture, dinner, or both. The lecture preceding dinner is free and open to the public, but reservations for dinner are a must. To reserve by credit card, call Karen Bracken at Phipps Garden Center at (412) 441-4442, ext. 3201. Reservations are limited.

Volleyball and the Mon Valley Facilities

We joined the local health club for the month membership, $560 HK Dollars. And, it is nice. But don't be shocked by the price tag. A can of Coke can cost $7 to $10 here, in Hong Kong Dollars, not US$.

Now I'm at the 'reading room' and it is nice. However, none under 18 are allowed. Sad for AJ and the kids. But they'll join me shortly.

Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball announces an affiliation with Court Time Sports Center for the 2006 season and beyond. The 2006 season tryouts are November 6 (Baldwin HS), and November 13, 15 (Court Time Sports Center).

For more information please call 412.215.6738.

Scott Butler, Court Time Sports Center, Executive Director
95 Enterprise Drive, Elizabeth, PA 15037
www.courttimesportscenter.com
412.754.2005 = office

MapHub: Shared Urban Storytelling

A CMU professor and his students recently unveiled a web-based, interactive map system for Pittsburgh, called "MapHub". You can think of it as Wikipedia applied to a map of Pittsburgh; users place comments and markers on top of a simple street map of Pittsburgh, developing a picture of the city that can't be found in traditional maps.

One of the first groups to join in this project is Bike Pittsburgh, which is documenting useful information for bikers, such as the location of bike racks and dangerous stretches of road. However, users aren't limited to any official" themes, and are able to create their own objects to place on maps and their own hubs to display particular types of objects placed by a particular community.

Highland Park, Zoo and Soccer fields

Where are the ULTIMATE FRISBEE folks? Remember the past promises?

Back in 2000 -- when Mayor Murphy was making promises that still were not known to be fabricated lies -- (The promise was a lie, but it wasn't known to be a lie.) -- there were some "promises" to make "frisbee fields." The ultimate frisbee crowd, "those urban young people," jumped on board with Tom Murphy. They took the story, hook, line and sinker.

How about an update on those fields, please.

Let's hear from all sides on that.

The plan, in the article below, is lame. There is much more to do that is much better than what they'll even imagine.

For starters, build a simple bike path that stretches from the zoo parking lot to the bike oval. The bike path is needed, now. It was needed years ago. People can bike to Highland Park, but can't get out of the park at the base of the hill unless they take their life into a near death zone by the end of the Highland Park Bridge. The pathway would be easy to construct. There is space among the weeds.

Murphy is such a pathway fart. He misses the main connectors all the time.

The plan in the city now is to stretch the bike path out of the bike oval on Washington Blvd UP the hill to Homewood and then to East Liberty. There is a grand plan. But the basics should be accomplished.

Then if you want to get grand -- give all of Highland Park to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

You know we spend more to build and upkeep places for our fish to swim than we do for our children.

You should see how they treat the kids here in Hong Kong: Climbing walls, kids play rooms, signs on buses that say give up prime seat to parents with children, indoor swim pools, tennis courts that are not under a bubble -- but are in much greater heat than what Pittsburgh experiences. Pittsburgh puts its best tennis courts under a bubble all summer. Go figure.

By the way, I loved the article about how Clarion, PA, was a noted as a great place to raise kids. Great coverage. Great concepts. We in Pittsburgh could do much better as we'd be able to bridge that link when the kids get older and go to college and enter into the job market. But, we have to keep the family centered hopes alive.

By the way too, I loved to read that Pittsburgh is one of the most safe places in the US for kids walking on the streets. They must have looked at auto deaths and not the deaths from drive bye bullets the radiate from a few of those cars. And, they seemed to overlook how Tom Murphy took all the burden of the crossing guards out of the city budget (where it belongs). The crossing guards are important. They are part of the city's responsibilities. Murphy fumbled again.

Soccer fields, park, trails proposed for zoo parking lot
Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mayor Tom Murphy's administration has introduced legislation that would turn the northern end of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium parking lot into a soccer field, park land and trails.

A resolution now before City Council would steer $200,000 in city funding and $200,000 from the state to the design of a 40-acre extension of Highland Park.

The zoo is in agreement with the proposed change, said spokeswoman Rachel Capp. "Soccer fields, kids, families -- that's in line with what we do," she said.

The zoo would shift some parking southward to the site of a former asphalt dump and would have the same number of spaces it does now, she added.

The project would ultimately involve $12 million in expenditures by the city, zoo and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said Pat Hassett, assistant director of city planning. PennDOT would reconstruct the Butler Street Bridge near the site, he said.

City Councilman Len Bodack said the project has the support of community groups and answers the need for more soccer fields in the city. Council could take a tentative vote on the design funding next Wednesday.

If all goes well, soccer fields could be ready by spring 2008.

Thoughts from the other side of the world

Ouch: New York City is raising threat alert level for subway system, CNN has learned. AP reports a "credible security threat" as reason.

Lugging Grant after a long day in Hong Kong.

Last night I carried Grant through the subway in Hong Kong and then to the pier, ferry and bus home. Trains, boats, buses and a lot of walking, of course, is filling our travel needs these days. We are living in a community that is car-free! They do have golf carts however.

Catherine's side-line gig this weekend is a presentation to 250 at a conference with many doctors and nurses. She is the keynote.

The grad students are pulling their weight. They had to get the probe microphone system out of the box and running yesterday on a couple hours notice for the class. Not much time for shopping, but we rushed through an outdoor market last night while I was lugging Grant. Some 'trip.'

We visited the swim pool at the Disney Resort Hotel yesterday, before our big tour of Widex and the banquet feast. We had six main courses, including the shark fin soup. They first course was ordered with the request to leave the pig's head off of the serving plate. So nice.

From State Rep: D. Metcalfe: As you are probably aware I am an advocate of the complete elimination of the property tax system. Humm. I'm worried about that statement in that he is also in favor of changes to the eminent domain laws too. I think the policy of changes to eminent domain (YES) and the complete elimination of property taxes (NO) is a toxic combination that is much worse than playing with fire. The two don't go together for the long haul. Rep Metcalfe did give me some props for the 'approach' the the testimony I made a the state committee hearing. Well, we've got some more thinking to do on this.

