Activists hope to reform state government : The Morning Call Online

I hope that the push for more and more reforms does not make for an implosion. The band of reformers might be best suited for a team victory if they were nimble and light. Too much heft with the reform agenda and the wheels could begin to wobble. Time will tell.

Activists hope to reform state government : The Morning Call Online

By John L. Micek, Call Harrisburg Bureau

HARRISBURG | The loosely knit band of activists who helped derail last year's legislative pay raises plans to spend the new year pushing for reforms to state government.

''We believe that 2005 prepared 2006 to be the 'Year of Integrity' in Pennsylvania politics,'' said Tim Potts of the activist group Democracy Rising.

Potts and about a half-dozen other pay raise foes gathered in the Capitol on Tuesday to roll out their agenda for 2006.

Their playbook includes calls for lobbyist disclosure and campaign finance reform, a broader open records law and, for some, the wholesale rejection by voters of incumbents in the primary and general elections.

The activists say this year will also serve as a place-setter for a ''citizens' constitutional convention'' in 2007.

I do like to have the depth for the discussions. We can take the concepts and string them into the Platform.For-Pgh.org.

Injured Kwan must petition for Olympic spot

Skating show on New Year's Eve -- fantastic!

Speaking of ice skating, we went out for New Year's Eve and attended the party hosted at the RMU Island Sports Center. It was a family celebration. Lots of fun, people, skating and friends. B. McKain skated in the shows and it was a hoot to see her on the ice -- as well as the others. The performance was just right for the night. Other activities included curling and a RMU varsity hockey practice. Great event. See you there next year. I'll do more to advance it then.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Injured Kwan must petition for Olympic spot - Wednesday January 4, 2006 4:27PM

Michelle Kwan struggled at an exhibition event in Boston last month, her season debut. Michelle Kwan struggled at an exhibition event in Boston last month, her season debut.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Adding an Olympic gold to her enormous collection of medals just got much tougher for Michelle Kwan.

Maybe impossible.

Now joining the campaign CD

Mark Rauterkus and Ken Waldman at a concert in Pittsburgh. Ken is both a great musician and storyteller. His cut, "Suffering Democracy" is part of the latest campaign CD. Read the poem on the wiki page.

Ravenstahl re-elected City Council president

Way to go Luke! He is a good choice for the role of City Council President.

Ravenstahl re-elected City Council president: "'The Democrats are basically the backbone of this city,' said Ms. Payne. In addition to being a Democratic committee member, she previously served as an aide to former Councilman Sala Udin, who she beat in the May Democratic primary.

'We will be able to begin bringing people, businesses and jobs back to our neighborhoods,' she said."

Newest Councilwomen, Tonya Payne, said that Democrats are the backbone of the city. She is right.

Sadly, the logic behind the rest of the statement is lacking.

To be well, a body needs more than a backbone. To be a fit city, we need a backbone and limbs, head, and two eyes for better perspectives.

Because we have an all Democrat City Council -- I see no insurance that they'll be able to begin to bring back people, business and jobs back to the city. We do want to bring more life to the city on many fronts. And, the way to do that is to have many fronts on city council -- beyond the one party.

Survey on Education and No Child Left Behind -- worthy clicks for opinion shapers

Running Mates and blog readers, give this online survey a whirl if you care about education.

Zoomerang: "Public Education Network (PEN) is soliciting views from community members on the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) through a series of state hearings, focus groups, and this online survey, which is being administered through PEN’s e-advocacy website, GiveKidsGoodSchools.org. This is your opportunity to express in your own words your opinions about NCLB.

Your opinions will help to identify the extent to which NCLB is providing adequate resources, improving teaching and learning, delivering targeted services to students and teachers, and enhancing the public’s confidence in its schools and in the nation’s system of public education.

Jan. 3, 2006 - Ask Vic: No one way to do it

From another web site in another town:

Ask Vic. Do you think the Patriots lost on purpose just to play Jacksonville instead of Pittsburgh?

