New Poll Question -- on the left margin. What should Russ do? Next challenge could be...

A political friend from the center of Pennsylvania, Russ Diamond, founder of PA Clean Sweep, is the target of the new poll put on this blog.

He is wondering as to what comes next for himself and his network of friends, associates and comrades in reform.

I think that the call to end property tax is strong -- but -- it isn't my cup of tea. As to a policy, I think we should get to a land-value tax. That would requre an end to property tax as we know it. But, it would be a shift back to just taxing the land. The property tax also hits upon the value of the buildings. We should push for a return to the land value tax in Allegheny County. The land value tax works well in urban areas. However, it isn't, perhaps, the best solution for rural areas. So, I feel that it isn't going to work well as a state-wide issue.

Furthermore, I think it is good to have local taxes so locals can do self government.

The other polling option is the call for a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention. That is very exciting. I think we should have a Constitutional Convention and I want to be a part of that process.

Some are sure to say that if a Constitutional Convention would unfold, there would be a swarm of 'special interest lobbyist' attempt to take over the convention. That would be true. However, we've got to prohibit that from happening.

I'm in favor of a Constituional Convention. I'm willing to take that risk. And, I feel that the existing Constitution is pretty darn good. However, it is abused today. So, one of the items that needs to be put into the next document is a punishment to those who would challenge what is constitutional by making illegal laws.

Lend your opinion to the poll with a click or two. Thank!

Logic Emotion: My Blogging "Secrets" Revealed

Tips.

Logic Emotion: My Blogging "Secrets" Revealed: "The thing about people who write blogs (notice I didn't say bloggers) is that we don't have a ton of secrets to our 'craft'. If you choose to follow what we do, you'll pretty much figure it out for yourself. That said, Steph Grenier has put together a book called Blog Blazers where 40 indivuduals including the likes of Seth Godin, Steve Rubel and Rohit Bhargava share their tips. I'm in it too. Here's what I said:

USOC reorganizes staff to focus on starting TV network - More Sports - SI.com

USOC reorganizes staff to focus on starting TV network - More Sports - SI.com: "The U.S. Olympic Committee reorganized part of its management team, a move that will allow chief operating officer Norm Bellingham more time to focus on starting an Olympic television network sometime in the next few months.

When the USOC hires a new chief marketing officer to replace Rick Burton, who resigned earlier this month, that person will report to CEO Jim Scherr instead of Bellingham. Bellingham is in charge of developing the TV network. Last month, he said the long-planned network could be up and running in 100 days."

It all depends upon what "is" is. The numbers are only numbers.

EDUCATION: MIDDLE SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS SPIKE (News)
By: Chris Young - November 20, 2008
A drastic one-year increase in disciplinary problems in Pittsburgh's middle schools has some education experts wondering whether public school officials should be teaching the district's code of conduct along with...
http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws//gyrobase/Content?oid=55661

Where do you begin with this quagmire?

Once upon a time, there was talk that next year was to be the year for "discipline." That was to be the year-long focus. Then that year came and passed and not much changed -- except a lot of new schools were hatched and other priorities trumped the notion of "discipline" being the top worry.

To be certain, discipline is a hard thing to witness and see. It isn't as obvious as test scores nor new windows that won't open because they've been screwed shut. Discipline is hard to witness from the outside, most of all. Those that are in the schools can see it. But those who are 'educational advocates' or on nonprofit boards have to be lucky to hear what's what.

Be safe. Push where you can. Pull when it makes sense. Get others out of their comfort zones and into positive acts of growth and learning.

Convention Center park ready to move ahead

Convention Center park ready to move ahead: "Officials are hoping to get started next summer on an $8.5 million riverfront park at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The project, overseen by the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority, would feature a 25-foot platform that would extend over the Allegheny River and provide docking for the Gateway Clipper fleet, water taxis, and other boats. The park also would be the last piece needed to provide a continuous trail link from the Strip District to Point State Park."

Put in a shower and changing room there too, so I can swim in the Allegheny River. A bike rack and kayak racks -- with a hose and smooth access to the roof of cars would be swell too. But the swimmers access part is a must.

Convention Center park ready to move ahead

Convention Center park ready to move ahead: "Officials are hoping to get started next summer on an $8.5 million riverfront park at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The project, overseen by the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority, would feature a 25-foot platform that would extend over the Allegheny River and provide docking for the Gateway Clipper fleet, water taxis, and other boats. The park also would be the last piece needed to provide a continuous trail link from the Strip District to Point State Park."

Put in a show and ladder so I can swim in the Allegheny River and then take a shower. A changing room would be swell too.

In the hoop: Cities that score and others that don't.

The NCAA has selected five cities to host the Men's Division I Basketball Final Four from 2012 to 2016 -- and Beijing was not tops on its list for any of the years.

New Orleans for 2012
Atlanta for 2013
North Texas for 2014 in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
Indianapolis for 2015 (7th time to host the NCAA Men's Finals)
Houston for 2016

Finalist cities that were not picked are Detroit, Minneapolis, Glendale, Ariz., San Antonio and St. Louis.

Pittsburgh and Philly didn't even show up on the radar as they're both city's are putting a focus on getting events for NASCAR, golf, handgun deaths and BassMasters fishing.

This won't be the Zombie Christmas -- but next year might be

Perhaps the new high school in Pittsburgh could use The Zombie as its mascot.

Who wants to help me get that campaign started.

Pgh Public Schools is to open a new Science and Technology High School in the fall of 2009. It will be located in the existing Frick Middle School, in Oakland. That school will team up with the new University Prep High School, just opened the fall of 2008.

Presently, the U-Prep kids play with the Schenley Spartans -- a school that has been split up last year. We all know that story.

But, for now, the Schenley legacy is still alive. But it is getting phased out.

In the year(s) to come, new teams and mascots and high school names are going to be crafted. The I.B. High / I.B. World is going to need a new name and mascot. Plus, the Univ. Prep and Science and Tech Schools are going to field joint sports teams.

Well .... here is the plan.

Let's make the mascot for the U-Prep / Science and Tech high school the Zombie.

The Zombie would play to Pittsburgh's roots. And, required reading for all athletes and boosters could be WWZ.

Agree?

Should we start a petition?

What about the colors? Should they be orange and purple? Orange was a color of South Vo Tech -- now defunct. Orange is the color of Halloween, of course.

Photo credit: Byron Dazey

Another one bites the dust -- PittGirl

So, PittGirl is done?

What's up with that?

She -- or he -- is the latest in a long string of folks who have pulled the plug and gone empty.

There was some chatter on FM 102.5 this morning, but I didn't catch it all.

The archives from PittGirl's blog have been nuked.

Winter Sports get underway

Mid November -- the start of the winter season for high school athletes. Coaches are getting ready to make cuts. Players are gearing up for their first competitions.

(click for larger view.)

Love the Adidas advertisement / illustration. This poster was part of the ad campaign used in China for the Olympics. Notice the player is walking with the help of thousands of people in support. She is wearing the red and yellow of China. The people are in black-and-white. Such a sea of humanity doing everything from holding the basketball hoop to giving lift to the player's feet over their heads.

This is a sports twist to the theme of, "It takes a village."

Ironic twists: Restricting Freedoms and Choices

....Congressman Ron Paul - Restricting Freedoms and Choices - Texas Straight Talk: "news from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that many health care facilities under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church may be shut down as a result of the so-called “Freedom of Choice Act” for refusal to perform abortions.

Not only does this Act seem to have growing support in Congress, the President-elect and his Administration have indicated support for this legislation. Since many people cast their votes in a way that they believed would help to improve and increase availability of health care, this is an ironic twist.

Of course, the government takeover of health care began a long time ago, but we should be wary of how far that takeover will go if more private providers are forced out of the marketplace....

