Solid Letters to the Editor about Ron Paul

The GOP, McNickle & Paul get two letters in today's Trib:

Dan Sullivan wrote one:
The GOP, McNickle & Paul II - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Colin McNickle called Congressman Ron Paul "a flop on defense, hardly a niggling thing if you swear fealty to the Constitution." Did McNickle "read" the Constitution?

Article 1, section 8, allows only Congress to declare war and limits appropriations for an army to two years, because Americans rightly feared standing armies.

Jefferson wrote, "I am ... not for a standing army in time of peace, which may overawe the public sentiment; nor for a navy, which, by its own expenses and the eternal wars in which it will implicate us, will grind us with public burthens, & sink us under them. I am for free commerce with all nations; political connection with none; & little or no diplomatic establishment. And I am not for linking ourselves by new treaties with the quarrels of Europe."

Mark Twain predicted that militarism would destroy us:

"Lust of conquest had long ago done its work; trampling upon the helpless abroad had taught her, by a natural process, to endure with apathy the like at home; multitudes who had applauded the crushing of other people's liberties, lived to suffer for their mistake in their own persons."

And now, here we are.

---

The second letter:

Colin McNickle stated in his column "Speaking truth to mockery" (Aug. 26 and PghTrib.com) that it is not yet time to stick the fork in the Republican Party.

Mr. McNickle, read my lips: "The fork is in!"

Conservative Republicans are a fiscal disaster. These conservatives are for big-government solutions just like the liberals.

The Republicans borrow and the Democrats tax. Democrats want costly wars on poverty just like the Republicans with their stupid war on drugs along with the billions of dollars they burn in the Middle East.

From the average citizen's viewpoint, we pay for this folly. Thus, the majority of eligible voters refuse to vote. Those who do show up in 2008 will take the Republicans down because they had complete control of the government and failed.

The only hope for the Republicans would be to nominate Dr. Ron Paul, the Texas congressman, because he always opposed the occupation of Iraq and all this global police work so popular with the neocons. He would end our interventionist foreign policy and save the taxpayer a lot of money.

Paul is not "a flop on defense," As McNickle said. He wants to defend America, not a global empire. I ask Mr. McNickle -- before he takes any more potshots at Ron Paul -- to read the U.S. Constitution and please explain to his readers how it guarantees defending a global empire.

Ron Rosenberger, Shaler

Metroblogging Pittsburgh: DeSantis "Policy Team"

Metroblogging Pittsburgh: DeSantis "Policy Team" DeSantis 'Policy Team'

Deadline doesn't bother Ravenstahl

He is at odds with the truth. The resignations are at his desk but not formally accepted. Jeepers.

Deadline doesn't bother Ravenstahl - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ravenstahl said he hasn't 'formally accepted' the directors' resignation letters, but he has kept them in his desk. He said he expects to accept some of the letters after his staff completes a national search for potential replacements.

Rights are rights -- always on -- never off. Any shutdown of rights is wrong. Your rights and mine are linked and the same.

The issue of gun rights are such that, as a topic, it does NOT really knock my socks off with excitement. But, as a principle, it is something to pay close attention to. Rights are rights and can't be messed with. It is wrong to start short-changing rights.

I hate the direction that the state is taking with this move. Now the state wants to suspend rights for four days. Later it could be for four months or four years.

Pennsylvania Bureaucrats to Suspend Gun Purchases

Individual rights downgraded by computer database upgrade

Press Release from the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania on August 27, 2007.

Harrisburg, PA - The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa) strongly objects to a state plan to suspend self-defense rights for gun purchasers over the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The Pennsylvania State Police will be upgrading their computer database used for criminal background checks. During that time, estimated to be four days, they will not be able to perform criminal background checks, so gun purchases and gun changes of ownership will be suspended.

Michael Robertson, LPPa Chair, observed, "Inherent and indefeasible rights are not subject to suspension. The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State needs to be upgraded. The utter disregard of the Pennsylvania constitution should concern all Pennsylvanians, gun owners and non gun owners alike."

Official state bureaucrats have taken the defensive position that this outage is nothing to be concerned about and that only a few gun dealers and state lawmakers have complained. The reality is that this is a precedent where individual freedom has been sacrificed for the mere administrative convenience of state bureaucrats. The primary function of government is to protect our rights - not to disregard them at a whim so bureaucrats can function easier.

LPPa spokesman, Mark Crowley, added, "Ignore for the moment, the outrageous premise of suspending a constitutional right to simplify a bureaucratic chore. Credit cards issued from hundreds of banks will perform millions of transactions each and every day. But Pennsylvania will not be able to process about 4,000 gun purchases over four days? And this same government wants a greater role in dictating our health care, educating our children and spending our taxes."

The debasement of any individual right because of an administrative chore is a dangerous power to give any government because government incompetence becomes a justification for expanding that power. The LPPa urges Pennsylvanians to contact their state representatives and to strongly object that an individual right has been downgraded below the status of a computer database upgrade.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in both Pennsylvania and the United States. Nationwide there are over 200,000 registered Libertarians with organizations in all 50 states. Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices throughout the nation. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information.

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, 3915 Union Deposit Road #223, Harrisburg, PA 17109. Call 1-800-R-RIGHTS. Email: info@lppa.org.

For more information contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) or Michael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org.

Swimming Programs suffer with reduced staffing

Swimming Programs The following six Citiparks pools will remain open through Labor Day (Monday, September 3, 2007)

Today, the swim pool at Highland Park isn't going to open until 3:30 pm.

Sandcastle is closed today too.

5 local swimmers qualify for Olympic trials

5 local swimmers qualify for Olympic trials 5 local swimmers qualify for Olympic trials Two Dietrichs among those with Beijing in their sights for 2008

Swimming is different from most of the ball sports, of course. However, people are smart. Many people know enough about swimming to respect it. It isn't right to say, "People don't know anything behind the scenes or how it goes."

Certain people might not -- like athletic directors and school superintendents -- should there be an axe to grind. But even those people are able to be educated.

The priorities of a swimmer are different. They take years to be established. But still -- people and the community can have a sense of wisdom that can't be denied.

Great article otherwise. Great swimmers. Great sport. It is wonderful to see the kids and teams reach for the stars.

kdka.com - Search Underway For Mt. Oliver Shooting Suspect

Not good. Very bad.

kdka.com - Search Underway For Mt. Oliver Shooting Suspect A search is underway for the gunman who killed a deli clerk during an attempted robbery in Mt. Oliver. Police say around 9 a.m., a customer walked into the A & E Deli Food Mart on Brownsville Road and found 28-year-old Jamal Muzaffar on the floor.

Bloggers target public officials in Philly - Tango goes beyond two

Some mainstream media (MSM) coverage about the mixing of bloggers and politics in the other half of PA.

metro You don’t have to travel too far across the Internet to find politicians being criticized, but Pennsylvania state Rep. Mark B. Cohen says a local blogger has gone too far.

Cohen — a regular on local messageboard Phillyblog.com — has been a topic of recent posts on Philadelphia Will Do, a blog hosted by local newspaper Philadelphia Weekly. The blog’s editor, Dan McQuade, has written several humorous articles about Cohen’s posts to Phillyblog.com.

Cohen, however, isn’t laughing. He’s posted comments in response to McQuade’s writings on Will Do, claiming to be the victim of malice and libel, legal terms for the willful destruction of an individual’s reputation often accompanied by a lawsuit. Other users of the site have responded to Cohen’s allegations with lewd, political and downright bizarre comments of their own.

iPhone bill is as thick as a novel - Telegraph

Justine is getting coverage from the UK now.

iPhone bill is as thick as a novel - Telegraph

As China Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly Extremes - New York Times

As China Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly Extremes - New York Times Public health is reeling. Pollution has made cancer China’s leading cause of death, the Ministry of Health says. Ambient air pollution alone is blamed for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water.

An interesting article.

However, this line is total hogwash: This scarcity has not yet created a culture of conservation. Hogwash.

The China culture, through and through, is all about conservation. They waste nothing. They conserve in almost every manner.

This is a big concept quagmire that needs to unravel to be understood. Conservation to the citizen in the US is unlike that of conservation to the billions in China.

Another statement in the article that is a huge assumption that does NOT fit with reality: China cannot go green ... without political change. That's crap NY Times reporting.

What is 'political change?' Is that like switching the house from R to D? Is it a change in the five year plan where natural resources and environment are mentioned 200 times rather than 80, in a 'state of the union?'

Furthermore, lots of China had alredy gone green. Much of China was always 'green.'

For example, billions buy fresh fruits and vegies, locally. That's all they do. That's green as it gets. Americans don't do that. They do.

