Thursday, February 22, 2007
Bloggers in Pittsburgh, and getting history correctly recorded
Coverage from City Paper, https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/local-politics-goes-to-the-blogs/Content?oid=1334837
Trite but true: What do you expect when you don't give kids goals to shoot at and to shoot for?
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| From Polo |
The goals were not easy to get to. They were behind years of clutter, such as school desks, chairs and plenty of other assorted equipment. The goals were in dirt floor space built under the swim pool bleachers. Reaching the goals would take the work of a couple of guys some hours.
The team and I waited a number of months and made repeated requests before those goals saw the light of day. It was like pulling teeth to get that group of adults to do something for the benefits of the program and kids.
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| From Polo |
Here is the rub: By and large, adults are lazy when contrasted with the youth. Meanwhile, kids are not happy when idle.
At the same time I was requesting access to the water polo goals at the swim pool in Plum, PA State Police were in an all-out manhunt for weeks looking for kids who had been tossing rocks and snowballs onto the PA Turnpike that passes through the same vicinity.
A similar story is breaking now. Objects are being thrown on the Parkway West.
kdka.com - More Objects Thrown At Cars On Parkway WestWe need safe highways. Dealing with mindless rocks bashing into speeding traffic is scary. There is no justification for this. Lessons have to be taught.
In another neighborhood, news comes as a teen is shot. The Mt. Oliver drive-by shooting hit a 15 year-old, Carrick High School 10th grader. She was headed to an evening class at Schenley and got hit by two bullets.
kdka.com - Teen Shot In Apparent Mt. Oliver Drive-By Shooting Teen Shot In Apparent Mt. Oliver Drive-By Shooting -- Police: was caught in the cross-fire.We can't ignore the kids. When the kids don't have anything to shoot at -- and shoot for -- then they'll shoot at each other.
Gangs are a way of life. Gangs are here to stay. Gangs are important to kids because peer pressure becomes one of life's top motivations in their world at certain ages. One doesn't battle the gang mentality by ignoring kids. Rather, I think it is important to get kids in gangs that are positive experiences -- like an orchestra and /or a swim team -- or even a water polo team.
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| From Frick-swim |
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| From violin-gang |
Convention Center: They pulled in "independent consultants" -- I'd push for indie ownership
The notion of a review from indiependent consultants, guys who didn't build the building is a few bricks shy of a full load.
Don't be so keen to bring in 'indie reviewers.'
Let's push for Independent Ownership.
Sell the Convention Center. Privitize it. Unload it from public ownership. Government should not be in the position of ownership, management, finance nor oversight for a commercial building.
Don't fire the executive director of the SEA. Fire her and the entire SEA Board. Liquidate everything.
If Governor Rendell feels that he can sell the PA Turnpike, I bet it will be 100-times easier to sell the Convention Center.
A few years ago I pushed for the new slots parlor to be bid so it would move in and take over the Convention Center. That didn't happen. It should have come to pass.
Don't be so keen to bring in 'indie reviewers.'
Let's push for Independent Ownership.
Sell the Convention Center. Privitize it. Unload it from public ownership. Government should not be in the position of ownership, management, finance nor oversight for a commercial building.
Don't fire the executive director of the SEA. Fire her and the entire SEA Board. Liquidate everything.
If Governor Rendell feels that he can sell the PA Turnpike, I bet it will be 100-times easier to sell the Convention Center.
A few years ago I pushed for the new slots parlor to be bid so it would move in and take over the Convention Center. That didn't happen. It should have come to pass.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - High School Sports
Nobody wins in a game like this.
The Pgh Public School District needs to pull the plug on its own section of the PIAA and join / merge with the WPIAL. The sooner the better. I'd even be happy with a staged merger, by school by sport.
The Pgh Public School District needs to pull the plug on its own section of the PIAA and join / merge with the WPIAL. The sooner the better. I'd even be happy with a staged merger, by school by sport.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - High School Sports: "Westinghouse 65, Oliver 6: The Bulldogs (22-3) reached the semifinals for the 20th consecutive year. Oliver (1-22) scored two points in the second half. This is the fifth time the Bears have finished a game in single digits.
I was thinking, it has to be tough to only score six points in a game and, moreover, to score in single digits five times in the same season. That said -- and I honestly mean this -- should Oliver get rid of its girls' basketball program?
By going 1-22 this season, the Oliver Bears have just finished a three-year span in which they went 4-63.
Yes, I am not kidding, 4-63."
Peduto: "I'd feel more comfortable if the FEDS were involved." (concerning the Convention Center problems)
On the Honz show, KDKA-Radio, Bill Peduto said, "I'd feel more comfortable if the Feds were involved."
So, you like the Feds, asked Honz Man.
It is not that I like the Feds, but I like the oversight.
This is a small town. But, even our biggest problems within our small town need to be resolved by the big players within our town.
I don't want to wish for the Feds to come in and fix our oversight. I want locals in position that have the foresight and integrity to guarantee localized oversight.
Honz Man is bucking that Mary C, the executive director of the Sports & Exhibition Authority, should be fired. She kept the news hidden from both the mayor and the county executive.
Honz Man, a big-government Republican, said that Peduto's idea isn't bad.
One year ago there was another beam separation. Beams should have been inspected then. Duhh.
Back then, Luke Ravenstahl may or may not have been on the Stadium and Exhibition Authority Board. Did that board have any hand in the cover up?
So, you like the Feds, asked Honz Man.
It is not that I like the Feds, but I like the oversight.
This is a small town. But, even our biggest problems within our small town need to be resolved by the big players within our town.
I don't want to wish for the Feds to come in and fix our oversight. I want locals in position that have the foresight and integrity to guarantee localized oversight.
Honz Man is bucking that Mary C, the executive director of the Sports & Exhibition Authority, should be fired. She kept the news hidden from both the mayor and the county executive.
Honz Man, a big-government Republican, said that Peduto's idea isn't bad.
One year ago there was another beam separation. Beams should have been inspected then. Duhh.
Back then, Luke Ravenstahl may or may not have been on the Stadium and Exhibition Authority Board. Did that board have any hand in the cover up?
Main Page - Debatepedia
Adam R, fellow Libertarian in Pittsburgh, a prime helper in the establishment of the Platform.For-Pgh.org wiki, had a vision of doing this type of site (debates on a wiki) a few years ago. Now, the concept has come into being. It is worth the visit.
The organizational framework deployed is interesting. The categories of debate documents occurs, in part, by quality.
Main Page - Debatepedia Debatepedia is the new free wiki encyclopedia of arguments and debates. As a 'wiki', it enables anyone (you included) to easily present and organize the unique arguments made by third-party sources (ie. by scholars, experts, leaders,...) on both sides of a debate. By providing an innovative 'logic tree' debate methodology, it enables you to organize debates in the most understandable way. Debatepedia is quickly becoming an indispensable resource for uncovering all the unique arguments in important public debates and for developing a complete and rational position.
The organizational framework deployed is interesting. The categories of debate documents occurs, in part, by quality.
- "new debate skeletons"
- "progressing debate resources"
- "very good debate documents"
- "definitive debate documents".
Pop City - The Underground Music Scene
In an article about 'underground music' the URA sponsored newsletter gives pointers to the Three Rivers Arts Festival and Hartwood Acres.
By the way, the millions of dollars that are being spent at Point State Park for a few ditches and more electrical juice to the deep-friers are costly, -- not FREE.
Blast from the past of a clip from the radio about socially conscious music.
Pop City - The Underground Music Scene Sometimes, your cost is completely zilch at outdoor shows at the Three Rivers Arts Festival (in Point State Park, Downtown) or at Hartwood Acres county park, ...Cutting edge.
By the way, the millions of dollars that are being spent at Point State Park for a few ditches and more electrical juice to the deep-friers are costly, -- not FREE.
Blast from the past of a clip from the radio about socially conscious music.
Picasa Web Albums - Mark Rauterkus - Amy Carol Webb - MOV08677.MPG: "Socially conscious music - ACW, Mark R, - caller @ touch-screen ballots & technology"
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
This month's Allegheny County Libertarian Meeting - tonight
Hope to see you, if interested, around 7 pm on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at Ritter's Diner on Baum Blvd. in Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County Libertarian chapter meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 P.M. All are welcome to attend. For more information, see the site, http://www.LPPGH.org.
On the other hand, the Dems in the area had a candidates meeting tonight (Tuesday) at the Serb Hall. However, their meeting was closed-door. It only welcomed those of the Dem committee in certain wards.
I feel that closed door meetings leading to a closed primary is fitting for a city that is bankrupt and moving to empty in terms of its people.
On the other hand, the Dems in the area had a candidates meeting tonight (Tuesday) at the Serb Hall. However, their meeting was closed-door. It only welcomed those of the Dem committee in certain wards.
I feel that closed door meetings leading to a closed primary is fitting for a city that is bankrupt and moving to empty in terms of its people.
They are trying to tell us what to think. Gallop Polling Sucks
Ken wrote, in part:
Pajamas Media has decided to rig their own poll. Despite the fact that Ron Paul has come in first for the last several weeks (43.3% last week, with #2 getting only 20.1%), they have changed their policy to say, "From this point on, our weekly poll will be updated to those national candidates of both parties that score at least one percent on the previous month's Gallup Poll." Of course Gallop has not been including Ron Paul in their poll. Ergo, no Ron Paul.Ken was a candidate for PA Governor in 2002. He didn't post that Gallop Polling sucks. That is my opinion.
This is the exact same dirty trick that was used against me in 2002 when
I ran for Pennsylvania governor. It's deja vu all over yet again.
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Monday, February 19, 2007
Assessment appeals delayed while home improvement records sorted out
On hold. No, this is a FUMBLE. This is a botched play.
Assessment appeals delayed while home improvement records sorted out Assessment appeals delayed while home improvement records sorted outOnorato's plan is a lame, silly, goofy plan. It isn't honest. It isn't even modern.
Creative Commons UK : Mix and Mash Film Contest
Creative Commons UK : Mix and Mash Film Contest The Mix and Mash Film Contest invites you to create and remix Creative Commons and Public Domain digital content into a short video. All entries will be judged by a panel of experts and the best films will be screened at the National Film Theatre and featured on Google Video UK.
Mayor appoints development head - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Where is the RFP for the still closed, lone indoor ice rink in the city?
The city planning director has had a hand in not ever getting this out to the public.
The city planning director has had a hand in not ever getting this out to the public.
Mayor appoints development head - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl named City Planning Director Pat Ford to a newly created position in the Mayor's Office that will oversee economic and community development.
Happy New Year
The Year of the Pig is here.
My boys each picked up a $1 as a gift from a gift shop cashier yesterday. They were greeted as they walked into a small hotel lobby gift store with an expression from the women who seemed to be from China who said, "Happy new year." Erik and Grant replied back to her, the same expression, but in Chinees.
$2M tag for Garden Theatre a 'bargain' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Bargain Fart. Garden Tart. Whatever. We got screwed and Zober expects us to send him roses.
If I'm elected, I'm going to work in tireless ways against any and all efforts of eminent domain. Eminent domain stinks. It should never be used in this region. Property rights need to be respected.
