Wellness is coming into bloom.

Allegheny Alert from Mke Ference about abuses and kids

Allegheny Parents and Police in the Mon Valley -- state concens about wellness and abuse of kids

PRESS RELEASE

Mike Ference

See the Allegheny blog for the full press release. Mike is doing a lot of whistle blowing.

I noticed in the newspaper how a WVU student was found dead in his room, after choking. And two college age kids have died in the past months with falls from 9-story buildings. And, then there is the other story about a college kid with blood found in the garbage shoot, but no body yet.

There is a lot that can go wrong with a young person. One missed step can be serious. Life gets zapped and others are left wondering. Be safe out there, everyone.

Pitt vs. Penn State --- in baseball on WED night, this week in Washington County -- FREE Tickets

Free Tickets! Yes, that is worth repeating.

Ticket booth in Chicago at Navy Pier.

Pitt and Penn State do NOT play each other in football. But, they'll meet in a baseball game at 7 pm on Wednesday night in Washington County at the baseball field of the minor league team. Nice ad in the P-G today caught my attention.

Want to join us?

My wife is on the road this week to Minn. She'll be at the Am. Academy of Audiology event -- and the boys at home are ready to be out and about. Baseball is on tap for WED night. Then we've got the OPERA on Friday. On Saturday we hope to hit the Carlynton High School musical, Fiddler on the Roof. We know some of the fiddlers.

Meanwhile in Iowa, also home to a fine Audiology program, there is a massive outbreak of MUMPS. I figure they'll all get to the convention and the rest of North America will get hit in about a month. The sky is falling!

Grant, now 8, is really interested in playing baseball this summer. We'll get into softball at Ormsby Rec Center. Those practices and games are when school is out from 1 - 3 pm. If there was a baseball league in the South Hills areas that started after school ended (because I don't want to have conflicts with swimming) -- let me know. Most of the kids seasons start any week, and afterschool sessions (practices or games) won't work for us as I'm coaching and the boys are swimming five nights a week.

Deaf firefighter overcoming obstacles (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times

Deaf firefighter overcoming obstacles (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times “Not everybody is open and accepting of having a deaf person in the fire department,” McDevitt said.

Searching -- still --- for candidate for November 2006

Candidates wanted for US Congress races too. Do we have anyone who can run in the 1st (Robert Brady), 9th (Bill Shuster), 14th (Mike Doyle) or 15th (Charles Dent) districts? It looks like those races will only have one name on the ballot in November. It is an absolute shame if there is no choice for the voter for federal office.

It looks like there will also be six races for Senator in the General Assembly that will only have one name on the ballot. We need candidates in the 4th, 14th, 22nd, 38th, 40th and 46th districts. There are a lot of state rep slots left to fill, and far too many with only one name.

Anyone wishing to run for office, please let us know so arrangements can be made to collect signatures!

Yes, this is a LIMO.... Babies need not apply.

West Wing talks of bloggers

Josh, the character on NBC's West Wing, hits the roof in the show when a blogger predicts on election day that his guy is going to win three states. It was a funny quip. "How many people read this blog?"

Blogging is sorta important to an election -- but not really important.

On one hand I can feel for the show's characters who get to the finish line and are just spent. I don't think I took a nap on the recent election day, like the Santos character did. But, I know I did in a past race when I was on the ballot. And, I did need about two weeks to get over the race -- in what I call a 'decompresion' period.

So, a summmertime favorite of ours, 'lump camp' came early around here for me due to the March 14 election.

But, on the other hand, this time when I was a candidate, I ran and kept a good bit of the powder dry. I understood my role in the race and knew that it would not be worth the effort to burn out, rack up debt and feak out as they did in the TV show.

Others in the race, to their credit and debt, did run themselves into the ground. The post-election reports are due soon. Our went in last week. I kept it under $250 again and filled out the short form.

My POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES -- PACs -- have been 'closed.'

P-G hits two topics: 'Moblogging' trend and God-podcasting

Airport Blogging... and looking to heaven.
The P-G hits on technology, twice, in the same day.

TechMan: 'Moblogging' trend makes mobile Web posting possible ... pronounced 'mo-blogging,' rather than 'mob-blogging,' as it's a combination of the terms 'mobile' and 'blogging.'