Ron Paul Wins Straw Poll in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, PA)

Reported by: Tom Kawczynski

Today, I attended the Republican Committee of Allegheny County’s (Pittsburgh, PA) Annual Summer Picnic. The admission cost including lunch was $10 per person and $20 per family. Upon arriving at the event, I learned that a straw poll was being held there that was administered by the Plum Borough Republican Committee.

We had a booth there being manned by myself and another member of the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group, and upon learning this, we made the call so that others of our group would attend and be able to participate in the event. We came to talk to Republicans and to spread our desire to work to promote the Constitution and received a friendly response from the many people who were there today.

As Andy and I talked to the Republicans gathered about our shared message of small government and fiscal responsibility, a number of our members showed up and we began making an impact upon the poll. Not knowing about this event ahead of time, we were able to mobilize, and by the time the event concluded, here was the final tally out of 62 votes cast:

FINAL RESULTS

Ron Paul – 28 votes (45.2%)
Rudy Giuliani – 9 votes (14.6%)
Mitt Romney – 9 votes (14.6%)
Fred Thompson – 8 votes (12.9%)
Mike Huckabee – 2 votes (3.2%)
Undecided – 2 votes (3.2%)
Sam Brownback – 1 vote (1.6%)
Duncan Hunter – 1 vote (1.6%)
John McCain – 1 vote (1.6%)
Colin Powell (write-in) – 1 vote (1.6%)
Newt Gingrich – 0 votes
Tom Tancredo – 0 votes

We were very pleased by the fact that we were able to mobilize our members, and to show the organizational strength of Ron Paul in Pennsylvania. The list of victories continues to grow, and we know we are doing our part to spread the word. Believe me, people are beginning to notice as I saw firsthand and this is making a huge impact.

Who are the terroist now? Did you hear about the threat at the Ikea with the drinkers with a running problem?

These guys and gals run around and mark the course with a sprinkle of flower. They are called 'hashers'. They drink after the run -- if not while they run. Known as drinkers with a running problem, they are fun, fit, social, and like a challenge.

So they sprinkle some flower and a big meltdown from the authorities unfolds.

The terror makers are the public officials -- the police czars. Who pushed the panic button? It wasn't the runners. The button isn't found in some harmless flour that washes away by the wind or at the worst, with the next dew the following morning.

Meanwhile, in the Sunday paper's lead story, we learn all about how to learn how to live with disease -- type 2 diabetes. A side-bar (article, not drinking stop) covers the rebound of health from an ex-300 pound politician.

Health and wellness matters to me and to our society. We need to run. We need to be fit. We need to avoid disease such as type 2 diabetes -- a sickness that is preventable.

Furthermore, we need to not go into a tizzy when the hashers wing by to mark a route on the sidewalk with a touch of white powder.

FOXNews.com - Race Planners Charged for Causing Bioterror Scare at Connecticut IKEA - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News Race Planners Charged for Causing Bioterror Scare at Connecticut IKEA Saturday, August 25, 2007

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Two people who sprinkled flour in a parking lot to mark a trail for their offbeat running club inadvertently caused a bioterrorism scare and now face a felony charge.

The sprinkled powder forced hundreds to evacuate an IKEA furniture store Thursday.

New Haven ophthalmologist Daniel Salchow, 36, and his sister, Dorothee, 31, who is visiting from Hamburg, Germany, were both charged with first-degree breach of peace, a felony.

The siblings set off the scare while organizing a run for a local chapter of the Hash House Harriers, a worldwide group that bills itself as a "drinking club with a running problem."

"Hares" are given the task of marking a trail to direct runners, throwing in some dead ends and forks as challenges. On Thursday, the Salchows decided to route runners through the massive IKEA parking lot.

Police fielded a call just before 5 p.m. that someone was sprinkling powder on the ground. The store was evacuated and remained closed the rest of the night. The incident prompted a massive response from police in New Haven and surrounding towns.

Daniel Salchow biked back to IKEA when he heard there was a problem and told officers the powder was just harmless flour, which he said he and his sister have sprinkled everywhere from New York to California without incident.

"Not in my wildest dreams did I ever anticipate anything like that," he said.

Mayoral spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga said the city plans to seek restitution from the Salchows, who are due in court Sept. 14.

"You see powder connected by arrows and chalk, you never know," she said. "It could be a terrorist, it could be something more serious. We're thankful it wasn't, but there were a lot of resources that went into figuring that out."

The charges need to be dropped. Fellony. The charges should go to the ones who pushed the alarm without thinking. The runners should get medals for advancing fitness, fighting for wellness, and helping local brewers.

If I'm elected City Controller -- I'll bring these folks to town and buy them entry into the Pittsburgh Marathon. But, they'll have to buy their own beer.

'It's scary and a big change': "'It's scary and a big change' Learning to live with the disease"

A big change -- is that a PUN? B-I-G, as in H-U-G-E, as in too heavy.

Dispatches from the Culture Wars - headed to a GOP picnic with this fact

If you have not figured this out yet, I like Ron Paul for president in 2008. Dr. Paul is a Republican. So, I am going to drop in to visit with some people at a GOP picnic today. (See my Google Calendar for insights).

Dispatches from the Culture Wars Giuliani at Ground Zero, Take Two Category: Salon.com decided to find out exactly how much time Rudy Giuliani actually spent at Ground Zero and do some comparing. Here's what they found: On Friday, a New York Times story examined Rudy Giuliani's schedule in the months after 9/11 to verify his controversial claim that, like rescue workers, he'd spent long hours at ground zero, and so was 'in that sense ... one of them.'

In fact, the Times found, he only spent 29 hours at the terror site between Sept. 17 and Dec. 16...

By our count, Giuliani spent about 58 hours at Yankees games or flying to them in the 40 days between Sept. 25 and Nov. 4, roughly twice as long as he spent at ground zero in the 90 days between Sept. 17 and Dec. 16. By his own standard, Giuliani was one of the Yankees more than he was one of the rescue workers.

I used to be a Republican. I joined that party to work hard to make sure Tom Murphy would leave office. I ran for Mayor in 2001 because I hated with the D party leaders were doing to Pittsburgh.

I left the R party the day I saw that some suburban Republicans, headed by Mike Turzi, R, of the PA House, had a plan for Pittsburgh's future. Their plan was NEVER discussed with me or any city Republicans. They wrote up a 16 page document and didn't share it with us at all. And, I had been calling upon them for discussions for months, repeatedly. I determined that they were no friends of mine -- nor the city.

I'll return to the Republican party ranks after the election, about November 7, 2007. I'll want to give my vote to Ron Paul in the GOP Primary in 2008. Then again, I expect to switch back to my Libertarian party registration after that deed is done.

I made a decision in 2007 to NOT run against any Republican in the races I am engaged. There is no Republican running for Controller. There is no Republican running for Pittsburgh City Council, district 3.

I did NOT want to run in the race for mayor in 2007 -- after it was known that Mark DeSantis, R, would be a real candidate. I'm happy to let DeSantis run -- without me to contend with.

Report: Penguins And Sabres To Play Outdoor Game - Sports News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

This trend to turn back the clock is a splendid movement within sports.

A hockey game is slated for the outdoors on New Year's Day in Buffalo, NY, at a NFL stadium, home of the Bills.

Report: Penguins And Sabres To Play Outdoor Game - Sports News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh Penguins And Sabres To Play Outdoor Game

An outdoor game could be played in Pittsburgh. Wouldn't that be great. They could set up a hockey rink at Heinz Field or PNC Park. But I've got a better venue for such a game -- and I don't mean on the frozen Allegheny River near the Convention Center.

The Penguins could play an outdoor game, under the stars, in the Civic Arena. Retract the roof! Fix it. Have fireworks -- BEFORE the the game.

The Pirates have fireworks following the games in the summer. But the Pens, in the winter months, could have fireworks before the game. Or better, at the break following the first period.

With the roof open, people in their seats would be able to see the fireworks without a problem.

The problem is, the Pens and the city didn't take care of the classic gem of a facility, the Civic Arena.

For the amount of money it would take to set up the ice in the outdoor stadium, and then repair the turf again after the rink departs, the roof could be made to retract again.

It was great being in the Civic Arena for an event and having the roof open. It was great. They'd push one button and about two-minutes later, the dome is folded back within itself with only a small slice of the pie still in place.

Just a year ago or so I was making noise that the Penguins should build the new arena out by the airport, near the fans, away from the city and the new residents. Then the Civic Arena could be saved, and fixed, and used for civic events.

They could even hold one, or a few games each year at the old venue -- under the stars -- for turn-back-the-clock night. Triple the ticket prices for those nights, if necessary.

The region does not 'progress' when it churns. To advance the region means it must grow.

Do the math: +1 -1 = 1 in the end. That's one new arena with a subtraction of one old arena giving the region one arena.

I'd rather see one new arena built and one old arena retained so at the end of the cycle there are two arenas, not just one.

