Eight CC Skiers -- two from USA -- have rich blood and must sit

The Daily News Online Eight Olympic cross-country skiers, including two Americans and one former gold medalist, were suspended for five days after they were found to have excessive hemoglobin levels -- the first hint of scandal at the Turin Games.

The suspensions, announced Thursday by the International Ski Federation, last five days from the day the tests were administered. The U.S. Ski Association said the tests were taken Wednesday, meaning the athletes will be barred from competition until at least Monday.

When you work hard, and screw up, that's a shame. But, people do it, sadly.

This is hard news to understand. We'll be dealing with this a church this Sunday.

A 13-year-old boy is dead after playing a choking game, where young people try to get a quick high by being choked with ropes or belts. The parents of the Mount Lebanon boy warned others of the dangers of the game, which has been deadly for other young people throughout the country in recent weeks.

Our kids are precious. And, our kids come to us without much of anything. They grow, and they have energy -- but they need so much. It is such a blessing to give.

In times like these, our priorities get a wake-up call.

Image Gap -- going south of the border

The Loft - Blog Archive - Policy, Not PR, Key to Better Image for Mexico Suffering what officials describe as “Mexico bashing,” the government has hired a Dallas-based public relations firm to fix its image. Unfortunately, the fix to the problem has nothing to do with PR and everything to do with policy.

According to a story in the Washington Times, the PR firm Allyn & Co. has been hired by the Mexican government "to polish its image amid rising concerns in the United States over illegal immigration and a growing sentiment in Congress to better secure the border with Mexico."

“I can’t think of a worse time of Mexico bashing in recent history than now,” embassy spokesman Rafael Laveaga told The Washington Times. “Unfortunately, we don’t find any positive viewpoints."

The Fox administration has criticized efforts in Congress to upgrade the government’s control of the U.S.-Mexico border, including pending legislation that would authorize the construction of nearly 700 miles of high-security fencing and designate illegal entry as a felony."

Has Tom Murphy left New Orleans?

My call to Double Ms sports talk show - ESPN Radio

Mark Madden, back from the hospital, is on the radio again. He really ripped upon Dan Onorato(Allegheny County's Chief Executive) and Bob O'Connor (mayor). Double M love hockey and really wants to keep the Penguins in town. He isn't alone in those desires.

KDKA radio had an interview with the politician earlier -- and a recap was delivered to the listeners via the show host. It is hard to do a recount of the conversations on the air in a civil way -- as he ripped, as he generally does.

I called the show. I had four or five serious questions to put to him, but after the first I got clicked off the air.

I said something like this, "I think it would be great if the Penguins got a new arena. But, I want Mario to keep it. Don't give it to the city. Keep it in private hands. Mario should operate it."

He said, "Why don't you want a free gift."

I said, "We are just able to keep our head above water as it is. The new arena is like an anchor that the city doesn't need at this time."

But it is a gift, he said. And the incomes it makes.

I said that the incomes are still going to be flowing to the city regardless of who owns the building. (more type but not on the air...) The city really only makes the taxes. And the taxes come from a building the city owns or from a building the Penguins or another private operator would own. That wasn't on the air.

I said that the public ownership of the new arena would take away valuable attention that goes beyond the scope of what government should be doing. Mario could do a better job of running and programming the building anyway.

I also said it would be great if the Steelers owned Heinz Field and the Pirates, or some other organization, not some authority madness, owned PNC Park too. The city doesn't need to own these facilities.

... click ...

I was off the air. I lost the cell reception and didn't know how he followed my conversation with additional comments.

Look at the long view of this, Penguin fans. If Mario and the Penguins own the building, then it is much harder for them to move the team. Owning the building puts roots into the community that isn't as fluid as owning a franchise in the NHL.

Furthermore, as a city resident, and city recreational leader, I want to have the city own facilities that we all can use and have access too. Our city's priorities have to be about raising our families here. I'd rather put energy and effort into recreation centers and kids rather than corporate boxes and season-ticket holders.