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For years, I was a webmaster at my religious community, Sunnyhill.org. Now the church administrator does some of the work and our minister is shy about the use of the net. I called, in an unsuccessful way, for podcasts of messages from the services. But, few others in the congregation supported it. Some did -- but hardly the board. Now the Sunnyhill blog is just a few points here and there to hold onto the namespace. As a point of irony, after today's fine service by Sue R, others were asking for the speaker notes, a GREAT use of the net. Oh well.

Churches turn to 'Godcasting' Churches turn to 'Godcasting'

Tips on crime prevention from South Side

Thefts from vehicles are still are a problem in the South Side around 14-18th streets. Don't leave anything of value in view in your car.

Wallets and purses are being taken out of shopping carts at the Giant Eagle in Wharton Square on the South Side. If you are going to place your purse in the cart, wrap the child restraints through the handle and lock. Make it very difficult to quickly remove the purse without drawing attention to the act. Additionally, make it more difficult to unzip the purse and remove the wallet.

Selling swords might be one way to diminish theft at a shop. Those who might swipe a purse would 'think again.' In the photo, Grant is checking out some wares in China. He wanted to bring home a functional blade, an old-style light sabre. But airport security might have caused some problems for us.

On The Economy: Rendell's score on jobs, not ice, to determine election fate

On The Economy: Rendell's score on jobs, not ice, to determine election fate a matter of far more importance in the Pittsburgh area -- jobs.

Jobs tied to gambling with slot machines are fleeting, at best. Jobs tied to gambling and table games are much better and more abundant. There are more jobs to be expected from a casino -- where ever it might be located -- with table games instead of slots. And, those jobs would pay more. Better paying and more of them -- seems like a winning combination. Furthermore, when Pennsylvania's slot bill was hatched, it sprang up from a bill that was to put slots only at the horse race tracks. Then came the parlors for the cities and for the resorts. In the end, PA is going to have plenty of locations with slots. The marketplace is going to have a big glut of options and the demand is going to be much less. When the supply is increased in such a drastic way -- there are expectations that the value of each location is going to be less. People in Pittsburgh can still and will still play the slots in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, West Virginia, Niagra Falls, Indian Casinos and perhaps in Erie and Seven Springs too, plus The Meadows in Washington County, Gettysburg, and the Downs near Harrisburg. The options are extensive for slots.

Indian Reservations have gambling too.

I think it would be wise to make a break-out statement and say Pittsburgh will do without its slots license and turn it into a license for table games. Then we'll have something on the front of the wave -- rather than getting crushed in the tail end. Being a laggard in terms of a marketplace offering is always Pittsburgh's way -- so far. They overbuilt the Convention Center in Pittsburgh and now the Convention Center is never going to be used to its capacity. It is a waste as all the other convention cities have out paced Pittsburgh. Looser again. If we asked for a TABLE GAME LICENSE, an exception that all the other slots places are sure to embrace, as the Pittsburgh venue will be less of a competitor to theirs, then we'll have something. Consider the game of 'BINGO' and its popularity. That game is much unlike that of playing a slot machine. With BINGO, it becomes a social game, a community game. Furthermore, BINGO is more of a mental game when contrasted to the slot machines. There are women who play bingo with 24 cards and no chips. That's amazing. That's mental stimulation that is worth its price in gold. I understand that BINGO isn't a "table game" -- but with Pittsburgh being what it is -- perhaps there are plenty of other interesting games that we'll be able to play, learn, develop and form into an attraction for others. In Florida they play the betting game of Jai alai, i.e, "HI-LIGH." ?? Right? In Asia, they play a betting game with FIGHTING FISH.

Ticket window to the Thai Boxing Stadium -- a real event and place to gamble.

In Thailand, they play the betting game of Thai Boxing. Well, I'm not going to go that far and suggest that any of these are 'table games' that would work in Pittsburgh. But, each has a bit of character and sense of being unique. 'When in ROME, do as the Romans do.' When in Pittsburgh -- let's NOT do what everyone else is doing. We are someplace special.

Action in a Thai Boxing match.

Finally, the other thing that would be interesting to see in Pittsburgh is a "re-match" among these gambling folks who are bidding for the rights to the casino. Double or nothing is a slogan that could fit in as a groundswell cry to put the brakes on the existing plans and make for another plan that has a better hope of being an economic boom to THIS REGION. A year delay or a delay of even six months -- could be good so as to string out the opportunities for more to get on the ground floor of the bribes and payouts. Why should Rev. Sims and Franco and that gang be so exclusive? This re-do will allow more to be in the fray -- more ads to run in the Post-Gazette, more community meetings, more time for tour bus operators to plan their trips.

