Flash Quiz: Chickens

One of these chickens is not like the other. Which one and why? 

These creatures are named Mable (white), Hurricane (black and white) and Violet (brown). They are the pets of my sister and her children in Quakertown.

We got to visit them before and after as we drove to New England on a weeklong trip.

Hint: The distinction for the one came as we traveled.

Finally, this posting is dedicated to all those "cat bloggers" among the reaches of the internet. Cat blogging has become popular. They won't be able to hold a candle to chicken posts.

Road Trip; Ohio Linux Fest, Oct. 1.

Ohio LinuxFest continues to grow and its 3rd event is slated for Oct. 1, 2005. Drawing from Ohio, the surrounding states, and Canada, the event has moved to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Pittsburgh should have a YOUTH TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT -- and that event could be one of the biggest in the city every year. However, we've got candidates for mayor who might not be able to spell email.

And in the tech front, we have a push to make one organizer try to organize the tech organizations. One voice advocates are pin heads, in my book.

Bits & Bytes: Umbrella for tech groups gets less-than-warm reception Umbrella for tech groups gets less-than-warm reception

Made for Hollywood sports saga - Former Russian Olympic official, mob, fixed 2002 gold medal --> shot and killed

Most of the time, the real world provides all the drama we need in life. Here is a true story that has HOLLYWOOD movie written all over it.

SI.com - Olympics - Former Russian Olympic official shot and killed - Tuesday August 30, 2005 2:09PM Former Russian sports official gunned down

MOSCOW (AP) -- A former Russian sports official allegedly linked to the fixing of figure skating results at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City has been shot and killed, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported Tuesday, citing police officials.
Chevalier Nusuyev, former president of the Russian youth sports federation, was shot late Monday as he left his office in southwest Moscow and died shortly after being taken to a hospital, the report said. The unidentified gunman escaped by car.

Moscow police did not immediately confirm the killing. Nusuyev was allegedly linked to reputed Russian mobster Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, who in 2003 escaped extradition from Italy to the United States on charges of fixing the figure skating results.
Tokhtakhounov spent nearly a year in a Venice, Italy, prison until June 2003 on U.S. charges that he helped secure a gold medal

There is more.... Mob, etc.

The next winter games are to be held in Italy too.

Scoop: A "Green Mayor" in the 'Burg' is Demanded!

Sadly, this read is published in New Zealand, not Pittsburgh. And, that "demand" seems more like a "prayer" and less of a urgent need that is strongly requested.

Scoop: A Green Mayor in the 'Burg' is Demanded!: "A �Green Mayor� in the 'Burg' is Demanded!
Opinion: United States Green Party

By Ceci Wheeler, Green Party
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

If readers are not acquainted with the Green Party of America http://www.gp.org/ it is because a national two-party structure has managed to block its existence from the time it was born in the United States, 15 years ago.

The Green Party, the party of the issues, presents to its new recruites with its 10-key values which dominates its national platform. These values are based on the needs of all the American people, specifically the poor and the working classes.

I've always understood that I'd get press (both as a candidate and with other endeavors) from other outlets, other than those in the city, well before it would come from the established press here.

SuperDome leaks. Isn't Heinz Field with the same feature?

When is the next ballgame slated for The Super Dome?

Doesn't Heinz Field leak when it rains too?

How many people could bunk down at Heinz Field in the time of a major community crisis?

And, what about numbers for those other larger community facilities?

Fresh Laundry

Panhandling laws beg lawsuit

"Why, oh, why" comes to light in this post, again.

Think again.

Downtown's "economic vitality" is the reason given for expanding laws and shrinking freedoms under the concepts of new panhandling laws.

Some must think that downtown's economic vitality hinges upon the down-and-out who are homeless.

The Downtown Partnership has been gathering its forces, plus the mayor and city council so as to leverage "partnerships" and gang-up upon the homeless folks.

I think of the playground order: "Pick on someone your own size."

City's panhandling limits beg lawsuit - PittsburghLIVE.com Civil rights advocates are warning that Pittsburgh's attempt to give the bum's rush to Downtown panhandlers could land the city in the same losing free-speech fight that has doomed anti-begging ordinances across the country.

In the name of economic prosperity, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is asking the city to limit when and where people can beg for money. Of particular concern are scraggly, unwashed homeless people who approach customers outside stores, restaurants and ATM machines. The partnership's proposal would outlaw begging at night and soliciting people as they enter many businesses.

Simply put: The keys to the revitalization of downtown's economic development don't rest with the homeless. Furthermore, those (i.e., PDP) that what to drive our partnerships on that pathway are not well suited for Pittsburgh's solutions.

Perhaps the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnerships is failing at its core mission of building partnerships and vitality.

SEA bills, debt and gambles miss. Place a better bet with a better direction. Sell the Convention Ctr as the Gambling Hall.

