A+ Schools Report in today's PG and on the web

A+ Schools has published the second annual "Report to the Community on Public School Progress in Pittsburgh," as an insert in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The report contains data about each school with a few blindspots.

The Report is based on the 2005-06 school year. So, the new Accelerated Learning Academies (ALAs) were not included in this year's Report. They were "reconstituted." The K-8s that were elementary schools last year are listed in the elementary section of the Report.

More to come from me.

In general, in my humble opinion, A+ Schools is but a bad joke. The organization used to have a web-based discussion group -- but that was taken down. I've never been able to see any minutes to any of the A+ School meetings. Who attends? When? What is said? The bold support from A+ schools for the 'right-sizing' came without a board vote.

The organization is built for political leverage and little else. Michael Lamb is associated with the effort, and that is one of the worst things he has ever done.

There are hundreds of things that A+ Schools could and should be doing. Our schools need lots of help and support with critical thinking among many sectors of the community. But, we've got another entity that strives for a scripted, elitist, top-down agenda.

Just as I don't want my schools to cater to some students and ignore others -- nor do I want organizations that are about our schools to do the same.

A comprehensive look at the schools that isn't comprehensive is fine. But, trouble comes when they say and think this is a comprehensive view. If they called it what it was -- I'd be fine with that approach.

There are serious blind spots in this report about our schools, about our school district and about our communities.

The ALAs (Accelerated Learning Academies) have been reconstituted. But, the kids that go to those schools have not been reconstituted. And, the performance of the schools that closed are just ignored and not a part of the report. What's up with that? If we reconstitute schools every year, we'll never need to put important data into a report.

Furthermore, getting base-line numbers of the old system is not welcomed when you have a new system. Let's erase all hopes of being able to fail. Don't publish the numbers of the old schools. Then the new schools numbers are never going to be worse that that of the old school -- because we're not going to reveal the numbers from the old school.

Shame on the report for selective reporting by not sharing results that enable us to look back. Perhaps 'history' isn't part of the new accelerated math and reading programs -- and that's another failure.

How did Knoxville Middle School stack up? How did Greenway Middle School stack up? Those schools just are NUKED from the report. There were kids that went to those schools last year. Those schools fed into other high schools.

The best thing we learned about Knoxville -- Hanna Montana was in a movie that was filmed there last month. The place is a nice movie set now. That's it. That's their version of comprehensive.

Perhaps they should have done a phone book. Perhaps they are trying to make a hype and PR brochure to get people to move into downtown loft apartments.

The expansion into the realm of charter schools is welcome. Next, let's see an expansion into private schools and catholic schools too.

My big knock when it came to the report last year was that there were no benchmarks as to how the kids in the city did with a contrast to those in suburban schools. Face the facts. A family that is able to move from one school setting because they see that the kids are not progressing as they should won't look at this booklet and say -- humm.... Frick vs. South Brook vs. Schiller ... ??? No way. People who are pulling their kids out of the school district are moving outside the city. The choices are South Brook vs. Baldwin. Or, Frick vs. Shaler. Or, South Hills or Montour.

This isn't being framed well. It isn't really a battle among city schools. The real contrasts need to be among schools in the region, city and not, public and not.

On the last page of the report is a call for opinions. I've given my opions on a number of topics central to our schools and communities -- at the A+ Web Forums in the past. Then they pulled the plug on that communication tool. They don't really want to hear my opinions.

With watchdogs like A+ Schools, we're sure to stay in a heap of trouble. Comprehensive trouble.

Court battle over 'base year' assessment system starts today

Court battle over 'base year' assessment system starts today The plaintiffs, homeowners from Pittsburgh, Franklin Park, Mt. Lebanon, Braddock and other Allegheny County municipalities, are mounting a 'full frontal challenge' of Allegheny County's 2002 base-year property assessment system, arguing the taxation method violates the Pennsylvania Constitution.

They want to see the county's system -- which relies on property values frozen indefinitely four years ago during the last full reassessment -- declared unconstitutional, and therefore invalid. The state constitution calls for uniform taxation of property.

Uniform is good. Onorato's plan is bad.

Commencement Dates at Mellon Arena

Commencement Dates Allderdice High School 1:00 PM
Sunday, June 17, 2007 Mellon Arena

Mellon Arena is the venue for high school graduations for:

Allderdice,

Brashear,

Carrick,

Oliver,

Peabody,

Perry, and

Schenley.

Do you really need luxery boxes for a high school graduation? Do you really want to go to a slots parlor after the high school graduation?

Perhaps the Mellon Arena can be turned into a charter school, say for bank tellers and those in cash businesses.

My point is that we should keep the building and turn it into a 'civic arena' again. Let the Pens do Plan B or whatever with the IOC. But don't let the Pens knock down an important civic building that has many uses beyond NHL games.

Excellence for All Parent Steering Committee

Excellence for All Parent Steering Committee

Why are all of the Excellence for All Parents Meetings scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. All the parents can't make the evening times.

I'd be happy if that meeting was taped and put onto the net. Or, if there was a morning briefing the next day.

Some parents can't make ANY of the evening meetings because we are with our kids.

Let's call a spade a spade -- and nothing else, please. It will be a SLOTS PARLOR.

Everyone.

The gambling license will be awarded shortly. A Slots Parlor is to open. It isn't a 'casino.' They have the right to conduct gambling at slot machines. That's it.

If we all call it what it is, a slots parlor, then we'll not see an easy expansion to table games -- without another handsome payment.

The stand-alone slots license sold for $50-million.

If there is to be an expansion to table games, we should expect them to pay an additional $300-million to $950-million. And, the approval should come after a voters have their say. And, by all means, the table games license should EXPIRE in the future.

I hate the fact that the slots license does NOT expire.

The worst thing we can do is do what the Post Gazette did in today's Sunday paper. There was a big, color, illustration showing a card game with chips so as to talk about the casino and traffic. Cards and chips won't be a part of this casion -- err --- SLOTS PARLOR. At least not in 2007.

Isle of Capri's casino proposal still favored City task force says its plan is strongest

Less than two weeks before the Pittsburgh casino license is to be awarded, the city's gaming task force is standing by its near endorsement of Isle of Capri, even as a group of ministers works to prevent the Hill District slots parlor.

The Carbolic Smoke Ball digs at Wikipedia

One of my favorites gets lampooned. Wiki news is there to view as well. I'm loving the Wiki University effort as well. Perhaps I'll restart the Mon U endeavor.

The Carbolic Smoke Ball WIKIPEDIA POSTED EXACT DETAILS OF AUGUSTO PINOCHET'S DEATH TWO DAYS BEFORE IT OCCURRED

Saturday Talk | ajc.com - about Pittsburgh's Ballet sans Musicians

FWIW, our Nutcracker boycott continues. They didn't get a donation from us this year either.

Nice ink about Pittsburgh in an out-of-town newspaper, LTE about music!

Saturday Talk | ajc.com Live music isn't just mere sound

While it's good to read that the musicians of the Atlanta Ballet are not struggling financially this holiday season ('Nutcracker joys missed,' Living, Dec. 2), I think this article does a great deal of harm to the cause of live music for the Atlanta Ballet and for any ballet or theater. It gives tacit approval to the replacement of live orchestra with recordings as long as the musicians can make up the money elsewhere. But the harm to the community of musicians, to the art form of ballet, and to the cultural climate of Atlanta is much bigger than whether or not lost income can be made up by teaching a few more lessons or playing another church gig.

Do we want to live in a community that does not value live music? I don't, and it's not just because I'm a musician. The iPod generation already expects music to come through tiny ear pieces. The artistic experience of being in a concert hall or theater with hundreds of other people, all experiencing the power and originality of the live performance, is something I want to have for myself and for my children. Presenting great art isn't about the bottom line; it's about something intangible that will never be replaced by electronic means because it is at heart human. The situation in Atlanta demands that musicians educate the audience to what we already know: live music is worth the price.

Here in Pittsburgh, the public responded with one voice when the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre tried to eliminate their resident orchestra, and the result is a company rededicated to the use of live music. I hope the residents of Atlanta come to the same realization before something precious is lost.

CYNTHIA ANDERSON, Anderson is an oboist with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Orchestra.

Brova!


We're getting ready for our holiday concerts. Grant plays first chair in the Phillips Elementary School performance as Erik moved to middle school. Erik's gig is Tuesday night.

In other fronts, our church pagent is now with two Marys. The one had a bad case of stage freight in today's dress rehersal. Seems that the dalmation is going to be put into a new role. Joseph -- quite a guy. This year he is Mormon-like and still not inclined to squak about a DNA test.

Changes Are Expected in Voting by 2008 Election - New York Times

This is a move to open-source software. We need to demand open-source.

Changes Are Expected in Voting by 2008 Election - New York Times The changes also mean that the various forms of vote-counting software used around the country — most of which are protected by their manufacturers for reasons of trade secrecy — will for the first time be inspected by federal authorities, and the code could be made public. There will also be greater federal oversight on how new machines are tested before they arrive at polling stations.

I've been harping about open-source since day one. The open-source part is every bit as important as the paper trail.