The Isle of Capri plan needs some major adjustments. And the first one -- IMHO -- is that the windfall for the building of the new arena should not end up with the building going to public ownership. Build it. Keep it.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/09/2006 | Philadelphia named Olympic 'partner'

We are worried about a hockey areana and a casino -- while at the other end of the state some are bucking for the Olympics in 2016.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/09/2006 | Philadelphia named Olympic 'partner': "On the eve of the start of the Winter Games in Italy, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced yesterday that it had chosen the Philadelphia region to be one of its community partners.

No, this does not mean that the 2016 Summer Games are coming here. But in the view of the man heading the effort to make that happen, such a designation can't hurt.

'We're glad to have the beginning of an official relationship with the USOC,' said Joseph M. Torsella, who, as head of the city's informal organizing committee, has been working behind the scenes for months. 'We hope this is the start of a long and beautiful friendship.'

It remains unclear whether any U.S. city will be allowed to bid for 2016. The USOC is promising to address the matter after the close of the Paralympic Games on March 19 in Turin.

But becoming a community partner indicates that Philadelphia is ready to mount a serious bid if and when the competition starts.

Casino details hidden - PittsburghLIVE.com

All the king's horses and all the king's men, won't be able to fix Pittsburgh again. The secrecy stinks and it is why Pittsburgh still has its "smokey city" image. The smoke isn't from mills full of hard-working men making products for the rest of the world. Today's smoke is from status quo politicians who work hard to hold onto what little power they have for all the wrong reasons.

Casino details hidden - PittsburghLIVE.com: "n Pittsburgh, however, the slots application process is still shrouded in secrecy. The applicants have talked about their proposals, but the state and city refuse to make the details public."

URA approves sale of property for library - PittsburghLIVE.com

Over-reaching stinks. We have had enough of the broken promises. Cut the chatter. Putting up a library is fine. But don't go and claim that the library, moving from one corner to another, makes a "significant economic generator" and a "resource and beacon" for the economically depressed Hill District. Give us a break.

Perhaps this is why Hazelwood is thriving now, because the library moved to the main street above a laundry. How many new jobs moved there? -- Zippo? --

Now that the Library owns the space for $1, does that mean it can knock down how much it gets in RAD funding?

Furthermore, this is still the sale of a bit of property that won't turn into tax-payer land. I would rather give a lease for 99 years and now sell the property.

I would rather see a net shrinkage of all land owned and controlled by nonprofits. If they take that land, then twice or four-times the land should be made commercial again.

The URA owns a ton of land. The URA has way to much land. That land needs to be liquidated, in due measure. But to give the URA, a holding company, the mission to liquidate but only have the land be owned by nonprofits is even worse than what we need.

I love libraries. I really do. But, I'm not going to look at these transactions with blind spots to our city's overall health and fitness.

URA approves sale of property for library - PittsburghLIVE.com... the five-member URA board approved an $18 million tax-increment financing plan for the $170 million Three PNC Plaza project Downtown. Such plans allow cities to use money generated by increased property taxes to redevelop blighted areas.

The plan must have a public hearing and go before the city and county councils for consideration at the end of this month before it's approved. The Pittsburgh Public Schools board won't review the proposal until March and final approval might not happen until May.

I'm against all TIFs. I would not approve this TIF to PNC.

Nearly all of our town is designated as "blighted." We need to end blight -- by stopping the use and designation of the term, blight. Blight is a paperwork term that leads to more give-a-ways from the government, more eminent domain, more taxes for the home owners. Blight allows the politically connected to get theirs and the rest of the people to pay for it. And, the blight never goes away, it only gets worse.

This game of musical chairs, with a focus on blight, is just another way to confuse the public.

Linux Basics Tutorial on Saturday

Western PA Linux Users Group gathers to help new people to Linux on Saturday, February 11, 2006, from 10 am to 2:30 pm at Newell Simon Hall 3002. This meeting is FREE and open to the general public. Please invite your friends and coworkers so that they can see Linux.