Plenty of empty land and spaces exist to do the projects that need to be done without going to court. Eminent domain isn't necessary.
This city is very creative. The payment for court costs for eminent domain cases is now going to flow out of TIF windfalls. They over reach. They complicate. They do what should not be done. They spend today and borrow against the future. They work for the benefit of the special interest friends and against the taxpayers.
The Garden was taken so developers can profit from the spaces. They (city administrations) rob from Peter and give to Paul. (The 'Peter pun' was intended.) This is a clear case where eminent domain was leveraged by the government for the benefit of a private individual. The ownership of this space is being taken and the government is NOT going to build a highway, not building a school, not building a public building. There is no urgency for government ownership of that property. This building is not going to be a government owned facility. We paid for it but it is going to be given away to another to make the profits.
Stubborn barrier. Jeepers, "just say no." I'll be a stubborn barrier to all efforts at eminent domain.
Are any would-be purchasers in this deal named "John?"
The once-elegant Victorian-era commercial buildings have been boarded up for decades thanks to those who over-reach, like Tom Murphy and others in city government like him.
If theaters are so important for redevelopment, how come nobody cares about the space in the North Side's Carnegie Library?
They want, (get this quote), "bustle and action" -- and had the Garden Theater. They had action, hustle, bustle and muscle yet didn't realize it.
Honz Man, a Salvation Army guy, KDKA-radio big-government conservative, has been calling for a new tax on porn. Perhaps in a few months he'll be calling the loss of the Garden a loss of a new income source. They want to tax to hit 50-percent, greater than the cost of the parking tax, now at just 45-percent. They do it in Utah.
The city has taken the property by eminent domain and the city does not even have another use for the building. The city aims to keep the building as it is, as a theater. No wet labs are being built. No bio-tech incubators are on the horizon. Nope. We'll get productions like V* Monologues or something with Sienna Miller.
$2M tag for Garden Theatre a 'bargain' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Nearly $2 million later, the city of Pittsburgh is soon to be the proud owner of a smelly old porn palace.Yes. The legal climate in our city, our state and our nation has made a big shift in terms of eminent domain.
Water-damaged black ceilings, peeling red plaster walls and musty carpeting notwithstanding, city redevelopment leaders say the $1.1 million price tag to buy the X-rated Garden Theatre in the central North Side -- coupled with more than $700,000 for a decade of legal fees -- is money well spent.
'We got a deal, considering what our expected costs would (have been), even in the face of a victory at the (U.S.) Supreme Court level,' said Yarone Zober, chairman of the board of directors of the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
If I'm elected, I'm going to work in tireless ways against any and all efforts of eminent domain. Eminent domain stinks. It should never be used in this region. Property rights need to be respected.
Plenty of empty land and spaces exist to do the projects that need to be done without going to court. Eminent domain isn't necessary.
This city is very creative. The payment for court costs for eminent domain cases is now going to flow out of TIF windfalls. They over reach. They complicate. They do what should not be done. They spend today and borrow against the future. They work for the benefit of the special interest friends and against the taxpayers.
The Garden was taken so developers can profit from the spaces. They (city administrations) rob from Peter and give to Paul. (The 'Peter pun' was intended.) This is a clear case where eminent domain was leveraged by the government for the benefit of a private individual. The ownership of this space is being taken and the government is NOT going to build a highway, not building a school, not building a public building. There is no urgency for government ownership of that property. This building is not going to be a government owned facility. We paid for it but it is going to be given away to another to make the profits.
Stubborn barrier. Jeepers, "just say no." I'll be a stubborn barrier to all efforts at eminent domain.
Are any would-be purchasers in this deal named "John?"
The once-elegant Victorian-era commercial buildings have been boarded up for decades thanks to those who over-reach, like Tom Murphy and others in city government like him.
If theaters are so important for redevelopment, how come nobody cares about the space in the North Side's Carnegie Library?
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| From planning-urban |
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| From planning-urban |
They want, (get this quote), "bustle and action" -- and had the Garden Theater. They had action, hustle, bustle and muscle yet didn't realize it.
Honz Man, a Salvation Army guy, KDKA-radio big-government conservative, has been calling for a new tax on porn. Perhaps in a few months he'll be calling the loss of the Garden a loss of a new income source. They want to tax to hit 50-percent, greater than the cost of the parking tax, now at just 45-percent. They do it in Utah.
The city has taken the property by eminent domain and the city does not even have another use for the building. The city aims to keep the building as it is, as a theater. No wet labs are being built. No bio-tech incubators are on the horizon. Nope. We'll get productions like V* Monologues or something with Sienna Miller.
Also see: Pgh Dish blog.
Way to go Wilburn. A PA Award
My friend, Wilburn Hayden, Ph.D., the director of policy and research for my campaign(s) for public office, has been chosen to receive the Social Worker of the Year Award for Pennsylvania by PA-NASW (National Association Of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter).
Way to go! The news of the award came as a delightful suprise. It will be presented to him on March 3, 2007, in Harrisburg.
Wilburn and his family is on the verge of moving back to Canada where he'll be in a new role and lead an academic department at York University.
He, his wife, and son, are going to be missed in many ways.
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| From people & vips |
Way to go! The news of the award came as a delightful suprise. It will be presented to him on March 3, 2007, in Harrisburg.
Wilburn and his family is on the verge of moving back to Canada where he'll be in a new role and lead an academic department at York University.
He, his wife, and son, are going to be missed in many ways.
Ex-aide for Michael Diven, an ex-State Rep and ex-member of Council and ex-Dem, gets probation
Ex-Diven aide gets probation - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ex-Diven aide gets probationI don't see the word "guilty" in this news coveage.
Furthermore, I don't see the other bit of background info that should be present. Debora Lynn Romaniello is the wife of an elected Pgh Public School Board Member, Mr. Romaniello, D.
Was this a plea? The judge granted.
I'm still not sure who did the deed? Did a volunteer sign the names and she just had the bad luck of being the one to take them to the notary? Did she sign the bad names?
This entire dead person on a petition ordeal has a chilling effect for folks getting onto the ballot. Meanwhile, election fraud happens and is serious. However, it seldom comes with punishments and real investigations.
I'll email Bobby Kerlik and ask what's up -- really.
Details.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Home
Travels for the memorial service of my father-in-law in Boston kept us busy and off-line since Friday.
Next up, sadly, the funeral for my uncle, my mom's brother.
Did I miss anything?
More on our trip later.
Next up, sadly, the funeral for my uncle, my mom's brother.
Did I miss anything?
More on our trip later.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Pondering questions
Is the Steelers' ex-coach Bill C. still going to be able to spend more time with his family?
KDKA TV (CW, whatever) at 10 pm ripped the coach as being hostile to the media and now he'll be part of the media. The segment was short but a big dig. And, he'll be working with CBS too.
The PA Turnpike free ride for today is stupid. Ed Rendell is going to pick up the tab! Oh my gosh. It goes to 8 pm tonight then they'll re-examine the policy. What's really up with that?
Did the hole in the convention center floor impact the pending talks with the Penguins? I think so.
KDKA TV (CW, whatever) at 10 pm ripped the coach as being hostile to the media and now he'll be part of the media. The segment was short but a big dig. And, he'll be working with CBS too.
The PA Turnpike free ride for today is stupid. Ed Rendell is going to pick up the tab! Oh my gosh. It goes to 8 pm tonight then they'll re-examine the policy. What's really up with that?
Did the hole in the convention center floor impact the pending talks with the Penguins? I think so.
Penguins and politicians now haggle
Before it got drafty at the Convention Center, arena talk was to sweeten. Now it is haggle.
None of the remaining issues are insurmountable, as the loading dock at the convention center being unmountable.
Penguins, officials haggle over arena cost - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Penguins, officials haggle over arena cost
None of the remaining issues are insurmountable, as the loading dock at the convention center being unmountable.
Libertarians calls on Democrats and House Republicans to stop bonus dole
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania issued a press releases.
State Senate Republicans end bonus payouts
Harrisburg, PA – Responding to growing criticism, Pennsylvania State Senate Republicans recently ended their practice of handing out special bonus payouts to their staff.
Over the past two years, the legislature has handed out more than $3 million in payouts, including $2.3 million by state Democrats. Individual amounts ranged from less than a hundred dollars to more than $40,000.
Mik Robertson, LPPA Chair, said, "the Libertarian Party endorses the fiscal constraint shown by State Senate Republicans. I urge the Democrats and House Republicans to demonstrate the same fiscal responsibility."
James Babb, Libertarian candidate for State Representative in 2006, took a different perspective. "This should be another wake up call for Pennsylvania voters. As if the pay-raise scandal never happened, the arrogant incumbents continue to find ways to reach into the taxpayer cookie jar. Electing Libertarians to the Pennsylvania legislature is essential if we are to restore fiscal restraints in Harrisburg."
Tom Andrews, spokesman for House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese indicated that the bonuses were an internal personnel matter.
Freshman Senator John Eichelberger of Blair County disagrees and is asking the attorney general "to investigate any possibility of political payback with taxpayer funds for a select group of individuals typically involved in campaign work."
Gene Stilp, leader of a citizen’ group called Taxpayers and Ratepayers United, has gone further, filing a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court calling for full disclosure of the names of the people who received bonuses, whether the bonuses were given for campaign work rather than legislative work, and what the source of the money was.
Robertson summarized "By ending the bonus payouts, Senate Republicans have sent a positive message about the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest and cutting government spending. This is an important issue for Pennsylvanians. All members of the General Assembly should show they endorse this action by providing full disclosure on past bonuses while ceasing undisclosed payout of public funds."
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Dixville Notch's victor in 1992's Presidential Election
From: http://www.realcampaignreform.org/willis_test.html
In 1992, Libertarian Party candidate for president, Andre Marrou, defeated all of his Democratic and Republican rivals in the Dixville Notch voting that kicks off the New Hampshire primary Election Day.
This victory was the lead news item all across the nation the following morning, but when voters called into TV networks wanting to learn more about Andre Marrou and the Libertarian Party they were repeatedly told that it would be a waste of time to do any additional reporting about Marrou and the LP. The networks argued that the Dixville Notch vote was clearly a fluke. NBC even said this on the air in response to one voter who called in, asking for more coverage of Marrou. Our campaign staff pointed out to the networks that Dixville Notch, because of its small population, had represented a rare opportunity for Libertarians to have their views heard by voters to the same extent as the Democrats and Republicans. Therefore, the Dixville Notch result was indicative of how other voters might respond to LP candidates if the media were to inform the public of who the Libertarians are and what they believe. The established corporate news media rejected this reasonable argument out-of-hand and provided no additional coverage at all.
Libertarian Party of Allegheny County features site and video pointer.
Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh - We’re Government… And You’re Not.The Local Libertarian Party has had a site upgrade and a new video from YouTube graces its front page. It is well worth the time. This is a citizens guide for America today.
City seeking displaced high-rise residents -- finally - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper
Often, people vote with their feet. Does the city just think that the people are going to get kicked out and then hang out?
Too little, too late.
It is no wonder that the police have a hard time getting witnesses to come forward when crimes occur.