Mon River solids are a threat to machinery, but not health

Mon River solids are a threat to machinery, but not health: "State Department of Environmental Protection tests show levels of microscopic contaminants are high again in a low-flowing, 70-mile stretch of the Monongahela River that serves as the water source for 350,000 people.

Although most of the customers of the 11 public water suppliers drawing water from the river will notice only the 'hard water' problem when they see the spots and cloudy residue on glassware emerging from their dishwashers, industry and utility companies are experiencing significantly higher water treatment costs.

There was a time when the captains of the steam ships that ran along the rivers here would not use the river water for their ship's engines. They would only use 'fresh water.'

Meanwhile, at the same time, there were seven beaches along the banks of the rivers here for swimmers -- all within the city limits.

Here we go again. We'll give the coal-fired power plants cleaner water than we'll serve ourselves and our kids from the tap. Likewise, we build more expensive places for the Penguins in the PPG Zoo & Aquarium and the Penguins in the National Aviary to swim within -- as opposed to places for our kids to swim.

Schenley student missing since Friday - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Schenley student missing since Friday - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pittsburgh police are looking for a Schenley High School senior who hasn't been seen or heard from since Friday.

Joseph Harris, 17, of Sheraden, was last seen Downtown boarding a Port Authority bus bound for Brighton Heights, where he told friends he was going to meet a man named 'G,' city police Lt. Kevin Kraus said.

Harris friends and relatives told investigators they don't know who 'G' is or why Harris was headed to meet him. Harris' cell phone has been turned off since friends saw him boarding the bus at 9 p.m. Friday, Kraus said."

A photo at this site:

Parents Plead For Return Of Missing Schenley High Student
WPXI.com - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh police are asking for the public’s help to find a 17-year-old Schenley High School senior who has been missing since Friday. ...

Bailouts are bad, so says a Libertarian or two about the

Talking bailouts.

Andrew Davis Director of Communications of the Libertarian Party wrote of the big three:

Friend of Liberty,

This week, the main buzz is sure to be about possibly bailing-out the automotive industries in Detroit, known as the "Big Three." The Big Three consist of the three major automotive manufacturers: Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.

Politicians looking to appease their nervous constituency, interest groups (both from the United Auto Workers and those representing Big Automotive) looking for a handout and know-nothing political pundits looking for a juicy story will all tell you this is necessary for the economic well being of the nation.

In this time of economic turmoil, it's easy to suggest government has the answers, especially when it is backed by sweet-sounding rhetoric and promises of better times. For those that don't know the historical failures of government intervention in the market, it just might sound good enough to swallow.

However, like most government programs, the reality is far, far different from the rhetoric.

Bailouts are ALWAYS bad for the taxpayer, for the economy, and for business. Why? Because rewarding the mismanagement of American corporations with a taxpayer-subsidized lifeline does NOTHING to encourage reform or fix the problems that pushed the companies to the brink of failure. As we said in a recent statement, these bailouts do nothing but prolong the inevitable collapse of companies suffering from extreme mismanagement and poor investments.

This is especially true in the case of automotive companies.

Detroit auto manufacturers have failed to keep up with trends in the automotive industry, locked themselves into destructive union contracts and demonstrated a complete lack of initiative in automotive innovations that make their products enticing to consumers.

Why are taxpayers being used to reward this mismanagement?

This is why Daniel J. Mitchell, a senior fellow at The Cato Institute, said the bailouts were like "giving an alcoholic the key to a liquor cabinet." Mitchell went on to list three important reasons why bailouts are bad news:

• A bailout will hurt the overall economy by misallocating resources. When politicians grant special favors to a certain industry or a particular union, such decisions necessarily mean that market forces are being replaced by special-interest deal-making. This type of interference with free markets is why nations such as France, Germany and Japan tend to grow more slowly and enjoy less prosperity.

But if America goes down this same path of government intervention, it is inevitable that we will suffer the same fate of stagnation and higher unemployment.

• A bailout will encourage other industries to seek taxpayer handouts. The Wall Street bailout was a disaster in many ways, most notably as measured by the weak stock market and economic volatility. But another negative aspect of the bailout is that other industries have now decided that it is OK to stick their snouts in the public trough, as well.

First Wall Street's high fliers get a bailout. Now the inefficient management and union at the Big Three want a handout. Who will be next in line to pillage taxpayers? Giving handouts in exchange for political support is akin to getting high. Once politicians decide they like the buzz of campaign contributions, they'll turn into junkies with ordinary Americans footing the bill.

• A bailout is a perverse transfer from poor taxpayers to rich taxpayers. America's Founding Fathers surely never envisaged that the federal government would take money from one group of Americans and give it to another group. Yet much of the federal budget is devoted to redistribution programs.

So, if the government can't bail-out these companies, what should happen to them?

Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy is by no means a no-hassle "way-out" for companies that have made bad decisions in the past, but it is by far preferable to taxpayers footing the bill for these companies struggling to stay afloat.

Bankruptcy will allow these companies to restructure to a more cost effective format, and it will allow them to "trim the fat" from their overhead so that they may once again become productive (and profitable) without risking trillions of dollars in taxpayer money. With court-oversight, these automotive factories may also redo expensive and entangling contracts with the Unions—a major reason why these automotive companies have become so costly to operate.

Overall, letting these companies go into restructuring, instead of preserving the status quo with taxpayer funds, is best for the long-term economic stability of both these companies and the nation.

There is no magic bullet for the current economic situation. However, we can learn from our mistakes, and refuse to repeat them—that is, don't run to the government to solve the problems that the marketplace should be taking care of itself.

At the beginning of the financial crisis, before government decided it would bailout these firms (by the way, check out how your money is being spent), other companies were looking to buy up their devalued competitors. Then, government rushed in to do a patch-job, and ended what could have been a very healthy market work-out without the government's help. Instead, government made the problem worse, with your money on the line.

Unfortunately, both Republicans and Democrats were behind it, leaving the taxpayers with no representation while your money was at stake.

Only the Libertarian Party is the true friend of the taxpayer, and we want you to know we are working night and day to maximize your economic freedom by limiting the power of the government to get involved in the economy. You've heard of the separation of Church and State, well, we'd like a separation of economy and State.

Hopefully you can use what you've read today to help battle the collective wisdom that bailouts are good for the economy, and we'll check back in next week with more for you about liberty and freedom in the United States.

Live free,

Andrew Davis
Director of Communications
Libertarian Party

Pittsburgh IB World, also known as "I B High"

Pittsburgh IB World: "Welcome to The International Baccalaureate 6–12 website*. Welcome to The International Baccalaureate 6–12 website*."

At least I. B. High is better than Weir High.

Today, my son, Erik, 13, 8th grade, young jedi, is at I.B. World HS -- or what's to be that next year. He's with a 10th grader on a 'shadow experience.' We'll de-brief later.

Libertarians and Corporate Power: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Cato Unbound » Blog Archive » Libertarians and Corporate Power: Actions Speak Louder Than Words The economic distortions and inequities created by government granted patent and copyright monopolies are enormous.

While there may be areas in which patents are an effective policy for promoting innovation, the abuses associated with patents for prescription drugs should be libertarians’ poster child for government policy gone crazy. The country is projected to spend almost $250 billion for prescription drugs this year (more than $800 per person). In the absence of government patent monopolies, we would spend close to one-tenth of this amount. Those generic drugs that Wal-Mart can profitably sell for $4 a prescription are not chemically distinct from the brand name drugs that can cost several hundred dollars.

Okay. Let's make a few libertarian-friendly bailouts for the sake of the economy.

Close the patent office for the next 10 years.

End all copyright protection cases and all allow for copyright infringement for the next 10 years. That might help the newspaper and media industries -- including the sale of flat-screen TVs.

