Health Care Event, Sunday, May 21 at 1:30 pm

Please help swell the crowd at Temple Sinai (5505 Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill) Sunday, May 21, 2006 1:30-5:00 PM by attending a Citizens Hearing on Health Care Reform chaired by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) who is the Prime Sponsor-HR 676 "United States National Health Insurance Act: Also known as the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act" Let our public official know we want single-payer health care.

-- Nearly 46 million Americans and 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are uninsured.
-- 50 million have inadequate health insurance in the USA.
-- 18,000 Americans die each year because of no Health Care Coverage.
-- Half of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S. are related to debt from medical expenses.

A SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS THE SOLUTION TO THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS IN THE USA.

Profits and administrative overhead currently take 25-30% of health care premium dollars. Medicare programs have only a 3% overhead. These savings and negotiated drug prices can help provide the necessary money to provide comprehensive high quality health care to all U.S. citizens.

-- Hear the testimony of local citizens concerning the health care crisis in our region.
-- Learn about single-payer solutions, also known as Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, specifically HR 676, introduced by US Rep. John Conyers with 68 co-sponsors, and PA SB 1085, introduced by State Senator Jim Ferlo.

-- Listen to the responses of our state and national elected officials to single-payer options.

Participate in building an action plan to advocate for single-payer health care.

List of Hearing Co-Sponsors in comments.

For more information, please contact Sandy Fox, Hearing Coordinator, at sm2fox@yahoo.com or write to the Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Health Care, P.O. Box 81915, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

Two concerts tonight at two venues (North Side and Oakland)

DownUnder Coffeehouse on Saturday, Apr 22 from 7:30-9:30 to hear Eve Goodman and Jack. Eve is a wonderful singer-songwriter, whose intricate guitar-playing and insightful lyrics will leave you captivated. The band Jack features three of the most loved songwriters from the Calliope Songwriters Circle: Stacy Mates, Dave LaRose and George Kantor. Come hear some of Pittsburgh's most exciting singer-songwriters in a relaxed coffeehouse atmosphere.

The DownUnder Coffeehouse is open one Saturday each month in Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church, 416 West North Ave, North Side. Suggested donation is $5.00. Desserts and coffee will be available. Call 412-322-4261 or see www.alleghenyuu.org for more details.

And in Oakland, Caliope hosts a big folk concert too. I'm not sure if tickets are still available for the gig in Oakland.

Swann backs Jubelirer

This is being called a bomb, as in Swann dropped a bomb -- on himself. The statements came at at PIIN hosted event. PIIN = Pgh Interfaith Impact Network. I wanted to attend this event, but it didn't work out for me. I'm not too sure they would have wanted to see my "Jeff Diamond" for Governor petitions on the sidewalk. Perhaps they will now embrace them after Swann's showing.

Furthermore, Swann does not need to worry about lifting the ire of only the conservatives. Rather that is going to play poorly to all reformers as well.

Capitolwire: Swann endorses Sen. Jubelirer, risking conservative GOP
ire.

By Peter L. DeCoursey, Bureau Chief, Capitolwire

PITTSBURGH (April 22) – Weeks after a group of statewide conservatives buttonholed Lynn Swann to tell him to back away from public support of Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, Swann endorsed Jubelirer while responding to a reporter's question here.

First, asked if he would endorse Jubelirer, Swann said, " … I certainly hope that, you know, whether it's a Sen. Jubelirer, or anybody else, that we have that kind of expertise there, that will help in the process of reforming government."

Asked again if he believed 30th Senate district voters should re-elect Jubelirer, Swann said, "Yeah, I think he would be a valuable ally in the Legislature."

Next, would someone ask Swann if he thinks Tom Murphy, old Pgh Mayor, should come out of retirement and seek another term in high elected office. He has experience too.

P-G article.

Olympic Song and Steven Spielberg at Opening & Closing Ceremonies

Let the games begin...