The same happened with the stadiums. Think about it. We lost Three Rivers Stadium and the debt didn't go away, just the asset. And we lost Pitt Stadium. Those two venues were replaced with Heinz Field and PNC Park.

We should have kept Pitt Stadium, kept 3RS and build a new baseball only park -- something like Forbes Field! (giggle)

We could play outdoor hockey at Pitt Stadium. Then Pitt's Hockey Teams (both men and women) could have home-ice venue. Oh well.

And to refresh everyone's memory, to round out the discussion with talk of 'roundball' -- The Pete, Pitt's new basketball venue, the one with the new roof and mega cost overruns, should have been built in Hazelwood, near the Parkway East, Panther Hollow and graduate student housing at Pitt's River Campus.

My plans are viable, sustainable and much better for the region.

If I was the controller and with a staff and elected position, I'd be able to issue the reports with the finance data to make sure we had more accountable leadership and directions for the region. I'd be happy to stand up to the Rooney family, the professional teams, the stadium authority, and other special interests.

The oldest arena in the NHL, the Civic Arena, now called the Mellon Arena, is a liability, so they said. Ha, ha, ha. The joke is on them. Now the NHL has learned that the game could be played outdoors. New will be a liability in the future.

The Pens will get a new venue and wish they had an old one.

The Pirates built a new stadium that was made to feel like an old, classic stadium.

First Fruits: Fifth/Forbes corridor shows signs of progress at last

First Fruits: Fifth/Forbes corridor shows signs of progress at last The anchor for the $32 million Market Square Place project will be the Downtown YMCA, which will move from its current location on the Boulevard of the Allies. Millcraft also is planning 46 upper-floor apartments priced to attract residents earning $40,000 to $50,000 a year.

This is churn for the YMCA and YWCA. It is a net loss of space.

Aaron Russo - DEAD. He died yesterday

Ouch.

Aaron Russo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aaron Russo (February 14, 1943 – August 24, 2007) was an American entertainment businessman, film maker, and libertarian political activist.

At Pittsburgh's BootCamp in the spring, I provided a DVD handout to people who wanted it. The DVD Handout was of Aaron's film, Freedom to Fascism.

He was way to young to die.

Do you remember the movie, The Rose, with Bette Midler?

YouTube debate among presidents has been saved. What about local debates?

The online world wears a big smile with the saving of the Presidential YouTube debate among Republicans.

We won the first battle. Because of online grassroots activists like us, we saved the Republican YouTube debate.

Now we as Republicans need to actually WIN the debate by the encouraging everyone to submit their questions, online and off. Please ask the candidates your question at:

http://www.savethedebate.com/submit.php?s=stf

And sign up to be a Video Volunteer to collect questions in your community at:

http://www.savethedebate.com/VideoVolunteer?s=stf

I can help you get your question put in to the candidates -- or put into the mix to be picked by organizers before being shown to the candidates.

But frankly, I'm a little worried about the local debate scene. When Roddey and Onorato were in a race, they gathered hundreds of times. When Murphy and O'Connor were in races, they were on TV dozens of times -- in debates and with extended interviews.

The debates must be booked NOW. They are not going to materialize, I fear.

And the next question comes, debate inclusion.

Closed for the summer

What's up with the City's outdoor swim pool at Ormsby? Yesterday was the hottest day of the summer and the pool is empty. No water?

In other open and closed news:

Kennywood will open at 5pm on Friday, August 31, but will be closed from August 27 through 30.

Kennywood will have regular park operating hours over Labor Day Weekend, as well as our September Bonus Weekends on the 8, 9, 15, and 16.

CQ Today - Hill Computers Used for Thousands of Wikipedia Edits

CQ Today - Hill Computers Used for Thousands of Wikipedia Edits Political spats, petty vandalism, cleft chins and Rep. Rahm Emanuel’s (fictional) death by shark attack — Wikipedia users on House computers clearly have a lot of time on their hands.

A new online tool has made it possible to see a full archive of edits to the popular online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, organized by the computer network from which they originated. The list of categories includes major corporations, media outlets, and, of course, Congress.

I've been watching this for some time.

Web 2.0

The Pittsburgh Comet: Crime and No Punishment

The Pittsburgh Comet: Crime and No Punishment

See my interaction with a fellow blogger, Bram. Look into the comments section.

Bram snines new light onto the Department of Public Works within the city. He gives a rather bold opinion. Check it out. My approach is more, Potter-like. And, that isn't "Chris Potter" emulation.

Return to work not easy for stay-at-home dads - Your Career - MSNBC.com

Return to work not easy for stay-at-home dads - Your Career - MSNBC.comIt appears men who make the decision to become stay-at-home dads may be in even more career hot water.

I've been a stay-at-home dad. This article cuts close to the bone.

At the outset, I'd bicker with the concept in the lead paragraph of doing nothing to update their skills.

It might be bad to stay at home and do nothing. Sure. But, I didn't. While I was at home, my resume took a serious hit. however, my skill creation efforts did not shrink.

Working on the internet and going to work on community efforts present different opportunities for establishing skills while I was an at-home dad. This overlooks the whole challenge of being an at-home dad too.

When I was an at-home dad, my professional career was jolted. No doubt. But skill crafting does not need to STOP.

The root of article says men have added problems as we try to return to work. You bet. I feel that Pittsburgh's society, by and large, doesn’t give much credit to a recent at-home dad. Some do. Many don't. Some women are the worst. There is a bit of unspoken discrimination, sad to say. But, the “unmanly” tag isn't the hurdle. Unworthy for interviews and unworthy of job offers is more of a hit than being called 'unmanly.'

“In our culture, we look at work and family issues as women’s issues and don’t acknowledge men have at least the same kind of concerns about their families.

This is where I have a strength -- issues. I care about family issues. I care about healthcare, wellness, schools, parks, pedestrian life, parenting, and -- discrimination.

We've fully accepted the uncommon family structure in our house. Sadly, the rub comes with the plug-in to the greater community and wide-perceptions, especially the media. If I gave a damn what others thought I'd be a basket case.

Men face more prejudice when they decide to return to the workplace than women do. Save the males!

Men also face more prejudice when they are in school, before the workplace, as men's swim teams at many universities are axed.

Are there firms in Pittsburgh where men take "vacation leave" instead of "Family Leave" with the birth babies?

Stay-at-home dads usually have little support. But the real need for support isn't at the workplace nor within the family. Rather, it is within the community. Few guys made the same choices. More are doing so. But we're few and far between. The support I valued the most was on the internet among other at-home dads.

I agree that it is important for men to have the support of other men. This can't be overstated. Dads need playgroups. Dads need other dads to lean upon, just as women have had for the ages. Validation isn't nearly as important as plain old fashioned tips and socialization among adults.

Men get that support from men’s groups where men get the fathering, the wisdom and the tough love they need to make unpopular decisions,” says Wayne Levine, a clinical psychologist and founding director of BetterMen.org.

The article says stay-at-home pops are in uncharted waters. That's right where I want to be. I want to make my own, original mistakes, not repeat the mistakes of others.

Sometimes being a guinea pig can play in your favor.

Podcasting to spin into action shortly. Heavy Or Not, let the round up and shake ups flow

The fall is going to be busy. Two programs are going to swing into action: Heavy Or Not, and Take Your Mark.

Blogger has some new features that give more muscle to bloggers.

This is a test. For the next 20 seconds, this blog will experience a test of the button on the far right side of the screen shot in the image below.

From signs

UPMC announces $618 million profit, fends off critics - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This is great. Michael Lamb came out of his slumber and gave a quote to the media. Wonderful.

UPMC announces $618 million profit, fends off critics - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb, the Democratic nominee for city controller, wondered whether UPMC pays its fair share for city services, a recurring theme among critics. 'They do have the state law regarding nonprofits on their side, but given the fiscal situation of the city, we want to ensure everyone pays their fair share. The question is, what is their fair share?' Lamb said."

I sent an email to the reporter that wrote the article.

Hi,

I see you give ink to Michael Lamb, D, candidate against me in the controller's race. I am so glad you did. He has been absent in recent months. He has nothing to say. And, what he said in the article you published is perfect -- as it is nothing but the sound of him scratching his head wondering what in the world is going on.

If you'd like more quotes -- call me or email. I have a very close relationship to UPMC. Plus, I have a real plan that can be deployed throughout the city with UMPC and the other nonprofts.

My main running mates!

Grant and Erik get political with their t-shirts
yesterday at Idlewild Park.

Grant's t-shirt reads, "Freedom Loving Pennsylvanians support Ron Paul for President in 2008."

Erik's says "Save Ginny!"

A bunch of folks are headed to Kennywood for Ron Paul day on Saturday -- all wearing their Ron Paul t-shirts.

I'll be at the Pitt student activities fair at the Student Union. Welcome to town undergrads and graduates.