From NZ dump

Another huge problem brewing is the cost of malpractice to doctors and the resulting loss of doctors in Pennsylvania. It OBG Docs are few and far between. They might all flee if something isn't done soon. Cap all medical harm cases to >$200,000 plus the cost of care into the futute.

The EPA, the FDA, the War On Drugs -- are all costly and different changes can be made with a new category of governmental saction. Outlaw all drug company advertisements to consumers for 10 years.

If you really want a stimulus package -- we can do that.

Allow those that suffer from the pollution to sue those make the pollution.

Wild haired suggestions are flying around like crazy. The pigs are in heaven. Let's get a grip on what really matters.

Stop investing in bombs.

Just sent to KDKA-Radio's Marty G:

Marty's comments about fixes from the bottom up do NOT wash as his target isn't really the bottom.

Helping the poor isn't what is being suggested with offered-solutions.

Say, "From the middle-up" is okay.

"From the bottom-up" is a lie.

The poor can't, won't and should not benefit from a tax credit for the purchase of a new car nor for hosting, yet alone attending, an office christmas party.

Honesty works.

The one solution he does speak of that is more for the poor is for the bailout to the poor municipalities such as Clariton and the Mon Valley.

Tim's Letter to Editor @ Obama's win to the Tribune Review

From Tim Stevens, Chairman, The Black Political Empowerment Project

Letter to the Editor

From Tim Stevens, Chairman, The Black Political Empowerment Project

Co-convener, Coalition Against Violence, November 10, 2008

As an African American who in 2009 will be celebrating forty (40) years as a community activist, I along with millions of African Americans throughout this nation, and millions of others of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds, were brought to tears, and near tears, with the election of Barack Obama as the President-elect of the United States of America. Many Americans at my age and older wondered if we would ever live to see such a day in our lifetimes. Tears of so many millions of voters were because what we had all been told all of our lives…that anyone could possibly grow up and become President of the United States. We were moved to tears because on November 4, 2008 that oft repeated belief had indeed become a reality with the landslide victory of Barack Obama. Instead of celebrating the record turnout of U.S. voters and the fact that Senator Obama, by winning several so-called “red states”, had in fact already begun to make this nation more of a “united states”, The Tribune Review chose to belittle the accomplishment of a candidate for whom many gave no chance when he first announced almost two years ago. He beat the odds and he beat them BIG!! The Tribune Review chose instead to ignore the comments of very impartial and even conservative pundits who clearly stated that Senator Barack Obama ran the superior campaign of anyone of either party, from beginning to end, and one which will be studied for years to come because of its excellence, effectiveness and efficiency. Barack’s campaign created new thresholds and new approaches, ones which will be emulated by many campaigns in the future. The nation was not, as the Tribune suggests “blinded” by the call for change, it embraced the need for change, stimulated by an exciting and inspiring candidate and by the fact this nation, during this current administration, is currently in its worse financial crisis since the Great Depression and still dealing with a war that millions, including many conservatives, agree should never have been launched. Neither of these unacceptable realities were under the supervision of an Obama administration. If there was any President of the United States “dangerous to all”, as the Tribune seems of accuse Sen. Obama of becoming, it should be the individual who has been sitting in the Oval Office during the past nearly 8 years. The reason why millions of German citizens waived those U.S. flags in front of Sen. Barack Obama when he spoke to them months ago, was because he represented to them what the United States of America has represented to the world historically, and what it could represent once again. The euphoric reaction to Mr. Obama’s election from so many parts of the globe should not be something belittled, but something embraced by all Americans.


As an African American who for the past year and one half has co-convened with Valerie Dixon of the Coalition Against Violence, approximately 65 meetings, it would have been great to see the Tribune Review boldly state that the election of a Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States could create a whole new sense of pride in Black youth, and particularly in Black males, hopefully leading to a new and more peaceful climate within the African American neighborhoods currently reeling from senseless deaths of young people. It would have been great to have the Tribune Review state that though they opposed his candidacy his election does seem to bring about to many millions a sense of hope not felt by many in this nation since possibly the election of Sen. John Kennedy to the Presidency. Instead of wishing the nation “the best of luck…for they’ll need all the luck that can be”, maybe the Tribune Review should have been saying that because of the youthful passion and intensity of a Barack Obama, his soaring and inspiring eloquence, his obvious ability to pull diverse people and sections and segments of our country together, his obvious brilliance and organizational skill, the Tribune should have been instead been saying “WE lucked out as a nation, now let’s get behind this inspirational leader and let him lead!”

Tim Stevens

c/o The Hill House Association

1835 Centre Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Moon School board takes action regarding swim coach

Moon School board takes action In a private meeting yesterday morning, Moon's school board decided to remove Jamie Morton from his position as aquatic director but to retain him as a middle school social studies teacher and as the varsity swim coach.

Mr. Morton, 41, had been faulted by the State Ethics Commission for using his position as aquatics director to enrich himself in private businesses. He has taught in the district since 1996.

There was 'shouting and arguing' during yesterday's meeting, said board member Benjamin Bonham.

'I'm very disappointed that the administration and the board lacked leadership to deal with a very obvious problem,' he said, adding that he believed that Mr. Morton deserved a harsher punishment. 'This is a terrible example to set for our children. Ethics obviously don't matter.'

This has been and remains a crazy ride.

I've got a lot to say, but will use guarded words, when I have the time to further investigate what's what. Until then -- you tell me (us), by leaving a comment in the blog post below.

Free Ian Freeman | Is 93 Days in Jail Just Punishment for Having a Couch on your Lawn?

Free Ian Freeman | Is 93 Days in Jail Just Punishment for Having a Couch on your Lawn?: "When Ian failed to sit down fast enough at 'trial', the 'judge' sentenced him to 30 days for contempt of court, moved him to a back room, sentenced him for another 60 days and, finally, 3 days for refusing to pay the couch-related fine.

Ian is currently incarcerated, serving a 93 day sentence - for refusing to bully his tenant into removing the couch and for sitting down too slowly. Is that just punishment?

What would Jim Motznik do - if he was the judge? What about Gene Ricciardi?

Could Bruce Kraus make a law to enforce about this too?

BarCamp Pittsburgh is a "Go" -- next weekend

Hello!

I've confirmed a small space at the Wilkins School Community Center
for BarCamp Pittsburgh next Saturday, 22 November, 2008. The BarCamp will
be colocated with the WPLUG November meeting. Full details are
available at:

Website: http://barcamp.org/BarCampPittsburgh
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=36047457634
Upcoming: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1365124/

I could use your help to forward these details to any discussion
groups, mailing lists, or blogs. A blurb about the event is included
below, though feel free to create your own. If you have any
suggestions on who else I should contact about BarCamp, please forward
me their info.

Also, I'm still looking for a few other organizations to help sponsor
the event. I'm covering the costs of the venue for the day, but could
use other sponsors to provide food for lunch, t-shirts and badges (all
optional, but very nice to have). Finally, if we could get one or two
digital projectors to use for the day, that would also help out.

Thanks so much!

--

BarCamp Pittsburgh launches Saturday, November 22

The first BarCamp Pittsburgh will be held next weekend on Saturday, 22
November at the Wilkins School Community Center in Swissvale. The
event will be co-located with the Western PA Linux User Group’s
November members meeting. However, you don’t have to be a kernel
hacker in order to attend BarCamp. Everyone is invited: programmers,
hackers, engineers, bloggers, artists, musicians, designers, writers,
poets, creators and makers of all stripes and colors.

Pittsburgh has already held a successful PodCamp for three years
running. Like PodCamp, BarCamp is a participant created event. The
schedule and agenda is determined by the attendees at the opening
session. Unlike PodCamp which has a specific focus on new media,
BarCamp is completely open to any topics. Typically sessions have a
creator/maker bent with everyone from designers to engineers showing
off their creations and teaching others how to do the same. For more
background on barcamp, read the wikipedia article or check out the
barcamp wiki.

