Pitt Football: Turn down any bowl invite. Hold spring game at Cupples Stadium on the South Side

The University of Pittsburgh football team has lost its last five games of the year. They should NOT get a bowl bid. And, if they do get a bid, they should NOT accept.

Pitt's seniors might like another road trip. However, they should be packing their bags for the senior all-star games. Palko will suit up in one of the games. Great for him. Good for the others as well.

Pitt's payday for a bowl game that would have the team is not going to be serious money.

Pitt will get a good pay check due to the BCS Bowls because of the Big East's revenue splits. Louisville, Rutgers, and WVU can soak up the cash and give a share to Pitt, this year. Perhaps Cinci goes to a bowl game too.

Let Cinci play Ohio U. in Detroit on Dec 26.

Let Cinci play Western Michigan in Toronto on Jan 6.

Pitt should stay home, train (as indididuals or in small groups), lift (of course), recruit, study, heal and plan for its spring game.

Pitt should hold its spring football game on the South Side. It could be hosted at South Vo Tech, also known as George K. Cupples Stadium. It would be nice to know of Cupples as a place where Pitt plays, besides the Pittsburgh Passion.

The spring football weekend could bring a giant all-sports parade down East Carson Street. The players, band, coaches and students should all be a part of the activities. Each department could host its own social at various watering holes. Sidewalk sales, alumni outreach, and plenty of networking could fill the days and nights. And, the blue vs. gold game could be hosted to a sell out crowd.

This can be the South Side Spring Sports Street & Stadium Spectacular.

Bring on all the sports teams, not just football. The basketball teams can hold a clinic. The softball and baseball alumni can play on the neighborhood field. The track team can hold a specialized meet -- perhaps with D.U. -- in the stadium, 1 hour before kickoff.

In City Theater, we'll hold a special concert and pepper it with messages to the audience about how to park cars in the South Side.

Is it time to rein in current gargantuan deficit spending habits?

Perspective:

The Three Rivers Post & Standard � Bond Rating Up for Pittsburgh… But other Shoes Will Drop ... Government accounting makes Enron accounting seem like an addition mistake on a Girl Scout’s cookie order form...

Main Page - PittsburghPlatform

Main Page - PittsburghPlatform The home page of my wiki site, Platform.For-Pgh.org, has been accessed 199,906 times since the last time the counter has been reset. The magic 200K number is about to come. The site has swelled to 1,685 pages. Meanwhile, my Ford Tarus station wagon is about to flip beyond 100,000 miles.

Safe travels to everyone, regardless of your odometer's setting and altitude.

Smurphy claims Steelers' save - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

I blogged about this early in the week.

Smurphy claims Steelers' save - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review FORMER MAYOR'S CLAIM. Talk about your revisionist history.

Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy essentially and inaccurately claimed last week that his efforts to build Heinz Field kept the Steelers from leaving town.

But, you still don't see anything from this blog in the best of the blog area of the Trib. Such is life in this region.

There aren't words to describe this tragedy.

SI.com - Spanish cycling champ dies after bike crash - Sunday November 26, 2006 World track cycling champion Isaac Galvez of Spain, a runner-up in a Tour de France stage last summer, died after crashing during a six-day track race in Ghent. He was 31.

Galvez died Saturday night after crashing against the railing during the next-to-last day of the Madison competition, event organizer Rob Discart said. Galvez, who raced for the Caisse d'Epargne team, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

kdka.com - Allegheny County Council Loosens Smoking Ban

kdka.com - Allegheny County Council Loosens Smoking Ban (AP) PITTSBURGH Allegheny County Council has loosened its new workplace smoking ban even more.

The ban, which takes effect January second, bans smoking in any work place or public building and was passed to protect the health of people who are forced to work in those buildings.

But the amendment approved yesterday will let people smoke within five feet of a building's entrance, instead of the original 15-foot buffer zone in ordinance.

The smaller zone is meant to make it easier for patrons and employees to step outside for a quick smoke.

But opponents, including the five County Council members who voted against the amendment yesterday, say it will expose some employees -- like doormen and security guards -- to even more smoke than they faced before.

Libertarian Party Gives Thanks

The Libertarian Party wishes Pennsylvanians a happy Thanksgiving, and gives thanks this holiday for:

* Iraq holding free elections with multiple candidates. Perhaps this will serve as an example for bureaucrats who believe Pennsylvanians cannot handle more than two candidates in any statewide race;

* Continued cooperation among independents and third parties regarding reform of Pennsylvania’s unreasonable ballot access laws;

* The Clean Sweep movement for sweeping big government incumbents from office;

* Ed Rendell opposing tax increases for a few months. He waited until the polls closed before he announced his plan to raise taxes;

* Our Founding Fathers, who created a constitutional republic (not a democracy) that established laws to protect our rights to life and property.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States with more than 600 officials serving in office throughout the nation. Visit www.LP.org or for more information on the Libertarian Party.

Rendell -- we deserve it! Westinghouse to build NUKES for China while Gateway NUKES teachers.

Gov. Rendell says Westinghouse should come to Western Pennsylvania with additional jobs because "We deserve it."

Wrong!

Mary Griffin, on KDKA-radio, just called me a 'naysayer.' Well, he is part right.

Understand that China is going about to build 400 Nukes -- for electrical power (i.e., Three Mile Island) in the next ten years. That is a given. They approved the goal. It is going to happen.

On the table now for Westinghouse is how to supply a share of those plants. They've got the nod to build four, as tests. If these go well, they'll build 100 more, if not 300 more.

A number of suppliers are going to build Nukes in China, and Westinghouse is in the mix. It makes good sense for China to diversify and keep the plants from various builders with various technology applications so as to be competitive.

The business decision made by Westinghouse executives won't put any weight on those attitudes that the Governor talked of -- "We deserve it." And, those attitudes from the top politician in PA say plenty as to where and where not to locate a big business venture.

A tax abatement from the Gateway School District is not going to be the factor to make a "go" or "no-go" decision for Westinghouse in this deal. If those jobs come, they'll come here because of the overall landscape of the business climate for Westinghouse and its hope of doing well in the building of those nukes for its new, best customer, China.

Some hyper charged Keystone Opportunity Zone -- or Enterprise Kiss Butt Tax Give-Back -- is NOT going to factor into this global policy. It amounts to a pimple in the scope of the marketplace forces and the deals that they'll be hatching. A pimple.

But, to Gateway Schools -- it might mean 30 teachers. It will be serious. And, the take-a-way comes from the kids that are with us today. And, the take-a-way comes with a serious cost to our freedom.

If you want to talk about what matters and what doesn't -- let's talk about building NUKES here in the USA. Westinghouse has to go to China to revitalize its NUKE Building Operations because there are no customers here in the USA.

Let's talk about about energy! I like to turn on the lights and have them work. I love to have heat in our home. I'd love to drive an electric bike around town.

China is increasing its competitive outlook for its people and its companies. It is building -- and we're trying to make give-a-ways to benefit some mega corporate deal at the local level. Yet what we build for them is not welcomed here!

Senator Logan talked about building Nukes for Japan. Duhh....

The Governor said that the ones who speak up against these 'corporate welfare' deals might be right when it comes to a philosophical confab. But, then Rendell said, "this is the real world." He needs to get these jobs from Westinghouse to land here in Western Pa and not North Carolina or Tennessee. The other regions are giving incentives too. In the real world you have to give up something. You have to make an investment.

Well, the real world value of these tax breaks amounts to nothing except a loss of liberty.

The wheeling and dealing that the Governor and those like Jane Orie and Sean Logan are huffing and puffing about with Westinghouse is a power and influence charade. They want to be the one's who are bringing in new jobs. They want to make noise -- then take the credit. They want to say they were instrumental in landing those jobs.

Don't be fooled.

If Marty's Army sends thousands of letters to Westinghouse executives saying -- "stay here", fine. A letter writing campaign will create a lot of noise. The signal should not be, "because we deserve it." Nor should it be, "because Ed Rendell is a nice guy."

Rendell said in the interview on the radio that he is NOT permitted to talk about the specifics of the deal, as ordered by Westinghouse, until a decision is made. So, we've got behind closed doors deals being hatched. And the Governor is proud of this.

Westinghouse has the upper hand and is able to silence the Governor. And, the Governor is happy about his loss of freedom to talk to the public.

I don't want a governor that is able to be silence by corporate interests.

It is China where there are mega problems of humanity because people there are not free to speak without the state's blessing.

It is in China where web surfing at Google gives one set of results that have been filtered to meet the wills of the authorities -- not here.

Now China is going to crack into our landscape by being a big customer for a big corporation -- and in turn our state's top politician is going to act like the Communist Party acts in China.

In the next posting, we should examine what they do in China at its Casinos in regard to free drinks. West Virginia doesn't offer free drinks to those that play the slots. But, in Macao, China, at the Playboy Casino, you get more than drinks if you book a party for more than a dozen customers. Sigh.

My game plan is different. My priorities are not like that of the big-government Dems and Reps. And, this isn't a D vs. R thing. Here, the Ds and Rs are both to blame and are equally guilty. Governor Ridge created the Keystone Opportunity Zones.