City Clerk & Webmaster for City of Pittsburgh -- Run with this Google Calendar for Pgh City Hall

Update: Some weirdness showed in the Google Calendar with meeting time shifts (as the wrong time zone was established) and the length of meetings. The start time and end times are the same now. So, it looks like this is ready for prime time.

My Christmas wish to Linda Johnson-Wasler, Clerk for City of Pittsburgh, and the Webmaster for the City.Pittsburgh web site -- a Google Calendar called Pittsburgh City Call.

I've set it up and can hand it off to you. Next, you'll need to feed it and leverage it within the City of Pittsburgh site. The gift comes from Google too. I've set up a Google Calendar and made it public and call it Pittsburgh City Hall. Come one, come all.

As of Friday, the city's website did NOT tell the public that there will be meetings on Dec. 18 and 19 (Monday and Tuesday) rather than the traditional dates (Tuesday & Wednesday). Meetings are shifted from time to time around Christmas. No big deal, unless you come the wrong date. Plus, a meeting is slated for December 27, 2006. Two meetings are also slated for the first week of January 2 & 3, 2007.

Yes, this is the 'hardest working legislative body' around, so says Doug Shields. Well, proving it on a Google Calendar is easy with these new utilities.

Philly Jury without brotherly love. Rejects voluntary-tax argument & link to Wesley Snipes

Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/09/2006 | Jury rejects voluntary-tax argument Jury rejects voluntary-tax argument
By John Shiffman
Inquirer Staff Writer

A Bucks County engineer who did not pay federal income taxes for three years because he said he believed such payments are voluntary was convicted yesterday of tax evasion.

A federal jury in Philadelphia deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Arthur L. Farnsworth, a former Libertarian candidate for Congress.

Farnsworth, who testified during the weeklong trial, has espoused his belief that tax payments are voluntary on his Web site, www.arthurfarnsworth.org.

During direct examination by attorney Mark Lane, Farnsworth said he had come to this conclusion after conducting his own intense legal research.

Farnsworth, 43, agreed with the government's estimate that he had grossed about $220,000 in 1998, 1999 and 2000. But he disagreed with the IRS's determination that he owed about $82,000 in taxes for those years.

Farnsworth, appearing confident and combative on the witness stand, testified that he had a good-faith belief that 'compliance is voluntary.'

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ara B. Gershengorn and Amy L. Kurland argued that Farnsworth's motives were rooted in his tax-protester philosophy, not his understanding of the law.

---

Raid in Pa. led to Snipes tax probe
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - The tax-fraud investigation that led to the indictment of "Blade" star Wesley Snipes began with a raid four years ago in Pennsylvania, an IRS agent testified.

Special Agent James Morris, speaking in court Wednesday, said agents found documents in a man's home in 2002 that led to a nationwide investigation into fraudulent trust funds. Snipes owned one of those trusts, another witness said.

The testimony came in the trial of Arthur Farnsworth, who is accused of tax evasion.

When agents searched Farnsworth's home near Sellersville, they found documents suggesting Farnsworth owned several bogus trusts, Morris said. Among them was one designed to hide money and assets to avoid payment of federal income taxes.

Snipes owned a similar trust, according to testimony by Wayne Rebuck, a former director at the company that sold the trusts. Rebuck said he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy count in return for his testimony against Farnsworth.

Snipes, star of the "Blade" trilogy, "Jungle Fever" and "White Men Can't Jump," was indicted in October on eight counts of tax fraud. He was accused of trying to cheat the government out of nearly $12 million in false refund claims and not filing returns for six years.

The 44-year-old actor has said he is a scapegoat and was unfairly targeted by prosecutors, and has suggested he was taken advantage of.

Farnsworth, 43, who has publicly stated he hasn't paid federal taxes in years, was charged in November 2004 with three counts of income-tax evasion.

His trial in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia was continuing Thursday. Farnsworth's attorneys say the government did not prove its case against their client.

Rodriguez To Stay At West Virginia

Is this news grounds for lighting up some furnature?

Rodriguez To Stay At West Virginia - Sports West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez held a press conference Friday to confirm that he has turned down an offer to coach at Alabama and will remain with the Mountaineers.

There was speculation that Rodriguez would accept Alabama's reported six-year contract offer, but that ultimately proved inaccurate.

'I fully respect his decision and wish him the best,' said Alabama athletic director Mal Moore in a statement. 'I want to remind everyone of what I said at the outset of this process: my only objective is to get the best person available to lead the Alabama football program.'

Roll, Tide, Roll -- except over them thar hills of West Virginia.

I really think Pitt should play its spring game at Cupples Stadium on the South Side. That will be the team's next game. If that news was made public on the morning of the Gator Bowl, we could have a huddle around 10th Street and set fire to a couch or two to psych up for the Blue-Gold game.

You never know, a real 'Festivus Party' might ensue too. Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us.

Iraq Study Group: United States Institute of Peace

Iraq Study Group: United States Institute of Peace: IRAQ STUDY GROUP REPORT

PDF Download the report 962 KB

In our efforts to make this report available to all, the report may be downloaded, reproduced, and translated free of charge. The United States Institute of Peace would appreciate being informed of translations so that we may direct our international readers to the respective versions.

This is how you make a report available. It is without any restrictions nor copy protection.

Walkways above traffic make great sense. We need much more of this in Pittsburgh, especially in Oakland.

100 days and a Bob O'Connor birthday passes

Today is the birthday of the late mayor, Bob O'Connor. We miss you Bob.

Luke's been the mayor for 100 days.

Tom Murphy was mayor a year ago, finishing his 12 year term at the boss in city hall and of the D party in the city. About this time last year there was a photo of all the 'shovels' in Tom's office being cleared out as he was packing to leave.

That's plays right into the song, "Lay the Shovel Down."

In the last 100 days, we've had a chance, be it fleeting, to nuke the notion of the building of the tunnel under the Allegheny River. Now we look to the bypass being closed for a year so it will be harder to drive from the South (airport) to the Convention Center.

MacYapper was defending Tom Murphy last night on his show. Many of the ills we face in this city are going to be holding us back for years to come -- thanks to Tom Murphy. We've got to pin some blame on him and have it leave town so we can get to the solutions. But, we need to understand the past and history -- else we are sure to repeat the same mistakes.

I think it is a mistake for the mayor's office and its administration to do a lot of slow-dances with the neighborhood development coroporations. Murphy did a lot of swapping of spit with them. City council still does.

Last week Jim Motznik gave away (like it is his to give) $2,500 to a re-start of the Overbrook neighborhood group.

We need development groups. But, we need to get these relationships into a tighter focus. Bob O'Connor gave those interactions some focus in jump starting the redd up campaign. He had people putting on the work gloves and getting away from the blueprints and building of new upscale condos -- condos that take eight to ten years on average to be finished and another few to finally sell. (I'm a bit overboard. Some have sold quickly. All have taken long to materialize.)

Running Mate, Tom L. is doing the news on Saturday with AM 1360

Way to go Tom. How long have you had that gig? No wonder you've been quiet in the blogging world.

Great for you and 1360. What are the details?

Image Quiz: Can you tell what's going on here?

Hint: This has nothing to do with a traffic jam on the PA Turnpike, after it is sold and the new owners go bankrupt.

Hints: All slides are from the same, larger canvas. This is very old.

Pothole.

Co-ed.

I took these photos as we were visiting a museum.

If you can tell what's happening, leave a note in the comments area.

Snowfall 'hit at the worst possible time' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Traffic sucked last night. Locals know this. Everyone was stuck in it.

Let's fix it. No more Steeler games on Thursday nights. None. The mayor can tell the NFL that our stadium is not for lease on a Thursday night.

Snowfall 'hit at the worst possible time' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Traffic snarls were heavy leading in and out of Pittsburgh as workers headed home and Pittsburgh Steelers fans headed to Heinz Field on the North Shore, many arriving after the start of yesterday's game with the Cleveland Browns.

At one point, bumper-to-bumper traffic along the Parkway West stretched from the Fort Pitt Tunnels to Robinson Town Centre.

It took more than an hour for some people to get out of a parking garage in Oakland. Not even on the street. Then it wasn't any better.

One guy called into the radio show and said he had been on the Bloomfield bridge for more than an hour.

It took us far more than an hour to get to swim practice too.

I think the Steelers should play its games on Sundays at 1 pm. We should do this for economic reasons.

Calendar: Vacant Land Management in Pgh - hot news with buy-back of tax leins.

Forum: Green Strategies for Vacant Land Management in Pittsburgh is Wed Dec 13 noon to 1:15.

Pittsburgh to pay MBIA $6.5 million for tax liens Pittsburgh to pay MBIA $6.5 million for tax liens By CHRISTINE RICHARD, BLOOMBERG NEWS

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said the city will buy back tax liens from bond insurer MBIA Inc. that were used as collateral for debt securities and have been blamed for holding up redevelopment of the city's most blighted areas.

Pittsburgh will pay $6.5 million for the liens on about 11,000 derelict properties, according to an e-mailed press release yesterday from the mayor's office. Armonk-based MBIA controls about three quarters of all real estate with tax liens in Pittsburgh, and nothing could be done to improve the properties until the bills were paid or MBIA wrote them off.

