The mayor went to a high school girls basketball game. That's great. I've been to a lot of high school sports events -- this year and in the past.
He saw a quarter final game. Just as today, the USA Hockey team plays Finland for a quarter final. There are eight teams in the mix.
The score.... 71 to 37.
Ask yourself why do the kids shoot at each other -- as they have hardly a thing to shoot for in the sporting life within the city league.
Tue., Dec. 6 Greensburg C.C. L 46 - 42 (good game - vs. WPIAL team)
Fri., Dec. 9 at Schenley W 41 - 34
Tue., Dec. 13 Brashear W 48 - 21 POINT PROVEN!
Fri., Dec. 16 Allderdice W 59 - 56 good game!
Sat., Dec. 17 at Clairton W 68 - 42 WPIAL game
Tue., Dec. 20 at Langley W 58 - 31
Fri., Dec. 23 Carrick W 58 - 28
Westinghouse Tournament
Tue., Dec. 27 Peabody W 56 - 30
Westinghouse Tournament
Wed., Dec. 28 Brashear W 59 - 33
Tue., Jan. 3 at Peabody W 62 - 33
Fri., Jan. 6 Oliver W 63 - 24
Tue., Jan. 10 Perry L 47 - 43
Fri., Jan. 13 Clairton W 65 - 30
Tue., Jan. 17 Schenley W 60 - 29
Thu., Jan. 19 Vincentian W 52 - 35
Fri., Jan. 20 at Brashear W 70 - 35
Tue., Jan. 24 at Perry W 49 - 44
Mon., Jan. 30 at Duquesne W 54 - 51
Fri., Feb. 3 at Allderdice W 48 - 40
Tue., Feb. 7 Langley W 54 - 10
Fri., Feb. 10 at Carrick W 55 - 11
Sat., Feb. 11 at Wilkinsburg L 55 - 50
Tue., Feb. 14 Peabody W 66 - 42
Thu., Feb. 16 at Oliver W 62 - 13
City League - Quarterfinals
Tue., Feb. 21 Carrick W 71 - 37
The city league is at the root of the problems as to what we need to fix. I'll fix this.
There was a game in past years when LANGLEY scored but 4 points in a girls HS playoff game.
Nobody wins then.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
The 1,000 foot zone.... sounds like the line around a casino too
There is going to be a clear line at a certain distance around our casino too. I'm not yet sure of the distance -- but it will be dramatic. There are lines like those around the casinos in Atlantic City.
On one side, things are very elegant. On the the other -- the pawn shops can begin.
One one side, the private security enforcement works. On the other -- who knows.
This "favorite here" -- vs. -- "unfavorite there" is what is at the core of what I do NOT like. Liberty has to wash over everything with the same light. To thrive, we can't have these division lines here and there.
We need to favor 'no favorites.' One size fits all. Everyone wins when it all works.
On one side, things are very elegant. On the the other -- the pawn shops can begin.
One one side, the private security enforcement works. On the other -- who knows.
This "favorite here" -- vs. -- "unfavorite there" is what is at the core of what I do NOT like. Liberty has to wash over everything with the same light. To thrive, we can't have these division lines here and there.
We need to favor 'no favorites.' One size fits all. Everyone wins when it all works.
Westinghouse Tragedy Spotlights O'Connor's Safety Plan
The irony of this is not good. They form a "safety partnership" and three kids get shot its first week. The shooting downtown wasn't within the 1,000 foot zone.
The bus routes and the flow of traffic in Pittsburgh is NOT like that in Philly. In a flat mega city like Philly, the kids can better use the buses to get to where they need to go.
In Pittsburgh, we've got some High Schools, and even Middle Schools, that are put in far-flung corners -- such as Brashier. You can't walk along Rt. 51 to get to Brashier. Buses don't really go along that stretch of Rt. 51 to pass by Brashier.
We do have a school that sits at a big junction of many buses -- on South Side -- and that school is up for sale. That is wrong. South Vo Tech sits at a good location for a school building. We need to keep those locations in public control for valued uses -- like for our kids.
The School District should NOT sell off South Vo Tech High School. Not now.
I'm very happy that the kids who are causing some of these problems are getting caught. The kids in the school at Perry last week with a gun got nabbed -- right away -- perfect actions by the school security folks.
Great to see the police swarm and then catch the kids running around by Gateway Center. A citizen saw the one ditch a gun -- he spoke up and that's what we need. Great.
Let's hope that the shooters outside of Westinghouse in the morning violence get caught.
I'm less worried about a 1,000 foot radius -- and do worry about the holistic plan for the entire city and an entire generation (or two) of young people. But, you need to put a line in the sand somewhere.
... We need dogs in our schools to check for drugs and guns," said O'Connor. Dogs are okay at checking for bombs, right. Are they any good finding a hand gun? Dogs might do a good service in the lunch rooms too -- to pick up spilled food from the floor.
Dogs.... I've got a better idea. I think we should have a school or department that is geared to the bio-sciences. The students in that department, say all the juniors, should train from a puppy a work-dog. That would be a valuable life and educational lesson. There are many types of working dogs: assist dogs, etc.
Here is another major need -- and it has been something I've said HUNDREDS of times. We need to re-hire crossing guards. The city used to have crossing guards. The crossing guards are few and far between. The crossing guards were often closer to schools, as well as bus stops. The crossing guards were city employees with a badge and reported to the police chain of command.
The past mayor fired all the crossing guards.
The burden of paying for the crossing guards went upon the schools. That was wrong. I want the schools to pay for teachers, reading coaches, text books --- not public safety.
Crossing guards work the streets, make cars go slower, become hired eyes and ears on all sorts of matters.
Crossing guards are affordable. But, they are also more, much, much more, than a volunteer.
As a city council member -- I'll work to retore and enhance the program for crossing-guards.
Even when the crisis with the guns end -- crossing-guards have a long-term benefit. More people get run down with autos than anything else. The cars are part of the real problems in life. Traffic accidents are a big threat.
A crossing guards can have a car towed that is illegal in an intersection. A crossing-guards can be the eyes and ears -- getting the drug dealing motor home yanked out of the lot next to the school. The crossing guards should be able to write a speeding ticket. The crossing guards can be with radios.