Vic: The Patriots didn't play their best people against Miami and even though they can say they were trying to rest key starters and keep them healthy for the playoffs, I don't think it bothers the Patriots at all that their first-round opponent is Jacksonville. Hey, what does that drop-kick say and how about that conversion pass attempt that sailed five yards out of bounds? Let's be logical about this: Do you think Bill Belichick wanted to go into overtime six days before his team's playoff game? Brian Billick made that mistake.

Okay, okay, ... the fix is in! There, it got said.

Philadelphia Inquirer - Citizens of the Year

Hats off men!

Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/01/2006 | Editorial | Citizens of the Year The second annual Inquirer Citizen of the Year award goes to Timothy Potts, Russell Diamond and Eugene Stilp.

Thanks for all you've done. Thanks too for the runners up, all ten thousand of you. You know who you are. Take a bow now.

Mugging style....

My friend Raichle was mugged the other night at 14th and Carson. She posted this description. Be careful!

Pass around please.

White guy, long blond hair, baseball cap and black jacket in late 20's early 30's.

If he approaches you at night and asks for a cigarette be careful.

This happened to me last night and they guy knocked me over, took my purse, and ran to a car that was waiting for him around the corner. The cops say that this guy has been doing this alot and they definitely have it well planned out.

Bob O'Connor's hour in the sun

It didn't feel like a Steelers' rally. Well, it didn't feel like one until Ed Rendell turned Bob's swearing in ceremony into a Steelers' rally. Fast Edddie, call him late for lunch, went on and on with NFL chatter. Jeepers.

I wasn't sure where he was going with his speech. It seemed like he was about to say, "win one for the Gipper" -- or else strike a match to set fire to a couch, right there on Grant Street. He didn't brag about the prices of food at the stadium, but he did brag about a lot of his other "pork accomplishments." Then the Gov must have gotten a call from the booth and sat down.

Inside city hall, with all the food vendors and people -- it felt like a Roller Derby Marathon.

When I look in the mirror, I see myself. When Bob looks in a mirror, he sees Pittsburgh. Does anyone have the heart to tell him that he's really looking out a window, not a mirror?

I did wear my red tie today because I do want to 'red up' around here too.

Speaking of Steelers' pep rally.... what about Lynn Swann. His day is tomorrow. The gathering will be at the Heinz History Center in the late afternoon. See comments to catch his email today. He is up to 5,000 email subscribers. I've got 8,000 on my list. But, he is closing fast.

buskarma - Pittsburgh bus and rail schedules

buskarma - Pittsburgh bus and rail schedules

Identify your bus stop, and this website will tell you when busses arrive. Very convenient. Very user-friendly.

Mayor-elect O'Connor shakes up city's Weed and Seed program

Who are the others that got fired? I wasn't sure if the program would only loose Farley. Now it reads as if there are three gone. John T, where are you in this? I guess he's out.

Mayor-elect O'Connor shakes up city's Weed and Seed program Incoming Mayor Bob O'Connor axed project director and grant writer Dave Farley and two other staff members but said he is committed to the federally based program, which channels money to crime-plagued communities.

Letter to Tom Murphy from the Women's Sports Foundation

April 13, 1999
Mayor Tom Murphy
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Dear Mayor Murphy,

In considering you vote on the sale of land to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, please look carefully into whether the stadium facility will be used by members of both genders, and whether it might exacerbate a potential current Title IX compliance problem with regard to facility usage and benefits. Examing financial and participation data provided by the University of Pittsburgh in response to our request for records mandated by the Equity in Athletics Disclosrue Act, the Foundation has serious concerns about the current status of the University with regard to Title IX.

The rules and regulations concerning Title IX are often difficult to interpret, and it is not the role of the Foundation to do that. We simply have an interest in helping individuals and institutions access good information which will assist them in providing equitable opportunities and athletic progam benefits to female athletes.

The Woman's Sports Foundation promotes equal opportunity for our daughters toplay sports so they too can derive the psychological, physiological and sociological benefits of sports participation. Sport has been one of the most important socio-cultural learning experiences for boy and men for many years. Those same benefits should be afforded to our daughters. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your concern for the equitable treatments of female athletes.

