a hundred thousand bloggers can't be wrong: when the lights go out in the arena...

How do we know that this was no marketing stunt by the Pens or someone else? HOW.

a hundred thousand bloggers can't be wrong: when the lights go out in the arena... This was no marketing stunt by the Penguins to show the need for a new arena. We all know that already. This is what happens to an arena built in 1961 that serves as the oldest arena in sports still to have teams play in. It poses some serious issues to the Penguins and the city.

First Blind Athlete finishes race

RACHAEL SCDORIS BECOMES FIRST BLIND ATHLETE TO FINISH IDITAROD

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - USABA athlete Rachael Scdoris (Bend, Ore.) has made history as she has finished the 2006 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and has become the first legally blind athlete to accomplish this quest.

The Iditarod is the world's longest sled dog race and covers some of the most brutal terrain on earth and at 21 years-old, Rachael finished the 1,049 mile race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska in 12 days, 11 hours and 42 minutes. She drove her team into the finishing chute at the famed Burled Arch at 1:42am AKST which clocked her average speed during the race at 3.607 miles per hour. That put her in 57th place overall and 7th among the rookies. Rachael has endured freezing temperatures reaching as low as 52 degrees below zero and sleepless nights along with her visual interpreter, Tim Osmar (Ninilchik, Alaska), a veteran Iditarod racer who communicates
turns and obstacles to her via a two-way radio. Tim gave up his chances of winning the race in order to help Rachael reach the finish line.

Rachael's dream started many years ago as she grew up around mushing with her father, Jerry Scdoris who also raced. At the age of 8, Rachael got the desire to mush and announced to her parents that she was going to win the Iditarod one day. Rachael has overcome numerous obstacles and challenges in order for this day to arrive. She has put in an innumerable amount of hours of hard work and training to reach Nome, she is a true winner and hero to countless individuals.

Rachael's determination to achieve her dream has created new hope and inspiration for athletes who are blind and visually impaired. Her efforts to raise money in conjunction with The Standard, her main sponsor, will benefit the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes and will have a profound impact on changing the lives of numerous blind and visually athletes who are working to achieve their own dreams. There is still time to make a gift, please visit www.gorachaelgo.com for more information.

Outdoor Life Network will broadcast the 2006 Iditarod starting March 18th with additional episodes airing on March 25th and April 1st. Check your local listings for times or visit www.olntv.com.

The mission of the United States Association of Blind Athletes is to increase the number and quality of grassroots-through-competitive, world-class athletic opportunities for Americans who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, visit our website www.usaba.org.

Capitol Ideas Blog

Treasure chest of ideas -- and a cross-link from a podcast.

Mcall.com: Capitol Ideas Blog: "State Democratic Party officials lashed out at Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann yesterday, saying the former Pittsburgh Steelers star showed 'his ignorance of policy' when he criticized Gov. Ed's plan to require lobbyists to register with the executive branch.
On Thursday, Swann said Rendell's proposal was toothless because it included no penalties for lobbyists who fail to disclose how much they spend to influence the executive branch.
That prompted a return salvo from Democratic spinmeister Abe Amoros who said the state constitution forbids Gov. Ed from penalizing people who do not work for him. The same doesn't hold true for the state Senate, which bars lobbyists for five years for failing to dislcose their activities."

Low Turnover Rate -- no joke

The Times-Tribune - AP News: "HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Like an exclusive club, the Pennsylvania General Assembly caters to its members. And once you're in, you're in.
The 253 lawmakers enjoy one of the nation's highest re-election rates, thanks to a system that makes challenges a daunting task, a high public profile that comes with legislative service and an array of image-enhancement services and other tools to help protect incumbents from losing elections.
In the past decade, no more than five legislators have been ousted in any election year - an outcome that raises questions about whether the democratic process has been undermined in Pennsylvania."

Being Braves -- and "Do more with Les"

I'm not talking about Les Ludwig. Rather, Jim Les, the Bradley University Men's Basketball Coach who guided his team past the Panthers this afternoon and is able to advance to the Sweet 16 in the tournament. The Braves are now America's Cinderella Team.

When I coached swimming in Peoria, and at Bradley, Jim Les was a player on the team.