12-year-old life saver in the surf saves two and gets national honors

ASCAOnline - Your Coaching Resource MORRO BAY, Calif. – Twelve-year-old Trent Popovich, a USA Swimming Junior Olympian, will be recognized today with the United States Lifesaving Association’s Heroic Act Award for his successful rescue of two young girls from the California surf on February 12, 2006. Popovich was surfing near the Cayucos Pier when he heard the cries of the girls, ages eight and 10, who were caught in the riptide. An accomplished competitive swimmer, he rescued both girls by lifting them on to his surfboard and swimming them to the shore.

The full article is in the comments. This part about the parents makes me smile. The photos of the surfers are mine, not the real lifesaver hero.

In local lifesaving news, we've got some who have made some serious saves in our neighborhoods too. They should get awards and honors.

Jim, Grant, Mark and Erik from the photo album "Beach in Maine." Click to see more photos.

Call out from Compos Mkt Research for parents of folks in middle school

A Pgh firm is currently conducting a research project on Public Education and is looking for qualified participants.

Parent/Legal Guardian of middle or high school aged children

Must live in a city neighborhood where children could attend a Pittsburgh Public School

Students can be currently attending a Pittsburgh Public School or any other type of schooling

If you could potentially qualify and are interested in coming into our downtown Pittsburgh offices for participation, please give us a call. If you know anyone else who may potentially qualify and is interested in participating, please pass the info along and ask them to give us a call.

412-471-8484 ext. 506
Calls will be returned in the evening between 5:00 and 8:45 pm.

In your message, please state your full name, mention the topic of the project, and leave a telephone number where you can be reached in the evening and/or a cell phone number.

I just volunteered. I'm not sure if it pays or not. Some of their focus groups give a token bit of cash.

Erik's first middle school swim meet, with photos & videos too.

Erik swam his first swim meet yesterday, at Greenway Middle School, now home to PCA.

This photo album shows a few photos and videos. Plus, we took the technique shots to aid in his science project. It is a test about push-off disances in different body positions.

Frick-swim

Wanta date? I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

I think I'll put the agenda calendar on my sidebar soon. Just testing. What do you think?

Sell the PA Turnpike... Look to the future of transportation and a better idea

So, they are taking bids for the sale of the PA Turnpike. Get your bid in by the end of the year. It took about ten years to get gambling expansion in the state. But the PA Turnpike can sell in six weeks. What's up with the rush?

How about if we take our best bid, and then hold a state-wide referendum.

This is how we'll get around Pennsylvania after selling the PA Turnpike and its owners go out of business years later due to infrastructure decay.

In China, when you purchase property, you can only buy it for 99 years. That's all. You purchase a house, you've got the deed for 99 years. You sell the house in 10 years, you can sell the deed for 89 years.

If PA sells the PA Turnpike, I think we should NOT sell it FOREVER. Sunset the sale. Sell the PA Turnpike for 99 years. Or, sell it for 30 years.

Don't sell the PA Turnpike forever. Then in 99 years, we'll be able to sell it again. In 99 years, our great grandkids will be able to reap another windfall from this deal.

It was stupid to sell the gambling casino licenses for $50-million without an EXPIRATION DATE. The licenses should be for 30 years on gambling. Then in 25 years, we can 'think again.' Really, it is our kids that will be able to think again. Let them decide what to do with their world.

Report warns 'free' Wi-Fi could spell trouble

I didn't jump on the Wi-Fi bandwagon in the summer of 2006. The Wi-Fi was to be hooked up the All-Star Game, but came late.

In some schools in the UK, they are unplugging Wi-Fi because of health concerns for the teachers and students. Now comes this report that hits more to some of my concerns months ago.

Report warns 'free' Wi-Fi could spell trouble: "Report warns 'free' Wi-Fi could spell trouble

Wednesday, December 06, 2006
By Corilyn Shropshire, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cities thinking about launching a wireless Internet network should know that Wi-Fi rarely comes without strings attached.

A study released yesterday by free-market think tank the Reason Foundation cautioned that municipalities should make sure the projects are both technologically and financially viable before jumping into the Wi-Fi fray.

Whether the Wi-Fi network is free or financed with taxpayer dollars, 'If officials get into the broadband [Internet] business, they are entering a field where the technology they bought today is obsolete tomorrow,' said Adrian Moore, a vice president of research at the Los Angeles-based foundation and one of the report's authors."

But on another front, it was good to hear that the University of Pittsburgh is rolling out Wi-Fi in Oakland and at each of its branch campus settings.

I love the idea that Pitt is doing Wi-Fi. That's who should be doing it -- because Pitt isn't really a governmental entity.

Note that the plans for a city-wide network, one that I'd fully support, have not been announced. I'd love to eat my words and see a Wi-Fi everywhere in the city, if not the county. But, I won't hold my breath.

The original report: Reason.org/wifibroadband/.

graffiti.maverick - on my exploratory committee...

FWIW.

graffiti.maverick - on my exploratory committee... I've always pretty much acknowledged that given my wacky politics and my refusal to join either party I couldn't win, but now I'm thinking if a 26 year old, with no real experience, can be mayor. Why not me. So I told Mike I'd form an exploratory committee to look into the idea. (no one just announces they're running for office. You always need to form a committee to investigate the possibility).

Welcome to the exploratory committee!

Josh had some pull with the media because he was still in high school.

LeRoy might have some great pull now, because he's in heaven.

This guy has a blog, at least.

It wouldn't be too hard to get onto the ballot, even as a Republican. But, you'll need to work about an hour for each of five signatures. So, you need 200 -- then you might expect to slave for 40 hours. And, the work needs to happen in a three week period.

To run for mayor as a candidate outside the D and R party, increase the workload by 20 times, at least.

As for electability, you are not only pretty, but modest as well. That combination is potent, as Bob O'Connor proved in 2005. In 2001 the public wasn't looking for pretty. In fact, our internal polls show that in 2001 pretty was a handicap. But, the trends may have shifted. Catch that wave, if you can.

Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center - PittsburghPlatform

Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center - PittsburghPlatform
# Nonprofit in Pittsburgh
# Hiring an executive director in December, 2006

Click the link for the details.

I've got a pending story to tell about job pointers I've been floating. But, this isn't the week to spill the details, so -- stay tuned.

But, don't delay on getting your application in the job with the Employment Center.

MacYapper: GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR BUTTS EDITION

MacYapper: GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR BUTTS EDITION If you people don't wake up and realize that I might have a point here, and at least weigh what other candidates have to say carefully, we're going to start another period of endless mediocrity in the 'Burgh.

And one thing we don't need in the 'Burgh is another period of endless mediocrity, run by old school pols.

Jeepers. MacYapper says "Think Again!" I'm olay with that, fur shore.

Perils for Pedestrians Episode 105: Dublin, Velo-City 2005

I've been a big advocate for a massive expansion of bike use in the City of Pittsburgh. While I like Bike-Pgh (the organization), I have felt that they have been too nice. While I like the approach to the rivers and more parks, I feel that the County Riverfront Park proposal of Dave Fawcett on County Council (and Jim Burn, D, too, I guess) is lame as it inserts bikes as a tourist thing when we really need bikes merged into transport to where people travel, and it isn't often to the river's edge. Bikes can flourish in certain parts of Pittsburgh. Got it? Well, this Google Video (like YouTube) on a past Velo-City conference in Dublin hits the sweet-spot in the campaign-presentation I've been craving. Check it out. Get your head around it. It would work for downtown, South Side, North Side, Oakland. And, the benefits will be local housing, residents. This isn't just to promote cycling. We can overhaul a few of our streets and have a huge upside for all, even those in cars. Perils for Pedestrians is a monthly series promoting awareness of issues affecting the safety of people who walk and bicycle. Perils For Pedestrians appears on public access cable stations in many cities across the United States and on DISH Network 9411 - The Universityhouse Channel.

BTW, I'll turn off the auto-play on this posting in a few hours. Comments about that are welcomed.

IamPgh -- does a bit on.... Mark Rauterkus

Just posted:

IamPgh � Mark Rauterkus Mark Rauterkus
NEIGHBORHOOD: South Side (Flats)
WORK: Swim Coach, Journalist, Political Activist
AGE GROUP: 40-50

I’ll ask up front that you, my dear readers, who may feel inclined to turn the comment section of this post into a vehicle for political argument to please refrain.

Read it there. Comment here, there and anywhere.

Allegheny County Democratic Committee

Allegheny County Democratic Committee: "Tuesday, December 05, 2006
More on the mayoral race"

We'll see if my comments at the Allegheny Dem blog stay on the site, or not.

Here is what I posted there.

In the blog posting above, you seem to hint that it's safe to say that all candidates will work with other public officials.

Why forget so quickly.

Mayor Tom Murphy, the biggest Dem in town for a dozen years, was NOT one to work with others. He was the best the Dems had to offer -- and he ruled the D party in town for years.

Tom Murphy didn't work well with others and the saddest thing of all was that the Ds with an ounce of juice really, hardly ever stood up to his folly.

There is little hope nor insurance that the Ds will offer a suite of candidates that work well with others. No guarantee at all.

Yeah, and Doyle is unbeatable -- so why did he take his Green challenger to courts in Harrisburg for an extended ploy to eliminate a challenger. That's unforgivable -- not unbeatable. They've already beaten up our shared democracy.