Crews Rescue Kayakers From Loyalhanna Creek - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Update: Comment from a parent is found within this thread.

This is sorta funny.

Crews Rescue Kayakers From Loyalhanna Creek - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. -- Emergency crews were called to Loyalhanna Creek in Westmoreland County Thursday afternoon to rescue a group of kayakers.

Channel 11 has learned that 35 freshman from Seton Hill University were on an orientation field trip when a girl began suffering from stomach cramps.

Offiicals said she panicked and then her kayak turned over. One other student was pulled from the water. They were both taken to a local hospital for observation.

No other injuries were reported. Students told Channel 11's Alan Jennings they were lost and their instructor did not know where they were going.

So, we learned that two students were lost in the woods for 45 minutes after they split from the group. Okay, lesson one, -- stay with the group. Lesson two, -- on a kayak trip, don't go walking around the woods.

I don't want to defend the kayak trip leader, but jeepers. Emergency rescue and the news crew might be "overboard" (pun intended) for a tummy ache. On the other hand, did anyone check to see if she is pregnant, given the outcome of the back to school story from Mercyhurst of a few days ago.

Story has video on the news site.

The War on Drugs get a new 'surge' with IOC plans tougher sanctions for doping cheats - Friday August 24, 2007 1:27AM

The war on drugs faces new, harsher blowback from the International Olympic Committee. What used to be a six month ban for athletes might be taken to a four-year ban.

SI.com - Olympics - IOC plans tougher sanctions for doping cheats - Friday August 24, 2007 1:27AM Rogge told a news conference Friday that such a penalty could effectively amount to a four-year ban for athletes.

Once again, the drug war is going to be a fruitless effort.

Buzzword 'bacn' clogs e-mail arteries

First published on this blog on, 23 August, 11:50 pm.

Buzzword 'bacn' clogs e-mail arteries Buzzword 'bacn' clogs e-mail arteries

Now that the word, BACN, has made it into the mainstream media on the other side of the world, I can blog my 'bacon' story about our time in New Zealand.

Stay tuned.

By the way, I dished out a little bacn myself last night. I now have 52 new friends on my LinkedIn page.

To set the stage, did you hear about the news from band camp at a Western PA school?

kdka.com - High School Band Eats Cookies Laced With Laxatives High School Band Eats Cookies Laced With Laxatives (KDKA) Some members of the Connellsville Marching Band were sickened after they ate cookies apparently laced with laxatives. Practice came to a halt on Thursday when students became ill. Former band members, who have graduated, served the batch of tainted cookies. School police are investigating and so far, school officials aren't commenting. The students who were sickened weren't seriously ill.

In New Zealand, they speak English, of course. Yet some of the words of the Kiwis are not easily understood by Americans.

For instance, going to the swim pool, you always want to bring your togs. Togs? Swim suits are called 'togs.'

While coaching swimming in New Zealand, we had a wonderful opportunity to go on a team trip in a ... stay tuned.

Mon/Fayette Expressway funding triggers debate in West Mifflin

The Daily News - Mon/Fayette Expressway funding triggers debate in West Mifflin A pitch for state and federal funding for the Mon/Fayette Expressway north of Jefferson Hills triggered a debate among West Mifflin councilors about Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.

An interview of me -- Mark Rauterkus -- while at PodCamp Pittsburgh

blog.myspace.com/phyllostachys PCPGH2 Interview 1 - Mark Rauterkus

I've been involved and presented at all three events in Pittsburgh.

The first event was PodCamp. I talked about how I do my outreach with my give-a-way CDs.

The second event was BootCamp, geared more to the novice techie and those just starting up with blogs. I co-presented with Jen English and we talked about the landscape of political online interactions. We went from A to Z -- or Announce blast lists to wikis.

This PodCamp, in August, I presented on license issues covering Creative Commons and other open source, free, and public elements with tools, content and data.

Plan of Attack - check out David Adams, city council district 9

This is the introduction we've been looking for.

Plan of Attack - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh Dave Adams' townhouse sits at the end of a quiet dead-end street in the East Hills. As he stands outside, a couple of young neighborhood girls run up to say hello. He greets them, pats their heads and sends them back to their yard to continue playing.

Despite the calm, 'You can go right out to the end of that block and buy all the drugs you want,' says Adams, the 48-year-old CEO and founder of the Conscience Group, a community think tank that works to solve community problems and issues. 'They used to drive their cars right down in here, until one day I told them to leave this area alone.

A vote for new machines

Here is another Dan Onorato screw up. He did the wrong thing. He did the wrong thing despite others telling him what the right thing to do was.

A vote for new machines The panel charged with reviewing Allegheny County's voting system says the county should consider buying new machines if it can't adapt the existing ones.

But the members of the Allegheny County Citizens Elections System Advisory Panel have said that voting machine companies are changing products so quickly that it is best to watch the market for a while rather than doing anything immediately.

Ron Paul for President 2008!

Ron Paul for President 2008!: "Ron Paul Meetup Group Growth Record"

BABY TALK and the arrival of "The Golf Fairy"

BABY TALK: "luke worms around ethics. "

Big blog posting. This blogger tries to make it to the end of the P-G article with a dance among Luke's twisted logic without exploding his head in the process.

"The only thing of value I received was knowing I played a small part in seeing the work of the foundation will continue," he said.

I hate to break it to you, Luke, but you played no part in seeing the work of the foundation continue. The continuing of the foundation's work comes from the money that golfers and sponsors pay to participate in the tournament. You, as you've already told us, couldn't afford to pay that kind of money. So UPMC and the Penguins paid it for you. Which means they played a small part in seeing that the work of the foundation will continue. You played golf and stalked celebrities and skipped public hearings. For free.

Carbolic Smoke Ball: PEDUTO JOINS FORCES WITH iJUSTINE FOR PITTSBURGH REFORM WEB SITE

Carbolic Smoke Ball: PEDUTO JOINS FORCES WITH iJUSTINE FOR PITTSBURGH REFORM WEB SITE: "Next up for the City Councilman: a Foreign Policy Think Tank with LonelyGirl15 and a couple of YouTube lip-syncers"

George Phillies for President | George Phillies

George Phillies for President | George Phillies George Phillies for President Most Americans know the truth. America is in deep trouble. We are on the wrong track.

* This year, the budget deficit is over $700 billion. We are selling our grandchildren into debt slavery.

* Civil liberties are collapsing. Bush Republicans ignore our civil rights.

America needs answers. The Libertarian Party has those answers: Answers true to our traditions. Answers that will bring us Peace, Freedom, and Prosperity.

Do you know what Bacn is? Hint: It is sorta like spam, but different.

The term got legs at Pittsburgh PodCamp 2.

Charles' Purchasing Certification Blog: How Bad Is Golfing With Suppliers?

Another blogger, but from another industry, Purchasing, sounds off on the Mayor's folly with ethics from on the golf course.

Charles' Purchasing Certification Blog: How Bad Is Golfing With Suppliers? Ravenstahl's 'but-mommy-said-it-was-OK' defense isn't exactly making him look real sharp right now.

The take home message:

When I teach conflict of interest in purchasing, I always caution my students to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest. Even if certain activities with suppliers may not bias your decision-making, others may have the perception that they do. And that can be just as harmful to your internal influence as a real conflict of interest.

An update from Ron Paul, candidate for President of the United States

Not all the media are biased. A local newspaper in New Hampshire reported on an annual GOP bbq in the town of Hollis. It could be called "the Ron Paul show," they said, since the far bigger crowd that usual consisted mostly of our supporters. One volunteer even rented an airplane and flew a wonderful sign around the sky. What great, creative, self-starting people I'm meeting, at every stop, all of them united by a love of America and American freedom.

Politics is usually about division. But this campaign is just the opposite. Not only are our volunteers a bunch of happy warriors, but they also practice the virtues of tolerance and peace, just as they want the nation to do.

The other day, the state chairman of an opposing campaign (not in New Hampshire!), angrily tore a sign out of one of our supporter's hands and trashed it. Different people with different beliefs might have responded differently. But our people, though they'd been standing in the rain all day, applied the Golden Rule. It's because of quiet heroes that I know we can change this country.

A reporter in New Hampshire told me this story about Florida: she had seen the same three supporters working every day passing out our literature, and so decided to interview them. She was startled to discover that one was a Republican, one was a Democrat, and one was an Independent. But I wasn't.

Freedom brings us all together. We can all agree on leaving people alone to plan and live their own lives, rather than trying to force them to obey at the point of a gun, as runaway government does. Instead of clawing at each other via the warfare-welfare state, people under liberty can cooperate in a unity of diversity.

There is no need to use government to threaten others who have different standards, or to be threatened by them. Looking to our Founders, our traditions, and the Constitution, we can build, in peaceful cooperation, a free and prosperous society.