Event Details

Date-Time: 22 November 2008, 9:30 AM for registration
Location: Wilkins School Community Center, 7604 Charleston Ave, Swissvale, Pennsylvania 15218
Web Site: http://barcamp.org/BarCampPittsburgh


--
J Aaron Farr jadetower.com [US] +1 724-964-4515
馮傑仁 cubiclemuses.com [HK] +852 8123-7905

Campaign Kick Off for Theresa Smith for Pittsburgh City Council -- today

Friends to Elect Theresa Smith for City Council Campaign Kick-off Event!

On Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 5 pm at Guardian Angels Church, (Formerly Saint Martin’s) 1030 Logue Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15220

Event Will Include: Beer, Light Food and Refreshments, Door Prizes, D.J. and Dancing, Chinese Auction and More!!!

For Additional Information, Please Call: Theresa Smith C: 412-969-4991

Be there if you care.

I'm a big fan of Theresa Smith. She may get my endorsement. Time will tell, of course. But for now, Go, Theresa, Go. I'll be there!

Three teens die in river in Illinois

The Teens, so the radio report said, snuck out on an trip at night. Took to some boats that had been "winterized." That means that the floor plugs on the bottom of the boats had been removed. Hence, they would have sunk.

So sad.

Looking for more details. Know anything, feel free to post in comments.

PodCampEDU

PodCamp Community UnConferences / PodCampEDU: "PodCamp for educators and those interested in education and multimedia!

Wish I was there.

OMGPittsburgh has a face lift and looks nice

Rauterkus Archive at OMGPittsburgh: "OMGPittsburgh is a grassroots group blogging project, born of...

With a nice new look!

It might snow this weekend!

We have a new furnace, (pump and boiler), new chimney liner, and I know how to bleed the system and use a hand pump -- a bike pump -- to restore pressure in the line after bleeding. So, we're getting ready for the colder weather.

New arena's cost rises $31 million

New arena's cost rises $31 million: "The cost of the replacement for Mellon Arena has soared to $321 million, forcing the Penguins, the state and the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority to pony up more money to complete the project."

No worries. The Pens just beat the Red Wings in a game this week. The $31 M looks like a pimple next to those other bailouts.

My Facebook Blub at Keep Brandeis Swimming & Diving Alive!!

Facebook | Keep Brandeis Swimming & Diving Alive!!: "The swimming pool is like a classroom -- or better yet -- a lab. Chem labs, Physics labs, Computer labs, swimming pool. And, in the swimming pool lab, one gets to study human performance that stands a test of time, space and, of course, relationships. Keep the pool -- as you want to keep great places for learning. Keep the team, as you want to keep scholars fit. Keep the program, because you want to keep (and keep attracting) the institution competitive with the best and brightest around the east and around the world.

Mark Rauterkus

PS: students from Pittsburgh apply to and attend Bradeis -- and we were impressed with them and their prep that allowed them to enter Brandeis.

Brandeis Future In Limbo

Anyone with a connection to Brandeis and/or swimming is asked to speak up ASAP.

CollegeSwimming.com::Brandeis Future In Limbo As many of you have heard, the Linsey Pool has been closed indefinitely due to major mechanical issues. I have been in close contact with Coach over the past 2 weeks as the team has been training off campus. Although no announcement has been made, all indications point to the very real possibility that the program will be cut after this season.

This decision will be made by senior university administration – not the athletic department. We have a tiny window of opportunity to express ourselves so our efforts must be unified, and directed through the proper channels. Our most immediate primary objective is to prevent senior administrators from announcing that the program has been cut. Once an announcement has been made it will be even more difficult to convince them to reverse course.

Election Frauds - Views - Potter's Field - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh

Splendid reporting and story telling!

Election Frauds - Views - Potter's Field - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh: "In Allegheny County, Republicans -- the 'family values' party -- challenged emergency ballots filed by several pregnant women who were in labor on Election Day. Unless their claims of pregnancy were notarized, Republican attorney Ron Wicks told WTAE-TV news, 'We don't know if there's really an emergency.'
Seeking notaries for an emergency-ballot request is proper procedure. But if Republicans were willing to go toe-to-toe with pregnant moms ('Oh, and thanks for choosing life, ladies!') you can be sure they'd have trumpeted any fraud they discovered. Their silence is telling."

Fine Mess - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh

Open up a business in Pittsburgh and have to deal with this treatment. Then the business closes. Go figure.

Fine Mess - News - News - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh: "In 2005, Milton Barr used lots of green paint to cover the exterior of 1020 East Carson St. with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mural. But he may need a lot more green -- about $200,000 more -- to erase the fines he incurred by doing so.
Barr, 21, closed his South Side arcade and video-rental store, MIB Ninja Entertainment, in August. The lime-green Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mural has since been covered with dark-red and brown paint. But although the mural is out of sight, it's still very much in the city's mind."

We used to shop there. We miss them. But, we don't miss them worth $200,000.

If South Siders have been complaining for years about the mural, whey is this the first I heard of the complaint? Was there ever an informational picket? Was there ever a letter to the editor? Perhaps there was and I just missed it -- stuck in my turtle shell.

And it isn't only the video store that is gone. MDI, the computer consultants that have been business people for the past decade or more are gone too. I noticed that the business was vacant a few weeks ago and it caused me to wonder. Now the answer is out, it seems.

By the way, our house in the South Side is just outside of the historic district. Perhaps he would like to buy the outside of my house for $200,000. Let's negotiate.

CBK, a big friend to the South Side

CBK, a women with grand hats, a warm approach and many friends on the South Side, was like none other. Peace to you and your family and your countless friends.

Swim tip: High hips in fly

The images above are from the 2008 Olympics, men's 200-meter fly, a semi-final heat. Sorry, I don't have the swimmers' names. Do you?

The important instance on this photo is the high hips with the black suit in the middle frame. See how much of the swimmer's body is above the surface of the water. The lower back, the bottom, the hips, and even a large bit of the top of the back of the legs are clearly in the air.

To get the hips high, the kick has to be deep and downward. Plus, the head needs to be low. It is impossible to have high hips when the head and feet are up. Everything can't be UP.

With the high hips, the feel for the swimmer is to drive over the water, dolphin style. Don't sink along in the water.

Finally, some say it is very hard for the rookie swimmers to swim butterfly in a slow manner. Swim fast. Swim fly as fast as you can. Get moving as it is not possible to get high in the water when the total speed is more rock-like.

HEAL Alabama

Nice video at HEAL Alabama. I wonder how the program is progressing?

http://FixPA.wikia.com/HEAL_Alabama

Shadowing

Nice photo of The Water Cube in Beijing.

We've got four days of shadowing -- starting today. Grant, 5th grader, is visiting a middle school, Frick, today.

Frick is the same school his brother, Erik, has attended for the past three years. But, Frick is changing next year. Frick moves out of Oakland and into a Reizenstein -- and it becomes a school with grades that span from 6th to 12th grades. Frick is a good school and we're sad to have it change in such a drastic way.

He'll also visit Rodgers, the creative and performing arts middle school on Nov 21. Rodgers isn't going to be where it is today next year either. Rodgers moves downtown and it gets merged into the CAPA High School -- making another 6th to 12th grade school. Grant's first natural talent, violin, won't be put on display there. Rather, he'll go for his other talent -- creative writing.

The present 6th grade creative writing group of students at Rodgers is without any boys. There are 11 slots for next year.

Meanwhile, Erik has a choice to make for schools for next year too. He'll visit Allderdice tomorrow, Nov. 13. Then on Monday, Nov 17, Erik goes to the I.B. High -- Reisenstein -- and tags along with a guy in 10th grade. The present 9th graders are in the basement of Frick Middle School. Next year they'll have a new flux of students at Reizenstein.