Pittsburgh - City seeking displaced high-rise residents -- finally - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper More than three years ago, to make room for new development, the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority displaced nearly 300 families from the low-income high-rises in East Liberty. Today, new housing is going up in the neighborhood, but city housing officials are wondering where the people are.The URA wants to do outreach, but people don't know about LERTA. When the URA does outreach to the people, duck. History says, URA outreach is more often a smack down.
Former residents have first claim on the rent-subsidized units in the new housing complexes. They filled up the more than 30 units in Penn Manor, which opened in January at North St. Clair Street and Penn Avenue. But officials have lost contact with many of the displaced families -- about 150 by URA estimate. As more than 100 new housing units become available at the former high-rise sites by this fall, officials are anxious to hear from those who wish to return.
Too little, too late.
It is no wonder that the police have a hard time getting witnesses to come forward when crimes occur.
Education expert talking about giving intensive, relentless instruction
Humm.
This is why I'm a swim coach and not cut out to be a classroom teacher in today's setting. I'm too radical. I expect intensive and relentless instruction. And, it should be for the special education kids and the average kids and the gifted kids and -- all kids. Sure, the lessons are not always the same. But, the expectation of being pushed, pulled and challenged with instruction should be universal.
Mark Roosevelt, the Pgh Public Schools Superintendent, says that he wants to put discipline into the schools -- next year. We'll be radical and begin to talk about discipline in eight months. Eight months.
These statements present additional justifications for great and inspiring after school programming for the kids. It needs to happen after school because the schools have given up the struggle for excellence within the school day. So, a longer school day that is filled with soft structure and casual instruction on hit-or-miss basis is much more like child care than schooling.
Pittsburgh's Rec Centers are running on empty. Even when they operated with decent staffing levels, the coaching and relentless building of community and character based upon technical instruction in sport that transfers to life was not a universal priority.
If we want to put pride in our community again, I think that the best way to do that is with our kids. Our children are the keys.
Schools are a part of that formula, but only a part. Parks and programming matter too. As does parenting. Mentoring, instructing, teaching, and even modeling all matter greatly.
I hate it when the leaders (Roosevelt and Luke Ravenstahl) sit on stage and tell our kids and families that they should come to Pittsburgh Public Schools and get a college scholarship when they graduate from 12th grade if they keep their nose clean -- but only have $10,000 in the bank.
That's modeling that doesn't work.
Show us relentless on that promise.
Ten-thousand dollars might get everyone a back pack, calling card and a ticket home if they flunk out in their first semester. That's about it.
One size does fit all. In our public life it is liberty and freedom. That fits. In educational settings, the size that fits all might well be relentless, intensive instruction.
It will be a happy day when those concepts are not so radical.
Expert swims against trend of special ed students in mainstream classes Although more schools are enrolling children who have disabilities in regular classrooms, an expert in special education made the radical suggestion yesterday that they be 'separated from the general school population and given intensive, relentless instruction.'It is a sad, sad day when it becomes radical to provide students with intensive, relentless instruction.
This is why I'm a swim coach and not cut out to be a classroom teacher in today's setting. I'm too radical. I expect intensive and relentless instruction. And, it should be for the special education kids and the average kids and the gifted kids and -- all kids. Sure, the lessons are not always the same. But, the expectation of being pushed, pulled and challenged with instruction should be universal.
Mark Roosevelt, the Pgh Public Schools Superintendent, says that he wants to put discipline into the schools -- next year. We'll be radical and begin to talk about discipline in eight months. Eight months.
These statements present additional justifications for great and inspiring after school programming for the kids. It needs to happen after school because the schools have given up the struggle for excellence within the school day. So, a longer school day that is filled with soft structure and casual instruction on hit-or-miss basis is much more like child care than schooling.
Pittsburgh's Rec Centers are running on empty. Even when they operated with decent staffing levels, the coaching and relentless building of community and character based upon technical instruction in sport that transfers to life was not a universal priority.
Sharyn Denhan of Harrisburg is an executive board member of LDA and parent of a son with a learning disability. Her son was taught in regular public school classrooms, but benefited from support services. Now 29, he has a degree in civil engineering from Drexel University.Everyone benefits from support services.
This is a moment and lifetime of PRIDE. That sounds like a good title for a movie, but that is for another thread. Kids present a meaningful opportunity to build pride.
"My son is basically a success story and I'm very proud of his accomplishment," Ms. Denhan said.
"The problem with learning disabilities is it's this huge broad spectrum. It's not one size fits all. It's a very hard issue to deal with and very unique to the child."
If we want to put pride in our community again, I think that the best way to do that is with our kids. Our children are the keys.
Schools are a part of that formula, but only a part. Parks and programming matter too. As does parenting. Mentoring, instructing, teaching, and even modeling all matter greatly.
I hate it when the leaders (Roosevelt and Luke Ravenstahl) sit on stage and tell our kids and families that they should come to Pittsburgh Public Schools and get a college scholarship when they graduate from 12th grade if they keep their nose clean -- but only have $10,000 in the bank.
That's modeling that doesn't work.
Show us relentless on that promise.
Ten-thousand dollars might get everyone a back pack, calling card and a ticket home if they flunk out in their first semester. That's about it.
One size does fit all. In our public life it is liberty and freedom. That fits. In educational settings, the size that fits all might well be relentless, intensive instruction.
It will be a happy day when those concepts are not so radical.
disinter: Pennsylvania Libertarian to run
Rather say, to STAND for office vs. to RUN. But, perhaps that comes with the next breath and conversation.
Ink in the P-G.
disinter Pennsylvania Libertarian to run for six offices…simultaneously
February 15th, 2007
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
A 47-year-old swimming coach, he said he will run as a Libertarian for Allegheny County chief executive, county councilman at-large, county councilman for District 13, mayor, city controller and city councilman for District 3.
Ink in the P-G.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Education Crusader: Objections to PA Secretary of Education
Education Crusader: Letter to Dr. Zahorchak, PA Secretary of Education As is widely known, it is impossible for a charter school and a charter applicant, such as the Education InnovationsLAB Charter School, to be treated fairly by the Pgh Public School District.By the way, at least a two-hour delay for Thursday.
Oily men Letter to editor
Dennis McGlone of Gibsonia was credited for this in the Trib:
Oily men - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Gov. Rendell and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato continue to prove that they are typical 'tax and subsidize' Democrats ('Onorato backs oil-profits tax,' Feb. 8 and PghTrib.com).
Their latest plan to bail out the financially distressed Port Authority of Allegheny County calls for replacing the existing corporate net income tax on oil companies with a gross profits tax. This confiscation will raise tax receipts more than 10-fold.
Unfortunately, they have a problem -- Hillary Clinton has already staked her claim to oil company profits to fund (i.e., subsidize) alternative energy sources.
I have a hunch that Hillary's confiscation will trump Rendell/Onorato. They might try fleecing steel companies, banks, investment managers, even corn growers (corn futures have just about doubled this past year).
No wealth redistribution politician has dibs on those companies' 'windfalls' ... yet.
State pledges $1M toward redevelopment of Nabisco site
Corporate welfare looks like this. I hate these deals.
Kathleen McGinty said that this is a beautiful structure. It is. And it is a way for the beautiful to get more beauty -- and richer from taxpayers elsewhere in East Liberty. Beautiful structures should pull their own weight.
The state funds are not just cleaning up something from the past. Right. That's a brownfield endeavor.
A million dollar grant is NOT going to swing a structure from "lifeless" to "dripping with life and activity." Give us a break.
The state funds are needed to help move this project forward and stop all other deals from advancing on their own merits. Nothing moves without state aid when you subsidize over and over again.
Lie: This will create 1,600 new jobs. They must be moving the jobs not created from another boondoggle, such as Deer Creek Crossing or Pittsburgh Mills, into this lie.
I'd be happy to see 16 new jobs. The total of 1,600 is such a joke.
Pop City - State pledges $1M toward redevelopment of Nabisco site State pledges $1M toward redevelopment of Nabisco site Bakery Square, a major brownfield redevelopment in East Liberty, has received a $1M grant from the state. Gov. Rendell released the Growing Greener II funds on Feb. 9 to pay for cleanup of the 495,000 square-foot former Nabisco plant. The Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania will use the grant, along with $335,000 of its own funds, to remove asbestos, PCBs, lead-based paint and other hazardous materials from the site. Development plans for the 6.5-acre area call for 223,000 square feet of office space, 165,000 square feet of retail and a 120-room hotel.Note, this is a building, not a brownfield. The building was in production just a couple of years ago.
“This project stands head and shoulder above many others,” says Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty. “The Governor is making a particularly substantial investment in a beautiful structure that will come back into productive use as a community asset.”
Kathleen McGinty said that this is a beautiful structure. It is. And it is a way for the beautiful to get more beauty -- and richer from taxpayers elsewhere in East Liberty. Beautiful structures should pull their own weight.
The state funds are not just cleaning up something from the past. Right. That's a brownfield endeavor.
A million dollar grant is NOT going to swing a structure from "lifeless" to "dripping with life and activity." Give us a break.
The state funds are needed to help move this project forward and stop all other deals from advancing on their own merits. Nothing moves without state aid when you subsidize over and over again.
Lie: This will create 1,600 new jobs. They must be moving the jobs not created from another boondoggle, such as Deer Creek Crossing or Pittsburgh Mills, into this lie.
I'd be happy to see 16 new jobs. The total of 1,600 is such a joke.
Love....
Despite my rambling blogging ways, it is not easy to express love to the love of my life on this day.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Mark Crowley's most recent Letter to editor -- ran in Trib
Mark Crowley wrote:
I had a LTE today (2/13/2007) in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about a hot topic -- global warming. It was in response to a Bill Steigerwald Q&A interview with a climatologist who is skeptical that global warming is a man-made phenomenon. I offered some libertarian reinforcement to an astute political observation noting how well it fits the standard big government template.
Global foolery, Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Climatologist Timothy Ball made an astute observation about the strategy shift that sunspot-deniers are applying to global warming ("The politics of global warming," Q&A, Feb. 10 and PghTrib.com).
He noticed they "switched from talking about global warming to talking about climate change." That's chillingly familiar.
Remember how Osama bin Laden morphed into Saddam Hussein? Or how the mission switched from finding WMDs to freeing Iraq? Or when border security became citizen surveillance?
Next, politicians will put carbon dioxide on the altar of unending wars alongside terrorism, drugs, smoking, trans fat, etc. Expect a new Cabinet-level Department of Hot Air.
Also expect the Department of Education to require that "Greenland" be renamed "Glacierland" to rewrite an inconvenient history about that island's more moderate climate around 1000 A.D.
If the temperature cools rapidly over the next decade, government will proclaim "Mission Accomplished." Do you think, however, that dismantling misguided government programs stands a snowball's chance?
While global warming deserves debate, there's no debate why big government supporters are hot for global warming.
Mark Crowley, Plum
Monday, February 12, 2007
Save Ohio Swimming and Diving
Please sign this electronic petition.
Save Ohio Swimming and Diving Ohio Swimming and Diving
'Dedicated to preserving our Tradition.'