Did you know that in China, (mainland), you can't buy property. When it is sold, the maximum length of its sale is for 99 years. When property is sold for 99 years -- there is little need for eminent domain, I guess. The combination is something to ponder.

---

Last Sunday, I saw the article in the Trib that quoted James C. Roddey about Joe Weinroth's chances as a Republican in the city. Roddey's opinion, from Oakmont, matters on city politics as much as his help to the city Republican efforts -- LITTLE. Roddey could NOT win the city in general elections. And Roddey could not count on building the GOP base in the city -- because he didn't try nor care. Roddey had some weaknesses. Same too with Weinroth, no doubt. However, Roddey's failures in certain elements don't need to be universal.

And, for Tom L, it was GREAT for me to read the names of the other candidates within the story. That's all I seek -- mentions. That is all that is earned, so far, perhaps. Fine. But, the journalist in me wants to see the mentions of the others. Make those mentions of the others as there is a duty to be "complete" in the overview of the coverage.

REI's grand opening in Pittsburgh: something special?

Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) is opening its first store (map) in Pittsburgh this weekend. Grand opening celebrations will run from this Friday (Oct 7) thru Sunday (Oct 9) at 412 S. 27th Street on the South Side.

During the grand opening celebrations, REI is going out of their way to attract bicyclists--they've arranged for Bike Pittsburgh volunteers to provide valet parking services to bikers in exchange for a $10 donation from REI to Bike Pittsburgh for each bike parked.

I'm happy that REI is coming to Pittsburgh. When I lived in California, I became a member of REI and often shopped at their stores. Yes, I became a member of a store. REI is a consumer co-op, meaning that for a one-time, $15 payment, anyone can become a member, which includes the right to collect "dividends" (an annual rebate on purchases) and the right to vote in elections for the Board of Directors. Another nice perk is the REI Visa card, which returns 1% of all purchases to the member in the form of the annual dividends--this is actual cash without all the gimmicks and limitations that other credit cards use.

So, does all of this make REI a "special" store? Or is REI just another big retail chain? I'm not sure yet, but I intend to shop there because the store offers a wide variety of high-quality goods. I haven't shopped around enough to know how well REI's prices compare with those of other stores because I often couldn't find REI's products at other stores; however, for the products that I did see at other stores, REI's prices were comparable, meaning that the annual dividend (up to 10%) is meaningful.

In many ways, REI does behave like any other retail chain. It started out in Seattle, but eventually opened stores all over the country, apparently without much concern for how this would affect the members in Seattle who established the store (as reported in Seattle Weekly). In the few years that I've been a member of REI, I've never voted for a board member--there just didn't seem to be any point to it. It seems that the only meaningful choice the members could make would be to transform the corporation into a network of locally owned stores; but as long as they provide good products at a reasonable price, there isn't a whole lot that I can say about the running of a nation-wide corporation.

REI does emphasize the contributions that they make to the community--they provide funds to maintain and improve trails and parks, they sponsor classes for neighbors, and they also provide support to groups like Bike Pittsburgh. The cynic in me notes that all of these activities serve to increase the market for REI's goods; however, they are honest activities and have good results--unlike, for example, how the Automobile Association of America lobbies for increased government subsidies for automobile use. The idealist (and optimist) in me thinks that REI may just be finding a good use for excess revenues since there are no capital owners expecting returns on their initial investments. Perhaps REI really does have a culture that values its customers and employees: even if Board elections don't allow the members to exert much control, perhaps the Board recognizes that the members expect it to act in a socially responsible manner and that's part of the reason that they continue to support the store.

Anyway, I suggest that you check out REI, and let me know if you have any opinions about its activities and organization.

One last note of interest is that the outdoors equipment market in Canada is dominated by a Co-op, the Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Voters guide effort just starting

Progress Pittsburgh Challenge

Q: Where can you find profiles of every candidate on the November ballot in the City of Pittsburgh?

A: Nowhere... yet!

We are calling on the entire progressive community of Pittsburgh -- all individuals and organizations who want to see better government in our region -- to pitch in and contribute to a community/volunteer driven effort to profile all of the candidates on the November ballot. Time is tight! With your help, we hope to have the basics in place by October 11. More information can be added between then and November 8, but we'd like to publish a printed guide, and for that we have a very tight deadline: October 18.

How to help:
1) View the existing voter guide in the Progress Pittsburgh Knowledge Base here: http://www.progresspittsburgh.org/DocumentPage.php?blockid=2111 -- and note that while we have pages for almost all the candidates, we're still missing a lot of information. If you see blanks, fill them in!

2) Post your interesting / relevant information on any of the candidates by editing their page. Instructions are here: http://www.progresspittsburgh.org/DocumentPage.php?blockid=145

This is a community effort, so let's get together as progressives and share our knowledge.

Questions? Email me at andrea@progresspittsburgh.org.

Thanks!

Andrea

Concert Series organized by Wilburn

Wilburn, the director of research for the Rauterkus.com campaign, is the organizer of this concert series. Here are the future dates.

Calliope Legends Concerts & The First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh Present the 2005-2006 Series

October 29 Ken Waldman with Mark Tamsula and Don Shean - www.kenwaldman.com

January 28 Lee Murdock - www.leemurdock.com

March 4 Lorna Bracewell - http://www.lornabracewell.com

March 25 Isla - http://islamusic.com

April 8 Coyote - http://www.coyotemusic.net

All concerts begin at 8 PM and are held at First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, 605 Morewood Avenue, Shadyside (at the intersection of Morewood & Ellsworth Avenues). Admission for the Evening is $15.00 at the Door, Students only pay $5.

Workshops are from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.

Catch each performer live on the Saturday Light Brigade (SLB) 88.3 WRCT- FM, with Larry Berger morning of concert.

Cleaning up the world one city at a time...

It looks like the theme for me this week will be "Pollution and alternative transportation."

Here's another good article from the science magazine Nature: Cities offer hope for cleaner world. The article surveys the pollution reduction programs that have been implemented in several cities and discussed at a recent conference of city governments.

Representatives of more than 20 world cities have gathered in London to trade ideas on how to address climate change. The summit is the first to bring together city leaders, rather than national governments, to discuss attempts at reducing greenhouse emissions....

We should expect cities governments to be more effective at pollution reduction than national governments because..."cities have control of transport, managing waste and future planning..."

