Hurry up and wait

PG Council rejects plans for commuter taxMembers choose to wait for support from Legislature

In some parts of city life and goverment we need to rush to do nothing. We should tell the world that this city isn't going to do any more bone-headed deals that give millions of dollars away to downtown department stores. The city has been hyper-active in terms of putting poison into the well of the marketplace. Heavy handed interventions in the market need to end -- quickly.

Case in point: We rushed to give the land control of the North Shore to the Steelers and Pirates. But, their time expired. And, we rushed to be Johnny on the Spot and give away another $4-million from the state to build an auditorium for the Rooneys.

But on the other hand, there are many places where we need to be hyper-active and work to help heal this city. We need to gather people about swim pools and rec centers. We need to explore options with public safety and citizens in honest, frank, open discussions.

We need to make sure we have a budget that makes sense, rather than being phony and filled with massive taxes that have no intentions of being enacted. This administration rushes to fake and push deceptions.

An honest discussion about the commuter tax should happen now. I'm glad that some are not okay in waiting around. The city's funds are going to go below zero in a few short weeks. Waiting isn't prudent.

Everyone should go and get version 1.1.3

Open Office has 4th Birthday, Oct 13, 2004

OpenOffice.org is the most important open-source project in the world. These words, spoken by founder of GNOME and Novell Ximian CTO, Miguel de Icaza, on the occasion of the first anniversary of OpenOffice.org, are more true now than ever before. Today, four years after Sun Microsystems released the source code of its popular StarOffice to the open-source community, OpenOffice.org is widely seen as the future of open-source development and the key to its future.

As an international and multilingual project, OpenOffice.org gives everyone the freedom to participate in, learn about, and contribute to the project. And as a product, OpenOffice.org runs natively on Windows, Linux or Solaris, as well as every other major platform, and is available in over 44 supported languages. Usable by all, it is the invaluable tool in the modern office.

Tens of millions use the application daily; millions visit the project website monthly; thousands contribute to the project. There have been at least 31 million downloads since the project began. That volume does not count the millions registered by Red Hat, SuSE, or Mandrake Linux, which include OpenOffice.org in their distributions.

In the last year, city governments, such as that of Munich, Germany, to name but one of many, and federal administration offices, such as the French Ministère de l'Economie, des Finances et de l'Industrie (MINEFI), chose OpenOffice.org for its technology, flexibility, and future, not
because it is free (gratis). Is the ministry happy with their decision? Representatives gave a keynote at the recent OOoCon, where they advocated OpenOffice.org and looked to a future with open-source software.

And what is that future? An application that bridges not just the closed- and open-source world but that also bridges the digital divide from Amsterdam to Zanzibar. An application that uses an internationally standardized file format and an open production process to give users perpetual right over their property.

The file format, an XML based implementation, is the open standard recently approved by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS). By using the format, vendor lock in is impossible. People will choose OpenOffice.org or its commercial
derivations, such as StarOffice, on the basis of value, not because they have no choice.

That value is extensive, and it is set to grow. This spring, OpenOffice.org 2.0 will leap over every other office suite. For those users clamoring for an Access equivalent, it will have it. It will be more interoperable. And for those developers wanting more modularity and more responsiveness, 2.0 has that, too.

This coming year will be remarkable, and our door is open.

OpenOffice.org is both a open-source project and product. It is free. As one of the leading open-source projects, OpenOffice.org combines the worldwide efforts of developers and endusers to produce a complete office productivity suite that runs on all major platforms and in over 30 supported languages while being compatible with Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org is sponsored by Sun Microsystems, Inc., and hosted by CollabNet.

Dismal Democrats

PG Letter to editor Wake up, Cleveland and, for that matter, Pittsburgh too. This political philosophy has seen its day. If you don't take this opportunity to change, by supporting a Republican administration, then you are destined to more poverty while the rest of the country prospers.

The gentleman from Moon, Benjamin Bonham, is on the mark that we can't have one-party domination.