Jeff Koch is doing something on city council -- except it is as clear as mud

Here is a snip from the city clerk's web site showing the agenda of a pending (this week) Pgh City Council Meeting. This is a future city council meeting and we can expect a vote on something.

Bill number: 2006-0995

Resolution further amending and supplementing Resolution No. 180, effective April 5, 2000, entitled "Providing for an Agreement or Agreements, or use of existing Agreements and/or a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing Contracts, and for the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, and/or services for various projects in connection with the Neighborhood Needs Program in Council District 3; and providing for the payment of the costs thereof," By adding new projects and by deleting various other projects. Total cost of all projects is not to exceed $970,000.
SPONSOR(S): JEFFREY S. KOCH

Wow. I bet you can't tell what is happening either.

We don't know how much money has been spent. We don't know how the money is slated to be spent. We don't know anything of the new spending plan for the money. We don't know squat.

This is a good example of why we have overlords in town running the city. The ones on city council are not responsible for being transparent and trusting when it comes to the spending of our money.

This makes for another good example of why those on council in a time of crisis should be put up for re-election every two years, not four. But, in this case with Mr. Koch -- that request will come true. Mr. Koch won a special election in March 2006 and will need to come before the voters in May 2007 for the primary and November 2007 for the general election, if he survives the primary challenges.

When bills such as these come before our city council, without specific insights in the slightest, then I'm saying we need different members on council.

In other city council news, I've put up a new public Google Calendar called Pittsburgh City Hall. If anyone wants to post dates and help to manage this calendar, or if you'd like to subscribe to this calendar, feel free to do so.

Mayor Ravenstahl will seek full term -- hardly. This election isn't for a 'full term' -- thankfully

Luke's in the race. Everyone knew he'd run for the job that he now holds. But, let's get the headline straight.

Mayor Ravenstahl will seek full term in office next year - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Mayor Ravenstahl will seek full term in office next year

Luke runs in the primary with a vote in May 2007. If Luke wins the D primary, he'll be able to advance to the general election in November 2007.

The winner of the November 2007 general election will take the oath of office shortly after the election is certified by the department of elections. That should occur a week or so after the general election, in mid-November.

The victor in the general election of November 2007 gets to serve as mayor for two years, the good lord willing. A full term of four years isn't going to be granted until after the election of 2009. Yes, another election and set of campaigns for Pittsburgh's mayor will occur in 2009 with its spring primary and fall general election.

I'm glad that voters get to choose who will be the mayor for the remainder of the term that began as Bob O'Connor was sworn to uphold the constitution and city charter in January 2006. I welcome the arrival of a full and robust election cycle in 2007, with both primary and general votes.

Come 2009, we'll do it again for the same office. That's great too, in my humble opinion.

We need a more robust system of self-government and democracy in this region. We need to supercharge all aspects of our self-reliance. That occurs, in part, on the campiagn trails and at the voting booths.

When the overlords arrived in the City of Pittsburgh, (i.e., Act 47 team and I.C.A. czars), I suggested that terms of service for all elected officials be cut in half. The mayor, controller and city council should come up for re-election every two years, not four years, when overlords are in town doing the jobs of the mayor, controller and city council.

We can talk about cutting the size of city council, from nine members to seven or five. We can talk about cutting the size of their budgets and perks too. But, perhaps we should cut the lenght of their time in office. Let's double-up on our democracy and vote more often. I want to better leverage the issues of the day with a match of the candidates.

The city's finance troubles of recent times came because of the poor jobs of the mayor, controller and city council. In these times of crisis, we need more accountability -- not less.

With oversight and its distressed status should come an automatic reduction in the length of terms.

Sure, some of those people have since departed. Let's keep them honest.

Thailand -- a photo opportunity thanks to Phipps

From texture - misc.

Bringing the tropics to Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens soon can walk into a lush, jungle-like paradise, with cascading waterfalls, streams, rocks, towering palm trees, the scent of jasmine and numerous wild plants native to Southeast Asia.

Welcome to Pittsburgh's mini-Thailand.

Next weekend, Phipps will open 'Tropical Forest: Thailand,' a $7.5-million, 12,000-square-foot exhibit that is part of the most ambitious expansion project the conservatory has undertaken since it opened in 1893, officials say.

Church and Christmas event: Eastminster's Light Up Night

Church event for Christmas, with buggy rides. (Click for larger view.)

Saturday, December 9, 2006, 6 - 8 pm at Eastminster Church (right across the street from Home Depot). Each year gets bigger and crazier (camels, sheep, live nativity, lights, drama and food). A great event for kids of all ages.

We won our swim meet on Saturday!

QCTimes.com / News / Vilsack returns to his boyhood home

I didn't go out of my way to see the political guy from Iowa -- err -- from the 'Burgh. But, I should have. I'd be interested in getting some feedback on the visit and events. What did you think?

QCTimes.com / News / Vilsack returns to his boyhood home: "Vilsack returns to his boyhood home
By Susan Schmeichel | Sunday, December 03, 2006

PITTSBURGH — At age 5, “Tommy” Vilsack loved chicken pot pies and orange Popsicles, the Iowa governor’s former baby sitter reminisced Saturday during the Democratic presidential candidate’s visit to his boyhood neighborhood.

Vilsack’s campaign stop Saturday in Pittsburgh was part of the candidate’s five-state “Courage to Create Change” tour which began Thursday in Mount Pleasant with his formal announcement of his candidacy. The Democratic governor returned to Des Moines on Saturday night to attend a fundraiser before continuing on to stops in Nevada and South Carolina. "

Christmas Cards begin to arrive

The first Christmas Cards arrived in the mail this week. The first two are from: Jason Altmeyer and his family, and George and Laura Bush.

Anyone know Ryan Paul Boody?

kdka.com - Police Probe 23-Year-Old's Disappearance Police Probe 23-Year-Old's Disappearance

(KDKA) MOON TOWNSHIP Moon Township Police are investigating after they say a 23-year-old man disappeared.

Police say Ryan Paul Boody went to the 'Image Bar' on the South Side Thursday and hasn't been seen since.

Authorities say they're concerned because he hasn't used his cell phone or debit card.

He drives a 1995 teal Ford Mustang with the PA license plate DML 0322.

Anyone with information is asked to call Moon Township Police at 412-262-5000.

This is a problem. How do you do an Amber Alert for an adult? We should have a better system of staying connected and raising alarms.

Perspectives: Restore trust first - Costa makes me giggle.

This letter caught my attention. It made me giggle.

Perspectives: Restore trust first Perspectives: Restore trust first
It's time to change the way state legislators do business

Friday, December 01, 2006 By Jay Costa

Then I got this email as a reply. It is worthy of posting here, regardless of if the P-G prints it or not.

RESPONSE TO: http://postgazette.com/pg/06335/742602-109.stm

In response to Senator Jay Costa’s perspective: Restore Trust First, on December 1st, I am in agreement with the proposed rule changes and reforms that have been recommended and hope our legislature does even more to see that the people’s business is done in a moral, ethical, open, and honest way. After gambling lobbyist’s contributions have quadrupled, even more must be done to stop their anonymous influence, as well as those of other profit seeking lobbyists. That influence was observed in the recent lame duck session in Harrisburg.

The legislature decided to offer us free drinks at gambling facilities as part of twenty six pages of amendments to a bill. This decision was done: without public hearings or input, without the constitutionally required waiting period, and without giving small business owners who will be affected by this provision the time to contact their representatives and let them know how it may affect them. The people were left out.

This was done even after a bipartisan house group signed on to the REFORM agenda. Twenty three of the fifty three house members of this group voted for these recent changes. (See November 12 Forum: The pay off and July 10: House Rebels try to break the Iron grip of Leadership, both in the Post Gazette)

While Senator Costa’s initiatives should be commended and would be a great service to the Commonwealth, a greater service would be done if the members of the general assembly simply followed the rules that were already in place.

Steve Karas, Forest Hills

Did Costa agree to the rule change for free drinks at casinos, or not? How did he vote? Why didn't he protest from the floor to ask that the bill be held? Where is the text of his statement from the floor of the chamber?

Book fest with Tom Poole of PCTV

Below is a press release reminder of our Barnes & Noble event this Saturday. Most of the producers being showcased at this venue work with youth or are youth themselves. This is an excellent opportunity to bring children that are close to your heart

Since this store is closing at the end of the month many of the books will be 40% off (perfect for Holiday shopping) and, just as importantly, PCTV will receive a potion of the total sales for the time period that we are presenting. So come down some time between 10am and 4pm and let family, friends and associates know about our book fair. And bring your vouchers for PCTV to be credited for a sale the vouchers need to be presented)

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2006

Pittsburgh Community Television (PCTV)-1300 Western Avenue-Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Darlene Terry, Outreach Director (412-322-7570) e-mail darlene@pctv21.org

Meet Pittsburgh Community Television's (PCTV) Producers at Barnes & Noble-Smithfield Street Downtown Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA--Barnes & Noble's Book-fair will be showcasing several PCTV producers that work extensively with youth. Brother John's daughter Ms. Nay Nay; Karen Jones, author of children's stories; Da Button Pusha, hip-hop artist; Bill Heh, illusionist; Rick Murray, Slick Rick youth exercise; and Umoja African Arts Company will all demonstrate the talents that they regularly exhibit to the community on their television shows to those attending this event. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet these dedicated artists, a convenient time to do some holiday shopping and to support literacy in general.

Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of every sale made with a special Bookfair voucher. Attached is the voucher. Please help support PCTV and our producers by attending and shopping at Barnes & Noble, downtown store on Smithfield and 6th Avenue, on Saturday, December 2, 2006 from 10 am - 4 pm.

Times in which producers will present:

Sat. Dec 2, 2006

10 am - 11am Umoja African Dance Company - drumming instruction

11 am - Noon Universal Street Academy's presents Ms. Nay Nay - host of Kid's Spot, a forum for youth

Noon - 1 pm Karen Jones "Imagination Way"-reading children's stories she wrote

1 pm - 2 pm Slick Rick - exercise demonstration

2 pm - 3 pm Bill Heh - a magic show

3 pm - 4 pm Da Button Pusha - a showcase of positive spoken artist and Q& A with teenagers

PCTV is a non-profit community access station. Our mission is to encourage dialogue, promote media literacy, provide a platform for free speech and build a stronger community thru training and by providing local citizens and non-profit organizations with the tools to produce and broadcast programs from their own unique perspectives

For more information about PCTV, please visit our website www.pctv21.org

###

Lastly, visit PCTV's on-line auction site you might find some packages that you can use or give as gifts for the holidays http://pctv21.cmarket.com Let me know what you think of the site and I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Honz show: Voter in Plum gets away with fraud

Solutions offered on the air by my call in:

First: If a voter is not known to the poll workers and fails to present I.D. before voting, the voter should be asked to dip his finger into an ink bottle. The purple thumb is a mark of voters in the middle east. It could work here too to snag people who might run around from poll to poll to vote for others who don't generally vote.

Second: Take everyone's photo before they vote. Use a digital camera or video, like a security camera used in schools or a gas station / retail store. Then when the real voter arrives and a conflict is noted, the authorities will have a photo of the one who created the voter fraud. If the chances of being caught on tape are high, then that type of fraud might not occur. But still, the multiple voters would need to be punished and spend five years in jail or with house arrest.

The guest on the KDKA Radio show was from the Allegheny County GOP, Dave M. (spelling?)

Fred H (show host) blames the Dems for always blocking voter ID use at the polls.

My solution is cheap. An ink pad at each polling place might cost $1. And, it would be darn effective. The person might get two votes, but not a third. And, a video camera at the doorway could go a long way to curb those who vote under false names.

Loss of HQs pondered in Arizona

Smug. What's up with that statement? It comes at the end of the article from Jon Talton.

Valley again risks loss of HQs - 4 this time The truth is that Phoenix is the last big factory town in America. The product is building houses, along with all the services that are needed by a rapidly growing population. It's a move that has 'worked' for the past half-century, and right now we're as smug as Pittsburgh steelworkers in, say, 1979.

Lien sale looked good then - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

See, I'm not the only one who is still knocking the ugly deals that former mayor, Tom Murphy, stuck to the citizens of the region. He was bad news and still has a bad approach in North Carolina with the Land Institute.

Lien sale looked good then - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review With Pittsburgh short on cash but flush with unpaid tax bills in the mid-1990s, then-Mayor Tom Murphy received an offer that must have seemed too good to be true.

Capital Asset Research, a private company later taken over by MBIA, a New York-based bond insurer, wanted to pay Pittsburgh more than $32 million for liens against property owners who hadn't paid their taxes.

More than a decade later, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration is negotiating to undo the agreement with MBIA by purchasing the tax liens for pennies on the dollar.

'Everybody realizes it was a bad deal on all ends,' said Adriane Aul, vacant property program manager for the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group. 'It was a short-term solution that created a very long-term problem for everybody.'

I'm waiting for Tom Murphy to come back into the state-wide news by organizing a new deal so as to sell off the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Perhaps I should send him an invite to hatch a deal for the Wabash Tunnel. He could unload that for PAT's sake as they don't want to operate it any longer. Funny how I want to turn one lane of the Wabash Tunnel into a bikeway while cars and buses can still travel on the other lane. That is something that Murphy should support as he is so pro trails. Such a joke too.

Back to the article. "Did anybody expect this nightmare? No, no, no. Nobody did it intentionally. It's a real process we've gone through." Well, I expected the nightmare.

People will wake up to the evil that lurks behind the increases (recent and more are proposed) in the deed transfer tax too, some day.

Put off the 'day of reckoning' -- or -- as it should be stated, 'era of wreckoning.'

Blind spots are killers. Too often people choose to accept blind spots. Think again!

We're hosting an invitational swim meet on Saturday.

We don't get to swim outdoors in our December swim meet like we did in August.
Swimming through the lilly pads.

Bad technique in the pads, with Grants head high. Grant says he is standing on the murky bottom in this photo.

I'm going to bring my voice recorder and try to get swimmer interviews and make up a podcast for the kids. More news later. Swimming has "pads." The touch pads are at the end of the lane(s) for the electronic timing in a swim pool. They are often called, "touch pads." Swimming in a lake brings a different set of 'pad' to the swimmer, 'lilly pads.' When they rub against your skin, they can evoke a shout, as the video reveals.



There were videos of the swim in Canada through the pads.

The Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh Meetup Group (Pittsburgh, PA) - Meetup.com

The Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh Meetup Group (Pittsburgh, PA) - Meetup.com Our next Meetup: Holiday Party at John Harvard's in Monroeville

Join us for the Libertarian annual Holiday Party! All are welcome!

Hope to see some Running Mates there.

Music and Drama tidbit

Anne Feeney wrote in her newsletter, in part:

On Monday night, Dec 4th, my friend Jerry Starr debuts his new play, BURIED: the story of the Sago Mine Disaster in a standing-room-only reading at Pittsburgh Playwrights. Directed by the amazing Marci Wood, the play features an all-star cast and music by me and Sue Powers. The reading will be filmed in the hope of finding funding for full-scale productions in 2007.

Break a leg!

College Football Poll Bowl Games

Pitt is not slated to attend a Football Bowl Game at the end of this season, so says this site.

College Football Poll Bowl Games International Bowl, Toronto, Canada $750,000 1/6/07 Noon
ESPN-2, TSN MAC #2 or #3 vs. Big East #4 or #5 Western Michigan vs. Rutgers

This is the first year of the International Bowl, to be played in Canada on January 6 at noon. Pitt had hopes to get an invite there. But, it looks like a long shot now.

Ohio University football and OU Alumni Tailgate

The Ohio Univeristy Bobcats are playing for the MAC Championship on ESPN tonight at 7:30 pm.

Ohio U plays Central Michigan. And, OU footballers accepted an invitation to play in the GMAC Bowl on January 7th. This is the first bowl game for the Bobcats since 1968.

On December 7th, the OU alumni are holding a tailgate before the Steelers Browns game from 5 - 8 pm. At the tailgate we will have various types of food, drinks, and giveaways. The tailgate will be held in Red Lot Clark East, beside the Clark Building. Look for the Ohio Bobcats flag to find the tailgate. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by November 30th and send a check for $15.00 to:

Colleen Doughty
c/o OUAA Pittsburgh Chapter
5605 Pavillion Court
Wexford, PA 15090

Please make checks out to OUAA Pittsburgh Chapter. In addition, please bring your ID so that I can give wristband to individuals that are over 21. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at colleenedoughty@aol.com. Please join us and invite your friends!

Need 10 (or more) folks to email me to assist with a new e-forum hosted by international / national expert

Steven Clift, founder of E-Democracy.Org, is a net advocate that I've followed for years. He does fantastic work. Steve has been around the block and around the net on issues and with plenty of tech-based tools and thoughts.

We now need a dozen or so from Pittsburgh -- and from Allegheny County too -- to email me, Mark -at- Rauterkus -dot- com, so we can make a steering group and form a new online community forum. Steven Cliff's associates provide the infrastructure and leadership.

They've got a nice tech partner in New Zealand and a forum there. They've done great things in Minnesota, and I've lurked and participated there too.

Now, they are trying to roll this out in various markets in the country. Others have wanted to lift-off in various cities and Pittsburgh should ride this wave with our own community forum too.

Excellent. Any more takers?

The first step is to create a steering committee with at five members. The more diverse politically, gender-wise, etc. the better. If you can get some representation from community institutions even better, particularly on larger steering groups.

Once you have a small steering team, then we'll set you up with a place-team@ group so you can work on your charter - forum purpose statement and any special rules above our common rules framework. Circulating a draft around the community helps build buy in and interest.

As Carol said, then you need to select a volunteer forum manager.

Then the forum is created and together we put lots of energy into recruitment before the forum opens for posting. Our built-to-last model, requires 100 member to launch. That might seem like a lot or to some too little. The key benefit is it creates a sense of community - I was there from the beginning - ownership. It also forces you to be strategic in your outreach!

So one step at time, create a short e-mail letting people know that you plan to start a local Issues Forum if other join you in the effort. Ask them to e-mail you if they are interested in the idea or might participate. Perhaps what they might want to see discussed. Then in your reply ask them if they have any objection to being part of the steering committee. Feel free to share a draft if you like - make it short and
snappy.