Cities are also the place where most of the world's people live. This year, the proportion of the world population living in urban areas passed 50% for the first time. And because of their dense transport and power systems, cities account for 75% of the world's energy use.

The solutions covered at this conference apply to cities ranging from London and New York to Curitiba, Brazil. With such variety, I expect that Pittsburgh could find some solutions that are applicable here.

Save Gas, Money and the Environment with Properly Inflated Tires

A student group at Carnegie Mellon University surveyed the tire pressure of a bunch of cars parked on campus and concluded that on average, the drivers of these cars could save $432 a year (by increasing fuel efficiency) just by keeping their tires properly inflated. Of course, this also includes reductions in air pollution and gasoline consumption.

I know that America could accomplish many great things if we took small steps such as this to stop wasting our resources, and then reinvested those resources in ourselves and our communities. Kudos to Carnegie Mellon's Sustainable Earth Club for identifying a simple way to make a better world.

Treehugger: Bicycle Sales Are Exploding

With Mark out of town, I'll be trying to keep some interesting content on this blog. Here's an interesting report via Treehugger: Bicycle Sales Are Exploding.

Tea time! Brewing, Delivering, Distilling. Revolutionary kick-off.

One lump or two?

Secure the flavors of your choice. Insert your ideas and requests in the comments below.

I've got a new email blast that is going to go out from Hong Kong early next week. I'm calling Pittsburgh to join together and make a new, prudent revolution based upon ideas and deeds of common-sense governmental leadership. More to come shortly. But, what kind of tea fits your fancy? Orders please. Insert them into the comments section of this blog.

CollegeSwimming.com - Pittsburgh kid moves to coach at LSU

CollegeSwimming.com David Geyer, an assistant coach at Mecklenburg Aquatics for the past three seasons, has been named an assistant coach for the LSU swimming team, head coach Adam Schmitt announced Thursday.

Geyer, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., comes to LSU with five years of coaching experience in the collegiate and club levels. He will serve as recruiting coordinator for the Tigers, a post the 28-year old has experience in.

'He brings ability, organization and direction to our recruiting efforts here at LSU,' said Schmitt. 'His enthusiastic approach is an asset that will follow through with the things needed to help this program be successful. He also displays a tremendous ability of learning and leadership, values that will help lead us to our team goals.'

While at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club in Charlotte, N.C., Geyer worked with associate head coach Morgan Bailey. Before his three-year stint at Mecklenburg, Geyer served as an assistant at his alma mater of Shippensburg University from 1999-2001. He helped train all levels of athletes from developmental to national in his two seasons there.

A talented athlete himself, Geyer was a four-time All-American in relays at Shippensburg. He graduated from Shippensburg with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1999 before receiving his master's degree in counseling in 2001.

'I am excited and thrilled to be a part of a school that takes so much pride and has tremendous tradition in its collegiate athletics program,' said Geyer. 'As a part of this staff, I hope to assist and take the program to a higher level of performance.'

CollegeSwimming.com

CollegeSwimming.com: "The American Swimming Association University League is an association of student-run swim clubs from colleges and universities across the United States. ASA U., the first national collegiate club swimming league, was founded in response to the elimination of so many college and university swimming teams across the country. ASA U. welcomes all swim clubs affiliated with higher-education institutions and supports them in their inception, with hosting meets, as well as offering means of pooling resources, negotiating benefits, and setting standards for collegiate clubs. For more information and to join our effort to expand opportunities for college swimmers.

NCAA - coaching job for rasslers at Clarion

NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic Association Job Description Assistant Wrestling Coach Clarion University of Pennsylvania, a Division I Institution member in wrestling and member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and ...

Weisel Hostel, Creekside Art Sale

The second annual event was from noon to 4 pm.

A group of local artists and artisans give the opportunity to browse their collections. Perfect chance to get to know local artists, sip cider, listen to good music, or hike along the beautiful Tohickon Creek. Bring the whole family.

212 536 8749

The facility resides in a state park and is operated by Bucks County Dept. of Parks & Recreation.

My sister and brother-in-law, Geri Ann and John, live there and have house responsibilities.

Amusement Parks, Octoberfest, Casinos

Some have suggested that the new Pittsburgh Gambling Parlor be put at the Parkway Center Mall -- very near to Green Tree, yet within the borders of the City of Pittsburgh.

Octoberfest in Green Tree is this weekend. While at the Octoberfest, around the booth of the Green Tree Great White Sharks, I'll ask what the locals think of that idea.

The photo is of a defunct amusement park outside of Beijing. We passed this site on the way to The Great Wall. It looks like Disney. But, we'll be going to Hong Kong Disney on Tuesday. I'll take a few snapshots. Disney is getting some bad karma as it said it intends to open another Disney in a few years in mainland China. That won't be near Beijing, but near the other mega city, Shanghai.

The Parkway Center Mall idea for gambling has a few merits as it is already built, near a highway, near some hotels and the mall is hurting presently. But, it isn't as good as putting the new gambling casino within the existing Convention Center.

Voters should get to choose. Which one do you like?

Voters Choice Act -- Rally

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2005

For more information contact:
- Ken Krawchuk at 267-496-3332
- David Jahn at 610-461-7755

"VOTERS CHOICE ACT" RALLY HELD IN HARRISBURG

The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition held a kickoff rally to introduce their Voters Choice Act last Saturday, September 24th, in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg. A crowd of 40 supporters gathered to hear representatives from Pennsylvania's largest third parties and independent campaigns. Among the speakers were the 1998 and 2002 Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Ken Krawchuk, Libertarian Party state chair David Jahn, former Green Party state chair Jennaro Pullano, Constitution Party national chairman Jim Clymer, Reform Party state treasurer Tom McLaughlin, John Murphy of the Ralph Nader campaign, and the 2004 Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik. High-resolution photos of the rally can be found at http://tinyurl.com/cht8k.

"We are heading for a political train wreck in 2006," Libertarian Ken Krawchuk told the crowd. "Over one million voting-age Pennsylvanians risk being denied their right to vote for the candidate of their choice." Because of a fluke in the existing ballot access laws, third party and independent candidates will need to collect approximately 100,000 signatures in order to appear on the statewide ballot in 2006, as compared to less than 3,000 for the two old parties.

