NYT Stock Pages: Buh-Bye! It makes little -- all right, no -- sense for daily newspapers (with a handful of exceptions) to print pages and pages of stock prices. Statistical research might prove me wrong, but I believe most investors goMy son's gifted program does not even use the newspaper to track their pretend stock investments.
online to check their stocks, bonds, mutual funds and so forth these days. Also, they rely on e-mail or mobile alerts about major price changes or news developments, portfolios that show the value of individual and total investments, and so forth.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Poynteronline warns of end of stock pages in newspapers
War Rally this weekend and other events
A big peace rally is slated for Saturday. I can't attend. But these items caught my attention:
AFTER THE MARCH is a screening of Why We Fight at the Regent Square Theater (1035 S. Braddock Ave, Edgewood) at 9:15 pm. Why We Fight is Eugene Jarecki's new documentary about the military industrial complex.
The Iraqle Debacle Concert to Mark the 3rd Anniversary of the War in Iraq is a concert to benefit the New Orleans Musicians on
Sunday, March 19, from 7 pm to 11 pm at Brillobox, 4104 Penn Avenue (Lawrenceville) with Anne Feeney, Jack Erdie, Mark Dignam, HutchSimonProject, John Marsiglio of the Knobs, Duo Prime of Turn and Gene Collier. Suggested donation: $10.
More at http://www.PittsburghEndTheWar.org.
Tuesday, March 21: “Spy In” on Government Spying
The feds are spying on us. You've heard of sit-ins, sleep-ins and die-ins. Well, you are invited to resist government spying and join us for SPY-IN. On Tuesday, March 21, 12:00 noon at the Federal Building (Grant and Liberty, Downtown). Dress in spy gear (trench coats, black suits/fedoras (a la Abramoff), sunglasses, etc. -- try your local thrift shop). Bring cameras, toy cameras, note pads, binoculars, telescopes.
- What does the federal government know and when did they first know it?
- What are the spooks doing with all of our tax dollars?
- Why aren't the feds investigating their own -- those who lied about going into Iraq, those who say they don't need to get approval from anyone to spy on US citizens, those taking illegal campaign "contributions" from lobbyists?
- Why can't we sit in on THEIR planning meetings, THEIR discussions, take pictures of THEM going in and out of the federal building (afterall, they are paid with OUR tax dollars and are ultimately accountable to US)?
Is this action ridiculous? Sure it is. But so is the Pentagon, the NSA and the FBI spying on US citizens and groups with no history of violence or threats to anyone. Our intent is to spoof the spooks!
For more information visit www.PittsburghEndtheWar.org or email spooks@pittsburghendthewar.org or call 412-361-3022. This action is called by the Thomas Merton Center Anti-War Committee and the Pittsburgh Bill of Rights Defense Campaign.
AFTER THE MARCH is a screening of Why We Fight at the Regent Square Theater (1035 S. Braddock Ave, Edgewood) at 9:15 pm. Why We Fight is Eugene Jarecki's new documentary about the military industrial complex.
The Iraqle Debacle Concert to Mark the 3rd Anniversary of the War in Iraq is a concert to benefit the New Orleans Musicians on
Sunday, March 19, from 7 pm to 11 pm at Brillobox, 4104 Penn Avenue (Lawrenceville) with Anne Feeney, Jack Erdie, Mark Dignam, HutchSimonProject, John Marsiglio of the Knobs, Duo Prime of Turn and Gene Collier. Suggested donation: $10.
More at http://www.PittsburghEndTheWar.org.
Tuesday, March 21: “Spy In” on Government Spying
The feds are spying on us. You've heard of sit-ins, sleep-ins and die-ins. Well, you are invited to resist government spying and join us for SPY-IN. On Tuesday, March 21, 12:00 noon at the Federal Building (Grant and Liberty, Downtown). Dress in spy gear (trench coats, black suits/fedoras (a la Abramoff), sunglasses, etc. -- try your local thrift shop). Bring cameras, toy cameras, note pads, binoculars, telescopes.
- What does the federal government know and when did they first know it?
