Last Chance to sign up for the Crafton Crocodiles is tomorrow -- Friday -- 9:30 am at Crafton Park's Pool

Our swim team has been making good progress so far this summer. Practices started on Tuesday. I know of a number of kids who have been taking naps -- and sleeping by 8 pm.

Yesterday, my son, Grant, went to sleep at 5:30 pm and didn't get up until 6 am. He was back in the pool at 7 am. But, Grant has had a touch of jet lag. Some of the other kids don't have that excuse -- but -- they've been swimming practices for 2 hours. That has a way of getting the kids to sleep in the evenings.

We're working a lot on the breastroke -- as that can be the hardest to master.

Practices are every week day except July 4 from 7 to 9 am at Carlynton High School and from 9:30 to 11:30 am at the outdoor Crafton Swim Pool, 112 West Steuben Street, Crafton, PA 15205.

The cost is $30 per kid. Plus, $25 for raffle tickets. Plus, you need to have a Crafton Pool tag -- or else pay an extra $35. That gets you a t-shirt, swim cap, banquet.

Dates:

June 16, Car Wash, Busy Beaver from 9 am to 1 pm.

June 22, Team Photos

June 28, Flick n Float (movie at the swim pool) from 8 to 10 pm. Open to public. Pay at the gate.

June 30, Relay Carnival at Scott Pool. Arrive at 8 am.

June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3 = Water Polo clinic and shoot out with Crafton Celebrates

July 4, (1K swim + 5K fun run) ** details later. Open to public.

July 5, Crafton at Green Tree, arrive at 5:45 pm

July 10, Scott visits Crafton, arrive at 4:45 pm.

July 14, Crafton at Mt. Lebanon outdoor pool. Arrive at 7:15 am.

July 18, South Fayette at Crafton, arrive at 4:45 pm.

July 24, Championship Meet at Crafton, arrive at 4:45.

July 25, Private Swim Team Party fro swimmers and families at 8 pm to 10 pm.

July 26, All Star Meet at South Fayette, arrive at 5:15 pm

July 27, last swim practice

July 29, Crafton Team Banquet and slide show at 6 pm.

Water polo Clinic in August. Details in another posting. Open to public too.

JS Online: City camera funding rejected

JS Online: City camera funding rejected A Milwaukee Common Council committee on Wednesday voted against spending money for 15 pole-mounted video surveillance cameras, throwing the cameras' future into doubt.

But Mayor Tom Barrett said he would push to fund the cameras, which he has touted as part of his crime-fighting plans. And the funding dispute could be a political minefield for both the mayor and aldermen when residents expect them to follow through on the promised cameras.

Pittsburgh - Going Through the Motions - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper

Tonya says hire them all.

Pittsburgh - Going Through the Motions - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper 'If a young person put in an application, then hire them,' Payne said at city council's June 5 meeting. 'Hire them all. We need to make it a priority to find work for every one of those kids.'

The program's cost is $125,000. The ballpark figure to hire 726 young people? About $1.2 million for eight weeks of work.

That solution, give them all a job pulling weeds, is not ideal, to say the least.

Google Gadgets: AnswerBall

First came the computer on the mayor's desk in the mayor's office. Soon, Dick S would be fired from the inner circle of Grant Street's fifth floor to call numbers at the weekly bingos in senior centers. Since Google released this new gadget, there is no need for a chief of staff.

Google Gadgets:� AnswerBall Ask a question to AnswerBall and it will give you the response! Got a question? Just concentrate, hold the mouse button down to shake AnswerBall and release it to get the answer!

Na na na naa. So long. Good Bye.

On the last day of school, the 6th and 7th graders at Frick ISA (Middle School) left the building and headed to the buses past rows of teachers and staff who stood at the doorway and down the steps raising their voices, waving their hands. "Na-na-na naaa, Na-na-naa Naaaa, Soo long -- Good Bye. (repeat at will)

Interesting site. Sweet wishes.

Now -- if only the Pgh Public School Administration would get in gear an hire the necessary teachers for that school. This is the time to send out those job offers. This is the time to snag the Spanish Teachers and others who are with special teaching skills in foreign languages.

Two full time Spanish teachers are needed at Frick. Meanwhile, the two that start the year never finish it. I think there were five or so that were used. Double classrooms was the norm for too long. Hiring teachers in September sucks. That isn't the way to run specialized educational classes and schools.

German teachers and others with language class responsibilities are NOT easy to hire AFTER the school year begins, for a middle school, for Pgh Public Schools.

Hire!

Meanwhile, retain, retain, retain. The great teachers and staff that are at the buildings now who are slated to retire should be given contracts NOW for positions they'd like to retain in the year to come. Sign em up for another year NOW, not later.

Remember how there was a great boys basketball coach at Perry Traditional H.S. He was able to retire from his teaching position only to be told that he'd NOT be allowed to continue to coach boys basketball. Everyone wanted him to come back. He wanted to come back. But no. The school board policy was such that it couldn't be done. So, the great coach had to go to a suburban school and continue to coach.

As a family highlight, our son got the leadership award at Frick. And, his classmate from Phillips, T.S., got the student award. Well done guys. And well done Phillips Elem. School (graduates). FWIW, it is lame to say one graduated from Elem. School.

Both of our boys gave school presentations on our trip to New Zealand. The slide show will be posted here soon, I expect.

A new storm is brewing -- and we've got another big hole in our roof

Wouldn't you know -- today the roofers returned and put a big hole in our roof to extend the height of the chimney. What ever happened to the luck of a sweep that will shake off on you? Perhaps the sweeps are really lucky and the roofers sing another tune. (Understanding Hint to hidden blog meanings: Mary Poppins movie and Dick Van Dyke. -- Chim chimmeny, chim, chim cha roo, ...)

Ugh.

The worst is when the rain comes into the second floor via the ceiling light fixtures and drags all this crud -- like our house had been smoking for 125 years with tar and soot baked the bones. But hey, this is the South Side. I doubt that there smokers lived in the house, but the mills blanketed every thing.

Quiz: What's this?

In honor of West Virginia getting table games, here is a quiz question. What's the 'table game' shown in the photo above?

Friendly Father's Day Reminder

This weekend is Father's Day. Not many shopping days remain.

I'll be working as a volunteer at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium with a Dad's group on Father's Day. We'll be rewarding dad's with golden dad goodie bags.

International Mess -- USA Style

The US government has decided to refund travelers who spent an extra $60 to expedite the processing of their passports. The State Department decided to make the refunds as the government continues to grapple with a massive backlog of passport applications that have been flooding their offices as new rules are set to go into effect.

This is a big-time mess. Shame on the USA on this.

Getting a passport is a major problem these days. It was reported that it is taking nine months to get a regular passport from the US. Unreal.

Furthermore, those with trip plans are getting crunched too. The horror stories are hard to understand yet alone believe.

Passport services are nearly impossible to obtain from the US these days.

Tuesday takes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

If we are not rule of law -- then we are rule of men. I'd rather have rule of law -- and will work hard against rule of men. Onorato should be in charge, as he thinks he can do what he wants, how he wants it, and when it should apply -- even if it is 2002 for him. That is no way to govern.

Tuesday takes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review What Constitution? One of the wags with whom we regularly converse marvels at how the laws of Pennsylvania and the state Constitution have become dead letters for Allegheny County Council members and Chief Executive Dan Onorato regarding the now-scuttled smoking ban and base-year property assessment system, respectively. 'What has become of us?' he asks. Good question.

Corporate Welfare Looks like this -- and Dan Onorato is leadership for the future? He is stuck in the past as he backs this give-a-way.

Tuesday takes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review PNC Financial Services Group says it will acquire Yardville National Bancorp. of New Jersey for $403 million in cash and stock. This is the same banking giant, fresh off a $6 billion-plus acquisition of a big Baltimore bank, that posted a first-quarter 2007 profit of nearly half-a-billion dollars and had a 2006 profit of $2.6 billion. Tell us again, PNC, why you need $48 million of taxpayer money to help you build your new Three PNC Plaza skyscraper?

Pentagon Confirms It Sought To Build A 'Gay Bomb'

cbs5.com - Pentagon Confirms It Sought To Build A 'Gay Bomb' (CBS 5) BERKELEY A Berkeley watchdog organization that tracks military spending said it uncovered a strange U.S. military proposal to create a hormone bomb that could purportedly turn enemy soldiers into homosexuals and make them more interested in sex than fighting.