The Governor should put together a task force. The task force could be chaired by the Governor himself. He can be the point person on this. It is a big deal, understood. But, don't make any give-a-ways. Westinghouse needs to get what it needs -- and it must pay for what it needs and gets.

I'd insist that Westinghouse pull its own weight, from day one. I'd insist that we be open, transparent, eager partners, flexible, and creative. Be straight with all parties. But, I'd not sell out for hype, nor for the sake of our freedoms. I want state, regional, county, schools and municipal cooperation along with that of the wonks and the lockstep boosters such as the chamber of commerce.

Cooperation does not mean taking from one and giving to another.

We are going to thrive in Pennsylvania, if we are free. That's the hinge.

We've taken the low road. We've lost our freedoms. We've got a frail democracy. We've put so many bobbles on the getting of new jobs that we take from elsewhere and speed up the decline.

The turn around that we seek isn't going to come with 3,000 new jobs that are wrapped with corporate welfare dealings.

Self reliance matters. That's how we need to thrive. We can't take the 'we deserve it' pledge to the global marketplace and expect to get anything other than squat.

Township officials back recreation center proposal

Township officials back recreation center proposal multi-municipality community recreational center.

This is music to my ears. Cooperation. Playing well together. Teamwork.

They are making steps that make sense. They are closer to the formation of a park district.

Hill District activist faces lawsuit - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Speak up. Then speak with the lawyers. Whistleblowers beware.

Hill District activist faces lawsuit - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Hill District activist faces lawsuit

Why not change the name of the campaign from "Raise Your Hand! No Casino on the Hill" to, "Raise Your Finger!" You fill in the rest.

Those with juice and power really don't like it when citizens do reseach and connect the dots.

Frick Middle School Swim Team -- schedule

I posted a Google Calendar for the Frick Middle School Swim Team schedule. It is unofficial. Google Calendar is a nice utility.

I won't put these dates in the Google Calendar.

OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES FINANCIAL AID NIGHT

SCHOOLS DATE TIME PLACE

ALLDERDICE December 11, 2006 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
ALLDERDICE January 10, 2007 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
BRASHEAR December 4, 2006 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
CAPA January 16, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Library
CARRICK January 11, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Library
LANGLEY December 12, 2006 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
OLIVER January 9, 2007 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
PEABODY January 8, 2007 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library
PERRY January 24, 2007 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
SCHENLEY December 18, 2006 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Library
WESTINGHOUSE January 11, 2007 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Library

MercuryNews.com | 11/21/2006 | A final incarnation for Pacific Commons?

OMG2. The Steelers almost left town. Say it isn't so, doubting Tom. My impressions of you have not change a bit.

MercuryNews.com | 11/21/2006 | A final incarnation for Pacific Commons? Another example is Pittsburgh. Tom Murphy, a senior fellow with the Urban Land Institute, was mayor of Pittsburgh overseeing the development of a stadium. Failure would have meant losing the Steelers. The odds were long that the team would stay in town and even longer that a new stadium could be built, but the city got it done.

``The referendum to pay for the development was defeated by 70 percent. But we decided we're going to do it anyway, because the Steelers were important to Pittsburgh in terms of our psyche and in terms of who we were,'' Murphy said. ``We were a Rust Belt, declining city and we were losing our Steelers.''

Murphy said $262 million was raised from the team, the state and hotel and sales taxes to build a baseball park, a football stadium and a convention center. The former mayor believes the development succeeded because it was incorporated into the city, rather than standing apart.

``We built the stadium into the community and the city -- it's not sitting there as an icon surrounded by 25 acres of property,'' he said.

Well, where to begin.

The stadium known as Heinz Field was built into a community -- yet today it still needs light rail under the river to succeed. ???

The stadium is not surrounded by 25 acres of property -- as I guess it is an island surrounded by water????

The stadium's surrounding property includes a Parking Authority garage that isn't being used. And, if the garage was used, it would finally empty each Sunday around halftime of the Monday Night Football game.

Don't those VIP tents look great next to the stadium on the surface parking lots, built into the community. The deadlines for the re-development of the land have long passed. What's up with that? Do the Steelers still have the rights to the land too?

If you really want to see a stadium that was built into the community then you needed to look no further than what was once Pitt's grand dame -- Pitt Stadium. That was built into the community. That was were hospital patients could take a wheel-chair walk and catch a bit of the game. That was where players could walk to work. That was where injured athletes could go from dorm room to whirlpool or visit with the rehab folks -- without getting onto a bus and crossing the river.

Pitt Stadium was where you could go after an alumni reception with professors, on campus. Go to Pitt Stadium and watch a game with the family after a visit that injects a sense of academic pride of the research, knowledge and student-life a campus setting should engage. That's community.

Good luck Freemont. Take the advice of Tom Murphy and cronies like him for what they are worth. Zippo.

Pedestrian Planning Meeting slated for 2 pm on Saturday, Dec. 9, at Pitt's School of Public Health Auditorium.

Hill clergy lead effort to rebuff slots casino in Hill

OMG. That's short for either Oh my gosh. Or, in this case, might as well say, Oh My God!

Hill clergy lead effort to rebuff slots casino in Hill 'We don't want it in Pittsburgh, period. If it must come, let it go to the North Side or Station Square. We don't want it near our residential district,' he said.

Bless their souls too.

The ministers are now backing the plan for the casino placement at either the North Shore or at Station Square. That makes sense.

They are right in saying that few people live near the Station Square and the North Shore site. Those locations are already entertainment destinations. They are not residential areas.

But what kills the story is the fact that they hit upon Toyna Payne of Pittsburgh's City Council but gave a free pass to Gov. Ed Rendell. It was Rendell that was the one who put gambling into our local landscape. It was the state reps who passed the bills to allow it to arrive.

If the ministers had been against Ed Rendell in the past season, I'd have more understanding of their actions now.

The ministers are saying good things -- but it is too little and too late.

Russ Diamond was a candidate for Governor and he wanted to get rid of the gambling law. He wanted to nuke the entire bill.

Rev. Tom Smith of Monumental Baptist Church said, in the article, "This is our first action to ensure that the spiritual and economic well-being of this community is not compromised." The first action should not come a month before the final decision is announced. The news is expected December 20, 2006.

Folks, it is good to speak up. It is always good to speak up. When you speak up late -- fine. Do it. But, we really need more people to speak up sooner.

Frankly, the Isle of Capri plan should not be considered because of the silence treatment the public has been subject too from the Penguins. The "Lockstep Boosterism" and "contract agreements" of non-statements between the NHL's Penguins and the Isle of Capri effort to secure a gambling casino sucks.

The closed-mindedness stinks. It is only matched by the other killer action of hatching deals behind closed doors.

If the Penguins and Isle of Capri want to get into bed with each other -- fine. They can hop in bed with each other on their own time, and with their own dime too. Don't expect to win a public license for an exclusive gambling license from under the covers. Don't wager a secrecy campaign in our public spaces where we have the calling to be concerned as citizens, neighbors and taxpayers.

The pathway that the Penguins, as an organization, has taken is sad. I had hoped that the new ownership group would have been more bold and open-source in their ways. This amounts to a communications deal. And, the Blackberry's screen has gone blank.

The Penguins have fumbled an opportunity to connect with the city and region. But, fumbles don't really happen in hockey as the puck sits on the ice.

The Penguin ploy was to rush the ice with wave after wave of public officials to speak in support of the new arena. They had line changes down pat in the first period. They went to an early lead, sure. But once the counter-attacks came, the only defense was to field multiple goalies.

The entire process is built upon some false hopes. The new arena isn't the top priority. Oh well.

Retired sheriff to plead guilty to macing

The backlashes around Pittsburgh are real. The culture of corruption and insider tricks could use a big kick in the pants.

Retired sheriff to plead guilty to macing Recently retired Sheriff Pete DeFazio is expected to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count in federal court tomorrow -- the culmination of a more than five-year investigation into corruption in the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office.

Mr. DeFazio, who retired at the end of October, will plead guilty to macing. That charge is defined as denying a benefit to a government employee for not contributing to a particular candidate or political party.

Time will tell if this is the wake up call that is necessary.

We can dream, can't we?

City teams with Garfield businessman to provide bikes to needy

City teams with Garfield businessman to provide bikes to needy A Pittsburgh police officer walked into a Garfield bike shop two years ago, introduced himself, told the owner about some unclaimed bikes at the nearby East Liberty station and asked if he'd 'tune them up' so they'd be safe to give to needy children at Christmas.

'Sure,' said Jerry Kraynick. 'Let's take a look at them.'

Sure. Everyone should have a bike. But, I really want to say that everyone should have a safe bike ride on a safe bike lane on the roads.

Bikes need to be taken off of the sidewalks. Bikes on the riverfront trails are nice. But we need to bike to work, to shop, to church, to schools, to friends, to life!

Bike lane along a road in China.

Bike lanes look like this in Eurpoe. Big Ben was here!

The Recycle a Cycle program looked like this -- in Pittsburgh!