- What are the spooks doing with all of our tax dollars?
- Why aren't the feds investigating their own -- those who lied about going into Iraq, those who say they don't need to get approval from anyone to spy on US citizens, those taking illegal campaign "contributions" from lobbyists?
- Why can't we sit in on THEIR planning meetings, THEIR discussions, take pictures of THEM going in and out of the federal building (afterall, they are paid with OUR tax dollars and are ultimately accountable to US)?
Is this action ridiculous? Sure it is. But so is the Pentagon, the NSA and the FBI spying on US citizens and groups with no history of violence or threats to anyone. Our intent is to spoof the spooks!
For more information visit www.PittsburghEndtheWar.org or email spooks@pittsburghendthewar.org or call 412-361-3022. This action is called by the Thomas Merton Center Anti-War Committee and the Pittsburgh Bill of Rights Defense Campaign.
Pgh Public Schools -- key communicator meeting for March 30
We are embarking on yet another exciting time in the lives of the Pittsburgh Public School children and you, as a Key Communicator, play a very important role.
As a Key Communicator whether you are affected by a closing school or receiving school, this is an opportunity to utilize the leadership skills you have that brought you to the table. Working collaboratively with other parents will help to make the transition process a lot smoother.
Information will be shared on how you will play a key role in the transition process that the district has been working on to make this experience a smooth and rewarding one for all involved.
The March 30th meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room A. A light dinner will be served for those who register.
Please call Wanda Spencer @ 412-622-3617 no later than March 27th to register.
Parent Wellness Workshop - REMINDER - meeting is MONDAY (tonight)
First posted on March 16, 2006.
Calling All Parents!
You are cordially invited to a special “Health/Wellness” Information Session from 6 to 8 pm, Monday April 3, 2006, Conference Room A, first floor, 341 S. Bellefield Avenue.
Presentations:
* University of Pittsburgh Minority Health Center
* PPS Wellness Policy
* Food Services
* Step 2 Diabetes
* Panel discussions
Sponsored by the Title I DWPAC. Eat well- Stay Healthy-Keep Fit!
RSVP to Toni Corinealdi by March 31, 2006 at 412-622-3615
Light Dinner for those who Register!
Golden Dot goes to Clean Sweep site -- way to go
PACleanSweep Takes 2006 'Golden Dot' Award
ANNVILLE, PA [03.16.06] - The George Washington University's Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet awarded PACleanSweep the Golden Dot Award for excellence in online campaigning at its annual Politics Online Conference at The George Washington University.
Golden Dot Award Winner The 2006 Golden Dot Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the use of the Internet as a political tool between the dates of January 21, 2005 and January 20, 2006.
PACleanSweep was one of five finalists nominated for the Institute's Best PAC or Nonpartisan Internet Campaign award. PACleanSweep and winners in other categories were announced at last weekend's conference.
"The Internet is a printing press without the overhead," said PACleanSweep Chair Russ Diamond. "Like pamphleteers in revolutionary Philadelphia, Internet users have taken advantage of a very inexpensive method of transmitting information to a much wider readership."
PACleanSweep was launched on July 18, 2005. Since then, the website has logged nearly 5.5 million hits from 200,000 unique visitors. Over 675,000 pages and 4.1 million files have been requested by visitors to pacleansweep.com.
Nearly 11,000 posts by 620 members of the PACleanSweep online discussion group have kept individuals across Pennsylvania informed of the group's activities in raising 96 candidates - to date - to run for legislative seats.
"We set out to be a springboard for local grassroots activity," added Diamond, "and this award is a sign that we've accomplished that to some degree. We proudly accept it on behalf of our 5900 subscribers, volunteers and candidates. It belongs to them."
Santorum's primary challenger, ex-L, John Featherman, drops out of race
Let's talk about the flat-tax.
PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Santorum's primary challenger drops out of race Featherman got just under 48,000 votes in a race against Santorum, Democrat Ron Klink and two other candidates as the Libertarian Party's nominee in 2000. He also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in a special election in 1998.Santorum sent a letter to ask for a debate.
