Don't Put Me In a Box -- from the recent campaign concert with Johnsmith at HQ on the South Side

You can hear a song by Johnsmith, as performed at our campaign concert recent Rally for Rauterkus at our brand-new venue at our South Side H.Q. We had more than 50 people attend the festivities on Feb. 2, and a good, meaningful time was had by all.

Quicktime, high bandwidth:

http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/sounds/DPMIABhigh.mov

Quicktime, low bandwidth:

http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/sounds/DPMIABlow.mov


Johnsmith sang, among other things, "Kicking The Stone" -- over the 10th Street Bridge, up 12th Street and all the way to the Super Bowl.

Prediction: Steelers win with a score of 3-14. And NO overtime.

Prediction: Seahawks 3 - Steelers 14. That's 3-14. The statement, 3-14 is more than a football score, as it is a date, March 14, of the special election for district 3, city council, city of Pittsburgh.

Frankly, I'm worried about OVERTIME. I don't want any overtime in the SuperBowl.

Likewise, I don't want to see so much overtime in the payroll of city workers so as to drain the city's annual budget. Nearly ten percent of the city's payroll budget is being sucked up in overtime charges including public safety workers: Emergency Medical Service, Firefighters and Police. They've had a flock of retirements and a shortage of new employees hired. The miss-management hurts in the day-to-day lives of these workers, their families and productivity. Plus, the second bit of pain comes from the inflated salaries that lead to higher pensions for years to come as these folks retire.

Most of all, we can't have any OVERTIME tonight, past the game. Outside my door and up-and-down the South Side the police have deployed road blocks and barracades. Stores are boarded up, like a hurricane is expected. Nobody should be tackled or sacked on the streets of the city AFTER the game ends. Leave the trash talking to Joey Porter too. Let lawlessness reside in Detroit (if it must reside anywhere). Lawlessness isn't welcomed in Pittsburgh and elsewhere throughout our region.

Super Bowl XL = can come to mean, Extra Liberty = Everyone Wins!

Around the South Side today, I hope to post mini, 4-color, artistice Pittsburgh signs that say:
Liberty
XL
Everyone wins!

Meeting with folks on the North Side -- to talk about big issues -- Health Care Reform.

Wilburn Hayden, Ph.D., briefs a group of people from various chuches around the county on the efforts of Health Care Reform in PA. The measure has a bill number in the PA Senate. Wilburn is the director of social policy and research for the Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign.

I took the photo.

500 show support for Penguins' new arena-casino proposal

500 show support for Penguins' new arena-casino proposal Ms. Harris, 17, of Carmichaels, Greene County, was holding a sign that read, 'Rendell ... No Arena, No Vote!'

For starters, a 17-year-old does not vote. Now, that is a shame, but it is a fact. Plus, the payment for the arena does NOT generally fall upon the backs of the people in Greene County -- but rather upon the people of the city of Pittsburgh.

The sign should read: "No Arena, No Vote, No Smarts." Logic is absent. Think again.

I was NOT asked to be a speaker at this event, by the way.

If the Civic Arena was BAD URBAN DEVELOPMENT -- why hasn't Peduto fixed it already? Why have the Dems not fixed the urban development of Three Rivers Stadium -- nor Heinz Field's urban development project too. I say the North Side is bad urban development too. Deadlines have passed and the only thing that is really happening is the shifting of jobs from other offices downtown to the North Side, leaving big holes in the downtown market. And, we get a massive parking garage that is going to be empty most of the time.

It is bad urban development to churn. The civic arena is a historical site now. It can be better blended into the fabric of the city. I think I know how to make that occur. Heck, the civic arena is the only indoor ice rink in the city.

Worse urban development -- far worse than the civic arena -- is the closing of an indoor ice rink on the South Side behind UPMC's South Side Hospital within a park. That is a dark hole that has been ignored by the likes of Bill Peduto and others on City Council. Gene Ricciardi, our former city council person, was the Chairman of the Citiparks when that was closed and NOT re-opened. He didn't care nor did he do much at all.

These guys are quick to stand up and grab a new shovel and want to re-do everything. They want big projects. They want big-ticket spending. But, they also drive up the debt. They also make earth move and nothing else moves -- not the economy, the the jobs, not the quality of life for ALL the city's, county's and region's citizens.

The Pens should stay, of course. The Pens should build a new arena, of course. But, they should do it on their own land with their own money.

The windfalls from gambling need to be diverted to more pressing needs, not a new hockey arena in a league that is about to die and didn't play a game last season.

Carmine's audio still rings true in most instances

Index of /~player/history/audio/carmine Another audio directory with many strong statements from years ago that still hold today.

Volunteer call

Audio of a call for volunteers.

The War on T-Shirts - Yahoo! News

My new t-shirt, by the way, came out for the first time on Thursday, for our campaign concert with singer/songwritter, Johnsmith. I had talked about it and shown the artwork to the audience at the candidate forum on Monday night. Its buzz began, right on this blog.

Furthermore, one of my t-shirts is already in Detroit -- on the back of a Steeler fan. She doesn't have a ticket -- but she has the kwel Liberty XL shirt!