Pentagon officials on Friday confirmed to CBS 5 that military leaders had considered, and then subsquently rejected, building the so-called 'Gay Bomb.'

Ron Paul interview from Capital Hill with Tucker Carlson

I wasn't able to watch the debate, as we were out of the country. Now I get to catch-up on some YouTube snips. Here is one of Ron Paul in NH's debate.


New:

Allegheny County Controller's Port Authority Rider Survey

Feedback.

Allegheny County Controller's Port Authority Rider Survey

Ron Paul Registry has 28 now from Pittsburgh

Ron Paul Registry: "Pittsburgh, 28"

Nice site, plus, it has a good petition of principles about what he stands for. I just signed.

Keeping up with the Jones now means Table Games In W. Va.

PA does NOT have 'casinos.' Rather, PA has a a few slots parlors.

kdka.com - Table Games In W. Va. May Mean Hit For Pa. Casinos (KDKA/AP) WEST VIRGINIA The votes have been counted and now that table games have been approved to come to Wheeling Island in West Virginia, some here in Pennsylvania are beginning to wonder if it will hurt the casinos coming to our area.

The Meadows in Washington County is slated to open its doors on Monday.

The Meadows has been open for years. A new area for slots is going to open, sure.

Back in the U.S., back in the U.S., Back in the U.S. of A.

We're home as of Saturday night, 11:30 pm.

Our ride from our house to the airport, Cheers Ravi, came at 12:45 pm. We left Christchurch on a 3 pm flight to Auckland. Then it was an 11-hour-five-minute flight to L.A. In L.A. we check the time, and it was 12:35 pm -- still ten minutes before our ride from Ravi was to arrive to pick us up at the airport. Weirdness.

Then we went to Chicago and Pittsburgh.

Saturday night the All-Blacks played a test match against Canada. I still have no clue who won or when. We were on the flight to L.A. by the time the haka would have been performed.

New Zealand All Blacks rugby team official website, New Zealand Rugby Football Union Rampant All Blacks forward power and superior attacking skills in the backs ran France ragged in a nine try feast to win by a record 61-10 in the second Iveco Test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

So, the All Blacks won, again, big. But, two big time players are now hurt.

We got some departure gifts from Ravi -- and I was hooked up with a flash All Blacks bottle opener / key chain. I looked at it and asked -- does it work in the northern hemisphere.

On the way out of Auckland on Quantus I enjoyed a "Ginger Beer." Quiz question. Does it or does it not include alcohol? What are the big brands for 'Ginger Beer?' -- as a bonus question.

On the flight home, we saw lots of movies. The on-air entertainment, Q, features a TV screen right in the seat back in front of you. A remote and you can listen to CDs, radio, news (feature wasn't working however), movies, encore movies, TV, UK TV, Australian TV, art flicks, flight-progress and even computer games. We all watched 'Wild Hogs' and a bunch of other stuff.

Next -- fighting jet lag and getting the other four bags from American Airlines. We had them all going through customs. But only one of five made it to Pittsburgh. The plane switch in Chicago was quick (50 minutes).

The new house construction looks great. Still a bit of work to do, but huge progress has been made.

I'm an uncle -- one more time.

A new baby has arrived, MEGAN JANE. She was born Thursday, June 7th at 2:30 PM. 7 lbs 13 oz. and 21 inches. She is beautiful. Takes pacifier. Looks like her sister. Both she and her mom, (my yougest sister) are perfect. They will come home in the AM.

Excellent news for travels home. And, a brilliant reason to be headed home, among others.

Hope to see her soon.

Zappala tabs McKeesport for auxiliary county courthouse

The Daily News - Zappala tabs McKeesport for auxiliary county courthouse Parties have been engaged in discussion for years - envisioning a Mon Valley location for satellite courtrooms, row offices, bond clerks and attorneys. Now, the project is becoming more than a vision.

Dates for summer swimming with the Crafton Crocs - 2007

Exclusive WTAE/Pittsburgh Trib Keystone Poll Released - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Look how they write this sillyness to try to sway public opinion. My spin is that the Ron Paul was not even a foil in the questions -- and he can claim the 24 percent. It is a race that is too close to call at this point.

Exclusive WTAE/Pittsburgh Trib Keystone Poll Released - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh Rudy Giuliani may be the front-runner nationally for the Republican nomination, but in Pennsylvania he's in a dead heat with John McCain. Both are pulling 29 percent of the vote.

Mitt Romney is a distant third at 12 percent. The undecided vote still sits at 24 percent.

Looking at the PDF of the results, the 24% percent should get an extra 6% boost for those who say 'other' -- giving a total of 30%. That means Guiliani and McCain are both down by 1-percent.

If the polling people can't ask a question that has all the answers, they should be fired. This is trash reporting.

Might as well ask, do you favor the teaching of I.D. or Adam & Eve? Stupid question just like the stupid poll.

Onorato: County Will Appeal Assessment Ruling

kdka.com - Onorato: County Will Appeal Assessment Ruling "This administration is not doing a reassessment, let me be as clear as day," Onorato said. "We are not reassessing 550,000 properties in Allegheny County, not when other counties in this Commonwealth are allowed to use a base year."

When does this become 'treason?' When does this become grounds for impeachment?

If this Administration isn't going to follow the constitution -- Dan needs to NOT take another oath of office for public service. Onorato gave his word. Onorato was sworn into office when he agreed to uphold the constitution of the US and of Pennsylvania.

This is no mini separation of power.

Onorato could have done something. He failed, repeatedly. He needs to do something else. Going back to the courts is not good enough for me an my neighbors.

The mini separation must stand for the North to South and East to West distance for the container of creativity that Onorato has been able to exhibit in solving this problem. Onorato's capacity to fix this bread and butter issue has been next to nil. Mini fits.

In the meantime, many people are wondering how the decision will affect them. Depending on the State Supreme Court's decision, it could affect counties across the state.

Exactly. People are getting jacked around again. Are we going to get two, three or four property tax bills? Are we going to get them one week after they were due? Are we going to get extra mailings from county council with homestead exemption campaign literature too? Yanked here. Yanked there. Where is the sanity? It isn't in 2002 -- when Onorato was County Controller.

When 2009 comes, the year the reassessment was ordered, will 2002 amounts still be valid? Will 2002 values still be valid in 2012? In 2016? In 2020?

Another big problem is the fact that spending throughout the years has not been flat, as is the case in other counties. Allegheny County spends -- for tunnels under the river, for stadiums, for arenas, for demolition of other buildings, for river-front parks.

Furthermore, Allegheny County has not done anything about the expansion of the nonprofits. Nothing has been done about re-tooling the RAD Tax. Nothing has been done about regular funding for mass transit. Nothing has been done about mergers beyond 9-1-1, including the dual dog-license sales departments, except adding cats.

We've got some of the greatest health care opportunities and hospitals in the world for the rich who can afford it. But Allegheny County has done nothing new about getting sensible delivery of health care and wellness services to public workers, those who have retired, our seniors nor our citizens -- yet alone the infants. Except -- (drum roll please) -- four new hires (two are replacement workers) are due to be on the job working for the Health Department as inspectors at restaurant by the end of 2007. Big time cause for celebration for Allegheny County.

City, Heinz Field Battle Over Admin Fee For Police

kdka.com - City, Heinz Field Battle Over Admin Fee For Police"We don't feel that venues should be forced to pay this fee. We already pay a 5 percent amusement tax and that should be enough to cover any administrative services," Heinz Field Manager James Sacco said.

Here is a solution for the Steelers. Buy the stadium. Then we can talk about the 5% amusement tax.

Or, how about the Steelers benefits from the RAD tax are removed.

Whey in the world do people who buy a car, a computer, and a washing machine in Allegheny County have to pay increased sales tax -- 1% extra -- so it can go to the Steelers?

Seems as if the Steelers are NOT concerned with the wefare of their customers if they don't want to hire the police just to avcid the administrative fees.

Seems that the Steelers are not concerned with police corruption either.

The Steelers and the NFL, as well as the other sports teams and leagues, often hire their own goon squads to patrol for black-market sales of logo merchandise. Perhaps those security details should be hired throught the area around the stadium to police for ticket scalpers, illegal parking, trash makers and drunk drivers too.

The Pittsburgh Steelers organization runs the risk of now becoming the worlds biggest cry baby.

PG West: Langley out, but makes point in PIAA baseball playoffs

PG West: Langley out, but makes point in PIAA baseball playoffs Leo's squad made it to states. We missed not seeing the squad play this year.