At a talk show in Nashua, New Hampshire, the host asked me about the fair tax. Well, I agree on getting rid of the IRS, I told her, but I want to replace it with nothing, not another tax. But let's not forget the inflation tax, I said.

This was something she had never considered, but after I talked about the depreciation of our dollar by the Federal Reserve, its creation of artificial booms and busts, and its bailouts of the big banks and Wall Street firms, to the detriment of the average person, she loved it. That is another tax, she agreed, a hidden and particularly vicious tax.

They try to tell us that the money issue is boring or irrelevant. In fact, it is the very pith of our social lives, and morally, Constitutionally, and economically, the central bank is a disaster. Thanks to the work of this movement, Americans are starting to understand what has been hidden from them for so long: that we have a right to sound and honest money, not to a dollar debauched for the special interests.

Unconstitutional government has created a war crisis, a financial crisis, a dollar crisis, and a freedom crisis. But we don't have to take it. We don't have to passively accept more dead soldiers, a lower standard of living, rising prices, a national ID, eavesdropping on our emails and phone calls, and all the rest.

We can return to first principles, and build the brightest, most brilliant future any people on earth has ever aspired to. Help me teach this lesson. Help me campaign all over this country, in cooperation with our huge and growing volunteer army. Help me show that change is not only possible, but also essential. Please, make your most generous contribution (https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/) to this campaign for a Constitutional presidency worthy of our people. Invest in freedom: for yourself, for your family, for your future.

Sincerely,

Ron

Don't let the rain come down. Onorato is stuck in a sand trap and can't get out. Flooding folly.

Little white balls on the golf course roll downhill, like other things. Little white lies are another. So does sewage.

Sometimes it is great to be from "the heights" and not where I live, also known as "the flats." A letter to the editor in today's Trib is used as a springboard to talking about 'why' and 'how' some approach problems and solutions. The outcomes I desire are different.

Flood control - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review As Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato acknowledged during his recent tour of Millvale, it is widely accepted that upstream development is a significant contributing factor to downstream flooding. We cannot undo the decades of building that has increased the magnitude and frequency of flooding. However, we can buck the trends that continue to make it worse.

Bingo. Onorato frames the problem well.

The older communities and the river towns are getting stomped upon by the more suburban communities. Millvale got crushed. Carnegie, in the past, got crushed with water.

How that happens should be understood. And, why it has been allowed to happen also must come into focus. On these later questions, Onorato shows his folly and lack of insight.

Onorato understands 'what happened.' But, Onorato can't get a grip on 'why' and 'how' and even the more simple 'when' and 'where' issues.

Onorato says, "stop subsidizing development in flood-prone watersheds." The first three words are great. Yes, we should stop subsidizing development. Do not use government money to subsidize any development anywhere.

From planning-urban

Onorato wants to put the brakes on the subsidization in "flood-prone watersheds." Yes, that is partly right. However that is exactly what Onorato has NOT done. Onorato and County Council pushed for a TIF in a flood-prone watershed, a wet-land, called "Deer Creek Crossing." They wanted to put in a new strip mall in a marsh. I said no. I went to County Council's meetings to fight the TIF. I said that project should be stopped. Onorato and the vast majority of those on County Council was in favor of the tax-payer give-away to the developer for putting buildings, road and parking lot in a marsh.

Thankfully, others protested too. The Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network took up the side I was on and sent messages to deny the TIF at Deek Creek Crossing too. Other voices joined in as well. Objections were raised, in public. This was a few years ago. Onorato was County Executive. Onorato didn't object.

We won that battle. Deer Creek Crossing did NOT proceed. I have a fleeting understanding that the protesting didn't matter much. Rather, the deal fell down because of finance issues with the developer, building matters and perhaps even some common sense marketplace wisdoms.


Onorato wants to put together a map of Allegheny County and identify flood-prone watersheds. Dan, maps don't look into the future. Dan might need some tea leaves to sprinkle about on top if the maps -- in a hard rainstorm.

People are needed for the reading of the maps with the wisdom to understand the potential for flooding. Wisdom is necessary.

But in Onorato's world, put a subsidized development on a greenfield on a hill would be okay for a few reasons.

1. The new development wouldn't flood. It is on a hill. The developer will install rain water run offs. The rain water run offs will be paid for by part of the subsidy.

2. The new development's environmental changes are seen as progress to Onorato. Progress is good. But, to Onorato, way better than "good progress" is new development that hinges upon the buy-in, err, buy-off of political cronies to insure that those deal gets done.

Onorato needs to be the czar of the Sim City Game. He wants to be the one who makes the map. He wants to be the pivot person. He wants to be able to bend the lines and rules to show the flexibility and progress as long as the campaign donations are in his favor.

Onorato wants to have appointment powers among cronies to give blessing for deals. Onorato wants to go to the groundbreaking with a hard hat and shovel as bad as Mayor Ravenstahl wants to play golf.

By the way, once Ravenstahl matures, he'll out grow golf. Look to Luke to turn to pursuits. His ambitions will swing him to become a "dirt-turning deal maker and kingpin" like his 'upstream boss.'

Many local "D-party" politicians choose to go one of two ways. It is as if they have two different watersheds that are clearly visible within the D-party politician personality map. They choose to go dance at the country clubs with golfing buddies who want to do big-time development deals. Or, they go to bingo halls and mingle with seniors, bringing ice cream and sheet cakes. With the seniors politicians promise whatever the seniors crave.

3. Onorato can call for "routine inspections." Politicians hate doing the "routine" but love the "inspection" element. Making an invasion, in-your-face, notification of owners of record and dishing out fines, charges, extra taxes are turn-ons for tax men. To create jobs where slackers can hang, yet still have inspection powers makes them happy. Then, when a storm brews, they spring to action.

Presently, properties get flooded and the county's tax incomes go down the drain (pun intended). With new "rain water run off watershed mobilized tax inspectors" reporting to Onorato, Onorato will be able to penalize and punish in indiscriminate ways.

Wonder if the Angry Drunk Bureaucrat is already working on job descriptions or at least going through the Rolodex finding family members to fill those posts.

The letter to the editor:

Flood control Wednesday, August 22, 2007

As Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato acknowledged during his recent tour of Millvale, it is widely accepted that upstream development is a significant contributing factor to downstream flooding.

We cannot undo the decades of building that has increased the magnitude and frequency of flooding. However, we can buck the trends that continue to make it worse.

For example, stop subsidizing development in flood-prone watersheds. Identify and map flood-prone watersheds in the County Comprehensive Plan and deny public funding that facilitates development there.

Do routine inspections of water detention facilities to ensure that they are functioning as designed. If they are not, notify the owners of record to restore them to their original condition. Funding for the program could come from fees to the municipalities, developers and landowners in the interest of public safety.

Protect large woodland masses as part of a watershed land-use plan. When woodlands are replaced by an equal amount of asphalt, runoff volume can be up to 50 times greater.

A one-time investment in woodland and flood-plain protection can pay dividends for generations and eliminate recurring flood damage and repair costs. Allegheny Land Trust is currently mapping highly functional natural lands that absorb storm water.

These are a few ideas that can be part of a flood prevention strategy that addresses the problem at its source.

Roy Kraynyk, Moon

The writer is executive director of Allegheny Land Trust.

I stand for the elimination of all subsidization deals to developers.

I favor building upon our urban density, not suburban sprawl.

The purpose of government is to govern, as in working to make sure that the electronic voting machines really work. We need people in government to worry about the basics, such as the constitution, not pie-in-the-sky strip malls.

Onorato, Rendell, and before them, Tom Murphy, stink at the creation of sustainable marketplace jobs and overall wealth creation for the citizens of the region. Their performances are not to be copied nor made into a model for others to copy.

PodCamp revisited with a video peek

From Mark Rauterkus

If you don't count the two rounds of golf, Luke is right. But blindspots are now what we need from our mayor.

Luke said, "This was not a gift to me -- I received nothing." It would be different if I was the [beneficiary] of $9,000. I wasn't.

Luke played two rounds of golf. That was his benefit. He was the beneficiary.

What about the goodie bag? Did anyone ask. Has that been returned?

Luke didn't benefit -- except for the golf.

Luke told the truth -- except for the lies.

Luke, you should have been a caddy for First Tee participant. Luke could have been sure that he didn't benefit by giving the opportunity to another who would NOT ever have such an opportunity.

The First Tee program could have easily held a skills contest. Figure out who had the best attendance. Give that as a reward. Get a referral from a coach and take a budding athlete to the tournament with you. Let that person play the round. Be a mentor. Bow to someone else. Lend a hand in service.

It would have been different if Luke insured that the $9,000 benefit was targeted to and at a less advantaged golfer he accompanied.

Blow Hard Dean

The storm is now at Cat 5.

No sign of fellow blogger, Matt H. His vacation in Mexico must have been a wash out, sadly. Is he home or headed home yet?