Thinking again about newspapers

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200612/hirschorn-newspapers

The Atlantic offers advice from VH1 exec and Inside.com co-founder Michael Hirschorn:

"Not only do you allow your reporters to blog; you make them the hubs of their own social networks, the maestros of their own wikis, the masters of their own many-to-many realms." He suggests the Washington Post create an interactive online universe around Dana Priest's intelligence reporting. "Turn the site into a clearinghouse for global intelligence information, rumors, conspiracy theories, and so forth ... Go even further: incentivize the critics and reporters by allowing them to profit based on the popularity of their sites; make it worth their while to stick around.

And another set of tips:

A 10-point prescription for ailing newspapers

Law to limit South Side Bar expansion faces red-tape until 2007

Councilman Jeff Koch introduced a bar bill concerning the South Side. The bill has been sent to City Planning where they'll do their magic and hold a public hearing. Then a public hearing will happen before City Council. The bill might be voted upon by city council in March, 2007.

The new law would apply to Local Neighborhood Business Districts. So, it won't impact upon places such as Downtown, South Side Works, Station Square nor the North Shore.

So, the bill isn't going anywhere fast.

Seven new bars are in the pipeline with the approval process now. Some of those could open and close again by the spring of 2007. Perhaps an additional 20 will come into being, even it is is only on paper, before the bar bill hits again.

All existing bars would be exempt from the law.

I value the conversation. But, I'm skeptical as to the outcome. My rants and insights will flow later.

Running Mates -- plays well with others -- want to work together

The only bit in the short video above, click image watch the video, that I have a bit of trouble with is the line that this type of collaboration was not even possible a few years ago. Not true. Before there was a Creative Commons, there was the DSL. And, before the DSL, there was the public domain. I still use the public domain for most of my offerings.

It is generally a bad policy to take credit for being the 'first' one who did anything.

'Pres. Romney' sounds good to one Pittsburgh blogger

deseretnews.com | 'Pres. Romney' sounds good to many Experience and agendas
The Frenches, along with Charles Mitchell, who works for a nonprofit in Washington, D.C., and Dawn Meling, a business banker in Pittsburgh, started the blog in July, prompted by the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Tennessee in March.
Romney finished second in a straw poll of potential 2008 contenders, behind Tennessee's own Sen. Bill Frist.

Charlotte Observer | 11/05/2006 | Coach closing gap for Olympic hopefuls

Charlotte Observer | 11/05/2006 | Coach closing gap for Olympic hopefuls Mecklenburg Aquatic Club creating post-college training center for elite swimmers

Swimming buzz...

R.I.P. Milton Friedman, 1912 - 2006

Info from Wikipedia.

Friedman advocated minimizing the role of government in a free market in order to create political and social freedom.

Friedman also supported various libertarian policies such as decriminalization of drugs and prostitution. In addition, he headed the Reagan administration committee that researched the possibility of a move towards a paid/volunteer armed force, and played a role in the abolition of the draft that took place in the 1970s in the U.S. He would later state that his role in eliminating the draft was his proudest accomplishment.

He said, as do I, don't put me in a box. Labels don't work.

He said that he was a libertarian philosophically, but a member of the U.S. Republican Party for the sake of "expediency" ("I am a libertarian with a small l and a Republican with a capital R. And I am a Republican with a capital R on grounds of expediency, not on principle.") But, he said, "I think the term classical liberal is also equally applicable. I don't really care very much what I'm called. I'm much more interested in having people thinking about the ideas, rather than the person."

Democracy Rising blast and Tim Potts has been on KDKA radio with Marty G

www.democracyrisingpa.com

It costs us about $30,000 a day for per diems (on top of salary and catered meals) when the legislature's in session. Today was not a session day, but the House Education Committee held an informational meeting.

This entitles lawmakers on the committee to collect a per diem for today. But as Capitol reporter Michael Race reported Tuesday in several northeastern PA newspapers, there seem to be few days when lawmakers can't collect per diems.

Race reported that retiring Rep. Gaynor Cawley, D-Scranton, in 2005 "claimed 210 per diems totaling $27,666 – more than the annual salaries of lawmakers in 30 other states that year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures."

There were only 80 actual session days in 2005. Not content with more than $100,000 in income, Cawley also voted for the pay raise.

No one begrudges lawmakers reimbursement for legitimate expenses. But since lawmakers don't have to submit receipts in order to get the money, there's no way to know whether these are legitimate expenses or not. That's why the IRS treats their per diems as additional income on top of their already generous salaries, benefits and other perks.

Wouldn't you like to see an online list of lawmakers and how much they collect in per diems every month? So would we. But there isn't one, and don't hold your breath for it. Read on.

Lame (-Duck) Quote of the Day

On Tuesday, House Speaker John Perzel (R-Phila.) and Majority Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson), newly re-elected to their leadership positions, talked about those of us, including reform-minded Republican lawmakers, who want higher standards of integrity in government. Smith said, "Their message was heard. But we don't want reform simply for reform's sake."

Really. How about reform for the citizens' sake? How about reform for the sake of democracy itself? How about reform to elevate Pennsylvania's pathetic standing among the states? We sure do need it.

Pennsylvania is the only state whose legislature has exempted itself from its open records law.

Pennsylvania is the only state whose Supreme Court has exempted itself from its open records law.

According to the Better Government Association, Pennsylvania ranks behind only Alabama and South Dakota in citizen access to public records, making it much harder than necessary to find out how government spends our money and makes the decisions we have to live with and pay for.

Pennsylvania is the only state that doesn't have all of its laws available to citizens free of charge on the Internet.

Pennsylvania has one of the worst lobbying control laws in America. Our new law ignores the 66 percent of citizens who want to prohibit public officials from taking gifts, meals, entertainment and travel from lobbyists, according to the Spring 2005 IssuesPA/Pew Poll.

Pennsylvania has the highest payroll for lawmakers of any state in America.

Pick your motive – to honor the citizens, to honor democracy, to end our national disgrace – but even reform for reform's sake doesn't look like such a bad idea to us.

Report Card arrive and other get to do things.

Pgh Public Schools provides report cards for the students today.

Light Up Night was last night for the South Side, while Pitt hosted WVU. You gotta finish in championship sports. Pitt was ahead at halftime. But scored no more points in the second half while WVU got 21.

Glad we didn't have any extra furnature to torch on the streets.

Tonight is Light Up Night for Downtown. Yawn. But in other downtown news, the families and kids of Phillips Elementary who are able get to go to the Opera in its outreach program. They'll see Romeo and Juliet. The rest of my clan goes while I'll be at swim practice.

Saturday morning our swim team goes to Hopewell for the second dual meet on the winter. Then, Ohio State hosts Michigan on Saturday afternoon. I agree with Mark Madden that the game with #1 and #2 and for the Big 10 title is a much bigger deal than the Steelers vs. Browns on Sunday.

But at 4 pm, I'll be at a violin concert with Pgh Music Academy performers at First Unitarian in Shadyside on Moorwood. Hope we can get the game on the radio.

Ms. Adventures on the Mon: LATE BREAKING NEWS: MARK RAUTERKUS ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR; WILL RUN AS MEMBER OF "SAVOIR-FAIRE" PARTY

Ms. Adventures on the Mon: LATE BREAKING NEWS: MARK RAUTERKUS ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR; WILL RUN AS MEMBER OF "SAVOIR-FAIRE" PARTY LATE BREAKING NEWS: MARK RAUTERKUS

My name is spelled correctly. The cat is out of the bag.


Ms., Ta!

Transportation Funding for Our Region’s Prosperity

This is slated for Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006. It is SOLD OUT. If you have been watching my Google Calendar, you'd know that already.

A free event is presented by: Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Leadership Pittsburgh Inc., Sustainable Pittsburgh.

Featuring Larry King, Deputy Secretary for Planning, PA Department of Transportation and a local reaction panel, this forum is being held the day after the Governor's Transportation Funding and Reform Commission will release their final report addressing the Commonwealth's transportation funding crisis. On hand to review Commission key findings and recommendations will be PENNDOT Deputy Secretary for Planning, Larry King.

Mr. King will be followed by a local panel that will provide insights and reactions to the high stakes challenge of solving the funding crisis as well as prospects for implementation of recommendations by the General Assembly and Governor. Panelists include:

Stephen Bland, CEO, Port Authority
J. Bracken Burns, Chairman, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission; Co-Chair Washington County Board of Commissioners
Jim Roddey, Member, Governor's Transportation Funding and Reform Commission
Barbara Simpson, Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network

3 Bs at Boyce Park -- Bikes, (skate) Board, and Bladers

A new area at Boyce Park in the eastern part of Allegheny County opens, called 3B. It is a skate park for bikes, boards and (roller) blades.

I hate skate parks. If I was in charge, they would not be built.

Skate parks are danger zones. Skate parks are fertile grounds for orthopedic injury and even if Dr. Freddie Fu paid to have them built, I'd say 'no thanks.'

On the opening day of the roller park in McKinley Park in the city, three kids went to the hospital. One broke his collar bone. Another was treated for a heat stroke. And a third had something to do with a bb-gun (speaking of "bs") shooting from up in the woods down onto the park.

Even as a big shot talked about how everyone here will need to wear a helmet, and it will be 'self-policed' for safety, there were a handful of kids out of the dozens who had no head gear. Go figure.