Tweets from @cameronmoll

So, the government and Fannie/Freddie want to help homeowners with overpriced mortgages stay in their homes.

Suzanne and I have been renting for 2+ years specifically to wait until homes come back down to reasonable purchase price.

Where's the government *home buying* program for those of us fiscally responsible enough to have avoided an overpriced mortgage?

The rich get richer, it seems.

Next up the American auto industry that has been pimping Hummers and SUVs for way too long.

For people to be free to have success there also needs to be a freedom to fail.

Flag quiz: Can you name them?

Click for a larger image.

Post your answers in the comments of this blog post.

It is a big world, isn't it.

At least five eye City Council seat - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

At least five eye City Council seat - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Theresa N. Smith, 49, of Westwood, a special education coordinator;"

Neighborhoodwalk Salute to Vets

For some reason, 11-11 was picked as a day to do this joint project for a "neighborhoodwalk." This gives good cause to offer up a walk that is a salute to all veterans. Honor, peace and wellness to all. Thanks for your service, in the past, present and future.

Let's hope -- as in HOPE -- that the United States does a great job in giving care to all our vets in the future with a robust VA Medical System. That is where the healthcare discussion should always begin.

And, let's HOPE that few men and women are injured and killed in service in the weeks, months and years to come.

Walls Are Bad - Outdoor Recreation in Southwestern Pennsylvania - Home Page

Walls Are Bad - Outdoor Recreation in Southwestern Pennsylvania - Home Page Talking about this on 3:15 pm and beyond today at AM 1360.

Neighborhoodwalk -- p1

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

Taking a long walk on a long pier.

As we get into winter, those here, are getting set for summer. Tonight, we feel a bit too much like those in Christchurch -- as we're without central heat.

Flag quiz: Name those flags, if you can.

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa) regains party status

Auditor General candidate, Betsy Summers, leads LPPa in vote total

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
3915 Union Deposit Road #223
Harrisburg, PA 17109
www.lppa.org

For Immediate Release: November 10, 2008

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


Harrisburg, PA – More than 170,000 Pennsylvanians voted for Libertarian Auditor General candidate Betsy Summers, thereby enabling the Libertarian Party to regain political party status in Pennsylvania.

With party status, the LPPa can participate in special elections and voter registration forms will include the LP as a pre-printed option. Unfortunately, the LP is still subject to Pennsylvania’s restrictive ballot access laws. According to State Senator Mike Folmer, “No state makes it more difficult for minor party and independent candidates to run for public office than Pennsylvania.”

In other state-wide races, LPPa candidate Marakay Rogers captured more than 105,000 votes for Attorney General and Berlie Etzel received more than 116,000 votes for State Treasurer. LP Presidential candidate Bob Barr received just 19,000 votes in Pennsylvania but over a half million votes nationally.

Per Media Relations Chair, Doug Leard, “We are happy to have regained party status and encouraged by the election results. Pennsylvanians cast 440,502 votes for Libertarian candidates. Betsy Summers received the second highest vote total in LPPa history. Berlie Etzel received the third highest total. Nationally, Bob Barr did the best of all our presidential candidates since Ed Clark in 1980.”

“We are also very optimistic about our future” continued Leard. “The big spending, big government, big bailout path of the Republican and Democratic parties present a significant opportunity for the Libertarian Party to become the standard bearer for Americans who believe in small, limited government.”

In other races involving the LPPa, James Fryman received 2.2% of the vote in the 5th Congressional District and Mary Lea Lucas received 15.5% of the vote in the 21st State Senate District. In General Assembly races, David Posipanka received 11.1% in the 35th district. Michael Robertson received 2.3% in the 63rd district. Vance Mays obtained 13.2% in the 64th district and Erik Sanchez received 1.8% in the 180th district.

LPPa Chairman Michael Robertson stated “I would like to thank all of our candidates and their supporters in this past election. The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania and its candidates bring perspectives to the political discourse that others do not. We will continue to promote the fundamental American principles of individual liberty, personal responsibility, and limited government.”

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in Pennsylvania and the United States. More than 200,000 people across the country are registered Libertarians, and Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information.

Rust Belt Neighborhood Walk - to happen in one day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cynthia Closkey, 724-602-2332, cynthia -at- mybrilliantmistakes -dot- com

BLOGGERS TAKE THE WORLD ON VIRTUAL TOURS OF REAL-LIFE NEIGHBORHOODS

They’re using cutting-edge technology to revitalize Rust Belt cities

The problems of post-industrial cities seem so complex, intertwined, and entrenched, it’s hard to imagine how to start restoring these places to their former glory.

But a group of bloggers says that getting started can be as simple as taking a walk.

The Neighborhood Walk is a chance for individuals throughout the Rust Belt of the U.S. and Canada to recognize the place they live, work, or call home — and to introduce it to the world. The project is the inspiration of a social network called Rust Belt Bloggers.

On November 11, 2008 (11/11/2008), bloggers, podcasters, vloggers, photobloggers and others throughout the Rust Belt region will each take a walk around their neighborhood, make media about it — a blog post, photo gallery, video, or whatever you prefer — and post it on the web.

More info.

Visit Rust Belt Bloggers at: http://rustbelt.ning.com

From Mark Rauterkus

I expect to have a tour of my neighborhood soon, so as to play along with the joint proect.

Ravenstahl calls for unity in Pittsburgh budget address

Ravenstahl calls for unity in Pittsburgh budget address: "Ravenstahl calls for unity in Pittsburgh budget address

When I hear the "UNITY" word, I get worried. When it is in a headline, it is worse.

Of course Luke Ravenstahl wants unity as he approaches a city election year. Duhh. He doesn't want competition.

Plus, he is trying to be 'family' centered -- as he is now a dad, for the first time.

Parenting can change your life. There is always a promise that it should.

Sounds like Philly is doing just what Pittsburgh did already. Cut recreation. So silly.

Sports Illustrated is one of many with job cuts looming

Sports Illustrated needs 40 bodies gone within two weeks, says managing editor Terry McDonnell:
For the reasons outlined in Ann Moore’s reorganization announcement of 10/28/08, the Sports Illustrated Group will reduce the size of its staff across all properties. At the magazine, we will reduce staff in the following guild-covered categories:
copy editors, photographers, designers, photo equipment technicians, picture catalogers, picture researchers, reporter-researchers, research assistants, writer-editors, writer-reporters.

A number of jobs not covered by the guild will also be eliminated at the magazine and across the group. Approximately 40 guild and non-guild volunteers are needed over the next two weeks to avoid involuntary job eliminations. If the number of volunteers falls short by Monday, December 1, involuntary layoffs will begin.

Like Disney's parade -- but yet different

On the Olympic Green, they had a parade. I got to stand next to the gal who was representing the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The dates were July 19 to August 4, 1996, as shown on her wings. All of the Olympics were with a different angel, of sorts. The main float is seen in the photo just over my head.

It was an interesting parade. And, it was fun to be on the subway home that day as all the dancers were boarding just as we were.

As for remembering, 18 years ago, today, we got married. I tweeted about our 'gift.'

The 1984 girl.

Have you been to jail for justice, recently?

Peace activist John Dear to speak here today: "The Rev. John Dear, a peace activist and Jesuit priest, will discuss his book 'A Persistent Peace' today at 7 p.m. at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, South Side.
He has been arrested 75 times for protests, but most recently made news because a former Guantanamo Bay prosecutor sought Father Dear's counsel before resigning over concerns about the fairness of the war crimes tribunals there.

A song title from Anne Feeney is, "Have You Been to Jail for Justice?"

Mayor writes himself a ticket to court

Mayor writes himself a ticket to court Mountain or molehill? There are, of course, two sides.

No. There are more than two sides. Even a coin has three sides, as you've got to count the edge.

First, the elected official needs to be honest. Don't use the ticket book and scratch another person's name on the citation. That's a lie. That's not honest and not 'transparent.'