Veronica Veil -- Jeepers -- an investment there might net 420 jobs

Stage face of an opera character. Fast Eddie is at it again. This time, I've got a better answer for him to consider. You do the vo-do math.

Source: Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

PA Governor Rendell Says State Investment in Beaver County Performing Arts Center Will Create 320 jobs

Friday March 31, 5:00 pm ET

MIDLAND, Pa., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today said residents of the former steel town of Midland will enjoy greater cultural and educational opportunities with the commonwealth's investment of $4 million in the new Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, a project that will create 320 jobs.

Okay, if a cultural center in Midland can knock out 320 jobs, I'll just yawn. Heck, Veronica's Veil Players who already own their own building with a high stage and seating in a classic auditorium, with balcony, with character -- sans a working heater and a bit of debt on the gas bill -- should be a mother load of jobs. Why not give that organiation $2 million and generate even more jobs. Why 320 jobs -- why not 420 jobs. Beat em by 100.

The South Side has a great theater hall already built. It is owned and operated by Veronica Veil Players. Such a deal.

Take $2-million and divide it by 420 people and you'd get $50,000. One guy gets the buy the heater and install it. The other guy gets to play catch-up with the gas bill. Then you've got 418 people who can all get $20,000 per year for two years and a $10,000 signing bonus.

Heck, these are artists. These are part-time jobs mostly.

I could make my $50,000 spread out over 10 years if I'm just going to be a big patron for the arts. I don't think this show will be playing in Midland, Pa., any time soon.

Khari Mosley turned 30th and we crashed to his Birthday Party

Happy Birthday to Khari....

Last night we ran into a bunch of political folks -- with blasting music to battle with for conversations. Here is the line-up: Saw one candidate for US Senate, one candidate for US Congress, one candidate for PA House, one candidate for PA Senate (I looked in the mirror), one who wants to end the purchase of Sequ. voting machines, one candidate for Dem committee who wants to be the boss of the Allegheny County Young Dems, and a half dozen power players with various organizations. Plus, there was the guest of honor, himself.

I didn't see any cake...

Hope all had a good time.

Merge -- Movement -- Overlords of a HIGHER order!

Merge the Overlords already.

(Click for an larger view of this 'paper cut.')

(Bonus questions #1: Name the people in the image. Leave your answer in the comments.)

(Bonus question #2: Name the Pittsburgh OVERLORDS of both the I.C.A. and Act 47 -- and put a star next to the ones who should stay as a merged effort, while inserting those who should go onto the new merged Overloard body, myself excluded... of course.)

Murray stepping down city's ICA panel

Another bites the dust.

Murray stepping down city's ICA panel: "Murray stepping down city's ICA panel

Saturday, April 01, 2006
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The head of a state panel that oversees the City of Pittsburgh's budget announced yesterday that he intends to resign as soon as a replacement is named."

Dr. Murray has taken a good bit of heat in recent weeks for his statements about the gambling and casino location -- so close to the campus. He jumped on the bandwagon against the IOC -- in part, they said, because a D.U. board member has an interest in the Station Square proposal.

In my neck of the woods, many found it funny that the D.U. leader would worry so much about gambling and NOT the health and wellness of the student body as they get drunk in our streets and bars and neighborhood each night. The drunkeness and even drugs is out of hand among D.U. students. And the lifestyle that has been flowing over here has seen little finger wagging.

The best thing that should happen with the ICA is a merger with Act 47. We don't need TWO groups of OVERLORDS. We need to be talking about mergers, be it in city-county administration, among fledging nonprofits, among city and county services, etc. This merger among OVERLORDS would set a good example and result in a single group that is more focused, more accountable and helpful for the city's long term health.

The ICA has been a lazy group that has not done its job. I don't think the job and duty of its mission is finished -- yet. However, they are sleeping too much, and they do need to wake up.

Prisuta: Option a positive with the arena plans

Prisuta: Option a positive - PittsburghLIVE.com Rendell, O'Connor and Onorato insist their plan requires no public money, but there's $7 million a year over 30 years included from the Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund, $210 million, in other words, that could serve the public elsewhere.

University Partnership of Pittsburgh

This is exactly what is wrong with Pittsburgh.

The better idea is to tax commercial places, tax industrial places, tax business places. Then taxes are NOT needed to be carried on the backs of children, nor school buildings, nor other places that SHOULD NEVER be TAXED.