Rather than skate parks, I'd prefer trampolines.

In Australia, they have free standing trampolines. In Austria, we saw a barge on a riverwalk area that was equipped with a dozen, side by side trampolines.

The kids need activities where there is the hope of 'coaching' and 'teaching.'

Frankly, I don't mind gangs. I just want gangs with activites and leadership that we can trust, control and monitor. To me, being in an orchestra is a lot like being in a gang. But that is a 'good gang.'

PITTSBURGH MAYORAL CANDIDATES LINE UP FOR NEXT YEAR'S RACE in a photo at C's Smoke Ball

The Carbolic Smoke Ball: PITTSBURGH MAYORAL CANDIDATES LINE UP FOR NEXT YEAR'S RACE

No need for photoshop here. I'm in the photo, right in the middle, neither too far to the left nor to the right.

Home invader shot in head in Knoxville

Home invader shot in head in Knoxville A Knoxville man faces drug trafficking charges and weapons violations in connection with the shooting of one of two armed gunman during a drug-related home invasion robbery last night.

How do you read between the lines in this story?

A dad gets arrested for shooting a home invader. The the arrest isn't because of the shooting, rather the weed and the gun.

Perhaps the guy should get a medal for a brave act of self-devense rather than be put in jail and be seperated from his 2-month old baby. But, then again, mom is a 17-year old, with a 2-month old baby.

Perhaps the intruder who was on the floor of the home with a head wound pulled the pot into the house?

Perhaps the guy really isn't in jail -- but that is what the media and police want to tell everyone, including the other intruder who didn't get shot and into critical condition. He might be thinking 'revenge' for his buddy -- but that can't happen if the guy is behind bars.

Sounds like the story has a soap opera of possibilities. Whats the real story? Who has the scoop?

Miss Mallory's Support Page - Whats NEW

Miss Mallory's Support Page - Whats NEW November 8, 2006

Dear Friends,

We wanted to let you all know how much we appreciate your prayers and support; they are truly invaluable. We wanted to update you on Mallory. We were in New York for 2 1/2 weeks receiving the 3F8 antibody treatment. Before each injection she was premedicated with morphine and several other pain meds, for this is an extremely intense and harsh treatment. Each day I wondered how I would be able to watch our child endure another day of this stuff. And at the same time worried and afraid she couldnt tolerate the pain. But I knew we didnt have a choice, this could be the medicine we long awaited to stop her cancer.

The letter goes on.

See the comments for an invite from Mike to play mini-golf for her cause in the weeks to come. It would be fun and worth the support.

Races for controller, 5 City Council seats drawing swarm of hopefuls

Races for controller, 5 City Council seats drawing swarm of hopefuls Mr. Kraus, of the South Side Flats and an interior designer, criticized Mr. Koch for proposing the new station location without getting enough neighborhood input, and for voting to allow developer Soffer Organization to build three 165-foot towers in the South Side Works, despite community group opposition.

Mr. Kraus said his close race last year came despite the O'Connor administration's support of Mr. Koch. 'The political landscape has changed dramatically in the last few months,' he said.

Mr. Bruce Kraus went into the special election endorsement for the democrats last time and expected to win. He got toasted.

On election day, I'm sure Kraus expected to win.

Meanwhile, on election day, I had one wish above all others. I wanted Bruce Kraus to get second. I didn't want Kraus to win. I felt strongly in my heart and in my head that Bruce Kraus would have been the worst choice for our city.

Nine people were in the race and eight of us were pulling against Kraus by the end. If anyone of us has broken with him, instead of against him, he would have won. But, we were all witness to his campaign double-talk and his short falls of merit.

Bruce Kraus a lot to learn and got a lesson in the last race. But, I'm not sure how much of it will be turned into knowledge on his part. He needs to know that you don't run around on election day with gift baskets full of treats to give to those who work the polls -- as in the voting machines.

Kraus needs to know that you don't take an oath of office, if elected, and swear to serve the people of the district. Duhh. It isn't about giving people sheet cakes and ice cream at bingos. Rather, the oath of service is for a dedication to the consititution.

I'll do all I can to make sure we have person on city council who gets it. We don't need another like Tom Murphy running around on Grant Street. The city turned a corner of sorts and got rid of Tom Murphy-ish, power-hungry, logic-lacking, schmoozing-centric, miss-managed, over-spending politicians who dodge and weave when contronted with opposition concerning the depth of the issues and challenges of our time.

At the end of his tenure, everyone saw that Tom Murphy was a divider and not a uniter, to use a trite but true expression. The same mode of operation was seen on many instance in the 2006 campaign by Bruce Kraus. But that was at the outset of the Kraus public life.

Furthermore, I'm not the real rebel in spreading these observations. Dozens of others will do far more to sway public votes against Kraus in 2007.

Sure, the political landscape has changed because of Bob O'Connor's passing. And I'll offer a rant on Mr. Jeff Koch another time.

I'm reminded of a posting on a blog comment somewhere from the spring where one person rated Koch at a 10 on a scale of 1 to 100. I said I agree with the low rating. However, my scale goes from negative 100 to positive 100. That puts Koch in the middle. Bruce Kraus is in the negative 90 range.

Give me a do-nothing public official over a do-damange one any day.

PodCamp Pittsburgh -- humm.....

We purchased MP3 players for Erik and Grant when in China, two years ago.

Pod Camp wasn't really just about iPods and MP3 players. The pod experience is a much bigger world.

I have an iPod, now. But a couple of years ago, when we were in China. We purchased MP3 players for Erik and Grant. We got them there, then, because China is way ahead of where we are in the US in terms of use of these tech tools.

I was 'blown away' by Chengdu's computer row. It was an amazing place where there were shops after shops of high tech gadgets. We must have walked past a thousand places where one can but a MP3 player. Apple's iPods were there too, but not nearly as popular.

Erik and Grant came along with me to Pittsburgh's Pod Camp yesterday. We all had a good time. PodCamp was great. You can go and have a lot to experience even if you don't own a MP3 player or an iPod.

In the photo above, the MP3s are being sold for 339 RMB. That's about $40. We could bargain for lower prices and we got two MP3s, including rechargable batteries. And, the young women who are working the sales counter didn't speak English. But, that was okay. We worked everything out just fine. And, one of the players didn't work properly, so we took it back for an exchage the next day. A challenge, but do-able with our blond hair and good attitudes.

Even the smallest news stands have dozens and dozens of newspapers. Some papers might only be 8 or 16 pages. But, in Pittsburgh, if there is a news stand, it might only sell one paper. How could you get a news stand to sell a dozen different newspapers?

Newspapers and the web and some very bad advice

San Francisco Chronicle has an article that breaks the scoop on scoop seekers: Papers should withhold content from the web for 24 hours

Lawyer and journalist Peter Scheer says newspapers and wire services should agree to embargo their news content from the Internet for a brief period -- maybe, 24 hours -- after it's made available to paying customers. "A temporary embargo, by depriving the Internet of free, trustworthy news in real-time, would, I believe, quickly establish the true value of that information," he says. "Imagine the major web portals -- Yahoo, Google, AOL and MSN -- with nothing to offer in the category of news except out of date articles from 'mainstream' media and blogosphere musings on yesterday's news.

Well, the core suggestion is what it is. But the fact of the matter is that the news blackout for journalist online would make the mainstream media sites three days late in many instances.

Yesterday I talked about the rub with the BOE meeting. Today I can update what went on. I was there. It is fresh -- as in hours. "What the heck does the Election Department have to hide?"

That rub might make it into the newspaper on Tuesday. It was part of a KQV and DUQ report, as well as one TV station today.

Then the story might get onto the web site of a newspaper on WEDNESDAY, that that adice is followed.

That is a story that was breaking on this site last night, Sunday night. His wisdom say the story would sit and then appear online elsewhere two-and-a-half days later. That's silly. That's bad business advice.

The news outlets should do more to address their content's value beyond the days of it running on the web and in the paper. I have serious suggestions as to how that can occur. If anyone, either in the industry or not, wants to call me and set up an appointment, I'll be happy to explain what could be done.

Along the same lines, Pittsburgh City Paper, does just want this guy suggest. The City Paper hits the news boxes around town on WEDNESDAY's. The City Paper's web site gets updated on Thursdays -- if there wasn't too many all-nighters in the early part of the week.

Did Chris Potter give an interview for that article? He can go out on a consulting tour offering insights in how to delay the release of online news. They've been doing it for years. In terms of letters to the editor, the delay is much longer.

BTW, Albert wrote a great LTE last week that I couldn't find on the City Paper site at all. I'll need to look for it again.
Newspapers are posted in public spaces and in parks in Chengdu, China. The reading is free. The cost of a green leaf hat -- priceless.
Another stand for the press. What type of advertising money could be made from these displays?

We won't see how they recovered from the shooting. Go Dukes

The Duquesne University men's basketball squad tips off its season tonight. Fall 2006 was a brutal time for the team and the university given the fact that five of the boys got shot while on campus a couple of months ago.

Tonight's game is not, I expect, a time nor place to judge how they are all doing. A KDKA Radio newscaster said, "We'll see how they have recovered from the shooting tonight."