Green Party's Jennaro Pullano focused on the impossibility of organizing so mammoth a petition drive. "Last year we had to work around the clock for four days to get our petitions ready for submission. I don't know how we'll be able to do it when the number is 100,000. That's the equivalent of getting everyone here in Harrisburg to sign our petition."

Jim Clymer of the Constitution Party noted that if Utah had Pennsylvania's ballot access laws, the Democrats would not be a political party, and if Massachusetts had them, the Republicans would not be a political party. "The major parties have conspired to make Pennsylvania one of the most difficult states in the nation to acquire permanent ballot access so they can maintain a monopoly stranglehold on the electoral process", Clymer concluded.

Reform Party's Tom McLaughlin focused on the statistics that result from Pennsylvania's draconian laws, specifically, that if not for third party candidates, 27% of the Congressional races would have no opposition, 28% of state senate races, and a whopping 56% of state rep races. "Republicans and Democrats try to muddy the waters or write us off as third parties", McLaughlin said. "We are not third parties, we are the only functional SECOND Party!"

John Murphy of the Ralph Nader campaign described in detail the extreme lengths that Pennsylvania Democrats went in order to keep Ralph Nader off the ballot, concluding that, "The very magnitude of that effort itself indicates that, under any conception of a democratic system, it is that very person who should be on the ballot!"

Libertarian David Jahn pointed out how third parties hold their own primaries at their own expense, then collect tens of thousands of signatures to get on the November ballot, while the two old parties benefit from taxpayer-funded primaries, then require no signatures to get on the November ballot. "This is a process that is not healthy, as it permits the major parties to run and elect sub par candidates with ease while our candidates are overwhelmed with ballot access hurdles."

At a reception immediately after the rally, the 2004 Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik addressed the crowd, comparing Pennsylvania's bad ballot access laws to the Jim Crow laws of old, since they create a second class citizenship supported by law.

The complete text of the remarks of the presenters can be found on the Coalition's website at www.PaBallotAccess.org.

The Voters Choice Act reforms Pennsylvania's draconian ballot access laws by leveling the playing field for third parties and independent candidates. Under the current law, Democrats and Republicans must collect 2,000 signatures to have their names placed on the statewide primary ballot, and none at all for the November ballot. However, to have their names placed on the November ballot in 2006, third party and independent candidates will be required to collect a minimum of 67,070 signatures, more than 33 times as many, despite a Constitutional provision that "Elections shall be free and equal".

The Voters Choice Act would change the definition of a minor political party from the current district-by-district electoral formula (2% of a recent winner's vote total) to one based upon statewide voter registrations (0.05%), and allow minor political parties to nominate candidates for all offices directly according to their party rules, and at their own expense, rather than by the existing, taxpayer-funded nomination papers process. Independent candidates would continue to nominate candidates for all offices via the current nomination papers process, but using the same signature requirements required of the two old parties rather than the current district-by-district electoral formula (2% of a recent winner's vote total).

A copy of the Voters Choice Act and its accompanying white paper can be found on the Coalition's website at www.PaBallotAccess.org.

The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition is an association of representatives from Pennsylvania's largest political third parties and independent campaigns, including the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, the Constitution Party, the America First Party, the Reform Party, the Prohibition Party, the Socialist Party, the Unified Independent Party, the New American Independent Party, and the Ralph Nader campaign, among others.

The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition
PO Box 309
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081
www.PaBallotAccess.org
PBAC@PaBallotAccess.org
Voice: (610) 543-8427
Fax: (215) 572-9248

Possible tone for the pending city council race: Matching seriousness of Old Faithful

Old Faithful. It's a technical place that happens in rare instances with the right conditions. It's more than just "hot air." It's something to marvel upon and respect. A treasure.

Going to the Opera -- In Italian -- with two intermissions!

The opera goers gathered outside of the school and the center on South Side. They headed to the cultural district after getting the insights into the opera at a class a few days prior. This is a wonderful program that my kids and wife enjoy. I got to take the photo.


Headed to the opera.

The show has two intermissions -- much like a hockey game with three periods. I expected that my youngest would be sleeping throughout the show, prior to departure. Wrong. He was on the edge of his seat all night. They arrived home after midnight. The sleep part came on Saturday morning.

Jennifer Madge, our violin instructor, played first chair too.

Big games -- or not

Pitt is behind, 27 to 0 in the second quarter at RUTGERS.

Big weekend of Red Sox baseball, hosting the Yankees.

My call-in to Pippy on KDKA-radio about the 5% windfall shrink to 0%

The South Hills' John Pippy, R, was on KDKA radio talking about the plan in Harrisburg that NUKES the provision that allows for a 5-percent windfall for taxing bodies as a result of new property assessments. Presently, a community with a new assessment can get up to a five-percent bump in gross tax incomes. So, for exmaple, the Penn Hills School District, which is part of Allgheny County, would have all of its properties with new assessment figures because the county did a re-assessment. The old values of the properties would up up to X. Then the new values of the properties would up up to Y. The law has said that Y can be up to 5% greater than X.

In essence, the present law kept the total municipal property gross close to zero, with a little wiggle room, i.e., the 5% fudge factor.

Some argue that the municipality can "raise taxes" by five percent without voting on a tax hike. Rather, the taxes were raised under the cover of the reassesement's new figures.

The controller's office, once held by Dan Onorato, needed to crunch the numbers and then could have taken a case to the courts fighting local school districts or boroughs who set the taxing levels too high so that the 5% limit was over-stepped.

The tax rates and the math that is matched with the new property values isn't "rocket science." However, the numbers are not simple and transparent for citizens nor elected officials as the benchmark is found within the sum of all municipality's properties.

Furthermore, the new assessment numbers are often in a state of flux. High percentage of people apply for appeals. So, the sum of the assessments is a moving target. Estimates are necessary within the process. Additionally, the county executive often makes blankt-changes to the forumlas and jacks around with the outcomes.

In a perfect, ideal world, no tax increases should occur without a vote for the tax increases. So, a zero windfall makes sense. But, we don't live in an ideal world.

Plus, this won't be enforced. It is a joke. It is a ploy. The legisilation is lame and feel good from Harrisburg represenatives --as usual. The new law doesn't get to the roots of the problem.

There have been many municipalities that have broken the existing five-percent windfall rule and NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. If the law gets broken and nothing happens with its enforcement -- then the law isn't worthy.

