Erik, top center, needs to get into "rest position." You too Phillip.

Grant awarded for Schenley Plaza work

Jeepers. Is it any wonder why have the housing for the poor that we do? In our area, we get a green space grant. Don't get me wrong. I love park. However, this project is but bad joke.

Grant awarded for Schenley Plaza work The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing a $248,000 grant for the development of Schenley Plaza in Oakland.

A parking lot off Forbes Avenue is being transformed into a three-acre lawn serving as an entrance for Schenley Park. The project will be completed in the spring.

The federal government gave the grant to the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority, county Chief Executive Dan Onorato announced last week.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is spearheading the $10.15 million project."

PA Amber Alert -- OFF -- solved in IN

-- Indiana State Police say they have captured the 18-year-old man wanted in Pennsylvania double homicide; 14-year-old girl with him is unharmed. (as of 12:30 pm on Monday) -- orginal posting below was 6:20 pm Sunday, Nov. 13.

I'll nuke this from the logs in a day or two.

The Pennsylvania State Police has issued an Amber Child Abduction Alert For the Warwick Township Police Department , Lancaster County.

The Warwick Township Police Department is searching for Kara Beth Borden, white female age 14, 5'1", 100lbs., brown hair with blonde highlights. She was last seen wearing a black sweat shirt with "Pillar" across the front , blue jeans and black sneakers. She was last seen at 8:00 Am on Sunday, 11/13/05 at 15 Royal Drive, Warwick Township, Lancaster County. She was reported abducted at gun point, after the murder of her parents, by David G. Ludwig, white male, age 18, brown hair and eyes.

Last seen operating a red Volkswagen Jetta bearing Pennsylvania registration EHH0994. Anyone with information about this abduction should immediately contact the police by calling 911.

This has been an Amber Child Abduction Alert for the Warwick Township Police Department, Lancaster County.

Affected Counties: Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Perry, Juniata, York, Cumberland, Adams, Huntington, Mifflin, Snyder, Northumberland, Franklin, Berks, Chester.

eWell Being Awards 2005

The Pittsburgh version of this award could be given at the annual Youth Technology Summit -- a vision of mine.

eWell Being Awards 2005 SustainIT's eWell-Being Awards are the UK's only national Awards that identify and promote social, economic and environmental benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Valerie is ready to play in the major leagues

Look who is ready for the big-leagues. Valerie, daughter of a big-time Democratic-party leader, former school board member (PPS is being reinvented), former city council member (with $0 as a capital budget and two oversight boards), and present Allegheny County row-office holder (with the Recorder of Deed's office slated for closure due to Row Office Reform vote).

But, Valerie will be up against Catherine Baker Knoll.

I do like the notion of calling to the ghosts of the past -- as in 1933 -- when the Grays were hot.

See her campaign lift-off speech in the comment section.

She really didn't have a decent reply on the election night coverage on PCNC TV. She was on with Bill Green, James Roddey and a TV host. They all jumped her about her defense that the Pittsburgh financial crisis can't be pinned upon the Democratic party.

This is the same party that had a lock on Grant Street since 1933. "Oh, but they are not the only ones to blame."

Schools Linux project wins award for community building

Folks, we're getting blown away. America is going to slip further behind in terms of teaching and dealing with technology.

This story, an award winner, talks about two areas of South Africa where they installed 150 computer labs with a blend of open source and volunteers.

TECTONIC: Schools Linux project wins award for community building The tuXlabs project was founded by the Shuttleworth Foundation and installs Linux-based PC laboratories into schools in the Western and Eastern Cape and the Limpopo province. The project, which uses volunteers to assist in installing the computers, has installed 150 laboratories in the past two years.

Volunteers that participate in the project are taught how to install, configure and maintain the Linux computer centres. Once they are skilled in the process they in turn teach other volunteers. Learners and teachers at the various schools are also involved in the installation of the computers.

tuXlabs project manager Hilton Theunissen says that what makes this award special, however, is that it is not a technology award. 'We have always said the benefit of open source software is not so much the technology but the opportunities it creates. This award is focused on building capacity, skills and communities. Open source software makes these more accessible.'

This is huge. Furthermore, we are doing nothing. Zippo.

A couple of years ago I tried to establish mini computer labs in a few of the recreation centers in the city. I was part of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network. We had a committee devoted to making a significant change with the youth. We wanted to put in six computer labs. We wanted to have a good core of volunteers for on-going support. The initial hardware was already obtained. Comcast has a contract with the city and the high-speed internet should be in 88 facilities already.

We had a flat-out failure due to the city's unwillingness to embrace technology.

This has to change. This will change as soon as I'm elected to city council.

Challenge to PghBloggers.org --- say, how many black men have blogs out of the 300 in the network?

I don't know the answer to this question -- but would like to know. How many blogs are run by black-males within the 300-plus at PghBloggers.org? I've never counted.

Sorry, I missed the last blog-fest as we were in Chicago.

Among the "running mates" there are a few black men engaged in the campaign. But, they don't post to the blog here with any frequency.

So, first question: How many are in the network now? Any? And, does it make sense to do a bit of outreach and get five new bloggers signed up and at the next Blogfest in January?

Black males rare on nation's campuses: "To some degree, said Dr. Larry Davis, dean of the School of Social Work and director of the Center of Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh, black women fall under the umbrella of the women's movement, but black males have no allies.

'For many of them, there is no such thing as brotherhood. White men aren't saying 'Come on in, brother.' '

Once higher education is no longer an option, their job choices narrow significantly, which can lead to crime, unemployment and imprisonment, said Dr. Davis."