Newell Simon Hall 3002, http://www.wplug.org/pages/wplugmap/

412 268 4998

Distribute fliers to promote this tutorial,
http://www.wplug.org/files/linuxbasicsho.pdf

Speaker: Beth Lynn Eicher
Host: Patrick Wagstrom

ABOUT THE TUTORIAL- LINUX BASICS
The tutorial will be a brief yet thorough overview of the Linux operating system. If you would like to get started and you would like a cram course in the basics, this class is for you. Maybe you just started using Linux however you feel like you are drowning in a sea of information. Fear not, we are here to help.

You may bring a computer along, but one is not required. We will be demonstrating a version of Linux called KNOPPIX with allows you to boot directly from the cdrom into a fully-functional Linux operating system without affecting the current contents of your hard drive. You can follow along with your own system to enhance the experience or just sit back and watch. If you do choose to bring your system, make sure to bring
everything (monitor, keyboard, mouse, power cords, power strips, etc.). We do have carts available to help you move your stuff into Newell Simon Hall 3002. Please be considerate and arrive before 11am with your computer so that we can get started at 11am sharp.

We encourage all to RSVP, especially if you are bringing your computer. However, if you did not RSVP, please come anyhow. Those who RSVP to rsvp@wplug.org will receive a free Knoppix CD.

If you have any questions about the event, special needs, or any topics you would like the tutorial to cover, please email rsvp@wplug.org

TOPICS WE WILL COVER
* Why use Linux
* Choosing a distribution
* Using the command line
* Installing programs - rpms and tars
* Security suggestions
* How not to get into trouble
* Basic desktop usage
* Using Knoppix as a rescue disk or as your main Linux desktop

SCHEDULE
* Doors will open at 10 am to NSH 3002
* Coffee and Doughnut Hour 10 am-11 am
* Linux Basics tutorial part I 11 am - Noon
* Geeks Eating Pizza Noon-ish - 1pm
($5 is suggested for pizza contribution)
* Linux Basics tutorial part II 1pm-2:30pm
* General Socialization 2:30pm-3pm

Other events: Saturday March 4, Installfest 10 am-5 pm Newell Simon Hall Atrium (3rd floor commons).

If you have any questions about this event or wplug in general, please
send mail to info@wplug.org

Questions I'll be giving answers to shortly

1) The City is expected to have a budget deficit in future years; do you support further cuts or an increase in taxes to resolve this issue?

2) How would you have voted on Act 47?

3) Tax Increment Financing is a very controversial issue because it is not being used as the legislation intended it to be used (i.e. redevelopment of brownfields). What will you do to prevent the misuse of TIF’s?

4) Which slots application do you support?

5) How will you implement community based development plans for each neighborhood in the District?

6) District 3 is home to the 2nd highest percentage of 18-24 year olds. How will you improve the vibrancy of the District to keep young people in Pittsburgh? Do you support an active night life, such as live performances and other arts?

7) Domestic partner rights are being threatened by state lawmakers. How will you protect same sex benefits for City employees?

8) City Council recently imposed a buffer zone around health care clinics. Will you work to enforce local laws that protect a woman’s right to choose?

9) What is your position on the Mon-Fayette Expressway? What forms of alternative transportation do you support to provide a solution to the region’s transportation problems?

10) What is your position on the strip mining of the Hays site for a racetrack/casino? What should the City do to proactively protect Hillsides and green space?

Nice guy finishes first | UGA | ajc.com

Steeler Nation, down south juking -- with them junk yard dawgs.