Sincerely,

Donna A. Lopiano, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Women's Sports Foundation
New York Address, emails, fax numbers, etc.
(letterhead of the organization had many board members)

Letter was CCed to every member on City Council.

---

Yes, I helped to secure / generate this letter and concern from Donna.

The standard mode of operations in Title IX struggles includes the building of a facility for the men, then a protest from the women comes, after facilities are built. That standard op does nothing for the taxpayers. Futhermore, women who speak out generally put their careers on the line with their objections.

My children are boys. But I coach swimming, a co-ed sport.

Do you have a pocket full of pins?

One of the most exciting things to happen this year -- the Winter Olympics.

You're hired!

Director Ashley stays! That's good news. He is a master at making chicken soup with nothing but chicken droppings. Mr. Ashley is the Director of Citiparks. He'll be a part of the Bob O'Connor Administation.


Peeps for sale.

Next, I want to put in a computer lab at the Warrington Rec Center. And, it needs to happen soon, while the weather is still cold. How about on Thursday or Friday. We'll slip them in with Youth Places if we must.

Few are going to be happier. Many have suffered worse fates.

The sign in the window got retired a few months ago. But, the chip is still on my shoulders. The health of the city is still yet to be determined. A full recovery is going to take years, if not decades. But, Tuesday makes for a great day to celebrate.


This sign really worked wonders.

Do you think that a Rauterkus sign, but of a positive nature, would ever bring on so many smiles and gushing friendships?


Might as well have said, "Buy me a beer!" Or, "Instant friend." Or, ...


We were counting the days.

Do you realize that the teens on the streets, taking lives from one another as news played last night again, were at ages 4, 5 or 6 when the last mayor was sworn into office.

People tell me, "Mark, kids don't vote. Only the seniors vote. The average age of the Pittsburgh voter pushes in the mid 60s."

Tom Murphy and conventional wisdom says kids don't vote. But there is hope nonetheless. Every older person was a kid. Every older person has seen cousins, classmates, sons and daughters depart. Every senior wants to be free to leave their house, day or night, and not have to deal with some punks.

It is a new day in Pittsburgh. I think some of the happiest should be the youth. But, they don't always know better. They've been starved. It is hard to point to what is not there.

Hand in hand.

This needs to be the theme of Bob O'Connor's talk as new mayor. If Bob pulls out any expert mumbo-jumbo, before we go up and eat some riggitony and wings, I predict he'll go bald by 2008.

And Bob, there is no need to thank me for NOT running for Mayor, again. You've direct words to me were plenty.

Wishes for next Christmas are starting to que

Next year's Christmas wish list has started. We've got a new game room -- but we don't have one of these. Do you know what it is? Can you tell us? It is a game table, I'm sure of that. It has pieces like dominos. But, there are some mechanical elements built into the table, under the green felt. There is a mixer action to shuffle and deal out the "dominos." We saw these in Chengdu, and some models were very lavish.


Another model -- and if you click the image, you'll be able to better see the trays built into the top of the green table.

Another curse broken: Not since 1941

Doug Flute of the New England Patriots made a drop kick in the NFL. That hasn't been done since 1941.

These are the times to make history, not be a slave of it.

For Pittsburgh to soar again, we've got to be more than a one-party town. Our one-party town curse has been lingering since 1933.

Mindy's CD is here... Larry B and Wilburn, copies for you shortly

Mindy's new CD, Live from Pittsburgh, arrived in the mail.

I love the title!

Mindy's song, "One World," is on my latest CD, still. "Peace plays a part in my campaign for public office. I too worrie about the babies...."

Good cop, bad cop - PittsburghLIVE.com

Ouch.

Good cop, bad cop - PittsburghLIVE.com Twelve years ago, Murphy tapped his old friend Tom Cox to be his top aide. They knew each other well, a vital requirement of any successful partnership. Unfortunately, they shared the inability to get along with people.

Murphy and Cox may not have invented the bad cop/bad cop approach to management but they did take it to spectacular depths. Not long into the Murphy administration, the ship of state began to list -- from the helm.