To maintain fire safety in the city, vote YES on this referendum

Letters to the editor, 10/13/04

Letter in the comments....

Editorial: City tale / Romance novels, photo frames and other frivolities

PG Editorial A man with a broom swept up the mess and presented Mr. Ricciardi with the bill. 'Don't give it to me,' the councilman said. 'Send it to the taxpayer.

Hilton El Conquistador

Tucson AZ One of the top resorts in Tucson, Arizona, the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort is set at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountain range in Northwest Tucson, AZ.

I'm staying home this weekend.

Boycott Sinclair Broadcast Group

Boycott Sinclair Broadcast GroupThe Sinclair Broadcast Group (Nasdaq: SBGI) will interrupt its normal schedule days before the election to air an anti-Kerry propaganda film. Truly the only way to make ourselves heard is by hitting SBG where it hurts -- in the pocketbook. The means to accomplish this is through staged letter writing to both SBG and their advertisers.

No brainer -- of course -- and count on it with me

Mark A. Nordenberg, chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, and Jared L. Cohon, president of Carnegie Mellon University, rant about effective partnerships.

Perspectives: Partnering for Pittsburgh: "One key to this continuing success story is our shared institutional commitment to forging effective partnerships. Neither of our universities, as strong as they are, could have attracted support for these national centers alone. But as each of these examples so clearly demonstrates, when we join forces, we can compete with anyone.

This kind of cooperation is essentially unique in the world of higher education. Unfortunately, it also is all too rare in southwestern Pennsylvania. However, if this region is going to advance, we must increasingly view our neighbors as potential collaborators and not as competitors. If we can overcome a long tradition of fragmentation and begin to work more effectively with each other, there is no reason that we cannot move this great region forward together.

All the king's men and all the king's horses can't put Pittsburgh back together again. This revival is going to take open teamwork and effective partnerships. We've got to play well with each other. We don't now -- because -- the mayor is in the way. Nor can we play well among all of our friends and neighbors when all of the leadership is of the same party.

One day, soon I hope, the leaders at Pitt and CMU are going to wake up to the fact that they have a serious role in the stewardship of our democracy. The governmental outreach at these institutions have been old-school. So, to take the conversation out of the elementary grades and move it to middle-school or high-school discussions, we need academic leaders to advance themselves and the overall discussions.

We've got some of the greatest minds around the world. But they are specialized and clueless, by in large, in terms of civics 101 in Pittsburgh in 2004. Pitt's School of Public Health is a cancer to local democracy.

The faculty senate at Pitt would not approve of the plan to put a merry-go-round between the two libraries, removing parking, and spending millions. The folly that happens here does so behind some serious smoke agents, such as the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. There is little or no partnership for execllence in these neighborhood ways. Many strive to cloak the truth and short-change accountability.

On a department by department basis, those at the universities need to wake up, for the sake of the city.

But, on the upside, that potential is there and waiting and willing. Once we make Grant Street in tune with the rest of the city institutions, we'll be able to soar. That's, to use George W. Bush's words, "hard work." We'll have to come in on Saturdays. Hard, difficult, talking with professors, it's confusing, hearing big words, headaches and a challenge.

Ad: Printing

Take 25% off all of your custom printing needs

Shut down: Idle minds and idling buses

The Allegheny County Health Department announced enactment of a new air quality regulations to reduce emissions from school bus idling. Buses can't unnecessarily idle longer than five minutes, with some exemptions.

Idling is okay when the temperature is less than 40 degrees, above 75 degrees, and to operate a lift or other equipment designed to ensure the safe loading or unloading.

Report suspected school bus idling violations at 412-687-2243.

On Thursday, Oct. 14 at 9:30 am (301 39th St., Building # 7, Pittsburgh 15201) ACHD will present new, proposed anti-idling regulations for diesel powered motor vehicles and diesel powered locomotives at its Regulation Subcommittee meeting. Your attendance and input at this or future subcommittee meetings could have significant impact on how anti-idling regulations in Allegheny County look. To learn more or become involved in anti-idling efforts, contact GASP.