Tonight at 11, news by neighbors / Santa Rosa TV station fires news staff, to ask local folks to provide programming
Who is looking over his / her shoulder at this wave of citizen journalism now?
News executives are scared as hell. Media owners are now in the game because of ego or other reasons, beyond profits of the status quo. When musical chairs means the folks with the cameras and microphones are given pink slips -- things get more and more weird.
Perhaps I'll file a story there.
Trust is a big word thought the article. But, what happens when a the City Paper article on "Going to the local Political Blogs" omits early arrivals? Is that any way to build trust? GrassRootsPA's blog started years ago in Pittsburgh by a D.U. student. That site is a hub for local content harvesting.
Tonight at 11, news by neighbors / Santa Rosa TV station fires news staff, to ask local folks to provide programming Tonight at 11, news by neighborsThis is good news and bad news.
Santa Rosa TV station fires news staff, to ask local folks to provide programming
News executives are scared as hell. Media owners are now in the game because of ego or other reasons, beyond profits of the status quo. When musical chairs means the folks with the cameras and microphones are given pink slips -- things get more and more weird.
Perhaps I'll file a story there.
Trust is a big word thought the article. But, what happens when a the City Paper article on "Going to the local Political Blogs" omits early arrivals? Is that any way to build trust? GrassRootsPA's blog started years ago in Pittsburgh by a D.U. student. That site is a hub for local content harvesting.
Mark Roosevelt on the web with Jon Delano -- fine programming
It was great to be able to watch the Sunday Business Edition on KDKA TV on the web. Nice use of technology and video blogging to sustain the conversation.
My note to J.D.:
Thanks for the interview with Mark Roosevelt. I watched online. Nice.
IMHO, the Pittsburgh Promise is a bold face lie. We can't get the respect of the kids when they know they are being lied to.
Roosevelt will be gone before this proves to be but a dream. (Nothing personal. Fact: The average job tenure for school superintendents is about three years. These guys and gals come and go faster than a rash of pink eye.)
Plus, the city's student population is departing as well.
Furthermore, the stessing of discipline is welcomed. But, why wait until next year?
This is the year of the lie and next year the year to be stern?
Another Supplemental Spending Bill for the War in Iraq
Another Supplemental Spending Bill for the War in Iraq Congress continues to spend more than the Treasury raises in taxes year after year, by borrowing money abroad or simply printing it. Paying for war with credit is reckless and stupid, but paying for war by depreciating our currency is criminal.
'Redding-up' abandoned houses taking longer than city expected
'Redding-up' abandoned houses taking longer than city expected List of condemned properties gets longerWhere is that list? Does anyone have a pointer to it on the web?
Does anyone have a list of streets and roads that need to be re-paved this year?
What about the list of the more urgent "to-do" matters that come from the city's 3-1-1 line.
Where is the list of what the redd-up crew did yesterday, last week, last month? If there isn't a list of things still to do, is there at least a list of things that has been done?
Who is keeping a record?
Is there a list of equipment, cars and trucks that are sitting in the garage? How are the repairs from the privatized garage progressing? How is the back-log today? What about those expenses?
Is there a list of what repairs are needed to be done at the various summer recreation spots? What is on the capital expense budget? What is going to be done at the RAD Parks? What pools are going to be open? What repairs are going to be made at the pools.
Is there a list of all the schools that are owned by the city and still not sold to the URA? Is there a list of all the closed schools? Is there a list of schools that are going to move from open to closed or closed to open? How many school facilities are on that list? What facilities might be sold and what are worth keeping? Why?
Who is keeping a list of local experts that should be included on the new Allegheny County committee (whatever) for advancing the democratic process. Seems that the board of elections is going to have a new booster group, of sorts. That's great. Who keeps the list as to who is on and who is off.
Where is the list of Authorities, Commissions and Task Forces in city, county and school agencies. Where is the list of people who are on those boards? Where is the list of people that have been nominated but not put on the boards? Where is the quorum for the Hearing Ethics Board -- and why are the minutes for that entity not public?
The PROPEL Pittsburgh committee (for the youth movement) is about to be born. Who gets picked? Who keeps the list?
Santa Clause checks his list twice. I'd love to see more lists put out into the open.
Is PAT going to issue a list of suggestions it has received at the recent round of public hearings? What suggestions got favorable reactions and have been implemented? What are slated to come into being? What are judged, by PAT, to be bogus?
What supplies are needed to board up a vacant home?
Why do we need a list of property owners of rental properties when we have a recorder of deeds? Can't the lists of the property owners show how to contact landlords?
Where is the list of properties that are owned by the city?
Where is the list of property leins that are on the buy back list? The city is going to spend a few millions, pennies on the dollar, to buy back the leins on various proeprties -- but that list hasn't seen the light of day, to my knowledge.
What properties are for sale in the city, by the city?
Where can someone find a master list of all the rental properties in the city?
What happens when a house is boarded up and a family of four needs shelter from the cold, enters a house, a fire occurs, and lives are lost as the folks can't get back out -- like the recent story in Philly?
Is there a list of abandoned homes that are not really abandoned?
I want a list of lists. I want the lists to be thoughtful and graded. Lists should be linked.
Sadly, I fear that city council and the mayor's office -- as well as the workers of the city -- are each running in circles trying to catch their own tails. Perhaps catching one's own tail is overboard. Some running is to 'CYA' (cover your ass). Other bits of running is to put out fires. Other jogs aim to cover up or complicate.
No doubt, everyone cares. However, who cares to manage and post the list makters? Can those lists be put online?
Platform.For-Pgh.org
Candidate branding from the John Edwards '08 Blog
Branding is a favorite topic of a past chairman of the Allegheney County Libertarian Party, J.E.
Join the Campaign to Change America / John Edwards '08 Blog ... active website communities, and are clearly benefiting from the Internet. But that really isn’t the answer to anything.In this article, the concept of the candidate brand goes beyond party brand.
What matters is that they both have active public personae which draw the public to the candidates, and then their communities.
Personae that are based around emotional issues (global climate change, poverty); bringing a human element to both “candidates”. (I include Gore as he may or may not enter this or a future campaign.)
Talk Radio 93.7 Needs To Think Big
For 93.7 FM in Pittsburgh to be taken seriously as a talk station, management must do something bold. Pioneer News talk 104.7 FM has a fabulous lineup with locals Quinn and Rose, but virtually everything else is syndicated (Ellis Cannon, of course does the sports talk thing from town). Granted, if the rumor mill is true, the introduction of both Scott Paulsen and John McIntyre will be a good start. Both are among the most talented talkers in the market.
But alas, the talk market industries’s most intelligent, most diverse—stop with the hyperbole—the unrivaled best talk show host ever to click on a microphone continues to sit on a sprawling fixer-upper estate in one of the farthest southern suburbs of Allegheny County.
Open the checkbook for Jerry Bowyer.
The NFL now has Golden Boy Bill Cowher sitting out a no-compete clause to become perhaps a $10 million dollar (a year) coach. Cowher’s legacy will only balloon; his legendary chin will jut just a little further, much like Paul Bunyan and the blue ox Babe.
Talk radio, Pittsburgh chat radio in particular, has its own Golden Boy waiting in the wings. Jerry Bowyer first appeared on the scene as the head honcho of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy ten years ago. He led the drive to knock down a ½ percent sales tax increase in Allegheny County and nearly a dozen other neighboring counties. The money was supposed to pay for two new stadiums and infrastructure around the region.
I have a confession: early on I despised Jerry Bowyer. He seemingly didn’t care that my beloved Pirates—the primary reason I declare as the reason I moved here nearly 17 years ago—would possibly leave town for greener, albeit still losing pastures.
I WAS WRONG.
Around the time of that near-debacle, Jerry started to fill in on 1360 WPTT, (although he might have started earlier on an AM religious station), and showed some real talk show chops. His personality and knowledge of virtually every hot-button talk show chestnut converted me from ideological opponent to aficionado.
Before you knew it, Jerry was on full-time. It was then you got to know him and his encyclopedic knowledge of everything from the minutia of science to politics, as well as cartoon trivia. Then there was his mastery of economic theories and business, most accepted religions, and a rather lofty insight regarding Hollywood starlets. For a guy with a complicated relationship with baseball (his father was a MLB scout), Bowyer could cover all of the bases.
On the show, Jerry would often dismantle usually adroit talk show guests who got too persnickety. Bowyer could make polished fiscal pariah “Living Wage” union boilerplaters sputter and froth, thus showing their true colors as selfish, under-educated, special-interest cretins. I was so impressed with one particular verbal disrobing that I called Jerry to proclaim the interview was a comedic send-up.
It wasn’t.
Because of that admiration and my eventual offer to write a feature story, Jerry and I became somewhat friendly. Over the next few years, I ended up writing two lengthy pieces on him and his show for a couple of periodicals. Our budding friendship expanded to the point in which we worked together to bring a business and entrepreneurial charter school to Pittsburgh’s southern neighborhoods, but were ultimately sold a bad bill of goods from our sponsor. For the record, that company never did roll out their ambitious plan for several local Charter Schools, and the one it does run here is virtually invisible of the learning landscape.
We’ve communicated about collaborating on a book about leadership and nearly got into the television business together.
And on an even more personal note, Jerry proved to me that a religious man could still enjoy those potty-mouthed brats on South Park. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to return to church had it not been for his masterful ability to make religion seem “cool.”
It was Jerry’s desire to add more religious talk to his secular radio show that ultimately made him move from his comfortable post at WPTT AM to the Christian FM-talker in town. I remember him saying that he thought he could make more of a difference in an arena where he could focus on the Good Book. Apparently, that move bit him in the posterior when management there didn’t want him to deviate from the all-religion talk, even for important regional issues.
In addition to trouble with format content, health issues have also plagued Bowyer in recent years, as a result he’s retreated to the sidelines, to be with his beloved wife Susan and seven children, who the couple home-schools and/or runs various family businesses. It’s also possible that Bowyer’s made outlandish sums of money by utilizing financial techniques he’s cultivated with some of the best brains in the marketplace.
I have no idea whether Jerry would even contemplate a return to the airwaves. Perhaps 93.7 could build him a studio in his home, ala the persistently-injured and vastly overrated Fred Honsberger.
If the folks at 93.7 want to do something incredible, and revolutionary, with its impending talk show venture, they need to at put out some feelers with Jerry Bowyer.
Seriously.
But alas, the talk market industries’s most intelligent, most diverse—stop with the hyperbole—the unrivaled best talk show host ever to click on a microphone continues to sit on a sprawling fixer-upper estate in one of the farthest southern suburbs of Allegheny County.
Open the checkbook for Jerry Bowyer.
The NFL now has Golden Boy Bill Cowher sitting out a no-compete clause to become perhaps a $10 million dollar (a year) coach. Cowher’s legacy will only balloon; his legendary chin will jut just a little further, much like Paul Bunyan and the blue ox Babe.
Talk radio, Pittsburgh chat radio in particular, has its own Golden Boy waiting in the wings. Jerry Bowyer first appeared on the scene as the head honcho of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy ten years ago. He led the drive to knock down a ½ percent sales tax increase in Allegheny County and nearly a dozen other neighboring counties. The money was supposed to pay for two new stadiums and infrastructure around the region.