The Pittsburgh Technology Center is a place that got a lot of tax relief in the past. It "took" in the past decade and should "give" this decade. But no. The taking continues.

The tech people talk about how we need to educate the kids in schools as we don't have a literate workforce. But, the schools can't function on the taxes provided from centers of great technology -- as the tech center is nothing but a big tax dodger.

This says: The SUPER Rich and INSITUTIONS Get Richer and the POOR GET POORER.

Welcome | University Partnership of Pittsburgh 3/21/2006
Expansion of Pittsburgh Technology Center Moves Foward
Pittsburgh – The Greater Oakland Keystone Innovation Zone (GO KIZ) is a collaboration formed by regional economic development organizations to increase technology company formation, location and growth by better leveraging the combined assets of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. For the past year the GO KIZ Space Subcommittee has been focused on expanding the amount of space for high tech start ups and corporate research centers in close proximity to the universities.

This week City Council gave final approval for $43 million in infrastructure funding setting in motion the expansion of the Pittsburgh Technology Center.

GO KIZ Board members Jerome Dettore, Executive Director of the City of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, and Dennis Davin, Director Economic Development for Allegheny County, shepherded the expansion of the Pittsburgh Technology Center through the public approval process. The Urban Redevelopment Authority is managing the site planning and coordination of private developers interested in the site.

The expansion of the riverfront Pittsburgh Technology Center could double the size of the current development by adding over one million square feet of high tech lab and office space to a growing concentration of university R&D, corporate research centers and high tech start up companies spanning through the South Side, Hazelwood, Oakland and Lawrenceville sections of Pittsburgh.

The expansion of the riverfront Pittsburgh Technology Center is the latest step in an emerging movement to redevelop and interconnect the Greater Oakland area around Pittsburgh’s university-health care hub. These activities will provide a more inviting environment for the growing number of university spinouts, companies locating in the region to access the university-hospital complex, and for graduates of the universities, helping the region to better capture the technology value being generated by the Oakland institutions.

In reality, this is no expansion of the Pittsburgh Technology Center -- it is just a couple of parking garages. The infrastructure investment is just to park a car for suburban residents.

The infrasturcture for wet labs is $0. The infrastructure for dense urban spaces is $0. The infrasturctur for technology is $0. The infrastructure for new business development is $0. The infrastructure for progamming, coordination, management and new ideas is $0.

The Pgh Technology Center is on a prime piece of property. There should be no tax breaks there. It rests on the river, among the thriving job sites of Downtown, Oakland and South Side.

The infrastucture expansions should occur in Hazelwood -- but no. This is not a deal for the mega site in Hazelwood.

The infrastructure investment and expansion could occur throughout the city in the 30 or so school buildings, in real neighborhoods. There are many school buildings around the city that could be GREAT places for interesting job creation sites and re-habs. And, those sites could take some of the burden off of the schools need to increase the tax collection of the city's bottom line.

The school buildings are going to be sold at below bargain basement prices -- to get fat cat developers rich -- because the city is doing dumb deals on property that should be taxed.

This is the latest step in the emerging movement to cripple the region and bankrupt the city.

Analysis: Charges of political favoritism come with territory on slots

Swann and Rendell might not have a dime's worth of difference between them on this issue.

Analysis: Charges of political favoritism come with territory on slots Some Democrats were amazed yesterday that Mr. Swann came out in favor of Isle of Capri's plan.

If Mr. Swann wins in November, he'll get to replace the three board members that Mr. Rendell appointed. Democrats ask how the new members could make a reasoned and fair decision when they know their boss -- Mr. Swann -- favors Isle of Capri.

Senate Democratic leader Robert Mellow claims the GOP candidate 'has destroyed his own credibility.'

Since slots were legalized in 2004, Mr. Mellow said, 'We have made every effort to keep the application process open and protect it from political opportunism. Then along comes Lynn Swann, willing to trash everything we worked so hard for.''

That's baloney, Mr. Swann said. 'The gambling commission needs to make a decision ... and this [Isle of Capri offer] is the best possible plan.' ...

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Sky is the limit with the buzz on the new arena.

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The Pitt News - EDITORIAL - Honest politics an unsafe bet With a new civic center and a veritable license to print money on the line, it's looking as though it's business as usual in Pittsburgh.

The finger-pointing, which was somehow mercifully absent to date on the matter of the Gaming Control Board's pending decision, teed off yesterday as accusations of political favoritism and position flew between Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann, Gov. Ed Rendell and former Mayor Tom Murphy.