Another serious issue that was downplayed on the radio by Pippy, as a result of my on-air question, goes to 'new development.' Pippy said that this is not a big deal and he's wrong. Statewide, he is very wrong.

For example, there are many rural communities that are turning farmlands into new suburban housing. A township can see a new development with 600 or 6,000 new homes and need to take that into account when making the tax incomes match the citizen services. A community might need new police, new road crews, new garbage pick-up crews and streetlights -- because of new developments. So, the new law puts the township supervisors in a pickle.

What if Homestead, the site of the Waterfront Mall, had to keep its total tax incomes at zero -- the year that the Mall opened. Do police not cruise the mall and just go to those who paid the same from last year?

The new law needs to make some allowances for new growth and new tax incomes that were not there the past year -- and not have that included to the zero windfall benchmark.

Duhh!

The PA zero windfall proposal is a lot like zero tolerance in schools as well. A first grade kid that wears a Pirate costume to school for Halloween shouldn't be suspended for two weeks because of his sword and the zero weapon rule that ties the hands of administrators and teachers.

If Pippy wanted to do a better job -- put out the numbers from past tax increases from past assessments on a district by district basis. Then, go after the entities that took more than a 5-percent windfall. Pippy and others should enforce the existing law before they go ahead and create a new law.

If Pippy wanted to do a better job -- talk about and study, as well as enact, a different type of law that applies to an individuals tax situation that hits with new assessment figures. We need each household to add the numbers together and fight the good fight with tools that impact families -- NOT GROSS MUNICIPAL INCOMES.

Assessment buffering is needed. If we had assessment buffering -- we'd not need any ZERO WINDFALL LAW. And, assessment buffering, a point that I campaigned upon in my race for State Senate in 2005, makes a perfect solution for every tax payer throughout the state.

TCS: Tech Central Station - The Technorati Candidate

By all accounts, I'm a wired citizen and from time to time, a wired candidate. However, I've not yet gone overboard to predict a victory and only earn 5% of the vote.

TCS: Tech Central Station - The Technorati Candidate In the 2000 presidential election, Al Gore found out that it was possible to win the popular vote, and still lose the electoral vote. In last week's Democratic primary for New York City Public Advocate, Andrew Rasiej found out that it was possible to win the blogger vote, and still lose the popular vote.

For the two months leading up to the primary election on September 13, Rasiej captured the hearts and minds of bloggers like no other candidate since Howard Dean with a technology-centric campaign that included a plan for citywide wireless Internet access, a video blog (in addition to a regular blog), and a plan for making 911 calls from the NYC subway. On the day preceding the election, in fact, 'Rasiej' ranked as one of the ten most popular search terms on the blog search engine Technorati. Anyone convinced of the power of the blogosphere to determine the fate of political careers (Trent Lott, anyone?) would surely have guessed that Mr. Rasiej was on the cusp of sweeping into office with a broad new mandate to revolutionize politics.

Massachusetts moves ahead sans Microsoft | CNET News.com

Five years ago I had a platform plank that called for actions like this. The movement is now, finally, taking root in the US in other states with better awareness of technology policy.

At times, it can be hard to show what isn't there. No Microsoft to oil the palm.

Massachusetts moves ahead sans Microsoft | CNET News.com Massachusetts has finalized its decision to standardize desktop applications on OpenDocument, a format not supported by Microsoft Office.
The state on Wednesday posted the final version of its Enterprise Technical Reference Model, which mandates new document formats for office productivity applications.
As it proposed late last month before a comment period, Massachusetts has decided to use only products that conform to the Open Document Format for Office Applications, or OpenDocument, which is developed by the standards body OASIS.

Thanks for the tip, Amos_thePokerCat.

My camera died today while on the field trip to the Pgh Zoo and Aquarium. I had some nice photos of a nice field trip -- but the best I can share with the blog readers is this photo of some fish -- for sale on the street -- literally on the street. We got to feed the fish at four different tanks. Cool.

October 6 -- WQED Community Reception

Go there and demand community meetings on issues that impact the community! Go there and demand that candidate debates occur.

Meet WQED personalities, hear about upcoming programming on WQED tv 13, WQED fm 89.3 and Pittsburgh Magazine. This is also a great time for input on issues affecting your community, and how WQED can better serve you. This Community Reception will be held at Robert Morris University.

For more information and to RSVP, call 412-622- 1313.

Economic TV -- or -- DoWop?

What would YOU do if you had two weeks in Hong Kong, starting early next week??

We are headed to Hong Kong. This is your chance to give us last minute pointers or tasks.

My wife is a visiting scholar / teacher at HK University.

We are staying in an apartment in Discovery Bay. We'll take a ferry to Hong Kong Island.

Our group includes our sons (Erik is turning 11 there, Grant, 7), two Pitt Graduate students in their own apartment about a 10-minute walk from ours, and a HS senior from CT (step-nephew).

We'll touch down there on Monday and spend Tuesday at the new Hong Kong Disney. There is a serious Disney connection with the step-nephew.

My note of introduction to the faculty of the HK Univ. Human Performance (Physical Education) follows in the comments. I've already got word on when they hold swim practices.

I'm thinking that we'll shop for plenty of 'tea' -- and host a few 'Pittsburgh tea parties' so as to warm up the mood for a revolution of sorts. The same worked in Boston some time ago when they held the Boston Tea Party. But, we'll drink ours and take the revolution to the voting booths on election day.

So, note if you have a favorite tea from China, please.

Time to junk the Microsoft Office Suite and go to OpenOffice.org -- because it is community driven, free and better.

OpenOffice.org 2.0 has gone from being a Beta to a Release Candidate

As an RC, OpenOffice.org 2.0 RC still -- even more so -- needs to be downloaded and tested by the community. You are urged to download and start the application. The sooner we clean up the bugs, the sooner we can come out with OpenOffice.org 2.0.

OpenOffice.org 2.0 is the world's best and easiest to use free productivity suite. Read the product page and features pages for more information.

* Product
* Features

*** NOTE: Windows user with OpenOffice.org's older, beta and past developer builds should remove them prior to the installation of the RC because of an incorrect interpretation of their version information by the Windows Installer. As a matter of course the stable version OpenOffice.org 1.1.x (most recent: 1.1.5) can be used concurrently.

Free Pennsylvania = highly moderated. Yuck.

Good luck Jason. First order of business, get rid of the moderation. Just nuke it.