I have a confession: early on I despised Jerry Bowyer. He seemingly didn’t care that my beloved Pirates—the primary reason I declare as the reason I moved here nearly 17 years ago—would possibly leave town for greener, albeit still losing pastures.
I WAS WRONG.
Around the time of that near-debacle, Jerry started to fill in on 1360 WPTT, (although he might have started earlier on an AM religious station), and showed some real talk show chops. His personality and knowledge of virtually every hot-button talk show chestnut converted me from ideological opponent to aficionado.
Before you knew it, Jerry was on full-time. It was then you got to know him and his encyclopedic knowledge of everything from the minutia of science to politics, as well as cartoon trivia. Then there was his mastery of economic theories and business, most accepted religions, and a rather lofty insight regarding Hollywood starlets. For a guy with a complicated relationship with baseball (his father was a MLB scout), Bowyer could cover all of the bases.
On the show, Jerry would often dismantle usually adroit talk show guests who got too persnickety. Bowyer could make polished fiscal pariah “Living Wage” union boilerplaters sputter and froth, thus showing their true colors as selfish, under-educated, special-interest cretins. I was so impressed with one particular verbal disrobing that I called Jerry to proclaim the interview was a comedic send-up.
It wasn’t.
Because of that admiration and my eventual offer to write a feature story, Jerry and I became somewhat friendly. Over the next few years, I ended up writing two lengthy pieces on him and his show for a couple of periodicals. Our budding friendship expanded to the point in which we worked together to bring a business and entrepreneurial charter school to Pittsburgh’s southern neighborhoods, but were ultimately sold a bad bill of goods from our sponsor. For the record, that company never did roll out their ambitious plan for several local Charter Schools, and the one it does run here is virtually invisible of the learning landscape.
We’ve communicated about collaborating on a book about leadership and nearly got into the television business together.
And on an even more personal note, Jerry proved to me that a religious man could still enjoy those potty-mouthed brats on South Park. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to return to church had it not been for his masterful ability to make religion seem “cool.”
It was Jerry’s desire to add more religious talk to his secular radio show that ultimately made him move from his comfortable post at WPTT AM to the Christian FM-talker in town. I remember him saying that he thought he could make more of a difference in an arena where he could focus on the Good Book. Apparently, that move bit him in the posterior when management there didn’t want him to deviate from the all-religion talk, even for important regional issues.
In addition to trouble with format content, health issues have also plagued Bowyer in recent years, as a result he’s retreated to the sidelines, to be with his beloved wife Susan and seven children, who the couple home-schools and/or runs various family businesses. It’s also possible that Bowyer’s made outlandish sums of money by utilizing financial techniques he’s cultivated with some of the best brains in the marketplace.
I have no idea whether Jerry would even contemplate a return to the airwaves. Perhaps 93.7 could build him a studio in his home, ala the persistently-injured and vastly overrated Fred Honsberger.
If the folks at 93.7 want to do something incredible, and revolutionary, with its impending talk show venture, they need to at put out some feelers with Jerry Bowyer.
Seriously.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Blast from the past: Pooling your resources
The movie, Pride, is due in a matter of weeks -- and we're getting psyched. Here is an older article about a clinic that I helped to organize. This fellow visited with our kids at the city meet and at zones. He had been a swimmer in LA. But he grew up in Cleveland.
Pooling your resources Pooling your resources
Olympic hopeful urges local youths to live up to their potential
Sunday, August 15, 1999
By Laura Pace, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Byron Davis doesn't believe in victims.The 29-year-old Olympic hopeful looks into the faces of children and tells them, time and time again, that the key to life is choice.
Will lethargic GOP put up mayoral candidate in the 'Burgh? - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Will lethargic GOP put up mayoral candidate in the 'Burgh? - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Will the Republicans, whose mayoral hopefuls usually perform as sturdily as Silly Putty, bother to field a candidate this year?Another little asked question that I still want to have answered, before jumping to the Mayor's race, is will the City's GOP Party file papers to get a question about the reduction of the size of city council onto the ballot?
This opens up a big can of worms about ballot access -- another teachable, insightful moment.
A similar interaction happens with the postings at 2politicaljunkies and purdent spending, agendas, principles, practices and standing tall.
Colaizzi seeks seat on city council
Stepping stone. There has to be a song about this????
I don't like our kids being used as stepping stones. I think that an elected posiion on the Pgh Public School's board should be terminal. A change in the city's charter is in order. Once one is a school board member, he or she should NOT be eligible to run for any other elected post. Board members would not be eligible for the ballot for a period of five years following their exit from the school board seat. Then, people will serve on the school board for the right reasons. Then the tone and mission of the board would change to everyone's favor -- not just that of the special interests and powerful.
The move from Colaizzi is a brush back pitch to C. O'Connor. That isn't a bad thing.
Finally, for now, I can't get that whispy bangs comment (from aother blogger) out of my head given that T.C. is a hairdresser.
I don't like our kids being used as stepping stones. I think that an elected posiion on the Pgh Public School's board should be terminal. A change in the city's charter is in order. Once one is a school board member, he or she should NOT be eligible to run for any other elected post. Board members would not be eligible for the ballot for a period of five years following their exit from the school board seat. Then, people will serve on the school board for the right reasons. Then the tone and mission of the board would change to everyone's favor -- not just that of the special interests and powerful.
Colaizzi seeks seat on city council Pittsburgh school board member Theresa Colaizzi yesterday said she will challenge City Council President Doug Shields in the May 15 primary.I understand that my wish is but a fleeting prayer.
Ms. Colaizzi, 46, of Greenfield, said she would ask the Allegheny County Democratic Committee to endorse her in the District 5 council race. Mr. Shields is seeking re-election to council, but he's also running for city controller.
Ms. Colaizzi is serving her second term on the school board.
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| From a PIIN meeting in the past. people & vips |
The move from Colaizzi is a brush back pitch to C. O'Connor. That isn't a bad thing.
Finally, for now, I can't get that whispy bangs comment (from aother blogger) out of my head given that T.C. is a hairdresser.
Love? Nooooo. Sweetheart deal more like cheap tease. Rather have a ...
Free parking in the city on the evening of Feb 14 is one of the last things that the city needs to provide. The deed is sorta like giving an overweight, diabetic great aunt a big box of chocolates in a red-shaped box. Stupid yet sentimental.
There are a lot of bad ideas that would be slightly better than the free parking display of 'love' from the city. Let's give credit where credit is due. It is better to do something. There is merit to having bleeding heart liberals mark a day where wearing red and wishig for cupid's arrival, based upon a religious Saint's Feast, is marked.
Slightly better would be the hiring of private ambassadors from the PDP to direct downtown office workers on ways around the drunks in Market Square after making eye contact and winking at passers by.
I'm sure Ms. Mon's suggested a V.D. idea of wet kisses from crossing guards and elected politicians stationed at corners throughout the city, to stem the speeding traffic, would have been deemed too much of a gotcha / come on with drunken driver liability.
Pittgirl's ideas can't be re-typed here, as this is a family blog.
Another idea floated on Grant Street was to have political bloggers run heart shaped pretzels out to tug operators as they chugged up the river, unclogging the arteries of commerce, showing gratitude after a thaw.
Yes, I think that the Parking Authority should be sold. I've stated that plank for years.
It would be much better to sell the Parking Authority than the PA Turnpike and the water pipes under the city's streets.
Then the city could establish a parking department to manage the meters, enforcement and be accountable.
New parking garages would be built with private investments again. Parking rates would climb.
There are a lot of bad ideas that would be slightly better than the free parking display of 'love' from the city. Let's give credit where credit is due. It is better to do something. There is merit to having bleeding heart liberals mark a day where wearing red and wishig for cupid's arrival, based upon a religious Saint's Feast, is marked.
Slightly better would be the hiring of private ambassadors from the PDP to direct downtown office workers on ways around the drunks in Market Square after making eye contact and winking at passers by.
I'm sure Ms. Mon's suggested a V.D. idea of wet kisses from crossing guards and elected politicians stationed at corners throughout the city, to stem the speeding traffic, would have been deemed too much of a gotcha / come on with drunken driver liability.
Pittgirl's ideas can't be re-typed here, as this is a family blog.
Another idea floated on Grant Street was to have political bloggers run heart shaped pretzels out to tug operators as they chugged up the river, unclogging the arteries of commerce, showing gratitude after a thaw.
Getting Around: City loves yinz, offers free Valentine's evening parking Getting Around: City loves yinz, offers free Valentine's evening parkingI'd rather just tell the world that Pittsburgh's parking tax will be dropped to 15%, (not 50%, nor 45%, etc.) as soon as 75% the Parking Authority garages and assets are sold and its final 25% of assets are proven to be on the market.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
By Joe Grata, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wednesday is Valentine's Day. Pittsburgh wants to show how much it loves yinz by offering a sweetheart deal: free parking.
Yes, I think that the Parking Authority should be sold. I've stated that plank for years.
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| From china - bike |
It would be much better to sell the Parking Authority than the PA Turnpike and the water pipes under the city's streets.
Then the city could establish a parking department to manage the meters, enforcement and be accountable.
New parking garages would be built with private investments again. Parking rates would climb.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Name dropping: Twice this week
So I'm watching cable cast of city council's post agenda meeting on city technology and possible plans for wi-fi at 9:45 pm, flipping back and forth with MIB II, and Councilman Bill Peduto drops my name.
At the meeting this Thursday he gave me a mention as well, when I was in the council chambers. Then they were talking about the merger of the purchasing deparments between city and county. He said citizens have an interest in how things are being done and want to offer input as I have mentioned repeatedly in the past.
Okay. Okay.
Yes, I do want to see the "Power Point." I guess it is available from Bill's web page.
So, it is clear I don't have much to do on a Saturday night with my wife and kids in New England for the first edition of a memorial for grandpa. I'm home alone. Most of the day I was coaching a swim meet, as we hosted Grove City in our last dual of the winter season.
What did I learn:
Seems that there are about 4,000 wi-fi sessions a month with the PDP's network downtown. Many are 'double-dipping' and that new software is going to come on-line to help prevent that. The system allows for 2-hours of free access. I guess spare usernames and passwords are being used, often by the same individuals. Beats me. I wouldn't use wi-fi on an unsecure network -- except to surf or stream as a faceless user.
Seems that there is a rash of vandals who bash parking meeters to rip off the quarters.
There are more than 60 police cars with wi-fi and they pay $50 or so a month. Must be via cellular connections now. The number will double in the months to come. A city-wide wi-fi might save 200 units x $50 = $10,000 per month or $120,000 per year. That puts a dent into the $5-million start-up.
However, does this mean that the vandals that are smashing parking meeters to get quarters would climb telephone poles to pinch wi-fi's digital dust?
I'd much rather use an octopus card rather than a credit card for parking meter fees. We should be doing Octupus Card technology for fares and transactions around town. Then Pittsburgh would be a leader in North America.