Pointers or insights welcomed on him, fellow Pittsburghers, storm news and whatever goes in an open thread like this.

District 3 Election Guide - News from the past

Blast from the past:

District 3 Special Election Guide - News

Mark Rauterkus (L)

Mark Rauterkus grew up in Penn Hills, moved out of state for a few years, and then moved back to Pittsburgh in 1990.

The South Side resident said that part of his motivation for running for council is that the city is in a big crisis, and he believes children have been ignored.

Rauterkus, who has two children, said that if elected to council, he would like to chair the Committee on Youth Policy and the Citiparks Committee.

One of the things that Rauterkus would like to accomplish is to restart the Pittsburgh Marathon.

He would also like to integrate additional programs into the city's neighborhood parks. 'There's a lot to be done there,' Rauterkus said.

Rauterkus is a swim coach for the Carlynton Swim Club. He said he would like to acquire funding to open more of the city's pools, which have been closed at times because of budget cuts.

Rauterkus added that he is dedicated to his campaign 'for the long haul.' If he does not win this election, he plans to build a network of volunteers and issues. 'Whoever does win might only be there for a year and half,' Rauterkus said. 'They're going to have me to contend with next week.'

Senior Staff Writer Laura Jerpi

Sunday Forum: Redefine Pittsburgh

Talk about the future happened in the Sunday paper, at the Cognitive Dissonance blog, and soon in a report. Links include, so far:

Sunday Forum: Redefine Pittsburgh The Sunday P-G article.

---

Cognitive dissonance in Pittsburgh and beyond John Murray, Duquesne University’s un-elected city/county official at large, is getting out ahead of the soon to be released Nordenberg committee’s report, trying to spin what he believes will be in the report and what he believes will undoubtedly be counter-spun for weeks after the report’s release (that’s what I am taking away, anyway).

The Burgh Report: "Deadline: October 19, 2007 In Sunday's PG, Duquesne University Chancelor John E. Murray Jr. called out Luke Ravenstahl on government reform. He makes a number of strong points."

My post in a thread about this from another blog:

The Ds around here are very good at the creation of new taxes -- not new residents, nor new private sector jobs, nor new scholars, nor new company neighbors.

A merger to work needs to be more like a wedding / marriage. Both sides need to bring something to the endeavor. Presently, the city offers little value to those in suburban reaches -- other than a big headache. The little boat of Allegheny County can't be a life-raft for the sinking ship that is the city.

The city needs to get its act together. The city needs to get a grip. The city needs to get its house in order. Then -- AFTER that has been done, real talks of mergers can proceed.

Bailout mergers suck.

As a city and county resident, I don't want my county to take on the burden of the city. And I live in the city. Both will sink then.

So, we've got to fix the city first. And, those in office now can't. They won't because they don't have the capacity to do so. And, more to the point of my campaigns, others in line with D endorsements don't have a foggy idea as to what to do in these areas either. They (Kraus, Lamb, Burgess, Harris, and of course Luke) are not going to lead the city to better outcomes.

Peduto says that there isn't even a reform agenda being talked about by those on Grant Street and in turn, in his party. To him, the Reform Pgh Now hype is to start the reform agenda discussion. Jeepers.

We can't 'reform until AFTER we replace and redirect.' Then reform. Then merge.

Case in point: The Pgh Public School District is too big. It doesn't match well with any of the suburban districts. One could take the ONE School District approach for the entire county -- as they do in the South. But, this might do wonders for Beaver, Butler and Westmorland. I say chop up with horizontal cuts the PPS.

But, we don't have good metrics on the schools -- because (in part) the D controllers and A+ have fumbled.

We are lagging and sagging -- everywhere. Tossing a few of them out of office will do much to perk up the city with real talk of purpose and vision.

Pregnant athlete OK'd to play just before giving birth

Pregnant athlete OK'd to play just before giving birth A pregnant Mercyhurst College student-athlete passed a sports physical and was cleared to play volleyball two days before giving birth, police said today.

The 18-year-old sophomore, whose baby was later found dead in her on-campus apartment, participated in what police called a 'light workout' the day before the Aug. 12 birth -- even though investigators would later determine she was 39 1/2 weeks pregnant at the time.

I know volleyball. I published books on volleyball. Women's college volleyball isn't the place for a women who is six, seven, eight or nine months pregnant. I think that is fair to say.

How can the coaches not see what's up with her?

How can a doctor not see?

I'm glad that the NCAA does not have a policy on barring pregnant athletes. Fine. But this birth seems to be a mystery to everyone involved.

NCAA rules require physicals for first-time college sports participants. In subsequent years, student-athletes can just update their medical information to remain eligible, Ms. Dent said. Okay. Perhaps she was a sophomore. I think that was what was reported. Okay, perhaps she had not had her first practice. Perhaps she skipped. I don't know.

Frankly, I don't care much about the policy investigation as I do about the care of the player / student / woman. And, I care for sanity.

I hope that common sense did not die -- as did the baby.

Software tool promises 1-click colonialism | The Register

This weekend at PodCamp, I gave a bit of a 'holy war' rant against some rather big-boy players in the realm of new media.

One guy talked to me in the hallway after the presentation and said, 'Man, you've got a lot of nerve to trash on both the Creative Commons and producers at THIS event.

"Yep. I felt as if I went behind enemy lines in a holy war today -- to scout around and do some recon."

Here is another pointer to another angle on this global topic of 'rights' and 'payments' and how one can really make a living.

Software tool promises 1-click colonialism | The Register: "The music industry has a long and shameful history of robbing black artists of their rights. Now along comes some new software that will help speed up the job. Think of it as a sort of 1-Click 'non-payment' system. Liblicense is a project that Creative Commons hopes to integrate with MIT Media Lab's OLPC, or One Laptop Per Child initiative. That's the rubbishy sub-notebook designed for developing countries, that developing countries don't seem to want very much. The genius of the move is that instead of needing to hire shifty lawyers to bamboozle artists out of the right to be paid, Creative Commons makes the process not only voluntary, but automated, too. Liblicense will greatly ease the process of assigning a Creative Commons license to creative material straight from the desktop.

Cleaning up Pittsburgh - Pennsyltucky Politics

Cleaning up Pittsburgh - Pennsyltucky Politics: "There's a new reform group in town, or at least in Pittsburgh. Reform Pittsburgh Now will have to change its name if it gets bored and decides to pick on folks in Harrisburg, Philadelphia or Tyrone. We imagine they'll find plenty to keep them busy for a while."

Who is going to open the next new site? It could be called one of the following:

Reform Pittsburgh Later

Reform Pittsburgh Eventually

Reform the Region Whenever

Reform Pittsburgh After Getting Elected

Reform Pittsburgh After Getting Elected to THAT other office

Quixotic Pittsburgh Reform

Quixotic Pittsburgh

Bill Ogden has a fine statement about 'reform.' Often the word 'reform' gets tossed around so much that in the end reform is deformed.

I don't want to 'de-form' Pittsburgh.

An constant buzz in Pittsburgh isn't 'reform' -- rather it is enforcement. We have lax enforcement on many fronts. A site, Pittsburgh Enforcement could be of interest. Then what is lax in one area is brutal in another. Those in city hall are happy to make new enforcements, such as with cat licenses. But they want to give free passes to cronies.

My biggest statement about reform concerns the sequence. I'd rather not reform until after we replace. Those who are in office present the worst possible actors for making future reforms.

We need to:

1. Replace

2. Redirect

3. Reform.

That sequence, with reforming at the end, is important.

Ranked as 10th in the state, other net ponderings

In this week's listing of the top 20 PA Political Bloggers, Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates is 10th.

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BlogNetNews.com

Yesterday at PodCamp, it was funny to hear how the contemporary history of Pitsburgh political blogs. My blogs and internet days were reported to have started in the 1970s, so said Bram of the Pittsburgh Comet.

In the early times, there were only two blogs, said Matt. Rauterkus.com and 2PJ. I was nice to get the nods.

The theme of Bram's statement was that the bloggers are now a force that shape the mainstream media coverage. Journalist read the blogs. The blog content is showing up in the coverage. Themes from blogs then run on the evening news and with both the Trib and P-G. Blogs have become a hot source and the bloggers keep more honesty in the coverage. Bloggers that don't get it right are told so.

There is much more 'peer review' with bloggers than with newspapers and tv news. So, when something that isn't 'spot on' gets published, doubts are raised with comments and at other blogs.

Bram gave an interesting take on the value of blogs in these times.

Another way of putting those concepts into action is to say that the bloggers have been providing a wake-up call for the watchdogs. Or, some might say the bloggers are now effective pests to the now-no-longer-slumbering watch dogs.

For years I've been hard on the local media about coverage I've seen that isn't accurate, balanced and as insightful as it could be. People have told me to NOT pick on those who buy ink by the barrel.