I'm a bit skeptical to expect that display to be part of the proceedings.

The game and the opening of the competitive season presents a giant milestone, no doubt. Hope they have fun. Hope they win their share. Hope the program 'rebounds' and becomes a source of inspiration for us all.

Go Dukes.

And, how is the women's squad?
Walkons.

Board of Elections Meeting on Monday morning, 10 am

As the vice-chair of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party, I'm going to go to the Allegheny County Board of Elections meeting slated for Monday at 10 am.

An invalidation of our letter seeking a represenatative for the vote tabulation happened. What's up with that?

To the Various Dignitaries of Various Political Parties

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Allegheny County Board of Elections meets Monday, November 13th, at 10:00 a.m. We members of VoteAllegheny will be presenting various reports (mostly in draft form pending incorporation of further information) to the BoE at that time. (We do not know whether we will be granted time for comment on the agenda.)

It seems to us that as a practical matter it would be efficacious for each political party to have some representation at this meeting, and at the subsequent Board of Elections meeting scheduled for November 27th at 10:00 a.m.

As there may be issues contained in our reports which may concern the various parties, we shall deliver copies to each of you by email. If someone other than or in addition to you should receive a copy, please let me know.

Thank you.

Audrey N. Glickman, Secretary/Treasurer, VoteAllegheny

The Board of Elections meets in conference room A of the County Court House which is on the 1st floor (up one level from ground) next to the county manager's office.

Dave's questions: What should be the game plan then? Anybody have specific questions/issues? Any chance anybody (Rich King?) can get me references to the relevant law(s)? I'd like to have them in my hand. Any specific legal priciples/issues/vocabulary I should be familiar with?


Allow transparency and access into the election process. Transparency has radidly disappeared with the arrival of electronic voting. The administration has denied access, avoided, deferred and delayed communication, erected barriers, misrepresented and played dumb to avoid transparency and access in the process of choosing our system of elections and in the accountable running of our elections.

Department of State Directive (PDF)

What constitutes a "session of board" includes the "logic and accuracy testing"... where no member of the Board of Elections was ever expected to be present prior to the election. The County Solicitor maintained, off the cuff that sessions of board did not include the central tabulation as the DOS directive specifically refers to. Also, they said that the portion of law referred to by the state was not the relevant portion of law.

Bottom line: the judge agreed with the county solicitor. That is what they tend to do. The Board (and the Dept. of State) must get the county to agree to the DOS directive.

Any viable party has the right to have three observers at sessions of the board (including all preparation, testing, tabulation, and computations before, during and after the election.)

Memo from Monday, November 7th, 2006

To: Mr. Mark Wolosik, Manager, Divison of Elections, Allegheny County

Dear Mr. Mark Wolosik:

In accordance with PA State Law Section 25 P.S. 2650 which states:

(a) Any party or political body or body of citizens which now is, or hereafter may be, entitled to have watchers at any registration, primary or election, shall also be entitled to appoint watcher who are qualified electors of the county or attorneys to represent such part or political body or body of citizens at any public session or sessions of the county board of elections, and at any computations and canvassing of returns of any primary or election and recount of ballots or recanvass of voting machines under the provisions of this act. Such watchers or attorneys may exercise the same rights as watchers at registration and polling places, but the number who may be present at any one time may be limited by the county board to not more than three for each party, political body or body of citizens.

As Chair of the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County I duly authorize Richard King and Chad Dougherty to be qualified watchers on our behalf for all election procedures including tabulation of the vote, sessions of the county board. This authorization intends to allow them access to all preparation, testing, and tabulation relevant to the election in Allegheny County on November 7th, 2006, and with specific reference to and including parallel testing. I encourage all parties concerned to review the attached directive of the Department of State regarding Watchers

Sincerely and Respectfully,
Dave Powell, Chair Allegheny County Libertarian Party.

Notes: Reference is made in the DOS Directive: "Regarding the Rights of Watchers, Candidates and Attorneys" link

Long list of Pittsburgh mayoral hopefuls already lining up

Long list of Pittsburgh mayoral hopefuls already lining up the mayor's race is on.

Meanwhile, ... Rauterkus speaks at Pod Camp.

There are a number of people on the P-G's list, a lame-list indeed, that need to be discounted. And, the list itself is but a joke and a way to eliminate viable contenders and set the agenda to sustain the status quo.

The race itself will only topple the region's gravity of 'status quo politics' once the newspapers do something other than run status quo newsmaker's bios.

Eight white men had their photos in the paper. All are men. Not a single woman. All white so as to eliminate all others. minority. All are Democrats -- without the hope of any others from another party.

All have held office except one and the lone exception had his father die while serving as mayor. So the only way to get into the club that the P-G plays gatekeeper for is to have held elected office or have it blessed upon you by your father.

Even Michael Lamb's dad was a State Senator.

This year's budget isn't going to have much 'raw meat' in terms of a window into Ravenstahl's administration and tenure. The budget for 2007 is really Bob O'Connor's work, coupled with that of the overlords.

If I had been mayor, I would have released the budget to city council before I gave it to the overlords. Then we'd have something to 'chew upon.'

The presentation of the budget to council can't be considered raw as it already had some time to simmer with the ICA Board (overlords). The budget isn't raw. To use the food lingo -- the budget goes to council as seconds.

If anyone on council wanted to pitch a fit about the 2007 budget, the opportunity was a month or two ago when the content was 'raw' as it headed to the overlords. That is when the interception and big stink about unhealthy rawness should have happened. And, it would have taken an "insider" to make that case. We only heard about the lack of 20 or so Crossing Guards.

Furthermore, the noise about the Crossing Guards came from Doug Shields who is bucking to run for city controller, not mayor. Bill Peduto was too busy running around to events and schmoozing to raise many objections about the budget.

Seems to me that fixing the city should take a priority.

A modest objection came about the budget process and the steps of mayor to overlords and finally to the public and city council. But those meek reminders run counter to what those on city council already did. Peduto wants the overlords. Peduto voted for the overlords to come to Pittsburgh. Peduto offers bigger government kinda support and he needs to support the status quo on these fronts and not talk of much change. It is what it is -- except when he's in charge.

Peduto should and could have issued a citizens budget or a Peduto budget from a zero- or needs-based perspective. This year's budget is going to be set upon history's legacy. Peduto talked about starting every year's budget with ZERO and working from priorities and a vision -- not a legacy.

Where is that talk been this year?

Photos of Readshaw, Frankel, and Fitzgerald make for good excuses for those guys to raise some PAC money -- and send out a letter to their "supporters." That money can then be leveraged in other races for their existing jobs or to buy influence in other races with other candidates as they see fit. But, they won't be able to raise the cash to run a traditional race for mayor from a traditional power-base.

None of those guys are going to be blogging anytime soon. Those guys can't break the mold -- because -- they are built from the mold.

There is news in the article. Scratch Jim Ferlo and scratch Jack Wagner. I wish I saw direct quotes however. Perhaps the P-G can release the recording of those two conversations or perhaps each can make a press release saying that they are NOT in the hunt for the mayor's race.

Take a deep breath. Dive in. Psyching up for an address to a camp audience. Swim Camp to PodCamp.

I'm speaking at Pod Camp tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous. I might ask everyone there to go topless, so as to 'break the ice' and calm my fears. The last audience I spoke to at a camp was topless -- and is shown in the photo.

(Click photo for larger view. Or, go to Rauterkus.blip.tv to see the latest upload about 'drag' in open water swimming from Coach Bower. That segment was from the same morning the photo above was taken.)

In other news, my wife heads to Chicago Sunday morning to chair a meeting with 400 people. Safe travels to her and all others.

We'll be swimming at the Oliver Bath House from 6:30 to 7:30 on Sunday -- as the Steelers play.

Our meet today was a success. It was the first dual meet of the season. We beat Riverside.

PodCamp Pittsburgh

Today, after our swim meet, I got to hit a bit of the afternoon at PodCamp at Pgh Filmmakers. Looks like a great event. Lots of fellow Pgh Bloggers are there. Lots of others from around the nation as well.

I'm on stage on Sunday afternoon.

Time will tell what comes out in my presentation. I've got a few ideas.

kdka.com - Pittsburgh Marathon Could Make A Comeback

kdka.com - Pittsburgh Marathon Could Make A Comeback (KDKA) PITTSBURGH After a three year absence, it looks like the Pittsburgh Marathon will be back again.

Pittsburgh should host a 10-mile spring road race, not a marathon.

Should the marathon return, it should be in the fall. Furthermore, the marathon should NOT be run in the loop fashion like it was done in the past. Rather, more prudent routes, perhaps of an out-and-back nature, on the busway for part, should be part of the events staging.

The marathon was killed because the overtime from the police killed it. The costs were too great. The sponsors too poor. The local support was nice, but not anything to take to the bank.

A more purdent course structure would be welcomed in terms of cutting the race overhead by 80 percent.

A 10-mile race in the spring would generate a 500% increase in local support as well. Perhaps the Kenyons won't arrive, but frankly, I don't give a Volla Budd if they do.

Should a marathon take root, it should be coupled with an Iron Man as well. I'd love to see a three day staged race with a Friday swim in the rivers. A Saturday 110 mile bike race. Then a Sunday marathon.