Second, the elected official needs to do his or her job -- and not "over reach." The purpose of government needs to be understood and followed. As wires get crossed, things get ugly, very quickly. And, in turn, solutions are hard as hell to develop.

When city council becomes a developer, then the developers become the law setters.

If everyone did what the role called for them to do, then we'd be much better.

Our bus system builds a tunnel. Our housing authority sells air rights. Our stadium authority, from the time of Three Rivers Stadium, still exists.

Third, I have no problem with citations being delivered by folks other than the police -- if that policy can be passed by the people.

It would be great if the citizens could slap a ticket onto a parked car that blocks an intersection. We don't need the police to do that, all the time. If a dog drops a stinker on the sidewalk that isn't picked up -- it could result in a ticket for the dog owner, without police intervention. But, we'd need to adjust the regular mode of operations to allow that to occur.

If there is a will, there is a way. Some checks and balances need to be established. Some evidence of credit needs to be earned by the one who has the authority to deliver the ticket.

Judges will decide in the end. Fines need to be modest, if not minimal.

This theme, taken with a larger view, is much like a pollution case getting handed to a corporation from a neighbor rather than the EPA. Damages done can be collected in court between private parties.

We all have standing with air polution, illegally parked cars, and dogs crap on sidewalks.

"Our position is that in order for a parking ticket to be issued it has to be issued under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, and only a police officer has the power to do that, to issue a citation."

That's B.S. Is a ticket a criminal procedure? And, what became of the notion that everyone is responsible for fighting crime?

I'd love to see expanded operations of the school crossing guards. They should be given the ability to write tickets. If a car speeds by a bus stop and the crossing guard takes notice of the license plate -- a ticket could / should be mailed to the car owner. I'd much rather have those powers in the hands of people rather than automatic stop-light cameras.

Try the Politics of Sports. - washingtonpost.com

Missing the Campaign? Try the Politics of Sports. - washingtonpost.com By Dave Zirin
Sunday, November 9, 2008; Page B05

It's a long-standing lament of the political activist: 'If only people devoted the time, effort and attention to politics that they apply to sports, we could change the world.'

Presidential Transition Team

Presidential Transition Team: "Message to Presidential Nominees and Appointees, and Members of the President-elect's Transition Team

DRE 700 is running strong

Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman formed partnership to operate a pool in Baltimore

Great news for both the story of the community and the swimming.

Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman formed partnership to operate a pool in Baltimore - More Sports - SI.com: "BALTIMORE (AP) -- Michael Phelps and his coach, Bob Bowman, have formed a partnership to operate the pool where the Olympic swimmer began training at age 7.

Their partnership, Aquatic Ventures LLC, formally announced on Friday that it was taking over at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center and the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, which produced Phelps and six other Olympians over four decades.

'We're just very excited to be home,' Bowman said. 'This is our home.'

Taking a walk

I'm walking on The Great Wall. Don't trip.

1 charged in PSU football rioting is from WVU

Can you smell skapegoat? It takes a WVU student to go to State College to kick up a real storm after a football game victory. Go figure.

14 charged in PSU football rioting: "The suspects include a West Virginia University student, a University of Maryland student and two others who are not Penn State students.

OC Moms - A place for Mom's in Orange County: Mom Bloggers Emerge as Crucial to a Brand's Success

How many Pittsburgh mom's have blogs?

OC Moms - A place for Mom's in Orange County: Mom Bloggers Emerge as Crucial to a Brand's SuccessMom Bloggers Emerge as Crucial to a Brand's Success

The Top 5 Sporting Rivalries!

The Top 5 Sporting Rivalries!: "Sporting rivalries can often be as absorbing to watch as the sports themselves and usually occur as a result of two teams or individuals competing to be the ultimate champion. However other factors can come into the equation such as locality, religion and politics. Combining these ingredients often results in an epic sporting encounter which grips the entire sporting world.

These are my top 5 sporting rivalries

What a list.

Boxing, Tennis, Skating, Cricket, and Football.

Pitt vs. Penn State in football, nor the Backyard Brawl or the Steelers vs. Browns is on his list.

Jazz Violinist Billy Bang

If you are looking for something exotic to do on Saturday night Jazz Violinist Billy Bang will be at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. Definitely interesting and unusual. Read the story on him and his film presentation to see if you are interested and it's appropriate at http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobas/Content?oid=oid%3A54839

Billy Bang & The Aftermath Band. 8 p.m. Sat., Nov. 8. Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. $25 ($30 day of show). 412-322-0292 or http://www.proartstickets.org

Feels like Paris - photo needs a $9M subsidy to get there

Who wants to go to Paris? Who wants to pay $9-million to Delta Airlines as a 'golden parachute' on its risk for flights from Pittsburgh to Paris?

Live Blogging an interview:

Dan Onorato on Marty Griffin: Not true. There is a backstop guarantee. And, it is 'private money.'

Why does it matter. It is much easier to do the transfers in Europe than in the US on the east coast. You loose an entire day.

We have 330 companies in Pgh that employ 46,000 people. They were loosing a day of work.

If you give us direct flights, we'll provide the tickets.

Most airports offer a waiver of landing fees of flights to airports. You give us direct flights, we'll waive landing fees. Not lost revenue.

We'll guarantee so much revenue. It is a bonus of $5M in first year. $4M in second year. There are only two years in this deal. That's the $9M in the headline.

The first year's total of $5M breaks with $2.5 M from private companies and $2.5M from the commonwealth. That's PA Tax Money going to Delta. In year two, it is $2Million from private sector and $2Millionn from PA. Real money from Pennsylvania is $2.5M + $2M.

Private sector does not want to pay for this. But, who is the 'private money' supplier -- exactly?

Onorat said, "International companies are key!" Dan Onorato could not put the county into the deal. The private sector has really stepped up.

Onorato: "I want to have this conversation a year from now. If they pack it, (the flights from Pittsburgh to Paris) then the state would not need to have the state nor private money involved."

Then a caller to the show said that the last thing that this region needs is another fleecing from an airline company. We need transparency.

Perhaps the reporting wasn't 'ideal.' But, it isn't 'transparent.'

Companies that offer a 'backstop' are on the hook. But, who is going to extract that money from them if needed? How does that deal work, exactly?

A rehash of Mark C's vote for President

This isn't my words, but that of another Libertarian named Mark. Mark C posted:

I voted for Barr. His change of heart on several issues, real or not, was enough of a "man bites dog" story (reversal on drug war and PATRIOT Act) that I figured he could capture some media attention. I wish it had captured more attention than it did.

Besides, the thrifty Republicans spent like drunken Democrats. Their last Iraq war justification was as a welfare program aimed at an inner city that was a nation. Those protectors-of-the-little-guy Democrats let the PATRIOT Act and REAL ID stand untouched. As long as we treat all citizens like they're guilty members of a sleeper cell, then that's our fairness doctrine. And, hey, Homeland Security, TSA, etc. are big enough expansions of government that any Democrat could overlook potential civil rights trashing.

Barr's debate logic escaped me. He won't win, I understand that. I'll then settle for either educating people about LP ideas or to forcing the media to address ignored questions. This is where I think he missed the boat or that boat didn't even sail.

I wish he would have debated the other third party candidates as often as possible. Surely he's a smart enough guy to present a case that without both personal and economic freedom we're all at risk. That's the education part that didn't happen enough.

I also wish he would have screamed something like, "Why are Republicans spending like drunken Democrats? and "Why hasn't the Democrat congress repealed the PATRIOT Act?" and "Why do both parties want new, expensive departments that only serve to threaten individual rights? Those questions may have been asked, but I certainly didn't hear them enough.

Mark C.

Council OKs $1.8 million for Zone 3 police station - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This is silly spending. This is "churn." They are moving for the sake of moving. There is no 'expansion.' The city is in decline. This isn't a new station. This is a move. Move the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.