Free Pennsylvania, http://www.freepa.org. It is a highly moderated discussion site for political discussion among those that consider themselves conservatives: whether fiscal, social, or both. There are forums for general discussion, news, and a Campaigns section to discuss the various political campaigns currently being waged. Over the last few days I have had a few friends register and make a few posts in order to make sure that everything is functional. Now that thebugs are worked out (I hope), it’s time to let the masses know that Pennsylvania conservatives finally have a home on the Internet. Please take a moment to register and help to get this community started.

Ticket given to woman sitting on park bench -- without a kid

In Pittsburgh, we are about to get finger-printed and ticketed for being in the cultural district without a home or without lunch money.

7Online.com, WABC-TV A woman was given a ticket for sitting on a park bench because she doesn't have children.
The Rivington Playground on Manhattan's East Side has a small sign at the entrance that says adults are prohibited unless they are accompanied by a child.
Forty-seven-year-old Sandra Catena says she didn't see the sign when she sat down to wait for an arts festival to start. Two New York City police officers asked her if she was with a child. When she said no, they gave her a ticket that could bring a one thousand dollar fine and 90 days in jail.
The city parks department says the rule is designed to keep pedophiles out of city parks, but a parks spokesman told the Daily News that the department hoped police would use some common sense when enforcing the rule.
The spokesman told the paper that ticketing a woman in the park in the middle of the day is not the way you want to enforce the rule.

Laws and rules are sure to be enforced in stupid ways. Laws need to be smarter. Often, the smartest law is no law at all. Otherwise, things like this happen.
Parents, don't leave your kid alone in the park. Plus, if there is a problem with a person in the park -- call the police. Police, meanwhile, need to arrive on the park scene and deal with the issues.
Playground area in a park we visited.
Pittsburgh's City council is trying to fight, "aggressive panhandling." Yeah, right.
Councilman Peduto wants to take the fight to all solicitations.
Meanwhile, County Executive Dan Onorato has a 10-year plan to help the homeless. That might start in a few years.

What is going to happen to Mardi Gras in 2006? Predictions are welcomed. Would you go?

Transcript: Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt

Transcript: Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt duck Q: Mr. Roosevelt, do you feel that the current system is able to survive financially with out cutting programs?

Mark_Roosevelt A: We do have serious financial issues. We are spending about 40 million dollars more than we have in revenues. And we have spent down the surplus that we had so that it will be entirely gone at the end of 2006. There will have to be cuts. And we will have to work with the state and the foundation community to gain as much new revenue as possible. But there is no way that this problem can be solved without making some very difficult decisions.

So, what do you do about tax give-a-ways? The URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) is now calling upon the city, county and THE PGH PUBLIC SCHOOL District to build parking garages with tax incomes. Please say "NO." We can't give anything away.

Family Flashback (Aug 7, 2004)

Flashback! Top row: Phil, Bill, Leo (my dad), John, Kevin and me (Mark). Bottom row: Mary Lee, Margie, Audrey (my mom), Geri Ann, Michele and Catherine (my wife). Those are my four sisters and their husbands. We are with the giggles because we always have a great time together -- even when the camera's automatic shutter is the focus.


Our kids. To be exact, my two sons are in the photo along with their cousins. Since the photo, one year ago, the family has grown by one.

IT: Forbes Fund -- yada, yadda, yaddda.

Photo shows a nonprofit playground computer workstation.

The Forbes Funds is pleased to announce that the 2005 research studies funded under The Tropman Fund for Nonprofit Research are complete. These studies address many of the strategic challenges and opportunities affecting nonprofits in the Pittsburgh region.

You are cordially invited to a special half-day conference on November 2, 2005, featuring these new research findings. At the conclusion of this special event, we will announce the recipient of the fifth annual Alfred W. Wishart, Jr. Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, as well as present the 2005 Frieda Shapira Medal. Also, The Pittsburgh Foundation will present the Isabel Kennedy Award. (We’ll have lots to celebrate!)

This year's Annual Nonprofit Research Conference is presented in cooperation with Robert Morris University (our host), as well as Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Public Policy, Duquesne University’s School of Leadership, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 3:00-4:00 pm Workshops
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm Research and Awards Presentations

5:30 pm Reception

Hosted at the Sewall Center, Robert Morris University, Moon Township Campus, Main Campus, 6001 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108.


PARKING NOTE. Parking is available in the upper lot for which the campus will have electronic signage posted.

RSVP: Amy Thomas at thomasa@pghfdn.org, accepting RSVPs by e-mail only.

When you RSVP to Amy Thomas, please indicate if you will:

A. Attend a workshop; and, if so, which one. (Please see the list below.)
B. Attend the research and awards presentations.
Or
C. Attend both a workshop and the research and awards presentations.

Three concurrent workshops will be held from 3:00 until 4:00. All rooms are located in the Sewall Center, Robert Morris University, Moon Township Campus. All 3 workshops will be limited to the first 30 respondents.

WORKSHOPS
1. The Cost of Meting Compliance: A Case Study of Challenges, Time Investments and Dollars Spent (please designate this as session 1 for RSVP)

2. Service Clustering: Building Cohesive Public Service Capacity (please designate this as session 2 for RSVP)

3. Why Engage? Understanding the Incentive to Build Nonprofit Capacity (please designate this as session 3 for RSVP)

These 3 research projects will be presented and discussed in brief during the session beginning at 4:15pm in the International Suite at the Sewall Center. (Seating for the research and awards presentations is limited to 300 people.)

Please RSVP soon. We apologize, in advance, if we cannot accommodate your participation in one of the workshops. As with our recent conferences, we will maintain a waiting list, if necessary, and advise you about openings.

We hope you will join us for this special opportunity to explore emerging issues and cutting edge methodologies for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh.

Forrest City -- sits on property in Cleveland

This is a great read.

Peirce for Ohio Governor 2006 - On the Trail -- Can Cleveland Use Property Taxes to Prod Intransigent Developers? Forest City had hyped similar plans in 1989, after it gained control of much of the property, but nothing happened. The convention center's implosion has the company reverting yet again to squirrel mode. "It will sit for a long time," the co-chairman of Forest City, Sam Miller, said of the peninsula.

Peirce for Ohio Governor 2006 - Eminent Domain comes to front in race and state

Eminent domain is getting attention in Ohio, now. My recent eminent domain talk/blog posting got attention and a link from a site in Oregon.