Bradley Holds Off Pittsburgh, 72-66, In Second Round Of NCAA Tournament - Carl Krauser had 17 points for the Panthers. 'Being part of this program spanning 30 years ... to see the jubilation on the faces of those people, and getting the calls and text messages from people enjoying this run, that gives me tremendous pleasure,' said coach Jim Les, a former BU point guard. 'Bradley basketball is back on the map in a big way.'

Penn State student critically injured in fall

The War On Drugs -- even Underage Drinking -- causes some strange behaviors. Don't do this. Be safe.

Penn State student critically injured in fall A Penn State student was critically injured when he fell about five stories while trying to climb down a makeshift rope as police were busting an underage drinking party in a campus dormitory Friday night, authorities said.

Police said Ryan P. Walton, 19, of Harleysville, tied a bedspread and sheet together and tried to climb down from a sixth-story window while university police officers were questioning partygoers in another room on the State College, Centre County campus.

Mr. Walton fell about 55 feet, landing on grass, dirt and gravel. He suffered severe internal injuries, the university reported.

He was in critical condition last night at Altoona Hospital in Blair County.

We need more fitness. Perhaps this guy can help us deliver it.

Welcome to BillOgden.org My present job description involves: Improving the quality of peoples lives--Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, and sometimes Spiritually.

The kids around Pennsylvania are slated to take the PSEA tests this week and next. Good luck! For me, I'm getting set for two more field trips. One is this week and the other next week. This photo is from a field trip with the kids from a prior year. That's Grant, front and center. Erik is over his shoulder. We all scream for ice cream.

Crossing Guards are fully funded in the new budget. Bob O'Connor released the new city budget the day after the election. Throughout the campaign, I spoke and posted frequently on the needed for the city to fund crossing guards again.

The photo shows a typical crossing guard in Chengdu, China. Crossing guards there are decked out in an orange vest, hat, flag, white gloves and -- perhaps -- and umbrella. I think that there is a badge/name-tag too.

Go Russ!

Story of another coach with some political side-jobs

Coaching is big in my life, and that of others. I was a high school swim coach throughout my time as a college undergraduate too. And, I was also a college coach as well.

The Duquesne Duke: Serving Duquesne University Since 1925 Corey's down-to-earth attitude is evident in the way he talks about those who mean the most to him, his family and his team of little leaguers. In fact, one of the main reasons that Corey chose to attend Duquesne was because of his three young nieces and the 15 little league kids that he had coached.

'The little league kids were worried about me,' Corey said with a smile.

His desire to become an elementary teacher is shown through his dedication to youngsters. According to Corey, he would frequently pick up his nieces at school. 'When I studied at American, they would call me every Friday,' O'Connor recalled.

O'Connor was recently hired as the new golf coach at Central Catholic in Oakland, his alma mater. He plans to coach there in the fall, and upon completing his student teaching requirement next spring, Corey will graduate in May 2007.

If Corey is looking for free things to give out, because folks are asking for them, perhaps I should get him a big stack of my CDs and a pocket full of the artistic Pittsburgh buttons with fold foil, Platform.For-Pgh.org.

O'Connor, GOP meet - PittsburghLIVE.com

Good job Bob. Keep it up. You should have invited some city Republicans to the meeting as well. What about the city's GOP chair? What about Bob's loyal opposition -- Joe Weinroth?

O'Connor, GOP meet - PittsburghLIVE.com O'Connor is tending to Pittsburgh's ties to Harrisburg to draw a distinction between his administration and that of his predecessor Tom Murphy, who spurned such political overtures.

Republican Sens. Jane Claire Orie, of McCandless, and John Pippy, of Moon, and Reps. Michael Diven, of Brookline, Mark Mustio, of Moon, and Tom Stevenson, of Mt. Lebanon, met with O'Connor yesterday.

I wonder what was the dynamic of getting those folks together -- if there was any interesting rub, or not. I don't know. Makes me giggle a bit.

Shifting gears a bit, today I was driving and tuned into a KQV radio show, The Global Press Conference, and its sponsor, the World Affairs Council of Pgh. The guest talked about South Africa. Nelson Mandella was President for five years, and Mandella had the ability of making his worst enemy feel welcomed and included in the formation of the new government. Such a great statement and way to be. When a nation is just getting on its feet and into the realm of healing, that outreach is very important.