Training for 2006 State Candidates and Campaign Staff
Education Issues Workshop, A Non-Partisan One-Day Program for Pennsylvania Legislative Candidates and Staff, Sponsored by The Education Policy and Leadership Center
8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, March 17 – Valley Forge
Saturday, March 18 – Monroeville
Tuesday, March 21 – Harrisburg
For Voters and Candidates in Pennsylvania, Education Issues will be key topics in the 2006 Campaign.
Are you Ready?
Will you be the candidate best prepared to discuss these issues?
Will your campaign material and your statements highlight these issues?
Will you have the best ideas?
Will you be a leader?
Will you do your best in this campaign?
Learn More About These Important Education Issues:
Workshop Registration Form
Workshop Agenda
7:30 a.m. Registration/Coffee
8:15 a.m. Welcome
Introduction to Resource Book & Materials
8:30 a.m. K-12 Educational Governance in Pennsylvania
Federal-State-Local Roles
State-Level Education Governance
Governor, PDE, Legislature, State Board of Education
State-Level Education Policymaking Process – Statutes & Regulations
Policy Levers Available to State Policymakers
School Districts, School Boards and Superintendents
9:30 a.m. Standards-Based Reforms in Pennsylvania
Background of Standards-Based Reforms in PA
Requirements and Impact of “No Child Left Behind” Act
Assessment Issues
Accountability and Consequences
Key Issues for State Policymakers
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. State Policies to Support Student Achievement
“What Works” and Educational Capacity at the School, District & State Level
Interventions for Failing Schools and Students
Early Care and Education
Pre-School and Kindergarten
Teachers and School Leaders - Quality and Supply
Parents and Community
High School Reform – PA Project 720
SBE Project – PAGE 1
School Choice (Vouchers, Charters, Home Schooling, etc.)
PDE Web Site resources
12:00 p.m. Lunch & Networking
12:45 p.m. Education Finance
Understanding PA Education Funding System
History, What’s Wrong, How We Got This Way
Special Issues: Special Education, Charter Schools, Construction
Principles of a Sound Education Funding System
Review of Rendell Administration Initiatives
Governor’s 2006-07 Education Budget Proposal
Act 72 of 2004
Update on Special Session on Property Tax Relief
Key Issues for State Policymakers
2:15 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. Higher Education Issues
Governance
Funding
Student Aid
2004 National Report Card on Higher Education
2006 Report on Condition of Higher Education in Pennsylvania
3:30 p.m. Q & A with Panel of State Policy Leaders and Advocates
4:45 p.m. Other Information Resources and Wrap-Up
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
The Education Issues Workshop is sponsored by The Education Policy and Leadership Center, 800 North Third Street, Suite 408, Harrisburg, Pa. 17102 - 717-260-9900 - www.eplc.org
8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, March 17 – Valley Forge
Saturday, March 18 – Monroeville
Tuesday, March 21 – Harrisburg
For Voters and Candidates in Pennsylvania, Education Issues will be key topics in the 2006 Campaign.
Are you Ready?
Will you be the candidate best prepared to discuss these issues?
Will your campaign material and your statements highlight these issues?
Will you have the best ideas?
Will you be a leader?
Will you do your best in this campaign?
Learn More About These Important Education Issues:
"No Child Left Behind" (NCLB)Only $59 for entire Workshop including lunch and the 2006 Issues Workbook. (Campaign funds may be used for tuition and travel expenses.)