Bill Peduto wants to get 'credit' for the winkles they've put out in the planning of wi-fi documents that have yet to materialize in RFPs. Boston lifted sections from what was talked about in Pittsburgh. To me, that is still a good thing. To some, it isn't -- I guess. Well, if we rolled out an Octopus Card in Pittsburgh, like they already have in Hong Kong and Netherlands, then Boston could CONTRACT with Pittsburgh's tech providers -- creating an industry here.
It is nice to know when the next bus arrives, and when the next stop arrives -- via a consumer scoreboard display utility built upon GPS. But, that brings us back to those damaged parking meters. How would they last in a bus shelter? It would be better to work upon the toll collection component first, i.e., Octopus Card.
If you're not sure what I mean when ranting about Octopus Cards, search this blog.
At the meeting this Thursday he gave me a mention as well, when I was in the council chambers. Then they were talking about the merger of the purchasing deparments between city and county. He said citizens have an interest in how things are being done and want to offer input as I have mentioned repeatedly in the past.
Okay. Okay.
Yes, I do want to see the "Power Point." I guess it is available from Bill's web page.
So, it is clear I don't have much to do on a Saturday night with my wife and kids in New England for the first edition of a memorial for grandpa. I'm home alone. Most of the day I was coaching a swim meet, as we hosted Grove City in our last dual of the winter season.
What did I learn:
Seems that there are about 4,000 wi-fi sessions a month with the PDP's network downtown. Many are 'double-dipping' and that new software is going to come on-line to help prevent that. The system allows for 2-hours of free access. I guess spare usernames and passwords are being used, often by the same individuals. Beats me. I wouldn't use wi-fi on an unsecure network -- except to surf or stream as a faceless user.
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| Double decker isn't same as double dips Wi-Fi. From Pens Village |
Seems that there is a rash of vandals who bash parking meeters to rip off the quarters.
There are more than 60 police cars with wi-fi and they pay $50 or so a month. Must be via cellular connections now. The number will double in the months to come. A city-wide wi-fi might save 200 units x $50 = $10,000 per month or $120,000 per year. That puts a dent into the $5-million start-up.
However, does this mean that the vandals that are smashing parking meeters to get quarters would climb telephone poles to pinch wi-fi's digital dust?
I'd much rather use an octopus card rather than a credit card for parking meter fees. We should be doing Octupus Card technology for fares and transactions around town. Then Pittsburgh would be a leader in North America.
Bill Peduto wants to get 'credit' for the winkles they've put out in the planning of wi-fi documents that have yet to materialize in RFPs. Boston lifted sections from what was talked about in Pittsburgh. To me, that is still a good thing. To some, it isn't -- I guess. Well, if we rolled out an Octopus Card in Pittsburgh, like they already have in Hong Kong and Netherlands, then Boston could CONTRACT with Pittsburgh's tech providers -- creating an industry here.
It is nice to know when the next bus arrives, and when the next stop arrives -- via a consumer scoreboard display utility built upon GPS. But, that brings us back to those damaged parking meters. How would they last in a bus shelter? It would be better to work upon the toll collection component first, i.e., Octopus Card.
If you're not sure what I mean when ranting about Octopus Cards, search this blog.
Free Curricula Center
Free Curricula Center The Free Curricula Center (FCC) helps students worldwide reach their educational potential by producing and distributing university-level curricula that can be copied freely and modified cooperatively.
Low Impact Woodland Home
What would the building inspector say about this home?
A Low Impact Woodland Home ... house was built with maximum regard for the environment and by reciprocation gives us a unique opportunity to live close to nature.
Blah, Blah, Blah -- the 3-1-1 line didn't work but the Trib did
More gets done when nobody takes the credit. But when nothing is getting done, SHOUT. Shout to the MSM. Shout to the podium at city council. Shout to bloggers. Shout to opponents.
This should be the year where follow-through occurs. Two weeks ago we were to have two meetings of the defunct by design Ethics Review Board. But when the dates of the meetings arrive -- the board still doesn't meet.
They blinked.
Repeated requests of citizens went without action of the city.
This should be the year where follow-through occurs. Two weeks ago we were to have two meetings of the defunct by design Ethics Review Board. But when the dates of the meetings arrive -- the board still doesn't meet.
They blinked.
City de-ices Hazelwood house's problem leak - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh's 'redd up' crews Friday shattered a threatening mass of ice that was growing from a vacant Hazelwood home.This is sad. This is a trend. The other house in Hazlewood burned and cause damage to other houses that were NOT empty -- until then.
Fed by a leaky water pipe inside the house on Orinoco Street, the ice threatened to flood Beryl Powers' home next door on Steele Court.
Powers, 69, complained repeatedly about the problem to the city's 311 response line since Jan. 29, but received no satisfaction.
A story published yesterday in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review illustrated Powers' problem and spurred city officials to respond quickly.
Repeated requests of citizens went without action of the city.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Cash Is King thread among political calls for a slate
LibertySlate08 has been talking about 'cash is king' in terms of candidates. My reply to them:
I've got an approach with finances and being a candidate.
Rule #1. Don't burn out.
Rule #2. Don't spend what you don't have.
Keep balance in your life. Keep your day job. Keep your spouse, kids and care to your aging relations in good order. And, be prudent.
Stand for office. Don't run for it.
Announce early. Make time on your side. It is hard to play catch-up when you are so far behind but have so little to invest and such a long spot at getting elected.
If you want the job and the pay check -- get into the dominant party.
I know I can't win the seat as a Libertarian. But, I can win the war on ideas. I can win on the Internet. I can win on certain media cycles. I can win in a debate. And, many of my ideas are going to be embraced by my challengers -- if not this time, then next.
I can get into the race and make the race affordable for others.
I can get into the race and shape the discussions. When something stupid is said -- it won't be repeated when I'm in the race. They'll have to come up with new material -- and they do -- the next night or press release. I can counter then and there -- at the candidate forum. Or, with a press release of my own. And, I document things for history's sake once they get elected -- as my job isn't done after election day.
I think a challenger needs to fight the campaign on both the rational and emotional fronts. There are times for each. Schmooze at a social event. Be academic at the times when its called for. Know your audience. Go with the flow. Give respect -- and then you get respect.
Finally -- the internet is where we need to thrive.
There used to be a concept of the "paper campaign" or "paper candidate." Now it is a digital candidate.
And with podcasting and blogs -- this can be a time to put up a good challenge without going to spend a life's fortune.
Get a trusted crew of others. TRUSTED crew. Your friends hurt you worse than your enemies. Everyone needs "running mates." You'll need to lean on others and have others cover you. But you really have to have these relationships forged with strength before you go out on a limb yourself. Loyalty and dependability matters. You'll generate some heat -- and you'll want others who are well grounded and can deflect some, take some and ride the waves with a long-term zeal to giggle at this in 10 years together. Power and motivations from people can be a freak out for many. You've got to dance with trouble makers -- but keep them contained. Get their comments and input on paper.
I think we need to make history, not be a slave of it. A voter / citizen / public outrage is brewing. It is going to take a lot of folks to fan these fires. You can play a role.
Even when running isn't a good fit for you -- there are lots of other ways to help.
HOSTING CANDIDATE nights for all candidates, a PAN PARTISAN forum on issues, with church groups, with civic clubs, with library groups, with industry friends is WELL WORTH THE EFFORTS and good will that results. Collaborate with the local League of Women Voters (low priority), a radio station, a student government group, neighborhood groups, a union. Then put out the call to ALL CANDI ATES. Put the light on them -- and some will melt. That's good work. That's heavy lifting that comes from folks who are NOT candidates.
Finally -- if you want to get bold -- run for special elections. Run in a primary against an opponent -- and team up on the incumbent from the other party.
Do outreach to other candidates in the area in in different areas. I was running for PA Senate and really did so as I wanted to help with Russ Diamond for Governor and Bill Ogden for State Rep. The interplay among different candidates going for different seats in the same cycles can present a lot of fun, insights and dynamics for change.
I pulled out of the race after 32 minutes before the judge. But -- I couldn't be on the hook for court costs and attorney fees and all that B.S. from their playbook. But, this time they thought to challenge me as they knew I was a threat. There is some victory in that -- because I'm still not in debt. I bet my opponent spent $20,000 just to cause me grief. I'm still on the high road, and not in the red.
Finally, you never know what the future will bring. People die. DAs do file charges.
We all suffer greatly when there are no choices on the ballot on election days.
I've got an approach with finances and being a candidate.
Rule #1. Don't burn out.
Rule #2. Don't spend what you don't have.
Keep balance in your life. Keep your day job. Keep your spouse, kids and care to your aging relations in good order. And, be prudent.
 |
| From people & vips |
Announce early. Make time on your side. It is hard to play catch-up when you are so far behind but have so little to invest and such a long spot at getting elected.
If you want the job and the pay check -- get into the dominant party.
I know I can't win the seat as a Libertarian. But, I can win the war on ideas. I can win on the Internet. I can win on certain media cycles. I can win in a debate. And, many of my ideas are going to be embraced by my challengers -- if not this time, then next.
I can get into the race and make the race affordable for others.
I can get into the race and shape the discussions. When something stupid is said -- it won't be repeated when I'm in the race. They'll have to come up with new material -- and they do -- the next night or press release. I can counter then and there -- at the candidate forum. Or, with a press release of my own. And, I document things for history's sake once they get elected -- as my job isn't done after election day.
I think a challenger needs to fight the campaign on both the rational and emotional fronts. There are times for each. Schmooze at a social event. Be academic at the times when its called for. Know your audience. Go with the flow. Give respect -- and then you get respect.
Finally -- the internet is where we need to thrive.
There used to be a concept of the "paper campaign" or "paper candidate." Now it is a digital candidate.
And with podcasting and blogs -- this can be a time to put up a good challenge without going to spend a life's fortune.
Get a trusted crew of others. TRUSTED crew. Your friends hurt you worse than your enemies. Everyone needs "running mates." You'll need to lean on others and have others cover you. But you really have to have these relationships forged with strength before you go out on a limb yourself. Loyalty and dependability matters. You'll generate some heat -- and you'll want others who are well grounded and can deflect some, take some and ride the waves with a long-term zeal to giggle at this in 10 years together. Power and motivations from people can be a freak out for many. You've got to dance with trouble makers -- but keep them contained. Get their comments and input on paper.
I think we need to make history, not be a slave of it. A voter / citizen / public outrage is brewing. It is going to take a lot of folks to fan these fires. You can play a role.
Even when running isn't a good fit for you -- there are lots of other ways to help.
HOSTING CANDIDATE nights for all candidates, a PAN PARTISAN forum on issues, with church groups, with civic clubs, with library groups, with industry friends is WELL WORTH THE EFFORTS and good will that results. Collaborate with the local League of Women Voters (low priority), a radio station, a student government group, neighborhood groups, a union. Then put out the call to ALL CANDI ATES. Put the light on them -- and some will melt. That's good work. That's heavy lifting that comes from folks who are NOT candidates.
Finally -- if you want to get bold -- run for special elections. Run in a primary against an opponent -- and team up on the incumbent from the other party.