Furthermore, they are moving into a facility that should be a youth hostel. Pittsburgh could use a youth hostel. We had one. It was miss-managed by a bunch of weenies on the Youth Hostel Board. They drove the facility to the brink and beyond.

Then the URA took over the building. The URA should have done some URBAN REDEVELOPEMENT there. But no. The URA only sells the building to the city. That isn't what urban redevelopment looks like. That is a total failure.

The building should be put back into the hands of a private owner. Do a joint partnership if you must with the building. Make it into a B&B. Make it into a teacher's quarters for out of town teachers to lodge. Make it into a Ronald McDonald's House for families who have kids staying in area hospitals.

The URA, again, failed the city.

The city, again, failed the taxpayers.

The police, again, move to a station that isn't ideal.

The only ones who make out are the folks who do the churning -- perhaps a few contractors.

Council OKs $1.8 million for Zone 3 police station - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pittsburgh City Council today tentatively approved a $1.8 million plan to renovate a new Pittsburgh police station in the city's Allentown neighborhood.

The Warrington Avenue building is owned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority and once served as a youth hostel. If council members approve the renovation plan in a final vote Tuesday, the city will own the building.

City Council raises fine for drinking alcohol outdoors to $200

Why not just enforce the existing law four times as much?

City Council raises fine for drinking alcohol outdoors to $200: "City Council raises fine for drinking alcohol outdoors to $200
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Pittsburgh Council today approved quadrupling the fine for open container law violations today, meaning that anyone nabbed drinking alcohol in the streets could be hit with a $200 fine.
'The nuisance problem with open containers in neighborhoods like the South Side Flats, like Oakland, seriously sap our public safety services,' said Councilman Bruce Kraus, the prime sponsor.

You can't legislate good behaviors. Government can't punish the people and expect to good results.



There are plenty of things that can be done that are much more productive than this. But, it would take a bit of creativity.

Barack Obama's win means Japan and Tokyo are toast

Original from 11-5-08.

Triumph!

Meet me in Chicago, come 2016.

Tokyo fears Barack Obama's election gives Chicago edge for 2016 - SI.com - Olympics Japanese Olympic officials fear the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president could make his home city of Chicago the favorite to host the 2016 Olympic Games and harm Tokyo's bid.

(See comment about the PM that is a 1976 Olympian and shooter.)

Tokyo, Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro are the four cities in the running to host the 2016 Games.

'I wonder how IOC members will react when Mr. Obama appears in a presentation for Chicago,' Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda told Japanese media Wednesday.

The IOC will name the 2016 host at its general assembly in October next year.

'Mr. Obama is popular and good at speeches, so things could get tough for Japan,' said senior JOC board member Tomiaki Fukuda.

More about baseball -- in an update:

Could Obama election help baseball in Olympics?
With Barack Obama in the White House, baseball officials think their sport could have a better chance of getting back into the Olympics.
Read the full story at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/11/05/gm.meetings.wednesday.ap/index.html

This is silly if you ask me. Obama will be much less of a friend to baseball than George W. Bush -- a former MLB owner himself. Perhaps baseball can get a break from W. Now that W is with some spare time on his hands, he can go out and stump for his most favorite sport and not need to worry about the goings on with Team USA -- err -- the Nation.

"Hour of Power" - put it in the pool

CollegeSwimming.com::Third Annual "Hour of Power" A Day Away: "More than 5,500 college, high school and club swimmers from nearly 100 different teams plan to jump into the pool on Thursday, Nov. 6 with the same goal in mind––going all out for an hour in the name of cancer research.

The Carleton College swimming and diving teams are sponsors of the third annual “Hour of Power” Relay for cancer research in honor of former Carleton student and teammate Edward H. “Ted” Mullin, who passed away from sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer, in September 2006 at the age of 22. This year's 'Hour of Power'is set to include nearly eighty colleges swimming simultaneously.

The event is a one-hour, all-out, leave-it-in-the-pool practice that will occur simultaneously at numerous pools across the country and involve teams from NCAA Division I, II and III, including teams like Princeton, Georgetown and Providence and nearly every Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) program.

Bonus:

USTA takes ambitious steps to find, cultivate tennis talent - USATODAY.com

USTA takes ambitious steps to find, cultivate tennis talent - USATODAY.com: "USTA takes ambitious steps to find, cultivate tennis talent"

We get to stay!

The 2008 general election for US President brings good news for us. We get to stay. Let me explain. Had the other US Senator, John McCain, won, then we would have been getting into moving mode. My wife, not in the photo above, said, "If McCain becomes US President, I moving to New Zealand."

Something in the way he moves, just makes her want to flee. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.

Well, we're staying. I told her all along that we'd not need to depart as there was no way that McCain was going to win the election. So, we were not worried too much.

Sure, Obama and his team ran a wonderful race. They had a good story. He kept his cool. They did get a bit nasty, oh well. And, they burned through a lot of money. It helps if you have money and spend it before election day arrives, unlike John Kerry who didn't deploy all his cash as he should have.

But for as good as Obama was, McCain was worse. Tom L, a "R," and a Running Mate here with this blog, was right when he said he'd have to hold his nose and vote for McCain. McCain wasn't McCain throughout the months of the campaign. He was not a puppet. But, looking hard, some might have seen the strings had it not been for his winkles of old age.

A McCain folly to remind Rs of was the snub of Ron Paul in the time of the GOP Convention. But generally, Obama's success was due in large part to the urgent desire to send the Neo-Cons and the Bush legacy packing.

Far worse than the McCain fumble of Ron Paul's message was the fumble from Bob Barr, Libertarian, former GOPer and Congressman from Georgia.

Ouch.

Bob Barr tried, some. He did. But he didn't do well at all. He was iced by the mainstream media. He could have made some fine remarks within the discussion. The general voter is poorer to have been filtered of his insights. Yet, talk of bad campaigns needs to begin and end with Bob Barr's efforts and results.

Within the city, I'm not sure who had more votes, Bob Barr or Tony Oliva. I'll have to look it up.

Good to see some other statewide candidates from the Libertarian Party get 3% of the vote. Barr was a point oh three percent. That's .03 percent. That's one-third of one percent. Ouch squared.

Barr lost my vote when he wouldn't do a phone interview with KQV. Go figure.

In the end, I voted for self-interest. I voted to stay. You know what they say about a house divided. Plus, I voted for all the other Libertarians.

PPS Plan needs another overhaul

Pittsburgh Public Schools had an open comment period on a long-term plan. A few groups I know of took the plan to the carpet and poked wide holes in what was put out for review in early October.

The plan needs another review and revision period with another round of public comment.

There were so many constructive points already delivered, I didn't send in a formal point by point critique.

Furthermore, if the revision is sent to me -- or made available on the web (as in a Google Document) -- I'd be most happy to re-post it within a wiki to allow for easier, more effective edits and input, (with the rollback capacity).

I understand that there is a need to get a plan to Harrisburg. But, garbage in and we'll get garbage out. If it is worth the effort -- it is worth doing well.

Now what?

So, now what?

We can expect a special election for city council in the district of Dan Deasy. Dan is going to be a state rep and will be departing city hall for Harrisburg.

We can expect a race for Jim Motznik's seat too. He is expected to run for a D.J. seat. That would be a wide open race as there are already a number of folks getting geared up for that.

Some school board seats are filled in 2009 as well.

Photo above is from the Adidas booth on The Olympic Green.