Planners sack North Side parking plan

PG coverage "During yesterday's meeting, City Councilman Jim Motznik detailed his proposal to allow advertising on fences at city-owned ballfields to help raise money for the cash-strapped city. The Riverlife Task Force spoke in opposition, saying parks would become venues for advertising."

Once again, I'm feeling like a dead-skunk in the middle of the road. Motznik's plan for ads at baseball fields is lame. I call it a turnip. However, to have the Riverlife Task Force show up to be against the plan is even worse.

The Riverlife Task Force, started by Tom Murphy, is a booster group for Tom Murphy. The group has gone way out of bounds on matters that it should not concern itself with. Meanwhile, the Riverlife Task Force has fumbled on matters where it should be most focused upon.

The Riverlife Task Force is bad news and unjust. That group needs to be put in its place.

In recent months the Riverlife Task Force came to speak strongly about the Route 28 plans. That's highways, hillsides and not riverlife.

Former Alcoa boss, Paul O'N., was a co-head of the Riverlife Task Force. When he was with the group, the group was in the back pocket of certain interests as well.

The other big deal leader from Riverlife, John Craig, former boss of the PG. I don't expect the PG readers to ever seen a story about the Park's Position Paper, released in May, 2004. Craig and I email one another after the paper's release and I urged him to read the position paper and assign it or editorialize about it himself. And, advertising in the parks is part of the plan. We had better not hold our breath.

Proud Dads

A fellow stay-at-home dad, Hogan Hilling, visited Pittsburgh a while ago. He spoke at a national convention held at the Hilton. Hogan is from San Diego and wrote a great little giftbook as well.

part 1 - 31 megs

part 2 - 29 megs

I've never relased these audio files as there has been a pinch for web server disk space. I'm with a little elbow room now, so enjoy. However, this isn't going to last. I'm looking for some audio data warehouse that would accept these audio files for long-term storage. Pointers and ideas welcome. in past years I might have used Mark Cuban's Audio Net, but that sorta dates me.

Audio blast from the past

In 2001 I ran for Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, in a contested GOP Primary. KDKA TV did a profile on me and my loyal opponent, Professor James Carmine. Here is the audio in an mp3 file for history's sake.

A 1.5 meg file, audio of KDKA TV profile with Ken Rice on Mark Rauterkus from May, 2001.

Replies Elsewhere

I'll post some of my comments put onto other blogs in the comment section below. I do put my $.02 into the comments on the blogs of others.

Major Buhl Planetarium Artifacts Unaffected by flood

CONDITION OF OTHER PLANETARIUM ARTIFACTS UNKNOWN

Three major historic artifacts of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science were unaffected by the major flood of September 17 and 18, according to a September 24 letter from The Carnegie Science Center to Pittsburgh General Services Director Dale Perrett. However, the letter did not indicate the condition of other City-owned Buhl Planetarium artifacts, which were moved to The Carnegie Science Center in 1991 or 1994.

Among the other artifacts are eleven paintings including "The Old Astronomer" by Pennsylvania artist and architect Daniel Owen Stephens, which has been published in Astronomy textbooks and in a 1961 filmstrip for schools called The Race for Space, and portraits of Astronomer Nicholas Copernicus (commissioned by the Polish Arts League of Pittsburgh) and Henry Buhl, Jr. and his wife Louise.

Entire news release

List of city-owned Buhl Planetarium artifacts stored at the Carnegie Science Center

Letter to CITY COUNCILMAN Peduto

Greater scrutiny

Plan gets legal OK - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Bob Strauss, a professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University in Oakland, said missing the payment to the pension fund could draw greater scrutiny from lending institutions and the bond market. "

Greater scrutiny, as in scrutiny squared!

Bring on the greater scrutiny. Let's welcome exposure to this situation from the likes of USA Today, WSJ, Phili, NYT, Newsweek, etc.