Do outreach to other candidates in the area in in different areas. I was running for PA Senate and really did so as I wanted to help with Russ Diamond for Governor and Bill Ogden for State Rep. The interplay among different candidates going for different seats in the same cycles can present a lot of fun, insights and dynamics for change.
 |
| From people & vips |
Finally, you never know what the future will bring. People die. DAs do file charges.
We all suffer greatly when there are no choices on the ballot on election days.
Cover story: Local Politics Goes to the Blogs - Main Feature - Main Feature - Pittsburgh City Paper
More blog buzz.
I talked about this article when I was speaking today to the Senior Citizens at the South Side Market House. I was there to recruit 'running mates' and talk politics. And, I handed out about 40 CDs with music and message about standing for office and the pending political races in 2007 for the city and region.
Many at the Senior Center won't read blogs. But, they'll listen to my CD. And, I played a snip of some music to them there as well. And, many of the seniors do read and know what's going on.
Pittsburgh - Local Politics Goes to the Blogs - Main Feature - Main Feature - Pittsburgh City Paper Local Politics Goes to the BlogsI'm listed in the web edition -- only because I left a comment or two in the talk-back.
I talked about this article when I was speaking today to the Senior Citizens at the South Side Market House. I was there to recruit 'running mates' and talk politics. And, I handed out about 40 CDs with music and message about standing for office and the pending political races in 2007 for the city and region.
Many at the Senior Center won't read blogs. But, they'll listen to my CD. And, I played a snip of some music to them there as well. And, many of the seniors do read and know what's going on.
When is Motznik Going To Resign?
It wasn’t that long ago, perhaps immediately following the last presidential election, but Pittsburgh City Council member Jim Motznik was a panel guest on the Ann Devlin-version of NightTalk, and promised to resign from public office to work on Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign, should she run for President.
Now I like Mr. Motznik personally. I’m still perplexed as to why he sprinted away from a Channel 4 cameraman a few years ago after being posed a rather pedestrian political question. He’s always been polite and friendly in the neighborhood, flush with folksy tête-à -tête, a sewer-boot wearing Paul Harvey if you will, albeit with only a third of a vulgarity. He’s a Renaissance man for the new age.
I remember the statement about giving up his day job for the betterment of our country as vividly as yesterday and thought it peculiar even then. Why would he have make such a declaration, even though it was the Ann Devlin version of NightTalk, which promised to deliver upwards of a dozen viewers at any given time, including me for at least one minute on any given evening.
I was always amazed that the show perpetually seemed to be in rerun. We’re not talking about the “good” NightTalk with John McIntyre, an above-it-all elitist with a fairly sublime sense of humor and quick wit, but the tumbleweed installment. Ms. Devlin appeared to have the cushiest post in all of local television, and yet the show would go for weeks upon weeks without new editions. It was kind of like “Lost” with decades between new installments…but I digress.
Anyhoo, as we all know, Mrs. Clinton appeared in a web-based video to “chat” about her run for presidency, a campaign everyone knew started the minute she and the former president smashed their last collector’s plate on the way out the door of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
In the video, the Senator from New York via Arkansas and Illinois looked as comfortable as an Iranian hostage in 1979, emboldened by the muscular Jimmy Carter administration. Like some of those 63 diplomats and three U.S. citizens who were shown on tape, Mrs. Clinton exuded confident, assured that the “take no prisoners” Carter domination would soon kick down the door for freedom. Her titular “Smartest Woman in the World” gimmick would assuredly surpass even those steel-enforced days of Carter supremacy, where money flowed through the streets much like the omnipresent oil and coal mining jobs.
With that type of euphoria right around the corner (despite Carter and the first President Clinton’s salad days, minority home ownership is only now at its highest levels ever), it’s imperative that we only draft our best and brightest to assure another eight years of intern-groping and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason menopause humor.
We need Barbara Streisand to be relevant again…wait, she was never relevant outside of Broadway and Tinseltown (and yes, I am referring to the David Dukes/Kristy Swanson vehicle from 1997)…but I continue to digress.
We as a country need to assure an upswing in collective virtues and values first started by the highly-successful Governor Tony Soprano/Rendell, where taxes are nearly non-existent and competence—from the Lieutenant Governor position on down to the guy who sweeps up after the High Holy Priest’s daily cheesesteak—is once again on par with those heady Carter administration days where peanuts were as precious as the Peso.
When will Mr. Motznik hand in his two-week notice and help prepare the world for Marilyn vos Savant’s more impressively intellectual sister?
Only time will tell, but it should be any day now.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Myron Cope To Lemieux: Keep Pens In Pittsburgh - News
Triple Yoy! Money has never been my god either. You betcha.
Sports are nothing but games of time, space and relationship, so wrote a wise friend and author, Keven DeForrest.
With the floor falling at the Convention Center, I think that the Stadium and Exhibition Authority, as well as Dan Onorato, have other matters to attend to. So, I expect that the Pens will visit Houston and review the offers on the table from elsewhere.
Monkey's might come sailing out of that hole before we hear again from good old State Senator and SEA Board Member, Wayne Fontana, who said last week, "We haven't heard anything. So that must be a good sign."
This week the MSM had its video cameras targeted by the government-hired thugs -- as they more than frowned on my tiny camera in packed rooms at hearings two weeks ago.
Well, I think that the meltdown at the Convention Center is going to make for a deep freeze in the Pens talks about a new arena.
I've got a full-court rant brewing about the Convention Center for tomorrow.
Myron Cope To Lemieux: Keep Pens In Pittsburgh - News Cope continued to try to persuade Lemieux by writing, 'Perhaps unfairly, I'm asking that you disregard bottom-line offers and keep the Pens here, simply because it's the right thing to do.'Time, however, has been my master, now and then.
Cope ended his letter to Lemieux with, 'Money has never been my God. Never.'
Sports are nothing but games of time, space and relationship, so wrote a wise friend and author, Keven DeForrest.
With the floor falling at the Convention Center, I think that the Stadium and Exhibition Authority, as well as Dan Onorato, have other matters to attend to. So, I expect that the Pens will visit Houston and review the offers on the table from elsewhere.
Monkey's might come sailing out of that hole before we hear again from good old State Senator and SEA Board Member, Wayne Fontana, who said last week, "We haven't heard anything. So that must be a good sign."
This week the MSM had its video cameras targeted by the government-hired thugs -- as they more than frowned on my tiny camera in packed rooms at hearings two weeks ago.
Well, I think that the meltdown at the Convention Center is going to make for a deep freeze in the Pens talks about a new arena.
I've got a full-court rant brewing about the Convention Center for tomorrow.
Three Rivers Post & Standard -- yanked off on increased sales tax plan from Fast Eddie
I know another someone who is NOT happy with the plan to raise the sales tax. A touch of anger is in his words at this post on another blog.
The Three Rivers Post & Standard Fast Eddie can’t balance a budget and needs to raise the sales tax on all citizens. God forbid they actually cut some of the flab from the State budget.
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| From texture - misc. |
Anne Feeney's email blast -- speaking of two recent deaths, Jennifer Strange and George Becker
Snips of Anne's email blast include:
Anne is playing a house concert at 4 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2007. The Friendship House Concerts Presents Anne Feeney at Jim and LLouise Altes' House, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, Price: $10. Be there if you can.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF JENNIFER STRANGE
While I was in Sacramento I heard a story about a radio contest sponsored by KDND that reveals some interesting truths about America at the dawn of the 21st century.
the background
KDND "107.9 The End" had gotten hold of one of the highly advertised Nintendo Wii game systems. You've probably seen commercials or news stories about the lines waiting to buy these things. KDND's contest was "Hold Your Wee for a Wii."
The winner would be the person who could drink the most water without urinating.
One of the twenty contestants that morning was Jennifer Strange - a mother of three. She knew that her children really wanted this expensive game system. The contestants were given 8 ounces of water to drink every fifteen minutes for two hours. After three hours of this, all but two contestants had given up... Jennifer Strange and a woman named Lisa.
http://www.sacbee.com/static/newsroom/kdndslides/ You can listen to Jennifer joking with the DJs during the contest. She loses the contest to Lisa. A few hours after leaving the station she was found dead from "water intoxication." She had consumed 7.5 liters (almost 2 gallons) of water during the contest.
The reaction
While everyone agrees it was sad that this young mother died, there were many voices (including the Sacramento newspaper) talking about her 'free will,' her 'personal responsibility' and the 'release' that she signed. It set me to thinking.
I think it is our nature to trust others. We think, "Would the radio station invite me to do this if it could kill me?" But perhaps our trust is misplaced.
Every day United States workers are told to do things that are dangerous and unsafe. (Every year 60,000 death claims are paid to the families of those workers.) Every day soldiers are ordered to do things in Iraq, Guantanamo and elsewhere that violate the military code of ethics and the Geneva Conventions. Every day we open the newspaper or turn on the television and we hear about climate change, about the cost of the war in Iraq, about the violence in New Orleans. We certainly have more information about the life-threatening dangers facing us than Jennifer Strange did about the 'dangers' of drinking water.
Do we speak up? Do we refuse unsafe work? Do we support soldiers who are refusing to violate international law and the dictates of their consciences? Do we demand an end to the war? Do we demand responsible planning for a sustainable future? Do we demand housing and social services and law enforcement for the people of New Orleans?
Or do we sit at home and just keep swallowing, swallowing, swallowing the platitudes coming out of the White House? Why? In order to continue our lifestyle? We have the information we need to save our lives and the lives of future generations. If we ignore it and keep swallowing the lies coming to us from Washington and FOX (sic) News, how are we different from Jennifer Strange? How can we expect to avert her fate?
George Becker - died February 3, 2007 - age 78
My friend George Becker led an extraordinary life. He started on a labor gang in the open hearth at Granite City Steel in Illinois when he was 15 years old. He went on to become the President of the United Steelworkers' Union of America in 1993. He became labor's voice in the anti-corporate globalization movement. He brought thousands of Steelworkers to Seattle for the WTO demonstrations in 1999. The USWA presence was essential to the impact we had there.
I performed at the convention where the Rubber Workers Union merged with USWA (on my birthday) ... it was a really close vote. Rev Joseph Lowery spoke. Rich Trumka spoke. In the end, I think that merger was approved by seven votes. My dear brothers from Bridgestone Firestone in Decatur may have cast the pivotal votes... I'd like to think I had a small hand in that outcome.
During President Becker's tenure I worked on the lockouts at MSI and A/K steel. He never failed to inspire and empower his members. And he had a great sense of humor.
George was the voice of the rank and file. He never lost touch with them. His obituary is at http://www.postgazette.com/pg/07036/759517-122.stm
Anne is playing a house concert at 4 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2007. The Friendship House Concerts Presents Anne Feeney at Jim and LLouise Altes' House, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, Price: $10. Be there if you can.
Black and Gold pleads for Pittsburgh decision
Black and Gold Money won't make you happy; emulate The Chief and keep the Pens in Pittsburgh
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
I hope somebody reading this is close enough to Mario Lemieux to call it to his attention.
Mario, I've known you since your rookie season and have always found you a fine fellow, so I'm going to ask a lot of you. In these cynical times when the bottom line so often rules, it's perhaps silly to ask, but consider emulating The Chief -- the late Art Rooney Sr
Carbolic Smoke Ball - taking the fall for the hole in the Convention Center
Carbolic Smoke Ball Onorato consoled concerned citizens with promises that someone would be fired.