The Politics of Play | Metropolis Magazine

The Politics of Play | Metropolis Magazine There is a movement afoot to create recreational spaces that better serve our cities and our children.

Nice try... We need less urban design and more coaching. We need a simple solution, as in teamwork, sport, teaching, friendship making, discipline and effort.

The Politics of Play | Metropolis Magazine “We wanted to invert the typical layout, where caretakers are on the outside,” Nash says.

Who says caretakers are on the outside? Come on. We've got layers of issues here. Parents and caretakers are not to be on the outside in a vibrant setting. But, there are lots of ways and times when parents are put on the outside by various institutional designs.

I fully agree that some need to "think again" and "rethink the relationship among children, playground design, and public space. Creating more inclusive spaces for children and families, so the logic goes, is one step toward making the entire city a safer and more welcoming place for kids."

Bingo!

The City of Pittsburgh has a long, long, long way to go before it is more welcoming place for kids -- and for safety.

Pittsburgh should not be trying to build subsidized downtown lofts for rich folks without kids.

Pittsburgh should not be short on Crossing Guards and long on downtown safety ambassadors, hired by the Pgh Downtown Partnership with its own BID (Business Improvement District) tax.

Pittsburgh's improvements to its parks landscape is a joke. The short-term goal of a bike path from Etna to McKeesport isn't something that is going to be of value to kids. But kids would really like to be able to ride a bike to school and secure it without getting killed on the way or have the bike stolen.

By the way, the Merry-Go-Round in Schenley Park is a sure way to put the caretakers on the outside, perhaps at the Coffee Bar or with a Danish. No insult intended for the Danes or Danish landscape architect Helle Nebelong. Perhaps I should say spectators with a mega sized muffin, not Danish.

And the merry-go-round that has been taken out of parks in the USA isn't like the one at Kennywood. I think they are talking about the spinning platform that you push, run and jump on before falling off dizzy as a drunk at 2 AM on East Carson Street merry-go-round.

A party man once more. Georgia guy, Bill Ferguson

I love the opening graph in his column:
This election season passed through us like a kidney stone - a very painful experience that we're all glad to have behind us.
The rest of the article works for me too.

KRT Wire | 11/09/2006 | A party man once more presents my viewpoint particularly well, and during the campaign season the mud-slinging completely turns me off to both sides. So there I am - a political free agent looking for a friendly port in the political storm.

And I've found that port, at least for the time being, with the Libertarian Party. I don't agree with every plank in their platform, but in general I think the spirit of small government and respect for individual liberty that first attracted me to the party of Reagan in the 1980s has found new life with the feisty Libertarians.

So this year I voted for the Libertarian in every race where that option was available. If any Republican or Democrat in those races had convinced me that they deserved my vote it was there to be had, but none of them came close to doing so.

Go ahead - tell me I threw my vote away. Tell me I wasted my time with a lost cause. I'll answer back that I voted my conscience. I'll answer back that although I am disgusted with the two party system, I still believe in this country. I still believe in our potential.

Do you think this bloke is going to Pod Camp?

What's going on here? Take a guess. Hint, the next quote helps. And, this is in a park area.

County, city parks aim toward joint work

Here is the steeple. Open the door and there are no people.

Isn't it wonderful that the Riverview Chapel now has running water in the kitchen. Splendid advancement for our Citipark.

Isn't it great that we can ride a merry-go-round year round in another key park. Plus, we can get a bit to eat too -- from a corporate vendor, not a pushcart nor a food truck. Yuck to that.

Does it send chills up your spine when you look at the garden and gateway in Highland Park and rest assured that the shrubs and landscaped flowers are going to return to the way it was in the 1920s. How inspirational is that to turn back the clock?

County, city parks aim toward joint work After helping to lift a steeple in one park and build a temporary bridge in another, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said yesterday that he is investing in the city's play areas and continuing talks with Allegheny County to establish more cooperation on parks.

While accompanying the mayor at the raising of a wooden steeple at the reconstructed Riverview Chapel Shelter in Perry North, county Chief Executive Dan Onorato said they are 'weeks' away from announcing a plan to collaborate on their parks.

Well, I've been barking about parks cooperation for many years. I was named by one on County Council to a task force for one of the parks. But, they only had two meetings and never had minutes of those meetings. Then it died an unspoken death.

There are NO county parks in our part of the county, by the way.

The city and county want to work together on capital costs because there is NO capital budget for parks in the city. There hasn't been a capital budget for parks since the kids who are 18 or so now were born.

Onorato, while on city council, helped to damage the parks. The decline then was advanced.

The band-aids are old.

Maintenance has been postponed for decades.

The last big thing to happen from any elected offical at a park in the city and county was when Jim Roddey was in charge and he took the bull by the horns and ordered "jersey barriers" along stretches of South Park's roadways after a senior driver hit pedestrians. That sums it up, besides the new steeple and running water in the kitchen.

When a real park discussion begins, I'll be there.

Quote: The problem with elections is ...

The problem with elections is that no matter who wins, you're only
flushing half of the toilet.

Toilet -- a good one -- in China.

Toilet to go! It is on the back of a bike.

Google Calendar - Community Charter School Forum

Google Calendar Charter School Forum Tue Nov 14 5:30pm - Tue Nov 14 8pm

20061114T173000/20061114T200000

Bidwell Training Center, 1815 Metropolitan Street Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Not sure if you can see my Google Calendar. But you can link to it from the sidebar of the blog or at Rauterkus.com. I'd love to share calendars with others around Pittsburgh.

Bloggers, podcasters meet in Pittsburgh

Join us.

Bloggers, podcasters meet in Pittsburgh: "Scores of Internet technology professionals and enthusiasts are expected to gather over the weekend at PodCamp Pittsburgh, an informal meeting to trade tips on creating blogs, Web sites and podcasts, an organizer said Thursday.

The free event is among several being planned in cities from San Francisco to Berlin to pair established Internet media producers with newcomers 'to improve the quality of our creations together,' said Justin Kownacki, a Web video producer.

'It's a completely grass roots effort,' he said. The meeting's unconventional format allows participants to help shape the agenda and 'blow past all the formalities of a conference and get the brain trust in the room,' Kownacki said."

Parents risking jail / Truancy cases continued for 90 days in charter school dispute

News comes that Pgh Public Schools are way below the projected numbers with the student enrollment. Now this comes.

Parents risking jail / Truancy cases continued for 90 days in charter school dispute Parents risking jail / Truancy cases continued for 90 days in charter school dispute

Thursday, November 09, 2006
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Shaye Carter and Janie Lewis each risked a $300 fine yesterday because they had refused to withdraw their children from Career Connections Charter Middle School and enroll them in Pittsburgh Public Schools.

You attract more with honey than with a $300 fine.

City school budget released

City school budget releaseddip into the reserve fund

$21.9 M deficit

6-percent spending cut, across-the-board.

Humm.... When does across-the-board really come to be understood as cutting what should be cut and keeping what should be retained, if not improved upon.

Dick's buys naming rights to Colo. sports complex

Seems like a nice investment and complex. Too bad it is in a different time zone.

Dick's buys naming rights to Colo. sports complex Dick's Sporting Goods has signed a 20-year naming rights deal to put its name on a Colorado property being touted as the largest soccer sports complex in the world.

The new Dick's Sporting Goods Park, scheduled to open in April, will be home of the Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids and will include an 18,000-seat outdoor stadium and 24 outdoor fields, according to the announcement from site owner Kroenke Sports Enterprises.

The sports complex will anchor a 917-acre public-private project in Commerce City, Colo., that will also include a new municipal hall, retail stores and a visitors' center for the nearby Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ryun's run ends in DC

PittsburghTrib.com Ryun, a Kansas Republican and once the world-record holder in the mile, lost in his bid for a sixth term in the House.

'I am really, really grateful for all that you have done,' Ryun said in conceding. 'There are so many rich stories and rich memories. I cherish those.'

Congressman Ryun was pushed out in the blistering given to the Rs yesterday. He is a friend to 'audiology' and was helping in a specific healthcare effort.

Jason, you'll be hearing about this shortly.

Ryun is hearing impaired and wears hearing aids. Years ago he helped with our book about hearing and athletics called, "Time Out! I Didn't Hear You." http://rauterkus.com/PDF/SPORTS/TIMEOUT.PDF

Best of luck at the Ryun Running Camp in 2007, http://www.ryunrunning.com/ryun/.

City questions URA's blight designation request

Breaks on Blight!

City questions URA's blight designation request The city planning commission yesterday questioned the city Urban Redevelopment Authority's application for blight certification as part of its plan to aid development of the old Nabisco plant site in East Liberty.

The URA is seeking blight certification as part of pursuing tax-increment financing, or TIF.

Think again! Pittsburgh needs to end TIFs. Plus, Pittsburgh needs to end the expansion of the designation of blight. Blight is everywhere, because they designate blight throughout the city.

The former NABISCO plant does NOT sit in an area of blight. Nor should the former plant get a TIF.

Election Day +1

Quote from the P-G coverage:

Mr. Swann dodged interviews and spoke in vagaries, ...

Bingo!