Peirce for Ohio Governor 2006 The Supreme Court of Ohio will hear oral arguments regarding the demolition of Joe Horney's and Carl and Joy Gamble's homes on Wednesday, September 28th at 9 AM.
The Libertarian Party of Ohio, the Peirce for Ohio campaign, and other property rights groups are currently organizing a petition effort to amend the Ohio Constitution.

Murphy wants more state help with budget

The big elephant behind the three Americans, (Erik, Mark and Grant). Talk about the elephant in the room already.

Murphy wants more state help with budget - PittsburghLIVE.com 'We did not talk about what some people call the elephant in the room today,' Murray said. 'We didn't talk about 20 percent of the budget going to pay that debt service.'

Step Trek -- Volunteer in my absence -- but do it for yourself

We missed the South Side Slopes StepTrek -- but we hit some other steps in the hopes of generating some good karma with those back home.

Erik's taking a trek.

This year's South Side Slopes Steptrek, Steptrek.org, occurs soon -- while we are in Hong Kong. We'll walk Victoria's Peek and make other treks on the other side of the world -- and we'll be thinking of you on the South Side Slopes. Does that mean that when I'm over there walking up a pathway, it would be like walking downward over here? However, check out this opportunity to participate with a last call from Bev, one of the great community organizers. Good group of people, nice cause, splendid views.

StepTrek Volunteer Meeting! We will need upwards of 50 volunteers this Sunday and we have ~ half that amount. Please help us out!

There will be a meeting, at which you will receive a free Trek tee shirt, on this Thursday, September 29th at 7:00 pm at my (BEV's) house 126 Pius Street. It will be a quick meeting. We will go over the event and where volunteers are needed.

There are many jobs. We need a driver, people to walk the route and put up direction signs, we need a couple of people along the route to direct walkers. We have 6 artist venues with 3 water stations where people need to be. We need people to help park cars, put up tents, take down tents, set up tables & chairs, register people, sell pedometers, cut fruit, you name it & there is a job for that!

Please email me here if you want to volunteer & can't make it Thursday. We also need pick up trucks to deliver to the water stations. Volunteers times go from 8:00 am to - 4:30 pm. On hour, or as many as you can give!

Volunteers Saturday, October 1st! We will quickly walk the routes one last time this Saturday. The majority of the litter was picked up last Saturday, but we want one last check of the route. Also, I will be at the Triangle Garden 18th & Josephine. Lamar is supposed to fix it by Friday - I am not holding my breath. For those who missed it an overzealous subcontractor weed-whacked it - 3 weeks ago. Anyway it looks like crap. It will need some sprucing. The Greeley Garden also needs some TLC. We will meet at 21st & Josephine Streets at 9 am.

StepTrek October 2, 2005! Here it comes, our 5th Trek! We would like you to come & be a part of it. The website is full of details. Our Honorary Chairperson is Adelaide LaFond, she has graciously allowed us to use one of her designs on the tee shirt front. It is beautiful! The event formally runs from noon to 4 pm. Trek it out!

Thanks, all! We need you! Bev :)

The Sprout Fund opens some murals in the near future

The Sprout FundCentral North Side Thu Sept 29 @ 6:30pm 1300 Federal St
Downtown Fri Sept 30th @ 5:30pm Smithfield St & Strawberry Way
Homewood Brushton Sat Oct 1 @ 3pm Meadows Bowling Alley at 7340 Frankstown Ave
South Side Tue Oct 4 at 5:30pm Don's Green Front Inn at 2341 E Carson St
Hazelwood Wed Oct 5 @ 5pm 2nd Ave & Elizabeth St

N-TEN : Global ICT Conference in DC about global crisis response

N-TEN: Global ICT Conference Answering the call: Katrina, the Tsunami, Darfur, Afghanistan -- lessons learned from the Global ICT responses

Well done in the state capital

The protest was a success. And, it looks like some of those pigs are cooked.
Nice photo of Mr. Shiller ran on the front page of the PG site.

Protesters urge state legislators to roll back pay raises ... Brothers Frank and Gerald Schiller, who live in Wilkins and own property in Downtown Pittsburgh, held signs reading 'The Costas cost too much,' referring to their legislators, Sen. Jay Costa Jr., D-Forest Hills, and his brother, Rep. Paul Costa, D-Wilkins, who both voted for the raise.

The Schillers said they supported the Costas for election in the past but no more. Jay Costa later declined comment...

The large inflatable pink 'anti-pay raise pig,'' which got statewide attention in newspapers last week, was back for another appearance at the rally.

The protest rally was organized by Harrisburg activists Gene Stilp, who has filed a state lawsuit seeking to overturn the raise, and Eric Epstein, who has led protests over the Three Mile Island nuclear plant near Harrisburg.

They joined a dozen groups including Common Cause, Pennsylvania Clean Sweep, the Commonwealth Foundation, Democracy Rising PA and others that have kept alive the protest against the raise."

Firefighters union backs Republican for mayor

I don't expect to get a thank-you note from Joe Weinroth, but I'll chalk up some self-absorbed high-fives on this news. As an estimate, I bet I called and poked and visited and dropped in on the firefighters' brass -- in one way or another -- more than 100 times in the past five years. Some of those brushes with perspective paved the way for this news.

Think beach-head.

Firefighters union backs Republican for mayor The union representing Pittsburgh firefighters has endorsed Republican Joe Weinroth's bid for mayor in a surprise break from labor's usual preference.

International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1 President Joe King said the decision made Friday by the union's political committee was unanimous. 'It's probably the first time, that I remember, that the fire union has backed a Republican candidate for mayor,' said King.

However, you know what they say about playing with fire. But then again, there are times when you need to set a fire to stop a firestorm. The puns can flame away all day and night in the comments.
Way to go Joe. I'm glad to see the union putting some wind in your sails.

Roosevelt holds chat

Tuesday log of the chat is available. Search the PG site for Roosevelt and chat. What was raised for the new Superintendent of Pgh Public Schools, Mark Roosevelt.

Online chats could present many excellent opportunities for the community and the school's parents to raise questions -- but this is hardly the case with the Post-Gazette's style.

I was part of a PG chat when the Bassmasters Classic was in town. The chat is so -- 1983. There is no real-time interaction. It is all moderated.