When you think you have enough interest, come back and we can discuss steering committee first steps (like a meeting) and charters. Let's plan to reconnect in two weeks when you have the base of your steering committee recruited. Sound good?

Cheers, Steven Clift. E-Democracy.Org

So, I need to email Steven and provide him with a list of names and email contacts from folks who want to be on this new venture's steering committee.

Please consider this request, if you can use email. And, most of all, we need to get folks from all parts of the political landscape. We can only take three more white guy Libertarians who live on the South Side Flats who have two kids.

First come first served. I'll submit a list at 20. If you don't want to email me, leave a comment in the blog.

FWIW, this won't be a Rauterkus.com effort. It won't be a specific campaign tool. This is a community forum and all are welcome.

UPDATE: I've got three takers within the first day. We still need more. And, I don't yet need to cast a wide net.

Luke on KDKA-Radio with Marty G

Luke says, "I'm here for the long haul."

Luke, you are really here for as long as the people of Pittsburgh decide if you should be retained or not. The voters may elect you to continue the job. You're here until December, 2007. You are here to serve the will of the people. The voters get to decide what happens next. Not Luke.

Nice interview otherwise, except for Janis' call and questions. Come on! Marty shut down part of the question with silence and then just said, "wow." She clearly had an agenda, said the show host.

Many of the top citizen speakers called: Ora Lee, Ms. E.F. Brown, and a zinger at the end about some guy from Public Works who had issue with some dead wood going out of parkland.

Stay tuned until Friday to get the news about those who are still being paid and are on leave: Dennis Regan and a Police Commander, K.McN.

The $50-million price tag for the casino license only included SLOTS. Table games comes for a 10-fold increase in the cost of doing business here.

The jerks in Harrisburg sold slots parlor licenses for $50-million each. The price was too low. There should have been an auction so that the price of entry would have been much greater.

The taxpayers got ripped off with the sale of the $50-million licenses.

Now, there is no way that we'll get a good deal by extending the license holder's rights to host table games, in addition to slots, without a serious auction and about $500-million.

Ed Rendell is quoted on the radio saying he will not support table games at casinos, just yet.

If we get table games, we better get another pay day, ten times as much as before, from the casino license holders.

Difference between slots and table games: Demographics

The difference is that PA has a bunch of seniors that go to Atlantic City and West Virginia to gamble. We send our tour buses out of state and the state of PA does not get that revenue.

The difference is that PA doesn't have an viable outflow of money being spent on table games that could be retained in-state so as to make a tax-windfall to the PA treasury.

PA was getting taken to the cleaners by other states because a chunk of income went elsewhere to play the slots.

PA is not able to justify the expansion of its pending casinos to include table games because a chunk of income from PA is not going elsewhere.

PA has a lot of seniors. Seniors like to play the slots. PA was sold the slots deal so as to capitalize upon the lost incomes.

PA seniors may stay home to spend some of their money in the PA slots parlors. That's it. Done.

PA's seniors won't go out of state to play table games.

Bill at the end of the session!

Frank Dermody was caught by another caller about how there was an amendment and it was voted on in a matter of hours.

Where is the reform group on this?

Frank Dermody said," I would have said that they should have voted the next day."

The next day is bunk.

People had a chance to make public comment on the bill. But the amendment had no chance to make public comment.

Falling Down Stupid Drunk in a casino (call recap with Marty Griffin's show)

I've never said that the casino's should NOT provide free drinks because the free drinks can lead to falling down, drunk casino customers. Ed Rendell has no clue as to my objections.

Others point out that drinking and free drinks can lead to drunk driving, bankruptcy and other dangers.

People can get drunk on both free drinks and drinks that are purchased.

Frank Dermody said that the casio has to comply with the PA LCB laws. The laws are strict. WRONG!

The Governor just signed a bill that makes an exception to the LCB laws. Casinos don't have to follow LCB laws as they legislature and the governor just change the LCB laws. They'll change them again too.

Double-talking jackass.

Frank Dermody also said that there won't be any local taverns that will go out of business.

WRONG!

We'll see 20 or 30 bars, restaurants and taverns go out of business after the casino opens. There will be some marketplace adjustments. Payrolls will not be able to be met. A job shift will occur and perhaps the small businesses, locally owned business will see a serious decline.

Sure, we have too many bars on the South Side, but that will change after the casino opens. That's why I think it is fruitless to fight with the bar limiting legislation, but that is a point for another rant.

We are going to loose jobs on East Carson Street after the casino comes. We might see a job surge in the net output. But, we'll see places close. Bars open and close all the time. To think otherwise is hype that I'm not buying.

Finally, and this was my first point in the phone call, we should put table games to a voter referendum. Frank Dermody should write the ballot questions.

Mayor and others, (read Onorato) to do pole dance on New Years Eve

So, they are going to drop the ball(s) at midnight on a pole on a stage in downtown at the corner of the Horne's Christmas tree.

It's a new feature for first night.

City will have a ball on New Year's City will have a ball on New Year's
Midnight countdown will culminate with raising of 1,000-pound sphere

E. Hills residents seek to turn closed school into community hub

East Hills residents seek to turn closed school into community hub An East Hills group yesterday sought the city's help in turning a shuttered school building into a community center that would offer sports, education and social programs...

Konota Gaskins, a Democratic committeeman and president of East Hills Community Youth Adult Council, pitched the idea to Neil D. Parham, the city's youth policy manager, in a meeting at the City-County Building. Also present was Arlinder Lang, a former East Hills resident helping Mr. Gaskins.

Mr. Gaskins said he has been trying for three years to establish a community center in what he described as a dying neighborhood. He said the East Hills International Studies Academy building, which the Pittsburgh Public Schools closed in June, would be an ideal site.

Don't hold your breath. We've got a closed indoor ice rink on the South Side that has not been opened for years. There is no hope of doing any expansion in the city because those on Grant Street now are only worried about their own needs (selfish) and they're too busy trying to manage the downward spiral of decline.

Independent Weekly: News: Features: Imagine Dix

Pittsburgh's former mayor, Tom Murphy, working with the Urban Land Institute, showed up in another town, Raleigh, North Carolina, to trumpet pin-headed development on a green field space that goes against the will of the locals who have visions and desires for high quality community spaces.

Independent Weekly: News: Features: Imagine Dix: "And to steal a phrase from former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, another member of the ULI team, talking about how Raleigh's approached other big land-use decisions 'for a while here'—'It'll do.'"

Tom Murphy says, "It will do."

Tom Murphy might as well said, "Aim low. Don't miss."

Tom Murphy might as well said, "Talk is cheap, poor citizens. Control of the land can be leveraged into influence with speculators and developers."

The problem is, Tom Murphy's price tag is too low. Way too low.

Furthermore, when the hint of new money comes onto the scene, Tom Murphy can't close the deal without another endless string of compromises that all break in the favor of the the private interest, new money developer and against the public's benefit.

He'll undercut the financial advantages by being cheap on one hand. And on the other hand he'll devalue what could be grand and cheapen the outcome.

Finally, layers of FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt), plus complexity and secret negotiations (smoke) that spin into leases the size of phone books make deals that take generations to unravel.

Dorethea Dix, back in 1848 founded a great institution for some needy people. Those folks then -- and to this time -- are not a high priority for Tom Murphy. No way. Don't be fooled. And, he used to be in the Peace Corps. Go figure how much he's changed.

Healthcare, wellness and service to the mentally ill won't have a snow-ball's chance of making it into his priority list. Blades of grass will have much greater weight, only behind retail and upscale, lower-density housing that's easy to build and sell.

Here comes more trouble.

The heart of the ULI scheme, though, is its development plan, which calls for a Dix Campus Development Corp.—members appointed by the state, the city and NCSU—to develop 1.2 million square feet of office and retail space (including 800,000 square feet for DHHS) and 1,400 single- and multi-family housing units.

A development corporation is an authority. It amounts to overlords without any accountability. It turns citizens into serfs. Its formation puts the mayor, governor and future political leaders into a zone of fruitlessness. The authority will take on a life of its own and never sunset and always strive to grow itself.

First off, demand referendums. Put these big questions to the people to vote. Should the Dix property be sold or retained by the state? -- Yes -- or -- No --.

Second, demand that the property be made available for sale, if it is to be sold, by bids and at auctions. Sell five lots, for example, in year 1, then five more in year 5, and the last five in year 10. Each goes to an open bid or auction.

If you want to make this a private development -- put it into a real private corporation, not some developement company formed for this sake. The private corporations should have stock owners and grow private equity and be a real marketplace player.

Third, don't settle for some appointements to a board for cronies for a development corporation. That doesn't work and should not be part of a democratic, free, open society.

If you have to have a goofy development corporation / authority, then you need to insist that people be elected to those seats. And, they need to be retained in those seats with retention votes. Look into some new-age campaign finance reform election process, perhaps as if you elect school board members or student government at NC State. Insist on five public forums on public TV -- and a limit of $500 in campaign finances -- or else the candidate is knocked off the ballot.

The Urban Land Institute is a cancer to democracy and that's why Tom Murphy fits in so well with those scemes.