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania won't elect a person to stand with the people when the candidate hides from the people and attempts at honest, direct, communications on issues.

An elite glow came from the Team 88 efforts in the early stages. At the end of the campaign, candidate Lynn Swann was doing line dances with seniors in Homestead. And that interaction is a new verse of the same message -- don't engage in issue discussions.

Lynn Swann and Bob Casey both used the same playbook in terms of being a good guy in a suit that says little. Meanwhile, Rendell and Santorum are both bold. Swann's sticking point was being unknown beyond the celebrity status and football legacy.

Good guys with little to say, or I could say, GREAT GUYS who are new to the scene and choose to play defense in terms of political discussions won't win.

Casey is unlike Swann because Casey has run for public office in the past. Casey ran and won and ran and lost. But Casey has run.

Swann should be gearing up for County Council, perhaps as the at-large candidate. Or, for County Executive. Or, for State Rep in 2008. I think it is too late to have Swann move into the city and run for mayor in 2007.

Swann needs to stand on his issues and ideals all by himself. I'd love to see Swann dance in political circles in isolation. Win or loose, it won't matter. But, Swann needs to gain confidence and trust with the people in the realm of being a political governor.

Surprises, close finishes highlight races for state House seats

Spin the truth.

Surprises, close finishes highlight races for state House seats Petrone wins big in 27th
Rep. Tom Petrone, D-Crafton Heights, easily won a 14th term over GOP challenger William Ogden, 45, a Crafton councilman.

Mr. Petrone, 69, said his re-election showed that constituents in the district are satisfied with his representation and service.

'People who came to the polls they were not dissuaded by any negative comments made about me,' Mr. Petrone said..

The negative comments made about Petrone came from citizens in the district, and not the other candidate. The other candidate, Bill Ogden, spoke in a negative way about Petrone being in office for 13 terms and in favor of term limits. Petrone had been in Harrisburg for 26 years. That isn't a negative -- by falsehood.

Another biggie that was talked about by Ogden was the pay raise. Petrone voted for the pay raise. Petrone took the pay raise. Petrone said he gave the pay raise to chairty -- but only proved that he gave $100 of it away to a widow of a veteran. The rest remains unaccounted.

The only other point that was made as far as a negative about Petrone is the fact that Petrone is on the urban affairs committee in the PA House. Nuff said.

Citizens including Carl Sutter of the district have been spreading the negative messages.

Hacking Democracy -- HBO special, now online

Check it out.

HBO's special, Hacking Democracy. Finding out how America counts its votes.

SI.com - Olympics - Olympic-spirited Beijing considers car-free days for 2008 - Monday November 6, 2006 11:23AM

SI.com - Olympics - Olympic-spirited Beijing considers car-free days for 2008 - Monday November 6, 2006 11:23AM: "Beijing ponders car-free days for '08

BEIJING (Reuters) -- Beijing may expand a campaign to urge people take public transport to work and could introduce totally car-free days ahead of the 2008 Olympics, an official said on Monday. A voluntary effort over the China-Africa summit at the weekend to encourage people not to drive was successful, cutting down on traffic and clearing away pollution, said Du Shaozhong, deputy head of Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau.

'We believe that cutting down on driving is helpful to the general Olympic spirit,' Du told a press conference in increasingly rich Beijing where some 1,000 new cars hit the streets each day."

Citizen Driven -- my *ss!

Last week I got tossed out of a Grant Street meeting, of sorts. I'm still pissed.

Just don't tell me that a project is going to be "citizen driven" when it has taken five years, and the next stages in the process include work with the legal department, operations from the Planning Department, a RFP, then a community engagement meeting at the tail end of the efforts.

That's not something I'm going to buy into, in the slightest.

If something is 'citizen driven' -- then the citizen meetings happen at the outset.

Furthermore, don't expect me to think for a moment that the South Side Local Development Committee, (SSLDC), speaks for us -- the citizens.

I don't speak for citizens. But I do know what citizen driven looks and feels like. And, that those on Grant Street can't hoodwink me without an objection.

We have a dark spot in our South Side Community -- behind the South Side Hospital. Another year comes and kids throughout the city are getting into vans on school nights to play hockey at a facility near the airport. We only have one indoor ice rink in the city -- and it is the Civic Arena. It is a little hard to get ice time there. And, they want to tear it down too.

This year I talked about the closed indoor ice rink about 30 times at community meetings as I campaigned. Dozens of ideas have been floated. But, the city has been putting everything on ice -- go figure.

I get calls every other month from developers of sports facilities that would like to use the area for coaching, for kids, for community, for everyone's benefit. But nothing happens.

The former operator of that facility failed. But the biggest failure then was the lack of oversight. That is how leases are to work. When the lease holder fails to hold up his end of the deal -- you come in and change the locks.

This isn't a mayor's issue yet. But it will be in 2007. It was in 2006. And I'm still frustrated by those on Grant Street.

Fairy Tail

A young person asks, "Do all fairy tails begin with, 'Once upon a time, ...?'

An elder answers, "Another series begins with the words, "When I'm elected..."

Look out.

kdka.com - Murphy Staffer Who Appeared On KDKA Told To Leave

Another segment on another day.

kdka.com - Murphy Staffer Who Appeared On KDKA Told To Leave Murphy Staffer Who Appeared On KDKA Told To Leave

Andy Sheehan Reporting

(KDKA) PITTSBURGH There are new developments in the story KDKA Investigator Andy Sheehan broke Thursday night about Congressman Tim Murphy.

Evidence obtained by KDKA reportedly shows members of his staff are working his reelection campaign which is a direct violation of congressional ethics rules.

Now, Sheehan has learned a Murphy staffer who appeared in his story showed up for work Friday morning but was told to leave.

Jayne O'Shaughnessy doesn't call herself a whistle blower but she says she felt compelled to speak about goings on inside the Murphy office.

And she believes that may have cost her the job.

'The taxpayer are picking up the tab and don't know about it or didn't know about,' said O'Shaughnessy.

O'Shaughnessy is on vacation today.

Ethics board lies dormant despite charges - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ethics board lies dormant despite charges - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Ethics board lies dormant despite charges

By Jeremy Boren

Members of Pittsburgh's 3-month-old Ethics Hearing Board still haven't met despite several charges against city employees of ethical wrongdoing.

Duhh... Come on folks.

The trend is to make excuses for doing nothing or little. These excuses won't fly smoothly in the future.

Action! We want action!

Bill Ogden on Property Tax

Mini profile on TV.

My space.com page for Emmas Revolution fans

www.myspace.com/emmasrevolutionfans: "EMMA'S REVOLUTION Folk / Folk Rock 'truth, hope and a dash of irreverance'

Why can't they count our votes! Good song.

Now has 78 plays. Send it higher.


Here are the gals playing in a Pittsburgh House Concert.

You Tube has video story of KDKA's TV story that hits hard against Congressman Tim Murphy

Folks, you can't use the state or federal office to help in a campaign. Duhh!

This is a great investigative report from KDKA TV. Getting the staffer on camera my prove to be fatal for Murphy's hope to finish his next term, or get elected.

Sadly, I don't think that the Dem has the juice to get out the message in a weird district that spans three counties. I don't want to make excuses, but it would make for a great topping for a hard waged campaign.

Next questions: Where is the DA, Attorney Gerneral, FBI corruption folks and others from the the same party as Murphy? This story should have legs.
Hat-tip and more at 2 Political Juniies blog.

Freedom to fascism . com

New movie, not yet in Pittsburgh.

Commonwealth of PA - Campaign Finance Reporting

Commonwealth of PA - Campaign Finance Reporting: "Campaign Finance Reporting Home"

For K-5, K-8 and ALAs about reading

Letter about reading.

The changes to the grading in the reading programs have been a bit of a hurdle for some of the students and families, yet alone teachers, in the district. A letter is headed to all. Here it is, cut and pasted below.

Superintendent of Schools

SUBJECT: NEW READING PROGRAM FOR K-5 STUDENTS

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Pittsburgh Public Schools Excellence for All reform agenda recognizes literacy as the primary building block for all learning. One of the objectives of Excellence for All is to increase the percentage of students proficient in reading on the PSSA by the end of 3rd grade from 49% (2004-2005) to 80% by the end of the 2008-2009 school year.

Providing a rigorous curriculum aligned to state standards is critical to achieving the goal of improved academic performance for children at all levels. Among the steps the District has taken toward meeting that goal is the adoption of Treasures, a new reading/language arts program published by Macmillan McGraw/Hill. Treasures is currently being implemented in Kindergarten through Grade 5.

As the District moves from the previous reading program to Treasures, you may notice an initial change in your child’s grades for two specific reasons:

The difference in the way students are tested in the new Treasures Reading Series

The new standardized district-wide grading guidelines

CHANGES IN TESTING:

In the previous program, students read and discussed one selection per week. The weekly tests were then based on comprehension of that story as well as the skills taught. This year, students read three selections a week focusing on the same vocabulary and skills. Then on the weekly test, they read a different text that focuses on the same vocabulary and skills. This is known as a “cold read”.