Pittsburgh needs, and democracy needs, a viable Fourth Estate. Journalism matters. I'm a J-School (Journalism School) graduate. Pittsburgh's trouble has come, in part, from the poor coverage from the local media.

One guy in the final PodCamp session was all about 'blame' and hitting upon the media. He was funny. Plus, his remarks hit home for me.

There was one person from the P-G at the final session. Who was that? Were there others from the P-G in throughout the event?

The Trib's Sunday paper had a great article on the event.

Pittsburgh conference draws budding bloggers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pittsburgh conference draws budding bloggers"

OwnTerms, legal document templates for use and remixing

Get a free pass to sidestep a laywer in the establishement of various terms and conditions for web sites, blogs and other entrepreneur efforts.

OwnTerms OwnTerms is designed as a repository for “boilerplate” legal documents: those that every web site, startup, or entrepreneur needs but doesn’t want to draft in a lawyer for. All the documents on OwnTerms are licensed under a Creative Commons license, enabling anyone to take them and edit them for their own use provided certain conditions are met.

This just opened. Perhaps you can upload your t&cs (jargon for terms and conditions) to that site.

Star-Telegram.com | 08/19/2007 | Are words dangerous?

Star-Telegram.com | 08/19/2007 | Are words dangerous? Are words dangerous? Texas prison officials wouldn't let a man on Death Row read Jackie Robinson's words, saying that to do so might lead to 'strikes or riots.' By DAVE ZIRIN

I hate the death row. I hate capital punishment.

The state makes so many mistakes in so many parts of its operations, that I'm sure that it has made some 'fatal mistakes' in the past. The best way to make those mistakes non fatal is to not kill anyone in prison.

That's my observation. Go read David's article if you care about life, sports, literacy and the final ticks on the clock.

Concerns Raised on Wider Spying Under New Law - New York Times

Here is another reason why America needs more Libertarians in elected office.

Concerns Raised on Wider Spying Under New Law - New York Times Broad new surveillance powers approved by Congress this month could allow the Bush administration to conduct spy operations that go well beyond wiretapping to include — without court approval — certain types of physical searches on American soil and the collection of Americans’ business records, Democratic Congressional officials and other experts said.

Plus, support for Libertarians in campaigns, by votes and by buzz, are welcomed too.

Hopes dim for Chinese miners

Hopes dim for Chinese miners - CNN.com More than 180 Chinese coal miners trapped in flooded shafts have slim hopes of survival, but officials said they would press on with frantic rescue efforts after one of the nation's worst mine disasters.

In the eastern province Shandong, 172 miners were pinned down after the rain-swollen Wen River overcame flood defenses and surged down the shaft on Friday. Nine others were trapped in a shaft nearby.

This is one reason why Westinghouse has to go to China to build them the Nukes. They need the electricity. They need to curb the deaths from the coal mines.

China relies on coal for most of its energy needs, pushing coal prices to record levels in the mainland, the world's top producer and consumer of the fuel.

That demand for coal to feed rapid economic growth in the world's fourth-largest economy has led some mine operators to push production beyond safe limits, despite Beijing's efforts to crack down on corruption and lax enforcement of standards.

The miners make about 1,500 yuan ($198) a month and many were farmers working the fields around Tai'an attracted by the relatively higher wages offered by the mines. It is not unusual for fathers and sons to work together in the coal mines.

The scene of weary emergency workers and anxious relatives echoed a mine accident in the United States, which has a much cleaner safety record but where three people have died trying to save six miners trapped in a Utah coal mine.

Mining is risky worldwide, but China's coal industry is deadlier than any other country's, with about 2,163 coal miners killed in 1,320 accidents in the first seven months of the year.

However, what happens when the flood waters come and sweep into the Nukes? What about a work site problem, but with radiation?

Shooting disrupts youth football game in Homewood

Shooting disrupts youth football game in Homewood

Crap.

More dirt.

Youth Football equipment stolen, WPXI story.

YOU be the judge.

Jerks like this have no business staying in important jobs in our public sector. None. But what is worse, the Republican Party, again, has given him its endorsement. Now is the time to think again, if thinking at all was part of the process.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns State Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce, who is facing criminal charges for allegedly bilking two insurance companies out of $440,000, plans to continue his bid for retention for another 10-year term in November.

But he won't have an easy time of it.

His bosses, the justices of the state Supreme Court, suspended him with pay yesterday. In a written statement, the court said the suspension was necessary to 'protect and preserve the integrity of the Unified Judicial System and the administration of justice for the citizens of this Commonwealth.'

And the state Bar Association and his own Republican Party say they are reviewing their endorsements of his retention.

This is why people are angry.

This is why people are going to renew the efforts to toss out all the judges.

This is why the old parties (both the Ds and the Rs) have failed the citizens and voters.

Here is a tip: Don't vote for any judge retention.

Specter finds voters just plain angry

Hello. Senator, we're mad. Did you just realize this, or is it something you've come to understand for a while now.

Specter finds voters just plain angry The issues have changed from year to year, but this town hall tour through the state's 67 counties has been the same through the decades. This year, however, the Republican has seen a marked change in the tone and intensity of his questioners.

'The meetings are a lot bigger ... and there's a lot more passion and a lot more anger,' he said as he headed from one meeting to another across the rolling, green hills of Washington County. 'And they're angry at everything. ... They're boiling mad about Iraq. They're almost that mad about immigration.

'They're as mad about Gonzales as they are about immigration. They're mad at the president for taking all the power he has. There are a lot of people talking about habeus corpus. Where in the hell would you expect to have all these people talking about habeus corpus?'

Yes, we are upset about and understand habeus corpus. So now we must turn to Libertarians to reclaim our liberty and freedom.

Seeking integrity in government & how Tim Potts is a PA Hero

Tim Potts outlines his quest to make Pennsylvania best in nation

By Heather Stauffer Carlisle Sentinel, August 3, 2007

On Thursday, Tim Potts led members of Carlisle Rotary on a flight of imagination.

Imagine, he said, a law that represents the worst thing the state government could do to your family, your business.

Then, with barely a pause, Potts moved from the realm of imagination to the realm of reality. That law, he said, could pass overnight.

"Many people think we began as a result of the legislative pay raise in 2005," said Potts, who was addressing the club in his role as a cofounder of Democracy Rising PA. But the truth, he said, is that the organization started a year earlier, in reaction to the July 4th passage of the state's slots gambling bill.

Before continuing with the story, Potts, a Carlisle resident who occupied high positions in the state Department of Education before he moved on to the Pennsylvania School Reform Network and then Democracy Rising PA, reminded the audience of a relevant portion of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

To protect citizens, he said, the constitution requires three things; That legislation be considered for at least three days in each chamber (PA House & PA Senate), that the legislation's original intent not be altered and that the legislation not be about more than one subject.

The slots gambling legislation started simply enough, Potts said, holding up the one-and-a-half page bill that spent more than the requisite time in both the house and the senate. But then, just before it was voted on July 4, those original pages were amended to 146.

"Not one single word of the original bill survived," Potts said, brandishing a bulky copy of the revised bill. Furthermore, he said, unlike the original, the new wording encompassed a medley of themes.

"It was a process that plainly violated the rights of residents of Pennsylvania," Potts said. But, he said, when the bill was challenged, Pennsylvania courts upheld the procedure by which it was enacted - so in 2005, the legislature used the same procedure to pass its now-infamous pay raise.

And it could do it again, on any subject, whenever it likes, he said.

"That's why we call it the dismantling of democracy," Potts said. "The constitution is supposed to prohibit this."

And that's why, he told the intent audience, Pennsylvania needs an organization like Democracy Rising PA. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has one goal, Potts said: To help restore the principles of democracy to Pennsylvania.

Voters can force change

After a quick litany of further bad news - that Pennsylvania's sunshine and lobbying control laws have been ranked among the worst in the nation - Potts turned optimistic again.

"It doesn't have to be this way," he said. All that is necessary, he said, is for citizens to start getting involved and getting democracy-friendly legislators into Harrisburg. Some good things have already happened, he said, pointing to 2005, when Russell Nigro became the first Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice ever to lose a retention vote.

As one of the leaders of the campaign against Nigro, Potts told the audience it doesn't necessarily take a lot of money to make a difference. When he tallied up what that campaign cost him, Potts said, it came to $32.16 - an amount that he said turned into 736,000 "no" votes.

"Incredible," he said.

Then he dished out more numbers. The only thing that stands between 12 and a half million people and the best state government in America is 129 people - the governor and a controlling majority in each chamber, he said.

"We have the forces of evil vastly outnumbered," Potts quipped, to laughter. But, he said, the current crop of public officials will not change their behavior until the citizens change theirs.

That said, Potts urged the audience to let it be known the principles of democracy matter to them and to throw their political support to people who have proved they feel the same way.