Final practice with Andy and Martin. Good-byes in full force.

From NZ Wharenui pool

Coach Martin and Coach Andy are going to help lead a mini-swim camp for the regional swim program (Canterbury) on Friday and Saturday. So, we had our last workout with them tonight. Our series of saying good-bye to our new New Zealand friends is in full force.

The boys have one more swim practice, Friday night. I'll also coach on Saturday morning. It seems that the boys are going to play 9-holes of golf on Saturday morning with Hamish.

Saturday is going to be our travel day. A.M. swim practice (or golf). Then onto the plane at 3 pm in Christchurch. Land and leave Auckland at 5:30 pm. Then we fly to L.A. and land on Saturday around noon. I'll post the exact times later. The there is a flight to Chicago and another to Pittsburgh. We'll be home on Saturday night about 11:30 pm. All local times, of course.

I've got a lot of new resources on swimming, thanks in part to Arjun Haszard. I didn't realize all the history, but the swim club, Wharenui, had been the best in New Zealand for many years. Then in recent times, 1990s, a couple teams from Auckland have come on strong. Even when Arjun was swimming (he was a national champion in the 800 and 1500) Wharenui finished nationals in second place in the team standings.

At one Commonwealth Games competition, New Zealand got the gold, silver and bronze medals in the women's 400 I.M. All three swimmers were from Wharenui. That's an amazing feat. Amazing.

The swim resources and insights I'm now with are really exciting. Furthermore, we made a visit today to a kayak shop and are working up some plans for importing some gear as well.

From Paddle-kayak

From Grant

After our final violin class -- we played. We visited Laser Strike. We played a double game of laser tag. Grant and Erik love it. It was 37 minutes or so.

On our way to the swim pool, Grant's bike handle-bars became loose. He couldn't ride his bike. A bolt must have come undone and slipped. The bike isn't able to be used. Grant had to run the rest of the way to the pool. More running was after practice too. We have to get the bikes back to the rental outfit soon anyway.

From Grant

Eventful -- July 4th at our house

Everyone is invited to our 4th of July party -- 108 South 12th Street. It is a low key event. No food, except what people bring. We just supply the lemonaid.

Our house has been under some construction while we were away. Join us and check out the new deck and top room.

Last year, candidate for PA Governor, Russ Diamond, attended.

I'm inviting Ron Paul this year.

Allegheny's base-year property tax system unconstitutional - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Allegheny's base-year property tax system unconstitutional - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Now it's everyone's problem.

The property tax mess that Onorato has made worse has always been everyone's problem. Now it is Onorato's problem too. Onorato ignored the constitution. Onorato ignored his promises to fix the problem from four years ago when he hammered upon Jim Roddey. Onorato is a big part of the problem in this unfolding saga.

Once again these uncreative politicians are fine to go to court for solutions. Rather than judges leading the region, we should have real leaders. Court decisions are NEVER the BEST solution.

Onorato thinks that the judge does not have the authority to rule upon the consitution? Onorato doesn't have the authority to igore the consitution.

Onorato wants to be a base-year county. In other words, Onorato wants to live in the past. In other words, Onorato is content to let the rich get richer and the poor pay more. In other words, Onorato is unfair. In other words, Onorato doesn't want to do his job. In other words, Onorato is interested in buying time, to coast, rather than do the heavy lifting that faces this region.

The assessment system is broken. It needs to be fixed. I want to see it fixed. This venture is a major priority of mine.

Pittsburgh can't live in the past and expect to thrive.

Pittsburgh is dropping its population because people see how unfair it is around here -- and then they depart, voting with their feet.

As a "Geo-Libertarian" -- I look forward to the time when we get these issues out into a community-wide discussion and shift again to a Land Value Tax.

Sprawl, Dan, Sprawl. Dan is going to beg and then sprawl himself on this issue. It is going to hurt him.

It is never a waste of dollars to be fair. It is never a waste to uphold the constitution. It is never a waste to think again about justice when justice isn't happening. This issue will be a sure way to waste political capital -- Onorato's capital.

Funny too how there is another plea to run to the state for a fix, if it can't come from the judges. The state legislature needs to do this and do that. Wrong. I want to be self reliant. I want to fix our own problems. Folks from the other part of the state can't fix our problems. And, the local state reps, such as Tom Petrone and Wayne Fontana, are not capable of fixing these problems either.

Onorato will do all he can to shift the blame to others in this issue as well.

The property tax is the most hated tax when the other taxes are lower. People hate to pay all taxes. When the other taxes increase -- or were to increase -- such as income tax or sales tax -- then the property tax is NOT the most hated tax.

Furthermore, the property tax is the most hated as it is not fair. It is a joke. People hate bad jokes that hit hard upon their family budgets.

Finally, there is one solution that I've talked about a great deal in the past. I'll again raise this concept -- "ASSESSMENT BUFFERING." That's the key to making this reassessment process work.

Bower Round-a-bout

 

Today Erik, Grant and I took a rather long bike ride, in part, along "Bower Road" here in Christchurch. Dick Bower coached the boys last summer at Camp Chikopi in Canada.

Coach Bower would love New Zealand, for many reasons. Bower Road is very near to QE II swim pool. And, it is very close to the beach.

We rode to "Bottle Lake" and did some real mountain biking on trails, up and down some hills, through pine forrest, along the side of sand dunes, past animals (sheep, cows, horses, geese), over lumber roads, and around wetlands. We got there and home after a solid 70 minutes of pushing along with our bikes on roads and side-road trails.

The ride was wonderful. Grant only fell about three times. For a long time in the woods he was the leader. We were too busy to take photos, except of this one for Coach.

Steelers, Majestic Star's Barden must talk, Onorato says - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Steelers, Majestic Star's Barden must talk, Onorato says - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Steelers are renters. The Steelers don't have a stake in the North Side. The Steelers should talk to the Sports and Exhibition Authority. Then, if the Steelers should purchase Heinz Field -- then we'll talk.

Sell Heinz Field to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then the Steelers will be 'stake holders' and we'll then begin to worry about them making good impressions with neighbors.

Don Barden is going to build his own place with his own money. Don Barden will own the slots parlor. Don Barden is making an investment in the city.

If I'm Allegheny County Chief Executive, I'm putting the Steelers into talks about their ownership of Heinz Field. How much is still owed? How can we get the public money back? How can we be sure that the Steelers stay in town -- and own their own stadium.

If the Steelers own Heinz Field, then the Steelers can't easily move the franchise. The team would be invested in the area.

Duquesne high school will close

Sigh.

Duquesne high school will close Residents decry state board decision; no plan announced on where students will attend in fall

More than a year ago I talked with public comment and elsewhere about how the city schools, PPS, needed to do much, much more with and about Duquesne.

This is a big deal. Plans needed to be made. Efforts to understand the situations needed to occur. I was pushing the school board and others in the community to go in these directions.

Our region is too small to have a failure of such magnatude. When Duquesne falls flat, and that has been the situation for a long time now, we all fall. Those kids are our neighbors. Their struggles are not just for the streets of Duquesne -- but they wander everywhere else in the region.

When Pgh Public Schools had the "right sizing plan" it failed to address the needs of those in Duquesne. The schools in Hazelwood were closed. That pushed more students away from that border. The nearby schools are full. There isn't any capacity to merge without serious upheavals.

The "right size" for the past quickly becomes the "wrong size" for the present.

Think again. Think without blind spots. Think it through.

Those people are getting stabbed in the back. They have outrage, and it is deserved.

To solve the problem, shut down the high school over a three year period. Don't allow for any freshmen next year. But, if the students who are there want to continue -- let them do so.

School closings should only occur as part of a phase in process over years. Same too with school openings.

Steel Valley, West Mifflin, Woodland Hills and others throughout that area need to watch out. They can't be dumped upon. A phase in would help in many ways.

Here is another suggestion: We should have a few boarding options in our public high schools.

In Christchurch, a city about the same size as Pittsburgh, there are about 30 high schools. Plus, there are a few public high schools with dorms. There are resident halls at a few boys schools and a few girls schools. Some are private and some are public.

Swim Log

SC Meters with development group (Erik was in this group).

Pull 800 meters with stroke count less than or equal to 15 on every 4th length.