'I assure you, someone will take the fall for this,' Onorato said. 'And I can further assure you, that person will be one of Luke's enemies.' He then turned to Ravenstahl for a high five, chest bump and air guitar.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Eric Heyl's Blog Kick's Bootie
Eric Heyl's Blog - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review To summarize: We have a councilman launching a blog to defend the mayor -- who doesn't have a blog -- against attacks that surfaced in a talk show host's blog in a conspiracy allegedly involving another councilman who brings not a blog but a private MySpace profile to the table.Someone's posted on YouTube already.
That, apparently, is what passes for discourse in the mayor's race -- at least until someone posts something on YouTube.
Hometown Heros
What Happened to Yesterday's Hometown Heroes?
by Lee Wishing
Each morning my local county newspaper shows up late. Speaking with the delivery man and calling the office hasn't changed things. So, rather than canceling the 20,089 daily circulation paper I continue reading the local news with my coffee ... a day late. And I love to read it cover-to-cover. Yet, lately I'm finding I'm growing frustrated with the content. I see some of our older hometown heroes growing weak. But, not our kids.
It's Saturday, and as I read Friday's sports on page B-1, I see three brawny boys wearing "Reynolds Wrestling 600 Wins" t-shirts hoisting the western Pennsylvania District 10 AA Dual Meet Championship trophy over their heads. Reynolds is a local perennial small school wrestling powerhouse. Above them are pictures of 112-pound and 140-pound boys locked in mortal holds.
On page B-3 there are four similar pictures: one shows 125-pound Reynolds Raider Robbie Miller turning Greenville's Doug Richmond on his back with the referee lying next to the boys waiting to call the pin. Richmond must have bloodied Miller's nose earlier in the match because Miller has cotton in his nose. And Richmond isn't giving up even though he's on his back. His back is bridged and he's jamming his palm under Miller's chin. Hometown heroes, these boys. Great stuff!
And then I turn back to page B-1 to read a story about the Pittsburgh Penguins. Another hometown hero, Mario Lemieux, and his Penguin co-owner partners are wrestling with Pennsylvania's governor, Pittsburgh's mayor and Allegheny County's executive to get a new arena for their team. The paper reports that Lemieux and company leave the negotiations-they walk off the mat-because they don't want to share parking and other revenues.
But wait, my instincts tell me there's something wrong with this picture. Why are Lemieux and friends wrestling with the referees? Why are they turning to government for a $290 million deal? Aren't the governor and his team elected to create and enforce laws rather than wrestle with businesses over how much money to grant them? And what's happened to Lemieux? I don't ever remember a champion asking a referee to hand him a win or a Stanley Cup, let alone huge financial favors.
Hmmm...even though he was on his back with the referee lying just inches away, Greenville's Doug Richmond wasn't asking the referee for help. He was fighting for the win.
And then I turn to the business page on B-5 to read a story titled "Dairy Queen Gets Grant to Upgrade Equipment." Once again Pennsylvania's governor is featured. This time his office announces that the governor is giving a local DQ franchise $7,500 to install high-efficiency refrigeration equipment. The story notes that the governor has handed out $2.8 million in similar equipment grants to other small businesses since July 2004.
What is going on with America's business owners? Are they starting out tough as youngsters but growing up soft-turning to government to solve their problems with money that doesn't belong to them? And how do they learn to become weak? Do they read about hometown heroes gone soft in America's sports and business pages? There's a lot of talk today about athletes having a responsibility to be role models. What's happened to Lemieux and Pittsburgh's young mayor? The mayor was a college football player not too long ago. Are these men role models for future business owners?
I've got to shake off this mental softness that's seeping into my mind. Back to page B-3 for me. I'm cheering on young Robbie Miller and Doug Richmond. Grow up strong guys. If you go into business, remember your picture on page B-3. Frame it. Hang it in your bedrooms. Hang it in your dorm rooms. Hang it in your offices. Remember, the referee is just a referee. Don't ask him for help. Even though I'm reading about you a day late, you guys are my hometown heroes today.
Lee Wishing, an adjunct scholar with the Commonwealth Foundation (www.CommonwealthFoundation.org), is the administrative director of The Center for Vision & Values (www.visandvals.org) at Grove City College.
Permission to reprint is hereby granted provided the author and affiliation are cited.
Commonwealth Foundation | 225 State Street, Ste. 302 | Harrisburg | PA | 17101
Teacher Accused of Using Pirated Software in Classroom
Net-Gold : Message: Teacher Accused of Using Pirated Software in Classroom Former Soviet Leader Wants Microsoft to Withdraw ComplaintAnother great example why we should all use open source software.
Russian Teacher Faces Detention in Siberian Prison Camp
MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on Monday asked Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to intercede on behalf of a Russian teacher accused of using pirated software in his classroom.
In an open letter, Nobel Peace Prize winner Gorbachev said the teacher, Alexander Ponosov, from a remote village in the Urals, should be shown mercy because he did not know he was committing a crime.
'A teacher, who has dedicated his life to the education of children and who receives a modest salary that does not bear comparison with the salaries of even regular staff in your company, is threatened with detention in Siberian prison camps,' read the letter, posted on the Internet site of Gorbachev's charitable foundation"
Happy Waitangi Day
This is a national holiday.
Waitangi Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWhere we'll be in May 2007.
Value Networks Clusters
Value Networks Clusters Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything luncheon on 27 Feb 2007 in San Jose, California, USA.There might be a distant visitor element. I'll try to participate from Pittsburgh.
Wiki's are great.
Rental inspection touted as a key to blight control in city
Nanny state legislation is in the pipeline.
Furthermore, as a renter and resident, I don't want to have an inspector walking into my home. Privacy becomes a serious concern.
A building inspector might think my computer has an electrical short and seize it. Meanwhile, this computer is sending figurative darts into the heart of nanny state politicians like Len Boadack or tux buying Dan Deasy.
The state should not have invitations into anyone's home. Places should be off limits for government workers, without probable cause. Assessors shouldn't enter into homes either, and they don't.
If my downstairs neighbor has dripping water into his ceiling, then probable cause is present. But a standing invite on a regular basis sends red flags of worry.
Before I posted about the city's complete lack of responsibility for property that the city owns. After the city gets better control on its properties and once the residents are sure that public properties are kept in good condition -- then let's talk.
The city owns more than 10,000 household properties throughout the city. The city of Pittsburgh is, by far, the worst landlord east of the Mississippi.
The new law is to make big government bigger. New inspectors are going to be hired. New payoffs get to be made.
The $1,000 per month fine for each unit is going to mean that hundreds of apartment buildings are going to be put up for sale when leases expire. This will make more empty buildings and additional blight.
Landlords should get billed for repeat inspections. However, the bill should be paid to the tennant and not to the city. The city wants to punish the landlords and that screws the tennant. That isn't the city's money. Damages should be paid to the ones that suffer, the tennant.
Another problem is the chilling effect with police calls. Pittsburgh faces a serious problem in that the citizens don't want to work with the police. The witness protection program leaves many out in the cold. Crowds of people won't identify shooters. The engagement among citizens and police is frail -- to sugar-coat the stituation. Now, with this new bill, a couple calls to the police is going to get you a bill. A charge.
What about someone with a protection from abuse order and a leaking sink.
We need to do everything we can to make the police accessible to those in need. A family on the run might need a safe place to sleeep even if the bathroom floor lacks that glow of see-yourself-shine. More hoops for landlords to jump through to make a rental just cripples freedom of those who need it the most.
Here is a better solution. Pitt, Duquesne and the other colleges should begin to worry and make proactive measures to protect its students. Who is the Pitt employed, off-campus, student housing coordinator and handy man resource?
Pitt should worry about its people.
Pitt's inaction has skunked up Oakland.
Pitt should be pulled into the middle of this problem, not Grant Street.
After the city gets its act in order, and after the universities get their acts in order with great housing options for its students, then let's talk about Section 8 housing -- then we might call upon landlords for a public hearing.
I look forward to this bill's public hearing being scheduled shortly.
By the way, send a building inspector to the Convention Center. I hear they have a hole in the floor.
Rental inspection touted as a key to blight control in city City Council members yesterday proposed regular inspections of all apartments and rental houses in the city.Putting new fees and new burdens onto those that invest in the city is a sure way to curb those investments. When the punishments come, along with the red tape, the investment money will flow elsewhere.
Furthermore, as a renter and resident, I don't want to have an inspector walking into my home. Privacy becomes a serious concern.
A building inspector might think my computer has an electrical short and seize it. Meanwhile, this computer is sending figurative darts into the heart of nanny state politicians like Len Boadack or tux buying Dan Deasy.
The state should not have invitations into anyone's home. Places should be off limits for government workers, without probable cause. Assessors shouldn't enter into homes either, and they don't.
If my downstairs neighbor has dripping water into his ceiling, then probable cause is present. But a standing invite on a regular basis sends red flags of worry.
Before I posted about the city's complete lack of responsibility for property that the city owns. After the city gets better control on its properties and once the residents are sure that public properties are kept in good condition -- then let's talk.
The city owns more than 10,000 household properties throughout the city. The city of Pittsburgh is, by far, the worst landlord east of the Mississippi.
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| City owned building, vacant, blight issued. Clean up your own house first. Album: playground - usa |
The new law is to make big government bigger. New inspectors are going to be hired. New payoffs get to be made.
The $1,000 per month fine for each unit is going to mean that hundreds of apartment buildings are going to be put up for sale when leases expire. This will make more empty buildings and additional blight.
Landlords should get billed for repeat inspections. However, the bill should be paid to the tennant and not to the city. The city wants to punish the landlords and that screws the tennant. That isn't the city's money. Damages should be paid to the ones that suffer, the tennant.
Another problem is the chilling effect with police calls. Pittsburgh faces a serious problem in that the citizens don't want to work with the police. The witness protection program leaves many out in the cold. Crowds of people won't identify shooters. The engagement among citizens and police is frail -- to sugar-coat the stituation. Now, with this new bill, a couple calls to the police is going to get you a bill. A charge.
What about someone with a protection from abuse order and a leaking sink.
We need to do everything we can to make the police accessible to those in need. A family on the run might need a safe place to sleeep even if the bathroom floor lacks that glow of see-yourself-shine. More hoops for landlords to jump through to make a rental just cripples freedom of those who need it the most.
Here is a better solution. Pitt, Duquesne and the other colleges should begin to worry and make proactive measures to protect its students. Who is the Pitt employed, off-campus, student housing coordinator and handy man resource?
Pitt should worry about its people.
Pitt's inaction has skunked up Oakland.
Pitt should be pulled into the middle of this problem, not Grant Street.
After the city gets its act in order, and after the universities get their acts in order with great housing options for its students, then let's talk about Section 8 housing -- then we might call upon landlords for a public hearing.
I look forward to this bill's public hearing being scheduled shortly.
By the way, send a building inspector to the Convention Center. I hear they have a hole in the floor.
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| From Convention Ce... |
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