The crossing guards can make things much safer -- without being in riot gear.
ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Westinghouse Tragedy Spotlights O'Connor's Safety Plan PITTSBURGH -- Tuesday morning's tragedy appears to be providing some momentum for Mayor Bob O'Connor's Safety Zone Partnership plan that he announced last week. O'Connor wants a comprehensive plan for creating 1,000-foot safety Zones around all city schools.I think it is bad public policy to be dumping our kids downtown to get bus transfers. I think the kids in the schools need to be on school buses more than on public PAT buses. I've talked about this before.
The bus routes and the flow of traffic in Pittsburgh is NOT like that in Philly. In a flat mega city like Philly, the kids can better use the buses to get to where they need to go.
In Pittsburgh, we've got some High Schools, and even Middle Schools, that are put in far-flung corners -- such as Brashier. You can't walk along Rt. 51 to get to Brashier. Buses don't really go along that stretch of Rt. 51 to pass by Brashier.
We do have a school that sits at a big junction of many buses -- on South Side -- and that school is up for sale. That is wrong. South Vo Tech sits at a good location for a school building. We need to keep those locations in public control for valued uses -- like for our kids.
The School District should NOT sell off South Vo Tech High School. Not now.
I'm very happy that the kids who are causing some of these problems are getting caught. The kids in the school at Perry last week with a gun got nabbed -- right away -- perfect actions by the school security folks.
Great to see the police swarm and then catch the kids running around by Gateway Center. A citizen saw the one ditch a gun -- he spoke up and that's what we need. Great.
Let's hope that the shooters outside of Westinghouse in the morning violence get caught.
I'm less worried about a 1,000 foot radius -- and do worry about the holistic plan for the entire city and an entire generation (or two) of young people. But, you need to put a line in the sand somewhere.
... We need dogs in our schools to check for drugs and guns," said O'Connor. Dogs are okay at checking for bombs, right. Are they any good finding a hand gun? Dogs might do a good service in the lunch rooms too -- to pick up spilled food from the floor.
Dogs.... I've got a better idea. I think we should have a school or department that is geared to the bio-sciences. The students in that department, say all the juniors, should train from a puppy a work-dog. That would be a valuable life and educational lesson. There are many types of working dogs: assist dogs, etc.
Here is another major need -- and it has been something I've said HUNDREDS of times. We need to re-hire crossing guards. The city used to have crossing guards. The crossing guards are few and far between. The crossing guards were often closer to schools, as well as bus stops. The crossing guards were city employees with a badge and reported to the police chain of command.
The past mayor fired all the crossing guards.
The burden of paying for the crossing guards went upon the schools. That was wrong. I want the schools to pay for teachers, reading coaches, text books --- not public safety.
Crossing guards work the streets, make cars go slower, become hired eyes and ears on all sorts of matters.
Crossing guards are affordable. But, they are also more, much, much more, than a volunteer.
As a city council member -- I'll work to retore and enhance the program for crossing-guards.
Even when the crisis with the guns end -- crossing-guards have a long-term benefit. More people get run down with autos than anything else. The cars are part of the real problems in life. Traffic accidents are a big threat.
A crossing guards can have a car towed that is illegal in an intersection. A crossing-guards can be the eyes and ears -- getting the drug dealing motor home yanked out of the lot next to the school. The crossing guards should be able to write a speeding ticket. The crossing guards can be with radios.
The crossing guards can make things much safer -- without being in riot gear.
Planners approve expansion at Squirrel Hill school
Planners approve expansion at Squirrel Hill school city planning commission decided yesterday to endorse a proposed expansion of Colfax Elementary School rather than wait for results of a traffic study.The property values of living in a school district with bad schools is way worse than living near a school with an expanded gym.
We need to cut red-tape. When the public speaks, as it did, and with the jam now before the school district, we've got to move.
In terms of the school plans, we always need to be thinking again -- but -- with 'red tape' -- INMSHO (in my not so humble opinion) we (as a city) need to put the 'pedal to the medal and go straight ahead.'
I'm happy to see a K-8 school really house in one building a full range of K-8 students. I'm happy to know of a K-8 plan that evolves into a K-8 by growing the students too.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Editorial: Hold OPEN Primaries
Okay. We are getting some chatter about how we pick our elected officials. Splendid.
The only fair way would be to hold open primaries South Pittsburgh Reporter
The local paper ran a letter to the editor about our election law and the special election process. Click to see the contents.
However, the article has a few technical elements that are not really right on the mark. There are plenty of ways to hold better elections than what we have now. There isn't ONLY one way.
Plus, with a special election, the OPEN PRIMARY would not work. The endorsement was the primary, so to speak. And, because some were able to gather signatures to enter the ballot as a memeber of a political body, while still being a member of a political party -- we have what is very near to an open primary anyway.
Instant run-off elections would be way better than what we have now.
For the record, I'm a member of a political party. I'm a Libertarian. I'll be listed as the third one on the election day ballot. Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian, goes after the Republican and before the Green.
Generally, I like to find real-world solutions to problems and this one was put forth from a friend who is a Democratic Committee Member. He suggested that those who go before the Dem Party Committee to seek an endorsement from the Dem Committee who don't get the endorsement should be banned for the next five years from ever going back to the committee for anything else.
Really, what we've got now is a party problem. The problems are folks who claim to be one thing but are really just being two things at the same time. So, this new, proposed Dem rule, far from me to introduce it, by the way, would raise the stakes so if one does NOT get the Dem endorsement and runs anyway -- they'd not win again. So, real Dem candidates would need to be and stay in the Dem party.
Pat S and Eileen C both ran for the seat -- and then had the grace to get out. Same too with Ed J. Meanwhile, Matt and Mike ran for the seat and had the grace to get out of the Dem party too -- before the endorsement. Nothing wrong there either.
I'd like the Dem party to be more strict with its housekeeping as it would make the alternative party choices more viable. When you can be this one day and then be something else the next day -- while still being that the day prior too -- its double trouble for the voters and confusion sets in.
Clear rules help. Rules within the party and within the election generally.
Let's talk democracy and how to fix it. Ever hear or proportional voting? Ranked voting works wonders too. If there are eight choices, rank candidates 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Now we are in a race where people are voting for the anti-whatever -- and that gets to be really, really goofy when eight are in the race.