4 x (4 x 100)
# 1-4 = pull @ 2:10 with 3 breaths or less on last 25m
# 5-8 = swim @ 2:15 with first 25m with 10 strokes or less (long push-offs)
# 9-12 = swim @ 2:30 with 5 flip turns, perfect. (No breathing in red zones on first and last flip turn.)
# 13-16 = fast @ 2:05 -- perfect

Kick with fins:
6 x 25 underwater
6 x 25 on side with 4 breaths or less at surface
6 x 25 on back underwater for first half of each length
6 x 25 with fins on hands kicking legs and arms in head first fashion
6 x 25 with fins on hands using a pull bouy and going feet first

easy 100

Arkansas: I love ma, I love pa. I love good ol Arkansas

Ravenstahl gets 'face' time as possible rising star in national politics Then there are the Internet blogs.

Hi Mrs. Ravenstahl!

I got to meet Mrs. R, Luke's mom, at a D-party endorsement event at the IBEW Hall on the South Side. I was outside, of course, just to mingle with the folks on the sidewalk. While I was there, she came up to me and we had a nice chat. She like my blog, so I was told.

I told her that I try my best to be real, grounded and not vile -- nor driven by envy. Those were NOT my words, but my intended feelings and desires.

I too have good friends in Arkansas. Politically, that city is home to General Wesley Clark, a regular swimmer. The best buddie I have had the pleasure to know from Little Rock was Paul Blair, a great swim coach and gentleman who founded the Little Rock Dolphins. Sadly, Paul died not too long ago. He grew up in our region and was no stranger to Pittsburgh.

When I coached in the Southwest Conference, when there still was a SWC, the Univ. of Arkansas swimmers were in a relay in the next lane from our team -- and they set a world record. That was cool. It was a short-course meters mark in a sprint freestyle relay. They were flying. It was a pleasure for our swimmers to just get washed down the pool in their wake.

He urged the students in the crowd to "overcome those people who will try to rattle you. ... Somewhere back in Pittsburgh, a columnist is writing his or her perspective on how I could be doing better, a talk show host is flooding the airwaves with half-truths, at my expense. ... Do I care? No."

Then there are the Internet blogs.

"Many of them are interesting in the way they portray what I'm doing," he said. "Very negative. And my mom, she reads those all the time. ... It bothers her more than it bothers me."

I'd love to have this interview on a podcast. Too many ... for my tastes. I'd like to not read between the lines as much.

The negative talk reminds me a bit of the approach Tom Murphy took. Murphy always used the word, "NAYSAYERS." To him, "naysayers" were worthless. I was a huge Tom Murphy naysayer.

Murphy killed our city because he didn't listen to the naysayers. Time will tell what Luke does. To me, Luke looks to be in the same rut that Tom Murphy resided within in the last 8 years (or more) of his career.

In a rich life, there is both a ying and a yang.

For an eagle to 'soar' -- it needs both the right wing, left wing plus plenty of tail feathers.

To listen to the naysayers is mandatory, in my opinion. To do what naysayers suggest isn't.

I understand that everyone can't be pleased all the time. Fine. But I don't understand how some can feel so cocksure as to think that they know it all and can shut down their receptive senses from certain quarters.

Pittsburgh is too small to have an administration that caters to only certain populations and sub-groups. We need to get on the right track and then have everyone's input -- to fire on all cylinders.

Two more examples:

In athletics, I love to go up against an arch rival. Competition is welcomed and desired. Athletes want to be pushed and stretched by serious challengers.

In academics and with research, it is a practice by some brilliant people to send their latest works to their harshest critics. Enemy evaluations are solicited before the papers get published in peer review journals.

Time will tell how Luke behaves.

Quiz: What happens when an English Chap in Christchurch "punts?"

From NZ Punting

Hint: Erik and Grant are very good at it. They could earn some income doing it in the summer months, once they get older.

GOP Bill Aimed At Ending Teacher Strikes

I haven't been happy with our Republican friends in Harrisburg, as they haven't done what was "right" for the most part. This on the other hand is a "no brainer." Special Interest Groups should not be allowed to derail our children's educations.

By Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

HARRISBURG -- A group of House Republicans is striking out against teacher strikes.
Led by Rep. Todd Rock, R-Franklin, the lawmakers this morning introduced legislation that would ban teacher strikes, mandate a negotiation schedule when talks stall and require public disclosure of negotiating positions throughout the process.
"The legislative solution we are introducing today has nothing to do with punishing or taking away any legal rights from teachers in Pennsylvania's 501 school districts," Mr. Rock said. It "has everything to do with ... restoring to every Pennsylvania child the legal right to a strike-free, uninterrupted public education."

Do I expect that the Democrat-led state legislature will do what is right? Absolutely not. There isn't a hefty tax-increase included (unless you talk about funding these Special Interest Groups).

Thirsty?

 

Four-fifths of the world is covered with water. Thirsty for more?

New Zealand has the best water in the world. Pittsburgh has a great deal of water as well.

Milford Sound photos -- yet to come

 

Many photos are yet to be uploaded. Milford Sound was great trip with lots of impressive sights. Here is a teaser.

Maori and Auckland photos

From NZ auckland-1

Went to Auckland Museum and have uploaded a bunch of photos from there and some other places in the biggest city in New Zealand.

Look around and you'll even find some videos. One is a haka. Enjoy.

Quiz: Lake in New Zealand

Today's quiz question: It is said that nobody drowns in this lake. It is in New Zealand. Photo from our visit to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world.

Why would it be so that nobody ever drowns in this lake?

(Click image for larger view of the lake.)

Put your answer (or guess) into the comment of this blog post.

Pittsburgh violence rate outpaces U.S.

Pittsburgh violence rate outpaces U.S. Pittsburgh violence rate outpaces U.S.
2.6 percent increase here last year; that's double the rate of nation

Ouch.

How about if violent crime were to decrease, not just stay on pace with the rest of the nation.

Superintendent Moffatt concurred that crime prevention begins with civilians.

"We're constantly on the lookout to have better development in our relationship with the communities, and we're going to have to do more of that," he said. "Communities have to step forward -- there has to be more collaboration between the police officers and the communities we serve."

Right on.

Ron Paul on The Daily Show

Well, Congressman Ron Paul was on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" tonight. He did well. He didn't appear, or sound like a very old man. John McCain, who is a year younger, sounds older.

His appearance was pretty straight forward. I went in with an open mind, perhaps even wanting to like him. He earned a good "B." He was a classic politician, not "funny" like Al Gore can be. Or Rudy Guiliani.

It is a major coup for a second-tier candidate to be on the Daily Show. I hope that he's on again. I'm just glad that Stewart would welcome any Republican. The comedian was a very vocal champion of John Kerry's, and all but endorsed him. I'm sure he's had other Republicans on, but he's still very much in the Liberal's corner.

Ron Paul continues to do "all the right things."

It's still Rudy Guliani's race to lose...and Fred Thompson might just be the spoiler. It won't be Ron Paul, even though I like him a lot more now than before.

Been away for a while. What have I been missing?

I've been on the other side of the world -- and doing my best to stay in the loop with Pittsburgh's political and cultural happenings. It is time to put my ear to the ground and figure out what I've been missing?

Nationally, I think the political news it Ron Paul's momentum.



I'm open to other suggestions and ideas as to what I've missed. It is time for us to re-enter the American mindset of being a Pittsburgher again.

In our extended family, I've yet to miss the arrival of our newest baby. Our boys will be getting a new cousin. The birth is any moment now. We were just talking about new baby names and Catherine suggested "Jade."

Another new development -- a new roof and deck re-make.

But, there has got to be more beyond the primary election. We'll be getting three new members to city council, of course, but -- that only means that three that are there now won't be returning. The new members are not yet elected as that happens with the general election.

Magical beach side tour

From NZ-yellow-eye...

While the boys and I were at the Neptune Swim Meet, Catherine, my photo impaired wife, enjoyed a magical tour of splendid nature around Dunedin, New Zealand. She set out at 1 pm on Saturday with the digital camera. Her images are posted in the web album above.

For the first part of the day, she thought she had broken Erik's digital camera. But, no. It was set to the 'download mode' and not the photo taking mode. That was fixed with an easy flip of the switch.

Catherine was keen to see the giant albatross, yellow-eyed penguins, blue penguins and more. See got a treat. They were all there and in volume.

Seems that the wind needs to be right for the giant albatross to come back into their nests. Their wings are so long that if the wind is weak or if the wind direction is such they can't land. They need a bit of a runway to land and head into the wind to slow. The conditions were perfect and they were flocking in to feed their chicks.

The albatross nests around Dunedin are the only place in New Zealand where they are to be found. All the others are in sub-artic islands, except for this colony.