Jazz scholarship applicants sought - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Jackie Chan to record song for Beijing Olympics

Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Alan Tam and other Hong Kong entertainers will record a pop song to promote the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an assistant to Tam said.

The song, titled 'Olympics Beijing,' is separate from the official theme song for the 2008 Games, the assistant, who only gave her surname, Lam, told The Associated Press on Thursday.

She said the Mandarin-language song, written by Eddie Ng, will be aired in China. It was unclear if the song would be released on CD.

Lam said Chan has signed on for the project but hasn't recorded his part yet. Others who have already completed their portions are Lau, Tam, Hacken Lee, Shirley Kwan, Andy Hui, William So and Jordan Chan, she said.

Other big names in the entertainment industry are involved with the Beijing Olympics, a major source of pride for the Chinese.

Famed Chinese director Zhang Yimou will oversee the design of the opening and closing ceremonies. American director Steven Spielberg has also signed on as a consultant for the two ceremonies."

See the Olympic Rings on the top of this gate. The figures on the top edges are volleyball players. The photo was take in Chengdu in the area of the provincial volleyball team's gym and residental spaces.

A Blogfest Over a Project in Brooklyn - New York Times

Station Square is FOREST CITY, fix-is-in Forest City, the Cleveland Firm, the Harrah's partner. Seems like they ran into a buzz saw from online advocates in New York.

A Blogfest Over a Project in Brooklyn - New York Times Like any developer, Forest City Ratner has had to contend with suspicious community groups, concerned politicians and skeptical editorial boards while seeking approval for the 8.7-million-square-foot venture.

But Atlantic Yards may well be the first large-scale urban real estate venture in New York City where opposition has coalesced most visibly in the blogosphere.

I've ranted a bit about how we do "blogfests" in our city -- as a social thing and nothing more. In New York, they have a "blogfest" with purpose and social implications.

Office 2004 Benchmarks on Intel-based Macs

Office 2004 Benchmarks on Intel-based Macs The big question is this: Does Microsoft Office 2004 run well enough on the new Intel-based Macs? Or should you delay your purchase of these machines?

The real question for me -- has been for years -- is all about OpenOffice.org. I don't want to run Microsoft Office because I've been using OpenOffice.org on a PC.

Blogger gets sacked for talk back posts to self as another. No Pseudonyms!

Faces. Masks from the Opera in SW China.

The Times suspended Michael Hiltzik's Golden State blog http://goldenstateblog.latimes.com/ on Thursday after the columnist admitted he's posted comments using pseudonyms.

"That is a violation of The Times ethics guidelines, which requires editors and reporters to identify themselves when dealing with the public," says the paper. "The policy applies to both the print and online editions of the newspaper. The Times is investigating the postings.

These faces can put drama into your site's comments as visiting bloggers, if you only invite them -- and make up the identities. But that would never happen HERE!

Rants from Russ and others

Clean sweep, walking along.

See the comments....

Meet the Steel City Derby Demons! -- PLUS -- Steelers to hardwood

After-Practice Party with the Demons! Starts at 10:30 pm on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at The Smiling Moose in South Side - Upstairs. Gotta be 21 or older.

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Steelers vs. Court Time All-Stars (featuring current professional and former collegiate players.) Slated for 8 pm on Friday, May 19, 2006 at Court Time. Tickets are selling fast (limited # available), call 412.754.2005 for tickets $5.

Scott Butler is Court Time Sports Center's Executive Director, 95 Enterprise Drive, Elizabeth, PA 15037.

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Blog Fest is slated for 6:30 for a Friday in May. I don't see any mention of black tie nor prom.

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Buggy Goes Live! Spring Carnival Celebration at CMU rolls around for April 20-22.

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Saturday, April 22: Earth Day Festival and Rally in Highland Park with the Sierra Club. Festival and Rally: 11:00-12:30 and Educational Neighborhood Walk: 12:30-3:00. This all takes place at the Rhododendron Shelter, Highland Park (on Lake Drive).