The lesser of two evils is still evil.
In a big field, with one vote, you got to choose who you want and you got to hope and understand that there are many others out there that think the same way you do.
Everyone wins when Liberty wins. Everyone understands that. And, everyone who has been a kid is sure to vote for me too. So, (wink, wink), I think I'm the most viable. So, if you're not happy with the way things have been and want to put up a vote that is more anti-establishement than the others, vote for me again.
Ringing endorsement to my Penguin Plan comes on various fronts
I've said all along that the new arena could come, fine, but it should NOT be given to a public agency. Build it and keep it. Thanks Professor Shuster for mentions of the same concepts.
I also said that it is mandatory that we should "THINK AGAIN." The Pens don't want to think again. If you don't think again -- you gotta wonder if they are even capable of thinking at all.
Sure, it takes two to tango, so, perhaps after the Penguins move we'll be able to turn the Civic Arena into a dance hall. Or, today the folks from the Civic Light Opera marked their 60th -- and made mention of the good old days when they used to perform in the Civic Arena -- under the stars. We could always fix the roof and make the venue a home to cultural events again.
I also said that it is mandatory that we should "THINK AGAIN." The Pens don't want to think again. If you don't think again -- you gotta wonder if they are even capable of thinking at all.
Sure, it takes two to tango, so, perhaps after the Penguins move we'll be able to turn the Civic Arena into a dance hall. Or, today the folks from the Civic Light Opera marked their 60th -- and made mention of the good old days when they used to perform in the Civic Arena -- under the stars. We could always fix the roof and make the venue a home to cultural events again.
Plan B for arena in works - PittsburghLIVE.com Although the region had a 'pretty positive' experience with building PNC Park and Heinz Field, it's almost always better for the private sector to handle such deals, rather than the government or its authorities, said Jerry Shuster, a University of Pittsburgh political communications professor.
'I would much prefer to see the arena not only owned and constructed but operated by the private sector,' Shuster said. 'That takes it totally out of the government's hands, and it would be much better promoted. That, in itself, brings dividends to the city. That's the economic payoff to the city.'
Statement about rich getting richer while poor grows poorer -- before City Council
The following notes were used as I delivered a message to City Council on Feb 21, 2006.
I'm Mark Rauterkus. My family and I live in the historic South Side at 108 South 12th Street. I'm a candidate in the special election for City Council slated for March 14, 2006.Before my children were born, I published books.
I edited, designed, crafted, marketed and sold books and other titles. I never published a “cook book” but I did resell some. Nutritional guide books and eating for cutting-edge athletes who were my customers was part of our mix.Recently, I've been working on a new book, an online wiki. This book covers good government.
The book, Platform.For-Pgh.org, examines what's cooking in city hall. The voters and citizens should have an understanding of what's being fed to them in terms of public policy. Pittsburgh would be healthier if it more of our diet came from my suggestions.
Books give instructions on what to do – and what to avoid. The Warning Chapter gets a new page today.Pittsburgh is going to continue along a pathway of despair if council continually helps the super rich in get richer and the poor get poorer. That is no way to govern.
With eight Democrats now on council, you don't see it as I do. As a Libertarian, I know and understand that freedom, liberty, and justice for ALL – must be applied to everyone – cronies or not.
I think it is wrong to hatch deals on City Council and with the URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) that create subsidized housing for rich people. Especially subsidized housing for rich people in downtown locations.
I think it is even worse – double wrong – to do deals in council that subsidizes the parking of the rich people who live downtown in subsidized housing.
Even worse, -- triple wrong -- is to do deals in council with downtown developers who are sitting on tax delinquent properties in the neighborhoods, such as Brighton Heights. Big properties that don't get the attention that they deserve depress the values of hundreds of other homes of average citizens and become open sores that spew nasty quality of life issues.
Thanks Rich Lord, for the wonderful P-G article on Sunday.The Trib editors get public thanks for slamming PNC Plaza and its $30-million grant from Pennsylvania plus $18-million TIF (a tax break).
These big ticket public subsidies allow the rich to get richer. School children loose and cronies win.
I want to come on council and say, Lay the Shovel Down. Stop already. Enough is enough.
I would rather do deals that address real needs – such as subsidized housing for poorer families within neighborhoods so that the supply is increased and everyone wins with more affordable housing.
Along Second Avenue, I don't want to give a tax break for parking garages in what amounts to a suburban office park. Serious parking problems happen in established neighborhoods. Some “in-fill parking treatments” would increase home values for everyday citizens rather than corporate interests and institutions.
If you wanted to subsidize a day care, then let's talk. The 30-new jobs in a much needed day care and pre-school could guard our most precious assets, our kids. A day-care makes our workforce more productive and keeps people in the city.
The city's school district is about to close 20 schools. A waiting list of nearly 200 kids exist as families want to get into the city operated PRE-Schools. But schools are closing and the wait list for pre-schoolers is sure to grow too.
The reasoning behind the city's continual population decline is clear.
I want to set policy and make prudent investments in the lives of children and the young families in our neighborhoods. Get away from corporate give-a-ways that cost the rest of the taxpayers more money and don't help the overall health of the city – except for the cronies.
Student shot outside Westinghouse High
Student shot outside Westinghouse High Police were looking for a silver Dodge Intrepid with a plate possibly beginning with GCC. Anyone who spots such a vehicle should call 911.
Monday, February 20, 2006
PNC obscenity - editorial from TRIB hits what I'm talking about on the trails
I've been talking about the give-a-ways on the campaign trails. I've been standing up against TIFs. We should "Lay The Shovel Down." This PNC Plaza project is a rip-off to citizens -- in Allentown, in St. Clair, in the South Side Slopes, in South Oakland -- and everywhere in the state too.
We need to stop doing wrongheaded deals. As a member of city council -- I'll do my best to prevent these deals from happening. We need to go in this direction. We need to stop all TIFs.
We need to stop doing wrongheaded deals. As a member of city council -- I'll do my best to prevent these deals from happening. We need to go in this direction. We need to stop all TIFs.