These are huge birds -- with 3-meter wing spans. We saw some of the junior-types on other trips, but were not with these. Their flight is so impressive. They move, swoop and seemingly float just above the rolling waves of the ocean. Feathers at the tips of the wings right to the water's surface among swells and waves.

Then the yellow-eyed penguins -- such a hoot. The eyes are yellow as are the areas around the eyes. They surf in the waves to the beach then plop -- stand upright and waddle to the hillsides to their nests. These guys spend the day in the ocean and the nights at their land-based nests. Swimming, they look a bit like ducks. Then when they go vertical on land, Catherine said it was a riot to see.

The blue penguins are smaller and more to themselves and less in a clan. They nest in these small boxes that had been built for them by the local farmer.

The penguins avoided the sea lions. But, the sheep and penguins got along fine. The sheep help to keep down the height of the grass giving the penguins better footing to get to their nests. If the grass was tall, they'd be finished.

The bad guys are nasty, ugly, blood-thirsty critters that are hated. We're talking about the ferrits and the stoaks. Neither are native to this island. Now that they are here -- they've gone and made a real eco mess.

These stoaks kill tons of birds and there are traps for them all over the place. They kill for the thrill -- not even for the food. So, if one gets into a hillside, it will knock out a handfull of nests in one swoop. Three nests were hit recently until it ended in a trap.

The local farmer lways has a rifle with him as he walks and if he spots a stoak or ferret -- he'll shoot it. Drivers too aim for them if they are on the roads.

When we were driving in Queenstown, I saw one in the headlights running across the road into the bush. The traps are marked with pink triangles so the rangers know where they've been placed.

The Price of Delaying the Inevitable in Iraq

Wait and see turn around of roles is predicted.

The Price of Delaying the Inevitable in Iraq This wait and see attitude in Washington, and the promised reassessment of events in Iraq later on, strongly motivates the insurgents to accelerate the killing of Americans in order to influence the decision coming in three months. In contrast, a clear decision to leave would prompt a wait and see attitude in Iraq, a de facto cease fire, in anticipation of our leaving, the perfect time for the Iraqi factions to hold their fire on each other and on our troops and just possibly begin talking with each other.

Ron Paul updates

June 4, 2007: Congressman Ron Paul will be a guest on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" tonight at 11:00 pm ET.

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/index.jhtml

The third GOP presidential debate will be held tomorrow night, June 5, at 7:00 pm ET in New Hampshire. CNN will broadcast the debate with Wolf Blitzer as the moderator.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/

Sunday Forum: In praise of property taxes

Right on.

Sunday Forum: In praise of property taxes property tax remains the best way to fund schools.

The Pgh Comment had a post about this too.

Your Coaching Resource - Team Travel

ASCAOnline - Your Coaching Resource One of the “truisms” of swimming that coaches intuitively understand, even when they can’t verbalize it, is that Team Travel will “break swimmers loose” from their previous performance levels and allow them to “move up” when ten more meets in the home environment might not achieve that. How does this work?

South Carolina swim coach, Gibb Steps Down at South Carolina

CollegeSwimming.com::Gibb Steps Down at South Carolina Gibb described a commitment he and wife Gena had made to be good parents, but when pressed against the similarly-demanding rigors of Division I coaching, said “really, only one of us has done a great job [of parenting].” Coaching in the SEC he explained, “is a 24 x 7 job and if you don’t work hard at it, you’re going to get passed by.”

Free from the constant pressure to recruit, he plans spend time with his wife and four children, while also getting back to the basics of “why I got involved in coaching to begin with – to teach kids to appreciate and love swimming.”

Good choices.

Syracuse: Athletic Director Explains Decision to cut swimming

CollegeSwimming.com::Syracuse: Athletic Director Explains Decision The problem, Gross explained, came down to money. “We don’t have the resources to compete the right way in swimming.” Chief among those needs was a facility that he pegged in the $35-40 million range. “If we were gong to have a swimming program here then its very important that we have the resources to do it the right way and that would mean a new facility.”

Not that a hockey facility wouldn’t necessitate its own costs. “Obviously we’re looking at some other facility changes that will impact eighteen teams. To do it for just two is tougher. If we’re going to fundraise we need to help as many teams as we can help.”

Ouch, again.

Residents of Hill get a say in plans for new arena

Residents of Hill get a say in plans for new arena Ms. Ismail said city planners sent out about 14,000 fliers to residents in the Hill and Uptown areas to inform them of this evening's meeting and the other opportunities to participate.

'We don't want people to come back and say we were not informed of the process,' she said. 'To be heard is to be there. It is not our plan. It is their plan.'

Can residents show up to the meeting with a video camera? Or, will the meeting occur without the "PERMISSION" to video the events????

What about those who do NOT show up to the meeting?

Those who attend also will have a chance to sign up for one of six focus groups

Why only limit people to ONE of the SIX focus groups?

Divide and conquer works that way.

I'm not there at the meeting in the Civic Arena. However, I'd like to know what is going on. And, I'd like to sign up for all six focus groups.

Hazelwood's new houses come from URA after six or seven years

Hazelwood welcomes new houses The $1.5 million project featuring four townhouses and two single-family homes is being developed under the auspices of the Urban Redevelopment Authority. It has been planned for six or seven years, said Jerome Dettore, executive director of the URA.

City officials are there to break ground -- as in BEGIN -- a project for new housing that took six or seven years to hatch.

The land had been vacant for years prior to the planning process began.

This place is six minutes away from Oakland but more than ten years away from the creation of a new bedroom where one could reside. And, these public officials are now going to celebrate.

Doug Shields described this a 'connected to everywhere.' With connections like these, what good has it done? These are more often connections to to nothingness that the URA gets to administer. This is a connection to a $300,000 gap -- for someone else to pocket.

The best thing to do is to cut those connections with government money. They are costly connections that don't perform well. And, because they exist, the marketplace energy goes elsewhere.

It is dumb to build a new home next to one being built by the URA. The URA has a $300,000 gap it can close. So, it is better to invest in another area in the region -- or the world.

In turn, nothing gets done for ten years. And, when something does get done, it is a joke.

This is nothing but a long-winded success story of fleeting glory yet to be delivered -- that makes Democrats gald where cronies get $300,000 richer.

Carrick wins City League baseball title - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Carrick wins City League baseball title - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Carrick answered with six runs in the second inning, and Fricke tossed a two-hitter, as the Raiders rolled to a 13-0 victory in five innings Wednesday at Herb Field in Ross.

This is sad. Why in the world is the Pittsburgh Public Schools Championship Baseball game being played in Ross Township?

That game should be at PNC Park. Period.

I don't care too much if the WPIAL games are played in Washington County. Fine. But, the PPS Championship game is different.

Canterbury Rugby League (CRFL)

Canterbury Rugby League (CRFL) Canterbury has called up a clutch of current and former Bulls Bartercard Cup players for today's centenary season representative match against Auckland at Rugby League Park.

Cheered for the home, winning team, today.

One Veteran Reporter Talks Candidate Coverage

There is a misconception that the media, of all shades and colors--print, broadcast, whatever--is responsible to cover all candidates, regardless of the local race.

I was the editor of a community-based newspaper for four years and I gave coverage to those candidates in my readership area to a degree far beyond anything else in Pittsburgh.

Over the years I've also been in other newsrooms, from radio to newspaper (my experience in these matters really started in Portage, Pennsylvania, in 1982). The fact of the matter is, the "big guys" from newspapers, TV to radio in town don't cover "niche" candidates because they don't sell newspapers, don't generate "must listen" radio.

For the most part, "niche" candidates are in it for the vanity. This is not the case for our dear friend Mark Rauterkus, who operates this very blog. The fact of that matter is, Mark is more dedicated to many ideas that just don't ring all that vital with editors of our newspapers, television or radio stations. And when it comes to radio interviews, he cannot speak in the soundbites and use the buzz words that make for a good broadcast (sorry, Mark).

Remember when Richard Caliguiri used to run for Congress every two years? He bankrolled a back page, full-page advertisement in the City Paper (or maybe it was the other entertainment weekly I can't remember that has since shuddered)? Caliguiri, who claimed to be a distant relative to the former Mayor of Pittsburgh (but their names with spelled with inverted "i's" and "u's") was the last great Independent candidate in the city.

He created a firestorm with that picture, naked and in the "Thinker's" pose. Who knows whatever happened to Mr. Caliguiri? I ran stories on him, and when he announced his candidacy two years after that first race, Congressman Mike Doyle told the electronic media that I broke the story. (I was also in my 20's and was eager to make a name for myself. Those opportunities just don't exist in 2007, especially when most people do it via blogs like this one.)