Analysis: Roosevelt aiming to reinvent Pittsburgh's schools

P-G on Pgh Public Schools Nine of the district's 10 high schools posted low achievement test scores last year, and some have posted low scores repeatedly. Two, Peabody and Westinghouse, received a rating of 1 on Rand's performance index.

Mr. Roosevelt said he would appoint a working group to study the high schools and called high school reform 'a serious piece of business ahead of us in Pittsburgh.'

Peabody and Westinghouse should both become single-gender schools. Have the boys go to one location and the girls go to another location.

Oakland Catholic (only for girls) and Central Catholic (boys) are single gender high schools that do very well. Peabody and Westinghouse could be public school rivals to the single-gender, Catholic schools. The single gender, public-school setting gives families in the city another interesting option.

If you don't care for the single-gender setting for your high-schooler, go to one of the other schools in the district, including Schenley that will be much closer, as it moves to R's building.

As for support of the plan -- hell yes. Our school system need an overhaul. To 'reinvent' as the headline says, rubs me the wrong way. But, to overhaul is fine and wanted. Retool and reform, please.

I'd love to be a part of that high school task force. And the second effort (after single-gender schools) to consider is the merger of the sports programs into the W.P.I.A.L.. The city-league kids need to compete with the suburban players.

Missoulian: Ambitious young pols blog it out on the Net

You betch ya. Spoofing is one of the worst crimes on the net.

Missoulian: Ambitious young pols blog it out on the Net “But what started out as something funny was taken too far when they fabricated a response from me. What I don't want them doing is impersonating me to Denny's constituency. That's not funny. That's identity theft.”

New Biz Cards are here.
The next version of the CDs are getting into the pipeline. If you have any Christmas tunes that could be included on our CD, please call.

Peppermint Patty

I'm a Peppermint Patty, so says the quiz, FWIW.
Discover which Peanuts Character fits your answers. Brought to you by Quizilla
Proof? After a game of water polo.

Illness next challenge for Guy Costa -- Get well soon

Guy, for goodness sake, "Get well soon!"

Illness next challenge for Guy Costa - PittsburghLIVE.com Costa has earned a reputation as a fair, hard-working manager who often rolls up his sleeves and works alongside employees repairing roads and working on other infrastructure projects.

That reputation is accurate.

Florida Trailer Trash -- after Wilma

Our Dear Aunt Debbie of Florida, God-Mother of our artist son, sent along these photos from her neck of the woods. Wilma was bad. Very bad.

The pile at the end of our street keeps getting bigger. Your can see a home marked for demolition still stands (sort of) in the middle of it. Two good friends of mine, Terri and Lorraine, live right across from this eye sore. Must be depressing. Both of their places can be repaired at least!

This is true blight. This is "need" personified. Click image for larger views.

Pay raise opponents take aim at lawmakers -- Russ Diamond due to visit South Side on Monday at 7 pm meeting

Hope to see some running mates on the South Side at 7 pm on Monday. we are running -- but not running away from the voters. I'm running to the voters. I am running with the voters. The meeting is being held at the Brashier Assn. community room on Sarah Street, around 21st, just one block off of East Carson Street. It is behind the South Side Steaks (SSS) and next to Phillips Elem. School.

The Herald Standard - Archives - 11/10/2005 - Pay raise opponents take aim at lawmakers 'Lawmakers should run, they should run fast and not look back,' said Russ Diamond, chairman of the citizen activist group PACleanSweep. 'They should realize that things have changed in Pennsylvania.'

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra launches blog

Article from Philly about the new, Pgh blog -- PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra launched a blog to share insights from musicians and others and engage the public in the orchestra's activities.

New Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Blog

New ice-making system for Oly hockey arena -- we've got a failed ice rink too, on the South Side

Ice troubles have hit the city's lone indoor ice rink in recent times too. It's been closed. I think we need people in leadership roles who care to run what we have with energy. We've been squandering our assets, sadly.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - New ice-making system for Oly hockey arena - Saturday November 12, 2005 4:42PM The ice-making equipment at the secondary hockey arena for the Turin Games will be replaced after failing at an Olympic test event.

Another bad joke with eminent domain. Kick out a tire dealer and put in a different tire dealer.

We should not use eminent domain as it just drives up the prices of doing business for the city. It costs too much. And, the end game is not an advantage. FOXNews.com - Politics - Oakland Seizes Land, Swaps Retailer The city also used its power of eminent domain to obtain the parcel for a commercial retailer, Sears, which wants to put in its tire store.

To a reporter...

I'm going to make a lot of news -- now, later, and in the race. We need to shape a positive conversation that is sustained -- and for the good of the greater community.

Call any time on any issue.

I think Bob O'Connor's win presents, and even demands, great opporutnities for injecting additional insights -- to 'think again.'

P-G says, I am emerging

Candidates seek Ricciardi's council seat Candidates for Pittsburgh City Councilman Gene Ricciardi's seat have begun emerging.

Mark Rauterkus, also of the Flats, said he'll run. He is a stay-at-home dad, author and activist who ran for mayor as a Republican in 2001, and for state Senate as a Libertarian in May.

In special elections, party committee members choose nominees. Often some candidates run as independents. The winner will serve out Mr. Ricciardi's term, which runs through 2007.

The district includes Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Knoxville, South Oakland, the South Side Flats and Slopes, St. Clair Village and part of Mount Washington.

I'm also a swim coach.

New Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County -- expected shortly

Tim has resigned. Dave is in. More news shortly.

The Allegheny County Libertarian Party is a solid group of concerned citizens. Monthly meetings are held. Minutes are kept. Elections occur each year as scheduled. Funds for operations are managed. Messages get delivered. Interactions and relationships with state-wide and national associates are maintained. And, policy is impacted.