Newsgroups and Blogs

In the past, I had periods as an active participant in various newsgroups. In recent seasons, I've not been there at all. But since the Olympics, via a new service, "groups.google.com" I gave them a peek again.

Presently, I can't seem to post. Techie issues elsewhere. Time to take plenty of fluids and check again in the morning.

The newsgroups are more vile than the blogs. Flamewars, ... those were the days. And, they still seem to occur.

Over at Pgh.General it is nice to see that one reader would think I'd win the mayor's race, even spending $1 per voter. That's just $20 K to $30 K.

Are there others here that lurk or post in newsgroups still? Are the audiences split? Did bloggers cut their teeth in the newsgroup realm? What are your favorites?

Who controls the city? Asking and telling in next breath

Trib ANALYSIS "But that's not really the issue. Pittsburgh voters will be answering a much more fundamental question: Do they want to break the grip unionized employees have had on the city's government for decades?

I love Jake Haulk's perspectives and work, most of the time. He is strongly against corporate welfare. He was timid a bit on the parking situations when I would instead move to remove the entire authority over time. But on this matter of democracy and the November referendum, he seems to be flat out wrong.

Some want us to think that the The Nov. 2 ballot question is about getting a fire truck to the flames in four minutes. Others think it is about Pittsburgh's future.

"We are speaking for the 88 communities" in Pittsburgh, King said. "If you're concerned about fire safety, about your children, about your home, about your property, this is the way to voice your opinion."

Exactly. Democracy is what is really at stake here. This is rather simple. Politics is complicated and full of weirdness. However, democracy is rather straight. Some people think that they know what's best for all the other people. Other people think that the general population, in America, gets to have a right to decide important issues for themselves at the polls.

I hate to see the Tom Murphy's administration take a legal ballot question to the judge to get it ruled invalid. Tom Murphy does not want real democracy. Tom Murphy is scared of the people's collective choice.

I hate to see other people twist democracy into something that it isn't. This isn't a complicated question about some control of the city. That's smoke of the highest order. Fear, uncertainty, doubt works for the analysis pushers.

David Miller's quote about people voting based on who they think their friends are is lame. The vote in a ballot question avoids a personality as it is a question, not a candidate.

This weekend I talked to a gentleman on the street who said he loves our city council president and wished he had him as a son-in-law. But, he also said that this politician was terrible and had to go. He is wrecking the city. There is no way that guy is ever going to vote for this councilman again. But, he'd call him a friend.

David Miller, perhaps the newspaper got the quote wrong. Otherwise, I'm red-faced for you.

Moreover, the firefighters union does not have an organized adversary, said Joseph Sabino Mistick, a Duquesne University law professor who worked in the administrations of mayors Richard Caliguiri and Sophie Masloff.

Wrong! The organized adversary is Tom Murphy and his administration. Other organized opponents might be the Act 47 coordinators, the I.C.A. (oversight board) and analysis writers such as the Trib's Andrew Conte, PG editors and Jake Haulk. That sounds like a potent team of loyal opponents. They buy ink by the barrel and control the purse strings.

"We know the firefighters are in a position to wage an effective public relations campaign," Mistick said. "Will the forces that support these cuts be in a position to do the same? Where do they get their money? They don't have any real constituency."

Joe. I know that the mayor doesn't have any real constituency left, but, he does have those oversight pals and Gov. Ed Rendell. And, he'll be calling up KDKA TV and others to get his message out as he so desires. Presently he is doing his best to hide in a hole with the "no comment comment." But, that will pass.

Head's up: Overcoming poverty is a religious and moral issue that must be addressed in this election year.

Call to Renewal's Rolling to Overcome Poverty Bus Tour will be coming to Pittsburgh Friday, October 15 and McKeesport, Saturday, October 16, 2004. See the comments for details.

Mrs. Edwards visited the South Side Market House

We caught a bit of the presentation. Photos to come.