"It's up to us," he said in conclusion. "We can do it."

Depending on judgment

Afterward, Rotarian Tom Williams had a comment.

"As long as we voters elect people on what they can do for us, what reason do they have to pay attention to procedural things?" Williams asked. Potts agreed that he had a point, and then Williams raised an objection to the idea that democracy is no longer functioning in the Pennsylvania legislature.

"My representative lives here. He takes what we tell him and takes it to Harrisburg," Williams said. "We depend on these guys to use their independent judgment."

Yes, said Potts, but in cases like the slots bill, when the amendment was made at the last minute, representatives wouldn't even have had time to read the revisions. While he acknowledged Williams' point in theory, Potts said, in practice it often turns out very differently.

"Half of the time they're not voting for you," said Potts. "Half of the time they're voting for their leaders."

Libertarian Party - forum and thread on the MeetUp Board

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

Nice thread.

Reform Pittsburgh Now has a copyright notice on the bottom of its home page

I asked a question about the license for Bill Peduto's new site. He and the others didn't know. I invited him to the 4 pm talk I delivered on open source tools, data, and content. I think Bill had an appointment for a haircut. Does he really use the same barber as John Edwards?

Reform Pittsburgh Now Paid for by Reform Pittsburgh Now. Copyright (c) 2007 Reform Pittsburgh Now. All rights reserved.

Here is a blurb from the talk I gave at 4 pm.

Woody Guthrie including the following note in a 1930s songbook distributed to listeners who wanted the words to his recordings had the following message: "This song is Copyrighted in U.S., under Seal of Copyright #154085, for a period of 28 years, and anybody caught singin' it without our permission, will be mighty good friends of ours, cause we don't give a dern. Publish it. Write it. Sing it. Swing to it. Yodel it. We wrote it, that's all we wanted to do."

It would be great if the new efforts of REFORM would be FREE.

Here is another example, also presented at the 4 pm talk to Pittsburgh PodCamp:

A journal was published with the following copyright statement: "All texts published in (this journal) may be freely reproduced, translated and edited, even without crediting the original source."

Bill, Justine, Justin, Matt and others. I'd love to have a "Podcast" via TalkShoe.com to talk with you all about the new site's license, copyrights and such. It would be best, in my not so humble opinion, to put the contents into the public domain.

I am not a lawyer (IANAL) and this is not legal advice. Furthermore, the contents of this blog posts are not intended to be legal advice nor should they be relied upon as or represented to be legal advice. CreativeCommons.org cannot and does not give legal advice. You need to assess the suitability of Creative Commons' tools for your particular situation, which may include obtaining appropriate legal advice from a licensed attorney. Yada, yada, yada.

Update:

The Pittsburgh Women's Blogging Society: Bill Peduto's Online PAC: "Today I attended the launch of Bill Peduto's online Political Action Committee at Podcamp. I think there were some mixed signals coming from the audience and the speakers (i.e. Bill & iJustine)."

I would never question anyone's experience. Getting new candidates and new helpers is very important. And, the new voices can be much better than the old. Rookie players are fine with me. My knocks go to other sources, such as Bill's statements.

Plus, the word was all about a lot of 'new faces' involved -- except for the campaign manager, Matt, and of course, Bill. So, the guys in charge are not new. They are veterans.

The saga has the same feel, for some strange reason, as the day Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced the formation of the Pittsburgh Promise. Many in the room that day seemed to be impressed with the hype. The mainstream media was impressed with Luke's talking skills. My jaw was still on the floor.

Of course I want to be proven wrong. I want all the kids who graduate from Pgh Public Schools to have college tuition paid for -- starting with the seniors in high school today. Of course I want Santa to climb down from our roof and leave us presents on the night of Dec 24th too. But let's be real. The Pittsburgh Promise is nothing but a broken promise. We must stop the lies we deliver to our kids. They know better and they see it. And, when they can -- they leave. They don't want to live with false hopes. We need honesty.

If we need a fix on local issues without personality -- we can always turn to the Allegheny Institute -- and Jake, who should not be confused with Justine.

Live blogging Peduto's site launch

I'm here at Pittsburgh's Podcamp having a fun time. Friends are calling my cell. Justine is live blogging in a seat in front of me. David T is passing out campiagn materials. He is running for the Allegheny County at-large seat. Travis is next to me. We talked about New Zealand and the Ron Morris show this morning.

Bill is late.

Matt and I heart burgh are here among other Peduto heads.

Steve from Duquesne is here too. He was the caller just ahead of me on yesterday's Lynn Cullen show talking about impeachment, constitutional lines of the president and war. Steve attended my last podcamp presentation some months ago. He'll be a blogger soon.

Guru.com's live wire, Jia, was talking with Justine and then figured out he was streaming. He went on to kick himself. Funny. You gotta know what you say could be out on the web, realtime. Eeeks. Here is a note to self -- always be nice.

WDUQ microphone ison the table. Bill sits. A big screen is in the background. The room is full, about 60 people.

Monthly podcast. V-Cast. Bill's Blog. Online libary.

By the end of October. Every minute of a weekend you'd not have enough time.

Raise the bar and based on issues.

Take out the personality issues. But, the talk was about how the people who are going ON TO council RAN (past tense) on reform.

There are a lot of things that Bill didn't do.

Directing the operation is my former campaign manager, Matt Preston. This is a very different team. Fresh approach.

It is not about personality, but Justine sits down and rides the bus with Steve Bland. You'll be able to click on one button and contact all you state legislatures. You'll be able to send email to all the members on city council.

The Gathering Hurd -- Marshall. ??

To talk to politians.

Pokey, the bobble head doll can tell if your street needs to be re-paved.

Events. What about a Gmail calendar for Grant Street.

Camping, trivia, mini-golf, white water rafting. Bottom line, we want to make it fun, so says Bill.

Bottom line isn't reforming Pittsburgh.

Excited to see the comments. First episode is the public transit. The next episode is emerging economy, the New Mon Valley. The 3rd, culture/arts/history to revitalize the city. Going to be all over the city.

Later, community benefits agreements.

Asked Bill about use of the Google Calendar I started some months (or a year) ago.

It's the spending

It's the spending - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The underlying problem isn't taxation -- it's spending. Unless big government and its programs of welfare, warfare, regulation and intrusion are drastically limited to constitutionally authorized functions, then we'll become a little country with a debt problem plaguing generations to come.

New Web site urges reform in Pittsburgh politics

New Web site urges reform in Pittsburgh politics Mr. Kownacki, who has been producing Web video for four years, said 'a lot of folks just do it for their own personal gain, or to have their own voices heard by the masses. What you don't see a lot of is actual pro-active video, or social media in general that tries to rally people to a cause, get them to actually effect change.'

Perhaps Justin does not see a lot of pro-active video nor social media that aims to get people to effect changes for causes. But, it is out there. And, it has been for some time.

Remember Ground Zero and Ground Zero's Art of News?

There have been plenty of social calendar sites in Pittsburgh.

People that have nothing to do with politics as reformers should be interesting. I won't be watching. No, I'll be an uninvited participant.

My first question: Will you need a username and password to view the blog, like the last time Peduto ran a blog?

My next question: Will spoofing be possible. If so, it will be a problem.

My last question now: Can I call for a vote?

The blog is on -- and so is my seminar on Saturday at Podcamp

The blog is on - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review'Pittsburgh was kind of at the forefront of blogging, before it became mainstream,' said Mike Woycheck, administrator of the Web site Pittsburgh Bloggers. The site started in 2004, and now has a directory of 600 blogs in greater Pittsburgh. 'We've been very open and embracing of this new medium.' The city's changing political climate fuels a lot of its blogs, said Woycheck, 32, of Ignomar. 'Pittsburghers use blogging to vent ideas and complaints. It's a way to make creative responses to all the issues we're facing. This medium is really on the pulse of people's concerns.' The demographic of bloggers in Pittsburgh runs the gamut, Woycheck said. 'We have 20-somethings to 50-somethings; blogs about every day life and issues. Sometimes it's bitter, sometimes it's humorous, sometimes it's snarky, but it's always lively discussion.'

ESPN Page 2 - Jackson: Looking for heroes

ESPN Page 2 - Jackson: Looking for heroes It's called 'Books 'N Hoops.' Emphasis on books. A camp where both girls and guys play ball in T-shirts with 'The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall' on their backs. Mandela has their backs.

Splendid.

City Council's Shields lived a double life as Stevie Steeler - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

City Council's Shields lived a double life as Stevie Steeler - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewIt was the hardest day of work in my life.'

No kidding.

Festival highlights region’s diversity

Nice insights from the Pgh Courier on the events downtown -- now in session.

Festival highlights region’s diversity The four-day DiverseCITY Pittsburgh Festival seeks to encourage diversity in every aspect of life—in the workplace and in the community.