If the Post-Gazette wants to get serious about online interaction, we'd have a lot to look forward to.

In the case of Pittsburgh Public Schools, it would be wonderful to have online chats so that questions can be raised in a faceless way. Teachers, principals, volunteers, and even bus drivers could go to the chat and put something into the mind of the boss and have little fear of a backlash on the whistleblower.

Are you aware of such and such at this school on that date? What's going to be done?

Furthermore, the Pgh Public Schools might be able to make an online chat work without the Post Gazette's help and restrictions. Why can't weekly chats happen just among the resources within PPS?

Mark_Roosevelt: Thanks to everyone who participated. Sorry that there was not enough time to answer all of the questions. Maybe we should do this again.

Carnegie Urban Hike on Saturday

My kids play violin at the Pittsburgh Music Academy, in Carnegie, often on Saturdays. So, I'm hopeful I'll stop by -- if we are not swimming from 9 to 11 am.

Carnegie has been through a lot in the past year, and now they have to deal with us! Urban Hike is in Carnegie this Saturday to look at how one community is working to come back from last September’s floods. We’ll visit the home of a Pirates legend and check out Carnegie’s thriving arts scene. Meet us outside a rather artsy café called Eccentricities, 222 Third Avenue, 10 am, October 1st. There should be plenty of street parking. The hike will take about three hours. As always, comfortable shoes, sunscreen and water are excellent ideas. We’re glad you thought of them!

Click comments for directions.

The South Side Sabres play against Chartiers Valley this weekend too.

Techyvent/Pittsburgh: e-Learning Comes of Age

Techyvent/Pittsburgh: e-Learning Comes of Age: "e-Learning Comes of Age -- Access to Broadband, New Technology Dramatically Cuts Costs by Sheldon Murphy

A free, on-site consoltation comes to the subscribers of this newsletter. That might be worth the price of admission.

More power to you -- comes in handy from time to time.

Summertime strength was needed recently by one of the youngsters. See comments for the full (edited) version.

Photo showed Coach Jason and some of the charges on the lawn at the Green Tree Swim Pool before a swim practice this summer.

Hot Rod Ludwig

Les Ludwig and his new wheels that have been decorated for his campaign.

At least he didn't get drunk at the Steeler game this weekend.

At least he isn't driving around town in a city-owned car.

At least he had lived in Hong Kong.

At least he was a business man.

At least he has a never-give-up attitude.

What else can you say?

Patriot -- and the guy with the arrow in the back

My son, 10, didn't wear either of his Patriots jersey's to school on Friday, black and gold day. But he is wearing #12, Drew's jersey, today. Ouch.

He just loves the Patriots. What are you going to do?

And, the love goes out to the Red Sox too.

At least he has great taste.

There is a family connection to Boston and New England.

Fifth and Forbes, Steigerwald's opinion: Give the free market a chance

Fifth and Forbes & the highest bidder - PittsburghLIVE.com It's time to give the free market a chance to fix Fifth and Forbes.
Government has proven it can't redevelop the two once-proud downtown Pittsburgh shopping streets; it can only strangle and kill them.
Thanks to decades of City Hall's ineptitude and serial abuse of its powers, the Fifth-and-Forbes corridor today is a shabby, undervalued and embarrassing wasteland.

Then he calls for an ebay sell off of the entire URA.

I too have called for the liquidation of the URA. It is an office that should be downsized to nothing.

The URA is holding a lot of property. Those properties number more than 5,000 lots. Those properties are not even on an inventory listing. For starters, let's see a map of the city with the URA Properties clearly marked. The URA can't provide that.

The URA properties don't generate tax incomes. So, those of us that own properties ourselves have to pay more in taxes to support the URA holdings.

However, there are a few problems with the total sell-off of the URA's properties. First, if the URA dumps 5,000 properties onto the marketplace at one time, all the other properties in the city and county are going to nose dive. The supply and demand formula is going to get shaken to its core. In due time, the prices and the marketplace tumbles will self correct. So, perhaps we take a big hit now and ride it out. In the long run, we'll all be much better. In the long run, our properties will then grow in value as our city rebounds in other services too.

Another problem with the total sell-off of the URA assets is the fact that the buyers would be entering Allegheny County. Our population growth is flat. Our economic outlook is questionable. Process problems about taxes linger. And, our leadership is about to change from one one grey-haired, white Democrat to another of same age who can hug and kiss a bit better than than other, more abrasive one. A bulk of the leaders in the past and present are cut from the same cloth that allows corporate welfare and hates to trust the free market and the people of the region.

So, a sell off of the URA property with eBay would help, no doubt. But, the sales needs to be staged. Furthermore, the liquidation of all authorties need to begin. And, system-wide reform is necessary as well.

If we had a splendid landscape of reforming attitudes and systems, then the sell off of the URA properties would cause a windfall for the city and generate a buzz throughout the nation.

I've ranted in the past that we should sell off the side-lots to homeowners who are within a 200-yard distance to the vacant land right away. Then extend the distances each season.

In the early months of 2006, the city needs to get serious about enforcement. If you have over-grown side lots breeding rats, cracked sidewalks, garbage without closed dumpsters and such -- warnings and tickets need to be issued. We need to get the city to do its job with rodent control, and that can occur in two blinks. Then we need everyone's expectations to change.

We need a rebirth in terms of respect for the city. Where you park your car; how you handle your trash; and when you scream your head off (i.e., not in the wee hours) matters. City-life needs cooperation among its citizens. Police and inspectors need to give attention to these basic jobs as well.

Considering eBay and auctions: Pitt's throwback uniforms are for sale now.

Part of my heart is in Harrisburg today -- but my wife is on about DePaul

Best of luck and highest hopes to all who are in Harrisburg today to send a message of scorn and revenge to the state capital bandits. Rock on!

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the radio dial, my wife, Catherine Palmer, Ph.D., is on with Chilly Billy as they do a remote broadcast from DePaul School. Catherine is on the board there. I think she's on the air from 1 to 2 or 2 to 3 pm.

In non-P.C. terms, DePaul is a school for the deaf. Today, however, many of the kids are not "deaf" -- as they have had a surgery and implants help to restore hearing -- stimulating the inner ear. They have a wonderful school environment. The facility moved from the South Hills to Shadyside just a few years ago.