The $40-million price tag is a red flag. That amount will decline even lower. The land will sell on the cheap. This is why a bid and auction is necessary.

Pennsylvania rushed to sell casino licenses for $50-million. But, they could have sold for more than $400-million each. But, that bid / auction would have cut out the middle-man politicians eager to cut the deals and gain in power / popularity.

The other red flag is the hype where "IF Raleigh can raise $10 million of that from private contributors, ..." You don't want good foundation money -- from private contributors -- to go into land deals. The $10-million he seeks to grab comes from out of your churches, from out of your libraries, from out of your scholarship funds, from out of your soup kitchens, from out of your angle investors.

Do deals that pull their own weight on their own merits without other layers of subsidizations. Don't allow for other vested interests to muddy the waters nor hi-jack valued funds for other viable community efforts, say the next park over.

2 pm with the LCB to block a South Side bar

A meeting is slated for 2 pm on Thursday, Nov 30, 2006 -- with the LCB (Liquor Control Board).

Gather at 875 Green Tree Road, 2 Parkway Center, Suite G-8.

This is to fight the arrival of a new license on East Carson Street on the South Side. They want to put in a bar in a place that has always been an outlet for 'dry goods.'

Go Ted!

kdka.com - South Side Hit & Run Suspect Surrenders

kdka.com - South Side Hit & Run Suspect Surrenders Police say the driver hit three members of Duquesne University's hockey team

(KDKA) PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh Police say the driver involved in a hit and run accident last week that injured members of the Duquesne University hockey team has surrendered.

Nick Demine, 25, of Monroeville allegedly hit two players and a coach last week on the South Side after a bar fight.

Is it three members of the team or two members of the team and a coach?

Are DU athletes now only allowed out at night with chaparones?

This happened just a couple of blocks from our house. I'm glad it is settled and hate that it happened.

Public Invited to Submit Nominations: PPS Alumni Hall of Fame & CORO People

Hall-of-fame outreach.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools wants nominations for the Alumni Hall of Fame through January 31, 2007.

Nominees must have attended the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Those who nominate successful alumni will be asked to describe briefly how the nominee has distinguished himself or herself, the years of attendance in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and the individual’s contributions to the community after leaving the District. Nominations will be accepted from School District employees, community members, former students, family members and other alumni.

The winners will be selected by a community-based judging panel and will be recognized at the March, 2007 Legislative Meeting of the Board of Education.
Past winners include:

• Dr. Robbie Ali, Director Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh
• Mr. Louis Astorino, Architect of distinction
• LCpl. Aric J. Barr, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in Fallujah Iraq, April 3, 2004
• Dr. Edward T. Bullister, President of Cambridge Technology Development, Inc.
• Ms. Esther Bush, President and CEO, Pittsburgh Chapter of the Urban League
• Dr. Helen Faison, Retired Acting Superintendent, Pittsburgh Public Schools
• Mr. Thomas Fitzgerald, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania
• Mr. Sy Holzer, President, PNC Bank
• Mr. William S. Lerach, Partner in Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP
• Mr. Harold Marks, teacher at Knoxville Middle School
• Mr. Richard W. Nicklos, Retired Principal of East Hills International Studies Academy
• Mr. Ralph Papa, CEO, Citizens Bank, Pittsburgh
• Mr. Timothy Smoot, Co- founder of Meridian Management Group, Inc.
• Mr. William Strickland, President and CEO, Manchester Craftsman’s Guild and the Bidwell Center
• Dr. Cyril Wecht, elected Coroner for Allegheny County

For a nomination form, contact the Pittsburgh Public Schools Division of Communications and Marketing at 412-622-3615 or access the District website.

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The People Do Matter (PDM) Awards

It's Time to Brag! The region's leading business, education and workforce development organizations are soliciting nominations for the 2007 People Do Matter Awards. Nominations for this regional human resource recognition program will be accepted until January 19, 2007. Download a nomination form at: www.peopledomatter.com.

The People Do Matter initiative recognizes southwestern Pennsylvania employers whose human resource practices best demonstrate the importance of providing workers a positive return on their contributions of time, attention, ideas, knowledge, passion, energy, and social networks to ensure productivity, efficiency, and business results.

The initiative will recognize employers that have adopted creative strategies in three areas:

* People: Strategies to attract and retain a diverse, high caliber workforce. The focus here is on approaches to recruitment, compensation, recognition, or work-life balance.

* Learning and Development: Strategies to enhance knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. The focus here is on approaches to link learning with business strategy, measure and value the firm's investments in learning, leverage intellectual capital, or implement new approaches to training and learning.

* Work Structures and Processes: Strategies to facilitate change, improve productivity, and create value in the marketplace. The focus here is on approaches to communicate vision and strategy throughout the organization, align processes and systems with business strategy, adapt to technological change, of harness high involvement to drive change.

Descriptions of previous winners and finalists are available at www.peopledomatter.com. (View the 2006 program book.)

Pop City - What to Do with Kids over the Holidays

Pop City's Anne: You should have your kids on a swim team.

Pop City - What to Do with Kids over the Holidays My kids are bouncing off the ceiling. Each day, they seem wound a little tighter and the list of things they need gets longer. I’m beginning to dread the holiday break—and the season has only just begun.

Or, if you don't have them on a swim team -- or other sporting activity -- then you have have them sit around on the computer and look at this slideshow of kids on our team who are NOT bouncing off the walls.

Cupcakes

These kids don't eat cupcakes!

Bloggers elsewhere are fussing over a cutting edge economic theory that makes cupcakes the center of the world. My next serving of crumbs to that discussion includes these photos from are travels to China.

In China, people don't generally have ovens. So, all of their baked goods come from stores and bakery merchants. Hence, there are a number of them in the citys. People don't generally eat many baked goods as a habit, but, they can't pop a pan of brownies into their ovens as we do in America -- because the typical home only has a stove and is without an oven.


Cakes and cupcakes in Chengdu.

Bakery in Hong Kong


Mr. Squid wears a baker's hat! Squid cupcakes, anyone? I don't know the translation. The photo shows the roof of a fast food stand in Ocean Park.

We visited with one family who did have an oven. They had to have it moved from one city to another when the dad took a different teaching job at a different International School. He is an American. She is Chinees. Check out the video just uploaded to Rauterkus.blip.tv from their living room that shows the three sisters singing a traditional Chinees song for us and playing their violins. They are very talented. They live in Chengdu.

THE RECORD.COM | Penguins could be moved, Bettman warns

Canadian press reports:

THERECORD.COM | INSIDER | Penguins could be moved, Bettman warns Team's future in Pittsburgh uncertain if casino plan nixed, NHL commish says

The last minute charge to lock up an Isle of Capri victory for the stand alone slots license is being waged from Canada.

Just yesterday I was ranting about the International Olympic Committee and urging them to side with the Canadian women who want to get medals in Vancouver in 2010 in ski jumping. Now today, we need to break the peace and harmony with this ploy to pit them against us for a team that's mascot is only found in the other hemisphere.

Did you know that there are no Penguins, other than Tux, that reside in the North. Tux is everywhere. So, moving the Penguins to Canada would be taking them farther from their natural homelands. So there.

Perhaps, if the Penguins move, we can save the Civic Arena and turn it into an indoor ski jumping venue. Then the outdoor course can be built off of Mt. Washington with its landing zone near the foot of the casino in Station Square.

Tune into KDKA TV News about PAT's public meeting on its Scorecard

KDKA TV news interviewed me today while I was a participant at the public meeting hosted by PAT (Port Authority Transit) concerning its SCORECARD.

I've got a lot to say about the concepts. But, I'm out of time.

If anyone catches the segment, let me know what was aired.

Two Cows - Free Talk Live - Humor with labels.

Two Cows - Free Talk Live OLYMPICS-ISM
You have two cows, one American, one Chinese. With the help of trilling violins and state of the art montage photography, John Tesh narrates the moving tale of how the American cow overcame the agony of growing up in a suburb with (gasp) divorced parents, then mentions in passing that the Chinese cow was beaten every day by a tyrannical farmer and watched its parents butchered before its eyes. The American cow wins the competition, severely spraining an udder in a gritty performance, and gets a multi-million dollar contract to endorse Wheaties. The Chinese cow is led out of the arena and shot by Chinese government officials, though no one ever hears about it. McDonald's buys the meat and serves it hot and fast at its Beijing restaurant.

Lane 9 News Archive: 2006 Open Water Swimmers of the Year: Larisa Ilchenko and Thomas Lurz

Lane 9 News Archive: 2006 Open Water Swimmers of the Year: Larisa Ilchenko and Thomas Lurz 2006 Open Water Swimmers of the Year: Larisa Ilchenko and Thomas Lurz

We did a lot of open water swimming this summer. Some of the photos and videos are online at http://Rauterkus.blip.tv.

To Gov Rendell: Veto the Free Drink Policy for Casinos

A bill is before Governor Rendell that gives the casinos the option of providing free drinks to its patrons.

I think it would be better for Pennsylvania if the bill was vetoed. It should not come about. I would not have voted for the bill if I was in either the PA Senate or PA House.

The gambling casinos are coming. They need to act like the other establishments in our communities. It is not legal to use booze as an incentive for any operation. I would not want it to be legal for casinos.