Saving Communities - Saturday seminar, TRANSPORTATION

I hope to attend another good seminar by Dan Sullivan.

Saving Communities: "How to Fund Transportation
Pittsburgh, Sat. Apr. 1, 2006, from 10 AM-Noon.

How the funding mechanisms for transportation drive transportation policy, including over-reliance on highways, extending transit systems outward instead of improving them at the core, and other issues where political clout overpowers economic sense.

Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 No charge. Contact Us to RSVP

Langley Mustangs Boys sports -- humm -- and teachers contract too

Mustang close up.

Ups and Downs of High School Sports come into focus with these shocking stories from the same school, Langley. Look at the hoops story:

Langley Mustangs Boys Basketball schedule & game results - PittsburghLIVE.com
Fri., Feb. 10 at Schenley L 77 - 25
Tue., Feb. 14 Brashear L 68 - 35
Thu., Feb. 16 at Allderdice L 73 - 34
City League - Quarterfinals
Mon., Feb. 20 at Schenley L 93 - 28

In the last four games of the year, Langley averaged 30 points. The other teams' average was 78.

Then in wrestling, the results have shifted.

PG WEST: Coach prompts Langley wrestling success: "White took over at Langley three years ago and within two years he turned the Mustangs from doormat to top contender. That contender status went full bloom when Langley won the City League team tournament championship last week, routing top seed Perry, 57-23, in the dual finals.

Langley had never been a factor in City League wrestling prior to White's arrival.

Such a swing says a number of things. First, going from last to first in the city league is quite a deal. Well done. But, playing leapfrog isn't that hard to do, it seems.

We need to get better coaches at more programs throughout the city. I think that this can happen with two major pushes. First, we should take apart the city league and have the city schools compete with the WPIAL schools on a day-in and day-out basis.

Next, we need to look at the teachers contract as it deals with coaching. The teachers contract is hot news today as they voted it down yesterday. I don't know why or what is in the contract in terms of coaching. I need to find out.

Family Films -- and a plea from the indie cinema in Oakmont

From the email newsletter at The Oaks Theater.

ON THE SUBJECT OF "FAMILY-FRIENDLY-FARE":

We generally receive a lot of comments and suggestions about showing more "family-friendly fare," but this week we're feeling a little burned. "DUMA" is one of the best films of the year, and landed on several critics' TOP 10 lists for 2005, nationwide. It's a beautifully photographed film, appropriate for all ages, with none of the typical kiddie-flick pandering that is a trademark cliche of most Hollywood family fare. Still, despite the overwhelming number of pleas we hear to show "less R-rated movies," this past week has been disappointingly slow. The total week-long attendance barely equals one DAY's attendance for our last R-rated film. Meanwhile, "DUMA" is currently playing to sold-out crowds in single-screen art-house theaters in nearby cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C.

Why is that?

We showed "DUMA" three times a day this week, often filling less than 10% of our 430-seat auditorium. Statistics like this present the argument that similar films are simply bad for business! We always appreciate feedback and movie requests, but we certainly cannot afford to cater to requests that promise no return. We have held onto "DUMA" for three extra shows this weekend, Friday thru Sunday at 3pm, and we challenge you to bring your families THIS WEEKEND and prove that it is worth our commitment to continue bringing films based on audience demand. Right now it's certainly seeming like most families won't come unless there's a Happy Meal endorsement involved.

Unless we can get a better sense that audience support backs up audience demand, this will probably be the last "family film" for awhile...

Rolling Stone Silenced in China

Grant is standing on The Great Wall of China.

Rolling Stone Silenced in China - Los Angeles Times BEIJING — Rolling Stone has hit a wall.

The rock 'n' roll publication entered the Chinese market early this month with a huge splash, including billboard advertisements, a 125,000-copy roll-out and free Rolling Stone hats with each magazine. On Wednesday, regulators said they would not allow it to publish a second issue.

Gather no moss -- by keep rolling. Another instance for the publishing of photos from our recent trips to the third largest country (by land mass). Just click to see larger view of the image for extra details and insights.


US got the magazine, Rolling Stone. But in China, they've got some hot rod wheels that we can only dream of.


Urban density, gated community, tightness of the land's footprint, no wasted spaces, few needs for autos.


Splash of a state-sponsored stadium...


In China, they drop their bills at the foot of old statues. In US, the money goes to the Political Action Committees of stuck-in-the-mud politicians.