Governor's Proposed 06-07 Education Budget
State Academic Standards PA's Education Funding System
State Assessments for Students
Act 72 of 2004
Governance of Public Education Property Tax Relief Proposals
Local vs. State Control Local Referendum
Early Childhood Education Special Education Funding
Teacher Quality and Supply Issues Charter Schools & Cyber Schools
School Leadership Home Schooling
State Initiatives to Help Struggling Districts & Students
Higher Education Governance
State Takeovers of Districts Higher Education Funding
State Education Policy Levers Community Colleges
Workshop Registration Form
Workshop Agenda
7:30 a.m. Registration/Coffee
8:15 a.m. Welcome
Introduction to Resource Book & Materials
8:30 a.m. K-12 Educational Governance in Pennsylvania
Federal-State-Local Roles
State-Level Education Governance
Governor, PDE, Legislature, State Board of Education
State-Level Education Policymaking Process – Statutes & Regulations
Policy Levers Available to State Policymakers
School Districts, School Boards and Superintendents
9:30 a.m. Standards-Based Reforms in Pennsylvania
Background of Standards-Based Reforms in PA
Requirements and Impact of “No Child Left Behind” Act
Assessment Issues
Accountability and Consequences
Key Issues for State Policymakers
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. State Policies to Support Student Achievement
“What Works” and Educational Capacity at the School, District & State Level
Interventions for Failing Schools and Students
Early Care and Education
Pre-School and Kindergarten
Teachers and School Leaders - Quality and Supply
Parents and Community
High School Reform – PA Project 720
SBE Project – PAGE 1
School Choice (Vouchers, Charters, Home Schooling, etc.)
PDE Web Site resources
12:00 p.m. Lunch & Networking
12:45 p.m. Education Finance
Understanding PA Education Funding System
History, What’s Wrong, How We Got This Way
Special Issues: Special Education, Charter Schools, Construction
Principles of a Sound Education Funding System
Review of Rendell Administration Initiatives
Governor’s 2006-07 Education Budget Proposal
Act 72 of 2004
Update on Special Session on Property Tax Relief
Key Issues for State Policymakers
2:15 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. Higher Education Issues
Governance
Funding
Student Aid
2004 National Report Card on Higher Education
2006 Report on Condition of Higher Education in Pennsylvania
3:30 p.m. Q & A with Panel of State Policy Leaders and Advocates
4:45 p.m. Other Information Resources and Wrap-Up
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
The Education Issues Workshop is sponsored by The Education Policy and Leadership Center, 800 North Third Street, Suite 408, Harrisburg, Pa. 17102 - 717-260-9900 - www.eplc.org
My next race is expected to be this...
Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race Sunday, August 6, 2006I might do some other races between now and then. You never know.
VICTORY smells like this: Mayor O'Connor reveals his spending plan for Pittsburgh
Mayor O'Connor reveals his spending plan for Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor released a revised city budget yesterday that would boost spending by $28 million over last year, increase police coverage and fully fund school crossing guards and the Fire Bureau.
Read those words.... FULLY FUND SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS.
The loyal readers to this blog and the one's on the campaign trails know that I've been standing on my head to say that we need to bring back the crossing guards.
This is how WE win.
If you want to be SAFE -- then you don't move the police station out of the zone and out of the city. Clueless. That was a suggestion from Kraus at a campaign event.
The way to move in a real effort to being safe is to put the crossing guards back on the streets. And, to re-tool them with additional support.
Furthermore, one of the other candidates in the recent election worked with the OLD city councilman. He was unhappy to hear me blame the past city council for its FUMBLES in funding the crossing guards. Jason Phillips, G, worked with Gene Ricciardi, D, when those cuts came. And, the cuts came at repeated instances.
The city screwed up here. We need to fix another of Tom Murphy's messes.
If we want a safe 1,000 foot zone around the schools -- start by putting CROSSING GUARDS back into the neighborhoods. That is a budget and funding issue first. That is a duty of the city's budget, not the school budget.
Slots group silent
Perfect! Great theme to this article.
What about the PARK's BLUEPRINT or whatever the SSLDC did about a "feasibilty study" of the now closed, lone indoor ice rink and "green space" in the South Side.
These groups put forth by Tom Murphy are "weenie groups" that did little to nothing except pad resumes. And those that used them to pad their resumes are 'do-little takers' from the community too.
Rick B is on that task force -- and that task force is a JOKE.
They always try to "HIRE CONSULTANTS" and make "studies." Then they don't even get the reports printed up. Nor are the reports put online. And, when you try to get your input into the reports, they are ignored.
This is the same old "mode of operation" of dozens and dozens of groups around here. Then when one group really figures out how to kick up smoke, say the WEST PITTSBURGH PARTNERSHIP, they teach the others how to do the same tricks to hoodwink.