Summary pointers

Official PA election results:
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28

Congratulations to Jim Barr (CP) in getting 14.4% in his district:
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28#C7-20

and David Posipanka (LP) in getting 11.1% in his district:
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28#C7-35

and Titus North (GP) for his 8.7% in his Congressional district (BTW: great commercial during the Colbert report):
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28#C5-14

The Libertarian Party should get Minor party status with Betsy Summer's returns of 3% statewide:
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28#C3-0

other interesting maps that include third parties:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/allcandidates/

http://hosted.ap.org/specials/election_night_2008/election_map_premium/index.html?SITE=MASPDELN

Hat tip to Dave Powell for this posting.

Open Letter to Obama from Nader

One learns plenty about a person in both victory and defeat. This letter went out on election day.

Open letter to Senator Barack Obama

Dear Senator Obama:

In your nearly two-year presidential campaign, the words "hope and change," "change and hope" have been your trademark declarations. Yet there is an asymmetry between those objectives and your political character that succumbs to contrary centers of power that want not "hope and change" but the continuation of the power-entrenched status quo.

Far more than Senator McCain, you have received enormous, unprecedented contributions from corporate interests, Wall Street interests and, most interestingly, big corporate law firm attorneys. Never before has a Democratic nominee for President achieved this supremacy over his Republican counterpart. Why, apart from your unconditional vote for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, are these large corporate interests investing so much in Senator Obama? Could it be that in your state Senate record, your U.S. Senate record and your presidential campaign record (favoring nuclear power, coal plants, offshore oil drilling, corporate subsidies including the 1872 Mining Act and avoiding any comprehensive program to crack down on the corporate crime wave and the bloated, wasteful military budget, for example) you have shown that you are their man?

To advance change and hope, the presidential persona requires character, courage, integrity -- not expediency, accommodation and short-range opportunism. Take, for example, your transformation from an articulate defender of Palestinian rights in Chicago before your run for the U.S. Senate to an acolyte, a dittoman for the hard-line AIPAC lobby, which bolsters the militaristic oppression, occupation, blockage, colonization and land-water seizures over the years of the Palestinian peoples and their shrunken territories in the West Bank and Gaza. Eric Alterman summarized numerous polls in a December 2007 issue of The Nation magazine showing that AIPAC policies are opposed by a majority of Jewish-Americans.

You know quite well that only when the U.S. Government supports the Israeli and Palestinian peace movements, that years ago worked out a detailed two-state solution (which is supported by a majority of Israelis and Palestinians), will there be a chance for a peaceful resolution of this 60-year plus conflict. Yet you align yourself with the hard-liners, so much so that in your infamous, demeaning speech to the AIPAC convention right after you gained the nomination of the Democratic Party, you supported an "undivided Jerusalem," and opposed negotiations with Hamas-- the elected government in Gaza. Once again, you ignored the will of the Israeli people who, in a March 1, 2008 poll by the respected newspaper Haaretz, showed that 64% of Israelis favored "direct negotiations with Hamas." Siding with the AIPAC hard-liners is what one of the many leading Palestinians advocating dialogue and peace with the Israeli people was describing when he wrote "Anti-semitism today is the persecution of Palestinian society by the Israeli state."

During your visit to Israel this summer, you scheduled a mere 45 minutes of your time for Palestinians with no news conference, and no visit to Palestinian refugee camps that would have focused the media on the brutalization of the Palestinians. Your trip supported the illegal, cruel blockade of Gaza in defiance of international law and the United Nations charter. You focused on southern Israeli casualties which during the past year have totaled one civilian casualty to every 400 Palestinian casualties on the Gaza side. Instead of a statesmanship that decried all violence and its replacement with acceptance of the Arab League's 2002 proposal to permit a viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in return for full economic and diplomatic relations between Arab countries and Israel, you played the role of a cheap politician, leaving the area and Palestinians with the feeling of much shock and little awe.

David Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, described your trip succinctly: "There was almost a willful display of indifference to the fact that there are two narratives here. This could serve him well as a candidate, but not as a President."

Palestinian American commentator, Ali Abunimah, noted that Obama did not utter a single criticism of Israel, "of its relentless settlement and wall construction, of the closures that make life unlivable for millions of Palestinians. ...Even the Bush administration recently criticized Israeli's use of cluster bombs against Lebanese civilians [see www.atfl.org for elaboration]. But Obama defended Israeli's assault on Lebanon as an exercise of its 'legitimate right to defend itself.'"

In numerous columns Gideon Levy, writing in Haaretz, strongly criticized the Israeli government's assault on civilians in Gaza, including attacks on "the heart of a crowded refugee camp... with horrible bloodshed" in early 2008.

Israeli writer and peace advocate-- Uri Avnery-- described Obama's appearance before AIPAC as one that "broke all records for obsequiousness and fawning, adding that Obama "is prepared to sacrifice the most basic American interests. After all, the US has a vital interest in achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace that will allow it to find ways to the hearts of the Arab masses from Iraq to Morocco. Obama has harmed his image in the Muslim world and mortgaged his future-- if and when he is elected president.," he said, adding, "Of one thing I am certain: Obama's declarations at the AIPAC conference are very, very bad for peace. And what is bad for peace is bad for Israel, bad for the world and bad for the Palestinian people."

A further illustration of your deficiency of character is the way you turned your back on the Muslim-Americans in this country. You refused to send surrogates to speak to voters at their events. Having visited numerous churches and synagogues, you refused to visit a single Mosque in America. Even George W. Bush visited the Grand Mosque in Washington D.C. after 9/11 to express proper sentiments of tolerance before a frightened major religious group of innocents.

Although the New York Times published a major article on June 24, 2008 titled "Muslim Voters Detect a Snub from Obama" (by Andrea Elliott), citing examples of your aversion to these Americans who come from all walks of life, who serve in the armed forces and who work to live the American dream. Three days earlier the International Herald Tribune published an article by Roger Cohen titled "Why Obama Should Visit a Mosque." None of these comments and reports change your political bigotry against Muslim-Americans-- even though your father was a Muslim from Kenya.

Perhaps nothing illustrated your utter lack of political courage or even the mildest version of this trait than your surrendering to demands of the hard-liners to prohibit former president Jimmy Carter from speaking at the Democratic National Convention. This is a tradition for former presidents and one accorded in prime time to Bill Clinton this year.

Here was a President who negotiated peace between Israel and Egypt, but his recent book pressing the dominant Israeli superpower to avoid Apartheid of the Palestinians and make peace was all that it took to sideline him. Instead of an important address to the nation by Jimmy Carter on this critical international problem, he was relegated to a stroll across the stage to "tumultuous applause," following a showing of a film about the Carter Center's post-Katrina work. Shame on you, Barack Obama!

But then your shameful behavior has extended to many other areas of American life. (See the factual analysis by my running mate, Matt Gonzalez, on www.votenader.org). You have turned your back on the 100-million poor Americans composed of poor whites, African-Americans, and Latinos. You always mention helping the "middle class" but you omit, repeatedly, mention of the "poor" in America.

Should you be elected President, it must be more than an unprecedented upward career move following a brilliantly unprincipled campaign that spoke "change" yet demonstrated actual obeisance to the concentration power of the "corporate supremacists." It must be about shifting the power from the few to the many. It must be a White House presided over by a black man who does not turn his back on the downtrodden here and abroad but challenges the forces of greed, dictatorial control of labor, consumers and taxpayers, and the militarization of foreign policy. It must be a White House that is transforming of American politics-- opening it up to the public funding of elections (through voluntary approaches)-- and allowing smaller candidates to have a chance to be heard on debates and in the fullness of their now restricted civil liberties. Call it a competitive democracy.

Your presidential campaign again and again has demonstrated cowardly stands. "Hope" some say springs eternal." But not when "reality" consumes it daily.

Sincerely,
Ralph Nader

NADER vs BARR vs BALDWIN Third Party Presidential Debate at CSPAN Junkie

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NADER vs BARR vs BALDWIN Third Party Presidential Debate at CSPAN Junkie: "NADER vs BARR vs BALDWIN Third Party Presidential Debate