Nice guy finishes first | UGA | ajc.com: "Nice guy finishes first
By Chip Towers, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Really enjoyed watching the Super Bowl this past Sunday. I went in not sure who I was rooting for but it quickly became apparent that I wanted Pittsburgh to win. Why? Mainly because of Hines Ward.
I had the pleasure of covering Ward when he came to Georgia in 1994. I�d like to say I was the first who tabbed greatness for him but that wouldn�t be the truth. His high school coach at Forest Park, Mike Parris, told me while Ward was still being recruited that I�d see him flourish in the NFL some day. Now I�ve known Parris since we both attended Redan High School in the late 1970s but, impressive stats aside, I couldn�t see the type of world-class athleticism in Ward that my friend described, not in this slightly undersized but extremely versatile teenager. But I would get a first-hand look over the next four years as Ward played tailback, quarterback and wide receiver for the Dogs. Parris had said Ward could play virtually any position and, to this day, believes he would have been one of the best safeties in the game. I don�t doubt it now.
But what truly separated Ward was the type of person he was/is."

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says

A sales tax on advertising. Give me a break.

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Scott Niedermayer to miss Games for Canada - Wednesday February 8, 2006 7:21PM

Closer -- but still no Penguin is headed to the Olympics.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Scott Niedermayer to miss Games for Canada - Wednesday February 8, 2006 7:21PM Florida Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was added to the Canadian roster to take Niedermayer's place.

A special election will be held April 11 to replace Habay.

Humm.... What's up with this? Insights welcomed.

Nonprofits are leading the charge....

Charge -- as in credit card charges?

OnQ Presents: Our Region's Next Renaissance
Tune in Thurs., Feb. 9 starting at 7:30 p.m. on WQED tv13

The Pittsburgh region's next renaissance is underway, and local nonprofits are leading the charge. In this installment, "OnQ" correspondent Tonia Caruso begins the coverage with a trip to Waynesburg, Greene County, where residents take an active role in non-profit revitalization projects.

Stay tuned after "OnQ" for another half-hour devoted to civic engagement. It's a live Town Hall meeting hosted by Chris Moore, who will take questions from viewers and a studio audience. Chris will be joined by Gregg Behr (The Forbes Funds), Aradhna Dhanda (Leadership Pittsburgh) and Gregory Crowley (Coro Center for Civic Leadership) to talk about how Pittsburgh's nonprofits are leading our region's next renaissance. We'll look at success stories and critical issues that need to be addressed. And we'll also talk about how nonprofits are working together to make a difference. If you can't join us in the studio, pick up the phone and call in with a question or comment. This program is the fourth of five town hall meetings to be held each month through March 2006.

The nonprofits have a place in Pittsburgh. However, that place needs to be contained. I've called for a complete moratorium on all nonprofit land expansion within the city limits. If the nonprofits want to expand, they should do it upward, not outward.

412-email blast: Winter Games Medal Count Contest generates first participants!

Hi Everyone!

See the 412-public-campaign archives to see the message that was sent to my blast list.

[412] Olympic contests: Predict the USA Medal Haul and Predict the Top 5 Nations at Winter Games in total medals

The entries are starting to flow. Two in the first 40 minutes. Here is one comment:

no prob..i dont even know how i got on this mailing list, but i
couldnt help it..i play fantasy sports every year (everything except
olympics), but i just LOVE this kinda stuff..

steelers..woohooo!

Connected rings.

Calling All Citizens.... Events for Elect.Rauterkus.com this week include:

Community Candidate for Pgh's City Council, Mark Rauterkus, hosts two events to discuss policies of our neighborhood and Pittsburgh this week:

You're invited. Bring your questions. Free and open to to the public.

8 pm on Wednesday, Feb 8 at South Side Athletic Club 2026 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 412.488.1120

6:30 pm on Thursday, Feb 9 at Three Rivers Fitness & Sports Medicine Center
3216 Fifth Avenue, Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412.621 8380

When you attend, you'll be able to get, for free, a copy of the Elect.Rautekrus.com campaign CD featuring messages from Mark Rauterkus coupled with recorded songs, perfect for our city these days:

Lay The Shovel Down,
Think Again,
Don't Put Me In a Box,
A Nation of Burgers and Fries
Story: Diamonds (about baseball),
Poem: Suffering Democracy.