Tell me why! Why can't we kill off the debt of the SEA (stadium and exibition authority) by selling the Convention Center building as a stipulation of the new casino's opening.

SEA seeks help for center's bills - PittsburghLIVE.com The city-county authority had counted on the slots money to cover operating losses at the convention center, to pay off debt from its construction and to repay a 2004 loan taken out to cover earlier losses at the convention center. The state has allocated one slots-casino license for Pittsburgh, but such a facility is at least a year away from opening.

These guys are doing it all wrong. They are barking up the wrong tree with the wrong tune.

The time is right for the debt to go away. To get rid of the debt, get rid of its source. Then everyone wins.

In perpetuity --- phoey!

Mayor Murphy and the others who have been at the helm of the city have put us into a deep, deep hole. Years will pass before the city is able to lift itself. Hope is measured in decades as the debt is a "long-term obligation." Hence, the notion of a deal set by them that goes forever is no kind of deal at all.

The last deal that was cut, at the state level, is with the letting of the $50-million gambling casinos. That deal NEVER expires. That blunder is something I tried to prevent.

To sunset deals and legislation is generally wise.

To trust those who have broken the city to fix it -- in perpetuity -- is foolish at best.

City council wants more from nonprofits - PittsburghLIVE.com Council President Gene Ricciardi wants to make the charities' donations to the city a very long-term obligation.

'I believe it should be in perpetuity,' Ricciardi said. 'It should not expire in three years. If the nonprofits don't agree to that, then we need to go in another direction.'

New York's Power headed to South Central

We were charged on the highway today as we passed a convoy of eight cherry pickers from New York State headed south and west in Central Pennsylvania. They had EDISON Power logos on the doors and were chugging at moderate speeds (aprox 50 mph).

I told my sons to wave and give them a big salutes and thumbs up signs.

We are sure the men and machines with ample tools, road snacks and long-lists of jobs yet to do were headed to cover some of those in need in the wake of the storm.

Our prayers go out to them and they're families at home. Safe travels. Thanks for being so generous with your skills, energy and capacities.

OpenOffice.Org releases public beta 2

The second public beta release of OpenOffice.org 2.0 is now available for download, and techies everywhere should go get it. This beta release allows a broad user base to test and evaluate the next major version of OpenOffice.org, but is not recommended for production deployment at this stage.

I hope to press CDs with this program, and its source code, for handouts in the weeks to come.

This second public beta release is the result of many months' work
improving upon the first public beta announced in March, 2005. OpenOffice.org 2.0 introduces a new database module, implements the OASIS OpenDocument XML file format and a myriad of other new features and capabilities. The redesigned interface and enhanced document filters combine to make the application even more interoperable with other office suites and easier to use and learn, regardless of operating system.

OpenOffice.org Conference - 2005 is slated for Koper - Capodistria,
Slovenia, from 28 to 30 September.

OpenOffice.org is a fully featured open-source productivity suite available as a free download for major computing platforms in over 45 languages. Data is stored in an XML file format standardised for office documents by the international body OASIS. OpenOffice.org is developed, supported, and promoted by an international community of volunteers with its main sponsor and primary contributor being Sun Microsystems.

Soon to be held CMU events: College of Fine Arts

See the comments for full listings.

Carnegie Mellon's Regina Gouger Miller Gallery, Exhibition Animal Nature from August 26 - October 2, 2005, with opening reception September 2 from 5-8 p.m.

Cuarteto Latinoamericano concert at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 22.

Philharmonic - Juan Pablo Izquierdo, Director of Orchestral Studies, conductor, September 28.

Drama Production of Lysistrata, the classic Greek “make love, not war” comedy, October 6 through October 15. See notes from Elizabeth Bradley, head of the School of Drama. "The notion that women, appalled by the cost of war, would rise together in protest to thwart aggression is an enormously .... "
BILL SEAMAN, lecture, 5 pm on September 6 to explore text, image and sound
through multiple technological forms, exploring the continuum between physical and virtual/media space. He holds a M.S. in Visual Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and now heads the Digital Media Graduate Program at RISD.

And more.

Jerry's back

Jerry Bowyer promised you that he would be back on the Pittsburgh airwaves at the end of the summer, and he's true to his word!

Tune in this Thursday, September 1st at 3:00 pm to 101.5 WORD-FM. Jerry will do his show every weekday from 3-6 pm and looks forward to talking to his old friends on his new station.

Call the show and make Jerry feel at home at his new perch, as 412-921-TALK, (that is 412-921-8255.)

Cabela's -- Unreal.

What a store. Unreal. This one is in central PA near Rt. 78.  

This is a new development. Wonder what type of tax breaks were used?