And, on top of all of this -- the I.C.A. and Act 47 Task Force -- are absent too. And those OVERLORDS don't meet and work on the problems before us all either.
We don't want 'free rides.' We don't want dead weight.
I put other organizations into the same global category as well.
I got involved with a clean election task force in 2005 under Bill Peduto's leadership. We gathered. Many smart people were involved. But the results and outcome of those meeting is still hidden -- thanks to Bill Peduto. This stinks. I've been a squeeky wheel. Bill needs to call a blasted public hearing and allow for the task force to present its outcomes. He needs to MOVE and do SOMETHING on this issue.
I got involved with City's Aquatics Task Force. What a joke. This was an appointement that was promised under Faith Gallow -- the old Citiparks Director who has been dead for a number of years. The Aquatics Task Force met twice in five years. They all the pools were closed. And then the SOS came into being -- another do nothing group except get a 60-minute special on QED's on Q with Elsie Hillman. What pools should be opened and what pools should be closed should NOT be decided by the rich woman who writes the checks. Elsie Hillman does NOT use the city pools.
Too often we have clueless power grabs -- and spineless players who don't want to make a mention on something crucial.
Jack Shea is right. And, in this area, at least the UNIONS are day-to-day leaders on concerns near-and-dear to them.
Slots group silent - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Slots group silentRight on the mark. Not only is the gaming task force silent -- but what about the blasted GRAFITTI TASK FORCE? Bruce Kraus was so quick to mention all his experience with that group -- and the group is SILENT. What about the Chamber of Commerce? Silent mostly.
By Andrew Conte, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 16, 2006
In the three months since Pittsburgh's Gaming Task Force last met, a new mayor has taken office and three bidders for the city's slots casino began marketing details of competitive, multimillion-dollar plans.
But no one has heard from the task force, a group charged with exploring the impact a casino could have on the city.
What about the PARK's BLUEPRINT or whatever the SSLDC did about a "feasibilty study" of the now closed, lone indoor ice rink and "green space" in the South Side.
These groups put forth by Tom Murphy are "weenie groups" that did little to nothing except pad resumes. And those that used them to pad their resumes are 'do-little takers' from the community too.
Rick B is on that task force -- and that task force is a JOKE.
They always try to "HIRE CONSULTANTS" and make "studies." Then they don't even get the reports printed up. Nor are the reports put online. And, when you try to get your input into the reports, they are ignored.
This is the same old "mode of operation" of dozens and dozens of groups around here. Then when one group really figures out how to kick up smoke, say the WEST PITTSBURGH PARTNERSHIP, they teach the others how to do the same tricks to hoodwink.
And, on top of all of this -- the I.C.A. and Act 47 Task Force -- are absent too. And those OVERLORDS don't meet and work on the problems before us all either.
We don't want 'free rides.' We don't want dead weight.
I put other organizations into the same global category as well.
I got involved with a clean election task force in 2005 under Bill Peduto's leadership. We gathered. Many smart people were involved. But the results and outcome of those meeting is still hidden -- thanks to Bill Peduto. This stinks. I've been a squeeky wheel. Bill needs to call a blasted public hearing and allow for the task force to present its outcomes. He needs to MOVE and do SOMETHING on this issue.
I got involved with City's Aquatics Task Force. What a joke. This was an appointement that was promised under Faith Gallow -- the old Citiparks Director who has been dead for a number of years. The Aquatics Task Force met twice in five years. They all the pools were closed. And then the SOS came into being -- another do nothing group except get a 60-minute special on QED's on Q with Elsie Hillman. What pools should be opened and what pools should be closed should NOT be decided by the rich woman who writes the checks. Elsie Hillman does NOT use the city pools.
Too often we have clueless power grabs -- and spineless players who don't want to make a mention on something crucial.
Jack Shea is right. And, in this area, at least the UNIONS are day-to-day leaders on concerns near-and-dear to them.
More TV tonight - Russ Diamond and a star studded cast
PCN is showing the Libertarian Convention from two weeks ago, tonight, Thursday March 16. Please record these for future use.