Caliguiri spent his own money for the picture and the advertisement. Before and after that race, he would only be referred to as the kooky guy who always runs, using the former Mayor's name. I have an audio tape from election day 1988 when my friend Padre George Saletrik and I were analyzing returns at our California University of Pennsylvania college radio station. Rev. Saletrik, then 20 or 21, knew of Caliguiri only because he was the "kooky guy who always runs."

The real thing is money. The media is in no way, shape or form, responsible to cover these candidates. To think otherwise is absolute, fundamental delirium. In fact, Mark and I have talked about this over and over again. He knew that I was "the guy" who covered the "fringe" candidates back in the day, but I also know why no one ever does it anymore.

Money. Period. End of Discussion...okay, maybe a little more.

Ross Perot was the standard bearer for off-beat, non-traditional candidates because he was a billionaire throwing a tantrum with his own billions.

If an Independent or Republican--especially in the city--is to ever be taken seriously, they will have to establish themselves as major fundraisers (or wealthy enough to make a name for themselves...and apparently that "grass-roots" candidate does not exist). Otherwise, they are considered vanity seekers or kooks. Guys like Mark have good ideas...but they won't fly without serious support from the taxpaying public: fundraising.

In the city, Republicans have almost exclusively run candidates who never spent a moment seriously raising money. Bob Hillen and Joe Weinroth have asked for money in the recent past, but few others have ever broached the subject.

Republicans who run for office in the city also almost always disappear into the ether after losing one race. Even the talented ones. It's just that disheartening when you work against a Democratic party that rules with an iron fist.

I am one of those guys who have been asked to run several times. I have even considered it, but alas, I would be in the race to win, and there's no chance that I could win over the fact that I'm a Republican living in the city. And I don't have my own money to flaunt, and have no interest in making countless telephone calls to potential donors. That's the only way to be taken seriously. Background folks should run the websites, post the video blogs, etc.

On a national level, Libertarians had their moment in the sun about a decade ago (Western Pennsylvania over the past 17 years or so have only had idealists running as Libs). Since then, they have completely fallen off the political landscape. Long thought of as only champions of legalized marijuana, the local Libertarian party is filled with highly-intelligent people who should be behind the scenes of someone else's campaign.

Again, I have covered the kooks, vanity seekers, and dreamers (thank God for guys like our friend Mark...his passion is unmatched), and would do it again if I was in charge of the editorial content of some sort of newspaper.

But I'm not and, perhaps unfortunately, there's no reason for anyone else to cover the "unconventional," unless, like Richard Caliguiri, they put their money where there ass is.

She wants more women to run for political office

She wants more women to run for political office Ms. Lawless, 32, co-author of the book, 'It Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don't Run For Office,' said the three most common reasons that women cite for not running for office are family responsibilities, doubts about their qualifications and that they haven't been specifically asked to run.

Well, I'm not so sure I agree.

People don't run for office -- people of both genders -- because they have better things to do with their time, money, efforts and emotions.

People don't run for office because it is a 'sink.' And, the sink (think sink hole) is massive.

The ROI (return on investment) for a campaign is fleeting. It isn't nill. But, the return is but a fraction of what is invested into the endeavor.

As to being asked to run, I think it is more telling when there are those who ask you NOT to run. I've been asked to NOT run for office many times. And, around western PA, the really interesting conversations happen when folks are bumped from campaigns, elbowed out, discounted as being "nutso", and are given perks to bail out.

Furthermore, there are plenty of times when I've seen people beg others to run -- only to be upset later. I've asked others to run for office. I've done that a lot. I've recruited candidates. But, I've not gone to great lengths to get them to run. I won't be a beggar to get a candidate into the public limelight. And, what does that say when there are others who are asked to run by having their arm twisted -- rather than being self appointed.

You need to know what you're getting into by being a candidate. Think it through. Think it through with others. Ask questions. I'll visit with you. But make your own decisions. And, make your own decisions to not run as well.

You can run to a problem. You can run from a problem. Or, you can stand and face the problem. Or, stand and face other directions. Life isn't generally an "ON" vs. "OFF" decision as there is a third option of "NEITHER."

I've got better things to do in life as well. But sure, I can stand from office, but at the same time I can do part of it from New Zealand.

Another huge problem as to why people don't run for office -- men and women -- is the media. In Pittsburgh, the media is a big, big problem. The is little trust there.

I feel that more people would get interested in running for office if there was more trust in the fourth estate. I'm talking about the local newspapers, radio shows, TV shows and bloggers (all new media) could be counted upon and trusted.

In other cities, with better media trust, the coverage is such that opportunities are presented to candidates to get their messages out to the people. With the universal understanding of better media dealings comes the associated opportunities of getting better candidates to enter the process.

We have people winning Pittsburgh elections who do NOT have web sites, could NOT build a web site, and can't get media coverage. They are flying under the radar, by design. They rely upon a few key alliances. They run under a party banner and can thrive when there are little hopes of being exposed. This angle of attack for candidates and campaigns is alive and well in Pittsburgh, sadly. They don't have a story to tell. They don't have solutions to deliver. And, they don't have the skills and tools to bring to the job at hand.

Our political landscape in Pittsburgh isn't healthy in terms of its coverage of candidates and campaigns. Hence, we have what we have -- too often. This is the same concept that frustrated Bill Peduto. He pulled out -- because of this very reason.

Furthermore, DeSantis can run, because of this very reason.

This needs to be fixed, and our best hope is to fix it ourselves with a 'surge' in online communications. Bloggers have done a great deal to help in these areas in recent times. But, there is still a lot to do.

Of interest in the article is the mention of children. Humm. Only three men mentioned "it" -- in surveys of thousands of men and women running for office. That is a telling fact that doesn't fit with my situation. I'm a man but I'm talking about children, kids, the youth and the future -- all the time. I don't ONLY talk about my kids and our kids -- but it is a pressing theme for justification of my acts and what I'm about.

A big part of the reasoning for my decisions to stand for office is children. I want our world and our city to thrive so our kids can enjoy opportunities here and be free to make their own lives for themselves without departing the region.

The comes the end of the story. The "punch line."

"Any man will run for office, but women hold themselves up to an unrealistic bar," she said. "When women run, women win."

B.S. Talk about holding up to an unrealistic bar is followed with an unrealistic statement.

How about this instead. "We all win when women run." Or better, "We all win when good people become candidates more often." Or better said for Pittsburgh, "We all lose when nobody runs because nobody gets coverage."

Trib gets it wrong by printing Onorato is running unopposed in November

GOP mayoral candidate DeSantis unfazed by obstacles - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Party pride didn't deter another Democrat, county Chief Executive Dan Onorato, from pursuing Republican voters. Onorato, who will run unopposed in November, used an automated phone bank to woo Republicans. They rewarded him with 1,844 write-in votes, nearly triple the 623 netted by Matthew Drozd Jr., the son of County Councilman Matt Drozd.

Onorato has locked up the D party nomination and the R party nomination. Sure. But, Onorato, come November, will have opposition.

The media might like to say that Onorato will run unopposed, but that statement is at odds with the truth.

Ron Paul Odds Slashed Dramatically: 15 to 1 from 200 to 1

Ron Paul Odds Slashed Dramatically: 15 to 1 from 200 to 1: "Ron Paul Odds Slashed Dramatically: 15 to 1 from 200 to 1

It was only two weeks ago that 2008 Presidential candidate Ron Paul was listed at Sportsbook.com with odds of 200 to 1. In fact, early in the month he was not even offered on the political betting menu. My how things have changed in the past month."

I too, like Dr. Ron Paul, would NEVER propose nor would tolerate any TAX being placed on the internet. Not for gambling. Not for anything. The internet needs to remain free from taxes.

Furthermore, I've said all along that the internet is going to be the death of casinos. The slots parlor due for Pittsburgh might have a bit of hope as a small-fry operation, but little else.

However, the speculation in the article about the political moves that are pending by Dr. Paul are groundless. Ron Paul will NOT switch to a third party. He will stay in the primary process all the way until the end -- when voters of each state get to make their votes for the nomination to the White House. So, there won't be any party switching in 2007 nor 2008 for Ron Paul.

It is too early to tell if Ron Paul will win his party nomination. To say anthing else is foolish. Is is WAY TOO EARLY. However, I think he'll stay in to the end. Others will fold over time. He won't. He'll grow and stick to the tasks at hand. For Ron Paul, unlike many of the others, running for office isn't about stepping stones and career advancement. Rather, he is there to prove points that make sense about this nation and how it should operate.