The store is massive. Selection ranged from a trailer for six hunting dogs, log cabin for the hunting get-a-way, rods, guns, clothing and even flip-flops. The prices were okay. The selection is what is such an eye opener.

I guess one is a bit closer on Rt. 70 too.

While in Boston we went to REI and other fun rec shops.

Maine Street

We've been on our Maine visit. My two sons, 10 and 7, are now "surfers." They've been surfing, for real. I'm getting a burnt nose. And, the blog is idle, except for your comments.

Erik and Grant were both standing on the surf boards in the past two days. I was really proud of Grant for his last wipe-out, as he covered his head upon popping up for air. And, they're both good at it, too.

We're bunking down in Boston now -- and I guess we find ourselves in one of those 'hip' cities that Pittsburgh shouldn't try to become. See the comments for a new Allegh Institute report.

We'll hit a local UU Church on Sunday, Lexington and Concord tour and perhaps 5-wits.com as side trips. Perhaps we'll bump into Dave Copeland there. :)

Twins are our in future. Not ours -- more family visits. We didn't snag Stones nor Sox tickets, but have tuned into many of the games. So, we're not too, too "hip."

Disclaimer: As always, we have house sitters watching our pets as we are on the road. Nuff said.

At the beach

In Maine, summer 2005.

Summer Swimming Season Sendoff

We gathered this evening, with wonderful weather, at the Green Tree Swim Pool to celebrate a splendid year of summer swimming.

Here is a photo of myself and my two sons at one of this summer's swim meets.

Bill Straw, the head coach at Keystone Oaks High School, took the photo. He was our assistant coach this year.

I've got a lot of photos to organize and post in the months to come. Perhaps I'll start a "flashback" series and slip photos into the blog.

PA VERIFIED VOTING HOME PAGE

This site just came to my attention. What do you think?

PA VERIFIED VOTING HOME PAGE: "PA-VerifiedVoting.org

PAPER BALLOTS WITH ROUTINE AUDITS FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S ELECTIONS

What are Voter-Verified Paper Ballots (V-VPBs)?

Hardware for the kids

Green Tree Great White Sharks had its swim picnic and gives each participant a trophy. The ones on the team for five years get a special award. Medals were earned at the All Star Meet and the Championship Meet. 

Possible Casino Operators have been buying politicians for years.

The Post Gazette article on gambling money that flows to political candidates is a nice summary.

Gambling interests leave nothing to chance Groups and individuals with an interest in securing a state license for a slot machine casino in Pittsburgh have pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaigns of key state and local politicians during the past four years, with $137,550 coming after the gambling law was passed in 2004.

Gov. Ed Rendell has received $147,688 since 2002 from members of the development family that owns Station Square, a potential casino site. Since the gambling law was passed, he also has returned $15,000 from a license candidate.

He and other politicians who have received contributions from potential applicants say the donations will have no impact on who gets the lucrative license, which will be awarded by a state board appointed by Rendell and top legislative leaders.

The soft money is another major concern of mine. Untold millions have been put into various lobby interests and party interests too.

The state legislature has its own slush funds for the control of state-money, but there are other funds controlled by party that are for election efforts too. Real power comes as the various funds form a combination 1-2-3 punch. And on the bench sits a pipeline of addtional players who poised and perhaps poisoned with ambitions more giving to insure their sweetheart deals.

Some candidates have money. Some candidates have little. A great majority of candidates that have money did NOT get that money from the "support" of regular people who want "good government." Don't fool yourself. Most of the money came from people who want to buy off part of the system for their own benefit.

I am proud to say that I ran a campaign for state senate and was out spent 500-to-one by EACH of my opponents. Those guys spent money because the GAMBLING INTERESTS had given them money.

Goofy example: Gov. Rendell's money went to candidate Fontana, D, to be used to broadcast the message that candidate Diven, once a D now a R, voted for Gov Rendell's (D) budgets in the past.

The system doesn't make sense. And the scorecard used by the media to judge if a candidate is viable is not only worthless, it's harmful.

In 2005, I got 2,542 votes and raised $3,400. That means each vote cost about $1.33. In 2001 as a GOP candidate for Mayor, I got votes at $.60 each.

Meanwhile, in 2001 the big-boy Dems who ran for mayor got votes for $30 each. And in 2005, both of my state senate opponents raised nearly $1-million and got less than 20,000 votes for the victor and some 35,000 combined. They are in the range of $60 spent per vote, on average.

Reporters with newspapers and media should tell the public how much money the candidates need to spend to score a vote. What I'm talking about here is all election data that needs to be reported with different benchmarks. These numbers are easy to find and calculate.

Consider the other sums of cash that are spent in other ways from the operations of our governmental entities. Proclamations are given. Corporate welfare is given. Contracts are let without bids. So on and so forth.

Candidates who need to raise more than $10 a vote are not worthy to serve in public office.