The PNC obscenity - PittsburghLIVE.com: "With public subsidies of nearly $50 million for its new $170 million Downtown skyscraper, PNC fits willingly and snugly in Gov. Ed Rendell's policy of corporate welfare for the rich.
PNC Chairman Jim Rohr says Three PNC Plaza was not feasible without pumping the taxpayers. First, that's baloney. Second, don't build it.
In the dark, duplicitous world of corporate/government 'partnerships' this money is a political tool, not a public 'investment.' Once Three PNC Plaza is built, it will have a value of only $103 million.
The intended return on this investment is the goodwill Mr. Rendell can buy in this election year with money not his own -- from corporate sycophants and stupid voters.
PNC is quite eager to be on the right side of the ruling elite, which has great power to reward or punish. Humbly, we have only the power of the written word."
Hot Metal pedestrian bridge funding presented
Hot Metal pedestrian bridge funding presented Sen. Rick Santorum today delivered a ceremonial check for $500,000, representing the final piece of funding for the second half of the Hot Metal Bridge linking South Oakland and South Side.
On Capitol Hill, Playing WikiPolitics
On Capitol Hill, Playing WikiPolitics Partisanship Tests Web Site's PoliciesThe best way to get around the flow of doctored content on the web is to produce CDs and tar balls. A snapshot of the web site and/or wiki that goes out to hundreds or more on CDs -- that can't be changed -- is very powerful medicine.
By Yuki Noguchi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 4, 2006; Page A01
This is what passes for an extreme makeover in Washington: A summer intern for seven-term Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.) altered the congressman's profile on the Wikipedia Web site to remove an old promise that he would limit his service to four terms.
Did you get a copy of our campaign CD?
My Friend in Nebraska.... Got the ticket?
Okay, who do you know in Nebraska? That's where the winning lottery ticket was purchased.
The news on the radio this week said you'd have a much better chance of dating a super model than getting the winning lotto ticket. Since I'm married, I have a better chance of knowing the winner than dating a super model. And, since we are all networked, let's see who I know in the Cornhusker state, just for fun.
First, of course, we all know Steve P -- the former Pitt AD who nuked Pitt Stadium, the Pitt Script and went to the place where they have N on the helmets, to stand for Knowledge. But, he isn't going to spread any love my way if he should win.
But, years ago I coached a gal in Peoria who then went on to get a college swim scholarship at Nebraska. Jennifer B.
Too bad about the results in the state finals, Miss Swearingen. And, the 20-year-old record in the 50 free was nuked too. Way to go on that as well! I love to see old records fall.
Well, a quick Google search couldn't find K.B. I think she became a M.D. I don't think she still lives in Nebraska. But, I did notice that her younger sister, Kara, has her 100 IM time as an 11-12 year old, that is still ranked 85th all time best in the USA. Here time was 1:01.43 from 1987.
Another known Cornhusker is Tom C -- a boss of Speech at Childrens. He and his wife, another Ph.D., reside in Pittsburgh, for now. They are moving to Dallas soon. But, since he's moving from Pittsburgh, its like he's dead to me. ;) And, I don't think he was home to buy the golden ticket, but he might know who did. Humm.... When's Easter?
The news on the radio this week said you'd have a much better chance of dating a super model than getting the winning lotto ticket. Since I'm married, I have a better chance of knowing the winner than dating a super model. And, since we are all networked, let's see who I know in the Cornhusker state, just for fun.
First, of course, we all know Steve P -- the former Pitt AD who nuked Pitt Stadium, the Pitt Script and went to the place where they have N on the helmets, to stand for Knowledge. But, he isn't going to spread any love my way if he should win.
But, years ago I coached a gal in Peoria who then went on to get a college swim scholarship at Nebraska. Jennifer B.
Nice to see that her swim team record was still around for 18-years after her (our) departure. She swam faster than that as a club swimmer. Always just hung on as a high school kid -- hungry to get back to the real program, (wink, wink). Well, that was a long time ago.
PJStar.com - 2003-2004 Journal Star Players of the Year: "In her high school debut on Sept. 5, Swearingen recorded a 53.89 in the 100-yard freestyle. The performance shattered Jenny Bauernfeind's 18-year-old Pekin school record (54.18) and a two-year-old Pekin pool standard set by Southern Illinois University sophomore and Normal U-High graduate Kelsey Kinsella (53.95).
Too bad about the results in the state finals, Miss Swearingen. And, the 20-year-old record in the 50 free was nuked too. Way to go on that as well! I love to see old records fall.
Well, a quick Google search couldn't find K.B. I think she became a M.D. I don't think she still lives in Nebraska. But, I did notice that her younger sister, Kara, has her 100 IM time as an 11-12 year old, that is still ranked 85th all time best in the USA. Here time was 1:01.43 from 1987.
Another known Cornhusker is Tom C -- a boss of Speech at Childrens. He and his wife, another Ph.D., reside in Pittsburgh, for now. They are moving to Dallas soon. But, since he's moving from Pittsburgh, its like he's dead to me. ;) And, I don't think he was home to buy the golden ticket, but he might know who did. Humm.... When's Easter?
Davis, Hedrick ready to clash again in 1,500m - Monday February 20, 2006 11:53AM
This will be fun to watch.
Just for the record, here is the total medal count so far:
Germany 18
Norway 16
Austria 14
United States 13 = 7 gold; 4 silver; 2 bronze
Russia 13
Canada 13
SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Davis, Hedrick ready to clash again in 1,500m - Monday February 20, 2006 11:53AM American rivals Chad Hedrick and Shani Davis both believe they can win Olympic speedskating gold in the 1,500 meters. Enrico Fabris could prove them both wrong.
Hedrick is nicknamed 'the exception' while Davis calls himself 'one of a kind.' They both have one gold and it is tough to say who stands a better chance in Tuesday's race."
Just for the record, here is the total medal count so far:
Germany 18
Norway 16
Austria 14
United States 13 = 7 gold; 4 silver; 2 bronze
Russia 13
Canada 13
Bloggers scoop daily newspapers again
Today's headline is yesterday's blog chatter, again. I had better watch out or the editorial boards of the daily newspapers might not give me the endorsement -- as I'm a blogger and we're scooping them in the coverage of the news.
Triumph also did the book of #13, Dan Marino. That title comes with a DVD as well.