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The second Annual "Trash Bash" meets @ 18th and Carson @ 9 AM with coffee and donuts. They are supplying safety vests, brooms, gloves, bags and "graffiti whipes." They will have bottles of water and provide pizza and soda for lunch afterwards.

A river sweep is also slated for Saturday. Heard of this from some Mt. Washington folks. It starts around Station Square and moves up the South "shore" of the Mon to the boat launch in the park.

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Rob Owens, of the P-G reported on Thursday, CASTING THIRD 'GEEK'. The third edition of The WB reality show "Beauty and the Geek," which will air in the future on the new CW network, will be in Pittsburgh casting brainless beauties and brainy guys with zero social skills.

If you qualify and want to be on TV, casting will be held Saturday at Boomerang's Bar & Grille in Oakland, 3901 Forbes Ave., from noon to 5 p.m. Applications are available online at thewb.warnerbros.com/web/o_generic_format.jsp?id=BG-Season-three-Casting-Call.

Blogs offer new avenue for businesses - PittsburghLIVE.com

Wanted: More bloggers to join this venture and be a Running Mate. If you'd like to be on a blog that gets lots of readers -- I'd love to have the helpers.

Blogs offer new avenue for businesses - PittsburghLIVE.com 'It is of growing importance for businesses to read blogs, and consider writing their own blogs,' said Mike Woycheck, information systems technologist for the Pittsburgh Technology Council. 'It's something businesses have to pay attention to, because it's not going to go away.'

Woycheck is a founder of Pittsburgh Bloggers, which began in late 2004 and now lists more than 400 local Web logs. Most are personal, but some, including The Bloomery and Mt. Lebanon's Aldo Coffee Co. blogs, are business-based.

Keep your own blog too -- but on matters of civic concern, local issues, trends and news reactions, pipe them over here.

All aboard.... our photo in a reflection before we board the Maglev in Shanghi.

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In other local blogging news,
Local TV: Sheila Hyland to fill in on KDKA morning news WTAE is getting a WEB REPORTER. Channel 4 has hired a reporter who will file TV-style reports primarily for WTAE's Web site, www.thepittsburghchannel.com.

I still have a burning question about this page, a blast from the past, from the site in question.

Sifry's Alerts The blogosphere is over 60 times bigger than it was only 3 years ago.

No fans to light the Pirates' flame

There will be an All-Star boycott -- No Sweatshops, Bucco!

Why live in misery when the day was great -- and baseball was being played at dozens of high school sandlots all around western PA? Makes no sense when we have great baseball at the best price around -- at a high school game. We went today and on Wednesday. Great time. Dropped in for a few innings. Spent an hour or so. Wonderful.

No fans to light the Pirates' flame 'I think fans have been gracious,' he said. 'And maybe not vocal enough, maybe not vociferous enough with their displeasure. That's my opinion.'

It is a difficult viewpoint to refute, one that requires no more than a casual glance around PNC Park to reinforce.

There are no brown bags over anyone's heads, no banners advocating change, no boycotts being staged. Rarely are there boos when the home side fares poorly.

Langley baseball smashes The Dice -- and earlier in week on Brashier -- with 10-run rule mercy

Mustangs were not doing much horse play on the diamond this week. They are for real and kicking butt!

The team can hit, field and pitch. Way to go.

Drive Cleaner, Drive Greener 2006

News from the GASP event committee:

GASP's 3rd annual hybrid car display and test-drive event is set from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday, May 20, 2006, at the Venture Outdoors Festival on Pittsburgh's North Shore, near Heinz Field.

FREE! Rain or shine. Parking will be available for $5. Parking is free for hybrid owners who display their cars!

* Test drive some of the latest hybrid electric cars to be introduced to the market.

* Talk to hybrid car owners about their experiences owning and driving vehicles using this new technology.

* Dealers will be on hand if you have questions about purchasing a new hybrid.