In other t-shirt news....

The War on T-Shirts - Yahoo! News Minutes before the President of the United States would tell the Congress how much he appreciates 'responsible criticism and counsel,' the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq was dragged from a gallery overlooking the House chamber where Bush would speak, handcuffed and arrested for the 'crime' of wearing a T-shirt that read: '2245 Dead. How many more?'

Cindy Sheehan, who had been invited to attend George Bush's State of the Union address by Representative Lynn Woolsey (news, bio, voting record), the California Democrat who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, did not put the 'dangerous' shirt on for the event. The woman whose protest last summer outside the President's ranchette in Crawford, Texas, drew international attention to the antiwar movement, had been wearing it at events earlier in the day.

Indeed, as Sheehan, who had passed through Capitol security monitors without incident, noted, 'I knew that I couldn't disrupt the address because Lynn had given me the ticket and I didn't want to be disruptive out of respect for her.'

No one has suggested that Sheehan was in any way disruptive.

So why was she arrested?

Because, as Sheehan recounts, she was identified as a dissident.

Dissent -- a fine concept. Another word for a person who causes dissent in Pittsburgh is nay-sayer. I've been a 'nay-sayer' to the N-th degree.

Casino plan criticized - PittsburghLIVE.com

Casino plan criticized - PittsburghLIVE.com With at least 3,000 slot machines, Pittsburgh's casino will be too big and could end up looking like a 'shed,' Anne Swager, co-chair of the Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force, said in a recent magazine interview.

That's assuming the state ever awards the casino licenses. Swager also said lawmakers have impeded a casino selection process marked by 'politics as usual.'

EXACTLY. But, the blasted casino can't look like a stinking shed if we INSIST upon the placement of the casino within the nice looking CONVENTION CENTER. Make it go there and no where else.


Convention Center isn't an ugly box. It is the place to make the casino work for Pittsburgh.


Green building, big arches, sky lights -- and all at a cost of about $6-million per year in regular operational COSTS, not counting the debt for building the cool building. The $300 million to build and the annual subsidization of the building -- makes it a weight around the necks of the taxpayers. Here is an opportunity to sell the building to a casino operator. Let's get rid of it now, before the casino operator needs to build another building.

Major software upgrade for concept maps: CmapTools v4

CmapTools v4 has been released and is now available for download from http://cmap.ihmc.us/

Version 4 adds a lot of new features and functionality. See the comments for the notes.

The next round of CDs that are to be provided with the campaign is to include this software.

Welcome to Pittsburgh Public Schools

Welcome to Pittsburgh Public Schools Monday, February 6, 2006
Two-hour delay. No AM half-day programs.
Staff is to report on time.

Road Delays and School Delays

Roads around town are going to be closing at certain times. The horses are out already, and one is in front of our home / headquarters.

The Pgh Public Schools is going to have a two-hour delay on Monday, to allow for the hangovers I guess.

Super Bowl Party

Still don't have anything to do for the Superbowl?

Then get a life. And, you're in luck. We've got a few extras to spare if you so desire.

Go to the Rex Theatre on the South Side. As you may already know, many of the bars on the South Side have decided to close for the Superbowl. Not the Rex Theatre! The game will be shown on the movie screen with full surround sound. There will be food provided and a cash bar. Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door as a donation to the Isaac for Congress Campaign. If you are interested, reply to Stacy Kletter, Volunteer Coordinator, Stacy@isaacforcongress.org and they'll hold tickets at will call for you. This is a wonderful opportunity to support a local candidate, and watch the Steelers win the Superbowl.

The Rex Theatre
1602 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Mike Isaac for Congress
311 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
412.670.2940

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At Station Square, the Junior US Senator from PA will be hosting a party as well.

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If you really need a life, perhaps you could go to Station Square and protest outside their Superbowl party.

Hey Jack: Haste makes waste. Think again.

Wagner urges fast action on arena Southwestern Pennsylvania must come together as a community to demand that slot machine profits fund a new arena, Auditor General Jack Wagner said yesterday during the taping of KD/PG Sunday Edition.

This is another attempt by Jack Wagner to get the Penguins a new arena. He is charging along with this same tune.

The Penguins who are not able to think again as the organization is wed to the Isle of Capri gambling proposal. They won't think again. It is turning into a game of chicken -- do or die -- winner take all.

If Jack wants to be a promoter for the Penguins, I'd wish he'd go do that because I'm not sure what is happening in terms of him being an Auditor General. Is the Auditor General turning into a partisan fanatic for a team in a floundering league?

It is okay to prode and poke the do-nothing mentality of other leaders. But frankly, I think Dan Onorato should do nothing with the Penguins. The Penguins didn't do anything last year -- remember. The NHL didn't play any games for goodness sake. How trustworthy are they?

If you want to talk about doing nothing -- then lets talk about how the Penguins didn't do jack for a year. They went into nothingness. And, they've come back to life -- and could still toss the switch to off in a heartbeat.

PA Senate Bill 1085 -- call to Wayne Fontana from Mark Rauterkus

A major healthcare reform bill has been introduced in the PA Senate by Jim Ferlo.