Bettis to join NBC - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Bettis lands a job with NBCLast year, as I was in Chicago, I got to meet with an old publishing friend who own/runs Triumph Books. Triumph is the imprint that is going to do Jerome's book. They were working on it all year.
By Joe Bendel, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Two weeks after retiring from the NFL, Steelers running back Jerome Bettis already has found gainful employment.
Triumph also did the book of #13, Dan Marino. That title comes with a DVD as well.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
The Bus has a new job -- just interviewed with Costas and NBC in Italy
J.B., you know, #36, took his folks to Italy! So sweet. I just saw the interview, thanks to my wife's shouts. He'll be on the air on that first kick off game on Thursday night. They made mention too that the players will be getting their rings then as well.
More ideas for a better Pittsburgh -- with olympic aspirations
I've been sketching a book or two in the past years. One is called, Compelling Sense. The other is more about Pittsburgh's ideas, such as the one's talked about in the P-G article. A dozen ideas for a better Pittsburgh DOWNTOWN FUN
We should NOT turn lower Forbes Ave into a halfpipe. However there are a lot of better things that can be done. Here are just a few.
We were in the Europe and a river there is set up to have wave board riders towed around via an overhead cable in a course that makes a large square. If the Mon is 200 yards wide, it could also stretch 200 or 300 yards in length too. One could set up a course to go from the the fountain at Point State Park, up the edge to the Ft. Pitt Bridge, (300 yards) along the edge of the underside of the bridge to the South Shore, back along the edge of that river, and back to make a square / rectangle ride. Total distance about 1K.
The water in "the pool" near The Point is a no wake zone. So, you can't really water ski there, unless you don't have a boat. River cafes should be built on both sides to get people there to watch the excitement.
Highland Park, near the dam, but along the north shore of the river, could be home to a few white water standing waves. In Syndey for the 2000 Olympics, they built a water park that is all man made. They store the water -- and then let if flow. Another such venue is in MD near the DC area. This would be easy to construct.
We could do the soap box derby along the ramp that leads from the Wabash Tunnel to Station Square.
We could build a ski jump off of the roof of the convention center. But, the slope isn't really good enough, until you put your feet on a long-skate-board and hold upon a ski kite. Then you've got a good roll and lift that would elevate you into the river. It is sorta like a para sail -- but with a wing-shaped kite. Lift, soar, splash among the sister bridges.
We should be doing rock climbing along the face of Mt. Washington.
The single Iron Man idea, not so good. Rather, I'd like to make it a three day Iron Man done in stages. So, the third day is the Marathon, but on day one we'd swim, either in Highland Park Pool -- or -- in the rivers. On day two there is a bike race. Then the third stage, the marathon, is day three. Give us a three day race, one stage each day.
Of course we should do a fin swim from Sandcastle to Station Square. The pros would go down and back. Or, we could do a real three rivers swim in a marathon. Go from Sandcastle to the first island on the Ohio, past the point, then up to Highland Park's dam (or Washington's Landing) then back to the point and home again up to Sandcastle. In that race, the pros could swim straight up. The amateur racers could opt for paddles, fins, snorkels and wet suits.
I'd also like to see seasonal swim pools that are put outside of PNC Park and Point State Park -- that are floated within the river for lap swimming and swim lessons.
Give me kayak water polo too. Beginner neighborhood teams could form for the tykes on the North Side (avaiary) and Panther Hollow as well as at each wave pool and Highland Park Pool. Highland Park Pool should be used 10 months a year for kayaks, by the way. The adult squads would play kayak polo under various bridges, complete with lights and night games.
We need real bike lanes all throughout the city. Not just along the rivers for tourists, but for residents and workers. I also want to bike in the PAT tunnels and on the busways to the east and west. I biked in China -- and it is a great way to stay fit and save on money without a car.
We need bridge jumping / diving too. Some days and some bridges with bunjie cords -- others just for the free fall into the water of the rivers.
I like trampolines to be put on barges and parked on the side of the rivers at parks. They do this too in Vienna.
Perry High School should play the last half of its football season as home games at PNC Park, in the WPIAL. All of its away games should be in the first half of the season, then all of the home games come after the Pirate season concludes, (not counting August when they are eliminated by mathamatics).
Wouldn't it be great to skeet shoot off of the Mt. Washington overlooks? That's a joke, but the others so far are serious.
If we ever have a Regatta in Pittsburgh again, and we don't have any boat races -- we can't call it a Regatta. Call it a drunk fest instead, I guess.
I want to play HUMAN CHESS in PPG PLAZA each evening in the summers, starting at 3 pm. We could set up a couple of boards there around the tomb of the unknown bowler. On slow nights we'd just play HUMAN CHECKERS instead.
The ski lift idea is way cool. We've talked about this before. The lift shouldn't go from Mt. Washington to the North Side however. That's too drab. I'd want to see the lift go from Station Square's west end (near where the casino might go, or at least the IC Light Stage, to the foot of the Incline / T-stop, to the roof of the Oliver Bath House at 10th Street, or else at South Vo Tech. Then one spur goes to the new 12 story parking lot and horse / buggy station over the river on the other side of the 10th Street bridge. A footbridge should take folks to the DU campus, of course. Then the next stop is at 18th Street, then to the park in the hollow behind UPMC South Side. Then to South Side Works, then to Hazelwood and finally up to Pitt's main campus via Panther Hollow.
On the town side, we'd be able to do another lift from DU's campus to the civic arena and then to the Hill House, and then back to the Strip District. Did you know that there used to be an incline that went from The Strip District to the Hill District.
Really, we don't need to build a grocery store in The Hill District -- if we only had a ski lift down to The Strip District.
The way to get from Station Square to the North Shore isn't with a ski lift -- but rather with outrigger boats and electric Duffy Boats. I want Duffy Boats and boat launches all around the city. Then the chair lifts can be back, away from the edge of the water and just join to the water at a few places.
Of course we need to re-open the lone indoor ice rink on the South Side -- but turn it into a year-round curling facility. In curling, the winners buy the first round of beers. So, it would be like a beer garden and curling site. Bingo halls are going to be outlawed once gambling comes anyway.