8:00 – Russ Diamond, Operation Clean Sweep (and more)
9:10 – Matthew Brouillette, Commonwealth Foundation President
9:30 – Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre & Mifflin Counties
10:00 – Property Rights
11:10 – Ballot Access
12:15 (am) – Separation of Church and State
12:35 – Young Americans for Freedom
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Watch PCNC's Night Talk tonight!
My wife, Catherine Palmer, Ph.D., is due to be on NightTalk tonight with Ann Devlin. I'll try to get some photos.
Council favors tax break for South Oakland garages
I did go down to city council to raise an objection on this TIF -- a tax break for a garage in a place that does NOT need a tax break, is without demand, without even an open-bid process nor RFP. It is an inside deal that takes money away from the kids in the schools.
My next stop, the Act 47 Coordinators and the I.C.A. Board.
Council favors tax break for South Oakland garages Council favors tax break for South Oakland garagesIf we are going to turn this city around, it can't be with big give-a-ways for all the wrong reasons. This is a legacy project that was rushed to the table because others are not watching. Now that Jim Ferlo is on the URA Board, I wonder if these types of deals are going to get cut?
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh City Council gave its initial, unanimous nod today to a tax plan that would support construction of three parking garages in South Oakland's Pittsburgh Technology Center.
The garages would serve proposed new lab and office buildings, the first of which could be under construction by the end of the year, said Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Jerome Dettore.
'The goal is to really develop that a lot more densely,' said Mr. Dettore, referring to the Technology Center. The three-garage plan 'allows a little more than 1 million square feet of new, additional lab and office space.'
My next stop, the Act 47 Coordinators and the I.C.A. Board.
Koch wins City Council seat, P-G coverage
Well, here are a few other thoughtful (I hope) tidbits on the coverage of the race and reactions. The P-G's article the morning after said, in part, "FEW IDEALOGICAL CONTRASTS." It is not that I object to that statement, but rather that I hope that I injected some of those contrasts into the race. I saw some contrasts -- and I tried to pull them into focus. And, if anything, I hope that I pulled some of the other candidates into my realm of understanding as to what should be done in HOW we fix various problems.
Some of the folks in Oakland were HAPPY with the results of just 139 votes. A tidal wave of other folks, outside of Oakland's college student population, were VERY HAPPY with the disappointment in the turnout among the students. The connect among the campus life and the city life -- in a real community -- is wide, yet.
The turnout prediction of 20-percent by the head of the election department was too high. At 13-percent -- OUCH. And, the word on the stret was that a lot of folks are worried about the electronic machines.
All along I have said, "our democracy is frail." I think that the frail statement holds true -- if it isn't counted as sheer hype to call it just frail.
Koch wins City Council seat After an election that produced few ideological contrasts among the candidates, his victory is not expected to have any dramatic effect on the political dynamics of council, a body whose power, particularly on budget issues, has been somewhat marginalized by the state's fiscal oversight of the city.Yes, this was a LOW BUDGET race.
Mr. Kraus, running as an independent, had the support of City Councilman William Peduto. According to the latest campaign contribution reports available before the balloting, Mr. Kraus also was the spending leader in a relatively low-budget race.
The balloting followed the pattern of low turnouts for city special elections. Overall, just under 14 percent of the district's registered voters cast a ballot.
Luke Ravenstahl, the City Council president, had rescheduled the vote to yesterday instead of March 7, to accommodate college students who would have been on spring break on the earlier date. But anyone who hoped that the college vote would have a significant impact on the outcome would have to be disappointed. The two 4th Ward polling places on the University of Pittsburgh campus, the 8th district and the 14th district, produced a total of just 139 votes.
Some of the folks in Oakland were HAPPY with the results of just 139 votes. A tidal wave of other folks, outside of Oakland's college student population, were VERY HAPPY with the disappointment in the turnout among the students. The connect among the campus life and the city life -- in a real community -- is wide, yet.
The turnout prediction of 20-percent by the head of the election department was too high. At 13-percent -- OUCH. And, the word on the stret was that a lot of folks are worried about the electronic machines.