For further info, Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412 298 3432

Election day: March 14, 2006.
Framework for Mark Rauterkus: Freedom, Future, Fitness and Flow

Olympic Contests Launched

Let's have some fun with the start of the Olympics. I'm helping to promote a little contest. You too can promote it was well. It is simple.

USA, USA, USA --- and Hockey fame! This is a photo of the recent movie, Miracle on Ice, taken in China outside a cinema there.

Make a guess (or prediction) of the NUMBER of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals that are going to be won by the USA at the Winter Olympics in 2006.

Gold = ____
Silver = ____
Bronze = ____

Make a guess (or prediction) by ranking the top five nations in terms of total medals won at the Olympics in 2006:

Country with the most total medals = ___________
Country getting 2nd most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 3rd most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 4th most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 5th most in total medal count = ___________

Submit your answers with name, age, address, and email to Mark@Rauterkus.com, or post them on the blog, http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com, or put them on paper and submit them to Three Rivers Fitness and Sports Medicine Clinic in Oakland, 3216 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. (Call 412.621 8380 for directions.)

Note, all answers are due on or before Feb 13, 2006. Entries on the 14th or later are not eligible for a prizes.

Cost nothing to enter. Prizes for the winners are pending, but will include a number of good things -- we promise. I'm sure winners can will get a new Liberty XL t-shirt, an artistic Pittsburgh button and a free CD of great music that includes the tune, "Lay the Shovel Down," and "Think Again."

Entries can be posted on the blog, here. Or, via email to Mark@Rauterkus.com, or handed over to the front desk workers at Three Rivers Fitness and Sports Medicine Center in Oakland. No official entry form is necessary. Please, one entry per person, per contest.

The aim of the contest is to make the Olympics more enjoyable for the kids of all ages. This might give more motivation to watch, research and read about in the events in newspapers and on the web. The contest can be an exercise among families and friends in terms of global and sporting literacy.

Additional prize donations are being accepted. If you'd like to print up your own entry forms, go for it. Then you'd be able to hand them out to your classroom or school children.

Are you ready for some football -- errr --- Olympics!

The Winter Olympics are about to begin. I'm not sure this town is ready -- as most are hung-over from the black-and-gold victory. But, the world awaits.

We are gathering this week to talk about sports and recreation at two health clubs. Come on out.

Do iPod earbuds cause problems? - My wife got ink today in the P-G.

My wife got some ink in today's P-G.

Do iPod earbuds cause problems?: "Dr. Catherine Palmer, director of audiology at the Eye and Ear Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said the personal responsibility defense breaks down, however, when talking about children.

'People often don't know when they're doing damage to their ears because your ears don't just start bleeding. It's an insidious kind of slow process,' she said.

'We don't limit the sales of any of these devices by age in this country, so we kind of expect kids to be responsible.'

Dr. Palmer and others still said common sense is the best policy, especially for parents. If they can hear music from a child's earphones more than a yard away, it is too loud. Children should also be warned about turning up their iPods -- and other music devices -- to overcome ambient noise in buses or other commonly loud places.

To be absolutely safe, UPMC will make a mold of a patient's ears and make headphones that cancel out most outside noise, allowing music to be played more quietly. They cost between $70 and $120. The hospital will also check decibel outputs of music devices."

My wife and sweetheart (Feb 14 is almost here), is Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D., Director of Audiology at UPMC's Eye and Ear Institute -- and -- she has a joint appointement with the Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehab Sciences.

Taking care of your health is a good thing.

Using common sense is a good thing too.

And, going out of our way to take care of the kids, with special hand holding is also a good thing as well.

So, rock on, with fidelity, and within normal limits.

I want to chat on Gmail -- and give this a whirl. Interested?

The Gmail email service has a new CHAT feature that is rolling out to different users in the weeks to come. I'm a big fan of chats. So, anyone want to give this a whirl? Let me know.

My Gmail handle is Mark.Rauterkus -at- Gmail dot com.