* Find out what financial incentives you can get when buying a hybrid vehicle.

* Information about upcoming hybrid vehicles will be available.

If you already own a hybrid car, we'd love to display it on Saturday, May 20. You can provide a valuable service by being available to answer questions about your experiences owning a hybrid and showing off your car's unique features! (Your car will only be on display and not used for test drives.)

WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS:

* to help publicize the event by posting flyers and forwarding this e-mail message to friends

* to display their hybrid cars (see description above)

* to find hybrid car owners who will display their cars
* to put GASP in touch with dealerships who may be interested in participating in the event

* to make wooden free-standing sign frames

* to help at the event: setting up, handing out information, signing up test drivers, taking pictures, cleaning up.

If you can help with any of these, please contact GASP at 412-325-7382 or bridget@gasp-pgh.org.

Don't miss the free Venture Outdoors Festival with hands-on outdoor activities. It will be fun for the whole family! http://www.ventureoutdoors.org/VOFest.asp

Tony Phyrillas: Three men walk into a bar …

Tony Phyrillas: Three men walk into a bar …: "Three men walk into a bar …
A Democrat, a Republican and a Libertarian walk into a bar. No, this isn't a joke. It happened. The three men spent hours discussing ways to fix Pennsylvania's broken government and by the end of the night, all three agreed on almost all of the issues. Imagine that.

The Democrat is Irv Livingood, who is challenging 14-year incumbent Rep. Dante Santoni Jr. in the 126th District. The Republican is Bill Reed, who is taking on 20-year incumbent Rep. Dennis Leh in the 130th District. The former Libertarian is Russ Diamond, founder of PaCleanSweep and independent candidate for governor of Pennsylvania.
"

Full of hot air

Article: "“Reaching out to help a neighbor, I think, is exactly what Jesus would've wanted us to do,” Frank said. “From my perspective, politicians should have a sacred trust with the people.”

April 21 means....

Family tradition --- today.... Take a guess.

Tennis anyone -- or, is it only boys now and girls then?

Girls and Guys in the same racket sport.... That's my choice.


Girls and guys have a rich history of swimming together. I've seen a girl swim an 800 free in an individual even and score a time that would have beaten all the boys times in the 800 free RELAY in that meet. Bridget Bowman did it in a meet in Joliet, IL.

Ouch!

Police are looking for an escaped prisoner who managed to evade a deputy. Carlos Harris, 34, was last seen running through Oakland naked after he was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital with an eye injury. He reportedly jumped a sheriff's deputy and fled.

Police are investigating two attacks by teenagers near Carrick High School. One victim told KDKA-TV that he was beaten near the Rec Center, and another group of teens beat another victim nearer to the school. Police have made one arrest, but believe that numerous teens were involved.

VISTA is looking for both organizational sites and people to volunteer.

CTC VISTA Project now accepting applications

The CTC VISTA Project is accepting applications from community technology centers and other non-profits that are using information and communications technologies to address the needs of low-income and at-risk communities.

In the coming months we will be placing OVER 50 Americorps*VISTAs with organizations across the country. While the majority of these placements will take place at the end of AUGUST, a small group will be starting mid-JUNE.

Applications for JUNE placements are due in late-APRIL. Applications for AUGUSTS are due mid-JULY.

Organizations interested in participating are encouraged to review the updated guidelines and submit an 'intent to apply' as soon as possible (because recruiting a qualified VISTA does take some time).

Paul Hansen, paul.hansen -at- umb.edu, Director, CTC VISTA Project, College of Public and Community Service, University of Massachusetts/Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125-3393, 617.287.7122 (v); 617.287.7274 (fax).

Mr. Patrick skates on out of here

Blast from the past:

http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2006/01/mark-rauterkus-left-and-craig-patrick.html

A blogger, and perhaps a 'running mate' ??? wrote that Patrick should be fired. That was in mid-January.

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