All along I have said, "our democracy is frail." I think that the frail statement holds true -- if it isn't counted as sheer hype to call it just frail.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Rogues meet on Saturday with Jake Haulk
Rogues Saturday, March 18, 2006, at 9:00 A.M., Holiday Inn Select across from South Hills Village, $13.00 per person. Our Speaker will be Dr. Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute.
Please RSVP by Friday March 17th.
So far, Governor Rendell’s only economic development plan seems to be spending $1.24 billion on corporate welfare for such projects as PNC’s new office building. That’s $50 million to PNC out of a total construction cost of $170 million paid to a company that had record profits of $1.3 billion last year.
Of course, this largess was paid for by increasing the state income tax and by rescinding scheduled business taxes, all aided by a compliant Republican controlled legislature.
Pennsylvania is 38th in the country in job growth and 43rd in population growth. However, Pennsylvania’s government has grown to the point that it costs $7, 884 per family of four. That’s $1,153 more than three years ago.
Dr. Jake Haulk of The Allegheny Institute has some other ideas on how to encourage a prosperous economy and he’ll be speaking to the Rogues this Saturday, March 18th at 9AM on Governor Rendell's failed economic development policies and tax reform.
Tonight at the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Assn meeting I gave Bob O'Connor props for his appointment of Jim Ferlo to the U.R.A. Board. Then I asked him if he was going to continue to support the large TIFs and tax breaks to big corporations and institutions -- such as PNC PLAZA's $18-million TIF for a new downtown office tower and the Second Ave. parking garage by the URA for Pgh Technology Center.
In Bob's talk about the TIF, he gave me the wrong answer, and didn't even mention the fact that the $18-million TIF from the city comes at the expense of the kids and schools nor that the city's give-a-way comes after PENNSYLVANIA already put in $50-million as a GRANT to PNC. The subsidization of that office tower is going to exceed $1-million per floor.
Today, at the polls, I invited Jeff Koch to city council chambers for its 10 AM Meeting on WEDNESDAY -- in 11 hours -- to stand with me to speak against the TIF for the parking garages on Second Ave.
I'll invite Jeff Koch to the breakfast meeting with the A.I.'s Jake Haulk too.
'Miracle' water turned into beer -- PROOF enough for ending building codes
'Miracle' water turned into beer 'We had settled down for a cozy Saturday evening, had a nice dinner, and I was just going to clean up a little,' Gundersen, 50, said Monday. 'I turned on the kitchen faucet and beer came out.'Those crazy Norwegians.
Koch -- as in "cook" --- as in "home cooking" for a year and a half if not five-plus
With 41 out of 42 votes, via a phone call update:
Of course this is "unofficial" -- n at.
First reaction = home cooking rules the day! That is short for Bob O'Connor's old campaign slogan, because this is home. And, for Jeff Koch's last name, said like "cook." The mayor's guy won. The endorsed Dem won.
Second reaction: If you sum the total of the two B.K.'s (Bruce K + Bruce K), you'd have defeated the D's machine.
Third reaction: I didn't get last. This is the first election when I didn't get last. Mind you, this in ONLY my third race. I ran for Mayor in the GOP PRIMARY in 2001. I ran for PA Senate in a 3 way race. This time I'm neck and neck with the Green. The good news, is I had a nice night of sleep last night and he's running on fumes.
My goose was cooked when the Rs put in a candidate. N.A. did a nice job too. However, if the Rs would have not run anyone, then I might have been able to engage county-wide opposition, and city-wide oppostion to the machine Dems and the ultra-liberal alternative. And, of course, my goose was re-heated when our date in court had its outcome altered with the finding of the clerk of the judge. If both of those IFs break the other way, then the race takes on a MUCH, MUCH different flavor and challenge. But, those are BIG "ifs."
Fourth reaction: Wonder what would have held if this had been an "instant-run-off-election."
Final reaction.... Combinations of course are going to be the details that say what's what in the end. I consider myself a "free radical" in that I'd be willing to help in a cause with another candidate if I feel warm to that cause. I was open to a merger of efforts with others in the race. But, the merger prospects were bleak.