The advantage of a “cold read” is that the test better measures how well children have learned the skills that were taught as well as strategies they apply as they encounter other “cold reads” such as books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

CHANGES IN GRADING PROCEDURES:

A standardized procedure for grading has been established and implemented throughout the District. This means student achievement in reading will be measured in the same way in each classroom across the District in grades 1-5. The grades are based on weekly assessments, unit assessments and classroom assignments. To measure what your child has learned, a nine-week grade will be based primarily on work that was graded according to these procedures.

Treasures reflects the most recent reading research and represents the first new reading program developed since the release of the National Reading Panel’s findings. Treasures supports Pennsylvania State Standards and the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Further information on Treasures can be provided by speaking to the Principal or Curriculum Coach at your child’s school or by calling the Parent Hot Line at 412-622-7920.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara Rudiak

Project Manager, Macmillan

This got coverage in the P-G, after it was blogged about yesterday.

Tougher reading program means low city grades Tougher reading program means low city grades

Friday, November 03, 2006
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Parents of some Pittsburgh elementary school students will find an unwelcome surprise -- unusually low marks in reading -- when their children bring home report cards Nov. 17.

Newspaper stops giving endorsement and publishes full text of candidate interviews instead

� Grand Forks Herald � The election is nine days away - and the Herald's editorial columns should be filled up with endorsements.

Not this year, however.

Earlier in the year, Editorial Page Editor Tom Dennis convinced me and other members of the editorial board that we should try something different. Instead of endorsements, the board would offer interviews of candidates. These would be posted on the Herald's Web site, www.GrandForksHerald.com for anyone interested to read.

Interviews of most candidates have been posted. A few are yet to be transcribed. They should be on the Web site by the end of the week.

This is a great idea.

I would be all in favor of the editorial board endorsement coming along with the full text of the interviews of those meetings. Better still, release the full text of the meetings along with a podcast of each of the meetings as well.

By the way, a full text of the interviews I've been a part of at the Pgh Tribune Review, including audio and video, have been posted to a blog in Never-never Land dot com because I've NEVER been invited to an interview with that newspaper.

So, while the rest of the country is moving these endorsement interviews into the modern age, it is impossible to get candidate interviews with some newspapers in this town.

It is no wonder why there are hundreds of newspapers throughout the nation that are in deep financial troubles. The industry is dying because of a lack of motivation and creativity.

Catherine's quotes hit Woman's Day Magazine - Checkup: Hearing Loss

Woman's Day Magazine - Checkup: Hearing Loss “We live in a noisy world. But our ears don’t split open and start bleeding when we damage them. So you can have quite a bit of hearing loss before you know it.
Catherine Palmer, Ph.D., head of the Center for Audiology and Hearing Aid Services, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Catherine Palmer, Ph.D., is at UPMC's Eye and Ear, and with Pitt's School of Health & Rehab Sciences, -- and she's my sweetheart.

This is on news-stands now.

Inmates 'fish' for contraband with broomsticks - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Inmates 'fish' for contraband with broomsticks - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Inmates 'fish' for contraband with broomsticks

Don't build a fence around the jail.

For Mom & Dad and their 50th

Faith, hope, love.
These three I offer you this season.
Faith that living affirms.
Hope that caring illumines.
Love that more matters than anything.
(Richard S. Gilbert)

Growing up, our home was filled to the brim with faith, hope and love. We were blessed with great models, you two. The families and generations notice and renew. Feeling you spread faith, hope and love to our kids is wonderful. Fifty years of marriage is a testimony to faith, hope and love. You have offered these to us through all the seasons.

Mark, Catherine, Erik & Grant

Trick or Treat Stats --- Last night we had 80 visit our house

The rain came. So did 80 trick or treaters.

Grant and I made the rounds in the neighborhood for an hour or so. Erik and my wife worked the front door.

We bounced into a Steeler in our rounds as well. He said Big Ben will be fine -- thanks to my son's probing questions.

If I was mayor, or on city council, -- I'd be working hard to host Open Office.org's conference in 2007

Check out this call for proposals for holding an open source conference. This is for the OpenOffice.org community.

When I campaign, I give out CDs and those CDs include an installer for OpenOffice.Org. It is a free and open source software package that can take the place of Microsoft Office. It costs $0. And, it includes a database, drawing program, word processor, presentation program and more.

I'm going to three meetings in the next few weeks where I'll raise this question. The blogfest, the PodCamp and a meeting on Grant Street about the still closed, lone, indoor ice rink on the South Side.

If your interested in putting together a bid for this event, let me know. I'd be very willing to help and be a co-organizer.

Dear OpenOffice.org Community members,

The annual OpenOffice.org Conference continues to go from strength to strength, with this year's glittering event in Lyon, France attracting more than 600 registrations and enjoying a civic reception laid on by the Mayor of Lyon in the historic town hall.

Can your team do even better next year?

We are collecting applications from teams who are willing to organize OOoConf 2007. To give you an idea about what we are looking for, you can take a look at last year's proposals: http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2006/proposal.html##PROPOSALLYON

Interested teams should send their applications to the mailing list mailto:conference@marketing.openoffice.org following the guidelines below.

Key Question

In 400 words or less, answer this question:

* Why is your location and the date you propose the best for OOoConf 2007?

Your proposal MUST include

* Location (country, city, conference center/university)
* Proposed Date(s)
* Team Lead (main contact person)
* Team Members (all members should be willing and able to commit at least 3 hours per day to planning the conference during the last two weeks before OOoConf 2007)
* Local events that are taking place in parallel (or right
before/after)
* Special visa or entry requirements, e.g. vaccinations

Your proposal COULD include

* Large local OpenOffice.org deployments (for user keynotes and success stories)
* Names of local OpenOffice.org developers (for developer sessions)
* Names of local OpenOffice.org vendors/partners (potential sponsors)
* Travel costs (e.g. flight costs from the following cities: London, Paris, Rome, Beijing, Sydney, New York, Hamburg, Dublin, San Francisco, Cape Town, Tokyo)
* Accomodation costs (youth hostel, hotel)

Supplementary Information

User feedback from previous conferences suggest that the ideal location will:

* have a strong local OpenOffice.org community
* attract strong sponsor support
* have a low-cost/free conference centre with conference venues close together
* have facilities where people can pass the time, socialise, and mingle with other conference delegates close to the conference building(s)
* have a range of low-cost accomodation with easy/cheap transport to the conference location
* attract the largest number of community contributers
* facilitate the attendance of a large number of Sun's OpenOffice.org developers (who are in Hamburg, Germany)
* be accessible by cheap flight and train tickets
* be aligned with a large IT event (e.g. CeBIT, Systems, Comdex)
* provide low-cost broadband Internet access (e.g. wireless LAN in the rooms)
* allow for video and audio streaming (e.g. via the support of a company)

Submitting a Proposal

Proposals should be sent to the mailing list
mailto:conference@marketing.openoffice.org.

The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2006. Shortly after that date we will publish the applications and call for votes from community members.

Information about previous OpenOffice.org Conferences can be found at:
http://marketing.openoffice.org/conference

Thank you and good luck with your proposals!

The OpenOffice.org Conference Team

Questions: Where are the biggest OpenOffice.org installs, other than with the CDs I've passed around town?

Too bad we also have a closed hostel too -- in Allentown.

Perhaps we can make the event the key for the re-opening of South Vo Tech High School -- and South Hills High School -- and Knoxville Middle School -- and Gladstone Middle School. We could make them all Hostels for this event. Then we'll hold the opening and closing ceremonies at the Neville Ice Rink!

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Delivers 40 New Police Officers to Pittsburgh Force: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

I had a conversation with the FOP's union boss today on Grant Street. He was before city council to complain because the crossing guards got new rain coats and now the police officers can't get their belts repaired.

No joke.

And, the guys in the mayor's office didn't know about it. The budget was dry and a transfer of funds was needed to keep the folks in their gear. Else, I guess, the fashion police would be called. Or, the police might be wearing their pants low, like some of the kids that they might need to chase on neighborhood streets.

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Delivers 40 New Police Officers to Pittsburgh Force: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Delivers 40 New Police Officers to Pittsburgh Force

Second grant will reduce the backlog of drug samples at county lab

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today joined Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Police Chief Nate Harper to announce two grants totaling $2.12 million. One enables the city to hire 40 new officers to battle the rising gun violence and the other will fund a high-tech microscope to reduce the backlog of drug cases at the county's forensic laboratory.

Meanwhile, the union boss for the police told me he is dead set against anyone doing police work, other than police. So, he doesn't like the fact that crossing guards can write a ticket. I don't think he knew that they had those powers already.

Furthermore, he was un-aware that the Safety Ambassadors hired by a tax impossed from the Downtown BID (Business Improvement District) are really beat cops, or try to take the place of beat cops. However, some of those PDP (Pgh Downtown Partnership) safety ambassadors were dealing drugs while on the job in the past.

That program is nuts.

Why should it be a priority to have CROSSING GUARDS like people help corporate types downtown when we don't have the real crossing guards employed by the right agency and with the right equipment, as in radios and cell phones.

The meter maids who write parking tickets have radios. The same should be provided for Crossing Guards.

The PDP should be hiring CROSSING GUARDS and not its own secuirity force for downtown.