The halfpipes that were talked about are too dangerous -- but -- if they must occur, put them within a few of the now closed outdoor swim pools. We have had 32 of them in Pittsburgh. We still own the property. I'm against the building of skateboard parks. That fad has pasted anyway.
I want 20 or more JOHN LENNON WALLS around Pittsburgh. We'll turn grafitti art into a real contact sport. Now we've got none. Give the people places to post and decorate. Every day, a crew would go around to one of the sites and yank down the art and make a blank canvas.
Painting and decorations would go in within the tunnels too. Once a week each tunnel shuts one lane of traffic. Say on Mondays from 11 pm to 4 am we'd close the inbound lane on the Liberty Tubes. On Tuesday, outbound. On Wed, SQ.Hill inbound, Thur is SQ.Hill outbound. Then Fri and Sat is Ft. Pitt in and out. Sundays is a rotation between Wabash and Armstrong.
All the paint and puddy might keep the tunnels in functional condition for another couple decades.
Then comes the annual road races, within the Liberty tunnel. I'd love to see a race start in the park on the South Side of the Liberty Tubes -- near the Red, White and Blue and Tambolini's. It would go into the Liberty Tubes and over the Liberty Bridge, then back and forth using different lanes of the road and bridge. I think we could do it six times.
Sure, the Thrift Drug Classic should return. But, we've got a better race that is now being conducted. I'm not in favor of closures of all those roads however, like the race and the marathon used to be.
The Pgh Marathon should use the bus ways and the bike ways. Each year it should be an out and back course, in one direction, off of the roads, almost all the way. I'd like to see the course change every year in substantional ways for the first 10 years. And, the course would change based upon the votes from the participants.
I want a robot battle bar too.
Once a year the CMU kids should take their buggy races to the rails. We'd be able to race from McKeesport to Sewickley with auto powered rail cars. It would be a staged time trial. Teams that catch the crew ahead of them get to overtake -- so those getting past have to pull their ride off of the tracks.
High school teams should have an all-star show down with the CMU buggy victors. If any high school teams beats a CMU team (s)-- then they do a college scholarship swap once the high schoolers are acadmic eligible for CMU.
I'd love to see a real velodrom built, say in Hazelwood.
I'd love to see a real Olympic speed skating rink built too. But, it would be best if that speed skating rink was put underground, into a mountain or in a mine so as to stay out of the sun and stay cool all year. One oval at 40-feet underground could be built with cement or wooden floor. Another oval could be with ice. It would be with cameras and a motion or sound detection lighting so it could be open all times of the day and night.
A good mountain exists behind the now closed indoor ice rink on the South Side. You'd have the one edge of the rink under a tent -- and the rest would just drive back underground.
To encourage college graduates to stay, form a Pittsburgh Service Corps -- sure. But I'd give kids in their junior year with good grades and good service to the community a free option at a lottery for a free plot of land or a crumbled house / homestead. As a graduation gift, you get a home. If you have better grades and better services to the community you get a better draft choice as to where you'd like to build. And, you'd be able to trade these, tax free, for five years. And, if you can't capitalize upon the property after a deadline (say five years) -- it goes back into the mix for the next class to pick.
The URA owns so many bits of property that we have to give them away. And, we can't just sell them to absentee landlords. And, we can't just put them all on the market at one time as they will drive down the home values of everyone else.
The suggestion of making foreign language mandatory isn't a bad one. But, the kids should also learn a programming language too -- Java, C++, PERL, or even MSQL would be fine.
Rather than closing schools, insist that all the families in that school go abroad for a year. Scatter them to all the corners of the world. Send mom, dad, brothers and sisters. Give them two-round-trip tickets. Then when they come back to Pittsburgh, if they do, they'll understand that their home school has closed and won't feel too, too bad. So, if your school closes -- you get to study abroad. Finland, Iceland, Japan, Brazil, wherever. We have Sister Cities -- we'll just make the best of it.
And, those that don't have a closed school to deal with -- you might need to be hosting another international family or student into your home to trade off for the hundreds or thousands of families we are pushing to the rest of the Planet Earth.
Semester at Sea should return too. If your school closed a second time -- you get to take a cruise.
The Steelers should buy Heinz Field and also buy and build two big parking garages on the land around the stadium. The roofs of each parking structure should be for the practice fields. One should be grass the other turf and able to be covered with a bubble. The locker facilities and team's rooms should be the top floors of the garages.
In D.C.'s Georgetown, the college football team has a practice field on the top of a parking garage.
Scouts and spies could watch the team practice from the lookouts on Mt. Washington.
Finally, I do love the gambling at the airport. Plus, we should put Mario's new ice rink there too.
We should NOT turn lower Forbes Ave into a halfpipe. However there are a lot of better things that can be done. Here are just a few.
We were in the Europe and a river there is set up to have wave board riders towed around via an overhead cable in a course that makes a large square. If the Mon is 200 yards wide, it could also stretch 200 or 300 yards in length too. One could set up a course to go from the the fountain at Point State Park, up the edge to the Ft. Pitt Bridge, (300 yards) along the edge of the underside of the bridge to the South Shore, back along the edge of that river, and back to make a square / rectangle ride. Total distance about 1K.
The water in "the pool" near The Point is a no wake zone. So, you can't really water ski there, unless you don't have a boat. River cafes should be built on both sides to get people there to watch the excitement.
Highland Park, near the dam, but along the north shore of the river, could be home to a few white water standing waves. In Syndey for the 2000 Olympics, they built a water park that is all man made. They store the water -- and then let if flow. Another such venue is in MD near the DC area. This would be easy to construct.
We could do the soap box derby along the ramp that leads from the Wabash Tunnel to Station Square.
We could build a ski jump off of the roof of the convention center. But, the slope isn't really good enough, until you put your feet on a long-skate-board and hold upon a ski kite. Then you've got a good roll and lift that would elevate you into the river. It is sorta like a para sail -- but with a wing-shaped kite. Lift, soar, splash among the sister bridges.
We should be doing rock climbing along the face of Mt. Washington.
The single Iron Man idea, not so good. Rather, I'd like to make it a three day Iron Man done in stages. So, the third day is the Marathon, but on day one we'd swim, either in Highland Park Pool -- or -- in the rivers. On day two there is a bike race. Then the third stage, the marathon, is day three. Give us a three day race, one stage each day.