The three Ms, (Matthew, Michael and Mark) shoud have combined forces about a month ago. I tried. Those vote counts are NOT too much of a total -- but -- the wave of campaign energy is another matter. I think a synergy factor could have been a double the vote impact.
Kraus might have won had he been able to pull any other candidate to his side in the past two months. Kraus might have won had he even pulled the others who also lost the Ds endorsement to his side. Ed Jacob or Pat Sweeney were both at the polls, and Erin C. was in Oakland, all working for the endorsed Dem. Kraus could not get any of them on his side.
Kraus said in a few of his stump talks that it is all about cooperation. Ha, ha. Well, he didn't prove it among the field of candidates who worked against him.
D = 1408
R = 185
L = 69
G = 72
M.W. (indie) = 40
M.B. (indie) = 46
Bruce Krane = 215
Bruce A. Kraus 1257
Of course this is "unofficial" -- n at.
First reaction = home cooking rules the day! That is short for Bob O'Connor's old campaign slogan, because this is home. And, for Jeff Koch's last name, said like "cook." The mayor's guy won. The endorsed Dem won.
Second reaction: If you sum the total of the two B.K.'s (Bruce K + Bruce K), you'd have defeated the D's machine.
Third reaction: I didn't get last. This is the first election when I didn't get last. Mind you, this in ONLY my third race. I ran for Mayor in the GOP PRIMARY in 2001. I ran for PA Senate in a 3 way race. This time I'm neck and neck with the Green. The good news, is I had a nice night of sleep last night and he's running on fumes.
My goose was cooked when the Rs put in a candidate. N.A. did a nice job too. However, if the Rs would have not run anyone, then I might have been able to engage county-wide opposition, and city-wide oppostion to the machine Dems and the ultra-liberal alternative. And, of course, my goose was re-heated when our date in court had its outcome altered with the finding of the clerk of the judge. If both of those IFs break the other way, then the race takes on a MUCH, MUCH different flavor and challenge. But, those are BIG "ifs."
Fourth reaction: Wonder what would have held if this had been an "instant-run-off-election."
Final reaction.... Combinations of course are going to be the details that say what's what in the end. I consider myself a "free radical" in that I'd be willing to help in a cause with another candidate if I feel warm to that cause. I was open to a merger of efforts with others in the race. But, the merger prospects were bleak.
The three Ms, (Matthew, Michael and Mark) shoud have combined forces about a month ago. I tried. Those vote counts are NOT too much of a total -- but -- the wave of campaign energy is another matter. I think a synergy factor could have been a double the vote impact.
Kraus might have won had he been able to pull any other candidate to his side in the past two months. Kraus might have won had he even pulled the others who also lost the Ds endorsement to his side. Ed Jacob or Pat Sweeney were both at the polls, and Erin C. was in Oakland, all working for the endorsed Dem. Kraus could not get any of them on his side.
Kraus said in a few of his stump talks that it is all about cooperation. Ha, ha. Well, he didn't prove it among the field of candidates who worked against him.
Who won? Who lost?
I just got back from the polls and then a meeting with the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association. Mayor Bob O'Connor was the speaker at that meeting, that started at 7 pm. Bob and I got there around 7:30 pm. He spoke to about 8:15 pm and gave a very nice talk. John, the boss of this zone's public works was there too and he got a great round of applause, in part for snow removal of the slopes street this winter.
Now the kids are in bed wondering what about the election results. I wonder too. ....
Now the kids are in bed wondering what about the election results. I wonder too. ....
Pa. seizes paper's computer hard disks
File this for later.... If anyone do any research on this and give me a brief, please do so.
Philadelphia Inquirer | 03/13/2006 | Pa. seizes paper's computer hard disks: "In an unusual and little-known case, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has seized four computer hard drives from a Lancaster newspaper as part of a statewide grand-jury investigation into leaks to reporters.
The dispute pits the government's desire to solve an alleged felony - computer hacking - against the news media's fear that taking the computers circumvents the First Amendment and the state Shield Law."
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