No wonder New Zealand has a serious brain drain

See recent photos of our trip to Auckland. They say it a lot like we say "Oakland."

One island in Auckland's bay (harbor) is 600 years old.

They city is dotted with 48 volcanos. Some of the craters have been 're-developed.' But this is a famous one, called Mt. Eden.

The other in the distance is called "One Tree Hill." But, the tree is gone now. Grant stood on the stump.

More insights to come later. Running out to the pool for a trip on a bus to Dunedin for a weekend swim meet.

We got up at 5 am in Auckland. Grant called his classmates. Then today we travel to Christchurch and again farther south on a bus. So, we are going from North to South nearly the length of the country.

New Zealand Notes

We left Pittsburgh for Chirstchurch. Pittsburgh is again called one of America's most livable cities -- and I contend that Christchurch is one of the most livable in the world.

Well, news here is buzzing about the whales. New Zealand kids and others are putting heat on those from Japan to stop taking the humpback whales. Plus, I see a calf and mother whale have been swimming around the bay in S.F.

New Zealand has a political party that wants to have the nation go 'smoke free.' They said they want to ban tobacco from the entire nation.

Should the law hatch and get passed, and there is some opposition to this idea, New Zealand would be the SECOND NATION to ban tobacco and smoking. Quiz: Anyone know the first?

New Zealand was rated #2 nation in the world for PEACE. This is a new ranking. Australia got 25th. Quiz: Who got #1?

Meanwhile, nationally, and now with the BBC evening news, there is a bad story with a sub-contractor working for the electric company who went to a home and turned off the power. Some $168 was past due. The mom, 40-ish, was on a ventilator and died a few hours later. Not good. That happened in Auckland.

We're now in Auckland and had a wonderful time out with local guests an exclusive micro hotel -- one of the very best in the world. Molly's. Top shelf. Opera singing. We are not staying there, but had a wonderful evening there.

Today, the boys and I explored Parnell and the Auckland Museum while Catherine presented at Auckland University.

David C. Adams says the race for the 9th City Council District is FAR from over

Can you tell me why the media seems to think this race is over before it has begun?

It is far from it.

Mr. Burgess is not the only candidate for the 9th district. He did get 50% of the vote in the district, but 50% of what?

Don't be proud to throw those numbers around since only 23% bothered to vote at all. Wow! A whopping 11.5%. What's that? Laziness or apathy or stupidity. Doesn't sound like apathy.

You have to pay attention to the issues so you can say whether or not you are fed up. no one is interested in this boring race. Forgive me if I have a hard time believing that 11.5% voted for Mr. Burgess and the other 88.5% of the voters were conscientious objectors who chose to stay home.

City Paper was aware that a Republican, David Adams, was in the race as a "R" -- and he was in attendence at the last debate. But just after the debate, David changed parties and is still in this race as an Independent.

Plenty of people, from the district and throughout the city would like to see Mr. Adams be afforded the opportunity to discuss his plans for the 9th district. Let this be a fair and interesting fight.

The campaign manager for David Adams Sherbi Davis 412.242.8752/412.478.1526

DeSantis on Ballot: The Next Jason Altmire?

It was reported today that Mark DeSantis, a last-minute write-in Republican candidate for Mayor, received far more votes than needed for the November ballot.

DeSantis reminds me of another little-known candidate who was tapped for potential greatness: freshman Congressman Jason Altmire (D-North Hills).

Altmire was swept into office over one-time political juggernaut Melissa Hart. Hart was seemingly tapped by the GOP kingmakers a few years ago. Instead, she was derailed by a candidate few people knew of months before the General Election.

Could the same happen for DeSantis, if there's a definitive "Anti-Luke" sentiment that comes about sometime in this summer? The position of "Independent Candidate who could draw Money" was originally earmarked for Bill Peduto; however, he apparently decided that sitting on the sideline for the next decade with Ravenstahl won't be that bad. Peduto would only be 52 when Ravenstahl moves onto a bigger statewide or Congressional post, and that's plenty of time to run the city his way.

There might be "niche" candidates like our dear friend Mark Rauterkus, but only DeSantis will be in a position to raise funds. Don't go crazy now, I don't expect it.

That being noted, DeSantis has been described in some circles as "left of Ravenstahl." With incredibly strong ties to the unions, Luke is a typical city of Pittsburgh politician. That's not to be confused with Dan Onorato, who beat Jim Roddey by truly being fiscally more conservative than the first ACE. Surely, Onorato is tied into the unions as well, but he doesn't HAVE to be as tied to the hip to the region's most influential Special Interest Group. He can cater to the North Hills conservatives and the few that still remain in Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon.

Onorato has done a pretty fair job; Roddey speaks highly of him and the Allegheny County Republican Committee, rudderless for what appears to be an eternity now (Rich Stampahar was the last who initiated any kind of forward movement whatsoever), failed to provide even a viable write-in candidate. With Roddey now well into his 70's and a suburbanite, the city wasn't going to post a worthy candidate. I didn't even want to try it for kicks and giggles.

Ravenstahl is not without his political skeletons. He just hasn't made enough powerful enemies to derail his ambitions. A friend told me Luke's approval rating rivaled that of Reagan in the salad days.

However, Luke might be getting a little too cocky. He's started to snipe with City Council President Doug Shields over silly stuff. And City Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle's investigation/court case may still make an occasional headline this summer. IF I have my time line right, Ravenstahl was city council president when Carlisle was bankrolling her mother's boyfriend for plagiarised white papers.

What if something else embarrassing happens this summer. Power brokers won't nudge Ravenstahl aside and hand over the reigns to Shields, who was former Mayor Bob O'Connor's right hand man forever. The two apparently don't always get along.

Ravenstahl is a young man with a pretty wife and no children. What if he gets out of hand again like he did at the Steelers game a few years ago? There is the Casino flap looming like a dark cloud over the hillside (something tells me that Smokey Robinson might want to hold off putting a down payment on a downtown condo, he may not be Don Barden's headliner as soon as expected). What if Luke falls into the Mon after a night of checking out the South Side nightlife (on official business mind you)? WPXI's fabulous Katrina Owens might be able to narrate as Jeff Koch's buddies pulls Luke from the muck.

DeSantis could be the next Jason Altmire: a decent guy with no real credentials for the position. But the voters became sick of Melissa Hart's imposing height and linebacker shoulders and kicked her to the curb. If Ravenstahl stumbles, the same could conceivably happen.

If DeSantis starts to show up in the newspapers and on television, watch his donations. Do I expect him to be a player? No, not really. The classy Joe Weinroth was superior in the debates last time around and very few people gave him the time of day or dollars from their wallet.

Luke Ravenstahl won't be as dangerous to our fair city as Tom Murphy was for three terms. Murphy almost single handily destroyed Pittsburgh's 90 communities by looking only at the bells and whistles of Fifth and Forbes.

But if something unforeseen happens this summer, Mark DeSantis may just be the next Jason Altimire. But don't bet on it.

Opposition to Ravenstahl and More

Feel free to forward to others

In news coverage of write-in results of both the mayor's race and county executive race -- it is good jouralistic practices to be objective and tell the entire story. So, do make mention that the Libertarians have every intention of getting candidates onto the November 6, 2007, general election ballot.

Mark Rauterkus, presently in New Zealand, is an announced candidate for both Mayor and County Executive. His February 2007 announcement has since generated nomination papers in April at Elect.Rauterkus.com. A dozen candidate slots are being contested by Libertarians. The deadline for paperwork for ballot access for Libertarians is August 1, 2007.

My quote:

"If Mark DeSantis is interested in a serious campaign with talk about solutions and issues, then I welcome him to the ballot and into the communities for a race. I'll be happy to debate both Mr. DeSantis and/or Luke Ravenstahl. Now is the time for various local institutions, organizations and media outlets to make moves for hosting debates throughout August to October."

See comments for a re-print of a snip I put onto another blog.

Carey Harris gets a promotion to lead A+ Schools

Way to go Carrey.

Hillary -- hands off -- until November 2007

I don't need help picking my campaign theme song. But, my only wish is that she not use the song(s) that I have picked -- until after the November 6, 2007, general election. But, that would be okay if she did pick the same song, musician and singers. What the hell, thse folks I choose are my friends and I'd love for them to strike it big again.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is seeking advice on "one of the most important issues" of her presidential campaign: picking a campaign theme song.