Of course we should do a fin swim from Sandcastle to Station Square. The pros would go down and back. Or, we could do a real three rivers swim in a marathon. Go from Sandcastle to the first island on the Ohio, past the point, then up to Highland Park's dam (or Washington's Landing) then back to the point and home again up to Sandcastle. In that race, the pros could swim straight up. The amateur racers could opt for paddles, fins, snorkels and wet suits.
I'd also like to see seasonal swim pools that are put outside of PNC Park and Point State Park -- that are floated within the river for lap swimming and swim lessons.
Give me kayak water polo too. Beginner neighborhood teams could form for the tykes on the North Side (avaiary) and Panther Hollow as well as at each wave pool and Highland Park Pool. Highland Park Pool should be used 10 months a year for kayaks, by the way. The adult squads would play kayak polo under various bridges, complete with lights and night games.
We need real bike lanes all throughout the city. Not just along the rivers for tourists, but for residents and workers. I also want to bike in the PAT tunnels and on the busways to the east and west. I biked in China -- and it is a great way to stay fit and save on money without a car.
We need bridge jumping / diving too. Some days and some bridges with bunjie cords -- others just for the free fall into the water of the rivers.
I like trampolines to be put on barges and parked on the side of the rivers at parks. They do this too in Vienna.
Perry High School should play the last half of its football season as home games at PNC Park, in the WPIAL. All of its away games should be in the first half of the season, then all of the home games come after the Pirate season concludes, (not counting August when they are eliminated by mathamatics).
Wouldn't it be great to skeet shoot off of the Mt. Washington overlooks? That's a joke, but the others so far are serious.
If we ever have a Regatta in Pittsburgh again, and we don't have any boat races -- we can't call it a Regatta. Call it a drunk fest instead, I guess.
I want to play HUMAN CHESS in PPG PLAZA each evening in the summers, starting at 3 pm. We could set up a couple of boards there around the tomb of the unknown bowler. On slow nights we'd just play HUMAN CHECKERS instead.
The ski lift idea is way cool. We've talked about this before. The lift shouldn't go from Mt. Washington to the North Side however. That's too drab. I'd want to see the lift go from Station Square's west end (near where the casino might go, or at least the IC Light Stage, to the foot of the Incline / T-stop, to the roof of the Oliver Bath House at 10th Street, or else at South Vo Tech. Then one spur goes to the new 12 story parking lot and horse / buggy station over the river on the other side of the 10th Street bridge. A footbridge should take folks to the DU campus, of course. Then the next stop is at 18th Street, then to the park in the hollow behind UPMC South Side. Then to South Side Works, then to Hazelwood and finally up to Pitt's main campus via Panther Hollow.
On the town side, we'd be able to do another lift from DU's campus to the civic arena and then to the Hill House, and then back to the Strip District. Did you know that there used to be an incline that went from The Strip District to the Hill District.
Really, we don't need to build a grocery store in The Hill District -- if we only had a ski lift down to The Strip District.
The way to get from Station Square to the North Shore isn't with a ski lift -- but rather with outrigger boats and electric Duffy Boats. I want Duffy Boats and boat launches all around the city. Then the chair lifts can be back, away from the edge of the water and just join to the water at a few places.
Of course we need to re-open the lone indoor ice rink on the South Side -- but turn it into a year-round curling facility. In curling, the winners buy the first round of beers. So, it would be like a beer garden and curling site. Bingo halls are going to be outlawed once gambling comes anyway.
The halfpipes that were talked about are too dangerous -- but -- if they must occur, put them within a few of the now closed outdoor swim pools. We have had 32 of them in Pittsburgh. We still own the property. I'm against the building of skateboard parks. That fad has pasted anyway.
I want 20 or more JOHN LENNON WALLS around Pittsburgh. We'll turn grafitti art into a real contact sport. Now we've got none. Give the people places to post and decorate. Every day, a crew would go around to one of the sites and yank down the art and make a blank canvas.
Painting and decorations would go in within the tunnels too. Once a week each tunnel shuts one lane of traffic. Say on Mondays from 11 pm to 4 am we'd close the inbound lane on the Liberty Tubes. On Tuesday, outbound. On Wed, SQ.Hill inbound, Thur is SQ.Hill outbound. Then Fri and Sat is Ft. Pitt in and out. Sundays is a rotation between Wabash and Armstrong.
All the paint and puddy might keep the tunnels in functional condition for another couple decades.
Then comes the annual road races, within the Liberty tunnel. I'd love to see a race start in the park on the South Side of the Liberty Tubes -- near the Red, White and Blue and Tambolini's. It would go into the Liberty Tubes and over the Liberty Bridge, then back and forth using different lanes of the road and bridge. I think we could do it six times.
Sure, the Thrift Drug Classic should return. But, we've got a better race that is now being conducted. I'm not in favor of closures of all those roads however, like the race and the marathon used to be.
The Pgh Marathon should use the bus ways and the bike ways. Each year it should be an out and back course, in one direction, off of the roads, almost all the way. I'd like to see the course change every year in substantional ways for the first 10 years. And, the course would change based upon the votes from the participants.
I want a robot battle bar too.
Once a year the CMU kids should take their buggy races to the rails. We'd be able to race from McKeesport to Sewickley with auto powered rail cars. It would be a staged time trial. Teams that catch the crew ahead of them get to overtake -- so those getting past have to pull their ride off of the tracks.
High school teams should have an all-star show down with the CMU buggy victors. If any high school teams beats a CMU team (s)-- then they do a college scholarship swap once the high schoolers are acadmic eligible for CMU.
I'd love to see a real velodrom built, say in Hazelwood.
I'd love to see a real Olympic speed skating rink built too. But, it would be best if that speed skating rink was put underground, into a mountain or in a mine so as to stay out of the sun and stay cool all year. One oval at 40-feet underground could be built with cement or wooden floor. Another oval could be with ice. It would be with cameras and a motion or sound detection lighting so it could be open all times of the day and night.
A good mountain exists behind the now closed indoor ice rink on the South Side. You'd have the one edge of the rink under a tent -- and the rest would just drive back underground.