Contact your State Senator and ask that he or she co-sponsor the bill, www.legis.state.pa.us.

Contract your state representative and ask if him or her to consider a co-sponsor's role. A lead sponsor is still needed.

Write, phone or e-mail Sen. Ferlo and thank him for taking the lead in sponsoring this legislation.

Lean about the bill and pass around the insights on the bill to others.

The next PUSH strategy meeting is tomorrow, Friday, Jan 28, 2006, 9:30 a.m., 33 Terminal Way, South Side. This big building is between 3d & 4th Streets.

Add your name to the PUSH address list so you will receive occasional mailings. You can become a member of PUSH by sending $10 or more to PUSH at the above address.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1085 - "The Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act."

This legislation assures comprehensive health coverage for every Pennsylvanian, adopts the cost efficiencies of a single payer Health Care Trust, solves the medical malpractice through a no-fault system that assures fair compensation where appropriate while reducing doctor/hospital malpractice premiums, embraces and underwrites a new "wellness curriculum" in our schools and encourages a community wide "culture of wellness" to support a renewed personal commitment to a healthful lifestyle, it supports sensible strategies to eliminate medical errors, ends unjust disparity, and much much more.

Groots effort by citizens across the Commonwealth and mainly in Pittsburgh have been pushing behind the scenes on top-flight solutions for Pennsylvania. This effort is a comprehensive and innovative approach to health care reform. Pennsylvania can be the center of the health care reform.

Our community concert and rally is tonight!

We still have some room.... Mostly at the 7:30 arrival time with music and program from 8 to 9 pm.

It is Thusday.... 2/2.

The groundhog has spoken --- and now it is time to sing, "Don't Put Me In a Box."

House Concert with Johnsmith

PR handout for the event.

Academies would add hours, days to city school year

Academies would add hours, days to city school year
The accelerated learning academies proposed for Pittsburgh Public Schools would add 45 minutes to students' school day and 10 days to their school year.
Lynn Spampinato, deputy superintendent for instruction, assessment and accountability, gave the figures at a school board Education Committee meeting last night.

412 email blast

Hi Friends and Neighbors,

Our CD for the campaign for city council includes a story called Diamonds by Meg Barnhouse. Her great message from a mom's perspective cuts to the chase on the value of baseball. I'd love for you to get the CD and listen to her story.

P-G reports that NINE players are in the race for city council:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06031/646962.stm

I'm the one who wants to work with our most precious resources:
+ our kids, and,
+ our liberties, as in FREEDOM and JUSTICE for all.

We're getting t-shirts too. White jerseys, black ink. Front says:

You'll be able to get the CD, the t-shirt -- and hear a wonderful
concert in our home / office on Thursday, Feb 2. The performer is
Johnsmith. He'll do his tune that I love: "Don't Put Me In a Box."

Here two tunes -- and -- a 30-minute radio interview with me from the
Pitt radio studios.

http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/audio/

Hope to see you at the rally and concert on Thursday night.
+ Media at 5 pm.
+ Family set, arrival after 5:15 pm, music and program from 6-7 pm.
+ Set for civic leaders, arrival after 7:15 pm, music and program from 8-9 pm.

Details: http://S6.CLOH.org.

If you can't make it this Thursday, next Thursday evening starting at
6:30 pm we'll be holding another special event for the Olympics in
Oakland at the Three Rivers Fitness and Sports Medicine Center, near
Carlow. Our opportunity to focus on messages of kids' fitness and
performance won't be lost.

I'm going to help to promote two contests with a fun prize package
geared to the Olympics.
+ Predict the USA team's medal count: gold, silver and bronze.
+ Predict the top five nations in total medals at the Olympics.

More news soon.



Ta.

Mark Rauterkus Mark@Rauterkus.com
http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
http://Elect.Rauterkus.com http://Platform.For-Pgh.org
412 298 3432 = cell

Candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, district 3, special election on 3-14-06.

509 Bandwidth Limit Exceeded at Pghbloggers.org

509 Bandwidth Limit Exceeded Bandwidth Limit Exceeded
The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit. Please try again later.
Apache/1.3.34 Server at www.pghbloggers.org Port 80

Yes, this is great news! The end of the month, Jan 31, saw a short black-out of the site. Wonderful. No joke. The PghBloggers.org site is rocking the fiber, so to speak.

Infrastructure is important. Now our sewer lines under the city streets are frail -- and -- our WIFI wireless isn't there yet in a universal way throughout the city -- and our popular bloggers' hub is pushing new limits of its capacity as well.

That's progress.

Consider me like the little Dutch boy who sees a hole in the damn and plugs it with his finger. :)

My heart's wish for Feb 2006: I wish there were more bloggers covering the politics within the City Council special election on March 14. I'm in the race and have a different perspective, of course. But, I'd love to bounce around among a few of the other web sites and bloggs to make a sustained discussion.

Original post from 9:54 pm on Jan 31, 2006, but now updated.

Johnsmith -- great singer and good times -- guarantee

Johnsmith played in Pittsburgh at last year's concert.

New video uploaded to site from last year's concert.

Intro to Rooks and the Castle