So far, more than 100,000 Americans have responded to her lighthearted call for help. Some have been inspired to compose original tunes. It's not exactly "American Idol," but the reaction is another example of the Internet's growing role in politics.

You'll need to get a copy of my latest CD, or dozens of them, to hear the tunes yourself. They are not out yet -- but wait a few more weeks.

Letter home

We've been away more than a month. Home in two weeks.

We fly today from Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, to Christchurch, our home away from home, this afternoon. 4 pm flight. Only 30-minutes in the air. One runway airport here.

Then we leave for Auckland tomorrow. Spend a day or two there.

Catherine's talk was well received.

We really hit the tour bookings just right. So much to do -- but we did it perfectly.

Today Erik, Grant and Catherine went on a horseback trip. Erik's horse was in the Lord of the Rings movies! So cool. Crossed six or so rivers on horseback -- Catherine getting her feet wet -- while on the horse. Very wild and beautiful mountains and landscape.

I'm at an internet cafe -- but the only sign of a 'cafe' is the coke filled refrigerator behind the desk. Cost is $3 per hour to surf.

M got the right answer to a quiz about the swim pool, lane 9

New blog noticed. I'll need to read and study it later.

Pittsburgh Transit = http://pittsburgh-transit.blogspot.com/

Its author, Mathew, got a quiz question 'spot on.' (scroll down)

Quiz: When is the one day that you are SURE that you don't want to go "wire less" ???

We've been enjoying some magical times. Photos and movies to come. Presently I'm in a cyber cafe.

Early signs of winter have arrived where we are. Snow is covering many of the near peaks.

I ask this question, not for myself, but for the grad students in our party.

When is the one time that you are sure you do NOT want to 'go wireless?'

We'll have a first-hand report shortly.

Tonight we are going for an easy night -- to see the new Pirates of the C movie. In the AM, my wife and boys are going to ride horses.

Today it was a LOR tour. That can be the second quiz question. It was wonderful.

Yesterday -- stay tuned.

Ron Paul was right on Iraq - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ron Paul was right on Iraq - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Hearing Rep. Ron Paul recite the reasons for Arab and Islamic resentment of the United States, including 10 years of bombing and sanctions that brought death to thousands of Iraqis after the Gulf War, Rudy Giuliani broke format and exploded:

'That's really an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through the attack of 9/11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I don't think I have ever heard that before, and I have heard some pretty absurd explanations for Sept. 11.'

Meanwhile, what is this I hear about the USA and its small band of war hungry Rs in the White House doing with Iran? They (with CIA help) are going to mess with their currency. Say what!

Vicious Cycle - Recent incidents involving bicyclists are, sadly, nothing new - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh - Vicious Cycle - Recent incidents involving bicyclists are, sadly, nothing new - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper Although bicyclists say they are no strangers to passersby who taunt them or motorists forcing them off the streets, some cycling advocates are particularly disturbed by the latest string of incidents, which include at least two beatings, as posted on the electronic bulletin board of Bike Pittsburgh, a local advocacy group.

Bike Pittsburgh's membership and project director Erok Boerer says he was alarmed by the bikers' beatings, as well as two other accidents -- a hit-and-run and another car-bike accident -- that all took place within the last three weeks.

Lots of comments on this posting / article.

Antarctic Centre: Been there, done that

The Little Blue Penguins (also know as 'fairy penguins' in Australia) are the sweetest things. They are delightful says Catherine. The Antarctic Centre has 21 of them. They are all rescued animals. One is blind.

The ferret is not their friend.

http://www.iceberg.co.nz

There even was a ride in a Hagglund."

Before 1920, all exploration in Antarctic was done on foot. Later, helicopters and tractors were used. In 1985 the Hagglund all-terrain vehicle came onto the scent to improve the transporting of staff and materials on the ice. It is amphibious and does donuts on an outdoor adventure course. The retired guys who are the drivers have a kick out of leading the tours. It has caterpillar tracks but is designed to exert only half the ground pressure of a human footprint so as to leave almost no impression on the ground or snow, so it's very environmentally friendly.

Quiz: What is the one place in the world where an American can travel to without a passport?

Busy, busy, busy

There is a bunch of things to see and do in the days ahead. Three trips within the trip are brewing. So, the blogging is going to be a wee-bit behind.

Running mates -- come alive.

Speaking of running, Christchurch is home to a marathon. Pittsburgh doesn't have a marathon, but we'll be able to experience on in June, just before our departure. There is a 10K, half-marathon and fun run for the kids too.

If you'd like to come over to run the marathon, or just soak up some of New Zealand's winter days with us, feel free to drop in. We've got plenty of room, including an empty two car garage.

Home Page Sunday June 3 - 2007

Mayor Wants Crime-Watch Cameras On Street Corners - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Mayor Wants Crime-Watch Cameras On Street Corners - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh 'Have one centralized system that private business owners or businesses that have cameras, the city of Pittsburgh that has cameras, the Port of Pittsburgh that has cameras, all are integrated into one system,' said Ravenstahl.

No thanks.

We need cameras -- and the cameras I dream about are going to be pointed to the government officials. I want all the authority board meetings to be on camera, on the internet, on cable tv, as podcasts, with real minutes and agendas that have details.

We need an overhaul of communications within the halls of government so that they can be watched. They (government officials) are robbing us most of all.

I want figurative cameras in the form of TRANSPARENT PAC ACCOUNTS. As deposits are made, they should be visible to anyone, anywhere. Same too for spending of PAC funds.

Once we have our eyes on those that control our money in the form of public treasury -- then we can begin to turn our attention elsewhere, perhaps.

Donation to Ravenstahl's campaign sparks self-exam by panel - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Penny for your thoughts.

Donation to Ravenstahl's campaign sparks self-exam by panel - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The husband of city Ethics Hearing Board member Penny Zacharias gave $1,200 to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's election campaign before the mayor nominated her for the post.

The donation doesn't violate Pittsburgh's ethical code of conduct, but it has prompted members of the newly seated board to examine prohibiting such gifts to protect their credibility.

As I campaign, I don't want $1,200 donations. I don't want $1,200 headaches showing up on my door, unless the donor is Ben Franklin or Tom Paine or someone of similar values and principles.

Rather than have Luke give back the $1,200, I have another suggestion. One can level the playing field and be "fair" a few different ways. One way is to use subtraction. So, Luke could give the money back. Or, another way to level the playing field -- and one I prefer -- is to use addition, not subtraction.

Why not ask the firm and Penny's pals for an extra $2,400 so as to make an investment into both the Republican and Libertarian opposition. Level the playing field by by addition.

This way the $1,200 that went to Luke's campaign will be 'de-valued' because the same amount goes to the opposition.

Sure, if the Greens and Socialists Parties get their act together and get into the mayor's race, they can seek $1,200 each as well.

Or, another way to make matters 'fair' is for Luke to give back the money but not to Penny and her lawyer buddies. Luke could take the $1,200 and send $500 to the city Republicans, $500 to the Libertarians, and $100 each to the Greens and Socialists.

To be 'fair' it is worthy to note that the city's Republicans had been hammering on the re-creation of the ethics hearing board for many months. They got Bob O'Connor to think again about its operation. For years, and even since I was in that party to lend more opposition to Tom Murphy's ways, Bob Hillen has been talking about the ethics hearing board. It isn't hard to be reminded of it as it is part of the city's charter.

The Foreign Policy of Ron Paul by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

The Foreign Policy of Ron Paul by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr. It doesn't take a game-theory genius to predict how this conflict works itself out in the long run. The left and the right agree to disagree on intellectual grounds but otherwise engage in a dangerous quid pro quo. They turn a blind eye to the government they don't like so long as they get the government they do like.

PPS and Kaplan talk about next year's learning

Pittsburgh Public Schools with Kaplan K12 Learning Services present. . .
A Sneak Preview of New Curriculum Beginning the Fall of 2007 for Parents of Students Grades 6-12.

What will be taught next year in:
* Middle School Science – Grades 6, 7, 8
* High School Science – Biology, Chemistry and Physics
* High School English – English 3 & English 4
* High School Math – Algebra II (including revisions to the current Algebra I and Geometry curriculum)
* High School History – African American, Civics, U. S. History, World History

Two opportunities to hear this information:

Thursday, June 7, 2007 OR Monday, June 11, 2007 at Reizenstein Professional Development Center from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. For more information, contact Dr. Richard Gutkind at 412-622-3955.