The competitive forces that are at play in this bill is beteen the casinos and the rest of the community. Not the casino in West Virginia (and there are no free drinks in W.Va casinos) or Las Vegas and those in Pennsylvania.

This is a bill about the LCB (liquor) and not a rider on the gambling legislation.

The bill is bad on principle. It is bad for small business. And, the bill is bad in terms of governmental operations. The legtislative process for this bill is suspect, to say the least.

The members of the PA House and PA Senate, and executive branch, have been drunk on gambling money for some time. The PAC money from gambling has flowed into their slush funds for years while the gambling bills were drafted. Now, these folks in Harrisburg want to get drunk again, but this time on the stipulation of free drinks within the casinos.

There was "little or no public comment" on the bill before it was approved by the House and Senate. The bill has become the latest in the long list of last-minute legislation that hurts the commonwealth. It was added as an amendment to a bill making changes in the state liquor code and didn't receive three separate days of hearings in the House and Senate. This is required by the state constitution.

People on the South Side are worried about the traffic patterns with the new casino that could open in Station Square. We might wish for bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout our streets if all the patrons depart with a drunken state due to the free drinks. At least they'll be going so slow we'll be able to dodge some of them. Or, arrest them.

Why give free liquor between the hours of 7 am and 2 am? If I was able to, I'd say that the free drinks can happen from 2 am to 10 am. Then there would be some peace in the neighborhoods. And by 10 am, we'll be able to have all the police picking up the drunks as they exit the parking lots.

As it stands now, the drunks are hitting the streets when there isn't any mass transit. And, it is impossible to hail a cab.

The Libertarian in me said that free drinks should not be restricted. Rather, allow for any business to offer free drinks anytime. Why should some have to curb all free drinks while others get the right?

But, if you give away free drinks, you can't tax them.

The huge amounts of money that has flowed to the Mohegan Sun in its early days of operation proves that there is no need for 'free drinks' to make these places a success.

Rendell has until Saturday to decide whether to veto the bill.

Carlynton Swim Club Calendar

A public calendar for the Carlynton Swim Club is available. Those on the team might want to subscribe, by clicking the button.

Speaking of women in high places. How about ski jumping.

Events for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouber are being set and in the hunt is:

Skicross.

Skicross runs on the circuit now and features a downhill race among a handful of athletes over bumps and without lanes. Snowboarders did it last time. Think short track speed skating but on a mountain.

Women's ski jumping.

Individual curling.

Team luge.

My favorite is the involuntary luge. Picture someone giving NBC's Today weather personality, Al Roker, a huge push and unwilling sendoff while at the top of the bobsled run. We'll have to turn to YouTube for that sport I fear.


Women don't do ski jumping in the Olympics now. Nor do they do the 1500 meter event in swimming, sadly. It is only fair that they have a medal opportunity too. The first world championships for women in ski jumping isn't slated until 2009. So, this might be your opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new sport and hit the big time.

Pittsburgh, give its Mt. Washington landscape, and the backdrop of the city, could be a wonderful venue for the 2007 women's ski jump state championships. I have never understood why we don't have soap box derby events down Mt. Washington too. We did have a great professional bike race, but that went poof!

I'd like to put my voice along with that of the Canada's women ski jumpers asking the Vancouver organizers to "embrace this opportunity to remove the final barrier to equal participation by women at the Vancouver Olympics."

If you have not heard, Philly is NOT in the hunt for hosting a future summer olympics. They pulled the plug on that effort some time ago. But in the UK, the British government announced that costs for the main Olympic complex for 2012 had gone up by $1.7 billion to $6.25 billion, mainly due to higher steel prices and security concerns. Some suggest the total cost could reach more than $15.1 billion.

London organizers and the IOC insist, however, that many of the costs are not directly related to the Olympics, and are meant for the long-term regeneration of the rundown east London site where the main Olympic park is being built. The actual games operating budget is around $3.87 billion, and the IOC says it is satisfied with the pace of preparations.

Perhaps we should push for McKeesport and the Mon Valley as a host for a future Olympic Games. And, we'd have the steel prices under control as we could fire up a historical steel mill. That would make good sense for a heritage project. And, perhaps we'd then be off the hook and have volunteers run the operation, like they do now with the model train displays. That could by-pass any prevaling wage and union issues.

The I.O.C. may or may not provide news still pending from Italy's Olympics. Still in limbo, like the ones in Guantanamo Bay, is the alleged doping substances, equipment at the lodgings, and the Austrian cross-country and biathlon teams from the Turin Games. An update from them might come concerning the continuing investigation. Perhaps Dr. Cyrl Wecht should hop a flight and get to the bottom of this, along with Sheriff DeFazio, of course. Preliminary findings from Italian authorities have been furnished (pun), but not enough exists to take any action so far.

Tell the travel agent, the meeting is in Kuwait.

He is Pgh and so is she.

IamPgh This is a post to an open call to Pittsburghers that want to be a part of IamPgh.

Here is what you need to do:

* Send an email to donorkoskey AT gmail DOT com

* Include the following:

* Name
* return email address
* Neighborhood
* Job/ Degree
* Age Group
* A short paragraph about yourself

I will write you back and ask a series of questions. Answer the questions as honestly.

All is well except the part about honesty. Honesty hurts. It is what we need. But honesty isn't what people really want.

Perhaps the bios can become a good source for points from the who category at the Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki/.

Big Media Interlocks with Corporate America

Big Media Interlocks with Corporate America Big Media Interlocks with Corporate America by Peter Phillips

MSM = Mainstream Media. Humm... What interlocks do we have to deal with in Pittsburgh?

That would make an interesting map and network.

City Council back to nine. Now 6 + 3. Welcome D. Harris.

Darlene Harris, new to city council said that public safety includes building inspection. "There are a lot of buildings that need torn down."

To be or not to be!

That was the quote from KQV Radio. Proudly, my son, 11, heard the news report with her voice while we were driving home from swim practice and said, "buildings need to be torn down."

We have three on council who are women, now. The report said that Pittsburgh's council makes history with three being women. Wow. We are cutting edge now. Western PA really needs more women in elected office.

However, one of the next news stories reported on a Pitt Law Professor who just filed a friend of the court brief about a women who was attempting to keep a judgement about gender discrimination and a wage dispute. She had been under paid on the job next to all the others -- all men. But, the appeal seems to have set a 180 day period for the need to file a complaint. If that fails to be overturned, the rights to equal pay are going to be set back decades.

Last week, Pitt's University Times, a faculty and staff newspaper, had a story about equal pay among university professors throughout the major research institutions. That story gets my attention, given that we live off my wife's salary. Women are not making much progress in terms of their take home pay, so said the article.

University Times Gender Inequity: AAUP report faults higher ed.

Darlene's tenure on City Council might be brief. She is due to face the voters again in a few months. Her seat comes due in the spring, 2007, primary and again in the 2007 general election. Same too with Jeff Koch of District 3.

Darlene's honeymoon has just begun. The clock has started to tick. I figure she'll have some time to coast with decent voter approval to her benefit as the months turn into the spring primary. However, if Darlene talks like a 'yinzer', and if Darlene talks with paper-thin depth of issues, and if Darlene stays without a web site -- alarms will come quickly.

We do have issues with the city and public safety. However, we have bigger issues for city council's attention. City council means little because we have two overlords, the I.C.A. and Act 47 team. Our democracy has expired.

Some want to cut city council from 9 to 5. Others say cut it from 9 to 7. I say, cut it by 50-percent in terms of pay checks for as long as we've got overlords here in Pittsburgh doing the jobs of all of its elected officials.

The people on city council should not be making their full pay checks because they have been replaced. The overlords are doing the jobs once done by those on city council, by the mayor and by the city's controller.

For the past few years, the citizens have been paying city council for doing little. And, we have to pay for the ICA and Act 47 stewards. We are paying triple!

Futhermore, there is no incentive to get back to normal conditions. I want my democracy to work -- if not flourish. But, we shouldn't be rewarding their failures. If we gave city council a 50-percent pay cut, and in turn, cut the pay for all the overlords too, then put the money into escrow until AFTER the city is solvent again -- then we'll have some leverage and might get somewhere.

Getting out of this financial mess is going to take some effort. I agree they should be paid. But, let's pay them after the work is done. Let's hold the bulk of the pay until they've proven that the city is back on its feet financially.

One should never pay a contractor in full as the work is being done?

You pay a good faith amount. You cover the costs and supplies. But, you hold the bulk of the money until after the work is done.

Furthermore, once we come out of our financial funk, I'd suggest that we hold another 50% (that's 50% of the 50%) for three additional years as a guarantee that the city won't slide back into distressed status again.

We don't have any built-in incentives. Nor do we have any guarantees. Both of those problems can be fixed with this solution.

Cut the pay of all elected city officials by 50-percent. Hold the pay cut in escrow. Pay out half of the amount from escrow after the departure of the overlords (both Act 47 team and ICA czars). Pay the final portion from escrow to the credited city officials, or their heirs, three years after the departure of the overlords if the city is still on solid financial footing.

Likewise, cut the pay of the overlords and have them sare the same deals as that of the city council, mayor and city controller.