To encourage college graduates to stay, form a Pittsburgh Service Corps -- sure. But I'd give kids in their junior year with good grades and good service to the community a free option at a lottery for a free plot of land or a crumbled house / homestead. As a graduation gift, you get a home. If you have better grades and better services to the community you get a better draft choice as to where you'd like to build. And, you'd be able to trade these, tax free, for five years. And, if you can't capitalize upon the property after a deadline (say five years) -- it goes back into the mix for the next class to pick.
The URA owns so many bits of property that we have to give them away. And, we can't just sell them to absentee landlords. And, we can't just put them all on the market at one time as they will drive down the home values of everyone else.
The suggestion of making foreign language mandatory isn't a bad one. But, the kids should also learn a programming language too -- Java, C++, PERL, or even MSQL would be fine.
Rather than closing schools, insist that all the families in that school go abroad for a year. Scatter them to all the corners of the world. Send mom, dad, brothers and sisters. Give them two-round-trip tickets. Then when they come back to Pittsburgh, if they do, they'll understand that their home school has closed and won't feel too, too bad. So, if your school closes -- you get to study abroad. Finland, Iceland, Japan, Brazil, wherever. We have Sister Cities -- we'll just make the best of it.
And, those that don't have a closed school to deal with -- you might need to be hosting another international family or student into your home to trade off for the hundreds or thousands of families we are pushing to the rest of the Planet Earth.
Semester at Sea should return too. If your school closed a second time -- you get to take a cruise.
The Steelers should buy Heinz Field and also buy and build two big parking garages on the land around the stadium. The roofs of each parking structure should be for the practice fields. One should be grass the other turf and able to be covered with a bubble. The locker facilities and team's rooms should be the top floors of the garages.
In D.C.'s Georgetown, the college football team has a practice field on the top of a parking garage.
Scouts and spies could watch the team practice from the lookouts on Mt. Washington.
Finally, I do love the gambling at the airport. Plus, we should put Mario's new ice rink there too.
Internet companies caught between Chinese rules and U.S. demands for free speech
This flap is weird to witness.
Rather, I'm worried about what we are doing in the United States about freedom.
I'm also worried about what we are doing in the United States in terms of educational opportunities for our youngsters too. Our youth are going to be falling further and further behind the world. Our youth are not getting rich exposures to technology and logic and online community efforts.
We've got a long, long way to go, when one considers where we are at home. We need to put our shoulder to the tasks at hand here -- with our kids -- and get better grips, or grips at all, on tech issues for the sake of our future.
Finally, we have a big challenge ahead in terms of understanding ways to deploy and leverage open-source computer software. We need to get government and the rest of the public sectors to be more favorable to open-source options and tools.
Internet companies caught between Chinese rules and U.S. demands for free speech BEIJING -- Yahoo Inc., Google Inc. and other U.S. Internet companies under fire for assisting in China's censorship efforts are insisting they must obey Beijing or risk limiting access to their most promising market.Some people seem to be worried about what they are doing in China in terms of free speech. I'm not worried about that.
Rather, I'm worried about what we are doing in the United States about freedom.
I'm also worried about what we are doing in the United States in terms of educational opportunities for our youngsters too. Our youth are going to be falling further and further behind the world. Our youth are not getting rich exposures to technology and logic and online community efforts.
We've got a long, long way to go, when one considers where we are at home. We need to put our shoulder to the tasks at hand here -- with our kids -- and get better grips, or grips at all, on tech issues for the sake of our future.
Finally, we have a big challenge ahead in terms of understanding ways to deploy and leverage open-source computer software. We need to get government and the rest of the public sectors to be more favorable to open-source options and tools.
It's (i.e., CHINA) been a particularly delicate balancing act for Yahoo and Google because they don't want to alienate their core U.S. audience, whose loyalty helps attract the advertising that generates most of their current profits.While China's opportunities are delicate in the balance -- in the US we are square on our bottoms.
Lawmakers plan to question the way U.S. Internet companies have been doing business in China during scheduled hearings Wednesday.Shame on the US Lawmakers then. Those that we elect need to focus upon what they are doing for freedom here. They can hold some chats -- fine. But don't put the net and techie guys to the test and have them do the dirty work of diplomacy in some underhanded way.
Fast Eddie due to hit The Hill House on Monday afternoon
At 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb 20, Governor Rendell is to take action to protect voter rights by giving a veto to a Voter Protection Act in an event at The Hill House Community Center, 1835 Centre Avenue.
Then at 3 p.m. Governor Rendell is to make a community development announcement in Allegheny County at the Wilkinsburg Borough Hall, 605 Ross Avenue, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221.
Then at 3 p.m. Governor Rendell is to make a community development announcement in Allegheny County at the Wilkinsburg Borough Hall, 605 Ross Avenue, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221.
Casey - Santorum - and Chuck P
The Dems must be pulling out their hair trying to figure out what in the world to do with Casey and the challenge for Santorum. Casey is often called Santorum-Light. Meanwhile there is another alternative in the D's primary race, a progressive Democrat. By the Numbers.
100- The number of votes that Senator Santorum has cast in the U.S. Senate since first challenging Bobby Casey, Jr. to indicate how he would vote on the same issues.
2- The number of times that Casey, Jr. has actually said how he would vote if he were in the Senate. That was on the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court and the PATRIOT Act (but only after he flip-flopped on the issue).
86- The number of days it took Casey, Jr. to make up his mind on the nomination of Judge Alito.
10- The number of debates that Rick Santorum has proposed, and that Casey, Jr. has refused.
95- The number of days that have passed since Rick Santorum proposed a series of debates with Casey, Jr.
7- The number of days that Casey, Jr. showed up for work as State Treasurer in December.
91- The number of days Casey, Jr. spent away from his State Treasurer office between March and December of 2005.
839- The number of audits that Casey, Jr. left unfinished when he left the Auditor General's office.
5- The number of statewide races that Casey, Jr. has run in the last 10 years.
5- The number of issues that Casey, Jr. thinks is important enough to highlight on his campaign website. Agriculture, Energy, Health Care, and National Security are noticeably missing.
263- The number of days until the voters of Pennsylvania cast their votes for Senator Santorum, and reject Bobby Casey Jr.'s negative, issueless politics.
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