Perhaps Bob will be calling upon Greens and Libertarians to the office for lunch. Next Bob could host gang-bangers for mid-day tea. (I'm joking!)

Bradley University Braves - Home

Bradley University Braves - Home Bradley University

Do the Bradley Braves need to change its school's mascot? Wasn't there some new pressure to get away from Native American Indian names, such as "the Braves?" What's up with that?

varsity records at MSU and Mark Lisenby

varsity records 50 free Mark Lisenby 20.17 1990

I was just pondering a few things from my past -- and found this page showing the team record of Michigan State's men swim team. It shows Mark Lisenby's time from 1990, 20.17. He was fast. I coached him when he was a swimmer in Peoria, perhaps his 7th and 8th grade years.

MSU got bounced, I think, from the men's NCAA Basketball tournament.

But -- PEORIA's Bradley University is IN... and playing Pitt.

I was the acting head swim coach at Bradley University in the past too. Those were the days.

Bradley later dropped its swim program. The team was strong back then and full of many strong swimmers and students.

We went against Iowa, Notre Dame (and beat them and a Bradley swimmer even set a new pool record in South Bend), and other top programs from throughout the midwest.

Free Pittsburgh Press Release Centre from PittsburghSource.net

Free Pittsburgh Press Release Centre from PittsburghSource.net Our only requirement is that it is from or about a Pittsburgh based company or organization.
Since this service is FREE, we do ask that you include a link back to our site from yours, or at least tell a friend about us.

Governor calls on youth to help revitalize politics

The Times-Tribune - News - 03/17/2006 - Governor calls on youth to help revitalize politics “Young people, I find, generally ... are less cynical, less beaten down, more optimistic and more idealistic about the world. We need those voters in the system,” he (Gov. Rendell) said.

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - one given to the voters of District 3

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - PittsburghLIVE.com Lance: To voters. There are more than 24,000 registered voters in Pittsburgh City Council District 3. Fewer than 14 percent bothered to vote in Tuesday's special election to choose a successor to Gene Ricciardi, now a district justice. The winner, with about 1,500 votes, was Jeff Koch, a city public works employee. We wish Mr. Koch the best of luck. Perhaps he can figure out a way to boost voter participation.

In other news, the Trib endorsement for District 3 is .... absent with out leave.

Oak Hill housing advocates plan march tomorrow

Oak Hill housing advocates plan march tomorrow: "Some residents of the Hill District's Oak Hill section plan to march tomorrow to demand housing on a piece of land also coveted by the University of Pittsburgh.

'We're going to be demanding what was promised to us - more housing on empty public housing land,' said Oak Hill Residents Council President Eloise McDonald. 'It's now time to take it to the streets.'

The march will start at noon at Allequippa Hall and proceed to Wadsworth Hall. State Rep. Jake Wheatley, Pittsburgh Councilwoman Tonya Payne and Urban League of Pittsburgh President Esther Bush are expected to speak."

Steelers to add more seats to stadium

A $4-million expansion is slated for Heinz Field to get 700 additional club seats. So each seat is to cost $5,714 to build.

That's about the same as a cost of a crossing guard, yes?

PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Steelers plan more club seats PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to add about 700 club seats at Heinz Field.

'The Steelers are pleased to be in a position to expand the seating capacity at Heinz Field. The demand for club seats has proven to be very strong since moving to Heinz Field,' Steelers president Art Rooney said Thursday.

The team submitted the plans to the Sports and Exhibition Authority, the city-county entity which owns the stadium and leases it to the team.

The additional seats would bring the stadium's capacity to 65,050. The project also includes adding about 20,000 square feet of enclosed club space. Construction is scheduled to begin in April at a cost of approximately $4 million.

The seats will be offered to those on the season ticket waiting list and some season ticket holders who want club seats."

How about if the Steelers just purchased Heinz Field. Buy it outright. Then the Steelers organization can do whatever it wants to its stadium.

This is what big government looks like

My Way News Senate Passes $2.8 Trillion 2007 Budget